Tony gave Peter a tight lipped, smug smile. He rose from his spot on Peter's bed and brushed off his suit. "Speaking of which," said Tony, "Your aunt and I are going out tonight."

Peter couldn't believe his ears. Okay, yes, Peter was ecstatic that his aunt would be going out with Tony Stark- his mentor, his idol- an amazing man, but could the timing get any worse? Peter quickly found his footing and tugged on Tony's sleeve. "Mr. Stark, I don't think that's a good idea-"

Tony lifted a brow. "Why not?"

"Well, Aunt May, she kind of went through a break up yesterday. It really shook her, and I don't think that your timing is good right now."

"Oh." Peter wasn't expecting Tony just to say that one word. In fact, he didn't know what to expect Tony to say. The man was... not normal to say the least. Tony shrugged. "Well, I will just make her forget all about her patchy break up."

"How will you do that?"

"How old are you?"

Peter's face burned red. "M-Mr. Stark!" But Tony was already heading to the door. Peter followed after him, a puppy following the much more mature dog.

"May?" Tony adjusted his tie and lowered the sunglasses on his face. Has anyone told him the saying that only douchebags and blind people wear sunglasses inside?

May still sat on her spot on the couch. She was messing with her hair, running her fingers through it and smoothening it down. Once she heard her name, her hands fell to her lap and she hummed, "Hm?"

Peter noticed that, well... May seemed presentable. This morning? She looked like a mess. She wore baggy sweats, the ones while a massive hole in them and a dirty sweat-shirt that Peter swore was his. Her hair was thrown together as a messy bun, emphasis on messy. It wasn't cute. But now, May wore a clean sweater with the sleeves rolled up and high waisted pants that didn't have a hole in them, thankfully.

Tony cleared his throat. "May, would you be interested in dinner? Maybe Thai. Are you a fan of Thai?"

"Oh, um..." Peter watched her intently as she bit her lip as she thought. "You know what? Sure. Let's go get Thai or something."

She stood up and looked at Peter. "What are you doing standing there? Get ready!"

Peter coughed and his hand went to scratch the back of his head. When May noticed his movement, her mouth fell slightly and she glanced up at Tony again. "You-you mean..."

"It doesn't have to be, I just thought that you could have a good night out. With some good company." He flashed her a winning smile.

May hesitated once more but she nodded. "Yeah, okay, that... sounds really nice, actually." She tried to hide her smile by biting her lip again as she walked past the two. "Give me a few minutes to get ready."

Once she was out of sight, Peter spun on Tony. "How did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Make her happy? Like, I pissed off this girl and I have to make it up to her tomorrow at a party and I don't know what to do!"

Tony laughed. Laughed at his dismay. "Oh, Petey, there are so many things you don't know."

"Well, teach me!"

Tony pursed his lips. He faced Peter and squeezed his shoulders. "You're always wrong. Know that. When it comes to women, know that you're always wrong."

Peter leaned back. "Um..."

"Put really, just show them a good time. Be exciting. Think big. I think you can handle that."

"So... be like you?"

"No, you and I both know that that's too much. But Peter, you're better off being you, but make sure you're a hell of a lot more open to express yourself. You're an interesting kid, just show her that."

May returned with a purse and a glow on her face. Peter stepped back from Tony and he watched the two of them leave with smiles on their faces. It was nice. Peter felt pretty happy. Aunt May seemed happy, so he was happy. At least he knew that Tony wouldn't hurt May.

Peter's phone buzzed in his pocket. He fumbled to get it out and saw Ned's face plastered over the screen. "Hello?" Peter answered.

Ned replied with a fit of coughing.

"Are you sick?" gasped Peter. His legs began to move in an anxious pace. "Do you need anything? Is your dad home with you right now?"

"Can you, like," another cough, "let me talk for a second?" Ned swallowed down his coughing fit. His voice was low and lazy as he spoke, "I don't think I can party."

"What?!" Peter groaned. "Please, man, I need you there. You can get better by tomorrow. I'll come over and make you soup-"

"No, don't. My parents are fighting again."

"Oh."

What a stupid answer. What was he suppose to say? Peter couldn't even imagine his own parents fighting. When he thought of them, he thought of two people in love and the image of them feuding against each other tainted the thought of what should have been a perfect family. His best friend was in a struggling household. Two people that are supposed to love each other are arguing. It must have been terrible to live like that.

Peter couldn't do shit about that either.

"I just wanted to-" a cough "-tell you why I couldn't make it. My parents are really mad right now and don't want me to go. Said I'm too old for Halloween. What gives?"

"I'll bring you candy, okay?" Peter tried to soothe. "I'll bring all of the candy I have."

"You better. I gotta go. Sorry man, good luck with Michelle though. Bye."

He hung up. "Bye..."

Peter had finished all of his homework at school, and he wasn't really in the mood to go out tonight as Spider-Man. He had studying to do for the Decathlon team. Lately, he had been ignoring his duties to the team and he knew it would be bad if he couldn't pull through for the team again. Not like what happened in Washington D.C.

He studied for so long that he fell asleep at his desk. Peter didn't know when his Aunt May came home that night, but it was late. She entered his room and tidied it up a bit before she gave him a kiss on his forehead. May wrapped his blanket over his shoulders and shut off the lights.

The next morning went by incredibly slow. Today was Saturday, Halloween, and Peter only thought of the damn party. He still hadn't been able to buy a costume and he ransacked his own room for something to wear. "May?!" He yelled at her from her room.

"What?!"

"Do we have a giant white bed sheet for me to be a ghost?"

"That's the dumbest costume! And no, I'm not letting you cut holes in my sheets!" The next moment she was at his door with a frown. She huffed as leaned against the doorframe as she watched her nephew dig through his closet... from the ceiling. "Is that really necessary, Peter?"

"What?" Peter clung onto a ceiling like a (you guessed it) spider. His wavy brown hair pulled to the ground from the top of his head. He jumped down and landed in a crouch before he stood up again. "Sorry. It's pretty fun sometimes, though."

"All that blood rushing to your head?" She winced. "I don't like the headaches, thank you very much." She surveyed the room and lifted a brow at an old backpack in the corner. She made her way to the backpack and unzipped it to pull out... a ridiculous costume. "Is this...?" May held the costume in front of her. Peter's old, homemade Spider-Man suit.

How awful.

Knee high boots? A sleeveless red hoodie? And those ridiculous goggles?

Peter would be forever in Tony's debt for the upgraded suit. At least Tony gave him Karen.

He shuddered at the sight. "Auntie, I can't wear that to the party! Everyone will make fun of me!"

May dramatically placed her hand on her hip and cooed, "So you want to impress the ladies?"

"No! Yes! Maybe? I guess... I just can't wear that."

May puckered her lips. She tossed the old costume on his bed, looking at it thoughtfully before she sighed. "Fine, be Spider-Man. Let everyone know that my nephew, Peter Parker, is the web-slinging hero of New York- Spider-Man."

Peter stifled a laugh with his hand. "Would you feel better if I didn't wear my mask? 'Cause then it wouldn't look like I'm Spider-Man. Spider-Man wears a mask."

"Well, what if someone says your costume is so real or something?"

"Ned and I made it?" Peter offered. "It's my cosplay for Comic Con!"

"Are you two trying to go to that fair again?"

Peter remembered dragging May to last years Comic Con and she had gotten lost in the crowd. She tried searching for the eager and excited boys, Peter and Ned, in the crowd. Peter later found out that a man in a furry suit stuck by her side while she searched. Peter had told her before the Con to stay away from the furries.

He hoped that he could go to this year's Con without her. At least he wouldn't have to worry about losing May in the crowd. And she wouldn't be bombarded and harassed by rude fanatics. She definitely didn't want to go after he heard the annoyance in her tone. "Um," he said, "yes?"

"This time," she jabbed her finger at him, "I'm staying home." She walked by him toward the door but he gently took her by the arm. "What's wrong, Peter?"

Softly, he asked, "Are you doing okay? How are you holding up?"

May weakly smiled. She cupped his cheek with her hand and took a deep breath. "I've been better, but I'm so lucky to have you in my life. You're the only person I need." She turned toward the door.

"But Mr. Stark? How was last night? Was it okay?" Peter crossed his fingers, hoping that at least Tony helped May feel better when Peter wasn't sure how to.

She stopped at the doorway. "It was fun. I was nervous, but Tony is a good man."

That was enough for Peter.

Peter began to panic.

The party starts at eight, but people have always mentioned that the party doesn't start until an hour later. What kind of rule was that? If Peter hosted a party, it would start when he says it would start. Why were there so many weird party rules?

Peter stood in his room with his Spider-Man suit on with the exception of his mask. He stared at his reflection in his mirror, feeling oddly different in his suit today. It was definitely because he was going out in public without his mask on, but everyone is going to be dressed up in a costume. Hell, he would probably see some kids dressed up as some of the Avengers. No one could beat the real deal though.

He flexed in the mirror, quite proud of the muscle he gained while training. He continued to check his appearance until the doorbell rang.

Peter headed to the door but May beat him to it. She had a bowl of candy in her hand and Peter heard her shoulder. "Aren't you a little old to be trick-or-treating?" asked May.

"Why yes, yes I am." Michelle's voice. "But free candy, am I right? Is Peter here? I'm one of his friends, Michelle."

What was she... doing here?