Quicker update because I think I'm getting back into this story. I hopefully found my flow again lol. You guys helped, with your reviews, so thank you!

I really like the next chapter, I'm excited for you guys to read it!

Thanks for reading! Hope you guys enjoy!

Words: 3,333

There's a ticking. Ada can't place where it's coming from or what it is. She's to busy wondering where she is exactly. A sidewalk. Somewhere. It feels familiar but she can't place it. There are no signs. She thinks she may be dreaming when she notices her blurry vision but it feels too real. No way it's a dream.

Wrapping her arms around herself, Ada starts walking with the flow of everyone only to be going against the current. The faces around her are expressionless. She tries to say something but can't. The faces disappear, leaving blank skin in their places. Then everything stops.

Ada is suddenly in a circle of people. If they had eyes, they would be staring at her. Chill's spill down her spine and the girl spins in confusion. No way this is real. But it feels like it.

The people around her disappear one by one until they're all gone and the darkness rolls in. There's someone in the distance. Ada can't see who, they're too far away and the blackness is becoming too thick. It feels like it's swallowing her, grabbing at her.

The ticking is still there, intensifying in volume. Whispers make the hairs on her arms and the back of her neck stand on end. The pit in her stomach grows and fear squeezes her heart. She feels her eyes burning as the figure slowly nears her. She wants to move away but her feet don't obey her command to move.

A new sound joins the whispering and ticking. Ada looks down when she feels something hit her ankles. Liquid splashes around her, stopping in a square as if some invisible surface is stopping it. Her breathing picks up as it rises. The figure continues to approach her.

It's not until the mysterious liquid reaches her thighs and touches her hands that she realizes what it is. The thick, red substance sticks to her skin like leeches. Trying to wipe it away only spreads it.

The blood reaches her chin and Ada braces her hands on the invisible walls around her in panic. She's going to drown. Drown in blood. Her own blood. It surrounds her in the endless darkness, suffocating her.

Her head snaps up to get away from the liquid only to gasps when she sees her father. Staring at her from the other side of the barrier. She gasps and blood feels her mouth, pouring into her lungs.

Ada's eyes snap open. She really was dreaming. The ceiling stares down at her in the vast darkness of her room. Darkness like her dream. Sitting up the teenager reaches over to her nightstand for her lamp. She clicks it on and nearly screams.

Nathan stands at the end of her bed, staring blankly at her. His muddy, grey eyes don't blink. His skin is ashen and pale, blood pouring from his head, mouth, ears. From everywhere.

"You did this to me."

When Ada truly wakes up, the lights from the city shine in through her window. She gasps for air with a hand over her heart. Tears pour down her cheeks and she chokes. She forces her hand over to turn on her bedside lamp. The room is empty other than her, as blank as the day she moved in.

Shifting to the middle of her bed, Ada brings her knees to her chest and wraps her arms around them. The cold air of the room chills her to the bone but she makes no move for her blanket.

She spends the rest of the night staring into the darkness.

Blue eyes look blankly at the clock across from them. The little black hands move with every tick-tock sound it makes. Why is it so loud? Ada's fingers twitch on the arm of her chair and her legs ache to carry her across the room so she can rip it off the wall and break it. Stomp on the plastic cover and break it into pieces. Serves it right for worsening her headache.

She's only able to close her eyes for a second before she's standing. Mr. Stark gives her a questioning look but she only shakes her head before following the nurse. It's check-up day. Ada is just as happy by that fact as she is annoyed by it.

The MRI takes forever. Ada would've fallen asleep if the damn thing wasn't so loud, thumping along with the ache in her skull. She closes her eyes when they draw her blood and keeps them that way until she has to once again go into another room.

Mr. Stark is waiting. He smiles and asks how she is. Ada shrugs with her own week smile. She just doesn't feel like trying today.

"Alright," Dr. Anderson sits across from them. Of course, with a smile. "Well, we'll get right down to it. The scans look good. I don't see anything that causes concern." Ada nods and picks at her nails. "Blood tests won't be back for about twenty-four hours. Have you been experiencing any pain or discomfort of any kind?"

Ada shrugs and bites the inside of her cheek. "Headaches." She mumbles and sees Mr. Stark turn his head to look at her from the corner of her eye. She might not have mentioned it to him. What did it matter anyway? It's not like he could do anything.

"Migraine level or lower?"

"I don't know," She shrugs again. "Tylenol usually helps." And other more recreational drugs. But that doesn't feel important to mention.

"Okay, that's not surprising. If it gets any worse, just let us know." The teenager just nods. "The scan showed no signs of seizures or abnormal activity. So we're going to-" Ada grinds her teeth together and blocks out the rest of the conversation. It's not that she meant to, her brain just zones out.

"Kid?" Mr. Stark's voice pulls her back to the present an unknown amount of time later. "You ready?"

"Yeah," She nods and stands from her seat. She offers Anderson a small smile and wave before following the billionaire from the building. Car rides seem easier today, she thinks she knows why but doesn't think about it. Until they're about to turn and the sound of the blinker reaches her ears. She hadn't even made the connection on the way to the hospital

Her back stiffens, eyes widening. The ticking in her dream the night before. It had been the sound of a blinker. Their blinker had been on that night. She doesn't remember hearing it at the time, but now...

"Stop the car,"

"What?" Tony's eyebrows furrow and he looks over at his teenager in question.

"Pl-please stop t-the car," Ada chokes the words out and unbuckles her seatbelt before the car has completely stopped moving. She's glad Mr. Stark didn't continue to question her. She's not so happy about the many people passing her by on the sidewalk. And when they're faces start to blur, she digs the heels of her hands into her eyes.

"Kid? Ada?" Tony runs around the car and stops in front of the girl but she doesn't seem to hear his voice. Her head is down and buried in her hands, her breathing coming in short gasps. He's no stranger to panic attacks. But seeing her like this is so much worse than any one he's ever experienced.

Placing a light hand on her shoulder, Tony moves forward when Ada doesn't pull away. There's to much noise. She obviously doesn't want to be in the car and the only buildings around are just as crowded as the streets.

Placing his hands on the side of her face, he speaks softly to her, but loud enough for her to hear him over the noise of the city. "Ada, look at me, you need to breathe." He knows she hears him when she shakes her head. He's relieved by that, even if she's not listening to him. "Yes. Ignore everything else, you're good at that." Shaking his head at himself, Tony apologizes. "Sorry, not the time for jokes. But come on kid, show me your eyes."

Moving her hands away from her face, Ada grasps Mr. Stark's wrists and focuses on his voice rather than the noises around her. Her eyes stay squeezed shut. She doesn't want to see the faceless people staring at her. Doesn't want to see the blood she can feel crawling over her skin. She doesn't want to see the dead, grey eyes of her father staring back at her.

"Come on, kid," Moving his hands, Tony covers Ada's ears but continues to talk to her. He blocks everyone and everything else out other than her and eventually, she does too.

After three deep breaths, Ada opens her eyes, relieved to see Mr. Stark's brown ones looking back at her. Alive. Not cold, not grey, and not blank. "I-I'm okay," She whispers but doesn't let go of his arms. "I don-..."

Breathing his own sigh of relief, Tony doesn't try to move away or say anything about the tight grip Ada has on his wrists. Like, really, his hands are turning purple, since when was she this strong? "It's okay, it's okay," He pets her hair best he can until her grip loosens and he wraps his now free arms around her.

Tony holds his daughter for as long as it takes for her to calm down. When he feels her stop shaking, he pulls back and looks down at her. She's pale, eyes red and glassy. "Are you okay to get back in the car?" Ada nods weakly and turns around, letting Mr. Stark open the door and close it behind her.

The rest of the ride home, Ada spends with her eyes closed, head resting on the back of her seat. Tony glances at her every five seconds, his knuckles turning white with his tight grip on the steering wheel.

Ada hugs herself when she exits the car and walks inside. Neither of them speak in the elevator. Just stand in silence until they step out into the apartment. "You hungry?" Tony winces when the question escapes his mouth. But Ada shakes her head and he nods. "Right. Maybe lie down for a bit."

Looking around, Ada nods and turns to her bedroom but stops. She really doesn't want to be in there. And alone. Spinning on her heels, Ada walks towards Mr. Stark and doesn't stop until she's wrapping her arms around his torso. "Okay," She hears him whispers, surprise coating his words. But he returns the hug automatically.

"Sorry," Ada pulls away and wipes her eyes.

"Don't be sorry, kiddo,"

"I-I don't- I don't really..." She trails off and points behind her. "Don't want to-to be in m-my room."

"Okay, that's okay," Mr. Stark nods, trying his best not to look clueless. "How about we...watch a movie?"

"Yeah," Ada whispers with a nod and follows him to the couch. He grabs the blanket hanging over the back of the furniture and drapes it over her shoulders. When the movie starts, Ada leans into Mr. Stark's side and is asleep in minutes.

"I think it'll be great for her," Pepper says across the kitchen island to Tony. Her fiancé nods in agreement and sips his drink.

"Maybe go out for coffee since mines so undrinkable," He chuckles at the look Pepper sends him. They both turn their heads when they hear Ada's bedroom door open. She's wearing socks, Tony can tell because he can't hear her footsteps. And when she reaches them, he realizes he's right. One blue and one red fluffy socks.

"Goodmorning, sweetie," Pepper places a kiss to the teenager's forehead and Ada smiles sleepily at her. "So, I was thinking, maybe we could go out today. You know, girls day." Definitely not a mother-daughter day. They weren't there yet...were they? Pepper pushes the thoughts aside. "Whatever you want to do."

"Sure," Ada nods, running a hand through her messy hair. "Uh, when?"

"Whenever you're ready," Pepper shrugs and looks to Tony. "We could get breakfast if you want."

"Okay," Ada stands from her seat. "I'll just..." She looks between them both with furrowed brows. "Go change."

"No rush," Pepper says to the girl as she walks back to her room. "I think that went well." Tony only nods. When Ada returns, dressed in casual everyday clothes and her beanie, Pepper stands and grabs her purse. Both girls wave goodbye to Tony and head out of the apartment.

"Okay, breakfast," Pepper mumbles to herself. "And coffee. Oh, I know this place down here, not sure if you've been there but it's great." Ada nods and follows the woman, watching their feet. She tries to match her steps to Ms. Potts.

She should've been paying attention. If she had been, she could've steered Pepper to a different coffee shop. But as her luck would have it...Ada sighs and closes her eyes for a second when she realizes the building they've entered.

Ada steps in line with Pepper. Maybe she could just find a table and hide. But that's childish. He probably doesn't even remember her. "I'll uh, I'll just order after you." Ada tells the woman when they're up next and she nods. And if Ada hides behind her while she tells the worker her order, no one can prove it.

Jamie freezes but smiles when he sees her. "I was starting to think you actually didn't like my drink." He says and Ada offers him a sheepish smile, glancing over to see if Pepper was listening. She wasn't.

"Sorry, I did, just..." She trails off with a sigh. "Been busy."

"I understand that," He gestures around himself. "So, uh, want the usual that's not really your usual because you've only gotten it once?"

Ada actually chuckles but she nods. "Yeah and maybe something to eat."

"Something?"

"You did good last time, I'll leave the choice to you." She shrugs and smiles but it falls when he looks away. He's adorable and sweet but she's...her. Even if he was interested in her, she couldn't put her problems on him.

"You're not allergic to anything, are you?"

"Not to my knowledge."

"Alright, do you like cinnamon?" He asks. "Because the cinnamon rolls here are great."

"Sounds good," Ada nods before rejoining Pepper's side.

"He's cute." The woman whispers to her and Ada whips her head up to look at her.

"What?" Had she heard their conversations? Ada had been sure she couldn't hear them.

"That boy," Pepper nods towards Jamie. "And he was smiling at you a lot. I think he likes you."

"He-That's just his job," Ada says weakly, rolling her eyes when Pepper chuckles. "Whatever."

After collecting their breakfast, they find a table to sit. Ada can tell Ms. Potts is holding herself back. Instead of asking or saying whatever it is, whatever she wants to, she's choosing to make small talk instead. Ada isn't complaining.

"We can go shopping...or whatever you like." She hates to admit it, but she doesn't know what the teenager, her teenager, likes to do for fun.

"Yeah, shopping, that's fine." Pepper sighs and sets her napkin down. Ada's trying but that was the most unenthusiastic answer she's ever heard.

"You know what? No, I have a better idea." Ada looks up at Mr. Potts' statement, her eyebrows shooting up. "Grab your things, let's go." Obeying instantly, Ada grabs her bag and stands. She brings her empty cup and napkins to the trash. She catches Jamie's eye and sends the boy a wave before walking out onto the sidewalk.

Pepper leads her to a black car and climbs into the back. Ada has no idea when it appeared but she doesn't question the woman, instead, she follows her. "Oh, hey, Happy," The teenager greets the man in surprise. She hasn't seen him in a while. Where did he even come from?

"Hey, kid," He says back before Pepper draws his attention by telling him where to go.

"So, where...?" Ada trails off and motions to the road.

"You'll see," Pepper smiles at her, and Ada nods before pulling out her phone.

Ada: I think Ms. Potts is kidnapping me

Queen: Well she's not very good at it if she didn't take your phone

Ada: Yeah, well...she won't tell me where we're going

Queen: Text me every five minutes so I know you're alive. Come see me tomorrow?

Ada: Yes

Sliding her phone away, Ada looks out the window at the scenery passing her by until the car pulls to a stop. She gives Pepper a questioning look but the woman only grins and motions for her to follow. When they enter the building, Ada realizes where they are.

Her lips instantly turn up and her feet carry her to the first little pen. The ferret moving around inside sees her and makes his way to her, sticking his nose through the wire to smell her fingers.

"Hey, little guy," Ada whispers and smiles at the small animal. "What are you doing? Stupid question." As if offended, the ferret turns away from her and makes his way to the back of his cage. "Okay then."

"They're cute," Pepper appears at her side but doesn't wait long before she's gently ushering Ada to another part of the building. It's a smaller room with only a few chairs against the wall. "You like dogs, right?" Turning at the question, Ada gasps when she sees two people standing in the doorway with a puppy under each arm.

Placing the fluffy balls of energy onto the ground, the two workers close the bottom part of the door so they won't escape. "Awe, hey," Ada sits on the ground and lets the puppies climb into her lap. She laughs and moves her face away from them when they try to lick her.

Pepper smiles at the teenager and sits in one of the chairs. She picks up the fourth puppy when she wanders over to her, letting the animal sit in her lap. She remembers her childhood dog, she always made her feel better. And this is the most alive Pepper has seen Ada in a really long time. She needs to talk to Tony.

Though she'll never admit to doing so, Ada squeals when one of the puppies grabs a lock of her hair. She gently takes it from his mouth and lets him take her finger. Not a good thing, to teach them to bite but she honestly doesn't care right now.

Cats and kittens are next. Ada sends Peter a picture, saying Athena needs a friend. He promptly replies that she's more of a loner. Ada agrees.

"And I was thinking we could catch a movie," Pepper says as they leave the building.

"Yeah," Ada nods from behind her. "Hey, Ms. Potts," When the woman turns around, Ada wrings her hands together but meets her eyes. "Thank you."

Smiling softly, Pepper nods and wraps an arm around the teenager's shoulder. "Of course. And, sweetie, please call me Pepper."

"Okay," Ada chuckles and nods her head. "Pepper."

I've had dreams where I was like 'This has to be a dream. Please let this be a dream.' But I was convinced it was real because it felt so real. But then I wake up and I'm so relieved lol

Teasers: She registers the arm wrapped around her next and yelps in surprise but the hand over her mouth muffles the noise /
The bleeding has slowed / Tires skidding across the pavement has every muscle in her body tensing / She slumbs against the wall as the doors close, feeling her eyelids fall shut / The hole she's dug herself is to deep to get out of

Man, I am loving these teasers lol. I love making you guys guess. Maybe even worry a little bit. Sorry. Sorta.

There were so many other great teasers but I tried to limit myself! Um, I do feel a little bad for those ^^ so I'll just say, the next chapter probably isn't what it seems.

Until next time, friends! Please let me know what you think!

'-'