May smiled as she got back from work. Peter was doing homework at the table, and seemingly understanding it with zero problems, and Ben was grabbing his jacket and shoes.

"Hey, baby." He smiled, kissing her cheek as he grabbed his wallet. "I know you just got back, but I'm gonna get groceries for dinner, okay?"

Peter perked up from his homework and ask with excitement in his voice.

"Can I come?"

Ben and May shot each other a glance, before Ben nodded, making his eyes light up and he shouted "yes!" before running off to get his shoes and jacket.

May gently adjusted his jacket and kissed him before smiling. "I'll see you later."

"Bye." He smiled back, before ushering Peter outside in the cold October air, closing the door behind him.

If only it had stayed that pure.

••••••••••••••••••

Peter was antsy after doing homework for three hours (seriously, who allowed that much homework to be assigned?) and knowing he had at least a hour left of equations, he was happy when May let him out of the house with his homework unfinished.

He was balancing on the curb, his arms outstretched so he could keep his balance, before he felt a arm pull him close and a voice sternly tell him.

"Stay close, Pete."

Peter nodded, and walked on the sidewalk beside his uncle, and that's when he felt the sense that something was gonna happen, and that it was bad...

That's when the shots started firing.

It was blur for Peter after that. He was shoved to the ground by presumably Ben, and there were several shouts and screams, plus the shots were still going.

When he had the courage to look up, he had to swallow tightly as he crawled toward Ben, who was bleeding heavily.

He pressed his hands on the wounds, and screamed loudly, praying that someone was coming, or getting help, or something.

"Help! Someone help, please!"

He gasped quietly in shock when he felt a slight touch on his hand, and looked down to see Ben looking at him, almost with a smile gracing his face, only leading him to press down harder.

"Pete, it's okay. I love you. Tell your aunt I love her."

"You tell her. You're gonna be fine, just stay awake."

"I love you."

"N-no...you're gonna tell her. You're gonna be fine." He whimpered as his eyes started to get wet and tear filled. "D-don't go...please..."

"Be the good person I know you are."

"Someone help! Please!" He screamed, before finally letting himself cry, as he whispered. " Don't go...please don't go...we need you..."

••••••••••••••••••

May rushed into the hospital, her purse on her shoulder and her coat wrapped around her, in too much shock to fully process what had happened and went up to the receptionist desk.

"I'm looking for Peter Parker."

"You must be May." The receptionist smiled sympathetically. "Your nephew is in room 314. The police told me they wanted to speak to you before you go see him though. They are waiting for you outside of his room."

"Thank you." May insisted, going into the elevator and straight to Peter's room, seeing that there were indeed two female officers outside of the room.

She pulled out her wallet, grabbing her ID, and showing it to the cops, before speaking. "You wanted to speak to me?"

"Yes. I'm Officer Davidson, and this is my partner, Officer Allred. We're here to speak to you about the shooting that occurred earlier."

"I already know about my husband." She insisted, holding back tears as she asked. "Was Peter injured?"

"No, Mr. Parker blocked him from the shots. He was pretty shaken up, though." Officer Allred explained. "You do need to know, however, that the next few days, since Peter was a eye witness, he will be questioned, asked for a composite sketch, and may even have to testify in court when we find the shooter."

"I understand." May nodded, looking down at the floor for a second, before looking back up at the two officers. "Can I see him now?"

"Yes. We'll contact you tomorrow." Officer Davidson insisted. "Good night, Mrs. Parker."

•••••••••••••

When May and Peter came home two hours later, both of them had to do everything they could to keep from breaking into tears, and May was already planning on sleeping on the couch for the next few days...or weeks.

Peter went up to his room, running a hand through his hair that ended up wiping his eyes, to change into something a bit more comfortable, and looked at the state of his room.

It was the same as he left it. Laundry in the floor, unfinished math homework on his desk, even Ready Player One was still laying open on his bed to the page he was at that afternoon.

However, there was a box on his bed, which made him curious as he opened it, seeing the small note that was written on the tag.

'Happy birthday, Pete. -Ben'

He pulled the tissue paper out of the bag, and saw a large grey t-shirt, with a large drawing of Iron Man on it, and that's when he fully burst into tears, clutching it tightly in his fisted hand.