FATR: Notes at bottom.

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Otto made his children slow their pace as they reached the roof a building one down from the jewelry store. He paused, not quite sure if he wanted to be seen by the masses he knew were milling about below. A quick flash was one thing, but actually making a prolonged appearance was something else entirely. Peter landed beside him and stared straight ahead.

"You've really changed, Dr. Octavius." Peter turned to study his idol. "I can't quite place what has changed, and I don't know how, but it seems to have done you some good." Otto had indeed lost weight, and had apparently buffed up some as well, but there was something else. There was a new aura around him that told more about his transformation than any of the outward changes ever could. All he needed now was a bath and maybe some sun, and he would be as good as new, better than new. "I need you to hold on to Venom until the cops can subdue him. My webs won't stick to him."

I know.

Moe suddenly shot back and smacked the thing Parker had called Venom upside the head. It went limp and slumped forwards, unconscious.

Moe! Otto glared at the offending tentacle.

(But father, now you don't have to stay there. You don't even really need to come down from the roof.)

And at the same time, Peter was saying, "What did you do that for? I mean I know he's bad, but-"

Otto looked at Carol-Anne. It was Moe's idea.

"It was Moe's idea," she translated.

Peter's face twisted into an incredulous expression behind his mask. "Moe?"

(What?) Moe turned away from father to look at Parker.

The arm responded the way a person would respond to a... "They... uh... have names?"

Otto scowled at him. Don't talk to me like I'm crazy.

Yeah, don't talk to father like he's crazy!

Yeah!

(Yeah!)

#Yeah!#

All of the tentacles were aimed at him now, though the top left one, the damaged one, remained closed. "I didn't mean to insult you, sorry."

You're darn skippy, Screech.

Otto walked to the edge of the roof and looked down. A chorus of girly squeals accompanied his appearance and he drew back. Peter was climbing down the wall. When Otto finally hazarded another peek over the side of the building he spied Peter returning the little girl to her father's relieved embrace. They exchanged words and she pointed up at the octopus. Otto took a breath and his tentacles pushed him over the side. He descended smoothly, like an angel from heaven. The squealing girls from earlier were pointing, whispering, and giggling, though none of them approached because he still held Venom. As he glanced around at their flushed cheeks and starry eyes, he began to feel like a rock star or something. It made him want to tear a hole back into the sewer and never come out again. As he started through the crowd towards Peter and the others, one of the girls separated from the crowd and stood shyly in front of him. She wore a pink fairy t-shirt, dark blue jeans, and black high-tops.

"Hey, I'm Christy. Um... can I, uh, touch one of your arm-tentacle-things?"

Now for most fangirls, that would be a dream come true, but for Otto it was a pretty darn strange request. Moe glided forward and hovered in front of Christy. Her eyes widened in awe as she ran her fingers gingerly over the triangle head, as if it might bight. Then she grinned broadly and bounced back to her friends.

"Oh my God! Oh my God! They're even cooler up close!"

As if triggered by some silent cue, the girls surged forwards as if one body.

"Can I touch them?"

"What about me?"

Larry, Moe, Flo? The three tentacles dutifully tried to hold the girls at bay while their father, keeping as close to the brick wall as possible, made his way to the police barricade. He was hard put to decide which was harder to face: a mob of bubbling fangirls or a squad of armed cops. Once on the other side of the barricade the police managed to hold the girls back, but only barely. Carol-Anne and her father were there. He was holding his little girl in his arms, staring at Otto. The octopus winced inwardly, waiting for her father to explode, to yell at him to stay away from him and his daughter, tell the cops to arrest him, something like that. On some level he still didn't believe Peter, it just seemed to good to be true. The man put his child down slowly and approached Otto.

Carol-Anne's father eyed the mechanical snakes nervously, his gaze finally settling on Doc Ock's face. "Thank you so much for saving my little princess." He extended his right hand. The ex-super villain hesitated then slowly raised his own right hand to accept the shake. "If there is anything I can do for you, just name it."

I'll... I'll keep that in mind.

Carol-Anne tugged on her father's sleeve. When he knelt down she whispered, "He'll think about it."

Her father looked up at Ock and nodded, wondering why he didn't just say it out loud. "Alright. I'm John Freeling. If you ever need to find me, I work at the Barnes and Nobel on 6th." He picked up his daughter and started to walk away.

What are we supposed to do with this? Larry asked, studying the unconscious form of Venom.

"What are they s'posed to do with the monster?" Carol-Anne asked.

"Shh," her father whispered.

"Don't worry, sweetheart, we'll take it from here," one of the officers offered a reassuring smile. As father and daughter, reunited once again, walked away, the officer turned to Otto. "I think what everyone would like to know is-"

(Father, there is a news van heading this way.)

Oh, no, that's the last thing I need right now.

#Should we get you out of here?#

Yes, hurry!

What about Venom?

I don't think he'll be coming around for a while.

Just hand him to Parker, then.

The officer looked puzzled. "Are you listening, Octavius? I asked you-"

Without any external warning signs, Harry thrust Venom into Spider-Man's arms, joined the others in lifting father off the ground, and propelled him away and up the nearest building. The reporters jumped out of the van and scrambled for the camera, but it was too late. The human octopus was gone.

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FATR: CD Anders recommended that I put these at the end of chapters so I will try it with this one for a while and see how I like it. "Laudant" is Latin for "they praise." Screech was a "Saved By the Bell" reference, and in case you were wondering, I have no rights to "Saved by the Bell" so please don't sue. Thank you all for your reviews! I know this took a while, but I'm juggling school and Christmas and, like, five other stories. Apparently Carol-Anne is rather popular. I'm glad to see it. I hope you enjoyed the chip chip!