"You sure about this?"

"Absolutely."

"Why couldn't Natasha do it?"

"Osborn has seen Natasha – he knows her. Just let me do this, alright?"

Logan grumbled. "Fine. But if you get one hair on her head hurt. . ." Skint.

Matt took the bus to the restaurant, where he entered.

"Over here!" a voice called to him.

He followed the voice, sitting down. "That's for helping me with this," he told her.

"No problem. This was the darkest place I could find, and least populated."

"You sure your husband is okay with this?"

He could tell she was smiling. "It's not his call."

"Good point."

"I've heard a lot about you."

"And I you."

"How's life as an Avenger?"

"It's alright. I'm still not quite used to the whole team thing."

She waved her hand as their dinner was served to them. "You get used to it. So . . ." And awkward silence. "Are you and Elektra . . .?"

"We're done."

"For now?"

Matt sighed.

"I've met someone else."

"Oh? Tell me about her!"

Matt smiled, thinking about her. "She's a teacher. She's just so beautiful, I can tell, and she's funny and great to the kids, and she just has such a good attitude about her. She's not prying or clingy, but not too distant."

She gasped. "Matt Murdock, you are head over heels for this woman!"

"Maybe."

"How many times have you seen her?"

"Yesterday was the third – I took her to dinner."

"And you're with me now instead of her."

"This needed to be done." He smiled. "Again, thank you."

She flipped her hair. "All in the hair."

"Yeah," Matt sighed. "Logan was pissed because I wouldn't use Natasha."

"Natasha didn't put a mask on – she's a known Avenger. He'd recognize her."

"And her powers are in her strength and guns, not her mind like yours."

"Which is defiantly going to help."

After the two finished dinner, she took his arm and he led her out, taking a stroll in the dark, less populated areas of town.

She tensed at the same time he did. "Get ready," she said.

He ducked just as the glider flew over their heads – the Goblin grabbed Matts guest by the arm, holding her against him. He gave an annoying insane laugh.

"Come with me!" He told Matt. "Or she dies!"

"Okay," Matt said with a shrug.

"I'll do it, slowly – and it will be your entire fault that your best friend loses the love of his life!"

"Again, okay, but there is a problem with that." Matt spun his cane around. "That's not Mary Jane."

The Goblin cackled, then realized what had been said. He looked at the woman in his clutches, and she smiled, before the Goblin went sailing into a large brick wall behind them with a cosmic force.

"Goblin," Matt said as the Goblin stood shakily. "Meet Jean Grey. The Phoenix. Jean, meet the Goblin."

Jean gave a finger wave. "Hi, there."

"Jean here is telekinetic," Matt said.

"And telepathic," Jean added.

"And," added a gruff voice from the shadows. "My girl." Wolverine emerged, his claws gleaming.

"It's over, Goblin," Iron Man said as he landed in front of them, and Cap stepped out of the shadows with Spider-Man and Iron Fist.

The Goblin hesitated, the raised his hands over his head in surrender.

Jean turned to Wolverine as Cap and Iron Man made their capture. "Your girl?" She demanded.

Wolverine grinned. "Someones gotta be watchin' for ya, 'specially when Slims outta town."

Jean turned to Matt. "This was done quicker than we thought – why don't you call your lady friend?"

"That's actually a great idea," Matt said.

Next Time – Matt finally comes face-to-face with Shadowshine . . . Literally . . .