Their worst fears had been confirmed. Harry Osborn had been killed, make that murdered. MJ was weak in the knees as she stood in the foyer of Harry's penthouse. The butler recognized her and allowed her in, after the police tried to waylay her.  Of course, Spiderman couldn't come with her. She was all on her own.

As she stood in shock, reliving every moment of that horrible night, she was felt so conflicted about her emotions. Why? She thought to herself. MJ wished all the answers would just fall into her lap so she wouldn't have to worry like this. Her heart couldn't take it.

Suddenly, an older sour-face police detective approached MJ. He flashed his badge and stated he'd like to ask her a few questions. MJ was nervous. She didn't want the police to think Spiderman was involved. One thing was certain, Spiderman was being framed. MJ knew it. The detective asked her repeatedly about her involvement with Spiderman. MJ repeatedly gave him cheeky response like, "Isn't a girl allowed to have a boyfriend?" The detective was not happy with her answers. She left out the parts about seeing "Spiderman" stab Harry. She had to find out who was trying to frame Spiderman and why.

Peter rushed up from the subway, quickly adjusting his clothing so his costume was hidden. After he had literally "dropped" MJ off a block away from Harry's penthouse, he rushed home to get some clothes. He chuckled to himself that he had to stop losing his clothes around the city; it was costing him a fortune. But his mind quickly turned to getting back to MJ. He didn't like leaving her there to face whatever was going on as Harry's penthouse. Peter had seen the police cars and whatnot. He knew the worst must be true. Harry was dead, or hurt. He rushed out of his apartment, still buttoning his shirt as he raced down the stairs 3 and 4 at a time. He considered web slinging back to Harry's place, but decided against it. He took the "A" train up to the Upper West Side. As he rode the train Peter had time to consider what was happening. Why would someone kill Harry? And why was Harry in Central Park the exact moment that MJ says she discovered herself there? Peter's brow furrowed as he the last thought crossed his mind. Could Harry have something to do with MJ disappearance those few days? Peter shook his head to deny himself that thought.  Harry wouldn't hurt MJ, Peter thought, he still loves her. But Peter also remembered Harry vow of revenge against Spiderman. I swear on my father's grave one day Spiderman will pay. Those words haunted Peter since the day he heard them uttered from Harry, just like the ones from MJ that same day. I love you Pete! I love you so much!

The train came to a top and Peter rushed out of the train up to the street. As he came up to Harry's building he saw MJ. Her eyes were teary and red, and she appeared to talking to a policeman or detective. He walked towards her in a fog, He didn't want to believe that Harry was gone, but it looked like it was true. MJ looked up and saw Peter walking towards her. She smiled weakly as she started towards him. She raised her arms in invitation for a hug. Peter immediately embraced her. MJ burrowed her face into Peter's shoulder, crying softly. That's when she noticed it again. The same aroma that she had smelled on Spiderman. She turned her head away from Peter's shoulder, staring blindly out into the street. Peter ran his hands up MJ back in comfort. She felt so good in his arms, even though he had held her only a half and hour ago. Emotion after emotion crashed over him as the tears fell from his eyes. No matter what I do, the people I love will always be the ones who pay.

"He's dead, Peter. Harry's dead." MJ stated from her position at his shoulder. Peter held MJ a little tighter after she said this. MJ eased away from Peter's shoulder and looked into his eyes. She wiped the tears away with the handkerchief that she knew was always in Peter's right hand jacket pocket. Peter was startled by this, because he hadn't felt her get it and his gloves for his costume where there as well as. There were no words to say anything, although Peter wanted to say so much. MJ could see his conflict in his eyes, the same as the day at Uncle Ben's grave. She couldn't bare to see it or hear him deny his feelings for her, so she walked away. MJ walked away from Peter, both not realizing that one of his gloves for his costume was rolled up in the handkerchief in her hand.

Later that evening Peter walked silently down Broadway. The sun had set and he had gotten as much information as he could from the police. Since he wasn't family, technically, he couldn't see Harry's body. But many of the staff at the penthouse vouched for Peter's long-standing friendship with both Norman and Harry Osborn, and the police had reluctantly given him some information. Of course, they questioned him as to his whereabouts that night. Peter hated lying, but he knew he had to in this case.

As Peter continued on, a woman dressed like a traveling gypsy approached him from her storefront.

"There is much troubling you." She stated matter-of-factly in heavily accented English as he passed by her. Peter stopped and turned towards her, curious.

"A lot of people have troubles." Peter stated back to her.

"But you have more than your share, I would say. Come, I can help you." She motioned for him to follow her inside her shop.

"I'm sorry, I don't have time. Thank you anyway." Peter started to turn away. Places like that were for tourists, and he really didn't have time.

"You have the mark of the spider upon you." She announced as he turned away once again. Peter stopped dead in his tracks.

"Not many have such a mark. It is unique." The gypsy stated as Peter walked towards her, seemingly fascinated and terrified at the same time. She stepped aside to allow Peter to enter, and warily looked both ways to make sure no one was following them.

Peter entered the dimly lit room. It looked exactly like he imagined a fortune-teller's would look like. Heavy velvet drapes in a multitude of dark jewel shades. Bright red carpet, and a large round table with a heavy clothe covering it in the center. Candles glowed all around the room, giving the room a decidedly supernatural feel. The only thing missing is a crystal ball, Peter thought to himself.

"I don't use a crystal ball. Just the cards." The gypsy woman stated from behind Peter. Peter looked surprised at the woman, who had a knowing look in her eyes.

"Sit here." The woman indicated to the table with the two chairs facing each other.

"How much is this going to cost?" Peter asked.

"For you, nothing." Peter started to say that he wouldn't allow her to do this for free, but the woman held her hand up for his silence.

"All will be clear soon. Now, clear your mind and relax. Take the cards in your hands."

Peter picked up a deck of elaborately decorated over-sized cards that sat on the table. He traced the outline of the swirls and whorls on the back of the cards, seemingly hypnotized by their beauty. His mind was quickly as ease and relaxed.

"Place the cards on the table." Peter glanced up from his trance and did as she bade. The woman slowly fanned the cards out onto the table, murmuring words in some foreign and ancient language that Peter didn't recognize.

"Now chose. The first card is the Card of Your Past." Peter reached across and picked up a card towards the middle.

"Turn it, left to right, please." The gypsy woman instructed. As the card turned over in revealed a man in a suit of armor, looking like a knight.

"The knight. It reveals that you have endured great hardship and loss in your life, especially at an early age. You are strong in your convictions and beliefs. Intelligence, responsibility, accountability. But you shielded yourself; much like the armor the knight wears, from others. Making you lonely and unrequited." Peter sat shocked at the detail she described much of his life. Peter started to get nervous.

"Chose again. This card is the Card of Your Present." Peter chose from the end this time.

He turned the card over the same as before. It revealed a man hanging from tree from his foot. Something else caught Peter's attention in the card. There was a spider web with a spider hanging in the corner of the card. As the card was facing the gypsy, it looked like he was doing some kind of ballet move.

"The Hanged Man. It is reversed in it position which reveals your both blessed and cursed. You have many secrets. Secrets that could harm those whom you love. You risk much, but you have great sorrow." The woman paused as she put her hand over the card, closing her eyes and concentration.

"You are in love. And she is in love with you. But you fear your secret will harm her. She has already been hurt so many times. The ones you love will always be the ones who pay. You have many enemies about you, close to you. Keep them close. All will reveal themselves in time." The woman looked at him as if she knew what his secret was, but was unwilling to reveal it.

"Again, chose the Card of your Future." Peter's hands were shaking by now. He wasn't sure he wanted to see what the card showed. The other tow had been right on the money, he wasn't sure if he wanted to see his future.

"You hesitate. Are you fearful?"

"Yes."

"Do not fear. Chose." She indicated the cards before them again. Peter hesitantly picked another card, closing his eyes as he did. He turned the card over and looked it. It showed a naked man and woman entwined in a lover's embrace, kissing. The man had short dark hair like Peter and amazingly the woman had long dark copper hair, like MJ, that covered both the lovers on the card. As Peter stared at the card he blushed at how much it did look like him and MJ.

"The Lovers. You will have love in your life. A love so strong it can conquer all evils that it might encounter. Its strength will be your strength. But you must have the courage to allow the love into your life. You fear that you will lose her to death, but you fear more that you will lose her to another man. You will have an amazing life together with beautiful children.  A dark-haired green-eyed boy with a mischievous grin, and a beautiful strawberry blonde blue-eyed girl who is very vision of her mother. But all will be lost if you do not have the courage to revel your secret to the woman you love." Peter's eyes opened from the visions that had danced in his head as the woman spoke. He swore that he was there, standing in the street, as he watched MJ and their future children come out of their future home. Peter looked at the woman again, who was smiling at him.

"Now chose the Card of Your Destiny"

Peter chose again revealing a winged angel above the clouds.

"The Angel. You will be a great man. One who triumphs over the evil mere moral men do. You will make a difference in this world, inspiring many. Your life will be filled my many dangers, many of those to your family and friends, but all will be safe, provided you remain true to yourself. Your son will follow in his father's great footsteps, while your daughter will be loved greatly for her talent and beauty." Peter imagined again the images as she spoke. He saw dreadful things and wonderful things all at the same time. The gypsy's voice interrupted his dreams.

"You feel better now? More clear?"

"Yes. Thank you. Thank you very much. But I should pay for…" Peter started to reach into his pocket for whatever money he had in it. The woman stopped him and took his hand in her papery-thin one. She feels like Aunt May, Peter thought. The woman, reading his thoughts, smiled at the complement.

"Consider this a 'Thank you' from my niece, whom you saved from a evil man about 6 months back." Peter suddenly realized that the gypsy woman KNEW who he was!

"Do not worry, you secret is safe with me. Do not forget what I have showed you here tonight. The future can be changed, it is up to you to make it what I have shown you."

Peter bounded down the steps, a new spring in his step. As he got half way down the block, the old woman called, "Peter, you might check your right pocket. I think you are missing something!" The gypsy woman wasn't sure if he had heard her as she returned to her shop.