Chapter 9 – Two More Years of Boring Shit

(Earth-616)

Mary Jane's House (10 minutes after Day 18)

"I'm ready." Peter was only a few feet from her doorstep. He shoots a sprout of web at the doorbell, as it wails in his held a boat of peonies, while wearing a black tuxedo, with shoes that matches colors.

"In an apology you're supposed to dress nice. Spent half of my apartment bill for this." Peter said.

Peter takes out a piece of paper, with some written words, he murmurs the lines to himself. But was interrupted by the door opening. He shoves the paper into his jacket, and sees her.

Mary Jane Watson.

She wore a pink blouse, and blue jeans, and aqua eyes that made him blush. She closes the door behind her, while glancing back.

"H. H. Hi." MJ said, "Peter."

"Hey MJ." Peter scratches his head, "How's. everything?"

"Complicated." She said, "What are you. doing here."

"I. uhh." Peter taps his shoes, "I had no other place to crash."

MJ leans against the pole and crosses her arms. "Did you get evicted?"

"Well, this suit cost me a fortunate so."

"Peter, what have we talked about money management?"

"Yeah it's kinda obvious. I know." he scratches his head again. "Can we. Talk, for a minute?"

"Well. See it's."

"I know, it's complicated. I'll just go then." Peter turns.

"No, No, No, No! I can talk, I can talk." Said MJ, as Peter stops his tracks. "What do ya wanna talk about?"

Peter has wonder why his throat had a big lump, his eyes bulge, he even wonders if she will ever stop looking at that door.

"MJ, I'm."

The door opensand out came a man, slimmed, with a puffy mustache and trimmed combed hair. Peter glances at him, squinting his eyes, and curls his lips.

"Honey, dinner's getting cold." The man catches Peter's eyes, "Peter?"

"John?" Peter said. "What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here?" He said, "I live here! Haven't seen ya since the Bugle days!"

Peter's stomach grew butterflies, seeing John's arms hook to MJ's curvy waist.

"Say honey. Why don't invite him in?"

"He's just about to leave, actually!" MJ said. Why are they calling each other honey?

"Oh C'mon Em'jay! You haven't seen him in ages!"

Ages?

"C'mon in Pete! We got spaghetti, chicken! It's gonna be great!" John walks inside.

"MJ? What's going on?" He said.

"Peter. You should go." She walks inside. Peter gets his feet in between the door closing.

"Mary!" They both caught their eyes, piercing through the small gap, he saw the red cracks through her aqua eyes, "I came to see you." He said, "Can I have this dinner?"

"Peter."

"I promise there will be no problems! I won't get mad, Please."

MJ stares him down, and sighs, then opens the door.

4 2

MJ's Dining Room (5 minutes later)

Peter couldn't finish his food. Despite, the meatball tasting like heaven. His heart was crushed by MJ's stories, after their split up.

"We got married last December, and had Bianca for 4 months." MJ said.

Peter had eyes on John and MJ's Kid. Bianca, no hair, big blue eyes. He had all those dreams of his child. Those dreams have been crushed.

"So Peter, how long you've been. with that thing?" John points the fork at his belly. Peter chuckles and pats his belly.

"Oh. yeah, I know, you'll get used to it right?" He looks across the table and finds MJ's sneering look, Sometimes I love it when she does that.

"Damn, No wonder why you eat fast! reminds me the time when dad ate his favorite thing. Donuts. He'd eat a dozen a piece."

Peter saw MJ putting her hands on John's hand, he couldn't help but frown.

His head was hurting and wanted to go to the bathroom. He made another glance at Bianca, and didn't notice, the small specs of auburn hair. Gosh, I really need to go out to the bathroom. He flips a switch to get himself out of his mind, "How's you're dad's business?"

"My dad's Business?" John said. "Oh! You mean The Bugle! Well, yeah! I own it now."

"Really? Well, congrats Man! I mean. Wait. Wait?! You own the Bugle?"

"Yeah! When Dad Died, He left me all those wills and papers of ownership. He had all those things before Spidey."

"Wait!" Peter holds a hand, looking like a person experiencing paradox, "When did he died?"

"Well. A year ago! Thought ya knew."

He felt like he had a blindfold since he walked through that door. He remembered what Gwen said about her arrival in Miles's universe. He grabs his phone and finds the date, October 7,2020.

"Peter?" MJ said.

"I. May I be excused?"

4 2

Mary Jane's Patio (20 minutes later)

It was the fall, the leaves on her trees start to decay, getting ready for the winter season. October 7, 2020 was on the calendar.

Peter has many question marks over his head. His hands begin to sweat. he wipes it across his cold face, as he senses a warm appearance. He turns, and find MJ peaking from the back door.

"Ya wanna come out or." MJ raises an eyebrow, "You're not bothering me. I'm fine, weird things been happening."

MJ comes out and closes the screen door.

"I think I made it obvious right?" Peter said. She gives him an unsettle. "Never mind."

She stands only a few feet next to him. They watch the dark skies, glittering with stars from another world.

"How long you've been retired?" MJ said.

"Retired from what?" He said.

"Peter, Do you have any idea what I'm talking about? It's been two year! Two! Crime rates have been blowing ceilings!"

That explains it.

"You've been gone for weeks! And You came back here? To say: 'Hi! MJ How are things?!'" She glares at Peter. "Why are you here and not there?!"

"Oh I dunno, really." He step back, that made her arms crossed, "Okay! Okay! I'll spill it!"

Okay. we've done this a million times—But. No! No buts! Just. Do it.

"I'm. Sorry." Peter said.

"Sorry? Sorry for what?"

"I. I wasn't there for you. when you needed me, and I didn't even try. And I know I can do better! If I can just get another chance to give you the Brea." He stutters and breathes. "Another chance. to give you, the baby. that you deserve." Peter blew out so hard, and rests his forehead on the wooden rail.

"You. And, I. Another Chance?" MJ said.

"Well. Yeah. I mean."

"Peter." MJ looks to the door. "I dunno what you just walked by, then."

Peter looks in her direction, where John was holding Bianca and rocking her as her eye became droopy.

MJ holds her phone and shows it to Peter, "Okay Peter. Where were you, when I needed you?"

Peter's eyes gape and saw all of the hundreds missed call from him.

"I. I thought you wouldn't pick up!"

"I was going too! but you didn't give me a chance to answer!" MJ said.

"W. Well. Why didn't you call me back?!" Peter said.

Mary sighs, and looks to the stars, and the blue moon. "John is a nice guy. I didn't want this again. Just let go, Peter. I'm sorry too. But I appreciate the visit." She said. "Is it the least I can say? if you need anything, I still have your number."

"Yeah." Peter turns to see her hand sticking out.

"Just Friends. Okay?"

"Friends." he took her hand, with a muggy look.

"Cool." MJ and Peter slither their hands from each other, "So. Do you need anything else Tiger?"

"Huh? Oh! I might stick around a little longer."

"Okay." MJ walks to the door. "Ya comin?"

"Oh! I'ma. Stay out here for a while." MJ nods and closes the screen door, "MJ."

"Yeah?"

"Don't. Don't shut the door all the way, I don't like it that way. Just, leave it open. maybe three inches."

MJ close the door till Peter only saw her through the crevice. He turns away from the door, and he looks to the blue moon, and tucks his face, whimpering.

4 2

I know. You guys probably think 'Miles said that Peter was gonna get back together with MJ, but instead she just dumps him and Marries JJ's son the astronaut?'

I think we can agree that shit just went sideways in the most Spidey way.

(A comic panel of Peter crying in a tub with a pool of ice.) Well maybe not the most.

Well. Two more years of boring shit! Why don't I, Pro, Con it shall we?

Pros! For once I wasn't depressed! I started losing little bit of weight, feeling more flexible, got better sleep, Stopped local Crime when I had the time, stopped Electro from robbing TDBank Sponsor by the Celtics. I stopped a couple of thugs that kidnapped a boy child from. Foster Care? Couldn't find the mom, so. cost me a fortunate to take him in. Big Pro! I became a Single-Dad!

Cons! Life sucks! I was a lame-ass and got fatter, started losing money, Had to do most crime-stopping since Police became lazy. BIG con, Single-Dad sucks! He eats everything, I had to shop more, had to change his diaper every period! And Oh! He is the most stubbornness child ever!

But you know what? I always find away. (Peter with his eyes bloodshot as the Baby cries in his crib late at night and turns to the other corner.)

I couldn't take it.

I sent him off to another Foster Care. and it sucked. but I freed myself.

Till two years later, I found this weird brown box in my room, it had a Ben 10 watch in it, and then a letter saying that Miles's is in trouble, it also says that it will send me back to his dimension. So what the hell! I put it on. And!

(Peter Glitches around the place.)

Well, it didn't go that bad.

A/N: Hope y'all enjoy! The good parts are coming, starting next week! The name of chapter 10: Home.