Coffee with Spider-Man

Mary Jane walked into the bistro coffee shop that Peter had setup with her earlier that morning. She was looking amazing. high fashion clothes draped over her body. Her red hair a bit tussled from the New York wind, but otherwise stunning.

She pulled off her expensive sunglasses to get a look at her husband Peter Parker who was pulling out a chair for her.

"You're doing well. I've... uhh... seen the magazine covers... amazing work," Peter said awkwardly.

Peter wasn't doing as well. He had a 5 o'clock shadow on his face. His clothes were disheveled and unkempt. His scruffy appearance looked more like a man who had kind of ignored his hygienic habits.

"Yeah, Nicky has really restarted my career. Got me into fashion shoots, Vogue.."

"Nicky?" Peter asks cutting her off, "so...Katzenberg is still working with you?"

"Look... Peter if you're going to be an asshole about it again, I can just leave now," Mary Jane stated as she grabbed her purse and started to make her way to the exit.

"No!" Peter exclaimed as he rushed to get MJ to sit again. "I mean... I guess if you are doing well, I should thank him... or at least be nice... I am the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man after all...hehe" he chuckled.

MJ didn't laugh but sat back down, "I know you don't like him, but he has done wonders for me... I mean... I'm where I need to be in my business, my career, my life Pete. Do you get that?"

She looked at him seriously. Peter always joked through tough times in life, during fights with bad guys, or even weird moments in his life. It's how he delt with things. MJ knew this but was hoping that her happiness wouldn't be seen as a "battle," or something he could just laugh through.

He nodded. Sincerely.

"Yeah.... I get that... now. I understand."

Peter reached out for MJ's hands, holding them as he spoke to her, "Our relationship... our marriage.... I just didn't know. I didn't know how bad it was for you. Or that .... you needed other things. I thought I was enough."

"Peter... you were enough... until you weren't."

Peter nodded his head. He had to be aware that his shortcomings as a husband and partner to MJ was bound to affect her.

"Hey... remember when we first moved into our apartment... and all the plates broke from the move? And... and how we had pizza boxes for plates for a while until we could save some more?"

MJ laughed, "yeah.... Aunt May really saved us by giving us some of her's."

"Yeah," Pete said with a smile on his face.

"I love you MJ... always... and... and if I need to be better, I will. If I need to do more, I'll do more. I-I-I just... just need you MJ... You're my rock."

Mary Jane, remembering all the history they shared, all the good times, the memories of them together started to cry a bit.

"I love you too Peter... I honestly do."

"Come back MJ.... come back. I promise.... I promise, it'll be better," Parker said as he stared into the eyes of the woman he loved.

Mary Jane was a bit apprehensive, but looked back into Peter's eyes, "Promise?"

"Cross my heart.... hope to die," he replied.

Mary Jane said nothing but nodded her head and followed up with a soft answer, "Okay."

"Okay?! Okay?!" Peter said with exuberance.

He moved the table from between them and hugged her tightly, swinging her around and around in the coffee shop.

"Wa-Hoo! Yes!" Peter said holding a happy Mary Jane.

"That's great! That's great. First... uhh... umm... first... we should go on a date to celebrate.... You know? Like old times.... Somewhere for us.... Whadda ya say?"

"Sure Pete," MJ said smiling, "Whatever you want..."

Mary Jane was grinning, but behind that smile were thoughts of Katzenberg... creeping up in her mind, of how she couldn't be happy with Peter... no matter what. She decided to ignore that and see if she could make it all work anyways. She owed it to Peter and her marriage to try.