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As they walked, the snow continued to fall, even becoming heavier. Large clumped together flakes floated down around them, the wind stinging their cheeks. Maybe Ned was onto something about there being a storm on its way. The sky above them was nearly solid from the overcast, the only light coming from the yellow street lights.
About twenty minutes later, they climbed the short steps up to his building, and Peter hung back as he fumbled with his keys. He got them out of his pocket, but his fingers were too stiff to find the right ones.
Gently she took them from him and unlocked the entrance door. “Where are your mitts?”
Shoving his hands into his pockets, he looked away. “Lost them.”
Holding the door open for him, she gave him a look.
He fidgeted for a moment, avoiding her gaze. Finally, he slumped and mumbled. “I at least have a place to go home to. He needed them more then me.”
She blinked at him then shook her head. “Parker, you must be one of the most selfless people I know. You gave them to a homeless person?”
“His fingers were blue,” he defended. “I can handle going without for a while.” He looked at her mulishly for a moment before yawning again.
She sighed and jerked her head towards the elevator. “Let’s go.”
He nodded and soon enough she was going through his keys to find the right one for his apartment. While she was finding it, he leaned against the wall, his hair falling into his face. It was flecked with snow and slightly wet. He didn’t seem to care; the water dripped down his cheek without him trying to wipe it away.
She gave him a soft smirk that might have been a smile–if he saw it–then poked his shoulder. “Door’s open.”
“Hmm?” He glanced at it then nodded, waving her inside.
Michelle rolled her eyes but went first. Immediately, a warm voice called from the kitchen. “Hey, how did your study session go?”
“He didn’t stay awake for it,” Michelle called back and a woman peeked her head out from behind the open fridge. She had a pair of glasses drooping down her nose and her dark brown hair was tied back in a messy bun. She still had her light blue nursing scrubs on.
“Oh! MJ, what are you doing here?”
Michelle jerked her head to Peter. “Wanted to make sure he got home.” He’d taken his coat and boots off and was heading for the couch. He waved at his aunt before flopping onto the cushions.
May glanced at her and walked over to peer down at him. Michelle followed and they both watched when he peeked one eye open. Grunting, he snuggled deeper into the couch, shoving his hands into his armpits. “She’s worrying for nothing,” he grumbled, his bottom lip jutting out slightly.
“What was that?” Michelle asked, leaning on the back of the couch.
“Nothing, ma’am,” he murmured and pressed his face into the throw pillow he’d fallen on.
“Didn’t think so,” She quipped then looked at May. “He could barely pay attention to anything we were saying. I didn’t trust him to get here on his own.”
May snickered. “He’s been really tired recently. I don’t blame you.”
“Ha, hear that? She doesn't trust you either.”
He groaned and continued with his impression of suffocating himself with the throw pillow.
May leaned over the couch and ran her fingers through Peter’s hair. His face scrunched slightly, but then he smiled and leaned into her touch. After a moment, he fished around and tugged at the blanket by his feet. He pulled it up and bundled himself into a fluffy burrito.
Michelle watched them for a moment then suddenly shivered. Rubbing her hand over her arm she asked, “God, is the heating even on right now?” It wasn't as bad as outside but it was enough that she noticed it.
Snorting in amusement, May looked back at her. “You’d think not. Technically it’s on, but it’s been spotty all week. It comes on then it goes off again. Our landlord keeps saying that he’s fixing it but…” May shrugged. “It is what it is. In the meantime, we’ve been bundling up.”
“Peter more than you,” Michelle commented, remembering the two or three sweaters that he was sporting. He just grunted from where he was hidden under the covers.
May smiled. She glanced at her then down at the watch on her wrist. “You sure that you’re okay getting home? It’s fairly late.”
Michelle opened her mouth to assure her that she’ll be fine, she wasn’t helpless, but then both of their phones pinged. They pulled them out and Michelle had a severe weather warning blinking at her. She stared at it for a moment then sighed. “Well, Ned really was right about the storm.”
May laughed then offered, “You can stay the night. Actually, I want you to. This says it’s white out conditions, and I’d feel better knowing that you’re safe. Besides, it wouldn’t be the first time you slept over.”
Michelle hummed and glanced at the time–8:26 p.m. When she looked out the window through Peter’s open door, she saw that the flurries had begun in earnest. She shifted her weight around. “I didn’t bring any clothes with me.”
“I have some fuzzy pajamas that you can borrow,” May assured her, then with a smirk she added, “Or you can take Peter’s Hello Kitty ones.”
“Those are mine,” Peter called from the couch, his voice heavy with sleep. “Back off.”
“Considering how you got them, I don’t know how you like them,” May shot back. He didn’t say anything to that.
May lip’s quirked smugly at her nephew before she twisted towards Michelle and raised a brow. Michelle chewed on her lip and glanced out the window again; it was nearly white. The blizzard had hit. “Alright.” She gave in. “I’ll stay.” She dropped her bag at the base of the couch and pulled her coat off.
May cheered and wrapped her in a warm hug. “Great, I’ll get them, and then we can watch a movie.”
“Not Star Wars,” Michelle declared, placing her scarf and coat by the front door with her boots. Peter let out an offended whine. Just to be clear, she honestly didn’t mind the movies, but she’d just seen them too often recently.
May snorted and dragged her to her room. “Stargate?”
“That’s not a movie. It’s a show. And why do so many Sci-Fi titles start with Star? And which one, SG-1 or SGA?” Michelle asked, watching May as she rummaged through her dresser.
“It started as a movie, and I really don't know. It's easy?” May shrugged and pulled out a pair of plaid pj bottoms. Throwing them at her, May opened another drawer. “Hmmm… let’s go with early SG-1.”
Catching the pants, Michelle grinned. “Wanting to watch Macgyver be sassy?”
“Shush you,” May scolded then held up a blue long sleeve top. “This should do. Now get changed while I make us some hot chocolate.” With that, she marched out of her room, closing the door after her.