WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Black Widow #6 by Kelly Thompson, Rafael De Latorre, Jordie Bellaire, and VC's Cory Petit, available now.
Natasha Romanoff, aka the Black Widow, recently suffered a horrible tragedy but despite that she's moving forward and making positive choices in her life. She's found a new purpose as the resident superhero of San Francisco and is remaining open to having others in her life, which she demonstrates in her solo series' latest issues when she chooses to help a younger woman in need.
In Black Widow #6 Natasha and Yelena Belova, aka the White Widow, are out shopping when a girl calling herself Marigold attempts to pickpocket her. Natasha easily stops her but is impressed by the girl's speed and skill. Believing that Marigold is reporting to someone more dangerous and may be in need of help, Natasha lets her keep her wallet (unaware that there is a tracking device in it).
Although Natasha resists Yelena's suggestion to set up a "not-Red Room," she later decides to allow Marigold into her life. Throughout the rest of the issue Natasha is shown fighting her way through a building full of super-powered assassins working for someone called "Apogee." After defeating all the villains she finds Marigold, unconscious, presumably being held captive by Apogee's people. Speaking to Yelena over radio Natasha tells her that she is bringing someone home.
Natasha's new lease on life comes after one of her most harrowing experiences. She was recently brainwashed by a group of enemies into believing that she was an architect married to a man named James and they lived for months together raising their son, Stevie. Stevie is biologically Natasha and James' son, although he was genetically engineered rather than born normally. The villains then attempted to kill James and Stevie in order to break her heart. Fortunately, Natasha's memories, including her super-agent skills, returned and she was able to defeat multiple assassins. However, one did manage to fire an explosive into the safehouse where James and Stevie were staying.
But this was a ruse. Natasha had already arranged to have Bucky Barnes help her fake James and Stevie's deaths, after which Bucky placed them somewhere they could safely start new lives. Working with Yelena, Bucky, and Hawkeye, Natasha defeated the villainous alliance and afterwards she and Yelena started their new lives and partnership.
Natasha told Bucky that the pain over losing James and Stevie (even though they're not actually dead) is the greatest she's ever felt despite all the other horrific experiences in her past, which makes it all the more incredible how well she seems to be doing in the latest issue. The loss of her family will likely always haunt her but Natasha is handling it in a very healthy way, especially for a superhero, and her reaction to Marigold is evidence of this. Rather than closing herself off she is accepting the love and support of the people around her. Even her rejection of Yelena's idea for recruiting new Widows is half-hearted, as shown by her decision to bring Marigold back with her, which indicates that Natasha has accepted that she needs other people in her life in order to heal.
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