Chapter 5: A Visit to Remember
"Adanium container holding steady at thirty percent saturation." Peter says, looking over the screens before him. The console is alight with floating holograms of sensors and logs. He scans over the many readings, the room beyond the reinforced glass is alight with a shifting rainbow of colors.
These colors wash over the form of Doctor Doom, who is watching the experiment with crossed arms and a steeled gaze. Unfortunately the only read on the man is stoicism as the face plate gives away no more. Peter glances up at the small cylindrical device in the middle of the contained room. An apparatus is slowly feeding a substance into the large battery like object.
"Up the saturation to fifty percent." Doom commands in his metallic voice, not bothering to even look Parker's way. Peter skeptically looks up from the screens at Von Doom.
"As excited as we all are that the weave is holding, I don't think introducing more right now is safe. Let's just wait another ten minutes before going up another two percent. I'd rather not watch another lab get sucked away into a void, Victor." Peter sends back, a small frown accompanying it.
"I agree with Peter, we need to make sure everything holds for an extended period of time." Valeria chimes in from her own spot on another console near Peter. She's in her oversized lab coat and glasses, observing her own monitors.
"You dispute my calculations still?" Doom's voice rose slightly, turning to glare at the hero.
"Your work is sound, and by all means it should easily hold safely at fifty seven percent. But, like Peter, I want to err on the side of caution; no offense Uncle." Valeria said viewing Dr. Doom's calculations for the umpteenth time, and running the current data through it.
"Thanks Val." Peter gives his goddaughter an appreciative smile.
"If you heeded Doom's advice, and have a portal to the Negative Zone ready, then why hesitate? Fortune favors the bold, and this pointless caution hinders our already stagnant progress. Increase saturation to fifty percent." Victor says magnanimously, turning back to the observation window. The tone he used was one of finality. Peter can't help but roll his eyes and click his tongue.
"Seriously do you use a Thesaurus for light reading or something?" Parker groans, but changes back to business mode when addressing his goddaughter. She locks eyes with him, sighs then shrugs her small shoulders, before giving him a nod. "Okay Val, get the portal generator ready. I'm increasing saturation to fifty."
Against his better judgment, even he couldn't argue against Doom's work. Taking a deep breath the hero puts his hand on a turn dial on the console. He slowly turns it, watching the numbers and readings spike with each click.
X X X X
After another two hours pass they find themselves still alive and the lab and experiment still intact, flourishing even. The container for the Parker Particles is holding steady at fifty eight percent. The three in the lab are all at the observation window. Peter looks up from a small device in his hand showing the vital measures of the experiment with a smile.
"Is this what Manifest Destiny feels like? Cause I'm feeling pretty good about this right now." Parker grins while turning to his two other colleagues. The little blond girl, who's mimicking the crossed arms of her "Uncle", looks up to him and smiles triumphantly.
Her little head swivels over to the silent stoic Doom, and beams that radiant smile up at him. The ruler of Latveria keeps his poker face steady, as his only concern at the moment is the experiment. Before Peter could clear his throat the comm systems pipe on.
"I know you nerdy types lose yourself in your work, but one of you has to have looked at a clock recently." She Hulk asks through the intercom, breaking Peter and Valeria away from the window. Peter quickly looks down at the device in his hand seeing the time read six forty seven PM. Valeria watches him wide eyed, and both turn at the same time to see the cuckoo clock on the wall. It reads the same, and Peter face palms with his free hand.
"Shi..." Peter cuts himself off remembering a child is in the room. "...itake mushrooms, we're late. She's gonna kill me." He groans, wiping the hand down his face, before rushing over to the main console. Valeria dashes over to her own work space, quickly taking off her lab coat and glasses. She is much more excited about the time than her godfather. Doom watches the sudden frantic rush of the other two with curiosity.
Tapping the intercom button Peter quickly works through several hologram projections at the same time. "Sorry sorry, exciting developments and all that. We're on our way out. Is she here already?" He rushes through setting the experiment on standby. Valeria doing the same on her station.
"She's been here for close to an hour already. Your lucky she knows your have an important guest and decided to start getting dinner ready. Hurry your butts up." The communication cuts off, and Peter laughs nervously to himself. Valeria appears next to him as he's just about ready to finish setting everything on auto pilot.
"We are not done here, Parker. Return to your station at once." Doom commands, his eyes narrowing at the brown eyed man. Peter turns his head enough to see the Doctor in his peripherals.
"Sorry Victor, but family comes first, and that means dinner relatively on time. Besides I don't know about you, but I haven't had anything other than coffee and protein bars since breakfast. I'm starved, and my Aunt makes the best pot roast this side of the equator." He grins towards the man, and finishes shutting everything down.
"C'mon Uncle Doom, you'll really like Grandma May's cuisine. It's some of the best food I've ever had." The youngest Richards says excitedly, as she moves to the masked man's side and grabs his armored hand with both of hers. Doom peers down at the young girl, and his eyes soften ever so slightly.
After a short silence Peter speaks up again. "How about this then. We have a nice family dinner together, and then you and I can work on this thing throughout the night if you are so inclined. I won't even say a peep about worker rights or having a life outside of the lab. What do ya say Doom?"
To this day Peter is 99.97% sure it was Valeria's puppy dog eyes that convinced Doom.
Exiting the elevator Peter grins as Valeria leads Victor by the hand toward the dining room. She's wholly intent on introducing the ruler to the sweet woman she happily calls Grandma May. Despite Doom's imposing visage he finds himself pulled along easily by his pseudo niece. The two pass by She Hulk who grins at the sight. Dr. Doom gives her a glare, but she just shrugs keeping her grin.
Once the two of them disappear around the corner, Peter steps up to Jen and rocks onto his tip toes to give her a peck on her green cheek. She bends down to meet the sign of affection.
"Sorry to keep everyone waiting." He says dropping back down to his normal height. The green haired woman is dressed up closer to the side of formal, with her hair pulled back into a pony tail. She visibly relaxes now that he is with her, something Parker notices.
"You're cutting it close buster. They should have dinner just about finished." Her emerald gaze turns toward the kitchen as the two of then head that way. "How did you convince bucket head to stay for dinner?"
"I'm good at puppy eyes, but not Valeria good. She's achieved a level that could sit Odin right down at the table." He chuckles, as they step into the living room area. He gives her a side long glance, watching her unintentionally start to play with a strand of hair hanging in her face. "Decided to wear green again tonight, I see."
She Hulk stops about ten feet from the kitchen, trying to look like she hadn't been caught. Her silence was enough to confirm Peter's suspicions.
"Why are you so worried to let her see your real self?" He asked intuitively, watching his girlfriend fidget.
"I'm not worried." She snipes back quickly, but reels back just as fast. She Hulk hesitates for a few moments, looking toward the dining room entrance. "I'm just... You're last girlfriend was a supermodel actress! How can a plain Jane lawyer compete with that?! No, your Aunt doesn't need to meet my normal self. She deserves to know you didn't trade down." Jennifer lets loose her anxiety on him, even managing to keep her voice low so as to not be heard elsewhere.
Spidey blinks up at her, watching as insecurity washed over her lovely features. A gentle smile crosses his face, and Peter reaches up to cup her cheek. Her emerald eyes turn to him ashamed of the feelings she is showing.
"I, in absolutely no way, traded down for you." He reassured absolutely truthful. "Jen you have single handedly kept most of the hero community out of jail or worse, and that is something you learned before rocking the green skin so amazingly. She Hulk is just you with all the confidence and power needed to take it further. Everything you've done is all you, not some separate entity. I care about you and everything you are Jennifer Walters."
She Hulk's bottom lip trembled slight before she wrapped him in a hug, almost squeezing the air right out of his lungs. Peter pushed through it and hugged her back.
"How can you be so damn nice and so frikkin frustrating at the same time?" She finally said with her head resting against the side of his.
"Practice, and being raised by a wonderful Aunt and Uncle. One of which would really like to meet the real Jennifer." He said back, turning his head enough to give her a kiss on her green cheek.
"You are so lucky your cute Parker." She faux chided. Pulling back from him they share a kiss.
"Awwww ain't that adorbs. Should we take the kids to the movies after dinner and let you two have some time alone." Johnny Storm cooed at the doorway. His hands held together in front of him, and he batted his eyes at them. The couple broke their kiss and whipped their heads toward the Human Torch. Both glared at him with varying degrees of intensity.
"Way to ruin a moment, Matchstick." Peter grumbled.
"Maybe, we'll have to see how the evening goes." Jennifer says in a seductive voice, with a smile to match. Immediately Parker blushed furiously, and Johnny smirked letting out a whistle.
"Well before you all cozy with each other, dinner's ready." Johnny hooks a thumb over his shoulder to the dining area.
"On our way, but first..." Jen replied, before pulling the stunned Peter into another kiss.
"This's still pretty dang weird. Chrome Dome sitting down to eat with us. I mean I've clobbered this guy so many times, and now here he is at dinner whit us." Ben mumbled to May Parker, Peter's Aunt and more or less Mother. He had on a huge cooking apron that read "Rock Solid Cook.", and was carrying several dishes he and May prepared together.
"What's that saying Ben dear? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Besides Peter keeps telling me that Mr. von Doom has been keeping his nose clean, even helping you bunch lately. He can't be all that bad. I mean his little country is one of the most prosperous, from what the news says." May smiles kindly back up at the big orange rock man. Grimm huffs ever so lightly, earning a warning side glance with grin from the older woman.
"Well he has been keeping a good chunk of the less desirables off our, and the kid's, backs. Our personal history just keeps me from relaxing around him." The Thing placates. May loads the roast tray in her arms, and the two of them head to the dining room together.
As May exits the kitchen she's ambushed by a light peck on the cheek from her nephew. She grins for a moment and turns to see Peter smiling innocently.
"Sorry for being late Aunt May. Mmmm smells delicious, I can't wait to dig in."
"You're lucky I'm used to your tardy nature, Peter." She chides moving the pot roast just out of the probing finger of her nephew.
"Yeah straiten up Webs. It's not nice to keep such a nice lady like your aunt waitin'." Ben joined in on the jabs, a big rocky smirk on his mug.
"Alright alright! I'll try to not let Doom push me around anymore." Peter conceded throwing his hands up in front of him.
"So where is Jennifer? I haven't seen her since she went to get you?" May asked looking at the occupants of the table, but not seeing the green bombshell that is Peter's girlfriend. The Thing gently moves around May, and starts to set the dishes on the table. May and Peter follow shortly after.
"Oh... well she went to freshen up before dinner. She'll be here in a minute or two." Spidey says slightly dodging the question.
"Grandma May, I want to introduce you to Uncle Victor." As soon as May sets the roast down on the table Valeria is at her side smiling happily up at her. May looks down at the small blond girl and returns the smile, slipping the oven mitts off her hands.
"Sure sweetie. I'll be there in just a second." The older woman nods and turns back to the placement of the food. Valeria waits patiently for her, as Peter looks around his Aunt at the ruler of Latveria at the far end of the round table. Doom betrays no emotions, but is talking with Franklin, who is sitting on his right.
Parker follows his Aunt and Goddaughter over to meet him. The youngest Richards stops off to her brother's side, and clears her throat. "Victor von Doom this is May Parker, Peter's Aunt and our adoptive Grandmother. Grandma May this is the ruler of Latveria, Victor von Doom." The little girl recites very professionally.
Doom turns his head up to see the elderly woman kindly beaming down at him, with her hands clasped together in front of her stomach. His eyes look her over once, then fall on the Richards children. They both look up at him expectantly, hoping that he'll find May as wonderful as they do. Next his eyes flick over the table and Ben and Johnny, who are cautiously watching him. Finally they rest on Peter who is behind the woman with his arms crossed, and a careful look about him.
Doom pushes out his chair and stands, facing May. He reaches out and gently takes one of her hands in his metal gloved ones. He brings it up and lowers his head, to rest his metal masked lips on the back of her palm. "It is a pleasure to meet the woman Valeria and Franklin hold in such high regard." Doom says sounding genuinely kind for a change, before he bends back up letting May take her hand back.
"Ohh my. And it is an honor to meet such an esteemed guest as yourself, Mr. Doom." May replies with a nod and a faint blush on her cheeks. Behind her Peter's eyes are wide in surprise. Did Doom just make his Aunt blush?! He catches the man's eyes, and swears he sees a flicker of superiority and victory in them. 'Sunova...'
Just then a finger taps Peter's shoulder, and he looks back around to see Jennifer out of her She Hulk form. She looks very nervous, even mousey behind her glasses. He grows a very excited smile, and wraps his arm around her shoulder, bringing the woman up next to him.
"Umm... Hi Mrs. Parker, thanks for making us dinner." Jennifer speaks up, showing some more confidence now that Peter is next to her.
Aunt May turns around after excusing herself from Doom, and stops on a dime as soon as she sees the woman next to her nephew. Her hand comes up to half cover her mouth, as her eyes sparkle. Walters fidgets slightly in Peter's arm, unsure of how the mother figure of Peter's would judge her.
"Oh my. Jennifer is that you?" May asks awaiting the answer. The brown haired woman steals a glance to her boyfriend, then nods with a tiny smile to his Aunt.
"My dear it is so wonderful to finally meet you." May opens her arms for a hug, and relief washes over the younger woman. Walters walks up to May and they share a hug.
X X X X
With all the fuss and pleasantries out of the way the family and guest sit down for dinner. Peter sitting next to Jennifer who is next to May, the two chatting and swapping stories about him. Next to May is the young Valeria talking science with "Uncle" Victor, and Franklin on Doom's other side throwing in his two cents when he can. Next to the boy Johnny is poking fun at Ben. Altogether it is quite the pleasant Sunday dinner.
A long debated topic of discussion was put to rest that night too; how does Dr. Doom eat without taking his mask off? Needless to say Valeria emerged the victor of that debate.
That success was quickly dwarfed when Aunt May invited the rule of Latveria to Thanksgiving that year. What's more he politely accepted. Immediately following the sounds of collective jaws hitting the table rang throughout the room.
CHAPTER 5 END
A/N: Hello to you all! How have you been? Hopefully well, and not too angry at me getting this chapter to you so late. That being said, I'm readying my helmet and cu just in case.
Anyways, chapter 5 is here and I hope you all liked it. I wanted to show off a bit of a side we rarely see in the uber confident She Hulk, insecurity. Honestly with MJ being Pete's ex, and all the success she's gained, can you blame her? That and I wanted to answer several fan's requests for Aunt May to show up. Seems like the secret project of Doom and Parker's is finally moving along, what does that mean for the secret truce between the two of them?
I hope you enjoyed this rather fluff filled and calm chapter, because the next one wont be quite as heartwarming. Thanks as always to my readers, and I'll see you all next time.
~ Wiggles
Richmaster: Well that was definitely one of the the canon events I really enjoyed and wanted to keep in this story. I liked Laura a lot myself, and want her to have a pseudo family outside of the X-Men. Glad you enjoyed the chapter, hopefully you'll like this one too.
Brown-Eyed-Fiend: No kidding.
Spider-fan: Well well look who got a late valentines day present, lol. Hope you liked this chapter.
Bael92: Glad you liked it too. Their relationship will be interesting to write, but hopefully to your liking.
cabrera1234: Whoa whoa whoa, slow down a bit there.
ShunKazamis-Girl: Since we've chatted in the PM's already, I'll just hope you enjoyed this chapter.
hollowichigo12: Well I haven't really put too much thought into the Illuminati side of things, but I'll think on it.
im ur misconception: You are very welcome. And yeah I thought that would be a very ingenious way to hide dangerous tech. Hope you like this chapter too.
Karlos1234ify: Well I'm glad you do. Here's more.
Zzz: They are adults now, and I'm sure they know about the birds and the bees, but still that's a funny idea. But here is your May anyways.
Haywire Eagle: I know exactly what you mean. I was and still am a big shipper of Carol and Peter. Maybe we'll see what she thinks of this in the coming chapters.
EroSlackerMicha: Thank you I will try. I have thought about the pairing, but nothing solid story wise sorry.
Incarnate47: That is a big possibility.
Guest 1: Why thank you. I'll let your imagination fill in May and Jen's dinner conversation.
vampireharry the 2: Sorry for the wait, here you go.
SPIDEYMANIAC: Well marriage is a rocky situation for the heroes in the Marvel Verse. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Devil Rebel: I'm sure if given more than the occasional team up in the comics they would come to enjoy each others presence more. Glad you are enjoying the story.