Chapter 1

My life used to be so much simpler. I was young, careful, and didn't let anyone get under my skin. I worked with Reed Richards and my uncle Ben Grimm. My uncle took me in when I was kicked out of my parent's place. Reed was more than happy to welcome me into his home.

Now, I wasn't a scientist and I certainly wasn't the muscle like my uncle, but I did feed the two men. Without me, I fear they would have forgotten to eat. They both worked so hard at their job.

I was invited by my uncle and Reed to go on a trip to outer space. My uncle said it could be a vacation for me since I wouldn't need to cook for them. Honestly, I loved cooking. It made me feel wonderful inside when I see the looks on their faces when they take that first bite of my food.

I was getting on the ship when at a distance I saw someone riding a motorcycle. It was kicking up dirt behind it. I couldn't help but roll my eyes when I could see that the man riding the bike was making out with some chick.

I was putting on this very tight smooth suit. Just before I zipped the zipper past my breasts a man walked in. He looked over at me, shocked and then having a grin on his face. I zipped the zipper the rest of the way before I spoke to him.

"Wrong room." I said in a monotone.

"No, I'm in the right room." This man said in a flirtatious tone. "Mind if I change right here? Or perhaps you could get naked with me? You can help me undress if you want."

"No thank you. I have no interest in seeing you naked." I replied before grabbed my bag.

"I think you're lying…" He looked down to my chest where some cleavage showed.

"If you don't mind…I'll be taking my leave now." I said and walked quickly passed him before he could answer. I found Susan Storm, Reed's ex girlfriend. "Sue!" I called out for her.

Sue turned when she saw me and smiled sweetly. "Hello, Ashlyn! I had no idea you were coming…" We both hugged one another.

"Yeah, it was late notice. Ben invited me…he said that you would be here and he felt like there needed to be another woman on board. I guess all the testosterone would be too much." She and I laughed.

"Yeah, your uncle and my brother will be having those fights." She said.

"Oh, right you're brother was coming. I haven't seen him in so long. What…four or five years since I have?" I asked and she nodded. "Johnny was it?"

"Yes?" Called a voice from behind me.

I turned and found Mr. Flirtatious was walking up behind me in his tight suit. I tried to avert my eyes from looking at his chest and crotch area, knowing all too well that they would be very tempting to look at.

"Wait…you're…no!" I said and laugh. "You're Johnny? You have got to be kidding me!" I covered my mouth. "Wow."

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" He asked with a confused look.

"I'm Ashlyn Rivers…Ben Grimm's niece." I answered and his face showed that he was shocked.

"I had no idea! Whoa…this is really weird." He covered his mouth as well, I think mocking me. Ass. "You're grown up, Shrimp!" Ah yes, the nickname he gave me years ago.

"Ashlyn, I'm going to grab our space suits. Will you help me carry them to the others?" Sue asked.

"Sure!" I said and turned back to Johnny, who was staring at my torso again. "I'll see you later, Johnny." I told him and walked off with Sue.

I felt a gaze on my back. I knew he was still watching me. Knowing very well on the type of man he is, I swayed my hips a little bit more as I walked. I might as well give him a show since he's watching me. What's a little fun?

"I don't know whether I should be flying or doing swan lake in these suits. I mean who the hell came up with these?" Ben said.

Sue and I walked in together, carrying space suits to give to the guys.

"Victor did. The synthetics act as a second skin, adapting to your body's individual needs." Sue answered Ben's question.

I handed Johnny his space suit as he spoke up. "See, now that means it keeps the hot stuff hot and the cool stuff cool." He looked at me and gave me a wink.

"Not to mention is shows everything. Big things are big and…" I looked down at his crotch then back up at him. "And small things small." I gave him a teasing grin.

He knew fully well that I was giving him shit. I guess he couldn't help but act like he was wounded. "Oh, Shrimp…how I have missed that smart mouth of yours."

"Oh, Johnny…how I have missed yo- oh who am I kidding, I didn't." I bit my bottom lip before turning around and walking towards my uncle.

"Thank you, Sweetie." He said as he took the suit. "Hey…" He said and grabbed my hand. "Stay away from Dumbass over there. I don't want him hurting you, touching you, or even looking at you."

"Ben, I don't even find him worth my time. I know what type of guy he is…I'm not going to fall for him." Little did I know how wrong I was.

Johnny did an admirable job at flying the spacecraft. I couldn't help but be slightly impressed. I was walking down the hallway next to Ben and Johnny was on Ben's right side.

"ETA until cosmic even, nine hours." Victor called out.

"If you're good, maybe next time daddy will let you drive." Johnny said to Ben.

I couldn't help but make a slight giggle when my uncle replied.

"Keep talking and there won't be a next time." Ben looked over at me and gave me a playful nudge.

"Tell me when that's happening, I would love to watch." I said and Ben let out a laugh.

"You two are such bullies." Johnny joked more. I knew he could take our shit.

"We can monitor the cloud's approach and observe the tests from here." Sue called out as we walked into the main area.

"Is it safe?" Ben asked as he unzipped his suit.

I walked over with Johnny, carrying equipment that needed to be set over where he was taking his equipment.

"You know…I never expected you to grow up to be so…" Johnny started to say and pointed his hands at my body.

"What?" I asked, not understanding.

"Womanly." Johnny answered.

"I'm a woman…so of course I am womanly." I stated simply.

"Yeah but…" He examined more of my features. "Wow."

"If you'll all excuse me, I need to borrow Susan for a moment." Victor called out to all of us.

"Care to escort me?" I asked with a playful grin.

"Madam…" He said as he held out his arm.

I took it and smiled to myself. It was just playful fun. Nothing bad was going to happen. He is a playboy and I haven't even kissed a guy yet.

We were suiting Ben up, Johnny and I.

"Please tell me you guys are not trying to rekindle things with my sister again." Johnny said, locking Ben into his suit.

"Of course not, it's strictly business only." Ben said over the headphones Johnny and I wore.

"Yes, well his eyes say differently don't they?" Johnny said as he started to type in some things.

I don't know a lot about what happened between Reed and Sue, nor is it my business to know. All I knew is that it was a horrible breakup.

Ben grabbed Johnny's arm. "Hey…two hearts got busted last time. Maybe she's not over it either." Ben said, looking at John.

"Wow, Dr. Phil, that's deep. Let's think about that." Johnny said. "You got Victor, more money than God, stud of the year…and you got Reed the world's dumbest smart guy, worth less than a postage stamp." He walked away from Ben. "That's a real toss up." His words angered me.

"Don't trouble your tiny little mind." Ben said as he stepped into the chamber.

"Don't wander off now boy." Johnny said and Ben walked out into space after the glass door closed.

"Money isn't everything." I said softly.

"What?" Johnny asked and turned to me.

"Money isn't everything." I repeated. "Love can be the most pure thing of all if treated with caution. Not every person thinks that you need money to be happy. I do understand that money is important in today's world…but it isn't everything."

Johnny muted his microphone so Ben couldn't hear him. "Did you read that out of one of your romance books?" Johnny teased and walked up to me. "I'm sorry…not romance…but erotic books."

I blushed deep red. "Shut up…" I mumbled and muted my microphone.

"You're a very naughty girl…I know the books you read." He backed me into a wall. "Remember? I caught you reading and having some fun without me." Johnny made a small pout.

I stared up at him and couldn't help but tremble under his intense gaze. "That was around four or five years ago, Johnny. I was a teenager and-…" I was stopped by Reed running in the room, not bothering to question what was happening.

"Get Ben inside now!" Reed shouted, having a headset on.

Johnny and I both turned on our microphones after getting away from one another.

"What's going on?" I asked, fear showing in my voice.

"I ain't done arranging your flowers yet, Egghead." Ben said as he turned around to look at us.

"Ben…turn around…" Reed said into the headset.

I covered my mouth, in shock. I gripped tightly to Johnny, needing something to hold on to. He took my hand into his, understanding what I needed.

"Guys, I'm not going to make it." Ben said as he turned to look at us after he looked at the storm.

"You gotta jump!" Johnny shouted, putting a hand on the glass. "It's the only way!"

"Ben!" I cried out, putting my hand on the glass.

Ben leapt forward, slowly making his way to us. I gripped tighter onto Johnny, about to lose it. I felt my heart pounding in my chest. This isn't how it was supposed to go. This isn't how I wanted it to end. This isn't how my uncle was supposed to be repaid for all of his amazingness.

"Come on, Ben! You got this!" Johnny shouted.

"Get ready to close the portal, Johnny." Reed said as he touched Johnny's shoulder.

I reluctantly let go of his hand so he could shut the portal. With a loud thump I watched as my uncle hit the glass door, slowly going unconscious. The storm made its way through the closed portal, ramming into us.

I couldn't help but look down at my uncle, lifeless it seemed. All I wanted was to help him. The pain from the cloud was nothing compared to the pain of watching my uncle dying. Slowly blackness crept over me, soothing me into a deep and long sleep.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed my story. The rating of this story will go up, FYI. Please leave me feedback and let me know what you think!