"Did I say that you are brilliant? Because you are.", Steve replied softly as he held Peggy's hand, and Peggy blushed, "Steve!", smiling, and they kissed deeply, wrapping arms once again, and Peggy was so proud to be Steve's teacher and dance partner and more, as they were in blissful desire.
Peggy then gasped in surprise when Steve's hands suddenly went under Peggy's uniform shirt, his cool skin creating pleasure against her warm skin as they moved across the seat, as Steve accidently kissed just under Peggy's jaw, and froze, pulling back, blushing, "Crap! I'm sorry, Peggy!".
"Don't, Steve...I'm okay...Well, looks like we have found our next hobby to try on our next date, a steady make out with clothes on, without too much leading to other things.", Peggy smiled reassuringly with a warm chuckle.
Steve just looked away as Peggy took a deep breath. "Please, Steve, don't be upset at yourself, it's alright... just... instinct kinda took over a bit.", she assured him.
Steve whispered, "I'm not upset about my instincts...I'm relieved actually, to realize that I have instincts of a man like the others... I thought I'd never feel like this, and it feels...", and Peggy replied gently, "So good, incredible, perfect?", with a smile.
"All of the above...But to hear you saying that you want other things...I'm...I'm upset because I'm afraid to satisfy you, to touch you beyond belief, because...well, look at me...A make out, okay...But what if...what if I don't do it right beyond that?", Steve sighed deeply.
"Steve...", Peggy closed her eyes and sighed. Steve clearly had some serious confidence issues; at least when it came to his own body and, more than likely, with passion involving a woman he really likes.
She took a deep breath, opening her eyes, and moved closer to gently touch his cheek with her hand, "Hey, look at me.", leaning her forehead to touch his forehead, "I'll never judge you for your appearance, before and after, and all this time, you never let basic training change you into a bully...You have the heart of a trooper, the soul of a lover, the mind of an artist, and you keep fighting no matter what, and that's Steven Grant Rogers, you, nobody else, and if I'm your woman through and through, that means everything.", with a soft, loving smile.
Steve took a deep breath before he had a small smile on his face. "Thank you, Peggy... I... I really needed to hear that..."
"That's what I'm here for... Let's just say Erskine had some extra orders for me too around here...", Peggy chuckled as Steve smirked, "Oh, you're here for some extra moral support for me?".
Peggy giggled warmly, "That's one way of putting it.", smiling before kissing his nose tenderly, "Now, let's get you back to camp. Go hide in the back, soldier.".
Steve grinned, "Yes, ma'am.", slipping over the backseats, landing in the back, fixing himself, and Peggy smiled, "Right, good idea.", as she fixed her hair and everything else before turning the key on, and turned around to head back to the base.
The guards at the gate did their job well, but not well enough, as they didn't see Steve at all, and parking near one of the storage tents, Peggy turned off the car, and with a sweep of her eyes, it was clear that the guys are still out on the town, and that Phillips is either asleep or working in his office.
Peggy lugged the bag to herself as Steve got out, and they stood in the darkness of the storage tent, with Steve whispering softly, "I really hope that our next date doesn't have to be so secretive...New York was so much easier...".
"I hope so, Steve...Dream well, my blonde artist...", Peggy smiled lovingly, and Steve smiled tenderly, "Sleep well, my brunette agent.". Peggy blushed shyly, and kissed him deeply on the lips before whispering, "Until then.", squeezing his hand warmly and then turned around, leaving Steve.
Steve exhaled, smiling to himself, "Until then, Peggy...", waiting for some minutes before deciding that it's enough, and headed for his tent, happy with how Valentine's Day turned out for them.
Meanwhile, Erskine is already in Pennsylvania, driving almost tensely, anxious to see Thaddeus, praying that he isn't too late to give his Valentine's Day gift which is a secret two-way radio which Preston paid for as it was expensive!
Preston has the first radio receiver machine in his mansion, thus easier to talk secretly than being picked up by telegram or random phone calls at the train station, and the only secret code is only for Thaddeus, hence no Nazi or Hydra spies, as Preston had theorized that the reason why Thaddeus was found easily last time before his fake 'death', was personalized phone calls by house, and that the location of their homes were not too far from each other.
He would never thank Peggy Carter enough for the window of time as he's practically free for an entire weekend, and now, Thaddeus will know the plans to sneak him into the expedition and of course, the catching up on stories about the lovebirds of Carter and Rogers, and the recent news of Milo accepting Erskine and Thaddeus as secret lovers, not that he knew, but basically.
Still, secrecy had to be maintained; if Thaddeus was discovered to still be alive, then the enemy would stop at nothing to get him. Erskine was only hoping that the Germans were still pretty far behind in many ways with their own plans for Atlantis without the Shepard's Journal. But at the very least, they were still ahead in many ways which at least gave Erskine some peace of mind.
Good thing that Preston is distracting Milo with plenty of work, and sure, Erskine wishes that there would be a happy reunion, if shocking, for Thaddeus and Milo, but honestly, he knew that will have to wait somehow, somewhere in the future when the spy in the team or the Nazi who's paying around is taken care of.
Erskine smiled in relief when he recognized the landmark to Thaddeus's cabin, happy that Preston loaned him one of his well-worn cars into the train, and now off to Thaddeus.
Checking that the coast is clear, seeing nobody behind him, he turned, turning his headlights low, glad that he had done this by memory, and parked behind a wood storage shed, seeing the cabin door open with Thaddeus prepped with his trusty gun, and Erskine honked as he opened his door, "Tad!".
Thaddeus, in the cabin light and the low headlight, looked overjoyed, "Abram!", as Erskine all but sprinted to him, hugging him as he kissed him passionately, just as Thaddeus turned on the safety on the gun, putting it against the shed, and held Erskine.
"Had any close calls?" Erskine asked, in refence to the gun and all. "Well, can't be too careful, you know. Honestly, I don't know really what would happen if it wasn't you... either I'm going to have to hide a few bodies... or my death won't be faked any more...", Thaddeus admitted.
Erskine nodded, "I know...I missed you, Thaddeus...", and Thaddeus smiled happily, "I missed you too, Abraham...I prayed that you could come today since it's Valentine's Day, through it's already past daylight...".
"Am I too late for gift-giving? Preston had to help out, but well, this is going to help a lot, through me, with Preston's help, while I am needed...", Erskine smiled brightly, and Thaddeus widened his eyes, "Oh, Abram, you don't have to get me anything...Okay, let's have a look.".
Erskine took him to the passenger seat, "This is heavy. We gotta bring this in.", and Thaddeus nodded, and with a careful union of working together and using their hips, they carried the box into the cabin, shifting it into a desk.
"The box facade is fake; you can lift it. I will get the gun and turn the car off.", Erskine smiled, and went out of the cabin, grabbing Thaddeus's gun, and turned off the car, tucking the keys and all, returning back inside the cabin, closing the door, smiling widely as Thaddeus is staring at the radio microphone in awe, "This...this is like Packard's radio, but smaller and more effective! How did...", looking up at Erskine.
Erskine smiled, "Preston has the first radio receiver in the mansion. Of course, we'd have to work the wires in and all, but I figure this is way easier and more secretive than risking telegrams and phone calls from the train station. I know this is not the usual Valentine's Day gift, but-", before being kissed just as passionately as earlier, as Thaddeus wrapped his arms around his lover.
"Abram... this is so perfect... of course; we'll still have to be careful and all...", Thaddeus pointed out as Erskine nodded, "Of course, but at least this will be a bit easier and especially since no one would know, meaning that no one would be very likely to track it.".
Thaddeus raised an eyebrow, "There's something else, isn't it?", and Erskine smiled softly, "Yes...I promise I didn't tell Milo that you're alive and well, but he is your grandson, alright...He found out about us, and he wasn't bothered about it at all...He accepted us, Tad...", tears prickling at the corners of his eyes.
Thaddeus took a deep breath upon hearing that. Sure, Milo still didn't fully know the truth, but at least that part was quite a weight off the shoulders. "Thank goodness...", he said.
Erskine nodded, "I know...I felt the same, and the next best thing he did was calling me Opa...adopting me into his family, and vice versa...", and Thaddeus widened his eyes before smiling happily, kissing Erskine lovingly on the cheek, "Of course he did. He is our boy, after all...I hope when he finds out the full truth, he will realize that he isn't alone with many grandmothers, grandfathers, our children, and cousins watching over us.".
"Yes, that'd be something to think about, alright...", Erskine chuckled warmly, and whispered softly, "Having you for a entire weekend is the best Valentine's Day gift ever. You'll have to thank Peggy Carter someday for that. I prayed so much to have more time than just one night sleepover and all...".
Thaddeus smiled widely, "I think you really need to talk to Phillips strongly to let Carter along for the expedition. I know he can't come along as he's in charge of quite a few infantry units, and he'll need to be there in the front lines of the war and all, so having an agent is better than nothing to protect you, Steven, and Milo, since we have two goals on this expedition.".
"True... besides if the worst happens...", Erskine sighed. "Phillips is at least still alive to maybe make a final salvage of things...".
"Doubtful about that.", Thaddeus admitted. "But let's not think of the worst-case scenario, alright?", with a reassuring nod, raising an eyebrow at his lover.
Erskine nodded softly, "You're right. Let's make the most of this weekend out, starting with connecting up the radio. I know that Preston is anxious about this working, and by now, Milo must be heading to bed after working on the Journal and all for hours. And don't worry, Preston's receiver radio is in a secret place on his private floor. After all, I know you want to help out with any little suggestions or ideas you got for Preston's plans into the entire expedition.".
Thaddeus smiled wryly, "But we will worry about that after the weekend. We'll just notify Preston that we're okay and all, and then you're all mine, my love of my heart.", with a firm nod.
"I've been wanting this sort of thing for so long...", Erskine chuckled as Thaddeus nodded. "You and me both... probably me more since I'm the one who's all alone here!", he laughed.
Erskine blushed wildly, smiling, taking off his coat, and went to help Thaddeus wire up the radio, connecting the right cords to the proper places for the next half hour, and after double-checking, Thaddeus exhaled deeply, "Okay, that should do it. It looks like Packard's set through and through.", before tuning the knobs slowly, as Erskine punched into the secret code and watching the lights beeping, to the sole channel on Preston's receiver radio. "O1, come in, Warbucks, come in, Georgetown here, over.", speaking into the microphone.
Warbucks is the codename for the mansion hence why the famous story of Oliver Warbucks, while Georgetown is the codename for the cabin, belonging to Thaddeus, and since there's already a few Georgetowns on the east coast, nobody would know which one except Preston and Thaddeus.
There was nothing but silence for a few moments before the sound of something moving could be heard. "Warbucks here...", Preston's voice crackled on the other end. "Nice to hear that this thing works.".
Thaddeus laughed happily, "It's great to hear your voice again, Warbucks. How's our protege doing?", and Preston replied, "Exhausted. He told me about Carter and Rogers having a date again.".
Erskine chuckled, "The lovebirds were happy last time I saw them and thanked us for the effort. Our boy is asleep then?".
Preston responded, "Yep. How are you doing, Georgetown?", and Thaddeus smiled, "Much better than ever, thanks to my Valentine surprise. Laying low in town for picking up groceries once in a while, but otherwise doing good in foraging and keeping warm.".
"That's good to hear. So no issues on your end?", Preston asked as Thaddeus shook his head. "Nope; still all clear for the time being. I'm not getting complacent though, my guest learned that firsthand.", Thaddeus chuckled.
Erskine replied, "That's for sure, but luckily, we got our nicknames to help out that nobody else knows.", and Preston's voice chuckled, "Brilliant. By the way, have you checked your pockets yet, Strategy?".
"No, I haven't, Warbucks.", Erskine replied, and Preston's voice responded, "Second pocket on the inside of your coat. Little blue bag.", and Erskine looked at Thaddeus who shrugged, and went to check his coat.
He found the little blue bag, feeling something inside it, and went to sit besides Thaddeus who replied, "He got it, Warbucks. He's taking a look at it.", as Erskine turned the bag out into his hand, finding a small tobacco tin container.
Erskine glanced at Thaddeus, who replied, "You know I'm more of a natural collector of herbs for my pipe, Warbucks.", and Preston's voice chuckled, "Oh, I know. It's a rather personal in a friendship gift of assistance. Open it up, Strategy.".
Curious, Erskine opened the tin container, revealing a row of blue striped pills, and replied, "They're pills...", and Preston's voice responded, "Not just any newfangled pills...The government tested them out, and many of my rich friends tried them out with little side effects, even little old me had a taste, admittedly. They're for the bedroom. Do I need to hint anymore?".
Both men blushed hearing that, "Er, Warbucks... I...", Thaddeus stammered. "I get it, you're both a bit embarrassed by my little gift there.", Preston chuckled. "Just a little thing I thought I could do to give an extra hand. If you two don't want to do anything like that...".
Erskine replied, "No, no, it's okay! We...we just didn't expect it, that's all...I guess that saved me questions from being checked up by any cops as that would have been embarrassing...", with a relieved sigh as he's grateful that Preston had packed the gift secretly inside the coat as it would have been obvious on the outside pockets and all.
Thaddeus didn't think of that, and he was thankful that Preston was looking out for them, and replied, "Thank you, Warbucks...", and Preston's voice replied, "Hey, anything for my oldest and dear friends. And oh, just you know, one pill per person should do it.".
"Thank you, Warbucks...We'll call you in the morning or evening, to just say that we're safe and okay.", Erskine replied, and Preston's voice replied, "Alright. Good night, Georgetown and Strategy. Warbucks signing off. Over.".
The radio went off as Erskine cleared his throat, "Well, that was...", looking at Thaddeus with a shy blush. "Above and beyond what he should have done. I mean, between the radio and the pills...", Thaddeus said as Erskine nodded, "Yes... very true...".
Thaddeus smiled, "We really need to get a great gift for him.", with a chuckle before exhaling, "Shall we have a romantic dinner, have the pills settle in us, unless you don't want to? I understand, and I won't push you.", with a gentle look at Erskine.
Erskine took a deep breath as he closed his eyes. "I don't really know...", he admitted. "I mean, I feel like we're just past that sort of age for that sort of thing; even with Preston's extra gift... and I don't want to feel like that we need to do that sort of thing just to truly be a couple, if you know what I'm trying to say.".
Thaddeus reached out to grasp his cheek, "Hey, look at me, I'm not mad, and besides, I'm still young enough to be on an adventure to Atlantis, but I hear you...Perhaps we save the pills for someone more deserving...say, Rogers? I mean, from what you said about him, he apparently doesn't have a lot of self-confidence, yet he's really trying his best...and he's so obviously in love with Carter, right?".
