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Jake's hands are gentle as he rolls up tiny pant legs, and he shushes the squirming baby as the shoes are pulled up over his feet.
“I've gotcha, buddy,” he whispers. “It's cold out there. gotta keep you warm.”
“It's barely in the forties,” says a voice from behind him. “I don't think he needs the snow boots.”
Jake doesn’t look up, but grins all the same as arms come up behind him, wrap around his midsection. He coos at the kiddo before leaning down to kiss a scrunched up nose. “But they look so damn cute.
“They do,” Natasha laughs, kissing his shoulder before peeking over it. “But I promise the pictures won’t even pick them up.”
“Well. You’re no fun at all.”
Natasha squeezes his stomach in a little hug. “I know. Real buzzkill. But you’re not even dressed yet, and we agreed we’d all be ready for photos in half an hour, and I don't want him overheating.”
Jake finally turns to face her, finger captured by a tight little fist. He leans down for a kiss she returns easily, before pulling her against his side to look down at the ensemble. “Well, he still needs another layer up top.”
“I'll find something,” she promises. “Now go get dressed. Bradley's bringing Mav.”
Jake nods, leaning down for another kiss right on the little tiny fist, before kissing Nat again and moving to their closet. She's all too happy to step in for him, taking over the gentle noises and kind words before picking up their son and carrying him toward the bathroom. But before he can really rummage around and coordiNate his own outfit, the front door opens with a creak.
“We’re here!” Bradley calls out to them.
“And I've got gifts!” Maverick adds.
“Shocking,” Natasha calls back. Jake can’t help his snort.
“Will you all let me spoil my grandchild in peace?” Maverick shouts, and there’s the rustle of a bag. “Come on, I want you all to see.”
Jake and Natasha emerge from the bedroom, and Jake grins at Bradley’s look. He's a little exasperated, sure, but fond as he watches Maverick dig in the plastic sack.
“I don’t know how he hid that from me on the ride over,” he explains, as he moves to kiss Jake and then Nat on the head, “so I think he probably stole it.”
Maverick glares, looking among the three of them with pointed looks. “I bought this with my hard-earned retirement money. again, I say, let me spoil my grandson.”
As always, at the sight of his grandpa, their baby boy goes wild. His laugh is a gurgle of delight, and he reaches for him with eager grabby hands. “Little Nick is plenty spoiled,” Natasha says, “but I understand the point. What’d you get?”
There’s a thrum of anticipation, of excitement as the bag falls to the ground. Maverick slowly unfolds the green leather, and when it’s revealed Jake cackles, just a little. “Well, well, well. Aren’t you slick.”
“Oh my god,” Bradley says, and he sounds a little awed.
“For my little aviator,” Pete says proudly. “His own jacket.”
“It matches yours,” Natasha laughs, reaching out to feel the texture, “and just in time for family photos.”
“Very convenient,” Bradley deadpans, and Jake can’t help but laugh again. “But nice work, Mav.”
Natasha reaches to grab the jacket. kisses Nick’s cheek a few times before squeezing Pete’s hand. Pete takes Nick in his arms as they trade, and Natasha and Jake each get a jacket sleeve to hold the jacket out to its full glory. “It's perfect. An outer layer,” she says.
“Green suits him,” Jake agrees. “It is perfect.”
The three of them watch as Mav talks to Nick with delight, telling him all about the adventure it was shopping for him. Bradley shifts so that he stands beside Jake and Nat, and Jake’s fingers move up and down Bradley’s back automatically.
“You wanna get him dressed?” Natasha asks Maverick. “Do the honors?”
Maverick’s smile lights up his whole face, and there’s a little glint in his eyes as he nods toward the nursery. “We’ll be right in there.”
He vanishes quickly, his sweet words to his grandson heard all the way down the hall. They all watch with pride, and then Nat and Jake hear a little sniffle.
“It’s perfect,” Bradley repeats after a moment, watching as Mav disappears. When he’s fully gone, Bradley turns to Nat and Jake, eyes a little misty. “You’re both perfect, and Nicky’s — Nicky's perfect.”
“You sap,” Natasha whispers, and her voice is only fond. She doesn’t hesitate to move into Bradley’s embrace, as Jake’s hand rubs up and down Bradley’s back with more pressure and a kiss for good measure, if only to hide the tightness in his own throat at the thought of their perfect little family.
They linger there, the three of them. It really settles in, where they are, what they’re doing. What they get to do, with each other, a family they never knew they’d get to have. It only ends when Bradley pulls back, reaching up to rub his cheeks with a little groan.
“Okay, okay, after this no more tears, happy or otherwise. You’re not allowed to make me cry in the photos,” Bradley warns them both. Natasha chuckles and wipes at her eyes, and Jake grins through his own tears, but Bradley's look is stern. “I don't know what they can edit out!”
“We now have one goal for family pictures,” Jake informs him. “So thank you, Bradley Bradshaw.”
His glare doesn't have the weight it might normally, if only because he keeps almost smiling as they wrap around him. It also seems to prompt a smirk from Natasha, who reaches up to push a hand through his hair. "It's only because we love you," she insists. "And we know you love us. You've got a big heart, Bradley, and a lot of love to fill it."
It's of course then that Maverick emerges from the nursery, and little Nick shows off his new look. What they don't expect, though, is the little pair of aviators he now rocks, ones that quite quickly slide down his nose as he claps with delight.
"Now he's a stealth pilot," Maverick croons. "Look at my third generation fighter!"
Safe to say the happy tears come quite steadily from Bradley after that.
None of them can really say they mind one bit.