#mav is bradleys dad

[tngrace]

Cry, Baby

Story inspired by real life events and this song, “Cry Baby” by Mitchell Tenpenny.

I have to thank my discord babes so much for listening to me the last couple of days, and for reading over this last night when I wrote it like a madwoman that just had to get it out. There might be more stories for Spicy & Roo one day in the future; I truly loved writing them & I hope yall enjoy it. 

Discord babes: @callsign-dragonbaron @mrsjaderogers @bayisdying @biehnybaby @askmarinaandothers @mischief-siriusly-managed @cycbaby @callsignscupcake @breadsquash

Grace “Spicy” Bradshaw stared at the shower floor as tears cascaded down her cheeks. She was using the water to muffle the sounds of her sobs so they didn’t wake her husband just yet. Bradley had to be up in an hour to go to class, and she wanted to let him sleep as long as possible. She’d been so hopeful that today would bring the news they’d been hoping for, but instead it just brought the same disappointment the last year and a half has brought. She felt like she was letting Bradley down tremendously, and truthfully she wanted to tell him he deserved better.  

She should’ve known he’d come find her when she was up earlier than expected, but it still surprised her when the door opened. “Spice? Babe? You’re up early?”

She quickly wipes her eyes and clears her throat; “Yea, yea I woke up early. Decided to just go ahead and get ready. Didn’t mean to get you up so early.”

“Mind if I join?”

She sucks in a deep breath and holds it; she turns her face into the spray despite knowing her eyes will be red and puffy anyways. “Yea, come on in.”

Bradley gets in behind her and pulls her back into his chest. His chin rests on top of her head as he holds her, letting the warm spray wash over them. “Grace,” he whispers. He only uses her real name when it’s something serious, always using her nickname or some version of it. Slider had given her the nickname based on the food and spice level of it when she took over the grill at the Hard Deck ten years ago.

She sinks into his hold, biting her lip hard enough to almost draw blood. “Talk to me baby.” She shakes her head no as more tears fall down her cheeks.

“I …. Can’t. I…. I just knew this time was going to be different.”

Bradley’s arms tighten around her; he knows right then that despite thinking she’d finally gotten pregnant, she had in fact not. “We’ll just keep trying.”

“Bradley…. You….”

“Don’t say it Grace. Don’t say I deserve better.” He finally spins her, but her eyes drop to his chest and his dog tags unable to meet his eyes. He gently tips her chin up, and her eyes close, tears sneaking out around her lids. He cradles her face between both of his large hands, his thumbs gently wiping the tears away.

“Open your beautiful eyes, Spicy.”

Her breath shudders out, but her eyes slowly open to meet the chocolate brown ones she loves so much. “I love you, and only you. I want you, and only you. If this is all we have, just me and you, we will be ok. But we also still have options. We’re going to try those meds and if that doesn’t work, then we look at other possibilities. I know for a fact if we went to Dad, Uncle Ice, any of the many Uncles and Aunts in our family, we could have the help to make any option possible. This sucks, I know; I know you’re feeling crushed, and today is going to be rough and full of lots of tears. But you, my dear beautiful girl, are all I want, so don’t tell me to find anyone else.”

Spicy collapses against his chest and just cries as he holds her as tight as possible, letting the water keep them warm. Bradley holds her tight, murmuring over and over how much he loves her, how much he’s there for her, how much she can cry to him anytime. Once the water starts cooling off, he washes her hair and runs some conditioner through it before quickly scrubbing his own while she stays wrapped around him. Once they’re both clean, he wraps a towel around his waist and goes to the bedroom to get dressed, letting her have the bathroom to do what she needs. She takes a few minutes to try and compose herself, but it doesn’t work. The tears don’t seem to want to stop. She slips into a pair of shorts and one of Bradley’s t-shirts she’d grabbed on her way to the bathroom that morning.

He’s sitting on the side of the bed waiting on her. She carefully settles in his lap, facing him, with her legs around his waist. She rests her head under his chin, her fingers tangling in his dog tags. “You’re going to make the best Dad one day, and I wish I could make that happen for you, more than anything,” she whispers.

His arms rub up and down her back as he holds her close. “We’re going to get that one day, I promise you, Spicy girl.”

They stayed cuddled like that until Bradley has to get ready for class. He tucks Spicy into bed, “Text me or call me if you need anything today. And I’m sure Pen can manage just fine if you don’t want to go in tonight.”

“Don’t worry; I’ll be ok. I’m not going to cancel on her last minute. I’ll be fine once I’m distracted.”

“Promise me if you’re not, you’ll stay here or come get me.”

She gives him a soft smile and a kiss. “I promise Roo. Now go before you’re late.”

Bradley reluctantly leaves; he wants to text his dad or his uncles to go check on her later, but he also knows what it’s meant to her to keep this a secret to keep the pressure lower on them. He’s glad he doesn’t have a hop that day because his head stays with his girl all day.

Spicy spends the morning in bed, and heads into the Hard Deck around lunch. Penny can tell something is wrong, but she also doesn’t push. She texts Bradley to see what’s going on, but all he’ll tell her is to keep an eye on her. Spicy spends the majority of the day in the kitchen, and when Bradley arrives after class, waving to his uncles and dad in the back corner, he heads straight into the kitchen to check on her.

“Roo,” she smiles, leaning up for a kiss. The kitchen hasn’t been too busy that day, and Bradley can tell she’d deep cleaned everything to keep her mind busy.

“Ready for a break? Dad, Ice, Sli, Chip, Wolf and Wood have the back corner claimed.”

“Roo, I…”

“Penny says you’ve been in here all day, and the kitchen is sparkling.” Spicy sighs as she leans into Roo’s embrace.

“You’re right I’ve been hiding. But I’ve been thinking. Your insurance covered the tests and meds, and I know it’s been a lot on you not sharing with everyone.”

“Grace..”

“No, let me finish.” At Bradley’s nod she continues. “We’ve gotten lucky not having to pay for what we’ve done so far, but if this doesn’t work, we could be forking out more money than we need to on our own. We don’t know how much longer we’re going to be on this journey. You’re a very open person with your family, and I love that. And I know I’ve had you keeping this a secret, and I know there are times you’ve wished you could talk to someone about it. So maybe we should tell them.”

Bradley wraps her in his arms. “You’re just doing this for me, and I know it.”

“I do everything for you Bradley Nicholas. I’d give you the whole world if I could.”

“I’d do the same for you Grace Michelle.” Spicy leans up and kisses Bradley soundly. She lets him take her apron off and hang it up, before telling her assistant that she was done for the night. Spicy wrapped her hand in his, and let him pull her to the back corner where their family was waiting.

Spicy takes the open seat beside Mav, Bradley’s dad instantly pulling her into a side hug, while Bradley pulls up a stool on her other side. As per usual they start off by complimenting the snacks she’d sent their way, before they observe them both. Bradley is telling them about his class that day, but it’s Slider who picks up on Spicy’s quietness. It’s almost like she was still the shy girl they’d met when she’d moved there, instead of the confident outgoing girl she’d become in her ten years in San Diego. He shoots a look at Ice and then Mav before turning his attention back to her.

“B, you’re rambling,” Ice finally says, all of them catching the soft sigh he lets out.

“Yea… Yea I am.” He laces his hand with Spicy’s, giving it a squeeze, before he meets six pairs of worried eyes.

“I’ve had him keeping a secret from yall,” Spicy says, before Bradley can say anything.

“Grace…”

“No B, it’s true.” She finally looks around the table. “We’ve been trying for a baby for a year and a half now, and I didn’t want him to tell anyone because I knew it wouldn’t be easy for us to get pregnant because of me. I didn’t want anyone to get their hopes up just to be crushed over and over.”

She feels Mav’s arm sling across her shoulder and squeeze her tight to his side. He’s been like a dad to her ever since she started dating Roo and realized he was essentially Bradley’s dad too. “Oh kiddo,” he sighs, placing a kiss on her head. Bradley doesn’t let go of her hand, but doesn’t miss how she practically melts into the hug.

She takes another steadying breath and pulls herself upright once more. “My doctor ran some tests about a couple of weeks ago, and in two days I’m going to be starting meds. If after three months they haven’t helped, then we have to either look at other options or give up. This… This morning was rough and there were a lot of tears, but I’ve spent the majority of the afternoon hiding in the kitchen and cleaning and thinking. I know it’s been hard on B keeping this a secret from yall and everyone basically, so I decided we needed to confess.”

In the next instant she is pulled up off the stool into a crushing group hug from their family. Bradley is wrapped in one next, before everyone settles back into their seats. Spicy laughs as she wipes tears off her cheeks, laying her head on Bradley’s shoulder, giving his hand a squeeze. “We’re here for anything, we mean anything, you two might need. No matter how big or small.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Bradley smiles over Spicy’s head. He knew they’d be understanding, but he also understood Spicy’s fears. They spend the next hour explaining her health woes and what all her doctor has recommended. When Spicy starts falling asleep, worn out from all her cleaning and emotional turmoil, Bradley pulls her into his lap.

“Get her home son. We can talk more when you’re both ready,”  Mav promises.

“Thanks Dad.” Bradley scoops her up carefully, Ice following him to help with doors, promising to bring her car home for them. Spicy never stirs, and once home, Bradley tucks her into bed.

Three months later

Spicy is staring at the sink, not moving, not blinking, not even really breathing. The knock on the door startles her enough to cause her jump and squeak. “Spicy? You ok love?”

She opens the door, and Bradley instantly assumes she’s started, late, again. “Oh baby, we can…” but that’s as far as he gets before she’s jumping up and kissing him. He instantly catches her, her legs wrapping around his waist.

“Spice?”

“Roo it finally worked,” she whispers, staring into those chocolate eyes. “It worked! Congratulations Daddy.”

“You’re serious?”

She points at the sink, where five positive pregnancy tests lay. “I’ve done one every morning for the last five days because I didn’t believe them. We’re finally having a baby.”

A week later when they finally have an ultrasound to confirm, they learn that one of the major side effects from the meds happened; they’re having twins. Two and half months pass before Spicy is comfortable telling everyone. Mav and all the uncles knew because Bradley had been way too excited not to tell them, but they’d all kept the secret like she’d asked. Now that she’s showing and well into her second trimester, the ‘86 flyboys plan a huge party at the Hard Deck to celebrate. Spicy and Roo are showered in so much love and excitement, that all the pain of trying slowly melts away. She can’t wait to see Bradley as a daddy and all their family being wrapped around the babies’ fingers.

#bradley rooster bradshaw #bradley rooster bradshaw fic #grace spicy bradshaw #spicy x roo #bradley rooster bradshaw x oc #post top gun maverick #post tgm #top gun maverick fic #tgm fic #86 flyboys #found family #tw: infertility #tw: trying to concieve #happy ending #mav is bradleys dad #my writing #song fic #Spotify

[pollyna]

au in which Mav speaks a lot about their child, and Rooster gets insanely jealous of someone he doesn't know because he is supposed to be their only kid, okay?!

At least until Mav doesn't invite all the daggers to his home, and Ice is sleeping with said kid on Bradley's favourite armchair. But instead of a human child between the Iceman's arms, there's a cat. The cutest fucking cat ever seeing on the face of the planet but still, a cat.

Months later, Uncle Slider is still teasing him for being jealous of a cat while Ice pats his curles and "as if we would ever replaced you, baby goose."

#this gives me ideas about ice helping sarah rasing her kids and everybody (and mav) thinking they are ice's #anyway! #pete maverick mitchell #tom iceman kazansky #icemav #cat dads icemav #bradley rooster bradshaw #how uncle slider does nobody can follow

[fangirling-tussisque-noncaelatur]

[At breakfast]

Iceman: How did the date go?

Maverick: I bet Hangman was really enjoying his time with you.

Rooster: *frowns* He wouldn't even kiss me.

Maverick: Nice boys don't kiss on the first date, Bradley. Ice wouldn't kiss me until our third date.

Iceman: ...

Maverick: It made the s*x on the first two dates very impersonal.

Iceman: *chokes on his coffee*

Rooster: *stares at Mav in shock*

#rooster needs therapy after this #ice was right - mav is dangerous #hangster #icemav #incorrect quotes #source: american dad #sereshaw #dadmav #hangaroo #icepops #iceman x maverick #maverick x iceman #rooster x hangman #hangman x rooster #roohang #rooshang #pete maverick mitchell #tom iceman kazansky #bradley rooster bradshaw #jake hangman seresin #bradley bradshaw x jake seresin #jake seresin x bradley bradshaw #pete mitchell x tom kazansky #tom kazanski x pete mitchell #top gun: maverick #tgm #rooster #hangman #iceman #maverick

[the-ace-with-spades]

The year is 1995 and Mav disappears off radars on a mission overseas. He's declared MIA and then when satellite pictures of an F-14's wreck show up, declared KIA.

It's a hot August evening when Ice opens his front doors to see a Navy officer with a precisely folded flag in his arms and a JAG lawyer with a suitcase full of documents. Baby Goose should be already sleeping upstairs, preparing for their planned camping trip the day after.

Ice lets them in without a word.

They walk past the living room where Ice had been checking their tent for rust, straight to the kitchen table. They don't sit down.

"On behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Navy—"

"Spare me the bullshit."

He's still holding the flag, letter on top of it, seal unbroken.

"Why are you even here? I'm not his—" Loved one. Ice was just—there. A close friend. A wingman. It doesn't matter whether he loves Mav or not, he will always be just someone in his life, not his loved one. "I'm just his best friend."

"Commander Mitchell stated this address as Bradley Bradshaw's main residence during deployment."

Jesus Christ. He can't—Bradley. What was he going to tell Bradley?

"Commander Mitchell's sole beneficiary is Bradley Bradshaw, and since he's a minor, we need to execute his will alongside our condolences." Bradley lost another parent. And all he has left is a will. "You've been named as Bradley Bradshaw's legal guardian if Commander Mitchell was—unable to take care of him."

"He's never told me that."

He didn't. Not even a word. He knew Mav had a will, they all did. But he never thought enough to make sense of the details.

It couldn't be Ice. He couldn't exist on paper in Mav's life or in Bradley's life.

"You can refuse—"

Ice phases out the words that come after — Mav can't be gone, Mav couldn't have left Bradley to him, Mav couldn't have thought he would be able to care for Bradley alone, without Mav's help and guidance. He couldn't have left them both there with broken hearts.

Ice doesn't believe this. It can't be true. If he stares long enough, the two officers in front of him are going to disappear and he will get a late night call from Mav from the ship and will wake up Baby Goose so they could chat and—

"Ice, I know I should be asleep but can we check if we got enough jars for bugs? I really want to—"

Ice finally comes back to the surroundings.

Bradley stands in the kitchen door, noticing the two people in there, in uniforms. "I'm sorry, sirs, I didn't know—"

At that exact moment, Bradley notices the flag and the unopen letter. He can see it nice and clear — his face falls and he doesn't look at anything but the goddamn flag and the stupid letter made on behalf of the President.

Ice stops breathing. "Bradley—"

"No," he says, shaking his head, so quiet. "Not again, no—"

Before Ice can say anything, Bradley is running back up the stairs.

#mav is fine btw #he's in siberia trying to get back to the usa without getting found out #it'll take him two years to go to the usa via alaska but he'll come back #ice just won't be able to not be a dad by the time he comes back #yes this is kinda a buddie au because both eddie and mav are idiots with kids #icemav #tom iceman kazansky #bradley rooster bradshaw #tg86 #fic ideas #written in a bus trying not to fall asleep #shoulf be a tag it happens so often #q #op #charlie writes

[scottishaccentsareawesome]

Cyclone's Assistant: We've been able to tune into the enemy's radio frequency, sir. We can hear them discussing our pilots that they've captured. Cyclone: Tell me. Assistant: According to the radio dispatches, one pilot is "Sass with a Jawline" and the other is "Sass with a Moustache" and they "bicker like an old married couple who took a wrong turn on their honeymoon roadtrip". Cyclone(sighs): Hangman and Rooster.... Cyclone(to Warlock):...Who's gonna tell Maverick? Warlock: -Not it! Cyclone: Not it! DAMNIT!

#incorrect quotes #top gun maverick #hangaroo #hangster #sereshaw #mav!dad #cyclone needs a raise #cyclone & warlock #beau simpson #solomon bates #jake seresin #bradley bradshaw #pete mitchell #cyclone simpson #warlock bates #hangman seresin #rooster bradshaw #maverick mitchell

[whohasthecards]

What if, Hangman plays around a lot with the Daggers and Mav because he never really got the chance too. The guy is a top naval aviator, especially with the air-to-air kill, the Navy probably had high expectations for him, and so he acted the way people expected him to act. Confident, cocky, competent, the Navy's golden boy. The Hangman.

His home life isn't the best, shitty parents, if they were there at all. Heck, he could have siblings older or younger than him, and being the responsible breadwinner/caretaker fell on his shoulders, so he always had to work hard and keep a level head. Keep whatever family he had and himself upfloat.

However, once he was with the Dagger squad, he didn't feel the need to be Hangman, the Navy's Golden boy, cocky smile and no mistakes. He wasn't Jacob Seresin, tired and level-headed, a soft smile for his nieces and nephews. A hard face if his parents ever decides to show their faces again.

He was just Jake.

Jake who crows in victory whenever he beats Phoenix at pool. Phoenix rolling her eyes as she lightly hit Jake with a cue stick, Jake dancing away gasping dramatically as if she had a knife.

Jake who playfully steals Bob's peanuts, laughing as the other man scowls at him and lightly shoves his shoulder to get it back. (One time Jake tried to eat the whole cup worth of peanuts as fast as possible, and Bob and him had a mini wrestling fight, Jake gave it back, and got him a new one.)

Jake who Coyote always brings desert for. Coming by his desk and holding the treat above his head, making sure to keep the treat out of Jake's reach. Making Jake pout and whine as he tries to grab it. Javy always does the bit, making Jake say please for it, before conceding and giving it to him. Javy always finds something new for Jake to try.

Jake who Bradley finds always on his right. Bothering him. Teasing him, yet always there, talking about anything and everything. Bradley smiled fondly, as he ruffled the younger man's hair after a particularly funny story about the shenanigans he partook in.

Jake who Mav knows likes his bacon slightly burned and eggs over easy, from the many nights he stayed overnight in his house, and smiles brightly at breakfast. Who has grease streaked across his face as Mav taught him how to do maintenance on motorcycles.

Jake with messy hair, bright eyes, and a relaxed smile. Who would tease, pout, and groan dramatically, but would always be there.

They didn't realized how much of a privilege knowing Jake is, until they saw Jacob "Hangman" Seresin take front and center, once more.

#jake hangman seresin #jake seresin #fanfic #mavdad #pete maverick mitchell #top gun #top gun fandom #top gun maverick #bradley rooster bradshaw #mavdad is the best dad #dad!mav #natasha phoenix trace #bradley bradshaw #javy coyote machado #bob floyd #drabble

[yeagrave]

talk to me…

for @tgm-all4one ‘it’s not the prompt. it’s the creator.’ challenge!

#tgm all4one #I have a hangster one too ofc #but I needed some roosmav comfort #mav being a good dad #my art #pete ‘maverick’ mitchell #tgm #pete mitchell #bradley ‘rooster’ bradshaw #bradley bradshaw #fanart #angst #mavdad

[sunlightmurdock]

thinking about the “character who came back wrong” trope when it comes to Maverick and Bradley Bradshaw.

With Goose gone in such a tragic and sudden way, Maverick locked in on the fact that a part of Goose was still here— a part that needed him. All of the hours he poured into spending time making sure Bradley knew who his father was and what he was like.

But it’s not the same, because Bradley wasn’t Maverick’s best friend.

When they would watch a show together that had once made his father double over in fits of laughter, Bradley just doesn’t find it funny, but he tries to laugh for Maverick’s sake.

When Maverick teaches him how to catch and Bradley is overcome with a frustration and temper that Maverick never knew in Goose.

The older Bradley gets, the harder he tries to be the best friend that Maverick wants him to be. He tries and tries but the TV shows still aren’t funny and he’s still so angry.

then of course the incident with the papers happens, and it changes the scope for the both of them. Bradley is left with a sense of resentment about the aura of his father, and Maverick is left with a guilt he didn’t ever know could get this intense.

And then, years later in a bar on the West Coast, Maverick sees his best friend again. He sees the Hawaiian shirt and the goofy smile and the towering height— but it’s still not Goose. It’s the little boy that he wanted so badly to be like Goose; hating Maverick more than Goose ever could have.

#GOOSE QUIT HAUNTING THE NARRATIVE ITS SCARING THE KIDS #bradley bradshaw #bradley rooster bradshaw #I’m back on my ‘Mav accidentally gave Bradley more Dad Trauma’ train #pete maverick mitchell #miles teller #Pete Mitchell #Nicholas Goose Bradshaw #Goose Bradshaw

[maverickcalf]

'Cause ain't it easier to just move on?

"Down the River" by The Crane Wives

Top Gun Maverick (2022)

#top gun #top gun maverick #rooster bradshaw #bradley rooster bradshaw #maverick mitchell #pete maverick mitchell #the crane wives #blu gifs #mav dad #rooster son

[hard-deck-confessions]

After his mother, Bradley’s favorite person was always Maverick. His earliest memory was sitting on top of the piano at Kansas City Barbeque while his dad and Mav belted out a less than beautiful rendition af Great Balls of Fire and then being carried out dozing off in Mav’s arms. Although, he's not sure if he really remembers that day or if he can just picture it so vividly because Mav talked about it so often. Mav talked about a lot of memories with Goose. He told some stories so much, Bradley had them memorized word for word.

Mav was a constant in Bradley's childhood. He made sure he was there for every birthday, every Christmas, and on the anniversary of Goose's death he always took Bradley and Carol out for the night. If he was on land near by, he was there every Wednesday for family dinner—there was always an extra place set for Goose those nights.

When Bradley was in 3rd grade and didn't want to be in his school's Father's Day program, Mav dropped everything to be there, he didn't even bother to change out of his jumpsuit. He didn't care that he would face discipline for rushing off before debriefing; the look on Bradley's face when he saw Mav right next to his mom in the front row was enough to get him through a lifetime of reprimands.

Mav was the one who taught Bradley to ride a bike. He put band-aids with (somehow) poorly drawn smiley faces on every scraped knee and elbow during the very long process because, while Bradley might have been a natural pilot, biking did not come as easy. Mav took him to ball games on the weekends in the summer when he could and made sure he had the best swing on his little league team. He helped him fix up Goose’s old truck and then taught him to drive it. He never lost his temper, but instead laughed every time Bradley stalled it.

“Damnit!” Bradley would yell, slamming his fist on the steering wheel in frustration. “I swear, I'm never going to get this thing out of the neighborhood!"

“Just calm down and try again, kid.” Mav would say with a smile a mile wide. “You've got this."

Mav was the only person Bradley thought to call at 3am after hiking a mile in the pouring rain to the nearest gas station because he'd gotten his truck stuck in a ditch taking a corner too fast. Mav was there in 20 minutes. And instead of reprimanding him about his carelessness, Mav bought the shivering teen a hot chocolate and told him the story of how he wrecked his dad's old beloved car when he was in high school.

When Bradley graduated from high school, Mav gave him Goose's helmet. He'd pulled strings 16 years prior to keep the helmet from being repurposed for another pilot and paid a pretty penny to get it, but he'd never tell Bradley that. Bradley only found out when he joined the Navy himself.

Maverick loved Bradley like his own kid, and he felt responsible for him because, despite what any military hearing said, he would always blame himself for Goose’s death. That was why pulling his papers was the hardest decision he'd ever made and the easiest at the same time. He tried not to regret it, but Maverick hated feeling Bradley pull away from him; he hated that he wasn't one of the kid’s favorite people any longer.

But Bradley's favorite person never stopped being Maverick, it was only Rooster that couldn't face Captain Pete Mitchell.

Until he could.

- Hazard

#yes i know Mav's dad is dead i just wasn’t gonna put late-father's car #top gun #top gun maverick #pete maverick mitchell #bradley rooster bradshaw #nick goose bradshaw #carol bradshaw #headcanon #top gun headcanons #headcannons #f-14 tomcat #captain pete mitchell #rooster top gun #mavdad

[tngrace]

Letting Go Ch. 8 Cemetery Conversations

This chapter got way longer than I expected; apparently the muse had a lot to say so I hope yall enjoy it!

Read on A03; 

Tumblr: Letting Go Masterlist

Mav is just sitting there feeling the same gentle breeze Bradley felt when he feels another presence beside him. Bradley quietly sinks down beside him and Mav reaches over squeezing his arm. “You ok kiddo?”

Bradley stares out straight ahead. He hasn’t been to this particular spot since the day of the funeral, and it still doesn’t feel real that he’s lost an uncle. Mav almost thinks he’s not going to answer, but then Bradley shakes his head no and sniffs. In the next instant he’s leaning into Mav’s side as silent tears fall.

Mav wraps his arms around Bradley tight. “It’s ok kiddo. Just let it out,” he murmurs, burying his head in Bradley’s hair. He holds him tight while Bradley silently cries. “Why isn’t he still here?” he whispers, breaking Mav’s heart in two.

He tightens his arms around Bradley before he quietly answers. “I've asked myself that a thousand times it seems.” He pauses to find the right words. “I never thought I’d outlive him. He should definitely still be here.” The “I wish it’d been me instead,” goes unsaid, but he knows Bradley heard it anyway if the way he tenses in his arms is any indication.

“I should’ve came home sooner. I had a feeling he was keeping tabs, he admitted as much when I saw him before this.” He turns his face into Mav’s chest, just breathing for a moment. “I knew he wasn’t good, but I didn’t think it’d be the last time I saw him forever.” His body shudders as he tries to hold back more sobs.  

Mav just holds him tighter. “I know,” he sighs softly. “I know the feeling. It’s not fair. Not at all. But Ba…” he stops himself before he calls him “Baby Goose.” For one the kid’s not a baby anymore, but two he doesn’t think he’s earned that right again just yet. “But Bradley, you got to see him, got to catch up. Got to know how proud of you he is. He loved you kiddo and you know it. And it sucks, majorly, but you know he’s never far.” He places another kiss to the top of Bradley's head.

The kid surprises him once more when he pulls his face out of Mav’s chest. “You can call me Baby Goose again,” he murmurs, knowing that was what Mav stopped himself from saying. “It was always my favorite nickname.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal, even though Mav feels floored.

Bradley turns so his head lays in Mav’s lap like they do on the couch sometimes still when neither can go back to sleep. “I know you brought me here, hoping it would make me talk.” Mav snorts because he knows his kid is smart, he just didn’t think Bradley would call him on it after this week.

“I’d do anything if I thought it would help you.”

“I know you would.” He lets out a sigh and wipes his eyes under his aviators. “Ice give any resounding advice?”

Mav laughs out loud at that; damn if he hasn’t missed his kid. Bradley rolls and looks up at him with a smirk and a shrug. “Just the same thing he’s tried to teach me since ‘86 Baby Goose. Patience.”

Bradley snorts. “You think you finally got it?”

“Getting there,” Mav says, staring off into the distance.

“I’m glad it wasn’t you instead, Dad,” he murmurs so quietly it almost gets lost in the air. “I… I don’t know what I would’ve done.” He closes his eyes and just breathes, reminding himself that Mav is still there, still solid against him. “Watching you float over me, flares going in every direction. Knowing what you were doing.” Bradley shudders and Mav’s hand finds his hair. They feel another gentle breeze and Bradley looks towards the sky, more tears escaping. He knows it’s that gentle encouragement to keep going.

“I could see you out of the corner of my eyes. Watched you get hit, go down. Payback said he didn’t see a parachute. They ordered us back.” He hiccups his breath trying to get this out in one go. Mav’s hand is a constant in his hair and it helps. “I wouldn’t acknowledge the order to return so Phoenix tried. Told me the bandits were coming and we couldn’t go back. And then Bob… Bob delivered the final blow trying to tell me you were gone.” He full body shudders at that, knowing he’ll never forget hearing it.

He rolls so his face is against Maverick’s stomach and just breathes as Mav rubs his back. He’s heard all the debriefs, knew what had happened when he went down, and knew Bradley wasn’t likely to forget those moments any time soon. “I just… I couldn’t, wouldn’t , believe it. You promised me a conversation and there’s one thing you’ve never done. You never break a promise. I knew you’d be mad at me, but I wasn’t leaving you. I couldn’t. I didn’t care what happened to me. I had to find you. Whatever that entailed.”

Mav carefully wipes the tears from Bradley’s face as he rolls back to his back. “The minute I saw the ‘copter blow, I knew. I could feel it. I knew it was you and there was nothing I could do as I watched you get it by that SAM. That was the worst feeling in the world.” Mav is quiet so Bradley looks up.

“Yea… I know,” he whispers, wrapping his arms around his dad giving him a hug. “I know.” He knows Mav wasn’t actually seeing him float to the ground, that he probably only saw his dad and the memories. He knows that’s likely to haunt Mav for a long time, but he doesn’t regret it. Not when he has his dad with him now.

They’re both quiet for the longest before Bradley feels some of the tension leaving Mav. Once Mav is relaxed once more, Bradley slowly sits up again so they’re side by side. He pushes his shoulder against Mav’s letting it ground him as they both stare straight ahead. “I owe you both so many apologies,” he starts. Mav tries to stop him but Bradely just shakes his head. “No you’re just going to listen right now and I know Uncle Ice would agree.”

Mav snorts but nods as Bradley leans into him a little more. “Ok. You have my full attention.”

Bradley stares straight ahead, but he knows he has to say this, knows this has been eating him up just as much as the nightmares. “I didn’t apologize when I saw Uncle Ice before the mission, and I should’ve. I never should’ve stayed away or stayed as angry as I did for so long. I should’ve came home the first time he got diagnosed. I should’ve been there, and that’s on me.”

He takes a deep breath and swallows back some tears. He feels another gentle breeze and he knows Mav feels it too when he feels his hand land on his back. “He never blamed you Bradley. Never. He understood more than anyone.”

“I know. But still. I should’ve been there and those are years I’ll never get back.” He takes another deep breath. “But I owe you the most apologies. Not just for the fight over the academy and the years of silence afterwards. I couldn’t… I couldn’t bring myself to block either number. Always afraid I’d miss something life changing if I did, but I still ignored every text, every call.  But nothing compares to what I did here recently. I didn’t mean the things I said at Top Gun. I didn’t mean the things I said that night. I was angry, I was scared. I lashed out at you because it was easy, and I wanted to take those words back as soon as I said them.”

His head drops to his knees as silent tears leak out. Mav’s hand is rubbing up and down his back offering comfort he doesn’t think he deserves. Not until he gets all this out and gets his dad’s forgiveness. “All three of them would be ashamed of me. I know I am. I’m so sorry dad. So sorry. I wish I’d never said it, wish I could take it back. Wish there was a way to erase it from your mind because you never deserved to hear it. You’ve always only looked out for me, cared for me, loved me. And even if I didn’t act like it, somewhere deep down I knew everything you did was out of love and protection. And I still acted like an ungrateful brat. I threw words at your face I knew would hurt because I wanted you to hurt like I did, and that's just… ”

“Hey, B it’s ok just breathe,” Mav said quietly trying to stop a panic attack before it happened. He kept his breath slow and measured as he rubbed Bradley’s back. “Just breathe.” Bradley took several deep breaths, his nails digging into his arms giving him something else to focus on besides his spiraling thoughts.

Mav reached up and pulled his nails out of his arms, wincing as he saw the indentations he knew would bruise later. “It’s ok B. No, you had your say now it’s my turn,” he says when he sees the kid trying to stop him. Bradley just bites his lip but nods. A gentle breeze floats over them once more and Mav smiles. “I know you regret it. I could see it all over your face that night, and I know if Warlock hadn’t interrupted us, you would’ve taken it back right then. Kid, I've been living with your anger for years… Uh uh still talking,” he said, holding his hand up to stop Bradley once more. He wished he could do the eyebrow trick like Ice used to, but he’d never perfected it.

“I’m used to it B, hell half the time I knew I deserved it. Pulling your academy papers was one of the hardest things I’ve done. Ice tried so many different ways to talk me out of it and get me to just talk to you. He’s actually probably really happy we’re sitting here talking now so he can hear it.”

Bradley snorts at that but has to nod his agreement.

“As much as I hate to say it, you got my temper. I knew what to expect, and I knew what to expect when I got the teaching assignment. I wanted to be mad at him, but deep down I knew he knew what he was doing. God he’s probably turning flips hearing me say how he was right.” Bradley snorts a laugh at that. “I knew this wasn’t going to be easy or comfortable for either of us. I knew to expect the anger, but I also knew you had too much of your uncle in you to break the rules or anything of the sort. That day was hard on everyone before anything happened with your uncle. I was prepared when I saw you in there alone. Doesn't mean it didn’t suck or hurt any less…”

Bradley actually whimpers a little at that, and Mav just tightens his hand on his shoulder.

“But I knew you didn’t mean it. Just like you never really meant the words you hurled in that fight about the academy. Getting this second chance means more than enough kid.”

Bradley’s head finds it’s way to Mav’s shoulder. “How can you just brush it off so easily?”

“Maybe your uncle taught me more than I knew.” Bradley outright laughs at that. “You’ll understand one day if you have kids. Being a parent is tough, but you love unconditionally, know matter what. And kiddo, I love you more than anything. So I can take anything you throw at me, if it makes you feel better. I’m always going to love you and nothing you do or say will ever change that.”

“Yea… Love you too dad.” They sit there for a while longer until Bradley’s stomach growls, reminding them both that he hasn’t been eating as much.

“What do you say we go get some food and get back to the hanger? Maybe working on the plane will tire you out today and maybe this helped. We can always come back.”

“Yea sounds like a plan,” Bradley smiles. He gets up and then helps Mav up. He does the same as he did to his parents, kisses his fingers and then touches the stone before heading for the Bronco. Mav hangs back for just a second and Bradley lets him have his own goodbye.

“Thanks Ice,” Mav whispers. “I hope I’m enough to get him through this. We’ll see you again soon.” He touches the headstone himself before he heads to his kid waiting in the Bronco. Another breeze, a little stronger than the previous ones, floats across him making him smile. “Where to?” he asks Bradley, starting the Bronco and heading into town.

#top gun maverick #tgm #top gun maverick fic #tgm fic #bradley rooster bradshaw #pete maverick mitchell #bradley rooster bradshaw fic #pete maverick mitchell fic #father son duo #mav is bradleys dad #my writing

[pollyna]

Husband reveals but in the most normal way ever: Mav forgets his lunch home twice, and Tom drops by because he can't have a starving husband, even less for such an important mission. The first time he's wearing civvies and the daggers are far away to not notice him at all, the second one Ice is still in full uniform when he strolls in the cafeteria, drops Mav's lunch on the table, kisses his lips and "I'm not your errand boy, next time you forgot your lunch it's on you" to which Mav smiles dopey "whatever you say, Iceman. Eat with me?". How could Tom say no?

All around them, nobody moves because the Commander of the fucking Pacific Fleet is sharing a sandwich with their captain. And they kissed.

#another husband reveals prompt? yep. love them need them bc i had a very not good afternoon and i have a headache that's getting worst #lemme live with all the fluff possible #one day i'm going to learn the abbreviation of ice's title #for now i just want him alive #tom iceman kazansky #pete maverick mitchell #icemav #the dagger squad goes: 😳😶🧐🫨🫣😲🤯 #and cyclone goes: 🫠😔😒🤢 why not me #bradley is like eating is lunch and trying v hard to not succumb to second hand embarrassment #until he doesn't say 'hi dad' out loud #in the meanwhile ice and mav are: 🥰☺️😚🥵🙈❤️‍🔥👬👨‍❤️‍👨🫶 #otp: things get old our love is gold

[fangirling-tussisque-noncaelatur]

[Rooster comes home late]

Iceman: Where have you been? You have to tell us when you're gonna be late.

Rooster: Sorry, I lost track of time.

Maverick: *smiling at Ice* He lost track of time.

Iceman: *frowns at Mav*

Maverick: ...Which is very irresponsible, and you can't worry us like that.

Rooster: I was hanging out with Hangman.

Maverick: See? He was hanging out with his boyfriend. I get it.

Iceman: We just want you to be safe. Right?

Maverick: Right. We want you to be safe.

Rooster: Okay.

Maverick: Always wear protection.

Rooster: *blinks, shocked*

Iceman: *turning to Mav* What? ...No.

Maverick: No?...No, don't wear protection.

Iceman: *rubbing his eyes* Mav...

Maverick: Uh, you let Hangman decide that.

Rooster: Just stop it.

#rooster needs therapy after this #mav should be a responsible dad but he just can't #ice has a hard time dealing with these two #hangster #icemav #incorrect quotes #source: cobra kai #hangman #sereshaw #rooster #iceman #maverick #found family #hangman x rooster #rooster x hangman #iceman x maverick #maverick x iceman #jake hangman seresin #bradley rooster bradshaw #dadmav #dadice #pete maverick mitchell #tom iceman kazansky #bradley bradshaw x jake seresin #jake seresin x bradley bradshaw #pete mitchell x tom kazansky #tom kazanski x pete mitchell #tgm #top gun: maverick #top gun

[forsty]

TOP GUN: MAVERICK - Hesitation.jpg

Mav just wants his son safe and sound. Ice wants them both safe and sound. Based on this little ramble I wrote sometime ago about Mav hesitating Post Dagger Mission with reaching out to Rooster. 

Please DO NOT tag as ro*smav.

#top gun maverick #pete maverick mitchell #tom iceman kazansky #bradley rooster bradshaw #fanart #forsty art #mav dad.... my beloved...... #i've had this as a wip for so long and i've finally finished it... releasing it into the void #if i see anyone tag this as roosmav im coming for you #so please don't #just don't

[scottishaccentsareawesome]

(at the Hard Deck, Rooster is upset over how he ended things with Hangman and Phoenix is trying to comfort him) Rooster: Phoenix, I screwed it up! You wouldn't understand, you never screw things up... Maverick(walking up to them): Yeah, no offense, Phoenix. Let the Master handle this one...

#incorrect quotes #top gun maverick #bird buddies #dagger squad #hangaroo #hangster #sereshaw #maverick & rooster #mav!dad #bradley bradshaw #rooster bradshaw #pete mitchell #maverick mitchell #natasha trace #phoenix trace #jake seresin #hangman seresin #icemav if you squint

[whohasthecards]

Mav, Jake, & Blankie

Mav gifts Jake a soft blanket with letters or the alphabet printed all over it.

Jake: What's this, pops? Isn't this a kid's blanket?

Mav: Took me a while, but I found one that'll actually cover you head to toe.

Jake (grinning): Not used to shopping for blankets my size, Mav?

Mav (rolling his eyes): Ha-Ha very funny, kid.

Jake: Yes I'm hilarious, but seriously, what's up with the alphabet print, pops? I ain't an actual kid, I'm a big boy who knows his A, B, Cs

Mav: Not according to how you got your callsign

Jake (smiling sharply): Haven't you heard from Bradshaw, pops? I got my callsign from leaving people hanging, he's the one that coined it after all

Mav: I heard from Bradley that you already had a callsign when he met you, that you got it for a bunch of spelling mistakes you made in one of your reports.

Jake: ....

Mav: He also told me he got mad at you after a training hop, and he shouted that Hangman was the name of someone who would always leave a man behind. People latched on to that story. Didn't think you would have latched on as well, son

Jake (smiling bitterly): It's the story most people know and believe. You gotta own it, or the Navy'll eat ya alive.

Mav: We know that you aren't that. Your team knows that. I'm proud of you, son. For getting where you are now. This blanket is a reminder that you have to be proud of yourself too. Hangman isn't the name of some random asshole, Hangman is the name of some--

Jake: Asshole that can't spell?

Mav: I was going to say some human who makes the occassional mistake, but that works too, buddy.

Jake (runs his hands through the blanket, his throat getting tighter): ... Thank you, Mav.

Mav (claps Jake's shoulder): Of course, son. Enjoy your blankie (Mav grins widely)

Jake (chokes out a laugh): Fuck you, pops (buries his face into the blanket)

Mav pulls the kid into a hug, feeling the kid relax in his arms, taking deep breaths. He was always there to remind his kids that he sees them as who they are, not as who they think they have to be.

#fanfic #top gun maverick #top gun #top gun fandom #jake hangman seresin #jake seresin #pete maverick mitchell #mavdad #bradley rooster bradshaw #mavdad is the best dad #what if this was the first time Jake has ever gotten a gift from someone he considers a “father figure” #the only person who gave him gifts was Javy #heck this could even be his first “blankie” #he uses the blanket every night #people tease him abt it but he doesnt care #when mav invites him to movie night he brings the blanket along