After I took a shower, I quickly dressed myself in a t-shirt and jeans. I think I've worn the same t-shirt and jeans for ten times already throughout my holiday with my father. Even though we had gone out a lot, but I didn't have times to stop at the mall for shopping. It made me missed all those times where we, as a family, would go out shopping no matter what event was coming. Sometimes when I was not in the mood, Dad would just rent a dress for me because he knew, I have a bad taste in dresses when I'm not in a mood.

     I didn't go to the cafeteria. I didn't feed myself. I straight away walked to Rhodey's ward room. After asking ten agents in the Facilities, I finally found the room. Too bad I forgot to bring Dad's device. I waste lots of my times on the journey here.

     "Good morning, Rhodes," I greeted him as soon as I walked in. Rhodey was lying on his bed, watching the television. I supposed he'd just finished taking his breakfast because a tray of empty bowl and a mug was on the portable table at the end of his bed.

     "Terri!" he cheered upon seeing me. "Morning, Stark! How it's nice to see you. You've made my day!"

     "Aw, how sweet of you," I said. I took a seat beside his leg, facing him.

     Before we started a conversation, Rhodey turned the volume of the TV down. His full attention was then on me like I was an interesting subject in the room rather than his favourite TV show. By looking at his face, how irony that he didn't look like he was exhausted and in pain at all. I may be wasn't there when he's in distressed, but right now he's totally the opposite of my father.

     "How are you?" I asked, smiling at him.

     He looked down his body before looking up at me as if to show me his condition. "Not too bad. But I still need to go to therapy session."

     "Therapy session?" My eyebrows raised.

     Rhodey nodded with a smile, though his smile didn't reach his eyes. "Paralysed."

     "Oh, I feel you, man. We could be therapy buddies, but I'm good now." I smiled down at my leg.

     Rhodey laughed. "No offense, but I didn't even want to go to therapy with you, for your information." I grimaced at his statement. But before I could object, he opened his mouth to explain. "I would look like a loser beside a Stark."

     "What the- don't be too modest, will you? You're just as amazing. You're Iron Patriot after all. And what am I?"

     "Seriously? You're the daughter of Tony Stark and Pepper Potts. You have everything every girl wants. You're not supposed to be modest!" Rhodey argued back.

     I laughed and Rhodey laughed along.

     "Hey, where's Tony?"

     As if that question has its curse, I was totally stunned when he asked. For a second then I totally forgot about my father. I totally forgot that we met this morning and that he told me that he still had jobs to do that he had to go out again. The air suddenly tensed with the mention of Tony like Rhodey could guess what was happening.

     "Oh.... Him...." I trailed off, smiling bitterly. "Said his job is still not done yet so he flies out again. I wished I could stop him."

     As I looked down, playing with my fingers, I felt Rhodey gave me a sympathetic look. He sighed, understood how I was feeling. "I'm sorry," he said. "Tony shouldn't be doing this to you. He needs to be with his daughter rather than going out, risking his life. He's got two beautiful ladies at home waiting for him! If it's me, I would be sitting at home, eating popcorns while watchinf Law and Order."

     "I don't know if I should be mad at him or support him, Rhodey. I think he's doing the right thing, but when he keeps on fighting, he's just making me worried and angry."

     "He cares about us all," Rhodey said. "He's doing it all for us. I don't know, but I think Steve is making everything hard."

     "He said he's going to find some answers." I looked at Rhodey, waiting if he knew something. "What answers, Rhodes?"

     "None of us knew," Rhodey answered honestly. "We've tried to think about them, but we couldn't find anything. Maybe this is your dad's last 'mission'. Don't worry too much, alright?" Rhodey leant forward and squeezed my hand in a way to comfort me. "You know he'll be back. Alive."

     I gave Rhodey a thankful smile. "Thank you, Rhodey," I said. "Well, I better get going now."

     "What?"

     "I need to take Spiderman home," I told him while standing up.

     "Taking that kid home?" Rhodey scoffed. "Parker? Oh my God! He's annoying. I don't know where your father got that idea of using him."

     I laughed at Rhodey's statement. "Well, he has strength. And he's fast, isn't he? Also, I believe he's smart. Heard he builds his own computer and the web stuff."

     "You're praising him too much." Rhodey smirked, causing me to blush.

     "What? No!" I squeaked. "I'm just stating the fact."

     "Yeah, right. Terri, I've been there. You totally has-"

     "Okay, that's enough. I'm leaving now," I cut my father's best friend off. "I'll see you later, Rhodes. If Dad's back before me, tell him not to go anywhere until I come."

     Rhodey laughed. "Okay, princess, I'll let him know."

     I left the room soon after that, knowing that if I wait a little more, Peter and I will be late for the flight. The time on my digital watch was already one. Even though the flight was at eight at night, but with Peter who likes to talk a lot, he'll take more time than a girl like me to get changed and packed.

     I bumped into Ryder and Natalie on my way to Peter's ward room. The couple looked happy and completely fine like there was no injury on them. When I asked why they were at the hospital, they simply said that they were visiting a closed friend of theirs who got injured during a mission.

     I wanted to talk to Ryder, interested to know what happened with Natalie the other night when she suddenly went sensitive, but the time was very limited. The road to the airport from the Facilities, the time to get packed and get ready, the time to eat and everything. And with the time nowadays flew so fast. It felt like a blink of an eye. Sometimes, my mind haven't digested what was happening and the next time I opened my eyes, the day had changed.

     When I got there, Peter was sleeping on his bed. There were other light-wounded patience around and they made me self-conscious when they watched me approaching Peter. I couldn't help, but to think if they thought I was Peter's girlfriend. I didn't know why, but that thought bothered me so much.

     "Peter?" I called him, shaking his shoulder lightly. "Peter, wake up!"

Peter didn't show any sign that he heard me. He didn't show me that he was even alive, but I knew he was. I saw his shoulders rising and falling, for time when he was breathing in and out. I took a deep breath and let out a lazy sigh. My grip on Peter's shoulder got tighter and I shook him harder.

     "Peter! Wake up!"

     And with that, he straight away woke up in a jolt, as if there was a loud explosion going on near us. And to be honest, he looked funny when he's panicked and ready to run as if there was a threat, but after going to a war-like battle, I understood what he was feeling so I didn't laugh at him. Dad got 'that' often.

     "Hey! Relax, it's only me," I said, intending to calm him down. If I could, I would hug him. But I was still not that comfortable with him because we haven't talked a lot since we met.

     Peter looked up at me and relaxed quickly. His wide eyes were glassy as if he wanted to cry. He clutched the white blanket to his chest, and sighed longingly.

     "Oh, God," he muttered. "I really thought there was an attack."

     "I'm sorry," I apologised lowly, guilty that I made him shock. Good thing, he didn't get attacked with hysteria. "I called you, but you didn't hear me."

     "Yeah, I'm a heavy sleeper," he said. "Sorry if I made you....frightened. I seriously-"

     "That's okay, I understand," I said quickly before he explained more, in which, I knew, there would be more words than I could comprehend. "Do you know you have a flight to catch up tonight?"

     Peter nodded his head. "Mr Stark told me just now. It's at 8, isn't it? The flight? And you're coming with me." He beamed.

     But instead of blushing, I was wondering. "Just now?" I frowned, looking at Peter with an eyebrow raised. He looked back at me with a look of confusion.

     "My dad was here just now?"

     "Yeah. He told me-"

     "So he just left?"

     "Yeah.... that's what I meant."

     I paused, thinking to think rationally. Even if I chase after him now, I wouldn't catch him, right? "Oh, okay. Now pack up your things. We need to leave in an hour."

     "An hour?" This time, it was Peter's turn to raised his eyebrow. "But the flight is at 8?"

     "Yes, but I'm going to do a little bit of shopping. You don't mind, do you?" I asked. "Because I can go alone and come back to pick you up later. I'm not driving though. Dad has readied a driver for me."

     "No, no, I don't mind," Peter quickly said. His face went read to his ears. "Don't make your work harder. I can come along. Plus, I pretty much need someone to talk right now." He looked shy as the last sentence were spoken.

     I smiled at him sweetly, glad that he didn't refuse to join me shopping. And I was actually too happy because I got to spend the time with him without the presence of my father. Sometimes, he's just too protective.

     "Thanks," I said. "Now pack your things up and get changed. Don't eat here, you're just going to waste too much time. We'll have lunch at some restaurants there."

     Peter nodded his head understood. "Roger that," he said with a smile that melted my heart. "I'll go get changed now."

     "Okay. I wait you in the car."

     After I told him that, I didn't straight away turn around and headed to the Facilities door where Dad and I usually use. I stood there and watched Peter's face grimaced.

     "You don't know where the front door is, do you?" I asked, in which he nodded guiltily. He's here only for twice, after all. "Um, how about I'll wait you while you get changed?"

"Okay." Peter nodded. He looked as if he was cursed, only follow what I told him to do.

• • •

Author's note: Quick question. How many of you here love Spiderman as in Tom Holland Spiderman?

What do you think of him?

Would you rather have him as a boyfriend or as a best friend?

Honestly, I'd rather have him as a best friend because I don't like a person who talks alot 😆 But feelings can change. And he's cute after all 😁

Btw, thank you for 100 votes ❤️