Kapitel 16: The Rising Stars, Spider couple

**Earth-66, Peter's Room**

The first rays of the morning sun filtered through the windows, casting a warm glow across the room. Peter stirred from his sleep, blinking a few times to shake off the remnants of his sleep.

He then felt a soft weight pressing against him. Looking down, he found Gwen nestled on top of him, her head resting against his chest, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist. She was still asleep, seeing her peaceful expression framed by strands of her blonde hair made his heart race.

Peter's lips curled into a soft smile as he gently brushed a finger along her cheek. Gwen stirred and her eyes were fluttering open.

She looked up at him, "Good morning," she murmured with sleepy smile curling her lips.

"Morning," Peter replied, his thumb tracing lazy circles on her cheek. "Did you sleep well?"

Gwen nodded as she moved closer. "Mmm, like a rock. You?"

"Same," Peter said with a chuckle.

Gwen pulled back slightly, her blue eyes meeting his. Without a word, she reached up and her fingers threading through his hair as she pulled him down for a kiss. It began slow and gentle, a tender exchange, but soon deepened as a passion igniting between them.

Peter's hands instinctively moved to her hips, holding her closer as the kiss grew more fervent.

They were so lost in the moment that neither noticed the creak of the door opening.

"Peter, I—oh!" Aunt May's voice cut through the silence like a jolt of electricity.

Both Peter and Gwen froze, breaking apart as Aunt May stood in the doorway, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Oh, sorry! I didn't mean to interrupt," she stammered and quickly turning on her heel.

Gwen's face flushed crimson and Peter tried to hide his embarrassment, "It's okay, Aunt May. We were just... saying good morning." he said it trying to sound casual but failing miserably.

Aunt May arched a skeptical brow but offered a knowing smile. "Right. Well, I'll leave so you can say your greetings," she said before retreating down the hall.

"That was embarrassing," Gwen said as she buried her face in his chest.

Peter laughed as he caress her back, "We might have to get used to it. I mean, we are now officially soulmates, aren't we?"

Gwen looked at him with a happy smile and kissed him deeply with her hands on both of his cheeks before pulling back slightly, "You're right, Mr.Parker. We are now officially soulmates."

They both laughed and spent sometime together. Even though they said it, they both wanted to take things slowly before proceeding further.

Later they went to freshen up and then Peter and Gwen joined Aunt May in the kitchen, where she had laid out a hearty breakfast.

"You two look like you could use some food," she teased, setting plates of pancakes, eggs, and bacon in front of them.

They decided to hide their embarassment and Peter revealed that both of them are dating to May.

She is very happy for them and all of them ate thier breakfast in comfortable silence, sharing occasional smiles and glances.

After the meal, Aunt May announced her plans to leave for her shift at the hospital.

"Take it easy today, you two. Rest up for today as from tomorrow you have to go to your school again," she said, giving them both a quick hug before heading out the door.

Once alone, Peter called Gwen's mom and America Chavez to inform them of their safe return.

America immediately went to Peter's house after knowing they came back. She asked what happened, but both of them kept their answers short saying everything went well in the end.

They spent the day in home mainly watching some TV shows and all.

America didn't see most of them as she didn't have enough time to relax since some monsters are chasing her. But now she can relax and enjoyed her moments with her new friends.

By evening, Peter and Gwen stood outside the old warehouse they're now using as a temporary base.

America Chavez was standing infront of them with a resolute expression.

"I have to go," she said firmly while meeting their eyes. "I need to find out who's summoning those creatures and why they're after me."

Gwen stepped forward as her hand gripping America's arm. "Can't you stay a little longer? Just until we figure out more the creatures?"

America shook her head, "No, Gwen. I appreciate everything you and Peter have done, but this is something I have to do on my own terms." She turned to Peter, "If you need me, Peter, you know how to reach me."

He nodded as America hugged both him and Gwen. After sometime they pulled back.

America took few steps away from them and with a final wave, she summoned a star-shaped portal and jumped into it while waving her hand at them.

**Elsewhere in another universe**

America emerged through her portal, stepping into the Sanctum, where Doctor Strange awaited her.

"What happened? You are suddenly sucked into a portal. Are you okay?" Strange asked, scanning her for any injuries.

Before she could answer, a monstrous creature materialized behind her, its massive tentacles writhing as its central eye pulsed with malevolent energy.

Strange raised his hands, readying a spell, but America stepped forward with a calm expression.

"Not today," she whispered, extending her hand. A portal formed beneath the creature, leading into a sea of molten lava. The creature shrieked as it was sucked into the portal and slowly it's form is disintegrating.

Strange lowered his hands with astonished expression. "You've mastered your powers. But how? It's only been a few hours since you vanished."

America turned to him with a proud smile, "I spent three days in another universe. Time flows differently there and I learned to control them thanks to my new friends."

Strange's eyes gleamed with admiration. "Remarkable. While I want to know more about your friends, I think it's best if we'll find out who's behind this and stop them."

America nodded with a firm resolve, "Let's do it."

**Earth-66**

Peter and Gwen lingered near the warehouse with their hands clasped together, watching the distant portal close.

"Do you think she'll be alright?" Gwen asked.

Peter squeezed her hand tighter, his eyes fixed on the spot where America had vanished. "I don't know, but I trust her. She'll be okay."

Peter thinks with America in control of her powers, they had better chance of defeating Wanda.

After that they left the warehouse and went to their homes.

Later that Night, Gwen and Peter came out to have some fresh air.

The city was alive with the hum of nightlife, its streets bathed in the glow of neon signs and streetlights.

Gwen and Peter swung gracefully through the maze of skyscrapers, their movements synchronized like a well-rehearsed dance.

Suddenly, Peter's enhanced senses picked up the sound of shattering glass and panicked screams. He signaled to Gwen, and they quickly changed direction, heading toward the disturbance.

Below, a small convenience store was under siege—three masked robbers with guns, threatening the frightened cashier.

"Stay here and cover the exits," Gwen whispered to Peter and he nodded and leaped to a nearby rooftop to keep watch.

Inside the Store

Gwen stuck to the ceiling, slowly descending with a web to the ground in upside down maneer from behind the robbers. "Hey, boys," she called out casually, "You know, stealing isn't a great work. Maybe try knitting? Less prison time."

The robbers whirled around, startled and pointed their weapons in her direction. "Ghost-spider... what the hell are you doing here?" one barked.

"I'm going to ruin your night," Gwen quipped with a familiar surge of bio-electricity coursing through her body, a new power Peter had unlocked in her after absorbing Electro's energy. Her fingers tingled with crackling blue sparks.

One of the robbers rushed her with a crowbar raised high.

Gwen let go of the web and landed on the ground immediately sidestepped with her movements being fluid, "Whoa, easy there! I just cleaned this suit," she teased, delivering a swift kick to his chest that sent him sprawling into a stack of canned goods.

The second robber fired a warning shot into the air and pointed it towards her but his hands are trembling. "Stay back, freak!"

Gwen tilted her head, smirking. "Freak? That's rude. I prefer 'Ghost-spider' Or maybe 'Spider women.' What do you think?"

She raised her hand, and a burst of blue electricity arced between her fingers. The robber's eyes widened and fired the gun but Gwen dodging his shot with ease.

She pointed her finger at him and send an electric shock wave to him, which send him flying and crushed to the wall. Them he dropped to the ground in unconscious state.

"Shocking, isn't it?" Gwen grinned as she looked at the electricity on her finger tips.

The last robber tried to make a run for it, bolting toward the back exit. Peter who is outside, extended a web that snagged the man's ankle, yanking him to the ground.

"Going somewhere?" Peter called down, "Behind jail." Then he webbed the poor guy upside down and also webbed his mouth since he is a bit lound.

Inside the store, Gwen dusted her hands as she surveyed the unconscious robbers. She turned to the cashier, who was still cowering behind the counter. "You okay?" she asked gently.

The cashier nodded, his voice trembling. "Y-Yeah. Thanks… Spider-Woman."

Gwen smiled. "All in a night's work."

As she exited the store, Peter swung down to join her. "Not bad," he said, crossing his arms. "But your puns need work."

"Excuse me?" Gwen replied, feigning offense. "I thought it was gold."

Peter laughed, as they two swung off into the night, the city once again safe thanks to their combined efforts.

The next day, Peter and Gwen walked into school, finding it bustling with life as usual.

The halls of Midtown High buzzed with renewed energy as students returned to their fully repaired school, the structural damage from the Lizard incident now just a memory.

While life seemed to return to normal, there was an unmistakable undercurrent of excitement about New York's newest vigilantes.

Even Flash Thompson, who once made it his mission to torment Peter, had become oddly subdued—his attention is now consumed by theories about Spider-Man's identity.

Days began to pass, Peter and Gwen fell into a comfortable routine, balancing their daytime studies with night-time patrols.

During one such evening, as they perched atop the Chrysler Building taking a break from patrol, Peter and Gwen sat next to each other without thier masks and he couldn't resist bringing up the latest Daily Bugle headline.

"So, Spider-Woman," Peter said with a playful lilt in his voice, pulling up the digital newspaper on his phone through his electromagnetic abilities. "Have you seen what they're calling us now?"

Gwen tilted her head, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "What are you up to, Parker?"

"Oh, nothing," he said innocently, projecting the headline into the air between them: 'SPIDER COUPLE STRIKES AGAIN: Dynamic Duo Foils Bank Robbery.' "Just thinking about how cute it is that we're officially New York's power couple."

Peter grinned mischievously. "Well, Spider Couple does sound romantic. You know what that makes you, right?"

Gwen raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? And what does it make me, genius?"

Peter leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "The Spider Bride."

Gwen's face turned red as she swatted his arm. "Peter!" she exclaimed.

"Hahah, The public knows what they're talking about," Peter grinned. "We should embrace it. Maybe do some couple poses after we stop criminals? Really give J. Jonah Jameson something to write about."

"Don't push your luck, Spidey," Gwen retorted, but Peter could see the smile on her face.

Between patrol breaks, Peter continued developing his electromagnetic spectrum manipulation abilities.

The power allowed him unprecedented access to digital information, though he noted its limitations—he could manipulate waves across the spectrum but not electromagnetic fields themselves.

But he was determined to upgrade the skill. The thought of manipulating electromagnetic fields, a power he deemed overpowered excited him.

Still, it proved invaluable for their hero work, allowing him to monitor police frequencies and access security systems in real-time.

When not fighting crime, Peter worked on another project: publishing. Drawing inspiration from his previous life's knowledge of entertainment media not yet released in this timeline, he began adapting stories with Great Sage's help.

His first project, the Percy Jackson series, was already in the publishing pipeline thanks to Aunt May's connections in the industry.

Some might question his choice to pursue publishing rather than moving towards technological advancement, but Peter had a long-term strategy.

Building name recognition during his high school years would provide a foundation for his future business ventures.

While his current finances were too limited for major tech investments, he was planting seeds for the future—both in his civilian identity and as part of New York's favorite spider-themed crime-fighting duo.

He plans to make a name for himself first and then will begin the start of his own company.