"EMMA, EMMA!" My body shook with such force, it almost felt like I wasn't doing it. I kept my eyes closed, fearful of what I would open them too. I felt no pain, but that could just be the adrenaline. Was I dieing? No.

"EMMA!" The words echoed through me.

The voice was familiar, but I couldn't pinpoint it. The tone was comforting.

I kept shaking, violently.

Soft whimpers escaped my lips as I rocked myself back and forth.

"EMMA!" I felt my body shake once more, before I finally opened my eyes. I gasped, taking a sharp intake of breath when I saw my best friend's face. Her eyes were filled with worrisome. Her arms were pressed tightly on my shoulders, sending a sharp shot of pain through my arm on my bruised shoulder.

My heart was pounding so fast, I almost thought Sam could hear it.

The sweat drenched sheets held me to my bed like a prisoner.

I observed my surroundings only to figure out that I was still just in my weary bedroom, minus the face on the ceiling.

I tried to catch my panting breath, but it seemed impossible. I could feel the air repeatedly being sucked from my lungs.

"You're okay! Are you okay? I hope you're okay." My best friend hugged me, squishing my face into her chest.

"What happened?" I panted.

"Nightmare? I don't know! I just heard you scream and ran in here!"

I kept trying to catch my shaky breath as Sam hugged me. "It was so vivid."

"You're okay," She reassured, "I promise you're okay."

I wiped the tears from eyes (which must have formed when I let out a earsplitting scream) and wrapped an arm around my best friend.

I was literally soaked in sweat. Like I had bathed in it.

"Come on," Sam stood up and tugged at my wrist. She lead me to the bathroom and ordered me to sit down. I obliged, still trembling.

I felt cold, although the sweat revealed differently. She grabbed a cloth from underneath the counter and soaked it in cold water. She pressed it lately to my forehead, cooling my face down, also wiping the sweat. The chill of the cloth sent me in shivers, but I tried my best to ignore it.

When I had calmed down enough to talk properly, I told her about my dream. I told her about how I didn't even remember falling asleep, and how vivid it all felt.

"You were probably so tired you don't even remember your head hit the pillow."

I nodded, "Yeah… Yeah I guess. You think you would be having nightmares of wolves, since you were the one attacked."

She snickered slightly before putting the cloth back in the sink. "Come on," She helped me up, knowing I was still no capable of keeping myself standing. "Sleep in my bed tonight." She suggested.

I nodded and followed her to her room.

Even dimly lit, the fuscia pink in her room still hurt my eyes. I walked over to the side of the bed and lay in it, pulling all the sheets up to my chin, tucking them under it.

I was still shaking, and I felt bad about it. The whole bed was trembling because of me. But luckily my best friend overlooked it and just smiled to me as I clutched the blankets.

"Thank you," I whispered to her after a many seconds of silence, but she was already sound asleep.

I woke up the next morning and went straight to work. I was only running on a few hours of sleep but I sucked it up.

Sam was at the police station all morning answering questions, and I felt terrible for her. She had to relive the whole traumatic night.

Kat was pretty easy going today, she was even sympathetic. I suspected it was because she heard of what happened at Oscorp last night, and she knew Sam was my best friend so whatever petrified here, sure as hell scared the shit out of me too.

Clark was even nice. He offered to buy me a late on my break. I adequately rejected his offer, and sat at the break table. As expected, Spider-man's picture was sitting on the front page of the newspaper. And that's not what hurt most, what was even more heart-wrenching was seeing the little 'Photo taken by: Peter Parker' in the corner.

I observed the ehadline of the Newspaper.

WOLVES IN NYC

It was an odd title, but it was true.

God, I missed him.

I missed him so much, it killed me inside. As cliché as it was, I felt like a part of me was missing. Every time I thought of him I had this image of him leaving via my window and webbing off into the night.

I hated him for not returning my calls, I hated him for ignoring me last night, but I couldn't actually hate him. I couldn't. It was Peter.

Peter who had the most sincere, care-free smile. It was a contagious smile. I ached for it. That little crease he had in his forehead whenever he laughed at one of my stupid jokes was just completely adorable. And those eyebrows. Those bushy, ridiculous, but totally face-framing eyebrows. They just completed him. His shaggy brown hair suited him so well. It was perfect. He was perfect.

I needed to see him again, but I know he would do anything to avoid me, as much as he wanted to see me too. I hoped he wanted to see me…

After getting off of work three, I took a stroll down the busy street, a coffee in my hand. It was warm. It acted as gloves for my hand, considering I left mine at home.

I strolled along the streets, in the opposite direction of my apartment, and my parents, and towards – well- God knows where I was going. I just felt like walking.

I couldn't help but feel like I was being watched. I scanned my surroundings but no one was there, no one suspicious anyways. Everyone appeared to be doing last minute Christmas shopping, which is what I should have been doing. He-he.

I still couldn't shake the feeling. It was like a piercing gaze was set on my back. I looked all around, but everyone was just staring at their phones, or their kid, or their dog.

Just as I was about to ignore the penetrating stare, I caught a glimpse of red in my peripheral. I followed the red to see Spider-man, stuck to the side of an apartment building. He just sat there, watching. Was he watching me? I tried not to look. But I was giddy inside, to know he was looking out for me.

The sad part was: this was the closest I'd ever get to Peter again.

No.

No, it wouldn't be.

Not if I could help it.

I darted into the nearest store and started searching. For what? I don't know. Something Peter and May would like. Peter and I may not have been talking, we may never talk again. But I would try. I could at least talk to May. Peter never said anything about me talking to May.

I found the most beautiful bouquet of glass roses across the old antique store. They were beautiful, truly. They made a nice décor.

Without even looking at the price, I picked it up and handed to the cashier.

The total came to 15.95$. A total bargain. I walked out the store with a huge smile.

A half an hour later, I felt like screaming due to the frustration of not being able to find Peter a present. I didn't know if he'd ever open it, but I still wanted to get him something, to show I still care.

I was so stumped, until it caught my eye.

It sat in the window practically calling my name. My eyes lit up when I saw it. It was perfect.

It sat in the middle of the display in the skate shop. It had wheels that were probably super expensive and the black board was simple, but the design underneath was so intriguing. It was a spider, red and blue like his logo, but it also had a psychedelic aspect to it.

It was the perfect skateboard.

It was so him.

I ran in there, practically tearing it from the display (After ignoring the cashier's yells at me, might I add) and dropped it on the front counter.

"I need this."

"I'm sorry ma'am." The cashier said. He tilted his hat closer to the side and looked me in the eyes, "That's not on sale till next month. It's the only one we have and it's for the window display. You can pre-order it like everyone else has though."

"No." I shook my head, my long blonde hair flailing all over me. "You don't understand. I seriously need this."

"Ma'am I'm sorry but—"

"I will pay you double the price." I pleaded.

"Ma-"

"Please!"

"Just give her the bloody board!" I heard someone in the back yell. "Double the price, that's 222$!" I cringed at the price, but was still so determined.

"U-uh okay." The cashier licked his lips, and grabbed the board from my hands.

He rang the board up, and I hesitated as I handed over the money.

All in all, it was a good buy. I had got Peter's present. He better frickin' open it because I spent a shit load of money on it.

I asked for an extra bag, wrapping the board in it.

I was scared Spider-man was lurking somewhere I couldn't see. He could see through the first bag, but no way the double bag.

I walked out into the cold air, and sipped the last luke-warm drop of my coffee, tossing it into the garbage.

By the time I got home, via the subway, I couldn't wait to wrap them up.

But how the hell did you wrap a skate-board?

After fiddling with it for a while, I put it in an old cardboard box and wrapped it in that. The Disney's frozen wrapping paper made me giggle, imagining Peter opening it, tearing through Olaf and Elsa's face.

I taped up every opening and then shoved the enormous wrapped presents in a plastic bag.

Now: to deliver.

Do I do it today?

On Christmas day?

Who am I kidding? I couldn't wait…

I packed my bag, took a last check in the mirror to tidy myself in case Peter was home, and headed out my apartment.

By the time I got to the subway, my plastic bag was starting to rip, due to the enormous amount of weight in the bag.

"Urrrg." I groaned, and wrapped my arms around the items. I prayed there was a seat for me to sit down on, but to my dismay, I was let down. I attempted to stand and hold on to the pole at the same time.

As I did this, I mused. Would Peter be home? I highly doubted it. It was getting late, and this was prime time for crime. He would be fighting and saving people and doing whatever it is he was.

I wished he would be there, but I didn't keep my hopes up because I knew there was a 99.9% chance he wouldn't be there.

I got off the subway minutes later and walked to Peter's house.

When I made it to house #36 I rapped lightly on the door, trying to juggle knocking, and holding the items up.

"Emily! Hello! Oh my, this is such a nice surprise." May opened the door with a huge grin.

"Hi!" I said, trying to keep up the presents with one of my leg, balancing with the other.

"Let me help you with that, I'll grab a bag—"

"Actually," I interrupted, "This is for you."

Her face lit up, and her smile made me smile. "That's so sweet dear!" She grabbed the presents, set them aside on the floor, and turned back to give me a quick hug.

Her warmth radiated off on her, comforting me.

"Did you want to come in for a bit?"

"Actually.. I- uh," I pointed behind me casually, "I have to, um. I got things to do, and stuff.."

"That's alright," She smiled, her cheeks flushing red. Before I knew it, she blurted out, "But you might as well say hello to Peter—PETER!" She called out.

"Shit…" I breathed, too low for her to hear. I love this woman but she did this on purpose. I didn't think he was home so I was quite surprised.

He came rushing down the stairs, one swift step after another.

"What Aunt May?" He practically reached the door before he finally looked up. "O-oh..." He stuttered, meeting my eyes.

I bit my lip, trying to keep the word-vomit behind my lips. There was so much I wanted to say, but there was nothing I said at all.

Booooy was this awkward.

May pushed her nephew out the door, and quietly locked the door behind him, leaving us in the dim light.

He rubbed the nape of his neck, avoiding eye contact.

"I miss you." I whispered.

"Huh?" He asked, finally meeting my eyes.

"I- uh... I miss you."I said a little louder, gazig down at my feet as I rocked back and forth on them to pass time.

"I miss you too, a lot. But u-um… how're you doing?"

I shut my eyes, not because I didn't want to look at him, but because I couldn't. I felt like breaking down inside. It killed me to hear him say that. I just shrugged, eyes still tightly shut.

I felt his eyes on me, just like earlier that day.

"Emily, I'm sorry about everything. I miss you. I truly do. But, just trust me. It's better this way."

I felt my eyes sting as they filled up with salty liquid. A felt a warm touch on my fore arm. "Em, I'm sor-"

I couldn't hear those words again.

I couldn't hear 'I'm sorry' again.

I pushed his arm off of me and urgently pivoted, trotting down the wooden steps. "I gotta go Pete. I-I'll see you later…" I fast-walked down the side walk feeling his eyes on my back like lasers. "Or never," I whispered, low enough that hopefully only I would hear it. Something told me that he might've heard it too, though.

God, Peter and I weren't even dating and it was like he was friend-zoning me, for different reasons of course. But he wasn't friend zoning me, because all we were before was friends before. It was like he was stranger-zoning me.

A few tears escaped the lids of my eyes as I rode the short subway ride home.

I was just stepping off of the subway, walking up a number of stairs, and wiping away a number of tears, when I heard an eruption of growls beside me. I looked to my left to see the pair of red, glowing eyes, hidden behind the dumpster in the alley way.

I lifted a hand to my mouth, covering any scream that was threatening to be let out.

This was the monster that had attacked my roommate.

I couldn't tell if he had seen me, so I just stood there.

I should have moved, I should have run, but I just froze. I just froze and my body went numb in response.

These were the eyes that had haunted and tormented my best friend and I these last few days. Luckily for me, it was only in my dreams and imagination, but now, I wasn't so lucky.

How in God's name was there no one around right now? It was New York City.

It became clear that the red eyes had spotted me, because there was a shuffling noise, a few cans fell, and then the red eyes grew bigger, nearing me.

I still couldn't run. It was like I couldn't control my body. My feet were firmly planted on the ground, and not by my choosing.

I tried to scream, but like the rest of me, I was paralyzed.

The eyes grew bigger and bigger, features started to manifest itself in the dark, and then finally, I was met face to face with the creature.

How was Peter not terrified of this creature? How could he make sarcastic jokes, and fight him off?

I could smell it's disgusting, wet, breath on my face.

I shut my eyes, bracing myself for death.

I was going to end up like the other missing people in New York City. This wouldn't be the last time anyone saw me, because tomorrow morning my face would be all over the news displayed as a missing person's report.

I clenched my fists together, ready for whatever was about to come, but relaxed when I heard the simple name, "Taylor."

Now I know he was talking about me.

"What?" I breathed, opening my wet eyes.

The beast bared its teeth at me. "You're Taylor's daughter."

"D-David Taylor?" I sniffled.

He nodded, his giant head moving up and down.

"I u-uh—"

"He did this to me."

"What?" I cocked my head, hardly seeing his gruesome face anymore because of the blurriness of my tears.

"HE DID THIS TO ME!" Spit came flying into my face, and I almost threw up when I smelled his rancid breath.

"How could my dad have possibly done this to you?"

"He was there in the lab that night." His voice was stern, and harsh. He grasped my arm, sensing that I was about to make a run for it. "He did this. He messed up."

That was when it came to me.

This was the man in the picture, with my father. It was Doctor Hendrix.

"Hendrix…" I said under my breath.

He cocked his head to the left, probably wondering why I knew his name.

"You broke into Oscorp the other night. You hurt my best friend." I was starting to put the pieces together now.

"Oscorp deserves whatever they get." He snarled.

"Why?" I asked. I was quite fond of Oscorp. They had considerable advanced our generation through the power of science.

"Let's just say, Oscorp has a habit of turning good people bad."

I couldn't argue with that.

I tried to slip out of his grasp, but it was no use.

"Don't even think about it." That voice did not come from him. I peered around his large, furried shoulders, to see another pair of red eyes, and another.

There were more…

"Holy shit…" I cried, "Holy shit!"

Goose bumps encompassed my body and I felt my heartbeat pound in my ears. A quick burst of adrenaline rushed through me and I managed to break free of the Doctor's grasp.

"NO," He growled with such fury that it frightened me so badly, I thought my heart restarted.

I started to make a run for it, when I felt a claw try to grab my right ankle.

I screamed in pain as I fell to the ground and felt the deep gashes left in my leg. My head hit the floor and I felt the blood ooze from a small scrap above my right eyebrow.

Hendrix dragged me along the floor, like something out of a horror movie. I tried to grasp the cement ground with my nails, digging them into whatever I could, but all I got was blood underneath my fingernails due to my viscous scrapes, attempting to save my own life.

"NO!" I screamed, hoping someone would hear me, "PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!"

Like a prayer being answered, I heard a large shriek from the beast that held me captive, and then my leg was released.

I expected to see Spider-man, but instead there was a fragile woman standing at the entrance of the alley way with a few bloody knives in her hand.

She was a tall woman, but petite at the same time. She appeared to be very young. Her dark hair framed her face nicely and her business clothes completely contrasted with the blood stains on her blouse.

"I called the cops already," She said, running over to me. She helped me stand and walk out into the open street.

I stumbled to the curb of the sidewalk and planted my butt on it.

I wasn't hurt that badly. My leg, although it seemed pretty painful in the moment, was only left with five gashes twisting around my ankle.

My eyebrow bled due to the impact of my face head hitting the frozen floor, but that was it.

Nothing hospital-worthy.

Just a few first-aid rituals.

"Are you okay?" The woman asked, wrapping her teal jacket around me.

I nodded, "T-Thank you so much…"

She smiled, "No problem."

I still couldn't get over how odd it was for a woman like her to be carrying a purse full of knives. Either way, she saved my life.

"What's your name?"

"Felicia Hardy." The woman smiled. "Yours?"

"Emily Taylor." I looked to my feet, watching as the blood oozed out of my ankle.

"Oooooh." The woman made a realization, "That's why he wanted you."

"Hmm?"

"Your David's daughter."

I nodded, "How do you know him?"

"I worked at Oscorp."

I pursed my lips, "Oh." I tried to register everything that had just occurred. "So you know Dr. Hendrix?"

She nodded, "He's mad at your father for the lab accident that occurred a long time ago. I suspect he wouldn't be so mad if he hadn't injected wolf's DNA into him in an attempt to gain his hearing back."

The police sirens interrupted our conversation, along with the ambulance.

Immediately the paramedics began to examine me, taking me to their vehicle, wrapping my leg in a bandage, cleaning my forehead, asking me to rate my pain on a scale of one to ten.

Without delay, the police rushed over to me for questioning as soon as I departed the ambulance. I answered all their questions, confirming their suspicions of Johnathon Hendrix, and even told them that I thought the missing person's were caused by this man.

"How many eyes did you see?" The cop asked, flipping a page in his notebook.

"At least three or four."

"And was there anyone else on the scene with you?"

"J-Just at the end of the crime. A woman, Felicia Hardy."

"Is she still here? Can you point her out to me?"

"Please officer," I objected, "Can I go home now? I just want to go home." I was so dead tired, and this traumatic night would haunt me forever, so I might as well take whatever sleep I could get.

"Just one more question, then I'll ask you to come in for questioning another day."

I sighed, and scanned the crime scene. I saw four or five cops, two paramedics, a few bystanders, but no Felicia.

I shook my head, "She's not here. But she saved my life."

"How so?"

I sighed again, revealing my frustration.

The officer gave me a small smile, before digging in his pocket and pulling out a business card. He wrote something on it in blue ink, and then handed it over to me.

"Call this number tomorrow and ask for Officer Jared Clarke. We can set up an appointment to take you in for further questioning."

"Thank you," I smiled, truly thankful for this officer.

After standing there for another ten minutes, waiting for the officer and answering worried calls from my parents and Sam, the officer drove me home.

All I wanted was home right now.

I unlocked my apartment door, and I was instantaneously met with a pair of arms. "I'm so glad you're okay," Sam cried into my shoulder.

It was déjà vu. We were literally re-living last night, only it was Sam in the traumatic situation and at least then Spider-man had helped her.

I knew he probably was dealing with something else, or he hadn't heard the incident, I just wished it was him saving me instead of Felicia.

Sam clung to me for what seemed like an eternity before finally letting me go and get ready for bed.

I didn't even bother brushing my teeth or taking off my makeup. I literally hopped into bed, only taking off my pants before I did so.

I groaned at the pain of my ankle as it hit the surface of my bed, but ignored it.

It was only a matter of time before I closed my eyes, consciousness gradually drifting away from my grasp.

At around 3:00am that night, a rapping noise on my window woke me.

"Ughh…" I groaned, rolling over to get a view of what it was.

It took a good minute for my pupils to dilate, focusing on the shapes around me. I almost fell back to sleep, until I heard the taps again.

My body instantly tensed up when I eyes focused to see Peter crouching on my fire escape.

His eyes locked with mine, his big, beautiful, brown eyes.

What do I do? I couldn't fake going back to sleep now…

I ripped off my covers and planted my feet to the ground. I tried to compose my nerves before cautiously walking towards the window and unlatching it.

He let himself in, pushing the window open and tumbling through.

He was dressed in his usual red and blue uniform, only his mask was off.

I just gave him a doleful stare, not knowing what to do. Why wasn't he saying anything? He came here. I clutched my forearm with my other hand, dropping my gaze.

When his crushing, lean, muscular, body encompassed mine, the warmth instantaneously made me melt into him. His arms tightened around me, forcing me into him.

I finally accepted the hug, wrapping my arms around his body.

I was so glad he was hugging me right now. I didn't know if I could take it any longer.

Peter had walked into my life only a little while ago, and now I don't think I could live without him in it.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't take it anymore." He mumbled into my messy bed head. "I'm sorry about not being there for you tonight. I had no idea. There was a gun fight downtown and I wasn't even listening into the police radio. Next think I know, I see a police car driving you home."

Instead of saying anything I clutched him closer.

"I hate not being with you."

I just nodded, knowing that he knew I felt the same way. It was hard for me to find my words right now. I was just so stunned he was here. Part of me wanted him to stay, to never leave again, but the other part of me wished he had never came at all. What was I going to do the next time he left?

"Are you okay?" He released me, but kept his hands planted on my shoulders, squeezing them a little.

Was I okay? Of course I wasn't. The boy I liked was crushing me… It was killing me. And on top of that, I got attacked by a giant wolf which had previously attacked my best friend as well. Who, not to mention, was out on a murder spree to acquire my father and take down Oscorp. I just sullenly shook my head, avoiding any eye contact with him.

"What's wrong?"

My lips tightened into a line. I licked them. "You can't keep doing this Peter…"

"Doing what?"

"You know what." I folded my arms, taking a step back from him. "You just keep entering and exiting my life. You can't just do that. You know how much it sucks seeing you all over the news? I see you everywhere, but I can't physically talk to you. And whenever you get closer to me, I'm the happiest girl in the world but I know that you'll leave me again. I know this may just be the lack of sleep talking right now, but it's how I feel."

He sighed.

"It sucks, Peter."

"Em—"

"Just make a choice."

"What?"

"Make a choice. Do you want me in your life or not, Peter? Because I can't live like this, waiting for you to show up at my window at two o'clock in the morning."

"You can't just ask me to make a choice… Not right now. I need time to think."

"Well I am asking. Choose Peter."

"I- I don't kn—"

"You know what?"

Peter's eyes were filled with confusion. That was what I was hoping for. I had to find some way to get through to him, some way to make him never leave again. I had to try a different tactic.

"You don't get a choice." I stabbed his chest with my bloody finger.

"What do you mean?"

"You can't get rid of me, Pete." Tears pooled in my eyes, and they weren't sad tears, they were angry ones that threatened to spill over. "Okay? You can't. This is my choice. You always push me away. I can't do this anymore. I'm sick of it. Just let me in Peter." I snapped. "I know you're scared because of what happened to Gwen, but I don't care. I'm here, Pete, and I'm not going anywhere. You're stuck with me. If something ever happened to me, I wouldn't be mad, or depressed, I'd be happy. It would be a privilege to die for you. So Peter, I'm begging you. Please." I took a step closer to him, moving over the invisible boundary that lay between us. "Let. Me. In."

I could see the internal dilemma inside him. The pained expression said it all. I had proposed that he chooses not to leave and I hoped, prayed, that he wouldn't push me away again. I don't know if I could take it again. His lips tightened, showing a whiteish color, and his downcast eyes finally rose to meet me. His eyes squinted shut, revealing a roguish look, and then he took a step towards me.

His hands grabbed the side of my face, and I found our heads moving closer.

His lips moved to mine and a fluttery feeling exploded throughout me. Our lips moved in unison and I finally, finally, felt like the wall he held up had been broken down into miniscule rubble. He had finally let me in. He had made his choice.

When our lips parted, we were both gasping for air.

Instead of saying anything, he pulled me in for another big bear hug, toppling us over on my bed.

"I'm sorry…" He whispered in my ear, the words rolling off his tongue like velvet. His lips pressed against my forehead. "I'm sorry. I won't push you away anymore. I thought I was helping you," he explained, "but really I was just adding these layers of guilt in order to take more off. In the act of trying to protect you I now realize I was doing the exact opposite. I became selfish. I'm so sorry. I came to the conclusion that you getting hurt doesn't really have anything to do with me either. Dr. Hendrix wants your dad, and he's going through you to get him."

"How do you know?"

"I just read the police file and did some eavesdropping… but that doesn't matter. What matters to me is you that you're safe. You need me to protect you."

My pained tears took a transformation for the better. The now joyful tears sprung from my eyes like a sink faucet. I just clutched him closer to me, fisting his shirt to get as much of him as I can.

I breathed in his musky scent and closed my eyes.

"I'll never leave again."

Whether his promise was genuine or not, I didn't care. He was here, and that was what mattered.

Peter had finally let me in.

A/N: Yay for quick updates! Thanks for your guys' feedback. It means a lot. I hope you enjoy this chapter more then the last. Thanks again, R&R!