Peter keep his head low as he walked through the busy streets of New York; ducking into an alley as the tourist and street performers overwhelmed him. He felt the bite of the brick against his back as his composure gave out and he sank to his knees in the dark. Thoughts of his wife plagued his mind.
He had sworn to protect Gwen over anyone - anything - but now? He couldn't fulfill that promise.
He hung his head between his knees - taking in a deep needed breath. He ached for Gwen - he loved her more than anything in this world but he knew, even now with all this doubt - the baby she carried would consume him.
He pulled his phone out quickly - staring down at the screen as a picture of him and Gwen looked back. She was laying on his chest - his lips on her temple as she smiled. In just the few months he had known her she'd been nothing but perfect and he'd left her when she needed him the most.
Dialing her number he placed the phone to his ear quickly; looking at the screen again as it went to voicemail and Gwen's sweet voice filled his head.
This is Gwen. Leave me a message and I'll get back to you ASAP.
"Hey, uh, Gwendy. It's me... Peter. It's Peter. I'm sorry for leaving. I'm sorry for getting mad. I don't even know why I was mad - this is great news. You're going to be the best mom ever and I'm... I'm going to try..."
What the hell did he know about being a dad? He barely remembered his. He felt a pain in his chest at the thought of being responsible for New York, Gwen and now their kid.
"I'm going to do my best Gwendy. I'll be home soon. I love you."
With a sigh he ended the call and stood to his feet - stepping out into the busy street again as someone ran towards him - dodging him with reflexes he'd only known himself to have. The kid pulled off the hood of his jacket and looked up at him.
"Miles?"
Miles looked up at Peter, "Hey man. Uh, sorry. I didn't... see you."
"No problem. How are you? How's F.E.A.S.T?"
"Good. I uh, F.E.A.S.T is good. I've had some stuff going on lately so I haven't been there as much but I check in."
"Cool. I'm glad."
Miles shoved his hands in his pockets - glancing around them carefully.
"Congratulations on the wedding. I hope you guys are real happy."
Peter watched him carefully, feeling a strange pull to him. It was like his spider-sense was activated but in a different way somehow.
"We had our first fight, I think. I messed up. I'm pretty sureI broke her heart." He mumbled; glancing down the street towards their shared apartment. Miles frowned. "That sucks man but I'm sure it'll all work out. Gwen loves you."
"She's pregnant." He blurted out - to no one particular causing Mile's to grow even more uncomfortable. "I'm sorry. You're a teenager and I'm... a serious fuck up. You don't want to hear about my troubles."
"My mom and dad had me when they were young and hadn't been together long. In a way it was better - us three, we were so close. Everything will be alright, Peter. Keep the faith."
Peter smiled down to Mile's who offered his hand in a fist bump.
"Thanks kid. It was good to see you. I better get back to Gwen and try to fix this."
"Good luck, Peter."
They parted ways as quickly as they'd met; the strange spider-sense he felt easing with each step he took from Miles. Maybe there'd been a mugging nearby - he didn't have time to check it out - he needed to get back to Gwen.
X
Peter jogged down the hall to his apartment with flowers in hand - touching the unlocked door as it opened easily and he stepped inside. The chair he sat in when Gwen told him she was pregnant was still on its side and the random pickle jar empty and untouched on the table.
"Gwendy?"
He sat the bouquet of flowers down beside the jar and turned towards their bedroom; peaking his head inside to see it was as empty as rest of the apartment. Nothing looked different than how he had left it but he spotted her shoes near the couch.
"Why would she leave without shoes?"
Peter turned his attention to the TV; finally focusing on the screen as a local reporter spoke frantically into a microphone. The camera pan to one of New York's tallest buildings where Dr Octavis stood at the edge glaring over - his robotic octopus arms out stretched holding a girl in each mechanical claw. In the left a red head and in the right a blond.
Peter felt his heart sink; pulling his shirt over his head as he flung open the side window and leapt towards the street; throwing a string of web into the air as he pulled his mask down over his face.
X
