Parker

3

I carry my mom as far as I possibly can and then I push my self a little longer. The little light must be a bomb. There is no other explanation. I sit across the street with my mom in my arms. Waiting for it to explode. Stupid probably but I've never seen anything blow up. 

I wait and wait but nothing happens. Maybe it was like a timer for a reaction inside? I begin to walk towards it until I come back to move Mom to a safer spot and wait for the supply truck to pass. It vibrates under my feet.

I hear a crash come from inside the building before it goes up in flames with a loud pop. I cover my head and duck behind the trash can on the street corner. I hover over my mom. 

My ears have that weird buzzy feeling and nothing feels as if it's in my brain. All around me is just white noise. I don't think any muscle in my body will work. I'm stuck in the crouched down position, covering my head and staring at the ground that is being covered by flakes of debris from the building. A weird smell surrounds me. Probably from the chemicals. Some chemicals are just not meant to be heated up with other elements that it might react with. 

I know I should move. I hear voices that sound concerned but I don't hear my mom's voice. I'm lying over her stomach and I don't feel anything. She isn't opening her eyes. 

A hand touches my shoulder and tries to get my attention. I'm just focused on Mom. Why isn't she moving? She doesn't have any allergies. I can't think of a world where she doesn't exist. 

"MJ, hey MJ. It's Tony Stark here. I was wondering if we could go to the ice cream place over in the shopping markets?" 

I look up at him. He doesn't seem to want to actually go to ice cream. Shame. 

"Can you help Mom?"

Tony helps me up. "Of course kiddo." 

I want to stay to make sure Mom receives proper medical attention. She's not well at all. Tony turns me around and starts walking me towards the medical person. I cling to his side hoping that this will all go away. That this is really just a dream.
I look over before leaving in the ambulance to make sure people are taking care of Mom. They're zipping her up in a black body bag. I just feel so overwhelmed that I black out.

I wake up in my room, sunshine pours in through my window. My head is pounding and that buzzing sound people randomly get is stuck in my ears. My mind is fuzzy and I can't remember what happened the night before. It's just a hyper-realistic nightmare that my mom is dead. 

I walk to the kitchen, surely Mom left something before heading out to work. I find a box of donuts. Odd. Mom doesn't even like donuts. 

"Ah, sleeping beauty is awake." 

Tony Stark stands there. That must mean that it wasn't a dream. I crumple to the ground. 

"Hey MJ, I hope you like donuts. Happy brought them in for us." Happy grunts. "A lawyer is coming in an hour to go over your mom's will." 

"Ok." 

I grab the box of donuts and disappear into my room. 

"Melissa Otteman was very strict on who could be in this room for when I read her will. I'm going to have to ask you to leave." The lawyer looks at Happy.
Tony waves at him. "Sorry Happy looks like you'll have to wait outside." 

"Ok, Ms. Otteman only had a few items of business. First off, McKenna Jane, she wanted you to have this letter. Wait to open it until later. She also wanted you to have her tapestries and notebooks. Mr. Stark, this letter is for you." The lawyer looks down at his notepad. "That's all Ms. Otteman had."

As soon as the lawyer leaves, Tony and I rip open our letters.

My sweet, darling MJ.
I'm sorry that I have left you. I set this up as a precaution in case my boss or co-workers got a little... A little gruesome. It probably didn't look like I was dead because I've been most likely poisoned. (I work in a chemistry lab for some questionable people. Of course that would be the most likely action.)
I want you to collect all my notebooks, including the ones in the vault. You must take them when you go to New York. They hold very valuable pieces of information that Hydra must not get a hold of.
Don't try to read them at home. There's bugs set up around the house. Don't mention anything about the notebooks.
I love you so much and I want you to succeed in life, even though I'm not there to watch you grow. Whether you become a photographer or a chemist, I know you'll do great because you're my daughter.
Love,
Mom
PS. Don't give Tony a super hard time. He's never raised a child before.

Tony looks petrified as he's staring at his letter. When he makes eye contact with me, he tightens up his posture and says, "Looks like your coming back home with me."