Chapter 56 Harrison

Phillips then realized that he had earned her respect and much more, and he smiled softly, for he now would give his life for Susan as she has now permanently a place in his heart.

And so, since that moment, the granddaughter-grandfather relationship became solid as rock, with

Peggy and Steve returning around lunchtime to discover Susan's laughter and

Phillips's chuckles as they opened the door to see them in Phillips' office, surprised to see Phillips giving a horseback ride with Susan riding on his back, with a cape tied around her neck.

Peggy and Steve have never seen the colonel looking so happy, so soft-faced, so free, for there's no sign of his grumpy, strict exterior anywhere.

"Are we interrupting something?", Peggy chuckled as Phillips went red faced but didn't stop since obviously the little baby would get upset.

"I thought of giving her a horse ride... but we didn't have a horse...", he chuckled. "Besides, I was trying to help her feel better.".

Steve blinked in concern, "Did something happen?", as Susan then noticed them, and squealed happily with clapping hands, smiling gummily. She babbled, tapping Phillips's head with a finger, and

Phillips slowly stopped, and Susan, with her tongue peeking out, creped down Phillips' side, and stood for the first time with her leaning on Phillips's side.

Peggy gasped, "Susan, you're standing!", and Susan babbled with a gummy smile before walking shakily,

determined to be brave without using her powers as support. She isn't a coward like those mean men said.

She furrowed her eyebrows as she focused on walking, and only succeeding with five steps before falling back, but

Phillips, having gotten up, caught her by the hands, "Got you, brave one. Come on, keep going.", with an encouraging smile.

Susan smiled up at Phillips and kept walking shakily as Peggy and Steve kneeled down, "Oh, that's it, Susan! You're doing it!", and within the last five steps,

Susan squealed happily as she let go of Phillips's hands and walked one last step to her parents who hugged her immediately, lifting her up as they got up, with Peggy kissing her cheeks and nose and Steve ruffling her hair.

"I swear, she's more toddler than baby...", Steve shook his head as he nearly started to cry. "Are you crying, Steve?", Peggy asked as he looked at her.

"And you're not having tears of joy for our daughter?", Steve grinned. Peggy chuckled, "Oh, I have them, Steve, but I don't want to worry

Susan into thinking that it's bad.", and Susan babbled, kissing her sloppily on the cheek, and smiled gummily before turning her attention to Phillips, pointing with a squeal with a gesture between him and Steve.

"Yes, I see them...What are you saying, sweetie?", Peggy asked curiously, and Susan pouted, wishing to say words,

but she feels like that she isn't readily developed yet for it, and trying to remember what Peggy called Harrison, and used some of her force fields to write a short word.

"Grapa?", Peggy blinked, and Susan nodded, squealing happily with her finger to Phillips, and Peggy gasped softly,

"You claimed Phillips as your other grandfather?", and Susan babbled, clapping her hands in victory, smiling gummily.

"I think Erskine might be a bit disappointed." Phillips chuckled. "It'll be fine...", Peggy smiled as she cradled Susan. "You're just so perfect, little one...". Now it was Peggy's turn to start having tears of joy.

Steve chuckled, "I think Erskine is fine with being godfather of our Susan.", rubbing Susan's cheek warmly before glancing at Phillips, "So, what happened for Susan to claim you as a grandpa of all things?".

Phillips sighed heavily, "At a half past 10, I had a meeting with officers, talking about last-minute reports of the plans for tomorrow according to

Montgomery and all, while Susan was playing safely in her playpen... I was organizing the folders, and as I got closer, I heard them discriminating against Susan, a freaking baby!

I would've understood better if it was an enemy or something, but when they called her terrible names, Susan naturally got upset, and went to hide under my desk...I punished them, stripped their ranks, and I defended

Susan's name, which she had heard and seen everything, and finally decided to let me earn her respect and more...", with a scowl before glancing at Susan with soft eyes.

"I'm guessing you're not going to give us their names?", Peggy asked. "I'd rather keep that to myself at least, wouldn't do good for the troops' moral if you two did...

something drastic to our own men, even if they really deserved it.", Phillips said.

Steve sighed heavily, "Well, as long as our Susan's safe and well, it's all that matters, right, my queen?".

Peggy nodded resignedly, "As badly as I wish to pummel those men who dared hurt my daughter with words of discrimination

, Susan is clearly feeling better, and she's never going to see them again, right, Colonel?".

Phillips smiled firmly, "Oh, believe me, they are degraded to nothing but potato peelers, and it will be a while to figure out things, so she won't see them again.

I ain't going to bring trauma to my granddaughter when they are in sight. And as for pummeling, why don't you use all that anger on the Germans?".

Peggy smiled coyly, "That's about the best idea you ever gave, Phillips.", before sighing, "We better get back to the house. We will eat some lunch before I head out.".

Phillips nodded, "Alright. I'll see you tomorrow, eh, Susan?", and Susan babbled excitedly with a clap of her hands, and

Steve laughed softly, "She usually looks forward to spend time with Erskine, and now I think you and the doc would have to split her attention between you two.".

"Oh, trust me, I and the doc will figure something. Now, git. I have papers to look over.",

Phillips smiled, and dismissed them, and the family nodded, leaving Phillips in his office.

About an hour later, after Peggy was