55 | truly, originally, never-endingly yours

Hope

Avengers Compound | 2033

I was clutching two things when I found myself standing at the platform of the same time machine I was on for what felt like ages ago. My 13-year-old son's hand, and my deceased husband's parting gift to me.

Still clad in our all black funeral attire and my eyes still watery from having to watch my husband's heart float away on the water, I looked up and saw Peter Parker still standing in the same position he was in the last time I was here. Has it really been just a few seconds here?

"Andrea?" He called out to me, his voice soft and gentle, as if pretending I'm too fragile that even the volume of a voice was enough to break me.

I swallowed hard and forced a smile on my face as a response to the man in front of me.

"Hey, Peter." I greeted.

When Peter finally finished registering the scene before him, he quickly walked around the control panel and made his way towards me and Royal before offering his hand. I gladly accepted the man's hand as he helped both of us step down the large platform.

I didn't let go of Peter's hand when my feet had already touched the ground. Instead, I turned his hand over to get a better look at his silver signet ring. My thumb brushed over the symbol engraved in the middle, a compass.

"You're not from this timeline." I stated.

I felt Peter's hand go cold the moment I said that. Like I had figured out his secret.

"If you were, you wouldn't be wearing this ring I gave you." I added. "And you wouldn't know Josie."

A complicated, destructive, supernatural time traveler in immediate need of therapeutic help. He really was talking about someone similar to me.

It wasn't that hard to figure out, but then again, I had the advantage of having all of my memories of him intact in my brain, which I still have no idea how. Pretty much everyone had forgotten about Peter and not Spiderman. I was an exception. I remember both. And I don't know why. But I'm grateful that I am because who would be looking after this idiot if no one can remember him.

"I still remember you, Peter." I added.

The shock in his eyes, it was genuine. Tears were brimming in his eyes when realization hit him that he wasn't alone anymore. He finally has someone to share his burdens with. Someone who truly knows him.

My left hand pulled away from Peter's hand after I touched his ring. Then I brought it to cup his face, my thumb caressing his skin as a tear escaped and rolled down his cheek.

"Don't give up on Josie." I told him. "I'm going to help you, all right?"

Peter pushed his lips into a thin line, probably to suppress the sobs that were desperate to erupt from his throat before he nodded eagerly. This man. Even though he's already in his late 20s he still acts like his awkward teenager self.

"We had our proper ending, there's no reason why you shouldn't have yours." I said before pulling him into a hug. The man broke down in my embrace and completely sobbed on my shoulder. Royal had to let go of my hand to let me hug Peter more comfortably. I patted his back, trying to make sure that he was still breathing properly despite crying his heart out.

I could not even imagine going through that many years with the people I love not remembering a single thing about me. And for someone as soft as Peter, I know that took a toll on him. I'm going to make sure that he doesn't feel alone anymore.

Peter finally composed himself and pulled from our hug before he started readjusting himself, his reddened eyes and nose were evidence of his breakdown and I don't think that it will disappear that quickly.

"I'll be right back, I just have to take Royal home." I told Peter.

"Y-Yeah, yeah, sure! I better go because I'm not really supposed to be here." Peter released a small laugh toward the end of his sentence.

I smiled at him and bid him goodbye or rather, 'see you later' because we're still gonna meet up later today. But first, we need to get home.

—

During the blip, Tony and I had our own house built in Mystic Falls in case we wanted to go over there and spend vacation with some friends of mine. When Peter said that he took it upon himself to have the same house built in the same place in this timeline, I almost bawled my eyes out again. That was where we pulled over.

Stepping out of the car, my eyes wandered around the exterior of the house before us. It was an exact replica. I don't think I can even spot any difference. Still as beautiful as ever.

When we got into the house, Royal immediately went straight to his room. He's not talking much ever since he learned that he's never going to see his father again. He's hurt. And I understand. I won't force him to open up to me until he's ready.

Not to mention that this whole timeline thing was still messing with his head.

I sighed deeply as I made my way toward the living room, where we had a high tech holographic table—Tony insisted we should have one. I can't believe this is also here. I can't believe everything that's in here. Peter really outdid himself.

I reached into the pocket of my dress and pulled out a flash drive with a tape on top of it with his handwriting.

Truly, Originally, Never-endingly Yours, it said.

I stared at his handwriting for a second longer before bending down and finding where I could hook up the flash drive to the table. When I successfully did just that, the table as well as all the technology that runs this house downloaded what was in it. It only took a couple of seconds before it was finally revealed what was really in that drive.

"Hmm. Sexy as ever."

My lips parted and my eyebrows shot upward from what just appeared in front of me.

A holographic A.I. of his 1994 self emerged from my coffee table, staring right at me with his arms crossed against his chest and a smirk curled on his lips.

That's when I realized.

"T.O.N.Y." I muttered under my breath. Truly, Originally, Never-endingly Yours.

"I did a good job, didn't I? It was hard to scan every bit of my charming looks into this. Does it do me any justice?" He joked. And it made me smile. A laugh filled with disbelief even escaped from my lips.

It's uncanny how much he really sounds like him. And how much he looks like him. He scanned himself for this? Is this what he had been working on for years? Is this what he had been trying to perfect? If so, it is perfect.

"Hey, Snarky." I said, tears brimming in my eyes.

Then he smiled at me.

"Welcome home, Spunky." He greeted.

I smiled back, tears rolling down my cheeks but I didn't feel an ounce of sadness.

Just relief and bliss.

"Glad to be home."

He may have died but he will never be truly gone. I carry him with me. Royal and I will be carrying him with us. He will be alive in our minds, engraved in our souls, tattooed in our hearts, always and forever. God, who knew that one punishment would be the birth of all these blessings? That an unexpected time travel masterminded by a sociopathic heretic sprouted the greatest love I've ever had in my entire life?

Well, I guess it's safe to say that this remarkable journey that I was given the opportunity to walk through, started when I was greatly, unconditionally, insanely, and stubbornly...loved in 1994.

—

And that's the end of Loved In 1994! It's been a long time coming but finally I finished it! Obviously while this book has already a proper ending, we will still witness Hope and Tony's story grow in the sequel books.

I'm gonna take this opportunity to say thank you! First of all, I want to thank MysticPsyche_ who hasn't even watched the MCU movies but still read this book to support me and to continue to hype me up. You are amazing, Lila! Second, thank you so much to bsolarium who, despite us not talking as much as before because I'm either busy or I just want to take a break from socializing, continues to support me. I love you, B. Third, to my readers who have read the first edition of this book, thank you for giving this rewrite a chance! I hope that I made it much better and I didn't ruin it for you guys. And fourth, to my first-time readers who went into this book with suspicion because of the unusual pairing, thank you for taking a leap of faith!

This book has been such a ride and it will continue to be an incredible ride as the second book with Josie and Peter's story will come next! I'll make an announcement in this book as well once I have already published it though I must admit it's going to take some time since I have to continue to plan everything out considering the timeline of this trilogy is really complicated and I have to tie everything together well. But rest assured that I will be doing my best to make the second book just as entertaining.

Once again, thank you so much. I love you guys and see you on my next book!

xoxo, Sammy