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The readings were very much outside of the normal range. To say they’ve never seen anything like it would be a lie because, let’s be honest, the Fantastic Four have seen a lot. But according to Reed it was still a huge deal and they had to get there immediately. The kids were with a friend for a couple of days and Reed was barely holding himself together, ready to get going. Johnny, on the other hand, couldn’t understand why he also had to go. The scanners were all a buzz, collecting data and his brother-in-law was certainly eager, but it all looked the same to him. Ben agreed.
"It happens all the time, Stretch," The rocky man grumbled, still loading the tools while he complained.
"Yes, Ben, but every time it has it's something big," Sue answered for Reed, as she loaded the necessary equipment. "We can't risk not inspecting such an anomaly only for it to turn into a problem later."
“I still think it’ll be a waste of our time.”
Johnny had to agree. He could be doing way more important things right now. Like working on one of his cars, or “hanging out” with Spidey. He really wished he was hanging out with Peter. Looking back over his last text, it was a promise to come by later with food.
They had been going steady for over a month now. As a gradual progression of their friendship, it felt right in every way. Peter understood what it was to have his powers from a young age; to be thrown into this lifestyle before he’d even finished puberty. He knew the horrors of their job and still did it, he also didn’t begrudge Johnny for still doing the job either. Pete knew his favorite foods, his friends, his pet peeves and biggest fears. They could hang out for hours and not have to do anything or even talk (though Peter rarely runs out of things to say). They can just be.
Peter was perfect, but he still hadn’t found a way to tell his family.
At first, it was because they both just wanted to enjoy being with each other. He could hold Peter, joke and do everything they want without worrying about others. Well... he could. Peter, the worry wart, never stopped overthinking everything about anything. But now that they have settled into their relationship and had all necessary talks, they agreed it is time to tell the others. Only, how they were going to bring it up was the question.
Looking at his family in front of him; he knew that they wouldn’t care. They know he’s bisexual, and none of them mind as long as he’s happy. They all love Peter- hell, sometimes he thinks they like Peter more than him. Even if they didn’t; they value his happiness, and Peter makes him happy. Very happy.
It didn’t take them very long to locate the source of their data. It was strong and close (just this side of the state border). Right where the readings originated from was a large crater. A crater with several children lying unconscious inside.
Three girls and a boy. The younger three were all the same age, around 4 or five, if Johnny had to guess. The older girl seemed barely a teenager, but she held the kids close and, judging by the greater number of injuries on her versus the younger three, she put herself between them and the danger. Where are their parents?
“She must’ve protected them from whatever landed them here,” Johnny said as he turned to his sister.
“I can’t imagine what possibly could have,” Sue spoke in what was almost a whisper. “They’re just kids.”
“Kids that must ‘ave fallen a long way,”
“We should get them back home and check them over. Make sure they’re not hurt and run some tests. Maybe we can find their parents.”
“Woah, Suzie. Hold on there.” Ben held his hands out in a defensive manner, blocking everyone from entering the crater. “What if they’re some kind of spy? Or some demons, or some shit? I wouldn’t put it past most villains to send kids to do their dirty work.”
Reed finally looked up from his tablet to those around him. “If that’s the case, Ben, then we’ll just have to deal with it as it comes at us. It just doesn’t seem right leaving these kids out here alone, and I don’t want to bring more people into this than necessary.”
None of the children woke up as they were moved to the Baxter Building. They didn’t even stir as Reed drew blood and ran tests on each of them. The three children were put together in a recovery room, but the oldest had to be separated. Her injuries weren’t anything to shrug at, and even the slightest wrong move could make it worse.
Once all the results were finally in, Reed joined them in the living room. Sue looked rather impatient to hear what her husband had to say, while Ben looked barely interested. Johnny, oh the other hand, didn’t know how he felt. These kids were so young, and obviously something had to have happened to them, but he couldn’t quite shake the feeling of foreboding. Maybe it had something to do with what Ben said earlier? Villains rarely have decent morals, so it's not an unlikely thing.
“When I was searching their clothes for any kind of identification, I noticed the older girl’s undershirt was made of this rather weird material.” Reed passed the fabric to Sue. “I can’t quite yet understand what material this is made of but I’m pretty certain it somehow absorbed most of the impact from the fall.”
“So the kid lives a dangerous life? It’s starting to sound pretty bad for us, Stretch.”
“Maybe not. Maybe one of their parents is just an inventor. They could’ve just made this for their clumsy kid. I know I always want to prevent my kids from having more injuries than necessary,” said Sue.
With a nod of agreement Reed moved on. “I ran their DNA through all available systems and found a few interesting things. Firstly, the older girl is Robin Rumos. She moved to New York about a week ago with her parents, who both work in insurance.”
“Okay. So we’ll need to get a hold of them and let them know we found their daughter.”
“Not quite. There's a slight problem with that. Robin is supposed to be… “ Reed turned around the pad he was on to show a picture of a young couple and a baby. “...two months old.”
Oh. That threw a wrench in things.
“I ran the DNA several times to be sure, and it has come back the same each time,”
“So yer sayin’ it’s time-travel?” Ben asked.
Time travel really should be a more outlandish suggestion, but at this point they time travel at least once a month. If not more.
“That is one theory, yes. It would best explain the other three as well. As far as records are aware, they don’t even exist. There are no birth certificates or Social Security, no unidentified DNA matches, nothing. It’s likely that since Robin is supposed to be that much younger, they have been born yet. So, out of curiosity I decided to run paternal and maternal tests.” Reed paused for a moment then looked at him.
And he kept looking at him. Now Sue and Ben are looking at him.
“Wait… Are you trying to say they’re my kids!?” Johnny exclaimed.
“It… it would appear that way, Son.” Reed nodded.
Sue took the results from Reed and began to speak. “Wait these also say that-”
Before Sue could finish what she was trying to say there was a deafening ring throughout the building. Once. Twice. Three times. A pause. It repeated itself three times like this. By the fourth cycle, the four heroes had located and made their way to the source of the sound in the MedBay. Standing, well more like leaning, in the hallway with a broken pipe, was Robin. She paused for a moment, leaning against the wall, trying to catch her breath, before slamming the pipe against the wall again.
“Marco!” She yelled.
“Marco!”
“MARCO!”
“Polo!” Came a weak reply from down the hall, where the other three were, and Robin took off.
Sue, regaining her equanimity, blocked off the rest of the hallway. “You can’t take off, like that.” She slowly walked to her. “You’re injured, Robin. We’ll let you see the others after we are sure that everyone is okay.”
Robin clearly did not like that. She had barely let Sue finish what she was saying before throwing the pipe her way. Barely missing her head, it still surprised her just enough. As soon as the force field came down; Robin took off.
Dodging Force Fields and Reed's arms with ease. She clearly knew her way around the FF. Despite her fractured ribs and several muscle tears, she moved as if she barely had a cramp. Not even flinching when a fireball came a little too close for Johnny’s liking. The only real sign of her injuries was the many bruises that littered her skin and how hard she was breathing.
“Marco!” she yelled again. She threw open the door as soon as she found what she was looking for.
“So you’re telling me,” Reed started from his chair in front of the beds. All the kids had climbed onto one bed with Robin so they could all be close. “That you four are from the future and were thrown back in time after the Baxter Building was attacked- while you were snooping in the parts of the lab that you weren’t supposed to be in?”
“Maybe,” “No?” “Yes,” “Pretty much,”
Johnny sighed and shook his head.
After failing to convince Robin to go back to her room so they could check her injures, getting the younger three to stop crying after finding out Robin had injuries and then letting her stay with the kids while a doctor looked her over and determined that the hairline fractures in several ribs have completely broken; they finally sat down to get the whole story from these kids.
So far they had found out that Robin was actually adopted by Johnny and his partner after her parents were killed in a freak accident when she was just 2 years old and the younger three had a habit of being where they’re not supposed to be.
“Look, they thought they could find information in there on how they were born. They’re just curious kids,” Robin defended.
“How were they born?” Sue questioned.
The boy, Ricky, raises his shirt to show his lack of belly-button. “Papa says we weren’t born like Franklin and Val, but he won’t tell us how. He says it's too complicated.”
They continued to talk back and forth, and he probably should be paying attention. But it was all so crazy that he just wanted to lay down. He’s always wanted kids, but not like this! Then his phone buzzed.
Peter <3: I’m here and I have food
And that was enough for him to slip out and head to his room where, sure enough, a certain spider was waiting with a bag of burgers.
“Hey, flame brain,” Peter wrapped his arms around Johnny’s middle. “Miss me?”
“Not at all,” Johnny grinned.
“Well then, I’ll just take all that food back,” He went to grab the food on the side table only for Johnny to snatch it up.
“No way! This is mine. Get your own.”
“Oh fine then.” Peter smiled as he grabbed Johnny and tossed him on the bed. Kissing all over his face and talking about how Johnny is his. It was all really sappy, but Johnny ate up every moment.
Once they had settled on the bed and turned the TV on while they ate; it was their usual at-home date. Peter told him about his week (or day depending on when they last saw each other) while they ate junk and ignored whatever show was on. Though this time was a little different. He couldn’t seem to stop thinking about the kids in the MedBay.
Reed had said they were his kids but he never said who their other parent was. The kids didn’t mention anyone either. What if it wasn’t Peter? What if he destroyed his relationship with Peter and they don’t even know who he is? No matter what he at least wanted to remain friends if this didn’t work out. But… He doesn’t know if he’d be able to go back to being just friends.
But if they weren’t Peter’s kids, would he stay with Johnny?
They weren’t born in the normal way. So it’s not like he cheats. He would never! But...
“Johnny?” Peter waved a hand in front of his face. “Earth to Johnny, are you there?”
“Huh? What were you saying?”
“Alright, what’s wrong?” Peter turned so he could look him in the eyes.
“What do you mean, Love?”
“Johnny.” Should he tell him? He’d want to know. But what would he do once he knew?
“Johnny? Come on, Babe, what’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”
“Well…” He sighed before he started to explain. “Basically, while investigating an energy spike this morning, the FF found some time travelers,”
“Okay. So business as usual…,” Peter looked like he was waiting for more.
“Not really?” He scratched the back of his head and sat up. “Between Reed’s tests and talking to them after they finally woke up- it appears that they are… well, they’re my kids,”
“Oh,”
.
.
.
“Just ‘oh’? Pete, come on. You gotta have more than that,”
“I mean… Who’s the other parent?” He asked cautiously.
“I- I don’t know. They haven’t said.” Peter nodded. He lends back for a moment before pulling Johnny on top of him. He held him close. It felt good to be in his arms.
“Then, until time proves me wrong, they are mine as well,” He whispered. “I’m with you for as long as you’ll have me. So your kids are mine, even if not biologically,”
“Peter?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you,”
Around the time Peter left Johnny was struck with an idea. Something he could do for his future daughter. Something that he wouldn’t be able to do in the future. After enlisting his sister’s help he quickly got to work making calls.
When it was ready he pulled Robin aside and started talking to her. She seemed really hesitant but went with him.
“I don’t know you yet,” He started, “and I don’t know if we’re even close in the future. But you’re family and I don’t want this… trip? I’m gonna call it a trip. I didn’t want your trip to be for nothing, no matter how accidental it was. So I went and did something that I hope you’ll like.”
Johnny led her to a door with a small window. Inside the room was a young couple with a baby. “Robin, meet Annie and Derek Rumos, and technically baby you. Your biological parents. Even if I become your dad, I figured you still might want to meet them.”
He started to tell her that she doesn’t have to go talk to them if she doesn’t want to. That this is completely up to her, but he was interrupted by her hug. Robin wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered her thanks in his ear.
“You’re the best Dad ever.”
“Thanks, Robin.”
He watched her go in and closed the door once they started to talk. There’s cameras in the room so he didn’t need to worry too much.
He felt like he was walking on air as he walked away from the door. She said he was the best. Boy, was that nice to hear.
His good mood was quickly crushed as he walked into the living room. One of the girls, Jenny, was sitting on the ceiling in a very Spider-Man-like manner. Ricky was yelling and the other girl was just sitting on the floor eating crackers, no care for the chaos her siblings were creating.
Ben was trying to get Jenny down while Sue was attempting to calm down Ricky.
“I want my Papa! Ricky always cheats and Papa gets on to him. So I’m not coming down until he puts Ricky in time out!” Jenny spat at Ben, for a 9-year-old she had a lot of venom behind her words.
“Ugh! Look he’s right there, jus’ come down,”
“No, that’s Daddy. I want Papa!” Jenny said
Sue shook her head (the boy finally calmed down) as Jenny moved to an air vent. In an attempt to prevent a kid loose in the building; he stepped in. “Jennifer! Get down right now! If I have to call your Papa you will be in so much trouble, young lady”
She came down, alright. She fell and Johnny had to catch her. But she still came down. Giggling up a storm (pun intended) she cheered as he set her down. Sue looked them over, then got that look on her face that said “Time for a talk”. Johnny hated that look. It was the same look she had when she decided that she need to give him the safe sex lecture. It always ended in embarrassment.
“Ben, watch the kids. Johnny, come with me.”
“What am I?! Yer babysitter?!” Ben croaked.
She brushed him off and led Johnny to the kitchen. He started preparing for THE talk with his sister. He had an inkling that she figured it out. She realized he was dating Peter. That meant she would ask questions. He’d tell her that he loved Peter and that Peter made him happy. She would tell him that she supports him, even if she didn’t think it was a good idea. They’d hug and go about their day trying to get these kids home. He hoped. She could tell him that he’s rushing into something that could end badly. That these kids probably traveled between homes of divorced parents.
But just Sue sat down with two cups of tea and looked Johnny over. Sighing and grabbing his hand his sister started to speak.
“I know it’s weird, Johnny. Finding out you have kids with your best friend in the future. But you have time, and look at them. They look so happy. You two surely will work it out while still being friends.”
“What?”
“Johnny. I admit, having kids before… you HAVE kids, is a little out of order. Even for us. It’s scary and all. Worrying about how good you’ll be.” Sue looked him in the eyes. “I have complete faith that you’ll be a great father even with the unique circumstance. And you want kids, if I remember right, so maybe now you can better prepare for what's to come. Though telling Peter might be a bit awkward.”
Wait… did she think…? Oh. Yeah no. Now he had to tell her.
Taking a deep breath; Johnny faced his sister. “Sue. None of that is what I’m worried about. Hell, some of it I wasn’t even thinking about till you said it. Yeah, it's a little weird. But Robin literally just told me that I’m the best. And even if she hadn’t I know I’ll be the best. I have you guys to help me. Sue, I wanted to tell you- I’m… Peter and I are dating.”
“Oh.”
“Really just Oh?”
“Yes, Oh.”