How did that happen? Peter Parker didn't know but there he was. In front of a grave once again. Will it ever stop? Will he ever wake up without the constant pressure in his heart, the fear that he might lose someone he loves again.
He could remember it all too well. He couldn't believe that his childhood friend had changed so much. The boy who used to run away to go play baseball with Peter, who always brought fancy caramels from his dad's work, with whom he read science magazines and talked about the future without seeing the minutes go, left his place to the monster that he was then facing. The tower was going to fall and he knew it. He didn't know if he could hold on any longer. And Gwen. Her life was literally hanging on by a thread. And by her life he meant his life. He could not imagine ever going on if she... If she...
"Focus Peter" he thought. "Analyse the situation. don't let your feelings get in the way. You can save everyone, just imagine you are back in the construction site, on your skateboard. No one, nothing to disturb you, you are free, you know what to do. You got to..." He was cut by Harry attacking him again. With an inhuman rage in the eyes, he grabbed Peter's face with his hands, clawing through his skin. Peter yelped with pain, he couldn't let go, there was too much at stake. So he held on, fought the best he could but he was feeling his forces diminishing…
Suddenly, before he could even grasp what was going on the gear moved behind his foot and the whole tower shifted. The web was cut short leaving Gwen to fall down right towards the ground several feets below. Time stopped. Peter felt a surge of helplessness, he was going to lose everything and he just wasn't strong enough. Just for an instant, he made eye contact with his former friend. Before diving with all his might and all his will towards the love of his life. Further, a little further. He locked eyes with her, he saw the fear in her eyes but hope too. The Peter Parker was going to save her, right? She couldn't see the floor coming fast, she could only see him. No, he wasn't going to reach her on time, it was too late, she was too far… Peter barely saw a flash of green before she fell on the ground and his web met only nothingness. Something broke inside of him. He came down a few seconds later and reached for Gwen.
"Gwen, Gwen…" He cried, holding her tight against his chest. The pain was insufferable, he couldn't. He. Lost. Her. Then he heard it. Close from his ear. Just a whisper.
"Pe…ter…" No, it couldn't be, he saw her hitting the floor. No, it was only his pain talking, his mind couldn't handle it anymore so he was losing it.
"Peter…" A soft hand touched his cheek full of tears, blood and dust. He held his breath. He was most likely losing his mind but he had to make sure. His eyes opened slowly only to meet a blue gaze that he never thought he would see again. Gwen chuckled lightly, wincing in pain. Peter looked around him, not believing that she could be alive. Then he laid his eye on the thing Gwen was laying on and he realized what happened. There was the lifeless face of Harry. He somehow had succeeded in catching her before she hit the ground and slowed her fall with his own body, giving his own life to save her. So it was true. The lovely face that was in his arms wasn't an illusion, he wasn't losing his mind, she really was alive… He captured her eyes and couldn't keep himself from smiling. She smiled back at him like a promise, a promise that they would never leave each other ever again, because living without each other was not an option.
"How do you feel?" He asked after a while, taking her in his arms.
"Peter?" she asked, "I don't feel my legs…"
"Peter, the others are going," told he voice behind him.
"Yeah, I know, I'm coming…" Peter said distractedly, staring at the stone in front of him. 'HARRY OSBORN 1994-2014 — SON AND FRIEND HIS SACRIFICE WON'T BE FORGOTTEN BY THE ONES WHO LOVE HIM' read the grave.
"He gave us what he never could have." declared solemnly the blonde next to him.
"Mmh?" asked Peter, back from his head.
"A second chance. So what are you going to do, Peter Parker?"
"Well," he started, taking her hand. "First you are going to go to London where a bright future awaits the brilliant first student of her promo. And I will join you because I love you and I can't be away from you anymore. You know that, right?
"But…?"
"But I also know that there are threats here and that I can't leave the city unprepared."
"We'll figure it out. And I'll be by your side," Gwen affirmed.
"Always," Peter replied, pressing her hand.
"Even if now you can't swing me around anymore, what a bummer…" she joked with a smirk.
"What? And take away the pleasure of flying with me, never!" he laughed. Peter picked her up from her wheelchair and threw both over in the air. They were broken, but this time they would be broken together.
