By the time we arrived at Aunt May's, Peter was already back to his old self which I was grateful for. I understood and appreciated why he was upset at the graveyard, of course, but it pained me to see him hurting. It was a flashback to the time we had first met and started dating. It took months to get him to be more cheerful and happy. It took even longer to be introduced to his aunt.

When I first met Aunt May, I was absolutely terrified. Peter and I had just gotten out of the taxi and walked to the front door when I gently held his arm back to have him face me. He looked at me curiously, waiting for me to speak. When I did, my voice was quiet and trembling.

"What if she doesn't like me?" I mumbled, kicking the ground with my feet. Peter chuckled and lifted my face up to meet his. He kissed me tenderly.

"She will adore you," he whispered, his forehead leaning against mine. "I'm sure of it." I smiled and nodded. He gave me one more quick kiss on my cheek before turning back to the door and knocking. I heard bustling in the house and a woman yelling.

"Come on in, Peter!" The woman called to her nephew. "I'm just putting in the meatloaf!" Peter laughed and turned the doorknob, letting me walk in the house first. I stepped into a narrow hallway opening up into a living room. On the staircase I saw pictures of a man, woman and small boy. I looked back to Peter who was watching me study the photos with a soft expression. "My aunt, uncle and I," he explained without me asking. "This was a year after my parents died." My smile turned sour and I held out my hand to grab his. When he took it, I squeezed it comfortingly.

"They would be proud of you," I said confidently. Peter smiled and kissed the top of my head.

"Peter, who are you talking to-"

An older woman came into the hallway with a dish towel in her hand. She took one look at our close proximity and dropped it. "Peter!" She seemed to be on the verge of tears.

"Aunt May!" Peter exclaimed. He walked me forward to her and stopped when we were only a few feet apart. "This is Emily. Emily, this is Aunt May." I held out a shaking hand.

"It's so great to meet you Ms. Parker," I said softly. Aunt May stared at my extended hand for a moment, face frozen in shock. I glanced at Peter who wasn't saying anything but whose eyes seemed to be dancing with silent laughter. I was just about to retract my hand when Aunt May shot forward. I yelped as she engulfed me in a hug.

"Oh dear, please call me Aunt May," she said immediately, still clutching onto me. "What a wonderful surprise, I had no idea Peter was seeing anyone!" I frowned slightly over her shoulder. Peter hasn't told her about me? I wasn't sure how I felt about that. I didn't have time to dwell on this however, as Aunt May took my hand and lead me into the dining room commenting on how happy she was and how pretty I was. I thanked her, laughing softly. She was everything I expected from what Peter had told me. Sweet, kind, the epitome of a frazzled, caring aunt. I adored her.

I was again jolted back to the present when our taxi came to a stop. I turned to Peter who was just looking at me. I blushed.

"What's wrong?" I asked immediately. "Is there something in my hair?" I started patting it down worriedly before Peter chuckled and took my hand.

"Nothing is wrong, sweetheart," he said assuredly. "I was just appreciating how beautiful you look today." Carefully ignoring the heat that flushed to my cheeks, I quipped back:

"Oh, only today?" Peter rolled his eyes.

"Of course, you are just the most hideous woman I've ever seen, how could I be dating such a troll," he said dryly, starting to fish for money out of his wallet. I laughed and pushed it out of sight. I knew he couldn't afford it with only getting photography money from the Bugle.

"Let me," I said, reaching into my purse. "Besides, it's my fault we take taxis." I winked at him and he chuckled.

"I suppose that's true," he allowed. Once I paid the driver, we exited the taxi and made our way up the familiar steps to Aunt May's house. Peter didn't even bother to knock, instead opening the door with a call of "Aunt May, we're here!" I slid into the house as the woman herself came into sight.

"Emily!" she exclaimed at once embracing me. Peter snorted from behind me.

"Wow, I've been replaced," he said in mock hurt. I turned out of Aunt May's arm's and let him hug his aunt. She laughed as she did so.

"Well of course you have dear," she said automatically. "I've always wanted a daughter." Peter flailed his arms dramatically and made his way to the kitchen.

"I guess I'll just check on the food since that's all I'm good for apparently!" He shouted at us. Aunt May and I howled with laughter.

"You would have to be good at cooking first, darling!" I called back sweetly. I saw him poke his head around the corner and glare at me.

"That was uncalled for," he said. I winked again and I saw a small grin slip through his angry facade. Aunt May giggled and linked arms with me, pulling me into the living room.

"You two remind me so much of me and Ben," she said motioning for me to sit next to her. I flushed as I sat down.

"That means a lot," I said. "Peter has always told me how much he admired your relationship." Aunt May smiled sadly and patted my hand.

"You're too sweet, honey."

The rest of the dinner was filled with laughter and plenty of playful banter, even including a brief food fight with Peter and I before Aunt May stopped us. By the time Peter and I left Aunt May's, we not only had full stomachs but a full purse of leftovers in my case.

Peter and I walked down the street in silence for a few moments while I tried to fish out the cab's phone number. Eventually, Peter gently grabbed my elbow and pulled us to a stop. Slowly, his arms enveloped my frame.

"You and I both know you're never going to find that phone number," he murmured into my hair. I involuntarily shivered at his voice so close to my ear. To my embarrassment, I felt him grin in response to my reaction. "Let me take you home," he continued, pushing my hair away from my neck so he could kiss it. Goosebumps erupted over my skin.

"Bastard," I gasped softly trying halfheartedly to push him away. He laughed.

"I'll go slow," he promised, still littering my neck with kisses. I closed my eyes and sighed, grabbing the back of his head and pulling his lips up to meet mine. We stood there for an undetermined amount of time, just drinking each other in. I ran my fingers through his hair and pushed myself as close as I could against him. He responded by grabbing my hip with one hand and cradling my face with the other. Finally, after I nipped at Peter's lower lip he unattached himself from me. We were both panting slightly.

"Okay," He said eventually, looking down at me with half lidded eyes. "We should take a cab, I won't be able to concentrate now." I laughed.

"If I knew all I needed to do was kiss the hell out of you to get my way," I started, pecking his nose affectionately. "I would have done it a long time ago." Peter gasped in mock horror.

"Oh no!" He cried dramatically. "You have found my one weakness, being kissed by my incredible, gorgeous girlfriend whatever shall I do?" I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop the smile from spreading across my face. I reached up and brushed some hair from his forehead.

"Kiss me again?" I asked coyly. He grinned. Before I even had time to blink, he had his lips against mine. We moved together frantically. I once again bit at his lip but instead of pulling away, Peter moaned and grabbed hold of my bottom and lifted me so I had to use my legs to keep hold of his middle. I squeaked at the sudden movement which made Peter chuckle against my lips.

"You're so adorable," he muttered before gently pushing my back up against the light post we were standing next to. I flushed and immediately captured his lips again.

Suddenly, a loud honk interrupted us. I threw my head away from Peter in surprise and ended up hitting my head against the iron pole behind me. I groaned and rubbed my head, closing my eyes. I heard Peter trying to hold back laughter.

"It's okay baby, it's only the taxi," he assured me. "Are you alright?" I nodded, eyes still closed. I felt him shift me slightly so he had one arm under my knees and the other across my back. My eyes flew open.

"Hey, I hit my head, not my legs!" I protested. "Why do you keep wanting to carry me?" He shrugged, eyes dancing with happiness.

"Because I can?" He retorted. "Got a problem with that?" I shrugged as he walked us to the taxi.

"As long as it doesn't become a thing," I said begrudgingly.

"Oh absolutely not."

I raised an eyebrow at Peter who in turn winked at me. I snorted.

After we got into the taxi and thanked the driver before we gave him directions to our house I had a sudden realization.

"How did he know how to pick us up?" I whispered at Peter. He furrowed his brow in confusion before laughing.

"I texted him before we left Aunt May's," he confessed. "I knew you wouldn't want to go home -ahem- my way." I smiled widely and leaned my head against his shoulder.

"You're so sweet," I yawned. He chuckled.

"I thought I was a bastard?"

"Well you're that too," I said. I felt him kiss the top of my head.

"Why don't you shut your eyes for a while?" Peter murmured against my hair. "I'll wake you up when we get home." I kissed his shoulder.

"Thanks Pete."

"Always."

—

Well helloooooooo. Hope you are all doing well...

So I know it's been a while. Life got the best of me the last few months and it's taken me a long time to get better. Just know I've still been reading reviews and messages and appreciate all of you. I hope to respond to everyone very soon.

Updating will be slow going, but I haven't forgotten about Peter and Emily!

Much love!

Erika