Peter Parker woke up just as the sun was coming up over the horizon. He rolled over wincing as his side and ribs protested his every move. He didn't dare sit up until he worked the cramps out of his body knowing he just might end up face down on the floor.

'Well so much for web swinging home,' Peter thought, 'Maybe I will go ahead and take a few days off.'

Peter slowly sat up moving slowly so as to not agitate his already aching torso. He set his feet down onto the floor standing up carefully. He walked to the bathroom glancing at himself in the mirror and seeing his face tired and pained. He walked back into the bedroom pulling out a pair of jeans and a sweater. He put them on. Peter gathered up his Spidey suit, putting it into a gym bag. He left the room smelling the wonderful aroma of freshly brewed coffee. He walked into the breakfast nook. He grabbed a coffee mug from the table pouring a cup of black coffee. He downed it quickly putting away two more right before Professor Xavier came in. Xavier poured himself a cup of tea. Storm was the last to come in. she got a cup of coffee slowly sipping hers. Peter couldn't help noticing that Storm was dressed in a maroon sweater and jeans, her long white hair pulled back into a braid.

"Good morning Peter," Xavier said, "How are you feeling this morning?"

"Sore and stiff, but I am healing quickly. One of the plus' to being bit by a radioactive spider," Peter said smiling, "I really need to get home before Mary Jane bans me from the house for good."

"I understand, Storm ready to go?" Xavier asked her.

"Yes Professor," she said grabbing her coat and heading to the door.

They all headed down to the lobby of the hotel only stopping once so Professor X could check his messages. Storm went outside and pulled the car around front. Peter got into the back making sure he was comfortable enough. Storm pulled away from the curb following Peter's directions to his house. They finally pull into the driveway of Aunt May's Forest Hills home.

"Would you care to come in?" Peter asked Professor X and Storm.

"We'd be delighted," Xavier said.

"I need to talk to Mary Jane to tell her how and when to change your dressing," Ororo said.

Peter led the way up the stairs. He was about to open the door when someone flung it open on the other side. Peter saw the red haired beauty he calls his wife. The look on her face was less than welcoming. She glanced behind him seeing Storm and Professor Xavier.

"Good morning Professor, Storm," MJ said not bothering to acknowledge Peter's presence.

Peter and his guests entered into the warm house. Peter saw Aunt May in the kitchen preparing breakfast. She left the stove coming into the living room. She smiled at Xavier and Storm before coming up to Peter and batting his ears as if he was a small child again. Aunt May left again to finish up breakfast that she had started. Peter saw that Storm and Mary Jane were deep in conversation. He turned to speak with Professor Xavier, but saw he was also in the kitchen deep in conversation with Aunt May. Peter shrugged to himself before grabbing the bag by the door. He went upstairs to his and Mary Jane's room. He pulled out his Spider-Man costume assessing the damage done last night. He saw that the acid had burned a hole in the side. Peter tossed it back into the bag promising to burn it later. Peter heard footsteps coming up the stairs. He saw Mary Jane come in smiling. She walked over to Peter, throwing her arms around his neck. Mary Jane kissed him vowing to never let him leave her side, well at least for the next few days. Peter broke the kiss first gently removing her arms from around his neck.

"Aunt May nearly had a heart attack when you weren't home this morning," Mary Jane told him, "I told her you were called into work. She was slightly relived."

"I am sorry about what happened," Peter began.

"No need to explain. You saved someone's life. That's all that matter," she told him.

Smiling she grabbed his shirt pulling him towards the door. Peter followed her down stairs to the kitchen where Aunt May was attempting to stuff Peter's guests. Peter poured a cup of coffee and only grabbed a piece of plain toast. Peter looked out the kitchen window staring at Katerina's home next door. He saw the door open and her mother leave for the hospital. She had an unusual look upon her face. Peter turned to leave the kitchen. Professor Xavier saw Peter's look. He followed Peter into the living room.

"Peter, what's wrong?" he asked.

"I am really not sure, but I think it's time to speak to Dr. Johansson," Peter said.

"I will go and speak to Ms. Ryan," Xavier said.

Peter nodded and headed up stairs to the attic. He unlocked the small trunk and pulled out another Spider-Man costume. He changed quickly putting his clothes into the trunk before locking it again. He opened the window checking to make sure no one was looking. He shot out a web line and began his swing into Manhattan. He pulled out the card Dr. Johansson gave him and found the address. He landed softly on the balcony. He knocked on the balcony door. Soon a girl in her teen's answered the door. She had a shocked look upon her face, but let him in without question. She motioned him to stay in the sitting room before leaving. Spider-Man looked around noticing the room was done in the Victorian style. The girl returned once more with Dr. Johansson following behind. Her daughter sat down in one of the chairs silently waiting.

"Spider-Man, I didn't expect you so soon," she said.

"I was going to recover longer, but my curiosity was just too great," he said politely, "Your daughter is beautiful. She is deaf isn't she?"

"Yes how did you…" Emelia asked.

"The way she looks at you. Even though she can't hear she holds a look of understanding. A look only seen in the eyes of those who are truly innocent," Spider-Man said.

"Wow," Emelia said softly.

"Now what was it that you wanted to tell me," he said.

"Sorry," Dr Johansson said, "That man who attacked me yesterday was not interested in my purse. He was after the information I have."

Spider-Man continued to stare at her, "What information was he after?"

"Let me start at the beginning," she said, "As you know a couple of years ago Dr Otto Octavious had a freak accident which link him psyonically to his four mechanical arms. I work for a government agency that currently has those arms in an undisclosed location."

"So Doc Oc hired that thug to kidnap you to find out where his arms are," Spider-Man said.

"Sort of, they aren't really after me, but instead after another who is the leading researcher in nano technology. This doctor has successfully linked a robot composed of nano bugs to another person via the psyonic link. If Octavious get his hands on them then he would be invincible," she said.

"My God, and they are here in New York," Spider-Man said.

"Yes, but I do not know who they are. The name is known to only one person at my agency," she said.

"Are they well guarded?" Spider-Man asked.

"Yes, they…" she was cut off as a sudden explosion ripped through the condo. Dr Johansson and her daughter were thrown across the room hitting the wall. Spider-Man was also thrown up against a lamp table hard enough to knock the breath from him and causing him to black out briefly. Spider-Man got up painfully. He headed to where Dr Johansson was. He noticed that the floor in spots was already engulfed and spreading quickly. He saw that she was hurt bad. Her daughter seemed fine, just scared.

He pulled up the edge of his mask exposing his mouth, "Are you alright?"

She nodded her head yes, "Good. I need you to climb onto my back and hold on tightly. Your mom's hurt and needs to go to the hospital, Okay?"

She again nodded her agreement. She climbed onto his back and held on tightly. Spider-Man picked up Emelia heading towards the window. He knew the fire department would be here soon. He fired a web line, awkwardly swinging out the window. He headed towards General. He arrived there making as gentle of a landing as possible. He laid Dr. Johansson on a stretcher near the door, catching the attention of one of the nurses. She cam running out seeing Emelia laying on the stretcher. She brought her into the hospital to care for her. Spider-Man had ducked around the side of the building with her daughter. She got down and waited.

"I am sorry, but I feel you would be safer with someone I know," he told her.

She stared at him unblinking, tears shining in her eyes, "I am going to show you something that I hope will help you trust me. Please don't tell anyone."

Peter pulled off his mask exposing his blue eyes to the girl's own emerald green ones, "My name is Peter Parker, but only when I am in regular clothes. I am going to take you to my home. My wife will care for you until your mom is better, Okay?"

Surprising Peter the girl came to him taking his mask from his hands. She put it on him and then motioned to the air. Spider-Man knew that she trusted him and had agreed to go. Spider-Man picked up the girl. He fired a web line up feeling it catch. They were flying through the air on his way to his home. He glanced at the girl seeing her smiling. He soon reach hi home. He leapt in through the attic window. He set down the girl. He opened the trunk, pulling out his clothes. He put them on over his costume. He led the girl back to the window and they both landed on the ground. They went to the door, walking in to the warm living room. Mary Jane and Storm were watching some sort of talk show. Mary Jane saw Peter walk in with the girl.

"Peter!" she said amazed.

"It's a long story, but she's going to stay here for a little while," Peter said.

"What's her name?" Storm asked.

"I don't know. She is deaf," he said.

Storm came up to her and signed something. The girl responded with her own sign.

"Her name is Rose Marie and to please stop talking about her as if she is were a child, she is sixteen not four years old," Storm said.

"Sorry," Peter said.

Rose Marie smiled. She walked to Peter and gave him a peck on the cheek. He blushed a deep crimson and both Mary Jane and Storm laughed.

"Rose Marie, I'll show you to the guest room," Storm said, "That is if you don't mind."

She looked at the Parker's for their approval, "No it's okay."

"Now what is going on?" Mary Jane asked Peter.

"Dr Johansson, the woman I saved wanted to tell me something so I went to her home earlier. While I was there someone bombed the apartment. She was hurt so I took her to the hospital. I thought about leaving Rose Marie with her mother, but I just couldn't. I revealed myself to her to gain her trust then brought her here," he said.

"Wow, what did Dr Johansson have to say?" Mary Jane asked.

"It was about Doc Oc and someone who has figured out the whole psyonic link bit with nano technology," Peter said.

"This is serious," Professor Xavier said coming in from the kitchen.

"I know. I'm going to General to see how Dr. Johansson is and to speak to Dr. Harris," Peter said.

"Please be careful," Mary Jane said, "Especially if Doctor Octopus is out."

"I promise," he said kissing her.