A/N: Hey look! I'm updating this! I have no clue if anyone is interested in this anymore but here I am! So this chapter is a little on the short side and I'm sorry! And it's also a little bit of a filler! I do intend on trying to update this more! Enjoy!

The night before winter break starts Peter is standing in front of Mary Jane's door.

He had packed what he knew he would need to head back home. His hand rises up to slowly rap against the door, hoping he isn't being too forward. When he had called May to see if it would be alright for Mary Jane to stay, she was thrilled. He knows it is because she is happy with the idea of having a full house again. He is almost certain that she will probably go overboard with decorations and cooking.

The door swings open to show Mary Jane standing there. She's wearing one of those over-sized sweaters that girls seem so fond of. Her legs are decorated by a pair of thick black leggings and she has on boots. Her hair is thrown up in a haphazard bun on the top of her bed.

"I was wondering if you would show up," she tells him with a smile," I'm all packed but I wasn't sure if you wanted to head home now or tomorrow."

"Last class was this afternoon," he says, shrugging," I just didn't want to be a bother."

She nods before turning to grab her bag and shut off the light. Her roommate had already headed back to her hometown so there was no one to say goodbye to. She has the feeling that it would be good to get away from campus. Plus it would mean that Harry wouldn't be able to find her so easily. She knows that perhaps it's unfair how she is treating Harry. Yet she just felt like something was off with him. Especially considering how desperate he seems to be to see her and spend with her.

She knows it has something to do with his relationship with Peter.

Peter, who, had done nothing but try to be a friend in the best way he could. Life hadn't been easy on Peter and it was amazing that he was able to do what he was. Most would have crumbled after the death of not just one but two extremely important people in their lives. Somehow he was doing it, going to school and trying to look after his aunt who didn't really need looking after.

Together the pair heads down and out of the building. He was taking her stuff from her before she could protest. It shouldn't have been a surprise but she made a face at him. He merely grins at her and together they head towards the train. The ride back to their neighborhood wasn't too bad for them. It was still a bit of a relief when they were finally walking up the front path to Peter's house.

Mary Jane found herself looking towards her former home. The light in the front lets her know that her father is indeed home. The snow hasn't been shoveled off the front path or the porch. Broken bottles litter the porch along with cigarettes. Garbage bags are thrown haphazardly on the lawn that is hidden beneath the snow. If she was still living there nothing would have looked like it did. She knew considering the time that it was likely her father was passed out on that stupid recliner.

She shakes her head at the image in her mind but pushes it out. Peter has already walked up to the front door and is fumbling to get his key.

"If you let me carry my bag you wouldn't have to do that."

He shakes his head at her, a grin tugging on his lips. Instead of handing her the bag, he sets his own down on the porch. She scoops it up as he mumbles something about how stubborn she was. The door was finally unlocked and he ushers her inside where it's warm.

The smell of cookies and possibly pasta waft through the air.

May suddenly appears from the kitchen, a smile on her face," I was wondering when you two would get here! I hope you didn't eat before you left campus!"

"I swear I didn't let her eat Aunt May," says Peter with a smile, going to hug the older woman," I knew that you would have a great homemade meal waiting and I'm sure she's dying for something homemade."

Most college students were always happy to be home. A homemade meal was probably one of the many things that you came to miss while you were away. Mary Jane quickly went to hug May the second that Peter let her go. After pulling back slightly, May guided her towards the dining room table. It had already been set and a tray of lasagna was resting in the middle.

The house was already lit with Christmas lights though there was no tree.

May went to grab them all drinks before they were sitting down to eat. A generous portion is placed on Mary Jane's plate by Peter. She shakes her head at the sight of it, biting down on her lip.

"I think you are crazy if you assume I am going to eat all of this."

"You know you can eat," he tells her," Besides you should eat some real food, I know you survive off junk."

It was true considering how busy Mary is. If she was just in school it might have been different but she had to work. That meant that when she ate it was usually something fast or something you could put in the microwave. The sight of May's cooking was making her mouth water.

She has to stop herself from practically inhaling it, wanting to be polite. May asks her all kinds of questions about school as well as asking Peter. The dinner went without a hitch and soon cookies were being brought out. A laugh came from Mary Jane since she couldn't remember the last time she had Christmas cookies.

"Why isn't there a tree yet Aunt May?" asked Peter after the three of them went into the living room to relax. Both of their bags were still by the front door.

May looks towards the corner in the room were the tree usually went. She has already dug out the boxes of ornaments from the basement. Sometimes she still finds it hard to go down there considering it was where Ben usually would work. His bench is still down there and has not been touched.

"I thought that you and Mary Jane could get the tree together," she explains," Ben used to always get the tree."

There were so many traditions that were held in the house once Peter had come along. May and Ben hadn't wanted him to miss out on anything. They felt that they needed to make up for the loss of his parents when he had come to live with them. Sure it hadn't been the most ideal situation but Peter wouldn't have changed how he had grown up or who had raised him.

Mary Jane could tell that the conversation had taken a slightly awkward turn," That would be great," she pipes in," I have never actually had a real tree before."

The only tree in her house was a small fake one that she bought from the goodwill. It was probably long gone considering how her dad could be. She would have been surprised if there was any trace of her left in that house. It didn't matter if there was since she never intended on going back.

"We can go tomorrow," Peter offers, smiling somewhat at the idea," And then we can decorate it too."

"Are you asleep?"

A voice slices through the silence and makes Peter's body bolt upright. He had intended on trying to get some sleep since it was finally a peaceful night. From what he heard on the police scanner there was no need for him to sneak out like he always had. May had given Mary Jane the guest room that was right across the hall.

There she stands in the doorway of his childhood bedroom. If he had been younger the sight of her would have been a shock. He never would have thought he would be so lucky to have any girl in his room with him at such an hour. That had changed obviously given how old he was.

"I was just drifting off."

She seems to take that as an invitation to come in so that's what she does. The door is being quietly shut before she creeps towards him. He isn't sure what she is doing but no protests came from him. The blanket is being pulled up and she is climbing in beside him.

"It's weird being back here," she whispers," Being back in this neighborhood and not being back in that house."

He glances towards the window to his left, the window that faces Mary Jane's backyard. He remembers seeing her more than a few times at night. Sometimes she was taking out the garbage but other nights she was just standing out there. He was always curious about why she would do such a thing sometimes. He never knew that it was because of who she was.

"You are safe," he tells her without thinking," He can't hurt you; I wouldn't let him hurt you."

"He is hurting himself."

"That's his choice just like it's yours to live a better life and that's what you are doing."

"I hope so."