May Parker
It wasn't him.
Ben died years ago, that man, whoever that was couldn't be her Ben. He was dea- No, he is dead.
It was a long day for May Parker. After her shift at work, she went to the FEAST facility, helping in organizing an event. She would have stayed there longer if she didn't have a date. While driving home, she saw that man.
She was excited about her date tonight but plagued with thoughts. She still had hours. May realized it's been so long since she took time off for herself. She sat down on the couch, suddenly feeling attacked by the silence she was used to before.
It's been 7 years and 5 months since Richard and Mary died in that plane crash. 7 years and 6 months since Peter lived with her. When the authorities gave them the news, the young couple had to tell little Peter. He did not understand why May was crying, and Ben was hugging her with tearful eyes at that time. When social workers had come regarding Peter's custody, Ben gave her a look of uncertainty, she gave him a big smile to reassure him, and it was decided.
Thirteen years ago, May Parker miscarried again. The doctor said she couldn't have kids due to an accident she was part of. She and Ben cried for their beautiful daughter who had never had a chance to see the world for nights.
May's family has not entirely accepted Ben. She loves them with all her heart, but their disrespect to her marriage with the love of her life isn't something she would tolerate. Ben and May met in high school, and they have been strong ever since. The marriage ministered by Richard was small but beautiful. Mary always made her feel at home, so it wasn't hard for her to find a family. The family of five except toddler Pete grieved for Maria Elizabeth Parker.
After the miscarriage, they decided to adopt and started saving up for a family of three. Peter became the third member.
Ben was the calmest among both, he loved people and couldn't see them sad at all. But he sure had his times, she still grins when she remembers the day he proposed, it was in the diner they had their first date in, he took the help of the staff, half of them who he knew well and their wedding day, Ben was nervous and fumbling on his words. He looked speechless as she walked towards him at the altar while the waves hit the beach.
She could never really forget that day. The sound of gunshots, Peter's gut-wrenching scream, Benjamin's last words. May held his hand while calling the ambulance on her phone, smiling and shaking but firmly telling Ben to not fall asleep and look at them.
But both the husband and wife knew it was the last time they'd see each other. They can never give Peter a sibling/cousin. They could never slow dance around their cozy living room while playing Elvis Presley again.
He smiled at her ignoring the pain in his chest and said to her and Peter, "Hey buddy, take care of your aunt. May, look at me. Love you both. I'm sorry honey, "
What was he even sorry for? To leave her in the middle. She didn't know at that time. She told him not to go but he didn't listen, did he?
The sound of the door made her realize that she had been crying. May took the TV remote, kept something she knew would be sad, and hastily wiped her tears.
"Hey May, Didn't know you were coming early today? Wait, are you crying? Is everything alright?"
She told the teen ahead," Hey yourself, Spidey-boy, just gotta go somewhere, I was watching some TV, that's all,"
"It sure doesn't look like that," Peter Parker said.
She waved him over, he kept his backpack near, and sat alongside her, she gave him the tightest hug she could and mumbled softly," I'm fine Pete, just thinking bout Ben". Peter froze when he heard Ben's name. They didn't usually talk about Ben unless by mistake." Oh May, I know," he replied. She didn't feel strong enough to hide today, unlike other days. It must be that man on the street, she let her tears flow while Peter held her.
"I miss Uncle Ben too."
After crying together, Peter left for his Stark Internship(the real one, not Spider-Manning) and she made sure that he would go patrolling only after completing his schoolwork, May was getting ready for the night. She was thinking how would she ever tell Peter that she is dating again, she was sure that she wouldn't make it past 1-2 dates with a person, it might have been long since Ben died but it felt so wrong. She knew Peter would encourage her to go out more, but she wanted to hide it or at least try to hide for a while.
It felt wrong to see the other person, but it also felt wrong because it shouldn't feel wrong.
Peter is her anchor.
A reason she chose to live, maybe after everything.
After Benjamin Parker's death, she found it hard to look at him and not remember the loss she felt. She was angry at things at fate. There were times she wanted to let Peter go, for a fraction of a moment, then she'd sober up and get mad at herself for even thinking as such. It took a while to break that cycle.
She loves Peter as her own. However, she promised herself she would never try to replace Mary. For her, Peter is her son, but she isn't his mother.
Knowing he was Spider-man was certainly not helpful at her attempts at giving him a safe life. Constantly putting himself in danger, May is always scared of a day she wouldn't see her nephew come back, how he would leave her like everyone else.
Nonetheless, both of them knew, Being Spider-man wasn't an option, it was a responsibility. May also knew how Peter, just like Ben, would help people disregarding themselves. That's how the couple raised him. At times, she regretted it.
Her date was a lovely person. She called him, " Hi May, Reaching in a few mins, I'll message you to come down." he said. She chucked at his tense voice. " Hey, would you mind coming in?"she asked. " Yeah, sure, see you."he said
While removing her shoes, she heard the knock on the door. There stood Happy Hogan, close confidant, and employee of Tony Stark.
"You look as beautiful as ever," he said after gaping at her. " Off with it, Harold," she teased. Giving her a playful glare, "It's Happy, May."
"Sure, come on in,"
"Aren't we supposed to go?"
"I want to ask you something Happy"
Happy stiffened at that. Was she going to ditch him? Wait- are those tear marks near her eyes? He cared a lot about his frie-sorry, date. Yes, they were friends before getting into this situation. After the shocking revelation of her nephew being Spider-Man, she called Mr.Starks's driver to take her and Pete to the genius himself. What was that man even thinking, making her nephew fight super-soldiers, a red magician, and other heroes?
May was pissed off, she glared at Happy, the first she saw the man. He cowered under her glare. Peter was trying to convince her to stop, making her madder. She met The Tony Stark and gave him the lecture of his life. When Peter intervened, she scolded the web-shot slinger too.
Happy had to message Pepper Potts, who graced her presence and saved her boyfriend from an angry aunt. While returning, she was calmer than before, politely making small talk with Hogan to make up for before, which turned into a bonding session whose base was their irritation for Tony Stark.
Tony Stark will never know why he received a message from his friend thanking him and telling him that taking Spider-Man in was the right choice out of nowhere.
Happy went inside. He was wearing casual clothes, definitely looking handsome but very different from the Men in Black outfit she was used to seeing. "May you alright there?"
" Happy, what would your answer be if I asked you, 'Can we not go bowling but stay in and order something?' "
" Well, my answer is yes. Hah-hah, nice try, but what happened?" he faked a chuckle before softening his tone.
"I was just thinking. I'm sorry for spoiling your plans."
"Hey, don't be. We'll talk about what happened today, no buts. What should we order? Chinese? Italian? Thai?"
" No, we're not. How about Thai?"
"Thai's alright, May. Now, tell me, what happened?"
"This supposed to be a date Happy, not me speaking bout my dead husband............ I'm sorry, just lil peachy, I guess." Happy flinched at her tone. He could guess what had happened.
" It's fine. May, just want you to know that you can talk to me anytime as a date or friend, I'm a pretty good listener, certified by Stark"
"I know Harold, but I don't trust that man,"
"I thought we already talked bout this!" Both of them didn't know if it was about Tony or the name but just went along.
The night was spent, They talked as someone more than friends, May reminded them of Happy asking her on a date months after being friends, stuttering, and then laughed heartily. Had some food, and watched some TV. They shared a kiss before May kicked Happy out of the house just a few minutes before Pete would come back. Happy used the tricks taught by Natalie Rushman and stealthily escaped Peter Parker, who arrived a tad bit earlier than he was supposed to.
It would be alright, she knew it, even if it may or may not work out with Happy, she will be fine, Happy is fine. Above all, Peter is fine too.
What she didn't know was that this spring of 2018 would change her life, unlike anything before, and everything wouldn't be fine after a long time.
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Note: Ignore the last line if you're here for positivity.😶🌫️