"Feels more like before in Italy, in some ways; some of those nights where we were having to stick closer to the troops, not have much in terms of privacy with each other.", Steve said as he leaned against her. "At least we might be at the end of this battle almost... once the armor rolls into Arnhem, they'll probably drive up to the Zuiderzee and take positions along the IJssel river; cut off Holland from Germany. Even more trapped Germans.". Steve looked out towards the west, the direction of the major Dutch cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam where hopefully liberation would come quickly for them too.
Peggy nodded, "And less trouble for the Netherlands...Wow, we did so much...Italy, France, the Channel, and now the Netherlands...", as she leaned her head on Steve's shoulder.
"And next will be Germany and hopefully the end of this whole war... then it can just be me and you and our family.", Steve sighed as he turned his head to kiss Peggy on the forehead. "Only thing standing in our way of that dream is a madman, his fanatical lackies and about 3 or 4 million troops that have to be reaching the end of their limits. I wonder how many really know that they've lost the war. It's not a matter of 'if' Germany will lose now, it's when...".
Peggy chuckled softly, "That sounds about right to me. And to think, it's only September...Maybe Monty is right. If we get a lot done, we will just as well see that the war would end by Christmas.".
Steve grinned softly, "Marrying you on Christmas, eh? That would be a brilliant gift, my queen.", caressing her curls in his hands, and then chuckled, "Maybe we can do it again...Give Susan a new brother or sister just like last time.", with a tender smile.
"Hopefully we won't be landing on the shores of Japan or anything if we have another there.". Peggy joked as Steve nodded.
"That's true.", Steve chuckled but was thinking about that. Would they be needed in the Pacific or would helping achieve victory in Europe be enough? He shook those thoughts from his head. They still needed to focus against Germany, who would hopefully surrender very soon.
Peggy smiled softly, "We will see what's ahead for us, luv.", as she closed her eyes as she snuggled up closer to him. "Yeah... yeah, we will...", Steve whispered as he stayed awake for a little while longer before eventually having to catch sleep of his own.
Thanks to their efforts, Market Garden would end up being a success; though certainly was a risky plan that might not be attempted again with just how much if could've gone wrong. XXX Corps drove through Arnhem and kept pushing north until they reached Zuiderzee and severed the Netherlands in two, trapping many German garrisons on the wrong side of the country with only the Afsluitdijk dam as their only route back to Germany.
The British 2nd would turn east and move to the IJssel river and parts of the Rhine as to prepare for the next push into Germany proper while the Canadian 1st would cover the flank and look north from the De Lek River and west of the Arnhem salient to liberate the rest of Holland before a true humanitarian crisis of food shortages could happen.
Elsewhere, the Allies were making their gains as the trickling supplies were starting to open slowly to keep the broad front push going. US 1st, 3rd, 7th, and the French 1st Armies all south of Arnhem were pushing forward to liberate what remained of occupied France and move into Germany and race towards the Rhine River where they could have lots of breathing room and prepare to capture the rest of the country.
Steve and Peggy were soon reunited with Bucky as he had transferred to the US 5th, and Steve was beyond happy to hug his best friend and pseudo-brother in his Amazonian size, and thanks to Phillips, the couple got a place in Paris near the French-US Embassy, and reunited with Susan as Erskine brought her, with the couple introducing her to Bucky, her uncle.
"They pull me out of the Balkans right before Alexander is moving to take Vienna.", Bucky chuckled as he held Susan in his hands. "And instead, I'm now in Paris meeting my niece for the first time. I wish you had told me sooner, Steve.".
"Sorry, deemed confidential in the mail. I'm just glad to know that you didn't get hurt in Italy while we were in Normandy.", Steve said.
"Eh, the fighting for us in northwestern Italy mostly calmed down. The Germans and their remaining Italian stooges that still thought it was a good idea to stick with the Nazis didn't put up too much resistance before we eventually rolled them over. 10th Mountain Division got Mussolini at Salo. Pretty sure this new Italian government is going to hang him for the vultures soon when they hold him for trial soon.", Bucky explained. 5th Army linked up with the Dragoon forces in southern France at Nice and Monaco at the end of August before 5th quickly turned around for the Balkans to assist British 8th Army.
Susan was a bit shy at first, but having heard stories of Bucky from her daddy, she found that Bucky is truly a loyal, young at heart, and strong-willed man with family morals, and she came to enjoy the fact that he's her uncle, playing with Bucky's dog tags.
Peggy smiled happily to see Susan cheerful with Bucky and was glad to see Steve looking a lot better...Oh, being with Peggy and Susan helped Steve more than he would imagine, but he had missed Bucky greatly all those past months since Italy.
Right now, they are having lunch in the couple's new temporary home, and much to Peggy's amusement, Susan hadn't let go of Bucky since they met almost two hours ago, probably due to the fact that Bucky is sort of a teddy bear, but Peggy decided not to tease Bucky just yet.
"She certainly likes you a lot, Bucky.", Steve chuckled. "I think it's because she can probably tell how close you and I are.", Bucky guessed as he gently rubbed Susan's hair. "You're just too much like your own father, aren't you?", he said to her.
"I think she's got more of her mother than me, Buck.", Steve smiled. Susan giggled, babbled with an attempted raised eyebrow, and Bucky laughed heartily, "Okay, you look like both of them, Susie. One thing for sure, I'm going to have to help your daddy with the teenager stuff...You are truly going to be a swell beauty.".
Susan blinked before smiling gummily, and her belly grumbled. Bucky smiled, "Is that a tumbling belly I hear, Susie?", with a chuckle. Steve smiled, "What do you want, little princess?".
Susan thought a bit before holding up fingers; 1 on one hand, and three on the other hand. Peggy blinked in surprise, "Goodness, you're really hungry!".
Bucky glanced at her, "What does that mean?", and Peggy smiled softly, "1 is for mother's milk, 2 is for either goat's milk or apple juice in a bottle, and 3 is for pureed food.".
"She learns fast about anything?", Bucky surprisingly asked, and Steve chuckled, "Erskine figures that she has an eidetic memory like us, so yes, she learns fast. Susan, I know Bucky is comfy, but you gotta let go if you want Mummy's milk.".
Susan pouts before nodding, and Bucky passes Susan over the table, "There you go, Susie. Don't worry, I'll stick around. I gotta give your mother some privacy out of respect.", getting up, and Steve pats his shoulder, "I'll show you how to make pureed food. Susan, what do you want?".
Susan smiles gummily, and curls her fingers in an 'A', and Steve chuckles, "Apples puree. And what do you say?", with a smile.
Susan puts her hands in a prayer-plea, and Peggy chuckles, "Atta girl.", before nodding to the men, "Alright, shoo. You heard her.", and with smiles, the men left the dining room, leaving Peggy to open her shirt and bra, to feed Susan.
"Crazy how much has changed with you in a year, Steve.", Bucky said. "I mean, not just the whole giant thing or powers, or even being healthy, but the fact that you have quite a woman that's completely locked heart and soul with you but a kid with her as well.".
Steve chuckled, "And I wouldn't ever change anything, Bucky... I feel so right with Peggy, and when Susan came into the picture, it's like my whole world has shifted a tiny bit, but even better, you know?", as he and Bucky went into the kitchen.
Bucky nodded, "I hear you, bud. Peggy is a great gal, and Susan, man, my heart's even bigger to fit her in, and she is an incredible girl already...I pray that she doesn't need to learn how to shoot once she grows up...I'm already tired of this war, Steve. I am getting real homesick of Brooklyn, and heck, I might just follow in your footsteps and find the right gal for me...", with a sigh and shrug at the end.
"I'm sure you'll find someone someday, Bucky. Might be here for all we know, a few of the GIs on leave have been quickly meeting some women they plan to take back home here or in England.", Steve chuckled.
"I know a lieutenant back in Italy who basically wants to settle down with a girl he met in a village.", Bucky smirked. "But like I said, I just want this over...".
"It hopefully will be. The armies are pushing, if we sweep around and clear out the Ruhr Valley; Germany's ability to wage war will be all but gone.", Steve reminded.
"Yeah... I heard about Market Garden with you guys... over before Christmas? I doubt it.", Bucky shook his head. "One thing the Nazis I've learned; they don't give up so easily.".
Steve nodded, "Fair point, but we Americans and our Allies, we are just as stubborn and we don't give up easily either!", with a grin as he slugged Bucky's arm gently. Bucky chuckled, "I'll give you that.", with a smile. Steve nodded gratefully, and so Steve went to teach Bucky about making puree food, all the tricks and oddities to be on the best of Susan's temper, and more.
And so, Bucky spent almost a week with Susan, while Steve and Peggy went off to enjoy the sights, to dance, to have dates, and to basically have fun, and on the last day of Bucky's visitation break, they were visited by Erskine.
Bucky had been reading a newspaper with Steve as they were keeping their eyes on the frontline combat; especially since Bucky would be transferred back to the front. The Canadian 1st Army had quickly broken 'Festung Niederlande' in less than two weeks and liberated much of western Holland with Polish armor reaching Alkmaar the previous day of October 13th.
At the same time, the British 2nd had crossed the IJssel and were pushing towards the Ems River and the cities of Munster and Rheine while the 3 US armies and the one French were making fast pushes towards the Rhine. German resistance obviously was still very stiff but good progress could be reported.
The two of them put it down when Erskine came in. "Erskine.", Steve smiled as he stood up. Erskine smiled, "Good morning, Steven. Was stuck in the lab for the week.", before glancing over, "Hello, Bucky.", before blinking in surprise as something moved in his pocket.
Bucky nodded, "Hey, doc. Did you sneak in a rabbit or something?", before Erskine shook his head, "No, rather something more important. Where's Miss Carter and Susan?".
Steve replied, "Exploring. Turns out that Susan missed being a giant baby, so they're over at Deauville, figuring that if Susan were a giant baby, she would handle the waves just fine.", smiling lightly as in Amazonian size, Susan is in the size of 2-year-old toddler, but as in giant size, she is about 25 ft tall.
Erskine nodded, "Ah. Good, because I wouldn't want to scare Susan.", walking around to close the drapes over the few windows of the kitchen, and Steve frowned, "Is it about you know what?".
"You trust Bucky with all your heart, Steven, yes?", Erskine asked, and Steve nodded, "We're best friends and brothers to the end.". Bucky blinked in confusion, "I'll bite. What's going on?".
"Ever since I got out of the lab this morning, my little friend has been acting more peculiar and excited. I believe the Quantonium fragment has finally found the worthy person it had been waiting for.", Erskine smiled warmly as he pulled out the brightly glowing fragment of Quantonium.
Steve could already guess as he glanced over to Bucky. Buckly looked at him funny for a moment before his eyes widened and he pointed at himself, "Me? You're saying I'm worthy of this... thing?".
Erskine smiled sincerely, "From the few times I have talked with you, you're clearly loyal to friends and family including Steve, Peggy, and of course, Susan, you're flexible with changes to the war, transferring in and out, finding ways to help people, and strong-willed to handle the terrors of war, and most of all, you have heart to fight not just for yourself, but for people who is helpless, innocent or weak, just like how you helped a kid in Brooklyn not too long ago, hmm?".
Bucky exhaled, "Yeah, I suppose so. But what is it, anyway?", glancing at the Quantonium which gleamed and pulsed, if he wasn't wrong, but like nervous, excited, and hopeful.
Steve squeezed his shoulder, "That is the Quantonium, well, only 25 percent of it anyway. I, Peggy, and Susan have the Quantonium, able to size-change, all the extra super stuff, and powers.", with a chuckle.
Erskine nodded, "That's right. And Quantonium is much alive, in sorts of ways, and if you accept it, not as a pill or clutch, but as an old friend, it will give you the extra super stuff, to have you grow up to Amazonian height, and some general sense of powers that suit you to a T.".
"Seriously?", Bucky was stunned to hear that. "There's not really enough however for you yourself to grow to the heights of Steve and Peggy, but certainly at least be on par with them at this height.", Erskine explained.
"I see... wow... that's...", Bucky shook his head. "I need a moment to think on this.", with a thoughtful nod. "Which proves it's right to choose you.", Erskine chuckled. "Someone who was not the right person would've jumped on this instantly.".
Steve scowled, "Like Schimdt and Eris.", and Erskine nodded with a heavy sigh, "Indeed.", before gently putting down the fragment of Quantonium on the table on the far edge across from Bucky, "I'll leave you two alone. Take your time. Come along, Steven. I have to talk to you about something else.".
Steve nodded, and squeezed Bucky's shoulder again, "Ask it questions like a friend, okay? When you're ready, just say so, and the Quantonium will do the rest.", with a reassuring smile before leaving with Erskine, heading out of the kitchen.
"Yeah, sure, just leave me with the glowing rock alone...", Bucky shook his head as he sighed and sat down to look at the Quantonium. "So... you're the thing that helped Steve, right? Or at least the giant things?".
The Quantonium buzzed happily from the tone of it, and Bucky nodded, "Well, I've never seen Steve so happy before. I mean, your friends of Quantonium in their bodies likes them, right?".
Another buzz affirmed it, and Bucky smiled, "I'd love to help out far better than I have been doing...Oh, don't get me wrong, transferring out and in regiments and infantries has been handy, but boy, I hate packing in and out every time it happens...Can I tell you a secret?".
A buzz, and Bucky sighed, "I really want to work together with Steve and Peggy, not going into the frontline alone...Is it true that all the super stuff can outrun any enemies and such?".
There was yet another buzz that Bucky obviously could tell it was a yes, somehow. "I see...", he nodded as he gave a small smile. "I guess though I couldn't exactly take a tank shell head on at their 'lower' size though, right?".
The Quantonium shivered, and Bucky nodded, "I thought so...But I can still destroy a tank, yeah?". A buzz came, and Bucky smiled, "Will have to ask Steve and Peggy on the specifics on how to do that without stomping and such...Speaking of which, do you know what my powers are to be?".
A buzz sounded out, and Bucky exhaled, "Are they really helpful for me in every way?", and another buzz came.
Bucky gulped nervously, "Do you think out there that it's possible for a gal who would actually love me for me if I, well, change and all?". The Quantonium seemed to shimmer and gave a combo of a buzz and a hum as the green energy became transparent for a second and showed the visage of a very lovely face with long dark brown hair and teal eyes and flawless pale skin in the stone like a mirror ball.