Many feel that Peter Parker and Mary Jane should still be together. Peter has had quite a few different lady friends over the years but Mary Jane was the only one he willingly confided in and she was accepting of both his lives (to a certain extent). Without going into the details of the One More Day, Brand New Day and One Moment in Time story lines, their relationship was put to an end.
With some of the history being rewritten, it's a little difficult to fully grasp what situations they went through and which they didn't (can we assume Mary Jane was never pregnant since they were never married?). Regardless, Mary Jane has gone through a lot both with Peter Parker and with Spider-Man.
Their relationship may be over but they are still friends. Being friends with an ex is an almost unheard of scenario yet Peter was even able to talk to MJ about his recent girlfriend. There are still feelings understandably between the two but will it be possible for them to just remain friends? Will their feelings result in their friendship being dissolved or is there still a chance for them to reunite?
== TEASER ==
One thing you can say about Mary Jane is she knows how to keep a secret. Mary Jane discovered Peter Parker's secret on the night Uncle Ben was shot and killed. She was next door at her Aunt Anna's and happened to be looking out the window just as the distraught Peter climbed out of his bedroom window, dressed as Spider-Man, determined to track down his Uncle's killer at the warehouse the police had him cornered in.
Mary Jane was able to keep this secret for years. Some people might try to use the information to their advantage and others might want to get closer to the person possessing all his power and fame (or notoriety). When they finally met, she kept Peter at a distance and even though eventually they got together, it was an on again, off again relationship until Mary Jane finally revealed she knew his secret.
Even before Peter revealed his identity to the world during CIVIL WAR, Mary Jane's life suffered the occasional moments of danger. Not all were a result of dating Spider-Man's alter ego. With the story in ONE MOMENT IN TIME (that rewrote/erased their marriage), we discovered that Peter was late for his wedding to Mary Jane. Eventually she told him she couldn't handle being with Spider-Man anymore. She knew he had a responsibility but couldn't just sit around night after night and wonder if he would get killed. Their relationship was over, MJ moved away but they remained friends.
When Peter started dating Carlie Cooper, Mary Jane became a bigger part of his life once again. This is where things started getting a little awkward. Mary Jane seemed to be fine with Peter dating someone. There was no reason she shouldn't be since she was dating that actor guy, Bobby Carr. Peter wasn't used to being able to talk about his current girlfriend with a past and Carly was a bit concerned in the beginning as well. That could even have lead to her being more suspicious or curious. This could be how she discovered Peter's secret.
Despite Mary Jane being happy for her friend, you could see there was a bit of jealousy in her eyes (in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #652).
He got his life together. Juggling Spider-Man, his dream job, and a girl. He did it all. Just...not with me.
Mary Jane told Peter she wished she was strong enough to be with him. From all her time with him, she understood his sense of responsibility but still had a hard time accepting that he had to be Spider-Man. When she momentarily gained spider powers during SPIDER-ISLAND, she finally fully understood. Seeing him save the entire city of New York, she couldn't help but let out an "I love you" under her breath.
Even when relationships come to a mutual ending, there tends to be some traces of bitterness or resentment. Why was it the relationship didn't work? One of the party involved would most likely have stronger feelings than the other and might wonder why it couldn't work. Even being over the person and in another relationship wouldn't make seeing an ex with someone else easier. Mary Jane and Peter have almost behaved as best friends but the amount of intimacy they had before adds an elephant to the room.
If they try to just stay "friends," it's going to be a constant reminder of their failed relationship. Things ended for a reason. There are still feelings. Being close to each other is going to end up making one or both miserable. Peter might have moved on a little with Carlie but MJ still has feelings for Peter. There may be the occasional friendship that can survive after a romance ends but after being so intimate with a person, simply hanging out with each other becomes difficult. It can also cause problems in relationship with others.
It's unfortunate when a relationship comes to an end but if the two involved can't work things out, it might be for the best interest of everyone that they move on. Peter and Mary Jane seemed as if they were meant to be. If they can't resolve any issues they had, being friends is going to end up backfiring. Peter and Mary Jane make more sense as a couple rather than friends. If they continue to try to ignore what's really there, it's just going to turn into a big sticky mess.