#terms of endearment// jake seresin

[ohtobeleah]

ToE couldn’t come any quicker! I need that update girl! I’ve missed Dot soo much!!

I’m so excited to be back in the swing of things! Enjoy! It’s a fluffy ride with a steep slope at the end. Strap in! Terms of Endearment Masterlist here.

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~**

“We’ll change the wires out for something a little less complicated in a day or two Miss Y/L/N, but in the meantime it’s liquids only.” Nurse Cindy reminded you with a soft ‘listen to me I’m the healthcare provider’ tone you weren’t in the mood for. 

“Can you do anything about the brooding bull rider in the corner of the room?” You huffed through your teeth, the wires had just been tightened. Rhett stood with his own groan as Cindy chuckled and tucked your legs under the blanket of the wheelchair you were perched in. 

“Unfortunately I can’t, I’m under strict orders to make sure your supervised twenty four seven, having the brooding bull rider here just takes some pressure off my nurses—but you have your panic button if he ever steps out of line.” It wasn’t the answer you were looking for as you sat back and said not a word in response. Nurse Cindy took that as her sign to leave. So she did. “Her charts have been updated Mr Abbott, feel free to call Mr Bradshaw and let him know that all she’s responding well to the antibiotics.” 

“Thanks—“ Was all Rhett replied with as he took it upon himself to take your wheelchair by the handles and push you out towards the door. 

“What are you doing?” Rhett knew you were in a particularly foul mood today. You hadn’t said a word about why, and you weren’t about to cry on the shoulder of a man you didn’t know and did trust as far as you could throw him, why you were in such a foul mood. But he knew. Jake had told him during change over yesterday. “Rhett, seriously—“ 

It was your daughter's third birthday tomorrow and you were going to miss it. A milestone you’d never be able to go back and retrace. Gone, poof, into thin air. Rhett, albeit stubborn in many ways and probably a little rougher around the edges than most, didn’t understand what that pain was like. He didn’t have children. 

But he could sympathise and he didn’t wanna leave you alone on a day that was hard enough to get through with people around you. Was he going to tell you that though? 

Absolutely fucking not. 

“I need a coffee but I don’t trust you enough to leave you here alone, so we’re going to get a coffee.” Just as Rhett was pushing you out of the doorway, a man with black curly locks and heart eyes you could see from a mile away came walking towards you with a bouquet of flowers. His smile melted your heart as he caught your eye, he waved as he called your name and pushed past nurses and physicians alike. 

“Fe!” He beamed. “Hey! Sorry I haven’t been round to see you yet I’ve been caught up with Phoenix—“ Before Mickey Garcia could get another word out, Rhett was on him. Pushing him up against the nearest wall with his forearm to his sternum and a first tightly wrapped in the T-shirt he was wearing. 

“Who the fuck are you and what are you doing here?” Oh my god, as if this day couldn’t get any worse. Your eyes went as wide as they could at the sight. Rhett and Mickey pinned and pinned good. 

“RHETT! Lay off!” You grumbled through your teeth as you tried to wheel yourself forward with one arm, the other was still in a sling. “It’s just Mickey—“ 

“Fanboy! I’m—“ Mickey panicked as he stared into the sole of Rhett Abbott. Bob had warned Mickey he may be in attack dog mode and to tread lightly. The warning went unheeded. A mistake Mickey learnt the hard way. “I’m Fanyboy, Mickey Garcia, I work with Felix, my Abuela made her biscuits once—“ Mickey found himself rambling until you reached out and tapped Rhett on his side. Only then did he back off. “Holy shit I think I crapped my pants—“ 

“You never mentioned a Mickey.” Rhett fixed himself up as he eyed down Fanboy. The nurses in the halls had gone back to minding their own business when they saw the situation had dissolved itself. For a brief moment you could have killed Rhett, but at the same time you saw first hand how quickly he’d come to your defense. There was some hesitation in your response—but you didn’t let the brief thought of heroism change your mind about Rhett Abbott. 

Not this time anyway. 

“I’ll provide you with a manifest of friends and family—“ All you did was roll your eyes. “Mick, you good?” Mickey nodded, he couldn’t stop staring at Rhett. This was some trippy twilight zone shit. 

“You guys weren’t kidding when you said it’s Bob in cowboy cosplay, huh?” 

***~***~***~***~****~***~

Odette Dolan didn’t understand a lot in life, she was just a little girl in a big scary world who loved her mother fiercely and her Tooster dearly. She loved her uncle Jake to infinity and beyond—but ever since Bradley Bradshaw came into her life? She knew, deep down, that he loved her just as much as you did. Sorry uncle Jake, but there was a new man in Odette's life. 

And he had a mustache and a few tattoos that he let Odette colour in with markers. 

“Happy birthday to you—“ Bradley mumbled as he felt the tiny tot that had been sleeping beside him in his bed shift and squirm. “Happy birthday to you—“ He mumbled louder as Dot crawled across the stroon pillows that littered Bradley’s bed like a minefield. “Happy birthday dear Odette—“ He smiled as he felt her crawl up onto his chest, plopping herself down directly on top of his exposed stomach as he stretched out and laid on his back. Her tiny legs splayed across his rib cage as she smiled down at him, her hands on his chest—that smile quickly turned into an early morning yarn. “Happy birthday to you, how old are you now huh?” 

The sun had only just begun to rise, but Dot hadn’t been sleeping all that well with you gone. She had settled into somewhat of a routine, going back and forth between Jake and Bradley’s care like a ping pong. Some days were rougher than most but Bradley knew he had it taken care of. 

If by consuming enough caffeine to kill an elephant and surviving on whatever food was readily available, like bio cheese sandwiches and peanut butter toast, then yeah—he had it taken care of. 

“I’m free—“ Dot beamed as she held up three of her fingers. Bradley chuckled as she did so, holding his hands up to take hers in his. Pulling her down gently to wrap her in a bear hug so loving that she’d never forget how much she was loved again. 

“Great, I have a threenager.” Bradley cooed as he kissed the squirming little girl's cheek. “Come on, I reckon instead of banana pancakes we do chocolate chip?” 

“Mamma's not home yet?” Dot didn’t want anything for her birthday, she didn’t want new toys or a birthday cake or chocolate chip pancakes. She wanted her mum, she wanted you back. Bradley could see it in the way Dot's bottom lip quivered when he didn’t respond straight away, she looked him dead in the eye as she pulled back from their warm embrace. “Mamma's gonna come back for me, isn’t she?” The tears that welled in your little girl's eyes broke Rooster's heart. Fuck this was pure torture. For all involved, for you and Odette the most. 

He hated himself for keeping the two of you separated, but he knew that one day you’d thank him for not subjecting your daughter to the sight of you in pain. Broken. You deserved to remain a superhero in Dot's eyes. 

“Mums just a little sick at the moment darlin, as soon as she gets better, well go see her and you’ll light up her world more than you know.” Dot nodded, she’d been given the same answer enough now to understand that you weren’t well. She believed the adults in her life, Jake, Tooster, even Amilia and Payback that you were just trying to get better. 

As Dot rolled onto her stomach, she reached out to place a gentle hand on Bradley’s scruff covered cheek—no work meant no beard regulations. He was gonna enjoy the little things with this unexpected time off. 

“Whewe’s your mamma Toosters?” Bradley sighed heavily as he tried to think light of his feet about how to tackle that question. He didn’t have an awful lot of family—no parents, no siblings. The only cousin he knew about was just a stranger now. His grandparents had long passed before his dad left earth side and the uncles and aunts that were still alive didn’t care all that much to check in. 

But as Bradley looked down at the little girl in her nighty, with her brunette ringlets and her heterochromia eyes—Bradley knew that your love, as well as your daughter's love, was handmade just for him. And that was all the family he ever needed. 

“She’s with me everywhere I go.” There’s a ring tucked away in an old red ring box inside Bradley’s bedside table. He knows one day he’ll give it to you. “And she brought your mama, and you, birthday girl—into my life so I wouldn’t ever be alone again.” Dot smiled as she wiggled up onto Bradley’s stomach, she placed her ear to his belly and could hear the rumbles. Rooster ran his hand through the mess of bed hair he just knew he’d have to do something about before they went out today. “I’ll check in on your mama a little later today and see how she’s doing and hopefully you can see her at the end of the week huh?” Bradley cooed as he sat up, Dot giggled as he tickled her sides and folded himself onto her. Trapping her against his thighs and chest. “How does that sound, Dotty?” 

“Tooster!!” Dot screamed as she laughed and giggled and squirmed around trying to free herself from Bradley tickles. He let her off the hook pretty easy. Sitting up to rid himself of the bed covers. 

“Come on, chocolate chip pancakes, then we’ll go shopping for some stuff for your room.” Dot didn’t know it but Bradley had organised for just the two of them to spend the entire day together. Under the disguise of room decorating, the two of them were heading to the indoor play zone that was just out of this stratosphere cool—even Rooster was pretty pumped to get his flip on. 

“Pancakes and paint—“ Dot nodded as she held her arms up and out as Bradley scooped her up, placing her on his hip, the hip that his sweats hung low off. Bradley didn’t know as they made their way out of his room and down the hall that there was a car parked across the street, just waiting to watch their every move. 

“All for my perfect little princess.” 

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~**

“Okay Little Miss, what pasta do we want?” Jake asked as he crouched down beside Dot in the pasta aisle of Ritchies Grocery Store. He held her close and tight as he kissed her cheek. “I’m thinking bow tie, how about you?” He looked towards the rows of pasta all lined up in their respective shapes. He couldn’t have been more tired if he tried. The bags under his eyes were darker than they ever had been. 

“Mama likes sghetti—“ Dot beamed as she chuckled and leaned against Jake's chest as she lost her balance, falling into her uncle for support. “Can we do sghetti?” It was now Jake's turn to chuckle, like mother like damn daughter.

“Sure Dotty, we can do Spaghetti.” His knees cracked slightly as he rose to his feet again, red basket of groceries in one hand and Odette's sparkly nail clad hand in the other. “I think we got just about everything we need for dinner don’t you think?” It was Jake's night with Dot, they were growing few and far between now. Bradley was stepping into the role he was born to play with expert steps. 

Jake would never let the guy know that he was proud of the dad Bradley Bradshaw had become over the last few months and even more so the last few weeks. He didn’t wanna give the guy an even bigger ego than he already had. He’d never live it down. 

“Tooster likes the swirl pasta—“ Jake had almost reached for the packet of spaghetti when Dot spoke up, he froze in his place. “Is Tooster with mamma?” 

“No baby, Toosters at work yelling at the Admirals for not keeping mama safe.” It had become a force of habit now. Jake cringed at himself for saying it but it just felt so natural. Tooster. “But he’s staying with mama tonight to help her get all pretty and ready to see you tomorrow.” Dot smiled, she’d missed you so much and over the past week she’d become overly clingy to the two men who had been tag teaming in and out of daddy duty. “So we want the swirls now huh? Is that where you’re going with this?” Jake looked to his left, the little girl who was just the spitting image of you was getting so big. Her third birthday had come and gone but they were all yet to celebrate. 

You’d missed your daughter's third birthday. It was a rough day for everyone who came into contact with you to say the very least. But Bradley took her out on a date. Just the two of them. Which made your tears a little less painful. 

“No, we still do sghetti.” Jake left it at that before the now three year old could change her mind. He grabbed the packet of pasta and dumped it in the basket full of spaghetti bolognese ingredients Jake Seresin and a three year old style. 

“Alright, come on then let’s get home so we can get you in the bath.” Jake sighed as he started toward the checkout. When he rounded the corner, he nearly let out an audible gasp when he saw her. There she was in all her beauty. 

Amilia Fisher—walking his way with a matching red shopping basket in her own little world. 

“Woah, woah—“ Jake whispered as he ducked into the closet aisle, pulling Dot with him as she looked at him confused as to why he’d damn near ripped her arm out of its socket. “Dot, that's Amilia.” Jake had never asked a three year old for relationship advice on a relationship he wasn’t in—But he was about to. “What do I do?” He crouched on one knee and placed the basket down on the ground as he shook Dot gently to make sure he had her utmost attention. “Do I talk to her? Do I just ignore her? Or do we play it cool and run into her?” 

“Well whatever you do, just don’t stay crouched on the floor holding that poor girl hostage.” Jake's heart nearly exploded out his ass as he jumped up and tried to act as cool as he could while Dot beamed up at Amilia. “Hi Odette, what’s Flyboy up to?” Amilia greeted the little girl before her by tussling her hair. 

“He wikes you like my mamma like Tooster—“ Jake had never been thrown so hard under the bus before, he knew then and there Dot was two faced. What a little bi—

“Good thing I like him like your mama likes Tooster too.” Amilia smiled down at the little girl who turned to Jake who was now flushed red as ever as he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. He was usually pretty good at this stuff, talking to women, but when it came to Amilia though Jake defaulted back to a time where he didn’t know how to talk to girls. 

Pre pubescent Jake. 

“I uh—we’re making Spaghetti for dinner.” Was the first thing that came out of Jake's mouth as he scooped your daughter up onto his hip. “Snitches get stitches.” He whispered in her ear as she wiggled and squirmed. “What brings you here?” Fuck. Stupid question. Amilia looked down at her basket full of groceries before she looked back up at Jake. 

“Pennys redoing the menu, said I could have a special—“ She shrugged a little. “Thought I’d do something like bangers and mash or a chicken parmi, throw a schooner on the side and call it a day—bring some Aussie culture to this gloryhole town.” Jake frowned momentarily as the slight insult. It washed down his back pretty quickly though. “Just wanted to do a test run of each first, needed some ingredients.” 

There's a moment of silence between the time Amilia finished explaining why she was at the grocery store, something she thought was once pretty self explanatory—and the moment Jake finally managed to ask the all important question he’d been holding back on, too afraid of what the answer may be now that Amilia knew how chaotic his life was right now. 

“I should probably leave you t—“

“Do you wanna go grab that coffee at Preston’s Pastries? Like tomorrow sometime?” Jake was praying he hadn’t left it too late, he’d been so caught up with you and everything going on that he hadn’t allowed himself the time to sit and wonder what his life post your apocalyptic crisis would look like. 

But then he was looking at Amilia Fisher in the middle of an aisle at the grocery store and the thought dawned on him, he really really wanted whatever this was to work out in his favour. 

Amilia did too. She bit her bottom lip momentarily to stop herself from squealing. Jake caught the glint in her eyes as they brightened to a new extreme. He was obsessed. 

“I have work tomorrow at two but anytime before that is great.” Amilia nodded. “I’d uh—yeah I’d really like that.” 

“Great, I’ll text you when I get it sorted. How about ten?” Jake crouched to pick up his basket of groceries as he held Dot on his hip. She was either getting too big for this or he needed to hit the gym more. Amilia looked at the little girl who was looking at her like she was a princess in real life. Something in Dot's eyes told Amilia that she was a special little girl to a lot of people. 

“It’s a date.” Amilia left it at that before she turned on her heels. “Keep an eye on him for me, Odette.” She sent Jake a playful smirk over her shoulder before she disappeared—Jake hated to watch her leave but with the way Amilias ass looked in those tight blue jeans he loved to watch her go. 

“God you and your mother are the same person I swear to god.” Jake groaned as he rolled his eyes and let out a sigh of relief. “What the hell was that for?” He asked as Dot grinned at him. Tucking her head down onto his shoulder. 

Jake didn’t know it as he made his way over to the cashier that there was a man lurking in the distance over by the fresh produce—watching his every move. Waiting. 

“Little snitch, my god.” 

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***

“Are you asking for my personal opinion or my professional opinion, Sir?” Bradley asked as he sat across the table from the Secretary of Defense. All operations at Miramar had been suspended without a return to work date due to the ongoing internal investigation. Something like this hadn’t happened since the fall of the towers, when all air traffic was grounded. Military and civilian alike. 

“Does it really make a difference, Lieutenant?” The Secretary of Defense asked as he looked at Jaidyn Dolans file. “One man has single handedly shut down an entire section of my Naval Operations and I need all the assistance I can get to have this place back up and running—until I get that the taxpayers are unknowingly paying you and your colleagues to sit on your asses twiddling your thumbs.” The Secretary of Defense sighed as he sat back in his chair, Rooster hadn’t taken his eyes off the man. “And I gotta say Lieutenant, I'm not the biggest fan of the fact we have no idea where the hell this guys gone, so—I’ll ask you again.” There was a brief pause, the atmosphere surrounding the few that sat in the conference room felt damn near heavy enough to drown even the strongest of swimmers. “Do you think that Admiral Simpson—“ Rooster didn’t need to hear the Secretary of Defense ask the same question twice. 

“Lieutenant Y/L/N was nearly beaten to death in a janitor’s closet on base, she’s lying in a hospital bed with her jaw wired shut and can’t see her daughter who’s been crying in my arms nearly every night this week.” Bradley explained as he slammed his fist down on the table he sat at. “He came with the police to her room asking her to pick up the slack he dropped, so no—no I don’t think he should be able to to just pick up where he left off, because Fe can’t just pick up where she left off, Sir.” 

It was a rough blow but Beau Simpson took it on the chin as he sat at the round table with Bradley Bradshaw, Pete Mitchell and the Secretary of fucking Defence. 

“And another thing!” Rooster hissed as he stood and leaned over the table Cyones' way, pointing a finger laced with venom his way. “You had him, the police had him, everyone who could have done something to protect her from this had him! And you all failed her, every single chance you had and that’s on your shoulders.” It was clear to everyone in the room what opinion Bradley was giving. It was fucking personal. “She could have been another forgotten statistic and if someone doesn’t pull their thumb out and find this psychopath then she still very much could be and I will not be the only one who loses sleep over this woman and her daughter!” 

“We’re using all of our resources to track Lieutenant Dolan down, Rooster.” Cyclone replied as Bradley sat back in his chair as steam poured out his ears. “But until Y/n presses charges—“

“She shouldn’t have to! you have the guy on tape beating her to death!” Bradley was tried, he hadn’t slept properly since you’d been in the hospital, the bags under his eyes were so dark that it looked like someone had punctured him in the face. “The Navy can have him reprimanded, the Navy can have him discharged for disorderly conduct, the Navy can charge him with assault and the Navy can—“ Before Rooster had a chance to tell the Secretary of Defense that the Navy could get stuffed, Mav was placing a hand on his shoulder and interrupting. 

“I think what Roosters trying to say is that it shouldn’t be Felix’s responsibility to put her attacker behind bars—“ Mav smiled across the table at the Secretary of Defense, they’d never been on good terms, something about a run in a long time ago with his daughter. Mav didn’t know who she was until he was being shipped off to Bosnia. “At least until she’s ready to.” 

“We hear your concerns, Lieutenant Bradshaw, we do, and be sure that we’re doing everything we can to get operations back up and running.” It was never about your safety or making sure you were doing okay, it was only ever about getting Mirimar back in business. “We’re in the process of checking over all the F-18’s on base that Felix may have come into contact with, we’re rewatching footage and actively reviewing policies that could be changed to prevent situations like this from happening again.” 

“Sounds like you’ve got her under investigation too?” Bradley frowned, he was met with silence from the Secretary of Defense. His name was Allen Locke. “Hang on a minute—“ The room went silent as Allen squared his shoulders, the relisation had suddenly hit that not only was Admiral Simpson under investigation amidst the internal review, but so were you. “Why would Y/n be under investigation in all of this?” 

“We can’t disclose that information.” 

“Bullshit you can't, that's the love of my life and you’re telling me she’s under investigation after she was almost killed!?” 

“If she’s the love of your life Lieutenant than I suggest that you file the proper paperwork to disclose whatever relationship you’ve been involved in—“ Allen, who had seen his fair share of combat over the years and had been involved with far more riveting investigations was growing impatient with the distressed man before him. 

Bradley couldn’t take talking to a brick wall any longer, he had to trust that Mav would be his proxy in all of this because he couldn’t do it. Not today at least. Rooster scoffed as he stood, he needed to get outta this place, get out of this conference room with these guys who didn’t care about your wellbeing or that of your daughters. All they cared about was getting guys back in planes and feet on the ground and eyes in the towers and hands on the decks. 

“For the record I filed that crap with Lucy in admin weeks ago—just find the bastard before I do.” 

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***

You were going stir crazy. For one whole week you’d been stuck in the god forsaken hospital and more specifically this god forsaken hospital room. 

Not once had you seen your daughter outside of the pictures and video updates Bradley and Jake had been sending you or would show you when they came to be with you. You appreciated what they were doing—the sentiment behind keeping you and your daughter separated was justifying enough. You did look like shit. But it didn’t make the heartache hurt any less than it did. And the cracks in your sanity were starting to show. Your daughter was your glue, your lifeline, without her you were starting to crumble. 

And you’d missed your little girl turning three. Three years ago you, two days ago, you welcomed your little girl into the world. As you slowly but surely made your way over to the door of your hospital room, you remembered that pain, what it was like to deliver your baby girl all the while Jake held your hand and whispered how powerful and strong you were. 

The coast was clear as far as you could tell as you looked around your room, you thought Rhett had gone to the bathroom so there was not a better chance to take yourself for a leisurely stroll down the hall and past the nurses station. You could make a break for it. 

As you opened the door of your hospital room, Rhett Abbott stood in the doorway sipping a fresh cup of coffee. Smirking as he raised an eyebrow at you. 

“Going somewhere?” He taunted softly as he stepped back into your room, watching as you damn near jumped right out of your skin and the clothes on your back. 

“Ah!” You gasped and opened your jaw just a little too much than you should have—the doctor had only just taken some of the wiring out and replaced it with something less ridged. Something super tough like rubber bands. “Rhett! Fuck what are you doing! You gave me a heart attack!” 

“I went to grab a coffee while you were sleeping.” He explained. “Just what are you doing exactly?” He asked, waiting for you to explain yourself. He already knew what you were up to though. “The doors unlocked sweetheart always has been, but I’ll bet you a twenty you don’t even make it past the nurses station.” Rhett knew how much you missed your daughter, but what he didn’t get was what was going through your mind that you thought you could just up and leave the hospital without causing a scene. 

“I don’t need lip from you, son of Satan—“ You mumbled as you pointed and crossed your arms over your chest. “That hat makes you look stupid too.” 

“Oh good, I’ll tell my ma that shall I?” Rhett groaned as he sat back in the chair he’d practically been living in for the last week besides the times he went over to Bobs to shower and shave and sleep in peace without having to listen to you cry yourself to sleep. “She’s the one who picked it out for me.” 

“Yeah, go cry to your ma about how I called your hat stupid.” You were being childish, but what else could Rhett expect from you when you’d been kept in this hospital room for a week. You were itching to get out. 

“I don’t like your attitude this afternoon.” Rhett sassed as he watched you sink into your bed again, grumbling under your breath as you did so. “We’re all doing our best.” 

“Yeah well I don’t like your dumb face.” 

“You’re certifiable, you know that right?” Rhett did understand what you had against him, then again—he could see how you saw him as some sort of warden. He wasn’t the one who put you in the hospital though. He was just the one who’d been tasked to keep you company and keep you face when Jake and Bradley couldn’t. “I’ve dated a lot of crazy chicks in my life but you're goddamn certifiable.” 

“God must hate me for putting me in this purgatory hell scape with you.” You sighed as you looked up to the ceiling and shook your head in disbelief. 

“All religions is just a foolish answer to a foolish question—“ Rhett replied as he finished his coffee, watching as Bradley entered with a subtle knock and an all knowing smirk. “Ah good, my shifts over.” He groaned as he stood, tilting his stupid hat his ma gave him your way as you squinted your eyes at him. Dick. “She only tried to do a runner like twice today, needs a leash or something.” You could have strangled him if Rooster hadn’t placed a gentle hand on your good shoulder. 

“Down girl, he’s on our side believe it or not.” You and Rhett had spent a lot of time together in the past week. He listened to you cry yourself to sleep and he’d listen in while doctors explained your condition and told you what you had to endure in order to heal. He reluctantly became an ear for you to vent to and a shoulder for you to lean on when you needed help. Even if you didn’t want to lean on him. 

But he wasn’t your friend. He was still a stranger in his own way. You knew he didn’t like you—or he didn’t like being stuck with you. But for some reason he stayed, and he listened and he helped and he told Bradley and Jake what you weren’t telling them. That you weren’t okay. Rhett was your punching bag, and he took it with ease knowing that at the end of the tunnel you’d smile and he’d feel like he did something of import. 

“You heading out?” Rooster asked the flannel wearing man who turned on his heels to send you a quick smile. 

“Yeah, thought I’d head over to Rob's place for a shit, shower and shave.” You cringed as you sat up, holding your stomach where your spleen had been removed. It was still tender but you could walk. 

“Nice Rhett, really nice.” He laughed softly, turning his attention back to Rooster. 

““I’ll be back tomorrow morning to see the big reunion, Seeya round.” With that Rhett headed out—he’d sit in the carpark for another half an hour debating if he really wanted to head over to Rob's place. He liked bickering with you a hell of a lot more than he did with his brother. But he was pretty glad he did end up biting the bullet—because he met Natasha Trance. And by god was she as beautiful as ever. 

“Hey there gorgeous.” Rooster cooed as he perched on your bedside. “How's your day been? How are you feeling?” Bradley already knew, Rhett had messaged him just after check in with the nurses, he knew that you were in a lot of pain since they changed out your wires for bands. 

“I’m fine, feeling great, just tired.” Rooster knew you wanted to be strong for him, you didn’t want him to feel like you were some damsel. You wanted to give him no reason to push back seeing your little girl tomorrow. You’d waited long enough. “You gonna help me shower? I feel like crap.” 

“Oh absolutely I am.” Rooster smirked as he placed a gentle kiss to your cheek. The bruises were at a stage where you could attempt to cover them with some makeup. “I brought you some new shampoo and conditioner, picked up one of the tree hut scrubs and a new razor too. We’re doing one of those—“ He paused, clicking his fingers together. “Ahh fuck what do you call them?” 

“An everything shower?” You smiled, so grateful to have Rooster by your side. He was doing his best to keep you safe and warm and feeling loved. You could recover from this, you were strong enough to do it on your own but there was no shame in having help. 

“Yes! That, we’re gonna have an everything shower.” Bradley stood as he picked up the bag he’d brought with him. “I’ve got a couple of changes of clothes for you, your makeup, I even packed your straightener but I can’t promise I won’t burn the tips of your ears off.” 

You just watched as Bradley unpacked everything he’d brought over, meticulously organizing things around the room from pictures Dot had drawn you to the clothes he’d brought over to replace the ones you’d worn into the ground. You couldn’t have been more in love with someone if you tried. 

“Hey Bradshaw.” You smiled, as you flung your legs over the side of your bed. 

“Yeah Fe?” He called out from the bathroom that was off to the side of your hospital room, it wasn’t much but it was enough— a shower with a toilet and a sink to match. Bradley saw it as a good time to set all your new products on the shower caddy, for when you were ready to shower. 

“I’m pretty sure I’m in love with you.” There’s no reply but you hear a clammer of products fall to the floor. “Rooster? You okay in there?” You asked softly as you pushed yourself off the hospital bed before you padded over to where Bradley was picking up the things he’d dropped. “Hey, you good?” 

You didn’t know how to react when you saw Bradley Bradshaw down on one knee. No. He wasn’t. Was he? 

“I’ve been in love with you since I first met you baby.” He finally replied as he pulled out a ring from his back pocket. “This was my mums engagement ring—“ 

“Bradley—“ You tried to interpret him as your voice shook, but all Bradley did was stand and press his lips to yours as softly as he could. He didn’t want to hurt you. 

“I’m not asking you to marry me here.” Oh thank goodness you thought as he let his forehead rest against yours. “But just know, it has gone everywhere with me since the beginning of you and me and I will ask you, someday, soon, because I don’t want to spend a day of my life without you, and your mini me at my side.” 

“Well for the record—“ You tried to smile the best you could without busting your jaw. Still talking through the teeth. “I’d say yes.”

“You would?” Bradley raised an eyebrow as you looked at him tauntingly. 

You grew up poor. Poor of everything really. Money, food, friends, family, love. Sometimes you’d go days on end without eating until Jake would realise and pack you an extra sandwich. But now? With Bradley Bradshaw you were drowning in a sea of love and compassion and support and trust. He was your soulmate. Your guiding light. 

You were rich in a wealth that was priceless. 

“Yeah—I’d marry the shit out of you.” You teased as you slowly but surely dragged your open hand down his T-shirt clad torso. Sinking lower and lower until you were softly palming him over the top of his jeans. 

“Ohh—“ It came out as a mere whimper that sent butterflies flying throughout your stomach. Even after everything you still wanted Bradley, and badly. “Oh honey I’d marry to fuck outta you.”

“I think I’m ready for a shower.” You nearly moaned as you felt Rooster growing under your palm. Straining against the confines of his jeans. “Will you help me undress Roo?” Like an eager child on Christmas morning Bradley swallowed and nodded in agreeable to your request. 

“Yeah, yeah I’ll help you undress mama.” He knew he couldn’t do anything, he didn’t wanna risk hurting your jaw anymore than he knew it was already hurting. Or your shoulder. But he’d play your game, he’d let you tease and taunt him, he’d let you jerk him off under the stream of warm water that fell from the shower head above. He’d let you slowly work him over and he’d allow you to dance in the sound of his soft needy whimpers. Bradley would do anything to bring you back to life. And if having you milk him dry before he washed your hair and shaved your legs was that sacrifice? 

Then that was just the sacrifice he was willing to make. 

“Oh fuck mama.” 

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

Later that same night as Jake had just settled Dot into bed, he had an eerie feeling that he couldn’t quite shake. He put it down to the fact that Dot was sleeping in his room—the room the two of you had once been crammed into was now empty. The only thing that remained was the spare bed Jake had in there before you’d showed up on his doorstep. 

With Odette full of spaghetti and clean as a whistle, it was Jake's turn to wind down. A glass of whiskey and an episode of Lost seemed like a good pair. 

“I still don’t understand what’s happening besides they crashed on an island?” Jake chuckled as he held his phone up to his ear. Amilia stood in Payback’s kitchen still trying to get the two dishes she wanted to make a special at the Hard Deck right. 

“I’ve watched that show twice through now, trust me Flyboy it gets better.” Jake loved that nickname. Flyboy. If anyone else tried to call him that in a condescending tone the same way Amilia did he’d punch them straight in their throat. But Amilia was Amilia. “Just trust me on this one, you’ll be hooked.” 

“Are we still good for brunch tomorrow? Ten, at Prestons?” As Jake asked Amilia if she was still all in, the power cut out, leaving him alone in the dark of his living room with just his phone torch to guide him. 

“Yeah I’m good—“ Jake could practically hear the smile on her face. 

“Did you guys just lose power?” Jake asked as he padded out of the garage to check the fuse box, he’d never had an issue with his electrical system since moving in. 

“No—we’re fine here? Why did you?” There was a pit forming in Amilias stomach, a bad feeling had crept itself up her spine as she turned to lean on the counter. Listening intently. There was a frown prominent upon her face, she didn’t like this, not one bit. They were on the same block. 

“Yeah just now, hang on for a second I’m gonna put you on speaker while I use my flashlight.” Jake was pretty convinced he had just blown a fuse somehow, he grew up in an old Texan homestead that had dodgy wiring from decades past. He knew a thing or two about amateur hour electrical circuits. “You there?” Jake cooed as he looked around at the fuses, nothing seemed to be out of place. 

All except for one that had been flipped off. 

“Yeah I’m here, everything good?” Just as Jake went to flip the breaker back on, he went down with a groan. A shape pain radiated across the back of his head as he dropped his phone and fell to the ground unconscious. “Jake?” Amilia gasped on the other line. “Jake are you there? This isn’t funny—“ Again, there was no reply. 

But there was blood pooling out of the back of Jake's head from the two by four he’d been struck with so unexpectedly. It was a free pass into his home, up to where his favourite little girl was sleeping. 

Amilia's heart sank into her stomach at what she heard next. Jake's phone had skimmed under the toolbox, out of sight out of mind. 

“Sorry, Seresin—“ Jaidyn chuckled as he couched to wave a hand in front of Jake's unconscious face. “But that was fucking personal.”

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~****~***~

Tags: @a-serene-place-to-be @lilyevanswhore @thescarletknight2014 @blindedbythelightt @averyhotchner @emma8895eb @blairfox04 @caitsymichelle13 @oxxolovemelikeyoudooxxo @teacupsandtopgun @aemondssiut @feltonswifesworld87 @akalei349 @notjustsomeblonde @americaarse @avaleineandafryingpan @phoenix1388 @xoxabs88xox @je-suis-prest-rachel @pono-pura-vida @rosiahills22 @starset21 @anarchyrising @caidi-paris @starkleila @criticalroleobssedperson @enchantingdreamergothprune @flrboyd @emma8895eb @endofdays56

#terms of endearment// bradley bradshaw #terms of endearment// jake seresin #rooster bradshaw #bradleybradshaw #bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley bradshaw imagine #bradley 'rooster' bradshaw #bradley x reader #jake seresin fanfiction #jake seresin x reader #rhett abbott fanfiction

[simpforrooster]

do you want me to lie, sir?

Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin x f!mitchell reader

Summary: hangman is the only guy your father would loathe to see you with. you successfully hide your relationship with him. until you don’t.

t/w: some light smut ahead. nothing graphic. 18+only plz.

a/n: this is from an anon request from *too* long ago. I’m sorry!!! took an unplanned month off, but felt inspired tonight. hope you enjoy!

No one knows you and Jake are dating.

Especially not your father, who was Jake’s captain.

God, Maverick would lose his shit if he knew Hangman finally wore you down.

If your dad didn’t see a lot of his younger self in the blonde aviator, you’re not sure he’d even care who you dated. Mav would go to the ends of the Earth to protect you, and he certainly hasn’t forgotten how he was at Hangman’s age.

Your phone vibrates on Jake’s nightstand pulling you away from his intoxicating kissing.

“Snooze it,” he murmurs, placing slow, agonizing kisses along your neck. This elicits a soft moan from you, and his mouth flicks up in the corner.

The alarm is set to ensure you slip out of Jake’s room undetected before anyone starts patrolling the halls.

Jake reaches over to the wooden table and grabs your phone. Hitting the snooze button, he practically chucks it across the room.

“Jake!” you scold, your voice a little above a whisper.

He’s nuzzling your neck again. “I’ll buy you another one if it’s cracked. I just want your undivided attention.” His hands reach low on your hips, pulling you onto his lap. The way he’s practically begging for you, your phone is immediately forgotten.

He rests against the headboard, lazily rubbing his thumbs on your thighs. Taking you in, sitting on top of him like this, he literally has hearts in his eyes.

You bring your forehead against his and breathe him in. It took a loooooong time to finally give into him, and now that you have, he’s like an addiction.

Your eyes fall closed, just soaking in the fact that this man is yours. This man who always has girls stop and gawk at him. This man who never notices those gawking girls. This man who only ever has eyes for you.

“Hey,” he says, pulling you from the inside of your mind.

“Yeah?” you breathe, letting your eyes open to meet his.

“I love you.”

Your mind falls blank, rebooting after hearing these words come from the mouth of the dagger squad’s playboy.

You answer him by knotting your fingers in that blonde hair and pulling him to you. He immediately takes control of the kiss, turning his head to deepen the kiss. When his tongue runs along your bottom lip, you waste no time granting him access.

“Baby,” he whispers against kisses, the term of endearment heating you up just as much as his kissing. Your hands find the bottom of his white shirt, and life up. Jake pulls away just long enough to get the shirt over his head. He uses this to move his kisses along your jaw, and down your neck. Your head falls back, granting him more access to plant those kisses where he knows you love most. His hand slips under your top. He doesn’t go higher than your naval, deciding to slide that hand along your waist to pull you flush against his body.

He’s making you feel so good, and you never want this feeling to stop. You haven’t given into him totally yet, at the confusion of Phoenix, who figured Jake would have charmed you into sleeping with him before now.

And it wasn’t that you haven’t wanted to. The part of you that loves fairy tales and romances has been waiting for the perfect time. A drunken romp in the sack coming in from the Hard Deck wasn’t how you wanted your first time with Jake to go.

“I want you, y/n,” Jake says into your ear. The sentence is laced with desperation. You met his smoldering blue eyes and you know, this is it. Your fairy tale moment.

“I’m yours, Jake.”

Jake lets out a breath you didn’t realize he was holding and crashes his lips against yours. His kisses are a sweet mix of urgent and loving. His hands are back underneath your top, but this time, he keeps going until the shirt is on the floor next to his.

He breaks the kiss to sit back and look at you. As his eyes drink you in, you can’t help but feel a little self conscious. Jake immediately picks up on your body language and grabs your chin, lightly forcing you to look at him.

“Stop,” he breathes, “you’re beautiful.”

Leaning down to kiss him, a knock on his door causes the two of you to shoot apart.

“Lieutenant! Have you seen y/n around? Her car is still here, but I can’t find her.”

The two of you share a look of horror. Pete Mitchell is on the other side of that door. Looking for you. His perfect daughter whom he definitely doesn’t want with Hangman.

“One second, sir!” He calls, untangling his legs from yours and falling chest first onto the ground trying to put his shirt back on. His erection is prominent through the sweatpants he threw on after you snuck in earlier in the night.

“Are you okay in there?” Mav asks through the door, obviously concerned about all the mayhem happening as you struggle to calm yourself down and get dressed.

“Yes, sir!” He calls. “It’s all good.”

Jake opens the door, taking up the entire threshold so Mav can’t see into the room. You can’t see your dad, but you know that he knows he interrupted something. You can practically picture the looks he’s giving Jake. Something in between approval and disapproval at the fact that Jake has successfully snuck a girl in and was about to get lucky.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt. Coyote said he saw you and Y/n talking earlier. Thought you may know where she’s gone off to.”

“Hmm. No sir. I haven’t seen her since turning in for the evening,” Jake lies effortlessly.

“Okay, well thanks anyway. I’ve been trying to call her, but she won’t pick up.” The glow of his phone might as well be the Hollywood sign as he looks for your contact.

You spot your phone. Right on the ground to Jake’s left. Jake is still blocking the threshold, holding his breath. His body is rigid, his grip on the doorframe enough to pull it clean off the wall. He’s spotted your phone too.

As it buzzes on the ground, you watch your dad end the call and pocket the phone. Your phone stops creating an earthquake almost immediately.

“Lieutenant,” he says, scary enough to scare the hair off a bear. “Please tell me my little girl isn't here.”

“Would you like me to lie, sir?” He asks, a little bit of his arrogance coming through his words.

“I think that would be best.” His tone matches Jake’s.

“Y/N isn’t here.”

“That isn’t her phone?”

“No, sir.”

Your two favorite men stare each other down, waiting for the other to make a move.

“Oh, there’s my phone!” You say, making your presence known. Scooping up your phone, which thankfully was in one piece, you face your father. His jaw works back and forth, his eyes silently pleading with you to confirm this wasn’t real.

“Are you here to walk me to my car? I hadn’t realized how late it had gotten,” you say sweetly, batting your eyelashes for good measure. Ducking under Jake’s arm, you reach for your Mav’s arm, looping yours with it. You not-so-stealthily tug on it, getting him further away from Jake before he can decide to hit him or something crazy.

He walks with you down the hall. Turning over your shoulder, you send Jake a wink that says you’ll call him.

“Hangman?” Your dad croaks out.

You pat his arm. “We can talk about it tomorrow, Pops."

masterlist

#top gun maverick #top gun maverick fic #top gun #hangman fic #hangman imagine #jake seresin x you #jake seresin x reader #hangman x reader #jake seresin #hangman top gun #jake hangman x reader #jake seresin fic #jake seresin x y/n #jake seresin x oc #jake seresin smut

[seresinhangmanjake]

Fic Rec Masterlist

As requested, here is the list of all the fics recommended for my road trip :) Thank you to everyone who sent them in!

*if I missed any, let me know*

Many of these are 18+ and please read any warnings

Jake "Hangman" Seresin:

Damn Those Dog tags - @horseshoegirl (series)

Don't Hang'em Til Noon - @sailor-aviator (series)

If You Please - @the-authoress-writes (one-shot)

This is Only Temporary - @lenafromthenordiccoven (mini-series)

The Backup - @ereardon (series; in progress)

Snowed In - @ereardon (mini-series)

Sleepy Baby - @discount-shades (series)

Contract Spouse - @discount-shades (series)

Dead or Alive - @discount-shades (series)

Fuck: The Universe - @roosterbruiser (series)

Snitches Get Stitches - @goldenseresinretriever (series)

Oh, Deer - @wkndwlff (one-shot)

She Blinded Me with Science - @wkndwlff (one-shot)

Pulled Strings - @missathlete31 (one-shot)

Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw:

it's a slow build, baby, until afterburn - @callsign-madusa (series)

Terms of Endearment - @ohtobeleah (series)

The Actress and The Aviator - @greenorangevioletgrass (series)

That Summer - @ereardon (series)

Golden Hour - @ereardon (series; also with Bob; in progress)

Cruel Summer - @roosterbruiser (series; with Jake)

Cardinal Rule - @mamachasesmayhem (series; in progress)

Heavy is the Head - @mamachasesmayhem (series; in progress)

Honeyverse - @mamachasesmayhem (series)

Je te Laisserai Des Mots - @jupitercomet (series)

How You Play the Game - @roosterforme (series)

The Boyfriend Experience - @notroosterbradshaw (series)

Sunday Scaries - @wkndwlff (one-shot)

Bottoms Up - @wkndwlff (one-shot)

Ao3:

Wingmen - TheDarkSeaofSecrets

My Brother's Best Friend - Lyndun407

The Mission - Lyndun407

Recommended Masterlists:

Masterlist - @roosterforme

Masterlist - @wkndwlff

Masterlist - @bobfloydsbabe

Masterlist - @demxters

Masterlist - @hangmanssunnies

Masterlist - @top-hhun

@talkfastromance4

Masterlist - @callsign-phoenix

Masterlist - @kryptonitejelly

Masterlist - @callsigndragon

@callsignlucky

Masterlist - @jupitercomet

Masterlist - @beyondthesefourwalls

#jake seresin #jake seresin x reader #jake hangman seresin #top gun maverick #top gun #bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley rooster bradshaw #bradley bradshaw

[blue-aconite]

the offside rule || j.h.s

Summary: Jake learns that his girl is crazy about football, but not the kind he expected.

Warnings: jake being a sweetheart, no use of y/n

Word Count: 1.5k

Pairings: Jake Seresin x f!reader

Authors Note: This is inspired by @roosterforme's Sundays Are for the Boys and @teacupsandtopgun's Jake and Flick universe. This is also very self-indulgent and somewhat based on parts of my life.

“What are you doing?” Jake emerged from the bathroom, only to find his girlfriend on the couch, watching what looked like soccer. 

“I’m watching football, what does it look like?” She didn’t take her eyes off the screen as she reached for the beer bottle on the coffee table. 

Jake didn’t know how to respond. He knew what soccer was, he wasn’t an idiot but he never knew that his girl enjoyed the sport. 

“Soccer, baby. It’s called soccer.” 

Jake knew it was the wrong thing to say as she turned around, an unimpressed look on her face. 

“I’m going to forgive you this time. But in the future, for your information, it’s called football. Not your ridiculous term soccer.” She was all business, a sharp edge to her tone that Jake hadn’t really experienced in their relationship so far. 

There was a sparkle in her eyes that told him she wasn’t as serious as her tone suggested though. Jake flopped down on the couch next to her, plucking the beer out of her hands. “Is this MLS?” 

She snorted, rolling her eyes as she looked him up and down. “MLS is a shit league. It only got interesting since Messi signed for Inter Miami and it’s still shit. You know, we call it the retirement league because it’s where all the greats come to wind down and just kick around.” 

“Hey!” Jake protested. “Doesn’t it have a somewhat good reputation?”

She shook her head. “Baby, I love you but you’ve been greatly deceived.” She patted his cheek, opening another beer, seeing as he had stolen hers. 

Jake grumbled, sinking lower into the couch. Granted, his soccer knowledge was limited but he thought that MLS at least was a popular league. 

“What’s this then?” He pointed to the screen where the game was playing. 

His girl clapped excitedly, tossing the cap onto the table. “This is the greatest league in the world. I give you the Premier League.” She dramatically spread her arms, as if showing him something of great importance. 

In a way, Jake guessed that she was. He had no idea she was this passionate about this but he found it endearing that she did. 

“I recognise that, it’s England, yeah?” Jake was 80% certain he was right but he could also be wrong. Like he said, his knowledge of soccer was limited. 

“Yes! PL is played in England and it’s hands down the most popular and watched league. But there’s obviously others as well.” 

He was a bit intrigued and Jake also wanted to know more about something that made his girl this excited. “Others?” 

“Oh, you’ve got La Liga for example, and Ligue 1. And then there’s Serie A and Bundesliga. My dad used to watch a lot of Eredivisie too. He was a lifelong fan of Ajax.” She quieted down a bit at the end, a sad smile on her face as she remembered her dad. 

Jake pressed a kiss to her shoulder, hand finding hers. He gave a supportive squeeze. He understood now why this was so important to her. 

“Did you guys watch a lot together?” He asked as the game seemingly was paused, the players leaving the field. 

“Yeah. He took me to my first game when I was 4. I barely remember it but I remember the feeling. And he coached my team for as long as I played.” 

That surprised Jake. “You used to play?” It wasn’t something that had come up but he guessed it was somewhat of a sore subject. 

“From the age of five til I was fifteen, maybe sixteen,” she paused. “Uh, I quit playing when he got sick. He wanted me to continue but it just wasn’t the same. It was our thing and then all of a sudden he wasn’t there and..” 

Jake pulled her into his arms, lips pressed to her forehead. “Baby, why haven’t you told me about this before? I would have loved to know more about football if I knew it meant this much to you.” 

She smiled when he called it football and Jake counted it as a small victory. “I honestly don’t know. You’re more of an American football fan and I just figured you didn’t care about this.” 

“I would have cared if you told me. Hell, I know you don’t really care about the Cowboys but you still hang out with me when they play. And wear the jersey.” 

She laughed then, leaning back from his embrace but kept their hands intertwined. “I wear the jersey because I know it gets you all hot and bothered.”

“Well, that’s definitely a perk. You do look very good in blue.” Jake kissed her then, hands sneaking under her shirt to trace her skin. 

She was blushing when they pulled apart and Jake grinned, proud to be the one to make her that way. 

“So is Ajax your team?” He asked, playing with the hem of her shirt. 

“No. As much as I respect and enjoy Dutch football, the Premier League always called to me more. And then I fell in love with Manchester United.” 

Jake’s eyebrows shot up, teasingly pinching her sides. “Fell in love, huh? That means I got competition?” 

She rolled her eyes, pressing a chaste kiss to his lips. “Don’t worry, I won’t leave you for the Red Devils.” 

“Good. Is this them then?” He gestured towards the screen, where the game had resumed. 

“No, they play Aston Villa tomorrow. This is Newcastle vs Arsenal.” 

Jake watched as the team in black and white kicked the ball back and forth. “Okay, you’re going to have to explain this to me. I know nothing.” 

She launched into the game, explaining what was happening as well as informing him about the rules and terms. Jake tried his best to keep up but figured he was going to have to do some independent studying to catch up. 

If this was important to his girl, it was important to him. He watched as she kept on talking, gesturing back and forth with her hands, eyes alight with excitement. 

“But there must be leagues outside of Europe, yeah?” He asked after learning that the ones she had rambled off earlier were all based in European countries. 

“For sure, but those are the most popular ones. And considering how much of an impact the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League have, it’s difficult for leagues outside of Europe to compete.” 

Jake’s mind was reeling, trying to piece all the information together. “Wait, Europa League and Champions League? Conference? Where’s that?” 

“All of those are played by teams in Europe. You qualify for UCL when you win your league in your country, and the second tier goes on to play in the UEL and third tier in UECL.” At Jake’s confused expression, she smiled apologetically. 

“Sorry, this is way overboard. How about we keep that for another day and we just keep to the basics for now?” 

Jake breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes please.”

She handed him another beer, smiling softly. 

“So, do I get a Manchester United jersey? It’s only fair, I got you a Cowboys one.” Jake asked. 

He was comfortably leaning back against the armrest of the couch. Initially he had tried to get her to snuggle with him but quickly found out that she wasn’t going to sit still while watching the game. 

“Babe, you’ll get a jersey when you deserve one. Maybe earlier if you can explain the offside rule to me.”  

He was screwed then. “Never mind. I’ll wait.” 

“It’s really not that difficult. A player would be seen as offside if their entire body is in front of the last defender of the opposing team, on the opposing team's half.” 

Jake tried to imagine what it would look like but his mind came up blank. “You’re just speaking gibberish, that doesn’t make sense.”

She smiled softly, a gleam in her eye. “Don’t worry, I’ll make you a football fan. Just you wait.”

“I can’t wait. I’m also very excited to see you watch your team play.” 

The game was now over and she climbed into his lap, hands finding the back of his head. “Oh, you’re in for a wild ride.” 

Making the most of their position, Jake grabbed a hold of her thighs as he stood up, ignoring her squeal as he headed towards the bedroom. “How about I give you a ride right now?” 

Two months later, when Jake officially got the offside rule right, a package was waiting for him on the kitchen table when he got home. 

His heart swelled as he pulled out a bright red Manchester United jersey, embroidered with his callsign on the back. There was a note inside the box as well and Jake laughed as he read what his girlfriend had written. 

Now you’re a real football fan. Glory glory Man United! 

Ps. Come find me ;) 

“You’re playing a dangerous game, sweetheart.” He called, jersey in hand as he stalked the house. 

Her laughter echoed through the house. “Come claim your prize, cowboy.”

Taglist: @wildbornsiren​ @ryebecca @imjess-themess @reels-and-wheels @antiquitea @writercole @hederasgarden @yanna-banana @bobfloydsbabe @hollandorks @anniesocsandgeneralstore @ereardon @luminousnotmatter @roosterscock @thedroneranger @fandomxpreferences @honkytonk-hangman @princessmisery666 @bradshawsbitch​ @a-reader-and-a-writer @green-socks @angstybluejay @seresinhangmanjake @ayorooster​@notroosterbradshaw​ @indynerdgirl @gigisimsonmars @girl-in-the-chairs-void @bradshawbabes @unhinged-btch @horseshoegirl @sadpetalsstuff @bradshawbaby @ahopelessromanticwritersworld @ummjustfics​ @septemberrie​ @somenamewithepineapple​ @seresinsweetie​​ @crescentwolf​ @seresinhangmanjake​ @waklman​ @roosterforme​ @rosiahills22​ @dempy​ @i0veless​ @ilovewriting06​ @kmc1989​ @demxters @amortentiadrops @teacupsandtopgun @hangmanscoming @hangmanssunnies

#jake seresin x reader #hangman x reader #fe writes #fic: the offside rule #top gun maverick fic #jake seresin fic #jake seresin

[sometimes-i-write-good]

Where I’m From

Top Gun: Maverick - Hangman x f!reader [no use of y/n]

3.6k | Jake Seresin could handle lots of things. He was the only naval aviator of his time to have a confirmed kill - two, actually. He kept forgetting about that second one. It was newly under his belt, and, considering the circumstances surrounding it, he hadn’t felt too inclined to brag about it. Still, the point remained. Jake could carry the weight of taking a life, of saving a life, and of putting his life in harms way. 

What he could not handle was the weeping girl in front of him, brushing away tears on their first date.

===

Genre: Fluff, slight angst

CW: swearing, kissing, mentions of past relationships (neglect)

Author’s Note: Is Jake slightly ooc? Yes. I just wholeheartedly believe this man would be a gentleman on a date. Also, soft!Jake >>>>>>> || cross-posted on Ao3

Part Two

===

===

“You’re early.” You said, opening the door wider and waving him in once you realized it was Hangman (a story you were hoping to pry out of him on your date tonight) standing across the threshold. “I’m almost done, I promise. I’m so sorry.”

“No need to apologize, sugar.” Something about the careless way he slung around terms of endearment like that heated your cheeks.

Jake stepped in with that same easy grin he was wearing when he’d asked you out. You look good, but I think you’d look even better sitting across from me at dinner tonight. Cocky, arrogant. A toothpick rolling back and forth between his teeth. Not your type at all, but it had been so long since you last dated someone.

So, when the blond in a military uniform slid into the booth across from you this afternoon at lunch you agreed. Without a single care for all the alarm bells ringing and desperate reminders from your subconscious that all men sucked.

And now you were standing in front of him with a half-zipped dress, half done hair, and nerves that made your hands shake so badly it was hard to finish anything at all. “Give me 5 minutes?”

Jake nodded, then, as though remembering why he’d gotten here so early to begin with, he moved his hand from behind his back and presented a small bouquet of flowers to you. Simple and sweet. “These are yours, darlin’.”

The accent brought you back to reality. Tied you down to earth and kept you from tearing up. “Oh, you didn’t have to do that.”

“I’m a gentleman, mostly,” Jake said, “so tell me where I can find a vase and I’ll get this set up. You go get ready.”

“Under the sink.” You waved your hand off in the general direction of the kitchen eyes still a bit too wide in shock. Someone had given you flowers. A complete stranger had given you flowers.

The stranger made towards where you vaguely gestured to but came halting to a stop shortly after. “Problem, doll?” He asked, turning back towards you with slight concern. Warranted concern, really, seeing that the noise that just escaped you made you sound like you’d been stabbed in the side.

“I’m sorry-”

“You need to stop apologizing.”

“I know, I’m sorry.” You ignored the look he shot you. “I- just… can you take your shoes off? Please?”

An easy smile crossed onto his face. More human than those prideful grins his flirting game so heavily relied on before. “Yes, I can do that.” Jake laughed, but it wasn’t rude or condescending. A kind-hearted, ‘I am so glad that’s all the problem was’ kind of laugh. “Go get ready so I can make everyone in that restaurant jealous that I’m takin’ the most beautiful lady out on a date.”

There wasn’t much arguing with that. You’d tried to come up with something witty to say to him as you finished getting ready, but every time you thought of what Jake had said to you your heart would beat a little faster and your head would spin. It was pointless. You could hardly remember your name when you looked his square in the face. If you were to actually stare into those green eyes of his you’d surely melt into the floor. Exactly what happened when you finally emerged from your room, shoes in hand, and let him at the front door.

Jake had been lingering in the foyer staring at all the pictures on your wall and the decorations that comprised who you wanted the world to see you as. A bit to honestly now that your eyes followed his to the goofy selfies or the ‘boofa deez nut’ candle you’d gotten as a gag gift and proudly displayed as a middle finger to the friend that had gotten it for you. The embarrassment should have killed you, but instead it was Jake’s eyes flicking up to meet yours that did you in.

You stumbled slightly. In your attempt to cover the movement to make it seem like you were bending over to put your shoes on, you’d stumbled more. Jake moved forward almost unconsciously to steady you, let out a low whistle and said, “You clean up nice.”

“You’re only saying that ‘cause you’ve seen me looking like half a disaster.”

“If that’s half a disaster, then you truly do put the ‘hot’ in ‘hot mess’, sugar.” Jake laughed and opened the door for you. He held it open, closed it behind you, and waited as you locked it. Then walked with you to the car to open the door for you there as well.

You thanked him, short and polite and completely caught off guard. Everything he said in that short walk from your front door to his car completely escaped you. Something about how you made a casual dress look like the most elegant outfit on earth. Just another charismatic comment to deepen the warm pool in your stomach. As though there weren’t enough butterflies flapping around in there already.

“You can pick the music.” Jake nodded toward the radio.

“I like classic rock,” you said. “It’s my favorite, actually.”

Jake grinned. “After my own heart. See, I knew there was somethin’ about you.” He turned slightly to put his arm around the passenger seat as he reversed, and you caught a whiff of his cologne. Subtle. Yet entirely welcomed, up until he winked at you.

Maybe this was all a game to him. Jake seemed like the type to charm a girl and leave her heartbroken. The prying eyes at the counter back at the diner had almost confirmed that for you. Whispers and nudging that you had wished you’d seen before you agreed to go out with him. This whole evening could very well be some big bet for the hot shots in the Navy to cash out on. All at your expense.

“So.” Jake cleared his throat. “You from around here?”

Once again, an awkward reminder that the two of you knew nothing about one another besides your names and addresses. Well, just Jake knew your address. He’d insisted on picking you up.

“No,” you told him. “Midwest, born and raised.”

“Stir crazy so you moved out West?”

“Something like that.” You nodded. “I’m going to take a shot in the dark and say you’re from down south?”

Jake laughed. Your heart skipped yet another beat and if it didn’t stop doing that you were going to have to schedule an appointment with your doctor before the night was out. “You’re a good shot.” He glanced over at you out of the corner of his eye. “Texas.”

“Oh, a cowboy?”

“Hardly.” He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel to the best of the radio. “I know my way around a horse, but I like to think I belong in the sky.”

“So, I should call you flyboy instead?” You ask with a slight giggle to your voice. More nervous than anything but there’s no mistaking the way the corners of Jake’s lips pull back at the sound. You want to take a detour to base just to ask those friends of his if he normally smiles this much or if you can allow yourself to feed into the delusion that someone as stunning as him saw you in a rundown diner having lunch and was so enamored by you that he simply had to ask you out.

“Only if you put a ‘my’ in front of it.”

Conversation flowed easily after that. The drive to the restaurant wasn’t long but still let you have a good idea of who Jake was. A flirt, first and foremost. He couldn’t go thirty seconds without calling you ‘darlin’’ or ‘sugar’ and any way Jake could make a comment about how wonderful you were, he was taking it. You stared at him the entire ride, studying his profile. He was a handsome man. There was no denying that. Old-fashioned in the way where you and your friend would flip through history books and point out who you would have fallen in love with during that time period. If someone were to show you a grainy photo of a navy pilot, his was the kind of face you’d imagine.

He pulled into a spot, and you immediately set to unbuckling and letting yourself out of the car.

“Ah,” Jake said as he shut off the car, “stay where you are.” And he hopped out to jog to the passenger side. “Here you are, darlin’.” He opened the door, offering you a hand, and helping you out of the car.

“Do they teach chivalry classes down in Texas?” You ask. He’s too busy positioning your hand on his bicep and leading you into the restaurant, where he holds open the door for you again, to answer.

“Sersin. Party of two,” he tells the host, who leads you to a table with a single, unlit candle in the middle.

Jake pulls your chair out for you, then settles in across from you in a strange mimicry of earlier today. You half expect him to spew the same cheesy pickup line but instead he fishes a lighter out of his pocket to light the candle.

“That’s better,” he says and turns his full attention on you with a grin. “So, tell me everything there is to know about you.”

You laugh, genuine this time. “About me?” He nods. “There’s not much to know about me. I’m kind of boring.”

Jake shakes his head. “I don’t believe you.”

“I’m serious! My life is eat, sleep, work, repeat.”

“So is mine.”

“Yeah but you’re flying fighter jets and I’m too nervous to ask my boss for a promotion when I’m doing the work of two people.”

Jake’s eyebrows shoot up. “The work of two people, huh? You’re a hard worker, and I’m guessing you’re damn good at what you do, too. I wouldn’t call that boring.”

You roll your eyes at him, but the compliment brings a smile to your face. “I guess you could say that.”

“Okay, so, you’re hardworking, talented, and beautiful. What else is there to know about you, doll?”

“Actually, flyboy, I want to know why they call you Hangman.” You lean forward and rest your chin in your hand. “That’s what everyone was calling you earlier today.”

He nods, leaning back in his seat. You drink in the movement. The way Jake squaring his shoulders has his nice green button down straining against his muscles and how he runs his tongue over his lips as he conjures up a thought.

“The real story, Seresin.” You raise an eyebrow in his direction.

“You remember my last name?”

“I texted it to my friend just in case you were secretly trying to murder me.”

He nods slowly. “You can never be too careful now a days.”

“Yup.”

“Well, you can tell your friend the only reason I’ll be making you scream is because my tongue is magic.” The waiter chooses that moment to appear over your shoulder asking if you and Jake are ready to order anything, leaving you a stuttering mess as you struggle to order something to drink. You can hardly form the word water to the point that Jake does it for you. “Thanks,” he tells the waiter as he walks off. Then he focuses his full attention back on you. “You held yourself together well.”

“Oh fuck off, you did that on purpose.” By the way he doesn’t deny it, you can tell you have him pegged. “Back to your true story.”

“It’s not as interesting as the one everyone else likes to tell.”

“I don’t care, flyboy. I want to know you, not everyone else.”

Interest sparks in his green eyes. “If you insist.” He leans forward, mimicking the way you’re on the edge of your seat. “In flight school we were running drills out in an old hangar when this nasty storm rolled him. Hurricane level winds and shit. Came out of nowhere. None of us were feeling too inclined to make a run for it in that kind of rain so we figured we’d hole up in the hangar for a few hours. There was an old radio that worked for a little bit, and we figured there was no time like the presence to get some maintenance on this jet done until the weather down, but the power went out.

“We had some flashlights and lanterns and things so it’s not like we were totally in the dark, but the stories ran out fast. We were bored out of minds. So, I recommended playing hangman. Something easy and simple ‘cause you can’t get too competitive with these guys. They take it way too far.”

“By them,” you cut in, “I’m guessing you mean you?”

He nods. “I won every single round and stumped them with all my puzzles.”

“Impressive,” you say, “I bet that pissed them all off.”

“Let’s just say everyone else’s version of why they call me Hangman holds a slight hint of disdain.”

The rest of the dinner flows naturally. You two talk without a single lull in conversation. He makes you laugh. He continues to compliment you every chance he can. But the real thing that works its way under your skin and lodges itself in your chest is the way he offers to switch plates with you when you take a bite of your meal and realize you don’t like it.

“No, Jake, you don’t have to. I’m a big girl. I’ll just deal with it.”

“Nonsense. It was my recommendation anyway.” Jake stares at you, jaw set, and voice firm. “I am not having you starving on this date. Give me your plate.”

And so, you swap plates with him taking a bite out of the steak he’d been raving about in the car when something in you breaks. You can hear how excited his tone of voice was. “It’s hard to get a decent steak when you’re on base.” He had told you. “The chow hall is okay if you like shoe leather and all, but now I hardly have time to make a decent cut of meat for myself.”

He gave it up so easily. The minute you set down your fork after three or four bites. Jake was telling you he’d switch. It… it was too much and you couldn’t help the sweeping off tears pushing at the back of your throat.

“Ah, shit.” He whispered. “Do you not want the steak? I can order you something else-”

You cut him off with the wave of your hand, which you quickly used to press over your mouth and stifle and unflattering sob. “No,” you whimpered, “this is perfect. Everything is perfect.”

“Are you sure?” Jake asked. “Because most ladies don’t start crying on dates when things are going well.”

You could tell he meant well. There was a joking lot to his voice and the bastard grin was back in his face but it only reminded you of how out of your element you were right now.

“I’m sorry.”

“I already told you to cut that out, sugar.”

“I know.” You sniffled, but tears kept falling. “I’m sorry. I really am.”

“It’s okay. Just take a deep breath.” Jake softened a bit. He reached out across the table, palm up waiting for you to slip your hand in his. When you did, he squeezed softly. “Want to talk about it?”

With your free hand you swiped at your cheeks. “I haven’t been on a first date in- actually, I’ve never even been on a date.”

There was no denying the way Jake’s eyes widened. “You’re tellin’ me men aren’t breakin’ down your door to take a pretty thing like you out on dates?” You shake your head. “See, that’s the issue with California folk, they’re idiots.”

He grins gently at you, which you return in full. “I wouldn’t say that.”

“I would.”

“I’ve had a couple boyfriends, but we never did relationship stuff.” Jake’s brows furrow in confusion and you rush to explain. “They would never want to leave the house. If I wanted to go out it would have to be by myself. They never asked me on dates or called me ‘darlin’’-” Jake rolls his eyes at your imitation of his accent- “or tell me I look beautiful. None of them ever held a door open for me. This is the first time I’ve even gotten flowers…” you trail off and bite down on your lip.

“I guess I should have seen it coming,” you fill the silence. “Everyone I’ve ever been in a relationship with has cheated on me. I guess I’ve always been a side chick or a rebound or whatever and you don’t really take side chicks out on dates. I always figured I wasn’t worth the romantic stuff, but there you are taking me out to a nice dinner and swapping dinners with me and… and I got overwhelmed.”

Jake is staring at you with a strange mix of anger and confusion. The gaze is lacking pity, which you appreciate. If he were to think of you as a poor girl who couldn’t land a date, you’d walk home before finishing this dinner.

He says your name so softly for the first time that night. There’s a thousand times more emotion in that name than all the pet names he’s been calling you.

“This isn’t romance.” The words make your heart sink. “This is the bare minimum. Basic kindness, sweetheart. You deserve this and nothing less. I- it makes me so frustrated to hear you talking about a relationship where some asshole let you believe you didn’t deserve to be treated like a princess.” Jake’s voice wavers slightly as he talks, anger bleeding in but not raising his voice to an unacceptable level. “Where I come from this isn’t chivalry. This is the way things are done. If I’m taking a beautiful girl like you out on a date, you better believe I’m going to make sure you know that I’m the lucky one.”

More tears prick at your eyes. Your bottom starts to quiver and when you open your mouth to apologize for getting weepy again Jake shakes his head at you. “I don’t know which one of those ducks told you that you had to apologize all the time, and I’m sure it was one of them, but you never have to apologize for things like this, doll. You’re allowed to have feelings. You’re allowed to talk about them.”

“Yeah, but it’s not good etiquette to bring up your exes on a first date.” You slip your hand from his to better wipe at your face. This sinking feeling of shame seeps into you. You probably look like just as much of a wreck as you were turning this date into.

“So this won’t be our first date, then.” Jake says it so simply. The easiest solution in the wonderful despite it not making sense in the slightest.

“What?”

“We’ll call this afternoon our first date. I stole food for your plate and took a couple sips of your drink, so it counts.” Jake grins at you. “This is our second date, which means it is completely okay to talk about your exes.”

With a small sniffle you manage to meet his eye again. The intensity that he looks at you has your face warming up again. “I have to say, Jake. I think I’m the lucky one tonight.”

“You’re not sitting on my end of the table.”

===

Bonus:

Jake insisted on opening the door for you again when he pulled up to your house after dinner. The two do you had lingered as long as humanly possible, but the wait staff looked as though they were going to run the pair of you through with a kitchen knife, so you reluctantly chose to head back towards home.

“Thank you.” You grabbed his hand as you stepped out of the car.

“Gives me an excuse to walk you to your door, pretty girl.”

“Oh, so this was all part of your masterplan?”

He laughs and stops under the light of your porch light. You’re fiddling with your keys, not too eager to open the door and end the night. Jake steps closer towards you, saying your name again for the second time that night. It’s a magnet, pulling you towards him so that his hands can settle at your waist. Those green eyes of his flick down to your lips. “Can I kiss you?”

“I was waiting for you to ask that.”

Jake slides a hand from your waist to cup your cheek and he brings his lips to yours. No kiss you’ve ever had feels the way this one does. Right. Even your long-term relationships were twinged with shame or doubt. Kissing Jake feels like forgetting your own name is completely normal because you want to be washed up in this feeling of bliss for forever. He pulls away after a few seconds, resting his forehead against yours, and it takes him a moment to finally open his eyes.

“Do you want to come in?” You ask, voice cracking slightly.

“I don’t know,” he says, “I don’t want you to think I’m only trying to hook up with you.”

You smile and press another soft kiss to his lips. Once again Jake takes a few seconds afterwards to fully look at you. “I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because you’re having hesitations about sleeping with me on our second date and that’s something only gentlemen do.”

Jake laughs. The sound is like the bliss of your kiss personified. You want to drown in it.

“Plus, I think you promised me that I’d have a story to tell my friend about how good your tongue is… or do you only use your mouth to talk big game?”

He nipped at your bottom lip. “Unlock that damn door right now, dollface.”

You thought he’d never ask.

#Jake 'Hangman" Seresin #jake hangman seresin #jake hangman x you #Jake hangman seresin x reader #jake seresin x reader #reader insert #top gun #top gun maverick #top gun fic #jake seresin fluff #fluff #top gun imagine

[witchwyfe]

but i'm in so deep - jhs

I pairing: college jake ‘hangman’ seresin x female reader

I précis: nap time!

I content/warnings: college au, roommates to lovers (that haven’t gotten past the roommates stage yet), mentions of food, mentions of eating

I word count: 379

I a/n: another installment of the roommate predicament :)

You don't think you can physically do anything else. Your study group session ran long after a day of classes, and no one had made you stay but you were just as confused about the material as everyone else was.

You trudge through the front door of the apartment, dropping your bag immediately and sighing heavily.

"Jake?!" You call, slipping your shoes off and kicking them somewhere out of your sight.

"In here darlin'!" He calls from the kitchen.

He's on his laptop at the island, a textbook and notebook spread out in front of him.

"How was study group?" 

"Long." You sigh again, flopping down on the chair next to him. 

He frowns sympathetically, pushing a bowl of popcorn over to you. "You want some?"

"Sure, thanks Jake." You smile before grabbing a handful. You sit with him for a while, chin propped in your hand, before your eyes start fluttering closed.

"Shit," Jake hisses, palm coming out to stop your forehead from hitting the marble counter.

"Sorry was just resting m'eyes." You mumble groggily. You're about to crash again when Jake holds out both hands.

"You're so tired baby," He coos affectionately. The term of endearment falling from his lips with ease. It's not one he's ever used before not platonic enough in his opinion, but you don't seem to notice, too tired to notice much of anything.

"I was gonna take a nap anyway." He says with an earnest grin. "You wanna join?"

"Hm-mm." You hum. 

He leads you to his room, not that you haven't been in there countless times. 

He sheds his hoodie so he's in a t-shirt and shorts now, and he sets his blue-light glasses onto his nightstand.

"C'mere." He coaxes, somewhat nervous now.

You flop into his bed, nuzzled in half against his side and half on top of him.

"M'so tired." You whine sleepily.

"I know." Jake soothes, running a hand down your back. "Go to sleep, it's okay."

You nod, practically smushing your face into his chest.

His heartbeat quickly lulls you to sleep, soft exhales leaving you. Jake sighs and lightly runs his hand down the back of your head.

Once he calms down and feels less flustered, he's also able to drift off into a comfortable sleep.

© witchwyfe 2024. absolutely no reposting, translating, or modifying, even with credit.

#mine #my work #my writing #witchwyfe #witchwyfe writing #jake hangman seresin #jake hangman seresin x reader #jake hangman seresin x you #jake hangman seresin oneshot #jake hangman seresin imagine #jake hangman seresin fanfction #jake hangman seresin blurb #jake seresin x reader #jake seresin x you #jake seresin oneshot #jake seresin blurb #jake seresin fluff #jake seresin imagine #the roommate predicament

[foreverrandomwritings]

Okay so my request is something that someone wrote for me for a different fandom but I’m slowly loving Jake and Bradley. Anyways I am Texas born and raised so I call everyone love, honey, sweetheart etc. but I got in trouble for doing it and apparently I offended everyone and such. And then something else happened where someone is hating on my personality. Can I just a fluffy fluff with either Jake or Bradley whomever you think it fits best. Where the reader is like slowly trying to change/caving into herself and not be as bubbly or happy and they notice and have a conversation and such about loving them as it. I’d love it if it was romantic. However if this is too much and you don’t want to write it I will not be offended. You do whatever you feel comfortable with and I will support you 💕

No Keying Cars

Summary: You overhear a conversation that plants a seed of doubt in your mind.

Pairings: Jake "Hangman" Seresin x Afab!Reader x Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw

Warnings: Men being mean, swearing, broken noses, anxiety, insecurities and fluff.

Word count: 2929

Masterlist

The boys were used to your Texas charms, it was one of the many things that they loved about you. It made Jake feel at home which was perfect because he was always homesick. It always gave Bradley the comfort he desperately needed. Your relationship worked out well and none of you had been happier than you were together. Well that was until you heard Harvard, Yale and Fritz having a conversation about you being entirely too much at one of the many squads monthly get togethers. 

“You agree that she just talks way too much right?” Yale and Fritz hummed in agreement. You stopped right around the corner of the doorway to the kitchen. You weren’t sure who they were talking about but the next sentence confirmed it was you. 

“Also what’s with her calling everyone love and babe and shit? Like how fucking annoying, I’m not your boyfriend so stop fucking acting like it. Though I know Jake and Bradley have to be sick of that shit to.” You choked back a sob as you heard Yale’s comment. You’d been told so many times in your life you were a bit much. But Jake and Bradley had never made you feel like you were an annoyance. They had been the only ones that made you feel valid in your attitude. Though now doubt started to eat away at you. Were they annoyed with you? Were they just lying to you to save your feelings? 

“Don’t even get me started on the way she acts all fucking peppy and happy all the time. There is no way she can be that perky. It's gotta be an act right?” Harvard and Yale laughed together at Fritz’s statement. You decided to turn around and walk back outside instead of wandering into the room to get your drink. 

“Where’s your lemonade at darlin’?” Jake took your wrist lightly and brought you down to his lap. You wrapped your arm around his shoulder and watched Bradley running around the yard with Reuben's daughter on his shoulders acting like an airplane. 

“Decided I wasn’t thirsty, hon-Jake.” The blonde gave you a confused look at the way you said his name but before he could ask you about it, Natasha dragged his attention away from you when she asked him something about work. You took the time to continue to think of everytime you had used a term of endearment with one of your shared friends, they never seemed bothered when you did. Though you guess it could be that they were all putting on an act and maybe they didn’t like you as much you thought they did. Maybe all the spa days with Natasha and her girlfriend Sylvia and movie nights with Bob and Halo were just them being nice to you. 

“Hey baby you okay?” You hadn’t realized that Bradley was standing in front of you until he spoke. You shook your head trying to clear your thoughts before giving him a soft smile. 

“Yea, just not feeling too well.” He looked at you curiously before handing you his water which you took a sip of gratefully. Jake’s hand on your back brought you a sense of comfort. 

“Do you want to go home?” You pondered the question for a moment. On one hand you didn’t want to feel like a burden to those around you anymore and really wanted to leave. But on the other hand you knew that the boys valued their time with the squad and you didn’t want to take away from that. So you shook your head and assured him that you were fine. After a couple more reassurances he gave you a kiss on the head before going to ask Maverick about going back up to his hangar soon. The rest of the night went smoothly and you fell asleep cuddled up between your boyfriends when you eventually got back home.

You figured the next morning you’d feel better. That the anxiety that ate away at you the night before would have cleared your system but you were sorely mistaken. Throughout the work day you were careful about the way you talked to everyone. You toned down your usual cheerful attitude and didn’t send Bradley or Jake a single cute cat video on your lunch break. 

When you got home you changed into your pajamas and crawled in bed. You turned on New Girl and let the voices of some of your favorite characters fill your head. The noise of the front door opening and closing had you turning over in bed towards the window. The voices of your boyfriends calling for you had you burrowing further down in the bed, remaining perfectly still in hopes they would think you were asleep. 

“Oh I think she’s asleep, Bradshaw.” You let out a quite shaky breath at the sound of his footsteps walking back out of the room. An hour or so went by of you laying there staring at the wall, before you decided to find out what the ruckus was in the kitchen. 

“Was your nap good honey?” Bradley’s voice greeted you as you padded into view. You gave him a soft hum in reply before taking a seat at the island. It was very abnormal for you to take a nap after work. You were normally bounding to the door in glee to greet them when they got home. So you knew they were most likely starting to suspect something was different. 

“We're making your favorite for dinner.” Jake gave you a big smile which would normally have filled you with warmth but now you just felt like they were going out of their way for no reason. 

“You guys didn’t have to do that.” You picked up a piece of mail and opened it, even though it was just a bill you still looked at it intently. Not wanting to see the looks on your boyfriend's faces. 

“We know we don’t have to but we wanted to.” Bradley slipped your preferred drink beside you and you whispered a quiet thank you to him. 

“Are you still feeling under the weather from last night?” Jake eyed you curiously as you put down the paper in your hands. 

“Yea, I think I might be coming down with the bug going around or something.” You watched as they set the table and took all the food over. With a small sigh you grabbed your drink and took your seat at the round table. Jake was on your right and Bradley on your left. They asked you if you wanted to take a couple days off work to recover but you dismissed them, assuring them you’d be fine. 

The three of you conversed about your days. When Jake mentioned dessert you excused yourself to bed claiming a headache. You missed the way they looked at each other in silent conversation. You slipped away from the table and crawled back in bed. This time actually falling asleep. 

The next day was pretty much the same as the day prior. You went about work monotonously, then you got home and crawled in bed. The boys came home and asked if you needed them to get you anything or do anything for you and you waved them away with a sweet smile. 

“Sweetheart, do you want to talk about anything?” Bradley asked you as he slipped into bed behind you wrapping his arm around you and dragging your back to his chest. 

“I’m alright, love.” You whispered the assurance to him, his brows furrowed at the tiredness in your voice. 

“But you know you can talk to me or Jake if you need to, right?” Him and Jake were both worried about you, you huffed at the thought of them stressing over you. 

“I know Bradley. Don’t worry about me, I’m fine.” You moved back to bury yourself further into his arms, reveling in the feeling of being wrapped up in his warmth and surrounded by his scent. 

The next morning Bradley went into work as usual but Jake hung back since his morning meeting was canceled. You had decided to call out of work in hopes of focusing on your mental health. Jake pestered you the whole morning before he went in to work. 

“I can stay home today if you want me to. Mav wouldn’t mind if I missed one day to take care of you.” He ran a hand up your thigh, squeezing slightly from his squatted position between your legs. 

“There’s no need to do that Jake. I’m a big girl and I can take care of myself.” You placed a hand on his cheek and brought your lips to his in what you hoped was a reassuring kiss. 

“Do you want me to tell Nat you want to cancel your girls night tonight?” You had completely forgotten about your plans for a group massage.

“No, I think I might need the night out.” A plan started to form in your head, because if anyone would be honest with you it would be the female aviator and her amazing partner. So you would ask them what they thought about you. 

“Okay, well if you end up needing anything, me and Bradley are just a phone call away. I’ll see you later.” He gave you a final kiss before leaving you sitting on the couch. You sat there most of the day, the tv on in the background. You thought about what you were going to ask the pair later. When you finally decided on your questions you took a shower and sat down with a book. When the alarm on your phone went off notifying you that you had thirty minutes till you needed to be out the door you got up and got ready to go. 

“Bradley told me you’ve been acting weird the last couple of days, are you okay?” You weren’t surprised that Bradley had talked to her. They were best friends after all. 

“I actually wanted to talk to you about that. Do you guys think I’m too much?” You turned your head on the table you were laying against and eyed Natasha curiously. 

“What?” She gave you a bewildered look as she processed your question.

“Do you mind the way I call you love or honey or sweetheart sometimes?” You fired off another question their way. 

“Why would you think that?” Sylvia piped up from the other side of Natasha. You could hear the surprise in her voice. 

“Uhm. I just do.” Natasha gave you a look that said she didn’t believe you. You tried to keep your face emotionless but knew you failed when she narrowed her eyes at you. 

“Tell me what you’re talking about. Now.” You let a groan slip through your lips as the masseuse dug into a particularly tense spot. 

“I heard Harvard, Yale and Fritz talking about me at dinner over the weekend. They said that I was too much, that it was annoying that I used terms of endearment so often and said Bradley and Jake were probably sick of me.” You were chewing on your lip nervously. You knew how close the group was and didn’t want to step on toes. Which was one of the one reasons you hadn’t told Jake or Bradley. 

“Those guys are assholes. You can’t believe a word they say. I’ll have a talk with them tomorrow.” She was a steady calm of rage as she spoke. You knew that nothing you’d say could change her mind so you didn’t even try.

“I vote we key their cars.” Sylvia spoke up and the two of you broke out into fits of laughter at the prospect. 

“We aren’t going to do that.” You and Sylvia protested but Natasha made you both agree you weren’t which you both did. 

“Have you talked to Jake and Bradley?” A loud sigh slipped through your lips at her question. Natasha rolled her eyes at the obvious answer on your face.  

“No. I didn’t want to bother them.” Sylvia’s head popped up from over Natasha’s back. Her masseuse paused her movements as you gave her a look of surprise. 

“You know those boys worship the ground you walk on right?” Your cheeks heated at her rhetorical question. Because you knew they always treated you right. Never made you seem like you were annoying them or bothering them in any way. You laughed at yourself realizing how silly you had been acting. 

“I’ll talk to them soon, I promise.” Your promise seemed to be enough for them because all of you put your heads back down and continued your massages in content silence. The three of you grabbed dinner after leaving the spa and you decided that you'd talk to your boyfriends the next night. When you got home they were already in bed. You got ready for bed silently and slipped under the sheets with them. 

You went about the next day as usual. Your attitude was much more cheerful at work and you were looking forward to getting home. Though there was still some doubt running through your mind. Even though you couldn’t think of a time where they seemed fed up with you, you were still nervous that maybe what the three men said rang true. You stopped and bought flowers on your way home and were putting them in respective vases when you heard the front door opening. 

“Honey, we’re home.”Bradley called out and they went straight to the bedroom bypassing the kitchen all together. They were both surprised when they didn’t find you in bed. You stood leaned up against the counter waiting for them to find you. A smile grew on your face as you heard them fighting with each other on who was going to find you first. 

“I found her, Bradshaw.” Jake called out as he spotted you. He ran up to you and spun you around gleefully. 

“The funniest thing happened at work today.” Bradley said as he came into view. Jake sets you down, giving you a chaste kiss. Then Bradley was scooping you up nuzzling his face into your neck. 

“What happened?” You giggled as his mustache tickled your skin. 

“Natasha broke Yale’s nose. Then Mav announced that Yale, Harvard and Fritz are being transferred.” Your jaw dropped at Jake’s words, you did not expect Natasha to get violent.  

“Oh.” Was all you could say, Bradley pulled back and eyed you. He expected you to be a bit more surprised at the news. 

“Any idea why she would do that?” His mustache twitched as he spoke, cocking his head ever so slightly to the side. 

“Uhm, I may have an idea.” You shrugged at him nonchalantly, pulling back from his grasp to move around the flowers in one of your vases. 

“Care to share?” Bradley asked at the same time Jake spoke up.

“Does this have anything to do with why you’ve been acting weird?” Your hands paused around a rose as you nodded.

“I overheard them talking when I went inside for my lemonade. They were saying that I was annoying and too much. Said that you were both probably fed up with me.” They both knew of the insecurities you had from some bullying you went through growing up. 

“Oh sweetheart. Why didn’t you say anything?” Jake moved your face towards his and looked for a clue on how you were feeling.

“I didn’t want to bother you guys. But Nat and Sylv both made it very clear that there was no way they were right. So I was going to talk to you guys tonight. But it seems that you guys beat me to it.” You watched his face for any signs that what they said could be true. But you found none, there was just pure love within his eyes. 

“Now I want to punch them.” Bradley piped up and you snorted, though you knew he was being slightly serious.  

“Sylv said we should key their cars.” You could see a spark of inspiration in Bradleys eyes as you glanced at him. Jake shook his head and kissed your cheek before moving around you. 

“Neither of you are keying their cars.” The look that you and Bradley gave each other did nothing to reassure him.

“More seriously though you know we both love you right?” Bradley settled both of his hands on your hips and forced his face into a serious expression. 

“I know that honey. Just had some old doubts eating at me these last couple of days.” Your thumb brushed against his cheek as you smiled at him. 

“It was honestly the worst without hearing you call me sweetcheeks. Also I never realized how much I’d miss those cute cat videos until you weren’t sending them. Please promise to never deprive us of your magical personality again babe.” You felt your stomach start to flutter as butterflies flew through it rapidly. Jake always knew the right thing to say to brighten your mood.

“I promise.” You grinned at both of them, you knew at that moment you’d never find anyone better for you than the two men standing in the kitchen with you. 

“Good now let's go get ice cream.” Bradley didn’t leave any room for debate and had you thrown over his shoulder in a moment, giggles poured out of you as they walked you out the door. Because where Jake knew what to say to brighten your mood Bradley always knew what to do.

A/N:Firstly I want to apologize for taking so long to write this. Secondly I hope this is what you wanted. Lastly as always likes, comments, follows and reblogs are much appreciated.

Tags(open): @kmc1989 @sylviebell @wkndwlff @teacupsandtopgun @fanboyluvr @loving-and-dreaming @eternallyvenus

#top gun maverick imagine #top gun maverick #top gun maverick oneshot #Jake hangman seresin #Jake hangman seresin imagine #Jake hangman seresin oneshot #Jake seresin imagine #Jake seresin oneshot #Jake seresin #Bradley rooster bradshaw #Bradley rooster bradshaw imagine #Bradley rooster bradshaw oneshot #Jake hangman seresin x reader #Jake seresin x reader #Bradley rooster bradshaw x reader #bradley bradshaw x reader #Jake seresin x reader x Bradley bradshaw #Bradley bradshaw x reader x Jake seresin #hangman x reader x rooster #rooster x reader x hangman

[sweetlittlegingy]

Autumn Leaves and Pumpkins, Please?

✦ Previous Chapter | Next Chapter | Better Man Universe

✦Pairing: Jake "Hangman" Seresin x Single!Mother

✦Word Count: 4.3K

✦Warnings: Fluff, so much FLUFF, Halloween vibes, and dagger squad family time, also married nat and roo... i just love them

✦A/n: Day 5 of my celebration. I love this so much! Dad Jake just does it for me, in so many ways

✦Library (Follow for updates! I no longer have a taglist.)

You hear the high-pitched “momma,” noticeably upset, call come from Mathew's room. You’d sent him to try on the Halloween costume that had just arrived in the mail, he’d picked it out last month and had been, not so patiently waiting for its arrival.

It was a Friday and you had gotten off work early, making it to Maty’s school on base to grab him and head home. Jake had told you that they would be done early today, no later than 2. The new recruits had a briefing that would occupy Mav for the afternoon, meaning that the Dagger Squadron was getting done early for once. He would still have to get changed and shower on base but, given it was already 2:15, you knew that Jake would be home any time.

You were lucky that you lived so to base, the 10-minute drive making the daily trip convenient. You’d come home to the package lying on the doorstep, and Mathew had been out of the car as soon as you were parked. The six-year-old, almost seven-year-old, was clearly excited and the 3-week shipping had left room for an ever-growing pool of excitement.

Walking down the hall, your hand comes to rest along the door frame. Mathew’s small body silently sits on the ground and stares at the mini flight suit in his hands. You notice the little tremble of his lip, and you’re quick to kneel down next to him.

“Baby what’s wrong?”

His glassy eyes look up at you, on the verge of tears, and show clear disappointment. You’d had no idea what was going on, but knew that it must have been important. Mathew rarely cried over things and seeing him like this made your heartbreak.

Without replying, he lifts the fabric from his lap and pushes it out toward you. You give him a silent look of question, waiting for him to explain before trying to talk.

“It’s not like daddy’s.”

The slight tremble in his voice is a clear sign of more tears to come if you don’t fix it. You're quick to glance down at the suit, taking in the green color and patches on the front. You didn’t want to question him too much, knowing that Jake was a sensitive topic.

The morning that Jake told you that Mathew had called him daddy, it came as a slight surprise, given that he never even called Adam that. You’d been worried how Jake would react, and immediately asked him if he wanted you to have Maty stop calling him that. You knew that Jake was an amazing guy, but you couldn’t stop that slight bit of anxiety from working its way into your mind.

Jake was beyond happy and slightly offended when you offered to get Mathew to stop. He’d seen the apprehensiveness in your eyes still and reassured you that you and Mathew were it for him.

From then on, Jake had become ‘daddy.’ In every sense of the way, not only at home but in public. It was like Maty had been calling Jake daddy his whole life, not one member of your friends or family was fazed by the new term of endearment.

This led to the current predicament, Mathew was very much so in love with his daddy and became his mini-me. Which was why you’d immediately agreed, when Mathew asked to be a pilot like him for Halloween.  

With the flight suit resting in your lap now, you lift to look for any tears or blemishes. Not finding anything wrong you set in back down, and glance back at Mathew. Who stares at you as if you had two heads, he’d looked completely bewildered that you couldn’t see the issue.

His little form moves toward your lap fast grasps the fabric in his little hands and flips it over to the front. You look to the fabric and back to Maty a few times, still not understanding. Even more exasperated with you, Mathew gives a loud sigh that makes you laugh. You were just happy that tears no longer lined his eyes, not minding the current sassy behavior.

He’d picked it up from Jake, no questions asked.

Clearly unhappy with your reaction thus far, his little hands grasp at the material and hold it up to your face. The random patches on the chest staring at you in the face.

“They aren’t like daddy’s momma.”

It clicks in your mind instantly then. Mathew hadn’t said he wanted to be a pilot for Halloween but told both you and Jake that he wanted to be his daddy.

Which clearly meant the generic, random patches were very out of place. You lower the fabric from your face and give Mathew a small smile.

“It’s the wrong patches bubba.”

The nod of his head confirms it, and you feel slightly bad. You knew that the naval patches weren’t ones that you could just buy. Jake had patches from his original unit, as well as his callsign patch, and neither of those was ones you could just buy.

Though you’re sure you could find someone to make them, the timing was completely off. Given that Halloween was in two weeks, you were sure there wouldn’t be nearly enough time.

The clear dilemma set in front of you had your mind working in overdrive, so much so that you hadn’t heard the closing of the front door. The knock of boots along the wood floor in the hallway pulls you from the daze.

 Both you and Maty turn to see the man of the hour standing in the doorway, the smile on his face drops slightly as he sees the clearly upset look on Mathew’s face.

Jake moves into the room before Mathew can even say anything. Both him and Mathew working in tandem, as Jake picks him up to rest on his hip.

“Buddy, what’s wrong?”

The munchkin silently nuzzles into Jake's neck, clearly expecting you to tell Jake the catastrophic news. It might not have seemed like the biggest deal, but you knew to Mathew that it was. You rise up from the floor, and Jake’s hand reaches out to help you. The flight suit resting in your hands catches Jake's eyes and he gives you a questioning glance.

“It doesn’t have the right patches.” The sentence has Mathew pulling away from Jake's neck, speaking up before either of you can comment.

“It doesn’t have daddy’s patches.” His eyes go between you, to Jake, and back to the flight suit.

“I wanted to be Hangman.”

You shouldn’t have giggled, but it slips from your lips before you can stop it. The smile that breaks across Jake’s face is clearly pleased with your son’s demands.

“You wanna be Hangman?”

Mathew gives Jake a solid nod, though breaks out into laughter as Jake pokes and tickles him. Both of them laugh now, as Mathew's arms clutch around Jake's neck, wiggling around trying to escape the tickles.

“Alright, alright.” Jake pulls Mathew away slightly, though still holding him. “So, we need to find patches like mine, that right?”

The smile on Maty’s face is massive as he is once again nodding enthusiastically at Jake's words. Though as the ever realist, you’re quick to interject.

“Sweetheart those are custom patches, and it’s too late to find someone to make them.”

The smile on Mathew’s face falls once again, Jake’s glance moves from you to Mathew and back to you. The smirk on his face though stays in place, clearly having some idea that you had missed.

“We sure love momma, don’t we buddy?” The question has you watching Jake, waiting for how he is going to follow up on the comment. “But sometimes, daddy just has to show up and fix things.” The both of them head out the bedroom door and into the master room.

You follow behind with questioning eyes, completely unaware of what Jake has up his sleeve.

He plops Mathew down onto the duvet, bouncing him slightly, and moves over to you. The signature smirk proudly rested on his face.

“I’m gonna fix all the problems, but I need a kiss first.”

You shake your head at his antics, though gladly welcome his lips against your own. It's short and sweet, you can’t help the way it makes you smile. With a last kiss to the tip of your nose, Jake pushes you down to the bed to sit with Maty.

“Alright, you and momma sit right there.”

The both of you hum at him, watching as Jake goes over to your closet and begins riffling through the clothes. The slight tapping of his foot and toon that he’s humming would have you making fun of him if you didn’t think that he looked so cute.

Though you did. The flight suit tied around his hips is a clear indication that he hadn’t showered on base. You’ll have to ask him why later, though right now you are defiantly appreciating the view of the stretched-out white cotton sticking to his torso. The heat of the California weather is clearly terrible today, given that the shirt is almost translucent in spots.

Mid-stare you hear Jake let out a trumpet ‘ah,’ as he pulls out a nearly identical flight suit to the one he’s wearing. Though the one resting on the hanger is clearly smaller, it is almost an exact replicate all the way down to the patches across the chest.

“This, little man, is my old flight suit from when I first started flying.” Jake's gaze moves from the suit and back to the both of you on the bed, giving you a soft smile. Mathew had crawled up into your lap and hadn’t taken his eyes off the flight suit since Jake pulled it out.

“and it’s got all of the patches you need.”

Mathew's head cocks to the side slightly, eyes still trained on the suit.

“It’s too big.”

A chuckle bubbles from Jake's chest, “For now, but the patches come off this one still.” He pulls off the ‘Hangman’ patch holding it out the Maty.

“See and momma can fix them up on the little suit for now. Then when you get bigger... well, you might need this one.”

The pause doesn’t go unnoticed by you. Your heart aching with the amount of love you hold for Jake, and how he was the perfect father for your baby. Mathew is fast to scrabble off your lap, heading for Jake and standing next to the flight suit.

“So, I can wear it when I’m big, like you?”

The slight marvel in Mathew’s eyes makes your heart swell and seeing that same level of love and marvel in Jake’s eyes almost makes you cry.

“If you want.”

“I’ll be the best pilot in the navy, just like my daddy.”

Jake is quick to scope Mathew back up into his arms, hugging him tightly to his body.

“Yeah, buddy.”

The answer is barely audible, as it’s muffled against Mathew’s shirt. The both of them cling to each other. Though you catch Jake’s eyes, and the tears lining his eyes are on verge of falling as he gives you a soft smile.

The smile you reciprocate isn’t nearly enough, wanting to have both of your boys in your arms. Jake clearly has the same thought, as his hand reaches out to you. Pulling you up and into the hug, the three of you clutch onto each other.

Your lips gently brush against Jakes, as he holds Mathew between your bodies. Your foreheads come to rest against one another, and your palm rests on his cheek, whipping away a stray tear. Before Jake is turning into your palm and gives it a gentle kiss.

His eyes lock with you once again, with so much light and love in them.

“Thank you.”

You knew what he meant.

Thank you for this; a family unit, a place to call home, to love unconditionally.

You mean it just as much as you mutter it back against his lips, “Thank you.”

For a future

…

Though a little late, you’d finally gotten the Halloween decorations up, just after Maty’s flight suit came in the mail. Bright orange pumpkins and fake spiderwebs littered the house, courtesy of Jake and Mathew. The pair had set out on turning your whole house into your very own Halloween town, it had started with Jake going to the grocery store and seeing spooky window stickers. The single item soon became two and then three, and now your whole house was filled. You hadn’t expected Jake to be the type of person to want to decorate, carve pumpkins, and go trick-or-treating, but here you were. A happy little family that did everything. Jake had even started skipping Friday nights at the Hard Deck every now and then. Proclaiming that since the next 3 months were continuous holidays, that Friday nights were now dedicated to watching holiday movies together.

The celebration of holidays had even transferred into the Dagger Squad participating in things, that they most likely hadn’t done since childhood. You had all just gone out and picked pumpkins together and were set to carve them at your house tonight.

Pumpkin picking had been fun and seeing each of the guys turn into children again was quite entertaining. Not only had the whole squadron came, but Robert had also brought his wife Lacey. She was a teacher for third grade at Mathew’s new school on base. You had met her in passing, but never long enough to hold an actual conversation.

You and Natasha, both welcomed her with open arms and instantly fell in love with her. Both you and Natasha gave Robert a hard time for keeping her hidden away for so long. To which he replied it wasn’t his fault and that she had an insanely busy schedule, before placing a sweet kiss on her lips.

Everyone had found their own pumpkins, though it seemed to take the guys even longer than Maty. They decided on competing to see who could find the biggest one, Bradley won in the end. Jake only let him win because Mathew had found a pumpkin already, claiming that it was special. The little boy had proclaimed that he and his daddy needed matching pumpkins, which was more than adorable, but given that they were quite a bit smaller, Jake had decided that you needed a massive pumpkin. Leading to you having the second biggest one, just after Bradley.

…

Bradley had taken over the stereo, and the obnoxious melody of This is Halloween from The Nightmare Before Christmas played over the speakers at max volume. Rounding the corner to the kitchen, a laugh falls from your lips. Spread out across the kitchen floor was the whole Dagger Squad; Mathew settled in Jake's lap, Natasha and Bradley poking fun at each other’s craving job, Lacey sat in front of Robert, continually slapping his hand away as he tried to help her cut the pumpkin open, and Javy, Reuben, and Mickey sat off in their own circle having a carving competition. Though to you, it looked like, who could sabotage who the fastest.

You had never realized how much these moments would mean to you until you finally had it right in front of you. You’d left the group briefly to change into one of Jake’s hoodies, the breeze sweeping in from the back door cooling you considerably. You’d been the only one complaining of the cold though, as every single other person in your house sat in short-sleeved shirts and said they were still overheating. Which led to the wide-open door.

“Your missing carving time momma.” The high-pitched yell from Maty is more than enough motivation to get you climbing through the group of individuals.

“Yeah momma, you need to sit your little butt over here and get to work.”

You roll your eyes at Jake; the cheeky pilot sends you a wink as you settle on the floor next to him.

“We both know, that you’re gonna be carving it; in an unsaid competition with Bradley.”

“Well yes, but I still want your help, sweets. I need your creative expertise.”

You roll your eyes at the man, used to him constantly supplying you with compliments. You glance over to Maty’s pumpkin and see that him and Jake have carved out the Buzz Lightyear logo. You place a quick kiss on your son’s head, only to be met with Jake’s own lips puckered up at you when you pull away. You laugh slightly at the man, though cave and give him his own kiss as well.

A resounding chorus of ‘ewwwws’ sounded through the kitchen, each of the guys giving the pair of you, comical looks of disgust. Bradley makes a show of full-on fake gaging, that has you sticking your tongue out at him in an equally childish way.

“You’re just jealous.”

“How could I be jealous when I’ve got this pretty little thing right here.” The hand Bradley tries to wrap around Natasha is quickly batted away, as he knocks over her pumpkin.

Her gaze cuts to him quickly, a harsh glare focused on the hand that just hit her Michel Meyers masterpiece.

“Don’t touch my pumpkin again, or you can sleep on the couch.”

A harsh laugh leaves both you and Jake, as Bradley slightly pouts at Natasha.

…

The group finishes out the night by midnight, though Jake had put Mathew to bed just after dinner at nine. The five-year-old was less than pleased when he had to leave his aunts and uncles, though he had gone willingly when you told him that they would be coming trick-or-treating with you tomorrow. Slowly the couples file out of your house, Robert and Lacey the first ones to leave given that they actually had to drive back to their house. Bradley and Natasha were the next to head out, only having to walk home, as their house was only a few streets over from yours. Coyote had already settled and fell asleep on the couch at around eleven, you had covered him up with a blanket and made sure his phone was plugged into the extra charger that he left at your house.

He regularly stayed over and by now the thirty-one-year-old had become like another child for you to care for. Mickey and Reuben are the last to leave, they’d taken to “personalizing” Coyotes pumpkin after he had fallen asleep and had just finished up with their design.

You set the last of the pumpkins outside on the doorstep, your front door surrounded by ten carved pumpkins now. A laugh slips from your lips, clearly sleep-deprived, but also at the different faces and designs that mare the pumpkins.

“Alright darlin’, I think it’s time we get you to bed.”

You lean back into the arms wrapped around your waist, his hands slipping beneath the hoodie to crease your hips. Jake places soft kisses along your neck, your head falling back to rest on his shoulder, as he gently bites the junction between your neck and collarbone, a hum leaves your lips at the attention.

“You ready for all the moms to fawn over you tomorrow night?” The slight teasing in your voice has Jake releasing a harsh huff against your shoulder.

“You’re the only momma that matters sweet. My hot momma.” His hand tightens slightly at your hips, and you can’t stop the way your hips automatically press back into his hard length, resting perfectly against your ass.

“I’m not fucking you with Coyote asleep on our couch, mister.” The tone in your voice is clearly saying something else, as you work to hold back the moan.

“Come on baby, you just have to stay quiet this time.” The sentence is followed by another nip at your neck before he runs his tongue over the mark to soothe it.

“I’m not having him burst into our room again, thinking that I’m hurt, Jacob.”

The laugh Jake releases shakes your own chest and starts you laughing as well. You turn in his hold, his green eyes shining with a look of delight and mischief.

“I just fuck you too good, is that it baby? Can’t stay quiet.”

Your face burns at the statement, and the harsh slap you lay across his chest makes him laugh even more. Grasping even tighter on to you when you try and slip from his grip. Your gaze meets one another, as Jake smirks at you, you can’t stop the wide smile from spreading across your own face.

“Bed now.” You pat at Jake's chest, before heading down the hallway to your room. Glancing back at the last minute to stare at him. “And not for sex.”

You step into your room, as a loud laugh bounces off the walls of the quiet house.

…

“Alright baby.” You fix the collar to Mathew’s flight suit, smoothing down the front of the dark green outfit.

“Do I look like daddy?”

Your hand runs over the sewn-on Hangman name patch, eyes tracing from Mathew's slicked-back hair all the way down to the little black boots that match Jakes. Your eyes tear up slightly, in slight wonder at how your baby had grown up so fast.

“Yeah bubba, you look just like daddy.”

You grab the set of aviator glasses from the counter and place them upon Maty’s small face.

“There you go, now you could pass for his twin.”

Both of your gazes turn, as you hear Jake's boots knock across the hardwood floor coming down the hall. Your eyes trace Jake's form just as they traced Mathews, and you quietly wonder, how in the world Jake wasn't actually Mathew's real dad. They looked so much alike it was unbelievable other than Mathew’s hair, which matched your own, the two of them could have fooled anyone.

Jake releases a sharp whistle, that echoes through the halls. “Momma, I do believe I may be out of a job.” His hands are quick to reach out and grasp Mathew, placing the boy on his hip. “You sure you didn't wanna dress up like me, just so you could take my job?” As he says it, a plethora of tickles is placed over Mathew’s tummy, which causes the boy to giggle uncontrollably.

“Daddddyyyyy.”

Though the tickling had subsided, the father-son duo is not done yet. The spin of Mathew's body in Jake's arms has you laughing, the five-year-old now hanging upside down trying to clutch onto his father's matching flight suit.

“All right you two, calm down. I need you both in one piece if we want to go trick-or-treating.”

Jake spins Matthew back around, popping him down on the floor gently. The both of them standing at attention waiting for your orders, you can't help but laugh at how alike they act.

“Alright, daddy's in charge of finding the Halloween pails. Maty, you turn all of the lights off, and mommy –”

“Mommy needs a costume…”

The way in which your 5-year-old states it has you looking down at the clothes you're currently wearing, eyes moving from your form and back to Jake and Mathew. They both stand there staring at you, silently waiting for your answer as to why you don't have a costume on.

“Bubba, I was so busy getting your and daddy's costumes ready, and I just forgot.” You try and give the munchkin a reassuring smile, but you can clearly see how unhappy he is with the fact that you won't be dressing up as a family.

“Sweet pea mommy doesn't –”

Though before you can finish the sentence, Jake is off to your bedroom, once again, on a clear mission. Both you and Maty follow behind him, curious as to what he's gonna pull out of your closet now.

The now familiar sound of Jake saying ‘ah’ once again rings through your room, as Jake pulls out a leather bomber jacket. The same patches adorn the chest and sleeves of the bomber, as those that adorn Jake and Mathew’s flight suits.

“Once again daddy is saving the day.” The cheeky tone in his voice has you shaking your head at Jake, as a cheer reigns out from your son, who's now bouncing on your bed in clear excitement.

“You're just full of surprises aren't you.”

“You love it.”

You step forward to take the jacket from Jake, though before you can grab it, he's wrapping it around your shoulders. Holding it for you to slip your arms in the sleeves and tugging it tight around your chest.

“Nope, I don’t.”

“Sweets, don't lie baby.”

So close that you're almost forehead to forehead, his breath creases your lips with each word. That damn smirk, matched with those green eyes and how they glisten, makes you weak in the knees.

“Maybe.”

Though before he can make a smartass remark, you press your lips against his. Slotting perfectly against one another, one arm slips around his neck as Jake goes to pull you in closer by the waist. You lick teasingly at the seam in his lips, however, pull away before he can go take it any farther, releasing a sharp laugh at the look of defeat that settles on Jake's face. You grab Mathew sitting him on your hip, glancing at Jake with a final look over your shoulder, an award-winning smile creasing your lips, then head out the door.

Well aware that Jake is in tow behind you, “I'm the one with the keys.”

“Then hurry up daddy.” The sentence leaves both yours and Mathew's lips at the same time.

A final thought drifts through Jake's brain as he locks the front door; tonight, all three of you had the last name Seresin printed across your chest, a fact that needed to be made permanent.

#jake seresin #jake seresin x you #jake hangman seresin x you #jake hangman seresin #jake seresin fluff #jake seresin x reader #better man universe #hangman imagine #jake seresin x y/n #jake seresin imagine #dagger squad #top gun hangman #top gun: maverick #top gun maverick #gingy library #gingy writes #gingy celebrates

[tgmsunmontue]

Lonely Nights 2/4

Set in 2009, Bradley is ~27 and Jake is ~23. Hangster PWP. AU where Bradley went to the USNA and has a better relationship with Maverick, however DADT still exists. This 100% fits in with the much longer Nepo!Baby-Bradley fic I am currently writing.

PART ONE

                Of all the guys he could have picked up he picked another guy in the service. Fuck.

                “Fuck.”

                “Yeah, that’s the plan…”

                “Which Platoon where you in?”

                “What?”

                “That’s a USNA sea bag. Which Platoon?”

                “If you recognize that bag then you’re Navy too.”

                “Yeah, no shit.”

                The expression on Jake’s face goes a little hard then, and Bradley gets a glimpse at the hardness the other man might wear when he's not letting loose, likely similar to the quieter and more serious expression he uses.

                “I’ve already sucked your dick, if I’m going out then I might as well make it worth my while.”

                He gets back into Bradley’s personal space, stripping off his shirt and unbuttoning the solitary button holding his pants closed before slowly pushing his pants down, his eyes not leaving Bradley and Bradley grabs his wrist, needs to get his attention.

                “You’re not going out. I sure as fuck won’t be telling anyone. I’m not one for shared mutual destruction.”

                “But you are one for shared mutual orgasms…”

                “Yeah baby… I sure am.”

                “What’s your name sailor?”

                “Brad… Bradley. Bradshaw.”

                “Which is it darlin’?”

                Bradley laughs then, realizes that Jake probably thinks he’s giving him a fake name.

                “First name Bradley, last name Bradshaw. And no, I have no idea what my parents were thinking.”

                “Bradley Bradshaw… wow…” Jake says, clearly amused and Bradley grins back.

                “Mmm.”

                “Jake Seresin.”

                He’s glad they don’t exchange ranks, doesn’t want to know whether one of them outranks the other. Then he’s not thinking about ranks at all, Jake’s hands are on his jeans, unbuttoning them and tugging them down with intent. Bradley quickly toes off his shoes, kicks them along with his jeans off to the side.

                “I want you to fuck me. That okay?”

                “Of course baby…”

                Now that he knows it feels weird for the briefest of seconds, the idea that he’s calling another shipmate baby, such a soft term of endearment. Jake is flushing beautifully though, completely naked now and Bradley is on board with this. Completely. Come hell or high water for however long they have. He runs a hand over his chest, up his neck and curls a hand into the hair at the back of his head, scrapes his fingernails against his scalp and enjoys the shudder in Jake’s body as he presses himself closer.

                “You have stuff right?” Bradley asks, because he has some in his pocket, prepared, but he hopes Jake has more. He hopes that they’ll need it. Wishful thinking but he’s optimistic.

                “Yeah, I’ve been thinking about this for fucking months.”

                “Likewise.”

                “At least we’ve already taken the edge off. We can have round two now and round three later. Unless you need to leave before?”

                “No, I’ve got my own hotel room booked for three nights…”

                “Great.”

                The look they exchange then is a bit heavier, words unspoken because they might just be reporting to the same place at the same time and he doesn’t want to think about it. So he doesn’t. Instead he pushes Jake back and starts moving them toward the bed, Jake moves a bit faster, grabbing a towel, condoms and lube, putting them on the bedside table while then pulling the covers back. Bradley takes a moment to admire him, smooth skin with a range of tan lines which tell him Jake likes being outdoors and isn’t too careful with the sunscreen. No tattoos that he can see, just dimples and his confident bearing that comes from those fucking bearing drills he remembers from his own time at the USNA. He shouldn’t find that as much of a turn on as he does.

                “You going to do anything or just stand there and watch?”

                “I’m enjoying myself.”

                “Trust me, you’ll enjoy yourself more over here.”

                “Promises promises baby…”

                “Promises I intend to keep. Come here.”

                Bradley has zero reason not to oblige so moves over to the bed, lets Jake push him back, curious to see where he’s going with it now that they’re naked and have a bed at their disposal. What a fucking luxury. The sheets are cool against his back and he shuffles up until his head is on one of the pillows. Jake moves closer, then he’s knee-walking up the bed and straddling Bradley’s thighs. Their cocks are both firm, not aching hard, but definitely in the game. He reaches and rubs his hands down Jake’s thighs, fingers digging into the thick muscles.

                “Hi there…” Jake says, smile wide and eyes playful as he nestles his cock beside Bradley’s, eyebrows wiggling suggestively and ridiculously. It’s playful, he’s never had this in bed before and he feels euphoric.

                “Hi.”

                Jake leans down then, grinding his cock against Bradley’s, the sensation making him grind up to make it just a little harder. Jake’s lips cover his and he struggles with the multiple points of stimulus; his cock getting harder between them, Jake’s lips and tongue on his mouth, lips feeling increasingly swollen and sensitive. Jake’s hands, one in his hair, the other on his pec, tweaking a nipple and he gasps into it.

                “Oh… sensitive huh?” He doesn’t say anything, just gasps again as Jake bends his head to lick at a nipple. “Mmm. I wonder what else makes you gasp.”

                “You’re welcome to find out,” Bradley offers, and feels a swell of warmth at Jake’s responding laugh. He runs his hands down Jake’s rib, over his waist and hips, resting on his ass again, fingers digging in to force their grinding tighter and when Jake groans with him he feels smug, accomplished for doing absolutely nothing he doesn’t want to already be doing. He runs a finger down the crease between Jake’s ass cheeks, surprised to find it a little slippery and he pulls his hand away, peers at his fingers. Clear and tacky.

                “You’ve… already lubed?” Fuck, the idea of Jake doing that, prepping himself, makes him hot.

                “Yeah, I prepped myself before I went out. Didn’t want to waste too much time you know?”

                “Jake baby… we have time.” He wants to know if Jake jerked off as well, or waited, built up the anticipation like Bradley himself did the last couple of days.

                “Yeah, kind of feel like I hit the jackpot. Lots of time. Now, you gonna fuck me?” Jake asks, pushing the lube and condoms into his hand.

                “Yeah baby… let me just make sure you’re stretched okay?”

                “Mmm.”

                It’s awkward, he can’t see what he’s doing and the angle is weird, but he likes the feeling of Jake above him too much, pressing and rubbing his body against Bradley like he’s trying to mark his territory. He gets two fingers in easy, then Jake moves up to straddle his torso and Bradley has a lot more access and he lubes up his fingers more, sliding three in, there’s a stretch, but Jake is moaning, pushing back into it and his eyes have gone dark and Bradley feels pretty confident it’s not hurting at all, or too uncomfortable. Good.

                “You want it like this?”

                “Yeah. To start with…”

                “Oh, we getting athletic are we?”

                “Pretty sure you can keep up with me darlin’.”

                Part of Bradley takes that as a fucking challenge and another part thrills at the idea.

                “Going to try my best baby.”

                He wipes his hands on the towel and tears open the condom, can at least put that on without looking, and Jake is shifting against him, his cock harder now, clearly impatient and Bradley lets him take the lube from him before he slides wet fingers all over Bradley’s cock.

                “God…”

                “Good?”

                “Yeah, you’ll be better though…”

                “Yeah I will.”

                He’s so fucking cocky and Bradley can’t help a little laugh, but it catches in his throat as Jake holds his cock firm, shifts up and then starts sinking down on him in nice slow increments. He strokes Jake’s cock, watches his face. He’s absolutely gorgeous. He concentrates on staying still, waiting for some sort of sign from Jake that he’s okay, that he can move. Jake settles fully and rocks ever so slightly, his eyelids fluttering closed and he looks blissed out. Bradley wants to kiss him so badly. He shifts, bracing his arms behind him and pushing up, manages to capture Jake’s lips in a kiss.

                “Oh fuck…” Jake breathes, kissing him back, hips twitching and Bradley feels his whole body shudder.

                “Yeah, shall we?”

                Jake laughs then, nods, mumbling a little under his breath and starts moving, setting the pace. It’s good, so good. Bradley moves a little, once he’s sure it’s not going to break the rhythm. He watches Jake’s hand on his own cock for a bit before he wraps his hand over it, taking over and can’t help the grin at the little gaspy moan the Jake lets out. He lets his other hand ramble, stroking wherever it can reach, down Jake’s chest and scraping over a nipple, grasping an ass cheek, his other hand not ceasing its rapid stroking of Jake’s cock.

                Their rhythm becomes more graceful, able to anticipate each other’s movement better. Jake still manages to contort himself enough to suck one of Bradley’s nipples into his mouth and that causes some less-fluid jerking thrusts which make Jake laugh in delight. Their skin is becoming slippery with sweat and Bradley wants to lick it off him, and he says something along those lines. Jake’s orgasm takes him by surprise and Bradley forces himself to a slower pace, almost coming to a stop, unsure what he should do. Jake is making unhappy little sounds and it takes him a second to make sense of them.

                “No, no, don’t stop. Keep going. I like it…”

                “You sure baby?”

                “Yeah, yeah, please. Trust me… just, let me move.”

                “Okay. Of course.”

                Jake shifts so he’s lying on his stomach, ass angled just right, a pillow shoved under him helping and Bradley swallows roughly. What a fucking dream. He grips both ass cheeks in his hands and pulls them apart, sees Jake’s hole, dark pink and stretched and thumbs over it, hears Jake’s little hitch of breath and then he pushes in again. The angle is different and he lets himself blanket his body over Jake, pinning him down by his wrists.

                “This okay?”

                “Fuck yes…”

                Okay then. He starts a slow undulating motion that he knows he can maintain for a decent chunk of time, leaves himself draped over Jake and allowing his hips just to rock in and out. He can feel his own orgasm building, a little part of his brain is worried that Jake is just letting him do this but then he catches Jake’s muffled sobs please please come on use me and it makes his blood thrum hot. Oh. Okay then. His back is dripping sweat now and he snaps his hips a little faster, tension building toward his climax and he can hear Jake gasping little sobs, feel him pushing back as much as he can under the weight of Bradley’s body, held in place like he is.

                He comes with a shudder, mouth sucking what he suspects will end up being a bruise on Jake’s shoulder. Oops. Jake is making whimpering sounds and Bradley pulls away, needs to check on him desperately and make sure he’s okay. He pulls out too quickly and Jake’s entire body convulses, thrusting into the pillow and holy shit, he’s hard again, grinding against the bed. Bradley rolls him to his back, gives each leg a quick reassuring rub before spreading them so he can sit between them, reaching for the lube, getting his fingers wet and then sliding them back inside. Jake almost jackknifes off the bed, still muttering please please please under his breath.

                “I got you baby…”

                Bradley hasn’t ever fingered someone to an orgasm, unless he counts himself, but he knows the theory. Jake is gasping, there are tears, or maybe sweat, coming out of the corner of his eyes. His entire body is shaking and Bradley has no idea if he can come again quite so soon, but he’d said to trust him, so he suspects this isn’t a first time occurrence. He’s gentle, in complete contradiction to some of the things that Jake seems to like on the rough side; he can’t bring himself to do this anything other than gently. Not soft, not without purpose, but he takes care, his movements deliberate and he strokes Jake’s prostate, reaching with his fingers and watching with amazement as Jake falls apart and comes again.

                “Gorgeous baby, absolutely gorgeous…”

                Bradley quickly realizes Jake is absolutely fucking useless after he’s come, although he assures Bradley he only has himself to blame for being so good. And he’ll take the ego stroking, it’s not often he gets actual feedback about his sexual abilities; most of the time it’s hurried hand jobs or blow jobs, more rarely quick fucks that no-one hangs around for a debrief afterward. He gets them both water, cleans up as best he can before he collapses down beside Jake in the bed. Jake had mentioned a round three, so Bradley’s assuming it’s okay if he stays.

PART THREE

#Hangster #Sereshaw #Top Gun Maverick #rooster x hangman #Top Gun Maverick fanfic

[discount-shades]

Sleepy Baby: Our Song

a/n: I put my 90s country playlist on shuffle and wrote for songs that came up. This isn’t super connected to whatever plot I have going on in the main story. It's more of a series of vignettes.

Pairing: Jake “Hangman” Seresin / Reader

Warnings: None, 90s Country

Word Count: 700 ish

Summary: Jake listens to 90s country music. 

Masterlist   

You roll your eyes as Jake pairs his phone up to the Bluetooth speaker in his kitchen. Jake rarely listens to music from this century. He mostly switches between classic rock playlists and ‘90s country and lately it has been trending country. As someone who grew up listening to mostly Top 40 music you were not familiar with most of the songs he played. Despite your unfamiliarity with the genre it was growing on you. Every song you learn to love is connected to memories of Jake. 

Jake sings a lot. It was something you noticed in your time with him. Not around his coworkers, but he sings around you often. He is able to remember the words and cadence to songs in a way that you would never be able to. When you commented on the blueness of the sky Jake jumped into singing, “Here she comes a walkin’ talkin’ true love, saying I’ve been looking for you love, surprise your new love has arrived, out of the blue clear sky,” all the while taking your hand and twirling you before pulling you into a kiss. At your slightly baffled expression he adds, “George Strait’s Blue Clear Sky.” He grins, “don’t worry Darlin’ I’ll convert you to a follower of King George.”

There was the disastrous attempt to teach you line dancing to Brooks and Dunn’s Boot Scootin’ Boogie on western night at some bar you don’t remember the name of. Alcohol was a factor in how many times you stumbled giggling into Jake as he patiently caught you and steadied you for the next attempt. When you had tried again, sober this time, on your back deck on a Sunday afternoon you were much more coordinated and he informed you that he would be willing to take you line dancing when you went to meet his family in Texas. 

John Michael Montgomery’s Sold is Jake's song for you. Every time it plays he will sing the whole song to you, keeping up to the fast lyrics with an exaggerated twang in his voice. “Jake, I don't exactly match the description of the women in the song,” you tell him laughing. “Doesn't matter, you’re a ten,” he tells you. “This was me when I met you. You’re it for me Darlin’, I’m sold.” 

You think about slow dancing in Jake’s kitchen every time you hear Garth Brooks’ The Dance. It’s late and most of the lights are off. Your one hand is clasped in his and the other is playing with the hairs at the nape of his neck. Jake's hand on your lower back is holding you close to him as you sway to the music. Jake’s soft humming is a rumble as you rest your head on his chest and he presses a soft kiss to the top of your head.

Jake singing, “I put a big down payment on that itty bitty diamond ring,” to Diamond Rio’s Unbelievable as he drives makes you pause. At the conviction in his voice you turn and stare at him. Neither of you have said ‘I love you’ yet, even though Jake has already declared that you would be getting married. He catches your eye and winks before turning back to look at the road. You narrow your eyes watching him sing along before deciding you are jumping to conclusions. Probably.

You had always listened to Shania Twain and her songs took a new meaning to you. It was hard for you to miss the fact that Jake perfectly personified the lyrics to Any Man of Mine. You have long since admitted to yourself that you were falling hard and fast for Jake. His casual certainty that your relationship was long term was simultaneously perplexing and exasperating, but mostly it was endearing. He made your heartbeat quicken with a wink one moment and could relax you with a hug the next. He made you feel safe.

You don't have one song to remind you of your relationship, you have an entire decade of a genre, and you still don’t know what song you will dance to at your wedding. 

#jake hangman seresin #jake seresin #jake hangman x reader #jake seresin/reader #jake seresin x reader #hangman #hangman/reader #top gun hangman #top gun x reader #topgun maverick #top gun fanfiction #hangman x you #jake hangman fic #jake seresin x you

[ohtobeleah]

I just can’t believe Jaidyn is going to get away with beating Fe up. It’s so aggravating that he’s such a snake.

Yeah I know. But he’s gotta get away with it some more before he gets caught. And let’s be clear, he isn’t gonna get away with it. This is just my take on the systems that are out in place to protect domestic violence victims that don’t fuck for shit.

But as always, here the Terms of Endearment Masterlist

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

“I’m not sure we can hold him for much longer unless you’re looking to press charges.” Chief Holden sighed as he watched Jaidyn Dolan sit in the corner of the holding cell without any expression on his face. He looked stone cold, calculating, and read to seek revenge on those who conspired against him. “All we’ve got on the guy is a video of him instigating a fight before he gets his own head caved in.” 

“One of the daycare workers we spoke to said they received a distressing call from the child's mother a few hours before he showed up to collect–” Sergeant Briggs paused as he looked at his notes. “Odette, or Dot for short. She said that Y/n, the kids mother had only just updated her daughters drop off and pick up list to make sure that if his guy ever did try and collect her, that he wouldn't be allowed.” 

“But the mother called and confirmed he was picking the kid up that afternoon, right?” Chief Holden asked as he kept his gaze focused on a frozen Jaidyn sitting in his cell. He’d been held overnight. Reluctantly held overnight. 

“Yes Sir, but I think there's a lot more to this than meets the eye.” Chief Mark Holden was old school, he believed black coffee in the morning paired with a cigarette was the best way to start the day. His wife Linda worked a nine to five and still managed to uphold the household to a standard he could be proud of. Linda made his lunch and ironed his shirts, she did the cooking, the cleaning, raised the two kids they never saw these days and the thing that Mark really enjoyed, was that his wife never stepped a toe out of line. If she did? He’d beat her back into it. “I think we’re looking at a case of domestic–” Chief Holden just growled, he cleared his throat and fished his keys out from his pocket. The master key for the holding cell nestled amongst a million others as they rattled and clanged against one another. “Sir? What are you—?” 

“Times up boy, you can claim your stuff at the clerk's desk.” Chief Holden spoke with a proud chest and a baritone vice that could carry itself for miles. Jaidyn frowned, he thought for sure he was done for. But the one who had been most caught off guard was Sergeant Timothy Briggs. 

“Sir, I really do think we should look into this.” He questioned, Jaidyn eyed him down when he caught the kids expression. One of reluctance and doubt. “An Admiral Beau Simpson from the Naval Base called an hour ago requesting a few of our guys to head on over to assist in an internal investigation he’s opened up, what if the two are connected?” 

“This seems like an open and closed case of mum trying her best to shut out dear old dad here.” Mark chuckled to himself as Jaidyn stood, waiting for the bars that held him captive to be unlocked. “Isn't that right son?” 

“Just wanted to see my baby girl sir, that's all, I'll be sure once I get my phone back that I'll be contacting my lawyer.” Jaidyn rubbed at the back of his head, trying his best to pass himself off as a misunderstood soul. As it turned out, other Sailors tend to recognised other Sailors on the sea, and when Jaidyn looked at Chief Mark Bartholomule Holden, he knew that he knew. But from one abuser to another? they‘d rather work together to collectively sweep this under the rug, because Mark knew if he started messing around with Domestic Violence and family issue cases now? His own friends and colleagues wouldn't be too far off sniffing out the shit on his own shoes. 

“I think this is a bad idea chief,” Tim explained as he watched Jaidyn walk on by with a smirk on his tired and bruised face. “I think we should have at least charged him with aggravated circumstances—“ 

“Well it’s a good thing you aren’t in charge here kid.” Chief Holden chuckled. “If you were, I'd be worried about you forcing your own moral beliefs and good intentions onto others who may not be so inclined to believe the same thing.” Briggs frowned at his chief's words. 

“What is that supposed to mean?” Timothy Briggs wasn’t dumb, he knew what his boss had meant, he just wanted to hear him say it out loud. “Sir—?” 

“It means that you don’t question what goes on behind closed doors, it ain’t our problem—“ Mark hissed. “Now go make sure that man is processed out and see to it he gets on his way.” Sergeant Tim Briggs just stood gobsmacked that there were still people alive today who believed that there was a stigma surrounding domestic issues. He couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that his chief was just so willing to let this guy go. “It’s our job to serve and protect, do you see the mother around here pressing charges?” Mark asked, looking around. “No, she isn’t, and until that happens we don’t follow this any further, there’s other things we can spend that valuable time on than chasing up a case of daddy done wrong.” 

It was a hard pill to swallow, but Tim followed his orders. He made sure that Jaidyn Dolan was processed out of the North Island police station with zero hiccups. He made sure all his belongings were handed back, and he made sure to send him off with a warning. 

“I don’t wanna see you back here in a few days, if I do I’ll make sure you won’t ever get out again.” Jaidyn just outstretched his hand. He smirked and waited for Sergeant Briggs to shake his hand. He never faltered for a second, but when Jaidyn reliaised Tim could see straight through his charade, he dropped the act. Dropping his hand when the Sergeant never met his grip. 

“I'm too good to get caught, kid.” Jaidyn winked. “But I’ll keep your intimidation tactic at the forefront of my mind.” 

***~***~****~****~****~***~***~

“God—“ It must have been awhile since you were sedated. You could tell some time had passed since the incident by the sun beaming through your eyelashes as your eyelids fluttered open. “Rooster?” You mumbled as you lulled your head to the side, expecting to see Bradley by your side. He’d promised to always be there, now more than ever. 

But when you opened your eyes to see he wasn’t beside you in that hospital chair that was surely the most uncomfortable thing ever? You felt your heart break into a thousand pieces. 

“Bob?” You questioned softly when you saw him sleeping in the corner of your hospital room. “Where’s Rooster?” You asked, watching as Bob crossed his arms across his chest a little tighter and stirred out a groan. When he didn’t answer you asked again, wondering why he had a stupid Stetson over his face. “Bob?” 

“Call me that again and you and I are gonna have problems—“ It’s the drawl in Bob's tone that throws you off more so than the whole get up. “And I’m not Rob.” You don’t answer, you simply raise a single brow and wait for the mystery man to remove the hat that’s shading his face. He brings a hand up to spider across the top. Long digit cup at the crown of the clearly loved Stetson and before you can stop yourself, you audibly gasp through your teeth. 

“I’m Rob's brother, he called me yesterday—asked if I’d come out for a few days to help out.” 

“I didn’t know Bob had a brother?” You saw the corner of the Bob imposter’s mouth curl up slightly into a small one sided smile. It vanished from his face seconds after as he leaned forward to rest his elbows on his jean clad knees. 

“He wishes he didn’t, so he pretends that he doesn’t.” There was a reluctance in Rhett’s voice to continue, but Rhett thought if he showed a small amount of his own vulnerability, you’d be inclined to trust him. “He’s uh—he’s actually got two of us though, Perry, he’s back in Wyoming.” 

“Does Bob’s brother from Wyoming have a name?” You asked softly, still a little confused and taken aback as to why you suddenly thought a man who looked so familiar and similar to Robert Floyd could look so attractive sitting there in his black sweatshirt and jeans. 

Rhett smirked as he contemplated his next move, he knew he probably shouldn’t given the circumstances—but he couldn’t pass up the opportunity. You just looked at him, waiting for a name to slip past Rhett’s lips. He spun his Stetson between his fingers as he let out a small chuckle to himself. 

Rhett simply pressed his lips together, sighed out a small huff of air as he settled back into his chair, placed his hat back onto his head and crossed his arms over his chest. All the while you watched on confused and convinced this was some sort of fever dream. 

“You can call me anything and anytime you like gorgeous—“ 

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

“Dot, do you want scrambled eggs or gooey eggs darlin?” With work being called off till further notice, Jake thought it might be best to keep himself busy around the house. The fight you’d had kept Jake Seresin up all throughout the nap he’d tried to take with Odette. She, surprisingly—went down easily. 

Poor Dot had been so emotionally exhausted that the second she was up and out of the bath, dried and wrapped in a warm fuzzy towel while Jake searched her drawer for a set of pajamas—she was out like a light. 

Jake had laid in his bed for the better half of two and a half hours trying to get some rest while Dot snoozed away on his chest. Hopefully dreaming of better days. She looked so angelic while she slept, until she snorded just like you, only cuter and softer and a hell of a lot more forgiving since Jake was nowhere near the brink of sleep. 

But now, he stood in his kitchen with a tea towel hung over his shoulder and music playing softly through the speakers. Sex On The Radio by Good Charlotte. Something you’d approve of nevertheless. Cooking some much needed lunch/dinner for himself and your daughter who was playing with her dolls in the living room watching Bluey. A new favourite. 

“Scwambled pwease.” Do beamed as loud as she could, she was only just in sight of Jake who just chuckled at the way she barely turned her head to look back at him. Not caring enough to draw her attention away from the make believe fantasies she’d concocted in front of her. 

“Yes, your highness.” Jake smirked to himself as he cracked six eggs into a bowl, whisking up a storm before there was a brisk knock on the door. “It’s open!” Jake had received a text only five minutes before he decided enough was enough with his fight for some extra shut eye that Phoenix would be stopping by. She’d heard from Pete what had happened and couldn’t believe it. None of them could, but the Daggers kicked into action immediately—all doing what they knew what to do. Be there where troubled waters loomed. 

Phoenix opened the front door slowly, sticking her head in to see the average run of the mil scene in the living room off to the right. There she was, safe and sound in Jake Seresins living room, watching some cartoon dogs on TV all the while she made up some fantasy storyline between the dolls Dot was playing with. 

Phoenix could breathe again. 

“Hi there beautiful girl!” Phoenix beamed as she greeted Dot from behind, crouching down behind your daughter to kiss her cheek as she laughed at the sensation of Natasha fingers tickling her side. “Are your Dollie’s playing house are they?” 

“It’s Mama and Tooster—“ Dot explained as she showed Phoenix the Ken doll she had in a flight suit you’d found on Amazon. Did it look anything like Bradley Bradshaw? No—but to Odette he was her version of a superhero. “See?” 

“Woah, have you got a dollie with brown hair somewhere? Because I dibs that one when I come back, I’m just gonna go see Jake real quick and then we can play, okay?” 

“Otay—“ For a little girl who’d been through an awful lot in the last twenty four hours, she seemed rather content in her own space. Sitting pretty in her plaid flannel pajamas with her hair an unruly mess because Jake just couldn’t find it in him to brush it. Nat made herself a mental note that she’d put it up in two pigtails before she left. Padding her way into the kitchen where she saw Jake—shoulder deep in his domestic crisis. 

“Far out Hangman, this is nuts, I’ve been texting Bob all morning, she’s still not awake?” Jake didn’t know how to respond, Rooster had been keeping him in the loop, he’d been sending messages every hour on the hour since he left around six. But it was nearing noon and you were still out cold. “They must have jabbed her with some pretty strong stuff?” 

“She was pretty hysterical.” Was all Jake managed before he felt himself getting worked up again as Phoenix entered the kitchen, the place was a mess. There were lots and pans and dirty dishes everywhere. Jake was a mess. He looked disheveled and disheartened and disoriented. “But if someone tried to keep her from me, I’d hate them too, I’d hate me too for what I’m doing.” Phoenix’s heart broke for the man she’d watched become somewhat of a father in his own right over the past few months. He’s become a father and a brother and a friend to many in the blink of an eye. 

The Jake Seresin who stood in his messy kitchen whisking eggs in a mixing bowl for his niece wasn’t the same Jake Seresin who’d first come back to TopGun for that life changing detachment. 

“She’ll come around, you can’t blame her for being in fight or flight mode straight off the cuff.” Phoenix watched as Jake over scrambled the eggs he’d cracked into the mixing bowl—deciding to take over when she realised he wasn’t all that in control. “Sit down, breathe, Coyote said Fanboy and him are gonna swing by Roosters place and tidy up before you and Bradshaw start moving shit around.” Phoenix looked around as Jake just towered over her with his hands on his hips in full dad mode as she zipped around his kitchen. “Where the fuck do you keep your frying pans?” 

“Nat, I’m fine—I can look after myself.” That wasn’t the answer Phoenix was looking for. She didn’t give Jake the time of day as she continued her search, ultimately ending in her finding the pots and pans drawer. “Phoenix—“ 

“You need to rest.” She explained with a solemn expression. “You want my opinion?”

“I know that you’re gonna give it to me regardless of what I say so—“ Jake challenged as he watched Phoenix grab some milk from the fridge, adding the non-dairy substitute to the scrambled mixture. “Let’s hear it.” 

“I think you should eat, go take a shower, and try to get some rest because Rooster will need a respite sooner or later and you’re gonna be the one he calls.” Jake knew Natasha was right, she always was. He just stared down at her as she held firm on her stance, watching as she poured the scrambled egg mixture into the warm pan. 

“I don’t like being bossed around in my own home.” Jake just sighed but ultimately agreed, he wrapped his arm around Phoenix’s shoulders from behind and fluffed up her hair a little before making his way into the living room. “Are you gonna boss me around too?” Jake asked as he dropped to the floor beside Dot, watching as she played happily in her own little world. “Dot honey, your scrambled eggs are gonna be ready soon, can you start packing up your toys for me?” Jake asked softly, brushing the curls from Dot's forehead behind her ear. “You can play with Tash after you’ve eaten.” 

“Can mamma hewp me?” Oh, okay here we go. Jake braced himself for what he thought was going to be world war three. “Mama always hwlps me cwean up.” 

“We talked about this Dotty, mamas in the hospital.” Jake was as honest as he could be with Odette. “Remember? She’s gonna be away for a few days to rest up,” Jake tried his best to explain to Odette in an age appropriate way why you weren’t around. “But you get to hang out with me and Rooster for a few days.” He was ready for the war, the rage that this soon to be three year old was about to kickstart on the floor of the living room. But that’s not what happened, instead—Dot's bottom lip quivered as she burst into tears. “Oh sweetheart, it’s okay—“ 

Dot buried her head in Jake's chest as she splayed her arms out across Jake's torso. Kissing the top of her small head as she cried and cried and cried. 

“Tooster and mamma weft me.” Dot sobbed to herself as her little body tried to process all her big emotions. This had been the longest she’s ever gone without seeing you, or Bradley for that matter. Ever since he’d stepped up and become a more permanent fixture in your life. “I wove them doe—“ It broke Jake's heart, he hated this, the sound of Odette's cries knowing he could only do so much to soothe her worries. “I miss mamma, I just want my mommy.” 

Phoenix stood at the threshold of the living room just watching as Jake laid on the floor on his back with his niece crying on his chest. He had his own tears streaming down his cheeks. He wasn’t sure how much more of this he could take.

“I know, baby.” Jake cooed. “I know you do, I do too, I really miss her too.” 

“Jake, Bob just called.” Phoenix didn’t want to interrupt. “She’s awake if you wanna give Rooster a call back when you’re ready.” 

“I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready—“ Jake groaned, pulling Dot closer to him. He felt like he was falling through the floor, unstoppable in his descent into the depths of hell. How could he do this to the two most important people in his life? How could he keep them apart and cause so much pain when all he was trying to do was shelter a little girl who didn’t deserve any of this. “I don't know if she’ll ever want to see me again Nix—“ Jake tried to hide the fact he was crying from Dot, but she knew. She bawled her fists into the fabric of his shirt and cried with him. “Because if I was her I wouldn’t.” 

“Hangman.” Phoenix tried to be the voice of reason. “You’re doing all you can to help her, we all know Dot can’t see her mum like this, you’re doing the right thing.” Jake needed to hear it for his own sanity. Natasha had never seen Jake Seresin like this before. A broken shell of a strong man who oozed overconfidence like it was going out of fashion. He looked so different she hardly recognized him. “Felix will come around once she gets a chance to wrap her head around things.” 

“I hope so.” Was all Jake mumbled as he kissed Dots temple. “Because I love your mamma too much to ever lose her.” 

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

“I’m calling the nurses—“ Rhett shot up out of his chair and made strides over to where you laid in your hospital bed. “For all I know you could be some sort of serial killer Bob Floyd look alike and after the last few days I’ve had I’m not taking any fucking chances.” 

“I’m sorry,” Rhett smiled, reaching out to grab your hand as you wrapped it around the remote that called for nurses. You retracted yours at his touch, it truly shocked Rhett to see how utterly fearful you were. 

“Don’t touch me.” Rhett knew he’d messed up. It was his own fault for being too lighthearted about things. He should’ve taken this more seriously from the get go—but he thought if he could make you smile, make you feel normal, then you’d find it easier to trust him. “Don’t touch me again.” 

As Rhett stepped back in a show of good faith, he looked at you with worried eyes that looked far too much like Bobs. 

“I’m sorry, we got off on the wrong foot here, I’m Rhett, Rhett Abbott—“ You frowned, working to slowly push yourself up the bed to sit up a little more. When you let out a whimper Rhett stepped forward, offering you his forearms to grip onto so he could in turn aid you up. “May I?” You hesitated for a moment, but ultimately accepted the gesture, knowing you couldn’t do it on your own. “Looks like whoever this guy is, he did a pretty good job, but from what I’ve been told you put on one hell of a fight, lady.” You smiled softly, feeling the wires in your mouth against your gums. 

“I thought you said you were Bob's brother? Different last names.” It was a touchy subject, you could tell by the way Rhett took a reluctant pause and tried to navigate an answer that wasn’t nasty. 

“And I thought I said Bob likes to pretend he's an only child.” Rhett held your gaze as he helped you up before he reached out to prop a few extra pillows behind your back. He adjusted the bed to match the angle you wanted to sit up at. “Listen, I’m gonna be honest with you.” He spoke softly, like he was walking on thin ice. “Bob asked me to keep an eye on you over the next few weeks, just until things settle.” 

“What makes you think I’d be inclined to trust a complete stranger?” It was at that very moment that Bradley and Bob were making their way into your room, they’d gone to grab some coffee that had enough Caramel syrup in it the send Gwyneth Paltrow to the fucking stratosphere. But it was a much needed sugar hit. 

“Because there’s a chance that if you don’t you could end up in a worse state than you already are.” It was a hard pill to swallow and one you weren’t ready to accept. 

“I’ll take my chances—get the fuck out of my room.” 

“Okay—“ Rooster sighed dramatically as he stepped in before Rhett could respond with something out of pocket. Giving him a look of ‘what the fuck dude?’ As he walked past. “You’re awake?” 

“You’re still here?” It was the shock on your face that had Rooster questioning what you meant. 

“Where else would I go baby?” He replied softly, leaning in to place a gentle kiss upon your forehead as his hand held the back of your head. “I just needed a coffee, been up watching you sleep for what feels like an eternity.” 

“I thought maybe you’d left—“ You felt your heart warming inside your chest as your stomach filled with butterflies. “You know, after—“ 

“Don’t apologise.” Was all Bradley whispered as he kissed your cheek. “It’s a lot to deal with, I understand that.” You simply nodded softly in response as Rooster sat beside you, in the same chair he’d been in since you were brought back from surgery. 

“Where’s Jake?” Now that? That was a hard topic to answer, but Bradley gave you the decency of honesty. He owed you at least that much. 

“He’s with Dot, at his.” He paused to take a sip of his coffee, sweet with artificial sugar with enough caffeine to kill a horse. “She’s fine, hon, but Jake I’m not so sure about, he took it pretty personally.” That broke your heart, but you couldn’t say you didn’t expect it. You remembered what you’d said, the abuse you’d hurled his way. “But he’ll be back a little later today, I’ll go stay with Dot tonight and he’ll come here.” 

“He hates me doesn’t he?” You’d said some nasty things, but all you wanted was to see your little girl. Tears welled in your eyes as you reached for the lip balm on the side table. Rooster strung into action, taking it from you to apply some on your chapped lips. “He hates me doesn’t he Roo—“

“No Fe he doesn’t hate you, he just knows what he’s doing, although the right thing because we all know that little girl does not deserve to see her strong and beautiful mama like this, is killing you.” Bradley paused, glossing your lips up. “He hates himself more than anything because he thinks you hate him.” 

“I could never hate Jake.” You sighed softly, exhausted from everything you’d been through. “But I really am sorry, for what I said to you Roo, it wasn’t fair.” Bradley accepted your apology without hesitation, bringing his hand up to rest in yours. “I don’t deserve you.” 

“You deserve the world and then some.” Bradley smiled, taking a sip of his coffee. We’re gonna get you through this, just gotta take it one day at a time.” You’d never thought about it before, but as Braldey Bradshaw sat by your side with his hand in yours still looking at you like you hung all the stars in the night sky just for him, you thought for the first time—damn, you’d really say yes if he asked you to marry him tomorrow.

“You know I love you right?” 

“I know—“ Bradley smiled, his heart was just so full. He still had both his girls, although things were a little messy, he still had both his beautiful girls. “But just so you know?” Bradley leaned in closer, holding your hand up to his lips. “I love you so much more.” Bob cleared his throat at that. He saw an opening in the silence as you smiled a cheeky bruised grin. 

“I really hate to be the one to interrupt—“ Bob spoke up as he stepped to the side of your bed. “But I’m sorry about Rhett, he can be a little unforgiving in his approach.” 

“Listen, I came here because you asked me to, I’ll leave quicker than you can say the word go if that’s what you want.” Rhett stood with his legs slightly spread, arms crossed as he sent his brother a brooding look. “You asked me to come here, I dropped everything to come here, for you because you asked—“ It was clear to both you and Bradley that there was something deeper than surface level sibling rivalry that strained the relationship between Bob and Rhett, but as Bob's face softened, accepting his brothers response—you knew there was something worth fixing there. 

“You’re right, I’m sorry—“ Bob apologised. “I’m glad you're here man, really, and I’m sure Felix is gonna enjoy every waking moment she gets to spend in the presents of your company.” That’s when you jumped back into the conversation. 

“I’m not all that keen on spending any time with your clone Robert—“ 

“Uh, as a matter of fact lady, he’s the clone.” Rhett retaliated. “And I’m not so sure if I’m too keen on spending any time with you either.” 

“Well that’s too bad because you’re literally here to make sure that whenever Jake and I can’t be here, that Fe stays safe.” Bradley thought it was as good a time as any to jump into the conversation again. “Which brings me to now, I should really be heading off to see Odette.” 

“Will you tell her I miss her, oh so much.” You cooed, trying your hardest not to get so worked up. Rooster nodded as he kissed your forehead. “Don’t let her stay up too late and make sure she—“ 

“Fe, darlin—I’ve got it covered.” Bradley just beamed at you. “I need you to just focus on you, yeah?” 

“Yeah—I know I know.” You just pressed your lips together in a soft smile. “Leave the lip balm please?” 

“Of course.” Rooster felt his phone ringing in his back pocket before he fished it out. “Wouldn’t dream of leaving you here defenseless against chapped lips.” He beamed, looking down at the caller ID before he flashed you the idiotic photo of Jake that appeared on his screen. “It’s Jacob.” 

“He hates that you call him that—“

“Which brings me an immense amount of joy.” Braldey replied before he swiped the pad of his thumb across his screen, answering the call as he held his phone up to his ear. He waved you off as he left your hospital room, leaving you with Rhett Abbott and Bob Floyd until Jake was meant to join you later in the afternoon. “Hold on man.” Rooster remarked as he paused and turned back to eye off you and Rhett. “Play nice, get to know each other.” 

“I’ll stay for a while if you want Fe?” Bob added. Resting a soft hand on your shoulder as you brought yours up to cover his. 

“As long as you promise he’s not some sort of serial killer I’m sure I’ll be fine.” 

“I never should have left Wyoming—“ Rhett just groaned. “This is gonna be great.” 

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

When Rooster pulled up at the Seresin x Y/l/n household, his heart swelled to a new size he thought was impossible to live with. There, in the front yard was Jake and Dot, waiting for Bradley to pull up in the drive. The minute Jake had told your little girl that he was coming to spend the night with her, she wouldn't leave the window. Wouldn't stop asking where here Tooster was. So Jake thought he’d do Bradshaw a favour and try to tucker the little tornado out. Chasing her around and around and around in circles and figure eights as she squealed and ran away and tried to dodge the six foot something giant chasing after her. 

“Tooster!” Odette beamed as she broke out into tears. Everything was still so hard to navigate and her little emotions were all kinds of unregulated. “Tooster!” Dot cried out as she ran across the gated yard, making a direct B-line for Bradley as he worked fast to rid himself of his seatbelt and jump out of the Bronco. 

“Hi!” He cooed, crouching down as Dot ran full speed into his chest and open awaiting arms. “It's okay baby, I'm here, don't cry darlin I've got you.” Bradley mumbled into the crook of Dot's neck as he scooped her up. Holding her to his chest with strong arms as she cried her little heart out, so overwhelmed. “I've missed you so much, have you been good for Jakey huh?” 

“So good Tooster.” Dot mumbled as she clung to him for dear life. Bradley smiled against her cheek, drying the tear that spilled from her waterline with the tip of his nose as he took gradual and careful steps towards Jake. greeting him with a soft all knowing smile. His brother in arms. 

“Fe thinks you hate her–” Bradley started, admiring what he could only assume was Phoenix’s handiwork for the pigtails in Dot’s hair. “When you go over, you gotta squash that shit.” Bradley could see what Jake was about to say, he cut him off before he even had a chance to speak it into the world. “And before you ask, no she doesn't hate you–if anything she knows why you did what you did man.” 

“I'm not sure if I have enough energy in the tank to head on over yet.” Jake rubbed the back of his head nervously, walking back to the house at Roosters side. “Phoenix took Dot for a little while there and I tried to get a twenty minute nap in, but I just couldn't–” Bradley understood, he held Dot on his hip and nodded softly. “Every time I close my eyes all I see is her in that bed and she looks unrecognisable.” 

“I feel like you'd be able to sleep a hell of a lot easier if you went and saw her, she's a lot calmer now–takes all her frustration out on Bob's brother, guys kinda like the designated punching bag.” Bradley chuckled to himself as he followed Jake inside. “He’s something else, don't stare at him for too long either, I was afraid that if I did a third one would pop out of the woodwork.” 

“Are you sure that guys gonna be able to handle Fe?” Jake asked, watching as Bradley threw Dot over his shoulder as she giggled and climbed across his broad shoulders like he was a tree. Settling either one of her little legs on either side of his neck as he held her ankles. 

“Probably not but he's the best we’ve got?” Rooster replied, noticing how clean the kitchen was, he knew that was Phoenix, he made himself a mental note to send her a thank you text. “Someones gotta be there.” 

“Am I gonna like him?” Rhett had gotten in about an hour after Jake left, so he hadnt actually met him.

“Eventually, he's no Bob that's for sure, but he's here and that's all I care about.” Bradley thought it was best to leave it at that as he bounced Dot up and down. She gripped her little fingers into his blonde locks and squealed out a laugh. “Now, as for you miss Dot, I think we should draw some pictures for you mum hey? Make sure she's got some art to look at while she's stuck in that bland room.” 

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

Rhett sat in the corner of your hospital room, eyeing you off as you returned the same glare. You'd been frozen like this for the past ten minutes or so. Sitting in complete silence as neither one of you refused to back down from the staring contest you’d unintentionally entered. 

“Give up–” Rhett mumbled out of the corner of his mouth. 

“Give in–” You replied through gritted teeth. 

“Never lady.” Rhett smirked, widening his eyes a little more dramatically before there was a knock on the door. It immediately broke Rhett out of the trance he’d entered. Standing as he took in the man standing at the threshold of your hospital room. 

“Uh, that's–” Admiral Simpson tried his best to keep his thoughts to himself. “I'm going to go ahead and assume that you aren't Floyd.” Rhett didn't respond, he simply stood there stoic as all hell just wasting for you to tell him what to do. 

“Cyclone? What are you doing here?” You asked from your bed as two police officers followed him in. Their presence instantly made Rhett nervous, having not been on the right side of the law all his life. “I wasn't expecting any visitors I didn't already know about?” 

“I came to see how you’re holding up.” Beau explained. “And to talk to you about the possibility of pressing charges against Lieutenant Dolan.” You couldn't wrap your head around why Cyclone was in your hospital room asking you if you wanted to press charges. Why on god's green earth would you ever press charges? You knew enough to know that the system was flawed enough. “We discovered some video footage of the incident that occurred, so the Navy can press its own charges, but I just wanted to talk to you and see if you were thinking about possible domestic charges?” 

“If the Navy can press their own charges, why are you asking her? Rhett snarled, immediately jumping to your defence. 

“Become it would bode well in our favour to have her as a testimony—“ You couldn’t believe what you were hearing, Rhett couldn’t either but he was less shocked. He’d never been a big fan of the government. 

“No–” You stood your ground, looking at Rhett who moved quickly to stand between your hospital bed and your Admiral. “No, I don't wanna press charges.” Jaidyn had conditioned you to believe that going to the police would do nothing but aggravate him. “All due respect sir, I’m not ready to talk about anything and I don't know if I ever will be.” You were spiralling, Rhett could see it, he saw the panic rising in your eyes. “I'd really like it if you left, sir, i'm just not ready to talk about it, especially to the police.” 

“Ma’am.” Sergeant Briggs stepped in. “I just want you to know that we had to let Lieutenant Dolan go this morning, we couldn't hold him, we didn't have anything to charge him with at the time so if there's any hope of getting him back behind bars it will be with your cooperation.” The penny finally dropped, Jaidyn was still out there somewhere. You forgot how to breathe at the relisation, it made you want to throw up. But you could barely speak as Rhett stepped a little closer to the officer who’d just thrown your entire world out of sync. 

“That kinda sounds like a threat to me?” Rhett growled, crossing his arms over his chest. Tim just sighed. “Where exactly do you get off? She's just been beaten half to death and you want her to speak out against her attacker knowing that he’s unhinged and could retaliate before you guys even lift a finger?” Rhett asked. “That sounds like she’d be sending out a beckon.” Sergeant Briggs wasn’t the bad guy here, if anything he was just trying to help and do his job. He’d been right about the fact the internal investigation was linked to Mr. Dolan. 

“Not a threat sir, just the truth, unless Miss Y/l/n here–” You didn't want to hear it, didn't want to hear that it was up to you to do something, you'd dealt with enough. You were in the hospital for crying out loud. You just wanted other people to do their job, for once. 

“I need the nurses.” You started as you looked around for your buzzer. “Rhett, I need these guys out of here before I lose my shit.” The corner of Rhett's mouth curled up as he cracked his knuckles, enjoying the role he played here for the first time since he stepped foot in California. “I need Jake and Braldey and I need my little girl—“ As of right on cue, Jake was round the corner into your room, shocked to see two officers and Admrial Simpson standing there. They shouldn’t have been here. Who the fuck let them in here? 

“Y/n?” Jake questioned and as if just hearing his voice made you shatter into a million trillion pieces. “Hey, s’going on?” He asked as he stepped past the three men who had bombarded your hospital room on their own accord, moving to their own agenda. “Hey, I’m here, yeah? I’ve got you, I'm here—“ Jake was at your side in seconds, holding you close as you broke. Just like Odette had done when she saw Rooster. “I'm here.” 

“You heard the lady gentleman,” Rhett smirked, cracking his knuckles to match the threat Sergeant Briggs had first given you. He knew by the painful sound of your cries into Jake's chest just how broken you really were. And that he was going to thoroughly enjoy stepping in front of you and whoever threatened you. “Now get the fuck out.”

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

Tags: @a-serene-place-to-be @lilyevanswhore @thescarletknight2014 @blindedbythelightt @averyhotchner @emma8895eb @blairfox04 @caitsymichelle13 @oxxolovemelikeyoudooxxo @teacupsandtopgun @aemondssiut @feltonswifesworld87 @akalei349 @notjustsomeblonde @americaarse @avaleineandafryingpan @phoenix1388 @xoxabs88xox @je-suis-prest-rachel @pono-pura-vida @rosiahills22 @starset21 @anarchyrising @caidi-paris @starkleila @criticalroleobssedperson @enchantingdreamergothprune @flrboyd @emma8895eb @endofdays56

#terms of endearment// bradley bradshaw #terms of endearment// jake seresin #bradley bradshaw #rooster bradshaw #bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley bradshaw imagine #bradley rooster bradshaw #jake hangman seresin #top gun fanfiction #top gun hangman #top gun rooster #rhett abbott fanfiction

[averyhotchner]

Avery's TopGun:Maverick recs pt.2

alrighty, almost 3 months later, here is my list of favourite TopGun: Maverick fics that no one asked for. like last time, it's mostly hangman, rooster and a bit of bobby boy. but i am slowly starting to fall for mickey and coyote.

please make sure to follow the age limit set by the writers!

jake "hangman" seresin

Fuck: The Universe (mini-series) by @roosterbruiser

okay maybe this is recency bias, because i did read this whole mini series yesterday and today, but still. it checks all the boxes, and of course i love the trope of jake is an ass to everyone but his girl, who also happens to be way better than him. also part 7 cracked me up.

real friends (series) by @starlightstories

i read real friends then found fuck: the universe, and i realized i really really really like the loverboy jake grumpy reader trope. i have no shame.

hey stupid, i love you (one shot) by @callsignseagull

okay this fic is very personal to me. i genuinely felt like the reader in this fic because i'm going through a very similar thing right now, and it tamed so many of my insecurities. i can't wait to reread soon!

loving you is... (series) by @demxters

guys frat hangman. that's all.

sleepy baby (series) by @discount-shades

the lengths at which this man goes just to find his princess, goals.

Where I'm From (one-shot) by @sometimes-i-write-good

sweet man jake, back at it again stealing hearts

Minimal Losses (series) by @ohtobeleah

this series and the rooster prequel NCIS ARE SO GOOD. im a sucker for this shit.

Sweet Nothings (series) by @sweetlittlegingy

yup! yup! yup! make sure you get your blood sugar checked before reading this because it's so damn sweeeeeet

Seeing Red (series) by @call-sign-jinx

picture this: its 2015, you're on wattpad and every single fic is a social media fic. but THIS? this is everything. the amount of work that goes into making a single text screenshot, not to mention the plot! its truly incredible and had be crying, laughing and sitting on the edge of my seat. i can't praise this series, and the other fics in this universe, enough.

yours (one-shot) by @theharddeck

this one... yeah its cute. but its down right sinful as well

bradley "rooster" bradshaw

I Will Always Love You (one-shot) by @amysteryspot

this one is short and sweet and honestly made me cry while eating my blt quarter pounder.

Pamper Night (on-shot) by @dagger-wren

okay this fic started as a cute little date night/self care night fic. BUT THEN, the ending had me falling in love with this dysfunctional squad. of course rooster and his girl are mom and dad, like who else.

Eat It, Twilight (one-shot) by @fandomxpreferences

okay i know this is a hangman fic, but i dont care. the rooster bff part was what i loved the most. also the plot is highlarious, and its probably because i was high when i read it, but still. chefs kiss.

Terms of Endearment (series) by @ohtobeleah

this series will be the death of me. each time a new chapter gets released im holding my breath on whether its gonna be all angst or all fluff. but either way i know its beautifully written.

And They Were Roommates (series) by @starryeyedstories

this. its hilarious and i cannot wait for more!

robert "bob" floyd

Christmas Gift (on-shot) by @call-sign-jinx

one of the most common bob fics i see is him with a teacher, and honestly i love it. who else would be as sweet and as patient as this man. i have the utmost respect for anyone who works in education, ESPECIALLY those who work with kids under 13. anyways, love this fic.

King of My Heart (one-shot) by @croimilis

dunk bob is the sweetest person ever!

Apple pie (mini-series) by @andorskenobi

the warning is very real, pls take it seriously <3

honorable mentions:

@sunlightmurdock @callsignvalley @toms-gf @make-me-imagine @callsignsaturn @madsnowstorm @jupitercomet @katsu28 @sehnsuchts-trunken @roosterforme (literally anything emily writes will be on a rec list i make)

i just wanna send my love to all the writers on this platform. whether you're just posting your first fic, or just finishing your 5th series, i appreciate you so much. i don't always have the time to comment and i'm dumb and don't understand how to reblog efficiently (working on it), but please know that all the effort and time you put in to making these works is truly admirable and i wish i was as talented as any of you.

okay thats all for now. i need to start making these more often cause theres so many i left out, i was just too lazy to scroll and find them.

#top gun maverick #hangman x reader #lt. bradley rooster bradshaw #bradley rooster bradshaw #rooster x reader #jake seresin #jake seresin x reader #bob floyd #robert floyd #bob x reader #bradley bradshaw fanfiction #jake seresin fanfiction #jake seresin x y/n #jake hangman seresin #top gun imagine

[thedroneranger]

The Drone Ranger's Be Kind Rewind ⏪ clancycucumber230 Edition!

A rec reblog series dedicated to the fics that we love so much, we've re-read them!

The next Rewind has landed: @clancycucumber230! Also, we have our first all Jake Seresin Rewind!

While we continue to churn out amazing new content, let's be kind and rewind to look at some of the OG content we love! And don't forget to reblog when you re-read! Continue to show your comfort fics and favorite creators some love. It helps keep the fresh content coming :)

Let's keep this going throughout the summer, so if you're interested in participating in the Be Kind Rewind, message me. The more, the merrier!

If you want to know when a new Rewind drops, join the tag list, and check out previous Rewinds!

fics below the cut (listed in alphabetical order by title)

Reader note: I’m an unapologetic Jake girl, although I’ve been dipping my toe in the water of Bob and Bradley recently. Jake’s character is so open, I love all the different ways he has been written by so many amazing authors. Not to mention Glen Powell is so god damn hot! Huge thank you to all writers in this fandom for your contributions!

can't unfeel that, @theharddeck FWB that have caught feelings. Really sweet and the breeding kink in this is off the charts hot.

Fruits of My Labor, @roosterbruiser I’m highlighting ‘Fruits of My Labor.’ It’s a heartbreakingly beautiful read. I would be remiss if I didn't mention The Fuck universe, though. This is a masterpiece with my favourite OC callsign Wisteria!

Hotshot, @topguncortez This first TGM smut I read. It’s rivals to lovers with electric banter and sexual tension. G has a masterlist that will rip your heart out and put it back together all at once. She’s also queen of the pregnancy trope.

Line of Sight, @top-hhun A three-parter ,featuring a reserved Jake protecting reader that flows into fake dating. It’s filled with sexual tension and possibility.

Operation Apollo, @sunlightmurdock This work isn’t complete yet but I have reread multiple times. Jake and Apollos’s growth from enemies to lovers to two people that just need each other is so natural. Throw in a shitty father, suspense and some smut smut smut and it’s a delicious read.

Slow Burn, @ereardon Jake gets Kate pregnant after a one night stand and it’s full of angst, love and dagger squad. Em is queen of the slow burn. Shes got a masterlist of my favourite tropes: pregnancy trope, Dad!Jake, Frat!Jake, Roomie!Jake, exes to lovers, plus Bob and Bradley series’ too. The OCs and settings she writes are also incredibly detailed. If I’m reading a book I can’t get into, this is where I go.

Teaching You Respect, @enchanting-eloquence Anything where Jake is taken down a peg by a strong woman is so SO good! This fic is cold shower amazing.

Terms of Endearment, @ohtobeleah TOE's Jake and Amilia are some of the best characters I’ve ever read. They have so much depth. Every time Leah answers a question about these two I have five more.

The Off-Season, @ereardon One of my most favourite series’. I’m so invested in these characters. They have the best banter and chemistry. Plus you can’t go wrong with the forbidden sibling trope!

Who Did This to You?, @justfandomwritings The first one shot I ever read. It’s got protective Jake with a new friend in need of help with her abusive ex.

I wish I could write, but I can’t, so here is a current read I’m absolutely loving:

Brother's Best Friend, @tongue-like-a-razor

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#tgm be kind rewind #jake hangman seresin #jake seresin #bradley bradshaw #top gun maverick #tgm #top gun #hangman #hangman top gun #jake hangman #clancycucumber230

[kryptonitejelly]

Sparks Fly (Part 1) | Jake Seresin x Reader Top Gun: Maverick - Jake Seresin x Reader Pairing: Jake Seresin x Reader Genre: romance; angst; fluff; slow burn; enemies to lovers Warnings: unwanted advances; general hangman being hangman; general cursing; tension; fem!reader; use of terms of endearment (i.e. darlin, sweetheart, etc); general naval / flying inaccuracies; general US government / department of justice / procedural / ethics and conflict of interest inaccuracies.

Length: Mini-series, chaptered - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Epilogue

Summary: You, an up and coming prosecutor who remembers Jake Seresin not-so-fondly from college, is assigned to investigate his case, a mission gone wrong. Tensions are high and trouble ensues; Jake gets called back to TOPGUN during this period; how will you both get through the 6 months and will you both come out unscathed? (Full summary here)

Sparks Fly | Mini-Series Masterlist / Jake Seresin Masterlist

Sparks Fly - Part 1

Approximately 6.8k words

A/N: I found it really hard to write this (idk why) and considered scrapping this mini series, but decided to bulldoze on with the first part and see how it goes. So any feedback is / will be very appreciated <3

-

“Wolf, Viper, Flame.. NO.” Jake roars, as his eyes open with a start, body lurching from horizontal to a seated position. He is frantic, wide eyed, as the machines around him go into a frenzy, beeping at top speed. His features are manic, like a man crazed as an army of doctors, nurses, in scrubs run into his room at the commotion.

“Mr. Seresin, sir, you need to calm down, you are in the hospital.”

“The planes, they crashed, they… I need to save them.”

“Mr. Seresin, you are in the hospital.”

“The planes, my team.”

“Lieutenant Seresin, we need you to calm down.”

“You don’t understand, my team, they are out there, I need to get to them.”

“Lieutenant, you are the only one that came back alive.”

“Only one?” The panic in his voice dissipates, a sense of fear, loss, and hopelessness creeping in. It makes the nurse beside him throw him a sympathetic look before she glances to her colleagues gathered around his bed, their motions paused.

“I’m afraid so,” the commotion around him quiets, the beeping of the machines the only sound in the hospital room.

“They’re, they’re… dead?” His voice takes on a hoarseness as realisation seeps in.

“I’m sorry.”

Jake slumps back in the bed, his eyes haunted, hollow, hands falling by his side, fists unfurling as he throws his head back against the pillow, allowing his eyes to stare up at the ceiling, expression blank and unfeeling although his mind is spinning. Dead?

-

“Mike, you wanted to see me?” You ask as you step into the office of Michael Anderson, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and also your boss.

“Got an assignment for you,” he beckons you in, while tossing a file, which he produces from the top drawer of his desk, onto the opposite side of his table. You slip into a chair, not picking up the manila folder, waiting instead for him to explain.

“Request from the DOD via the DOJ came in this morning,” he pauses to let his words sink in, and you nod in understanding at the acronym, Department of Defense; Department of Justice, “they want someone to help with an inquiry.”

“An inquiry?”

“An inquiry into an incident that happened with the Navy a while back. Mission gone wrong, three dead, only one made it back alive.” Mike summarises for you, picking out only the bare, but salient facts.

“Let me guess,” you say, finally picking up the folder in front of you, flicking open the cover, “suspected foul play because the only one that made it back alive was the mission leader, or the one that made it back was the one who gave the command that resulted in the deaths?” You ask, without missing a beat, you had previously consulted on similar cases, and it was usually the way they went; the factual pattern that set off alarm bells at the DOD level were typically similar.

“Right,” Mike hums, an indication that your guess was spot on, as he leans back in the chair, “except the Navy has already cleared the Aviator in question, but the DOD is requesting a second pair of eyes.” His response makes you look up from the file, gaze barely having scanned the first page, it was not unheard of, but rare for an inquiry to reach you after the subject had been cleared.

“Something wrong with this guy?”

“Has a reputation for not being team player, which he can’t seem to shake entirely.”

“Mhm. I’ll have Steph put in a request for the Navy inquiry and relevant transcripts, findings, interviews, the works, should be able to get you a written report with findings and a recommendation in a week or two tops,” you shut the file without looking further at the details, ready to take it with you as you depart. Apart from the fact that he had already been cleared once before, which proved mildly unusual, it didn’t seem all to different from the previous cases you had handled.

“They want you down there,” Mike interjects, going straight to the point and not bothering to mince his words, “for six months, shadowing the subject in question, and more generally, to observe and report on the practices of the base and squadron.”

Mike’s gaze holds yours steady, his composure neither cracking nor giving anything away; his trained years as a prosecutor behind him as he watches your face, waiting for tell tale signs of micro expressions as an indication of how you are feeling. You focus on keeping your expression unreadable, despite knowing that Mike sees right through you, observes the equal parts of confusion and irritation which are rising behind your eyes, noting the way your jaw is clenching.

“What about my ongoing cases?” you struggle to keep your tone smooth and even, “I have the market manipulation and insider tradi-”

“You can hand them off to Evans.”

“With all due respect, I’m not handing off of my biggest cases of the year to Evans.” You counter, feelings seeping through, your tone now clearly coloured by a good dose of irritation.

“This isn’t a choice, your name has been submitted and approved by the DOD and DOJ,” he pauses, watching you bristle in your seat, “they want you because of the previous experience you have from looking into those air force cases for them.”

“Mike,” you stare straight at him, not quite knowing what to say, his words washing over you, “it’s not fair,” your tone falters slightly, defeat seeping in.

“It’s good for your career kid,” his tone softens just slightly as he introduces the more familiar term of address into your conversation, “it’s not big and sexy like insider trading or market manipulation, but do this and you earn yourself the credit you want with the DOJ.”

You find yourself chewing down on the inside of your cheek, part in thought, and part to keep your composure from wobbling. As much as you wanted to believe Mike’s words, believed him in fact, because you had worked with him for years, and while the man was an absolute bull dog in the court room, lethal even, he took care of his people, which included you - it was hard, because the easiest way to rise in the ranks, was through the court of public approval and recognition, which as anyone knew, was to get your names on big, landmark cases, both of which the two cases you had been working on for the past one and a half years were.

“I guess I don’t have a choice, do I?” You say somewhat defeatedly to which Mike offers you a small smile while leaning his elbows on the table in front of him; he had recognised your acceptance.

“I wouldn’t set you up for failure.”

“When do I start?”

“You fly out day after tomorrow.”

-

“Can I offer you a glass of champagne?” The flight attendant stops by your seat, a tray with a single flute of champagne balanced on her palm, proffered slightly in your general direction.

“Please,” you nod, offering her a brief smile, and she extends the tray closer to you, allowing you to pick the flute off the tray, your fingers meeting cool glass, “thanks.”

“No problem,” you both exchange polite smiles as she moves away and back to the galley, ready to rustle up another glass of champagne for the next passenger.

You take a sip, the cool drink hitting your lips, tongue, sliding down your throat managing to both cool and burn simultaneously. Your phone vibrates, clattering across the wide arm rest of your seat, and you glance down to meet a familiar name flashing across the screen.

“Hey,” the voice of Nick, your boyfriend, crackles across the line, as you put the phone to your ear, “you on the plane?”

“Yeah, it’s still boarding,” you take another sip from the flute of champagne, phone still pressed to your ear, as you turn your head to look out of the window of the plan, towards a sea of blinking lights, green, orange and red, all flashing against the night.

“Hopefully you manage to get some sleep,” he says, and you hear the rustle of papers in the background.

You hum in response, before adding, “hopefully,” you pause, “are you still at work?” You ask, but knowing full well that he was.

“This deal is killing me,” Nick sighs, “I’m sorry I couldn’t get away to see you off, I’ll come down as soon as we get this closed.” You hear the slight tinge of guilt in his voice; something he had tried to make up for by swinging you an upgrade from the original ticket - coach, which you had been offered.

“It’s fine,” you place the glass of champagne down, and bite down on your bottom lip while sinking back down into the seat. You hear a faint background shuffling, and voices, before Nick speaks again.

“Hey, I got to go, text me when you land?”

“Yeah sure.”

“Text me,” you hear Nick’s voice ring over the phone again, clearly already distracted with whatever required his attention, before you are met with a dial tone. You drop your phone into your lap with a soft sigh, head leaning back against the seat rest, eyes fluttering close. You had been seeing Nick for three years at this point after being introduced by mutual friends who had deemed you both as too busy to meet other people. You had both hit it off upon your initial meeting, finding a respite in each other with your matching busy schedules, him in finance, and you with the DOJ. You had a similar enough scope at work to have enough to talk about, and a similar type of lifestyle - work led. Being with Nick, as you had found, worked for you; it was both easy and convenient - akin to having a fuss free, independent companion; someone to take to events, have breakfast, lunches and dinners with, someone to take to bed at night - whether it was to fuck or sleep. It made for a comfortable, non-demanding and easily maintainable relationship - exactly the type you could handle, and needed.

“Good evening ladies and gentleman, this is your captain speaking…” the announcement comes out over the passenger system, and you reach under the nook of the seat in front of you to pull out the folder from your open bag. Life had been manic since Mike had handed you the folder, packing, tying up your open cases, handing them over to the respective persons with instructions - it all hadn’t give you time to breathe, let alone flick open the case which you had been saddled with for the next six months. You turn the page, skimming the first, which told you nothing much, before your fingers flip to the second. Your gaze drops, from the top of the page, down to a black and white image printed on the top right - you take in the man staring straight back at you, a frown on. His jaw square, eyes piercing through your soul, despite it only being a printed image of him on paper. Your brain registers the recognition the instant his photo comes into view, but recognition hits like a truck the second your eyes flicker towards the printed name - Lieutenant Jake Seresin. You blink once, twice, hand coming up to rub your eyes, as if the words on paper would shift to rearrange themselves.

“Fuck,” you say, subconsciously, the single word falling from your lips, clearly and audibly.

“Everything alright?” The same air stewardess stops in mid step beside your seat, mild concern tinging her voice.

“Fine, thanks,” you say, somewhat meekly, forcing your lips into a weak smile. She smiles back, reassuringly, albeit seeming slightly unconvinced before walking away as your mind races back to college.

+++

“Fifty bucks if you manage to fuck her by the end of the night,” you overhear a voice, followed by a series of loud snickers ring out from the kitchen at the end of the hallway. The words are almost barely audible amidst the muffled thrum of music and voices coming from the hall behind you.

“Easiest fifty I’ll ever make,” you step forward, ears straining when you hear the familiar voice of Jake Seresin, the almost blonde with the piercing green eyes you had been talking to, canoodling with even, earlier.

“Fuckin’ Seresin,” an unfamiliar voice calls out, and the group in the kitchen erupts in a drunken cheer, “just imagine her pretty little face begging for more,” the final shout of a sentence earns a series of catcalls from the group as you feel humiliation prickle along the back of your neck, making your hairs stand.

You hear footsteps, indicating the group’s move to shuffle out, and you duck into the bathroom you had been looking for, locking the door behind you and pressing your back against the wooden surface, your chest heaving up and down in a mixture of shock, disappointment, anger and self-pity.

-

“Hey beautiful, where did you go?” You hear a voice in your ear, a hand slip itself to rest on the curve of your waist. You stiffen instantly, before taking a step forward and out of his grasp while whipping around to meet confused green eyes.

“Fuck off,” you snap, your voice and demeanour a stark contrast to that of a mere twenty minutes ago.

“Whoa, whoa, hey, what happened?” You see Jake’s hand move forward as he attempts to reach you again and you pull your arm close to your body, evading his reach.

“I said, fuck, off, Seresin,” you growl, squaring yourself to face him, “can’t understand english you Neanderthal?”

“Well what got your panties in a bunch?” He raises a brow, his tone surprised, but his hand making another attempt to reach forward for your arm.

“I said,” you twist your arm away just as his fingertips graze your skin, “fuck off,” you pause taking a step back “I’m serious.”

You see his brow furrow, and he tries to take a step forward again. Jake opens his mouth to speak at the same time, and you pull your hand back with the courage of being mildly inebriated from cheap beer and vodka swimming inside of you, winding your arm like a spring, before letting it fly forward to connect with the side of his jaw.

+++

You shake your head, emptying your mind free of the thoughts while staring back down at the picture on paper staring right back at you.

-

“You’re giving me a fucking babysitter?” Jake spits out in disbelief as his eyes meet those of the three men, Rear Admiral Jones, Vice Admiral Flanagan, and Admiral Cain sitting across from him, the width of the table in the long meeting room suddenly seeming further than it actually was.

“Not a babysitter, Lieutenant.”

“The Navy cleared me,” Jake pauses, putting force behind his next words, “I’m cleared.” His jaw clenches.

“Think of it as more of a shadow Lieutenant, someone to affirm our decision.”

“To make sure it sticks.”

“It’ll be beneficial for you in the long run if you intend to climb up the ranks Lieutenant, ensure that no one can drag anything out from your past to hinder you.”

Jake keeps his jaw clench, molars pressed together as if his life depended on it, while letting the words wash over him. Frankly, he saw their point, but it didn’t make what they were telling him any easier. The past few months since the failed mission had been a downright nightmare for him. His body had withstood the ejection, miraculously, resulting only in a series of superficial wounds which had long healed, but the same could not be said for his mind and reputation - the nightmares that he hadn’t told anyone about, which woke him up night after night in cold sweat, and while Jake understood and accepted the need for the constant rehashing of the mission and the events that had played out, together with the questioning by various officers and staff in the Navy, it didn’t hurt his heart and mind less, and certainly did no favours for his reputation among his peers, despite him having been cleared of wrongdoing - people talked, and people talked more about disasters.

“She’ll be shadowing you, and observing the practices of the Navy at large over the next 6 months,” Vice Admiral Flanagan takes Jake’s silence as an opportunity to speak , “both you and various others, ourselves included, will be expected to sit down with her for a series of interviews. The DOD expects our, and more notably, your full co-operation.”

“Just so we are clear, what do we mean by shadow?” Jake grits out, knowing already that he would not like the answer.

“Everything you do, she observes; everywhere you go, she goes; you get deployed, she deploys with you.”

“You’re pinning a liability on me,” Jake’s voice rises as he shoots up onto his feet, his boots slamming against the floor, the backs of his knees pushing the chair back, “deploys with me? If she even Navy trained? Air trained?”

“Arrangements have been made for her to undergo the necessary basic training during her time with us.”

“She’s not then,” Jake scoffs, shaking his head, a bitter bark of laughter falling from his lips, “this is some fucking bullshit.” He circles around the chair, intending to leave the room.

“Lieutenant, you have not been dismissed,” the voice of Vice Admiral Flanagan cuts through the air, causing Jake to freeze for a second, “your,” a pause, as he attempts to find the right word, “shadow, will be arriving shortly. We think it best you meet her upon her arrival.”

“And give up my last few minutes of freedom for the next six months?” Jake scoffs, “no thanks.” He picks the back of the chair up, slamming it angrily back and in under the table with a loud clash; it is bordering on insubordination and Jake knows, but he doesn’t care, couldn’t care, in the moment.

“Should I go out and come in five minutes later then?” A voice, female, cuts in, the tone sarcastic, but the words ringing clearly across the room and Jake looks up.

-

Your name, a single word, drops from Jake’s mouth, as you find green eyes locked onto yours, widening in genuine surprise as Jake’s jaw slackens. The brows of the three men behind raise similarly, but less so, in surprise at the familiarity from Jake’s mouth; they don’t however make any further mention or raise questions, not wanting to engage in the unfamiliar any further. You allow yourself to take all of him in, his hair, a brown so light that it is almost blonde, a square jaw, broad body, decked in the khaki’s of the Navy, a white undershirt peeking out, his chest candy proudly on display, showing the world that he is decorated, one of the best of his generation in fact - as you gathered from your perusal of his file. He is older than the last time you had seen him, whether in real life, or through a mutual college friend’s social media post, but he is still, undeniably, as devastatingly handsome as he had been in college.

“Lieutenant,” you say, firm, business like as you stand your ground, refusing to use his name, “shall I come back in five minutes? You sound like you need more time to adjust.” You say, raising a brow slightly, your tone dismissive, tinged with slight disapproval - by design - as you watch Jake’s eyes take their turn to flicker over you, heels, slacks, a top, a jacket draped over your shoulders, and a bag hanging from the crook of your arm - a reminder to everyone that you were here for business. You had left your larger bag outside with the reception to the main building; no point dragging it with you.

“That’s fine, come in, Lieutenant Seresin has adjusted,” the voice of Admiral Cain rings out, cool, imposing, and you see Jake stiffen back up, his shoulders squaring, chest puffing up and fists clenching, the Admiral’s words making it clear that adjusting was not an option, but rather an order. You step in, walking up to the table to stand beside Jake, both of you facing the three seated officers. You place your bag down on the table, making quick work of introducing yourself, first name, last, position, department and who you work for, pausing to allow them to take it all in. You hold the gaze of the three men, while feeling Jake’s gaze fixed on you from the side. It is a well rehearsed speech for you by now after spending a good time with the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York; something you have learnt to deliver with detachment and a lack of feeling, your tone robotic almost.

“I am instructed that everyone has been briefed on my role,” confirmation of nods in front of you makes you tip your head in return as you maintain the cool professionalism, rattling off a spiel you had used many times before, albeit in a different instance and scenario, “well with that out of the way, let me assure you gentlemen that I am here to assist, both the DOJ, the DOD and the Navy, with presenting the facts as they are. I’ll send around a schedule of interviews which will mainly target the subject, key per-.”

“The subject?” Your head turns to find Jake staring at you incredulously, “that’s what I have been reduced to? The subject”?” He scoffs, an almost snort punctuating the end of his sentence.

“Key personnel, and persons who may be deemed to have insight into the incident at hand,” you continue, picking up from where you left of, your gaze holding Jake’s as you speak, your own mind hyper aware of the little distance between both your faces, with the sides of your arms brushing as you stand side by side, facing the mixed panel of Admirals before you, and faces turned to each other. You turn your head back to face the three before you, suddenly conscious of how you can see the beginnings of stubble on Jake Seresin’s jaw, “I understand the Navy has it’s own schedule for me, so if you could have someone send that over, as well as,” you pause, knowing that your use of the terms would get Jake to bristle once again, “the subject’s schedule, we can mark this six month period as having begun.”

“Someone from my office will send you what you need shortly after this, and you can follow up by circulating your schedule to them,” Vice Admiral Flanagan speaks, to which you nod in thanks, “we’ve arranged for you to live in an apartment on base. It isn’t much, but we trust you will be comfortable.” He ends his sentence by sliding a set of keys across the table towards you.

“Lieutenant Seresin will show you there, he has the one beside you.”

“What?” You hear a growl from Jake, “isn’t Hammer in the apartment beside me?”

“We’ve shifted him,” is the response, short, to the point, which Jake receives, and you can almost feel the irritation and anger radiating off him; you were disrupting his life as he knew it.

-

The sound of your heels clicking against the smooth, polished floors, interspersed with the thud of Jake’s boots echos between you both as you stride out of the meeting room and down the hallway towards the door at the end.

“So,” Jake lets your name roll around his tongue before he picks up the conversation again, “Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York huh?” Jake starts, as you both walk forward. The shift in the corner of your eye tells you that he looks to you as he drops his words. You aren’t certain of his motive, if it was simply to make conversation, out of boredom, or a mind game. His tone is not unkind, mildly conversational but hiding notes of a strain.

You say nothing.

“Done many of these before?” Jake tries again. He was still irritated by the situation, of having to be babysat, shadowed, followed, observed like he was still guilty of something, but seeing a familiar face, no matter how tenuous your relationship in college was, gave him a glimmer of hope.

“Lieutenant,” you finally open your mouth to say, your tone business like, curt, only to be cut off by Jake. His body moves first before he speaks, side stepping out from beside you, blocking yours, you both standing chest to chest, Jake’s frame preventing you from moving forward,

“Are you really going to keep pretending you don’t know me?” Jake’s tone changes as he searches your eyes, blank, guarded, emotionless, not letting anything away. His irritation is now clear from his tone, and he steps forward, forcing you to take steps back until your back is pressed against the left wall that flanks the hallway.

“That fact is irrelevant Lieutenant,” you say simply, cooly, your eyes holding the greens that are boring into yours as your back connects with cement.

“We know each other from college,” Jake speaks, and you can’t help think about how you can smell the faint scent of shower gel, mint, coming from him. Your eyes flicker from his eyes, to his chest as he takes another inch closer to you.

“We were in the same year,” you counter, “that doesn’t make us well acquainted.”

“I would argue we are in fact very well acquainted,” you see his brow quirk up, eyes flash, his mind, like yours, clearly racing back to college, where you had spent every single year, competing with each other for best in class, in year, even - tearing at each others throats, engaged in an unspoken, but widely known competition among your peers to be better than the other, to be the best. You had both ended up graduating with the same class of honours, the exact same GPA down to a T, and with him shipping off to the Navy, and you to law school, your competition had ended in a draw. Jake brings a hand up, his palm coming a flat rest against the wall behind you beside your head, the top half of his body leaning in so that his face is close enough to yours; it makes you clench a fist by your side, your toes curling in your heels, “wouldn’t you?”

There is a crackle of something close to electricity between you both and you let your gaze drop to Jake’s lips, momentarily, because of the distance or lack thereof.

“I wouldn’t,” you manage to get the words while pressing yourself even more back into the wall, despite there being no space else to sink further back into, “you’re in my space Lieutenant.”

“Like how you’ll be in mine for the next six months?” Jake doesn’t budge.

“I didn’t ask for this,” your voice snaps, demeanour breaking, “I would very much rather be anywhere but here,” a pause, before you add for good measure, “I have better things to do than to watch you for the DOD, Seresin.” The use of his last name, and not rank, makes you blink, once, twice, his eyes staring at your face, as if they were finally seeing you, and not just looking at you, after so many years. Jake opens his mouth to speak, but closes it again as you seem him struggle with his words, a type of distraught and helplessness that you cannot place, mixed into his features. It vanishes however, as fast as it had appeared, and he pushes himself off the wall, as you hear mild chatter approaching from the door which you both had come from. You scramble to push yourself back into a stand, as you click your way back into stride alongside Jake, both of you continuing your stride to the exit.

“If it wasn’t clear, I’m as unenthused about this as you are.”

“That much is clear,” you say, resisting the urge to roll your eyes.

“Stay out of my way, and I’ll stay out of yours.” Jake drawls, managing to be somewhat condescending, and you grit your teeth.

“Leave me to do my job, and I’ll leave you to do yours.”

-

“Stairs only?” You stand at the foot of the flight of stairs in the apartment block, off the side of the base, your single suitcase beside you, handles of your handbag dangling from your fingertips.

“Stairs only.” Jake confirms from behind you, his arms crossed over his chest, expression clearly amused as he takes you in from behind, eyes darting between your heels and the full sized luggage beside you. He watches as your eyes do a similar dance, glancing from your suitcase to your shoes, and then to the flight of stairs.

“We are on the fourth floor?”

“That’s right darlin,” Jake says, his tone a tad too pleased, feet wide, waiting for you to ask for help. Your head snaps back to look at him with a glare, and you can feel the smugness rolling off him in waves.

You clear your throat, while maneuvering your suitcase to a side, before pushing the extended handle of your suitcase back in.

“Go on then,” you tilt your chin up towards the stairs, and it makes Jake glance towards your suitcase and back at you.

“Leaving that here?”

“I’ll get it up later,” you say dismissively, fully intending to shed your shoes, jacket, roll of your slacks and tie up your hair before coming back down to shift your bags up yourself. Ask Jake Seresin for help - over your dead body.

“If you say so, trouble,” Jake snorts, his nickname for you from college, not passing you without notice, before he takes the steps up. It wasn’t one that liked, something you were sure Jake had given to you entirely in spite, due to your competition of academic powerless making him have to work harder to get what he wanted, to be the best, to beat you.

“4B, this is you,” Jake points towards the door you both have stopped in front of, “need a tour?”

“I got it, thanks,” you say while pulling the keys you had received earlier from your pocket, before sliding it into the lock. You turn the keys and the door opens with a push and a click. You see Jake, from the corner of your eye, opening his mouth as if to speak, before closing it again with a shrug and turn of his heel as he heads towards his own door a few steps away.

“I’m sure you do trouble,” you hear Jake’s voice call out as you step into the apartment and close the door behind you with a thud before turning the lock. You turn to survey the landscape, it isn’t much, basic, a small two seater sofa, worn coffee table, an open kitchen with an island separating the living area, two bar stools flanking the island, and a small nook of a hallway which leads to a bathroom with a shower stall an bedroom with a super single sized bed. You find yourself breathing out as you dump your bag on the floor, before toeing off your heels, luxuriating in the feel of flat ground beneath your feet. The apartment, was simple, basic, but nothing that you had an issue with. It was, in any case, far better than the barracks which you had anticipated yourself being slotted into.

-

You curse, loudly, as you extend a finger under the running spray of water emitting from the shower head. It had been five minutes of you standing stark naked, outside the small shower stall, waiting for the water to warm but to no avail. You had already checked, twice, that the shower knob was turned in the direction labelled with a “H”, even gone as far as to crank the knob towards the maximum it would go, but it had only proved to be a failed endeavour.

You are sweaty from hauling your suitcase up the four flights of stairs, your soles dusty from doing it barefoot, and your skin feeling slightly sticky and run down from the flight and drive to Lemoore. A shower was exactly what you needed, but having to dash in and out of a cold shower was hardly what you wanted. You sigh loudly, the sound echoing off the walls of the small, but empty bathroom, your hands fiddling with the knob again, before you throw them up in a mixture of frustration and defeat. The last thing you wanted was to have to ask Jake Seresin for help, but you were tired, irritated and exhausted, and the last thing you wanted today, after a harrowing few days of ‘pack up, drop everything and leave’, to have to do was douse yourself in ice cold water in an unsatisfying, and potentially un-thorough shower.

-

Jake hears the faint rap of knuckles against his apartment door as he steps out of the shower. He pauses, waiting for a few seconds before it sounds out again.

“Coming,” he yells, while grabbing his towel, drying his body off quickly, before twisting the material around his waist, tucking the ends secure into a fold by his waist. He picks his way out of the bathroom, across the small living room, before pulling open the door just as knuckles rap against the surface again, to find you, hand raised, a faded, oversized shirt from law school hanging over your body, falling slightly past mid thigh. Jake lets his gaze dip towards the end of your shirt, his mind wandering to the question of if you were actually wearing any shorts beneath.

“The shower,” your voice breaks through to his thoughts, and he watches your knees shift towards each other, as you squirm, well aware of his gaze on your skin, “it’s only cold water.” Jake’s gaze snaps back up to your face, just in time to notice that despite your squirming due to his gaze on you, your own eyes trail up from the dip of the towel on his waist, across his abs and chest. He allows a smirk to grow on his face, as he watches you take a step back, your demeanour affected by a slight fluster.

“Ah yes, it’s a finicky one, Hammer’s shower,” he leans against the door frame, arms folded across his chest, body flexing to make his abs pop as you narrow your eyes at him, fighting the urge to look below his neck. He had, after all, offered you a tour of the apartment which you had rejected, and he had let you.

“How do I get hot water?” He sees your stance begin to mirror a less relaxed version of his own as you cross your arms across your own chest, stance wide, the movement, which makes them hem of your shirt ride up slightly, revealing an inch more of flesh.

“Knob needs to be at an exact angle.”

“What?” Your response is quick, but incredulous and slightly confused, much to Jake’s pleasure, “what angle?”

“67 degrees right darlin,” Jake drawls out lazily.

“67 degrees?” Your mutter hits Jake’s ears, clearly astounded by the ridiculousness of it all, “you got to be fucking kidding me.”

Your appearance and reaction, a stark contrast to the one you had presented earlier in the conference room makes a loud bark of laughter fall from Jake’s lips.

“Guess you shouldn’t have turned down my tour huh, trouble?” He asks you, while raising a hand to card through his damp hair, sending droplets of water flying in your direction, causing you to scowl and take a step back. Jake leans his body forward, placing himself close enough to you that you can see the small bead of water sliding down the side of his nose, “but if you beg me now,” he pauses, letting himself take in your features, scrubbed of make up from your earlier appearance, closer to the person he had remembered from college, “I might extend the offer again”.

“Over my dead body,” you hiss, taking a step back to moke your way back to your apartment. You turn your body, your heel pivoting, when you feel a large hand land on your shoulder.

“Alright darlin, don’t need to get yourself twisted, I’ll show you,” Jake drawls, as he feels you lift your shoulder in a shrug with a force, shaking his hand off. He sees you open your mouth, only for you to press your lips together again, drawing your hands tight across your body, stepping towards a side, giving him a wide berth while cocking your head towards your open apartment door.

“Go on.”

“With pleasure,” Jake pushes himself off the door frame, sauntering towards the door, his body brushing against yours along the way.

-

“There, 67 degrees,” Jake twists the knob, pointing to two small etched markings on the wall, “between these two lines on the wall.”

“Great” you mutter, moving away from the shower stall, leaning sideways against the door of the bathroom, allowing Jake a wide berth to make his exit. He steps out, standing to face you front to front, causing you to be hype aware of his bare skin and towel.

“Well go on, give it a whirl,” he tilts his head towards the shower stall.

“I got it,” you say, “you can leave now.”

“You sure about that, trouble?” Jake asks, “the last time you said that caused us to end up here,” he puts two fingers the the bottom of his face, rubbing his jaw in mock thoughtfulness, “I’m not sure you actually know how to operate a shower.”

“I’m good.”

“Still think you should give it a go,” Jake says again.

“Oh, fuck off Seresin,” you take in the smug smirk tilting up a corner of his lip, unable to contain your eye roll; it had been a long day, and if your gut and the feel of the day at Lemoore was anything to go by, the beginnings of a long six months. You had a quick flick through the schedule Vice Admiral Flanagan’s office had sent across to you after you had managed to haul your bags up, to find that you had been scheduled for basic Navy and Air training, something which Mike had warned you about before you had left with a few throwaway lines in your conversation, letting you know that it was meant as a means both for you to observe the conduct of such proceedings, but also to keep you safe during your stint with them; but you had expected one or two classes, for show, not the gruelling physical schedule you were slotted into. You had grabbed a sandwich on your way out from the airport, and all you wanted to do now, was to shower and get some much needed shut eye.

“Still as mouthy as ever, trouble.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“What would you rather me call you, trouble?” Jake asks, not letting go of the nickname.

“Nothing,” you snap, “what happened to stay out of my way and I’ll stay out of yours?” You ask, quoting his earlier words.

“Might as well make you my new source of entertainment,” Jake muses, “just like in college - things were getting a bit boring around here.”

“Get the fuck out of my apartment Seresin,” you try again, your tone much sharper this time around. It wasn’t professional by any means, given the circumstance that had thrown you both together and each of your roles in the balance, but Jake Seresin, as you had come to learn a long ago, had both the tendency and ability to push your buttons in the worst way.

“Catty aren’t we?” Jake’s grin is wide, as he leans forward to brush a single fingertip beneath your chin, pulling away as fast as he had leaned it. Your brain freezes for a second at the contact, and gesture. His touch had been brief, but the contact felt like fire. Jake turns, before you can get another word out, hand raised and up in a farewell as he strides out of your bathroom, almost strutting his way for the door. You turn to watch the slight ripple and flex in his back muscle as he lowers his hand. The man got on your last nerve and you hated him for it, but god did he have a nice physique. He pauses, standing in the middle of your small, but bare living room, glancing down at the bra lying ontop of your open suitcase, which you had taken off and discarded a moment ago. He turns his head slightly to look back at you, allowing you to catch the glint in his eyes.

“Small tip,” he says conversationally, “you might not want to walk around this place without a bra. It’s a nice sight, I assure you, but you might not like the attention it will bring.”

His words cause you to slouch your shoulders forward involuntarily in attempt to cause your shirt to billow out further in front of you, your face heating at the unwanted attention from Jake Seresin as you swear loudly after him, to which he chuckles, before stepping out of your apartent, shutting the door behind him.

Fuck Jake Seresin.

>>> PART 2

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[bellaireland1981]

Stubborn Hearts | Promotions and Proposals

Summary:  Part of the Stubborn Hearts Universe! Bradley Is up for a promotion...as are the rest of the Daggers! Life is going really well for Bradley and Sunshine... with the promotion at work, he decides it is time for their relationship status to be promoted as well. 

Characters: Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw x Mitchell! Reader, Jake “Hangman” Seresin x Mitchell! Reader (Platonic), OC Shay Benjamin, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, Penny Benjamin, Dagger Squad

Warnings: FLUFF, SMUT! (P in V) -- let me know if I missed anything! 

Word Count: 9176-- ooops. I have zero chill!

A/N: I do not give permission for my work to be copied or posted on other platforms. All OC’s belong to me but I do NOT own Top Gun Maverick characters. Reblogs and comments ALWAYS welcomed!  THANK YOU as always to @waywardodysseys​ for letting me bounce ideas and for reading and editing for me!!  

****************************************************************

“Sunshine!” Bradley called, coming into the house. He dropped his flight bag by the door, bending over to untie his boots, toeing them off.

“I’m in the kitchen!” You replied, busy with prepping for dinner. You’d called Shay earlier in the day and invited her over to have dinner with Jake, Bradley and you.

“Wow, what’s all this?” He asked, coming up behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist and bending to kiss your neck.

“I wanted to make you and Jake a nice meal. You’ve both been working your tails off the last few weeks.” You replied, turning your face towards him, stealing a kiss. “You deserve a good home cooked dinner.”

“How did I get so damn lucky?” He asked, “I love you so much, Sunshine.”

“I love you too, Roo.” You smiled, “I would argue that I’m the lucky one! How was work today, Stud?”

“It was really good.” he chuckled at the term of endearment. “Amazing,actually. Mav had Jake and I run some maneuvers in the morning and then Phoenix and I were assigned to a group of Top Gun recruits to instruct.”

“Bradley, that’s awesome!” You replied, happy for him. You knew he’d been looking forward to getting to instruct at Top Gun. “You’re going to make a fantastic instructor. You and Nix are a great team.”

“Thank you, Sunshine.” He said, standing up and pulling a letter from his back pocket. “I also got this today.”

He held the paper out to you. Seeing the smile on his face you knew it wasn’t bad news. You quickly wiped your hands off on the towel in front of you and took the paper from him, opening it to read the contents. It was a formal invitation to a promotion ceremony to be held later in the month. Bradley was being promoted to Lieutenant Commander.

“BRADLEY!” You exclaimed, “Oh my God, I am so fucking proud of you! This is fantastic!”

You threw your arms around his neck, pulling him into a tight embrace. He laughed as his arms wound around your waist, holding you firmly to him. After a moment you pulled back and captured his lips, kissing him fiercely.

“Will you pin on my new rank pin at the ceremony?” Bradley asked, looking a litlte unsure.

“Roo, of course I will!” You replied, “I’d fight anyone that tried to stop me.”

“Thank you, Baby.” He answered, “I’m actually looking forward to being promoted this time… I get to share it with you. I’ve never actually had anyone to ask to pin me before. It’s always just been the commanding officer of wherever I was at the time.”

“I will forever be by your side, cheering you on and celebrating your achievements, Roo.” You promised, “You’ll never not have someone at a promotion ceremony ever again.”

“I love you so fucking much, Sunshine.” He said, his voice husky with emotion.

“I love you too, Bradley.” You replied. “Go ahead and get cleaned up and changed. I’ve got to get dinner in the oven. Shay will be coming over soon and Jake should be getting home shortly.”

With another kiss, Bradley made his way upstairs to shower and change.

You finished chopping vegetables and quartering the tiny potatoes before seasoning everything and placing it on a sheet pan. While the oven preheated you pulled out the meat from the fridge and seasoned it. You’d decided to do a glazed pork tenderloin with roasted vegetables and potatoes for dinner. You needed to sear the tenderloin before placing it on the pan with the vegetables.

You pulled out a pan and placed it on the stove, turning on the burner and adding butter to the pan. You were seasoning the tenderloin when Jake arrived home.

“Hey, Sweets!” Jake said, entering the kitchen and heading to the fridge. He grabbed a bottle of water out and stood next to you, his hip leaning on the counter. “That looks good.”

“Hopefuly you will think it tastes good too!” You laughed, “How was work? Bradley said you were in the air this morning.”

“Yup. Pops Mav had us working through some maneuvers.” He replied, using his new favorite nickname for Mav. You  knew it made your dad crazy. “I’ll also be doing some instructing with Coyote.”

“Jakey, that’s awesome!” You exclaimed, “You’re going to be fantastic! A little brave of the Navy to put you and Coyote TOGETHER…”

“We’re the dream team, Sweets!” he laughed. “I also got some other good news today…”

“Does it involve a ceremony and a new title?” You asked, smirking.

“I take it our Chicken friend got a similar letter?” He laughed, “It does indeed involve a shiny new pin and rank.”

“I’m so proud of you, Jake.” You told him, beaming, “You deserve this. You’ve earned it. I will be there cheering so loudly for you.”

“It’s a different kind of feeling this time.” He confided in you, “I’ve never really had anyone that cared enough to make a big deal or to say they’re proud of me… mostly I just hear my dad telling me I should have moved up ranks sooner, or I’m still not good enough.”

“I swear, Jakey the more I learn about your family the more it makes me want to drive to Texas and bust their damn heads.” You grumped, “You DO deserve this. YOU are enough, Jake. You’re a damn good pilot. You’re a damn good FRIEND. And you’re killin’ it as a big brother.” You turned to the sink, quickly washing your hands and drying them before pulling Jake into a tight embrace. “I love you Jake Seresin.”

“I love you too, Sweets.” He said, wrapping his arms around you, hugging you back with all that he had. “Thank you.”

“We’re family, remember?” You replied, “This is what we do. Loving you is easy Jake.”

“You’re easy to love too, Sweets.” He said. “Do you need me to help with anything?”

“Nope. I’ve got it covered.” You answered, “Go hit the showers and change.”

“Yes, Ma’am!” He said, dropping a kiss on top of your head before heading out of the kitchen.

You finished getting the meat seared and put in the oven before wiping the counters down. Bradley came in as you were finishing cleaning everything up.

“Come here, Sunshine.” He said, tugging until you were close to him. He cradled your face in his hands, tipping your head and leaning down to angle his lips over your own. You smiled against his lips, wrapping your arms around his waist and returning his kiss. His tongue snaked out, licking over your lower lip. You opened, allowing him entrance, which he immediately took advantage of, deepening the kiss.

The doorbell rang, announcing Shay’s arrival. Bradley groaned. You giggled, pulling back slightly in his embrace.  

“To be continued later, Stud.” You said, heading to the front door to let Shay in.

“Hey!” You greeted her, “Come on in!”

“Hi!” She replied, “I picked up some wine… after today,  it’s much needed.”

“Oh no! Bad day?” You asked, leading her into the kitchen to get glasses.

“Longest day ever.” She said, “Nobody seemed to want to do their damn job and everyone I dealt with gave me a headache.”

“Any closer to finishing your book so you can ditch the day job?” You asked, knowing she’d be happier just writing.

“Sadly I haven’t had time to write much because of the stupid day job.” She sighed, “I have some vacation time so I’m thinking of  taking  a few days off to just write.”

“That sounds like a  really good idea.” You agreed, “Maybe see if Jake can get a few days off and the two of you can get outta town… you can write a bit…spend time together…”

“That’s actually a great idea.” Shay replied, “I’ll run it by him. Any plans on your two getting away together?”

“That is a fantastic idea, Shay.” Bradley said, coming into the kitchen again, “Sunshine, wanna get away with me after the promotion ceremony later this month? I’m sure I can get leave.”

“I’d love to get away with you, Roo.” You replied, “Time with my favorite Flyboy… I’ll never say ‘no’.”

“Damnit, I’m never making the top of that list!” Jake whines coming into the kitchen. He wraps his arms around Shay, dropping a kiss on her lips. “Hi Darlin’. I missed you today.”

“Hey, Babe.” She replied smiling up at him, “I missed you too. And if it’s any consolation, you’re my favorite flyboy.”

“HA!” He exclaimed, “I’m SHAY’S favorite Flyboy!”

“Wow” You laughed, shaking your head. “There’s still a while until dinner is ready. We can grab drinks and go sit outside on the patio.”

You all grabbed drinks and light appetizers and all headed out to the patio, settling around the table.

“Can you believe we’ve been living here half a year already?” Jake asked, “Time flies when you’re having fun.”

“It has gone fast.” Bradley agreed, “It’s the best time I’ve had in a very long time.”

“It’s been an amazing 6 months.” You said, “And it just keeps getting better!”

“I’ll drink to that!” Shay said.

“And even MORE importantly…” You add, “To the two very deserving and hardworking aviators getting the recognition they have more than earned and ranking up! Soon to be Lieutenant Commander Bradshaw and Lieutenant Commander Seresin, congrats on a job well done!”

“I’ll definitely drink to that!” Shay laughed excitedly, “Congratulations, both of you. Jake, I’m so damn proud of you, Babe”

“Thank you, Darlin’” He replied, a blush creeping up his neck. You decided in that moment your new mission is to make sure that Jake gets used to people complimenting him and making him believe he’s deserving of love and praise. You would undo the damage caused by his family if it took until your dying breath.

“I’ll add a toast to the women who have our backs and put up with our asses,” Bradley added, “We’d be lost without the two of you.”

“I can attest to that!” Jake agreed, “Life flat out sucked before the two of you! The best thing that happened to me was walking into the Hard Deck after getting called back to Top Gun and meeting the two of you. I gained a family. I found the love of my life… and because of the pair of you, I also gained a kickass wingman and best friend.”

“I guess you’re alright.” Bradley teased, then grunted as you kicked him in the shin. “I’m kidding! Hangman you’re one hell of a good friend and I trust you completely as my wingman. I’ll say the best part since coming back to Top Gun was finding my Sunshine again. I have a family again as well…and a bigger one than I ever imagined having.”

“So we are all in agreement.” You said laughing. “I’m excited to see what the next six brings.”

“Same!” Shay agreed.

_________

The next couple of weeks were busy for everyone.  You still made time to get together with everyone at the Hard Deck at least once a week, nobody willing to sacrifice time together.  

The Dagger squad had been kept busy at work with new recruits and teaching them. On top of that, they were flying maneuvers in preparation for a possible upcoming mission. They assured you it wasn’t anywhere near as dangerous as the Uranium mission had been, but missions always involved risks.

You’d been busy, picking up more charters from Frank, spending time with your Aunt and cousins, and on the hunt for the perfect dress for the promotion ceremony. Bradley had told you it’s a formal affair, and he’d be in his dress whites. You couldn’t wait for that.

You and Shay had carved out time to go shopping for dresses and accessories, dragging Penny along for the ride.  They talked you into an extra dress that wasn’t formal enough to wear to the ceremony but convinced you it would be perfect for when you and Bradley went on your getaway.  

That was another thing that had kept you busy. You and Bradley planned a weekend trip up to Big Sur. Neither of you had been there yet so you decided it would be perfect. Bradley had secured a few days off immediately following the promotion ceremony. You had let Frank know you weren’t taking any charters that week either. It was the best part of your job… you never had to ask for time off. You took charters when you wanted to and were able but if you needed time off it was an option.

The day of the promotion arrived. You, Shay and Penny had appointments for early afternoon to get your hair, nails and makeup done. You were excited for Bradley to see the dress you’d picked out, knowing it would drive him absolutely crazy all evening.

“Sunshine, is everything you need in the suitcase so I can load it into the Bronco?” Bradley asked as you were getting ready to go meet the girls. “The plan is still to leave first thing in the morning, right?”

“Yup!” You replied, walking out from the ensuite bathroom to wrap your arms around his waist, your head resting on his back. “I can’t wait to get away together…just the two of us… no distractions.”

“Me too, Beautiful.” He replied, turning around and wrapping his arms around you. He bent his head down connecting your lips with his own, tenderly kissing you. “I’m always ready to have you all to myself.”

“Hold that thought, Stud.” You said, “I have to go meet the girls to get our glam on.”

“Have fun, Sunshine.” He said, “I love you.”

“Love you too, Roo.” You replied, “See you in a few hours.”

Penny had arranged for a light lunch and mimosas for the three of you at the salon and spa. You were able to sip the drinks and snack on the various finger foods while your hair was being styled. You’d opted to have your hair pinned back in a low knot, with some tendrils left out to frame your face, hanging down in loose curls. It was elegant and would look really good with the neckline of your dress. Once your hair was done you moved to getting your manicure and pedicure done before the makeup artist would take over.

“I think we clean up quite nicely,” Penny said once the three of you were all finished, “Let’s get a picture!”

One of the stylists offered to take your picture. Once done, Penny texted the picture to both of you.

“Alright time to get dressed and celebrate our men!” You exclaimed, “I will see you ladies at the hotel!”

When you arrived home, Jake and Bradley were in the living room playing a video game on the couch.

“Shouldn’t you two be getting dressed?” You laughed, “You have a pretty big night ahead of you!”

“Just finishing this game then we’re getting dressed!” Jake said, then looked up to see you sit on the arm of the sofa.  “You look gorgeous, Sweets!”

“Holy Shit, Sunshine.” Bradley said, his eyes drinking you in, “You are absolutely breathtaking.”

“Thank you.” You smiled, “Wait until you see the completed look! And Jake… you’re going to need to remember to breathe when you see Shay.”

“Thanks for the heads up, Sweets.” He beamed, “I can’t wait to see my girl.”

“I’m going to go get my dress on. I might need help with the zipper, Roo.” You said.

“I’m right behind you, Sunshine.” He said, setting the controller down and getting up to follow you to the bedroom.

“No funny business you two!” Jake called after you, “We don’t have time for all that!”

You and Bradley laughed in response.

“I’m going to hop in the shower really quickly before getting dressed” Bradley said, “I will zip you up when I get out.”

“Sounds like a plan, Flyboy” You said, softly slapping his ass as he walked by. He laughed, shaking his head at you.

Once he was in the shower, you stripped out of your clothes, pulling on the new matching black lacy bra and panty set  you’d bought for the occasion.   Because the dress was off the shoulder you needed a strapless bra. You decided to slip on your jewelry first before putting the dress on. Instead of getting a fancy necklace, you decided you’d wear your sunshine pendant, pairing it with emerald stud earrings and an emerald tennis bracelet.  You applied lotion to your legs and arms then sprayed a small amount of perfume on before pulling the dress out the garment bag in your closet and slipping it on. You were able to get the zipper up most of the way but would need Bradley to finish zipping it.

While you waited for him to finish in the shower, you grabbed his dress whites from the closet and carefully laid them on the bed for him.

The door to the bathroom opened up, steam billowing out from his hot shower. Bradley walked into the bedroom with only a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair wet, causing his curls to be more defined. He stopped dead in his tracks when he caught sight of you.

“Holy Shit, Sunshine.” He said, his voice gravelly, “You look so fucking beautiful.”

“Thank you,” You smiled widely, winking “You’re looking pretty sexy yourself, Stud. Can you finish zipping me?”

He smirked, walking over. Once he stood next to you, your back to him, he ran his hands softly up over your bare arms and to your shoulders before moving down over your back to the zipper. A shiver of arousal swept your whole body at his touch. His hands lingered on you after the zipper was up, dipping his head down to leave delicate kisses on your shoulder, moving up your neck. The man knew what he was doing to you for sure.

“Are you sure we have to go tonight?” He asked, continuing to pepper your other shoulder with kisses, “I can fake an illness and they can just give me my new rank pin when I’m back at work…”

“Absolutely not!” You exclaimed, turning around and wrapping your arms around his neck, “We are going so I can be there to pin you and cheer obnoxiously loud for you and Jakey. This is a big night for both of you and you’re not missing it!”

“Fine…” he pouted playfully, “But I am not promising to keep my hands off of you… this velvet dress is sexy as hell…”

“I never complain about having your hands on me, Roo.” You said, batting your eyelashes at him. “I’ll even let you get me out of the dress when we get home.”

“I look forward to that, Sunshine.” He said, dropping a final kiss on your lips before starting to get dressed himself.

“I’ll meet you out in the front room.” You said, “I need to move stuff over into my handbag for the evening.”

“I’ll be down in a minute.” He replied.

You stepped out of the bedroom, carefully making your way to the living room. Jake was sitting on the end of the couch, careful not to wrinkle his uniform. He stood up when you walked in, flashing his signature smile.

“Sweets…” He said, “You look absolutely beautiful.”  

“Thanks Jakey,” You replied, moving around the couch towards him, “You’re looking very handsome in your uniform. Have I mentioned how damn proud of you I am?”

“Once or twice.” He laughed, pulling you into a hug. “It’s nice to hear though.”

“Then I’ll just have to keep saying it!” You replied, “Are you ready for tonight?”

“As ready as I can be.” He replied, “I’m looking forward to celebrating with my people.”

“Your people are excited to celebrate with you.” You said.

“Alright!” Bradley said entering the living room. “Let’s get this party started! You riding with us, Jake?”

“Nope.” He replied, “I’m picking up Shay and will meet you there.”

“Sounds good.” Bradley replied, “Are you ready, Sunshine?”

“Yup!” You answered, “We’ll see you there, Jake! Don’t forget to breathe when you see Shay.”

Bradley and you walked out of the house, his hand on the small of your back as you walked to the Bronco. He helped you into the passenger seat before going around to the driver’s side.

Once you arrived at the hotel, Bradley handed the keys to the valet and helped you out of the Bronco. The two of you walked arm and arm into the hotel. Your dad was standing with Penny at the entrance to the ballroom where the ceremony would be held.

“Hey, Firecracker,” Your dad said pulling you into a hug, “You look beautiful.”

“Thanks, Dad.” You replied, hugging him back. “You’re looking very distinguished in your uniform, Captain Mitchell… soon to be Rear Admiral.”  

“That’s a mind trip.” He replied, laughing.

“Uncle Tommy would be so proud.” You replied.

“My dad would be too.” Bradley added, “Although, he’d probably harass you because it took so long.”

“You’re not wrong, Kid.” Mav said, smiling at Bradley. “Your dad would be beyond proud of you, Rooster. You have no idea. Your mom too… despite not wanting you to follow in your dad’s footsteps, I have no doubt she’s with him looking down on you proud as hell of the man you’ve become… of the pilot you’ve become.”

“She’d be excited as hell that Y/N is here by your side and the both of you finally got your heads of your asses.” Penny added, laughing.

“Thank you, Mav.” Bradley said, hugging him. It still melted your heart to see the two of them getting closer and closer. The last six months had done a lot for their relationship as well. The old hurts were definitely healed. You knew Bradley loved having his godfather back in his life.

“Are we waiting out here for Seresin and Shay?” Penny asked, “I think the rest of the squad is already inside.”

“Yeah, they should be not too far behind us.” You replied.

Not long after, Jake and Shay arrived and you all made your way into the ballroom where the rest of the squad and their dates were waiting. Being permanently stationed in San Diego the past six months had allowed the rest of the squad to start putting roots down as well. You all had really become a family.

The night started with dinner and a few speeches from the higher ranking officers. Once dinner finished, they started the promotions. Everyone on the Dagger team was being promoted. One by one they were called up to the stage with their person to receive their promotion and get pinned. Bradley was called first. He stood, and then took your hand and you walked together up to the stage. He made sure you didn’t trip going up the stairs in your dress.

“The President of the United States, acting upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Navy, has placed special trust and confidence in the patriotism, integrity, and abilities of Lieutenant Bradley Bradshaw. In view of these special qualities he’s demonstrated to serve in the higher grade, Lieutenant Bradshaw is promoted to the grade of Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy, effective immediately, by order of the Secretary of the United States Navy.” Cyclone recited, “Lieutenant Commander Bradshaw, please present for the pinning of your new rank.”

Bradley turned so he was facing you. His eyes were bright and you knew he was doing his best to keep his emotions in check. You smiled brightly at him, your eyes stinging with unshed tears. You accepted the new rank pin from Cyclone and stepped forward, stopping directly in front of Bradley. You carefully took the fabric of his jacket in your hand and pinned his new rank onto his chest, making sure to align it perfectly. Once it was secure on his uniform, you carefully stepped back again. It took all of your willpower not to throw yourself into his arms. You knew there’d be time for that later.

“Congratulations, Bradshaw.” Cyclone said, quietly, before dismissing him. Bradley once again carefully guided you back to the table, the two of you taking your seats once more.

You turned in your seat, leaning in to kiss him, before turning back to watch the rest of the squad get promoted. True to your word, when Jake was called you were one of the loudest cheering him on. He laughed, shaking his head as he made his way to the stage with Shay. You wiped tears, carefully from your face as you watched him be promoted and Shay pin on his new rank. Once he was back at the table you hugged him hard, congratulating him again.

Your dad was last to be promoted and you definitely had to wipe tears away as you watched Penny promote him. You were glad you’d gone with the waterproof mascara.

Once all of the promotions were complete, the rest of the night was for celebrating. There was music playing and an open bar. It wasn’t long before all of the higher ranking officers trickled out, allowing the rest of the officers to relax and let loose a little.

“Dance with me?” Bradley asked, taking the champagne flute from your hands and gently setting it on the table.

“I would love to.” You replied, letting him lead you out to the dance floor. A slower song had just started, and he pulled you into his embrace. His hands resting low on your waist, your own wrapped around his neck.

“You feel so good all wrapped in velvet.” He remarked, “I can’t wait to get you out of it later.”

“Hmm, the velvet is doing it for you, is it Lieutenant Commander Bradshaw?” You asked, smirking knowingly at your boyfriend.

“Holy Shit, Sunshine.”  He groaned, pulling you tighter to his body. You could start to feel the effects you were having on him.

“Down boy.” You laughed, “We’ve got a bit before we can make our getaway. I need you to behave.”

“You’re asking an awful lot of me, Sweetheart.” He whined, “How about we just sneak away and an abandoned closet quickly… we’ll come right back.”

“No dice, Roo.” You laughed, “Patience, Baby.”

“Sorry to interrupt, but I’m stealing my Sweets.” Jake said, cutting in. You  laughed at the look on Bradley’s face, as Jake swept you away from him.

“I’m not really all that sorry.” Jake confided as the two of you danced.

“I figured” You replied laughing, “How are you feelin’ newly promoted Lieutenant Commander Seresin?”

“I’m feelin’ fanFUCKINGtastic, Sweets!” He answered, flashing you a megawatt smile. You loved to see him this happy.

“Happiness looks good on you Jakey.” You told him. “I also love that you’re letting everyone finally see the Jake I love on a regular basis”

“It’s nice to finally have a reason to be happy all the time.” He said, “I’ve got a family I chose…or who chose ME, I’ve got an amazing girl that I love more than I ever thought possible… my career is in a good place… I’m almost afraid I’ll wake up and it was all a dream.”

“Not a chance, Jake.” You promised, “We are all here, we’re real, and we’re not going anywhere. I’ll even let you in on a secret…you’ve worn my dad down… he rolls his eyes, but I see right through him. He likes having you as a surrogate son. He cares about you Jake. You are 100% officially part of the Mitchell family. No take backs.”

“I feel like I won the lottery the day I met you at the Hard Deck, Y/N.” He answered, his voice thick with emotion. “Everything got so much better and brighter that day. I get why Rooster says you’re his sunshine.”

You hugged him tighter as you finished out our dance.

Bradley’s POV

Since Jake decided to steal his girl, he took advantage of the moment and went in search of Mav. He wanted to talk to him before you and he left for Big Sur.

“Hey Mav.” he said, finding him at the bar with Penny. “Can I talk to you a minute?”

“Of course.” He replied, letting Penny know he’d be right back. Penny looked at him and winked, knowing what the conversation was about.

The two walked out of the ballroom, finding a quiet place to talk, away from everyone.

“What’s on your mind, kid?” Mav asked, pretty  much already knowing what was coming.

“Do you remember when we were on the carrier after the mission and I told you I wanted forever with Y/N?” He asked. “I know we’ve only been officially together for six months and under normal circumstances it might be too soon, but we’re not normal… never really have been.”

“You’re not wrong there.” Mav chuckled, “And time is relative, Brad. There’s no playbook.”

“I want to ask Y/N to marry me when we’re up in Big Sur.” He confided, “I’d like your blessing, Mav. I love her more than anything in this world. I know what life without her is like and I never want to live that life again.”

“I would love nothing more than to see the two of you married.” Mav beamed, “I couldn’t imagine anyone else being able to make my little girl as happy as you do, Brad. And I couldn’t ask for a better future son-in-law.”

“Thank you.” Bradley said, his voice thick with unshed tears. Mav hugged him tightly, patting him on the back. “I couldn’t imagine a better future father-in-law.”

Pulling apart, Bradley said, “I have a plan… but I’m going to need some help.”

“Anything you need, we’re happy to make it happen.” Mav said, “Nothing is too over the top for my little girl.”

Your POV

Once you finished your dance with Jake you both went in search of your significant others. You found them both with the rest of the group back at the table. Bradley smiled as you approached and pulled you over until you were sitting perched on his lap, his arms around your waist. He nuzzled his face into you, as you leaned over to drop a kiss on his head.

“What did we miss?” You asked.

“Only Rooster pining over you and pouting because Jake stole you” Phoenix teased.

“Rooster you’re going to have to learn to share.” Jake said.

“Not a chance, Bagman.” Bradley replied, shooting a fake glare Jake’s way. The two had become best friends over the last six months. “You’ve got your own girl.”

“That I do, Rooster.” He agreed, winking at Shay. “The most amazing girl ever and I’m lucky she puts up with my ass.”

“You’re easy to love, Jake.” Shay said, leaning over to kiss his cheek. “You’re not hard to put up with.”

“I love you, Darlin’” He said leaning over to steal a kiss, “Dance with me?”

“Love you too, Cowboy.” She replied, “Lead the way.”

“They are beyond adorable.” You gushed as they walked away to go dance. “I love seeing them so happy.”

“It’s good to see him so settled and happy.” Phoenix admitted, “I like that he’s more Jake and less Hangman.”

“I’ve known Jake since the academy.” Javy said, “He doesn’t let many people in…to get the chance to see past the asshole facade and see the awesome guy beyond… just know that isn’t something he allows to just anyone.”

“He keeps telling me that he feels so lucky to have us and that he still doesn't think he deserves it.” You added, “But really, I think we’re all the lucky ones. Jake would do anything for any one of us at this table. We are his family. That asshole facade as you call it… that’s just his defense mechanism. It’s a learned response.”

“You and Shay were the only ones that saw through him immediately” Javy said, “It knocked him sideways… in a good way.”

“I have to admit he’s become the closest thing I’ve ever had to a brother in the last six months.” Bradley said, “He’s still annoying but in a brotherly, somewhat endearing way”

“He’s my brother first, Bradley.” You said, playfully scowling, “I already claimed him!”

Everyone laughed at you ‘fighting’ over Jake.

Not long after the group all trickled out of the ballroom, ready to call it a night. Jake had let you both know he was staying at Shay’s so not to expect him home. He hugged you both, telling you he’d see you when you got back and to have a safe trip.  You hugged your dad and Penny before leaving, promising to let them know when you arrived safe and sound in Big Sur.

“Ready to get out of here, Sunshine?” Bradley asked, holding his hand out to you.

“Take me home, Flyboy.” You replied.

____

The second the two of you were through the door, you were on one another, lips locked, tongues dueling for dominance. Bradley’s hands roamed down your back to your ass, palming it and pulling you up and into his hard body. Your arms were around his neck, your fingers lacing into his hair as you continued to kiss him passionately.

“Fuck, I need you Sunshine.” He groaned, his cock straining hard against his pants, desperate to be released.

“Take me to bed. I’m all yours.” You replied against his lips. He lifted you up, the slit in your dress allowing you to wrap your legs around his middle. You felt yourself getting wetter as your core grinded against him with each step he took towards your bedroom.

Once inside the room, Bradley eased you gently down his body, making sure your feet connected with the floor. His arms reached around your back to the zipper on your dress, lowering it. He peeled your dress off of you, allowing it to sink onto the floor once it was past your hips. He stood breathless for a moment, soaking in the sight of you in your lace bra and panty set. His pupils were blown wide in lust, making them darker than normal. You knew your own eyes matched his at the moment.

“As beautiful as you looked in the dress, Sunshine, you look exquisite out of it.” He rasped, his hands moving up over your torso. He let his thumbs brush over your bra; they made contact with your nipples, causing them to pebble even harder than they already were. You moaned at the feel of his hands running over you. Without missing a beat, he moved his hands around your back to unhook your bra, letting it fall to the floor with your dress. Your panties followed immediately after. You were now completely naked in front of him, his eyes still drinking you in.

“You have too many clothes on, Roo.” You whined, the need evident in your voice.

“We can’t have that.” He agreed, “Help me out of my uniform, Baby.”

You smiled up at him under your lashes, happy to oblige him. Your hands started at the top of his uniform jacket unbuttoning them one by one before pushing the jacket off of his shoulders, allowing it to join your clothing on the floor. Next you pulled his undershirt out from his pants, and ran your hands up under it, sliding over his abs, up to his pecs and shoulders. He moaned as you let your nails lightly scrape over this chest before you gathered the shirt in your hands and pulled up. He lifted his arms to help you and ducked down so you could get it over his head. Once it was off, you leaned forward, placing light kisses over his chest and collarbone. You allowed your hands to drift down over his belly to the belt buckle on his pants. You undo the belt and pull it from his pants, dropping it to the floor.

“Fuck, you’re killing me, Sunshine” He gasped, moaning again as your hand cupped him over his pants, applying gentle pressure. His own hands now running over your naked skin, needing to touch you.

You take pity on him, finally unbuttoning his pants and lowering the zipper before pushing them off his hips, along with his boxers. He shimmied out of the pants, until you were both finally naked. No longer able to remain patient, he picked you up and dropped you on the bed, following you down so he was propped up over you.

“Kiss me, Stud.” You teased, widening your legs to make more room for him to settle on you.

Bradley obliged, capturing your lips with his own once more. You wrapped your leg around him, arching up into him, needing friction.

“I need you, Roo.” You begged. “Please…”

“Soon, Baby girl.” He promised. He moved to trail kisses along your jaw to your neck, then down to your collarbone, before moving even further down. His lips and tongue trailing down to your breasts, sucking in one of your nipples. You moaned, arching up to meet him. He let his hand slide down your body, his fingers lightly tracing over your clit causing you to gasp, before sliding a finger through your folds, entering your core.

“Yes… Brad…mmm…so good.” You cooed, squirming to get more friction where you desperately needed it. “Please, Roo… fill me up… I want to feel you inside me.”

“My Sunshine is so needy, huh?” He chuckled, capturing your lips in a heated kiss once more.

Deciding you were ready enough for him to enter, he moved back up and over you, your legs wrapping around him, opening wider for him. His hand snaked down to pump his hard cock a few times before lining himself up and slowly pushing into you.  

“Shit, Sweetheart…” He groaned, “So tight. You feel so damn good.”

“Don’t stop, Roo.” You begged, “Need more…want all of you.”

He pulled back only to thrust forward harder. The force combined with the angle of your hips put him in the perfect position to hit your g-spot. Your fingers were scraping over his back, leaving marks.

“Fuck, yes,” you moaned; your body beginning to succumb to the pleasure you were about to receive.

Bradley leaned down and nipped at your neck, causing you to whimper. Your whole body was set ablaze by his movements. He began to set a steady rhythm, thrusting into you, which was sending you closer and closer to the edge.

“So close…” You murmured, “Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.”

Bradley pressed his mouth against yours and whispered, “Never.” He saw how deep in the throes of pleasure you were. Being wrapped around you and buried deep inside of you made him want to surrender to his own gratification. He grinned, knowing you were his and his alone. “Let go for me, Sunshine.” He rasped, his breathing uneven. “I’m right there with you.”

“Oh, fuck!” You gasped, “Roo, fill me… I want it all.” He moved his hand down between your bodies to rub over your clit, sending you flying over the edge. “Mmmm, fuck…yes,” you panted as your orgasm crashed throughout your body.

“That’s my girl.” He grunted, thrusting harder as you rode out the pleasurable shockwaves. “Holy Shit…. Feels too good… Fuck, Sunshine…”  with one final hard thrust he released, painting your inner walls with his cum.

He collapsed on top of you, aware enough to keep most of his weight off of you so as not to crush you. You held onto him, kissing his shoulder where it rested close to your lips. You stayed locked together while you both tried to regulate your breathing and come down from the high.

Bradley lifted slightly, just enough to look down at your face. A giant smile plastered on his face. You smiled back up at him, running your fingers through his sweaty curls.

“I Love you, Sunshine.” He said, lowering his head to kiss you gently.

“I love you too, Roo.” You replied, kissing him back.

____

The next morning bright and early, the two of you were up and heading out of the house. Your luggage was already in the car the night before so as soon as you’d gotten coffee and breakfast, you were on the road. You’d thought about flying up there, but Bradley made a good point about the drive being worth it.

You made sure to create a road trip playlist on your phone for the two of you with all of your favorite songs from childhood up to current favorites.  Needless to say, it was a vast mix of genres.

Between the two of you belting out songs together and Bradley serenading you, the almost nine hour drive passed quickly. You pulled into the resort, checking in around dinnertime.

“Let’s shower and change and just get dinner at the resort.” Bradley suggested, entering the suite. “After dinner we can explore the resort a little, stretch our legs. Sound ok?”

“It’s perfect.” You replied. “I’m just happy to be able to spend the next few days with you without worrying about work.”

“Just you and me, Sunshine.” He smiled, stealing a kiss.  Then wiggled his eyebrows as he said, “We can be as loud as we want without Jake whining at us.”

“You’re horrible.” You laughed, “You whine when he gets too loud with Shay too.”

“We may need a bigger house, Sunshine.” He said, “Maybe we can get a nice house on base.”

“Maybe in the future, but we can’t get family housing without being married.” You reminded him. “You sir, are single in the eyes of the US Navy.”

“Blasphemy!” He exclaimed, “I am most certainly NOT single! I am in a serious, committed relationship with my SUNSHINE!” He tackled you to the bed, launching a tickle attack.

You squealed in shock, then burst into laughter, trying to squirm away from the attack. “Stop! I surrender!” You cried, “Uncle! Uncle!”

Bradley stopped the tickle attack, rolling over to his side, pulling you with him.

“You’re a menace.” You pouted, trying to get your breath back.

“Yes, but I’m YOUR menace.” He laughed. “There is a zero take back, no exchanges or returns policy, Baby.”

“I suppose that means I am good and stuck with you then, huh?” You teased.

“It absolutely does!” He agreed, pulling you closer and capturing your lips in a sweet, relaxed kiss. “Shower with me?”

“I’m all for water conservation.” You agreed, “I’m starving though, so no funny business.”

“Scout’s honor.” He replied, laughing.

“Roo you were never a Boy Scout.” You said, rolling your eyes.  

“Besides the point.” He declared, rolling off the bed and scooping you up to head to the bathroom.

_____

The next morning you woke up to Bradley already out of bed, opening the suite door to retrieve the breakfast tray he’d ordered through room service.

“Morning, Sunshine” He smiled, bringing the tray to the large California King bed and setting it down on the foot of the bed. “Breakfast in bed for my love. I wasn’t sure what you’d be in the mood for, so I just ordered a mix of several things and we can share.”

“You spoil me, Roo.” You smiled, slowly waking up. “Is that coffee I smell?”

“Of course!” He replied, sliding into bed next to where you were now seated, handing you a cup of steaming coffee. “Just the way you like it too.”

“Hot and strong just like my first love?” You smirked at him.

“I’ve never been compared to coffee before, Sunshine.” He laughed, “I guess I’ll take it?”

“I love you more than coffee.” You promised, “That’s a whole lot.”

“I love you more than flying.” He replied,  leaning over to kiss you.  “Hurry and eat, we’ve got exploring to do today. And I’ve got a surprise for you for dinner tonight.”

After breakfast, you got dressed in hiking clothes, and the two of you set out to explore the area. You hiked several trails surrounding the resort and found your way down to a small cove with a waterfall. You took several pictures, including selfies together throughout the day. You paused to eat a light lunch you’d packed in your backpacks, sitting on a rock down on the beach.  

After eating you kicked your shoes off and walked through the water to your ankles, cooling off from the morning’s hike. Bradley followed, picking you up from behind and spinning you around before setting you back on your feet. He pulled you close, taking your hands and the two of you danced in the surf.

Before it got too late, you slipped your shoes back on picking up your backpacks and made your way back to the resort. Once in your suite you took turns in the shower, washing off the day’s sweat. Bradley had you shower first, saying he needed to call down to make sure your surprise was ready. You kissed him, heading into the bathroom.

You quickly washed your hair before soaping down and running a razor over your legs before rinsing off and hopping out of the shower to dry off and do your hair and makeup. You had the floral dress you’d gotten with Shay and a few other outfit choices that were less dressy. You just needed to get Bradley’s opinion since he knew where the two of you were going. Wrapping yourself in a towel, you stepped out of the bathroom, steam billowing around you.

“Hey Stud.” You smirked, seeing him standing in front of the bed in only his boxers, “I need to know the dress code for the evening. Floral maxi dress, or more casual sundress with jean jacket?”

“So the towel dress isn’t an option?” He asked, standing and letting his eyes wander over you.

“Nope.” You confirmed. “Too risky… one wrong move and I’m getting arrested for public indecency.”

“Fair.” He replied, “Floral maxi dress then. You may want a sweater or the jean jacket though for later. We’ll be outside when the sun sets.”

‘Good to know.” You answered, “Shower is all yours. I’ll get dressed and then do my hair and makeup when you’re done. “

“You can come in while I shower, Sunshine.” He replied, “Not like you haven’t seen it before.”

“Except I can’t do my hair and makeup with fogged up mirrors, Hot Stuff.” You laughed.

“Another valid point.” He acknowledged, smirking. “I’ll hurry.

Forty-Five minutes later, you were both ready. Bradley was wearing dress pants, one of his Dad’s Hawaiian shirts and loafers, and you wearing the floral maxi dress, a sweater in case you got cold and sandals.

“You’re absolutely gorgeous, Sunshine.” He said, pausing to take you all in. “Are you ready?”

“Ready as ever, Roo.” You reply, “Lead the way.”

He took your hand and you walked through the hotel door, leading to a path to the beach.

“Bradley, what’s up your sleeve?” You asked, as he led you away from the hotel restaurant.

“I’m not wearing sleeves, Sunshine.” He replied, cheekily. “Patience my beautiful girl.”

He took your hand, guiding you down a path to the sand. There were rose petals scattered over the sand, leading to a table set for two, complete with a candle in the middle. A server stood ready to serve the meal Bradley had arranged.

“Bradley.” You gasped, smiling warmly at him, “This is absolutely beautiful.”

“I wanted a perfectly romantic dinner with my love.” He shrugged, “Nothing is too good for my Sunshine.”

“You’re so cheesy.” You giggled.  Bradley led you over to the table and helped you into the chair.

The server brought over wine, carefully pouring it into your glasses before bringing over your plates. Bradley had thought of everything. He’d chosen your favorite meal for you, and ordered a steak for himself.

Throughout dinner you noticed he seemed nervous, stealing glances towards the server and the path they’d walked down to get here. He managed to keep conversation flowing, despite his nerves.

Once you’d finished eating, you took a sip of your wine before carefully setting the glass back down on the table.

“Brad” You said softly, pulling his attention back to you, “Are you Ok?”

“Yeah” He said, eyes going wide, “Of course I am. Why?”

“You’re acting weird.” You replied, “Like you’re expecting the boogie man to jump out at you.”

“Why would Bagman be here?” He asked quickly.

“Boogie Man, Roo.” You laughed, “Not Bagman. And I never call him that. I hate when you guys do too.”

“Sorry, Baby.” He replied, sincerely, “I’ll make sure the others stop calling him that.”

“Thank you.” You replied. “I guess I’ve kinda become protective of him…but he’s worth it.”

“I love you, Sunshine.” He answered, “I love that you’re so protective of those you love. You have the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever known.”  He took a deep breath before standing up and coming around the table. He took your hand and pulled you up gently, leading you over away from the table. The sun had sunk further down on the horizon casting an orange glow over the beach. When Bradley stopped, you realized you were in the center of a flower petal heart, with candles flickering in the breeze. The server had been busy while you’d been occupied by dinner.  

You turned to look questioningly at Bradley, only to gasp as you saw he’d sunk down on one knee in front of you. He took your left hand in his own and looked up at you taking a deep breath before starting to speak.

“Sunshine, you’ve been the light in my life for as long as I can remember.” He started, his voice thick with emotion. “I loved you even before I knew what love really was. You’re my best friend, the other half of my soul. I love that you  see the good in people, I love that you call me…and everyone else on their shit, not taking crap from anyone. I love YOU more than I could ever hope to put into words. I want to spend the rest of my life trying to find the words, waking up with you, falling asleep with you and everything in between. I want to raise kids who are firecrackers  just like their momma. I want the whole deal. So here I am, asking…. Will you marry me, Sunshine?”

By this point you have tears falling from your eyes, emotion choking you.

You let out the breath you’d been holding on a sob, smiling and nodding your head.

“Yes” You whispered, swallowing, before pulling into your lungs. “Yes, Bradley! Of course I’ll marry you!”

He leaned in, kissing your hand before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a ring slipping it onto your ring finger. Once in place he stood up and picked you up, your arms around his neck, his around your waist, kissing you soundly as he spun you around. After a moment he set you down, before turning to look behind him.

‘SHE SAID YES!” He yelled, laughing, before turning back to you and kissing you again. You heard excited cheering, whistles and lots of applause from the audience you didn’t know you had. You gasped in surprise looking all around as your family and friends all swarmed the beach, swooping in to congratulate you both.

“SWEETS!” Jake yelled, picking you up and spinning you around. He hugged you tightly, congratulating you. “I love you, Y/N” He whispered, “Thank you for always having my back.”

“I love you too, Jakey.” You replied. “I’m so happy you’re here!”

“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” He answered, releasing you as your dad came up behind you.

You turned, hugging him tightly.

“I’m so happy that you and Bradley are finding your way, Firecracker.” You dad said, unshed tears in his eyes. Bradley was by your side, rubbing your back. “Bradley, your parents would be so damn proud of you, Kid. They’d be as happy to claim Y/N as a daughter as I am to claim you as a son.”

“Thanks, Mav.” Bradley managed to get out past the lump in his throat. The three of you hugged for a moment before you were torn away by the rest of the squad and Penny to congratulate and hug the two of you.

“Y/N!” Shay exclaimed, pulling you into a hug, “Let me see the ring!”

You held your hand out so she could see. It was a simple band with a small diamond solitaire and belonged to Carol. You loved it more than anything else he could have picked out. This one had more meaning to both of you.

“It’s perfect, Y/N! Oh my God I am SO happy for you two!” She gushed, “Jake filled me in on the plan as soon as Bradley texted him. I’ve been absolutely DYING!”

“I have no idea when he organized all of this, I couldn’t be happier!” You explained, “I didn’t know I could be this happy!”

You looked over to see Penny wrapping Bradley into a hug, tears glistening in her eyes. You really hoped your dad would propose to her in the near future too.  

“Come here, Kiddo!” Penny said, stepping over to pull you into a tight hug. “Congratulations, Sweet Girl.”

“Thank you so much Penny.” You replied, hugging her back just as tightly. You whispered in her ear, “Maybe dad will take notes from Brad.”

“One step at a time, Kiddo.” She laughed, pulling back.

“Your Aunt Sarah said you two need to stop by immediately when you get back.” Your dad said, “She wanted to be here but the kids had testing at school this week. She said to tell you she loves you both and that Uncle Ice would approve.”

“He would tell us he told us so in a way only Uncle Tommy could do.” You laughed through tears.

“Yes he would.” Your dad agreed, tears shining in his own eyes.

“It’s time to celebrate!” Coyote yelled, above the chaos. Somehow a speaker was produced and a phone was connected to give you all music. A bonfire was started giving off warmth and light. Not surprising, champagne was produced, and glasses distributed before toasting to the future Mr. and Mrs. Bradshaw.

You and Bradley stood side by side, hand in hand looking around at your group, laughing and having a good time…not a care in the world because you were all together.

“Thank you, Brad.” You said, turning to wrap your arms around his neck.

“For what?” He asked, his arms winding around your waist, pulling you closer.

“For making sure all of our people were here for this.” You answered, “This was perfect.”

“You’re perfect, Sunshine.” He replied, smiling happily “I love you, my soon to be WIFE”

“I love you too, my soon to be HUSBAND.” You said, beaming at him.

A/N- I hope you enjoyed this first one shot from this universe! More to come for these two!!! Let me know your thoughts! 

Taglist: @gracespicybradshaw​ @memoriesat30​, @khaylin27​, @snekssss, @shanimallina87​ @atarmychick007​  @jstarr86​  @marantha​  @taytaylala12​ @theweekndhistorybook​ @happylittlereader​ @hobiismyhopeu​ @krismdavis​ @itsdesiree86​ 

#bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley bradshaw fic #top gun fanfiction #miles teller

[an-unknown-writers-world]

All I Ask

Warnings: Angst – lots of it. Soft Jake Seresin(It should be a warning, right?), terrible writing- first attempt at anything non work related in a loooong time.  

Pairing:  Jake “Hangman” Seresin x Reader

Word Count: 2.5K (Sorry, my angst got carried away)

A/N: Based loosely off the Adele song- All I Ask. No one can convince me that Jake Seresin isn’t a softy behind closed doors.

This is my first attempt at writing anything Top Gun: Maverick –please be gentle.

A knock on your door startled you from your half-conscious state on the couch. Looking at your watch, you noticed it was well after ten pm, too late at night for ordinary visitors. You smiled to yourself, realizing who it would be. Pulling a blanket around your arms, you hurried to the door.

There was another knock before you could open it.

“I’m coming; I’m coming.” You shouted, “Don’t get your panties in a twist.”

Unlocking the deadbolt, you pulled the door open.

“So feisty,” The green-eyed aviator smiled at you from the other side. “You weren’t at The Hard Deck, and I need to talk to you.”

You stepped to the side. “This doesn’t sound good.”

He locked the door behind him; you knew from past habits that this was a signal he’d planned to stay the night. Jake had been in and out of your life since his initial time at Top Gun. You fell in love with him then and never seemed to move on. So, to say you were happy was an understatement of how you felt when he showed up at The Hard Deck a week ago. Nearly every night since he arrived, you’ve spent in his arms.

You knew the day he’d leave for his mission was coming. His job was dangerous- no matter what the mission was- he may not return from it. One thing you knew for sure – your time with Jake would be coming to an end soon.

Jake took you by the hand and led you to the kitchen table. “Do you want me to make you some tea?”

You nodded in response before sitting in your usual seat. He bent down to kiss the top of your head.

Most people know “Hangman,” the cocky, arrogant asshole of an aviator. You were fortunate to know the sweet, gentle, caring, and protective Jake Seresin. For him to offer to make tea, you knew this was going to be a rough night.

Watching him move around your kitchen as if it was his own was a bittersweet reminder of how much time you’d spent together.

“Jake, you’re scaring me.” You spoke barely above a whisper.

“I’ll be right there.” He replied with a reassuring smile.

It wasn’t very reassuring. A hundred scenarios ran through your mind as you waited. You were raised in a military family; you knew the one constant in the military was change; inconsistency was a close second, though.

“You aren’t going to make me wait until that water boils, are you?”

He laughed, exposing his dimples and crinkling the corners of his eyes. “No, ma’am, I’ll be just a second more.”

You hated it when he called you that, not honestly though; you knew he meant it as a term of endearment and respect. He was a southern boy before he was an aviator- respect was in his DNA.

The longer he took, the more dreadful scenarios played through your mind.

When he finally came to sit with you, he sat in the chair at the head of the table. Taking your hand in his, you could tell he was struggling for words, which made your heart sink further into your chest. Jake was known for always having the right words, for better or worse. That was something you either loved or hated about him.

“Jake,” You spoke softly, “whatever it is, you can tell me.”

He smiled at you halfheartedly, “There haven’t been many times in my life that I’ve struggled for the right words. But now,” he hesitated, “this is different.”

You opened your mouth to speak, but the look on his face told you not to.

“I know the last time I left; things didn’t end as well as I had hoped.”

“You mean when you disappeared, and I had to hear from someone else that you had been shipped out.” You tried not to sound bitter.

“Yeah, that,” He grimaced. “I don’t want to do that again.”

You squeezed his hand softly, “You won’t. I already know you are leaving. I’m not going to have to hear it from someone else. You already told me it was a short assignment.”

The expression on his face was becoming harder to read. Seemingly torn between anguish, disappointment, regret, and something else you couldn’t quite read. You tried desperately to reassure him that you wouldn’t hold it against him when he left. But in reality, every fiber of your being wanted him to stay forever.

“I promised you three weeks,” Jake spoke softly. “The Navy seems to have other plans.”

“I’m starting to think the Navy hates me.” You tried to joke. “How soon?”

“We leave tomorrow.”

You let out a deep sigh, feeling like you had just been gut-punched. “That’s okay,” You lied to yourself, “It’ll be okay,” You spoke again, feeling the traitor tear run down your cheek.

Jake reached up, cupping your cheek, using his thumb to wipe away the tear. “I’m sorry,” He whispered.

You closed your eyes, leaning into his touch, covering his hand with your own.

Of all the scenarios you played out in your head, this one- the most logical one- was the scenario you never considered. Leaving early for a deployment. You knew your time with him was limited, but your heart seemed to miss the memo not to get so attached.

“C’mer,” He spoke softly.

His request overrode your body’s desire to stay put. Before you knew it, you were standing in front of him, one of his arms holding you tight to his chest and the other caressing your hair. Your hands splayed out across his back; you found yourself grateful that he couldn’t feel your silent tears through the cotton fabric of his sweatshirt.

“I haven’t said this before, and it honestly seems cruel to say it now, but I have to.” He started; you pulled back to look at him as he spoke. “I love you. I’ve loved you since the first time you beat me in a game of pool back when I first came to Top Gun.”

You couldn’t help but laugh, “You mean when you let me beat you at pool.” You continued to smile up at him through tear-blurred eyes.

Deep down, you’d always known that he loved you. Each time he showed up at The Hard Deck, you knew that your soul would feel complete, even if just for a few days. He’d never let the back-and-forth banter get out of hand, and the way he always protected you. Military men rarely expressed their feelings very well. He may have never said it in so many words, but you always knew.

“I love you too,” You finally spoke after a long pause.

“You sure about that? Seemed like you needed to think about that for a while.” He joked.

Rolling your eyes, you smiled. “Oh, shut up and kiss me.” You reached up, laced your fingers through his hair, and pulled his face down to yours.

He wasted no time; his lips were warm and smooth against your own as he kissed you passionately. He had kissed you hundreds of times, but this was different; there was more to it- desperation and devotion.

The tea kettle whistle blew in the background pulling you back to the moment.

“I think we can ignore that,” You muttered.

Jake chuckled, kissing your forehead. His hands slid down your waist, “jump,” he spoke. You wrapped your legs around his waist.

“Take me to bed,” You begged, “If this is my last night with you and I want to make it last forever.”

He kissed you chastely, “You make it sound like I’m flying off to die,” He tried to joke. “You gotta have more faith than that in me, baby.”

He started towards your bedroom, and you buried your face in the crook of his neck.

Your heart warmed childishly at the pet name. “I have plenty of faith in your skills, Hangman. But right now, I’m afraid to think of what comes next. So for tonight, can we please just pretend like we know it’s the last time.” You broke your own heart, verbalizing the thought. “Love me like you’ll never see me again; this way, if it is truly the end, I’ll have the best memories to relive.”

*********

Sometime in the middle of the night, you woke up wrapped in his arms, dehydrated and in desperate need of water. You kissed his chest before carefully pulling yourself from his embrace. Clothes had been thrown around your room from the fury of undressing. You grabbed his Navy shirt on your way past, slipping it over your head on your way to the kitchen.

After you pulled out two water bottles from the fridge, you leaned against the counter, overwhelmed with emotions. Realizing that it truly mattered how this visit ended. It had already been years that you had been in love with this man and lived through a handful of painful and sometimes unspoken goodbyes. What if this really ended? He didn’t come home from the mission, or didn’t come back to Miramar? What if you never fell in love again, not that you wanted to love anyone other than Jake Seresin. Tears began to well in your eyes; you pinched the bridge of your nose, trying to hold them back, but it was too late. The sniffles had already started, and silent tears were coming in a steady stream.

Shuffling feet sounds brought your attention back to the moment. “Babe,” Jake called out in a sleepy voice. He could hear your sniffles coming from the kitchen. “Hey,” He cooed as he rounded the corner taking in your tired tear-stained face.

“C’mere,” He pulled you into his chest. As quickly as his one hand came to rest on your lower back and the other in your hair, tears began to wrack your body. His bare back was warm against your cold hands. This always happens when your body gets too exhausted. Your blood pressure would get too low, and your hands and feet would feel like ice cubes.  

“It’s okay,” He hushed you, “I’m right here,” he spoke softly. “You’re alright,” He continued to comfort you.

You were in awe of his patience but equally embarrassed by how emotional you’ve become.

“I’m sorry,” You mumbled into his chest after a few moments, trying to regain your composure. “You probably think I’m crazy.”

“Baby, you have nothing to be sorry for.” He assured you. “And I definitely do not think you are crazy.” He kissed your forehead. “You came out for water and ended up crying?” He asked, noticing the bottles on the counter.

You laughed from embarrassment. “I guess that’s the simple way of looking at it.”

Without effort, he scooped you up and sat you on the counter, pulling away to look at you. “Talk to me,” he spoke, his hands resting on your thighs, and yours hung loosely around the back of his neck.

“I don’t even think I can explain it; I just,” You took a deep breath, hesitating, “I just,” you sighed, “something between pulling your shirt on and coming out here, it just hit me like a ton of bricks. I’m not trying to be mean when I say this; you’ve broken my heart before, well, not you, technically. It’s always been the Navy’s fault.” You could see the pain in his eyes, “I love you, Jake, I have for years. What if this really is the last time that I see you. What if you get on that boat tomorrow and realize that this was a mistake, that you don’t really love me. What if you never come back to Miramar – not because something awful happens to you, but purely because you don’t want to see me again.” The words came out in a rush, all of your self-doubt spewing like a rocket. “I guess I’m just scared of what comes next.”

A silent moment passed between the two of you.

“I know I won’t have the right words now, and I won’t say anything to make you think your feelings aren’t valid. But, I can promise you that I will never regret a single moment I spent with you, especially when I told you that I love you. My only regret is that I waited so long to tell you.” He paused, seemingly looking for the right words, “I’d be lying if I tried to say I wasn’t scared of what comes next. It’s going to be a tough mission, but I will be stateside again, and when I am, I will find a way to make this work- no matter what.”

“Jake,” you sighed. You opened your mouth to speak, but words were failing you.

He bent forward, resting his forehead against yours. “I hope you never get tired of hearing me say this,” he muttered. “I love you.”

You closed your eyes, smiling at the words, “Say it again,” you whispered.

He chuckled and kissed your left cheek, “I love you,” he moved to your right cheek and repeated his actions, then your forehead, before finally kissing your lips.

“Absolutely never getting tired of hearing that,” you uttered when the kiss broke.

“You want to know what else I love?” He smirked.

“Hmm,” you raised your eyebrow at him, thoroughly interested.

“You in my shirt.”

You threw your head back, laughing, surprised at the sudden turn in the conversation.

“You’re never getting it back.” You confessed.

He kissed your neck, pulling you closer to him. “I don’t mind,” He nipped at your pulse point, “but for now. I think I’ll put it back where you found it, at least for a little while.”

******

You felt the bed dip beside you, stirring you awake. “Baby, don’t get up,” Jake spoke softly. “I have to go. I’ll be home in a few days,” he promised.

You looked at your watch and saw it was a little after 6am. “Jake,” You mumbled his name sleepily. “You called this home.”

He chuckled, “I guess I did.” He tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear. “I’ll call any place home as long as you’ll be there.”

You smiled at his cheesiness. “Promise me, promise me that you’ll come home.” You begged.

“I promise to do everything I can to come home to you.” He kissed your forehead.

You caught him before he could pull too far away, your fingers threading through the golden locks at the base of his neck. He kissed your lips, and you wanted to memorize every detail of this moment. The feeling of his warm, smooth lips on yours, the texture of his hair beneath your fingertips, and the fresh woodsy smell you had come to know as his scent.

“I love you.” You whispered as the kiss broke.

“I love you,” He replied. “I’ll see you in a few days.”

Jake didn’t wait for a response, he knew this could go on for hours, and he needed to get to the base. Within a moment, you heard the door latch behind him and the roar of his truck in the driveway. With a heavy sigh, you rolled over to the side of the bed he recently vacated and buried your face in his pillow. Breathing in his scent, you let it lull you back to sleep.

A/N: If you’ve made it this far - thank you so so so much for reading! My Masterlist can be found here. All work is also available on AO3

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