Peter WHY...

The front door of the Parker house creaked open, letting in a gust of cold November air as Peter and Liz stepped inside. The warmth hit them immediately, wrapping them in the cozy embrace of Thanksgiving—a mix of roasted turkey, buttery rolls, and the faint sweetness of pumpkin pie wafting from the kitchen. 

The living room glowed with the soft light of a lamp and a few early holiday decorations, casting a golden hue over the worn but welcoming furniture. Peter kicked off his boots by the door, glancing at Liz with a grin as she shrugged off her jacket.

"Aunt May!" Peter called, his voice carrying through the house. "We've got company!"

Footsteps shuffled from the kitchen, and Aunt May appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands on a flour-dusted apron. Uncle Ben trailed behind her, his glasses perched on his nose, a curious look on his face as he paused mid-step from the living room. 

Their eyes landed on Liz—tall, blonde, and radiating a nervous charm in her simple cream sweater and jeans—and both froze, surprise flickering across their faces.

Peter stepped forward, his grin widening. "Aunt May, Uncle Ben, this is Liz Allan—my girlfriend."

Aunt May blinked, her mouth parting slightly as she processed the words, then snapped out of it with a warm smile. "Oh my goodness," she said, her voice lilting with delight. "Liz! Well, this is a surprise! Peter, you didn't say a word!"

Uncle Ben chuckled, adjusting his glasses. "Well, I'll be. You've been holding out on us, kid. Nice to meet you, Liz."

Liz smiled, her nerves easing a little at their warmth. "Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Parker. It's great to meet you too. Thanks for having me—I hope it's okay I'm crashing your Thanksgiving."

"Crashing? Nonsense!" Aunt May said, stepping forward to close the gap between them. She reached out, giving Liz a gentle, welcoming pat on the arm. "You're more than welcome here, dear. Peter's talked about you plenty, and I've been after him to bring you by."

Peter laughed, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Yeah, she's been on my case about introducing my girlfriend for ages. Figured today was the perfect time."

Liz glanced at him, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "He is full of surprises isn't he."

"Had to keep it fun," Peter teased, then turned to Uncle Ben. "Right?"

"Smart move," Uncle Ben said with a nod, his tone approving. "Keeps us on our toes. So, Liz, how'd you end up with this troublemaker?"

Liz laughed, relaxing into the moment. "Oh, he's not so bad. He's been really sweet—checked in on me when things got rough at school, and now here I am."

Aunt May beamed, clearly pleased. "That's our Peter. Always looking out for people. Now, come in, come in—don't stand there in the doorway! You must be freezing."

"Thanks, Mrs. Parker," Liz said, then hesitated, glancing toward the kitchen where the clatter of pots echoed. "Um, could I help out with anything? I'd love to pitch in."

Aunt May's eyes lit up. "Oh, you're a dear! I'd love the help—there's always something to do in there. Come along, let's get you settled."

"Sure," Liz said, smiling as she followed Aunt May's lead. "I'm not a pro, but I can chop or stir or whatever you need."

Peter watched them head toward the kitchen, a satisfied grin on his face. Perfect, he thought. Liz fits right in, and Aunt May's already smitten. He'd kept her visit a surprise, knowing how much Aunt May loved a good twist—and after her nudging him to visit Flash months ago, she'd been eager to meet the girl he'd been talking about.

Uncle Ben clapped Peter on the shoulder, steering him toward the living room. "She seems to be a nice girl, Peter. Treat her well."

"Yeah, she's pretty great," Peter agreed, his chest swelling with pride. "Thought it'd be a nice surprise for you two."

"Surprise it is," Uncle Ben said, settling back into his armchair as the football game droned on. "Now, let's see if that turkey's as good as your timing."

In the kitchen, Liz tied on a spare apron Aunt May handed her, the two of them chatting as they worked—Liz stirring gravy while Aunt May checked the oven. The house hummed with holiday cheer, the surprise of Liz's arrival blending seamlessly into the festivities. 

Peter joined Uncle Ben, sneaking a peek at the kitchen every so often, content to let the day unfold. Thanksgiving continued, a little louder and a lot warmer with Liz now part of the celebration.

With the Thanksgiving preparations complete, the kitchen settled into a quiet hum, the clatter of pots giving way to the inviting scents of a feast ready to be shared. Peter, Liz, Aunt May, and Uncle Ben gathered around the dining table, its surface now brimming with a golden-brown turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, steaming gravy, fragrant stuffing, and a glossy cranberry sauce. The candles in the pinecone centerpiece flickered gently, casting a warm glow over the neatly arranged plates Peter had set earlier. Outside, the snowy Queens evening pressed against the windows, but inside, the house buzzed with holiday cheer.

Aunt May smiled at the group, her hands clasped together. "Well, it's all ready. Shall we say grace?" They nodded, bowing their heads as she spoke, her voice soft and steady. "Dear Lord, we're thankful today for this food, for family, and for new friends joining us. Bless the hands that prepared it and keep us safe and warm this Thanksgiving. Amen."

"Amen," they murmured in unison, and the meal began with the clink of silverware against plates. The turkey was succulent, the stuffing rich with herbs, and the conversation flowed naturally as they ate.

Uncle Ben carved a generous slice of turkey and passed it to Liz, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses. "So, Liz, we're thrilled to have you here. How'd you and Peter end up together?"

Liz took the plate with a grateful nod, a smile spreading across her face. "It's kind of a long story, but he's just been there for me—always checking in, making sure I'm okay. He's a good guy."

Peter grinned, scooping mashed potatoes onto his plate. "Yeah, I figured I'd swoop in and save the day. Guess it worked."

Aunt May chuckled, her expression softening. "That sounds like our Peter—always looking out for others. Tell us about your family, Liz. What's your Thanksgiving usually like?"

Liz paused, her fork hovering over her stuffing. "It's usually just me and my mom. This year was supposed to be the same, but she had to rush to the hospital—my grandparents had an emergency. That's why I'm here instead of eating takeout."

"Oh, goodness, I hope they're alright," Aunt May said, her voice thick with concern. "What happened?"

"They're stable now," Liz replied, offering a reassuring smile. "Grandpa had a health scare, and Mom's staying with them to help out. I was going to stay home alone, but Peter invited me over."

Uncle Ben nodded, his tone warm. "That's rough, but family pulls through. Good thing Peter called you—nobody should be by themselves on Thanksgiving."

"Yeah," Peter chimed in, catching Liz's gaze. "Couldn't let you miss Aunt May's cooking. It's the best."

Liz smiled, her tension easing. "It really is amazing. Thanks for having me—this beats anything I'd have ordered."

"You're welcome anytime," Aunt May said warmly. "We've got plenty, and it's nice to have a new face at the table."

The meal progressed, plates slowly emptying as the talk turned to lighter topics. Uncle Ben leaned back, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "So, you two are juniors now, right? Starting to think about college?"

Peter nodded, swallowing a bite of turkey. "Yeah, it's coming up fast. I'm looking at science stuff—maybe engineering or physics. Gotta keep the brain busy."

"That's my boy," Uncle Ben said, pride evident in his voice. "You've got the smarts for it. What about you, Liz?"

Liz set her fork down, thoughtful. "I'm thinking business or maybe psychology—something where I can work with people. I've still got time to decide, but it's definitely on my mind."

Aunt May tilted her head, intrigued. "Business, huh? That's ambitious. You seem like you've got a good head for it."

"Thanks," Liz said, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Peter's the real genius, though. He's always got some clever idea."

Peter waved it off, laughing. "Just good at pretending. College will be a team effort—we'll figure it out together, right?"

"Right," Liz agreed, her smile broadening. "Partners in planning, at least."

Uncle Ben chuckled. "Sounds like a solid plan. You kids keep pushing forward—makes us old folks proud."

The dinner rolled on, filled with laughter and shared stories—Uncle Ben spinning a yarn about a Thanksgiving mishap from years ago, Aunt May teasing Peter about his childhood kitchen disasters. Liz blended in seamlessly, her presence adding a fresh spark to the Parker family table. As the plates cleared and the candles burned low, Thanksgiving continued, a warm tapestry of food, family, and future dreams woven together in the cozy glow of the holiday.