He Came Back
“Who’s alive?” it was a dumb question and Michelle knew it. She knew exactly who May was talking about but didn’t want to believe it for the fact of people don’t just come back to life. Not even Spider-man. Peter was gone, there may not have been a body but she had grieved for him. They all had grieved for him.
“Peter,” her heart stopped “honey, he’s with…” May couldn’t finish her sentence before she spoke up again.
“No that’s not possible, Tony wouldn’t lie to us about something like that. He loves him just as much as we do” there were tears in her eyes again. She wanted so badly for this to be true. So badly for him to be back, to be wrapped in each other’s arms again, to hold his hand and never let go, to kiss him and tell him how much she loves him, to hear his voice one last time, to hear his laugh and see his smile. But she lost those chances.
“He thought he was dead too. Michelle, Peter died in his arms. We all thought he was dead. But that doesn’t matter anymore. Peter is alive.” She hadn’t let those words sink in yet. Peter being alive, she never thought that could ever be possible. She grieved for him, she cried for him, she shut out the entire world around her, she thought she would never see him again. If this wasn’t true then she didn’t want to go through all of that. All the pain and suffering, she couldn’t do that again.
“But how? People don’t just come back from the dead, not even superheroes” Michelle sat up, wiping the tears from her face, only for a new set to come flowing down.
“I don’t know but I’m meeting Tony and Peter if you want to join Ned and I” she contemplated whether or not to go. On the one hand, she didn’t want to get her hopes up just to be crushed all over again but on the other, she could possibly get the love of her life back. She could have all those chances back. She was playing with fire but for Peter, she was willing to get burnt.
“I’ll be at your apartment in 20,” she said quickly, hanging up before jumping off her bed to get ready.
*
The room they walked into was white, a painful white that had minimal colour aside from the windows. Michelle was trying to take in everything at once, her eyes scanned every room for Peter but it wasn’t until her eyes landed on him did the world stop once again. He’s alive.
All the pain she felt before seemed to float away when she saw him standing in the middle of the white room. He wore sweats and one of his cheesy science shirts, his eyes had bags just as big as hers, he looked terrible but she’s never been happier to see someone in her entire life. The relief that filled her body was overwhelming but nothing else mattered. He was home, he came back to her.
Everything seemed to go in slow motion, Aunt May ran up to Peter and embraced him in a big hug. She held him tight. Tears falling from both of their eyes. She could hear them having a conversation that ended with Peter nodding. They hugged for least five minutes but no one cared, no one could with Peter in the room.
She backed away for Ned to step in and give his best friend a hug but she never broke contact. Leaving a hand on his shoulder while she wiped away her tears and gave Tony just as tight of a hug. Ned's hug was shorter and ended with their handshake.
Once Ned back away it was her turn, yet she was frozen in place, scared that if moved that he would float back into dust. Michelle looked at him with a deep stare, willing herself to move towards him. They made eye contact, he smiled in her direction and she ran into his arms full force. Wrapping her arms around his neck, almost knocking them over.
He let out a low chuckle, “I missed you too.”
"Shut up loser," she said as her legs wrapped around his waist and his hands wrapped around her waist tighter than ever before.
"What a way..." he started to tease but she cut him off by placing a hand to his face. He was there and she was touching him again, her touch was as gentle as a feather. Hand just barely ghosting over his cheek finally believing that he wasn’t’ going anywhere and he was alive.
“Just shut up and kiss me loser” A few laughs could be heard from around, while he complied. He pulled her close for a kiss. A kiss with more passion than any other kiss they’ve shared. They were so caught up in the moment they forgot they had a crowd.
“You kept your promise” she whispered in his ear when she pulled away from his lips.
“I always do,” he said kissing her again leaving one hand on her torso and letting the other come up to cup her face. His super strength really coming into play.
Tony broke them up when he cleared his throat, “While this is a lovely show and I would love to continue watching," Peter put Michelle down but laced their fingers together with a squeeze. "I need to speak to May about your recovery” he put a hand on her back and lead her to another room.
“Yeah, I’m the best friend and am with him like all the time so I should be in on that too,” Ned made up an excuse with a small smile, saying a quick “Love you, man,” before running after the two adults.
“I think they did that on purpose,” Peter said with a smirk, leaving his hands on her hips.
“Are you complaining?” Michelle smirked backed, so happy to have their banter back. She missed it more than she thought she would ever miss something.
“No” he blushed.
“Good” she pulled him in for another kiss. Their lips moved perfectly together until Michelle abruptly stops, placing both her hands on his chest. “Wait, hold on.” She said, not really sure where she was going with this.
“Hey, you’re the one who kissed me” he smirked once again.
“Yeah, I know that. Now shut up and let me talk” she said a little more serious.
“Okay, What’s wrong? I know this is a lot to process and I can’t imagine what you must have gone through while I was gone. And I’m so sorry about that. But hey, I’m back now and that…” Michelle cut him off before he could continue rambling.
“I love you”
“What?” Peter said with a small smile.
“I love you. Losing you was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through. Not being able to see you or talk to you nearly killed me and what killed me, even more, was that I never got to tell you that I love you. With everything in me Peter Parker, I love you.” A small smile formed on her lips as she looked down at him. He stood shocked looking up at her, mouth open with a smile glued to it, cheeks pink. “Before you left on the bus, I was going to tell you but I didn't want it to seemed forced or for you to feel forced to say it back. And you don’t have to say it back. I just needed you to know how I felt because when I lost you, I never thought I would be able to say that I love you loser."
He pretended to think about it and Michelle could feel her heart breaking. Peter saw this and smiled “I love you too” crashing his lips on hers.
It was soft and perfect in every way. Just hours ago, she never thought she would ever kiss him again or tell him how she felt and now she's getting to do it. She had never been happier.
“Wow, Spidey-boy is in love with me” she smiled pulling away. More than happy to be teasing with him again.
“Just shut up and kiss me” he copied her and just as he did, Michelle complied.