Milo said nothing as he wrapped his arms around Erskine tight; as if he was trying to, through him, hug his grandfather at least one more time.
Erskine was surprised for a split moment before smiling gently as he hugged Milo back firmly, rubbing Milo's back softly, murmuring to him as Milo sobbed quietly, "I know, my boy...I miss him too...He is proud of you, Milo...", as a few minutes had passed.
Milo took a deep breath as he backed away, cleaning his glasses and wiping his eyes, "Do...Do you think he wouldn't mind if you're part of my family? I...I never wanted to be alone...Sure, Fluffy helped, but well, she's a cat, and couldn't talk back and all...".
"We're both orphans in a way; looking for a family... we've both lost so many close to us... if we at least can take some comfort in each other, then I'd be more than happy to do that.", Erskine told him with a reassuring smile.
Milo gave a warm smile, "That makes me feel better...Well, I better get on this run to pick up Agent Carter's gift. Do you think they'd go out tonight?", and Erskine smiled wryly, "I have a feeling that they will. Steven or Agent Carter will tell me sooner or later today of their plans, and I'm sure we will sneak them out under Phillips' radar even after he gives the order at supper that the guys are off for the night.".
Grinning, "I am so glad to be help for them. See you in a while, Opa!", Milo replied, sprinting off, leaving his room, not realizing what he had said at the end until he realized it in the elevator, and he widened his eyes, gulping, shaking his head nervously, hoping that Erskine isn't mad when he gets back.
Erskine stood in shock and surprise for a moment, exhaling at the fact that Milo called him grandpa in German, and he took out his pocket watch, smiling softly, "I can't wait to tell you this weekend...I can't believe it...He accepted us, Thaddeus...", kissing the rim tenderly as he caressed it, and putting it back in his pocket, leaving the room to head to the lab, tucking the Journal in his bag securely.
Of course, despite that, there still was a lot going on before Erskine and Thaddeus might even hope for some time together. He knew he was going to have to keep his distance as often as he could from Thaddeus on the journey if he did come with. Last thing he wanted to do was draw any suspicion, especially if the Nazis or HYDRA caught wind of the trip.
Still nonetheless, there are still glimpses of weekends where Phillips wouldn't be even suspicious of him going to his New York lab when Erskine can slip silently to the train station as Preston is working on that. Within the timing of the progress on the training of the submersible people and such, it's still a couple of months, if less when the submersible is finally done.
Yet on the journey itself, the best opportunity for them to be together, is probably eating times while conversing with Milo or Steven, and in the dark when everybody else is deep asleep. Maybe bathroom breaks as well...
Either way, Thaddeus will be so relieved that Milo is on their side. An hour later, Milo returned with Peggy's request, heading to Erskine's second lab which is in the army base sub-basements, and saw him working on his notes.
"Dr. Erskine?", Milo piped up, "I got the stuff...", as Erskine looked up with a smile, "Well done, Milo. The best you could get, eh?".
Milo nodded, "Yeah...I know you said I can spoil myself, but I used the rest of the money to get a roll of plain blue wrapping paper, if that's okay?", and Erskine smiled warmly, "Oh, Milo, that's more than alright...You truly are selfless.", proud of Milo's gesture.
If it wasn't for him picking Rogers in the first place, he would go for Milo, but considering their differences and opinions of helping the world in their own ways, Steven Rogers is far the better option, and besides, he had the feeling that Thaddeus wouldn't dare risk Milo in even more danger if Hydra knew that his grandson is being considered for the serum.
Milo blushed, "Thanks, doc.", and Erskine smiled gently, "Milo, you can call me Opa when we're alone. I think Thaddeus would be overjoyed to know that I'm not alone.".
Milo nodded as he took a deep breath to recompose himself, "Of course... anyway, I think Rogers will probably like that.", with a chuckle. Erskine smiled warmly, "Well, Carter certainly thinks so, but we'll have to wait and see.".
Milo smiled widely, nodding, and so, they carefully watched their way while dropping the gift in Peggy's office, and Peggy thanked them for it, telling Erskine that she convinced Phillips that Erskine would appreciate a break for the weekend since he looked sad when he heard the guys remarking that today is Valentine's Day, and that she would drop Erskine and Milo off at the town train station to go to Washington to talk out more details with Preston as now she's on Phillips's clearance level to know some secrets now, but not all of it just yet, while Steve hides in the back of the car, with Peggy driving the car to the beach after the drop-off.
Erskine was beyond elated when she gave the news, as his wish has been answered, "Thank you, Agent Carter, that's a brilliant idea.", as she worked on wrapping her beloved gift with most tender care.
"You still comfortable back there?", Peggy asked as Steve chuckled. "So long as we don't get into an accident, I should be good. Actually, fairly cozy back here.", he admitted.
Peggy smiled, "Good.", as it's now several hours later after Peggy worked the plan out with Erskine and Milo, and it went smoothly as planned since Peggy just had dropped Erskine and Milo off at the train station, with them wishing the couple good luck with their date.
"Don't worry, you heard Phillips. I am still wrapping my mind around it when he announced that he doesn't care what the guys decided to do on their night out as long as they don't cause trouble to the reputation of Phillips's beloved base.", Steve remarked with a soft chuckle.
Chuckling, Peggy glanced to the rearview mirror, "Phillips can be surprising at times, but he really is determined to make sure that those boys won't make bar fights or such...I heard stories that he punished the people who dared to make a racket of a bar fight one time, and they got really demoted to the bottom of the ladder, and ever since then, it's an unsaid rule around the base not to get into trouble on nights out on the town. Good thing we're going to the beach ourselves.".
"So long as we don't get in any trouble of our own.", Steve joked as Peggy rolled her eyes. "True, but I think we can easily make sure to keep that from happening.", she teased.
Steve blushed, "Oh, bugger it, why does you make it so easy to tease me?", smiling as he isn't mad at Peggy for it, and Peggy giggled wryly, "Because it's fun. Don't worry, you'll get better at it as time goes on.".
"I hope so. I could never know how Bucky does it...It looks so easy for him...", Steve replied with a hum, and Peggy smiled through the rearview mirror at him, "Hey, I prefer your way, Steve, and it's better than anything else.", as Steve nodded, and Peggy glanced at the wrapped gift in the foot place just of the front passenger seat.
Several minutes later, Peggy parked just of an unspoiled, uncrowded area of beach as far as the eye can see, smiling warmly, "Okay, the coast's clear. Come in the front.", and Steve nodded, opening the back door, closing it, and opening the front door, seeing the wrapped gift in the foot seat.
Peggy replied, "Happy Valentine's Day.", blushing softly, as Steve picked it up, sitting down in the passenger seat, with the door closing, so not to let the chill in, "Golly, Peggy, you don't have to...".
"I wanted to...And our friends helped out in the shopping and the money part. Go on. Open it.", Peggy replied with a nod, "I had to hide it in my office most of the day.".
"Peggy...", Steve whispered as Peggy rolled her eyes. "Come on, Private; hurry up and open it, why don't ya?", she teased as he nodded and finally started to open his gift.
Steve's eyes widened and widened with every moment he unveiled his gift, his breath catching as he held a brand-new sketchbook and a full set of colored pencils ready to be used by his hands, "P-Peggy...This...", and Peggy whispered, "You like it, Steve?", with an anxious smile.
"Like it, Peggy? I love it! Oh, my god, you're brilliant! And I have more space to sketch now!", Steve laughed happily, a smile nearly splitting his face, cheek to cheek, and Peggy smiled beamingly, "I'm so glad to hear that...Why don't you give it a try? Do you sketch with music on?".
Steve nodded, "Sometimes, when it's low and nice.", and Peggy nodded, turning on the radio, turning down the volume to a steady, low tone, as Steve nervously chewed his lip, opening the case of the colored pencils, seeing that they're already sharpened, and opening the cover to the first page.
Peggy sensed his nervousness, and proceeded to sing along to the radio, pretending to be in her own world to put Steve at ease. "I didn't know you could sing...", Steve admitted as she smiled.
"Well, it's not exactly something I do very often, truth be told...", Peggy said as Steve nodded. "You're quite the natural, if no one has ever told you.", he said.
Peggy blushed, smiling, "Steve...that's sweet of you to say...", as she kept singing, and Steve exhaled, seeing the perfect picture of her in his mind as his hands worked craftily and tenderly on the sketchpad for the next half hour as the sun slowly went to set on the horizon of the sea.
Steve then took a deep breath, looking up at Peggy, clearing his throat to pull her out of her own world, "I'm done...", and Peggy smiled, "Can I see?".
Steve gulped, "Y-yeah.", handing it over carefully to Peggy who looked before gasping in awe, tears prickling at her eyes, "Steve..", as she is looking at a double sketch on one page, almost like day transitioning into night, with the sun setting behind and between the sketches of her in full color, with her in her agent uniform on the left, and her in that beautiful purple dress on their first date on the right, with the day timestamp of their dates on both sides, "You did amazing...Is that how I look?", with a exhale, looking over to Steve.
"Well, there might be sort of an artistic vision to it in a few places; but I'd be willing to say that it's close to a photograph as one could draw.", Steve told her.
Peggy smiled, "It's perfect, Steve...I love it...Thank you for sharing...", leaning over to kiss him on the cheek lovingly, and Steve blushed, smiling, "I'm glad to hear that, Peggy...", before taking a deep breath, "Shall we dance on the beach? If we open the windows a bit, with the music a bit louder, it would be enough, if you don't mind, that is...".
"Oh, Steve, nothing else would be better, especially when we have a double full moon, with the moon in the sky, and its reflection on the water, and of course, the stars...", Peggy beamed happily, and whispered, "And don't worry, nobody will see us...Our uniforms are too dark to see.".
Steve smiled brightly, "Okay...You realize that it means no shoes and socks on the sand, hmm?", with a look, and Peggy giggled softly, "All the more to be on equal ground with you...", before turning off the lights in the front of the car, keeping the music on, with them lowering the windows manually.
They took out their shoes and socks, and after locking the car, with the keys in Peggy's pocket, with the music just perfectly enough to echo out into the air, Steve escorted Peggy to the beach.
"Very nice beach here... much better than most in England.", Peggy said as Steve chuckled, "Certainly much more pleasant, I would think. I hear it's usually cold around there most of the year when it comes to the waters?".
Peggy smiled, "Pretty much, though, the summertime, it's very pleasant. I suppose it's similar to here with all the east coast and west coast, eh?".
"More or less, though I hear that the south coast is warmer than either coast when it comes to spring or autumn.", Steve hummed as he took a deep breath, taking the lead as he is now equal height with her, learning from their first date, his hand on her waist and his other hand in her hand.
Peggy encouraged him, "That's it, Steve...Like I said last time, you're a natural...", as they danced a slow waltz, and Steve smiled fondly, "Well, I had a great teacher.", seeing Peggy blush brightly.
As the music swelled comfortably around them, the moon and the stars shone on them as they danced through the sand, smiling, and Peggy never felt this content, this happy before, as it's much more personal and romantic tonight, resting her head on his shoulder, realizing that her fond feelings has grown more, and she knew it when she whispered, "I love you, Steve Rogers...".
Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately depending on how one would look at it; she said it under her breath so low that Steve wasn't able to hear it.
"Did you say something?", Steve asked as Peggy sighed, "Sorry; just mumbling to myself... this has been a wonderful evening...".
Steve smiled, looking slightly down at Peggy, "I agree...Strangely enough, I can see Valentine's Day as a good thing now, and seeing you today makes it even more special...", and Peggy's heart went a bit faster, blushing softly, never having heard something quite like that said before. Not even her old fiancée was this romantic, old-fashioned somewhat like Steve...
Peggy replied, "Steve...", looking into his bright blue eyes that's full of awe, wonder, hope, and something very familiar yet so new, and she slowly leaned in to kiss him on the lips, the best and sweetest one she could, using experience for a moment yet being short not to overwhelm him too fast.
Steve was actually stunned for a moment there when she did that. He never had a kiss like that before in his life; yet it felt so good to him.
Peggy replies cautiously, "Is that okay? I know we agreed to pace ourselves, and I just..", before her breath caught when Steve cradled her cheek with his hand, "Peggy, that was perfect...My turn...", unconsciously licking his lips slightly in nervousness before leaning in, feeling their warm breath mixing between them, and went to kiss her tenderly and lovingly.
Her heart skipped a beat as she closed her eyes, unconsciously moving her hands to rest on his chest lovingly, as they kissed for a half minute.
After the half minute, the two of them parted as they both blushed from their feelings. "So... how did that feel, Steve?", Peggy asked him; considering this was all a new experience for him.
Steve exhaled, looking into Peggy's beautiful brown eyes, "Incredible...and addicting...", with a soft smile, and Peggy smiled brightly, "Oh, yes, kisses can be addicting...You want to try it again?".
"Can I?", Steve whispered almost eagerly, and Peggy nodded, blushing, her hands moving to caress Steve's hair from behind, "Just follow your instincts, Steve...after all, if you want all kinds of kisses tonight, I'm all in for it...We'll hold back the other things until the next date or beyond that, is that a deal?".
Steve blushed when he heard that. "O-other things?", he asked as obviously his mind was going to a few areas that Peggy could easily tell. It wasn't his fault; she couldn't get upset. I mean, after all, what else was he supposed to think considering what came after a kiss?
Peggy whispered warmly, "Yes...So, is that a deal?", and Steve looked at her, biting his lip, "Are we on second base?".
Smiling wryly, "Indeed. We can do all the kisses you want as we run to third base, and we'll figure out third base on our next date, does that make sense?", Peggy replied gently.
Steve exhaled, "It's a deal...Show me and I'll do what I want to make you happy...", and Peggy blushed, smiling widely, "You got it.", before kissing him passionately, nibbling on his lips, and Steve, not knowing how, but he got the strength somehow to hold Peggy a bit higher as he moaned and gasped, enjoying Peggy's boldness, learning many kinds of kisses without too much intimacy in them that would lead to other things, but just enough to have them in control.
As the hour passed, it became cold to walk and stand on the sand, and eventually, the couple returned to the car, closing the windows. Steve smiled happily at Peggy as she packed the colored pencils and the new sketchpad as she replied, "I'll keep them safely in my office or bedroom so the guys wouldn't have questions.".
