Smallville Lover: If you are reading this, yes, I do take requests for Spider-Man stories. I can do anything relating to any of the movies and maybe the comics, up to a T rating. I would've answered your message, but for some reason, I'm not allowed to PM you. You can give me more details in the reviews if you want a story. Thanks!

Chapter Twelve

Together

October 8, 2004

When I woke up this morning, it hit me. I felt kinda… well… horrified. I mean… I literally ran out on my wedding two minutes before I was supposed to walk down the aisle. You wouldn't believe the stack of messages on my phone… John being worried, J. Jonah being in a screaming rage, Mom wondering why I wasn't answering… I met with John as soon as possible to try and explain… and apologize… as best as I could. And I had to do it without the slightest reference to Spider-Man. Which was incredibly difficult, seeing as Spider-Man is just about the most important element of the entire story.

Not that I regret my decision, it's just that I realized I left poor John standing at the altar and… he deserves better than that. So much better. He's a good man and he deserves a good woman. One that truly loves him. I couldn't give him the love that he deserves. I told him so. That I will always respect him and be grateful to him for everything… but that I can't love him in the way that he needed me to.

He understood completely. Or so he said that he did. But from the conviction in his voice, I believe him. He was terribly disappointed, of course, but he wished me well, and he wished me happy. And I told him the same. We parted as friends.

October 9, 2004

Today I was sitting in the living room… if a couch and coffee table in the corner of my apartment can be called a living room… just staring out the open window. Daydreaming, I guess. Since I've gotten the part in the play, my mornings and most of my afternoons are completely free. And most days I'm just terribly bored. But not today.

Spider-Man suddenly showed up outside my window, hanging upside down in front of it, with a bouquet of peonies. All in beautiful rainbow colors. Not nearly as grand as John's roses, but twice as precious.

"Good morning, Beautiful," he said and I laughed. I've never felt so perfectly happy. I took the peonies and kissed him. Upside-down, like that night in the alley. Never before has any girl in the history of the world had such a strange courtship. I'm sure of that.

And it got even stranger. He wanted to take me "swinging", as he called it, and I agreed before I thought about it. In another minute, we were flying above New York, careening wildly between the skyscrapers. People on the ground were pointing up and yelling at us. Peter just kept going faster and faster until it took my breath away. But I wasn't afraid. I was dizzily, deliriously happy. And I felt so completely safe that I could have stayed up there forever.

He doesn't really get tired. It's amazing. He could have carried me all over New York like that. But… like he always says… "Something came up." He dropped me off in front of Aunt May's apartment and was gone in a few moments.

Go get 'em, Tiger.

October 11, 2004

Peter took me out to dinner today. It wasn't exactly the fanciest restaurant in Manhattan… like the ones Harry and John took me to, but it was still a lot nicer than I thought he could afford. And the company was twice as wonderful.

After dinner, we sat on top of the Brooklyn Bridge (no, I'm not kidding) and watched the moon rise and the stars shine. And I asked him about everything. He told me that he was bitten by one of those weird genetically-enhanced super spiders on that field trip back in highschool. Crazy. And he said that it wasn't until Uncle Ben's death that he decided to use his powers to help others. Something that Uncle Ben said: "With great power comes great responsibility"... it made him think. And encouraged him. And also kept him away from me.

One thing that I kept remembering was something that Doc Ock said when Spider-Man showed up at his lair. Surprised that he was alive, he said that "I should've known Osborne wouldn't have the nerve." Osborne, meaning Harry. I asked Peter about that too, but he just shook his head and wouldn't say anything. I'm terrified that Harry is going to find out who he is. Harry knows who he is. Knowing that Harry actually intended to murder Spider-Man… that's just another thing that I can't believe. Add it to the list, I guess. Peter said that the Green Goblin killed Norman Osborne. But he wouldn't say anymore about it. I have a feeling there's more to that than meets the eye. But I won't pry.

Another thing… this is something the entire city has been talking about for days… is the runaway train. Doc Ock apparently tore the brakes off a train full of passengers that was headed straight for a drop-off and it was at maximum speed. Peter actually stopped the train with his bare hands. According to the papers and the accounts of the survivors, he nearly tore himself apart to stop that train. The passengers recounted how he passed out and nearly fell off the train just as it pulled to a stop at the very last second, almost dangling over the drop-off. They saved his life, just as he saved theirs, by pulling him inside just before he fell. But what they didn't say is what Peter told me later. He had taken his mask off to see better and every person on that train saw his face. But they promised never to tell. God bless them for it!

And as for the "Spider-Man No More" thing, that was true. Peter actually lost his powers… the night that John and I announced our engagement. Knowing that I was that important to Peter that he lost his powers because of me… well… I wish I had known. Wish I had known then that he loved me that much. He had thrown away his Spider-Man suit and J. Jonah got a hold of it. And Peter promptly stole it back when I got kidnapped by Doc Ock. Apparently, he interrupted J. Jonah, who was in the middle of admitting that Spider-Man was a hero, and when he saw that the suit was gone, he instantly changed his tune and called him a thief and villain. Whatever. That guy's as changeable as Manhattan weather.

October 20, 2004

Today I asked Peter about the Spider-Man suit. He actually made it. I remember seeing him sewing something back when we were neighbors in Queens. Ha! I'd never have thought it. He said that he chose the colors red and blue because of my red hair and blue eyes. That's the sweetest thing I've ever heard.

October 25, 2004

Fall is beautiful. Perfect. Even when it's raining. Today Peter and I went for a walk in Central Park… it was one of those misty grey fall days with the wind blowing right through you. But the leaves on the trees (what was left of them) were perfectly gorgeous. And then it started raining. Not pouring rain, just a slow, icy-cold drizzle. We hightailed it back to my apartment, since it was closer, and made hot chocolate to warm up. Peter didn't get called out and he either didn't have any assignments to do or else was just ignoring them, because he stayed for hours. We curled up on the couch and had an old classic black-and-white movie marathon. I think we went through half a dozen of them. It was wonderful. A perfect day. The kind of day I've dreamed of having.

As a side note, I think Peter drank nearly a gallon of cocoa… that man never ceases to amaze me… no matter what he's doing.

November 27, 2004

There hasn't really been a lot to say lately. Life's been good. Peter's been busy, of course, but he somehow always finds time to be with me. And he managed to break the record of times someone has been to see my play. I'll bet he does have it memorized now! I actually caught him quoting it the other day.

I've been hearing rumors of a new Broadway show that will premiere beginning of next year. "Dreams of Manhattan". A sort of musical celebration with a simple plot that showcases some of Broadway's biggest song hits. Auditions will be starting next week. I'm going to try for it.

Imagine! If I could actually make it to Broadway, I'd have actually achieved what I've always dreamed of! Next to being with the love of my life, it's the best thing that could ever happen to me. It's all I need for my life to be complete.

I've been practicing so hard… especially in singing. Peter's been a willing audience, most of the time, and I'm pleased to report that my singing doesn't actually seem to offend his ears. Actually, he says that it's beautiful. But he's such a sweetheart… what seems beautiful to him, might not seem so to a critical Broadway director. I've got to admit that I'm quaking with fear. Praying that I do my best.

December 4, 2004

My audition was today. Peter took me to the theater and stayed during the audition. I was more nervous than I've ever been in my entire life but I remembered what Peter told me so long ago… "You're gonna light up Broadway." Today, I was attempting to fulfill that prophecy. Let's hope that it really was a prophecy and not just wishful thinking.

I'm not going to even find out how I did until after Christmas. Apparently so many people are trying out that it's going to take them that long to make a decision.

But I think I'll somehow manage to wait. And if I do get it, it'll be just in time because The Importance of Being Earnest is finishing up this year. I'll miss it. Really, I will. It was my first real production and it's been just fabulous. I loved it. But it's time to move on. To bigger and better things.

December 26, 2004

I've been so busy with getting ready for Christmas and all that I haven't pulled this old thing out in forever. But Christmas has been here and gone and now I'm anxiously awaiting the verdict of my audition.

I spent Christmas this year with Mom and Peter and Aunt May. Just the four of us. We had invited Harry, but he never showed up. I'm really worried about him. And I'm afraid that he'll do something crazy, he's still so upset about his father. And he won't listen to Peter.

But, troubles aside, we had a lovely Christmas. Peter gave me a silver locket with a tiny spider engraved on it. Not just any spider, but the same symbol on the Spider-Man suit. It's beautiful. I put his picture inside.

I wish every day could be as perfect as yesterday was. Just spending time with the people I love most in the world. Laughing and talking and eating Aunt May's cookies and drinking hot chocolate and just having fun. Being beaten by Peter in checkers and beating him back in charades. Hearing Aunt May's stories of when she was younger. Singing carols around the fire. Peter didn't even get called out today. It couldn't have been a better day. Well, almost. There are still missing faces. Like I mentioned above. And, of course, Uncle Ben is gone. But God has blessed me well.

The clock was striking midnight and Mary Jane was too tired to hold her head up any longer. The words blurred on the page before her eyes. Shaking her head, she cast the little book aside and reached for her crutches. She dragged herself slowly into her bedroom and cast herself face-down on the bed, burying her face in the pillows. She fell asleep almost instantly. And as she slept, her troubled mind seemed almost to throw the forgotten past in her face, mockingly. Faded memories and stories from her diary that were not memories raced around her wildly. Twisted forms of what had been, what might have been, what she didn't know had been.

She could see the red and blue figure of Spider-Man swinging high above her, so far out of reach. Obscured by the mist that had settled irrevocably over the dark city. At times she could just barely see him and at other times he vanished completely, always to reappear yet so far ahead of her and moving so quickly that she could never reach him, although she ran as fast as she could. And then he swooped down, sweeping her off her feet and carrying her with him far, far above the rooftops. But then she was falling, falling, falling into swirling black darkness. Screaming for help. He jumped after her and yet couldn't reach her in time. And then he wasn't wearing his mask and his face was the face of Peter Parker as she remembered him back in the old highschool days. But his eyes were filled with a torturous, painful longing. He was standing before her, reaching out to her, desperately, like a dying man. She ran to him, trying to reach him. But the ground was cracking beneath their feet, a wide chasm opening between them. A gulf that no one could span. He was crying out to her, straining to reach her. And then he jumped, trying to reach the other side where she was clinging, too afraid to answer his cries. But he fell… vanishing into the darkness of the abyss.

Laughter. The sounds of happy laughter and merry voices. A fire crackling on the hearth. He was there beside her, his arms around her. She could see herself as if she was not in her own body. She looked happy… contented. Around her neck hung the shining silver locket with the symbol of Spider-Man etched on it. As she looked at her happy counterpart, she reached up, laying her hand over her heart. The locket was gone. And the picture was fading. She was alone in a dark room. And the laughter lingered, echoing throughout the room, changing. It was a hideous, eerie laugh. Echoing in the empty space. There before her were the glaring yellow eyes, leering at her, mocking her in her empty pain and solitude. She fell to her knees, frightened, alone. She could hear her own voice, as if it was screaming back at her.

"Peter! Peter, don't leave me!" And he was there beside her again, pulling off his mask, pressing his lips to hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close, holding him tight.

"Mary Jane Parker," he whispered. "Mary Jane Parker. I love you more than life itself. You're the dearest thing on earth to me. My life, my hope, my strength, my heart. He can erase my memories, but never my love for you. No matter what happens, I will always love you, with my whole heart and soul. And I will find you again. I promise."

"Don't leave me!" She was sobbing, frantically, hysterically. She tightened her hold around him, but he was fading before her eyes. "Don't leave me, Peter, please!"

But he was gone.

With a cry of pain, Mary Jane sat bolt upright in bed. Her body was trembling all over, the covers that she had never pulled back crumpled and drenched with sweat. It was the most vivid dream she had ever had. So real… and yet so impossible. Was it memories, those scenes, those words that had raced through her brain? Or just figments of a weary and tortured imagination?

Too frightened to sleep again, she buried her face in her hands and prayed until the first light of dawn began to stream through her windows.

The radio was still switched on as she had completely forgotten to turn it off the night before. Soft music was playing, barely audible. It was a slow, almost eerie tone and MJ leaned over to adjust the volume. She shivered at the words that she heard… the words that echoed her own heart.

Dancing bears, painted wings

Things I almost remember.

And a song someone sings

Once upon a December.

Someone holds me safe and warm.

Horses prance through a silver storm.

Figures dancing gracefully across my memory.

Far away, long ago,

Glowing dim as an ember,

Things my heart used to know

Things it yearns to remember

And a song someone sings

Once upon a December.


Song: Once Upon a December from Anastasia

Let me know what you think! I thrive on reviews!