AN: It's finally here! It was about time that Natasha and Skye had a heart to heart. I really hope you enjoy this chapter, it was a blast writing it. And, of course, thanks to my awesome Beta MegaDiary123.

All rights go to Marvel

Skye's POV

"We need to talk, right?" I said and could see that Natasha was wearing her famous "Assassin Mask". I was one of the few people, alongside with Clint, Phil and May, that could see behind it. "Am I gonna do the talking or are you?" I prompted, hoping to get a reply. Of course I got none, not that I had high hopes for the opposite.

Natasha just stood there, her arms folded at her chest, which was rising steadily with each breath as she kept her heart rate steady. "How have you been?" I tried with a bit of a playful tone, only to get the same lack of response. We stayed like that, engulfed in silence that was getting more awkward by the second. My eyes couldn't meet hers and finally rested on the ground, not looking anything in particular. I knew that she wasn't going to talk, I knew that she was angry, but I never had this problem of her shutting me out and it had an uneasy feeling rise to my chest. Close to my heart, as if someone had grabbed it and was slowly squeezing. We might had been only a few feet apart, but I felt like I had lost her already.

"What do you want me to say?" I finally gave in. "That I am sorry I left without leaving a trace behind? I cannot lie to you and say that I am, because I am not. I know I did what I had to protect you guys and I will always do that". The memories of the nightmare that had caused an earthquake in New York, as well as many similar ones that I had had during my alone time came rushing through my mind, but I pushed them aside. No, this is different, I said to myself.

"I kept tabs on everyone, you know? Kept hacking into S.H.I.E.L.D. just to make sure that everyone was okay. I read about all the missions that you and Clint went together, about Phil's missions that Fury send him all over the world as his second in command. And about May… well, you know, her transferring to Admin. And other people as well" she knew who I was talking about, so there was no need for any explanations. "By the way the room is soundproof, you can yell at me all you want. I know that you are angry so please, go ahead. Anything will be better than the cold shoulder that I am getting from you right now" I whispered the last part, my voice going smaller than I would have like.

It was a few good and far-stretched minutes before Natasha spoke. "We could have helped you".

At that moment I lifted my eyes and met hers. "Helped me? We both know that that's bullshit Natasha. S.H.I.E.L.D. would take the first opportunity to put me in a lab and make me their pet lab. See how my powers worked after tons of experiments. And seriously now? We? When did you become so indulged into the agent part, so loyal to them?"

What came next took me completely by surprise. She came in close, faster than I had expected, and slapped me hard on the cheek, not caring for the concussion that I had earned myself only the previous day.

It took me a few moments to get my bearing, and she waited patiently for me to do so before she spoke. "How can you think that I meant S.H.I.E.L.D.? I would never let them get their hands on you had I known about your powers. You know very well the people that I am referring to. Because we all care about you just as much as you care about us. Maybe more, considering all the energy and time that we put into trying to track you down when you obviously didn't want to be found. And you do, what? Leave without leaving a trace, disappearing all together and all any of us get is you sending me a message four freaking years later?"

"You have every right to be angry" I told her.

"I am not angry" she countered. "I am disappointed and… hurt. You know how hard it is for me to let people in. And yet I allow you, time after time, when you clearly don't share the same feelings for me" every word was emotionless.

My heart rate was spiking up after hearing her words. "What are you–?"

"It seems that your new best pal, Potts, knows more stuff about your life in the past few years than me. She knew about your powers, didn't she?" She asked, but her tone let me know that she knew the answer already. She scoffed when I didn't reply and just dropped my head. I could feel the sting in my eye growing be the minute. "I thought so. So, what? You've been with her for how long? Two weeks max? And still you told her. I know you for way longer, I have particularly raised you. And yet you trust her more than me? Or were you not trusting me enough to keep your secret from Fury? So, yeah, I may be a little hurt but I believe that I have every right to be".

I could not help it. Her words were too similar to the nightmares, our relationship was practically destroyed and I had only myself to blame. My hands wrapped around my bent knees, not caring about the protests that my left shoulder was sending me. I rested my head on top of my knees and let the tears fall free, not being able to hold them in for any longer.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry" I kept repeating in between sobs. "I know that this is all my fault. I wanted to tell you, but didn't know how" I was not sure if she could understand what I was saying, but I just wanted to take this off my chest. After not getting any reaction from Natasha I added, "I can understand if you don't want to be sisters anymore".

The last part was only a whisper. Inner fears finally materialising in the form of words.

I did not hear anything after that. My heart beating loudly in my ears, and that along with my sobs was the only things that I could hear. I did not get any reply for quite some time, or even if I did I was not sure I would be able to hear it in the state that I was in. It must have been minutes since I spoke, and the silence let me guess that Natasha had just agreed and left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I startled and flinched when a hand landed on my shoulder. I didn't think that I could stand it if she just wanted me to look at her so that she could agree with me.

Her hand, that had been retrieved when I first flinched, landed once more on my good shoulder and I couldn't find the energy to move it away. "Skye" Natasha's voice was soft, not the robotic one that she previously had. "Skye, look at me" she continued only for me to shake my head.

I didn't know how, I really didn't, but she somehow managed to grab my chin and lift my head. Hers was just centimetres from mine, but I still looked down unable to face her in such a close range. "Look at me" she said once more and with her other hand brushed a tear that was running down my cheek. The moment I looked up she spoke.

"You will always be my sister, okay? Always and nothing is going to change that. I might be hurt by you pushing me away, but I will always come looking for you. No matter what. This is what families do. We protect and take care of each other" both her smile and soft tone were genuine to the bone. "I will always be your sister" she leaned in and rested her forehead to mine. "Always"

I let my legs unwrap and fall of the bed, as I hugged Nat. Holding her like a lifeline, she returned the gesture. The silence that the room was now in was not an uncomfortable one.

"I missed you so much" I whispered in her ear.

"I missed you too" she said back. The smile on my face was not a forced one and I had a feeling that she had the same expression as me.