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As May Parker lounged into the comfortable cushions of Compound, a glass of wine in one hand and Pepper Stark sitting on her left, she couldn’t help but feel like something was missing.
The invitation to come to dinner wasn’t unusual. May had been to the Compound often, especially since Morgan had been born. She had become one of the little girls aunts, much to her delight. Morgan was a beautiful girl, full of cheek and beautiful smiles. She always greeted May loudly and with a hug, showing off her latest skills she had learnt at school. It made May heart sing and there was always a small ache that disappeared whenever she tried to examine it more closely.
It was a regular invitation, a chance for those who were in the area to get together. After the mess of Thanos, nobody was taking moments to spend with family for granted. And yet, there had been something niggling at May since she had arrived. She found herself looking around the room, searching for something or someone but couldn’t recall what or who.
Even as she sat next to Pepper, listening to Morgan’s laughter as Scott Lang showed off some of his magic tricks, his own daughter Cassie laughing along with them, something felt off. Not in a way that May felt like she was in danger, just that something was missing and she couldn’t pin point what it was. A feeling that had been growing and growing over the past few months.
“May?”
Jerking out of her thoughts, May turned to find Pepper looking at her, expression pulled into one of worry.
“Sorry,” May apologised with a shake of her head. “Lost in thought. What did you say?”
“Is everything okay?” Pepper asked, gently lowering her own glass of wine onto the coffee table. “You’ve seemed distracted all night.”
May placed her glass down next to Pepper’s before sighing, leaning back into the comfortable cushions. “I don’t know.”
Pepper shifted, angling her body towards May to give her full attention. “Talk me through it.”
May let out another sigh, pushing her a strand of hair behind her ear. “I can’t shake the feeling that I’m missing something. Like…like I’ve left something behind but no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to think of what I have lost.”
May looked at Pepper, expecting to see an amused smile and for her friend to tell her that she was just being silly. But her stomach sunk as Pepper looked at her with wide eyes, her skin looking paler.
“No,” May breathed. “You too?”
Pepper nodded.
“For about six months now,” Pepper admitted. She looked around the room, her gaze landing on her husband.
Tony Stark had joined Scott, Cassie, and Morgan, his smile bright even as he rolled his eyes at Scott’s antics. Even though he looked relaxed, May watched as Tony looked around the room, a small frown on his face. It cleared as Morgan drew his attention but it looked so familiar that May’s stomach knotted and she sucked in a breath at the admission.
Six months was exactly when May had felt that something had been missing. When she had first started turning, expecting to find someone there but having no idea why.
“Does this have something to do with Thanos?” May asked quietly, the words not going past the two of them. She didn’t want to bring up such a delicate subject on a nice evening.
“I thought that too,” Pepper said, her gaze still on Tony. “That the stones had something to do with it.”
“Tony doesn’t think so,” May said, picking up on the unspoken ‘but’ Pepper’s tone held.
Pepper looked back at May, shaking her head. “He thinks something happened six months ago. That’s when he started getting the feeling that something was missing. The stones were safely back where the belonged and with Strange monitoring the timelines, everything has been steady.”
“Is it just us?” May asked.
“Tony’s been hesitant to ask outright,” Pepper said. “We haven’t wanted anyone to worry but we’ve been probing. You’re the first who has felt it as strongly as we have.”
May’s head was reeling. She wasn’t sure why this was happening. And the more she thought about it, the more something wasn’t starting to add up.
“How did we meet?” May asked.
Pepper paused. “What?”
“The dinners I’m invited to. I love them, I do and I love our friendship. But, why me? I can’t remember how we met. It’s not like we run in the same circles.”
Pepper opened her mouth but the words died on her tongue. She shifted, sinking further into the cushions, her brows pinched. “I don’t remember.”
“Yeah,” May let out a breath.
“Hey.”
Both looked up as Happy approached in his usual suit. He looked between them both, his gaze settling on May, his expression going fond.
“Everything okay?” Happy asked. “You both look like something is wrong.”
“Something is,” May admitted. “We just have no idea what.”
Before Happy could ask anything, the moment was broken by FRIDAY’s voice, filling the area.
“Boss, reports are coming in of an attack. Spider-man is already on scene.”
May’s stomach dropped at the news, her eyes darting around as Scott, Tony and the rest of the Avengers all moved at once. They darted towards the exits, Tony barking orders.
Pepper stood as Morgan came racing over to her, face pulled into a pout.
“Mum, where’s dad going?” Morgan asked, voice sounding wobbly.
“Dad is just going to help Spiderman,” Pepper soothed her daughter. “Then he will be back to tuck you into bed.”
As May watched as Pepper soothed her daughter, she couldn’t help that gnawing feeling in the pit of her stomach. While she was worried about Tony, and the others, she couldn’t help but feel more worried about Spiderman which was weird because as far as knew, she had never met the vigilante.
Trying to shake the feeling, May started to help clean up with Cassie while Pepper started getting Morgan ready for bed. She helped Cassie (and herself if she was willing to admit) keep their mind off the others until they returned.
It was a few hours before they heard any word. Morgan had been tucked into bed with the promise that Tony would kiss her goodnight when he came in and May had been on the couch with Cassie and Pepper watching a movie when the jet finally touched down.
They all rushed outside, the cool night air nipping at their exposed skin.
“Dad!” Cassie called out in relief, jogging out to go meet Scott.
May smiled as the two reunited but the next sight had her heart leaping into her throat. The tight knot of anxiety throbbed in her stomach as Tony came striding towards them, a limp figure in his arms.
The red and blue suit was familiar and she felt a whimper brewing as she looked at the vigilante. The reaction was so strong, it shook her, making her tremble. Why she felt so strongly towards Spiderman, a superhero she had never met, was overwhelming and baffling.
“What happened?” Pepper asked, voice trembling ever so slightly.
“Spidey took a hit,” Tony said, voice strained as he came closer.
May’s gaze found the darkened red in the suit. Her gaze snapped to the mask which had been peeled back revealing a pale, young face…
“Peter?” May gave a strangled cry.
Her head rushed as the name seemed came unbidden, seeming to break a spell that she had been under. Memories came at a rush, her knees buckling. It was only Pepper’s hand gripping her tightly that kept her from falling.
“I’ve got him,” Tony said, quickening he stride. “FRIDAY.”
“Med Bay is ready, boss. The Wizard is waiting for you,” FRIDAY relayed.
May could only stumble after them. “Tony. Why the hell did I forget my own nephew?”
“No idea,” Tony growled. “But as soon as I have him patched up, I’m going to find out why.”
May had questions, more than what her brain could keep up with, but she swallowed them down. Healing Peter was the main priority.
Pepper kept her had tight on May as the followed Tony to the Med Bay. When they arrived, Stephen Strange was already there, face serious.
“Get him on the bed,” Strange directed.
May could only watch, helpless, as her nephew lay unmoving on the bed, covered in grit and blood.
“Strange,” Tony growled.
“After,” Stephen said, barley sparing Tony a look, his focus on Peter. “I will explain everything.”
“You better,” Tony snarled.
Stephen gave a curt nod and then got to work.
“Tony,” Pepper said as Tony reluctantly gave Stephen room to work. “What happened?”
“Spiderman - Peter - he was taking on a whole gang. Some of them were enhanced. They got some good hits in. I had to take off his mask, I couldn’t see if he was injured underneath and as soon a I saw his face…” He cut himself of with a pained noise.
“How could we forget?” May asked, tears blurring her vision.
“Strange is going to tell us,” Tony said, shooting the doctor a hard look. “As soon as he has Peter healing again.”
May sniffed. “He had something to do with it?”
“He’s being tight lipped about it,” Tony huffed. “But yeah, he did.”
May filtered between anger and worry as Stephen worked until finally he made his way over to them, his expression hard to read.
“Peter’s healing has kicked in. In a couple of hours he should be healed enough to wake,” Stephen said. He gazed around at them all, his expression tired. “I know you have questions.”
“Damn right we do,” May spat, stepping forward but Pepper’s grip stopped her from getting to close. “Why the hell did we forget Peter?”
“Because we had to,” Stephen said, looking apologetic. “It was the only way to save you.”
“Me?” May blinked, not understanding.
“An old enemy targeted Peter to get to you, Tony,” Stephen explained.
Tony sucked in a sharp breath.
“Peter was more formidable than he was expecting,” Stephen continued, looking proud. “And to get what he wanted, he was prepared to kill everyone Peter loved. He nearly succeeded with you, May.”
May’s head spun. She had no relocation of the event and her heart gave an uncomfortable thump.
“I managed to get to you in time. But they were still after you. Peter made the tough decision and I agreed. I would make everyone forget, so you would all be safe.”
“Oh Peter.” Tears dribbled down May’s cheeks. “You stupid, wonderful, brave, idiot.”
“And you agreed to this?” Tony demanded. “You let him be on his own, for six months?”
“It was that or you dying,” Stephen said calmly, shooting Tony a firm look. “He chose to keep his family, even if it hurt to do so.”
The fight went out of Tony, his shoulder’s slumping. “Oh kid.”
“Be mad at me all you want,” Stephen said. “I would do it again to save you. And so would be Peter. Don’t be angry with him for choosing to protect those he loves.”
“Of course we aren’t mad at Peter,” Tony said gruffly. “I just wish he didn’t have to do this alone.”
“Can I see him?” May asked.
Stephen nodded and May pushed past him, hurrying to the bed. She sat carefully on the edge, taking Peter’s limp hand in hers. She squeezed it, heart aching as there was no response.
He’ll wake up, May assured her self as Tony and Pepper joined her at Peter’s bedside. And when he did, May was going to tell Peter how much she loved him, how loved he was by all, and how life was not better without him.
“He’ll be okay,” Tony said, voice cracking. “He will. Our kid is tough.”
“He is,” May agreed. “And we’ll be here when he wakes.”
“His family,” Pepper said.
“Yeah,” Tony agreed.
Never again would May let Peter be stuck with a choice like this again. She never wanted to go one more day without knowing him. And she would spend everyday reminding him, just how this family worked; together.