Disclaimer: I don't own the Fantastic Four sadly.

Author's note: THANK YOU ALL REVIEWERS! It really makes me happy to be ill and turn on my computer to see people like my story. This chapter is dedicated to one of my best friends called Ashley. Him and my other friend Coumba insisted that I used them as ideas. So in this chap it's all about Ashley.

Review this story to make my friend and me happy. He's very good at intimidating cough people and getting them to do what he wants. Just prevent him from getting embarrassed okay?

NOW READ AND REVIEW!

"Where's Reed?" Ben and Johnny spared Sue a glance.

"Out," they said simultaneously. Susan rolled her eyes and stepped in front of the television. Ben and Johnny groaned and tried to look at the screen past Sue's figure.

"Hey pebbles, if we get her mad enough she'll go invisible," Johnny whispered to his friend.

"And what about her clothes?" Ben asked. "She has to take 'em off,"

Johnny stared at him horror. "Forget it," he whispered as he tried to erase the memory of Sue stripping on Brooklyn Bridge.

"Boys!" Sue yelled to remind them she was still there. Ben and Johnny looked at her.

"Where's Reed?" she asked them again.

"He kinda just walked out without sayin' anythin', right Matchstick,"

"Uh huh. We were all like, 'where ya goin' Reed. Get me a Hershey.' And he was all like 'she wishes she never met me,' and then he left. Me and Ben were all like 'what the-"

"Okay Johnny," Sue intervened before Johnny's story could get any worse. She hated the way he retold stories.

"He looked pretty upset though," Ben added to Johnny's story.

"Yeah…kinda zombie like. Coulda won best costume at a Halloween party lookin' like that. Even Ben wouldn't be able to beat him." Johnny said with a smirk. Ben glared at him, which only earned him a giggle from the blonde boy.

Sue's heart stopped when she realized what had caused Reed's unexplained disappearance. Ben and Johnny watched as she turned pale and suddenly ran for the elevator, grabbing a coat on her way out.

"Should we follow?" Johnny asked uncertainly.

"Dunno."

"Well don't take it personally Ben, but you suck at this game so I'm outta here."

"Okay, okay. Let's go," The two friends got up and followed their friend, not bothering to collect anything on their way out.

Reed shuffled down the crowded Manhattan Street. He had no idea where he was going or why he was outside in the cold wearing only a white shirt, chinos and black shoes. The cold suddenly got to him and he shivered. Reed knew the sensible thing would be to go home. But he didn't want to go back to the Baxter and face Sue. That was the last thing on his 'to do' list. Reed's feet carried him into the quieter part of the city. He stopped outside a small café and debated whether to go in or not. His decision was quickly made when the wind hit his back. He trundled in and sat down at the counter in the corner of the cafe. A woman ambled up to him and flashed him a brilliant smile. She held up her notepad and poised her pen above it.

"What can I get ya Hun?" she said with a strong southern accent.

"Uh… black coffee," he mumbled.

"Coming up," she said brightly. The waitress turned on her heel and ambled towards the coffee maker in the kitchen.

Moments later Reed sat hunched over a coffee. He had a hard time trying to hint to the waitress that he didn't really want to talk to her. She had abandoned him when her boyfriend entered the café to pick her up. With the bubbly waitress absent the café was very quiet. Reed was glad; all he wanted was peace and quiet. Something that was so rare at the Baxter Building with Johnny around. Just as Reed was really enjoying the silence, a tall man walked in whistling. He wore a trench coat with a matching hat. He took it off to reveal a dazzlingly white shirt and black suit trousers. Seeing that Reed was the only person in the café the stranger sat down next to Reed. Mr Fantastic groaned very quietly as the man began to whistle an unrecognisable tune.

"Hello there." The strange man stuck out his right hand and said, "Adam Thomas Ashley Carmichael VIII. Pleased to meet you." Reed stared at the man and slowly put out his left hand. Adam shook it vigorously.

"So… how are you Mr. Richards? You know those grey streaks really suit you, I was thinking of getting some, what do you think?" Adam posed several times before noticing Reed's face.

"What?"

"W…who are you and…and how do you know my name,"

"Tut tut. For a scientist you aren't so smart, didn't I just tell you my name is Adam Thomas Ashley Carmichael VIII. Also, everyone who watches the television or uses a personal computer or reads a newspaper knows who you are."

"Right." Reed muttered feeling a little embarrassed.

The two men sat in silence for 5 minutes. The quiet was interrupted by Adam's whistling every now and again,

"I can help you Reed Richards," Adam said suddenly. Reed eyed the man suspiciously.

"I know what happened earlier this evening and I can tell you Miss Storm doesn't mean what you think she does." Reed stared at the man, he was sure his eyes were stretching out of his sockets.

"H…how do you know these things?" Reed stuttered, not taking his eyes off Adam.

"Come into my office," Adam said in a business like manner.

Reed knew his eyes were coming out of his sockets when the walls of the café began to melt away. The stool disappeared underneath him and he fell onto the floor with a thud.

"Opps, forgot to warn you about that," Adam said sheepishly, he smiled and offered Reed a hand up. Reed stood up with the help of Adam and looked around in amazement. The café had turned into an office Reed knew Sue wished he had. The walls were a cream color and there were wooden floorboards under Reed's feet. There was a large oak desk with a large red velvet chair behind it. In front of the desk was a smaller version of the red chair. On the walls were pictures of…of Reed. Reed looked at them in astonishment, they were pictures of him at all different ages. He looked at Adam suspiciously. The man was now seated in his velvet chair and watching Reed with a small smile.

"How did you get these pictures? How do you know about me and my personal life and who are you…really, who are you?" he asked Adam. Adam's smile grew slightly.

"I'm your guardian angel."