This Is Our Path

by LucasA

Their lives were never the same after the incident at the Clocktower. Together, they've found comfort in each other's hearts, and their bond remains strong despite the countless attempts to wipe everything they ever had. A tale of the most important stages in their life, from the moments of calamity and happiness, to the difficult moments of sadness and reflection.

59. Forgive Me

May 2nd - 2031

Manhattan - Docks

The left front wheel of the NYPD's vehicle drowned slightly in the dirty water poodle as it moved forward, the engine began to cease as the car stopped in front of the warehouse's gates in the docks.

Leaving only the front light powered which illuminated a considerable portion of the fences and beyond, the driver's door was slowly open and the officer stepped in the same poodle he drove over from seconds ago.

He cursed mentally and fully left the car, scanning the whole place once he pulled his flashlight from his belt. There were many gallons and old boats past the fence, and then the warehouse itself in the middle of the area.

It certainly wasn't a very welcoming place by any means. And the officer was reluctant in heading inside, but orders are orders.

A graveyard for boats and whatnot. He thought.

"Anything, Mike?" His young dark haired partner closed the passenger's door and joined him by the gate.

"Nothing so far," Officer Mike replied calmly, still eyeing what they had to check out. "Hey Williams, what are our orders again...?"

"Dispatch said a witness heard screams coming from this damn graveyard." He answered, breathing the cold air around them.

"And where is this witness?" Mike looked to his side and at Williams. "Who would be here at this hour in the night?"

Williams shrugged his shoulders. "Don't ask me, but if this is one of 89th unit's stupid pranks again I swear I will pepper the hell out of coffee machine."

"Ha, make sure to film everything, mate."

"You're damn right I will; come on." Williams stepped forward and lightened his own flashlight, aiming it at the small space between each gate. "Check this out, there's no lock. It's open." He gestured to his discovery.

Mike approached him. "Anyone could have gotten inside. You think we should call for reinforcements? That place is huge."

"I'll admit this place is giving me the creeps, but hold on, we go together first, keep the radio close if anything happens." His partner nodded. "Let's get this over with." He grabbed the right gate and pulled slightly towards him.

They both walked through the space and made their way towards the warehouse, keeping an eye open for anything suspicious around them.

There where no source of light nearby aside from their own flashlights. Not a favourable situation for the two officers.

The warehouse's own large horizontal and metallic gate was closed and kept them from heading further. No other entrance could be seen, at least not one they could see in the dark.

Williams whispered, "Hey, there's a door here." He aimed the flashlight to the left side of the gate, indeed revealing the drawing of a door within the barrier.

They exchanged a tense glance at each other. Mike nodded and reached for his gun, taking a deep breath after doing so. He then began to slowly press the door forward.

He immediately backed off without even fully opening it. "Gosh, the smell..." He covered his nose with his arm while his free hand held the gun.

Williams coughed heavily. He quickly elbowed the door open and raised his pistol at the dark atmosphere and moved the flashlight beneath the hand that held his weapon. "NYPD...!"

His flashlight moved from corner to corner, it eventually landed against an open and large container that faced the entrance. It was empty.

He took another step forward but ceased immediately once he felt his boot touch something sticky. He looked down and pointed the flashlight down. "Blood..."

"What did you say, Williams?" Mike asked from the other side. He then heard the sound of some liquid substance falling over the material that formed his blue jacket. He looked to the side and saw a tiny red poodle over his shoulder. "What in the..."

Williams turned to look at him, seeing the same puddle. They gazed one another, before Williams slowly moved his eyes up and towards the ceiling his flashlight following his sight. "Oh my god..."

A huge network of black webbing was spread across the entire ceiling, holding countless bodies from falling back into the ground.

"Call reinforcements now...!"

---

Later in the day...

"I never got to see something like that, even as Spider-Man." Peter narrowed his eyes at the newspaper he held with both hands at the coffee table.

"Multiple casualties, missing cargo, and anonymous call." Matt Murdock took a sip of his coffee from the other end of the circular table. "Are you sure you don't know anyone capable of that? Webbing and all that?"

"I'm pretty sure." Peter looked up to his friend. "Don't tell me they're blaming Spider-Man now." He said aghast.

Matt sighed. "Not all of them."

Peter deadpanned. "Story of my life."

"You could say police is at your side, but word spread quickly, people twist such word to fit their agendas, and there's confusing reports everywhere." He paused for a moment. "There will be an investigation after the officers pass the physiological test, and hopefully, the truth will come out."

"I will find the truth myself. Webbing? This is somehow related to me."

"Peter, allow us... to handle this situation, at least for now." Matt asked friendly. "The Avengers... and the whole metahuman community is at a delicate position right now, seeing Spider-Man slowly crumble would give many great joy."

"That won't happen anytime soon." Peter quickly countered.

"I know. But what if... the vast majority want you gone? What then?"

"Don't tell me you're okay with this after everything we have done for them, Matt. They still need us."

Matt shook his head. "I am not, but I'm just a lawyer... and the devil of Hell's Kitchen. There's not much I can do besides fighting, and I think there will be a lot of fighting in the coming days. The question is, whose side will you be on?" He slightly raised his chin.

Peter could see his reflection through his friend's red tinted glasses. "It could not come to that."

"Maybe, maybe not." He answered. "Things aren't looking favorable for anyone, though."

Peter silenced for a moment. "I will do what's right, you know that."

"Right to you? Or them?" Matt questioned.

Peter paused. He looked to his side and gazed the window, seeing a calm traffic of people and cars, a rare sight.

Matt continued, "You're my friend, Peter. You were there when I asked, and so was I when you did... people call me the man without fear, but I actually fear what's coming next, to all of us."

---

Upstate New York - New Avengers HQ

Accompanied by two strong men wearing black tie, Colonel Ross calmly stepped inside the meeting room where all current stationed Avengers where sat next to the large vertical positioned table, waiting for the person who carried their eventual roles in the upcoming world inside a folder under his right arm.

Then there was a fully suited up Spider-Man hanging at the ceiling by a small webline he held with both hands while standing upside down.

"Spider-Man, didn't expect you to accept my invite." Ross smiled and placed the folder down in the table. "Even less masked."

He replied, "I bet you would like that, but... I'm kinda shy, took me some strength to take it off for my wife years ago if I must be honest."

Ross chuckled, not amused. "Your reputation proceeds you, let's hope you have the strength to do the right thing then." Spider-Man stood quiet. He smiled again. He looked down to the table, and then focused on the group once again before saying, "Huh. Five years ago, I had a heart attack. I dropped right in the middle of my backswing. Turned out it was the best round of my life because after thirteen hours of surgery and a triple bypass, I have found something forty years in the army had never taught me... perspective."

He continued truthfully, "The world owes the Avengers and persons like you, Spider-Man, an unpayable debt, you have fought for us, protected us, and risked your lives without ever asking for anything in return. But while a great many people see your kind as a heroes, there are some who prefer the word vigilante."

Natasha interjected, "And what word would you call us by, Colonel?"

"How about "dangerous"? What would you call a group of US based, enhanced individuals who routinely ignore sovereign borders and inflict their will wherever they choose and who, frankly, seem unconcerned with what they leave behind? Not only that..." He looked up to Spider-Man. "Our country has registered an alarming and increasing number of very dangerous people who have their own concept of justice and order. Was that your own doing at the docks, Spider-Man?"

Peter stated, "No."

"Have you stopped this person then?" Ross insisted.

Peter slowly shook his head. "Not yet."

The Colonel nodded reluctantly while staring at the ground. "Perhaps, you need some assistance... or guidance." He sighed, before walking to the side so that everyone could look at the screen, found footage of all the catastrophic events The Avengers and other metahumans were involved. "New York..."

Peter cleared his throat, seeing the chaos aliens caused during his absence in England. "Washington D.C... Sokovia, Paris, Lagos..."

"Okay, that's enough." Steve ordered once he saw Wanda's reaction to the images, one where she particularly caused the resolution. An unfortunate error.

Ross strolled back to his previous position in front of everyone. "In the past four years, you've operated with unlimited power and no supervision. That's an arrangement the governments of the world can no longer tolerate." He looked over his left shoulder, nodding to his assistant who handed him what looked to be a book. He carefully threw it down into the table where everyone could see it.

Wanda picked it in her hands.

He revealed, "Superhuman Registration Act. Approved by seventeen countries, states that The Avengers, or any powered individual considered dangerous enough should no longer operate without any supervision by The United States or any UN country. The Avengers will cease from being a private organization, operating whenever we consider necessary, and individuals like Spider-Man shall also respond to a high chain of command established in their respective districts."

Peter griped the webline harder, he could hear the stretching sound of spandex coming from his gloves. "I think this is overkill. You have no right to tell us how to do our job while you're cozy under your bed sheets."

"Overkill would be you pulling your mask off at The White House and in front of the whole damn world. Be thankful for this, like it was originally planned. There's no better option." Ross argued back, circling the table.

Steve affirmed, "Thanks to these special people who are risking their lives for people they never met, The Avengers were formed, our goal is to make the world a better place. And I think we've accomplished that."

"Tell me Steve, do you know where Banner and Thor actually are? If I lost a nuclear ogive somewhere, you bet there would be consequences."

Rogers silenced. He had a point.

Natasha began, "What if... what if we refuse this?"

"Then you will retire, and if you don't, well... you will be forced to, by any means necessary, but that's something yet to be determined." Ross replied, instantly. He sighed heavily. "In an ideal world this wouldn't be necessary, but unfortunately we don't live in an ideal world..."

---

"Where is dad?" Elizabeth asked, wrapping the blankets around her body while she snuggled with her mother in the couch. Ren was laid besides her curled legs and his head popped out of the blank. He was clearly taking advantage of her warmth.

Gwen held a bown of popcorn over her covered lap. Her right arm was around Elizabeth's shoulders, keeping her close. They were watching a movie together once her energetic sons gave themselves up sleep."

She replied tenderly, "He had an important meeting today, sweetheart."

Truth to be told, she didn't actually know where he was. It had been hours since they last talked and he wasn't answering his phone, something unlikely to happen nowadays.

"But he said it wouldn't take too much time, it's been forever." Elizabeth looked up to Gwen, meeting the big emerald orbs she also inherited from her.

"Well... maybe he's patrolling? You know your father." Gwen said gently. She could see herself in her daughter, not appearance - wise, but the behavior over her father's absence.

A long time ago she worried for George and dealt with it in her own way, then Peter Parker came along. Gwen could say she now was slightly used to the whole waiting bit of their relationship, she developed a trust over the years, but she had to admit, it wasn't totally easy and sometimes she had to keep her mind occupied.

"Do you know...why?"

"What do you mean, honey?" Gwen adjusted the sheet that was almost falling into the ground, before sighing of exhausting and bringing her daughter closer with her arm.

"Why does he do it?"

Gwen lost herself for a moment when she began to look at every detail that formed Elizabeth's face, from her light freckles to her her delicate creamy skin. "I see..."

Elizabeth asked innocently, "Is it because of Uncle Ben?" Her mother suddenly appeared shocked at her question.

"Liz... where did this come from?" Gwen turned on the couch so that she could face Elizabeth, they were both sat with their legs crossed.

"What? Um, I-I'm sorry mom, I didn't mean to -"

She grabbed both her hands gently. "It's okay, you did nothing wrong. I only want to know why do you think Ben has anything to do with your father doing what he does."

Elizabeth bit her lower lip and moved her gaze away.

"You can tell me, sweetheart." Gwen tried to comfort her.

She cleared her throat. "I dreamed of dad one night, he was... running from some scary people, I think. And... he said did you know my Uncle died of a bullet wound...? But I can't remember anything else."

"You dreamt of this and didn't tell me?" Elizabeth nodded. She squeezed her daughter's hand. "It was just a dream. Your father is alright, he always is. Nothing can take him away from us, okay?"

"Okay..." She nodded again, with a short smile. "But... I don't know if I can ever be like dad, I think I would fail."

That was a subject Gwen knew would pop out eventually. She later kissed the top of her head. "About Uncle Ben... I don't know if I should be the one to fully explain to you what happened, perhaps your father would want to do that. He was a very good person, he didn't deserve what happened to him. It's a sad story which I think is not suitable for children."

"I'm not a child, mum." Elizabeth argued back.

Gwen smiled. "Of course you're not, you're big girl now." She playfully lowered herself over her daughter as she giggled at the unexpected move, being pressed against the couch by Gwen's weight.

"Mom...!"

Gwen laughed happily. She brushed a golden fringe of Elizabeth's hair to the side so that she could see fall down to her face. "Gosh... you're growing beautiful..." She paused, perplexed. Elizabeth smiled back. She then assumed a slightly more serious tone to close all of Elizabeth's self doubts, "Now, listen to me honey... you are a Parker, daughter of the bravest man you will ever know, and well... the best looking women alive, and also the smartest." She grinned cheekily.

"I know!"

"Hold on, I didn't finish it." Gwen continued, "Elizabeth, you're born to greatness, and you will choose what that will be. Don't worry about following Peter's footsteps, nobody is expecting you to do that. You will look up to what you want, you will dream of whatever you like, and you will accomplish your goals. Also, I can promise he will always be back to be with us, personal experience. I just wish you didn't keep bad things that are affecting you from us, your parents. Deal?"

Elizabeth nodded. "Deal."

Gwen leaned in and brushed her tiny nose against hers. "Now, can I get a tiny goodnight kiss?"

She smiled, before planting a quick peck on her mother's lips. "I love you."

"And I love you too."

---

The cool water rinsed off his sweaty skin. Peter sighed with relief. He'd been busy all day, running this way and that. He'd arrived home exhausted and dying for a cool shower. He let the water fall on his shoulders, gently massaging them while trying to ease the tension.

The question is, whose side will you be on?

Peter placed both his hands to the top of his head and and moved them against his wet hair and down the back of his neck, eyes closed all the way through.

Overkill would be you pulling your mask off at The White House and in front of the whole damn world. Be thankful for this, like it was originally planned. There's no better option.

After wrapping a towel around his waist, Peter closed the door behind him, and stepped over to the mirror. He wiped part of the steam that covered the mirror by sliding his hand across it.

A tiny cut on his lower lip, almost imperceptible. There was a fresh purple stain next to his very defined abdomen. He didn't take much of beating in the week so far.

Living a month unscratched was a hard thing to achieve despite so many years of experience, and his body showcased that by the tiny scars spread on his chest and back. Thankfully, his advanced healing factor managed to hide most of them pretty well.

Not that it was useful against a certain woman, there was no way of fooling her. She probably knew the count of the scars he carried until now.

Now wearing his pair of boxes, Peter opened the door and stepped out of the bathroom and closed it immediately. The bedroom was dark and warm. He could hear the air conditioner doing its marvelous thing.

Lying in the bed and wrapped by blankets while her bare slender legs slipped out of the cover, his wife. "Hey."

"Hey you." Gwen said softly as she eyed him from her side of the bed. She slowly sat in the bed, sheets falling of her chest, revealing her camisole and its left strap sliding down her shoulder.

Peter walked over to his side and calmly sat down, sighing heavily. "I saw your calls. My bad, decided to help as much as I could before coming home.".

"I thought so." Gwen approached from behind him and hugged his chest, resting her chin over his shoulder. "Elizabeth was worried about you..." Peter slightly turned his head to look her in the eye. "She had a dream, where you were... in danger, she just told me about a half an hour ago. I comforted her."

Peter replied somber, "Me being out there and away from my own children when they need me the most..."

Gwen kissed his shoulder. "They understand." She paused briefly, "How did the meeting go?"

Peter leaned his head backwards and against her cheek. He closed his eyes. "It's complicated. I thought that by being with them after missing out the previous mission would amend things, but I'm not so sure it was enough."

"You're not an Avenger anymore, but you're a father... and a husband. You also have your own city. It's not your responsibility to handle all of the world's problem." She whispered tenderly, notice most of his muscles were still rigid.

"Maybe, it's just... I might not even protect this city anymore. They want to control our every step. I don't think that's something I can trust, and nor does Steve. Something bad might happen if not all of us agree to their conditions. There will a conference at Viena, the terms will be officialized there."

"You will do the right thing." Gwen planted a soft peck on his cheek.

"How do I even know that, Gwen?" He questioned. "What if doing the right thing, put all of us in even more danger? There are some many questions here, and I know the answer to none of them."

She answered gently, "Peter, don't let... fear compromise who you are, you know what to do."

"You won't express your opinion?" He gazed her. "It's all up to me then?"

Gwen sensed some irritation on his tone. "I don't have the answer to everything, honey. I wish I did, but I don't. You know your hero stuff better than I do, I'm just... another woman in this world."

Peter frowned slightly. "No, you are not."

She smiled, "Yes, I am."

"You're the most important one to me, I value your opinion and you know that. You also helped me countless times. If anything, you're the heroine here." He affirmed.

Gwen giggled. "You're silly, you always say these nice adorable things to please me."

"It's the truth." Peter now leaned his naked back down her chest so that he could look up to her face. She smiled at him, resisting the urge to kiss those lips of him, even if she had the permission to do that whenever she wanted.

So he did it first, engaging in an almost upside down lip-lock. Gwen moaned against his mouth. Then it was over, before she could open her eyes and complain about his action he had already crawled into bed and pinned her down.

Her breathing was rapid as her eyes dilated amongst the heavy panting. Their eyes staring at each other, the tension of hours apart being released in the atmosphere.

Peter fiercely dove in to kiss the skin of her neck as Gwen's head lolled back in the pillow. He then moved his mouth to her shoulder, biting the camisole's strap and slowly lowering it down her shoulder with his teeth.

Seconds later after he went south, Gwen covered her mouth with her hand and forced her eyes shut.

---

11:46 PM

Peter looked at the clock in the stand under the TV set in the wall opposite to the bed. He was laid on his back, head over pillow, and a pleasure weight being pressed in the right side of his bare chest.

Entangled by the thin sheets that covered most of her body, Gwen Stacy Parker was fastly sleep on his arms. Her left leg resting between his, and her left arm was drapped across his chest.

He could feel her breathing against his neck. She smiled slightly, enough for him to be sure she was satisfied with her sleep. It was overwhelming how her simple presence was capable of disarming him and also forget about everything.

Or else he would probably have gone mad before.

Peter smiled. He sighed contently and moved his left hand towards the his bedstand, grabbing his cellphone and unlocking it with the same hand while the other stroked her shoulder. She murmured something at the slight movement she felt.

He stood still for a brief time as Gwen stirred on his chest. Thankfully, she didn't wake up, his poor soul would probably have to sleep with a snarky remark afterwards.

Back to his phone, Peter opened the newsfeed and scrolled down, quickly reading all sorts of reports, from Giants maintaining their victory streak to the new improved pavements at Times Square.

'Bout time. He thought.

There was a little more of info, like the already bare bones gang of Brooklyn being take down by a vigilante many still think he's made of steel. But Peter knew better, that was Luke Cage's doing.

Last time they talked he was having a son with the super sassy and strong-headed Jessica Jones. Their first encounter had her complaining about how annoying he was.

Good times.

The more he thought about it, the more he realized the similarities his wife and Jessica shared, except one was a little more sweet and passive while the other didn't hold back what she had to say the entire day.

Peter yawned. He updated the feed one last time before he could fully embrace Gwen's warm body and have a goodnight rest.

His plans were quickly discarded after he read the very first report. Many users across various social medias were stating they had seen Rocket and her small gang of Inhumans in the streets finding some metahuman who they could purposely clash against and broadcast the whole thing to a private site they hosted.

Peter had been searching for them for months, they often cause too much trouble to be allowed to venture freely among common folks.

Now an opportunity had arisen.

He gently grabbed Gwen's wrist and lifted slightly in the air, unfolding his legs from hers while slowly pushing himself to the bed edge's, not moving his sight over Gwen elsewhere. He placed her hand over his pillow in the meantime.

"Peter..." She moaned, tired.

The Queen's man exhaled deeply, sat in the border, before standing up and walking towards his part of the wardrobe. After moving all his shirts' hangers to the side and exposing the three identical costumes behind them, he began to suit up, starting with his skintight pants until only his mask was the missing piece.

He quickly approached the window with his mask already halfway down, his nose and mouth being what's left of his face. He stopped once he turn to look at his wife one last time before heading out.

She was serene, oblivious of everything. Every muscle of his body told him to stay, to lie down besides her. His mind screamed in agony. But he had assumed a responsibility.

Peter took a rapid detour to the bedstand and pulled a small piece of paper and a pen. He wrote her a note that informed his whereabouts in case she wakes up to no signal of him.

He leaned down and kissed the top of her head, pulling the blankets up to her shoulders. "Sleep well."

---

The air Spider-Man inhaled through the mask was cold and pointy as he swung by, breathing high above became even more uncomfortable in the current speed he found himself maintaining with each biocable that was shot.

He couldn't afford to take his time. They succeed at avoiding him for far too long.

In the ground above him, a single siren alerted him of a police car madly rushing through the avenue.

They are probably aware of Rocket's stream. Good.

Spider-Man released the webbing once it reached its maximum elasticity point, used both legs to gain some impulse forward, and shot another webline once the quick trigger sound came from his built-in web-shooters.

Then he heard another pair of the sirens from behind, and the second he knew, a line formed of at least twelve police cars hurried inside the passage the civilians opened by moving their own cars to the corner.

What in the...

They were heading north. Just like him. He couldn't see what the fuss was about since there was a tall building at the end of the avenue that covered most of his front view.

Peter landed in the helicopter pad of the same building and peered the horizon, becoming terrified of the image being reflected in both lenses of his mask.

What once was a fine building, now was an isolated destruction site. The first six floors were still up, but everything else, gone. As if a bombing had taken place there.

The fire department was dealing with the last of the fire while the police isolated the area from the curious and also the media.

He took the longest jump his feet could allow, until he was inside the site, stepping over countless debris. The officials didn't even bother contacting him, they could see how shocked he was.

Spider-Man was brought to the action once he caught some whimpering from his side. There was a crushed wall on his way, so approached and punched it as his hand went right through it.

He brought his arm back and so did the wall, dropping it onto the ground.

Spider-Man peered into the crumbled building and what once had been a room of sorts. His gaze intensified.

Something moved in the dark and toppled some lose debris.

He saw a tiny cowering girl taking refuge in the rubble in a fetal position, her back was resting against a crumpling wall, her head was bowed and she wrapped her arms around her legs tightly against her stomach. It was a very dirty and very terrified little girl, probably not even eight years old. The girl's terrified eyes stared at him.

Spider-Man spoke soothingly, "It's alright, dear, you can come out."

The girl shivered and sniveled terrified and didn't move from her refuge.

Peter decided to take his mask off since he probably looked far to intimidating with it on. Too inhuman.

"It's alright, honey. I'm not dangerous." Peter tried to assure the girl with a friendly smile.

The girl tried to back away, but there was no more room for her. She trembled with a fixated and terrified stare, partially blinded by all the dust in the air.

Peter hunched further as he slowly and carefully made his way into the ruined building, squirming past beams and crumpling walls. She reached out with his spandex covered hand. "My name is Peter, what's your name, sweetheart?"

"Olive," She finally spoke.

"That's such pretty name. Don't you want to come out of there?" Peter reached out for the girl to offer to help her out of the rubble. "Where are your parents?"

Tears trickled down her dusty cheeks.

"Let's go, Olive," Peter implored.

She watched Peter and finally decided that he appeared to be genuinely nice and crawled towards him. He gently grabbed Olive's hand and helped her out of the rubble. She grasped Peter's hand as hard as she could, she didn't want to let go.

Once Peter and girl had crawled out, he lifted up the girl in his arms. She hugged him as tight as she could despite the uncomfortable spandex. Her arms wrapped around Peter's neck, and the leg around his armored torso. Her body shivered.

Peter took the mask back from the ground with his free hand and whispered soothingly, "It's okay. It's over now, you're going to be alright now." He closed his fist, clenching the spandex. "You're safe with me... I promise."

---

May 4th - 2031

"I'm sorry you are being dragged into this, Peter." Tony Stark said sympathetically, sat in a chair around the coffee table inside his rather large office. He looked at the silent Parker standing in front of the window with both hands stashed inside his jacket's' pocket.

Peter replied somber, "No, you are not."

Tony shifted his gaze from Peter and towards the ground. He rubbed his face and sighed. "Yeah, you're right. I won't lie, Peter, I feel like I'm alone in the trenches. Having you here though..."

"What are you saying?" He slightly looked over his right shoulder.

"This life... this routine, it's... you do your best to finish the job the best way possible, even against all the odds, you know that." Tony continued, "The Avengers, was supposed to be a solution, but that solution is not appropriate to the days we live in, and I'm afraid Steve thinks differently, very differently. He only sees the best of us, and I like that about him, but I've seen the collateral damage we can cause. Maybe he didn't."

Peter leaned his back against the window, crossing both arms.

Tony exhaled deeply. "I need a right hand, Peter, I need a friend to help me deal with what may happen next. You have seen what's out there, the accident here in your own city, and at the UN. Spider-Man... represents the best of us, he always did, that's why I need the both of you besides me, not only because people might follow your example, but your trust is essential."

"Tony, you know why I I left the Avengers. It was sucking the time out of my life, and my life is my wife and children. I went back to watching over New York again. But this job, I don't know if I will retire in time, or if I will eventually be forced to by my enemies." Peter cleared his throat. "Either way, I have to be present, I have to raise my children and I can't be absent anymore."

"I know, and I agree with that. You can call me selfish, you would probably be right, but this is temporary, Peter. You and me, we can work out this change together."

Peter went back to staring the window. "I just hope I'm doing the right thing." He paused. "Far too many people are suffering because of what happened. They don't deserve it."

"This is... the right thing." Tony looked him in the eye through his reflection in the glass.

Peter inhaled deeply. "If if isn't, we learned nothing from last night. I can't afford to allow that to happen to my city again, if this is what it takes..." He continued, "... if I'm going to follow you through this accord, I'm gonna need some guarantees, Stark."

"Anything you wish."

Peter began seriously, "May, Gwen and the kids, I want them protected if I'm not here, The Tower, it's probably the safest place in this city."

Tony nodded. "The Tower has always been you guy's home for years now, you're welcome anytime. May, Gwen and the kids will be under surveillance whenever you want, however you want, you have my word."

"I don't want any of the government peeps, though. But the same security that do yours."

"Granted, to be honest, I don't like them either. Too moody and stereotypical men in black." Tony smirked.

He shook his head, smiling. "What's happening next?"

Tony stood up. "There will be a memorial event for those who left us this night in the coming days, the mayor would like for Spider-Man to speak a few words, and before anything... I think you should do that." Peter nodded. "After that I'm taking a flight to Germany. They arrested The Winter Soldier, and Steve was involved... I need to talk to him, the old man still needs to sign."

"You think he will?"

"He can be too stubborn sometimes, but I hope he does. Truly. The last thing we need is a fractured Avengers and divided community. Steve is also a key factor." He confessed. "Anything happens there, I will call you."

"Well, I guess we have work to do then."

---

"Olive?"

The girl looked over her shoulder and saw the man she had met the night before entering her nursery room alongside a very pretty blonde woman she had never seen until now. "Peter...!"

She dropped her feet into the ground and off the couch and began to run the short distance towards him. Peter chuckled and kneeled down so that he could embrace the little girl. "Hey, nice to see you are okay!"

Gwen smiled from besides him, watching the pair. He always had his way with children. And the fact that this one was someone he rescued, made her feel proud of the man he is.

Olive didn't reply at first. She had her head laid down his jawline. She felt protected again. Not alone anymore.

Peter felt his shirt slowly get soaked. He could hear he begin to sniff. "It's okay, sweetheart. I'm not letting anything happen to you again." He massaged her back.

Gwen also kneeled. She stroked her dark hair. "You are safe now."

She looked up to the woman.

Peter said with a kind smile, "This is my wife, Gwen. She wanted to come to see you too."

Her wet eyes analyzed Gwen's feature. She found her big green eyes so beautiful, and her hair, it was so distinct somehow. "You are so pretty, ma'am."

Gwen chuckled shortly. "Thank you, so are you."

Peter raised Olive into his arms as he stood up again. "Come on then, pretty ladies. Let's get off the floor." She wrapped both arms around his neck. He walked over to the couch and sat down with the girl on his lap. "Have they been treating you alright, Olive?"

"Yes," She nodded. "But... I miss my brother. I wanted to see him again."

Peter sighed and hugged her. He exchanged a preoccupied glance with Gwen. Olive's brother was basically her father figure. Their parents had died when she was still a baby in a car accident. He took the responsibility of raising her, until his very last day. "I know, but... he's now watching over you from somewhere else. You will always have him." He tried to comfort her.

Gwen asked gently. She held the girl's hand. "Is there anyone we can contact, Olive?"

"I... I don't think so..." She rubbed her eyes. "I just remember Jon."

"I see..." Gwen sighed. "We... we can't leave her alone here."

"I don't want to be alone. I won't tell anyone about your secret. I swear." She pleaded.

Peter's heart melt. Her voice was already so delicate, and the way she asked just made that more clearer. She reminded him of Elizabeth when she was five. "Don't worry about that. I trust you." He looked up to Gwen again. "What are you suggesting, honey?"

"If she wants, and after solving the logistic situation, we could bring her home for the meantime. She's frightened and she needs some tranquility. The kids will welcome her with open arms. Until we figure everything out, at least. That, if she wants to."

"You have babies?" Olive asked, curiously.

Gwen smiled sympathetically. "Big ones, yes. Two boys and a girl. Unbalanced, I know."

She giggled in Peter's arms.

He spoke, "It's your choice."

---

Manhattan -Times Square

Spider-Man was struggling to keep focus on the service taking place, his mind constantly wandering. It was mainly because his gaze kept flicking to the large screen behind the main stage, continuously shifting through a slide show of images. Many of the pictures were ones that he himself had sent to the Bugle from his own collection for the service, depicting various scenes of the city and its habitants over the years, among the lives that were taken from them in the recent tragedy.

A tribute for the ones lost.

And now they were meant to be honoured as the 'glorious dead'. Well, not in those exact words, but that was pretty much what the country were spinning with this service.

But so it was that he found himself standing in the stage next to the mayor and in front of hundreds of people, made up of dignitaries, politicians, local police and fire bombers. He had hoped to arrive slightly early, mainly to meet up with some of the crew members to greet them but he had arrived a bit late. It was their fault to be honest, they delayed the mission of getting someone to stay with the children so that Gwen could also come and stay in the crowd, but May was visiting a ranch with her friends and Helen currently was busy visiting the other Stacys in England.

In the end, they didn't want to bother Flash or Howard, they had their own responsibilities. So Gwen ended up staying at home.

So far there had been many speeches from various dignitaries and they had begun the long process of giving out medals to the ones that helped in the immediate rescue of the victims. It wasn't just him that was receiving accolades, but many other leaders and life savers as well. Though the intention was for everyone who lived through the situation to be praised, he couldn't help but feel a bit guilty for being treated as one of the select few.

But since then more speeches had taken place, causing Peter to slip into his own little world of remembrance. As a result he didn't hear his name being called, only realising that all eyes were on him when the mayor whispered something. He was still in a bit of a daze when his body began to move. There was thunderous applause as he shook hands and collected a large, shiny medallion from the mayor.

He walked over to the lectern, looking over the crowd. There was absolute silence in the area, everyone waiting for him to speak. He wasn't so sure where to start.

"Thanks for this medal." He looked over towards the part of the stage where Ross and his military friends were. "It means a lot, but I feel a bit out of sorts being up here."

He turned back to face the audience, swallowing nervously. What could he say to them, what were the boundaries of what could be disclosed? The entire country was watching through the live broadcast, but what should they be told of?

"I think that... the ones who organized the operation to save those that survived and the familiars who suffered losses should have their voices here, I did nothing but my duty alongside people I now know for years, warriors who I helped one day, and also that helped me despite not being required to. Remember them and what they lost we begin to rebuild, we have this second chance to stand together that many did not. Lets not waste it by going back to the petty ways of before, people didn't die for that to happen," He stood back slightly, drawing himself up to his full height. Again all eyes followed his movements. "Lets do better this time, we owe it to the heroes. Thank you."

He stepped back from the lectern, heading back down to his position. There was silence for a few seconds as everyone processed what he had said, but soon people began to clap. Their images brushing against his lenses, and their sound reminding him of what he always stood for. Now more than ever.

And he wouldn't hide from that.

---

Peter and Gwen, now casually dressed, strolled down the stairwell to the ground floor. The tall windows lining the ground floor had their windows blacked out to allow for privacy. The sounds of the always busy NYC was blocked out thanks to sound dampening baffles built into the building. Their apartment retained the same calming atmosphere it had done much earlier.

From their living room they heard a children's show being played on the flat screen TV, Elizabeth obviously been watching the show before she rushed up somewhere.

Gwen crossed the right hand corner to the living room to shut off the TV while Peter headed to the kitchen.

Gwen stopped at the L-shaped couch and frowned at the screen. To her chagrin the children's show featured her husband's celebrity crush, Emily Jean, in one of her first roles when she was around twenty years some fifty years earlier. Gwen was annoyed that Peter had introduced the children's program to their daughter years ago, and the only reason Elizabeth loved the show was because Peter was more than willing to sit through and watch it with her, and Gwen knew it was because of the very attractive and previously twenty-something Emily Jean. And Gwen hated that. It annoyed Gwen further that Jean was still an attractive looking woman and hadn't aged much in the last decade and a half, she still appeared youthful.

Gwen growled under her breath. She grabbed the remote and she shut it down with a simple button press. She left and wandered over to the kitchen and walked off her annoyance as she approached the kitchen.

David was on his knees on the kitchen counter. He had used one of the nearby stools from the kitchen island to climb up. The cupboards were open and he had taken out packets of ingredients and milk from the fridge that was needed for pancakes and placed them on the counter near him. He had even poured the needed ingredients into a batter in the bowl, placed plates, glasses and utensils for three on the table part of the cooking island opposite the stove, and finally he had brought out an electric blender and a frying pan.

"You are going to be a great cooker, Dave." He brought him to his arms, hugging him. He lifted him down to the floor and he giggled a bit. Dave grabbed the stool and dragged it back to the table part of the cooking island.

Gwen entered the kitchen and walked over to her son and offered, "Here, honey, I'll help you."

David shook his head and said determined, "No, I can do it, mom."

Gwen watched with a proud smile as the boy dragged the stool to the table.

Meanwhile Peter brought the bowl and the frying pan to the cooking island and started the oven to heat it up. Peter then began mixing the ingredients in the bowl with the near-quiet blender.

David sat down on the stool and Gwen sat down next to his son. He eagerly watched his father prepare the pancake batter in the bowl. "Looking forward to be with Uncle Flash? He's arriving soon. Aiden is taking a bath." Gwen asked and caressed David's hair.

"Yes, he's cool," David said excited and faced Gwen. "They're my bestest friends."

"Oh boy..." Peter teased.

Gwen laughed lightly, "'Bestest' is not a word, honey." She kissed David's cheek and the boy beamed. She stopped playing with her son's hair.

David faced Peter, "Daddy, do you know what Uncle Harry said?"

"Nope," Peter replied, pouring the pancake batter into the frying pan, the batter crackled and sizzled to the heat.

"That you know Emily Jean."

Gwen fought of rolling her eyes. Apparently, her son also had been watching the show.

Peter put away the bowl and focused on the frying pan with a spatula in hand, "I wouldn't go as far as to say that I know her, but I've met her a few times."

"But can you get me her autograph?" David asked excited.

Peter chuckled, "I'll try."

"Great," David said happily.

Gwen was mildly amused, but didn't show that. Obviously her husband wouldn't mind meeting her again. That's what happens when you're friends with Tony Stark.

"I love Becky's Adventures, it's exciting and her clothes are so cool! Did you watch it when you were a kid, dad?"

"Nah, I used to watch it when I was about 15," Peter replied casually, working the pancake in the frying pan.

David looked at his father confused, "That's weird, you were too old to like children's shows."

Peter looked at his son and belatedly realized he admitted his less than innocent reasons for watching the show.

This time, Gwen rolled her eyes and snorted but decided to gloss over everything, "Because your father is childish."

David giggled.

Peter lifted up the frying pan and used the spatula to move the finished pancake to his son's plate, "Here you go, Dave." He hoped that would make David change subjects.

David was literally salivating at the sight of the thick pancake and grabbed a jam bottle and poured some strawberry jam on it and began eating.

Peter began preparing a new pancake in the frying pan.

"Mom, what will you and daddy do when I'm gone?" David asked, munching on the pancake.

"Probably gonna watch some movies with the girls." Gwen answered. "Speaking of girls, what do you think of Olive?"

"I like her, she's nice. She seems scared, though." David replied.

Gwen nodded in agreement. "She's been through a lot, sweetie. For now, she has no one besides us. We need to be with her, okay?"

"Alright. Is she gonna stay with us? I hope so."

Peter answered. "For now, yes."

Gwen smiled. She was happy they were all getting along. In time of conflict, there was some harmony. She ceased her thoughts once she spotted Peter's new black bracelet on his pulse produce a tiny blue light.

He told her Stark had given him that. Apparently, it was a way of being contacted by the local taskforce, which was guided by Ross himself. If Stark's word was to be trusted again, there was no way Peter could be located by that, he made it himself for Peter's personal use.

Still, sometimes she thought her husband put too much trust in the man.

"Honey, the bracelet."

"Uh?" Peter frowned. He looked down to his wrist. He was receiving a report. "Oh, give me a minute." He walked away from the kitchen and quickly strolled towards the balcony's door, opening it and strolling outside.

He stood still, and waved the palm of his right hand over the flashing light. A blue holographic screen quickly popped from the same light and above his hand. He began to read its contents in front of his very eyes, "Steve Rogers is now a traitor to the Constitution. His arrest has been officially declared a high priority to all meta humans operating in their respective counties..."

Peter was shocked. He couldn't believe what he just read. In an act of fury, he buried his right hand over the handrail. "Dammit, Steve...! What are you doing..." He breathed rapidly, before noticing the damage he had caused to his own home. "Fudge..."

Rogers aided The Winter Soldier in escaping imprisonment at Germany. That was the last straw. First Wanda's mistake, then the two tragedies, and now America's symbol was a traitor to the estate.

He sighed heavily as the clouds above him began to form, the constant lightning still hadn't left them.

Peter brought his pulse closer to his eyesight again. Now, the inevitable had finally arrived.

An order of arrest for the vigilante know as Daredevil had just been transmitted. Apparently, he attacked a police department near Hell's Kitchen, breaking out Luke Cage and Iron Fist. They were cornered in a building.

And who was designed to put an end to the situation?

Spider-Man.

Peter immediately shut down the hologram and called Matt to understand what he was doing.

"Peter, I need your help."

He leaned down in the handrail and closed his eyes. "Matt, what are you doing...?"

"Cage and Fist were cornered and arrested about a hour ago. They didn't agree with the terms. Now you could say the same is happening to me." He explained. His breathing was intense. "I could seriously use your assistance right now."

Peter silenced. He didn't know what to say.

The realization then kicked in. "You signed the accord, didn't you? You're working for Stark..."

He begged, "Matt, please... don't make things any less worse than they already are."

"You... you made a choice. Farewell, Peter."

"Matt-" The line was cut short. Peter slowly moved the phone off his ear and held it on his hand for a short time as he observed the city without focusing his gaze at any specific location.

Peter inhaled deeply and turned around on his shoulder to walk back to the apartment again, but instead he saw Gwen inside and leaned besides the entrance, with her head slightly tilted to the side and hand placed against the wall.

"I'm sorry..." Gwen whispered.

Peter approached his wife as she willingly came forward into his embrace. They touched foreheads and closed each other's eyes. He caressed her left cheekbone while delicately pressing her head closer to his.

"Don't be, I'll handle this somehow."

"What are you going to do...?" She asked, gently.

"What needs to be done." Peter tilted his head to the side and briefly kissed her lips. "Everything goes as originally planned, though. If they want, do something with the girls while the boys are out, okay? Dinner is almost ready."

Gwen nodded. She smiled lightly, trying to light the situation. "I suppose we will have to change the handrail, spiders seems to be the cause of that mini destruction over there."

Peter laughed weakly. "Sorry... I will fix that later." He kissed his wife once again.

If the feeling of love was the last thing he would experience before meeting his possible end, he would make such moment last an eternity in his mind, so that he could carry it along in the afterworld.

Peter didn't want to admit to anyone, but he feared the reality of him not coming back as he grows older. And as things quickly become desperate, so did his doubts. He tried to comfort himself due to what he was leaving behind, but how Gwen and the children would cope with such nightmare kept his urge to always fight back intact.

"I love you..." Gwen whispered amidst the lip lock. She tried to hold him as long as she could.

"Peter slowly released her lips, cupping her cheek as he did so, and before he walked away and hurried towards the spiral stairwell.

Gwen accompanied him with her sight until he disappeared in the second floor. "Be careful out there..."

Aiden suddenly shouted from the kitchen, "Mom! How do I turn the dishwasher on? I pressed everything!"

She cleared her throat.

---

Fisk Tower - Manhattan

Spider-Man kicked the air duct's gate as it fell down into the ground. He popped his head out and scanned the small room with his eyes. No one in sight. Well, there was a body lying in the ground, as expected.

The place seemed to be a security room and its entire staff was knocked out. Many televisions were above the console in the opposite direction of the room. Camera feeds, although some of them were destroyed.

He landed in the ground and walked over to the body, placing both fingers against the man's jugular, and confirming his assumptions. Alive, just took one hell of a beat.

Spider-Man now observed the camera feeds. All of them showed the building's entire security team lying in the ground of every floor, Matt had fought his way up.

Peter speculated that at least one hundred guards were now Daredevil's victim. Matt was a skilled fighter. Peter imagined the lawyer could challenge his own strength if Spider-Man was on his shortlist.

He hoped such scenario never occurred.

To his left, the shattered metallic door barely held itself together. Someone must have collided against it from the other side. Peter pushed it towards him until he could fit through, it was barely moving.

He slowly walked inside what was previously an expensive crafted corridor that led to a wooden golden and strapped large door when heading north, Fisk's office.

The path he had to take was filled with more knocked out guards and bullet marks spread all over the walls and paintings. The vertical red rug spread throughout the entire corridor also failed to remain untouched.

Why... Matt?

Spider-Man quickly took a shortcut by swinging forward as he landed in front of the main door. He could hear some commotion from inside, grunts. He tried to open the door by turning one of the knobs but it was locked.

It didn't take too long, the same door fell down onto the floor inside the enormous now dark office with a huge wide view of the entire lighten city behind the single desk meters forward from the door Spider-Man had just removed with a single punch.

He saw Daredevil quickly run against a wall, avoiding the last guard's electric baton who accidentally swung the weapon over the same wall, the vigilante jumped from it and smashed his cane against the man's cheek, knocking him out cold.

Matt accurately landed back to firm ground and began to determinedly walk once again towards Wilson Fisk who was badly injured and leaned against his desk. He stopped on his tracks once he spotted Spider-Man in the office's entrance.

Murdock was so focused he didn't even hear him arriving.

"What are you doing here?" Matt asked, holding his extended cane on his right hand.

Spider-Man moved his gaze back and forth between Matt and Fisk. "This has gone too far. You know that."

"Since when beating scum like Wilson Fisk is going too far...?!" His rough and exhausted voice questioned. He threw the cane at Wilson's face, stopping him from recomposing himself as he collapsed once again back to the ground.

Fisk panted heavily due to his new broken nose.

"The moment I saw the trial of bodies down there." Spider-Man carefully took a few steps closer.

"They gave me no choice. They answered to a man who's supposed to be in jail, why is he not behind bars?!" He continued, "After everything he has done to this city, turning neighbours into to a rotten piece of garbage filled with violence and injustice, you think I'm the one who's supposed to be in jail?!"

Peter actually didn't had the answer to that. "No one... no one is arresting you."

"Then why are you here?" He approached the floor next to Fisk and recovered his cane, wiping the blood off with his left red glove.

"I know this is a distraction. This is about Luke and Danny. They did something they weren't allowed to."

"So, it is indeed true... you signed it." Daredevil said, disappointed.

"I did what is right, to me, and the ones around me." Spider-Man argued back.

"Is that what you tell yourself when you sleep at night now? No, I don't believe that. I know you very well. I have been around you and your kin long enough to know that's not true."

Peter paused for a brief moment. "It is, I'm sorry."

Matt lowered his chin, his red tinted eyes facing the ground. "You said this was a distraction... but no, it never was. This man..." He pointed his indicative finger at Fisk, "Is helping funding this whole operation..."

Spider-Man ceased any body movement.

He continued angrily, "... gear, personal, technology, everything you can imagine. He's part of it. He's at the government's side. Convenient? So, tell me, what kind of people will persevere with the decrease in number of people like you and me? I can say those who need our help, will not." He threw a bunch of files from the desk at Spider-Man's feet.

Peter could see a bunch of transitions made into private accounts which numbers he recognized as government cells. He had seen them years ago during his time as an Avenger. "Just wait a second -"

His pulse beeped and opened the communication channel, "HQ, Spider-Man is MIA, we're entering the tower. The entire pavilion is surrounded if the situation can't be contained. Requesting two more choppers for recon."

As consequence of the warning, Daredevil took his cane and prepared to hit Fisk again, but this time for one last final time.

"Don't..!" Spider-Man jumped forward and over Murdock. He pushed him against the table. "You're not a murderer!" He pressed the hand that held the cane into the surface.

Matt groaned in anger and head-butted Spider-Man, stunning him briefly, and swung the canel across his masked face. Peter was forced to retreat a few steps as his vision temporarily failed him. He felt a knee to his stomach and then a kick to the side of his head only in matters of seconds.

"You... you are right..."

Peter heard a whisper, followed by an intense breathing.

"I can't stay here, and I don't want to fight you."

He fell into the ground and against his chest, turning around he spotted Matt making a run to the desk to gain impulse before jumping through the large window.

Spider-Man quickly stood up once Daredevil stepped over the table and jumped forward. He aimed both his wrists at the laywer and fired two weblines that reached for his back.

He pulled him back and made him violently land on his back over the table.

Matt slowly recomposed himself, trying to stand on his knees. He turned on his shoulder and saw Spider-Man swinging towards him with his feet inches from his face. He was throw backwards, through the window and high above into the air.

The only thing he could focus on was his once closest friend diving towards him in mid-air.

---

"So where's my favorite non - Peters?" Flash asked with a big grin once he stepped inside the Parker's apartment and hugged Gwen who opened the door for him.

As on cue Aiden announced excited from the top of the stairs, "Uncle Flash!" He was properly dressed and with a backpack on his back. He ran down the steps with one hand on the handrails.

"Hey buddy!" Flash said gladly while him and Gwen watched the boy run down the steps and clear the first flight of stairs and turning on the landing and rushed down.

Gwen grimaced concerned watching her son running that fast, "Honey, be careful."

Like most of the time, Aiden didn't listen as he arrived on the ground floor and rounded the stairs and rushed to Flash with his arms open.

Flash knelt down and embraced while Gwen smiled at the scene. "Are you ready to party like a Thompson?!

"Yes...!"

Gwen suddenly deadpanned.

Flash laughed once he caught her reaction. "Don't worry, Gwendolyn. We will watch a movie with the girls and then maybe..." He frowned, thinking. "... perhaps some bowling? My birthday gotta be exciting."

"Yeah, right." Gwen raised an eyebrow. "If I see my sons in the news breaking out into the Giants stadium with you two fanatics I will call the national guard." She knew MJ was also a fan of the team.

Flash chuckled again. "I don't think it will get to that, but that's a good idea." Gwen smiled and shook her head briefly. "You guys don't want to tag along?"

"I wish we could, but... I have to take care of a guest, you know?" She crossed her arms under her breasts. "Liz was away the entire day at her friend's house doing this school project. I guess she's tired. She helped me with Olive."

Flash recalled she mentioning the girl earlier in a call. "Oh, yes. Forgot about that. How is the girl doing?" He stood up and stroked Aiden's hair while the boy checked his backpack again.

"Sleeping right now. Recovering, hopefully." Gwen replied tenderly.

"If you need anything, let me know, okay?"

Gwen nodded.

"Peter?" He asked.

"You know..." She shrugged her shoulders.

"I see." He looked down at Aiden. "Well, I only see one twin here." He smiled smugly.

Aiden turned around his shoulder and called, "David...!"

Gwen instantly chastised him, "Aiden, Olive is sleeping!"

"Sorry, mum..." He replied apologetically.

She smiled, it was just hard to see them guilty. "Just be more careful-"

"I'm coming...!" David shouted from the second floor.

Gwen sighed as she accompanied the second twin hurrying downstairs the same way Aiden did. "I just give up," She whispered to herself.

Flash chuckled, amused. "Ready to go then?" He asked.

"Yes," David replied excited. He turned to face his mother and asked softly and innocent, "Will you miss me, mom?"

"Oh, yes of course I will, honey, both of you." She said enamored and knelt down and offered a hug to the twins. They beamed and hugged their mother tightly, kissing each side of her cheek. "Do you have everything you need?"

David nodded, "Yes, I packed my backpack. I have toothbrush and toothpaste and some spare clothes. I checked A's too, it's like mine, mum."

"Good boys," Gwen smiled. She kissed the top of their heads and stood up. "Remember, no crawling at Uncle Flash and Auntie Mary's home."

"Yes, mom..." They both said back.

Flash promised, "We'll take good care of the lads then." They joined him.

"I know you will," She hugged Flash. "See you guys tomorrow then."

"Bye, mum! Love you!" Aiden opened the door.

"I love you too."

---

Peter saw his Spider-Man reflection in the large puddle of water down in the ground of the dirty alley he was forced to stop by. He could see the tiny cracks in the right lense thanks to the flasht billboard behind and above him.

He moved his mask up until his mouth was exposed, coughing some blood into the puddle, making his reflection disappear as his own blood took over the puddle. He breathed heavily, hoping he hadn't lost any teeth.

I don't think I can heal one back... He thought.

After they crashed through the window, he had caught Matt and they both landed at some vent placed in some rooftop nearby. Despite saving his life, Matt wouldn't simply stay down. They clashed from building to building while a helicopter followed them.

Matt wasn't really holding back, and neither was him. He had left him badly injured, as much as that was painful to realize. They're establishing their ground, they probably already did by now.

It emotionally killed Peter because he was a good friend, taken away by opposite choices. He was there for him when Matt lost Karen, years ago Matt also stopped him from beating a thug into a blood pulp when he wore the symbiote.

Not only that, but Matt taught Elizabeth how to defend herself with techniques Peter could only dream of.

Now, those were memories of different and better times.

Peter exhaled deeply. He looked up to the alley's end meters in front of him. He could see a SWAT team in the middle of the street, pointing at the opposite alley in the other side of the avenue, Murdock had probably hurried that away after they got separated.

He brought his pulse close to his mouth. "Whoever that is sending orders here, stay back, I'm handling this my way."

"Negative, Spider-Man. You had your chance. Stand back."

Peter cursed mentally. He checked his other hand and noticed his web-shooter was crushed and not functional. He fully pulled his mask down and began to sprint towards the street since the officers were seconds from entering the alley and opening fire at any sight of Daredevil in case he refused to surrounder, which would probably be the most likely outcome.

Spider-Man slid down in the floor and passed under the blue barricade that formed a perimeter for the cops, jumped forward from behind with his left fist already raised in the air just as one officer turned around seconds after noticing movement south and took a blow against his cheek, rolling sideways as he collapsed.

Spider-Man quickly evaded a fist from his side, moved his right hand to the back of the cop's helmet and spun him into the ground.

The other three members of the team, caught by surprise, aimed down sights their assault rifles at Spider-Man and opened fire as he shot a biocable towards the alley and fastly retracted the webbing, bringing him inside the close quarters area.

He quickly ran against the wall his webline brought him to, hearing the many bullets spraying the wall behind him. If he suddenly stopped, there would be many holes covers, if there was actually anything left to cover.

His special sense triggered and made him immediately look at the building's wall and balcony at the far end of the alley, he jumped forward and crashed against the window with his right knee ready as he precisely collided in a officer who was abruptly buried against the corridor's wall.

Spider-Man looked to his left and saw another two cops, shooting their way forward, oblivious of him due to the gunfire. He grabbed one by the helmet and pressed him against the wall before furiously kicking the other through some apartment's door.

Matt could be seen running away from him, reaching another window.

"Murdock...!" Spider-Man fired two weblines that went past him just over his shoulders, and prepared to slingshot forward.

---

Leaning herself against the kitchen's counter, Gwen bit the delicious apple while she read the book 'A Song of Ice and Fire' she grabbed from the book stand in the living room. It had been Peter who bought the entire collection, being a mother of three, just now she had found the time and interest to begin reading the complex narrative from Westeros.

As she imagined, it was a read not suited to children by any possible means, not at all. It was a good thing it was in the highest levels of the shelve since Elizabeth loved devouring any book she might find in her way.

Distracted, Gwen eventually noticed the whimpering coming below her. She moved her eyes away from the pages and down her front, seeing Ren sat next to her bare right foot and with his little head tilted to the side.

"Aww, what's going on, buddy?" Ren pressed both his front pawns against her knee, begging for something..

Gwen frowned. He was staring at her apple. "Are you hungry?"

Ren barked lowly and repeatedly touched her leg only now with a single pawn.

She kneeled to massage his skin and opened the counter's double door behind her, grabbing a sack of dog food and one of his plates. "Peter forgot to feed you, uh?" She filled the bowl with his name written around it. "Just don't tell him I did, or else he will keep making silly jokes about me."

Gwen smiled, and stored the sack back inside the counter. As she stood up, Gwen spotted the digital clock placed high above against the wall.

8 : 48 PM.

Elizabeth wanted to watch a movie with Olive and her mother ten minutes ago. She had just realized that. Yet, Elizabeth was nowhere to be seen for quite awhile. She figured Liz was interacting with Olive since then.

Everything was just too quiet for that to be happening. And she still had to prepare dinner for them. It was Peter's night, but that wasn't really going to be a thing unless he magically appeared in matter of seconds.

Gwen wondered what he could possibly be doing. It was ugly out there, raining and everything. She hoped he wouldn't catch a cold despite how hard that could be, but knowing her husband for years, he was probably dealing with something much worse.

She sighed, erasing away such thoughts. There was still dinner to make. She decided to go upstairs and check what the girls wanted to eat before anything.

After heading upstairs, Gwen slowly opened the door of Elizabeth's room, her lamp over the bedstand was lighten, weakly illuminating the figure with dark hair sleeping peacefully and wrapped around many blankets in the comfy bed. She embraced a Spider-Man plushy Elizabeth has since she was three years old.

Gwen smiled contently. Olive was settling in. If it wasn't for Peter, she would probably be alone in a world that desperately needs more compassion now more than ever. And if she could give some of hers, she would be more willingly to doing so.

So much for that dinner.

Before she fully closed the door, Gwen found the retractable bed under Elizabeth's she had prepared for Olive was actually empty. Now she realized Olive was alone in the room and sleeping at Elizabeth's place.

Not that she minded, not at all. She was just surprised. Her daughter wasn't there.

Gwen carefully closed the door, making sure to avoid making any noise. She turned around to her right side and headed over the bedroom she shared with her husband. The door was slightly closed, allowing a small dark gap to exist.

And there she was. Elizabeth slept over her parent's bed. Her back facing the door as she occupied Gwen's side of the mattress in the right, strands of her golden hair falling down against the side of her cheek, legs curled.

"Oh, honey..." Gwen sat besides her girl, and gently moved the lock of her hair behind her ear. She drew circles in the delicate creamy skin of her cheek with her thumb.

Elizabeth stirred slightly. She whispered without opening her eyes, "...mom...?"

Gwen adjusted herself as she laid her frame behind Elizabeth, wrapping an arm around her waist and bringing her closer. "I see you claimed our bed again." She said softly.

Elizabeth's eyes remained closer as she settled in against her mother's chest. Being the snuggling addict that Gwen was, she couldn't complain about Elizabeth not wanting to, curious enough, also Peter and the twins shared the same desire.

"My under bed isn't as comfortable for Olive." She held Gwen's hand that was previously over stomach and brought closer to her chest, before intertwining fingers.

"That's a very kind thing to do, Liz. And I guess you can sleep with us, too. Well, at least until you become older."

"Am I... going to be tall, mum?"

"Maybe, your dad is taller than me." Gwen replied, nuzzling Elizabeth's hair. "Why do you ask?"

She replied, "Nora said only tall girls can become a teacher, like teacher Ashley."

Gwen giggled. "She's wrong. Do you want to become a teacher, though?'

"I don't know, maybe." Liz shuggred lazily.

"I figured that, you're young, don't worry about that for now."

Elizabeth nodded. "I see," She opened her eyes. "How long is Olive going to stay with us?"

"I don't know, as long as it's needed, or as long as she wants to."

"I would like if she stays with us a bit longer, I like her." Gwen smiled against the back of her daughter's head. "I hope that never happens with my brothers, mom. I love them. I feel bad for Olive."

Gwen tightened her grip around her daughter. "Hey, it won't."

She persisted somberly, "But what if-"

The older Parker carefully turned Elizabeth by bringing her left shoulder towards her, using her arm that was underneath the young girl, spinning her gently. "Trust your mother, okay honey? Aiden and Dave will grow up to be good men in the image of your father, and you know how strong he is. Just like you. What happened to Olive was a... a tragedy, we can only hope she recovers now, and life continues. We'll be fine."

Elizabeth peered into Gwen's large green orbs. "Okay..."

"Was that a good - okay or bad - okay?" She goofed around by talking in a silly way.

Liz giggled happily. "Good okay."

Gwen rubbed her nose to Elizabeth's who joined in the Eskimo kiss. She smiled. "Are you hungry? I can cook whatever you want tonight, I think..."

"I ate at Anye's house," She replied softly.

"Hmm... mommy is getting a little jealous her best friend is often away from her home."

Elizabeth stopped the Eskimo kiss and asked surprised, "Really?"

She chuckled. "I'm kidding, but I love spending time with you guys." She moved her daughter's fringe that covered her right eye to the side.

"Can't we go skateboard tomorrow?" Elizabeth suggested, yawning lightly afterwards.

"Someone's tired... but maybe that can be arranged. We'll talk to daddy tomorrow." Gwen snaked her arms around her and brought Liz closer.

Elizabeth closed her eyes and settled her head under Gwen's chin and against her cleavage, holding her mother's waist as they began to drift away wrapped in each other's arms.

"Night, sweetheart." Gwen whispered, kissing the top of her head before moving her hand through her many golden bangs. She closed her eyes, sighting heavily, hearing nothing but her calm breathing in the darkness of the bedroom.

She was at peace, protecting her child of the world out there which her husband was trying to keep it together from falling apart. She hoped the Parkers would resist against the potential storm that was yet to hit.

Hope.

Gwen finally lost her awareness, cuddling with her eleven year old girl.

---

Daredevil clumsily flew through the hard concrete wall that led inside another sideways ramification of the city's main streets which was isolated between many buildings, assisting a possible escape plan, or an ambush if it came to it.

He rolled backwards and stopped when his body slid against a deep and recently formed puddle, soaking his entire suit, that was only a little problem considering the current state it currently possessed, scratches and missing chunks were the most evident consequences from his decision of facing an old friend.

Spider-Man limped his way through the same hole he had just opened by not holding back, he stepped into the cold rain that cleaned his suit of the dirt and blood coming from his wound located in his cagerib and slightly exposed back.

He looked up to the sky, closing his eyes that were hidden by both lenses, and steadily slowing his breathing down.

Matt tried to stand up again, but his shaking knees weren't allowing it. He ultimately fell onto his knees again and coughed heavily.

"This...? Is this what you wanted...? Is this what you were looking for? Was everything you comprised, everything you done... worth it?" Spider-Man broke the deadly silence, slowly walking forward while leaning himself against a closed trashcan, stopping for a brief moment to gather his strength. "What you just fought for..."

"I... I-I fight for the right to chose... something you once did too." Matt wiped a trace of blood sliding down his lips with his right hand, panting heavily. There was a long vertical crack in the side of his mask, barely holding the rigid material together.

Peter finally moved away from the trashcan, walking straight until he stood very closely to the vigilante. "You did... and the people have chosen." He could hear sirens and footsteps getting closer by each second that passed.

"People...?" Matt raised his torso to look at Spider-Man. "If you think the ones gaining anything from this are them..."

"I'm taking you in. Don't resist anymore." He shot a biocable down to the ground where Matt's cane was located, retracting the same webline back to his left hand.

"We both do the same actions to protect this city... and now... this.", Matt's expressive red obscure eyes haunted Peter's despite the lenses. " I was there when you wore that suit, I fought Fisk and even Ultron alongside you, I trained Elizabeth for you..."

"Yet that didn't stop you from betraying me when I needed you the most, and it won't save you now." Peter stated coldly, feeling his blood pulp and muscles become tense once again.

"I... I don't wish that, but for you to not sleep at night as you debate whether you're sure you did the right thing."

Peter tried his best to ignore Matt's remark. He might have just now lost a long lasting friendship if there was any doubt left. He began to speak the arrest protocol he was given to follow, "Daredevil, you will be brought to a maximum security prison where you will remain until agree to sign the accord and become a legal operator. Your identity will not be taken from you... everything else will. Do you have anything to say?"

"I thought you of a hero... not a puppet and liar cowardly hiding from this new reality."

Peter instantly raised the cane to the air above him and violently swung the weapon against Daredevil's cheekbone, yelling out of anger as Matt fell unconscious to the floor. He immediately dropped the cane back to the ground and next to Matt and fastly closed the same fist, stretching the spandex as hard as he could, his hard breathing intensifying his storm of emotions.

You're my friend, Peter.

He turned on his shoulder and urgently strolled away while having his left fist still closed, exhaling air fastly as his world began to torn itself apart.

As Spider-Man walked around the corner, he was greeted by at least dozens of officers inside the alley who instantly raised their weapons at the surprise. He stopped on his tracks, aware of the many tiny red laser dots being pointed at his chest and mask. "Hold!" One of them shouted.

A heavily geared officer walked over to him with his weapon lowered. "Give me one reason to not put you down right now and arrest you for good?"

Spider-Man took a few steps closer. He leaned his head in, staying inches away from the man's, staring him coldly in the eye. "How many bones do you think you will have left after you try to do that?"

He stealthily cleared his throat, refusing to avoid eye contact despite how intimidating Spider-Man looked. "Colonel Ross will love to hear the report, especially the part where you engaged our men."

Peter leaned slightly closer again, his lips now against the man's ear. "Tell Ross that if he tries anything, I will come to him to see if he spits bullets." He brushed his shoulder past him and jumped into the air, swinging towards a higher ground.

Minutes later he found himself standing near the edge of a rooftop, looking at the commotion down in the street he had just left. He held his left shaking wrist on his right hand, now slightly calmer than moments before.

The entire pavilion was under lockdown. In the alley's entrance where he left Murdock, there was various trucks parked close to it. One of them would probably take the job of escorting him to the maximum prison Stark mentioned.

It didn't take too long for Daredevil to appear handcuffed and accompanied by two officers carrying him by each arm while the others stood closely behind him with fingers in the trigger.

As they carried to the nearest truck, someone stepped out of the vehicle, and observed Murdock before they brought him inside. Such random appearance wouldn't have shocked Peter if the person wasn't fully wearing what seemed to be the black suit, the one he wore before Flash, then handed it to Stark.

The figure was physically stronger than him. He came to the realization that he had seen the same person before years ago when he rescued Harry, it was outside the manor, standing next to the troops that were after him back then.

To make things even stranger, it had spotted him from its position down in the street. It ceased all movements, ignoring the commotion to stare Spider-Man instead. Peter could see the same larger white curvy eyes and spider that reached its back.

"What are you...?" Peter whispered, before the mysterious person stepped inside the truck. He accompanied the escort effort with his eyes until they're out of sight.

It was time to go back home.

---

Gwen opened her eyes once she heard the sound of something being knocked down in the first floor. It wasn't really loud, but enough to wake her up due to being a light sleeper.

She looked down to her chest and found Elizabeth there. Her daughter hadn't stirred since she fell asleep in her arms. She kissed her chubby cheek and carefully sat in the bed, before landing her feet over the carpeted floor.

00:01AM

The clock informed her. Peter still hadn't arrived, and that was reason enough for her to be concerned about his whereabouts. At first thought, she thought Ren probably stumbled in something, but that would be a new accident in many years.

Heading outside into the corridor, the door of Elizabeth's room was still closed. The same could be said about her twins. She stood by the balcony where she could see the entire living room.

The first thing she noticed was a dark and strong silhouette sat in the couch. She slowly made her way downstairs while supporting herself by its support.

"Peter? Sweetheart...?" Gwen called lowly, cautious.

"It's me." He answered in the shadow. "Dropped something, my bad."

Gwen sighed relieved. "Thank God, I thought you could be someone else for a moment." She set foot in the living room, approaching the couch. "What are you doing in the dark?"

"Just hold-"

She lightened the lamp in the phone stand besides the sofa, widening her eyes at the sight. "Honey..."

Peter wore most of the suit minus the chest set and gloves. His pants and mask remained one with him. There was a large bloodied bandage spread around his back and stomach, another could be seen placed over his left pectoral.

He sighed. "It's not that bad."

Gwen found discarded bits of rags spread over a plate in the coffee table, next to the scissor and needle. She sat besides him and forced him to lay his back against the couch. "Who did this to you?" She touched gently sections of his torso, checking for any serious injury he might have missed.

Peter didn't reply immediately. He cleared his throat. "Matt..."

She looked at him in the lense, getting the message. She moved her right hand to the beginning of the mask down on his neck and began to pull it.

He stopped her by carefully holding her wrists. "Gwen..."

"Let me," She replied reassuringly. Peter slowly let go of her hand as she gently took the mask off, being greeted by a bruised and now dark eye and a very evident cut on his lower lip. His right cheek had a red stain over its skin. "I am so... so sorry, sweetheart." She very gently caressed the okay portion of his jaw while looking at him in the eye despite they being lost in the ground.

The view was heartbreaking to Gwen, he was clearly emotional over what he just went through, and he was badly hurt, physically and mentally. She hadn't seen him like that since the day after she lost her father, and probably when Harry presumedly lost his life by his own father's hands.

Gwen moved herself closer to him, moved her right arm around his shoulder and slowly pulled his head down down and against her neck. She closed her eyes and began to caress his hair as her husband hugged her firmly.

Peter whispered, "Am I... really doing... the right thing?"

She would barely hear his voice if she wasn't so engaged with him. She hugged embraced him harder and said lowly, "I wish I could answer that... but all I want is you to be with me right now, don't think about what's done for this single moment."

Gwen felt a single spot of her cleavage steadily get wet, she sighed heavily while comforting a man whose life could never ever get a break. Saving the city over the years always took a toll on him, and she was always there to be his extra emotional support, but the price of being Spider-Man got higher and she was now living that beforehand.

She could only hope it doesn't go any further, not only because she needed him as her partner and father of her children, but also due to the fact that he couldn't bear any more weight as he was about to crumble. But some times, a simple embrace could repair lots of injuries, even the ones Spider-Man's health factor failed to, and that's what she would try to do by herself as the world outside rapidly changes by each second.

The Road To Civil War...

---

A/N : I do live. This chapter took longer than I expected, and it was very problematic to finish as well. I didn't want to write this as something overly depressing for the characters, so I had to re-do some dialogues. Hopefully, for the better. In ways, I got some fun, I always do when writing for this story, but some parts, especially the beginning and main fight, where I could really go wild, the former took some planning though, couldn't go the way I wanted cause rating, and it didn't really needed to. And yeah, new baddie. I wonder who that could be. We will discover, eventually.

Regarding the movie, as you can read, I didn't cover scenes from it, instead I wrote everything from Peter's POV, and I intend to continue this way, after all, this story is about the Parkers. The movie will be a background for a story written around it, I took some freedom where I could, and sneakily did changes for areas the movie didn't exactly cover or solve. This will be a short storyline very special for Peter and his beloved ones, I'm taking a direction I haven't seen yet around here, I hope you like it. That's what I am aiming for, solely.

Well, I don't know I can put another chapter out before 2017, unless I do something different, like a flashback. Tell me what do you think about this, a suggestion is very welcome. And it's crazy to think another year went by, I began this in 2014, never knew I would get this far.

Anyways, I wish all of you happy holidays, and those who don't celebrate Christmas, a great time regardless. Thanks for everything. I see you all soon!