The next hour was painfully slow for everyone as the police found the girls with J-Mac's corpse. They called in every sargent and detective in the area for a full investigation, even though the girls had seen everything. The officers asked them to stay up against the garage until they asked about what happened. Peter had left the scene but made himself comfortable on a ledge of a building taller than the surrounding structures. He made sure to keep an eye on things just in case things went bad, like if they ended up getting arrested or something.

The two girls couldn't help but stare at the dead body before them. At times there was a bit of relief in seeing it, and times where they didn't know how to feel. Michelle didn't linger on her thoughts about him, trying to forget anything had happened. It wasn't easy, especially with the body practically begging for her attention. Felicia was certainly glad to be rid of her violator, but she couldn't help but think of all the time she had spent with him. All the time trying to find some happiness in his company, only to end up regretting every moment with him.

"You okay?" Michelle muttered from the blonde's left. Felicia stayed in silence as she begrudgingly nodded with a pair of pursed lips. "I know we're not close," Michelle continued, "but thank you... for what you did."

"Don't mention it" the blonde replied after a moment of hesitation. Michelle gave a small smile at her reply and stayed in silence until an officer approached them to ask questions. They explained what happened and how they were involved in. The officer at one point asked how they knew each other, prompting them to look at each other to find a reasonable answer.

"We have a... mutual friend" Felicia answered, Michelle meanwhile looking up to the ledge a costumed Peter sat crouching. The policeman asked for the "friend's" name and Michelle gave it. The officer paused for a moment, putting together to pieces of knowledge he knew.

"Peter Parker? Related to one May Parker?" Michelle affirmed his question, though she was a bit confused why Peter was now the focus of investigation. It was only when he revealed that Peter was in the hospital seeing his aunt in critical condition that Michelle felt a bit of sadness.

The officer continued to ask Felicia questions, while Michelle looked back up to Peter in deep thought. She wondered why he wouldn't be with May. Why he would rather check on her. Why he continues to stay behind and ignore her fate.

"Are we free to go?" Felicia asked, clearly exhausted from all the questions and having to remember all that had happened in the past six hours. The officer allowed them to go, but to stay in contact in the case of a potential follow-up questioning. The two stroll out of the alley, Felicia slightly limping from some all the hits she had taken.

"What do we do know?" Felicia asks, and Michelle shrugged unknowingly. Suddenly a large red light appeared on the side of a building in a nearby alley. Michelle knew what it meant, as she noticed that the light resembled the Spider-Man mask. "C'mon" she says, assisting her in the direction of the Spider Signal.

They entered the alley and the signal went dark. The girls looked around for their friend and ally just before he lowered himself in an upside-down pose. They walked up to meet him, and Peter flips to his feet, never taking the mask off.

"Hey, you guys okay?"

"Yeah, are you?" Michelle answered.

"Uh, yeah" he confirmed, "just haven't gotten used to the idea of a flying gremlin throwing explosives at me yet."

"Clearly" Felicia cut in, "since I'm the one that saved your heroic ass from said gremlin."

"I had it under control, I just didn't bring my A-game."

"Whatever" she groaned, "just know that you owe me times three."

Peter's lenses when narrow in puzzled expression. "I thought it was only two?" Felicia smirked and raised her arm up to Michelle's shoulder.

"I saved your girl, didn't I?" Michelle's eyes grow interested in what she said as she turned to look at her. Did she just call me Peter's girl? She then shifted her gaze toward Peter, who was desperately trying to hold in the nerves under the mask. Felicia couldn't help but look between the two, knowing that she had said something to make the air cold and awkward.

"OOPSIES" she smiled, "I just made this weirder, didn't I. Silly me, I guess I better make my grand departure." She reached inside her jacket for her grappling hook and fired it up to the roof. "Later lovebirds!" she called down as she zoomed into the air and out of sight.

The two teens reconnected eye contact and Peter couldn't help chuckle. "Heh, she's so playfully with words, isn't she?" he said, trying to shoot down any indication that he had called Michelle "his girl." Michelle was quick to pick up on his embarrassment and calmed him down.

"I don't care about that right know" she assured, "I just wanna know if you're okay?"

"I told you I was" Peter answered, not sure why she would ask a second time.

"I mean about May." Behind the mask, Peter's face drowned as a wave of guilt washed over his mind. "We told the officer that you were a mutual friend and he told us about May" Michelle continued, "and that you were at the hospital with her." She stepped closer, seeing that bringing up the subject made his body behavior all jittery.

"I was" he said softly, not ready to talk about the whole thing, or at least show how much it was affecting him. He bowed his head some, trying to steer his attention away from the approaching Michelle.

"Hey" she said softly, lifting his chin with her right hand. The shape of the lenses of his mask were slightly narrow, indicating to her that he was not in the best emotional state. Behind the mask, Peter worked to find the strength to flutter his eyes open and look at his crush in the eyes. When he finally did, the lenses opened a bit, and Michelle continued caringly "you okay?"

That was it. One look into those beautiful brown eyes, the sight of her friendly warm face, and that was it. Peter felt his pride leave his body, like a tower of cards collapsing to the floor. His breathing went heavy, inhaling rapidly to regain any sense of control he had left of his emotions. Michelle took note of his heavy breathing and pinched a small piece of the mask's fabric and started pulling. Peter reactively reached for her hand, pausing her actions.

"No... please don't" he pleaded, his voice heavily whimpering. Michelle was still in a state of shock from his hand catching hers, but his words brought her back. She brought her left hand to his arm, gracefully rubbing her fingers along his right tri-cep to comfort him. Eventually, Peter couldn't keep her actions in check, and allowed her to pull the mask off his face. When their eyes met, the air was still, and Michelle observed all the emotion clouding Peter's teary eyes.

"What" he managed to say, looking at her with his face exposed.

"Are you okay?" Her gaze piercing straight into his eyes, emphasizing the sincerity of her intentions. Peter shut his eyes once more, holding his last will to maintain composure. "Don't"

"Hey," Michelle continued, raising her hand from his chin to behind his neck, "look at me Peter... are you okay?"

A few sniffles escaped his lips and he felt the muscles in his neck strain from trying to hold himself together. He somberly shook his head and Michelle stepped closer, embracing him in tight hug.

"I failed her..., I failed her just like I failed him!"

The weight of his words stuck Michelle with a wave of sadness that her friend and crush wasn't feeling happy about himself. Plus, it took her off guard to know he had failed someone else other than May. She wondered who that person could be, but kept her focus on the boy crying into her shoulder.

"It's not your fault!" Peter hesitantly hugged her back, as his sniffles turned to a whimpering sob. He tightened his grip on her, just thankful that she was alright in his arms, but still guilty about May. The two stood there, embracing each other as the sun started to break the horizon.

"... it's not your fault."

*** *** ***

Fast forward an hour later, Peter and Michelle have arrived at the hospital and were walking through the front doors. Michelle had to do some convincing in order to get Peter back, as he wasn't sure he was capable of facing another one of his parental figures dying, if that be the endgame. On the cab ride over, she thought in-depth about this aspect of Peter's life. The idea that someone could endure so much loss in their life, yet still find the strength to get past the sadness that comes with it and do good for others on a daily basis. And there was still the lingering question of who he had failed before May. She thought maybe someone he had tried to save in one of his many fights, or someone he had come to know very well in costume, but she never felt sure enough that he would feel so responsible for someone being harmed.

Peter clumsily walked through the hallways, as he had fallen asleep during the cab ride. The kid had been through a lot in one day. From going to the parade, to the picnic and fireworks in the park, to the fight with J-Mac, finishing it all out with the couple hours waiting and sitting by May's side. Top that off with rushing over to save Michelle and crying into her shoulder, he was completely out of energy, and he just slipped into a lazy state that helped him rest. Michelle didn't think much of it for most of the ride, thinking about everything else that she had been through with him and how it would be for them going forward. However, she couldn't help but smile whenever he would give a gentle smile as he rested. Making her at ease that he was finding comfort in such a morbid circumstance.

They entered the elevator and Peter pushed the button for the third floor. His head started to clear a bit as the motion of the elevated brought them up. And if the night hadn't been painful enough already to them, the still silence inside drove that nail home. Peter's kept racing about what would be awaiting him once the doors opened, or when he turned down the hallway, or worse... when he entered her room. Michelle hesitantly reached for his hand and their fingers intertwined tenderly. Peter seemed to feel conflicted about it, as he knew she was just showing how much she cared, yet it also reminded him that she was there to comfort him from the dark thoughts racing through his mind.

The doors opened upon reaching the third floor and Peter guided them to May's room. The door was closed, and Peter couldn't help but sigh in fear of what he might face on the other side. Michelle noticed and asked softly, "Do you want me to go in with you?"

Peter wanted to be rid of this guilt more than anything at the moment. Some part of him hoped that May would just open the door with a glowing smile and bring his sobbing to an end. Or even a nurse with a pitied look, telling him that she had passed, even if it wasn't the outcome he wanted.

"No... I need to face this" he said firmly, but some words still somberly falling through. "But, if you could stay..."

"Yeah sure, anything" she continued, "I'll wait til you're ready."

Peter nodded his head stiffly, and a small smile pulled at his lips, knowing that Michelle would be there with him through this. He hesitantly reached for the door handle and pushed it open. The room seemed vacant, no sounds were heard as he boldly took his first step forward. He paused as he tried to take another step, still terrified of what he would find inside. Michelle slid her hand up his back, stopping at his shoulder to comfort him.

"It'll be okay Peter" she said, "no matter what happens, I'll be here."

The lump in his throat felt like a large ice cube had gotten stuck there, as he bravely walked forward. The stained wood floor creaking a little with each step. The air brushing against his cheeks as he went felt cold, making him think about turning back around and seeing her at another time. But he knew that if he did, he would never forgive himself for looking the other way. That he would be haunted by the thought of his uncle's ghost appearing in his nightmares and cursing him out for not facing the truth, no matter how bad it was. So he kept walking, until he came in view of May's bed.

Michelle felt like she couldn't breath from how hard it was to see Peter take on an uncertain scenario. When he stopped halfway through, she watched for some reaction or look that told of the outcome. She soon found that he just stood still, holding his posture and fixed on the sight in front of him. Michelle could only imagine the type of expression on his face, still and stern, or quivering at the brink of tears. His body behavior didn't give off any signals, which made it difficult for her to read him. She thought about walking up to be with him, but she didn't in respect of his wishes.

It had been fifteen seconds before Peter finally made a motion toward the side of the bed and out of sight from the hallway. He moved normally, but hesitantly, which only sparked Michelle's anticipation. She breathed heavily, knowing that the next time she would see him would be when he was ready to have her by his side. How long would be, she didn't know. All she did know was that she would be there for him no matter what happens, because she truly cared for him.

Maybe she always did have a crush on him in the past ten months, but these past two weeks had brought them closer together. They've learned about each other, they've had fun together, they've made each other laugh and smile. But what stood out to her the most, was the fact that they accepted who each other were. That he's Spider-Man, but mostly a shy little loser that always tried to find something to smile about. She was okay with that, and it only made her life more interesting having a friend as complex as Peter Parker. And for him to accept her as she was meant so much to her. This introvert that mocked everyone around her in the hope of making someone laugh at her sense of humor. Who deep down really wanted to find someone to connect with after losing relationships with her friends in Fresno and her mother, and Peter was the one who noticed and always came back for more. Maybe down the line he could show his best friend Ned the same thing he saw, and they could become a trio of friends. And maybe that's what Michelle hoped for that day she sat next to him on the cafeteria wall on the last day, to make a connection with someone she thought was worth her time and hope something great comes out of it.

She zoned out of her thought when the P.A. system called for a nurse or doctor to report to surgery. It was then that she realized that she had been standing in the middle of the hallway with no purpose other than existing. Feeling quite awkward, she shifted to the wall where she sat down on a small sofa outside May's room. She sat twiddling her fingers and massaging the stress building in her face. She had only been sitting down for half a minute when a figure walked up from the left.

The man had a tray of fries in one hand and a cheeseburger in the other as he took a bite. "Mm, I've bought a lot of things on an impulse" he moaned, speaking to no one in particular, "but I gotta say... this might be the best one yet." Michelle looked up at the man in a black blazer and a gray shirt, and was initially confused at whom she had just laid eyes on. Her first impressions soon faded as she noted the stylish goatee, gelled hair that waved up, and pair of tinted shades over his eyes.

The man turned to her direction and acknowledged her. "Would you like a fry? If you're who I think you are, I'm sure must have had a long night and need something to munch on." The gentleman held out the small tray and Michelle shifted her gaze between it and the courteous gentleman.

"Who do you think I am?" she asked nervously, but still firm enough to be a bit angsty.

"I'm gonna say you're Michelle, since you just walked in holding Mr. Parker's hand."

"I am, but my friends call me MJ, Mr. Stark."

"MJ huh" Tony exclaimed, "odd choice for a nickname. I always imagined an MJ with red hair, but hey, whatever floats your boat kid." Michelle glared at her friend's narcissistic mentor, finding his crack at humor not-so-amusing.

"Whatever, me and Peter are just friends" she argued, "not every girl in a superhero's life has to be their girlfriend. Then again, I am talking to the playboy of all superheroes."

Tony smirked at her little roast and plopped a spot next to her on the sofa. "Seven years ago, maybe, but I'm happy to say that I'm now engaged to a very tolerable, yet wonderful woman, who also is a red-head."

"Sounds like you got a preference there, Stark."

Tony grinned, chuckling under his breath at the comeback. "I had a feeling I'd like you, the kid's always had an intriguing cast of companions." Michelle pursed her lips into a straight line, not really sure how to respond. "Don't get used to it" she replied, and Tony humbly nodded. "How is he?"

"He feels guilty, about the whole thing."

"Yea... that's not uncommon for the kid" Tony replied, Michelle raising an eyebrow to his words.

Why is that? Just because he's... you know" she folded her fingers to resemble Peter spinning a web, " doesn't mean that he has to take all the blame."

Tony thought for a moment, knowing that he really shouldn't reveal something he knew about the kid. However, he did feel that if she was willing to have a friendship with a superhero, then she has to know the baggage that came along with that relationship.

"Has he ever told you why he became who he is?"

"Not really"

"Has he told you how his uncle died?"

Michelle felt her chest feel heavy, realizing that Peter never explained how it happened. Maybe this was the person he had talked about failing earlier.

"No" she muttered, "should I?"

"That's not my call kid, if he wants you to know, he'll let you know."

"If he does, it'll take a while" she said, gesturing to the room on the other side of the wall. "Who knows how long May's recovery will take."

"Oh, I'd say it won't take too much time" Tony commented, placing the tray of fries in-between them. "What do you mean?" she asked, taking a single fry from the tray and raising it to her mouth. Tony didn't say anything, he just sat there smiling at the knowledge he possessed. Michelle studied his smile, wondering why he would have reason to.

"Wait..." she hummed as a thought came to her head, "did something happen?" Tony held his expression as he turned to face the girl, and somehow, a warm fuzzy feeling rose through her body, warming her heart and her cheeks with hope.

"Let's just say that the kid is in good hands" he said, his contented eyes wandering over to the door. Michelle looked to the open door, seeing no one in it, but knowing exactly what he meant. That hopefully there was something to smile about on the other side of the wall.

And just as there was a nice meeting in the hallway, and heartfelt reunion was playing out in the hospital room. With a nephew smiling and shedding a few tears as he gripped the hand of his now awake aunt. She smiled back at him so warmly that he felt that could have warmed the entire building, her skin glowed dimly, but just bright enough to lighten the room. Her heart rate beeped on the machine at a healthy rate, giving Peter more confidence that she was going to be alright. For a boy that initially never wanted to face this head-on, he didn't want it to end now. May was alive, she was okay, and he knew that he was never going to leave her side until she was fully healed.

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A/N- Hey guys, welcome back. Sorry for not posting like I said I would last week, but finals and projects are kickin' my a**. In any case, summer is upon us all, and I will be back to posting regularly.  

This chapter could have gone in any direction, and I needed time to find the right tone and narrative to make it fit nicely in this already long story. But were winding down to the end, and I hope to finish it in 4 more chapters. What will happen in those chapters, you'll have to stick around to find out.

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Leave a vote if you did, and be sure to express your thoughts in the comments.

When's the next chapter, maybe next weekend, but I'll be at Disney World around my usual updating time, so don't be surprised if it comes later. Until next time, BYE!!!