Title and story inspired the song “I Tried” by Daniel Seavey.
Summary: Bradley starts to look back on his life before being called back to Top Gun.
Warnings: Fluff
Word Count: 1.2k
A/N: A Bradley POV?! Yes, yes it is! 😍 Sorry, it’s a short chapter.
Thank you all who have given support to this story! We are now starting to approach the uranium mission! Lots of things will change movie wise, since we have a lot of characters to add in, as well as keeping some of the old characters. Iceman won’t die, BUT I do have plans! The story has been outlined and ready to start writing! So to treat you all who have stuck by me throughout the story waiting for Bradley, here he is!
Big love always to my beta reader and editor @reginleight. Thank you for still sticking with me! 💛
As always, likes are great and all, but comments, reblogs, and feedback are highly appreciated and loved! 🤭
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When Bradley was eight years old, he met Aurora and Peyton Benjamin-Mitchell. He didn’t know it at the time but deep down he knew he would have those two in his life forever. Aurora, Bradley, and Peyton became the best trio of friends and had many memories together.
As years went by, Bradley started to grow feelings for Aurora. They first drifted apart when he got his first girlfriend, he tried to push Aurora out of his mind. He thought at the time he only loved her like a friend, and could never love her more than that.
The first time they kissed that Christmas night, he knew that he would never feel the same way towards another girl as he did for his Aurora, his princess. He started to fall in love with her, little by little. Recognizing the little things, her favorite flowers, her ticks, he knew her better than he knew himself sometimes.
And that scared him.
His mother then got cancer, and that was a scary time for him. He had almost lost his dad, and he didn’t want to lose his mom. Even after his mom was clear from cancer, he was still prepared to go into the Naval Academy. Then Maverick pulled his papers. To this day, he had still never gotten over it and how angry he had been.
Regardless, he still remained civil with him because of his dad, Aurora and Peyton. They never really brought it up to him, as Bradley still ended up going to the Naval Academy after going to college for four years. Even though it had set him back for those four years, he was determined to make it. To prove that he was able to become a naval aviator in honor of his dad.
During this time, he slowly became more aware of his feelings towards Aurora, but never said anything because of the distance and timing. So when Aurora had announced that she was going to start her career at NCIS as an agent, Bradley knew the timing still wasn’t right.
He knew if he had told her about his feelings, she would give up everything to be with him, so he didn’t say anything. Instead, he loved her from afar and a few months after that, he was invited to Top Gun. He was proud to show his dad that he had become a Top Gun graduate like he was, and went on to become a great naval aviator to this day.
But even after achieving his hopes and dreams, he longed for what his dad and mom had. The connection of his best friend and soulmate all in one. He missed Aurora deeply. He promised himself that he would always come back for her, that he would find his way back to her.
Even now, his thoughts just couldn’t help but wander back to her…
“Earth to Bradley.” A voice draws him out from his thoughts, snapping Bradley back to reality and his current surroundings.
He turned his head to Peyton, who had joined him outside and sat across from him. He could feel Peyton’s boot knocking against his own occasionally from where they sat together.
Currently both were sitting on the porch railing, looking out towards the ocean from the backyard porch of Bradley’s parents house. Goose and Carole were currently vacationing in Europe, so they let Bradley and Peyton stay at their place during their assignment.
“I’ve been calling you for like a whole solid 5 minutes.”
“Sorry, I’ve been deep in thought.”
“I’ll say. I can’t believe we’re back here,” Peyton says, leaning his head on a support beam.
“Yeah, neither can I,” Bradley mumbles as he turns back to the view.
“What do you think this mission is?” Peyton speaks up after a moment of silence between the two.
“Who knows. Can’t be anything good if they pulled us from our current deployment.” Bradley replies.
“Well, a mission is a mission.”
“God, you’re starting to sound like Hangman.”
Peyton kicks Bradley in retort, almost making him fall off the railing.
“Do you think he’s here for the mission as well?”
“Probably. If scuttlebutt says that the higher ups are calling in the best of the best, it makes sense that he would be here too. Probably Phoenix as well.”
“Why were you called back then?” Peyton smirks.
Bradley kicks Peyton back for that remark, rolling his eyes.
“Everyone is probably going to meet up at the Hard Deck,” Bradley says to which Peyton hums in reply, fiddling his fingers.
Bradley looks at him, knowing that Peyton only plays with his fingers when he’s hiding something.
Then it dawned on him.
“You didn’t tell your mom you were stateside, did you?”
“I, I haven’t had the chance-”
Bradley’s groans interrupted him.“Pey, you know she’s going to kill you for not telling her earlier, right?”
“Well, that’s future Peyton’s problem to deal with.”
Bradley faceplam’s his own face, knowing he would not want to face the wrath of Mama Penny, especially since Peyton hadn’t seen her since he was deployed almost a year ago.
“Wait, hold on. What about Rory? When was the last time you talked to her?”
“When was the last time we sent a postcard?”
“In Japan a few months ago”
“A few months ago.” Peyton answers Bradley’s previous question of their last communication.
“Holy shit, she’s gonna kill you!”
“No, no. She’s going to kill both of us,” Peyton states matter of factly.
“I’m not going to be a part of this.”
“Well, you kind of are, since you didn’t reply back to her letter she sent back to us either.”
“We’ve been a bit busy,” Bradley admits reluctantly. Both Peyton and Bradley had been busy on deployment, Bradley always doing runs while Peyton was working on the planes.
“Oh yeah, okay,” Peyton answers sarcastically. “Let’s see if she’ll accept that answer.”
Bradley groans, knowing Aurora would be furious that neither of them told her that they were both stateside.
Aurora was so busy at her NCIS job, yet she still had time to write them both a letter, and send them care packages. These last few months had just been really busy for him.
“Look, we’ll call her after our first day back at Top Gun tomorrow. She’ll be so happy to hear from us, she won’t even remember being mad at us forgetting to tell her about being stateside,” Peyton reasons with Bradley, trying to get him to calm down a bit.
Bradley sighs. “You’re right.”
“I’m always right.” Peyton smirks at him as he hops down from the railing. “Now c’mon. Let’s head to the Hard Deck, see Mama Penny and the rest of the aviators who were called back.”
“You just want to see if Hangman’s here so you can suck his-”
“Shut up!” Peyton interrupts him, heading back into the house holding up his middle finger for Bradley to see.
Bradley chuckles, as he looks back towards the ocean. After this mission, he was going to fly to Virginia to see Aurora.
He was going to keep the promise he made to himself. He was going to tell her how he felt and would make everything work between the two of them. He just needed to get through this mission.
Little did he know that the girl he dreamed about night and day was already on her way back to him sooner than they both had thought.
- - -
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—
Disclaimer: This story is fictitious. All works are written by me and only posted here. Please do not copy, repost, or plagiarize on any other platform without my permission!
Title and story inspired the song “8 Letters” by Why Don’t We.
Summary: Aurora and Bradley have known each other for so long, so why is it so hard to say those little 8 letters?
Disclaimer: This story is fictitious. All works are written by me and only posted here. Please do not copy, repost, or plagiarize on any other platform without my permission!
Warnings: None, all fluff!
Word Count: 1k
A/N: A 2nd chapter in one week?? 😳
This was written for @roosterforme's #Love Is In The Air TGM Challenge! This chapter can be read on its own, but it's better to read the story in order! I’ve had this song already waiting to be used, and I found a perfect moment to use this for Aurora and Bradley! Thank you Em for letting me participate in this challenge! And thank you @reginleight my beta reader and editor for editing this!
So please enjoy, I hope you like it! Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! ❤️
As always, comments, reblogs, and feedback are appreciated! 🤭
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“Care to dance?”
Aurora was in the middle of a conversation between her mother and Aunt Carole when that familiar voice came beside her. They’d been discussing her upcoming job at NCIS for a while now, so when Bradley approached with his hand out to her and an offer to dance, Aurora was glad to take him up on it.
With a smile she took his hand, a spark running through her veins as it always did whenever she and Bradley would touch.
“What took you so long, Rooster?” she answers, teasing him. He rolls his eyes as he leads her to the makeshift dance floor in the Bradshaw’s backyard that was made for Aurora’s and Peyton’s graduation celebration. It was already late in the night, so there weren’t as many people as there were earlier, but still quite a bit.
Peyton and Lucille were at a table arguing over something, while her Uncle Ice, Uncle Goose, Slider, and her dad Maverick were drinking at another nearby table, talking about the “good old days.” Her mom Penny, Aunt Carole, Aunt Sarah and Uncle Slider’s wife were all in a huddle talking about who knows what. More guests were mingling with others, and some were out on the dance floor as well.
Aurora chuckles at the sight while Bradley swings her around. She places one hand on his shoulder, and one hand in his own hand, just like they used to do during their summer nights dancing in the Bradshaw’s living room.
The DJ then starts a new slow song, one that Aurora recognizes immediately.
You know me the best.
You know my worst, see me hurt, but you don't judge.
That right there is the scariest feeling.
She looks up at Bradley who had a smirk on his face.
“What? You think I don’t know my best friend’s favorite song?” He teases seeing her shocked face.
“I just didn’t think you remembered,” she blushes. Not only was it her favorite song, but it was also one she had related to way too much.
“Darling, when it came out, you’d scream it every opportunity you got, and even made me put it on my playlist for car rides.”
She groans and buries her face in his chest as he laughs. He knew her like the back of his hand, and sometimes he used that to his advantage. But really, it only ever added to the growing fondness she held for him.
They continue to sway to the music as Aurora leans her head against Bradley’s chest, listening to his heartbeat, while Bradley rests his chin on top of her head.
If all it is is eight letters
Why is it so hard to say?
If all it is is eight letters
Why am I in my own way?
Aurora thinks of the words to the songs. Oh how she wants to tell Bradley how she feels. How she was so enamored by him the first time they met when they were little, from that first kiss on the hand from him. How every summer they spent together, she fell in love with every little thing about him. How she was always jealous of the girls he dated, but didn’t say anything because she wanted to protect their friendship.
But she couldn’t say it.
Isn't it amazing how almost every line on our hands align?
When your hand's in mine
It's like I'm whole again, isn't that a sign?
I should speak my mind
Little did she know, Bradley was thinking the same thing. He wanted to tell her how much he adored her, how all he thought about was their kiss on Christmas that one night, how all he wanted in his life was to follow her through the ends of the earth.
But he couldn’t say it either.
I've said those words before, but it was a lie
And you deserve to hear them a thousand times
They didn’t want to hold each other back. Bradley’s naval aviator career was just taking off, and hopefully would soon be going to Top Gun in a few months. Aurora was about to become an NCIS agent to make a name for herself. If they said it now, what would happen?
When I close my eyes
It's you there in my mind
When I close my eyes
They knew that if they had both spoken those words, those 8 letters, it would make everything messy. They didn’t want to risk their friendship, not now. Not when they’ll be miles apart.
“You’ll be safe, right?” Bradley asks Aurora who was peacefully still resting her head on his chest. She looks up at his eyes that were filled with concern.
“I already said I would, B.” She says softly.
If all it is is eight letters
Why is it so hard to say?
If all it is is eight letters
Why am I in my own way?
Why do I pull you close?
And then ask you for space
If all it is is eight letters
Why is it so hard to say?
“I know, I just…I worry about you, and being a federal agent is a dangerous job.”
“Okay, Mr. Naval Aviator. Shouldn’t I be saying that to you?” she sasses at him.
“Yeah, but I just want you to be safe.”
“For you B, anything. As long as you stay safe too.”
“Always for you princess,” he whispers as he kisses her forehead, when all he really wanted to do was kiss her lips. She hums in reply as they finish dancing to the song.
They didn’t say anything else. It’s not like they were nervous to say those 8 letters, they just weren’t ready yet. So instead they kept their feelings to themselves as they danced with the stars watching over them as always, because that moment was all they had for now. But for the two of them, that would be enough until they saw each other again. When they were ready, they would say those 8 letters to each other. “I love you.”
When I close my eyes
It's you there in my mind
When I close my eyes
If all it is is eight letters
—
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Title and chapter inspired the song “You’re On Your Own, Kid” by Taylor Swift.
Summary: Aurora has a decision to make, but so much to look back on.
Disclaimer: This story is fictitious. All works are written by me and only posted here. Please do not copy, repost, or plagiarize on any other platform without my permission! The timeline and ages are changed to fit the story, not the movies. Some of these storylines/backgrounds are based on what I write or imagine for my Top Gun DR.
Warnings: Mild language? Mention of cancer. I never know what to put here. Just be cautious.
Word Count: 3.7k
A/N: The story is now finally getting somewhere. I’m so excited for all of you to read this chapter! Shoutout to my beta reader and editor @reginleight, who also inspired a new OC character.
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Warm air blew on Aurora’s skin as she stood in the sun with her fellow classmates, waiting to walk across the stage to receive both her diplomas from college. Today she was graduating from college with her family in the stands watching her. Her father had just flown in from one of his deployments. Amelia and Penny were there, and her stepfather, if you could even still consider him that, was absent.
After the divorce, Aurora became a rock for her mom when she needed to. Even though the twins had gone to schools across the country from Penny and Amelia, they still came back home when they could. Peyton went to the Naval Academy, and Aurora went to UVA, much to everyone’s surprise, since this would be the first time the two siblings would be separated.
Peyton had just finished his training at the Naval Academy and came just in time for Aurora’s graduation. Goose and Carole had flown in the day before, and Iceman and Sarah were also in town to watch her graduate. The only person who wasn’t there was Bradley. Bradley and Aurora had found their footing back after Christmas, as friends, but then something had happened.
Aurora had gotten word that her dad had tried to pull Bradley’s paper for the Naval Academy. Unsuccessful, but still something to note that he did it.
Bradley had been mad. He was beyond furious that Maverick thought to do such a thing, and assumed Aurora took part in it, until Aurora had explained she had no idea why Maverick tried to pull his papers. Bradley was still a bit angry with Maverick to this day, but had put the anger away for his dad and his best friend.
On top of Maverick trying to pull his papers, Carole had also started getting sick. Ovarian cancer. Thankfully they caught it in time to operate. Those days had been a hard time for the Bradshaws and while grateful Carole had been cured, the news that she wouldn’t be able to have any more children was also saddening to find out. Aurora was simply thankful to still have her aunt, and would visit her often when she had moved to Virginia for college.
Although when Bradley was attending and finishing up at the Naval Academy, Aurora was finishing high school, they both still had time to write each other letters. Of course, Bradley would call in now and then but they found letters to be a better time when they were able to write about their days and send it off. After Aurora and Bradley both finished at their respective schools, they thought they would see more of each other, with Aurora going to UVA, and Bradley about to be stationed in Virginia. At least, that was what they were hoping for when Bradley finished flight school in Pensacola, Florida.
“You didn’t have to help me move into my dorm, B. You have to leave soon for flight school. You too Peyton, you literally start at the Academy in 2 days.” Aurora sighs out as she puts down a box onto her bed for the year. Bradley was right behind her, with a few other boxes, as well as Peyton who was also there helping his twin sister move into her new room.
“What, you think we’re gonna leave you by yourself, without giving you a proper goodbye?” Bradley smirks, setting down the boxes.
Peyton chuckles, “No, she thinks you’re gonna chase down any guy that looks her way.”
“Damn right I will.”
Aurora rolls her eyes but smiles at Bradley’s protectiveness. Even though they never discussed the kiss since that Christmas day, they both went back to being best friends. Little did she know, Bradley felt the same way she did. They both didn’t want to lose each other. She looks at Peyton.
“What if I can’t do this without Pey? I don’t remember the last time we were separated for this long. What if something happens and you're not here?” Aurora starts panicking. “What if I get a boyfriend and you're not here to give him the ‘I’m her brother and if you hurt her I’ll hurt you’ talk? Or worse, what if you get a boyfriend or girlfriend before I even date?”
Peyton had come out as bisexual to his family during their senior year of high school. Everyone in the family had supported him, with Aurora helping defend her brother when he started getting bullied at school. Gone was the shy girl, and out came a protective sister when she realized how much family meant to her.
Peyton laughs and hugs his sister to stop her rambling. “I will be just fine. I got the Benjamin-Mitchell blood in me. We’re fighters, we got this.”
Peyton turns to look his twin in the eye, drawing her out of her thoughts. “I’m worried about you though. You’ll be alright, Aurie? I’ll always be a phone call away.”
Touched by those words, Aurora smiles and drags Bradley in for a group hug with her and Peyton.
“Of course, I have you two to always check up on me.”
Peyton had a great time at the Naval Academy, while Aurora went through college on her own. It was a bit tough at first but she had finally found her footing once she got the hang of being on her own. While Bradley was at flight school, he had finally earned his callsign, and couldn’t wait to tell his best friend.
“Ok, it’s not my birthday, so why are you so excited for me to open this package?” Aurora sets her phone down on her apartment desk, with the camera still facing her as she was on a video call with Bradley.
“Because you finally get to know my call sign!” Bradley exclaimed excitedly, causing Aurora to gasp.
“Wait, so it’s not BradBrad? Damn I owe Peyton $20,” she teases. Bradley groans, as he was already impatient that he had to wait for the package to even get to Aurora.
“Just open it.”
“Okay fine, they should have called you Hothead because you’re so easily bothered.”
“So you’re calling me hot?” Bradley quips back at her.
Aurora rolls her eyes and sticks up her middle finger. She then proceeds to open the package and she takes out the item Bradley had sent her.
“Oh my gosh! Your callsign is Mother Hen!?” she cackles.
“Wait, What? No! It’s Rooster, dummy!”
“I don’t know. I think I like Mother Hen better,” Aurora teases. She holds up the rooster stuffed animal that he had sent her.
“That’s not gonna stick.”
“Oh, it so is!” she exclaims, hugging her new stuffed friend. Bradley took a screenshot of that moment.
After a year and a half, Bradley had finally graduated flight school. Aurora could remember that day. She’d gone to his graduation tapping out ceremony along with Carole, Goose, Maverick and Peyton. They all agreed that they would all be tapping him out, but the day of, Carole and Goose wanted Peyton and Aurora to tap him out.
“Wait, but Uncle, Auntie, it should be you two to tap him out. Why us two?” Aurora gestures between her and her brother.
“Because without you two, Bradley wouldn’t be here.” Carole simply says as Goose nods next to her.
Aurora was stunned, not sure why they didn’t just do a group hug to tap him out, but they all insisted that the twins do it. So as Aurora and Peyton find Bradley amongst his fellow graduates, she starts getting nervous. Peyton was subtly checking out the graduates while they weaved through the crowd.
They soon spot their best friend, who still was standing at attention, waiting to be tapped out. They approach him hand and hand, with Carole and Maverick trailing behind the twins, Goose capturing the moment with his camera.
“Look at this, the BAP trio, back together again!” Peyton speaks up, knowing Bradley couldn’t respond until he was tapped out. Aurora had tears running down her cheeks.
“We’re so proud of you Bradley,” Aurora beams at him. Bradley stood still, itching to hug his best friends. Aurora and Peyton then look at each other and go in for a group hug, tapping Bradley out. He instantly clung to both of them, tears running down everyone's faces.
“Thank you for being here,” Bradley whispers to them.
“Wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world,” Both Peyton and Aurora reply at the same time. They all look at each other and laugh, as Bradley pries himself out of the group hug and goes to hug his mom and dad, who were already in shambles, proud tears on their faces, while Maverick took over the camera to take pictures of the family.
After that, Bradley was finally stationed in Virginia, assigned to his squadron which meant Aurora got to spend a lot more time with her best friend, until his orders came through for his first deployment. It lasted six months, with Aurora already in her junior year she and Bradley relied a lot on their communication with letters. It never stopped Bradley from sending her flowers, or even small packages to her containing treats from wherever he was docked, or even postcards, while Aurora did the same, she would often send Bradley care packages to help him through deployment.
They kept in constant communication, even with them being miles apart from each other. Aurora was a bit sad when she found out Bradley wouldn’t be able to make her college graduation due to his next deployment, but she understood that.
“Psst, you alright Mitchell?” a voice calls out drawing her out of her thoughts. She looks and sees her girl best friend and roommate since freshman year seated next to her.
‘I’m fine Belmont, why do you ask?” she replies.
“You just look very deep in thought. Wouldn’t want you to miss your own graduation.”
Aurora laughs with her friend. Lucille and Aurora became great friends when they realized that they were going to be roommates. Lucille was graduating with a criminal justice degree, and going straight into law school in the upcoming fall semester. They had each other’s back throughout college, and soon became family to each other. Aurora was sad that her friend was moving all the way to California for her law degree, but was so proud of her for staying on her path to becoming an attorney.
“Aurora Benjamin-Mitchell, with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science, and a Bachelor of Arts in Aviation, Cumme Laude!” a voice calls out, drawing her back to the present.
There is a loud cheer as she crosses the stage, as she could spot her family from the stands, as she takes her diploma and shakes hands with the dean. She walks off smiling and waving at them, to which they cheer even louder. She laughs and goes back to her seat until the end of the ceremony.
—
“I’m so proud of you!” Penny hugs her older daughter tightly, after she had already hugged everyone else.
Aurora laughs. “Mom, you already said you were, we took pictures and everything just a few minutes ago.”
“I know, but I just wanted to say it again because I’m so, so proud of my little star.” Penny gushes as she squishes her daughter’s face. Aurora rolls her eyes, and locks eyes with her dad.
“Dad, a little help please.” she pleads to him. Maverick chuckles.
“Oh no kid, you’re on your own.”
She groans as Peyton helps pry their mom off the girl.
“Alright mom, we get it, Aurie is the favorite child.” Peyton jokes.
“Hey, I thought I was the favorite!” Amelia calls out, who was standing next to Maverick, hand in hand.
“Of course you are Ami, don’t listen to your older siblings, they’re just jealous.” Maverick leans to stage whisper to her. She giggles at Maverick’s antics, as the others roll their eyes. She looks to see her Auntie Carole, without Goose by her side.
“Hey, where’d Uncle Goose go?”
“Probably went to the car to take a nap. He’s getting really old.”
Penny smacks Maverick’s arm at his answer while everyone laughs.
“He’s getting your graduation present,” Carole answers Aurora’s question.
“You really didn’t have to get me anything, Auntie.” Aurora nervously says, thinking it was an expensive gift and she didn’t want her godparents to be giving her such a gift.
“Well, unfortunately we can’t return this gift,” Goose says from behind her.
She turns towards her uncle and gasps. Standing next to Goose was Bradley Bradshaw, her best friend in the flesh, and not on deployment like he had said. He was dressed in slacks and a polo shirt, holding a bouquet of flowers in his hand, pink peonies and white carnations.
Pink peonies meaning prosperity, and white carnations good luck, appropriate for graduation as well as it being Aurora’s favorite color combination.
She squeals at the sight of him before running into his awaiting arms and when he caught her, she’d truly felt like she was home. Like she had found the missing piece from today.
“Congrats princess, I’m so proud of you,” Bradley whispers into her ear. She clings on to him, never wanting to let go.
“Am I dreaming? You’re actually here?” she questions.
He pulls back to take a look at her face and smirks. “Why? Dream of me often, Mitchell?”
She smiles at him and cups his face. “Every hour, every minute, every second I breathe, Bradshaw.”
She pulls him back into a hug as he kisses her forehead. “Best surprise ever,” she whispers to him.
“Well there goes the car we got her ‘ey Pen?”
—
Carole and Goose went all out to celebrate not only Aurora’s graduation, but Peyton’s graduation as well. The twins had decided to do a joint party, like they normally do with birthdays and other big celebrations. The Bradshaws’ backyard had quite a few people. Mostly all family friends, since Aurora and Peyton’s friends had other celebration plans.
Lucille and Aurora had walked in, arms linked laughing at a joke Lucille had made. Aurora had made her rounds around the backyard, making sure to hug and greet everyone at the party. She talked a bit to Viper, who was Maverick’s old Top Gun instructor. He had made a joke saying he hopes to see her in the skies soon, to which Aurora just laughed it off lightly. She got to hear old stories from her Uncle Ice, and his backseater Slider, but her favorite interaction was when she had introduced her best friend to them.
“Uncle Ice, Slider, this is my friend Lucille. She just graduated and is headed to UCLA for law school. Lucille, this is my dad’s other wingman, callsign Iceman, and his RIO, Slider.” Aurora introduces them.
“Hi, it’s nice to meet you,” Lucille greets them, shaking their hands. “Your callsign is pretty neat. I also like slider burgers!”
The older men stood frozen as Aurora looks at her best friend in shock. She apologizes and excuses both of them, and drags her best friend away as they laugh at what had taken place.
“So, you tell your dad about what you’re doing next?” Lucille asks, as she takes a soda from one of the many coolers that were set out.
Aurora took a considerable sip of the drink in her hand before answering.
“Not yet. Think I could make a run for it before I make the announcement?”
“You try and run, I'll be right behind you following in your footsteps,” Peyton replies, coming up from behind the duo, with Bradley in tow wrapping an arm around Aurora’s waist. They had just come back from talking to another group of family friends.
“What’s the big announcement? And why haven’t you told me? You always tell me everything,” Bradley pouted at both the twins.
“Because Mother Hen, we don’t know if our dad will like what we have to say,” Aurora answers, as she chews the inside of her cheek. Nervously, she began playing around with her silver charm bracelet, adorned with a new charm Bradley got her, a graduation cap one.
Bradley looks down at the girl who couldn't keep still. He knew her mind was racing but didn’t say anything about it.
“Seriously? That name is sticking?”
“Hell yeah!” Both twins answer.
“I don’t know, I'm still partial to Chicken Little,” Lucille answers as Bradley sticks up his middle finger in retaliation.
“Rory, Pey!” They turn and see Maverick calling out to them, gesturing for the twins to come up the steps leading to the house, as if it was a makeshift stage. Penny stood by him waving to them. It was time for the twins to tell everyone what was next.
“Showtime,” Peyton sarcastically mutters, as he yanks his sister out of Bradley’s arm and drags her to the crowd that was forming around Maverick and Penny, the two making room for the twins as they climbed the steps.
“Alright Pey, you first,” Penny says to him.
“What? Wait, maybe Aurora should go first.”
“Oh heck no, mom says you go first, besides you’re older!” Aurora points out.
Peyton groans, while Penny tells them to behave. He clears his throat before beginning to speak to everyone in the backyard.
“Hi, everyone! Thank you all for coming! I think I speak for both my sister and myself when I say we are so happy to see that all our friends and family are here. First I want to give thanks to our parents.”
“For we wouldn’t be here without them.” Aurora speaks up as she turns to smile at her parents, her stomach twisting in anticipation.
“And thank you to the Bradshaws for not only their hospitality, but for being the best godparents we could ask for.”
“And our best friends Bradley Bradshaw and Lucille Belmont for being our anchors.”
“Okay, stop stalling, just tell us already!” Goose shouts from his spot in the crowd, as everyone laughs and Carole tries to shush him. The twins give each other a nervous look before Peyton continues on.
“After getting my BAs in Aviation and Aerospace Engineering,” Peyton says, “I have decided to go to Technical School and become an Aviation Mechanic.”
Everyone gasps and after a bit of silence, cheers and claps for Peyton. The twins turn to Maverick and Penny. Penny had the look of a proud mom, whereas Maverick’s face was unreadable.
“What happened to wanting to be a Naval Aviator?” Maverick murmurs to Peyton.
“As much as I want to be in the skies, I think my love for Legos knew I wasn’t ever going to be in the skies as much. Plus, I love fighter jets, just not enough to pilot one. I hope you’re not too disappointed in me dad.” Peyton explains. Maverick pulls his son into a hug.
“I could never be disappointed. Just a bit shocked.” Maverick pulls out of the hug and taps Peyton’s shoulder. “I’m proud of you Pey. You’re gonna make us proud.” Penny then hugs her son and whispers something in his ears that makes his eyes almost water. He nods and turns to his sister who was beaming with pride.
“I’m happy for you, Pey.”
“Oh please, like you didn’t see that coming. I told you like a month ago.” They laugh and he pulls his twin into a one arm hug.
“And Aurora, what about you?” Maverick turns to look at her daughter. Aurora takes a deep breath and turns to the awaiting crowd. She spots Bradley in the crowd as he gives her a smile and thumbs up.
Aurora’s thoughts ran rampant in her head, her next words being the big life changer. She grabs her bracelet again as she fidgets with it in anticipation, hoping it would calm her down.
“With getting my degree in Political Science and Aviation, I have decided that-”
Aurora stills and turns to look at her parents. They smile at her, knowing her parents would support her decision. She grabs her twin’s hand and she thinks back to when she had made her decision.
“Wait, can you say that again?”
“I want you to work for me. You’ve already proved that you have the skill set to be a great asset here, and you already get along with the team.”
“But, this was just an internship, a requirement for one of my classes. Why me? You have a ton of willing candidates out there,” she turns to the gentlemen that stood in front of her.
He had a stern look on his face, serious about what he had asked Aurora. He was an older man that had white hair and stood up straight, with an expression showing he was serious. Aurora had gotten to know him and his team during her internship. He was intimidating and quiet at the same time. Everyone knew of him because he was just that intimidating. He took his job seriously, which was why Aurora was confused why he had approached her with a job offer on her last day of her internship, a few months before she was set to graduate.
“Because I see a potential in you,” he simply tells her.
“Ok, but I’m perfectly content in following my dad’s footsteps.”
He sighs “Rule #5”
“You don’t waste good,” Aurora mutters as she rocks back on her heels. She looks down at her wrist where her charm bracelet Bradley had given her sat. It brought her comfort as she thought about the situation in front of her,
She had memorized all the weird rules this man had when she worked with him for the past couple of months. No one but her brother knew about the internship. She didn’t even tell Bradley because she knew what he would say. She was old enough to finally make a decision on her own without having to tell her parents or her best friend about it.
“Exactly, and you are good. But you can be better,” he tells her, as she draws herself from her thoughts. She looks up and sees him make eye contact with her.
“So what do you say probie?” He approaches her with his arm extended for her to shake.
This was the moment. Follow her father’s path, or make her own name for herself.
“Ready to work for NCIS?”
---
If you would like to be on the taglist or removed, please let me know!
Title and chapter inspired the song “My Song For You” by Bridgit Mendler and Shane Harper.
Summary: Christmas looks a bit different this year for Aurora.
Disclaimer: This story is fictitious. All works are written by me and only posted here. Please do not copy, repost, or plagiarize on any other platform without my permission!
Warnings: Mild language? Mentions of a car accident? A bit of angst and fluff!
Wordcount: 8.2k
A/N: We have a Christmas chapter for once! These chapters get longer and longer every time I write a new one, so I hope you enjoy it! Made the moodboard myself! Like usual, timeline and ages are changed to fit the story, not the movies. Some of these storylines/backgrounds are based on what I write or imagine for my Top Gun DR. Thanks to my beta reader and editor @reginleight for putting up with this long chapter!
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Aurora always adored Christmas at the Bradshaw’s. Not only did she get to spend time with her family, but also the snow. She loves San Diego, but there was always something about the cold and snow in Virginia that she loved just a bit more, especially it being Christmas. But this year was a bit different.
She was glad that Christmas break was here, but she was not looking forward to going to Virginia for once. She didn’t want to have to tell Bradley about her semester, when he himself was already having a great last year of high school. She especially did not want to tell her dad what had gone down either.
This year, they were meeting him in Virginia as he had just gotten back from another deployment and took time off to spend Christmas with them. Her mom and stepfather were staying in San Diego as they had baby Amelia to take care of, the little girl having already turned three. With that being the case, the two wouldn’t be able to make the flight this year to Virginia with the twins. That and the fact that their dad and stepfather did not get along.
While packing for the trip that she and her brother would soon be leaving to the airport for, Aurora’s mother steps into the twins' shared room. Her brother, Peyton had already packed and was hanging out with his friends before they were to leave.
“Almost done packing?” Penny asks from the door frame.
“Yeah, almost,” Aurora replies, stacking the last few items in her suitcase, before moving onto her backpack for the smaller stuff. While her daughter continues packing, Penny surveys the room a little, her eyes landing on a particular corner when she spots the broken fragments of a picture frame.
“You know, it may have been better to just throw the frame out rather than leaving the broken pieces for someone else to clean up in here,” Penny says, moving into the room to go pick up said pieces.
“What, is that supposed to be a metaphor or something?”
Penny sighs and throws the frame in the trash.
“Look, I get your upset and I get how you feel,” Penny empathizes, coming closer to Aurora. “But going to the Bradshaws will make you feel a lot better. And soon you’ll forget all about what happened and come back feeling better, and be stronger from it.”
“Yeah because hanging out with Bradley and his new girlfriend will be so fun,” Aurora replies sarcastically, throwing her laptop in her bag along with the charging cable.
“Apparently they broke up,” Penny shrugs, recounting what she’d been told “She wants to go to college without a boyfriend so she broke up with Bradley before Christmas so she wouldn’t have to wait until graduation. Carole said he was heartbroken but he cheered up when he heard you were going over there for Christmas.”
Aurora was silent as she sat on her bed.
“And at least now you’ll be able to see and talk to him.”
“Yeah well that makes one of us, because he hasn’t been my friend in a long time ever since he met precious Dakota.”
“You and I both know that’s not true.”
“Tell that to all the empty letters and the short phone calls he’s made to me. Every call or letter he wouldn’t stop going on and on about her and how she was the most perfect girl for him.”
“Rory...”
“No, I'm tired of talking about Bradley,” Aurora sighs. “I just want to get this trip over with and spend time with Peyton and dad.”
Penny sits on the bed next to her daughter and hugs her from the side. It’s enough to make one, solitary tear escape from Aurora’s glassy eyes before she could furiously brush it away.
“I’m sorry we can’t spend Christmas together.” Penny speaks, momentarily after seeing Aurora fighting to keep tears at bay. She felt guilty for not being there for her daughter as much as she should be.
“Mom, it’s okay. You definitely made up for it with the ukulele you brought me and the new journal, trust me.
“That doesn't mean I don’t feel guilty.”
“And you shouldn’t have to.”
“But I do.” Penny turns to face her daughter. “Ever since we’ve had Amelia, I feel like I haven’t been involved with your life when I should be.”
“It’s okay. I understand. Peyton even understands. I’m just glad we got to do a small Christmas dinner last night. And got to open our gifts.” Aurora turns to her mom and smiles at her brightly. Penny laughs and pauses to take a look at her daughter.
“You know every time you laugh and smile, you remind me so much of your dad.”
Aurora pauses at the sentence. “Is that a good thing?”
“It’s a wonderful thing,” Penny reassures her daughter. “That just means you are more and more like your father, which can be a scary thing, but you have the best qualities of him.”
“Like?”
“Like how strong you are, how you’re able to go through problems and either fix it or fight your way through it. A bit stubborn but I think you get that from both of us,” Penny admits.
They laugh and soon Aurora looks at her clock and realizes that she and her brother were leaving soon.
“I have to finish packing mom.”
“I know. I just wanted to come in and see if you needed anything. I’m glad we talked a bit before you leave,” Penny smiles, fondly pushing back some of Aurora’s hair.
“Yeah me too,” Aurora says, returning the smile.
“When you come back, we’ll go out shopping and we can talk more, okay? Just a girl’s day. Me and you.”
“That sounds great, mom. Thank you.”
Penny gets up to leave, but she pauses at the doorway. She turns to look back at Aurora with one last thing to say.
“Just when you see Bradley, hear him out first before shutting him down. You know he wouldn’t mean to hurt you.”
Aurora pauses at her words.
“We’ll see mom. We’ll see.”
—
When Aurora and Peyton had touched down in Norfolk airport, their dad greeted them with a big hug, and soon they were in the car, on the way to the Bradshaw’s. Peyton sat up front with their dad, talking about school, while Aurora sat in the back, looking out the window with her headphones on. Maverick throughout the trip tried to include her in it, but only got one word answers or was ignored. He knew something was wrong but didn't want to push her. He didn’t know about anything that happened at school, but Aurora knew she would have to talk to him soon before Penny said anything to him. They arrived at the Bradshaw’s in a manner of time, and as soon as Maverick put his car in park, Goose and Carole were already outside on the porch waiting for them.
“Uncle Goose!” cries out Peyton as he rushed into Goose’s awaiting arms.
“Oh my gosh, Pey you’ve grown tall! Unlike your father.” Goose jabs at Maverick. Peyton was already past Maverick’s height, 5 feet and 9 inches.
“Hey, I’ll have you know my height is just fine.”
“That’s what old men say nowadays ‘ey?”
Maverick and Goose start a bit of a shoving match while Peyton hugs Carole and Aurora just now getting out of the car. Her face is neutrally void of any emotion.
“Hey, little star!” Goose spots her. Uncle Goose had given her the nickname ‘little star’ in reference to her namesake, the Aurora Borealis. He started calling her that ever since he realized how much she loved stargazing and constellations.
“Come give your uncle a hug, or do you think you're too cool for me? Because I’ll have you know I’m very cool!”
“That’s what old men say nowadays ‘ey?” Maverick retorts back at Goose. Goose sticks out his tongue while Aurora slightly chuckles as she goes to hug her Uncle Goose.
“Don’t worry, we love you even if you are short, your dad on the other hand,” Goose whispers in her ear, Aurora biting back a smile. Aurora was not gifted with height like her father, as she stood at 5 feet exactly.
Goose gave her an extra squeeze before she went to hug Carole.
“Are you alright, angel?” Carole whispers in her ear. Aurora just nods and steps out of her arms, following along as they all begin to head inside the house.
“So where’s Bradley? It’s not like him to miss the twins’ homecoming?” Maverick asks as the twins come back into the kitchen after putting luggage away, now having separate rooms since they were older. Bradley was not one to be late with his best friends coming back to the East Coast, let alone not be there to greet them.
“Oh he went to go see his girlfriend, well I guess ex. He went to try and win her back. Emphasis on try,” Goose says rolling his eyes, showing obvious signs that Goose did not like this girl.
“But not without leaving homecoming presents for you two!” Carole exclaims excitedly gesturing to the items that were set behind her.
On the table was another Lego set for Peyton, one in which he was hunting for and didn’t have, and a flower bouquet. Carole explained that Bradley told them that these weren’t their actual Christmas gifts but wanted to give them something like he normally does when they’d visit. Unlike the usual tradition, however, he wasn’t there to give them in person this time.
Peyton immediately goes over to pick up the Lego set and is rambling on about the set while Aurora approaches the table to look at the bouquet of flowers.
They were red roses and white tulips. They stood out and made the room shine brighter with its Christmas colors, but Aurora knew what they meant.
Forgiveness.
Aurora and Bradley knew the different meanings of flowers, thanks to Carole who tells them all about it. White tulips to make amends with someone who is important to you, red roses to help express affection of said amends and forgiveness. There was a note on it simply saying “Sorry I wasn’t there to greet you. Had important things to do.” It causes Aurora to roll her eyes and scoff at the note and flowers, walking out of the kitchen in a huff. Everyone turns just in time to see her leave.
“What’s wrong with her? She usually loves the flowers Bradley gives her.” Carole asks, concerned.
“Maybe she’s allergic to flowers now.”
Carole smacks Goose on the head for his antics.
“She’s been like that for a while.” Peyton responds, not looking in anyone’s eyes as he pretends to be interested in a scuff mark on the table he was sitting at.
“Why?” Mav says, concerned for his daughter.
“She wants to tell you. So I’m not saying anything.”
“Is this about the fight that happened in school?
“A fight?” Both Carole and Goose said in unison.
“I’m not saying anything until you talk to her. I’ve learned that Aurora will say something when she wants to. Right now. It’s best to leave her alone.”
—
Aurora sits on the front porch swing watching the snow fall slowly to the ground. She had so much emotions pent up inside her. She was angry at Bradley, upset with everything that had happened at school. Sad she’s not at home with her mom and sister. But she was also happy that she was in Virginia to spend time with her brother, father, aunt and uncle. She knew she had a lot of emotions trapped in her. But most of all, she felt numb. It was hard to describe the feeling, that she felt so many emotions that it left her numb. Her face said it all, ice cold. If her Uncle Ice saw her expression, he would say she looked like him.
She had her headphones in as she was listening to music and watching the snow fall to the ground until she saw a car approach the Bradshaw’s driveway. She knew whose car it was. The one person she absolutely did not want to see.
After parking, Bradley had gotten out of the car heading towards the house, face down as he was distracted with his phone. Aurora could see he had grown almost the same height as his dad. His hair was a bit shaggy, but wasn’t too long. He was a bit more built, she knew that was probably due to baseball training.
As much as she wanted to run up and hug him, she just couldn’t. So instead, she opted for waiting, watching what his next steps would be.
His shoes finally hitting the steps leading up to the house, Bradley did eventually look up, face lighting up noticing his best friend on the swing.
“Well hey there princess!” Bradley brightly greets as he approaches her, arms open wide expecting her to get up and hug him. She looks at him and gets up, taking the headphones out of her ear. She walks to him, but then passes by him to reach the front door and go inside the house, closing it and leaving Bradley standing in shock. Did his best friend just act like he didn’t exist? She didn’t even hug him or even say hi. She just got up and left?
Bradley, who was still frozen in shock at what had happened, finally rushes into the house to look for her.
“Hey Rory!” Bradley calls. He spies her walking up the stairs to go to her room, he was about to go after her until a head peeks out from the kitchen.
“Oh, good! You’re home Brad Brad!” Goose cries out. “Come say hi to Peyton and Mav.” Bradley looks at his dad, then looks back to the stairs. Goose shakes his head and gestures to the kitchen silently telling him to get his butt in the kitchen and not to run after Aurora. Bradley sighs and walks into the kitchen, knowing he’ll be trying to talk to her later.
—
A few hours later, Aurora peaks out her door. It was getting close to dinner time, but she knew she still had another hour or so until then. Bradley had come to her door multiple times during the course of that time knocking, pleading with her to let him in so they could talk, thinking that the only reason Aurora was mad at him was because he wasn’t there to greet them.
Little did he know that was the least of his worries. He kept trying to get her to open the door, but Aurora put her headphones in and just ignored him while she was reading her book. After some time passed, Bradley grew tired and instead hung out with Peyton. Aurora, after hearing the knocks had stopped, realized this might be the best time to go talk to her dad since she knew he was probably working on something in the garage. So in a swift manner Aurora came out of her room and quickly ran to the garage before anyone could see her.
“Oh hey little star,” A voice calls out as she enters the garage. She looks and sees not her father, but her Uncle Goose.
“Oh, sorry Uncle Goose. I thought dad was in here.”
“Nah, he went on a shopping run for your Auntie Carole. He said something to piss her off again and now he gets to pay the price.” Goose says to which Aurora laughs softly at.
“Oh well. Sorry to bother you, I’ll just head back-“
“Well wait a minute, come sit. Let me just finish this up and I’ll be yours in a bit.” He says with a wink and gestures to the couch that was set in the corner of his garage. Aurora tries to protest but is given a look that tells her that she shouldn’t argue with him.
She sighs and goes towards the area. The couch was set up next to two sofa chairs with a sort of memorabilia wall set up behind it. It was similar to something she’d seen back at her father’s apartment, a little living space he’d rented for when he was staying in San Diego. Her dad usually either stays there or at the Bradshaw’s when he’s not on deployment.
A wall covered with pictures, patches, and awards. She looks through it and easily spots a photo with the graduating Top Gun class of 1986, easily able to pick out her dad, uncle, and even her honorary Uncle Ice. Aurora lightly brushes the photo before looking at the rest on the wall.
She spots her dad in a lot of photos, as well as Carole and Bradley, but there was one photo that stuck out in general that she had to take into her hands in order to see the full picture. It was a photo of her and Bradley when they first met, they were hand in hand and sat on top of a piano. Aurora vaguely remembers the moment she met her best friend and smiles at the photo until she remembers that she’s mad at him and puts the photo back in its spot before scoffing at it.
Moving on from that photo and looking around more she sees a photo of her uncle and aunt, so happy and in love. Carole had tears in her eyes while Goose was holding her tightly as if letting go of her would make her disappear. They were looking into each other’s eyes, foreheads pressed together. She takes that photo into her hand and smiles at it.
“That photo was taken by your father.” Goose speaks up as Aurora turns around at the sound behind her. “It was the day I came back from my last deployment. Right before I hung up my wings.”
Goose approaches the couch and sits as Aurora looks at Goose.
“Do you ever regret not going back?” she timidly asks. Goose thinks for the right words before answering her.
“I miss flying with your dad. Heck I’m sure your dad says the same thing. I loved flying with him even though he got us in trouble a lot.” Aurora laughs at the thought of what chaos her father must’ve dragged her uncle into with him.
“But as much as I loved flying with your dad, I needed to come home to your aunt and Bradley.”
Gazing fondly at the photo held in Aurora’s hand, Goose’s smile was a little strained with his next words.
“We already had a scare before graduating Top Gun, and after that last deployment, I couldn’t leave them alone. You sacrifice a few things to get things right, but I don’t ever regret giving up my wings. Because I would do it over and over again in order to live my life with the family and watch you all grow up.”
Aurora thinks and sighs before putting the photo back in its place, coming over to sit beside her uncle.
“Alright little Mav. Talk to me.” Goose teasingly says.
Aurora pauses for a moment before admitting “I don’t know where to start.”
“Well then, let’s start at the beginning.”
With a deep breath, Aurora began talking about school and what had gone down. How what was supposed to be a great first year of high school, turned out to be one of the worst semesters she’s had. Her friends that she made in high school all turned out to be fake and were talking behind her back.
Her so-called junior boyfriend was only dating her because there was a bet going on saying that no one could get Aurora to go on a date. Also the fact that he was sleeping with her so-called best friend behind her back. Aurora was mad at not just the situation, but herself. She couldn’t believe that she had let herself be fooled the way she was. Her brother had gotten into a fight with her ex, but thankfully did not get into so much trouble since he was provoked, only having to serve detention.
As Aurora rambles, there are a few faces that Goose makes, showing he is listening to what was being said. He would add a few funny comments to lighten the mood such as “What an ass!” and “Hell yeah, way to go Peyton!” but other than that he would listen to her.
“So yeah. Now I’m here. Spending the holidays here, wondering how the hell I’m gonna survive the next few years of high school.” Aurora sighs. Goose looks at her as she finishes her story. Aurora could feel his gaze on her as Goose hadn’t said another word since his last comment of ‘Mav and I should go to the school and threaten to kick their butts’ to which Aurora shut it down right away.
“What Uncle Goose?”
“I’m sorry Aurrie. I know the first year of high school sucks, but it will get better.”
“You wanna know what sucks more? Having your best friend cut you out and not even talk to you because he's busy with his girlfriend.”
“More like ex.” Goose retorts back.
“Still! I’ve known him since I was four, Uncle Goose and he just pretends as if he didn’t just ignore me when I needed him the most!” Exasperated, Aurora tosses her hands up recounting the events of what had happened with him. “He hung up on me when I tried to talk to him on the phone because he was getting ready to hang out with her.”
Goose sighs. “I honestly don’t know what’s going on with him. Carole and I raised him better than that.”
“I know, Uncle Goose, you both did good. It’s just,” she pauses. “I miss my best friend. It really hurts that he’s pushing me away”
“Yeah I know kiddo.”
Aurora then thinks about something.
“How do you do it Uncle Goose?”
“Do what?”
“You and Auntie Carole? You two fight but you always find a way back to each other. You don’t push each other away, and even if you try, you both are always there for each other.”
He didn’t know which situation Aurora was referencing. Her breakup or Bradley.
“Ha, yeah your dad always said your Auntie and I are like soulmates.” He smiles at the thought of his wife.
“What do you believe are soulmates, Uncle Goose?”
Goose looks at Aurora who looks at him thoughtfully.
“I think a soulmate is someone you can be yourself around. Someone you can take comfort in and someone you can tell anything to,” Goose tells her sincerely. “They know you better than you could ever know yourself. Someone who accepts you for who you are. And despite some of their qualities, you’ll love them for who they are in return.”
Aurora then asks. “Do you think I’ll ever find my soulmate, Uncle Goose?”
He chuckles at her question. He kisses her forehead. “Of course, everyone has a soulmate. Romantic or platonic, everyone has that special someone.” Even though in his mind he knew Aurora had already found her romantic soulmate.
“What about mom and dad? Are they romantic or platonic soulmates?” she questions.
“Well their situation is a bit different. But I think it’s just a matter of the right person, wrong timing.”
“So you think they’ll ever get back together?”
Goose cackles. “Oh hon, I got a bet with your Uncle Ice and Auntie Carole about it! They best better in a few years.”
Aurora and Goose giggles as Maverick comes back in the garage from running his errands for Carole. He sees his daughter and best friend giggling away on the couch and he smiles knowing she found comfort in his best friend.
“What’s going on in here?” Maverick speaks up as Goose and Aurora looks at him.
Looking away from Maverick and at each other they grinned.“Nothing,” they reply simultaneously, breaking out into even more giggling.
Maverick shakes his head and squeezes himself between them.
“So, you wanna tell me what’s going on?” Maverick asks his daughter. Aurora then goes on to tell Maverick about what she told Goose, besides the conversation about soulmates. Before Maverick could say anything she tells him that he didn’t have to say anything since she felt better after talking with Goose.
Maverick smiles, gives her a kiss on the forehead and tells her to get ready for dinner. She smiles and gets up from the couch heading towards the door. As she reaches the doorway she pauses and turns to look at uncle Goose and her dad.
“Thanks for the talk, Uncle Goose. And thanks dad for understanding.”
“Anytime kiddo.” Goose smiles with a wink. She turns to run back into the safety of her room.
Maverick sighs.
“What’s with the sigh Mav?” Goose’s brow arches questioningly.
“Nothing. I just can’t believe she’s so grown up. Had a boyfriend and first heartbreak in just a couple of months. And I wasn’t there,” Scrubbing a hand down his face, Maverick’s gaze was still on the door where Aurora had just left through.
“You know you would be if you could.”
“I know Goose.”
They revel in silence for a bit until Goose speaks up and says, “Ya know she asked about soulmates?”
“Really? What was she referencing? Her breakup or her fight with Bradley?”
“Beats me. But I just hope they make up soon.”
“Yeah it’d be a real shame if you lost the bet between her and Bradley.”
“Jokes on you old man. They call me Cupid for a reason.”
“No they call you Goose because you quack a lot of nonsense,” Maverick snorts.
“That’s it. Bring it on Mav, I can’t wait to take out a short pancake.”
“Why do you always bring up my height?!”
Maverick and Goose jokingly wrestle on the couch as Carole walks in to tell them dinner was ready. She shakes her head and sighs. “Men.”
—
Bradley and Aurora barely spoke throughout the break. Bradley knew to give her space as soon as she didn’t speak to him for dinner that night, and it didn’t stop at dinner either. She didn’t speak to him most of the time she was at the house, mostly spending time with Auntie Carole in the kitchen, or at the floral shop. And when she was at the house, she hung out with her brother until Bradley came along then ran to the garage where Uncle Goose and Maverick were.
Maverick even took the twins to an airstrip, where they got to ride in a plane with their dad. They’ve been in a plane before with their dad behind the wheel, but he got to show them the ins and outs of the plane, as well as helping them learn landing and taking off procedures, something that they loved to learn when they were little. They had definitely gotten their love for aviation from their father.
In all honesty, Bradley felt like he was going nuts not talking to her, but he knew he was also going to have to talk to her soon.
It was the night of Christmas Eve. Nobody had wanted a big party and instead they had all opted for family time at the house for spending Christmas. The adults were still talking at the dining table while Peyton was on the phone with his friend in his room.
Bradley took this as an opportunity to approach Aurora, who was out on the porch with her ukelele and her journal that her mom and stepfather gave her. With a single red rose in hand, he went outside to the porch dressed in his Christmas sweater and jeans. It was pretty cold outside, but the Bradshaw’s installed a small outdoor heater above the porch swing so he knew he didn’t have to bring out his winter coat.
And so, when he stepped out onto the porch immediately he saw her.
Aurora also had a red sweater and leggings on. Her hair was in a braid in order to prevent any strands from getting caught in the instrument. She had a blanket over her legs, ukulele in hand strumming a pattern of chords. She was humming along until she’d pause, set the instrument down and jot something into her journal. She didn’t need to look up to know who had stepped onto the porch.
“So you gonna stand there and look dumb staring at me or are you going to sit down and actually say something?” Aurora spoke up, breaking Bradley out of his trance from staring at her. He takes a breath and walks up to Aurora and sits next to her as she makes room. She still had yet to look up into his eyes.
“Look, I’m sorry I wasn’t here to greet you when you came. I got busy with Dakota and I wanted to see if I could get her back.”
She sharply inhales.“Bradley, do you honestly think I was mad about just that?!”
“Is that not what you’re mad about?”
“Are you shitting me?” Aurora looks at him with a bewildered look on her face.
“Is that rhetorical? And when have you started cussing?”
“Gosh Bradley! If you had at least picked up the phone, you’d know that I’m mad because you’ve been ignoring me for 2 months!” Aurora exclaims.
“Yeah well, we’ve both been busy,” he states simply.
“Pushing me away was the worst thing you could do! If you had picked up the phone you’d know about my breakup and Peyton’s fight.”
Bradley looks at her while tears run down her face and she quickly wipes it away.
“Shit, I’m sorry Rory.” Bradley sets down the rose on the table in front of them as he turns to her.
“Yeah, well so am I. Gosh I’m so mad at you! You and not telling me things anymore, B. We’re supposed to be best friends.”
“We are best friends, I am still your best friend.” Bradley pleads.
“Really?! So you were gonna tell me about your car accident?! Or was that something you were gonna withhold too?” Aurora looks at Bradley making eye contact with him for the first time in a while. Bradley becomes silent and Aurora scoffs at his response.
“Yeah that’s what I thought.”
“How did you-“
“Did you really think I wouldn’t hear my mom and Auntie Carole not talk about it the night of?” Aurora questions him, baffled. “Mom thought Peyton and I were asleep when in reality we were sitting on the steps of the stairs trying not to cry about your car accident. Mom had to end the call because we were crying so hard since we thought we were gonna lose you.”
Bradley and Aurora sat in silence looking away from each other, watching the snow fall.
“Were you ever gonna tell me?” Aurora speaks up after a few seconds go by.
“Eventually.”
“Really?”
“I don’t know.”
“Damnit Bradley this is what I’m talking about! What happened to us?” she cried out.
“I’m sorry Aurie.”
She sighs and looks at Bradley as he turns back to look at her. She can see the scars on his face and neck, remnants from the accident. Bringing her hand up from her lap, her fingers lightly traced over each scar, Bradley staring into her eyes as she did so.
“Does it hurt?”
“Not anymore.” She cups his face, caressing the raised skin. Her eyes filled with tears and Bradley panics thinking he made her cry again.
“I was so afraid I was gonna lose you B,” she whispers softly.
“Oh, darling.” He brings her into a hug and she hugs him back tightly, arms wounding around his neck.
“I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Promise?”
“I promise princess. I’m so sorry, I’ll do better to tell you everything from now on.”
Bradley holds onto her as if she was his lifeline. He focuses on his best friend, the girl who always had his heart, even if she didn’t know it as she cries holding on to him, making up for lost time from fighting and accepts his apology. They hold each other for a long time after that, as Aurora’s breathing slows and stops crying. It’s only after calming down does she then realize about the rose Bradley left on the table.
“Is that for me?”she says as they break from the hug and she picks up the flower.
Bradley blushes and rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.“Well I couldn’t really come out and not give you a flower since I wasn’t here when I gave you that bouquet.”
She laughs and leans on him, flower in hand. He kisses her forehead as they both sit and watch the snow fall, wrapped in each other’s arms, probably the most relaxed in each other’s presence since this break had started.
—
Christmas morning came and the Bradshaws, Maverick, and the twins were sitting in the living room next to the Christmas tree, all wearing matching Christmas sweaters. Everyone in the house had also called who they needed, to greet whoever a Merry Christmas, from Penny to their Uncle Ice, and even Maverick’s and Goose’s old Top Gun instructor Viper, who they kept in constant contact with.
It was a perfect picture of Christmas morning, hot chocolate or coffee in hand, the kids sat on the floor while the parents watched them open their presents, and the fireplace was lit (after Maverick and Goose argued about who could light the fireplace, so Bradley and Peyton shoved their dads to the side and lit it themselves). Aurora opened her gifts and had already gotten an old polaroid camera from Goose, a fluffy blanket from Carole, a new phone from her dad, and a mug from Peyton that said “You’re a great twin sister…I guess” which was something he made from his pottery class at school.
Peyton loved his gifts that he had gotten which was a new Lego set (Goose), cellphone (Maverick), beanie (Carole), a bracelet that said “Twins Forever” (Aurora) and new basketball shoes (Bradley) that he was already up and getting another drink refill while the adults were already talking about the gifts they had gotten each other.
Bradley and Aurora look at each other with smirks, grabbing their presents that they got for each other. Bradley stands up and walks to sit next to Aurora.
Aurora smiles.
“You open your gift first, B!” she gives him a wink, prompting him to start unwrapping his gift, and gasping as soon as he sees it.
The first gift was a picture frame that contained three photos. One was the first photo they both ever took together, on top of a piano, hand in hand at four and eight years old. The other photo was of the twins and Bradley during the summer. Goose had taken a photo of the trio when they were racing each other on bikes laughing so hard, you can almost hear it from the photo. And the last one was another photo of the trio, from last summer when they were sitting on the porch, another photo Goose had taken when they were stargazing. Under the photo frame was a small box, Bradley opened it and it was a necklace. It had a plane pendant on the chain, and engraved on the side was “Always Flying Home” with the trio’s initials next to it. BAP. She knew Bradley would soon want to join the Navy soon and follow his dad’s footsteps. Bradley looks at her in awe.
“So do you like it, or are you looking at it like that because it’s super ugly?”
Bradley laughs and gives her a big hug.
“I love it, Aurie! Like a lot. I’m not taking this off.” He says as he releases her from the hug. Goose, Carole and Maverick break the moment, wanting to see the gifts. Bradley passes it around to have the adults get a good look at it as Aurora proceeds to open her gift from Bradley.
Peyton then comes back from refilling his drink just as she unwrapped her gift. The first one being a stuffed toy of a bunny. It was white, pink, and fluffy causing her to laugh in delight. Bradley was going on about how a bunny suits her personality and knew it was one of her favorite animals, with her favorite colors. She shakes her head in laughter and smiles at him.
“I’m gonna keep this forever!” She exclaims. Everyone in the room laughs as she opens her last gift. She opens it and reveals a box. Aurora looks at it, then looks back at Bradley.
“I swear if this is another paper wind up butterfly or a ring pop again B, I swear to -”
“Oh my gosh just open it!” Peyton exclaims, excited to see her sister’s reaction. She looks at her brother, suspicious of him as well.
She slowly opens the box, arms extended from her body, scared that something would come out, but nothing did. The adults laugh at her antics as she then peaks in the box and gasps. It was a beautiful silver charm bracelet.
“Everyone added a charm on it and engraved their initials on each charm, so you have a piece of everyone whenever you need us,” Bradley explains as he helps Aurora remove it from the box.
Carole said she chose the sunflower one, whereas Goose chose a goose charm since Maverick took the plane charm. Bradley said even Penny chose one for her, and that she picked the star charm.
“I chose one that had two hearts intertwined on it!” Peyton exclaims, proud of the charm he chose as he gave her a side hug.
Bradley helps Aurora put on the bracelet as she spies Bradley’s charm. He had added two. One was a princess crown and right next to it was a sword. Bradley looks into her eyes and grins at her.
“I figured that the princess should have her knight right next to her,” he says, still holding her hand.
Aurora blushes while Peyton groans and gags on the other side of her. She ignores him in favor of throwing her arms around her best friend. Bradley laughs and hugs her back. A flash goes off causing them to break their hug and look around to see Goose taking a photo of the moment, Peyton gagging in the photo and all. Bradley then takes Aurora’s hand again and kisses it, as Peyton was still acting up and the adults were laughing at his antics, not looking at the duo.
“I love it, B. I don’t think I’ll ever take it off,” she says as she brings her wrist up to examine the bracelet closer. Bradley glances at her and grins.
The excitement soon dies down as they start cleaning with the music record playing in the background. Bradley and Peyton go to collect the wrapping paper from the floor while the men set up the projector for their Christmas movie day, of course bantering on who gets to do what, as they normally do whenever they are paired together for any job together. Aurora goes to the kitchen to assist Carole in helping set up lunch. Aurora then looks out the window and sees that the snow had finally settled and turns to her aunt.
“I’m gonna go and get some air real quick!” she tells her, as she rushes out the kitchen and to the front door.
“Don’t forget a coat or turn on the porch heater!” Carole yells from the kitchen. Aurora rushes past Bradley and Peyton as they finish picking up the trash.
“C’mon let’s go make snow angels!” as she grabs her coat from the coat rack and runs out the door.
“What are we, 5?” Peyton yells after her.
“Mav, let’s go!” Goose exclaims from behind the two, hand on the back of the man whose name he just called out, and drags him towards the front door.
“No, but apparently he is,” Bradley mutters to Peyton. They snicker as they grab their coats and follow the three that went out the door.
Aurora was already making a snow angel, back on the ground and waving her arms as if she were doing jumping jacks. Goose was right beside her as Maverick was staring out from the porch, shaking his head at his best friend’s and daughter’s antics. The duo laugh at the sight in front of them and follow their lead and start to make snow angels as well, Peyton laying next to Aurora, and Bradley next to his dad. They start laughing while Maverick sighs at them, for once not being the irresponsible one in this situation. Carole comes out with Goose’s camera in hand and takes a photo of the scene in front of her.
Peyton then gets the bright idea to start a snowball fight, then all hell breaks loose. No one was safe as snow balls started flying left and right. Even Carole and Maverick had joined in after Carole had put the camera in a safe corner to record the moment. Because in this instant, if you can’t beat them, you might as well join them. There were no teams, it was just a flurry of snow flying everywhere.
Maverick then lifts up his daughter after she smashes snow on top of her dad’s head while he was kneeling to make a snowball causing her to scream in delight and laughs as he throws her softly into a pile of snow. Peyton then joins in, jumping onto Maverick’s back, but because he wasn’t expecting the weight, they both tumble onto the ground, next to Aurora.
The Bradshaws have their family moment as Carole and Bradley team up and take down Goose, ending up right next to Maverick and the twins also in the same manner. They all look at each other and laughed so hard, their stomachs and sides were hurting. With their adrenaline from the fight dying down, the cold and wet had begun setting in through their clothes causing them all to finally call a truce and head back inside before anyone could end up sick.
As they walk into the house, Carole and Goose first, Maverick, Peyton, with Bradley and Aurora still on the porch straggling behind them whispering and shoving each other, Peyton stops in his place.
He exclaims out “Wait, Uncle, Auntie! You have to kiss.”
They all pause their conversation and turn to look at Peyton. He gives them a look and points to the doorway that they all just passed through, and the doorway Bradley and Aurora were about to go through. Hanging on the doorway was mistletoe, all in its glory. The adults look at each other with confusion.
“Who hung that up?” Carole asks, curious.
“Maybe Santa.”
Maverick smacks Goose’s arm. Peyton looks at the adults.
“You have to kiss, it’s like the mistletoe law.”
Carole and Goose chuckle as Goose dips his wife down for a kiss. Maverick rolls his eyes, and looks at the duo who have yet to cross the doorway.
“No.”
“I didn’t even say anything.” Peyton exclaims
“Not you, them,” Maverick points at Bradley and Aurora. Both were blushing, either from the mistletoe or the cold.
“What do you want us to do then? Stay outside for the rest of the night?” Aurora sarcastically replies.
“You can cross the doorway, but no kissing.” Maverick states.
“But it’s the law!” Peyton exclaims.
“Screw the law, they’re not kissing!” Carole and Goose laugh at Maverick’s protectiveness towards his daughter and Bradley.
Bradley sighs and comes up with another idea.
“We can go through the back door while you get the mistletoe down, how’s that Uncle Mav?”
Maverick thinks about it. “Fine, but no funny business.” He gives them a threatening look.
The duo roll their eyes as they make their way to the backdoor.
“Who do you think hung up the mistletoe?” Aurora asks Bradley.
“I don’t know, maybe dad? He would come up with that idea.”
Aurora giggles at his response, and soon they approach the back door until she looks up and groans.
“What?”
Aurora points at the doorway and Bradley glances to see another mistletoe hanging. Bradley laughs and puts his palms to his face.
“We could just take it down, we don’t have to obey the mistletoe law,” Aurora nervously speaks up as she walks up to the doorway and reaches up to grab the plant, but because she was short she was struggling quite a bit. She was so focused on getting the mistletoe down, not even seeing the look Bradley was giving her at that moment. A look that showed love and adoration.
Bradley then decides in that moment to not think, but to just do. He gently grabs Aurora by the waist from behind her causing her to gasp and spin around now finding herself in his arms. Instinctively, she found herself clutching onto his arms in response.
Their eyes meet, and Bradley glances at Aurora’s lips, as she looks back at him nervously. Was she about to kiss her best friend? Her heart began beating so fast, she wasn’t sure it was beating at all because at this moment all she could think about was Bradley, who was waiting for her answer, afraid that she would push him away.
Slowly, she brought herself to give him a slight nod, and with that he leaned down.
Aurora meets him halfway, as she gets up on her tiptoes and their lips finally meet. His lips were a bit chapped from the cold, but Aurora didn’t care because they were warm. Her arms slowly go up Bradley’s arms and she wounds them around his neck. Bradley leaves his left hand on her waist, and the other slides to her cheek, cupping it and giving her more butterflies in her stomach, if that were even possible.
It’s as if the world went still for the first time. Frozen in a snow globe, and just for that moment, Aurora felt love and compassion from Bradley in that one action. Bradley held on to her, believing it was a dream, and he didn’t want to let go.
They both slowly part after their kiss, their faces red, from both the cold and the lack of air. They look into each other’s eyes, and all Aurora could see was the hazel eyes that she grew up with, full of happiness and love.
Bradley gazes into her dark eyes and for the first time in his life, he was speechless. They both laugh at the expression they were giving each other.
Kissing her cheek, he whispers into Aurora’s ear. “Merry Christmas princess.” Aurora practically glowing at those words.
“Merry Christmas, B.” The two then separate, giving each other another warm smile, and as Aurora goes to open the door, Bradley reaches up to take down the mistletoe and pockets it in his jacket, as if to hide the evidence of the moment, but also wanting to keep a memento.
Aurora and Bradley walk a few steps into the kitchen where the backdoor was connected, and spot Peyton sitting on the kitchen counter drinking from his mug. He was facing the back door with a smile on his face as he saw the two walk in. He jumps down from the counter, walking towards them.
He whispers to both of them and says “Don’t worry, they don't know. They think you two were talking again so I won’t say anything.”
He winks at them, as the two release a breath they didn’t realize they were holding. They follow Peyton back into the living room as they hang up their coats.
“C’mon you three, you’re gonna miss the movie!” Goose calls from his seat on the couch, while Carole is sitting next to him, and Maverick is sitting in a sofa chair that was next to it.
The three rush to their usual spot on the floor, set already with the floor cushion Carole leaves out for them, along with the food and drinks on the coffee table, also courtesy of their Auntie Carole.
Aurora sits in the middle of the two and settles in watching the movie in front of them until they hear Peyton whisper at a volume only they can hear.
“By the way, mistletoe is very hard to find. You both are lucky Auntie Carole works at a flower shop.”
Bradley and Aurora freeze at his words and turn to look at Peyton who had a mischievous grin on his face. The trio laughs as Aurora winds her hand in Bradley’s and leans on her brother. Maybe this Christmas break wasn’t as bad as she thought it would be. She smiles at that and settles in her seat, ready to take what was coming because as long as she had her best friend and brother by her side, she felt prepared.
---
If you would like to be on the taglist or removed, please let me know!
Originally I was deemed the nickname Shrimp by my friend, as a misspelling for simp in our text messages. After many thoughts, I have decided that as much as I love being a shrimp, I think it's time for a change.
I will just be going under construction for a bit while I change my username, and once that changes, all the links will be changing. So I will be fixing my masterlist as well!
Also another update, newest chapter coming soon once I get everything situated! So get ready for that! 💛 Buckle up, because it’s looking to be 20 total chapters long! 🙈
I will always be Shrimp, but it's time for a new change! ✨
love ur work would love to be tagged in i’ll be waiting i can’t wait to read the next part i love the nicknames aurora and peyton have
Thank you so much for the support! Of course, I will add you to the tag list! I love Greek mythology, so having the twins' nicknames being the famous Greek god/goddess twin was something I had to incorporate! 🤭
I’ve gotten a sudden influx of new readers and likes on the “I’ll Be Waiting” story and I just want to say, thank you so much for the support!! Seriously, it means the world to me people are reading the story even if it’s just a few, I appreciate each and every one of you! ✨
Special thanks to @reginleight my beta reader, editor and best friend, and @callsignmeiga and @purplevortexx for supporting my story and weirdness! I love and appreciate you all! 😘
Any feedbacks, questions, or just anything you want to tell me in general, my DMs and inbox are open! If links aren’t working, please let me know. I will try and find the issue or I will send you the links personally! 💛
