Years ago, four friends ventured out into space when their ship was bombarded by cosmic rays. These cosmic rays altered their genetic make-up, granting them each fantastic powers...

Annual 2004 - by Jason C. Bruss
Volume I

"We love you, Mommy!"

...starring...
the Fantastic Four

Reed Richards
is

Mr. Fantastic

Susan Storm-Richards
is

the Invisible Woman

Johnny Storm
is

the Human Torch

Benjamin Grimm
is

the Thing

...also starring...

Victor Von Doom
as

Dr. Doom

Fours Tower: Reed & Sue's Bedroom
Early Morning

Lying comfortably under the comforter of my queen size bed, I feel a light snug. It's probably Reed, I don't even bother to open my eyes. Taking in a deep breath, I suddenly smell the sweet aroma of eggs, bacon, and hash brown. I open my eyes to see Reed standing on the edge of the bed in his robe, with Franklin and Victoria sitting on the bed in front of my holding a bed tray with a delicious breakfast.

"Happy Mother's Day!"

It was like in choir. Reed and Franklin's voices, and Victoria's gurgling. I love my family.

"C'mon Mommy, breakfast is ready."

"Thank you, Franklin."

I give the boy a small kiss on the right cheek, and then kiss my baby girl on the forehead. I smile to Reed, as he stretches in for a kiss also.

"This is so special, this is the best Mother's Day gift anyone could ever give me. Thank you."

"Your welcome, mommy."

I look to Reed, whom is smiling. His hands are behind his back, he pulls them out only to reveal white roses.

"Oh, Reed... my favorite."

"I know. I figured that the best mom in the world deserves the best in the world."

I look to Franklin who is smiling from side to side of his precious little face.

"Are you okay, Franklin?"

"Yeah, Mommy... Vicky and I got you something."

He hands me a small box, I smile to him as I open it. It's a necklace, it says: 'World's Greatest Mom'. It's so special, it came from two of the most special people in my life.

"Thank you, Thank you so much."

I give little Victoria and Franklin a tight little hug, as Reed sits down on the bed next to me.

"Let me help you put it on."

"Thank you, Reed."

Reed assists me with putting it on, as I hold my medium-length blonde hair up so it's not in his way.

"There. It's on."

"You look very pretty mommy."

I do? It's before I'm even able to put make-up on and do my hair. I guess being his mom, I'm also going to be pretty.

"Yes, Sue. You look very pretty."

Reed, always the charmer-- when he's not in his lab.

"Thank you."

I give Reed another kiss, this one a little more passionate. Victoria's giggling is all I hear before I hear...

"Eww... kissing is gross."

Reed and I only smile to each other as Franklin makes a face at us. He's reaching the age of girls having cuties and kissing being gross. Just to think, in a couple of years he'll be a teenage and he won't be thinking that then... especially with Johnny and Benjamin as his role models. Oh dear God.

I pick up the fork from the tray, and place the napkin across my lap as I'm sitting up in bed. Taking a small piece from the hash brown, I take a bite.

"Mmhmm... this is good."

I take another bite.

And another.

And another.

And another.

Ok, Ok, you get the picture. It's really good, Reed's pretty good at everything he does... for the most part.

"Like it, yeah?"

"Yes, Franklin... I love it. Thank you."

Reed's smiling as he sits next to me on the bed, I know what he wants. I use my fork and pick up a small piece of the hash brown and feed it to Reed.

"That is really good, what can I say? I'm a Master Chief."

"I wouldn't go that far, Reed... not yet anyways. After all, a Master Chief cleans up after himself."

Reed's face dons a smirk, as I smile towards him. I find myself taking another bite or two from the hash brown before starting with the scrambled eggs. The eggs are fluffy, which is pretty difficult for most men to be able to accomplish. I think Reed knows that also. Johnny and Ben would never be able to get their eggs fluffy, infact... they have tried in the past, no luck.

"Mommy... do you like the necklace?"

"Yes, Franklin-- I love it. Thank you."

Franklin's face is full of happiness. I'll have to ask Reed later if Franklin picked it out, I imagine Franklin did from his reaction towards it.

"This is great, thank you all."

Park - Pittsburgh
Late Afternoon

I find myself walking with my arm wrapped around my husbands as we walk through Central Park. The leaves are on the trees, the pollen is in the air, and the flowers have bloomed.

"It's so beautiful."

"I know, Sue."

"Look at this Reed, how often do we get to take in nature like this? How often do we get the chance to relax? To enjoy ourselves? Out of all the things I could say I miss since being a Fantastic Four member, it'd have to be this... relaxing in nature."

Reed gives me a small kiss, and sits down with me on a park bench. We watch a bunch of kids playing in the park, with their mother's.

"Reed, if I had the chance to change everything we've been through... for a 'normal' life... I wouldn't. I'm happy with what I have. I have a wonderful husband, a loving family, a list of friends a mile long. I'm happy with it all."

"That's good, Sue. You sure you wouldn't change all the strife we've had with Galactus, or Victor, or the aliens we've encountered?"

"No, I wouldn't change any of that. Those things, those people are horrible, yes. But they are part of what makes up the
way my life is. I wouldn't change any of it."

I lean into Reed as he wraps his arm around me. I was telling the truth. Regardless of all the disasters, life-threatening situations that the Fantastic Four have been in. If I were to give it up... I probably wouldn't have what I have. I probably wouldn't what I have as so special either. So in truth, being a member of the Fantastic Four has brought me many things-- one of them is happiness. I find myself drifting off into sleep.

"Susan Storm Richards..."

"Mommy... wake up."

"Sue, wake up."

"Suzie-Q, yo Suzie-Q"

I find my eyes opening and find laying next to Reed on the park bench, it's dusk. Standing in front of me are Johnny Storm, Benjamin Grimm, my son Franklin, and in the baby stroller is my daughter Victoria. Reed and I had fallen asleep on the park bench.

"Y'know, We're gettin' paid extra for baby-sittin' the little tikes."

I smile to Reed as I stretch and sit up. Franklin sits down on the bench next to me.

"We were wondering where you went. You didn't come home for supper and we couldn't find you."

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. Your daddy and I fell asleep."

"Well, I wasn't worried... but when Uncle Johnny and Uncle Benjy started crying, I figured they were."

I look up to Johnny and Ben, whose facial expressions act as if they did no such thing. It's obvious that they did.

"Well, that's cause your a big boy."

"Yeah, I know."

I look to Johnny and Ben with a smirk, and then I look to Reed whose sitting up beside me now. I pat his thigh gently.

"Well, old man... I suppose we should head home."

"How about we stay here and watch the sunset? Look at it."

My eyes look over the skyline of Pittsburgh, looking at the beautiful array of colors. Reds, Oranges, Yellows, Pinks, Blues, and Purple... all mixed together to make a beautiful sunset.

"It's so beautiful."

I look around to me at the people around me. My babies: Franklin and Victoria. My brothers: Johnny and Ben. My husband: Reed. I truly am lucky. I truly am a special mother, for I have a special family. A fantastic family.

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