Slowing down the Chevy Silverado as they approached a speedbump, Peter glanced over at Gwen in the passenger seat with the same smile glued to his face that he'd had on their wedding day and throughout the two weeks they'd spent in Paris for their honeymoon. Feeling his eyes upon her, she glanced up from the book she'd been reading throughout the journey and returned the smile. Though it was quickly replaced when she opened her mouth to speak, then quickly closed it again. Placing the bookmark in between the two pages, she closed the book and shoved inside the glove compartment on the passenger side.

"Is that a gas station?" She asked, pointing up ahead to a little building in the near distance.

"Yeah, why? The tank's pretty full since we stopped at the gas station like three miles back." He answered.

"Oh, right. Well, do you mind pulling in anyway? I kinda need the bathroom." She asked.

"Again?" He questioned in disbelief. "Didn't you go when we stopped for fuel three miles back?" He added.

"Yeah, but it's cold out and with the heater in the truck broken and the amount of juice we've consumed on this journey, I need to go again." She told him.

"Alright, I'll pull in." He sighed, turning into the small station and pulling up on the side of the curb.

"Sorry." She muttered.

Peter turned to her and reached out his hand, stroking it against the smooth skin of her cheek. He hated it when she apologized without having done anything wrong.

"Don't be. It happens." He shrugged.

"Right. I'll be like two minutes." She promised, opening the truck door and closing it again behind her as she walked away toward the beyond gross bathroom.

While waiting for her to return, he drummed his fingers against the steering wheel and began whistling a melody that he made up in his head. This was the fourth time throughout the journey that they'd stopped for a bathroom break; once for himself and the other three times for her. She wasn't wrong when she'd mentioned it being cold. Even with the engine of the truck running, his fingers had stiffened against the bitter frost of February. Spotting Gwen coming back towards the truck, he shuffled in the driver's seat and prepared to reverse. With a gust of icy air, the door opened and she hopped back into the passenger side, closing the door again quickly.

"All good to go?" He questioned.

"Yep. Good to go." She confirmed.

Satisfied with her answer, he put the truck in reverse and set out once more on the highway. On the wider stretch of road, the traffic was little and it wasn't long before they reached a small back road surrounded by forest on either side.

"Gwen, I should probably come clean and tell you something..." He began, his mind flashing back to the truth he'd omitted over a year ago. It had been too long, and he hoped that it wouldn't upset her as much after all this time.

"Yeah... Me too, actually." She admitted.

Peter's smile wavered for the first time in two weeks, and was replaced with a frown. Though not one of anger, but confusion. Try as he might, he just couldn't think of anything that she'd need to come clean about. He knew everything that had happened and she was always honest with him, the thought of her hiding something was one that had not crossed his mind.

"You first." She prompted.

"No, it's okay. I wanna know what you need to say." He protested, struggling to keep his eyes on the road as he continuously sneaked glances at her.

"Well... I don't want you to worry. It's not a big thing- I mean, it is but it's not something to be worried about." She began.

"Come on, saying that does make me worry. A lot. Please stop rambling." He pleaded, his eyes no longer on the road.

"Okay, the thing is... I think I might- PETER LOOK OUT!" She screamed, her eyes wide with terror as a fully grown deer came out of no where in the middle of the road.

Reacting as soon as his eyes fell upon the deer, Peter swerved to avoid hitting the deer and slammed on the brakes to the truck, causing it to land in a muddy ditch as another car whizzed past, missing them by mere inches. Falling back into his seat, he took in huge gulps of air to catch his breath. He swallowed hard and instantly turned his attention to Gwen.

"Crap! Are you okay?" He asked, beyond concerned and kicking himself for taking his eyes off the road for even a second.

She didn't answer. Her breathing was heavy and fast, and from what he could tell her hands were visibly shaking. He was about to ask her again when she unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out of the truck and before he had the chance to process, he heard the sound of a coughing fit. Unbuckling his own seatbelt, he stepped outside and raced around to the back of the truck, but as he reached Gwen he realised something. She wasn't just coughing, she was actually throwing up. Immediately alarmed, he hurried to her side and placed his hand on her back, rubbing in small circles, hoping that it would ease whatever had caused the sickness. After a few minutes, the retching had stopped and she unsteadily straightened herself up, turning her attention to Peter.

"What was that? Are you okay? Did the truck cause that?" He quizzed, trying to remain calm and not panic.

"I- Yeah, I'm okay, I think. It wasn't- I think it was just the force when the truck stopped. You don't have to worry, I'll be okay." She assured him.

"Okay, well... At least let me help you back into the truck." He requested.

She didn't argue, and allowed him to lead her back to the truck and help her buckle up. She bit her lip as she watched him get back in the driver's side. Once inside the truck, he reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a bottle of water, handing it to her. She took it gladly, unscrewing the cap and taking a few sips before settling back in her seat.

"So, what was it that you wanted to tell me?" He asked curiously.

"Oh- Uh, nothing. It can wait." She decided. After narrowly avoiding an accident, she didn't want to risk distracting him from the road and actually causing an accident. She decided that what she had to say could wait until they were home safe. "What did you want to say?" She added, remembering that he also had something on his mind.

"Don't worry about it. I wouldn't want to worry you and make you sick again." He told her.

"But when we get home?" She asked.

"Yeah. Sure." He agreed, pulling out onto the road.

New York City

Finally pulling up into the driveway of their new home, Peter switched off the engine and hopped out of the truck. Gwen followed closely as he moved to unlock the door. As they entered the hall and closed the door, Peter took a moment to look around the place and admire everything that they had accomplished together. Gwen had already disappeared into the front room by the time he'd found a suitable location to temporarily store their suitcases. One by one, he dragged them over to the foot of the stairs, placing them along the side of the wall ready to take upstairs later when they'd settled in. He went back towards the front door, picking up Gwen's bag from the floor and heading towards the front room.

"Hey uh, I don't think that you should-" He began loudly, but paused as he entered the room and spotted her asleep on the couch. "Leave your bag in the hall." He finished quietly. With as little sound as possible, he placed the bag on the coffee table and walked over to the front of the couch, taking the fleece throw over and using it as a blanket, covering her from the waist down. Starting to walk towards the kitchen, he paused when he felt her hand on his sleeve, pulling him back.

"I was just going to make us some food." He explained softly.

"Not yet." She muttered sleepily, half sitting up and patting the space she'd just made.

Unable to walk away, and not wanting to, Peter gave in and sat down in the space she'd cleared for him. He placed his arm around her waist as she laid her head in his lap. It was a rest that he hadn't known he'd needed until now.

"Hey... Peter..." She began, her voice low and barely more than a whisper.

"Yeah?" He questioned.

"What did you want to tell me?" She asked.

"Look, Gwen... I should have told you this a long time ago. A very long time ago actually, but I was stupid and scared so I didn't. It's been on my mind ever since and I feel like the worst person in the world for lying to you... But there's more to that final fight with Harry than what I told you." He admitted.

Gwen did not reply, and for a split second he was afraid that she was silently seething or that she hadn't processed his words yet, but as he glanced down he realised that she had fallen asleep once again. With his elbow propped up on the arm of the couch, he brought his face down hard into the palm of his hand. He didn't bother waking her. It was hard enough getting those words out the first time around, when she wasn't even listening and the thought of saying them again made him want to run for the hills. He wouldn't wake her up with something bad to say. If anything it would only make him feel even worse than he already did.