Intense pain shot through my abdomen.  I stumbled into the bathroom to the medicine cabinet to grab some painkiller.  I grabbed my bottle of acetaminophen, popping pills in my mouth with a small cup of water.  As I set the bottle back into the cabinet, a box, which had been pushed back into the corner, caught my eye.  My pregnancy tests.

I haven't checked recently...

No.  That is ridiculous.  I shut the cabinet door, then headed back into the kitchen uneasily.  It was probably just something I ate the night before.  I had Mexican food.  That type of food always messes with me.

Peter had disappeared two days earlier.  My heart ached in his absence. 

Please be all right.

I sighed, struggling to walk properly.  I finally just sat on the living room couch, giving up for the moment. 

Nick, Tony, and Bruce were all working on Bunlei's bait, but, until then, the wait was agonizing.  I occasionally received updates, but they were all pretty much the same.  I blinked, my focus returning to the present moment as I heard the telephone ring.  I groaned, struggling to stand.  It took me several tries, and, by that time, the call had gone to voicemail. 

I picked up the phone, pressing the button to play the message.

"Peter Parker!  How long do I have to wait for your pictures?"  J. J. Jameson's voice screamed through the receiver.  "I have a Spider-Man article that I am publishing tomorrow, and I still don't have a cover photo!  Get to my office this instant or you're fired!"

I set the phone down, shocked.  Peter's job was on the line, and he wasn't even home!  My medicatoin was finally working, and the pain was bearable, so I searched frantically through Peter's belongings.  I found his camera and a booklet of pictures that he was supposed to deliver to The Daily Bugle.  Although Peter was working at Oscorp, a sidejob for the newspaper was nice.

The booklet contained several pictures of Spider-Man flying through the streets with his webs.  They were amazing quality, and Spider-Man was always in the right place when each photo was snapped.

How ironic.

---

"Well, hello," J. J. Jameson said from his desk as I stepped through his office doors.  "Miss Stacy?  The daughter of the Captain?  So sorry for your loss."  He acted like he cared.

"Thank you," I replied.  "And, with all due respect, sir, it's 'Mrs. Parker.'"

"I knew that psycho married someone, but I didn't realize he married you.  You could have done so much better, dear."

I frowned.  "I personally think it's the other way around."

"Maybe you both are perfect for each other, then.  Both of you are crazy.  Insane."  I forced a smile.  "Anyway," he continued, sighing.  "Why are you here?"

"To bring you Peter's photos," I said, lifting the booklet.

"He couldn't bring them himself?  Hmmm..."

"He's...not available right now."

"Whatever.  Use whatever excuses you want.  Give them to me."  I handed him the photos, and he flipped through them.  "Ah, this one looks good.  He's swinging over a burning building.  Kind of looks like he set the fire, doesn't it?  Well, kind of.  Nothing a little editing can't fix.  That way there's no mistaking that he did it!  Then it'll be perfect."  I left his office before I did something that I would later regret, leaving him to mutter his "evil plans" to himself alone.

---

I returned home to another voicemail about how the bait was almost ready.  They planned to use it either the following day or the day after.  I was glad to finally hear some good news, then began to clean a little.

My medicine wore off a few hours later.  The pain returned, although not as intense, hours after that.  I groaned, reaching for more acetaminophen.  The box caught my eye once again.

Hey, why not?

I pulled the box out of the cabinet, then a single test.  I took it, and then a shiver ran down my back as I held it out in front of me.  It was upside-down, so I did not yet see the result. 

I closed my eyes, thinking of the countless times I had taken one of these.  I had mastered it.  Memories of my discussion with Peter returned to my mind.  If, this time, it was once again a negative, I would go to the doctor. 

If it was negative, would I go to the doctor now?  After all that was going on?  With Peter's disappearance?  With Bunlei's recent actions?  With all the stress that I was going through, could I really take a visit to the doctor at this time?

I doubted it.  Besides, maybe I wouldn't have to make that decision.  Maybe it would be positive, and I could be happy that I would finally get to be a mother.  It could happen.  It was possible.  But the odds?

Not very likely.  Not at all.  After all of the negative results, it was not very possible.  Not the slightest.  Why was I even taking this test, again?

I shook my head, opening my eyes, staring at the upside-down test.  I could throw it away.  Then I would never know.

No.  I was going to look.

I took a deep breath, then flipped it over.

Positive.

Tears came down my face in a downpour.

I should be happy.  Why am I not happy?

But I knew.  As I wiped the endless tears from my face, sobs causing my entire body to shake, I spoke the answer in a pained whisper.

"Peter should be here for this."