chapter one

I held his hand. Whispered support into his ear. Was his shoulder to cry on. Peter trusted me with his secret, and how could I repay him? To keep mine from him.

In 2018, a murdering Titan named Thanos snapped his fingers and as a result, half of the universe's population was decimated. Immediately.

At the time I had been at school, Midtown Public High School. How my morning had began you ask? An alien invasion. Anyway, that's a story for another time. The point is, one of my "Best Friends" Peter Parker AKA Spider-Man had to go into space to try and defeat Thanos along with the Avengers.

Now, the year is 2023. The Avengers weren't successful. Peter never returned. Until now...

Ned and I were sat in Peter's living room having coffee with his Aunt May. This had become a regular thing over the past 5 years since she took his disappearance very hard- as expected obviously! There was a knock at the door, which came as a shock to all of us as the only one who ever came to see May was Tony Stark, and that wasn't often after the first couple of years. He had Morgan to look after now. I volunteered to answer and got up, leaving the other two discussing the importance of the British Royal Family- the conversations we have! I opened the door completely not expecting to see who was stood behind it.

Peter stood in the hallway, tears running down his cheeks. He looked broken... yet indifferent to how he looked the last time I had seen him in 2018. Rubbing my eyes out of utter disbelief, tears too began to run down my face. "M-May... I think- I think it's for you." I stutter, stepping out of the doorway allowing May to get past. She stopped as she rounded the corner and burst into tears, Ned just behind her. "H-hey Pete." I managed between deep breaths.

After the heartwarming welcoming Peter received, we all collapsed back onto the couch in the living room. However, I noticed Peter still had a steady stream of tears running down his now bright pink face. "Pete, are you ok? What's up?" I asked. In my mind I thought he would be relieved to be back... but he seemed more upset that anything.

"It's... Mr Stark..." He began to bawl at the mention of Tony's name. At that I think we all knew what had happened without it having to be said.

a few weeks later

Peter squeezed my hand as we watched a flower arrangement be pushed out onto the lake. Onto of this lay a heart arc reactor engraved with the words "proof Tony Stark has a heart." It was surreal to be honest, being surrounded by the galaxy's heros... but all I cared about was being there for Peter, because even if he didn't show it much, he was hurting.

After everyone had split into groups, I noticed Peter still had tight hold of my hand. "Hey, you ok?" I ask him. In response he pulls me into a huge hug. I can feel his tears falling onto my shoulders; I didn't mind as long as I could be there for him. "I'll take that as a no..." I laugh a little, I can almost feel him smiling even though I can't see his face. He pulls away and looks at me in the eyes, confirming that he was indeed smiling.

"Thank you for coming Lexie, I really appreciate it. Oh yeah, I'm Lexie by the way. My full name is Alexia Rose Marsh, but my friends just call me Lexie. I never knew my parents, I was brought up according to my adoptive parents, in quite an abusive foster home. Although, I don't remember it... I think I blocked it from my memory.

"Of course I would come!" I replied while laughing. "I love you Parker! You're one of my best friends!"

"Yeah- um i've got to go and talk to Pepper. I'll be back in a bit ok?" he seemed upset about something all of a sudden. Offended. Did I say something? Before I could ask he walked swiftly away. I wish what was wrong with me is something that I had said, instead it was something that I couldn't bring myself to tell him. In the five years he was gone I discovered something about myself... and I didn't know what to do.

A/N - Thank you to whoever has spent the time to read the first chapter of my story. I have tried to write one a little similar to this, but I messed up. This time, I'm making a promise to myself to try and make this as accurate as possible and to not pressure myself to get chapters out very quickly. I hope you all understand and I hope you will all continue to read!