"Yeah, that's obviously not what I'm worried about...", Steve told her. "Ah, the meeting at the White House then... and that story can't exactly be told straight like it can with Whitmore.", Peggy said as Steve nodded, "Exactly.".
Peggy kissed him gently on the lips, "Please relax. After all, we're going to be surrounded by friends. No need to be tense right now.", and Steve took a deep breath, "You're right, you're right, Peggy...", smiling at her, as they came into Whitmore's private floor, opening the elevator doors to see Whitmore holding the photos from Packard's secret camera as there was a darkroom for her and all, smiling and humming as the crew sat in couches and such, with the fireplace bright and such.
"Steve, Peggy, nice of you two to finally join us.", Whitmore chuckled as he took a deep breath. "Sounds like quite the adventure you had gone through according to the others.".
"You were told the whole story? Nothing changed or left out?", Steve asked as he glanced over to the others as they nodded, confirming the question.
"Best I get it straight, so I know what to agree with when we go to the White House tomorrow... as well as telling Phillips in a few hours.", Whitmore said. "I see.", Steve sighed. "Well, I guess we go with the start then...".
"Attacked by the Leviathan, actually, Steve, I think your entire journey up to the point you all reached Atlantis can pretty much be told straight. Obviously, the public will never know; those lost souls will have their families informed that they were sent on a top-secret mission in the Atlantic and most hands were lost to a U-Boat attack. Which isn't exactly so far from the truth... if we consider the Leviathan as a sort of 'advanced U-Boat'.", Whitmore explained.
Peggy nodded, "That sounds about right.", and Sweet replied, "And war bonds will go to those families, along with a last will's salary, will be under the Thatch Foundation, especially with Roosevelt's help, after what Whitmore said about the last meeting in the White House.".
Steve smiled, "That's good. What else do you got?", and Whitmore glanced at Audrey, raising an eyebrow, "Audrey, what happened on the journey?".
"Rourke and Helga turned out to be undercover agents. And was able to bring in HYDRA forces in what was originally going to be our escape route. Rourke himself shot Erskine who in the nick of time got his experiment working and made Steve the man he is right now.", Audrey said.
"What about the locals?", Cookie asked. "Thinking we should at least tell the President that them Atlanteans managed to survive all these years?".
"I think we might not have much of a choice. Stimpson and Phillips might be a little miffed about us unable to collect much in terms of tech, but they were living amongst ruins and most of their stuff hadn't functioned for a few thousand years before the Egyptians even built the pyramids. And even now, I doubt it works too much if it's farther from their 'home'.", Steve said.
Peggy replied, "Yet we can't risk them, Steve, especially with the Heart of Atlantis...I mean, the volcano battle, all for a sentient, magical, and very delicate crystal? It's a miracle that our mini crystals here work for healing aches, sores, and probably surface cuts and wounds as far as it would be in the limits up here.".
Packard replied, "Don't forget the longevity thing too.", and Whitmore sighed deeply, "Aye, we may have good people like Roosevelt, Stimpson and Phillips, but it's best to keep the place secret from most people, especially for Milo. Through Roosevelt should be the rare case. Speaking of which?".
Sweet replied, "Milo died of various injuries after the battle while Steve took care of Rourke and Peggy took care of Sinclair. Using small evidence of Atlantean weapons and shields that barely survived the battle, we fought the Hydra lackeys ourselves. The volcano destroyed most of the ruins, and collapsed by itself.", with a nod.
Whitmore sighed deeply, smiling, "Ah, I'm going to miss that boy...At least our friends are in a safe, better place.", as he browsed through the photos before blinking in surprise, "What the...?", seeing a package, and put away the photos as he untied the package, revealing Milo's beloved picture of him as a child with Thaddeus in his former, older self, containing two crystal necklaces.
He picked one of them up, looking at it in awe, "Golly...", and looked down to see another photo hiding behind the original photo, revealing Thaddeus and Abraham in their new selves, and a note of invisible ink that turned visible thanks to the crystals and the fireplace.
"Hello, Mr. Preston Whitmore, we do hope this is enough proof for you. Thanks for giving me the chance to have the greatest adventure of my life, and now, I wouldn't imagine anything better. P.S. You can give the other crystal to Roosevelt. If it wasn't for him, he wouldn't have given the greenlight for all of this. -Milo.".
"As the crew surely had told you by now, we are now living in the city of our dreams and expecting many wonderful things for us. P.S. You are the godfather. If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have a second chance at being together forever. -Thaddeus.".
"You will always be our oldest friend, Preston, and I hope you aren't upset by the miracles given to us, but you can be glad that you are to be part of Atlantis indirectly. We do miss you, and our love for our dearest friend will never fade. -Abraham. P.S. I am a Thatch now.", Whitmore pretended to hear Milo and his dearest friends in their voices, and he then smiled, tucking the beloved photos into his pocket, intending to keep them in his very private and personal belongings, and he put his newfound crystal necklace around him, fitting him perfectly as it shimmered and glowed as much as the others on the crew and such.
"I'll be damned...", Whitmore whispered as Steve walked up, "Anyway, I think we'll more than likely get our story fairly straight when we have to explain things. At the very least, we might see this as a partial victory. We reached Atlantis and got there before the Nazis and kept them from every finding it for sure now. Plus, despite our losses, we certainly gave quite a blow to HYDRA which I guess maybe evens things out a bit.".
Whitmore nodded, "Indeed.", as he glanced at the second necklace, "Well, at least this is proof for President Roosevelt, through might have to hide this from the others around the table, not that I don't trust Colonel Phillips or Stimpson, but still.".
Jacques replied, "Naturally...Don't be surprised if you feel some of your aches going away over time, Mr. Whitmore...Yet you better hide your new necklace behind your shirts or something if you're going for society parties or whatever.".
"I'm usually a private person, but good point, Jacques. I'm naturally well-liked, but I do have enemies on Wall Street and such, thanks to being a multi-millionaire and all.", Whitmore replied.
Packard snorted, "Don't forget that they expect you to kick the bucket in 20 years or less.", and Whitmore smiled, "Ah, I'll have a plan for that soon enough. That includes you and Cookie too...There's not much bother on our younger friends here, even with Sweet as the middle-aged person of the crew.".
Mole replied, "We are rich to forge identities, haha!", and Audrey scoffed, "Oh, sure, it would work on all of you for 20 years or more. I might have to alternate years of wearing this crystal, to get up to 21. I ain't going to be underestimated as a teenager for decades!".
Sweet replied, "At least we can go around the world anywhere we want to avoid things like that.", with a chuckle, "That is, after the war...".
"Yes, I think that's important still for the time being. Ending this war and finally bringing an end to the Axis tyranny across the globe.", Steve said.
"Speaking of which...", Whitmore chuckled. "Anyone heard the news?". He pulled out the day's newspaper and right on the front in big bold words: 'REVENGE FOR PEARL! JAP FLEET SMASHED AT MIDWAY! MULTIPLE JAP CARRIERS SUNK!'
"I think that's a decent sign that at least the tide might be turning in the Pacific. Defeat after defeat for us and at least a delay with that fight in the Coral Sea last month... but now? Japanese's going to be reeling from that blow from what I've read.", Whitmore said.
Peggy replied, "That's looking good...", as she picked it up, reading the columns, "Definitely a sign. I bet Roosevelt is relieved for the news. It'd be good moral for the soldiers over on the front lines in France and all.".
Steve is relieved by the news, and he hoped that Bucky has been encouraged by this, wherever he is, and he glanced at Whitmore, "You say that the meeting is tomorrow?".
"Yes, at 9 o'clock in the morning, fresh and bush tailed.", Whitmore replied, "Along with a secure phone call to Phillips this afternoon, through it will be nighttime over there. He's on the front lines as apparently, the war's pulling out all the stops on the mainland of Europe.".
"Germany first policy.", Peggy spoke up. "That's the rumor in London. Churchill and Roosevelt see that defeating the Nazis as the higher priority. The Japanese can be contained until the war in Europe has been won.".
"Might be difficult for the public to accept that. They still are seeing red with anger about Pearl and while certainly some anger towards the Germans for declaring war on us, they still see the Japanese as the bigger threat; especially considering we don't have really any of our boys on any frontlines in Europe.", Whitmore said. "At least, that's what I'm hearing from a few senators and congressmen I've chatted with at a few events.".
"Not to mention the Nazis are on the move again in Russia. Crushed a huge Soviet counter offensive it seems just a week or two ago near some place called Kharkov from what I've read.", Sweet added.
"If that's the case, then if I know Roosevelt, he'll probably be pushing for our boys to have boots in Europe as soon as possible. Where exactly? I personally would suspect France since it's just a quick hop over the Channel...", Whitmore commented.
"Which is exactly what the Germans probably think too.", Peggy reminded. "There's a reason my countrymen have been fighting in the deserts of Libya and not in the fields of France. It would take a gargantuan effort to not only push onto the continent but then to maintain that hold, keep it supported and move onwards beyond just the beachhead.".
Steve replied, "Well, at least we'd have some idea of what happened so far from the papers and such as Roosevelt would've expected Whitmore, Peggy, and me to be caught up on things. The rest of you, I'll see to things, like getting you home, Audrey. I hope you are still interested in fixing up care packages while back in Mexico with your papi and sister.".
Audrey replied, "Better than nothing. At least I can build a second shop with Papi.", with a sigh, and Steve glanced at Sweet, "I'll vouch for you if you want to triage hospital tents and such on the front lines.".
"Going to be no shortage of work for me in any place.", Sweet said. "Honestly, might not be too different than it was when I was young. I was having to patch up and stitch together a lot of boys back in France during the last war.".
Steve nodded, "Great. And of course, Jacques will have to take up a plane shipment to France as a ship is too slow, considering things.", and Jacques gave him a small smile, "You need a guide, Steve. And naturally, your wife ain't staying back.", smirking at Peggy who chuckled, "Darn right.".
Cookie replied, "I am going to check on the aftereffects of the Depression as it seems like it's finally ending around here. Probably bring up a soup kitchen or two for poor people until they get back on their feet.".
Peggy smiled, "Sounds good, Cookie. What about you, Packard?", and Packard hummed as she smoked on a cigarette holder, "Well, couldn't mind hacking on radios for your people, Peggy. An old lady ain't made for war, but perhaps doing something while I'm still drawing breath, nothing will stop me. Besides, I always wanted to see Britain anyway.".
Whitmore smirked, "Naturally.", and Mole excitedly replied, "I am going to dig in my homeland too!", and Jacques raised an eyebrow, "This is serious. There can't be any playing around, Mole. If you want to be useful, you better take baths, though I promise no soap, if you are to make secret tunnels between my people's safehouses and all.".
Mole looked at him in surprise, "No soap?", and Jacques replied, "That's right, though I won't be lenient if you collapse a tunnel on any of my people who is escaping, you are going to clean up the toilets, no digging for a week, and soap for your baths. Is that clear?".
"Do you take me as a former Vichy collaborator or something?", Mole honestly appeared offended by the suggestion of collapsing a tunnel on his countrymen. "Trust me, if they do collapse, which they shouldn't if I'm the one who's dug them, but if they do, it's only because the Boche bombed the earth so much and caused it to collapse.".
Jacques nodded, "Very well, Mole. You're lucky that I believe you as we have been friends for years.", and Whitmore smiled, "Well, looks like everyone's plans are settled then. Come, you all must be hungry. I believe my butler has prepared a delicious meal of mashed potatoes and grilled corn, and chicken la king.".
Smiles ran all around the crew, and so, with the photos and extra crystal necklace locked away in a desk drawer, the crew headed down to eat some lunch.
Whitmore spoke to Jacques, "Oh, here, I figure you'd want this, Jacques, to keep close to your heart.", giving a photo to him, and he looked, and he choked back, tears in his eyes, seeing that the photo was the promised picture that Packard took of his family and himself, with Korbyn having awoken after one of the short naps he had somewhere, held in Sia's arms, as Korbyn's frozen pose was gurgling with laughter at Vinny's game of peek-a-boo, with Jacques holding an arm around Sia's shoulders, watching his sons with amusement and love as Sia is smiling tenderly and fondly with love, resting her head on Jacques' shoulder.
"Yeah...", Jacques whispered as Whitmore smiled, "She's very beautiful, Jacques. You're a very lucky man... not to mention, I'm sure, a proud father...".
Jacques gave a watery smile, "Oh, believe me, I am...Good thing that this photo is essentially in grays and whites and browns...I doubt anyone up here would believe that a young woman would have snow white hair, as it's only usually in old people, er, no offense, Mr. Whitmore.".
Whitmore laughed warmly, "It's alright. I'm sure if anyone asks, you can say that your woman is light blonde, since you and your boys are dark-haired.", and Jacques smiled wryly, "Fair. If I could, I could bring flour, seeds, or something to bring some of the surface world back so Sia and her people would have some idea of America's farmland and all.".
"I hope I could meet them someday..", Whitmore smiled warmly, and Jacques chuckled, "I think you will, Mr. Whitmore...I wonder if Milo and Kida are getting hitched by now, if not already, to be set for the coronation.", shrugging as he was one of the last people in the elevator to head to the table for eating lunch.
"By the way you guys have described young Korbyn's introduction to the people, along with Thaddeus and Abraham's wedding in your story, I am sure the wedding ceremony, and the coronation is beautiful and quite colorful and all.", Whitmore smiled.
Jacques nodded, and so, they entered the dining room, to start on the meal. Indeed, deep under the sea, Atlantis is seeing a warm, anxiously exciting day as it's early morning, with the plan of the wedding of their most beloved couple in the late morning, and the coronation in the early afternoon, with the send-off of Kashekim's stone somewhat in the middle, late afternoon time.
Milo yawned, rubbing his eyes, is slowly waking up, listening to the sounds of the city waking up in the distance, a call of some Atlantean lizard-birds, and music somewhere humming around in the center of the city, with the palace sounding like frantically yet peacefully in chaos, like people going around.
As he soon realized why the palace was acting this way, he smiled, glancing over to see his mate, his soon-to-be wife snuggling into his side, her baby bump warm and faintly full of life, and he kissed her on the temple, "Kida...Kida, wake up...".
Kida murmured in her sleep, "Milo, it's early...Let me sleep a bit longer...I don't wanna leave bed.", and Milo chuckled, "Shucks, you're stubborn...", before kissing her on the nose. Kida murmured sleepily, "You're gonna have to do better than that, mister..".
