"We were a bit surprised by that too, but we're obviously not going to complain about it or anything...", Steve said as Harrison nodded, "I'm sure he would've been happy for the two of you if he were here...".
Peggy chuckled, "That's more or less of what Steve said...", and Amanda replied, "Michael would've been a wonderful, adventurous uncle, with Bucky being a cool, prankster uncle.", with a smile as she brought the bassinet over from the closet, placing it not far from the bed, in view of Peggy's side, gratefully.
Steve chuckled, "Sounds like them alright.", before Brookyln yawned, rubbing her eyes in Harrison's arms, and he smiled, "You sure had a long night...You had me worried with your mum working hard, but everything came out alright...", handing Brookyln over to Amanda who cooed over her.
"Indeed...You really are a precious one, Brooke...", Amanda smiled as she gently placed her into the bassinet, tucking her in warmly, and Brookyln yawned again, gurgling, gazing at her parents, and Peggy smiled softly, "It's okay, sweetheart...We're right here...", reaching out with a hand to rock the bassinet gently, singing softly.
Steve saw Harrison giving him a warm, proud nod as he left with Amanda, quietly closing the door, the parents clearly seeing that Peggy is tired yet content, and he went to lay besides Peggy who kept singing her favorite lullaby, as Brookyln couldn't keep her eyes open, and before long, she then became asleep.
"Not bad for a first-time mum, Peggy.", Steve whispered quietly with a warm smile as Peggy withdraw her hand, and curled up in Steve's arms, and she whispered quietly, "Thank you, luv...We're having Audrey as her godmother and Sweet as her godfather, right?", with a smile.
"Sweet?", Steve asked. "Why not Bucky?", with a confused look. "Because I get the honest feeling that Bucky's going to be with Audrey...", Peggy chuckled.
Steve blinked in thought, "Oh, right...That actually makes sense...Since if Bucky is ever going to settle with Audrey, he would be Brookyln's second godfather by marriage, if already being her unofficial uncle, thanks to being my adoptive brother and all but blood...Oh, my, Nola is actually her second godmother already, thanks to being married to Sweet already...".
Peggy giggled softly, "She's going to have a rather unique family, that's for sure, and for Mole, just a wacky uncle, and if perchance, since she's partly Atlantean in a way of having our genes, she might possibly find love in Atlantis instead of on the surface.".
"Jesus Christ...if one of the kids from the others has Brookyln as their crush or more beyond that, at least I know I trust Milo and Kida, Jacques and Sia, and Thaddeus and Abraham, but I'd even be more protective of her if it was a random Atlantean citizen...", Steve replied.
Peggy smiled, "Then again, she would just want to be single...After all, time changes all the time including society rules, laws, and such on the surface.", and Steve looked a bit relieved as Peggy giggled again, "So easy to rattle you up, luv...".
Steve blushed, "Blimey, you're such a minx...", and Peggy smirked, "Why, thank you...", before yawning, "Well, that's my limit of teasing now...Better sleep...I'm so tired and sore...", kissing him on the lips, and Steve smiled, nodding, and so, they went to sleep, half knowing that they will have to wake up in a few hours to be parents once again to change the diaper, feed, and bath and such.
A few days later, upon seeing that Peggy hadn't come up to work and all before maternity leave, the friend of Phillips found out the news of the arrival and phoned on a secure line to Phillips of the news, and after receiving the news and the important parts, Phillips called in the Howling Commandos and Audrey to his office.
Bucky, Sweet, Mole, and Audrey saluted Phillips, and Bucky replied, "What's the mission, boss?", and Phillips replied, "No mission right now, Barnes. Rather, I have most excellent news that you all would be pleased to hear.".
Everyone was on the edge of their seats at the news as Phillips chuckled, "Seems that Carter gave birth to a young girl; the birth went well, no issues thankfully.".
Sweet laughed in relief, "Thank goodness!", as Mole cheered, with Audrey smiling widely at Bucky who nodded with a smile, and Audrey replied, "And the name?".
"Brookyln Michelle Rogers, a healthy seven pounds and 3/4 ounces, and you, Ramirez, is marked up as her godmother, and Sweet as her godfather, and with Barnes as her official 'unofficial' uncle.", Phillips replied.
Bucky was about to raise a note of objection for a moment before he realized why they didn't name him Godfather. Obviously, they may have suspected things between him and Audrey.
Sweet replied, "And how long will Steve stay before returning to resume missions with us?", and Phillips said, "I'll allow him a week, no less, no more, for bonding and all, but we do need the captain. After all, even with Italy gaining freedom and independence, the Germans are getting rather rough and harder on keeping their war-possessed territory.".
Bucky replied, "You picked up something about Hydra, sir?", realizing the tone under the last comment he said, and Phillips replied, "Codebreakers are saying that Schmidt is getting really pissed off at all the losses of Hydra camps in Italy, and now he has been integrating Hydra into Nazis patrols in the Netherlands and Austria, capturing the Nazi's weapons and such before we'd get there in time, apparently very communicative easier than the Nazi are being...And now, I've been hearing rumors that there has been transportation in the Alps, with a winterproofed train and all. Codebreakers has been trying to find locations of the secret stations for that train, and it's progressing slowly, but we've been making a map, nonetheless.".
"Nazis must be getting desperate if they're putting more resources to Schmidt. Can't say I don't understand; they're staring defeat in the eye now with all the fronts getting closer and closer to the Fatherland. Anything in sheer desperation to try and turn the tide.", Bucky said.
Phillips nodded, "Indeed. So, Ramirez, you're on Rogers and Barnes' bikes, to make sure they are good to handle the terrain around the Alps while being quiet enough under enemy ears at least, and Mole, you will take a pre-check on tunneling to the Alps, but discreetly, and you must make a location for the Howling Commandos to meet up so all of you can do your mission properly, with a secret radio for me to give instructions in morse code if something's wrong, and Barnes, you do gun training with Sweet. Now, this is only for the week just until the Captain is back to lead the mission, and you're all mainly off in the late afternoons until morning bell wake up call, is that clear?".
The four echoed, nodding, saluting, "Yes, sir!", and Phillips nodded, "Good. You are all dismissed then.", saluting them with a stern smile, and they left his office, the building.
Audrey laughed softly, smiling at Bucky, "I'm so happy for the lovebirds...It was a rough longshot for them, you know? And now to have a literal baby girl! Gosh, I sure wish I'd see her...and I can't believe that I'm a godmother...".
"We'll see them soon...", Bucky assured her. "First moment we get back from this mission, we'll probably be on the first transport plane back to England to see her.".
Audrey nodded, "You think so?", and Bucky replied, "Well, yeah. I mean, Phillips know that we're practically close friends/family to Steve and Peggy. And besides, I think he might want to have a look too...He hasn't said it, but I think he might suspect that Steve's new genes has gotten little Brookyln to be healthy and literally newborn sooner than he had expected.".
"You know, I think you're right...He knows about the classified expedition's top known details, but not all of it. Either way, I'm just glad everything came out great.", Audrey smiled, and Bucky replied, "You were really worried, weren't ya?".
Audrey sighed, "I know I act tough and all, but yeah, I was worried since she left...I mean, you should have seen the devasted look she had when she lost the first one...Oh, sure, I knew Sweet said that the little tyke was beyond out of the danger zone after he checked on her numerous times upon that scare, but she was still scared, and she is like a big sister to me, so I couldn't be not worried for her, you know?".
"Yeah, I know... with the whole Atlantean thing, I was worried too, maybe Brooklyn would've been fine, but what about Peggy? Would've practically be worse if she didn't make it through the pregnancy...", Bucky sighed before shaking the thought out of his head. Both mother and daughter were fine, and that was the end of it. No more worries; aside from the whole usual ones, like still being in range of German bombers with where they lived, even if the Luftwaffe had mostly stopped almost all raids for the last two years.
Audrey replied, "You forgot about them...", gesturing to the crystal Bucky's wearing, and Bucky blinked before he exhaled, realizing that Steve would have done everything he could to with his crystal and Peggy's crystal, if something had gone wrong.
"You're right, you're right, Audrey...", Bucky nodded, and replied, "And there was the Luftwaffe station in that prison we partially destroyed, with that red button Schmidt must have hit...I still can't believe he's still alive as he must have found a way out, and there was a rumor of a really rich car making it out as well...".
Audrey replied, "There are still a few Luftwaffe stations, including that very top-secret base Schmidt is hiding at...I know it was said to be in the Alps somewhere, but damn...Maybe that train got some information for the location, like maybe the base as the final destination or something on the tracks.".
Bucky grinned, "That'd be brilliant.", before hearing the bell for training, and he replied, "I better get back to training grounds, and all.", and then whispered lowly, "I'll see you for some kissing and making out, eh?", squeezing her hand for a moment.
Audrey smiled, looking at him, "You're lucky that I clean up after working on machines. Working on your bike and Steve's bike will be something...", before whispering lowly, "You know it, Bucky, and...I...I think I want to get you in that solitary room tonight, and just be in a bed with you...nothing crazy, okay?".
"Glad you clarified there...", Bucky gave a nervous chuckle. "I really thought for a sec there...", looking a bit nervous. "Yeah; I knew it when I said it and almost forgot to clarify there...", Audrey laughed. "Either way, I wouldn't mind sharing a bed with you... just to feel nice and cozy during the night.".
Bucky smiled, "Great. I'd hate to rush anything with you when you're not ready, and I ain't going to be a bastard like that...", and Audrey squeezed his hand back, "Don't worry, I'll tell you that someday, just not now, okay?".
Bucky nodded, "Heard...I better get going before I get extra pushups or something.", before leaving her, his heart racing at the thought that he's finally going to share a bed with Audrey. Oh, he's going to strictly stay to her pace, and since it's almost summertime with June coming in by tomorrow, he'd best stay to wear a tank top and trousers...Oh, sure, in any base before he became part of Steve's team, or even the Rangers, he'd be wearing shorts, and no tank top if it was summertime. But he'd have to keep clothed for her sake, not to tempt himself or scare her at all, for he loves her which came as a shock.
He knew he was falling in love with her all those past few months since he somewhat confessed, but saying those three words, it's like a big step...And he knows that they aren't lovers or flingers, but he is still trying to figure it out if they are girlfriend and boyfriend or something else...
He has no idea that Audrey is literally feeling the same too, and as she headed for the hanger to work on the bikes, she still can't believe that she got the courage to finally say that she wants to share a bed with Bucky, and she really prays that her body wouldn't betray her if she accidentally moves intimately during the middle of the night...She knew men shows more skin while in bed and all, and she'd have to stick to a short-sleeved shirt and trousers, after changing out of her usual overalls and such.
Shaking her head, she will have to worry about it later, as she has more things to focus right now, and snapped her mind into mechanic mode, heading to her usual area in the hanger. Hours pass with normal training in physical exercise and gun shooting and patrols and mechanic work, with mess hall meals and such like normal base routine.
The time almost seemed to have flown there as it came the time for curfew most on the base; and time for Audrey and Bucky to meet back up.
"Thought I might still find you here...", Bucky's voice rang out through the hanger as Audrey looked up from the bike to find him at the hanger doors.
Audrey blinked, looking at the time, "Jesus, did I work overtime to curfew?", and Bucky chuckled, "Yep, but I don't blame you. Is that my bike you're working on?".
"Yeah. I figure I'd work on your bike for three days including today, and then Steve's bike on the next three days. A test run for them afterwards before they are ready to be fueled up and all for the trip to the Alps.", Audrey got up, sweeping her sleeve across her forehead, walking around to put away the tools into the toolboxes and cabinets.
"Good. Best to make sure they're properly maintained before action and all. Wouldn't want them to break at the worst possible moment.", Bucky said. "Try not to let them take a few bullets either... that'll make sure they don't have any issues.", Audrey teased.
Bucky chuckled, "Oh, yeah, that'd do it.", smiling wryly, and Audrey laughed, doing a double check on locking the toolboxes and all, and then glanced at Bucky, "Is the coast clear?".
"Yeah, most people are settling in for curfew or already asleep...And I sneaked in a new bundle of clothes in the solitary room for you as you'd want to clean up from mechanic stuff on ya...I didn't go into your barrack tent, I swear...", Bucky replied, biting his lip.
Audrey blushed softly, smiling, "Thank you, Bucky...And the patrols?", and Bucky answered, "Mess Hall side...", and she nodded as they left the hanger, with Audrey locking the doors up, and they headed to the building full of storage and a couple of solitary rooms quietly and carefully.
"You think Phillips would mind us doing this too much?", Audrey asked as Bucky shrugged, "Honestly, maybe he'd be a bit peeved, but only because he'd probably see it as being a distraction and all. Plus, don't want to upset many of the men... God knows how long some of them have last saw their sweethearts.".
Audrey nodded, "Good point, and he doesn't seem to realize that we are really a couple either way, though he might suspect...I...I don't want many of the men or even the women on my case...I had too much trouble that day when you saved me...".
Bucky looked at her, "Hey, I'd do that for you every time, Audrey...And yeah, best not to make a fuss as we're literally sneaking under cover anyway...", as they looked around before Bucky opened the door of the building for Audrey, and they then headed inside, relaxing a bit.
"You...you'd go to trouble for me every time?", Audrey spoke in surprise, and Bucky nodded, "Of course...I don't know what we really are, but I know you're my best friend, and my gal.", as they walked through the hallway, walking upstairs to one of the solitary rooms, the very same room where Audrey spent hell through puberty and all. She knew the other one was Steve and Peggy's room occasionally for lovemaking in secret.
Bucky exhaled, "I'll wait here while you change into the bundle of better clothes. Oil, even dried oil and dirt ain't great for sheets. Unless you want to turn back, and turn in for curfew, if you are having second thoughts? I couldn't blame you as I don't want to mess this up, even if it's only sharing a bed!".
Audrey looked at him in surprise, "You...I never thought I'd see you this nervous...I thought it'd be a breeze for you since, well, you know.".
"Yeah, well, things change... especially since I'm trying hard not to fuck all this up.", Bucky said as she chuckled, "At least you've been proving to me that you've taken that to heart.".
