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Chapter 8: First Christmas Together
Five days until Christmas!
The city was a-buzz with Christmas lights, songs, and the spirit...for the most part. But it didn't stop typical New York rudeness, especially with people shopping more like maniacs.
Luckily, that didn't stop the Parker and Jones families from enjoying the holiday.
Peter and MJ were both especially excited. Since it was their first Christmas as a couple.
MJ worked some extra shifts at the F.E.A.S.T. Center, which she enjoyed, but she also got a part-time job at Brooklyn's Peter Pan Donut & Pastry Shop, just to earn some cash.
They actually gave some really good tips, too!
But, even with Christmas around the corner; MJ was mostly focused on sorting through her feelings ever since Peter said he loved her. She'd let Peter and Ned in on a certain level, even more so when she told the former why she'd built up her emotional wall. That was a big step for her, but returning Peter's feelings...that was huge...!
She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't hear a customer walk in, until they said something.
"Oh, sorry. What can I-" MJ's voice trailed off and her eyes widened when she saw who was standing in front of her...
Pepper Potts Stark!
MJ tried to speak, but no words came out of her mouth. She was meeting one of her idols and she hadn't expected to.
Said woman smiled at her, "You must be Michelle. It's nice to finally meet you."
MJ managed to gain her wits back and shook the woman's hand.
"I guess Peter's told you about me."
"You're practically all he talks about, nowadays," Pepper commented, making MJ blush a bit.
She ordered some coffee, then MJ got off work so they left together. They both had some Christmas shopping to do, anyway.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At the Parker's apartment, Peter was wrapping MJ's present.
"Well, someone's been a busy elf, this time of year," said May.
Peter smiled bashfully, "I just really hope she loves this."
"Well, what is it?" May asked.
"Plushies of Espeon and Umbreon," he answered.
May looked skeptical, "MJ likes Pokémon?"
"I was surprised too," Peter replied. "Her grandmother was a seamstress, and she actually made her some plushies of Umbreon and Espeon herself when she was little, since they were her favorite."
"Aww~! May gushed at that.
"But, her uncle's dog got a hold them once...and they got destroyed," Peter continued sadly. "She was really upset."
"Oh, well, that happens with dogs, especially young ones," May said.
"Now, these weren't made by her grandmother, but I got her new plushies of those same Pokémon," Peter finished, smiling.
May smiled, placing her hands on her heart, "Peter, that's so sweet."
"Thanks, May," said Peter as he finished wrapping up MJ's gifts. "Oh, almost forgot; Aaron said he can spend the holiday with us. Otherwise, he'd be by himself."
"So, I'm finally gonna meet the mysterious Aaron," May commented.
"You'll probably like him," said Peter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later, at MJ's apartment; Peter and May arrived with Aaron, then Pepper showed up fifteen minutes later with her daughter, Morgan, and Happy Hogan.
Desirée was certainly thrown for a loop when THE Pepper Potts Stark showed up with her daughter.
"Oh! Hello!" she greeted in surprise.
"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Jones," she greeted warmly.
"PETEY!" Morgan ran over to hug Peter, which he returned.
"Hey Squirt!"
Morgan was now six and a half, and she was even cuter in person. MJ smiled at the scene.
"Morgan, there's someone special I want you to meet," Peter picked her up. "This is Michelle."
"Hi Morgan," MJ greeted shyly.
Happy recognition registered on the little girl's face, "Are you Petey's girlfriend?"
"Yeah, pretty much," MJ answered.
"You're pretty," Morgan added, making MJ blush.
"Okay, we'll be making gingerbread houses soon," Desirée announced. "We just need to get the materials."
"Morgan and I can help with that," Happy offered.
"Who wants hot chocolate?" MJ asked.
"Oh, yes, please!" said May.
MJ pulled Peter over to the kitchen to help her, where she playfully slapped his arm!
"Ow! What-?"
"You did not tell me Pepper Potts Stark was coming?!" she whispered in happy-anger.
"Sorry," he apologized.
"It's okay, but still!" MJ said.
"Hey, I didn't even know she was coming!" Peter countered.
"Alright, you get a pass," she relented. "But give a notice, next time."
"Ma'am yes ma'am!" He gave a mock salute, making them both laugh.
They poured the ingredients into a pot, then Peter stirred it. They let it simmer for nine minutes, then MJ added a teaspoon of vanilla and stirred it some more.
"By the way, if you add a French vanilla creamer to your cup; it really adds to the flavor," she commented.
"Really?"
"It really helps," said MJ. "Try it."
Once the hot chocolate was ready, they poured it into nine cups. Peter took the creamer MJ offered him and added it to his cup. He then stirred it, blew on it several times and took a sip.
His eyes widened at the added flavor, "Wow, that's really good!"
"He's one of us, now," MJ grinned.
Peter rolled his eyes as she got two bags of small marshmallows out of one of the cupboards.
Desirée, Morgan and Happy came back carrying bags of M&Ms, gumdrops, jelly beans, Hershey's kisses, lollipops, candy canes, and more.
"Who's ready to decorate the gingerbread houses?" asked Desirée.
Caleb got out the large tray of gingerbread that she'd made earlier in the day.
They split into teams of kids vs. adults; Peter, MJ, Caleb and Morgan against May, Desirée, Pepper and Happy. Aaron played judge.
It was very close, but the kids won!
Then, everyone gathered in the living room for a Christmas movie marathon. They started with Jim Carey's "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" and "Elf". After Morgan and Caleb went to bed, everyone that was still up watched "This Christmas" and "Diehard".
The latter was one of Peter's favorite movies.
"I can't believe people still say it's not a Christmas movie!" he said. "And then say that "Rise of the Guardians" is!"
"That's an "Easter" movie," MJ remarked.
After a while, the movies were over.
Before everyone left the Jones' for the night, MJ asked to speak with Peter, alone.
"What's wrong?" he asked, concerned.
She sat on her bed, sighing heavily, "I wanted to...talk about...what you said to me at the dance..."
Peter's eyes went wide before he sat down beside her.
"I've spent half of my life not getting overly excited about things," she began. "Because if you expect disappointment, then you won't be disappointed. But...when you told me "semi-accidently" that you love me...I was shocked, but it was also one of the happiest moments I've ever had..."
"Really?" asked Peter.
"You know I don't lie, Peter," said MJ. "But...I was really nervous, too."
"Well, yeah, I kinda expected that," Peter admitted.
"I honestly feel sometimes like you're too good for me," MJ admitted as well.
"Really?" Peter asked. "Because sometimes, I feel like it's the other way around."
"Don't be ridiculous, Parker," she remarked. "You're the one that has the big heart."
"So do you," he leaned his forehead against hers. "I love you."
MJ really wanted to say it back, but it was really hard for her,
"I...I feel the same way. But...it might take me a while to actually say...those words..."
"There are lots of other ways to say it," said Peter. "Not just words, you know."
In response to that, she kissed him. Peter wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next day, Peter and MJ took Morgan to the Rockefeller Center to see the large Christmas tree, and to go ice-skating.
"Are you excited, Morgan?" MJ asked.
"Yeah! I always wanted to see this!" Morgan replied.
When they got there, the little girl gasped at the tree. It was practically gigantic, with hundreds of lights and ornaments!
"Wow!" Morgan exclaimed. "It's huge!"
"Seventy-nine feet tall and forty-six feet wide," Peter said. "And fifty thousand lights!"
"Nerd," MJ commented, playfully.
Soon enough, they were on the ice. Peter and MJ stayed close to Morgan the whole time, mostly to teach her how to skate.
"You're doing great, Morgan!" MJ exclaimed as she and Peter held her hands.
"You're a natural!" he added.
"I'm picturing Shadow the Hedgehog to do it!" Morgan stated.
"You ready to try on your own?" asked Peter.
"Yeah!" she answered.
They released her hands and slowed down as she skated ahead, still keeping her balance.
"Great job, Morgan!" Peter called.
She briefly glanced back, giving thumbs-up and smiling brightly.
"You're a natural, too," MJ stated.
"At what?" he questioned.
"Being a big brother," she answered, smiling fondly.
Peter smiled, as well before he looked over at Morgan, who laughed as she skated along. His mind even moved to the concept of having kids, but immediately tried to get rid of it.
'Dude! It is WAY too soon to think about that! ...Although, I don't hate the idea of having kids with MJ. I think she'd be a great Mom, and...GAH, STOP PETER, STOP IT!'
MJ nudged him before she skated after Morgan, prompting him to follow her.
Three days later, it was Christmas morning! After breakfast, the Parkers returned to the Jones' to exchange gifts.
Peter was especially excited to give MJ hers, while she was nervous about hers.
"Here, you go first," she handed him her present.
He opened it carefully, revealing red notebook with yellow lettering that said "PETER & MJ HIGHLIGHTS".
"It's a scrapbook of...some of the moments we've had," MJ said, a little embarrassed.
Peter smiled and opened it, seeing some pictures of them and their special moments. On the London Tower Bridge where she showed the black dahlia necklace, and they shared their first (Three) kiss. When he took her swinging for the first time (Which she vowed NEVER to do again), and some others.
"You, or...we can add more in the future," she added.
Peter smiled at her before kissing her cheek. "I'd love that."
She smiled back, then opened hers.
Inside was a blue and red box with the "Pokémon" logo on it. She gasped silently as she eventually revealed the two plushies.
"I know they aren't made by your grandmother, but I thought you might like some new ones," Peter said. "It still holds the sentimental value, right?"
MJ sighed/sobbed happily, happy tears rolling down her face, then she hugged him tightly.
"Thank you, Peter," she cried.
"You're welcome," Peter replied as he hugged her back.
She kissed him to really show her gratitude, which he was more than happy to return.
The rest of the day was spent playing board games, baking cookies, and watching more Christmas movies. Then in the evening came dinner. Everyone had such a wonderful time.
All in all, it was a great day, and Peter hoped each new Christmas in the future with MJ would be just as special as this one.
That Donut shop is in No Way Home, but here we have it in something with a better ending.
What Morgan said about skating; that's actually how I taught myself to skate. I pictured how Shadow moved in Sonic Adventure 2!
Read and review, please!