The dark-haired woman glanced at the man across the Tardis who was staring at her, his blue eyes could barely be seen due to the lack of light. She could tell he was scared, she would be too if she were whisked away in a giant blue box with out much explanation. He hid his fear well, he always did. Even before the serum. The Steve Rogers she had missed.
The Tardis shook while sparks showered them from the one of the few remaining lights.
Another glance around the Tardis revealed a black-haired man, whose knuckles were nearly white from holding on so tightly to the railing as the Tardis shook around them. She knew Steve didn't trust him, but he gave no verbal objections to the other man being on the Tardis. Next to him was a girl, she was smiling and brushing blonde hair from her face, her hand wrapped loosely around the rail to keep from loosing her balance. She was use to the Tardis acting up, and so was Peggy.
Before.
Peggy pulled her loose brown curls into a pony tail as the Doctor smiled and grinned at her from across the Tardis console.
"Where would you like to go today?" He asked her cheerfully. Peggy looked around the blue Tardis, whose interior has changed many times while she traveled with the Doctor, mostly between other companions, she knew a few of his past friends, though. "Surprise me." She replied, equally cheerful.
The Doctor's grin was pure mischief as he straightened his bow tie and danced around the controls. Peggy causally leaned against the rail, by now use to the shake of the Tardis as it traveled someplace.
The shaking abruptly stopped and they made their ways to the doors. The Doctor gave Peggy a once over, as if inspecting her outfit before leading her out on to the crowed streets.
The excited chatter of crowds greeted Peggy as she stepped out of the Tardis. No one noticed them, everyone was so preoccupied by the giant balloons shaped like humans in colorful costumes. The Doctor spun around to face her. "Oh, you'll love this Peggy!" Said The Doctor. "One of the times the human race made contact with aliens!" Peggy glanced around. "They seem rather cheerful about the affair." She commented. The Doctor's grin widened.
He explained to Peggy that it was the two-year anniversary and for one of the first times he wasn't involved with keeping the earth safe. She noticed the Doctor's mood was beginning to lessen as they made their way to the end of the parade route where there were fewer people, the two watched as cheerleaders did flips, and hurried past their part of the parade, eager to go home. Bands marched past, twirling their batons. The crowd around them started to scream as the last float rolled up. The Doctor suddenly looked nervous and Peggy glanced up at him. "Are you okay?" Concern evident in her voice. The Doctor gave her a brief nod in response. She shrugged and returned her focus to the parade, deciding not to press him. A metal man flew by, playing loud AC/DC music, which she recognized from one of her many trips.
"Iron Man!" Some people screamed, taking pictures. While others chanted, "Tony Stark." Peggy froze at the name. She had basically raised Tony while not on missions for Shield or traveling with the Doctor. The last time she had seen Tony was when he was six, inventing another thing in an attempt to win his father's approval. She still felt guilty for leaving him.
On the ground was a muscular man, carrying a hammer, with blonde hair and a cape flowing behind him. He walked confidently, while smiling and waving with his freehand. "Remember Thor?" The Doctor whispered and Peggy nodded.
Behind him walked three people making a sort of V. In the front was a man in a red, white, and blue uniform, behind him was a woman with bright red hair and a man with blonde hair, who was carrying a bow. They both wore black. Peggy's eyes fell on the man leading them who was clearly a solider by his gait. Her eyes widened. "That's Steve." She whispered, before turning on the Doctor. "How do you know about him?" She demanded. He nervously straightened his already perfect bow tie before humming the tune Steve used to dance to back in the forties. "Of course I do! He's the Star Spangled Man with a plan." He was whispering to Peggy with a grin.
Steve glanced back at them, his eyes lingered on Peggy for a moment as his mouth opened and closed in surprise. He must have heard the tune, Peggy assumed. He turned back and said something to his team then awkwardly walked out of the parade route and over to them, he was blinking rapidly. It was almost comical. She elbowed the Doctor into silence and almost turned away, she wasn't ready for this. She doubted she ever would be.
The Doctor spun Peggy around so she faced Steve. Her eyes met his, she was frozen. "Peggy?" Steve asked blinking, as several people reached out towards him. One even screamed about how they touched Captain America. "Hello, Steve." She fumbled for something to say, she was almost never at a loss for words. Steve looked at a loss of words as well. "She was right." Steve mumbled. Peggy had not expected him to say that. The Doctor's mouth opened in surprise. Peggy and the Doctor exchanged a glance. "Could be a spoiler." The Doctor suggested. Peggy noticed how his demeanor had changed, he was nervously playing with his bow tie and bouncing on the balls of his feet.
Steve glanced down at the jeans and T-shirt, advertising a band that wouldn't form for another 3 centuries. It wasn't what she usually wore, but the Tardis had not returned her other clothes from the wash. Peggy must have done something to anger her. Steve extended his hand to her, reminding Peggy of the first time she met the Doctor. "Do you have time?" Steve asked. Peggy raised her eyebrows in surprise. She paused, almost replying with something cliché, since she did almost own a time machine. Instead she nodded slightly and hopped over the guard rail that's job was to keep people off the streets, it did a good job keeping the Doctor from nearly making it over as he stumbled, nearly falling. He glanced up at Peggy and gave a sheepish grin.
Steve looked like he was about to introduce himself, before realizing he would have given his name out to the hundred or so people standing within earshot. So instead he smiled and extended his hand.
Steve had led them to the large building with Avengers plastered across the top in large shining letters, it was rather impressive. She had to admit, but found it strange that Steve was living here. "Hello, Captain." A British voice greeted them as they entered the building. Peggy glanced up in surprise. "An AI." The Doctor grinned. Steve looked up at where it sounded like the voice was coming from.
"Master Stark and the others were rather concerned about your taking off at the festival." Steve grimaced. "Sorry about that." He glanced back at Peggy and blinked several times, as if to make sure she was real, he had done that for the entire fifteen minute walk.
"Are they upstairs?"
"Yes, Captain Rogers."The AI chirped. The three walked towards the elevator, which automatically opened and the Doctor frowned. Peggy's lip twitched upwards. "Don't get to sonic anything today." She couldn't help but say. The Doctor shrugged and glanced around at the modern interior. "There's still time." He replied, and they shared a smile. The doors opened to show the same group of people Steve was with earlier. They were sitting around a table, and were trying their best to look upset, failing miserably when they saw the look of pure joy Steve's face, which he was trying hard to mask.
"Finally found yourself a 'dame?'" She saw a dark-haired man ask. He was promptly elbowed by another man with dark hair and glasses. Steve opened his mouth to reply but a man with shoulder length blonde hair stood up and seized Peggy and The Doctor in a hug.
"Thor?" The Doctor spluttered out. "Doctor," Thor boomed. "Lady Peggy!" They both gave tight smiles and tried to breathe. "You got stronger." The Doctor breathed. Thor dropped them and gave a sheepish smile. "My apologizes." He gave a quick bow to the Doctor before turning back to his friends.
"This is the Doctor and one of his female companions, they have visited my brother and me many times and told us of their tales while we were children." Steve's eyes widened. The Doctor shook his head quickly. "She's just a friend, Thor." The Asgardian shrugged, not understanding what he said wrong.
Peggy frowned, noticing another man staring at her. She turned to him. "What are you?" Another man, one she had not seen at the parade ask. The Doctor frowned. "That's rather rude." He muttered.
Peggy couldn't help but give a faint smile. "Why don't you introduce me to your friends?" Peggy decided to change the subject.
She found out the other blonde haired man in the room with short hair was Clint, the red-head sitting rather close for them to be more than just friends is called Natasha, the man who asked what the Doctor and Peggy were was Bruce Banner (who had already apologized several times for asking a question like that), and the man who was staying extremely quiet was Tony Stark, and he also wouldn't stop staring at her.
"Are you well, Friend Stark?" Thor frowned.
"Yeah." Said Tony just a little too quickly.
All the Avengers glanced worriedly at him. They decided to not press Tony, they were all smarter than that. The last time one of the shield novices asked Tony why he was such a 'douche' had gotten punched in the face, by everyone but Tony. Apparently he missed Tony nearly sacrificing himself because of the nuke two years ago.
There was several minutes of silence before Steve glanced up at Peggy and smiled, the tips of his ears turning red. "So, um, how about that date?" He asked softly, extending his arm to her. Peggy silently took it. The corner of her mouth twitched upwards.
She glanced back at the Doctor for a moment. "I trust you to stay here and not invent anything too early." The Doctor frowned. "When have I ever done that?" He asked. "Pasta." They both said, sharing a smile. Steve looked confused for a moment at the Doctor and Peggy's relationship. "We aren't fondu-ing." She promised. And Steve flushed at how naïve he once was.
Steve pressed the button and the elevator doors silently slide open and they stepped in, before following Peggy gave the Doctor a quick hug. He grinned and began to chat with Jarvis.
She glanced back at Tony. "Yes," She smiled. "I'm the Peggy Carter who raised you."
The doors closed.
A/D Peggy's hug has a reason. I promise.