mnmagnoria

The Dagger of Death’s Flowers sank deep into Alcina’s midsection with a wet, sickening puncture that echoed through the hall, her answering scream wasn’t human; tore out of her chest in a rising shriek of furious bellow.

Her pale-smooth skin split as the toxins began their work and delicate fissures darted across her cheeks and throat in jagged black tributaries, almost ink had been injected into shattered glass.

Eyes flooded red, the sclera burning bright and incandescent against the spreading fractures, veins beneath her skin writhed and darkened like roots fed poisoned water, threading outward from the wound in frantic reaction to the dagger infecting her body.

Her lips peeled back from her teeth in a snarl, nothing of her old seductive smirk left, a low and guttural growl that stank of hatred and pain.

Muscles under her gown surged and twitched, spasming as the toxins tore through her regenerative systems. She ripped her claws out of Ethan’s abdomen with a wet sound, glistening crimson dripping off the tips. Ethan staggered but didn’t fold; his jaw clenched, eyes feral with determination as he wrenched the dagger deeper into her side while she reeled.

Alcina snarled and seized him by the throat before the agony buckled her knees. With a guttural roar, she flung him like a ragdoll and he hit the far wall near the staircase with a thundering crack.

The dagger skittered with him, metal scraping against marble. Ethan didn’t hesitate and snatched it again, rising from the floor with a grunt, blue eyes narrowed and burning. Blood smeared his shirt, but his stance was steady and unyielding.

You moved without thinking, legs dissolving from the knees down into a cloud of fluttering moths, physical form thinning until you drifted over the marble floor as a haze of beating wings and dust as you reached Alcina’s hunched form.

“Mother..?” the question rasped from both your mouth and your forming throat. “Are you—”

She turned her head toward you and everything inside your chest locked.

The red in her eyes pure annihilation, gaze burning with two directions of fury: at Ethan for slaughtering her daughters and at you for failing to stop him and letting all of this happen.

Her cracked lips parted as if to speak, but what emerged was a deep, wrenching groan, body contorting as a wet, ripping sound followed and enormous bat wing-like structures burst through her back.

The white gown, elegant and immaculate moments before, exploded at the seams, lace and silk dangling in ruins as her new appendages unfurled with a grotesque flourish. The motion clearly hurt badly, her breath hitching in ragged, animalistic bursts.

“Stay away from me!” She roared, voice splitting into layers like several throats speaking at once as her massive hand slammed into your chest.

The force threw you backward, body collapsing into a tumble of limbs and dissipating moths as you slid across the polished floor toward Ethan, tiny wings scattering like embers until large and hot hands caught you.

Ethan’s grip wrapped around your torso and pulled you close, the other broad hand he had come up to cup your cheek with gentleness.

He looked devastated, jaw tense, desperation flickering like lightning behind his ice-blue stare. He brushed away a stray moth wing clinging to your skin with his thumb, voice low and roughened by adrenaline.

“Sweetheart… I’ve got you—”

Ahead, Alcina’s wings continued to unfurl, monstrous span blotting out the light as they opened with a heavy push of air and she staggered backward, crashing through the wall and the ornate doors that led to the dining room.

Ethan grunted as he helped you up, hand remained locked around your waist, firm and protective as he guided you upright. His gaze swept over your body in sharp, assessing lines, checking for injury, breath close enough to warm your neck.

“You hurt?” he muttered, the words taut with anger at anything that might have touched you, thumb skimming your hip almost unconsciously, breath ragged from the fight.

In the dim light, you caught sight of his abdomen, shirt ripped in specific spots with blood smeared across the fabric, but when he shifted, there was no wound beneath, just smooth and unbroken skin.

“How… how are you even alive?” Your breath shivered as you whispered those words.

His brows knit, confusion flickering. He hadn’t realized the pain evaporating, erased completely by something within him.

He opened his mouth to answer but a growl rumbled from the adjoining chamber.

A long, serpentine tail slid into view first, scraping across shattered tiles. Then the wall exploded outward, stone dust filled the air in choking clouds as a monstrous shape burst from the kitchen.

First emerged a vast and grotesque dragon’s head, studded with jagged teeth glistening with saliva. On top of it, Alcina’s torso stretched impossibly, fused to the beast in a horrific amalgamation of flesh and bones. Her face was barely recognizable, arms gone with stretched sinews that connected her upper half to the massive draconic bulk beneath her.

Her lower body had become a gaping, fanged maw lined with endless rows of teeth.

“Flesh. Bones. I will devour all of you.” she gurgled, voice split between the dragon’s throat and her own.

She lunged upward, wings slamming the air as she soared toward the chandelier. With a violent crunch, her claws embedded into the gilded frame. The entire structure swayed, glass ornaments shattering and scattering below like raining stars.

Ethan raised his gun, eyes hard. “Looks like your outside finally matches your inside, psycho witch.”

He fired and bullets tore into her elongated torso, blood spilling from the wounds.

She laughed in a jagged, delirious sound. “You’re a lucky man, Ethan! Besides Miranda, no one else has seen my true form.”

The chandelier dropped several inches from her weight, metal whining. Then she released her grip and plunged downward, a hail of crystal shards following her like a deadly comet, dragon mouth opened with a roar.

“Too bad you’ll pay for it… with your life!”

She charged rapidly and Ethan seized your hand, tight and desperate, yanking you with him, sprinting toward the spiral staircase. His gun never stopped firing and the echo of each shot burned through your ears as you stumbled up broken steps, the whole structure shuddering beneath your feet.

Your legs moved on instinct, guided only by his grip as your mind still tried to make sense of the situation happening.

Your chest tightened at the sight of her dragging itself across the hall, claws gouging trenches into the shattered marble, screams guttural and full of wrath.

Ethan pushed you ahead of him as the staircase groaned. You reached the landing just high enough to meet Alcina at eye level as she wrenched her claws free from a cracked pillar.

“How dare you speak of saving your daughter when you killed mine?!” She shrieked, dragon mouth echoing the cry and doubling the sound into a hellish harmony.

She launched herself upward and the staircase exploded under the impact, wood splintering in a deafening roar as the entire structure collapsed.

Ethan didn’t think as his arms closed around you instantly, wrapping your body in a cage of solid muscle and heat as he twisted midair to shield you. His breath hit your ear in a rough grunt as he tightened his hold, readying for the fall.

But the impact never came, air filling with rustling from thousands of tiny wings. A storm of moths swarmed around him in a whirling cocoon of dust and beating wings. Ethan’s body lifted, buoyed upward by the cloud as you rose upward.

Carrying him higher and above the destroyed staircase toward intact ground higher up. With eerie gentleness they lowered him to the upper level, swarm dispersing around him in a shimmering cloud, dust settling over his hair, lashes and parted lips, reaching instinctively for the swirling cloud you’d become, expression twisting with a desperation so raw it bordered on unhinged.

But the moths were already sinking downward diving toward the monster below.

Your upper body reformed first, shoulders knitting out of smoke, collarbones shaping from drifting ash-grey moth dust while the rest of your form still hovered in a cloud of beating wings, hanging suspended in front of her hideous bulk, flesh slick with blood pouring from the fresh bullet wounds Ethan had carved into her.

She stared at you with red eyes burning like fire beneath ice, face trembling with rage so intense it cracked the skin around her lips.

“How could you still help that… that filthy little man-thing after all he’s done to our family?” She rasped, voice layered with a monstrous undertone but still having a trace of aristocratic loathing, sharpened by the madness clawing its way through her brain.

You stayed suspended before her, chest rising and falling unevenly as your half-formed abdomen continued swarming behind. “Mother… stop, please. Calm down. I—”

Her reaction was instantaneous, the dragon beneath her bellowed and she shrieked with it.

“I will not speak with traitors!”

From the ragged slits in the dragon’s shoulders and from Alcina’s collapsing flesh itself, a massive cloud of glossy, black blowflies burst outward, thick and wet wings beating the air in furious unison as they swarmed toward you and Ethan high on the balcony.

The swarm rushed past your half-formed torso and for the briefest moment you thought they would simply pass by in a chaotic current.

Then a tearing and raking pain took over when those large blowflies dove into your moth-cloud with ravenous hunger, mandibles clamped onto delicate wings and ripped them apart in frantic chunks.

Instinct overtook thought from that overwhelming pain in a mindless and desperate drive that hurled you upward, away from the carnage.

You barely registered everything as you slammed onto the balcony, reforming in jagged, partially solid bursts. Agony speared through every nerve while collapsing to the wooden floorboards, hands curling into trembling fists as remnants of the insects flickered around you like dying embers.

More gunshots matching the loud roads unleashed by that big gaping mouth, then a sudden metallic twist and the large chandelier dropped at full speed from the ceiling, landing on top of Lady Dimitrescu’s monstrous body.

Ethan was on you within seconds soon after, dropping to his knees beside your trembling form, one hand sliding beneath your shoulders, the other splayed over your ribs. His palms radiated heat, a stark contrast to the icy air invading the hall.

“Easy—easy, sweetheart, I’ve got you—” his voice was a gravelly whisper, harsh with fear, breath brushing your cheek as he pulled your upper body closer and turned you toward him, eyes roaming your form in frantic desperation.

You hissed in pain, sound fragile and involuntary.

Ethan stiffened, jaw tightening and pupils shrinking to pinpoints at the sound.

If he could have torn apart every single blowfly with his bare teeth for touching you, he would have.

Below, the massive dragon-body scraped violently against the castle walls as Alcina tried to climb upward, her claws punching holes into ancient stone. The walls shuddered, shedding rubble in heavy chunks and the whole sections split open, letting an arctic blast pour inside.

The air fogged instantly, cold so sharp and sudden it burned.

Breath clouding in front of your vision, frost began forming in the torn patches of your moth-body, a thin crust of ice knitting across wounds that should have remained fluid, cold burrowing so deep your vision blurred.

You sagged sideways, barely conscious, head lolling onto Ethan’s shoulder.

“Stay awake,” he ordered under his breath, voice rough as a snarl, one hand pressing firmly against your spine to anchor you to him. “Don’t you fucking drift on me—”

But Alcina’s distorted torso suddenly heaved into view over the balcony’s edge.

Her newly sprouted, grotesquely elongated armsless upper half dangled above the dragon’s back, screeching at both you and Ethan. One dragon’s claw shot upward and clamped onto the balcony, crushing wood beneath her massive weight. The structure groaned violently, tilting downward as splinters shot into the air.

Her breath clouded the air in a white veil and the cold further froze your body with pain.

Ethan stood, keeping you close behind him with one arm, raising his shotgun with the other.

The blast was deafening as buckshot tore through Alcina’s upper torso. A brutal grunt escaped her, followed by a spray of blood that splattered across the balcony and Ethan’s side of the face in thick arcs.

The dragon-paws tightened, claws carving trenches into the wood as she fought to steady herself, desperate to lunge at Ethan.

He didn’t give her the chance, stepping onto the massive scaled paw gripping the balcony, vaulting upward and forward, boots slamming onto the dragon’s forearm. With a vicious snarl of effort he hauled himself closer to her shrieking torso and raised that dagger again.

His jaw set, teeth bared and entire body coiled with intent as he drove the blade into her chest.

Alcina’s torso reeled, the motion grotesque and serpentine, her face stretching into a silent, agonized snarl.

Blood erupted across the dragon’s pale hide, thick and arterial, spraying in wild, staccato bursts.

“Damn you, Winters!” She roared, blood geysering from her lower mass, pooling across the crumbling floor below.

Ethan leaned in, twisting the dagger and whispering with a low, terrifyingly soft voice so close to her cracked ear that only she could hear.

“I’ll take care of him from now on.”

Her grip faltered, claw slipping from the balcony and with a final, weak roar, the great creature collapsed, dragon and woman and all, dragging Ethan with her.

The balcony lurched upward slightly as the immense weight vanished.

You could only watch, helpless, as Ethan disappeared from view in a violent downward drop, a loud crash coming next to a screech of dying, monstrous agony.

The cold gnawed deep, frost spread across your abdomen and ribs, cracks appearing in parts of your body as crystalline fractures.

You forced yourself up on trembling arms.

One trembling step.

Another.

Legs buckling as you crashed to your knees beside a still-standing section of corridor that had resisted total collapse, palm pressed flat against the slanted wood.

Below, the main hall glittered with a monstrous mound of ice-crystal jagged from Alcina’s remains. Her massive dragonic body had crystallized into a frozen hill, fractured pieces jutting upward like the ribs of a colossal beast half-buried in the tundra.

Your vision blurred again but movement caught your eye.

A shadow stirring in the crystal debris.

Ethan emerged, crawling from the fractured mass, blood smeared across his dark sleeve and cheeks, hair dusted in frost but undeniably alive.

He immediately lifted his head, searching the upper levels and even from this distance you saw the exact moment his expression changed, relief detonating into horror. His mouth fell open slightly, a breath catching as he saw the frost spreading through your limbs and the crystalline cracks in your skin as though every second was costing you something vital.

Grief gripped your chest, shock ringing in your ears, confusion clouding your thoughts and that cold gnawed at your bones, a desperate need for him—

Then your knees gave out and you collapsed on the floor, burning cold with the fading echo of Ethan’s horrified voice calling your name.

Ethan dug himself out of the stone pile with brutal determination, fingers clawing at shattered masonry until his knuckles bled. Each breath came sharp and white in the freezing air while shoving a final slab aside and lurched forward.

His gold hooded coat lay half-frozen on the rubble and he snatched it up, shaking out ice and shards before throwing it over his shoulder and staggering toward the remnants of the wooden spiral staircase, tilted and broken. Ethan put a boot on the lowest fragment and it creaked dangerously.

He tested his weight, jaw set with grim resolve, then began climbing the splintered edges, keeping close to the unstable wall and ascending with a silent, feral urgency.

When he reached the landing, his hands clamped around your torso just before gravity claimed your frozen body.

With an hazy and distorted vision, your senses registered warmth first, hands seared against your frozen skin, the contrast so violent your lips trembled and a sharp shudder escaped you in a puff of white air.

“Shit—” he breathed, pulling you firmly against him. “You’re freezing.”

His coat unfurled around you like a as he wrapped it over your frame with frantic, shaking hands. He yanked you against his chest, cheek pressing against the solid heat of him as you felt how cold you were only by comparison.

Your breath hitched as your half-crystallized back met the sturdy barrier of his torso and pain shot upward in jagged sparks, causing involuntarily groans to come out of you.

“Stay awake,” he whispered fiercely, one hand sliding beneath your knees as he gathered your weakened form into his arms with a grunt. “Stay with me, sweetheart—don’t close your eyes.”

Air dizzying cold and as his movements jostled you gently, each step down the warped hallway dragging small, involuntary hisses from between your teeth.

He pushed open the still intact red door, shoulder slamming into it before it gave way. The room on the other side was cracked and frostbitten but livable, still intact enough for shelter. Further down the hallway he opened the room of the same room he had woken up hours ago, the heavy bed dominating the center, blankets thrown half-off, mattress soft and sunken from years of use.

Ethan lowered you onto the bed with an almost reverent care and the mattress dipped beneath you, giving way in a warm, embracing swell. Despite your pain, the softness made your limbs slacken, skull sinking into the pillow and decently substituting Ethan’s warm chest.

The dirty blonde man stood beside you, cursing under his breath as he fumbled with the lamp. The bulb flickered faintly, then died again and he muttered something sharp in tightening panic as he checked the wiring, then even tried tapping the lamp’s base as if sheer willpower could coax it to life.

“E—Ethan…” you mumbled and his head snapped toward you instantly.

He was at your side in two strides, dropping to one knee as a large hand settled on your shoulder, so warmth it seeped through the material of his coat. You forced yourself upright with a groaning breath, body trembling as you sat and chest heaving.

“Don’t force yourself,” he murmured, thumb brushing your collarbone, voice low and vibrating and dripping with care and worry.

It furthered as you shook your head, leaning toward him, breath coming in short, delicate pants. Shaking and numb fingers finding the dark sleeve of his shirt and clenched weakly, shape of his pectoral beneath your palm radiated heat that hit your senses like a drug.

Breathing out a soft, involuntary sound instinctively and almost pleading.

The faintest, broken whisper of need that made his eyes widened, blue irises trembling, pupils expanding with something heated and helpless.

Slowly, almost disbelievingly, his hands came to your hips, fingers spreading across the cold curve of them, pulling you closer with a gentleness that contrasted the tremor running through his arms.

The bed creaked under his weight as he pressed one knee into it first, then crawled nearer and closer until he was right beside your trembling body.

Reacting before even understanding the motion to cling on him, arms wrapped tight around him with sudden, desperate force. Your face burrowed into the crook of his neck, breath warm but unstable against his skin. One cold and trembling hand rose to cradle his cheek, the other arm slid around his shoulders to pull him flush to your body, legs instinctively intertwining with his for warmth and stability.

In a way you felt hollow, moth-born instincts scrambled for the nearest anchor and heat to cling on.

He became, without you fully realizing, the only flame left in your world.

Nuzzling into him, cold nose brushing the warm column of his throat as his breath hitched, desperate relief tinged with something feverish.

When your lips barely brush his skin a low to feed on him, a guttural moan leaves his mouth, hands tightening around your sides to further pull you fractionally closer, eyes squeezing shut.

It took a couple of minutes before you even realize your fingers are working again.

Only clinging at first, pressed to Ethan’s chest like something half-dead dragged out of a frozen lake, numb hands bunched in his dark shirt, face tucked into the warm line where neck meets shoulder.

Every pull at his skin tastes like iron and heat while drinking slow, mind fogged and set in a survival instinct than conscious choice.

Frost recedes the more time passes, the frozen edges soften and skin loses that glassy, brittle feel. Each swallow trickle outward as warmth slide down your throat and spreads everywhere.

His arm is iron around your waist, heat shocking and almost painful against how cold you were. You can feel his heartbeat directly under your mouth, laboring, then stuttering and speeding up in a way that has nothing to do with fear.

You don’t notice when your legs move at first.

Instinct reaches out before your brain catches up, thighs hooking around his hips to lock him, feet pressing into the backs of his legs when a shiver rocks through you. The position pulls you closer, slots you more tightly against him, dragging your weight higher so your chest aligns with his and the whole line of your body molds to his front.

He grunts, a low startled sound and his hands automatically adjust with one sliding lower to grab the underside of your thigh, fingers spreading wide, the other flattening between your shoulder blades, palm hot through his coat.

Strength trickles back in slow but relentless waves and he feels it too, judged by how his grip changes and the way all the air around shifted.

That familiar, delicate drift, particles that start to shed now heavier and slower in the air, faint iridescence catching what little light the ruined room still offers.

They fall around the two of you in a lazy shimmer like upside-down snowfall.

You’re too close not to breathe your own dust and he is too close not to be drowning in it.

The line between survival and desire is this thin, vasodilators flood his system, thawing sluggish blood vessels and opening them wide. Thermogenic peptides hit his nerves like someone stoked a fire directly under him skin.

Heat blooms inside you so fast it’s almost dizzying while you’re smushed against his body, then flushes outward into his brain. Ethan’s cheeks start to burn almost feverish red and your lips, stain-dark and still slick from his blood, tingle with the urge to drag across more of him, leaving red trails.

He felt like a furnace beneath your body and Ethan’s whole body goes oddly still for a heartbeat.

Then you feel the shiver run through him, big frame hitching like someone dropped a live wire into his nervous system, fingers tightening at your hip and thigh in an almost involuntary spasm. The hand low on your leg curls enough to dig his blunt nails into your skin through the fabric.

“Nh—” it’s only half a breath forced out of him as his head tips forward and leans in, forehead coming to rest against yours, breath hot and ragged, the tip of it shivery-cool where frost still clings to your skin.

His eyes are wide open, pupils blown dark, blue irises reduced to thin rings around that black hunger. Every mold cells in his body reacts to the chemical cocktail hanging in the air born from your emotions, feedback amplifying every stray sensation his nerves pick up.

“Fuck,” he rasps, because of course Ethan Winters swears right when his self-control evaporates. “You’re… you’re warming up. That’s… good. That’s good, sweetheart.”

Down below, there’s no hiding what’s happening to him as you feel it a thick, insistent pressure nudging against the underside of you from the front, trapped by layers of denim and your own clothes, but impossible to miss.

Heat radiates from that point like a second heartbeat through his jeans, a hot line pressed snugly to where your body is suddenly, achingly aware of every inch of contact.

The dust grows stronger and your biology purrs in satisfaction, pushing his circulation harder the more he inhale your scent and powder, pumping more blood and heat to the surface, making him warmer and warmer, a living furnace under your hands that makes your glands release even more dust.

Mutual feedback, the worst kind.

Your attraction and desire makes him warm, in turn making you more attracted, dust doubling down on every mold cell of his body cranking everything to eleven.

Lungs filling with the taste of his sweat and scent of blood, lips parting on unsteady calls of his name.

He likes this.

You clinging to him, his body the barrier between yours and the cold, the reason you’re not on the verge of death again.

There is nowhere else you could be right now, fully in his arms.

Finally his.

That thought flickers behind his gaze like a dangerous little ember.

You shift without thinking, hips rolling a fraction enough that the thick line of him under his jeans drags against you through your clothes.

“—hnn,” a sharp, half-strangled sound tears out of him, breath gusting against your mouth.

“Ethan…” your voice is rougher now, less fragile. The strength you were stealing from his warmth comes with a different kind of awareness, sliding down your spine and gathering low in your stomach.

Because you’re greedy your lips leave his neck.

Slowly, your mouth traces upward without detaching from his skin, moving along the tendon at the side of his throat and over the rough rasp of his five o’clock shadow, a pleasant scratch beneath your palm.

His breath stutters with every tiny drag until you tilted your head and your stained mouth settles on his.

The contact is soft for exactly half a second.

Then the dam breaks as he inhales into you sharp and that sound vibrates straight through your moths.

His lips fit to yours with a clumsy urgency that would almost be endearing if it weren’t so desperate, hand flying up from your hip to cradle the back of your head, fingers threading into your hair.

You open to him on instinct, lips parting, and he follows helplessly, tongue sliding against yours with a needy, unpracticed eagerness from hunger and the dizzy need to be closer.

Little sounds melt out of you into his mouth when his tongue tangles with yours and letting you push into him with sudden force. He shouldn’t taste this good as your whole body arcs into it.

Your hand slides up to his cheek, palm cupping the firm plane of it. His stubble scrapes your skin and you use that grip to keep him exactly where you want him. He lets you take his mouth and drive the kiss for a breathless stretch of time, his own tongue bumping clumsily against yours as he tries to match your intensity.

When your teeth catch his lower lip in a fleeting, instinctual nip, he whimpers into your mouth, a little “ah—” that makes heat flare down your spine.

His large, warm hand chooses that moment to move.

Tentative at first, fingers slide under the hem of your dark hoodie, calloused knuckles graz­ing your skin. You shiver when his hand finally, properly settles on your bare side.

God, he’s hot.

His palm covers a wide patch of skin, dwarfing the fragile, frost-kissed area he touches. The callouses rasp, fingertips drawing slow and careful circles just above your hip, it burns in the best way.

Your breath catches, noise spilling straight into his open mouth in a breathy shiver against his tongue. He swallows it whole, a low noise rumbling in his chest in answer, vibrating into your sternum where you’re pressed up against him.

“Jesus… you’re so warm now,” his breathing turns rough while muttering those words against your tongue, words slurred slightly by the way your mouths keep colliding. “Thought I was gonna lose you, now you can’t even separate from me—”

His thumb sweeps over your side again in another slow arc as a breathless chuckles leave his mouth and you can’t help the shaky call of his name that stumbles out, half plea, half praise.

The more you press yourself against him, the more obvious the hard line below becomes, that thick, trapped weight of him in his jeans drags against you through your own clothed erection, sending a hot shock of sensation up your spine.

His breath hitches, a hitched, “ah—fuck,” spilling against your lips as his pelvis rocks forward in a short, involuntary roll, chasing the contact, cheeks now scarlet deep with heat. A fine sheen of sweat shines along his hairline despite the cold eating at the room, pupils huge as he stares at your lips.

“Are you—” his voice drops to a low, gravelly rumble, the sound of him when he’s trying so hard to stay careful it’s almost painful, “are you sure about this? About… me?”

He doesn’t move away, mouth still hovering right over yours and breaths mixing, hands still on you with one curved under your hoodie, thumb pressing into the warm skin of your waist, the other supporting the back of your thigh, keeping you cradled close.

Words refuse to form in your throat, answering with motion instead when you drag your hips deliberately forward, grinding yourself into that hot, straining tent at the front of his jeans with a small, needy sound.

“Oh—” His eyes slam shut for a second as a hoarse, helpless groan spills out of him, muffled as he lunges back in to cover your open mouth with his own, swallowing whatever noise you were about to make. One of his hands slips to the small of your back, hauling you even closer while the other grips your thigh hard enough that you know you’ll feel the imprint later.

He adjusts, breath coming in uneven bursts as he gently rolls and you find yourself on your back, soft mattress creaking under your combined weight with Ethan above you. He moves slowly, constantly checking your balance, making sure your head lands safely on the pillow, body never jostled too hard.

When he settles between your legs, braced on his elbows so he doesn’t crush you, his body covers yours like a heated blanket like he wants to smother every inch of lingering cold with himself.

You’re pretty sure you’ve never felt this warm in your life.

He ducks his head, a soft huff of a laugh escaping him when your hands immediately find his shirt and tug in a disbelieving sound.

“You sure picked a hell of a time to get handsy,” he mutters, voice rough but fond, leaning down to brush his mouth over your temple, cheek and then corner of your lips, scattering soft kisses in between more desperate ones. “Easy, easy. I’ll… I’ll take care of everything, okay? Let me do it.”

You fumble at the hem of his dark hoodie, fingers clumsy and he catches your hands in his, gently prying your grip loose from the fabric, palms engulfing yours, broad, calloused and warm.

“Hey,” he murmurs, dipping his head to murmur right against your ear, the rasp of his voice sending a pleasant shudder through you, “let me. You’re still… coming back together.”

He releases your hands only to push himself up enough to strip.

Rising onto his knees, he peels the dark hoodie over his head in one smooth motion, leaving his torso bare in the pale, fractured light.

Scars, old and new, viewable now by your hazy gaze, stories written in raised lines and pale patches across his chest and abdomen, faint steam curling from his skin where your dust has settled.

Heat washes over you without any source of close contact, the air practically shimmers with all the dust going overdrive. Your vision tunnels to him and only him as he leans back down over you, bracing himself carefully so that now it’s bare skin against your clothes, his body a hot, sculpted weight over your cooler one.

His lips find your cheek, lingering there, then your jaw, going to the side of your throat. He sucks in a slow breath against your skin, inhaling your dust straight from the source.

His mind gets fuzzier, thoughts start to slur, logical ones dropping away first.

“So that’s what you like to do,” he breathes against your neck, words a low rumble that sends tingles down your spine. “Get people all dazed with your stuff, make them forget everything but you…”

Tone teasing but there’s a bite under it of jealousy knotted up with awe.

He nips lightly at your neck, nothing sharp, just the barest scrape of teeth with support from his stubble, followed by a soothing kiss.

A tiny, breathless chuckle escapes you despite everything, warmth puffing against his face where he’s hovering over your throat. You nuzzle into him on instinct, hands sliding up to brace on his bare shoulders, fingers squeezing experimentally.

“Y-you’re my favorite, though…” you manage, words soft and a little slurred with heat.

Everything in him clenches.

His breath catches, the hot exhale stuttering against your skin. Oxygen becomes irrelevant. Pain, fatigue, caution, everything else drops down the list of priorities as you shoot straight to the top.

He presses in closer, one hand sliding down your side again over his fabric and to your hip. His fingers hook there, thumb rubbing back and forth in a compulsive motion like he’s grounding himself on the fact that you are really his now, saying things like that while you’re wrapped around him.

“Favorite, huh,” he mutters, tone trying for light but the possessiveness underneath is impossible to miss.

“Good,” he adds roughly, kissing your neck again, then lower, mouth trailing heat along your pulse.

Your hands drift down of their own accord, fumbling at his belt but he catches them again.

This time his grip is a little quicker and shakier, but still gentle as he brings your fingers up and presses soft kisses to your knuckles, each peck is a promise paired with a plea.

“Let me,” he murmurs, lips brushing your skin between words. “Please. Just… let me do everything. You just… stay there and feel it, okay? I’ve got you.”

You nod again, eyes fluttering shut, trusting him in a way you haven’t let yourself trust anyone in a long time.

Your lower half shivers, with the ease of long practice and inhuman physiology, your body below the waist dissolves into a cloud of moths, clothes going with it in a dark, rusty swirl. For a moment you’re a half-formed shape on the bed, upper body solid, lower body a shapeless, fluttering mass that spills over the mattress and around Ethan’s knees.

He doesn’t flinch, just stares, awe and hunger a perfect blend in his eyes as he watches you reassemble yourself beneath him, legs and hips, all of you knitting back together bare now besides his warm coat, unburdened by the clothing that had grown too tight and constricting.

There’s nothing between you and the hungry line of his gaze now. His composure frays another inch, throat working as he swallows, tongue darting out briefly to wet his lips.

“God, you look so good…” he breathes, voice hoarse while already leaning down again, covering you with his body, careful and greedy at once.

Mouth finds your neck, kissing and sucking softly, marking paths only he will ever see. Your dazed mind barely tracks the sound of leather and metal as his hands work his belt open, the soft rasp of a zipper, the rustle of fabric as he frees himself from constricting layers.

The blunt press of heat against you a moment later makes your whole body jolt.

Can’t help the groan that rips out of you at the hot, insistent pressure lining up with your entrance, fingers clutching at his shoulders. He hushes you softly, pressing his lips to your temple, your cheek, whispering against your skin.

Your body reacted the way it always had when reality stressed it to breaking: it came apart.

From the hips down, you dissolved again.

One second Ethan was holding your legs around his waist with those large and strong hands anchoring your thighs and body snugly fitted to yours. The next, his grip closed on nothing but air as your lower half shattered into a dense, seething cloud of moths.

Dark wings exploded outward across the bed, fluttering wildly. The sudden absence made him jolt, a choked curse breaking out of him.

“Wh—hey, hey—!” His first instinct was panic of overstepping, heart hammering against your ribs, that frantic rhythm thudding into your chest.

The cloud of moths didn’t drift away, it surged toward him, swarming over his hips and waist.

“Oh—oh, Christ,” he gasped, eyes squeezing shut, head bowing over you.

Words cut off as he tried to drag in a breath and got a lungful of dust instead, your lower body had reformed again with one big difference.

His thick shaft already fully loaded deep inside your hole, stretching the tight walls the second they tried to contain him.

Breath now a ragged stutter of hot air against his skin, rasping his name in a ragged voice, not even sure if it was a plea or a warning.

He shushed you again, but it was different this time, a strained “shh…” dragged from somewhere deep in his chest, the sound trembling with the effort it took to not lose himself.

He stayed perfectly still, muscles locked to keep his hips from snapping forward, jaw clenched so hard it hurt.

One second Ethan was buried in a swarm of tiny bodies; the next he was buried in you.

When you fully solidified around him in one decisive, tight and perfect squeeze you hissed, a sharp, involuntary sound punched out of your chest, half-pleasure and half-overload.

Your back arched off the mattress, muscles pulling tight under his hands, fingers clawing at his shoulders as the abrupt fullness knocked all the air out of you. The deep pressure and stretching heat further contracted your hole around the cock clogging it.

Legs, real again, locked around his waist like iron bands, trying to adjust around the sudden reality of him.

Ethan grunted, the sound low and hoarse, ripped from somewhere almost animal. His whole body flinched, hips jerking in a tiny, uncontrollable thrust as the pressure increased even more around him.

“F-fuck,” he choked out, voice strangled. “You—hnn—”

His hands shot to your hips, fingers biting in to keep himself from surging forward too hard. His face dropped to your throat, forehead pressing into the damp skin there.

You clenched again, a reflex you couldn’t stop, muscles spasming around him as your body tried to work out what to do with so much sensation happening all at once.

“Easy, sweetheart,” he gasped into your neck, the pet name roughened by raw want. “You’re… you’re so damn tight, I— just give me a second, okay? Please.”

He was shaking with the effort it took not to move and chase the friction his body screamed for, but he held the line with a desperate stubbornness.

Prioritizing you even now.

He rolled his hips in the smallest possible circle, testing and watching your face. The motion sent a wave of pleasure through you that bordered on unbearable, mouth falling open on a soft, wrecked sound.

He lifted his head and what he saw nearly finished him.

Hair mussed, lips stained and swollen from his kisses and your own feeding, parted on shaky breaths, golden eyes heavy-lidded, pupils blown wide, lashes damp at the corners from the intensity of it all. Your cheeks were flushed, the frostbite pallor gone, replaced by a fever-warm glow that made you look impossibly alive.

And all of that was because of him.

Something dark and fiercely tender twisted in his chest.

“You’re okay?” he asked, voice low, as if you were made of glass. “Tell me if I hurt you. I mean it. I stop. No questions.”

“Just fuck me…” you breathed out, dragging him down for a kiss that said the rest you couldn’t.

That was all the permission he needed as he started to move.

Not with rough, punishing thrusts and the frantic chasing of his own release. He moved like a man handling something precious and dangerous, each slow, deliberate roll of his hips was measured out against the sounds he coaxed from you while his own muffled grunts echoed in your open mouth.

The first retreat, that small pull backward, made you whimper, a freshly exposed ache blooming where he left a little empty space inside you. The return of him sliding back in, deeper and fitting into a place that felt carved exactly for him, dragged a long, shuddering groan out of your chest, adjusting his angle by tiny degrees until the next slow push pulled a ragged cry from you.

“Yeah?” he asked, voice shaking. “There?”

You answered with your entire body, hands sliding down his back, fingers tracing the line of his spine, then gripped his shoulders hard enough that your nails left crescents in his skin. Your legs cinched tighter around his waist, hips rocking up to meet each careful thrust, trying to pull him in even deeper.

Ethan groaned, a low, desperate sound muffled as he buried his face in your neck again, teeth finding the salt-slick skin there while pounding with slow but steady roll that let you feel every inch of him, enjoying the filling of that fullness he brought over and over again.

Your dust thickened until it felt like you were both submerged in it, motes shining faintly in the stale light. Each exhale from you came out in a visible puff of shimmering warmth that wrapped around his head and shoulders. He breathed you in with every gasp, every groan and whispered curse.

His own pleasure built, unavoidable but kept on a tight leash the more his thick length filled and remodeled your body and mind for him only.

He paid more attention to the tiny tells in you like how your thighs trembled, hips starting to chase his without you realizing and the pitch of your voice when you said his name.

He sped up, bed creaking softly under the new force of his movements, old wood protesting. Each forward drive of his hips dragged a new sound out of you, body responding with helpless honesty.

He started whispering to you between breaths. “You feel… so good,” he rasped, voice frayed. Ethan’s words came out truer and messier, shaped by awe and need more than anything else.

“Yeah, that’s it,” he coaxed, the encouragement breathy and absolutely sincere. “You’re doing so good for me. Taking me so well—”

He cut himself off with a groan when you clenched around him again, the more he gave you, the more you gave back.

He felt a shift from the way your muscles drew tight and your hold on him went almost desperate, heat building low in your body and then turned sharp.

“There you are,” he groaned, his own voice breaking. “Come on. I’ve got you—“ He angled his hips, chasing that reaction and when your head tipped back and your whole body arched off the mattress, he held you through it.

You came apart with him still deep inside you, the pleasure slamming through you so hard it almost blanked your mind, body contracting around him in tight, involuntary pulses, clenching down so hard it dragged a bitten-off shout from his throat.

Your chest heaved, fingers spasmed on his back as heat burst low in your belly and rolled outward in waves that left you shaking and gasping, your own release spill between your bodies in a hot, slick heat against his abdomen where you were pressed chest-to-chest.

Ethan didn’t flinch away from the mess; if anything, he pressed closer, like he wanted to wear the proof of what he’d done to you.

“Good… that’s it… that’s my—” he choked out, the last word lost in a broken-off sound as your body kept fluttering around him, making it increasingly impossible for him to hold back.

He forced himself to stay steady with his rhythm smooth and careful even as his own pleasure surged like a rising tide. He buried his face in your neck, teeth scraping the damp skin there, one hand slipping up to cradle the back of your head.

“Gonna—” he warned, voice shredded. “I—I can’t, you feel too—”

He didn’t finish the sentence, hips jolting in a few erratic, helpless thrusts as the tension finally snapped, a low, guttural noise tore out of him, muffled against your shoulder as all the control he’d been clinging to finally giving way.

Felt the deep, throbby pulses of his release, warmth flooding even deeper into the place where you were joined as he fills you with his warm load.

When the trembling finally eased, he didn’t pull away but stayed inside you, body still heavy and warm, weight a comforting pressure. His hands moved in slow, absentminded circles on your back and side, grounding you while your breathing gradually slowed, lips pressing aimless kisses to your temple, hairline and cheek, as if he couldn’t bear to stop touching any part of you.

“Oh, sweetheart…”

Johnny was a panting mess above you, leaning up on his elbows on the bed and watching your every move as you took his cock deeper and deeper down your throat. You looked up at him through your long eyelashes, taking in the fucked-out look on his face.

He was looking down at you with his face screwed up in pleasure. His toned chest heaved with his breaths, a whining moan at the end of each one.

His cock was hot and heavy in your mouth, throbbing between your swollen lips. Precum leaked from his tip, the heady taste on your tongue every time you swiped over his slit, which drove him crazy. His head would loll back on his shoulders as a low groan tore its way out of his chest.

You splayed your hands across his thick thighs, bobbing your head a little faster, making sure to give every part of him plenty of attention. He loved when you were sloppy on it like this. Johnny raked his hand through your hair, pushing you down all the way and holding you there until you couldn’t breathe.

“God-“ he choked, his eyes falling closed. “Oh, jesus baby, that’s- h-oh- oh, god-“

He let go and you pulled off of him, gasping for air. You took only a moment to compose yourself before you were sinking back onto him, sending Johnny flopping back onto the pillows with a groan.

You cradled his balls in your right hand, gently massaging them as you took him down slowly, focusing your tongue along the underside of his cock. His thighs trembled, muscles clenching.

“Fuck,” he whined. “Sweetheart, I- I’m so close, I’m so close. Wanna be inside you. Please.”

You lifted off of him with a pop, his cock twitching weakly as it was left wanting. Your lips were shining, wet with saliva. “Well, since you asked so nicely…”

Johnny laughed breathlessly and reached for you, pulling you on top of him and drawing a giggle from your lips. Your naked body landed on top of his, your chests pressed together as he tangled his hand in the back of your hair and dragged you down into a playful kiss.

Your lips moved together like they had always known one another. You straddled Johnny’s waist, legs on either side of his hips as you kissed him. His free hand rubbed down the smooth skin of your back and gripped your ass, making you gasp into the kiss. He chuckled.

“You’re perfect, y’know that?” he said quietly against your lips. He licked into your mouth, tasting a hint of the wine you’d had together, now forgotten across the room. A moan rumbled from his chest and against yours as your tongues rolled together, his cock pressed right up against what he wanted more than anything.

“You’re too sweet, Johnny,” you said as you broke the kiss and sat up. You rolled your hips experimentally, his cock dragging through your soaked folds. Johnny gasped, his hands flying to grip your hips tightly.

“Shit,” he hissed. “I can’t take it anymore. I need to fuck you right now.”

You moaned, you could feel his impressive length pressing insistently against you. He needed it bad tonight - you loved it when he got like this. Sometimes he was so needy and desperate, sometimes he was dominant and in control. Tonight was the former, and you weren’t complaining. “D’you want me to ride you, baby?”

He nodded. “Yeah. Fuck yeah.”

You lifted yourself up on your knees and Johnny reached beneath you to line his cock up with your hole. His thick tip was pressed tight against you, his blue eyes looking up into yours with so much fiery lust behind them it took your breath away.

You mentally prepared yourself, then lowered, sinking down onto Johnny’s thick cock slowly. His head dropped back and he let out a loud groan - you wouldn’t be surprised if the whole Baxter Building could hear him. Johnny was never shy about letting you know how good you felt.

He rocked his hips up into you right away, feet planted on the bed and his thigh muscles working as he pumped up into you. He was so deep already, your head tossed back as you cried out.

“Johnny! Oh my god-“

He was fucking you so hard from beneath you, you forgot you were supposed to be doing the work, too lost in your own pleasure. Eventually Johnny tugged on your hips, encouraging you to move. “Ride me, sweetheart. Please.”

You rocked your hips slowly at first, grinding down against him. You rested your hands on Johnny’s chest, rolling against him, the hair at the base of his cock rubbing against your clit just right. It felt incredible for you, but he needed more. He grabbed your ass in each of his large hands and started guiding you up and down, lifting you before letting you fall back down onto him.

The first drop back down onto him made Johnny’s back arch, a loud moan filling the air. The muscles in his neck and shoulders were straining, his pink, kiss swollen lips parted in a pretty O. Oh, he was needy.

You set a steady pace bouncing on his cock, Johnny watching your every move with intense focus. Your tits bounced with your movements - he couldn’t decide whether he’d rather look at that or the way his cock was disappearing inside you.

“Jesus,” Johnny groaned. “God, yes, keep riding me like that. You’re so tight around me, so fucking hot and wet- oh-“

“Feels so good, Johnny,” you cried, your voice higher than usual. He guided you a little faster, needing more, needing to fuck you deeper and harder. His cock felt so good with you wrapped around him - he’d never felt anything so good. He thought he could stay there indefinitely.

He sat up, burying his face in your bouncing tits and groaning as he groped them with his large, warm hands. His thumb swiped over the nipple of one while his hot mouth wrapped around the other, making you gasp. He moaned unabashedly, deep and low and drawn out, loud enough for the whole city to hear.

He fell back against the pillows and grabbed onto your hips again, guiding you faster. He was getting close, you could tell by the way his muscles were clenching, the way he needed more more more, the way he started whining and babbling and praising you like you were some deity bestowing upon him pleasures like he’d never before experienced.

“That’s it, that’s it sweetheart, keep riding me like that, keep- keep- fuuuuck- oh god-“ He was gasping, whimpering, losing control as his orgasm crept up his spine like electricity. “Need you to cum, baby, because I’m not far off.”

“‘m close, Johnny,” you whined, falling down onto his cock over and over, your head tilted back, his tip pressing so deep inside you - it was sending you reeling. When he moved a hand from your hip to rub quick, small circles on your clit with his thumb, it nearly made you scream. The coil in your belly tightened and tightened and tightened-

Your pussy clenched around Johnny again and again as you came, which was almost his undoing. You were screaming and moaning his name and Johnny was trying to hold it together just a little bit longer, just a little more, he didn’t want it to be over yet but-

Flames crackled on his skin as he let out a roar of a moan, planting his feet and thrusting his hips up into you as hard as he could. You gasped, surprised by the actual fire flickering along his arched body - but you were too fucked out with his cockhead currently buried as deep in you as possible while he held you there, his cum dripping out of you and down the sides of his shaft.

You were both shaking hard as you came down. The flames disappeared and you were left with your normal not-flaming boyfriend, still holding onto your hips while he tried to catch his breath, his chest shining with sweat.

“Jesus,” you finally said, laughing lightly. Johnny joined you, breathless but chuckling at the situation. He helped you carefully pull off of him, more of the cum he’d given you dripping from your hole. His eyes zeroed in on it, and you thought you heard him whimper.

“That was incredible,” Johnny said. He reached for his bedside table and grabbed a water bottle sitting there, opening it and taking a long drink.

“Do you usually catch on fire when you have sex?” you teased.

“Only when it’s fucking incredible,” he said, giving you that charming Johnny Storm smirk. He leaned in and pressed a kiss to your lips. “You’re incredible. I love you.”

“I love you too, Johnny.” You kissed him again. You cuddled up to his side on the bed. “Is it okay that you…y’know…” Johnny had never cum inside of you like that before. Usually you used condoms, or he pulled out. 

“I can get you a morning after pill if you’re nervous,” he said quietly. “But with my powers, my DNA mutation - I’m not even sure if I can have kids. Reed and Sue have wanted them for ages and it never happened.” He shrugged sadly, still a hint of a smile on his face. “Kinda sucks, because I really wanted kids one day.”

The idea of never being able to have children with Johnny made you sad. It made your heart ache. You knew any child would be the luckiest in the world to have Johnny as their father.

“You don’t have to,” you said. “I know it's unlikely.”

Johnny kissed your temple. He knew how badly you wanted children, and he felt terrible he couldn’t give them to you. “I love you, sweetheart,” he said simply again. “I’m always gonna take care of you.”

“I love you too, Johnny.” You nuzzled into his neck, slumber catching up to your aching body. “I’m gonna take care of you, too.”

He chuckled, his chest vibrating beneath your head. He stroked your hair as you laid together and held you close.

“You are everything to me.”

“I can’t believe she’s having a baby,” Johnny laughed as you closed the door to your bedroom, still wrapping his mind around the news of his sister being pregnant. He was thrilled, that much was clear. Sue was happy, he was happy - he knew Reed would take good care of both of them. That wasn’t even a concern. They’d wanted a baby for so long. He shook his head with a smile, running a hand through his blonde hair.

“Yeah,” you said, trying to muster up as much enthusiasm in your voice as you could. “It’s really exciting!”

The truth was, your stomach was buzzing with nerves. You were beyond happy for her, but Sue announcing a pregnancy was the last thing you expected tonight - 

You had been planning an announcement for Johnny yourself.

Now, you weren’t sure what to do. You didn’t want to take over Sue and Reed’s baby news, especially with how long they’d been waiting for this. And sure, Johnny was over the moon about becoming an uncle - but how would he feel about becoming a dad? Right now?

Johnny gave you a strange look as he sat on the end of the bed, removing his shoes. “You okay? You seem…weird.”

“I’m fine!” you exclaimed, maybe with a little too much energy. “Seriously, I’m fine. It was just…a big evening.”

“Yeah,” he agreed. “But…something’s off. Are you not happy?”

“No!” you blurted too quickly. “I mean, yes, I am. It’s not that, I swear.”

You had begun to pace, fingers tangled together. Johnny was properly concerned now, leaning on his knees as he watched you. When he couldn’t take it anymore he reached out, grabbing your hand and stopping you. “Sweetheart. What’s bothering you? You know you can tell me anything.”

Unable to keep pacing with your hand in his, you felt like the news was going to burst out without your permission. “It’s nothing, Johnny, I promise.”

He pulled you down onto his lap, his arms wrapping around your waist. “What, do you want a baby now that it’s on the table?” he asked, his tone teasing. Your stomach clenched in a knot, your skin like ice.

“What?” you asked, your laugh too high, too awkward to be casual. “What are you talking about?”

“Did my sister’s announcement give you baby fever?” he teased you even more, oblivious to your internal panic. “We’ll have one one day, baby. I wanna get married first, wait until things feel…right.”

That made you feel even worse. Would he not want the baby now? The way he’s talking now makes it sound like he doesn’t want one. But you were pregnant. It was happening whether it was the right time or not.

You felt tears brimming in your eyes. Your gaze was locked on the floor, avoiding Johnny entirely. When you didn’t laugh or joke back, he moved to look at your face better, seeing your wet eyes and trembling lower lip.

“Jesus, baby, what’s going on?” he asked, placing his hands on either side of your face. “I was just messing around. What’s bothering you so much?”

Your hormones were really getting to you. You weren’t much of a crier, not usually, which was what had Johnny extra freaked out as you sobbed in his lap. He rubbed your arms up and down soothingly, his warmth transferring to you. “Baby, please. Just tell me what’s wrong so I can help. I hate seeing you like this and feeling helpless.”

You shook your head. “I can’t. I…I can’t.”

“You can’t what?” The longer you went without just telling Johnny what was wrong, the worse his panic got. “Sweetheart, please. Just tell me, you- you can tell me anything, you know that.”

“I just…” you sniffled, wiping at your eyes. Johnny wiped a stray tear away with his thumb. “This isn’t how I wanted this to go.”

“How you wanted what to go?” He was so lost. “Baby, please, just tell me. I’m so confused. You know I’m not good at…figuring feelings out. If I did something wrong, please just tell me.”

You shook your head. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Johnny.” You met his blue eyes, your own red and puffy. It broke his heart. “I just…I’m sorry. I’ve had a lot going on.”

“Like what?” he asked. “Let me help. Please. You don’t have to do anything alone.” He squeezed your hip. “I’m your family. We’re your family now.”

A deep breath. You had to tell him. And he knew enough now to be scared - it had to be now. “Johnny…”

“Tell me, sweetheart,” he said. He was looking right into your eyes, you were surprised he couldn’t read your thoughts straight out of your head. Those eyes were so intense, they could have fooled you. “Let me in.”

“I…” He squeezed your hands in his. You took comfort in his touch. “Johnny, I’m pregnant.”

It was like time stopped. Neither of you moved an inch - or even breathed. Johnny just kept staring at you as if you hadn’t said anything. Then, finally - “Are you serious?”

You nodded. You were terrified as you watched him, waiting for his reaction. He looked like he was processing the words, like they hadn’t fully set in yet. Then-

“Really? A little Storm baby? Right now?” he grinned - but his mouth dropped when something else occurred to him. “And they’ll have a built-in best friend!”

“You’re happy?” you asked. Relief flooded your veins, but you were still shaking from the anxiety. “You want this?”

“What do you- of course I want this,” he said, laughing like he couldn’t believe what you’d said. He rubbed your upper arms, warming your entire body. “Who cares if we’re not married yet? This is the best news. We’ve gotta tell everyone right now.”

“Hold on,” you said, laughing lightly. Johnny had surprised you - he looked ecstatic. You had been worried for nothing. “Sue just announced, I don’t want to take away from her moment. They tried for a long time.”

Johnny considered your words. “She’s going to be happy for us,” he said.

“I know she will be.” His blue eyes were shining, the excitement physically visible in them. “But this is her moment. I don’t want to take that away from her and Reed.”

Despite your words, he still couldn’t wipe the huge grin off his face - he was happy enough at the idea of becoming an uncle, but a father too? This was one of the best days of his life. “Okay. We’ll wait. But this is the best. Who could have predicted me and my sister having babies at the exact same time?”

“It is pretty crazy,” you said, your voice nervous. You were still wrapping your mind around the situation yourself. You’d only known for two days, and had spent those worrying yourself sick over Johnny’s reaction. You had finally worked up the courage, but the news of Sue’s pregnancy coming out at Sunday dinner was the last thing you expected.

You knew that, eventually, this would be amazing. Two cousins so close to the same age were bound to be close. But you worried about how Sue and Reed would feel. Would they be hurt? Would they resent you and Johnny for getting pregnant so easily? By accident?

The anxiety made you sick. Even when you changed into your pajamas and climbed into bed with Johnny, your boyfriend spooning against your back with his hand already resting protectively on your stomach - you worried. Johnny snored softly in your ear and you thought about how you might have just ruined everything in your new family.

It was two weeks after telling Johnny about the pregnancy, and Sunday dinner had once again rolled around. You were content to keep the secret for a while longer still, but Johnny was driving you crazy about it. Every day he asked when you could announce, every day he begged you to say yes.

You’d finally agreed. Now Johnny was practically bouncing off the walls, excited for dinner. He was dressed handsomely, a button down shirt with dark blue pants. You had been suffering from the worst morning sickness the past week, and only had the energy to dress in an oversized t-shirt and leggings.

He couldn’t wipe the smile off his face as you ate, and the others definitely noticed, looking at him strangely. Finally, as dinner was wrapping up, Sue spoke up.

“What’s got you smiling like that?” she asked her younger brother as she helped gather dirty plates, Johnny trailing behind her with more dishes. “You look like you have some good news.”

Johnny beamed at you - you mustered up a half hearted smile in return, but in reality your heart was beating out of your chest, your throat felt like it was closing. You’d hardly said a word all evening and didn’t have much of an appetite, most of your plate untouched. With the moment now here, you thought the little you had eaten might make a reappearance.

“I do, actually,” Johnny said, grabbing the box of Lucky Charms off the counter despite having just eaten. He grabbed some and popped them in his mouth.

Sue, Reed, and Ben looked at him with more concern than anything, exchanging a look with their eyebrows drawn together. That made you even more sick.

“What is it?” Reed asked. Johnny had everyone’s full attention now.

“Well,” he said, trying somewhat to contain his face-splitting smile. He sat the box down and walked back to where you sat, standing behind you. He placed his hands on the back of your chair. “We have something exciting to tell you guys.” He glanced down at you, then back at his family. “We’re having a baby.”

It was so silent, only the soft whirrs of Herbie as he bustled around filled the air. Reed and Ben looked at Sue - it was tense. Johnny’s smile began to falter.

“Wow,” she finally said, and it was obvious that was the last thing they expected Johnny to say. Her face was stone, and you felt your heart actually crack when you noticed her eyes becoming glassy. “That’s…wow.”

Reed reached over and took his wife’s hand, looking at her like he wanted to read her mind. She was unreadable, however.

You looked up at Johnny. He looked back down at you, the sudden understanding of your concerns now all over his face. He looked back at his sister, eyes darting to Ben and Reed before meeting hers again. “Are you…upset?”

“No!” she said quickly. “No. I’m not upset. It’s just…you know, it’s a lot.” She smiled, although it seemed a little forced. She let go of Reed’s hand and stood, approaching her brother and wrapping him in a tight hug.

Johnny glanced at you, but hugged her back. “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked her quietly.

“Of course I’m okay,” she said. “I just…Johnny, I can’t believe it.” They parted and she looked at each person in the room. “What are the odds, huh?”

“A little reckless maybe, don’t you think?” 

You all looked at Reed. He wasn’t smiling. The look on his face was completely unamused, serious. “Was it an accident?”

No one said anything. The question hung in the air, although each person there already knew the answer.

“Why does that matter?” Johnny finally asked.

“Have you even thought of the repercussions? The potential consequences? Dangers?” Reed asked. He gestured to you, towards your belly, and you covered it with your arms. “The child’s father has cosmically compromised DNA. You have powers, and she doesn’t. Have you thought of what might happen to her carrying your child?”

Silence. Neither you nor Johnny had even considered that. Johnny looked down at you with something a little like panic in his eyes.

“That- what do you mean?” he stuttered. “Could something happen to her?”

“We don’t know what could happen,” Reed said. “That’s why you were reckless.”

“We just don’t know if we’re going to have a fire baby to worry about,” Ben said lightly. The idea made you cringe.

“You don’t know what’s going to happen with two parents with powers, either,” Johnny said. “This is new territory for all of us.”

“I know,” Reed said. “I’ve been developing a device to scan the baby and check for abnormalities.” He nodded to Sue, then you. “I can check them both.”

Johnny looked at you. The sweat on your brow and the trembling in your hands were immediately noticeable - you were scared shitless. He crouched down next to your chair, speaking quietly for you only. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

“Could something really happen?” you asked him. “To the baby? To me?”

His mouth opened to tell you no, of course not. You’re safe. I would never let anything happen to either of you. But the truth was that he had no idea - no one did. And if something bad did happen, he thought, it would be his fault. He did this to you.

“I don’t know, baby,” he said. “But I can promise you I will do everything in my power to keep you both safe. And Reed is gonna make sure there’s nothing going on while that little Storm’s brewing.” A goofy grin took over his face as he placed a hand on your belly.

“Oh, come on,” Ben groaned, unamused by the pun.

Johnny stood. “Whatever you have to do to make sure she’s going to be okay,” he said to Reed, “that they’re both going to be okay- do it. I can’t lose-“ He stopped, taking a deep breath. “I can’t let anything happen to her.”

“Getting this machine built is my top priority,” Reed said. “I promise you, I’m going to do everything I can for both of them.”

You were relieved when everyone started returning to their rooms. You were exhausted, still felt sick, and were now stressed beyond belief. Johnny gave Herbie a scratch on the head - “Night, Herbert.” - to which he beeped contentedly.

As you were about to leave with Johnny, Sue stopped you. She hurried over, but once she reached you, she wasn’t sure what to say. Eventually, she smiled at you apologetically, grabbing your upper arms and running her hands down until they rested on your elbows.

She said your name, then looked at Johnny, giving him a look that said Some privacy, please? Johnny held his hands up, backing away.

Sue’s attention now fully on you, you felt nervous once again. You’d always liked Sue - you and Johnny had been dating a year now, and she had been nothing but kind to you since you’d known her. But this was a different circumstance entirely.

“I wanted to tell you congratulations,” she said. “And apologize for the way I reacted when you told us the news. It just- it shocked me. It was a shock. Reed and I- well, you know.” She smiled softly. “But I really am happy for you and Johnny. He’s going to be a great dad. I should have told him so.”

Warmth spread through your veins, comfort - like a hug from Johnny himself. Relief. “You don’t have to apologize,” you assured her. “I understand how you felt. I’m sorry we kind of…made you share the most important event of your life.” You grimaced - you felt horrible about it, even though you hadn’t in any way meant to get pregnant.

“I don’t mind sharing with you and my baby brother,” she said. “Don’t worry, I’ve shared a lot with him over the years.”

You laughed lightly. “Thank you, Sue. And I am really, really happy for you. I know you’ve wanted a baby for a long time.”

“Thank you.” She pulled you into a tight hug. “You’re going to be an incredible mother.”

With the news out amongst the family and your bumps becoming increasingly difficult to hide, it was time to come out and tell the press. You announced with a spread on a magazine cover, the Four with two empty baby seats.

The public debated whether you and Sue would have boys or girls. Most seemed to think you were both having boys, but whatever the stance, everyone was passionate about theirs. There were articles, polls, bets being exchanged.

“The countdown continues as the Fantastic Four prepare to welcome two new members to the family,” the reporters were saying. “Preparations inside the Baxter Building are well underway!”

And they were. Herbie was busy baby proofing the entire building, flitting around and making sure everything was safe for the new arrivals. He was just as excited as the rest of you. He put plug covers in all the sockets, moved sharp objects out of the way, installed locks on the cabinets, placed baby gates - much to Ben’s annoyance.

“The question on everyone’s mind is - will the babies be born with superpowers?” 

It was true - everyone wondered. Even you. Even Johnny.

You thought back to Ben’s joke. What if you really did have a little fire baby to worry about? The idea of your child bursting into flames terrified you - it was still weird enough when Johnny did it.

The public wasn’t quite as nice to you as they were to Sue and Reed. Between a married couple who had been hoping for a baby for years, and a couple who had been dating for a year and got pregnant by accident - yeah, it wasn’t hard to imagine who they favored. As if it were a competition and not your family.

Gossip magazines had a lot to say about you in particular. Johnny was beloved, but you? You were just some girl who came out of nowhere, took the world’s most eligible bachelor off the market, then overshadowed the pregnancy of everyone’s favorite family.

There was a lot said about your intentions, like that you were only with Johnny for money and fame. They speculated that Sue secretly hated you. They implied you had trapped him with this pregnancy. How could the public be so happy for Johnny while being so cruel to you?

Johnny always told you to ignore it, that it wasn’t worth even keeping up with what those people were saying. But that was impossible for you - it’s like you had to know. Every time you passed a gossip mag at the store, you had to read the cover. You couldn’t help it.

“Those people don’t know anything,” Johnny would say. “Seriously. They have nothing better to do but make up fake drama. It’s sad. Please don’t pay attention to them, sweetheart.” A lopsided grin. “You’re my future wife. The love of my life. The mother of my child. No one is going to change that.”

You got to where you didn’t even want to leave the building anymore because you’d be followed by reporters. You were already struggling enough with the way your body was beginning to change, the last thing you needed was an unflattering photo of yourself ending up on the cover of another magazine, speculating if you’re having twins based on the size of your bump.

Johnny hated to see you isolate yourself. He was constantly trying to convince you to leave the building, to at least go on a walk with him. You’d agree some of the time, but not as often as he’d like.

“You and the baby need fresh air,” he’d plead. “It’s not good to stay cooped up in here all day.”

You would be cuddled in bed like a burrito at 2pm. “I just don’t feel up to it, Johnny.”

Johnny frowned. “It hurts to see you like this,” he said softly. “You’re depressed, sweetheart. I hate that these people are getting to you. It makes me so…” He looked away from you, flames combusting on his skin. You jumped - it was still so strange.

“Sorry,” he said, the flames disappearing. He smiled sheepishly at you. “It’s just…I wish I could do something. I wish I could do more. I’m not used to feeling helpless.” He rubbed his hand over your back, and you let out a deep sigh. “Just want my girl to be happy and safe.”

The gossip slowed down eventually as your pregnancy progressed, much to your relief. Despite the way they’d treated you, the public was absolutely beside themselves at the thought of Johnny and Sue both having babies. You were even asked to do a photo shoot with her for a magazine - that was completely out of your depth, but you’d done it.

You felt so small standing next to Sue Storm. Like, who cares about me?

Your family did, and they showed you that every day. Before long, you were feeling more like yourself again, walking around in public with your bump proudly visible, hand on it protectively. The public warmed up to you. You were really becoming a part of the family - in everyone’s eyes.

“Can I carry that for you, sweetheart?”

You turned, seeing Johnny jogging up to you. He reached for the laundry basket in your hands.

“Oh, sure,” you said, handing it off to him. He grinned - he always did have the most charming smile. It made your stomach fill with butterflies, just like the first time you’d seen him in person.

He followed you back to the bedroom with the basket, placing it down on the bed. He lifted a shirt from the top of the pile and began folding it.

“Babe, you don’t have to do that,” you said, placing your hand on his arm. He turned to look at you, those blue eyes so close to your own, it nearly took your breath away.

“I don’t mind,” he said. “I don’t want you to have to do it. You should rest. You’ve still been so sick.”

“That’s sweet, Johnny, but no, seriously. Herbie usually does it.”

Johnny stopped, his cheeks tinged pink. “Oh. Yeah. That’s right, isn’t it?”

You giggled. “What’s gotten into you?”

Johnny sat on the bed, reaching for your hand and pulling you down to sit on his lap. His hand settled on your four months pregnant belly. “Nothing,” he said. “I just wanna take good care of my girl. You know there’s two things I love-“

“Yeah, yeah, Johnny loves space, Johnny loves women,” you teased. Johnny chuckled.

“Johnny loves you,” he said. “He loves his girl,” he rubbed his hand across your small bump, “and he loves whoever this one is going to grow to be.”

“Will this tell us if everything’s okay?” you asked, standing nervously in Reed’s lab. Sue stood to the side, there for moral support - they were all concerned about you especially.

“It should,” Reed said. “I’ve developed and tested it extensively, and ran some tests on Sue just this morning.” He looked at his wife. “It did not detect any anomalies.”

That was a relief - but it didn’t mean you would have the same result.

You wished Johnny was there. But he was busy, and he had been bugging Reed about the new space suits so relentlessly, you know he certainly didn’t miss him.

“Everything is going to be fine,” Sue said softly, sitting her hand on your shoulder. “It’s quick and painless.”

You nodded. You were scared, but you would also do absolutely anything this baby needed. You laid down on the cool table. There was nothing visibly interesting about it - it was a flat white table with a piece that arced over your stomach.

Sue stood by as Reed worked the machine. It emitted a bright light, scanning over your stomach. The machine began printing all kinds of…graphs and measurements. You had no idea what you were looking at. You often felt a little inadequate in a family full of geniuses. You were just…you. No powers, no fancy degree. Never been to space. Just a girl who’s boyfriend/baby daddy flies and occasionally combusts.

Reed and Sue both examined the results that were printing rapidly. Reed wrote some things down, while Sue pointed over his shoulder, saying some things too quietly for you to hear. It made you nervous.

They still hadn’t told you anything when Reed shut the machine off. You looked at both of them. “So? Is the baby…is everything okay?”

They exchanged a look. “There’s…some kind of anomaly,” Reed said carefully. Your body went cold. “I don’t know what it is. I’m going to have to do more tests, but for now, I need you to relax. I don’t see anything that has me immediately concerned.”

“But you just said-“

“I know.” He looked at you seriously, Sue hovering behind him. “Just because there’s some kind of anomaly doesn’t mean it’s necessarily…bad. The baby’s father is an anomaly himself.” He smiled in a way that felt like he was trying to comfort you. “I don’t want you to worry. I’m going to keep running tests.”

Your mind was spinning for the rest of the day. When you saw Johnny that evening, his brow immediately creased, knowing something was on your mind right away. “What’s going on? You look…bothered,” he asked as he ate Lucky Charms straight from the box. You hadn’t even had dinner yet.

“It’s just…” you sighed. “Reed said he found some kind of anomaly on the test.”

His concern visibly deepened. “What kind of anomaly?”

“I don’t know,” you said. “That’s all he said. That there was an anomaly but not to worry about it because he’s going to run more tests.”

Johnny looked lost deep in his own head. His brow was furrowed as his mind filled with a million thoughts you’d never understand. Suddenly, he stood. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you going?” you asked him - he was already at the door.

“To the lab,” he said simply.

And he was gone.

“What do you mean there are anomalies?” Johnny asked his brother in law as he stormed into the lab. Reed turned from the chalkboard, only mildly surprised. “What does that mean? What kind of anomalies?”

Reed sat his chalk down. “Hi, Johnny. Good to see you.”

Johnny looked at the machine as he passed it, his hand rubbing over the top of it. He picked up a long strip of paper with your results on it, but he wasn’t sure what exactly he was looking at. He looked back at Reed. “What kind of anomalies?” he asked again. “Reed, be straight with me.”

Reed sighed. “I don’t think it’s anything too serious. I want to start with that,” he said. “But there’s something…off. I need to do more tests, that’s the truth. I don’t have any concrete answers for you. I’m sorry.”

Johnny shook his head. “What about Sue?”

“I haven’t detected anything from Sue.”

“So it’s just my child,” he said bitterly. “Two parents with two different powers are fine, but my powers alone are enough to mess things up?”

“We don’t know that anything’s messed up,” Reed explained patiently. “I need you to calm down, Johnny. There’s no reason to panic right now.”

“Right now?” he said. “So I panic later?”

“That’s usually how it goes,” Reed joked - but Johnny was unamused. “Look. If I find something that seriously concerns me, you two will be the first to hear it. I promise. For now, I need you to trust me.”

Johnny hated feeling helpless. Even now, he wasn’t angry - he was scared. Terrified. But what could he do besides trust his brother?

“Okay,” he conceded. “I’ll try.”

Reed clapped him on the shoulder. “Fatherhood is terrifying,” he said. “Super powers or not. You’re right where you’re supposed to be. Worrying about your family is normal. I know you love them both.”

“More than anything,” Johnny said quietly. “I love them so much it…” He rubbed his chest. “God, it hurts.”

A knowing smile crossed Reed’s face - because he knew the exact feeling.

“Shit,” Johnny hissed, sucking his pinched finger into his mouth. “Baby, can you hand me the screwdriver?”

You leaned over, hand on your swollen belly as you grabbed the screwdriver from the floor with great effort. You were huffing by the time you handed the tool to your boyfriend, and he turned around, giving you a winning smile.

“We could have let Herbie do this, you know,” you said. “That’s what Reed did.”

Johnny waved you off. “I’m going to put my own child’s crib together myself.” He nodded towards the rocking chair in the corner. “You should sit down.”

He didn’t have to tell you twice. Your feet were killing you. You waddled over to the glider, sitting down carefully. Your feet up on the foot stool, you watched Johnny building the baby furniture.

“Only a couple months left,” Johnny mused. “Getting close.”

“Yep,” you agreed. You looked down at your round bump as you rubbed your hand over it affectionately. “Are you coming with me to the lab after this for Reed’s test?”

“Of course,” he said instantly. “I feel bad I haven’t made the others.”

The thought filled you with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. It was still such an abstract thought, the baby in your belly. You knew they were real, and they were growing and healthy - you could feel them most of the time, sticking an arm against your spine or kicking you so hard in the bladder you had to run - it was a comfort, although uncomfortable.

“Are you nervous?” you asked him. He screwed in the leg of the crib and turned back to face you.

“To have the baby?” he questioned. “Honestly? Yeah. I’m scared out of my mind. But I’m excited.” His blue eyes glittered with it. He was practically buzzing out of his skin - you were surprised his hair wasn’t on fire.

“I hope they look like you,” you said lightly, your fingers dancing over the bump ever so gently, lost in the cloud of your thoughts.

“Me?” He gave the railing of the crib a shake, making sure the finished thing was sturdy before he looked at you again. “Why?”

You looked at him like he was dumb. “Have you seen yourself?”

Johnny’s cheeks tinted pink. “Okay, Ms. Flaming Hearts Club,” he teased. “Were you the one who kept sending me those filthy love poems with the lipstick prints?”

“You caught me,” you grinned.

Johnny shook his head, laughing. Unfortunately, you remembered those poems from his mystery admirer vividly. They were far from family friendly.

He stood, moving to a box next to the completed crib. He opened it and started pulling out space themed decorations - a mobile of the planets, glow in the dark stars, a blanket printed with constellations. You stood with some effort and joined Johnny by the side of the crib.

He lifted the mobile, installing it above the crib. You watched him work quietly - he was careful and precise. When it was hung perfectly, he smiled down at you.

“It’s coming together,” you said. Almost all the baby prep tasks had been completed - the Baxter Building was completely prepared for the two newest members.

Johnny looked a little pale. “Yeah,” he agreed. “Almost time.” He was quiet. He rested both hands on your bump, now large and very much in the way. His thumbs rubbed over it while he looked down with all the affection in the world on his face.

“I hope they don’t have powers.”

The statement caught you off guard. Johnny had never said anything like that before, and you had just assumed he’d want the baby to be like him. But now his words told a different story, one coming from a place of love - and anxiety.

“Why?” you asked softly. You got the vibe it was a sensitive subject for him.

“I just…” he sighed. “I want them to have a normal life. Having powers…it comes with an expectation, a responsibility. I didn’t ask to have powers. It just happened to me.” You were quiet. You hadn’t known Johnny before the accident, and he had never talked about it. You let him continue.

“I don’t want their life decided for them like that,” he went on. “I want them to be able to do and be whatever they want to be. Not born in a Fantastic Four suit.” He smiled crookedly. “Metaphorically speaking, of course.”

“I can understand that,” you said. The baby moved beneath Johnny’s hand, giving him a strong kick. He smiled. “I just want them to be healthy and happy. And if you think having powers would prevent that, then I agree with you.”

“I do think that,” he said, quiet. You wondered if he had thoughts about his own powers he’d never spoken aloud. “I want them to have a good life. An easy life.”

He gazed into your eyes, like he was reading you from the inside. His hand came to rest on your cheek. “You’re going to be the best mom, you know,” he said, so quietly. “I know we didn’t mean for this to happen right now…” He traced his thumb over your bottom lip, and you let out a short gasp. “But there is no one I’d rather be having a baby with. This baby is going to be so lucky to have you.” 

Herbie hurried in at that moment with a basket of freshly washed and folded baby clothes, saying a little “Hello,” as he sat the basket down and began putting the clothes away. Johnny scratched the robot on the top of the head.

“Thanks, Herbert, you’re a lifesaver,” he said. Herbie happily beeped in response.

“Ready?” Johnny asked you as Herbie continued his work, hand on your lower back. “Let’s go check on this baby.”

Laying on the table in Reed’s lab once again, the machine doing its job, you watched Johnny’s anxiety manifest by being as annoying to Reed as possible.

“So is this test gonna give us answers this time or what?” he asked, pacing next to where you laid. He was giving you anxiety with the way he wouldn’t stay still. Reed was trying to ignore him, Sue standing and reading the results over her husband’s shoulder.

“It should tell us more, yes,” Reed said, distracted, but he’d already been over this. He was being remarkably patient with him. But the longer he focused on the endless graphs and lines, the more nervous you and Johnny became.

Reed gripped the paper in his hands, staring at it intently. He was reading quickly, clearly thinking a thousand miles a minute. The look on his face made you nauseous - he was concentrating, and if something was going on to make Reed act like this, it was something.

“…What is it?” Johnny asked, his heart beating uncomfortably hard. “Just tell me. Is something wrong?”

“It…” Reed stopped himself, looking back over the paper. Johnny stopped next to you, and you reached for each others’ hand. “It appears as if their DNA has also been…altered,” Reed mumbled.

Quiet. “What do you mean?” Johnny asked, his voice dead serious. Not a hint of his usual goofy personality.

Reed looked up at Johnny - then at Sue, back to his paper, to you, and finally Johnny again, who was waiting. “They’ve inherited the father’s mutated DNA. They have the X-gene.”

Johnny’s eyes went wide. You looked at everyone, but no one was explaining anything. “What does that mean?” you asked, anxiety rising in your voice. Reed was about to answer, but Johnny wasn’t even looking at you. 

“So - a mutant,” Johnny said.

Another exchange of looks between Reed and Sue. “By definition…yes.”

“A mutant?” you asked, sitting up on your elbows. “What does that mean? Will they be-“ You didn’t even know what you were asking. You didn’t know what any of this meant, if it was bad news or not.

“It means they will develop powers at some point in their life,” Sue explained. “They have the X-gene exclusive to mutants.”

The information sent your head spinning. Your child would have powers after all. You hadn’t thought news like that would have upset you, but after your conversation with Johnny, you saw things a different way.

Speaking of Johnny, you looked up at your boyfriend, who was still staring at Reed, his face hard as stone. “They have powers.”

“They will,” Reed confirmed. “I don’t know when they’ll appear, or what they’ll be, but…”

Johnny abruptly pulled a chair out, sinking into it. You didn’t notice how he was shaking until he was sitting next to you, his hands intertwined in front of his mouth. He was thinking.

“It’s nothing to panic about,” Reed said. “We’ve been living with these powers for years now, and I will be performing further testing-“

“I just didn’t want this,” Johnny said simply. His words echoed through the room in the silence.

Reed closed his mouth, going back to the results, giving Johnny time. You didn’t know what to say either - was there anything you could say to make anything better? You didn’t think so. Not right now.

It was Sue who stepped forward, her left hand resting on her baby brother’s back and her right on her stomach. Johnny looked at her, and it was like they were communicating something to each other by nothing but their eyes.

“Would it make you feel better if you could see the baby?” she asked him gently.

Your lips parted in surprise - she could make that happen? - but Johnny looked up at his sister like she’d just uttered the secret to the universe. “You’ll do that for us?”

“Of course I will,” she said. She was looking at Johnny with so much love, it made your chest feel warm. They both turned to look at you. “Would you want that?”

It took you a minute to catch up to the conversation. “What? To…see the baby?”

Sue and Johnny nodded.

“Will it…hurt?”

Johnny chuckled. “No, sweetheart. I promise it won’t.”

You laid back down on the table, your head slightly inclined. Reed and Sue moved in close on your left side, while Johnny was on your right. You didn’t know what to expect.

Carefully, Sue laid her hand against the bottom of your belly, yours resting on top. It was just a minute of anticipatory silence, and then - your body, your stomach, became invisible, revealing the baby curled snugly inside.

“Oh my god-“

The choked words, like holding back a sob, were the first thing you heard. Johnny had covered his mouth with his hand, his blue eyes wet and shining in the light of the lab. His forehead was creased, and his eyes were locked on your stomach - at the baby inside. He looked like he was about 2 seconds away from losing it.

You were right there with him. There really was a baby in there - the thoughts you’d had the past months about not being able to wrap your mind around it were out the window with the vision in front of you. That was your child. The baby’s head was pressed right against where your hand rested. They were curled up in a little ball, eyes closed. Their nose reminded you of Johnny’s. Your heart was beating out of control, and you hadn’t even noticed the tears that had spilled down your face.

Reed and Sue let the two of you take your time. Sue cradled your belly like it was the most precious thing as she used her powers on you for the first time. She was the baby’s aunt, and she had so much love for them already, it was clear in her expression.

You looked at Johnny again. He was looking at your stomach with absolute awe - you wished you could hear what he was thinking. Slowly, like he was scared, he reached out and gently laid his palm on your stomach.

“See?” Sue said “There’s nothing wrong. Nothing to worry about.” She rubbed your stomach affectionately. “She’s perfect.”

“She,” Johnny repeated, his voice a mere whisper. You hadn’t even caught that yourself, hadn’t been able to think any deeper than seeing your child finally in front of your eyes. “She.”

It hadn’t even occurred to you that with seeing your baby, you’d be finding out what you were having. That wasn’t just the baby - that was your daughter. You were lost in your own thoughts when you heard a voice next to you that surprised you.

“Hey,” Johnny said quietly. He and his daughter might as well have been the only ones in the room. “Hey, baby girl. It’s your daddy.”

Reed and a teary-eyed Sue exchanged a look.

“I can’t wait to meet you,” Johnny continued. “You have the coolest family ever. You’re going to be the coolest person ever. And…” he was quiet for a moment. “And I’m going to teach you everything I know. One day, you’ll see space, too.”

Before you could completely burst into tears, Johnny turned to look you in the eyes. There was so much unspoken between you, it felt like something tangible taking up space and air. He surged forwards and kissed you, then pressed your foreheads together.

“I love you,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ve never loved anyone like I love the both of you.”

At eight months pregnant now, you were starting to really be over the whole thing. You were aching, swollen, tired, and irritable, and it felt like Sue was handling pregnancy with a lot more grace than you were.

Not only did she come across as significantly less miserable - usually dressed nicely with her hair and makeup done while you could barely handle getting out of bed and throwing some sweatpants on - she was also just lucky. She didn’t have the crippling morning (all day) sickness like you did, and her bump was small and cute, nothing like how huge you were. You knew every pregnancy was different, but it seemed a little unfair.

Johnny had been doing everything in his power to cheer you up. He took care of you, rubbed your back and feet, put lotion on your belly, and kept you company when you were too miserable to leave the building. However your pregnancy hormones were raging, and he often got snapped at - followed by a tearful apology.

He never minded.

You were looking for him now, waddling throughout the house with a hand on your stomach for support. Something you hadn’t been prepared for was your sense of gravity being thrown off - that was strange.

He wasn’t in the kitchen, and you had just left Reed’s lab after another scan - nothing new to report. Baby girl was totally healthy and not throwing you any more shocks. She was getting so big - she’d be there before you knew it.

You huffed as you dragged yourself up the stairs, getting plenty of use out of the handrail. By the time you reached the top you were breathing heavily, having to take a minute to lean against the wall at the top and catch your breath. Finally, you made your way to the bedroom.

There he was.

Johnny stood across the room at the window. His back was to you, so you didn’t even know if he knew you were there. He was staring out, the longing nearly radiating off his body. He was looking at the spaceship.

You walked up behind him, your feet sliding against the plush carpet. He didn’t turn, which was odd - you weren’t trying to be quiet. He only got like this when he had a lot on his mind.

And he did have a lot on his mind. Now that the due date was getting closer and closer, he knew he was running out of time to be ready to be a father. This baby girl was coming whether he liked it or not. The Baxter Building would be a much different place when the babies arrived.

He thought to his own parents. After the death of his mother, his dad had tried his best with Sue and Johnny, but he saw how hard it was for him. Being a parent isn’t easy at all, and now he was about to become one. Very soon.

The thought of the baby being here filled him with an overwhelming anxiety. What if he didn’t know the first thing about being a dad? What if he was an awful one? What if he screwed his kid up? What if he got killed on a mission and left you both on your own? What if-

“Do you miss it?” you asked.

Johnny startled, snapped out of his spiraling thoughts, but he smiled when his eyes landed on you. “Space?” he asked, looking back out the window. “God, yes.”

He gestured you over, putting an arm around you. You looked out the window with him - the ship was a sight. It was massive, and it was in your backyard. Johnny looked at it often. It was his favorite part of this room.

“I always loved space,” he said. “It’s like nothing else. The most beautiful thing you’ll ever see in your life.” He looked back down at you, giving you a wink. “Well, one of them.”

You scoffed a laugh, and Johnny squeezed your shoulder. “Do you think you’ll go back one day?”

“Absolutely,” Johnny answered right away. “If I thought I would never see space again…I don’t know what I’d do.”

Space had been his first love. You had to respect it.

“Are you okay?” you asked him. “You just seem like you have a lot on your mind.”

Johnny didn’t say anything at first. You weren’t sure if he was going to answer you, but finally he sighed deeply and his lips parted, as if he was about to speak but lost the words.

“I’m okay,” he said. “We’re just, y’know, about to take a big step together. We’re about to be thrown into something we know absolutely nothing about. And it’s scary.” He chuckled lightly. “It scares me.”

“It scares me too,” you admitted. “But I know you’re going to be the greatest dad. Do you know how cool she’s going to be at school? Her dad is the Human Torch.”

Johnny laughed at that. The thing is, you weren’t wrong. These babies were being born into a family of celebrities - being born into celebrities themselves. His smile faded a little as he thought of that.

“I just…” He sighed as he thought. “I wanted her to be her own person.”

You leaned your head on his shoulder. “She will be,” you promised him. “Her life isn’t over just because she’s going to have powers. And who’s to say if she didn’t have them, she wouldn’t wish she did?” 

Johnny hasn’t considered that. “I guess that’s true.”

“The point is,” you said, “everything about parenthood is…uncertain. We don’t know who she’ll be or what she’ll be like or who she’ll grow into. But I know she’s going to love her daddy with her whole heart.” Johnny’s cheeks flushed at the title - he still wasn’t used to it yet. “She’s going to be strong and, more than anything, loved.”

He nodded, and you thought you saw him sneakily wiping his eyes. “You’re right,” he said. “I’m doing what I said I didn’t want to happen. I’m deciding what she wants for her.” He scoffed lightly. “Is it always going to be this hard?”

“Harder, I think,” you said jokingly - but it was the truth. Parenthood would only get more and more challenging. “Who knows. Maybe one day she’ll be on that ship with you.”

Another thought that Johnny hadn’t even allowed himself to consider. But with the idea in his head, he couldn’t help the smile that spread across his lips. “That would be…”

“Your dream?” you teased. “She’ll probably end up a genius like the rest of her family and leave me the only normal boring human.”

Johnny turned to you swiftly, placing his hands on either side of your face. “Don’t talk about yourself like you’re nothing special,” he said firmly. “Because that’s not true. You are smart. You don’t have to be a damn scientist or astronaut for me to think you’re one of the smartest people I’ve met.”

You looked at him skeptically, your eyebrows raised. “You know how many scientists, engineers, and physicists you know?”

He smiled. “That doesn’t mean anything. Doesn’t mean they’re smart.”

“Kinda does.”

“You’re missing the point.” He kissed your forehead. “I don’t want to hear you talking like you’re nobody. That couldn’t be less true. You’re everything.”

You looked down. “It’s just hard not to feel useless in a house full of superheroes and a very productive and cute robot.”

“Well, I can say for certain that you’re cuter,” he said. You giggled as he leaned in abruptly and kissed your cheek, his fingers tickling your sides. You laughed, fighting him off, pushing him away as he only pulled you closer. He covered your face in kisses when he finally caught you.

“I love you,” he said. “God, I love you. You’re the most incredible woman I’ve ever met. I can’t believe you’re mine.”

Later that day, you were in the kitchen with the family. Herbie carved a pumpkin, Ben was working on a meringue, and you were helping Sue set the table.

You looked up as Johnny stormed in, grabbing a box of Lucky Charms. He was clearly in a bad mood.

“Hey,” Ben greeted him, before noticing his demeanor. “Why the long face? Your 2:15 with Reed didn’t go well?” Johnny said nothing, which was answer enough. “I’m sorry, pal.”

“Hey, I’m fine, you know, I don’t mind. It’s just that-“

“We’ll go to space again,” Ben said.

“Yeah, we will.” Johnny said it with confidence. He pulled the toy out of the box of cereal. “Oh! Nice!”

He pointed the little figure at Ben, pressing the button - “Flame on! Flame on!” Ben took the toy and crushed it in his hand, blowing the dust back in Johnny’s face. You shook your head, but stifled a laugh.

After messing with Ben a little longer, Johnny made his way over to where you stood. He placed his hand on your belly and leaned in for a kiss.

“You sure you’re okay, honey?” you asked him quietly. You knew he’d been looking forward to this meeting with Reed for a while - he had really been hoping.

“I’m okay,” he said, smiling at you like he wanted you to believe it. “Ben’s right. We’ll go back. I just…need to wait.”

The last person to arrive to Sunday dinner, Reed walked in and straight to his wife. As he spoke to her and Johnny stood with you, hand caressing the bump, sirens went by outside - that was unusual.

Reed motioned you all out to the balcony. Johnny led you out, hand on your lower back as you all walked out the glass doors.

“For the last few months,” Reed said, “I’ve been tracking a small number of criminal organizations.”

You peeked over the balcony - there was a police presence all over the city. Your eyes widened in shock.

“A small number, huh?” Ben said.

“47,” Reed said. He pointed out some specific organizations, pointing at different spots in the city. Often left in the dark about these things, you didn’t even realize there were that many in the city.

“You baby proofed the world,” Ben said.

“It’s a sweet gesture,” Sue grabbed Reed’s hand. You agreed - you wouldn’t complain about the city being safer for the babies.

“It’s a thorough gesture,” Ben continued. “But, uh, I like punching.”

“You mean clobbering?” Johnny goaded him.

“No, I mean punching.”

“Hey, what time is it?” he asked as Ben turned to go back inside the house.

“It’s dinner time.”

“You sure it’s not clobbering time?”

“Stop it.”

At that moment, as the five of you were turning to leave, the Four’s alarms began going off. You all turned to see some kind of explosion in the sky - fire and flashing lights. Johnny placed a hand on your shoulder, a silent You better be in this exact spot when I get back, and then he was gone - a creature of flame, taking off into the sky and directly into the heart of the danger.

You grabbed Sue’s hand as he went. “What’s going on?” you asked her weakly, hand protectively over your stomach. She placed a comforting hand on your back, but didn’t turn away from the sky.

“I don’t know,” she said. She turned to you. “But we’ve got to go. I need you to stay here.”

Once again reminded of your uselessness - you could do nothing but nod. What else could you do? Get in the way? Put yourself and your child in danger when there was nothing you could do to help?

You watched on with worry as Reed, Sue, and Ben left the building as quickly as possible, leaving you with Herbie. When they were gone, you watched the commotion through the window - until you ran to the TV and turned it on, wondering if anyone was reporting. You didn’t have to look far.

“Breaking news from Times Square.”

You watched on as a woman - an alien? - stood before the city. You clutched your chest with one hand and protectively held your bump with the other. You could see the Four standing, watching. Seeing Johnny safe sent relief flooding your veins.

“Are you the protectors of this world?”

“Yes, we are,” Sue said, standing with confidence.

“Your planet has been marked for death.”

You barely even processed anything she was saying after that. Marked for death? Fear struck into your very soul.

“I herald your end.”

When Johnny and the others returned, you ran into his arms. He held you tightly - this was his first time facing galactic danger while having a child and you to worry about. He found it made him feel sick, an unfamiliar kind of worry and uncertainty he wasn’t used to.

They all went straight to the lab upon return to the Baxter building - there was no time to waste. The fate of everyone was quite literally in their hands. You joined them, despite feeling like you had nothing to contribute.

Reed was tracking where the herald had been. He found at least five planets, destroyed - and she was at every one. Galactus could and would do exactly what she said.

The herald had spoken to everyone, but she had spoken only to Johnny directly. He was hung up on it - what had she said to him? It was in her native language, but, he thought, there had to be some way to decode it.

After the herald, Johnny became obsessed with solving the message. He was making progress, too - he discovered transmission recordings that were the same language. Whenever Johnny got like this, it was cute. You loved seeing him in his element, even if it meant he had less time for you. The baby prep was done, there was nothing more to do but wait for her to arrive. 

You were relaxing in the bathtub, the hot water soothing your aching muscles, while Johnny was in the bedroom, listening to the recordings. You gave him his space.

Sue walked in as he was working. “Okay. So she spoke to you, yeah? And?”

Johnny played her the recordings. “I don’t know who they are or what they’re saying, but this? This is the same. This is her language.”

Sue looked at her younger brother, impressed. “Okay. Maybe that is something.”

He held up his hand for a high five. “Reed wants to see you in the lab,” she said before slapping his hand.

She didn’t have to tell Johnny twice. He hurried straight there. “You summoned me?”

“I finally knocked it off the list,” Reed said.

Johnny furrowed his brow. “What?”

“The new space suits.”

He turned to see four brand new space suits, all set up and ready to be worn. Johnny was barely even listening to Reed as he examined the suits, then he pulled his brother into a hug. “I take back every single bad thing I’ve been saying about you. To myself. In private.”

Reed didn’t acknowledge the comment. “Are you ready to go back?” he asked.

“Of course,” Johnny said immediately. “I’ve missed it every day.”

“Even if it means leaving your family behind?”

Johnny hesitated. That was true. He thought of you, and your baby girl who would be here so soon - what if he missed the birth entirely? What if you needed him and he wasn’t even on the planet? What if something happened and he wasn’t here to protect you?

“I can see you thinking,” Reed said. “It’s a lot to take in, I know. You’ve been excited to go back, but things are…different now.”

Johnny nodded. Reed was exactly right. It was an unfamiliar feeling for him, to have something here that made Earth a place that was more like a true home. “Can I ask you a question?”

Reed was slightly taken aback. “Of course.”

Johnny sat the suit down and sunk into one of the chairs sitting around the lab. Reed sat across from him - he could tell Johnny had a lot on his mind.

“How are you so calm?” he finally asked his brother in law.

Reed shook his head with a light laugh. “I’m glad you think so, but I certainly don’t feel calm.”

That surprised Johnny. “You don’t?”

“No, of course not,” he said, shaking his head. “Are you kidding? I’ve been panicking for eight months.”

“Seriously?” Johnny asked with a laugh. “You could have fooled me. I’ve been wondering what the hell I’m doing wrong compared to you.”

“You’re not doing anything wrong,” Reed assured him. “You’re going great. I can already see it in you - you’re a dad now.”

That hit Johnny like a shot to the chest. He jerked back in surprise. “What? You think so?”

“I can see it in you clearly,” Reed continued. “You’ve been making the transition since you found out. You take care of both your girls like there’s nothing more precious in the world. You put the crib together yourself - I can’t say I did the same,” he chuckled.

“Yeah, but you were in here building that,” Johnny motioned towards the table you’d laid on countless times by now. “You made that to make sure the babies are safe.”

“I did,” Reed agrees. “Sue would have liked me to build the crib.”

Johnny laughed. He was feeling looser, the longer he sat and talked to Reed. Two soon-to-be fathers. The only other man who knew what Johnny was going through right now.

The atmosphere turned quiet. There was something in the air just waiting to be spoken.

“I’m terrified to leave her,” Johnny finally says. “Both of them. I’m scared out of my mind. What if she goes into labor without me?” The thought made his chest hurt. “You know, I’ve waited so long to go back to space, and now I’m going - have to go back - and here I am, wondering if I really want to.”

“You’ve never had something you cared about like this here.”

That was true, Johnny realized. “Yeah,” he said. “You’re right.” He rubbed his hand over his face. “I don’t…I don’t know how to handle it.”

“There’s no easy way,” Reed said - that wasn’t exactly what Johnny had been hoping to hear. “Being in love is irrational and all consuming.”

Being in love.

It hit him like a ton of bricks. He was in love with you. Yeah, he knew that - but did he know it? You hadn’t been together that long, hadn’t even known each other that long before you got pregnant, all things considered. Now, for the first time, he was struck with the uncontrollable urge to run out and buy a ring, to make you his wife, Mrs. Storm.

He had never had those thoughts about anyone before.

“Johnny?” Reed asked, sensing the emotional turmoil in the other man’s head. “You alright?”

Johnny nodded, distracted. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m alright.”

“What’s going on in there?”

Johnny thought for a moment. Then - “Do you want to go on an errand with me?”

You weren’t completely surprised when you got out of the bath and Johnny was gone. There was a mess around the bedroom, all the transmissions Johnny was going through scattered around the turntable. You didn’t touch them - there was usually a method to his madness.

You went through your post-shower routine, doing your hair and putting lotion on your skin - and Johnny still wasn’t back. That was a little strange. It was late.

You were in your pajamas (an oversized shirt and panties), about to go to bed without Johnny at all, when he came abruptly through the bedroom door. The nervous energy was coming off of him in waves - it was clear there was something going on.

“Baby,” he said, moving straight to sit next to you on the bed. He was dressed in his F4 t-shirt and pants from earlier.

“Johnny?” you said, confused and bleary eyed. You waited for him for so long, you were about ready to pass out for the night. “Where were you?”

He held your hands, his thumb rubbing the back of one of them. “Reed wanted to see me,” he said. “He finished the new suits. We’re going to space, to try to negotiate with Galactus.”

The news both did and didn’t come as a shock. You’d known this was inevitable from the night the herald came, but it hadn’t been set until now. “When?”

“Soon,” he said. “I don’t know. Very soon.”

“I can’t go to space with you?” you asked, only half-joking and looking at him with big sad eyes. “Both of us?” You took his hand and laid it over the bump.

Johnny chuckled, looking affectionately down at where his hand rested. He rubbed circles against your belly. “I wish you could,” he said.

You sat in a comfortable silence for a minute.

“Do you think it’s going to work?” you asked him nervously. “Do you think there’s hope of getting through to this…Galactus? Of saving Earth?”

“I’m not going to let anything happen to anyone,” Johnny said firmly. He looked you directly in the face when he said it, flames flickering in his blue eyes.

You trusted him with your whole heart. You knew if Johnny said he was going to make something happen - or keep it from happening - he was going to keep his word.

“I don’t want you to get hurt,” you said.

“That’s not gonna happen.”

“You don’t know what’s gonna happen,” you reminded him gently. His hand stayed protectively where it sat, while your hand rested on the side of his face. He tilted his head, leaning into your touch, letting you cradle his handsome face.

“I just want to know if the surfboard is part of her body,” he said like he was dead serious, and you burst into laughter.

“Johnny Storm, do you ever take anything seriously?” you teased. 

He smiled, turning his head to place a kiss on your palm. “Just you.”

Your chest felt warm. You could feel your love for Johnny spreading through your body like the very flames that lived within him.

“There was…” Johnny began, but stopped himself. You didn’t interrupt, wanting to know where he was going. “There was something I wanted to say. Or…ask you?”

Your brows furrowed. “What?”

He gave your belly one last caress before he let go. He stood, pulling your weary body to sit on the edge of the bed in front of him. You were confused, but watched him with an anxious excitement anyway.

Johnny looked nervous. You waited as he stood there, gathering his thoughts - you could practically see the steam coming off his head.

Finally, he said your name. “I just…had something to say.”

“Say it,” you encouraged, laughing lightly - nervous.

He smiled softly at you. “Do you know how much I love you?”

The question caught you off guard. “I think so?” you said - because what kind of question was that really?

“I’m in love with you,” Johnny said, looking at you so intensely it nearly took your breath away. “Completely, wholeheartedly, in love with you. I’ve known for a long time, but it didn’t hit me until today, not- not like this. It’s been there, I just never saw it for what it was.”

“Johnny…” you whispered. “What-“

“I needed to say it,” he said. “I know we haven’t been together that long, all things considered - and I knew I love you, I know we’ve been saying it for a while - but it hit me today, hard, like Ben punched me in the chest or something. Like I’d never known anything, nothing has ever made more sense, than how much I love you. Both of you.”

You were in shock, tears welling up in your eyes. The things he was saying were overwhelming, and completely out of nowhere.

“I just had to do this before we leave.”

“Do what-“

You cut yourself off with a gasp as Johnny dropped to his knee in front of you. He reached his right hand into his pocket and pulled out a small black velvet box.

“Johnny-“ you gasped, your hands flying up to cover your mouth, your eyes wide.

“Marry me,” he said, flipping the box open to reveal a beautiful (way too expensive looking) diamond ring. His deep eyes bore into yours, and it’s like he was communicating every ounce of love in his body to you. It left you shaking. “Be my wife. Spend the rest of forever with me- as a family. My family.”

You were so stunned, the words didn’t come right away. Johnny reached forward with his free hand and wiped the tears you hadn’t noticed off your cheeks with his thumb. “Will you marry me?” he asked, softer this time, his eyes almost pleading.

You nodded. Slowly at first, then faster as more tears spilled down your face. You were pretty sure you would be sobbing even without the extra hormones. “Yes. Oh my god. Are you serious? Yes.”

Johnny’s face broke into a huge grin. He took your shaking left hand in his and slid the ring on your finger - a perfect fit. How did he know?

“You have made me,” he began, “the happiest man in the universe.”

You laughed through the tears, wrapping your arms around Johnny and pulling him into you. He hugged you back with just as much love, lifting you with little effort and spinning you in a circle. You couldn’t stop giggling, the joy overflowing from within you.

He wrapped his arm around your lower back and dipped you backwards as he kissed you passionately, something like from one of those romantic movies you used to watch. You cradled his face with both hands while he held you, communicating just how happy you’d made him by the way he kissed you breathless.

When he stood you back up, his arms still wrapped around you, you laid your foreheads together, just looking into each other’s eyes. You could have gotten lost in that sea of blue.

Mrs. Storm had a ring to it.

You couldn’t wipe the smile off your face after the proposal. The ring glittered on your hand like a star plucked directly from the sky, just for you. You knew that’s exactly what Johnny would have done if it were possible.

You waddled out into the kitchen, the pancake craving striking once again. It was a good day - you felt light as air, metaphorically at least. It was a low pain day, the baby didn’t have a foot shoved into your spine, and you had an appetite.

Too busy mixing the batter together, you didn’t hear Sue come in. She startled you a little when she came up next to you, and you both laughed.

“Sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It’s not your fault,” you said. “I was too preoccupied by the pancakes.”

“Craving?”

“Oh yeah.”

Sue smiled. “It’s been pretzel sticks for me, can you believe that? I probably eat a bag myself every couple of days.”

You laughed - it was relatable. “Sounds like Johnny with his Lucky Charms.”

“That’s what I said!” she smiled. She moved around you, grabbing a couple of plates. “Make me some too, would you?”

“Yeah, of course.” You made a little extra batter, mixing it up well before dumping the first pancakes into the pan.

A few minutes later, you and Sue were both leaning against the counter holding a plate of steaming pancakes doused in syrup. You took the first bite and closed your eyes, an unintentional moan escaping your lips. “God. So good.”

“They are,” Sue said after swallowing her first bite. “You make a mean pancake.”

You chatted lightly with Sue until you’d both finished your plates. She helped you wash them up, then leaned back against the counter. She smoothed  her hand over her belly as she looked at some papers she had brought with her before putting them away.

“Where’s Reed?” you asked, just wanting to break the silence again.

“Lab,” she said. “Working on things for the mission. I was just about to head down to join him.”

You nodded. “Johnny wanted to work on his cars today. I told him go - it’s not like he’ll have much time for them for a little while.”

Sue smiled at you. “You’re really good to him, you know that?”

You were surprised, both by the randomness of the comment and the sentimentality of it. She had never said anything like that to you before.

“You- you think so?” you asked, unsure of what else to say. You certainly weren’t close with Sue - she was older than Johnny, and was usually too busy to sit and chat with you outside of group settings.

“I can see it,” she said. She sighed. “You know, Johnny…after our mother died, I helped raise him. He’s my closest family - he’s important to me. I always wanted to see him find a girl to settle down with, to be happy with…I’m glad he found you. I’m glad it’s you.”

Utterly speechless, you gaped at her, your eyes teary. Hadn’t you done enough crying? When you finally picked your jaw up off the floor and shook yourself out of it, you spoke. “I- thank you. Johnny means everything to me, I- I want to make him happy.”

Sue reached forward and took your hand in hers. She held it under the light, the ring shining, and smiled. “He loves you,” she said. “I know you know this, but…I don’t know if you understand how much without knowing him the way I do.”

Your heart thudded. You thought of Johnny - and how you loved him, too. How he had told you just how much he loved you last night - and showed you after. “I love him too,” you said. “More than anything. Him and the baby.”

“He’s going to be the best dad, you know,” she smiled, dropping your hand. She looked down at your stomach now - you were standing practically bump to bump. 

You felt a strong kick at that moment. You gasped, placing your hand over the spot where you’d felt it - and noticed Sue had done the same thing to her own belly.

“You felt that too?” she asked, her eyebrows raised.

You still felt it. It’s like she was trying to get comfortable in one specific position. You took Sue’s hand in yours and placed it where the movement was for her to feel.

She looked up at you, her expression unreadable. Leaving her hand on your belly, she took your hand with her free one, and pressed it against the same exact spot on her own body. There was nothing from either of you, and then-

A kick. Two kicks. One from each side at the exact same time. Your wide eyes met Sue’s own.

“How interesting…” she finally said as you parted, as if in total awe.

“The cousins are excited to meet each other, it looks like,” you said lightly with an awkward laugh, but even you knew that was bizarre.

“Yeah, must be,” she said - but it was clear her mind was working. A moment later, she seemingly shook it off. “Anyway…that’s what I wanted to say, because I haven’t said it enough. You’re my sister. You’re good for my brother. You make him happy- he loves you, and I love you.”

She pulled you into a hug. “Welcome to the family, officially.”

The day of the launch came upon you faster than you expected. You woke up that morning sick to your stomach, and it had nothing to do with the baby. But you knew this had to be done - they were saving the world.

You had spent the night before wrapped in Johnny’s arms. He’d wanted to make love to you, as he put it, wanted to be as close to you as possible before he left. He didn’t get as much sleep as you would have liked him to before the launch.

Johnny held you on the bottom floor of the Baxter Building, dressed in his spacesuit already with the helmet sitting by his feet. He kissed you with every bit of passion in his body - which was a lot. You were going to miss your fiancè so badly, you didn’t care what anyone thought about the two of you practically making out in front of everyone.

Reed walked by, tapping Johnny on the shoulder to let him know it was time to go. He pulled back, his lips kiss swollen and pink. He grinned at you, but there was sadness behind his eyes. You couldn’t muster up as enthusiastic of a smile.

“Everything is going to be okay,” Johnny said. “You’re going to be fine. Herbie is going to take care of you, you have a whole team-“

“I’m not worried about me,” you cut him off. “I’m worried about you.”

“You don’t have to worry about me,” he said. “We can take care of ourselves, I promise you. We’re going to go fix this mess.” He pulled you back into another lingering kiss. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Johnny,” you said. You rested your hands on his cheeks, the diamond on your finger flashing. Reporters ran over to start taking photos - you knew that would be in the magazines tomorrow. You didn’t pay them any mind. You and Johnny might as well have been the only people in the room.

He placed both hands on your 8 months pregnant stomach, looking down at it. “Please take care of yourself. If anything is weird, tell Herbie and he’ll call your doctors.”

“I got it, Johnny,” you said. You’d been over this countless times in the days leading up to this. “I’ll be careful. I’ll be alright.”

Johnny nodded. Then he knelt down on the ground, surprising you. The camera flashes kept going off as he kissed your bump, still holding it with so much affection it nearly took your breath away - and completely distracted you from how much attention was on the two of you.

“I love you, baby girl,” he said to your belly. “You better stay cookin’ in there for me. Don’t come out until Daddy gets back from space, okay?” She kicked his hand and he smiled.

You giggled. “I think she hears you.”

Johnny stood and wrapped his arms around you again. He pulled you into one final kiss, full of emotion and want. “I’ve gotta go,” he said, once he’d reluctantly parted from you. “Please be safe. I love you. Both of you. I’ll be back as soon as we can manage.”

You nodded, tears brimming in your eyes. “I love you too, Johnny.”

He kissed you on the forehead and then he was picking up his helmet, walking backwards for a little while to look at you as long as he could. He smiled, waved, then turned and joined the others, leaving you alone.

Well, ‘alone’. You were surrounded by people. You joined the crowd, carefully making your way to somewhere you could have a good view.

Johnny, Sue, Reed, and Ben walked the walkway to the spaceship. This was your first time seeing Johnny go to space since you’d been together, and as much as you missed him and didn’t want him to go, it filled you with pride. Your Johnny really was incredible, super powers or not. You held your bump protectively as you watched.

They were being filmed as they made their way onto the elevator. At the top, they walked onto the ship. Johnny paused right before boarding - he looked around until he found a camera. He stared directly into the camera and mouthed your name, with a blown kiss and an emphatic I love you.

The crowd awwed, and you could hardly see Johnny disappearing onto the ship through the tears in your eyes. You rubbed your belly - You see that, little one? Your daddy loves us more than anything.

The countdown began, and your stomach tightened in knots. You knew how dangerous launches and landings could be.

“3…2…1.”

The ship took off, rising into the air. Your heart ached as you watched them go, knowing it would be a long time before you saw Johnny again. You would see him again - you weren’t entertaining any other possibilities.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve had a successful launch.”

You couldn’t believe he was gone, they were really gone. Before you could dwell too much on their absence and how much you would miss every one of them, you turned and let Herbie lead you out of the crowd and back upstairs.

It wasn’t hard to find Galactus, not really. They were able to track the herald straight to him.

Upon arrival, she greeted them on their ship.

“Galactus will see you. All of you…you should not have come.”

Now, standing before Galactus - a giant, possessing more power than they had even pictured - they attempted to negotiate. But some prices are too high to pay.

“I will spare your world,” Galactus said with finality, “in exchange for both the boy and the girl.”

“What?” Sue said, incredulous. “No.”

“Absolutely not,” Johnny said, looking around at the others for validation that they agreed. “No. No way.”

“They are connected. They both possess the power of cosmic, and they together will inherit this cursed throne.”

What?

“They’re just- they’re normal,” Reed lied nervously. “We would know. I tested them myself.”

Galactus leaned in, eyes glowing purple. Sue grabbed her stomach at that moment, groaning in pain. She looked around at the others in a panic - and for once, Johnny’s blood went cold with fear.

“What are you doing to her??” he yelled.

“You won’t have our planet,” Reed said, “and you will never have our children!”

But it was happening. Whatever Galactus had done - Sue was in labor.

The pain came when you were home alone. You’d been in the kitchen, mixing up the batter to make your biggest craving - a chocolate cake. You felt fine, good even - but then a horrible pain stretched across your stomach.

You wrapped your hand around it, holding onto the counter for support as you cried out. Herbie sped into the room, making what you could best describe as concerned beeps.

“Herbie,” you said, your voice strained. “I think- I think something’s wrong. I think we need to call somebody.”

Herbie beeped again, then took off - contacting your medical team, you hoped. The pain was getting worse, coming in fast. You figured you had to be having contractions at least once every two minutes - this was the real deal. And Johnny was gone.

You couldn’t help it - you panicked. You lowered yourself to the floor amidst the pain of another contraction, and you sobbed. You were terrified. Of all the scenarios you’d come up with, doing this alone hadn’t been one of them.

It was only minutes later when a team of medical professionals came bursting into the room - Johnny and Reed had left you with a team ready at a moment’s notice in case of emergencies. It was a coveted position - every medical professional in the city wanted to be involved in the birth of the two newest Fantastic Four members. You didn’t like your child being seen as a spectacle.

You were screaming through another contraction, a white knuckled grip on the side of the counter as it passed through you. The doctors and nurses got to work fast. It was humiliating having a stranger up your skirt, but you had to have a cervical check.

It hurt, but the pain was already everywhere. It was the look on the nurse’s face after she checked you that scared you, though.

“The baby is coming right now,” she said. “We have to do it here.”

Back on the ship, things were progressing. Sue was in the back, laboring in zero gravity. Ben was steering the ship while Johnny and Reed helped.

“Do you think-“ Johnny asked Reed quietly, but he didn’t even have to finish his question.

“She might be,” Reed said seriously. Johnny felt like he might throw up. 

“We need to strap her down,” Reed said, back into action, moving through the ship towards his wife.

“Strapping her down,” Johnny moved to help.

“Do not strap me down!” she yelled, pushing Johnny away - who quickly backed off.

“You need gravity to push,” Reed told her, helping her lay back on the table.

“This is not how it’s supposed to be,” she said, breathing through the pain. Sue was remarkably brave, but right now, she had to admit she was scared.

“I know, but we’re gonna make it work.” Reed helped to hold her down, multitasking while he helped Ben and Johnny, concerned they didn’t have enough fuel to make it home. Their only option was a slingshot maneuver - which they put into action. 

“He’s coming,” Sue announced. “He’s coming.”

Her pants kicked off, it was time to start pushing. She pushed and pushed as the ship made its journey.

Sue became invisible. Reed held her - it was silent. She reappeared, and-

A cry sounded through the air. A tiny little hand raising high - and a beautiful baby boy curled in Ben’s hand. He held him out to Reed, who took the precious little guy in his arms - bringing him to his mother. Sue held her baby boy in her arms, Reed cradled around them both.

Johnny came floating back from the front of the ship. His blue eyes were wide as he saw his nephew for the first time - a perfect baby.

He thought of you. He thought of his daughter. And he prayed you were both okay, that he hadn’t missed the birth. That Galactus didn’t want his daughter or his nephew. That he’d get home and you’d run into his arms, healthy and still pregnant.

But for now, he caressed the chubby cheek of the baby with his index finger, and looked into the exhausted eyes of his sister - one of the strongest women he’d ever known.

Franklin Richards was here.

The only coherent thought you could muster was I wish Johnny was here. It repeated through your head, like a prayer, like the ship might descend that very second and he’d come running to your side if you wished for it hard enough.

But you were on your own, about to give birth on the living room floor without your boyfriend. In a room full of strangers looking at your most intimate parts, Herbie was your only friend. He stood nearby, attempting to be a comfort. It worked somewhat.

“It’s time to push,” the doctor said between your legs. “I need you to push hard on every contraction.”

You nodded. You could do this. You may not have been a superhero, or a genius, but you were strong and you could get through this, with or without Johnny. You felt angry in that moment, angry at Johnny for not being here, angry at him for leaving you, angry at him for getting you pregnant in the first place. It wasn’t rational, but it was there.

At the start of the next contraction, you gritted your teeth and pushed. You pushed with everything you had, the pain shooting through your body like electricity. When you couldn’t take it anymore you let go, falling back against the pillows they had put behind you and breathing heavily.

You’d heard pushing could last for an hour or more sometimes - but that wasn’t the case here. This baby was coming now. Another contraction flared and you pushed down again, screaming though the pain and the pressure.

Three pushes later, and the doctor spoke up excitedly from below. “She’s crowning,” she said. “Just one more good push for me, you’ve got this.”

The next contraction crashed into you and you mustered up every bit of energy in your exhausted, sore body to push as hard as you could. You screamed through it, a deep, primal scream.

The pain was gone. An immense relief left behind, you fell back against the makeshift bed and breathed. You opened your teary eyes, a nurse using a cloth to wipe the sweat off your brow.

Then you heard it. A cry. Your heart stopped in your chest as the doctor handed the bundle to you.

You took it, pushing the blanket down below her little chin to see her full face. She was gorgeous. Johnny’s little twin for sure. She opened her blue eyes and looked up at you - you swore you had never felt love in your life like you did in that moment.

Celeste Storm was here.

Early days with Celeste were difficult, yet blissful. You only wished for Johnny, that he could be there to experience it with you (and help a bit). Herbie was a great help, essentially waiting on you hand and foot while you recovered.

It has been a month since the births when the ship descended back home.

Johnny had been in a perpetual state of anxiety since Galactus. He was worried sick about you, to the point that Reed, Sue, and Ben were worried about him. He was preoccupied and worried sick.

His stomach was in knots as they descended, and not just from the motion of the spacecraft. As they landed, he could see the crowd running to greet them, and he wondered where you were amongst it. You had to be here, right?

People were running from all over the city to see their return. There was no way you weren’t part of it. His eyes scanned the crowd who still looked like ants, as if he could see you from this distance.

“She’s okay,” Sue assured Johnny, placing her hand on his arm while the other cradled baby Franklin. “She’s a strong girl. She’s okay.”

Johnny just nodded. He wanted to believe his sister, because he wanted that to be true more than anything.

They road the elevator down together. He had never been so quiet before - his mind was running too quickly to speak. Reed patted him on the back from behind him.

When the elevator landed, they could hear the deafening cheers. Ben walked off first, then Johnny, who scanned the crowd immediately. He didn’t see you - but maybe you were waiting inside where they would stop to speak? Yeah, that made sense.

Reed and Sue were behind him with Franklin, and the crowd went crazy the second they saw them. They smiled politely at the crowd, Sue holding the baby close to her chest while Reed had his arm around her.

They were led into the Baxter Building where the press were waiting. They mobbed them, and Johnny was so overwhelmed by the flashing lights, yelling voices, and no sight of you even in here, that he started to feel panicked.

“Give them space!”

“They’re ready for you,” Reed was told, with a gesture towards the podium. None of them wanted to speak. There was no good news to share. All Johnny wanted to do was see his fiancée.

Reed took the podium, glancing back over his shoulder at the rest of the team. Johnny continued scanning the crowd, not seeing a single sight of you. He was feeling more sick by the second. Where were you? It wasn’t like you to miss this. What if something had happened to you while he was gone and no one told him?

Something was wrong.

“I’m sorry we don’t have a prepared statement,” Reed said, sparking unrest in the crowd. Everyone raised their hand for a question.

“Welcome back,” one of the reporters said. “Can you walk us through how you defeated Galactus?”

It was silent.

“Um…” Reed said, looking back to Johnny and Ben for some kind of help.

“We didn’t,” Ben said simply.

“Not…yet!” Johnny said, with little enthusiasm. “Not yet, we didn’t.”

The crowd murmured. This wasn’t going well.

“What do you mean you didn’t?”

“We attempted to negotiate,” Reed said. “But Galactus…he asked too high a price.”

“Well, what does he want?” “What did he ask?”

Reed felt sick. Johnny really thought he might be. They exchanged a look - fear, in both of their eyes. Would this put a target on their backs? On their children’s backs? Reed looked back out into the crowd.

“He asked for our children,” he said, gesturing to Sue and Johnny. Sue stood behind, holding Franklin protectively as more worry spread through the crowd. “He said give us both children, and I will spare the Earth.” A murmur rose in the crowd. “We said no, obviously. We said no.”

Everyone started speaking at once.

“You said no?”

“Would giving Galactus the children save us?”

Done with this and with fire burning beneath Johnny’s skin, the four turned to leave.

“Wait, just answer this, answer this!” someone called. They stopped and turned. “Are we safe?”

“Are we safe?” Reed repeated. “I don’t know.”

The crowd began speaking at once again, upset. Ben waved Reed off and they left the room, the reporters yelling after them.

“She wasn’t there,” Johnny said to the others once they were safely on the elevator. “She wasn’t…there.”

“She’s probably in the house,” Sue said gently. “Maybe she isn’t feeling well, or couldn’t come down in time. Herbie has her.”

Johnny nodded, but he didn’t feel much better. 

With the spacesuit stripped off, he was left in his F4 t-shirt and sweatpants. When the elevator doors opened to the house, Johnny rushed in, looking for any sign of you.

It didn’t take him long.

You sat on the couch, a blanket wrapped around your lap. The TV was on to the news broadcast of the landing. You looked up at him and the others as they entered, a teary smile on your face.

“Johnny,” you said, your voice thick with emotion.

But it was the bundle in your arms that stopped him short. Slowly, cautiously, almost like he was scared, he approached you.

And he fell to his knees.

The baby girl in your arms opened her blue eyes and peered over at him. She was beautiful - more beautiful than he ever could have pictured. Perfection. He reached out a shaking hand and laid it on her, like he couldn’t believe she was real.

“…Oh my god,” he said.

Totally forgotten by him, Reed, Sue, and Ben stood behind, watching the moment. Johnny leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to the baby’s head, before looking up at you with wonder in his eyes.

“She’s here,” he said, like he was trying to wrap his mind around it. Saying it didn’t make it feel any more real - he felt like he was dreaming.

“She was born about a month ago,” you said gently, softly running your fingers over the baby’s fine hair. “Shortly after you left.”

“A month?” Johnny asked. He turned to look at the others - who seemed to be thinking the same thing he was. Galactus.

Turning back to you, Johnny rested a hand on the side of your face and pulled you into a gentle kiss. Then he was focused on the child again, his child, his baby girl. He was in awe.

“She’s beautiful,” he said, his fingertips just barely trailing over her smooth skin. She shifted, reached a little hand up, and wrapped her fingers around one of Johnny’s. His heart stuttered, and he choked out the quietest sob.

“I’m so sorry,” he said, looking up at you. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know, I- if I had known this would happen I wouldn’t have left you, I swear.”

“It’s okay, Johnny,” you said softly. You ran your fingers through his blonde hair. “You couldn’t have known.”

He laid his head against you, gazing down at his daughter. She really was incredible - he’d gotten to see her the one time, but it was nothing like this. It was nothing like seeing his child, here, earthside.

“Do you want to hold her?” you asked him. It seemed like he was too stunned to ask himself.

He looked at you with his blue eyes wide. “Really?”

You laughed. “Johnny, she’s your daughter.”

He nodded. Yeah, she was. And he could do this. You lifted her towards him and he slowly reached out, taking the bundle from your arms. The transfer was so slow and careful, and once he had her he held her close to his chest. Johnny held her, his strong arms now so delicate with his baby girl. A single tear trailed down his cheek.

They gazed at each other, both mesmerized by the other. Celeste cooed softly, making her little baby noises, and Johnny’s heart cracked. Oh, she had him wrapped around her little finger from day one.

“Hi, baby girl,” he said quietly, only for her. “I’m…I’m your daddy. I can’t believe you’re here. I’ve been so excited to meet you.”

Celeste cooed again, her little arms moving jerkily, still not used to moving her own body. She looked all around, but kept returning to Johnny’s face. She reached up and touched his nose, and he chuckled.

He was a natural with her. He looked back over his shoulder at the others finally, who all looked like they might also cry. He waved them over. They approached the three of you, peering down at the baby.

“Oh, she’s perfect,” Sue said.

“Nice job,” Reed said, patting Johnny on the shoulder with a brotherly smile.

“Hi there,” Ben said, looking down at her. She gave him the biggest smile that he couldn’t help but return.

But baby Franklin was watching her closely. Johnny turned her so she could see her cousin, and the babies reached for one another. Sue and Johnny held them closer as they reached for each other, fingers brushing together. Like they had a connection of some kind, drawn together.

“Interesting,” Reed mumbled. He would need to run some tests - there was a link here, and he needed to find out what it was.

After the tearful reunion, everyone returned to their own quarters. They were all exhausted and relieved to be back home. Johnny sat on the bed, holding baby Celeste while she slept. You moved throughout the room, gathering pajamas and a clean diaper.

“The surfboard is not part of her body, by the way,” Johnny said randomly.

You laughed - “What?”

“I just needed to know! I was curious.”

You smiled as you moved back over to the bed. “Well, I’m glad you found out,” you said. Johnny chuckled.

He told you all about their trip while he helped you change Celeste and put her to bed. He told you everything - the flight, seeing Galactus, chasing the herald and running away. Galactus wanting the babies - which you’d heard on the broadcast. It worried you sick, but he promised there was nothing to worry about.

He wouldn’t let anyone touch a single hair on Celeste or Franklin’s heads, that was for sure.

In the days after their return, everyone was hard at work trying to figure out what was to be done about Galactus. Johnny didn’t want you and Celeste out of his sight, so you spent a lot of time sitting in Reed’s lab with the baby girl on your lap, or doing tummy time on the floor with Franklin.

The truth was, they didn’t know what to do. Giving the children to Galactus was completely off the table, obviously, but so was putting Earth in danger. They suggested blowing the ship up, and running, but neither would work. There had to be something to be figured out. You just wished you could be more help.

“Reed, you wanna take us through what you have?” Sue asked.

“What I have?” he turned. “What I have is nothing.”

“Nothing? Did you say nothing?” Johnny asked. He glanced at you where you sat feeding Celeste.

“I have the samples from Galactus’ ship,” Reed said, handing out some papers for you all to see. “All evidence suggests he predates our universe, our reality. You could take 10 years to understand his composition, let alone his existence.”

“So you’re talking about a god?” Sue asked.

“I’m talking about something beyond our experience. An unknowable life, who imagines Franklin and Celeste as his successors in possessing some kind of cosmic power.”

“That can’t be true, right?” Ben asked, looking at the others. “You ran all those tests.”

“I have, but I don’t know what can or can not be. I’m not sure of anything.” He was getting frustrated. “Celeste has the X-gene, Franklin does not - at least, not that I saw.” He turned, walking back to the chalkboard. “I have nothing. I have nothing!”

You had never known Reed to have nothing. The idea scared you more than you wanted to admit. No one had anything, no one knew how to keep the babies and Earth safe.

Since the trip, Johnny had spent every moment he wasn’t with Celeste hard at work trying to decode the herald’s language. He knew that could give them answers, and that’s what they needed more than anything.

You spent your days caring for Celeste while the Four were hard at work. Johnny spent as much time as he could with the two of you, and it killed him to be away from her, but you both knew the fate of the world hung in the balance.

Reed ran seemingly endless tests on both Franklin and Celeste. No new answers were coming forth.

“It’s getting bad out there,” Ben said one night as the family was in the living room together. Johnny held Celeste, who was wearing a little Flame on! onesie. Ben turned the TV on.

“It seems to me they have no plan for Galactus,” some idiot on a talk show was saying. “We as a society have to reckon with the idea that the Fantastic Four could save us today, but they choose not to. The idea is simple - Reed Richards and Sue Storm, and Johnny Storm and that girl of his, hand over their babies and we all live.”

Sue blew the TV up. No one had a problem with that. Out on the balcony, there was a mob visible right outside the front doors.

“Give us the babies!”

“They’re scared,” Reed said.

“Who isn’t scared?” Johnny asked. He pointed with his thumb over his shoulder as he patted a sleeping Celeste on his chest. “That…is scary.”

Everyone was stressed. The discussion was constantly going in circles, no one coming up with anything new.

“Right now we don’t have a workable plan, and the clock is ticking. So their plan looks good. It’s…available,” Reed said.

“What are you saying?” Sue asked.

“I’m not…saying anything.”

The baby monitor lit up as Franklin started crying. Sue left to go attend to him, Reed following behind her. You were left at the table sitting silently with Johnny and Ben.

“Let me take her,” you said gently, taking Celeste from Johnny’s arms. He let you take her, although he was reluctant to let her go. He never felt like she was properly safe unless she was in his arms.

You were in the kitchen, making yourself busy, when Sue approached you with Franklin in her arms. 

“Come with me,” she said.

The mob outside was angry. They held anti-F4 signs, yelled horrible things, demanding the babies. 

And you followed Sue through the crowd, Celeste clutched tightly to your chest and Franklin to hers. You knew Sue wouldn’t let anything happen to any of you. Everyone stared as you walked through, making it to the middle where you stood together.

The crowd looked at the two of you expectantly. You weren’t sure where Sue was going with this, but you trusted her.

“I wanted to introduce you to someone,” she began. “This is our son, Franklin. And this is his cousin, Celeste. There’s been a lot of talk about both of them.” She stopped to compose herself. “Most of you know me. You know my story. When Johnny and I were kids, our parents were in a car crash. Our dad was driving, and he lived, but our mom didn’t. I know what it’s like to be a part of a family that was torn apart. Our dad wasn’t always a great father, but he wanted to be. He did his best. He wanted us to be together because that’s what a family is. It’s about fighting for something bigger than yourself. It’s about connecting to something bigger than yourself.”

Celeste wiggled in your arms. You and Sue both turned, seeing Johnny, Reed, and Ben coming out behind you. You smiled tearfully at Johnny - and he looked at you like he was proud.

“It’s about having something bigger than yourself,” Sue continued. “And the four of us already do because we have you. You know, our mom always used to say, Susie, for you, I would move heaven and earth. And we would do that for you. We will not sacrifice our children for this world. But we will not sacrifice this world for our children. We will face this together. We will fight this together. And we will defeat this together. As a family.”

The crowd clapped, and you wiped a tear away. Sue’s speech had been beautiful, and it seemed to have gotten through to everyone. You were filled with relief for Celeste - you’d barely slept an hour since the public turned on you all, terrified someone would manage to break in.

As soon as he could, Johnny had his arms back on you, leading you back inside. 

“That was amazing,” he said, “and so, so reckless.”

“But it worked?” you offered. He smiled at you, leaning down and kissing you.

“Yeah. Looks like it did.”

You were walking back to the elevator as a family when Reed spoke up.

“Archimedes,” he said. You all turned. “The law of levers. Give me a lever and a place to stand and I will move the earth. We are going to move heaven and earth.”

That was something. You took a step closer to him.

“Well, just earth,” he continued. “Sue…you solved it. We are going to move earth to a place that Galactus will never find us.”

With an idea, plans were underway. It would take the cooperation of the entire globe to pull off - but they thought it could work.

You spent as much time with Johnny and Celeste as you could. He was an incredible dad, truly. He spent most of his time preparing to put the plan into action, but his favorite time of the day was when he could relax in bed with you.

He laid back, Celeste sleeping on his shirtless chest. He was drowsy himself, his eyes half lidded as he slowly rubbed her back. Fresh out of your shower, you joined him on the bed.

“Ready for me to put her in bed?” you asked him gently.

He cracked an eye open to look at you. “Not just yet. I wanna hold her a little longer.”

You smiled. “Okay.” You laid down on the bed next to him. You looked at the clock just in time to see it strike 8pm, and all the power went out. The global power curfew was in effect to conserve what the bridges would require.

In the dark, you laid your tired head on Johnny’s shoulder. He felt content for the first time in a long time - his family together, a plan in motion. Hope for the future.

He may not know how things were going to turn out, or who Celeste would grow up to be. But he knew as long as he was with his family - they would be okay.

He would make sure of it.

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You know....you would think after all these hours he poured into teaching his kids about the very serious Jujutsu world that he would think about them outside of class.

Nah. He spends every single second outside of teaching thinking about his favorite video game, Everything Isn't Black and White. It's a zombie-killing video game with no main plot outside of just...going around town killing zombies. A first person player video game that snatched his heart so fast. There's so many likeable characters in the game that had their own little plot and lots of action. It's honestly a 14,000 Yen well spent. His favorite character, though, was a little sweetheart that lived in a large city. Y/n.

She was his type in every way. It didn't help that the game was pretty realistic. Outlining every single one of her curves, giving her that form-fitting tank top since it was summertime where she was at. Those cute little shorts.....he could watch her run and see her thighs jiggle for hours. He loved her little dialogue. Her constant worry for her comrades. Her little yelps when she gets scared. Her growls when she gets angry or when she's hitting her target. It riles him up so easily.

He wants so badly to see those thick thighs in person. To see and even smell her. He knows that natural musk would kick his system into overdrive. One night, he replays her story, just watching his favorite girl go around killing zombies per usual. He plays so late that it's almost 3 in the morning. He feels his eyelids getting heavy, but the last thing he'd do is miss out on his favorite game. Before he knows it, his head is tilting down and there's nothing but small silence and darkness beneath his eyelids.

"............"

He doesn't process the shuffling noises he can hear. Too deep in his rest.

"...........excuse me, mister..?"

A soft touch reaches his shoulder and his body jolts as if shocked by electricity. His big hand that was once on the controller was now squeezing the hand that touched him. Electric blue eyes meet yours and you tense at the feeling of your wrist being nearly crushed. You yelp in shock and worry. For some reason, the air around you gets so unbearably suffocating and your heart began to race as if you ran a marathon. His eyes......his touch......this feeling....who is he?

You then watch his eyebrows knit together in confusion at your face. His head snaps to his screen. You're......gone. But. Here. His head snaps back to you, his face now painted in utter disbelief.

"What???" His hand begins to relax its hold on your wrist and the air around you becomes lighter. "I'm alive! I'm human just like you. See? No bites. I just...I believe I'm lost." You show him your arms and do a 360. It's just like in the game. Those legs. Those arms, breasts, and hair. You're face....is so much better to look at in person. You're so unbelievably gorgeous. If there was a word for fangirling for men then he was doing that right now.

He stands to his full height and you recognize that this man very much towers over you. You instinctively step back and rest a hand on your pistol in your left pocket. He looks to the hand that went down to the weapon. A smile paints his face and he raises his hand. "Sorry for scaring you. I just....wasn't expecting an angel to raise me from the dead." You both share a small chuckle.

Your eyes accidentally trail to his computer screen. You haven't seen one of those things work in almost a year. How was he getting it to turn on? Hell, why is he getting internet? Does he have a community? It shouldn't be possible to make something like electronics turn on and function properly without having someone else help him with-

"No, that's my fault. Um...is it possible for you to tell me where I am right now? I'm real fucking lost and I need to get back on the road." Satoru takes off his headphones and places them on his desk. "You're in Tokyo, Japan." You look back to him, not believing it. "You're funny." He looks back to his screen momentarily. "I know, but....I'm not joking."

You haven't had a proper meal in so fucking long.

You've never eaten so fast in your entire life. This dessert called mochi is definitely something you could live off of. Matcha. Strawberry. And your favorite, red bean. They were huge and soft. Then this man, Satoru, brought you this take-out he never finished and it tasted so real and delicious, you could cry.

For some reason, the universe brought you into an entirely different one where you spent time with a sexy and tall asian man that definitely had something wrong with him. But he was so kind as to feed you and let you borrow his shower.

He wouldn't let you leave for some reason, but you saw people the last time you looked out of the window. Actual living people. Everyone was alive and well here. It was weird and relieving. You still felt bad that you couldn't go home to see your friends that helped you survive. But the fact that you could relax for at least a little bit was something that you really needed.

In this world, he had super powers that was hard for you to understand. He just kept calling himself 'the strongest', but with how big his ego is, something told you to doubt his words until he was proven correct.

“It’s obvious that we’re fulfilling roles,” she says after taking a large hit. “Curt is the jock; Jules is the slutty airhead. That’s obvious. And Dana has been a bit more argumentative lately, so…the skeptic? I don’t know Holden very well, so while I can’t say how much he’s changed, but I’m guessing he’s the nerd. You’re the stoner, duh.”

“And what about you?” Marty asks, taking the joint she passes him.

“What does every horror movie have?” There’s a pause and she continues. “A virgin who usually is the only one to see daylight.”

“You’re a-“

“Yes, I am.” She presses her lips together and sighs. There isn’t enough weed in the world to cope with this. These people are her friends, though in Holden’s case he’s more of a friendly acquaintance. She doesn’t want to see them die. But especially Marty. Sweet, funny, hot as hellfire Marty who she’s spent hours smoking weed and shooting the shit with, never able to say what she’s been thinking.

Marty is watching her, seeing the fear in her eyes and how she’s making herself smaller. They’ve been friends since freshman year, just like most of the others in the group. They’re often the only ones left together at the end of the night, when everyone has either gone home or paired off. He’s never had the guts to tell her how he feels, and it looks like they’re going to die before dawn. Or at the very least, it’s possible.

“Huh,” is all he can say in response. As he looks around the room, Marty remembers that someone is watching. “Wonder what would happen if you weren’t…”

“The apocalypse?” she jokes, looking at him out of the corner of her eye. Though there isn’t much mirth in her voice.

Under normal circumstances, they would laugh. Not now though, not when that could be possible. She moves closer to him when it’s time for her to take the joint, sitting close enough that their thighs are touching.

Their faces turn towards each other and she can see the moistness of his lips, the stubble that’s verging on being proper facial hair, how his eyes are softer than usual. He can see every eyelash, how the corners of her mouth are twitching, and he can see the last remains of her lip balm around her mouth, just a tad bit shinier than the rest of her skin.

“There was so much I wanted to say.” Her voice trembles and it cracks a moment later. “Especially to you.”

“I know how you feel.” Marty tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and rests a hand on her face for a moment before pulling back. Her hands are shaking when she tries to take another hit off the joint and Marty takes it from her. “Remember freshman year, when you hurt your hand and couldn’t hold a joint?”

“Yeah. You gave me a shotgun hit.” And then someone had found a bong, which had made it easier.

“Wanna do it again, for old time’s sake?”

Back then, Jules and Dana had teased her for a couple weeks because they hadn’t even touched mouths and since they had figured out her crush before that night, they had given her shit for missing her chance.

This time, their mouths do touch. It’s soft, tentative. The sort of thing expected for a first kiss. They break apart and just stare at each other.

“I don’t want to die a virgin,” she whispers, and Marty realizes right away what she means.

“Are you sure?” he asks, a hand resting on her thigh.

“Yeah. I don’t want to give those bastards what they want. Not that it’s about that. Not entirely. I’ve thought about it, you and me, a lot. Ever since freshman year.” Before she can start babbling about how it’s not weird, she’s tried to date, that she’s not some weirdo who has been pining for most of college, Marty kisses her again.

This time, it’s rougher, more insistent. They fall back, laying across the bed, legs dangling over the edge as they kiss. Marty knows that they’re probably being watched and to even his surprise, it just makes him kiss her harder, pulling her even closer.

There’s nothing else they can do right now but wait until dawn, since the working theory is that surviving until dawn means surviving this whole horror show. Hopefully, whoever is watching them plays fair, because they’re sure as hell trying to.

Though the people watching them in the control room don’t feel like they are. “What the hell is he doing?” Sitterson grumbles as they watch the pair kissing, all tongues and even a bit of teeth now. Their hands are roaming over each other’s bodies, slowly starting to strip the layers off. “Shit, shit, shit!”

“Has this ever happened before?” Truman asks Lin, who doesn’t answer, her mind racing as the action gets steamier.

Within minutes, the pair is mostly undressed, and the members of the organization can only watch, horrified and fascinated, as Marty pushes her onto the mattress, the two of them now properly laying on the bed, her head resting on the pillows as Marty kisses her neck. When he bites down, the intern cheers for him, quickly shutting up.

Marty is fueled by spite, just a little bit. Or maybe a lot. Depends on who you ask. But it’s also about how after years of pining and wondering, he gets to find out what this is going to be like. How she’ll feel. It doesn’t feel like there is going to be enough time for everything, but he still prepares her. His fingers slide inside her wet heat, his thumb fumbling before finding her clit. She’s gasping and moaning his name, rocking her hips upwards as she chases that peak of pleasure. When she comes, it’s with a whimper of his name and her thighs clamping together.

They kiss some more after he comes up and hoists her legs up, placing them on either side of his body. She loosely wraps them around his waist just before he starts to enter her, moving slowly to let her get used to him being in her.

Once he’s all the way inside, they break their kiss and he rests his forehead against hers. They almost smile, unable to believe that this is happening.

When Marty begins to thrust, she moans and grips his upper arms. Once again, he remembers that they’re being watched and that just makes him move harder, his grip on her hips tightening.

“You’re going to be okay,” he mutters in her ear. “No one is going to take you from me.”

The sound of flesh meeting flesh fills the room. She’s soon beyond words, only able to moan and sigh as Marty pulls her closer than she thought possible, his teeth sinking into her neck again and again. He fills her up so well, to the point where there are moments where it feels like she can’t take it anymore, as if there is too much of him. There are going to be bruises all over her in the morning, but she doesn’t care.

Two of his fingers go between her legs, harshly rubbing her clit. She doesn’t think she can come again; her body feels like there is a fire and a storm raging in it all at once and when she comes, Marty kisses her, swallowing her screams as he begins to pound her into the mattress, the springs shrieking. It’s worth everything that she’ll be feeling in the morning. Because right now, they aren’t thinking about not making it. They’re barely thinking at all, too wrapped up in each other, in sharing their bodies. Marty’s words are borderline nonsense, he mumbles that she’s his, that he won’t let anyone touch her, as he turns her over onto her knees, grabbing her hair as he thrusts inside again. The pace borders on brutal, her ass is going to be sore in the morning, but she can’t bring herself to care. Her mouth is hanging open, only little whimpers escaping as his fingers and cock bring her to a third orgasm.

Inside the control room, they watch as the Fool finishes his deflowering of the Virgin by pulling out and coming on her back. The two of them roll over and just stare at each other sappily, as if this is a whole other genre. They hold each other and he kisses the top of her head.