Chapter 18

A few notes before you read:

In an earlier chapter Future Spidey said the wedding took place last year. However, since Ava has been imprisoned for several years, that means the wedding also took place several years ago. I will fix this error later but I just wanted to tell you guys now so it makes sense. White Tiger has been imprisoned by Doc Oc for around 3-4 years. So the wedding took place around 3-4 years ago.

Also, I incorporated some Puerto Rican traditions into the wedding since Ava Ayala is Puerto Rican.

Lastly, I finally watched season 4 of USM where MJ and Harry finally know that Peter is Spiderman. This has not been introduced yet in the present in this story (it will be later) but in the future multi-verse Harry and MJ do know about Ava and Peter's identities at the time of the wedding. Also Doc Oc does not know Spider-Man's identity in this mutli-verse yet and in the present he doesn't know either (but he might later on). And Harry is the Patrioteer in this future as well and he will also be introduced later on in the present.

Also Happy New Year!

...

Future Spidey cleared his throat and then proceeded to talk.

"I fell in love with Ava Ayala, also known as the hero White Tiger." Future Spidey said.

Black Tiger raised her eyebrow in confusion, "A hero?"

"Yes, those that put the safety of others before themselves" Spidey said.

"Why would someone put others people's lives above their own? Everyone is for themselves in this world" Black Tiger snarled.

"Heroes protect the innocent no matter what the cost, because they know that is the right thing to do."

"Why does it matter?"

"Why shouldn't it? Your life is just as valuable as mine as is everyone else"

Black Tiger furrowed her brows, that's not what the Iron Octopus taught her, he told her that heroes only want attention and they seek to hurt people like him, people that wish to give others the best future. But then again, her whole future was determined by the Iron Octopus, and it didn't seem very promising. Worst of all he treated her like garbage, her life didn't seem to mean much to him at all. Maybe the Iron Octopus is wrong about heroes...

"Whatever spider...tell me about this...Ava" Black Tiger growled.

Future Spidey cleared his throat and continued, "Ever since I helped fix Ava's amulet, we knew that the spark between us was meant to be alit forever. We dated for several years, going on many dangerous missions that we were lucky to complete alive, and on Christmas Eve I decided to propose to her."

Future Spidey smiled to himself as he remembered turning away from Ava to reach for the emerald tiger ring and then turning back around on one knee only to realize that Ava was also kneeling down with a spider web encrusted ring in a red felted box in her hands. They looked at each other and laughed with tears of joy in their eyes. They then slipped the rings on each other and kissed each other tenderly as they slow danced to the sound of the rain outside. Spidey sighed, he almost forgot how happy things were.

Future Spidey continued, "After we both said yes to each other's proposals, we decided to get married about 4 months later."

"Married? What does married mean?" Black Tiger asked.

"To marry someone is to legally bind yourself to someone, but it really means much more. Marriage signifies a bond of love and loyalty." Future Spidey said, reminiscing on the vows he once spoke with pride.

...

Flashback:

Peter looks at Ava as the sun lights up her face . The wind makes her wedding veil flow behind her like a wave.

"Ava Ayala, you are the strength I didn't know I needed, and the joy that I didn't know I lacked. Today, I choose to spend the rest of my life with you.

I promise to protect you from harm, to love you with all my heart, to be there for you in times of pain and joy, and to catch you when you fall.

I will learn with you and grow with you, even as time and life change us both. And with every second I will love you more than the last.

Every day will be an adventure with you by my side."

...

I promise to protect you from harm. The words echoed throughout Future Spidey's brain. I broke the promise...

Spidey took a deep breath,and continued again, "On our wedding day...things went South"

"Why not North?" Black Tiger asked curiously.

Spidey chuckled, "It's a phrase that means 'went bad'"

Black Tiger blushed, "Oh...right. Anyway, continue" she said as she let go of one of Spidey's wrist and combed a hand through her long white ponytail.

Spidey's face darkened, "Our wedding took place in Aunt May's garden and everyone we knew was there; Aunt May, Harry Osborn (the best man), Mary Jane (the bride of honor), Danny Rand, Luke Cage, Sam Bucket-head Alexander, even Nick Fury came by. The wedding was going well, everyone was having a grand time, and then finally the time came for the bride the come down the ile..."

Spidey's heart skipped a beat as he remembered Ava walking down in an off the shoulder silk dress than had off white stripes towards the bottom. He remembered her smile that was hidden under her white striped lace veil. Her long dark hair was in a beautiful bun adorned with amapolas (the national flower of Puerto Rico) as a few loose pieces of her framed her face, and she held a bouquet of tiger lilies in one hand and locked arms with Aunt May in the other as she walked down the ile towards Peter. When she finally stood in front of him, he took off the veil and looked into her brown almond eyes and fell in love all over again.

Black Tiger poked Future Spidey in the arm with her free hand, "You okay Spider? You were dreaming with a smile on your face...and it was creepy."

Future Spidey blinked back to consciousness, "Sorry...now, where was I?"

Black Tiger rolled her eyes impatiently, "The bride was walking down the ile..."

Future Spidey sighed, "Ah yes...

Flashback Peter POV:

I take off Ava's veil and smile, I had won the jackpot.

After I said my vows, Ava almost started to cry. Aunt May was already through her 3rd box of tissues, MJ cried tears of joy, even Nick Fury shed a single tear.

It was then Ava's turn to recite her vows.

Ava looks at me and smiles,

"Peter Parker, you were my reason back then, my reason now, my reason every day to be a better hero.

I choose to live with you, as your lover, companion and friend, loving you when life is peaceful, and when it is painful, during our successes, and during our failures.

I vow to give you strength when you feel weak and hope when you feel lost. To listen to you and learn from you, to support you and accept your support.

No matter what challenges might carry us apart, we will always find our way back to each other. Let us be a home for each other, forever and ever."

Black tigers eyes widen she remembers bits of the phrases she once spoke. No matter what...we will always find our way back to each other. Pieces of her own flashbacks start to flood her mind, the flowers, the cake, Peter's eyes. She closes her eyes and shakes her head. No, this can't be.

Flashback continues Peter POV:

I caress Ava's cheek with my hand.

"I love you" we say in unison.

Agent Coulson, the wedding officiant, dabs his eyes with a cloth and then says.

"You may now kiss the bride"

"Come here tiger" I say as wrap my hands around Ava's waist and dip her. Ava's hair comes undone gracefully as she looks up at me and smiles. Her hands flow through my hair and wrap around my neck as our lips collide. When we let go we turn to see our guest cheering as we raise our cafe con leche (a Puerto Rican beverage served in coconut cups) in the air.

"Now can we eat the cake Parker?" Sam asks after Ava and I chug down our drinks.

Ava and I chuckle and roll our eyes, same old Sam.

Sam stares at the three tier cake decorated with frosted webs and tiger stripes, at the very top is a little model of Ava and I. The flavor of the tres leche cake is a mix chocolate and coconut. Sam's belly grumbles.

I turn to Ava and grin "What do you say Mrs. Parker-Ayala?"

Ava chuckles "Well Mr. Parker-Ayala..." she raises her arms in excitement "...I think it's time for everyone to enjoy this cake!"

Everyone crowds around as we cut the cake and give everyone a slice. Soon after taking photos, Ava and I head towards our decorated 'newlyweds' car.

Ava looks at her bouquet of tiger lilies in her hand.

"I almost forgot, catch!" She says as she throws the bouquet behind her.

Suddenly a long golden tentacle grabs it from behind us and my spider sense goes off.

Nick Fury pulls out his gun from inside his suit and calls for backup.

Aunt May looks at Fury in shock "You brought a gun to a wedding?!"

"I expect the unexpected Ms. Parker" Fury says sternly. "Now let's get you to safety."

Doc Ock starts to cackle as he walks towards me and Ava who quickly pull on our masks and slip on our gloves before Doc Oc can see our faces.

"Why wasn't I invited Spider-Man?" Doc Ock mocks.

"Take a guess Doc." I say as I web his eyes.

Ava and I quickly use the opportunity activate our suits with a press on our watches. What can I say? Heroes always gotta be prepared. Although I admit, I was hoping we'd at least have this day to ourselves.

"Get everyone to safety!" Coulson yells to the rest of our team as they gather everyone's plus ones and other non-heroes. Nick Fury and Aunt May make it inside the Quinjet with the others as they take off into the sky.

Doc Ock rips the webs off his eyes and lunges his tentacles at the quinjet. Before his tentacles can reach it I shoot my webs and pull his tentacle away. Doc Ock growls in anger and lunges another tentacle at me.

"How did you find us?" I ask as I dodge his attack and fling a trash can at his head.

Doc Ock catches the trash can before it can hit him and throws it back at me, I duck under the trash can as he starts to charge up one of his tentacles. "Always so naïve." He cackles as aims his tentacle at me. "I planted a tracker on your suit on our last encounter when you and your friends yet again foiled my attempts to get new tech to advance my amour!"

Tracker huh? I reach behind my back and feel around for a tracker. I find a washer sized metal pin and pull it off, the seal looks familiar. My eyes widen in shock, Hydra.

"SPIDEY!" White Tiger says as she lunges towards me and pushes me out of way of Doc Oc's energy blast.

Doc Ock looks at White Tiger and snarls "This is between me and Spider-Man"

"You mess with him you mess with me!" White Tiger says as she flexes her electric claws.

"Imbeciles!" Doc Ock snarls he then pulls out a remote "You mess with me..." he presses the button "...you mess with Hydra!". Suddenly a quinjet arrives with an army of Hydra soldiers.

The monkey shriek noise goes off in my head.