I started this chapter, left it alone to work on other stories, and came back when I started driver's ed. It was fitting.
Chapter 203: The Rogers Girls
The DMV - 12:56 PM
During her honeymoon phase at Camp, Sigyn didn't think about living on Midgard with her husband. It wouldn't be completely new since she spent most of her life there. Not a lot of readjustment would be needed, she didn't think. All she still had to take care of was a new set of Midgardian IDs. She could pull out her Britney Braun cards from some archive but even then she'd have to change her name to her married name and her address to Xavier's. Not to mention she has to redo her road test since it's been over eight years.
Emily has to change her licence and social security when she hyphenated her name, but at least she was around for the past eight years and had Stark (now Stark-Banner) cash and status.
It wasn't even that big a deal when Angela and Daniel had to change their licences when they moved in with their respective partners. Even Angela would have to do it again when she gets married since she wants to take James' name.
So now she's sitting in a car at the DMV, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel. Sigyn doesn't look up until her examiner gets into the driver's seat and she sees that it's Peggy. She isn't in her SHIELD uniform but in a dark high-neck long-sleeve, jeans, and short boots. She has her badge on her belt right next to a holstered gun. On her lap is a clipboard with the test papers and a pen.
"I asked Xavier to make a phone call and get this settled easily," Sigyn says. She figures using her husband and his SHIELD contacts would make the process easier given her long Asgardian absence.
"He called me," Peggy responds, smiling with her lips in their usual shade of dark red.
Sigyn nods, clearly noticing. "You've got to be joking. He didn't tell me that."
Peggy shrugs as she buckles up. "Maybe he thought I'd contact someone I know or whammy up some papers for you, but there are laws."
"I thought you were the law."
"Exactly. You can do anything with a Mother who has SHIELD badge and a clipboard. Now drive."
Sigyn doesn't ask any more questions. She starts the car and heads out of the DMV, driving on the main road. She isn't sure what to do since Peggy is fiddling with the pen in her hand, tapping it against the clipboard.
"I'll let you pick a route," Peggy says. "Make sure we get on the freeway at some point. You already moved into Xavier's, right?"
Sigyn nods. "Basically. It's not like I had any belongings. I ditched my Midgard clothes before going to Asgard and now ditched my Asgard clothes when I came back here. I conjure up outfits and keep them. If I need something, I'll just go there. I don't miss shopping."
Peggy smiles a little. "Custom closet."
"And free."
"So how is Xavier's place? Do you like it?"
"I do," Sigyn turns left on the next street, "okay, I noticed this when we would go to his place before Stark's wedding, but his apartment is vacant. Like, it's a bachelor pad with an absent bachelor."
Peggy sighs disappointedly with a sad smile. "That boy. He was barely ever home. He was either in a quinjet or with us."
"I know. Why do you think my registry was five pages? Gotta spruce up my homemaking skills."
"What happened to your magic for that stuff?"
"Not important."
Peggy grins a little. "You meet any of his neighbours?"
"Okay, I've been meaning to ask," Sigyn starts, "does Xavier unknowingly live in an old-age home because all of his neighbours are seniors."
"Apartment complex for retired SHIELD agents."
Sigyn pauses, slowly nodding. "Why, though?"
"Vander terminated his position as an Academy RA immediately following his time at Camp that year." Peggy stops for a second and glances out the window before looking at Sigyn again. She couldn't tell if his mom's eyes were glossing over because she made her look back on the road. "He signed off on Xavier being a field agent way later than the others. I'm not sure how much he told you about it since it is or was a tough topic for him. Anyways, Vander gave him the apartment for rent and it's been his ever since."
"Why was he signed off later? Weren't he and Angela the top of the class?"
"That's a conversation you should have with him."
-o-
Sigyn was barely on the main road for ten minutes before Peggy started critiquing her driving. Whether she had her eyes off the road for a slim second to check another mirror or took a hand off the wheel, Peggy had something to reprimand her on. Aside from thinking she's fucking up her driver's test, which is weird since she was illegally driving when she first got back on Midgard and she was doing fine since she didn't get caught but she thinks she's messing up whatever relationship she had with Peggy. Sigyn was always good with Angela's Mom and kind of okay with Boyfriend Xavier's Mom, but Husband Xavier's Mom seems out to get her. This fear must be what Xavier meant when he said Jane gave him a venomous smile while congratulating him.
A woman half his size scared the shit out of him. A woman who, she loves like a mother because she is one, and can scare the shit out of her too.
"You rolled over a stop sign," Peggy states without looking up from her clipboard.
"Did not," Sigyn argues.
"You didn't come to a full and complete stop."
"If I snap my fingers and make it disappear, then was it ever really there?"
Peggy glances at her, brows knitted. "It was there when you drove past it and tampering with a stop sign is breaking the law."
Sigyn narrows her eyes as she makes the next turn. She noticed that Peggy didn't have the standard testing car that had an examiner accelerator and gas pedals. Sigyn had to think that Peggy had some trust in her to use a normal car. It had to mean something that Peggy was now looking up ahead at the road instead of her examiner clipboard.
"You didn't signal back there," Peggy says as Sigyn made the next turn.
"Yes, I did," Sigyn states.
"Sweetie, you didn't. You would've cancelled your signal."
"Don't patronize me. It's automatic."
Sigyn glances over at Peggy, gripping the wheel but relaxes when she sees Peggy hiding a grin as she looks at her side mirror.
"Eyes on the road," Peggy orders with a lighter tone. "You're now speeding."
"Am not."
"You're at 135 in a 120 zone."
"I'm on par with everyone else which is how you're really supposed to drive. Follow driving conditions."
Peggy nods as she scribbles on her clipboard. Sigyn would glance over but it's probably some notes on how argumentative her new daughter-in-law is. James would never be this rude, she imagines Peggy writing. Or for all Sigyn knows, she's drafting divorce papers or even rewriting her final will so Angela gets all her fortune.
And to Sigyn's luck, they're now caught in post-lunch traffic.
Sigyn drums her fingers on the wheel as Peggy keeps her gaze out the window. Her pen teeters between her pointer and middle finger. Sigyn's focus is so concentrated on the road and even moving forward a slight inch that she almost didn't hear Peggy talking.
"Sigyn," Peggy starts, "I hope you know that I have the utmost love and respect for you and what you did to Apollo when he first showed up again, especially because it would've cost you your life for a greater good. It scared me and I can only imagine how frightened you were, but I'd rather be terrified than see you die."
Sigyn glances at her before focusing back on the road. To think she thought Peggy was drafting up legalities against her. She isn't sure how to respond but a tightening knot in her stomach compels her to say something.
"... am I expected to call you Mom now?" Sigyn asks. Her tone came out babyish and lost.
Peggy's lips twitch. "If you'd like."
Sigyn grins a little. "Agent Mother-in-Law, if I may, I didn't come back from Asgard just to marry your son. Well, maybe but on a list of things. And wasn't Captain America your lifelong crush so much so that you moved to America to become an agent?"
Peggy's now the one glaring as Sigyn beams in a victorious smile.
"Drive," she orders as traffic starts to clear.
"Delighted, Agent Mother-in-Law."
Sigyn continues driving, now feeling happier having untied the knot inside of her. She isn't sure where to go next so she continues going straight and eventually turns onto the freeway.
"I'm not giving you a hard time, Sigyn, and I'm not mad at you or Xavier for eloping," Peggy says as Sigyn merges, "I wasn't shooting daggers at you like Jane was to Xavier. Hell, her look could've sent me back to England. Steve and I eloped after a mission, you know that. Your ceremony and reception were much more beautiful than ours and we framed all the pictures you sent."
Sigyn nods, having seen the wedding photos hanging on the walls or sitting on the mantle. "That was all James. Xavier was about to go through with it covered in pine sap and needles."
Peggy shakes her head disappointed but not surprised. "I don't know why you married him."
Sigyn shrugs. "Your guess is as good as mine. Any more marital advice you have?"
Peggy sits back. "If there's one thing Steve and I did that I don't want you and Xavier to do, it's getting pregnant after three months. Seriously, don't do it. I respect you and your body's choices but don't."
"Yeah, you won't have to worry about that one. You or Jane, for that matter. But that's my husband and sister you're talking about so watch yourself." She sucks in a breath. "Xavier and I haven't had a kid conversation yet. Should probably find out if I can have any but future problems."
Peggy looks at her for a moment longer. "Steve always preferred you over James."
"Makes sense since I like Captain Father-in-Law more than you."
Peggy grins. "That's fair. Well, darling, you still have your driving skills. I'll stamp it off and get you your new license when we arrive at the DMV."
Sigyn does a small victory dance in her seat. "Can I smile in the picture this time?"
"Don't push it. Still gotta follow the rules here."
Sigyn nods. "Fair. Want some coffee for the ride back?"
To both their surprise, someone pops up from the trunk and climbs into the back seat. Sigyn lights up a fist with magic and cranes her arm back as she keeps her other hand on the wheel and eyes on the road. Peggy bends her arm back without buckling her seatbelt, looking at the backseat with the mirror.
Angela, who was the mysterious figure in the back, is unfazed as she buckles her seatbelt in the back. Sigyn and Peggy lower their arms as Peggy turns around.
"I'd like some coffee too," Angela says.
"What the hell?" Sigyn asks.
"Blimey, Angela, were you there the whole time?" Peggy says.
Angela smiles proudly. "You're not the only one with a SHIELD badge, Mom. Can I help Sigyn get her social security updated?"
-o-
Rogers House - 19:59 PM
Sigyn drives up to Captain Father-in-Law's house, pulling up to the curb to a screeching halt that probably made the wheels lock. She leaps out of the car excitedly, running up the driveway to Xavier and Steve who were sitting on the front porch in pure horror at the driving scene they just witnessed. It didn't help that Angela and Peggy got out of the car shortly after, smiling as they followed Sigyn.
"Babe, babe!" Sigyn exclaims, running up the stairs. "I finally got ID as Mrs. Rogers!"
She can barely stand still as she shows Xavier her new driver's licence, passport, and social security card. Xavier wraps his arm around her waist and kisses the side of her head.
"You know she tried to use her magic to get rid of a stop sign?" Peggy tells Steve. "And then a random pedestrian?"
"And smile in her passport photo," Angela adds.
"You yelled at me to smile!" Sigyn says, whacking her arm. She looks at Xavier. "Oh, I got you something."
"Me?" Xavier questions, glancing at his dad.
"Why are you looking at him?" Sigyn asks. "Captain Father-in-Law wasn't there. He doesn't know anything."
"What?" Xavier and Steve say at the odd yet adorable nickname.
Steve can't help but smile, nearly crying as much as he did when he read the wedding notice and looked at all the photos. He glances at Peggy who mouths Agent Mother-in-Law at him while Angela shows him all the failed passport and driver's licence photos, a bunch of which she and Peggy made an appearance.
"Here," Sigyn pulls out some scribble-filled coffee-stained napkins from her back pocket and hands them to Xavier.
"What were you trying to do?" Xavier asks trying to decipher what she wrote all across them in blue pen.
"Practise my new signature."
An AN to my future self who is publishing this chapter: please tell me you can drive now. [Publishing me responding and saying that I can!]
Also, tomorrow is the story's fifth anniversary so there will be a chapter tomorrow!