Peter took a deep breath, his mind clouded with regret. He had always relied too much on his webbing—it was fast, convenient, and second nature to him. Whether he was catching thieves or saving civilians, it had always been his go-to solution.
But now, The Screen had slapped him with the harsh reality of his over-reliance. His instinct to use his webs had directly led to Gwen's death.
If only he had thought differently—if he had used the same strategy as the First-Gen Spider-Man, gaining acceleration through falling debris—then maybe he could have caught up with her in time. Maybe he could have held her in his arms, just as his predecessor had saved the First-Gen Gwen.
But this was all just reflection. The Screen had merely shown a possibility, not his reality. Gwen was still beside him, alive and well. And yet, every time he thought about losing her, a suffocating weight crushed his chest.
When Gwen's death was shown, Helen and her children screamed in horror. Helen instinctively shot to her feet, while George let out a heavy sigh—his worst fear had become reality.
Thankfully, The Screen had foreseen this outcome. In their world, Gwen had been given a second chance—a gift that allowed her to become Spider-Woman and take control of her own fate.
The First-Gen Spider-Man clenched his fists, rage bubbling inside him. But he had nowhere to direct his anger. Instead, he turned and drove his fist into the nearest wall, shattering it into pieces.
"Peter..." First-Gen Gwen whispered, watching him with concern. She had never seen him this furious before. She knew he was angry—angry at the other Peter for depending too much on his webbing, but also angry at himself for realizing the problem yet being powerless to intervene.
"I'm fine, Gwen. I'm fine..." First-Gen Spider-Man muttered, breathing heavily as he tried to compose himself.
She looked toward the Second-Gen Spider-Man on the screen. "No matter how angry you are, he's the one suffering the most right now..." she said softly.
"...Yeah. I know." First-Gen Spider-Man exhaled deeply. His anger didn't stop him from feeling the heartbreak of watching another version of himself experience such devastating loss.
Meanwhile, the entire world mourned Gwen Stacy's death. Discussions erupted across the internet, with some refusing to believe she was really gone. Many clung to the hope that she had survived, much like Harry did.
However, due to strict regulations on reporting Spider-Man's personal life, most of New York's media outlets refrained from covering the situation. The mayor had publicly warned that anyone who harassed Spider-Man and his loved ones would face severe consequences.
As a result, the focus of the media remained on Spider-Man's crime-fighting rather than his personal tragedies. Crime rates in New York had been steadily dropping, thanks to his efforts.
Still, the curiosity of the public couldn't be ignored. In response, the mayor announced a press conference to formally introduce Peter and Gwen as the protectors of New York. By doing so, he hoped to elevate their status, attract investment, and possibly even use their image for future political endeavors.
[At Gwen's funeral, a solemn silence filled the cemetery. Police officers lined the perimeter, while Helen Stacy and her three sons wept bitterly. Peter stood quietly beside Aunt May, his face unreadable.]
[As time passed, the crowd gradually dispersed. Aunt May gently placed a hand on Peter's arm, her expression filled with concern. Peter leaned down and kissed her forehead, silently reassuring her. Understanding his need to be alone, Aunt May left without another word.]
[Peter remained in front of the tombstone, lost in thought. His chest rose and fell in uneven breaths as he recalled every precious moment he had shared with Gwen.]
[Since that day, Peter visited Gwen's grave daily. It didn't matter if it was spring or winter, rain or shine—he always came, standing by her side in silent remembrance.]
[As his grief deepened, Spider-Man disappeared from the streets of New York. He could no longer bring himself to wear the suit. Every time he did, he was reminded of his failure—of the moment he couldn't save the woman he loved most.]
[For countless sleepless nights, he replayed the event in his mind, searching for a way he could have saved her. He swore to himself that he would never make such a mistake again.]
"Peter Parker..." Pepper whispered, her eyes red as she watched him on the screen, standing alone at Gwen's grave. "I can't even imagine the pain he's going through."
"Fate is cruel," Tony muttered. He sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
But no one was more infuriating to him than Harry Osborn.
Spider-Man had been forced into this battle because of him. And Gwen—Gwen had been dragged into the crossfire between two former best friends.
After leaving Max's house, Gwen and Peter found a secluded place to be alone.
Gwen turned to Peter, tightening her arms around his waist. She had watched his counterpart suffer on the screen, his sorrow unbearable to witness. She pressed herself closer, feeling his warmth.
Peter wrapped his arms around her in return, holding her as if she might disappear.
"We won't be separated," Gwen whispered, looking up at him. "I won't die. I'll stay with you forever, Peter."
Peter cupped her face gently. "Yeah. No separation, no death… We'll always be together."
He leaned down, capturing her lips in a deep kiss.
Above them, the moon bathed the towering skyline in soft silver light. Below, the city glowed with vibrant colors, stretching endlessly into the night.
"Poor Peter..." Otto Octavius sighed, watching the scene unfold. Beside him, Rose wiped away her tears with trembling hands. Seeing her so upset, Otto quietly handed her a tissue.
"Luckily, our Gwen is protected by Venom," he said after a moment of silence. "Otherwise, she might have ended up like the Second-Gen Gwen..."
The Eddie incident had shocked the entire world, drawing attention from even the mayor of New York. Officials had personally investigated Gwen and Harry's involvement, attempting to piece together the full picture.
Meanwhile, another surprising development had taken place—Marko, after recovering from his injuries, had accepted a new role. First-Gen Spider-Man had revealed that Marko was now Harry's full-time driver. More than that, he had earned Harry's trust and had even dined with him on multiple occasions.
It was an amusing thought—Spider-Man casually sitting at the dinner table with some of his greatest enemies. With the exception of the Green Goblin, all of his most infamous foes had been present—including Venom.
Otto smirked to himself at the memory. It was almost surreal.
An idea formed in his mind. "Perhaps I should invite First-Gen Spider-Man to dinner with Harry and the others," he mused aloud. Ever since the Doctor Octopus incident, Otto's relationship with Spider-Man had evolved dramatically. They often exchanged knowledge, and Peter frequently brought Gwen along to learn as well.
Otto had taught Peter everything he knew, freely sharing his wisdom. Dr. Connors and others had done the same, answering every question Peter had.
Because of their collective guidance, Peter's understanding of science had improved tremendously. Even First-Gen Gwen had acquired knowledge that went far beyond any textbook.
Otto turned to Rose and shared his thoughts. She immediately agreed, her mind already busy planning what dishes to prepare for the gathering.
Satisfied, Otto picked up his phone and made the calls.
The invitations were warmly accepted.
And so, an unusual dinner was set in motion—one that would bring together Spider-Man, his friends, and his former enemies in a way no one had ever expected.
==============================================
Support me at p@treon.com/goldengaruda and check out more chapter of this or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.
=============================================