The vibration of his phone against the beside table made Reilly wake. The treatment had been exhausting, Dr. Richards claimed it wouldn't have been so bad if Reilly had regular check ups. From what little he knew of Gerrys' treatment he was sure the other boy had it worse. Reilly certainly had endured worse so maybe the stress was getting to him. Reaching over his hand fumbled for his cell and he groggily answered without checking the ID.

"'Ell-o." He croaked.

There was a long pause before anyone responded, "Sorry. I thought you'd be up by now. Phil and I are both sorry for earlier."

Reilly grunted in reply as he was still too out of it to recall what they had done to tick him off.

"We were there for other reasons we just got side tracked after seeing May cr-uh. Anyway my step dad wanted you to know all the paperwork has arrived and you can come by the office when you feel better. And, well, you probably don't want to come but we were setting up a surprise for the Parkers to celebrate their anniversary."

"...Right." What else was there to say? It wasn't like the teen could admit he didn't think he'd belong at the party. Reilly hadn't even been aware of the date which only proved Normie was closer to the family than he was. Small wonder since the man actually grew up around the Parkers with Peter acting as his godfather.

"It's not for awhile but I know they'd love to see you there. I'm texting you the information in case you want to come by."

Fully awake now Reilly glanced at the message until the screen faded. I wonder if my parents would have gotten married, he mused. Would they have felt they needed to wed because of him? Pushing that thought out of his head he stumbled out of bed to get his shoes on. While he normally wouldn't have bothered Reilly felt Gerry deserved to know where he was going so he wrote a quick note in the entertainment area and promised to return. There was a chance Gerry would feel abandoned if he didn't or think the worst if Reilly wasn't around after his treatment.

It was a pain to commute the normal way but teleporting was no longer an option. Still the trip to Nelson and Associates was uneventful. Other than some odd looks he still received from his co-workers and a warm greeting from Mr. Nelson nothing was amiss when he picked up the paperwork. Only when he left did Reilly sense he was being watched. Pinpointing the location he spotted a woman unflinchingly staring at him. When he drew nearer she smiled.

"I'm sorry do I know you?"

"No but I knew your father and Kaine. I suppose you could say we all grew up together." The woman brushed her faded blond hair away from her face and he could see tired blue eyes peering over her sunglasses. "Do you think we could talk?"

Reilly studied the her for a moment and wondered what the woman had to say. "I...I guess we can."

...

"What do you mean he's gone?! You don't even know where he went?! No, I'll look for him!"

Grabbing his coat Peter rushed out the door and started dialing numbers. Kaine didn't pick up but Normie did after three rings. Maybe he should have called before he was halfway into the city as Normie gave his explanation. Great now Peter was overreacting when the kid was just getting something from work. Or was he? Reilly shouldn't have gone off when he was still recovering from his treatment, what if he passed out?

Rubbing his knee as he sat on the stone bench outside the firm Peter waited for his nephew to make an appearance. All this running around was making the new prostatic uncomfortable. The boy was out of the building and walking off with someone when he glanced up again. Alarmed Peter followed them fearing the worst. Since they weren't moving fast he was able to catch up to the pair in the park but Peter stopped in the middle of his sprint when he spotted her. It was Gwen Stacy as he'd never saw her, no longer the young woman he knew but still lovely. Sometime Mary Jane and him wondered what she'd look like at this age now he knew.

Just as he knows it's a lie because this isn't the real Gwen.

They met before years ago, Peters' certain it's the same woman that was there the night he first met Ben. The same clone they had a few run ins with before May was born. Peter never felt any ill will towards the lady, in fact part of him was happy to see part of Gwen still lived on, but seeing her with Reilly gives him chills. It serves as a reminder of Norman Osborns' legacy to expose old wounds. Kaine, Ben and her were created to torture him. Norman never cared that they had free will and only saw them as a means to an end.

Fury was the perfect Goblin in that respect because she had known how to hurt them with "Gwen Reilly." One of the reasons Peter didn't believe that story was because Ben said he had little contact with Gwens' clone and none of it was romantic. There was no other way he would have believed his brother had a daugther that just happened to look like his first love. Was this clone still the same woman he remembered that just wanted her freedom? Was she truly her own person? Reilly had been something no one had seen coming, not even Fury had suspected there was some truth to the idea of Ben having a child. The boy was proof that Ben had been real and against all the odds had a life Norman couldn't manipulate.

But Fury could given time.

Peter would have nightmares with Ben slipping through his fingers damning him for not being a better uncle as his ashes were carried off into the wind. Reilly would always be in danger although the scenario changed each night. Try as he might Peter failed every time and Reilly would stare at him as he died never asking to help. Sometimes he feared he had gained Kaine's power of visions making it harder for his wife to ease his fears.

By the lake the two sat oblivious to his tormented thoughts. The clone handed the teen a packet then looked Peters' way. Their eyes stayed locked as Reilly opened it to pull out a photo. Gwen has the same familiar sorrow on her face he remembered but despite their history she's still just a stranger. He knows nothing of her life since they parted ways and she only knows him through the memories of a dead woman. If he gets any closer she might bolt and Peters' uncertain if that's a good thing. The urge to protect Reilly is surprisingly strong as if the boy were his own. Technically he is but that thought still unnerves him. Then again if he scares off the clone he might be ending a meeting Reilly wants to have.

Breaking eye contact Gwen makes the decision for him. Pressing her lips against Reillys' cheek she says her goodbye then walks away. The look Gwen gives plainly says she doesn't want to be followed and Peter will honor the lady's wishes. For all he knows she probably found a normal life and the last thing she needs is to be connected to this madness again. On the park bench Reilly meets his gaze then looks away to hide his watery eyes.

"Are you okay?"

"Sure." Reilly mumbled tucking away the photos he just received and placing them on top of the large evelope he from Nelson and Associates.

"Don't scare us by leaving without a word, okay?" It comes out as a gentle whisper as he sits next to the boy.

"I left a note."

"Oh. They must not have found it. Yet." There was a million things Peter wanted to say then but it wasn't his place.

"I don't think she was here to hurt me."

Peter realized he was scowling in the direction Gwen had left. "I want to believe that. Did she say what she wanted?"

"Mostly to meet me." Brushing his crimson locks to the side Reilly gave a faint smile. "To let me know that she tried to keep me out of Norman Osborns' radar."

He tapped the packet she had given him.

"This is all the information that wasn't destroyed that Dr. Trainer collected on my parents but hid from his benefactor."

Hearing the lengths Trainer went to protect Ben helped ease the anger Peter felt about the man over the years. It seemed Kaine had explained who the man was to their nephew. How odd it was to know Kaine had been more forthcoming with Reilly than he had been with May.

"I was thinking of getting something to eat, do you want to come?"

Questions could come later, Peter wasn't willing to press for more than Reilly was willing to give. At the moment he just wanted to be with the boy not dwell on past mistakes.

"Huh?"

"Come on. There's this great place Matt took me to that has the best pancakes." Pulling the kid to his feet Peter was pleased to see Reilly doesn't flich at the contact. Perhaps he's too distracted with this new information but Peter was willing take what he can get.

"You mean Jacobs' Place?"

Did he...Peter wasn't certain of the name after all those years. "Uh, it was the one that belonged to the guy Matt helped out with some mob thing so he got to eat free there."

"That doesn't really narrow it down." Giving a shrug Reilly pointed ahead, "If it's Jacobs' Place then we have to make a detour into Hells' Kitchen."

"I think we'll be alright."

The first few blocks were quiet as the pair traveled towards their destination. Taking advantage of Reillys' preoccupation Peter studied the boy. The familiar guilt was still there but he also felt something else that had been building since he first learned the truth of Reilly Tyne. It was a mixture of affection, pride and wonder. Beside him stood a living breathing miracle that Ben hadn't known existed. A child that had basically raised himself and grown into a caring young man. One that was going to college at a tender age and acted as an intern at a prestigious law firm.

The desire to hold his nephew was strong, there were times where he wanted nothing more than to follow his fatherly impulses. Experience and Mary Jane had told him differently. The fallout from his callous behavior towards Darkdevil was still being dealt with. Trust would have to be earned. As much as he'd love to have a more ideal relationship Peter knew better. May on the other hand struggled with that lesson. They should have seen it coming since she always did her best to help others. He knew from it was hard for her but neither Mary Jane or him expected her to do something so rash.

At least Kaine and him seemed to be making progress. His clone had been keeping him informed so Peter would know when he'd be back. In return Peter would give updates on Reilly and the rest of the family. Their talks were strangely normal once they had a common goal. Much to his astonishment he actually enjoyed the last conversation. Letting his gaze fall on Reilly again Peter made sure to keep him within arms length. It was a habit he had picked up when May was little and was prone to wondering off. When his wife commented on it Peter would say he felt like a papa wolf protecting his young. Mary Jane would laugh and tease that he looked more like a mama duck chasing after her baby.

"You're still curious about her aren't you?" When Peter stared at him in confusion Reilly clarified. "Gwen."

She hadn't been what he was thinking about but he did have a lot of questions. Whether or not his nephew held the answers was another thing. "I suppose so. I do wonder why she would contact you now."

"People are just hearing about me, she probably figured it was the right time." It was said casually although the answer led him to believe this was something Reilly had given some thought to.

"Yes. Friends of the family know." It wasn't an accusation it was simply a fact and he didn't fool himself into believing they could have kept it a secret for long. "It is troubling though as it seems to mean you're known by outsiders."

"I figured it was only a mattered of time."

"Fury could know." He didn't want to worry the kid but he didn't want him to ignore the danger either.

"If she doesn't she will soon enough." Reilly countered. "It's not exactly a secret anymore."

No it wasn't and that put him in an unwanted spotlight. "That's what bothers me. I know you can defend yourself, that's not the issue. Well not the major one, I'm not certain how well your powers work at the moment. I just don't want you in her crosshairs."

Peter reached to pick up a menu then stilled when he noticed Reillys' expression.

"What?" The red head asked sounding cautious.

"Is it so hard to believe I care?" He sighed.

"Not that."

Then what had he meant-oh. Peter had blurted out too much and they had never discussed it beforehand. "You mean your powers?"

"Yes, that bit. I never said I had powers."

"Right. Uh, Reed and I have been discussing theories on why you're sick. We went over DNA so..." Glancing away he shrugged not knowing why he felt so bad. Science had always been his thing and looking at DNA was literally part of his job now. Of course he had pieced it together from that detail. "Given others affected by this disease we figured that the abilities you gained were the catalyst. Kaine, er, his were more powerful than most which was why he was affected at a greater rate. Before, uh he used magic that is."

That explanation still sounded odd to Peter, it was something he didn't want to think too hard on. Mainly on what Kaine had to do for his part of the agreement and if there would be a greater cost to come. It bothered him greatly that the man thought it was a good idea to make deals with devils, any fool knew nothing good ever came of that. Reilly had already suffered because one such deal so Peter wasn't keen on trying it again.

"Seeing Gwen seems to prove there's some truth to the theory." Now he was just rambling nervously. There were non-powered clones that died due to being rushed although Peter suspected Gwen had been made with more care. Even if she had the illness it seemed to be inactive. Reed had guessed that Bens' genes had mutated since he had only crumbled to dust after his death. There was no way to know for sure now.

The waiter came and they ordered their meals quickly. When they were left alone Reilly had no where to focus his attention on for a distraction. Peter regretted babbling so much and hoped he hadn't overstepped another boundary. "I'm sorry if I upset you."

"It did seem inevitable that you'd find out." A small sigh escaped as Reilly met his gaze. "I just wanted to delay it."

"Why? Most of the family as these abilities." Only Mary Jane didn't and she never made a big deal of it outside worrying for their safety.

"Slightly less baggage I guess. I'm already being watched to...I don't know, compare me to Ben I suppose. I just wanted to be me."

"Reilly, I wasn't trying to...I mean I was curious. That doesn't mean I expect you to be just like your father." Their waiter came back with their drinks and left them on the table. Peter put the cream in his coffee while his nephew put a straw in his orange juice.

"I didn't want to May and April to bug me either. I can see them testing me by tossing marbles and that would get really annoying after awhile."

In the midst of stirring Peter chuckled because he could see the girls-mainly April-doing that. "It does seem likely although we will talk to them when you're ready. Maybe reminding them of the dangers of flinging things around when Mary Jane can't sense them will help."

The invisible wall Reilly had constructed was still up but there were cracks.

"How are you feeling? You sound like you're over the flu."

"I am." Well perhaps the cracks were only on the surface. "Is there something Dr. Richards and you don't want me to know."

Feeling like he had just been sucker punched Peter stared at him with his mouth gaping.

"I've been living with the knowledge that I was dying for awhile. I think I should at least know what to be prepared for." When the kid spoke like that it was easy to remember he had been taking care of himself for years instead of the adults that should have been the responsible ones. As a father he wanted to protect the boy but perhaps this wasn't something he should hide. The way things were going he'd likely figure it out and they'd be back to arguing.

"It may be nothing. Reed still believes my DNA holds the key there's just been some complications. Your genes have mutanted some which makes it harder to unlock."

The grim expression on Reillys' face deepened leaving Peter to wonder if he said the right thing.