Alexandra

After she was cleared by the paramedics to go home, and after she'd been drowned in hugs from Ned, MJ, Kai, and her parents, Alexandra and her dads finally went home. She was exhausted and desperately wanted to just lay down and sleep for the next twelve years. 

"I still don't understand how you and Ned got mixed up in all of this," Her Papa continued as they made their way up the stairs to their apartment. "I know you've both met Spider-Man a few times before but—" He shook his head. Colin unlocked the door to their apartment and let Leo guide her inside.

That's when the Parker's door opened, revealing May and Tony Stark. Colin's eyes widened when he saw the billionaire. "Oh, Colin!" May exclaimed when she saw him. "You're home, is everything okay now?" She asked.

Colin snapped out of it and looked at May. "Yeah, Alex is okay now, thank God. Ned's safe, too," He replied.

May nodded. "Thank God." She agreed. "Peter's been a nervous wreck all night." May nodded.

Colin couldn't take his eyes off of Tony Stark. "So—your guest?" He asked, turning to May.

"Oh, right! Colin, this is Tony Stark—though I'm sure you've seen him before—Mr. Stark, this is Colin Wallace, my neighbor." May introduced them. Tony stuck his hand out and Colin took it. "He's a lawyer."

"Nice to meet you." Tony nodded. "I'm glad your daughter is safe."

"Thank you..." Colin replied, trailing off a bit.

"Being a lawyer must keep you pretty busy," Tony commented. Colin was too shocked to reply. "I expect you'll be taking a bit of time off from work?"

Colin's eyes widened and he nodded. "Yes, I think so," He replied. "I should probably get inside."

Tony nodded. "I won't keep you any longer. Nice to meet you, Mr. Wallace," He said again.

Colin said he was also glad to have met him and with that, he went inside. He heard his husband's soft voice coming from Alexandra's room at the end of the hallway; it was clear that he was trying to comfort their daughter. Colin sighed, shaking Tony Stark from his mind and walking back into her bedroom.

Leo was sitting on Alexandra's bed, stroking her hair and telling her just to relax and try to get some sleep. "You're safe now, Allie," Leo told her. "Don't worry, your dad and I'll be right next door if you need us, okay?"

"Okay."

Leo kissed the top of her head before standing up and turning off her bedside lamp. He quietly left her room and shut the door softly before turning to Colin and sighing. "Jesus Christ, Colin... what are we going to do?" He asked.

"We'll figure it out," Colin replied. "Don't worry, Alex is going to be just fine."

"How can you be sure?"

Colin shook his head before pulling his husband into a tight hug. "I just am. She's strong, like you."

Leo stifled a laugh. "I think you mean like you."

Colin shook his head. "No, I said it right the first time." There was a pause and the two of them just stood there in each other's arms. "I'm gonna take off work for a little while," He said suddenly.

Leo looked up at him. "Your boss will let you?" He asked.

"I'll make sure he does," Colin assured his husband. Though Colin was quite sure that his boss wouldn't have any issue with him taking off for a little while.

🕷

The next morning, a Saturday, Alexandra woke up with a start. She shot up in bed and looked around, her breathing slowed and calmed when she realized she was in her bed at home. Part of her wanted to believe that her almost drowning had just been a nightmare, but she knew it hadn't been.

She wiped the sweat from her forehead and climbed out of bed and got dressed. That's when she smelled the pancakes. Alexandra furrowed her eyebrows and left her bedroom, heading out into the kitchen. When she entered, she saw her dads making breakfast—together—on a Saturday.

She noticed a plate stacked with a dozen pancakes, at least, and glasses filled with both orange juice and chocolate milk. "Uh... are you two cooking breakfast?" Alexandra asked. "Together?"

Her parents suddenly spun around. Leo greeted her with a wide smile, as he usually did. "You're up! Good, and yes, we were making breakfast together," He replied. "Actually, it was mostly me—but your father knows how to burn pancakes, if it's any consolation."

Colin elbowed his husband in the side.

Alexandra raised her eyebrows at the both of them. "But—it's Saturday," She said.

"Yeah, that's why we decided to make pancakes!" Leo replied.

"But—Dad, don't you usually work on Saturdays?" Alexandra turned to Colin.

He shrugged, throwing yet another burnt pancake into the trash. "I figured I could take the weekend off," He replied. "C'mon, let's eat."

It was the first Saturday that Alexandra could remember her dad had taken off. When they first planned to move to New York City, Alexandra had only agreed to move because her parents had promised her that her dad would be able to spend more time with the both of them. While she knew it was true (he got almost every holiday off now, even really minor ones, like President's Day), sometimes it felt very untrue.

She was glad to be able to spend this Saturday morning eating breakfast with both of her dads. "Are you taking off tomorrow like you usually do?" Alexandra asked, turning to her dad.

He nodded, setting his fork down after taking a bite of pancakes. "Yep. I'm completely free this weekend."

Alexandra smiled.

🕷

Later that day, her parents decided to go grocery shopping together. Well, it was more like Colin decided that he would try to do the shopping for once, but Leo wouldn't have it ("Have you ever even set foot in a grocery store?" "I know what to get, Leo!" "Nope, you're not going, not by yourself." "Well then you come with me." "Fine."). Long story short, Alexandra was left in the apartment by herself while her parents left for the grocery store.

She was sitting on the couch with a book when she heard a knock on the door. Her heart rate increased slightly as she walked over and looked through the peep hole. She let out a sigh of relief when she realized it was just Peter.

Alexandra opened the door and, before her friend could even open his mouth to say anything, she threw herself into his arms and buried her face in his chest. Peter wrapped his arms around her and sighed. "I'm sorry I didn't come over sooner," Peter finally said. "I just thought your dads would probably want to spend time with you first—"

"It's okay," She replied as the finally pulled away from each other. She stepped out of the way and Peter walked into the apartment. "Are you okay?" She asked him.

"Me? I'm fine," Peter said. "If anyone should be asking anybody that question, I should be asking you—are you okay?"

Alexandra shrugged a bit, sitting down on the couch and wrapping her arms around herself. "I've been better, I guess," She replied.

"I'm so sorry I put you in danger." Peter looked down.

"It wasn't your fault, Peter," Alexandra replied.

"Mr. Stark said that, too."

"Well, he's right," She said. "It was my fault. If I'd just listened to you, none of this would have ever happened!" She sighed, suddenly feeling sick to her stomach. She squirmed a bit on the couch. "Peter?"

"Yeah?"

"H-Have you—ever almost drowned?" She asked.

Peter paused for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, once," He replied. "Thankfully Mr. Stark was able to get to me before I did, though. Why?" Alexandra glanced up at him, her eyes red, and it suddenly clicked. "You're not okay."

Alexandra shook her head, taking a deep breath. "Well, considering I almost drowned last night—no, not really," She replied, not meaning for it to come off as sarcastically as it did. "Every time I close my eyes, I'm back in the river—only this time you're not there, and—and it's just—dark." She sighed. "A-and then, when I'm thinking about how trapped I felt, I remember the man in the alley you had to save me from..." She sounded exasperated.

There was a silence between the two of them, Peter seemed to be trying to figure out what to say. Finally, he spoke. "Sometimes I still have nightmares about being trapped under that building," He said. "It's dark, and dusty, it's hard to breath, and—I'm alone."

"Well—how do you deal with that?" She asked him.

Peter shrugged. "I just remember that I'm okay, I got out, and—" He glanced up at her. "I'm not alone."

"So—basically think happy thoughts?"

"I guess?" He laughed a little bit.

"Thanks, Peter."

He smiled, and Alexandra felt her heart flutter. "Sure thing."

🕷

Okay, the next chapter is gonna be craaaaaaaaaaaaaazy! So many feelings, so little time!!

Ooh I wonder what Colin's deal with Tony is???? *mischievous laughter*

Also, this may feel a bit dragged out but I swear it's not gonna be like that for long. The book is almost over, but I plan to write a sequel :D