Work Text:
Origin of the fight: Unknown.
End of the fight: The minute you decided to leave to give Bradley space in his house.
You’d felt the tension all week- longer days on base, you were working longer in the office, and petty and snide comments were coming from each of you as you worked through your personal frustrations. It wasn’t until a Thursday night over dinner that the argument started, but you weren’t going to take the lashing out from your boyfriend any longer when you could remove yourself from the situation. Even though leaving him in the doorway without a goodbye or an "I love you" tugged at your heartstrings, you refused to let him make you feel unwelcome in his home. Circling the block, the high points (low points, honestly) replayed in your mind, and your eyes quickly filled with tears.
“I’m sorry I just want to spend time with you, Bradley! I’m sorry, I don’t understand the Navy! I’m sorry I’ve been working late too!” You yelled as you threw your hands in the air. “But you can’t blame me for not understanding!”
“I just want some fucking quiet when I get home. That’s all I want!” His face was red, and his hands trembled at his sides, balling into fists as he tried to breathe. “It’s loud on base all day, I talk all day, and when I get home, I just need quiet!”
“I’m sorry for existing, then,” you huffed. “We don’t have to talk to spend time together, but you won’t even eat dinner with me!”
“Sorry, I’m not used to someone constantly being in my house!” He snapped.
Every ounce of fight left your body, and you could feel your hands and arms start to go numb. You were filled with anxiety instead of rage as you thought about the warnings you ignored about moving in with someone too early, and you were at a loss for words.
“I’m just not used to having to share my space with someone,” he continued, still angry. “It’s suffocating and overwhelming.”
“I got it, Lieutenant Bradshaw,” you whispered. “Your house and I overstayed my welcome. I invaded your space. You deserve your space. I’m going to give you some space.”
The gravity of his words finally reached his brain, and Rooster panicked.
“I didn’t mean that. I didn’t; you have to know I didn’t mean that,” he rushed out as you exited the kitchen in search of your bag and your shoes. “It’s our home. It’s ours, not mine.”
“Bradley, this is your home. You grew up here, you paid it off, you made memories here,” your voice cracked. “I’m going to let this be your house for a little while, okay? I’ll start looking for an apartment. Maybe we went a little too fast.”
“You’re leaving?” He panicked, eyes wide as he watched you slip on your shoes and pull on a jacket. “Where are you going?”
“I’m going to leave for a little bit, yeah,” you nodded as your hand hovered over the doorknob.
“But where are you going?” He pleaded with you for an answer, eyes filling with tears as he watched yours trickle down your cheeks.
“Bradley, I’m going to give you a little space, okay? I think we need this to de-escalate and decide individually what we really want,” you continued.
“But… but where are you going?” He asked quietly, his fear of losing another person he loved wrapping its metaphorical hands around his throat, squeezing.
“To give you space.”
“You’re leaving me? Did we break up?” His voice cracked.
“I’m not leaving; we’re just taking space. We didn’t break up, but I’m taking a break from our conversation to think,” you explained softly. “I’ll see you later, Brad.”
“I love you,” he said, but you’d already closed the door behind you.
Watching you leave, he sunk to the floor with his head in his hands, tears falling freely as he cried about the argument and the idea that he drove away someone else he loved.
You weren’t sure where you were going, and as you navigated what just happened, you decided it would be best to pull into the parking lot of a small park at the end of your street. Leaning against the headrest, your heart rate finally slowed, and your hands quit shaking; that didn’t stop the hurt that flooded your body and the anxiety you were feeling as your eyes burned with unshed tears.
Were you really that awful to live with?
Did Bradley really think you were invading his space?
After you moved in, he spoke about making his house a home and that your presence made him feel like the house was coming to life. He made you feel safe and secure, and you were healing the broken pieces he felt inside. You completed each other in ways you never felt you deserved, and now it was collapsing around you.
“What the fuck am I supposed to do?” You asked the universe. “What if this isn’t supposed to be it for me?”
The wind whistled around your car, the breeze coming in from the ocean as the sun sunk below the horizon and the world went dark. As the night rolled in, you weren’t sure where you needed to go, but you knew you couldn’t go home. Thinking about your options, you constantly ran into dead ends and roadblocks because they weren’t shared friends; they were Bradley’s friends.
You considered going to Phoenix’s apartment, but you knew Bradley had probably called her, and she had probably called Bob and Hangman so that they could complain about you privately and let Bradley know he had made a mistake. So your three safest options were out; they’d side with their friend, not his new-ish, live-in girlfriend. You had other options, other friends like Halo and Harvard who were still here, and your few friends from work, but most of them were married with children, and you didn’t particularly want to intrude on their lives because yours had been ripped out from under you.
And then there was Uncle Slider; he told you that you were always welcome there, but he was Bradley’s. You weren’t going to take that option from him when he probably needed someone too. How he looked when you left shattered your already hurting heart, and you weren’t going to remove Slider from the equation.
“I guess I can sleep in my car,” you thought aloud. “But not here. He’ll see my car and ask me to come home if I'm here.”
But in a twist of fate, your phone began to buzz. You contemplated ignoring it as you’d silenced Bradley’s notifications in an attempt to take space. Still, as the messages poured in, they weren’t from any of his friends. There were three unexpected messages from a very unexpected contact: Tom Kazansky.
You weren’t sure how you ended up with Admiral Kazansky’s number, but one day it found its way into your phone under the guise of emergency use, and you ever needed anything while Bradley was deployed or in the air. Shortly after your accident, you realized Bradley was your only emergency contact and that there were new plans put in place to ensure your safety, courtesy of Bradley. You never expected to use it unless a worst-case scenario arose, so you were surprised to see his name illuminate your screen.
Bradley called us and said you’d had a fight. He wants someone to know where you are.
He’s going to Slider’s on my order. You can come here if you need to talk. We want to know you’re safe.
We aren’t taking sides. We love you both. You’re always welcome here.
You didn’t have the energy to respond to his messages, but you did have the address to their home, which was nestled in a beautiful cul-de-sac a few miles from Bradley’s. Sending him your ETA, you wiped your eyes and took a deep, shaky breath before pulling onto the main road.
Be safe, kiddo. We’ll leave the porch light on. Just ring the doorbell.
Twenty minutes and one stop for gas later, you pulled into the driveway of the Mitchell-Kazansky household, and not only did you see the porch light on, but a silhouette moving through the living room with a large window that faced the street.
“You can do it,” you spoke to yourself. “It’s just Tom and Pete, Ice and Maverick. Just Bradley’s… parents. Fuck, they’re Bradley’s parents.”
You were interrupting their evening because of a fight with their son.
You couldn’t steady your breathing this time, and when you reached the door, you were sobbing and gasping for air, willing yourself to stay on your feet. Your chest hurt. You were sorry and knew you shouldn’t be there. Ringing the doorbell and hearing footsteps in the foyer, you collapsed in the arms of the person who opened the door and broke completely. Sobs wracked your body as you released all of the sadness you’d suppressed during the fight and while driving to their home.
“Shhh,” the husky voice whispered as a hand smoothed your hair. “It’s okay. You’re okay. You’re here. You’re safe. Just breathe.”
“I-I,” you gasped. “Can’t.”
“You can do it,” your hand was moved to the broad chest before you. “Just like this.”
The person, Ice, you discovered through your tears, took a deep breath and encouraged you to do the same after a few failed attempts. You were able to match his breathing while your sobs turned to cries, and your vision began to return. You let him hold you close in the foyer, not moving for anything until you were ready.
“Why don’t you come sit? We were just watching a movie when Bradley called,” he encouraged gently. “Pete went to get you water and a Tylenol. You’re going to want to take it.”
Settling the two of you on the couch, he handed you a tissue from the box on the coffee table.
“Thank you,” you said weakly.
“Have you ever had a panic attack before?” His voice was soft as his husband walked back into the room.
You shook your head.
“Then you're definitely going to want to take this,” Maverick noted. “They take a lot out of you and will give you quite the headache.”
“They do that to Bradley,” you said quietly. "He's had them at home before. I never know why, just that he has medication in the cabinet and always gets a headache."
“He’s worried about you. Wanted to know if we had seen you and told us you’d left,” Ice explained.
You sighed, “Did he tell you why I left?”
“No,” Pete wrapped an arm around your shoulder. “Just that you left, and he was scared. And then told us he would see Slider after Tom ordered him to.”
“I shouldn’t be here then,” you whispered and moved to stand. “I can find somewhere else.”
“You absolutely should be here,” Ice sat beside you and encouraged you to sit back down. “Bradley loves you, and we love you. There aren’t any sides right now, regardless of what happened.”
“You’re his dads, there are sides, and I know you won’t be on mine,” the tears started again as you stared at your hands, your cuticles raw from chewing on your fingers while you drove.
“What makes you think that we’d choose sides?” Ice encouraged the conversation you tried to stop.
“We got in a fight,” you whispered. “I don’t know what started it, but I ended it after he told me he didn’t want someone constantly in his house and his space. So I left. He can have his space back. I’m going to line up some apartment tours and move out; at least, that’s what I told him my plan is. He asked if I was coming back home, and I didn’t tell him yes or no because it’s his house.”
Ice and Maverick watched you play with the sleeves of your sweatshirt and bounce your leg anxiously. To ease your anxiety, Maverick placed a calloused hand to stop your knee from moving.
“What started the fight?” He asked gently.
“I don’t know anything about the Navy,” you sniffled. “I know that he has long days and is busy and stressful, but sometimes… sometimes I just want to spend time with him. I miss him, and it’s quiet when he just goes to ou-his room.”
“It’s your home, too,” Ice encouraged. “You know that.”
“He did a really good job of letting me know I’m in his way, and he doesn’t want me around,” your voice was barely audible.
Pete cleared his throat before speaking, “Bradley… he’s complicated. I’m not defending him, but it all comes out as anger when he’s scared or anxious. We didn’t speak for 15 years because of a mistake I made, but after speaking, his sadness, pain, and anxiety were all projected through anger. What he said to you isn’t right, and you don’t have to go back, but he’s not great at articulating emotions.”
“Isn’t that the truth,” you tried to joke. “I do think I should have listened to my friends. We moved in together too early, and now it’s burning out.”
“I don’t think so,” Ice added. “I’ve never seen him look at anyone like he looks at you. It’s like his whole world revolves around how happy you’ve made him.”
“Today just felt different,” You leaned into Pete’s embrace, seeking connection and comfort. “I love Bradley, but this is how things always end for me. I’m never what someone wants, and I’m never someone who’s kept around for the long term. It’s always my fault.”
Both men sitting next to you on the couch were at a loss for words. You did not share much about your past relationships, but Bradley knew they had been traumatic. Unsure of what to say, you felt another hand on your shoulder as your head dropped, and you began to cry.
“Breathe,” Ice encouraged. “If you’ve never had a panic attack, you might have one again. Talk to us- we won’t share anything with Bradley that you haven’t.”
“I’m always the last one to go before someone settles down,” you cried. “And I have a feeling it will be the same way. He needs someone who knows how the Navy works and knows how to support him.”
Maverick nodded in understanding, but Ice didn’t like what he was hearing.
“He needs someone to come home to that isn’t going to want to always talk about work,” Ice said gently. “It helps him have space from the job. He needs how you ground him. And I don’t love what you’re saying about yourself right now.”
“I don’t even ask that many questions,” you whispered, not trusting yourself not to choke out a sob. “But I think I asked one too many today, which made him mad. I just want to know about what he does for work.”
“Today was a tough day on base,” Maverick admitted. “Longer hops and a lot of paperwork. It doesn’t make it right, but it might explain more.”
“I still feel like I’m not good enough. You both should be able to see that,” you confessed. “You’re his dads. You know he deserves what’s best for him.”
“Don’t say that,” Maverick's voice was taught and sad. “Don’t ever say that about yourself.”
“Because that’s you,” Ice said firmly. “He’s never shared with anyone other than us what he’s shared with you. What he said about it being his house and his space… was projected anxiety because he’s scared of letting you love him like you do. I can see it when he talks to us, he loves you so much, but he knows what the Navy can do to families. We know what the Navy can do to families. He’s probably feeling much like you are.”
“I know he is,” Maverick admitted. “We had a long conversation on base last week about how he doesn’t feel like a good enough partner.”
“But he’s my perfect partner,” you cried. “I can’t even make him see how great he is at loving me because I’m failing. He’s so patient and kind, and he l-loves me, but I’m too much.”
“He’s patient because he loves you,” Ice added. “You think Maverick and I have always had the perfect relationship? Absolutely not. It takes time and effort. But it also takes hard conversations. Have you ever told him how you feel?”
You shook your head.
“I think you should,” he continued. “Bottling this up isn’t going to make you feel any better. You remind me a lot of Pete when we met.”
“And that’s not a good thing,” Maverick admitted. “You can’t convince yourself you’re not good enough because there was a fight. Have the hard conversations.”
“What if he doesn’t want me to come home? Where am I supposed to go?” You started to cry again. “It’ll take a while to line up a new place, and then I’ll have to find movers. I can’t do that all overnight.”
“Sweetheart, he wants nothing more than for you to come home,” Maverick said softly. “He wanted you to come back the moment you left. I know most of the apology is on him, and he’s terrible at apologizing, but listen to him. Hear him out. And then make your decision.”
“I’m not going back tonight,” you sniffled. “Maybe tomorrow, but not tonight. I’ll look for a hotel room; there should be something.”
“Absolutely not,” Ice jumped in. “You can stay here. We have extra rooms, and the guest room was never Bradley’s.”
“I don’t have anything with me. Just what I’m wearing,” you sighed. “I can’t do that to you.”
“It’s not doing anything to us,” Maverick kissed your head. “You’re just as welcome here as anyone else.”
“But what if Bradley wants to come to talk to you after he leaves Ron’s?” You asked meekly.
“He’s going to stay over there,” Ice explained. “Sli just sent me a message saying he’s almost cried himself out and is almost asleep on the couch.”
You nodded, “I’ll stay then.”
“Good,” Ice wrapped you in a hug. “It’s going to be okay.
***
Across town, the moment Bradley burst into the living room with tears streaming down his face and his hands shaking violently at his sides, he was pulled into a hug.
“I messed up, Uncle Sli, I really messed up,” he choked out as his Uncle pulled him to his chest. “I really fucking messed up.”
“Breathe, Bradley,” Slider encouraged. “Let it out; we can talk after. Don't have a panic attack on me, alright?”
Holding his nephew, Slider could feel the violent sobs ripping through the younger man’s body, and he whispered words of encouragement in his ears. He didn’t know what had happened and didn’t want to pry, but after receiving a message from his best friend indicating that Bradley was on his way over, he knew it wasn’t good.
“I messed up,” Bradley hiccuped. “All she ever does is love me, and I messed up.”
“It’s okay,” Slider comforted. “It’s okay, kid.”
“No,” Bradley sobbed. “It’s not. What if she doesn’t come home?”
“She will,” Slider rubbed soothing circles on his nephew’s shoulder. “It’s going to be okay.”
“You can’t,” Bradley tried to speak through the sobs. “You can’t promise that.”
“I can,” He affirmed. “Because I’ve held your Pops like this after a fight with Maverick. I’ve held Maverick like this after Ice fucked up. Whatever happened, it’s going to be okay.”
He let his nephew cry himself out; it was the best thing he could do at the moment. Leading him to the couch, he silently retreated to the kitchen and reached for a bottle of water- room temperature like Bradley always requested.
“Why don’t you start at the beginning,” Slider encouraged the younger aviator. “That’s usually what works best.”
“She made dinner,” Bradley leaned his head against the couch and took a breath. “And I came in the door and told her I wasn’t hungry and wanted to go to bed. I had three hops today and a lot of paperwork.”
“And how did she react?” Slider asked.
“She wasn’t angry, so I picked a fight,” Bradley admitted. “I-I told her it was suffocating, feeling like I needed to spend my free time staying busy. It made her cry, so I stayed and ate with her. But halfway through, I tried to pick another fight.”
“What was said?” Bradley hated that his Uncle was always rational and asking poignant questions.
“She finally started fighting back, but it wasn’t… she started apologizing for wanting to see me and saying that she was sorry she didn’t understand the Navy,” he felt another round of tears building. “And I kept fighting her. It was like I didn’t know how to shut the fuck up and fix things.”
“What did you say to her?” Another frustrating question.
“A bunch of shit I shouldn’t have,” Bradley wiped his eyes furiously.
“Like?” Dammit Slider.
“That I needed space in my house and that I didn’t… that I wasn’t used to people constantly being in my space,” Bradley mumbled. “Yelled at her.”
“Bradley Bradshaw,” Slider scolded. “Why in the hell would you say that to her?”
“I don’t know, okay? I don’t know!” He leaned forward and buried his face in his hands. “The worst-worst part was, she just stopped yelling. She was calm and rational, and then she left. She… called me Lieutenant Bradshaw and calmly told me that she was taking space, put her shoes on, and told me she was going to leave, let the fight de-escalate, and start... She said she was going to start looking for apartments. That she should have listened to her friends that we were moving too fast.”
“Do you think what you said made her feel like she didn’t belong?” Slider pressed.
“Yeah,” Bradley whispered. “She didn’t tell me where she was going, so I called Pops and Dad and asked them to find out. Pops has her number. Told them they didn’t have to let me know anything other than she’s safe.”
“Can I be completely honest with you?” Slider asked carefully. “And I want you to listen to me.”
“You’re gonna say it anyway, might as well get it over with,” Bradley groaned.
“I think you messed up, kid. I think you’re scared that you’ve found someone who loves you so unconditionally that you’re opening up to her, letting her in,” Slider explained. “I don’t think you were mad at her; you were afraid. And when you’re afraid and scared, you get angry.”
“I love her so much, Uncle Sli, and I think she just left me,” Bradley’s voice was thick with unshed tears. “She left.”
“I don’t think she left you, Brad,” Slider rubbed his nephew’s back. “But I think she will if this keeps going. Do you remember the time you spent here with her looking at all the pictures and remembering? She looked at you like you hung the fucking moon, dipshit.”
“No one has ever done that for me other than you, Pops, and Dad,” Bradley admitted. “She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“Then stop pushing it away, or it’s going to go away,” Slider said bluntly. “Do you want more advice from someone who has always done the same damn thing until I met Lindsey?”
Bradley nodded.
“Stop running,” Slider clapped his hand on his shoulder. “Let her in; let her be there for you. And stop being so scared, you moron.”
“I don’t know how,” Bradley cried. “I don’t know how to do that.”
“Yes, you do,” Slider chuckled. “You let us in.”
“But you knew my parents,” he whispered. “You knew what happened, and you helped me grow up. She- she’s in love with me.”
“Yeah, she fucking loves you. It would take a hell of a lot to get that to go away, but you need to apologize,” Slider pushed. “Like, soon.”
Bradley looked up at Slider with red-rimmed eyes and tears dripping down his chin. He hadn’t seen his nephew looking like this since The Incident with his Academy papers.
“You okay, bud?” Slider asked carefully.
“Do you know where she is? Or at least if she’s safe?” He begged.
“I do,” Slider nodded. “She’s safe.”
“Will you tell me where she is?” Bradley whispered. “Please? We don’t keep secrets.”
“Brad, that would break my trust with a few people,” Slider sighed. “She’s safe. She’s going to come home tomorrow.”
“I don’t want to be there without her,” another whisper. “I can’t be there without her.”
“You can stay here, you little punk,” Slider laughed. “You’re always welcome here, but the kids are both here, so you’ll have to crash on the couch.”
“That’s fine,” he sighed. “I just don’t want to be there without her. And I want to know where she is. I need to know.”
“If you guess, I won’t tell you no,” Slider compromised.
“Is she with Hollywood?”
Slider shook his head.
“Jake?”
“Nope,” the older man popped the ‘p,’ and Bradley groaned.
“Please don’t tell me she’s with Pops and Dad,” Bradley begged. “Please.”
“Fine, I won’t tell you that,” Slider shrugged.
“They’re going to kill me,” Bradley rasped. “They’re going to be pissed, and they’re going to be…”
“Not mad,” Slider chuckled. “Neutral party. We can sit down and mediate the conversation if you want us to. Just know, and truly know, that you need to apologize for what you said, and she needs to apologize for next to nothing.”
“She will always apologize,” Bradley offered a soft smile. “That’s who she is.”
“Oh, I’ve noticed. She apologized at least seven times the last time she was here,” Slider frowned. “Just have the conversation. It’ll go better than you think.”
Nodding, Bradley retreated to the bathroom to compose himself, and after he returned, Slider had pulled extra blankets and a pillow onto the couch.
“Get some rest,” Slider patted his back. “I’ll wake you for breakfast.”
Bradley fell back into the pillows, and he let his mind wander to what he would say and how he would say it. Little did he know that his girlfriend was thinking about the same things in his father's home and longing to make amends after their first major fight.
***
The following morning in separate homes for the first time in several months, you and Bradley found yourselves seated at a table for breakfast. With puffy eyes and a sad smile, you were eating with Ice and Maverick, and a few words were exchanged between the three of you but nothing of substance. Ice and Maverick made eye contact across the table while you stared at your plate and pushed eggs around quietly. You’d barely touched your coffee, and there was no way you’d be able to stomach pancakes.
“Do you want Ice and I to go with you? We can sit down and mediate; Slider offered to be there too,” Maverick asked gently. “It might help to have all parties there.”
“I think I do,” your voice was soft. “I think I might need help articulating what I said last night. I’m really sorry I dumped all of that on you.”
“We can do that,” Ice patted your forearm. “When do you think you want to go back?”
“Has he told Slider when he wants to go home?” You questioned.
“He’s hoping to be there around lunchtime,” Ice commented. “But if you get there earlier or after, it wouldn’t matter. He just wants you to be there.”
You nodded.
“I’m really scared he won’t want me to stay after we talk,” you laid your fork on your plate. “I don’t know where to go from there.”
“Don’t think in absolutes or worst-case scenarios,” Maverick instructed. “He said his biggest regret was not coming home to us after our fight and speaking rationally. I think he wants to talk this through.”
“Okay,” you whispered. “I can do that.”
Bradley spoke quietly to his Uncle and Lindsey in Slider's dining room and laughed with the Kerner kids. Trying to conceal his puffy eyes with ice prior to their hearty meal, he wasn’t successful. Lindsey pulled him into a hug and told him everything would be okay. Slider asked if he’d thought about what he would say to you. He shrugged, letting his Uncle know that it was a conversation for later in his office.
“So when are you going home to talk to your girlfriend?” Slider asked directly. “And do you want me to go with you?”
“Are Pops and Dad going to be there?” He asked timidly. “Because I don’t want to get yelled at when she’s also going to yell at me.”
“Has she ever yelled at you?” Slider laughed.
“She hadn’t until last night. Pops and Dad, on the other hand…” Bradley frowned.
“Want what’s best for the both of you, you idiot,” Slider rolled his eyes. “You can go over there with your tail tucked between your legs, or you can man up and decide what to say, say it confidently, and talk to your girlfriend.”
“I’ll go option two,” Bradley shrugged and continued to attempt to eat breakfast. “I want you to go though. You can help with my stuff, they can help with hers, and whatever happens at the end, we’ll figure it out from there.”
“Ronald, don't call him an idiot. Bradley, what are you going to talk to her about?” Lindsey asked gently. “Do you have a plan?”
“I’m going to apologize for picking fights to make her mad,” Bradley started. “And then for making her feel like she’s taking over my home. Apologize for making her feel like I don’t want her around and for trying to walk it back at the end instead of talking it out before we started fighting.”
“I think that’s a good place to start,” Slider nodded. “And what about you two talking about the Navy? How do you want her to be there with you and not just because you asked her to move in?”
“Yeah, I’ll get there. It might be word vomit,” Bradley popped his neck as he spoke. “I don’t want to sleep on the couch, so I’ll figure out how to make it stick.”
Slider and Lindsey shared a glance, and she reached out for Bradley’s hand.
“It’s going to go okay,” she soothed.
“I know it’ll probably all be fine,” Bradley confessed. “But I think there’s a lot she’s going to be angry about. And it scares me that she’ll decide to walk.”
“Based on my phone call with Ice, I think she’s going to say a lot, but it’s not going to be what you think it is,” Slider admitted. “I think there are some things she’s been bottling up.”
“Me too, though,” Bradley confessed. “How I feel like I don’t deserve her being there or that she’s going to disappear like everyone else.”
“I think you need to tell her that, too,” Lindsey encouraged. “Ron will help you through it, just like Tom and Pete will help her.”
“It’s going to be just fine, Bird,” Slider smiled. “It’ll all detangle and come back together.”
Admittedly, it was a tough day for both of you as you prepared to return to the house you’d both left the night before. Your mind raced and immediately retreated to worst-case scenarios about how you’d be kicked out, and Bradley wouldn’t want you. Bradley was overthinking everything, assuming you were going to leave him and never look back. It was as though both of you were going to experience your worst fears coming true.
Those fears manifested as panic attacks in Bradley and crying spells in the arms of Ice for you. It felt like nothing was going to be okay.
“Why don’t we head that way?” Maverick encouraged. “Slider said they aren’t going to leave for a bit, and if you both rushed out, we should probably check on the house.”
“I’m worried I left the oven on,” you whispered. “I don’t think he’d remember to shut it off since he didn’t want to eat dinner.”
“We’ll make sure everything’s okay,” Ice assured you as you walked to your separate vehicles. “We’ll meet you over there. Don’t skip out on us.”
“I won’t,” You opened the door of your car and followed their SUV all the way to your empty driveway.
You frowned when you noticed the bright blue Bronco wasn’t in its usual spot in your garage. It hurt your heart that Bradley left, too. He deserved to stay in his home. You didn't want to leave your car, but Maverick opened your door and nudged you toward the beachside bungalow. Taking a deep breath, you walked inside and realized the kitchen was clean and everything was in perfect order.
“He-he cleaned before he left,” you whispered to no one in particular. “He knows I love it when the kitchen is clean, and he hates doing it.”
Ice looked around at the space- he hadn't been there since you moved in because of work trips- and smiled at how homey it looked.
“You cleaned up the Bradshaw Bachelor Pad,” Ice laughed. “He's right; it feels like a home.”
“I did what I could,” you laughed. “I did most of the decorating and didn't let him keep his mess.”
“He's much like his father in that aspect,” Maverick reminisced. “Cluttered and scattered but with a hint of organization. I’m glad you got rid of the horrible bookshelves.”
“We compromised, and they're in the garage. I know his mom picked them out,” you smiled. “He kept the Hawaiian shirts, all the office furniture, and his mismatched framed pictures live there. I reframed the pictures he wanted to keep out.”
“Is that what you do for work?” Maverick asked. “I have to admit we haven't heard much about your job.”
“Oh, no, I just do it for fun. Friends and family only,” you smiled. “I’m a…”
You heard the Bronco pull into the driveway and felt your stomach roll. Nausea crept up your throat, and someone took your hand and directed you toward the bathroom as your face paled.
You threw up.
Maverick brought you water.
When you returned to the shared space, you saw Bradley and Slider seated in the armchairs. Ice was on the couch where you and Maverick were going to sit next to him, you in the middle.
“Babe,” Bradley whispered as he saw your sullen face and the dark bags under your eyes.
You raised your hand silently, asking to wait until the conversation started.
“Thanks for bringing him home, Sli,” Ice commented. “Looks like you've both had a tough night.”
You and Bradley simultaneously nodded your heads.
“And it sounds like you both have some things you need to say?” Slider added.
More nodding.
“I-I can go first,” you were already crying, and Maverick rested a hand on the small of your back. “Is that okay?”
Bradley shook his head, “I need to go first.”
“Okay,” you felt your hands shake, anxiety making you nauseous again. “Okay.”
“You can do it,” Slider encouraged the younger man.
“I shouldn’t have come home looking for a fight,” Bradley said gently. “Just because work was hard and I’m not used to someone caring about me doesn’t mean I needed to pick at you until you snapped. You do so much, and I love having you here and love that you love me, but-but I don’t deserve it.”
“But you do,” your voice was small. “You deserve someone who loves you.”
“Not how you do,” a tear dripped off his chin. “I shouldn’t have called it my house, either. I should never have made you feel like you didn’t belong here, especially not after all you were doing was making dinner. You belong here, made this our home, and should always be here.”
You shook your head and bit back your anxious sob.
“I want you around for as long as you’ll stay,” Bradley’s voice shook. “I’m scared because I know what the Navy can do to a family, but I want to come home to you. Whenever I get papers, I worry I won’t come back to you. And it makes me anxious, but I don’t, I can’t.”
His words stopped, and he buried his face in his hands as Slider rubbed his back. Ice and Maverick looked like they wanted to move to comfort their son, but they stayed with you.
“I-I’m sorry I don’t know enough about the Navy,” your voice was barely audible. “I’m sorry I don’t know how to understand your world and your work. I-I just miss you, and I get scared that our time together might be all we have left.”
“No,” Bradley shook his head. “No, you don't have to apologize for that. It's okay that you don't know. It's okay to be scared. It's not okay for me to do what I did.”
“Sometimes,” your voice finally cracked. “I don't think I’m good enough to love you. And I try my best, but I don't know about your work or talk too much, and it upsets you…”
“Stop,” his voice was sad. “You are; you are enough to love me. And I’m sorry if I recently made you feel like you're not.”
You nodded, “I just want us to be okay, B.”
He nodded.
“And we need to be better about having conversations before huge fights. We have to be honest and open if something’s upsetting us or we’re feeling a certain way.”
Ice gave your shoulder a gentle squeeze.
“I think the two of you are doing great,” Slider filled the silence. “But I've noticed a few things. Bradley, you can't mask everything as anger. It hurts people, and it pushes them away.”
“And you,” Ice patted your back. “Have to give yourself more credit than what you do. It's only going to be okay if you talk.”
“And from experience,” Maverick added. “Bottling up your emotions until you explode isn't healthy for anyone and only hurts your relationship. Take it from all of us.”
“I did this back and forth with your Pops and your Dad,” Slider chuckled. “I’m not running it back.”
Bradley wiped the tears from his cheeks, and it took everything in you not to climb into his lap and hold him. You hated when he cried. It squeezed your heart and hurt you.
“Will you come home?” Bradley asked weakly. “Will you please come home?”
“I-” you stopped.
“I messed up, and I’m so sorry for everything these last few weeks. And I regretted those shitty words as soon as they left my mouth,” he croaked. “Will you forgive me? And will you please come home?”
“Yeah,” you stood, legs shaking, and walked to Bradley. “I’ll come home. But no more of this. I can't fight with you like this.”
“I know,” He wrapped you in a tight hug. “I know. I'm sorry.”
“For the record, I’m sorry too,” you whispered. “I shouldn't have tried to deflect and keep the fight going. It wasn't just your mistake.”
He kissed the top of your head and noticed you were alone in the room. Pulling you in for a kiss, you both knew there was a lot to be talked about and a lot of work to do. As he held you close and whispered apologies in your ears, you felt yourself melt into his embrace, breathe softly, and take in his scent. He smelled like aftershave and slightly of jet fuel, a scent uniquely his own that you found comfort in.
“I love you so much,” He whispered. “So much. And I know it’s tough right now, but I need you to know that I never want you to leave.”
“I’m not going anywhere unless there’s no progress from both of us,” you said honestly. “I love you too, sweet boy.”
Your hand brushed his cheek, and you saw fresh tears filling his eyes. Standing on your tip-toes, you gently kissed his lips and let him hold you, the tears falling freely.
“We’re being watched,” you whispered.
“I know,” he chuckled. “They’re not subtle. But it doesn’t matter because I need to hold you right now. I need you to hold me.”
You ignored his Pops, Dad, and Uncle Slider standing in the doorway as you let Bradley hold you, his movements gently rocking you from side to side. You could feel his hot breath on your cheek, and he continued to whisper words of apology and love in your ear.
“We did a pretty good job with him, didn’t we?” Slider asked. “I know he’s still rough around the edges, but he’s a Navy brat who's in the Navy. It's not going to change overnight.”
“Thirty bucks and a round at the Hard Deck says they’re engaged by Christmas,” Ice laughed as he patted his RIO on the back. “But yeah, we did pretty good.”
“I’m betting on Thanksgiving,” Maverick added. “Looks like I might need to take a trip to the deposit box at the bank. Get something out of it.”
“If he doesn’t ask her to marry him in the next six weeks, I’ll be shocked,” Slider chuckled. “He’s got it bad. Worse than either of you assholes did.”
“You think he’s going to want Carole’s ring?” Ice knew the answer, but he was curious either way.
“She left a note in the envelope alongside the ring,” Maverick mentioned. “It’s for Bradley when he decides to propose. And she told me to only give it to him if I knew for sure his girlfriend would someday be his wife.”
“Yeah,” Slider laughed. “You’re gonna want to go get that, buddy. There’s no way.”
As they looked at the two of you still standing in each other’s arms, Ice elbowed Maverick in the ribs, “She’s good for him.”
“Oh, for sure,” Slider interrupted. “I’ll kick his ass if he doesn’t lock her down.”
“Everyone will,” Maverick smiled. “Phoenix gets the first kick.”