Chapter Four

The feel of the smooth wind against him was wonderful. It sent Peter away from reality when he was flying high above it. As much as he enjoyed the experience, he knew that it could not last forever. There were too many important things going on in his life at stake.

After combating the usual amateur bank robbers who thought that they could test their might against Spider-Man's powers, Peter was more annoyed than tired. He was ready to go home and see MJ. His MJ.

Peter moved out of his old apartment and moved in with MJ. Her home was full of life, and full of her happiness and joy. Their wedding ceremony was scheduled in three days.

He gracefully landed on the balcony and tapped at the window so that MJ could let him in. She saw him and smiled.

"Tiger, you're adorable when you do that, ya know?" she said. "You look like a poor little puppy scratching at the door."

"Funny, MJ," he simply stated. Peter pulled his mask off, revealing his face to her. This I'm going to have to get used to, he thought to himself. They embraced each other lovingly, then drifted away only an inch apart. After looking into MJ's eyes for a slight moment, Peter pulled her in close for a romantic kiss. I'm also going to have to get used to this.

They both sat down on the couch, MJ in Peter's lap. "I love you so much, Pete. I'm really glad that it was you under that mask the whole time. I couldn't imagine it to be anyone else. You're the only one I know with a heart of gold," she said. "I mean that with all of my heart."

All he could do was look at her, his blue eyes speaking for him.

"Just curious though—what happened that night a few years ago...when you saved me and all of those children at the Queensboro Bridge, when that Green Goblin attacked?" she asked him. "Actually I have a lot of questions. Like how you became Spider-Man? It's okay though...we have the rest of our lives together to answer them."

Peter recalled that night. It sent a shiver down his spine at just the thought of MJ falling to her death down into the cold water below. He was thankful that the citizens of New York had been there that night, on his side. He couldn't have done it alone.

"MJ, first and foremost, Norman Osborn was the Green Goblin. He attacked you to get to me," Peter started. "I never meant for that to happen to you, and I'm sorry. I feel like it's my fault that you were involved in that incident, and I would have never forgave myself if you weren't here today." A small tear escaped his eye. "I love you too...I've loved you since we were six."

He continued. "Now I know that you deserve a lot of answers. Remember that field trip we went on senior year in high school? To Columbia University?"

"Yeah..." MJ wondered what this had to do with anything.

"Well, one of the genetically-altered 'superspiders' got loose, and bit me. I think that some of its DNA sequence fused with my own, and ever since, I've had these abilities. The proportional strength of a spider, webshooting, and this 'spider sense' that allows me to dodge bullets and the like," he told her. "I really do wish that I could have told you about my responsibilities as Spider-Man a long, long time ago, but it was too dangerous most of the time. And the rest of the time, well, circumstance got in the way."

Suddenly MJ realized that she had been ignoring the evidence for a long time. She knew that something was different about Peter ever since that day in the cafeteria when he caught her before she fell. She mentally pieced together the puzzle, and it made sense. And the fight with Flash...

Peter held his head down, unable to look at her. "I really wanted you to know how I felt about you for years but I just couldn't allow the risk of you getting hurt." He held his head in his hands, and silently cried.

"MJ...there's something else I need to mention to you," he told her, remembering that morning and his encounter with Gwen.

"One of the passengers on the train that I stopped a few months ago, saw me this morning and recognized me. She knows that I'm Spider-Man. I lost my mask in that accident, and she and everyone else riding on that train that day saw me. Anyway, I saved her again this afternoon from this guy with a knife. Oh boy...MJ...she kissed me..." he told her. "I just want you to know that it meant nothing. Honestly."

She didn't know what to think. But then again, it seemed like every woman in New York City wanted a piece of Spider-Man. But Peter? This woman knew who he was.

MJ gently touched Peter's shoulder, urging him to look at her. "Pete, if that is the worst problem in New York City, we're all doomed," she said, with a slight laugh. "It's okay—I know that I have the rest of the city to compete with."

Peter breathed a sigh of relief. "MJ, I just wanted to be honest with you. I haven't been before, making excuses for everything...and I can't do that to you anymore."

"Peter, I trust you with my life. I know that we'll make things work out, no matter how risky life might get in the future. I'm here to support you," she told him with earnest admiration.

They both smiled and hugged, neither one of them wanting to let go.

"Now, what does Spider-Man want for dinner tonight? I was thinking spaghetti..."