A/N: Well, here's chapter fourteen. I love this chapter, mainly because I wrote the planning for this chapter while I was in Central Park. So I hope you enjoy.
Chapter Fourteen
"Are you working a double shift today?" Peter asked while lifting a spoonful on cereal to his mouth. He was eating breakfast at the kitchen table on front of the small portable television. Aunt May was standing at the counter making her morning cup of coffee.
"Yes, double shift today and I'm back in the hospital tomorrow morning." Aunt May told him as she sat down on the chair next to him. "I have a day off on Monday." Aunt May smiled before taking a sip of her coffee. "Are you doing anything with Gwen today?"
"We don't have anything planned." He said, his eyes glancing away from the TV to look at his aunt. "I'll call her later. She's probably resting or trying to catch up with school work."
"You know, I'm so proud of the caring young man you've become." Aunt May said, staring proudly at her nephew. "I mean, you've always been caring and looked after others. These past few weeks have been so tough for the Stacy's and you didn't leave Gwen's side. I don't know many people your age that would have done that." Peter smiled and looked down at the table. Aunt May tilted her head to the side. "You really love her, don't you?"
Peter grinned, looking over at his Aunt. "I do. I love her so much."
"She is a wonderful girl." Aunt May told him. "You are always so happy when you are with her."
"She's the best." Peter sighed, happily.
"You know, both of you remind me of me and your Uncle Ben." Aunt May smiled, eyes looking away from Peter as she thought about her former husband. "We first met when we were around your age."
"Let me guess, he asked you out with one of his terrible jokes." Peter asked. Aunt May chuckled and nodded. Peter laughed, the smile on his face quickly faded when he noticed the headline on the Daily Bugle News. "Aunt May, can you turn that up?"
Aunt May nodded and turned up the volume on TV. She leaned back on the chair and listened to the news report that Peter's had noticed.
"An official statement has been released this morning from the NYPD issuing an arrest warrant for the masked vigilante, Spider-Man." Peter moved closer to the TV, his heart beginning to race. "A major search is underway for the vigilante, after the warrant was released for the web-slingers arrest over of the murder of Norman Osborn nearly a month ago. Citizens are being advised not to approach him and to contact the NYPD with any information."
"Murder…?" Peter said in disbelief.
"My goodness…" A shocked Aunt May said. "…and I thought his intention was to protect people."
"He couldn't have killed him!" Peter shook his head. He couldn't have killed Norman; the only thing that would have killed him was the serum. Norman was breathing when he left him and he had done nothing to fatally harm him.
"Well, if they are charging him with murder they clearly have the evidence against him. What if he was the one who hurt Gwen?" Aunt May said, taking a slip from her coffee. Peter suddenly got a sick feeling in his stomach. Aunt May stood up from her chair and patted Peter's shoulder. "I'm going to get ready for my shift."
Peter nodded, putting his head to his hands. He listened as Aunt May leave the room. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. Everyone was going to think Spider-Man was a murderer. Peter head was spinning with confusion. He had no idea what evidence they had against him, whatever it was; it clearly wasn't good.
As if on cue, his phone vibrated on the wooden table. Peter reached over and picked it up to see Gwen's photo on the screen. He picked up the phone and hit the answer button before holding it to his ear. "Miss Stacy."
"Hey you," He heard Gwen giggle now the phone. "What are you doing?"
"I'm just eating breakfast." Peter told her as he carried his half full bowl to the sink. "How are you feeling today?"
"I'm good. My mom and brothers are out. Do you have any plans for today?" He heard her say.
"Why? What did you have in mind?" Peter asked, as he sat back down at the kitchen table and turned off the TV.
"Do you want to go for a walk in Central Park?" She asked. "I need to get out apartment for a while."
"Shouldn't you be resting?" Peter chucked lightly.
"I've rested enough this past week. Come on, I'm all alone here." He heard Gwen say. Peter got up and made his way into the living-room. "Please." She sang. Peter smiled. Even though he could only hear her, he could clearly picture her pouting.
"Okay fine." He laughed. "I'll be there in an hour, is that okay?"
"Perfect! I love you." He heard her say before the line went dead. Peter laughed and shook his head. He went out into the hallway and took his jacket off the hanger before slipping his arms through the sleeves. "Aunt May! I'll be back later!"
...
Gwen inhaled the fresh air as she strolled down the path with her arm linked with Peter's. Gwen was already ready to leave when Peter got to her apartment, wearing her cream coat, dark blue jeans and converse. They wondered around in silence, enjoying the fresh air and calming scenery.
"This is nice." Gwen commented, resting her cheek against his arm while looked over at the lake next to them. "I've missed this. After spending so much time in hospital, it's nice to just go out for a while."
"Yeah, I'm just glad you're out of the hospital." Peter told her. Looking at Gwen now, she didn't even look like she had been injured so badly nearly a month before. Her bruises and cuts were healed; the ones that remained were easily covered with make-up. She no longer suffered from dizziness and only had minor headaches.
"Can I talk to you about something?" Gwen asked, looking up at Peter's face. Peter looked down and noticed the serious look on her face and hesitantly nodded.
"Sure." Peter said, guiding Gwen to the nearby bench. He sat down and watched as Gwen sat down next to him. "What's going on?"
Gwen looked around; making sure no one was close enough to hear their conversation. "Well…have you been going out as Spider-Man lately?"
"Why are you asking?" Peter folded his arms and leaning back into the bench.
"You haven't mentioned it lately." Gwen said, crossing one leg over the other. "I know it's been a tough month but it's like Spider-Man doesn't even exist anymore."
"Gwen…" Peter began, but Gwen quickly cut in.
"Peter, what's going on?" She asked, gently scooting closer to him.
"I-I just haven't been able to even look at the suit lately…" Peter told her, not making eye contact with his girlfriend.
"It's because I got hurt…Isn't it?" Gwen asked. "Peter, look at me."
"Gwen, I don't know how I can go out as Spider-Man again." Peter finally looked into her eyes. "I can't let anything happen to you again. I can't let any of my loved ones get hurt again."
"You are not the reason I got hurt." Gwen smiled gently, not wanting Peter to feel the he was the blame for her injuries. She gently reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"I couldn't protect you, Gwen." Peter put his hands to his head; he shook his head gently as he spoke. "The thought of losing you is terrifying, Gwen."
"I know what happened was scary, Peter! Believe me, I know." Gwen said sternly, she took a deep breath before continuing. "I'm fine. You didn't lose me."
"Gwen, I can't let anyone I love get hurt again. How can I protect my loved ones when I couldn't protect you?" Peter said. Gwen sighed gently. "These past few weeks I realised how easy it was to lose you."
"What do you mean?" Gwen asked, looking at Peter in confusion.
"Your head injury was so bad at first; the doctors warned us that when you woke up you may not be the same Gwen." Peter blinked, fighting to fight back tears. "When I asked what they meant, they said they wouldn't know until you woke up. They said you could have lost your memory or worse." Peter chocked back a sob. Gwen gently took his hand and squeezed it gently. "The swelling was so bad at first, they said when you woke you may not have been able to talk or you could possibly spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair."
"Peter…" Gwen tried to reassure him by putting her arm around his shoulders. She leaned in and gently kissed his forehead. She hated seeing him so upset. She bit her lip, trying not to her upset herself.
"I don't know which is worse, you dying or you living with a long-term injury that would take over your life." Peter wiped a tear away from his cheek using the back of his hand. "I can't take your life or your independence away from you, Gwen. What happened at Oscorp could have ruined your entire future."
"But it didn't!" Gwen quickly cut in. "Peter, look at me." Peter looked at her with his brown, watery eyes. Gwen wiped away a stray tear with her thumb. "None of that happened, okay? It could have happened, but it didn't. I'm perfectly fine now. I still don't remember everything that happened, but other than that I'm fine."
"Now, I just want to be with you. I want you to be safe and if that means giving up being Spider-Man." Peter went on. Gwen looked at Peter and put her hand up to stop him.
"That wouldn't make me happy, Peter." Gwen told him, shaking her head with a serious look on her face. "Spider-Man is part of you, it's who you are and I don't want you to give that up for me."
"I can't go back as Spider-Man, Gwen." Peter told her, breaking eye contact once again. All the horrible memories of nearly losing Gwen made him forget about the news that morning. He looked at Gwen who was clearly unaware of what was going on. "Have you seen the news?" Gwen shook her head with a puzzled look. "They issued an arrest warrant for Spider-Man over the murder of Norman Osborn."
"What do you mean?!" Gwen shouted in shock. Peter quickly shushed her to stop attention being drawn to them. He looked around to make sure no one was in earshot of their conversation.
"They have evidence to charge Spider…me with Norman's murder." Peter explained. Gwen shook her head in disbelief.
"But you didn't kill him! What could they have against you?" Gwen ranted. She didn't witness what happened but she knew in her heart that Peter would never kill anyone, even as Spider-Man. She struggled to understand how this was happening.
"They set me up." Peter said. He looked at Gwen was still had a stunned look on her face. He moved closer to her and took both of her hands. "Gwen, I promise you, Norman was alive when I left him. I swear."
"You don't have to convince me, Peter." Gwen told him. "I believe you."
"Everyone is going to think I was the one who hurt you." Peter said.
"So what if they do?" Gwen spoke sharply. "I know you didn't hurt me, Peter. I can go to the police and tell them Spider-Man isn't a murderer."
"Gwen, you barley remember what happened that night. That's why you couldn't give a statement to the police." Peter reminded her. "If you go back saying Spider-Man didn't hurt you, they'll know something is up."
"You are not a murderer, Peter." Gwen put a supportive hand on his shoulder. "You need to go out there and clear your name. Please."
"I will, but I think for now I'll take a break from being Spider-Man." Peter said. Gwen looked at him with a questioning look. Peter cleared his throat before continuing. "I'm not exactly sure how I am going to clear Spider-Man's name. If I go the police in my suit they'll probably shoot."
"So you want to give it time?" Gwen asked, rubbing her cold hands together. Peter hesitantly nodded, glancing over at the lake next to them.
"Yeah, just let everything cool down. When the attention calms down, we can figure out what to do." Peter thought out loud, knowing there wasn't much he could do now. He looked at Gwen to see her nod in agreement. "I mean, I can focus on school and graduation…and spend more time with you." He playfully tapped her nose, Gwen giggled.
"Just promise me that you won't quit being Spider-Man because of me." Gwen said, moving closer to Peter on the wooden bench.
"I promise." Peter told her. He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. He leaned in until his lips met hers. They kissed for a moment before Gwen gently pulled away.
"Can we start walking again?" She asked, laughing gently. "It's really cold and just sitting here isn't really helping."
"How about we go to that little coffee shop you like and we'll get some hot chocolate?" Peter suggested. Gwen's eyes lit up as she nodded, not having been there since going into the hospital. Peter smiled while fixing a strand of her hair under her dark grey beanie. "Maybe we can head back to your place and watch a movie?"
"I really like that idea." Gwen beamed. Peter took her hand and held it tightly. He stood up from the bench with Gwen as they began walking once again. Peter looked up at the clouds while lost in his own thoughts. Gwen noticed and gently nudged his arm. "Hey…"
"Hmm…" Peter snapped out of his thoughts and looked down at Gwen. "You okay?"
"I just want to tell you…" She stood up on her toes as she leaned in closer to his ear and whispered. "Spider-Man or not, you'll always be my Bug-Boy."
"I love you so much." Peter chuckled. He kissed her forehead as he rubbed his hand along her shoulder. Gwen smiled as she rested her head on Peter's shoulder, grateful that she had him in his life.