Topic: Unexpected

Olivia Storm

Date: 2013-03-02 16:24 EST
Friday, 1st March

Liv had made a career out of organizing everyone around her, whether they wanted it or not, and she had long ago decided that waiting was always the worst part. Especially when she'd been working on a surprise for almost two weeks, and the first part of the reveal was about to take place. Or it would take place soon, if Johnny managed to get home before Snowstorm Hannibal hit the city full blast. She wanted to be out of Rhy'Din before the heavy snow fell hard. Already in her coat, she paced nervously back and forth beside the windows of their apartment, each circle taking her past the piled bags she had already packed for them both. "Come on, Johnny," she murmured to herself, knowing full well that his boss at the fire department knew to get her fiance out of work on time tonight no matter what. It all depended what Johnny had decided to do on the way home.

Some fiancees might worry that their significant other was late because he'd stopped at a bar for a beer with the boys or maybe he was seeing another woman. Liv needn't worry about either of these. Most of the time when Johnny was late coming home, it was because he'd been needed somewhere and stopped to help someone or the weather had been a problem in his getting home safely. Tonight, with a blizzard on the way, Johnny had made a side trip after work at the firehouse to the area just outside WestEnd known as the Shambles, where he'd gone head to head with a dragon not long ago and realized he could do more good working for the Fire Brigade than he could doing anything else. He'd been stopping back when he could ever since to check on the people there and help where he could. He didn't stay long, just long enough to make sure they were prepared to ride out the storm or to help those who needed shelter find it. A couple of hours was all that was needed, entirely unaware that back home a surprise was waiting.

It was a couple of hours that Liv could have done without today. Not that time was really a factor - they were in a good enough area of the city that the route to the portal wasn't going to be too obscured, and with Johnny around, a five minute walk in the heaviest blizzard wouldn't be any trouble. But all the same ....she'd had everything planned down to the last detail, and the longer the delay, the more nervous she got. What if he'd been hurt' What if he'd found out and wasn't happy with her for making arrangements without telling him' What if he'd decided to stay overnight in one of the shelters" So many what ifs, and no way to contact him. After all, there are only so many cell phones you can go through before giving in to the inevitable - he'd melted so many of them, he was practically keeping the company in business.

Fortunately for Liv, Johnny arrived home the conventional way - through the door. The snow was making flying tricky at best, not because of the moisture but the visibility. Trying to see through a flurry of mesmerizing snowflakes was enough to even get the Human Torch lost, and the motorcycle was out. He'd flown as far as he could before giving in and hitchhiking a ride the rest of the way home. There was a thump at the door as he trudged inside and called, "Honey, I'm home!" announcing his arrival. Anyone else might have been covered in snowflakes, but any snow that had touched him had almost immediately melted under the plasma heat of his internal furnace.

"Finally!" Though the tone was exasperated, the smile was fond and relieved as Liv turned to watch him making his way inside, moving to curl her hands to his cheeks and kiss him softly. "Is everything okay' No essential emergencies that mean you absolutely have to stay here over the weekend" And hello, by the way." Her smile widened as she added that last, lips touching the end of his nose before she lowered her hands from his face once more.

He returned her smile, lips and cheeks as warm as the rest of him, despite the dropping temperature and the snow that was swirling outside their windows. Thankfully, it hadn't hit blizzard proportions yet, but the forecast didn't look good. "No," he replied, furrowing his brows at her, wondering what all the questions were about. While it was true that his schedule wasn't exactly predictable, she knew him well enough to know that if he was late, it was usually for a pretty good reason. "Sorry I'm late. With this storm moving in, I thought I'd better check on a few things." He didn't elaborate further, but it wasn't hard to figure out where he'd been or what he'd been up to. "It looks like we're going to be snowed in for awhile," he said, sliding his arms around her with a mischievous smile on his face. "What are we going to do to fill the time?"

She laughed, deeply relieved that whatever he'd been doing hadn't affected his mood, and rather amused that her usually observant fiance had somehow managed to miss the fact that she was wearing her coat indoors. Never mind the fact that there were a few suitcases barely three feet behind her. As his arms wrapped about her waist, she grinned up at him, smoothing her hands down over his sleeves as she leaned back, soft eyes sparkling with nervous excitement as she dropped the first part of the surprise she'd been working on for more than a week. "We're going on holiday, that's what we're doing."

"Now?" he asked, more than a little perplexed. It wasn't that he minded really, but he hadn't let the Chief know at the fire-station, and there was a storm rolling in. What if they needed him' He didn't want to get fired already from the one job he was not only really good at but that made him feel useful. It was only now that he noticed the coat and the suitcases, seemingly packed and ready to go at a moment's notice. "What if they need me?" he asked, having no idea she'd planned this all in advance and had already taken care of all those details without his knowledge.

"Now," she assured him, reaching up to stroke her fingers against his cheek once again. "Remember that surprise you've been bugging me for days to tell you about' Well, this is it ....most of it, anyway." Her lips parted in a warm smile, one eyelid flickering in a cheeky wink. "And they won't need you. The Chief promised me that they won't need you, and besides, you have to take some vacation time. It's illegal not to." And hadn't she enjoyed finding out that little snippet of information' Liv raised a brow, daring Johnny to worry rather than enjoy the unexpected treat. "Trust me, love, everything is in hand. That's what I do best, isn't it?"

Johnny eyed her quizzically. He knew she'd had some sort of surprise up her sleeve, but he didn't know what it was. Apparently, it was some kind of trip. Oh! He perked up a little, as a thought came to mind. "Are we going to see Steve and Lucy?" he asked, missing them already, though they hadn't been gone that long. They'd made a few friends in the city, but none they felt as close to as family.

"Sort of." Liv giggled as she said this, fighting to hold her tongue on the slightly more overwhelming part of the surprise that she wasn't going to tell him about until they were there. "They're going to meet us there for a couple of days, with Sue and Reed. Sort of a family get-together for the weekend before they go home and we have a proper holiday." She bit her lip, her eyes wide with an un-thought of concern. "Is that all right?"

"What' Really?" he asked, eyes going wide, obviously not only surprised, but pleasantly so. "You're the best, Livvie!" he exclaimed, tossing his arms around her waist and spinning her merrily in place with a wide grin on his face, thankfully not bursting into flames from the excitement. "Where are we going" What should I pack?" he asked as he set her back on her feet, a sudden ball of hyperactive energy as he tried to sort out what he had to do first to get ready to go.

She let out a loud squeal of laughter as he hoisted her off her feet, her arms wrapping about his neck as he spun around. Lips pressed a warm kiss to his warm cheek as he set her back down again, stepping back to let him bounce off the walls for a moment or two. "You're all packed, I promise I didn't forget anything," she assured him cheerfully, nodding toward the collected luggage beside her. "And the destination is as much a surprise as anything else. We just have to get to the portal, which is only a couple of streets away, and we'll be there."

"I can't go like this!" he declared, sounding a little too much like a woman who was being dragged out to dinner in a house-dress. He was dressed in his usual blue uniform, not even bothering to wear anything over it anymore when it came to the Fire Brigade. Everything he wore just went up in flames if they were called to fight a fire, so there didn't seem much point. Everyone recognized him by his suit anyway. As much as he didn't like to admit it and as much as he needed it for practicality purposes, he got bored and tired of the same old blue suit all the time.

Olivia Storm

Date: 2013-03-02 16:25 EST
Her smile brightened once again as he complained about his clothes, her eyes rolling lightly at the faint whine in his declaration. "So get changed," she told him fondly. "And leave the suit here. No work for the next ten days, either of us." She twisted to lean against the back of the couch, the hand in her pocket fingering her cell phone. She was going to have to call Lucy just to make sure no one was panicking about them being late.

He gasped, aghast. "Leave the suit here?" he echoed, in obvious shock. "But..." The what ifs hung in the air between them, always the what ifs. If he happened to go to flames for any reason and wasn't wearing that suit, well, he'd be wearing nothing but his birthday suit for everyone to see, and no one wanted to see that. Well, maybe they did, but that didn't mean he wanted them to. Or something like that. "Where are we going" What should I wear?" he asked as he started toward the bedroom.

Falling into step behind him, Liv just about stopped herself from laughing at the shock on his face at her one condition for all this. She took up a lean in the bedroom doorway, hands deep in her pockets. "You only really need the suit when you're working, and I think I can trust you not to go all flamey when you're surrounded with kids and families," she told him, stating her faith in his control as a matter of experience. "I don't think anyone really wants to see Mickey Mouse set on fire just because the person he's shaking hands with got a bit too excited, do you?" She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket, tapping out a quick message to Lucy. Apparently her sister had plans for the evening, which were going to have to be put on hold until everyone was there and settled.

Johnny started shuffling through drawers trying to find something suitable to wear, though he didn't know where they were going yet. At least, not until she dropped the teasing hint about their destination. He froze in place for a moment, brows furrowed. He must have heard her wrong. Mickey Mouse" He chuckled a little to himself as he pulled a pair of jeans and a shirt from his dresser. "For a minute there, I thought you said Mickey Mouse."

She grinned impishly, enjoying being the one with all the cards for once. Usually it was Johnny who had the upper hand, though she knew it would be touch and go as to how he was going to react to what they'd be doing tomorrow. "I did," she nodded, tucking her phone into her pocket once again. "Or would you rather meet Snow White" I think there's a group of short people who'd be a little upset with you if you set her on fire by accident."

Johnny furrowed his brows, looking confused again. He straightened his lean and looked over at her with a perfectly serious expression on his face. "Are you teasing me?" he asked, hands on his hips as he eyed her soberly.

"Now why would I be joking about getting your sister and my sister to Walt Disney World for a weekend?" she asked, just as serious despite her smile. "Do you have any idea how much fast talking I had to do to convince them that they're more than capable of convincing their husbands it will be fun?"

He didn't really believe it until she said it, and even then, he thought she was just teasing him, but it wasn't like Liv to do something like that. That was more Lucy's style. He doubted even Lucy was that mean. "Did Sue put you up to this?" he asked, wondering whose it had been to go to Florida for vacation. He'd always wanted to go, but had never had the chance. Why Disney World and why now" Something was up, but he wasn't sure what. Still, why complain" It was the trip of a lifetime, as far as he was concerned, and it was better late than never.

She managed to feign a look of shocked hurt before it dissolved into a laughing smile once more. "I am capable of having an original thought myself, you know," she objected warmly, though there was a little uncertainty showing through her confidence at his suspicion. Had she made the right decision' "I, um ....I thought you'd like it. I just didn't want to choose anywhere we'd get bored too easily, that's all."

"You're serious," he said, still giving her that look. He wasn't going to get his hopes up and get all excited for nothing. Still, this was Liv and Liv had no reason to lie. "Steve is going, too?" he asked, curiously, wondering what Captain America would think of Disney World. Did he even know who Mickey Mouse was" What would he think of a modern amusement park" What did Captain America do for fun anyway, besides the obvious"

"Yes," she nodded, glancing down at her phone momentarily. "Already there, actually. And apparently Reed is, too. In fact, everyone is there but us, love." She raised her brows teasingly, her head tilted in gentle encouragement for him to get on with it. "Look, I can even show you the Park tickets if that will convince you."

"Oh my God, you're really serious," he said again, his expression betraying his shock. "We're going to Disney World?" he asked, still in an obvious state of shock. It was going to take a minute or two for it to register in his brain. And with the portal a short walk away, they could be there in no time. He was suddenly filled with a childlike excitement, the likes of which he probably hadn't felt since he'd met his all time hero face to face. And now the guy was practically his brother in law.

"We're going to Disney World, yes." Liv eyed him thoughtfully before going on. "We've got a garden cottage at the Boardwalk Inn, and tickets that'll let us go anywhere all over the resort. I'm assuming there will be enough for us to do, although tomorrow I already have something planned." She paused again, her brow furrowing in a gentle frown. "Um ....did I break you?"

It admittedly took a minute or two for all this to sink in but sink in it did and as soon as that happened, a huge grin spread across Johnny's face and he gave a loud, happy whoop. "We're going to Disney World!" he shouted, sweeping her off her feet as he spun her around for the second time that night, laughing uproariously, blue eyes bright with happiness.

He managed to take her by surprise that time, the squeak a mix between shock and laughter as again she found herself spun about in his arms, giggling at her fiance's exuberant enthusiasm. "Yes, we're going to Disney World," she laughed, nudging his nose with her own fondly. "But only if you get out of that suit and put some proper clothes on."

"Oh my gosh!" he exclaimed again, suddenly an excited bundle of nerves. "What should I wear?" he repeated his earlier question, setting her on her feet and going over to the dresser to rummage for something suitable for Florida in winter. Article after article of clothing went flying past his head behind him to the floor as he searched for something appropriate, clothes quickly piling up on the floor and creating a bit of a mess.

"Well, I did already check the weather report," Liv assured him with the confidence of an English woman who, despite objecting to the cold, didn't really know what a hot day in America was like. "It's going to be warm and sunny for the next week or so, maybe a bit chilly in the evenings. Not that the temperature should bother you at all, love." She laughed at the mess he was making, rolling her eyes a little at the disaster zone around him. "I hope you're going to pick all that up before we go."

"All what up?" he asked, distractedly, frowning a little when he didn't find what he was looking for. Something else would just have to do for now. He tugged out a clean shirt and sweater and pair of jeans and tossed them on the bed, stepping over the pile of clothing on the floor and tugging at his zipper to strip himself of his suit. "You think this will be safe here?" he asked, worriedly. He only had one of them, and it was more than likely his most precious possession.

Olivia Storm

Date: 2013-03-02 16:26 EST
She sighed softly, knowing how important the suit was. "All right, you can bring it with you," she conceded, reluctant but understanding. "But you have to promise me that you're not going to put it on. This is a holiday, Johnny. I mean it, no work. I'm not going to answer my phone unless it's Lucy, and I'm not going to check my emails at all."

Now that she'd changed her mind, he wasn't sure if he should change out of the suit or not. He frowned over at her, his fingers lingering on the zipper that had been pulled half-way down his chest. At this rate, it would be faster if he just left the way he was. "But what if somebody needs me?" he asked with a pout. Holiday or not, heroes didn't take vacations. You didn't see Superman ignoring people in trouble so he could ride a roller coaster, did you?

It wasn't often that Liv lost patience with Johnny, but this was one of those times. She'd been wound up tight all day, he'd been late, he hadn't believed her at first, and now he was just being plain difficult. He knew she wasn't going to complain if someone needed him, but at the same time, she didn't want to spend the entire time away expecting him to flame out and leave her on her own for hours at a time. Besides, her habit of always having a bag with her meant he could keep a change of clothes pretty much on hand. She opened her hands and spread them in defeat, taking a deep breath to keep herself from snapping at him. "Fine," she conceded, trying hard to keep her voice light. "Whatever makes you happiest."

"You make me happy," he replied, oblivious of her annoyance with him, too excited about the trip to notice. Anyway, she loved him; she'd get over it. He pulled the zipper on his suit back up - getting dressed and packed would be a lot quicker that way - and threw a shirt over his head. "Are they waiting for us?" he asked, though she'd already told him they were.

She'd had to turn away to grit her teeth without him noticing, knowing full well that her sister or even his own sister would have marched him out the door, dressed or not, by now. "Yes, they are," she told him, turning back into the room. "They have plans for the evening, apparently, or at least Steve and Lucy do. I think Sue and Reed might be too busy being parents to attempt a late night just yet."

"Well, of course, they do! It's Disney World! There's fireworks and everything!" He knew because he'd seen it on TV. Fireworks were one of his most favorite things in the whole world, but you didn't want him getting too terribly close to them unless you wanted them all going off at once. He tugged a pair of jeans on over his suit, debating whether or not to bring a jacket. He didn't really need one, after all, and how cold was it going to be in Florida this time of year" Once he was mostly dressed, he stepped back to the dresser and started shoving the clothes that had piled up on the floor into the drawers, any which way, just so they were off the floor. "What's Reed going to do at Disney anyway' I really don't think the guy knows how to have fun."

"Well, maybe it's time he learned," Liv offered, moving to help him tidy up in a manner that was a little more controlled than his haphazard stowing of his belongings. "Besides, he's a dad now. He has to learn how to at least pretend to be enjoying himself while doing things that have absolutely no interest for him at all. But yes, I think Steve and Lucy want to take you and me out tonight."

"Unless it involves algorithms, I don't think anything has much interest to Reed. I'm surprised he knew what to do to get my sister pregnant." Okay, that was a bit harsh and exaggerated, but Johnny had never really understood his sister's attraction to such a dullard as Reed Richards. He was smart, sure. But his idea of a good time was boring to Johnny. Johnny wasn't even quite sure what an algorithm was, but it sounded good. He went to the closet and yanked out a jacket at random because it was mostly just for looks, not for warmth, and eyed Liv as he looked over at her re-sorting his haphazard stowing of his clothes. "I thought you were in a hurry to leave." It was just like Johnny to turn the tables and blame her for their being late, when it had really been him.

It was a little harsh, and it highlighted the similarities Liv saw between herself and Reed Richards. But she'd promised she wouldn't let those insecurities get in the way any longer; the moment of shaken uncertainty lasted less than a second before she let her smile blossom forth again. "Oh, I don't know," she mused, deliberately slowing down in the process of folding his clothing, nitpicking over every crease. "Maybe I should just string this out, make you wait patiently for the next couple of hours or so."

Johnny pouted at her. Now that he was ready to go, he was antsy and wanted to be on their way. They were going to Disney World, for God's sake! "Really?" he asked, pouting, shoulders sagging in obvious disappointment. "I thought you wanted to leave." He really was clueless at times when it came to reading her, not realizing she was teasing him now that he was excited about leaving.

"Well, that all depends if you've finished working out whether or not you want to spend your holiday waiting for someone to set themselves on fire, or actually having fun with me, doesn't it?" she pointed out, unable to quite let that one go by without mentioning it. But her expression was gently amused, softening the sting of the pointed query as she turned to look at him.

Johnny frowned as Liv's remark stung a little. Being someone's P.A. wasn't exactly the same thing as being a hero. Being a hero was a 24 to 7 job, on call all day, all night, seven days a week. He couldn't very well turn his back on someone if they needed him, and he had no idea when or if that could happen. How would he live with the guilt if he did" That didn't mean he couldn't have fun. He had plenty of time for fun, but if something happened and he was needed, well, that was just the way it was. Chagrined by her remark, however, he said nothing, his feelings hurt just a little. "Well, I'm ready to go when you are," he said, his excitement dampened a little by her scolding, even if it was said with a smile. He closed the closet door quietly and zipped his jacket part-way up his chest.

She felt his excitement mute, wincing at how badly she'd put her foot in her mouth. This was supposed to be an exciting surprise, something to make him smile, and she'd let her irritation get in the way of that. "I'm sorry," she apologized softly. "That was bitchy of me. Of course helping people comes first, I do know that." But it still stung that unpredictable events could quite easily leave her all alone in a place she would never visit were it not for her exuberant fiance. She offered up her smile again, turning to step out of the bedroom, berating herself for being selfish and spoiling his enjoyment already.

Now it was his turn to feel bad for making her feel bad. He hadn't meant to rain on her parade and spoil his surprise. He was excited about the trip and looking forward to having fun with her, but he couldn't promise that something wouldn't come up where he wouldn't be needed. It wasn't a matter of choosing other people over her; it was simply a matter of duty and responsibility. They hadn't even left yet, and they were both already miserable when this was supposed to be fun. He grabbed his sneakers and marched over to the bed to sit down and put them on, a frown on his face, but saying nothing in return. Should he apologize for what he was" He hadn't asked to become this. He wouldn't go out of his way to look for trouble. Most of the time, trouble found him. He wanted this trip to be fun for both of them. He thought Liv understood this side of him, but now he wasn't so sure.

These misunderstandings seemed to be happening more often lately, a source of friction that was grating against Liv's heart. She was trying hard not to be selfish, not to be insecure, not to smother him or upset him with her own quiet upsets, and yet so far she'd failed that badly. How was she supposed to tell him the rest of the surprise when he was mad at her for some perceived inability of hers to understand who and what he was" It wasn't that she didn't understand; it was that he had assumed that she wouldn't have considered it ahead of time. "This was supposed to be a fun idea," she called from the living room, making a real effort to keep her voice light, trying to coax him back into a good mood. "Can you imagine what Lucy will do to us if we show up looking like we've had a fight?"

Olivia Storm

Date: 2013-03-02 16:27 EST
"We're not fighting," he called back from the bedroom, his heart feeling as sore as hers. He wasn't sure what had just happened between them. A misunderstanding" An argument' They never really had arguments. They never shouted at each other or got really angry; they just got their feelings hurt and turned inward. He didn't want to start this trip off on the wrong foot, but he wasn't quite sure how to make things better either. If he just ignored the problem, it would only make things worse later, but if he pushed the matter, it might end up in a full-blown argument. He pulled a sneaker on and looped the laces around to tie a knot, wondering what the hell he was bothering for. To blend with other people" One false move, and he'd be wearing nothing but his blue suit again. What was the point in trying to blend" Oh, yeah....To have fun. He wondered if it was irresponsible to try and have fun. Did Batman or Superman ever take a vacation, he wondered. For that matter, did Captain America"

"I think we are fighting." There was a soft whump from the couch in the living room as Liv sat down heavily. "We don't have to go, if you don't want to. We don't have to do anything if you don't want to. I just ....I thought it would be good for us, to get away for a bit, to do something fun." The words bubbled up before she could hold them back, guilt coloring them. "I never really realized that the Human Torch comes first no matter what, and I should have done. I shouldn't have gone behind your back to arrange all this; I'm sorry, Johnny. It was selfish."

No reply came from the bedroom, as he listened to the words of apology pour out of her, sensing her guilt while feeling his own. She had wanted to do something nice for him, to surprise him. It was sweet and it meant more to him than she'd ever know. No one had ever really tried to give him something like this before, and he wasn't quite sure what to make of it. He wasn't really one for crying, but his heart felt sore that he'd upset her, and guilty that he'd ruined her surprise.

All over a stupid suit. He sat there quietly a moment, alone in his misery, her alone in hers. It was stupid, this argument they were having. He couldn't promise to fly off at a moment's notice if he was needed, but he could promise to relax and try to have fun. "You're not being selfish," he replied from the bedroom, though he might have said it a bit too quietly for her to hear him. He wished things could be different, but somehow she was going to have to learn to share him. With great power, comes great responsibility. Was it any surprise that the quote came from an old Spiderman comic-book"

Liv closed her eyes, drawing her feet up onto the couch to press her face against her knees. She thought she heard him say something, but she couldn't be sure, and if he hadn't spoken to her, she didn't want to answer. Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong, she thought to herself, wondering just when that had become the motto of her life. It wasn't just the vacation she was worrying about now; it was what had been planned for the next day. Was he going to be angry with her for it' Should she just cancel everything and try to cover up the expenditure somehow so he never realized what else she had selfishly gone ahead with, without his consent' She'd worried before that Lucy might not be able to share Steve, but had never thought that it would be an issue for her. And it wasn't, truly, an issue at all. She'd obviously made a mistake. She just didn't know how to put it right.

Liv was obviously not going to come to him, and they were wasting time moping when they could be having fun with their family at the one place he'd always wanted to go but had never had the chance to visit. Just to be a kid again. No worries, no responsibilities. Hell, even when he was a kid, life had kind of sucked most of the time. At least, after Mom had died. He knew Liv's life hadn't been much better. They both deserved a little happiness. He'd thought they had that. What the heck had gone wrong"

Honesty was a fatal flaw in Olivia Broderick's make up. She'd made a mistake. The only way she could see to making up for that was to tell Johnny exactly what was going on here, and hope Lucy would forgive her for not holding off until they could all witness the reaction. Rummaging in her overnight bag, she found the documents - the license, the booking form, the private reservation for the fireworks cruise the next night - and pulled herself to her feet, making her way quietly back into the bedroom. She sat down beside Johnny, not knowing even where to begin, and silently handed him the papers, not daring to meet his gaze. "I thought maybe we were on the same page," she confessed softly. "I'm sorry I was so wrong."

He was just sitting on the bed, leaning forward, handing clasped between his knees, looking dejected, lost in thought as he tried to figure out where he'd gone wrong, convinced it was somehow his fault, when really, the fault was neither his nor hers. "What's this?" he asked, taking the pile of papers from her, but not looking at them yet. It hurt to see her sad, to know it had somehow been his fault. He never wanted to make her sad, but he had. "Wrong about what?" he asked, confused, his heart sinking. Weren't they going now" Was the trip off"

"Well ..." She hesitated, shy of openly admitting to such an appalling mistake, of taking the wrong end of the stick and running with it. Taking this sort of leap was so unusual for her, after all. No wonder he didn't have any idea what she was talking about. Her fingers tapped the papers in his hand. "I ....I thought you were serious, when we ended up looking after Emily, I ....Obviously this is why I shouldn't be allowed to plan anything on my own. I get it wrong."

"Serious about what?" he asked, obviously having no idea what she had planned or was trying to get at. He certainly was serious about getting married and having a family. He wouldn't have proposed if he wasn't. What the heck was she talking about' He furrowed his brows in confusion and turned back to look at the papers she had handed and try to sort it out on his own since she wasn't giving him much help in that regard.

She drew in a shaking breath, steeling herself to come out an actual confess to what she'd done, terrified that he was going to be furious with her for just rearranging his life for him without even asking. "About getting married sooner rather than later," she managed, though the words came out in a babbling rush that he knew well. It always happened when she wasn't sure what the reaction was going to be.

"I should have stopped and asked you before I started putting it together, but I didn't think you'd mind very much, and I know you want me to be more spontaneous, and I know this doesn't really count as spontaneous, but I pulled in a couple of favors and I talked to your Chief about getting your time off, and I know I shouldn't have done that, I should have spoken to you about it first, and you're angry with me and you have every right to be, and I completely understand if you want me to cancel the whole thing, because I messed up and I'm so sorry, I just ....I love you so much, and I don't want to wait any more, and I'm a complete idiot for thinking that making it a surprise was a good idea, because it obviously isn't, and I can't even spring a surprise on you without messing it up and upsetting you, and I'm just ....I'm pants, that's what I am."

He turned his gaze back to her, blinking in confusion as he tried to absorb everything she was trying to tell him in one long drawn-out breath. Wait, married" What was she talking about' Wasn't this just a vacation she'd planned" It was then that the pieces of the puzzle all fell together, and everything made sense. As if it wasn't enough that she had tried to surprise him with a trip to Florida, she'd somehow arranged an even bigger surprise. It all made sense now. Why else would Sue and Reed and Lucy and Steve join them in Florida"

They weren't just going on vacation together. They were going to get married. Johnny's heart leaped at the idea. She wanted to marry him now" She didn't want to wait any longer" Or had he just screwed up and now she'd changed her mind? He looked about as confused as he felt, unsure if he should be happy they were getting married or disappointed that they weren't. "Wait, you..." He glanced back at the papers he was holding in his hands, shuffling through them a moment until he found the license and the reservations. They were going to get married on the beach' He found himself speechless once again, but not because he was angry or upset - because he was fighting the lump that was forming in his throat.

She was all babbled out, genuinely scared that his silence was a dark warning of what was to come when the full import of what she'd done sank into his mind. Another misunderstanding to color the awkwardness she'd brought back into their lives. She bit her lip hard, staring down at her hands, clenching and unclenching together in her lap as the silence dragged on. There really was nothing else she could say, either to make it worse or to make it better. Liv was entirely at Johnny's mercy now.

Olivia Storm

Date: 2013-03-02 16:28 EST
"We're getting married?" he asked as he finally found his voice, sounding more than a little incredulous, his voice crackling a little as he spoke. He turned back to her, brows furrowed in confusion, not understanding why she thought he'd be angry at her for this. "Why would I be angry?" he asked, wondering if she really knew him at all, or if these were just her own insecurities and worries coming out.

Her soft eyes dared a glance to meet his gaze before darting away again, her twisting hands gripping tighter onto themselves. "B-because I didn't ask you," she tried to explain. "Because I just went ahead and arranged everything, and that's so rude of me. And you're already upset with me about the suit, and ..." She trailed off, shaking her head, trying once again to look into his eyes. "I didn't mean that you should ignore it if anyone needs you. I just ....when you wear the suit, you're always looking for the next emergency. And I know it's selfish, but I was hoping for maybe a day to have you just to myself ....which I know is a stupid thing to hope for because you don't belong to me, you're a hero and you should never try to be anything but that. I'm sorry, I'm not making any sense."

"I'm not upset about the suit," he corrected her. It wasn't the suit he was upset about exactly. It went a little deeper than that. He frowned back at her as she met his gaze, finally understanding what it was that was bothering her. Or at least, he thought he did. Now it was just a matter of trying to come to some mutual understanding of each other. "Liv..." he started, keeping his voice calm and steady and quiet. "This..." he indicated the handful of papers she'd handed him. "This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me." And he did mean ever. In his whole life, no one had ever done anything so thoughtful and sweet and completely unselfish. No one had gone to such efforts as this to make him happy, to make all his dreams come true.

She was his dream come true. When was she going to understand that' It wasn't about going to Disney or even getting married. It was about loving her and spending the rest of his life with her. He frowned, needing to apologize and try to make things better, explain to her what she should already know but apparently didn't. "I'm sorry, I....I didn't mean to ruin your surprise. It's just..." He sighed, looking back at the papers in his hand, feeling as guilty as she did.

"Oh, no, you didn't ruin anything!" She rushed to reassure him, pulling the papers out of his hands to fold her own fingers in between his as she dipped her head to find his gaze. "Really, Johnny, you couldn't ruin anything. It was my fault - I should have told you all of it as soon as you came in. I've been so nervous all day about how you were going to react that I got irritated over something that really doesn't bother me at all, and I made you feel bad, and I never meant to do that. I know my job is nowhere near as important as yours, I never meant to imply that it was -" though that stung in itself, the understanding that being a hero was more important, more useful, better than being a good assistant, "- I shouldn't have mentioned it at all. I'm sorry."

"Your job is important, Liv," he contradicted, feeling guilty even about that. It wasn't his fault he was what he was. He couldn't very well choose to ignore it, and she'd been the one to encourage him to embrace that side of himself to his fullest potential and become the hero he wanted to be, but at what price" He didn't love her any less. He knew her job was important to her, but it wasn't as easy for him to just turn it all off and take a break from it. He could try, but he couldn't make any promises.

He could only promise that he wouldn't go looking for trouble, that he wouldn't fly off to the rescue every time someone needed help, but that his life wasn't like everyone else's. He wasn't like everyone else. His life wasn't and never would be normal. "You know, I had this girlfriend once. She said she loved me..." He wasn't sure he should tell her this story. Though it would explain a little about his own fears, it might make her feel worse. He shook his head. "Never mind. Let's just....let's just forget it and pretend it never happened."

Strangely, just that little hint of something that had gone wrong with someone else, years ago, was enough to bring comprehension dawning in her eyes. Her hands tightened on his. "Johnny, I'd never ask you to be anything but who and what you are," she told him softly. "I love you, everything that makes you who you are. I want to marry you. I've just been so clumsy about it that it's not the happy announcement it should have been. I want you to be happy, Johnny. You're the most important part of my life. If you're happy, then I'm happy. That's all that matters."

"No, Livvie," he said, lifting his gaze to hers, unable to quite hide the sparkle of moisture threatening there, not so much at the pain of past hurts but the knowledge that he'd spoiled her surprise and made her feel bad. "Don't you know how happy you make me" No one has ever made me as happy as you. I want to marry you, Liv. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I'm never gonna love anyone the way I do you. I just....I can't stop being who I am. I wish I could. I won't go looking for trouble, but if someone needs me, I can't promise to look the other way."

"I don't want you to look the other way if someone needs you," she told him firmly. "I'd be disappointed in you if you did, you have to believe me. I won't ever ask you not to look for trouble again, but ....just this once, it would be nice to have all of you with me. Even if it's just for one day, and no more, I won't ask for more. I never want you to be anything less than what you are, and certainly not for my sake. I'm so proud of you, love."

"You deserve so much better than me, Liv. You deserve to be happy. I want you to be happy. That's all I want." That wasn't quite true. Though he wanted her to be happy, he wanted her to be happy with him, not someone else, no matter who they were. "I want to get married, Liv....If you still want to. If you'll still have me. I love you so much, and..." He broke off, having to pause a moment to steady his voice. "I want to be with you."

"Oh, Johnny ..." Her expression crumpled, shining tears touching her eyes for the uncertainty that poured from him. She shifted, rising onto her knees on the bed beside him, drawing her hands from his to stroke tenderly against the warm curve of his cheeks as she drew close, resting her forehead to his. "One little fight isn't enough to make me change my mind. I was scared you had changed your mind, that I'd gone too far. Johnny ..." Her lips brushed his lovingly, a light touch as much to reassure herself as to reassure him. "Will you marry me tomorrow" Despite the big mess I've made of things?"

The tears in his eyes mirrored hers - they really were two peas in a pod when it came to their insecurities and uncertainties, though they both seemed certain of their love for each other. He shook his head a little as her hands cupped his cheeks. "I'm never going to change my mind about you, Liv. I love you more than anything, and I want to grow old with you." Like normal people, spending the rest of their lives together and all that that involved. Warmer than normal lips touched hers in return, his forehead coming to rest against hers, a soft smile on his face at her question. "I would like nothing better than to marry you, Miss Broderick, if you're sure you can spend the next sixty years or so putting up with me."

Her lips softened into a tender smile at his answer. "So why are we sitting here crying over spilt milk?" she asked warmly. "You still have to drag me through a blizzard to the portal, you know."

He laughed at her question and drew a hand across his eyes to wipe the tears, more out of habit than necessity, as they usually evaporated almost as quickly as they were shed, given his elevated temperature. "Don't worry. I won't let you get cold," he promised with a smile, dropping an affectionate if brief kiss against her lips. He moved to his feet, reaching for her hand to pull her up with him. "Are you ready to do this, Miss Broderick?" he asked, with a grin on his face, all the pain of their misunderstanding forgiven and forgotten.

"Only if you are, Mr Storm," she giggled back to him, drawn back up onto her feet with the weight of their awkwardness lifted once again. Maybe, at some point, they'd be able to clear the air more easily, speak to each other more freely, but despite these hiccups, she always felt closer to her Johnny in the wake of little upsets. And it was a little upset, compared with the big celebration that was just on the horizon. "Don't forget the papers. Steve had to pull a lot of strings to get us that license, you know."

"Remind me to thank him," Johnny replied with a grin, reaching behind him to snag the legal documents and other papers from where he'd left them on the bed. Despite their argument - if that was truly what it was - they seemed closer than ever. Each little upset somehow drawing them closer, helping them understand each other better. It wasn't a perfect relationship, but Johnny knew it was about as close as he was ever going to get. And anyway, who wanted perfect' Perfect was boring. Neither of them was perfect, by any means, but in Johnny's eyes, no one was as perfect as Liv.

Perfection was overrated. As Liv drew Johnny out of the bedroom, releasing his hand to lift couple of bags from the small gathering by the couch into her grasp, she reflected that there really was no such thing as absolutely perfect. But Johnny Storm was as close to perfect for her as anyone could have imagined. And after tomorrow, no one was ever going to be able to take him away from her, ever again. She was going to make very sure of that.

If Johnny knew what Liv was thinking, he'd tell her he was feeling the same. Who needed perfect when they had each other" Perfect was for fairy tales and make believe. This was real life, and there was no one as perfect for him as Olivia. By this time tomorrow, they'd be husband and wife, and no one was going to stop them. This was just the first step in making all of their dreams come true, together, just like all of the Disney princes and princesses they were about to meet. They were about to start building toward their own happily ever after.

((Part one of the weekend done, with an unexpected bump along the way. :grin: Can't these two do anything without crossing wires" Here's hoping for a more successful Saturday! Awesome megalicious thankidoodledandies to Johnny's player!))