Mary Jane had cleaned the dishes, mopped the floor, washed the toilet, and made all the beds. Despite this, Peter still hadn't come home. 'Where could he be?' she thought as she sat on the couch in the living room. She looked up at the TV and smacked her forehead. 'Of course!' she thought as she reached for the remote. She surfed the channels until she finally reached one wit the title: "Breaking News!" She stopped and raised the volume as the reporter spoke: "Two hours ago, a couple-Maria and Guillermo Santiago-were trapped on the fifth floor of this apartment building."

The camera swerved to the dilapidated brick building and turned back to the male reporter. He began to talk about the couple's history and how they got here. MJ was so bored that she was about to turn it off when the s-word caught her attention.

"Everything seemed hopeless for the couple. Firefighters said the building was about to collapse, but then Spiderman appeared on the scene."

MJ continued to listen to the reporter as he blabbed on about how Spiderman saved the couple.

"They are currently in Bellevue Hospital. Maria is doing well, but her husband remains in critical, but stable condition. Despite this, however, the couple remains hopeful."

The camera turned to the couple. Mary Jane could tell that they had been through a terrible ordeal, but to her disbelief, they were still smiling.

The reporter continued to speak, but MJ was thinking. 'If it wasn't for Spiderman, that couple wouldn't be alive right now.' MJ had noticed the broad smiles on their faces, and although they looked terrible, they seemed happy. Despite all they've gone through, they were able to hold on and make the best of the situation at hand.

A voice interrupted her: "MJ, it's me!"

She turned around to see Peter walking towards her.

"Hey, Tiger. Where have you been?"

Peter sat next to her. "At Gwen's house."

"What-"

"MJ, I have to tell you something really important." MJ noticed the worry in Peter's eyes. She slowly nodded as Peter held her hands.

"MJ-I went to Gwen's house because I had to tell her the truth."

MJ looked at Peter and grew concerned. "I don't under-"

"MJ, last night, Gwen was running into a path of bullets, so I saved her. We landed on a roof top, and when we landed, she kissed me." MJ laughed as Peter stared at her with a confused look.

"It's OK, Peter. I know you don't love-"

She stopped when she noticed that Peter wasn't laughing with her. She felt his hands let go of hers, and she looked up to see him looking down at his feet.

"Right?" she whispered-hoping that she was right.

"MJ," said Peter as he folded his hands, "I let her kiss me, and-I hate to admit this-I kissed her back because I enjoyed it. Not only that, but for a moment, I felt like I was kissing you in that alleyway in the rain." MJ stared at Peter stunned-half in disbelief, and half in hurt.

"Peter, you don't-you can't be-"

He looked up at her. "No, I am absolutely serious about this MJ. I've never been more serious in my life." He paused as he saw MJ stare at him with a wrinkled forehead and hurt eyes. "MJ, I know it's wrong, and for a moment, I didn't know what to do. I was torn. I loved both of you. But, two hours ago, I saved this couple, and they were so in love, MJ. They refused to leave each other. I know that I would do the same for you, but they reminded me who I really loved. I talked to Gwen before because I wanted her to know that despite my earlier feelings for her, there was only one woman who I truly loved." He looked at MJ with a pleading look-a look that begged for forgiveness. "I love you, MJ, and there's nothing-and no one-in this world that can change that. I know this is kind of late, but I'm begging you to forgive me, MJ. I'm so sorry."

MJ looked at Peter, and she was about to bash him for not telling her sooner, for doing something like that to her, but she caught the glimpse in his eyes and realized that he meant every word. And all the doubts-even the conversation with Liz and the constant interruptions in their lives because of Spiderman-melted away. She realized that even though she was always dating and kissing other men in front of Peter, he had always stayed at the sidelines-hurt, but always waiting for her to come back to him. It was her turn to do the same. "'And here I am standing in your doorway-I've always been standing in your doorway. Besides, isn't it time someone's rescued you for a change?' " She recalled saying that, and she had meant it then. It was time to prove it now. She smiled and placed her hand on Peter's cheek.

"Peter, it's OK," she looked up to see Peter's stunned face. She laughed slightly. "Peter, you've always been waiting for me. Despite all that's happened, you've always stood by my side. We've survived a mad man in a green Power Ranger costume, a brilliant scientist with metallic tentacles, our best friend turning against us, and living-for the most part-without the support of our parents. After all we've been through, do you think that something as small as a little crush can get in the way?" MJ smiled again at Peter's grin. 'Now's the time,' Peter thought.

Peter cleared his throat and stood up. He took out a small black felt box from his jean pocket and knelt down on one knee. 'Oh my god, he can't be-' thought MJ as Peter slowly opened the box and looked up at her.

"Well, Ms. Watson, now that that's out of the way and taken care of-will you marry me?"

Mary Jane stared at the beautiful emerald that gleamed back at her and slightly gasped. She stared at Peter with wide eyes.

"How did you afford this?"

Peter blushed slightly. "Uh...let's just say that I'll be a little behind for a while." Peter saw MJ's worried expression, but hurriedly replied, "Well, that's besides the point. The question is Ms. Watson, will you-?"

"Of course Peter! How can I say no?" She looked up at Peter's gorgeous, boyish face and gasped again as Peter took the ring out and placed it on her index finger. She hugged Peter tightly and whispered, "Oh, Tiger. I'm so lucky."

"And I am-" Before he could say anything more, though, MJ slowly pulled Peter up and laid him on his back on the couch, who eagerly obliged. She laid on top of him, leaned forward, and kissed him. As the moonlight flooded through the windows and bathed the two lovers, they kissed each other with great passion. As they kissed, both were unaware that the TV was still on, and the reporter on the TV continued to talk about Maria and Guillermo Santiago:

"Throughout this disaster, a miracle has occurred: Maria is pregnant, and amazingly, the fetus is still alive-despite all of the smoke that Maria has inhaled."

The camera again turned to the couple. Microphones were surrounding the couple, who were holding each other's hands. The husband began to speak: "I'm glad they're OK. My wife thinks-"

"Knows-"interrupted the young woman with a smile.

Her husband laughed. "All right-she knows it's a girl."

"What are you going to name the baby-if it is a gi-"asked a reporter.

"I know it's a girl," interrupted Maria, "We're going to name her Esperanza."

"Esperanza?" questioned another reporter. Her husband nodded.

"It means hope in Spanish," he replied, "And that's what this child has given us: hope for the future. She's a living reminder to all of us that there are people out there who are willing to help others regardless of whether or not they get rewarded for it."

"And for that," said Maria with a smile, "we are grateful."