I stood beside the door with hands crossed on my chest, leaning against the wall. My eyes were wild watching the agents jogging in their lines; some were practicing combatant fight; meanwhile some seemed as if they were tested by their seniors about S.H.I.E.L.D or army-related. Shouting at the faces really disgusted me. Maybe that was how they got promoted to a higher level like Ryder mentioned about Natalie when we first met.

     The clearing was quite windy and sunny. I stayed under the roof because I didn't bring my shades to protect my eyes. Most of the time I was watching them, my eyes were narrowed like an old man reading the newspaper. It was until I saw a familiar figure, tall and bulky, that my eyes went wide like a ping ping ball. My heart raced, didn't actually prepare to see him at this moment. Alone.

     I felt my eyes began to water as he approached me calmly. He stopped on his track to get the agents passed him and then he continued walking - or rather striding towards me with his big steps. His face was soft. He looked guilty and sorry. His bright blue eyes were shining under the sunlight. I could've melted into those eyes, but not after what he'd done to my father. He literally made Dad broken into pieces. I don't know how to lift Dad's spirit now. All because of him.

     But I couldn't hold my tears longer that I let it fall by the time he stood in front of me. His big body towered my smaller ones. He watched me in concern.

     He sighed. "Let's get inside."

     It took me a few minutes to calm down and turn to get inside with my own accord. Good thing, he didn't try to hug me because if he did, I don't think I could get away as much as I wanted to. His embrace was always very welcoming and this was not the first he's seeing me crying. Ever since the Battle of New York, we got close day by day. But not now, as you can see.

     I followed him silently until we reached an empty room.

     "How are you?" If he is trying to care about me like he used to, I'd say he failed because after what happened, I cannot see his face the same again. Even hearing his name made me grimace.

     "I'm not good, but what do you care. You get what you want. You don't need me anymore." I sniffled.

     "Terri, I've been so worried about you ever since your father came with Secretary Ross," he told me. He sounded annoyed with my previous statement. I almost has forgotten how nice and mature his voice was that I flinced when he spoke it in this deserted room. "I knew from the very beginning that it wasn't going to be good; and the first thing that came into my mind was you. I don't know why, but you've been my priority aside from-"

     "Peggy," I said coldly, looking at him impassively. He was speechless for a while as he looked at me in utter disbelieve.

     "Yes, Peggy and my friends," he agreed, didn't bother to ask me how I knew it. Maybe he figured that one of his friends told me.

     Then, he shook his head. "Terri, you should know that whatever's happening for a reason. I have my own reasons why I chose what I chose. And I don't think it was mine or your father's fault all these times. He's got some good reasons too, but I just couldn't follow him."

     "Why?" I looked up at him flatly. "Because of Bucky?"

     "Terri, you don't know him. He's been a friend to me when I don't have anyone. You know I live alone since I was 18." His voice was higher than he first spoke to me.

     "So what?" I sniggered. "Dad's been living alone since he was a child. And he never had any friends until, what, he's thirty? And, for your information, if it wasn't because of Bucky, I would still have a grandmother, ya know. Dad talked about her a lot and I really want to meet her."

     "I know. She's, uh, amazing," he answered with a grimace, maybe feeling guilty about it. Sometimes, I forgot that they lived in the same era. "You weren't there when your father followed me to-"

     "No, I was home with Mom and Happy," I answered monotonously. "I couldn't sleep so I entered Dad's room just to find his special glasses that allows me to see what is happening to him through his armour mask. You don't know. You won't know what I mean. You're not-"

     "Yes, I get it, Terri. I don't know anything about technologies, but I learned alot. Your father improvised my suit and shield with advance materials, don't you dare to think I don't know anything about technologies," he explained frustratedly. And then he mutterd, "Jesus, like father like daughter," while pinching his forehead.

     I hate to watch him like that, but I tell myself not to care about him. I remind myself that there are so many reasons to hate him. And the first one was, of course, because if Dad.

     "Please, Terri," he begged. "This might be the last time we meet. I have a flight to catch up after this and I don't want to leave before I cleared up our relationship. Terri, I care about you and your father. I need you to understand."

     When he kept talking about my father, my anger risen. I looked up, stared into his dark blue eyes and said, "Our relationship is cleared, Rogers. And I understand that Bucky Barnes means a lot to you. You think you know him, but I don't think you do.

     "I'm glad my father could work alone now because, I think, he's good being a captain of his own. And I like seeing him guiding himself because that's how he works. Plus, he has Rhodey and me. Both of us are enough for him. Don't come looking for me again, Rogers, because I won't, I promise." I smiled. "Good bye."

     I left.

~•••~

"I remember all of them."

     "I remember all of them."

     "I remember all of them."

     I didn't for how long I've taken the time to get back to my room, but all the time's filled with those words:

     "I remember all of them."

     The sentence haunted me for nights. Just like how he remembered all of them, I could remember how hollow his voice was. I could remember how he said it. I could remember how Dad asked him. Just when I thought I could forget it, Steve came back to me, reliving all of the scenes I was seeing through Dad's mask's eyes, listening to the noises as well. Dad's grunts and yells made me want to throw every glass in the room. I don't care if I hurt myself. I can't tell Dad about this. I couldn't.

     I quickly entered the suite, only to see that my mother was sitting alone in front of the TV with popcorns in her hands. As I walked deeper, I noticed that it was Mission Impossible she was watching. I quickly cleared up my mind from any thoughts about Steve and Dad, and joined Mom watching MI.

     "Hey, honey," Mom smiled. "So how's breakfast with Ryder? It took you, what, two hours to get back bere? I've been wondering what you two were doing."

      I couldn't help but to laugh. "It's nothing, Mom," I answered, fishing the popcorns in her hand. "We just talked and then when he started his shift again, I walked to the hangar."

     "Hangar? Why were you going there?"

     I shrugged. "Just want to have some fresh air. It's been days since I jailed myself inside this building."

     Mom chuckled. "You're right."

     We watched MI together, at times went giddy with how handsome and hot Tom Cruise looked. Even though he was old, enough to be my father, but I must admit that he aged well. It just made me think about Peter more and more. I've missed him since I sent him back to his apartment in Queens. We haven't talked since then either, but I figured to stay low for awhile. I could go back to see him later when Dad's home and my family's together again.

     While we were into the movie, we heard the door opened and shut.

     "Who's that?" Mom's whispered to me.

     "Happy?"

     "He's not staying here tonight," Mom told me. "Who's that?" she asked again, panic when we heard the boots stomping.

     "I don't know," I answered with a shrug. But I stood up, interested to know the incomer. My mind was asking for Dad, but it still could be Happy. Who knows if he changes his mind to stay here again tonight. His boss is here after all, and I am also here.

     I walked closer to the front door. The shadowy figure came close to me. I felt my breaths shallow; and my week knees took wary steps towards the person. And when, at last, he emerged from the dark, I felt like fainting.

     Because it was Dad.

     "Terri?"

     "Oh my God! Dad! I almost died!" I burst into tears. "Oh, Dad you came home. You came home!"

     I threw myself onto him and hugged him tightly around his neck. He caught me perfectly fine, as if he'd prepared with his daughter throwing herself onto him again. He hugged my torso tightly as well, and I couldn't help but to feel grateful when I finally see him and finally could hug him again. The warm embrace was what I looked for. It reminded me of when I was young, when he got home from work and I would run to him and tell him everything ablut school as he lifted me up and sat me on his lap on the sofa in front of the TV.

     "I'm sorry, Terry," Dad whispered beside my ear. "I'm very sorry I left you all these while."

     "Please, don't it again."

     "I won't, I won't," he said, cupping the back of my head with one hand and kissed the side of my head deeply. "I love you, Terri. I love you so much."

     Our hug loosened only when I heard Mom calling for Dad. He put me down carefully and, even though I set my feet on the ground, I was still hugging his body like I was attached to him, like twins. We walked towards Mom - and Dad was limping because of me. Mom was giving Dad her small, sweet smile and Dad only stared at her with his big brown eyes. He didn't smile, but he looked happy and can't believe to see Mom.

     "Pepper."

     "Hi," Mom greeted.

     Then silence consumed us. Neither Mom nor Dad knew what to say to each other. Both of them just looked at each other as if transferring what they have in their minds like a bluetooth.

     "Ey, hey, look." Mom's mouth opened and closed like she was having a battle either to say what she wanted to say or not. "Look, Tony, I'm sorry." Mom shook her head. "I, uh, it was all my fault. I- I shouldn't leave you. I shouldn't ask for a break. Having a relationship with you, I should know that you weren't going to stop doing what you're determined to do because, hey, you're Anthony Stark after all. But I shouldn't, shouldn't let you and Terri to-"

     "Will you marry me?" Dad blurted out.

     "-face these all a-" Mom stopped herself and blinked. "What?"

     "Pepper, I've think through. I know what you wanted, but I was only afraid to lose you. It was my fault. Glad that I have Terri because she made me think differently after what we're going through," Dad lectured. I turned pink when he mentioned me. "Pepper, I'm asking you to marry me. Look, I could've asked you on one knee but you see, there's a monkey on my waist so I could only stand."

     When Dad glanced down at me, I stuck my tongue out.

     Mom laughed. "You don't have to ask me on one knee, Tony." Mom smiled. "Because no matter where you ask, I'd say yes."

     A second after that, I was crammed in between my parents, who were kissing without caring my presence.

THE END

Please check out Terri and Tony Stark moments in "MOMENTS"

Terri and Peter's story continues in "FAR FROM HIM"