"We believe so.", Carl said. "We don't know the full truth of it, we've tried to look into it, but haven't gotten many answers about who they were and what truly happened to them, but we could tell you were very loved by them.".
Wendy then replied, "We know their names, but not their stories or where they exactly lived apart from the location of the city and country...That's why we kept your first and middle name because they named you...".
Susan blinked in surprise, "Wow...Can I see their pictures?", and Carl sighed, "We don't have camera pictures, but we do have a drawing...", unknowing that to keep up the story, Bucky talked with a professional facial intelligence artist, and gave a memory of Steve and Peggy in love, with a bit of imagination about Peggy having a little baby bump while convincing Carl and Peggy that the kidnapper trashed the whole place completely with barely a few things surviving including a very special drawing hidden by a cabinet when its frame fell down the wall by the rampaging kidnapper.
Carl quickly located the picture; they kept it in a place away from Tara and Susan until they were ready to explain it to her. Carl handed Susan the picture as her eyes widened as she was practically looking at exactly the same folks from her dreams.
Steve and Peggy are sitting on a bench, with a red-yellow tree in the background, dressed up in casual cool-weather clothes, eyes tender and in love as their first two hands held together on their knees, with their other hands resting on Peggy's baby bump.
Steve's deep blue eyes gleamed brightly, with his blonde hair slightly ruffled by the invisible wind, a smile wide and warm, with Peggy's rich brown hair down past her shoulders, slightly ruffled as well, with a smile almost teasingly yet lovingly, with her light brown eyes glinting in the picture.
Tara blinked, "Wow, you really got your dada's eyes...Your mum, she's really pretty.", with an awed smile. "Yeah...", Susan whispered as she kept staring at them. "What were their names?".
"Margaret Elizabeth Carter, but she went by the name of Peggy, and Steven Grant Rogers, or Steve.", Carl explained.
Susan then remembered a faint memory of her parents fondly and tenderly calling each other their names as they kissed, and smiled, "So, I was a Rogers...".
Wendy chuckled, "Actually, Carter-Rogers. I guess they compromised on hyphening their last names when they got married.", and Carl exhaled, "It's up to you to change your last name when you are of age, Susan, but you must know that they loved you so much that they are watching over you.".
Susan blinked before frowning, "They went to sleep forever, didn't they?", and Wendy nodded, "Yes, they did, but their souls never sleep for they are always there with you, Susan. Never forget that.".
Susan gave a small nod. Thankfully for Carl and Wendy, it seemed that Susan didn't seem to want to know any more details of their deaths... or especially the day they found her. The same could be said for Tara as that day had now become mostly a blur in her memory that faded more and more each day.
"Thank you...", Susan quickly ran up to hug her parents. Carl and Wendy hugged her, kissing her forehead and temple, with Tara joining in a half second later, "Hey, don't forget your big sister!", and they shared a laugh, smiling, and got up to prepare dinner and set the table, with Tara turning on the TV for some time before she and the others gotta eat, and Susan heading to her bedroom, carefully holding the frame of the really special drawing, and placed it on her dresser gently.
"I will always love you, Daddy and Mummy...I won't forget you. Now I have an even bigger family.", Susan smiled as she touched her fingers to her lips and touched the picture before walking out of her bedroom to join Tara to watch a show or two.
Short time later, Susan was back in her bed, after being tucked in by Wendy and Carl and left alone with her own thoughts, with still so many questions about her true parents but sadly unable to get any answers from her adoptive ones though that she knew very well that they would've told her if they knew. She closed her eyes and hoped she would see Peggy and Steve in her dreams again... to at least be with her family in both the waking world and the dream world.
-In the other Earth-
Steve was crying himself out of pride and relief and grief and admittedly, jealousy as well, for he was so proud of his daughter standing up to a bully, just like him, just in a less brutish way, relieved that she can take care of herself just fine, grieved for the fact that he couldn't be there to greet Susan like how Carl did, and was a bit jealous that he couldn't offer so much love like they did when she found out the truth, well, about them somewhat.
"You alright?", Peggy asked him as he sighed. "Yeah... I'm alright...", Steve whispered in a quiet voice.
The war had hit a surprising lull around Christmas, neither the Allies nor the Soviets nor the Nazis were launching any major attacks but rather building up for what could be the final pushes. The gains of Herbstnebel turned around and once more with several ports opened, the losses the Allies sustained had quickly been recovered and now once again, the battle for the Ruhr was to begin on New Year's Day. In the south, the 3rd, 7th and French 1st were all ready for their breakouts along the Rhine to swarm into the heartlands of Germany.
But for Steve and Peggy, all that was a distant worry for them as Christmas was only a short time away... and they would not have Susan or Bucky to enjoy it with them.
Steve replied, "You know, this would have been her first Christmas here...I actually thought about buying one of those rocking horses, but stronger and bigger to hold her...".
Peggy smiled softly, "That would have been something for the wood makers...You can still do that for our future children...And Susan seems happy to have a big adoptive sister like Tara, but I'm scared...If we go through the portal when she is a teenager...would she be upset or worse if I'd possibly be expecting?", with a sigh.
"I don't know... from what we've seen, she's about as perfect of a girl as we could possibly have hoped for her. I doubt she'd be upset if that was the case, especially if she knew that we've still been watching over her all that time.", Steve rubbed her shoulders as he tried to assure her.
"I know right now she doesn't seem like the jealous type... but I worry when that rebellious streak might start to set in. Especially if she really takes after me...", Peggy gave a light chuckle that did have a twinge of nervousness to it.
Steve smiled, "Well, she definitely got your glare when she gets frustrated or annoyed, and probably a bit of temper, but she got a great heart and wonderful wit just like us.".
Peggy gave him a glare, "So, she gets all the best things from you and the worst from me?". Steve gave a nervous grin, "Now, wait a moment, I didn't mean to put it that way...".
Too late, Peggy clearly was upset, though it was more in a humorous way as she was actually mad, but she wasn't going to let him get away with that mistake of his.
Peggy pulled him in by his shirt and kissed him hard on the lips before smirking deviously, "There's a way for you to make up for that.".
"I think I've got an idea what you have in mind.", Steve chuckled as Peggy smirked. "Glad to know you're still as sharp as ever.", she kissed him once more.
Steve grinned and glanced at the still on movie-reel stone, and took the old wolf stuffy off, turning the stone black, "Don't wanna give her a peek-eye even if she's in another world and asleep.", before taking Peggy to their bed as they are staying in an abandoned house, thanks to the war.
"That's certainly the last thing she needs right now.", Peggy nearly burst out laughing upon thinking that. Steve chuckled, "Yep.", before looking at her passionately, "You are so beautiful, Peggy.", kissing her as he caressed her, taking off her clothes quickly before he moved to eat her out, planning to make it up really good for his mistake.
"And you're so handsome...", Peggy bit her lip as pleasure shot through her. "And so passionate... gentle..."
"Years of practice... in terms of the gentleness.", Steve smiled as he paused for a moment before he went right back to work.
Peggy closed her eyes as she sighed in pleasure, "Touche.", before gasping as Steve squeezed her breasts with his hands that he stealthily moved under her legs, above her waist, glad that he has long arms.
Pleasure shot through her as Steve kept eating her out and caressing/squeezing her breasts as Peggy moaned and whimpered, and after several minutes, Peggy cried out in pleasure as her first orgasm came.
"Wow... you really needed this...", Steve chuckled as he tried to help clean her up. "Well, it's been a bit of time since we last decided to do this... but you are right, we really needed this.", Peggy smiled playfully.
Steve exhaled deeply, "I am sorry for not being in the mood for those past several weeks, with the war and watching Susan and all...", and Peggy grabbed his face, cradling his cheeks in her hands, "Hey, look at me, it's normal...After all, people assume that we're grieving yet managing one day at a time...Steve, tell me the truth...Are you scared of something?".
Steve nodded as he had to be honest, "I'm scared that we might never get Susan or Bucky back... I'm scared we might lose even more before this is all over...".
Peggy looked at him softly before caressing his cheeks with her thumbs, "First, I believe in Stark. He may be narcissistic and has a huge ego, but he's a loyal friend and very brilliant. I know we can find them once we pass through the portal, and if you and I help Stark along with the German translation notes and such, he would be more appreciated and motivated. Second, the war prospects right now are looking up really good for the Allies, and it would be over sooner with our help...but there's something else...Are you scared of getting me pregnant again and fail all over again of being a father?".
Steve glanced away for a moment but that was all the answer that Peggy needed. Peggy quickly moved to where she could easily wrap her body around him and started to kiss his cheek.
"Steve, you are a good father. You've never failed. Why, every evening or rare afternoons, you always watch over Susan, support her, cheer for her. True, you can't talk to her, or be seen and touched by her, but you love her as much as you love me, and you would never forget her as she won't forget you, thanks to Bucky's ingenious idea...Please, Steve, listen to your heart. Not your mind, but your heart...What does it say?", Peggy whispered encouragingly and lovingly.
"I know...", Steve sighed as he gave her a small smile. "I guess it's just guilt that I thought I could've done more...", he told her.
"I agree. I feel the same way, but we can't let that eat away at us or we'll never even have a chance to somewhat heal.", Peggy told him.
Steve gave a small chuckle, "How did I ever find myself with an incredible, beautiful, smart as heck, and strong woman like you?", and Peggy giggled, "Very lucky, I suppose. Now, can you let me take those clothes off? You're really tense, I can feel.".
"Huh... I almost forgot.", Steve chuckled as he realized while she was naked, he wasn't. She quickly helped him right out of them before he was lining himself once more, ready to penetrate and give her some much-needed pleasure.
Peggy smiled at him warmly, "One last thing...I know the Quantonium listens to us, so do you want me to get pregnant tonight?", with a tender caress of his cheek by a finger as she laid before him.
Steve shook his head. "No... I'd rather at least wait until this war is over before we try for another one.", he told her as Peggy nodded, "I think you're right. We weren't expecting Susan either, at least if we have another one, I would like us to know.".
Steve smiled, "I agree. I really am so curious to see you glowing and having a baby bump...You would look so glorious...But for now, I'm happy to give you some mind-blowing pleasure.", before moving slightly to penetrate into her.
Peggy cried out in pleasure as she felt him once more enter inside of her, her hands reaching around and squeezing him tight as her nails started to dig into his back. "Steve!", she called out.
Steve purred as he leaned to kiss her on the lips repeatedly as he moved deeper inside her, caressing her skin with his hands, "Oh, my queen. You're so tight.".
"Always for you, luv...", Peggy moaned through the kisses, whimpering and gasping as his hands moved in different directions, one towards her breasts and one towards her ass.
Steve gave them both good squeezes as she moaned out from the feeling, almost all her worries melting away for the moment as she let her body mostly take control while her brain would enjoy the ride.
For the next several minutes, Steve gave her so much mind-blowing pleasure, finding her G-spot, squeezing/caressing her weak spots, thrusting slowly back and forth, kissing her skin everywhere.
Peggy whimpered as she squeezed Steve tighter in her arms, "Please, Steve, I'm getting so close! Faster!", and Steve smiled coyly, "Me too, Peggy!", grabbing and lifting her ass, and thrusted faster, hitting her G-spot hard, earning Peggy to cry out in pleasure repeatedly.
Steve moved his hips as fast as he could move them as they were both reaching their climax before it finally hit, and they screamed out in pleasure as Steve released himself in her. The two of them collapsed as they basked in the afterglow in each other's arms.
Peggy smiled, kissing his jaw, "I love you, Steve Rogers.", and Steve smiled tenderly as he kissed her nose, "I love you too, Peggy Carter.", grabbing the blankets on the edge of the bed with a foot, covering them from the incoming chill sooner or later as they relaxed, with Steve freeing himself from Peggy, and Peggy snuggling up to Steve, knowing they are naked still, but they didn't care, as they are free from work until New York's Eve, and they could always get dressed up, come out of the house sooner or later for mess hall times.
Peggy smiled, watching Steve sleep, and she herself was hoping that the war would be done by July 4, Steve's birthday as she instantly has a very good idea for his birthday night, and if she gets pregnant, well, even better. And if this pregnancy is normal, well, as normal as it could be with the Quantonium and Serum as they both want to know, she could possibly give birth by next Christmas.
Christmas came and went for the world; some places enjoyed it at peace while others were still in the midst of war, such as Peggy, Steve and the frontlines. They were at least enjoying the little respite they had been given before they would have to be at the spearhead of an attack soon.
It was deemed that since the British 2nd and US 1st Armies had their bridgeheads at Remagen and Munster, their offensives wouldn't need them as they would sweep towards each other, encircling the Ruhr and leaving the 9th Army the job of mopping up what shattered defenders remained. The major Panzer and SS divisions that had been part of Herbstnebel had been moved to the Eastern Front leaving the Ruhr almost defenseless.
There was already plenty of growing signs of how the Volkssturm: armed civilian militias that had quickly been raised up as the Allies and Soviets got closer to the Reich's borders, were basically slowly starting to give it all up and more than likely surrender to the Western Allies rather than fight. A promising sign that the war was in its last months.
Peggy and Steve however, had their orders to assist further south with Patton, Patch and de Tassigny's armies as they would cross the Rhine and break into Hessen and Bavaria.
For the couple after they celebrated the fact that 1944 is over, and now it's 1945, upon setting out to help assist the Rhine Allied armies over the Rhine into Hessen and Bavaria, they soon realized the rumors and stories that Erskine said about, for they saw the terrible truth behind them.
The world soon was learning the true horrors firsthand as the Allied armies pushed deeper into the Fatherland. The crimes of the Third Reich exposed and proving what before had been rumors and whispers. The factories of death would serve as yet another reminder of what many were fighting this war about, and of course gave Peggy and Steve another reason to help end this war quickly to save as many people as possible who still were in the grips of the Nazis.