November 25th - 2020
Peter slowly awoke, groggily opening his eyes. He rubbed away the sleep before rolling over to face Gwen.
"Hey, you." Gwen gave him a kind smirk. "Glad you finally joined us."
"It's still early, Gwendy." Peter pushed himself around again to gaze at her, immediately stopping and lying on his back again.
Gwen sat with a towel over her lap, breastfeeding their daughter in her arms. He approached her and leaned his head on her shoulder before caressing Elizabeth's tiny feet; they were covered with the most miniature sock he had ever seen.
She glanced at him with huge eyes similar to her mother's, nearly identical.
"She's so calm," Gwen spoke with a sincere smile. She felt somehow much lighter when holding her baby daughter. It was like she could forget everything about the world's problems and just focus on her little girl. Gwen had lost all of her concerns before Elizabeth's birth; the whole mother thing was much more manageable than she had imagined.
She was enjoying everything about it.
A scrabbling noise occurred as Ren jumped into the bed, clamoring for attention. Peter patted him on the head. He started snoring as Peter caressed him. The noise distracted Elizabeth. They settled on Peter, staring straight into his analyzing gaze.
"Morning." He smiled at his daughter, who quickly gave him a very tiny smile before losing her interest in him to resume her feeding. Gwen found the moment extremely cute. "What does it feel like?" He asked.
"Relaxing, really calming," Gwen shrugged. "Of course, that's the oxytocins at work, but there we go."
"Oxytocin? Isn't that a…"
"A hormone, released in certain situations such as breastfeeding," She adjusted her grip on the baby as she continued to explain. "It's a relaxant, and it helps the bonding process. You should also note that you're getting a dose of oxytocin." She finished with a cocky smile.
He looked to Ren, who was lazily spread over his lap. "Ren?"
Gwen nodded. "By stroking, oxytocin is being released as well. You're relaxing."
"Well then, thanks for the good vibes, buddy."
Gwen turned to look at the pug, who was now flat out on its back next to Peter with its paws flailing in the air. "You should take a shower, we have to go and get someone officially named," She leaned her head down, giving Liz a vast smile. "Don't we?"
"Yeah, it was ten for the appointment, right?" Gwen nodded. "Cool, it's pretty much in the center of New York. I hope we don't get stuck during rush hour."
"Exactly why we have to go early, just in case."
"Oh yeah?" Peter raised an eyebrow. "It's not because... you want to take Liz on her first of what I'm sure will be many luxury shopping trips?"
This time Gwen stammered. "Erm… not atll?"
"Tut tut, not even a week old, and you may well have her breaking my bank account." Peter pouted comically, "Can't wait to marry her off to some rich guy with a giant mansion and some neat car.'
"Peter!" She gave him a cold glare, her hiss distracting Elizabeth as well.
The second pair of green eyes joined her, presenting two ice-cold stares of similar nature.
He gulped again; it was somewhat startling. His wife's cold stare was always cute, but terrifying now that she had a minion to help her out with that, things weren't looking good for him.
"It's just a little joke, no need to commit homicide now."
"You shouldn't be saying such things."
"Okay, I won't." He adopted a serious expression. "She won't have a boyfriend till she's eighteen, and when she does, Spider-Man will do me a favor to stalk this guy through hell and beyond to know who he is, where he's from, and then if he can date my daughter."
"Wow," Gwen raised an eyebrow in genuine surprise. "I thought I would be the overbearing, obsessive, and protective."
"She is my baby, and I don't want anyone ever taking advantage of her." Peter sighed, leaning in closer and kissing Elizabeth on the forehead. "I wish you could stay like this forever, small and lovely. No trouble. Just us."
"You have no idea how much cute you just sounded, such a daddy's girl!" Gwen mused.
"I once told you that I can't be cute." He scoffed.
"I'm the chief of this relationship, so you're cute." She winked and inclined her head at the door. "Shower?"
"Wanna join me?"
Gwen replied softly. "Peter, I'm not ready for that yet."
"I didn't mean that." He kissed the pale skin of her shoulder.
"I know, but it won't be long, honestly." Gwen smiled again. "Just have patience now." She cupped his cheek with her free hand.
"That's not the most important thing in our relationship; you know that." He leaned closer and slowly captured her lips with his, assuring her that he would support her with whatever her choices were.
They broke the kiss when Elizabeth started mumbling something with a very undertone baby voice. The pair of lovers looked at their daughter, who was glancing at her parents.
"What's it, sweetie?" Gwen her forehead as she continued to make noises to her parents through her baby language and many gestures.
"I guess she's jealous of you kissing me." Peter chuckled. "Knowing how jealous you are, I wouldn't be surprised."
"Oi? So, I'm not allowed to kiss your daddy anymore?" She smiled and delicately caressed her daughter's cheek, receiving more adorable mumblings from Elizabeth, who was enjoying the talk.
Peter quickly kissed his wife's cheek and daughter's tiny feet before stating, "Ren, stay." He stopped them from leaving the room and escaping them.
He walked over to the puppy, having noted a brown stain on the skin of his back. He knelt, tentatively taking a sniff at the stain. "Have you been rolling in chocolate? God, you need a wash."
The dog looked around rather innocently, large eyes jumping out at him. Peter shook his head, standing up and facing Gwen with a dramatic expression.
"If you won't shower with me," He drew himself upwards, "Then... Ren will."
At the mention of a shower, the dog bolted, but Peter was quicker and grabbed its collar. He carried the terrified puppy under his arm and marched it into the bathroom, smiling at Gwen before stepping inside the room.
Gwen looked at her daughter and kissed her tiny nose. "See? I told you that your daddy can't resist me… and you too."
"They just left." The young blonde man informed the redhead female, who sat in the chair beside him after seeing the new parents leaving the building's garage with their car. He held a newspaper to cover his face while occasionally drinking the orange juice from over the table to stay in disguise.
"Can I warn him?" She asked, lowering her sunglasses and allowing her green eyes to take a bath of light. "We can now invade the apartment."
"Did you give him the apartment's keys? She nodded in response. "Okay, send the text." He focused on the newspaper in his hands once again.
"Done." She replied. "Erm... do we need to act like spies, Howard?"
"You are ruining the moment, MJ." Howard sighed, finally lowering the newspaper so he could look at her now with a mocking expression. "Is Flash already inside?"
His sister gave him the apartment's keys a few months ago just in case something happened, and they weren't there.
MJ checked her phone and saw a reply from her boyfriend. "Yup, the house is clear. Can we go now?"
"I'm going to contact the others in a few minutes. We need to move quick enough and prepare things, copy?"
MJ groaned at his formality. She muttered, "... roger that."
"Let's move on then," Howard spoke, excited.
He paid his juice bill and crossed the street with MJ following him closely as they headed together towards the building's main entrance, where most of the family would be waiting for the pair before making their way to the apartment.
Hours later...
After officially registering their newborn daughter, the couple had strolled through the local market to buy the usual goods for their apartment. They were now inside the elevator that led them to their floor.
"Now we officially have another Parker in the family." Peter looked down at the baby in his arms; Liz was sort of smiling at him. Not quite a full-on smile, but he could see a slight curve at the corners of her mouth.
She was learning and learning quickly. He wasn't surprised, though; a child of his and Gwen's would be a genius. He added, "And it suits you, hey?"
"She'll also look darling in her new outfits, especially that cream, fluffy onesie." Gwen smiled as she held a sack containing some bread in her hand. "She'll have to be a proper fashion diva; I'll ensure that."
"Yes, but does a ten-day-old baby need designer clothes?"
"Any girl needs her designer clothes, but any girl of mine..." Gwen gave him another smirk. "Well, it's a requirement of life."
"Good lord, woman." Peter continued, "It's a good thing that I have some money reserved in the bank then, I couldn't imagine how I would pay for two of you and your habits," He adjusted his grip on Elizabeth, rubbing his thumb lightly across her cheek and being rewarded with a squeal. "I don't think just Spider-Man's photos would help it."
Gwen agreed with a nod. "Oh, it most definitely wouldn't."
"Well, if you're gonna teach her about fashion… then I'll have to oversee the important stuff." He gave Gwen a grin. "Music taste, skating, taking photos, stunts, you know – the vitals in life."
She sighed. "Oh god."
"Yeah, it's going to be awesome, right, sweetie?" He leaned down and kissed his daughter's forehead as she touched his cheek with her tiny hands.
"She won't learn parkour-" Gwen failed to finish her warning as the doors in front of them opened to the side and revealed their apartment's door with a written message hanging over it.
Welcome, Liz!
"Looks like the welcoming committee are here." He mused.
Gwen turned to Peter with a confused expression. "Did they warn you or something? Because I don't know if Elizabeth is ready to be with a large group. I mean, she could get scared or-"
"Gwen." Peter gently laid a hand across her arm as they walked towards the door, holding Elizabeth with his opposite arm. "It's pretty much my family, and yours too. All they'll want to do is to meet Liz; there's no harm."
"I know; they've broken into our home." She chuckled, calmer.
"Looks that way." He smiled. "Didn't you give your mother and Aunt May the key, though?"
Gwen stopped in front of the door and searched for the keys inside the bag on her shoulder.
"Yes, but it's supposed to be for emergencies and whatnot. I don't think they would come here without warning us. This has to be MJ's idea… I'm pretty sure."
"What about Howard?"
"I don't think so." She placed her hand around the knob in the door. "He would tell me. He always does."
"Oh, it was you then." Gwen looked at her brother who stood in front of her inside the kitchen.
"We have to celebreate my niece, so I invited some friends." Howard folded his arms and smiled, gaining a laugh from his sister.
"Could have warned me, though." She elbowed him.
"But then it wouldn't be that much of a surprise."
"Thank you, Howard." Gwen hugged him. "I thought she wouldn't be ready to be among a large group yet, but it seems I was wrong." She glanced into the living room and smiled, watching her husband telling Mary Jane how to hold their daughter in her arms correctly; the latter remained very calm despite all.
Gwen added, "I'm just being a bit over protective." She chuckled lightly. "Peter is no exception, though he'll claim otherwise."
Howard smiled, "Just wait until the boys are chasing her in her teens, then you'll have to restrain him." He kissed his sister's forehead. "Spider-Man will have a mental breakdown when dealing with them."
Gwen laughed. "He mentioned something like that earlier.
"I'm glad you're happy, sis." He caressed her shoulder. "You deserve it."
"We all do, Howard."
"Then come now and join the party." Howard unwrapped his arms around Gwen and gently grabbed her hand, leading his sister towards the living room.
After sharing a soda with Flash and Howard, Peter stepped out of the balcony with Elizabeth in his arms. He brought her to the living room. Just at the same time, Gwen appeared from Elizabeth's bedroom with Aunt May near her, chatting animatedly about babies.
As they reached him, a pair of hands scooped Elizabeth out of his arms, accompanied by a mischievous laugh from his aunt. "Sorry. I need to kidnap my granddaughter for awhile."
Peter found himself staring down at his now empty hands. "How did you do that so quickly?"
"Practice." May gave him a wink, nudging Gwen at the same time. "Now, let's go and show her off a bit more, eh?"
With that, May hurried off, rather happily. Gwen followed, though she turned and gave him an exasperated smile. Peter made to follow but decided he needed another drink first.
He headed into the empty kitchen and grabbed another soda from the fridge before turning to walk out again. He stopped, realizing that the kitchen wasn't empty after all.
"Hey you, Eddie." He greeted.
Eddie leaned his shoulder against the wall and smiled back. "Congratulations on the beautiful popstar over there."
"Thank you." He patted his shoulder and sat against the kitchen cabinet. "How are things going? We haven't talked much when not at the Bugle, man."
He took a sip of his soda.
Eddie joked, "Jameson needs to give us some free time." Peter nodded in agreement. He continued, "You won't believe this, I'm in contact with my sister again."
"I don't think you ever mentioned that you had a sister, Brock."
"Well, yes. It's... complicated, you know?"
"I know everything about complicated. Want to fill me in?"
Eddie sighed and crossed his arms, dropping his chin. "My sister left our house after my father passed away... and I guess we parted ways, even if I never wanted to. She's now living in Toronto."
"But you two are keeping in touch now?"
"Thankfully. Thing is… I missed a lot, she... she had cancer during these years we stood away from each other. " He revealed.
His sister was essential to him, the only family he now had left.
"I'm so happy for you, man." Peter placed his drink close to the sink and approached Eddie to pat him on the shoulder. "You are a good person, one of the best. You deserve this."
"Thank you, that means a lot." He replied. Peter could see the bright coming from his blue eyes.
"Let's get back to the boys to tell them the good news, Eddie."
"Men..." Gwen cursed and sighed heavily as she walked into the kitchen.
They had taken over the living room to watch a silly high school comedy that they all loved, all being rather vocal in their support of the film. They were spread out over the sofas and floor, and the fireplace had stacked beer crates.
Flash found the crates in their storage, it was like placing honey near the bees.
She had tried to wrestle Liz away from Peter, but he had insisted on showing their daughter one of his favorite movies to see if she adopted the same taste he did.
The women had returned to the dining room and sat around the dark brown table, chatting amongst themselves. Mainly about the state that the boys were already in.
Gwen herself had gone off to find more wine and returned to the table, taking place beside her mother.
Helen snaked an arm around her daughter's back and kissed her cheek. "How are they?" She asked.
"Laughing and drinking at the same time," Gwen answered. "It won't surprise me if one trips off the balcony in the current state of affairs." She joked.
MJ chuckled and questioned, "Are you still going to the gym, Gwendy?" She noticed that her friend was already returning to her physical form before the pregnancy.
"Nope." Gwen shook her head. "Just doing some good ol' running on the treadmill in the gym inside the building."
"Ah… and it's working, I guess." She found herself hiccuping next.
Gwen breathed thankfully. "You have no idea; the thing is truly magical." She continued, "Though you should be careful, or else your time might arrive too." She teased.
MJ shook her head. "I'm cool for now, not planning for a baby anytime soon; holding that cutie in Peter's arms will be enough for me for the time being." She winked.
"I see that the dispute for Elizabeth is still strong," May interjected.
Helen informed, "Gwen was disputed all the time too."
"Mom… don't start." Gwen pleaded.
"Okay, I won't tell any of your childhood stories." She assured. "But, I don't make promises about your teenage years. Have I told you guys about the night I caught them on my rooftop?"
Gwen slowly headed towards the bedroom, her head slightly heavy on the alcohol. She had been very sensible, not drinking too much wine, but after not having a drink for nine months, her tolerance wasn't exactly at its usual capacity.
The house was quiet, and everyone had left by now. It was about three o'clock in the morning, but people had been sneaking up to check on her. Peter had been consistently checking her.
As she reached the bedroom, Gwen carefully pushed the bedroom door open, a fond smile forming as she saw the sight within.
Elizabeth was asleep in her cot, with one side of the cot's railings removed. Peter was leaned against the open side, also fastly asleep, He snored quietly, a magazine was held loosely in one hand.
As Gwen approached him, she noticed a book containing many children's tales on his lap. He had been reading the book for Elizabeth, even if she didn't quite understand what he was talking about.
Gwen removed the magazine from his grasp and placed it over the nightstand.
She considered moving him, but she didn't want to wake him up, so instead, she grabbed the duvet off the bed and placed it underneath him, covering the floor with it. She grabbed a sheet and snuggled next to him, pulling it over them.
Gwen kissed him in the jaw as his arms moved in his sleep, coming to rest in their natural position around her shoulders as she began to drift off.
A/N: I have been thinking a lot about stuff recently, and the story was one of those things. I'm so glad to be writing this and that some people enjoy it. I started writing this in April (2014) before I had even watched the sequel (spoilers); it was mostly a form of therapy for me.
After the feedback I received, I began planning an actual plot. I had this goal of reaching thirty chapters, but I don't have that anymore. I won't stop writing for the time being if people still enjoy it.
Sure, the story may reach a point where there won't be that much to tell anymore, and I would then probably have to end it, but we're far from that; I can guarantee you guys that. There are two already planned storylines to happen.
I'm thankful for having this experience. I made mistakes, and thanks to my readers, I learned from them. Thank you for everything, it's been a joy to write this story, and I won't leave it unfinished.
18/08/22: Fixed mistakes. Rewritten passages and scenes for a better understanding and flow. Lines were improved and tightened. No major changes.