Disclaimer: Hooray for me, I had more Writer's Block and a few distractions… one of which involved playing Watch Dogs. That's just me being sarcastic.

I don't own the rights to Spider-Man or his supporting friends; all property of Marvel.


Chapter IX

Harry had no idea why he was at Gwen's apartment or what would've possibly compelled him to go there in the first place. Aside from the desire to get as far away from his father as humanly possible, Harry was a bit at a loss. But what else was new in his screwed up world? Maybe he figured he'd have a kindred spirit in Gwen, knowing the sheer heartache she'd experienced from the death of her own father. Harry would've gone back the apartment he shared with Peter, but he came to Gwen's place instead. So maybe he simply needed a pretty face to talk to. Standing at the door to Gwen's apartment, Harry hesitated to even knock on the damn door. He wasn't even sure if Gwen was there. It wasn't going to stop him from trying.

But he stopped trying anyway, thinking it was better if he just left than and now. Sighing in frustration, Harry started on his way back to the elevator that would've taken him to the lobby of the building. No sooner did he reach the elevator did the doors suddenly slide open. Gwen was standing right in front of Harry with bloodshot eyes, slightly messy hair and a tear soaked face. Harry wasn't expecting this from Gwen Stacy, who often put on a strong face in spite of everything. Conversely, Gwen wasn't expecting to literally almost bump into Harry Osborn. But here they were in an awkward moment.

"Harry," Gwen said while wiping her face of the last few tears. "What are you doing here?"

"I just, um, needed to get away from my dad. Maybe, uh, see a friendly face," Harry replied with a stutter in his voice. "You okay?"

Gwen pushed right by Harry while telling him, "Yes, I'm fine," She reached her apartment door, pulled the keys from her purse but hesitated. "No, I'm not. I don't know."

Harry approached Gwen cautiously to not make her uncomfortable. "Do you want to talk about it?" he asked.

Gwen leaned against the wall, brushing her hand through her hair. "I feel like I'm at my wit's end, Harry. With Peter I mean…"

Harry went a little bit closer until he was close enough that he wasn't invading Gwen's personal space. "You're having issues with Peter? What kind?"

Gwen was obviously hesitant to explain so soon after she'd visited her father's grave and then visited the scene of his final moments. At the same time, she felt like she really needed to talk to somebody – to anybody willing to listen. Harry was obviously willing to listen, if only to take his mind off his own father. Sometimes, he wished it was his father that bought the farm instead of Gwen's, so he least understood. Peter had to understand, having been abandoned by his own parents way back when. After a long and somewhat uncomfortable silence between them, for better or for worse, Gwen finally spoke up.

"You're probably aware that I'm likely going to London by now, right," she said, to which Harry nodded. Gwen continued, "Well, I was hoping that Peter would come with me, but he's… he's…"

"…Noncommittal." Harry guessed.

"Exactly, and I have no idea why. I don't know if he's conflicted or reluctant or maybe not quite as smart as he makes himself out to be. And he's a smart guy, don't get me wrong."

"On that, I can agree." Harry replied with a slight tinge of jealously in his tone that Gwen missed.

"That's one reason I love him, but the second I mentioned London, it's like he completely crashed like one of his computers. He can't make a decision," Gwen explained further. "I feel like I'm being put in the position where I'll have to make the choice for him. I don't want to leave without him, but I don't want to wait for him."

Harry gave it some thought even though he wasn't sure what Gwen wanted to hear. Or of what she needed to hear. "Sorry, Gwen; I don't know what you want me to say."

"I know, and I'm sorry for dumping my problems on you, Harry. I know you've got your own issues with your dad and all."

Harry had to furrow his brow at the statement. "We've been having issues since I was born," he said. "Listen, I'm just going to take off for a while, maybe hit Central Park. I didn't mean to drop by like this."

Gwen said nothing. Harry took this silence as a sign that she understood his position and took his leave for the elevator… and then Gwen randomly asked, "You mind if I tag along?"

Harry stopped and looked back at Gwen. With a shrug, he replied, "Sure."


Central Park was usually the first spot any tourist from outside of New York visited. With its shimmering lake and the bustling trees and the archway, it was the place to be for families and couples and for kids to play. There was also the Central Park Zoo. With it being the middle of summer, tourists tended to flock there like birds flying back from the south following the cold, bitters of winter. While at the zoo, the numerous animals more or less put on a show for their human visitors. An average New Yorker could almost forget that the place was at one point a battleground for Spider-Man and Sergie Kravinoff, better known as Kraven the Hunter.

Harry was there that day when Spider-Man fought Kraven, obstinately to try to lend a hand in defeating the villain. He ended up getting tossed into the Allison Maher Stern exhibit, although Spider-Man managed to rescue him from any soon-to-be emerging snow leopards. In the end, Kraven was beaten but he ultimately escaped. Gwen had a vastly different and a much more pleasant memory of coming to the zoo with her father when she was still a little girl. She often tried to talk to the penguins and the tigers like Dr. Doolittle. She and Harry were at the Polar Exhibit, admiring the flightless birds as they often hopped into the frigid waters. The sight of them made Gwen produce a smile for the first time all day long.

"I think this is just what I needed; something to take my mind of everything and just have a little fun." she said."

"Yeah," Harry replied. "It's funny, because I didn't actually intend to come down here at all."

Gwen looked at Harry with a humorously accusing face. "And what was that back my apartment? You just wanted to get away from me?"

"I want to get away from the world; just forget about my dad, forget about our problems… that sort of thing," Harry stated while he gazed the penguins swimming under the water. "You think these little guys ever have to worry about stuff like that?"

"The penguins? No. All they worry about is food and taking care of their hatchlings." Gwen replied.

"Yeah, I kind of envy them." Harry claimed while a lone penguin looked directly at the two young humans, pondering their presence.

From the Polar Exhibit, Gwen and Harry continued on through the zoo which was clearly a busy place nowadays due to the season. It was expected in the summer season when the kids were out of school and they wanted to see the animals. Gwen understood that all too well, while Harry wished he'd had that kind of childhood. The last thing he wanted right now was to sour the day by dumping his father issues on Gwen again. Instead, they continued on through the zoo and went about enjoying the day as a whole.

For much of the day, they walked around the zoo and took in the various inside and outside exhibits. There was no shortage of animals to be seen; birds, mammals and amphibians of all shapes and sizes and species. Gwen and Harry entered the Rainforest Exhibit, which was nearly perfectly identical to the real thing right down to the more exotic animals of the world. Just being in the exhibit, able to walk through it, made them sweat just a little bit more than if they were ever under the hot sunlight.

From the Rainforest Exhibit, Gwen and Harry moved on to the Allison Maher Stern, although Harry was reluctant to venture there again after the last time. Gwen was especially interested in the newer exhibit since it was never put into place when she was young. She was at least able to really take in the sight of the otherwise endangered species, especially the two snow leopard cubs. They approached her from behind the mesh panel, eager to get to know the human girl and her male companion. Gwen waved at the cubs while Harry smiled, and then along came the mother snow leopard. Harry recoiled at the sight of the mother cat, which was understandable given his experiences a year prior.

Their next destination was the Central Garden & Sea Lion Pool, a short distance away from the snow leopards exhibit. The sea lions there were packed together on shore, which was normal for the highly social species. Scooter, Clarisse and April were the acrobats of the bunch, and they put on a display for the watching visitors from the city. Gwen and Harry were among the visitor, watching in awe as the sea lions performed various tricks for the onlookers. Harry was certain that he'd notice a smile on Gwen's face and he determined that this was exactly what she needed.

The rest of the day went on without incident, with Gwen and Harry roaming around the zoo and taking in every exhibit available to them. By the mid-afternoon, they had left the zoo and ventured into the park itself. There was a warm breeze that blew leaves from the trees. Some of the leaves fell to the lake, creating tiny ripples on the water's surface. It seemed like the perfect end to an otherwise trying day for Gwen. She had a stuffed penguin in her arms that she perch used from the gift shop earlier. Harry had insisted that he'd pay for it, but Gwen chose to buy it herself citing her being capable of making such a small buy.

Harry felt better in his own right despite his past experiences at the zoo. Being there, even though his real plan was actually to wallow at a bar up town, helped him forget about his father. At least for a while. It was worth it, especially if he was with Gwen. He'd never admit it, but he'd long had personal feelings for Gwen. He'd just never been to act on them back in the day. Besides, Gwen was Peter's girlfriend, not Harry. Whatever issues were going on between them, they likely get through them. And Harry would've bowed out and given his blessing. Or would he?


By the time they returned to Harry's car, it was around the time that the sun was setting. The traffic would've been a pain, but Gwen didn't live that far from Central Park anyway. Harry's home was father into the city. Harry was as much a gentleman that he opened the passenger door for Gwen to step inside, a quality he didn't learn from his father but on his own merits that Norman rarely noticed anyway. Gwen was impressed but not surprised; Harry always did things that no one expected, even his own father.

The ride back to Gwen apartment was longer that either of them anticipated. The streets were choked by moderately sized traffic, not enough to cause a full-blown traffic jam. It was really only enough to delay the return home. There was an awkward silence between them, so Harry turned on the radio and searched for a decent song over the various channels that were available in New York or anywhere else. Harry eventually settled on 92.3 FM Radio and a song from Alicia Keys.

"Oh turn in up, I like this song." Gwen said. She didn't wait for Harry to handle the stereo and turned the song up herself.

"I am a freedom fighter, the name that history wrote.
And even through disaster, eye of the tiger for hope.
I'm trying to find my way back, there's no day for heroes.
And even when I'm tired, "Go" is the only word I know,"

Harry raised an eyebrow and asked, "Seriously?"

Gwen began moving her shoulders to and fro to the beat of the song, telling Harry, "I love Alicia Keys, Harry. Don't ruin it for me."

This should be fun, Harry thought.

Then Gwen began to sing along;

"I bet they wonder how I go on,
I bet they wonder how I go on,
I simply say It's On Again, It's On Again,
The world don't stop, It's On Again, It's On Again,"

Gwen was snapping her fingers and said to Harry, "C'mon, Harry! Join in."

"No, you go you ahead. I'll just be here, driving the car." Harry replied.

Gwen simply continued the sing-a-long;

"I am a lonely hero, tryin' to fight my battles
Life likes to blow the cold wind, sometimes it freezes my shadow
In the midst of all of this darkness, I sacrifice my ego
There ain't no room for selfish, we do it for the people,"

Gwen just kept jiving to every beat, every lyric while moving her shoulders and snapping her fingers. She even closed her eyes and imagined being on stage with Alicia Keys performing a duet of that very song that was playing on the radio. Harry smirked at the sight and thought about how it was usually Mary Jane who was the party girl. He didn't expect this type of thing from Gwen Stacy of all people. For Gwen, it just seemed like all her personal problems were being washed away. Maybe it was exactly what she needed, while Harry focused on getting her home.

"The work don't stop, 'cause they don't stop,
And everybody here trying to get on top
Everybody from the burbs down to the block
Gotta hold on tight and don't let go, let go
Huh
So you think you're hot?
Gotta grind hard, give it all you've got
You can have, or you can have not
You see that a lot in the ghetto (ghetto)
How I go on, go on
I bet they wonder how I go on, go on

I'll simply say It's On Again, It's On Again
The world don't stop, It's On Again, It's On Again."


They eventually returned to Gwen's home where the exited Harry's car; Gwen had a noticable smile which Harry returned in kind. "Thank you, Harry."

Harry dotted his eyes and asked, "For what?"

Gwen shrugged, "For hanging out with me. I think I really needed the distraction and you came through for me."

"Yeah well, you were a pretty good distraction yourself. I actually did have a little bit of fun," Harry saw that Gwen was flattered by his comment before he began to get serious. "Listen, seriously; whatever's going on between you and Peter, I just hope you two can get through it. Of course – if you don't…"

Gwen knew where Harry was going and said, "Harry, I appreciate what you've done for me. Peter and I, we're going through this phase. We'll work it out."

"I'm sure you will. I'm just saying…" Harry trailed off, not knowing what to say. "Forget it; it's was a stupid idea."

Gwen knew what the idea was that Harry was considering. "Harry, you're one of my best friends, hell, I love you… but as a friend and even as the brother I never had. The thought does mean a lot, so thank you."

Harry felt foolish to have even considered what he was thinking, but he at least understood Gwen's position. As she was walking through entrance to the complex, he said, "I'll catch you later, Gwen."

Gwen turned to face Harry from the entrance and replied, "Goodnight, Harry." Then she disappeared inside the complex.

Harry entered his car but didn't immediately start the engine. He was alone with his thoughts on Gwen and Peter. It was a stupid idea he had to even think there was a possibility of him and Gwen getting together, especially since Gwen was Peter's girlfriend. And Peter was Harry's best friend. But Harry was jealous of Peter for more than just Gwen. Secretly, Harry had loved Gwen since high school, but she chose Peter. Peter had the admiration of Harry's own father, who at the same time wouldn't give the time of day. As much as he thought of Peter as a brother, like Gwen thought of him, Harry had always secretly resented Peter as much he did his father and vice versa.

It was that kind of thing that drove Harry to do certain things unbecoming of the Osborn name, like alcohol and drugs… or maybe it was just something that ran in the family. If that was the case, then Harry was more like his father than he knew. And right now, he needed a drink.


Author's Note: Ugh, this chapter was a pain in the ass to put together. It's another Gwen-focused chapter with Harry involved now. It pretty much hints at the possible hook-up between them, as well as the hidden jealously Harry has toward Peter.

Sorry if the Central Park Zoo scene wasn't entirely accurate. I haven't been there in many years.

And yes, that was Alicia Keys' song, "It's On Again" from The Amazing Spider-Man 2. I don't even listen to R my preference is Rock.

So give me a shout out while I work on the next chapter. Peace out!