The Smartest Dumbass, Negative Zone, Good & Bad news

Reed "Smartest Dumbass in the Multiverse" Richards POV:

"Something is wrong, the Negative Zone is changing, and I do not know whether that is good or not."

The rest of the fantastic four are surrounding Reed in a lab looking at him, while he studies some readings.

Susan asks, "How is it changing?"

"It stopped shrinking, and started growing rapidly, while maintaining everything else in a weird balance, which mimics the Negative Zone's old behavior while apparently breaking free from all forms of manipulation to the realm itself and its energies. All of this and more we have yet to discover, if we ignore it is growing."

Johnny spoke up. "So? How's that a problem? Isn't that better for us, now Annihilus and co. can't manipulate it against us, and Annihilus should also die of old age soon too, right?"

Ben kept quiet, trying to understand what was being tossed around.

"It is a problem, because that means that the Distortion Area, we use to travel in it, is now useless to us, and we will probably have a very paranoid and angry Annihilus on our hands soon."

Johnny again speaks his thoughts. "Again, how's that a problem? We can't go there, and they can't come here, is all I'm hearing; and a depowered paranoid bug is an easy to fry alive bug in my book."

"But what about the things we have yet to discover, and elements that can have incredible effects in our universe? Think about the progress we could make with access to the Negative Zone and its resources again."

Johnny clearly with no filter and exasperated spoke again. "If we couldn't get it done before, why would we now, or later? Besides, aren't you the smart one? Didn't you say that the Negative Zone was essentially the opposite of our universe? Just find what you are looking for here and make it the opposite with one of your inventions, it can't be that hard, right?"

I was stunned at Johnny's answers, he seemed very against us going there again and I could not understand why, when suddenly Ben spoke up. "Sorry Reed, but surprisingly I'll have to agree with the matchstick on this one. All I'm hearin' is good news."

Johnny scowled in Ben's direction and shouted. "Hey, I'm not a matchstick, brick man!"

Ben in furry shouted back. "You wanna go, torchy?!"

Suddenly Sue grunted, and started wobbling, in place. "Guys! Stop fighting... I don't feel so good...-" And she started falling.

I quickly extended myself to her and stopped her fall, I cradled her in my arms while I started speaking in a panic. "Sue, what happened! SUE?!"

The two grown kids stopped their play fight, and helped me carry her to a testing bed, where I proceeded to run all the tests I could on her, leaving me both elated, and horrified.

...

Susan Storm Richards POV: 

As I groggily woke up, I could feel I was in a soft bed. Opening my eyes, I could see the rest of the gang sleeping on chairs and Reed had his face on my thighs, drooling, while holding my hand in his. I started to notice all of the equipment around me and started to worry that maybe something bad had happened to me.

Waking Reed up by moving my legs a little, he was startled and let out a noise that woke up the rest. Everyone got up and surrounded me asking a bunch of questions, most along the lines of are you okay? How are you feeling? Do you need to rest some more?

"Guys I feel better already, you are all overreacting." I said while smiling softly at their care.

Johnny spoke up. "Are you sure sis? 'Cause if you knew what Reed found you wouldn't think we are overreacting."

Ben slapped the backside of Johnny's head while chastising him, while I looked at Reed for answers.

Looking at my face Reed sighed and said, "I have fabulous news, and horrifying news, which one do you want first?"

"The good news." I answered after some thought.

He smiled at me and continued. "You are pregnant!!!" He finished with the brightest smile I have seen on his face.

I was left stunned, suddenly my brain computed the information and I beamed with happiness. Then, however, I turned somber afraid of asking. "Then what is the 'horrifying' news?"

His face scrunched up noticeably and he answered. "The cosmic rays in your body are reacting negatively to our child and your connection, acting up in your cells as if destabilizing the energy you produce and normally have under control. If this continues, both of you will die. I only know of a single element that could stabilize your and the child's condition, but it is in the Negative Zone..."

Johnny screamed in fury. "What is it with you and that damn Negative Zone! FIND ANOTHER WAY! Call it an idiot's instinct, or maybe it's the suddenly more stable connection I have with my flames, but every part of my being is screaming at me that unspeakable horror will befall us if we go there! Tell them Ben! You feel it too, right?!"

Ben spoke up. "Again, can't believe I'm doin' this, but he's right. I feel a stronger connection to my rock body too. It's even stronger, and more durable, but whenever the Negative Zone's brought up, I feel a shiver up my spine, something I thought was impossible now."

With wide eyes Reed asked, "When did you start feeling these changes? And why did you not tell me?"

Both answered at the same time. "'Bout a day or two ago, and 'cause you are always in that damn lab shouting at everyone to not disturb you."

I looked at Reed and told him "They are right about that."

He seemed to be thinking before saying. "That timeframe is almost perfectly aligned with the time the Negative Zone started changing. And I keep obsessing over the Negative Zone because just reversing things is not exactly how that works. Also even if that was how it worked, I have no idea what the opposite of the element I need from the Negative Zone is so... with or without you guys, I will find a way to enter it again, find the element and save Sue and my child!"

With an exasperated sigh Johnny and Ben agreed to go with my husband to find this magical element, in a now apparently even more dangerous Negative Zone.