Disclaimer: I do not own The Fantastic Four, Marvel etc.

I have been struggling with my story Storming Sky High, so I decided to start another Fantastic Four story. Hopefully I will be able to go back to Storming Sky High but for now, here's Pop Goes The Weasel.

Chapter 1:

"How can you work in here with all that noise outside?"

Victor Von Doom leapt out of his chair in fright as his younger sister appeared by his side. She had always been like that – so quiet that you don't realise that she's there until she speaks.

"I mean, is it absolutely necessary to have a giant version of you standing outside the building? As if the real you isn't intimidating enough!" she said.

Victor smirked slightly, "It's always nice to have your support, Poppy," he said, straightening his tie.

Poppy shook her head, "No tie, it makes you look weak."

Victor nodded and removed the tie, handing it to his assistant, Leonard, who stared at it with a vacant expression. Poppy walked over to the window and watched the men working on the Von Doom statue.

"Who is this meeting with anyway," she asked, not turning around, "you seemed excited about earlier."

Before Victor could reply, the phone on his desk buzzed. The receptionist's voice could be heard throughout the room.

"Sir, Mr Richards and Mr Grimm have just arrived for your meeting,"

"Excellent!" said Victor, clapping his hands, "Send them in!"

Poppy spun around.

"Richards? Reed Richards?" Victor nodded, "As in, the ex-boyfriend of Susan Storm?"

The door to the office opened and Poppy rushed behind Victor's chair. Victor was sitting down and staring at the two men who had just entered the office with a smug look on his face.

"Reed. Ben." Victor nodded as he said each of their names.

"Hello there, Victor," said Reed as calmly as he could under the powerful glare of Victor Von Doom.

The other man, Ben, nodded in Victor's direction.

"I don't believe that you have had the pleasure of meeting my sister, Poppy," said Victor, unmoving.

Poppy nodded at the two men with the same powerful expression as her brother. Reed noticed that her hair was the same dark brown as Victor's, though it was much longer and tied up into a ponytail, with a few strands hanging in front of her face. He found it difficult to look away from her piercing green eyes that were almost identical to her brother's.

Reed began his presentation which Poppy actually found interesting. However, she continued to glare at the pair like her brother. She wasn't as interested in science as Victor was but she did everything she could to help him with his work. Victor had always said that if they both worked together, they would be unstoppable.

"Turn it off, please," said Victor, interrupting Reed's presentation.

Reed looked panicked, "I don't think that I have fully explained my proposal."

"No I think you have," said Victor with a sigh, "same old Reed, always stretching, reaching for the stars with the weight of the world on his back."

Poppy sensed Victor's mocking tone and let a smirk take over her face. She had no doubt that Victor was also smirking.

"Dreams don't pay the bills, do they?" asked Victor, throwing a magazine in Reed's direction.

Poppy tried to see the front cover from where she was standing, but Victor cleared his throat in order to stop her. She straightened her back and stood still again.

"You remember, when we were in school, we talked about working together?" said Reed.

Poppy felt a little hurt that her brother had been planning to work with someone else but she didn't let her emotions show.

"I was about to explain," Reed began the presentation again, "the storm is deadly. But the shields on your station's control room are designed to protect any occupants inside."

Victor switched off the presentation and turned on the lights.

"So it's not just my money you want," he said, "it's my toys."

Reed nodded shyly. Victor tilted his head to the side and Poppy could tell that he was smirking again.

"Tell me, if NASA doesn't trust you, then why should I?" asked Victor.

Ben and Reed shared a look of suspicion and worry. Victor stood up, laughing and walked towards them. Poppy followed close behind him, letting out a light chuckle.

"That's my job, Reed, to stay a step ahead!" said Victor, "To know what other men don't."

Victor sat on the table whilst Poppy stood with her arms folded next to him. Ben and Reed mumbled something to each other, but were interrupted by a female voice.

"He's right Ben, it is just business."

Susan Storm stood on the opposite side of the room. Reed had frozen at the sound of her voice. Now Poppy understood what Victor was doing. He was using Reed's only weakness against him. From the many girl talks that Susan and Poppy had had, Poppy had discovered that Reed was ridiculously smart when it came to science but when girls are involved, he is out of his comfort zone – he just didn't know what to do or how to act.

Victor spoke, "I think you both know my Director of Genetic Research, Susan Storm."

Sue walked towards Reed and Ben. Victor laughed proudly as Sue greeted the two men. The awkwardness between Sue and Reed was obvious. If Victor was trying to impress Sue, he was going the wrong way about it. By bringing Reed back into her life, Victor was going to confuse Sue; it would only disadvantage Victor later on. But Victor was in charge, so Poppy kept quiet.

"This isn't going to be a problem is it?" asked Victor, who knew very well that it would be.

Both Sue and Reed said "No," and Victor carried on speaking whilst walking towards the pair.

"Good," he said, "then you are just in time to hear the great Reed Richards ask me for help..."

Poppy cleared her throat and appeared on Victor's side.

"I mean ask us for help," said Victor, patting his sister on the shoulder, "you know, you made a lot of folks at MIT feel like a junior high science fair, so you'll excuse me if I savour the moment."

Victor and Reed negotiated for a small amount of time then sealed the deal with a handshake. Reed and Ben began to pack up their things whilst Victor flirted with Susan. Poppy stood by Victor's desk and saw that one of the draws was open. As she started to close it, she spotted a small black box. Her curiosity took over so she picked it up and opened it. Poppy let out a small gasp. It was a beautiful diamond ring. She looked over at where Victor was talking to Sue. Fortunately, Sue had her back to the desk but Victor spotted it and clenched his jaw. Poppy hastily put the box away as Victor allowed Susan to follow Ben and Reed out of the office. Leonard walked back in, momentarily preventing the siblings from having a conversation about the ring.

"If Reed's right, this little trip could double our stock offerings." Victor said, sitting at his desk after nudging Poppy out of the way.

"And if he's not?" asked Leonard in his monotonous voice.

"Reed's always right. It's a good thing that he doesn't always know what he's got."

Poppy grew tired of the conversation and interrupted.

"Excuse me Leonard, I was wondering if I could talk to my brother alone?"

"Of course, Miss," he said and slowly left the room.

Once he had gone, Poppy squealed and hugged her brother, who stood up to hug her back.

"You're going to propose to Sue?" she asked and received a nod, "This is amazing! I'm so happy for you Vic!"

"Thank you, Poppy," he said.

"You know, I'm slightly jealous. Everything is working out for you." Poppy said, sadly.

"Poppy, you're career is going great and I'm sure that you will find the right person soon,"

"I hope so," whispered Poppy.


So there's the first chapter, please review and tell me what you think so far. Thanks.