- How are you folks doing? My thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter...as always, I greatly appreciate you guys taking the time to read the writing I put out.

- I really hate writer's block and it seems to hate me just as much...it strikes at the worst times, especially when I actually have the chance to write. This chapter was fun but it took forever to finish. I guess my mind is struggling to think of some new ideas and also expressing it the right way. That's not going to stop me from writing but a fair warning...my level of writing may not be on par with my past work so bear with me a little.

We'll see how it turns out in the coming future. For now, please enjoy this next chapter!

...

"...I swear I'm going to shoot someone if they don't stop staring at us." Sable growled in annoyance, her grip growing stronger as she held Peter's hand.

Peter nervously chuckled behind his mask but he understood why she was getting annoyed. Many of the superheroes and heroines standing near them were looking with awe at the fact that the Queen of Symkaria was holding hands with Spider-Man as they sat together.

Tony Stark and Captain America had thrown together a little superhero party and many of the Avengers as well as their closest allies were currently in attendance. Naturally, Peter was invited as well and he asked Sable if she would like to go with him.

Although she wasn't one for big parties, Sable could never say no to Peter and she figured it'd be a good chance for her to get to know some of the other heroes and heroines better.

Unfortunately, when they arrived at Avenger's Tower by way of Peter's webslinging, many of the superheroes turned their attention to greet him...only for them to be rendered speechless when their eyes noticed that Silver Sablinova was also there. Sable had an idea as to why that was. She used to kill if necessary before back during her time as a bounty hunter so it made sense that some of the heroes disliked her methods and still remained wary of her.

But their initial looks of surprise paled in comparison to how their jaws dropped when they realized that the Queen of Symkaria was here on a date with Spider-Man...and they only got that slightest hint when they saw her loop her arm around his.

Sable could've sworn that there were some looks of envy and jealousy directed towards her by a few certain superheroines and it made her wonder about just how many superheroines were in love with Spider-Man.

"Not sure that's a good idea in a place full of superheroes." He joked, "...but you can shoot the old torch there, so long as you don't kill him."

Peter was getting tired of the Human Torch constantly asking about how it is that he gets all the incredibly hot ladies everytime he walked by the hothead.

Sable shook her head with a grin.

"Tempting...but no thanks. I don't want to waste precious bullets on someone who's on the right side of the law."

Peter grinned back at her. "That's good to hear. I'm sorry about everyone staring at us though. I didn't think our arrival was that big of a deal."

"It's not your fault," Sable replied, her hand touching the side of Peter's mask. "I think they're just curious about your life. You did tell me that many of the Avengers and other heroes don't know who you are underneath that mask."

He was still a bit confused. "I guess...but why me? I'm not exactly Thor or Captain America, I'm just a street level vigilante who gets in way over his head too often."

That was the only thing Sable didn't like about Peter...his habit of underestimating just how important of a person he was to her and to everyone else that cared about him.

"Don't ever say that again, Spider-Man." She sternly stared into Peter's blank lenses, "You're more important than you realize...especially to me."

Peter stared back at her and was about to say something when another voice suddenly joined in.

"She's right, Spider-Man...You have no idea just how much you matter to all of us."

Both of them turned around to see the Invisible Woman looking at them with a polite smile.

"Uh, hey Sue." Peter greeted with a friendly wave.

She waved back. "Sorry about my brother, Spidey. He's just lamenting the fact that he's still single...and for a long time now that I think about it."

He chuckled at that. "Nah, it's fine. Johnny's probably got a backup somewhere...that guy doesn't stay single for long."

"Maybe..." Sue shrugged, "but he also doesn't stay in a relationship for very long either. Sometimes I wish he would grow up already."

"Sometimes?" Peter said with a smirk.

She sighed with a playful smirk of her own. "More like I wish that all the time."

Sable simply looked on as the Invisible Woman joked around with Peter and she smiled...it was good to see her boyfriend relaxed like this.

"Jokes aside, Spidey...I didn't come here just to say hi." Sue said with all seriousness.

"Oh? Is there something you need?"

This time, Sue shifted her gaze towards Sable. "I'm sorry to bother you...but may I speak to you in private, your Majesty?"

"Me?" Sable certainly wasn't expecting this at all.

"Is that alright with you, Spidey?"

He nodded. "Not a problem...but what for?"

"There's just some things I want to discuss with Ms. Sablinova. That's all." Sue explained.

Peter looked over to Sable to see if she was okay with this, to which she only smiled in reassurance. "I have no problems with that. Lead the way, Mrs. Richards."

Sue nodded and began to walk away with Sable following her, leaving a confused Peter behind as he waved to them.

'I wonder what Sue wants to discuss with Sable?' His mind kept asking that question over and over. Peter didn't get a chance to think on it any further though when a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around him from behind.

"Hello, Spidey." Hope happily greeted.

Peter smiled at the sight of his young pupil and pushed his previous thoughts aside for now. "It's been a while, Hope. How's my favourite student been?"

"I'm your only student, Spidey." She pointed out, grinning as Spider-Man ruffled her hair. Hope didn't know why but she liked it when her mentor did that. She found Spider-Man's touch to be very warm and comforting.

"So what's new?"

Hope pulled Spider-Man's hand and began to lead him away to another part of the room.

"Nothing much but I would like to introduce you to some of my friends...who just happen to be big fans of yours. Is that ok?"

Peter playfully sighed. "Sure...but if I have to sign autographs, I might have to start charging for it."

Hope rolled her eyes at her mentor's jest before she made her way towards where the majority of the X-Men were hanging around.

...

Sable didn't say a word as she took in the sight of the people in front of her...when the Invisible Woman asked to speak with her privately, she had expected their conversation to be with just herself and Mrs. Richards alone.

But when they stepped into a quiet room some ways away from the main party, there were already two other superheroines awaiting them. Ms. Marvel and Spider-Woman stood beside Mrs. Richards as she took a deep breath before finally speaking.

"I know we've never really spoken to each other before, Ms. Sablinova...but there is something of the utmost importance that we wish to say to you."

Ms. Marvel's discreet but noticeable glare did not escape Sable's attention as she nodded for Mrs. Richards to continue.

"Don't you ever dare break Peter's heart." Susan cut right to the chase. "I can tell Peter genuinely loves you given how often he speaks so highly of you and I couldn't be more happier for him but...I swear to god I will make you pay if you're only toying with his feelings.

The steel in her voice along with the stern look in her eyes more than told Sable the Invisible Woman would follow through with her threat if she had to...but she would never give her a chance to do so. She felt a little offended that the heroines would even suggest she'd do such a thing.

Sable loved Peter too much and there was no way in hell she'd dare hurt him in any way.

Spider-Woman stepped forward and stared right into Sable's eyes.

"She won't be the only one...I have no doubts that you're in love with Peter but keep in mind that he's been through more hell than a person should ever have to experience. I don't want Peter to go through any more suffering and the last thing I want is for you to add to his unfortunate long list of grief."

It was starting to get more difficult for Sable to keep from showing her disdain of their accusations but she managed to rein her frustration in.

This time, Ms. Marvel chose to speak but unlike her two fellow superheroines, she unexpectantly lifted Sable up by her collar and pushed her face really close to hers.

"Listen to me..." Carol warned with a more vivid glare, ignoring Sue's and Jessica's efforts in trying to get her to release her grip, "I'm in love with Peter as well and unlike Jessica and the others who have a crush on him too, I refuse to give up on him. However, that doesn't mean I can't see that Peter's really happy with you and as much as I was reluctant to do so...I gave him my blessing."

She stopped for a moment to breathe and her hands released their grip on Sable, making the Symkarian Queen land on her feet.

"But break his heart and I'll take Peter for myself...after I break your legs." Carol finished with a determined look.

It was silent for a moment in the quiet room but inside her heart, Sable was angry. She could understand the three superheroines warning her not to harm Peter...she would never do such a thing anyways because she loved Peter with all her heart.

But when Ms. Marvel confirmed that she and many other superheroines were in love with Peter as well, an ugly sense of jealousy flared up and it only grew uglier when the blonde heroine proclaimed that she would steal Peter away from her.

It was time to set the record straight.

The three superheroines found themselves taking a step back when the Queen of Symkaria's face not only turned serious but also with an eerie calm that sent chills down their spines.

"...I'm glad to see that you all care about Peter and I understand your efforts in looking out for him."

She walked up to Carol and placed her face close to hers with a hardened glare.

"But understand this...I love Peter Parker with everything that I am and I would soon rather die than betray his love. He's the greatest man I or any other woman could ever ask for and I'll be damned if I let you or anyone else take Peter away from me." Sable stated with absolute conviction.

Sue and the others were stunned at her bold words but such an honest and true statement brought a small grin to the Invisible Woman's face...there was no doubts in her mind now that Peter was in good hands.

"I'm very glad to hear that," Sue gave her a friendly hug. "take good care of Peter for us, alright?"

"Sorry if we scared you, we just had to make sure you were serious." Jessica added, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.

Sable's gaze softened. "I am and thank you...for looking out for him"

Sue and Jessica gave her an understanding smile as they left the room. Carol didn't say anything but she gave Sable a brief nod of acknowledgement before she followed her fellow super heroines. It was a gesture that she cordially returned, knowing that it couldn't have been easy for Ms. Marvel to have given her blessing.

'Peter's the best thing that's ever happened to me...and I will never let him go.' Sable promised herself with a small smile.

She left the empty room behind and headed back to where the bulk of the get-together was. Her eyes looked around the room, hoping to find Spider-Man amongst the crowd of many superheroes.

It wasn't easy, given that there were numerous costumes of various colours in the way but it was her ears that finally located where he was.

"Girls, we're here as friends, remember?" Peter's voice rang out.

Sable turned her attention to the left and she smiled when her eyes caught sight of her beloved...who was currently holding back Hope Summers and Spider-Girl for some reason.

Peter didn't notice that Sable was standing behind him. He was too busy trying to keep his student and his younger female counterpart from battling it out with each other. It seemed that Arana was a little bit jealous of the fact that Hope had him as her teacher and while the fight consisted of arguments only, Peter had a funny feeling that it could potentially escalate to fists...especially between two teenage super powered girls.

Fortunately, it wouldn't come to that when Sable suddenly embraced Peter from behind.

"Are you having problems, Spider-Man?" She whispered. Hope and Arana stopped glaring at each other and turned their attention to the newcomer. Both of their eyes widened a bit at the sight of Spider-Man, a hero they both greatly admired being hugged by the Queen of Symkaria.

Silver Sablinova was someone they knew of only by rumours and words but this was the first time the two teenage superheroines were meeting the former mercenary in person.

Peter held Sable's hand with a grin. "Hope, Spider-Girl...allow me to introduce you to my girlfriend, Silver Sablinova."

"It is a pleasure to meet you both." Sable offered her free hand, her cheeks blushing a scarlet red from when Peter introduced her as his girlfriend.

Hope shook her hand with an awed look on her face. "L-likewise, madam."

"Y-yeah, same here." Arana stammered, taking note of the Queen's exquisite beauty.

Sable just chuckled at their nervous behavior before Peter leaned into her ear.

"So what did you talk about with Sue?"

"She and the others asked me to take good care of you." Sable whispered back with a soft smile, "and I always will...because I love you, Peter."

She quickly kissed Peter's masked cheek, making his face turn a light shade of red underneath his mask. Hope and Arana's jaws dropped slightly in surprise at the sudden show of affection shared between the couple.

"Wait...who are the others?"

"I'll tell you the details later...so what are they arguing about?" Sable inquired. She was curious as to why Hope and Spider-Girl were fighting over her boyfriend.

Peter sighed as his mutant pupil and Arana began glaring at each other again.

"I think Arana's a little jealous of Hope when I told her that she was my student."

Sable simply chuckled at that, which only confused Peter more.

"Uh, did I miss something here?"

"It's understandable. If I was in Arana's place, I'd be jealous of Hope too...I wouldn't want to miss the chance to be taught by the most perfect man."

Peter couldn't say a word to that as he fidgeted a little with a blush...much to the delighted amusement of Sable, Arana, and Hope as they giggled at Peter's adorable behavior.

- I know one shots are meant to be shorter than this but I think it turned out ok. Many rewrites had to be done before I was satisfied with the end result and even then, I'm still not 100% certain about it but I'll leave that up to you guys though, hopefully you all enjoyed it.

- It got a little violent there between Carol and Sable, didn't it? Keep in mind that I'm not making Carol out to be a crazy woman...that's not my intention with her character at all. I just thought that jealousy brings out the worst in everyone, especially with the best of people and occasionally it's expressed very vividly.

- In any case, I hope you all liked it and reviews are always encouraged. Till the next time, friends!