Chapter 7 – Everything Burns

"Are you sure you can take care of everything while I'm gone?" Sue asked, packing her wardrobe. "Oh! And if Lydia shows up again tell her we'll make everything clear when we're all back to New York, ok?"

"Ok, don't worry." Ben assured her. "Have a safe flight. Do you need me to go to the airport to see you of?"

"No, no need for that, thanks." She smiled, brushing her hair with a comb.

"Alright. I have to meet Alicia in an hour, so…"

"Sure, go on. I'll just finish packing and the taxi will be waiting downstairs by that time." Sue said and kissed his cheek good-bye.

"See you. And Sue, don't worry about that girl, I really don't think she's that big of a trouble to us." After that Ben left her room.

Susan Storm was not worried. She was worried sick. About everything: her newly found nephew who's been hit by a car, ceremony that would probably be canceled, and lastly but most importantly – Lydia Von Doom. She could see it in woman's eyes that she was terribly hungry for revenge. It was scaring, Sue's never seen anything like this before. Even Victor himself never possessed such a colorful choice of emotions. But she would find a way to deal with her ex-boyfriend's sister later, for now had enough problems with her own family.

Meanwhile two blocks away a certain Ben Grimm tried to find out what it was he wanted. Alicia was someone he could never even dare to dream about. She was gentle, caring, kind, and loving. Although she was blind he she understood that there was something really wrong with him, but she's never said or even hinted on that aspect. He knew that he had an angel in his hands but couldn't get rid of the feeling that it still was not right.

As if sensing his thought Alicia voiced something that was on her mind for too long:

"If you need help, Ben, don't be afraid or ashamed to ask for it."

The Thing didn't say anything in return, but somehow that flew deep inside his exterior and straight to the core.

In the country of Mists Johnny took Carmen's car and in one hour was ready to meet his sister in the Heathrow Airport. When the doors of the arrival's hall opened he saw many people streaming down the allies to see their relatives and friends. That's probably why Johnny loved airports. There's no place for hatred and anger there. Everyone's just happy to see one another.

"Hey, stranger." He heard from behind. 'Stranger? That sounds like Carmen!' He thought.

But it was Susan, tired from long flight and exhausted from fighting her own demons.

"Hey, sis!" He hugged her tightly.

"I'm really glad you're ok." She said, pushing herself away lightly. "So, are you ready now to tell me the truth?"

"Do I have a choice?" He grinned, for the first time in days.

"No, actually." She shook her head.

"Then let's find a place where we can get you something to eat, you look awful." He took her hand and led her to the cafes.

"Thank you." She answered with a bitter laugh.

And in St Anna's Main Hospital Carmen was having her own fix of caffeine.

"You ok?" The voice brought her back to reality.

She looked up to see Reed starring at her with worried eyes.

"Besides the fact that my son can die I'm fine." She said, motioning for him to sit.

Reed obeyed and took a seat at the opposite end of the table. Carmen stood and poured another cup of coffee for him.

"He won't die." He said, gratefully accepting the drink. "I won't let it happened. Sue is on her way here, she'll donate the blood, and everything will be fine."

"I'm not so sure. But maybe I'm just a pessimist." She laughed nervously. Then hesitated for a second but added with a smile. "You must love her a lot."

"What?" Reed looked puzzled.

"Sue." Carmen said. "When you say her name you're always smiling, and in your eyes there's a strange bright light…sorry, I shouldn't have said any of that…"

"No, it's alright." He said and smiled too. "I do. I can't always say how I feel bout her, I'm not good with words, if it's not scientific bullshit…" With that he even surprised himself. "But I do know I love her."

Strange, but with this words of a person she knew two days max, Carmen felt odd comfort and some kind of the invisible bond forming between the two of them. Maybe because Reed was sure James would be alright, maybe because he was talking like an elder brother she's never had or maybe she just wanted to believe. Hope is a dangerous thing to lose, and Reed reminded her of that.

Flashback

Lydia was sitting in the dark room full of burning candles. Her notebook and pen in her and papers from the office on her lap. She froze for a second, hearing something. She could swear she did hear a noise. Turning her head from one side to another she decided that it was her imagination and probably darkness that were playing tricks on her mind.

She made one more note, but then the noise repeated itself. This time she stood up to go check what was wrong. She made it out of the leaving room to the hall of the big mention as quiet as she could, barefoot. She gasped. Lydia didn't find the source of the noise but a trail of white and pink roses. The young woman smiled to herself, following her favorite flowers. They led through the hall to the stairs on the second floor and to her big bedroom with four-poster bed in the middle. Everything in there was covered with roses. They were simply everywhere: on the table, nightstand, by the bed, on it…

Lydia turned around, feeling the smell go through her clothes and inside through the skin to her lungs, to find two glasses of red wine on the table, and the bottle nearby covered with the flowers.

She took one of the glasses in her hand and brought to her lips. Then smelled it and took a small sip to taste it.

"Hmm…1945, my favorite." She said turning to face the door. "You knew that."

The dark figure nodded it's head, learning on the doorframe.

"You've always loved the best wine…" He said in strong but caring voice.

"Oh yes, I have." Lydia answered, taking the other glass to hand it to the man.

He took it.

"I also love how you can make an ordinary evening romantic." She whispered.

Taking a sip from his glass he put it on the bedside table nearby.

"And I love you." He whispered back after some time of silence.

She smiled and came a bit closer. The distance between them was killing him, so he crossed half of the room to where she was standing and passionately kissed her. Lydia was caught by surprise at first but then returned his kiss with the force and passion that equaled his. He backed her to the bed, leaving the trail of kisses on her neck in the process. She's lost her hands in his hair while his were placed on her waist. She jumped on him, encircling her legs on his waist, and he brought her to the huge bed with golden silk sheets.

There was nothing more they needed. Amazing physical sensations that were running through their bodies were enough.

The night was taking it's tall. Two of them were falling asleep when Lydia whispered in her lover's ear:

"I love you, Victor."

End of Flashback

Lydia's eyes snapped open and at the same moment a tear rolled down from one of them. She'll have her revenge. Victor Von Doom will be avenged…

"That I swear."

TBC