A canon-compliant drabble on The Amazing Spider-Man #80.


Gwen explained her situation to Flash, and he promised he'd talk to Peter, since Gwen was getting nowhere fast. She wasn't holding her breath though, Peter was a proud man, there just may be no getting through to him.

The phone rang, and Gwen answered it, and for once feeling no butterflies when she heard Peter's voice on the other end of the line.

"Peter? Do I know a Peter? You must have a wrong number! The only boy with that name that I know seems to have crossed me off his list!" Gwen retorted into the receiver.

"Okay, Gwendy...I guess I deserve that! But Flash just explained the whole thing! I feel like a real lunkhead, honey! How soon can I see you?" Peter asked sincerely.

A small smile tugged at the corner of Gwen's mouth, and she smiled softly, "Well, since I've always been foolishly partial to lunkheads... how about now? I'm going to the new exhibit at the Midtown Museum!" The blonde explained, her smile widening at the idea.

"I read about it, Gwendy! You dad's in charge of guarding the priceless paintings! I'll be there as fast as I can, pretty girl! Nothing'll stop me this time! Peter exclaimed.


Gwen was already at the museum. One of the tour guide's was enthusiastically explaining a painting to Gwen, and she was optimistic about her date with Peter tonight.

She felt a warm hand on her shoulder, and she glanced to see Peter. "Peter! How did you get here so..?"

"Hold it, honey! Let's go somewhere we can talk in private!" Peter exclaimed, ushering Gwen aside to somewhere more secluded. He stopped and stared her in the eyes deeply, still grasping her shoulders.

"Why are you looking at me, that way, Mr. Parker?" Gwen inquired, perplexed by his sudden odd behavior.

"Maybe I just suddenly realized how much I've missed you, Gwendy..." Peter replied sincerely.

"Or maybe... I just don't feel like... talking!" He leaned in, and Gwen reciprocated the gesture, they were just about to kiss when Peter swiftly retreated, and the mood was ruined when Peter and Gwen noticed her father, George. He hadn't even noticed them.

"Whoops! What a sudden time for your father to walk by!" Peter exclaimed, looking more alarmed than he should.

"That's strange... He walked right past- As though he didn't even see us!" The blonde replied.

George left, and Peter seemed interested in what he was doing exactly.

"I guess he's too busy worrying about all those paintings that he's in charge of guarding! Considering their value, it's a mighty big responsibility!" Peter exclaimed because it's the seventies and a woman can't get more than eight lines in.

George weaved through the crowd, steadily approaching a room across the way.

"He's heading for the private room where the most priceless ones are!" Peter pressed on. This is bullsh*t.

JJJ came up between Peter and Gwen. "Well, well... Look who's here! Soaking up some culture, Parker?" Jameson asked, holding a large cigar in his hand. "Can't waste time talking to a kid with so many celebrities around! Say... Where'd Cap't Stacy disappear to?" He inquired suddenly, looking around.

A shrill scream rang out into the museum. "Help! Somebody... Help!"

Gwen gasped, clasping a hand over her mouth. "That cry... It's coming from the private room... the one dad had entered!" The blonde exclaimed.

"A woman's voice... In a state of shock!" Peter replied urgently.

A woman pointed to a golden frame, her knees wobbling. "I just walked in... To see if the paintings were ready to be shown... And they're gone! They're all gone!" She collapsed into a man's arms, looking a dread.


It was only seconds before the museum went into lockdown, guards filled the room. "Nobody leaves without identification!"

"Isn't it a little late for that?" Peter asked, and Gwen stayed beside him.

"Pete... I'm worried... About dad!" The blonde exclaimed.

"Where in the blazes is Captain Stacy?" Another of the guards cursed.

"What if the thief injured him... Or took him captive?" Gwen wondered aloud.

"There's no sign of a struggle!" Jameson exclaimed.


The guests in the museum had been successfully cleared of any wrongdoing and identified properly. George still hadn't been found, and Peter and Gwen were getting a ride from Jameson back to Gwen's place.

"We'd better get you home now, Gwendy!" Peter said, draping his arm around Gwen's shoulders in an attempt to comfort her.

"If... If anything happened to dad..." Gwen trailed off, near tears, unable to even consider such a thing.

"In my day, kids would thank a generous publisher for a lift in his car!" Jameson grumbled aloud, looking out his car side window.


Gwen entered the Stacy household, with Peter and Jameson falling suit, and Gwen broke into a run when she spotted her dad getting up, looking terrible.

"Dad! You... You're home!"

"Of course I'm home! I haven't left yet!" George replied, irritably.

"But... We saw you... At the museum!" Gwen exclaimed desperately.

"I don't understand! I've been here all day... Or I think I have!" George half-explained, looking stunned. "Everything's so hazy... So confused in my mind!"

"You'd better snap out of it, Stacy!" Jameson exploded suddenly. "Those paintings were stolen,... And if you ask me, the only suspect so far is you!"

"The paintings? Stolen?" George repeated, confused. "Then... It's as bad as I feared! I must have been drugged! But how? And by whom?"


A/N: It was the chameleon.