[Third Person Pov]
Gwen stood completely frozen in place, one hand still clamped over her mouth as she stared at Peter, who remained exactly where he was, still committed to the pose he had clearly spent far too long thinking over. Her eyes were wide, blinking rapidly as she tried to process what she was actually looking at.
This was not even remotely close to what she had imagined when he told her he had "one more gift" for her.
The silence dragged on just a little too long.
Peter shifted slightly, the confidence he'd forced himself into earlier starting to crack under the weight of her reaction—or lack of one. The longer she said nothing, the more aware he became of how ridiculous he probably looked. His shoulders tensed, and a faint flush crept onto his face as embarrassment began to settle in.
"…Gwen?" he called out, his voice noticeably more hesitant now, trying to snap her out of whatever stunned state she was stuck in. "Honey, I know this is a surprise and all, but—uh—can you close the door? I will actually die from mortification if your dad sees me like this."
That seemed to do it.
Gwen blinked again, still covering her mouth, and gave a quick, stiff nod before turning on her heel. She moved almost mechanically toward the door, as if her brain was still catching up with reality. When she reached it, she grabbed the handle and slowly pushed it shut, the loud creak of the hinges filling the room in a way that felt way more dramatic than it should have.
The second the door clicked closed, something in her snapped.
Gwen bent forward slightly, then dropped into a crouch before fully going down onto her knees, a wheeze escaping her as her face flushed a deep, uncontrollable red. A split second later, it hit full force.
"BWAHAHAHAHA!!—hahahaha—I can't—I can't breathe—HAHAHAHA!"
She doubled over, collapsing forward as laughter tore out of her in waves. Her shoulders shook violently, her eyes squeezed shut as tears immediately started forming and spilling down her cheeks.
"Ow—hahahaha! My side—my side—I can't take it! Peter! HAHAHAHAHA!!"
Peter's face turned a deeper shade of red as he watched her completely lose it. His lips pressed into a thin line, and he turned his head slightly, clearly trying to salvage at least a shred of dignity.
"It's not that funny…" he muttered under his breath, though even he didn't sound convinced.
Before Gwen could even attempt to recover, Peter's eyes suddenly widened in alarm. His head snapped toward the door.
Too late.
A knock came, followed immediately by the sound of the doorknob turning.
"Jesus, Gwen, what's so funny—"
"DON'T YOU DARE COME IN!!" Peter shouted, panic fully kicking in.
At the same time, Gwen practically launched herself at the door, still laughing like she'd completely lost control.
"Dad—please—just go! I'll explain later! Hahahaha!" she managed between gasps, leaning against the door for support. "Pete—Pete, I'm getting lightheaded—I think I'm actually going to pass out from laughing!"
On the other side, there was a pause, then a confused mutter from George before his footsteps retreated.
Inside the room, Gwen slid down slightly against the door, still laughing, tears streaming freely down her face. She wiped at them uselessly, only for more to replace them as she struggled to breathe.
Peter let out a long, defeated sigh, his shoulders slumping.
"Can you just… please… come unwrap your present?" he said, his tone somewhere between pleading and regret. "I am seriously starting to regret this entire idea."
Gwen took a few shaky breaths, attempting—unsuccessfully—to compose herself. She pushed herself up onto her feet, though her balance clearly wasn't cooperating, and made her way toward him in uneven steps. Every time she looked at him, another burst of laughter threatened to break free, and a few stray giggles slipped out despite her best efforts.
"Yeah, yeah… laugh it up…" Peter mumbled as she reached him.
Her hands were still trembling as she started undoing the bindings, her fingers fumbling slightly as another round of quiet giggles escaped her.
"Truly, Pete," Gwen said between soft laughs, "you are just the gift that keeps on giving."
"I aim to please," Peter replied awkwardly, rubbing his wrists the second he was free.
Gwen climbed onto the bed beside him, still catching her breath, one hand pressed lightly against her head.
"Peter, I don't think you understand just how funny that was," she said, exhaling shakily. "I can already feel a headache forming from how hard I was laughing."
She leaned against him, resting her head near his, small giggles still slipping out every few seconds as the image replayed in her mind.
"Wait…" she added suddenly, pulling back slightly as her eyes narrowed with renewed curiosity. She rubbed her fingers together, then looked at him again, barely holding back another laugh. "Hehehe… are you seriously wearing oil?"
Peter said nothing.
He just pressed his lips together and turned his head away, choosing silence over self-incrimination.
That was all the confirmation she needed.
Gwen burst into another fit of laughter, though softer this time, leaning in to kiss him between each breathless giggle.
"You are possibly the only person on this planet who could make me laugh that hard," she said warmly.
Peter huffed lightly, but a small, proud smile tugged at his lips. "That's an achievement I will proudly wear like a badge of honor."
Gwen smirked, still amused, though her tone shifted just slightly as she added, "And just so we're clear—you're the one cleaning the oil off the sheets. You should know I don't like messes."
"Yes, ma'am," Peter replied immediately, almost on instinct.
"Good…" she murmured, her lips curving as she leaned in to kiss him again, quieter now but still carrying traces of lingering laughter.
"Now then…" she continued, her voice slightly uneven as she tried to keep her laughter from bubbling back up, "I suppose I should start enjoying my gift."
"Oh, don't worry," Peter replied, a grin spreading across his face as his confidence steadily returned now that he was no longer tied up. "I'll make sure it meets customer satisfaction. Money-back guarantee."
Gwen let out a softer, warmer giggle, her cheeks still faintly flushed as she held his face between her hands. "Really now?" she teased, her voice lowering as their kisses lingered a little longer each time. "And what are the reviews saying?"
Peter didn't answer right away. Instead, he shifted, smoothly flipping their positions so that Gwen ended up beneath him. He looked down at her with a playful glint in his eyes.
"Haven't had a single complaint so far," he said. "Everyone always leaves with a smile after the Parker experience."
Gwen laughed again, quieter this time, her hands sliding against him as she slowly moved backward across the bed, pulling him along with her without breaking the rhythm between them. When her back finally met the headboard, she paused, one hand coming up to cup his cheek.
"Well then," she murmured, her eyes half-lidded with amusement and something softer underneath, "let's see if that streak continues."
"With pleasure," Peter replied.
He reached for her, gently guiding her blouse up and over her head. The moment slowed rather than rushed, his movements more careful now, more deliberate. He let the fabric fall aside as he looked back at her, his earlier embarrassment completely replaced with quiet focus.
Gwen exhaled softly, her earlier laughter fading into something calmer, though the faintest hint of a smile still lingered on her lips as she pulled him back down toward her.
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