When lightning always strikes, you know she's not far behind.
Kidnapped at a young age and recused seven years later, Avalyn Stark is forced to try to navigate a new world far from what she remembered. With threats around every corner, she was nev...
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"Try to remember the kind of September. When grass was green..."
Maria Stark had been an elegant woman when she was alive, and her voice was pleasant to listen to as she played the piano. A two-year-old Avalyn Stark sat on the floor as she babbled away to herself, clinging to the stuffed bear she had been given.
Maria stopped singing as Howard Stark walked in, but continued playing. Tony Stark, their son, was asleep on the couch.
"Wake up, dear, and say goodbye to your father."
The scene wasn't real, though Avalyn Stark wished it were. It was so odd to see the realistic hologram in front of her as she watched the scene play out. She wished that she remembered her grandparents, but she didn't.
"Who's the homeless person on the couch?" Howard questioned.
Tony, wearing a Santa hat, staggered to his feet.
"This is why I love coming home for Christmas...right before you leave town," said youngTony, picking up his daughter. "Isn't that right, Ava?"
The small Ava cooed at him. She briefly dropped her stuffed bear but Tony scooped it up and handed it back to her.
"Be nice, dear, he's been studying abroad," Maria warned.
"Really?" Howard questioned. "It's a good thing you have Florence, lord knows how you keep her around. Do me a favour? Try not to burn the house down before Monday."
"Okay, so it's Monday. That is good to know. I will plan my toga party accordingly," replied young Tony. "Where are you going?"
"Your father's flying us to the Bahamas for a little getaway," Maria answered.
"We might have to make a quick stop," Howard added.
"At the Pentagon. Right?" Tony questioned. "Don't worry, you're gonna love the holiday menu at the commissary."
"You know, they say sarcasm is a metric for potential. If that's true, you'll be a great man someday," Howard explained. "I'll get the bags."
Maria stood up, moving to kiss her granddaughter on the head.
"He does miss you when you are not here," said Maria. "And frankly, you're going to miss us. Because this is the last time we're all going to be together. You know what's about to happen. Say something. If you don't, you'll regret it."
