"She was your family. That makes you part of our family too."
Peter stared in shocked disbelief as Clint finished recounting how Natasha, his Mom, had sacrificed herself on Vormir so the Avengers could obtain the Soul Stone. She had leapt to her death so the rest of them could live.
"No," Peter choked out through the lump in his throat. "No, she can't be gone! She can't be!"
Beside him, Yelena looked equally devastated. "Natalia would never..." she started, before her voice broke off with a sob.
Clint just gazed at them both, his eyes infinitely sad. "I'm so sorry," he rasped. "But it's true. To get the stone, someone had to be lost. And Nat...she didn't even hesitate."
Rage suddenly boiled up in Peter, hot and fierce. He slammed his fist on the table, splintering the wood. "You were supposed to protect her!" he shouted at Clint. "She was your partner! How could you let her die?"
Clint flinched. "You think I wanted this?" he asked hollowly. "I tried to be the sacrifice, but she stopped me. Knocked me out and did it herself. Nat knew it had to be done to save everyone else."
"Bullshit!" Peter snarled. Behind him, Yelena's face had gone cold and brittle. "You threw her off that cliff, didn't you? Admit it!"
"Peter, stop," Wanda interjected, her voice gentle but firm. She came up beside him, resting a hand on his trembling arm. "Getting angry won't change what happened. Yelling at Clint won't bring her back."
Peter shrugged her off, glaring venomously at Clint. "He killed her, Wanda. He has to pay."
Yelena nodded once, a deadly promise in her eyes. "You will suffer for my sister's death," she told Clint tonelessly.
The older man just bowed his head in acceptance. Inside, Peter roared in fury. How dare this murderer act so calmly when his Mom was dead because of him!
Before anyone could react, Peter shot a web at Clint, yanking him off his feet to land hard on the floor. In the next instant, Yelena was there with a knife to Clint's throat.
"Tell us how she really died," Yelena demanded, her blade drawing a thin line of blood. "Tell us!"
Clint didn't struggle or plead for his life. He simply lay limp beneath them, radiating despair. "Just get it over with," he whispered dully.
Peter froze then, shocked by how defeated Clint seemed. The archer wasn't even trying to defend himself against their assault. Why? Guilt, he realized. Clint clearly blamed himself for Natasha's death. Killing him now would just be completing what the man had already started in his own mind - a slow suicide over failing to save his best friend.
The revelation took the fight right out of Peter. He stumbled back from Clint's prone form, suddenly horrified by how close he'd just come to killing someone in cold blood. What was he doing? This wasn't what Natasha would have wanted. She sacrificed herself to save lives - she wouldn't want that act of heroism to inspire more senseless death.
Yelena seemed to come to the same conclusion. With a broken sob, she lowered her knife from Clint's throat. "Natalia loved you like family," she choked out. "I cannot dishonor her by harming you."
They both flinched as the front door suddenly burst open. Wanda rushed in, Laura and the Barton kids right behind her. Laura took one look at the shattered table and her husband bleeding on the ground before pulling her children into her embrace.
"What is going on here?" Laura demanded, her protective glare fixed on Peter and Yelena.
Wanda quickly moved between them. "Peter and Yelena are grieving," she explained in a pacifying tone. "Clint told them about Natasha's sacrifice. They reacted...badly."
Laura's expression softened with understanding even as she continued shielding her kids. Nate Barton began to cry quietly into her shoulder.
Peter felt like the worst human being on the planet. Not only had he almost killed an innocent man in his rage, he'd scared a little boy in the process. What was wrong with him?
Yelena seemed similarly horrified. "I..." she started uncertainly. "We did not mean..." She trailed off, at a loss.
Taking charge, Wanda gently helped Clint to his feet and began inspecting his throat wound. Laura watched them for a moment before turning her attention back to Peter and Yelena.
"I know you're both hurting," she said gently. "But violence won't take away the pain or bring Natasha back. It will only spread more suffering."
Peter's shoulders slumped. "You're right," he admitted dully. "I don't know what came over me. I was just so angry about Mom being gone and..." He huffed out a shaky breath. "I'm so sorry. I don't actually blame you, Clint. I know you cared about her too."
Clint managed a small, sad smile. "Thanks, kid. And don't beat yourself up too much. Trust me, I know what it's like to be blinded by rage and regret when you lose someone you love." A haunted look flickered across his face. "You just gotta remember that they wouldn't want you to follow that dark path."
Peter nodded, still disgusted with himself but also grateful for Clint's forgiveness. Beside him, Yelena shifted uncomfortably.
"I should not have threatened you," she muttered. "My grief was no excuse for violence."
Clint reached out to grasp her shoulder. "I understand, Yelena. Really, I do. Let's just put it behind us, okay?"
She nodded, relief crossing her face. Laura's expression softened as she looked between the two chastened young people before her.
"Oh Peter, Yelena," she sighed, opening her arms to them. After a moment's hesitation, they both stepped forward into her embrace. Nate stopped crying as Laura hugged them close, gently rocking from side to side. Despite himself, Peter felt something in his soul settle at the contact. Laura was no Natasha, but her care and warmth was still so very needed right now.
After several moments, they finally stepped back. Peter scrubbed a hand over his face. "I should probably call Bucky and tell him what happened," he muttered.
Laura shook her head. "Not yet. You're in no state of mind to face your father." At Peter's surprised look, she shrugged. "Nat told me about the issues between you two. But that's a conversation for another time." Her voice softened. "What's important now is taking care of yourselves and honoring Natasha's life, not revisiting old wounds."
Peter let out a slow breath. As much as he hated to admit it, Laura was right. He was nowhere near ready to have a rational discussion with Bucky about their damaged relationship. That storm of emotions could wait - grieving Natasha had to come first.
"You're right," he acknowledged. Looking up, he met Clint's eyes questioningly. "Did Nat - did she ever get any kind of funeral?"
Clint's face spasmed with old pain, but he shook his head. "No. Everything happened so fast after she..." He stopped, swallowed hard. "There just wasn't time before the final battle with Thanos. And after Tony's funeral, I think everyone just wanted to move on, you know? But Nat deserved so much better than what she got." His jaw tightened with quiet anger.
Wanda stepped up and clasped his hand supportively. "Then we will give her what she deserves now," she said firmly. Looking around, her gaze took in Laura, Clint, Peter and Yelena. "We will give her a beautiful farewell. Her true family."
Peter's heart lightened just a little. A funeral would give him real closure, a chance to honor Natasha's life and say a proper goodbye. Glancing at Yelena, he saw a similar glimmer of hope in her eyes.
"We must invite all of her friends as well," Yelena added. "The Avengers, the people she fought beside. They should be there to celebrate her life."
Clint looked between them all, his expression softening. "You're right," he rasped. "Nat was important to the whole team. And she considered every one of them family too, in her own way." Straightening, he met their expectant gazes. "Let's do it then. Let's give Natasha the memorial she deserves, with all the people who love her."
Peter's throat tightened with emotion. For the first time since hearing the awful news, he felt a spark of something beyond grief - love, carried on by those left behind. Natasha Romanoff would be laid to rest surrounded by all who cared for her.
It was time to begin healing. Time to honor the Black Widow's noble sacrifice, and carrying forth her legacy of courage.
One Month Later
Peter Parker stared blankly at the simple black coffin with the Black Widow logo embedded into it resting beside the open grave. Inside lay the body of Natasha Romanoff, the legendary Black Widow. She had been more than a mentor and fellow Avenger to Peter though - she was the closest thing he'd ever had to a mother after May passed. Now here he stood, only seventeen years old and suddenly orphaned yet again.
A gentle hand squeezed his shoulder. Peter glanced up to see Bucky Barnes gazing down at him, eyes heavy with sorrow.
"Hey Dad," Peter mumbled.
Bucky's lips quirked up slightly. "Hey, son. How are you holding up?"
Peter sighed and looked away. "Honestly? I'm not. She's gone, Dad. Nat was...she was everything to me. With May gone, the only home I had left was with her and now..." His voice broke off in a sob.
Immediately, Bucky wrapped his arms around the boy, pulling Peter against his chest as he began to cry in earnest.
"Shhh, it's alright," Bucky soothed, running a hand through Peter's hair. "I've got you, son. I'm here."
They stayed locked in their embrace even as the other funeral attendees began to gather around the grave. No one interrupted the two grieving spiders, giving them space as Peter released wave after wave of anguish into Bucky's shoulder.
Finally Peter pulled back, hastily wiping his eyes beneath the dark glasses he wore. "S-sorry," he mumbled.
"Don't apologize," Bucky said gently. "There's no shame in grieving someone you loved."
Peter simply nodded, not trusting his voice. Together, they joined the circle of heroes surrounding Natasha's final resting place. All around, somber expressions met Peter's hidden gaze. Sam. Wanda. Clint and his family. Bruce. Thor. Steve. The Guardians of the Galaxy. Carol Danvers. Nick Fury and Maria Hill. Scott Lang. Pepper Potts and little Morgan Stark. Even Yelena Belova, Natasha's sister, had come to pay her respects.
Peter kept his head down, desperately willing himself not to break down again. He couldn't show that kind of weakness in front of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. He had to be strong, like Nat would want...
The service began without fanfare. As the unofficial leader of the Avengers, Steve Rogers stepped forward first to say a few words about their fallen comrade. His speech was simple but heartfelt, emphasizing Natasha's courage and selflessness. She had laid down her life so others could live - there was no greater love than that.
Sam Wilson went next, his voice low and resonant as he shared a funny story about the time Natasha had beaten him six times in a row at target practice. Laura Barton spoke after, tearfully recounting how Natasha had saved her family years ago and had remained a treasured friend ever since.
Then it was Clint's turn. The archer stood rigidly before Natasha's grave, fists clenched at his sides. His red-rimmed eyes were hard with pain. For a long moment, he said nothing at all. The silence stretched on until finally Clint croaked out a single sentence:
"She was the best of us."
With that, he whirled around and rejoined his family, furiously swiping at the moisture on his cheeks. No one commented on the tears slipping down the composed Hawkeye's face. They knew better.
Bruce Banner took Clint's place next. Removing his glasses, the scientist dabbed at his eyes before speaking. "Natasha once helped me embrace my rage," he shared softly. "She looked at the monster inside me and saw something worthy of redemption. If she had that kind of faith in the Hulk, she must have truly been one of the most open-hearted people to ever live. I'll...I'll miss her compassion. And her humor. And her fire. She was...she was so very loved."
Bruce's voice broke on the last word. With a final sad smile directed at Natasha's coffin, the broken man stepped aside.
Peter realized with a start that it was his turn. Straightening his shoulders, he slowly walked up to stand beside his mother's grave. For a long moment he was silent, gathering his strength. When he finally spoke, his voice was steady.
"Natasha Romanoff was my hero," he began simply. "On the battlefield she led with courage and skill. But that's not why she was my hero. She was my hero because of her boundless heart. Because she took in three stray, broken kids and made them family. She gave us a home." Peter paused, emotion welling up to choke his voice. "I lost my parents when I was little. Then I lost my aunt, my only living relative. I was alone. But Nat - Mom - she found me and gave me a life again. I owe her...everything."
Shock rippled through the crowd at Peter's heartfelt confession. No one but Bucky, Clint, Laura, Wanda, Bruce, Steve, Sam, Thor, Pepper, Morgan, Maria, Nick and Yelena knew of the close maternal relationship between Spider-Man and Black Widow. They had kept it quiet to protect Peter's identity and safety. But now, raw grief had overridden caution.
Peter pressed on, the floodgates open. "Losing her...it feels like I'm orphaned all over again," he admitted brokenly. "But even though she's gone, her love stays with me. It's part of me now. She made me the man I am today. So thank you, Mom, for never giving up on me. I'll carry you with me always."
Tears streamed freely down Peter's face as he finished. For a long moment, the clearing was utterly silent save for a few muffled sobs. Then Wanda was there, wrapping Peter in her arms. Her own grief poured out as she clung to him. Yelena joined them too, squeezing Peter's hand with shared understanding. The three orphans took comfort in each other, bound by loss.
When their tears finally slowed, Yelena took her place at the podium. Her usual stoic mask was cracked, revealing a well of pain beneath.
"Natalia was more than a mentor to me," she spoke thickly. "She was sestra - sister. My only family for many years. She taught me that I could be more than a cold assassin, that I could have a conscience and a code worth upholding. That I could find meaning beyond killing." Yelena swiped angrily at a falling tear. "I will honor her by redeeming my life as she redeemed hers. I will help those in need, as she helped me. I only wish..." Her control broke then, expression crumpling. "I wish I could have had more time with her," she whispered.
Head bowed, Yelena returned to Peter and Wanda's side. Wanda immediately pulled the blonde into a fierce embrace as her tears began anew.
Finally, Bruce Banner took the stage again, clearing his throat. "Would, uh, anyone else like to say a few words?" he asked gently.
When no one stepped forward, Bruce nodded. "Then I guess we'll bring this to a close." He opened a small book and began reading a poem about love living on beyond death.
As Bruce's soothing voice washed over him, Peter stared dryly at Natasha's casket. This was it. The final goodbye. He wanted desperately to scream and rage against a universe that kept taking everything from him, but he just felt numb inside. Empty.
Natasha's coffin began its final descent into the earth. One by one, the Avengers each grabbed a handful of dirt and dropped it onto the casket in a last farewell. The Guardians lingered back, faces somber. They had only known Natasha briefly, but the sacrifice she had made for their universe had clearly affected them deeply.
At last, only Peter, Wanda and Yelena remained. Silently, the three held hands as they each poured a mound of earth over Natasha's grave. The finality of it hit Peter like a punch to the gut. She was really gone forever.
He didn't realize he was swaying until Bucky grabbed him. "Whoa, easy Queens," the super-soldier said. "Let's get you home."
Peter shook his head weakly. Home? The little apartment he'd shared with Natasha and Wanda over the last two years? The place filled with memories of late night movies, laughter over cooking disasters, long talks and fierce hugs? Just the thought of walking through that door without Nat there...he couldn't. He just couldn't.
"No," Peter choked out. "I can't...it's too..."
Bucky's expression softened with understanding. "Alright, no problem. You can stay with me for as long as you need."
At that suggestion, Peter instinctively recoiled. Stay with Bucky? The man responsible for his parents' deaths? The decades-old revelation had put an uncrossable divide between them, preventing the bonding Natasha had hoped for. Peter was grateful for Bucky's support today, but he wasn't ready to actually live with the former Winter Soldier. The pain of his parents' loss was still too raw.
Sensing his hesitation, Bucky's face shuttered. "Right. Sorry, that was thoughtless of me. We'll figure something else out then."
Before Peter could respond, Clint Barton stepped forward. "You're welcome to stay with us," he offered gently. Behind him, Laura nodded in agreement.
Peter frowned in confusion. "But...why?"
Clint smiled sadly. "Because Nat made me promise that if anything ever happened to her, I'd take care of her family. And that's you three now." He held Peter's gaze evenly. "She was your family. That makes you part of our family too."
Peter's eyes burned with fresh tears. Nat really had thought of everything, even planning for them in case... No, he couldn't go there again.
"Thank you," he said thickly. "We'd really appreciate that." Beside him, Wanda and Yelena murmured their own gratitude.
Laura immediately swept forward to wrap them in a comforting hug. "You'll always have a home with us," she promised.
Exhausted and heartsore, the three orphans allowed themselves to be shepherded into the Bartons' waiting car. As they pulled away, Peter glanced back one last time at Natasha's grave.
Goodbye Mom, he thought. Wherever you are now, I hope you've found peace. I'll never forget you.
He would honor her memory by carrying on her legacy of heroism. By being the man she always knew he could be.
It was a heavy burden for his young shoulders. But he wouldn't carry it alone. Natasha had given him a family again. And together, they would be strong enough to weather this pain.