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He's here again.
Every day at the exact same time, Peter Parker walks through the door and orders an extremely sugary drink to go. And everyday he introduces himself by his full name despite the fact that he is rapidly becoming a regular.
He behaves oddly. That's the only way MJ can describe it. He seems to know things about her that not even Ned knows and everyday it seems like he is working up to something just for him to leave. If it was any other person MJ is sure she'd consider them a stalker and would probably have pepper sprayed them by now, but something about Peter Parker makes her feel safe and he seems so familiar to her and to Ned but neither of them can tell why.
"Hi, I'm- uh Peter Parker. I've been coming in for a while so you probably know that by now," Peter says, as a way of introduction.
'See,' MJ thought, 'weird.'
"Hi, I'm assuming you want that sugary monster of a drink again?" She questions, and in that moment she realises she doesn't even have to put on her fake customer smile when she is around him. Why? She has no idea. As far as she knows he might actually be her stalker but when he is around she feels like she finally found a missing piece that she didn't even know was missing.
"Uhm yeah, thank you. I'll take a donut today as well, it's Christmas Eve I might as well treat myself," he laughs, and MJ almost thinks he sounds upset.
"Coming right up," she turns her back to see the display case, "so what are your plans for Christmas Mr Parker?"
That's another thing MJ has noticed, she wants to talk to Peter. Every time he comes in they seem to fall into a little mindless conversation while his coffee gets made.
"I don't have any. Well I do, but they are all super depressing so I don't think you want to hear them," Peter said, giving MJ a sad smile even though she couldn't see it.
"I love depressed stuff, so try me."
"Okay well, I'll probably spend Christmas morning in my apartment. And then I want to go visit my Aunt's grave and I might go visit my parents or my Uncle while I'm there. Then I have to return yo- my ex girlfriends Christmas presents because I kept procrastinating doing it and tomorrow is the last opportunity. I'm going to go help out at my Aunt's charity for Christmas Dinner which would be fun but her ex boyfriend now runs it and he pretends like he has no idea who I am anymore. And then I'm probably going to go home and go to sleep," Peter says, almost all of it in one breath.
'Holy shit,' MJ thinks, 'this guy has been through too much.'
"How old are you Peter?" Ned chimes in from across the diner.
"Um 17," Peter replies, uneasily. Like he doesn't want to give too much away.
"And you're spending Christmas alone? Absolutely not. You can come and spend Christmas with me and MJ. Neither of us are seeing our family for Christmas this year so don't use that as an excuse to say no," Ned offers, and by offers he really means 'I'm going to force you to do this because no 17 year old should be alone on Christmas.'
"Oh no, I couldn't ask you to do that. You guys don't know me that well and I don't want to be a nuisance. I'm fine with spending Christmas alone, I've done it before. My Aunt used to be a nurse and the first year after my Uncle Ben died she had to work Christmas day," Peter says and even though it was meant to reassure them and stop them from feeling sorry for him, it had the exact opposite effect.
"Nope. I'm not budging. Give me your phone number now," Ned insists, and really how is Peter supposed to refuse that.
After giving him his phone number Ned hums in confusion.
"That's odd. It seems like you're already in my contacts somehow," Ned inquires.
Peter looks panicked for a second but schools his expression as fast as he can, not fast enough to hide it from MJ though, and she is getting more and more curious about one Peter Parker.
"Oh I don't know, maybe someone you knew had the number before I did," Peter reasons.
"Well whatever, me and MJ will be at your apartment tomorrow morning and we are going to go get some Christmas Dinner from this really bomb restaurant I know and you're going to have a good Christmas."
And so the next day Peter gets woken up by a loud banging on his door, which he really needs to shut up before grouchy old Mrs Frond from across the hall complains.
"Peter! You better be awake because I did not let Ned haul my ass out of bed for you to still be asleep," MJ groans from behind the door.
Oh that's right. He has plans today. With his ex best friend and ex girlfriend who have no recollection of who he is.
'Fun,' Peter thinks to himself.
"Um- just a second. Give me two seconds," Peter shouts back. And then more quietly, "shit shit shit."
His apartment is a mess, he has several photos of him, MJ and Ned pre-multiverse just sitting around and he still has their presents stashed just peaking out from under his bed.
He picks up any of his dirty clothes off the floor and thanks Thor that he can get away with just wearing his clothes from yesterday again today.
"Peter, dude, open the door. If you're panic cleaning currently don't worry about it. You're a 17 year old living on his own, it's bound to be a little messy, just open the door," Ned reasons.
Peter glances at the stack of photos on his cabinet before opening the door just enough that they can't see anything but him.
"Hey guys, um-"
And before he can say anything else MJ is forcing herself into his apartment because she "has to pee."
Peter and Ned just stand there awkwardly before hearing a toilet flush and then a quiet "what the fuck?" come from MJ.
'Shit,' Peter thinks.
And then two seconds later, "Okay who the fuck are you?" Coming from a very angry MJ.
"What are you talking about MJ?" Ned questions, not knowing what is going on.
"What I'm talking about it why there are pictures of us three all around this guys apartment that I don't remember ever fucking taking. That's what I'm talking about," she is almost full on shouting at this point and Peter closes the door behind Ned quickly.
"Okay I will explain but I don't think you're going to believe me," Peter says trying to keep his voice calm in the way he knew MJ responds to the best.
"Fucking try me because honestly I would love an explanation for this," MJ spits out, venom clinging to her words, and while Peter can't blame her it still hurts.
He grabs the stack of photos and the note that he originally took the first time he went and saw them and he sits on the floor, prompting the other two to follow his lead.
"Okay I'm going to try explain and you're going to have so many questions, some I might not be able to answer but please listen," Peter starts.
"So first," Peter turns to MJ, "you're not going to like this, but you're my girlfriend or ex girlfriend I guess. We never officially broke up. And Ned, we have been best friends since we were 5. And you're both looking at me like I'm mental which you're probably right about but I just wanted to get that out there. Okay so over summer do you two remember going on a trip to Europe?"
When both Ned and MJ nod, Peter rummages through his pile of Polaroids and pictures to get two or three from their trip.
"What exactly do you two remember about it? And please be as specific as possible," Peter asks.
Both guests think very hard before Ned starts, "well I remember that I wanted to be a bachelor in Europe but I ended up dating Betty Brant instead because we got moved next to each other on the plane. Why did we get moved next to each other?"
"Oh that was my fault, I wanted to sit next to you, Michelle-"
"MJ."
"What?" Peter questions, a little confused.
"I mean if you claim we are dating then I think you have the right to call me MJ."
He smiles to himself and tries to cover it up but MJ can see it bright as day.
"Okay then, I wanted to sit next to MJ on the flight but something went super wrong and you ended up next to-"
"Brad," MJ finishes for him.
"Yeah, and then after that we went to Venice and got attacked by that water monster but Mysterio swooped in and saved us all. And while I was there I bought you that necklace," Peter continues, pointing at the black dahlia still hanging around MJ's neck.
"That can't be right, I got this necklace from…" MJ thinks for a moment and her hand comes up to clutch at the necklace and just like that she remembers.
She remembers their first date and she remembers all of the drama and she remembers that Peter is Spiderman and she remembers Peter Parker .
"YOU DICK! You broke your promise. You promised you'd come find us and explain everything to us and you didn't," MJ looks on the verge of tears but she is so overwhelmingly happy and pissed at the same time.
Peter smiles so wide he actually starts looking a little villian-y.
"I'm sorry MJ. I'm so sorry. I tried so many times but I just couldn't. You guys looked so happy without me."
And really, how was she supposed to resist kissing him silly at that.
"Ahem. This is great and all and from that reaction I'm going to infer that Peter is telling the truth but I am still extremely clueless currently," Ned interrupts.
And just like that Peter's face falls again so MJ clutches hand.
"Well do you remember homecoming in 2017?" Peter continues to explain.
"I mean I went but I had to leave early. I can't remember why."
"Well it's because I needed my guy in the chair, so you said you were watching porn and got detention for like a month. Thanks for that by the way," Peter sticks his hand out and as if on instinct Ned does their handshake.
And it all comes flooding back.
"DUDE!" And Ned practically flings himself at Peter.
"Thank God you both remember. It was getting hard seeing you both every day and not doing anything."
"Well that's not going to be an issue anymore," Ned says, smiling.
"I'm still mad that you broke your promise," MJ muttered, with no real heat behind her words.
"I know you are," Peter says as he kisses her forehead,"but I think you finally deserve that I love you I promised. So Michelle 'MJ' Jones not Watson because you don't go by that part, I love you."
"I love you too, loser."
"Aww guys that's so cute but I remember Peter mentioning something about Christmas presents yesterday and I'm very curious as to when I'm going to get mine."
MJ gives Ned a glare that makes him flinch but he holds out and Peter eventually relents.
"They are under my bed," he says with a sigh.
Ned runs off, followed closely by MJ, who places a kiss on Peter's cheek as she is getting up.
"Merry Christmas to me," Peter says out loud, smiling like an idiot.