Alright True Believers, when last we left off Spider-Man, Sand Man, and Molten Man faced off against five of the Sinister Six, the Hobgoblin and the, not dead, Green Goblin. Outnumbered, our heroes took out the villains one by one, leaving only the Green Goblin left. In a last desperate move he launched a missile, which caused the entire building to collapse with Spider-Man still inside. Did the Wall Crawler survive? Let find out.

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Chapter 12: The Good, the Bad, and the Ungrateful

There he sat on the pavement, looking around him. He sneered at all of his classmates who thought he was their friend. But he knew better; they were just jealous. Jealous that he was the son of a great inventor. Jealous that he had one of the most beautiful girls as his mate. And jealous that he had the power only fools dream of. He was the greatest man alive. He had done what no one else had. He killed Spider-Man and it was that thought that caused the onlookers to slowly step back as a maniacal laugh left his mouth. Captain Stacy just shook his head. Harry Osborn sadly was the man his father wanted him to be.

Flash and the others just stood there in shock. This was impossible. Flash wrapped his arms around Sha Shan in case Harry tried to escape. Randy stood shocked while Sally hid behind him and Glory clung to Kenny for dear life. Harry was the Green Goblin? That's outrageous. This had to be some kind of trick. But the sadistic smile on his face was hard to ignore. Why is he smiling like that? thought Liz as she clung to her brother Mark for fear of him running again. Mary Jane and Gwen looked at Harry with all the contempt in the world. They cared about him, they trusted him, he was their friend…or so they thought.

The silence among them was becoming deafening. All the clamor of fire fighters, police, and SWAT team members just became a faint noise in the background as Harry continued to smile that ever so sadistic smile.

"What are you so happy about?" asked Sand Man who was unable to take the silence any more. His reply was Harry's sadistic smile turning into a maniacal laugh.

"Why shouldn't I be happy?" he asked looking right at Sand Man. "I'm the savior of the city." Everyone went wide eye at Harry's answer.

"Are you insane!" shouted Flash, scaring Sha Shan a bit. "What makes you think you saved the city?"

Harry looked around as though he was trying to find something. He looked at the tops of buildings, around cars; he looked everywhere he could from his spot on the ground. All the while still smiling. "I don't see Spider-Man around anywhere and I don't see Parker taking pictures." Harry just shook his head. "Mr. Jameson won't like that." He started laughing again, this time into hysterical laughter. He would have kept laughing if a hand had not made contact with his face. Everyone stared in mild shock, or in Mary Jane's and George Stacy's extreme pride, as Gwen cradled her now hurting hand.

"How could you?" she spoke quietly still trying to comprehend what she had just done. In all honesty, she meant to punch him out, but instead it came out as a slap across the face. "How could you do that to Spider-Man, to PETER!" she cried. "He was your friend Harry. He wanted nothing more than to help you."

"Help me?" he asked. "Help ME! All he wanted was what I have. My father, my money, and let's not forget my girl," he said with a sneer right at Gwen.

"I broke up with you, Harry, because of the way you treated me. You only cared that I was with you and not Pete," she replied.

Harry scoffed. "Yeah and that got you far didn't it?" he said as he looked at the burning rubble where Spider-Man and Peter lay. Gwen was ready to really let him have it when George grabbed her arm. She tried to pull her arm free, but she couldn't. It was times like this she wished she had Pete's spider-strength. She looked up at her father furiously with tears in her eyes. George showed no sign of taking offence. He simply wrapped his arms around his daughter. It only took a moment before Gwen was balling into her father chest. She couldn't believe it; it was impossible. Pete the love of her life…was gone. Killed by a person she thought of as her closest friend.

Mary Jane could feel tears welling up in her eyes as realization settled upon her. Spider-Man was gone and so was Pete. One of the greatest friends he had ever made was gone. She felt an arm wrap around her shoulder. She looked to her side to see Mark and Liz. She couldn't hold it in any longer. She threw her arms around Mark's neck and started to sob. A solemn atmosphere settled on the group. Even Marko felt for the group. He didn't know Pete Parker personally, but from what he could tell there were a lot of people who cared about him. The silence that settled, with the exception of crying, was broken by the sound of a cell phone ringing.

Gwen pulled away from her father, realizing the ringing was coming from her pocket. Without even thinking, Gwen pressed the answer button and brought it to her ear. "H-h-hello."

"Gwen? Great, you still have my phone!"

Gwen's whole body froze. She couldn't felt anything. "P-Pete?" she whispered.

"Yeah" he replied. "Are you ok? You sound like your crying," he said with concern.

"PETE!" she screamed happily, gaining everyone's attention. "You're Alive! OH thank God, you're alive!"

"Yes, I'm alive," he replied, "But now I think I'm deaf." Gwen was so happy she couldn't help but giggle at his quip. Everyone else was looking at Gwen as though she was crazy. Mary Jane stepped forward and placed her hand on Gwen's shoulder, only to be caught in a bone crushing hug.

"He's alive, Mary Jane," cried Gwen. "He's alive." Gwen handed the phone to Mary Jane who took it tentatively. She wanted Pete to be alive just as much as Gwen, but this seemed borderline crazy. They just saw the building blow up and as much as Mary Jane liked to think Spider-Man was invincible…Peter Parker was not. She looked at Gwen who was till crying, only she had the biggest smile on her face, Mary Jane put the phone up to her ear.

"H-hello?" said Mary Jane.

"MJ! You're there too?" asked Peter.

"Pete!" shocked Mary Jane almost dropped the phone. She thought Gwen was just imaging things due to grief, but it was real…Pete was alive.

"Yeah, I am. Are you two ok? You're not hurt, are you?" he asked.

"No, Tiger" she replied. "We're all fine."

"All?"

"Parker?" shouted Flash as he and the others came up to the phone. "Is that you?"

Mary Jane put the phone on speaker. "Flash! What are you doing there?"

"Petey," cried Liz, hugging Mark. "Mark's back! I have my brother back!"

"I know. He and Sand Man helped me escape," he said.

Marko made his way to the group. No one remembered he was there until he spoke. "Hey kid, where are you?"

There was silence for a moment or two until they heard, "Uuuuum…not really sure."

"You've lived in New York your whole life and you don't know where you are?" asked Flash, earning him an elbow to the gut from Sha Shan.

"I mean I'm in an alley, but I'm not sure where I am. I just woke up…and I'm stuck."

"What do you mean stuck?" asked George.

"Well, when Spider-Man saved me, I'm willing to bet I was unconscious, so he must have webbed me to something" replied Pete. "I can't move."

There was silence for a moment, then with a puzzled look on her face Glory said, "Wait, if you can't move how are you calling us?"

"I'm using Gwen's phone." Once Gwen heard that she pulled out the Osberry she had and began typing furiously.

"Where did you get that!" demanded Harry.

"Harry?" asked Pete, "What are you doing there?"

"Osborn here is the one who tried to kill you," replied Flash, sending Harry a glare.

"WHAT!"

"I've got the phone's signal," said Gwen. "We're on our way."

"Ok, I want paramedics standing by and another fire truck on the way to put this out" said George as he pointed to the burning building. "Sand Man, you stay and watch Ha-"

As George turned to talk to Marko, he saw him punch Harry in the stomach. With a questioning, yet somewhat worried look, George just stared at him. "What?" asked Marko, "If this kid is stuck, you'll need me to help free him." George could only nod his head in response. The group raced down the street following Gwen as she navigated the route with the Osberry. She turned the corner into an ally and stopped dead, thus causing everyone else, with the exception of George and Marko, to crash into her.

"Thanks for the warning," said Randy as he picked himself up.

"Sorry," replied Gwen as she gave a sheepish smile. "That's weird," she said as she looked around the alley. "This thing says Pete is right here, but I don't see him."

George looked around like everyone else. He then felt a tapping on his shoulder. Looking over to Marko, he sees him looking at the top of the alley. Tilting his head back, he smiles at what he sees. He cups his hands over his mouth and shouts, "Things finally seem to be looking up for you Pete!" The teen look up and are surprised, but happy to see Peter Parker hanging upside down on a giant web strung between the buildings of the ally.

Pete just hung there with a deadpan face. Well, at least it's better than anything Flash would have said, he thought.

As if on cue, Flash shouted, "Hey Parker quit hanging around!" Both he and Kenny laughed.

Thanks for not letting down Flash, sighed Pete. He looked at the group and noticed Marko change to his sand form and make his way up to him. Pete was a little worried that the Sand Man was the one who would be rescuing him. He was willing to wait for a fire truck, but even with spider powers the blood was rushing to his head. Now looking Marko in the eye he gave a small nervous smile.

"Relax, kid," said Marko. "I didn't go through all the trouble of rescuing you just to let you fall." Marko changed his hands into larger sand versions and grabbed Pete. With one swift tug, Pete was freed from the web and placed safely on the ground. Once both of Pete's feet were on the ground, Gwen ran to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, determined that if she let go he would never come back. Pete almost lost his balance when Gwen latched onto him. He wasted no time in pulling Gwen away from him, just a bit, and plant a kiss right on her lips. Needless to say, Gwen was in heaven. She finally got the guy she wanted and she was never letting go.

The couple would have stayed that way forever if it was not, once again, for Flash. "Are you two gonna make-out all day or can we leave?"

Gwen and Pete separated and blushed in embarrassment. Mary Jane looked at the couple like they were the cutest things on the planet. Liz was a bit jealous, but she had her brother back thanks to those two, so she really couldn't be too upset. Sally…she was gagging at the "nerd love" as she put it.

"Alright everyone!" called George. "Let's head back. I want to make sure Pete and Mark are looked at by the paramedics. And Sand Man," he said looking at Marko, "I have some questions for you."

"No sweat," said Marko like they were old buddies. "Ask away can't promise I'll answer everything."

The group was as happy as could be. As they rounded the last corner, they heard shouting. Breaking into a run, Pete rounded the corner first and was shocked to see Harry Osborn in the costume of the Green Goblin. Harry, he thought, for once I wish I was wrong.

Pete felt a hand on each of his shoulders. He turned to see Gwen to his right and Mary Jane to his left. "It wasn't your fault, Tiger," said Mary Jane in a soft voice.

"He did that to himself," agreed Gwen, but Pete could tell she was trying to hold back tears. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. She looked at him, then buried her face in his chest and started to cry. The others looked on with similar expressions.

As Harry tried to escape the grasp of fifteen police officers, he looked over to see Peter Parker alive and hugging Gwen! "How!" he shouted, earning everyone's attention. "How is it that a worthless, pathetic excuse for a person like you can still be ALIVE?"

Pete let go of Gwen and stepped forward just enough to see Harry's face. "Harry, what happened? We were best friends?"

"HA!" sneered Harry. "You were never my friend! All you wanted was what I had and you practically got it!"

"What are you talking about?" asked Pete.

"You got the brains I should have had," he seethed. "You got my Dad's love. And to top it all off, you got the girl I've had a crush on for four YEARS!" Everyone was taken aback by that statement. Pete and Gwen had no idea Harry had felt that way. Pete could only wonder if Harry had told them this sooner, would everything have been ok? Shaking his head, Pete quickly dispelled all thoughts of Harry and Gwen together. He'd been through that once before and he was not going back.

"Harry, I'm sorry you feel that way, but I never meant to hurt you." Pete could tell from the look on his face Harry didn't believe him. "I'm serious, Harry. Please believe me when I say I'm sorry. I'm sorry I have a big brain. Believe me, sometime I wish I didn't. I'm sorry your dad liked me more then you, but in all honesty he had a few screws loose."

"He was a great man!" shouted Harry in rage as a few S.W.A.T. team members helped restrain Harry.

"Harry, you can't be serious?" questioned Pete. "He made you take the fall for him the first time he was the Green Goblin. He set you up and didn't care what happened to you!"

"That's a lie! I heard him say he was proud of me that night Spider-Man killed him!"

The news reports that were given about Norman Osborn's death told how Harry had witnessed the fight, but nothing ever mentioned about him hearing it from inside the helicopter.

"Wait, you heard?" asked Pete. "And you still think I'm the bad guy?"

"You are the bad guy. You and Spider-Man…I noticed you didn't apologize for taking Gwen from me," he shot back at Pete.

Pete's attitude changed from regret to courageous in less than a second. "Looking at you now," he said "that…is the one thing I'm not sorry about."

George directed the teens to the paramedics as Sand Man went to help with Harry. Pete was given a clean bill of health from the paramedics, seeing has he only had some cuts, bumps and slight burns. When asked how he got all these, Pete just held up his camera and replied, "Comes with the job." The paramedic nodded and continued treating Pete as Mary Jane and Gwen shared a knowing look with George. Once Pete was patched up, he walked over to where Marko was talking to Mark and Liz.

As George and the rest approached, Liz informed Mark and Marko who took notice. "Alright, Marko," said George, resuming his Captain role. "Just what do you have to gain by helping us?"

"I only get paid," replied Marko.

"Wait, you're getting paid to help?" asked Pete.

"No, I get paid for completing my assignment," Marko quickly corrected. "Helping you fight those guys was a bonus."

"So, what are your orders and who is giving them to you?" asked George.

"My orders were to recruit the kid here," said Marko as he placed his hand on Mark's shoulder. "As for who's calling the shots…sorry, but I can't answer that," said Marko with a shrug of his shoulders. "You'll have to get in contact with the head of Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. The guy's name is Fury."

"What?" asked Mark. "Recruit me?"

"Recruit him for what?" asked Liz.

"Hey, I just follow orders," replied Marko. "Details are for the head honchos."

"Well, all that matters is that you're back," said a smiling Mary Jane as she gave Mark a hug which graciously returned. Mary Jane pulled back. "What happened to you Mark? How did you get these powers?"

Mark hung his head in shame, remembering the incident. "I…I was repaying a debt." The others waited for him to continue. "I owed my bookie Blakie Gakston some money. He said that there was a way for me to make us even. He took me to this rundown building and told me to wait in a room. Then this doctor came in and he put this stuff in my body that caused..." he trailed off not wanting to think of what came next.

"Who was this doctor?" asked George.

"Um…W-War…Miles War-something," he said trying to remember.

Pete and Gwen looked at each other in shock. "It couldn't be," mouthed Gwen, but Pete knew better. Looking back at Mark he took a chance. "Warren?"

Marks head shot up. "YEAH! That's the guy! He did this to me!" Gwen's heart sank and her eyes widened. I knew there was something off with him thought Pete.

Marko patted Mark on the back. "Don't you worry. I have a feeling ol' doc Warren is going to get just what he deserves," he said with a smirk.

"How do yo-," asked Sally but was cut off my Marko.

"Sorry, but-"

"Details are for the head honchos," quipped Pete.

Marko just smiled at him. "You catch on quick, Parker. Oh, before I forget, tell your friend the web head, that Fury is looking for him too." With that, Marko's whole body began to dissolve into particles of sand and blew away in the wind.

It's been a month since Gwen and Mary Jane found out about Pete and things were never better. Pete was finally able to make up some of the school work he had missed. Mary Jane and Gwen covered for Pete in both school and with Aunt May. George was even helping by leaving out police reports for Gwen to look at and relay info back to Pete. Liz's life was great again. She had her brother back who was now able to control his molten armor thanks to a watch device he got from some Dr. Richards. However Mark's new job kept him quite busy. Whoever this Fury guy was, he really worked him to the bone.

As for our favorite couple, they were in heaven. Gwen was currently getting ready for her date with Pete. She had on a light green tank top with tan cargos. She was wearing her hear down tonight. Pete had mentioned he kind of liked it down. She was just putting on some light makeup when her dad walked into her room.

"You look beautiful, Sweetheart," he said.

Gwen gave a small giggle. "Thanks Dad, but you're supposed to say that."

George just smiled. "Well, am I supposed to say you look like your mother?" Gwen was a bit suppressed by this and gave him a big hug. "Pete is one lucky guy."

"And I'm one luck girl," said Gwen as she let go of her dad. "Pete should be here any time, so I'll just finish up and wait on the porch."

"Ok, Honey. Have fun," George replied as he started to leave the room, then just stopped in the door way. "And no playing hero, I don't want to see you on the front page of the bugle again. Got that, Pete!"

"Got it, Captain Stacy" said a bodiless voice. George left the room and Gwen looked up at her ceiling to see her red and blue hero/boyfriend just sitting there. "What's the point of having spider-powers if you can't even sneak into your girlfriend's room?" he asked, causing Gwen to giggle hard.

"I guess spider-powers are no match for parent intuition," said Gwen. Pete dropped from the ceiling right in front of her. "Ready to go?" she asked.

"Almost," he replied as he removed his mask and placed a kiss on Gwen's lips. His arms wrapped around her waist and her hands rested on his shoulders. About three minutes later the two parted. "Now, I'm ready."

"Good," said Gwen as she pulled out her mask from her purse and put it on. "Then, let's go."

With that, Pete put on his mask and leaped to the window, "Coney Island, here we come!" Gwen called a goodbye to her dad and just like that night, Pete took Gwen on a web-slinging ride only the Spectacular Spider-Man could bring.

There you have it the end of Web of the Heart. Hope you all enjoyed it. I know I had a blast writing it. Now, tis time for me to work on my other stories. If you liked this one, I highly recommend you read my brother's and I's Toon Master Stories. Let me know what you think. I couldn't have done this with your comments and reviews. Thanks again, TRUE BELIEVERS!