020. for worse or for better!

CHAPTER TWENTY, for worse or for better!

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𝐆𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐅 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 concept that Johnny Storm wasn't unfamiliar with. Losing his mother at an early age taught him that nothing lasts forever, especially the things you love. It was a cruel concept that tore your heart inside out and left you with questions unanswered, and a void in your life that would never be completed.

It's an uncomfortable conversation discussing things you've lost. You'd prefer to wallow in your own self pity and reminisce on all the things you could have had if time spared you, if it hadn't snatched your fate the second things were looking up.

But in life, it only provides you with one certainty. And that is death, an ending is inevitable; and Lacie March's had been concluded.

Johnny hadn't moved since he felt Lacie's grip loosen on him, when her arms fell limp and her head tilted back. His head was buried in her neck, ignoring the chill that encapsulated his body as he could no longer register her pulse.

His cries had quietened and he was reduced to sniffles, fingers wounding into her torn suit that she wore with such pride. Lacie March was a good person. She didn't deserve what fate handed to her.

Johnny understood that he would have to let go of her eventually, but the mere thought of it made Johnny want to burn the world to the ground for being so cruel to the people who deserve it the least.

If he let go, he would lose her forever. If he could hold on just for a little longer, Lacie would remain as his in life and death.

Sue turned away from the scene in front of her, bouncing Franklin in her arms as his outstretched towards his aunt, not grasping why she wasn't standing up and scooping him into a crushing hug right now.

Franklin whined and fisted Sue's matted hair, babbling out incoherent words that formed the need for his aunt's attention. Sue swallowed and contained her tears, "Aunt Lacie can't play right now, Franklin." She whispered and placed her hand on the back of his head, turning his youthful eyes away from the devastating scene.

Ben took slow steps towards Johnny who hunched over Lacie's figure, "Johnny..." His voice was soft.

Johnny shook his head, "I'm not leaving her." His words were muffled as his head tucked deeper into Lacie's neck, wishing on every star that Lacie's hand would twitch and thread its way through his hair, just like she used to.

Ben sighed and bowed his head, refusing to look at the woman for too long as the sight physically pained him, "We should let her rest."

Johnny lifted his head and placed his palm on Lacie's forehead, brushing back the hair that covered her peaceful face, "She's gonna get up in a minute. She's fine." He choked back a sob.

Reed and Sue edged towards Johnny's figure and his sister gentled placed her hand on his shoulder, "She would want you to be happy, Johnny--"

"You don't get to say that!" He rose and shrugged Sue's hand off of him, "You can't say that to me!" He yelled and his voice was raw, hands rubbing his bloodshot eyes.

Johnny held his chest to try and regain his breath, his chest tightening on him and his lungs gasping for air, "She's gonna get up! She's not--" His words were cut off by Sue handing Franklin to her husband and pulling Johnny into a hug.

Johnny collapsed in Sue's hold, sobs compressed into her shoulder as she ran her hand up and down his back, whispering apologies as his begs for Lacie fell on deaf ears. Johnny's hands gripped Sue's suit, "I didn't get to tell her I loved her."

Sue took a deep breath as she placed a hand on the back of Johnny's head, encouraging his eyes away from Lacie's still figure, "She knew." She nodded at her brother, "She loved you, Johnny." She whispered and felt Johnny's shoulders shake with sobs.

Franklin wriggled in Reed's hold as his small hands reached for Lacie, frustrated whines leaving his throat as his father held him in place. Being refused, Franklin started crying as his aunt didn't react, she didn't jump up and pepper his face in kisses; she remained still and Franklin couldn't understand why.

Sue snapped her head towards her crying son and flickered her gaze between Lacie and Franklin struggling in Reed's hold. She was about to shake her head at Reed and reluctantly tell him to take their son back to the Baxter Building, but Johnny sniffled and interrupted.

"Let him see her one more time," He wiped his tears with his sleeve, "He was her favourite, anyway." The corners of his lips lifted into a bittersweet smile, heart pounding at the prospect of their farewell imminent.

Reed loosened his grip on Franklin and looked at Ben who nodded, agreeing with Johnny's idea for the child to say goodbye to his aunt that loved him oh so much.

Reed knelt down and propped Franklin's body by Lacie's feet, his little hands poking at her shin, laughter bubbling in his throat as he awaited her reaction. When Lacie didn't move, Franklin huffed and shuffled his body to sit on her stomach.

He sat rocking back and forth, waiting for Lacie to sit up and tickle him the way she always used to when he sat there patiently. Franklin kicked his legs in confusion, wide eyes looking at his mother as a question to why his aunt was ignoring him.

Franklin shook his hands at Johnny and the man crouched down to settle beside him, hands either side of his body to prop his nephew upright. Johnny pressed a kiss on Franklin's cheek, "She's just sleeping right now, buddy." His voice was quiet, on the edge of breaking but had to stay strong for Franklin.

Franklin's face scrunched up, furrowing his brows and bottom lip jutting out. Big tears slipped from his eyes at the expense of Lacie ignoring his pestering actions. Johnny placed Franklin's body higher on Lacie, sitting on her chest so his hands could rest on her still face.

Lacie's cheek squished together under Franklin's pressure, "Be gentle, alright?" Johnny whispered, his cheek pressing against Franklin's as he watched his nephew crawl over the love of his life, tapping and prodding at her skin as if it could bring her back to life; back to him.

The child tilted his head at Lacie's closed eyes, hands moving to fiddle with the edge of her torn suit, fingers poking out what the destruction had caused. Franklin leaned down to rest his chin on Lacie's chest, eyes blinking cup at her calm face.

Franklin offered a toothless smile as he screwed up the fabric more, hands sinking further into her chest. A soft hum radiated from beneath Franklin's palms, the sound forgotten as Johnny gently lifted him off of the woman.

Johnny placed Franklin into Sue's outstretched arms and felt the team take a step back, letting Johnny to separate from Lacie in his own time.

It was never meant to end like this. Johnny and Lacie were meant to be it, they were meant to be the inevitable.

The Fantastic Five had been reduced to four. In an act of heroism, Lacie March lost her life to save the ones of those who mattered to her. Frostbite would forever be remembered.

But the Fantastic Five would remember her as just Lacie. Their Lacie who put a smile on their face every morning when she would whack Johnny over the head for stealing her cereal. The one who laid everyone's blankets out on the couch when she had arranged their weekly movie night, forcing Reed to sit down for two hours without stressing about the lab. Their version of Lacie was perfect, it was the one they loved.

The one Johnny would forever and always be in love with.

But part of life is moving on, even if it's the last thing you want. Johnny would always be Lacie's, and Johnny would never find another like Lacie. She was it for him, and he was more than happy to live with that for the rest of his life.

Johnny took a deep breath and leaned down to kiss the corner of Lacie's mouth, letting the contact linger for a moment as he realised this was the last time they'd ever see each other again.

In another life, Lacie March.

A soft crinkle of paper made Johnny halt his movements, his head snapping towards Lacie's hand where the paper laid folded.

Lacie's fingers twitched around the paper, crushing the corners and the ink smudging against her thumb.

Johnny's heart thudded against his chest as he heard a small intake of breath, head turning to see Lacie furrow her brows slightly as her lungs were flooded with air that had previously neglected her body.

He looked down at her suit torn at the stomach, the wound slowly closing as a purple hue danced around the scars. Johnny reached his hand down to prod the power, the movements effortless as it seemed like Lacie wasn't even harmed in the first place.

"Lacie?" Johnny's voice shook, his hands hovering over her face as if he was scared to touch her or as if he was dreaming. Was someone playing a sick joke on him? If he touched her then his reality wouldn't be forgiving; he couldn't and wouldn't lose Lacie twice.

Johnny's breath hitched as he watched Lacie's eyes flutter open, her eyes glowing a soft purple colour as she blinked away the surreal feeling. And Johnny was reunited with her beautiful eyes, the ones he got lost in so many times, the ones he dreamed about and the ones who cradled the list of his.

"Johnny?" Lacie's voice was raw, her throat dry and mouth twitching as if she couldn't believe her surroundings. Her eyes were welling with tears, willing that she wasn't imagining any of this; similar to Johnny.

The sob brewing at the back of Johnny's throat refused to stay at bay. He sobbed and instantly pulled Lacie into a hug, his chest heavy against her as his hands searched her back, feeling everywhere to check if she was actually here and breathing with him.

"I thought I lost you." He cried and felt Lacie's shoulder shake against him. Her fingers thread through his blonde hair and Johnny's body slumped into hers, longing to be impossibly closer to her after being deprived of her entirely.

Lacie relaxed into his touch and let her tears fall onto his shoulder, "I'm not going anywhere," Her words were muffled and she peppered his exposed skin in kisses, "I'm staying right here."

Johnny smiled and let the tears fall freely, his hand moving to cup the back of her head. Throughout all his grief and partial blindness from tears, he hadn't noticed the complete change of hair colour that graced the top of her head.

He moved back and twisted the strands between his fingers, "This new?" He sniffled with a smile on his face, happy to finally have Lacie hold him in her arms again.

Lacie look at Johnny's hands and her mouth fell open, "What the fuck?" She gasped and reached behind to hold a wad of her hair, too busy being dead for a while to realise she had changed her appearance on the way.

Johnny smiled and brushed his knuckles against her confused face, "It suits you." Lacie wiped a tear that stained his face and let her arms rest around the back of his neck, "When did I even do that?" She laughed.

"Somewhere between freezing the whole city..." Johnny's words trailed off in Lacie's mind, her eyes settled on the piece of paper she hadn't realised she'd been holding his entire time.

It fit perfectly in her hand, like it was crafted for her only. She furrowed her brows and tilted her head, eyes locked on writing she couldn't decipher. "What's this?" She mumbled.

Johnny stopped talking and craned his neck to see what Lacie was focused on. He smiled as she balanced the paper between her fingers, turning it to read the cover, "Something I want you to see." He nodded.

Lacie squinted her eyes to read, "'How to get the girl...'" Her heart thumping against her chest as she could see Johnny suppress a laugh from the corner of her eye, "'Because it's been four years and she still calls me flame boy--' Johnny, what is this?" She finished reading.

"Just open it." Johnny laughed and helped her into a sitting position, ignoring the sceptical look Lacie shot him as his handwriting peeked out of the sheet.

With ease, Lacie slowly unfolded the paper and blinked as a long list was presented in front of her, noticing multiple handwritings and scribbled notes at the side. Her breathing quickened as she read the first note:

'Number One: Annoy her to no end because girls like it when you mess with them.'

Lacie cast her mind back, throat growing dry as she remembered the day Johnny started doing things to deliberately annoy her. Taking her cereal, tripping her up on stage, teasing her for the little mistakes she made in the lab; was it all out of affection?

"Oh, my God..." Lacie mumbled out as Johnny looked at her only, he knew the contents of the list. It was Lacie he cared about, not what he wrote.

'Number Five: Forever thank zero gravity because I can use it as an excuse to hold her close.'

The times when he refused to let her linger anywhere further than his fingertips, the constant need to have contact with her on missions. Johnny Storm was one slick man and Lacie had fallen for his charm every damn time.

'Number Eight: Remind her how beautiful she is and that she's my favourite person in the world.'

Lacie couldn't tell if she was crying at this point or not, but the wetness that fell on her cheeks and slipped down to the floor below her was a given.

'Number Thirteen: Promise to protect her as long as this world exists because a world without Lacie is a world in which I'm not happy.'

Johnny chewed nervously on his thumb, sweat growing on his forehead as he watched Lacie's brows upturn as his words. Eyes softening as she processed his reasoning and confessions, Johnny Storm understood the way to Lacie's heart and he never threatened to exploit it, he revelled in it.

'Number Nineteen: Give her this list and wait for her reaction.'

Lacie swallowed and her heart clenched at the note. He had placed it into her cold palm with smudges on the ink, tainted from his tears and heart on the line.

The air left Lacie's lung as 'Number Twenty' stared at her. It was everything Lacie had ever wanted to hear her entire life and now here it was, in physical proof and written with intent.

Lacie lowered the list and turned to face Johnny, eyes flooded with unshed tears. Johnny reciprocated her expression and flickered his eyes at the list, silently asking her what she thought.

Lacie sniffled and licked her lips, "So you didn't have a moment with the naked silver lady?"

Johnny let out a shocked laugh and widened his eyes at the woman in front of him, "That's the first thing you pick up on?"

Lacie shrugged and ran her hands over her face, "I don't know! I'm overstimulated!" She laughed and felt Johnny lean into her shoulder from behind, gently placing the list back into her palm and pointing to the final note, "Take your time, love." He whispered and kissed the corner of her mouth.

Lacie pressed her lips together and shuffled so Johnny's face was in front of hers in close contact, "You love me?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

A smile spread across Johnny's face as he looked between her eyes and her lips, "I love you." He confirmed and Lacie's breath hitched.

"Oh..." She mumbled and reached up to rest her hand on his cheek, her bottom lip wedged between her teeth, "I love you." She whispered back and rested her forehead against Johnny's.

Johnny swore his heart stopped right then and there, "Really?" He forced himself to take a breath as everything was falling into place for him.

Lacie breathed out a laugh and nuzzled her nose against his, "Yeah..." Johnny sported a wide smile and closed his eyes at the contact they shared, "I bet I've loved you longer, though." He shrugged.

"Oh, shut up." Lacie groaned and cupped his face to bring him into an heart-shattering kiss.

Their lips molded together and suddenly everything was perfect. Johnny sighed into the kiss and pressed his mouth impossibly closer to hers, willing every fibre of his body into the contact; not one part of him wasn't committed to the beauty that was Lacie.

Their faces collided with shed tears, lashes wet and mouths yearning for more. Their noses pressed into each other uncomfortably, but neither of them cared enough or noticed to separate themselves, completely indulged into the passion as their tongues fought against each other.

An awkward cough caused them to pull apart slightly, lips swollen and faces bright red. Ben kicked the ground beneath his feet, "Come on, guys!" He groaned, "We don't wanna see that!"

Johnny hid his face in Lacie's neck as she offered the group a stiff wave, "I'm back." She stifled a laugh at the tired facial expressions the rest of them wore.

Lacie blew a kiss Franklin's way as the infant laughed and wiggled in Reed's arms, "Happy to have you back, Lace." Sue smiled and Reed held their child between them, a wide smile on his face as Lacie looked healthier than ever.

"We'll leave you two to it." Reed nodded and turned his back on the pair, grinning at Lacie one more time as she reciprocated his action; in the time that she was gone, she couldn't have missed them more.

As their footsteps descended towards the Baxter Building, Lacie chuckled as Johnny tickled her skin with soft kisses to her neck. She sighed as Johnny lifted his head, "So, did it work?" He raised his eyebrows at her.

Lacie shook her head with an amused smile, "Did what work?"

"Did I get the girl?" Johnny winked and Lacie rolled her eyes, shuffled her body so they sat against each other, basking in their connection as the snow fell onto their delicate bodies.

"You already know." Lacie whispered as she rested her head on Johnny's shoulder, trying to ignore his smug smile as he could proudly say that he finally got the girl.

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authors note!

I'M NOT CRYING YOU ARE

FRANKLIN UR A REAL ONE I LOVE YOU

JOHNNY 😭 GOT 😭 THE 😭 GIRL 😭

guys it's one fucking chapter left before the epilogue what the fuck

ok bonus chapters are a must i'm not letting them go that easy

i hope i made u all much happier after i actually died writing the last one, I TOLD U THE TEARS WOULD WORK !!!

love you all so much and for one last time, see you next chap 🩷🩷🩷