Chapter Text
Peter had everything set for the night. Dinner for two at the fanciest restaurant he could afford. Champaign on ice with the ring in Mary Jane’s glass. The waiter led him to his seat as he waited patiently for his soon to be fiancée.
Things felt so great for him and Spider-Man as of late; the people were warming up to him. They’ve been putting his face on T-shirts and treating Spider-Man as someone to look up to. Now, tonight was the night to propose the Mary Jane. Then maybe she’ll forget that poor review from that awful critic.
He was practicing being surprised when Mary Janes walked in the room dressed in a black evening gown and cardigan. He goes and greets her with a hug and tells her she looks great. She took her seat across from Peter as he smiles goofily at her.
“This place in your budget?” she asked trying to muster a smile. Peter had no idea she had been let go from Broadway. And now she was pretty sure she sounded condescending.
“Well, tonight’s a special occasion,” Peter said as he laughed lightly, “and you’re on Broadway.”
“I don’t feel like such a star tonight.” MJ said hoping that Peter would notice her mood and ask her why she was feeling down. She needed to lean on someone right now after being fired, not being stuck in an upper-class restaurant witch she’s sure Peter could barely able to afford. Surrounded by judgmental people.
“But you are a star and you’ve earned it,” Peter said sickly sweet.
“Peter… you have no idea how I feel right now.” She spoke in a whispered disappointment. Did Peter want her to say she’s fired point blank in front of all these people?
“Of course, I do,” he said giving her a bit of hope. “I know exactly how you feel.” Then that hope crashed and burned to ash with his next words. “Listen I know how you feel, it happens to me all the time. I see Spider-Man posters in the window. Kids running around with me on their sweaters. I’m thinking to myself I’m just a nerdy kid from Queens, don’t I deserve this.”
And there he went again, trying to turn her feelings into about Spider-Man, about himself. Trying to hide his ego into an encouraging solution to all her problems. Like she was just supposed to brush off the criticism, like it wasn’t why she got fired. Just like when her father would call her everything under the sun next to worthless.
Then, just like her feelings, Peter looked past her. Mary Jane looked over her shoulder, and then she saw a young-looking blond in a blue dress and purse. She appeared to be looking for some one when she caught Peter’s gaze.
The blonde plastered on an awkward smile as she waved slightly and then a look of recognition was geared toward them both. She shimmed her way over and greeted them, “Hi, Peter Parker, right?”
“That’s right. Mary Jane this Gwen Stacy. She’s in my science lab partner. Gwen Stacy this is Mary Jane Watson.”
“Watson? Oh, you wouldn’t happen to be the same actress that had a showing on Broadway the other day, would you?” Gwen’s smile grew wide with anticipation while she offered Mary Jane her hand in greeting. Mary Jane did her best to not feel jealous as Peter spoke up.
“That’s her, she’s my star, but her last review has kind of got her down.” Mary Jane fought the urge to strangle Peter right then and there. How dare he tell a complete stranger something so personal. Gwen gave pensive look for a moment.
“Broadway is pretty cut throat, not just anybody can get into it.” Gwen said with apparent knowledge. “My mother was a producer and she just so happen to be a fan of yours Ms. Watson. In fact, you’re the only up and coming star I’ve seen her get excited about in a long time.”
“Really?” Mary Jane said genuinely surprised and Gwen nodded in affirmation.
“Yeah, you see your successful!” Peter gushed. “Just like Spider-Man.” Was Peter trying to steal her thunder? This was the best news she heard all day and he wants to inject Spider-Man into the conversation, again?!
“Spider-Man’s a glory hound.” Someone enters into the room. He had dirty blond hair slicked back and combed. He was encompassing and broad, the black tux jacket shaping his muscular frame, but not to the point of distracting. He stood higher than Peter and had a wide face for someone so young.
“You probably know that since you take his pictures of him, don’t ya Greenhorn?” He said directing his question to Peter.
Peter looked shocked; this guy was the one that got fired at the Bugle before Peter got his job. “You’re-”
“Eddie!” Gwen said excitedly, “You know Peter Parker?” Gwen practically flew to Eddie like he was a magnet. He smiled sweetly at the young woman and wrapped his arms Gwen as he oozed smugness at the fact Gwen was, his and no one else’s.
“Eddie Brock.” The man said as he shook Mary Jane’s hand first and then Peter’s “We met once a couple years ago.” Eddie gripped Peter’s hand tightly, “I did realize this was the same guy helping you with your science classes.” He said eyes cutting at Peter as he let his hand go. Then Eddie looked back to Gwen softly. “Anyways, sorry I’m late, I couldn’t figure out what to wear.”
“Oh Eddie, you look good in anything, you could have come in with slacks and tennis shoes and I wouldn’t care.” Gwen told him affectionately and then spoke back to Peter and Mary Jane, “Eddie’s my grade school Sweetheart. We got married a year ago out of state, and we’re going to tell my parents the big news!”
It was then, Mary Jane noticed the modest looking ring on Gwen’s hand. A simple silver band, easy enough to afford, nothing flashy. Mary janes then noted the almost devastated look Peter had written on his face. Feeling a bit vindictive she asked, “so what’s the big news?”
“We’re going to be parents,” Gwen said vibrantly as she hung on Eddie. The tall man caught Peter’s face fall as he smiled back. Gwen didn’t seem to notice Peter’s demeanor shift as she continued glowingly, “that’s kind of why I’ve been flunking science class; so, your boyfriend here’s been a big help with catching me up.” She then turned to her husband and added, “oh. That reminds me, Eddie-bear, do you still have a pen and pad on you?”
The man dug in his pockets and pulled out the items and gave a flirtatious mock bow to his wife and winked, “always my sweet.” She thanked him kindly and began scrawling on the pad. Tearing the paper, she handed it to Mary Jane.
“What’s this?” Mary Jane asked confused as she took the piece of paper.
“These are numbers you can call if those Broadway hack reviewers give you problems. Also, my number and my mother’s, she will totally vouch for you, and is always wanting to help out great talent. I’m also a makeup artist for models and brides; so, if you want to outshine the competition, call me.”
Eddie let out a small chuckle tilted down and spoke softly to Mary Jane, “she also knows how put together a great wardrobe without breaking the bank.”
“Thanks, I’ll take that into consideration.” Mary Jane said still unsure about the whole thing as she put the paper in her purse.
“No problem, we need all the friends we can get in this town.” Gwen said confidently as she bid good bye to the couple. Brock tossed another scowl over his shoulder towards Peter as he and Gwen left. But now Peter was facing his angry girlfriend.
“How come you never mentioned her?” she whispered in anger. Green eyes ablaze. "Are you trying to push me away?"
“What do you mean push you away?” He said staring at her like an oblivious fool. “Mary Jane you’re my girlfriend.”
“You know exactly what I mean! The way you looked at her, do you give looks like that to all your lab partners?”
“No, M.J. she’s just a girl in my class, she needed my help; I didn’t know she was…” Peter stuttered.
“Well, you looked pretty upset when you found out. Are you trying to push me away?”
“Push you away, why would I want to push you away?! She’s just a girl in my class; you’re my girlfriend. I love you, M.J.”
Her chair scooted as she got up from the table, “I don’t feel very well… I’m sorry I have to go.” She had enough right now. She needed to leave.
“Where are you going?” Peter cried as he chased after her. With the waiter walking toward them and Peter signaling no as he chased M.J. down.
“Please don’t follow me…” M.J. told him looking back and then walked out the restaurant.
A few weeks had passed, Mary Jane decided to take up Gwen’s offer, and it worked. She was setting to get her job back. Mary Jane was at a photoshoot with Gwen and as she was doing her make up Gwen brought something to her attention.
“Hey, Mary Jane, I’ve been meaning to apologize to you. Back at the restaurant, I think I gave off the wrong impression. I’ve been told I’m too nice for my own good sometimes, and I hope didn’t make a mess of yours and Peter’s relationship.”
“No, It didn’t, I was just having a bad evening and Peter was making it about himself.” M.J. told her half-heartedly.
Gwen nodded in understanding, “I see. You know, in class you’re all Peter talks about, it reminds me of Eddie, honestly.” She said smiling as she was putting the finishing touches on her make up, “It’s how you a guy loves you, when they look at you or talk about you like you’re the only person in the world who knows them. They don’t see your flaws, they see you.”
“That’s sweet, Gwen, but I think I have some competition when it comes to Peter.” Spider-Man, Mary Jane thought bitterly.
“Well, we all make sacrifices for the people we love, maybe Peter and you have to do the same.” Gwen told her as she put her make up case away, “all done, now for some pictures.”
Everything happened to fast. The crane, the building breaking and now Gwen and Mary Jane were dangling from the edge. Gwen’s husband was trying to use a window washing scaffolding to grab Gwen as Spider-Man got Mary Jane and others to safety, he was going back for Gwen and Eddie Brock the scaffolding wire got cut from some of the torn metal beams and Gwen lost her grip.
Spider-Man’s web caught her by the ankle and as the web tightened there was a sickening Snap. Gwen Stacy-Brock went limp as firefighters brought her down the rest of the way. Once Eddie Brock was safely back on the ground he rushed to his wife as the EMTs tried to resuscitate his wife. But it was too Late.
Gwen Stacy-Brock was Dead.
Eddie then collapsed as he saw his wife being cover and carried off. He then let out a gut-wrenching wail as his father-in-law place a hand on his shoulder. Spider-Man stood nearby by as he looked in shock and tried to figure out what to say.
Eddie saw Spider-Man and he charged at him, screaming, “You! Do you know what you’ve done, you took my family! You’re no hero you’re a murderer!” Spider-Man quickly swung away as some officers were trying to stop any more anguish that day.
When Mary Jane arrived to Peter’s apartment, all he could do was cry into her shoulder.