Chapter 6

Disclaimer: All characters mentioned herein are property of Marvel Entertainment

Peter sat somewhat worried at a table in a diner in Manhattan. It was lunch break. It wasn't like MJ to be so unreachable. She was always one to be on time, one who would cover up a problem before she admitted it. When MJ didn't show up for breakfast, Peter returned to the Bugle to keep working on his next Spiderman story. He then returned to the same diner for lunch, hoping MJ would think to come back there. When her father had screamed at her, hurt her, she would always go running out of the house; Peter knew because he would always hear the door slam as she went, sobbing quietly. The next day at school, she would always appear pleasant and cheerful as if nothing had ever happened. He wondered if she had had a late audition for her next job or something.

Suddenly the bell on the door rung, signaling a half—awake MJ walking into the crowded diner. Frustrated from being late, MJ sat down, her jacket on her arm and her shirt in a ruffled mess. A rebel bang of hair fell down the front of her face and she pushed it out of the way.

"Sorry tiger," she apologized, "I was up really late coming back from the show and slept in yesterday. I was so exhausted that I went to bed really early and I guess I slept in again."

"It's okay." Peter looked over at her and smiled. He didn't care. He loved her. He was just glad she was here.

"I came here to the diner, hoping you would still be here. But you weren't. I guess I just missed you." Peter sat there, not saying a single word of condemnation, staring into her eyes as she worked to explain herself. He was entranced by the way she went on. Sometimes Peter was so taken in by that intangible quality of attraction she had that he missed what she was saying; her presence in the room was enough. He could just sit there and listen all day if it weren't for Jameson. It was as if time seemed to slow down. As MJ continued, things in the background faded to low whispers and blurred movements. The two had become oblivious to the outside world; they were not in just any kind of love; they had love that transcended time, space, and other people.

"Then I went to the Bugle, knowing Jameson and all, and it was 11:30 by the time I got there. Jameson's secretary said you had just left for lunch, and, knowing how much you like this place, I figured you would come back here and—"

"Shhh," he said, and before she could get another word out, he leaned over the table and kissed her. Now, all doubts were settled. Peter took something out of his pocket. It was a small, gray felt box. He opened it, revealing a silver heart—shaped pendant. MJ was silenced by such a gift of love. He got up, walked behind her, and put the necklace on her, taking care to smooth her hair as he went. As he finished, they embraced. Then Peter returned to his seat. Continuing, he asked, "Are you alright? I didn't see you all day yesterday. And today you seem to be really rushed."

"I'm fine. Really, I'm okay," MJ answered half through a yawn. "I was just so tired from the play that I guess I just kept sleeping. I missed you though. I missed seeing you and being with you. I'm sorry ti-i-i-i-gu-u-u-uhr." MJ fought back fatigue as she talked; it was obvious she was still tired from the show. Peter smiled, knowing she needed rest.

"It's alright. I love you. Come on, I'm gonna take you home." And with that, Peter got up and walked with her out of the diner. Stopping in an alley for just a minute to don his suit, Peter took her up in his arms and swung away from the busy Manhattan street. As they swung across the city, Peter looked down at MJ. She had rested her head on his shoulder and had drifted away to sleep. Smiling like a father holding his daughter in his arms as a symbol of love and protection, he continued across town until they reached MJ's apartment in Queens. Peter landed on the roof and, taking of his mask, he walked down the south face of the building on MJ's window. Opening it, he crawled into her bedroom and laid her down into her bed and pulled the covers up over her. He sat on the corner, still in his Spiderman suit, and lightly stroked her head. MJ gradually regained a little consciousness.

"Hey tiger, I'm sorry I was—"

"Shhh. Rest now. I will see you tomorrow. I love you." And so, MJ submitted to the warm blankets and gentle touch of her lover's hand. Peacefully she returned again to the security of her dreams. Peter leaned over her and kissed her on the forehead. Serenely, she nestled into a relaxing sleep. Quietly, Peter got up from the bed, walked to the window, and crawled back outside.

Back outside, Peter fired a web line and swung back towards Manhattan. It made him happy to see her so peaceful. He was going to be late back to work, but it didn't matter. Forget pictures that would earn him barely enough to have microwavable soup for each meal. Forget Jameson's ranting and raving about Spiderman's threat to society. Forget the Bugle. Peter had MJ. He was in love; if that was his portion for life, so be it. He was content. Eventually landing on top of the Bugle, Peter ducked behind a ventilation shaft, put back on his working shirt, trousers, and tie, and walked down the roof access stairway back to his desk. He knew Jameson would have a slew of words ready for him when he got there.

That evening, MJ woke from her sleep. Searching for her alarm clock, she remembered it was broken and fumbled through her purse for her watch. It was 7:30. Sensing a bit of hunger, MJ got up and walked towards the bathroom for a shower. As the water poured down over her, she breathed in a wave of refreshment; the fatigue of the past six months was being washed away in all of fifteen minutes. Feeling rejuvenated, MJ made her way out of the shower and got dressed. She walked to her bathroom, put on some makeup, and then grabbed a beige petticoat. Stopping to look in the mirror, she sighed happily to herself.

She started to walk towards her apartment door, but suddenly a strange feeling came upon her. It was if she was still in the shower and the water was still pouring over her. But this was different. It felt like a wave of water, clinging to her body, came up from the ground. Wait a minute. Not the ground; it was pouring out of her toes! Startled, she walked back towards her mirror. What she saw horrified her. From out of nowhere, a sticky black substance had covered her feet and was beginning to work its way up her legs. Frightened, she fell over onto the floor. Sitting up, she clawed at the material, trying to force it off her body. But clawing only made it worse. The substance then climbed onto her fingers and proceeded down her torso, dissolving her clothes as it went. Having covered every bit of her body save her head, the goo proceeded up her neck, leaving the necklace Peter had given her at the diner intact. However, the pendant and chain disappeared under the substance. MJ had begun to let out a scream, but it was muffled as the goo entered her mouth, forcing itself inside her. She could feel it writhing around inside her, filling each part of her. Suddenly she twitched a bit as she felt it enter her mind. As it entered her blood veins, she felt its presence being circulated through her body, going into every nook and cranny of her existence. Then, the last lock of her long red hair disappeared into the darkness. MJ struggled to look around but couldn't see. Quickly that problem was fixed as two white patches appeared where her eyes once were. Looking into the mirror, MJ was terrified by what she saw. Instead of a beautiful, red—haired young woman that was dressed to go out on the town, she saw a completely black creature with two white eyes patches.