You're My Family Now: A Spider-Man Story

Chapter One

Amara Wilson, AJ to her friends, stood in the Cedar Grove cemetery in Queens, New York. Before her, were the tombstones of her life partner and son. It had been six months since they passed. But the pain was still strong as the day they died. Today was Elijah's sixth birthday. 

"Happy sixth birthday in paradise, my little prince. I wish so much that you were here so that we could celebrate. You should be here with me. Tessa too. None of this was supposed to have happened," she said, tears starting to fall. 

She fell to her knees as she hugged herself. Silent sobs racked through her body as she sat in front of the tombstone. 

She hadn't heard the sound of another person approaching her. Then again, they were quiet, as to not interrupt her grieving moment. 

She had placed a teddy, a small "Happy birthday" balloon on a stick, and a firetruck in front of his tombstone. 

The other person watched as she cried silently. They wanted to console her but were afraid to. After some time had passed, AJ stood up and kissed two of her fingers and placed it on top of Elijah's tombstone. 

She repeated the motion and placed it on Tessa's tombstone. 

"I love you both. I hope you both are having the times of your lives up there," she said solemnly. 

She wiped away the remaining tears as she turned around. She let out a small scream when she saw someone standing behind her. 

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to scare you! I heard you but I didn't want to interrupt your moment," the person explained.

AJ placed a hand over her heart as she tried to slow her heart rate. Once she relaxed some, she spoke. 

"No harm done. I just thought I was here by myself. Are you visiting someone here?" She asked, her facial expression softening.

They nodded as they looked down. 

"My..uh..Aunt May," they answered. 

AJ's heart dropped. Instinctively, she walked over to them and pulled them into a hug. 

The person was surprised at the gesture but eventually returned the hug. They stayed like that for a while. When they pulled apart, AJ looked them over. 

"Does your family know you're here? Shouldn't you be in school?" She lightly laughed at the last sentence. 

The other person laughed softly. 

"I already graduated from high school. As for the family thing…it's just me now. Aunt May was my last living relative," they said. 

AJ was saddened at hearing that. 

"What is your name, love?" She asked softly. 

They eyed her before answering her. 

"Peter Parker. You?" 

She smiled as she replied, "AJ Wilson." 

He nodded before hugging her again. She rubbed circles on his back. He began to cry as she consoled him. She murmured words of comfort as she held him. 

A while later, they pulled apart. She held his face in her hands. She caressed his left cheek with her thumb. He leaned into her hand. 

"Why don't we go grab a coffee and get out of this cold weather?" She asked softly. 

He opened his brown eyes and looked into her bluish gray eyes. He could see the tenderness in her eyes. He missed that. And here he was, seeing it again. 

"That sounds like a good idea," he replied. 

She dropped her hands, slowly, then held her hand out towards him. He looked at it then took it.