"I... yeah, sure... just move the boxes out in the hallway... please." He added, not wanting to sound rude. He was so grateful she was there, and the hug was needed... she still wore that wonderful perfume from last night, and had to resist the urge to keep holding her as she let go. He started clearing everything else but the pictures out, old science books, fiction novels, old yearbooks... With Lexi's help the work went by faster... but the more he was in here the more he thought of the night Uncle Ben died, and what Lexi said to Spider-Man... [i]Everyone needs someone to lean on[/i]

No one knew the real story of the night he died... They didn't know that Peter was there, and could have stopped the robber before he killed his Uncle.. they just thought he was called that night... He didn't want to get emotional... but he's held this feeling for more than a year now... that dark secret... how he let his uncle die because of his anger.

In the middle of painting (the tarps and tape were set all around the now empty room), he stopped painting. "I could have saved him." He said quietly, not being able to handle it anymore.

"I forgot to pick up Aunt May that night.. that night he died... he yelled at me, saying i had a responsibility... that my father would have done anything to put other's responsibilities before his... but he left me when I was six. he had the responsibility to take care of me, and just left me on my aunt and uncle's doorstep...and in my anger i ran out... I just walked and walked. I know he was calling me, over and over again, but i didn't answer. I was angry. I was going through a lot of bad things. I know its not an excuse... I went to a gas station, and tried to buy a drink, and I was literally two cents off... 'its not my policy' he said to me... so i stormed off. Second later a robber leaves that store. They guy asks me to stop him... " I replied with 'not my policy...' I could have stopped him, brought the money back, and have been a hero..."

Peter took a deep breath, every bone in his body shaking. "He ran off, and while i was walking home... there was a crime scene.... I saw in the middle of the ground.. m-my Uncle lying there in a pool of blood... They said he tried to stop a guy who just robbed a store... shot him in a fight." Peter shook his fist, wanting to punch something, holding back tears. "The man i refused to stop because i was angry, shot my Uncle without hesitation... Later that night, i listened to his voicemail... and it still haunts me..."

He pulled out his phone. It was the first time he's ever played it to someone beside himself. 

 [i]Peter? I know things have been difficult lately and I'm sorry about that. I think I know what you're feeling. Ever since you were a little boy, you've been living with so many unresolved things. Well, take it from an old man. Those things send us down a road... they make us who we are. And if anyone's destined for greatness, it's you, son. You owe the world your gifts. You just have to figure out how to use them and know that wherever they take you, we'll always be here. So, come on home, Peter. You're my hero... and I love you![/i]

Peter couldn't stop trembling, he felt like he was bringing unnecessary drama, but the room and her talking to Spider-Man and wanting someone to lean and rely on overwhelmed him.