We continue our Spider-Man Christmas with 1982's "Small Miracles" from Marvel Team-Up #127 by J.M. DeMatteis, Kerry Gammill and Mike Esposito...

In this touching little story, Peter Parker is attending a Christmas party at Aunt May's boarding house when one of the men, the offbeat poet, Mr. Chekov, tells Peter about his niece, Bette Chekov, and how he hasn't seen her in years. Peter feels bad for him but is then visited by, of all people, the Watcher. The Watcher, you see, knows that Bette Chekov is in some trouble and she will reach a crossroads in her life tonight - she will either end up dead or turn over a new leaf.

Spider-Man, then, naturally devotes himself to finding a lone woman in New York City in just a matter of hours.

I just recently spoke about how DeMatteis' take on Cap was one where Cap has an almost supernatural ability to inspire people and said talents were on display in this issue, as Spider-Man, frustrated at how he hasn't been able to find Bette, runs into Captain America on a rooftop patrol and Cap inspires Spidey and wishes him a merry Christmas...

Eventually, Spidey tracks down Bette, who turns out to have bought some stolen coke with her roommate. The coke was stolen from the mob. The roommate has been killed and Bette is on her way when Spidey interrupts the mob's assault on Bette. But she is still shot during the attack (this is the mob here, and not the X-Men, Spidey can't be expected to stop them all). The Watcher appears and Spidey rightfully is like, "Dude, you've already interfered a lot tonight, why not a little bit more?"

Awww...Uatu, you old Christmas softie, you!