Disclaimer: I own nothing here except my OC Phoebe.

Listen With Your Heart Chapter 20

Phoebe got to Gwen's apartment long before Peter did. Initially Phoebe planned to walk over there with Peter given he hasn't been there before. Then he dropped a bomb on her that he'd be okay finding his own way since Gwen provided him with the address already while at school.

So the two girls are siting in Gwen's room doing homework as they waited for him to show up. Peter was fully expected to make his entrance from the front door as normal people usually do, just not the window on a fire escape.

A light tapping noise on the glass made both of them lift their heads to see what caused it.

"Peter," said Phoebe, surprised.

Peter smiled waving lightly at them in a hello.

Gwen got off the bed to let him inside. She lifted the window and Peter ducked right in.

"How did you get out there," said Gwen, curious.

"Uh, the fire escape," said Peter, pointing at it, shrugging, "Your doorman's intimidating."

"No he's not," scoffed Phoebe. "And it's 20 stories."

"Yeah, it's all right," reassured Peter, sweeping his eyes over the room. "This is your room?"

Nodding, Gwen said "Yes, this is my room."

"Books," said Peter. "Shoes."

Gwen laughed.

Raising a brow, arms crossed, sarcastically, Phoebe said "You're very observant, Peter."

Peter made a face at her in retaliation.

"What are we, six," retorted Phoebe, sitting back on the bed.

Suddenly remembering something, taking off his backpack, Peter said "Oh, hey, uh…I got your mom, uh, these."

Peter pulled out a bouquet of flowers that is now half crumpled because of how cluttered it was in the bag. Phoebe chocked back her laughter.

"Oh, lovely," gasped Gwen.

Mortified, Peter said "Beautiful, right?"

Nodding, Gwen said "They're beautiful."

Burying his face in the flowers, embarrassed, Peter said "They were…They were nice. I'm sorry."

"No, they're beautiful," assured Gwen. No, it's impressive. They actually held together pretty well."

"I'm gonna keep these," said Peter, slipping the flowers back into his backpack.

Pointing at it, Gwen said "You have your suit in there?"

Peter's head snapped upwards a shocked and off guard look on his face.

Phoebe frowned when she saw it. What is that about? 'Cause Gwen didn't say anything that would warrant something like that at all.

Clearing his throat uncomfortably, Peter said "My suit?"

"It's for dinner," clarified Gwen. "Are you going to wear that? That's, um-."

The bedroom door opened and in walked Gwen's dad.

George Stacy, police captain of the NYPD. He's just getting home from work.

"Hey, hon," said Captain Stacy, stopping whatever he was about to say next when he saw Peter standing there in his daughters room.

Captain Stacy's entire demeanor changed.

Straightening, Captain Stacy said "You must be Peter."

"Dad, this is Peter," introduced Stacy.

Holding out his hand, Peter said "Hey. It's nice to meet you, sir."

Shaking hands with him, Captain Stacy said "Nice to meet you. Dinner's ready." He then spotted Phoebe on the bed. "Hello, Phoebe."

"Hi, Mr. Stacy," said Phoebe, smiling kindly at him.

Refocusing on Peter, Captain Stacy said "Hope you like branzino."

"Who doesn't," said Peter, trying to save face.

Phoebe could've banged her head slowly and repeatedly against the wall if Gwen's dad hadn't been there watching.

With the additions of Phoebe and Peter to their table the Stacy family sat down to eat dinner. Phoebe has partaken in branzino before so it's a no brainer for her. But Peter, he's having some difficulty. He's poking at the fish with his knife having no idea how to deal with it.

Noticing this, Mrs. Stacy said "You're having trouble there, aren't you? The head goes on the other…Simon, help Gwen's friend with his fish."

Gwen's youngest brother Simon got up from the table to help him.

"Oh, I…," stuttered Peter, "I got no idea."

"First time," smirked Simon, knowingly.

Grinning, Gwen said "Branzino."

Seeing how Phoebe is completely at ease with her fish, Peter said "You have this before."

Nodding, Phoebe said "I've eaten over here plenty of times and Dad's made it from time to time at my request."

"George, why don't you tell us about your day," said Mrs. Stacy.

Gwen's middle brother, Marcus, said "Oh yeah, Dad, did you catch that spider-guy yet?"

"No, we didn't catch him yet. But we will. He's an amateur who's assaulting civilians in the dead of night. He's clumsy, he leaves clues, but he's still dangerous," said Captain Stacy, taking a bite of his dinner.

"He's assault…He's assaulting people," asked Peter, making sure that he heard right.

Already knowing the direction the conversation is going to take next Gwen's eldest brother underneath her Jason sent a look in Phoebe's way. Phoebe rolled her eyes in response making a face behind her hand.

Here we go again.

"I'm not sure. I mean, I saw that video with him and the car thief and I think that most people would say that he was providing a public service" disagreed Peter.

As discreet as she possibly could, trying to be subtle about it, Phoebe was making cutting motions at her throat in order to get him to shut the hell up.

Too late.

"Most people would be wrong," said Captain Stacy, unsmiling. "If I wanted the car thief off the street, he'd already be off the street."

"So, why wasn't he, then," said Peter.

This time Phoebe didn't bother to hide it to keep up appearances. She smacked a hand over her eyes shaking her head at how dimwitted Peter is acting about this.

Gwen laughed awkwardly to try and break the tension building.

It didn't work.

The pride in him as a cop coming out in full force, coldly, Captain Stacy said "Let me illuminate you. See the car thief was leading us to the people who run the entire operation. It's been a six month long sting. It's called strategy. I'm sure you're aware of the term strategy. You've probably heard about that in school?"

Nodding, Peter said "Yeah."

"Good," said Captain Stacy.

Gwen sent an exasperated look her mother's way.

"I know," whispered Mrs. Stacy.

The boys merely sat back enjoying the show.

Phoebe is resigned to watching Peter dig his own grave.

"Obviously he didn't know you had a plan," said Peter, still defending Spider-man, not quitting while he's ahead.

"You seem to know an awful lot about this case. You know something we don't," said Captain Stacy, incredulous, miffed that another person is defending this vigilante. "I mean, whose side are you on here?"

"I'm not on anyone's side. I saw a video on the internet-," said Peter, trying to explain his own point of view.

"Oh. You saw the video on the internet," drawled Captain Stacy, sarcastically, glaring at Peter. "Then the case is closed."

"No, no, I'm just saying that if you watch the video. Maybe I could send you a link? It looks like he's really trying to help," stated Peter.

"Sure on the internet he's being made out to look like some kind of masked hero or something," spat Captain Stacy, extremely critical.

"No, no, I'm not saying he's a hero. I don't think he's a hero at all," said Peter, flinching under the weight of the Captain's skeptical and suspicious gaze.

Arms crossed, Captain Stacy said "What are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying he's trying to help. But it looks like he's trying to do something that maybe the police can't," said Peter, mouth running off without thinking.

"Something the police can't," said Captain Stacy, indignant.

Okay now this is all about personal pride.

"I don't know," said Peter.

"What do you think we do all day," demanded Captain Stacy. "Sit around eating donuts with our thumbs planted firmly up our asses?"

"Daddy," said Gwen.

"George. George," said Mrs. Stacy, stepping in now since this is getting out of hand.

"Up your what, Dad," said Marco.

Trying to fix this, Peter said "I'm saying eh stands for what you stand for, sir. Protecting innocent people from bad guys."

"I stand for law and order, son. That's what I stand for. I wear a badge. This guy wears a mask like a…like an outlaw," said Captain Stacy. "He's hunting down a bunch of criminals that all look the same, like he's got some sort of personal vendetta. But he's not protecting innocent people, Mr. Parker."

Having had enough of this, Gwen said "Let's get some air, Peter. Dad, we need to talk."

"Yes, we do," said Captain Stacy.

Peter and Phoebe got up to follow Gwen.

"Thank you. I'm sorry if I insulted you," apologized Peter, sincere. "It was not my intention."

"Branzino was real good, Mrs. Stacy," said Peter.

"You're welcome," said Mrs. Stacy, aiming a reproachful look at her husband.

"What," he said, shrugging.

Peter and Gwen headed for the roof. Phoebe would join them in just a moment she just has to use the bathroom. She couldn't have been in there more than maybe ten minutes.

Right when Phoebe stepped out onto the roof she froze.

For Peter had just leapt from the wall with Gwen standing there not doing anything to stop him.

Phoebe rushed to the edge and saw something even more unbelievable.

Peter was swinging from building to building with webbing coming out of a contraption on his wrists. As he got further away it fully hit Phoebe what she's seeing.

"Did he just…," said Phoebe, leaving the question hanging.

"Yup," said Gwen, just as speechless as she.

"Then that means…," said Phoebe.

"Oh yes," said Gwen.

"We are in major trouble," said Phoebe, eyes enormous.

That explains a lot.

Authors Note:

So, what did you think?

Hope you guys all like this one!;D