It had been three years, four months, and four days since they’d gotten in the stupid subway. The pair had explored every stop in hopes of something, anything of home, but there was nothing. Getting tired of scavenging, Five proposed to stay and rest at the next hospitable place, hoping to find somewhere to think and map his thoughts out. That’s when they came upon the greenhouse full of strawberries.

Lila’s eyes widened at the sight of the hundreds of plants around the room, most containing strawberries, but also containing berries and a few vegetables. Quickly, she pulled the man inside behind her and moved to pull off a strawberry, “holy shit these look delicious.” Five let out a laugh as he began to look around. He noticed there was a seating area in the room as well, most importantly he noticed the glass on the table, “uh, Lila, I don’t think we should get too comfortable just yet.” Looking at the boy in confusion as held up a berry, “what do you-“

*Click* *Click* “I’d advise you to step the fuck back,” a voice called from behind them. The sound of a gun made both of them immediately raise their hands, Five turning around faster than the woman behind him. His eyes met the narrowing green ones peaking over the gun, and he felt his heart race. She felt so familiar to him, yet he didn’t recognize her in any way. When their eyes hers immediately widened and her stance faltered, “Max?”

Lila looked between them with confusion, “Max?” The man shook his head, “I don’t know who that is.” Glaring, she straightened her hold and looked between the two, “who are you and why are you in my house?” The raven haired woman spoke up first, “we’re so sorry to barge in, we weren’t expecting anyone to actually live here. We don’t mean any harm.” The look of uncertainty crossed the brunettes face as she looked back to the man standing next to her, “when are you from? How did you find me?”

Five’s brow raised, “when? You asked when we’re from? So you know about the -“ “The subway, yes, now answer the question,” the strange woman rushed, narrowing her eyes, the look of conflict in her face. Stepping forward, Five raised his hands a little higher, “how about we put away the gun and just discuss this normally?” Her green eyes bounced from him to the nerve wrecked woman beside him before sighing and un-cocking the gun

The three of them sat around a small glass table inside the house as the mysterious woman fixed strawberry lemonade for all of them, “how long have y’all been, uh, traveling?” Five’s eyes stayed on her, the feeling of familiarity not going away. Lila eyed him as she answered, “about three and a half years, we’ve been trying to find our timeline.” The freckle faced woman let out a laugh that made the raven haired man’s heart skip a beat, “that’ll be a miracle. Trying to figure that damn system out takes a mad man,” her eyes met Five’s before she looked down to her glass.

Leaning forward Lila questioned, “who’s Max?” The woman visibly froze for a moment before she fixed her posture, “he was my husband, from our timeline,” her finger fiddled with the simple metal ring on her finger, “we found this place together.” Five’s brows furrowed, “what happened?” She shrugged and looked at him, “he had a family to save, just like every last one of you that comes in here.” That caught his attention, “one of me?” Nodding she stood up and grabbed something out of her satchel, as she got closer it appeared to be a picture that looked like it had seen better days. As she handed to him, his face dropped in realization, “Max is me? What happened to him? Is he here?”

Sighing she shakes her head, “no, he uh, he got tired of staying here. I was tired of searching for the inevitable end of our time, and he wasn’t satisfied enough to stay so he left one morning before I woke up. No note, nothing.” Scoffing Five handed her back the photo, “he sounds like an ass hole.” The silent woman next to him looked at her, “do you mind me asking what’s your name?” She gave Lila a smile, “not at all, I’m Lori, short for Delores.” That’s when it clicked for Five, his Delores.

Part 2⬇️⬇️