3:00 PM, July 6th 1988, Stark Mansion, CA
The sound of the doorbell ran through the living room of the mansion. Edwin Jarvis, the butler, ran to the door to open it, as usual. He grabbed the doorknob and twisted, opening the door to reveal a young woman dressed in a blue summer dress, carrying in her arms a baby dressed in a little pink dress, asleep on her shoulder. The woman had dark circles under her eyes, terribly pale skin and a skinny body from malnutrition and sleep deprivation. She appeared to be nervous as her body was trembling. The black-haired woman looked up to the butler.
"Stark." The woman ordered before Edwin could mutter any words.
"I need him." She continued.
"And why would you need him? Does Mr. Stark know you?" He said.
"He knew my sister, Jocelyn Floyd." She said, her voice failing at every word. Edwin stood silent.
"I need him. Just to talk to him. Please." She pleaded. The butler sighed and opened widely the door to let the woman pass. The woman took slow steps, as if she were afraid something would happen if she stepped in the wrong place.
"Sit on the sofa over there, Mr. Stark will tend to you in a minute." She nodded and walked with the baby to the black leather couch and sat, relaxing her muscles to the comfort of the sofa. Edwin turned over to walk away to get Howard, but stopped in his tracks and turned to the woman.
"Excuse me, miss. Do you mind telling me your name?"
"My name is Jessica. Tell him I'm on behalf of Jocelyn and he'll understand."
Howard Stark shifted under his seat, being almost three hours without moving made his hips hurt. He needed to stand up. Yes, that seems like a good idea. Getting up and drinking a nice glass of iced scotch. That seems tentative, Howard thought. Howard dropped the papers he was holding on his hand onto the wooden table and took a deep breath. He got up of his seat and walked over to the mini fridge he had on his office, opening it and taking out the bottle of scotch. He placed the bottle on a table nearby and opened a cabinet over the fridge, taking out a mid-sized glass. He took the bottle and poured the drink, placing the bottle in the mini fridge afterwards and taking a sip as he shut the door.
It was almost a second after he drank the whole glass of scotch that Howard realized he had forgot to put ice on the scotch. He slapped his hand on his forehead before belting out, "Stupid, stupid, stupid!"
He heard a knock on the door then. Howard placed the now empty glass of scotch on the table and opened the door to reveal his butler.
"Sir, there is a woman in the living room looking for you."
"Name?"
"Jessica."
"I don't know her. Tell her to go away." Howard commanded immediately.
"But Sir, she said she is on the behalf of her sister Jocelyn Floyd, she said you'd understand." Howard's eyes widened at the sudden memory of her. He stepped forward and Jarvis led the way to the living room. He met the gaze of Jessica as soon as he entered the room and she stood up with the baby in her arms. Edwin turned away and left, to let them talk.
"Howard I-"
"How do you know Jocelyn and why are you here?" He interrupted.
"Jocelyn was my sister!" She exclaimed and the baby broke out of her sleep and started crying. Jessica then widened her eyes and started shushing the baby.
"Was? I don't get it." Howard was confused.
"She died."
"She died?" Howard stuttered.
"About a week ago." Jessica confirmed in between the baby's cries. Howard sighed.
"And the baby? Is it yours?" He asked.
"It's yours." She replied. Howard's eyes widened and his breathing became heavier, he couldn't actually believe it, at the age he had, he only planned to have one kid, which was Tony. But another child? How would Maria take this? How would Tony take this? He couldn't process it in his head. Besides he was sure he had used protection when he spent the night with Jocelyn.
"It was on Jocelyn's will that the baby would be taken to you. She was at least sure that you would be able to give her a better life. If she were to stay with me, I'm not sure how she would end up. Look at me, I'm a broke artist. You are a millionaire." She explained. The baby had stopped crying and was now playing with her aunt's hair.
"I guess you're right." Howard sighed. "How old is the baby?"
"She is about to turn three."
"Can I hold her?" Howard asked nervously. Jessica nodded and put the baby in Howard's waiting arms. Howard noticed how the baby had his chocolate eyes and curly brown hair, as opposed to Jocelyn' black hair and blue eyes. The baby looked up to her father and examined the new face in front of her. She raised a tiny hand and placed it in her father's hair, repeatedly stroking his curls. Howard felt amazed at how the little girl had little to no resemblance with her mother.
"Look, sweetie, meet your daddy." Jessica cooed from behind. The baby let out a giggle.
"Has she said her first words yet?" Howard asked.
"Only three words. Her first word was "bird". We were in the backyard when she saw one. She was so surprised she started yelling it was a bird." Jessica explained.
"And the other two words?"
"Umm… Mamma and Jess." She said. Howard was amused.
"She's really pretty." Howard whispered.
"She looks like you." Jessica said.
"I noticed that."
"You know? I am really stupid; I never asked her name." Howard confessed.
"Her full name is Isabelle Jocelyn Floyd."