The clock was ticking down the final minutes of New Year's Eve as Caty webbed through the city. She was on a high from the events of the night. She was still annoyed that another villain found it necessary to cause her and her brother stress and trauma around the holidays, but at least it ended in a victory and the people recognizing that they actually were heroes. It did get dark there for a while. She really almost gave up. It made her realize that she still wasn't as over her guilt as she thought she was. It made sense. Liz may have been back and things were better with her family, but there was another family that got destroyed in all of this and she never gave Gwen the friend that she needed. She told herself that she wanted and needed space, but she refused to go into the New Year without at least a conversation between the two. She was one of her best friends and she missed her.

Caty finally made it to Gwen's house, in her incognito costume, which is really what she just called her flipping her hoodie inside out. It was surprisingly effective. She landed on the roof and climbed down towards Gwen's window like a spider. She tapped it gently. The last thing she needed to do was destroy her window when she was trying to apologize.

Gwen was sitting at her computer. She was trying to write, but found it hard. She's been keeping a virtual journal, but this was her first New Year's without her dad. Her brain was too foggy. She couldn't think of anything, but her father not being here anymore. She already lost her mom. Now she had no one. She turned her head after hearing a tap at her window. She sighed before wiping the tears forming in her eyes. She got up from her chair despite not wanting to. What was she doing here? Shouldn't she be out there patrolling? Being a "hero"?

Gwen opened the window with a sad and tired expression. There were bags under her eyes. She hadn't been sleeping much lately and anytime she did they were fueled by nightmares. She couldn't even have peace in her dreams. [color=6ecff6]"What are you doing here?"[/color] She asked Caty bluntly.

Caty saw her face and recognized it immediately. It was her face. How she'd been after her dad's death and especially after Liz's. She should've been here sooner. No, no should have. She's here now. [color=E137E3]"I'm hoping you'd let me in so we can talk. I'm sure you don't want anyone seeing Spider-Woman hanging out here."[/color]

Gwen shrugged and started walking back into her room. [color=6ecff6]"I don't know. If they saw me talking to you maybe no one else would confuse us for the other. Come in."[/color]

Caty felt heavy in her stomach at her response. So they were going heavy right off the bat. It didn't matter if Caty felt like she deserved it or not, Gwen's feelings were valid and understandable. She climbed inside and closed the window behind her. Once inside she pulled her mask down so they could talk to each other face to face. Gwen to Caty, not Spider-Woman. [color=E137E3]"Yeah... That's what I wanted to talk about. I want to apologize for what happened with your dad. Neither of you deserved that. He was an amazing man and father. He was like a second dad to me."[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"I'm not mad about my dad. Okay, yes. I'm mad about my dad, but not at you. Not for that. I'm mad at that lunatic. I'm mad at myself for being weak. I... I'm mad at you for abandoning me."[/color]

Caty was surprised by her words. She never realized that Gwen felt weak. Then again she hadn't been hanging with her as much lately. But it was that Gwen felt like she abandoned her. [color=E137E3]"I'm so sorry. I wanted to give you space to grieve and honestly I didn't know what to say. But you're right. I may not have been there before, but I'm here now."[/color]

Gwen shook her head. [color=6ecff6]"You still don't get it. You abandoned me way before my dad died, even before you got powers and became the Amazing Spider-Woman! I started losing you when you and Liz started dating and don't get me wrong. I love you both and I was so happy for you two. But I started to lose my best friends. Then I really lost you two when your dad died and you started being a hero. Then... my dad and Liz died then I lost three of my best friends for good all in one night. Then I lost Danny, because he's your brother and I couldn't explain how I felt and I just feel so alone. I know I have Harry and he's amazing, but..."[/color]

Caty ran up and hugged Gwen before she could finish fighting with the words she wanted to say. Tears started to flow in her eyes. She hadn't realized how selfish and how terrible of a friend she was. [color=E137E3]"I'm so, so sorry. I love you and I'm sorry I made you feel like you lost me even before my dad and everything. Liz and I never wanted to make you feel that way."[/color] She thought about telling her about Liz being alive, but how could she explain that someone cloned their best friend, but her dad was still dead? [color=E137E3]"You are so important to me and I promise I'm going to be a better friend from here on out."[/color]

Gwen pulled her head back, tears flowing in her eyes as well. [color=6ecff6]"You still don't get it."[/color] Before she could continue an alarm blurred to life on her computer symbolizing that it was now officially midnight of the New Year. To clarify what she meant Gwen decided to kiss Caty on the lips.

Caty's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden kiss. Gwen's lips were soft and they fit together well. She returned the kiss with equal passion and pulled back. She definitely couldn't tell her about Liz yet. [color=E137E3]"Wow. That was a surprise. A great kiss, but Gwen. You're with Harry and I... I'm not ready for anything with anyone."[/color]

Gwen shook her head. [color=6ecff6]"I'm not leaving Harry. I just never expressed my true feelings for you. No, that's wrong. The kiss confirmed it. I love you, but you're my best friend and I'd really appreciate it staying that way. Plus, I really do love Harry Osborn."[/color]

Caty smiled. She was happy that things were better between the two of them now and that there wasn't going to be a scandal on their hands. [color=E137E3]"Thank you, Gwen. I should go."[/color] She walked towards the window and leaned outside of it before looking back at Gwen with a smile. She turned back to look at the night sky. She touched her lips and jumped out of the window before swinging off into the distance. Little did she know Harry Osborn was standing at Gwen's doorstep, a little late for his midnight kiss, but not too late to see Caty's strange gesture.

[hr]

Caty felt like nothing could ruin her night, but knew better than to say that out loud. She had put her mask back on since she left Gwen's, but was still in her incognito costume. She wanted to end tonight on the high that it was. No one would be foolish enough to try anything else tonight after knowing the Spider-Twins are on the job. No, she was headed home. Gwen reminded her just how much sleep she had been losing, especially with the hunt that she had just went through. It was strange that the mastermind behind the clones hadn't revealed himself yet. She actually hated that. It left her on edge. As long as they were out and about she and her family weren't safe and that included her new sisters and revived ex(?)-girlfriend. God, why was her life so damn complicated?

As if to answer her question and complicate it even more God sent exactly who she was looking for her way. Her head was ringing for the first time tonight. [color=E137E3]"It's official. God will not let me rest."[/color] She tried to observe the area, but before she could completely span it she was grabbed from below by a large green beast. What was up with her enemies and the color green!? And how the Hell did he grab her all the way up there? She didn't have the time to think about either of these questions before she was thrown into the ground below. She hit the pavement hard causing a crater to form beneath her.

Caty groaned in pain and opened her eyes preparing to shoot a web at whatever just tossed her, but before she could even find her mark it landed on her left wrist, specifically where her web-shooter was, breaking it and her wrist in the process. She was in so much pain that she couldn't scream. She was in shock.

The Green Beast pulled her up with her other hand and pulled her up to its face. [color=336600]"You really have some nerve. Must you continue to torment the Stacy's?"[/color]

Caty tried to speak, but no words were coming out.

[color=336600]"Don't speak. Just listen. I should kill you right now. You've already ruined my plans, but in the spirit of the holiday you get a new chance at life. Plus it'd be better to have you living in fear of THE JACKAL!"[/color] The Jackal dropped her on the floor with a thud. He laughed and leapt away, leaving her to lie alone in the pit.

[hr][hr]

Meanwhile the Avengers were halfway across the world having a much better holiday. They just finished taking down a secret Hydra Army led by Ulysses Klaue hellbent on pillaging the hidden country of Wakanda for its vast resources and super rare Vibranium. The same materials that made Captain America's shield. This war revealed Wakanda to the World and introduced the Warrior King and Hero, T'Challa, the Black Panther. He accepted the Avengers' help and led his people to victory taking out Klaue in the process. In an effort to protect his country from the world T'Challa decided to join the Avengers as an oncall member, his main priority always being his home country.