As Peggy is now into the five-month stage development deeply, a week later, before the flight and all, Sweet went to do a pre-check on the baby after Peggy finished packing up her luggage, with Steve in tow, though they know that Sweet will be next to Peggy the whole flight, checking on the baby every hour or so as it'd be a long flight essentially.
"Have you eaten and drank, Peggy?", Sweet asked as he took out the stethoscope, taking off his crystal, and Peggy replied, "Yes, a snack an hour earlier, and before that, breakfast at mess hall shortly after bugle wake up call. Took a bathroom break 10 minutes ago.", as she rested back on the folded and clean bed, against the pillows.
"Sounds like everything's going well so far then.", Sweet said as Peggy chuckled. "Did you ever deal a lot with pregnancies in the past? You know, before we met and such.", she asked him.
"It was five pregnancies, granted that they were different timing in different places, but I learned a lot. I went through two full pregnancies of two different native friends of mine where I grew up in, and Grandfather Iron Cloud was the medicine man who taught me so much, and yes, I was essentially grossed out at first, and I admit, I fainted when I was helping him for the first time and managed to stay up the second time when I had to do it on my own without him. The others were gradually around your timeline of four months to 7 months here and there before I had to leave as it wasn't too long of staying, and I think you are to be the essentially full pregnancy woman for the second time of my lifetime, and no, Sia was, ah, a miracle woman as she only needed me for the delivery and all.", Sweet answered as he blew warm breath on the crystal and stethoscope cup before putting it on her baby bump as she pulled the shirt up.
Peggy smiled, "Good to know that you got some experience then.", and Sweet chuckled, "Indeed, and of course, I am technically cheating a bit by also having Nola's memories too thanks to being her mate.".
Steve smiled, "I'm sure she's mighty proud when she will find out that you were there for Peggy.", as Sweet listened and watched through his crystal and stethoscope, "Everything's really holding well, and the baby is moving quite actively for their age, exploring and learning to stretch their limbs...Ho, ho, you are finally showing yourself fully, aren't ya? You have been hiding off to the side the last few times, don't you know?".
Peggy blinked, "What is it?", and Sweet smiled, "Well, I don't know if you noticed, but people has been betting secretly on the gender around the base...Bucky told me while we were playing poker the other night...Looks like I win...But I won't spill until you two want to know?".
The two of them looked at each other before Steve sighed. "Well, what do you think? Do you at least want to know now? Maybe spare the surprise; after all the stress we've been though?", he asked her as Peggy gave a light huff with a smile on her face.
"Honestly, that doesn't sound like a bad idea. Though I am a bit disappointed to know that our child's gender was part of your poker game...", Peggy gave Sweet the stink eye as he chuckled.
"Sorry...", Sweet apologized. "But, if that's the case then... I think you two will be more than happy to learn that it's a girl.".
Peggy gasped softly with a sob, tears falling as she smiled at Steve, "A girl...Oh, Steve...", as Steve smiled brightly as he caressed her cheek, wiping her tears, "Looks like I'm going to be the overprotective dad...We have a daughter...", with a chuckle, resting his forehead on hers.
"Oh, believe me, if she is smart like me, she is bound to be rebellious, since she already got your strength...", Peggy laughed before gasping in surprise and pain, "Oh!", nearly startling, "What was that?".
Sweet chuckled, "Apparently, your daughter agrees with you by giving her first real kick, which I am surprised about as babies this age usually makes little kicks, creating flutters, but granted that she's half super soldier/Atlantean like her father, I guess she's a bit faster in developing, next to her very healthy weight and size...".
"So, she might be born much quicker then?", Steve suggested as Sweet gave a small nod, "Possibly; I wouldn't worry too much if it's a few months, you shouldn't worry if she might be premature because I strongly believe if that's the case, she would already have gone through the full gestation and would be born like your typical nine-month baby.".
Peggy blinked, "Because you don't know if she was...was a sibling of the first one, due to our second wedding/Christmas, or any other time we did then since, like after we lost...the first one...", and Sweet nodded, "Indeed...I couldn't blame you for being busy bees so much...All the same, she's healthy and strong, definitely not weak compared...ah, to your previous life upon birth, Steve, no offense, honest!".
Steve gave Sweet a bit of a glare. "Not exactly the smartest choice of words there.", he told him as Sweet closed his eyes and put his hands in his face, "Sorry... I have no idea why I even said it that way...".
Peggy touched Steve's arm, "Steve, don't blame him...He was talking as a doctor, and sometimes, it happens even if he's being personal and all...I mean, you remember how he was checking Milo's neck, and all on the expedition?".
Steve exhaled deeply, "You're right...Sorry, Sweet, and yeah, it was rough for me, but Mom, she fought hard for me, and I fought hard for her and others...She will never have that life as she deserves to be strong and healthy...", stroking Peggy's belly, feeling a kick upon his hand.
Peggy chuckled, "She will be, Steve...She loves her daddy, and she loves her mum. So, is she all good for the takeoff?", and Sweet glanced again through his crystal and stethoscope, "Yes, her heart is working normally, and her ears wouldn't hear the loud sounds as the womb and everything muffles distant loud sounds, especially if we are riding in the middle of the plane away from the engines, and she might be active and a bit scared if she's feeling your body in reacting to the feeling of being in the air momentarily within the takeoff before the plane levels out.".
"Hopefully, take off won't be too much trouble... or any issues with flights; even if we get a fighter escort.", Steve said as Sweet chuckled, "Yeah; I think the Germans might be more concerned about all our bombers flying over their homeland to worry about a flight from France to England.".
Peggy replied, "Trust me, I couldn't be on any more flights after this one, as you heard the orders from Phillips...I'll be okay, Steve, and Sweet will be with me. I know it sucks but you have to do what Phillips needs you to do. I'll be expecting you home with her a bit bigger upon growing a tad every day for that weekend, okay?", kissing Steve on the lips as she gently pushed her shirt down, with Sweet removing his crystal and stethoscope, putting them around his neck, smiling as he got up, stepping back, taking up his doctor bag, and lugged up his luggage.
Steve sighed, smiling softly, "You know the base will tease me for being a softie even after they got told that you are my wife?", as he moved to help her up, intent on carrying her luggage for her.
"And they can tease all they want... doesn't change a thing that you're probably stronger than all of them combined.", Peggy chuckled right back. "Quite literally too.".
Steve chuckled, "Touche.", as he carried Peggy's luggage on his shoulder and arm while he gave his other arm as a gentleman, and Peggy took his arm, smiling, as they walked, heading out of the barrack tent, with Sweet not far ahead.
After several minutes, they made it to the plane, with many people saluting to Peggy and smiling on the way, with Sweet taking up Peggy's luggage in a couple of trips, Steve looked at Peggy, holding her in his arms, "This feels even much harder than before as you're carrying our daughter...I promise I'll dedicate 100% to the mission or two and then I will come walking into our British apartment home, okay?", with a soft smile.
Peggy caressed his neck, exhaling, "I know you will...I'm going to miss you...We both will...", and Steve smiled lovingly, "I love you and our daughter so much...", before kissing her on the lips warmly.
"I love you too.", Peggy replied before gasping at another kick, and gave a laugh, "Apparently she loves you too...", and Steve smiled, leaning down to caress her baby bump, kissing through her shirt, "You listen to your mum, okay, darling?", and then another kick came, and he chuckled, "That's my good brave girl...I love you, darling.", before standing up, squeezing her hand, "Try to eat and all since it's a long way home once the plane levels out, okay? Can't afford to have you bored.".
Peggy shook her head, "Steve, I heard that at least 50 times from you and Sweet. I ain't fragile!", with a half-hearted glare with a smile, showing that she isn't really angry or annoyed with her husband.
"Can't blame me for wanting to be a bit overprotective, can you?", Steve chuckled as Peggy rolled her eyes. He made a good point but still, she wasn't so helpless.
Peggy replied, "I still can shoot a pistol and all. I ain't letting Hydra threaten me or our baby.", looking fiery and Steve smiled, "And I'm counting on that...You are already an amazing mother, and my amazing wife.", before Peggy kissed him passionately for a minute, hearing distant wolf whistles from the mechanics and all in the hanger.
Sweet shouted, "Oi, break it up, lovebirds! We're wasting time and fuel here!", and the couple blushed, and Peggy squeezed his hand as Steve caressed her cheek and baby bump, before Peggy then headed up the ramp, being vaguely assisted by Sweet as she went to take a seat, locked in.
Steve watched with bated breath as the plane steadily and slowly left the base, flying up for several yards before leveling out, and prayed that everybody of the Allies is keeping the Germans and such busy to notice, grateful that it's a cloudy day with some sun.
Gratefully, the baby was fine...There were a few minor loops of feeling weird from being in the air, but as the plane got leveled out for some time, the baby seemed to settle, and so, within every hour of Sweet checking, with Peggy able to eat and reassure the baby with massages of the baby bump from her kicking in surprise when the plane tumbled here and there, it was almost like the baby is getting a bit bigger and heavier every hour, and it confused Sweet until he realized why she was acting like that.
As they were about an hour away from the London base, somewhat over the English Channel, Peggy asked, "But she is still strong and healthy, right?", a bit concerned, and Sweet replied, "I think she is the kind of Atlantean who prefers to swim than fly, and she kind of hates the plane, so it's a defensive reflex for to get a bit smarter to fight, and of course, I'm feeling a new emotion from her, almost like a homing instinct...She's becoming like a heavily 6-month-old baby, almost 7 months now, while your belly is slowly widening to fit her better.".
"That fast?", Peggy said as Sweet nodded. "Yeah; nothing we're unfamiliar with, of course. Seems like most Atlantean babies are completely random with their growth stages these days.", he joked as Peggy nodded in agreement. Wasn't that the darn truth?
"Hopefully, she'll slow down a bit or there's going to be quite a few questions raised, especially from Phillips.", Peggy bit her lip in a bit of worry.
"Well, it's not like he himself will be keeping an eye on you; if your daughter is born a few months sooner than what Phillips guessed, you can simply lie and say the baby's still not here yet.", Sweet replied.
Peggy nodded, "True...At least we're almost home, baby girl, no more flying, I promise...Looks like if we are to get back for Atlantis, we'd have to take a ship back to America to use that sub with you and all if this girl hates flying...".
Sweet chuckled, "Indeed. All the same, she's active.", and Peggy smiled, relieved to know that her daughter is being a stubborn and determined girl, just like her parents indeed.
They soon landed safely and soundly, and after reporting to the commander who is taking up the post for Phillips, she got home to her apartment house, with Sweet checking again, "Okay, she has slowed down now...Looks like she is a bit upset for being in that plane...", with a sheepish laugh, as the baby is kicking around.
"Aww, sweetheart, you know your daddy wants you to be safe, and we're in my homeland where it's safe from all the bad people...", Peggy reassured her daughter, stroking her belly, and felt a hand pressing against her hand.
Sweet chuckled, "Well, she is sure quick to forgive, ain't she?", as Peggy laughed warmly, and Sweet smiled, "Better to take rest for that jet lag and all, she's now winking off...I'll take the couch. Good night, Peggy.".
"Night, Sweet.", Peggy smiled before carrying one of the lighter luggage to her bedroom, taking out a nightgown, knowing that she can unpack other things later on and all as she changed and went to bed.
After a few days of double checking, the baby is just now chillaxing and growing normally, well, as normally as a half Atlantean super soldier, and half British human baby that she is, Sweet headed back with another cargo plane for Toulouse base.
Getting used to her center of gravity and all, Peggy went back to work, keeping a balance of physical work and desk work for the sake of the commander who is clearly friends with Phillips for the rest of the week, and then that weekend, she heard a knock on her door, and checking the peephole, seeing that it was her parents.
Peggy took a deep breath; wondering how she was going to break the news... about everything, really. Atlantis, the child... she knew she couldn't say everything all at once, they would need a cool down with all the information. She rubbed her belly as she felt her daughter being calm for once, "Right... at least I can easily explain you...".
She then opened the door some, "Hey, mum, dad...Any trouble getting here?", and Harrison smiled, "No, nothing much...Come on so I can give you a hug, Mag-Peg!".
"I would, Dad, but I'm a bit tired...", Peggy replied, and Amanda raised an eyebrow, "You usually get over your jet lag quick with a good night's sleep, and you never refuse your father's famous bear hugs...".
Peggy took another deep breath, "Because this one is keeping me up sometimes at night.", now opening the door further to reveal herself.
Both her parents' eyes widened upon seeing her very late in her cycle. "Oh, my...", Amanda whispered as Peggy chuckled, "Sorry I didn't write to you two again about the news; first getting married and all and now your first grandchild...".
Harrison quickly ran the math, "You couldn't have been that far along when it's barely May as we're just finishing the last day of April today!", and Peggy looked around, "Shh! Come in, please...", gesturing with her hand, exhaling as she knew that as far as they knew, they would consider Christmas for the conception time as the couple literally told her folks that they are trying a new way that week of their Christmas break/honeymoon, and it would have been five months...
Confused yet seeing the urgency and slight pain in Peggy's eyes, they came in quickly and Peggy closed the door, locking it, and she exhaled deeply, with Amanda asking in concern, "Maggie?".
"It's... it's a really long story...", Peggy sighed. "But before you two think of anything, I assure you, Steve is the father. I'm 100 percent sure of that.", she said as Harrison scratched his head, "Were you already pregnant back around Christmas for a few months already? Did you not know?".
Peggy went to sit on the couch, exhaling softly as she stroked her baby bump, a bit relieved that her daughter is behaving quietly for her, apparently feeling that her mother has to focus on things rather than her right now.
"No, I don't think, yet I could have been slightly wrong in timing...but if I was...I...they weren't exactly the first grandchild here but thank god that she survived...I...lost another...", Peggy replied, tears starting to fall as she was wondering if it was not enough genes in that one to compromise together like her daughter did.. She knew her daughter was a sweetheart yet a bit rebellious as she couldn't have hurt her sibling, if they were trying to be twins together.