Helena Stark: A WWII Widow

chapter sixteen: Reason

"Is there a reason we have to go to this event?" I asked confused as I pinned a bow in Rosemary's hair.

Howard shrugged as he fixed his tie, "I didn't want to bring a date."

"Really? So, you don't have the guts to ask a woman out." I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I have more than guts," Howard said making me smack him.

"She's only eight!"

Howard winked at Rosemary, "but she has no idea what I'm talking about."

"That doesn't mean I want to know what you're talking about," I replied as I put on a layer of lipstick. "How do I look."

"Amazing, you both do," Howard said as he kissed my cheek and then Rosemary's forehead. "Shall we?" He asked as he held out his arm for my little girl, he wasn't very tall, so she could easily reach it. I smiled as he offered me his other arm and we walked out.

Jarvis smiled at me as he held the door for me, and then we were off to the party. It was the typical party that Howard attends, but everyone wanted to be around us because of Rosemary. Eventually, though, she managed to fall asleep on the sofa in the corner. I smiled as I watched her, I thought about just leaving, but that would wake her up.

I kissed her forehead and then sat next to her to wake her up when I heard Howard calling for me. I bit back a groan as I walked over to him, he was bouncing up and down as he introduced me to some important person, but I didn't really say much. I just need to get my daughter home. At the nearest opportunity, I quickly bade my goodbyes and dragged Howard away.

"But I was just starting to have fun." He whined.

"You are not becoming intoxicated," I said annoyed as I arrived at the sofa I left Rosemary at, but she wasn't there.

"No, I was not," Howard said as he crossed his arms, but I ignored him as I looked around frantically for Rosemary. "Are you even listening to me?" He asked, but I didn't say anything as I started to panic. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know where Rosemary went." I said in alarm as I started speed walking around the room as fast as my legs would carry me.

"What do you mean?"

"I left her on the sofa, she was asleep, she wouldn't just leave without making sure I knew where she was. It's happened once, we made sure it wouldn't happen again."

"Except it happened again..." Howard said gently as he put a calming hand on my shoulder, "don't worry sis. We'll find her."

"I can't lose her too Howard, I just can't," I whispered.

When we couldn't find her anywhere at the event, we headed to the station, but there wasn't much we could do other than that. "We could ask Peg for help," Howard suggested.

"We are not abusing the SSR's power." I reprimanded. However, we still ended up there, but not because I let Howard drag me there. They found us. "What's going on?" I demanded as I stood in my formal dress still, though incredibly disheveled.

"We have a ransom demand." Agent Sousa informed me.

I looked at him confused, "what does this have to do with me?"

"Helena, they claim that they have Rosemary." Peggy said, "we just want to make sure that she is safe."

"Well, this is just dandy," Howard said as my face drained of color.

"What did I say?" Peggy asked as I stumbled back.

"Rosemary went missing a few hours ago, I was trying to convince Helen to come here to try to find her," Howard explained.