The morning came, as it always did. The warm flood of sunlight through the open balcony door signaled the start of a new day. MJ lay on her stomach as the sun flowed over the bed. She rolled over, her arms stretching out to find Peter. Her hand connected with only the pillows. They were cool to the touch; meaning Peter had been gone for a while. MJ's head snapped up out of confusion and fear. She rolled onto back, searching the room. She sat up slowing listening for movement downstairs. All she heard was silence. It was then that MJ realized that this was the way it was going to be if she was going to be with Peter. Reality has struck again, MJ thought as she rose up from the bed. MJ took a shower, used Peter's toothbrush and hairbrush, and since she didn't have a change of clothes, donned one of Peter's T-shirts and the jeans she had worn there yesterday. As the T-shirt came over her head she inhaled deeply. It smelled so wonderful. MJ didn't want to leave the comforts, and delights, of Peter's bed, but she knew she had to get up sometime. Can't stay there forever, but oh how I want to, MJ thought wickedly.

MJ walked down the steps, pulling her hair into a sloppy chignon at the back of neck. She walked into the kitchen and noticed the light on Peter's answering machine was blinking. Funny, I didn't hear the phone ring last night, MJ thought to herself. But MJ smiled as she realized they had been in their own little world, and probably didn't want to here it. MJ pushed the play button to listen to the messages, knowing that Peter wouldn't mind if she listened to his messages.

"You have one new message. 1St message" the monotone machine announced. MJ poured herself a glass of water as she waited of the message to play. A grave, dieing voice spoke eerily from the machine.

"MJ! MJ! Run MJ! Get away from him! He's a killer! He'll kill you now that you know his secret! RUN, MJ! RUUNN!" Harry's dieing voice screamed at MJ as she walked backwards until she bumped against the counter. "I love you MJ! I'll always love you!" The machine kept playing the last over and over, a litany MJ couldn't stand to hear. MJ put her hands up to cover her ears, but she could still hear Harry's voice calling to her over and over!

"No! NO!! Stop it! Stop!!! STOP!!!!" MJ screamed as she leapt up from Peter's embrace. Peter's spider-sense had kicked in a few minutes before. It had woken him for a dead sleep, which had never happened before. He lay there a few minutes trying to calculate where the danger was coming from. It was close, very close. Then suddenly MJ flinched in her sleep. Her hands came up to her ears, like she was trying to cover them, then she was screaming. Peter sat up just as she leapt up from the bed.

"MJ! MJ, it's okay! It's okay." Peter said reassuringly. MJ's eyes darted wildly around the room, searching for her nightmare attacker. Peter held MJ's wrists lightly, caressing the insides softly to calm her. MJ threw herself into Peter's arms, sobbing softly.

"What's happening to me, Pete?"

"I don't know."

"I keep hearing Harry's voice. I keep dreaming about him, about him dieing. He tells me to run, run away from you."

Peter eased MJ away from his shoulder. He knew what he had to ask, but didn't want to. "Do you want to run?"

"No. NO! I know you didn't kill Harry! I want us to be together, always." MJ smiled sweetly as she noticed the relief in Peter's face.

"Don't worry, we will be. I promise!" Peter kissed MJ softly. Peter got up from the bed and headed for the bathroom. The morning had come and it was time to face the world.

MJ and Peter left his apartment reluctantly. Peter donned his Spiderman costume under his clothes before he got dressed, much to MJ's pleasure. MJ watched as he slid his arms into the sleeves, filling out the costume quite nicely.

"Doesn't that get hot to wear under your clothes?" MJ asked.

"Not really. It actually is really comfortable. But I have to say I felt a little silly wearing it a first." Peter slips his other arm in the sleeve and began to 'work' the costume into place over his chest. MJ walked up to him, intending on helping.

"Who made it for you?" MJ asked as she pulled the zipper up Peter's back and smoothing the fabric across his shoulders, admiring their breath.

"Would you believe I did?" Peter asked with a cocky little smile. MJ smiled back at Peter. Always so resourceful, MJ thought.

"I believe you. Next time I need a dress sewn I know who can do it!" MJ laughed heartily at Peter's surprised look of horror to her observation. "I'm kidding! Now I can help you with that from now on, if you want me to." MJ offered as Pete slipped his jeans over his hips.

"That would be great." Peter mumbled as he pulled the shirt over his head. The collar didn't quite cover the costume, revealing the neck. MJ noticed immediately and started to help him adjust the neck so it couldn't be seen. Peter realized that it was nice to have someone there to help him, especially MJ. He liked how she fussed over the neck of the costume and kept checking and rechecking to make sure everything was covered. When MJ was satisfied, she handed his mask and gloves to Peter. Peter grabbed MJ's hand and pulled her into his embrace, kissing her softly on the lips and whispered seductively, "Thanks."

"Anytime." MJ whispered back.

As they neared MJ's apartment they both noticed the reporters hovering around MJ building. Their intentions were to go and get some of MJ things and bring them back to Peter's place. But that plan was killed as they neared and the reporters saw MJ. They rushed towards MJ, microphones in hand. MJ quickly dashed past them and into the building, the reporters fast on their heels. Peter and MJ laughed all the way up the stairs to her apartment.

"They're not going to make this relationship easy, are they?" MJ asked both breathlessly and laughingly as they reached MJ's apartment. The neighbors were standing outside their doors, seemingly waiting for MJ to return.

"Ms. Watson can we speak to you?" asked a sweet elderly lady that lived next to MJ.

"Sure." MJ looked at Peter in askance. Peter stepped back to give them some privacy. "What is it Mrs. Redding?"

"Well, dear, I hate to ask this, but many of the tenants in the building are very upset with the reporters and such outside." MJ nodded her head in understanding. She understood their anger. It wasn't their fault, and they hadn't done anything to deserve their lives being turned upside down. Hell, I hadn't done anything either! MJ thought. Well until last night, MJ corrected in her head.

Mrs. Redding went on explaining how each tenant was having to dodge the reporters and the kids couldn't go out to play without the reporters asking very inappropriate questions.

"What do they want me to do?" MJ finally asked, somewhat annoyed.

"Well, they want you to leave. In fact they've already talked the landlord. But I convinced them that it would be better if we asked instead of demanded. You know I adore you, you've never been a problem, but this is more that these folks can stand." MJ wasn't surprised, but it still hurt. She knew a lot of the kids in the building, and knew what this situation must be doing to them. She would miss everyone, especially the kids. Peter decided to move up next to MJ. He placed his hands on her shoulders and squeezed in reassurance.

"Don't worry Mrs. Redding. She can stay with me." Peter stated to Mrs. Redding, who smiled up at Peter's trusting face. MJ's head whipped around in surprise.

"Are you sure? I mean, it's only been one…" Pete silenced her with a soft kiss on the lips.

"I know it's only been ONE YEAR, but I figure it's time we move in together. Besides half your stuff is at my place already." Peter peered directly into MJ eyes, daring her to rebut his statement.

"Well, this is wonderful!" Mrs. Redding announced happily. "And here I thought we were throwing you out on your ear. How sneaky of you to keep this fine young gentleman a secret, MJ!" Mrs. Redding playfully slapped MJ's arm, then blushed as Peter wrapped his arms around MJ, resting his head on her shoulder and winking at Mrs. Redding.

"I just recently discovered just how lucky I really was Mrs. Redding." MJ stated as she looked at Peter.

"What do you mean 'ONE YEAR,' Peter Parker?" MJ asked sarcastically as they entered her apartment, closing the door behind her.

"I had to save your honor and reputation, Ms. Watson." Peter responded in his best "Rhett Butler" accent. " I could let them think that after only one day, you were moving in with me."

"Why? The entire city thinks that I'm the slut who's sleeping with Spiderman." MJ announced as she walked in the kitchen. Peter caught up with her and embraced her tightly.

"You are sleeping with Spiderman. But you're not a slut."

"I know. I've got to check my messages." MJ was hesitant to check her messages. The memory of the nightmare flashing through her eyes. Her finger hovered over the play button, shaking slightly. Peter walked up behind her and pushed the button for her.

"You have 41 new messages. 1st message."

MJ pushed the pause button and turned to Peter, her eyes wide. "I'd better get something to write with and a piece of paper." Peter laughed as she walked by.

Twenty minutes later, MJ sat and stared at the information on the paper. 10 calls from local TV and radio stations, 3 from her mother, 1 from the TODAY show, 1 from Good Morning, America, 20 from the newspapers, including 4 from the Daily Bugle, and 6 from friends, 3 of which were from 'friends' she hadn't heard from in 2 years. All of them wanted to know the same thing. WAS SHE REALLY SPIDERMAN'S GIRLFRIEND?

MJ looked up at Peter's face. They both knew what the other was thinking. How in the hell are they going to be together through all this?

"Peter, if I move in with you, won't that draw the reporters to start watching you? One of them COULD discover your secret?" MJ asked worriedly.

"I'll handle that. First, we need to get you outta here for a while. Go get some stuff and meet me at my place in a few hours. Maybe in a few days things will cool down and we can get the rest of your stuff." Peter walked to the door, intending on leaving.

"You're leaving?!"

"Yeah, I've got to go and see if I can find any more about Harry's murder. Here, catch!" Peter tossed the key to his apartment to MJ. MJ caught in her hand, "But how will you get in? I'm not leaving the door unlocked! Not with those crazies out there!" MJ stated as she pointed to where the reporters were probably still standing. Peter paused at the doorway, his hand on the knob, looking over his shoulder, a knowing smirk plastered on his face. "Don't worry, I've got my own private entrance." Peter kissed his fingers and blew a kiss to MJ and mouthed the words, "I love you."

MJ walked into her bedroom, grabbing a few clothes here and there. She grabbed her work uniform, a couple of outfits, a nice dress and a few pairs of shoes in different styles. She walked into her bathroom, grabbing up her make-up and toiletries. She opened her medicine cabinet and paused. Her birth control pills sat there blaring at her. The night before she had been so exhausted she hadn't even gotten to the bathroom before fainting on the bed. And, well, last night she had been at Peter's. She hadn't taken her pills in two days. No big deal, MJ thought, the instructions said that it was okay, especially if you'd been on them of a long time. And I've been on them for years. I'll just take the two I missed and be done with it. NO BIG DEAL!  But the truth of the matter was that MJ had only TRULY tested the pills effectiveness once, with Flash. And she hadn't missed any, ever, then. Peter and her hadn't used any other protection last night, and she hadn't even thought about until now. MJ's hand strayed to her abdomen. What if I am pregnant, right now? MJ thought wondrously. But then suddenly she became very scared. She didn't know if she was ready to be a mother. And how would their child be affected by Peter's secret? What kind of life would she and Peter be able to provide? Did Peter even want kids? Especially considering his reluctance to tell MJ his secret, how would he feel about the possibility of creating a life that might have the same powers as he? It was all too much to consider, MJ grabbed the pills and shoved them into her bag.