THE PRODIGAL SON RETURNS

One year later, in the Himalayas, after going all around the world training his mind, body, and spirit, the young man is finally ready to return to his city.

Peter(wearing black, ragged clothes) walks towards one of Parker Industries jets. Ben comes out of the jet with a smile.

"Master Parker. It's been a long time." Ben says.

Peter smirks.

"Yes it has."

"You look very fashionable."

Peter let's out a chuckle and hugs the only family that he has left. On the flight to New York City, Peter stares out the window with a serious look on his face while Ben looks at him.

"So how long do you plan on staying in New York, Sir?"

"As long as it takes. I've learned something while I was away, Ben. People need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy and I can't do that as Peter Parker. As some rich kid... I'm flesh and blood, I can be ignored, I can be destroyed. But as a symbol... As a symbol, I can be... incorruptible. I can be everlasting."

Ben looks at the young man for a moment.

"What symbol?"

"Something elemental. Something that represents both great power and great responsibility but also...justice... and vengeance." Peter answers.

Ben smirks.

"I assume that as you take on the underworld, this symbol is a persona to protect those you care about from any repercussions?"

"You're thinking about Gwen and Harry?"

Ben laughs.

"Actually sir, I was thinking of myself."

Peter smiles at his butler.

"Have you told anyone I'm coming back?"

"No, I figured you didn't want anyone to know, with what all your planning to do and all. At least not right now."

"Thank you, Uncle Ben."

"You can thank me by taking a shower once we get home. You smell, master Parker."

Peter chuckles as Ban closes his eyes to go to sleep.

A day later, at the Parker mansion, Peter removes a few branches that were covering the old well that he fell down when he was a child. The young man jumps down easily with just a light in hand and walks through the cave under his home. At that moment a large group of bats starts to swarm around him just like when he was a boy, but this time Peter doesn't show fear, and stands his ground, with a smile.

A month later, Peter(wearing a nice suit and a pair of glasses) walks through the doors of Parker Industries and towards the receptionist desk.

"Hi, I'm here to see Mr. Earl." Peter says with a smile.

"Do you have an appointment?" The receptionist asks, not looking up from her phone.

"No, but I'm pretty sure he'll want to see me."

The receptionist sighs.

"Name?"

"Um, Peter Parker."

When the receptionist hears the name, she looks up in shock that it's actually Peter Parker standing in front of her.

Later during a meeting about taking the company public, the receptionist walks into the room.

"Um, Mr. Earl, you have a visitor."

Mr. Earl gets annoyed by the interruption.

"Misty, who could it possibly be for you to-"

When Mr. Earl turns around and sees Peter, he, along with everyone else in the board room, is shocked to see him.

"Peter. You're back."

Peter smirks.

"It's starting to feel like it. Thank you, Misty."

Misty nods and leaves the room.

"It's good to see you my boy. I hope you're not here to take over early, your father's will explicitly said that you'll have to wait until you graduate." Mr. Earl jokingly says.

The two chuckle and hug.

"No, I'm willing to wait as long as I have to for that. Actually I just wanted to get to know the company that my family built."

Mr. Earl smiles, remembering Richard Parker.

"Of course. Any ideas on where you would like to start?"

"Reaserch and development."

"Of course, your favorite place in the whole building. You know Anna Maria is now the head of the department now? I'll let her know your coming."

"Thank you, I appreciate it."

Minutes later, when Anna Maria Fox( a short woman with black hair) sees Peter walk in she runs over and hugs him.

"You've grown. You look just like him you know?"

Peter smiles, trying not to blush.

"That's what everyone keeps telling me. It's good to see you Anna." Peter says.

"Likewise, kiddo. I missed watching you work."

"Speaking of that, before- I left, I was working on something. You wouldn't happen to have it here, would you?"

Anna smiles.

"All that and more kid. Follow me."

They walk through the room and Anna approaches a case. She opens it up and pulls out Peter's web shooters, but the young man notices other inventions.

"I gotta say I was really impressed when I first saw these bad boys. Especially with the fluid you made to go in it, it's some stronge stuff." Anna says handing them to Peter.

"Thanks. What's all the rest of this stuff?"

Anna smirks as she shows him the new equipment that she's been working on.

"Here we have the Kevlar utility harness. Gas- powered, magnetic grapple gun. The 350-pound test monofilament."

Peter looks at all the equipment and smiles. Anna looks at the spark in Peter's eyes and the two continue to walk to see more projects.

"Me and your dad worked on some wonderful projects together. It was an honor to be alongside him through it all."

Anna wipes away a tear as Peter comforts her.

"I miss him too." Peter tells her.

Anna smiles at the boy, then walks over to a special compartment. She puts in a code and pulls out a suit.

"This was the last thing your dad was working on. The Nomex survival suit, for advanced infantry. Kevlar biweave, reinforced joints."

Peter feels the material of the suit.

"Tear resistant?" He asks.

"This thing will stop a knife."

"Bulletproof?"

"Anything but a straight shot."

"Why didn't they put it into production?"

Anna sighs.

"Apparently a soldiers life isn't worth three grand. But why so interested in it, Peter?"

Peter has a guilty expression on his face.

"I kinda want to- borrow it. Thinking about getting into spelunking." Peter says.

Anna looks at him confused.

"Spelunking?"

"Yeah, you know, cave diving?"

"Kid, I've never even seen you dive into a pool."

"Well maybe it's time I try some new things. You know broaden my horizon, spread my wings, etcetera."

Anna gives Peter a very suspicious look.

"And are you expecting to run into much gunfire in these caves?"

Peter smirks.

"Look, Anna, I'd rather no one know about me borrowing-"

"Peter. The way I see it. All this stuff is yours anyway."

Peter smiles and hugs his long time family friend.

"Thank you, Anna."

Meanwhile, as Gwen sits at home reading, her father, now police commissioner George Stacy, walks into the room.

"Hey Gwen, did you hear the big news?" Commissioner Stacy asks.

Gwen looks at her father in confusion.

"What news?" She asks.

"Peter's back in town. It's all anyone can talk about."

Gwen is shocked when she hears this, but then gets upset.

"And he didn't tell me? What the hell?"

Gwen then grabs her keys and storms to the door. When she opens it, she is surprised again by the sight of Peter on her front doorstep.

"Hey, Gwen." Peter says with a smile.

Gwen stares at him for a moment, unable to believe that he's standing right infront of her. She then hugs him, with Peter thinking that she's gotten even more beautiful. After she finishes hugging him, she hits him in the arm.

"Hey, what was that for?" Peter asks.

"Why didn't you tell me that you were coming back?" Gwen asks.

"I wanted it to be a surprise." Peter says with a smile.

As he and Gwen laugh, Peter looks over at Commissioner Stacy.

"Hey Mr. Stacy, or should I be calling you Mr. Commissioner now? Congratulations, sir."

George smiles at the boy.

"Thanks Peter. It's good to see you. I'm just gonna leave you two alone."

As the commissioner leaves, both Peter and Gwen look at each other and smile, not saying anything for a moment.

"So, how long are you planning on staying in New York?" Gwen asks.

"I was thinking on a permanent basis. Figured I'd even enroll back in school."

Gwen smiles.

"Well you were the second smartest kid there."

Peter looks at Gwen for a moment.

"Second? Are you sure about that?"

Gwen smirks at the young man.

"Definitely." Gwen confidently says.

The two laugh with each other for a moment.

"It's really good to see you." Peter says.

Gwen starts to blush, brushing her hair back.

"Likewise. You were gone a long time."

"Yeah I know. I just- wasn't ready to comeback until now."

"I get that. So, you hungry? There's a lasagna in the oven if you want some."

Peter smiles.

"As much as I love pizza flavored cake, there's somewhere I gotta be. But, how about tomorrow morning, we grab coffee before school."

Gwen grins at the thought.

"Sounds good. See you then Pete."

Peter stares into Gwen's eyes, almost getting lost in them.

"See you then."

When Gwen closes the door, she can't help but feel happy that she's grabbing coffee with Peter tomorrow, while Peter feels the exact same way about her as he walks away.

Later at night, Peter goes to the same alley his parents were gunned down at, now called crime alley. He takes off his glasses, kneels down and puts two roses down on the ground, remembering his promise to both of his Parents. As he walks away, his father's words echo through his mind.

"With great power, comes great responsibility."