I woke up the next morning feeling grumpy because I didn't take dinner the night before. I planned to have dinner after talking to Mom, but my parents' argument really got to me that I suddenly felt full when Mom hung up and when Dad exited my room. Everything I planned to do last night was also burnt up, and I ended up sleeping early with puffy eyes and with the lights on.

     After taking a shower and dressed myself, I headed out to the living area to find Dad. If there weren't any arguments last night, we might be having breakfast together today, but now there was no sign of him in the suite. His room was neat as if untouched. The kitchen was also clean - there was no sign of him making coffee like he always do as his morning ritual.

     "Dad?" I called, wasn't satisfied.

     "Your father has been out for a half an hour, Miss Stark?" Friday's familiar voice told me.

     "Where did he go?" I didn't know what should I ask here. I mean, the Facilites is far from the City. It is deep into the woods. Dad can't be out this early to the City, can he?

     "The Avengers was called by Captain Rogers to talk about the Accords."

     "Accords?"

     "Sokovia Accords," the android answered me. "A contract from United Nation. I'm afraid if you want to know more about it, you will have to ask Mr. Stark himself."

     "Yeah, I get it," I replied after a few seconds. "But where exactly they're gathering?"

     "The device Miss Stark. It's all there."

     I rolled my eyes at Friday's answer. If I wanted to find it myself, I wouldn't ask her in the first place. "Right, genius. Thank you for your cooperation."

     "You're welcome, Miss Stark?"

     Oh, what an android. I swear, sometimes, the artificial intelligence Dad built was not as intelligent as I expected. They could be very straight at times and too strict to the rules that Dad didn't actually put. Or maybe because of the retrictions Dad programmed in them like on the social medias. Sometimes, Dad's artificial intelligence servants can also be very dumb. They tend to answer the question we did not ask.

     Oh, and they can be sassy too.

     Grabbing the device on the table in front of the TV, before I even searched for anything, I already see two red dots glowing on the transparent screen. I moved myself to recognise which dot was me.

     At the front door, with my crutchers under my armpits, I searched for the cafeteria and quickly headed to the lift to go down. I'm starving. I couldn't hold the gurgling sound in my stomach any longer. Last night was last night's story, so as for now, I really need to eat before going to see the doctor for my leg.

     It took me around thirteen minutes to get to the cafeteria. I shoved the device inside my jeans and by the time I was standing in front of the kiosk to take a tray for my foods and struggling in between balancing myself with the sticks and holding the tray, there was a man came up to my side. When I turned, I recognised him as My First Crush Since I Got To New Avengers Facilities. See, now he's got a title.

     "Hey, you." I smiled up at him. Although I knew he already had a girlfriend, I'm still melting over his smile.

     "Terri," he greeted me back, cocking one of the his thick eyebrows. "Good morning. Let me help you."

     I looked down with a frown to my hand where I was holding the food tray, before I realised what he actually meant. "Oh, sure! Thank you so much," I said breathlessly. A handsome guy who wants to help me, why should I push the offer?

     He took the tray from my hand and walked up with me, scooping the foods only those I pointed, like mashed potatoes, coeslow, baked beans and watermelons.

     "Hey, you know what, I didn't catch your name," I said as we walked to, I assumed, an empty table.

     "I'm Colton Ryder," he introduced himself proudly. "But I prefer Ryder because I am a rider."

     "Your name sounds better like if you're a movie star rather an agent at S.H.I.E.L.D," I commented.

     "Oh, you don't know. I wanted to be an actor. An action actor or a geek actor, to be specific because those two types of actor looks awesome, but," his voice turned sadder, "never got a chance. So I enrolled myself as an agent."

     "But you get to play with computers for real here," I pointed to cheer him up. "Tell me, Ryder, your major in university. If....you've ever been to university."

     "Are you stupid or just slow?" he barked like it was natural to do it. I still I feel insulted. "Every one of us here is a graduate. And I was actually a civil engineering student but, uh, computers are okay." He gave me a reassuring smile.

     I nodded my head. Firstly, I was quite surprised with his sharp tongue that made me feel grateful that he already has a girlfriend so the chance of me falling in love with him is none so I can find a better boy than him. Maybe a lawyer just like what he said. But then I was amazed with his sharp mind. For me, an engineer is a genius because dealing with non humans are not easy because they can be pretty stubborn and such. They are also risky jobs, too - well, aside from being a surgeon. But still, he amazed me. The witty My First Crush Since I Got To New Avengers amazed me.

     "Ha, there's my girlfriend," he lightened up. His eyes went wide and his face was sparkling with broad smile. And I liked him again. "Come. I introduce you to her."

     I followed Ryder as fast as I could with the crutchers. I have to say I arrived at the table his girlfriend was sitting minutes late. Two maybe. When I got there, Ryder's girlfriend was already standing to greet me.

     "Hello, Miss Stark," she said politely, stretching out her hand. Her face was glowing, excited to meet little Stark. Her smile was cute, even as a girl, I fall in love with that smile. Just like Ryder - and me, actually - she had dark brown hair and was tied into a tight ponytail. And she was wearing S.H.I.E.L.D's training catsuit uniform.

     Her face looked so sweet. You could never think she was a fighter.

     "Hello. Nice to meet you," I said, shaking her hand.

     "Nice to meet you, Miss Stark. How are you?"

     "Just call me Terri," I told her. "And I'm fine."

     "Good." She's still smiling at me. "I'm Natalie, by the way. Come and sit down."

     "Thank you," I said and took a seat on the wooden bench beside Ryder. When I looked at him, he was already eating his breakfast that I guessed Natalie took it for him.

     For the rest of the breakfast, we talked, though it wasn't long because Natalie had to get back to training and Ryder had to get back to work. While bonding with them, I learned that the couple had two opposite jobs. Ryder sits behind a computer, Natalie uses her physical so much. Both of them argue how tired between using the brain and physical. Seriously, they looked my parents only the opposite way. Okay, well, Dad even though uses his physical so much, but he still cracks his brain.

     While I followed the device to the hospital, I met a couple more S.H.I.E.L.D agents who were nice enough to say hi to me. Some only nodded their head and smiled as a friendly gesture. I felt honoured to be here, when everybody's attention was on me but didn't make it a big issue. Back in school, even though I was the focus of attention, they whispered about me; they talked behind my back and made fun of me. They insult Dad in front of me and said that my mother only wants a name to be CEO of Stark Industries.

     Upon reaching the hospital, I straight away went to the counter to register and then I waited for my turn to be called by the doctor. While, waiting, I decided to text Tessa.

     Hey, whaddup?

     I prayed that she is free right now to accompany me and occupy me here. To my luck, she replied as soon as I sent her the text message.

English is so boring without you! How're you, Terri? Found any guy there yet?

Me:

Lol. Sorry I got myself into an accident. I'm good. Currently waiting for check up. And for your information, I did!

I was smiling broadly while texting with Tessa, blushing to myself when an image of Ryder flashes in front of my eyes. It has always been our talks ever since we turned sixteen - Tessa and I - thinking to have a boyfriend, but guess it's still not our time judging that we're still single and half of the year had already passed.

Wow! Who's that guy? Have a picture of him?

That's when I realised something, and I was quite devastated when the thought of him already has a girlfriend, who is beautiful, crossed my mind, already forgetting about his bad mouth.

No. He already has a girlfriend though. And you know what? He's mean! I don't know why I'm still talking to him.

Tessa:

Relax. They're not married yet. You still have a chance XP

Tessa, the only girl to encourage me with a negative vibe. She would make me pray for Ryder and Natalie to break up or Natalie to get hit by a truck and die because of it so that I can get Ryder. That's not going to happen in a million years.

     Just as I was about to tell her more about him, I heard a nurse calling my name. After telling Tessa that I'll text her later, I entered the doctor's room nervously because this is, in fact, the first time I am meeting a doctor without Mom.

~••~

Dad and the rest of the Avengers were still in the same place since morning. I didn't mean to interrupt them, but after the checkups, I walked towards the room to meet the rest of them.

     My leg doesn't need a cast anymore, but I could still feel the ghost around my skin. The tightness, the warmth, the awkward stone-like feeling pinching my skin are still there. The doctor only made me wear a muscle-support stockings on my leg. However, even with that, I still feel my leg weak. He gave me a schedule for my leg's therapy starting tomorrow morning.

     Isn't that too soon....?

     Though, I am still thankful because I didn't have to use both crutchers any more. I only need one and that made me walk faster. I tried to reduce as much pain as I could with my right leg walking on my tiptoes.

     With the device in my right hand - now I don't have to worry if I slipped it off because I can hold fully in my hand - I walked along the cold metallic corridor that directed me towards the room Dad was in. That moment, I wished they put on some heat in here because I felt my right leg stinging into my bone.

     After, like an eternity, I finally met up with a door. A normal wooden door like the one back at home. My first instinct was to knock because I didn't want to be an intruder, but thinking they'll take times to open the door while I'm out at the corridor whining in pain, I opened the door myself. Lucky me, it wasn't locked.

     "Dad?" I called for my father at the door, catching up my breath that I was holding to bear with the pain. "Dad? Someone? Help me!" I groaned.

     There was a chorus of murmur before I heard someone's voice calling me.

     "Terri? Terri! Oh, you little monkey! Are you okay?" Dad approached me and helped me walk to a lounging area with cushion seats, where the Avengers were sitting. Even with blurry vision, I could see their tense faces and crinkles on their foreheads. But I was thinking they might only feel the ache in my leg.

     Dad sat me on an empty sofa bed, laying my crutcher on the floor behind the sofa. While I leaned and burried my face into the pillows to hide my face from the Avengers, I heard my dad asked, "Hey, where's your cast and....your other stick?"

     "The doctor took it off," I told him. I heard some people voicing out their disapproval and asking themselves why he took off the cast on my broken leg and let me walk in pain. "He said it's common, though, to feel the sting in the bone."

     "Holly, Terri," I heard Sam's voice cursed. "That's a hell lot of pain."

     Getting up into a sitting position, I nodded. "Yes and that's why I need something hot right now," I said with a wince. I was about to get up and take it myself when Dad came to my side and handed me a hot pillow. I gave him a thankful smile. "Thanks."

     Dad only sighed. "Have you had your breakfast?" he asked in concern.

     "Yeah." I nodded while bending down and pressing the hot pillow on my muscle. "There was this guy I met yesterday helped me to scoop up my breakfast."

     "A guy?" Dad was alerted while the rest cooed.

     "He already has a girlfriend," I stated uninterestingly, pretending that I didn't have a thing for Ryder when I was actually disappointed over the fact that he has a girlfriend.

     "Good because you're not allowed to have a boyfriend."

     "Ugh, whatever." I rolled my eyes. "Eh, where's Cap?"

     "Said he had to go," Rhodey answered. "Though we don't know where he has to go."

     "Peggy," Natasha chimed in causing us - except for Sam - to get confused. "It's about her, I guess."

     "Who's Peggy?" I asked. We talked with each other as deep as best friends do, but he never told me about this Peggy woman. He did say he had a girl back then, but didn't tell me her name.

     "You can say she's his girlfriend," Natasha made the story simple.

     "I see." I relaxed when I felt my leg warm once again. As I looked around, I saw Vision sitting with his long leg on top the other, beside Wanda who looked like she's out of place. "Hello, Vision, Wanda."

     "Terri," "Hi," both of them greeted me. Vision only nodded his head and Wanda smiled at me.

     "Feeling better with the leg?" she asked, noticing I'm no longer pressing the hot pillow on it.

     "I feel okay," I answered, wincing when I tried to move it. The stinging is still there, unfortunately.

     "You'll get well soon," she wished for me and I thanked her sincerely.

     Natasha then excused herself when she received a call from someone. She has always been the busiest agent among the Avengers with the constant call and that left Vision, Wanda, Rhodey, Sam, Dad and I in the room. Without all of the Avengers in one room, I know they won't be discussing at all and that what made the room fell silent for a few seconds.

     "You know," I broke the silence. "I'm here not to dig any secrets from you, but I am wondering what did you guys talk about," I said while looking at the faces of the Avengers. For a second, I though I saw panic in their face reaction, but they masked them pretty well. The air in the room around me getting thicker.

     "There's nothing, Terri. We're not discussing anything," Dad tried to keep it - or saving for the topic for us to talk later, I don't know. But he might be.

     "Friday told me something about Sokovia Accords?" I frowned while looking at Dad. "Is that why Secretary Ross came the other day?"

      Someone gasped.

     "What the heck, Tony? I thought she's not supposed to know," Sam voiced out his dispproval, looking at Dad pissed.

     Dad turned to look at him in annoyance. "I didn't tell her anything," he defended himself, which was true. Then he turned back to me. "Where did you know that from? Who told you? Did Cap tell you?"

     "Oh, wait, wait, hold on," I tried to calm my dad. He's blaming anything on Steve a lot lately. "Cap didn't tell me anything, okay? The last time we talked was yesterday after you've had your meeting with Secretary Ross. Friday told me, this morning, when I asked about you before I went out for breakfast."

     "Friday?" All of them choired.

     "How did Friday know that much?" Rhodey asked no one in particular, but I know it's directed to Dad because he's responsible of inventing it.

     "I don't know," Dad shrugged weakly. There something in his eyes that told me he was about to cry for all these problems. And I could see that he was afraid if anyone blamed him for yet another thing he didn't mean to turn it in a bad way.

     "Okay, okay," I spoke to save the situation and Dad. "I don't think it's Dad's fault that Friday knows about it. She's an android. She registers any information that comes into her memory-"

     "She won't register if your father didn't do it himself," Sam defied me.

     "It doesn't work like that. Friday is an an android, artificial intelligence, she'll register whatever she hears," I explained on the behalf of Dad. "But that's not the problem right now. I want to know why Secretary Ross came."

     Dad burried his face into his palm, already felt the burdens on his shoulder with my presence there. Rhodey and Sam, who were still standing behind an empty armchair, glanced at each other. Meanwhile Vision was being Vision, looking at us impassively. And as for Wanda:

     "I don't want to get involve with this," she said before standing up and left. Every one of us watched her enter another room. There was click once the door was shut.

     We expected Vision to leave as well, but it turned out he stays there staring into spaces and frozen like a statue. There, I realised, whether Vision is there or not, it doesn't make any difference. Only Dad and I were surprised when Sam spoke.

     "Well, she's your daughter, Tony," he said before leaving the room, irritated.