Closure

Central Park

Two months later

During the weekend, Peter sat alone on a wooden bench, listening to his MP3 player. He was waiting on Gwen to get there. It was the weekend, and so they figured they should do something fun for once, and nothing stressful anymore. The park was a nice place to start. There weren't a lot of people out either at this time of the day, with it being 8:00 a.m., so that was good.

While sitting there and thinking about all of the stuff that had happened in the past months, Peter couldn't help but feel relieved that it was all over. He wouldn't have to hear from SHIELD again. Well, maybe again, but no time soon. It was strange. Before the whole incident, life seemed simple enough for Peter, despite the fact that he saved the city from a giant mutated "lizard man" even before that. After the incident, life returned to its simplicity. It was almost like it never happened, even though Peter knows that it did, with no doubt in his mind. The anomalous three months filled a gap within his recent timeline. Prior to the three months, everything was swell after saving the city from Dr. Connors. And so everything was swell again subsequent to the previous incident.

Abruptly, a woman came to take a seat next to Peter. Peter took a quick glance to see if it was Gwen, but then looked away out of realization that it was just another woman; ironically, a redheaded woman. The woman was wearing a tan colored trench coat made out of wool, a pair of sunglasses, a small hat, tight black pants down to her ankles, and a pair of black high heels. Peter thought she had to have been some rich girl who just has to look as nice as possible wherever she goes, showing off her glamorous style, which also spectacles her wealth by everyone else assuming how expensive her clothes must be. She was pretty though, about in her mid-twenties it seemed.

Peter kept his eyes from the woman, and the woman did the same. The woman instead looked around at the beautiful park while Peter still sat there listening to his music, waiting for Gwen to show up.

"It's funny, right?" the redhead suddenly spoke. "How normal things seem to return after a series of strange events?"

After inquiring the voice, Peter then recognized who it was. But of course he needed to be positive.

"Agent Romanoff?" Peter asked with uncertainty.

"Good ears," she replied as she removed her sunglasses, revealing to be an incognito Black Widow.

"What are you doing here?" Peter asked, bewildered.

"Before, I was wondering the same thing," she spoke. "I usually don't make quick friendly visits, especially to those who only pertain to my work. However, now, for me, it would seem more appropriate to do so."

"Fury didn't send you here?" asked Peter in surprise.

"No, he didn't. In fact, I sent myself.

"Remember that day when you were waiting on me to acquire your message on your decision to meet with Fury, and you were waiting on your roof? And we got into this discussion on my past, and I told you that it would have to wait for another day? Well, today might as well be the day, I guess."

Peter was all ears.

"The reason I was so worried about your decision was because, believe it or not, I was child spy at a very young age. When my parents died when I was too little to hardly even remember, I raised by a Soviet officer, who recruited me into the KGB. I still was only a child, and I wasn't the only one being recruited at such a young age into the agency. I was only one out of many other children who were taken in. There, they taught us everything we needed to know to be great spies, and effectual killing machines. They dehumanized us to a great extent so that we can carry out missions with great ease and no urges to hold back. We were completely cleansed of about any drop of emotions that we had left in us. I never knew how to love, how to care for someone else, how to feel remorse for someone I killed. I never even know such words existed. It was one of those things that they kept away from us, kept us from ever learning about.

"Growing up that way was only simple for me because I didn't know how brainwashed I truly was. I didn't have any emotions left in me to feel regret for anything I had done. I didn't know any better. How could I?"

Of all the assumptions Peter could have possibly drawn regarding Natasha's past, he never would have guessed this at all. He knew her past wasn't a very jocund one. However, the truth spilling out was worse than he could have imagined.

"I'm not saying that SHIELD is like anything I just said at all," Natasha noted. "I'm only claiming that… at a young age, a kid should still be a kid. You know? I know you're almost grown up now and practically becoming a man, but don't throw away your juvenility just yet."

Peter didn't know what to say. He had no words to throw on the table, or he didn't really need any, for that matter.

"There's this quote that I heard of… a favorite of mine. It's one that Fury seems to forget. With great power comes great responsibility. It means exactly how it's written. Those that harness great power and abuse it destroy themselves and everyone else around them. You, Peter, will eventually come to that same crossroad of choosing whether to use your power for good or bad. But knowing you, I think I already have my bet on what it is."

Gwen was going to get there any minute, Peter thought to himself. But at the same time, he was still well occupied with the conversation he held with Natasha. He couldn't quite understand it, but the idea of this woman being his friend appeared quite normal opposed to what their association seemed as before. Natasha at the same time came to find this unusual friendship normal as well, whatever the word "normal" even means. She's certainly not the one to make friends easily. However, Peter turned out to be another one of those individuals who made it easier for her to accept.

The spy peered in the corner of her eye, and took note of a blonde approaching the two from about 30 feet away. It was Gwen. Natasha then stood up from the bench and looked down to Peter.

"Whatever it is you choose to do with your life, I wish you the best," she said most sincere. "Good luck to you."

And as she said that, she walked away, never to be seen again. Peter just stared for what seemed like hours at the last spot he saw her vanish. Her astonishing disappearing act she always perfectly manages to pull off still amused Peter in many ways. Though, that wasn't why he was staring. He stared because he knew he probably wouldn't see her again. They were just beginning to form a friendship of some sort, even though it seemed short-lived. He'd never forget her. No one forgets a Black Widow when they see one, whether it's in their backyard, the garage, patio, or in their bathroom. They come off as one of the most enigmatic, petrifying, and oddly beautiful creatures to meet eyes with.

"Hey you," a suddenly soft voice made its way through Peter's right ear. He knew that voice from anywhere.

He snapped out of the strange state he was in and looked to his date. A smile forced its way onto his face.

"Hey," Peter spoke warm and lovingly.

Gwen took a seat next to him and Peter immediately embraced her.

"Someone missed me a lot," Gwen said as she embraced him back.

"I did," said Peter honestly.

Even though it was only yesterday since he saw Gwen at school, he felt like it was weeks since he'd seen her. All he wanted to do was hold her.

"Mr. Roper's really been working our butts lately, hasn't he?" said Gwen.

"Really? I haven't noticed," Peter joked.

"Shut up, you genius," Gwen teased.

"Trigonometry's so simple."

"Yeah, but the workload is so much."

"That's what happens when you try to take more AP classes than you can handle."

"Who said I couldn't handle it?"

"You just did."

"I did not."

"You were just complaining about how much the workload was."

"Ah, but I wasn't exactly complaining, I was just stating a claim."

"A claim that was irrelevant."

Gwen playfully hit Peter on the head. Peter loved arguing with her, but in a playful manner, of course. Her intelligence never failed to amuse him. A pretty face isn't all that it takes for a woman to steal Peter's heart. They had to have brains as well, and Gwen was luckily the full package. And right now, Peter was just more than happy to be with her right now. He's glad he turned down Fury's deal. It wouldn't be fair to her or his aunt to put them in danger as well as his own life by partaking in such a stressful and tedious job, not to mention risky. Peter didn't need any of that. All he needed, and wanted, was to be with the ones he loves.

The couple locked their eyes onto each other, taking in the beautiful silence surrounding them. There was no one else in sight. It was just the two of them alone. Peter took his hand and gently placed it onto Gwen's smooth, soft cheek, and lightly stroked its surface.

"I love you, Gwen," he quietly spoke.

Gwen then took hold of his hand on her cheek, never taking her eyes off of his.

"I love you, too."

A/N: Thank you guys so much for all the amazing support for inspiring me to continue this story! This was only meant to be a one-shot made out of boredom, but you guys persuaded me to keep writing more, and now it has gained thousands of views, 87 followers, and 70 favorites! Because of you all, this has by far become my most successful story on the fanfiction website. So once again, thank you guys so much for the kind reviews and big support! :)