Archive of Our Own

Bradley's cell rang while he was idling at a stop light. He put it on speaker without even looking at the caller ID — there was only one person (other than Mav) who called him instead of texting like a normal person.

"Is it good news or bad news?" he asked, throwing on the turn signal to head into Mav and Penny's neighborhood.

"Hello to you too, babe," Jake replied, laughter rich in his voice.

Bradley's body tightened at hearing it. Fuck, he had it bad. Not that he thought anyone would blame him, considering it had been six months since he'd last seen Jake. Which was five months, three weeks, and six days too long, if anyone was to ask Bradley's opinion. The Navy, sadly, didn't get the memo.

"Hi back." Bradley waited, but the other end of the line was silent. "So?" he prompted.

"A man can't just want to check in on his fella now?"

Bradley's lips curved upwards. Jake's fella. It still had a really nice ring to it. Which was the craziest twist of fate he could imagine — that he was in a committed relationship with Jake Seresin, of all people, and happy about it. Life truly was full of weird turns.

"You can call me whenever you want, you know that," he replied. "But I'm just gonna take a guess from the way you're stalling that you weren't able to get your leave squared away in time."

Jake's drawn-out sigh told Bradley everything he needed to know before Jake spoke. "I did everything I could, babe, but it was out of my hands."

"It's okay," Bradley assured him, hating how downcast Jake sounded. Hating even more that they were still an ocean apart. "We all know the life."

Jake hummed, but didn't disagree. "You on your way to the bachelor party?"

"Yeah," Bradley said, gentling his voice. "Wish you were with us. Today won't be the same without you. Wedding tomorrow won't either."

Which was the other crazy thing. After thirty years of on-again, off-again, and everything in between, Mav and Penny were finally tying the knot. Talk about the ultimate slow burn. Somewhere in heaven, Bradley was sure his mom and dad were both pleased as punch about the whole thing and laughing themselves silly.

"Well, I am the life of the party, that is true," Jake chuckled, arch and amused. "But I think you'll manage just fine without me. Give the Captain my best, would you? And tell him to give his beautiful bride a kiss for me."

"I will," Bradley told him — Jake and Penny's low-key flirtation was well-known in their group — and shut off the engine as he pulled up in front of Mav and Penny's house. "Hey, I'm here, I gotta go. You take care of yourself, alright. Get home when you can, just come back to me."

There were no guarantees in the lives they all led, but Bradley knew Jake would do everything he could to be as safe as possible.

"You can count on it." Then Jake's voice lowered, the intimate tenor of it wrapping around Bradley like a blanket. "Love you, Bradshaw."

"Love you too, Seresin." He was such a sap, but the way the words always fell so easily from Jake's lips still got to him, alright. Their relationship had transitioned so seamlessly from frenemies to partners that it still blew Bradley's mind. He'd mentioned it to Jake once — that he kept expecting the other shoe to drop at any moment — and Jake had reminded him that their relationship had started off on the worst foot possible, so it was only an uphill climb from here on out. Which was a damn good point.

He and Jake didn't need to hide from each other. They'd already seen — and brought out — the worst in each other, and still wanted to be together. Which made Bradley the luckiest man on the planet, no two ways about it.

He grabbed the case of Miller Lite he'd brought with him from the passenger seat, and strode up the walkway, breathing in the salty ocean air. A smell that would always remind him of the house he'd grown up in, right on Cypress, of surfing every morning before school if the waves were nice, of him and his mom throwing a blanket over the sand and eating dinner by the tide line while watching the sunset off the coast, of chasing Ziggy around in the water and laughing at his excited barks. Bradley may belong up in the sky behind the stick of a fighter jet, but nothing would ever feel like home to him the way the beach did.

Smiling to himself, he walked into the living room without knocking — and halted in his tracks.

"Uh, Lindy, what are you doing here?"

Amelia, her legs dangling over the side of the armchair, took a big slurp from her smoothie as she rolled her eyes. Theo was passed out in his doggie bed beside her. "Duh, I live here."

"No, I mean..." He gestured at her with his free hand. "Shouldn't you be with your mom at her party instead?"

Amelia crinkled her nose. "Mom said her and her friends were going to Saddle Bar," she said. "Sounds lame."

Going to a country bar sounded kinda fun to Bradley, but he also wasn't a sixteen-year-old girl, either. "And hanging out with us at the house sounds more exciting?"

"Duh." Amelia took another noisy sip of her smoothie. "Mav's burgers are way better than some crap bar food. Also, Mav said Hondo's making his hash brown casserole and there's no way I'd miss that."

Which, fair point. Hondo's casserole was legendary, and for a good reason.

Mav came in through the back door, grinning when he saw Bradley. "Hey, you made it," he said, stepping forward to pull Bradley into his arms. Even after all this time, part of Bradley still couldn't believe how easily they'd slid back into their roles. How easily Mav hugged him, ruffled his hair, and showered him with all of the affection that had been missing from his life for so long. He was never taking it for granted again.

Bradley tilted his head at Amelia when he and Mav parted. "Didn't realize Lindy was joining us."

Mav's grin was very wide and very pleased with itself. "It's my party, and I want her here."

"At your bachelor party?" Bradley emphasized, just to be sure everyone was on the same page.

A bachelor party with a teenage girl in attendance. Honestly, this was just like Mav. He did what he wanted, damn convention.

"I don't get why it's such a big deal when Phoenix is coming," Amelia said — and, well, that probably did explain why she wanted to stick around. Nat and Amelia were as thick as thieves these days, which was a scary thought. Bradley just knew they were going to take over the world at some point, heaven help them all.

"Nat's different. She isn't a minor," Bradley pointed out, because someone had to be the reasonable one, and it was never going to be Mav.

Amelia shrugged, unconcerned. "Don't be a hater, big bro."

"Yeah, it's still weird that you call me that," he replied, even though he secretly loved it. Lindy may be a chaos agent, but she was also the best pseudo-sibling he could have ever asked for.

Not that he'd admit it out loud. She had enough ammo on him as it was.

"I think it's sweet," Mav said, with the sunny disposition of a person who was marrying the love of his life the next day. "Besides, I can't have a poker party without Melly here. What fun would that be?"

"Very fun, for me. It's not like she beats the pants off you on the regular," Bradley said, already resigning himself to the fact that he'd be giving up even more secrets or performing dumb dares for her amusement. At least Mav was around — he was the only person who could consistently win against her, much to her annoyance.

Amelia leaned in her chair towards Mav and whispered, very loudly: "I think Gallo's just upset that the boyfriend's not here."

"I take it his leave didn't get approved in time?" Mav asked, sympathetically.

"Yeah," Bradley sighed, bummed all over again at the thought. "And look, it sucks, but I'm not, like, moping about it." And he wasn't. Much.

Mav chuckled, clapping Bradley on the back. "You're still a terrible liar, kid."

Damn him for knowing all of Bradley's tells. "Whatever, old man, where do you want the beer?"

"The cooler outside is fine," Mav said. "There should be some cold ones in there already if you wanted to grab a couple and help me prep the burgers for later."

"Sure thing."

***

Hondo and Phoenix and Bob all showed up at the same time, everyone loaded down with more beer, trays of appetizers and munchies, and Hondo's promised hash brown casserole, already in the pan and ready to be heated up. Theo danced around the group excitedly, accepting pats and belly rubs with enthusiasm. "You'd think we never paid him any attention," Mav remarked, scratching him behind the ears.

"He's clearly living the worst dog life ever," Phoenix quipped.

"I keep saying we should get him a friend, but so far, no joy," Amelia remarked. She'd moved on from smoothies to some weird lemon and cranberry seltzer water concoction that looked like it was all sugar. Bradley's teeth hurt just looking at it.

"We'll wear your mom down eventually, just be patient," Mav said, with a wink Amelia's way. Bradley knew that look; Mav already had a plan cooking in that scary smart brain of his. Poor Penny, man, she didn't stand a chance.

"Shame Penny's not into poker, you could just win a dog off of her that way," Phoenix said, as they all made their way out to the patio with a few of the appys and some plates, and took seats at the table overlooking the beach. It was a gorgeous day out, sunny and warm, with just a hint of breeze coming in from the ocean.

Hondo groaned, looking skyward as if seeking divine guidance. "That child has no right being as good a player as she is."

"Aww, thanks, Hondo, that means a lot coming from you," Amelia preened.

Bob looked between Hondo and Amelia. "Is there a story here?"

Hondo shook his head, his look long-suffering, but Bradley could see the warmth behind it. "Last time I made the mistake of playing poker with her, she dared me to sneak her onto the USS Reagan."

"I thought Granddad was gonna have a fit." Amelia gave a quicksilver grin. "But he still has a soft spot for you."

"Good thing, too, considering."

"That's right, you served with the Admiral, didn't you?" Mav asked Hondo, his smile crinkling the corners of his eyes.

"Twice," Hondo affirmed.

Phoenix laughed, relaxing back in her chair. "The Navy is such a small world sometimes."

"You sure she's not actually your kid?" Bradley asked Mav, joking (but also not). "Because that sounds exactly like something you would have done and gotten away with back when you were her age."

Mav cast Amelia an affectionate glance, his smile softening when Amelia returned it. "I would be thrilled if she was, but no. Penny and I hadn't seen each other for two years before Amelia was born."

"Weren't you at Mom and Dad's wedding?" Amelia asked, curiously. "I remember her talking about it once."

"With Ice and Sarah and Carole, yes." Mav took a sip of his beer, huffing out a small laugh. "You were there too, Bradley, remember."

"Yeah, that was a weird day." Bradley had been fourteen or fifteen at the time, and bored to tears at the actual ceremony, although the reception had been fun. "I was so confused that she was marrying another man when she had you."

He remembered being sad about it, too, even after Mom had explained that two people could truly love each other, and still not make things work. Growing up, Mav and Penny had always seemed like the perfect couple, both of them beautiful and independent, each living their own lives, but still so in tune with each other when they were together.

"I wasn't ready." Mav glanced out at the horizon, his gaze far away, and everyone let him have the moment in silence. Then he let out a small breath, and it seemed to break the tension inside himself. "Things worked out the way they were meant to."

"Yes, they did," Hondo agreed, quietly. "What you and Penny have is stronger now."

Bradley agreed. It may have taken them thirty years to get here, but they'd weathered every storm and curveball life had thrown their way. They were solid now, a true team — the definition of couple goals. (He and Jake could only be so lucky one day.)

Mav clapped Hondo's shoulder. "You're a good friend, Hondo."

"Always," Hondo replied, and tapped the necks of their beer bottles together.

"So, how did you two meet, if you don't mind me asking?" Bob asked as he helped himself to some of Phoenix's world-famous (in her words) queso dip.

Mav and Hondo glanced at each other. "By all means," Mav finally said, leaning in to load his plate with some of Bob's homemade hummus and carrot sticks.

"We met in Iraq."

"The second time I was there," Mav clarified.

Hondo pointed at Mav and let out another heavy sigh. "This one comes waltzing into my yard one day, two weeks into his particular rotation, and cool as you please — despite having talked to me exactly one time up to that point, mind you — asks to borrow an F-18 for a rescue mission."

"I did ask," Mav replied, with one of his signature bright grins.

"You did ask," Hondo confirmed, shaking his head fondly. "Wouldn't take no for an answer either. I'm still not sure how you managed to get me to say yes."

Mav spread out his hands, his innocent look fooling exactly no one. "I'm very charming, what can I say."

"Do I want to know why you were borrowing an F-18?" Bradley asked, suspiciously.

"Rescue mission, like Hondo said."

"More like a suicide mission," Hondo corrected, raising his beer up in a kind of toast. "But the sonofabitch pulled it off and saved four men."

"Can you give us any more details?" Phoenix asked, curious.

"Afraid not." Mav's shrug was rueful. "It's classified, but it really wasn't that big of a deal."

"Tell that to those men's families," Hondo stated, staring over his glasses at Mav until Mav nodded his acceptance. Hondo was the only person (other than Penny) who could get Mav to back down; one day, Bradley wanted one of them to teach him their ways.

"Do I want to know how many of these types of missions you've been on over the years?" Bradley knew Mav was the most decorated pilot in the Navy; all of those citations and commendations had to have come at a cost. How many times had Mav thrown himself into danger to save the lives of other people? How many times had Bradley almost lost him before they'd reconciled?

"No, I don't think you do," Mav told him, like he knew the direction Bradley's thoughts had gone and wanted to head them off.

"Gave me more than a few grey hairs over the years," Hondo commented, refilling his plate with more chips and Mav's signature habanero-cilantro salsa.

"I believe it," Bradley remarked. "Mom and I used to worry about him all the time."

"Every risk I ever took was calculated," Mav said, with a small smile for Bradley. "And contrary to some of the rumors about me, I am very good at math."

Everyone at the table chuckled. "Speaking of math, I was promised a poker game," Phoenix said, looking around the table. "We doing this?"

Amelia held her fist up to Phoenix. "I knew I liked you best."

"No dares for me, and I'm in," Hondo said, with a mock glower Amelia's way. She gave him a sunny smile in return.

Phoenix bumped Bob's elbow. "Well?"

"You really do want to know all my secrets, don't you?" Bob sighed.

She grinned around her mouthful of popcorn. "I really do."

"I'll go easy on you," Amelia promised.

Bob chuckled. "No, you won't."

"You're right, I won't."

Mav tapped at the cards. "Go ahead, Melly. Basic draw, aces wild, truth and dare antes, except for Hondo. Agreed?"

Everyone nodded, and Amelia wasted no time dealing out the cards. Hondo and Bob folded on the draw, leaving Bradley, Phoenix, Mav, and Amelia for the check. Amelia stared at Mav, who stared benignly back.

"You're bluffing," she stated.

"Only one way to find out."

Her gaze narrowed. "I raise you a dare."

Phoenix tossed in her cards, scowling. "Too rich for my blood."

Bradley followed suit, mostly because his hand was crap, but also because he wanted to be able to concentrate on the war of wills happening between Lindy and Mav. They were more entertaining than most TV shows.

"A truth, and a dare to raise it is," Mav replied easily.

Amelia stared even harder at Mav, who didn't even seem to be breathing, he was so relaxed. "Let's see 'em," she finally said and laid her cards out. Three nines — not a bad hand by any means.

Then Mav fanned his cards on the table — full house, 10s high. Bradley whistled under his breath as Phoenix placed a hand on Amelia's back in commiseration.

"I thought he was bluffing too," she said.

Amelia grumbled, slumping in her chair. "You have to teach me how you stay so still like that."

"When you're older." The Mav cocked his head, studying Amelia for a moment. "I'm counting this as your truth," he said, then nodded meaningfully at Bradley. "You should tell him."

Amelia made a seesaw motion with her hand. "Are you sure about that?"

"It's time."

"Mav, what did you do?" Hondo asked, looking resigned.

"Melly?" Mav prompted, when Amelia stayed stubbornly silent. "Rules are rules."

"Ugh, fine. The poker game was rigged," Amelia announced, then stared at Bradley like she was expecting a reaction.

"The what?" Bradley asked, lost. "What game? We just started playing."

Amelia sighed, loud and very disappointed. (In other words, her normal sigh where Bradley was concerned.) "Keep up, Gallo. The one where you and Jake got together."

"What?" Now Bradley was even more confused. "What about it?"

"That game was rigged?" Phoenix asked, frowning. "How? Bob and I were there that night and we didn't notice anything weird."

"Nothing was rigged, Melly's just being dramatic," Mav explained, raising an eyebrow Amelia's way. (Amelia didn't even look ashamed of it.) "She and I just had a side thing going that night where, if she won a hand against Jake, she'd get him to confess his feelings for Bradley."

Bradley straightened so fast he heard his spine pop. "What?"

"Well, that sounds on brand for you two," Hondo commented, over Phoenix's delighted laugh.

Mav spread his hands out. "Look, Jake was never going to say anything unless someone pushed him into it, and you didn't even know he was into you, so he needed a nudge."

"We took a gamble," Amelia said.

"A calculated risk," Mav added, with a wink.

"And it paid off perfectly," Amelia finished, smirking. "You're welcome again, by the way."

Bradley's brain was reeling. Or maybe it was the room spinning. "I can't believe you two planned that."

"I can," Phoenix said, sounding impressed. "Stellar work, by the way."

"You need some water?" Bob asked Bradley, concerned.

Bradley shook his head, even though he did feel a little wobbly. "How did you even know how Jake felt, Mav?" he asked. He'd have never figured it out on his own, and what did that even say about him, that he'd been so oblivious to Jake's true feelings.

Not that he was mad at either Amelia or Mav — God knew he owed them both — but it was the principle of the thing. Shouldn't he have seen Jake had a thing for him before they did??

Mav chuckled, and shrugged. "Jake looks at you the way I do Penny. It wasn't hard to figure out."

"Unbelievable," he muttered and grabbed the cards before anyone else could. "I'm dealing this hand. Just me and you, old man."

"Okay, kiddo," Mav replied, genially. "Whatever you want."

What Bradley wanted was to win and get Mav to confess something embarrassing or weird or...hell, he didn't know, he just wanted to get at least a little of his own back. He was going to channel every lesson he'd ever gotten from Mav and Uncle Ice, and all of the rounds of poker he'd played on every carrier, and every time Amelia had wiped the floor with him, and win this hand.

Mav was going down.

"Betting dare, and taking one," Bradley said, after they'd had a chance to look at their cards — he had a mini-straight, thanks to the wild ace, but it could be better.

"Two, and truth for me," Mav said, sliding his discards over to Bradley. He quickly dealt them their new cards, looked at his, and inwardly grinned. Full straight, seven-high. No way Mav was beating that.

"Check," he said, trying not to let his giddiness show on his face.

"Check," Mav replied, his expression as stoic as ever when he was playing.

Bradley turned his cards over, relishing in Amelia's impressed wow. "Let's see what you've got," he said, sitting back in his chair.

A small smile flickered across Mav's face. "That's a good hand," he commented, sounding proud.

Bradley frowned; he knew that tone — and it was pure parent placating their kid. "There's no way," he groaned, with a sinking feeling in his gut.

Mav just shrugged and flipped his cards over — four Jacks and a five. Four of a fucking kind.

"Sorry," Mav said, and the son of a bitch actually had the gall to sound sincere about it.

Bradley threw up his hands in disgust and defeat. "How?"

Phoenix gave him a sympathetic smile. "Rooster, I love you, but you've always been a terrible poker player."

He looked to Bob for backup, but all he got was a shrug in return. He needed better friends. "That hurts, Nat."

"The truth often does," Amelia said, with a sage nod as Mav's phone buzzed. He picked it up, quickly scanned it, then set it back down on the table.

"Okay, okay, stop rubbing it in," Bradley said, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. One day he'd learn, he thought. At least Jake wasn't here to laugh at him. "Alright, Mav, lay it on me."

"I dare you to open the front door."

"What?" Bradley frowned. "What kind of dare is that?"

"The kind I'm giving you," Mav said, amused. "You up for it or not?"

Bradley glanced around the table — everyone else looked just as perplexed as he was. "Fine," he said, standing. "It's your party."

Mav got to his feet, motioning to everyone else to follow. "Come on, you're going to want to see this. Trust me."

"That doesn't sound ominous at all," Hondo joked.

Bradley frowned. "If this is some jumpscare, Mav, I swear to God..."

"It's not." Mav held up his hands. "I promise."

"Fine." He stomped through the house to the front door, everyone following behind him, and flung it open. And just stood there, dumbstruck and slack-jawed, for a handful of seconds.

"Oh wow," he heard Bob exclaim, but couldn't move or turn or do anything other than stare at the sight in front of him.

"Surprise," Jake said, standing next to a very amused Penny, and smiling that big Texas grin of his that Bradley loved so much.

"You're..." He blinked, and blinked again. Jake was still right there on the top of the steps, larger than life, and so beautiful that Bradley's entire body clenched in need. "Holy shit."

"Is he gonna have a heart attack?" Amelia asked, sounding far too pleased by the prospect. And that was what finally broke the static in his head and got him to move. He tugged Jake past the threshold and into the living room — and, more importantly, into his arms.

"Holy shit," he repeated, holding on tight, breathing Jake in, and savoring the way Jake held him just as close. "Jake."

"Missed you too, babe," Jake murmured, kissing Bradley's jaw, then his cheek, then nosing his way in until their mouths met. Jake's lips were as soft as ever, warm and so real, and for the first time in six months, Bradley let himself relax.

Jake was home.

Bradley only loosened his grip when he and Jake parted for much-needed air. He couldn't stop staring. Jake's lips were full and reddened, his eyes bright and full — he was a vision.

"How did you even get here?" Bradley asked, finally looking around to see that they were alone in the room. Someone (probably Mav, he thought) had shepherded everyone back out to the patio; he could hear chatter and laughter through the screen door.

"It's been in the works for a week," Jake said, stroking his fingers over Bradley's cheek. "We wanted to surprise you."

Bradley was surprised, alright. He still couldn't believe Jake was here. "Where were you when you called me earlier?"

"I'd just gone through customs at the airport," Jake said, nosing in for another light kiss. "Had to wait for Penny to pick me up, but we got here as fast as we could."

"You're amazing," Bradley breathed, pulling Jake in close again. He'd been without Jake in his arms for far too long. One kiss turned into a few, both of them murmuring all kinds of sappy, romantic nonsense to the other, and it was everything he wanted, the whipped cream topping on the banana float that was Bradley's day.

They only broke apart when they heard the squeak of the screen door opening. Bradley glanced around Jake to see Mav leaning against the entryway into the kitchen, giving them both a fond smile. "Not that I personally care if you make out in my living room the rest of the day, but everyone else would like to say hi to Jake."

"Right." Bradley flushed, but couldn't keep the goofy, besotted grin off his face. "I guess I can share him."

"Aww, that's sweet of you, Bradshaw," Jake replied, batting his lashes. "So magnanimous."

"Asshole."

"Yes, and you love me like this," Jake told him, and it wasn't like Bradley could deny it.

Mav shook his head at both of them. "Come on, before Penny sends in a search party."

"Thank you, Captain," Jake said, stepping in to give Mav a brief, but heartfelt, hug. "You didn't have to go through so much trouble for me."

"I keep telling you, you can call me Mav."

"What trouble?" Bradley asked.

"I may have had to call in a few favors to get him home in time," Mav replied, then smiled at Jake. "Wouldn't be much of a party or a wedding without the whole family here, you copy?"

Jake swallowed, Adam's apple bobbing. "Yessir," he said, voice thick.

"Mav, I..." Bradley stopped. Exhaled. He didn't even know what to say.

The fact that Mav called in some of the few favors he still had, just so Jake could be at the wedding and celebrate with the rest of the Daggers? Just so Jake knew how much he was valued and loved, not just by Bradley, but by Mav and Penny, and everyone else by extension? This was just...next level.

But that was Mav all over. Generous with his time and energy and his love.

"It's okay. I was happy to do it," Mav told him, trying to play it off, as always.

"I'm gonna give you two a minute," Jake said, pressing a kiss to the corner of Bradley's mouth before walking outside. Bradley could hear everyone greeting him, the excited pitch of their voices the perfect backdrop to a perfect afternoon.

"Thank you. I mean, you didn't have to..." Bradley lifted his hand, then dropped it helplessly. He couldn't figure out if he wanted to hug Mav to him like a ragdoll or cry in a corner like a baby or both. "I was an asshole to you for years, and you still...you got Jake home for me. You still want me standing up with you as your best man tomorrow."

The corners of Mav's eyes crinkled when he smiled, soft and affectionate and filled with a forgiveness Bradley didn't deserve, but would spend a lifetime trying to earn. "Of course I want you standing up with me," Mav said. "You're the best man I know.."

"I'm really not." He'd fucked up way too much, held onto that bitter anger for so long, and for what? It hadn't gotten him anywhere. Hadn't done a damn thing except waste the time he and Mav could have had together as a family. "I've made a lot of mistakes."

"Bradley." Just the way Mav said it — paternal, compassionate, loving — made Bradley's eyes prick with tears. "I never said you were perfect. I said you were the best. And I meant it."

In a million years, he'd never deserve Mav's grace.

Bradley stumbled forward and pulled Mav to him, the hug hard and long and maybe a little watery. "I never stopped loving you, Mav," he mumbled against Mav's shoulder.

Mav held him back, just as tight. "I never stopped loving you, either, kid."

They were both sniffling when they ended the embrace, but it was okay. If you couldn't be emotional with the groom the day before his wedding, what was the point, right? "You're missing your party," Bradley commented, scrubbing his hand over his face.

"I'm right where I want to be," Mav replied, and tilted his head. "But I wouldn't say no to another beer."

Bradley chuckled, already feeling more like himself. "Yeah, me too."

They both walked out to the patio, and Mav made a beeline to Penny, dipping her into a laughing kiss. Amelia made a point of taking wide steps around them, like they were contagious or something, until she planted herself next to Bradley and shook her head. "They're so in love it's sickening."

"I know, right," Bradley agreed, happily, fishing a new beer out of the cooler.

Jake wedged himself between them and draped his arms over both their shoulders. "You know, no one's fooled by your act now."

Amelia lightly elbowed him in the ribs. "It's not about fooling anyone."

"It's about appearances," Bradley continued, bumping fists with Amelia. "We have a rep to protect."

"Uh huh, keep telling yourselves that."

"One day, you'll learn," Amelia replied, with all the haughtiness that was a hallmark of her age, then glanced down. "Nice nail polish, by the way."

Jake wiggled hot pink toes inside his flip-flops, his grin infectiously bright. "It is, isn't it."

Bradley leaned in for a kiss. "Somehow, it suits you," he murmured, so besotted he was practically drunk with it.

"And on that note, I'm bailing," Amelia declared, wrinkling her nose at them. "Bad enough Mom and Mav are all canoodley, now I have to put up with you two? No thank you."

"Canoodley?" The space between Mav's brows wrinkled. "Is that even a word?"

"More like an insult," Amelia replied, giving Mav a sunny smirk.

"Just for that, young lady, I'm making you dance with Lee tomorrow," Penny lightly threatened.

Jake leaned in close to Bradley. "Who's Lee?"

"Right, you're still learning the family ropes." Bradley pressed a kiss to Jake's temple. "He's one of Uncle Slider's kids. Has a huge crush on Lindy."

"Has he met her?" Bob asked.

Hondo chuckled. "He thinks the fact that she can kick his butt is sexy."

"Ah, one of those," Jake replied, nodding sagely.

"No one said anything about dancing," Amelia said, frowning.

"Have we finally found something you can't do, Amelia the Great?" Hondo teased.

Mav unwound his arms from Penny's waist and crossed the patio to stand in front of Amelia. "I can teach you a few moves if you want," he said, holding out a hand.

She looked at it like it was a live snake. "Do I have to?"

Mav shrugged. "Would it make you feel better if I used my dare?"

Amelia snorted, but her cheeks went a delightful shade of pink. "That's okay, you can save it for something else," she said and allowed Mav to pull her to the middle of the floor.

"Shame there's no piano nearby," Phoenix said, nudging Bradley.

"My command performance will be tomorrow," he told her, pulling his phone out of his pocket. "But I think I can find something suitable on Spotify." A few clicks later, an old Duke Ellington tune started playing through the small speaker.

"You couldn't pick anything from this century?" Amelia complained.

"This'll be easier to dance to, I promise," Mav told her.

She didn't look convinced. "If you say so."

"She's so cute when she's cranky," Jake mock-whispered, and laughed outright when Amelia — surreptitiously — gave him the finger.

Mav was super patient, taking Amelia through every step and every turn until she got the hang of a simple box step, and they started dancing for real. Jake wandered off with a kiss, saying something about finding a real drink, but Bradley stayed put, watching Mav and Amelia with an aching chest and full heart. He remembered so many nights when Mom and Mav had put on old records and danced around the living room, dragging a squirming (but secretly thrilled) Bradley into their circle, always making room for him and his two left feet.

Penny linked her arm through Bradley's and put her head on his shoulder. "They look good, don't they?"

"They look like a family," Bradley agreed, quietly.

"You know, with Ice gone, it's up to us now." Penny's smile softened as Mav twirled a giggling Amelia around in a circle. "We need to look out for him, make sure he doesn't burn out."

"Yeah." Bradley's throat closed. "You're right."

"You'll keep him safe, won't you?" she asked, looking up at him.

"With everything I am," Bradley promised. Nothing was happening to Mav, not on his watch. "And I know I speak for the rest of Dagger Squad, too."

Penny squeezed his arm. "Thank you," she said, kissing his cheek.

"It's what families do, right?" Bradley glanced around, his throat closing at the sight. Mav and Amelia were still dancing away, Theo hopping around them, trying to join in the fun. Hondo was talking animatedly with Bob about something no doubt super nerdy and technical, and Phoenix and Jake were splayed out on two chairs, drinks in hand, chatting amiably about (Bradley was sure) Jake's latest deployment. All of his favorite people, safe and happy and in one place.

He caught Jake's eye and mouthed I love you. Grinned when Jake just winked at him and mouthed it in return.

Yeah, he was a lucky, lucky man, alright.

***