15. Epilogue- The End

Ed Checker had been doing laundry on the bottom floor of the apartment. As he made it up the carpeted stairs he heard his phone ring from the apartment.

"Piper get it!" she didn't seemed to hear him. The phone kept ringing. Quickly Ed set down the basket and unlocked the door as he ran for the phone.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Checker?"

"Yes, that's me." He responded. He didn't know who this was.

"This is the New York City Police department; you need to come see your daughter."

Ed nearly dropped the phone, he ran with the cordless phone to Piper's room. She wasn't there.

His heart raced "Where is she? What happened?"

"You really needed to come to the hospital, we'll explain there."

Ed dashed out of the apartment leaving the laundry basket outside.

He came upon a hospital waiting room crowded with people he didn't know. All of them were looking anxious.

"Where's Piper? Where's my daughter?" he demanded looking frantic.

"Mr. Checker," Spiderman spoke "She's in surgery…there's something you should know."

"What happened? Will she be okay?" was his daughter going to be alright?

"I honestly don't know. She was involved with stopping the bombing of the building…"

"She saved me…" Mary Jane quivered. "But got hurt for doing it…"

"Mr. Checker," the policeman said nervously "Your daughter is Spidergirl."

Ed heart skipped a beat. "What?"

After surgery had done its best to make new of her broken body Piper was put to recover in intensive care. She'd been there for days 'sleeping' with no signs of waking up. The doctors had no idea what would happen or if she would heal on her own. Or what effect her powers might have. Ed didn't want to call it a coma. The way she looked to him was more like a 'sleepy beauty' she'll wake up.

Her father sat by her side "Piper…why didn't you tell me? Why did you leave?" he had been crying off and on for days. He couldn't bring himself to call Suze or eat or leave her side. Piper was surrounded constantly by people. Reporters, classmates and people he had no idea how they knew Piper. They went in and out with cards and flowers. Mindless colors scattered throughout the room. It was hospital it was sterile and depressing. There was machinery and nurses walking through their everyday interrupted lives.

One of the people who visited everyday, even if it was only for a few minutes was blonde haired boy of about Piper's age.

He never said anything, only brought flowers to brighten the room and watched sadly.

Wake up Piper…I need you…

It was matter of the heart. Kris wanted more than anything for her to open her eyes. Where did all her life go? She was so strong, so driven it can't be her lying in bed. She saved us everyday. Why did this happen to her?

One day when it was just the boy and Ed in the room he spoke to Mr. Checker, "Is it okay if I stay with her? You should get something to eat. Really." He spoke nervously.

Ed nodded, though reluctantly, he didn't know why but something about the boy made him comfortable. "Were you a friend of Pipers?"

"I talked to her everyday." Kris smiled thinking of Piper opening her locker.

"I'm sure she wouldn't mind then," Ed got up and stretched. I'll be back in five minutes. Kris nodded.

The boy grasped onto Piper's hand. It felt so cold.

"I'm sorry Piper," he said aloud, talking to her as if she were awake, "I'm such a coward. Everyday I would wait for you to come unstick my locker just so I could see you. I did it on purpose. I'm sorry to have caused you trouble. Why am I apologizing? I was silent when you probably needed someone to tell these things about your life to. You trusted me so much! You even let me pick out your prom dress, you always helped me!" he smiled, tears filled his eyes.

"You can't die. I haven't gotten to tell you how I feel about you. A person like you who is so strong, you seem so helpless now. Let me help you, I'll stay by your side. I know you'll wake up! Piper, I…I love you."

As he finished his words he felt relieved. He felt as if a great burden had been lifted from him. He continued to hold her fragile seeming hand sadly, as if it could make a difference. The window was open and the breeze drifted through the room peacefully into the tense environment. At first he thought it was just the wind that felt like a breeze and the soft touch of a butterfly wing to his skin, but it was something else.

He had felt a very small squeeze on his hand. "Piper? You heard me?" he said tensely, "squeeze again if you can hear me!" a few moments later, nothing happened but after a minute or so she squeezed faintly again.

"Piper wake up, please I know you can. We all believe in you. Your dad wants nothing more than to see you smile again. Please get better! We need you! I need you!"

He felt Piper squeeze his hand again, this time harder than before. It was if she was saying I know.

After that day Piper began to get progressively better. At first it was little hand squeezes, then her fingers wiggled. Soon she could turn her neck a little and move her toes. Each day everyone wondered if it would be the day she finally opened her eyes.

Peter and Mary Jane visited religiously, but not as much as Kris had. Peter felt so helpless watching her in bed so still. Mary Jane had told him the whole story of what happened, and couldn't forgive herself.

But still, if- no when Piper woke up what would she say? Peter could only wonder.

The odd assortment of people- Mr. Checker, Peter and MJ sat around Piper's room one evening. They were 'talking' to Piper through a series of finger wiggles and hand squeezing. As Ed held her hand as he always did her eyes fluttered a bit.

Peter and Mr. Checker were having a conversation about what to have for dinner as Piper's eyes slowly began to flutter. In a moment she felt light pierce into her eyes. It hurt.

Her mouth felt a little dry and she tried to croak words.

"dad" a tiny hoarse whisper said.

"Piper?" Was his daughter awake? Piper inched open her eyes once more. The light hurt but she was determined to open them. The room stood silent and watched her. Her eyes adjusted and focused on her Dad's face blurrily. She was so happy she smiled weakly, it was tough to move.

"Yeah." She croaked.

Her Dad hugged her "I'm so glad…so glad you're awake…."

Weeks had gone by after Piper had woken up. After a little physical therapy to strengthen her bed rested muscles she was allowed to go home. She left on a Saturday morning. The car ride back to the apartment was silent. She knew her Dad was glad to have her home but she felt like she was going home to the day she left. It wasn't so much she was upset about the accident, more about the relationships she had damaged with her selfishness.

So far nothing had been said as regarding to her 'other life'. She walked up the familiar steps, there was a vase of flowers at door with a card exclaiming 'welcome home!' she smiled a little bit but still felt nervous. She hadn't said anything to Peter or her Dad; she didn't know what to say. Sorry didn't seem to be quite fitting.

Ed unlocked the door, and put the keys on the counter. Piper seemed quiet; ever since she had woken up she didn't seem to possess her normal amount of energy nor wit. Ed felt like she faked her smiles and resisted talking. What couldn't she say?

Piper looked at her Dad as she stood in the threshold. Everything welled up in her at once God, I can't keep hurting him, what have I been doing?

"Dad…" and she burst into tears.

"Piper, piper? What's wrong?" he rushed to embrace her.

"I'm so sorry, I feel so guilty for hurting you…for hurting everyone…" she choked "For keeping this damned secret…its hurts so much and you've done nothing but love me completely…I'm so sorry I don't deserve it!" she sobbed into her father's arm spilling her heart.

"Piper, I'm so glad you finally told me what you're feeling. It's so hard to keep something like that inside, try not to do it, okay?" he smiled at her. Piper looked up at him confused. "Oh Pip, of course I love you, you're my daughter. I'm hurt at what happened but I understand. All along I just wanted to be there for you, to support your dreams. You know that."

Piper knew he was right; he had always supported her when she turned away "Dad, you're so good to me. Let me be good to you back."

After the talk with her father Piper felt like an enormous weight had been lifted off her chest. But there was still a little bit of pain left. Peter… The building event had changed her perspective. She couldn't believe how immature she had behaved. Not to mention the things she'd said to Mary Jane, she didn't feel as guilty about that though. But she had saved Mary Jane…she needed to speak with Peter.

She thought about escaping to see him but she thought of her Dad and instead decided to wait until tomorrow morning. Piper remembered all the times she snuck out; I can't do that to him anymore…

She sat in her room. Her secret was out. Reporters had constantly tried to barge into her hospital room but Beth kept most of them out. She didn't know how Beth did it but she was thankful for it. Beth seemed to view her in a different regard than she had before. The day before Piper had left the hospital Beth had come to visit her.

Piper had been watching TV when she arrived. They shared a little small talk, but eventually Beth got down to the matter of her visit. First of all she apologized profusely to Piper about all the things she had written about her. Piper was a bit taken aback but none the less amused. More surprising however was the Beth told her she was going to quit her job and she had already given her two weeks notice. Piper could scarcely believe it,

"But why Beth?"

"Gossip isn't very fulfilling, I think that I have something better to do than talk about people"

"What are you going to do? How are you going to live not expressing your opinions?"

"I didn't say I was going to stop expressing my opinion! I got a spot in a newspaper as an advice columnist. Ironic huh? But I think I know a bit about people myself. For instance, while you were asleep a young blonde gentleman visited you everyday. You should really talk to him."

"Huh?"

"I've got to being going now!"

So that reporter did have some substance to her after all. Piper sighed. People could be so much more complex than meets the eye. But Beth's comment about Kris…she couldn't remember a lot from when she was 'asleep' but for some reason his voice came to mind. Piper couldn't place it. It must have been something about lockers; she sat pensive for a moment. A certain phrase suddenly came to mind …wait for you to come unstick my locker just so I could see you. I did it on purpose….

The girl laughed for a moment. She felt a lot clearer about how she really felt.

Even though Piper might have been thinking clearer it still didn't help her as Peter opened to the door to his apartment.

"Hi…" she stuttered off.

"Come in Piper" he answered. It seemed too formal for them.

"Listen…I know Mary Jane probably said some stuff to you."

"Yeah…" Peter trailed off.

"But in my defense the web over the mouth was not over the top." Piper smiled. Peter nearly laughed himself. Good, she had broken the ice.

"She told me, about your outburst. You know how guilty she feels?"

"Oh Peter, tell the girl not too feel guilty! I should be apologizing to her. I bet you're wondering why I did what I did huh?"

"I guess you could say that." Peter responded.

"First of all- why the fuck didn't you high-tail it out of there? I'm surprised I even got out at all I was sure I was gonna die. You really are stupid."

"I couldn't leave you there!" He immediately protested.

"I know…I'm glad you saved me…you've save me so many times. You know as much as I don't like her I couldn't leave her there to die. It was a split second decision because I knew it was right. I'm not meant for you and I should have seen that, I'm sorry for abusing our friendship." As lame as it felt to say that (AND she was sure Peter already knew what she meant) but none the less, at least she had gotten to say it aloud.

"That doesn't mean we still can't be friends, I will always be here to help you with you powers." Peter looked a Piper sincerely.

"Actually about that…I don't have them anymore. I don't know what happened but because of that accident they're gone. I took the subway to your apartment. It was weird. I don't really mind though. Whatever I had left of them I'm glad- I think that's what helped me recover."

"Really?" Peter looked surprised "What are you gonna do now?"

"Well, I'm gonna graduate; my school is still going to let me. All the hype over 'Spidergirl' will soon die out and this fall I'm going to go to NYU as a journalism major. Isn't that the superhero thing to do? I mean, Clark Kent was a reporter, you're a photographer, and couldn't you use someone giving you good press? I'd be a friend in the business! You don't happen to have any contacts at 'The Daily Planet' do you?" Piper saw the look on Peter's face it was priceless.

"Oh Piper, I'm going to miss you" he said sincerely.

"Just because I'll be off at college doesn't mean I'm leaving you for good! I fully intend to drop in on you from time to time!"

"I'll look forward to your visits." Peter smiled.

"Hey, call me if your double life gets too hectic! My Dad finally got me a cell phone, well that wasn't until after I told him my powers went away. I think he realized being able to reach me at any time is important. I'm here for you. That doesn't mean however you should pass up Mary Jane! I know you can't tell her now…but maybe someday? You deserve a chance at happiness and if anyone can pull off being a superhero and having a girl friend at the same time, it's you Peter. I believe in you and I always will, so don't forget that okay?" She loved being able to express how she felt to Peter. It felt good to talk to him as a friend.

"You are really something else Piper. I'm glad I got to meet you. As for Mary Jane she really wants to talk to you."

"Sorry Peter, but I can't do that. At least not yet, maybe someday. Just tell her that everything's okay and that I'm sorry. At least that's one of my plans as an excuse to put you two in the same room together." She grinned.

"I don't understand why, but I've never understood women. I'll tell her that for you." he promised.

"Good, thanks a bunch. I've got to get going now- but I'll see you around okay?"

Peter nodded.

"Alright, thank you then Peter Parker." and she left with a smile on her face. It felt good.

How bout no longer being masochistic
How bout remembering your divinity
How bout unabashedly bawling your eyes out
How bout not equating death with stopping

Thank you India
Thank you providence
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you nothingness
Thank you clarity
Thank you thank you silence

Piper stopped at a bakery café. She felt good, and wanted to celebrate with a fruit torte- one of her favorite things. It wasn't as heavy or needy like chocolate. It was perfect treat for celebrating a good summer to come.

She sat down with a cup of tea and torte in a contemplative mood. She inhaled the sweet scent of pastries and cakes around her. A cake caught her eye, a vanilla frosted yellow cake. Her eyes lit up with some sort of a vague memory. As soon as she finished her torte she went up to the counter and decided to buy the cake,

"Do you want anything written on it?" the clerk asked.

"Yes, I would."

She stood on the subway with the white box in hand. After consulted a phone book she knew exactly where her destination was. It wouldn't take her long to get there at all. Piper rung the doorbell and an older woman opened the door.

"Hello?" she asked curiously

"Is Kris home?" Piper questioned, wondering if he was at work.

"No, he's home. Come in" she ushered Piper in. "Kris, someone's here too see you!" She called.

Kris came down a flight of stairs slightly confused. "Who is…." He started at Piper with the box in her hand.

"Hi Kris, I thought I'd come visit as a thank you." She smiled cheerfully.

She's got her enthusiasm back.

"You were the girl in the hospital?" His mother asked.

"Yes, while I was in a coma he visited me everyday." Piper glanced at Kris "I'm really glad he came. I brought you something, a cake. I hope you'll like it."

Kris look at her oddly, was this why she had come to visit?

"Why don't you go in the kitchen and have some then? Kris?"

"It's that girl" Kris mother's thought to herself. "The one he cried over when he heard what happened…the one he visited everyday. It must have been her, that's why he's been doing better at school."

He nodded and led Piper to the kitchen.

He took the box from Piper and silently set it on the kitchen table, then rummaged for a knife to cut it. Piper grinned as he opened the box.

Thank You, I heard you

Kris's heart stopped for a moment he read the words written in icing again. "You…remember?"

"That you stuck your locker every day on purpose?" She grinned "I remembered today, what you told me. I'm sorry I didn't listen to you more clearly…you helped me…and then you were with me everyday. I had blind affections for someone else…" she trailed off. She wasn't sure what she wanted to say or how to say it.

"But what you had to go through all by yourself, Piper I'm so glad you're alive…I don't know much about superhero stuff but I think I can…

"Don't say that, you are a superhero! Because of you I woke up. Besides I'm not one any more…I don't have my powers anymore. I'm kinda glad though, because when I had my powers I didn't see you in the light I should have. I like you as more than friend Kris. When I was with you I always felt my best." She let her entire heart pour out. After everything that had happened she finally had let all of her emotions out.

"Piper, I…" Kris stumbled for words "I like you as more than friend too…

Piper embraced Kris in a deep hug. "Thank you for all that you've done for me. After all this I'm not at the end yet. I could have been but I'm not."

Author's note: 3 years and its done. I hope you've enjoyed it. I think it's was good idea for a Spidergirl fic. At first I had Piper die but decided that didn't fit right so I overhauled a lot of the story. I don't do a lot of action because I focused more on feeling and just general story telling.

Edit 2: This is the second time the story has been edited to fix grammar, and wording as well as formatting. Enjoy all my 96 pages of Microsoft word.

Now my friends, it's the end, the beautiful end.

The End Soundtrack!

Opening Theme: It's the End of the World As We Know It- REM

Piper's Theme: Like a Bird- Nelly Furtado

Peter's Theme: Superman- Five for Fighting

MJ's Theme: I Need a Hero- Bonnie Tyler

Beth's Theme: Fame- Irene Cara

Max and Alex's Theme: Accidentally in Love- Counting Crows

Kris's Theme: Bubble Toes- Jack Johnson

Ending Theme: In the End- Linkin Park

Epilogue: Thank You- Alanis Morissette