Disclaimer: I do not own Fantastic Four or any of the elements of the movie/show/comic etc.

Okay, I know it's been awhile, but I don't really have any excuses, and I'm sure you're sick of hearing what seems like half-assed or vague reasons for my un-updateyness. So just know I've been getting inspiration a lot more often lately, so hopefully I'll be updating more regularly now. (How many times have I said that before?)

Chapter 11 – A Grimm Story

A mother always knows…what could she possibly mean?

"A mother? What do you mean?" Seraphina smirked deeper.

"I think you know what I mean, sweet girl." Nuria closed her eyes for a moment, shock overwhelming her. She can't be…this woman…she can't be my mother…No matter how much Dad fooled around, he'd never be with someone like this woman! She radiates with bad vibes…

"You're lying," she said, her eyes blazing at the elder woman. Shaking her head a little, Seraphina smiled angelically at her again.

"Come with me…I will show you proof." With that, she swept towards the door Nuria had entered in and exited, leaving it wide open.

I shouldn't…I can't trust this woman, she's either the person who captured us or working for them…But if I go with her, I may be able to find my dad and Aunt Sue and Uncle Reed… A deep sigh leaving her lips, she ran from the room and followed Seraphina down the long hallway. Hide no longer, secret and strange angel…

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She couldn't stop gaping as the mountain looked down at her, his hand extended to shake. After a few moments of looking back and forth between them, Orion hissed at her.

"Rebekah, don't be rude…" He's right; I shouldn't be so disrespectful… Her hand trembled as she started to raise it, but the man withdrew his hand rapidly.

"Wait, Rebekah? Rebekah Richards?" When the nervous girl nodded, the rock angrily turned to Orion, who sighed. "Orion, why did you bring her here?"

"Ben, please. Don't throw another fit…You had to buy my dad a new car last time you did…" The man only grunted and turned away from them, heading towards another doorway. He's such a baby! She heard Orion think as he darted after him, leaving Rebekah alone in the stranger's room. Mom and Dad…I can't imagine what they must be going through right now…

"What am I doing here? Why the hell did I believe Orion was going to help me find them?! I should get out of here…" Determination flooded her and she stormed to the door. But the moment her hand touched the knob, she heard loud shouting and paused.

"Damn it, Ben!"

"It's none of your business, Orion!"

"Will you grow up already? It happened years ago; how long do plan to nurse this grudge?!"

What's going on? She released the knob and ran across the room, following the two's path through the doorway. She found herself in a dark hallway, and she crept towards the sounds of arguing. Peering through a slightly open door, she caught glimpses of Orion and Ben pacing in a small kitchen.

"Ben, what happened between you and Reed was so long ago…"

"You don't know what you're talking about kid, so just drop it."

"…and Rebekah needs your help."

"Why do you assume I care?"

"She's got no one else, Ben. Sue, Reed, and my Dad have all been kidnapped by someone or something." Through the small slit, Rebekah's gaze landed on Ben's face and despite the roughness of his skin, she could see the conflict plain on his rugged features. I wonder what happened between him and Dad? Deciding to finally take action instead of letting Orion do all work, she pushed open the door and stepped into the room.

"Please help us. I don't know what happened between you and my father and I don't really care. His life, along with my mother's, Uncle Johnny's, and Nuria's are hanging in the balance right now. Orion told me that you'd help, so please. I'm begging you." She pleaded, her fists balled at her sides. Ben turned to face her without speaking, a curious look in his eyes. It's so hard to tell his expressions… She began trembling a tad as he continued to stare at her and Orion began appearing concerned.

"Ben?" He asked surprisingly timidly, but the man did not reply or turn his gaze. I wish I could tell what Ben was thinking, he's beginning to creep me out…Oh damn it, I could kick myself! Rebekah thought as she remembered she had the power to satisfy her curiosity. I've never used my power on purpose before but no time like the present… Concentrating hard, she stared into Ben's eyes and tried to feel what was behind them. For a moment she believed it wouldn't work, but then thoughts flooded at her with incredible force and she struggled to pick one out of the din. She doesn't look a thing like either of them…Last time I saw her, she was starting to look like Reed but now…She almost looks like-

"Ben, knock it off! You're scaring her," Orion unexpectedly cut off both Ben's thoughts and Rebekah's concentration.

"Listen 'Rion, why don't you take your little cousin and leave me alone." It was obvious to both of them that it was an order, not a suggestion but Orion ignored it.

"You're being childish! I can't believe the-"

"Ben, who do I look like?" She interrupted her cousin and Ben turned back towards her. Orion swore at her in her head, but it was his turn to be ignored.

"What did you say?"

"I asked you who I look like. I don't anything like my mom or my dad, but you noticed that I look like someone else you know…Please tell me who."

"How did you…" Shaking his head slightly in amazement, Ben glanced over at Orion, who shrugged.

"She reads minds, Ben." The giant man finally moved, slowly coming at her and she started trying to shrink back. With a speed she wouldn't have imagined he could have, Ben grabbed her arm with a surprising gentleness and pulled her into the kitchen, shoving her at Orion who managed to catch her before she tripped.

"Wait here," he grunted as he left the kitchen, the door nearly swinging off its hinges from the force he slammed it with. Still in her cousin's arms, Rebekah looked up at him.

"Did I say something wrong? Why is he so angry at me?" Putting her back on her feet, Orion sat down at a small kitchen table that she hadn't noticed before.

"No, you didn't say anything wrong, Becca. Ben's just…he's still upset at your dad for something that happened before you were born." Sitting down opposite him, she flashed him pleading eyes.

"Tell me, please."

"I don't know if I should, Becca. It's Ben's, or your father's, story to tell." He looked down at his lap, trying to avoid her puppy-like gaze. Please Orion, what happened? Rebekah thought at him, and she grinned when his head shot upright at her intrusion into his mind.

"Fine, just don't do that again." She nodded agreement and he sighed deeply. "It was before you were born, in fact even before Nuria and I were born. My dad, your parents, and Ben were still together as the Fantastic Four. I don't know a ton of the details about what happened, I only know what my dad told me and Nuria. Ben was mad at my dad for something he'd said; my dad couldn't remember what, just that it was insulting as usual. So Ben had stormed away from them to cool down. But a large group of something attacked them while he was gone and his girlfriend Alicia got caught up in the battle. She was blind and couldn't see them. An attack came at her and-"

"She died." The two of them turned back towards the door at Ben's depressed voice. "She got hit with the attack and was killed." Rebekah could see the faintest hint of tears in the man's eyes, but her attention was drawn to a single photograph he had in his hand. I wonder what that is?

"…why do you blame my father? It sounds like it was an accident." Ben stood perfectly still in the doorway, his head up but his eyes avoiding hers.

"Reed promised me that she wouldn't get hurt. That even if it cost him his own life, he'd always protect Alicia if I wasn't there, that he'd get her out of harm's way first." Finally he looked at Rebekah, his eyes angry and his large fingers clutching the photo so tight she thought it would rip. "But he was busy this time. He was protecting Susie, even though she was perfectly capable of handling herself and forgot about my defenseless Alicia. I came back in time to finish the fight, but I was already too late to help her. Then Reed and I fought and I've never forgiven him since." Ben's eyes were closed when he finished and Rebekah felt tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. That's so sad…I can't imagine how Ben must feel…I'm so sorry Ben! She directed the last part at him and he grunted in acknowledgement, but he did not open his eyes or otherwise move. After a few moments, his arm extended and he held the photo out to her. She rose from her chair and walked to him, her hand gripping the edge of the photo. He let go of it and turned away, walking towards the counter at the opposite end of the kitchen and resting his arms on it, so his back was facing her.

Rebekah looked down at the photo in her hands. In it were five people who looked as if they were around the age of 22 or 23. Two she recognized as her parents, a third was her uncle Johnny. But the other two left her puzzled. Who are they? As if he'd heard her thoughts, Orion rose and gazed over her shoulder.

"Hey, that's Dad and your parents! Oh, and that's Ben right there," he said as he pointed to the far left of the picture where a muscular yet bald man stood next to her father. Wow, that's him? He's, uh…changed. "But that guy there, I don't know who he is…" Orion looked puzzled at the man on the right edge of the picture.

"His name is Doom. Victor Von Doom…" Orion gasped a little, and then shook his head. He knows who that is? What does this Victor guy have to do with me? I mean, yeah he kinda looks like me, but not a lot…

"Wait, you can't be implying that Rebekah looks like him?!" At Ben's lack of response, Orion sighed. "Ben, that's not possible…It has to be coincidence, she's not Dr. Doom's child."

"Who's Dr. Doom?"

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(sigh) Such a sad story, but it had to be told…

And for anyone who actually noticed, the typo on the word "grim" in the title was intentional. Can you guess why? XP

So…what did you think? Questions? Comments? Predictions?

Please review and I hope to have Chapter 12 coming your way shortly…