Author's Notes: More appropriately, this should be named How Spiderman Saved Christmas and Other Holiday Stories, because, really, this is not likely to be the only one. But, for now, it is staying a one shot, as I have yet to get around to another.

Technicolored Underground Presents:

How Spiderman Saved Christmas

An Avengers Oneshot

by SpaceBunny-chan

As snow drifted over New York City, Christmas Eve was the rhythm of a subway car.

Three roommates had ducked out of a party early to enjoy their first Christmas at home. Selina had taken to conversing with the driver, whom she had learned was named Ramon and had a thing for Shakira. While Selina didn't have the same thing for that fine Hispanic body, she was happy to learn that his mother was just as crazy as her own. Fluent Spanish floated around the cabin. Sydney was dancing around, mistletoe in hand, to strike up banter with anyone not taking part in the dialogue. She was particularly interested in an elderly couple, whom she had decided were adorable the moment they had sat down. Adelaide was entertaining a six year old with all her knowledge of reindeer which was, admittedly, not very much.

For the moment, it was Christmas on each and every smile.

Until time stopped, and in the instant it took to breathe, someone stood up and snatched the six year old.

"Hey!" Adelaide began to protest, but a gun in her face managed to cut down her words.

"Shut up!" The gun man, who looked to be in his thirties, had a look of hear in his eyes. He couldn't seem to decide just who to point his weapon at: the little girl who wailed, the mother who ran into hysterics, or Adelaide who attempted to keep the young mother from flinging herself off the seat and towards her precious child.

"Just calm down-"

"Shut up!"

"It's okay-"

"I said shut up!"

"Take me instead."

"Adelaide." Selina warned.

"She's just a child, she doesn't deserve this." Adelaide said, hoping to appeal to him as well as assure her friend. Her mind made sure she realized it was important to maintain eye contact with him. "Please."

The man ignored the daggers Selina was sending his way, before deciding to take the offer. As he released the child, who flew into her mother's awaiting arms, he took hold of the red heads arm.

"Hey hey hey!" Selina began to protest the man's rough treatment of her friend.

"It's okay, Lina!" Adelaide said quickly, and winced at how loud her voice rang in the confines of the small space. Then, much more calmly, she tried to address the man now holding her very close. "We're okay."

The red head closed her eyes, for just a second, trying to push past his barriers. She wasn't supposed to be doing this, her mind chided in Selina's voice, but she couldn't help but try. The fear rolling off of the man clenched painfully around her throat. She could see snow. She could feel a heartbeat. She could touch a nightgown.

Adelaide shuddered, and Selina's eyes widened in realization. While she did not approve, the witch understood and kept her advice quiet. Not an easy thing for her to do, considering everything about the idea was absurd. Adelaide did not have the proper control for this, something they were both keenly aware.

Everything about this was suddenly much more dangerous.

"What's your name?" Adelaide asked, just a whisper for him to hear.

"A-Allen." The gunman, now Allen, seemed surprised at the admittance. This close, she could feel how his hands shook.

"You can call me Addy. Why aren't you home, Allen? Isn't there anyone waiting for you?"

"No- yes, no..." Allen's voice shuddered. "It's complicated."

"Tell me."

"My wife left me, and my daughter-" He paused.

"What's your daughters name, Allen?"

Emily. "Emily..."

The fact that she heard it in her head before Allen voice it, made Adelaide acutely aware of her lack of control of the situation.

"Where's Emily?" Adelaide prompted, but a part of her couldn't help but know the answer.

"She's... She's in the hospital."

Adelaide bit her lip. She was too close. "I'm so sorry."

"Why?" Allen snapped. "Why would you care?"

"Emily's a special girl, isn't she?"

"…She's my world." Allen's voice broke into a million pieces, hurting Adelaide's heart. The entire car heard, startling them. "I can't pay the hospital bills. The doctors are getting ready to send her home, but she'll die. I can't let her die."

"What's the next step?" Adelaide tried to keep her voice even, but felt the hitch. "After you take us all hostage?"

"I-"

"Allen." Sydney spoke, causing him to jump. "You need to put the gun down-"

"No!"

"Put the gun down. You shouldn't be here; you should be with Emily."

"No no no. I can't go back-" He was panicking, which was not a good sign. Adelaide could feel the cool metal against her temple, her body going immediately rigid. "There is no going back."

Everything happened in slow motion.

Allen lifted the gun from Adelaide's head. Someone burst through the window, knocking Allen to the floor. Unfortunately, this sent Adelaide flying into Sydney, who had been inching her way in front of the door to stand before Allen. Their combined weight being too much forced the door to give way, which propelled Selina to grab hold of the closest of the two- Sydney- who barely held on to Adelaide.

Selina's grip was not so iron on the hand rails, and she quickly followed her friends out into the night. Which was fifty feet over water, and not at all where they should be.

Something sticky softened their fall, which, while not pleasant, was not unwelcome.

"You lady's alright?"

Sydney was the first to find her voice. "Oh my God."

"We're fine." Selina confirmed, then turned on their third. "You are so dead."

Adelaide choked back tears, suddenly overwhelmed by all the emotion she had unwittingly allowed herself to feel from Allen. Images and memories not her own suddenly made her very aware of a despair she never thought possible.

"… are you sure she's okay?"

Selina's eyes softened, taking the hand offered her to be hoisted back onto the bridge. Then she realized whose hand she was holding. "Holy shit. You're Spiderman."

Which suddenly explained the web and awesome timing.

"At your service." Spiderman's mask pulled, a smirk, perhaps? "On, and, uh, Merry Christmas."

Spiderman © Marvel

Original Characters © Their Respective Owners