Brookyln looked sheepish as she did that, but she didn't mean to be so excited for opening her presents earlier this morning, and Peggy smiled, glancing at Audrey who smiled, "I'll start on lunch while you put her down to bed.".
Peggy nodded, picking up Brookyln, grunting softly, "You're really getting big, Brooke. You really need to be more independent.", unknowing that the baby in her womb is getting ready to announce himself.
Brookyln cooed, "Sorry, Mumma.", feeling the anxious energy from her returned sibling inside her mummy's belly, wondering if it'd be soon, as she yawned again, and Peggy smiled, "You're lucky that you are cute, Brooke.", going to the nursery to change her diaper and such before putting her to bed.
Peggy returned to help Audrey with lunch, and then a half hour after preparing lunch, at the table, eating and such, pangs of pain began to show up for the first stage of labor, and constant as well, as Peggy moaned again from discomfort, with Audrey looking at her in concern, "Are you alright, Peggy?".
"I swear I didn't eat too fast, but this stomachache is really putting it out on me...", Peggy commented, and Audrey frowned, "Maybe it's cramps. You said that you've been a bit sore lately...".
Peggy shook her head, "I had a period two weeks ago...Granted, it was less painful than normal like sometimes.", as Audrey blinked, "Wait, you don't have full periods sometimes on the schedule?".
"Yeah.", Peggy replied, "What, why are you looking at me like that?", and Audrey exhaled, "Because a friend of my sister had irregular periods for months before she gave birth unknowingly, as she thought she was barren for years, being married and all. The baby turned out healthy albeit a bit smaller than usual but was full-term all the same.".
Peggy gave her a look as she thought about it for a moment, "You... you don't think that I am...?", as her eyes widened. "Pregnant again?", Audrey interrupted. "Yeah, that is exactly what I'm thinking.".
Peggy took a slow exhale as she whispered, "It doesn't feel like the pain from...from that night...", and Audrey knew what Peggy referred to. The miscarriage that terrible February night, and how sudden and horribly painful it was for Peggy.
Audrey replied, "It then leads to one thing...You're in labor, Peggy...Do you want me to check since you ain't obviously showing?", knowing Peggy so well already for she wouldn't want anything to go wrong. It was one thing with Brookyln, but this is a different situation...
Peggy looked at her with desperate and hopeful tears, "Of course, Audrey! Please tell me that you got some experience from down in Atlantis...", as Audrey smiled to reassure her, "Sweet showed me how to check the womb and all, and Jerika taught me some tips of delivering a baby...I know I ain't a professional doctor and such but are you sure you want me to...?".
"Audrey, you're the only other gal I can trust, and I ain't letting no base doctor touch me if there's spies or something at the base hospital, and you know that doctor won't let Steve in ever to be with me. In this house, he was literally giving me support and strength when I was giving birth to Brookyln, with Mum delivering her, and she knew that I needed Steve.", Peggy replied, as she hated the yet not disbanded surface rule of fathers staying in a segregated room in any hospital or in the living room of any house, and she's afraid even if London and the base is patrolled strongly by many good men and everything, there's always a chance that Nazi and Hydra would have spies, due to the war.
"Don't worry; I got it.", Audrey nodded. "But hopefully I'm wrong and maybe you're just simply in early stages of pregnancy and we don't need to worry about anything for the time.".
"Still...", Peggy took a deep breath as she started to get herself ready for Audrey to check her out.
They left the table, heading to Peggy and Steve's bedroom, making sure the curtains were closed and such, as it's daytime, and they wouldn't want people to jump to conclusions to assume that Peggy and Audrey are lesbian or making love or something, with the lamps on, after seeing that Brookyln is still sleeping in the nursery.
Peggy changed out of her clothes, while having a robe on herself, and laid back on the bed as Audrey blew warm air on her crystal and went to scan Peggy's belly, and replied, "You're really pregnant, Peggy...A little small, but they're clearly full term and healthy, and the placenta and water bag look close to breaking free, and they're hiding to the side to keep their gender secret, taking up to be headfirst, and the cord looks good, not putting them in danger.".
"My god...I'm...I'm in labor...", Peggy whispered in shock and joy and anxiety, and Audrey went to check her vagina, "Yep. You're just a bit over 1/4 dilated, Peggy. You and Steve are going to be parents again...and on Christmas Day too.", with a wry laugh, as then Peggy moaned in pain this time, feeling a mild, familiar contraction as her belly tightened for the first time in labor, instead of being in discomfort like earlier.
"It... it can't be this fast... it's too soon!", Peggy worried as Audrey bit her lip, "Yeah, I'm a bit worried too... but we'll get through this, Peggy... alright? Just stay calm, you've got to for this little one...".
Peggy exhaled, nodding, "You're right...I mean, I've just barely started into labor...Still some time until I have to push and everything...", as she sat up carefully, shocked that she's moderately in shape yet she realized why the baby fat was still there, because it was there for her new baby...gods, her baby that she and Steve made...
"I think I can still eat and all, Audrey, right?", Peggy looked at Audrey who nodded, "Yeah...Just keep the robe on, so I can check on you every half hour or such...Steve and Bucky gotcha be done with the meeting soon by now.".
Peggy got up, walking with Audrey back to the table to resume lunch after seeing that Brookyln's still sleeping, and she gave a small smile, "They're going to be in for the surprise of their lives...", stroking her belly in disbelief and amazement, feeling the pangs of pain that is similar to cramps, with the occasional mild contraction as she took up to eat the last of her mashed potatoes.
Audrey glanced at her with a smirk, "That's for sure...I'll give them an hour and then I'll call Phillips' office, alright? No need to make them panic in public out there, even if the SSR is underground and all.".
"Yeah... but I wonder if they'll even believe you...", Peggy said as Audrey shook her head. "They will, do you really think they'd ever think that I'd call them to prank them like this? Good way to get myself arrested, really. And don't worry, I'll make sure to be subtle with the wording.", she winked.
Peggy smiled, "Alright...Since I'm clearly in labor, plans got shifted around us, but I'll still take the nap after finishing this meal...Can you watch over Brooke if she wakes up and wants to play with her toys again?".
"Duh, of course. She's practically my niece!", Audrey smiled, and Peggy chuckled, "Thanks, Audrey.", and so, they went to eat more of their lunch.
Meanwhile, underground, in the SSR base, in Phillips' office, the general is looking over a map, marking places, with Bucky and Steve on either side of him, "From all the reports you talked about Hydra and Nazis, you were right for winter has put them on hold mostly all over the place...Stimpson was delighted to hear that we are at least recovering.".
"Attacking during the winter around much of Europe is a mess. Italy's a quagmire of snow and mud which has stopped our pushes but at least the Germans can't try to drive us back; though obviously they clearly know it's a waste and are only playing defense there. Meanwhile, in France, we're just building strength day by day and while they could push us back; the losses would be worst if not front shattering and not worth it.", Bucky said.
"It's only in Russia where the cold is seeing just as fierce fighting; and the Germans obviously fear the Soviets more than us which is why they've still got most of their armies in the east.", Steve added.
"Exactly. 44 will be the year where we'll finally truly start moving and hopefully end the war by next Christmas. That being said... we can't rule anything out from the Germans when they get even more desperate... these latest reports prove that.", Phillips placed down a few folders labeled STRENG GEHEIM, or top secret in German, and had the HYDRA symbol on them. "We finally translated everything in one of those previous raids... and as we feared; Zola's removal from HYDRA has only slowed them down, but Schmidt seems confident that the groundwork is already laid, and his loss is of no true consequence.".
Steve frowned, "Then he had his claws in Zola earlier than we thought before we captured him...", and Phillips nodded, "Indeed. We had pushed Zola into revealing what Schmidt is planning, but he was smug, and very loyal to him, and when we threatened him with an execution by rifle or hanging by rope, he was slightly unnerved, but he still didn't reveal anything significant, only saying in that damn annoying tone of thinking that he's right, saying that Schmidt is smarter than he, and far smarter than all of us, for Schmidt will not be fazed by anything in his way.", with a frustrated growl.
Bucky glanced at him, "Sounds like Schmidt is even more insane lately...You got the translated reports and all to Stimpson?", and Phillips replied, "By secure long-distance call...From what we got, the groundwork contains some sort of weaponry, but we can't find the specifics of it, only that the code name is Valkyrie.".
Steve blinked, "Sounds big...Since Schmidt is clearly following the ideals of being a God and all, Valkyrie is a Norse name for a woman warrior, but he is a bigot to women since he looks down on them...So, it must mean something else...", with a frown.
Bucky replied, "Warriors are people with weapons, and if Schmidt is going by Norse mythology, that means battling and destroying places...So, perhaps, it means that the weaponry themselves are the warriors of Hydra...but how?".
"I don't know.", Phillips shook his head. "But whatever Valkyrie is... it's something that Schmidt thinks will turn the tide of the war back into Germany's favor with how these reports come off.". Steve was biting his lip as he kept thinking of what the connection might mean. It then suddenly clicked for him.
"It's a bomber...", Steve said. "Destroying places... and Valkyries fly... it can't be anything other than a bomber... and knowing Schmidt, it's got to be something massive.".
"A massive bomber?", Bucky raised an eyebrow. "Jeez, if that's the case, how many engines do you think one would have to strap on just to make it fly?".
"Maybe not that many if you remember some of those weapons those HYDRA troopers used on the train... those weren't bullets or flames they were shooting.", Steve reminded.
Bucky widened his eyes, "Shit, the powerful blue energy...", and Phillips replied, "About that, I found something other in the translated reports, another code name, perhaps for this powerful blue energy, called 'Tesseract'.".
Steve frowned, "I don't remember that name in any of the stories or rumors I can find...Still, it feels like the name's right for that power...", and Phillips nodded, "I feel the same as well, Rogers...Still, this is a breakthrough...Hopefully, this is enough to get Stimpson to give me the order to execute Zola...If he knows about Valkryie and Tesseract, then it's dangerous for us, for if we let him sit in a cold cell, like you said, he is smart to sneak information even in chains and such, and he's too dangerous to even be used either as if we stop Schmidt for once and for all as soon as the spring thaw hits the mountains in his territory, Zola would definitely take revenge for Schmidt...maybe do his own version of Valkryie...", with a horrified look as he realized the implications, causing Bucky and Steve to pale.
Steve looked at Phillips desperately, "If you somehow hint at it, if he moves a muscle in showing that he knew about Valkyrie, you must convince Stimpson to give the order to execute him and others who know about this...We can't let others follow Zola into this if we kill Schmidt. One head cut, more grows.".
"Might be difficult.", Phillips said. "Stimson at least might argue that we should give Zola a trial at least. A secret one, but at least he gets one."
"It would be a fair one, not like a Nazi show trial; we've got plenty of proof of Zola's actions amongst HYDRA.", Bucky pointed out.
Steve replied, "I'll get along with the trial for justice's sake, but in the end, we all know the great misdeeds he did for selfish reasons, and I hope Stimpson, with your help, goes hard on Zola in the trial, and he will be done for...".
Phillips and Bucky looked at him, knowing how personal things had gotten between being professional and the situation of war making things both less and more complicated, and Phillips replied, "I'll do my best, Rogers. I will talk with Stimpson if he would come overseas, and perhaps, in place of the President, I'll have the Prime Minister or at least Anthony Eden to attend the trial as Hydra doesn't just affect America, but all Allies.".
Steve smiled in relief, "Thank you, sir.", before the phone rang on Phillips' desk on the other side of the room, and Phillips replied, "Excuse me, boys.", as he came around them, and the map, to his desk.
It was a few moments of waiting as Phillips' eyes widened before he looked to Steve and then took a deep breath, "Alright, I'll let them know. They'll be there soon.". He then hung up. "So, I've got some good, if not surprising news for you, Steve...", he said.
Steve looked at him, "What is it, sir?", realizing that he and Bucky had missed lunch as they were collaborating the map and such over the past couple of hours. He hopes that his wife and Audrey aren't too mad at them for taking longer than what they figured to stay for.
Phillips smiled, "Apparently, your family is getting bigger as you got a new Christmas gift on the way that your wife is working to bring into the world.".
"W-what?", Steve stammered as Bucky chuckled. "Brooke's not going to be an only sibling, you dolt.", Bucky teased him as he patted him on the back, "Come on, let's hurry and get back before Peggy holds it over forever on you for missing a birth!".
Phillips took out his keys to his Jeep, "Don't scratch it or go over the speed limit too much. We still are a professional army base, secret SSR underground and such, but still. Is that clear, boys?".
Bucky nodded, saluting him, "Yes, sir!", as Steve was still stunned, and Phillips threw Bucky the keys, looking at Steve, "Rogers, eyes up! You need a clear mind to help your wife!", startling him.
Steve exhaled sharply, nodding, "Yes, sir, thank you, sir! Merry Christmas!", and Phillips nodded, "Merry Christmas, boys. You can tell me the good news later of our newest addition. Now, go! Dismissed!".
"How are you feeling?", Audrey asked Peggy a few minutes later after she reached Phillips at the base... it took a bit of time considering the hoops she had to go through but so far, there wasn't any issue from Peggy that warranted her to get away from the phone.
Peggy smiled softly, "Stronger to do this after taking that nap...", taking a slow deep breath as another mild contraction came through, "I still can't believe that I'm literally in labor on Christmas Day, only a couple days after my and Steve's 2nd anniversary of our first date.".
Audrey whistled softly, "Talk about a great Christmas gift this way, through it'd be a long afternoon for this one as you are getting slowly closer between 1/4 and halfway dilated...", having checked on her prior to the phone call, before they heard Brookyln's cries of attention from the nursery, and smiled, "I'll get her, Peggy. You want to tell her the big news?".
Peggy smiled, "She's smart, and besides, she'd be worried if she doesn't know why I'm in pain and all.", and Audrey nodded, leaving the bedroom, heading to the nursery to pick up a standing up Brookyln who was surprised to see Audrey instead of her mummy, "Aunie? Mumma okay?".
Audrey smiled, "Your mum is okay, she has good, big news to tell you, kiddo.", with a grunt, "Your mum is right, you're getting heavier and bigger.", as Brookyln blushed, and they returned to the bedroom, with Audrey putting Brookyln down on the bed.
"Mumma?", Brookyln asked softly as she is surprised to feel the excited energy of her returned sibling alleviating, seeing her mummy resting in bed with signs of pain in her eyes next to joy and anxiety, "Brooke, sweetheart, I'm going to have a new baby...Surprised me and your aunt...", with a chuckle.