THE EARLY AFTERNOON WAS CALM, SUNNY, AND BRIGHT. The sun had returned to its place in the sky and was warming the blue horizon with its unblinking stare. A gentle breeze wafted through the Japanese garden, stirring the manicured trees and shrubs. Tufted moss cascaded down a small incline to the left of a wooden pergola, which was adorned with long drapes of fine silk. To the right sat a small pond, with large water lilies floating peacefully on its surface. Reed surveyed the landscape and drew a deep breath of clean, fresh air. It was hard for him to believe that a serene landscape such as this had almost been lost. But with its preservation came a sense of renewal, for him and for the others.

He looked over to see Susan standing next to a stone lantern near a large blooming tree. One of the monks here told Reed that the crimson colors of the changing Japanese maple tree were meant to create awareness of the passage of time. Reed had nodded serenely to the kind monk, for that was something they all seemed to understand better now, after almost losing so much.

Susan gave Reed a warm smile and started walking toward him. She wore a simple cotton dress, its white fabric glowing in the radiant daylight. A water lily adorned her blond hair, a last-minute gift from a passing monk who’d been looking after the garden. She walked the simple path to join Reed under the pergola, passing Johnny, Ben, Alicia, and a few other close friends on the way. Susan wanted a simple ceremony, one held far away from the eyes of the world. As she looked out at the beautiful garden she felt protected by the lush landscape, grateful to be here.

Ben Grimm stood watching Susan join Reed under the pergola. He held Alicia close to him, as close as his large, rocky frame would allow. He realized now how much he loved her, and how fleeting their time together could be. Ben wanted to make the most of it, in any way he could. “I’ve got something for you,” he whispered to Alicia. He pulled out a silver key on a long chain and placed it in the palm of her hand. “You’re going to need it if you’re moving in.” Alicia felt the cool metal in her cupped hand. She smiled and hugged him.

Their moment together was interrupted by the voice of the minister. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…” The minister barely finished the introduction before a crisp beeping filled the air. Reed started at the sound before realizing it was the alarm on his PDA going off. He grabbed the device from his pocket and looked sheepishly at Sue. Her face showed no anger, only concern.

“What is it?” she asked.

Reed scanned the small screen of his PDA. A frown formed on his face. “There’s some kind of giant creature attacking Paris.”

Johnny clenched his fists, ready for a fight. “Oh, boy,” he said with excitement. “That’s a biggie.” He raised his eyebrows at his sister, as if asking for permission.

Sue smiled at her brother and then turned to the minister. “Can you skip to the end?”

The minister, obviously flummoxed by the turn of events, started to stutter. “Uh, the love these two share —”

“No,” Reed interrupted, “the very end!”

“I now pronounce you man and wife!” the minister blurted out.

Reed turned to his bride and smiled. Sue returned the smile and leaned in for their first kiss as husband and wife. After the intimate moment, Sue pulled back quickly. Her face showed that she was all business. “Okay, that’s it. Let’s go!”

Reed, Sue, Ben, and Johnny raced out of the Japanese gardens, past the changing maple tree and stone garden, past the pond with the gentle water lilies floating on its surface, past the raked sand garden, to the front of the temple. There stood Reed’s refurbished jet, all in one piece, now affectionately known to the group as the Fantasticar, polished and shining in the afternoon sunlight. They all jumped in together and Reed revved up the enhanced engines. He pulled the jet up into the pale blue sky, careful not to damage the JUST MARRIED banner on its side as a trail of noisy tin cans followed them up into the air.