Peter had some downtime after the prison break, nothing of note was happening the past couple of days, besides the lumming reality of graduation coming closer and a visit to see Liz Allen in prison to tell her about seeing Mark, her brother during the prison break. "Hey, Liz." He said coming in, sitting with her.

"Hey, it's nice to see you. I'm glad people are still coming to check up on me." She said with a smile.

"Well of course, I wouldn't ever forget about you. Honestly wish I came sooner, but life's been pretty crazy. You know, the whole Spidey thing. So many bad guys." He said, keeping his voice down.

She laughed softly. "Yeah, I understand that. That prison break going down must've been insane. Did you happen to see Mark at all?"

Peter nodded. "Yes I do and he was alright. Told me he missed you and how much he loved you. It was nice to see him and that he was doing well."

"Thank god, I was so worried about him. I appreciate you taking the time to check up on him and me. You know Flash has come to, very sweet of him. I've been happy to see him come by weekly." She replied.

"Wow, Flash came by that much? That is pretty nice."

"How are you doing? You know, with the crazy super villains knocking you around and nasty thugs?" She then asked interested.

Peter chuckled softly. "It's not been too bad, besides it turning out a friend of mine from my work turned out to be a criminal mastermind."

"Seriously?"

"Oh yeah, pretty crazy." Peter responded and caught her up on everything with The Crime Master situation.

Liz was completely surprised. "Wow, that's one heck of a story. Sounds like you got your hands full with that and graduation."

The guards let everyone know, the time was almost up.

"Well, my life is full of surprises. I guess we should wrap up for now huh?"

She nodded in agreement. "It was nice to see you Peter. Tell everyone I miss you all and hopefully I'll be out of the slammer sooner than later."

"You will, someone with all the good behavior you have, they'd be crazy to not let you out as soon as possible!"

"Thank you Peter." She smiled.

"See you again soon, Liz. It's not the same, I wish I told you about me being Spider-Man, maybe that could've changed everything." Peter replied.

Liz shrugged. "Maybe, but that's in the past now. Don't blame yourself."

He nodded and smiled at her before making his leave.

The next day came, a school day. Graduation wasn't even really on his mind considering everything happening with his visit to Liz and the current problem of Ned Leed's plans against the Kingpin, he figured it'd be any day now until he'd finally strike. It wasn't even clear if he was aware of where Fisk was held up, nobody else was for certain about it.

Until something more came, he decided on talking to MJ, Harry and even Gwen again about the incoming graduation. It'd be nice having the gang together again.

"It feels nice having all of us together!" Peter expressed happiness about it.

"Sure does!" Harry winked at Peter, thinking he was being semi sarcastic.

Gwen nugged him sensing it. "It does feel nice being back, it wasn't enjoyable being alone, but we needed to work things out. That was very important."

"And I'm just happy to be here." MJ joked. "It feels weird not being at this school for very long and already talking about graduation, can't believe it."

"Yeah, it's been a weird year. I wish Liz Allan was still here to graduatiate." Peter remarked with a frown.

MJ grabbed his hand and looked at him, her face told him it wasn't his fault and that he needed to stop blaming himself.

Harry and Gwen didn't read this and just noticed the hand holding.

"Are you two finally together?" Harry asked bluntly.

Gwen nugged him again. "A little blunt don't you think?" She whispered to him.

"Oh yeah, I didn't miss all that nugging." He muttered to himself.

Peter and MJ looked at each other. "We're not, totally." They said together.

With a sly look Harry nodded. "Right, right."

"Anyways, what are you planning on doing after graduation Mary Jane?" Gwen asked.

She thought for a moment. "Honestly, I'm not sure. I've been thinking about it a lot, I've had some ideas but not certain. Think I'll just be going to ESU with Peter and see what'll happen there. I have to figure something out there right?"

"Cool you both will be together!" Harry exclaimed with a wink.

"Okay, Harry, how about you share with the group what you'll be doing?" Peter suggested looking at him with a smirk.

Harry leaned back in his chair. "Going to ESU too and not sure about what else I'll be doing, who knows or cares."

"I care, you know." Gwen replied. "Well sounds like we're all going to ESU. I personally know I'm going to continue my studies into science."

"That's great Gwen, I'm thinking of doing the exact same. And I have a semi idea of what I could do. I'm split on it, either try to apply at a lab like Horizon Labs or maybe even try my luck at being a science teacher. I just know, working at the Bugle isn't something I want to keep on doing." Peter admitted.

MJ looked over at him. "Agreed, you've got a lot of potential and you'd be an awesome teacher to some lucky students." She smiled at him.

"Thanks MJ, I'm just happy we're all going to ESU together." He said cheerfully.

Then, Flash Thompson came over. "Oh great, all of you are going to ESU? Me and all my buddies and I are going there too!"

Gwen shook her head at Flash's bad grammar.

While Peter's head fell to the table in front of him. "Oh, goodie."

"Looks like you're not rid of me yet little Parker!" Flash exclaimed, laughing to himself walking off to his friends to tell them.

"More things change, they stay the same right?" Peter said, rolling his eyes at his friends and kept his head to the table. "Joy to the world. Maybe I'll just stay glued to this table, can't be as bad as that right?" He joked.

MJ shook her head at him. "I'm sure he'll grow up by then. Right?"

"I'm glad you're feeling more optimistic than I am." Peter replied with his head down.

"Aww, Flash isn't that bad of a guy you know. Though I don't understand what the heck he sees in Spider-Man." Harry said, shrugging.

"Hey, he's a pretty nice person you know, my dad's worked with him." Gwen replied.

Harry shut his mouth and Peter looked awkward trying not to bring attention to hearing that, ironically more likely to bring attention to himself in that way.

Fortunately the bell rang to end this now awkward moment.

"Well, looks like back to class then." Peter said getting up and rushed off.

"Glad to see Peter is as strange as ever." Gwen remarked.

Harry nodded. "Totally agreed, ah but still can't help but love the guy, he's my best friend after all and we're all friends." He said, not exactly sure what he was getting at.

The three of them waved to each other and went to class.

Later into the day after school had ended Peter met up with MJ first wanting to have a chat to themselves first before Gwen and Harry came along too.

"It feels so weird hanging around with both of them, I've always known them technically speaking, but now it feels like we're becoming a real friend group." MJ said happily.

"We sure and that's pretty neat!" Peter agreed cheerfully. "It's nice having the gang back together and having something going on besides having my butt kicked around town, still can't believe Ned Leeds organized a breakout." Peter said with a lowered voice.

"Yeah, it was very bold. He's gotta be reaching his endgame soon right?" MJ pondered.

Peter looked at her agreeing. "As long as he doesn't ruin graduation, it can't be that destructive right?" He joked.

"Right you are." MJ replied, rolling her eyes at him playfully.

Then they spotted Harry and Gwen chatting away quite seriously about something.

"I can't believe you like pineapple on pizza! I can't believe it either. I forgot that somehow it seems pretty critical!" Harry exclaimed, shocked.

Gwen shook her head laughing at him. "I did miss the little weird things you'd freakout over Harry."

"Little things? That isn't so little I'll have you know, you guys are with me right?" He asked looking over at his friends, who both put their hands up opting out.

"Some pals I got!" Harry said sarcastically.

"Pineapple isn't really that bad." MJ admitted.

Peter glanced over at her carefully. "Really?" He asked, concerned.

"No of course not, sorry Gwen not a fan of it. Everyone has their own tastes though of course." MJ said, shrugging.

"Oh thank heavens, nearly scared me half to death!" Peter joked.

"Feeling like I'm getting ganged up on." Gwen said with an eye roll.

Harry pulled her close. "We gang up because we love you." He said sweetly and kissed her. "Now it's your turn!" He said looking over at Peter and MJ with a big old wink.

"How about some other time maybe pal?" Peter replied and looked over at MJ, who nodded in agreement to that.

Harry looked disappointed. "One of these days you crazy kids, one of these days."

"Perhaps we should get going, MJ and I?" He suggested.

Which she agreed to as they both started to walk off.

"Are you two really going to leave me alone with him?" Gwen joked.

Both Peter and MJ nodded in unity, walking over laughing to themselves.

They left the school grounds, deciding on walking home today so they could talk on the way there and spend some quality time together.

"Harry really is wanting us to get together isn't he?" Peter remarked laughing at thinking of his friend.

"He means well. If something does end up happening between us, we should let it take its time. It'll make it more special in the long run then. My aunt Anna would say something like that, don't know if it'd apply to us however." She replied, smirking at him.

Peter laughed. "Yeah, your aunt isn't a fan of mine. Though I do have to confess, I believe my aunt is rooting for us too. Looks like we've got a lot of cheerleaders on our side, less against. Go for us!"

"Really? That's adorable she is, I do love your aunt May a lot. Wonderful lady, one of the sweetest over that's for certain!" MJ replied happily.

"Couldn't agree more, MJ!" Peter said and then his spider-sense went off.

They both got grabbed and pulled into an alleyway, it was Mary Jane's father who once again had arrived to cause trouble.

"Dad!? What are you doing!?" MJ shouted furiously.

"I'm sorry Mary Jane, I needed to see you." He replied calmly.

Peter attempted to act surprised. "Your father? MJ what's happening? I don't want any part of what's happening I swear mister."

Her father stared at him. "I know exactly who you are, stop trying to play stupid. Spider-Man. This is between my daughter and I. Our futures need to be secured!" He raised his fist to smack him.

Forantely for Spidey, it was easy enough to escape his foe's grasp and got loose kicking him into a wall making a dent.

"Run MJ!" He exclaimed and grabbed his mask, putting it on, then started to take over his shirt revealing his spider suit. "Good thing I was wearing this! How uncomfortable and sweaty it was!"

"Dad, please don't hurt him! I care about him! He means everything to me!" She exclaimed desperate to help Peter and avoid the fight.

"Aww you feel that way?" Peter replied looking over at her and then avoided Looter leaping at him trying to hit him once again. "I was trying to have a moment!"

"I don't care about your moment, I'm taking my daughter and you won't be interfering anymore with my family!" He shouted.

Peter sighed. "Please I don't want to fight you, I just want what's best for Mary Jane, just like you. Both of us want the same thing!"

"I want to take my daughter and be the father I wasn't, that isn't the same!" He exclaimed and rushed at Spider-Man, who webbed up his face so he couldn't see.

Peter turned back to MJ. "Please, you have to go! Tell you what better idea, I'll take you out of here! Then I don't have to fight him!"

"Okay, let's hope I'll not throw up." She grabbed hold of him.

Her dad ripped off the webbing on his face looking pretty mad.

"Oh boy, time to go." He jumped up into the air starting to swing off as Looter chased them close behind. "Looks like your dad isn't happy at all with me! Do you have any ideas on what to do here? He's pretty cranky."

"Lure him away and make him think he's lost us. Then maybe you can follow him to hopefully where Crime Master is?" She suggested.

"Great idea!" Peter replied and started doing his best to hide moving fast as possible away from Looter, while keeping a general idea of where he was.

"Oh I'm not feeling so great!" MJ exclaimed from the swinging.

"Sorry about that!" Peter said and found a pretty responsible hiding spot and ducked in with MJ held on tight.

Her father came right by them and didn't spot them. "Where did you go?" He questioned allowed in ear shot of them and then started to speak to someone else it appeared. "Alright, alright. I'll be there to help."

He rushed off and as he did, Peter turned to MJ.

"That doesn't sound good, I've gotta follow him. I'm sorry I'll put you onto the ground and then I've gotta go. So sorry." Peter said, rushing her to the ground.

"It's okay, just get to the bottom of whatever he'll do next. They could be hurting people and know you can't let it happen." She said, looking at him.

Peter nodded and rushed after Looter, who seemed to have gotten more agile since their last encounters.

After a few minutes of careful presusing, The Looter launched himself through a wall making a hole in it. Gunfire could be heard inside of what sounded like a club, which was unusual one would be open during the middle of the day.

Spider-Man watched the joint over and decided on hopping in though the hole having his legs knock back Looter once again. Then noticed a bunch of goons. "Oh, hey guys, what are we up to?"

They started firing at Spidey, who started to fight back against his foes, opening fire, beating them all back.

While he did, Looter ripped open a door heading into a room and grabbed someone throwing them to the ground. "I've got him. Where's the Kingpin!" He shouted.

Spider-Man finished up with the goons and webbed onto Looter pulling him towards himself knocking him down. "I see, your after Kingpin huh? What were you going to bring your daughter to all this chaos? What exactly are you thinking here? Mustn't be anything relevant at all! You clearly have to be brain dead!" Peter said, smacking him some more, getting quite angry at him. Peter took a breath calming down and webbed him to the ground seeing he was beaten for now, then turned his attention to the guy he wanted to question so violently.

"Hello there, my name is Spider-Man and I'm not feeling in as much of a funny mood as usual, who are you?" He questioned getting in the guy's face.

"I work for Kingpin, he's in hiding after what you did. We've been underground, but this Crime Master guy is hell bent on finding the boss. He'll kill him if he ever finds Kingpin, we're not prepared for this kind of battle."

So the battle's on then, wonderful. "Tell me where your boss is and maybe, just maybe I'll be able to protect him, as much as I'd rather not."

"No way! I'd cut my tongue out before I tell you skwat!" He exclaimed.

"Oh, how morbate. Let's not go that far." Peter replied and turned around noticing Looter had escaped. "Oh come on!" Peter rushed outside, not able to find him. Now how the heck did he do that? Great, just great. Must've faked being down for the count. Looks like we'll be meeting again soon, Kingpin's time is almost out. Can't believe yet again, I've gotta be the one to save that thug after everything. Away I go into an uncertain future, always fun.

Thank you for reading, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, apologies if the opening was a bit jarring with the cutting around at the start. After rewatching Spectacular Spider-Man with my partner (first time for them) I felt pretty bad about the way I treated Liz in this series, I forgot how much I liked her in that series and I honestly wish Peter ended up with Liz. Part of me even feels like I should've made her the love interest of this series instead of MJ. It would've been an interesting change and I do regret it sometimes going in the obvious direction. (Along with one of the only reviewers wanting that outcome)

Apart from that, this chapter was mostly setting up the next 2 more exciting chapters which will be the last two of The Crime Master arc.