Disclaimers: The story continues in this next entry. I've also taken a bit of liking to Spider-Gwen lately, having been on searching for her… and Cindy Moon AKA Silk. But, don't expect to see the latter appear anytime soon.

Like usual, Spider-Man and all supporting character are the property of Marvel.

Chapter XXV

Harry returned to his and Peter's apartment after a long walk through Central Park to find the door was unlocked, and he thought Peter wasn't careless enough to leave it as such. He entered the apartment to find it dark, not pitch black but enough to consider turning the lights on. Surmising that Peter was likely sleeping, Harry slowly and silently headed for his roommate's bedroom. The door to Peter's room was ajar, so Harry tried to peer into the room. The lights were out just like in the rest of the apartment, but Harry was able to make out some movement on the bed. The movement suggested there was more than one person sleeping under the sheets. Against his better judgment, Harry opened the door and stepped into Peter's room.

His heart sank. Peter was sound asleep… with Gwen nestled beside him. She was half naked, possibly fully under the sheets, resting her head on Peter's own bare chest. They were as oblivious to the world as anyone could be, but appearing as if they'd hit Cloud 9. As peaceful as they appeared, Harry was a mixture of emotions that were on the verge of exploding. He wanted to call out Peter right then and there, but he instead retreated from the room entirely and closed the door behind him.

For only a moment, Peter stirred and lifted his head wearily. Nothing seemed amiss to him and his spider-sense hadn't gone off. Gwen was still in Peter's arm, sleeping like an angel from Heaven. It made Peter smile, finally having the one person he'd loved the most with him. But it also made him consider the future for himself, for Gwen… and for Spider-Man. But that discussion was soon to come. Peter lightly kissed Gwen on her forehead. She nestled just a bit closer to him, murmured in her sleep. Peter smiled more before he returned to sleep beside Gwen.

Harry stormed outside the building and stopped, looking up at the window that was part of Peter's room. He was still grappling with random emotions, mainly anger and despair. He didn't know what to do or what to think. He did know where to go, but he knew it wouldn't have been prudent to intrude upon his father just 24 hours removed from Norman's recent hospital stay. But after seeing the woman he himself loved in the arms of his best friend, Harry had no other choice but to return to Norman's home. He didn't like it at all.

Norman was alone in his study, having not gone to sleep or even felt the need to do so. Instead, he was studying a video feed of the charity party, particularly of Peter Parker's actions before Vulture literally crashed the party. Since he now was aware of Peter's double life, Norman was going to considerable lengths to uncover the boy's most damning weaknesses so he – the Goblin – could finally kill him. One image caught Norman's attention; it showed Peter at the event with that redheaded young woman. She was also the same woman who was with him and Harry when the Chameleon tried to assassinate him in his own office.

Mary Jane Watson was her name, if Norman recalled correctly. If she was conspiring with Parker against him, then Norman had more than enough reason to use her against the boy. Perhaps he'd use her as leverage to get Peter to reveal his secret identity to the world. Or, maybe Norman had other more nefarious means to attack his enemy through his loved ones. But Norman knew very little about the young redhead who even came with Peter in the first place. So he had to find another solution.

"Dad…" Harry suddenly called for his father.

"Damn it," Norman cursed under his breath and shut the video down. He then left his office and walked to the staircase. Harry was down the stairs, pacing around them. "Harry, what are you still doing here? I thought you'd home by now."

Harry looked despondent and broken, as if a great tragedy had befallen him. "I uh… I had nowhere else to go."

"Is something wrong?" Norman asked, expertly playing the part of benevolent father again father again.

"I don't even know where to begin," Harry sat down on the lowest steps. "That girl I was with at the charity thing?"

Despite not personally greeting her then, Norman knew of whom Harry was talking. "Capt. Stacy's daughter… Gwen, wasn't it? What about her?"

"Uh, she's… she's in love with someone else, Dad. I guess I should've seen it coming. I'm so stupid." Harry sighed despondently.

Norman murmured something too silent for Harry to hear, but this was something he didn't care for. "Women like that come and go, Harry. They're a dime a dozen. And then they're snarling for your trust fund like a pack of ravening wolves."

Harry quietly sighed, "Yeah. But what chance did I have with Gwen if she loves Peter?"

Norman reacted to the mention of Peter, and he quickly put the pieces together. "Parker," he said, to which Harry nodded. "And how does he feel about her?"

Harry wasn't sure if he should've replied, but he did. "He's loved her for a couple years, since high school. I can see why. Peter's smart, considerate… responsible. That's just few of the trait I don't have."

Norman was still stunned by the revelation, but the Goblin inside of him was quick to determine the real weakness of his greatest enemy. Now, he had leverage; an advantage he could use against Spider-Man to finally eliminate him for good. But Norman looked at Harry and saw the nearly broken demeanor in his body language. He was hurt, betrayed by the very same young man that Norman himself had favored for so long. A twisted desire for revenge welled up inside of Norman: revenge against Spider-Man for ruining his plans, and revenge against Peter Parker for hurting Harry.

Harry stood up from the steps, placing his hand on his waist as if he was deep in thought over what to do next. But Norman already had an idea, and the Goblin was influencing him at every avenue. The Goblin was influencing Norman even now to walk down the stairs to meet Harry, who was still despondent over those who, in Norman's fractured mind, betrayed him.

"Dad, I'm sorry I brought my problem to you like this. "What else is new, right? I'm always dumping my crap on you to clean up."

Norman placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "You have nothing to apologize for, Harry. I'm the one who's at fault here. I've made terrible choices that alienated me from you. All those times that you needed me most and wasn't there, all because I made the wrong choices. But not anymore…"

"Dad…" Harry started to say before Norman pulled him in for an embrace.

"It's high time that I rectified all those inequities that we've been been made to suffer. I give you my word, father to son… I'll make everything right." Norman stated, but it was the Green Goblin stating it.

Harry was none the wiser, although he was feeling a sense of trepidation from his father that gave him pure shivers right down his spine. Despite all that, he embraced his father as if nothing was amiss. "I love you, Dad."

"I love you too, Harry." Norman replied and unbeknownst to Harry, cracked an evil grin across his face. The Green Goblin was already planning something sinister.

Early morning steadily came as the sun began to rise over Manhattan. Gwen was starting to stir in Peter's bed after spending the night with him. She felt a pang of fatigue in her body, realizing without looking that she was lying naked under the bed sheets. Peter wasn't in the bed with her and for a fleeting moment, she thought he'd left her to go swinging across the city looking for trouble. Gwen couldn't blame Peter for it since it was his duty to the city. Gwen's troubles were dashed when she gazed toward the window. Peter was standing there, his back to her. Gwen remained silent and marveled at the toned physique that Peter possessed, even smiling. She made a slight ruffle under the sheets and drew Peter's attention.

"Good Morning!" he greeted her.

"Morning," she replied. "You're up early; thought you'd just swung out of sight for a minute."

Peter smiled and asked, "How could I, when I still have angel in my bed?"

"Sweet talker," Gwen murmured with her own smile when Peter approached and sat down on the bed. "I'm sorry, Peter."

"For what?" Peter asked.

Gwen sighed a light breath. "I'm sorry for putting you through much aggravation. I wanted you to be with me so much that I ignored your wants from me. I came so close to leaving you behind when you needed me the most."

"Hey, hey," Peter gently touched Gwen's chin to draw her eyes to his. "You don't have to be sorry for anything. I should've gone to London with you, but…"

"The city needs Spider-Man. I understand that now and I'm fine with it. The city can have their friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, but I get to have Peter Parker all to myself."

"Who's the sweet talker now?" Peter chuckled.

Gwen smiled and touched Peter's cheek and drew him closer to her. "Peter, you're all I have in the world after my father died. I made you promise to be here when you need, and I'm going to keep that promise no matter what."

"Now who's being the hero?" Peter asked and leaned down to kiss Gwen on her lips.

Gwen broke the kiss and looked up at Peter. "If it's all the same to you, I thought maybe you and I could go take a ride around town. Just the two of us."

"I don't I can spare any change for a cab." Peter lightly joked.

"Not what I meant." Gwen replied.

Peter appeared to get the idea, subtly uttering, "Oh."

Gwen screamed in joy and excitement while she maintained a tight grip on Peter, who was wearing his Spider-Man costume minus his mask. Underneath his mask, Peter was smiling from ear to ear. He released his current line and dipped, causing Gwen to cheer as they were in free fall. Then he fired another line that anchored to the nearest building and the momentum sent them arching back up into the sky. Gwen continued to hold on tightly, trusting that Peter wouldn't let her fall. Peter released the new line and fired another one, climbing higher toward the skyline.

Swinging above the city gave Gwen a perspective she never even considered, and it aloud her to look at Spider-Man, and Peter, in a new light. She finally began to understand the adrenaline rush that came with swinging and almost flying about Manhattan. She liked it. She was suddenly caught off guard when Peter released the line and dipped down again, and she screamed more out of sheer enjoyment than fear. Peter fired off another web line and swung back upward in an arc.

Down below, various New Yorkers walking up and down the sidewalk and others inside their vehicles looked up. They were able to make out Spider-Man swinging across with an unknown passenger clinging his him. Both were moving far to quickly to be identified. It didn't stop the onlookers from pointing up into the sky. From above, Gwen marveled at the all the people looking up, trying to catch a fleeting glimpse of Spider-Man. If those same people were also seeing her, they were likely assuming she was Spider-Man girlfriend. Seemed accurate enough.

For the majority of the morning and into the afternoon, Peter and Gwen swung over Manhattan. They smiled as they dipped and climbed, going from web line to web line as Peter fired them and Gwen shouted excitedly. That there was surprising no crimes or super villains to ruin the experience made it that much better. After a long, extended tour of the city, Peter and Gwen came to a rest on the side of brick building. Peter clung to the wall with his back to, while he held Gwen in his arms and sitting on his leg to keep her from falling. Still clinging to Peter with her arms around his neck, Gwen was still feeling the rush of having essentially flown over Manhattan. She looked down toward the street, seeing countless vehicles coming and going. The populace was none the wiser of knowing Gwen and Peter were watching them from high above.

"Wow!" Gwen exclaimed.

"Kind of nice seeing the city from this angle, isn't it?" Peter asked.

Gwen sighed and caught as much of her breath when she stated, "I think I'm starting to understand why you like come out here so much. It's beautiful from up here."

"Yeah, it is, especially when there's not a random bank robber or a super villain running amuck," Peter replied when he looked at Gwen. "You know, you should come out here more often."

"Really!?"

"Yeah. I could probably find another radioactive spider scurrying around. I'll even let you wear my costume." Peter joked.

The wisecrack made Gwen smile even more. "I think it could use a woman's touch; maybe white over black… with a hood and mask. I can see the headlines now: THE AMAZING SPIDER-GWEN."

"That's got a nice ring to it." Peter said.

Gwen chuckled and cupped Peter's face in her free hand. She gave him a light kiss before she broke away, and Peter noticed a tear on her face. "I wish my father was here." She said.

"Me too," Peter admitted, drawing a longing look from Gwen. "We should go to London."

Gwen was caught off guard and said, "Are you serious?"

"Yeah," Peter said. "Just you and me. No more hold ups, no more excuses and no crime fighting."

"Really?!" Gwen asked with an unconvinced look to Peter.

Peter stuttered on his response before he replied, "Well, maybe a little crime fighting. They do have crime in London, right?"

"Oh yeah, definitely. London's got sorts of crime, like… Jack the Ripper or Prof. Moriarty or maybe… Count Dracula."

"That's Transylvania, Gwen," Peter corrected Gwen and made her laugh a bit more. "Who knows? We might even settle down; get married."

"Yeah, I can see us with one or two children, maybe a dog." Gwen quipped.

"I was always more of a cat person," Peter quipped back and kissed Gwen once again. They broke the kiss upon hearing the sirens of passing police vehicles down below. "They're in a hurry."

"They're heading in the direction of Riker's Island. Should we check it out?" Gwen asked.

Peter was about to refuse, but he simply pulled his mask on and replied, "Do let's."

Firing a line, Peter and Gwen took the next swing toward the direction of the police vehicles. They closed in quickly and maintained a reasonable distance from the last tailing car. It wasn't long before they spotted several more police vehicles all heading up toward a blockade of vehicles near the waterfront. Riker's Island was a respectable distance away from the main island and several police boats and helicopters were on route to the island. Capt. DeWolff was at the pier directing officers onto a boat just before it sailed off toward Riker's.

It was at that moment that Gwen and Spider-Man got their own clear views of Riker's Island. Nothing seemed to be amiss with the prison from their vantage point. But with all the boats and helicopter head in the direction of the island. DeWolff had only just caught sight of Spider-Man and his female companion, whom she inwardly believed had no real business being there at all. It didn't really take too long DeWolff to deduce the identity of the girl when she approached both her and Spider-Man.

"Capt. DeWolff," the young woman said. "I'm Gwen Stacy. My father was George Stacy."

"I know who you are, Ms. Stacy, and this is the last place you want to be right now." DeWolff stated.

"What's going on?" Gwen asked, her persistence irking DeWolff into responding.

"There've been reports a mass riot at Riker's Island brought on by a black out of some kind."

"Electro, maybe?" Spider-Man surmised.

"Possible but not likely. The Vault's on a separate power grid; as far as we know, it's still sealed. Look, I don't have to run down the details. I have to get to Riker's to help contain this mess." With that, DeWolff stepped onto the boat just it was taking off.

When the boat left, Spider-Man took Gwen in his hand. "I've got to go help DeWolff and her men contain the situation. I'm sorry, Gwen."

"I know. Damn it, what if it is Max Dillon? You can't get close to him without getting fried." Gwen stated.

"Don't worry, I've fought rechargeable batteries smarter than him," Spider-Man joked, and Gwen rolled her eyes. He held her face in his hand and whispered. "I'll be fine, Gwen. I promise."

Gwen hated the idea of Peter charging into battle like this and, while no one was looking, pulled his mask halfway and kissed him again. "I don't want to lose you like I lost Dad. So you'd damn well better comeback to me."

"That's the plan, sweetheart."

With that, Spider-Man pulled the lower half of his mask down and fired a web line. The line snagged the underbelly of a passing news helicopter that was likely going to cover the riot. Amid the sirens and flashing lights from the police vehicles, Gwen looked on as Peter crouched on the landing bar of the copter. She stayed there for a long time until the helicopter was nothing more than a spec in the afternoon sky. Knowing there wasn't much more she could do, Gwen retreated from the scene and hailed for a cab. Her first order of business was to return to Peter's apartment and wait for him there. And she was going to be waiting for him… however long it would take.

Unbeknownst to Spider-Man, the Green Goblin had been watching entire scene from a distance. His master plan was going accordingly and Spider-Man had taken the bait. There was no way he'd survive what was happening at Riker's, not after what the Goblin was able to do there. And even if Spider-Man was able to make it out of Riker's alive, the Green Goblin still had an alternate plan. That plan was in a cab now, and the Green Goblin was going to see it through. Revenge was at hand, for the Green Goblin and, in his own deluded and maniacal mind, for Harry.

Author's note: Well that was shorter than usual. It's probably a good thing since I'm saving the good stuff for the next entry, including two more super baddies and mention of the Vault. I won't say who they are so you'll have to wait.

Peter and Gwen are back together, with Gwen accepting that Peter is Spider-Man and talking about "settling down." Wink, wink! And yes, I made a telling reference to Spider-Gwen.

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