Author's note:

This short story is set during the epilogue of Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1. #292, specifically, before Peter and MJ arrive at the Greater Pittsburgh International Airport. References are made to Mary Jane's background chronicled in ASM Vol 1. #259, and the events of ASM Vol 1. #290 - 291.

This short story focuses specifically on MJ's internal thoughts leading to her decision with Peter's proposal. MJ's one of my favorite characters because of how her character reflects upon Peter's so well, and how the reason she loves him ties into the main theme of Spider-Man ("with great power, there must also come great responsibility"). I hope this appreciation for her character is depicted accurately. If not, please provide feedback for improvement!

The Promise

Peter Parker made a promise to Mary Jane Watson, with a marriage proposal: to always be by her side.

She said no.

Maybe she regretted it a teeny bit. Sure, Peter Parker's a lovely, fine, young man with a sense of responsibility. Sure, he's cute in a kind of nerdy way, dare she say, charming. Sure, other men were half of what Peter is. Hah, after all, he risked his life every day as Spider-Man!

But marriage? Love? Not in a million years!

You'd think you'd have to be crazy to turn down marrying a superhero but they were just friends, after all. It was all too sudden, anyways. They were escalating things too far.

... right?

Whatever. She knew they were flimsy excuses. Peter knew they were flimsy excuses. He couldn't understand what compelled her to say no, but he knew whatever reason, it was flimsy.

The truth was, could Mary Jane commit for him?

Ha, no.

To commit would mean to be unhappy. That's how the story always goes.

Her father, Philip Watson, was a nice man with a sense of responsibility too. For some time, he had a good marriage with her mother, Madeline.

On the other hand, her sister, Gayle, had a nice husband named Timmy. A classical football star, a top scholar, a nice and sensitive man.

They were nice, sensitive men.

Ha, were! Philip's ambitions overtook his responsibilities. Timmy abandoned Gayle. Just like that, nice, sensitive men who upon settling down, chose power over responsibility.

True love? Ha.

Her mother and sister tried making others happy, and they paid the consequences for it. Not Mary Jane though! Mary Jane was number one, she didn't need to commit to anything or anyone.

Not even... gah, Peter?

Alright, fine. When she first saw Peter, she saw a studious, hard-working young man with a sense of responsibility within him. Once she even got to know him, hey... she liked him for it. It didn't help he made being responsible look so good in that spandex suit. She also saw her father and Timmy were in Peter and... she feared him for it.

Feared? Okay, maybe a bit of an exaggeration but... Peter was nice and responsible. He loved his family and friends. Others before him couldn't handle the burdens of raising a family. What made him different?

...

Fine.

He always pulled through for his family and friends, putting others before himself. For every time he thought of walking away from his responsibilities, he never committed to it. He learned a lesson the day his Uncle was taken from this earth, and could never walk back on that. A lesson that Mary Jane had grown to learn herself.

He helped Mary Jane reconnect with her sister. He helped Mary Jane with her vulnerabilities regarding her family and career. He helped Mary Jane grow into a person who didn't run away from her responsibilities. It was just like that of Peter. He loved her, and out of love made her his responsibility.

Who knows, maybe true love is real.

It's only fair Mary Jane wouldn't run away from this responsibility, out of true love.

Sure, Peter could change into a man Mary Jane wouldn't love... but her bond with Peter said otherwise. She knew Peter so well that he could never choose power over responsibility - the two were intertwined, not opposed.

The same could be said with love and fear. Her fear of a future like her mother or Gayle's could occur, sure, but her fear was only so strong out of love for Peter. She'd have to take a risk, a promise, even. To marry Peter, she'd have to make a promise of commitment and responsibility.

Peter Parker would always be by her side.

Mary Jane Watson-Parker by his.