Chapter 10- 2 weeks later

Since the day Lily was healed miraculously by the strange rock, the top two floors of the Baxter Building seemed to be filled with laughter as Johnny and Lily joined ranks to pull pranks on Ben, as well as Sue and Reed. The latest was a sawed off chair. Johnny and Lily had managed to saw halfway through the back two legs of Ben's chair. They kept laughing as they pulled the saw back and forth. They hoped the prank would be pulled off when they got together for dinner. Only one thing seemed to conflict with their plans. Alicia, Ben's girlfriend was coming over.

"How are we supposed to pull this off?" Johnny whispered as they cooked.

"Would you stop worrying?" Lily hissed, "The chair was made for Ben, right?"

Johnny nodded.

"Then she won't sit there. If we have to, we will put name cards on the plates. Okay?"

"Fine. But if it fails, it's all on you. You're the one who thought up the idea," Johnny relented.

Lily rolled her eyes, "Of course, now hand me the pepper."

~15 minutes later~

"Guys?"

"He's here, get the pizzas out," Lily said as she put the last of the plates on the table.

"Why did we settle for Pizza?"

"Well, it was either that or the Chinese place take out. Which would you rather have?" Lily asked.

Johnny looked at Lily, "Pizza. That Chinese place is awful!"

Lily laughed, "Exactly! Now the pizzas please before they burn."

Lily left the kitchen and into the living room. She saw Ben and a petite black woman standing next to him. Ben looked at her and smiled.

"Lily," Ben said as he gently turned Alicia around. "This is Alicia."

Alicia smiled and stuck out her hand, which Lily took.

"Hi, it's nice to meet you," Lily said as they shook.

"Pleasure's mine. I've heard a lot about you," Alicia said.

"Same here. If you're hungry now, dinner's ready," Lily said with a smile.

"I'm starving. Kitchen right?" Alicia asked.

"Yup," Lily said.

"I'll see you in there Benny," Alicia patted his chest and walked towards the kitchen.

Lily stood next to Ben and watched. "Benny huh?"

"Don't start," Ben growled playfully.

She took a few steps back, "I like Pebbles better."

"Oh!"

Lily laughed as she ducked. Ben shook his head and walked into the kitchen. Lily walked to the bottom of the stairs that led to the top floor.

"REED! SUE! DINNER!" Lily shouted.

She turned and went into the kitchen. She noticed Ben sitting in his chair and she looked at Johnny.

"It failed?" she mouthed.

Johnny shrugged in response. Lily stood next to him.

"Did he switch chairs?" She whispered.

"No, maybe we didn't saw it through enough," Johnny whispered back.

"What are you two whispering about?" Ben asked.

"Nothing! Alicia, what would you like to drink?" Lily asked, ignoring Ben's arched eyebrows.

Lily nodded and turned to the fridge to retrieve the pitcher of water.

"Do you have to shout that loud?" Reed asked as he and Sue walked in.

"Yes," Lily simply said.

Ben snickered as Reed shook his head. Reed and Sue sat down as Johnny put the pizzas on the table. Lily gave Alicia her water and sat down on the other side of Ben. All ate and chatted around the table. Soon it was time for dessert. Lily got up and retrieved the chocolate pie she had made herself from the fridge.

"Oh no," Sue moaned jokingly.

Lily paused, "What?"

"Any more of those desserts you make, I'm gonna go fat," Sue replied.

Lily laughed as she set it down. She cut it into pieces and handed them out to each person. Lily sat down just as a loud crack resounded.

"Oh!" Ben cried as he landed on the floor with a loud thud.

Everyone was quiet before muffled snickers came about. Johnny and Lily couldn't contain their laughter as it finally rang through the kitchen. Soon Reed, Sue, and Alicia started to join in as well. Ben still sat with a surprise look on his face before he started laughing. Lily leaned on Johnny as tears leaked out. Eventually the laughter died out. Ben stood up.

"Clever trick Johnny," Ben said as he looked at the blonde man.

"Wasn't my idea man. I just assisted," Johnny said as he pointed to Lily who then raised her hand.

Ben looked at Lily with surprise, "You?"

"Yup! It was my idea. What? You didn't think I could come up with that?" Lily said.

"Just you wait…I'm gonna get you," Ben promised.

Since his chair was broken, he had to stand up and eat his pie. Lily winked as she took a bite. After a few hours, everybody retired to his or her rooms. Lily sat crossed legged on her bed. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her hands lay on her knees and she relaxed her body. Lily had been doing this lately, practicing her levitating power, going higher and higher, hopefully reaching to the point where she could fly.

Her body lifted off the bed and slowly rose. She rose until her head touched the ceiling. That was about as high as she had gotten. Since that was her height limit, she just sat there in the air and listened to the silence. She stayed like that for half an hour before she heard a knock.

"Come in," Lily said, her eyes still closed.

She heard the creak of the door and the soft footsteps.

"Lily," Reed's soft voice said.

She opened her eyes and looked down at him. She noted the expression on his face. She figured something must be wrong since she couldn't read his face.

"What is it, Reed?"

"There's someone here for you," Reed replied.

"Who is it?" She asked.

"He says he's your father."

Lily widened her eyes in surprise before she dropped to the bed without warning. Lily just sat there on the bed.

"My father?" She whispered.