In Avengers Tower, Spider-Man is struggling to get back on his feet, having been beaten to an inch of his life by Norman Osborn. Had it not been from Harry Osborn's interference, in full American Son gear, he would be dead meat. As he watches Harry battle his father, Peter Parker thinks back to earlier years. In the ensuing flashback, Peter and Harry's relationship is further explored and, ultimately, they promise each other to never let the other one down – calling each other "brother".
Back in the present, the battle rages on between father and son. Trapped outside the room, Lily Hollister, a.k.a. Menace, pleads with Harry to be let in – Harry is evidently too busy fending off his father's attack to bother with her. Barely able to move, Spidey props himself up, ever so slightly; his mask is pretty much gone. Nearby, Harry claims that his father only brought him into the Avengers fold as bait for Spider-Man – to kill him. Norman argues that what he did was offer him a chance to make something remarkable with his life; eliminating Spider-Man was an opportunity that arose from the situation. Norman figured Harry would want Spider-Man dead as much as he did, which is why he handed him on a silver platter. Harry agrees to have been in cahoots with his father and wanting Spider-Man dead, but that was before finding out that his father impregnated his girlfriend and had her pretend it was his. Witnessing this exchange, Spidey cannot believe what he's hearing. Having heard enough of his father's lies, Harry proceeds to blast his father through the wall and right out of Avengers Tower. He is last seen plummeting to his apparent death.
Inside, Harry approaches Spidey, whose mask is completely gone at this point. Peter/Spidey apologizes to Harry, explaining that he didn't want him to be alone in Avengers Tower against his father. Harry looks on, not saying a single word. When he finally speaks, he tells Peter/Spidey that he's shut off the visor on his helmet, therefore, his identity remains a secret. Having said that, he turns around and starts to walk away, not before telling Peter/Spidey to go home and to stay out of his life.
Downstairs, in the same building, Norah Winters is rushing out of the building with the rest of the employees, all of which have been led to believe that they are under attack. Norah purposely bumps into one of the security guards, from whom she stole an access card in the previous issue, and gives him a quick kiss, thanking him. She continues on her way out, her thoughts revealing that she's gathered enough information to write about Norman Osborn and his "American Son".
Norman Osborn survived being thrown out of Avengers Tower. He's landed in a nearby park. He contacts his team and advises them that it's a training exercise – they are to control the crowd only. Lily, as Menace, flies down on her glider to check up on Norman. She is surprised to find him alive and smiling?! It turns out that Norman is not angry with Lily for failing to complete her part of his nefarious plan. As far as he's concerned, she simply sped up the timetable, nothing more. Just then, Harry, still in American Son costume, swoops down and attacks his father once more. Harry cannot believe what Norman did to him (i.e. impregnating Lily, his girlfriend, and having her lied about it). Pushing Harry off him, Norman tells Harry that he spent decades trying to forge him into the son he deserved because he could not conceive a viable child. That changed when he discovered a suitable mate in Lily, whose bloodstream is coursing with Goblin serum. Norman goes on telling Harry that he didn't need to do much persuasion to have her obliged to his offer. Finally, Norman adds that he will ultimately have a child that will be strong, that will make him proud; thus, making Harry redundant. Having said that, she shoots a barrage of small missiles at Harry. Harry protects himself with his shield, as Norman launches himself toward him, smashing his helmet off. Norman grabs hold of Harry by the neck and proceeds to lift him off the ground. He tells Harry that he is no longer his son. Thankfully, Spider-Man arrives on the scene and stops Norman from taking the life of his (now) eldest son. Wearing a makeshift mask, Spidey snags Norman with a web-line and throws him several yards away. As he completes this move, Menace descends upon him and slams her glider into his ribcage. She then takes off flying with him hanging on for dear life. She finally lets go of him when she hears Norman screaming in pain; she turns around and heads back down to help him. Spidey catches a ride with Menace, by snagging her glider with a well-placed webline. Next, he webs her feet to the glider and sends her crashing into the woods. He then falls to the ground and lands with a thud. Nearby, Harry has gotten the upper hand on his father and is pummeling him, pieces of his armor strewn all around. Harry could easily kill him right there and then, but Spidey (Peter) convinces him not do it, because that's exactly what Norman expects him to do. Spidey believes that, by killing Norman, Harry will finally become the son his father’s always wanted. He also feels that Harry has worked too hard to build a life for himself and he doesn't want that taken away from him like that. Spidey reminds him that it's ultimately his choice. Harry lowers his shield and starts taking his armor off. He then bids goodbye to his father, telling him to enjoy his life, and he walks away, finally out from beneath his father's shadow, by his own choice, his own terms, as a man.
A short time later, Peter has used his remaining strength to change back to his civilian clothing and has made his way to Columbia University Medical Center, where he was hospitalized because of his injuries sustained during his capture at the hands of Norman Osborn and his Dark Avengers. Visiting are Aunt May and J. Jonah Jameson Sr.. They were worried about him but are glad he is okay. Peter is nervous that he won't be able to afford the medical costs but Jameson Sr. apparently has it all covered. Peter sure is glad to have the two of them in his family.
Harry is visiting his doctor, who asks to know what drugs he's on. Harry responds strangely, prompting the doctor to ask if she said something funny. Harry explains that the word "drug" is a trigger word for him; he goes on telling her that he was part of medical trials and his body is now rejecting a compound. She rhetorically asks what could help his body deal with this compound and goes on suggesting writing him a prescription for eighty milligrams of oxycontin twice a day.
Norah Winters sits on the floor of her apartment, her laptop computer in front of her. She is writing her story about Norman Osborn after what she witnessed at Avengers Tower. She's on the phone with Ben Urich, telling him that she has Pulitzer-worthy story for him. Just then, she receives an untraceable email. She opens it and a video fills her monitor screen. The security guard, from which she "borrowed" an access card to get in some of the secure levels of Avengers Tower, is seen being tortured by someone, presumably one of the "Dark Avengers"” (most likely Bullseye). The guard is begging for his life, telling his torturer that someone stole his keycard. The video then switches to footage of Norah using said stolen card to gain access to certain floors in Avengers Tower. A voice, assumingly that of Norman Osborn, tells Norah that he never forgets people who messes in his affair. Frightened, Norah gets back on the phone and tells Ben that her story isn't ready yet.
In Avengers Tower, Norman Osborn has his ear pressed against Lily's stomach, trying to listen to the baby's heartbeat. Norman starts talking to the baby, telling him that they are going to do great things together and calling him his only son. Norman goes on telling his unborn son that he had a brother but he's dead to them now, killed by a spider. Norman continues telling his son that he won't be afraid of spiders and that, together, they will kill the spider once and for all. Witnessing this exchange, Lily realizes that Norman Osborn most likely does not care about her at all and only used her. She is nothing but a carrier for his child...nothing else.
The end...for now.
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