Emma

READER POV

You were sure your eyes were deceiving you.

The blonde man standing at the other end of the aisle could not possibly be Johnny Storm. Your Johnny Storm.

Well he wasn’t exactly yours. He was your crush in middle school and then in the ninth grade, your childhood best friend. But your dad’s job moved you across the country that summer. You and Johnny shared a dramatic goodbye, only to lose touch shortly after that.

Now, living in New York over a decade later, you knew what he had been up to. But that’s only because the entire world knew what the Fantastic Four had been up to. There were many nights where you almost reached for the phone, but you didn’t know what to say. “Saw the news, are you okay?” “What’s it like bursting into flames and soaring through the sky?” Then, you moved to New York and you thought about it again.

But you always came to the same conclusion, there was no way Johnny Storm remembered you. You were just a first love, if it was even that.

You were currently staring at him in the small record shop tucked on Jane Street in the West Village, mostly trying to figure out what he was doing all the way down here. You knew he lived in the Baxter Building, all the way in midtown on the east river. So why was here? Would he recognize you?

He looked devilishly handsome. His jeans were perfectly fit, his jacket cropped enough so that you could tell how tight his tshirt fit, his blonde hair was tousled in a hot way, and his sunglasses made him somehow look even hotter.

Your name being said broke you from your thoughts, making you nearly jump.

Then the laugh came, it was deeper than you remembered, but it was still the same, “sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

He took a few steps closer to you and you shook your head, “you didn’t scare me, sorry if I was staring, it’s just been a while, I can’t believe you recognized me.”

He was smiling now too, looking at you like he was studying you, “you look the same, better even.”

You immediately blushed, and then became embarrassed that his simply words were having such an effect on you.

“So, what’re you doing here? Last I checked you were out in Cali,” he leaned his hip against the table holding all the used records, looking effortlessly flawless.

“Um yeah, I moved here a little over a year ago for work, and have been sticking it out ever since,” you tilted your head, trying to get a better look at him.

He slid his sunglasses on to the top of his head, finally showing you his beautiful blue eyes, the same eyes you used to gawk at as a thirteen year old.

He suddenly glanced at his watch, eyes slightly widened with panic, “listen, I have to go, I’m totally late and Sue is gonna kill me.”

You smiled, “no worries, it was great seeing you.”

He took a deep breath, “would it be crazy to ask for your number?”

You let out a nervous laugh, “no it wouldn’t.”

He took his phone out and handed it to you, you typed in your number, hoping he couldn’t notice that your hands were shaking with nerves.

He took it back from you, “great, it’ll be nice to uh, catch up.”

Before you could respond he was sliding his sunglasses back over his eyes and running out the door.

You were left utterly shocked and completely aware that your crush on Johnny Storm never fully went away.

JOHNNY POV

It couldn’t possibly be her. He was flipping through the pile of records without even really looking at them. He saw her when he walked in. The bell above the door rang and he threw the cashier an easy smile. Johnny had a solid fifteen minutes to kill before he had to fly up town for his team meeting, and he thought why not look for that new record. As he stopped at the first bin, he noticed the girl with headphones on. Her hair a slightly different color than the last time he saw her, but her eyes, god her eyes were exactly the same.

He could feel the heat surge through him in a panic, so what did he do? He started flipping through records without even actually reading them. He wrapped his mind around how to handle this situation while keeping his cool. The minutes ticked, and that’s when he felt her gaze shift slightly to him.

He was rushed with the memory of saying goodbye to you. It was late August, school would be starting soon and he would be starting without you. The humidity stuck to him in an uncomfortable way, but he was thankful that the sweat masked his tears. Everyone had said you were both being dramatic, that two fifteen year olds could not actually need each other this much. But when he hugged you goodbye and spared you one last glance before you hopped in your parents car to move, he couldn’t help but feel like a part of him drove away with you.

He finally worked up the courage to say your name, and once it left his lips, he couldn’t take it back.

He didn’t want to leave, in fact he would sit here and try to make you smile all day if he could, but he has your number now, and you would definitely be hearing from him. As he flamed on and flew across the city, he couldn’t help but think about you. How you looked older, but in a beautiful way. Your curves couldn’t have looked better in your dress, your hair cut flattering and extenuating your face, you looked better than he ever could imagine.

Before he knew it, he was landing on the balcony of the Baxter Building. Sue was waiting there, Franklin bouncing on her hip.

”You’re late” she said flatly. Franklin reached his arms out and Johnny happily took him from Sue.

“I know, but Sue, I saw someone today,” he told her like a little kid that had just met their favorite superhero. He was awestruck.

“Johnny we all see people all the time—“

He cut her off by saying your first and last name. The mention of it made her jaw drop. And then she smirked up at him, “well, I’ll be damned. That girl you cried over for like six months.”

She turned and walked into the building where Reed and Ben were waiting. Johnny trailed her, still holding a babbling and giggling Franklin.

Johnny scoffed, “it was not six months.”

Sue smirked again, “sure Johnny.”

“Sue.” He said firmly.

She hummed in response.

“Remember when I told you she was the love of my life when I was fifteen?” He asked.

She nodded, biting back a laugh at his theatrics.

“Well. I was right. And now I’m going to have to get her to fall in love with me again.” He said confidently.

“I'm sorry, who are we talking about?” Ben asked, waving a rocky hand in the air to get Johnny’s attention.

“None of your business Benjamin, and you’ll know soon enough. When you’re standing next to me. At our wedding,” Johnny smiled.

Ben rolled his eyes, mumbling under his breath.

“At your wedding?” Sue pressed.

“Mmhmm,” Johnny replied.

“Let’s start the meeting before he starts talking about hypothetical children,” Reed said, interrupting.

Everyone sat down at the table and started discussing experiments and crime analytics, but all Johnny could focus on was how he was going to woo you.

READER POV

You basically skipped the whole way home. You weren’t even paying attention to where you were going, just letting muscle memory guide you.

There was a goofy smile on your face and you thanked god that no one is New York cared about things like that.

The text from Johnny came less than an hour later.

Unknown: I know we just saw each other, but I have a feeling waiting three days to ask you out would be a mistake.

Before you even finished reading it, another message popped up. You typed his name in, that way there was no risk of losing his number.

Johnny: Dinner? Friday? I'll plan everything.

You stared at the screen for far longer than necessary before smiling to yourself, biting your cheek to hide the emotion.

You: I'd like that.

You flopped onto your bed like a school girl, was it a date? Were you being insane? Now you just had to make it to Friday.

FRIDAY

JOHNNY POV

Johnny Storm has saved the world more times than he could count.

Planning one date, however, was proving to be his greatest challenge. He used his name to make reservations at the nicest rooftop restaurant in Manhattan.

He hired a driver to start the evening, and even put on trousers as opposed to his usual jeans. He was so nervous. Johnny Storm was never this nervous, especially about a date.

But he knew he was going to knock this out of the park.

He didn’t realize the universe had other plans.

READER POV

The evening started wonderfully.

Johnny showed up with flowers, leaning casually against a black car that was fancier than anything you had ever sat in. The flowers looked like they'd been picked and curated perfectly rather than bought.

“You remembered,” you smiled.

“You always used to say you liked the wildflower field by the middle school,” he shrugged, trying to act casual.

You stared at him, “You remember that?”

Everything went south approximately twenty-three minutes later.

The restaurant called while you were in the cab.

“Unfortunately, Mr. Storm, we've had to close for the evening,” the lady said nervously.

Johnny frowned, “uhhh what happened?”

“There appears to be...a hole in our roof,” she said it tentatively, like she knew how ridiculous it sounded.

He hung up the phone and turned to you, “luckily I have a back up, because nothing can stop us from having a good night.”

You smiled at him, “we really don’t need to do anything crazy. I'm just happy to be here, catching up with you.”

Plan B was a jazz club, but halfway there, alarms erupted down the block.

Johnny sighed, “oh you've got to be kidding me.”

A very obviously stolen armored truck came barreling through an intersection.

He looked at you apologetically, slipping his jacket off and leaving his sunglasses in the care seat, “give me sixty seconds.”

“You know,” you called after him, “most guys fake emergencies to get out of dates.”

“Not an excuse sweetheart, I’ll be right back!” He shouted as he flamed on.

Exactly four minutes and twelve seconds later, he landed beside you with soot on his cheek and one sleeve singed.

“So uh, did I impress you yet?” He said as he caught his breath.

You laughed, “we’re definitely off to a unique start.”

The traffic ahead of you was relentless, but finally an hour later they found themselves in a tiny dive bar tucked beneath the skyrises that lined Manhattan.

The sign outside only had half its lights working. When you walked in, the bartender nodded to the booth in the corner and Johnny thanked him. A few seconds later he brought two beers.

A jukebox hummed softly in the corner. It didn’t really matter where you were, because you were with him. If fourteen year old you knew you were on a date with him she would’ve screamed.

The first three beers went down easily, you enjoyed each others company more than you even remembered doing so. It was like fitting two puzzle pieces together at the end of it all, and seeing the beautiful picture you had been waiting for.

You told him all about work, what brought you to New York. Your roommate horror story, and why you live in a studio now. And you finally got the chance to ask how he was after everything that happened.

He was a little thrown by your question, “no one has ever really asked me that.” He said it softly, with a small smile, just happy you cared.

“I’m sorry,” he said, after the bartender brought you a basket of fries.

You looked over at him, which wasn’t hard considering you were tucked in a booth, “for what?”

“I wanted tonight to be,” he gestured vaguely, “perfect.”

“It was,” you said simply. You took a long sip from the beer you had resting between your hands.

He blinked, “no I don’t think it was.”

“I would’ve gone anywhere with you,” you held his gaze, “it was just nice, I don’t know being… friends again. It was always so easy with you, even when we were young.”

He looked slightly upset by your words, but he quickly bounced back, “yeah friends.”

You winced, not even realizing you had said it, “but I must admit, I always had such a big crush on you, so when you asked me to dinner, I couldn’t help but be a little giddy.”

His eyes widened slightly at the admission, “I always had a crush on you too. That’s why— when I saw you the other day, I thought that has to be fate.”

You nodded in agreement.

“Sue used to always make fun of me,” he rolled his eyes at the memory, “she said you would make me blush.”

You laughed softly, “yeah well, I can one up you. I wrote ‘Mrs. Johnny Storm’ on all my notebooks in fifth grade.”

He laughed impossibly hard at that, nearly spitting out his beer. You laughed so hard you had to wipe your eyes. He had you laughing all night, to the point where you knew your ribs would hurt tomorrow.

When you both finally settled down, you looked around the tiny bar.

An older couple danced beside the jukebox despite them being the only ones. A college kid was losing terribly at darts with his friends. The bartender was humming along to an old Fleetwood Mac song.

Then you looked back at Johnny, who was already looking at you.

His jacket was draped over your shoulders because you shivered once when you walked in and he insisted.

“You know what?” you said quietly.

“What?” He said, still holding your gaze.

“If everything had gone according to plan,” you paused, taking in his blue eyes, “I don't think I would've laughed nearly this much.”

His expression softened, “this has been fun. I haven’t laughed this hard in a really long time.”

“I’m having the best time,” you said softly.

His shoulders relaxed for the first time all evening. For a long moment neither of you spoke, just sitting in one another’s company.

Then Johnny moved, closed the tiny space between you, and cupped your face.

“I've wanted to kiss you since middle school and all those feelings came back the second I walked into that record store,” he said, breath fanning against your lips.

Your breath hitched, “so what's stopping you?”

Before either of you could say anything else, he closed the small space left between you and captured your lips in a soft kiss.

You had dreamt of kissing Johnny Storm for years and years and it was better than you ever imagined. He was so warm and his lips were softer than any man you’d ever kissed.

When you finally pulled away,he kept his hands on your face. Johnny smiled at you nervously.

“So, when’s our second date?” You said boldly.

He laughed and you bit your lip to hide your grin.

“I’m free tomorrow,” he smiled, “or for you, pretty much any day.”

You laughed at that, “tomorrow it is then.”

Two Years Later

JOHNNY POV

“So,” Ben said, adjusting his tie, “you're nervous.”

“I’m not nervous,” Johnny scoffed, immediately pulling his collar out from what Ben just fixed, “this tie is just choking me.

“You've checked your pocket for the ring six times,” Ben said knowingly.

Johnny checked his pocket again.

“Okay, make it seven times,” Ben added.

Sue laughed, “you've been carrying that ring around for three weeks.”

“Suzanne,” Johnny deadpanned, “what if the perfect moment arose?”

“There is no perfect moment,” Reed said.

“There is,” Johnny answered, “for her there is.”

It was a cool Friday night. The leaves had just started to change in New York. He sat outside your office, waiting for you to change into your favorite outfit before taking you on your surprise date.

The record shop hadn't changed. The bell above the door still jingled. The owner still nodded at you in recognition.

Johnny walked you to the same aisle where he'd first seen you again.

“You've been weird all day,” you teased, looking around, a little confused as to why Johnny told you to wear your nicest outfit to the record shop.

He sighed, “I know.”

“You've barely made a joke,” you said with a frown.

He didn’t say anything, he just took your hands in his.

“I used to think the luckiest day of my life was the day I got my powers,” he took a deep breath, “but it wasn’t.”

You smiled up at him, suddenly aware that the owner had slipped into the back and it was just you two.

He swallowed, “it was the day I met you.”

Your eyes immediately softened.

“And then I thought I lost you forever, I sulked for months when you moved,” he laughed quietly, “but apparently life just needed us to grow up first.”

He reached into his pocket, trying to steady himself and now show you his shaking fingers.

The music changed, it was soft and warm. The lights also flicked off and before you could question it, string lights that hung neatly from the ceiling were turned on all above you, casting a soft, gold hue all around you.

He lowered himself onto one knee.

“I loved you when we were kids,” a tear escaped down your cheek, “I fell in love with you all over again when I saw you standing right here. You've made every ordinary day since then feel extraordinary.”

He opened the ring box, exposing the largest diamond you had ever seen, “so,” he smiled through his own watery eyes, “how about we stop calling you my first love and let you be my last?”

You laughed through your tears, bringing both your hands to cover your mouth, “Johnny.”

He raised his eyebrows.

You moved your hands away from your face, letting out a wet laugh, “you haven’t asked me yet, honey.”

His eyes widened, “oh my god.”

He laughed too, “will you marry me?”

You didn't answer right away, you crouched down so that you were eye level with him,

“Yes,” then louder you repeated it, “a million times yes.”

Johnny slipped the ring onto your finger before pulling you into a crushing kiss.

When you finally pulled away, you smiled at him. You both stood up and kissed your forehead.

You intertwined your fingers with his, “come on, everyone is waiting for us at home.”

And together, laughing the whole way out the door, you stepped back onto Jane Street, exactly where your second chance had begun.

Tags (all): @ilocuras24 @nyxmoretti @kmc1989 @destinyg237

You walked in, kitten heels clicking on the floor, drawing immediate attention. “Food’s in the car,” you announced and left them to it. You didn’t notice a new set of eyes trailing you as you made your way to Brett’s office.

You knocked on his open door and he looked up, a smile covering his face as he took you in. He slid off his glasses and put them on the desk. “Hey, baby. What are you doing here? I thought you had that client meeting today.”

He pushed back his chair and opened his arms for you. You moved over to get a hug and then leaned against the desk in front of him, standing between his legs. His hands found your hips as he looked up at you.

“It’s not for a couple of hours yet. Brought dinner.”

His hands tightened briefly. “You didn’t have to do that.”

You huffed and ran your fingers through the curls on top of his head. “I know. But I did it anyway.”

“You have time to eat before you go? The crew always likes it when you stick around.”

You nodded and hummed in agreement. His smile grew impossibly wider as he stood and linked his fingers with yours. “Well, come along then, Mrs. Richards.”

As the two of you headed toward the kitchen, snippets of conversation drifted toward you. Brett pulled you to a stop when he heard his name.

“I have to say I’m surprised. Richards doesn’t seem the type.”

Brett leaned down to speak in your ear. “Kennedy. New recruit.”

The was a beat of silence then you heard Rhodes speak, “The type for what?” You’d always liked Rhodes.

“You know, that.”

Brett’s brow furrowed and you mirrored the gesture. What the hell was this kid on about?

“Afraid we don’t know. You want to clarify?” That was Jenny. She sounded irritated to say the least.

There was a low laugh. “Dating a groupie, a fire hoe.”

Oh.

“A what?” Rhodes’ voice was low, sharp. If the kid knew what was good for him, he’d shut up.

He didn’t. “Women that chase firefighters. Fire hoes. Get it?”

Brett released your hand and strode forward leaving you to trail behind him. The room was silent, everyone glaring at the new guy who seemed to still be waiting for the laughter he expected. Idiot.

“You want to repeat that?” Your husband’s raspy voice cut through the air and Kennedy spun to face him, looking like his soul just left his body.

“Chief! It was just a joke. Didn’t mean anything by it. Just trying to lighten things up.”

Brett crossed his arms over his chest and glowered at the man in front of him. “That woman, as you put it, is my wife.” He took a step forward. “She is intelligent, beautiful and takes care of this firehouse like family. Most importantly, she’s mine. Everyone here respects her. Do I make myself clear?”

Kennedy wouldn’t meet your husband’s eyes. “Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.”

“I’m not the one you should be apologizing to.”

The kid glanced at him briefly before settling his gaze on you. “Sorry, Mrs. Richards.”

You nodded but said nothing. The likelihood he would have apologized if Brett hadn’t overheard was slim to none. You’d never cared for insincere apologies.

“We’ll keep him busy, chief. Don’t worry,” Rhodes said, dropping a hand onto the younger man’s shoulder to steer him away.

“I thought we were getting ready to eat,” Kennedy protested.

Rhodes scoffed. “You think you can insult her and then eat her food? There’s bologna in the fridge.”

The scowl was still firmly on Brett’s face as he pulled out a chair for you. You placed your hand on the side of his face and pressed a kiss to his lips. “He’s an idiot. Your crew will teach him better manners. Don’t let it ruin your day, handsome.”

 He hummed beneath your lips, snaking an arm around your waist to pull you into him and deepen the kiss. Only when the firefighters gathered at the table started to whistle and cheer did he pull away. A wide smile covered his face as he laughed. He guided you into your chair before taking the seat beside you and pulling you close enough that your thigh was pressed against his.

The normal easy-going banter rose up around the table as the meal was served and food passed around. Brett’s hand found yours under the table, tangling your fingers together. You let yourself sink into the feeling of belonging, of being part of the crew even if you’d never ran into a burning building.

A small part of you felt sorry for Kennedy and what the coming weeks would undoubtedly look like for him. The rest of you decided it was a lesson better learned here and now than at the expense of someone that didn’t have the support you did. Some other woman who thought her partner had her back only to find out she was horribly wrong.

You leaned into Brett’s side, smiling when he pressed a kiss to the top of your head. Kennedy entered the room and sat at the far end of the table, frowning at his bologna sandwich. You laughed at his disgruntled expression then turned to kiss your husband again.

“I’m fine, I used to run marathons. I just scrambled upstairs. Are you ready to go? Wanna take a bath” you grin, standing up slightly and opening the car door as you slip your bag onto the floor, “I’m fine Brendon, really”

His shoulders don’t relax, his face still looks like he’s trying not to say something that he wants to say, “okay” you settle back in the car as he starts the engine, checking both ways before pulling out of the reserved parking spot, “did you have a good shift?” He asks, a hand gingerly touching over the bump of your stomach

You nod, “a mom told dad not to look as she was pushing and, he looked and he passed out. So we had to manage that” You shrug, “you promise you won’t look when I have baby?”

Brendon’s frown softens, “I promise, but I’ve seen this all before? I did my time in the pink scrubs” He comments, “but I’ll stay with you”

You smile, “oh- and if I poop on the table. I don’t wanna know. Don’t tell me. My coworkers are already going to see my vagina, I don’t need to know if they saw me poop”

Brendon laughs softly, “m’sorry. I won’t tell you. I promise. You think I’m gonna pass out during it?”

You turn to look at him, his face turned to the road as he merges onto the highway, “I hope not. I think you’re gonna cry though”

He’d roll his eyes if he thought it wouldn’t be true, but he cried when you told him you were pregnant, cried during the honeymoon, and the wedding, and the day he proposed, the day he bought that fat diamond that now sits on your left hand.

“How was your shift, good bone breaks?” You ask, sleepily closing your eyes as he goes on about his day, it’s just words to fill the time before he has you undressing and taking your jewelry off and stepping into the warm bath.

Warm, not hot water, which irritates you as you dip in. Brendon helps you forward, just so he can sit you between his thighs, his chest against your back. Hands rubbing softly against your bump, “how do you feel? Too warm?”

You shake your head, “not warm enough, I know it can’t be over 100 degrees but, bren I like to be boiling”

You know his response, the fact it’s unsafe. You can’t overheat, they the baby doesn’t overheat.

You lean back against him, sighing softly as you relax, “my boobs hurt”

Brendon hums, “I’m sorry baby, you want me to massage them?”

You shake your head, “no. I’m hungry, what are you making your baby mama for dinner?”

Brendon wraps his arms round you, “you’re my wife, not my baby mama”

You’re still smiling, “didn’t answer my question”

“I haven’t done the grocery shopping, I’ll bring you a pizza” he kisses your cheek as your timer pings.

“It’s not been fifteen minutes” you complain, “please Brendon”

He shakes his head, and helps you out of the tub, drying you off, letting you use his shoulders to balance on as you out your underwear back on, you make him feed you pizza in bed.

Settled underneath the plush cushions and covers of your bed, plate in your hands as the TV plays some silly comedy Brendon had picked out for you.

He lays next to you, his head against your thigh, only getting up to bring your plate back to the kitchen.

Brendon cuddles next to you, you curled into his side. Leg tossed over his side, his hand wrapped around your thigh, “I love you” you whisper in his ear, palm flat against his sternum.