Guiding Light

Johnny flew through the city; his mind was racing, and he wasn’t sure what he was going to do for the night, he just knew he needed to get out of the building. Going to a night club didn’t seem that fun now, he needed to find something to burn off his excess energy. 

As he flew over one of the many apartment buildings Johnny glanced down for a moment and he noticed the girl that was standing at the ledge of the building. Her feet were slightly hanging over the edge and her hair was blowing harshly in the wind. Johnny hovered over the building, his heart was hammering in his chest, he wasn’t sure what to do in this situation. Johnny’s breath hitched as the girl moved, stepping off the ledge and Johnny could feel his chest ease in relief as she walked further away from the edge. Johnny was ready to fly away secure in knowing this girl was safe, he took a final look at the girl and his heart stopped as she turned took in a breath and ran at full speed across the roof and jumped. 

Johnny rushed flying as fast as he could to try and catch the girl, except when he looked over the edge of the building he saw the girl sprout wings and fly off. Johnny froze in the air looking as the figure of the girl disappeared between the buildings. “What the fuck?” Johnny hissed to himself as he took off trying to catch up to the girl.

Johnny stopped after a few minutes, the young girl was long gone, and he couldn’t track where she had flown off to. He took in breath and headed back to the Baxter building, he needed to talk to his sister about this. The wings were cool, and he secretly hoped he had a potential superhero friend instead of a new villain. 

-Page Break- 

Bella glanced at Mike as the young man buttoned the suit of his costume. “You look like an idiot.” She commented with a grin as she looked at her friend. 

“I’m offended!” Mike responded with a smirk as he fixed the top of his costume. “Not all of us have a trust fund, some of us have to work in order to survive.”

. “You didn’t need to do this!” Bella responded with a playful scoff as she swatted at Mike’s Santa hat. “You’re also not broke! You’re living rent free in a penthouse with me, you have a full scholarship to NYU, and your part-time job at the bookstore pays well enough to make you comfortable.”

Bella laughed softly as Mike straightened out his hat and looked at himself in the mirror. “Just admit you’re doing this to try and get a sneak peek at the Fantastic Four.”

Mike grinned, meeting Bella’s eyes through the mirror. “Are you telling me you’re not the least bit curious? We’re in a city with real life superheroes.”

“Have you forgotten about my condition?” Bella asked with a roll of her eyes. “I don’t want to go anywhere near them. What if they can sense that something is wrong with me?”

“I would suspect that they would understand what is going on with you, you’re a shield asset, you’re more protected than the president.” Mike replied with a shrug. “Let’s not forget that sneaking out at night to fly isn’t exactly keeping a low profile.” 

“Nothing is wrong with me, and I would suspect they would understand what it is that is going on with you.” Mike replied with a shrug. “Besides, sneaking out at night to fly isn’t exactly keeping a low profile.”

“I don’t have a choice; I have to fly.” Bella replied with a frown, crossing her arms over her chest. “Last time I held off on flying I got into a bar fight.”

Mike laughed as he moved grabbing his bag, “I forgot about that, Angie and Ben had to pull you off him.” He turned to Bella with a smile. “Drop me off?”

“Do you want me to fly you there…. or just take a cab with you?” Bella replied with a frown. “I can’t tell if you’re trying to be funny or not.”

“A cab obviously.” Mike replied with a roll of his eyes. “At least get a look at the building.”

Bella sighed moving to grab her purse with her wallet and house keys. “Fine, but I will not stay. However, I might take a picture or two to send to your parents.”

“Make sure you get my good side; they need to know I’m not dying out here.” Mike replied throwing his arm over Bella’s shoulders. “And not a picture with a kid, it’ll cause my mom to start asking if I’ve met someone to settle down with.”

“Well, have you?” Bella replied with a smirk as they walked out. “Also, what do you want for Christmas? I need ideas.”

“For you to go back in time and not invite my parents to New York for Christmas.” Mike replied with a frown. “We’re going to have to do all the tourist stuff.” 

 “If it makes you feel better, my dad is coming up as well, so you know… it won’t be too bad.” Bella replied giving Mike a slight sympathetic shrug.

“Your dad is the best.” Mike replied with a frown. “The man oozes charm and calm, he’ll come down and all he’ll want to do is go eat some burgers and stuff.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” Bella replied with a smirk. “The joys of having the stereotypical cop father.”

Bella hailed the cab and watched as Mike practically vibrated out of his seat as they drove to the Baxter building. “How did you get this gig anyway?”

“Oh, guy in my science class interns at the tower.” Mike replied with a shrug. “Are you going to be okay today? What’s the plan for the day?”

Bella shrugged, “I think I need a thicker jacket. I love New York, but I hate this weather. I’ll head out and grab a nice thick jacket, do you want me to pick you up something?”

Mike shook his head, “I have jackets. Come pick me up when I’m done, and we can get dinner.”

“Sure sure.” Bella replied waving her hand and saying goodbye to Mike. She watched him enter the building and she sunk into the warmth of the cab seat. Bella looked over at the driver. “Can you take me to the nearest store that sells jackets?”

-Page Break- 

Bella glanced down at her phone as she was finally leaving a store with a proper jacket. She reached for it and answered it putting it up to her ear. 

“Bella, don’t come by the building.” Mike hissed into the phone as soon as he heard Bella’s voice. 

“What? Why?” Bella questioned as zipped up her jacket, slightly startled by the tone of Mike’s voice. “Is something wrong?”

“I just overheard Johnny Storm speaking to his sister about a girl who jumped off a building last night.” Mike replied with a frown. “They were discussing whether or not to take you as a threat.”

“Oh shit.” Bella replied with a frown as fully understood his worry and her own started to set in. “Oh shit… shit!” 

“I know. Just lay low, call Charlie see what he thinks, and we’ll talk when I get home.” Mike spoke rapidly, his voice sounded rush and Bella heard someone in the distance. “I gotta go, stay away from the Baxter building.”

Bella sighed, her hands were shaking, and she needed to talk to her dad. She moved heading into the nearest store and finding a secluded place where she could call her dad. Her hands shook as she waited for the indication her dad had answered. “Dad? Dad. I have a problem and I think….” Bella’s breath stuttered as she began to panic. 

“Bells, breathe.” Charlie spoke softly. “What’s going on, kiddo?”

“The superheroes, Fantastic Four, they know about me and I don’t know if they think I’m a threat or not. What if they try to kill me?” Bella whispered out the last part her breathing heavy. “I’m scared dad.”

“Bells, you did not go through training and therapy to back down now.” Charlie replied sternly. “You are nothing but the strongest girl I know, so you’re going to confront them before they confront you. You will not be scared away, that is not who you are. Remember what you’ve been through and what you’ve survived and keep fighting.”

Bella took in a deep breath. “Okay, dad. I just needed the reminder, I’ll go now.”

“If they do anything to you, if they threaten you…” Charlie began. 

Bella smiled, “Fight back, never give up, and if all else fails, call Fury.”

Charlie sighed, “Good girl, call me when it’s done, through video and we can have a long talk about your move to New York.”

“Okay, dad.” Bella replied she sighed and hung up the call and decided to make the walk to the Baxter building. She placed her hand in her pockets to help stop the shaking as she walked to the building. When she entered the building, she realized that there was no plausible way to get up the stairs to speak to them, so she was going to have to do something more daring. Bella headed to the doorman

Bella waited and when the woman came down Bella cautiously approach. “Hi, I’m sorry to have you come down here.” She approached the front desk and smiled at the clerk, “Hi, can you let Sue Storm know that the girl with the wings is here and it’s an emergency. She’ll be able to understand.”

Bella took a step back and moved to look out one of the windows and watch the people about the street. Her hands were still shaking as she waited and she turned when she heard a voice behind her.

“They said it was an emergency.” Sue replied arms crossing over her chest. 

“It is.” Bella replied. “Sorry, I’m Isabella Swan, I’m a new resident of New York and well, it’s come to my attention that you’re aware of my status.”

“Your status?” Sue questioned glancing over the girl, she somewhat did fit Johnny’s description of the girl he had seen. “What is that exactly?”

“Well, umm.” Bella frowned not sure how to come out with this without breaching her contract. “For legal reasons I can’t tell you, but I can show you, just not in front of people.”

Sue glanced around for a moment, “Follow me.” Bella did as she was told and followed the woman up the stairs to a private room. “No one is here but you and me.”

Bella nodded, she pulled off her coat and let her wings appear. “I believe someone saw me last night and I know you might think I’m a threat. I’m not, I’m only here because I have a scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music, I don’t do anything other than go to school and practice.”

Sue stared at the wings, they were just as big as the girl, if not a bit bigger. “They resemble bat wings.” She commented as she watched Bella flutter the wings slightly. 

Bella nodded a small smile on her lips. “Trust me, I would tell you what I am and whatever, but I can’t.”

“Legal issues.” Sue replied with a smile. “My brother and I were just speaking about you earlier today. He was adamant he didn’t think you were a threat, he just thought it was cool and that you were pretty.”

Bella laughed and let her wings disappear and placed her jacket back on. “It’s not as cool as it looks, a lot of downsides, but…” Belal shrugged as she zipped up her jacket again. “Not much I can about it now.”

“Would you like to come up for a drink, we can talk further.” Sue spoke wanting to know more about this young girl and just what she could do. 

Belal shook her head. “I would love to, but again I can’t disclose much about my abilities and well, I have to get back home and do some homework,. I just wanted to stop by and let you and your team know that I mean no harm, I’m just in the city to go to school.”

-Page Break- 

Bella sat on the ledge of the building her wings wrapped around her like a coat to keep her warm as the cold night air hummed around her. She had just finished speaking to her father and figured she’d enjoy some fresh air before she joined Mike and his parents back at the penthouse. 

“Who stepped on your parade?” A voice spoke behind her. “You do know it’s Christmas, right? Most people are happy and with their families this time of year.”

Bella sighed and her wings flapped out as she stood to face the person behind her. “Hi, Johnny.”

“You’re not going to wish me a Merry Christmas?” Johnny replied with a frown. “That’s unlike you.”

“Sorry, torch, but I’m not in the mood for small talk, tonight.” Bella replied deciding to move past Johnny and towards the exit of the roof, she didn’t even feel like flying. 

“Whoa, bats.” Johnny moved and stood in front of her startled. “What’s got you down?”

Bella shook her head, “Nothing. I’m fine.”

Johnny sighed and moved again to block her from leaving. “See, I don’t believe that. You look like you’re about to cry.”

Bella wrapped her arms around herself to try and get some comfort. “Mike’s parents flew in from Washington to visit him, even his sister who was in Europe flew in.”

Johnny sighed, “OH, relationship problems? The in-laws don’t like you?”

Bella rolled her eyes. “Mike and I are friends, have been since we were in diapers, his parents love me, it’s not that.” Bella sighed and moved back to the ledge and sat back down.

“Come on, bats, spill what has you all gloomy?” Johnny questioned moving to sit beside her.

“My mom is in Canada with her 5^th husband and his family. She posted a picture today on her Insta, she titled it ‘Day with my little family. Everyone I love is here, I feel blessed.” Bella sighed as she thought back to the morning and how everything had felt so awful. “I called her twice to wish her a Merry Christmas, both times she didn’t answer, just sent me straight to voicemail. You know, I can expect this kind of thing from her, she never really wanted me around so I shouldn’t really be hurt by it, but I still am.”

Before Johnny could speak Bella continued. “Then my dad, my rock, my only real parental figure got called this morning and couldn’t come down. I love my dad and I know he wouldn’t have ditched our plans if it weren’t crucial, but it sucks. Mike and his parents are back at the apartment laughing and happy, they’re together as a family and I’m…”

“You’re welcome to come to the tower.” Johnny offered with a grin as he nudged her with his shoulder. “Sue is making far too much food; I don’t think even Ben will be able to finish it all.”

Bella smiled, looking over at Johnny and meeting his gaze. “Thanks, but honestly, I think I’m just going to lay low for the rest of the holidays.”

“Well, I might as well give you your gift now.” Johnny replied reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small necklace. “Saw it the other day and made me think of you.”

Bella looked at the necklace and her lips twitched with a smile. Vampire fangs. She couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped her. “I don’t drink blood, you idiot.”

“I’m still not a hundred percent sure on that.” Johnny replied handing the necklace to Bella. “You sure you don’t want to head back to the Baxter building with me? I’ll show you all the cool stuff Reed likes to keep hidden from the world. I’ll even let you touch the stuff that he says we can’t touch.”

 “Thanks, but I should head home. I can’t leave my best friend to fend for himself. Thanks for listening, Johnny.” Bella leaned over and pressed a kiss on Johnny’s cheek. “Merry Christmas, Storm.” She stood before he could respond and jumped off the roof, she needed to get home and stop sulking and head home. 

Bella moved and jumped off the roof deciding it was time for her to stop sulking and head home. 

-Page Break- 

Johnny groaned and looked to Mike with a frown. “You need to leave.”

Mike paused and raised an eyebrow at the youngest Storm. “Pardon?”

“I asked Bella out to dinner and a movie as a date, not as a friend wanting to hang out.” Johnny hissed with a frown as he glanced over to make sure Bella wasn’t walking back to the table. “I’ve been trying to get her to see me as more than a friend since Christmas and you being here isn’t helping me!”

Mike laughed thinking Johnny was joking, he froze when he finally took a good look at the blonde. “You’re serious?”

Johnny groaned. “Of course, you idiot! Do you think I flirt with everyone I meet?”

Mike raised an eyebrow in a silent answer, to which Johnny scoffed. “Fine, but I don’t walk everyone I flirt with to class, nor do I spend time with any of the others outside of sex. Please, leave so I can finally get Bella to realize this is supposed to be a date.”

Mike rolled his eyes turning to see that Belal was still on the phone. “You’re going to need to be direct with Bells, you don’t understand how low her self-esteem can be sometimes. She probably doesn’t think you feel that way for her, and to ease your worries, she likes you too, a lot, so much so that it’s starting to get on my nerves.” 

Mike looked over at Bella and saw that she was starting to head back inside the restaurant. “I would threaten to murder you if you hurt her, but honestly, if you hurt her, you’re going to have to deal with Charlie, and I’m almost 98% sure he murdered her last boyfriend or something because that guy disappeared.” 

Johnny froze at the words but watched as Mike stood as Bella approached the table.

“What do you mean you have to go?” Bella replied with a frown. “You’re serious?”

“Yup, forgot I have a paper due tonight and I haven’t started.” Mike responded with a shrug. “Don’t worry, I’ll order in and get it done, but I’ll see you home later, enjoy tonight.”

Bella frowned and sat back down across from Johnny. “He was lying to me.”

Johnny tensed. “How can you be so sure?”

“Because his semester just started yesterday, no teacher would assign a paper on the second day of class.” Bella replied she shrugged and turned back to Johnny with a smile. “Sorry for having to leave, my dad called and wanted to check in.”

Johnny smiled, he had to make a note to ask Bella later about her dad and whether he really killed her ex-boyfriend. 

At the end of the night Johnny placed his arm around Bella, using his power just enough to keep her warm from the cold air. “For our next date, I think we should do something a little different. We should go to the Stature of Liberty, and I’ll fly us to the top, where no one ever goes.”

Bella paused, going over Johnny’s words again in her head.  “This was a date?”

Johnny turned to face her, a smirk on his face. “Yeah, it was. We had a romantic dinner, just the two of us, and then we watched a rom-com were I put my arm around you and you liked it. Now, I’m walking you home where I plan to be a complete gentleman and kiss you goodnight at your door.”

Bella frowned; her mind was racing. “You sent Mike away!” She whispered in shock. “I knew he didn’t have a paper to write!”

Johnny frowned, “Out of everything I just said, that’s what you got from it?”

Bella blushed lightly. “Sorry, I just got excited knowing I was right. Don’t you think if this was a date you should’ve asked me properly?”

Johnny laughed, “I have been! I’ve been hinting for weeks and for the last few days I’ve been asking you out but all you do is think I mean as friends. And then tonight I thought I succeeded, but then you brought Mike along, so I had to make him go away. He told me by the way to be direct, so this is me directly asking you to agree to tonight being our first date.”

Bella smiled, “Okay.” Bella replied with a nod of her head, she smiled up at Johnny. “Now put your arm back around me, I’m cold and my apartment is still a 15-minute walk from here.”

Johnny smiled and placed his arm around Bella’s waist while pulling her in close to him. “I must ask, Mike said your dad made your ex-boyfriend disappear, is that true? Do I need to prepare a Last Will and Testament if I continue to date you.”

Bella sighed, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment. “He didn’t make him disappear… not really.”

-Page break-

Johnny watched as Bella cleaned her wings. “Now that we’re dating, can you tell me how you got your wings?”

Bella met Johnny’s eyes through the mirror. “You sure you want to know the story, babe? It’s not exactly for the faint of heart.”

“I just want to know about that part of your life.” Johnny replied sincerely, shifting to sit up in the bed.  “You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to.”

Bella paused and turned to Johnny. “I just… I’ve never had to tell anyone about it. Everyone that knows about the wings was there when it all happened.”  Bella moved and sat on the bed across from Johnny. “But I’ll tell you about it, I just… I might go slow.”

“Take your time.” Johnny replied looking at Bella as she tried to process her thoughts.

“You know about my mom.” Bella began softly. “She’s a little flaky, and when she split with my dad, she got full custody.”

“I never want to meet your mom.” Johnny stated as he remembered everything Bella has ever said about her mother. 

 “Yeah, she’s not the best.”  She looked down at her hands. “When I was younger my mom would take me to the park and leave me there, she’d go across the street to the café and hang out with her boyfriends. This was the normal, I was six when it happened, my mom had a new boyfriend who didn’t really like me, so she took me to the park so they could have some downtime.”

Bella eyes watered as her mind replayed the memory in her head. “Normally, there would always be other kids there and someone’s mom would always watch over me, but this time it was in the dead of winter, and I was the only kid there. I knew stranger danger, but what they never really teach you is that an adult can be so much stronger than a six year old… and I was taken.”

Johnny’s heart stuttered in his chest. “Bella…”

“My dad was livid when the police called.” Bella replied with a frown. “He went on TV he did everything he could to find me, but it was no use, the man who took me didn’t want me to be found. I was the talk of the town, and exactly 456 days later I came stumbling out of the park, my back was cut, and I was losing blood. The photos of when they found me… Johnny, my lips were blue I was pale, and I looked like the walking dead.”

“Babe…” Johnny replied shuffling forward to take her hands in his and pulled her closer to him to try and give her some comfort. 

“I can’t remember what happened while I was gone, it was like one second I was on the swings and then I was asleep and when I woke up I was back in that playground.” Bella admitted softly as she turned tucking herself in Johnny’s arms. 

“The years after the kidnapping everything was… normal I suppose. I went back to school, had to work a little harder than everyone else to get caught up, but it was normal for the most part.”

Johnny glanced down as Bella tightened her hands in his. “Babe, are you okay?”

Bella nodded, “ I went to live with Charlie after I was found and everything was really great for a while, but then I hit puberty. I got sick, it started off as a stomachache, but in less than two weeks I had lost 15 pounds and had my own room at the hospital. I remember that I couldn’t stay awake, my friends and my dad would be there talking to me and then I’d blink and when I opened my eyes it was twelve hours later and I was alone. Eventually, my heart stopped, and I was gone.” 

“You died?” Johnny whispered tightening his arms tighter around the girl in his arms. 

Bella nodded. “When I open my eyes again, I’m on this metal table and this horrible man is leaning over me and he’s speaking, but I can’t hear him, I can only smell him. I don’t know how I knew, but I knew who he was, I knew he was the man that took me and…” Bella tried to stop her voice from cracking at her own words. 

“I panicked, because I can’t remember what he did to me, but I know in the back of my mind he was evil, and he was just going to take me back. I attacked him and he died…” Bella shook her head as if she was trying to shake the memory. 

“I started walking and my back was bare and it was raining and all I can really remember about that walk was the burning from the water hitting my back.” Bella responded sighing as Johnny rubbed her back to comfort her. “By the time I get home, I’m crawling because it hurts so much.”

Bella stopped her tears and simply leaned into the warmth of Johnny’s body. “I make it to the front door before I can’t move anymore and next thing I know my dad is opening the door and he’s pulling me inside. I don’t know what happened next, I just know that my dad cleaned my wounds, he says they were identical to the ones I had when I was found in the park.”

Bella sighed wiping her face again as she continued the story. “That was the first time I sprouted my wings; it was the worst. My dad had to literally peel off bits of my flesh from where they ripped through my skin.”

“We thought we could just cover this up, but then SHIELD showed up at my doorstep and Nick Fury is telling my dad he knows about my winds and he’s here to help.” Bella huffed out a laugh at the memory. “That man is terrifying, he comes in completely ignores the wings that at the time were two times my size and just takes a seat in the living room. He explains that one of his medical researchers had disobeyed orders and was experimenting on random people. Apparently, most had died, and the scientist was able to cover it, but I had lived. Fury apologized, apparently, they were just catching on to what he had been doing, but they didn’t realize one of his experiments had lived until the scientist disappeared from the facility and they were able to track him to Forks.”

“What else did Fury say?” Johnny questioned softly; he had heard a lot of stories about the man. 

“He said that they had acquired footage of the morgue where I was being held and the scientist had injected me with the improved serum for his experiment. Fury said that I didn’t really die, I had just gone into a deep hibernation and the injection I was given gave me the last boost I needed to complete the transformation.”

“You were hibernating? You can do that?” Johnny questioned startled at the news and the idea that this could continue to happen to Bella

Bella nodded, “It doesn’t happen often, maybe one a year if I’m lucky, twice if I’m not. I sort of cocoon myself in my wings and I sleep for days and then I eat half my weight in food. Thankfully, I had my hibernation earlier this month, so you won’t be seeing that part of me anytime soon.”

“Next time.” Johnny replied holding her a little tighter. “So, what else did Fury want?”

Bella nodded, “They wanted to protect their asset and that was me now. They paid for therapy, doctor visits, the whole shebang. They started a trust-fund for me, paid for schooling, monthly allowances to make sure I was living comfortably. They didn’t know what the doctor did to me exactly, so they wanted to keep me in their line of sight, keep me happy so that I don’t one day go and become a super-villain. They did make me sign a non-disclosure contract, so I can’t go around telling everyone about my past. Fury let me know that I can’t go around using my abilities for crime fighting purposes and if I really wanted to, Fury would have me trained and I could work with SHIELD.” 

“Are they going to come after you because you told me?” Johnny questioned, he became tense as he thought about having to take on SHIELD to protect Bella. 

 “Under contract, five people are allowed to know the whole story.” Bella responded with a smile, reaching up to run her hand through Johnny’s hair. 

“I’m now one of the five?” Johnny asked with a smile. “I feel honored. Who are the other four?”

“My dad, Mike, Angie, Ben and now you.” Bella replied with a smile. “People can know about the wings and stuff, but they’re not allowed to know about how I got them. The select five can now about it all.” 

“Angie and Ben are your other friends, right?” Johnny replied with a smile. “They’re the ones that are attending MIT.

“Well, Angie is attending MIT Ben is attending Harvard. They’ve been together since Middle school, so they decided to go to school near each other.” Bella replied with a shrug. “Mike and I have a bet going that they’re going to get engage by the end of the year.” 

“I’d like to meet them.” Johnny replied honestly. “Unless you think they’d be starstruck by seeing me.”

Bella laughed, “Only Ben, he’s a total fanboy. I’m actually not allowed to be dating you.”

Johnny frowned and looked down at Bella wanting to know more about what she was talking about. “What do you mean you’re not allowed to be dating me?”

“Well, a few years ago, we were hanging out and we Ben started the conversation about superheroes.” Bella responded with a smile. “Angie called dibs on Captain America, Mike on Black Widow, and well… Ben called you. And bids between friends aren’t to be taking lightly.” 

Johnny nodded, he was a little confused on if this was normal between friends since he didn’t have many close ones growing up. He paused as he caught that Bella hadn’t mentioned who her dibs were on.  “Who did you call dibs on?” 

Bella coughed, moving to get off the bed. “That’s not important, Johnny.”

Johnny paused, “No, it really is important.” He tugged Bella back to him. 

“What is important that I’m going to have to see if Ben will trade dibs with me.” Bella replied smiling. “Otherwise, our relationship will have to come to an end.” 

_Page Break- 

Bella put the rest of her stuff into the SUV. “Mike, are you ready?”

“I’m sleeping.” Mike replied from the back seat. “Where is your boyfriend? He was supposed to be here already.”

“You know, Johnny.” Bella replied with a smirk. “He’s always fashionably late.”

“Angie says Ben is suspicious about your relationship with Johnny and is curious if you broke the pact.” Mike replied with a smirk. “What are you going to give him to trade you dibs?”

“Oh, I got Johnny to get everyone in the Four to sign a poster and I got him to ask Spiderman to sign a sweatshirt and Johnny got a picture of Spiderman signing the thing so there’s proof.” Bella replied with a smile. 

“You know, if you had just asked him he would have given you Johnny.” Mike replied with a smile. “You don’t have to go through all this trouble.”

“I know, but what’s the fun in that?” Bella replied with a smile. “Besides, Ben absolutely loves Johnny, so this is really just a gift.”

“He’s going to flip out when he sees him.” Mike replied with a grin. “Full on fanboy, we’ll be lucky if he doesn’t pass out.”

Bella laughed, “Yeah, well, Johnny’s used to it.”

“What am I used to?” Johnny questioned showing up with a large suitcase. 

 “Being handsome.” Bella replied leaning up and kissing his cheek. “Now hurry up we should get on the road, or we’ll be late to breakfast.”

“It’s 3 in the morning, babe.” Johnny replied placing his bag in the back. “You’re lucky I woke up this early, and breakfast isn’t for another five hours, so… we have time. I need beauty sleep.”

“Yeah, he looks like shit, Bells.” Mike replied from the back seat. 

Johnny frowned, turning his head to look at Mike. “I always look spectacular.” 

Bella rolled her eyes and got into the driver’s seat. “Let’s go, you guys can sleep on the drive.” 

-Page Break- 

Bella parked the car in front of the apartment building, she looked over her shoulder to see Mike and Johnny both fast asleep in the back seat. She contemplated waking them up, but both were drama queens and likely would be grouchy. She reached over grabbing the gift bag she had left in the passenger seat and decided to go upstairs. 

Bella knocked on the door smiling as she could hear the footsteps from the other side. 

“Bella!” Angela shouted as she threw the door open. “I missed you!”

Bella smiled and hugged the girl back. “I missed you too, Angie. You guys ready to go?”

“Yeah, where’s Mike?” Angela replied ushering Bella inside the apartment. 

“He’s in the car sleeping, look is Ben around. I need to talk to him.” Bella said seriously gesturing to the bag in her hands so Angela could see it.

Angela laughed, “Mike was serious about you wanting to trade dibs?”

“Ah. Isabella.” Ben spoke appearing in the hallway. “I hear you’ve come to bargain.”

Bella nodded doing her best not to smile. “I have, Benjamin.”

 “Take a seat, Isabella, let’s negotiate.” Ben responded moving into the living room to take a seat. 

“I want to trade. I would like to have dibs on Johnny Storm.” Bella replied with a serious look on her face as she sat across from Ben. 

Ben leaned back in his chair. “That would leave me with Spiderman… The Torch has a better public reputation.”

Bella nodded, “Which is why I have brought some things to help move this negotiation along.” Bella reached into the gift bag and pulled out the signed photograph of the Fantastic Four and the Spiderman sweatshirt. “Both were signed, and I have photo proof that the sweatshirt was signed by Spiderman.”

 “You have a deal, Isabella.” He looked at the stuff and then grinned at Bella. “It’s good seeing you, Bells.”

 “I missed you guys, Friday night movies aren’t as fun without the two of you.” Belal responded with a laugh. “Mike chooses the worst options.”

“Yeah, well it’s not that fun here both our schools are filled with pretentious assholes.” Ben replied with a grin. “So, you’re dating the Human Torch?”

“Yeah, the asshole is downstairs with Mike in the car. The two of them fell asleep on me.” Bella replied with a roll of her eyes. “I had to drive up here in almost complete silence because of those two.” 

“I know I should try and act cool, but honestly I feel like I’m about to freak out.” Ben replied with a smirk. “I should’ve known you would go for him.”

Bella smiled, “What do you mean you should’ve known?”

“Come on, Bells, we all know you like them pretty.” Ben replied with a laugh. “Just look at Edward.”

Bella rolled her eyes, “Whatever.” 

“Oh my god.” Ben stood with a grin. “He’s going to meet the Chief!” 

“I already warned my dad, we are not having a repeat of Edward.” Bella replied with a frown. “Now, go help Ang so we can get the hell out of here, I’m starving, and I need a proper breakfast.”

“Will you tell me how you met him?” Ben shouted after Bella as she was already heading out the door. “Bells, I need to know everything.”

Bella laughed and made her way back to the car, knowing eventually she’d have to tell Angie and Ben everything.  Johnny was still fast asleep in the middle seat while Mike was sprawled out in the back seat, Bella moved Johnny’s bag to the back and shifted around making room for Angela and Ben. She smiled amused as neither of the two moved while she put Angela and Ben’s bags away and the two got into the car. 

“There’s a diner up ahead that has the best eggs.” Angela commented buckling up.

“Oh that sounds good.” Bella hummed as she started the car. “You guys won’t believe how fun it is to fly in New York.”

“I bet; the skyscrapers are amazing.” Angela commented with a grin. “Oh, it’s this one right there, Bells.”

Bella parked the car and looked towards Johnny, “I don’t feel like I should wake him up, he did say he needed his beauty sleep.” 

“We can leave the windows cracked and just let them sleep it off.” Angela suggested. “We’ll grab them a takeout box or something.”

Bella looked over at Johnny and smiled, “Yeah, okay, besides he’s a grouch when he just wakes up.”

Bella followed the two into the diner. “How was your first year of school?”

“Obviously not as interesting as yours.” Ben replied. “You have to tell me how you met.”

Bella laughed at the eyeroll Angela gave at her boyfriend’s response. “Well, I was out one night, and he caught me with my wings. Johnny wasn’t sure if I was a bad guy or a good guy, so he went to his sister. I of course freaked out and had to have my dad calm me down. I went to the tower and talked to Sue Storm and then that night when I was out flying, I properly met the guy.”

“Have you met the others?” Ben asked as they took a seat in a booth. “Please tell me you’ve seen the Thing up close.”

Bella smiled, “I’ve had dinner with them a couple times, I think they’re curious about what I can do, but you guys know I can’t tell them.”

“Have you told Johnny?” Angela questioned as she looked over the menu. “Obviously he knows that you sprout wings, but does he know the other stuff.”

“I told him.” Bella replied quietly she smiled at the surprised looks on her friend’s faces. 

Ben paused. “Whoa. So, you’re serious about this guy? Like serious, serious.”

Bella smiled, “Yeah, I am. I’d put a ring on it if he weren’t so weird about marriage.”

Angela laughed, “I totally called it!” Angela said turning to Ben. “I told you she would fall in love with someone in New York. I’m happy for you, Bells.”

Ben smiled, “Oh, Charlie is going to have a heart attack! Can I be there when they meet?”

Bella rolled her eyes, but ordered the biggest breakfast on the menu, making sure to order extra food as she was feeling more than a little hungry. She turned back to her friends to recount the last year of her life and to give Ben more details about her boyfriend.

Bella smiled as the food arrived and filled the entire table up. “I’ve never been so in love, but I swear I might marry the cook of this place, these eggs are amazing.”

“My feelings are hurt, babe.” Johnny announced as he approached the table. 

Ben turned around and his face paled at the sight of Johnny. “Oh my god.”

Bella smiled and glanced at Angela who had an arm on Ben’s shoulder. “Ben, Angie, this is Johnny, the guy I’m breaking up with in order to marry the cook here.”

“I don’t like this joke.” Johnny announced before putting on his best smile and turning to Angela and Ben. “It’s great to finally meet you, Bells talks a lot about you.”

Ben smiled, “Same here, you must mean a lot to her if she traded Spiderman for you.”

Johnny looked towards Bella with an affronted look. “You called dibs on that dork?”

Bella rolled her eyes, “Sit down before breakfast gets cold.”

-Page Break- 

Bella drove up to her home, everyone decided to stop there first, they were all apparently excited to see Johnny meet Charlie. Bella turned to the blonde when she noted how nervous the blonde was becoming. “Johnny, my dad isn’t going to make you disappear.”

Johnny frowned and turned to look behind him. “That’s not what happened with your last boyfriend, right Ben?”

“He has a point, the entire family just left after your breakup.” Ben replied with a smile as he thought how fast the Cullens had left. “Do you remember what happened on your first date with Edward?”

“Right!” Mike pitched in from the very back of the car. “Charlie answered the door with a gun in his hand because he was ‘cleaning it’.”

“And then he went into detail about how large the forest is and that it’s almost impossible to find things when they go missing.” Angela pitched in with a laugh. 

“That’s enough you assholes.” Bella responded getting out of the car, she smiled as the door to the house opened as soon as she stepped onto the lawn. She moved forward quickly and embraced her father in a tight embrace. “Hey, dad! I missed you.”

Charlie smiled returning his daughter’s hug. “Missed you too, kid. I was worried New York life was going to take its toll on you.”

Bella smiled, “I think it would have, but Mike and Johnny keep me grounded.” 

Charlie looked over Bella’s shoulders as her friends were all shuffling out and a nervous looking man walked out. “He looks terrified to be here.”

Bella smiled, “Yeah, the guys have been giving him horror stories about you since we entered Washington.” Bella placed a hand on Charlie’s arm. “I really like him dad. Do me a favor and don’t scare him off. I want to keep this one.”

Charlie smiled, he moved and placed a hand on his holster. “What kind of dad would I be if I didn’t scare the guy who’s taking my little girl away?”

Bella rolled her eyes. “I’m being serious, dad, I want this one to stick around.” 

Charlie nodded and slowly approached the blonde. “You must be Jonathan Storm; I hear you’re dating my little Bells.”

Johnny tensed. “Yes, sir, I believe I’m quite lucky to be with her.”

“Why don’t you come inside, Johnathan, I’ll show you my gun collection.” Charlie spoke placing a hand on Johnny’s shoulder and leading him inside. Charlie gave Bella a smirk before he led Johnny inside the home. 

Ben and Mike went to follow but were stopped by Bella. “Go home, I’ll see you guys later.”

Angela smiled moving to the driver’s seat. “Good luck, Bells.”

-Page Break- 

Johnny approached Bella’s apartment, she hadn’t been responding to his messages all day and he was beginning to worry. He used his key to get in to her apartment and found Mike on the couch. “Hey, is B here?”

Mike looked up from his book. “Yeah, but she’s in her room, she went into hibernation this morning.”

Johnny frowned taking his coat off and setting it by the door.  “She said she already had her hibernation for the year.”

“Yeah, but she became really upset this morning and it set off another one.” Mike replied with a frown. 

“What happened? I talked to her this morning, and she was looking forward to class.” Johnny responded looking over towards Bella’s bedroom.

“Oh, her mom called.” Mike responded with a frown. “Apparently, she heard that you and Bella were together and well, husband number five wasn’t the one. Renee is broke and wants to come to New York to ‘visit’ Bella, but really she wants Bella to support her and set her up with a rich superhero.”

“You’re kidding?” Johnny responded with a frown. “The woman cannot be that horrible?”

“Oh, she is.” Mike responded with a laugh. “After Bella told her no, Renee went on to yell at Bella for being selfish. She went on about how Bella was trying to push Renee out of her life when all Renee wanted was to see her daughter again. Bella hung up and then she started getting tired, I walked into her room and found her wrapped in her wings and out cold.”

“I’m going to be in there.” Johnny replied with a sigh as he moved into Bella’s room. Johnny moved to the bed to see Bella cocooned in her wings. He moved and got comfortable on the bed, he wanted to be there when she woke up. 

In the morning Mike poked his head into the room. “Hey.” He spoke catching Johnny’s attention. “I have to get to class, but I went ahead and emailed Bella’s teachers and called her in sick. Also, when she starts to wake up, I’d recommend ordering some food, she tends to get hungry after one of these. See you later, man.”

Johnny nodded and waved Mike off, he rubbed his eyes as he had stayed awake the night to look after Bella, but he had just been falling asleep when Mike poked his head in. “Can’t sleep in jeans, babe.” He stood and moved to Bella’s closet he knew she had stolen some of his shirts in the pass and he had left behind some pajamas so hopefully he could change into something more comfortable. 

As he changed, he sent a quick reply to his worrying sister before he slid back into the bed to take a quick nap before Bella woke up. 

At 3 in the afternoon, Johnny woke to the sound of a soft hum coming from the bathroom. He sat up in the bed and looked to the right to see that Bella wasn’t lying there next to him. Johnny moved to stand but paused at the sound of the door opening. 

“Hey, you’re awake.” Bella spoke, she moved inside the room and Johnny couldn’t help the grin on his face at seeing her wearing his shirt from the day before. “You’re up too late for breakfast, but I have lunch on the way.”

Johnny nodded moving to sit up on the bed. “How are you feeling?”

Bella smiled and walked towards Johnny, she took a seat beside him on the bed. “Better, Mike deleted all of my mother’s messages from my phone and she hasn’t called today, so I supposed this situation has ended.”

“If I ever meet your mother, I can’t promise not to light her on fire.” Johnny replied placing his arm around Bella’s shoulder and pulling her closer to him. “After lunch, do you want to go to the Statue of Liberty? We can wait and watch the sunset.”

Bella smiled, “I’d love to.” 

-Page Break-

Bella leaned into Johnny taking comfort from his warmth. “We should have dinner with your family more often.”

Johnny scoffed, “Not a chance, tonight was enough for me. They’re too embarrassing, I can’t believe they told you about how much I talk about you.”

“I think it’s sweet.” Bella replied with a smile, she paused her walking causing Johnny to stop and turn to look at her. 

“Something wrong, babe?” Johnny questioned as he glanced around the empty hall of Bella’s apartment building. 

“I can hear Mike shouting.” Bella whispered her brows creasing together in worry. “He’s arguing with someone…” Her hands began to shake and her face paled, Bella moved quickly and ran to open the door to her apartment. Her heart began to beat quickly as she saw the familiar brown hair that stood in her living room. 

“ISABELLA!” Renee shouted moving and approaching her daughter. 

Bella froze she didn’t want the woman to hug her, she didn’t want Renee to be here. Johnny moved putting the pieces together, he pushed Bella behind him stopping the woman from touching Bella. 

“I’m Johnny.” Johnny replied placing his hand on Bella’s waist to keep her still. 

“Oh, I know who you are!” Renee replied with a wave of her hand. “I’m just upset Isabella didn’t mention you to me sooner.”

Bella practically growled from behind Johnny.  “I would have said something if you bothered to answer any of my calls.” She moved standing beside Johnny. “What the hell are you doing here, Renee?”

“Isabella, you will not speak to your mother like that!” Renee scolded. “Now, I’ll obviously be taking your room, I’m sure the couch will be okay for you.”

Bella stilled, under no circumstances was her mother staying here. “Absolutely not. You under no circumstances are staying here. Get out.”

“No.” Renee responded crossing her arms over her chest. “Stop being a spoiled brat and show me to my room. Now Isabella.”

Bella moved from beside Johnny and approached her mother so that they were face to face. “I said NO. Get out of my apartment before we call the cops and have you removed.”

Johnny moved quickly and grabbed at Renee’s hand as she went to slap at Bella. “You need to leave now, or I’ll force you out myself.” Johnny grabbed the woman’s bags and as soon as Renee was out the door, he tossed the bags out the door before slamming the door shut and locking it. 

Johnny noticed Bella was gone and looked towards Mike. “How did she get into the apartment?”

“She flirted with the landlord.” Mike replied with a frown. “She was in here when I got here, I was trying to get her out before Bella came home.”

Johnny sighed rubbing a hand down her face, “She’s a horrible woman.” 

“Yeah, no kidding.” Mike replied glancing at Bella’s door. “Are you going in there or am I?”

“She likes me more.” Johnny replied with a grin as Mike scoffed. 

-Page Break- 

“Son, will you just come in already? You’ve been standing there long enough, it was funny at first, but just come in.” Charlie called out from his spot on the couch. 

Johnny took in a deep breath and opened the door, he walked over to the living room and smiled at the older man. “Hey, Charlie. I’m not bothering you,  am I?”

Charlie laughed, “Take a seat, kid, and let’s get this started. I know what you came for.”

“I…” Johnny took a seat across from the older man. “I really love her.”

“Most people who meet her do.” Charlie replied with a shrug. “That’s always been Bells, people meet her, and they love her. I had to scare boys away since she was in middle school. You’re the only one who wasn’t scared enough to leave.”

“I’d take a bullet for her, even if that bullet came from you.” Johnny replied with a smile, his hands fiddling with a small box on his lap. 

Charlie laughed loudly, “I knew it the moment I saw you, kid.” Charlie admitted taking a sip of his beer. “It became real when Mike told me you protected her from Renee.”

“I’ll always do what I can to keep her safe.” Johnny admitted quietly. “I’m not sure if she’ll say yes, but I want to marry her.”

Charlie smiled looking at the nervous young man. “Son, she’s been dating you for five years, I think she’s as committed to this relationship as you are.”

“She never talks about marriage; it’s never come up.” Johnny replied with a frown. “I’m scared she’ll say no.”

Charlie rolled his eyes. “Have you ever brought marriage up?” At the shake of Johnny’s head Charlie continued. “Bella has stated a couple times to me that she’d married you if you were open to marriage. I believe she’s also told her friends she’d put a ring on it if she could. She’ll say yes, kid.”

Johnny smiled, “Does this mean I get your blessing?”

Charlie smiled, “You don’t need it, but if it makes you feel better, I support your relationship.”

Johnny smiled with relief. “Thank you.” 

Charlie nodded and leaned back in his chair. “Go grab a beer from the fridge and let’s finish the last of this game.”

-Page Break- 

Bella turned as the door to her room opened, her brows scrunched together as she saw colonel Fury enter. “Nick, you know the seating is in the other room.”

Fury nodded, “I can’t stay long, but I did want to stop by and give you your wedding present.”

Bella curiously took the offered box and opened it to reveal a stack of papers. “A copy of our contract? Thank you, I suppose.”

“Look through it, I highlighted a passage that I think you overlooked when you first signed it.” Fury responded leaning against the wall. 

Bella smiled and curiously flipped through the contract, she came to the end and quickly read over the passage. “I… I never knew this was a part of it.”

“You all overlooked it and so did we, it didn’t come to my attention until you came to us disclosing your relationship with the youngest Storm.” Fury replied. 

“By marrying Johnny, the contract is dissolved?” Bella questioned with a frown. “Really?”

“It would be against our best interest if we continued to force you into a situation when your loyalties lie elsewhere.” Fury replied with a tilt of his head. “You will be compensated for the remainder of the year and if your marriage does not last with Mr. Storm, we’ll renew your contract. And if the time comes, you can defend your future husband in a super battle without any repercussions.”

 “Thank you.” Bella placed the contract down. “But for what it’s worth, I think I’ll always be loyal to you. You did pay for my degree.”

Fury laughed, “Congratulations.”