"Is it alright if I sleep really close with you tonight, Peggy?", Steve asked. Peggy smiled softly, "Of course. We wouldn't probably have many chances like this on our transport and on the battleground.", kissing Steve on the cheek, "And I love the fact that you're like my personal heater.".
Steve chuckled warmly, "Well, I wouldn't ever leave you in the cold anywhere.", and Peggy giggled, "Good to know.", and they then settled in bed, with Steve spooning Peggy as he wrapped his arms around her as she curled up to him.
"I love you, Peggy.", Steve whispered in her ear softly, and Peggy spoke gently, "I love you too, Steve.", before giving a little yawn, and fell asleep, with Steve smiling to himself, awed that he's all hers, and she's all his, and with a soft hum, he fell asleep to the sounds of Peggy's deep breathing.
The distant sound of a Reveille horn soon broke the sleep for the both of them after the long night of them snuggled up with each other and gently sleeping. "Morning already?", Peggy yawned.
Steve muttered sleepily, "I don't want to go.", and Peggy glanced at the clock, saying 6, and chuckled, "I feel your loss, Steve, but we must get up and eat breakfast. After all, we must be there at 8 to take off.", snuggling back into Steve, accidently causing friction on Steve's upcoming morning wood.
"Uh, Peggy...", Steve muttered. "Oh, sorry about that, Steve, didn't mean to...", Peggy looked back.
"It's alright.", Steve yawned as he started to stretch, "Was wishing we had more time.", as he gave a slight pout. "Well, that's army life for you, Rogers.", Peggy chuckled. "We're not allowed to sleep in. Got to take it when you can.".
Steve gave a fond chuckle, "Don't I know it.", getting up with a sigh, "Do you need the bathroom?", and Peggy shook her head, "Not at the moment, luv. Go for it.".
Steve smiled, kissing her cheek in a little peck, "Appreciate it, my queen of my heart.", giving a pet name appearing as soon as he thought it up, and left the cot to take care of himself and use the facilities.
Peggy shook her head as she smiled at the name while making sure to at least give him the privacy to do what he needed to do. They wouldn't have long to do it as they probably were going to need to clear out by seven at the latest before getting to wherever they needed to go at eight.
Peggy then hummed as she got up from the cot, going to grab hers and Steve's war outfits, laying them out on the cot, and went outside of the bedroom to grab bowls of freshwater from the pool, and returned back to the bedroom to see Steve dressed in his boxer shorts and tank top, putting on his outfit.
Steve glanced to see Peggy coming in with their shares of water, and smiled, "Bathroom's all yours, Peggy.", and Peggy smiled, putting down the bowls of the water on the metal desk that was actually three plane wings welded together, and grabbed her outfit, passing Steve on the way with a peck on his cheek, "Thank you, Steve.".
She headed for the latrine bathroom, using the facilities while changing out of her casual clothes to her tank top and feminine shorts, and wore her outfit over them, heading back out to the bedroom.
Steve smiled warmly, holding up a giant brush which is actually a welded combo of metal fences and bristle wire, "May I brush your hair? I know we won't have this for those moments on the battleground. I know you want to be presentable as best as you could for the sendoff as we would be wearing spots of war on ourselves sooner or later when we arrive in Europe.".
"Of course.", Peggy said as Steve started to brush. "Just imagine that you're painting.", she teased. "You're terrible, you know that?", Steve chuckled as she leaned back to quickly peck his cheek.
"Hey, it would be boring if we didn't have some fun with each other and make ourselves laugh. After all, doubt we'll get many of these kinds of moments in Europe.", Peggy said.
"True... and I'm fairly sure it's Europe now... the fake Tiger, the giantess, not to mention that it seems the Pacific is well in hand; the Japanese navy has taken a lot of damage it can't afford, and our boys are slowly driving them back to their own islands.", Steve replied.
"Still quite a lot of ground to gain there, Steve. We're not anywhere close to Toyko yet... and for all we know, we might be sent to Burma to drive the Japanese back out of there. But I think Europe probably is the safe bet.", Peggy responded with a smile.
Steve nodded, "Indeed, and we can easily walk across Europe. Heck, even the rivers will be streams to us in ways.", smiling as he kept brushing her hair.
Peggy chuckled, "Oh, yes, and even the Channel can be easier to swim across as well.", and Steve smiled, "See, I told you. You are an idealist.", leaning past her ear to peck her temple.
Peggy giggled, "Thank you, luv.", and Steve chuckled, "But of course, my queen of my heart.", soon finishing with her hair, and smiled, "There, just as beautiful as the day I first saw you. And don't worry about war ruining your looks. You are always perfect to me no matter what, even if you're covered in soot and dirt.".
"I hope I can say the same for you then.", Peggy smiled as she nodded her head. "Thank you, by the way.", approving warmly. "Practice. Sometimes I had to help with my mother's hair at times.", Steve smiled with a chuckle.
Peggy chuckled, "I see.", before hearing the breakfast bell, and glanced at the clock, seeing that it's only half past 6, and spoke, "Early for once. Phillips must be really anxious.".
Steve smiled, "Let's go eat, Peggy. If the colonel is waiting for us, we have this half hour left to eat before we leave.", and Peggy nodded, "Makes sense.", before getting off the cot, and went to pick up her bowl of water, drinking it on the way out, with Steve joining her with his bowl of water as they exited the bedroom, walking all across the place to the platform where piles of breakfast is waiting.
"At least this stuff is pretty good.", Steve admitted as he and Peggy dug in as normal as they had done for the previous week.
Peggy chuckled, "Yep, though we would have to manage it in Europe. Less quality, but at least we'll survive on what we got in Europe once we're there between battles and such.".
Steve nodded, and they tucked in their meal in good time, and upon five minutes before 7, they finished up, and cleaned up with refreshing water, and before they went up on the platform, they shared a passionate, gentle kiss, embracing each other for two long minutes.
With smiles and glances at each other after that, they then went up, emerging out into aboveground, to see another simple tug with Colonel Phillips, just like the first day of their new lives, and got onboard.
The tugboat then headed off, heading south, and Steve guessed that they were heading for Virginia or someplace closer, and about a quarter before 8, they then saw their new transportation, with surprise and amazement on their faces.
"Well, that's certainly not what I was expecting.", Steve admitted as they saw what struck them with awe. It certainly was something flyable, that much was certain; but it looked not as much as a large transport plane as they originally guessed.
From what Peggy could decipher, there's a carrier deck, perhaps 30 hulls, with unique motors in four plane-like wings, and the hulls were shaped to be airplane-style, painted to be several shades of blue, and there's a name in white letters on sides, called Zeus's Thunderbolt.
"That thing can fly?", Peggy questioned as they looked to Phillips. "Managed to fly from the prairies of the Midwest to here. Probably gave our radar boys a bit of a panic when picking it up. It's fairly lightened though; we don't know if it'll fully support the full complement of equipment plus the two of you so it's going to Europe with just you two as the cargo.", Phillips explained.
Steve nodded, "Gotcha. What about food and such? I mean, how long do you think?", and Phillips hummed thoughtfully, "Stark said that it would be a full day and night at best, or at least, a couple of full days.".
"At least it'll be faster then and less risk of being intercepted compared to a transport ship.", Peggy admitted. "Indeed; but this'll probably be a one-way trip; rumor is that the Thunderbolt will probably land and be used as a quick makeshift airfield for the invasion.", Phillips said.
"Invasion?", Steve asked as Phillips chuckled, "Didn't give you the news today. Italy surrendered yesterday. And now the US 5th Army is landing in Salerno to drive what German forces are sticking around back up the peninsula. You two are going to make your first appearance to the Germans there.".
Peggy and Steve looked at each other, and nodded to Phillips, "Yes, sir.", with determined grins. Phillips smiled, "Good. Now, let's get you two on, and set off. And oh, if anyone asks about your ranks, tell them that you are Captain Carter and Captain Rogers...through I have a feeling that the US soldiers and the rest of our allies will call you two something else.".
"Yes, sir.", they said again before they followed him and got themselves on board. "Will you be joining us in Italy, sir?", Peggy asked.
Phillips shook his head, "I got a few meetings in England, mainly one of them about you, Carter as you were a British citizen in the first place, and the progress of the war in the other meetings. Apparently, Churchill is curious to hear about the abilities of you two.".
Peggy scoffed, "Would you give them hell that I am a 50-foot-tall woman, and nobody would stop me from fighting in the war?", and Phillips laughed heartily, "I will quote that on your behalf, Carter. I wish you luck and give a good whopper to these bastards, Captains!".
"Thank you, sir!", both of them saluted once more before the trio parted ways as Peggy and Steve got themselves in the area that was prepared for them on the flight before the whole craft began to groan and rumble. "Looks like we're taking off...", Steve said.
Peggy nodded, "This is going to be good.", with an excited smile, and then they watched in awe and shock as the entire craft then lifted up from the water, going high into the air, with water dripping off the edges, and soon, it was now flying straight through the air, with Steve looking back to see the coast of USA shrinking and disappearing into the horizon.
"First time flying for you?", Peggy asked. "Yeah, certainly a first time on something like that.", Steve laughed.
Peggy smiled, and replied, "With going overseas this way over the Atlantic, I think the Thunderbolt would rest for breaks among some islands, either north or south, especially with us.".
Steve nodded, "And by breaks, you mean for gas to refuel the Thunderbolt, and for us to use crude versions of a latrine.".
"I certainly am glad we at least went while we did.", Peggy chuckled. "But yeah, with the breaks, that'll be a good time for us if we need to.".
"Got it. Guess we better prepare ourselves to hold it if we need to.", Steve said. "Might not have to wait too long; I'm guessing if similar to a previous trip or two of mine, we'll probably stop at St Pierre in Canada first then probably the Azores before either Gilbralter or North Africa.", Peggy replied with a nod.
Steve smiled, "And second thing on my bucket list to check off. Traveling the world.", and Peggy giggled, smiling, "At least you're having the chance. We can do it again once the war is done long afterwards.".
"Good idea, I'd love to see much of Europe without being shot at.", Steve smiled as he and Peggy laid down. "Well, it's still a bit early, want to catch up on some shut eye or do you have other things in mind?".
Peggy smiled, "Some shut-eye sounds heavenly, and I mean, literally.", and Steve laughed warmly, nodding, and went to fall asleep with some heavy-duty tarps to shade their eyes from the sun.
A few hours later, Peggy was right about her suspicion of the flight plan for they have stopped at St. Pierre and got off to head for the woods and did their business privately, watching their steps carefully not to step on wildlife and such.
They returned in a half hour after some drinks at a freshwater tower and resumed their place on the Thunderbolt as it then headed for the air, and as they felt better with the nap under their belt, they went to have conversations with the occasional talk to some people who came up to them, figuring that training or even walking would disrupt the Thunderbolt.
They honestly were glad they could at least get out and stretch a few times, rather than being cramped up like a few times before. And it was good to chat with some of the folks that were serving aboard the Thunderbolt to pass the time.
And of course, somehow, up high, the stars are brighter and more beautiful as they laid on their backs during the night, finding the constellations, and Peggy had to admit that the stars this way is actually somehow better than countryside spots in USA or England.
"Shame we can't be out on the deck looking at the stars.", Steve sighed as he and Peggy were laying with each other. "Too chilly even if this thing isn't as flying high as some other aircraft.".
"I'm just glad it flies, I'm not as worried about waking up to a U-boat striking our ship.", Peggy said. Steve nodded, "Good point, Peggy. And the speed of the Thunderbolt isn't too bad either. I heard that by midnight, we would be stopping at the Azores, and then Gibraltar around 4, and we can be in Italy well into the daylight.".
Peggy smiled, "That's great to know. Still, I am gonna miss this...I mean, we're probably going to have quite a lot of missions.", with a chuckle, "Even if they would be easily done with our height and strength.", holding up her hands.
"Still, you know what Erskine said... we're not invincible. If the Germans put enough firepower in our way, it might be better to pull back and not try to push anything.", Steve reminded.
"I know, still, the rumor is that the Germans don't have as much in the south as opposed to the Eastern Front so it should at least be manageable for us.", Peggy sighed.
Steve reached to squeeze her hand, "And we can do more together than alone.", with a warm smiled directed at her, and Peggy nodded, "True. Of course, there might be situations where it's best to divide and conquer, but I doubt it's needed in the south compared to the east, or even north.".
"I guess we'll just have to see... I'm sure whomever is in command will find good places to use our gifts.", Steve said.
Peggy squeezed his hand back with a smile, "And there it is. Optimistic as ever, luv.", and Steve leaned over to kiss her on the lips before smiling, "And you love it, my queen of my heart.".
Peggy giggled warmly, and went to snuggle into him, "Indeed. Good night, Steve. Tomorrow, our service in war begins.", and Steve held her gently, "And we will start it with a bang.", brushing a strand over her ear, "Good night, Peggy.".
As Peggy guessed before, the Thunderbolt was able to reach Italy somewhat late in the morning of the 10th near Salerno; the Allied troops of the 5th Army certainly were in for the surprise of their life when they saw the great machine slowly land in the waters right of Paestum since there wasn't much of a harbor where the 36th and 45th US Infantry Divisions were landing. And none were prepared for what came out when Peggy and Steve made their first appearance to the troops.
"When the fleet sent word that Washington was sending us some special reinforcements... I wouldn't even remotely imagine this.", the 36th's commanding general said as Peggy and Steve reported into him.
Steve grinned, "That's why we were being kept a secret until now, general. I and Captain Carter are here to change the tide for the Allies.", and Peggy nodded, "That's right. Captain Rogers and I are ready to start driving the Germans and their buddies back to Jerry, at your command, general. Just direct us to the first spot of trouble, and we can do it.".
"Well, the men will be glad to hear it then.", the general nodded. "Operation Avalanche has been a total farce so far. No naval bombardment thought we'd catch the Germans sleeping. We took a beating as we landed, and we still haven't linked up with the British up north around Salerno. We got word that the Germans threw a whole Panzer division against them yesterday, but that's not the main concern right now.".
