Lea stared at the photo in confusion, just as everyone else did—but only Peter truly understood what that picture would mean to her.
It was a photo of a young girl—herself—at a younger, happier time, holding the hands of her mother, Sarah, and her biological father… Paul Stacy.
Lea knew exactly who the man in the photo was—her real father. But all her life, she had believed he died in the explosion that destroyed their home, along with her mother, Sarah.
She knew Peter wasn't her real father. He had found her living on the street just two weeks ago. He had taken her in, adopted her, and though they hadn't known each other long, she felt a kind of love and safety in his presence that she never thought she'd feel again.
Paul himself had become entangled in dangerous conspiracies—against her new father and his wife, and many other crimes… though Lea had no way of knowing any of this.
She sat down on the couch, still clutching the photo in her hands, a wave of sorrow and confusion washing over her. She remembered the cold nights she spent alone in the streets, hopeless and lost. And yet, back then, in her darkest days, her only dream was to meet Spider-Man—the one who had once saved her from a fire, the only figure she believed might still bring her light. That red-and-blue hero had been her symbol of safety and hope.
But fate gave her someone even better than Spider-Man.
A stronger man, firm yet kind—a man she now knew as Peter Parker, her new father, the one who had pulled her from darkness and given her a new family.
She looked up at Peter, her eyes full of gratitude, and said softly, "Thank you… for giving me this photo. I never wanted to forget their faces."
Peter smiled gently. "We can't forget who they were, no matter the circumstances. This photo is for you—to always remind you where you came from, and who they were."
Lea lifted her eyes to his, then slowly reached out and hugged him tightly, as if trying to reassure herself that this man truly was there for her—and that she wasn't alone anymore.
Peter wrapped his arms around her, pulling her gently into his chest. He could feel her heart beating beneath his hand, and it was as if it whispered: I'm here. I won't leave.
They stayed like that for a long, quiet moment, wrapped in warmth and safety—as if together, they were reordering the world into something worth believing in. Around them, the others silently watched the tenderness between a father and daughter celebrating her first birthday as a Parker.
Susan watched Peter—the man who had helped raise her children—and quietly wished she had made the right choice back then. That she had held onto Peter after that one fake date and their first kiss.
A flicker of jealousy passed through her—not toward Lea, but toward Felicia. The anger boiled quietly inside her. She was sure Felicia didn't deserve another chance after everything she'd done. Susan was certain she'd eventually go back to her old ways… and she would be there to support Peter when that happened—especially now that Reed was finally out of the picture.
Jennifer, meanwhile, was genuinely moved by the bond forming between Peter and Lea. Despite how short their time together had been, the girl felt like she had been born to be his daughter. Jennifer admired Peter as a person—regardless of what idiots said about his former alter ego.
Rio was caught in the moment too, watching the love and protection Peter gave to Lea, how he treated her as his own daughter.
She had seen this side of him before—toward her own son. Peter had always acted more like a father than a mentor to Miles. It saddened her to think how foolish her son had been to take that for granted.
She glanced toward Felicia and sighed, thinking, If I can't be with him, then I'll be near him. That was the reason she'd stayed close in the first place—under the pretense that Lea might need care during Peter's recovery. And truthfully, the time she'd spent with the girl during Peter's absence had drawn her in deeper.
Felicia simply smiled quietly, watching Peter. She had often wished for a man like him during her own broken childhood—maybe if she had someone like Peter back then, things would've turned out differently.
That's why she feared him in a way. He was everything she'd ever wanted in a man… and she'd hurt him more than once simply because she couldn't believe someone like him could be real.
But this time felt different.
Even Franklin and Valeria remained quiet, though they did feel a hint of jealousy. Their uncle—who was almost like a father to them—was giving Lea a lot of attention. Still, they let it go. It was her birthday, after all. They knew they'd get plenty of hugs and gifts when their own birthdays came.
As Peter held Lea, he suddenly felt the weight of memory drag him back. Back to the moment he discovered Paul was her father.
He remembered the day Susan had restrained Paul. The man had been eerily calm… until Peter arrived. Then something inside Paul snapped. He began to convulse with rage—his hatred erupting like a storm, overwhelming his body and mind.
Peter remembered Paul's words—sharp as blades. How he blamed Peter for the death of his family, especially his daughter, whom he believed had perished due to Spider-Man's recklessness.
Paul was broken… and mad enough to take his own life right there in front of them. It was one of the worst moments in Peter's life.
And yet, despite his anger, Peter had listened, trying to understand how it all connected. Paul wasn't even from his world. In Paul's universe, there had never been a Spider-Man.
With Jennifer's help, Peter made a shocking discovery.
Paul had been born in this world… and had officially been declared dead.
But the most earth-shattering truth?
Paul was Lea's biological father. And he believed she had died—because he had seen Peter take her away just before their house exploded during an Avengers incident.
Paul had searched for her after surviving. But he found nothing. She had vanished. His grief had swallowed him whole.
What Peter still didn't know was the biggest question of all—how had Paul crossed into another universe? How had everything spiraled like this?
Yet even through the pain and madness, Peter knew one thing for sure.
No matter what Paul had done… he would never, ever harm Lea. Not out of vengeance. She was innocent of her father's sins.
Peter slowly pulled back from the embrace, looked into her eyes, and said quietly, "You deserve love and safety, my girl. And I'm here to give it to you."
He hugged her again, this time with firmer resolve—promising himself he would protect her, no matter what.
Even if she was the daughter of the man who once brought him to the edge… and became a villain because of a tragic misunderstanding.
.
END OF CHAPTER
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