Apologies for the late update and thanks for reading! In this one Stella has another go with Natasha but is interrupted as usual.

From: Tony Stark

To: Stella Moon

Date: June 06, 2012

Subject: Re: Sorry

No, I do understand what you're saying. You don't need anyone. Perfectly clear. You could have told me the first time I asked, but alright.

I do apologise. We don't need to tell Coulson or Hill about it, right?

Tony

I shake my head reading the email. He doesn't understand it at all. But I suppose an apology in an email that was probably written by her secretary is all I can expect from him.

From: Minta Tanner

To: Stella Moon

Date: June 08, 2012

Subject: Re: Session of June 08

Dear Miss Moon,

Mr Fury received your email regarding today's session. I would like to apologise in advance quoting his reply:

"Not in a million years."

I would also like to assure you that we are currently trying to make arrangements as to cancel the sessions with Mr Fury from your contract.

Thank you for your understanding.

Regards,

Minta Tanner

Secretary

Office of the Director

File ID: 90460 - June 11, 2012

Name: Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow

Date of birth: November 22, 1984

Place of birth: Soviet Union

Citizenship: Soviet, Russian, American

Occupation: Spy

Family status: Single

"I want to talk about the Red Room," I say. Natasha looks at me puzzled by my reckless attempt at actually doing my job and shakes her head.

"No."

"About Team Delta?"

"Not a chance."

"About your time as Tony's assistant."

"No."

"About Cli—"

"Forget it."

I take three deep breaths before starting the discussion again. But she doesn't let me talk.

"I heard you refused to meet Debney. If you want to know what I think, it was a smart choice. He's not the one for you." I look up and blink a couple of times.

"Tony says he is," I finally answer.

"Well, Tony doesn't know shit about men, does he?"

"Do you?" She pauses. She wanted to shift the conversation on me, to play the old game of girls sticking together in a world ruled by men. But I am not having it. Not with her who puts me into a position of enemy when she doesn't feel like talking to me and treats me like a best friend when she does. It is not that I am hurt or offended by it. I know this is how she works. But I am not a target of hers. She is, on the other hand, a patient of mine.

"Do you, Natasha?" I repeat. "I wonder if you ever see people as who they are… people."

"I- I don't understand," she says.

I raise my eyebrow. "You do. The others say you are a good friend. But you deny you have friends among them. Why is that?"

Natasha frowns but does not reply. I push further. I need to or we won't get anywhere no matter how many sessions we'll have together. "I think you don't know where Black Widow ends and where Natasha begins."

The look at her face is of utter betrayal. She obviously didn't come here to get confronted by the fact that her humanity has been suppressed for so long that she has a hard time finding it. Or even a hard time searching for it.

After a long silence I continue. "You were thirteen when you first killed, is that correct?" She doesn't react but I go on. "I have read a couple of things about the Red Room. According to the files you were around eight when you got into th-"

"I was six," Natasha intervenes. I am surprised by the remark and as far as I can see, she is too. It is clear my observation about Black Widow shook her nonchalant demeanour, if not cracked it even.

"That's way too young," I say.

She shrugs. "Well, what is the appropriate age to throw a girl in the Red Room and strip her of everything that makes her who she is? To beat her and break her and-"

I pour a glass of water from the jug I keep on the coffee table. She reaches for it and downs it. "You are absolutely right," I nod. "I am sorry."

"I don't need your apology," she snaps. "I don't need your pity. And I don't need your opinion. I am who I am, yes. A cold hearted assassin. But you don't get to sit here and tell me I'm broken and lost and unworthy of love and friendship and then go back to your perfect little world with the salary you get from the very same company that wants me to be that assassin. That pays me to be the Black Widow."

"I never said any of those things," I point out after a stunned silence. I want to slam my fist on the table and tell her that I do not have a perfect life, that I have problems too. That I am here alone, far from my family with whom I don't have a great relationship in the first place. But I cannot.

Natasha glares at me. "Right."

I sigh. "Natasha. I am here to help you. I don't want to sit here for an hour just to have myself tangle in the Black Widow's web. The spider is your job."

"And you are SHIELD's therapist."

"I like to push my limits."

"And others'," she adds.

I smirk but before I could say anything, the door opens without a knock and agent Coulson steps in. "I'm sorry to interrupt, Miss Moon. Romanoff, I need you to come with me. Now."

Natasha transforms before my eyes. Every trace of vulnerability and emotions fade from her expression as she jumps up. "What happened?" Black Widow is back to work.

"Rogers got compromised. You have to fly to Moscow immediately."

"Barton?" Natasha asks.

"Stark is going with you," Phil says making Natasha frown.

"But…" I can't hear her objection because they leave my room without as much as saying me goodbye.

From: Maria Hill

To: Stella Moon

Date: June 11, 2012

Subject: Sessions with Romanoff, Stark and Rogers cancelled

Dear Miss Moon,

I apologise for the confusion about agent Romanoff's leaving the session early today. Agent Rogers is on a mission in Moscow right now and following a problematic action on his part he got injured and captured. Romanoff and Stark are tasked with collecting him.

Due to these unfortunate circumstances, I have to inform you that your therapy sessions with the above mentioned agents are on hold until further notice.

Thank you for your understanding.

Regards,

M. Hill