"I'm sorry?" Mrs. Stacy cocked her head, crossing her arms.

I shook my head, burying my face in my hands, then I looked back up at her. "It's true."

"But you're far too young to..." She stopped. "And why would I believe you?" She didn't ask it rudely, only in a confused manner.

"Because it's true...I can prove it if you want," I said. I saw a coffee cup sitting on a nearby table, then shot a web to it, and then I was holding it. I handed the cup to her.

Mrs. Stacy's mouth hung open. Then she closed it, accepting the cup. "I admit it, I'm surprised. Does Gwen know?"

"Yes."

"Hmm. How long?"

"Since the night I was here for dinner."

She gave a small laugh, remembering the night. "That explains why you were so uneasy about our discussion about Spider-Man and the car thief."

"Yeah..."

"Why didn't you tell us before?"

"Because he would have arrested me. It wasn't my intention to do any harm, and it still isn't."

"But what about graduation? You still hadn't told us."

"I guess I didn't know how."

"I just can't believe it...my daughter is dating Spider-Man, of all people!" Mrs. Stacy shook her head, covering her mouth. "So why did you decide to tell me now?"

"Because there is something else much more important," I said.

"What is it?"

"Your daughter is Spider-Woman," I cringed as I said it. I hated to watch the emotion flood across Mrs. Stacy's face. I just wanted to kill myself.

"But how?" Tears filled her eyes. I wanted to cry too.

"I was bitten by one of Oscorp's spiders. She made some of her own and made one bite her."

"So you want me to believe that Gwen did this to HERSELF?"

"She did. I didn't know about it. She did it before I knew to stop her."

"I-I don't know...I don't know what to say...except 'why?'"

"She wanted to be like me. I kept breaking up with her because I didn't want her to get hurt. I didn't want my enemies to hurt her. And then she did that to herself so I wouldn't have a choice."

Mrs. Stacy was weeping now. It hurt me inside to see her this way. She fell to the couch, wiping tears away. "But she's not at Oxford..."

"She never went," I told her.

"Where is she now?"

"She's at my house."

"I want to speak with her."

"Yes ma'am."

She and I drove back to my house. Aunt May and Gwen were waiting there, in the living room. Mrs. Stacy melted when she saw Gwen.

They ran to each other in an embrace, then Mrs. Stacy asked to speak with Gwen privately. They went into the guest room, leaving Aunt May and me alone on the couch.