Steve smiled sheepishly, "Yeah...Erskine was right that any offspring I have would have a strong immune system and great coordination in crawling and such, gifted in things here and there if that, and Brookyln is not a super genius or anything, but her mind is learning faster than babies her age and such, and of course, she got my super-strength and apparently, better hearing as well, and dominant with some of my looks, and I have a feeling that it's pretty much it for now as she's half of me, until she gets older in puberty or something.".

Roosevelt replied, "Yet she's staying low out of public because she learned how to be careful thanks to you two, huh?", with a chuckle.

"Yeah, last thing we need is any undue attention. I've already got one of the biggest targets on my back in Europe though thankfully there's at least a dozen other men ahead of me, I'm sure. But I've got some extra places where one could hurt and that's Peggy and Brooke.", Steve said.

Roosevelt nodded, "Indeed. I hear that you got only a couple of weeks left in leave, are you all going to England?", and Steve nodded, "Yes, and to pacify SSR for Peggy's job, her parents who are staying with us in our cottage here, is going to watch over Brooke in our apartment home while Peggy works back to full time on the base, though it would start off as part time to give Brooke time to get used to us being gone once again, with me going off on missions to gather research and such like we've discussed earlier, sir.".

"That makes sense logically and personally, as Brookyln is not quite independent as of yet.", Roosevelt thoughtfully replied, and Steve smiled, "Thank you, sir. With good timing, I would be back on weekends and holidays, and of course, I'll do my best to gather intelligence from Hydra and Nazis with some of my old Howling Commando pals. Best to have back up than be alone per sec.", wondering if Bucky had luck yet with the prosthetic.

"Isn't that the truth... same could be said for this war. The Axis is getting more and more isolated by the day while we stay fairly united with our allies.", Roosevelt chuckled. "Take care, son... try not to get killed.", he said as Steve saluted, "Yes, sir.".

Steve left the Oval office, nodding at the Secret Service agents in thanks along the way, and saluted Phillips and Stimpson, knowing that Phillips will tell him later at the cottage or in his private office back in Camp Leigh, and smiled at Peggy as she returned with a clean Brookyln in tow, wearing back-up clothes and a new diaper, thanks to the duffel bag that one of the agents had given her on the way to the bathroom.

With Stimpson arranging transportation, the small family left the White House to take the train, with Brookyln napping, and after getting home into Elkton, with clever handling of the day's recounting, Harrison and Amanda knew about Brookyln's little detour adventure soon.

The elderly couple had soon laughed after hearing that Brookyln got dirty and ended up just dandy fine, pouting when Peggy didn't give her an inch, and seeing that Peggy is calm again, if a bit amused when she realized the funny side of it, Brookyln asked, "Mumma, me have your milk?", after a bit when they are starting to plan out dinner.

Peggy looked at her, "Hmm, I'll think about it if you can eat a couple spoonfuls of soft mushed peas for dinner, young lady.", as peas are Brookyln's least favorite thing of solid foods thus far. Brookyln blinked and pouted, "Me behave, Mumma!".

Steve chuckled, "She got a point, Peggy. She didn't splash you in the bath for once, which I am surprised about, as she really loves splashing and being a water baby, and she napped all the way in the car and the train. I think she will eat the peas, that is, if you promise not to make a mess, until you really want your mother's milk, hmm?", looking at Brookyln, as she causes a mess when she is disgusted with eating peas.

Brooklyn obviously thought about it for a moment before she reluctantly agreed and despite her taste buds screaming in disgust at the action, she still went through it. "I guess that's how we do it then when we want her to do something... bribery.", Peggy chuckled.

"We'll have to stop her at some point though or she'll run us straight into the poor house.", Steve joked. Amanda laughed warmly as Harrison snickered, "She's definitely picky like her mother while having her father's appetite. Best of both worlds, I suppose.".

Peggy blushed, "Dad!", as Steve chuckled, "He's not wrong there, Peggy.", as Amanda smiled, happy to have such a moment of normality like this, even if she wished that Michael was here, and of course, getting to know Sarah Rogers, Steve's mother, and even wishing that Brookyln's miscarriage sibling had survived, and sure, it would be even more chaotic that way, but she has a funny feeling that Peggy and Steve wouldn't care as long as the family is around to make life worthy of it, small or big.

And indeed, the Rogers-Carter group, after leave finished at the end of August, they left for England, and with plans ensuring things, they settled easily once more in the London base, with Steve taking up missions with some of his Howling Commando buddies and returning within a weekend or holiday leave.

Later, in October, upon resurfacing, with Manuel splitting up back to Mexico, Preston went to fix his will, working on the process of selling some artifacts to several museums, though he wouldn't ever go near the Smithsonian again, after how they treated Thaddeus and Milo, and on the starting plans of working together with Cookie and Packard on transforming the mansion grounds into a park of sorts, with the mansion slowly worked to be a bed and breakfast inn over the planned few years, and the couple of Bucky and Audrey heading over to England after some proof training in Camp Leigh to show how he does with the prosthetic in gun shooting and such.

Of course, conditions have to be given, with Audrey's soon-appearing obvious baby bump, that she was restricted from flying and such from the London base for shipping soldiers or supplies, but she was relieved that she was still able to work in the mechanic shop as long as she didn't endanger herself under a car or something even if they are completely shut off, until she reaches her seventh month which would be January.

All the same, Bucky was happy to be back with Steve, and it turns out that being of Vibranium, the prosthetic was amazing when he is on offensive with his brother, throwing the shield when given, smashing heads with helmets even easier than before, and more, and of course, it's incredible when he's on the defensive as well, though he has to cover more area than Steve does.

For two weeks into the end of October, Steve, with the remaining Howling Commandos, had inquired over 3 missions of damning good evidence about the Nazis and Hydra, while clobbering them out and such and then after Bucky returned to France via England, up to the Christmas holidays, over 5 missions between weekend breaks, and so, it was a record when they came back on Christmas Day, to report to Phillips who had transmitted and sent the information over long distance to Stimpson and all, having good news for them.

"At least we're not freezing in some trenches...", Bucky admitted as thankfully, the group was once more having R&R around the holidays in England. The frontlines were still fairly static as no side was willing to make offensive actions in the cold weather. The Germans themselves had a similar mindset with a number of their high-ranking commanders being on leave like the Allied ones. Of course, that was only a luxury on the Western Front.

In Italy, the Allies invaded in September, the Italians surrendered but the Germans quickly rushed down free units to hold the advance. The Western Allies were stuck many miles south of Rome in a defender's paradise with all the rocky mountains laced along the Italian peninsula. And on the Eastern Front, the brutality of the clash of doctorial titans, Hitler and the Nazis against Stalin and the Soviets, no one was earning a leave as the Soviets were finally breaking the bloody 900-day siege of Leningrad and driving the Axis out of Ukraine; closer and closer to the borders of Romania and Hungary, one of the few remaining allies of Hitler.

Steve nodded, "Yeah. Another Christmas in the war once again...But you have to admit that it's looking like we could win sooner, since we sent the last report to Phillips a few days ago...I wonder when he'll call us in to confirm things when he said that today is the first day of leave, with being Christmas Day...".

Audrey sighed softly, "I hope he sees sense not to send you guys off until January as three days aren't enough anymore, two weeks would be heaven...", as she rested her legs on Bucky's lap, with his hands massaging her feet, both flesh and prosthetic. She may be six months along, but the baby is getting to tire her out lately.

Peggy chuckled, "He wouldn't argue against that, since yesterday, most German heads are ducking their heads down for leave. I just hope Schmidt is of the same mind too...", with a sigh as she is feeding Brookyln with a bottle of some expressed breast milk, through lately, she has been suspicious to see that her breasts haven't been shrinking much, but almost like they've been supplying longer.

"I wish, but from what Erskine told me of that man... I wonder if he even sleeps.", Steve said. "Well, hopefully without Zola, he's been having a lot more trouble as of late... be perfect if he finally outlives his usefulness to Hitler and make our job a lot easier.", Bucky huffed.

Audrey nodded, "Too right. A bit lower, Bucky.", and Bucky massaged lower of her feet, and she moaned in satisfaction with a sigh, "Oh, much better...".

Peggy glanced at one of her best friends, "You better slow down a bit in the mechanic shop, Audrey. You heard Phillips. You got four more weeks at best before you are put into maternity leave.".

Audrey replied, "I know, Peggy, and I ain't going to risk more than necessary for the tyke...I just need to help with something...I hate being helpless.", as she stroked her baby bump, and Steve said, "If you want to do something with your hands, you could always make blankets or something, since I'm sure the guys in the trenches and such would appreciate a warm blanket these days when using tents or shelter somewhere.".

Bucky smiled, "I know you don't like the notion of being a housewife in that way, and you don't have to, but that's about the safest idea I'd be happy with...I promised your father that I would look after you while we're engaged and all, and if you're safe with Peggy and Brookyln doing blankets or something else, I'd be having some peace of mind while I am out with Steve in the new year.".

Audrey looked at him with a soft smile, "You're lucky that I love you and our friends...If somebody else dared suggest it in a rude way or such, I would probably punch him in the face or something. And helping soldiers having warm blankets, it's better than nothing.".

"Thank you, Audrey.", Bucky kissed her on the lips with a lean of his body, and went back to massage more on her feet, and their friends smiled, and then the phone rang. Steve replied, "I got it.", getting up to the kitchen wall alcove phone.

Peggy glanced at Brookyln who is finished with the bottle, and she burped her gently as Brookyln smiled at her mummy, "Me play with new toys?", as it was joyful this morning when she experienced her first Christmas at opening presents...Granted, it wasn't right without the tree or Christmas lights and such like singing or going to church, when London and the army base are still on-air siren alert mode, even if the Luftwaffe hadn't attacked in a long time, it's still war.

But the best the family can do is having a small Christmas feast which was yesterday, and simple, homemade gifts for each other today, and upon learning how gifts are perceived at Christmas time, Brookyln is wondering if her returned sibling in her mummy's belly is going to do some kicking today to surprise her parents as a small gift while they had been hiding all this time, making them wonder when the baby would be born later in the new year, or that they are already about full term to be born today as a big gift, to reveal to be a miracle baby, especially for Peggy's sake, but she also knew that she can't force that since it's Peggy's body to decide on that, along with the baby.

"In just a minute...", Peggy told her. "I think your father wants to be here to see you play with them... have a nice memory, you know?", she chuckled as Brooklyn pouted a little as she still wasn't truly old enough or mature in the mind to truly take patience as a virtue.

Bucky and Audrey laughed a little, with Bucky smiling, "She got Steve's pout while having your sass and lips.", and Peggy smiled, "Best of both worlds from me and Steve...", with a kiss to Brookyln's forehead, ruffling her growing lush blonde hair.

Steve's quiet, brief conversation ended with Steve replying, "We'll be there shortly, sir.", before hanging up the phone, and returned to the cozy living room, "Got the call from Phillips as expected. He sounds serious through there's something else. He wants us, Bucky, to get going.".

Bucky looked at Steve with a nod, "Okay...", before looking at Audrey, "If Phillips ain't keeping us long, we'll be back for some lunch with the leftovers from the feast yesterday, alright?", giving one last massage to her feet before gently moving them off his lap, and getting up from the couch, as Steve and Peggy has been sitting on the loveseat across from the couch.

Audrey nodded, "Okay. I'll be expecting a massage for my back after lunch when we get back to our place next door, alright?", with a smile, while having a slight horny glint in her eyes, and Bucky nodded, "You got it. And if Peggy's fine with it, you could pamper yourself with a warm bath here if you are still sore to walk over to our house if we are staying longer beyond lunch.", kissing her on the cheek.

Peggy replied, "I don't mind. And after lunch, I'd need a nap anyway while Brookyln is asleep as well, if she is tired then after playing with her new toys...", and Steve looked at her, "Is everything alright?".

"Yeah.", Peggy nodded, "Just a bit sore and tired. Brooke is getting heavier and bigger to carry by the hip. Hopefully, she will be soon walking and such after crawling for a long time already.".

Brookyln looked sheepish as she can't help growing up, and she is getting better at standing up lately, and looked at Steve, "Dada no stay? Me play with new toys?", and Steve smiled, "I'll be back with Uncle Bucky in a couple of hours. And yes, you can play with your new toys. After all, I'll be staying for two weeks to watch you play with the new toys so I couldn't miss out on it, since it's the holidays, remember?", as he has said the reminder for a few times already yesterday, with Brookyln clearly wanting to be determined to have her daddy stay as she missed him so much, even with the weekend breaks between missions.

Brookyln gave a small toddler clap before Peggy took her over to the toys. "Well, I certainly can't make you wait for much longer, so I guess you got your wish.", she chuckled. "Hopefully, you don't get too bored with them by the time your father gets back.".

Brookyln smiled at her mummy, beginning to play with her new toys, and Steve chuckled, kissing Peggy on the lips, and then Brookyln on the forehead, "Love you, my gals.", as Brookyln replied, "Me love Dada!".

Peggy smiled, "Love you, Steve.", as Bucky kissed Audrey again, and kissed her baby bump warmly, joining Steve at the door, as Audrey replied, "Love you, Bucky!", with a chuckle. The boys smiled before closing the door, and headed for the SSR underground base, to General Phillips' office.

"How long do you think he'll keep them?", Audrey asked. "No more than a few minutes; it's just the traveling that'll take up the most time, but I doubt Phillips will have them all day or get them on a transport back to the continent in such short order. If it was that case, Steve and Bucky would've already given us a long goodbye.", Peggy said.

Audrey nodded, "True, after all, Steve said that it would be a couple of hours.", with a smile, and Peggy nodded, and so, they gossiped while watching Brookyln play with her new and old toys.

After an hour of gossiping, and playing, Brookyln got tired, yawning, trying to keep awake, obsessed with her new toys, and Peggy chuckled, "Looks like you woke up a bit earlier than usual, young lady. You're usually energetic for a good while.".