"So I was thinking, Spidey," Carol said seductively, "that we could do something special this Saturday."

"I would love to," Spider-man responded with an equally flirtatious tone. "What's the date on Saturday again?"

It had sort of become a running joke between them. Peter Parker never knew the date and rarely had anything planned more than a day in advance. And when he did it was only a couple of days ahead.

"June 13th." Carol said, keeping the same sexy tone.

"Oh." Peter responded, suddenly sombre.

"Peter?"

"Oh – erm – sorry Carol, don't think I can do Saturday, I have – erm – plans." Peter said hurriedly.

"Peter? What the hell?"

"How about Sunday? Yeah, let's wait 'til Sunday. Is that gunshots I hear? I should be off, civilians in danger and all that."

Peter swung off into the concrete jungle of New York City, Carol considered chasing after him but wondered if it would do any good.

"Ouch."

"Doreen? How long have you been there?" Carol asked.

"Not long, don't worry. But I saw enough of it." Squirrel girl responded while she tended to the baby in her arms.

"I don't understand, he's usually so honest with me. I mean I don't think he's doing anything wrong, it's Peter, but he could at least tell me." Carol ranted.

"I doubt Peter's doing anything dubious. He's always been a bit of an enigma, but never in a bad way. If it were me I'd go ask Stark, he seems to know Peter well. But you're not like that though."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, you know, crazy girlfriend type who goes chasing after her boyfriend."

"Even if I did go asking after him that wouldn't make me a crazy girlfriend stereotype, a stereotype I hate by the way, he's the crazy one."

"Don't worry, I don't think anybody would argue with you on that point."

Captain Marvel landed in the Avengers building to be greeted by Iron Man, Captain America and Hawkeye. They all shared nonchalant greetings.

"Do any of you guys know where Peter is?"

"He requested a personal day." Came Captain America's response.

"Peter, Spider-man Peter?"

"We assumed that if you were asking for Peter it was for Spider-man." Tony mused.

"Since when has Peter, ever, taken a day off?" Carol asked.

"She has a point there." Clint said. "Guy's never taken a vacation. Even when he's on three super-hero teams and taking care of petty crime everyday as well as his own super-villains, and that's just his life as spider-man. Guy has this slacker image, but he's anything but."

"Did you ask him what he was doing today?" Tony inquired.

"Yes and he just did that babbling thing and swung off."

"He does tend to do that rather a lot." Cap said.

"It's a scientist thing." Tony said. "Somebody says something and a light bulb goes off and it's a one track mind from then until the problem's solved."

"Well all I told him was today's date."

"It's probably something personal then. I don't know anything about it; I'd try Logan or Johnny Storm." Tony told her.

"Well thanks, maybe I should go talk to them."

"Carol. Peter's a good guy; he wouldn't do anything to hurt you. This might be something he just wants to keep to himself, it doesn't mean it's something that would make you mad." Tony said

"I know, I'm not hunting him down out of anger, just worry. So far there's nothing he hasn't let me in on." Carol said dejectedly. "So do any of you have Reed Richards phone number?"

Carol landed on the roof of the Baxter Building and was met by all the members of the Fantastic Four except Ben.

"Carol, it's nice to see you but this is something of a surprise." Reed greeted.

"Finally realised that the hottest superhero in town isn't Webhead but yours truly?" Johnny joked.

"Come inside, it'll be nicer to talk in the living room." Sue offered.

The four superheroes made their way inside and sat down at the dining table in the building.

"Would you like something to drink?" Sue asked.

"No thanks, doubt I'll be here for long. I'm just looking for Peter."

"Well you could've asked us that upstairs, he ain't here."

"And you don't know where he might be?"

"He's not in danger is he?" Reed asked.

"No. Actually I don't know." Carol responded. "Sue, do you ever say something to Reed and he'll mutter or say something incomprehensible and leave without explanation?"

"All the time!" Johnny yelled with years of pent-up frustration. Reed pulled at his collar in embarrassment.

"Did you check at Horizon Labs? Sounds like he had a scientific breakthrough." Sue said

"Yeah, Tony said the same, 'it's a scientist thing.'" Carol said. "But all that happened was he found out today's date, so it's not that I don't think. Do any of you know what's important about today?"

"Not today." Johnny said.

"Erm, what?"

"Webhead doesn't think about the future, at least not by more than 5 seconds, but he's always carrying around the past. I'm guessing something happened to him on this date." Jonny expanded.

"But you don't know what?" Carol further inquired.

"Nah he doesn't talk about himself all that often, which is odd for someone who never shuts up. But I've been around him enough." Johnny said. "Listen, if this is about his past I doubt it's anything for you to worry about and he might not be ready to talk to you about this."

"I know but I'm worried and… and I love him."

"Congratulations." Sue and Reed exclaimed.

"Lucky guy." Johnny muttered.

"Have you told each other yet?"

"No, but thanks. Maybe I should try and find Logan."

"Doubt Logan'll be of any more use than I was." Johnny said. "Less so in fact because he'll just be annoyed to be dragged into this." Everyone chuckled knowingly at that. "If you really want to find answers about Webs the only person who might have them is MJ."

"His ex-wife?"

"Yeah, she knows everything about him, she'll know."

The knock that Carol gave to the door was a bit harsher than she intended, but the wood only splintered slightly instead of crashing through the apartment, so it could have been worse. A stunning redhead opened the door. Looking at her Carol started to feel a little self-conscious.

"Oh hello, it's Carol, isn't it?" Mary Jane greeted pleasantly.

"Yeah – er – hello, sorry to come here like this." Carol said.

"Oh don't worry about it, I was half-expecting to see you today." MJ chuckled.

"You were?"

"Yeah, and I knew for certain when my night club called and said Captain Marvel had been asking for me, though that was only seconds ago." She chuckled again. "Peter was here earlier by the way."

"He was?"

"Today is a difficult day for the both of us."

"Why?"

"I really don't think I should be the one to tell you."

"I'm sorry, I feel like I'm coming across as the crazy girlfriend. You know, asking all the other superheroes, turning to his ex-wife. This isn't like me."

"Oh don't worry about it at all. You don't have to tell me, I was married to him, so I know what Pete's like."

"He did this to you all the time as well?"

"Yeah, I thought when I found out about him being spider-man it would stop, but it just became less frequent."

A silence followed these words, as Carol didn't know what to say.

"But he would always tell me the truth eventually. You'd wonder why you put up with him and then you'd be together again that night and know that it's all worth it."

"Do you still have feelings for him?"

"Yes." MJ said bluntly.

"Then why did you break up, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Of course not. I guess I just couldn't handle all of the life-threatening scenarios involved with being married to Spider-man. But that's not something you have to worry about." MJ said with a smile.

"So if he was here earlier do you know where he is now?"

"He's almost certainly on the George Washington Bridge."

"Aren't you going to tell me that he'd rather be left alone and it could be a mistake to go after him?" Carol asked, MJ laughed.

"Is that what Tony Stark said?"

"And Johnny Storm."

"Hah, well they don't know Pete as well as me. He may seek solitude, but it's rarely what he needs, you'd really help him right now. I was half considering calling you up and asking you to go look for him but it might sound weird from me, also I don't have your number."

"I see, well I don't have a card or anything, no pockets, I'll just ask Pete to give it to you." Carol said with a smirk, MJ laughed.

"I can imagine his response: 'I knew my Peter Parker sense was tingling.'"

"Or; 'you're not concocting some sinister plan to get us to have dinner are you or, God forbid, have a girl's night?'" Carol joked, the two laughed at the imagined antics of Spider-man. "Well I'm glad I came here now, you're a great person, I hope we can be friends." Carol smiled.

"I'd like that."

Carol landed atop the George Washington Bridge to see Spider-man in his black costume, on his knees, mask clasped in his hand. He seemed to be sobbing. Carol just stood there, not saying anything. She knew Peter was aware of her presence but thought it better to wait for him to speak.

"Gwen Stacy was my first love." He finally spoke. Carol remained silent. "She was amazing, though she never knew I was Spider-man, at least not until right at the end. Norman Osborn found out my identity and kidnapped her. He brought her here and waited until I arrived before he threw her off the bridge. I caught her with my web but the whiplash must have caused her neck to break. She died all because some mad man found out I was Peter Parker. I couldn't do anything to save her, and it was because of me that she died, she was completely innocent."

He finally stood up and practically collapsed into Captain Marvel's arms. She held the embrace for a long time, letting him grieve. They stood there in each other's arms in silence for a few minutes. Carol wanted to tell him it wasn't his fault, it was Osborn's, but she doubted it would help; he just needed someone to hold him. Finally Spider-man leaned back and looked at the marvel before him.

"So." He said, no hint of sadness left in his voice. "Must've taken you a while to track me down." He teased.

Carol sputtered in indignation. She was about to respond with an insult but was stopped by two arms on her shoulders.

"Thank you." He said sincerely. "Carol, I love you."

The smile that lit up her face was radiant. It was a mark of the fact that Peter Parker wasn't a photographer to the core because any photographer would see her smile from atop that bridge with the sunset behind her as an opportune moment for a picture. But Peter was lost in the moment; her smile had rendered all of his usual brain functions worthless. He didn't need a photo either; the image would be etched in his memory forever.

"I love you too."

Their kiss was one of great passion and intensity, and to them it felt as long as the earlier embrace. When they had finally reveled in each other's tongues for long enough they broke apart and smiled at each other.

"Come on." Captain Marvel said and began to hover horizontally beside him. "I'll give you a ride home."

Peter hopped onto her back with great enthusiasm, finally putting the mask back on.

"And Parker must have seen the snitch," Spider-man said in a British accent as Captain Marvel flew away from the bridge with great speed, "because he's taken off like a rocket!"

"Hey, your comparison of me with a broomstick better not be some form of latent sexism." Danvers warned.

"Yeah, that's where the association comes from not that you can fly or anything." Spider-man retorted. "Besides the only reason I might associate you with a broomstick is you make me do all the sweeping and I'm powerless to say no."

"Ahh, poor ickle Spider-man, can't defend himself from his bully girlfriend."

"I know, I'm one of the many men oppressed in this woman's world."

"Speaking of powerful women you know, I saw Mary Jane today."

"I guessed, given you knew where to find me."

"Yeah, she's a great person, you should give her my number." Carol said with a hidden smirk.

"Sure. I can do that now actually." Peter responded as he fumbled with his costume and procured his phone. Carol's smirk became a frown; she was expecting a funnier response.

"Hello, Webs? What's up?" Carol heard Wolverine's voice but with a mechanical twinge. Clearly Peter hadn't sent her number but dialed up Logan and put it on speaker.

"Brian! The Apocalypse is back!" Peter shouted as Carol laughed.

"WHAT?" Wolverine shouted in response.

"Yeah, Carol just asked me to give MJ her number. I'm 100% certain. The Apocalypse is coming." There was silence for a few moments.

"When I next see you, Webs, I'm gonna shove my claws…" Peter chose that moment to hang up. Carol was laughing beneath him, Peter mused that this was a bit like turbulence. Maybe what they said about cell phones and flying was right.

"Did you call him Brian? That's a new one."

"Yeah, you know, from family guy."

"Oh, of course." Carol said and paused. "I can't imagine Logan getting that reference."

"Can you imagine him getting any references to cartoon dogs?"

"Fair enough." She said. "I still can't believe you get away with that."

"Well, many have the guts to say it to him once, few would ever dare twice. I think he respects my bravery." Carol laughed at the idea, especially because it sounded like it could be true. "You should've seen it when I visited his school, the students looked at me with such respect when I called him Peabody." He jumped from Captain Marvel's back and landed on his roof. It was so much faster with her. Carol came to a stop next to him. "I almost felt bad for the kid who tried to copy me. So is this goodbye, or do you want to come inside?" Spider-man asked, Carol almost thought she saw his mask wink.

"I think I can come inside for a while." She said, licking her lips seductively. Mary Jane was right, Carol mused; she would go through thousands of days like these if it meant they ended up like this.