Uh, hey, God? It's Mary Jane. Yeah, long time since you've heard from me, huh? Listen--if you can do something for Peter, please...please, help him. And, if he's already up there with you, tell him I love him. Okay? Can you do that for me, God? Just help Peter. Help Peter.

Mary Jane felt awkward. She rarely prayed at all in the past, and when she did, it was sort of uncomfortable for her. But she needed all the help she could get. Peter needed all the help he could get. She decided to step out for a minute, to take a breather. There was a security guard standing beside the door. She wondered if he had superpowers...

Mary Jane rummaged through her pocketbook and found what she was looking for. She pulled the cigarette out, then was dismayed when she realized she had no lighter. Then, almost on cue, Johnny Storm entered Stark Tower.

"Hey, Johnny. Can I get a light?"

He laughed slightly as he walked closer. He looked at the cigarette. "Didn't you quit?"

"Just give me a light, Johnny."

He pushed her cigarette down. "You're stronger than that." He told her.

Mary Jane grunted, frustrated, and flicked it on the ground. Johnny put his hand on her shoulder. "How is he?"

She didn't reply. He asked her if he was allowed in. She said of course. Mary Jane didn't follow him inside, but she could overhear his talking. "Hey Webs. It's Johnny. Or Matchstick. Or Flame-for-Brains. Or whatever other dumb nicknames you call me. It's good that you're resting up, y'know. Your clone is really convincing...he had me fooled. But we're all here for you, okay? Mary Jane is right outside, and I don't know if she's left Stark Tower since she found out about the bus. You're lucky to have someone like her there for you. Now, I gotta go help find these bombs. Venom's planted them all over the city, if you haven't heard yet. Get better, Webs."

Mary Jane flashed him a weak smile as he exited. He opened a nearby window, 'flamed on' and then leaped. Mary Jane watched the flaming man fly away. It's gotta be so hot...she thought. She stood outside the door for some time, thinking, until she was interrupted by a grunt. She jumped. It was Jarvis!

"Jarvis! What are you doing here? I thought you worked for Captain America."

The old man smiled. "I serve the Avengers, my dear. If I may ask, Mrs. Watson-Parker, how is Spider-Man?"

Mary Jane bit her lip and shook her head, unable to speak.

The old butler nodded. "Is there anything I can get for you?"

Mary Jane thought, then said, "Yeah, actually. Can you get me a copy of Peter Pan?"

"The book?"

She nodded. "His aunt used to read it to him all the time as a kid, and then he read it to her on her deathbed. I think, maybe, it might spark a memory or something."

He nodded. "Of course. Anything that may speed his recovery." And the old butler was off. Mary Jane felt bad, sending him off like that. Where the hell could he find an exact copy of that book? Maybe she should tell him not to bother. But no, he was gone already. Mary Jane started to bite her nails. Damn, now she wanted that cigarette.

Jarvis was back soon, smiling. He handed her the book with care. "Mr. Stark had a copy in his library."

Mary Jane smiled back. "Thank you so much, Jarvis. Really."

"Anything else I can get you?"

"Two cups of coffee, I guess. One for me, one for...y'know."

Jarvis smiled. "I heard Spider-Man is quite the coffee drinker."

"Oh yeah. Him and caffeine!" Mary Jane laughed. She entered the room, sat beside her husband's bed, and opened the book. It seemed that it hadn't been read in a while. She found a bookmark stuffed in towards the end of the novel. She didn't want to move it, so she began reading from that spot.

Her voice was soft at first, but it grew louder as she became comfortable. There was a knock on the door, and Mary Jane stopped and turned around. It was Jean Grey. From the X-Men. Spider-Man was getting a lot of visitors today, wasn't he?

"Sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt."

"It's fine. Want to come in?"

Jean smiled and nodded. She motioned at the coffee on the table in the room. Jarvis must have been careful not to disturb Mary Jane while she read. "You expecting someone?"

Mary Jane was about to say, "It's for Peter," but she shook her head politely and offered it to Jean. Jean took it and smiled, grateful. "Mary Jane, I am so very sorry about Peter."

"Yeah. It's hard."

"Of course it is. Anything you want to talk about?"

"There's nothing to talk about. I'm just waiting."

"What were you reading?"

Mary Jane took a gulp of coffee. "Peter Pan. It holds some memories."

"Don't let me stop you. Keep going."

"Oh. Uh, okay then." Mary Jane took the book out and began reading again. She glanced up at Jean every once and a while. Her eyes were closed. She was concentrating hard...she was a good listener. Mary Jane got to the very last page within no time, and she became teary-eyed as she read the last words. She closed to book cover hard, to awake Jean from her trance. Jean opened her eyes and smiled.

"He's okay."

"What?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to--I just--"

"What do you mean?"

"You know how I am telepathic. I tried to speak with him."

Mary Jane wasn't bothered by the lack of privacy or permission. Her eyes were wide. "He's okay? Did he say anything?"

"No," Jean said. "But I sensed him. He has not left his body. He is okay."

Mary Jane ran over to Jean and hugged her, mumbling and ranting things that didn't make much sense to the visiting mutant. But she could understand the 'thank you's, which were followed by 'your welcome's.