I Will Always Love You | B.B.
Summary: Bradley has no one to release him at his tapping out ceremony.
Warnings: female reader; use of (Y/N); reader has a big family; mentions of Bradley having no family left after Carole's death, mentions of the fight between Bradley and Maverick; breakup; kinda off a happy ending;
Word Count: 1023
A/N: This was written for the @roosterforme's fic challenge #love is in the air tgm. It was inspired by the song "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston. I had so much fun writing it and I hope you all enjoy it.
They were meant to be. That’s what everyone said to them after they got together. It seemed like their friends had been waiting for the news already. (Y/N) and Bradley were so in sync with each other that it was obvious to everyone but them how perfect they worked together.
Her family welcomed him with open arms, which was a blessing. Bradley had little to no family he still had contact with after his mother’s passing and his fall off with his godfather. (Y/N) was the second eldest of five siblings, not to mention all of the cousins. They all loved him. She always told Bradley that he was easy to love.
In times like these, Bradley felt the loss of his mother the most. He was sure that Carole would have loved (Y/N) just as much as she had loved him.
They were meant to be… until they weren’t.
Coming from a big family, all (Y/N) wanted was a good job that could get her out of her parents home. Bradley understood that, after all, he was only in college as a way to get in the Navy, like he always dreamt. Everything was doing fine until their graduation.
“You’ve been strange since yesterday.” Bradley said, loosening his arms from around (Y/N) that was sitting beside him.
She sighed, turning around to look him in the eyes.
“I’ve received a proposal.”
Bradley blinked a couple of times, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“To go to London.”
The breath got caught in his throat as he looked at the woman he loved and wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
“London?” He asks.
“Yes.” She confirms. “The office needs someone there and since I just graduated they thought it would be a great opportunity to start this new phase.”
The tension in the room was thick. Neither of them expected to have this conversation so soon. Bradley thought that they would at least have a couple of months to spare.
“You should go.” He finally said after what felt like hours of silence.
“Brad…”
He cuts her off before she can get another word in.
“It’s a great opportunity for you to start your career and…”
Her soft lips are on his and for a moment everything feels right. The kiss lasts only a couple of seconds, but it is enough to dissolve some of the tension, leaving place for sadness to set in.
“We have to talk.” She said.
“There’s nothing to talk about. You have to take this opportunity, you don’t know if you’ll get another.”
“I know.”
Simple as that. No buts, no questions. They both just knew.
“When do you leave?” He asks, swallowing the lump in his throat.
“I don’t know.” She answers, voice breaking.
That’s when the first tears start to fall. Bradley pulls her to him, snuggling themselves together, trying to get as close as they could to forget the storm above their heads.
“We will find a way.” He mumbles against her hair. “Everything will be okay.”
Maybe it wasn’t meant to be, after all.
Bradley had a month to prepare for the academy, (Y/N) was given the same time to prepare for her trip, so they both decided that they would make the most of the little time they had together. It was one of the hardest things he had to do in his life.
After too much talk, the both of them decided that ending their relationship to focus on their careers would be the best decision for both of them. They would be too busy with their jobs to be able to maintain a long distance relationship, so it seemed like the logical decision to make.
They agreed not to have an airport goodbye. (Y/N)’s family took her from Bradley’s place, but he didn’t go. Their goodbye was just their own.
And just like that, Bradley was alone again. He and (Y/N) parted as friends, her family still talked to him almost daily, but how do you stay friends with someone you thought you were going to spend the rest of your life with?
With time he stopped answering her, it didn’t take long for her to stop trying to reach out and that’s how he ended up here, standing alone at his tapping out ceremony, with nobody to relieve him.
Until someone tapped him on the shoulder.
Bradley turned around to meet (Y/N) standing there as beautiful as the last time she woke up by his side. He was quick to engulf her in a hug and, before thinking, kissing her.
She tasted like cinnamon and coffee. It was so familiar and yet so strange. When they separated, he was quick to apologize.
“I’m sorry.” He started, embarrassed. “I’m sorry, I…”
The words got lost between their lips once she kissed him again.
“Congratulations, soldier.” She mumbled against his lips. “Or should I say sailor?”
Bradley smiles, relinquishing the feeling of her hands caressing his face.
“Soon to be pilot.” He answers, opening his eyes to look at her.
“Well, soon-to-be-pilot, there’s more people here that want to see you.”
She turns around in his arms, making way for him to see her family cheering at him.
“Why is everybody here?” He laughed.
“Are you kidding me?” She asked, smiling. “There was no talking them out of coming to see their favorite member of the family become a soon-to-be-pilot.”
He frowned, unsure of how to react.
“You’re easy to love, Bradley Bradshaw. I’ll always love you and so will they.”
She kissed him again, taking him out of his head a little, before nudging him to go celebrate with her family—their family.
“Common, before they say that I want you all to myself.” She said, taking his hand and adding, “Which is true.”
Bradley smiled, “Later.” He promised. “You can have me all to yourself later.”
And that promise was enough to put both their hearts at ease. Even if they had only tonight, Bradley knew that a part of them would always belong to each other.
