Chapter 8 [Fifteen Minutes Later]
[A/N: The stuff with Liz's stepbrother occurred in Amazing Spider-Man 28.]
Peter looked about himself. Inky Darkness blindfolded him. Chill reddened his skin. He shivered. His feet felt as if they floated without touching the ground. Numbness weighed on his fingers and hands. He pushed his leaden arms into the stuff about himself. Nerves jabbed at him. He'd heard about the Rider's handiwork. He'd seen Abuse's cycle at work in front of himself.
The Rider and Lichtenfeld bragged as much….
Strange and Osborn had both warned him about his "dark angel".
Where's he taking me? How much longer's he going to keep me in here? The passenger flung his hands about in Shadow's blind.
COOL IT! AH'M HELPIN'! AH AIN' PURITAN BOY OR PAINTY FACE! YER REALLY BUGGIN' ME, BOY!
Spider Sense blared at the advisory. Breeze rustled Peter's hair. Street Lights dazzled his eyes. Blur focused into Familiar and Alleyway…
The alley beside his wife's childhood home…now their home….
"I'm back?" Peter brushed his fingers across the trash can lid. He felt the duffel bag's strap in his hand. His nose took in Lilac's scent from next door.
Ah told ya. The Child's dark astral form coalesced in front of him. Ah won' hurt ya! Gotta git back to Big Bro. Jus' call Lexie. It turned to disappear.
"Hey wait!" Peter sucked in a deep breath. "Sorry. I appreciate it. I just wasn't expecting you to do this. Thank you."
Yer welcome. Th'nks! The Apparition melted away into the night.
You can deal with Doc Strange's magic. You can deal with this too. Lex's going to be ticked off about the disappearing act. Peter hefted his duffel bag. He edged his way out of the alley and onto the familiar street. "He really did it. He brought me back here." Wonder shook his head. He climbed the stairs. He unlocked the door and walked in. "Gwen?"
Harry stopped by the living room door. "PETE?" Amazement stopped him in his tracks. "What are you doing here?"
"This is my wife's house, Harry." Peter kept Annoyance's tone from his voice. Rather he took a calming breath. "A friend just dropped me off early. Who's going to refuse an extra night with Gwen?"
Harry nodded although he didn't quite get it. "A friend just dropped you…halfway across the country?"
"Yeah he literally showed up and brought us back here." Peter wasn't about to mention Norman to Harry. He didn't want to trigger Relapse's nightmare for his friend anew. "Mind if I say hi to my wife? Then I can tell everyone what happened?"
"Harry? What's going on?" Gwen walked out of the living room. Surprise gasped from her lips. "Peter?" She grinned and pounced on him. Her arms embraced him. Her lips mashed down on his.
Peter returned her gestures with his own. Her presence rejuvenated him. Much as Rain restored Drought's parched plain, Confidence and Strength returned. "You know what they say about wishing on a star. Right?"
Gwen raised an eyebrow. "You were at Lex's mansion, Mr. P. And now you're here? I…" Realization put two and two together. "Wait. Let me guess. Dave's bodyguard brought you here?"
"He knew we didn't want to wait." Peter hugged her again. "I'm just glad to be back with you, Kid."
She touched foreheads with him. "He may be scary, Man of Mine. Still he keeps you coming back to me. I'll give him that. Have you eaten?"
"Nope. I'm starving. Is that pizza?" Hunger watered in Peter's mouth.
"It sure is. Hey, we ordered enough for an army. Besides, there's someone for you to catch up with." Harry smiled. He didn't understand the 'bodyguard' talk (or who that was). He made a note to ask Lex at Opportunity's behest.
"Someone to catch up with?" Peter studied Harry.
"Hello, Peter." Liz lingered in the doorway. Dread and Nerves buffeted her stomach. She considered her former crush. Regret over dropping off the face of the earth ate at her.
"Liz? Liz Allan? Wow! It's been way too long!" Peter hugged her as well. "We didn't know where you were. Or what you were doing after graduation."
"I know, Peter. I'm sorry about that." Liz sighed. "I had family issues. I also had to take care of my stepbrother, Mark. I've been helping in the prison ward at Roosevelt Hospital."
"Liz is a nursing assistant. She's really close to getting her RN." Harry led them all back into the living room. "That's how we met. She was helping out in the psych ward. She was assigned to take care of me."
"Harry's really sweet and kind. I'm glad that he still wanted to talk after his stay. His support's been great." Liz rubbed Harry's arm.
"It works both ways, Liz. Thanks." Harry nodded. Gratitude shone through his eyes and smile. "We'll figure everything out. Say, Pete? Maybe LexCorp might have something for Mark's condition?"
"You might speak to Lex. What kind of condition are we talking about?" Peter bit into a slice of pepperoni and sausage.
"Mark had an accident back when we were in high school, Peter. He and his boss argued in a lab at Oscorp. An alloy spilled all over him. His skin is really slick. He's really strong as well." Liz frowned. "I wish he hadn't try to steal that chemical."
"Dad and Smythe were really fit to be tied over that." Harry shook his head.
Peter nodded. "Spider-Man told me about that. Liz, your brother's Mark Raxton?" He rubbed the back of his neck. He knew the alloy in question was for Smythe's spider slayers. Raxton himself had proven a difficult enough opponent. Besides his strength and enhanced capabilities, Raxton's engineering mind could figure things out better than most of his opponents. "So he's been in the hospital all this time?"
"That's right. I should've known you'd know about him." Liz shrugged. "I didn't know who to talk to. Now I don't want to intrude on Gwen and you especially when we're all getting ready to move."
"We're all friends. You just stop that! As a matter of fact, we'll all be down in Metro together." Gwen looked to Peter.
"We will…? Harry?" Surprise jarred Peter. "You're moving there too?"
"We were going to surprise you, Mr. P. We're going to be awesome neighbors!" Gwen rubbed her husband's shoulder.
"After he bought out Oscorp, Lex heard I needed the transfer. He had a place down there. Mark's going to be in a clinic there. So I'm packing too. Gwen said you're going to be at the Daily Planet now?" Harry informed him.
"I start August 1st. Since I'm done with my journalism refresher course, I know a certain divine lady who'd like help with packing. And voila! Here I am!" Peter announced. "You need help at the old apartment?"
"I'm all set, Pete. Thanks." Harry grinned. "This is going to be so great!"
Peter's phone buzzed. "Just a second." He took it out. "It's Lex. I should take this." He answered it, "Hi, Lex. Sorry about the disappearing act."
"Yeah I figured he just brought you up there. Are you all right?" Lex drank from a mug of coffee.
"I'm fine. He just showed up and brought me back here. I didn't have time to tell you." Peter exhaled a deep breath. "I guess I get to packing."
"After we spend some us time together," Gwen reminded him.
"Listen to her, Peter. Well, you have fun up there. If you don't have plans for the Fourth yet, call Dave and Angie. They're organizing a get together up at their farm north of Albany. I'm setting up the hotel arrangements. Harry and Liz are also invited." Lex entered the event in on his own calendar,
"I'll talk to them. I also need to check with Gwen about it. We still need to pack up Aunt May's house too." Peter frowned.
Gwen raised an eyebrow. Now what's going on? We have to move!
"Thought you'd see it my way. I'm glad you're okay. Let me know if anything comes up." Lex finished his coffee.
"I will. We'll text them first thing tomorrow. Have a great night." Peter looked around at all of the boxes.
"Let me speak to Lex, Mr. P." Gwen motioned for the phone. "Hi, Lex! How are you?"
"We're fine here! I was calling to check on Peter after his sudden departure. I should've known that a certain friend helped us out. Anyhow, Dave and Angie are planning a get together on the Fourth up in Wabash. Everyone's invited. Transportation, lodging and food are all taken care of. All you have to do is show up and enjoy. There will be fireworks and music in Albany as well if you'd like." Lex made notes to himself for potential catering choices. His mind flashed back to Dubois' graduation party at the Kent Farm decades before. Maybe something like that? Small and simple…if we can keep it that way.
"That sounds great!" Gwen nodded to Peter. "Count Peter and me in! I'd like to see everyone! We've been meaning to take the train north. Now a reason just happened to pop up. Imagine that!"
'Imagine that." Lex chuckled. Being back there with her will lighten Peter's mood. No wonder the Big Kid got him back there that quickly. "I'll talk to Martha Kent when we get closer. Maybe I can send you some extra helpers if you get my drift?"
She nodded. Can Clark and Lana get away from the farm? I know how busy everyone is! "Lex, I don't want to inconvenience you guys. You all have been so great over the past few months! The Talon and farm need to keep going."
"I think we can spare people for a day or two. At least we can get you two packed up. Any word on the housing market down there? My offer still stands. Randall Yates is the best realtor in Metro. He's also a good friend. Let me make the call. He'll get Harry and you both into great homes."
Gwen scratched her head. She didn't want to ask too much from Lex. Given everything else though, an introduction would really help Peter and her. "Okay, Lex. It can't hurt to talk or see what he has available. I'm sure Peter will appreciate the help too."
"Absolutely! Well get back to the packing. Everyone sends best wishes. We'll see you on the Fourth. Can you give me back to Peter?" Lex agreed.
"Sure thing!" Gwen handed the phone back to Peter. "It's all good!"
"Well that's a relief." Peter put the phone back to his ear. "Lex?"
"And like that, you're good. I just suggested a realtor for Metropolis to Gwen. You'll have some extra help soon with your packing. Thanks. Talk to you soon." Lex hung up.
"What's that about the Fourth?" Harry drank from his cup of soda.
"We're all invited for some get together up at the Duboises farm in Wabash. It's a village north of Albany. It might be fun," Peter explained.
Gwen nodded. "All right, Mr. P. I like what I'm hearing. Let's get in a solid day tomorrow with the rest of our merry crew. Then we'll see where the chips fall."
"I sure like the sound of that!" Peter agreed.
"I thought you might." Gwen leaned against his arm. She relaxed. Maybe she'd been tense before. Now though, she had her man in her arms. And that was all she needed….