Snip to Chapter 44

(Peter’s Apartment)

The smell of pancakes, the sounds of sizzling bacon and a jaunty whistle bouncing off the walls of his modest apartment are all the signs of a good morning that Peter Parker is having. 

It’s no question why he’s having a good morning. Silver Sable. The Symkarian born woman who he’s known for years now, has decided to explore this connection she and he have. Albeit with Felicia, MJ, and Sonja too. 

After confiding in him at his job, she agreed to give what they have a shot, and that includes being involved with Felicia, Sonja, and MJ. But she made it clear that any and all physical activities with the ladies will be on hold until she is comfortable with them. 

Anyway, what she said stuck with him. He knew that this thing he has with the girls isn’t something that anyone can just jump in and feel like they’re just as important a part of it. Peter can understand her worries, hell he has them too. But for all his faults, he knows one thing, he will not make or let Silver feel less in this relationship they’re in. Sonja is the example, sort of. It was quick for her to become a part of this relationship and for him to be able to say he loves her. But that wouldn't be the case for Silver or Natasha. 

Which is why the latter did what she did last night with those questions. They weren’t unfair questions, and certainly ones that needed asking, but it was way too much for a first date. But then again, it wasn’t technically a first due to Peter and the girl’s long history. Which again he acknowledges how it could make someone like Silver or Natasha hesitant to join. 

He shakes his head. He doesn’t want to dwell on such negativity when he has reason to be happy. 

The sound of his window sliding open alerts him to see his time-displaced mini-me climbing into his domicile. And the teenage time traveler is in the Iron Spider suit. 

“If I was a concerned adult, I’d assume you were out doing something you weren’t supposed to be doing.” Peter quips to his younger self. 

Petey clambers on to the couch before he retorts, “Isn’t that all we do?”

“Fair point,” Peter concedes before he refocuses on the food he’s preparing. “So where’ve you been?”

“At the Jean Grey School,” Iron Spider answers as he removes the metal mask, showing his tired eyes, “Pulled an all nighter with the guys in the danger room.”

Peter gets confused. “You spent all night training?”

“No. We spent all night playing Dungeons and Dragons.”

…There are no words to describe how both ashamed and jealous he is of his younger counterpart. 

“How about you?” 

“I uh, have a guest.”

“Oh. Which one of our girlfriends is it?”

Their attention is diverted to the bedroom door when it opens and out steps Silver Sable, wearing one of his shirts and no bottoms. The mercenary’s presence shocks the youngest hero in the room, as this was someone he was not expecting to see. 

Peter watches as Silver notices the younger hero in the room, but doesn't dwell on him. “Good morning.” She says, walking by the couch to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee. 

All the while, the time-displaced teenager follows the woman, completely flabbergasted that she is here. 

Seeing his younger self won’t be articulating anything, Peter decides to get the ball rolling. “You remember Silver.”

Petey nods, “Yeah.” He manages to say. Still trying to process what is happening. “So, um, what?”

“Well obviously we spent the night together.”

“Yeah no! I can- I can figure that part out myself. It’s just… what?”

“I believe he is asking about the other women you’re involved with.”

“That. What she said. That.”

“I’m still with them. Silver is gonna be a part of this thing we have.”

“I’m gonna go.”

“You never explained to me why he can’t go home.”

“I didn’t? Huh. Well the gist of it is, the guy that brought him here, Beast, brought him and the original X-Men from the past to the present.”

“Why?”

“Something about guilt tripping Scott or some such. But the real kicker, is he made “improvements” to a time box that Reed had invented that allows him and his family to time travel. But that improvement made it so that the timeline he brought them from is still connected to ours, instead of separating like Reed’s does.”