Shorter chapter but I really like this one. It has a nice moment. Thanks for the reviews! Love them so much! Please leave your thoughts I love and appreciate every one of them!

Also, I'm a year older now! Happy birthday to everyone, no matter when your birthday really is. And Happy Holidays! Hope everyone enjoys themselves in whatever they're doing!

Words: 1,222

Chewing her bottom lip, Ada stars out her window, weighing her phone in her hand. She hadn't spoken to Peter much since...she hasn't really spoken to anyone. She feels bad about that but she just hasn't been able to bring herself to.

Apollo sits at her side, his chin resting on her thigh. "Yeah, yeah," She mumbles to him, dropping her hand onto his head. "Maybe you're right. I should just call."

Rolling her eyes to herself, Ada hits call before she can stop herself and lifts the phone to her ear.

"Ada?" The call is answered before the second ring can finish and Ada sighs quietly, closing her eyes.

"No, actually. I found this phone with a note saying to call this contact and apologize because the owner treated her best friend horribly and she feels really bad," Though she'd apologized that night, Ada isn't sure that's enough. She feels really crappy about how she'd treated all of her friends. Especially that fight with Peter...she shudders just thinking about it.

"Oh, well, if this was Ada, I'd tell her all is forgiven and that I love her, very much," Peter's response pulls a relieved and amused laugh from Ada. Her eyes sting with tears but not the bad kind.

"This is cringy," She mumbles.

"You started it," Peter grumbles in a very mature manner. "I have a question and you have to be honest, okay?"

"Okay,"

"How are you?"

Pausing, Ada takes a deep breath. She expected that to be the question, she just has no idea how to answer it. "I don't know," She whispers, any trace of her smile gone. "The headaches are still there occasionally. Sleep still seems to be avoiding me most nights...cravings," The last word is so quiet, Ada doubts Peter would've heard if he didn't have inahnced hearing.

"You can talk to me, if you want," There's no trace of judgment in his voice, Ada notes with relief. If she was thinking clearly, she would have known there wouldn't be. But she hasn't thought about anything clearly in a long while. "I can come over...Did you tell Mr. Stark?"

"No," Ada admits, her fingers running through Apollo's soft fur absentmindedly. "But I think he knows...and it's not like I can...there's nothing here." She can't leave without Tony or Pepper and there's no alcohol on the property. She's sure there are some sleeping pills and pain medicine in the med bay but it's locked up tight.

"I got a dog," She continues before Peter can, desperate to change the subject.

"You got a dog?" Peter repeats in question, a smile in his voice.

"Yeah, he's white with a little tan around his ears, and super fluffy," Ada looks down at Apollo as she describes him. "Sweet too. Tony and Pepper got him for me...he's...I think he's helping. You know, with everything."

"What's his name?"

"Apollo," Ada responds while smiling down at the dog.

"Seems fitting," Peter hums and Ada nods even though he can't see her.

"Yeah, that's what I thought," His red color, nearly the same color as her hair, stands out boldly against his mostly white fur. It's free of a tag right now but Pepper said she'd order one with his name engraved.

"You think he likes cats?"

"Guess we'll have to find out if he ever wants to come over. How is Athena, by the way?"

"Bipolar," Peter's quick response has Ada chuckling. "One second she's all lovey-dovey, the next she's trying to eat me."

"I think that's just normal cat behavior,"

"Probably," Peter says with his own laugh but the noise dies quickly. "Ned asked about you," He mumbles gently. "He's back now. Wants to see you. MJ too."

"I miss you guys," Ada whispers. Sitting here now, she feels as if she hasn't really seen her friends since...maybe since before the accident.

"We can come up there. Ned will freak out if he gets to come to the Avengers compound. And I know Mr. Stark won't mind," There's hope in his voice, Ada can hear it. The sound makes her stomach clench.

"I miss them but...I'm not- I'll call them, okay?" She doesn't feel ready to see them yet. Maybe it's stupid or selfish, but she doesn't feel herself yet. Doesn't feel like she looks it either. Food still isn't the most appetizing thing and though she's gained some weight recently, her cheeks are still hallow...she doesn't like the way she looks and she doesn't want her friends to see her look weak.

"Yeah, okay," Peter nods and Ada sighs at the disappointment he tries to hide in his voice. It's not his fault, he just cares a lot. With that big heart of his.

"I'll let you know as soon as I'm up for a visit," Ada promises.

"Take your time," He tells her. "Focus on getting better. And remember we're here. Are you eating?"

"Yes, dad," Ada mumbles, smirking when she feels Peter roll his eyes. Yeah, it's odd, but she just knows he did it. "I actually have to go now, lunch is soon."

"Alright, text me when you can, okay? Send pictures of Apollo,"

"Will do," Ada mumbles. "Bye, Peter."

"Bye, Ada," Lovering the phone away from her ear, Ada his the end call button before sliding the device under her leg.

A knock sounds behind her and Ada twist to see Mr. Stark stand in her doorway. That timing was perfect. Coincidence? She's not sure.

"Hey, kid," He greets when she motions for him to come in.

"Hey," Ada mumbles, turning to look back out her window when he sits next to her.

"What're you up to?" He asks in a casual tone but Ada knows better.

"Nothing. Talked to Peter," She shrugs.

"You can have friends over whenever you want," He reminds her, and Ada nods without looking back at him. Sighing quietly, Tony reaches into his pocket and removes the small token, rolling it between his fingers.

He clears his throat to get Ada's attention and he holds it out to her. The teenager accepts the object with furrowed brows. "I got that about three months after we first met. I haven't stopped carrying it with me since." He tells her the moment Ada realizes what she's holding. She looks up from the one-year sobriety token, her eyes studying the billionaire. "Now I want you to hold onto it for me."

"No, I can't take this," Ada shakes her head and tries to give the token back but Tony refuses to take it.

"You can, and you will," He says, his voice gentle. "I don't need a token to remind me of how hard I worked to get here. I have this," Tony gestures around himself. "I have Pepper. My friends. The avengers, the compound...I have you. I have my family. Not sure I would if I hadn't gotten my crap together."

"I'm not a year sober," Ada reminds him, closing her fist around the token.

"You will be," Tony nods confidently. "In about a year," He says with a so-so gesture. "I believe in you, kid."

Sniffing, Ada looks down at her hands before standing quickly and wrapping her arms around Tony's neck. The man chuckles softly and returns the embrace. Sometimes that's all someone needs. For someone to believe in them.

That was such a good moment betweem Tony and Ada!

I hope you guys liked this chapter! I've got more coming. hopefully soon. (Reviews help)

Thanks for reading!

Teasers: "I find that hard to believe," / It's odd, he'd woken up that morning and just...known. / He braces his hands on the counter and sags against it, breathing deeply. / The teenager pats his arm and once again starts to leave, only to be stopped when the ground disappears out from under her.

'-'