Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Vol. 2

Chapter 2

Finally arriving at his childhood home, Peter strolled up the familiar steps and to the door, giving a few gentle knocks to alert anyone inside to his presence. He then grabbed and turned the knob, opening the door slowly. Instead of the warmth of a well-lit home, all he was greeted by was darkness, his aunt nowhere in sight.

"May?" Peter questioned as he stepped inside gingerly, slowly closing the door behind him. "You home?"

Suddenly, the lights all came on.

"SURPRISE!!" came the voices of May, Mary Jane, her Aunt Anna, and Harry Osborn. "Happy birthday!"

The group then all came up to him; his girlfriend reached him first, planting a quick peck on his lips followed by a hug, followed by a hug from his aunt and the others, all of them greeting him warmly and congratulating him on his big day.

"Alright, now that that's out of the way, anyone up for some cake?" Harry teasingly questioned.

"Not until birthday boy here makes his wish!" M.J. replied.

"Fine," Harry pretended to whine, and soon, everyone started migrating back into the kitchen, with Peter lingering behind with M.J, each with an arm wrapped around the other. He then leaned in close to her ear to speak to her more discreetly.

"Thanks for the heads up about this by the way; you saved me from a spider sense-induced headache."

"You're welcome," she replied just as discreetly as they rejoined the others just in time for them to all sing "Happy Birthday" to him.

"Now, make a wish, but don't tell us what it is!" Anna instructed.

Shaking his head lightly, Peter then leaned down, blowing out the candles. From there, the cake was finally cut up, with everyone putting a slice on a plate and digging in as they enjoyed pleasant conversation with one another. Naturally, the birthday boy of course received most of the attention, which Peter didn't mind, since it was all those he cared about most in life.

"Thank you so much for doing this, May," he thanked his aunt at one point.

"Of course!" she greeted him warmly. "I'm just sorry we couldn't spend the whole day all together!"

"Me too," Peter said. "I just really had to make sure everything was just right before my big presentation on Monday; I still need to go in tomorrow to make some last-minute tweaks, actually."

"I'm so proud of you dear, and I know your uncle would be too," May assured him. "You're going to help so many people."

"Thanks, May," Peter said. "That is the hope at least."

Anna then came over to get May's attention about something, the ladies excusing themselves. Peter then glanced over towards Harry, he and M.J. going over and sitting down on the couch next to him.

"I have to say: your aunt is still the best chef I know," Harry said as he chewed through another bite of cake, swallowing before continuing: "and that says a lot too, since I grew up being cooked for by some of the world's top chefs!"

"I've always said I'd put her up against anyone even on her worst day," Peter said, glancing back at his aunt before returning his attention to his friend. "Hey, how are things going with your dad?"

Harry sighed, setting his plate down on the table in front of them.

"He's still not very receptive," he explained.

"I still can't believe it," Mary Jane interjected, "especially after all those years where he was on you about 'taking your place in the Osborn legacy.'"