I was crying all through my way towards the cafeteria, where I knew Ryder and Natalie would be. These whole thing had made emotional especially when I didn't know whether I'm going to meet my father again or not after this battle. I found myself not accepting what he's doing. He was protecting himself, I know, but I wished there were some other ways he - and his friends - could do aside from hurting and, possibly, killing each other.

     If Dad didn't survive this time, I don't think I'll be able to face any of the Avengers team - old or new - ever again. I know I won't kill them, but I know I'll go somewhere else to find peace to get away from those who'd killed my father - the one who had provided all the technologies  to make their lives easier; the one who's confused with himself, but still doing all the great things for great reasons.

     He was being blamed. He was the one who to pay the Avengers doings. Tell how do I forgive them?

     I can't.

     I limped towards the cafeteria slowly, taking the fresh air as much as I could with my blocked nose. I avoided sympathetic stares from the agents as much as I could while hugging myself and playing with the hem of my sleeve. They might've known about my father, they might've not, I don't care. I just wanted to be with Ryder and Natalie and let them distract my mind.

     The cafeteria was half-full. It was night and I didn't know why I was so confident that Ryder and Natalie would be there, but I did. And somehow, when I got there, they were there, eating for supper with a glass of milk that was still full.

     Thank God, I said mentally. They just got here so I have time to talk to them. I didn't know if they have sleeping schedule, but if they had, it would be my lost.

     "Terri?" Natalie's voice was confused yet concerned especially when she saw my swollen eyes and red nose.

     With the mention of my name, Ryder, who was sitting in front Natalie, turned and looked at me. He was confused and worried as well.

     I gave them a bitter smile, my chin trembled.

     "Terri, are you alright?" Natalie rubbed my arm when I reached their table. "Come. Sit down." She patted the table with an empty seat beside Ryder.

     I did as I was told, not saying anything until one of my friends opened her mouth.

     "Do you want to talk about it?" Natalie asked softly as if she was talking to a little girl.

     I sniffled. "My dad."

     "Oh...." I felt Natalie and Ryder shared a look, maybe giving each other a sympathetic smile that was for me or they might be only eye-ing each other because they don't know how to handle me.

     "What's with him?" Ryder asked.

     I thought about it for a second, either to tell them or not because I knew they don't understand even if I explain. Even they could, I promised Dad not to tell anyone about the Accords and the agreement and whatever it is. He told me that whatever was happening was a secret between the Avengers and the government.

     I'm glad my mind think faster than my mouth could say anything. At the end, I only shook my head to them and cried harder.

     I was too worried about Dad. The thought of him going out with a teenage boy to fight his own friends sick me to the bone. Sure, Dad has Rhodey and Vision - that much I could think about to be on his side - but still, anything can happen to them. I wanted to go with him, to take a look after him; at least, if the battle was the very last time of me seeing my father, I knew how Dad fought his friends to save whoever they were actually saving.

     My mind was clouded with the picture of me seeing the last piece of Dad with cuts and bruises. If he was still alive then, it would be fine and I would be okay. I could still smile even if Dad didn't look like Dad any more, but I can't imagine if the last piece of Dad came in like a statue. With pale skin, frozen on the metal bedless bed and eyes with no light and soul.

     I didn't know what to tell Mom. I hope after Happy telling her what I told him, she didn't think to come here and find me to bring me home because I don't want to be home. I want Dad to come back first. I need to see him first before I could do anything. I won't move until he's back here.

     Natalie and Ryder didn't know what to do with me. They kept sushing me, rubbing my arm up and down to soothe me from my sob. When I couldn't stop crying, Ryder pulled me into his arms and held me tightly. He didn't know my father. That was why he didn't say anything into my ears because if he did, he knew what to say to me like Mom or Rhodey would. But I didn't demand anything.

     I cried until there was no tears left. When I rubbed my tears on the tear-stained shirt of Ryder, I heard that he he was talking to Natalie. Something sounded like bringing me back to my room.

     "Thank you for being with me tonight, guys," I said as we walked slowly towards Dad's room. I was hugging myself under Ryder's white lab coat that was too big for me. But it was comfortable.

     "No problem, Terri." Ryder smiled, along with his girlfriend. "To say the truth, I may have not seen people crying in front of me, but seeing you crying, it makes me feel alive again."

     I hiccuped. "What do you mean?"

     "I mean," Ryder answered, "the Facilities are too dull. No emotions going on. So at least seeing you crying I get to know that I still have feelings and everything."

     "Yeah, I-"

     "I hope you're not serious saying that, Ryder," Natalie said, cutting me off.

     Both Ryder and I looked at her baffled but curiously. "Something's wrong?" Ryder asked.

     Natalie didn't reply, but looked at Ryder in a way that she wanted to tell something. Her face looked hurt, or bothered, but the more she stared at Ryder like that, the more it made him - and me as well - confused. I didn't think Ryder mean it the wrong way and I could feel Ryder was thinking the same way I was. He was talking generally about the agents in the New Avengers Facilities. I understood him.

     After a few minutes, Natalie gave Ryder a bitter smile. She turned to me and said good night to me before leaving Ryder and I alone in the desserted hallway. Her clings and clonks of heels faded somewhere around the corner and I, hugging Ryder's lab coat tighter, looked at up him. We exchanged a very confusing look and that included eyebrows raised, face grimaced, shoulders shrugging and speechless mouth.

     "Was it something I said?" Ryder was forwning.

     "I don't know." My voice croaked.

     We decided to ignore Natalie for the night, then. Ryder continued accompanying me to my room. We talked about the agents here and about a few of them who Ryder really knows as friends. One time Ryder make me laugh so hard when he talked about his childhood and it was about his first date with this little girl who was older than him.

     Ryder looked so different. He wasn't the cocky and full of himself tonight. I felt like I was talking to another person. I felt like I was talking to a brother rather than a best friend. He was very good in person, and lucky Natalie, my feelings for Ryder had long changed to neutral or I would kiss him tonight.

     When we were there, he gave a hug and a wish of good night. He left, I entered my room and fell asleep with the thought of Dad.