Jillian greeted each guest as they entered, taking gifts and placing them on a designated table that served that purpose. She danced a little, drank a little, ate a little and talked a little. But the thing she focused on doing the most was finding Peter Parker.

She knew he would come; he had to. It was one of those things that he had to do, after saving her life, after she saved his life, and after he told her he was Spider-Man. She stared at the door and at the various party goers, but she could not find him. She saw Miriam Birchwood, the columnist at the Bugle. She also saw Billy Walker, who was a freelance reporter there as well. Betty Brant was speaking with her boyfriend Flash Thompson, who she introduced only to an extent, and even Jillian's boss, J. Jonah Jameson, was holding a beer and talking with Robbie, who was Jameson's right hand man.

That was when there was a knock at the door.

Jillian ran through a throng of people, shouting "I got it!" as she made her way to the door. She grabbed the doorknob and took a deep breath, opened it slowly and smiled. "Hi, Peter."

Peter Parker stood, wearing a nice polo shirt with a pair of black slacks. In his hand he held only a card inside a yellow envelope. Jillian smiled as she took it, and decided that she wanted to open it right then are there. Peter stepped inside and shut the door to her apartment as she took out the card.

"Happy 21st Birthday," Jillian read aloud. She opened the card and found a small piece of paper inside. She smiled as she read it. "I.O.U." she sighed.

Peter cleared his throat. "I'll fill you in later, when it's not so crowded in here."

"Sure. Hey, Peter, look--we really haven't gotten to talk since...well, y'know."

"Yeah," he said. "I know." He patted her shoulder and left her alone with her I.O.U. Coupon, reaching for a beer.

Jillian sighed. It wasn't exaclty how she had expected the conversation to go, but at least he knew what she was talking about. After all, how could they speak considerably with so many people in ear? Jillian sighed again, telling herself to be content, and went to enjoy her party.

"Finch!" Someone called. Jillian spun around to see who called her name. It was her boss. Wonderful.

"Finch! Did you finish that report I wanted, about Captain America?"

Jillian sighed. "Yes, Mr. Jameson." Jillian had flinched at the name. The death of Captain America had been so sudden and so recent that the actual fact that he was gone hadn't really sunken it yet. Jillian remebered exactly where she was when she heard the news--the cityroom at the Daily Bugle had gone absolutely mad. She remembered looking around the office to find that Peter wasn't there. She wondered how he was dealing with the death of a man who Peter respected and admired so much.

"I think it's hardly the time to discuss work, Jonah!" Robbie butted in. "Our Jillian's 21! We should be celebrating, not worrying about the next deadline! Why don't you get yourself some crackers, Jonah?"

Jillian winked and smiled, sending a silent message of appreciation to Robbie. He had always been the one to come just in the knick of time.

As the clock continued to tick, more and more guests started to leave. She said goodbye to Jameson, Betty, and even that Flash guy who had tagged along, but she realized that Peter had left without a word. Confused at this, she started to clean up with her parents, who had gladly stayed later to help straighten her new apartment.

But once they left, Jillian was completey alone. She stared at the I.O.U. Coupon which she held in her hands. "I owe you a kick in the balls." she moaned, placing the piece of paper in her pocket. It was getting late, and Jillian was tired from the party that she had expected to be a lot more fun than it had been. As Jillian put her earring on her dresser, she looked around and opened the bottom draw. She lifted a pile of clothes to find a long envelope. She figited with the seal to pull out her mask. The mask that transformed Jillian into Diamond.

She had always had it--it made her feel safer, stronger. Jillian often looked at it and always wished that it was more than just a mask. It gave her a sense of security, and she always had it ready to be admired again for reminiscing. Jillian put the mask back after a long sigh and a trip down memory lane. She slipped into her pajama pants and matching top, wearing big, floppy bunny slippers and she decided that she wouldn't host another party for a while. All Jillian wanted to do now was sleep, after she brushed her teeth.

The thing Jillian loved about her bathroom was its skylight--if she tilted her head right, she could clearly see the Empire State Building. As she brushed her teeth she felt a soft breeze, and she turned around. She dropped her toothbrush and screamed.

"Sshh! Do you want everyone to hear you?"

Spider-Man was hanging upside-down on a webline and had come straight through the skylight. Jillian spit in the sink and wiped her mouth clean.

"Are you nuts? What if I was in the shower, or going to the bathroom!"

Spider-Man seemed to be debating his possible answers.

"Oh, nevermind! What are you doing here? Why didn't you just say whatever you're gonna say at the party. And why didn't you say anything at the party?" Jillian felt an angry rant coming on, but relaxed and contained herself.

"Doya have the I.O.U. Coupon I gave ya?"

"It's in my pant's pocket. Why?"

"Here's your present!"

She analyzed him, from top to bottom.

"What's my present?"

He sighed, picked her up, and jumped out of the open skylight and onto the roof of the apartment building.

"Why couldn't you have just given me a giftcard to Target, like normal people?"

"Jillian, since when am I normal? Now, hold on tight, okay?"

Jillain grabbed Spider-Man around the neck, and suddenly remembered the sensation of swining on his back that had once been so familair to her. She smiled, like she was her old, younger self when she first had this experience, and she screamed out with happiness. She hadn't had a ride from Spider-Man in the longest time--she appreciated this gift more than he could ever know.

Too bad Spider-Man had picked the night that all hell would brake loose.