[center][quote=@HenryJonesJr][color=ec008c][b]"If your Peter Parker is anything like mine, he was one of the best. I know the one I know is great. And his Uncle was one of the most decent men I ever had the honor of knowing. I know his motto well. It's one of the reasons I do what I do."[/b][/color][/quote][img]https://i.imgur.com/ZfvPPwT.png[/img][/center][b]Manhattan, New York[/b]

A burst of joy Johnny didn't know he still had in him ran over him. Peter Parker was alive – at least, this world's Peter was. Without thinking, he threw his arms around Spider-Woman's shoulders and hugged her close to him. A smile so broad that it hurt him to maintain it was etched into Johnny's face. Somewhere out there Peter was going about his life like a normal teenaged boy – without worrying about Norman Osborn hurling pumpkin bombs at him or Doctor Octopus crashing his Christmas party at the Daily Bugle.

And then Johnny heard Spider-Woman's words in his head. Not only did she know Peter Parker – she had called him hers. Johnny released Spider-Woman from the hug and then placed his hands on her shoulders. He squinted at her for a few seconds as he began to put the theory in his head together piece by piece. Suddenly a knowing smile appeared on his face.

Mary Jane Watson was Spider-Woman.

It was the [i]only[/i] answer that made sense. Peter and MJ had been together since the beginning of time. There had been another girl on the scene once upon a time, but Johnny couldn't remember her name, and there wasn't a chance in hell that a girl as fierce as MJ would let someone take her man – in this world or the next. The thought of Peter Parker sat at home, waiting for MJ to message him back, while she was on the streets of New York keeping people safe buoyed Johnny's spirits.

[color=#ffffff]He gave Spider-Woman encouraging grin. [/color][color=#ea9999]"You know, I always [i]did[/i] think you'd make one hell of a superhero. Guess I was right, eh, Tiger?"[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Less than twenty-four hours ago, Johnny had been telling Reed and Harrison Wells that if it came down to a choice between their old world, damned as it might be, and the new one they had found themselves in, he wouldn't hesitate. Happy as he was, he wasn't sure that had changed. But the wave of emotions that he'd felt when Spider-Woman had told him she knew Peter gave him pause for thought.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Johnny thought for a second about asking her to take him to see Pete – but it didn't take long to decide otherwise. Chances were Peter was a normal kid here. Well, as normal as any kid that loses their parents [i]and[/i] their surrogate father figure before they're out of high school can be. He didn't need more drama in his life – especially not the spandex-wearing kind.[/color]

[color=#ea9999]"Promise me something,"[/color][color=#ffffff] Johnny said softly as he noticed the police cars assembled at the bottom of the building they were sat on.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]He had no right to ask what he was about to ask – no-one did – but in the maelstrom of grief and anger that had been Johnny's emotions over the past few months, news of Peter Parker had provided a glint of hope. Johnny needed every last bit of that he could get.[/color]

[color=#ea9999]"Promise me that you'll keep him safe,"[/color][color=#ffffff] Storm said solemnly. [/color][color=#ea9999]"There'll come a day when all of this [i]will[/i] reach the ones you love. Try as you might, as long as you're a human being under that mask there's no way of avoiding that. Just ... whatever else happens, you keep him safe. Because the world needs people like Peter Parker in it."[/color]