In New York, the weather was abysmal, mirroring the atmosphere in the Mendes household.

In the week that followed, Nora was inconsolable. The once lively and caring fifteen year old was now a empty shell of a girl. On the day of the catastrophe, she came home in the police car, Rafe's jacket around her as she shivered in her spot. The gold light had dimmed to a glow and the black sludge had seeped back into her skin but the sight of her looked like she was going through withdrawals. Aliya kept a close eyes on her as she slept after they got home, her nurse training making her the one capable to do so. When she woke up the next day, it was like someone else had inhabited their sister's body. Nora walked around in a daze, constantly in her room, only coming down when the necessity to eat became too much. She was afraid to touch anything, even her own family members. Rafe had told Aliya that it would take time to get over what she had gone through. He was right for the most part, around Wednesday she started to crack a smile, but that progress was shot to hell when the news came on that night.

The news showed their dad standing on a podium, someone she didn't know beside him. All three siblings sat down at the tv, having just finished their dinner and watched as he began a speech that would shatter his youngest daughter back into the million pieces she originally was. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are here to talk about the incident that occurred at Oscorp a few days ago. As you may know from the recent newspapers, a laboratory test malfunctioned in the heart of the building, killing many innocent workers and guards. Today, CEO Norman Osborn is here to make an official statement."

Rafe muted the tv, but it didn't matter, Nora had heard enough. Tears rimmed her eyes as she stood up upon hearing the front door open. "Laboratory test?" she all but shrieked, rounding on him. He already looked ashamed. Aliya and Rafe stood to be beside their sister, Rafe resting a hand on her shoulder comfortingly.

"I couldn't do much about it."

"Dad, we all know that's bullshit." Aliya snapped, gesturing to the tv where Norman Osborn was talking, their father beside him in his uniform. "You're up there defending them!"

"Language, Aliya."

Nora was crying again, a normal occurrence these past few days, but this time they were tears of anger. "Explain. Now."

Their father sighed, walking into the living room properly and sitting down. "I tried, I went to Commissioner Stacey and presented him with the evidence I had." he raised his hands in defeat, leaning them on his knees. "But it was inadmissible, do you know what that means?"

"Yeah," the three said, with Nora adding. "We watch Law & Order."

"Well, he said it was inadmissible. All he could get Ian on was threatening an officer with a weapon. It would only get him 3 years in jail with not nearly enough probation."

Aliya shook her head, disgusted. "So, that man and his wacko employees get off scott free?"

"I was there!" Nora exclaimed. "I'm a witness!"

"You're also a dream for defending attorneys." he stood up. "You killed people Nora, a lot of people—"

"It was self defence!"

"Not to a jury if it's twisted the wrong way." Nathan brushed a tear off his daughters cheek. "A defence attorney will make you look like a monster."

Nora scoffed, turning her face away from him. "Well, they wouldn't be wrong."

Nathan gave her a stern look, but his heart cracked a little at that. Trying to lift her from the dark hole she had fallen into when she came home from Oscorp was hard. Convincing her that what she did was not cold blooded murder, those people would've shot her to death, how that collar was supposed to hurt her well before she went full dark no stars on them. He knew it would be hard, something like that would affect anyone detrimentally, especially someone as young as Nora. "Nora, what have I told you about that."

"What, I'm just stating the obvious." she snapped, shouldering past him to stomp up the stairs.

The three stood there, flinching slightly when the door slammed moments after. Rafe blew out a breath threw his nose. "This conference could've been timed better."

"I really didn't have a say. Norman Osborn wanted to clear the air as quickly as possible."

"The one time a businessman does." Aliya muttered, changing the tv channel quickly.

Rafe folded his arms. "Maybe we should talk to her."

Aliya shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Rafe, if we talk to her anymore than we've already tried we are going to get even more annoying to her. Maybe we need to scale back the visits."

The two men glanced at each other before coming the realisation that she was right. While they knew they had to be there for her, it was starting to feel like they were kind of shoving themselves down her throat so to speak. Constantly checking up on her, trying to get her to do things when she wasn't ready wasn't good. They needed to back off until Nora was ready herself. Nora wasn't going to be like this forever, she wasn't the type of girl to just stay down, she would get back, but in her own time. You couldn't rush healing like this, especially someone who knew how to heal better than anyone.

"I'm not saying we abandon her, I'm just saying we should dial it down."

"I'm still never going to live this down, am I?"

"Oh, no." Rafe stated at the same time Aliya said. "Absolutely not."

"Great." their father grumbled, walking into his office to finish his work.

Then, it was just the two of them left in the living room, the two older siblings stared at each other, tired features. "It's a sad day when I feel like the most mature." Rafe commented, letting out a tired laugh.

Aliya hated the fact that she agreed.

-

It wasn't until Saturday night that there started to be a change in Nora's actions, over one specific act.

Saturday started like every other day, with Aliya waking first to try and coax Nora out of bed. It seemed her sister would only respond to her and to her dad and brother, that was the biggest leap of progress to happen. Nathan was holed up in his office trying, according to Rafe, to get the Commissioner to really look at the evidence he had presented the NYPD. Aliya felt her family was splintered, and it was up to her and Rafe to fix that with only a roll of tape and a glue gun.

In other words, they were trying to do the impossible.

The young nurse knocked on Nora's door later that day, watching her sit on her bay window, fingers tracing the streams of water flowing down the window. "Wow, any minute now you look like you're gonna burst out into song."

Nora chuckled half heartedly. "Vanessa Hudgens style, huh?"

"What did Troy do this time?" they both laughed as Aliya sat next to her. "Feeling okay?"

Nora leaned her head against the window, shrugging. "I don't know, kind of. Better than I used to be."

"That's all you can do. Take every day as it comes."

It had seemed Nora had shed all the tears she needed to because now she was in a different kind of phase. She was wrecked, bags were under her eyes due to the lack of sleep from the nightmares paired with the sinking feeling in her heart was just tiring. She wasn't sad anymore, or angry, she was just empty. "Dad's cracked, hasn't he?"

Aliya frowned, the sound of the pelting rain beating in her ear. "What do you mean?" she asked softly.

"I haven't seen him out of his office all week, all because I snapped at him."

"You had every right."

She was shot a look. "He had no control over that."

"Maybe not, but he still could've been a little more distant with Osborn."

It wasn't until this moment that Aliya noticed the phone in Nora's hands. She was tapping it against her fingers impatiently, enough that Aliya was starting to get irritated by it. "Waiting for someone to text you back?" she interrupted the movement by asking.

"Oh, I just texted Cindy. She hasn't been in school for ages, and we haven't talked that much either."

"Did you guys fight?"

She shook her head, leaning against the window. "No, in fact, we haven't talked since the end of October. She was sick for awhile, so I left her be and now, it's like she's dropped off the face of the earth."

Aliya studied the girl's face as she stared down at her phone. Her heart broke a little bit at the scene. With Cindy not responsive, the news of her mother and her father being forced to be complacent in covering up what had happened to her, the girl really felt alone. Even with her siblings trying to be there, Aliya knew they would never truly understand, no one could. Nora had these extraordinary powers, the power to heal others, and yet no one had the power to heal her.

"Nora, you'll get through this."

Nora glared at her sister slightly. "If I hear someone say that to me again—"

"As opposed to what? Get over it?" Nora didn't respond, just returned her attention to the cars outside. "Nora—"

"I want things to go back to normal." she replied, throwing her phone back onto her bed. "I want you guys to stop looking at me like I'm going to break at any second."

"Nora, you already broke." Aliya scooted a little closer towards her sister. "You shattered after dad told you about that doctor, about your mother." she took a hold of her hand. "The job now is piecing yourself back together. I get it's going to take some time, but you will get through it. You're a survivor."

Her sister stared at her, tears filling her eyes, but instead of the sadness Aliya had begun to anticipate, this time there was something else there. Nora was looking at her, yes, but it was like she was looking at her in a different way. Aliya couldn't quite decipher the look, but after Nora squeezed her hand, she didn't have to. "Thank you," Nora breathed, "Nurse Mendes." she glared playfully at her, earning a giggle from her younger sister.

"See? I'm not always heartless, despite what Rafe says."

Nora pretended to think about it. "I don't know, I mean, you wouldn't let him keep that pet rock when he was nine."

"He will never let that go." the older girl chuckled.

Then a silence enveloped them for awhile, nothing awkward, just the two of them listening to the sheets of rain beating against the window. Aliya closed her eyes for a second, just letting the sense of calm wash over her when she felt Nora stir next to her. She opened one eye to see her sister sitting up straight, frowning at something outside. Opening both eyes, she went to look at what had caught her attention, or really, who had caught her attention.

Someone was exiting a car, throwing their hoodie up around their head to shield themselves from the rain. They seemed to be running toward their house with something in their hands. "Who's that?" Aliya asked, now intrigued by this mysterious person.

Nora didn't answer, just waited for the doorbell to ring. She stood, walking to the top of the stairs where she heard Rafe answer the door. Aliya crept up beside her, waiting to hear who it was.

"Hi," they said, and Nora felt her jaw drop. She knew that voice. "Is this the Mendes house?"

The two girls could sense Rafe's confusion at this kid who had showed up to their door. "Yes, it is."

The person let out a relived laugh. "Great." Nora took a few steps down, enough so she could peek out but not so far that she could be seen. There, standing in the pouring rain, was Peter Parker, completely soaked but smiling. His hair was matted down and damp, and he hadn't his glasses on, but he seemed happier, more confidant in the way he stood. Nora's chest tightened a bit as she couldn't help the smile grow a little. "I've been told I have to give this to Nora."

It was a binder filled with paper, with a little tag on the spine that read 'Spanish'. Nora's head tilted to the side in confusion. "Ms. Suarez wanted to make sure she wasn't far behind or anything."

Rafe nodded, placing the binder under his arm. "Thanks, man, I'll make sure she get's it."

"Thanks. Hey, tell her I hope she feels better."

Aliya stood at the top of the stairs and watched with a smirk at Nora's slight change in demeanour. Her bottom lip was between her teeth as she poked her head out from where she was. She practically leapt from her spot as Peter's eyes wandered over to the left of Rafe. Their eyes locked for a moment, a soft smile coming from Peter. "Have you got a way of going home?" Rafe asked, bringing Peter's attention back to him. "You're soaked."

"No, it's okay. My uncle works down the road, he just dropped me off here. A little rain never hurt anyone."

"Okay, well, I'll give these to Nora for you."

"Thank you." Peter's eyes flickered to Nora again, but she had gone up a step, disappearing completely. "Have a nice day!"

Rafe shut the door, turning around to see his younger sister creep down the stairs. "He's cute." he said to her as he handed her the binder. The binder was then whacked against his arm as he disappeared back into the living room. Aliya smiled as Nora's face turned a deep shade of crimson as she held the binder in her hand.

"Who's he?" she asked as Nora came up the stairs again.

"Shut up!" she exclaimed, practically running for her room now.

"We won't let you live this down!"

"I know!"

They may have been joking about it, but Aliya couldn't help but be half right. Peter had done what the rest of her family had failed to do.

He had started putting her back together.

-

A/N: everything about peter is all soft and cute, peter is so soft and cute.

I'm not a huge fan of how this turned out. It's filler really, but I made up for that because feelings are happening so....

if you're wondering why I'm updating so much is because Homecoming comes out in 12 days(!!!!!!) and i want to get through this as fast as possible so i can plot that out.

comment, vote & follow! - emma