C207 Cemetery

C207 Cemetery

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——————

The week leading up to Peter’s departure from Earth had been a whirlwind of activity, as he balanced his responsibilities to the Jedi, time with his family, dates with Natasha and Mikaela, and the looming weight of a reunion he’d been avoiding—something Peter wasn’t even ready to think about yet.

But right now, Peter stood on the construction site in New York, his boots sinking slightly into the dirt as he surveyed the prime location the Jedi were given. ‘Perfect...’

Thanks to his connections with Peggy and SHIELD—and, of course, a little influence from the President—he had been able to pull a few strings and expedite the process of acquiring this piece of land in the heart of Manhattan.

“I still can’t believe we’re actually doing this,” Peter murmured, glancing over at Master Windu, who stood next to him with his usual stoic expression.

“Neither can I,” Windu replied, his deep voice cutting through the sounds of the city around them. “But this temple will be crucial to the future of the Jedi on Earth. This location is ideal—close enough to Xavier’s school for us to assist one another, and in the heart of a bustling city where we can discover Force-sensitive individuals.”

Peter nodded, feeling a surge of pride. Establishing a Jedi Temple on Earth was just a dream until now, one he hadn’t thought would come to fruition this soon. But now, as he walked through the site, he could already picture how it would look—the towering structure, the open training courtyards, the serene meditation rooms, all serving as a beacon of peace and knowledge.

“You’re sure you’ll be able to manage without me?” Peter asked with a hint of reluctance in his voice. “Once I leave, you and the others will be on your own.”

Windu gave him a reassuring glance. “We’ll manage. You’ve laid the groundwork for us. We’ll carry it forward from here.”

————

Later that evening, Peter found himself sitting in his grandparents’ room in the Atlas, his heart heavy with the conversation he knew he had to have.

Luckily, his uncle wasn’t there, as their last encounter had ended with Peter cutting ties completely. ‘If I see him again, I might strangle him to death...’ he thought.

“Grandma... Grandpa,” Peter began, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. “I need to tell you something.”

His grandmother immediately sensed the gravity in his tone, her eyes widening. “Peter, what is it? You’re not—”

“I’m leaving Earth,” he said, cutting through her worry before it could spiral. “Soon.”

The silence that followed felt like a lead weight in the room. His grandparents stared at him, their faces a mix of shock and disbelief.

“You’re... leaving?” his grandmother repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

Peter nodded, trying to remain calm even though he knew how hard this would be for them to hear. “There’s a lot out there for me. I have responsibilities beyond Earth... things I need to take care of. I wish I could stay, but I can’t. Not forever.” He explained, adding. “But I’ll be back soon enough. You won’t have to wait long, I promise.”

His grandfather, usually quiet during these types of conversations, spoke up with a firmness Peter hadn’t expected. “You don’t need to leave, Peter. There’s plenty for you here. You have family, friends... why do you need to go?”

Peter felt the sting of their words but stayed patient. “I know. And believe me, I wish I could stay longer. But this... this is part of who I am. There’s more out there—more friends, more experiences, more things I have to face, more adventures to explore...”

His grandmother’s eyes were shining with unshed tears. “But Peter... Can’t you stay with us a little longer? We only just got you back...”

Peter swallowed the lump in his throat and moved closer, taking his grandmother’s hand in his. “I’ll come back. Earth is still my home, and I’ll always return. But for now, I need to go. And when I do... I need to know that you’re okay with it. That you’re okay with me doing what I need to do.”

The silence stretched out again, but this time it wasn’t as heavy. His grandparents shared a glance, and then, with a sigh, his grandfather nodded slowly. “We understand, Peter. We don’t like it... but we understand.”

His grandmother sniffed, wiping her eyes. “You take care of yourself out there, okay? And don’t you dare forget to come back.”

Peter smiled softly, pulling them both into a warm hug. “I won’t. I promise.”

When she pulled away, she met his gaze with a determined look. “If you think you can just leave me behind, you’ve got another thing coming...”

————

The next day, the Atlas was bustling with activity as Peter’s crew made their final checks before departure. Transformers stomped back and forth, loading supplies as Rocket double-checked Atlas’s systems.

But Peter’s mind wasn’t on the preparations. There was something he had to do before he could leave Earth. Without telling anyone, he slipped away from the ship and made his way to a small Jedi Starfighter waiting in the hangar.

Moments later, Peter found himself soaring over the clouds, heading toward a place he hadn’t been able to face until now: his hometown, St. Charles, Missouri.

He landed the ship in a secluded area near a cemetery, where the trees stood tall enough to hide his ride.

As he walked through the woods, his heart pounded in his chest. He hadn’t been back here since he was taken by the Ravagers, and the weight of that time weighed heavily on his shoulders.

Finally, he reached a grave.

His mother’s name was etched into the stone, and as Peter stood before it, all the emotions he had bottled up for so long came rushing to the surface. His legs felt weak as he knelt before her grave, his hands trembling.

“I’m... I’m sorry, Mom,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “I should’ve come sooner... I’m a coward for waiting this long.”

Tears stung his eyes as he placed his hand on the cold stone. “I’ve been back for a while now... but I... I just couldn’t... I was too scared to see you like this.”

Peter’s voice wavered as he started telling her everything. “Mom, I—there’s so much I need to tell you,” he began, his throat tightening. He stared at the gravestone, running his fingers over the cool stone. “After... after you were gone, everything just fell apart. I got kidnapped. The Ravagers—these space pirates—real a*sholes.”

Of course, he left out the darkest parts—he didn’t want to worry her, even in death.

Peter told her about being rescued by the Jedi, about how they had taken him in and trained him, about his journey across the galaxy. He spoke about becoming a Jedi Knight and all the adventures he’d had.

But the more he spoke, the harder it became to hold himself together. The Force around him pulsed with his emotions, and before long, it began to manifest physically. A storm of energy whipped through the cemetery, sending leaves and debris flying, yet leaving Peter and his mother’s grave untouched.

His fingers tightened on the gravestone. “I just... I wish you could’ve seen it. I wish you could’ve seen who I became. I’m doing all right, but—” Peter’s voice cracked as he whispered, “I miss you so much, Mom. I miss you every day.”

The storm raged around him, as wild and uncontrollable as the emotions inside him. His grief, his guilt, his love—all of it poured out, and the Force reacted accordingly.

He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, his voice growing hoarse as he continued. “I’m sorry I didn’t visit you sooner. I was too scared... Scared of admitting that you’re really gone...”

Peter’s breath hitched as he leaned forward, resting his forehead against the stone. “But I’ve been trying to make you proud, Mom. I’ve been trying to do the right thing, to be the kind of man you wanted me to be.”

When the storm finally calmed, Peter sat there, his body trembling from the emotional toll. The cemetery was still again, quiet except for the soft rustling of leaves in the wind.

As Peter wiped his eyes, a voice spoke from behind him: “What an adventure you’ve had.”

Peter’s heart skipped a beat. For a brief moment, he hoped—desperately—that it was his mother’s spirit speaking to him. But when he turned around, he saw someone else. A bald woman in a yellow monk's robe.

[Insert picture of The Ancient One here]

It was The Ancient One, standing there with a warm smile on her face, her eyes filled with understanding.

Peter stared at her, realization dawning on him. This meeting was no coincidence.

“I’m sure your mother would be very proud of you, Peter...”

A/N: 2202 words :)