Now a few short words to my reviewers, whom I thank:

To daveykins: Huh?

To anacsadder: Yes, I have heard of Dr. Carolyn Trainer, aka Lady Octopus, and yes, the name of Austin's psychologist is a sly reference. As for Mandy--she went to a different college, and did not wish to continue a long-distance relationship. Besides, if Austin was still with Mandy, what would be the whole point of this story?

Now, for the story...and read and review! Questions, comments, compliments, and (dare I say it) flames welcome!

Chapter 2: May

7:00 am. Parker residence, Queens, NY

"Dad!" May Parker called from her bedroom. "Where's my shoes? The pink ones?"

Mary Jane Watson Parker, her mother, called back from the kitchen. "Shoes don't just walk off, you know!"

Peter Parker, her father, poked his head into May's bedroom, swiftly dodging strands of sticky web May was shooting out from her wrists, gathering her things.

"Did you pack a toothbrush?" Peter asked, dodging more web as only a retired spider-powered superhero could.

May waved the toothbrush around, then stuffed it back in the suitcase. Peter ducked again as another strand of web found its target, a notebook. With an upward fling of her wrist, the notebook went sailing into the suitcase.

May then hurriedly brushed her brown hair with one hand, still webbing things into the suitcase with the other. Mary Jane poked her head in, shook her head, and sighed. She and her two-month old daughter, Gwen, were the only normal people in the family, but after twenty years of marriage, you could say she was definitely used to living with spider-people.

It had been four years.

Four years since May had found out rather unpleasantly that her father, whom she thought was an ordinary science and photojournalism teacher at the local high school, was actually none other than the legendary superhero Spider-man.

Four years since she had unexpectedly discovered her inherited powers of super-strength and speed, spider-sense, and the ability to shoot webs from her wrists.

Four years since her life changed forever.

And two years since after a crime wave, she had made a costume and assumed the identity of Spider-girl, and gone through her father's "With great power comes great responsibility" lecture.

But life goes on, doesn't it?

She had graduated from Midtown High School as valedictorian, and won a full ride science scholarship to her father and mother's alma mater, Empire State University.

May was carrying several boxes at a time into the trunk of her red Ford Taurus. The trunk refused to shut. With a pound of a spider-strong fist, the trunk complied.

"You're going to ruin that trunk, May," sighed Mary Jane.

"Whatever, Mom." May stepped into the driver's seat, waved goodbye, and drove off, heading north. However, her father had caught up to the car, and had leaped up on the roof, dangling a pair of pink tennis shoes.

"You forgot these," he said.