It was an incredibly warm day, the summer had hit full swing in the big apple but with the breeze coming off the shore it had been the perfect day. It was a few weeks after graduation, almost three months since her father's death, and Gwen was getting ready to leave for her summer overseas. It was a trip that had been planned and paid for since the beginning of her senior year, and while everything distracting her in the city was something to get away from, the girl was hesitant to leave her newly widowed mother and younger brothers. Unable to talk her mother out of refunding the tickets and cancelling the arrangements, Gwen begrudgingly agreed to back packing through Europe. She had two days left before her plane left, and everything was already packed and ready to go. She'd bid farewell to all her friends, promised her siblings to bring back the coolest souvenirs she could find, and the only thing left to do was to see Peter Parker.

After her father's funeral she had seen him twice outside of school but nothing seemed to change. Their fiery relationship had fizzled out before it had even begun when the captain was killed in action, and Peter seemed to blame himself. No matter how hard she tried to explain to him that it wasn't and that he was the reason so many people in New York were alive and well, it hadn't mattered. He was even more depressed than when his uncle Ben died shortly before that. Gwen chose to stop fighting the losing battle, allowing Peter to take his time to come to terms with things on his own, but before she left for the summer she felt obligated to talk to him one last time. Sending a text message to ask Peter to meet her in the park that afternoon, Gwen set off to pack a small picnic for them before readying herself for the afternoon. She had expected it to be emotionally taxing, but if she didn't go through with it, she would surely regret it the entire summer. As it was, exploring Europe by herself was going to be tragic enough – she didn't need to add anything to make it more miserable.

Arriving early to set out the blanket and food, Gwen had no idea how to even arrive at the topic she needed to address with Peter, but she figured the longer she drew it out, the more time the two could spend together. It was ridiculous to want to be around someone so badly that had no interest in being around you. Every time Gwen tried to come up to Peter in the hallway after he recovered from saving the city, he looked like he was in physical pain just talking to her. She hoped that passed in the weeks they'd been out of school but only time would tell. Smiling as she felt his presence suddenly, the blonde shook her head, letting loose strands fall in her face. Reaching up to adjust the skinny strap of her coral sundress, Gwen reached into the basket with her other to pull out a bottle of water. Tossing it behind her, she took the other one out for herself before reclining on the blanket.

"You really need to stop doing that."

Turning to look at a calm looking Peter, Gwen smiled warmly at the boy who appeared out of nowhere. His silent, sudden arrivals were something she'd grown used to, and albeit scary at times when she wasn't expecting him to just pop up, Gwen missed it. Feeling her nose unvoluntarily scrunch in disapproval at the black skinny jeans her friend was sporting, the girl shook her head as she toyed with her bottle cap.

"Those jeans look miserable. I'm hot just looking at you."

Opening the bottle to take a quick drink, Gwen choked on it when the boy finally spoke, doing her best not to spit it out though the idea of aspirating wasn't too swell either.

"My, my, Miss Stacy.. so brazen."

She had attempted to throw a nearby grape at his head, but with his spider-like reflexes, he had no problem catching it in his mouth. She honestly didn't know why she bothered. Popping one into her mouth as well, she continued studying the incredibly cautious looking boy for a while as they sat in silence. She knew it wouldn't take long for him to start prying as to why she wanted him there, but before she could scare him off with her words, she needed one last kiss. The idea of only kissing Peter one more time for the rest of her life was depressing, so she settled with the promise of it just being an "until next time" one.

Pushing herself onto her knees, Gwen took her friend's face in her small hands when he began to speak. She knew what he was going to ask but she hadn't wanted to stop to listen. Studying his face like it was the most interesting thing on the planet – because in that moment, it very much was – Gwen let herself lean into Peter, her lips lightly pressing against his as her arms wrapped securely around his neck. If she could stay in that moment forever, holding onto him with all her strength and not taking a second to breathe, she very well might be the happiest girl alive.

To onlookers it probably appeared as though the young couple was deliriously in love, unable to keep their hands off each other as they fell into the grass, Gwen on top of Peter, still holding onto him as if her life depended on it. His arms had finally found their way to her waist, securely holding her body against his own as he gave up the internal fight he had been waging. Giving in and kissing Gwen Stacy was surprisingly more difficult than most anything he'd ever done. After Captain Stacy had saved Peter's life, it was the least he could do to honor the man's dying wish to protect his daughter by staying away. Surely Peter couldn't be held responsible for this, though. The Captain had to know how stubborn his daughter was – he lived with her for 18 years! Still, despite his internal turmoil, it felt like seventh heaven to have the petite girl in his arms again, his mouth desperately kissing over hers as they lay in the grassy knoll.

It was Gwen who'd finally broken the embrace, although it was reluctant, she knew that if she hadn't, the possibility of them being put in jail for indecent exposure was going to be a very likely possibility. Straightening out her dress as she settled back onto the blanket, the beautiful blonde had something new in her eyes – hope, possibly? Whatever it was, it was making her radiate. Still nervous, but fueled with a newfound purpose, Gwen knew after kissing Peter like that, there was no way in the world he didn't still have feelings for her. Holding onto his hands as she watched his face studiously, Gwen took her leap.

"Please stop looking for trouble, Peter. The police can handle it, and whatever they cant, it will somehow find a way of being resolved. The city doesnt care about your safety, I do. If anything happened to you... I'd die. I love you, Peter. Please.. Stay out of trouble."

Dropping her head to stare at the pattern of the blanket once she was free of the burden of withholding such a confession, Gwen heaved a heavy sigh, knowing that she was most likely not going to hear it in return. What she didn't expect, however, was for Peter to look so wounded when she glanced back in his direction. It was as if she had kicked him in the stomach like Flash did during his bullying days. That was not what she expected at all. Frowning with confusion, Gwen forced herself to turn away, quickly re-packing the untouched picnic and carefully rising to her feet. Peter continued to sit in his mute state, staring at the ground with his hands clasped on his lap. How was her confession of love making him look like a prisoner of war?! Storming off, Gwen had vowed to clear her head of Peter during her time in Europe.

That memory haunted Gwen every day, until the night she received Peter's e-mail after the ridiculous party Flash made her go to. How could someone divulge that kind of information in a two sentence e-mail? If she wasn't so pleased to know that Peter shared her feelings, she might very well beat him senseless for his insensitivity. The party and the e-mail that followed had been two miserable weeks ago, and for two weeks Gwen had continuously stared at the e-mail wondering how to reply to such a thing. For two weeks, she continued to let Flash think that she was content dating him when her heart was clearly Peter's to have and to hold if he so chose. For two weeks, Gwen continued to get word from various sources that Peter was still spending time with the red-headed whore she met at the party. So for that, Gwen spent the past two weeks suffering in silence at the idea of the overly friendly, ridiculously unintelligent girl flaunting everything she had in front of her bug boy.

As Gwen mulled over the miserable state of her love life while walking through the campus to her next class, she barely noticed as one of her newest yet most lovable friends came barreling towards her. Looking up just in time to get clothes lined, Gwen laughed brightly as she swung around and eventually fell into a big embrace, hugging and being hugged.

"Gwendy, my Gwendy, I cannot tell you how I've missed you!"

Smacking the boy in his side as he teased her, Gwen pulled one of her arms away to turn to stand beside the man. Harry Osborn had started at the university around the same time Gwen did, and as luck would have it, the two had the majority of the same classes together for two straight semesters. He was a very charming boy with a great sense of humor, albeit a little dry. He came from a well to-do family, and upon realizing their shared ties to Oscorp, they immediately hit it off. Gwen had an unwavering feeling that Harry was interested in being more than a friend for a while, but it eventually dissipated and the two were now like brother and sister. Harry was the one she went to in times of crisis to talk it out, and while he knew of Peter by stories, he had never heard much about him as a person. Gwen liked to keep it that way on the off chance the two actually met and hit it off. As it were, Gwen was starting to think Harry and Peter might very well be remarkably good for each other.

Listening to Harry go on and on about his pathetic excuse for a weekend since he hadn't seen her Monday or Tuesday to catch her up on the gossip, Gwen followed her friend into the lecture hall where they had to suffer through the entirely incompetent drabble of a professor that wasn't fit to teach grade schoolers let alone undergrads. Taking her place next to Harry in the back of the class, the girl swatted at her friend to be quiet for a moment as she reached into her vibrating skirt pocket. Pulling her phone out to read the text message, she froze as she read it over and over again.

Flash: I look good in camo babe

Gwen: Excuse me?

Flash: I'M IN THE ARMY LOOK

Staring at the attached picture of her pseudo boyfriend with a stupid grin and papers which she assumed were enlisting paper work, Gwen looked terrified as she turned to Harry and handed him her phone.

"Why do people think it's okay to give epic news via text or e-mail?!"

Sighing heavily with frustration as she took her phone back, she couldn't mask her grin as Harry laughed at the picture, making a rude comment about how some people shouldn't be able to be trusted with fire arms. Shoving her phone back in her pocket, Gwen spent the duration of the period talking with her friend, trying to throw around ideas on what to do with her current predicament and by the end of the two hour lecture, all Harry and Gwen came up with was the idea of a party.

"No, Gwendy I'm serious, throw it. You'll make his day that way when you break up with him it won't be so devastating. You can invite Petey and his little trollop and show him you're equally as capable of being fun and sexy without looking like a hooker or irresponsible party girl. Honestly, it's just brilliant."

Promising to discuss it more in detail over dinner, Gwen abandoned Harry to finish out her day of classes. Through her Physics lecture, all the girl could think about was how horrible she was with organizing things like get togethers, so an actual college party would just spell disaster. After racking her and Harry's brain, Gwen finally decided to take on the challenge her friend put forth. Allowing Harry to talk her into using his lavish apartment, which was luckily not far from campus, Gwen enlisted her cousin Jill for the arduous task of helping plan the whole thing. If Mary Jane and Gwen were to combine their brains, beauty, bust, and party girl person, Jill would be that marriage of attributes.

For the next week and a half Gwen used her free time to collaborate with Harry and Jill, getting food, drinks and decorations lined up. Gwen was surprisingly pleased with how the whole thing was panning out. Losing the battle with Jill to make fliers or invites, the trio agreed e-mail and texting was the easiest way to alert their friends and Flash's buddies of the gathering. Surprisingly everything had come together pretty easily, even the retrieval of contacts from her quasi boyfriend's phone. On the following Friday evening, all systems were a-go, Harry's lavish apartment was prepped and ready, people filling the large penthouse ready to surprise Flash.

The only complication Gwen faced in the whole surprise party scenario, surprisingly, was getting Flash to it. She hadn't counted on the new military recruit to want to stay in, but luckily with her already dressed to the nines with the excuse of a small dinner date with her friend Harry to introduce him to Flash, the man wasn't hard to convince. She had listened to her dear friend when he suggested she show Mary Jane up in front of Peter and show that she was just as equally sexy and fun. Gwen, abandoning her normal retro-chic attire, had gone shopping with the specific intention of buying something she wouldn't normally wear. The result was a strapless, mid-thigh length navy dress with a large sequin detailed bow over her chest. It was beautiful, and she felt, sexier than anything she'd ever owned. Still, it wasn't stripper-esc like the one she'd seen Mary Jane wear at the previous party, but even if she wanted, Gwen couldn't pull something like that off.

"Flash, come on, I promised we'd go, I don't want to let him down! I promise we can bum around tomorrow."

Tugging at the large man's muscular arm in attempts to get him off the couch he was glued to in his crumby apartment, Gwen let go as her friend stood up, letting out an exasperated sigh.

"Fine, fine. You better be ready to watch cartoons and eat junk food all day tomorrow, Stacy."

Clapping with excitement, Gwen quickly ushered Flash to his bedroom and shut the door as she waited for him to change into something more suitable than sweatpants and a t-shirt. Fifteen minutes later, the freshly shaven man returned, sporting a form fitting light blue dress shirt, dark navy pants and a navy tie to match. Even being purely interested in Peter Parker, Gwen could not deny the man in front of her was absolutely gorgeous. Biting her lip to mask her growing grin, she grabbed her friend to quickly drag him out of the house, knowing that if he tried to kiss her in the moment, her powers of refusal might be swayed.

Pulling her phone out of her clutch to quickly text Harry and let him know they were on their way, Gwen found herself increasingly giddy about the party, and not just to see Peter. After a week and a half of hard planning, she was getting ready to actually enjoy a party she had put together. It wasn't entirely on her own, of course, but it was still quite the feat for her. Looking over to Flash who was staring at the city lights with great amusement, Gwen smiled warmly to herself. Flash was a good guy, and if it weren't for her heart's unwavering devotion to Peter Parker, she might very well be able to date him. Unfortunately, tonight would probably be the last night she was alone with the man in a romantic-based setting. Reaching in to grab a twenty to toss to the driver as he delivered them at the sky rise that was Harry's apartment, she quickly patted Flash's leg before sliding gracefully out of the cab. Taking Flash's hand once he walked around to join her on the curb, she looked up to the top of the building while fighting the urge to bounce with excitement.

"So how do you know this Harry guy?"

"Well, his dad is the president at Oscorp where I intern, and we've had the same classes pretty much since the start of university.. we just kind of became instant friends. I think you'll like him, he's really funny."

Dragging Flash out of the elevator, she could tell he wasn't entirely thrilled with this "dinner date", possibly even jealous, but as soon as the door opened with their arrival, all anxiety was washed away. Watching her friend laugh, she let him drop her hand and abandon her to greet the dozens of guests that were eagerly waiting his arrival. Looking around to find Harry, she quickly joined him in the kitchen, hugging and kissing his cheeks with excitement.

"I can't believe we pulled this off!"

"Right?! Good work, Gwendy."

Swatting her friend's arm at his ridiculous nickname for her, she held on securely to it as she looked around the open room full of people.

"I don't think he's here yet, sweetheart. I haven't let in any red-headed tramps yet."

Turning to look at Harry, she knew he could sense her nervousness, so his deflection with humor was graciously accepted. Kissing his cheek quickly, Gwen abandoned him to make her rounds, greeting the few people she did know before joining Flash in a small group of incredibly tall, muscular men. Fellow basketball players, she assumed. Leaning into her friend as his arm protectively wrapped around her shoulder, Gwen smiled and laughed appropriately as the boys joked about things, hassling Flash about abandoning them in their time of need to go fight overseas. Looking up with shock as he announced to them he'd be leaving for boot camp in a couple weeks, Gwen found herself smacking his rock hard abdomen as she playfully glared at him. He hadn't told her, but then again she had been a bit busy lately to really sit down and have a real conversation with the man. Leaving him to mingle, Gwen went to check on the status of the food and alcohol before rejoining Harry who was now talking to her cousin, Jill.

"I could use some Pinot."

Smiling expectantly at Harry, he rolled his eyes before bowing out like a respectful butler. Laughing warmly at him, she found herself linking arms with the brunette next to her as she continually scanned the room.

"What if he doesn't come? I mean it wouldn't all be a waste, clearly Flash is enjoying himself…"

"Oh calm yourself, blondie. The red harlot probably demanded they show up fashionably late, and couldn't decide between wearing her super slutty stripper dress, or her ultra slutty hooker ensemble."

Laughing with her cousin, the girls happily rejoined Harry as he brought Gwen back a drink in one of the red plastic cups everyone was carrying. Oh, that was classy. Shaking her head at her friend, she froze as his expression did. He rarely looked serious, so for something to sober him was surprising.

"Gwendy.." Reaching over to take her hand, a playful grin finally relaxed his stern expression, equally so relaxing Gwen. "Either a bachelor party in the building is missing their entertainment or.."

Snapping her head in the direction her friend was looking, Gwen felt her stomach tighten and breathing hitch at the sight of the new guests. It wasn't so much the too tight, too short, too low cut green dress Mary Jane was wearing as much as the semi-formal outfit Peter was donning. For the life of her, Gwen couldn't remember seeing her friend in anything but jeans and t-shirts with the occasional button up. This Peter, however, was breathtakingly and made the awe she felt previously in looking at Flash, all cleaned up, fail miserably in comparison. Black on black never looked better, and even if his date had dressed him, Gwen couldn't be happier.

"Gwendy.. breathe honey."

Nodding as Harry shook her arm gently as to not spill her wine, his warm laugh brought her back to reality, forcing her to tear her gaze away from her long lost love.

"Is that Peter?"

"Yes. I was just… surprised to see him like that. I didn't think he owned a suit jacket."

Clearing her throat as she did her best to return to a normal functioning state, her cheeks still flush with the flood of emotions and suggestive thoughts that accompanied seeing Peter looking so handsome, Gwen excused herself quickly to cross the room and greet them. Peter might know a handful of people, but Mary Jane would surely know them all. While the slutty ginger didn't go to school with them, she worked at a local restaurant that almost everyone went to. Being overly friendly and notorious for dating around, Gwen was sure at least half of the party's guests had been all too familiar with the waitress.

"That's the first suit I've seen you in that doesn't make your butt look big."

Keeping the most neutral expression possible as she joined Peter's side, Gwen was grateful that his date had already abandoned him to go weep over Flash, no doubt offering herself as a departing gift. Upon closer inspection, the girl wasn't surprised at all that while his black dress shirt, tie, and suit jacket were all formal - his black pants were in fact jeans. Shaking her head at the man, she smiled at him as her arm linked with his, feeling the connection sending immediate waves of warmth through her body. At least he had the good sense to wear dress shoes.

"I want to introduce you to someone. I think you'll really hit it off."

Guiding her stolen date to Harry and Jill, Gwen couldn't hide the fact she was absolutely radiant with excitement. Refusing to let go of Peter's arm as she introduced him to Harry and her cousin, she pulled away reluctantly as the boys immediately found common ground. Looking over the status of the food and drinks once more, Gwen grabbed one of the quickly emptying bowls of chips and retreated to the kitchen to rectify the situation. Humming quietly along to the music steadily playing through the speakers, the quiet blonde nearly dropped the ceramic bowl as she turned to find a face full of Mary Jane.

"Oh, hi. Didn't see you there. What's up?"

"Oh, hi, is right. What's up is your scrawny ass came and stole Peter right from under me the minute we walked in. When are you going to get it through your bleach blonde hair that he made up his mind? You're out, I'm in, deal with it."

Watching the girl teeter out on her all-too-high stilettos, Gwen waited a few moments before following suit. Had she just been threatened? Reminding herself quickly that it was Gwen who had the e-mail to prove Peter in fact did love her, not the whore, and while they were dating other people, their hearts lay elsewhere.

Returning the bowl to its rightful place, Gwen debated rejoining Harry, Jill and Peter but quickly opted out when she saw Mary Jane had taken her place on Peter's arm. Looking across the room to see Flash talking to a new small crowd of people, Gwen retreated to the kitchen, finishing off her first cup of wine before topping it off again. Tonight was supposed to be her chance to show Peter she could be sexy and fun, yet there she was sulking in the kitchen with her wine. It was actually quite pathetic. Mentally urging herself to snap out of it, Gwen took a deep breath to steady herself before planting a bright, fake smile on her face and rejoining the crowd. Crossing over to stand next to Harry, her arm linking with his as she greeted everyone else, she looked to Mary Jane and Peter's empty hands.

"Oh, can I get you guys anything to drink?"

Suppressing her nausea as Mary Jane leaned over and squeezed Gwen's free hand, cooing something about her being such a dear, the blonde did her best to avoid making eye contact with Peter, knowing her anger and sulking demeanor would quickly return.

"I'll have a Jack and Diet Coke, if you would be so kind, sweetheart. Petey, what do you want, baby?"

Staring at the red-head with her glued on smile, Gwen couldn't have felt more unhappy if she tried. Was this bitch honestly trying to make her jealous?! Sorry, sweetheart, but he doesn't love you was the only thought Gwen could conjure to keep her from swinging at the girl.

"I'll have whatever you're having, Gwendy."

Hearing Harry's nickname come out of Peter's mouth didn't evoke the rage it normally did, in fact it was pretty endearing. Laughing brightly as her cheeks flushed, she found herself free to make eye contact with her former flame as she took in his expression. It was as if he could read her mind and knew she had been uneasy about him being hung on like a cheap coat rack by his even cheaper date, but the way he was looking at Gwen, his playful tone, it all quenched her anxiety. There was no way he was going to be with that tart for long.

Leaving the group to grab two drinks, she found herself side by side with Flash at the bar. Playfully knocking her arm against his, she was pleased to find that he was enjoying himself immensely. Allowing him to carry Mary Jane's drink as she held two cups of wine for herself and Peter, she urged her date to come and meet Harry who Flash was less than enthused to find out was a real person. Standing next to Harry once more, Gwen handed over Peter's drink as Flash left her side to give Mary Jane hers. Unable to catch whatever he mumbled to her, she surprised herself with the spark of jealousy she felt as the two giggled together quietly. Was this bitch going to take her date and her bug boy? Oh hell no.

"Flash, I want you to meet Harry. Harry, I'm sure the always polite Mr. Parker introduced you to his lovely date, Mary Jane Watson."

Sipping her wine to mask her amusement as Flash and Harry shook hands, Harry looked confused as he looked to Mary Jane who had turned to batting her eyelashes at the apartment owner. Seriously?! Pick a man, bitch.

"Actually, Peter and I got lost in the discussion of kinematics. I don't believe I got the pleasure of being introduced to this lovely young lady."

Watching Harry turn on the charm full force, Gwen didn't even try to mask her amusement as he kissed Mary Jane's hand, sending the first blush to the harlot's cheeks she'd seen. Looking quickly to Flash, who wasn't amused, and then to Peter, Gwen's entertained expression quickly got serious as she realized Peter's gaze hadn't left Gwen since she gave him his drink.

"I could talk biomechanics all day."

Peter's comment seemed to only be directed towards Gwen, and even if other people had wanted to chime in, she wouldn't have heard them. Smiling sweetly at her friend, Gwen shifted her weight to get comfortable in her heels.

"You're not intimidated by robots, Mr. Parker?"

Knowing only the two of them would understand the double entendre, Gwen smirked knowingly at her friend as he laughed brightly and shook his head. His grin, charming as ever, was making her lightheaded. It was either that or the third cup of wine she was currently working on.

"No, but reptiles still make me a little squeamish."

Giggling almost madly, Gwen forced herself to down more of her drink before looking around to the group who had fallen silent and was staring at them in their exchange. Thanking all things holy when a friendly brunette came to steal Flash again, Gwen was only left with the awkward tension being emitted from her least favorite ginger.

"Mary Jane, where did you get your dress? I love it. It's all boho-chic meets str—"

Quickly cut off by the bomb-defusing Harry Osborn, Gwen kept her smile glued as her friend took Mary Jane away from the group on the premise of wanting to dance with her. Jill had somehow managed to bow out without being noticed, leaving Gwen alone with just Peter.

"You are really attractive when you're hostile, Gwendy."

"Thanks, Petey."

"You know, I hate that name, but it sounds much better off your tongue than hers."

"Are you sure it's safe to speak ill of your date? She is just over there."

Nodding to the small opening where Mary Jane had begun dancing with Harry, the two silently watched as the red-head made poor Harry her human stripper pole. Rolling her eyes, Gwen immediately flinched as the spider-like speed of her friend snatched her drink to set down and pulled her with him across the room to the wall of windows separating the open living area from the stone balcony. Exiting the crowded room with Peter, hopefully undetected, Gwen immediately shivered. The high altitude and cool night was no match for her strapless dress. In what felt like what motion, Peter had his suit jacket off, wrapped around Gwen's shoulders and his arm around her waist pulling her chest to his.

"I've always wanted to dance with you, Miss Stacy. May I have the honor?"

"Oh, Mr. Parker. I thought you'd never ask."

Feigning a horrible but proper southern accent, Gwen giggled softly against her friend's shoulder as she leaned into him, securely holding his body to hers with one arm as the other held his hand. Letting him guide her in a slow but steady waltz, Gwen could barely hear the music from the party inside, but she was fairly certain it wasn't slow enough for this. Still, even without music, her first dance with Peter was without debate – perfect. The stars, the comfortable silence as they glided across the stone balcony, the heat of his body keeping Gwen warm was all too much. Nuzzling her head against his shoulder and letting her eyes fall shut as he lead her in careful circles, it was if he knew that her wine had already taken affect and was steady enough to not make her queasy. Feeling their peaceful rhythm halt suddenly, Gwen opened her eyes just barely in time to see the lights of not just Harry's apartment, but practically the entire city flicker. Turning around to look over the normally brightly lit skyline, Gwen felt immediate panic as all the lights returned except for one of the largest buildings. Stark Tower was supposed to be self-sustaining, so how was it the only lightless one in the city of electricity? Anxiety flooded Gwen's face as she felt Peter's lips against her cheek.

"I have to go. I'll see you later, I promise."

As fast as she could turn to look to her friend, Peter was gone.