Chapter 34 idealist

embarrassing enough.

Steve exhaled, speechless, his brain trying to find the right words, and

Peggy looked away, "I've already made a mess with the whole machine thing, and I've made it worse...I'm so sorry...

You probably hate me...I'm a bimbo, a shrew...", tears swelling in her eyes as she started to walk away, not wanting to make herself an embarrassment more than she is, going for the latrine.

"Peggy.", Steve grabbed her hand, not letting her get away from him. "Don't...", Peggy looked at him before he gave a small smile.

"You're not a bimbo or a shrew or whatever horrible words you want to describe yourself. You're a woman that is as human as any other.

Our bodies now... they, they've acted on instinct today for the most part, but that doesn't make you or me bad in any way.".

Peggy looked at him in surprise and saw the love and sincerity in his eyes, and sighed heavily,

"I know...But what if it happens again, especially on the battleground? I...I care so deeply for you,

Steve...", still not ready to say those fateful three words yet.

Steve touched her cheek with his other hand, gently moving her to face him, "I don't care if people judge us. They won't physically force us apart, literally.

We're 50 ft tall. If anyone dares hurt you, I'll hurt them, with words or my hand. We're together for the long haul, Peggy.", giving her a warm, gentle peck on the lips.

settling for one another.

After a few moments, Steve took a deep breath and leaned close to her before whispering in her ear, "I love you too, Margaret Elizabeth Carter.".

Peggy's heart pounded even harder, and she smiled widely with a wide blush that is making her eyes gleam, moving her hand up from his cheek into his hair, as she leaned up to kiss him passionately.

Steve blinked for a half-second before closing his eyes as he moved closer, his hands moving to hold her, tangling one hand into her hair, with his other hand resting on her back, and kissed her just as passionately as Peggy's other hand moved to rest on the back of his shoulder.

The two of them held in that loving embrace for a few minutes, only briefly pausing their kissing to get some air back into their lungs. Their kisses were nothing less than soft passion; nothing messy or aggressive, just a simple loving kiss.

As they slowed down and stopped their kissing, Steve leaned his forehead on hers, "You don't know how lucky

I am to have a witty, spunky, firecracker, amazing, beautiful dame in you,

Peggy.", breathing softly as he looked into her gorgeous dark brown eyes, lost in them.

Peggy smiled warmly, "I think I do, Steve, and I am way luckier to have a brave-hearted, honest, smart, incredible, strong-willed, beautiful man in you.".

Steve shook his head in amusement and awe. "Isn't it usually the guy's job to be the flatterer?", he asked her as she tapped his nose.

"Well, I'm one for role reversing quite a number of norms if you don't mind."

, Peggy teased as he gave a small chuckle, "I've got no problem with that as long as I have your love.".

Peggy sighed contentedly, smiling happily as she heard that, and glanced at the moon, "It's getting late. We better get to bed and get some sleep.

You heard the Colonel. We're to set out at 8 in the morning.".

Steve nodded, "Right.", getting up as he helped Peggy to her feet, and smiled lightly, "Do you still think it's gonna be one of the cargo ships?".

Peggy shrugged, "It's my suspicion. I mean, cargo ships carry thousands of steel boxes, and we can fit in a cargo ship, I believe.".

"Perhaps...", Steve bit his lip. "But there is the U-boat threat out there still,

I mean, I heard the Kriegsmarine has certainly taken its blows from our navies these past months.".

"That's true. I almost forgot about those dreadful ships. Nearly starved us on the island with how much they sank. Of course, what else can get us to

Europe from New York? There's not some railroad to carry us safely...". Both of them had the same realization. "You don't think?", Peggy spoke in surprise.

"Could it even take off?", Steve wondered. Peggy hummed, "I've heard rumors that Stark worked together with

Hughes a couple of times...If it's true about his Hercules plane, it would possibly fit us.".

"Hercules?", Steve asked. "Oh, right, I guess you didn't have as many conversations with Stark as I had...

Howard Hughes came up with the idea for a massive plane to carry large quantities of equipment, troops, vehicles, all to fly over to Europe and avoid the Atlantic and the U-boats.", Peggy explained.

"Well, sounds like that would be perfect for us then... but the sheer size of it...", Steve frowned in concern.

"It might be a one-way trip for all we know... the logistics of that beast alone, and if the Luftwaffe comes sniffing... well, I hope you know how to swim, Steve.", Peggy replied.

Steve chuckled, "Oh, don't worry, I know how to swim. Mom and Bucky taught me when we went to the beach a few times.", and squeezed her hand reassuringly, "But I doubt we don't need to swim.

After all, we know Stark somewhat, and his technology was part of how the Quantonium and the Super Soldier Serum's in us. So, I am sure this Hercules plane could carry us.".

Peggy smiled, "You are quite optimistic, Steve.", and Steve smiled, "It was one of the things that kept me going in the past.

And you are an idealist, and I love it coming from you.", with a peck on her nose.

Peggy giggled, "Touche. Well, we will have to see in the morning.", squeezing his hand warmly, and Steve nodded, and they both headed

True to Peggy's word, they made it to England about 7 am in the morning, and soon after reuniting with Colonel Phillips and Erskine, they started their regime of drills and training for Phillips wanted them to stay in England for two months.