Felicia Hardy, her face a bit tired but also filled with happiness, held her newborn son with Peter Parker in her arms.
Hawk and Gwen stood by the bed, watching.
The little one, small as he was, had eyes that bore a striking resemblance to Felicia's, inheriting her signature gray-blue, slightly misty gaze perfectly.
His head was covered in a layer of silky, platinum-blonde fuzz.
Undoubtedly.
That was inherited from Felicia too.
Because Peter's hair was black, with no golden genes, while Felicia's was purely golden.
Gwen watched the tiny, quiet one nestled in Felicia's arms without blinking: "Wow, so cute."
Felicia smiled at Gwen.
"Do you have any plans?"
"Yes."
Gwen looked at Felicia, smiling: "Two sons and a daughter, that's my plan for a family."
Just like her mom and dad, two sons and a daughter.
Gwen felt very blessed.
So…
She wanted to carry on that happiness.
Hawk then looked at Peter, who was standing opposite the bed, carefully touching his son's little head: "Have you named him?"
Peter nodded.
"Ben!"
"..."
Hawk raised an eyebrow: "Your Uncle Ben's name?"
Peter nodded: "Yes, Uncle Ben taught me a lesson when I was lost, so my son is named Ben."
If it were in the Eastern Country, naming a child after an elder would suggest making the elder a junior.
But in the Federation.
Let's put it this way.
If Hawk were to name his future son George, George would not be upset but rather very pleased.
Because, for George, using his name isn't an insult but rather a sign of respect.
However…
George wouldn't name his son George, obviously.
Hawk thought to himself, then looked at the child in Felicia's arms and said to Peter: "So, Ben Parker?"
Just as Peter was about to speak.
Felicia, who was holding little Parker in her arms, turned to Hawk and said: "His full name is Ben Hawke Parker."
Hawk, upon hearing this, was slightly taken aback and looked at Felicia.
Felicia smiled and said: "Peter wants you to be little Ben's godfather."
Hawk, hearing this, looked at Peter.
Peter had a silly grin on his face.
Hawk smiled and said: "Of course, it's my honor."
He truly hadn't expected Peter to use his name as his son's middle name.
Once again.
In the Federation, using an elder's or friend's name as your son's name or middle name isn't making the elder or friend a junior, but a sign of respect and valuing friendship.
Not to mention that Peter not only used his name as his son's middle name but also wanted him to be little Ben's godfather.
A godfather is not the same as a godparent.
A godparent is just a title.
But a godfather is officially appointed during a baptism ceremony and is usually a very trusted and respected friend of the infant's parents.
Under normal circumstances, a godfather should be baptized because a godfather's primary responsibility is guiding the godchild in matters of religious belief.
Hawk was baptized.
He was left at a church doorstep as an infant, so even if he didn't want to, he couldn't change that fact.
But once again.
Believing in God doesn't conflict with wanting to break into Heaven.
In short.
Breaking into Heaven doesn't mean he doesn't believe in God; it's just that it's his turn eventually.
In summary…
A godfather is not only a guide for the godchild's faith but also a witness and guarantor of the ceremony.
Simply put.
A baptism ceremony isn't something you can have just because you want it; it requires someone who has been baptized to guarantee it.
So…
Hawk thought for a moment, then said to Peter: "I'll go check with the priest at Saint Mark's Church about the baptism time."
There are levels to baptism churches as well.
And with its long history, Saint Mark's Church might not be the best baptism church, but it certainly ranks highly in Manhattan.
The most important thing.
Hawk then smiled at Felicia and said: "Wow, my godson, I'd better seriously think about what kind of gift to get my godson for his baptism."
Felicia smiled: "Yes, you really should think hard about it, Hawk, after all, that's what it's all about."
Peter then looked at Hawk upon hearing this.
"Hawk, she's just kidd…"
"Peter…"
Hawk looked at the hastily explaining Peter, interrupted him with a smile: "Please, relax, today is a happy day for you; you have a son now, and I have a godson. Congratulations, Peter."
Peter, hearing this, looked at Felicia and his son wrapped in swaddling clothes, smiling shyly.
Hawk and Gwen stayed a while longer in the hospital, and after Ben Hawke Parker yawned and fell asleep, they hugged Peter and Felicia once more before leaving.
After leaving the hospital.
Gwen looked at Hawk with some curiosity: "Weren't you going to tell Peter that I got my doctoral degree to make him a bit envious?"
Hawk started the car and headed in the direction of Palm Street.
"Not today!"
"Today should be a happy day for Peter."
"He deserves this day."
Hawk glanced sideways at Gwen.
Today is also a happy day for him.
Not because Peter asked him to be Ben Hawke Parker's godfather, but because he changed the life of the Spider Spirit, which was originally filled with tragedy.
This gives him a great sense of achievement.
It's not the kind of achievement that comes from increased strength, but an inexplicable satisfaction that comes from deep within the heart.
Gwen smiled, hearing Hawk's words, remembered Peter who lost both his parents and Uncle Ben, thought Hawk was referring to that, and nodded in agreement.
"Hawk."
"Hmm."
"You're actually a very kind person."
"I know."
Hawk heard this and glanced at Gwen, who was looking at him with a smile, and replied with a smile.
He also consistently believes that he is a kind person.
To be honest, since Hawk debuted, although he has killed many people, he can confidently say he has never killed an innocent bystander.
In every battle, he almost always tries to avoid cities and crowds.
Without exception.
Unlike those superheroes who seem to run where the crowds are.
Hawk is different.
This might be because he has been rained on before, so he chooses to hold an umbrella for others who come later.
So!
Yeah.
He's very kind.
After returning to Palm Street, Hawk and Gwen didn't go home immediately; instead, they got out of the car when passing by Saint Mark's Church, found the priest, and inquired about baptism schedules.
In a large church like Saint Mark's, there is almost a baptism every day; some parents even start booking when they are pregnant.
Because baptism is also time-sensitive.
Usually, it needs to be arranged within a few weeks or three months after the baby is born, as the earlier the baptism, the sooner original sin can be forgiven by God for the newborn.
After the priest glanced through the baptism appointment list, since Hawk is considered a big client of the church, he found April 25th of the next month as the baptism day.
After donating a sum to Saint Mark's, Hawk left the church and called Peter.
As the baby's parents, Peter and Felicia need to attend a pre-baptism preparation course first.
Hawk does not need to.
He is a member of the choir at Saint Paul's Church, so he doesn't need any training for baptism or even preaching, he can take the stage directly.
No choice.
Born an orphan with a sister, making a living in a church, the only thing he can do is try to appear very devout.
Just like Samael, who hasn't become Lucifer Morningstar, and is the most devout before God.
After hanging up, Hawk raised an eyebrow, as if he thought of something, and looked at Gwen: "Do you think Peter's out of money, so he made me his son's godfather to pay for the baptism?"
Holy rites are actually free and require no fees.
After all, baptism is sacred.
But churches need operational costs, and supporting the church can't be called a fee; it can only be called a donation.
The operational cost for a holy rite at Saint Mark's Church is about two thousand.
Gwen heard this, laughed, opened the car door, and as she got in, said to Hawk, who was walking to the driver's side: "It's a godfather's responsibility to baptize his godson; you can choose not to be Ben Hawke Parker's godfather."
After closing the car door, Hawk smiled slightly and looked at Gwen: "That won't do. Ben Hawke Parker's Hawk, is my Hawk; only I have the qualifications to be his godfather, no one else."
The main reason is because of Peter.
Like he's always said, out of the three versions of the little spider, his favorite is the First Generation Spider Spirit.
So…
As Hawk restarted the car, he looked at Gwen: "What do you think, what gift should I give my godson?"
Gwen glanced at Hawk's expression and smiled.
"You already have an idea, don't you?"
"Yes."
Hawk nodded, having had a rough idea for a gift when Peter asked him to be his son's godfather.
Gwen was a bit curious.
"What gift?"
"It's…"
Hawk was just about to say when Gwen's phone rang abruptly.
Gwen said hold on, took out her phone, glanced at it: "It's a call from Mom."
Hawk raised an eyebrow: "She's probably asking about your doctoral degree."
Gwen nodded, answered the call, and was just about to tell her mom Helen the good news about her doctoral degree.
The next second.
Helen's voice came through with sobs.
"Gwen, come to the hospital quickly."
"Your dad's been shot, and he's in emergency surgery."
"Hurry!"
"..."