Chapter Sixteen: Celebrating A Win

The party was incredible. New York City decided to put together a small party on a boat to thank the Fantastic Five for their efforts. Sue, Alicia and Helena were all at the bar. Alicia smiled as Ernie handed Sue three glasses of champagne. Sue handed glasses to Alicia and Helena. Alicia shook her head and said, "I don't think we need another." Helena hugged Alicia's side and replied, "Oh come on Ali, just one more." The three ladies clinked their glasses and took a sip of their champagne. "OK, movie night on Friday right?" Sue and Alicia nodded, Alicia saying, "I'll be there!" Helena smiled and said, "Great!"

Then, as Johnny was congratulated by a few members of the police, "Thank you so much! Cheers!" he lifted his bottle of water to them. As soon as they left a group of beautiful young girls crowded around him. However, Johnny could not stop staring at his girlfriend and had to pinch himself to realize that this was real. He excused himself, walked over to the ladies and asked, "Excuse me, I seem to have misplaced my girlfriend, you ladies haven't seen her have you?" Helena just smiled saying "No I guess she just got sick of you and had to leave." The three girls and Johnny laughed as Johnny pulled Helena close to him. "Well then I guess you'll have to do," Johnny said. Helena waved to the girls, handing her champagne to Alicia. She made her way onto the dance floor grasping onto Johnny's hand.

"Custom made, 36EEEE." Ben stated, and Reed told him, "Look, I've been crunching the numbers on the machine and I think if I could rework the power circuit…" Ben had to jump in, "Forget about it Egg-head. I'm good as is." Just then Sue and Alicia walked up to the boys as Alicia commented, "Better than good baby." Ben tried to clink his metal cup with Alicia's champagne glass, but broke the glass in her hand. Alicia laughed and said, "We just need to work on your touch." Ben encircled his arm around Alicia, pulling her closer as he said, "I like the sound of that!" Sue sighed at the content couple, wishing she had that again. Reed took a breath before asking Sue, "Can I talk to you for a second?" Sue replied, "Sure." With that Sue started walking out to the deck, with Reed in tow.

On the dance floor, Johnny and Helena seemed to fit together perfectly. Johnny, wanting to make sure this would not end, stated, "You know Lizzie, New York seems to agree with you. Have you thought about moving back here for good?" Helena smiled, knowing this discussion would come sooner rather than later, "Well," she began, as she braced herself for Johnny's reaction, "I didn't want to say anything, but I do have a flight tomorrow afternoon to Paris." Johnny looked completely defeated and could only utter a "What?" Helena laughed, she really did love to see him squirm, "Well, call me crazy, but I don't think any of my Parisian friends would want to pack all my stuff for me." Johnny's smile grew from ear to ear, as he said, "You're staying!" Helena smirked and said, "Yup, I guess you're stuck with me Torch. But only on one condition; that you come with me and help me pack." Johnny couldn't contain himself anymore. He lifted Helena up hugging her and spun her around. Helena laughed saying, "I'm hoping that this is a yes?" Johnny held her face in his hands and kissed her passionately, moving his hands to her back and pulling her closer. They each pulled away, and rested their foreheads on each other, like they always did.

Out on the balcony, after some comfortable silence, Reed turned to Sue, "I found a broken gasket in space." He reached into his pocket as Sue replied, "A gasket? Reed, come on we're at a…" Reed stopped Sue as he showed her the gasket and said, "And if one of us were to wear it." Sue looked at it and was shocked. Reed knelt down on one knee, but stretched to keep looking in Sue's eyes. "No more thinking. No more variables." He then brought his body back to where it should be before saying, "Sue Storm, will you marry me?" Sue smiled warmly before becoming invisible. She put the ring on her invisible finger before staring at it. Reed smirked and said, "Ah… Sue, you kind of need to say something." Sue laughed and replied, "Oh. Yes. My answer is yes." Reed took a breath of relief and stood up. Then, with Sue still invisible, Reed took a chance and tried to kiss her. Sue laughed a little before becoming visible again and saying, "That's my nose genius." She held Reed's face and drew him to her saying, "These are my lips."

The guests, along with Ben and Alicia holding each other, and Johnny and Helena with their arms around each other smiled fondly at the sight. Ben even said, "Aww… she's kissing him." Alicia laughed and Johnny laughed after Helena said, "Finally!" Sue and Reed looked back to the crowd and blushed. Then Ben turned to Johnny and said, " Hey, no more wisecracks about the way I look." Johnny took his free hand and placed it on Ben's shoulder saying, "Hey, call me Mr. Sensitivity." Then Johnny winked at Helena and started making his way through the crowd onto the deck, screaming, "OK, WIDE LOAD COMING THROUGH! EVERYONE MOVE HE'S HUGE!" When Johnny got to the deck everyone had followed him, including Helena. She heard, "Flame On!" and with a flash he was on fire in the air. Helena shouted, "SHOW-OFF!" Before Johnny created a burning 5 in the sky with a circle around it.