Disclaimer: While Peter Parker (Spider-Man) and Jennifer Walters (She-Hulk) are not mine, I am behind some of the side characters.
Warning: I love brownies, don't you? Cavities, ahoy!
Trigger: None, unless you include gum disease. Then, yes… that might happen. Somewhere.
Navigating the Curve
By Juliette Lyst
Out Of Ashes
Main Universe Times Square - 8am
The streets were quiet and empty today, save for a sea of small bodies. They resembled crabs, but on closer examination… it could be quickly ascertained that they were small machines. Bringing up the rear behind them were their significantly bigger brethren. At full size, the bots looked like small horses. No one was certain where they'd come from.
One thing was definite then. These things needed to leave.
With little warning, a large black boot came down on one of the smaller machines, crushing it. Following right behind that, a green fist wearing black fingerless gloves delivered a brutal uppercut to one of the bigger robots. If the thing had possessed a head, it would have caved in from the force of the blow.
On wobbling legs, the machine dropped to the ground with a loud clunk.
Unfortunately, and much to the annoyance of the person who had punched it, after a few minutes the bot began raising itself from the ground.
Why do these things keep pulling themselves back together?! The tall woman facing the machines flicked dark green bangs, slicked with sweat, out of her emerald green eyes. She was infuriated that they were so easily able to just 'pop' back. They'd also been at this for a solid three hours at this point.
"Watch yer back!"
The warning reached her ears right as a solid orange body rushed past her, crushing another robot. Swinging one rock hard, orange fist, he managed to strike another one of the bots.
"Thanks," she replied. Her muscles were trembling… from fatigue. I hate these machines so much. The racket caused by groaning and stomping metal was embedded deeply in her brain.
Yet despite his help, the stream of machines kept coming.
She didn't have time to see if the smaller bots were somehow regenerating themselves as well. Push… push… go go go! Struggling to use the mantra to drown out the noise, she balled up her fist and returned to the fray.
"How long are we stuck out here?!" she yelled to her friend, interlacing her fingers and bringing them down on one of the machines before springing at another.
By way of reason, she knew what would happen before it did. It was all the same. The horrid things were going to get up and keep advancing. What is the point of this? With every minute that creeped past as she struggled through the moving sea of chrome, she wished she'd never answered the call for help.
It was completely selfish on her part, but everything hurt . While these walking hunks of metal could continue to recover, she wasn't so fortunate. Her weariness was so severe that she wanted to scream. But that would take energy too… Ad nauseum, she could clearly hear the loud whine and crunch of the robots being crushed behind her.
Green eyes rolling in annoyance, she gave voice to her complaint, growling as she struggled to keep moving.
"Until Reed arrives with help!" he replied.
She hissed lightly as sweat got into her eyes, using the back of her glove to wipe her forehead. She brought yet another boot down on one of the 'crab' like bots. "It's not fair Ben!" she snapped in reply.
"Ya know why yer here!" He called over.
"Why couldn't I be the one to go get reinforcements?!" she hollered back. I would have gladly cartwheeled all the way to find them. She really meant it. That would have been less effort than this.
In her current form, she never considered that she could run out of stamina. Not like this. She was uncertain if the repetitive physical motion was wearing her out or that they never seemed to let up. Time was certainly there for her to tap out. Yet, she knew she couldn't leave.
"Yer the best to be here, Shulkie!" he grunted. He was fed up with constantly stomping and smashing machines.
"Ask me if I care, Ben!" Grinding her teeth together, she continued to face the menace in front of them. "I don't get it. Why didn't they call the Red She Hulk? Or even the Red Hulk? Why did it have to be me?!" Done with breaking metal, she shoved two of them away from her with enough force to clear a small path.
"Hey, hey!" Planting both hands on her hips, she snarled at the air right in front of her. "Don't try to pretend that I can't see you over there. You're nodding in agreement!"
Blinking at that, Ben wondered who his friend was talking to. Looking around, all he could see was silver and black. It struck him then - just how isolated they were. There were literally no other people for at least a mile out. When the bots first showed up, people fled in a
panic. Stranger still… they haven't broken formation to go after citizens. They just keep… pushing us back.
But back to where?
"It's still possible to call them over here, isn't it? Right?" Speaking still, she had resumed trying to resist the bots. She'd gone from wanting to destroy them to just wanting some space . Even more worrisome, she was beginning to feel unwell.
Maybe she finally lost her senses. Ben thought. It wasn't the first time he'd seen her having a conversation seemingly with no one.
Well…
This was certainly the wrong time and place for that. He heard the approaching beat of helicopter blades. Took 'em long enough!
Momentarily distracted by the new sound filling the air, she felt herself shoved backwards a good ten feet. In all of the years that she'd been a hero, through jumping from one team's costume to another, she had never been so thoroughly thrown off balance. How is it possible… She questioned, feeling herself about to snap. For something like this to move me ?
"Look alive!" a very familiar voice called down to them.
Issat… Reed? She sincerely hoped it was because she was beginning to shake.
"I called in some help from our S.H.I.E.L. friends!" Reed smirked at his own play on words.
"It is him…" she murmured under her breath. There were more helicopters coming.
"Time for a flight lesson!"
Unable to register entirely what he meant, she felt herself suddenly airborne as Reed stretched down and pulled her up into the helicopter. The craft wobbled slightly under the sudden massive shift in weight. She felt her body sagging. Oh, sweet relief. she mentally huffed. Gimme a court room deadlocked for twenty weeks because of a filing error. Anything at all… Then… all the fight fled her body, and she felt terrible.
Uncurling around her arms and getting her settled, Reed was alarmed at the strain visible on her face. "Jen?"
Unable to stand, she was lying on the floor of the helicopter. Her eyes were open, her lips moving… but without any sound.
"Come on, stay with us Jen!" Reed knelt next to her, lightly patting her on the cheek.
"… Reed?" she croaked shortly after. "Yes, Jen?"
"Shut it, please." Inhaling painfully, the green woman struggled to rise to her knees. The sick feeling reared its ugly head and she scrambled to shove the door open. She was just in time, heaving and throwing up out the door.
Recoiling from her then, Reed waited patiently until she was done.
"That… was gross." Sitting mostly upright, she pulled off both her gloves, not bothering to wipe her mouth. "Sorry about that." she murmured, a mixture of saliva and vomit dripping from her lips… her gaze on the floor under her.
"I hate to tell you this," Reed began. "But we have to keep going." He sat on the ground across from her.
"… Why?" she asked. Resting her head against the now closed door, Jennifer leveled a stare at Reed.
"There's more here than what meets the eye." Lips drawing into a thin line, Reed hesitated. Just how much did he feel comfortable sharing? "There was a tiny 'blip' on the radar not long ago. I thought it wasn't important at the time."
Jennifer's brows furrowed.
Anything else he would have said was interrupted by the pilot. "Our guys on the ground are reporting those things down there dissolved."
"Dissolved?" He asked, confused. Maybe it was a communication error?
"They said to check the window."
Needing no encouragement, Reed climbed to his feet and peered out of the windows. Closing his eyes for a moment and reopening them, the older man was convinced that what he was seeing was not a hallucination. A massive black cloud was rising from Times Square. I didn't hear an explosion… The reason revealed itself as the 'cloud' stayed together and kept rising in the sky. He could see space where many of the robots had been.
He felt a sinking sensation in his stomach. Were they really robots?
"Reed?"
It's not possible.
He heard her words, but didn't turn to her. Swallowing hard, he bit his lip. They were all solid. How did they…
"… Where's Ben?" Elsewhere
"Good job." Echo sat reclined at his desk; his right hand balled into a fist in his lap. With his left hand, he keyed in a few commands before lifting his right hand and opening it. The small form in his palm looked like a regular house fly until it opened its wings to flutter out of his hand. "Now go. Finish the task at hand."
The small machine took to the air, easily escaping the building through the duct system.
A cold, calculating smile crossed his lips as he fully focused on the screen before him. "Your work will be mine, and I will perfect it."
Parallel Worlds - Parallel Lives (Alternate Universe) Room 334 - 8am
Instead of the normal sounds of birds chirping early in the morning, they were greeted with the faint rhythmic beeps from various monitors in the hospital… and the occasional scuttle of feet. Peter's eyes opened slowly, and he was a bit puzzled at first. Where? Inhaling deeply, his senses were flooded with her smell. This isn't the couch… what? He was suddenly very much conscious of the
delicate body in his arms. Jenny?! Eyes widening, Peter's hold on her tightened a fraction as he tried to remember where they were.
"Mm… Pete?" Jen's voice was husky, deeper than it usually was in the morning. She was more startled that he was to find herself wrapped up in his arms, pulse quickening. Her body knew who he was before her mind was able to catch up. "How…?" Slowly ruminating on the matter at hand, she became aware of a few things.
The scent of antiseptic was heavy in the air, and there was an IV in her arm. Events of the previous evening began to trickle in, and her hand suddenly darted down to her belly. Chip! Instead of the material of her blanket, her hand encountered warm skin. Again, she instinctively recognized not just the touch, but the smell that surrounded her. "Peter…" His name tumbled from her lips so easily.
"I'm here, Jen," he responded immediately.
His voice was so unnervingly close, and she shivered just a little feeling warm breath caressing her ear.
"Do you need anything?" he asked in an undertone. The last thing that Peter wanted to do was upset her further. Recalling the encounter with her cousin and father, he gently rubbed her side, his hand moving down further to lightly cup her belly. She was warm, real and here. He felt some tension ease.
"Yes," A slow, sweet smile crossed her lips. "I don't want to get up at all, Pete." Inhaling, she interlaced her fingers with his. "But…" She grimaced a little, feeling the persistent pressure. "I need to go to the bathroom." Snorting softly, she was startled suddenly when she felt herself being scooped up. "Pete?"
"Grab the pole," he instructed, leading her to the IV pole. After Jennifer gripped it, he slowly walked to the bathroom with her.
"Peter…." Jen's cheeks began to redden. "I… Y-You don't have to do this." While it was true that he'd helped her the day before in the bathroom - this was something entirely different. "I can walk."
"With assistance." Peter added, setting her on her feet carefully and pulling the IV pole into the bathroom with him before closing the door.
Forty Minutes Later…
Grumbling, Peter stood quietly and waited for the phone call to connect. I can't believe I lost my phone. He was so disappointed in himself. They'd gone through so much just for him to get a phone, only for the thing to be lost. I can't even remember where I dropped it. Frowning deeply, Peter inhaled and waited a few more seconds.
"… Hello?" the voice on the line seemed hesitant, unsure. "Harold!" Peter replied quickly. "Thank you for picking up!"
What? Edgar! Where are you?" Harold looked at his cellphone for a moment. He'd called his friend over a dozen times. Even the boss had called. It wasn't like the young man to not show up at all. "Everyone's been worried sick over you! What's wrong?"
Peter was quiet a moment, pinching his brow. "Harold…" he began, then paused. What would Jenny want me to do? She'd been upset at him for telling his boss how sick she was earlier - and the reason. That was before… "We're at the hospital." Then again, it was best for both of them to explain and not just him.
"… Hospital?" Harold sounded lost; his voice small. What happened to them? He didn't like this at all. "I tried to call your pho-"
"I lost my phone, and I'm on a pay phone. Let me give you the address. Please Harold…" Swallowing hard, Peter lowered his eyes. "Please come." His voice reflected how helpless he felt. He hated being in there, surrounded by the constant beeps of machinery and the irritably clean smell hospitals had, barely covering over the stench of sickness.
Alarm filled the older man, and he looked over to where their boss was seated. The man was at work in his truck, drinking a cup of coffee. There were dark circles around his eyes. Things were
delayed again because Edgar wasn't there, but this time was different. None of them had any idea what was wrong. "I… Yes. I'll let the boss know. Give me the address."
Shoulders sagging in relief, Peter commenced to doing just that. Main Universe
Baxter Building - 2pm
"… ust as I feared." Reed explained, standing at a console. There was a series of monitors in front of him, all showing different parts of New York. "It was a cunning move for them to do it." On each of the screens, there were more of those robots, but unlike the ones they encountered, these machines seemed to be there more or less to cause panic. They were noncombative unless…
"They're only attacking us?" Green hands planted on her hips; Jennifer ground her teeth together. That seemed to be the theme. If there were civilians, the machines only caused alarm, but nothing else.
"Seems like it, Shulkie." Ben grumbled a moment later. He was angry and rightly so.
"I thought it was odd how only we seemed to be having any serious issues." Reed continued, pressing another button on the console. "Look at this. We were just here just a few hours ago." He pulled up camera surveillance from Times Square to reveal that the streets were completely empty.
"So, it was definitely a distraction?" Sue spoke up, a frown in place as she stepped next to Reed.
Glancing to her a moment, Reed bowed his head. "It seems so." He assumed as such on his way with reinforcements. There hadn't been any other calls for aid in other parts of New York. Times Square was massive and very public. It wasn't news that the Fantastic Four were lending almost exclusive aid to New York for the unforeseeable future. "The only reason we came here was to fill a gap." And… He knew. For additional research. There were problems at Alchemex, but to date he had no idea what they were exactly. Those at the very top were being very hush-hush over it.
Resting a hand on his bicep, Sue looked up at him. "I understand that, darling. But… Things seem to be changing now, don't they?" Blue eyes narrowed as Susan noted the strain visible in his features. What else is going on here? It bothered her when Reed was so quiet at times like these. He knew more than he was letting on.
"What a mess! At… At least I don't have any cases right now." Jennifer grumbled, rolling her eyes. Noticing Ben's glance in her direction, she averted her gaze.
Both of them knew the real reason that she wasn't working court cases right then, and Ben knew that Jennifer was extremely tight- lipped when things bothered her. Their relationship was strange. Usually, the jade powerhouse was far more forthcoming. She was very confident most of the time - could be loud, obnoxious even… but underneath it, she was one of the most caring people he'd met. Something seemed to have changed as of late, and he wasn't certain what it was.
Normally placid features revealed vexation, the tall woman irritated beyond measure at Ben's continued attention. She didn't want nor did she need to feel as if anyone pitied her. Feeling a lump in her throat, Jennifer struggled to clear her throat. "I think…" she began, her voice unusually low. "I need some air." Turning abruptly and not waiting for a response, she headed to the elevator.
Ben stepped forward, but felt a hand on his shoulder. Looking to his right, he spotted Johnny.
The young man quietly shook his head. "We can't…" He spoke under his breath. "Not right now."
Whatever was going on with their friend, she had to work it out on her own. She was fiercely independent, and if they offered help, they knew she'd run off again… and they needed her there.
Elsewhere - 6PM
He was used to the sound of creaking, the scent of old metal and bad oil. The sounds he heard at present sounded like steel brackets hitting a tin roof. While most would be disturbed by the noise, he didn't mind in the least. Quietly, he'd sat and stared at his computer screens. The monitors in front of him were oddly blank. Back ramrod straight in his chair, Echo steepled his fingers together - his elbows on the desk.
He was paler than normal, dark circles surrounding sunken in eyes. It wasn't a normal day for him in the least. They pushed me to do this… His eyes narrowed to slits. Shortly after his former would-be mentor had gone missing, Echo had turned his attention to Kingsley Industries. There had to be some sort of connection.
Earlier, he'd sent a few of his machines to located Octavius' lab, but not much was there. That of course led him to look at Kingsley again. Something has to be there! What it was, he had no idea, but he had discovered much to his displeasure that he wasn't the only one with a vested interest in the technologies that might be locked away from prying eyes at that building.
So… he had to stage an offensive to get to what he wanted. A faint buzzing caught his attention and he stared at the screen in front of him as it came to life. The eyes he saw through were not his own, but they would suffice. He was receiving a feed from one of his bots.
It had found something. Deep in the bowels of the building.
As he saw the very familiar handwriting of Otto Octavius appear through the splintered vision of the bot, he allowed a chilly grin to settle in.
Well then… . He thought with a profound sense of satisfaction. How curious.
Parallel Worlds - Parallel Lives (Alternate Universe)
3 Weeks Later - August 3rd - 11AM
Putting down her glasses on the coffee table, Jennifer tossed the few pages in her hand down as well. Leaning back against the pillows on the couch, she pressed fingers to her temples and rubbed gently. It was such a pain. She was so tired, and her eyes felt as if they'd run a marathon all by their lonesome. At least my eyes are getting exercise… She was chafing under the restrictions from the doctor. I'm going to lose my mind. She hadn't missed how her father had sprung to attention at every move she made. Right then, she could tell what he was about to say before he even asked her…
"What's wrong?" Worry was evident in Morris' voice. He never expected his 'brief' visit to be so long. It wouldn't last indefinitely… and he was taking his family with him, including his future son-in-law. There had been a few unexpected complications. Jennifer needed to rest before she could be cleared for travel, which was one of them. Also… her fiancée had some loose ends to tie up before they left.
The younger man had stated plainly that they weren't going to be
able to leave without him.
Considering that Morris now knew that this young man was Peter Parker and Spider-Man - someone they all assumed was dead - he was well aware of his inability to go against his wishes. Jennifer had tried to explain the situation, but it was far too fantastical for him to understand.
"Yes… This paperwork… the table and your constant hovering!" Jen snapped. She knew she was short-tempered, far more emotional and being reminded upset her even more. Instead of crying, at least she hoped she wouldn't burst into tears, she was sullen. She felt antsy under the constant seemingly round-the-clock surveillance.
Even the poor coffee table had earned her ire. Peter had repaired the thing weeks ago from the results of her explosive temper, but now looking at it made her angry again.
Something else was bothering her. When did my father and Peter become such good friends?! The two men seemed to come to some silent agreement without her input at all. Now it seemed they spent more time texting each other than talking to her!
Grieved and still not used to Jennifer's mood swings, Morris moved
to respond when both of them heard the unmistakable sound of her stomach growling. Oh! Morris thought, feeling the disquiet draining away. She's hungry and cranky. That was something he could solve. "No need to get up," He spoke quickly. "I'll fix lunch for you." Just like that, he was on his feet and heading to the kitchen.
Anything that Jen was going to say dissipated then. She looked down at her lap and nodded. "Umm… Yes." Her cheeks reddened. "Thank you." Looking at her father's back, her blush deepened. That… She stared at her left hand, resting on her belly. Was embarrassing. Jen wasn't certain how she would make up for that one. Sighing, she scrunched up her face, still feeling crabby. Now though, she wasn't certain who it was directed at.
Her phone rang then. Sitting up carefully, she snagged it off the coffee table and answered without looking at the caller ID. "Hello?"
Hey honey!" Peter replied, grinning. This time, his break was less mentally taxing. He felt much better knowing that Jen was at home and safe.
Feeling warm all over, Jennifer smiled. "Hello. It's very good to hear from you." She felt a bit better after hearing his voice.
Bushy brows furrowing, Peter frowned. She didn't sound like she was feeling the best. Is it a physical problem or…? He had to be careful when he asked. She'd been flying off the handle far too easily as of late. Deciding the subtle approach, he leaned back in his seat
on site, working on the lunch he'd packed himself. "How's Mama and Chip doing?" His grin widely, in reflex, thinking about them. "Hmm. Mama is just fine," Jen mused. "A bit bloated. Hungry too… but that's expected." There was uncertainty in her voice. She felt just a little insecure about her appearance. For the last three weeks, she'd been wearing either Peter's shirts or his sweatpants. "Chip is in a good mood today." She hadn't felt sick in several days now and hoped it continued that way.
Good to hear she's behaving." Peter replied.
"Even if her mother can't do anything much." Jennifer had muttered the words under her breath, unaware that Peter was able to hear her.
Ah. That's it. Peter turned that over in his head. "You're doing so well, honey." His smile carried clear through the phone line. "I know it's frustrating being mostly at rest, but it's so you and Chip are safe and healthy." Peter was quiet for a moment. "She's been growing so much lately."
Eyes returning to her hand, Jennifer had to acknowledge his words. It seemed like their child was going through a growth spurt. Her belly had definitely grown rounder in the last few weeks. "Yes… that's true." She said, startlingly aware of what was happening inside her. Jen was also experiencing strange sensations, some of them feeling like bubbles. Is that you Chip? she wondered, beginning to relax.
She wanted to be sure before she got Peter's hopes up. "It hasn't been that long either."
You're doing a wonderful job taking care of her. Thank you so much!" He felt so relieved that she sounded better.
"Jennifer, I have lunch ready!" Morris announced, coming out with a folded TV tray in his hands. "I'll set you up shortly." After setting up the tray, he turning back to the kitchen.
I'll let you enjoy your lunch, hun." Peter spoke up. "I know how you are with food."
Jennifer chuckled softly. "Mm, that's true." Her stomach growled again, interrupting them. "Umm…" Her cheeks reddened again, even though he wasn't there in person.
I'll bring back some snacks when I get home." No way would he have not been able to hear that.
Biting her bottom lip, Jennifer lowered her voice as she spoke into the phone. "Mr. Parker, you know the way to a girl's heart." Her father came back with her food and set it in front of her. "We'll talk soon, webhead! Stay out of trouble, hmm?"
Scouts honor!" Laughing softly, Peter ended the call and resumed eating his food.
"Things okay?" He heard Harold's voice before the older man dropped down to sit next to him.
"Oh yeah." Peter nodded, his cheeks a little red. Jenny's not wrong. It's pretty easy to make her happy. He hoped that things stayed like that with her. He didn't like it when she was upset, felt worse when he knew he wasn't able to help. "She's having lunch with her dad."
"Oh, that's good." It was news to Harold, but he knew it there was no point in prying. When he'd found Edgar at the hospital weeks ago, he'd asked his friend why he looked so beaten up. It was surprising how tight-lipped the younger man was about it.
Jen's Apartment - 2PM
"I'm not sure what you want me to do, Jen." Morris was seated on the couch next to his daughter while she used the TV table as a makeshift desk.
The large legal pad Jennifer was jotting notes on was filling quickly. Using her phone as a substitute for a computer, she was currently working on two separate cases.
Hers and Peter's. His particular case was troubling in ways she hadn't expected. She was going to need help.
"Not much, dad." She replied, peering over her glasses at him. "Though a computer would come in handy right now." And another lawyer. She added silently. Annoyance bloomed on Jen's face as she resumed working. She was so engrossed that she didn't notice when her father got up. A few minutes after, he interrupted what she was doing directly, by placing a very full and heavy plate on top of her legal pad. "Dad?" Jennifer asked, looking at the crackers, cheese and juicy red grapes he presented. The plate was so full that she couldn't see the bottom.
"Can't march on an empty stomach," he said, smiling. "Stop for now and eat something."
By his tone, Jen knew he wasn't making a request. Her eyes narrowed faintly. "Sure, dad." Jen grumbled. An idea came to her then and a very devious grin crossed her lips. "I need you to do something too, then." She picked up one of the crackers and bit down.
Experience made Morris' hackles rise. Outwardly, he exuded the same cool and collected exterior. "I didn't know we were negotiating." He folded his arms. He caught it when Jennifer rolled her eyes. "If you get sick because of not eating enough, I don't want to think
about what Parker will do to me."
Jennifer was surprised at that, having already begun to stuff her mouth. Her gaze was incredulous, but she was unable to speak until a few moments later. "Dad…" She gestured for him to sit next to her on the couch, again . "Pete isn't like that. He wouldn't do anything to hurt you."
"Did you forget what he did to your cousin?" Morris remarked, inching over to her.
"Dad, Bruce was between me and Peter, and Pete just… went ballistic," her words coincided with her biting into another cracker. "And Bruce brought that on himself." She remembered that day quite well. She'd been shivering, cowering and crying… a lone pregnant woman against two larger and taller men. It didn't matter that Becca was there, but she wasn't in there with Jen.
"Well… I'd prefer if he didn't 'explode' with me." Leaving the room momentarily, Morris returned with two bottles of water. One, he placed next to Jen's plate. Plopping down on the couch, he popped the second bottle open and took a few quick swallows.
Soundlessly, Jennifer opened her bottle and began to drink as well.
The silence that stretched between both of them wasn't unwelcome. They were very much alike… in more ways than Jen wanted to admit. She resumed flipping through channels while she ate, settling on a channel that had old reruns of cop shows.
"You watch these too?" he asked, curious. When was the last time that we sat together and just spoke like normal people? He wasn't sure and that internal admission hurt deeply. It stung that he didn't know what Jennifer preferred to watch. He was filled with so many questions, unsure how to get the answers.
"Of course, dad." Jennifer glanced to her right at her father, one dark brow arched high. "I wanted to be a cop… like you."
Morris opened his mouth to respond. And he froze, not sure what he could say or do. Unable to voice his thoughts, he closed his mouth and let his gaze drift back to the television.
Suddenly feeling a bit perturbed, Jennifer did the same. She slowly allowed herself to be consumed by the show.
Two hours later both of them were still on the couch, but only one of them was awake. Being careful to clear off the fold out table, Morris set Jen's legal pad down on the coffee table and pulled her sheet up
to her chin. Much to his surprise, she'd eaten everything offered. Now as he watched her sleep, punctuating the air with regular snores, he was able to further consider what she'd told him.
Just when did you want to be a cop, Jen? he wondered. He felt like he was allowed to peek behind an opaque curtain at a treasure hidden within. Why did you… Did I make you stop? His shoulders sagged. Should he ask her? He was concerned about what her answer would be. Wouldn't it be better to try to forget it?
He remembered her fondly as a little girl with pigtails, running to daddy whenever she had problems. Scraped knees, being picked on by boys… it didn't matter. He was there. Over the years though, they'd grown distant. It wasn't fair for him to have pulled away from her as much as he had. Their current relationship was the result of that.
He didn't have more time to ruminate over the past as he heard the telltale jingle of a key in the lock. As suggested by Peter, he positioned himself at the door and waited for it to open. If the wrong person came in, he would handle it. When he saw it was the young man and no one else, he moved back from the door.
Pausing after entering the apartment, Peter closed the door and graced Morris with a broad smile. "Thank you, sir."
Morris blinked. It was the same greeting every day now. He wasn't going to fuss about it. "No problem. Welcome back." He pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. "Jennifer's asleep."
Nodding in understanding, Peter carefully tip toed to the dining table, exaggerating his steps the whole way.
Shaking his head, Morris followed him.
"So, I picked up a few things on the way home." Peter explained quietly, setting down the containers. "She kept mentioning a craving for spaghetti with massive meatballs, and I found a place."
The older man nodded. "That's good."
Both men were speaking in whispers at this point.
"I also stopped and picked up an entire tray of brownies for her." Peter lowered his voice even more.
They were so distracted that they didn't notice Jennifer walking up behind them.
"Brought back something good?" Jennifer asked, amusement flitting across her features as she watched Peter jerk in place. Her father also seemed startled, but didn't respond as wildly.
"Oh… Jenny." Peter chirped. "You're up?" "Are you still tired, Jennifer?" Morris asked.
Jennifer looked at both men before rubbing her forehead. "You two…" She walked over to Peter and hugged him.
Peter returned her hug. "Are you feeling okay Jen?" He didn't receive a response, but realized she was feeling around him. "Jen, are you trying to get a brownie?" Is that why she hugged me? He wasn't sure if he should feel offended by that.
"Brownie…" the petite brunette hummed in response.
Inhaling through his nose and glancing at the ceiling briefly, Peter snorted softly before lifting Jen up into his arms.
"What?" she squawked, reaching out to hold on to him. "Pete!?"
"Calm down Jenny," he laughed. "You'll get your brownies. After dinner." A beat passed, and he spoke to Morris. "How long was she up?"
"Not too long," the older man replied, ignoring the aggravated expression on his child's face. "But we were on the couch." "Oh, I see." If Peter felt the nails she suddenly sunk into the skin on his shoulders, he didn't acknowledge it. "I guess we'll have dinner in Jen's room then." He turned and began walking to the bedroom.
Jennifer grunted and lightly smacked him on the chest. "I can walk, Peter."
"I understand what you're saying Jen." He responded lightly. "However, I'd prefer to wait until your next scan to be sure." Gently, he placed her on the bed, making sure there were pillows under her head.
Jennifer pouted up at him. "It's not that long a wait, Jen."
"That remains to be seen, Spider…" Then, she attempted to glare up at him.
"What are you doing, Jen?" He saw how she was trying to snarl at him, but couldn't complete it.
"I hate laying here." Sucking in a gulp of air, she exhaled in a rush. "The time passes too slowly…"
His brows pinched together.
"And all I have to do is stare at the ceiling."
Peter sat down next to her on the bed. "Is there anything I can do to help?" His voice was gentle, and he was patient with her. He was trying hard to keep her calm. When she didn't immediately say anything, he reached out and gently rubbed her belly.
"Mm… Not again, Spidey…" Jennifer murmured. Her hands came to rest on his own. "Are you trying to put me to sleep again?" Both of her brows shot up, and in spite of herself, she yawned. Rolling over carefully to better face him, she stilled his hand as he rested it on her side.
"No." He replied innocently. "But are you still sleepy?"
He was hovering. While endearing, it was the last thing Jennifer needed. "No, Pete." She leveled a stare at him. "I'm tired of resting." She never thought she'd say that. Back in college, she would have loved just to take a few days off and sleep. "So, while I'm grateful," She smiled up at him then. "I don't need the constan…" Her words trailed off as she felt that strange sensation again. This time, it didn't feel random. Brown eyes widened. What is…
On alert now, Peter lowered his head. "Jen?" He managed to lock eyes with hers.
Unbidden, Jennifer felt her focus moving downwards to where their hands were joined.
"Jennifer!" Peter's voice was a little too loud, and he heard the older man jogged to her room.
"Is there a problem?" Morris asked, bewildered and a bit shaken seeing Jen's visage.
"I don't know." Peter replied. "Jenny?" She doesn't seem to be in any pain…
After a long, drawn-out moment, Jennifer allowed a very tender smile to cross her lips. "No…" she replied. "Shhh…"
"Jennifer?" Morris asked. He'd never seen such an expression of astonishment on her face.
"What hurts?" Peter asked, his voice pleading.
"Nothing Peter." Jennifer gently stroked the back of his hand briefly before, moving hers out of the way. "Nothing at all."
"I'm confused." The webswinger returned softly, watching as she lightly stretched and yawned in bed.
"I'll stay in bed…" Jennifer added, amiably. "If it's what Chip and I need."
The puzzlement rose several notches. It wasn't like Jennifer to literally roll over and give in so easily. "Why did you change your mind?"
Eyes twinkling, Jennifer's smile widened. "Just um… I-I just realized… That Chip was trying to tell me 'hello.'" Easily able to see that Peter was growing more befuddled, she clarified. "She moved, Pete."
His initial response was to stand up, shocked at her news. However, his body had other plans. Instead of jumping to his feet, he dropped to the floor, his legs numb. He was stunned! Chip… His wide eyes met hers over her belly, and he tried to regain his footing - with some help from Morris. Chip's moving! Failing to properly support his own weight still, he crawled back to Jen, kneeling beside the bed. "W… Really?"
Nodding, Jennifer reached out for his hand and pressed it against an area low on her belly. "Right there. She's quiet right now, but I felt it there."
Heart pounding, Peter forced himself to calm down and gently rubbed small circles where his hand was led. "That's incredible."
For the first time in years, Morris' face showed genuine emotions aside from anger and regret. He couldn't restrain his delight. His grandchild was moving around! "Just wait, Jen." He offered a smile when she looked at him. "Soon, you'll feel like she's trying to kick her way to freedom."
Wrinkling her nose, Jennifer returned his smile. He would know a lot more than she would at this point. Though… his experience was as an outsider. Suddenly, she missed her mother so much. This was meant to be a joyous event that she could share with her. So much time has been lost. Her eyes watered. As time stretched on, there was so much that she needed to learn from her mother.
It would never be.
Due to a lone petty act, that option had been permanently yanked away from her.
"Oh Jenny…" Peter sighed, seeing her tears. He reached up to cup her chin and adoringly planted kisses on both her cheeks.
Jennifer reached out for him, feeling needy… and hating herself for feeling like that. The rush of relief she felt when Peter immediately responded to her plea - hugging her tight - was profound. She shivered with hushed sobs, not able to make a sound.
Knowing he was unable to fix what troubled her, Morris took his leave. "I'll be in the living room if you need me." With those words, he left the bedroom. Somehow standing there and watching them made him feel like he was intruding on something very private.
While he didn't understand all that had happened to Jennifer so far, he wanted to be able to help. As a father, he was still learning to 'stand back' and let her maneuver on her own. Lowering his head, he noticed the legal pad out the corner of his eye.
He felt a bit conflicted. Should I…? But whatever she'd been dealing with had taken up so much of her time that she forgot to eat. Plus, she had asked for his help beforehand.
Soundlessly, Morris picked up the pad and sat down on the couch. Jen's Room
"It's fine, Pete." Jennifer stated. "Just missing my mother a bit is all."
"That's understandable," he replied, having thankfully regained full use of his legs and able to get back on the bed. Leaning down, he pressed his forehead to Jennifer's. "You don't have to hide it, Jenny." He smiled.
"Yeah…" She lightly shook her head. "I know." She licked her lips. "Thanks for not pushing me." She lowered her eyes.
"No problem." Trying to figure out how to cheer her up, an idea came to mind. "I guess I should help you get ready for bed then."
He kept a straight face at Jennifer's perplexed expression.
"I'll just put the spaghetti away and…"
"Spaghetti?!" she interrupted. As always, food proved a potent distraction.
There we go.
"Who said I didn't have time for dinner, Pete?" "We'll have to have dinner in here, Jenny." He began. "We have the TV trays, Peter."
"Oh, right," he added. Then, he shrugged lightly. "We should both get cleaned up before dinner then, right?"
Jennifer's Apartment - 5:50PM
Trays set and food plated, all three of them were in Jen's room eating. Peter was playing music on the bedside clock radio. For the longest time, the only sound in the room was that of scraping cutlery.
The silence wasn't at the behest of anyone, but just a consequence of learned behaviors. Peter knew that Jennifer didn't like being preoccupied when she was eating, and he wasn't close enough to Morris yet to be able to easily have a conversation with him.
Morris worried about the divide between him and his daughter widening any further. He wanted badly to fix their relationship. He didn't know Peter that well at all, and even though he was curious about the young man, he held back. Peter was very important. He was an integral part of Jen's life and the life of his grandchild.
And Jennifer? She was fixated on clearing her plate. Chew swallow… chew swallow . And sleep… That's all I can do really. And work on her cases. Her brow furrowed in thought. Even though she had reservations about reaching out to old acquaintances, she couldn't bear the weight of two trials - if it came to that - on her shoulders. It wasn't good for her or the baby.
Once dinner was over that night, Peter again thanked Morris and escorted the older man out with promises he would return the next day. That arrangement satisfied both of them.
Midnight
Bleary eyed and needing the bathroom, Peter was flustered when he returned to the bed and discovered Jen wasn't there. Sure, the blanket wall between them was back in place, but he didn't think he'd slept that deeply. She was supposed to swat him if she needed help. Where is she?
Precipitously awake then, he swiftly opened the bedroom door and stepped out. Almost immediately, he saw Jen sitting at the dining table. Wait, what is she…? "Jen?" Walking up to her, he met her stare when she peered up at him.
"Umm…" Her lips were smeared with chocolate. She looked very much like a child caught in the cookie jar.
Now that he was there, he noticed that there were other items on the table too, along with the brownies he'd bought. Correction… the empty container where brownies used to reside. "Jenny… I just got those," he sighed. Peter kissed the top of her head. "You do know that was four pounds of brownies, don't you?" And who knows how much milk. He'd already spotted the empty milk carton on the table.
Jennifer grinned at him cheekily and belched in response.
"You really like food, don't you?" he asked. Clearing his throat, he carefully pulled her chair back and reached down to help her stand. This is going to be interesting.
Once on her feet, the full weight of her late-night feast hit. She winced slightly and broke out in a light sweat. Her hands immediately moved to support her belly.
"Let's get you back to bed so you can rest."
"… Rest…" She echoed. She felt Peter's hand under her own, offering help. Her head lowered slightly. "Here?" She queried. She didn't want to move anywhere.
"Nope. We're going to bed in the bedroom." He nudged her lightly and guided her to the bed. Gingerly, he helped her lie down, making sure to prop her up into a seated position in bed. "How are you feeling, sweetie?"
Jennifer pouted and belched again. "Full. My stomach aches. " Still, she was licking the chocolate off her mouth.
Lightly shaking his head, Peter rubbed noses with her and took one of her hands. Somehow, she'd gotten chocolate on the back of it. Lifting the hand carefully, he licked off the chocolate that remained there. Seeing the bloom of color in her cheeks, he smirked.
"P… Peter? What… I can't… I…" Squinting, she rested her right hand on her enlarged stomach. Both of them heard a loud gurgle then that manifested itself in another massive burp several nerve- wracking minutes later.
"Can't what?" he asked. He knew it was mean to tease her, but her reactions were funny. Right then, she couldn't pummel him even if she wanted to.
She was trying to look angry, but gave up after a minute. She was completely at the mercy of her voracious appetite, and he knew it.
"You certainly can't move anywhere, if that's what you meant." Sliding his hand under her shirt, he began to rub her stomach extremely lightly. "That's not the type of surprise I'd expect so early in the morning."
"S-Sorry…" She pouted. "I just wanted some chocolate. Chip did too. I didn't expect it to taste so good though." She licked her lips again, thinking about the brownies.
"So, it's Chip's fault?" Peter asked, keeping a straight face. "Yep!" Jennifer chirped.
"But Jenny…" At this, Peter lightly pat her gorged stomach. "The brownies are in here." Then, his hand rubbed lightly around her navel. "And Chip is down here. She is smaller than the brownies."
Blushing in embarrassment, Jennifer only shrugged at that.
"Poor Chip. Already a scapegoat and not even born." Lowering his head, he kissed Jennifer on the forehead. "Get some sleep Jenny."
"Sure that's a good idea?" She sounded genuinely worried. "What if I get sick from all of this?" Pulling her shirt up, she was stunned at seeing how large her stomach had become.
Peter's nose crinkled as he smirked. "Mmm-hmm. You're not allowed to throw those up." He met Jennifer's incredulous stare. "Not unless it's back into their container with you reforming them into brownies again."
She squinted at him. "Parker…"
"Besides, you're the She-Hulk," He looked at her middle. "And because of Chip, you still eat like her."
Jennifer felt her ears burning.
"It's not too surprising," he continued, as if not seeing her reaction. "Chip's father is Spider-Man, and her mama's the She Hulk. Considering what the combination of those genes is doing while growing inside of you, I'm amazed you're not eating more."
Jennifer's features tightened up in horror. "Pete… I don't have the same metabolism." She blinked rapidly. "I c-can't."
"It's fine."
"I'd be as big as a house if I keep this up!" Her hands rested on both sides of her stomach. "She's growing in huge bursts because I keep eating so much."
Peter's brows twitched at that. That wasn't the entire truth, but he didn't have the heart to remind her.
"This kid is going to be gigantic." Jennifer lamented, unaware that Peter had resumed rubbing her stomach to settle her down.
"Please, Jenny. Don't exaggerate." Peter offered her a wink then, returning to his spot in the bed. "At least she's not the daughter of Juggernaut." At that, he turned his back to Jen and curled up to go back to sleep.
Aghast at those words, Jennifer glanced to where he was laying. "W - What did you… I never ever Ever EVER PARKER!" she screamed,
"Just because an alternate version of me was with him, it doesn't mean I was!"
"Shh!" he replied. "You'll wake up Chip. Matter of fact, she might be awake right now from all the sugar you consumed."
"But Pete…" Jennifer's voice was now whining. "I never -"
"I know. Don't worry about it, Jenny." Rolling to face her, he reached over and rested a hand on her belly. "Go to sleep," Now it was his turn to yawn. "And dream of Chips who are not going to be born at six feet in height."
Jennifer felt her breath hitch at his words. Fortunately, all she was able to do was allow the extremely heavy feeling inside to carry her off to dreamland.
Tuesday, 3:30PM
Wiping sweat off his forehead, Peter checked his watch and did a double take. He looked at the job they'd just completed - then back to his watch again. Am I… early or late? He wasn't sure. They'd
been working at such a fast pace, that while on the job he wasn't entirely sure if he was coming or going. All he knew was the gnawing lethargy that bit at his heels every chance it had.
Today, his muscles stood out in sharp relief as he first used the bathroom sink to splash water on his face before thoroughly dousing himself from head to toe. Today was a hot one. He squinted. He wasn't exactly a fan of hot weather. He just hoped Jenny had turned on the air conditioner while he was out. When he left that morning, she was snoring so loud, it was as if a chainsaw was being used to cut down every tree in the woods.
Just as Peter was stepping out the front door of the building, he noticed his boss heading straight in his direction. "Hello sir!" He waved.
Though Peter was thoroughly soaked, his boss didn't bat an eye. "Fantastic work you did Hammer!" He smiled broadly. "For a while, I was worried if you could keep up," At this, he lowered his voice so as to offer some privacy. "Especially considering how your woman was doing. You turned it around quick!"
Nodding, Peter's shoulders relaxed. "Thank you." He offered a responding smile. "I'll be honest sir," He lightly scratched the back of his neck as he spoke. "She had to push me out the door a lot of the time, but I was so worried about the baby."
"No need to explain, Edgar. I've got two kids of my own. This one must be your first, right?"
"Yes," Peter agreed. "And we have a scan in a few days to see how everything is progressing." Here, he hesitated. He felt a stab of nerves. His employer had been so good to him. It felt terrible to leave when things were going so well. "If everything is safe enough, we're moving and heading back to where she's from. Umm…"
Thankfully, his boss hadn't interrupted, but the man's expression was troubled.
"Those pretty much are instructions from her father, and I can't let my child and the mother of my child leave without me. I'm very sorry about this. I wasn't sure how to explain it." He stared at his feet for a brief moment. "It's a difficult decision for both of us, but she has a lot more support out there than here." Not hearing anything, Peter lifted his eyes. "That's why I've been working so hard. I didn't…" Peter frowned. "I didn't want to leave the company in a tough spot."
"Is this your official resignation from us?" the older man asked. Thankfully, his eyes weren't angry or accusatory. Instead, he seemed to understand very well.
"Umm… Yes, sir." Swallowing hard, Peter made eye contact. "I'm extremely grateful for all you've done for us, sir. You have no idea…"
"I suppose then…" He untucked the large manilla envelope from under his arm. "That it's good I was bringing you this?"
"Sir?" Peter's brows rose.
Instead of responding, the older man handed the envelope to him. "It was great having you with us Edgar. You did an exemplary job!" He lightly clapped the younger man on his shoulder. Lowering his voice again, he spoke. "You saved me a ton in taxes, Hammer. Hopefully that can help with your family."
Peter was left standing with the envelope in his hands. He blinked, staring at it. What… just happened?
Jennifer's Apartment - 6pm
Snuggled on the couch, Peter was watching one of the many crime shows that Jen enjoyed.
She'd had attempted to watch with him, but her eyelids were drooping while she leaned against him.
Peter carefully picked her up. She didn't protest at all, already falling asleep in his arms. After putting her to bed, he stepped back into the living room. The envelope from his boss was still sitting on the coffee table where he'd discarded it. Should I see what this is? He hadn't said anything to Jennifer when he came home.
Sitting in there for thirty minutes, Peter pondered the choice he had to make.
The concept that he was sneaking around made him feel terrible. It's already not good that I haven't explained some of the details of this job… Biting his bottom lip, he shook his head. No… I can't keep doing this. They were going to be getting married soon. Wasn't it better that they start off on the right foot?
"In the morning…" he said quietly. Running his fingers irritably through his hair, he went back into the bedroom. Unfortunately, sleep seemed to be eluding him. Now that his employment was over, he was beginning to feel guilty… It hadn't been his fault that he worked a job like that. He had explained to his boss that he didn't have legal documentation, but was in the process of getting it. Which wasn't dishonest…
But it's not the truth either. Not only was he not legally a citizen of the country, but in the world, he shouldn't have existed at all. Swallowing hard, he leaned up on one elbow and let his eyes linger on Jennifer's sleeping form.
She was curled up on her side facing him, mouth open. In sleep, the stresses of the day didn't bother her, lines gone from her face.
It made Peter happy to see her like this. Jennifer struggling so much with his legal wranglings was worrisome. He was glad that Morris stayed there in the daytime to make sure she at least ate. Scooting down to the foot of the bed carefully, he peeked up at her to see if she was still asleep.
Jennifer's left arm was buried under her pillows. The right hand though…
Peter rested his hand on her belly, right next to her own. "So…" His voice was low as he began to speak directly to his child. "I guess it's just you and me tonight, huh?"
No answer was forthcoming, but he expected that.
"I need some help, Chip." He twisted himself in bed a bit so that his head was closer to Jen's middle. "What is it, you ask?" He was silent, as if imagining his child trying to urge him to answer the question. He smiled faintly. He was certain that Chip would take mostly after her mother. "I'm not sure how to answer that question." He lightly pressed a kiss to the rounded surface. "I suppose 'at the beginning' is a start, huh?"
Sinking farther into slumber, Jennifer's snoring deepened.
"Well, Chip… It begins before your mama and I met." He still remembered how much the slap from her hurt back then. "She very well knew about you, but I was completely unaware." He smiled, remembering how much of a bombshell the revelation about a pregnancy had been. "We pretty much went from zero to sixty then." His hand moved in slow, soothing circles. He wanted so badly for Chip to know he was there.
"I moved in with her and told her I would be there to take care of you." He stopped a moment, memories flooding in. "At first, I had suggested it just as a way to help out… but it became so much
more, Chip." He could imagine the baby's tiny face lighting up as he spoke. "I love your mama a lot, Chip. We're working hard so that we can legally be married." His lips twitched. "Please do me a favor and stay tucked in tight until we get that done. I've no idea how long it will take, but I hope its before you decide to make an appearance."
Is she moving? The question came to his mind unbidden. He couldn't feel anything at all… but Jen could. How long until I can share in this? He wasn't really sure, but hoped it was soon.
"We've had a bit of a scare recently, Chip. Thankfully, you're fine and so is your mama." Peter grew quiet then. "There are other people that you should meet. One of them is your grandpa." Peter frowned as he thought further. "And… you know what? Right now, me, mama and your grandpa are the ones that you should get close to." He didn't like the idea of Bruce being near their child. Or maybe he just didn't like Bruce at all.
"Now that everything is settling, it's far more peaceful." He struggled with the next bit of news. "I'll have to tell mama later today, but I'm done with my job right now. It brought in a lot of money… but there was immense pressure I had to deal with. Most of it was the physical labor itself, but sometimes I would be a bundle of nerves, worrying so much about your mama." He chewed his lip.
"And then there's how I got this job. Chip, I know I can confide in you about this. That's why I'm scared about talking to mama. She's very much involved with the law and so is your grandpa, but it was nearly impossible for me to find work anywhere. So…" His words trailed off. It was shameful for him to admit that he felt safer speaking to his unborn child than his fiancée. "I took a painting job that paid cash… all under the table," he sighed softly. "When mama lost her job, I got really anxious, Chip. I knew I couldn't offer the support you needed."
He was unaware that Jennifer's breathing pattern had shifted slightly in the last few minutes.
"Even though it bothered me at first, and I got a little scratch on me, I'm glad your grandpa came. We'll be going somewhere else soon if we can." Unborn or not, Peter refused to elaborate on how severe his injuries had been. Thankfully, his damaged back was almost completely healed. "Now I have something my boss gave me, and I'm worried about what's inside it. I want to tell your mama, but she's already under so much stress so -" Peter was startled to feel Jennifer's fingers run through his hair.
"You… Peter Parker," Jen began in a scolding tone. She'd been listening for a short while and didn't like where the conversation was going.
Looking up at her, Peter's eyes widened. How much did she hear?
"You are in so much trouble, little man." Familiar green lights made her eyes twinkle from within, but didn't go further.
"Umm… Jen…" He'd seen the lights, surely… but his spider senses weren't warning him.
"Why would you think it was a good idea to dump all of that on a baby, Peter?" Even though she sounded annoyed, she was still running her fingers through his hair. "How were you going to make her swear to secrecy even?" Without waiting for him to respond, Jennifer spoke again. "Secret handshake from inside and outside my womb?" One of her brows shot up abruptly. "Because I can tell you my bladder would not appreciate it. Nor. Would. I." She punctuated her words with pokes in his forehead.
"How much did you hear, Jenny?" he asked, starting off their conversation lightly.
"… Enough to know that you should have come to me sooner." she sounded sad. "Why didn't you?" Getting a small handful of his hair, she lightly tugged. "And why did you think a job under the table was a good idea at all?"
Snorting, Peter rolled onto his back and stared up at the ceiling.
"How was I supposed to approach you exactly?" The question wasn't dripping with sarcasm… at least. "You had enough fretting about work." Not hearing a reply from Jenny, but feeling when she resumed running her fingers through his hair, he continued speaking. "I didn't have any legal documentation, remember? I still don't have it now."
Peter lightly poked Jennifer's belly. "I can't believe you told your mama on me, Chip."
Unable to resist, Jen tsked. "Not what happened, webs-for-brains." Jennifer reached for him. "I need to get up."
Without hesitation, Peter helped her into a seated position. "Webs for -" That was a new one.
"My bladder's screaming," she replied, rising to her feet carefully. "When I get back Pete…" She glanced over her shoulder at him. "We need to talk, okay?"
With a sigh, he nodded and watched Jen move to the bathroom. On The Road (Again)
Friday - 10am
"We're going to be late for our appointment," Peter grumbled. Currently, he was helping Jen out of her father's rental.
"Stop pouting, Pete." Jennifer replied, equally grumpy. Both of them had a rough start to the morning.
"I'm not pouting." Peter quickly returned. He was as attentive as ever, making sure that she had stable footing. "Just… take your time." Now that they were out of the car, he was more concerned about her tripping than them being late.
"I thought that you were so grieved we wouldn't be on time." To Jennifer, the young hero was bouncing around as if a stiff breeze would knock her down.
"I am, but I want you and baby to get there in one piece."
Merely rolling her eyes in response, Jennifer gamely continued her trek to the doctor's office with Peter.
Their wait wasn't long at all and thirty minutes later, Jen was laying on an examination table. First, their doctor checked to see how the strained muscle in her abdomen was doing.
"Well…?" Peter asked softly.
"Not quite healed yet. You'll have to come back in a few more weeks for me to be sure."
Jennifer grimaced, not liking that news.
"I'm going to step out for a moment. The tech will be right in to begin your ultrasound."
As happy as she'd been the last time she had a scan, she couldn't help but feel apprehension now. What would they find?
The tech came in as the doctor was leaving and began setting up the equipment. "Hello, hello!" the bubbly blonde woman greeted both of them. "I know you two are eager to see your little one, so this won't take too long!"
Jennifer turned to Peter while going through the prep… all the way to the chilly goo squeezed onto her lower abdomen.
"It'll be okay, Jenny." Peter assured her.
Before she could say anything, they both heard what at first sounded like racing hoofbeats. Then, they realized… Blinking, a small smile crossed Peter's lips.
"That's Chip. That's her heart." Jennifer breathed. Her eyes moistened with unshed tears.
"Mm-hmm. Strong like her mama." Peter replied, kissing her on the forehead. They'd heard it before, but there was a profound impact on them every time.
The new parents were mesmerized by what they saw on the screen as the tech gently moved the probe around.
"Would you both like to know the sex?" the tech asked.
"You can tell already?" Peter asked, squinting at the screen. He still… wasn't so sure what was there. Certain things he knew… such as the head, an arm and one of Chip's legs.
"Sure can!"
Peter leaned down, reading the question in Jen's eyes. "Please, tell us," he asked for both of them.
Grinning widely, the tech turned her attention to the screen. "Well… it looks like you're having a -"
To Be Continued…
Author's Note: Thanks for sticking around. I've been trying to reassume my previous posting schedule, but I see I need to better space it out. That way, I'm not scrambling to finish it up and get it edited. As always, apologies for any errors or typos (or excessively/pointlessly repeated words). I have no beta and have been editing for myself.
I'm also fighting some extreme fatigue these days and tend to require close to ten hours of sleep.
Hope you enjoy and see you next chapter! ~J. Lyst
Author's Addendum Note: First edit of this chapter… oddly
enough. But, when you consider how long these things tend to be… yeah. Still trying to figure out the whole sitch with OA. I might have to scrap and rewrite the idea I had in mind.
I'll figure it out soon.
The date of this revision is December 11, 2023. Edited to remove redundant and/or useless words and/or sentences. Hopefully it's a smoother read.