The Uncanny Fantastic Four

Chapter 36: Sweet Christmas: Part 1

By

The Uncanny R-Man

Disclaimer- All familiar characters belong to Marvel Comics.

The Baxter Building-

A taxicab pulled up outside the home of the Fantastic Four. Ben Grimm, the Ever-Lovin' Blue-Eyed Thing, was taking some time off with his wife and had asked a friend to take over his spot on the team. That friend was Luke Cage. Luke stepped out of the cab and paid the driver before helping Jessica, his wife, and daughter Danielle.

Having unpacked all of their cases from the cab, the Cage trio headed inside the Baxter Building.

'Ah Mr Cage, you are expected.' Roberto, the Baxter Building's cybernetic receptionist, smiled warmly in greeting. 'Please, enter the elevator. The Richards and Mr Storm are waiting for you upstairs.' Luke couldn't help but frown slightly.

'You can't be expecting a welcome party.' Jessica chuckled. 'I would sort of expect it from Johnny Storm. Just think of all the merchandising opportunities a new member of the Fantastic Four brings. Sue's most probably busy looking after the kids, and Reed… Well, you know Reed Richards. He's most probably got his head stuck in some new discovery.'

'It woulda been nice, is all.' Luke sniffed. 'Make a guy feel welcome.'

'You never know, they might be waiting upstairs with balloons and cake. I hear Lyja Storm makes a wicked chocolate cheesecake.' Jessica peered down at little Danielle Cage. 'Would you like that, honey? Some nice chocolate cake?' Danielle just gurgled happily.

The doors to the elevator opened and the Cages were greeted with quite a sight. Reed Richards was standing atop two stools, one foot on each, as he struggled with putting up a welcome banner. Even with his stretchy limbs, Reed found it difficult to keep stable.

'Reed, be careful.' Susan Richards grimaced. 'Sturdy elastic body or not, you're still going to hurt yourself if you fall.'

'Susan, there's really no need to…' Reed trailed off as he noticed that they had guests. 'Ah, Luke! you're early. We weren't expecting you so soon. Apologies on the state. There were matters in the Microverse that needed to be tended to.'

'Think nothing of it, Reed.' Luke grinned. 'I guess I should be the one apologising.'

'Yeah, somebody was up early raring to go.' Jessica smirked. 'He was like a kid at Christmas.'

'Thank you for coming anyway.' Susan smiled at the new arrivals. 'I'm sorry we called you at such short notice.'

'Anything I can do for a buddy is fine with me.' Luke smiled.

'Johnny will be along soon.' Sue explained. 'He's in a meeting with the merchandising people.' Jessica shot her husband an 'I told you so' sort of look.

'I am so sorry about that.' Sue apologised. 'I tried to talk Johnny out of it, but sometimes he can be so stubborn. I almost expected him to hide in his room and sit there sulking.'

'Franklin and the others wanted to come and say hi.' Lyja greeted with a wave as she walked in with the children.

'Hey there, kid.' Luke grinned as he knelt down to talk to Franklin, tussling his blond hair slightly. 'You been keeping outta trouble?'

'Yes sir, Mister Cage.' Franklin nodded in response. 'Are you gonna take Unca' Ben's place forever?'

'Just as long as he's on holiday.' Luke answered. 'There's no need so call me sir. We're all buddies here. Call me Luke.'

'Hey there, sweetie. What's that book you're reading?' Jessica asked as she knelt down to talk to Val. 'Something about Ponies?'

'A Brief History Of Time by Professor Stephen Hawking.' Val answered matter of factly. 'I was marking all the mistakes.'

'Uh… okay.' Jessica blinked in confusion.

'It seems that Val has developed heightened intelligence.' Reed explained. 'Lyja was just reading her a story, wasn't she?'

'Yes, daddy.' Val smiled as she held up her book. It was indeed a book about ponies. 'I may be a super-genius, but I am still a two year old girl.'

Sue then beckoned Luke and Jessica to follow her.

'If you'll just come this way, I'll show you to the spare rooms.' Sue told them. 'I'll let you get unpacked before we have dinner. Hopefully Johnny will be back before then.'

'Sue, there's really no need to go to all this trouble.' Jessica told her hostess.

'It's no trouble at all.' Sue responded. 'You're our guests. Besides, it's been a long time since I last had to entertain guests.'

Later-

The Cages had unpacked all their things and had joined the others for dinner. Sue had put on quite a spread. The Fantastic Four barely had time to enjoy a proper dinner together, what with the likes of Doctor Doom or Galactus always kicking up a fuss. Usually they only had time for takeout after defeating the latest intergalactic threat.

'Wow. This is just… Wow.' Luke shook his head in amazement. 'You really shouldn't have gone to al this trouble, Sue.'

'It's nice to finally get a chance to cook a dinner for everybody.' Sue reassured. 'We don't seem to get much time for a family meal nowadays.'

'I bet you five bucks something ends up interrupting dinner.' Johnny piped up. 'I bet another five if it's another alien invasion. It is Tuesday, after all.'

'I thought Doctor Doom usually attacked on a Tuesday.' Lyja blinked in confusion.

'No, that's Friday.' Johnny responded. 'Or is it Wednesday? No, Namor's Wednesday… I think.'

'Johnny, stop that.' Sue admonished her brother. 'Nothing's going to interrupt our dinner.' No sooner had those very words come from Sue's mouth then the whole Baxter Building was shaken by a colossal tremor. 'Me and my big mouth.'

BADOOM!

'Ha! You owe me five bucks, Sue!' Johnny crowed as he punched the air. 'I knew it!'

BADOOM!

Reed stretched out an arm to catch the dishes that came crashing out of the cupboards.

'I am afraid that dinner will have to wait until after we combat this latest threat, Susan.' Reed apologised. Sue let out a heavy sigh at that.

'I guess it's takeout again…'

Outside-

With dinner abandoned Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Luke all headed up to the roof to check out what was going on. Jessica stayed inside with Lyja to look after the children.

'I guess bad guys don't wait until people get settled in.' Luke quipped as he surveyed the destruction that had been wrought down below.

'Those tremors could have only come from one thing.' Reed thought out loud. 'Mole Man.'

'But why would he do such a thing?' Sue asked. 'Mole Man has been so quiet for so long. Why start causing trouble now?'

'We had better find out what he wants before he levels the whole city.' Reed said. 'Come on, let's get to the Fantasticar!'

TBC…

Next: Sweet Christmas- Part 2

What does the Mole Man want this time? Tune in next time to find out!