Chapter Text
Nat takes in her surroundings as she steps out of the car she shared with Bob. She closes her eyes, feeling the hot afternoon sun kiss her face, and breathes in the hot dry desert air. She loves it here.
It’s Maverick and Penny’s big day tomorrow. A day some would say has been in the works for the better part of a century. It’s certainly the event of the decade, to say the least.
It’s slated to be a weekend of festivities, with the promise of love, laughter, and new memories to be made. The old gang is getting back together too, and the excitement is in the air. Everyone will be here. All except one. The best one. Rooster. Her Bradley. He was hand-picked and called away for a super top secret op. And it’s been a good two months since he’s been gone. Not even Maverick has been looped in, and her stomach has been a Gordian knot ever since she hugged and kissed her husband goodbye. It’s the double-edged sword of being married to a fellow fighter pilot. She’s well aware of the thrills and glory nothing else can provide their special breed of adrenaline seeking junkies, but also knows of the cataclysmic horrors that lie in wait. Not having communication and an end date has been extremely tough on Nat, and she can see the strain it’s putting on Maverick too. Deployments are tough enough, but when there are no touch-points to ease the distance and danger, they seem never ending. And poor Maverick. Nat can tell not having his “son” here isn’t a situation anyone considered when the initial wedding planning took place, and it’s cast a huge gray cloud over things. But it’s also cute as hell to see the fatherly pride come out when he explains Rooster’s absence.
Sadly, she thinks up until today, he was holding out hope that Rooster would make it back in time.
Rooster. She chuckles to herself. His callsign never fails to make her smile like a love-struck teenager. He’s always been and always will be Bradley to her. But when surrounded by all their fellow pilots and military personnel, he’s Rooster. Two sides of the same coin, but so, so much more to her than a name. She absentmindedly plays with her wedding rings. Since the mission and the cat was let out of the bag, she’s started wearing them again. At least in social settings. And right now, she’s grateful for the comfort and connection they are providing. Nat’s never really loved all this mushy stuff and going stag, even though she wouldn’t miss this for the world is definitely taking her out of her comfort zone. Thank God for the open bar.
Nat and Bob are the first of the gang to arrive. They are all gathering at Maverick’s hanger for the rehearsal, the perfect place for the P&P wedding event. She couldn’t honestly think of a better location than them getting married at Maverick’s airstrip. Especially recalling the epic romantic flight Pete and Penny took when they reunited after the mission. She remembers Bradley calling her that day in a panic to come rescue him since they left him alone with Amelia. He was a fish out of water trying to entertain a teenage girl. She still cracks up thinking of his relieved face when she showed up armed with TikTok dances for them to learn. The blackmail evidence she has now procured on her phone of her husband executing the moves with surprising enthusiasm, rhythm, and accuracy, gives her great pleasure. Just try and cross her Bradshaw, she chuckles. But really, the jokes on her because he looks hot as hell doing them, and they’ve been helping to keep her company during his absence. Go figure.
After that first visit, she has been back here a few more times with Bradley and finds herself in-front of Maverick’s secret time capsule hidden in the back. Her husband playing a major feature in many of the photos, and she reaches out to softly run the pads of her fingers over his handsome face in his Naval uniform. She remembers it was taken at the start of his mustache phase, and how much she teased him at the time over it. Its look and tickle took some serious time to get used to. How times have changed. Now she can’t picture him without the damn thing.
Her eyes track to her favorite photos of younger Bradley. Ones of him as an adorable towheaded kid sporting his cowboy boots and hat, and his high school baseball one. Nat admits she would’ve totally had a crush on him back then too.
Nat adores this hidden shrine, a window into the past for both Maverick and Bradley. Offering a glimpse into a painful past, she’s hesitant to bring up with both. It’s one of her favorite places to visit, to be honest. It’s a beautiful tribute to the people Maverick has lost in his life, and also a sad reminder of all the years lost with the living. Especially, those turbulent years between Bradley and him. Seeing that old baseball picture and his Naval picture, side by side, is a sharp reminder of their stubborn prides. But also the love and fatherly tabs Pete kept hidden all these years, continuing to love him from a far. She’s so relieved they have mended that relationship. Both have worked hard to make it a priority, and she loves the little “family” they’ve all become over this past year.
Family. Nat’s eyes shift to the left and study Nick and Carole Bradshaw. Her would be in-laws. It’s always a little startling to see pictures of them, two ghosts she’s only heard stories about, looking so alive and young. Bradley really does look just like his dad. She can see they have that same magnetism that draws people in. That playful charm. It’s in the golden hair, body language, and smile. Ok, and maybe the ridiculous porn-stache and interesting fashion choices too, she laughs. Apparently, it’s in the DNA. God help if they have a son.
Goose. Bradley has often asked her how he can miss someone he never really knew. How sometimes he panics, with his memories of them both, over time, growing fuzzy and dull, like a bad connection. Time starting to snuff out the tangible things, like smell, voice, and touch. Nat isn’t sure how to respond. How could she? She’s been fortunate to walk her life with her parents by her side. But she holds his hand in the silence, letting him know he’s not alone, and even when his mind fails, his heart will remember.
Nat takes in his mom next. Carole. She also sees the obvious kindness and spark, her zeal for life almost too big to be captured in a small photo, in Bradley. It must be where his spontaneity comes from, fondly recalling their elopement and time in Vegas. But there’s also traces of a shared undercurrent of tenderness. Evident in the eyes, the ones he obviously inherited from his beautiful mom. And the wild hair, she smirks. Carole looks like she would’ve been so much fun to hang out with, been a real friend, and she feels a tinge of regret at the lost opportunity.
Her heart pangs that they never got to see the incredible man they created and grew up to be. Bradley’s childhood and life has always made Nat ache. The loss and pain he tries to hide from others by putting up a front has always been her Achilles heel with him. Even before they were together romantically, she was his best friend, and has felt fiercely protective of him and anyone who attempted to taint any happiness that came his way. But don’t mistake it for pity. It’s just she’s had a front-row seat since the Academy days of him being alone on parents weekends. Slinking off in silence when others were surrounded by their villages. She knows he never wanted anyone to pity him and feel compelled to invite him along. And she didn’t, respecting his boundary. But it doesn’t mean she didn’t secretly bleed for him and his sad circumstances.
Nat thinks of all the missed moments, but knows they would be so proud. A lone tear streaks down her cheek. The acute pain she feels for her husband and his losses in life never fails to make her reflect on how tenuous and precious life is.
She hears footsteps and hastily wipes at her cheek.
Maverick rounds the corner. Nat has to admit it’s been a little odd adjusting to the shift in their dynamic. Going from teacher/mentor to pseudo father-in-law has been a little, well, weird.
“Hey, Mav, err, Pete,” she greets. In this new realm callsigns don’t really fit, and again, it’s such a mindfuck.
“Hi sweetheart,” he greets with a hug. Hugging. Another thing she’s so not used to.
Bradley kills himself laughing at her obvious discomfort and teases her and Maverick that she’s not ready for the fatherly bonding level yet, and will send a wink her way to ease the tension. Maverick just smirks it off and comes in with a hug the next time, knowing eventually he’ll wear her down, like he does with most people. Penny and Hondo call it “the look.”
Nat could really use one of Bradley’s reassuring winks right about now she thinks.
“How are you hanging in there?” he asks with concern. She always thought Bradley was the worrier. He was just the warm-up for Pete. Poor man.
“I’m okay. It’s just strange to be here without him. You know?” Cringing a little, wondering how many times she’ll get this question and have to respond. It’s like people can’t see them as two separate people anymore. Expected, but a little annoyingly archaic. Yes, she misses him, of course she does, but she’s not crying into a pint of ice ream every night. Well, maybe not anymore after the first week she grimaces. But no one has to know that. It’s between her and her garbage can.
“Oh, trust me, I know. It kills me he’s not here.” And she can tell it’s really bumming him out.
“Have you heard anything,” she asks with a sliver of hope.
“No. Sorry, honey. It’s sealed shut. But let’s go with the old mantra, no news is good news,” he says, rubbing her shoulder.
She looks away to control the involuntary stinging in her eyes. Nat hates being vulnerable. Especially in front of someone she admires for being one of the most legendary pilots ever. But the lack of communication about Bradley’s safety and return sucks.
Sensing her struggle, he leans in close to whisper, “If it makes you feel any better, I cried like a baby to Penny this morning about it, Kiddo.”
She lets out a watery laugh. “Actually, it does. Thanks, Pete.” Overwhelmed by his gesture and fellow sadness for their missing link, she wraps her arms around him, seeking comfort she’s been unable to find since hers took to the sky.
“Anytime, Nat. I miss him too. I miss him too,” she hears him whisper. “I’m always here for you too, you know. Always.”
“How come I never get special treatment,” she hears behind them.
Hangman. Of course.
“That’s because you’re you, Jake,” Maverick says, releasing her and chuckling as he passes Jake with a shoulder squeeze. “And she IS special,” he tacks on with a teasing lilt to his mouth.
“I need to go find my bride to be. And has anyone seen Amelia,” he asks, pausing.
“She was making goo-goo eyes at Bob and following him around,” Jake smugly reports. He knows this will both piss Maverick off and put Bob on his shit list.
“Seriously, Seresin? Bob is as safe as your Grandma,” she says with an eye roll and her protective streak coming out for both her back-seater and one of her best friends.
Jake laughs and flashes a wolfish grin, “You’ve obviously never met Nana.”
Maverick grumbles something and takes off.
“Proud of yourself,” she asks with her trademark raised brow.
“Always.”
“It was rhetorical, you numb nut.” Nat shakes her head and breaks into a smile. She walks over to him, and he opens his arms.
“I missed you, Jackass.”
“Missed you too, Tweety Bird,” he says, but squeezes her tighter. Nat rolls her eyes at his nickname. He’s taken to calling her and Bradley, Tweety Bird and Big Bird, a joke on their size differential and callsigns. But despite his horrible taste in nicknames, Jake has become one of her closest friends. After the mission, they all got an extended furlow that allowed them to hang out outside the pressures of the carrier and jets. Turns out away from the cockpit, he’s well, less of a cock. After that, she and Bob got stationed with him for a bit, and the three of them developed a tight little trio.
Bradley and Jake have also formed a tentative friendship, one that resembles a little brother annoying the big brother. Nonetheless, it’s a start and dare she say cute as hell.
“Big Bird still MIA,” he asks with uncharacteristic concern.
She cocks her head and says, “Careful. People might think you care.”
“Ha. Ha.” He says. “But seriously, any word? Rumor has it Maverick is a basket case over it all.”
She blows out a slow breath, “Join the club,” she mumbles.
“Hey. You know, I like to give Rooster shit because, well, it’s easy to ruffle his dumb feathers. Pun intended, sweetheart. But in all seriousness, he’s really come into his own. He’s flying better than ever. And believe me, it kills me to say it.”
She regards him and laughs at his look of having just popped a hemorrhoid.
“It really does, huh.”
“If you only knew,” he grumbles. “But come on. He’s out there on some badass mission he was hand selected for. That’s epic shit. Be proud and have faith. It’ll all work out.”
“You reading Chicken Soup for the Soul again,” she asks?
“No. Better Homes and Gardens. They have great recipes and my mom loves it,” he shrugs.
She bends in half, laughing. The picture that conjures up. She can’t.
Wiping the tears from her eyes, she says, “Thank you.”
With a rueful smile, he winks at her.
“Come on. Let’s go find the others, I can’t take much more of your depressing reenactment of The Notebook.”
She swats at him.
As the sun finishes setting, and the orange pink sky gives way to a darker blue, she stares out the hangar door into the oncoming night. Eyes tracking the sky.
Jake took off right after the rehearsal ceremony was over in one of Maverick’s planes. He had to pick up Penny’s special gift for Maverick. She’s envious and wishes she could’ve gone with him, but no one told her his plans until she noticed he was taxiing on the runway.
It was a beautiful rehearsal. The soft sunset the perfect backdrop, like Mother Nature herself was in attendance and showing off. Seeing the love between Pete and Penny was such a gift to witness. They’ve waited a long time for this moment, and it’s satisfying to see the universe work in their favor. She’s incredibly happy for them and can’t wait for the real thing tomorrow.
“Save me. Please,” she hears behind her.
Turning, she finds Bob pleading to her with terror filled eyes. Nat frowns.
“Easy Bob. What on earth has you so worked up?”
“It’s Amelia. She’s a stage 5 clinger Nix! At first, it was cute, but now. Now we have a problem. Maverick is sending me serious Liam Neeson in Taken stares, and she’s following me around everywhere. Help.”
“Oh my god,” she scoffs. “Bob. She’s a harmless teenager with a crush. Come on.”
But she sees Amelia hovering behind Bob and thinks just maybe he’s got cause to worry. Or at least, Penny and Maverick do. Amelia is certainly relentless, she’ll give her that. And kudos to her. She applauds fellow strong girls. Nevertheless Bob’s a little old for her, and hopes it’s a fleeting crush. For all their sakes.
Taking pity on him she says, “Come on. Let’s dance.”
“Thank you, Nix.”
“Eh. You’re welcome. Gives me something to do instead of staring into the darkness and avoiding people giving me looks of pity,” she smirks.
“I’m sorry he’s not here. It doesn’t feel right without him.” Bob says with genuineness.
“I know, but he’s where he’s supposed to be. Besides, I’m a big girl Bob, it’s fine,” she waves his sympathy away. She doesn’t like people thinking she’s some damsel who can’t function without her man, and one too many have mentioned it now. Sure, she misses him, but that’s no one’s concern but hers. Even if it’s coming from a well-intentioned place, it still pricks her nerves.
Realizing she was a bitch and unfairly lashed out, she quickly says, “Sorry. Just sensitive, I guess,” in way of an apology. Poor Bob got the brunt of her annoyance.
He nods. Always granting Nat the space to react as needed without judgement. He really is the perfect back-seater and best friend. She sends him a reassuring smile as thanks.
The song ends and Maverick approaches. She feels Bob tense, and she chokes on a laugh.
“Easy, Bob,” Pete smiles. “I just want to dance with Nat, if that’s okay,” he says.
Bob visibly exhales and releases her.
“Sure. I’ll go catch up with Payback and Fanboy some more.”
As Bob turns to leave, she sees Pete give him the two finger, I’m watching you signal.
Nat snorts and sees Pete turn back to her with a shit eating grin.
“You’re so mean!”
“Eh. It’s too much fun. I know he’s harmless. It’s Amelia I’m more concerned about,” he says, looking heavenward while taking her in his arms to start dancing.
“God help us all, she’s a lot like her mother.”
Nat smiles at that, knowing what a hell-raiser Penny was. She’s heard the stories over shared glasses of wine. Penny has become one of her closest confidants and has been such an unexpected gift since the whole mission.
“You know I don’t think you could’ve found a better woman, Pete,” she feels compelled to share.
Smiling tenderly, Pete says, “don’t I know it.”
“You know I’ve been meaning to speak with you, but I feel like we don’t get much time one on one. I’ve never really had the chance to say thank you.”
“For what,” she asks, puzzled.
“For saving Bradley.”
She scoffs. “Come on Pete. I didn’t save him. I think you’re the hero in this who saved who scenario.”
“No. You did. Not in the traditional sense. But you saved him from a life that made me sick to think about. He was so lost, Nat. Seeing him after his mom died, I honestly never thought that boy would love another single soul again. And after what I did.” He looks up, fighting his emotions. “I thought I might’ve broke the last shred of humanity in him. He felt so betrayed.”
“I never asked.” Partly because she wasn’t sure it was her business. But more than that, she was scared his truth would affect the way she looked at him. Hero worship and all. “But why’d you let him believe it was you the whole time,” she finishes.
“I couldn’t take anything more from Carole. I took Goose. I couldn’t take her son too. It’s easier to hate the living than the dead. You can’t go back and fix things when they are 6 feet under. I always held out hope he’d get over it. Just took our stubborn ass a little longer than I hoped,” he smiles.
She laughs, sharing in the assessment. He can be a stubborn asshole when he wants to be. And she loves that about him. It’s a character flaw that shows grit. Determination. Hell, it’s what saved Maverick’s life.
“Plus I was scared of losing him too. He’s my last tie to Goose. My son. I’ve been there since birth and my god, Nat. The thought of letting him go. It terrified me. Still does.“
“I can understand that. I think we all live with that fear,” she confesses.
“That we do, Kiddo,” Pete agrees.
“But all that aside. He’s in a place now with you that I know both Goose and Carole would be incredibly thankful for. I’m thankful for. Bradley is thankful for. You two make what I’m about to do tomorrow,” she smiles at that, “ya, ya I know. Joke it up. But you guys make it look like fun. Easy. Inevitable. Like it’s how it supposed to be. Not to get too sentimental, but yours is a pretty incredible love story. You’ve weathered some pretty tough storms, and they aren’t over yet with each military hurdle you’re thrown. Yet, your faith, trust, and commitment doesn't waiver. It’s inspiring Nat. Take pride in that.”
She looks down embarrassed, not sure what to say.
“Loving him is easy,” she says on a shrug. “There’s no other choice. No other life I’d want. Storms and all.”
“Funny, he’s told me the same thing,” he says nodding his head behind them.
What?
Bewildered, Nat stops and turns around with a thundering heart.
Standing behind her dressed in his flight suit is Bradley.
“Hey, gorgeous,” he says with a tired smile.
Her hands fly to her mouth to cover her quivering lips. Silently, she closes the distance between them, and he bends down to pick her up in a crushing hug.
Over Bradley’s shoulder, she sees Jake standing behind them and sends her a wink before turning to walk away.
“What are you doing here?” She says while burying her head in his neck. His unique smell of his cologne, soap, and jet fuel filling her senses.
“Sorry, I’m a mess. I didn’t have time to change.”
“You’re perfect,” she mumbles into his neck. And he is.
He sets her down but keeps her wrapped in a hug, not ready to let her go yet. His chest rumbles in her ear as he tells her the whole story. “I got in this afternoon. I called Maverick to let him know, since someone’s phone wasn’t working,” he gives her a look when she looks up at him sheepish.
Oops. Fucking tiny, forgettable iPhone chargers.
“I got Penny instead, and she schemed up this surprise,” he says with a laugh. “Jake picked me up at the airfield and here I am,” he says with a tender smile, running his hand down her face to the back of her neck. He brings her in for a sweet kiss that makes her toes curl. Old Nat would be embarrassed by his PDA and the whole romantic ritual. But overtime, she’s grown to welcome it. Years of wisdom and experience teaching her how precious life is, most recently almost losing him after their mission. Look at her. Maturing. Growing up. Her Mom would be proud.
Reluctantly letting her go, he adds, “I surprised Maverick out on the runway, since he was already out there pissed thinking Seresin hijacked his plane. So, he got an early heads up on my arrival. ” She really wishes she’d seen that all go down.
Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Pete and Penny walk up to join them. “I can’t believe she pulled this off,” Pete says, and turns to give Penny a kiss on the cheek.
“You of zero faith,” Penny teases and playfully smacks his butt. “It all worked out the way it was supposed to. Now we can celebrate tomorrow, without any regrets.”
Maverick locks eyes with Bradley and swallows hard while nodding his head. The two share a silent moment, knowing how much it means to them both that he’s here.
Nat feels Bradley nod back, and drop a kiss to the top of her head.
“Can I dance with my beautiful wife,” he asks in her ear.
“Depends. You have two left feet, Sailor?” she teases.
“Check my TikTok, I’ve got moves baby,” he says with a smirk.
Nat laughs and smiles up at him and takes his hand.
“You sure do,” she says adding a saucy wink.
As they walk to the floor he gets pats and hellos from all their friends excited to see he made it.
She sees Jake and mouths, thank you.
Jake nods and makes his way over to a group of single ladies. He rubs his hands together with glee on his approach. She laughs at his antics. Typical Bagman.
Stepping out onto the dance floor, Bradley twirls her out and then gathers her in his arms as, Falling Like The Stars comes on by James Arthur. His surprising gracefulness for his size will never stop amazing her.
And she hopes it doesn’t. She hopes they never stop amazing and surprising each other. It means they’re living, and living isn’t to be taken for granted. That little shrine tucked in the back corner the perfect reminder.
Gazing up into the eyes of her husband, the embodiment of everything worth living for, she echoes the words to the song, Oh, I'm in love (fallin' like the stars).
The next day, they all get to witness the beautiful union between Pete and Penny. But her eyes are only for the Best Man. He catches her looking and sends her a wink.
She’s pretty sure Maverick has it wrong.
It’s Nat who is thankful.