Natasha Romanoff never let people see the true side of her, the child that loved all of the Avengers, and even some stray agents in SHIELD. But most importantly, she loved Pepper Potts.
That was how the problem started, because she let the vulnerable child inside of her out around the strawberry blonde, and that was how she got killed.
No one blamed her, not one Avenger or Agent, not even Tony. Virginia Potts' funeral was when she figured out that Tony blamed Hill, not herself.
Natasha had lightly argued with him about that, but Tony had none of it. He gave her condolence after condolence for the death of her girlfriend, and she just stared blankly into space.
Worry had settled into all of the others over her, after many long insomniacs nights and afternoons of drinking the cheapest rotgut vodka she could find.
Phil Coulson and Clint Barton both were weaning her off the vodka and helping her to sleep. Steve and Bruce tried their damn hardest to get her to speak about her feelings. Tony knew to leave well enough alone, even supplying Natasha with sleeping pills and more vodka. Thor had no idea what to do.
But the most helpful was probably Maria. Hill knew exactly what to say and when to say it. Tony may not have trusted her as much as he now trusted Natasha, but Natasha couldn't help but not care. Yes, no one could EVER replace Miss Pepper Potts, but Hill did help relieve a little of the pain and guilt.
Though on those nights of PTSD filled nightmares of the Red Room and anguished screams, she found herself missing Pepper's warm touch and soothing voice. Maria would never be able to replace her.
Maybe that was why they broke up so quickly. Maybe that was why Natasha was back to being alone at night crying and curled into a pillow. Maybe that was why she started looking up ways to resurrect people.
Favorite, Review! There will be a sequel with dialogue and a resurrected Pepper.