Ms. Stark [Peter Parker]

Chapter 34| Say Something

THIRD PERSON
12:27 am; Saturday- Stark Mansion

You could hear a tune echoing through Stark Mansion. It wasn't anything magnificent, but several keys at a time being tested, observed, studied, whatever you would call it.

So there sat Maria Stark, alone, on the bench to the shiny white piano. The whiteness of the keys proved to anyone how white the piano was once compared, but it didn't really matter. It was barely used and was more of an attraction and memorial rather than an instrument.

Tony Stark found his daughter at the bench. She seemed calm... too calm. After everything that happened with Peter only an hour ago, you think she wouldn't be so self-controlled. She didn't have any specific order but would play random notes, and maybe repeat the rhythm once or twice if it had a nice melody.

Tony Stark slowly went and sat down next to her. He didn't face the piano though, instead had his back to it.

"You know, I wish you could have met your grandmother, Maria. She would play this exact piano." He smiled at the memories forming in his mind, he loved his mother very much. He even named Maria after her. His face went dull though.

"At the time though, before her and your grandfather's death, which was practically a decade before you were born, I didn't care at all." He frowned. Tony couldn't tell if she was listening or not, but he continued on anyway.

"I never took the time to actually learn, but not only that, to show my parents how much I loved them... despite them always loving me. I was a young, ruthless boy." He explained the story like nothing had happened between him and his daughter earlier in the night. Maria silently tried to figure out if he was trying to make a point or not. Tony exhaled.

"I am sorry, Maria. I messed up, I overreacted. I talked to Peter though, and I'm okay with you dating or whatever you are with him- friends or not." He waited for a response, but he heard Maria keep playing like he wasn't even there. He felt even more guilt.

"Come on, Maria, say something. Anything. I'll do whatever to make it up, please. Is there something new out I can buy? Hell, I'll buy the whole company for you-"

"Tell me about my mother." Maria abruptly had stop playing. She looked straight at Tony now, and he could see the tears in her eyes. It was like she had been thinking about it ever since she had got home.

"W-what?"

"Tell me about my mother, " she repeated the exact same way.

Maria's mother was always something unspoken. And by that, I mean it was like she didn't even exist. Tony didn't dare talk about it- and Maria never asked. Pepper obviously wasn't her actual mother, and Tony never pressured Maria to believe she was.

The billionaire sighed.

"When I first met your mother, it was at a business partnering with Stark Industries. This was shortly after I took control of Stark Industries, and I honestly didn't know what I was doing, " he stated casually. Maria listened.

"Your mom was someone I worked close by. She was insanely beautiful, and quickly became like my other half with the leadership, and well one thing led to another." He cleared his throat and leaned back.

"Even though I wasn't generally a committed man, I asked her to marry me. It would be good for the company- and for us." A small- so slight smile appeared upon Maria's face.