What If: Whence Came The Spider - Chapter IV free porn video

Although I'm not happy with the idea, this may be the last chapter. There's still plenty of story to be told, but it's not easy getting enthused about writing a story when you get almost no indication the story is being read. It seems time - past time, in fact - to leave the "What If" world behind. What If: Whence Came the Spider - Chapter IV By Bill Hart I am Uatu the Watcher of this particular section of the multiverse. Welcome back once again to this one of many realities. As you surely must recall, in this aspect of reality, young Pamela Parker, who was born Peter Parker and male, is more readily known as the Amazing Spider-Woman. It was young Peter that was bitten by a massively irradiated spider that gave him not only her agility and proportionate strength, but her female gender as well. J. Jonah Jameson continues to torment young Pamela. He'll never stop. The editor of the Daily Bugle sees her as some menace threatening all of mankind. Yet only a few others see her as he does. At the same time, Pamela, now aided by her daughter Fawn Thompson, who was herself previously known as Eugene 'Flash' Thompson, takes the most spectacular and amazingly fantastic photographs imaginable. Both young girls take great pride in selling their pictures to he they call Jolly Jonah or sometimes Chuckles in order to make a living. Even saving the life of John Jameson, test pilot and astronaut son of J. Jonah Jameson, failed to mollify her tormentor. Instead of easing up on the girl that had saved his son's life, Jameson's printed and verbal attacks intensified. To Pamela's chagrin, even May Parker, her widowed aunt, had somehow come to believe that Spider-Woman was the menace Jameson claimed her to be. After saving John Jameson, Pamela had kissed him. She wasn't exactly sure why she'd done it; she just had. And yet, as a result of that kiss, feelings and needs that must soon be satisfied had begun their awakening. She'd felt the initial stirrings at the first sight of his picture sitting on his father's desk. Pamela doesn't know how John defended her to his father. He'd said nothing to anyone about Spider-Woman kissing him after she'd rescued him. Even now, her kiss still haunts him. John Jameson didn't know it, but she had marked him as hers that day. He has been transferred. The orders have already been cut. He wouldn't be remaining in town for much longer. Harry Osborn, son of the wealthy owner of Osborn Industries, had decided Fawn was "that kind" of girl. Of course, his father, Norman Osborn, had always told him all girls were "that kind" of girl. But being the resourceful girl she'd become, Fawn had easily persuaded him otherwise. Mary Jane Watson had come by the Parker house to introduce herself to Pamela. Pamela found it somewhat disquieting that Mary Jane's presence had somehow stirred Peter's mind. Pamela had decided she'd try joining the Fantastic Four. But as was the case in most aspects of the multiverse, that attempt was an abject failure. Apparently, even here, Spider-Woman and the four women of the Fantastic Four had had less in common then she'd originally thought. And when Fawn had suggested her mother join the Avengers, Pamela had readily dismissed that possibility. The Wasp was an Avenger. She couldn't possibly work with that golden-haired Wasp. In addition, neither Pamela nor Fawn was inclined toward working with Thorine the Ashmagordian goddess of thunder. But having already seen how the Fantastic Four and the Avengers came to be in this particular aspect of reality, we must now return our attentions to Pamela and Fawn and their ever-increasing number of problems. As bad as they already are, their problems are about to take another turn for the worse. Biological necessities have been put into play. And the Chameleon is still on the loose. *** "Good morning, Miss Parker," smiled J. Jonah Jameson as he chewed on the short end of his cigar. "I was beginning to wonder if we'd ever see you around the 'Bugle' again." "It's been a slow week for picture taking, Mr. Jameson," replied Pamela. "Interesting subjects have been few and far between. One can't be off and about taking pictures of jailbirds like the Vulture all of the time." "How very true, Miss Parker. However, since you are here, should I assume you have a picture or two you think I might like to buy from you?" Jonah tried not to look overeager or too excited or anything else that might make the girl raise her asking price. Somehow, this mere snip of a girl always had fabulous pictures, but he wasn't about to tell her that. "I hope you aren't wasting my valuable time, Miss Parker." Pamela smiled at Jonah. "Have I ever wasted your time, Mr. Jameson?" He didn't need to answer the question. Pamela opened the manila envelope she was carrying. After taking out two of the pictures Fawn had taken as she'd returned from the Baxter Building, she laid them out on the publisher's desk. "What do you think of these two shots, Mr. Jameson? They're quite interesting. Don't you think?" Jonah bit clean through his unlit cigar. The long end fell to the floor, while he absently swallowed the small remaining piece still in his mouth. He never noticed what he'd done. "I don't believe this!" exclaimed Jonah. "You actually got pictures of that blasted Spider- Woman. My best photographers have never come this close to getting pictures of that wall-crawling menace in the last several months. How did you do it, Miss Parker?" "Have you forgotten our deal, Mr. Jameson?" smiled Pamela. "If you have, I could always take these pictures elsewhere, you know." She enjoyed watching Jolly Jonah squirm. He always did it so well. "Of course I do, Miss Parker. I was only testing you." He reached into his pocket. "Here's a little bonus for all your hard work." He punched a couple of a buttons on the intercom. "Now don't tell anyone about this little bonus I've given you, Miss Parker." He didn't want any of the others getting ideas. Nor did he want the girl taking her pictures anywhere else. "Check with Miss Brant on your way out, Miss Parker. She'll have your regular freelancer's check for you." "Thank you, Mr. Jameson," smiled Pamela. She wondered who Jonah might be expecting today. Maybe his handsome son John was already on his way over here for a visit. Pamela had her doubts that Jonah would like the idea of her seeing his son. "I'll see you the next time I have a few more pictures to sell, Mr. Jameson." "Yeah, right," replied Jonah absently. He was too engrossed with the fascinating pictures already on his desk to think of anything else. "Next time, Miss Parker. These will look fantastic on the front page of tomorrow's Bugle." Was he actually drooling over those pictures of Spider-Woman? Was it possible that Jolly Jonah had a secret thing for her? How totally disgusting? He was so old. However, Pamela couldn't wait to tell Fawn this latest juicy little tidbit about Jolly Jonah and his strange habits. She'd die laughing. As soon as she'd exited Jonah's office, Pamela headed straight for Betty Brant's desk. "Mr. Jameson said you'd have a check for me, Miss Brant." "I have it right here, Miss Parker," said Betty coolly. She handed Pamela an envelope. "I hope you don't spend it all in one place." Pamela took the proffered envelope. "Thank you, Miss Brant." But as she turned and headed for the elevator, Pamela wondered what problem Jonah's secretary had with her. They barely knew each other. For whatever the reason might be, that girl had a chip on her shoulder. Pamela decided Miss Brant was jealous of her. That made the most sense, since Pamela knew she was the younger and prettier of the two. And yet, she hoped that her reasoning about Miss Brant was correct. The only other reasonable explanation was that somehow Miss Brant instinctively sensed something different about her. That might make her a very dangerous person. It might explain why Peter and his thoughts often stirred when Miss Brant was around. The very same thing had happened when she'd first met Mary Jane Watson. Although she couldn't explain it, Pamela had this strange inexplicable feeling that the cold fish Miss Brant would have liked her former mousy male self. That thought was almost as disgusting as Chuckles drooling over one of her pictures. The meeting with Jonah had taken far less time then she'd anticipated. She wouldn't even miss her first class. That was all right with her. 'Fawn would have worried herself silly until I finally showed up,' thought Pamela. However, as she reached the elevator, the door opened before she could push the button. "John!" she exclaimed without thinking at the sight of John Jameson stepping out of the elevator. "What are you doing here?" "It's a surprise visit," replied the publisher's son. He suddenly looked very puzzled. "Do I know you, Miss?" "I don't think so," blushed Pamela. What could she have possibly been thinking about? He knew Spider-Woman, not her. "My name's Pamela Parker. All the girls at school know who you are, John Jameson," she gushed. "What school is that?" asked John. "Columbia? Princeton? Or some other Ivy league school?" "Midtown High," replied Pamela calmly. "Midtown High? Is that so?" replied John, suddenly looking quite a bit more worried than before. Getting involved with a Midtown High student, especially a girl, might mean some serious trouble for him. On the other hand, there had never been girls like her at Midtown High when he'd been a student there. "It was nice meeting you, Miss Parker." He turned and headed toward his father's office. "Wait, John. Please," said Pamela. "Would you mind going down in the elevator with me?" "I don't think that's a good idea. It wouldn't work, Miss Parker. I'm too old for you," said John as he turned back to face her. "I mean, you're still in high school. I'm not and haven't been for many years." And yet, he didn't understand why he'd begun walking toward the girl and the still open elevator. "You think I'm just jail bait. Don't you?" snapped Pamela, as she stepped into the elevator with him. "I'll show you a lot more jail bait than you can possibly imagine, John Jameson." Although Pamela knew she shouldn't be doing this here - or anywhere else for that matter - her mind wasn't in full command of her actions at the moment. Her body wanted John and it apparently wanted him very badly. Very clearly, it wanted him right now, if not sooner. Pamela closed the short distance between her and John. She kissed him more hungrily than she'd done that day at his space capsule. "How was that kiss, John dear?" she smiled sexily, staring straight into his eyes. "Was it better than the last time I kissed you?" John looked around puzzled. He gasped for breath. "What are you talking about, Miss Parker? I've never..." Recognition suddenly flared in his eyes. "You! It was you!" he somehow managed to exclaim at the realization of who Pamela must be. "You saved my life!" "I'm so glad you remembered me." John continued staring at her. She could see the lust for her growing steadily in his eyes. The judicial use of her pheromones could do absolute wonders for a girl's love life. "What do you want from me, Pam?" "Don't you know what I want already? Haven't you guessed yet?" smiled Pamela. There was no way her mind would be capable of overruling her body's wants and needs now. "I want to mate with you, John Jameson. Isn't it obvious to you by now?" "But you're still in high school," objected John weakly. Pamela looked into his eyes. "That's not overly relevant or very important at the moment, my love." "It's not relevant or important that you're in High School," repeated John. He suddenly pulled Pamela closer and kissed her as she'd kissed him earlier. "I've never done it in an elevator before." "Hold on there for a minute, tiger," smiled Pamela. "As much as I'd enjoy doing it right here and right now, I'd still like a little more privacy. We can go back to my place. Aunt May's away visiting relatives so we won't be disturbed. I'm afraid that our mating in this small elevator might raise more questions than I'd like to answer." "I think I know what you mean, Pam," said John, as he nibbled playfully on Pamela's neck. "My father would never understand about the two of us." Pamela smiled, as the elevator door opened at the lobby. "That's so true. I've met your father and know how he is, John." However, she didn't care if J. Jonah Jameson understood anything about John and her. Whatever Jolly Jonah thought simply didn't matter to Pamela in the least. "Let's go, lover." "Whatever you say, Pam dear," replied John. *** The Chameleon finished counting his money again. He'd had a most bountiful payday. Surprisingly, he'd sold that small guidance module he'd lifted from the spacecraft for more than he'd been expecting to receive. Typically, he didn't like surprises, but for this one he'd made an exception. He had taken some additional orders from some of those who'd bid and lost out on the module. All he had to do was wait for that fool Jameson to publish a picture or two of Spider-Woman and he'd have his next fall guy waiting in the wings. It would simply be so easy to point suspicion at her; nearly everyone in town believed she was already guilty of something. However, he couldn't wait for the appearance of those pictures forever. Unless he found a picture of Spider-Woman soon, he'd have to make other plans. He'd also need to find a replacement patsy. Wondering if the authorities had discovered any new clues that might exonerate Spider-Woman of any of Jameson's charges, the Chameleon turned on his television. The news was surprising to say the least. "The entire city continues to wonder why Spider-Woman paid that an unexpected visit to the Fantastic Four's headquarters yesterday," he heard the news commentator say. "Of course, Spider-Woman herself was unavailable for comment. And the Fantastic Four have issued a rather terse 'no comment' concerning the reason for her visit." 'How very interesting,' thought the Chameleon. "Unsubstantiated rumors are flying all over this city," reported the news commentator. "Reliable, but still unofficial, sources are claiming that the mysterious Spider-Woman is being considered for membership in the Fantastic Four, which would need to be renamed if they added a fifth member. The police commissioner has strenuously denied this rumor calling it 'total and utter nonsense'." 'Definitely interesting.' The Chameleon looked over the front pages of the local newspapers. "GRAND JURY REQUESTS IMMEDIATE PROBE" said the headline of the Daily Globe. And the Daily Bugle reported the "FBI ALERTED FOR POSSIBLE ACTION". "Very interesting indeed," smiled the Chameleon. "There is only real reason that Spider-Woman might want to join the Fantastic Four. She's sought by the police and the military. On the run as she must be, there can't be any way for her to earn a legitimate living. She must be desperate for money. It's almost too perfect a situation for me to believe." *** By the time they returned to the Parker house, John Jameson could think of virtually nothing aside from having mad impassioned sex with her. Pamela's lust-inducing pheromones had done their job exceedingly well. She knew that no man she wanted could ever possibly resist her. Whenever she truly wanted a man, he was hers. Pamela kissed John hungrily. Her own needs and desires had begun kicking in. Even if she'd wanted to stop, which she didn't, there would be no stopping her now. "Let's go straight to my room, lover boy," she purred sexily. "I can't wait any longer. I've got to have you right now." John smiled lustily, as he swept Pamela up into his arms. Even though he'd never been inside the Parker house before, he unerringly carried Pamela directly to her room. Once they were inside her room, John laid Pamela down gently on her bed. He then ripped off his clothes, tossing the torn remains on the floor near the foot of her bed. Pamela undressed more slowly. Unlike John - even if he didn't know it yet - she'd be able to wear the clothes she was currently wearing again. She slowly removed her skirt and tank top. She teased John endlessly. Quite enticingly, she slipped out of her silk panties. After undoing her bra, she let it fall slowly to the floor. John liked everything he saw. However, Pamela knew she had no need to be so openly seductive. John was already hers. Sliding down onto to her bed, Pamela smiled up at John. She parted her legs slowly and enticingly. "So what are you waiting for, big boy?" she smiled. John didn't need another invitation. *** Fawn Thompson wondered what had happened to her mother. In the worst case scenario, her mother should have been at school before their History class started. She'd known that her mother might miss her first class by going to the 'Daily Bugle' this morning in order to see that insufferable man again. If it weren't so perfectly ironic to be selling their pictures to that laughable clown, she'd insist her mother find another buyer for them. There were several other potential buyers for their photos waiting in line for their chance to buy them. They could choose any of them. Her mother had gone to 'Daily Bugle' building before school had begun. She'd missed her first class altogether. However, with their History class about to start, there was still no sign of her. Fawn was beginning to get worried. She was afraid something - she didn't know what - might have gone wrong. She didn't know what she'd do if something happened to her mother. "Is something wrong, Fawn?" asked Harry Osborn. He'd been a perfect gentleman to her since that night. However, in becoming that perfect gentleman, he'd also turned into someone dull and boring. She didn't know why that had happened. At the same time, Fawn had an idea he was chasing after Liz Allen or Sally Avril now. They'd both looked at her earlier as if they knew something that she didn't. "I don't know for sure, Harry," replied Fawn. "Pam isn't here." "She's a big girl. She can take care of herself." Fawn smiled at Harry. He didn't know the half of it. "You're probably right, Harry." Suddenly, Fawn began feeling peculiar. It was - and yet it wasn't exactly - like that feeling she'd had when the Vulture had thrown her mother into that water tank. However, she now knew with certainty that her mother was not in any great danger. She slowly shook her head. When she looked over at Harry, she acted immediately on the sudden and quite irresistible impulse to kiss him. "Miss Thompson! Mr. Osborn!" announced a gruff voice from behind them. "My office! Right now!" *** Pamela wasn't too surprised that John had fallen asleep. As she'd been fully expecting, their long bout of incredible lovemaking had simply worn him out. She could have kept him going for hours if need be. However, the cessation of her pheromone production once she'd been fully satiated had helped him start feeling the full effects of his own exhaustion. She gazed at the form of her slumbering partner. His chest rose and fell rhythmically. "You were an incredible lover, John. I'll never forget you," she smiled. "It's too bad you won't be able to watch our little girl grow up." She grinned wickedly at him. "Although, you will always be with her in your own very special way." Pamela sighed. "Your father, who will now become your grandfather as well, may pose major problems. A new life awaits you, John dear." Pamela was looking out her bedroom window, when John began stirring slowly. "What have we done, Miss Parker?" he asked as his eyes fluttered open and he spotted her gazing wistfully out the window. "Only that which is natural between a man and a woman." "But you're still in high school and underaged. Have you any idea how much trouble I'll be in when they find out what we've done today?" John was worried about getting caught in Pamela's bed. However, when he tried to get out of her bed, he was simply too exhausted for the attempt to succeed. "You don't need to get up now, John dear," she cooed, as she sexily strolled back to the side of her bed. "No one I don't wish to know will ever discover what we've done here today. I'll see to it that you don't get into any trouble about this. High school is just high school. Nothing more; nothing less." As Pamela sat down next to him, he tried again without success to push her away from him. As if they had minds of their own, his strong arms swiftly encircled her luscious and desirable young body. For several additional minutes, they passionately kissed. John simply couldn't resist her. Whatever she wanted from him, he readily gave her. There was no other choice open to him. He smiled weakly at her, as their last kiss finally concluded and she pulled back slowly from him. Quite playfully Pamela kissed, then took a nip of, his bare shoulder. "Ow!" exclaimed John, more from surprise than any real sense of being hurt. He somehow knew Pamela would never harm him. They were lovers now. Even if she tossed him into jail, somehow he knew everything would be all right. Pamela made no indication she'd heard him. Instead of a reply, she unexpectedly plunged her fangs into John's arm. "What the hell?" exclaimed John, as he realized what Pamela had done. Even though he was exhausted, he somehow managed to push her away. "Damn! That hurt!" However, as he raised his arm to find out what damage she had inflicted, he felt suddenly relieved, not to mention quite astonished. There was no blood gushing out from a large gaping gash in his arm as he'd expected to see. Instead of that grisly sight, he'd found neither blood nor a wound. Only a tiny pair of nearly invisible pinpricks marked the spot Pamela had bitten. When John tried to roll over, he discovered his arm that had been bitten had gone completely numb. And then, to his constantly increasing horror, he realized he had no feelings remaining in either of his legs. His body no longer responded to any of his commands. There would be no escaping from Pamela's bed now. "I told you that you didn't have to get up, John," grinned Pamela. "You're simply perfect right where you are. Do you have any questions you'd like me to answer?" "Wha... Wha..." was all John could manage. He had trouble making his mouth move. He rapidly discovered he could no longer speak or form intelligible words. His tongue seemed to have thickened. His ability to speak had abandoned him. "I didn't think so," grinned Pamela. John Jameson lay there quietly on Pamela's bed. Except for some minimal eye movements, which would soon cease, John was now completely paralyzed. Even though he could no longer move or feel anything, he was still cognizant of everything going on around him. Very simply, Pamela's needs required him to be both alive and aware. As it had been with Flash Thompson before, Pamela felt neither joy nor sorrow at seeing John Jameson spread out helpless this way. Her actions had been purely instinctive; there was nothing personal in what she'd done. John and Flash had both been marvelous in their own way. But what she'd done had simply been what was necessary for survival. "Just relax, John," she smiled down on him. "But then, you never had another choice once I'd selected you for my next mate." Pamela sat down beside John again. She began kissing him lightly on the cheek. "You'll want to thank me for this later, you know. Everything will become crystal clear in its own time." While she spoke to him, Pamela began wrapping her latest lover in the silken strands of webbing being extruded from her fingertips. In a few short seconds, John was, with the notable exception of a small opening near his stomach, encased within a sac of hardening silk webbing. "You don't have to worry about anything now, John," she purred sexily, knowing her lover could still hear and understand her every word. She straddled the small opening she'd left in the web sac. "Very soon now, you'll have a brand new life, my love," she whispered. "You'll make a wonderful new daughter. Your new sister will warmly welcome you to our family." Fortunately for John's remaining grasp of reality, he could neither see nor feel what happened to him next. Had he known, or guessed, he might have screamed as the rush of madness overwhelmed him. John wouldn't know what Pamela had done, that is, until she was herself ready to act out the same deed for the very first time. But by then, its significance would be different. It would have become something necessary to their continued survival. Stimulated by the continued presence of the male with whom she'd copulated and her instinctive positioning over the opening of the silken sac of webbing he now laid within, Pamela's external female sex organs, that, only a few short hours - or had it only been mere minutes - earlier, had readily, and repeatedly, accepted her lover's seed from his pulsing manhood, began altering. Her clitoris extended, slowly closing the distance between it and John's still exposed small patch of flesh. Once contact was finally made, her extended ovipositor exuded a solitary fertilized ovum. Her mating ritual now once more completed, Pamela closed the remaining opening in the sac with additional strands of webbing spun rapidly from her fingertips. In a week's time, she would have a new daughter, who would also be the granddaughter of J. Jonah Jameson. Her life was about to take an interesting twist. Pamela could only hope that they were all ready for it. At the same time, she hoped Fawn was ready to accept her new sister completely. She would no longer be an only child. Sometimes that caused problems, she remembered from somewhere. Pamela had this feeling that J. Jonah Jameson was going to be royally pissed once he became aware of his son's disappearance. *** As she sat in her first class, Mary Jane Watson thought she had it all figured out. It was all so simple. The clues were all there. She didn't know why more people hadn't figured it out by now. She was convinced that Pamela Parker was the mysterious Spider-Woman. Pamela being Spider-Woman made the most sense to her. It fit all the facts Mary Jane had previously collected perfectly. Peter Parker had made another of his lame excuses to keep from meeting her that night of Spider-Man's first - and only - public performance. But Mary Jane realized that was somewhat weak circumstantial evidence at best. However, her evidence got better. That terrible night Ben Parker had been murdered in the house by that burglar, a very angry and totally distraught Peter had entered the house, but it had been an angrier, more vengeful Spider-Man that had scurried out Peter's window to bring the murderous criminal to justice. She'd seen it all happen from her window. Peter Parker was Spider-Man. There were simply no doubts about that fact in Mary Jane's mind. She knew exactly what she'd seen. Spider-Man's disappearance after Peter had gone to live with Ben Parker's brother in Minnesota only served as an additional confirmation of something already more than obvious in Mary Jane's mind. Peter had to be Spider-Man; they had both left the area at the same time. If Peter Parker were Spider-Man, then didn't it stand to reason that his cousin Pamela must also be Spider-Woman? They had the same powers, which seemed perfectly normal since they were members of the same family. Did other members of the Parker clan have similar powers? Mary Jane had already decided she'd tell no one - not even Pamela - what she'd discovered that night. After all, if Pamela had wanted her true identity known, she would have told someone. Nor would she still be wearing a mask to hide her face and identity. She wondered what it might be like having such amazing superpowers as Peter and Pamela had. Was it possible that someone out there knew a way to give her superpowers of her own? 'Wouldn't that be so cool?' thought Mary Jane. *** In his office, a worried J. Jonah Jameson paced back and forth like a skittish cat. Something was wrong. He'd half expected his son to show up in his office today. But no one had seen him arrive as yet. Even though it was difficult for Jonah to believe and accept, he soon came to the conclusion that John must be madder at him than he'd first thought. "It's all the fault of that terrible Spider-Woman menace," he grumbled. "It's got to be her. Who else could it be?" Jonah chewed more vigorously on his unlit cigar. "She must have done something to my boy when she saved his life. Why can't he see that nasty woman for the terrible menace she is?" However, Jonah was thoroughly convinced his son would come to his senses sooner or later. It was an inevitable event. How could it ever be elsewise? John was a Jameson and his son after all. He hoped John would see the light before he left on his scheduled reassignment. "John is still my son," he mumbled, still nervously chewing on the end of his cigar. "There's absolutely nothing that blasted Spider-Woman menace can do to ever change that fact." *** Fawn couldn't believe that Mr. Carson had sent her home, as she and his secretary approached the Thompson house. It had been a little kiss... more or less. What was the big deal about such a little kiss? That man was totally insufferable. How could he have possibly deemed such a little kiss an 'inexcusable and excessive show of affection'? He hadn't listened to a word of what she'd had to say in her own defense, not that her defense had made too much sense. How could she possibly explain to Mr. Carson why she'd kissed Harry Osborn the way she had? She didn't know why she'd done it. Trying to tell him she'd had this sudden irresistible urge to play vacuum cleaner with Harry's lips hadn't gone over very well. Harry hadn't voiced any objections to being kissed that way. In fact, Fawn was convinced he'd enjoyed getting the kiss as much as she had giving it to him. That stupid man had sent them both home for the rest of the day. Supposedly, it was to cool them off. However, that didn't seem like the wisest course of action to Fawn. On the other hand, since the school board paid Mr. Carson to be the principal and make all those dumb decisions, they'd all think he must know what he was doing. Of course, the old fool had never caught on to any of those tricks she'd pulled as Flash to get a little quality time off from school. Mr. Carson had driven Harry home himself, while his secretary had taken her in tow. What were they afraid of anyway? Hadn't they ever been young themselves? Somehow she couldn't picture either of them being young. "Thanks a lot, Ms. Tompkins," said Fawn as she got out of the secretary's car. When she got to the front door, she looked back and saw the secretary's car still sitting there on the driveway. She was watching her like some kind of predatory hawk. It was only after Fawn went inside the house that she heard the secretary restart her car's engine and drive away. "That was weird," muttered Fawn. She was glad that Aunt Rosie had always been so understanding. Uncle Harrison might pose a problem or two, especially if he'd been drinking again. One of these days, she'd have to sit down with him and make him quit drinking altogether. Didn't he realize how too much alcohol was bad for his liver? On the other hand, she was worried about Harry. Even though he no longer remembered telling her anything that he'd told her on that night, Fawn still remembered everything Harry had said about his father. Norman Osborn was one very strange man; he obviously didn't think too much of girls. In all likelihood, he'd blame her and only her for all the trouble she and Harry were both in. But that still wasn't likely to spare Harry from his father's wrath. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Fawn had no idea who might be there. All of her friends were still in school. Had someone been watching the house? If someone thought she might be an easy target because she was a girl and alone, would they ever be in for one great big surprise. But it was Fawn who was surprised when she answered the door. "Harry! What are you doing here?" "I came over to see you, Fawn," he smiled. "I wanted to let you know that was some totally hot kiss. I think my toes are still curled." Fawn blushed brightly. "What about your father?" she asked, before deciding she shouldn't have asked the question. "What about him?" snapped Harry. "All he ever thinks about is making money and gaining power. I'm surprised he ever found the time to get my mother pregnant in the first place. Even now, he's probably locked himself away in his office or one of his labs to work on some top secret project of his." "I'm sorry, Harry." Fawn didn't like this new information she'd gained about Norman Osborn. "Why should you be sorry, Fawn?" replied Harry. "He's my father - such as he is - not yours." "That's not what I meant, Harry." Fawn looked at him and smiled. She felt strange. New and unfamiliar emotions had suddenly begun welling up inside her. "Do you want to go my room, Harry?" she suddenly asked, continuing to smile suggestively. "Your room?" asked Harry, a small smile appearing on his face. "Do you really mean that, Fawn?" Fawn wasn't sure what she meant. Nor was too sure what she was doing. On the other hand, it felt so right. "I wouldn't have asked you if I hadn't meant it, Harry." Although the time hadn't been right that other night, she knew now was the right time. "So do you? Or don't you wanna go to my room?" she grinned playfully. Harry leaned over and kissed her. Only this time there was no one around to interrupt them as their kiss deepened. "I think you know the answer to that already," he grinned, once he pulled back from her. He slowly slid his arm around Fawn's waist. "Lead the way to your room, babe," smiled Harry expectantly. "I've been looking forward to this. You're about to experience something that will change your life forever." "So are you, my love," smiled Fawn. "So are you." If Harry had heard her odd reply, it hadn't registered with his mind. But then, not much aside from Fawn herself currently registered in his mind. Harry was already deeply under the influence of Fawn's emitted pheromones. *** As Norman Osborn noisily shuffled through the tall stack of notes on his desk, he wondered if he should attempt making a batch of the Professor's secret formula. It might work as the notes indicated it would. There was also a very good chance, it wouldn't. Even though Norman had known full well that his now former partner Professor Mendel Stromm had fully intended on repaying all the company money he'd 'borrowed', Norman had still had the man arrested and jailed for embezzlement of company funds anyway. As he'd figured and planned, Stromm's arrest and subsequent conviction had kicked in that little escape clause negating their partnership, leaving everything in Norman's hands. But Stromm, according to these incomplete notes that Norman had found stashed away in the man's private research cabinet, had been secretly working on a formula that would increase a person's intelligence and physical strength. There was no doubting the fact that Mendel Stromm was a certified genius. But Norman Osborn, even though highly intelligent himself, was also one extremely paranoid man. He didn't trust his former partner. What if Stromm's notes had been deliberately altered? Norman wouldn't have put something like that past Mendel. Even for a genius, Stromm wasn't ignorant about how things were in the world outside his lab. He could have very easily changed the formula in his notes to mislead, or possibly kill, him. The professor might have left the altered formula among his papers knowing that he'd find it there if he took over the company. The more he dwelled on the subject, the more convinced Norman became that the formula was a deadly toxin Stromm had developed to do him in and take over their thriving business for himself. It made sense to Norman. Stromm was simply trying to get even with him for having him arrested. On the other hand, what if the serum described by the formula wasn't toxic after all? Could he take that chance? How could he not? But how could he possibly take such a dangerous risk? There had to be another way to find out what Stromm's secret formula actually did. All he had to do was think about it for a while. He was convinced he could figure out some way of reducing the risks. *** Once again, the Chameleon reviewed his notes. He'd always been a most meticulous planner; this time was no different. Planning potentially superfluous contingencies had saved his ass more than once. In case things didn't work out using Spider-Woman as his next patsy, he still needed a defensible fallback position. In case everything worked out better than he imagined they might, he would need a place to lay low for a few days. He would enjoy watching the ensuing chase of Spider-Woman by the authorities. The new identity he'd chosen in which he'd hide for a few days was absolutely perfect. Given the results of his latest experiment, no one would ever suspect him of hiding there. In fact, he'd already moved in with them. He'd never liked staying in one place for too long a period of time. That might easily lead to his capture. He was only here in the old hideout tonight to remove any remaining evidence someone had ever been here. Everyone in his new hiding place simply accepted that he was who he appeared to be. People could be so gullible. *** Pamela Parker was luxuriating in her shower. She always enjoyed how the spray of water pulsing from the showerhead made her nipples stiffen and tingle all over. Taking a shower always made her feel so marvelously alive. Showers were such a wonderful invention. It wasn't quite the same as having sex - for a moment she thought about John Jameson now encased in her cocoon - but it was a fairly close second. Showers were her one real vice. She took at least one every day; she only had sex when it became absolutely necessary. Even Peter's thoughts had quieted once again. It must have been the sex with John that had driven Peter back into that corner of her mind where he generally lurked. He was such meek and mild-mannered boy. Her having been with Flash first and now with John must have stunned his delicate sensibilities. 'Poor baby,' she thought with a smile. Once she'd finished her shower and blow-dried her hair, Pamela had strolled back to her room. Being far too late to go to school, she decided she'd simply blow off the rest of the day. Tomorrow, she'd make all her teachers and those administrators think she'd been there all along. It was all so easy to make people think what she wanted them to think. She'd have to call Fawn a little later. Pamela wasn't looking forward to making that call. Fawn would want to know where she'd been all day long. Her worrywart of a daughter had probably already blown her missing school all out of rational proportion in her mind. She wished her daughter wasn't so overprotective. Of course, she needed to explain about John and the cocoon now on her bedroom floor. She hoped Fawn was ready to understand what that was all about. It was going to be that long talk Pamela had hoped to put off for a long, long time. That was no longer possible. Pamela looked at the silken cocoon. If it hadn't already begun, then it soon would. Those alternating cycles of divisions and absorptions within it would inevitably result in the formation of a single new being - her next daughter. She idly wondered what John would be like when she finally emerged from the cocoon following her metamorphosis. There still wasn't a lot of evidence from which she could draw many conclusions. Pamela didn't know what she should reasonably expect from her new daughter. The sample was still too small. She and Fawn were still in high school, but then both Peter and Flash had been in high school as well. However, John Jameson had been several years older than she was. He'd been a Colonel in the Air Force. Would she remain those same several years older when she hatched? Pamela doubted the Air Force would ever recognize her daughter as the Colonel that John Jameson had been. Pamela simply had no idea what might happen. It seemed likely that some rejuvenation might occur during her metamorphosis. Younger and more attractive girls were always far more attractive to men. When she entered into her mating cycle, she needed to attract men. After all, if she had mated with a ninety-year-old man - not that she could imagine ever doing something like that - then wouldn't the girl resulting from that mating have to be younger than that. What man could any wrinkly ninety-year-old woman ever hope to attract? Pamela wouldn't know about any of that until after her new daughter hatched. On the other hand, what would her new daughter do with all those skills of the test pilot and astronaut John Jameson had been? Those skills didn't seem very useful, although some of the military knowledge might have practical applications. But than the doorbell interrupted her thoughts. *** Sitting in her next class, Mary Jane Watson wondered what was going on. Even though, she'd seen Pamela leave the Parker house long before she'd left home, Pamela had never arrived at school. She'd missed at least four of her classes already. Mary Jane would be surprised if Pamela showed up for either of her last two classes. Tomorrow would be a very interesting day. Providing of course that Pamela showed up, would any of her - that is, Pamela's - teachers realize the girl hadn't been there today? In all the other classes she'd missed over the past few weeks, Mary Jane thought it extremely odd that her teachers had always marked Pamela present in spite of her absence. None of the other students had apparently noticed anything unusual. She probably would have never noticed anything odd either, if she hadn't been constantly looking for some additional proof that Pamela was actually Spider-Woman. Mary Jane decided that Pamela must have some kind of power that made people believe whatever she told them. 'How cool,' she thought. What had been up between Fawn Thompson and Harry Osborn earlier? That had been one strange scene earlier. That girl had had Harry in one serious lip lock. It was no wonder they'd sent her home. Fawn was in serious need of an icy cold shower. 'I wouldn't have minded doing that with Harry myself,' thought Mary Jane. She simply couldn't keep from smiling as she thought about kissing Harry. Harry was such a hunk. At the same time, the word running all around the school from the day before was that Harry and Fawn had broken up. That had been kind of strange too. Mary Jane had never considered Harry and Fawn a couple before. All she'd ever seen them do was talk in the hall before class started. However, from what she'd seen in the hallway earlier, they'd more than made up. Of course, neither Liz Allen nor Sally Avril had ever been the best sources of reliable information around the school. Besides, everyone knew they were both very interested in Harry for themselves. She might have compared a few notes with Liz and Sally, if they'd been a little friendlier to her. It was a simple case of Mary Jane not being a part of their little social circle. She was surprised they tolerated the presence of Fawn Thompson, especially since she and Pamela Parker had become such good friends. For some as yet unknown reason, those two girls seemed to have very little tolerance for Pamela Parker. Mary Jane hoped the rest of the school day would go quickly. She'd planned on going to the mall after school finished for the day. She'd hoped Fawn and Pamela would go with her, but that wasn't going to happen now. However, even though she'd be going alone, Mary Jane saw no reason not to do what she'd planned on doing. *** Pamela was somewhat surprised when she answered the door. "Fawn! What are you doing here?" she exclaimed. "Don't tell me you skipped your last class because you were that worried about me?" "I didn't skip anything, Mom." Unless she absolutely had to tell her, Fawn didn't want to go into any lengthy discussions about that kiss she'd given Harry... or what else had happened between them later. Pamela stared at her daughter. "You must have skipped your last class. School's not over yet and you're already here." "If that's the case, then why are you here?" replied Fawn. "Don't give me any of that nonsense that you live here either. I know you live here, Mom. But you weren't in school today either." "I went to the 'Daily Bugle' this morning," replied Pamela. "I told you I was going there." "You told me you might miss your first class, but you didn't show up before our History class started." Since she was still here, Fawn had guessed that her mother hadn't shown up for any of her other classes. Her mother's defensive posturing convinced Fawn she'd made the correct guess. "Things got... sort of... well... complicated today." "How complicated?" Fawn didn't think anything could have become more complicated than her own current situation. "Jolly Jonah got excited about those pictures of Spider-Woman." "We expected that, Mom. Chuckles is so predictable," replied Fawn. "You're avoiding the real issue." "I think he was drooling over them when I left." Pamela smiled weakly. "Eew! That's gross!" exclaimed Fawn. However, she couldn't keep from smiling at the thought. "That's not a complication. For us anyway. It might be a little on the sick and somewhat perverted side, but it complicates nothing." "The complication I mentioned came a little later." Pamela wondered how to tell her daughter what she'd done. However she explained it, it was bound to be a shock. "Maybe we should go to my room. Things might be a little easier for me to explain there." Pamela shook her head. 'Or they might not,' she added to herself. She hoped Fawn wouldn't totally freak when she saw the cocoon. Fawn was puzzled now. She didn't see how going to her mother's room would make anything any easier for her to explain. Nor could she possibly be worried about anyone overhearing their conversation. Her mother had told her that Aunt May was away for a few days visiting relatives upstate. The only other reasonable explanation was there had to be something in her room she wanted her to see. Pamela opened the door, then followed her daughter inside. The sight of the cocoon by the window didn't surprise Fawn. From her mother's strange behavior, she'd half expected something like it. "I take it that must be John Jameson wrapped up inside there." It wasn't a question. She'd known far longer than her mother had known that John Jameson would become her new sister... sooner or later. "I told you things got complicated," sighed Pamela. "I met John in the 'Daily Bugle' building and my body sort of took control of my actions. I couldn't fight it; I didn't want to stop after a while." Pamela took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled. "I think we have a few things we need to discuss... mother to daughter." "I don't think that's going to be necessary, Mom," replied Fawn nervously. "But I do, young lady. These are some things that you need to know." Pamela took another long deep breath. "I've been putting it off; I shouldn't have, I know. We're different. There are a few things I need to explain about our reproductive cycle. You need to know how complicated things can get." "I already know all about our reproductive cycle," replied Fawn. "And believe me, Mom, I really do know everything. You don't need to explain anything to me. Things have already become more complicated than you might have imagined." "What are you talking about, Fawn?" In spite of her question, Pamela was afraid she might already know the answer. "I'm afraid I have my own little cocoon sitting under the window in my room," answered Fawn. "The only difference between yours and mine is yours has John Jameson inside it while mine holds Harry Osborn." Pamela's mouth dropped open. "You're right; that makes this situation far more complicated than it already was," she frowned. "How did you and Harry..." "It was one of those things, Mom. You must know how it is." Fawn glanced toward the cocoon. "It sort of just happened for some reason," Fawn tried to explain. She knew she was going to have tell her mother the whole story now. "I was sort of worried where you were. When I was talking to Harry before History class started, I suddenly had this irresistible urge to play Hoover vacuum cleaner with his lips. That stupid old principal Mr. Carson caught us kissing and then stupidly sent us home. He took Harry home himself, while his secretary Ms. Tompkins, drove me home." "Okay," replied Pamela. "If you were both taken home, then how did Harry wind up in a cocoon in your bedroom?" "I was kind of getting to that," sighed Fawn. "After I went into the house, Harry came over to see me. We were sort of talking about things and then - I don't know how or why it actually happened - I invited Harry up to my room. He readily accepted. I suppose that doesn't surprise you. We made love. Or maybe we had some great sex. In any event, it was absolutely wonderful, Mom," smiled Fawn. "One thing sort of led to another after that. It didn't seem strange in any way when I bit his arm and watched his paralysis slowly spread across his body. I kind of instinctively knew what needed being done, when it needed being done, and simply did it." Fawn shook her head. "Wrapping Harry up in a cocoon of my webbing seemed the right thing to do at the time. But dropping that egg on his bare belly was a little freaky at first." "We do what we must do." "I know that, Mom." "Now we're going to need to figure out what to tell people," frowned Pamela. "You're probably a little more at risk than I am this time. Nobody knew anything about John and me; everyone at school knew about you and Harry." "That really sucks, Mom," groaned Fawn. *** On the bus on her way to the mall after school, Mary Jane Watson had seen several posters and billboards decrying Spider-Woman as some kind of a public menace. She wondered what problem J. Jonah Jameson and the 'Daily Bugle' had with her. As far as she could tell Pamela was no menace. She was some lucky girl that happened to have these incredible super-powers. "That's probably it," smiled Mary Jane, as she looked out the window and brushed her red hair away from her face with casual flick of her wrist. "She's a teenage girl. Obviously, J. Jonah Jameson had some kind of problem with girls, particularly teenage ones, that had incredible super-powers." That made perfect sense to Mary Jane. Old men like J. Jonah Jameson always had problems dealing with powerful girls. Neither Jameson nor his 'Bugle' bothered the Fantastic Four. Of course, of the four of them, only Jeannie Storm was a teenager like Pamela. Jameson would probably be on her case too, but the other three members were grown women who could protect her from crazy people like Jameson. Who in their right mind would go out of their way to piss off the Thing? Mary Jane wondered if three of the Fantastic Four having been born male factored into any of Jameson's editorial decisions. It wouldn't have surprised her too much. It was easy to see that J. Jonah Jameson was nothing but a textbook male chauvinist. He had all the classic signs. On top of all that, he was clearly an idiot. Jameson continually ranted and raved about Spider-Woman keeping her identity a secret. That was another of his many smoke screens. All of the Avengers kept their identities secret. No one, Jameson included, gave them any grief about that. However, Spider-Woman was an individual. As with the Fantastic Four, the Avengers were a group - a very powerful group - of heroes and heroines. With that green-skinned Hulk and the thunder goddess Thorine on their side, they had potentially more firepower than the Fantastic Four. How could anyone hope to pick on them and survive? Jameson never ragged on Thorine or the Wasp about keeping their identities secret. Maybe Jameson was one of those guys who had a thing for blondes. It seemed likely that Thorine and the Wasp were indistinguishable from any other relatively normal girl whenever they were out of their costumes. As the bus pulled into the mall parking lot, Mary Jane put all those thoughts aside. At the mall, shopping... and maybe a handsome boy or two... were simply higher priorities than worrying out Spider-Woman. *** Having decided on their initial course of action, Pamela had sent her daughter home. Fawn needed to get ready for what would probably be a tough day of school tomorrow. She needed to make sure the cocoon containing Harry - her soon to be new granddaughter - was safe. It would work in their favor that Mr. Carson had sent them both home. No one would be able to say with any certainty that Fawn had seen Harry after they'd both been escorted home. But Pamela was still feeling restless. She decided the best way to work off all her extra energy was a quick swing around town as the Amazing Spider-Woman. One of the first things she saw was one of those stupid billboards that screamed out, "SPIDER-WOMAN MENACE - READ IT ALL IN THE DAILY BUGLE". It had a picture of a grinning J. Jonah Jameson on it. "Will Chuckles never give up?" sighed Spider-Woman. "Why won't he leave me alone? What did I ever do to him?" Only a moment later, she spotted three punks that she believed were casing the nearby jewelry store. With the store's closing time so conveniently near, she decided to keep an eye on them. If they were intent on committing a crime, she would stop them. As the scene unfolded, the proprietor of the jewelry store exited and locked the door of his shop. Once the man had turned the corner, the three punks headed straight for the jewelry shop door. "I knew it," smiled Spider-Woman. "I think it's a good time for a little preventative crime fighting." Swooping down from the sky, Spider-Woman dropped several strands of webbing over the three punks. "Hey, what's going on?" shouted the first punk, obviously the leader. "Who's the wise guy?" questioned the second. "It feels like a piece of webbing dropped over my head," said the third. "But who? And how?" "That hurts, boys. I thought I had a lot better press than that," chuckled Spider-Woman. "I guess you punks don't read the 'Daily Bugle'." "It's Spider-Woman! We're sunk!" "Shuddup, stupid!" snapped the leader. "I'll handle this." "If you're thinking of putting up a fight, little man," said Spider- Woman as she grabbed the small group's leader, "I think I'd better warn you..." "A fight? Me? With you?" grinned the shifty-eyed leader. "The only fight I intend on putting up with you is in court. I'm suin' that tight pretty little ass of yours for assault and battery, toots." He turned to his buddies. "And I got the witnesses right here to prove my case. Don't I, boys?" "You sure do, Spike," agreed both his friends. "There ain't no law against three honest citizens like us walking down the street at night, Spider-Woman," grinned Spike. "It was you who came down out of the sky and attacked us unprovoked. You scared the wits out of all of us. You're nothing but a menace, Spider-Woman... just like that J. Jonah Jameson fella says you are." 'He's right. I screwed up,' thought Spider-Woman. 'I should have waited until they'd broken into the shop to take any action. I've got no evidence they were up to anything at all.' "Cat got your tongue, toots," grinned one of the other punks. "You know, if you feel like a dumb jerk paradin' around in public in that silly costume, babe, maybe I could help you feel a little better about yourself. That is, if you know what I mean. Everyone knows ol' Tank has a way with the broads." 'Fine way to talk to a super-heroine,' thought Spider-Woman. 'But what else can I do about it?' The third punk suddenly smiled. "Why don't we make a citizen's arrest of Spider-Woman? I'll call the cops." He put his hand to his mouth and began shouting, "Help, Police! Help!" 'This is nuts,' thought Spider-Woman. 'They're calling the police to help them against me.' "We'll help you, Charlie," said the other punk Tank. "Hey, police! Come quick!" "Police!" shouted Spike. "Boy! Why can you never find a cop in this neighborhood when you want one!" "Finally," said Charlie, the first of the punks who had begun yelling for the police. "I see one of them fine boys in blue coming our way." "All right now," said the policeman as he approached. "Just what is going on around here." "It's that Spider-Woman menace," grinned Spike, as he pointed a crooked finger at her. "She swooped down out of the sky and attacked me and my buddies here for no reason at all." "We was walking down the street minding our own business too," added Charlie. Knowing the policeman would find her webbing on the ground and that it was their three words against her own one, Spider-Woman knew it was already long past time to leave. She leaped toward the nearby wall and began scaling it. "Hey! Come back here, you!" shouted the policeman. "I need to fill out a report. I'll be needing your name and address, miss." However, Spider-Woman continued her flight up the wall. "Now you come back here this instant, girl." "What are you waiting for copper?" asked Tank. "She's escaping. Why don't you shoot the dumb broad?" Spider-Woman wasn't the least bit happy with what had happened. She had, however, learned a valuable lesson. That was the very last time she'd charge into something without knowing the whole score. On the other hand, she had stopped a robbery. 'I guess it could have turned out worse.' "I gotta hand it to you, Spike," smiled Charlie. "You sure put that uppity broad in her place," smiled Tank. "All right boys, I think the party's over now," frowned the policeman. "It's time you boys be moving along." At the same time, he figured if he'd been that Spider-Woman, he would have probably tackled them too. Those three punks had grand larceny written all over them. "This is all Jameson's fault. Even cheap crooks laugh at me now," snarled Spider-Woman. "I think it's time I paid a little call on Chuckles." But more disappointment awaited her. J. Jonah Jameson was not in his office when she arrived outside his window. All she could do was leave him a little souvenir of her visit. She hoped he'd enjoy it. *** Instead of going home, Fawn had gone to the mall. What better place than the mall could there be for a teenage girl to be seen, especially on a school night? Besides, everyone who saw her there by herself tonight would remember her being there without Harry. Besides, now that she was about to become a mother, how could her own mother deny her her very own costume? She'd an idea she wanted to work on, but she'd needed some cloth with which to work. Once inside the mall, Fawn's luck took a better turn for once. "Hi, Fawn," said Mary Jane Watson. "I'm glad you could make it after all. Is Pamela with you?" "Pam's at home," replied Fawn. "She wasn't feeling too good today - it was probably her period, you know - but she should be back in school tomorrow." "That's good to hear," smiled Mary Jane. "What was up with you and Harry today?" "Not much. I wanted to show him what he'd be missing," replied Fawn. "But I guess, when it's over it's over." "He's such a fool," said Mary Jane. She decided she wouldn't mention anything to Fawn about this strange feeling she'd had that someone had been watching her. There was always safety in numbers. Even then, their number was about to increase again. "Do you mind if I join you?" asked the approaching blonde, who looked about their age. "I'm new in town. My name's Gwen Stacy." *** After the night she'd had, morning came far sooner than Pamela would have liked it to come. Rays of bright sunlight streamed in through her bedroom window. Everything in her life seemed to be in such a great big hurry of late. Wasn't that always the way it was whenever someone had something to hide? She and her daughter had to try covering up the disappearances of two people? She hoped Fawn was ready to face her day. Her day at school today was highly likely to be far tougher than Pamela's day would. If not for the unexpected kiss - Pamela still wished she could have been there - that Fawn had planted on Harry's lips that everyone at school probably knew had happened by now, those rumors of their break up might have been sufficient to allay most people's suspicions. She looked over at the cocoon holding John Jameson. "You should be safe here, John dear," she told it. "I'll have to make sure that Aunt May never thinks to come into my room until long after you've hatched. At the moment, however, I don't know where you're going to live after you hatch." After getting dressed for school, Pamela went to the kitchen and fixed her own breakfast, since Aunt May was still upstate visiting relatives for another few days. The cold cereal was very simple for her to fix; it had all the daily requirements that a growing young girl with the proportionate strength and agility of a spider really needed. When she looked, she didn't see the paper sitting in its normal place at the table. Then she remembered she'd have to go outside and pick it up herself. Once she'd opened the door, she saw their copy of the 'Daily Bugle' sitting on the driveway right where it should have been. As she went out to get the paper, she could only wonder what new nonsense Chuckles would be spreading about her today. "Probably nothing good," she mumbled, as she leaned over and picked up the paper. Once she'd gone back inside the house and opened the paper, she stared at the front page. Not that it was any great surprise, she - that is, Spider-Woman - had made the front page again. Jonah had used that unflattering picture that made her hips look so much bigger and wider than they actually were. "Oh well," she sighed. She'd sold him those pictures, so he was free to use whichever of them he liked. "At least the headline isn't nearly as bad as it usually is," smiled Pamela. 'EXCLUSIVE PIX OF SPIDER-WOMAN MENACE' somehow didn't seem low enough to fit Jonah's standards. "I wonder what old Jolly Jonah will have to say once he discovers his son John is missing? He'll find some way of blaming me even though he won't know I had anything to do with it." Just then, the doorbell rang. *** "I knew I could count on that stupid fool Jameson," smiled the Chameleon, as he looked at the picture of Spider-Woman that filled the front page of the 'Daily Bugle'. "All I had to do was give him enough time. I've never had a better ally, even among those I've actually paid." The Chameleon began laughing aloud. Many of those useless morons he'd actually paid in the past had been nowhere near as helpful as J. Jonah Jameson had unwittingly been. But that was often the way it was with the holier-than-thou self-righteous crowd. It wasn't his fault that Jameson was such a pitiful jerk. But now he had to go down and eat his breakfast. They were expecting him... or rather they were expecting the person whose form he'd now assumed. Hiding out was so easy, when he could become anyone he wanted to be whenever he wanted to be them. *** "I'm surprised. You look a lot more chipper this morning than I would have imagined you might after all the events of last night, Fawn," said Pamela after opening the door. "I'm beginning to think everything might work out better than either of us first thought, Mom," smiled Fawn. "Instead of going home last night, I went to the mall. I met up with Mary Jane there and then we made a new friend. I'll have to introduce you to her later; today's her very first day at Midtown High." Fawn wasn't about to tell her mother about the material she'd bought. She wanted to surprise her overprotective