LILLIAN groaned for what seemed to be the umpteenth time today as her mother went on about how she hasn't seen Peter come over in a while. "There's a reason for that, mom." Lillian murmured to herself.

"What was that?" Leila turned around to face her daughter.

Lillian gave her quick fake smile as she shrugged, "Nothing." She shook her head. Her eyebrows furrowed, "Why are you asking about Peter?" She wondered.

"Well, like I said, since you are dating Peter," Leila sighed as Lillian tilted her head slightly to the side with her eyes narrowed, "I don't really see him around here anymore." Her mother shrugged. "And I was thinking that maybe he should come over for dinner tonight." She suggested.

Lillian forced a smile whilst nodding at her mother, "I don't think that's a good idea." She chuckled lightly as she shook her head.

Leila eyebrows furrowed at her daughter, "Why not?" She questioned as she crossed her arms.

"Um... because?" Lillian trailed off, "He's busy..." She half lied.

"Hmm... I still think he should come over for dinner." Leila hinted to her daughter whilst looking at her phone.

Lillian rolled her eyes, "Fine... I'll call him." She groaned.

Leila smiled at her daughter thankfully as she motioned her off to go to her room. Lillian shook her head at her mother's antics as she slightly stomped her way to her room.

Lillian closed her bedroom door after her once she made it in her room whilst pulling her phone out of her jean pocket. Going through her contacts as her thumb hovered over his name. She took a deep breath before pushing on his name and clicking on call. She put her phone to her ear as she waited for Peter to pick up on the other end. Before she could regret her actions and end the call, she heard his voice speak up.

"Hello?" He spoke softly.

"Hey... you don't have to come, but uh," She cleared her throat, "my mom sort of wants you to come over for dinner?"

"W-Why?" Peter asked, feeling dumbfounded.

"She thinks we're still dating." She sighed whilst shaking her head. "I didn't really have the heart to tell her since she really likes the idea of me and you." She sucked in her teeth, "Um... anyway, just wanted confirm that you're not coming right?" She questioned whilst looking out her window as she heard some things being shuffled around on the other end.

Peter scratched the back of his neck as he contemplated his thoughts.

"Seriously, you don't have to come. I'll just tell her you got your 'internship' to deal with." She shrugged with a slight sarcasm dripping in her tone of voice.

Peter sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose whilst shaking his head. "No, no. I'll come over for dinner." He spoke softly before he could even fathom the words that just came out of his mouth.

This caught Lillian off guard as she stopped in her tracks, "Wait, what?" She almost choked on her words.

Peter cleared his throat as he shut his eyes, "I'm coming over for dinner..." He repeated himself as Lillian was too in shock to speak. "Uh, what time should I come over? Do I have to dress formal o-or casual? Do I have to bring you- wait, uh do I have to pretend that we're still dating?" Peter rambled inquisitively.

Lillian shook her head before sighing, "Great..." She muttered to herself. "Um, hold on." She stated softly as she quickly walked out of her room and then to the living room to meet her mother on the couch. "Hey, um... Peter wants to know what time he should come over for dinner and if he has to dress formal or cas-"

"Oh, good! He's coming over." Leila smiled happily. "Dinner will be ready by 8 so he should be here 'round 7:30. Casual." She answered.

Lillian nodded, "Okay..." She breathed out as she went back to her room. "So, dinner starts at 8 and you should be here at 7:30- oh and uh dress casual." She said through the phone. "Don't bring me anything, okay? Just be yourself, Peter."

"O-Okay... but what if your mom asks-"

Lillian sighed, "If she asks anything relating to us dating then it's up to you if you want to tell her." She shrugged. "I already subtly dropped hints about us being broken up, but she's my mom, so..." She shook her thoughts away, "That means you better be here on time."

"I know, I know." He sighed. "I just gotta head over to-"

"I don't wanna know, Parker." Lillian cut him off as she sighed slightly frustrated.

"Right, sorry." He apologized softly.

"Just... don't be late." She said softly.

Peter shook his head before speaking up, "I won't..." He whispered.

...

AS a few hours went by Peter was at the OsCorp tower helping Dr. Connors with his research while Lillian was dreading about dinner tonight. Connors motioned Peter over to see his mice that he had in open display cases on a metal-like table.

"Meet our host subject, Freddie, the three legged mouse." Connors picked up the mouse with his only hand showing the mouse to Peter. "Parker, would you do the honor and enter the algorithm now-" Connors stated as he put the mouse back whilst getting cut off by Peter's phone ringing. "Do you need to take that?" He asked.

Peter rushed to get his phone out of his back jean pocket, seeing that it was Lillian calling. Hitting decline as he put his phone back in his jean pocket, he looks back up at Connors whilst shaking his head. Peter then puts in the algorithm for Connors. "Okay... check." He breathed out happily. "Preempting the immune response." He mumbled as he clicked on a few things on the screen.

Connors looked at the mouse in awe, turning to face Peter once the trial became a small success. "Extraordinary and thank you." He nodded proudly at Peter as Peter walked over to the other mice. "Oh, meet Fred and Wilma, our other three legged mice." He stated as he walked over to his desk.

Peter smiled at the small mice, picking up Fred, "Hey, buddy..." He whispered as the mouse was slightly squirming out of his hand, "I got you." He smiled small.

"Okay, careful wouldn't want to inject you by mistake." Connors joked as he chuckled whilst Peter nodded as he put the mouse back. "Human trials aren't until next week." He added as he walked over to the mouse with a syringe. Connors inserted the somewhat small needle into the mouse, "There." He smiled in satisfaction.

Peter smiled to himself, turning to face Dr. Connors who held a sly smile toward the syringe. Peter's eyes narrowed at Connors, "Dr. Connors-" His phone started ringing.

"Parker, if you have to go. Just go. I don't think I'm gonna need your help anymore." Connors muttered to himself as he picked up Fred, just staring at him in awe.

"Uh..." Peter eyebrows furrowed even more in confusion as his phone was still ringing. He pulled his phone out of his jean pocket once more seeing Lillian calling him again. "Bye, Dr. Connors." He spoke softly, leaving Dr. Connors' office slowly whilst picking up his phone. "Hello?" He answered as he entered the elevator, pushing the lobby button.

"Where the hell are you?" Lillian's voice panicked, "My mom is on my ass about you not being here and I'm running out of excuses for you." She sassed.

"I- uh I'm on my way." He shrugged. "Just- I'm stuck in traffic." He lied as he left the OsCorp building.

"Bull-"

"I uh, I gotta go. Yep, see ya later." He rushed as he ended the call. He shook his head as he ran toward an alley to quickly swing himself to Lillian's apartment, "I'm gonna die." He mumbled as he snatched a flower bouquet for Lillian from a flower shop.

"Where is he?" Leila asked her daughter getting ready to serve dinner. "You did tell him the correct time right?" She asked. It was only 7:15 and Lillian's mother wanted everything to be perfect. Lillian didn't understand why and she also didn't understand why her mother was freaking out about Peter not being on time when in fact he still had time to be here. Leila even had her daughter call Peter to make him come even earlier, which obviously worked.

"Peter's actually coming over for dinner?" Nathan laughed. "I'm shocked. Lilly, how are you still dating that dork?" He teased as he slouched down on the couch to watch tv.

Lillian rolled her eyes, "Yes, mom. I did. Like I said, he's stuck in traffic." She groaned lightly as she heard a knock on the door. "Look that could be him right now." She smiled sarcastically as she stood up from the couch and headed toward the door. She opened the door, revealing a nervous and out of breath Peter holding a flower bouquet. "Thank god you're here." Lillian muttered.

Peter chuckled softly before speaking up, "C-Can I talk to you for a sec?" He asked nervously.

Lillian eyes narrowed at him as she stepped out the apartment whilst closing the door after her. "If you're pulling me outside just to tell me that you're bailing last minute-"

Peter shook his head rapidly, "N-No, it's not about dinner. I'm staying for din-" He sighed as he slightly shook his head once more, "That's not what I wanted to talk about. It's about Dr. Connors-"

Lillian rolled her eyes, cutting him off short. "Seriously, Peter?"

"Just hear me out, alright." Peter pleaded as she hesitantly nodded, letting Peter proceed. "I think you were right."

Lillian raised a knowingly eyebrow at him as she shrugged, "We can talk about this after dinner..." She sighed.

Peter nodded, complying with Lillian as she opened her front door whilst they both entered her apartment. "Look who's on time." Lillian said with a fake smile whilst taking Peter's hand in hers to slightly drag him toward the kitchen/dinning room. "He got you some flowers too." She said to her mother.

Peter nervously chuckled as he handed the flowers to Leila. "I uh, wasn't sure if I was supposed to bring anything." He gave her tight lipped smile.

"You didn't have to, but this is fine." Leila smiled. "Flowers are always an exception." She said as she went to put the flowers in a watered vase.

Peter turned to face Lillian's hand in his as his cheeks turned a slight red. Lillian let go of his hand as she took her seat at the table along with her brother.

"Well, are you gonna sit with us or just stand there?" Nathan teased as he took notice of Peter's state.

"Shut up, Nate." Lillian whispered coldly toward her brother as she rolled her eyes at him.

Peter hesitantly goes to sit beside Lillian and Nathan as he sat across from Leila. Peter fiddled with the hem of his shirt nervously as he would sneak glances at Lillian whilst the food was being passed around. Peter served himself some spaghetti, some broccoli, and a garlic bread whilst everyone did the same.

"So Peter, when did you ask my daughter out?" Leila asked suddenly.

Peter's eyes widened, caught off guard. "Uh..." He looked over at Lillian nervously who was already frantic with this whole dinner set up. "I would say a year and a half." He said softly whilst twirling his spaghetti with his fork.

Leila hummed in response, "If you've been dating my daughter for almost two years, then how come I don't see you here often?" She asked as Lillian choked on her water.

"Mom." Lillian warned sternly as Nathan snickered, Leila brushing her off.

"Y-You got a point..." Peter cleared his throat nervously, "I uh, have this internship that's keeping me busy and on top of that I um... I'm volunteering at OsCorp." He half lied.

"Are you talking about that Stark internship?" Nathan asked before shoving a mouthful of spaghetti in his mouth as Lillian watched her brother in disgust.

Leila's ears perked up at this, "Stark internship? As in Tony Stark?" She asked with her eyebrows furrowed.

Peter nodded whilst looking down at his plate, "Yeah, I work with Spider-Man." He blurted out dumbly as his head shot up with his eyes widened.

Lillian faced Peter with her eyebrows furrowed, "Oh my god." She mumbled as her hands started getting shaky whilst she shook her head.

"Like Spider-Man would let you work with him." Nathan teased with a scoff.

"I don't work with him, I mean I- that I uh... I help out with his suit and stuff." He let out a nervous laugh.

"Oh my god." Lillian mumbled. "This can't be happening." She whispered to herself.

"You must be really smart." Leila complimented with a smile.

"Whatever." Nathan teased before continuing. "I don't understand how you're not jealous of the guy since Lilly's like in love with him." He added whilst pointing his fork toward his sister.

Lillian's cheeks grew warm and beet red, "Shut the hell up, Nathan." She said shakily.

"Lilly, language." Leila said sternly.

Peter stared at Lillian in shock as his cheeks turned a light shade of pink. He cleared his throat as he shrugged Nathan's comment off. "There's nothing to be jealous of, to be honest." He smiled cheekily.

The sound of a chair being slightly scrapped against the floor was heard, catching everyone's attention at the small table. "I'm... I'm g-gonna get some a-air." She breathed out shakily as she went to her room, closing the door after her and climbed out of her window as she stood on the small balcony.

"I'm gonna go see if she's okay." Peter spoke softly, dismissing himself from the table as he followed Lillian to her room whilst closing the bedroom door after him slowly. Finding her out on the balcony just staring up at the sky as she took small breaths in and out of her nose. "You okay?" He asked softly.

She nodded her head slowly to reassure herself. She looked down at her folded hands that rested against the cold metal rail as she shook her head, "No." She breathed out.

"If I said something-"

She shook her head, "It wasn't you, Peter. It was this whole dinner set up." She sighed whilst her eyes shut tightly. "As much as I didn't want for this to happen, I keep seeing myself going back to you." She said softly. "I know it seems stupid of me to even think it... let alone say it out loud." She scoffed lightly, "Especially with the whole..." She trailed off as she shook her thoughts away.

Peter was now stood beside Lillian as he placed a comforting hand on top of hers. "Lills, you're all I think about." He whispered gently as his free hand caressed her cheek whilst turning her face to look at him. "I know it probably doesn't seem like it and I'm truly sorry for treating you that way." He rested his forehead against hers as her eyes flicker open to meet his soft gaze. "If I could do it all over again... I would and I'd go back to you every time." He smiled softly whilst pushing a strand of her hair away from her face and behind her ear. His smile faltered as he felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise.

Lillian's eyes narrowed at Peter worriedly as he looked behind him in concentration, "What? What's wrong?" She asked, her voice soft and filled with worry.

"Something's wrong..." Peter mumbled, turning back to face Lillian. "I gotta go."

"What's happening?" Lillian whispered as her hand clung onto his for comfort.

"I'm not sure." He shook his head as he leaned in slowly toward Lillian, his lips centimeters away from hers. "I love you." He mumbled softly before pressing a small kiss against her lips.

Lillian stood there in shock as Peter climbed off the balcony and thwiped away, "Peter!" She shouted still in shock as she watched him swing away. She ran her hands over her face as she let out a sigh, "He's gonna ruin my life." She scoffed lightly to herself as she shook her head whilst watching Peter grow small from a distance. She sighed as she went back inside her room.

- :: -

( author's note :
if there's any errors i'm sorry,
but i hope you like this chapter xx )