The dust began to settle, unveiling the rubble around them. MJ gasped, coughing as the particles went into her lungs. She blinked groggily, wincing as she moved her injured leg. The memories of the past moments shot through her mind and she nearly screamed. "Peter!?" She scanned the area around her, panicked eyes darting around until she spotted a lifeless figure a few feet away. "No. No, no, Peter, Peter!" MJ crawled over, blinking back the tears as she rolled her boyfriend over. "Peter?"

His eyes opened slowly, hazel irises reflecting her panicked expression. "Hey," he said croakily.

"Oh thank goodness you're alive." She pulled him close the her chest, feeling his heart beat faintly.

"MJ."

She pulled back, vision blurring as hot tears began to form. "No. No, come on. Just hold on for a little longer, we'll get someone to-"

"Em."

Michelle stopped, trying to swallow the lump in her throat. the world was spinning slightly, but she couldn't let go. She couldn't let him let go. "Please. I don't want you to go."

He smiled bleakly at her, an echo of his usual beam that lit even the darkest of rooms. He squeezed her hand gently, his strength fading. "It's going to be okay."

"No-" MJ gasped as the sob wrenched free of her throat. She tried to speak, tried to make even one sound, but nothing came out. All she could do was squeeze his fading hand, feeling it grow colder and colder.

Peter gave her one more smile, his breaths coming in short bursts. "Hey."

"Wh-what?"

He tucked her fringe behind her ear, something he had always done, while complimenting how good she looked with her hair out of her face. "I love you. Okay?"

She nodded, letting the tears fall from her cheeks. A single tear rolled down his as his eyes turned to the sky, the light slowly, slowly fading away. His grip loosened, the hand turning pale and cold. Nothing moved. Everything was silent except for MJ's sobs as she gripped his hand, willing it to be warm one last time. All she wanted was to hear him laugh again, to hear his soft voice float through the air as he sang under his breath, for him to collapse into her arms after a rough day, to feel his tears soak her shirt as he held her tight, to feel his hand tracing "I love you" on her back, to smell the faint wisp of rose mingled in with the scent of Italian herbs, just to hear him breathe one last time. "Don't leave me."

A soft laugh echoed around. MJ thought it was just the wind, until she heard a "hey squirt!" next to her. She looked up to where the sunlight scattered amongst the dust particles and rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't dreaming. There, in the golden light, was the translucent figure of a dark-haired man with his red-haired wife, spreading his arms wide to welcome a young boy. She couldn't pinpoint his age: he seemed to be 4, 7 and 12 all at once. Transparent, chestnut curls danced around his forehead as he ran to his father, laughing as he spun him in the air.

"Welcome home, kiddo," the man said, putting his son down so he could say hello to his mother.

"I misses you baby," she whispered.

"I missed you too." The boy turned around as another man appeared and grinned. "Ben!"

Ben gave him a hug, his face lighting up. "Ready to go home?"

"Yup!" The boy took his hand, holding his mother's in his other. They began walking but he stopped and looked up at his mother. "Can I say goodbye?" She nodded and he turned around, his hands slipping free of their grasps. MJ held her breath as he walked over to her. He bent down and took her face in his small hands, sending her shivers down her spine as his transparent skin came in contact with hers.

"Please don't go," she whispered, tears leaving streaks through the grime on her cheeks.

"It's going to be okay," little Peter said, giving her a small smile as he wormed his hand in hers. She pulled him in for a hug, feeling as though she was hugging air.

"I love you."

"I love you too Emmy." He pulled away, pressing his forehead on hers. "Look after May for me, okay?"

"I will." She held onto his hand as he walked away, their fingers touching for the last second, drifting farther apart. Mary took Peter's hand and Richard ruffled his curls as the family walked away into the sunlight. MJ blinked and when she opened her eyes, they had good, leaving nothing but a small stirring of dust floating to the ground.

Look after May for me.

* * * * *

MJ placed the last book on the shelf and dismantled the cardboard box, throwing it onto the pile in the middle of the room. It was weird. This used to be Peter's room. The room where they had math parties and finished off homework at 2 in the morning, or planned May's surprise party, or stitched up his suit after he had torn it on patrol. She still kept the Star Wars posters to line the walls, but strung fairy lights across the roof and stuck polaroids and drawings in the gaps. The desk that had once stored bits and scraps of projects was now holding a variety of art supplies and schoolbooks. The science textbooks and Captain America comics had been pushed to the back of the bookshelf for fantasy and dystopian novels. It was the same room, but completely different. And it felt weird. 

The door was slightly ajar, the sounds of Ned and his parents helping May prepare for dinner seeping through the gap. MJ listened, missing the occasional pun or joke being thrown around. She rested her head against the cool window, watching the world go by below while hers seemed to be stuck in place. It felt as though someone had ripped out a key section of her heart,  not even giving her warning that they would, and shredded it to tiny pieces. A breeze slipped through, knocking a piece of paper off her desk. MJ picked it up and placed it back where it belonged, her eyes catching on the familiar, round handwriting. 

Just keep smiling :)

She chuckled. Of course Peter, of all people, would be the one to write that. Her smile lingered on her lips as she heard him laugh, singing the little phrase. She missed him, very much. But where the hole in her heart was, a small ember of light began to pulse.

Maybe things will turn around.

One day.

* * * * *

Madilyn Jones skipped past the rows of gravestones, her converse skimming through the unkempt grass. She turned around the where her adoptive mother was walking with Aunty May. "Come on! I wanna say happy birthday to Daddy!"

May laughed, flicking a strand of greying hair out of her face. "Hold your horses, Pumpkin, we're not all as young as you are."

Maddy pouted then ran back to worm her way between MJ and May, squeezing their hands. MJ smiled at her daughter's enthusiasm, sighing contentedly as a summer breeze tugged at her shirt. They finally reached the grave and Maddy took the bouquet of daisies out of MJ's arms. "Happy birthday Dad," she said as she laid the respectfully on the grave. She traced the lettering carefully, as she had done for the years past.

In loving memory of Peter Benjamin Parker

2001-2017

May you always be remembered as our friendly neighbourhood hero

MJ smiled, bending down next to her daughter. "Happy birthday, dork," she whispered as she rested her head on the warm marble. May joined them, groaning a little as she sat down.

"We larb you."

"Yes. Yes, we do," MJ chuckled. Maddy looked between them, confused.

"What does larb mean?" she asked.

"It's a joke your father and I had," May said. "It's a Thai dish, if you must know."

"But we say it instead of love." MJ smiled, rubbing her daughter's back. "He loved jokes. His shirts were a sight to behold." She tugged at her shirt, which had a joke about finding X on it. "This was one of them."

Maddy looked at it and raised her eyebrows. "I don't get it."

"Wait till you get to 7th grade. Then you will." Michelle bopped Maddy's nose, grinning as she giggled and gave her a hug. 

 * * * * *

"You two weren't ever married, were you?"

MJ looked up from her hot chocolate to where her teenage daughter was watching her. "Dad and I?"

"Yeah."

"No." She took a sip, licking the milk off her top lip. "He was only 15."

Maddy nodded, going back to her book. A little while later, she looked up, placing her bookmark in her spot. "Would he have loved me?"

MJ looked up once again. She placed her drink down and joined Maddy on the couch, wrapping an arm around her slender shoulders. "Absolutely. He wanted nothing more than to have a family of his own. And a chance to be a father."

Maddy nodded, picking at her nails. "Why did you pick me? Out of all the kids there?"

"Because..." Michelle paused, finding her words. "Because you reminded me most of him. I took one look at you and saw you father in your eyes."

"Really?"

MJ nodded. "Yep. You both have the same eyes. And you have his sense of humour," she added, poking Maddy's arm. She giggled, smiling gently. "You always have been your father's daughter. Even if was never technically your dad."

"He's always going to be my dad. I know it sounds stupid, but I love him. I never even met him."

"I think that's perfectly reasonable. People think I'm crazy for not marrying after that, but I love him too much. He was wonderful." MJ fiddled with the black dahlia necklace around her neck. "Okay, now that that's done, who's been upsetting you at school?"

Maddy instantly got defensive, turning away slightly. "What? I don't- I don't know what you mean."

"... You are exactly like your father. What's up? Something's bothering you, I know it." Her fingers began tickling and Maddy squealed, squirming away from her touch.

"Fine, fine! I'll tell you." She grabbed a pillow and pulled it close to her chest. "There's this bully at school called Kieran Thompson and he's and absolute jerk-"

"Hang on hang on hang on. Is his dad Eugene Thompson?"

Maddy narrowed her eyes slightly. "...yes."

"IT'S GENETIC!" MJ threw her hands in the air, causing Maddy to jump at her mother's outburst. "He was the worst, and I mean worst, kid ever at school and absolutely hated Peter's guts. No idea why, but when he kicked the bucket, Eugene came up to me and started apologizing, to which I told him that he was too late and that I wasn't the one he needed to apologize to. Then he got defensive and so I threw my schoolbag at him."

Maddy applauded. "Ten out of ten. Absolutely amazing. I should try that."

"Please do. I will gladly get you out of detention."

Maddy snorted. "You're the best mom ever."

MJ smiled. "I'm glad you think that. You're the best daughter ever."

* * * * *

The white sheets rippled as Michelle shifted slightly. Madilyn reached for her wrinkled hand, tucking Michelle's white hair out of her face. She sighed, each breath feeling heavier and heavier. "Maddy."

Maddy, now with her own hair greying, looked over and swallowed. "What is it?"

Michelle gave a small smile. "I love you baby."

"I love you too."

"Stay strong for me?"

Maddy nodded, rubbing her mother's hand gently as her husband placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "Say hi to Dad for me."

Michelle nodded and turned back to stare at the end of the hospital bed. She blinked, several times. Peter, with a hand on the bedframe, gave her a wink. He looked exactly how he had the last time she had seen him, but with no scars or imperfections. He looked whole.

"Hey loser," she croaked.

"Hey MJ. Ready to go home?" When she nodded, he reached over and grabbed her and and pulled her to her feet. Not her physical hand, or her physical body, she noticed. Once wrinkled skin and snow-white hair turned smooth and dark. She smiled. She was 15 again.

"I'm ready. Let's go."

Peter grinned and squeezed her hand, leading her through the wall and into what she guessed- no, knew- was Heaven. Peter lead her over to a meadow, sending brilliant blue butterflies soaring through the air.

"MJ!"

She looked up and spotted a small picnic, with the whole Parker family and Ned. May laughed and beckoned her over. "Welcome home!"

"It's good to be back," she said, running over. "It's nice to meet you, Mary, Richard and Ben."

"It's good to meet you too." Mary pulled her into a hug, handing her a plate of May's infamous cherry pie. Peter sat next to her, wrapping an arm around her waist. 

"I missed you," he whispered.

MJ grinned, looking into his wonderful hazel eyes. "I missed you too, dork." She pulled him in a kissed him, for the first time in decades. It was heaven in Heaven, surrounded by the people she loved and knowing that the rest would soon join them.

Their kiss broke off when Ned threw a napkin at them. "Ewwwwww! Do that in private!"

"Oh shut up Ned! You and Betty weren't any better!"

"Yeah, but we didn't do it at picnics!"

"May I remind you of the 21st of June, 2038, when you and Betty distinctly kissed-"

"Peter, stay out of this you weren't there."

"IT WAS IN FRONT OF MY GRAVE, YES I WAS THERE!"

Hi don't kill me plz-

also the song above is what I listened to while coming up with this idea

Buckle your seatbelts, cause we got some Mama Spider headed our way :D

Someone plan my funeral

Cause you guys are gonna murder me BYEEEEEE- *runs*