Dr. Stone Thinks Sue Should Know What Her Husband Thinks

"That was a pass, wasn't it?" Sue Storm said. "Nairobi made a pass at me!"

"It was definitely a pass," Dr. Stone confirmed. "The question is, what are you going to do about it?"

"What am I—I'm married! I can't...just...have a sexual relationship with another woman!" Sue said. The blonde heroine leaned forward in her chair and rubbed her temples. She stared at the empty chair that had been set beside her own, and wondered why it was there. "I can't cheat on Reed! I mean it was one thing to just have a happy ending here or there, that's...that's not betraying our marriage, not really. But this is something else. I can't—"

"Let me stop you there," Dr. Stone said. "And let me ask you this: are you more concerned about the idea of a relationship with another woman, or about your husband finding out?"

Sue Storm blinked. The psychiatrist's face was serious.

"I mean, both, I guess," Sue said. "I'm straight. And married. I shouldn't...I can't believe I've gotten to this point."

"Sexuality is not black and white, Susan," Dr. Stone said gently. "And there is nothing unusual about sexual or romantic attraction outside of marriage. Your feelings are real, they are valid. As for your husband...I have a small confession to make."

The light of the sun through a window did that trick, where it seemed to make a golden halo around her head as it reflected off the psychiatrist's hair.

"For the past few weeks, I've been holding therapy sessions with Reed Richards. I reached out to him after our first few sessions together, because I felt that your relationship with each other was a key source of stress. We have been having some very frank discussions regarding the nature of your marriage, particularly the sexual aspect of things."

She paused to let this sink in. Sue's mouth had dropped. Reed hadn't told her any of this.

"I'm telling you this now because I think it's time that we have a joint session. He's waiting in the lobby right now."

Sue blinked. "What did he say?"

Dr. Stone's lips were drawn tight. She seemed to be concentrating, her whole body rigid with effort. "Doctor-patient confidentiality. I have not shared anything with him about your sessions, and I cannot share anything with you about his. However, I think the two of you have finally reached a point where you can discuss the same issues we've been discussing today."

The Invisible Woman's heart thumped against her breastbone. What did that mean? Did Reed know about her relationship with Nairobi? Did he approve? Or...or did he have his own relationship with someone else? As the golden halo effect around Dr. Stone's head intensified, the doctor seemed to whisper to herself, and Sue's thoughts went into wild tangents. She could hardly believe this was going on.

One thing she was sure of: she absolutely needed to talk to Reed about this.

"Alright," she said, and took a deep breath. "Let's...let's do this."

Dr. Stone turned her head, and just like that, the halo effect vanished. She pressed a button on her desk, there was a slight buzz, and the clunk of bolts.

"Dr. Richards, you may come in now."

The door opened. Sue turned and watched as Reed Richards strode in, wearing the smart, blue-and-black pinstripe suit she had bought for him last Christmas; a European cut that emphasized his height and slim build, making him look relatively debonair. His short hard was carefully combed back, the silver at his temples giving a look of profound dignity that belied his slightly guilty, boyish smile as he greeted his wife. Reed nodded at Dr. Stone and then took his seat in the empty chair.

Dr. Stone dabbed at her nose with a handkerchief. There was a spot of blood; another nosebleed. Sue Storm knew that she was prone to those. The psychiatrist quickly folded the cloth away and offered a warm smile.

"Now then. I've called you both here today to discuss your understanding of and expectations for your marriage. This is a subject that many couples have trouble communicating about openly, but I'm hoping I might be the catalyst to help you reach a new agreement on what your relationship is, and what it could be."

Sue and Reed nodded.