Peter could only see this situation getting worse so he turned to the child and wiped away her tears. "Go, I'll find you tomorrow, okay?" Peter whispered, kissing the girl's forehead before sending Aria back to her room. He wanted to leave too but still, his feet were stuck.
Before Steve could reflect or apologize, she took a step forward towards him, her stare cold as ice.
"You knew who I was before you started this so that makes you a fool for thinking you could change me. I will not apologize for taking time to grieve my child and I will not apologize for being myself. You're the one who couldn't hack it."
"No one could hack it, you're as empathetic as a slab of concrete. I tried to love you Natasha, I really did, but I don't think its possible." Steve hissed, "you're unlovable" 
The room fell silent and Natasha took a few steps back, her chin started to wobble as her face began crumbling. Peter's heart ached for the woman, Seven wouldn't have wanted this for her mother. 
"We're done" Natasha whispered, her voice shaking.
"Wait Nat, I didn't mean-"
"Don't call me that." She fired back, wiping away one salty tear that had trickled down her face. She cursed herself for being so emotional. "You said what you meant, and you know it."
"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking." Steve begged, taking a step closer.
Natasha closed her eyes and Peter could see her expression changing as she fought to regain composure. When she opened her eyes they were void of any emotion, contrasting the emotive blue ones she was met with. "We're done." She repeated. "Leave." 
Steve reached out again but immediately retracted his hand when he noticed her hand shift to her waist out of instinct. She didn't feel safe anymore. 
Natasha managed to hold herself together for a moment longer, breaking down in sobs as soon as he was out of sight. 
Peter stood awkwardly in the doorway, unsure of whether to leave or help her. He didn't know if he would appreciate him seeing her this vulnerable. They weren't close anymore. 
He shifted his weight over to his left side and his stomach dropped as his shoe scuffed against the marble, squeaking. Natasha's head snapped up and met his apologetic eyes. Surprisingly she didn't seem to care, just bowing her head and crying harder. Peter decided that this must be new level of low if she was allowing him to see her like this. 
He cautiously made his way over and slid down next to her, back against the wall. Peter offered his hand, expecting rejection, but she allowed him to interlace their fingers and Peter swallowed, now nervous. He squeezed her hand and hoped she was finding it reassuring. 
Peter hadn't realized that he had grown so much in the year they had spent apart, but his head was significantly higher up than hers and he tensed as she lay her head on his shoulder, stifling her sobs into his hoodie. 
The teenager had never been this close with Natasha before, he wasn't sure anyone had. He wasn't sure if she took strength from the fact that he was experiencing the most similar grief as her, or that she had come to the conclusion that he had already heard the entire argument, and there was no point in sending him away now. Either way he was going to be there for her. 
He squeezed her hand again and shuffled his body so he could place his right arm around her, hugging her close. Her shampoo was the same as Seven's and suddenly he was fourteen again, finding any excuse to be close to Seven just so he could smell her hair. He pulled his head away and tried to comfort the woman.
"I'm sorry Nat" He whispered, "I'm so sorry." Peter was apologizing for all of it: the argument, Seven's death, and how they hadn't really been there for her as much as they should. "You know, I never liked Sharon Carter that much."
Natasha shook in the embrace and it took Peter a moment to realize she was laughing. She pulled back and Peter shot her a crooked grin. "You don't have to say that Pete, I can handle a breakup"
"No Nat, I'm deadly serious. She always calls me Percy. Percy. Even after I correct her she calls me Percy." She realized Peter was being serious and laughed a little more, sniffling.
She pulled back and Peter took his right arm back, leaving his hand in hers. "I'm sorry Natasha, you don't deserve any of this." Peter apologized again but Natasha wouldn't meet his eyes. 
"Parker you don't know what I deserve, maybe this is all my karma catching up with me." She laughed but it was hollow.
"Well, maybe it is karma. But either way you don't deserve any of it."
Natasha shook her head but Peter could see a ghost of a smile on her lips. "Did you really hear all of that?" She looked embarrassed.
"Uh, yeah, I'm sorry. I sent Aria away though, she didn't like the volume." 
"That's okay, I think the whole state heard that argument. Clint will be knocking at my door tomorrow asking for the 'hot Goss.'" She imitated his voice, using air quotes. The two sat for a moment, watching the shadows on the wall created by the candles. "God Peter, what am I going to do?" 
"What do you mean?" He raised an eyebrow,
"I mean, my daughter's dead, my relationship just crashed and burned in the kitchen, and the people in this compound won't talk to me, as if my grief and sadness is contagious. I'm pathetic. Who can I drink tea with now?"
"You lost me at the end." He replied, "Tea?" 
"That was an example, I didn't mean-"
"Do you even like tea? You're always drinking coffee."
"Yes I like tea."
"Well, I like tea too." He paused. "I haven't really been there for you, none of us have."
"You had your own grief, you all did."
"Still." He shook his head and stood up, pulling her with him. She rubbed her temples, trying to combat the incoming headache. "We should've done more. Plus you have a tendency to pull away when you feel threatened or vulnerable."
Natasha opened her mouth to protest before realizing he was entirely true. "When did you get so wise?"
"I'm sixteen now Tash, wisdom flows right out of me. Green or Chamomile?"
"Green."
The two took a moment. Seven's birthday had been last month and it had gone by as another day, no one willing to acknowledge it. She hadn't been there to celebrate with them. Natasha gripped the twin necklaces on her collarbone.
Peter passed her a mug of tea, raising his own to a toast. "Toast to sixteen?"
"Toast to sixteen."
"We'll drink tea Nat, and we can talk. How about that?"
"That sounds good Pete," and for the first time in a long time, she smiled.

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PSA - Sharon is gay in this fic, so nothing romantic with Steve and Sharon going on.