Peter leaves from Gwen's, her mother glancing to him for an explanation he can't provide. It's just him and duffle bag. This would blow over, right?

He finds himself in front of her building. It's late, but he's in the city that never sleeps. There are a few people pacing down the road. Peter looks left to right, weighing his options. He could go to his, well it's also Gwen's, apartment. Going back there would be hard though, no one had lived there in months.. He could go to Harry's, but Harry's probably with MJ, and that's the last person he wants to see right now..

And that leaves Aunt May.

...

He doesn't realize it's a bad idea not to call until he's on her front porch. He knocks, but get's no answer, he considers using his key, but worries it will scare her, so he calls a few time. Or 10.

Eventually she picks up in a panic, asking what's happened. He tells her he's on the porch and to let him in.

"Peter, what happened?" She says, pulling him inside and to the kitchen.

"Me and Gwen got into a little fight." Aunt May begins to boil water for a cup of tea, and comes to sit next to him.

"Over what?"

"I don't know. She just- she thinks- she just wanted a break."

"Now we both know that's not true." Aunt May shakes her head. "What happened."

"She thinks I'm unhappy with her because she's paralyzed."

"Are you?" She asks, standing to check the water. Peter replies with a stare. How could even question that? "I know you aren't, but I had to check.. Did you tell her this?"

"Of course! She just- she wouldn't listen. She thinks that because we've been going through a few hard months that we should break up. She wants to see other people, and I don't see why she would want that."

"Did she meet someone new?"

"Gwen hasn't met someone new, other that doctors and nurses, in a long time. She's doing it for me."

"Have you tried to see what she's coming from?" She asks, sliding a mug in front of him. "She probably feels like you're missing out on things. And she may be right-" Peter tries to interrupt, but May shakes her head. "You're both young Pete, and I know you love her very much. I was your age when me and your Uncle Ben got married, so I understand, but she wants you to be happy. You guys have only dated each other, and she may want you to make sure she's the one."

"I don't need to date other people to make sure, I know I want to spend the rest of my life with her."

"Give her a few days." Aunt May kisses his hair. "Then call, and talk it out."

"I don't think it'll work. It was bad- it was really bad." Peter puts his head in his hands. "I haven't seen her like that it so long. It was so bad."

...

"Do you want chocolate chips?" Aunt May calls from the stove.

"Yes, please." Peter replies, turning the newspaper.

This was Peter's fifth morning back at Aunt Mays. Five days since Gwen has asked him to leave. It still seems rather fake to him. He had just gotten Gwen back, how could he go through losing her again?

The past two nights had caused that strange twinge in his stomach to come back. The strange urning for an adventure.

"Are you still meeting up with Harry today?" Aunt May asks, sliding a plate in front of him.

"Yeah, we're grabbing lunch after class."

"That's good. Then what?" She pries for more.

"I'll probably just come back here."

"Okay." She nods. "Have you spoken to.. yet?"

He shakes his head, and Aunt May places a hand on his shoulder.

Peter had put on the Spidey costume for the first time in months on the first night. He didn't go out, he just looked in the mirror for some sign of what to do.

"So Pete." Harry starts, lighting a cigarette. "Are you going to tell me what happened now?"

"I already told you, me and Gwen broke up."

"Yeah, but like why?" Harry digs deeper.

"I dunno.. She thinks I'm unhappy, but I'm not. I'm only happy when I'm with Gwen."

"Do you want me to talk to her? Maybe having an outsiders opinion would help he see differently."

"I'm not sure Harry, she was pretty sure about this. It just..It was bad. I haven't seen her that upset in a long time."

"I'm sure, but it wouldn't hurt." Harry pauses to take a bite from his sandwich. "And plus, she's probably pretty lonely without you around.."

"Well, she has her family." Peter says, trying to comfort himself. He'd forgotten that Gwen would be alone now.

"Yeah, but how ofter are they around?"

"I don't know Harry.. We just broke up, and you're my best friend.."

"I hate to be rude about it, but Gwen doesn't really have friends of her own. I'm your friend first of course, and I wanted to check before I went to see her. I think it would be almost mean for you to say no."

"I think you're right Harry.." Peter nods. "You should just check on her."

"I think I'll go tonight."

...

Peter pulls Aunt May's lasagna out of the oven, and sets it on the counter. "Aunt May!" He calls walking to the steps. "Lasagna done!"

"Thanks!" She calls back, and he hears shuffling about him. She quickly patters down the stairs. "Did you get it out?"

"No, I left it to burn." He chuckles.

"Enough with the sass." She follows in behind him.

...

Harry knocks softly on the door to the Stacy's apartment building. Ms. Stacy answers promptly. She's wearing nice clothing, and Harry assumes she's going out. "Harry! What a surprise!" She says, pulling him into a hug.

"Hi, Ms. Stacy!" He replies, embracing her back.

"I haven't seen you in so long!"

"I've been busy." He shrugs.

"I suppose you want to see Gwen, huh?" She steps back from the door, allowing him in.

"That is the plan." He says, voice full of charm.

"Well, go right ahead. You know where her room is."

Harry follows the familiar route to Gwen's room. First door on the right. There he knocks quietly, again, and waits for a response. "Come in." She calls. Harry opens the door slowly, and peaks around the door to see her. Gwen looks up, in what was intended to be a glance, but is surprised to see Harry.

"Hey Gwen!" He smiles, moving forward to see her. She looks tired. Very tired.

"Hey." She says, slowly shutting her laptop. "What's up?"

"Oh, I just wanted to come and see you."

"Oh." Gwen says, a little startled.

"Yeah, so how's everything been?" Harry asks, sitting on the edge of her bed.

"Oh, y'know, just normal." She shrugs. "How about you?"

"Eh, boring. I'm ready for school to be out."

"I'm sure you are." She chuckles. "Is there something I can help you with? You haven't just stopped by in a long time."

"I know." He nods. "I just feel like that should change. I don't want you to think just because you and Pete aren't together that we aren't friends."

"I wouldn't think that." She shakes her head.

"I know, I just had to reassure myself." He pats her hand. "But about you and Pete.."

"If you're trying to get us back together it won't work. I broke up with him for a reason."

"He misses you Gwen."

"I know, but he won't after a while." Gwen says, playing with her blankets.

...

Peter dries, while Aunt May washes. It's just like high school. He's unsure of whether Aunt May likes having him back. Sometimes he feels like she's disappointed to see him living with her again, instead of living on his own. But she understands.

...

"Gwen, I know you think you're trying to help him, but he's miserable without you."

"He'll be okay. He needs to experience things. We've only been with each other, y'know, since high school. We both need to be with other people to understand if this is what we really want."

"Oh." Harry nods, finally understanding. "This is a test."

"What do you mean?"

"It's a test. You're testing Pete to see if he'll come back, which he will."

"It's not like that Harry."

"Then how is it?"

"It's not a test Harry." She shakes her head. "I want him to see other people, do crazy college boy stuff, have one night stands, I want him to do normal things, and if after al that he still thinks he'll be happier with me then I can be with him. But I can't live with myself knowing that Peter isn't as happy as he could be, that I could be holding him back. He deserves more than that."


Hey guys, sorry for such a long wait, I had a pretty serious surgery this week, and I wrote this whole chapter on pain pills, and I'm still not doing to well.. Sorry again.