Part 7 - Guardians

Chapter 130 - Rebuilt

Max watched his parents sleeping peacefully in a hospital ward on Earth-1610, or 7610 as it was usually referred to. Both had had operations: Miles on his hand and Gwen on her back. They'd be confused when they woke up, but oh well. He turned and left, giving a nod of acknowledgement to the pair's parents, or just parent in Gwen's case.

Miles groaned as he woke up. It took him a moment to work out he was in a hospital, and his parents suddenly crowding around him didn't help.

"Miles? How do you feel?" His father said.

Miles remembered what had happened and looked at his hand: it was wrapped in some sort of weird bandage. He shrugged it off.

"I feel…OK. What about you?"

"We've been worried, Miles." Said his mother.

"Hey, is Gwen OK?"

"Yeah, she'll be alright." Said his father.

His mother moved out the way so he could see she was fast asleep on a bed next to him. She stirred as if she could tell he was looking at her, turning onto her side. Her eyes blinked open and they stared into each other's for a few moments. Her father saw she was awake and rushed over asking basically the same questions Miles' had. Miles turned back to his own.

"So…what's happening with the world? Or what's left of it."

"Everything's left of it. That Max guy rebuilt it all with a snap of his fingers. I really have to wonder what the deal is with him." His father replied.

"I'd tell you but it would sound crazy. So, back to life as usual. Can't say I'll miss the wasteland, or the killer robots."

Six months passed. Miles was chilling out on top of the Empire State Building. It was his birthday so he was just relaxing and enjoying the view. He jumped as a burst of colour indicated the arrival of someone from a different dimension. Gwen smiled. He smiled back; he hadn't been expecting a visit today.

"Happy birthday! I got you a present."

"Really? You didn't have to."

"I had to get you this, though."

She handed him a slightly badly wrapped package which he ripped open. She chuckled to herself as she saw his face go from excited to confused to that expression people make when they get something they didn't want but pretended they did.

"Chalk. Err…thanks."

"I know you don't use it, but I figured you could always fix that drawing Max made you do and make us look happy in it."

He grinned in a slightly more believable way. She sighed.

"It's a joke present, Miles. Truth is I didn't know what to get you. And I know as your girlfriend I'm supposed to know this stuff, but you've got everything you want."

He put the box of chalk down and pulled her into a tight hug.

"I know this is a really cringey thing to say, but you being here is the best present you could give me."

"Yep; really cringey. So cringey I might just leave."

"Please don't."

"I'm joking!"

"I know. I'm just bored. Big family dinner and all that tonight. You want to come?"

"I'm good. And I'm not technically family."

"You could be…one day. Actually, if Max's version of events is right we were family."

"Max's timeline was crazy. I'm glad we've got this one. But my answer's still no. To the dinner, I mean; not to being family one day."

Miles raised his eyebrows. She made an O shape with her mouth, then burst into a fit of giggles. When she calmed down again, she kissed him.

"I love you, Miles."

"I love you more."

"That's impossible."

"But it's still true."

Crossovers in this Chapter

Not one. Fun fact: this is the shortest chapter in the fan-fic at just 751 words.

Note

And now we come to the end of part seven. There's a resident friendly neighbourhood edgy thalassaphobic spider Jesus, so nothing can go wrong now...can it? You'll just have to wait until part eight to find out!

From now on it's back to one chapter per day when publishing. That was just to catch up with how fast I was writing.