Did you see that?!" Amanda squealed, a big smile on her face.

Alex leaned against the balustrade over looking the large training floor below. So much had changed over the past week.

"I did hun, that was a great shot!" Will said. "Let's try a combo."

"Kay," Amanda replied.

"Computer, send projectiles, random pattern."

Confirmed, whirred a mechanical voice that came out from the walls of the large, open space. Then three dimensional fireball simulations came flying down on Amanda and Will. Amanda shot out her glass projectiles, slicing through the simulations, causing them to dissolve. Will then jumped in, firing compressions of magenta at the fireballs. He then encased them safely inside his dome, the simulations dissolving on contact.

"Computer, end simulation," Will said.

Simulation concluded. Will and Amanda high-fived.

Alex smiled. It had been so long since she had seen her family so happy.

"Alex." The baritone signaled Mr. White, the middle aged, balding man who had made all of this possible.

Earlier in the week, he had approached Alex as she was nursing a drink in The Bar With No Name. Impressed with the skills she and Will had shown, against Spider-Man no less, he had offered her and her family a job with his benefactor.

And with that job came training and tech. And a promise to bring back Paul.

"They make quite the team," White said, joining her at balustrade, observing Will and Amanda down below. "Your daughter is a natural."

Alex nodded, beaming with pride.

"Alright," Mr. White said while checking his watch in a crisp motion. "You all have a costume fitting at 4:00 sharp. Don't be late. And please come up with some name suggestions. Our benefactor wants to debut you all soon."

"We're working on that," Alex said.

"If you're having trouble with it, know we can assist in the name development."

"I'm aware Mr. White. This is something we want to do for ourselves."

White shrugged, and then his watch beeped. He stood up to his full, lanky height and straightened his tie. "He's ready for you." White's tone was solemn. "Best not keep him waiting. His time is borrowed."

Alex nodded. Borrowed time. As she followed White down to the first floor, and then down to the basement suite, she couldn't shake the feeling that the ground would drop beneath her feet, shattering this happy respite.

Finally, they stood in front of two large doors that looked better suited for a bank vault. White's eye was scanned, then he entered in a handful of codes, then his hand was scanned. The doors buzzed and clicked, and then they slowly groaned open, yielding a room so dark, she wondered if she were about to step into a black hole.

As she crossed the threshold into the darkness, Alex couldn't help but wonder if they were all on burrowed time.

Anna May Parker!" MJ cried, gently cupping her daughter's face in her hands, concern heavy in her green eyes. "My poor baby!"

"I'm fine mom."

"No you're not." MJ gently pulled the mask from Annie's face, and saw her bruised and purple nose, and matching eyes. "That bastard. Look at what he did to my daughter?" She snapped.

"Mom, I'm fine."

Peter sighed and sank into the couch, his head in his hands.

"Where's your ice pack?" MJ asked.

"Right here mom," Annie responded, holding up a sandwich bag filled with melting ice. She sat down opposite of Peter and placed the bag on her nose.

"The doctor said she'll be fine, and the swelling is already going down." Peter said. His tone sounded numb and tired.

"It's already feeling better," Annie added. "Thank you advanced healing factor."

MJ sighed and sank onto the cushion next to Peter. "So. Hammerhead and Overdrive? Any idea what they were up to?"

"Nope," was Peter's curt response.

"He's mad at me," Annie sassed.

"I'm not mad at you," Peter said. "Excuse me for being a little on edge." And boy did he sound on edge.

"Annie, that's not fair," MJ began gently. She could only imagine how horrible it must have been for Peter to have witnessed Hammerhead's attack on Annie, especially after seeing what had almost happened to her at the East River.

"How is the truth not fair? He's like that because I skipped a stupid bake sale."

"And if you hadn't skipped it, you wouldn't have gotten hurt!" Peter snapped back. "Never mind backing out of a commitment, but none of this would have happened if you had just gone!"

Okay then. Maybe he was mad at her. "And leave you to all of that? What would've happened to you if I wasn't there?"

"Absolutely nothing." Peter said. "In case you guys forgot, I've been doing this alone for a lot longer than doing this with you."

"Peter, relax!" MJ said, pushing her hurt to the side, trying to calm him down. She could see Annie tense, readying her retort.

"What MJ? You think I'm being too harsh? Really? In less than a week, I saw both you and her almost get killed! And you want me to relax?"

His words stung, but she had to keep it together. She knew how many people he had lost, so she knew he was coming from a place of pain and grief. And she saw Annie's eyes well up with tears. Yeah, MJ couldn't lose it now, she had to be strong for her family, and keep this fight from getting out of control.

"Peter," MJ said, keeping her tone level.

"Are you serious right now?!" Annie yelled. So much for trying to keep the peace. "You say that after all the times both mom and I have saved your ass?"

"Language, young lady!" Peter said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I can use whatever goddamn language I want!"

"Annie!" MJ began. "Please, stop, and lets take a minute-"

"You are so grounded young lady!" Peter began. "No costumes, no patrol, no friends. Nothing but school and home, you understand me?"

"Of course, nothing but school. That's the only thing you care about, and the only reason you're pissed. I skipped the bake sale, and now I'm not the little miss perfect Anna May Parker, with her perfect grades and extracurricular activities. That's all you care about!"

Oh boy. MJ was at a loss. "Guys, please stop-"

"Oh really, that's all I care about?" Peter retorted. "All I care about, is YOU. I care about you, and your safety and your future! And you know what? You jeopardized both of those today. So yeah, you were wrong to skip out and leave your friends hanging. But, most importantly, you could've gotten yourself killed! That was Hammerhead! Whose thick skill can stop a goddamned bullet! You are so lucky you walked a way with a broken nose and black eyes."

"Well then if he's so dangerous you're lucky I was there to help!"

"I don't need your help!" Peter said, and MJ could see the hurt in Annie's eyes.

"I'll keep that in mind," her daughter said, as she shoved past her father, heading towards her room.

"Annie," he said, his voice heavy. "I didn't mean that." But his words were lost in the slam of Annie's door. He made a move to follow her, but MJ put a hand on his shoulder.

"Give her space," she said. "Anything you say right now will only make it worse."

Peter sighed and sunk back into the couch, his head in his hands. "I really screwed that up."

"Yeah," she said gently.

"I'm a terrible father."

"I wouldn't go that far Tiger," she said as she rubbed his back. "Give her some space, and then you guys'll work it out. You always do, okay?"

"Yeah, okay. You're right."

"And don't you ever forget it!"

Peter laughed half-heartily and leaned against her. "How was your acting class?"

"It was fun. Guess who's in taking it."

Peter shrugged. "I have no idea."

"Normie!"

"Osborn?" MJ nodded. "Huh, go figure. Is he any good?"

"Well, not really," she answered honestly. "But hey, what better reason to take a class."

"Very true. Good for him. I wonder how Liz feels about her son pursuing acting. Did he get his Razor Bats back?"

"I have no idea and didn't ask since I taught the class as MJ and not Spinneret."

"Good point. Sorry, that was a dumb question."

"You're fine." MJ paused. She had been fighting the urge to ask about her suit. "What did Reed say?" She asked tentatively.

"He said your suit is good," Peter paused. "It was mine that broke. When the bomb went off, I hit Bubble Boy's bubble, and it messed with the signal. Reed, Sue, and Tony are working to add another layer of protection, to keep that from happening again."

Oh thank goodness. "So I can still go out with you guys?" She was so scared her suit was beyond repair and that her webswinging days were over, forever cutting her out of such an important part of her family's life.

"Of course! MJ, look, I didn't mean what I said, I'm so sorry!"

"I know Tiger," she said as she grabbed his hand, their fingers lacing together. "I know."

"Thank you." He took a deep breath. "Do you think we have enough? To cover the rent hike?"

It took her a minute to realize he was asking about her acting class again, but asking if enough students signed up.

"No," she said. "We don't have enough."

"Okay, I'll get a job, I can pull back on school."

"Peter. Stop. You are so close to finishing. We will figure it out. Okay? Let's take a minute and see what our other options are."

"Okay," he said. "Okay. We'll figure it out."

MJ smiled. "We always do."