Chapter 8

I woke sometime in the middle of the night next to Peter. He was still asleep so I tried to get up as quietly as possible. As I was heading out the door he stirred but didn't wake. I closed the door slowly behind me and headed out to the training grounds again. I fought the dummies out there until the sun began to rise. I headed back inside then to eat breakfast and found Thor sitting on the couch.

"Morning," I said

"Morning," He mumbled

He seemed to be sober as he didn't have his usual bottle of whatever in his hand so I went and sat near him.

"How are you feeling?" I asked him

"Better but hungover. Hope told me no more alcohol until I'm healed."

I nodded and noticed staring at my food as I ate.

"Would you like me to make you something?" I asked

"No it's ok," He said embarrassed

"It's really no problem."

"No, it's fine. I don't mean to bother you."

He got up and left presumably back to his room. Nobody else came as I finished my breakfast. I decided to go check on everyone to see if any of them were awake. Hope had told me all their names as we helped them last night and I knew who to associate to which hero now. I headed to Bruce's room first. He was still out so I headed to check on Scott. I found Hope there already both of them awake. I tried to leave but they spotted me.

"Come in Mary." said Hope "I assume you came to check on Scott?"

"Yeah, I've already checked on Bruce. He's still out. Thor's up but extremely hungover. I still need to check on Vision."

"Somebody said my name?" I heard a robotic voice say as Vision floated through a wall.

"I've told you multiple times to use the door," Scott said sighing

"I was searching for Wanda and heard my name. Do you know where she is?"

I turned to Hope and she shook her head slightly so I didn't say anything.

"No idea." Said Hope "Go with Mary she might help you find her."

I gestured for him to follow me and we walked out to the living room.

"Do you know where she is?" He asked

I took a deep breath "She passed during the fight."

He nodded and froze in place for a minute. "What were we talking about?"

"Wanda."

"Who's Wanda."

"Listen I know if you don't want to accept this but's it true."

"I'm sorry but there's no file in my memory bank for someone named Wanda."

Of course. He's a robot, he must've deleted all his memories of her.

"She's nobody" I murmured

He nodded and left just as Peter walked in.

"What was that about?" He asked as he made himself breakfast

"I told him about Wanda and he deleted her from his memory."

"Really? I thought he'd be sad but not that sad."

"Desperate people do desperate things."

"Speaking of, I'm sorry I made you stay last night. I should've let you help the others."

"No, it's ok." I yawned

"Did you sleep at all?"

"Only a little but I'm fine. After I left I trained the rest of the night."

"Are you sure you're fine?"

"Yeah, I've gone a day without sleep before. I'm fine."

"Ok then." He too left and I headed to my room

The rest of the day went by in a blur. I read in my room, occasionally checking on Bruce. I was exhausted but seeing as Bruce was still out when I checked on him before bed I stayed awake in his room. Around midnight I heard quiet sniffling coming from Peter's room next door. I got up and knocked lightly on his door.

"Come in." He said

I opened the door to find him crying on his bed. In front of him was a magazine containing photos from the fight yesterday.

"Did they find them?" I asked

"Yeah."

He got up and headed to his closet before grabbing something from inside. He pulled out Cap's shield with a huge piece taken out of it and one of Tony's gloves.

"I took these before we left."

He reached back inside and grabbed two more items before tossing them to me. In my hands, I held Wanda's headpiece and one of Natasha's bracelets.

"Figured you or Hope would want those." he said "I have something from all of them Clint's bow, Sam's droid, Bucky's gun."

"Thank you, Peter," I said crying "but I think these should go to their families."

"Keep them. Wanda had no one but Vision and Natasha only had her sister who we have no way of finding."

"Peter" I tried to talk but I was crying too much

He came over to me and hugged me close my head resting gently on his chest. We stood like that for a while crying into each other's arms. I didn't want to be the first to break off but Peter eventually did. I stared at the floor knowing my face was probably red.

"Are you ok?" he asked

I nodded and he lifted my chin so I was looking him in the eyes.

"Are you sure you're ok?" He asked again

I broke from his grasp and stared at the floor. He grabbed my chin once more and kissed me firmly on the lips. I tensed before eventually sinking into him. When he pulled away I wasn't sure what to do.

"Was that too much?" He asked

I shook my head still speechless. The only thing I could think to do was kiss him back so I did. I broke off this time and he stood there staring at me.

"I didn't expect that from you," he said

"Neither did I." I found my words again "How long have you been waiting to do that?"

"Since I first saw you."

"What about MJ?"

"She's just a friend." he yawned trying to cover it

"Go to bed."

"I want to stay with you."

"I'll stay with you all night. ok?"

"Alright."

He climbed into bed and I sat next to him. As he fell asleep my brain tried to process what had happened. I still wasn't quite sure. I stayed up all night sitting there next to Peter. He occasionally spoke in his sleep and I knew he was thinking about the others. He sometimes said their names. Their ghosts probably haunt him at night. I noticed him shivering through his thin sheet at one point and made a small fire on the floor using some old papers. I was careful to keep it controlled until he started stirring as the sun came up. I stomped it out and pretended to be asleep next to him knowing he wouldn't approve of me staying up all night. I heard him wake and walk out the door. Once I was sure he was gone I opened my eyes to find him standing over me.

"Knew it." He said, "You stayed up all night didn't you?"

"Huh? No, I just woke up."

"Really. I bet the cameras would think differently."

"Ok fine. I didn't sleep. I wasn't tired."

"Come on let's get you to your room. You can sleep there."

I reluctantly got up and followed him out into the living room. I started to feel lightheaded and the corners of my vision blackened. I saw Peter run up to me as I blacked out.