Valen: A Collector's Item

Dinner

"Hmm?" Valen whipped her head around to the person who called her name.

"Oh my Thor, it is you." He whispered.

"Peter? PETER?" Valen squealed as she took off toward him. She ran so fast and jumped on him that her force brought them both to the ground.

His arms lay beside him on the grass until he realized this was real, not a dream. He tightly clung onto her, squeezing his eyes shut. He burrowed his head into the crook of her neck as she kissed his cheek over and over.

"I- What? How?" He asked trying to figure out the right thing to say.

She put her hands on either side of his head so she could raise up to look him in the eye. "I'm finally home. I can't wait to tell you all about it. Uh, it's so beautiful there. If I can I'm going to bring you there and show you all of my favorite spots and try all of my favorite foods. Oh, and I have a new best friend you have to meet. You'll love her."

Peter stared at her in disbelief. His eyes slightly watered as he pushed a loose strand of Valen's hair behind her ear. He realized it was a lot longer than what it used to be and shiner. He wondered if it had always been this shiny. Her skin was tanner. She put on more muscle weight.

Valen leaned into Peter's hand and closed her eyes. She's dreamt every day of seeing him and now that the day has finally arrived, she never wanted him to let him leave her sight ever again.

Somebody cleared their throat and Valen smiled as she lifted her head. "MJ!"

Valen jumped off Peter and ran to hug the girl. MJ was stiff, and not very receptive to the affection. Peter stood up awkwardly, brushing off some of the new grass clippings on his clothes.

"Where's Ned?" Valen asked. "I have some stories I know he would think were hilarious."

"Valen? I thought you were-" MJ looked at Peter confused as to why she was here.

"Was what? Didn't Peter tell you where I was?"

"Peter told me something." She said a little bitter.

"Peter, what are you doing here?" Tony asked as he stepped outside when Valen hadn't come to dinner yet.

"Oh, so I'm not the only one you ask that to." Valen remarked.

Tony ignored her and continued on. "You're supposed to be in school. Why aren't you in school?"

Peter laughed at his worried tone. "I'm on spring break. I came home to see May but stopped by to see you first. Do you not see this?" He pointed at Valen still questioning reality.

"Valen, go inside and help Pepper set two extra place settings." When Valen walked off, Tony whispered so she wouldn't accidentally overhear. "Long story short, she's been alive the whole time. You're caught up. Now, are you two hungry? Pepper cooked dinner."

Peter stood there unable to speak, but he reluctantly followed behind. His brain was running a mile a minute trying to piece everything together but couldn't.

"Peter!" Pepper happily exclaimed as he stepped inside the dining room. She opened her arms to hug the boy.

Peter was about to reciprocate but stopped when he saw she was pregnant. "Oh."

She laughed and rubbed her round belly. "She's due any day now. Baby Morgan."

"That's so great. Congratulations!" He reinstated the hug before turning to Tony. "Mr. Stark, why didn't you tell anyone?"

"No one asked." He simply answered and took his seat at the head of the table.

Pepper sat across from Tony, and Valen took her place opposite Peter so she could look at him. It's changed in the time she's been gone. She couldn't tell exactly what it was, but something was different. His hair was longer and curled at the ends. MJ sat to the left of him, seeming more quiet than usual for herself.