Retirement

Gwen stood in front of the television in their tiny apartment - glancing behind herself to see Ben, who was one now and sitting in his high chair with only a diaper and a smile - covered in spaghetti. She grinned at him as he squealed and picked up another handful of noodles.

"You need a bath, Mr."

Ben squealed again, smiling up at his lovely mom as he reach for her with sticky hands.

"Da. Da."

Gwen's smile faded as she turned her attention back to the broadcast. Spider-Man was in full action on the screen and currently being slammed into a building by a large, mutant lizard. Peter had once assured her the media "blew these things out of context", he was a superhero - he could "take one on the chin". The overgrown lizard slapped Peter across the chest with his massive tail - sending him flying backwards into a window.

Gwen cut the tv off and turned her attention to their son.

"Dada is working, baby. He'll be home soon tho." She murmured between them, grabbing the chunky baby up in her arms. His father didn't have a normal 9-5 so "soon" could mean hours or days.

"Da." Ben said again, causing Gwen to smile. "How about mama? You know the lady that takes care of you - changes your diapers, makes you spaghetti. Mama."

"Da. Da!"

Gwen laughed, tickling the boy as he squealed in delight. "You're getting in the tub, smelly fella." Ben giggled again, laying his head on her chest as they moved to the bathroom and she started the water.

X

Hours later Gwen sat quietly in their bedroom, rocking Ben as he slept in her arms. A thump at the window startled her as she watched it rise up and Peter emerge into the room. He looked beaten and weak. Her heart sank.

Peter winced in pain as he crawled through the window - spotting his wife as she placed their son in his crib and closed the space between them.

"Peter..." Her voice was soft but full of anguish as she reach out and touched the torn fabric of his suit. Three large gashes ripped through his chest leaving deep wounds. He was covered in blood, his face battered - his eyes tired. "You should see the other guy..." Peter assured, idly wondering where a 500 pound lizard could hide in the city. It had to be the sewers but he didn't have the strength to go after him right now.

Gwen busied herself with removing his shirt - careful not to touch the bleeding gashes across his chest.

"Come in the kitchen. I'll get the first aid kit."

Peter followed her into their kitchen and slumped down at the table; wincing again.

"Where's Miles?" She asked, gathering the gauze and bandages. She worked with a grace he would never have - cutting strips of fabric to wrap around his wounds. "School trip, I think. He can't go up against The Lizard - hell I don't even think I can beat him. He's as big as Rhino but quicker and smarter."

"You'll beat him, Ace. You always get the bad guy."

Peter groaned as Gwen began cleaning the largest of the three gashes across his chest.

"How's Benny today?"

"Good. He had a spaghetti dinner. It was all over the place." She smiled, meeting Peter's amused eyes. He hadn't lied to her when he said he would try to be a good father for Ben. He was the best father she could hope for - especially with their unusual circumstance. Benny adored his father and Peter his son.

The gashes on his chest were horrid; deep and bloody. She had no idea how he managed to get home after a beating like this.

"Peter, you need to give up the Spider-Man gig. Pass it down to Miles full time."

This caused Peter's smile to fade.

"Gwen, he's not ready."

"He's ready. Last time he was over for dinner he told me he was ready for more responsibility- you just don't want to share the limelight."

"Limelight? This is limelight?" Peter motioned to his battered face. "I would gladly give up getting the shit beat out of me if I thought Miles was ready."

Gwen's skilled fingers stopped suddenly as a quiet sob escaped her; tears pooling in her eyes.

"I can't do this without you, Ace. I sit here in this apartment and take care of our son and watch you get thrown into buildings on the tv. What if you get killed? What will that mean for Ben?"

Peter leaned forward in his chair; taking Gwen's hands in his.

"I can't ask Miles to fight my battles for me. I can't sit back and watch him get beat down by a mutant lizard while I'm here playing house. I know it's not fair but when it comes to the big bad guys I've got to help him."

Gwen wiped away the tears that fell down her cheeks.

"When I beat The Lizard I promise I'll give Miles the reigns. The city is his and I'll put everything I have into this family but right now New York needs me."

"I need you, Peter. Your son needs you."

Peter could only stare after his wife as she threw a pack of gauze in his lap and turned back to the bedroom to collect Ben who was crying now.

X

"Gwendy."

Gwen glanced up at Peter as he emerged from the bathroom; his bare chest wrapped tightly to protect the wounds The Lizard had given him - his hair still wet from the shower. She placed Ben back in the crib - turning to face him directly.

"I'm sorry, Peter. I know you can't just stop being Spider-Man - I know Miles is just a kid —- but I can't imagine losing you."

Peter opened his arms - pulling Gwen into his embrace as she wrapped hers around him gently. He placed his lips to the top of her head; running a hand down her back.

He didn't have the words to console her. He couldn't trade his life for Miles but he swore to himself he would push his ego aside and give Miles more reign over the city. He was a dad now - his place in the world was with Gwen and Benny.

"Ben won't say mama." Gwen muttered after their silence filled the room. She looked up at Peter who smiled down at her. "I cook for him, clean him, rock him and he won't say mama."

X