A loud, hearty wail then pierced the air, causing Peggy to look up with tired hope, seeing a wiggling, messy, and crying baby in Audrey's arms, smiling, "You got your wish, it's a boy! And he's healthy and loud despite being a tad small in the normal size range compared to Brookyln.", with a chuckle.
"There you go...", Audrey transferred the loosely swaddled baby boy into Peggy's arms, as he kept crying and whimpering, and Peggy found the strength to sit up slightly, sobbing happily as her heart felt like another piece has found its way back into place, the piece she lost at the miscarriage, with this new memory replacing the miscarriage into a miracle.
Peggy shushed gently, her eyes never leaving the sight of her new beautiful son, their son who came home to be here, on Christmas Day, "It's okay, mummy is here...Daddy is here...Oh, Steve, he's perfect...He got your eyes...", tears of happiness falling on her cheeks.
Indeed, their son got Steve's true-blue eyes, having Peggy's chestnut cherry locks in fine, soft hairs on his head, with Peggy's tan skin, Steve's nose, his grandmother Amanda's cheekbones, and his grandfather Joseph's smile.
"Certainly some bright ones...", Steve smiled as he gently brushed their son's head. "Looks almost completely normal; despite the size...". He was relieved that there's no issues that appeared with the baby boy.
Their son's cries and whimpers quieted down as he felt warm and safe, and vaguely remembering his wish to make his mummy happy again, he cooed at his mummy, his hand clenching into her finger.
"Hi...Oh, welcome home, darling...", Peggy smiled happily as she kissed his little nose, causing him to gurgle, attempting to smile, cooing, and she whispered, "I love you too...You missed me so much, huh?".
He gurgled softly, and Steve chuckled, "He's a quiet one compared to Brooke...Gosh, I can't believe that he's a strong and loud one when he wants to be despite being small...Almost similar to me in this situation, yet different...".
Peggy giggled softly, "Like son, like mother, with a pinch of being like the father. Any ideas for his names?", referring to the first and middle name, and Steve blinked thoughtfully, "Well, since he clearly was a surprise, coming home from being lost for a long time, staying secret all this time, and that it's Christmas Day, a day of hope and miracles...How about Asher for his first name?".
"Asher?", Peggy asked as she raised a bit of an eyebrow as Steve chuckled, "Yeah, I don't know where exactly that name came from to be honest, but just looking at him... something clicked in my head that it was right.".
Peggy blinked in surprise before smiling, and glanced at their son, "How about that? You want to be Asher?", and he gurgled, attempting to smile, clenching his hand a bit tighter around her finger, and she chuckled, "Okay...I have a feeling that your sister would want to have Ash for a nickname as she doesn't get names fully right yet...Now, let's see here about your middle name...", thinking for a few moments before it hit her, "Samuel... Asher Samuel Rogers...", with a smile.
Steve smiled, "Any reason for that?", and Peggy looked at him, "In honor of your mother...is that okay? She must have looked after him when he was a tiny spirit angel...", with tears falling again at the thought that Steve's mother, Sarah Rogers would have loved Asher.
"Yeah...", Steve was obviously choked up at the gesture and trying to keep himself from shedding any tears. "Yeah, I think that'll be perfect...", he whispered.
Peggy smiled, leaning slightly to kiss him on the cheek, and he smiled back as he kissed her on the lips, and then gazed at their son, gently caressing his head, "You wanna be Asher Samuel Rogers?", and he gave a little happy squeal, attempting to smile.
The newfound parents laughed warmly, and Audrey spoke finally, quietly, not to bother them, "Can I clip the cord and such?", and Peggy nodded, smiling, "Of course.".
Audrey smiled, getting to work on the cord and pulling out the placenta after Peggy pushed a bit, and then heard a knock, more of a tapping knock on the bottom of the door, and Bucky's voice replied, "Brooke wants to see the baby badly, practically crawled across the living room, and tried to walk along the wall.", with a chuckle.
Audrey went to cover Peggy up to her waist, with the robe still modestly over her breasts, and then opened the door, with Brookyln standing wobbily, looking a bit nervous, looking at her mummy and daddy, seeing a small bundle in her mummy's arms.
Steve smiled, "It's okay, your mummy did a great job...You got a brother, Brooke.", and Brookyln perked up, and stuck her tongue out as she focused on walking without the wall to assist, stumbling nearly once before catching herself, but managed to walk shakily with a grin, "Me walking, mumma, dada! Me coming see br-brot-brother!", determined to reach her daddy's side of the bed, wanting to see her returned brother for the first time, while reaching another milestone in her unusual development, with not quite success, but it's her first time in walking without assistance.
"Okay, okay...", Steve chuckled as he went over to get her. "Let's save a special milestone for another day... We're happy you can start walking but you don't mind if today is all about your little brother this once?".
Brooklyn looked apologetic, "Sorry, Dada...Me just...sorry.", and Steve smiled, kissing her on the forehead, "Aww, don't be sorry, you were too excited. It's best to share on a day like today than showing off, okay?", carrying her into the bed.
"Chrissy day is family time.", Brookyln replied softly, remembering her mummy and daddy's teachings, and Peggy smiled, "That's right, my smart girl. Now, I'd like to introduce you to your little brother, Asher Samuel Rogers. Asher, you probably know Brookyln, but she's your big sister now...".
Brookyln looked awed and a bit cautious as she came closer over Peggy's lap, with Steve's hand supporting her, "Ash small...You okay, Ash?", and Asher cooed, grasping his sister's hand, and she looked relieved before smiling, "Ash feeling happy.", looking at her parents as Steve cuddled around his wife and their children in a protective embrace, "Mumma happy for Ash return?", looking at her mummy as she was crying again to see that her children is together like it should have been, and true, they aren't twins anymore or such, but it feels right, complete...
Peggy sniffled as she nodded, hearing that as she cradled Ash closely. "Yes... Mumma very happy...", she said as Brooklyn squeezed her as best as she could from where she was.
Steve kissed Peggy on the temple, "And I'm very happy that Asher is back...And so relieved that you are happy again...", realizing that Peggy is healing much better than she was, her heart becoming whole again, barely noticing that Bucky and Audrey had left the bedroom, to give them privacy.
Peggy whispered softly, "I'm so sorry that I was...I was in grief so much, Steve...", hating that she worried Steve like that, and Steve replied, "Hey, don't blame yourself, I'm right here. It's all in the past now...Look at our beautiful children...It's time to make a whole new future within the new year coming...".
She took a deep breath, realizing that her husband's right, and they got two beautiful children, children who loves them both, and she gave a genuine smile, kissing her babies as Brookyln kissed her mummy on the cheek, and Asher gurgled, patting her other cheek before his belly grumbled.
Brookyln's belly grumbled a few moments later, and she looked at her mummy, "Mumma, me and Ash share?", with a little hopeful smile, hoping that her mummy is going to allow Brookyln back to her breast milk just once even after she's being weaned off. Sure, breast milk in a bottle is delicious and all, but there's something about having mummy and baby time on the breast.
Peggy smiled, "Why not? It's Christmas Day, and you're allowed to be spoiled on a day like this, but mind you, I ain't going to do this too much often for you, young lady.", and Brookyln nodded in understanding as Steve moved the robe coverings away from her breasts.
Brookyln smiled at Asher, "This be good, Ash!", before she went to gently take a nipple, suckling as she closed her eyes in content bliss, as she felt her mummy's one arm secure her, with her mummy's other arm adjusting and securing Asher as he watched his big sister for a moment, learning to latch into the other nipple, and began to suckle, and curled up as he realized he is loving his mummy's milk, closing his eyes in content bliss as well.
Peggy exhaled, smiling happily as she's bonding with Asher as much as Brookyln, and leaned her head tiredly upon Steve's shoulder/upper chest, "A bit over 6 hours since I came into labor...Definitely a bit shorter in length than Brookyln's birth was, yet I did it...I still can't believe it, Steve...".
"I can't believe it either... another child... so soon, not to mention that it's our first one back to us if you truly take Brooklyn at her word...", Steve said as Peggy grinned, "Oh, you already doubting her?".
"Not at all; I just still find it hard to take everything all at once today... give me a few days and it'll all be good.", Steve said. Peggy giggled softly, "Fair enough. Merry Christmas, Steve...", and Steve smiled, "Merry Christmas, Peggy...I love you...".
"I love you too, and I love them so much...", Peggy kissed him on the lips tenderly and lovingly, and then gazed back upon her children, one big and one small. Hopefully, within the week, if Asher's appetite is like Steve's appetite, he will gain some weight and grow a bit bigger, to dissuade any concerning gossip about the new arrival on the base.
"The people at mess hall would be wondering and all...", Peggy replied, and Steve snorted, "I don't care...After all, this is my leave time, and I intend to be here with my family...my family that just got bigger..", with a tender smile at Asher, and Peggy smiled happily, and so, the new expanded family cuddled and slept and fed on that wonderful Christmas Day/night, with Bucky's help in taking out the hand-downs and such from Brookyln's stuff including the bassinet from the attic.
Indeed, much to Peggy and Steve's relief, Asher gained weight over the next two weeks, growing a bit bigger, and Brookyln became the best big sister, often walking around to amuse Asher with silly faces and helping out with carrying blankets or clothes or telling her mummy if he's wanting attention, through Asher is smart already by having his specific cries if he's hungry or dirty, with Peggy and Steve relearning how to take care of a newborn once again.
On New Year's Eve, as it was too dangerous to have loud noises and such, due to the war, quiet parties and such was ongoing around the base, and not wanting to leave General Phillips out, they invited him to their own little party, to introduce Asher properly, since it seemed wrong to go out and risk Asher even if he's reassuringly gaining weight and in great health.
The whole party went pretty much smoothly, thankfully; no issues and especially no surprise Luftwaffe raids which one would suspect the Germans to try with how lax England might be around the holidays.
Phillips smiled softly as Brookyln thanked him for the gift, "Me love it, Gene Philly!", hugging a stuffed animal which is a horse, and pranced away, and Phillips heard Peggy's voice, "She's going to make a habit to sleep like a big girl with a stuffy to keep her company.", looking over to see her carrying Asher who is now awake from his nap, blinking curiously and shyly at Phillips.
Phillips chuckled, "You're lucky that I'm a softie under this hard exterior of mine for this family...So, this is the surprise baby...", and Peggy nodded, "Yes, he sure was a surprise...General, meet Asher Samuel Rogers, our Christmas boy. Ash, this is General Chester Phillips, the boss of all of us grownups.", with a warm smile.
"Pleased to meet you, young Asher...He sure takes after you, Carter, though he got Rogers' eyes and nose.", Phillips complimented with a smile, "He doesn't look like he has any problems...", as he heard over the secure phone line the next day after Christmas Day from Steve that a son was born small yet healthy and loud.
"Yeah, seems my genes kicked in a bit to help him grow a bit quick to make up for how premature he was when he was first born. Thankfully, he's been pretty healthy this whole time.", Steve said.
Phillips glanced at Steve who joined them, having a warm, proud look, and he nodded softly, "That's good news at least. I wouldn't wish the worst on either of you, you know that.", as his heart still panged slightly at the memory of that day where he checked on Peggy after that terrible night.
Peggy smiled, "I know, General...There's something else, isn't there?", and Phillips chuckled, "Couldn't get anything pass you, Carter. Well, after coordinating and talking, we finally got a date for the secret trial. Stimpson will arrive within the next week of the new year, with Anthony Eden and I attending the trial. You, Rogers, or Barnes, don't have to come if you don't want to.", looking at Steve, as it's good news for Steve and Bucky personal-wise, and he knew they have witnessed some things that surrounded Zola, though he has a feeling that Zola will be very shocked and perhaps unprepared for the sight of Barnes showing up, alive and well, when he got the report that the train had cameras that Zola watched through, and witnessed Barnes' battle and fall in a way, though he didn't see it fully, but it was implied well enough, perhaps putting Zola down a rung or two in defending himself which would put the trial in Phillips and the Allies' favor.
"Good; we at least do it right and then we can rid the world of him and at least deprive Schmidt or HYDRA itself of him assisting in any way ever again.", Steve said.
"I will mention about the Paperclip thing to you though, Steve.", Phillips added. "Churchill knows about the operation; while he shares our views on Zola after he was briefed; he doesn't want either us or the British to reject whatever advances the Germans have on us and leave it in the hands of the Soviets.".
"So, odds are we're going to be giving amnesty to quite a few folks that we normally would be condemning?", Steve sighed.
"I don't think that's a battle you can truly win, Steve. Zola and anyone else in HYDRA at least will never get the offer but I can't say of almost anyone else barring some along similar lines like Zola.", Phillips sighed deeply.
Peggy replied softly, "He's having a good point, Steve...A private trial is far more...under the papers, and we'd prefer to keep the bad things blacked out on any reports in the trial, than making public outrage and such...And if Zola and the others that follow him in Hydra is rid, we have less worry about anyone hurting our children...", looking at Steve.
Steve's heart lurched in pain yet fury, knowing he will kill anyone in defense of his family if they dare kidnap his wife and children, or worse, and exhaled, looking at Phillips, "I will be attending the trial, and if I must be a witness, so be it...I do not know about Bucky if he wants to come along.", glancing to see Bucky massaging Audrey's shoulders as they sat on one of the couches, with Brookyln on the floor, playing with her toys while cuddling her stuffed horse, talking with Amanda and Harrison who came over on the weekend, a few days after Christmas Day as they were helping a family out who was in charge of a few children who came by train thanks to the Blitz a couple of years ago.
They had fell in love with their second grandchild, cooing over him and such, shocked to hear that it was a surprise out of nowhere on Christmas Day, but not told about how Asher is truly returned to the family and such as it's still sensitive news, which is not even known by Phillips either.
Phillips replied, "You will ask him, then?", and Steve nodded, and Phillips said, "Either way, it's set on the first Saturday, still deciding on the time when we start, since we don't know how long the trial will go, if Zola is going to argue and such.".
"Argue? He'll probably brag what he's done.", Steve scoffed. "Especially since he'll probably think his fate is already sealed; he'd probably just go out proclaiming how much of a genius he is or something.".