It indeed has been two months since they did that, and they must have greatly missed it a lot...Indeed, the children are a bright spot in their lives...She didn't regret having them in her apartment flat back in the London base, but war was so much around...She wished that she had given birth to them here in Atlantis or their cottage, with more joy and light and no fear of war...After all, that's what she would have hoped for, even with a third child.
Her eyes widened as her sleep snapped out of her, and she knew that she had monthly bleedings the last two months, and she was on the birth control tea in case if someone took advantage of her if she was taken off guard with any soldier intending to bang the only and unique female super soldier, not that she never did, for Bucky took it so seriously, sleeping on the front bed in the bunker house or outside the tents at camp, as she had heard the story of the near assault of Audrey and she knew that some soldiers would be tempted and selfish.
But now, with so much lovemaking and incredible stamina, it's no clue that she would be more fertile thanks to being a super soldier and all, and she had felt like she had forgotten something since they first reunited, and she now knew what it was...
Peggy took a deep breath as she tried to calm her mind. She was probably thinking quite a bit too much with things at the moment. Perhaps she might not be pregnant at the moment. For all she knew, her periods could be out of sync and just needed some time to readjust to her radical changes.
Either way, she knew her enhanced suit and her shield would protect her if she is smart and quick enough, and she doesn't want to argue with her husband during the last one or two fights, if she heard Bucky's note right, as it might as well be Berlin, which would be weaker thanks to the attack from the Valkyrie, yet determined to keep the city alive, Hitler and his staggering followers would surrender if she, Steve, Bucky, and other people hits the last of the German army hard...
She nodded to herself as the war is almost over...if pregnant, their third child could finally be born in a safe place, in peace. But if not, all the same, Brookyln and Asher can finally grow up without fear.
"Peggy?", Steve's sleepy murmur came, "You alright?", and Peggy smiled reassuringly at her husband, "Got a note from Audrey and Bebinn, our kids are going for tradition of waking us up in the morning...", as she snuggled back into Steve's arms, keeping quiet about her resolution and discovery.
Steve gave a sleepy chuckle, "Sounds perfect...Had a good birthday, my love?", and Peggy kissed warmly on his cheek, "Oh, more than good. It was wonderful...I love you, Steve Rogers.".
Steve landed a sleepy yet tender kiss on her lips, "I love you too, Peggy Rogers...", with a smile, and held his wife contentedly as Peggy sighed happily and fell asleep, putting it all in the back of her mind.
And indeed, Brookyln, with Asher in tow, woke their parents up in the morning at 7, and they happily went to have breakfast, with breastfeeding for Asher, playing with them afterwards, and then by portal call, took them back to the cottage, and promised to visit the next few weekends, hopefully with the intentional news that the war is almost over.
Bucky, after kissing Audrey and Marina goodbye with love and heartfelt emotions, between visits to keep Phillips unsuspicious, went with the duo, with a careful, watchful eye of Preston as he checked the coast, and then dropped them off near the base with the intention of having walked from the town that was gratefully having inns to keep to the story, while anyone else wasn't around.
It was a hour before noon in Germany, near Austria, and with luggage and the shields, they managed to fool the base, and happily went with the teasing jokes and cheering by any soldier, and indeed, after lunchtime at mess hall, in his office, Phillips told them and Bucky that they are needed along with several squadrons of soldiers and such who is already heading for Berlin from a couple of minor bases back west.
"I do not have to tell you that you cannot fight together all the time in Berlin, as there will be situations if the Germans manage to shoot down any colonel or such, and you two would need to lead independently.", Phillips said sternly as he looked at the couple, knowing that people would be confused with orders from two captains conflicting or something, and yes, he knew the couple would miss each other, but it isn't like when Steve got lost, as it's only Berlin.
"We know about that, sir.", Peggy nodded. "Sometimes it might be for the best that we split up for a little bit; would probably save more lives.".
"That being said, are we actually driving on to Berlin, sir?", Steve asked as Phillips nodded, "9th Army's reached the Elbe and Gen. Simpson believes that the road to Berlin might actually be open to us. Right now, Eisenhower's thinking on the go ahead. Part of him is probably a bit hesitant to send any of our troops into a place that we're just going to have to simply hand over to the Soviets when we divide occupation duties. Not to mention, I think the Soviets are planning their offensive on Berlin any day now... our troops reaching the Elbe may force them to speed things up a bit.".
"Not to mention, I suppose Eisenhower's worried about the German's response. Sure, they've been mostly folding before us through much of the country, but the closer you get to the heart and Hitler himself, perhaps the will to fight or at least not to disobey orders gets stronger.", Steve scratched his chin.
Bucky replied, "Don't forget that Berlin is probably mostly wrecked from our round the clock bombing campaign along with the Valkyrie attack, it'd be difficult to navigate, but at least it means more cover, and if we take a neighborhood at a time, we could camp out in one of the cleared neighborhoods, though not too close, until we take over the heart of Berlin himself and Hitler's place...".
"How could we handle the civilians?", Peggy asked, and Phillips said, "We will set up a camp on the road to accommodate the civilians after you send them out of Berlin, though I have a feeling that most civilians are moving out already since the damage to their families and homes is bad, if not worse compared to London, and if there are any unruly ones, they will have to be sorted out within an abandoned shed or something for isolation.".
"Or just the hundreds of thousands trying to flee west to end up being captured by us rather than the Soviets. Nazi propaganda's pretty strong about the savagery of the Red Army; and it hasn't helped that some in the Red Army have acted unbecoming of solders and enacted some revenge for the suffering their lands had sustained by the German's hands." Steve added.
"Yeah.", Phillips nodded. "Of course, a lot of that will become moot if the Soviets surround the city; we might end up just being a bit too late and will have to sit back and watch them have the final glory.".
Bucky replied, "Then we will have to beat them first. When do we set out, sir?", and Phillips replied, "You will set out in a couple of hours. You need to stock up on ammo and such. The other minor bases of the soldiers are reported to be a couple of trucks, which is less obvious and yet more dangerous compared to a large convoy of eight trucks and such, so you take the Howling Commandos in the second truck, with you in the lead truck. Simpson's moved 9th Army's HQ to Magdeburg so you'll launch off from there. I'll lend you a map when you're ready to set out and tell the Howling Commandos to do the same in stocking up on ammo and all. It will be well past dark when you reach the war camp with the joining other trucks of soldiers once the roads link up into the main road, so Berlin will have a harder time to pick up on your convoy if you keep the lights low. Is that clear?".
"Clear.", Peggy saluted with Bucky and Steve doing the same before they headed out. "So, basically, the plan is that at the very least we might be going on ahead of the main army onto Berlin; sort of as advanced recon the way I see it.", Steve said. "At least make sure the road's clear for 9th Army to move...".
"I heard the 83th Infantry's got a lot of captured German equipment they've been pressing into their service. Might be better for us to take a Kubelwagon and an Opel Truck with us rather than a Willys Jeep and a GMC.", Bucky suggested.
Peggy nodded, "Less noisy and smoother. Let's do it.", and so, they went to tell the news to the Howling Commandos and stocked up on ammo, grenades, and extra backup pistols and rifles, plus their shields, of course, while picking up the Kubelwagon and Opel Truck after the base mechanics cleared them out to be all good on tires and gas, with some extra gas cannisters just in case, and then set out at half past 2 pm from the base, after the two hours of double-checking their orders and such.
"First we get across the Elbe crossing and just head down the A2 Autobahn, quickest way for us to reach Potsdam.", Bucky said as he had a rain tarp over his head while looking at the map with a flashlight to keep visibility down.
"Right, probably shouldn't go too fast either.", Steve said as he was the one driving. "If I go about as fast as this thing could take us; we'd probably reach Berlin before dawn. And who knows what we might miss.".
"The road can't be that clear, can it?", Peggy asked. "I mean, we've been bombing the cities and logistical routes for almost 2 years straight at least.".
"Like I said before; the Germans are much quicker to surrender to us than the Soviets.", Bucky pointed out. "If they see us, they might just be willing to walk up and ask which way for them to go as prisoners of war.".
Steve nodded slightly, "Yeah, or they would be desperate to steal the vehicles for a quick getaway.", checking the mirror to check the rear, seeing that the Howling Commandos is keeping up just fine in the second vehicle which is the Opel Truck, while they are in the Kubelwagon.
"Yeah... back towards our lines.", Bucky chuckled. "Anything to get away from the Soviet steamroller. Speaking of which, heard anything yet?", he then asked.
"No idea; either the Soviets are still preparing for their offensive or they've already started. We still are quite far off. The closer to Berlin, the more we would notice.", Steve said.
Peggy nodded, "True...Thank goodness that this afternoon has been cloudy to give us cover. By this pace, we would be on this minor road for a couple of hours to dusk until the A2 Autobahn, into the main road, probably another hour or two beyond dark to Madgeburg.".
"Try to get some rest, you two... might need it soon if we run into any resistance.", Steve said as the others nodded. For the next few hours until dusk, things were fairly quiet. The group was moving slowly, trying hard not to race and end up getting lost anywhere.
Much of the sounds were the quiet countryside with the occasional hum of American bombers that were flying for another bombing raid on Berlin. British bombers would attack during the night as it had been for the past few years.
It was dusk before the little group reached a tiny village by the name of Wenzlow. They parked the vehicles to get out and check the village. Obviously, things were somewhat off with how quiet things were.
"Could be folks heading to bed. It is dusk after all.", one of the commandos whispered. "Or straight up abandoned.", Bucky suggested.
"Maybe... but that Swastika flag flying on that manor house tells me a different story.", Steve said as he motioned everyone to keep low and quiet.
Peggy glanced at Steve, "You take the left side, I take the right side?", motioning to the road through the village, and Steve nodded, glancing at the Commandos and Bucky, "Three of you go with Captain Britain, the other two stay with me and Bucky.", knowing that they have to take any possible angles near and far in reasonable distance.
The group split up as they approached the manor house. Steve knelt down as he tried to get a better look at things from cover.
"See anything?", Bucky whispered. "Nothing... I don't... wait... hold up.", Steve could then see someone in the window walking by. "Yep, someone's home, looks like a major if I recall the rankings right.".
"Shoot, you thinking what I'm thinking?", Bucky asked as Steve shook his head, as Bucky explained, "Might be a headquarters. For something major, like a whole regiment or battalion. That'd certainly be a feather in the cap.".
"If it is a headquarters, be good for intel if we can grab it. Okay, let's get ready then, I want this place taken quick.", Steve said.
Bucky nodded, prepping his rifle as the two Howling Commandos prepped their pistols/rifles, as Steve prepped his pistol, and then exhaled deeply, "Go!", as he tightened his hold on his shield to smash the door in.
Several cries of German went out as a quick firefight broke out between a few of the infantrymen that had been near the front. Steve quickly blocked their shots and knocked away their weapons the cries of 'Schnell, Schnell!' came from one of the other rooms. And then came another few quick words that Steve recognized before he lowered his shield.
"Hold fire!", Steve called out. "They're surrendering!", nodding to his comrades in warning. "That quick?", Bucky asked as Steve shrugged, "Guess we caught them way off guard... that or they didn't know they were this close to the front.".
A few footsteps could be heard before coming down the stairs was a few German officers... and one of which had quite a big ranking insignia on him. Peggy's group soon joined them as her eyes widened, "Steve, that's a general's ranking.", as Steve nodded.
'Any of you speak German?', the general asked as Steve nodded. 'I do.', he explained.
'General der Infanterie Siegfried Rasp of the 31. Army Corps.', the general stood at attention and saluted, as Steve motioned him to lower his arm.
'You're a prisoner of war, General Rasp, I'd very much like it if you don't give me the Heil salute.', Steve told him as he lowered his arm but still remained at attention. 'General, you are to gather your staff and men and have them wait in the dining room. And hand us over any sort of documents that you have; don't try to destroy them or we'll deem it as an act of faking surrender and will open fire.' The general glanced over to his staff officers for a moment before he nodded.
'Very well. We'll comply with your demands. American?', Rasp asked as it was clear from a few looks that they almost looked relieved that it wasn't the Russians who came knocking.
Steve nodded, 'That's right. I'm Captain America, and this is Captain Britain, and Sergeant Barnes. Our comrades will keep an eye on you while we check the documents and call for backup while we wait. Behave and we will treat you as model prisoners of war. Is that understood, General Rasp?'
The General nodded. 'I suppose I must consider it an honor to surrender to the face of the American solider, in a way.' He then motioned his staff officers. 'We'll wait in the dining room.', he said as they moved.
"Didn't even acknowledge me...", Peggy whispered to Steve. "Probably got his own reasons; the ones you're probably thinking of. Don't let him get to you, he'd probably want to be proven right as a little last hurrah.", Steve told her as she nodded.
"Would you like me to be the only one to watch all over them?", Peggy gave a small smirk. "Might take the hot air out of his balloon being held up by a woman.".
"Heh, love the way you think.", Steve was tempted to kiss her, but he held back. "Got a bit of a problem though...", Bucky pointed out. "For starters, do we take all this stuff back with us along with our prisoners or do we wait for someone else to come?".
"Let's at least see what they've got before we decide on our next move. Someone check to see if this place has got a radio; I want someone on the horn with the 9's HQ ASAP. They're gonna want to at least hear who we got.", Steve replied.
Peggy nodded, "Sounds good to me.", and squeezed his hand subtly yet warmly, reassuring him as she replied, "No runners from the back for my group, all intact. Now, if you'll excuse me, I got some hot airheads to watch over.", as she passed them by while Bucky asked one of the Commandos to check the rooms for a radio.