AN: OMG you guys! I'm so grateful for all the love that this series has gotten so far. I appreciate it so much. I'm sorry for the long wait. I like to post new chapters for each of the fics at the same time so one isn't moving faster than the other. I hope you enjoy this next chapter!
Truly the world hadn't changed all that much. Yes, there were more people, technology had grown significantly, buildings and cars looked sleeker, and people's fashion sense, for the most part, seemed less conservative. Peggy was sure that there were more finer details but from one trip out with Coulson, that's the conclusion she came to. All of that to say, she felt a little more confident in dealing with the modern world.
Coulson even introduced her to the internet. Google became quite handy, especially when she was up late and couldn't sleep. One night during her nightly check-up of Steve's thawing process, she had paced the room, reading from her phone the latest thing she had searched. She had accidentally gone down a conspiracy theory rabbit hole when she was trying to piece together what she knew from the times Howard woke her and to when she was woken up by Coulson.
Nerves bubbled up in her the day she was supposed to meet Tony. She laid out a handful of outfits from her civilian clothes to choose from. Peggy laughed at herself as she returned the gown to her closet. They were meeting for lunch and the restaurant wasn't even that fancy. Matter of fact it boasted that they had the best burgers in New York. With that reminder, she also returned the pantsuit and the pencil skirt ensemble. Now she was down to a pair of denim and trousers that were more in the style she was used to.
She looked over each outfit and placed the denim ensemble back into her closet. She bought them on a whim. They had been marked in the catalog Coulson had given her to order some basics from. Apparently, an unnamed female agent had been asked to go through to mark staples in every modern woman's wardrobe.
While the SHIELD-mandated clothing was comfortable, after she changed into the outfit she had chosen, she felt the most like herself since waking up. The sound of her heels clicking on the floor as she made her way to the front door made her smile. Yes, this was how things were meant to be.
She made the mental note to speak with Coulson about changing up some of her parameters. She was used to dressing in suits when she was in the office and while she hadn't been cleared yet for active duty, she would like to dress more like a woman returning after a long undercover mission than a fresh recruit.
As if just thinking of her handler made him appear, Coulson was waiting for her at the front desk, looking apologetic. "I have some bad news." He told her once she was close enough to hear.
"What's the problem?" She asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Mr. Stark isn't here to meet you and we can't let you go with who he's sent." He motioned to the door where a man dressed in an impeccable suit was pacing while on the phone.
"Is that man a known associate of Tony's?"
Coulson nodded. "That's Happy Hogan, his bodyguard and chauffeur."
Peggy laughed a bit. "Phil, I don't see the issue. I've only ever been picked up by the Stark's associates. If Tony had arrived, I would have been a bit worried the world was in danger."
"You were supposed to be escorted by someone you know."
"If Fury is worried that I'm going to run off, I worry that he's not as smart as he thinks he is. Besides, wouldn't it be easier for me to scheme if I knew the person." She placed a hand on his arm and gave a gentle squeeze. "Now didn't you mention something about a milkshake?"
Coulson sighed. "Enjoy your lunch."
Peggy smiled, patted his arm, and then made her way outside. The moment her feet hit the concrete, she slipped on a pair of sunglasses and smiled at a relieved-looking Happy. "Happy, is it?" She asked as she held out her hand.
He took her hand and nodded. "Yes, yes ma'am. Pleasure to meet you, Miss Carter. Shall we?" He motioned down the steps where a black Cadillac was parked in front of the building. "Tony said you'd manage to still make it even after they told me you weren't allowed to come with me."
A small smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Yes, apparently it was agreed that he would come and get me."
"Well, this is what that looks like. Hope it's alright."
"It's fine, Happy. I'm used to Stark antics and besides this introduction went a lot smoother than the last time I was introduced to someone working for a Stark." The first time she had been introduced to Edwin Jarvis, she had punched him twice as to escape what she thought was a kidnapping. That is until Howard opened the car door.
"How'd that one go?" Happy asked as he started the car after helping Peggy in.
"Nearly broke his nose. He wasn't as forthcoming as you were. Made me believe he was someone else." Looking back she was sure it was because of whatever instructions Howard had given him.
Happy looked at her through the rearview mirror, impressed. The drive to the restaurant wasn't all that long. Peggy spent most of the time looking at the window, asking Happy a few questions when she saw something that piqued her interest. Once he parked, he turned around to face her and handed her his card. "If you ever need anything I'm to be at your service especially since he's playing double duty lately with the whole Iron Man thing. He doesn't really express a whole lot but I know he's excited you're stateside again."
Peggy took the business card with a small smile and tucked it into her purse. "Happy, how much do you know?"
He smirked at her. "I know enough." With that, he got out of the car and opened the door for her.
She eyed him as she climbed out and all he did was smile at her. A small, amused smile crossed over her features. "Oh, I think I'm going to like you, Happy Hogan."
"I think I'm going to like you too, Peggy Carter. Enjoy your lunch."
As soon as she walked into the diner, she scanned the area to find Tony. The photo in his file did nothing for the similarities staring her right in the face. He sat in the back corner, a buffet of food already spread out on the table.
"You know it's rather presumptuous to order for a lady." She teased him as she slid into the booth.
"Oh, c'mon Aunt Peg, tell me I didn't do good." He motioned to the cheeseburger and large basket of fries in front of her.
He did do well. The meal was very reminiscent of the last meal they had together on his seventeenth birthday. "That's beside the point." She popped one of her fries in her mouth with a smile. "How are you, Tony? You've grown quite a bit since the last time I saw you."
"And you haven't aged a day." He quipped. Growing up, Tony had been told that his Aunt Peggy visited once a year from England. He believed every word and didn't really question how she managed to not look as old as his parents. He believed she either wore a wig or dyed her hair and had a very good plastic surgeon. Then when his parents died, she hadn't been there. He had been so angry with her until the Jarvises stepped in.
"So we're starting there, hm?" She set her burger back down and wiped her fingers on her napkin laying on her lap. "As I'm sure you've gathered I didn't come from England when I came to visit. Right before your father, Phillips, and I started SHIELD I injected myself with a version of the super soldier serum your father and Dr. Zola were working on. I agreed to be your father's lab rat of sorts if he destroyed everything they worked on which he did. After some time passed, he came to me about a theory he had in regards to Captain Rogers. I agreed to test this theory so he built a cryogenic capsule where I was essentially placed into a coma, only woken up every year. When he had you I made him wake me up each year for your birthday. We had to keep my status a secret. Zola couldn't know about my enhancements so I guess after Howard passed along my file to Fury and Coulson, they left me in the basement until Rogers was found."
She let out a sigh and reached over to place her hand on his. "I regret not making it known that if Howard were to pass before Steve was found that I was to be woken up permanently. I missed so much and I know an apology won't do any good but I am truly sorry I wasn't there for you, darling. I hope that I'll get the chance to make it up to you."
He looked away from her momentarily to get his emotions together. He had expected the half-truths or even the flat-out lies that he was used to getting from his father when he inquired about the only aunt he really knew. She had told him everything, however. He of course had hacked into SHIELD to look at her file when he got her text message. "I didn't realize you were so emotional Aunt Peg." He smirked at her.
"Oh, you bloody wanker." She tossed her balled-up straw paper at him which caused him to laugh.
Before she let his hand go, he gave it a small squeeze and flashed her a smile before digging into his food. It was his way of saying that he accepted her apology and was glad that she was back. They ate in silence for a few moments before he asked her if the food was better than she remembered.
That opened the door to conversation. He caught her up on all she had missed, even on some of his adventures as Iron Man. "We should team up some time. Hell, you could leave SHIELD right now and just save the world with me. I could even build you a suit."
"And what, be your sidekick? Oh, no. I want to get back into the game but not that badly."
"Weren't you Captain America's sidekick?"
"The fact that you even think that alarms me." Her blood boiled as she fixed him with an infamous Peggy Carter look even as she tried to remain calm. The crack in her glass, however, told a different story as her soda started leaking out onto her hand.
Tony handed her a few napkins which she took gratefully before he waved down the waitress and asked for a new cup. "That is the reason why you aren't going to take me up on my offer isn't it?" He asked once the waitress left.
"Tony, I'd be more than happy to help you with a case, it'd be far better than working with you to clean up a mess you've made but I am no one's sidekick. Me not wanting to leave SHIELD should not imply that either."
He scoffed but before he could comment, the waitress returned.
"You put him first too, I see." He said after the waitress left.
"I beg your pardon." Luckily Peggy didn't have anything in her hands this time when she looked at Tony in utter disbelief.
"I mean you two are all he ever talked about." He sighed and then shook his head. "Sorry, this was not how I wanted this reunion to go. I have missed you, Aunt Peg."
Peggy sighed, now putting two and two together. "It's not how I pictured it either but for what it's worth I did scold Howard each time I returned to the cryo chamber. I really shouldn't be surprised he didn't listen. As for the reason, I'm not leaving SHIELD, it has nothing to do with how much I want to see you because I do want to see you. Matter of fact, we should have standing lunch dates for as long as you're in New York." She smiled softly.
Tony nodded. "Yeah, I'd like that and you're in luck. I'm overseeing the last parts of the construction of Stark Tower so I'll be here for a while."
"I'd love to see it sometime."
"I'll have Pepper reach out to your people and we'll figure out when I can break you out again."
She rolled her eyes. "I'm not a prisoner there. No breaking out necessary."
"Tell that to Happy." He chuckled.
"Mr. Hogan did seem rather alarmed when I first saw him. You weren't clear on your directions and well, Director Fury seems to be the type of man who likes agreements to be followed through."
He smirked as he laid a few bills on the table to pay for their meal. "How is Director Fury?"
"He's not the worst Director I've ever had to work for, let's put it that way."
Tony chuckled. "Well, if you ever get tired of not being able to do things in your own agency, my offer still stands."
"I'll keep that in mind." She told him as they hugged goodbye.