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(Baxter Building)

Life has thrown her some curveballs, even before Peter. Her mother dying, her sister not learning from their mother's mistakes, the typical stuff one would expect from life. And then, once she was with Peter, she entered into the realm of the impossible and often ridiculous. From dealing with black goo aliens to jealous cat thief girlfriends, course now she understands the appeal of said girlfriend.

But even with all that, this curveball is one she doesn’t know how to take. Mary Jane just stares at Gwen, still having a hard time believing she is alive. She looks exactly like the last time MJ saw her all those years ago. And it is so strange. 

It’s hard to describe what she's feeling right now. There is heartache, that’s for certain. But it’s for the girl in front of her, not for herself. She is trying to imagine what Gwen will go through when she wakes up. She died and the world kept spinning, life had moved on. Devastation is the only thing MJ feels when she places herself in Gwen’s position. Everyone she knew had gone and build lives without her. 

She lowers her eyes to the ground, a wave of guilt washes over her that she knows she shouldn’t feel. Why should she feel guilty? She lived her life the best she could after she lost her best friend. She shouldn’t feel bad for that. Gwen would have wanted that.

Then again, Gwen would have wanted to have been here all this time to live a life with them all. MJ closes her eyes and imagines the life that Gwen would have had, had she lived. MJ sees her graduating Summa cum laude, if Peter still quit college or his other duties got in the way. That graduation walk transitions to her walking down the aisle in a beautiful wedding dress. Her uncle or one of her cousins escorting her to the man waiting at the end. Peter Parker.

Her and Peter would have been happy, more than happy. She sees them with not just one, but two little girls. And they would have been close. Like MJ and Gwen. Just like they were before she died. Butting heads but still being the best of friends. MJ would have been a part of their lives, a big part. Like an aunt to Peter and Gwen’s kids. She’d have been happy for them both, even if it hurt at times. She would have put on a smile to hide the pain.

She opens her eyes again and looks at her resurrected friend. That was what was waiting for them if things had played out like they were supposed to. MJ’s career would have taken off even faster and better than before. Because she had to force herself to work even harder to bury the pain of losing Peter. It is both a tortuous and beautiful life that could have been.

Gwen would have wanted to been here to live her life with Peter. Maybe that’s why MJ feels guilty. Because she knew that the life she had with Peter was the one Gwen was supposed to have. Instead, the supermodel had gotten that life with Peter.

MJ sighed, recalling the reality that had played out instead. She and Peter had lived a life where she had to lie to almost everyone she knew to be with him. They never made it down the aisle, though God knows they'd come close. She was at the alter, but he never showed. Which was going to be the theme of their entire marriage. She was going to wait for him to show up, and always worry whether or not he would.

Her career had flourished despite—or perhaps because of—the chaos. The constant emotional whiplash had given her performances a depth that directors noticed. Her first major breakthrough came during one of their "off" periods, when she channeled that heartache into a role that earned her critical acclaim. The irony wasn't lost on her—success built on the foundation of personal turmoil.

Their relationship had been a series of passionate reunions and heartbreaking separations, each leaving scars that never quite healed before the next cycle began.

And that’s just this life. In that other one…

And yet, despite everything she is feeling right now, she knows it is nothing compared to what Peter is going through. Because Gwen is just the icing on the cake of crap he is dealing with.

Her thoughts are interrupted when the hiss sound of the doors opening draws her attention to her romantic partner, Felicia, walking in with food and drinks. And she is not alone. Alongside her is Sue with a tablet and her brother Johnny. Though why he’s here, Mj can venture a guess based on the annoyed look Felicia has on her face.

“Let it go, Storm.” Felicia says, her platinum blonde hair partially covering her face as if to hide her growing exasperation.

"Come on, Cat," Johnny persists, following her with the casual confidence that only Johnny Storm could muster in the face of such obvious irritation. "You can't expect me to believe that Parker—my best friend, the guy who wears sweater vests unironically—somehow convinced not just you, but a supermodel/actress and some sword-wielding warrior woman to all date him simultaneously."

"Believe whatever you want," Felicia replies coolly, handing MJ one of the sodas she brought. "I don't owe you an explanation."

MJ accepts the drink with a grateful nod, the cold condensation a welcome distraction against her palm. "Still at it, huh?" she asks, her voice low enough that only Felicia can hear.

"He's been following me since the cafeteria," Felicia mutters, settling into the chair beside MJ's. "I'm considering throwing him out a window."

Sue approaches Gwen's bedside, tablet in hand as she checks the various monitors. "No change in her neural patterns," she reports, fingers sliding across the screen. “Her physiological readings are stable, but she's still in a deep coma state."

"Any idea when she might wake up?" MJ asks, her eyes drifting back to Gwen's peaceful face.

Sue shakes her head. “No, I’m sorry.” She says sincerely, “What Miss Stacy is going through, it’s the same process that newborns go through but obviously with vastly different circumstances.”

“What do you mean?” Felicia asks for MJ.

“Well, you know how newborns sleep constantly?” Sue inquires and they nod in response, “Well, the reason for that is because of all the stimuli the babies’ minds are adjusting to. Its basically like that, except in Miss Stacy’s case, she is a full grown adult woman. Her mind is not only coming to terms with being alive again but, if what Reed told me Miss Grey said is true, then she is also having to process remembering being dead.”

Remembering being dead. At first, MJ did not understand that entirely until Peter said that Jean meant Gwen remembers the afterlife.

Mary Jane always considered herself spiritual rather than religious. She always believed in God, but she was never devout. Growing up, her family attended church sporadically at best—usually on Easter or when her aunt was visiting. But faith had been an abstract concept—until she'd met the devil himself.

Mephisto.

It was difficult to deny the existence of heaven when you'd looked into the eyes of hell. The memory of him still haunted her—that smug smile, those burning eyes that seemed to see through every defense. Mephisto had made it impossible to maintain the comfortable ambiguity that had characterized her spiritual life. He had taken something precious from her and Peter, something he cannot remember completely, but she does. She remembers it all since day one. Sometimes she'd wake gasping from dreams of a life they never lived, yet somehow had.

How could one encounter evil so tangible and not believe in its opposite?

She'd spent many nights since then wondering what lay beyond. Not just in moments of existential crisis, but in quiet reflections about Peter, about the risks he took daily, about the fragility of life in their extraordinary world. Faith had become her silent companion during those sleepless nights when Peter was late coming home, when the news showed footage of Spider-Man being thrown through buildings.

She looked at Gwen's peaceful face and wondered what lay behind that serene expression. What had Gwen experienced in death? Was it the pearly gates and golden streets of Sunday school lessons? The peaceful void some philosophers described? Or something entirely beyond human comprehension?

The thought of Gwen remembering paradise—and being ripped away from it—made MJ's heart ache. What would it be like to experience heaven's perfect peace, only to be thrust back into the messy, painful world of the living? To trade eternal bliss for mortality's burdens?

Her musing is shattered when Johnny slides up next to Felicia, and asks. "Is it some kind of shared arrangement? Time-share? Every other weekend?"

"Johnny!" Sue admonishes.

Johnny throws his hands up. "What? I'm trying to understand the impossible here. This is like finding out the Hulk enjoys needlepoint or Doom has a soft spot for kitten videos."

All three ladies roll their eyes in exasperation. "He's not juggling anything," Felicia tells him. "We're all adults who made a choice. End of story."

“It’s really not that complicated.” MJ adds.

"That's what everyone says when they don't want to explain," he counters.

MJ sighs, more tired than annoyed. "Fine," MJ relents, exchanging a glance with Felicia. "It has to do with Sonja being inside me for years, Peter's death changing our perspectives, and him having the biggest heart of anyone I've ever known. Satisfied?"

Johnny blinks, processing this information with visible disappointment. “That’s it?” He questions them, “No hypnosis or blackmail or pitying?”

Again, all three of them give the man flat looks, "Sorry to disappoint," Felicia deadpans.

MJ watches as Johnny grumbles and crosses his arms over his chest.

"It just doesn't make sense.” He starts up again, “Peter Parker—the guy who once spent three hours explaining to me why the original Star Trek was superior to Next Generation—somehow landed in a relationship with three women who all know about each other and are cool with it."

"I think what my brother is trying to say," Sue interjects diplomatically, "Is that he's jealous."

"I am not jealous," Johnny protests, though MJ can see right through it. "I'm... curious. As a pseudo-scientist."

“Pseudo-scientist?” Sue dryly questions him.

Johnny nods, “Yes, pseudo-scientist. Most of my time is spent on missions for science.”

Well, nobody can argue with that.

Mary Jane sighs and says, "Look, if it makes you feel better, I could set you up with one of my model friends."

Johnny's interest is piqued immediately, his earlier frustration evaporating. "Which one? The blonde from your perfume shoot? The twins from the Sports Illustrated spread?"

MJ considers for a moment, tapping her finger against her soda can. "Amanda. You know, the one who did the Calvin Klein billboard on 42nd Street?"

Johnny's eyes widen with recognition. "Wait, the double-jointed one with the—" He makes a vague gesture with his hands.

"Double D's? Yes," MJ confirms with a nod before she gets a sheepish look, “Though her cup size matches her IQ.”

"So she's hot and dumb as a post," Johnny summarizes, clearly debating the pros and cons. “I dunno, MJ, I’m kinda insulted here.”

"Uh-huh," she says, her expression amused, yet unconcerned. "Just let me know if you'd like a sympathy date."

Johnny ponders it for dramatic effect but cracks under his own enthusiasm. "Fine. Set it up. But I'll have you know, I'm doing this to prove the depths of your underestimation of her."

"Right," MJ says dryly. "Let me know how that works out."

As he exits, Sue shakes her head fondly. "I apologize for him. Thirty-five going on fifteen."

"We're used to men like that," MJ says with a small laugh. "We date Peter, remember?"

The three women share a moment of levity before falling silent again, the steady beep of Gwen's monitors the only sound in the room. MJ's gaze drifts back to her friend's peaceful face, wondering what dreams might be playing behind those closed eyelids.