January 19th - 2028
It was already morning and the base's officers were already prepared and ready for duty. There were barely anytime to rest with so much happening going on through the recent months, they knew what's at stake. In the bare darkness of Peter and Gwen's room, the couple were still peacefully sleeping with Peter lying behind Gwen's back as he unconsciously intertwined the fingers of his free right hand that resting over her left hip with Gwen's.
While still deep on her sleep, Gwen instinctively and slowly played with his fingers, before gently holding his hand in hers. Even if not awake, she was feeling more secure than ever after having to fight alone for her life. Peter slowly started to stir as he slowly opened his eyes just to see his blonde wife sleeping next him, tucked under the bed's covers.
It was a strange sensation at first, to wake besides his Gwen after weeks of just participating of mission and living without her. He still didn't believe that she was there; maybe it was dream, but a good one. He took a glance at her face and softly caressed her hand that was intertwined with his own, before carefully leaning his head to the back of her neck as he nuzzled her hair while smelling her favourite shampoo which he brought from their own apartment during the evacuation.
Being a light sleeper since - forever, Gwen instantly turned her head next to his when she felt his delicate touches at the back of her neck, their eyes meeting each other when some physical tension started to settle between the two lovers who stood frozen next to each other. Peter looked at her green beautiful eyes which were full of desire, and nearly identical to his'.
Desperate, Peter quickly moved his hand to Gwen's cheek and smashed his lips against hers in the same ferocity that Gwen used to reciprocate the kiss which was filled with passion and urgency. He moved himself over her chest and pressed her body down into the bed, standing between her legs as Gwen tried to follow his movements by fighting his lips back and gently placing both hands on his cheek. Peter gently placed his free hand on the side of her blonde hair as he brought her body closer to his. He let her move herself into his lap; they both were now sat on the bed. It was just a matter of seconds before they feel back to the pillows, still fighting each other tongues. He stood above her and broke the kiss to recover his long lost breath.
"Hey," Peter greeted while gasping at the same time.
"Hi," Gwen replied, breathless.
Unexpectedly, Peter leaned down again and quickly danced with her lips again, as if the world was about to end. Without a warning, the door of the room was open with Elizabeth and the twins storming inside, still wearing their respective pyjamas.
Peter moved himself away from his wife, giving the children space to embrace their mother.
"Mommy…!" David crawled into bed, accompanied by Aiden as they jumped into her chest, causing Gwen to laugh despite being out of air due to the twins' sudden move.
"I've missed you two destroyers of worlds!" Gwen kissed the top of both their heads as they lay in her left and right side of the bed, hugging her. Elizabeth stood next to Peter, under his strong arms, her mother winked at Liz and she winked back, getting a surprised glance from Peter who was slowly started to fear the future since his daughter was a replica of Gwen, but not a bad thing at all.
"Liz told us that Daddy arrived in a plane and then he blew the evil machines to find Mommy who fought Kung Fu to defend herself!" Aiden affirmed, excited.
Gwen grinned, "What?"
Elizabeth inquired, "It wasn't?"
"Um, darling...I don't really do planes." Peter moved a lock of her blonde hair behind her ear and kissed the spot behind her ear, softly. "And neither rockets."
Gwen slid her hand underneath David's shirt and caressed the smooth skin while she stroked Aiden's hair, "And Kung Fu isn't really my thing. However, I do know some moves though."
Elizabeth sighed, "I think that I may have exaggerated the story, didn't I?"
Peter hugged her close while smiling gently. "Just a little, darling, just a little."
She looked up at her father's brown eyes, "Are you staying here with us, today?"
"I've to talk with Tony first, but probably yes. Dr Adams did order me to rest after all." Peter replied.
"I miss Ren..." Aiden interjected, unexpectedly.
"We all do," Gwen nuzzled his brow hair, "He's probably sleeping right now." She continued, lightening the atmosphere, and causing her son to giggle.
Peter smiled as he stretched his arms. "Well, are you three hungry?"
"Yeah…" The twins replied altogether, Elizabeth just nodded as she caressed his hand with her thumb.
"You guys should change your clothes so that we can go together to the mess hall. Don't forget to brush your teeth's before, deal?"
"Deal…!" They stormed off the bed and headed back to their, before Elizabeth gave the couple a warm smile as she closed the room's door, leaving them alone.
Peter smiled and turned back to his wife lying next to him, he smiled at her as he cupped the smooth skin of her cheek, appreciating the little moment that they were sharing together. "How are you feeling?"
Gwen kissed his hand, "I'm better, but it would be a lie to say that I'm not worried about my mother and brothers."
"We'll find them," He assured. "I won't ever let anything happen to you again."
"This is bigger than you, Peter" Gwen said softly, "Don't say such things to yourself, there are lot of lives depending on you." She loved his sweetness, but she wasn't that much important as the fate of the whole human race, and he needed to be aware of that.
"But you're the most important one, you and the kids."
Gwen stroked his hair, "There's a whole world out there, not just me. You're an Avenger for reason."
"I know," He kissed her forehead. "You're my future, and I'll fight for that future, one last time."
"You mean -"
"Yeah, I'm tired... it's time for me to pass the torch." He explained.
"Well," Gwen kissed his lips and then looked up at his big brown doe eyes, "I've always loved the idea of waking up in the morning and rolling out onto the beach." She gave him a warm smile.
"As you wish, Mrs Parker…"
He chuckled and gave her one last kiss, before moving himself off the bed and heading towards the bathroom for a nice cold shower. Gwen sat on the bed and calmly analysed the room for the first time since she arrived in the base. A couch close to the bed, a military locker which they were currently stashing their clothes, and a desk with a computer over it and the bathroom very close to it. A fine temporary shelter in Gwen's opinion, but at times like the current one, she couldn't complain about it.
Gwen stepped into the cold floor and walked around the bed and towards the locker. As she opened it, she saw her clothes already properly stashed. Her hand case that she brought from Washington was there as well, for her contentment. She carefully unzipped it and moved her right hand inside of it, searching for a very special object that she always carries with her. She retrieved two small photos from the case, and looked at them. The first one photo showed Peter with his arms around her. It was taken during the wedding's reception; it was taken by her mother on one of the happiest days of her life. The other one showing Elizabeth holding a new-born Aiden on her arms on the couch, and with Peter sat next to her, holding David himself.
So much has changed since them, she became one of the top scientists from her city and the country and their kids were now older, smarter, but always loving. She has a husband, a house, a puppy and a happy life. Everything that she could wish for, but one thing kept her alert, and that's Peter himself, he's tired, hopeless, not the man who constantly cheered her up, he still does that, but it's obvious that he isn't totally being himself, colder and more direct, the war was heavily affecting him, and she feared that such event could leave him forever scarred.
But she knew that the Peter which she fell in love with would forever exist, no matter what he goes through, because that's what makes him so special, he never changes, he's always the same dorky, passionate and caring guy that she married, and Gwen would forever be at his side, supporting and loving him.
Gwen had lost herself to her own thoughts that she didn't even noticed how much of the time had passed by, and Peter, who was wearing only a pair of boxers, snaking his strong arms around her waist and resting his chin on her left shoulder. "What's that?" He grinned, eyeing the photos.
"Um... These are just photos that I like to carry in my suitcase when I'm away," Gwen paused, smiling at the photos, "They make me feel safe... comfortable." She gently shrugged.
Peter caressed her abdomen and smiled. He kissed her cheek and spoke, "Shame that I don't have one those."
Gwen chuckled, "I know that your laptops' background is me reading a book."
"Are you spying on me?"
"You gave me your password, I've done nothing illegal." She joked.
"You tease." Peter kissed her neck.
Mess Hall
Gwen and Peter were in the empty mess hall eating supper in companionable silence, enjoying each other's company. Their kids were now at Natasha's room, probably bothering her, not that she minded. It was a nice location, organized tables, a rather fancy kitchen, no wonder since the particular section was made to shelter the most important person in the US. There was a small infirmary room connected with the area as well. Gwen took a sip of water and put down the glass afterwards.
Peter's voice cut through the silence, "You are smiling you know?"
Gwen looked up at Peter who was sat beside her and she chuckled, "Yes, well sometimes it's hard not to."
Peter smirked, "You are welcome." He took a bite of food and a sip of juice from his glass.
Gwen feigned seriousness, "Oh? And why would you think you had anything to do with it? Don't flatter yourself."
She couldn't let him think everything good in her life was because of him, but he was right and she knows it. His ego could be without that. She had her kids, friends and family as well to be happy about, even if she didn't knew where Helen and her brothers were.
Peter chuckled, "Yes ma'am."
Gwen shook her head and took a bite of her food from her fork.
"So you miss our own bedroom back in New York, eh?" Peter asked.
Gwen shrugged, "Yeah, but it would be nice with some occasional alone time. Now I'm rather confined to your place." She teased.
"If you need space just say so." Peter said casually, but he knew that she wouldn't want that by any means.
"I know, and I do have some alone time now and then." Gwen smiled coyly and added, "Although the room where we current are does come with a few perks."
"I agree." He smiled and leaned closer to her neck, kissing the delicate skin.
"Behave." Gwen warned with grin.
From behind her Gwen heard footsteps coming from the elevator.
Peter smirked, "I'll try." His eyes left Gwen's figure and upwards the disturbance. "Hey Clint…"
He walked up the table, "Hey guys."
"Good evening Clint." Gwen said cordially as Clint stopped near them.
He grinned, "I didn't mean to interrupt the love affair."
Peter chuckled, "It's all right. Is everything fine with you?" He motioned for him to sit down at the table.
Clint sat down a chair away from Peter, "You know I try not to think about it."
"I understand."
Peter frowned a bit, "Heard anything?"
"Looks that there will be a new video conference with the countries that aren't yet invaded, Tony will lead it."
"My fingers are crossed."
Clint rubbed the back of his neck and asked, "Peter, they say that women have a thing for bad boys, do I look like one?" He contemplated deadpanned.
Peter chuckled, "I don't think you need to worry about that. The real reason is because you're an Avenger, its part of your bad boy persona. Without it, you don't have enough personality to get someone." He teased.
"Oh god…" Gwen murmured from her end of the table.
Clint turned to Peter and countered with a grin, "Oh? What about that request you got from Asgard's women? You know, you are a real heartbreaker. Left those poor love people all alone without an answer. They're probably still waiting for a reply."
"Ugh, men…" Gwen snorted derisively.
Peter shrugged, "Well, that just means I'm more of a ladies' man then you are if I actually can get the interest of Asgard's women as well." He joked, "I'm Spider-Man, handsome, funny and a natural badass."
Gwen held in a laugh, despite everything, she could see how Peter was happier with her presence, something that he knew it was missing during the past weeks.
"Dream on Peter." Clint countered smugly.
"You wouldn't survive the encounter." Gwen pointed out unamused, rather annoyed at their conversation's topic.
Peter turned to Gwen and grinned, "That's why I'm with someone I would survive such encounters with."
Gwen gave him a suggestive and sultry smile, "Oi? One night with me can be very fatal-."
Gwen's mind finally caught up with the words coming out of her mouth and she quickly clamped down and put on an unfazed facade. For a split second she had totally ignored the fact that they weren't alone at the table. Clint remained impassive; at least she thought he did, but her husband besides her grinned widely as usual.
Gwen turned to Clint and said evenly, "You didn't hear a word."
"Of course not..." Clint responded casually. After a few moments of silence at the table he cleared his throat and rose from the chair, "I'll leave you two to your love affair."
"Right..." Peter nodded.
"See you around." Clint said walked away out of the mess hall to wherever destination he was heading for before he had stopped at the table.
Gwen glared at Peter, "Stop smiling dammit! I ought to wipe that grin of your face." Of course it didn't have the effect Gwen desired. She sighed and looked at their plates, "Are you finished?"
Peter nodded and stopped grinning, "Yes." He kissed her jawline.
"Good." Gwen rose from the table with tray in hand. "Let's get these things into the dishwasher so that you can see what this conference fuss about…"
"Of course…"
They walked over to the dishwasher and spent a couple of minutes stowing away the plates, glasses and the tableware. Peter closed the dishwasher and turned it on. He then turned to Gwen who was leaning her butt on the kitchen island behind him. He snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her against him. Gwen gave him a playful smile while she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"So, it's fatal being with you?" Peter asked with a grin.
"Oh, you know what effect my 'poisonous' lips have on you." She teased and took a breath of his scent. "You should suffer a penalization for that."
"What? Your slip up…? Wasn't that you're doing?"
"I blame you for it."
Peter leaned in and captured her lips with his. She lingered for a moment, savouring the taste and his soft lips, before she pulled away and protested.
"Peter!"
He pointed out the obvious, "There's no one here."
Gwen tilted her head towards the infirmary behind her.
Peter chuckled, "Well, Adams looks like he's busy with something else, and he doesn't care."
Gwen took a deep breath and said evenly despite their flirtatious moment, "You have to -"
Bruce turned around the corner and stepped into the kitchen, surprising the two flirtatious lovers who quickly parted away from each other arms and just awkwardly stood next to each other. "Um... Hi?" Bruce greeted with a grin. "Am I interrupting something? I can return later."
Peter saw Gwen try to suppress her shamefulness as her cheeks started to turn into a shade of red. He smiled. "Nope," He shook his head, "You look better." He observed the only bandage left in Banner's forehead.
"Yeah, that wasn't normal."
Gwen interjected, "I'm glad that you're okay, at least nothing can go wrong now."
Peter widened his eyes and shared a surprised glance with Banner. "Oh Gwen, you didn't... you can't ever say that!"
Bruce sighed. "That's right, when you say that nothing can go wrong, it usually does." He nodded at Peter.
"What?" Gwen noticed that was obviously an inside joke which she wasn't aware of.
"Do you even watch movies? Like Madigan?' Peter asked, incredulously.
"It's a curse, Gwen," Banner completed his friend.
Gwen shook her head, "Oh geez! I wasn't that much of a nerd like you two." She protested.
"Still," Banner sighed, "You may have just doomed us all."
"That's silly, nothing is going to -"
"Peter, this is Tony, come here when possible, I need to talk with you." Tony's voice announced through the intercom.
Peter gave her a glare, "Thank you so much Mrs Parker."
"I've lost my hunger." Bruce patted Peter on the shoulder and walked away and towards the elevator.
Gwen scoffed and closed her arms, looking at her husband standing in front of her with a playful smile. "What? Isn't this silly joke already over?"
Peter approached her and rested his hands on her waist. "It's not a joke," He leaned for a kiss but Gwen didn't exactly collaborated with him and kept her lips closed, "You look so sexy when you're angry, baby." He teased, brushing his warm lips against hers.
"Oh, yeah…?" Peter slowly kissed her lower lip with closed eyes. "Do I look sexy... when you're kicked out of the bedroom?" She asked, with a seductive tone, before wrapping her arms around his neck.
He looked at her beautiful green eyes and gulped, "Now you're being mean."
She chuckled and gave him a tiny peck on the lips. "You should see what Tony wants."
"Later."
Gwen nodded and released her hold of his and took his hand in hers and they walked the short distance to the elevator. He swiped his hand over the interface and the door slid open.
"What are you working on?" Peter asked as he and Gwen stepped inside of the lounge and walked towards Flash who was sat in the lounge's couch, holding a small circular metallic object with his hands.
He looked at the couple walking around the back of the couch and smiled. "Well, a marine recovered what seems to be the heart of one of these drones. It went to analysis and guesses what; it's powered with the energy coming from the Tesseract itself."
Gwen raised an eyebrow as she sat next to Peter in the opposite couch, "Doesn't that contain some radiation? Shouldn't you be wearing protection?"
"Shouldn't be any worse than a couple dozen X-rays," He grinned and teased the couple, "We'll be fine as long no one's pregnant."
Peter laughed, very awkwardly as he looked to his wife who chuckled back.
"Okay, Flash…" Gwen shook her head, "We're lucky then." She chuckled again, trying to get through the awkward situation that Flash created.
Peter cleared his throat, and changed subjects, "Um... doesn't that means that Ultron and his army are being made with the Tesseract's energy?"
"I'm just an ex-marine," Flash shrugged. "You two are the nerds."
Gwen shook her head in realization, "Right! Now we use that data that I've found to locate all bases." She smiled.
"That's going to take too long, and we don't have the luxury of time, we need to know the most important one first." He kissed Gwen's cheek, "But thank you, we wouldn't have a chance if you hadn't recovered that data."
Gwen smiled and gave him a tiny peck on the lips, before turning back to Flash who smirked at them. "By the way, how's MJ?" She leaned on her husband's shoulder.
"She's much calmer since we last talked; it was hard to leave her. I just have to thank you guys for telling her everything, means a lot to us."
"You two are my closest friends, she deserved to know who I really am," Peter stroked Gwen's hair. "Secrets don't last forever."
"Ditto..." Flash nodded in agreement. "It's hard, you know? That I have to stay away from her with so much going on." He placed the object next to him and leaned his back on the couch's comfortable material, relaxing his mind and muscles.
"You'll be fine," Gwen tried to comfort him, "What are you planning to do when this is all over?"
"That's a complicated question to answer on this moment, but maybe finally settle down with MJ, for real this time." He replied as he crossed his arms.
"Sounds like a great plan." Peter smiled, softly. He wished the best for his friend, he deserved it.
"Why are you two following me?" Elizabeth approached the storages' door and asked her brothers who were standing behind her.
The twins looked at each other identical eyes. David was the one to address her question, "We're protecting you."
Elizabeth smiled. "I'm just looking for something to watch on this room, there's nothing dangerous here."
"Well, daddy told us to keep you safe." Aiden insisted.
"Wasn't me the one that was supposed to take care of you two when daddy and mommy aren't close?"
David looked at his brother and telepathically talked through their eyes, trying to come up with something that would help them to get in that room as well.
"Fine we're bored; what if there are some toys in there?" David speculated.
Elizabeth sighed, she couldn't say no to her brothers. "It will be quick, I don't even know if we're allowed to be here."
"Okay!" They grinned with excitement.
"Shh!" Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at them." If we get caught, we aren't ever doing this again." She turned back to the door's direction and slowly turned the knob around. She peered inside, seeing a huge amount of shelves filled with books and closed boxes on the floor.
"What's in there?" Aiden inquired.
Elizabeth glanced at them and replied, "There's a lot of stuff, but please be-" She wasn't allowed to finish her sentence as the twins passed besides her and stormed inside, leaving her hanging. "Careful...?"
"Steve?" Peter widened his eyes when he approached the large vid screen located at the far end of the Operation Centre Room. They hadn't talked with each other since the evacuation back at New York, and it was about damn time that they had finally managed a way to get in touch again.
"I told you," Tony patted Peter's left shoulder, "He wouldn't go down that easily."
Peter grinned, while he was happy to see his friend again, he could see that the war was affecting Steve as well, obviously, bruises and very tiny cuts were spread across his face. "How are you, Cap?"
"It's not being easy, casualties are high, but we won't ever give up without a fight."
"Damn right you won't." Peter nodded, confident.
"Steve already knows about our plan -"
The veteran interrupted, "And I don't approve it that much, playing with a gun that we aren't even sure about what it does... but it's our only chance."
"So I'm assuming that you have a plan?" Peter asked.
"Kind of, and we've made contact with the twins."
"You mean..."
"They didn't cause any harm, and they are offering Intel about Ultron's base, including the one that contains the Tesseract." He informed.
"It's about damn time!" Peter closed his fists, "What are we waiting for?"
"Well... they want to talk with Tony first..."
Peter sighed, so much for sone good news. "That won't end well."
"Doesn't matter, we do what we have to do," Tony stated, "We're coming to extract them safely to the base."
"Roger that." Steve nodded.
"And Steve…?"
"Yeah…?"
"It's great to see you again."
He smiled, weakly, "Likewise." and shut down the connection.
Tony looked at Peter and informed, "You're not coming with us and I've read the Doc's report about you."
"But-"
"No." He insisted.
Peter shook his head, and sighed, "Fine, it's always nice to be left back." He was about to leave the room but Tony reassuringly placed his right hand on his shoulder.
"Thanks, for everything."
Peter smiled, and nodded as they shook hands. "Anytime…" They hadn't talked about Tony himself after they reached the base, and that got Peter rather worried about his friend's mental state since he was probably blaming himself for everything that was happening.
When Tony turned back to the panel behind and leaned on it, Peter broke the silence and finally asked, "We've been through a lot, how are you?"
Tony stood in silence, just looking at the holographic screen on front of him, speechless. "What is there to say? That thousands of years of civilization are now being wiped out? Because of me…?"
"Don't blame yourself for everything that happened, you couldn't have predicted what was going to happen."
"But I had to," He protested, calmly. "I've created an intelligence to assure us that is safe to walk out there without fearing a terrorist attack, to protect us, but it has found its own interpretation of peace." He paused. "I'm tired of people paying for ours mistakes."
Peter looked down at the floor and spoke, "Our duty as Avenger is to protect humanity... whatever the cost."
"You say that like if we're two different entities." He turned on his back and gazed the determined, but broken friend in front of him.
"Aren't we? If we win this, are people going to blame us? The so called heroes…?"
"Why do you say that?"
"You heard the president, the congress was planning something to control us for a long time now, and it seems that the future won't be that bright for people like you and me, and I can't put my family in risk." Peter explained, while glancing out the only window in the room.
"I see," Tony crossed his arms and sighed. "So you're escaping."
"I'm not escaping from anything. I'm already on my mid-thirties, I've reached a point in my life where I have to sat with my wife and decide what's next for our family, my kids are growing up, they need their father, and I can't be Spider-Man forever." Peter stated. He nodded at Stark and proceeded to walk out of the room, fully believing his words
P&G Quarters
"I really have to confess that those classes really saved my life." Gwen informed Natasha who was sat next to her in the couch as she gently slipped David's shirt down his head after showering him. He was sat on her lap and obediently allowed his mother to take care of him, like always.
"Well, it wasn't much, but I'm glad that it helped you." Natasha replied, handing Gwen her son's socks.
"Trust me; I don't know how things would have turned without that." Gwen now slowly combed his hair to the left, before trying to make it as much as accurate to her husband's trademark hair. "There you go," She kissed his cheek and hugged him, "Ready for dinner and then bedtime."
David looked up and gazed her with his brown eyes, "When am I going to school with Liz?"
Gwen raised an eyebrow at his sudden question, "Why's that?'
"Well, it looks pretty fun."
Gwen turned her head at Natasha's direction and exchanged a curious smile with her, "And here I thought that you two were going to hate school, I guess that my genes carried over and not only your father's." She joked.
"What is genes, mommy?"
"It's what makes us," Gwen replied, "This perfect hair? It's from your father."
Aiden frowned. "He gave me his hair?"
"Um... it's something like that." She nodded.
"Can daddy give me his suit? It's so awesome!"
Gwen laughed, "That's your own task," She gave him a warm hug and kissed the top of his head. "You should convince him."
"Yeah…!" David jump off her lap and hurried towards the door, leaving the room without any last word, like usual.
Gwen chuckled, it was hard to believe that even in times like the current one, her boys managed to cheer everyone up, maybe a trait that the Parker's shared. She had lost the count of all that times that Peter motivated her with his silver tongue, and from what she has heard, his Uncle was no different at all. That's one of those rare things that made her husband so rare and unique, and she's forever grateful for being able to meet him back at high school and to live the rest of her life with him. Even if Gwen found the word "soulmate' rather silly, she didn't doubted it, he's the only person that completes her.
"If I may ask," Gwen turned her head at the redhead directions, "How was Peter while I was gone? He's different, and he doesn't tell me what's wrong besides the whole war thing, like - he left the bed during the past night without warning me."
Natasha took a heavy breath, remembering the agonizing memories about him when she was gone. "He was devastated, shattered, he wasn't speaking that much, but he wasn't giving up, even if it seemed that he had." She explained, "You have no idea how much you mean for him, if you were gone... I'm pretty sure that all of this wouldn't be happening."
Gwen sighed, feeling bad for letting such situation happen. "I see," She paused for a brief moment, "Peter's a very good man, he deserves the best and sometimes I think that -"
"Hey," Natasha placed her hand over hers, interrupting her sentence. "Don't ever say that, you two are made for each other, he's happy with you, and only with you." She smiled, softly.
Natasha never imagined herself as someone who would give someone relationship's advices. She always has been a much closed person over the years, but the team slowly changed her. She had a rough life, being a spy wasn't easy, she had to endure tests and even torture during her time at Russia, but she grew as a person, and she wanted to preserve this friendship with Gwen, one of the few ones that she ever had.
"Thank you," Gwen leaned closer and hugged her, softly. She needed all the support that she could get.
At the lounge, Peter and Flash were both seated in a circular table behind the couch where Elizabeth was currently lying on the soft material, watching some cartoon's DVD that she had found when exploring the place, not really paying attention to the two friends who were talking to each other in a low tone.
"I've found what you had requested," Flash slowly handed him a blue folder and leaned his back on the chair. "Are you sure about this?"
Peter nodded, determined. He grabbed the folder but didn't open before saying, "Truth is... I'm tired, it's the right time."
Flash smiled. "I respect that, hanging the suit shouldn't be an easy thing though."
"You know, it's like saying goodbye to a very close friend, but Spider-Man has done enough, and he's not alone anymore, anyone can be him, while my blood is required, who knows what will happen, legends are born every year." Peter affirmed. Being Spider-Man wasn't an easy thing, never was, he had to sacrifice a lot because of such responsibility and he didn't want his children to went through the same thing he did, anyone, but the future is always changing, and if someone managed to get abilities similar to his and use them for the greater good, he wouldn't stop that person. "What about you?"
Flash rubbed the back of his neck, thinking. "I don't know if I can hang the 'suit'."
"We'll find a way if you wish to."
"Yeah, but to your question, I think that it's time for and MJ to properly settle down, build a family, I don't know."
Peter chuckled, softly. "Well, when we win this, you'll have your hands full."
"Do you think that I would be a good father?"
"Why wouldn't you be? Elizabeth calls you her Uncle, she adores you."
He smiled, just what he needed to hear to calm his troubled mind. Peter always had a way with words. "Why don't you open the folder? I searched for some neat places as you asked."
"Right," Peter slowly opened the blue folder and instantly saw the first photo that showed a cosy - two floors house near the beach, with large threes around it, and balcony that faced the sun's origin area and a large playground. "This is... beautiful, she's going to love it."
"When are you going to tell her?" Flash asked, glancing Peter as he observed the many photos that he had found in the internet.
"It will be a surprise, if this is the place where we will spend the rest of our lives; I want to bring her there first when this is all over. Everything has an end, and it feels right to say goodbye to this life, you know?" He smiled, glancing the photos. "This is her dream home."
"I do," Flash nodded with a soft smile. "What if she suspects that we're conspiring in the base's corners?"
"I'm not saying anything, the only possible way is if she tries to seduce me, but that won't ever happen again, it's our little secret." He joked.
Flash laughed. "Understood, Spidey…"
Without any kind of a warning, the only door in the room was slid open with Gwen peering inside, spotting the two friends sat in the table behind the couch. Her husband quickly closed the folder and handed it back to Flash who awkwardly smiled to her.
"Um... Hey honey."
Gwen raised an eyebrow as she stepped inside, "Hi...?"
"What's up?" He leaned his back on the chair and moved his right leg over his left one, pretending that they weren't doing anything at all.
"I was looking for Liz, the boys are already sleeping."
"Oh, she's watching a cartoon," Peter gestured to the couch, "Right, Liz?" He grinned at Gwen, waiting for the reply that never came. He had left hanging by his own daughter, Peter rose from the chair and approached the couch from behind, seeing her peacefully sleeping and curled on the comfortable couch, resting her right hand under her head. "We got a soldier down here." He stroked her blonde hair, before turning back at his wife's direction.
"Can you bring her to her bed?" Gwen approached him, resting her hands on his waist.
"For sure, babe…" Peter gave her a tiny peck on the lips.
"I'm your babe now?" Gwen asked, playfully.
Forgotten and abandoned, Flash faked a cough. "I'm still here."
Gwen chuckled, getting her revenge over him. She turned and saw the blue folder that Flash was trying to hide by placing both arms over it. "What's that?"
"What's what?" Peter pretended to not know what she was talking about.
"Isn't that a folder underneath Flash's arms? Are you hiding it from me?" Gwen raised an eyebrow and gave her husband a glare.
"Oh, that!" Peter nodded in realization, "That's Flash schools photos, and you know the embarrassing ones." He came up with an excuse.
"Can I see them?" Gwen slowly started to walk towards the table if her husband hadn't gently held her hand.
"No! I mean - not now honey, it's late."
"Um..." Gwen eyed both friends, trying to figure out what was happening. She crossed her arms and asked, "Okay, this is very unlikely, but are you two into something which I'm not aware of?"
"What do you mean?" Flash interjected, afraid with what she meant with that.
"You know..." Gwen hinted.
"What hell... No, Gwen, no…!" Peter shook his head in disapproval.
"I can't believe you meant that." Flash crossed his arms.
"Why? You guys are always hanging together, weirdly 'talking' about something and then you two start acting this way, if you guys want to tell me something, just say it, I'm not against that." She shrugged.
Peter sighed. "Look, I'm straight, Flash is straight, we're both married, and you're finally getting crazy."
Gwen raised her arms, defeated. "Alright, fine, just speculation." She knew that something was up, not what she had just teased, but they were planning something, and being a person that didn't enjoyed secrets being kept from her, especially from her husband, she would personally address the case later. "Shall we go now?"
Peter scoffed, giving her mock - glare. He walked around the couch and kneeled in front of Elizabeth's figure, before gently moving his arms underneath her and bringing slowly bringing his sleepy daughter closer to his chest. He kissed the top of her head as she buried her face on his neck, breathing next to the skin of his neck. It still was hard to believe how much she had changed since he hold her for the first time, seven years ago, from an energetic and loving baby to a seven years old girl.
"C'mon." Peter whispered to his wife. She kissed her cheek and stepped out of the lounge. Peter quickly turned to Flash's direction and mouthed,
Don't tell her!
"Yeah, crazy isn't it?" Peter stood next to the bed and stirred his shoulders as Gwen rose from his desk's chair, only wearing his shirt that covered her torso and waist. She approached her husband from behind, massaging the toned muscles of his back. There was a thing that had bugged her a little under during the day. With everything going on with the summit and the mission, there hadn't been a good time to talk about personal affairs.
Gwen glanced at Peter, "Where were you last night Peter?" She asked, softly.
He moaned in contentment. "I took a drink with Thor, that's all."
Gwen raised an eyebrow and asked incredulously, "Really? In the middle of the night…?"
"Yeah, I woke up and with all that's going on I couldn't fall asleep again so I snuck out, got dressed and fetched Thor who was also awake."
"I was lying right next to you, why didn't you wake me up?"
"I didn't want to disturb you."
Gwen rolled her eyes.
Past Night
The day progressed and eventually Peter and Gwen turned in for the night, but only a few hours passed before Peter woke up. He walked over to the bathroom quickly and quietly and returned to bed a few minutes later but the clock ticked on and he was unable to fall back to sleep for some reason. He glanced over at Gwen who was sound asleep. They had been through a lot. This was entirely a new ball game; Ultron was here for real this time and destroying everything in their path.
Peter looked at the clock on the night stand; it wasn't even 1 on the night yet. Peter sighed quietly and looked up in the ceiling. He remembered Thor's' earlier offer to drink each other under the table and decided to take up on that if his friend was awake. Thor returned from Asgard with good news, his people were going to help them against Ultron.
A few drinks won't hurt and might even make me tired enough to fall to sleep again. Peter thought.
Peter caressed Gwen's abdomen and softly kissed her cheek, not moving his lips away from her skin for a few couple of seconds, just silently embracing her and feeling her soft scent, while hearing the peaceful sound of her relaxing breathing. Later on, he slipped out of bed and quickly retrieved his clothes and carried them out through the door. Outside his room, Peter called out for the base's new installed VI.
"Jarvis, is Thor still up?"
"Yes Peter, he's reading some reports in the lounge." Jarvis replied over the speakers.
"Okay, thank you. Good night."
"Good night Peter."
Peter quickly dressed, wearing a white shirt and the dress blues pants but. He carefully took a glance at his sleeping children on their own room and called up the elevator and pressed the button for the Crew Deck and arrived at his destination shortly. Peter strolled through the mess hall and past the kitchen up the corridor leading to the lounge. The deck was quiet and empty; the night shift manned the Operation Centre while the rest slept. Peter ended up at the door and knocked on it and waited patiently. A few moments the door was opened by a surprised Thor.
"Peter." Thor greeted before he smirked, "You got kicked out of bed?"
Peter said with half a chuckle, "No I wasn't. I woke up and had trouble falling asleep again. What are you doing up at this hour?"
"I'm just reading a few reports." Thor said glum. "But I'm still adjusting to Earth time. We have 26 hours on Asgard not 24."
"Ah."
"I can take a few drinks with you." Thor allowed him passage to the lounge.
"Good." Peter walked past the bar while Thor took a seat.
"So what will you have Thor?" Peter asked.
"A beer will be fine. Asgardian."
Peter nodded and turned to the shelf behind him with row after row of bottles. Peter grabbed a bottle of beer and opened the cap with a cap opener and turned to hand it to Thor.
"Thanks."
Peter turned and grabbed a bottle of rum and a then a glass from the counter and walked to the other side and took a seat next to Thor on one of the bar stools.
"Do you know they have encountered Tesseract traces in those new drones?" Thor said and took a sip from the bottle.
Peter looked up in surprise, "No. I guess it was too much to ask for believing that it had forever vanished." Peter opened the bottle and poured the beverage into the glass he had placed in front of him on the counter.
"Yeah, it probably was. It has been one hell of a ride."
Peter nodded, "So, what do you think of our odds?" He put away the bottle and took a sip from the glass of rum.
Thor glanced at Peter, "You are not alone anymore so I think we have a shot at it."
"That's very optimistic coming from you Thor." Peter mused.
He chuckled, "Well you proved me wrong all those times I was pessimistic so I figure it's time to change the tune. And if there's something I learned from our group is that imminent death can motivate people."
"It can also close people up and protect themselves instead of thinking of the greater good."
"Yeah…" Thor swiped down the rest of the beer.
"Have you heard anything from your girlfriend?"
Thor shook his head slowly and spoke in a low voice. "No, I haven't heard anything." He put down the bottle on the counter.
"I'm sure she's alright." Peter tried to assure his friend.
"I'm not big on blind hope Peter, and it's been a long time since I heard from her."
"I'm sorry Thor."
He smiled, "I will find her."
Thor turned to Peter and picked up the cap opener from the counter. He shrugged as he removed the cap, "So you haven't adjusted to life on a human planet yet?" Peter asked, steering their conversation in a different direction and drank some rum.
Thor chuckled, "Well, the time difference is a little tough to adjust too, but don't worry I'm well rested for missions. Although I'm amazed you get some sleep at all nowadays.
Peter raised an eyebrow, "What?"
Thor walked back to the bar stool and chuckled, "You two must be busy all the time."
"Ha-ha... Funny." Peter responded deadpanned.
"You know that you two are the main topic of gossip amongst the crew right? Spider-Man and the blonde one…"
Peter glanced at Thor, "Fun for them," He muttered. "And for the record we don't really care what people think of us."
Thor shrugged, "Just saying. Some human soldiers are quite impressed." He teased, "So it's that serious between you and Stacy? I know that you two have children, but my people are quite different from yours."
"We're fully committed to each other, for years now."
"Right…" Thor said, "I find it fascinating that you charmed her of all people. She must have taken the 'play-hard-to-get'-act to a whole other level."
Peter smirked, "Maybe. Or maybe I'm just that good. In the end she couldn't resist me." He said, cockily.
"Uh-huh."
Peter took a sip of rum, "To be honest, I was kind of a shy guy, but I made the first move, in a way. We had a date; things evolved a lot since them."
Thor took a sip from his bottle. "Really…?" Thor asked sceptically.
"Really," Peter drank the last rum in his glass. "I think I had enough for tonight." He screwed the cap back on the rum bottle
Thor tilted his head at the bottle and observed glibly, "Yeah, you drank almost half the bottle. Are you sure you don't have drinking problems?"
"Yeah, I am sure." Peter chuckled and walked around the bar with the rum bottle in hand and put it up the shelf.
"Well, it's always good talking with you." Thor drank the last of his beer and put down the bottle on the counter.
Peter nodded and grabbed the two beer bottles and dropped them down the trash bin underneath the counter. The two left the lounge quickly and quietly and they strolled through the corridor.
"I'll see you tomorrow Peter." Thor said and took a left turn just short of the elevator as Peter continued onwards.
"Night, Thor."
Present Day
Wasn't a couple supposed to share things with each other? Regardless of whether it was about the happy moments or the hardships? Somehow it seemed that at times Peter didn't always share how he felt to her. The two of them had undoubtedly come a long way, and Gwen always felt much loved by Peter. But it seemed as he rather wanted to share his troubles with Thor and not with her, his wife. And she merely wanted to help him. Or was she imagining things? She knew he had some personal troubles after leaving New York, Natasha had told her that, but he hadn't really shared those problems with her.
"Is there something on your mind?" Peter asked puzzled as he turned to face her and hold her hand with his.
"It bugs me a little that you didn't talk to me." Gwen answered evenly.
"Well I-"
Gwen interrupted, "I'm your wife Peter. I want to help you if you have trouble." She rested her arms around his shoulder. He draped his arms around her petite form and gently drew her closer.
"I didn't want to trouble you."
"Oh, please Peter!" Gwen said bothered. "I want to be here for you."
"But this wasn't just about me; Thor is upset about Earth, and other matters."
Gwen spoke softly, "I can appreciate that, and I don't mean that you shouldn't be there for your friend. But you shared with Thor how you are feeling, and you didn't with me. It makes me wonder who is closer to you."
"That seems a little exaggerated Gwendy... you're being so emotional recently."
"Really…?" Gwen pressed on and looked into his eyes.
"I just didn't want to depress you or anything like that."
Gwen shook her head, "You must be the dumbest, dumb person in the world."
Peter chuckled and said sarcastically, "Well, thank you. It feels nice being so loved by you."
"And you should count your blessings." Gwen teased back.
Peter grinned, "I am."
Gwen stated calmly, "I don't want to be locked out."
Peter sighed defeated, "I...having the entire world on my shoulder and standing on the edge of the abyss really open one's eyes."
"I believe in you Peter." Gwen wanted to reassure him and kissed his forehead.
"That's exactly what I mean. What if I can't get us out of this, what if we are in fact only fighting the inevitable? When people say something like that it dawns upon me how feeble the situation really is." Peter said exasperated.
Gwen noticed his slumped shoulders and blank stare and how much weight literally was on his shoulders. How much of the war was riding on him. He had always kept his spirits high. But now she could see that with Ultron there, he had in fact changed. Gwen understood he didn't need to hear it over and over, but she knew that most of the war effort relied on the man in front of her. With him in charge they had a far better chance in winning the war because he saw what needed to be done and damn everyone that dragged their heels.
But didn't' he believe in the war? Didn't he believe in victory? His sudden confession that they might be fighting a losing battle rattled Gwen. It was of course a fact that they might very well loose, but Peter always had that drive that allowed him to achieve what everybody else failed to, and if those thoughts could fester, if the cracks were allowed to widen, he could lose what made him great when so much depended on him.
She could actually see it now, how alone he was. Every time people told him how they believed in him, all they did was put more pressure on him. He didn't need them to boast his ego. Thor certainly believed in Peter, but he was not naive, and that's why Peter chooses to confide in him.
Now she could see how much he needed her to be there for him, but he somehow was reluctant to ask. Gwen knew how much Peter needed the support that only a unique intimate bond could provide. She could help him be the man everyone is counting for him to be.
She would be there; because it hurt Gwen to see the man she loved suffer.
Gwen rested her forehead on his and spoke softly, "I know you never asked for any of this Peter, having all this thrown at you. You have sacrificed a lot."
"Yes."
"But I will help you along the way." Gwen smiled.
"I know you will. And I appreciate it. And there's no one else I want to believe in me more than you. It means a great deal."
They stayed silent, relishing in the quiet moment they shared.
"Oh, just clearing things up, you aren't pregnant, right?"
Gwen chuckled, "Why's that?"
"Nothing, I mean - Flash's joke got me thinking, that's it."
Gwen shook her head and smiled, "Well, you shouldn't be worried about that; you haven't gotten me pregnant again."
"I'm always the one to blame," Peter gently kissed the tip her tiny nose, getting a warm smile from his wife. "You know, everyone's keep asking me what I'm going to do, with my future after this, and the truth is : I have no clue, all I know, is that I want you and the kids to be part of it. That's why I'm fighting out there, for us."
Oh my god, his sweetness never gets old.
Gwen leaned in and they kissed passionately. She relaxed and explored his mouth with her tongue, tasting him. The tingling sensation of his soft lips and his warm body pressed against hers made everything else around them disappear. Their intimate kisses were always full of promises for each other. Gwen wanted nothing other than to feel loved by Peter and be genuinely happy around him.
Peter moved his arms around her slim body and pulled her closer and kissed her cheek, "I'll be with you all the way."
"Yes, I know you will." Gwen smiled. It was gratifying having Peter as support, no matter what. The warmth of his embrace made her feel better again.
She turned to face him, "You've done a lot for me Peter and not once have you complained."
Peter smiled embarrassed, "Well…I…it's what normal married couples do you know? Be there for each other. You always have done a lot for me as well. I still love you."
Gwen raised an eyebrow and repeated his phrase in a snarky way, "You still love me?"
"W-What, what…? D-Did I say -"
Gwen nodded.
"Oh…um...it was a poor choice of words, eh?"
Gwen agreed, "Indeed." She tried to suppress an incoming smile.
Peter narrowed his eyes at her, assuming a serious expression. "Every time I look at you, it's the most beautiful place that I've ever been." He moved one of his hands affectionately up her arm and he caressed her face tenderly which made her smile even more.
"I love you." Gwen finally said.
He cupped her cheek and gently brought her face close to his, and kissed her warm lips which he could never get tired of, his addiction. He slowly moved both hands to her waist, holding her firmly, before lifting her a few inches from the ground and carefully throwing his wife at their bed. Gwen giggled as she safely landed over the pillows and covers, he crawled on top of her and kissed the smooth skin of her neck as he slid his right hand into Gwen's right hip and pulled it closer to his waist.
Peter smiled back and leaned in and started kissing her slowly which she reciprocated. Their breathing slowly fastened as they deepened their kissing. Peter parted and gasped in pleasure as his body's muscles relaxed. Gwen took the opportunity and straddled him only to push him down into the soft bed sheets to continue their kissing.
Her current clothes were certainly more accessible as Peter's hands found their way under the shirt and caressed her body and slowly moved up to her bra-clad breasts and caressed the soft skin. His hands then moved behind her back and he grabbed her buttocks and pushed her lower body closer to his.
They continued their kissing with desire and passion and Gwen grinded her pelvis against his crotch, getting a soft moan from her husband.
Gwen moved her hands from being around his neck downwards as she pulled his shirt up; eventually she tossed his shirt to the side and she began to explore his torso and his firm muscles. They broke their kissing for some air and looked at each other's eyes and smiled happily.
"I love you too, always have." He leaned towards her and gently captured her lower lips as she smiled against his kisses, enjoying the passionate moment, almost if an imaginary music was being played for them.
Gwen leaned back a bit and began unbuttoning Peter's shirt that she was wearing as his hands moved up from her abdomen to gently caress her bra-clad breasts which only intensified Gwen's sexual desire. A moment later she discarded the large shirt. She wanted nothing but to consume him and to be consumed by him. She straddled him again and they began kissing anew.
Peter rose and pressed his chest against hers. He caressed her back and slowly began to unhook her bra and pulled it off her and tossed it aside. Gwen placed a hand on his chest and gently put him down back to bed. She moved away from his lips and kissed his jaw-line slowly and continued down the length of his neck and trailed a line of kisses down his torso. She moved her mouth to his chest and slowly kissed the skin, torturing him as her hands caressed his body. They finally had the moment that they needed so much, and every single second was special, meaning that this could be their last intimate time together, and because of that, they were going to love each other for long as they could.
A/N : Hey everyone, I don't really have much to say about this chapter, except that it was a very fun one to write, it was basically done for a few weeks now. Regarding the content of it, it's pretty clear that Peter made a decision, and I know that some may think that he's being selfish for not wanting to be Spider-Man anymore if the war is over, but the thing is : He's human, not the perfect heroic figure that the recent comics tried to make him be, he's thinking about his families' future and that his children need him close to them as well, he's not a teenager anymore, who loved to be Spider-Man and considered that being an awesome thing, which is, but every warrior reaches his or hers prime, and he has reached his.
That last part? I went deeper at first, but I removed some bits here and there, but it still is what I wanted to tell.
Before the arc's conclusion, there still is some important stuff that is going to happen, one that will heavily impact Peter both physically and mentally. Stay tuned. Any doubts or questions, just PM me.
Final revision was made by FireflySurvivor who has written one of my favorites Spider-Man on this site, as ever, huge thanks to her collaboration.
Quotes : Halo 4 and Chuck.