Hey guys! Even though I said that I am now a strictly one-shot author, an idea struck me a week ago and I've been itching to write it.
So I don't know if this'll get good reviews or not or if it's even a good storyline, but you know, why not give it a try, right?
So if you guys like this, then please tell me so I can continue it.
This is an AU, and it's an EXTREME AU, so things will be extremely different.
Anyway, I'll stop rambling and get on with it.
This is just the prologue, so it'll be shorter than the rest of the chapters.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Avengers.
"Howard, are you sure about this?"
"Quiet Maria!" Howard Stark hissed.
Maria Stark cradled the bundle gently in her arms, "But, Howard, what are we going to tell the press?"
He sighed and ruffled his black hair in exasperation. "We'll tell them it was a stillborn."
"Howard…I-I'm not su-"
"I never wanted a child, Maria, and I am not going to let him grow up in a place where he isn't wanted," Howard growled, "It's…it's better this way."
Maria sighed and rubbed her temples. "Who's going to take over the company then? When we're gone, who's it going to fall to?"
Howard hung his head down, and shook his head. "When I'm ready for a child, then we'll figure something out."
He turned to look at his wife, her eyes shining with unshed tears with a shattered look in her eyes. He knew it was hard, and he knew that it was going to crush her, but he just…he just couldn't let a child grow up in a household where no one wanted them. He knew in his heart that what he was about to do was right.
Maria was shaking, and cradled the newborn baby closer to her chest. The tears in her eyes finally shed, and her chest was racked with sobs.
She cradled the baby closer and whispered into its forehead.
"Oh god I'm sorry, I am so sorry."
Howard turned his head away. He had to go through with this. This was the plan from the beginning. He can't back down now. He couldn't back down now.
He just never imagined that it would be this hard.
"Howard…can we…" Maria choked, "can we at least give him a name?"
"Maria…" he started.
"Howard, please. I know that it'll get us attached but we're already in too far. It…it couldn't hurt. And at least he can carry a piece of us with him."
Howard blinked, "Okay."
The baby churned inside the blankets and let off a small whine.
"Oh," Maria gasped, "he's waking up."
Howard leaned in closer.
The baby opened its eyes.
It was the first time that Howard and Maria had ever seen their son open his eyes, and it was a beautiful shade of chocolate brown.
Maria's heart melted.
"He looks like you."
Howard breathed, "Yes…he does."
Maria exhaled and blinked away the rest of her tears. "Anthony. I want his name to be Anthony."
She looked beside her, and Howard was nodding slowly.
"Yes, Anthony," he tasted the name on his lips, "Anthony Edward."
She sniffled, "It's perfect. Little Anthony Edward Stark."
Howard shook his head, "He'll never know though. But whoever he is…or whoever he's going to be, I hope he'll be great…no, I know he'll be great…he is a Stark after all."
She nodded. "Yeah."
"C'mon Maria, let's go."
"Okay," she whispered.
So both Starks opened the doors of their car and walked up the pathway of a house, gently setting down their son on the front doorstep with a note on top of the bundle of blankets…and left without looking back.
And so the world never knew that an Anthony Edward Stark existed, and in the eyes of the public, the Starks suffered a tragedy of a stillborn baby.
However, in a small little town teetering on the edge of California, was a resident little boy that went by the name of Anthony Edward Walker.
The Starks may have given away their son, and the world was never meant to know…but the universe had other plans.
So there's the prologue! And if you guys want me to continue, please don't hesitate to leave a review :D
Yes, it's short, but the later chapters (if I decide to continue) will be longer!
Reviews are good for the soul?