Spider-Witch effortlessly landed on her home's doorstep and then cracked her neck as she transformed back. "Nothing like a good fight to end the day for us..."

Luz then opened the door...but her sister was standing right behind it, crossing her arms.

"Vee?" Luz asked. "What's up?"

Vee didn't respond. All she did was hold up the TV remote and then pressed a button, which then showed a report on the TV itself.

"Another battle between our city's hero, Spider-Witch and a new villain recognized as Terra Sullivan, a dangerous mercenary, happened today. However, many witnesses showed our hero to be much more violent than usual, even causing more property damage and having nearly beaten Terra Sullivan to a pulp. When the police arrested her, it looked like she could hardly walk."

Vee then switched off the TV, her eyes still narrowed.

"...is this a 'We saved the day' party or...?"

"Luz...what the heck was that?" Vee asked. "Smashing Terra into walls? Scaring people? Beating her when she's already beaten?!"

Luz's eyes narrowed then and she closed the door behind her. "We did what we had to. She's beaten and that's all that matters."

"'We'!? Luz, I was with Mom!" Vee cried. "There is no 'we'!"

"Oh, so I can't save the day without your constant and useless supervision?" Luz asked as she began walking off.

Vee's eyes widened at that before she grabbed her sister and yanked her back over. "Y'know what? Yeah! I have been feeling useless! I haven't been able to help my damn sister while she's throwing her life into danger!!! But you took it too far!"

"You heard the report! She's a mercenary! She kills and fights people for a quick buck!" Luz cried. "Throwing her in jail wasn't gonna be enough! She needed to be given her own medicine!"

"But it's not what you do!" Vee said. "Yeah! You beat people up, but you try to lead the city destroying bad guys away from people! Not throw them into a building filled with people!!!"

Luz clenched her fist. "I'm the hero here, Vee. You're just the person who tells me where to go, if you can even do that right...and if I had started this way...then maybe Dad would still be here." She said before storming off without another word.

Meanwhile...

Willow looked up at the Wittebane household with a deep breath before she walked up to the gate and then pressed the button, hoping to somehow talk to anyone to buzz her inside.

There wasn't a response. But, when Willow was about to press again, someone did speak...and they sounded tired. "Who is it...?"

Willow recognized the voice and stood straight. "M-Mr. Wittebane, sir, it's...it's Willow Park. I'm your son's friend?"

There was silence for a while before the gates opened, much to Willow's slight surprise. She then walked through and then through the door...to see her best friend's father on his couch, surrounded by papers, bags under his eyes, and his suit wrinkly and ruined. He looked like he hadn't slept in days.

Willow's eyes widened at that, and was even more surprised that the Caleb Wittebane allowed someone to see him like this.

Caleb merely turned his head towards Willow before giving a weak smile. "Good afternoon, Willow...I-I'm sorry, but...Hunter is...isn't ready to come out yet..."

Willow gently closed the door behind her and walked over. "I-I know...I was hoping to see him, but...I actually came to check on you."

Caleb's eyes widened a bit as he looked at her in surprise. He then smiled, laughing weakly. "You're a very good kid, Willow...I can see why Hunter likes you."

Willow felt a bit of heat rise to her cheeks before she eventually took a seat.

"...if it wasn't obvious enough, I...I am not okay." Caleb said. "My team and I are working around the clock to try and make a cure for Hunter's condition...I haven't gotten much sleep. It doesn't help that the public just...wants answers..."

Willow's eyes softened. "It really is that bad, huh?"

"It is...we've made significant progress, but not a cure...not yet...I'm not giving up. He's my son and your friend." Caleb said, rubbing his eyes.

"But...you should probably at least sleep, sir." Willow said. "And before you say anything, I know how it feels...when...when I first got the news about Hunter, I didn't know what to think. I stayed up all night, studying the footage to see what was wrong with him, tried looking into any kind of mental illness he may have had without me noticing and even thought that he was a clone and not the real Hunter at one point! But...the less sleep I got, the less it helped...something could be staring at you right in the face and you don't even know it because you're forcing yourself to stay awake."

Caleb was silent at that before chuckling. "I didn't even think about that...any advice on how to sleep? And believe me, I've tried counting sheep. Doesn't work."

Willow hummed. "Well, some sleep medication will definitely help you fall asleep. And you need it, sir...you kind of look like a corpse."

Caleb snorted. "I do, don't I?"

Willow then stood before noticing one of the papers and curiously picking it up. "...who's Evelyn?"

Caleb's eyes widened and he shot up, grabbing the paper from her hands. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He then looked at the paper, which was a drawing of the Golden Goblin's mask with the name 'Evelyn' written in all capital letters.

"...Evelyn is...is Hunter's mother." Caleb said as he set the drawing down. "My former wife."

Willow's eyes widened at that and her heart clenched. "...former?"

"We...we parted ways after Hunter was born...I-I don't want to get into it, but...all I'll say is...she didn't feel safe with me and Hunter...so, she went back home." Caleb whispered, sounding heartbroken at his own words.

"I...I'm so sorry..." Willow whispered.

Caleb shook his head. "It's alright, Willow. You don't have to apologize...it's just that all these events are reminding me of her is all...I miss her."

He then set the drawing down, sighing. "B...but you're right, I...I guess I do need my sleep...is there anything I can do for you though? But...please, try to keep it small..."

Willow thought for a moment before looking up at him. "Does...Hunter still like cardinals?"

Caleb's eyes widened a bit before he nodded. "Y-yes. It seems to be the only thing that hasn't left him."

Willow then reached into her bag and suddenly pulled out a wooden cardinal before setting it into Caleb's hands. "Give him this when you see him again."

"...did you carve this?" Caleb asked, looking surprised.

Willow laughed sheepishly. "Tried."

"It's beautiful...keep practicing, Willow...and thank you. For checking on me." Caleb smiled.

Willow nodded before she walked away, giving him one last wave before exiting the door.

Caleb's smile then faded as he looked at the cardinal. He sighed before walking off, but not into his bedroom. Not just yet.

Instead, he walked into an unknown room in his mansion, pressing a button on a painting that opened the door. He then started walking down the hallway where he started to hear footsteps, talking, typing, and the sounds of machinery.

But, as he kept walking, the sounds faded as he eventually reached a door. He inputted a code and then walked through the door once it was open...where he was face to face with The Golden Goblin inside of his cell, which had been designed to look like his former bedroom.

The Golden Goblin turned his head and grinned at Caleb. "Well, well, well! Caleb Wittebane taking time out of his busy schedule to visit me...again."

Caleb walked over, the cardinal behind his back. "How are you feeling?"

"Oh, just swell!!!" The Golden Goblin laughed. "In fact, I think I'm just about to re-enter society as a changed man...or maybe I'll just do you all a favor, and slit that spider's throat."

Caleb sighed before inserting the wooden cardinal into a slot. "...your friend, Willow, wanted you to have this...she misses you, son."

The Golden Goblin tilted his head and picked up the wooden cardinal. He then sat down on his bed, humming as he looked at the craftsmanship. "...Willow made this?"

"She did." Caleb said before setting his hand on the glass. "She cares about you so much...if you can't hold on for me, then hold on for her, Hunter."

The Golden Goblin didn't reply, still staring at the cardinal in curiosity.

Caleb sighed before he held back a few tears. "I love you, son...don't ever forget that...please..." He whispered before walking away, leaving The Golden Goblin by himself again.

The Golden Goblin then smiled at the cardinal. "I think I'll call you...Flapjack...how does that sound?"

Obviously, the cardinal didn't respond.

"Flapjack it is." The Golden Goblin cackled.