I started this story in 2019! In May of 2019! And tomorrow is my birthday and so I've been cathartically going through all of this old shit that I wrote/started way back when, fangirling over old ideas I'm still hauling around from 2016 (mostly superhero stories that are now also gay) and I found this one and it was almost done! I knew I had to finish it and bring it to you.

This fic doesn't have anything to do with Halloween at all but I do have this fun little Halloween challenge going on right now where I write a new crossover story every day for seven days leading up to Halloween. I also, on the other side of the spectrum, have a Spiderverse Christmas fic called Baby's First Christmas and a spidersona fanfic I'm pretty fond of called Let's Do This One More Time.

If you're reading this review because it's almost my birthday! Or because Spiderverse was the best movie that happened that year and Sony has just kept on putting out good movies ever since. Review because... Why not? Or don't review, for the same reason. I'm just having fun and writing things.

It was like they were teens again, back in love, laying out side by side on the roof, watching clouds and talking about the future. Their future. He turned his head and kissed her cheek, and she laughed a little.

"What changed, Peter?"

"Everything changed. I guess I grew up, MJ. I guess I realized that I couldn't be afraid anymore, that I was being selfish out of fear… That's why I hurt you. I'm so sorry…"

"I know you're sorry. I just… Should we be doing this? Rushing right back in, like you didn't hurt me?"

"That's up to you. I know I'm different now. I know what I can be now, I know there's more room in my heart now. I want to share my life with you, and with a family, if you still want to start one. I'm ready to take the leap." She looked over at him and blushed.

"I… I've been hoping you'd come back, hoping you'd say something just like that. Peter, I've always believed that you and I are like magic. I really, really want to start a family with you." He stood and offered her his hand. She let him help her to her feet.

"Mary Jane Watson, will you remarry me?"

A few years later…

"May! Mayday! Slow down! Papa can't keep up with you, honey!" Peter chased his little girl through the house, the three-year-old laughing with glee.

"Catch me!" Mayday challenged, climbing onto the sofa and leaping up as if she thought she could fly. Peter sprung forward, catching her and cradling her close before she could injure herself. Laughing and panting, he tried his hardest to turn stern.

"No, we do not do that missy. We do not jump off the sofa." Mayday looked at him, her little eyes clever and calculating.

"Jump on the sofa?" On was technically the opposite of off, and he was definitely proud that she'd learned that from her lift the flap book on opposites, so he slowly nodded.

"Yes…?" He placed her on the sofa, kept a very close watch, and watched her giggle and bounce like it was a trampoline.

"Be careful, kiddo," He warned, though those were pretty much just meaningless words to Mayday. Suddenly, his spidersense went off. He instinctively grabbed May, swiveled around, and faced his frustrated wife.

"Peter, you can't let our daughter jump on the couch."

"Oh, okay, whoops. I'll add that to the list of rules. Sorry MJ. Sorry, Mayday."

She laughed, "You're hopeless. Come here sweetie! You can help mama make lunch." He relinquished their daughter into MJ's arms, still a little sheepish about being caught.

"We were just playing," he called after her as she went into the kitchen.

"I know!" He began tidying up the living room. His daughter was rowdy, and the house was always messy after playtime. The more he got cleaned up for MJ, the easier it would be for her to forgive him for the sofa. When he'd tucked May's toys away he headed to the kitchen, where MJ was putting cubes of watermelon on May's highchair tray.

"Did you have fun with papa Mayday?" MJ cooed at their daughter as she nommed on watermelon.

"Yeah!"

"And is the watermelon yummy?" May squealed in agreement and MJ peppered her cheek with mom kisses. Peter smiled from the shadows, not interrupting, because it was such a perfect moment. MJ noticed him nonetheless and spun around.

"What's for lunch babe?" He asked, wrapping an arm around her.

"Mac and cheese."

"Bold choice, Mrs. Parker."

"Not so bold, since Mr. Parker is the one who will be giving our daughter a bath."

"What! I did that yesterday, it's your turn," he laughed.

"Yeah, and I'm not the one who let our daughter jump on the couch."

"To be fair, I told her she couldn't jump off the couch."

"Did our three-year-old dupe you into letting her jump on the couch?"

"...Yes."

"You're giving her a bath."

"Yes, dear."

"I love you, Peter."

"I love you too, MJ. I love this." He glanced around at his family.

"Yeah. This is better than I ever could have imagined when we got back together."

"I'm so glad the world almost fell apart and it led me back to you."

MJ laughed, leaning over to him, "You're so romantic."

"Papa!" May's voice broke through the almost-kiss.

"Yes, sweetie?"

"Mac!"

"Okay, I'll get you your mac and cheese." Peter laughed and turned back into dad mode, so grateful that he had taken the leap.