#Transportation To San Diego Airport | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

bradshawsbaby · 7 months

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Love in the Air

Pairing: Rooster x Female Reader

Summary: You weren't expecting anything interesting or exciting to happen on your flight from Virginia to San Diego. But what happens when you decide to shoot your shot with the handsome stranger sitting in front of you on the plane?

Word Count: 12.5k

Author’s Note: Thank you so much to my dear friend, @ryebecca for giving me the idea for this one! I've been mulling it over in my brain for a while now, and the super adorable Netflix movie Love at First Sight gave me some much-needed inspiration to finally see it through to completion. This story exists outside of the Mr. & Mrs. Bradshaw Universe, which is sort of a first for me, so I hope you all enjoy!

Warnings: Travel anxiety, some very mild angst, discussions of parental death, brief language, lots of fluff.

If you had to rank your preferred modes of transportation, flying would probably be at the bottom of the list, beat only perhaps by public bus or bicycle. It seemed that no matter how hard you tried to make it as smooth and easy a journey as possible, your experiences at the airport always turned into one catastrophe after another.

Your flight this morning was supposed to take off at 9:30am, which meant that you had scheduled the start of your day to ensure that you would be at the airport no later than 7:15, accounting for traffic and long lines at check-in and security. That, of course, meant that you had to leave your best friend, Katie’s house in Fredericksburg at 5:45 on the dot in order to make the sixty-one mile trip to Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport, and that was being generous. If the two of you stopped for coffee—which Katie insisted was a must—that alone had the potential to derail your plans, which had you nervously fiddling with the bracelet you never took off, the one your dad had given you as a gift for your high school graduation.

“Relax,” Katie laughed, taking her eyes off the road for only a moment to reach out and squeeze your hands reassuringly, halting your anxious movements. “You’re going to get there with plenty of time to spare. There’s literally no one on earth who’s a more responsible flier than you. Have you ever even come close to missing a flight?”

“No,” you admitted sheepishly, taking a small sip of your hazelnut iced coffee. It did little to calm your nerves, but it was one of the best iced coffees you’d ever tasted.

“Of course you haven’t,” Katie smiled, her eyes back in front of her as she signaled to merge into another lane. “So just take a deep breath and enjoy all this gorgeous fall foliage. I’m going to get you there without incident, I promise.”

Katie knew better than pretty much anyone how much flying tended to stress you out. The two of you had been attached at the hip since the first day of kindergarten. Your friendship had survived all the ups and down of adolescence, boy drama, the separation of going to colleges hundreds of miles apart, heartache, loss, and so much more. She was truly the sister you never had, and you couldn’t be more grateful to have her in your life. Even now that you were living in San Diego, and Katie and her husband had moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia for Josh’s job, nothing could keep the two of you apart.

Using a little bit of the vacation time you’d accumulated at work, you’d taken a long weekend to fly out and surprise Katie for her and Josh’s housewarming party. It had been months since you had seen your best friend in person, and the two of you had spent the past few days acting like a couple of high schoolers, staying up all night eating junk food and keeping poor Josh awake with your loud and hysterical fits of laughter.

You hadn’t realized just how lonely you’d been, all by yourself in San Diego, until you’d witnessed up close how cozy and happy Katie’s life in Virginia was.

It wasn’t that you were jealous of Katie, not by any means. She and Josh had met in college, and you were thrilled that your best friend in the whole world had found her person, the one who was going to be there to hold her hand through life and love her through every up and every down. You had even shed a few happy tears when Katie had confided in you this past weekend that she and Josh were finally trying for a baby.

You weren’t jealous, but you desperately longed for what she had. While Katie and Josh had been happily in love since sophomore year, your love life had been decidedly marked by one failed relationship after another. The most painful of which had been your last boyfriend, Andrew. That breakup had been what had propelled you to accept the job offer that had taken you to San Diego almost a year ago.

“Screw Andrew!” Katie had told you as she’d helped you pack up your entire life into a few suitcases and boxes. “You’re headed to the Hottie Capital of America!”

“I must have missed that moniker on the travel brochures,” you responded dryly, although it was the first time you’d felt the urge to laugh in weeks.

“Um, hello, missy. It’s literally called ‘Fightertown USA,’” Katie said, stopping what she was doing to turn and face you, hands on her hips. “You’re going to end up with some sexy fighter pilot, and I am literally going to wither away with envy,” she giggled, winking at you.

“Yeah, right,” you smiled despite yourself, nudging her playfully.

“It’s true,” Katie sighed, feigning dramatics as she draped a hand across her forehead and swooned onto your bed. “I can see it now. You’re going to make the cutest little Marine or Navy wife.”

And yet, for all of Katie’s confidence, there you were, a whole year later, just as single as you had been when you’d first arrived in Fightertown.

It wasn’t to say you were completely on your own. You’d made some really good friends at work, and you got along with all of your neighbors. You’d even gone on a few dates with some guys from North Island. But none that ever went anywhere.

Spending the weekend with Katie and Josh, being reminded of just how in love the two of them were, made you wonder if it was ever going to be your turn.

“You okay?” Katie asked, breaking your silent reverie as she took the exit leading towards the airport in Charlottesville. It wasn’t necessarily the closest airport, but it was the only one for today that offered the flight you needed to get back home. “You seem so quiet.”

“Hm? Oh, yeah,” you nodded distractedly, smiling as you took another sip of your iced coffee. “Just a little tired, I guess.”

How could you possibly tell your best friend that seeing her happiness caused an ache inside your chest that hurt like nothing else you’d ever known? You couldn’t. It made you feel guilty enough just to admit it to yourself.

“Feeling a little nervous about your flight?” she pressed, reaching for her own iced coffee as the car came to a halt at a red light. “I know it’s long, and you hate connecting flights, but I stuck some Benadryl packets in your bag, if that helps at all. It sucks that you have such a hard time sleeping on planes.”

Smiling, you leaned over and pressed an affectionate kiss to her cheek. What had you ever done to deserve such a good friend? And there you were, lamenting about all the things she had that you didn’t.

“You’re the best,” you told her sincerely, giving her shoulder a small squeeze. “I’m so glad I was able to get down here this weekend.”

Katie beamed brightly, reaching up to squeeze your hand before placing hers back on the steering wheel. “You’re telling me. It was the best surprise ever. I’m just sad I can’t keep you here longer.”

“I’ll be back soon,” you promised, trying to mentally calculate when you might be able to get time off from work again.

“Maybe you can come down for Christmas this year?” Katie suggested hopefully, glancing over at you with her big green eyes.

“Maybe,” you nodded, twisting your bracelet once more as you saw the signs for the airport approaching. “Or maybe I can fly you and Josh out to San Diego.”

“Oh, yes! Christmas on the beach? Sounds perfect,” Katie grinned, looking out for the sign for departing flights.

All too soon, Katie was pulling up in front of the Delta terminal where your flight would be taking off in just a few hours.

“See? Only 7:11! I got you here ahead of your insane schedule, even with the stop for coffee,” your best friend teased, a twinkle in her eye as she indicated the time on the dashboard.

“Yeah, yeah,” you waved her off, laughing out loud as she swatted your hand jokingly.

The two of you climbed out of the car to grab your luggage from the trunk. You’d done your best to pack lightly, which was never an easy task for you, even just for a weekend trip. But somehow, you’d managed to squeeze everything you needed into a carry-on bag. Well, that and a giant duffel that you were claiming was a purse.

“Ugh, goodbyes make me crazy,” Katie shook her head, clearly trying to hide the tears that were brimming in her eyes, which caused tears to spring to your eyes as the two of you reached for each other.

“I love you so much,” you told her, squeezing her tightly as she rocked you back and forth in her arms. “I’ll call you when I land.”

“Text me when you get to your gate,” she said, pulling back and taking your hands in hers. “And let me know if there are any cuties on your flight,” she added with a grin, waggling her eyebrows suggestively.

“I doubt I’m going to bag any cuties looking like this,” you countered sarcastically, indicating the yoga pants and oversized sweatshirt you’d donned that morning, as well as the messy bun you’d thrown your hair into.

“Shut up, you’re gorgeous no matter what,” Katie scolded you, swatting you on the butt. “Now get going. We wouldn’t want you being late or anything like that,” she joked.

You laughed as well, though your heart ached a bit as you grabbed the handle of your suitcase and began turning towards the doors of the terminal.

“Love you! Talk to you soon!” Katie called out, waving and blowing kisses.

You threw one more wave your best friend’s way, then disappeared inside the terminal, which was already fairly crowded despite the early hour.

As expected, despite the fact that you’d taken pains to get there early and make sure you were on top of everything, the unlucky cloud that seemed to follow you whenever you flew made its appearance once again.

You of course ended up on the slowest moving line at security, only to be heavily questioned by the TSA agent who seemed to be under the impression that you looked nothing like the photo on your driver’s license. Then, when you finally got to the security scanners, you set off the metal detector and had to be publicly groped by another sour-faced TSA agent. As if that wasn’t bad enough, your suitcase was “randomly selected” for extra testing and security checks.

Katie may have loved to tease you about it, but this was precisely the reason why you always left as early as you did to get to the airport.

By the time you were finally rolling your suitcase towards your gate, you were feeling more frazzled than ever. Naturally, the gate had changed since your boarding pass had been printed, and now you had to trek halfway across the airport to find the new one.

You wondered what it felt like to be one of those lucky travelers whose gate was right at the center of the terminal, right near all the restaurants and shops. It had never been you. Without fail, no matter where or when you were flying, your gate always ended up being at the farthest corner of the terminal.

When you finally arrived, triple checking that the gate number matched your flight information, you let out a heavy sigh as you grabbed an open seat at the end of the row. To your surprise, you found that you were seated right next to an open outlet. You never got that lucky.

Turns out, you really did never get that lucky. When you plugged your phone in, you found that it wasn’t charging. Evidently, the outlet was open because it didn’t actually work.

Muttering under your breath, you unplugged your charger and threw it back into your duffel bag. At least your phone was still on 74%. You’d much prefer to have it fully charged, but this would do until you could charge it on the plane.

Glancing down, you realized that you had missed a text from Katie.

At the gate yet???

Rolling your shoulders back and getting more comfortable in your seat, you opened up the message so that you could send a quick response.

Just got here. You’d think I was on the No Fly List with how long it took me to get here.

Katie must have made good time getting home, because it wasn’t long before your phone was buzzing with another text.

😂😂😂 Get yourself a drink!

Katie, it’s not even 9am…

So? A mimosa then!

You laughed, shaking your head. A mimosa didn’t actually sound like such a bad idea right now. Neither did a large iced coffee. But now that you’d finally made it to your gate, you didn’t feel like dragging all your stuff with you across the terminal once again. And you didn’t feel comfortable leaving your things behind, unattended or even in the care of a stranger. Maybe you’d just order one on the plane.

When your phone buzzed again in your lap, you looked down and saw that it was another text from Katie.

Any cuties to share that mimosa with???

You were about to text her back that right now, the only cuties you could see were an adorable four-year-old and an elderly couple who must have been in their eighties when suddenly, the most gorgeous man you had ever seen in your life appeared, as if out of thin air. You were suddenly glad you didn’t have a mimosa or an iced coffee in hand, for you were certain that you would have spit it out in shock upon seeing this guy.

Jaw hanging open and eyes widening, your brain was too fuzzy from lack of sleep to remind you that it was wholly inappropriate and rude to stare.

He truly had to be the hottest man you had ever seen up close in real life. Tall, with broad, thick shoulders and a muscular build. His hair was a golden brown that looked like it was touched frequently by the sun—as did his skin, which was an amusing combination of both tan and pink, as though he should have applied just a pinch more sunscreen than he had. Most surprising of all was the mustache that made your stomach do a strange little flip. You usually weren’t all that attracted to facial hair of any sort, and most guys couldn’t pull off the mustaches they tried to sport, but this particular mustache was the sexiest thing you had ever seen. And somehow, despite not knowing this man from a hole in the wall, you couldn’t imagine him without it. It was like it was a part of his DNA.

Thankfully, he was still staring down at his boarding pass, so he hadn’t noticed your intense scrutiny. Coming to your senses, you closed your mouth and quickly averted your gaze, your cheeks growing hot with embarrassment. How mortifying. Imagine if he had looked over and caught you staring at him, gaping like a fish out of water?

Still, despite your self-consciousness at the thought of getting caught, you couldn’t help but steal another glance in his direction, this time out of the corner of your eye. He looked even taller this time around. It probably had something to do with the way he carried himself, an easy confidence pouring off him. This man knew he was hot stuff, of that you were sure. But there was also something unassuming about him, something quiet and almost humble. He was dressed in a pair of dark sweatpants and an old UVA T-shirt, nothing fancy or flashy. Somehow, however, he managed to pull it off even better than a three-piece suit.

You were startled out of your observations when your phone buzzed again. It was Katie, emphasizing her last message impatiently.

Do you have some kind of magic powers that I was unaware of to make hotties appear out of nowhere? Right when you texted me, the hottest guy I’ve ever seen walked up to my gate.

‼️‼️ GO TALK TO HIM!!! ‼️‼️

At the mere suggestion of going to talk to that guy, your stomach erupted into butterflies. Looking up once again, you saw that he had evidently confirmed he was at the right gate, and had settled down in a seat a couple rows over, facing away from you. God, even the back of his head was handsome.

Are you crazy? This guy is seriously the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen. I look like a homeless lady that wandered in off the street. I am NOT talking to him!

Your phone buzzed angrily a moment later.

Will you shut up before I drive back there to hit you upside the head?! YOU are gorgeous!!! Who cares if you have no make-up on and your hair’s in a messy bun? It’s called airplane chic! You’re still completely stunning. He would be LUCKY to have a girl as hot as you want to talk to him!

Chewing your bottom lip, you looked up again, trying not to be obvious as your eyes slowly wandered over the people at your gate, until they landed on him once more. He was on the phone this time, having an animated conversation with whoever was on the other end of the line. Occasionally, he would turn slightly in your direction and you could catch a glimpse of his side profile.

Damn, this man was seriously perfect from every angle.

“Alright, Mav, I’ll see you when I land,” you heard him say—not that you were trying to eavesdrop—before he hung up the phone and dropped it back onto his lap.

It was then that you noticed his phone was plugged into the outlet next to his seat.

Maybe this could be your opportunity? You could casually walk over and see if there were any other open outlets near his. Perhaps you could even make a joke about how it was just your luck that the outlet near your seat wasn’t working. Maybe he’d laugh and tell you some horror story from his travel experiences and the two of you would end up talking until you exchanged numbers. Maybe there was some tiny, infinitesimal chance that this stunning man would actually be charmed by you and possibly even the teensiest bit interested.

Or maybe you would just remain rooted to your seat, terrified to move as you stared at the back of his head.

You were already anticipating the text from Katie when your phone buzzed once again.

The reason you’re not answering me better be because you’re in the middle of a conversation with Mr. Hottie from your gate!!!

Biting down on your lip, you turned your phone over, not knowing how to tell your best friend that you were too much of a chicken to get out of your seat and approach this guy.

At that moment, however, you were suddenly saved, at least somewhat, when a member of the flight crew announced that they were about to begin boarding. Forgetting about Katie’s texts and the hot guy sitting several feet away from you for a moment, you began gathering together all your belongings, making sure you hadn’t forgotten anything.

When your boarding group was called, you did one final sweep around your seat, securing the strap of your duffel bag up on your shoulder and wrapping one hand around the handle of your carry-on before making your way to the line extending from the counter.

As you stepped up behind the elderly couple you’d noticed earlier, your boarding pass slipped out of your hand, floating through the air despite your best attempt to reach for it, and landing somewhere behind you.

Turning to find it, you nearly collided with the tall wall of man behind you, who was bending at the same time to grab it off the floor.

“Oh!” you gasped, startled to find that Mr. Hottie, as Katie had dubbed him, was not only standing behind you in line, but was also holding your boarding pass in his hand, glancing down at it.

“San Diego with a layover in Atlanta, huh?” he grinned, glancing from the boarding pass up to your face. Unsurprisingly, he had a beautiful set of whiskey-colored eyes that made your stomach do the same strange little flip that his mustache had induced. Oh, and up close, the mustache was even sexier.

“Oh, um, yeah,” you nodded dumbly, your tongue suddenly feeling like it weighed a thousand pounds as your brain short-circuited and couldn’t come up with a single worthwhile thing to say.

“Glad to know I’m not the only one,” Mr. Hottie went on, holding your boarding pass out to you. “Looks like we’ve got a long day of flying ahead of us.”

Mouth hanging open, you slowly reached out and took the boarding pass from him, trying frantically to think of something—anything—to say. He was flying to San Diego, too? You were on the same exact flight? Including the same layover?

“I—I—”

“Hey, the line's moving!” someone from the back called out, sounding annoyed.

Turning back over your shoulder, you were mortified to see that the elderly couple in front of you had disappeared and you were, in fact, holding up the line.

“Oh, um, I’m sorry,” you mumbled, ducking your head as you clutched your boarding pass and reached out for your carry-on. “Thanks again for grabbing this for me,” you told Mr. Hottie, waving your boarding pass slightly before turning and practically running towards the counter.

With his long stride, he caught up to you in no time, his smile friendly and warm as the two of you joined the line of people waiting to board the airplane.

“You weren’t holding anyone up,” he whispered down to you, as if it was some special secret the two of you were sharing. “I don’t know what that guy was in such a rush for. To move from that line to this one? We’re all getting out of here at the same time.”

You smiled at his words, feeling comforted by his reassurance. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Some people are just always in a hurry.”

The two of you were quiet after that, and you wondered if that would be the end of the conversation. You were casting around for anything else you could talk about when he suddenly asked you, “So are you leaving home or heading home?”

Your heart fluttered at his question. If he didn’t want to keep talking, he wouldn’t have asked that, right?

“Heading home,” you told him, fiddling shyly with your bracelet. You laughed softly. “It’s still kind of weird saying that. I’ve only been in San Diego for about eleven months.”

He raised his eyebrow, one corner of his mouth turning up in a smile. “Yeah? Well, I know I’m a little late, but welcome to Fightertown. I hope it’s been treating you well.”

“Oh, it has been,” you nodded, making sure to pay attention to when the people in front of you began moving forward. “I take it you’re heading home then, too?”

“I am,” he grinned, shouldering the backpack he was carrying with him. “Well, actually, I’m kind of leaving home and heading home,” he amended. At your curious look, he explained, “I’m from Virginia originally, but I live in San Diego now. I guess you could say I’m a transplant, just like you,” he added with a chuckle. “Are you from Virginia, too?”

“New York, actually,” you told him, as the two of you followed the flow of people towards the plane. “But my best friend and her husband moved to Fredericksburg recently, so I was spending the weekend with them.”

“Ah, that’s a nice area,” he nodded, rubbing the back of his neck as he glanced down at you with a smile. At your unspoken question, he said, “I was actually down for a reunion weekend at my school. I went to UVA.”

“I gathered,” you replied teasingly, indicating his T-shirt.

Glancing downward, he shook his head and laughed. “Almost forgot I threw this on when I woke up. Trying to get to the airport on time is a real pain, isn’t it?”

“Absolutely,” you agreed with a laugh, adjusting your hold on your duffel bag. “Flying is definitely one of my least favorite modes of transportation.”

“Hmm, I don’t know if I’d say that,” he said in reply, an amused look on his face.

Before you could ask him what was so funny, however, you were being welcomed aboard the plane by the stewardesses, who were all smiling and indicating that they expected you to keep moving down the aisle.

Your heart dropped slightly at the abrupt end to your conversation. Now the two of you were going to go to your separate seats, and he’d probably forget all about you. It was one thing to make idle conversation with a stranger while on line, but you doubted he had any real interest in continuing the conversation beyond that.

Sighing softly, you rolled your suitcase down the aisle, pausing every now and then as the people in front of you put their bags in the overhead bins and got themselves sorted. When you finally reached Row 22, you stopped and looked back at Mr. Hottie with an apologetic smile.

“Sorry, this is me. I’ll just be a minute,” you told him, pushing down the handle of your carry-on.

“No worries, this is me,” he grinned, indicating Row 21. “I even snagged the window seat,” he added with a wink.

Your mouth went dry. He had the window seat of Row 21. You had the window seat of Row 22. He was sitting directly in front of you.

“Here, let me help you with that,” he said, reaching for your carry-on bag and easily hefting it above his head, sliding it into the overhead bin for you. “Do you need me to put this one up there, too?” he asked, pointing towards your duffel bag.

“Oh, no, it’s okay,” you shook your head, holding onto the strap of your bag. “I’m going to keep this one with me. Thanks a lot,” you smiled, not even noticing the line of disgruntled people that was beginning to form behind the two of you.

“No problem,” he smiled, starting to slide into his row with his backpack still on his back. “Have a great flight.”

“You, too,” you replied, a little sadly, as you crawled into your row, doing your best to ignore the annoyed looks some people were throwing your way.

Needless to say, it was just your luck that the impatient man from the boarding line ended up sitting right beside you. You tried to smile at him, but he just grunted and put his headphones on, completely ignoring you.

Fine by you. Pulling your phone out, you found that you had a whole new series of texts from Katie, demanding to know exactly what was happening.

On the plane now. We should be taking off soon. I talked a little bit to Mr. Hottie. Are you happy?

It didn’t take long at all for her to respond. You could imagine that she had been sitting by her phone, waiting eagerly for your message.

Eeeee, yes, very! What did you guys talk about? Are you sitting near each other on the plane? Did you exchange numbers??? Send me a picture!!!

You laughed softly to yourself as you tried your best to answer all the questions your excited friend had asked you.

Just small talk. He’s actually flying home to San Diego, too. He went to UVA and was there for a reunion weekend. We did not exchange numbers and I’m not going to be a creepy stalker and take a picture of him, but he actually is sitting in the seat right in front of me.

OMG, IT’S FATE!!! So he has the same layover and everything??? And he’s FROM San Diego?! Babe, this is the guy for you!!! You’ve got to keep talking to him!

How would you suggest I do that? Just tap him on the shoulder and whisper into his ear the whole time?

It’s only a couple hours to Atlanta, and then you’ll have the layover, and then another four and half hours to San Diego. You could practically be engaged by the time you land! Just slip him a little note or something. Give him your number!

Your stomach was doing somersaults at the mere thought. Between the two of you, Katie had always been the more outgoing one. She would have no problem slipping a note with her phone number on it to a complete stranger, putting herself out there for the possibility of rejection and utter humiliation. You, on the other hand, preferred to play it safe. It was much more comfortable that way. And sure, maybe you’d never met your Josh the way Katie had, but at least you’d never been hurt too badly, right?

Unbidden, you thought of Andrew and felt bile rise in your throat.

Luckily, you were saved from having to answer Katie right away when the cabin crew made the announcement that it was time to shut down all electronics. Switching your phone onto airplane mode, you slipped it into the front pocket of your duffel bag and took a deep breath, buckling your seatbelt and closing your eyes.

Takeoff was your least favorite part of any flight. When you were a little girl, your parents used to make funny faces and sing silly songs to distract you from your terror. Even now as an adult who was flying all on her own, you still tried to remember the sound of their voices as the plane began its ascent.

It didn’t take too long before you were finally cruising at 18,000 feet and the captain turned off the seatbelt sign. Since you were a Delta SkyMiles member, you got free Wi-Fi on all your flights, so you immediately reached to turn your phone back on to let Katie know you had taken off safely.

As soon as your phone connected with the Wi-Fi, it was instantly flooded with a slew of text messages. A couple were from some of your friends back in San Diego, wishing you a safe and easy flight, but most were from your crazy best friend.

Don’t think you can use being on a plane as an excuse not to answer my texts!

I know you’re a SkyMiles member and you can see these messages!

You better answer me!!!

Shaking your head, you quickly tapped out a quick message in response.

Took off safely. Thinking of watching a movie before we land in Atlanta. You’re crazy and I am not slipping him a note.

Your phone was blessedly quiet for the next several minutes, and part of you hoped that Katie had given up this ridiculous notion. Knowing her as long as you had, however, you should have figured that wouldn’t be the case.

What’s the worst that could happen? He doesn’t answer you? The two of you never talk again? You’ve never seen this guy before in your life, and the chances are good that you’ll never see him again after this. So if you put yourself out there and it doesn’t work out, who cares? At least you tried. And sure, it might be a little embarrassing at first, but like I said, you’ll never have to see him again. But what if you thought about it the other way around? What if it DOES work out? What if this could be the start of something great? Would you really just want to walk away, wondering what could have been and regretting that you didn’t take a chance? You deserve to be loved so, so, SO much! And I know that you have so much love to give! This guy would be lucky if you chose him. Just give it a try, will you? For me? Please! You can’t see it, but I’m giving my best puppy dog face right now. And sending you all the best vibes! You can do this! I love you! ♥️

You groaned at your best friend’s heartfelt message. How could you possibly say no to that? You knew Katie just wanted the best for you, and she wanted you to be happy. You wanted to be happy, too. What if she was right? What if this was your chance? Would you be a fool to just walk away from it without even trying? Like Katie said, at least if you tried, you could say you’d done all you could. And if it didn’t work, then Mr. Hottie just wasn’t the one for you. No harm, no foul.

You were starting to feel like you might need to make use of the vomit bag tucked securely in the seat pocket in front of you when the stewardess stopped at your row to offer you all snacks and beverages. You gratefully accepted a can of ginger ale and a packet of pretzels, nibbling on them slowly in an attempt to settle your roiling stomach.

You were being an idiot. There was no reason to be so dramatic about all this. You could write a quick note and pass it up to him, then pretend it had never happened. Seriously, what was the worst that was going to happen? He was going to get up and make an announcement over the loudspeaker that the girl sitting in 22A was a pathetic, lonely loser? You doubted that very much.

Before you could lose your nerve, you reached into the front pocket of your duffel bag and pulled out the pen you always kept there. Turns out, it really did come in handy. Mercifully, the grumpy man beside you was already snoring, so you could write your note in peace without being worried about him seeing what you were doing.

Hand shaking slightly, you penned a quick letter to the handsome, charming man in 21A.

Hi there. I realized in all our talking that I never caught your name. But it might be good to know, seeing how we’re layover buddies and all. Hope you’re enjoying the flight so far.

You signed your name at the bottom, and then took a deep breath, reading over what you had written on the back of your Delta napkin. It sounded impossibly stupid, but you’d come this far and you weren’t going to turn back now. What was it that people on the internet were always saying? Something about shooting your shot?

Breathing through your nose to avoid getting sick, you reached out a trembling finger and lightly tapped the broad shoulder that you saw peeking out from the seat in front of you. You suddenly realized that he may have been asleep and panicked at the thought of waking him up, but he shifted immediately at your touch and you could tell that he was turning towards you.

Not wanting to meet his eye, you immediately thrust your napkin into the small open space between your seats and the windows, silently praying that he would take it from you instead of laughing in your face.

A second later, you felt his large fingers brush against yours as he took your little note, shifting in his seat once more so that he was facing front again.

What had you just done? Oh, God, there was still another hour left to go on this flight, then a layover, and another four and half hours to San Diego. True, you would never have to see him again after you landed in California, but that was still a lot of time left to have to be in proximity to him if all of this blew up in your face.

You were just about ready to launch yourself out of one of the emergency exits when you suddenly looked up and realized that there was a small white napkin hovering above your head.

Mr. Hottie in 21A was reaching back with your note in hand. Your stomach plummeted and your face and neck grew warm with shame at the thought of him returning the letter you’d written him, until you noticed the red ink on the back of it.

You’d written your note in black ink.

Slowly reaching out, you took the napkin from his hand, your fingers brushing against each other once more. His were large and warm and calloused and made goosebumps rise on your arm.

Pulse beating rapidly, you turned over the napkin to see the response he had written on the back. His handwriting was a bit messy, more of a scrawl than anything, but it made you smile to look at it.

What was I thinking, not properly introducing myself to my layover buddy? Hope you can forgive me. My name is Bradley. I don’t suppose there’s any chance you’ve got some Wi-Fi on this flight, do you? If you do, feel free to text me. We seem to be dangerously low on napkins.

At the bottom, he’d written his cell phone number.

Pressing a hand over your mouth, it took everything in you to swallow back the squeal of delight that rose up your throat. It worked! Katie’s silly plan had actually worked! Oh, she was going to gloat about this forever when you told her.

Beaming brightly, you pulled out your cell phone. As much as you loved her, Katie could wait right now. You had an extremely gorgeous layover buddy to get in touch with.

Typing his number into your cell phone, you opened up a new message and contemplated what to say for a moment.

Layover buddies who both just so happen to have some inflight Wi-Fi? Clearly it’s meant to be.

You hoped the message came across as cute and flirty instead of desperate and weird as you hit send, anxiously waiting to see if he would reply.

It took only a moment before your phone buzzed, Bradley’s name lighting up your screen.

Layover buddies who both just so happen have some inflight Wi-Fi AND spring for the window seats? Obviously it’s meant to be!

You smiled and were about to think up a reply when another message suddenly came though.

Oh, and to answer your note—I’m enjoying the flight a lot more now.

The butterflies went crazy in your stomach as you wrote back to him.

Me, too. And that’s saying a lot, considering the four-year-old behind me hasn’t stopped kicking my seat since we boarded.

Bradley only took seconds to reply.

Oof, that’s rough. If I could switch seats with you, I would. But I have to admit that I’m very happy that you’re not kicking my seat.

Wouldn’t be too sure about that, you sent back teasingly before lightly nudging his seat with your foot.

Hey! I thought we were friends!

We’ll see 😉

You and Bradley went back and forth like that for the entire remainder of your flight to Atlanta, the banter light and easy as you teased and joked with each other. You even ended up playing a game of 20 Questions, in which you learned, among other things, that Bradley’s favorite color was red, he once broke his arm when he was seven years old, and he absolutely despised peas.

As the captain announced that you would soon begin preparing for your final descent, you shot off a quick message to Katie, who you had woefully neglected during your conversation with Bradley.

I owe you one. The pep talk and the plan actually worked—I’m texting Mr. Hottie as we speak! Update you soon. We’re about to land in Atlanta.

Just as you sent the message off to your friend, another text from Bradley arrived.

Looks like we’re going to have to turn off our phones, layover buddy. I’ll see you when we land. Food? I’m starving.

Grinning, you had to pinch yourself to check that this wasn’t some sort of elaborate dream.

Same. I’ll race you for some french fries.

You’re on.

When the plane finally landed and the captain turned off the seatbelt sign, everyone practically jumped out of their seats in a mad dash to see who could be the first to get their belongings out of the overhead bins. Since you and Bradley were in the window seats, you took your time, knowing you weren’t getting off the plane anytime soon.

You were surprised, however, when he suddenly popped his head over the back of his seat, grinning down at you. “Good thing our next flight doesn’t leave for a couple hours yet,” he said, indicating the crowd with a good-natured grin that made your heart melt.

You had almost been starting to think you’d exaggerated just how good-looking he was, but nope. He really was that hot.

“Plenty of time to grab those fries,” you laughed, smiling up at him.

When you and Bradley were finally able to step out into the aisle, he opened the bin above your head and reached for your suitcase.

“Let me take care of this for you,” he said, lowering it to the ground and lifting the handle so that he could wheel it up the aisle.

“Oh, you don’t have to,” you insisted, not wanting him to think that you expected him to carry your things for you.

“Hey, what are layover buddies for?” he winked, leading the way off the plane.

Once the two of you were standing face to face in the middle of the airport terminal, you began to feel a little shy and self-conscious again. It had been easy to talk to Bradley via text, but now that you were gazing up at his handsome face again, you suddenly found yourself getting just as tongue-tied as before.

Bradley seemed to sense your nerves because he smiled warmly at you, his demeanor just as open and friendly as it had been the entire time you’d known him.

“How about we hunt down those fries?” he suggested, waiting until you smiled and nodded before turning and guiding you towards the main concourse.

The two of you ended up finding a quick and easy little fast food counter, where you ordered a couple burgers, a large order of fries, and some vanilla milkshakes with whipped cream and cherries. As soon as it became clear that Bradley was going to pay for both your meals, you tried to argue and insist on paying your share, but he wouldn’t hear it.

“My mom raised a gentleman, and she would kill me if she thought I was even thinking of letting my layover buddy pay for her lunch,” he told you, winking playfully as he handed his credit card to the employee behind the counter.

You took your suitcase from Bradley as he balanced the tray with your food in his hands, leading you to an empty table towards the end of the concourse.

“Your mom must be very proud of you, I’m sure,” you grinned, reaching eagerly for a fry and popping it into your mouth. “Did you get to see her while you were in Virginia?”

Bradley smiled, though his eyes suddenly looked a little sad. “Yeah. Yeah, you could say that.”

Deciding not to press the matter, you instead turned the attention to his college reunion. That led to the two of you happily swapping stories about your time in college, which landed you on the subject of what you do now.

“A naval aviator? Really? And a TOPGUN graduate? That’s very impressive,” you gushed, mentally picturing him in a flight suit. You’d gone on a couple dates with some naval aviators from North Island, but none as handsome or as charming as Bradley. You suddenly groaned and covered your face with your hand when you remembered what you’d said to him right before boarding the plane. “So that’s what you meant when I was saying that flying isn’t my favorite mode of transportation,” you murmured, feeling a little embarrassed.

Bradley threw his head back and laughed at that, looking genuinely amused. “Hey, I get it. Flying isn’t for everybody. Trust me, some days I wish I had just opted for a desk job,” he grinned, his muscles flexing as he stretched in his seat. “But there’s nothing quite like it, when you’re the one doing the flying. Maybe one day I can take you up in the air and change your mind.”

He looked across the table at you and held your gaze, and you felt sure in that moment that you would have promised him anything he asked.

“So what’s your call sign then?” you asked with a smile, resting your cheek in your hand as you looked into his eyes.

“Oh, you know about that, huh?” he chuckled, the tips of his ears turning pink. “Well, uh, they call me Rooster.”

You had a feeling he expected you to laugh—maybe other girls in the past had—but you just grinned brightly in response. “I like it,” you said simply. “It suits you.”

He let out a small breath and smiled in return. “Thank you. My dad’s call sign was Goose. So I guess it runs in the family.”

“Your dad is in the Navy, too?” you asked curiously, lifting your milkshake and taking a sip.

Bradley cleared his throat slightly, looking down at his lap. “He was. He died in a training accident at TOPGUN when I was two.”

You sucked in a breath at your own carelessness and looked across at Bradley with empathy glowing in your eyes. “Oh, Bradley,” you murmured softly, reaching out and resting a hand over his. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay,” he replied gently, a small smile on his face as he placed his other hand over yours. “But thank you.” He was quiet for a moment before he went on. “It was just me and my mom for a while, back home in Virginia. But she got sick when I was in high school, and she passed away my senior year.”

“Bradley,” you breathed out sadly, your heart breaking for him. You winced when you thought of what he’d said before, about seeing his mom while he was in Virginia.

“She and my dad are buried in my hometown, where I grew up. I go to see them at the cemetery whenever I’m back in town,” he explained, as if reading your thoughts.

“I’m sure that means a lot to them, and that they’re smiling down on you always,” you told him sincerely, squeezing his hand lightly.

He smiled up at you, the sadness in his expression lifting slightly. “I like to think so. I think they’d like you a lot,” he added, then looked away. He suddenly seemed embarrassed.

The two of you sat back, disentangling your hands as you sat in mildly awkward silence for a moment or two.

“What about your parents?” Bradley asked, clearly looking for a way to change the subject. “Do they still live in New York?”

It was your turn to look sad now. “Well, we actually have a lot in common, Bradley. Only I guess my story is sort of in reverse. My mom passed away when I was six years old. She got in a car accident on her way home from work. And my dad passed when I was a freshman in college. Lung cancer.”

“Shit,” Bradley muttered, shaking his head and running a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have—”

“It’s okay,” you cut him off, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. “You couldn’t have known. And it feels kind of nice talking about it with someone who I know understands. You know what I mean?”

“Yeah,” Bradley nodded, his expression serious as his dark eyes rested on your face. “Yeah, I do.”

You and Bradley sat in companionable silence as you finished your meals, then checked to see how much time you had before your connecting flight.

“I guess we should start making our way over to the gate,” you suggested, glancing at the time on your phone. You had about ten text messages from Katie, but you were too embarrassed to open them anywhere near Bradley.

Bradley nodded in agreement, wordlessly taking the handle of your suitcase and leading you back across the concourse.

“Hey, we got so distracted talking about my job that I never even asked what you do,” he suddenly realized once the two of you were seated at your gate, both your phones charging in a nearby outlet.

“Oh, yeah,” you smiled, brushing a loose strand of hair that had escaped your bun behind your ear. “Funny enough, I actually work for the Midway Museum,” you told him, glancing up at him, only to find that he was already gazing down at you.

“No way! Guess we’re both stuck aboard aircraft carriers for work then,” he chuckled. “What do you do?”

“Well, my official title is digital content specialist,” you said, biting down on your lower lip. You felt like it always sounded a bit pretentious. “Basically, I help run the museum’s digital accounts—social media, their website, email blasts, things like that. My degree is in marketing and communications, so that’s basically what I do.”

“That’s amazing,” Bradley said, and you could tell that he genuinely meant it. Some guys just pretended to be interested in your job as a pretense for trying to get into your pants, but you could tell that Bradley actually cared about what you had to say. He was actually listening. “Is that what brought you out to San Diego?”

“It is, actually. I had been applying to a few different places, and when I got word from the Midway that they were interested in hiring me, I thought that maybe it was the fresh start I needed,” you confessed.

“Has it been?” Bradley asked quietly.

“I think so,” you nodded slowly, absent-mindedly twisting your bracelet around your wrist. “It’s hard sometimes, being so far away from my best friend, Katie—the one I was visiting. She’s pretty much the only family I’ve got left. But I like the life that I’m building in San Diego.”

“That’s good. I’m glad to hear it,” Bradley smiled, his hand lightly brushing against yours as he shifted in his seat. He looked like he was about to say more when the flight crew called your boarding group.

“Looks like we’re going to be sitting near each other again, 21A,” you teased, glancing down at his boarding pass as the two of you rose and grabbed your phones.

“Glad to hear it, 22A,” he joked in return, holding up his phone and waving it back and forth. “And now my phone is fully charged for our trip back to San Diego, so let the texting commence.”

Giggling, you nodded as the two of you walked down the rampway side by side and made your way onto the plane and to your seats without incident. When you got there, however, you saw that there had been some confusion with a young family that looked to have four children under the age of eight. It seemed as though their tickets had gotten split up so that they weren’t all sitting next to each other, and the mother was frantic.

“Excuse me, ma’am?” Bradley asked, quickly taking stock of the situation. When the woman looked up at him, clearly stressed out and worried he was going to yell at her, he smiled comfortingly. “I was just going to say that, if you’d like, you can have my seat. I’d be happy to take yours since it looks like it’s next to my friend here anyway. That way, we can all be comfortable and sit with the people we want to sit with.”

“Oh, thank you!” the young mother exclaimed, looking ready to hug Bradley. “Thank you!”

She and her husband quickly got their children settled, thanking Bradley a few more times for good measure, while he took your carry-on and set it in the overhead bin.

Once you had settled in your window seat, Bradley took the seat beside you, grinning impishly.

“Look at that. Now we don’t even need to waste the Wi-Fi,” he murmured, nudging you playfully.

“Things just have a way of working out for us today, don’t they?” you laughed, settling your duffel bag at your feet. “I’m just going to send a quick message to Katie, to let her know I made it onto my connecting flight,” you told him, reaching for your phone and quickly opening Katie’s messages so that Bradley wouldn’t see them.

“Good idea, I should text Mav,” Bradley said, grabbing his phone out of his pocket. At your confused look, he explained, “My godfather. He’s also in the Navy, and he also just so happens to be stationed out in San Diego. He’s going to pick me up at the airport.”

Nodding, you sent a brief text to your best friend, promising you would call her as soon as you got home, then settled in for the flight and tried to get as comfortable as possible.

As soon as you felt the plane jolt to life and begin taxing towards the runway, your chest grew tight and your grip on yours and Bradley’s shared armrest started to turn your knuckles white.

“Hey,” Bradley said softly, genuine concern in his voice as he glanced over and noticed how on edge you suddenly appeared. “You alright?”

“I’m fine,” you lied, keeping your gaze fixed straight ahead on the screen in front of you, which was currently playing some Delta commercial that your brain could scarcely register.

“I think your death grip on our armrest would suggest otherwise,” he pressed gently, his tone remaining light and good-humored. “You trying to take that thing with you?”

Startled, your nervous trance was broken and you glanced down to see what Bradley was talking about. Sure enough, your nails were digging into the armrest so intensely that you wouldn’t have been surprised if they left little crescent-shaped marks in their wake.

Letting out a shaky laugh, you looked up at the man beside you ruefully. “Okay, truth be told, I get a little anxious during takeoff,” you confessed, biting your lip in embarrassment. He would probably think that was silly. He was a fighter pilot, after all. His day job involved flying multi-million dollar aircrafts for the military. And here you were, acting like a scaredy cat over a commercial Delta flight.

Bradley’s eyes crinkled in a way that you found devastatingly charming as he smiled over at you. The look on his face was kind, without a single trace of mocking humor.

“Want to know a secret?” he whispered, leaning in closer to you so that his nose was nearly pressed against your cheek and you could feel his breath on your skin. “So do I.”

“You’re kidding,” you scoffed, shooting him a skeptical look. He was probably just trying to be nice. “But you’re a naval aviator!”

“Yeah, but I’m not the one flying this plane, am I?” he retorted with a lopsided grin. “It’s hard to put the reins in someone else’s hands. So I understand being nervous. Hell, I still get a little nervous sometimes when I’m flying an F-18. Just don’t tell anyone I said that,” he added, lowering his voice conspiratorially.

“Oh, of course not,” you giggled, smiling over at him. Glancing out the window, you realized that his conversation had distracted you so much, you hadn’t even noticed that the plane had finished its approach towards the runway and was officially waiting for takeoff.

Some of your nerves returned, and you gripped the armrest once more, but this time, you felt Bradley’s large, yet gentle fingers close over yours. Surprised, you turned your head sharply and instantly met his gaze. It was direct and disconcertingly open as he looked deeply into your eyes.

“It’s okay,” he assured you in a low voice, squeezing your fingers comfortingly. “We’re going to be okay.”

“My parents used to sing to me during takeoff,” you found yourself blurting out suddenly, your cheeks growing warm at the admission. “I can remember my mom doing it when I was a little girl, and my dad used to do it for me even when I was in high school,” you explained shyly, lowering your eyes to your lap.

At that moment, your stomach dropped as the plane suddenly began hurtling forward, seeking enough momentum to become airborne.

You squeezed your eyes shut, trying to recall the sound of your parents’ voices in order to calm your racing heart. But a new voice suddenly entered the mix as you felt your newfound flying buddy lean across the armrest, his warm body pressing against your side as he sang quietly in your ear.

“You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain…”

Wait a second. You knew that song. Where did you know that song from?

“Too much love drives a man insane. You broke my will, but what a thrill…”

Yes, you definitely knew that song. It was on one of the records your parents used to play when you were a little girl. Was it Jerry Lee Lewis?

Gasping in recognition, you whisper-sang the next lyric in harmony with Bradley—“Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!”

He laughed in delight when you began singing along, squeezing your hand with an affectionate grin. “And would you look at that,” he said, nodding towards the window. “We’re airborne. Wasn’t so bad, was it?”

Shocked, you followed his line of vision and were taken aback to see that you were already ascending into the clouds, leaving the city of Atlanta far behind. That had been one of the smoothest takeoff experiences you’d had in—well, you couldn’t even remember how long.

“I barely even noticed!” you exclaimed, focusing your attention back on Bradley. You smiled gratefully, your heart melting at the adorable puppy dog look on his face. “Thank you, Bradley.”

You noticed at that moment that he still hadn’t let go of your hand, and your pulse began to quicken, but this time for entirely different reasons.

“You’re welcome,” he murmured in response, his voice low and suddenly husky. It did something to you, that deep, raspy voice of his. “Happy to do it.” He squeezed your hand gently once more, then slowly—almost hesitantly—let it go.

“I haven’t heard that song in the longest time,” you told him, resting back against your seat. “My parents used to listen to it.”

Bradley smiled slightly. “It’s the one song I can actually remember my dad singing. He loved to sing and play the piano. My mom had tons of home videos of him doing it. But that song—that song I can actually remember hearing him sing, you know? I was so young when he—well—I can remember that one. And that’s why it’s my favorite to sing and play.”

“You play the piano, too?” you asked, impressed. “Wow, a man of many talents.” You nudged him playfully, a big smile on your face.

“I’ll have to show you what I can do,” Bradley replied, winking.

Your stomach fluttered at the implication that he might actually want to see you again after today.

“I’d like that,” you admitted, ducking your head shyly. You suddenly felt much more aware of everything around you, particularly every inch of your muscular seatmate. Goodness, he really was huge, wasn’t he? Chewing nervously on your bottom lip, you began fidgeting with your bracelet, tugging at it absent-mindedly.

“That’s a pretty bracelet,” Bradley commented, pointing at it as he watched you twist it back and forth around your wrist. “A gift?” he asked lightly, his tone almost a little too casual.

“Mhm,” you nodded, smiling fondly as you gazed down at it. You could still remember the day you opened it. “My dad bought it for me as a present when I graduated high school. I never take it off.”

“Ah,” Bradley nodded, appearing surprisingly relieved. He was quiet for a moment or two, looking like he was mulling over something. Then he turned towards you and asked, “So, um, is there anybody waiting for you in San Diego? Anyone, uh, special, I mean?” he asked, his cheeks and his ears turning red as he rubbed the back of his neck.

You felt your own skin grow warm in response. Was Bradley asking if you had a boyfriend? And was he embarrassed about it? Just when you thought this man couldn’t possibly charm you any more than he already had.

“Not unless you count my neighbor, Mrs. Flores. She really appreciates it when I walk her dog on the weekends,” you told him, your lips twitching as you tried to maintain a straight face.

Caught off guard by your response, Bradley let out a loud laugh, covering his mouth with one hand as he glanced down at you, eyes twinkling.

“I’m sure Mrs. Flores will be very happy to see you back again,” he nodded, tapping his fingers on his tray table.

The two of you sat in silence for a couple minutes until you finally glanced up and said, “I had actually just gotten out of a long-term relationship right before I moved to San Diego. It was kind of the catalyst for why I decided to take the job at the Midway Museum.”

“Oh, really?” Bradley asked, eyebrows shooting up. Then he cleared his throat, shaking his head. “I mean, I’m sorry to hear that. If it’s too personal, we don’t have to talk about it.”

“No, it’s okay,” you sighed, twirling your bracelet a few times as you thought back on your last failed relationship. Surprisingly, it didn’t hurt as much as it normally did. Maybe time really did heal all wounds. You took a deep breath before you elaborated. “Andrew and I were together for four years. For a long time, I really thought he was the one. Katie was convinced that he was going to propose on our trip to Greece. It was a dream vacation for me. I had the whole thing planned out for months and months. And I really started to let myself believe that it was going to happen.”

Bradley sat quietly, watching you carefully as he attentively took in every word you uttered.

“We were in Athens, and I had the whole day planned—all these tours and museums. But Andrew insisted that he was too tired since we had just traveled from Rhodes, and he begged me to let him stay behind at the hotel. Being the idiot that I am, I thought that maybe he wanted to put the finishing touches on his big proposal. So I went on the tours by myself. But the last tour ended early, so I came back to our hotel room a little sooner than expected.”

Your throat began to tighten as the story continued, the pain of what had happened next eclipsed only by your embarrassment that Bradley would soon know how pitifully your last relationship had ended. Why had you brought all this up?

“I’ll spare you all the details, but suffice it to say, I found Andrew in bed with one of the cocktail waitresses from the hotel bar. And to no one’s surprise, there was no ring and he never had any intention of proposing. So I flew home from Greece minus a boyfriend and with very little remaining of my dignity. Leaving everything behind and starting fresh in San Diego seemed like a really good idea, so when the Midway contacted me, I jumped at the offer. And here I am,” you finished with a self-conscious laugh, shrugging your shoulders awkwardly.

Bradley didn’t say anything at first, just continued to stare at you in a way that had you feeling distinctly exposed. Your fingers immediately went to your bracelet once again, nervously fidgeting and waiting for him to say something.

Reaching out, he placed his hand over yours and stilled your movements gently. “First of all,” he began slowly, looking directly into your eyes. It seemed as though he was peering directly into your soul. “Andrew is a complete and total loser. If he didn’t know what he had in you, then he never deserved you to begin with. It’s his loss, and trust me, he’ll be regretting it for the rest of his life if he has even an ounce of sense.” His thumb brushed lightly against your knuckles, making your legs suddenly feel like Jell-O. “Second of all, I’m so sorry. You didn’t deserve that, and I hope you know that the way that idiot treated you in no way says anything about you. I’ve only known you for a few hours, but I can see that that guy never deserved you to begin with.”

Feeling bashful, you lowered your head, trying to escape the intensity of Bradley’s dark eyes. It didn’t matter though—you could still feel his gaze.

“You don’t have to say that,” you murmured, not wanting him to think you had just unloaded all of this on him for sympathy points.

“I’m not just saying it,” he insisted, his voice serious. “You’re a special girl, and you deserve to be with someone who treats you that way.”

Someone like you?

The thought sprang unbidden to your mind, causing you to grow flustered. “Th–thank you,” you stammered, worried for half a second that Bradley could actually read your mind.

You were saved from having to make any further comment in that moment when the stewardess suddenly appeared with the food cart, asking you if you wanted any snacks or beverages.

You opted for a Diet Coke and popcorn, while Bradley took a Sprite and a bag of potato chips.

“What do you say? A little toast to my new flight buddy?” Bradley suggested teasingly, holding his can of soda out towards you.

You couldn’t help but smile, lightly tapping your can against his. “Cheers to us,” you laughed, taking a small sip.

“To us,” Bradley grinned. “You know,” he went on, after taking a gulp of his Sprite, “if you ever want to think about getting your pilot’s license, I’d be happy to have you as my wingman—er, woman.”

You laughed aloud at the notion, shaking your head. “Um, did you already forget about how well I handled takeoff? I’m not so sure anyone would trust me behind the controls of a plane.”

“I could teach you,” he shot back, waggling his eyebrows until you laughed again. “Or at the very least, take you up for a little joyride. I’d make sure to keep you safe.”

Your heart warmed at his words, and you found yourself wondering what it would be like to walk through life with this man, to have him be the one you came home to every day.

To have him be the one to make you feel like the most special girl in the world.

“I would like that,” you confessed, pushing your self-consciousness to the side as you looked into his eyes. “I would like that a lot.”

“So would I,” Bradley replied, his expression earnest.

For the next hour or two, you and Bradley shared some of the snacks you’d packed in your duffel bag and talked about everything and nothing at the same time. You had never felt so instantly at ease with someone who had been a complete and total stranger just a few hours earlier. The fact that he had been in San Diego all this time, right under your nose, and that it had taken a flight home all the way from Virginia for you two to actually meet felt like more than just a coincidence. It felt like this was exactly where you were supposed to be.

At some point, you must have finally succumbed to your exhaustion and fallen asleep because when the captain announced that you were making your final descent into San Diego International Airport, you were lifting your head off Bradley’s shoulder and blinking in confusion.

“Hello there, sleepyhead,” Bradley grinned, wiping a hand down his face and rubbing the sleep out of his own eyes.

“How long was I asleep?” you asked, stretching your arms over your head. “I never sleep on planes.”

“Well you definitely slept on this one. I’d say you were probably out for at least an hour and a half,” he told you, running a hand through his hair, which made his sunkissed curls stand on end. “I nodded out, too. Guess we both needed it, huh?”

“Yeah, guess so,” you nodded, smiling at him.

By the time you finally deplaned—after Bradley, of course, had insisted on taking down your carry-on suitcase from the overhead bin and rolling it through the airport for you—you were growing both eager and anxious with anticipation of what the end of your journey would look like.

You and Bradley technically already had each other’s phone numbers, so should you say something about getting together? Would that seem too brazen? Should you just text him tomorrow and hope that whatever spark had been ignited during your travels today wouldn’t be extinguished by the time you both got home?

All of those thoughts and more were running through your head as you and Bradley took the escalator down to baggage claim and the terminal exit.

“Do you, um, do you have somebody picking you up?” Bradley asked as the two of you stepped off the escalator. He stepped to the side to avoid the flow of the crowd, and you stepped with him. “Mrs. Flores perhaps?” he added with a teasing spark in his eye.

“No,” you giggled, shaking your head. “I was just planning to call an Uber.”

“No need,” he said, his chest puffing out ever so slightly. “Mav and I will give you a ride home. He should actually be here already,” he mumbled, almost to himself, as he pulled his phone out of his pocket and scrolled through his messages.

“Oh, you guys don’t have to do that. I wouldn’t want you going out of your way,” you hurried to tell him, noticing that Bradley still had his hand on the handle of your suitcase.

“Who says it would be going out of our way?” Bradley retorted with that impossibly charming smile of his. “Unless, of course, you’re more comfortable taking an Uber. I don’t want to make you feel like—”

“No, no, you’re not,” you interrupted, wanting to make it clear to him that you appreciated the offer.

Seemingly at an impasse, the two of you just looked at each other and started laughing.

“I would love a ride, thank you. If it’s not too much trouble,” you told him.

“Never,” Bradley insisted. “Besides, you put up with me all day. I owe you.”

“I could say the same thing,” you grinned, reaching into the front pocket of your duffel bag and pulling out your cell phone. “In the meantime, I should text Katie and let her know I landed safely and that you haven’t abducted me or anything,” you teased jokingly.

Too late, you realized your mistake.

“Ah, so you told Katie about me, huh?” Bradley smirked, looking just a tad too pleased with himself. “What did you say?”

“Oh, um, nothing, just that I made a friend while traveling,” you stammered in humiliation, your cheeks feeling like they were on fire. “I’m just, um, I’m going to step over there while you get your bag.”

“Sure, sure,” he laughed, winking at you as he hurried over to the baggage carousel to search for his suitcase.

“Oh my God, how stupid are you?” you muttered to yourself, mentally kicking yourself for your careless words as you sent off a quick message to your best friend to let her know you were alive.

A moment later, she texted you back.

YOU BETTER CALL ME THE MINUTE YOU GET HOME!!! I WANT EVERY. SINGLE. DETAIL!!!

Smiling, you dropped your phone back into your bag and looked up to see Bradley walking towards you, his suitcase in hand.

“Ready to head out?” he asked with a smile, watching as you grabbed the handle of your carry-on and did one quick scan to make sure you hadn’t dropped anything.

“Ready,” you nodded, following him outside to where a slew of Ubers and other cars were waiting to pick up their passengers.

“There’s Mav,” Bradley told you, pointing with his free hand towards the end of the pick-up line, where a handsome older man with dark hair and an easy smile was waving at you.

“Your godfather drives a Porsche?” you asked, your eyes nearly bugging out of your head at the sight of the vintage car. It was in pristine condition and you were certain it must have cost a small fortune.

“Technically, it’s his fiancée, Penny’s car, but she lets him drive it when he’s been good,” Bradley joked, resting a gentle hand on your back as he guided you through the crowd.

Bradley was quick to embrace his godfather when the two of you finally reached the Porsche, slapping him on the back before stepping back and holding out a hand to you. “Mav, I’d like you to meet my new travel buddy,” he grinned, introducing you by name.

Mav, as Bradley kept calling him, offered you one of those easy smiles as he held out his hand, which you took with a smile of your own.

“Ah, so this is the girl from the plane I’ve been hearing so much about,” Mav smirked, shooting a pointed look in his godson’s direction.

“Mav!” Bradley hissed through gritted teeth, his complexion instantly turning pink, even in the shade.

“Ah,” you smirked, feeling vindicated from your earlier blunder. “So you told Mav about me, huh?” you asked, nudging his side. “What did you say?” you teased, tossing back his question from before.

“Oh, he said plenty,” Mav jumped in, clearly enjoying watching Bradley squirm as he opened the passenger side door for you.

“Don’t listen to him. He’s crazy. All those Gs he’s always pulling have finally gone to his head,” Bradley protested, although he was smiling as he said it.

“Oh, I think I’m going to enjoy this car ride very much,” you giggled, winking at Bradley as you slid into your seat.

“Promise you’ll still like me by the time we get home?” Bradley whispered, leaning in close as he climbed in beside you.

You grinned up at him, thinking about how, for the first time in a long time, you didn’t feel so alone. San Diego suddenly felt much more like home than it ever had.

“Promise.”

#bradley rooster bradshaw #bradley bradshaw #rooster bradshaw #rooster x reader #bradley bradsaw x reader #x reader #x female reader #top gun #top gun: maverick #miles teller

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ralfmaximus · 13 days

Text

Here's the complete list of DHS flagged search terms. Don't use any of these on social media to avoid having the 3-letter agencies express interest in your activities!

DHS & Other Agencies

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Coast Guard (USCG)

Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Border Patrol

Secret Service (USSS)

National Operations Center (NOC)

Homeland Defense

Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Agent

Task Force

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

Fusion Center

Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)

Secure Border Initiative (SBI)

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS)

Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS)

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

Air Marshal

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

National Guard

Red Cross

United Nations (UN)

Domestic Security

Assassination

Attack

Domestic security

Drill

Exercise

Cops

Law enforcement

Authorities

Disaster assistance

Disaster management

DNDO (Domestic Nuclear Detection Office)

National preparedness

Mitigation

Prevention

Response

Recovery

Dirty Bomb

Domestic nuclear detection

Emergency management

Emergency response

First responder

Homeland security

Maritime domain awareness (MDA)

National preparedness initiative

Militia

Shooting

Shots fired

Evacuation

Deaths

Hostage

Explosion (explosive)

Police

Disaster medical assistance team (DMAT)

Organized crime

Gangs

National security

State of emergency

Security

Breach

Threat

Standoff

SWAT

Screening

Lockdown

Bomb (squad or threat)

Crash

Looting

Riot

Emergency Landing

Pipe bomb

Incident

Facility

HAZMAT & Nuclear

Hazmat

Nuclear

Chemical Spill

Suspicious package/device

Toxic

National laboratory

Nuclear facility

Nuclear threat

Cloud

Plume

Radiation

Radioactive

Leak

Biological infection (or event)

Chemical

Chemical burn

Biological

Epidemic

Hazardous

Hazardous material incident

Industrial spill

Infection

Powder (white)

Gas

Spillover

Anthrax

Blister agent

Exposure

Burn

Nerve agent

Ricin

Sarin

North Korea

Health Concern + H1N1

Outbreak

Contamination

Exposure

Virus

Evacuation

Bacteria

Recall

Ebola

Food Poisoning

Foot and Mouth (FMD)

H5N1

Avian

Flu

Salmonella

Small Pox

Plague

Human to human

Human to ANIMAL

Influenza

Center for Disease Control (CDC)

Drug Administration (FDA)

Public Health

Toxic

Agro Terror

Tuberculosis (TB)

Agriculture

Listeria

Symptoms

Mutation

Resistant

Antiviral

Wave

Pandemic

Infection

Water/air borne

Sick

Swine

Pork

Strain

Quarantine

H1N1

Vaccine

Tamiflu

Norvo Virus

Epidemic

World Health Organization (WHO and components)

Viral Hemorrhagic Fever

E. Coli

Infrastructure Security

Infrastructure security

Airport

CIKR (Critical Infrastructure & Key Resources)

AMTRAK

Collapse

Computer infrastructure

Communications infrastructure

Telecommunications

Critical infrastructure

National infrastructure

Metro

WMATA

Airplane (and derivatives)

Chemical fire

Subway

BART

MARTA

Port Authority

NBIC (National Biosurveillance Integration Center)

Transportation security

Grid

Power

Smart

Body scanner

Electric

Failure or outage

Black out

Brown out

Port

Dock

Bridge

Canceled

Delays

Service disruption

Power lines

Southwest Border Violence

Drug cartel

Violence

Gang

Drug

Narcotics

Cocaine

Marijuana

Heroin

Border

Mexico

Cartel

Southwest

Juarez

Sinaloa

Tijuana

Torreon

Yuma

Tucson

Decapitated

U.S. Consulate

Consular

El Paso

Fort Hancock

San Diego

Ciudad Juarez

Nogales

Sonora

Colombia

Mara salvatrucha

MS13 or MS-13

Drug war

Mexican army

Methamphetamine

Cartel de Golfo

Gulf Cartel

La Familia

Reynose

Nuevo Leon

Narcos

Narco banners (Spanish equivalents)

Los Zetas

Shootout

Execution

Gunfight

Trafficking

Kidnap

Calderon

Reyosa

Bust

Tamaulipas

Meth Lab

Drug trade

Illegal immigrants

Smuggling (smugglers)

Matamoros

Michoacana

Guzman

Arellano-Felix

Beltran-Leyva

Barrio Azteca

Artistics Assassins

Mexicles

New Federation

Terrorism

Al Queda (all spellings)

Terror

Attack

Iraq

Afghanistan

Iran

Pakistan

Agro

Environmental terrorist

Eco terrorism

Conventional weapon

Target

Weapons grade

Dirty bomb

Enriched

Nuclear

Chemical weapon

Biological weapon

Ammonium nitrate

Improvised explosive device

IED (Improvised Explosive Device)

Abu Sayyaf

Hamas

FARC (Armed Revolutionary Forces Colombia)

IRA (Irish Republican Army)

ETA (Euskadi ta Askatasuna)

Basque Separatists

Hezbollah

Tamil Tiger

PLF (Palestine Liberation Front)

PLO (Palestine Libration Organization)

Car bomb

Jihad

Taliban

Weapons cache

Suicide bomber

Suicide attack

Suspicious substance

AQAP (Al Qaeda Arabian Peninsula)

AQIM (Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb)

TTP (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan)

Yemen

Pirates

Extremism

Somalia

Nigeria

Radicals

Al-Shabaab

Home grown

Plot

Nationalist

Recruitment

Fundamentalism

Islamist

Weather/Disaster/Emergency

Emergency

Hurricane

Tornado

Twister

Tsunami

Earthquake

Tremor

Flood

Storm

Crest

Temblor

Extreme weather

Forest fire

Brush fire

Ice

Stranded/Stuck

Help

Hail

Wildfire

Tsunami Warning Center

Magnitude

Avalanche

Typhoon

Shelter-in-place

Disaster

Snow

Blizzard

Sleet

Mud slide or Mudslide

Erosion

Power outage

Brown out

Warning

Watch

Lightening

Aid

Relief

Closure

Interstate

Burst

Emergency Broadcast System

Cyber Security

Cyber security

Botnet

DDOS (dedicated denial of service)

Denial of service

Malware

Virus

Trojan

Keylogger

Cyber Command

2600

Spammer

Phishing

Rootkit

Phreaking

Cain and abel

Brute forcing

Mysql injection

Cyber attack

Cyber terror

Hacker

China

Conficker

Worm

Scammers

Social media

SOCIAL MEDIA?!

#dhs #privacy #paranoia #security

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winterscaptain · 2 years

Text

come home.

Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw x Fem!Reader a top gun: maverick fic

a/n: i am so excited to share this fic with you all! i started writing it as soon as i came home from my first watch and the final edits came in last night as i reviewed my notes from my third visit to the theater. as always, let me know what you think!

words: 16k content advisories: language, alcohol use, alcohol mention, food consumption, general shenanigans and goofy group chats acknowledgements: thank you to my beta-readers and collaborators, aimz (@ssaic-jareau) and katie (@extrakatie). shout out to red (@hurricanejjareau), my concept co-creator who helped me at every step. couldn’t do this without you!

summary: if home is where the heart is, you hate it when your home has to crash-land on an aircraft carrier. or, what happens when dagger squad comes home.

masterlist | ask

You hear your name over your cube and stand, surprised to see one of the few admirals in the building standing by your desk. They aren’t a rarity in the Pentagon by any stretch, but they don’t usually need to see you.

Your phone sits open, waiting for a text from Bradley. The exchange from last night stands lonely on your screen.

4:56am On the deck! I love you.

4:57am I love you! Fly safe and come home to me in one piece.

4:59am ❤️

“Sir?”

He hands you a piece of paper. It appears to be a boarding pass for a plane headed to San Diego in a couple of hours. Your stomach drops and you have no idea what your face looks like when you meet the admiral’s gaze again.

“Transport is due in tonight.”

You swallow. There’s part of you that always worried about Bradley dying out there in one of his fucking planes…

“Sir, is…” You clear your throat. “Is he…”

The admiral spares you. “He’s alive. And mostly fine.” There’s a funny little smile on his face. “Be sure to thank Lt. Seresin when you arrive.”

“Hangman?” You ask, your brow furrowed. “Respectfully, sir, what the hell happened out there?”

+++

You check in to the naval hospital and practically jog to Bradley’s room. You don’t find him right away, but you do see part of his team - Hangman, Phoenix, Bob, and Payback - sitting in the little plastic chairs in the waiting area.

Without thinking about it too much, you hardly wait for Jake to get to his feet before you’re throwing your arms around his neck, burying your face in his chest or shoulder, or whatever you can reach.

“Thank you.”

You can feel him nod and tighten his grip on you. One arm secures you around the waist, his other hand holding your head to him.

The few details you know are enough to owe him for a lifetime, so you thank him again. You’re not sure what you say in total, but you certainly repeat yourself a few times.

“Of course,” he replies. “It’s my job and I’d do it again.”

You hear a scoff and pull back, wiping your eyes.

You’re met with Phoenix’s grin. “He’s being dramatic,” she says. “It wasn’t that exciting.”

“Excuse me,” Hangman retorts. “Did you dead-eye fire at a fifth-gen fighter yesterday while it was nose to nose with Maverick and Rooster, destroying the incoming missile and the aircraft, surely and heroically saving their lives?”

Phoenix rolls her eyes. You just know this incident will give him enough ego ammunition for the rest of time.

“That’s enough,” you tell him with a smile. “Plus, I’m pretty sure you just breached your clearance.”

Bob pulls a face. “He definitely did.”

You grin, feeling truly relaxed for the first time in seven hours. “Where’s Fanboy?”

Payback looks up. “Cafeteria. He’ll be back soon. Want anything?”

“No, I’m good. I ate at the airport in DC.” You peer down the hallway. “Just eager to see my boy.”

“That was…” Bob says under his breath, checking his watch and looking at Phoenix, “like seven hours ago.”

“Is that who I think it is?” A voice down the hallway has you turning over your shoulder. “Chim!”

“Coyote!”

He grins and scoops you up, turning you around in a circle before setting you back on your feet.

“With the Rooster in the coop, the Chicken couldn’t have been too far behind, right?” Hangman quips, that shit-eating grin back on his face.

“That’s a stupid-ass nickname and you know it,” you tell him.

He shrugs. “It’s your call sign, now. Better get used to it.”

“Wait,” Phoenix says. “Chicken, I get, but Chims? I’m lost.”

“It’s just a stupid thing that evolved,” Coyote says, shrugging. “Stupid way to say chicken turned into chimken, then Chicken became Chim…” He waves her off. “I mean, how do you get Bag Man from Hangman?”

Hangman rolls his eyes, ready to come back at her but something stops him. He looks past you and smiles. “Hey, Mav! How’s he doin’?”

“Good,” a voice replies. “He’ll be ready for visitors in about fifteen minutes. They’re running a couple of cognitive tests and then they want to keep him overnight, just in case. He smacked his head pretty good on ejection and again on landing, so even with the helmet…” The voice trails off and you turn. “Who’s this?”

Maverick Mitchell’s face is a familiar one from photos and the old home videos Carole showed you before she died, not to mention the brief glimpses you got at the funeral.

He’s got a place of honor on Rooster’s desk at home, but you’ve always known the focal point of that picture to be Goose in the RIO seat. Maverick is, of course, a recognizable figure, but not one that inspires any degree of fondness.

He offers a hand to you and you take it somewhat coldly, keeping a neutral expression on your face. Before you can remind him who you are, Jake gives your name and adds, “We call her Chicken though.”

“Chicken, huh? When did that start?” Mav asks with a smile.

You shrug, your mouth pinched. “When Bradley was in OCS, I guess.”

“I’m sure I’ll hear the story later,” he says. His smile softens. “It’s good to see you again.”

Sure.

You give him a tight pull of your mouth that could be a smile if you tried a little harder. “Yeah.”

You feel a little bad - you know Maverick had a good hand in saving Bradley’s life as well, but the hours you’ve spent drying tears over this motherfucker in the last thirteen years makes that easy to overlook.

Turning, you check in with Bob and Phoenix, “I’m gonna head down to mess and pick something up. Need anything?”

“I thought you -”

Phoenix elbows Bob and answers for both of them. “We’re good. We’ll be here.”

+++

Maverick isn’t fazed by your chilly reception. He knows who you are.

“What was that about?” Coyote asks, finding a seat.

Maverick shrugs. “As you might recall, Rooster and I weren’t on the best terms when we all arrived. Recent developments aside, I get it. I’m sure it’ll be alright.” He offers a firm pat on Coyote’s shoulder before sitting down himself.

“Why’d they let you loose?” Phoenix asks. “Didn’t you also go down in enemy territory?”

“Ah, they don’t care much about me. Rooster still has many distinguished years to offer the Navy.”

Phoenix snorts. “C’mon.”

“Alright,” Mav relents. “I had them check me out on the carrier and I was fine. I insisted they send Rooster for a full work-up, just in case.”

Phoenix hums, leaving it alone for now.

“How long’s it been since they’ve seen each other?” Hangman asks.

“The poultry?”

Hangman snorts and nods.

Phoenix shrugs. “Unless he stopped off in Virginia on his way here, it’s been five or six months. He’d been overseas for a minute and he wasn’t due back for shore duty until the middle of spring.” She sighs. “Maybe he’ll actually pull his head out of his ass and marry her this time.”

+++

You check in with the front desk again to confirm Bradley can take visitors again before you go upstairs. You don’t want to spend any more time than is necessary with Maverick.

It is strange though, you figure. The only reason you know Bradley at all is because Mav pulled his papers. It makes you smile, remembering back to undergrad at UVA, more than a decade ago.

“Excuse me!”

You turn and smile, finding a tall and sort-of cute (mostly tall) guy jogging up to you.

“Do you know where I can find…um…” He checks his phone. “Professor Taylor? I have office hours and I’m late.”

You nod. “I just came from her office.” You turn and point at the building a little ways down the path. “Head over there and she’s on the third floor. The elevator’s broken, though, so you’ll have to go up the stairs on the outside of the building.”

He heaves a breath. “Thank you. You don’t happen to be in 312 with her, do you?”

“Yeah,” you tell him. “I sit behind you.”

He (you suppose unconsciously) brings his hand to the back of his head. “Really?”

“Yeah, really.” You put an earbud back in. “I’ll be there Thursday. Don’t be later than you already are!”

“Oh, shit.” He takes off at a run and hops backward for a moment, facing you. “Thanks!”

You step out of the elevator and make your way down the hall, bypassing the team in a hurry. A couple of them stand to greet you, but you can see Bradley through the window and that’s your sole focus.

He’s in pajamas - well, a UVA shirt and pair of joggers - rather than a gown. That alone is enough to keep your blood pressure down. He looks fine from here…

“Christ, baby! What are you doing he-”

Your lips on his are enough to shut him up. He lets out a little breath, melting into you. His arms slide around you, stealing your breath as your hands knead into the hair at the base of his neck. He flinches a little and you pull back immediately, letting go.

“Sorry.”

He shakes his head, his mega-watt grin blinding you. “You’re fine. You’re perfect. Hi.” His hand pulls from your waist, coming up to rest against your cheek. “When did you get in?”

“About an hour ago.” You slide a hand down the outside of his arm, holding his hand to your cheek. You kiss his palm. “I missed you.”

“Missed you, too,” he says, nearly at a whisper.

You shuffle so you can wrap your arms around him and burrow deep, holding him as tight as you can. “You’re not allowed to crash planes anymore, okay?”

He chuckles. “No promises, sweetheart.”

You stand there for a moment, swaying a little. The nurses are kind enough to leave you alone for a second. He smells the same - something warm and sunshiny, with a touch of jet fuel, canvas, and something clean and cozy.

“You scared the fuck outta me.”

“I’m sorry,” he says. He means it. “I’ve got some stuff I want to talk to you about, too.”

Your stomach drops and you lean back to look at him.

“Ah, shit. Sorry. That’s - that’s not how I wanted to phrase that.” He smiles at you and your heart unclenches. “I just wanted to fill you in on a couple of things. But I want to hear about what you’re working on, first.”

He lets you guide him to the bed, where he settles in among the pillows and pulls you with him.

You curl into his side and start telling him about the project you’re working on at the Pentagon - at least the basic details he’s allowed to know - for a few seconds before he interrupts you.

“Wait, how did you get here?”

You twist around to look at him. “Do I need to send you back for more concussion screening?”

He rolls his eyes. “No, I mean -”

“I got here in a commercial airliner. They’re significantly bigger than the planes you fly, but I think you’ve seen them before? Maybe a Boeing 777?”

“Shut up. You know what I mean.”

You smile and relent. “Yeah, alright. My boss said, verbatim, ‘given your highly-decorated boyfriend got blown up in enemy airspace and crash-landed an F-14 on a carrier less than twelve hours ago, you can take a couple of days off.’”

“He sounds cool.”

“He’s reasonable.”

There’s quiet for a moment. You breathe deeply, letting out a long, relieved sigh. Bradley’s fingers trace patterns on your shoulder somewhat absently.

“Hey,” he says.

You look up.

“Does it bug you that we’ve been together so long and I’ve never asked you to marry me?”

You swallow to cover the bolt of adrenaline shot into your system. “You’ve asked me to marry you plenty of times.”

A cup of coffee lands in his hands after a bad night of sleep. You sit beside him, pressing a kiss to his shoulder.

“Marry me,” he says, smiling.

You laugh. “No.”

He mimes stabbing himself in the gut, twisting and pulling the invisible blade. “You wound me, my lady.”

“Call me when you’ve got a ring, honey.”

And it’s true. Except on paper and in the eyes of the Navy, for all intents and purposes, you’re married.

“Yeah, but seriously,” he says. He almost sounds concerned.

You sit up a little, bracing yourself on your arm so you can look at him. “What’s on your mind?”

“Well…” He looks anywhere but you, surprisingly bashful. “I just…I don’t want you to feel that I take you for granted.”

“I don’t feel that way,” you tell him, quickly. “Not at all.”

“I know. But you deserve better than just a long-time boyfriend who’s too busy to get his shit together and lock you down already.”

You huff a laugh. “Last I checked, I’m not dating Jake.”

Bradley rolls his eyes. “You know what I mean. It’s been a long time.”

“Yeah, I do, and it has.” Your free hand shakes as you run it over his collar and down his chest. “But I’m fine, baby. You know that. I’m in no rush.”

“You’ve thought about it, right? Making it official?” He asks.

The genuine insecurity in his voice makes you smile. “Don’t be stupid. Of course I’ve thought about it. I’ve thought about it since our fourth date.”

“Fourth?” Now he just sounds offended.

You push at his shoulder. “Fourth. You know what you did on the third.”

He tips his head. You’re right.

There’s quiet for another moment.

“Bradley Bradshaw,” you start. He really does have a goofy, delightful name, doesn’t he? “When we’ve got time, we’ll make it happen. I don’t need time or a ring or a wedding when I’ve got you coming home with me after the Navy’s had her way with you.”

“You make us sound like swingers.”

You laugh. “Well, the Navy isn’t your mistress and neither am I, so I’ll leave you to do the math on that one.”

“Fair enough,” he says. He pulls you down beside him and kisses your forehead, tipping your chin up for something a little more proper. It’s easy to melt into him.

“But seriously,” he continues. “I want to marry the hell out of you and I love you. Is that okay?”

“Yeah,” you tell him. “That’s definitely okay.” You pause for a second. “But when you’re actually ready to ask, you better do it for real so I know you’re not joking this time.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

+++

You run into a three-star admiral at the coffee bar later in the evening. He taps your shoulder and says your name. You throw your headphones off your ears and around your neck, looking over at him.

“Sir?”

“They call you Chicken, don’t they?”

You can’t help but smile a little. “Should my ears be burning, sir?”

“Only a little,” he says. He offers a hand. “Admiral Simpson.”

You take it. “I’ve heard lots about you, Admiral. My supervisor at the Pentagon was class of ‘93 at Top Gun.”

“Ah. Thunder is a friend. I’m glad to hear he’s still working his magic over there.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Shall we?” He gestures down the hall and you nod, walking a little ahead of him through the door.

You walk with him in silence for a little while. At this point, you’ve grown immune to the intimidation factor of high-ranking Navy officers (especially pilots). You know they’re all, at least on the inside, little kids who love planes. Plus, anyone who willingly gets into a two-billion-dollar bomb for a day job has to be a little crazy.

“I was talking to Thunder this morning, actually.”

Your step only falters a little bit, but you wait for him to say more.

“I hear the work you’re doing at the Pentagon is important.”

“Yes, sir. I think so.” You offer him a small smile and he returns it.

He stops a little ways outside Bradley’s door. You join him, keeping your eyes affixed to the nurse schedule on the whiteboard across the way. “I also hear that you request a transfer every time Rooster is stationed somewhere new.”

You shrug. “I make an effort. Since he’s been overseas so much the last year or so, I’ve settled in at the Pentagon a little bit more.”

“We spoke a bit this morning about transferring your contract to NIWC Pacific. There are a couple of projects relevant to your current work that we’d like to have you lead down here, if you’re interested.”

You blink a couple of times. “When would that transfer go into effect?”

“Not this Monday, but the Monday after. You’d theoretically have the rest of this week off and next week would be spent facilitating the first part of the responsibility transfer among your Pentagon team. Of course, the Navy would be happy to assist with relocation, as your permanent address is also Rooster’s.” He sighs, almost sounding regretful.

“Sir?”

“Of course, this would be easier if you were married, but that’s neither here nor there.” He smiles at you and starts to walk away. “Just think about the transfer. Thunder will reach out soon for your official word.”

+++

“So,” Bradley says without preamble, “about Maverick.”

You look over at him, a question in your eyes.

Bradley seems to struggle with his words for a second. “We both saved each others’ asses out there. I’d be dead without him.”

There’s silence for a second. You know he’ll get there eventually.

“He’s the closest thing to a father I remember and it was… weird being around him again.”

He reaches out and you take his hand. His thumb passes back and forth over your knuckles, treating them almost like a worry stone.

Bradley flies down the hill on his bike, going way too fast, but he can’t feel fear over the rush of the wind on his face. He pedals faster… faster… faster.

Before he can blink, he’s upside down, tumbling over the handlebars and onto the asphalt. He lands on his arm and something doesn’t feel right. He licks his lips and wipes his nose of what he’s sure is sweat. It comes off his chin red, dripping onto the pavement.

He’s stunned, frankly. There’s something in his nine-year-old brain that can’t grasp the concept of his own lack of invincibility.

All at once, the pain starts and he begins to wail in earnest, yelling for his mom, or Mav, or whoever might be around.

Maverick hears him first. He’s sitting at the Bradshaws’ kitchen table, nursing a beer in the sunshine from the window. Faster than the jet he flies daily, he rockets out of his seat, throwing the door open and hopping the porch fencing, bracing his fall with his hands before finding his feet again. He can see Bradley down the hill on the street, small and blond and covered in dirt and blood.

“Mav!”

“I’m coming, buddy! Hold on.”

Pete isn’t even breathless when he gets to Bradley, scooping him onto his hip with one arm and rescuing his bike with the other.

He can’t bring himself to care that his white v-neck is soaking up the blood from Bradley’s bloody forehead. He holds him tightly, tighter when Bradley burrows further into him.

“It’s okay, bud. We’ll sort you out.”

Mav opens the door and calls out for Carole, his voice loud but calm. He kisses Bradley’s head and sets him down on the counter next to the sink. “Alright, buddy. Let’s see what we’re working with.”

Bradley’s sobs have calmed to hiccups and he refuses to let go of his arm, hugging it to his body. Mav figures ten minutes won’t matter much for that.

Carole is admirably calm as she joins them, washing the garden off her hands before retrieving the first aid kit in the bathroom.

With gentle hands, Mav cleans the dirt out of the cut on Bradley’s forehead and the scrapes on his chin and nose. Carole gives them space after a moment, watching Maverick talk quietly to Bradley, narrating his movement and giving him a hard time about “using the afterburner on the descent.”

It makes her smile.

“I’m ready for him to be back in my life again, I think. Losing Ice has been…” He pauses. “It’s been hard and weird and I need what’s left of my family, I think.” He looks at you. “What do you think?”

“I think if you’re ready to move on, that’s a good thing.” You think for a moment and add, “I’m glad you and Mav had some time together. It’s been a long time.”

You sit with Ice in the waiting room. He has a hand on your shoulder, warm and solid. The two of you get to your feet when Bradley returns, looking like he’s aged a decade in the past twenty-four hours.

“How is she?” You ask.

He shakes his head. “Fading fast.”

Ice’s hand slides off your shoulder as you leave him, crossing the room to take Bradley in your arms. He holds you tightly, burrowing into you, his eyes squeezing shut.

His breath catches and you adjust your grip, holding even tighter. Tears land on your shoulder.

“I’m so sorry, baby.”

He takes a shuddering breath. “She wants to see you if you’re up to it.” He looks over your shoulder. “You too, Uncle Ice.”

You lead the way down the hall, Ice following behind you. He’s like a looming shadow: lean, strong, and intimidating.

Carole looks awfully small, but they’ve removed all the tubes and wires. She smiles at you, soft, before her gaze shifts to Ice.

“Come here, you two.”

You take a seat to her left, by her head. Ice takes the one next to you. Carole holds his hand.

“I’ve asked Bradley to consider forgiving Pete, but I know he won’t for a long time.” She pauses. “You two are the only family he has left, in his mind. I know you’ll take care of him, but you need to take care of each other, too.”

“You got it, Carole,” Ice says, the side of his mouth lifting in a handsome, crooked smile. “Mav’s at our wing, too. Flying low-vis.”

She smiles at you, sharing a moment only the Navy-adjacent can truly appreciate. Her gaze grows serious and she looks at Ice. “Get Bradley back home and call Maverick, please. He’s the only one allowed to be here when I die.”

You’ll never forget the look of hollow grief on Maverick’s face when you saw him for the first time the next morning. You were left alone as Bradley brushed past him without a word and stepped into the room to see his mother’s body, to say goodbye.

Maverick doesn’t speak and neither do you. When Bradley returns, Maverick reaches out.

Bradley pulls away with a roll of his shoulder, taking your hand. “C’mon,” he says to you. “There’s a lot of stuff to do.”

You don’t see Maverick, watching you go, feeling more alone than he has in his entire life.

“Yeah. It’s nice to understand him a little bit better as an adult.” He shrugs. “I really hated him for pulling my papers but I know he was just…” He heaves a sigh. “He’s just trying to do right by me, I think. I didn’t get that before.”

“That’s understandable.” You trace little patterns on his shirt. “He hurt you, held you back. You’d be insane not to be at least a little mad.”

He hums again. “I guess. I did meet you, though, so it’s not all bad.”

“No?” You ask, smiling. “Not all bad?”

“No,” he replies. He presses a kiss to your forehead. “And I was thinking about how shitty I’ve been about that - I can’t imagine how me griping about my wasted time at UVA made you feel. I’m really sorry.”

You shake your head. “I understood the implicit exception.”

“It was still insensitive. Mav said something about that today and it kind of clicked. So…” He sighs. “I’m sorry if I ever made you feel like it was a mistake or a fluke that I met you.”

“You’re the dumbest man alive, you know that?” You pat his chest. “And don’t you think I would have told you if that hurt my feelings?”

He snorts. “Now, yeah. Ten years ago? No.”

“Fair enough,” you reply, squeezing his hand.

He smiles. “I guess what I’m really saying is, be nice to him. I’m sure he’ll want to get to know you.”

“Alright. I’ll do my best.” You return his smile and kiss the back of his hand. “I love you, you know.”

“I do know that, yes,” he replies with a smile. “And I love you.”

+++

Bradley reaches for his phone and you hand it to him without looking up from your tablet.

“I can get it, you know. I’m not actually injured.”

You smile sweetly at him and he rolls his eyes. He fires off a text to Hangman.

9:03pm I need a favor.

Jake replies immediately. 9:03pm I just saved your life and you need another favor?

9:03pm It’s easy I promise.

Jake doesn’t reply, so Bradley sends his request anyway.

9:04pm Can you or Mav grab Chims and take her to the hotel? She needs to sleep and I need to make a phone call before it gets too late.

The response is instant. 9:04pm Wait are you finally pulling the trigger???

Bradley stuffs his grin. 9:05pm If you say anything, I’ll ironically kill you.

9:05pm I always wanted an unironic and heroic death. Just for that, you get Mav.

9:05pm Thanks. Seriously dont say anything i swear

He sends another text to a friend, Lt. Gavin “Stub” Alonso in Virginia - one who has keys to your shared apartment.

9:05pm Are you still up/can you help me with something?

Stub replies promptly, thankfully. 9:05pm I’m up. All good in SD?

9:06pm All good. Need a favor. Can you drive to the apt and call me? 9:06pm I need something shipped ASAP.

9:07pm Easy. I’ll be there in 20 mins.

He gets a final text from Hangman. 9:07pm I wont!! Who do you think I am? 9:07pm Don’t answer that.

Bradley puts his phone down and leans back against the pillows. “Hey, when’s the last time you slept?”

“What?” You look over at him again looking admittedly a little dazed.

“I asked when’s the last time you slept.”

“I slept last night. Why?”

“I just know you’re still on East Coast time, so I wanted to make sure that you’re able to get back to the hotel tonight.”

You clamber out of the chair, setting your tablet aside, and sit next to him on the bed. “I’m fine.” You offer a pinkie to him. “I promise.”

He smiles and links his pinkie with yours, twisting your linked fingers to kiss the back of your hand. “I believe you, but you need to get some sleep.”

“Alright, fine. I’ll walk off base and call an Uber or something.” You hop off the side of the bed and start gathering your things.

Bradley chases after you, grabbing you around the waist and kissing your neck. “I called in a favor. Stay put.”

“Bradley,” you ask, “who are you inconveniencing this evening?”

He shrugs, playfully pulling you closer. “Nobody important.”

The two of you mess around, quipping back and forth a little longer than you realized.

“I can come back,” comes a playful chirp from the door.

The two of you freeze and look toward the door - Bradley’s holding your phone in the air with one hand while you attempt to climb him like a tree. You’ve got an elbow digging into his shoulder while your legs wrap around his waist.

Maverick’s in the doorway, leaning with his arms crossed and a smile on his face.

You slide down and get your feet under you while Bradley wordlessly hands your phone over.

“Hey, Mav,” Bradley says with a rueful grin, his hand rising to needlessly run over the back of his neck. “Thanks for the ride.”

Maverick snorts. “Ride’s not for you, kiddo. You’re stuck here until morning.”

“What?” Bradley says, a smile on his face. “I can’t be polite?”

You look between them, feeling more than a little out of the loop. Strangely, you’re also looking forward to getting to know Maverick a little better now.

Grabbing your bag, you give Bradley a quick kiss before shuttling him back into bed with a few gentle shoves. He pulls you back before you can get too far, running the back of his fingers over your cheek and pulling you in for another kiss.

“Goodnight. I love you.”

You smile, winking at him. “I love you too. Get some sleep.”

+++

Tonight won’t be the night you get to know Maverick, apparently. He takes your bag as soon as you’re outside, strapping it to the back of his bike and replacing the helmet that used to sit there. He hands the helmet to you and helps you get it on, tightening the strap under your chin.

You raise the visor. “Where’s yours?”

He smiles. “Don’t have one. This,” he says, tapping the side of your head, “is for my protection as much as yours. I just got Bradley back and I’m not about to screw it up now.”

You smile, letting him help you onto the back of the bike.

He mounts up and starts the engine, zipping up his bomber jacket. You study the patches for a second before tentatively placing your hands around Maverick’s waist, leaning into him as he settles the bike, kicking up the kickstand.

“Ready?” He asks.

You nod, but quickly realize he can’t see you. “Yep! All good.”

He covers one of your hands with his, pulling it into his shearling-lined pocket. There’s a lump of bunched fabric where you guess 30 years of passengers have held on for dear life. You take the lining in a tight fist, matching the hold with your other hand. Maverick pats your hand, satisfied. “Hang on tight.”

+++

Stubs calls Bradley about two minutes after you leave.

“Hey man, perfect timing,” Bradley says with a smile. “Thanks for helping me out.”

“Hey, look. As long as you’re getting what I think you’re getting, we’re all good. I still owe you from Oahu.” Stubs doesn’t even sound tired, which isn’t a surprise. He’s always been a night owl.

Bradley tips his head. “I think we’re on the same page. So, head up to our room and into the closet. I have a chest of drawers on the left side.”

There’s quiet while Stubs climbs the stairs. He can hear the closet slide open and the light turn on. “Damn, is she always this tidy?”

Bradley snorts. “No.”

“Just checking.” There’s a brief pause. “Okay, I’m here.”

“Alright check the bottom drawer first.” Bradley sits up, resting his elbow on his knee and his forehead settled on his hand.

“Are you telling me you don’t know where it is?”

Bradley rolls his eyes. “I literally put it there over a year ago and I ran two three-month assignments overseas and a special detachment recall since then. Gimme a break.”

“Fine. Okay. Bottom drawer.” There’s silence while he looks. “Do you guys seriously have two vibrat- never mind.”

“Sorry.”

“Nothing in here that looks like…a velvet box? Right? That’s what I’m looking for?”

“Yeah. Try the next drawer. Shouldn’t be anything questionable in there.”

Another pause. “Holy shit. Is this all your dad and Maverick’s stuff?”

Bradley nods, closing his eyes and trying to picture the box, where he’d last seen it to hide it from you. “Yeah. It should be with the patches back there, I think”

“Sweet. Let me put you down a second.”

There’s a bit of shuffling and then a little triumphant sound. Another shuffle. “I got it.”

“Please make sure the ring is in there.”

Stubs laughs. “It’s here. Damn, man. This looks great. She’s gonna love it.”

“Thanks.” Bradley smiles to himself. “Can you get it same-day or overnight? I’ll give you the address. It’ll be out in the Mohave so I can avoid base mixups.”

“Consider it done.”

+++

Maverick pulls the bike up in front of the hotel and you remove your helmet, shaking your head. You take Mav’s offered hand and dismount, unclipping your bag from the storage in back.

“Thanks, Mav.”

He steps off the bike and relieves you of your helmet. “Of course. Can I come get you tomorrow? I’ll have one of the boys bring Rooster’s car to the hospital before he’s due to get out.”

“Sure. Thanks.” You hike the strap of your bag a little higher on your shoulder. “Hey, um.”

He looks at you, his eyebrows high.

“I’m sorry I was rude earlier. Bradley told me that you guys have kind of… figured your stuff out.”

Maverick smiles, crooked and handsome. “I’d like to think so.” He takes a breath. “I’m glad he met you at UVA. Makes me feel better.”

“Me too.” You offer him a smile and to your own surprise, reach out for a hug. He returns it, warm and kind. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight. Shoot me a text in the morning.”

“I’m not sure I -”

“Bradley put it in while you were in the bathroom.”

You smile again, wide and bright. “Of course he did.”

+++

You wake up earlier than expected, no doubt still stuck on Eastern time, and fire off a text to the “Dagger Squad + Chim - Mav” group chat. The name, obviously, wasn’t your idea.

On a whim, you change it when you send your message.

6:34am Breakfast? You changed the name of the group to “Dagger Squad Jr.”

Jake Seresin changed the name of the group to “Dagger Squad but on Land”

Bob Floyd changed the name of the group to “Why are we changing it???”

You sit and watch the small notifications come in.

Tasha Trace changed the name of the group to “Dagger Squadron OSS”

You ask a question. 6:37am OSS?

Jake Seresin 6:37am Operational Support Staff

Coyote Machado 6:38am ^^^^

Reuben Fitch 6:38am When’s breakfast?

Fanboy Garcia 6:39am Where’s breakfast?

You reply. 6:40am Who’s breakfast?

Jake Seresin 6:40am Why’s breakfast?

Your heart leaps a little bit when Bradley replies.

Bradley Love ❤️ 6:41am Some of us are trying to sleep in. Bradley Love ❤️ changed the name of the group to “Dagger Fuckheads”

Jake Seresin 6:41am Too fuckin bad. 6:41am I like that one. Keep it.

Tasha Trace sent a gif.

Bob Floyd 6:42am Who’s that?

Coyote Machado 6:42am Kim Kardashian hitting her sister with her purse.

Jake Seresin 6:42am You’re lucky I’m feeling nice this morning and will choose to forget that you know that.

You fire off another reply. 6:43am Jake……….You also know who that is.

Jake Seresin 6:43am No comment.

Bradley Love ❤️ 6:44am I’m muting you guys. Text me if you actually need something.

You smile. 6:44am Look what you guys did omg

Tasha Trace 6:45am I’m game for breakfast.

Reuben Fitch 6:45am Chims - have you been to the Henry?

You shake your head, alone in your room. 6:45am Nope. A favorite?

Tasha Trace 6:46am Oooooooh good call. 6:46am Definitely a favorite. And it’s right next to base.

Fanboy Garcia 6:47am Are we inviting Mav?

You reply. 6:47am He’s supposed to give me a lift to the hospital later. Who’s dropping Rooster’s car?

Tasha Trace 6:48am Me. @Jake Seresin can you come get me from the hospital at 0750?

Jake Seresin 6:48am Yeah I can get you. Probably still beat everyone to the Henry too lmao

Bob Floyd 6:49am Better you than me, Phoenix. Hangman’s driving scares the fuck out of me.

Jake Seresin 6:49am Everything scares the fuck out of you.

Tasha Trace 6:50am Fuck you be nice

Jake Seresin 6:50am No ❤️

You roll your eyes and reply again. 6:51am So who’s coming to get me

Reuben Fitch 6:52am I’ll come get you. Are you at the lodge?

You reply promptly. 6:52am Yeah. 6:53am Okay y’all. Meet @ 0800 at The Henry.

Finally rolling out of bed, you give Maverick a call.

“Good morning!” he says, answering on the third ring. “You’re up early.”

“So are you,” you point out. “Any interest in breakfast at 0800 at The Henry?”

He makes a noise. “I’m out already. I’ll be back on land around ten. Want to head to the hospital then?”

“Sounds good to me. Thanks, Mav.”

“Of course.”

+++

Maverick is still out on the boat with Penny and Amelia when he gets a call from Bradley.

“Hey, you okay?” He has to shout over the noise of the water.

“All good. Are you going out to the desert in the next couple of days?”

Mav checks in with Penny, who smiles at him and takes the wheel. Ducking into the cabin, he closes the little door behind him and falls onto the couch. “I’m headed out there this weekend. Why?”

“I’m getting something sent over there and I was wondering if you’d be okay going to pick it up or…?”

“Bradley Bradshaw…” Maverick starts, a smile on his face. “Now, what on earth could you be shipping to my place in the desert?”

Bradley laughs. “It could be something that looks like jewelry…but I already threatened to kill Jake if he said anything.”

“I won’t say anything. I was planning on inviting Dagger over to the hangar this weekend for some fun, anyway. I can give it to you then and get some of your dad’s stuff to camouflage it.”

Mav still has a bunch of Goose’s stuff from Annapolis. Carole never wanted any of it back in the interest of keeping some storage space free in the house and Bradley inherited everything she had.

“Sounds perfect. Thanks again, Mav.”

“Anytime, kiddo. I’ll see you later when I bring your lady over.”

+++

“That is absolutely not what happened,” Coyote says, setting down his coffee. “I’m the only one who got the climb-out on the first try!”

Jake snorts. “Yeah…and you went into G-lock and almost burned in doing it.”

“That was so fuckin’ scary, dude,” Fanboy says. “We really thought you were a goner.”

You lean forward, feeling strangely settled amongst the Dagger team (a moniker they’ve taken beyond the special detachment and will probably keep for the rest of their careers - you’ve even heard mutterings about making patches for their jackets) even without Bradley by your side. “So, what did happen?”

“I finished the course and made it into exfil but I just couldn’t swing the Gs the first time, you know?” Coyote replies. “The thing is though, my little victory was totally overshadowed by the bird strike that put Phoenix and Bob in the hospital.”

You blink a couple of times. You must have missed that in Bradley’s daily updates. “You’re kidding.”

“Nah,” Phoenix says. “We got ambushed by some birds, both engines went out, and we had to bail. Mav saved our ass, I swear. He was babysitting everyone in the air that day.”

Coyote shakes his head. “It was so smart, though. He told you guys to bail at just the right time and he pulled tone on me to try and get me unlocked. I dunno how he thinks of this stuff.”

“At least you guys will know what to do next time, though, yeah?” You ask.

“Definitely,” Payback says. “Throwing tone on someone in G-lock went straight into my toolbox, I dunno about you guys.”

“Same,” Jake says, his mouth full of french toast.

Bob nods. “I’ll always recommend that if I’m in that situation again, yeah.”

More talk about training floats around the table for a while before Jake sits back, throwing his napkin on his plate. “So Miss Not-Bradshaw, what have you been up to in the last few weeks?”

Phoenix snorts into her glass of orange juice.

“First of all,” you reply, “take that up with Bradley, not me.”

That gets a laugh out of the table.

“Secondly, I’ve been working on some highly-classified white pages for SecDef and SecNav, so they’ve been keeping me busy.”

“That sounds interesting,” Bob says, his eyes kind and intrigued behind his glasses.

You smile. “I actually provided the one-pager for your mission. It was one of my colleagues at the NSA that found the uranium enrichment plant and figured the timeline.”

“No way!” Payback reaches over Phoenix and gives your shoulder a shake. “That’s amazing! So did you know what Rooster was going to be doing or?”

You shake your head. “No. That part was outside of the scope of my work, but I knew he was headed back to North Island a couple days after I submitted my analysis. I took a few guesses from there.”

“It’s cool that you can have at least some perspective,” Payback says. “I know my girl’s been in the dark from the jump.”

You hum once. “I can’t imagine. I mean…” You think for a second. “I know enough to be very concerned, but not enough to ease it, you know? I’d almost rather not know anything at all.”

“I can see that,” Fanboy says. “Kind of a no-news-is-good-news-thing, yeah?”

“Exactly.”

“So what’d they tell you to get you out here?” Jake asks.

You grin at him. “My boss handed me a boarding pass, said Bradley wasn’t dead, and told me to thank you upon arrival.”

“Oh my god,” Phoenix says with a laugh. “I would have flipped out.”

“I did! I didn’t even pack - I just grabbed my overnight bag for late nights at the office and hauled my ass to Dulles.”

Jake grins. “Well, we’re sure glad you’re here.”

You throw a potato wedge at him.

+++

The boys whoop and holler when Maverick pulls up to The Henry with his bike and tosses you the helmet. You hop on, holding tight to Mav’s jacket. You can see his smile from over his shoulder as he waves to his students, his colleagues, his team.

You can absolutely see yourself, once again, as a member of Bradley’s extended family.

It feels good.

+++

“What’s the prognosis?” You ask, sitting on the edge of the bed. Bradley sits beside you, tying his boots.

The doctor smiles. “Nothing but probably terminal foolishness.” She checks his charts again before confirming. “No serious head trauma, just two small burns under his ear and on his forearm. Keep an eye on those for infection.” She flips some pages again. “If anything doesn’t feel quite right, Lt. Bradshaw, please give us a call.”

“Thank you, Captain.” Bradley stands. He offers his hand and she shakes it. “I appreciate your work and your thoroughness to keep me in good shape, ma’am.”

“Of course, Lieutenant.” She hands him a folder. “There are your discharge papers. You are good to go.” She looks at you. “Take some time to review that with Lt. Bradshaw as well, if he’s comfortable with that.”

“Absolutely, ma’am.” You look at Bradley, briefly, with a smile. “I’ll keep an eye on him”

+++

“Do you mind if we stop somewhere before going back to the hotel? It’s kind of a pain in the ass because it’s off the island, but…” You trail off.

Bradley shakes his head, his eyes on the road behind his sunglasses. “Not at all. Where to, m’lady?”

You almost feel back for bringing down the room. “Can we visit Ice? I haven’t gotten a chance to pay my respects yet.”

As expected, Bradley’s expression sobers. He kisses the back of your hand, bringing it up from where he holds it over the console. “Of course.”

He makes a couple of turns, hopping onto the bridge, then the highway before getting off to wind through the curving roads of Point Loma.

“Want to visit the lighthouse while we’re here? It’s a nice day. We could walk it.”

You nod. “That sounds nice.”

Bradley checks into base and parks, walking around the car to open your door and hold your hand as you get out. You don’t let go as you step onto the grass, letting him lead you to the gravesite of a man who was effectively another father and uncle to him.

From what he’s told you, both Iceman and Maverick stepped up after his father died, tag-teaming where they could. Maverick was around a little more, but Ice was there, unfailing, for every baseball game, piano recital, and ceremony. From what you saw, Bradley deeply admired and respected his father’s classmate, called him and his wife “Uncle Ice” and “Aunt Sarah,” and never went a week without a phone call.

Unlike Maverick, Ice was also there through college, OCS, and flight training. While you’re privately certain that Mav, Ice, and Carole collaborated on his Naval Academy sabotage back in 2004, Bradley’s always been firmly of the mind that it was all Maverick’s doing. It wasn’t your job to manage his anger or resentment, but it might be time for another conversation about that.

You reach the stone, easily recognizable by the new, bright, white finish. Bradley releases your hand, standing at attention when he reaches the stone, offering a crisp salute. He takes one deep breath before his hand drops from his forehead, slow and controlled.

THOMAS KAZANSKY “ICEMAN” ADMIRAL UNITED STATES NAVY

COMMANDER OF U.S. PACIFIC FLEET FLYING CROSS BRONZE STAR NOVEMBER 13TH, 1959 - DECEMBER 9TH, 2018

The two of you stand in silence for a little while. You’d known Ice well, spending holidays with his formidably-sized family once you and Bradley were established and attending various keynote speakers in your career contracted with the Navy. Before just now, you didn’t think you knew him well enough to deeply miss him, but your chest hurts.

“One thing about Ice,” Bradley told you, walking up the path to the big house on the hill, “is that he’s loyal. He’ll rain hell on anyone that threatens his family and always goes back for his wingman.”

“Did the cancer come back?”

Bradley shakes his head. “I didn’t ask. I figured though. Mav went to see him a couple of days before he died.”

“I’m so sorry for your loss, baby.”

“Me too.” He takes you under his arm. “He loved you, you know. He always gave me shit for keeping you on the hook without a ring.”

“I cannot believe you have not asked that young lady to marry you, yet,” Ice says, sitting down behind his desk and steepling his fingers.

Bradley sighs, running a hand through his hair. “I just haven’t found the right moment.”

“I know.” Ice smiles at him. “If you keep with that attitude, you’ll never find the right one. What’s it been, now? Six, seven years?” He tips his head. “You better hope she doesn’t wise up to your bullshit.”

“I know.” Bradley sits down on the couch under the bay window. “I just want to do it right.”

Ice stands, crossing the room to join Bradley with a pat on the knee. “I tried to make it perfect for Sarah, but at the end of the day, it’s just for you two. It doesn’t have to be right, it doesn't have to be exactly as you or she pictured it.”

Bradley watches him remember, the softness of his face, the fondness in his eyes. It makes him smile.

“All that ring does,” Ice continues, “is show her you love her and want to be stuck with her until you die.”

“It sounds so romantic when you say it like that,” Bradley laughs.

Ice shrugs good-naturedly. “Word on the street is your dad hopped out of a plane on his first training mission, dropped to his knee, and proposed to your mother on the spot.”

He’s right. Carole told Bradley about it.

“Thanks, Ice.”

“Of course, son. I’ll always be here for you. You know that.”

You laugh, smiling at the stone. “And here you are, flaunting him even in death.”

Bradley kisses your temple.

+++

On your way to the lighthouse, the wind picks up, buffeting into you. Bradley releases your hand, pulling you close with an arm around your shoulders.

There aren’t many people out, so the walk is relatively quiet.

“Y’know, honey, I was thinking,” you start, staring at the path under your feet as you continue along. You hesitate. “I’m not sure how to say this diplomatically.”

You can almost hear Bradley raise his eyebrows. “I thought we were past diplomacy.”

“I know, it’s just…It’s about your mom.”

Bradley steers you off the path and to a bench conveniently placed on the grass, facing the ocean. He sits down, angling his body toward you and his arm extended, fingers brushing against your shoulder. “What’s on your mind?”

“I was thinking about what you said - about Maverick pulling your papers. And I know I don’t know him like you do, but -” You cut yourself off. “He doesn’t strike me as the kind of person to…take initiative like that.”

Bradley’s eyes wander to the grass, then out to sea. He’s obviously considering what you said, but you’re not sure if he’s going where you’re leading him.

“I just -” You take another breath. “I don’t think I would want my kid in an F-35 if I lost my husband in an F-14, you know?”

Bradley’s brow furrows.

“I think you should at least ask him about it. He doesn’t strike me as the type to overstep in that direction on his own, he does seem like the type who would protect your relationship with your remaining parent, especially if he still feels responsible for your dad.”

You reach for him and he comes back to you, holding you close as you scoot over and rest your head on his chest, listening to his heart.

“Yeah,” he says, finally. “I’ll ask him about it.”

+++

Dagger Fuckheads Jake Seresin 2:41pm Dinner tonight? Mav’s buying.

You and Bradley look at each other, reaching for your phones.

“Want to go?” He asks.

You nod. “I could go. I don’t have anything better to do.”

Bradley replies. 2:43pm Chims and I are in! Where and when?

Jake Seresin 2:43pm Mav says dinner at his place at 1800 and then drinks at Penny’s when we’re done.

“Sounds good to me. What about you?” Bradley asks.

You nod and reply to confirm. 2:44pm We’re there!

+++

“So, Mav,” Phoenix says, putting down her fork. “When do we get to go out to the desert and see your P-51?”

Maverick smiles. “You’re all welcome anytime. I’m headed out there this weekend.”

“No way!” Fanboy says. “You have a mustang out there?”

“Hell yeah,” Maverick says. “You can fly it if you promise to take care of her.”

All the lieutenants share a glance. Hangman finally confirms, “We’re in.”

+++

You sense, rather than hear, Maverick come up behind you as you stare at the photos above the sink. There’s one of Penny, tucked behind a photo of Carole and Goose. She couldn’t be more than twenty-five, smiling at you from out of the Polaroid. There’s another Polaroid of her nearby, a much-younger Maverick kissing her cheek outside one of the buildings at Miramar.

You reach out to another photo, gently brushing over the image of Iceman grinning at the camera in his dress whites and sunglasses. Maverick stands beside him, an equally bright smile on his face.

“That was Ice’s wedding,” Mav says.

You hum. “I’ve seen this picture before. It’s on - or…” You pause. “At least, uh, it was on his desk at home.”

Maverick steps up beside you, pointing out photos of Bradley and Ice you’d missed before. Your favorite, by far, is one of Ice hitting a baseball and Bradley ducking on the pitcher’s mound to avoid impact.

“After Bradley and I were firmly an item, we spent every Christmas with Ice and Sarah,” you tell him, unprompted.

“I know,” Mav says simply. “He loved having you both there.”

You smile. “He spoke so highly of you, Mav. He would always tell stories that ended with one of you heroically saving the day.”

Maverick has to smile at that. His eyes wander to a photo taken after one of their many missions together, Ice’s hair wild from his helmet.

“I know that he tried to honor and respect Bradley’s anger, of course, but I know cutting you off hurt him, too.” You smile a little. “I think he knew that hearing his stories about you made it a little harder to dislike you. I think he figured I needed something else to round out what Bradley told me.”

“There was one time,” Ice recalls, “when Bradley was little, that I thought Maverick had truly gone insane.”

“Oh?” You ask. It’s not rare to hear stories with and about Maverick, but they’re usually of the heroic-endeavors variety, rather than stories of Bradley’s childhood.

The two of you sit out on the porch, watching the sunset. Bradley, of course, is in assisting Sarah with dinner. You offered your help, as did Ice, but Sarah practically kicked you out, claiming, “While you’re both nice to look at, you’re in the way.”

“Mav volunteered to be the coach of Bradley’s little league team.” Ice shakes his head. “I’d never seen him throw himself into something like that. Carole had to tell him to tone it down.” Ice pauses. “Bradley was a helluva ballplayer though. He’s always been patient, attentive. Good qualities for everything, but especially baseball and flying.”

Ice looks over his shoulder, satisfied that you’re alone. “The two of them are more alike than they’d like to admit.” He looks at you. “I was about to say, I wish you could know him. However, knowing me and knowing Bradley tells you more about him than he’d ever like anyone to know, for better or worse.”

Maverick looks at you for a second. “Can I show you something?”

You nod, dragging your eyes from the photo. Mav takes you to the corner, where a cup full of challenge coins sits on the counter. He pulls a frame from the shelf, bringing a photo down from its place.

To your shock, it’s a photo of you and Bradley graduating from UVA. Your matching orange stoles stand out brightly against your black gowns and the green grass behind you.

Bradley holds you close to his side, kissing your temple as you look at the camera with a smile.

“Sarah took this one, didn’t she?” You ask, looking over at Maverick. You remember the moment well, but it’s only now you realize you’ve never seen the picture before. Your eyes fall on pictures of Bradley through the years - his high school baseball photos, his NROTC and college graduation portraits, Bradley and Ice standing together at Bradley’s OCS commencement…

He always looked out for him. All these years.

Maverick replies, pulling you from your thoughts. “She sent me a copy. I have a couple more from Christmases, too. You landed in the New Years’ newsletter more than once.”

“Wait a second.”

You turn around, finding Jake squinting at another photo on the shelf.

He points to one “Is this you?”

You walk over, brow furrowed. Lo and behold, it’s a Kazansky Christmas card, dated 2010. You sit on the arm of the sofa next to Bradley, mirrored by Ice’s daughter on the other side. The two Kazansky boys take the other two seats on the couch, their now-wives seated on the ground in front of them, forming a cozy picture with Ice and Sarah behind you all.

“Yep, that’s me,” you tell him. “That was when I was in my masters and Bradley was in OCS.”

It’s like you aren’t even there as Hangman calls over his shoulder. “Rooster!”

“Yeah?” Bradley trots over, meeting your eyes with a questioning glance. You shrug. Maverick joins you, standing at your side with his arms crossed and a funny little look on his face.

“How long have you guys been together, exactly?” Hangman asks, a grin blossoming on his face.

Bradley knows he’s already in trouble. “Well,” he answers diplomatically. “If you ask me, we started dating in February of 2005. If you ask her,” he points at you, “we started dating in August of 2005.”

“Correct me if I’m wrong-“

He’s not going to be wrong, is he?

“- but that’s thirteen years.”

Bradley’s hand rises to his neck. “Yeah.”

Hangman turns to you. “Jesus Christ you’re either a saint or an idiot and I can’t decide which.”

“We’ve been busy!” Your voice sounds shrill and defense even to your ears.

“For thirteen years straight?” Hangman doesn’t wait for an answer before moving on. “Hey, Siri!” There’s a series of beeps from his phone, connected to Mav’s speaker. “Play Slow Ride by Foghat.”

You bite back your laugh as Jake turns around again with a wicked grin.

“God, I love this song.”

+++

“Ready, baby?” Rooster’s voice rumbles in your ears through the headphones.

You turn on your mic. “Let’s go!”

“Alright. Hang on tight.”

The P-51 accelerates down the runway and Bradley hauls it into the air, the Gs pressing you into the seat.

“How many Gs can this thing pull?”

You can almost see his smile from behind as he answers you with a laugh, adjusting one of the countless switches and knobs in front of him. “Not enough.”

“That doesn't answer my question!” It takes a little more effort to get the words out with the pressure on your chest, but you know it’s nothing compared to the F-18.

As expected, Bradley’s voice is still even and cool through the mic. “It tops out around six or seven. We’re only pulling three and a half right now, but it’ll ease up in a second. Take a deep breath.”

You follow instructions, letting your head and body press into the seat as you close your eyes. You remember how he taught you to breathe years ago when you felt like you were suffocating in broad daylight in a Cessna.

The plane levels out and you already feel better, taking one more deep breath before opening your eyes.

“Oh my god.”

You’re thousands of feet in the air, looking down on Death Valley and the surrounding desert.

“Beautiful, right?” Bradley asks. “Ready?”

“For what?”

You don’t get a response, but let out a yelp as you go inverted, flying upside down a mile over the brown hills and bright orange California poppies.

“Relax,” he says with a laugh. “Enjoy the view.”

It’s a strange feeling, to be looking up and down at the same time. It is, however, easy to see how this feeling can be addictive. Even at relatively low speeds, you feel alive with the plane’s frame around, Bradley’s gentle hands holding you all aloft.

Bradley glides into a loop, correcting the inversion with ease. You let yourself relax again, looking out the canopy to find where the mountains meet the sky. The plane arcs in a wide circle, headed back to the hangar.

“I can see why you love this so much,” you tell him.

He reaches back with one hand and you take it. He squeezes once before letting you go. “Happy you’re here with me, baby.”

When you get back to Maverick’s place, you notice Bradley looking down at the runway. You follow suit, finding Dagger Squad standing just outside the hangar. You can’t quite see details from up here, but it looks like they’re watching you.

“Hey, babe?” You ask.

Bradley’s head tilts a bit. “Yeah?”

“I think you should remind them why you’re Dagger Two.”

You can see him, but you’re sure he’s grinning. You can hear it. “Alright. Hang tight, honey.”

Bradley’s hand flies forward on the throttle and you’re pressed back into your seat with a laugh. He swoops down over the hills, taking a hard bank before climbing high and barrel-rolling twice.

You can’t stop laughing, only losing your breath once or maybe three times. He pulls a few more maneuvers that have your stomach twisting and dropping. The sound of his trained, measured breath in your ears keeps you glued to time and space.

He gets back to wings-level and checks in with you. “You still with me back there?”

You swallow, laughing a little again. “I’m good.”

“I owe Mav some fuel, but that was fun.” He banks again, gentler this time, and starts the descent down to the runway. The landing is smooth, hardly jostling you as you settle back on the ground. When the canopy opens, Bradley stands and gets out, holding his hand out to lend you an assist.

You feel a little wobbly when you get your feet on the asphalt again, but Bradley grabs you around the waist, pulling you close. He’s somehow already removed his helmet and lends a hand with yours.

Dagger Squad rushes the two of you and Jake claps you on the shoulder. “I thought for sure you were gonna puke.”

“Thanks for your overwhelming vote of confidence.”

Bradley’s still grinning from ear to ear. Mav saunters out of the hangar with a smile on his face and hands in his pockets. “Not too bad for a rookie,” he says.

“Pretty sure they’ll revoke that thing once you get your AARP card. Flying’s dangerous, you know.”

Maverick frowns and checks over his shoulder, looking left, then right.

“What’re you lookin’ at, Mav?” Bob asks.

Mav looks at Bradley. “I’m trying to find who the hell Rooster thinks he’s talking to.”

Bradley grins and throws his helmet at Mav, who catches it easily. “It is a sweet ride, though.”

+++

“Hey Bradley, let me get your help with this,” Maverick calls from across the hangar.

Bradley stands, setting his beer down on the little coffee table. “‘Scuse me, folks. I’ve been summoned.”

“Hey, excuse me, sir, there’s a tax for that,” you remind him, looking up from your seat in the armchair.

With a smile, he gives you a quick kiss and jets off to find Mav in the back.

Jake scoffs.

You look at him. “Can I help you?”

“Y’all are gross.”

With a sigh, you shift in your seat, leaning forward to condescendingly place a hand on his knee. “One day, Jake, you will love someone who misses you when you’re gone and you, too, will be gross.”

Bradley looks over his shoulder before he reaches the archway to Mav’s back “office.” The image of you sitting with his team, chatting like you’ve known each other all your lives, warms his heart.

“Bradley?” Mav calls quieter than before.

Bradley finally rounds the corner, grabbing the arch and swinging wide through the turn. “Yessir.”

Mav holds up a first-class box and grins. “I think it’s here.”

The two of them open the box, trying to keep the noise of the bubble wrap to a dull roar. Inside, the small, navy-blue velvet box smiles up at them, nestled deep in the packaging.

“Can I see?” Mav asks.

Bradley nods.

With similar care to a father holding his newborn for the first time, Maverick takes the box into his hand and opens it with the smallest of worn pops.

There’s silence for a moment, followed by a swell of laughter from the hangar.

“It’s beautiful, Brad. She’s going to love it.”

Bradley tips his head. “I hope so.” He pauses. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.” Maverick meets his eyes, open and receptive.

“Was it your idea to pull my papers?”

Maverick sighs, looking down for a second before returning Bradley’s steady gaze. That’s pretty much all the answer Bradley needs, but still Maverick says, “Yes. It was my idea.”

He’s always been a shit liar.

“My mom asked you to do it, didn’t she?”

Mav’s jaw flexes.

“Pete,” Carole says, looking at him from the couch. She leans forward and Maverick mirrors her, the use of his first name somewhat unsettling. He glances at the clock. Bradley’s at baseball practice for another hour or so, at least.

“Yeah?”

“I got some bad news today.”

Maverick’s heart drops to his stomach and he immediately stands to cross the room, sitting next to her on the couch.

She continues, taking his hand. “I’m sick. They’re sure it’s some kind of cancer but they’re doing some more tests. I have to go back tomorrow for a PET scan. They do know it’s serious.”

Tears, unbidden, jump into Maverick’s eyes. He can’t speak.

“Oh, Mav.” Carole cups his face with her ever-gentle hands. “Mav, it’ll be okay.”

He clears his throat. “Do they have any ideas about… treatments, or…?”

She shrugs, looking off somewhere across the room. “They’ll know more after this week. The doctor told me it could be months, maybe years, but he determined that it is terminal.”

A set of tears fall down Maverick’s cheeks, dripping gracelessly off his chin.

With a sigh, she adds, “I would really like to see Bradley graduate from college, but... Speaking of…” She trails off.

The muscle in Mav’s jaw jumps several times before he speaks again. “What can I do?”

“Bradley applied to the Naval Academy,” she replies, shaking her head. “I can’t - I can’t have him in a jet, Maverick. I won’t do it.”

“Carole, he’s an -”

“Don’t tell me he’s an adult, Pete. Look at him.” She throws a hand to the most recent school portrait on the mantle. “He’s not ready and I’ll never be ready.”

Again, Mav asks, “What can I do.”

She’s quiet for a moment. “Can you talk to admissions?”

“Carole, I -”

“Promise me, Mav. I know Ice can do it if you can’t, and I’ll ask him next.”

Something cold settles into Maverick’s veins. He’s fairly certain it’s fear. “Fine. I’ll see what I can do.”

Carole surprises him, throwing her arms around his shoulders. “I might be dying, but he - I won’t let him kill himself.”

“Do you think I’m killing myself?” Mav asks, only half-joking. He holds her tight as if she’ll break apart if he lets go. Maybe it’s him who needs to be held together.

She takes him seriously. “Every goddamn day. And I hate you for it.” She leans back. “But as much as I love you, he’s my son. I need you to take care of him when I’m gone.”

Maverick realizes he’s been quiet for too long. He thinks of Penny, what she would do if Amelia asked him a question like this.

She’d tell the truth.

“Carole, she…” Mav sighs, looking over his shoulder at a photo of the three of them at some function or another. “She made me promise. The same time she told me she was sick.”

Bradley takes a deep breath before asking, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t - I couldn’t have you hate her, too.”

Strangely, that pulls a smile from him. You were right.

“What?” Mav asks.

Bradley shakes his head. He looks over his shoulder for a second, finding only a wall but knowing you’re beyond it. “Someone who’s only known you a sum total of ten hours knows you better than I do, apparently.”

Maverick smiles, clapping Bradley on the shoulder. “They’re all smarter than us, you know. Sooner you figure that out, the easier it’ll be.”

+++

Penny sits at the bar, working through the inventory and accounting for the week by hand. It’s easier this way, she tends to rationalize, but really it’s just a good excuse to get her away from her laptop.

Checking over her shoulder, she finds the ocean rough, white caps popping on the top of the waves. The sky is thick with clouds, giving the entire world a greyish-blue cast. As much as she loves the sunshine, a winter Southern California storm feels good to the bones.

Before she can get up to either close the back door or find a jacket, there’s a hand on her waist.

“Chilly?”

She turns, finding Maverick behind her. He drapes his soft, warm bomber jacket around her shoulders, kissing the side of her head.

“I’ll be in the back. Just wanted to check on you.”

She hums, leaning into him. “I’ll be here.”

He gives her one final kiss before he disappears again, probably fixing a leak or patching a hole she failed to notice.

He sees everything .

It’s alarming, sometimes.

She checks her watch but it’s pointless. She’s not sure when you and Bradley are due in from your afternoon out in La Jolla, but she’s sure she’ll get an ETA when you’re good and ready to share.

The front door opens and closes. Penny doesn’t bother to look up - there are only five people who walk in casually like that and two of them work here.

“Penny?”

That’s not one of the four .

She looks up, finding the eyes of her ex-husband. “What are you doing here?” She pulls the jacket closer to her, almost like armor.

“Can’t I just stop by and say hello?” He asks.

“...It’s a five-hour flight from Hawaii,” she says. “And dropping in unexpectedly kind of defeats the purpose of a divorce, if I’m remembering correctly. Where’s your wife?”

“I like what you’ve done with the place,” he says as if she didn’t say a word. That was half of the problem when they were married. Penny’s not sure why she thought it would change now.

“Penny, sweetheart?”

Mav’s voice almost startles her, but a wave of relief follows close behind the bolt of adrenaline.

“Bradley’s due in anytime now. They just called from the -” Mav finally steps out of the back room and spots the visitor in the bar. “Hi.”

Penny hastily stands and introduces them to each other.

“Wait,” the unwelcome guest says, “you’re Pete Mitchell? Maverick Mitchell?”

Mav smiles, but only friends would know it's not a real one. This is the one he wears for show. “That’s me.”

“Huh. I’ve heard a lot about you.” The way he says it doesn’t sound like a compliment. “I thought you’d be taller.” He shakes off another thought and asks, “Where’s Amelia?”

Your daughter, the afterthought , Penny thinks sourly. “She’s -”

“Anybody home?” Bradley crows, interrupting from the doorway, a grin on his face. You’re right behind him, trying to get in as he purposefully blocks the door.

Through your laughter, you cry, “Penny, help! I’ve been taken hostage.”

Despite the stress of the moment, that gets a smile out of her. “Let her in Rooster.”

The two of you shove your way through the door, landing with your arm around Bradley’s neck as he half-carries, half-drags you across the plank flooring. The smile falls from Bradley’s face when he sees the unfamiliar person in the room, putting you down behind him. “Who’s this?”

“Sam Longbourn,” comes the introduction. Sam extends a hand

“Rooster,” Bradley replies. You shoot him a look. He hardly ever introduces himself with his callsign alone.

Men.

You shake Sam’s hand as well, but he doesn’t ask your name. You don’t offer it.

Bradley’s chin lifts a touch. “Longbourn? Isn’t that -”

“Amelia’s last name?” Penny finishes. “Yes.”

Bradley hums once, staccato. “Imagine that.” He slips past Maverick, placing a hand over the big patch between Penny’s shoulder, pressing a quick, chaste kiss to her cheek by way of greeting. “Want me to take a look at those books?”

“Sure,” she says, trying to be casual.

You just think it’s funny that all three men in the room have immediately started preening upon recognition. Only two are succeeding.

There’s an awkward pause. You offer a tight, polite smile and join Bradley at the bar, leaning on him.

“And Bradley is…?” Sam asks.

Mav answers promptly. “My son. He’s a naval aviator as well. One of the best we’ve got.”

The pencil in Bradley’s hand stops moving for the briefest of seconds. You glance at his profile without moving your head too much to see him blinking a few times in quick succession.

You lean into him a little more purposefully and he leans back. Taking a quick look over at the uncomfortable little triad, you catch Penny’s eyes.

Was that okay? She seems to ask.

You take a deep breath. I dunno.

Amelia’s father ends up taking a seat at the bar, absolutely overstaying his welcome. You stand, grabbing a rag from behind the bar and attempting to make yourself useful.

“Can I get you anything?” You ask.

He raises his eyebrows. “You work here?”

“Nope. Just like to help Penny when I can. And she’s busy, so…” You shrug.

He takes a second. “I’ll do a Miller Lite, if she’s got it.”

Bradley covers his snort with a cough into his elbow. You can’t help but agree.

Fly five hours from Hawaii only to come to a bar and order a Miller Lite. Shameful.

You find one under the bar and open it, setting the bottle down in front of him. Penny comes back, squeezing your upper arms fondly as she slides in behind you. She approaches her ex, leaning against the bar on the heels of her hands.

“Look, we’re about to open up and it’s gonna get crowded. You better say what you want to say.”

You sneak back around to Bradley, helping him organize the binder the way Penny likes it, packing up and getting ready for opening. You’re all gonna have backup here in a moment - Dagger’s due in anytime now. In the weeks they’ve been here, they’ve all grown particularly fond of Penny and Amelia. Jake, especially with his two-year shore duty at North Island after Annapolis, is more at home here than anywhere else. You can’t imagine them taking too kindly to an interloper.

You and Bradley head to the back while Penny and Sam talk. Mav’s there, already straightening up from his project along the south wall.

“I’m so sorry, Bradley. I didn’t mean to overst-”

Bradley waves him off and pulls him in for a hug. “All good. I get it.” He says something else, but you can’t quite catch it.

Doesn’t matter, anyway. You heard enough to know that Carole was right.

“They’ll figure it out,” she used to say. “Bradshaws and Mitchells always find a way, especially together.”

“Ladies and gentlemen,” comes a booming voice from the great room, “the party has arrived.”

With a roll of your eyes, you jump out of the back room with a grin. “Damn, they let just about anyone in here, huh?”

“Well, yeah,” Jake says. “You’re here, aren’t you?”

“Uh uh. No,” Penny scolds, pointing at Jake. “Behave.”

Jake grins at her, wide and toothy. With a roll of her eyes, she throws a bottle opener on the bar, followed by a bottle of his usual brew. “Thank you, Miss Penny m’dear.”

“Yeah,” she says. “Keep that up and I’ll ring the bell on you.”

He chuffs. “You love me.”

“I don’t,” she insists, laughter in her eyes.

Bradley and Maverick join you, headed to the pool table to rack up. You find a seat at one of the tables, ready to watch whatever masculine posturing bullshit the boys have up their sleeve.

Jake, as if noticing the unfamiliar face for the first time, looks over and raises his eyebrows. It’s all for show - you know he clocked Sam the second he saw him. He doesn’t break eye contact when he asks, “Who’s this?”

Penny gestures between them. “Sam Longbourn, Hangman. Hangman, Sam.”

Jake squints. “Hm. I’d say it's nice to meet you, Sam, but I’m not sure it is.” He grins, softening the blow, before turning to Penny. “Wait, lemme see that patch.”

Penny turns, pulling the jacket so Jake can see the patch that’s always been there.

“Mav,” Jake asks, raising his voice. “Is this a new patch?”

Smooth .

“Nope. It’s been there for a minute. I’m having a patch made for Dagger, though. Should be in before they scatter us again.”

“Sweet. Guess I never noticed it before.” Jake’s smile grows sly. “I guess it just looks better on Penny than it does on you.”

Maverick snorts and says something that has Bradley laughing out loud.

Sam, for the first time, looks a little self-conscious. Jake doesn’t seem to notice, pointing out the rest of the team, hovering around the pool table. “That’s Phoenix, Bob, and Payback. Mav’s a legend of course, and Rooster’s just been named Wingman of the Year.”

“Yeah, and you’re what, our Lord and Savior?” Bradley says.

“You said it, not me,” Jake says, that grin back on his face.

Poor Sam has turned into a ghost at this point, looking between everyone present with increasing confusion and awe.

Rooster rolls his eyes, leaning over the pool table, his break shot sinking two. He beckons you over. “C’mon baby, we’ve got stripes.”

Mav straightens and looks across the bar, watching Penny idly organize glasses. She turns, meets Maverick’s eyes, and leaves the bar with a shake of her head. “Shall we show them how it’s done, Mav?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

+++

“Hey, Mav!” Bradley calls, later that night. “C’mere.”

Mav obliges, making his way around to Bradley’s side and leaning against the piano. Penny’s ex seems to have disappeared as quickly as he arrived. You didn’t even see him leave, but between Jake and Mav, you’re sure he had enough.

Good riddance.

“Take a look over there.” Bradley points with the neck of his bottle to you and Penny, sitting on a pair of barstools, chatting amongst the evening rush. “What do you see?”

Mav thinks for a second. “...People we care about?”

“Yeah. See anything wrong with them?”

There’s a creeping sense of deja-vu, but Maverick can’t quite place it. He looks again. You have Bradley’s sunglasses stuck into the front of your shirt and you’re babysitting a small pile of coats in your lap - Payback, Fanboy, and Hangman’s, to be specific - but nothing looks out of the ordinary. Penny looks great, of course, Maverick’s leather jacket still slung casually over her shoulders.

Bradley’s definitely up to something. Mav, after his assessment, says, “...I’m not seeing anything.”

“I think…I think they’ve lost that loving feeling, Mav.”

Mav laughs, his chin falling to his chest. “I’m too old for this shit, Rooster.”

“What are you too old for?” Jake asks, arriving seemingly out of nowhere.

“Hangman, I think the girls have lost that lovin’ feeling.”

Jake shakes his head, a confused little smile on his face. “What?”

“C’mon, Mav. Back me up here. They definitely have lost that loving feeling.”

Mav sighs. “I hate it when they do that.” He pushes off the piano and throws two quarters in the jukebox. “You’re gonna have to help them find it after this song, you know. Patience is a virtue.”

As promised, as soon as the song comes on over the bar, Penny’s head shoots up, her eyes wide. If you had to name it, you would call the look repeat trauma .

“What?” You ask, but you already hear it.

“You never close your eyes anymore when I kiss your lips…”

Her only reply? An exhausted, “Oh, God.”

“And there’s no tenderness like before in your fingertips.”

The crowd parts and your jaw drops. Bradley is serenading you at the top of his lungs, his hand extended dramatically toward you.

“ You’re trying hard not to show it, but baby, baby I know it,” He sings. “ You’ve lost that lovin’ feeling. Whoa, that lovin’ feeling.”

You cover your face with your hands as he continues, the rest of the crowd joining in. Penny’s laughing in earnest, happy for once she’s not the victim of this stupid charade.

The chorus ends and you look at Bradley, gesturing to the empty seat beside you. “Sit down, you idiot.”

The entire bar cheers.

Penny looks up, finding Mav still at his place near the piano. He meets her eyes and smiles.

+++

“Is that mine?”

You’ve just stepped out of the bathroom when Bradley looks over at you skeptically, his eyes running across your shoulders and down to your waist.

You are, in fact, wearing one of his Hawaiian shirts. However, in your defense, he has way too many (you’d approximate three dozen) and he’s never bothered to ask about any that have gone mysteriously missing (of which there are about eight).

You hesitate just a second too long. “…No.” It sounds an awful lot like a question.

“I think it is,” he says, leaving his bag and sauntering over to you from across the room.

You shake your head. “Nope. I got this one in Hawaii while I was visiting you a few years back, remember?” You double down, knowing your efforts are futile.

“I think,” he says, finally reaching you and dipping down to kiss your neck, “this is my shirt. I also think,” he adds, his lips trailing to your collarbone and his hands wandering over your back pockets, “that you stole it from me in Hawaii while you were visiting a few years back.”

“That’s ridiculous.” Your assertion is breathless at best.

He shakes his head. “You’re a thief.”

“Am not.”

“Are too,” he whispers, kissing you under your ear. “And before you can continue to argue with me, I have a question for you.”

“Oh?” you ask with a laugh. “Is it shirt-related?”

“No.”

He kisses your cheek and gracefully slides to a knee at your feet. He pulls the small box out of his back pocket and you’re pretty sure you can’t breathe.

“It’s past time, beautiful, and there’s a lot I could say but…” He opens it and the image of the ring nestled in navy blue velvet steals your breath. “Will you marry me?”

You definitely can’t breathe, so you settle for a nod, finally able to pull a breath after a second. “Yes. Absolutely, yes.”

He stands and wraps you in his arms, the box still in his hands.

+++

The wood plank flooring feels cool under your feet, despite the San Diego summer waiting for you just outside the door. Penny picks up the hem of your dress, letting it flutter loosely to the floor so you don’t trip.

“You’re still good barefoot? I’ve got your sandals here if you need them.”

You nod. “It shouldn’t be too hot.”

“Okay,” she says. “I’ll have Mav take them out when he goes back.”

There’s an awful lot of movement for the final moments before a wedding. The boys are goofing around outside in their summer whites while Penny and Maverick fuss between you, Bradley, and the bar.

Penny picks up the sandals in question, snagging Mav by the sleeve as he passes her. “Take these out and put them under your seat.”

He looks confused and almost makes the mistake of asking a question but shakes his head, taking the sandals and kissing Penny’s cheek without another word. He hops out the back door and down the steps, hastily making his way to his seat to drop off the shoes.

The little lattice arch sits on the sand about thirty feet from the back patio of The Hard Deck. You peer out the window from where you stand by the piano, seeing Bradley approach Mav with a concerned little pinch in his eyebrows. You know you’re running late, but after all this time he knows better than to really worry.

Mav clasps his shoulder briefly with a wide smile before dusting imaginary debris from his uniform. Bradley returns the favor, straightening the ribbons on his chest. You step back as Mav looks through the back door, staying out of sight.

With a deep breath, you nod at Penny. She hands you the bouquet and heads outside, calling in your wedding party from their shenanigans and giving the rest of the assembled company the cue to take their seats.

Phoenix reaches you first, giving you a hug. “You excited?”

You nod. “Very.”

“It’s gonna be so fun.”

Jake winks at you as he offers Phoenix his arm, taking his cover under his other elbow. “He’s freaking out.”

“No, he isn’t. He’s ecstatic,” Payback says, smiling at Amelia in her blue bridesmaid dress. “May I, miss?”

You’re sure she’s blushing when she nods and tucks her hand into his elbow. Penny smiles, kissing your cheek before giving the same treatment to Amelia’s head. She gives Payback a quick pat on the shoulder for good measure and then she’s gone - jogging barefoot to her seat.

Everyone else gets settled and you’re ready.

+++

You look up from the sand, finally, to see Rooster standing before the water in his summer dress whites. His uniform and his smile are equally blinding. You almost have to squint to look at him directly. The smile on your face, though, could give him a run for his money.

The wind off the water whips around your face and pulls at the skirt of your dress. You let your eyes wander down the short line of crisply-dressed aviators that just left you in the bar. Hangman, Bob, Coyote, and Payback grin back at you behind their sunglasses when you smile at all of them in turn.

Maverick and Penny, of course, stand in the front row beside the empty seats reserved for Bradley’s parents and Iceman. Sarah and Ice’s oldest son stand on the far side. Your closest friends and family fill the remaining seats. There’s not a person out of place and everything is just as you pictured it when you sketched out the quick plans in Maverick’s desert hanger five months ago.

After what feels like an hour, you finally reach Bradley at the end of the aisle. He take your hand and you walk the final few steps to the officiant together, passing your bouquet to Phoenix.

“You look beautiful,” he says.

“You don’t look so bad yourself, Lieutenant.”

He squeezes your hand.

+++

You practically wilt into the bar when the jukebox falls silent. With a laugh, you look up and see Penny’s rueful smile. The inside of the place has gone wild, most of the respectable family out on the patio enjoying some degree of peace and quiet while the “kids” have fun inside.

“They’re predictable, aren’t they?” Penny asks.

You nod. “Terminally, I’m afraid.”

She grins at you. “Go play. I’ve got your drink.”

A path opens for you as you make your way to the piano. Bradley’s warming up with a few riffs, but you know what he’s going to play before he even starts.

“ You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain…”

The entire bar eggs him on, some starting to sing along already. You let out a loud laugh, almost warning him you’re there before he can look.

“… You broke my will, oh what a thrill. Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire!”

He opens an arm so you can settle into his lap without a break in the music. You lean into him, giving him more room to play. You catch Mav’s eye as he settles next to Penny at the bar, a pint in his hand.

“ Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!”

You know exactly what he sees - how strange and difficult it must be. You smile at him before turning, sliding an arm around Bradley’s shoulder.

“ Kiss me baby -”

On cue, you wrap your other arm around Bradley's neck and plant a downright filthy kiss that has the entire crowd whooping and hollering.

“ Woo, that feels good, baby. Hold me, baby… ”

You stay tucked up against him, singing along, crowing the lyrics to the ceiling, and losing your breath to laughter.

At the bar, Maverick is indeed seeing double. He sees what’s in front of him - his nephew playing an old song on the piano with the love of his life in his lap - and what’s behind him - Carole and Goose, laughing through their own wedding reception over 35 years ago.

“You okay there, Captain?”

Mav looks over at Penny with raised eyebrows as she leaves her place behind the bar. “Hm?”

She reaches him, raking her fingers through the graying hair at his temples. “Just asking if you’re alright.”

Pete catches her hand and kisses the back of it. “Fine. Just, ah…”

“Remembering?” She offers.

He hums. “That, and I’m… getting old, I guess.” His eyes wander back to you and Rooster at the piano.

Penny nods, checking on Amelia over her shoulder. She and Phoenix are at the pool table, actively hustling Coyote out of a hundred bucks. “We all are, Pete. You’re not special.” There’s no heat in her teasing - only affection.

“You know I love it when you tell me I’m just like everyone else,” Mav replies playfully.

Penny hums facetiously. “You are in fact, the most average man I’ve ever met.”

“Hmm…” Maverick wets his lips and studies her from top to toe. “That’s definitely not what you said last ni-”

“Mom?”

Penny smacks her hand over Maverick’s mouth and leans over his shoulder. “Yes?”

“Coyote says there’s house rules to pool.”

With an affectionate brush of her thumb over his lips, Penny releases Maverick. “Oh, no. Absolutely not. Not in this house.” She raises her voice over the crowd noise. “We play by the book here, Machado.”

“Yes ma’am!” Comes the reply.

“Is that really true, though?” Mav asks.

Penny scoffs. “If it were, would you listen?”

He just grins at her. It’s all the answer she needs.

+++

Something slow and sweet plays on the speakers. Your head rests heavily on Bradley, whose hand covers yours on his chest. Your eyes are closed, swaying to the barest suggestion of the actual beat.

“When will you be back?”

Bradley sighs into the phone. “I don’t know. Sweetheart, this…This might be one of those missions where someone isn’t coming home.”

You sink to the floor, legs crossed. “Bradley, I -” You swallow heavily. “You better come home.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“You always do,” you tell him. “I need you to do better.”

There’s silence.

Eventually, Bradley says, “I love you.”

“I love you, too. So much.” It doesn’t, surprisingly, sound like goodbye.

“I’ll text you when I’m on deck and I’ll see you when I get home, okay?”

Your voice is a whisper when it leaves you. “Okay. Fly safe.”

Having him back never loses its novelty.

Mav and Penny look much the same on the other side of the floor, speaking quietly and giggling like a pair of teenagers.

Amelia is fast asleep on one of the chairs, Maverick’s leather jacket serving dutifully as her blanket. She crashed against Reuben about an hour ago and he found a place for her to rest somewhat peacefully after a little while. She is, after all, no stranger to falling asleep at The Hard Deck; it’s become her second home.

The remaining members of Dagger Squad - Jake, Natasha, Reuben, and Bob - sit sprawled out in chairs, watching the two couples left standing on the dance floor.

“Figure we should tell ‘em the party’s over?” Payback says.

Tasha shakes her head. “Leave them alone. Look at them.”

Their eyes bounce from you and Bradley to Penny and Maverick, varying degrees of small smiles on their faces.

“Hey, Phoenix, you think -” Jake doesn’t get to finish.

“I’m gonna stop you there,” Tasha says.

He scoffs. “You didn’t even know what I was going to say.”

“I do, in fact.”

“Alright, enlighten me.”

Reuben and Bob roll their eyes, both suddenly and violently reminded that this bullshit will make up at least a quarter of their careers, at this rate.

“You were either going to make a joke about dancing with me or reference someone’s sex life. Neither one of those options are ones I’m interested in.”

“You flatter yourself.”

“Am I wrong?” She raises her eyebrows.

Jake rolls his eyes and takes a sip of his beer, muttering into it, “No.”

+++

“Can you see him?” Amelia asks, standing on her toes to see around the people in front of her.

Penny snorts. “They’re all in their whites. You won’t be able to tell who’s who until they’re off the carrier, love.”

She humphs. Mav places a hand on Amelia’s shoulder.

“It won’t be long now,” he says. “

You take a deep breath, enjoying the sunshine on your face and the breeze of the water. Thousands of families surround you, including the Fitches, Traces, and Seresins. Jake’s mom, you’ve recently learned, is a total sweetheart.

“Your son,” you told her upon meeting, “is a huge pain in my ass and I love him so much.”

She’d only laughed. “Tell me about it.”

Now, you’re all standing together waiting for the carrier to finally dock. It’s been six months, all of them long. You can’t wait to have Bradley back.

Turning, you ask Mav, “When are Fanboy and Bob due back?”

“They’re due into Ft. Lauderdale in a couple of months. I think they got stuck in the Med again.”

You pull a face. “That sucks.”

He shrugs. “It is what it is.”

That should be the tagline for all US Armed Forces.

The final minutes seem to last forever before a bunch of sailors seems to tumble out of the carrier, walking briskly to the assembled families. Like a dam breaking, they start to run as people rush forward into the arms of their loved ones.

You use Mav’s shoulder for leverage, trying to see. Your eyes land on a small group and four smiles greet you.

“I’ve got them!” You call. “They’re on their way.”

It takes everything you have to stay still, knowing you’ll likely lose them if you try to seek them out. After a minute or so, you can’t help it. You break from the line, artfully dodging families and sailors and everyone in between.

You crash into Bradley at full speed, wrapping around him like a koala. He hikes you higher, finding a place for your legs around his waist and holding you tight.

“Damn, Rooster!” Comes a familiar voice. “Save some for the rest of us!”

You get your feet under you again, pressing a hard kiss to Bradley’s mouth. Immediately upon letting him go, you turn and hug the life out of Jake.

“Aw,” he says. “I knew you missed me.”

“Don’t ruin it,” you tell him. The laughter in your voice and the tears in your eyes cut the harshness of your tone. You pull back just far enough to grin at him, moving on to Reuben, then Natasha in turn. You point out their families to them, but Reuben’s wife has her own ideas and they’re embracing before you can blink.

Bradley pulls you back, his arms around your waist, to press kiss upon kiss upon kiss to your temple. You turn, taking his face in your hands.

“I missed you,” you tell him, both belated and redundant.

He grins. “I missed you too.” He kisses you once, twice. “I love you. I think I love you more than when I left.”

You grin at him.

The two of you separate enough to walk, Bradley’s arm around your shoulders and yours around his waist. Your family greets you with kisses, and smiles, and hugs. Mav looks between you.

“Let’s go home.”

#bradley bradshaw x fem!reader #rooster x fem!reader #rooster x reader #top gun maverick #tali writes fanfiction #top gun maverick fic #bradley bradshaw x reader

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apatosaurus · 6 months

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So, I’m going to San Diego for a collegial thing in a week, and it looks like the organizers are empowering each attendee with the joy of mystery and discovery with regard to airport transportation, the schedule for the week, and navigating the city without a car. What should I know about San Diego? @anasandorpygoscelis this means you.

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cherrycola27 · 1 year

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Midnight Rain

Alright friends! This my second piece in my new series of One Shots inspired by Taylor Swift's Midnights! If there is a song on there and a Top Gun person you feel it goes with, don't hesitate to send me a request!

Paring: Jake "Hangman" Seresin x Reader

Warnings: Language, Mentions of drinking, jealousy, cheating, abuse.

He knew this day would eventually come... deep down he had hoped it wouldn't, but the creme colored envelope with his name written in your script sat on his counter as a blaring reminder that it had.

He picked it up and opened it to read it again:

"You are cordially invited to the wedding of Mr. Bryson Edward Abbott and Ms. Y/n Grace Cooper on the 28th of May 2022 at 6pm at the Abbott Ranch, Fort Worth TX."

He couldn't believe you were marrying Bryce fucking Abbott... the one person in all of Texas Jake couldn't stand.

Maybe if he had gotten his head out of his ass sooner, his name would have been next to yours and you two would be getting married on his family ranch, but what seems like a lifetime ago, Jake Seresin left you crying on your front porch after he told you he was going to Top Gun and leaving Texas for good.

He sighed before double checking he had everything he needed for the next 14 days. His flight to Fort Worth left in three hours and he wanted to give himself plenty of time for any hang ups at the airport.

A few hours later his mom and sister greated him at baggage claim.

"Oh honey!" His mom cried as she wrapped him in a tight hug.

"Hey there little bro." His sister Savannah greeted him.

The Seresin family made their way out of their airport to Savannah's waiting car. The drive to the ranch was filled with Jake's mother and sister asking him questions and catching up. He was fine until his mother brought up Y/n and Bryce's wedding. Jake cringed at the thought of you becoming Y/n Abbott in two weeks. Something that didn't go unnoticed by his sister.

When they arrived at the ranch Jake was please to see his father and his other older sister Lauren had picked up his rental car for him. The grey Silverado similar to the one he had back in San Diego was waiting for him in the drive way.

His mother insisted he didn't need it, but there was no way in hell he wasn't going to be without transportation for two weeks.

Later when his mother needed an ingredient from the store, she was more than thankful Jake had rented a truck.

So, here he was now looking in the baking aisle for the very specific brand of chocolate chips she just had to have for her cookies.

Once he had found them he tossed them in his small cart and quickly turned to head out. In his haste he bumped into someone else. He looked up to see who it was only to be met with a familiar pair of eyes.

"Y/n" he breathed out as if he couldn't believe you were standing infront of him.

"Jacob Seresin, what are the odds?" you smiled at him before waltzing over and pulling him into a hug. He was taken aback for a moment before he reciprocated the hug.

"Pretty good odds that I'm here considering you're getting married in a couple weeks. I had some leave I needed to use so I came out a little early to see the family." He said answering your previous question.

The two of you stood there in the aisle catching up on the past years, you were both trying to be polite, but the obvious pain he had caused you hung in the air.

"Jake, I'd love to catch up more. Would you like to come get drinks with me and Bryce and Marissa tonight?" You asked him sweetly.

Jake could've said that he would rather eject out of an F-18 than get drinks with you, your fiancée, and your best friend. He could have said that, but instead he said "Yes I'd love to, where at and what time?"

"The Red Barn Saloon on Main at 8 sound good?" You asked.

"Sure." He replied.

"Great, do you still have the same phone number?" You asked innocently.

"Um no, I don't." He said shyly.

"Can I see your phone?" You asked. He unlocked it and handed it to you. You quickly typed in your number and sent a quick text to yourself so you would have his.

"I will text you if anything changes." You say before continuing your shopping.

Maybe it was wrong of him, but Jake had never been more thankful that his mother had sent him on an errand in his life.

By the time 8pm had rolled around Jake was an excited mess. He walked into the bar looking for you. While he wasn't thrilled that Bryce and Marissa would be joining the two of you, he was thankful that maybe there was a glimmer of hope that you would let him come back in your life.

He scanned the crowd until he saw you alone at a booth. You looked beautiful, a yellow sundress graced your form he had to remember how to breathe for a moment.

"Hey!" You called as you jumped up to hug him.

"Hey!" He responded hugging you back without hesitating this time.

"Where are Marissa and Bryce?" He asked as he sat down.

"They are both at his campaign office working late on some things. Marissa is his chief of staff." You explained. "Bryce texted me and said they were sorry they couldn't make it but we should have fun and he wants to see you soon!"

"Huh. Okay." Jake said. In his head he was thinking that sounded a little suspicious. Jake's father had informed him that Bryce was running for Congress. He didn't know that Y/n best friend was on his staff.

He shouldn't make a big deal about it. Politicians and their staff worked late all the time, but Jake remembered Marissa. She was a beautiful girl... and Bryce was never one to shy away from temptation. No. Stop Jake. He mentally scolded himself. He was not going down this road, no, you were happy, he was going to be happy for you.

The night played on and you two caught up over the things you had each missed over the past six years. Beers and conversations flowed between the two of you, however after three, Jake switched to water becasue some needed to be okay to drive both of you home if needed.

"Wait... wait... wait.... they call you Hangman? Like the kids game?" You laughed at him. You had asked what his call sign was, thinking it was probably going to be something Texas related, not a child's game.

"It was because I kind of sort of used to be an asshole to fly with and would leave my wingman hanging." He admitted.

"I know what that's like. To be left hanging by Jake Seresin." You blurted out. Once the words left your lips you immediately covered your mouth in embarrassment. You hadn't meant to say that. The alcohol loosened your lips.

"Jakey, I'm sorry I shouldn't have." You apologize seeing the hurt flash across his face.

"It's okay darlin. I deserved that." He says rubbing you arm.

You feel like such an ass now. You told yourself from the moment you saw him in the store you weren't going to bring up the past. He checked his phone.

"It's getting late sweetheart. How are you getting home?" He asked.

"I was planning to Uber, but" you pause checking and seeing that there in none available. "There isn't one for another two hours." You sigh

"I can take you home if you want." He offers with a genuine smile. He holds out his hand to help you up. You take it and wobble upon standing. He tucks you closer to his side as you two leave the bar.

You don't know why but you curl in closer to him, breathing in the familiar scent of him. He helps you into his truck as you feebly feed him directions to your home... the home you share with Bryce.

He helps you up the steps but you can't find your keys. He knocks on the door and a flustered looking Bryce Abbott opens it a few minutes later.

"Jake?!" He asks looking almost startled to see you. "How are you man?" He asks. "I'm good. Hope you are. How's the campaign going?" Jake asks making small talk.

"It's good. Thanks for brining Y/n home. Did she try to call me I didn't see a missed call from her?" He asks Jake.

"No she was going to get an Uber but it would have been hours so I offered to bring her back. I only had a couple and stopped drinking a while ago." Jake explains as he passed you to Bryce.

"Thanks man, I owe you one." Bryce nods. Jake turns to leave before Bryce yells out to him.

"Hey Jake!" Jake turns back around.

"So listen I know this is crazy and all but, one of my groomsmen just had to back out of the wedding his job is sending him to Finland to secure an account and he has to go. I know we haven't talked in a while but we were always old football buddies, and if you already have plans I get it, but I talked to your sister and she said you were free... could you possibly fill in? I know Y/n doesn't want an uneven bridal party." He asks you.

Jake should have laughed in his face. Jake should have turned around and run. Jake should have said no, but instead Jake said "Sure man, I'd be honored. Y/n has my number. Just call me in the morning with the details." Before leaving into the night wondering what the fuck he was going to do.

Jake Seresin isn't exactly sure how he made it through the next 10 days with a smile on his face but somehow he did.

He fell into the role of groomsman perfectly. Your family thanked him over and over again. So did you. He actually felt like he could do this until the rehearsal garden party Marissa was hosting.

Everything seemed to be going fine. As luck would have it, he was paired with his sister in the bridal party, which made all of your single friends in the party a bit excited knowing he was available. You would be lying if you didn't say you weren't a touch jealous when you saw the way your sorority sister Emma looked at him.

But, you couldn't be, you were getting married, you didn't want Jake anymore. He chose his career over you. He wanted to chase a dream. He was fickle like midnight rain. You weren't. You were calm, sure, and steady.

"Y/n!" Bryce yelled at you snapping you out of your thoughts. You turned and saw his face and knew his expression meant he was angry. "Shit" you mumbled before walking up to him

"Hey honey whats up?" You asked with the biggest fake smile on your face.

"We need to speak, privately." He grumbled before you followed him into the house.

A while later the party was running low on bottled water. Jake being the dutiful groomsman went inside to look for some, and that's when he heard it.

The hushed yet fiery tones of you and Bryce arguing. He shouldn't be nosy but curiosity got the better of him.

He peaked inside the study just in time to see Bryce reach out and violently grip your arm and pull you towards him. You yelped in pain and tears formed in your eyes. Jake couldn't hear everything that was being said, just you profusely apologizing while Bryce shook you.

That son of a bitch, Jake thought. He couldn't believe what he had just seen. You were always so sweet and kind, how could Bryce be so mean and cruel to you.

Jake had seen this pattern of behavior before, he once kept some really shitty company, and he could tell by your reaction that this wasn't the first time Bryce and hurt you.

As much as he tried to push down his feelings, he couldn't anymore. He decided in that moment, though he didn't know how, but he was never going to let Bryson fucking Abbott hurt his girl again.

Jake didn't plan to come to Texas to ruin your wedding, or maybe he did who knows, but tonight was the bachelor party and in less than 24 hours, unless he did something you were going to marry Bryce Abbott. The thought of it left a bad taste in his mouth, worse than the shitty whiskey he just took a shot of.

Bryce and all of the groomsmen were out at some bar celebrating. Jake was the most sober of the group, he mentally decided that was what he needed to do in order to figure out how to get you to leave Bryce.

"Jaaaake" Bryce slured as he came over and threw his arm around his shoulder.

"Hey man how about some water? You are getting married tomorrow." Jake said trying to get him to slow down.

Bryce too a sip before looking back at him. "So dude I really appreciate you filling in. You want to know something?" Bryce asked with a bleary look on his face.

"Sure." Jake responded. "Marco, the guy you replaced isn't actually in Finland. I kicked him out because he walked in on me and Marissa screwing in the office." Bryce laughed.

Jake's eyes went wide. "He threated to tell Y/n so I blackmailed him and kicked him out of the wedding." Bryce continued.

"If you're sleeping with Marissa then why are you marrying Y/n" Jake asked as he tried to remain calm and not punch Bryce in is teeth.

"Y/n looks good in pictures, she will be a good politician's wife and she comes from money... money fuels campaigns. Plus she has no idea Marissa and I are sleeping together because we work together and work long hours. Anyway I'm going to go ride the mechanical bull. See you." Bryce says before walking away like nothing had happened.

That was it, the last straw. Jake grabbed his things and sped to your hotel room.

He pounded on the door. You were surprised to see him when you opened it.

"We need to talk." He said before barging in.

He explained everything to you that Bryce had said, and what he had seen. You confessed that it wasn't the first time Bryson had hurt you, and that deep down you knew something was going on with him and Marissa.

Then he apologized to you for leaving you. Told you how sorry he was for everything and how this was all his fault.

And then he did something you didn't expect.

He kissed you.

It was searing, hot, tender, and full of passion.

You broke apart before he spoke again.

"Y/n please don't do this. I still love you, you still love me!" Jake pleaded with her.

"Jake, I'm supposed to get married tomorrow! I can't just call off the wedding because you came back into my life two week ago and threw my world off its axis!" You yell back at him

"But he doesn't love you! He is cheating on you! He hurt you!" He shouts back.

"You hurt me too Jacob." You say barely above a whisper.

He pauses for a moment thinking about his next words.

"I know. I know I hurt you. And it is the biggest mistake I have even made in life, and I will never forgive myself for it. But Y/n, baby, I promise if you give me another chance I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you. I would do anything for you." He says taking your face in his hands.

"Would you give up flying for me?" You ask knowing that's what drove you two apart all those years ago.

"Absolutely. I'd turn in my wings today if it meant I could keep you forever." Jake tells you without hesitating. You can see that he is being truthful by the look in his eyes.

You're shocked because you didn't really think he would say that.

"I—I, Jake" you don't know what to say.

"Let me see your hand." He says. You hold out your left hand to him. He slips your engagement ring off and places it on your other hand, then he slides his Navy ring onto you finger.

"Jake what are you doing?" You ask looking at him confused. "I can't keep this!" You say going to remove the ring.

He stops you. "There's only two ways I will take this back from you. Tomorrow I'm not coming to the wedding, I can't stand up there in a suit and tie and not be the one marrying you." He begins

"I'm leaving for the airport at 6:30 tomorrow afternoon. So, you can either send that ring back with Savanah before then and I will drive off into the sunset. But if you chose to do that, just know I won't be back." He says.

"Or, you can bring it back to me yourself and I swear on my life, I'll give you a diamond ring to replace it." He finishes.

You arent sure how to respond. There is a beat of silence before he kisses you again. This time you don't fight it. You both break apart when you need air.

"Jake." You state as he starts to leave the room.

"Y/n, last time I didn't give you a choice when I left, this time I am, and whatever you chose, make your choice because it's want you want." He tells you before leaving for the night.

The next day you are getting ready for the wedding. Everyone is buzzing around you and talking but you honestly don't hear them.

You look back over to your small clutch that had Jake's ring neatly tucked into it, hidden from everyone. You look back at Savannah wondering if she knows what he said last night.

It's almost time to put on your dress and head for the ranch. You look at the time... 5:00pm. Jake leaves in an hour and a half.

Suddenly you feel a deep ache in your stomach, the thought over never seeing him again makes you sick. Jake was right. You deserved more than Bryce, someone who would give up everything for you. Someone who loved you.

Like the sky after a rain storm everything suddenly became clear.

"I need everyone out! You shout at all the people in your room. "I just need a little time and space." You say. Everyone silently nods and leaves. You lock the door behind them.

You take a deep breath, knowing what you are about to do is crazy and will forever chance the course of your life. You quickly write down an explanation before shrugging your robe and grabbing some clothes from your suitcase.

You find your car keys and slip off the ring from Bryce, placing with the note. You grab Jake's Navy ring and slip it on your finger. It looks like it belongs there.

You check in the hallway to make sure no one is there before slipping out and heading to your car.

30 minutes after you left, your phone was blowing up, but you didn't care, just like Jake said, you made this choice for you.

And once your father and other brother heard the reason you left Bryce, let's just say it ended his campaign and the hope of him ever having a straight nose ever again.

You were racing against time now. Damn downtown traffic. You had to get to Jake before he left.

6:05 was the time on the clock when you checked it again, you were almost to the Seresin family ranch, you sped down the road praying you would make it in time and hoping he didn't leave early.

Jake looked at the time on his phone 6:25... he sighed thinking that you weren't coming.

At least he tried.

He climbed into the truck and cranked it. The engine roared to life. He shifted into reverse and as he looked back to check his mirror, he saw a cloud of dust coming up the drive.

"No way. No fucking way." He breathed out.

He jumped out of his truck just as you pulled in behind it sending gravel flying.

You hopped out and ran into his arms almost knocking him to the ground.

You wrapped your body around him and pulled his face down to yours. You kissed him with all the passion you had been holding back.

"Jake." You breathed out looking deep into his eyes.

"I can't believe you're here. Is this real?" He asked looking at you.

"You aren't dreaming fly boy, I'm real, I'm here." You assure him before he kisses you again.

"But... why?" He asks now looking confused.

"Because I never stopped loving you. And I deserve someone who loves me so much they would give up everything for me. I never forgave myself for not going after you last time. I wasn't going to make the same mistake twice." You tell him as you hug him tightly.

"Baby, you don't know how happy this makes me. As soon as we get back to California I'm going to get you the biggest diamond ring and and turning in my wings. I made you that promise and i intendto keep it" Jake tells you.

"I don't want you to give up flying." You tell him.

"But you asked me if I would and I told you that I would if you came back to me." He says looking puzzled.

"Just knowing that you would is enough for me. And I know you love flying, I couldn't in good conscience ask you to hang it up... Hangman." You tease.

"And as far as a big diamond ring, I've had enough of those. This one will do for now." You say showing him his Navy ring on your hand.

He smiles the biggest smile you have ever seen, your heart could burst at how happy you are.

"Well darlin, if you've got your things, all that's left is to hop in the truck and go. What do you say?" He asks opening rhe passenger door. You grab your suitcase out of your car and he puts it in the truck, whatever you don't have your family can send you or you can buy. It doesn't matter as long as you are with Jake. You climb in, ready for this next adventure.

As he is about to drive away you pause. "Wait! I don't have a plane ticket!"

"Don't worry sweetheart, I already took care of that.' He says handing you two first class tickets to California.

"You already had the tickets? How did you know I was going to come back?" You ask him looking like the confused one now.

"I didn't, guess I was just hoping you would."

You both smile at each other before driving off into the sunset.

Tag List: @dreamingathighaltitude @shanimallina87 @luckyladycreator2 @meggiemoomitchell-deactivated20 @mak-32 @katieshook02 @samhapner6 @rosiahills22 @thedroneranger @roosterforme

#top gun maverick #top gun #hangman seresin #jake seresin #jake seresin x reader #hangman top gun #lt. jake seresin #jake hangman seresin #hangman x reader #top gun 2 #tgm fic #midnights #midnight rain

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