Hi! Thank you all so much for reviewing, cheered me up loads! Unfortunately my dads car hasn't been found yet, and the police don't really expect to find it in good condition since it was stolen by joy riders. :(

Ok, about the last chapter, I only checked it twice when I usually check it 4-6 times, and it was only yesterday I realised I should have added something in the Harry scene. I'm not gonna change it now though, I've just squeezed it into the next chapter, (which is almost finished), so it may seem a little weird.

And WHOO! I got over a hundred reviews! I have realised my ambitions, made true my hopes for the future... ok I'll shut up now. Just a big thanks and a hug to everyone who reviewed!

Surprise, Surprise!

Part 12

Peter set the phone back in it's cradle slowly. He was glad to hear from his friend, but... something had seemed a little, well, off with him. Like he was being held at gunpoint and being forced to spit out the words.

Then he shook his head dismissively, smiling at himself. Of course Harry wouldn't contact him unless he really wanted to. Unless...

Peter's train of thought was interrupted by loud, excited knocking on his door. He peeped through the keyhole and saw a green eye staring at him. Jumping backwards in surprise, he heard musical laughter float through the door and quickly opened it to be bundled into a hug by Mary Jane. She just about knocked them both over with the force of it, and they stumbled backwards onto the bed.

Lying on top of him she leaned back to look at him, with happiness sparkling in her emerald eyes.

"Hey tiger." She said, grinning.

"Hi MJ." He replied, and kissed her softly.

"Guess what?" They both said at the same moment and laughed.

"You go first." She offered and rolled off him to the side, looking up at the ceiling.

"The Bugle published an article this morning regretting their claims about me being Spider-man." He grinned.

She looked over at him, grinning also. "I know," she said, and kissed him. "I saw it on the way over!"

"So what were you coming to tell me?" He put an arm around her shoulders, smiling.

"I got the lead role from that audition." She told him, not being able to hold it in any longer.

"Really?" Peter leaned up on one elbow. At her nod he thought the grin he was sporting would split his face in half. "That's great MJ!" And he jumped off the bed and picked her up, whirling her around. She giggled, and leant on him for support as the world spun when he put her down.

"I don't think I've ever been this happy in my entire life!" She exclaimed.

"Yeah, it is a tough one, but I'm gonna go with the time I found 50 cents on the street." He said with a completely straight face and she rolled her eyes and whacked him lightly on the arm.

"Ow hey!" He complained.

"Stop your whining, we've got some work to do." She instructed, and pulled a massive catalogue out from her bag.

"'Dress For The Occasion'." He read off the cover. "MJ, what's this about?"

"Well, there's obviously gonna be a party for the premiere." She replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Peter groaned.

"But MJ, that's not for at least 6 months!"

"There's nothing wrong with planning ahead." She defended herself, and sat cross legged on his bed. Peter simply rolled his eyes, exasperated.

"Haven't you got some girl friends to do this kinda stuff with?" He pleaded, as she started looking through the jewellery section.

"Yes, but they're not going with me. You are." She answered promptly.

"Always have a reply for everything, don't you?" Peter muttered mock-sulkily.

"Yes I do so stop complaining!" She exclaimed and thrust the magazine under his nose. "Now, maroon or midnight blue?"

---

To Peter's irritation, they spent a lot of his evening poring over pretty dresses and make up, so it was a rather disgruntled Peter Parker that said goodnight to her almost 4 hours later.

The next morning dawned bright and early, unlike a certain photographer-cum-superhero, who groaned and rolled out of bed and onto the floorboards with a loud 'thump'. Getting up, Peter groaned again as he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He'd stayed up too late. Way too late.

He hopped into the shower and came out looking partway like a decent human being, then went out on a few rounds, just to check the city was in order and blow off some steam. He had a few hours until he was supposed to meet Harry, so he was in no particular rush.

Pausing close to Central Park, he stopped to check to latest headlines. He gasped then a slow smile lit up his face as he read that 'J. Jonah Jameson and Eddy Brock of the Daily Bugle had been asked to step down due to inaccurate claims and fake evidence of the identity of Spider-man.'

He grinned and changed his course of direction, this time heading for the Bugle. He landed on the roof and quickly changed then slid into the ventilation shaft and into the mens' room.

Emerging into the corridor he turned left for the main newsroom and headed in a beeline for Betty, attracting a few surprised glances of recognition as he went.

"Hey." He greeted her, and she span round in her desk chair, clutching her heart.

"Jeez Pete don't do that!" She said, but her face softened.

He just grinned at her. "I see you've 'unquit'." He commented.

"Yeah, how's that for irony, huh? Jameson gets fired and me and Robbie come back. Poor guy." She added unconvincingly.

Peter laughed and sat on the edge of her desk. "I also heard you've been promoted." He said.

"All thanks to Robbie- have you heard he's the new editor in place of Jameson?" Betty said, leaning back in her chair. She seemed a lot more relaxed and less frazzled than usual, Peter noted. Usually she'd be running about in a tizzy, rushed off her feet.

"Yeah, I read it in the paper this morning," he smiled. "That's actually why I came over, to congratulate you two. Is Robbie around?"

"Um, yeah, he's sorting out his new office." She smiled and pointed behind her.

"Thanks, and congratulations. Plan on writing your first piece anytime soon?" Peter tilted his head.

"When the mood strikes," she grinned back. "See ya around, Pete." Betty said as he smiled and made as if to go.

"Sure. See ya!" He called and strode over to Robbie's new door, and knocked.

"Come in!"

Peter tried to push the door open but found it would only open a couple of inches.

"Oh, sorry." Robbie rushed over and moved a stack of papers that were blocking the way.

"Peter!" He said when he could enter the room. "Great to see you." Robbie smiled broadly and motioned to a spare seat.

Peter sat down and smiled back at him. "It's great to see you too. Congratulations on the new job."

Robbie waved a hand about inconsequentially. "It's nothing. I was hoping to run into you, actually, I have some work for you... if you're willing to try it?"

"Really? Sure, I'd love to!" Peter's face lit up. He'd been looking for a job for ages, but never found the time to actually get one.

"What do you say to a full-time job here at the Bugle as a photographer and maybe part-time writer?" Robbie proposed.

"I'd say that sounds great!" Peter responded. "Thank you," he said sincerely. "I appreciate it."

"It's fine. Things are gonna be different around here now that tyrant's gone and I'm running things!"

---

Peter strolled into the roomy café on Swansea street lazily. After spending an hour or so on his new assignment, (taking pictures of some ritzy restaurant that was opening), and another hour out patrolling and saving kittens from trees, he was just about ready for a sit down and a cup of coffee. Strong coffee.

The café was full almost to the brim, as harried waiters dashed around and customers poured in by the bucket load, so Peter was pleased to note that less and less people seemed to be taking notice of him, only a couple of heads turned as he headed straight for a seat near to the back, at one of the few remaining tables.

He shrugged out of his jacket and laid it on the back of the chair then fished his isotopes essay out of his back pack. Chewing the end of his pen thoughtfully, he read through what he'd written already and settled down to writing, periodically pausing for a sip of coffee and checking his watch.

On the 13th occasion this happened he realized both that Harry was late and his coffee was stone cold. He made a face at the now bitter taste and glanced hopefully towards the entrance. Still no sign of his friend.

Peter began to worry. What if he didn't show up? Why hadn't he showed up already? Could he be in some kind of trouble?

Frowning, he packed his school work back into his bag and was in the process of pulling on his jacket when the windows burst inwards.

Peter abandoned his jacket and ducked under the table, pulling a nearby old age pensioner with him. He covered his head with his hands as broken shards of glass rained down on the room, and only looked up when his spider-sense slowed to a tingle.

He slowly lifted his head, as everyone around him got to their feet and checked themselves over for injuries. All the tables and chairs had been blown to the back of the room along with the people as they scrambled for cover.

Then Peter heard it. The hauntingly eerie laughter; the laughter of a dead man.

"Hahahahahaha!"

He rose to his feet, eyes wide with disbelief and the anger of betrayal as none other than the Green Goblin floated regally through the shattered window on the infamous glider that looked like something out of Star Wars. The customers shrank back even further, eyes full of terror as the Goblin's gaze swept the room.

"Oh Harry, what have you done?" Peter murmured.

End of Part 12

By the way, I haven't seen Star Wars and don't have a clue if the glider actually looks like something out of it, but just go with the flow will ya? ;)

Closetfan: Hehee, I like your sense of humour! :P I guess he would have been bugged a lot more... oh well what's done is done. And I guess it really is turning into a book... it's 41 pages on my PC at the moment, without authors notes and such... yay I'm writing a book! :D

Mary Jane Watson-Parker: Sure you can join the club! I'm sorry to hear about your grandpa. My grandad died a few months ago. :( Also, maybe to one of your comments... ;)

Brynn: I realise I should've explained properly about the camera now, like I said I only checked it twice, lol. The film compartment lid sprang open when it was dropped, effectively frying the film. If you remember waaaay back in chapter 4, I wrote Eddy fell over and dropped his camera, I was building up to this from all the way back then, lol. I tried to make that scene subtle so everyone wouldn't point and say: "Those photos are wrecked! Eddy's gonna fake them!" and figure out most of the plot. Guess I didn't make it obvious enough to stick in people's memories. :(

Mark C: I would have Peter sue the Bugle but I've got the plot planned out and I don't know who Matt Murdock is... maybe Daredevil? I dunno I haven't seen the movie and never picked up a comic book in my life!

ash the dragon: (blushes) aww thankies!

Thankies SO MUCH to everyone who reviewed, I really appreciate it! Thanks. :D

End of insanely long authors note. You can review now. ;)