Hello there! For any of you who ever saw the story 'Three' listed on here, this is the prequel too it. Three has been removed and will be rewritten and reposted once I finish this.

Disclaimer: The only things that are mine are what came out of my own imagination (Fantastic Four didn't)

Terminally ill?" Johnny Storm asked, running a hand through his hair, his eyes avoiding all the others in the room. He suddenly found the plush couch he was sitting on stiff and unfamiliar. The whole room began to fade away, as if he were sitting in one of those furniture store set-ups rather than his own living room. Of course he knew what he meant, but never had really imagined what he thought it'd sound like coming from his father's lips.

"They've given me three months" Robert Storm answer calmly, reaching for his wife's hand. She sat next to him on a couch sitting across from Johnny. Next to Johnny was Sue, who had yet to speak after Robert announced to his eldest two children that the radiation and chemotherapy that he'd endure for months didn't work. He'd visited the doctor today, accompanied by his wife Anna, when the grim news had been confirmed.

"That's it?" Sue choked out, her blond hair falling unnoticed into her eyes.

"It could be worse" Anna Storm answered solemnly, looking at Robert's hand in hers. She glanced up but couldn't bare to watch the shocked faces of her children. She'd never felt so helpless before. Anna, the enforcer of the family who kept everyone together couldn't do anything to keep the family together.

Robert Storm had been a chronic smoker all his life. He'd never smoked in front of his children, Sue, Johnny or Emily but often snuck into the backyard in the evening and enjoyed his long awaited cigarette. The habit was something he picked up in high school, the old days when all the guys smoked in the boy's room. Finally it'd all caught up with him. The cancer had started in his lung and after many months of tough treatment, the told Robert that the cancer had spread everywhere. He had three months to live.

"Everything will be fine" Robert said, wrapping his wife into a tight hug, kissing the top of her head. He gently pulled away and stood up, walking around the coffee table separating him from his other children. He sat down in between them, hugging Sue quickly, offering her a little comfort. He then turned to his son, placing a hand on his shoulder carefully. They soon broke into an embrace, the room thickly silent.

With everything falling out from underneath them, Anna suddenly remembered that the youngest member of the family, twelve year old Emily Isabelle Storm would be getting out of her dance class soon. Emily danced at a studio in the theater district, almost a ten minute drive from their home. Anna quickly went to the phone to call in a favor…

"Very good, girls" The Emily's dance teacher called, smiling as she motioned that the girl's were free to go. Emily grinned at another girl in her class as they talked about what they were doing the upcoming weekend. She patted her blond bun gently, checking to see if it was still intact. Usually, she had her mother do it but she'd been out with her father so she'd made an attempt at it herself. Emily picked up her bag as she slipped of her ballet slippers and dropped them in. She picked up a pair of slip on sandals and pushed her tight clad feet into them. She pulled on a jacket over her black leotard and headed out the door of the studio.

All the other girl's quickly dispersed, leaving Emily alone as she waited for her parents. They were never late. Actually, they were annoyingly early. The sun sunk below the skyline as Emily grew impatient all too quickly. It's not like she was scared or anything, but it was getting late and New York City wasn't the safest place after dark. Especially if you were a twelve year old girl.

Maybe they forgot about me. She thought as she checked her watch again. 7:39 pm. Forget this. Emily thought as she got tired of waiting. I'm getting a taxi. Grabbing her dance bag, she stood up and was about to hail a taxi when one pulled up in front of her before she even got her hand up. The taxi drier looked her up and down for a minute, chewing on a large glob of something as he did. He rolled down his window and asked her "Are you Emily Storm?"

It was Emily's turn to eye the man. He was a bit chunky and had a large bald spot on his head. His squinty eyes and bad stubble made him look like an old mobster you would see in an old movie. A really bad movie. She thought as she stared at his food stained shirt, and she thought she could see empty burger wrappers on the passenger seat.

"Depends on who's asking. She said as she wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Look, I got a call to pick up a Miss Emily Storm, Miss Mary's dance studio. 555 10th avenue. My boss said a Mrs. Storm called to have her daughter picked up, and if I deliver the wrong kid, I'm dead. So I ask you again, are you Emily Storm?" Emily didn't answer, just looked at the driver with a look of distrust. He just sighed and pulled out a sheet of paper. He read:

"Miss Emily Storm. Miss Mary's dance studio. 555 10th avenue. Has one older sister by the name of Sue Storm who currently attends MIT College. Also has a brother by the name of Johnny Storm, who is often wreck less and irresponsible with absolutely no respect for authority." Emily smiled. That was her brother alright. Satisfied that the driver wasn't a perverted pig, she picked up her dance bag and got in the taxi.

"Thank you." He said as she put her seat belt on. Emily looked at his taxi ID as she buckled up.

"Bob? What kind of parent tortures there kid with a name like Bob?" Bob looked at her in the rear view mirror.

"It's short for Robert kid." He said, turning his attention back to the road and rolling his eyes.

"Right Bob." Emily said as she tried to hide her smile. Bob looked at her in the mirror again.

"You think it's funny don't you?" He asked with a scowl.

"No Bob. Not at all Bob." Emily retorted, trying to contain her smile but when Bob squinted at her, she couldn't help it. She burst out laughing, and try as he might, Bob couldn't help but smile too.

"You got a big mouth on you kid."

"Yeah, well, thank my brother." Emily looked out her window, noticing for the first time where she was being taken. She looked back up at Bob. "So where are you taking me?"

"To your house." Bob answered with a laugh.

She settled back into the seat and watched the New York light up as the day faded away. They arrived at her front door a few minutes later. Emily was about to grab her bag and get out when Bob stopped her. He turned around in his seat and gave her a card.

"Listen, you seem like a good kid, and this city isn't always a safe place for kids your age. If you ever need a ride, anywhere, anytime, just call that number and I'll come get you. Ok?" Emily took the card and smiled.

"Ok. Thanks Bob." Emily got out of the cab and stood on the sidewalk in front of the house. It was a home that the family had moved into nearly seven years ago. Anna opened the door and motioned for her daughter to join her inside.

"Yes, this is the right house" She called with a gentle laugh. When they first moved in, Emily would insist it was the wrong house anytime they pulled into the driveway.

"Hey Mom." Emily called out as she made her way over to her. Mrs. Storm caught sight of her daughter and gave a sigh of relief. When Emily got up the front steps she gave her mom a hug, but for some reason it felt like her mom was holding her a bit tighter, and a bit longer. When she finally did let go, she gave Emily a smile, causing Emily to forget about the hug.

"How was dance class?" Mrs. Storm asked her daughter. Emily shrugged.

"It was alright, you know, except for the part where you forgot me."

"I didn't forget. I sent a taxi." Again Emily just shrugged.

"True. And Bob was really nice. He was the driver. He did smell a little though." Her mom gave her an amused look.

"Bob?" she asked, not believing it. Normally Emily was a bit more creative with her stories.

"Bob." Emily confirmed. She looked around. "So where's Dad?" Mrs. Storm's face fell.

"Are you okay, mom?" Emily asked, noting the look on her mom's face..

"No" Anna answered quickly. She glanced over Emily's shoulder as the cab pulled away. She ushered Emily inside and pulled the door closed. "But I'll manage." She added.

Emily quickly dropped the conversation and joined Robert on the couch where he was flipping through an old issue of Time Magazine that had been on the coffee table.

"There's my dancing queen" Robert said, giving Emily a kind smile. Emily laughed but didn't answer in words.

Anna joined him, giving him a look with her eyes which he interpreted as 'We need to tell her'.

"Emily" Anna started. "You know that daddy is very sick..." Her voice trailed off.

"Yes, I know." She answered without looking up. She was digging through her dance bag which sat on the ground by her feet.

"She's old enough, Anna" Robert said in a sharp whisper. "Don't treat her like a child" He added in a softer voice.

"Emily" He started this time, touching her shoulder, causing her to sit back. "I spoke to my doctor today. He said I don't have long to live"

A look of confusion spread on her face which was quickly over shadowed by hurt. Instead of tears streaming down her face, Emily stood up in front of her parents.

"No" She said, the look of hurt still there.

"Sweetie, please" Anna said, looking up in the doorway, seeing that Johnny and Sue had entered the room together.

"No" Emily said, backing away towards the front door.

"Em… it's true." Her gaze turned to her brother and sister at the sound of Sue's voice.

"No… It's not true… it can't be..." She started backing up to the door. When he saw this, Johnny stood up.

"Em…" he said gently going towards her. She backed up a bit faster going out into the hall.

"She's going to run." Anna quietly said, remembering what her daughter normally did when something really upset her.

"We got to stop her." Johnny said, taking a few steps towards the door.

Looking at her family, she whispered "No." and then ran. She left the door swinging open as she rushed down the street, quickly entering downtown, all the while Johnny and Sue ran after her calling her to stop. Emily didn't listen, and she just kept running and running among the people on the sidewalks. She just kept thinking of her dad. He can't die. He CAN'T.

Emily stopped for a minute, and listened to her siblings calling her name as they tried to find her. I can't outrun them, especially Johnny. She didn't want to deal with them right now, so she slipped down into an ally until she heard them run by, their voices fading until they disappeared

all together. Once their voices were gone, she leaned against a wall, finally letting the tears she'd held in slide down her cheeks.

He isn't going to die. He can't die.

Reviews are GREATLY appreciated!!