-1Walk Away- Lara Fabian

When I woke up today
I could have sworn you were the man that would never betray
I could have sworn you were my life and my dream and my faith
But in one moment you took that all away

Did you break me to see if I'd break
Did you wanna know what I was made of
Big mistake
'Cause there's nothing now
That you or anyone can say
So save your breathe and walk away

And your excuses, they make me wanna scream
I could have sworn you were the man that would never never be mean
I could have sworn you were the light in the end of the dark for me
But you proved that
It's never what it seems

Did you break me to see if I'd break
Did you wanna know what I was made of
Big mistake
'Cause there's nothing now
That you or anyone can say
So save your breathe and walk away

How can I look at you the same way
Nothing is the same as it was
How can I touch you in same way
They'll never be the same

Did you break me to see if I'd break
Did you wanna know what I was made of
Big mistake
'Cause there's nothing now
That you or anyone can say
So save your breathe and walk away

Just save your breathe and walk away
Oh, no, that's why I could have sworn you were the man that would never betray

It had to be a really bad dream. This couldn't really be happening to him. This was the kind of thing that happened on T.V. not in real life. His heart was in a million pieces and he was sure he'd never recover them all to be whole again. The look on MJ's face would be the most sorrowful expression he ever witnessed. In fact, he was sure it mirrored his own.

He sat up quickly, wanting to go to her. "Mary Jane, no… This is not as it seems. Now, just give me a minute to explain."

"Oh, Peter. I don't need an explanation," MJ answered tightly.

"You don't?" he almost calmed. Could she be that understanding? Could she know what he was going to say?

"No, you have made it more than clear on more than one occasion that I am not entitled an explanation of what you do with your time. In fact, I don't even care anymore. Goodbye!" MJ shouted, her temper bubbled and tears immediately dispelled from her eyes. She turned quickly and went out the door.

Peter chased after her, moving quicker than he could imagine. "Wait! MJ, please!"

"Peter, come back!" Amber called as she grinned like a Cheshire cat. The timing could not have been more perfect! She watched Peter run out after MJ and the door bounced behind him, staying cracked open.

"MJ, wait, MJ!" Peter stepped into the hallway after her.

She was standing near the elevator, pressing the button rapidly. "Just go away Peter." she said through gritted teeth. Her anger could not be described with rational words right now. Her fury was mounting with each moment in his presence.

"Mary Jane, I don't care for Amber. She got the wrong impression and the next thing I know she's kissing me! I didn't want her to! Please, MJ, you've got to believe me!" Peter pleaded, gripping her arm and turning her to face him.

"Then why didn't you get her off of you? Don't waste your lies on me, Peter. I don't want to hear them. Just leave me alone!" she shouted, yanking her arm free.

"I tried, but she was strong, MJ…" his voice dove into a whisper. "Real strong."

MJ laughed haughtily. "Oh, I bet!"

"MJ, I am serious! She held me down!" Peter sighed, wishing she'd believe him. "Even with my strength, I couldn't get her off of me."

"Oh I bet! I bet you were too busy enjoying yourself to even think of moving!" MJ slammed the elevator button again and again.

Peter knew better than to tell her the elevator was still broken. She had obviously forgotten in her fury. He had never seen her so mad before. "You know that's not true, MJ. I don't want a relationship with Amber."

"Or me! Right? Yet, here I find you alone together in your apartment, practically groping each other!" MJ shook with fury as she recalled the sight of Peter and Amber kissing.

"MJ, come on! Be serious here! I am not interested in Amber at all! You know why I can't be with you. I don't want to see you get hurt. You know how I feel about you!" Peter was desperate. If he thought grabbing her and kissing her would dispel her anger right now, he'd do it. "Please, MJ."

MJ's eyes squeezed shut and her heart, what was left of it, continued to wilt onto the floor. She lowered her head, not sure how much of this heartbreak she could take. "Please stop! Just stop it and go away."

Her voice carried her heart ache and Peter was never sorrier for anything in his whole life. He hurt her. Just like he hurt Uncle Ben and let him down. He was gone now because of him. Now he had hurt her, again. He would never forgive himself for letting this happen. "I am sorry, MJ. I never meant to hurt you. That's the last thing I ever want to happen. You must at least know that. I would never do anything to hurt you. I wish you would believe me. I know how much you love me."

"I hate you Peter! I don't love you! I hate you!" MJ screeched turning to face him in all her fury. Her anger boiled over and she spouted out like a raging volcano. "You're just like the rest of them! You don't care about me, you just hurt me! You're just like Flash and my dad and Harry. You are no different, Peter. I hate you!" she shouted. "All this time I thought you really did love me…" she quieted, fresh tears rolling down her cheeks. Then her hurt surfaced to anger again and she began to shout again. "I really thought you wanted to be with me and that you being Spider-Man was the only thing stopping us!" she shrieked loudly, not caring who heard. "But I was wrong! You are nothing but a lying, deceiving jackass! I am sorry I ever thought otherwise. I never want to see you again!"

"MJ, shh!" Peter panicked, hoping Amber didn't hear her shouts. She was so loud; he would be surprised if half of New York hadn't heard her.

She smacked him hard across the face with all her might. She didn't care!

Peter held his cheek, stunned by the pain it caused, not from the force of her blow but that she had actually struck him with such hate in her eyes. "Mary Jane, please don't say that. Please, I never wanted to hurt you. I can't loose you, MJ. I can't. Not now."

MJ slammed her fist against the elevator button, and then finally saw the sign on the elevator door that read:

Out of Order

She growled at her stupidity; for not remembering the sign, for allowing herself to be hurt by another man, for believing Spider-Man was the only excuse keeping her from Peter. She still shook with fury despite her outpour of emotion, including the hard smack she'd given him. His words were only adding fuel to the fire. She turned to him with a glare equal to the Goblin's. "You have hurt me more than I can ever remember hurting." she stated simply. Then she furrowed her brows and her voice became deep and bitter. "You can't loose what was never yours."

Peter stared at her, feeling lower than he had in over a year. He felt that same defeated and lost feeling he had holding Uncle Ben's hand as he died, a death Peter was responsible for. He felt the entire world drain from him and he felt worthless and alone once again.

She stared at him for a moment, almost breaking her resolve at the look of destruction in his eyes. She had torn him apart and she wasn't sure what was left. She knew there was a piece of her own self missing and would always be missing now. Her anger surfaced overcoming the concern for him like a tidal wave. Her face burned bright with heated fury and she gave him a final glare. Then she pushed past him with all her might and he actually budged. Whether it was from the might of her fury or his buckling form that moved him she didn't care to discover. She just rushed past him and took the stairs, refusing to look back.

Meanwhile, inside the apartment, Amber flinched hearing MJ's voice crack as she had screeched at Peter. It made her giggle with glee. The woman's pain was pure joy. Amber got off the couch and came to the kitchen counter so she could hear better. Her hand rested on Betty's laptop and she suddenly recalled that she needed to be covering her tracks. She tried to turn on the laptop as she heard MJ lay into Peter about not caring about her.

Amber groaned, unable to get the damn laptop on. She gave up and continued searching while listening to the shouting match. She found Peter's camera bag, the same one she had purchased for him for Christmas. She wondered if he had anything hidden in there. She ripped open the Velcro top and peered inside. She saw his camera, some rolls of film and something red and black. Amber's curiosity peeked and she pulled out the material from the bag.

Her hand shook as her eyes took in the details. Black strands like webs covered the dark red material. The white, opaque eye slots peered back at her and Amber's heart rate increased dramatically again for the second time today. "Spider-Man's mask?"

The shouting from outside grew louder and Amber tried to concentrate but the evidence in her hands had her reeling. It couldn't be real; it had to be a joke, right? Or a gift from Spider-Man. Peter did kind of know him… Right?

But it could explain why he always got the shot of Spider-Man and the information from the other night. The reason he wasn't with MJ as well. And as if her mind was being read, MJ began to shout again, and it was impossible not to hear what she said.

"You're just like the rest of them! You don't care about me, you just hurt me! You're just like Flash and my dad and Harry. You are no different, Peter. I hate you!" she had shouted. She muttered something inaudible. "I really thought you wanted to be with me and that you being Spider-Man was the only thing stopping us! But I was wrong! You are nothing but a lying, deceiving jackass! I am sorry I ever thought otherwise. I never want to see you again!"

Amber's jaw dropped and the amount of information she was taking in at once was making her head spin in overload! Peter was Spider-Man! No! This couldn't be happening. Her sweet, shy, innocent Peter was a liar! A manipulative, deceitful male! He was no different than the rest! Apparently, he had hurt MJ as well before. Amber's fist clenched the mask tightly, wishing Spider-Man's neck was inside. She cared not for the pain caused to MJ really, her own pain was too intense, but it solidified that Peter was not the good man she thought he was. The walls felt like they were closing in around her. Peter was wicked. Peter was bad. Peter had to pay. And he would pay dearly. She no longer cared if there was any incriminating evidence here, Peter would soon be gone. How he had survived her poison touch as Spider-Man she didn't know and no longer cared. She wanted her revenge and she would have it!

She heard MJ's voice floundering as she was breaking down. She shoved the mask violently back into the camera bag and walked away, pacing the floor as she grit her teeth in attempt to hold the monster inside that wished to be unleashed.

A moment later, Peter ambled in the doorway and looked up at Amber with sullen eyes. "Amber, I'm sorry, but you really misunderstood me. I just want to be friends." he sighed, finding it was all too late. MJ was gone. Nothing else mattered.

"Peter, I have to go," she said in a controlled voice.

Peter's spider sense had been on a low vibration ever since MJ walked in the door but it suddenly spiked at her voice. "Did you hear us arguing?"

"No, not really. I tried to mind my business. I see I caused some trouble here, so I'm going to go…" she went to the couch for her coat.

"Amber, I'm sorry. Please, don't be upset. I care about you," Peter sighed, running his hand through his hair.

Amber gathered her briefcase and put on her coat. "I really have to go, Peter. It's ok. I will see you around."

Peter couldn't tell if she knew he was Spider-Man and was acting suspicious or if she was really embarrassed and wanted to leave. Somehow, judging by his spider sense, it was more than embarrassment. "Amber, can we talk a minute?"

"No," she answered quickly and sharply. "There's nothing to say. Don't worry, Peter. I know how you feel. It's fine. I have to go, really. I can't stay."

Peter allowed her to pass, watching her strangely. "What about the Widow Maker?"

Amber turned back and gave a dark smile. "I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding her on your own." she answered then disappeared out the door.

Peter stood there unsure of what to do next. His heart was broken, his mind was spinning and he couldn't seem to stop the world from crashing down on him. He stood there, mind racing with so many thoughts. Did Amber know? Would MJ really not want to see him again? How did Amber possess the strength to hold him down? What was with the way she acted before she left?

Peter slammed his hand on the kitchen counter in frustration. A dent formed where his fist struck and he sighed, resting his head in his hands in defeat.

Then he heard a distinct beep.

He lifted his head up and wondered what the noise was. Then there was a distinct chiming sound and Peter realized the laptop next to him had powered up. He huffed in surprise. Finally, something worked his way. He flipped open the screen and a list of folders from where he searched earlier were presented to him on screen. He scanned the names of the folders and discovered they were old back stories with none of the information he needed.

He sighed; ready to give up when he remembered how to look up folders viewed most recently. He brought up the list and there was a folder titled, For Peter listed. Peter huffed again, not believing his luck. But what could this possibly be? He clicked on the file inside and it opened an old newspaper article from six years ago from Boston. The headline on the page read:

Husband Grieving Murdered Wife, Mistress the Prime Suspect Turns Up Missing

Below that was an old photo of a young blonde teenager. A teenager that had a striking resemblance to Amber.

Peter stared in shock at the photo, unable to believe it was her. He hit the arrow key and the next headline read:

Mistress Strikes Again, Man Murdered

Peter read the article about the teenage girl named Nancy Baker who was having an affair with a married man who refused to leave his wife for the teenage mistress. Nancy became enraged at the man's betrayal and murdered the wife, according to police. A week later the husband was killed and Nancy was still missing.

It was all starting to make sense now. The murders, the abuse and torture she must have received… she became enraged and psychotic, killing those who betrayed her. Like Widow Maker said she had been a voice of revenge for the hurt and pains she suffered. And she was strong, and she had the venom to destroy people. Amber's grip was strong, and her reaction was very suspicious. Could Amber really be the Widow Maker? Betty was suspicious of her from day one; suspicious enough to do some research and find these articles with pictures that could unmistakably be Amber. But what made Betty forget Amber was behind her attack? Part of the serum? True, he was having trouble remembering some details himself, such as the fact he had left his camera behind, but to forget the entire attack? Had Amber concocted something to make Betty forget? How far stretched was this all?

No more far stretched he supposed, than a grown man climbing walls and shooting webbing from his wrists and dodging bullets, cars and whatever else the baddies managed to throw at him.

Peter's suspicions made his heart pound rapidly as the possibilities came together. He had to be sure, so he found his cell and called Ned. He had to look into the name Nancy Baker and find out everything he could before someone else got hurt.