Summary: Mary Jane loves Peter, but is unsure of her decision to give up her life to wait for him. Despite their strong bonds, Mary Jane can't help but wonder "what if." As turmoil begins to build in the world around them with Harry's worsening alchoholism and more villains on the loose, will Peter and MJ be all each other has? In a world where people turn their backs on their heroes, Mary Jane needs a hero, and Spiderman needs someone to care about him as much as he cares about the safety of his home, NYC. Can Mary Jane and Peter fill the emptiness in each other?
Author's Note:
I got a (VERY helpful) comment that I didn't have my geography straight. I am proud to state that I think my geography is good now, but if I'm wrong, I think I went to the wrong state a year ago, and I will promptly make any corrections that need to be made. Thanks for the reviews and encouragement.
-Leha
Mary Jane walked down each aisle of a Costco in Clifton, New Jersey, scanning the shelves for low priced merchandise to put in her new, smaller apartment. She had she had taken a short ferry ride to Hoboken, NJ to visit her aging aunt, took a train to Elizabeth for a day where she spent the day at Ikea buying inexpensive modern furniture that didn't look like trailer park trash, and had gone back to catch the ferry back, taking a short stop at the local Costco. Since she had left John Jameson to be with Peter, her finances had become very troublesome, and almost unmanageable.
John had once helped her with her rent on her old apartment, but after the bitter break up that ended with John alone on their marriage alter, she would have been surprised if he would have help carried her groceries to her car. Selecting a 13" color television with built in DVD player for 150, a blender, a few pots and pans, and a small microwave, Mary Jane made her way to the check out counter, grabbing a few packs of Orbit Gum and a copy of US weekly. Spying a sales bin near the register, Mary Jane dug threw a few of the items and found a copy of "The Importance of Being Earnest" on DVD for 7. Of course, this would be the first video she watched on her new DVD player.
She approached the cashier and paid for her purchases, totaling almost 300 dollars. The frazzled bag checker gave her an exasperated look as he tried to load the large purchases into brown paper bags, but gave up eventually and had another bag checker help him haul her purchases to the awaiting taxi. Mary Jane was promptly dropped off at the entrance to the ferry, where she paid, generously tipping the driver for his promptness.
She hauled her few heavy purchases with her out of the bus and on to the ferry for the long ride back into New York. Mary Jane rested her purchases on a seat in the middle floor, watching the sea gently rock the boat back and forth in the calm evening waters. Feeling a bit spontaneous, Mary Jane grabbed her bags and ascended the stairs to the top of the ferry. She sauntered over to an empty bench, putting her bags down and feeling the gentle oceanic breeze mist her face, it's salty residue subtly clinging to her loose waves. She inhaled the salty sea air and slowly let the air out of her lungs.
Mary Jane had always enjoyed the ferry, and even more, she had always enjoyed the water. The water around New York, sadly, was rarely pretty, and often more grimy and fearfully deep. However, across the shores in New Jersey, the beaches in Redbank, NJ where her aunt lived were a pleasant retreat in the summer heat.
Now, however, it was fall, and many things were different. Peter, the boy whom she had loved since High School, was in College, and holding down two jobs. One was as Spiderman's official photographer for the Daily Bugle, the other as Spiderman himself, town-saving wall-crawler of the beautiful New York City. His job had always gotten in the way of things before now, but when Mary Jane realized Peter's alter ego, things had changed. Everything fit; the unusual phone calls, his inability to be on time, the lost jobs, being late to class, it all made sense. And in some ways, it was a relief, and an exciting thing realizing who Peter was. The two men she loved most, Spiderman and Peter Parker, were really one in the same. She no longer felt overlooked or unwanted because of Peter's inability to be there for her. Instead, she was ready to accept as much or as little of Peter as he was ready to give her.
She sucked on her somewhat chapped lower lip briefly as the salt hit it, absorbing the water and drying her lips again. The salty and sweet taste of the sea mixed with her strawberry lip balm reminded her of Peter, and the kiss he gave her one sunny fall afternoon.
Racing away from the chapel at which she was to be married, Mary Jane arrived in the doorway of Peter's apartment, exposed and unprotected from rejection or failure. She poured out her soul to him, and for the first time, he reciprocated. Rather than explaining what he felt for Mary Jane in words too complex for the human tongue, Peter leaned forward, and touched her lips with his. The kiss continued, their lips moving passionately against each other. It was dignified, breathless, and beautiful. It seemed to say everything that they could not express in words. Suddenly, Spiderman was called into the line of duty by the sound of police sirens.
"Go get 'em, tiger." Mary Jane responded, gently touching his face. He nodded and leapt from the window in his costume, off to save the world once again. When he had left, Mary Jane had felt relieved, but worried for tomorrow, and for the life of her true love. She needed him as much as he needed her, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
As the boat approached the brightly lit docks of glistening New York City, Mary Jane saw a red and blue blur flash when it passed under a tall light post.
"Peter," she heard herself say in a soft whisper. He was her dearest love, and her greatest hero. She slowly descended the stairs, heavy bags in hand., and dragged her bags across the street to catch the late bus. As it approached, Mary Jane's stomach turned into knots. She had seen Spiderman, but she had also seen Peter Parker, and quite frankly, it was Peter that worried her. She slowly walked onto the bus and set her bags down next to an aged man. Settling down in her seat, Mary Jane couldn't help but drift off to visions of Spiderman, and hardly realized it when she arrived at her stop.
