Chapter Text
On October 1st, 1995, seven little Hargreeves siblings turned six years old.
Starting the day as they always did—being woken by their mother, getting dressed in their identical little uniforms, and standing by the table waiting for their father to arrive so they could sit down and eat their nutritional breakfast.
Then they trained, went to class, did their school work, trained again, ate a nutritional lunch, and then enjoyed their half hour of free time for the week.
Little Number One spent his time having a wedding for his action figures.
Little Number Two spent his time playing darts in his room.
Little Number Three spent her free time playing with her dolls who she had named Allison, Klaus, Carla, and Claire.
Little Number Five spent his free time in the garden with Little Number Seven, playing with ants as Little Number Six sat by with his nose stuck in a book.
And Little Number Four?
Well, Little Number Four spent twenty minutes of his free time just trying to find someone—anyone—to play with him.
But one after the other, his family turned him away.
Dad told to quit his childish nonsense and sent him away.
Mom told him that she was sorry but she had to repair their uniforms and couldn't play with him today.
Pongo said he had to work on their lesson plan and told him maybe they could play another day.
One told him to go away.
Two said not today.
Five said be quiet and Seven and Six didn't disagree.
So Four went to Three with a plea.
“Can I play with you?”
“No.”
“Pretty please? No one else will play with me!”
“No. Go away.”
On October 1st, 1995, seven little Hargreeves siblings turned six years old.
"I’m sorry, Three, I didn—”
“I told you not to touch them! Now look what you did!”
“I’m so—”
“I heard a rumor that you didn’t exist.”
But only six little Hargreeves siblings were still around long enough to cut the cake.
On October 1st, 1996, Little Number Three threw out all but one of her dolls. Tucking the one she didn't throw away—the one little Number Four broke—away in a box under her bed.
On October 1st, 1997, Little Number Three picked at her food and grimaced with every bite.
On October 1st, 1998, Little Number Three turned green when her slice of cake was set in front of her and gave it to lonely Little Number Six.
On October 1st, 1999, Little Number Three spoke sparingly with a hoarse voice after a night of trying desperately to bring Little Number Four back.
On October 1st, 2000, Little Number Three realized that her memory of Little Number Four was getting fuzzy and spent most of her day frantically scribbling pictures in an attempt to get them right.
On October 1st, 2001, Little Number Three was given the name Allison.
She didn't sleep a wink that night.
On October 1st, 2002, Allison locked herself in her room and wouldn't come out no matter what her father threatened.
On October 1st, 2003, Allison prayed not just for Four's return but Five's as well.
On October 1st, 2004, Allison tried to draw Little Number Four again and then, after a moment or two of thought, titled it 'Klaus'.
The name felt fitting.
A reminder of what she had traded her brother away for.
On October 1st, 2004, the other four remaining Hargreeves siblings confronted Allison—asking why she hated their birthday so much.
Ending the night in a loud fight that resulted in all of them being grounded.
On October 1st, 2005, Allison snuck out to Griddy's with her siblings. Trying to put Klaus out of mind.
On October 1st, 2006, Allison went with her siblings to a frat party that ended in disaster.
On October 1st, 2007, Allison packed her bags in tears after a painfully awkward birthday dinner with Diego, Vanya, and Luther. Her heart aching painfully as she thought of Ben, Five, and Klaus.
Firmly telling herself that she would not die in this house and that one day she WOULD bring Klaus back.
On October 1st, 2008, Allison spent her 19th birthday in and out of auditions—trying desperately to get a role not even really realizing what day it was.
She spent her next birthday alone in her apartment, hugging a pillow and ignoring Patrick's texts.
Whispering "I heard a rumor number four existed" over and over again until her voice was gone and her eyes were red.
Birthday after birthday, Allison tried and failed to bring Klaus back.
Birthday after birthday, she isolated herself.
Putting distance between herself and the rest of the world.
Because when Allison Hargreeves was six, she rumored her brother Number Four out of existence—and because of that, she would never enjoy another birthday until that wrong was righted.
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you—"
Allison wrapped an arm around Klaus and pulled him close as Ray, Claire, and Dave sung—horribly off key—snorting while little Klaus giggled. The smile on her face so wide that it nearly made her face ache.
There were streamers and balloons everywhere.
A banner hung crookedly in the corner.
Her belly was fool with homemade pizza and soda.
And Klaus was practically vibrating beside her, full of energy.
The cake in front of her was chocolate with blue frosting and it read 'Happy Birthday Klaus and Allison' in pink icing. Though the cake only held six candles.
Not that Allison minded.
Klaus was back and would finally be getting the slice of cake (and the love) he was denied so many years ago—and that was all mattered.
"Happy birthday dear Klaus and Allison! Happy birthday to you! Cha cha cha!"
They blew out the candles and they opened their gifts—and Allison ate the first slice of cake she'd had since she was nine without any guilt.