"I don't see why not...", Thaddeus admitted. "And it's not like we'd be the first to think that sort of way... the ancient Greeks were fairly fine with it, well, depending on the location, but at least it had existed.".
"And Fredrick the Great...", Erskine gave a small chuckle. "I think history has more or less guessed that he, more than likely, was one as well.".
Thaddeus nodded, "Indeed. And we are practically hidden here deep in the woods, Abraham...It will be strange to miss you while you are looking for prospects, but I'll be relieved when I hear any little progress on the radio, and little telegraph notes when needed...That is, if you want a try at this...".
Erskine looked at him, "Actually, I got a change of plans thanks to Phillips...He wants me tomorrow in New York City, for the Stark Expo, figuring that I'd talk scientist stuff with some good scientists to work the project out to the real deal...And you know what? I always told my children to follow their hearts, and well, I can't deny my own advice.", before grabbing Thaddeus's ascot gently as Thaddeus's taller than him and pecked his lips ever so shyly for just two seconds.
Thaddeus's eyes widened when their lips met; of course, when he and Preston kissed, that was more of just a funny bet and all and felt all wrong. But here... strangely, this one felt right...
Thaddeus whispered, "Abraham...", seeing him look at him shyly, and he gently smiled before he cradled his cheek with a hand, "Let me show you a better one.", before kissing him tenderly for 30 seconds.
Erskine's eyes widened in delight as the rightness kept coming, and after they pulled back for air, he whispered, "That felt right...I never thought a kiss would be...", and Thaddeus replied, "Nice?".
"Yes...It's strange that it's a different kind of nice compared to the moments we had with our wives, but it's not bad...", Erskine said softly, and Thaddeus smiled, "I agree. So...um, do you need to leave for the train yet?".
Erskine smiled, "The train ride to New York City only lasts a couple of hours...If I leave by dawn in the morning, Phillips wouldn't be too upset then, as I would have time to check out the other sign-up post locations in the city before going for the Stark Expo location, with the last sign-up post nearby.".
Thaddeus rubbed the back of his head, "Then would you mind spending a day with an old romantic like me here in the cabin?".
Erskine gave a small nod, "If you wish... I suppose... if we've got to start somewhere with this secret relationship.", with a smile. "Oh, so we're already dating now?", Thaddeus chuckled.
Erskine laughed softly before asking warmly, "Care to help me out with the groceries?", and Thaddeus nodded, "Of course.".
And so, the day was spent in a peaceful, affectionate, and romantic atmosphere, with the couple sharing lunch and dinner, reading books, listening to the radio, having a couple of chess games, and even dancing while giving little kisses here and there, and holding hands.
Thaddeus replied softly, almost hating this, "Do you really need to get back to the inn?", and Erskine smiled gently, "It's very lucky that it's merely a village, but I cannot afford to make suspicions out of the inn if I stay longer, and besides, they'll give me a fee if I don't pay for tonight's stay as well before I get going on the train.".
"I suppose that makes sense...Hold on a second.", Thaddeus nodded before heading to his bedroom, and a minute later, he returned with a silver pocket watch, smiling, "Here, take this, Abraham, so you'll have a reason to visit...".
Erskine exhaled, and opening it up, to reveal an etching on the top side before the intricately detailed watch, 'To my daughter, Rachel, from your dearest father', and he looked at Thaddeus, "Rachel?".
Thaddeus smiled softly, "As you know, we had a son, Augustus, and it was my chosen name for him, but if it was a girl, Grace wanted to name her Rachel...She was really persistent that I get two different pocket watches, just in case if she got pregnant again, but having Augustus was hard on her...so we never got another chance.", with a weary sigh.
Erskine blinked, "So, if anyone asks, I could say that Rachel was stillborn...That would be easy...I...I know I told you about Marlene and Klaus...But there was a stillborn son several years ago...It took a long time for Greta to heal, and then talk to me again for trying once more...", with a sigh.
"Damn...I'm so sorry, Abraham...", Thaddeus whispered, and Erskine smiled softly, "It's okay...He seemed to respond to the name Nicholas while he had the strength to kick, so he was given it...".
Thaddeus replied, "That is a fine name...", with a smile as Erskine nodded before exhaling, "Are you sure about this? I mean, you don't have to give me this!".
"Please... at least it's something from me to keep remembering me by just in case we never see each other again...", Thaddeus said as Erskine raised an eyebrow. "Hey, anything could happen... either age catches up with me or an accident or whatever...".
Erskine's heart skipped a beat at the horrible thought of him dying alone, and he fights back the lump in his throat, "Thaddeus, you know I'll come visit you when I can! After all, Phillips wouldn't dare to overwork me and all as I'm crucial to the project and all, and there's the expedition to Atlantis. You heard Preston. It would be ready and set to go by the summertime.".
Thaddeus gave a wry smile, "And there's the brave spirit in you, Abraham...Yes, you're right...Preston will visit when he can as well...I cannot say those words easily right now, but I'm glad you're the holder of my heart now...".
Erskine exhaled, "You're the holder of my heart too, Thaddeus.", before kissing him deeply and almost passionately yet gently, and Thaddeus returned the kiss back as it lasted for one and a half minute.
They pulled back for air, their foreheads touching, and Thaddeus smiled, "Strangely, you make me feel young again, Abraham...You be careful out there in New York, alright?".
"I will...", Erskine smiled. "I have another reason now to keep alive, dear Thaddeus...", he chuckled as Thaddeus nodded. Hopefully when all this would be over, the two of them could quietly sneak away to some place where they could spend their remaining days with each other, free from any sort of judgement just because of what they felt in their hearts.
With a deep hug and a hand squeeze, Erskine tucked his precious pocket watch in his coat, took up his keys and bag, and a tender look to each other before he left the cabin to his rental car, and smiled a bit upon Thaddeus' hand waving, and he returned the gesture as he then left the surroundings of the cabin.
Erskine wished for a moment that they were young again, and he would be so curious to find how it'd be like to make love together, knowing that it'd be so different compared to the traditional coupling of a man and a woman, but alas, they're old, with Thaddeus about 78 years old, while he is 73 years old. It's a miracle that they are still spry as they are compared to other people of their ages.
But he'd be just happy with serene, quiet, and peaceful days to spend with Thaddeus, with the occasional day to chop down wood or forage upon Thaddeus's teachings.
Erskine then cleared his mind; putting it to the back as he once more had to focus on his work. The fate of the world might end up depending on it if it came to it succeeding or the risk of the entire globe being under the jackboot of the Nazis... and what terrified him even more was that it might not even be Hitler at the throne after what had happened to Schmidt.
Erskine spent a quiet night at the inn, paid for the night and the past night before going on the train a bit later after dawn, and safely got to New York City, with occasional glances of fond memories while holding the pocket watch to check the time.
He wished the words would be different, with 'to Erskine, from Thaddeus' instead, but he knew even a hint of their secret relationship is beyond risky in the public society.
Erskine traveled over New York City to the sign-up posts after having a conversation with Phillips, and to his surprise, strangely, he saw one person that came every time at the sign-up post, a skinny, young, poorly blonde-haired man with clear blue eyes.
Raising an eyebrow, he had read the documentation papers about the boy, and saw that the boy had lied more and more while keeping his name, age, and reasons why he wanted to fight in the war.
Erskine read that Steven Grant Rogers had said that he had come from several nearby cities out of New York City, but he realizes that he couldn't have gotten from that far out as the lines and such for a sign-up began at 8 in the morning, so Steven must be truly from New York City itself, which is why he got around easily, knowing the transportation way better like the back of his hand than Erskine.
He assumes that he will see Steven at the last sign-up post near the Stark Expo, after he talks with Stark and a few prospective scientists for aid to his project.
"What do you think?", Phillips asked as he and Erskine were in a car; being driven by an MP that had clearance to at least some knowledge, but not much so obviously Erskine and Phillips had to be careful with what they said without giving up too much. "Kid tried to sign up just hours after the bombs dropped at Pearl.".
"He and a million other young men...", Erskine pointed out. Japan launching a sneak attack against the US lit a fire in the nation; one that had been fairly divided on intervention or neutrality now was almost universally united against those that wronged them. "It'll take weeks to get things sorted out with the first wave of volunteers.".
Phillips nodded, "That's for sure. But, Erskine, a skinny, poorly kid who tried every single sign-up post in every district of the city?".
Erskine gave a small wry smile, "We all need stubborn men of great heart, and he clearly has been stubborn, never giving up, despite the declined red stamp on every document due to his ailments and state of health. He will be here at the last one tonight, I have no doubt. Have you noticed the changes of his documents?".
Phillips snorted, "I sure have...And I got someone tailing him since he tried the one over in Brookyln. I doubt he's a spy as he's clearly born of New York once I got the official files on him after somebody else got suspicious along with you.".
"Oh? Who's tailing him then?", Erskine asked curiously, and Phillips replied, "Agent Carter. She knows how to keep herself plain-looking somewhat than being eye-catching the way she naturally is.".
"Carter?", Erskine asked as Phillips nodded, "A Brit that we've got loaned over to us from the SOE. Was a little extra support during the Tizard Mission last year which got her on our radar. Proven to be quite effective as an agent. She certainly has a lot of drive; probably trying to make up for her brother in a way; he died trying to hold the perimeter at Dunkirk when the British were trying to escape from France.".
Erskine sighed softly, "We all have reasons to keep going, Colonel.", and Phillips replied, "No shit.", with a snort.
Erskine gave a small smile, "Well, I'm sure she's doing a brilliant job upon tailing Steven Rogers. If she's effective as you say in being the agent she is, she will have a thorough report.", and Phillips gave a humph sound.
Elsewhere, Margaret 'Peggy' Carter was glad of Phillips's demand of her to tail upon a prospective man for Erskine's project as she would be insanely bored if she had to talk to idiot MPs and such while walking all around in passing messages and mail and filling out paperwork all day today.
At least it's refreshing for her to be out in disguise and out of the sterile and stifling air in the office, even though she is on duty. She is watching Steven Rogers who is rather cute, polite despite looking poorly, he definitely tried his best to look good enough for a double date, through the two girls are literally hanging off Steven's best friend, James 'Bucky' Barnes.
She had eavesdropped, hearing that they are trying out their double date night before they go out to the Stark Expo in an hour, and she is insulted yet feeling pity that even the other pretty single ladies in the surroundings didn't even have a second glance at Steven, when it was clear that Steven is trying hard to talk, but looks like he's a tad nervous about pretty, tall ladies...Hell, even in flats than her usual heels, Peggy is still a half head taller than Steven!
Well, if those other single women won't take a chance due to judging Steven poorly, it's up to her to cheer him up. Wearing a mousy brown wig, a modest blue dress, and even a moderate-quality lip gloss, Peggy got up from her corner window stool, fixing her purse and dress out of habit, and then walked confidently, a side effect of her training.
"Excuse us, boys, we just need to freshen up in the bathroom for a minute.", one of the girls said before she and her friend broke away from the two men, leaving Steve and Bucky alone. "We'll be right here for ya, ladies.", Bucky smirked as Steve took a deep breath. "Something up, Steve?".
"Other than that fact that they're obviously more interested in you than me; even the one that you 'set me up with'.", Steve sarcastically replied.
Bucky replied, "Aww, come on, bro, they're just warming up to you!", and Steve looked at him with a raised eyebrow, and Bucky sighed, "Okay, fine, but at least I got you out of the apartment, Steve. Don't tell me that the beating this morning was just a bit of fresh air.".
Steve replied, "They were bullying a teenager, Buck! I had to do something!", and Bucky replied, "Yeah, and I got you out of it...Steve, look, I know you really want to help, to go to war, but unless there's a miracle, you're stuck here paying rent for us, and doing art school. Is that you want? Art school, eh?".
"But art school is not saving lives, fighting to save the Allies is!", Steve replied, starting to argue, and Bucky was getting frustrated by Steve's stubbornness when a warm, feminine voice spoke in a mostly American, slightly British voice, "Hello, boys. Could I ask for a dance? My date never showed up, the scoundrel.", with a sigh.
Peggy couldn't help having a British accent, but if she can somehow have a bit of New York American in her voice, it'd help out while being an agent.
Bucky looked to Steve for a moment before looking back at Peggy, "Well, um, we'd be more than happy to take you up on that offer, miss, but you see, we've got girls that are in the bathroom at the moment, freshening up, that we're with.".
Peggy chuckled. "Correction, you have girls that you're with... him, on the other hand...", she pointed to Steve. "I'm guessing neither of them were really paying attention to you?", she asked as Steve glanced away with a bit of shame.
Peggy smiled softly, "I have no idea why they weren't interested in you...You're really cute...", and Steve blushed, looking up in surprise, and exhaled in awe as he saw about the most beautiful brown eyes, if he had to describe, in the shade of hot cocoa.
"So? Would you mind dancing with a plain girl like me?", Peggy asked softly as she couldn't pull away from the brightest blue eyes she had ever seen, comparing them to the summer sky in the countryside of her home.
Bucky looked to Steve before looking at Peggy again, "Are... are you serious? Someone hasn't put you up to this, have you?". Peggy shook her head, "No, I promise, I'm being serious.".
Well, that was a half-truth; what she said before was the truth, but she did also have her ulterior motives with her orders. But those orders were to keep an eye on him, certainly not to have some fun with him.
But she's not going to include this in her report, through it's technically keeping an eye on him. She will just write it up as a casual conversation she had observed.
Steve stammered shyly, "I might step on your feet...", and Peggy giggled, "I'm tougher than I look. Come on, what could it hurt?", with a warm smile.
Gulping and glancing at Bucky who winked at him, giving him an encouraging thumbs up, Steve replied, "Well, I couldn't be rude to a pretty girl like you...ummm, miss-?", and Peggy blushed, "Eva.", using one of her undercover aliases.