Does He Know?
Chapter 2
Recap for chapter 1:
Howard wasn’t really a father to the twins. They only ever saw him at dinner, where the children never talked unless addressed. He usually talked about how his search for the great Captain America was going. The newest weapon he was thinking about making for his military contract. Talking about how Starks were made of iron.
Unfortunately when your mother and father are the most respected, they are also the most hated. Something the twins were going to learn most dearly. For on May 20th of 1979, Maria Stark’s affair had reached its breaking point, and he was done waiting for her to leave Howard Stark.
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May 20th of 1979
Maria wanted to be the focus of tonight’s even. The higher class was having a fundraiser that night, at the new reopening of the fair. It was a way for the whose who to parade around their heirs, whether it was to their children or grandchildren. The Hammers, Osborns, Rosses, Richards, Von Dooms, and many more up and coming politicians would be there. Maria had decided that this even would be the introduction to the Stark heirs.
Howard had like usual, left to go in search for Captain America. Where he had gone this time she hadn’t bothered to ask. For all that she loved him, Howard seem to forget she had needs, sometimes she missed just having another body to walk up to. That’s where Mr. Jacob Janes came into the picture. He was one of Howards board members. Howard had invited all board members to keep them from voting against him, they were to vote on future Stark Industry contracts.
As the night drew to on the men separated to the den to play cards. Leaving the wives to gossip among themselves. Somehow throughout the evening Maria found herself in the company of Mr. Jane. Who kissed who first they didn’t know, but as he fucked her against the wall, she knew it wouldn’t be the last they met. Howard would never know. It was only a couple times.
Over time Jacob Jane had decided that Howard was getting in the way of their great love story. Maria had lied that Howard was refusing to give her a divorce. Something about being the mother of his children. That she belonged to him. So Jacob decided that if he got rid of the children, of any obligation to Howard, Maria would be free to run away with him. To let him love her the way she deserved to be loved. What better way than to free them, but while Howard was away.
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Maria had Jamie and Katie wait outside with the twins for their driver of the day. By the time Maria had finished going over the meals for Howards return, Jacob had already gotten everyone inside the limo. He had been surprised to find that the children’s nannies were going as well. It might prove difficult hiding their bodies along side the children.
“ Make sure we get there the next 20 minutes, I want to be the first ones to arrive. People don’t remember the second or last, but the first. Starks will be talked about for the weeks to come” Maria got quickly sat herself opposite of the children. “Pattie get me a cup of wine.”
While Katie made herself busy getting Maria’s wine, Jacob turned the air on in the back. The back of the limo quickly filled with fluothane. Tina and Tony were the first to go under, followed by Maria, and Jamie being the German she was slept with her eyes open. Katie had decided to open a window, as she felt herself tiring. Only the window wasn’t opening. Why wasn’t the window opening?
“Excuse me? Why is the window locked?” she looked towards the driver, he didn’t seem to hear her. In fact he wasn’t Gregory, their usual driver. Panic started to set in, had someone finally kidnapped the children? Katie reached over to her ankle bracelet, as everything started to blur, just barely breaking the seal. Shield would fi-
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September 7, 1968
Director Peggy Carter had known the moment Howard had fallen for Maria Collins Carbonell. Maria had gone right up to Howard, grabbed him by his tie, and gave him the kiss of his life. “Now Mr. Stark since I made the first move, where’s our first date?”
“Well how would you feel about fonduing on top the Eiffel Tower?” Howard began taking her to his plane, when he shot over his shoulder a distracted. “Pegs it was great catching up. Next week same time, ya?”
Before Peggy could even respond they were gone. It was a fast love affair, for not even a month of knowing each other, Howard needed to bribe Peggy to go engagement ring shopping. “Pegs, as you know I have no living family. So I guess what I’m trying to ask… Is- wil- will you stand in as, well you know, family?” Howard had gone from chalk pale to tomato red, in span of seconds.
Boy did she want to tease him about it, but she knew she couldn’t. Howard was sensitive when if came to feelings and emotions. Maybe after his wedding. “Sure Howard, but I want your children in return. I’m thinking Godmother, and don’t worry you’ll be Godfather.” When he didn’t respond she turned towards him. His dumbfounded expression made her break out into laughter.
It seemed that was the only thing needed to get him moving again. “I hate to disappoint you my dear Peggy, but I don’t think I’ll be having children. If it makes you happy however, yes, you’ll be an awesome Godmother.”
“Howard, with Maria as your wife, your bound to have children. One at the least, I wager.” She took the ring in his hand, and gave him a different ring. Something more tasteful.
“Well Pegs, I’ve never been one to turn down a bet.” Howard didn’t even look at the ring she had handed him. just turned to the owner. “We’ll be taking thins one.” It certainly said much about Howard appreciation towards her. Never looked at the ring, until after he had proposed.
Their wedding had been beautiful. Peggy and the Howling Commandos sitting at his right, where family sat. She was the first to congratulate him, and the last to bit him farewell. She could have never imagined how much Howard would come to mean to her.
When agent Katherine White’s emergency signal came online, Peggy’s heart stopped. The only reason for her signal to come online was if the twins had been take. “I want a team on that signal. Agent Fury get me Howard on the phone. I want eyes on Maria Stark now!” Everyone moved in a chaotic rhythm, organized but chaotic nonetheless. Whoever had taken her godchildren was in for the surprise of their life. After all S.H.I.E.LD didn’t exist.
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May 20th of 1979
After stopping to change vehicles, Jacob moved Maria to the passenger seat. When she awakened, she was surely to rejoice. He them transferred the nannies and kids to the back of the truck. Jacob had made sure to darken the back bed windows. After making sure so nothing could be traced back to him they left.
Had Jacob Jane been paying more attention of riding the car of evidence, he would have noticed the blinking wire under the seat. Like wise, if S.H.I.E.L.D agents had been quicker by five minutes, they would have saved the children. However as fate would have it they didn’t, allowing Jacob to escape, and so he moved onto the next part of his plan.
As Maria came into awareness she knew something was wrong. Why was she in a moving car? Where was she? That’s when she heard him. Jacob was on the phone with someone. Something about a flight out of the U.S. Where were her twins? Did anyone know she was missing? Were they looking for her? Was Howard aware she was missing? What would the media think of all this? She needed to find away to save herself from all this….
Once Jacob saw she had awaken, he started telling her his plan for them. How he had grown tired of Howard stopping their love. That originally they were going to drop off the twins in some remote orphanage, but he hadn’t been counting on the nannies being there. He could make do, it wasn’t her fault as he hadn’t told her. Wouldn’t want Howard getting suspicious. After all their love was the love of a lifetime.
Instead the nannies were going to hold Maria alongside the twins hostage. If Howard wanted his family back he would have to pay for them. Of course he would only be getting the twins back. Maria was in love him not Howard, it was only right they disappear after. Once they had their money they would run away under different aliases, and start their life together. Unfortunately they couldn’t leave any witnesses so the nannies would have to be taken care of.
May 21, 1979
Maria couldn’t understand where her life went wrong. Howard Stark had married her within the year of their meeting, and proved her snobbish sister wrong. So what if Maria’s parents worn’t around to find her a husband, she could find her own. Jacob was just a fling to pass the time, divorce had never been an option. Everyone wanted her husband, her kids, and her life! Maria would rather die than run away from it.
Jacob had tied Maria and the twins in the middle of the warehouse. The camera had been set up facing away from the windows. There was barley enough light to recognize them, but it didn’t matter as Jacob forced Jaime to narrate. Howard had 36 hours to get him 29 million dollars, and an untraceable plane. If his demands worn’t met Antonella would be killed, followed by Anthony, and finally his beloved Maria.
May 22, 1979
By the time Howard and Peggy made it to Stark Manor, a packaged had arrived for Howard. S.H.I.E.LD had taken the mail man in for questioning, unfortunately there had been nothing suspicious, the package had been put into his regular pile. After being cleared it was given to Howard to open.
May 23, 1979
The first thing Howard pulled out was a letter, his trembling hands wasted no time in opening it.
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Dear Mr. Howard Stark,
Let me start by informing you, that your wife and children remain unharmed. For now, that is. Those children of yours are however trying my patience. The boy keeps yelling for his twin sister, and that daughter of yours keeps messing with her locks. Tell something Stark, do you know they refer to you as Howard? Why not father, papa, or dad?
Your wife, now she’s proving to be entertaining. Keeps saying some nonsense about how you’ll find her and the children. It must be nice to have such a loyal and lovely wife. When we started questioning her on your whereabouts, she proved useless. But then again she may be lying to keep you safe, I’ll have to try harder in getting the truth.
There does seem to be a requiring theme between you and your family. You Howard Stark are not fit to be a family man, and so I have taken the liberty of taking them off your hands. I’ll be more than happy to show your wife what a real man is like. That lavender perfume smells delicious.
I would however be willing to part from them, for the right price that is. You will have 36 hours to get me 29 million dollars in both large and small bills. After that is complete, you are to have an untraceable plane waiting for me at airport 16. Make sure its waiting for a complete 12 hours. I’ll leave sometime throughout the day.
And just to show you how serious I am. Along with this letter you will find that I have been generous enough to send you a video of your family. Enjoy! For it might just be that last time you see them. After all the ball is in your court now.
Sincerely,
Your Family Kidnapper
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Once Howard had read through the letter, he had Peggy play the video. There, he could see his beautiful Maria tied up on the floor. On her face was a bruise forming on her cheek. Everything turned to red. How dare that son of a bitch touch his wife. Maria was a remarkable delicate woman and deserved the best. Like his mother had. Alright, he would go along with this man, and when the time came Howard would kill the man that decided to touch his Maria.
While all Howard saw was his wife, all Peggy saw were her godchildren. Something wasn’t right with the video. Maria was tied up by herself, and the twins were tied up against each other. Why was Katie blinking so often? What was she trying to say? Could it be… was she blinking morse code? .. .-/— .- .-. .. .-/— .- .-. .. .- What did Maria have to do with anything? Could she… be pregnant? Had she not told Howard yet?