A canon-compliant drabble on The Amazing Spider-Man #82.


May Parker was in the hospital again, so Gwen called the Parker household, trying to get in touch with Peter when Mary Jane answered the phone. Since Peter wasn't back yet, M.J said she'd have Peter call her back when he returned.

It wasn't at all long before Gwen's phone rang, and she answered it, hearing the love of her life on the other end of the line.

"Hi, Gwendy! What? The farewell dinner for Flash? Oh- I'd almost forgotten." Peter exclaimed listlessly.

"We won't let you forget, man. Can't have the bash 'less everyone chips in!" Mary Jane exclaimed across the room.

"Well, lover... I just wanted to remind you not to spend your extra money on frivolous things like yachts and Cadillacs! And remember... MJ is off-limits to Gwendolyne's guy." Gwen teased, knowing all too well how jealous Mary Jane was of her and Peter's relationship.


Gwen spotted Peter arriving at her place, but instead of hearing a doorbell she heard nothing. A moment went by before Gwen cracked opened the door to the apartment, grinning at the confirmation Peter had actually arrived.

"Coming in, Peter...or do you just have a thing about ringing doorbells?"

"Oh...Hi, Gwen. Sorry, pretty girl. Guess I was a little preoccupied!" Peter replied before kissing her cheek, ushering her to the coat rack and Gwen beamed.

"That's okay, Mr. P. A girl can't take too much of all this flaming passion, anyway!" Gwen teased.


Peter helped Gwen with her coat, draping it across her shoulders as Gwen said goodbye to her father.

"Hello, Peter! Have you heard the news about Spider-Man being scheduled for a tv appearance? Our friend, Jameson is having conniptions about it!" George explained from his armchair.

"Sorry, dad. This scintillating lad is mine tonight!"

"Hmmm... I suspected as much." George chuckled.


Peter and Gwen took a bus to the Coffee Bean. With limited seating, Peter urged Gwen to take one of the last seats, standing in front of her, his hand clasped in hers firmly for the entire ride.

"Remember, Pete... Flash mustn't suspect that we're planning a party for him!" Gwen reminded him, grinning softly. With all the anarchy as of late, with her father, she'd been dying for a night of fun with her friends.


Peter and Gwen arrived at the Coffee Bean arm and arm together.

"Hi, Gwendy. Couldn't get a date tonight, huh?" Flash smirked playfully, flagging them down.

"Come off it, soldier. With Peter on my arm, I feel like a sweepstakes winner." Gwen gushed.

Mary Jane crossed the outdoor part of the cafe towards them to drape herself against Peter's shoulder. "Hmmm... If you're all that groovy, maybe you deserve Mary Jane."

"When would you like him, dear? Before or after I pull your hair out?" The blonde smirked as Peter helped Gwen out of her coat.

"Look, gorgeous... If you're in the mood to pick up strays, how about me? We can still keep Puny Parker around for laughs." Flash smirked at Gwen.

"That does it, wise guy!" Peter exploded, raising his fist threateningly. "If you think your uniform gives you right to..."

"Clam up, chowder-head, before I give you a knuckle-sandwich to chew on!" Flash barked, and Gwen shoved the two lads apart angrily.

"Pete... Flash... Stop it!"


Peter left without another word, shoving his hands in his pockets morosely.

"Hey, Pete... C'mon back, boy. Flash was only clownin' around!" Harry called, now standing in between Mary Jane and Flash, holding Flash's shoulder.

"There's something worrying him. He hasn't been himself lately." Gwen explained.

"Face it, Gwen! You're just hard to take." Mary Jane said classily.


Gwen left Flash, Harry, and M.J to catch up to Peter. It took her a while, but she eventually spotted his familiar hunched over, miserable-looking figure.

"Peter... Wait. What is it? What's wrong?" Gwen inquired desperately. "What's upsetting you, Peter? Tell me... Is it... Is it something I've done?"

"You? Oh, no, Gwendy... No." Peter explained, waving his hand off, walking ahead still. "It's just that everything in my life seems to be going wrong. My grades have slipped, Aunt May's still weak..."

"Is that all, Peter?" Gwen pressed on, feeling like there was something else bothering him.

"No... There's you and me. How do you think I feel... Being too broke to wine and dine you the way I should? Why should someone like you be stuck... with a shnook like me?" Peter asked sadly.

Solitary tears slid down Gwen's features, her heart breaking for him. "Don't say that! I don't care how much money you have! You're the best thing that ever happened to me." Gwen expressed, spinning Peter to face her so she can kiss him passionately, a kiss that Peter reciprocated with ease.

They finally pulled back, and Peter kept his arm across Gwen's shoulders. "Okay, honey. I'll stop feeling sorry for myself." Peter relented, rubbing his hand down her back soothingly.


Peter and Gwen watched the sunset over New York from a park bench, their heads resting against each other and Peter's arm still hanging over Gwen's shoulder.

"I'd rather be here with you...on this park bench right now... than anywhere else in the whole wide world." Gwen expressed sincerely.


Spider-Man was going to make an appearance on the Midnight Show. Gwen, George, and Jameson were backstage for some reason.

Jameson was more than a little excited for this. "Glad we got here early. Wouldn't wanna miss a minute of this." He smirked, folding his arms across his chest, a large cigar in his mouth.

"Never knew you were such a tv fan, Jameson!" George replied.

"Me? I'm a culture-lover from way back."


Spider-Man was running late, earning some ribs from the talk show host before Spidey web-slung in, fashionably late. The crowd cheered for Spider-Man as Marvin introduced him needlessly.

"What were you doing up there?"

"Just hanging around." Spider-Man replied cheekily.

Spider-Man sat down and Marvin dove into his interview. "The first question I'd like to ask is... Why do you keep your identity secret?"

"Well, eh... Mostly it's because... Eh..." Spidey shrugged awkwardly. "Tell me, what's your second question?"

"As you may know, the Daily Bugle has threatened to..."

"Hold it!" Spider-Man got a weird look on his 'face', looking away, alerted.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Marvin asked.

Suddenly there was a large crackle, and Spider-Man dodged a shot of electricity directed at him. "Look out!" Spider-Man exclaimed.

"Open the exits. Get everyone out of here!"

The crowd, including Gwen and George, fled in a panic, and Jameson stayed, grinning like a maniac.

"Joe! Stacy! Stay where you are! I don't want to miss what's going to happen to Spider-Man!"

"Jameson... You knew this would happen. You were waiting for it!" Joe Robertson realized.

"You bet your sweet bippy I was!"

Gwen had left with the rest of the civilians, successfully wasting the author's time writing this.


A/N: Anyone notice Gwen called Peter "Lover" here? Or that very passionate kiss she gave him, proclaiming he was the "best thing that ever happened to her"? #RetconSinsPast