Chapter Text
It’s a little past 6 am when Jake hears the door squeak open, he continues to keep his eyes closed knowing that someone is about to climb into his bed, Jake feels the slightest dip of the bed, a warm body pressing into his side and Jake smiles and opens his eyes to find his son looking back at him, Jake takes in the appearance of his son already dressed for the day and Jake smiles softly.
“Can’t sleep?” Jake asks and a nod of ‘yes’ from his son is more than enough confirmation.
“Can’t say I blame you, buddy, it’s been a long six months,” Jake responds with a hand absentmindedly combing through his son’s hair.
“Is Dad gonna be there when we get there?” Green eyes questioned staring back at Jake.
“I’m not sure buddy, I’m sure your Pops will know for sure. For now though how about some breakfast, pancakes sound good?” Jake asks and receives an enthusiastic “yes!” before his son is heading off to the kitchen and Jake gets a few seconds of reprieve before he has to return to fatherhood.
Jake would never change his life now, it’s been four years since Nicholas Grant Bradshaw-Seresin landed in their lives, a three-year-old who stole Bradley and Jake’s heart as soon as they met him. The seven-year-old son he has now is a great kid, the best kid with a heart so big after everything he has been through taking after Bradley in that department.
Breakfast is a familiar and easy routine, something Jake had to learn to accomplish with Bradley’s deployment his husband preferring to be the one to do the morning routine. Bradley’s way of saying ‘I love you’ to Jake, allowing the man to normally have a few more minutes of sleep in the morning. The routine is now comforting to Jake, the familiar sound of cartoons playing on the TV as Jake busies himself with making breakfast, Jake hears the scraping of a chair against the tile as Grant takes a seat at the kitchen island,
“Breakfast your Majesty,” Jake responds placing a plate down in front of his son, who drowns the poor pancakes in syrup. Normally Jake would tell him to ease up not wanting to deal with a sugar crash but what the hell today’s special.
“Are we gonna see any Super Hornets?” Grant questions through a mouth full of pancakes.
“First off no talking with your mouth full,” Jake sighed, “Your Nana would kill me for not raising you with manners, and I’m really not sure bud, it’s been a long time since I was at Pearl-Hickman,” Jake responded tossing the last little amount of milk into the sink, the last thing he wants to endure is coming home from vacation with his house smelling like soured milk.
“What do you think Dad’s doing?”
Jake stops for a second, his hand holding the sponge as he finishes cleaning the sink. The realization has hit that the game that Grant and himself had been playing for the last six months is about to be over with. What started off as a way to keep Grant’s anxiety at bay turned into a stack of letters sent to Bradley, Grant telling his Dad what he thought he was doing.
“I’m sure he’s probably asleep right now, he’s on a long flight. He was leaving from Spain after all. But I’m sure he’s got a full list of ideas to do for our week in Hawaii” Jake finished turning his attention to the list he had sitting on the kitchen island, one last checklist of everything that needs to be done.
A knock on the door is enough to have Grant out of his chair and running towards the front of the house, Jake’s not surprised to hear a loud shout of “Pops” before Maverick is walking into his kitchen with Grant hanging off his back, the older man all smiles as he listens to the antics of his grandson.
“You get any sleep with this one?” Maverick asked sitting Grant back in his seat at the table and taking the opposite seat.
“Surprisingly yes, but baseball practice ran pretty long last night. Someone was trying to be Mike Trout and hit like he was in the Home Run Derby.” Jake added looking at Grant who just shrugged.
“Kids gonna be a grand slam master,” Maverick said with a chuckle.
“For now anyway, he’s going to get ready. You got everything packed?” Jake questioned and was met with an eye roll that was straight from his own playbook.
“Yes Papa, I have everything.” Grant voiced with a sigh before heading to his room damn his son for acting like him, who gave this kid such a right.
“Bradley last said he was in Virginia, had about an hour delay. Should probably arrive at Pearl about an hour after we get through everything.” Maverick comments looking at Jake, “You doing okay?”
“Yeah I’m great,” Jake adds wanting to get up and find something to do, he’s been quiet the past six months. In Jake’s mind not talking about the deployment makes it easier. For Jake throwing himself into work, and being a father was the most important thing. Jake had kept on top of everything, with the constant help of his team over the past six months Natasha and Maverick helping the most. Jake wasn’t sure how he could repay them for everything they had done.
“Glad I can have a break from baseball duty, I’ll gladly go back to just handling uniform cleaning.”
“You’ve done a great job,”
“Helps that I’ve got a great kid.” Jake commented, “Grant’s been my saving grace through this.”
“Buddy just take a nap, you can barely keep your eyes open,” Jake spoke softly watching Grant’s head nod back and forth one minute he’s against Maverick’s shoulder, the next against Jake’s.
“Not tired,” Grant says around a yawn, looking upset that his body had betrayed him and Jake just shakes his head.
“We still have three hours, you can have a nap. Then you’ll be ready to hit Hawaii with your feet running.” Jake spoke wrapping his arm around his son, Grant letting out another yawn before leaning into his father’s side.
“I forgot to tell grandpa the new cow joke I heard,” Grant spoke remembering the FaceTime call Jake had with his parents during the layover in LA.
“Oh yeah, what is it?”
“What do you call a cow with no legs?”
“I don’t know what.”
“Ground Beef.”
The joke makes Maverick snort hard and Jake can’t help but chuckle at his kid, his kid who’s been his saving grace during this deployment. It’s a combination of fatigue and Jake rubbing Grant’s back that makes the kid give up and finally take a nap. The soft snores remind Jake of Bradley so much.
“Thought the kid would never give it up,” Mav said with a smile.
“Get’s that from Rooster,” Jake says.
“Honestly the kid is a carbon copy of you both, it’s kinda scary.”
“Don’t know what I would do without him honestly, I knew having a family was something I wanted. I just didn’t expect it to almost kill me.” Jake responds by continuing the back rubs for Grant, which are just as much of a comfort for Jake.
“I just sat there dumbfounded when Bradley got the news, it was supposed to be me. Bradley just does such a great job with being an instructor, I just thought it would be me. I had done the few short missions and we just expected me to be called up for a longer deployment.” Jake said with a huff,
“Grant could live without me, he was always able to handle my time away, but Bradley fuck it was so hard. Tears from the both of us, God knows how many times you had to save us Maverick. Grant could continue without me but if he lost Bradley-“ Jake said with a sad chuckle, “He wouldn’t be able to live.” I wouldn’t be able to live hangs in the air unsaid but Maverick knows.
“Jake, your son needs the both of you. It was easier for your missions because realization hadn’t hit, he’s getting older now. Kids talk at school now, he has friends, plays with kids on a baseball team that has lost parents he’s exposed to reality now and while it sucks unfortunately we can’t hide him away from it, but I promise you if the situation had been reversed for this deployment it would be exactly the same.” Maverick adds placing a comforting hand on Jake’s knee.
Landing in Honolulu is nice, he snaps a pic of Grant with a lei and sends the picture to the two group chats he is a part of. Bob and Coyote tell him to enjoy Hawaii and don’t do anything dumb, Phoenix gushes about how handsome her nephew is, Jake’s parents are just happy he’s safe and their flight was good. Stepping out into the Hawaii sun is amazing and Jake enjoys the smell of salt in the air, a gentle reminder that better times are ahead.
Pearl Hickman is bustling and arrival on base still fascinates Grant, the kid is definitely becoming a Navy brat and Jake fears the day that Grant sits Jake and Bradley down and tells them both he wants to enlist. The thought of his son in an F-18 makes Jake just a tad nauseous, his parents did say he would have to pay for his raising one day.
“How much longer?” Grant questions and Jake can’t help but wanna ask the same question.
“Your dad said he was supposed to land at 16:00 hours, you got about another twenty minutes,” Mav adds ruffling Grant’s hair and smiling at the anticipation.
Jake pulls his son in for a side hug again and he’s thankful the universe decided to make Grant his son, Jake surveys the area around him, the majority of waiting individuals are older military wives and husbands people who have been through hell and back before waiting for their loved ones to come home, a few pass and give a small smile at Grant, a reminder of days long gone for them. Suddenly a streak of slate grey appears in the sky and Jake feels his heart beat faster, expansive wings cut through the sky turning with ease and modeling their way to the runway.
“Here he comes Grant,” Mav says pointing with his finger out the window
Jake holds Grant up on his hip to look out the window as the C-130 lands ahead of schedule at 15:58, the large aircraft gracefully touching down with the familiar screech of tires touching tarmac. Jake’s heart continues to beat out of his chest as he sat Grant back down, his hands settling to hold onto Grant’s shoulders knowing that craziness was about to descend as everyone came through the doors.
After twenty minutes and a multitude of other individuals, Jake sees Bradley. His Bradley who is home and safe, he’s safe. ‘He’s safe!’ Jake continues to think as he tries to form a string of comprehensive words Rooster stands tall and scans the audience looking, his mustache wrinkling as he looks through the ocean of people.
“Dad!”
Grant shoots off like a rocket dodging and weaving to reach Rooster, Jake tries to catch up.
“Daddy!”
Brantley makes eye contact with Grant after hearing the second shout and goes down on his knees to be at eye level as Grant tackles into him nearly knocking Bradley to the ground.
Jake pauses for a second, noticing the slight shaking from Rooster who has his arms wrapped tight around their son,
Jake feels his heart finally relax. Bradley stands back up with Grant the little boy wrapping his legs around Bradley’s trunk. Rooster stands holding his son, one hand cradling his head against his shoulder as Rooster places kisses to the boy’s head. Bradley’s eyes are red-rimmed already as he makes his way over to Jake his gear forgotten about for the moment.
“Hey baby, you look good.” Rooster says adjusting Grant to his left arm and opening his right for Jake. Jake’s lower lip trembles and he finally lets the tears fall because his husband is home and safe.
“I am good,” Jake exclaims through tears before wrapping his arms around his husband and crying into his chest. Relief finally goes through Jake’s body. It’s been six months since Jake felt that familiar feeling of Bradley’s mustache tickling his nose, their kiss is quick and soft and filled with nothing but love. Bradley has to kiss him two more times before he’s willing to even let go of Jake.
Jake grabs Rooster’s bags and stands back giving Rooster a moment with Maverick.
“Maverick thank you so much,” Bradley exclaims giving Mav a hug, Maverick holds him tight unable to let go and Jake understands. The pseudo father and son finally breaking from each other and each chuckling and wiping away at the tears.
The walk to the rental takes no time, and Jake’s not surprised to find Bradley taking a seat in the back of the SUV, Grant still hasn’t let go of Bradley, and Jake’s pretty sure Bradley wouldn’t let go of him right now anyway. Jake understands, he didn’t want to buckle Grant into his car seat the first time he came back.
Grant hits his father with an info dump in a matter of 5 minutes concerning everything he forgot to tell his Dad about during their FaceTime calls over the past six months, Bradley being the best Dad he is, listens intently and nods along, and exclaims at all of the right times.
“I got that whole reunion on video for you, by the way, fair warning it’s been sent to the group chat Phoenix said I didn’t have a choice in the matter,” Maverick added watching the current scene from the driver’s seat.
“I figured,” Jake says with a chuckle, knowing the pilots he considers family now are being respectful right now giving them time together, Jake’s positive his phone will be blowing up later tonight.
“Alright you two,” Jake said getting his phone out, “I need a picture to let everyone know the Rooster has landed.” Jake gets two, a perfect one with Grant and Bradley smiling and a silly one as custom for Grant to comply with Jake’s necessary picture taking. Sending the two pictures get him a quick response from the pilots
Bob: Please, we can only cry so much.
Phoenix: Can I get diabetes from this sweetness?
Fanboy: I just have a lot of emotions.
Coyote: Dude you’re in Hawaii, go enjoy your much-deserved vacation.
Phoenix: Grant’s gonna come back with a little brother or sister.
Payback: Maverick’s the real MVP going to be babysitter, we need to get that poor man a gift when he comes back.
Rooster: First of all fuck all of you, second my kid is here on this trip I am not about to scar him for life.
Jake glances in the rearview mirror to see Rooster roll his eyes at the antics of their friends, the wink from his husband makes him shiver and he has to focus and return to his duty as navigator. The traffic of Hawaii not being something to play around with.
“What are you excited to do Grant we’ve got a week to do anything,” Maverick asks?
“I don’t care as long as Dad’s here.”
If Bradley has to let out a fake cough so he doesn’t cry again Jake doesn’t blame him, instead, he reaches a hand back to place on Bradley’s knee giving him a comforting squeeze.
“Gotta agree with you on that one Grant,” Jake says.
“Bradley, what the heck,” Jake sputtered looking at the large resort they were arriving at, “I thought we were just a hotel on the beach?”
“My husband needed a vacation, earliest flight home to you guys was Hawaii, and the resort offers specials to military personnel why not make it a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. Besides we never got a honeymoon.” Bradley offered.
“We didn’t need a honeymoon, I got the ring on your finger that was all that mattered.”
“Just enjoy it, Jake,” Mav said with a smile, “Pretty sure this is me returning the favor for those weekends you let Amelia stay with you guys why Penny and I went away.”
Jake’s got the last suitcase on the luggage cart when Bradley closes the trunk and stumbles up into Jake’s personal space, making the other man lean back against the car.
“Hey,” Rooster said with a mischievous grin on his face, his eyes shielded by his aviators.
“Hey,” Jake responds,
“You know you look pretty hot,”
“Bradshaw you have got to be kidding me,”
“Can’t help it,” Bradley whispers before placing another kiss on Jake’s lips,
“You’ll be happy to know I packed every Aloha shirt I could find, wanted to make sure you fit right on in down here,”
The comment gets a laugh out of Rooster before he’s giving Jake another kiss,
“Really missed that snark.”
“Well, it’s not going anywhere now come on Bradshaw, I’m ready to find a coconut that has six different types of alcohol in it.”
It’s a little past midnight when Jake feels Bradley slip into the bed, the hotel suite now quiet as all of the occupants had retired for the evening finally,
“You have to bribe him with a million things so that he would go to sleep,” Jake questioned from his side of the bed.
“I actually couldn’t leave, just needed to see him sleep for a bit,” Bradley answered. “Every time I went to leave he’d hold on tighter to my shirt.”
The answer was enough to make Jake turn over in bed, facing Bradley who was exhausted Jake had tried to persuade an early dinner and bed for everyone but the prospect of swimming was too much and Bradley could not say no to his son, Jake lost count of how many times Rooster had to torpedo launch Grant into the pool.
“I’ve missed this,” Rooster spoke reaching a hand out to cup Jake’s face, the touch a welcomed feeling. A feeling like life was normal again.
“You need sleep, how long have you been awake now?” Jake questioned a eyebrow raised in a way that told Bradley he couldn’t lie to him.
“A while but it was worth it,” Rooster commented arms reaching out to pull Hangman closer, the feeling of Bradley’s one hand on his hip, the other arm behind Jake’s head, Jake sighed contently as his head rested comfortably on his husband’s chest.
“Getting possessive again Roo?” Jake teased
“I could be very possessive, but I have claimed you as mine tonight already,” Bradley spoke voice full of desire, “Knew that shower was gonna be worth it that’s why I booked a suite, and I heard no complaints,”
“You’re ridiculous,” Jake huffed, “Besides we have got to stop all this because I know someone is probably gonna sneak in here once he knows you’re not there. What else do you have planned for this vacation?”
“I plan to woo you,” Bradley stated his fingers running through Jake’s hair, the action making Jake almost want to purr.
“Figured for the first two days it’s all about the boy and whatever he wants to do, figured by day three he would forget about us and be all about adventuring with his Pops, wanna take you out on the town, show you off make everyone jealous that I have the most handsome husband.”
“You sap,” Jake chuckled,
“Um Dad,” A soft voice speaks up pushing the door open to reveal Grant half asleep on his feet and interrupting Jake and Bradley’s conversation.
“Yeah, bud?” Bradley questions a soft smile on his face.
“I heard something in my room, can you come and check?” The question is quickly asked almost in embarrassment.
“It’s probably just Pops snoring, how about you just sleep with us tonight, we will check it tomorrow evening.” Jake offers and Grant nods, Jake moves over, the space between Bradley and Jake a warm cocoon, and Grant snuggles down in between them, indecisive just for a moment before Grant ultimately chooses to snuggle close with Bradley.
“I don’t care how old you get, you’ll never be too old for a cuddle from me,” Bradley says softly and Jake’s reminded again and again why the idea of a family involved Bradley Bradshaw.
It’s not long before Jake watches Bradley and Grant dead to the world, the father and son being able to fall asleep at the drop of a pin, Jake’s done a lot of things in life and made a lot of mistakes but one thing’s for certain he’s the luckiest man in the world.