Spider-Man: Hidden

Chapter 1

Author's Note: This is a remake of the first chapter of a fan fiction I originally wrote on FFN. There is a link in the "About" section of my profile, if you would like to check it out.

A bright flash of pounding light filled a terrified Peter Parker's eyes. Thick torrents of blood poured from a dark, cold body as the sounds of sirens and a rhythmic heartbeat belittled the powerful noises of the city. He could feel the rough concrete clawing and scratching at his bare hands. His vision started to become hazy with tears, but with each teardrop the motionless body started to become clearer. Peter could start to make out a face, a familiar face, but suddenly, piece-by-piece, everything began to fall apart.

A shocked Peter slowly opened his eyes. The terror was all a dream, a nightmare. He pushed aside the messy pile of sheets and blankets that accumulated during his sleep-induced panic attack and stood up to stretch. His eyes gazed over to his alarm clock; it was six thirteen. He swung around.

"Gw -" Peter stopped. He was all alone.

Wondering as to where his wife went off to, Peter walked sleepily down the hall, and peeked his head around the corner into the family room. Gwen was dead asleep on the sofa. Her long, golden locks were strewn across the cushions; her plush, pink lips were slightly parted; and her soft, pale arms gently cradled a throw pillow. Peter smiled. He always thought she looked so beautiful while she slept. In fact, he always thought she was beautiful, no matter what. Peter quietly walked over to the recliner and grabbed a blanket that was draped over the headrest. He carefully swaddled Gwen in the quilt, trying extremely hard not to wake her. Peter lightly stroked her hair. Memories blasted through his mind. He never knew he would end up this lucky, and to think he almost lost her on that fateful night two years ago. Gwen's eyelids slowly began to part, revealing a pair of forest green jewels.

"Morning," Peter said softly before kissing her on the forehead, "Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up."

"No, no. It's fine," Gwen said with a smile.

"You sure?" Peter laid himself down and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her snugly against his body.

"Yep," she said, placing her head on Peter's chest with a sigh of relief. She looked up at the clock. "Surprised you're up this early."

Peter chuckled as he moved his gaze from the clock back to Gwen. "Yeah, um... It was a slow night, I guess."

"Really?" Gwen said sarcastically. "Funny. You didn't even realize that I fell asleep in here, not in our bedroom."

"Yeah," he paused and moved his eyes about the room. "Yeah, yeah, yeah... um... well, um... I guess... um..."

"Yeah?" she said, almost challenging him.

"I guess just sitting around all night wore me down."

"Sitting around, huh? Flappy Bird must have been exhausted too then."

Peter laughed it off.

"Really all I did was stop a couple thugs from stealing a twelve-pack from a bodega down on 8th and 22nd. Y'know, now that I think about it, I should have come home a lot earlier than I did," he said, trying to dig himself out of trouble.

"Uh-huh," she uttered mockingly before nestling closer to him.

The two sat quietly for a while, both embracing the other.

"I really wish you would've, though." Gwen said, breaking the silence.

"Huh?"

"I really wish you would have come home earlier last night, that's all."