Part 2 Of 7: Day 2

Because there has been such a large response to my revisions (10% of my views historically have been this month June 2015) as well as the poll results I am taking a few days off the next chapter of Cats and Kings to do some more. Your interest and patience during my hiatus of this story is very appreciated. As it should have been pretty clear in the earlier versions of this story in the 616B no one has used the Jackpot identity before MJ I'm really offended they used her as a red herring. When I started writing this series in 2013 I had never read Sins Past I'd heard of the premise and hated it on that basis like 90+% of people who have read or heard of it as a result with little knowledge of the actual story I was resurrecting Gwen under the assumption that she hadn't actually slept with Norman and I was going to introduce one of three contrived explanations for how the twins weren't hers. But in recent months when I actually had the chance to read it for the first time and compared the story with the 60's-70's comics I honestly felt like it was a good story, that there was a plausible time and context the event could have occurred and that it was easier for me to sympathize with how Gwen was characterized after the time of the incident in continuity than if in the context of if it had not occurred I know I'm in a tiny minority here and those that don't share my views have every right to feel how they do. The primary reason why I now support Sins Past and will be treating the Gwen/Norman affair and pregnancy as having occurred is because if you look at the pre Night Gwen Stacy Died comics Gwen had 3 different personalities what I like to call Ditko Gwen, Romita Gwen and Stan Gwen. Ditko Gwen and Stan Gwen can both seen in Romita Gwen but it's VERY hard to identify the Ditko and Stan personalities as the same person in the context of Sins Past and taking a very close look at the characterization through her life it is possible to construct a 3-dimensional personality for her that is Both complete and CONSISTENT something that is virtually impossible to do otherwise.

Allistaire Smythe The Spider Slayer was presently being monitored/guarded by two of the Raft's more experienced staff. It was early in the morning when one of them noticed a red bird fly past inside the prison.

"Hey how did that get here?"

"Beats me… weird but how bad can it be? It's not like that one time the Red Ghost Apes got out of their cages."

"Oh that was a fiasco."

Twenty minutes later the pair along with ten other guards would be dead as Allistaire Smythe escaped eager to exact his revenge.

…

The next day was pretty awkward between Peter and Gwen they manifested affection together but Peter only gave as much as he would to Betty Brant who had become like a little sister it wasn't easy Gwen didn't know how to broach the elephant in the room and Peter kept thinking of his current relationship with Carol he was not going to be a jerk it was further complicated for him because ever since Mary Jane had told him about what she had done fragments of their marriage would enter his mind memories triggered by the strangest things before his memories of the "committed relationship" had been fundamentally the same in the sense of living through the exact same situations minus the ring and marriage certificate but there had been an entirely different more negative recollection of those experiences the best way to compare it would be if his life were a comic book and someone had went back and changed the dialogue in all the previous issues to give them a different context. He hadn't gotten it all together but he had recovered about a year of the way things had actually been and it was better than he could have possibly imagined. It was Saturday so Peter didn't have to work at Horizon. As the clock ticked by in the afternoon Peter wondered what to say to Gwen Peter didn't want to tell her he was going on a date he didn't have to however as Parker worked on his taxes and some documents related to the Future Foundation Gwen readied herself to leave it took no time for her to get Peter's attention.

"Peter I was hoping to visit the police department it's personal you know with my father and all is it ok if I go?"

"I don't know Gwen I have nothing against you going so long as your safe but I'm worried people will recognize you."

"I already thought of that I'm using the identity of my cousin Jill have you ever met her?"

Memories came flooding to him of the dark time everyone believed MJ had died in the plane crash and how after a number of months he and Jill had a moment and almost kissed shortly before he found where his wife had been held captive.

"… In a way but this is the police department how are you going to sell it?"

"I already called Felicia she has everything set up I just have to drop by her place first."

"There are still a couple journalist sweetheart be careful."

Gwen left and Peter sighed in relief now he didn't have to tell her about his date. He quickly got himself ready not forgetting to put his costume on under his clothes. Exiting his building he was at Carol's apartment in less than fifteen minutes. No costumes or dresses this time Danvers… Parker was dressed casually in jeans a T-Shirt a Red Socks cap and had her hair back in a ponytail.

"Do I look okay in this?"

"You look great but won't people recognize you your identity isn't a secret."

"There are two or three people in my building that know but I wouldn't worry about us going out I'm not proud of it but when most people think of Ms. Marvel my face isn't the first thing they think of and you're paying for the concessions in case you didn't know."

"That's only fair."

The two made the trip to the game without their powers and watched it uninterrupted the two were quiet aside from some jokes the usual cheering in the fourth inning Carol caught a loose ball in her cap she put it down next to her seat and Peter wondered just how far she could toss it. In the sixth inning as the scores became more distant from one another and the couple resigned to victory or defeat the conversation became serious.

"So what was Norman Osborn like?" Carol asked

"What!?" Peter said stirred from memories from his other—his real past.

"Well we all know that he's a madman that managed to take over everything but what was he really like? You should know he was your archenemy."

"Trust me he had a lot of competition in that department still Osborn always did stand out he might have looked goofy in his costume but he was a very serious threat. Our first battles were when I was still in high school he started out like a lot of villains an ambitious guy who wanted to take over the city's crime but as I stopped him again and again he became paranoid that I was after him and his family and obsessed with making my life miserable. We discovered each other's identities at about the same time and our war raged on."

"What happened?"

"Well it was always a challenge for me to deal with Norman he could reveal my identity whenever he wanted and of course I couldn't get rid of him his son Harry was and still is my best friend."

"I never had to deal with something like that."

"In college Harry had some drug problems and Norman blamed them on me he went on another rampage and… kidnapped my girlfriend."

"You mean the girl who's staying at your place?"

"Yes."

"He tossed her off a bridge… it wasn't her fall that killed her it was me I fired a web at her leg and… I miscalculated the deceleration snapped her neck."

Peter was traumatized as usual when talking about it but this time there was something different he was thinking of the moment he held her limp body and then an image flashed off him unmasking someone who was a spitting image of Ms. Stacy.

"I'm amazed you didn't kill him."

"Oh I was tempted I got pretty close but in the end it looked like he did himself in… by accident of course I thought I was free of him for several years I should have known better. I do not want to go into detail about all of the schemes he orchestrated to torture me while I thought he was dead but let's just say there never was a villain like him. I guess he got bored with torturing just me and decided why not mess with the whole community."

Peter accidentally crushed his seats cupholder thinking back to the Grey Goblin and all the other people who had been corrupted by Norman's legacy. Carol held on to Peter's hand not knowing what to say he was comforted but for a moment the familiar sensation triggered another memory flash and suddenly he wasn't looking at the beautiful blond in a baseball cap but found himself with Mary Jane one night walking towards Aunt May's home in Forest Hills he shook it off and Carol finally spoke up.

"I never knew he was that bad I just supposed that…"

"Because I make jokes all the time my enemies are all clowns."

"Well yes but you're really making me start to appreciate… what you street types do. That woman what was she like?"

"She was smart and charming, the beauty queen of Standard High her father was a very sharp police captain but she could be a bit dependent and naïve. To tell you the truth there was never anyone like her it may just have been that we were young but honestly we would have been married months before she died if I could have afforded it."

"You never got over her did you?" she said feeling oddly more empathetic than jealous

"I moved on it would have been easier if Norman and this creepy teacher of mine didn't send out clones of her twice to toy with me. I get more anxious than anything else when she gets dragged up again."

Peter had tried to keep it out of his mind but the thought of the Stacy Twins "heritage" what that entailed hit him with full force no wonder he'd partly trashed his room.

"Carol I'm yours Mary Jane and Felicia will help her get back on her feet and she'll be out in a few weeks. Can you just do one thing for me?"

"What?"

"If we decide to get more… serious can you not do anything weird like have a poster of Mar-Vel in your bedroom or insist that I wear my mask?"

Carol cheered when Boston scored a triple.

"Is there any specific reason why you asked that?"

"Oh no reason… Ok in the past Felicia could hardly stand the man under the mask she didn't really love me until a few years later."

"How couldn't she that's the best part."

Carol leaned over and kissed him the two frenched long enough to miss the end of the inning and disturbed some nearby spectators.

"How can you be so awesome?"

"I prefer marvelous."

"I… I think I love you."

Peter waited for her to respond Carol smiled but didn't say anything they watched the rest of the game and the conversation switched to more casual topics like science, film, the air force and photography there was a modest exchange of money as it ended. As they entered Carol's apartment Peter said.

"Thanks for the ticket I had a great time."

"It was spectacular. You want to go somewhere tonight or should we plan our third date."

"You mean I am your boyfriend?" He asked enthusiastically

"Yes don't tell the other Avengers just yet."

"Yeah I can hear Clint joking about us already."

"That's not the…"

"You won't regret this."

"Peter have you learned anything about these rings?"

"Not yet I mean obviously they are connected to this wristband I'm pretty sure I can take it off but it hasn't done anything strange and I think it would really hurt."

Carol held his arm and stared at the gems they matched the ones on the rings the first six glowed including the one that matched hers. Peter even if you haven't noticed it I'm sure it's had an effect last night when you were with me I felt… well not like I have in years it's like I don't have to work so hard to stay strong and I can still… I don't know open up."

Peter noticed her rings glow and the fears that he had had yesterday morning returned.

"You think it will affect the others?"

"Well I don't think it's gonna make us all hover over you or something but I'm sure it already has some. Who have you been with since the other day?"

"Well I talked to some of my exes of course I just wanted things to be cleared up and return to normal besides that just Jess she called me on the phone yesterday afternoon."

"What did she have to say?"

"She was concerned about her pheromones and wanted a Spider's opinion I told her she was just worrying." Peter said it was mostly true.

"Well that's good for her. You want to have a drink or something?" Carol said

"I don't usually drink but one wouldn't hurt" Peter said as the two settled down "I actually was going to go on patrol but I rented a collection of old Captain America serials I could bring them tomorrow unless you'd prefer a different film."

"No that's fine I always wanted to see Cap in the war…" she trailed off as she poured their glasses

"What is it?"

"Nothing just with this ring on my finger I'm going to have to change my codename I'm not looking forward to going back to Warbird."

"Why?"

"It's your usual story evil version of you from another universe tries to kill you off."

"I know what that's like."

"Oh yeah Venom but I think he's reformed now."

"I just wish he wasn't immune to my spider-sense."

"You'll be fine and if anyone messes with you they'll have to answer to me."

"But I thought you wanted to keep us quiet."

"It's going to come out eventually I just want another week or two."

"I really hit the Jackpot didn't I?"

"Oh you have no idea."

A moment later Peter had changed on the roof and started swinging he had a little rendezvous to attend to.

…

Gwen stopped at the office of the Cat's Eye security company and picked up all she needed fake passports, fake ids, a fake diploma and anything else she could want the company even worked to eliminate Jill's presence on the web which was no easy task. After thanking Felicia she went to the police station and entered. Many of the cops hadn't worked here when she died but even so quite a few heads turned. The man from the day before introduced her to everyone and when the matter was settled she said she was hoping to get a job on the force maybe forensics. Herschel pointed to Watanbee's office. Gwen was heading towards the office when a woman with black hair and unusual eyes walked by.

"Do I know you?" she asked

"I don't think so I'm Jill Stacy."

"Greer Nelson."

Greer had already talked to Carlie about the day before revealing her identity as Tigra so neither party was ready when Nelson introduced Gwen to Carlie.

"Hi I'm Jill Stacy Greer says you work in forensics I was hoping you could introduce me to Captain Watanbee I was hoping I could work in the department."

"Gwen?! (Carlie and Gwen were childhood friends)

"You must mean my cousin I'm Jill."

"I've met Jill you introduced us when we were eleven she looks nothing like you. Greer please don't tell me this is another clone."

"She's the real deal the rest is classified… superhero business."

"Okay I'll play along Jill for now and yes I am rather close to the captain if you desire to work here Ms. Stacy that is fine. It is your right I guess."

"Thank you… Ms. Cooper I was wondering what is your connection to Peter?"

"We'll talk about that later."

The meeting with the captain was a lot easier than Gwen had thought. The captain had every reason to be naturally very suspicious of Gwen but somehow Carlie seemed to have her around her finger and when the interview was completed it was determined that she could receive training from Carlie and Greer. Gwen was a fast learner but as the hours went by she was more interested in talking about Carlie's prior relationship and defending Peter the woman had such conviction it actually moved the weary Carlie a bit and well Greer found Gwen pretty entertaining. However odd the day was it would only get stranger as it passed.

…

Mary Jane had been restless in the morning so she had spent the last four hours playing superhero. Dressed in a stylish green outfit and mask she had felt as if she could do anything and the first two hours had been thrilling and she'd reveled in the freedom having all but forgotten her experiences that it was a hard road indeed. Reality gradually came during the third and fourth the odd looks and nervous glances from passerby an escape from the police and a lot of criminals that threatened to charge her with assault. She was considering going home.

"Maybe I should enroll in Avengers Academy or something because I don't have a clue what I'm doing."

Then she heard a scream. MJ sprang into action immediately she saw a guy hitting a woman in an alley and was reminded of her parents. She didn't even say anything or respond to the man's obscenities as she brutally beat him he had a sidearm but it provided him no use after slamming him into a brick wall twice she kicked him to the ground.

"Leave if I see you again…"

The man got to his feet and ran. Mary Jane helped the woman to her feet.

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah thanks. Who are you?"

"The name's Jackpot."

MJ would have normally lingered but she didn't want to be reminded any more of her family she headed to the rooftops before the woman could say anything.

"Is this the kind of thing Peter has to go through whenever he sees a man with a gun?"

Spider-Man spotted her fifteen minutes later finishing of a small gang. He landed next to her as she finished the last one of.

"Spider-Man!" she said surprised

"It's nice to go for an afternoon's swing and see a new street hero at work. What's your name?" her costume didn't do a great job at concealing her identity and MJ had been very much on his mind lately but he wasn't going to be too hasty.

"Jackpot at your service and no I don't want to be your sidekick."

"Wasn't asking but while I'm here with the beautiful damsel could she do me the honor of removing her mask?"

"I'm sorry I'm not the kind of girl that just goes and takes of her mask for strangers."

"You can trust me I'm your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man and it's kind of important I'm part of the street heroes union and we really have to know our heroes otherwise how are we going to make sure they pay their dues?"

"Another time."

"I insist." Spider-Man said grabbing her arm.

Spider-Man was strong he could lift ten tons but his strength didn't help him keep ahold of Jackpot or maybe he didn't want to. The two fought just to size up one another Spider-Man gradually lost however he had always had a thing about hitting women and had never done so with the exception of Shattra and the mind controlled Spider-Woman. He was more than a match for Jackpot physically but the heroine didn't trigger his spider-sense which reinforced Spider-Man's suspicion. Even without powers the Black Cat had been a formidable foe still he was always able to beat her this woman was in even better shape and seemed to be able to predict his next move even better than Venom. Finally she managed to flip him against a wall and press a tiny button on Spider-Man's wrists. Peter's gloves became completely entrapped in webbing and cemented to the wall as the devices self-destructed. Jackpot smiled as she looked him over completely helpless.

"Guess I could keep up with you."

"MJ?"

"Of course you knew that. Decided to join the hero biz. Sorry Tiger but I couldn't resist snaring you in your own web. I'm sure you'll get out before the police come."

And then Mary Jane pulled of the bottom of Peter's mask and kissed him on the lips.

"Mary Jane I'm dating Ms. Marvel… I mean Warbird. She said the rings had an effect on her and the other women." Trying to tear himself away from her gorgeous face long enough to look at her glowing ring. Less than two days ago Mary Jane was a nine she looked a bit younger now and it would be hard for him not to call her a ten.

"Well she was right I don't know if I'm quite cut out for this but I like the power as for your little Avenger friend I told you yesterday Peter I don't care so long as I can have you."

"Mary Jane I'm not going to-"

"I'll see you around."

By the time Spider-Man managed to free himself from the webbing she was long gone.

…

After his encounter with Jackpot Spider-Man stopped by at a familiar rooftop it had been the sight of many meetings with the street heroes over the years. Meetings that had become more frequent over the past six months Daredevil, Punisher, Iron Fist, Power Man, Black Cat, Cloak, Dagger and Shang Chi all worked with him on occasion they had been coordinating to try to defeat the criminal element that was currently split between (I'm making this up) Kingpin, The Rose, Mr. Negative and the Hobgoblin. Normally Spider-Man was the one that was missing from all the meetings his schedule had become extremely busy but today only the Punisher had arrived.

"I almost gave up on you kid." The Punisher said

Spider-Man had had to crawl up the wall since his webshooters were busted.

"What are we doing today Castle?"

"Fisk men are shipping some stolen goods it's small but if we keep the criminals of the street and the money out his pockets long enough he'll topple."

"I've got your back but before we go out could you hand me a screwdriver?"

Spider-Man's web shooters were repaired eight minutes later and he took a ride on the top of the Punisher's van they broke into the place as they were preparing to move the trucks. The facility was well defended but Spider-Man and the Punisher were just enough to handle the thugs neither realized before it was too late however that the first think the criminals had done was call the cops. Spider-Man was checking the trucks they were all empty then he heard the sirens they had been setup. Spider-Man rushed outside only to find the Punisher surrendering to Jameson's anti Spider-Man squad. Castle saw Spider-Man watching him from a rooftop as he and the criminals were loaded onto a truck he shook his head there were to many. A simple voice command fired a spider tracer from his web shooter onto the side of the car and the hero swung away. He was going to get Frank out of this while he didn't agree with his methods the vigilante had been an ally over the years. A plan was forming in his mind it was crazy but it just might work it was Jameson's squad that apprehended the Punisher he was going to make the man an offer he could not refuse.

…

At the police station Carlie and Greer had just finished Gwen's training for the day when they saw Jameson's Anti Spider-Man patrol enter the station with the Punisher they only just now bothered to read him his Miranda Rights and everything. He was locked in a cell and after putting his equipment safely away in an evidence locker Carlie and Watanbee questioned him. He wasn't particularly chatty "right to remain silent" and all that but there was one thing he eventually said one thing.

"There's a dirty cop on your force."

Watanbee took this rather personally since she was the police captain. Though both she and Carlie disliked the gun totting vigilante they also knew his background he was an authority on this sort of thing.

"Assuming I've made a huge error in judgment and your right why should I trust you?"

"I don't know Wraith but your secret might not be as secure as you think I would hate for another police captain to be killed by this city's crime lords especially one that has gone to such lengths as yourself."

"We'll talk about this later."

Watanbee led Carlie to the evidence lockers the room was otherwise empty. The captain asked Carlie to start an internal investigation she only worked in forensics and had confined herself to evidence but one of her friends in the force had suspiciously died last week. She didn't do much work in the field but already she had it narrowed down to two suspects.

"I'll do it." Carlie said

"Good and Carlie one more thing I'm not an idiot I didn't need an internet search to know that Jill is still in London whatever you're doing with Gwendolyne Stacy I trust you."

She had no time to respond as one of the younger cops arrived.

"Captain you're not going to believe this Spider-Man broke into a news station and called Mayor Jameson on national television offering to turn himself in tomorrow in exchange for the release of Castle. Jameson's agreed if Spider-Man does show up and prove his identity."

Since the day he had come to office Jameson had indulged in his obsessive hatred of the Spider-Man and he had not shied away from breaking the law a few times. The events of Spider-Island had given him just the ammunition he needed to put out a warrant for his arrest. The cops had ignored it till now though of course. The Mayor's last rant sounded something like this.

"People of New York I was right if you didn't believe the wallcrawler was the city's greatest threat before there is now no denying it. Sure he saved the city it was all a publicity stunt that glory hound thought we would be fooled. The man turns an entire city into a bunch of freaks like him and thinks he can just take it back. We all saw him unmask during the Superhuman Registration Act but none of us remember his face and there is no record of his identity I'm telling you the menace has wiped all our minds. Do you really want you and your children to find out what he has planned next?"

"How does Jameson know he will show up?" Carlie asked

"Spider-Man said he would come regardless but if it made Jameson more comfortable one of the cops knows where to meet him and could serve a subpoena. Jameson agreed wanted to make his whole charade seem more legitimate. I'm just wondering Captain who knows Spider-Man?"

"I'm sure we'll find out Winston."

The cop left Watanbee looked at Carlie and said one word.

"Go!"

Carlie found Gwen who had already heard the news and had been talking with the equally concerned Greer. Even if she wasn't in love with Peter the whole situation could easily leave her completely uprooted.

"He's going to be all right Gwen he knows what he's doing."

…

Peter had been at his apartment for fifteen minutes when he heard a knock on the door. He opened it and saw Gwen and Carlie the latter handed him his papers.

"Spider-Man you've been served… and Peter I don't like Castle but you're really sticking your neck out for a friend good luck tomorrow."

Peter allowed Gwen in as Carlie left.

"So what do you plan to do?"

"I have a plan but I don't know if it's going to work I'm going to make a few calls and see where things go. Can I have a little privacy please?" Peter said he no longer felt comfortable around her especially now that he was thinking of Norman.

"Fine."

Gwen wasn't happy Peter hadn't been acting like he did the previous morning she could understand if he wasn't head over heels with her at the moment but would it bother him to ask about her time at the police station.

Gwen settled as Peter called Foggy Nelson to see if Murdock was available but he was apparently handling some business out of the country. Peter had barely hanged up when there was another call.

"Peter Parker who is this?"

"Parker I saw you on the news have you really thought this through?"

"Jennifer well I have half of a plan but… I really could use a lawyer."

"You're gonna owe me for this."

"Yeah I know."

They went over the basics and made arrangements for ten minutes then Peter made another call.

"Hey Felicia have you heard the news? If you're not too busy tomorrow I was hoping you could do me a few favors."

After he was done with Felicia he and Gwen shared a late dinner. His cell phone beeped constantly text from other heroes most of it was the usual support but there were a couple important ones like the one from Tony Stark. Stark still felt guilty after the Civil War so he relieved him of his Avengers duties for the next day (While Spider-Man was in court the next day the Avengers easily defeated a new incarnation of the Circus of Crime that featured among other things a three armed man a nephew of the Collector a female version of the Blob and a villain so lame he called himself Gimmick.) There was also a message from Reed Richards Johnny Storm had come back from the dead and so Peter would no longer be part of the Fantastic Four though he might still contribute as part of the foundation (two days later Franklin and Valeria would end up trapped in the microverse and the Fantastic Four went after them it was quite an adventure.) There was also a message from Carol that Gwen read along with the others when Peter was on the toilet. Later that night Peter was just drifting off to sleep on the couch when he was jolted awake by a familiar voice.

"Madame Web I really hope you came here with some good news!"

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