Chapter 10

Reed Richards' Lab

Baxter Building

Reed sat in his lab, tinkering with some experimental tech he was developing. Lately, he had been experimenting with interdimensional travel. His wife, Susan, entered the lab and sighed; she'd been trying to tear him away from his work for weeks, to no avail.

"You did remember that tonight was date night, right Reed?"

"Oh! Sue! I'm sorry, dear. I completely forgot. I'm really sorry, but I'll have to take a raincheck -- I'm on the verge of a breakthrough here, I can feel it."

"Reed, did you forget what we talked about in counseling?" Sue asked. "At some point, you need to get out of the lab. Not just for our marriage, but for yourself."

"I know, but I'm so close to a breakthrough," Reed answered. "I know it's not what you want to hear, but I've got so much momentum right now. I'll make it up to you, I promise..."

Sue sighed again, resigning herself to the fact that date night was cancelled... again. "All right, Reed. I know how important your work is. But if you really want this marriage to work, You can't keep blowing me off."

"I know, Sue, and I'm sorry," Reed said. "Once I'm done this, maybe we could take a vacation. Just the two of us."

"I hope so," Sue said, hiding her frustration. "I hope so..."

Not long after getting back to work, Reed heard a voice in his head. "You know how important your work is, Reed," the voice said. "Do you think, maybe, this marriage was a mistake?"

"I don't think so," Reed thought. "I do love Sue."

"I know you do," the voice answered back, "But is that really enough? You've been working on this project non-stop over the past few months when you haven't been adventuring with the Fantastic Four -- you know you can't give up either. Can you really give your wife the attention she deserves? Do you really have the time?"

Reed paused and thought over the question. It was right -- Sue deserved better. But he wondered if he was the one who could give it to her. After all, his work had saved many a life -- what might happen if he slowed down?

"...I don't know," Reed admitted. "Maybe this marriage was doomed to fail."

"And you know Sue deserves to be happy," the voice urged. "Perhaps it's time to set her free..."

"...I don't know. It seems I'll need to contemplate things," Reed thought.

"That sounds like a good idea," the voice agreed.

Susan Storm angrily stormed through the halls of the Baxter Building, passing Ben Grimm along the way. "Sumthin' wrong, Susie?" Ben asked.

"You could say that," Sue answered, the frustration in her voice clear.

"It's Stretch, ain't it?" Ben guessed. "Guy's so wrapped up in his science crapola he forgot about'cha again?"

"Yeah. Again. And I know, I should have seen this coming. I mean, I knew what I was getting into when I married him. And I love him, I really do. But I can't stay married to someone who just holes himself in his lab all day and ignores everything else. I don't know what to do..."

"I wish I could help ya, Susie, I really do. You know you an' Reed are my best friends in the world -- nobody wants to see you two work it out more'n me. But if you ain't happy, maybe you should walk away... and I ain't sure stretch'd be happy spending less time workin' in his lab. Ya both deserve to be happy, and it sounds like it ain't gonna happen if things stay the way they are."

Sue smiled sadly. "You're right, Ben... but I'd still like to think there's a chance. I think I'm going to talk a walk -- maybe that'll help me clear my head."

"Need any company?" Ben asked.

"I appreciate the offer," Sue smiled. "I need some alone time to think."

"I get it. Hope ya figure things out soon, Susie."

"Me too, Ben. And thanks."

A voice called out in Sue's head as she walked. "This marriage can't work out, can it? You and Reed both know how important his work is... and you both know you deserve more affection than he can give you."

"Maybe not," Sue thought. "But this is my marriage. I have to try to make things work."

"Haven't you tried hard enough already?" the voice said. "Counseling, the cancelled date nights... lord knows you've told him what the problem is so many times already. You both know what you have to do."

"Maybe you're right. But I'm not ready to stop trying."

"I understand," the voice responded. "Take all the time you need. But if you're interested in discovering what you've been missing, come to this address..."