Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Vol. 1

Chapter 21

Rounding the corner to their aunt's houses, Peter and Mary Jane paused.

"Alright, question before we go in there: which one gives the bigger reaction?" Mary Jane asked.

"Oh, definitely yours," Peter said. "I seriously wonder sometimes if your aunt is actually a nineteen-year-old trapped in a fifty-something's body."

"Yeah, you're probably right," M.J. conceded. "I was trying to think of a case for May, but I got nothing."

She smiled at him, and the two made a point of avoiding any kind of handholding or anything else as they approached that would give away the surprise that they were planning to spring on both their aunts regarding their new relationship. Since today was Friday, they both knew this meant that they would be at the Parker residence sharing breakfast, so they made their way up the few steps to the door. Though he'd spent many years of his life there, Peter had gotten in the habit of knocking before opening the door so as not to startle May, a habit he maintained here before allowing his girlfriend to slide in first before he followed suit.

"Mary Jane, Peter," Anna greeted them first from the kitchen table. "Well, this is a surprise!"

"Hopefully we're not intruding," Peter spoke up as he and M.J. approached the table.

"Not at all, Peter," May assured him. "You know that! Would you two like some breakfast?"

"No thanks, we both ate already actually," Mary Jane replied, "but thank you anyway, Mrs. Parker."

"Of course," May said. "So, what brings you two young ones here this morning?"

"Yeah," Anna chimed in, "I thought you had a breakfast meeting with your cast mates that you had to be at this morning, Mary Jane?"

M.J. glanced Peter's way, and it was clear she was having as much trouble holding in a giggle as he was.

"Well, I might have fibbed about who I was having breakfast with," M.J. replied, turning back to her aunt.

Knowing looks soon came across both the older ladies's faces, with Peter aunt speaking up first.

"Wait, this wouldn't happen to have been a breakfast DATE, would it?"

Peter glanced towards M.J. again; he could feel the likely absurdly large smile stretching across his face, though thankfully she had a big one coming over her own as well.

"The first of many, we hope."

"Aww, congratulations you two!" Anna spoke up first, coming up to give M.J. a hug. May did the same for Peter before they switched.

"Thanks," Peter said. "You could say that I hit the jackpot here."

All four of them laughed a little at the reference to Mary Jane's famous first words to him the day they met.

"Well, we're both very happy for you two," May replied. "Also, Anna, you owe me twenty dollars."

"Wait, you two BET on this?" M.J. questioned.

"Just on whether or not you would be a couple by the end of the month," Anna said.

"Nice to know which one had more faith in us," M.J. said, nodding and smiling towards May.

"What, I can't help it if this boy seems to drag his feet when asking out the prettiest girl in the city!" Anna replied incredulously, again producing a laugh from everyone. Peter and M.J. would end up staying and conversing with their relatives for several minutes, with the talk predominantly regarding their relationship and where they hoped it would lead, though they both made sure to let their aunts know that they weren't in any rush. Eventually, they took their leave.