Steve smiled, "It's a good power...Henry seems to love it, though he will have some time to grow before he could fly properly.", with a nod as Henry babbled happily before his belly growled, hungry after changing for the first time which took a bit out of him, having not expected it.
Peggy chuckled, "Alright, lunch for you, and then it's naptime for you, young man.", kissing Henry on the nose before looking at Stark, "Is that all the news, Stark?", and Stark nodded, "Pretty much. I'll see you after the weekend, then, Steve?".
Steve nodded, "Yep. You do the science stuff; I can do the muscle stuff easily in return.", and Stark chuckled, "Great. And Henry, see you around, and don't scare your mum again like that, alright?".
Henry babbled softly, looking at his mum, and Peggy chuckled, "Don't worry, I think he knows not to do that to me anymore. Thank you, Stark, for coming, and the big news.", and Stark nodded, "Naturally. Good day, my friends.", leaving the house, and heading back to his lab.
Peggy sighed as she took a seat down on the couch, freeing her shirt and bra, and Henry happily went for his meal, suckling and gulping down his mum's milk, and Steve chuckled warmly as he sat down next to Peggy, holding her in his arm, watching Henry drink again.
"Well, looks like it's a sure fact now that our kids, present and future, has and will have different powers suited to them, based on their personalities or whatever else.", Steve smiled.
"Looks like it...", Peggy sighed as she looked over to the rock. "Something wrong?", Steve asked as she nodded.
"I just wished... I wished we had much more time with her... more time than what we see... it's only been almost a year and a half since she's been gone... and yet we've already seen her rapidly become a young woman almost...", Peggy replied wearily.
Steve kissed her on the cheek, "Aww, Peggy...I know...It's hard to believe for me too...Susan would have been almost 2 years here... She would have grown closer to Henry in age...But you saw her reactions to Henry on the days we watch over her...She is absolutely in love over her baby brother, clearly protective of him...She would have literally kicked any bully's ass if she had her force fields and invisibility in case if Henry is bullied like Chris was...", with a grin.
"Either that or Henry will claw out a bully's eyes.", Peggy chuckled as Steve shook his head, "We'll clearly have to make sure that he learns not to do that then... or else...". His mind thought back to Bucky's predicament.
Peggy kissed his cheek, "Oh, Steve. I know what you're thinking. I wouldn't and won't blame Bucky for reacting instinctively to protect Susan as he's her uncle, and she's his niece...And Bucky is confident that he will be out of there with the others one day...We will have to line our timing with the portal on that day...I don't want to be in prison for being a human torch and size-changing giantess.", holding Henry a bit firmer as he kept suckling.
"Same here, that place is clearly good at holding a 300-foot bug, we wouldn't stand much of a chance.", Steve sighed. "But you're right, we'll figure out something for sure.".
Peggy nodded, "All the same, we must make sure that Stark doesn't make any mistakes and such...5 more months...If I checked the math correctly, Susan would just as well be 21, almost 22 by the time the portal is set to be turned on...2007 in her timeline...".
"It's gonna be a bit weird with us being in our 20s, and her in her 20s...", Steve exhaled, and Peggy nodded, "Sure will, but as you saw with Bucky and Mo, Quantonium lasts for a long, long time. I just want to give Susan hugs and everything.".
Steve nodded, "Agreed. At least we know that she's happy and safe, with a great family that's even bigger with us and Henry watching over her for the next five months...", kissing Peggy on the lips, and Peggy smiled as Henry let go, burping, full after his meal, ready for his nap as he rubbed his eyes, yawning.
The parents chuckled and went to put Henry to sleep in his crib as they focused on other things like cooking and cuddling, knowing that the next five months will either crept slowly or pass quickly on their perspective.
And so, in the other world, years passed for Susan and Tara, growing into even more beautiful women, graduating high school.
Susan's worries about Derek, along with Peggy's clearly went away when he broke up with Tara during their senior year. Derek clearly had bigger plans and Tara's just wasn't aligning with him. Susan comforted her sister like any good one would, but she silently felt good about it as Derek really just didn't feel right with her.
For Susan, once she graduated high school, she got quite a surprise when she found out UCLA wanted her to be part of their softball program which was a huge deal as they had one of the strongest teams' statistics years in and years out even if they hadn't won a College Softball World Series since the mid 90s.
After talking and listening to both sets of her parents who is entirely happy for her after hearing the offer, Susan accepted, and became a student at the university, going on scholarship while being on the team. As in the college rules and such, she took four classes, electing for French, History, Art, and Culture.
Meanwhile, at the same time, Tara had chosen to go to USC a few years prior so in a way, the sisters were now rivals with each other with their respective schools, even if Tara wasn't as much for the sports as opposed to Susan.
Tara herself had elected Fashion, Creative Writing, Human Rights, and American Popular Culture. To her surprise, she reunited with Derek during one of her class trips and rekindled her relationship with him.
Susan and Peggy were annoyed more or less but knew that Tara is an adult and couldn't exactly stop her from being in love and all.
Derek had seemed to have changed a bit, at least compared to high school, he acted a bit humbler at times, at least around Tara and Susan whenever she ended up meeting the two of them. Still, those worries still weren't going away for mother and daughter regarding the future news anchor as he clearly was going for.
And so, the college years went well for the girls, with trips that the Murphy parents could afford to watch Susan's game days, and to check out the fashion dresses Tara made for fashion competitions, with money paying off the college fees from Tara's prize-winning dresses and the wins of Susan's games.
And to Susan's shock on her 21st birthday, Carl and Wendy gave her the scrapes of the leftover money for her to change her last name, and Susan decided to do a huge combo, and yes, it's really long on paper. Susan Viola Murphy-Carter-Rogers. And by word of mouth, she decided to call herself Susan Rogers.
Eventually, some months after her 21st birthday, the time passed where Susan finally graduated only a year after Tara did. Susan always was extremely good at class and grades. She somehow retained knowledge much better than others, though she was unaware of that connection to her past that her parents had passed onto her thanks to their change.
Susan smiled brightly as she received her degree when they called her down by her new name and saw her family cheering for her; the Murphys, and the Carter-Rogers. Like usual, Steve was crying for her when he heard his family name. He was extremely overjoyed when he found out on her birthday that she changed her surname by word of mouth and was beyond happy when he heard about her dream job of being an artist, with a side job of being a baseball coach.
Of course, the Murphy family understood her decision, and Tara, after hearing Susan's particular reason that she wants to stand apart in a way not to overshadow her big sister, was so proud of her little sister.
And Tara aspired to be a fashion designer, and Derek seemed happy with that for he proposed to her on her birthday, and so, they planned to be married in three months.
"I don't think I'm going to be able to stop crying!", Wendy was waving at her eyes when Tara broke the news to her family. Carl and Wendy were sitting on the couch while Susan was leaning against the family's fireplace.
"Three months though... isn't that a bit quick to plan a wedding?", Susan asked. Tara pointed out, "Not exactly when you ring together the time of dating. I dated Derek two years of high school, two years of college, and one year of post-college, and makes five years altogether. That was more than plenty of time for us to be eligible to have a wedding in three months.".
Carl nodded, "Your sister has a very good point, Susan. I dated your mother for three and a half years before proposing to her on her birthday, and we got married four months afterwards.".
"I wasn't meaning that... I was just meaning the time to plan the wedding from proposing.", Susan responded, and the group gave a collected 'Ohhhh' motion. "Also, didn't know you two were only a month longer in terms of planning the wedding.".
"Did we not mention that he proposed to me on my birthday?", Wendy chuckled as Susan shrugged. "Look, Sue... I'll be fine, alright?", Tara said as Susan gave a small nod.
Susan was still bugged about Derek, but seeing her big sister happy like this, she doesn't want to be a homewrecker, and she glanced at the illusion of her true parents and baby brother by the wall. Peggy looked at her, and nodded with a frown, and Susan knew that Peggy could tell what she's thinking.
All the same, Susan's glad she isn't going to be married as she's still fine to find someone on her own time for she isn't looking to rush anywhere, but she will be there to support and all by Tara's side.
She wished Chris is here for her to talk with, but he got a job, working together with his secret boyfriend, Marco, traveling the world, and even attempting to see Antarctica to check out the wild penguins for Marco's bucket list.
And so, between the planning and having time on their passions, Susan still stayed at her parents' house, still figuring out where to go for her life, with Tara switching between the Murphy house and Derek's house.
Two months passed quickly, with Tara celebrating Derek's birthday on going to an amusement park during the day and stayed over at his house that night during the party, unknowing the consequences she endured, seeing another side of Derek where her drugged memories were repressed thanks to the trauma.
Convinced that she had consorted willingly, Tara went home the next day, figuring that she'd have a girls' day with her gang of friends, and was distracted looking through her closet when Susan came home from some fun, freelance coaching some kids about baseball tips and all.
"Hey, Tara!", Susan called as she knocked on the open door of Tara's room, "Where have you been? You didn't come home.".
Tara smiled, "Fell asleep on the couch in Derek's home. His birthday was yesterday, you know.", chuckling, and Susan nodded, "Ah.", before noticing that something was off, and glanced at Peggy's illusion who gestured with a frown.
Susan closed the door, glad her adoptive parents were out on a date or something, and she raised an eyebrow, "Don't give me the fake smile, Tara. You're walking funny...Don't tell me that you literally did the act!".
Tara froze up as she looked to Susan. Susan quickly calmed down to try to assure her to be honest and that she wouldn't lash out.
"I... I guess we did...", Tara admitted as Susan rolled her eyes and placed her palm in her face. "May I ask why you decide to do that then?", Susan's voice was muffled thanks to her hand.
"I don't know!", Tara shouted. "It was late, we had a few drinks and all, and one thing led to another!". Susan sighed heavily as she dropped her hand from her face, "Please tell me that he had a condom.", and Tara nodded, "Yeah. We were drunk, but not beyond drunk.".
"Well, you are adults, not teenagers...You better pray that he didn't have a broken condom. I heard things about that.", Susan looked at Tara, knowing that her big sister is really looking forward to finding a place where she can be a fashion designer, and of course, Derek with his whole news anchor goals...Does he even want kids? Susan knows that Tara wants to be a mother, but after she's settled well in her job.
"Look, I'll quickly run out and get some Plan B and all that, just to be sure.", Tara explained. "You know that's not fully effective, right?", Susan reminded as Tara stomped her foot down.
"Susan! I'd much rather have a supportive sister rather than one trying to cut my legs out from under me at this moment!", Tara relented sharply. Susan looked at Tara and sighed as she side-glanced at Peggy's illusion who gave her a shrug and a thumbs up.
Susan walked up to Tara, squeezed her shoulder, "I want to be supportive, Tara, but I also want to protect you...I know in cliches, big sisters protect little sisters, but with you...it feels like the reverse...I just don't want to see you hurt. I love you, Tara...I won't say that thing of Itys...Look, I will be your bridesmaid and everything...Just know that you can come to me if anything happens, okay?", knowing that Tara is someone who is inquisitive and gentle-hearted, but she's also a bit stubborn and sometimes naive...
"I know.", Tara gave a small sigh. "Just... it's everything that's happening of late... I'm getting married and all... uh, you're still not upset that I didn't make you Maid of Honor, are you?".
Susan chuckled, "Sis, I don't care about a title as long as you're happy and seeing you in your wedding dress is enough for me, and besides, even if I catch the bouquet, I'll find true love on my own time. No offense to Mom and Papa, but I think they'd be satisfied enough with you getting married next month...I think Papa would appreciate some more time before he gives me away in the future.".
Tara giggled, "He's worse with the empty nest syndrome than he thought, compared to Mom.", and hugged Susan in a sisterly hug. Unseen by Tara, yet with Susan glancing at the mirror's reflection, the illusion of Peggy smiled approvingly with a proud nod before glancing off to somewhere like she heard something, and she chuckled before giving her an air kiss to show her love, and then vanished.
And so, with that settled, Susan became a bit more supportive yet secretly a bit anxious as the wedding approached, and soon, it came, almost five weeks later, but the sisters don't know how much the big day will change, for better or worse, the past would soon come calling in many ways, beginning with an approaching meteorite with an all too familiar energy...
"Hey, you girls aren't drinking yet, are you?", Susan asked as she walked inside the house, Wendy and Carl were leaving it to the girls for their bachelorette night the day before the wedding. She could hear the laughter of Tara, her Maid of Honor and the other bridesmaids as she walked in.
Tara grinned, "We're having Sherry punch, nothing too alcoholic, and besides, I have to wake up at 7, you know.". Susan chuckled as she closed the door, "And here I thought we were preparing for a night on the town and really going wild."
"Come on, Susan, we can't be that irresponsible.", Tara laughed. Susan grinned, "Touche. Wouldn't want you to have a hangover in the morning, and look horrible on your big day...", and Tara nodded, "Exactly. Hey, I saw that we're out of ice cream in the freezer. We're gonna have a movie night of bachelorette movies.".
"I know what you're going to ask since I haven't had anything yet...", Susan shook her head. "Yeah, I'll go out and get us something sweet then. We can all then cry into a few tubs as we're watching something romantic.", she laughed as she started heading back for the door.
"You're the best, little sis.", Tara said as Susan smiled, "I know.".
And so, Susan headed for her car, planning to head for one of the corner stores, and went off, humming and rocking to the music from the radio. Eventually, she made it to the store, headed for the freezer section to grab gallon-size ice cream of different flavors, and after she paid for them, she was about to leave after putting the ice cream in the cold-preserve bag in the trunk when she heard loud laughter and rowdy scuffling from the bar up ahead.