They were lying next to each other on Peter's bed, Mary Jane's fingers tenderly stroking his cheek as she gazed soulfully into his eyes. Peter had a permanent smile plastered to his face as he stared back at her, feeling like he was soaring above the clouds. She was so lovely when she looked at him like that, it was hard not to sigh with contentment.

"You know, even with all that evidence, even seeing you in that suit throwing those punches, I still can't believe it," she said.

"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you. I wanted to so badly. But I was too afraid. It felt too risky at the time."

Mary Jane smiled ruefully. "I know. But to be fair, that didn't really keep me from getting kidnapped anyway, did it?"

Peter's face darkened. A part of him was amazed Mary Jane was willing to take him back after her traumatic ordeals. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Just being within an arm's reach of me comes with a price, doesn't it?" Pessimistic thoughts threatened to overtake him, but he forced a pleasant smile on his face as he warded them off, unwilling to let them ruin his happiness. Right now he wanted to bask in the pleasure of the moment. Mary Jane was with him, they were in love, and they were together. Really together. And that felt achingly wonderful. "I'm just glad I managed to steer him back to sanity in the end."

"I thought I recognized your voice," she said, her eyes twinkling. "At the festival and after you saved me. I thought I was imagining things, though. I'd never have guessed it back then. You were so innocent in my eyes it seemed almost silly to think you were Spider-Man."

Peter couldn't help but frown.

"Not that being innocent is a bad thing," she added apologetically.

Peter sighed. "You have a point, though. I'd get picked on all the time at school. I hated that everyone knew about that, including you. It was so embarrassing how I couldn't really fight back until after...after I got bitten."

"Bitten?" Mary Jane looked confused.

Peter smiled. "Yeah. I was bitten at that lab we visited, MJ. On the field trip. That spider that was missing. That's how I became...enhanced." He felt somewhat awkward even discussing it, because of how secretive he'd been about his identity and its origin.

Mary Jane's eyes widened in realization. "Oh my God...so that's how it happened. You know, I almost thought Spider-Man wasn't even human because of his webs. That he was mutated or something underneath that costume."

A small, offended scoff bubbled from Peter's lips. MJ quickly pacified him with a peck on the cheek before she spoke again.

"Sorry. That came out wrong. I mean, I just never would have thought he'd look like an ordinary guy. A very cute ordinary guy at that," she added bashfully as she cupped his chin in her hand.

"Thank you," he whispered before leaning in to press a kiss against her lips. His hand tangled in her hair as he leaned back and appreciated her fully. He never would have thought this would ever happen. He'd thought she was unattainable, that she was a dream he'd never be able to make a reality and here they were proving him wrong.

"So...how do you shoot those webs anyway?" Mary Jane took hold of his hand, flipping it over. "Do you have some kind of device? How are they even that strong?"

Peter chuckled. "Actually, they come out of my wrists. Really," he said, seeing the look on her face.

"Does it feel weird?"

"Oh, yeah…," he said, feeling almost grateful to talk about one of the strange things he'd always kept to himself. "It kind of tickles."

"You think you can show me? I couldn't really pay attention all those times I was close to you when you did it." She looked so eager he felt his heart beat faster. For once, he almost felt like he was the cool guy in her presence. It felt oddly nice.

"Of course." He sat up and aimed at the wall to his left. "Okay, I just do this with my hand..." He made the gesture and webbing shot out with a spurt. Mary Jane took hold of his wrist again, examining it disbelievingly. "Pretty cool, huh?" he said, feeling giddy as he tore the webbing from his wrist, dropping it into her hands.

"Very," Mary Jane said, grinning as she touched the silken strands. Once she was done toying with them, she tossed them aside, and turned back to him. Her smile slowly faded as she reached up to brush his hair out of his face.

"I always thought you were cute," she said, surprising him. "Even though you were shy, you were always so attentive to my desires. You'd hear me out when no one else would. I thought you were so sweet, so different from other guys I knew and dated." Her eyes lowered as she turned away. "I'm sorry I was so unaware of what you've been putting yourself through this entire time," Mary Jane said, her eyes pained. "I kept nagging at you about my damn plays when you were out there webbing up criminals and saving lives. I feel like such an idiot, Peter."

Peter shook his head, hating seeing her turn on herself. How could he ever resent her for speaking her mind? "Mary Jane, you weren't in the wrong for that. You were so devoted and loved me in a way I wished I could love you. But Spider-Man held me back. The truth is, I am aware that I get carried away by my duty as Spider-Man. I had no sense of balance and needed to remember there were people close to me who needed me as well. But…" he hesitated, feeling like he hated himself for what he was about to say, "like I told you that night, I will always be Spider-Man. It's something I can't escape because it's as much a part of me as any of my limbs are. I can't ever say no to my calling. Not like I did—" he caught himself, almost revealing too much. "I just...I just can't," he finished weakly.

Mary Jane looked at him oddly, however, seemingly suspecting he was hiding something from her. Perhaps it was also the look in his eyes, as he was hoping desperately she wouldn't question him further. To his relief she simply nodded and accepted his words. She then tilted her head, studying him, her eyes roaming slowly from his eyes down to his chest, then back up again. He tensed a little, wondering if she wanted him to change.

"What?"

Mary Jane smiled impishly. "Nothing. Just...you look good in that suit. Very strong...and manly," she said, arching an eyebrow suggestively.

"Really?" He could have cringed at his voice cracking right then. She only smirked at him, heat in her eyes. He could hardly believe what he'd heard. Strong? Manly? Hearing himself be described in such a way by her made warmth pool inside him. All his life, he'd thought of himself as quiet and gentle. So this was quite a welcome compliment indeed. It made him want to lift her with his muscular arms and throw her in the air to show her just how strong he really was. He couldn't help but sit up a little straighter, feeling his normally humble self careen to the dark side, his ego temporarily inflating. He knew he was smiling like an idiot, but he wasn't in the state of mind to care. And the way she was looking at him...so teasing and sensual? Well, it made him eager to show her he wasn't nearly as innocent as she'd thought he was.

And so Peter leaned in and kissed her deeply, their tongues hungrily massaging each other. He moaned with pleasure, feeling like each connection they made brought him closer to the satiation he longed for. The gaping emptiness inside him was slowly being filled and he wondered how he'd gone for so long depriving himself of these carnal pleasures.

They lay there for a while longer, occasionally kissing. Before long she had snuggled into his arms, her back pressed against his chest. It all felt so good it frightened him. Like it was a little too comforting. As if it could be ripped away from him at any moment. He hoped desperately that sirens wouldn't sound, forcing him to tear himself away from her soft, warm body. It might actually wrench a sob out of him if that were to happen. And he never wanted to cry again, not when he was in the presence of an angel.

Then something occurred to him for the first time.

"MJ?"

"Mmm?"

"You didn't...leave John at the altar, did you?"

There was an elongated silence and Peter felt a stab of guilt in his chest. He let his head fall back against the pillow as he groaned. Jameson was going to kill him if he ever found out about the two of them. And not only that, but he felt terrible for the humiliation her poor fiancé now had to endure because of him. He wouldn't be surprised if he'd just created another super-villain.

"I'll...I'll talk to him," Mary Jane said, her voice wavering. "He's a good guy. I'm sure he'll understand that I wasn't thinking straight."

Peter couldn't help but smile sardonically. As much as he loved Mary Jane, she did have a tendency to be a bit too self-involved. Although he always forgave her for it because of how much he loved her, he wasn't so sure if John would feel the same way. In an attempt to comfort her, he kissed the back of her head and massaged her arm.

At least he'd relieved himself of the massive weight that had been resting on his shoulders. She knew about his alter ego and he'd also managed to save her life. The sound of her shrill screams still haunted him from time to time, but the reassurance of her physical presence managed to dull them out. He'd never forget Dr. Octavius's sacrifice either. He was proud of him for ultimately coming around like that. He just wished he could have told him with more than just his eyes when he'd last seen him.

Turning back to Mary Jane, he wrapped his arm around her once again, holding her close and sighing contentedly.

It may be a bittersweet end, but those were his favorite kind.