"Sorry...", Preston blushed with embarrassment at the scene that he had caused from his excitement. Obviously, the cat was out of the bag pretty fast with that one.
Steve laughed warmly, "It's alright, Preston. After all, we can't blame ya and Bebinn for making your life together, and we will all help you two, especially Bebinn, right, guys?", as he held Brookyln and Asher who is babbling excitedly with snippets of Brookyln whispering.
Harrison nodded, "He's right. You two are family, and this is great news. Congratulations.", with a smile as Amanda smiled widely before glancing at Audrey, "Let me guess, you knew, huh?".
Audrey chuckled, "Nola had to tell me after I was worried for her, while she was resting and all, and don't worry, Bebinn, we got some of the family with experience of carrying twins like Abraham and Nola herself briefly after Gabriella.", as she held Marina warmly.
Bebinn smiled gratefully, "Oh, I know...And it means a lot to have wonderful support...I never thought I'd have friends as a family...", as Preston kissed her on the temple, smiling.
"Don't think those things anymore... about being alone and all... you have a family now and friends too... don't ever forget that.", Preston kissed her again as she nodded, "I'll try not to... just... takes some getting used to still.".
The others smiled at the scene, and Steve smiled happily as he saw Audrey with Marina, reuniting with her warmly on the couch, while resting the little ones on the floor surrounded by pillow rests and such, as Harrison and Amanda took seats, while Preston and Bebinn rested as well.
Steve explained his whole story in more detail than he did earlier, taking up time, and then soon, dinner came, with Steve happily and tenderly feeding Asher with one of the bottles expressed of Peggy's milk, and considering that it was an exciting day, everybody went to relax and decompress into their bedrooms with the little ones tucked away to bed, through Steve couldn't help checking occasionally, much to Preston's amusement after he used the hallway bathroom for a nice shower while his wife was using the room's bathroom tub.
He looked at his wife in awe and love as he closed the bedroom door, seeing her almost nude body, only wearing undergarments with her hair damp, stroking her baby bump in a daze of tenderness and warmth, having a smile as she rested against the headboard pillows.
Bebinn honestly couldn't believe what had happened so suddenly in her life. Centuries of what it was before, and it looked like it would never change until Preston showed up at her door. It was almost a whirlwind of events to think about in many ways but now, with her mind at the present; she honestly could say so much of it was now worth it.
She felt the bed shake softly, and looked to see Preston, taking off his robe, wearing his boxers, smiling warmly as he came from the other side of the bed, joining her as he stroked her baby bump by her side, "It's incredible...We're actually going to be parents...twins...I suppose you told Nola not to tell the genders in any future checkup, huh?".
Bebinn smiled lovingly as she rested her head on his shoulder, "You read my mind there...I want to be surprised all to the finish line with those two...I just am stunned yet overjoyed...Nola told me the conception time...It was our newlywed day/wedding night..", with a smile, seeing his eyes widen in surprise before chuckling.
"Let me guess, powerful magic from both of us or that we were really eager either way?", Preston theorized with a wry smirk, and Bebinn blushed, "Yeah, that's my theory...Did you ever think of what you wanted, for the gender, if it was a single baby when you were a kid or something from playing games? Oh, I know I got plenty of memories of your life, but I just want to hear your perspective...", looking at him curiously.
"Honestly... I don't know if I ever really thought about that sort of thing when I was young.", Preston admitted. "Sure, when I was a bit older, I did think of having a son and all, but I think I was just more focused with other parts of my life that the idea of slowly down, settling down, it didn't really hit me until it was a quite a few decades later and then I thought I might have waited too long.".
Bebinn smiled warmly, "A son, huh? I hope he'd have your wonderful eyes...As for me, briefly, very briefly, I thought of a daughter...".
"Well, we're having twins...", Preston chuckled. "So, there's a chance we might both get what we wish for.", with a nod. "True... but it easily could be two girls or two boys.", Bebinn reminded.
"Makes no difference to me, either way, they're our children no matter what...", Preston smiled, kissing his wife on the cheek, still stroking the baby bump.
Bebinn smiled, kissing him on the lips, "And as long as they're healthy and active and happy, I'd be satisfied then...", and Preston smiled lovingly, "I agree...Speaking of satisfaction, are we still able to make love in this bed? Because this sight of you and this beautiful baby bump of our children is quite turning me on a bit as you are stunningly beautiful than ever...", as his voice lowered huskily.
Shivering in delight, Bebinn smiled wryly, "Yes, Mo Seanchaí...Nola said that we can be active in bed all the way for the next four and half months until they are seven months old, and then pleasure time to help satisfy my horny hormones by then to the big day...", blushing as she looked at her husband, needing no motivation as she is already becoming eager, turned on by the look of desire, love, and lust in his eyes.
Preston smiled, "That's perfect, Mo Ghrá. Shall we resume where we started this morning?", his hands caressing from her baby bump to her sensitive spots, sending shivers of pleasure, and Bebinn smirked, "I haven't forgotten about rewarding you, husband...", before kissing him passionately, her arms going around his shoulders and neck.
And so, the happy, expectant parents went to make tender, passionate love for two rounds after Preston soundproofed the room with his runes, and fell asleep in each other's arms, dreaming of what life would be like with the laughter and innocence of their children.
The next two days went gloriously wonderful, with Steve spending almost every minute with his children, with Amanda helping out with Marina for Audrey at moments, while Harrison happily cooked meals, and of course, the expectant parents went out to continue their honeymoon for the two days before returning for one day of the weekend to rest and bask into the celebrations of Peggy's birthday, which is actually is in the middle of the week, but they wanted to have it early, with of course, Steve hiding for the perfect moment to reveal himself and reunite, while his shield is wrapped in a disguised box of a present, next to a few presents, not going to be obvious for Peggy, consistently telling Brooklyn and Asher not to give him away.
Steve went to hide in the nursery loft, anxious and excited yet determined to be patient, while Preston was called to Peggy and Bucky's current location, portalling carefully and secretly, as Peggy and Bucky would sneak into the forest or part of the inn, or whatever they're staying in while either Bebinn or Preston would put a spell on the Howling Commandos not to bother Peggy and Bucky in their grief or plans to execute in a makeshift war talk.
Of course, something was off when Preston returned, completely alone much to Steve's surprise after being called down from the nursery/bedroom loft. "What happened?", Steve asked him as Preston took a deep breath.
"I don't think I can be able to pull them away from things right now.", Preston told him. "Steve... they think they found HYDRA's main base and were only just minutes away from assaulting it. And it's not just them, they've apparently got almost the entire 101st Airborne Division and several Ranger platoons with them.".
Steve widened his eyes, and then narrowed them with an exhale, glancing at the women of the family, "Is my suit all fixed up?", and Audrey nodded, "Yeah. Good thing that Atlantean fabric is durable and extensive, and thanks to Bebinn's advice, it was shorter than we thought in fixing and stitching everything up.", as Amanda looked at him in shock, "You're going, aren't you?".
"If it's Hydra's main base, it means that they found Schmidt's fortress, not that it's owned by him anymore, but Hydra will be vicious in guarding the fortress. I took up lots of rest, food, exercise, meaning that I'm fresh to get back into the fray, and besides, this calls for a double dash of super soldier strength and everything.", Steve said as a matter of fact.
Bebinn replied, "The suit is in your closet. We'll get the shield out of the present box for you.", with a nod, and Steve nodded gratefully, heading straight to the master bedroom.
"Hopefully, I can make it in time...", Steve said to himself, his mind going back to when he saved Sweet in the nick of time, and hoping that at least this time, he wouldn't need to rescue anyone at the last second if possible.
For Peggy and Bucky on the war front, the past weeks had almost been a rush of activity. The Allies had spent much of the first weeks of the new year pushing the Germans back from their offensive gains shortly before Christmas and then driving what remained of their armies back across the Rhine while also building up their supplies.
The plan, once the Rhine had been breached; all allied armies would swarm across Germany, some hopeful for the chance to maybe make a play in Berlin since the Soviets were preparing themselves for the final offensive while also making sure the advances to the Oder were cleaned up in the flanks in areas like Pomerania and Silesia.
The bridgeheads on the Rhine were quickly expanded and more crossings had been made as all armies advanced. The Canadian 1st was liberating The Netherlands, the British 2nd had crossed the Rhine, circled north around the Ruhr Valley and linked up with the advancing US 1st to entrap hundreds of thousands of German troops of Army Group B.
The newly activated US 15th would have the job of dealing with the stragglers and prisoners of the Ruhr pocket while US 9th would swing around and keep the flanks between British 2nd and US 1st.
Patton's 3rd was making a mad dash across central Germany once he crossed the Rhine, the US 7th kept up further south and the French 1st made a crazy play to push through the Black Forest and pulled it off because the Germans had kept few forces in the region, thinking the Allies wouldn't be foolish enough to try anything.
Peggy and Bucky and the Howling Commandos found themselves being quickly sent all over the place as more and more Germany territory was being captured. The whole Wehrmacht seemed like they finally had enough and was mostly surrendering now in massive droves. The advances actually were going slowly than it should because of just having to deal with so many prisoners! The Germans still were fighting in some locations, but it just didn't have the same toughness that had been even up to the push on the Rhine.
The main goal still was trying to clear out the Alpine Redoubt, at least for the southern armies but as Phillips had rightfully guessed, it was slowly becoming clear there wasn't many plans to make a final stand there... either that or they were overwhelming the German armies so quickly they were unable to retreat to take their places there.
And then of course, there was Hydra. The few safehouses were found, along with the former Nazi base with the mine prisoner camp...Peggy was horrified to see the conditions that many people suffered through by force of mining since it was at least 200 of mixed people, like French, Italian, English, and of course, German deserters as well.
The followers of Hydra were brutal, and after Peggy, Bucky, and a squadron of Rangers came into the attack of the base and the prison camp, and after counting lives caught in the crossfire, it came down to 150, but the people knew it was war, and some freed prisoners reassured their rescuers that dying for freedom during battle was more for what they wished for than being stuck behind iron fences and mining dawn to dusk.
They found maps and had some interrogations with the leader of the mine and the base, and to their success, they knew finally where Hydra's main base is.
Much of Bavaria had now been liberated as they approached the main base located in the Alps, in Austria near the German border. Phillips had pulled strings and managed to get the entire 101st Airborne Division, which was being used as mostly an infantry division at this point, and Ranger units to come along with Peggy and Bucky as it would obviously a huge fight. Winter was still pounding the area as Peggy and Bucky had scouted ahead, managing to locate the base.
"Big door...", Bucky said as he looked through the binoculars as the two of them were on the reverse slope of a nearby mountain. "Either the Valkyrie was parked there the whole time, or they lifted it up from further in the mountain. Certainly must have taken them a while to carve that place out...".
Peggy exhaled deeply, "And a big door means there will be waves of Hydra throughout the fortress...And of course, the remains of their advanced technology since the Tesseract is either buried somewhere in the sea or gone for good.", taking the binoculars from Bucky's hand after his look.
"That's for sure...You think they got a secret basement below that?", Bucky commented, and Peggy snorted, "Oh, yeah. After all, who knew what Schmidt's other plans were next to the Valkyrie, and of course, now, is this Nikhol Sinclair accelerating them in honor of his leader?".
Bucky glanced at her, "You know there are so many people with common surnames and all that there isn't barely any relation at times, maybe this Nikhol guy isn't even related to Helga Sinclair.", and Peggy glanced away from the binoculars to look at Bucky, "There was a reason why Schmidt hired her, and he obviously was a bit like Hitler, wanting the best families to take lead in power and such, so, according to my gut, Nikhol Sinclair is dangerous either way.".
"Well, either it's a coincidence or he is related to her, doesn't really matter, he's in charge and we got to take him down. The only problem is... how the hell do we get in?", Bucky bit his lip.
"Got to be a way to get in from a lower area; obviously if it's like one or two entrances; we'll have to take the lead and make sure to clear enough of a path to start getting more squads, platoons and whole companies into that place.", Peggy said.
"Only other option is having to hike and climb up to that door which will be quite the challenge in of itself...", Bucky commented. Peggy hummed, looking through the binoculars, "You're not wrong on that...There's definitely patrols on the top of the walls between the door. But we can't afford to be mowed down like that..".
Bucky sighed, "In all circumstances, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I sure wish we had Mole...He would be in and out quick...", and Peggy smiled sadly, "I know...He sure was a determined mole-man.", before suddenly, her crystal glowed and floated upwards, pointing the end of the crystal a bit lower and of the right from the binoculars.
Curious and surprised, Peggy followed, moving the binoculars to look in the indicated direction, and widened her eyes as she clenched slightly tighter of the binoculars, laughing slightly, "I would have kissed you on the cheek, Mole!", hearing Bucky ask, "What?".
"Think he gave us a sign there... and if I'm looking at this right; we may have found our entry way. Look down there.", Peggy pointed as she handed the binoculars off to him as he looked through them, as Peggy's crystal dimmed and laid back on her chest again.
"I'll be damned... hmm... must have been a 'normal' entrance for, say, Schmidt's guests. No way he could've done this all this early on without having to play as a loyal Nazi to Hitler.", Bucky said.
Peggy nodded, "Agreed. Let's keep watching for a while to number the patrols and such, and then get back to camp. If we somehow enlarge the normal entrance to create waves of our own, Hydra might be taken out in surprise.", and Bucky replied, "Couldn't agree more...When do you reckon? Attack while the sun's glinting into their eyes?".
"Either that or hitting them at first light in the morning. In that way, our troops could be able to see as we start heading towards the entrance. If we attack later, might be limited time to move troops in before it gets too dark and we risk having folks getting lost between the mountains.", Peggy explained as Bucky nodded.