Author's Note: So, I have plans for this story. A lot of plans, actually, for a whole Superfamily verse. I want to finish this story before Civil War comes out, then I have a few one-shots planned and then a full-fledged sequel taking place after Avengers: Age of Ultron. I just need to write more to get it going. Thanks again for all your patience! I really do appreciate it! Please enjoy this chapter.

"This is how you hold onto your family. You hold them with open hands so they are free to find futures of their own. It's just that simple."

― Richard Peck

They release Gwen from the hospital a few days later.

Peter can't tell who's more relieved himself, or Mrs. Stacy, who seems to practically be bouncing with joy as she pushes her daughter's wheelchair to the parked van waiting outside.

"You know I can walk, Mom." Gwen sighs tiredly, but her mother disregards her, happily humming a jaunty tune and Peter finds himself chuckling at the absurdity of it all. To think, earlier this week, he thought his whole world was crashing and burning around him once more. If he had lost Gwen—

But he didn't lose Gwen.

She's here, alive, and he has to hold onto that. He can't let himself go into that dark vortex of endless 'what-ifs'. She's safe and she's healing and she's here, with him. That's all that matters.

"Oh, darn." Mrs. Stacy halts, a few feet from the van. "I forgot your paperwork in your room. Let me go get that—" She glances at Peter, who nods.

"I've got her, Mrs. Stacy."

"Thank you Peter!" With that, Mrs. Stacy begins to sprint back to the hospital entrance.

"Hey." Gwen reaches for his hand and holds it within her own, squeezing it somewhat. Her peach lips pout as her eyes carefully catalogue his expression. "You know I'm okay, right?"

He scoffs, "I know. Sure, just recovering from a gunshot—"

"It had nothing to do with you, Peter." Gwen insists, voice sharp. Her gaze narrows and it's funny how scary she can be when she wants to. She'd probably give Loki a run for his money, provided she was pissed off enough.

"It had everything to do with me and we both know it," He sighs, running his free hand through his hair. Lowering his voice, he kneels to meet her gaze, "Gwen, they wanted me and they would have killed you to get to me." He bites his lower lip, the barely contained fear and grief bubbling up to the surface once more. "If I had lost you—"

She presses her lips to his and he can feel her passion as she kisses him with every fiber of her being. When she finally breaks it off, he's lightheaded from the lack of oxygen.

"Listen to me Peter Parker," She practically hisses, squeezing his hand a bit too tightly, "You didn't lose me. I'm here. I'm okay." She smiles softly now, her eyes misting. "And I love you, you idiot, so if you think that you can just be weird because of this, you are sorely mistaken." She winks. "Got it?"

Part of him wants to push her away, to break things off while she's still alive. Sure, it would break his heart and maybe hers, but wouldn't that be better than having her lifeless eyes staring up at him?

But he loves her and he doesn't think he's strong enough to stay away from her. Gwen understands him, she knows all his flaws and she accepts them. He can't lose her so he will train and do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

Even if that means one day giving her up.

But for now, he'll try to make it work so he grins and replies, "Got it."

And as they wait for her mother, Peter can't help but feel like things might finally be going his way.

Captain Steve Rogers has heard a lot of, quite frankly, bad plans. There was the time Bucky suggested just waltzing into a HYDRA compound without taking into account how many guards might be on watch duty. Another time, Howard Stark swapped out his shield for some new high tech gadget, without telling Steve, and then watched it malfunction spectacularly.

This plan, suggested by none other than Nick Fury's commander, seemed to trump them all.

"Let me get this straight," Steve began, meeting Nicky Fury's gaze, "You want to let Peter go to draw Norman Osborn out of hiding?"

Nick didn't hesitate before replying, "Yes. School. Work. Whatever he used to do, he should be able to do it—"

"That's fucking insane," Tony growled, glancing around at the rest of the team for support. "Tell me I'm not the only one thinking that this is insane—"

"Indeed," Thor agreed with a nod of his head, "How could allowing Peter to endanger himself be of benefit to us?"

"Because," Natasha started softly, glancing at Clint for support, "Norman Osborn has unlimited resources. He'll disappear until he has a chance to get what he wants. So, if we let Peter out—"

"He'll do fuck knows what to Peter!" Tony snapped.

"He'll give us a chance to take him in," Clint interjected, "And getting him out of the picture is the only way to save Peter."

"Of course, you can trail him," Nick Fury continued, leaning forward in his chair, "But should Osborn see you, that would be game over. The key is to keep Peter safe with the illusion of danger."

"Very present danger." Tony muttered, leaning back in chair. Huffing out a breath, he turned to face Steve, "C'mon, Cap, we're not going to go along with this—"

"It's a direct order," Steve relented softly but before Tony could protest, he quickly added, "And I think Fury is right. We need to take Osborn in before he gets Peter. This might be our only chance."

"We'll keep the boy safe." Thor declared, voice booming in the conference room.

"Damn straight we will." Clint agreed with a grin.

So, is it a crappy plan? Yes, but it's the only one they've got.

Besides, Steve knows that as a team, they will be able to keep Peter safe.

There's a knock on his door and immediately, Peter sits up on his bed and shouts, "Come in." The mechanical door whirs and soon, Steve is leaning in his doorway, a tired grin on his lips.

"Hey, Cap." Peter greets. "What's up?"

The super soldier comes into the room and takes a seat at the chair by Peter's desk. He seems exhausted—the teenager dimly recalled something about the team having to go to more S.H.I.E.L.D. briefing to go over the attack on the lab—but he also seems pleased.

"Steve?" Peter tries again, tilting his head to the side in confusion. "What is it?"

"I just thought you should know that you have an AP Chem test tomorrow that you need to study for." The older man informs him quickly and it takes a moment for the teenager to process that sentence. Then, it hits him.

"I'm going to school?" He's practically bouncing off his bed now, so excited to return to normalcy and Gwen and the illusion of being a stress free teenager.

"Yeah," Steve nods, practically beaming, "Lockdown has been lifted. You can go—"

"Aunt May!" Peter exclaims, jumping off his bed now, his excitement just too much to contain. "I can go see her, it's been too long—" Then, spinning back around, he faces Cap, "Wait, why did Fury change his mind?"

Steve's expression darkens.

"What is it?" Peter presses.

Sighing, the super soldier rises from the chair, "Peter, lifting the lockdown isn't really for your benefit. Norman Osborn is still out there and he wants you. The only way to get him to reveal himself is—"

"For me to be the bait." Peter completes his teammate's train of thought. The happiness quickly draining from his system, the teenager's shoulders slump. "I mean, I guess I'm glad I can go, but I'll be a target—"

"One of us will be keeping tabs on you—"

"I'm not worried about me!" Peter snaps, the fury in his tone stunning Steve for a moment. "After what happened to Gwen and to Aunt May, if someone else I knew was hurt, I could never forgive myself."

There's silence for a few moments. Then, Steve gets up and places a comforting hand on the young man's shoulders.

"Peter, I swear to you, that won't happen."

"And Captain America never lies, right?" The teenager is joking—mostly—but a part of him deep down wishes that this were true, that if Captain America promised that the danger would pass.

But that's foolish and he knows it.

Still, when Steve grins and says, of course, Peter can't help but feel a little bit more reassured.

"Lunch!" Natasha practically hurls a packed lunch box at him as he rushes to the elevator. He'd gotten accustomed to sleeping in while on lockdown and is now, of course, running late.

"Good luck on the chem test!" Bruce shouts from the lab down the hall and Peter chuckles.

Catching the lunch, he glances at the deadly assassin, slightly perplexed as to why she took the time to pack him lunch, but then, he thinks better of it, "Thanks!"

"Clint will be on the rooftops!" She shouts as he gets into the elevator and he waves at her.

As he rushes down the street towards the nearest subway station, he can't help but feel happy.

He's back in the world.

He's almost normal.

Almost.

But, while being a superhero definitely had some low points, having the Avengers looking out for is definitely a perk.

And with that thought, he hops on the subway train and makes his way to school.

Author's Note: The calm before the storm. One more chapter of bonding and then things start to get rough for Peter. Like evil villain rough. Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review if you have a moment.