chapter thirty-four:
❛ gwen stacy's and peter parker's ❜

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)

introducing...
madelyn cline as gwen stacy 2

✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸

The wind howled at the top of the Empire State Building, cold and relentless, whipping through the air as rain misted around them. The city stretched far below, lights blinking in the distance, but Peter could barely see any of it. His mind was spinning, trying to process the impossible.

Two alternate versions of himself-two Peters from different universes-had already appeared, each sharing their own pain, their own losses. But now, standing before him, were two figures he never could've prepared for.

Two Gwens.

The first was unmistakable. Brunette hair damp from the rain, mask already pulled off, a mixture of relief and overwhelming emotion in her brown eyes. His Gwen.

The second, standing just behind her, was different. Her blonde hair was tucked into the white hood of her suit, strands damp and clinging to her face. She looked almost exactly like his Gwen, yet there was something heavier about her, a sadness so deep it practically radiated from her.

Peter's heart lurched painfully in his chest as the brunette Gwen took a shaky step forward.

She didn't say a word-she just ran into him.

Peter barely had time to react before she threw her arms around his neck, holding him with such desperate force it knocked the breath from his lungs. He clung to her just as tightly, hands fisting the back of her damp suit, his heart pounding against hers.

"I'm so glad you're okay," she whispered into his shoulder, her voice raw, as though she'd been holding back tears for hours.

Peter's eyes squeezed shut. He could feel the warmth of her, the way her heartbeat raced against his. This wasn't a dream. She was here.

Before he could think, before he could stop himself, he kissed her. Desperately, fiercely-like he needed to make sure she was real. Gwen kissed him back, her trembling fingers curling tighter around the back of his neck as if she were afraid he'd disappear if she let go.

When they finally broke apart, foreheads resting together, Peter's voice came out barely above a whisper.

"Gwen? H-How...?"

The blonde Gwen shifted slightly, finally stepping closer. She lowered her mask, revealing the face that was so achingly familiar yet so different.

Peter blinked, trying to make sense of it all.

"Let me guess," he said, voice hoarse as he looked between them. "You're Gwen from another universe?"

The brunette Gwen released a shaky breath but didn't move away, her hand still gripping his arm as if to ground herself. She exchanged a hesitant glance with MJ and Ned, who stood just behind Peter, watching the scene unfold with wide, disbelieving eyes.

The blonde nodded slowly, rain dripping from her white suit. Her face was pale, lips pressed together like she was holding something back.

"Yeah," she said softly, her voice carrying a painful weight. "I-I'm from another world. And... I lost my Peter."

Peter's stomach dropped.

His throat felt tight, like the words were closing in on him.

"What?" he whispered, barely able to process what he was hearing.

The blonde Gwen looked down, her hands balling into fists as she forced herself to keep talking.

"I... he was my best friend. He was everything to me," she continued, voice trembling. "And I- I couldn't save him. I tried. I did everything I could. But I was too late. He... he fell, and I..."

Her voice broke completely.

Peter felt like the ground was crumbling beneath his feet.

The rain. The grief in her voice. It was too much. Too familiar.

Brunette Gwen, still standing close, suddenly went rigid against him.

Her breathing quickened, a shallow, unsteady sound, and when he looked at her, he saw it-

The fear.

The realization.

She was putting the pieces together.

"If you're me... and you lost Peter... that means..." Her voice trailed off, barely audible as the rain pattered louder around them. "That means I'm going to lose someone too."

Peter's heart clenched as her entire body seemed to tremble.

Her eyes darted between him, the blonde Gwen, and the other two Peters, both of whom stood silently, expressions heavy with understanding.

Brunette Gwen shook her head, tears beginning to well in her eyes.

"No, no-" she whispered, panic rising in her voice. "I-I have powers now, Peter. I'm Spider-Woman too. That means someone's going to die. That's how this works, right? I can't-"

Her voice broke as she stumbled back a step, clutching her chest like she couldn't breathe.

"What if it's my mom?" Her voice cracked completely. "Or my brother? Or you?!"

Peter moved toward her instantly, closing the distance and gently cupping her face with both hands.

"Hey, hey-look at me," he said firmly, but there was a tremble in his voice too. Rain trickled down both their faces, but he didn't let go. "You are not going to lose me. You hear me? We're not going to let that happen."

Tears slipped down her cheeks as she stared at him, lips trembling.

"But-"

"No buts, Gwen," Peter interrupted, his voice soft but unwavering. "We can break this cycle. We will break it. I'm not losing you. And you're not losing anyone either."

The blonde Gwen nodded quietly behind him.

"That's why I'm here," she said gently. "To make sure it doesn't happen again. To make sure you don't go through what I did."

Brunette Gwen's breath hitched. She blinked rapidly, tears still spilling over as Peter leaned closer, voice barely above a whisper.

"You saved me once, Gwen," he whispered. "Let me save you this time."

Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something. But all she could do was nod, overwhelmed, heart pounding as she looked into his eyes.

Peter's voice softened even more, barely audible over the wind and rain.

"I love you, Gwen."

Her breath caught.

And then she whispered it back.

"I love you too."

Peter's lips found hers again, this time slower, gentler, full of unspoken promises.

And in that moment, the storm around them didn't matter.

Because together, they were going to change everything.

The rain had finally faded into a mist, the city below cloaked in a soft haze as distant headlights blurred against the damp streets. The skyline stretched endlessly, each glowing window a reminder of how vast the world was, yet here-on the ledge of the Empire State Building-it felt like the universe had shrunk down to just the two of them.

Brunette Gwen stood with her arms wrapped tightly around herself, the wind making her damp suit cling uncomfortably to her skin, but she barely noticed. Her mind was racing too fast, caught in the echoes of what blonde Gwen had said only moments before.

I lost my Peter.

The words felt like a stone sinking deep in her chest. She couldn't stop thinking about it. Couldn't stop picturing what her Peter would look like-broken, lifeless, slipping through her hands while she reached too late.

Her gaze shifted to the girl standing beside her. It was strange-seeing her own face reflected back at her, but not quite. Blonde Gwen looked older somehow, heavier, as if she'd been carrying the weight of something far too big for far too long. There was pain behind her eyes, tucked carefully away, but not so well that it was invisible. And yet, even in her grief, there was a quiet strength. Like she'd already walked through fire and survived.

The brunette swallowed hard, the words tangling on her tongue as she finally forced herself to speak.

"So... you're really me?" she asked, her voice quiet and fragile.

Blonde Gwen blinked, then gave a small, tired smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Yeah. Pretty weird, right?"

Brunette Gwen tried to return the smile, but it felt hollow. She could feel the tension pressing against her ribs, the unspoken question threatening to crush her.

Finally, she exhaled shakily and asked, "You said you... lost your Peter. What happened?"

For a moment, blonde Gwen didn't answer. She just looked out at the city, the light catching in the rain-soaked strands of her hair as she pressed her lips into a thin line. Then, with a breath so quiet it barely made a sound, she began to speak.

"I was reckless," she said, her voice soft but brittle, like glass on the verge of breaking. "He- he was trying to protect me. He was always trying to protect me. And I didn't see it. Not until it was too late."

Brunette Gwen felt her stomach twist.

Blonde Gwen swallowed hard, her voice starting to crack as she continued. "There was a fight... and I thought I could handle it. I thought we could handle it together. But then-" Her breath hitched. She squeezed her eyes shut, as if trying to block out the memory, but it came spilling out anyway. "He fell. I was right there. I tried to catch him, I tried-"

Her voice broke entirely now, trembling as she whispered, "But I wasn't fast enough. He hit the ground before I could reach him. I'll never forget the sound. The way he looked at me... like he didn't even blame me, but I- I blame myself. Every day."

Brunette Gwen's chest tightened, her heart pounding painfully against her ribs as she stared at the other version of herself, seeing her pain laid bare.

That could be me. That could be Peter. That could be my brother, my mom-

Her voice came out as a whisper. "I'm so sorry."

Blonde Gwen shook her head, blinking rapidly to keep the tears at bay. "You don't have to be sorry. That's why I'm here-to make sure you don't go through what I did. You can save them. Your Peter, your family... they're still here. You still have a chance to protect the people you love."

Brunette Gwen felt herself trembling, that gnawing, crushing fear wrapping tighter around her heart.

"But for how long?" Her voice broke, raw and unsteady. "If you lost him... if this always happens-what if it's already decided? What if it's not just Peter? What if it's my mom, or my brother, or someone else? What if I can't stop it-"

She choked on her words, pressing a hand to her mouth as the thoughts overwhelmed her.

Blonde Gwen suddenly reached for her, gently taking both her hands.

"Look at me," she said softly, yet there was steel in her voice. When brunette Gwen hesitated, she repeated, more firmly this time. "Look at me, okay? That fear-it's always going to be there. Trust me, I know. But you can't let it control you. You can't let it break you."

Brunette Gwen's breathing hitched.

"I feel like I already am."

Blonde Gwen shook her head. "No. You're not. The fact that you care this much? The fact that you're scared? That means you're strong. Because you're still standing here, still fighting, even when it hurts. Even when you're scared of what you might lose. And that? That's what makes you a hero."

Tears welled up in brunette Gwen's eyes. She wanted to believe her. Wanted to believe that she could be strong enough, that she could protect everyone she loved without falling apart. But the fear was so loud.

"But what if I'm not enough?" she whispered.

Blonde Gwen's expression softened, and she squeezed her hands tighter.

"You are. You don't have to be perfect. You just have to try. And you won't be alone."

Brunette Gwen's lip quivered. For the first time, the weight pressing on her chest felt just a little lighter.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Blonde Gwen gave her a soft, reassuring smile. Then, without saying another word, she gently pulled her into a hug.

The brunette melted into it, clutching the back of blonde Gwen's suit like it was the only thing holding her together. And in that moment, as they held each other close, two versions of the same girl-two people who understood each other's pain better than anyone else ever could-there was finally a sense of quiet understanding.

For just a moment, they didn't have to be Spider-Woman. They didn't have to be heroes. They could just be.

ASH SPEAKS!!!

trying to spread scenes out together bc we dont have that many chapters left before i'm done with this fic until next year :(

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)