Whumptober: Not Without You
Chapter 17: Not Without You
Peter stood outside the lake house, his chest heaving with adrenaline. MJ stared at him, her dark eyes sharing the same expression Peter knew he was wearing. An expression that said ‘its finally over’. Tony and Natasha stood by the cabin, trying to fix up the machine that Tony had pulled together to send the Weeping Angels back to where they came from. Peter grabbed MJ, pulling her into a tight hug. Pepper and Morgan had been hiding out inside when the battle started, and Peter knew they would be pulling together some type of snack for the people who had been fighting. It was lucky for Peter and Tony that Nat and MJ had been at the house with them.
It had been a relaxing weekend before the angels had shown up, a curse from one of Dr. Strange’s enemies. The sorcerer was around back somewhere, dealing with the last of the monsters. It had been terrifying, the angels had sent MJ back in time, Peter and the others having the go chase after her, the two of them jumping from the top of a building in order to bring the angels down. It had worked. Sure, It had been absolutely terrifying, but if he were going to die with anyone, it would have to be his fiancee.
“Sorry, kid. I figured the wedding planning weekend would be a fun time, not an absolute disaster.” Tony quipped from the porch with Natasha. Peter could see Strange walking back towards them, as he pulled MJ into a tight hug, kissing her.
“That’s alright, at least all of those creepy looking things are gone.” MJ said as Peter took her hand, about to lead her to the porch. MJ heard something behind her, letting Peter’s hand slip from hers as she turned back towards the woods. Peter took a few more steps, hearing MJ behind him so he didn’t worry about her.
Then his spidey-sense tingled. “Michelle, stop!” Stephen’s voice cut through the air, and Peter spun around, aiming his web shooter at Michelle already, a cry on his tongue as she turned to look at him, the two making eye contact with one another before she blinked away, an angel standing behind her. It was crippled, cracked and sad, but strong enough to take her away.
“Tony!” He heard the man running up behind him, Peter’s eyes welling up with tears.
“Where the hell did that come from?” Tony asked as he, Natasha, and Stephen raced to stand behind the distraught young adult.
“It’s a survivor. Very weak, but keep your eyes on it.”Peter shook his head, terror shrinking into his stomach as he stared, with fury at the angel.
“Where’s MJ?” Stephen looks at the angel, putting off breaking the news to the teen before he sighed.
“I’m sorry, Peter. I’m so, so sorry.” Peter shook his head fervently.
“No. No, we can just go get him with your magic. One more paradox”
“We would rip this reality apart and I-” Peter cut him.
“No, thats not true. I don’t believe you.” He couldn’t do it. Peter couldn’t lose MJ.
“Pete, its true.” Tony’s voice was ridden with emotions as he walked closed to Peter, but the young man took a few steps towards the angel.
“Peter, what are you doing?”
“The Angel, it can send me back to Michelle, right?” Tony shook his head, distraught at the mere idea of what Peter was suggesting.
“What are you talking about,”Tony grabbed the boy’s hand, pulling him back towards the lake house. “Back away from the angel. Come back to the house! We’ll figure something out!” He said, his voice raising as he did everything he could to convince the boy to come with him.
“The Angel, would it send me back to the same time, to her?” Peter asked Strange, not looking away from the monster.
“I don’t know. Nobody knows.” Tony said matter-of-factly as he stood behind Peter’s shoulder once more.
“But it’s my best shot, yeah?” He asked again, needing an answer. He had to have an answer. He couldn’t do this without MJ. Not this life, it wasn’t possible without her. Tony raised his hands in an attempt to stop Peter.
“No!” He yelled, Peter couldn’t possibly be thinking that this was okay.
“Tony, shut up! Yes, yes it is!” Stephen yelled from behind Peter, knowing the there was no other way for him to be with the girl.
“Peter!” He could feel panic welling in his chest. This couldn’t happen.
“Well, then I just have to blink, right?” Peter’s voice was thick with emotion, sobs threatening to take over his words.
“No!” Tony cried over the tears racing down his face.
“It’ll be fine, I know it will. I’ll-I’ll be with her, like I should be. Me and MJ, together. Tony.” Peter holds his hand out behind him, taking his mentor’s hand in his own.
“Stop it! Just- just stop it!”
“You look after them! Morgan, and Ned, and May, you be strong and you look after them.” He spoke around the tears. Trying to build up the courage to do what he needed to.
“You are creating fixed time.” Stephen said matter-of-factly.
“I will never be able to see you again!” Tony emphasized.
“I’ll be fine, I’ll be with her.” Tony sobbed this time, unable to hold back the terror and pain inside him.
“Peter, please. Just - come back into the house. Come on, Underoos, please!” He begged. Tony Stark did not often beg, but he couldn’t do anything else right now.
“Tony,” He took a deep breath. Tony had Pepper and Morgan. He knew it would be hard for the older man, he knew he would grieve, but Peter had to do this. He turned on his heels, staring into the older man’s dark, distraught eyes. “Goodbye.”
Tony collapsed to his knees, sobbing. “No!” He held his hands up as if he could rip Peter back through time itself. “No!”
It had been three months since Peter and MJ had been blinked back in time. Tony stood at his kitchen counter, staring at the picture of him and Peter that sat on top of the shelf. He heard a knock at the door, and he turned, walking towards it, brushing the sadness back.
Stephen Strange stood at the door, looking sad but determined. “Strange.”
“Stark. I have something for you, I never thought anything of it, its been in my sanction for years, but I realized the other day, well- I realized it was written for you.” Stephen handed Tony a letter, and the latter creased his brows.
“What are you talking about, Strange?”
“Just read it, you’ll understand.” He said before opening a portal and stepping back into the city. Tony turned, walking back into the house before he tossed the dishrag onto the counter. Tony slid onto the couch, hearing Morgan and Pepper playing together upstairs as he unfolded the letter that he had been given.
Letter written by Peter Parker.
Hello, Mr. Stark.
And here we are, you and me, on the last page. By the time you read these words, MJ and I will be long gone. So know that we lived well and were very happy. And, above all else, know that I will love you always. Sometimes I do worry about you, though. I think, once we're gone, you won't know what to do for a long time and you might be lonely, which you should never be. Don't be alone, Tony. Don’t push away Pepper and Morgan. Hug them for me. Tell them I love them. Tell the world that Spider-man is doing exactly what he needs to be doing saving people somewhere that need him more. And do one more thing for me. Never forget all of the amazing times we had together. Because they were amazing. They were the best of times.
