Hi, just a story that has been floating around in my head for some time. Hope you like. All reviews and opinions, good or bad, are most welcome.

And no I don't own anything to do with Spiderman etc etc. I'm just writing for my own enjoyment. Thanks.

The sun shone with fierce intensity in the aqua, blue sky. For ten-thirty in the morning it was very hot, pushing just past thirty degrees centigrade. When the weather was like this, it offset Forest Hills, Queens, beautifully. It was a pleasant area to live in, mostly populated by working class families and the elderly. The picturesque homes with their well-maintained gardens gave a warm sense of safety to the area. Peter loved living in this area. It certainly made him feel safe and secure. It was here where he grew up. It held many fond memories for him. One he could recall, was making a kite with his Uncle Ben when he was seven years old. They had taken it to a nearby park to give it a test flight. Peter, being clumsy as he was back then, lost control of it and it crashed and broke into many pieces. He remembered he cried for hours on end. Not even his favourite chocolate milkshake that Aunt May made could cheer him up. It wasn't until early in the evening that Uncle Ben came up to his room with the kite repaired. The tears stopped immediately. It was at this point that Peter felt his safest. Knowing that his beloved Uncle Ben was always going to be there made him feel all right. Peter perhaps neglected this in his future years which made it all that more painful when his Uncle was unexpectedly taken from him in such a cruel and harsh manner. It was a pity he would be leaving it in a few months for good. Well, maybe not for good. He would visit frequently although it did bother him a little that he was leaving his Aunt May alone. She assured him, perhaps overly so, that she would be okay. She was a strong person and Peter admired that greatly. She was the strongest person he knew.

As he stepped out of his aunt's home, he deep breath of fresh air.

"You take it easy now dear," said Aunt May as she came to the door to see him. The light shone gracefully on her face. It was a face of happiness with tell-tale creases of old age and experience in life.

"Will do Aunt May," he said with smile.

"And give my love to your fiancé too," she said as he walked down the porch steps.

"No problem. I'll see you tonight." He gave a small wave goodbye and walked along the street to get a bus.

Fiancée

What a great word he thought. Especially when he could put that would together with the name of Mary Jane Watson. The girl he had always loved was his fiancée. After all the trouble they had been through together, mainly because of Peter surpressing his Spiderman identity, they were finally together. He was very lucky though. Only a few months ago, Mary Jane declared she was leaving New York because she couldn't handle the confusion of their relationship anymore. Peter, not wanting to lose her summoned up all his inner strength and frustration and blurted out his secret. Her response shocked him. Instead of telling him that she felt betrayed and hurt that he couldn't tell her his biggest secret, she said she knew all along. It was all she wanted from him – to tell her. It was the one thing she needed of him before their relationship went any further. Needless to say, his confession stopped her from leaving. After working on their relationship for a few months and dealing with the consequences of his alt-ego, he took the plunge and asked her to marry him. They had now been engaged for thress months and Peter was on his way to her apartment to discuss plans for getting an apartment together and their wedding ideas. They didn't have a lot of money but were determined to make the best out what they had.

Reaching the bus stop he waited for the bus to arrive. He could have webslinged his way to M.J's apartment but just every now and then he like to do things normally.

M.J. was rushing around and tidying up old magazines and giving the apartment a general tidy all for the sake of Peter's immanent arrival. Even though he was hers for keeps and he would have her whatever state she was in, she still liked to make the effort. Realising she had a few minutes to kill, she sat down and picked up her photo album she was collating. It was her treasure trove of platinum memories.

Although a lot of people M.J. knew, Peter especially, said they had their special memories in their heads; M.J. always cherished the thought of having a visual keepsake to help her remember the good times. Peter did have a point though; some good memories shouldn't be captured on film, especially the sessions they had spent in bed together! That was for their thoughts only!

The first page of the album was pictures of her as a baby. They were pictures she hadn't shown anyone, not even Peter. She wanted to show him though, but after the photo album was finished. Turning the page she came across more pictures of her, when she was in the school plays. Cinderella, The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. She always had lead roles in them. It was only a pity she couldn't say the same about her career now. Although she was on the verge of breaking the fashion and acting world, it was taking a lot longer than she thought. It was also a lot harder.

Turning the page again she came to graduation. She was so proud of herself for accomplishing that, especially with all the trouble and turmoil on the home front. Her Dad being a drunken, violent slob and her downtrodden mum wasn't the best springboard for her life in education. She kept in contact barely with her mum and was inviting her and her sister Gayle to the wedding. She hoped it would maybe straighten a few things out between them.

Moving on in the album she came across a variety of pictures of friends and loved ones and then to her husband-to-be. Gorgeous she thought. She couldn't understand why she hadn't seen it sooner but back then she was pretentious. The cool girl who never looked twice at the "well-mannered, smart, nerdy but nice guy" type. She felt a bit guilty about her former self but was happy about who she was now. Looking over the pictures of Peter one caught her eye in particular. It was a picture of him on a college boat trip or 'booze cruise' as it was more popularly know. He was dressed all in black with with his shirt unbuttoned. His attire gave the sense of mystery about him. That coincided well with his Spiderman alter ego she thought. Harry had taken the photo and she had to literally beg him to let her have it. He was always going to give it to her but he like to playfully tease. As she held it aloft she strained her eyes as she noticed that the sun shining on it revealed there was something written on the back of it. She turned it over to discover a message from Peter. She hadn't seen it before and went on to read: -

"Dear M.J,

Hey darling. I know how much you appreciate little mementoes and keepsakes so I thought I'd offer you one of my own. I love you so much. I will always be here for you, no matter what.

I love you always,

Peter

xxx

The biggest smile crept upon her face. If she could have a smile from ear to ear she would have it.

"Always full of surprising my man."

She thought she would do the same for him in return. She took out what Peter had always said was "the most gorgeous picture" he had ever seen of her. She had just finished writing it and putting it back in the album for him to "discover" one day when Peter came through the door.

"Hey babe," he said.

"Hey you," she replied greeting him with a kiss. "I was thinking, do you fancy going out for an early lunch before we get started on our plans?"

"Yeah, sure." She had read his mind, as he hadn't any breakfast.

Within five minutes they were on the street, hand in hand walking to their favourite diner.

"You know I could always web-sling out downtown and pick up a pizza y'know and we could stay in," Peter suggested with a wry smile. Mary Jane knew what was on his mind and decided to toy with him a little.

"How about we stick to the plan Mister," she said noticing his face fall. "And when we get back you can have dessert!"

They both smiled in unison.

"I'll keep you to that Miss Watson." He went to kiss her when his mobile phone went off. He didn't like using them but M.J. had got him one so she could get in touch with him when she was away on a modelling shoot.

"Hello?"

Pause. Mary Jane saw the frown marks crease his forehead and his eyebrows closed in. Something was wrong.

"When?"

His eyes began to glaze over with the beginnings of salty tears.

"Of course. I'm on my way. Yeah, bye."

The shortest and most poignant conversation in his life.

"What is it?" enquired Mary Jane, fearing the worst.

She feared right.

"It's Aunt May. She's been taken to hospital. She was found unconscious just outside the house." The sense of urgency and emotion in Peter's voices sent the coldest of chills down her spine. She had never heard his voice quake the way it did before. She couldn't help but let out a gasp of distress herself.

"Oh no Pete. How is she now? Is she awake?"

"No, still unconscious"

"Let's get to the hospital yeah?"

"Yeah but, could you meet me there? I'm going to go by other means," said Peter. She knew what he meant. As Spiderman he would definitely get there quicker.

"Yes, sure," she said as she pulled his face hurriedly to hers to give him a reassuring kiss. "It will be alright okay?"

"Yeah," said Peter unconvincingly. One more hug and then he went shooting down an alley getting into his Spiderman costume. Mary Jane went to cross the road to hail a taxi. She really hoped everything would be okay. Sadly she was never to find out.

It was the last time they spoke to each other.