Of The Twilight Hours

Sequel to 'Midnight is Meant to Be'

Disclaimer: I own none of Marvel/Stan Lee's creations, only the scenario and original characters in this story.

FREEDOM: Thanks for your feedback, I'm glad you all liked it. I'll try and keep the quality up, and as you can tell by the fact I started this author's note with freedom in big letters, I'm moving soon, escaping the cess pit town I'm stuck in, happy days! Oh and Lapis Lazuli is a precious blue gem.

Mary Jane walked casually down the road as she thought about the week to come, the promises it held to deliver on, and whether or not she would be smiling this time next week, where she would be in both body and mind. Everything was going to change, and she guessed not everything would go as well as she hoped, city life was never simple, and Mary Jane was well aware that it wasn't any of the events which were going to take place that occupied her mind, it was something she could firmly control. John, he was a foregone conclusion, her decision to leave him and his rich circle was one she could not avoid, she didn't belong there and no matter how much his friend and family had tried not to look down on her their voices were always smeared with condescending spite, it was painful to even think about meeting his mother again.

Truth be told John's family hadn't always been able to hold such a lavish lifestyle, not until his father had become editor of the bugle, and even then they hadn't really rolled like they did today until his mother had let the money go to her head. It was a pity, but even then, John was smart and good looking, but his conversation was monotonous, his hobbies repetitive and despite his brains he often had no idea about simple things. It wasn't John on which the approaching week rested, it was upon a stranger, somebody lost at sea, on his willingness to let her explain, to just let her back in. even if she was only a vague acquaintance at first, she needed to be able to talk to him as a friend. Peter used to be the guy who she would go to when things got too much for her, when something she couldn't trust anybody else with was burning her up, he was not only a confidant, he was her best friend, often her only real friend.

Over the course of her life Peter had always been there, every time she needed him, even when she didn't he would make her smile, sometimes because he was such a dork it was unbelievable to somebody as popular as her at school, it was cruel but she had never really laughed at him, she just found him outlandish at times. She had moved in next door to him, he and his aunt and uncle made her feel welcome when her parents had fights, and she had found shelter at Peter's house for most of her childhood, until they finally drifted apart when they entered high school.

Peter had grown up into a skinny nerd, glasses like goggles and a scruffy appearance at best, were as Mary Jane's looks instantly shot her up the social ladder, forgiven but not forgotten no doubt by her friend from next door. She had barely seen Peter during the years since going to school and the last year, that was when she noticed him again. Not much had changed, he was taller, but still had a penchant for worn old clothes and hiding his face behind mile deep lenses, they often exchanges looked, a weak smile from him made her feel kind of sore for how she had drifted away from him, he had stayed the same, but Mary Jane knew that he was a nice guy underneath his less than popular reputation, maybe one night she could give him style lessons or something.

In the last few weeks of high school she saw him walk past her in the corridor, his face was hanging low, but she could see his eyes, deep as wells of lapis Lazuli and just as dark at the bottom. It was so strange to see him without his famous bottle glasses on, but what she found underneath was gorgeous, but dark with pain. She hadn't dwelled upon it until she had been told by her friend Liz that his uncle Ben had been killed, that Peter had refused to miss school despite this made her remember just how much Peter had helped her during her childhood, it was about time she returned the favour. It was just after this that everything went to hell, she had that regrettable episode with Harry, and then that nightmare with the goblin, then Norman Osborne's funeral. It was roughly only a week after that she had bought those tickets and demanded Peter come with her, she had managed to break his resolve concerning him only being her friend, but John Jameson had managed to break his heart, If only Liz hadn't given him her number, MJ wasn't even interested in the guy she had met by accident.

Everything had gone insane after Peter Parker reappeared in her life. At the start of high school she left him as a scrawny geek, he joined her at the end as a well-built genius, and she felt the fool for ever letting him out of her sight, something she quickly tried to rectify. She had been pushed away, but she knew it wasn't what he wanted, and Mary Jane never gave up on something she wanted. Ever since her first boyfriend Mary Jane had never had to be forceful with guys, they came to her, but not Peter. He had always hung around in the back whilst the other guys came on to her, that night was so out of character, but with him she felt safe, as if she could do whatever she wanted around him. It had worked, but then he had fled.

Trying not to pry on the past any longer Mary Jane looked down at the phone she had in her hand, she held in her hand the key to the past, a way to unlock those happy memories she clung too and forget the pain of that night and the resulting 8 months it took to get herself back together. Just as she was looking down Mary Jane was thrown to her left, landing harshly on her side she let out a surprised screech as she skidded to a stop.

Felicia sat at her desk in the bugle, with only an hour left she had to weave an article on the progress of the play. It was the last pre premier report because opening night was two days away. It Saturday night and Felicia had the day off tomorrow, but this had to be in the Sunday paper or JJ would rip her a new ass. It was almost done, and then she could get back to Peter. Oh wait he was meant to be 'out' tonight, Damn. Maybe once she got this done she might go and inspect the city, after all when the cat is away the mice will play.

Felicia couldn't afford to spend so much time behind the mask, not like Peter. He told Felicia that he used to worry about becoming Spiderman, that he might lose Peter to his witty alter ego completely, but now that wasn't such a big problem. Felicia knew that was because they both lived that life, it was because she knew who he was and where he was, no excuses or lies, it was refreshing to him, Felicia had never really had to deal with it like that, not like him. Peter had a drive, a strong sense of responsibility when it came to helping people, Felicia also wanted to help people, but she never put the city ahead of her in everyday life, only when something serious came along. Peter was an angel, and who ever he chose to let inside of his mask wasn't good enough for him, which was what made her feel so special.

A spoilt rich girl who was used to getting everything she wanted when she wanted it, he had shown her that life was a gift, not something to pass by manipulating guys and wasting money. It was the simple things that counted, and so far he was the only guy Felicia wouldn't class as sub-par in the sack, which was high praise indeed because Felicia knew that she could be extremely harsh on people, but Peter was gradually wearing her down, she was even beginning to tip people in the service industry now, shock horror. She was a very lucky girl, and she knew it, all the more reason to get this article in so she could see him sooner.

Shaken, the dying light of the day obscured from her face by three large figures standing over the fallen redhead, Mary Jane simply looked up at them. She had been thrown into an alleyway, and now she was simply looking up at them silently, none of them moved, nobody spoke, they stood with the light to their backs, all she could see was black shapes.

Scrambling to her feet suddenly Mary Jane turned and dashed into the alleyway, hoping to escape, only to find a double door with no handle, an emergency door from a building that couldn't be opened from this side. Panic set in as she noticed the three large figures slowly staking up the alleyway, with the dark walls rising into the heavens on either side of her, the 8 foot wide side space suddenly took on the menacing atmosphere of a crypt, graffiti, trash and a steam vent to her side, these aspects were all taken in by the girl, wide eyed terror now taking a firm hold.

They stopped a couple of steps ahead, looming over her, giants.

"Well look what we have here boys, a hot date" the centre shape grunted, his voice rough like a rusting razor.

"Looks like a first night fucker to me Bex" Said the right behemoth, stepping forwards he walked with his hands pointing firmly towards her chest. Unexpectedly the potential rape victim, who now had small tears whispering from her eyes slashed the man's hand, blood was drawn by her nails, and within seconds he found MJ's foot buried between his legs. The man crumpled to the floor in a pool of curses, trying to run past Mary Jane was forcefully slammed into the wall of the alleyway and held there.

"Oh, a feisty redhead, I'm going to enjoy this!" His chords grated over her ears.

Just as she closed her eyes, trying to block out what was going to happen, his hands suddenly left her arms and she opened them as strange sounds filled the deep alley. For the second time in one week she found herself watching Spiderman save her, pinned to the wall she watched as he squared off against the three large men picking themselves up off the floor. She hard the bright clink of metal as one pulled a flick knife, and then the three pounced.

The lead thug took a straight fist to his nose, a sharp crack as it broke and the momentum of his approach carried him into a spiral fall to the left of the webhead. The second swung his knife only to have the superhero pull back just enough to dodge it, and then he was knocked on his back, not to get up again. The last, the man she had heard called Bex was simply smothered in webbing and fell to the floor wriggling in a cocoon. Spiderman turned to the petrified girl.

"I hate amateurs, I mean jeez three guys in 10 seconds, why do I bother?"

Mary Jane didn't reply straight away. "Can you get me outta here?"

"Sure, I want to talk to you anyway" Peter tried to act confident, he wasn't sure if it was working.

Pulling her to him, his breath was sharply inhaled as she wrapped herself around him. His legs bent, then they flew straight up, landing only a few feet from the top of the building. Climbing the remaining wall they arrived on top of the tall park rim restaurant.

Peter gazed at her through his eye pieces, she seemed alright on the outside, he didn't even want to think about what would have happened if he hadn't being doing laps of the park in boredom. Then she spoke, turning to him he was in awe as her stray hairs blew across her penetrating green eyes.

"Can you take me home, I have something to show you"

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