Chapter 3 [Manhattan—About 5 PM Eastern]

Big Apple benefitted from the warmth as well. Flowers budded. Leaves filled in their trees' canopies. Joggers took to the streets. Gardeners tended their yards and mowed lawns. Birds built their nests.

Of course, some birds prepared to fly away….

[Parker Residence (former Stacy Residence)]

Gwen piled clothes on her bed. Nostalgia weighed on her. Her fingers ran through each blouse, t-shirt, skirt or pair of pants. Decisions ate at her. She knew she couldn't keep everything. Still, each piece held special meaning for her. This just blows my mind. Where does the time go? She shook her head. "Can't keep everything, Girlfriend!"

An empty box sat to her left.

She bit back Sentiment's wailing. Instead, she sifted through each piece of clothing. A few blouses, skirts and pants made her personal cut. She dumped the rest in the box and marked it "DONATIONS". She steered it out into the main room beside her father's clothes and things. Dad, you'd be so proud of us! We're moving on. Peter has a better deal at the Daily Planet. Met U's going to make my teaching sing and dance! Peter and I are finally married. I know we're leaving our friends behind here but you should meet everyone out in Metro and Smallville! Aunt May's coming with us eventually. We'll get moved first. Then we'll get her out there with us. Wish you were coming too. I miss you, Dad. She passed her hand over the sealed box.

In that heartbeat, she felt his presence.

Security warmed her. She knew her two best guys would be with her no matter what.

Knocking at the door interrupted the moment.

Now who could that be knocking at my door? She navigated through the cardboard maze. "I'll be right there!" She tip-toed around potential tripping points. She caught herself against the door. "I'm going to sprain an ankle on that one!" She rolled her eyes and opened the door. "Harry? Harry! You're out of the hospital!"

"Yeah I sure am." Harry Osborn rubbed the back of his neck. Contentment regained its former perch in his eyes. He seemed more relaxed. "I…had help in that regard. There's somebody I wanted you to meet." He motioned toward a slender woman with blonde shoulder length hair. "Gwen, this is Liz Allan. Liz, Gwen Stacy Parker."

"Congratulations to Peter and you! Harry told me all about your wedding and everything." Liz offered her hand.

"Happy vibes are always appreciated." Gwen shook the offered hand. "Come on in! You might want to be careful. Peter and I are in the process of moving. So there are boxes everywhere! I was just going to take a break and have some coffee. Want some?"

"That'd be great. Thanks!" Harry guided Liz into the cardboard maze. "Wow. Your Dad and you have been here as long as we've known each other."

"We sure have!" Gwen looked about the impromptu staging area. "I'm kind of mixed on it. You know? In some ways, I feel attached to this house and the memories. On the other hand, Peter and I have our new life together. As soon as he and I finish everything, we'll be moving Aunt May out there."

"Wow." Liz scratched her head. "They've lived in that house since elementary school." Seeing Gwen's curiosity, she added, "Peter and I went to school together just as Harry and you did. We graduated from Midtown High in the same class."

"Okay. Well nice to know you now. I'm just bubbling over with questions." Intrigue grabbed onto Gwen's attention. She started the coffee pot. "I'm sorry. I don't remember Peter mentioning you. What do you do now?"

"I don't think he would." Liz leaned closer to Harry. "Peter and I were classmates. I guess I was just one of those girls that didn't see under the glasses, sweater vests and the tie you know? Anyhow we dropped out of touch after high school. I'm a nursing assistant. I'll get my RN next month if everything goes right. I've been taking care of my stepbrother too. It's a lot but I get by. Harry though is such a big help." She allowed herself a dreamy smile.

"The psych hospital needed helpers. Her bosses lent Liz to them for a couple of days. Anyhow, she was taking care of me. We got to talking. One thing led to another. Everything's all right. My new boss is just great. I can't believe Mr. Luthor! Wow. He's serious about his business. He's such a great guy though." Harry nodded.

"He really is." Gwen served up their coffees. "Let me get these out to you." She brought their cups out. Then she followed with milk and sugar. "You two just sit and enjoy! Sorry I don't have any cookies or anything."

"This is great!" Liz took a mouthful. "Mmm! Where'd you get this coffee?"

"A friend of Mr. Luthor's actually. Peter and I met his wife and him while we were all at the mansion for the internships. That guy's like a super researcher and totally medieval. He's promised us a tour of the Cloisters at some point. I'm glad you're working for Mr. Luthor. He's exactly that way with his friends. He helped Peter and me so much!" Gwen drank from her coffee.

"Yeah he is. That's why I'm here. Liz has to move her stepbrother out to a clinic in Metropolis. I talked with Mr. Luthor. He suggested I transfer out there and then put it through. Unreal. He just made my life easier." He smiled at the two women.

"Peter and you are going to be out there?" Realization dawned on her.

"We sure are. Just a minute." Gwen dialed her phone. She put her finger up.

"You're…?" Anxiety paled Harry's face. "Gwen! Please don't…!"

"It's all right." Gwen nodded to them.

"Lex Luthor."

"Hi, Lex. It's Gwen."

"Just the person we were about to call! Everything's great! Peter and I are at the Talon right now. I can let you talk with him." Lex motioned to Peter with his eyes toward the cell.

"Just tell Peter I'll be calling him later. Actually I just wanted to say thank you for helping our friend Harry out." Gwen grinned at them.

"Of course! Harry is just the person I need here at the Metropolis office. He's promised to introduce me to this mystery girl." Lex smirked. "Liz I think?"

"That's sure right on! Liz is really nice. She and Harry are here at my house. Got a minute?" Gwen listened intently.

"Sure. That'll be fine." Lex leaned back in his seat.

"Mr. Luthor?" Harry asked.

The Smirk spread further across Lex's face. "Hi, Harry. You can call me Lex when we're not at the office. Everything all right?"

"Yeah, Lex. Thanks. I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate everything. I'm looking forward to finding out about Metropolis. I'm glad we won't be alone out there." Harry looked around at the boxes surrounding them.

Lex chuckled. "I'm sure Peter and Gwen feel the same. They're going to be there. Peter's Aunt May will be moving out there. I'll have you out to the mansion in Smallville. There are lots of people who still ask Peter and me how you're doing. You won't have a problem. And you're welcome. Thank you for being available to fill that post. Jasmine and you got along well when you were here for the wedding. She's looking forward to working with you. And Liz? She doing all right?"

"Huh? Oh sure." Surprise knocked Harry for a loop for a second. "She's graduating from nursing school next month. After that, she's moving out there."

"That sounds great, Harry. I'm glad you've met someone. Let me know if she needs help getting placed after graduation. Remember to let me know when you're coming. I'll make sure everything's taken care of. Say hi to Gwen and…Liz. Take care." Lex disconnected.

Harry handed the phone back to Gwen. "I can't believe you really have Lex on speed dial!"

"I don't know if it's speed dial. He was really great. He's had breakfast with Peter and me here. That was the day Peter proposed to me." Gwen sighed. "Friends like that make the world go around."

"They sure do! I feel better now. Mark will too. He's my stepbrother. Think we can all get together?" Relief eased Liz's mood.

"Count on it. We can have a moving in party or something. You can meet our friends. They're really groovy out there!" Gwen's smile threatened to push the ears away from her face. Her eyes sparkled. "If you ever get Martha Kent to cook for you, do it. That woman's a marvel. Even Aunt May loves Mrs. Kent's cooking."

"Peter's aunt?" Harry raised his eyebrow. "I'll definitely keep that in mind."

"She's got the blue ribbons for her pies to prove it. In fact, she made our wedding cake." Gwen's eyes sparkled at the memory.

"She's the lady that sent the cake to the hospital for me. I can't believe she's not a French chef! That was amazing!" His mouth watered in memory of the delicate vanilla cake.

"That's the type of place Smallville is." Gwen set her cup down. "You guys need a refill or anything?"

"I'm good. Thanks. So what happened to Peter's job at The Daily Bugle? I thought Mr. Jameson loved him," Liz presumed.

Gwen shook her head. "We had a situation come up during our trip. Mr. Jameson let Peter go. Fortunately, the article he co-wrote for the Bugle and the one for the Planet helped. He landed on his feet. He starts there August 1st." She looked around Bedlam's handiwork. "I guess I'm ordering out. Pizza or Chinese?" She took out her phone again.

"We're good for pizza. I've got it, Gwen." He took out a pad of paper. "How do you like yours?"

The two ladies looked at each other. Dinner had promise. That was for sure….