Once again, thank you for all of the great feedback and reviews. I'm glad that you all are enjoying this story. And wow, I just thought I'd comment of how many Spidey fics there are now in this section. I think it's jumped up about 20 stories since I first visited.

Thanks! Anyway, I hope you aren't sick of MJ and Peter b/c that's what this chapter is about -- it's filled with PDA, smoochies, and tons of love!

Disclaimers all are in part 1.

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Peter was the first to wake up the next morning. He was lying on his back, his arm draped over his eyes, and the other arm lying on his chest. No...wait, that wasn't his arm. His other hand was holding onto someone. He opened his eyes and looked down at Mary Jane. Her head was resting on top of his chest, her arms lying on either side of him and her legs twisted around his. What he wouldn't give to be able to wake up to this every morning with Mary Jane so close to him.

Peter stared up at the ceiling of his apartment as he took a second and reflected back on what Mary Jane had told him, her words of wisdom directed towards him in hopes of persuading him to change his mind.

"No, and I don't think you should stop," Mary Jane had said. "This gift of yours was meant to happen, I'm sure of that. You help people so well. You....you are a true hero, Peter. But...if you aren't there when a subway train crashes tomorrow, are you going to blame yourself? If there is a car accident later tonight and you don't...feel it, or whatever you do to get to places, are you going to place the blame on yourself? Life goes on, and you've got to live life also, Pete. The world has gone on for centuries without you, and will continue to press onward even if you aren't always there."

"Wouldn't it be better to live six months in love, than the rest of your life without it?" she had asked him next.

And the real question here was -- would it? Had he become so wrapped up upholding his "responsibility" of protecting the city that he hadn't thought about what it was like before he arrived? Peter knew that he was doing a good thing. He knew that this was the right thing *to* do, but in doing this he was ultimately pushing everyone away from him, especially MJ. Throughout all of this, however, he also knew that he was yearning to be with Mary Jane.

He *needed* to be with Mary Jane.

And there it was...that had to be his solution to the problem. He needed to be with Mary Jane, it was as simple as that. He knew that they weren't friends. Ever since they had talked after Norman Osborn's funeral, Peter knew that it would be impossible to remain friends with this woman. It tore him up inside to say those words to her, to push away her love, to watch as her face fell and her heart broke, and lie about his own feelings. And now, knowing very well how to make everything right once again, did Peter dare to act upon these thoughts?

Yes, he did.

"MJ," he whispered, gently shaking her shoulder. "Mary Jane, wake up."

"Hmm?" she asked in a sleep-filled tone. "What?" She nuzzled her head against Peter's chest and burrowed deeper into his embrace.

"It's..." he looked at his watch. "10:00 AM. It is officially time to get up off of my bones."

That got Mary Jane's attention. She raised her head and looked at him. "What? Oh...sorry," she started moving to sit up. Peter took a look at her and fought the urge to burst out laughing. Her hair had dried in an odd position, and now strands of red stuck out at every angle. "What?" she asked.

"Oh...uh, nothing. It's just that...you might want to kill that cat on your head," Peter said, grinning.

"What?" MJ raised her hands to brush her fingers through her hair. She groaned when she felt the tangles in her hair. "Oh great, major attack of bed-hair," she complained. She started dragging her fingers through her hair trying to flatten down the wild strands of fire.

Peter chuckled and shook his head, "No...you look beautiful," he said.

"Peter..." she warned him. "Don't joke around with me this early."

"No, I'm serious. You look..." His voice died off as he looked -- *really* looked at her. "You look beautiful," he said.

"Thank you," she said, no longer kidding around with him either. She sighed and slowly stood up. She stretched and yawned before speaking, saying, "Thanks for letting me stay here last night, but I should get going."

"I know," Peter said reluctantly. He wished that she would stay here the whole day. He'd let her stay here with him for the rest of his life, if that was possible. Instead, he stood up beside her, yawning as she did just a second ago. "Your clothes should be dry by now. They are in the bathroom upstairs."

"Thanks," she replied. Mary Jane walked up the stairs and a second later walked down in the outfit she had been wearing last night. She walked over to the couch and grabbed her purse. "I'll see you later, right?" she asked. God, he isn't even going to mention last night, is he? To him, it's like it never even happened.

Peter nodded. "Sure." There was a feeling of awkwardness in the air; neither of the two knew how to act towards each other now.

"Good," MJ said, smiling at him and blinking back tears that were already threatening to spill over. God, I'm really never going to get anything more than a friendship from him, am I? she asked herself, feeling her heart break just a little bit more inside. And here I am, praying and hoping for just...just a sign from him. That's all I want, and I should know that it's never going to happen. "Okay...well, I guess that I'm going to go now." She walked over to the door, slowly closing it behind her as to not make so much noise.

Peter stood in the middle of the room, staring at the door that Mary Jane had just walked through. It hadn't even been a full month since Harry's father had died, and already he had let Mary Jane slip through his fingers twice. How much longer was he going to keep doing this to himself? He stood still a second longer before grabbing his jacket and heading out the door, slamming it behind him and racing to catch up with her outside.

Peter took the stairs, jumping down them in threes and fours to get downstairs much faster than the elevator and ran out the door, looking for Mary Jane. It was lightly drizzling outside and Peter was getting wet -- again. He looked up and down the street, not finding Mary Jane anywhere. Then...

"Taxi!" He heard a feminine voice shout. Peter's head turned to the left and he saw Mary Jane, standing in the road with her hand waving around in the air. "Taxi!"

"MJ," he whispered under his breath, "MJ!" he called out, louder this time. He broke into a run and ran over to catch her before she caught a taxi. Of all the days, she had to choose this day to follow his advice. "Mary Jane!!" he called out again.

MJ turned around when she heard someone call her name. "Peter?"

"Mary Jane," he said, when he finally approached her. "You can't go...not yet."

Mary Jane put on her straight, brave-girl face and stared at him. "And why not? I think that you've said everything that needs to be said."

"No, I haven't," Peter said, smiling. "I have one more thing to tell you, and that's all."

"What is it then?" MJ asked, crossing her arms.

"I can't let you go without telling you my answer to what you were talking about last week at my apartment," Peter started. "My answer is...yes."

MJ looked at him blankly. "Yes to what?"

Peter took Mary Jane's hands into his and he slowly led her back onto the sidewalk and out of the street. He walked over to underneath the awning so they wouldn't get rained on again. "Yes, it is better to live six months of a life of love than a life without any love at all," Peter said. "Although, I *am* hoping that this will last longer than just six months."

MJ started smiling, realizing what he was talking about. "Really?" she asked. Her face started glowing, hope glowing on her features.

"Mary Jane, I...I love you," he said. "I've always loved you, ever since...well, as far back as I can really remember. You were right, I pushed you away to protect you, and that was wrong, I understand that now."

Tears started welling up in MJ's eyes. "Peter," she murmured, smiling. Never in her life had she ever heard words so meaningful and caring. Never in her life had MJ had someone who cared for her on the same level that Peter Parker cared for her. "I love you too," she whispered, leaning towards him and wrapping her arms around his neck. The two tightened their grip on each other, both relieved that they could finally be so open about their feelings for each other. Mary Jane stepped back from the hug and looked up at Peter. She moved forward to meet his lips and the two met in the sweetest kiss of their life.



***



Days turned into weeks, which still seemed to pass all too quickly for Peter and Mary Jane. Mary Jane spent so much of her free time with Peter that she had practically moved into Peter's apartment. The two weren't sleeping in the same bed, however. Both had decided that she should move into Harry's old room because neither of the two wanted to rush anything and create regrets and worries. No, that was an obstacle that the two of them were not ready to face yet; both had agreed on it.

The two were growing closer and closer with each passing day. Aunt May found out about the two and she was delighted that her nephew had finally found the perfect woman. Probably the only people happier than Aunt May where the actual lovebirds, Peter and MJ.

For Peter, it was actually somewhat easier having Mary Jane know about his other life. For the first time, he had someone that he could confide in and talk to about what was going on, and she in turn, helped him get through it all.



***



"I can't believe *you* wanted to leave the party early!" Peter said as he unlocked the door to his apartment. His hands rubbed against her waist as he followed her through the doorway and into the living room.

"What can I say? I wanted to spend some quality time with my boyfriend," MJ replied, raising her head to meet lips with his. Her fingers ran through his hair, pushing his head closer to hers. Oh boy, MJ thought, his hands... The way they moved over her waist, tightened and released in rhythm with their kisses and rested against her hipbones. He sent waves of pleasure surging through her body every time.

"But you love those acting parties," Peter said, placing one more kiss on her forehead. "Usually I have to *drag* you out of them because you are little Miss Popular."

MJ shrugged her shoulders and dropped her purse on the floor. "So what? It's Saturday night and I can't spend it with you?"

Peter walked over and kissed her softly. "Hey, I'm not complaining," he said softly. "I'm just saying that-"

"Give it a rest, Peter," MJ replied, lightly and playfully shoving him away from her. She turned around and started walking up the stairs, placing her khaki trench coat on the railing of the stairs.

Peter followed her up the stairs but headed into his room, taking off his black jacket and draping it across the back of his chair. He unbuttoned the first couple of buttons of his shirt and crossed his room, heading towards Mary Jane's room. She approached his doorway still dressed in her black party dress.

"Hey," he said. "What's up?"

"Nothing," she said softly.

However, Peter wasn't convinced. "Are you sure? You seem...quiet. Usually you are filled with pep and energy after a party like that."

"Don't worry about it," MJ replied. She took a step towards him and rested her head against his chest.

Peter dragged his fingers down the side of her cheek and let them rest against her shoulder bones. "I love you," he whispered into her ear. He raised his head and gently kissed her on the head.

MJ looked over at him and smiled. "I know, Peter...I know. I love you too." She gently leaned forward and kissed him. With each kiss that the two shared, Mary Jane could feel the love and passion that they felt for each other simply increase. Peter raised his hands until they tangled in MJ's hair as he pulled her closer to his body. Mary Jane took a step even deeper into his embrace. She felt her knees grow weak and she leaned against his chest for support.

Their kisses grew more heated, the two feeling a powerful need like never before. Mary Jane raised her right hand, lightly dragging it down Peter's arm, feeling his muscles. She pressed her other hand against his side, feeling the edge of his shirt rise. Mary Jane could feel his skin flex as she pushed him closer to her body. Kissing him hard on the lips, MJ let him know how much she wanted…no, needed him in her life, and the fact that she wanted to prove it to him.

"Peter..." she whispered, her breath ragged.

"Hmm?"

"Peter, I...I don't want to stop this time," Mary Jane said.

"What?" Peter asked, his eyes widening. They had gotten pretty hot n' heavy several times since they started dating, but it was nothing more than kisses everywhere. "You mean that...?"

"Yes, Peter, I love you, *all* of you," Mary Jane explained. "Love me, please."

"Yes 'mam," Peter said, grinning before he captured her lips in a sweet, heartfelt kiss. Peter took several steps back towards his bed until the back of his legs banged into the mattress. Mary Jane pushed him back onto the bed and slowly started unbuttoning his gray shirt. She pressed herself against his hard body, kissing him deeply as she wrapped her arms around his waist, helping Peter take his shirt off. He looked at MJ, stopping what he was doing for one second. Mary Jane looked at him, her eyes, giving him a kind of signal that she was okay. Yes, she wanted him just as badly as he wanted her- maybe just a little bit more.



Mary Jane rolled onto her back as she continued to kiss Peter, not allowing their kiss to break apart. She ran her fingers through his hair, and as she felt his hands run across her stomach, she let out a soft moan. Mary Jane was shaking from the way that Peter made her feel, feelings that no man had ever made her feel like. Peter made her feel like she was the most loved woman on the planet.

"Peter..." MJ whispered. She leaned down and kissed his chest while her fingers ran over his abs and down to his trousers.

"God, Mary Jane..." Peter whispered, his breath ragged from passion. His lips were burning with desire for the woman that he loved. Shivers raced up and down the spines of the two lovers as they kissed over and over again and were very quickly lost within each other. The two shared no more words that night, just sighs and moans as the two strove to get as close to each other as humanly possible. And at least for one night, everything was peaceful in their world.



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