MJ came into her apartment late that evening. Her body was exhausted from working at the Moondance diner, but that was nothing compared to her how her spirit felt. Harry was dead, and MJ felt responsible for it. If I hadn't been there in the Park, maybe Harry…MJ didn't allow herself to finish. She had lost touch with Harry ever since his father's funeral. And she probably was a little harsh with him about his attempts to win her back. But hindsight is always 20/20. There was nothing she could do about it now.

MJ walked into the bathroom and started to get ready for bed. She threw her coat on the bed as she walked by. As she did, something fell out of the pocket onto the bed, but she was so tired she did notice. MJ took a shower, brushed her teeth, and put her pajamas on. MJ picked up her coat from the bed and started to hang it up, but she saw something lying on the bed. Peter's handkerchief.  MJ smiled as she picked up. Ever the gentleman, MJ thought as she brought the handkerchief to her nose. She loved how it smelled like Peter. Smelled like Peter? No, make that smelled like Spiderman, MJ thought curiously as she stared at the white clothe in her hand. As she looked at the balled up handkerchief she noticed that something was inside it. MJ's prow furrowed as she unwrapped the mystery item. The item fell on the bed by her knees. NO, it can't be, MJ thought. But there it was, Spiderman's glove. It was undeniable. MJ just stood there, staring at it, her mind running through a myriad of possibilities. Maybe Spiderman dropped it and Peter picked it up to protect it. Or maybe Spiderman gave it to Peter. Maybe it's a copycat that Peter picked up somewhere. Or Maybe Peter is….MJ's last thought brought back memories of a passionate kiss in the rain. Then, to another kiss a blustery day with Peter. She touched her fingers to her lips at the memory. MJ's mind reeled with the revelations rolling through her mind. The kiss, the walk, the smell, his concern for her, the glove, it all points to one answer: Peter Parker is Spiderman! It was too much for her overtaxed mind to take; MJ went into a dead faint onto her bed.

Peter walked with a slight spring in his step. He felt as if a huge load had been taken from his shoulders. The gypsy woman had given him hope that he could have a life beyond being Spiderman. She had known too much about his past and his present, to be wrong about his future. All he had to do is have the courage to make it all happen. Peter smiled at the memories that floated through his mind of MJ and their future together. Possible future, Peter amended to himself. He would do it, starting tomorrow. He would gradually bring MJ into his life, then, he would tell her the truth. He wanted to make sure that she was there because of him, not Spiderman.

Peter was so engrossed in his thoughts he didn't see the lead pipe come swinging from the alley. It hit him square in the abdomen, causing him to double over in pain and surprise. Four hooded men grabbed Peter and dragged him into the alley. Peter quickly regained his composure and threw the men off him. But they came at him again and again. The fight took them deeper and deeper into the alley. Peter gave as good as he got. It seemed that the number had jumped from four to eight thugs. And since Peter wasn't in this Spiderman outfit, he couldn't utilize all his usual tricks. Peter was quick, but not quick enough. Soon the men started to land punches on Peter and it wore him down. Three of the men grabbed Peter by the arms, exposing his chest and face for the next attack. Peter thought it was amusing that it took all these guys to beat him up. But the thought was quickly whisked away as the biggest hooded thug slammed a right hook into Peter's face. Blood spurted from Peter's mouth. The big guy slammed his fist into Peter's gut once, then twice.

"Take that you freak. Teach you to steal my girl from me. Who the hell do you think you are!"? The big thug snarled at Peter through the hood he wore, but Peter recognized who it was immediately.

"Flash?" Peter croaked out. Then thug whipped the hood from his head revealing Flash Thompson's ugly mug.

"That's right, Parker. It's time for a little payback."

"It's amazing that it would take all of you to subdue little ol' me." Peter responded sarcastically. "Why don't we finish this, mano-a-mano? Then we'll see who's the freak." Peter strained, from the men that held him, at Flash. The pause in the fighting had given Peter an opportunity to regain some of his strength. It took all three men to hold Peter back from Flash. Fear flashed through Flash's eyes, Peter saw it and smiled.

"What's wrong Flash? Chicken, a little ol' geek like me might kick your ass, AGAIN!" Peter taunted. Flash nodded his head at the men, they released Peter. A good ol' street fight, Peter thought as he and Flash circled one another, the other men forming an impromptu ring around them. Anyone who might pass by would think Peter was a dead man, but Peter knew better.

"Alright Parker, let's see what you've got!" Flashed yelled as he lunged at Peter. Peter skillfully moved away from Flash's "clumsy" punches. A normal human being would have been at Flash's mercy, but not Peter. Over and over, Flash punches didn't connect; it was starting to enrage Flash.

"C'mon Parker!! Don't you wanna fight me? C'mon take your best shot!" Flash screamed Peter. Peter made not move to hit Flash. Just because you can beat him up, doesn't mean your allowed to, Uncle Ben's words echoed though Peter's mind.

"What's wrong, Parker? MJ not given up 'it' to ya yet? Well, that's all right, she isn't that good anyway. I had to practically force her to give 'it' me." Flash waggled his eyes at Peter knowingly. Peter's jaw clenched as he lunged at Flash. A right hook, then a left into Flash's stomach. Peter grabbed Flash by the throat and slammed him against the wall. Peter punched once, then again, into Flash's face, until blood was streaming out his nose and mouth. Peter let go of Flash's throat. Flash's body slid down the wall in a heap. Peter leaned over Flash's body and whispered, "That's from MJ. If you ever want what's from me, you just come see ME. And bring your coffin with you, because next time I'll kill you." The other men parted as Peter slowly walked out of the alley never feeling as angry as he did right then.

Harry staggered towards her, his left hand held over the wound on his chest. Blood poured out of the wound over his hand and onto his shirt and pants. His right hand reached for her, covered in blood. "MJ! MJ!" Harry groaned as blood seeped out of his mouth as he spoke. MJ back away from him. She feared the unholy gleam in his eye. As she backed away, her back hit something. She glanced up into Spiderman's face. But suddenly it changed to Peter's face. His hands came up to grasp her shoulders, steadying her. She looked down at his hands on her shoulders. She gasped at what she saw. Blood dripped from Peter's hands. As he held her, the blood smeared over her shirt. She pulled away from Peter, but ran into Harry this time. There was blood everywhere. Both men just looked at her, each chanting the same thing. "I love you, MJ! I love you!"  They both closed in on her, she didn't want to see this anymore, so she screamed, "Sstop! Stop it!!!"

"Stop!" MJ screamed as she rose up from the bed. She looked around frantically, searching for any signs that her dream was real. She touched her shoulders, searching for the blood. There was none. She exhaled slowly as she realized that it was just a dream. As she got up, she looked at what was lying on the bed. She picked up the glove, staring at it. Peter. She thought remembering. She knew what she had to do, and by God she would do it. She rushed into the bathroom and changed.

The knocking was incessant. It radiated through the apartment and through Peter's skull. The knocking turned to pounding as Peter tried to ignore it.

"Peter Parker! I know you're in there!!" yelled through the door MJ as she pounded. She started to pound with both hands, not caring that Peter's neighbors were looking at her furiously.

"Open Up! Peter!!!" MJ yelled in earnest.

Peter got up from the bed slowly, wearing a pair of cotton sleep pants that were a little to long and rode low on his hips. He grabbed a t-shirt that was hanging off the chair at his computer desk, bumping into the doorjamb while he walked. He gingerly put it on because his side hurt so much from the fight he had with Flash and his buddies. Peter staggered down the steps, the pounding louder down here than up there. Pete held his head to ward off the noise.

"MJ! Stop pounding I'm coming" Peter yelled, sounding thoroughly annoyed. The pounding stopped. Peter walked up to the door, smiling as he peered through the spy-hole on the door. Through the distorted image of the hole, he saw MJ face. She didn't look happy. Peter hesitated to open the door. Peter's spider-sense kicked in as he realized MJ was getting ready to start pounding again.

"STOP, MJ!" Peter yelled just as MJ fist was about to hit the door again. MJ stopped looking at the door, then her fist, and the door again.

"Then open the damn door!"

Peter smiled at MJ spunk, and decided to tease her. "Not by the hair on my chinny-chin-chin."

"Oh for Christ's sake, open the door for the girl, so we can get back to sleep!" yelled one thoroughly irate neighbor from next door. Peter heard and opened the door for MJ. MJ looked at Peter strangely as she walked in. She looked at him up and down, searching for something.

"What?" Peter asked.

"Nothing. I need to talk to you." MJ stated as walked in the "living" room. Peter looked at the clock on the wall.

"At 6:52 in the morning." Peter stated as started to walk up the stairs, hoping to get back into bed. His side hurt and he needed more rest. MJ watched as Peter held his right side with his left hand as he walked, make that crawled, up the steps. MJ bounded up from her seat and followed Peter upstairs. Peter had just reached his bed as a terrible pain sliced through him. Peter doubled over, MJ rushed to his side to help him.

"Pete! What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I..I jjust got into a fight last night." Peter groaned as he fell on the bed on his back, his arms and legs all hanging loosely around his aching body.

"A fight? Who would want to fight you?" MJ knew what was going to come out of Peter's mouth would be a lie. MJ knew he was Spiderman, but she wanted to see how good a liar he really was.

"Flash Thompson decided he wanted to go another round." MJ gasped at Peter's answer as she knelt beside him on the bed. The movement of the bed made Peter groan aloud in pain.

"Here, let me help you. Let me see you side." MJ stated as she started to lift up Peter's shirt. Peter grabbed her hand to stop her.

"No, I'm okay. It's just a bruise. I'll be fine." Peter tried to reassure MJ, but she was unconvinced.

"If it's just a bruise, then let me see. You might have internal bleeding!"

"Since when did you become a doctor?" Peter chuckled as he held MJ hand in his.

"Since I was 16 years old and boys started to fight over me." MJ answered saucily. She removed her hand from Peter's and lifted his shirt off his body. Peter grunted again as the shirt was lifted from his body.

"Oh my!" MJ gasped. She wasn't sure if she gasped because of the huge, angry black and blue bruise on Peter's side, or if it was his lean, muscled chest that drew the breath from her. She reached out and ran her fingers lightly over the bruise. Peter clenched his teeth at the pain/pleasure of MJ touching him.

"How did he do this to you?" MJ whispered as she leaned over Peter's bruised body.

"A pipe. He hit me with a pipe. Well one of them did at least."

"There was more than one?!"

"A think there was eight."

" Eight guys against you. And you don't think you should go to the doctor. I mean Flash alone could've really hurt you by himself." Peter glanced at MJ, remembering what Flash had said about forcing her. The thought brought so much anger out in him. MJ must have seen it cause she looked fearful for a moment.

"MJ, did Flash ever hurt you?"

"No, not really." MJ shrugged her shoulder in nonchalant ness.

"What I mean is, did he….did he force you to do anything you didn't want to do?" Peter sat up slowly peering soulfully into MJ eyes. MJ couldn't lie to him, nor could she speak the words. She had long decided that it was her fault what had happened; that she had lead Flash on. Her father had made it clear of just that, and they were not going to press charges again Flash and his family. He also made it clear that she would continue to see him, all because his family had money.

Peter saw the truth in MJ's eyes, knew that she wasn't going to say the words. Nor did he want to hear them. He wrapped his hand through MJ's hair and pulled her to his lips. Peter kissed her like he always wanted to kiss her. Passionately, like he had kissed her when he was Spiderman. MJ wrapped one arm around his shoulder and the other hand grasped the side of his face. The kiss was magical. Their mouths moved against each other, searching, yearning for more. Peter's tongue moved inside MJ's mouth, circling slowly around her own. The pain in his side lessened and was replaced by another pain, one deep in his soul. Oh, how I want to make love to her right now, Peter thought. He wanted to make her forget all the Flash Thompson's that been with her before. He wanted her to be with him.

MJ ran her hands through Peter's hair and down his back. She tried to be gentle, but she must have hurt him because he gasped out in pain.

"I'm sorry." MJ whispered as her forehead leaned against Peter's. Their breaths mixing together as they faced on another. Peter brushed MJ's hair from her eyes, kissing her forehead.

"No, I'm sorry. For not being honest with you. For not trusting you. For not believing in you. I love you, MJ."

"Really?" MJ asked wondrously, all thoughts of Spiderman leaving her mind.
"I've always loved you. And I will always love you, not matter what happens, or where we go in our lives." Tears slowly leaked from MJ's eyes as she cried in happiness.

Those are the words I have always dreamed of hearing, MJ thought joyously as she wrapped her arms around Peter and held him tightly.

Peter's tears moved down his cheeks to MJ shoulder as he held her against him. His strong arms squeezed her, bringing her as close to him as possible. MJ was his now. He knew it in his heart that they would be together. Peter moved slowly back from their embrace. MJ smiled at Peter as he stared into her eyes.

MJ slowly eased the long sleeve shirt she was wearing from her shoulders, exposing the tank top she wore underneath. Peter glanced nervously, swallowing noisily. MJ leaned forward, holding Peter's face in her hands. She kissed him softly and sweetly. Her lips where like a butterfly's touch against Peter's. MJ ran her hands down Peter's chest and back up, until they rested at the base of his neck. Peter groaned as he wrapped his arms around MJ once again. Peter found the edge of her tank top and ran his fingers along the edge. He wanted to take it off her, but he was unsure how far MJ wanted this to go. So, he ran his hands up under the back of the shirt. He reveled in the way MJ's skin was so warm and smooth. He had never felt anything like this.

MJ continued to kiss Peter, alternating between feather-light kisses and hard and passionate ones. MJ's back arched as Peter ran his hands up and down her back. The shirt had ridden up and exposed most of MJ's back and stomach, but Peter had made no move to take it off her. MJ knew that Peter was waiting for her to tell him it was okay. So she grasped the edges of the tank top and pulled it over her head. MJ straddled Peter's hips as he stared at her breasts. How many times had he dreamed of this very moment he couldn't remember? Peter leaned up and kissed MJ fervently, while he wrapped his arms around her. The feeling of her naked flesh pressing against his chest was incredible. Peter kissed up MJ's neck and down the line of her jaw. MJ tangled both hands into Peter's hair as he continued to love her with his kisses and his hands.

Peter couldn't take much more. He rolled MJ over onto her back, with him still cradled between her legs. Peter knew what to do, but he had never "done it" before. He kissed MJ thoroughly on the mouth, their tongues darting in and out in imitation of what would come. Peter rose up on his forearms and gazed down at MJ flushed face and kiss-bruised lips. He never thought he would see anything so beautiful.

"Are you okay?" MJ whispered.

"Yeah. It's just that I've never…" MJ put her fingers to Peter's lips silencing him, who kissed them in turn. MJ smiled as she reached up and took Peter's hand placed it on her breast. Peter's breath stopped in his chest as he watched his hand touch her.

"It's okay to touch me, Peter. I want you to. I want you and me to be together." MJ stared at Peter with such trust and longing that even as he knew he shouldn't let this to happen, he knew he couldn't keep it from happening. He just had to have courage to let it happen.

And Peter did touch MJ. They touched each other all over. Peter never dreamed that making love would as beautiful, as thrilling and as spiritual, as it was with MJ. He was so nervous about hurting MJ that she had to take the lead.

MJ couldn't laugh at Peter's inexperience. Her one and only sexual experience thus far had been with Flash. She knew it wasn't supposed to be like it had been with Flash. So, MJ thought, this is my first time, if only emotionally and not physically. MJ enjoyed Peter's body. It was lean and muscled like a swimmer or dancer. Peter was strong, but MJ did not fear it. Flash had used his strength against MJ, but she knew that Peter would never hurt her. In fact, Peter seemed inclined to let MJ take the lead. Peter rolled over onto his back, holding MJ against him as he continued to kiss her. They were both naked and had taken the last hour to explore each other's bodies. MJ asked several times if he was okay to do this with the bruise on his side.  Each time Peter would reassure her with a smile and a kiss that curled her toes.

MJ slowly positioned herself over Peter as he sat up, bracing his arms behind him as he kissed her again and again. And then it happened. Peter slid into MJ's body slowly. Peter's head feel backwards as it happened, MJ leaned his head onto her chest, holding him to her. Peter wrapped an arm around MJ waist as she started to move over him. It was like nothing Peter had ever experience before in his life. He had heard stories, heard guys talk about it, seen it on TV and at the movies, but nothing could prepare him for this feeling. MJ gasped nonsensical words as she moved over Peter. Peter groaned several times, his arm squeezing tighter each time she went down on him.

Peter rolled over suddenly, carrying a breathless MJ with him. Their heads where at the end of the bed, while their feet were tangled in the pillows at the head.  Peter rose up over MJ, entering her deeply and slowly. He lowered himself so that their bodies touched. MJ loved Peter's weight upon her. Peter and MJ's lips brushed softly back and forth from the rhythm of their moving bodies. Peter's lips trembled with the emotion.

"Oh God, MJ." Peter gasped into her hair as he continued to make love to her.

"Don't stop, Peter. Please don't stop!" MJ moaned as she struggled to catch her breath.

"I won't stop, baby. God, I love you!" Peter panted as he increased his rhythm, building the pressure and the pleasure for them both. The pressure continued to build as Peter moved inside MJ. MJ started to cry out Peter's name as he moved faster. Peter started to feel it. The most incredible feeling he had ever felt. MJ body began to spasm around his flesh as she made love to her. That was the end for him. Peter felt as if his entire soul poured out of him. The force of it was unimaginable. Peter clenched his teeth at the pain/pleasure he was feeling. His hands clenched the bed sheets, tearing a hole where he grasped it. His whole body tensed as spasm after spasm washed through his body. He collapsed onto of MJ, their breath coming out in short pants, as they lay their together, not caring if the world ended right then and there.