Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

After consulting with fellow author consulting unicorn. I am jumping onto the top gun maverick fan fiction bandwagon. no stopping this f-18 now or we'll fall apart like the dark star jet did.
This will be a mix of AU’s, one-shots and head-cannons from both the original top gun and top gun maverick.

Chapter Index
Chapter one: Animal instincts.
Chapter two: Class wars.(86ers vs 2020recall au)

Chapter three: Always a different gender au (A.A.D.G au)

Chapter Four: Hop 31 (A.A.D.G au)

Chapter five: Class wars part two. (86ers vs 2020recall au.)

Chapter Six: Nightmares and day dreams. (A.A.D.G au)

Chapter seven: Betting squad (A.A.D.G au)

chapter eight: Classwars part three (86ers vs 2020recall au.)

Chapter Nine: Fourth of July (Animal instincts Au)

Chapter Ten: Springs orphaned blooms (A.A.D.G au)

Chapter eleven: Maiden Voyage (A.A.D.G au)

Chapter twelve: Cold comforts (A.A.D.G au.)

Chapter thirteen: Feral Admiral au

Chapter fourteen: Dinnertable drama (A.A.D.G)

chapter fifteen: Feral admiral au part two

chapter sixteen: Among us au.

chapter seventeen: Omega Au

chapter eighteen: Oh baby a triple (Oneshot)

chapter nineteen: Airforce maverick au

Chapter twenty: Arresting wire (A.A.D.G. Au)

Chapter twenty-one: Five plus one (animal instinct Au) Maverick, Mornings call.

Chapter twenty-two: Five plus one part two (animal instincts Au) Goose, Untitled goose game.

Chapter twenty-three: five plus one part three (Animal instincts Au) Viper, Storms slumber.

Chapter twenty-four: Five plus one part four (Animal Instincts Au) Wolfman, Guard dog.

Chapter twenty-five: Five plus one part five (Animal Instincts Au) Slider, Charged changing room.

Chapter twenty-six: Five plus one part six (Animal Instincts Au) 86ers, Finding flock.

Chapter twenty-seven: Omega Au part two.

chapter twenty-eight: Feral Admiral Au part Three.

Chapter twenty-nine: Classwars part four (86ers vs 2020Recalls au)

Chapter Thirty: Omega Au part three.

Chapter Thirty-one: Mutated Menagerie (Animal instincts Au)

Chapter Thirty-two: Kinky Omega au (Oneshot)

Chapter Thirty-Three: Not pulled just Delayed. (Oneshot.)

Chapter Thirty-Four: Dual engine failure, stalling out to sea. (Oneshot.)

Chapter Thirty-Five: Fight or Flight (Animal instincts Au)

Chapter Thirty-Six: Mission Meltdown (A.A.D.G AU)

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Italian Mavia (Italian Maverick)

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Feral Omega Goose (Oneshot)

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Animal Shifter au (A good version/Oneshot)

Chapter Forty: Italian Mavia part two (Italian Maverick)

Chapter forty-one: Batman vs Mavbat (Alternate animal shifter au.)

Chapter Fourty-two: Swallowed by the waves, swimming through the stars (Subnautica inspired Merman au)

Chapter Text

“Those two are actual menaces, how are they so fucking good?”
“They’re birds Hollywood, what did you expect, the skies in their blood. It’s their instincts to be in the air, just as much as it seems to be Maverick’s instincts to leave his wingmen open.”
“You only say that cause Iceman’s the only one of us who can keep up, you and Ice are neck a neck with Goose and Maverick.” Chipper rolled his eyes as the guys hung out around the bar of the O club.
“Besides, if you actually picked up a book, Prairie falcons hunt solo.” Wolf snorted, “Unlike me, he must work against his instincts telling him to hunt solo whereas I rely on a pack. You can kinda see it, he struggles in the air to not go solo, the only reason he probably outlasts those needs is Goose in the backseat.” The German shepherd laughed.

“Hell, even the old men are struggling to keep up now that Mav seems to have worked out their tactics. He really is a damn good hunter.” Sundown sighed as he took a swig of his beer.
“So, what’s everyone doing for leave.” Iceman asked as he sat down next to the guys.
“Goose’s missus is trying to convince Mav to host us all out at his for the fourth, apparently Goose says Mav owns his own private airstrip and hangar.”
“I’m sorry what? His own airstrip?” Ice choked on his beer along with half the other guys sitting around the bar.
“Apparently his grandpa was a travelling circus man in the thirties and made plenty of money, bought a large, and I mean large amount of land out in the desert during the depression, hoping for a gold rush apparently, then when war came, he joined as a naval pilot and when he came home he bought a mustang off the navy that was for scrapping and set about converting some of the land into a private fly zone for himself and his kids and grandkids. Fell in love with an avian woman and would fly with her in the fixed fighter up until her death when Mav’s old man was born. Apparently, Mitchell is secretly loaded, Grandpa’s money, his da’s money and whatever he got from his ma after her death.” Wolfman told the group.
“And how do you know this?” Slider asked as he patted ice’s back as the man recomposed himself.
“My hearings sharper than others, thankfully, don’t think my nose would take it if I had to smell you all, especially after hops. Caught him explaining his family history to Charlie, she was impresses, so was i. I asked Goose and he said yeah that they have a private family fly ground.”

“So, would you all come? It’s the first time either of us have been on leave for an Independence Day since my fledgling was born.” Goose asked as the man made himself known as he and Mav approached the rest of the guys.
“You’ve a kid?” Hollywood asked.
“Dude, you’ve seen the chick, Carol brought the baby goose into the bar a few nights ago, the chick was chirping along with Mav and Goose when they were performing the other night.” Chipper facepalmed.
“We think Bradley's a baby goose anyways, his wings are still downy, won’t know until his adult feathers come through over the next year roughly.” Mav snorted, “He’ll soon be as good a flier and an even better pilot with us as his teachers and role models.” The falcon smirked as he gestured to himself and goose.
“Shut the fuck up Mitchell.” Ice snorted getting laughs from the rest of the group.

“So, who’s up for a barbecue out in the desert.” The falcon asked as he rolled his eyes at ice. “I mean we’ve already done the beach day, no point hosting another event by the beach where everyone will be running too. My place isn’t that far from Fighter-town and its quieter, we can play football on the tarmac.” Mav laughed.
“Will there be fireworks?” Slider asked as he raised his beer.
“Soundless ones, Bradley doesn’t do well with Loud bangs, chicks aren’t used to it and their instincts take over and then it’s just a mess for me and Mav because a chick calls when there in trouble can set off ours even though we’re adults and have you know, better control.” Goose explained as his wings ruffled up protectively.
“I’ll come.” Wolf smirked. “I’ll bring something meaty.”
“Of course, you will Wolfie.” Sundown laughed, “I’ll bring beer if you provide the grub.” He added as he raised his beer glass to Pete.
“Same.” Chipper laughed.
“Least I could do is bring some veg for our beloved stag and those of us who don’t rely on raw meat to sustain ourselves.” Hollywood rolled his eyes with a good smile as Slider flipped the other man the bird.
“Hey, I don’t eat it raw… its blue rare.” Wolfman sheepishly laughed behind his beer.
“Don’t worry, Pete’s just as bad, feathers still on some of the poor birds he eats. That’s why I do grill duty.” Goose laughed.
“Says the one who eats raw fish.” Maverick snorted.
“Its nice?” Goose “I don’t do it often, just occasionally.” The goose’s wings fluffed up in defense.
“Well, what about our resident Snow man, a day in the desert thaw your heart?” Mav laughed.
“Bring the booze and show us this mustang and I might consider it Mitchell.”
“If that’s what it takes to melt through the Iceman’s heart then deal. Can’t guarantee the old thing can fly though, it was sitting in the hangar for years when I bounced about foster care.” Pete laughed.

“Then cheers to Mitchell for promising us booze and a good night then.” Slider laughed as he raised his beer, everyone else raising their glasses after him.
“To maverick, the only one of us Dumb enough to host us for the holidays.” Ice barked out a laugh as he raised his glass and pointed to the group of them all and the numerous empty beer bottles and glasses the group had racked up.
“Oh, shut it Kazansky.” The falcon laughed as his wings fluffed with embarrassment.

The group cheered and downed the rest of there beer as Goose made his way over to the jukebox, unplugging it before moving to sit by the piano. It didn’t take long before the guys started to belt out the lyrics to great balls of fire as Ice and Maverick stood by the bar smirking. These guys where alright, Ice thought as he stood next to Mitchell,
“So, think you’re willing to learn how to fly a mustang?” Pete asked as he ordered two more beers.
“I though you said it doesn’t fly.”
“It’s been sitting since I was fifteen in the hangar, grandpa taught me how to fly it before he passed. Viper tried to get me fostered at his place when gramps passed but the social workers had it out for him and the other guys my Da flew with when they tried to foster me. Since then I haven’t had much time to fly it since I was thrown from foster home to foster home, was eighteen when I jumped on board and away to the academy and between deployments and flight school there wasn’t much down time for me to be working at it. If you’re lucky, I might have it ready before you guys come out. For you, I might be willing to get it running before hand.”
“Hundred dollars says I can fly it.” Ice smirked
“I’d like to see you try Kazansky, think you can keep up with me?” Pete raised his eyebrow as he looked at Ice.
“Please, we both know who’s the better pilot here.” The other pilot laughed.
“Oh no, I don’t mean it like that, I can keep up with the mustang, can you keep up with me.” Pete smirked as he minutely flapped his wings, drawing ice’s attention to the feathered limbs.
“Add in another hundred and let’s find out.” Ice smirked as he raised his beer to Maverick.
“You got yourself a deal Kazansky.” Mav smirked back as he raised his own beer, clinking the glasses together as the pair took a drink.

Oblivious to the looks the rest of there class was giving them as Goose began to belt out another eighties classic, hiding his smirk as he ducked his head down towards the piano. Those two where oblivious as anything, good think Maverick had such a thoughtful wing man.
"Fifty dollars they get together after our first deployment." Slider chuckled to his fellow RIO.
"Those two will be together sooner if i have any say about it." Goose laughs, "Fifty that they'll pull there heads out of there asses at the graduation after-party." The goose honked as he and the rest of there squad began to bet over the two oblivious men by the bar.

Chapter Text

Dangerous Daggers chat.

Rooster: So, you know how I’ve recently managed to fix my relationship with mav.
Hangman: “Fixed” is one way of putting it.
Phoenix: You’re only saying that cause you got the shovel talk from admiral Kazansky.
Rooster: Um… I wanna know why Ice gave you a shovel talk but first things first, Mav left his Phone on the countertop whilst he went to run errands, Ice was up in his office, so I was chilling in the living room.
Hangman: No comment.
coyote: Why where you at their house?
Rooster: Family dinner, Ice is cooking but he sent mav out to go get ingredients.
Halo: That and he’s been staying with them until the tenants living in his house leave.
Rooster: Halo…. How the fuck did you know I rented my parents place out and how did you know I’ve been staying with Mav and Ice.
Omaha: She saw your bronco and Mav’s Kawasaki in the driveway as we went running one evening.
BoB: And everyone says I’m the stealth pilot.
Fritz: How did Halo know Mav lives with Admiral Kazansky.
Halo: >:)
Rooster: Anyways, look what I found on Mav’s phone.
Hangman: How did you break into his phone?
Rooster: the password is literally the first plane he taught me to fly.
Halo: So, a mustang.
Rooster: Halo have you ever considered intelligence?
Halo: I am the central Intelligence.
Omaha: Not yet.
Fanboy: Is that a Star Wars reference? Never pegged Omaha for Star Wars.
Omaha: What’s that supposed to mean? Everyone knows I had tickets to Anaheim a few weeks ago, I cosplayed an imperial pilot with Halo.
Payback: Don’t start, he’s gonna nerd out.
Hangman: You cosplayed your day job? I don’t know whether to be impressed or confused.
Payback: And he’s gone…. Congrats, someone bring me some beer, I’m gonna need it.
Harvard: Rooster, what where you trying to tell us?
Rooster: Uploaded 4 videos.

“AGHH!” Maverick screams, his phone shaking with his laughter as he stood in the shadows at the bottom of there staircase.
“Agh stop, I could have dropped my croissant.” Ice whined as he jumped at his partners war cry.

“Achoo!”
“Nice Ron.” Merlin sighed as the deer that surrounded them ran for the hills that surrounded their country house.
“I sneezed, oh am I not allowed to sneeze?” Slider huffed as he glared at merlin before the camera shut off.

Chipper leans over the edge of a table, vape in hand as he begins to blow out a cloud of vapor onto the table.
A heavy puffing noise is heard, and the vapour is quickly blown off the table.
“Sundown?” Chipper stated disappointedly as he looks up at his partner.

“And they were wingmen.” Hollywood sighed as he walked past wolfman who pans the camera around to face himself
“Oh my god they were wingmen.” Wolf stated before cracking a smile on his face as the camera cut off.

Phoenix: OMG
Halo: LMAO, damn I did not know about this.
Hangman: LMFAO Damn, I didn’t realise pops was cultured.
Rooster: I didn’t realise any of my uncles even knew what vine was. I don’t know whether to be impressed or embarrassed.
Bob: They operated multi-million-dollar jets long before we wherever born, all of them are admirals or retired, why would anyone think they hadn’t an idea how the internet works.
Harvard: Um…
Yale: I mean… they are old…
Payback: Our Ivy league colleges gentlemen. Still as dumb as the rest of us.
Rooster: do not let Mav or Ice hear that, they will ship you off to Antarctica.
Fritz: I’m more impressed by the fact that all of them are partners, even after all this time.
Bob: there more than partners, if Uncle Leo was telling me correctly then all their top gun class is LGBT. Most of them are either retired and married or retired and getting married… not sure about Kazansky and Mitchell though.
Rooster: Wolfman’s your uncle?
Bob: My parents where air force, he went navy, I don’t see uncle wolf unless its Christmas where our family battles it out over which branch is better, Army, Marines, Airforce, Navy or coastguard. I’ll send a video of our next Christmas dinner.
Fanboy: so… Rooster, what does their chat consist of.
Rooster: vines… only vines.
Fritz: ugh, so old, at least set them up with TikTok.
Rooster: Give me a minute…
Hangman: Does anyone else want to watch more of those vines?
Fanboy: I was thinking we beat the old timers and recreate TikTok’s.
Payback: I’d be up for it.
Halo: YES.
Phoenix: Yes.
Bob: if it doesn’t end up with someone in hospital then I’d be down for it.
Hangman: So, if it doesn’t become a Jackass spinoff were cool with it.
Omaha: sure, should we create a second chat for just the videos or should we just spam.
Rooster: So, I asked Ice… he said if he looks at one more TikTok he’s gonna pull a maverick, take an f-18, put his phone in it, eject and crash the jet in the ocean. Apparently, Mav has a TikTok and Ice is not impressed with it.
Rooster: He says the kids at Lockheed set it up for him… so I haven’t any clue.
Phoenix: Halo? You’re the CIA of the navy, any incite.

Halo: Maverick was test pilot for an experimental hypersonic jet by Lockheed’s skunk department. He was there for three years under Admiral Kane who shut the project down before its contracted end date. Maverick apparently took it out for one last flight to meet contract deadline and pushed it to the point where a serious mechanical failure occurred, and the fireball was seen over several states. Mavericks’ survival was a miracle considering the speed recorded at time of break apart was mach 10.2 and a reported altitude of 110000 feet, no one knows how he escaped it alive and with no injuries. And this was the day before we all met back up in Miramar.

Rooster: …..
Rooster: …. If y'all excuse me, I must kill my uncles.
Rooster: has gone Offline

Hangman: Damn…
Phoenix: …. So TikTok?
Bob: … yeah, TikTok.
Fanboy: Lets show these old timers how its done.

Chapter Text

Top gun has been going on for a few weeks now and the class finally has a day off, what better way to spend it than a day on the beach. A chance to finally get to know each other outside of the classroom and the O-club, and get some answers on there dangerous and mysterious classmate Maverick without talking to Goose.

The group had agreed to meet up after thirteen hundred hours outside the O-club. Goose was awaiting the group as Slider and Ice arrived together first followed by the remaining four pilots and RIO’s arriving together after a minute or two of Ice and Sliders arrival.

“Where’s Mav and Charlie?” Ice asked, looking over to the cars next to them spotting the Kawasaki and soft top car that belonged to the two missing members of the group.
“Drinks run; they’ll join us shortly.” The RIO chuckled.
The squad all team off into there pilot, RIO groups and take over one of the nearby beach volleyball courts.
“So, who’s first?” Wolf asked
“Looks like us.” Chipper laughed as he looked towards Hollywood and sundown.
“Seeing as my Pilot is running a little late with our drinks, it appears so.” Goose laughed as he moved to sit on the side-lines, throwing his towel down next to him as Ice and Slider move to sit next to the RIO.
“Damn, hope they bring some good stuff.” Hollywood laughed.
“Mav and Charlie will probably bring back cocktails knowing Mav.”
“Really, macho man Maverick drinks girly cocktails?” Wolf joked getting the group to laugh.
“What do they like oh esteemed wingman of theirs.” Ice laughed as he took a drink of water out of the cooler he had brought along. Goose leaned into Ice’s ear and whispered quietly.
“Snowball cocktail.” The Rio smirked as Ice chocked on his water, spitting it all out getting everyone’s attention as Ice looked at him in utter mortification.
“What can I say, they’re girlier than you think they are.” Goose said getting a laugh from the others.

“Hey Goose, where’s Maverick really.”
“There down the beach with Charlie, they went for drinks.”
“Damn he’s head over heels for her isn’t he.”
“It’s a beach day. Mav wants to make sure no one catcalls Charlie; I know how often it happens when Carol and Mav strutted around the beaches of padre island when we were in Texas. They have a mean right hook for the perv’s.”
“Seriously, are you sure there not away to some bathroom for a quick one?” Ice snorted.
“Trust me Ice, Mav isn’t that sort of person.” The RIO chuckled.
“He’s so short that I’m surprised he can even get a date. I didn’t think girls dug the short angry guy.” Slider
“We don’t, we prefer tall gentlemen with manners and good personality who can sweep us off our feet normally.” Mav’s voice said as they walked up behind the group, pulling a large floppy straw sun hat off and removing a cropped leather jacket.

No one said anything as they looked at Charlie and whom no one could believe was Maverick.
There before them stood the missing pilot in a pair of high waisted Jorts with a thick Chanel belt and white bikini top, smooth tan skin showing toned muscles under the jacket was Maverick, a red bandana tied around their cropped hair which was spiked messily. There lips shined under the afternoon sun as it reflected off the pilot’s lip gloss. None of the men could say anything as they just stared at the pair of women with drinks in hands. They were snapped to attention when the flash of Goose’s polaroid camera broke them out of there trance.

“Goose, please tell me you didn’t do it again.” The woman sighed as she looked at her RIO
“Perhaps I did Pete.”
“GOOSE.”
“Wait, did none of them realise?” Charlie snorted in laughter as she hid her smile behind the pina colada in her hands.
“They thought you two hooked up.” Goose wheezed out as he looked at the six men around him.
“Oh, hell no, female pilot solidarity and all that but nope.” Mav flushed in embarrassment. “Charlie I am so sorry for this idiot. It the third time he’s done this now and if he does it again, he knows im gonna ring his neck like he’s a Christmas goose.” Mav growled as she threw her beach bag down next to goose.
“You won’t, you love me too much.”
“I love Carol and Bradley too much to murder you, you mean.” Pete rolled her eyes as she sat down next to ice who quickly flushed red as the female pilot sat down.
“No snowball I see.” The blond raised an eyebrow at Mav as he looked between her and Ice who’s face just kept getting redder and redder.
“GOOSE!” The female snapped at her RIO who just laughed.
“But Pete, you, that’s, what?” Slider finally stuttered out as the rest of the pilots gathered around the two girls in their midst.
“I prefer Pete, but its Petra, Petra Monica Mitchell. Yes, I’m a woman, wasn’t exactly hiding it, I have changed in the female changing rooms on base and have a separately assigned locker room from the rest of you all. Viper and Jester know, all the admins know. Did none of you think it was weird the way they’ve been watching your interactions with me?” Pete asked.
“Pete if they haven’t realised that you’re a woman, then they haven’t realised the glares your uncles have been giving them.” Goose wheezed as he continued to take pictures of the groups shocked faces.
“Uncles?” Ice croaked out.
“Yeah, well… Commander Metcalf is more like my dad, Jester is my uncle. They where part of my father’s old squadron, when he went AWOL, they stepped up and raised me. When my mother killed herself a year after that when I was six, Viper and his wife Mary adopted me. When I was eighteen, we fell out as he pulled my papers to the academy, so I had to come up through the other way to be a pilot. We only made up after I got my wings. Turns out he only wanted me to outlive my parents and if I could do that then he was happy, he apologized for trying to ground me, and we’ve been back to a somewhat stable relationship.”
“Still doing better than me and Carol, our parents hated each other and didn’t want us to be together, so we ran away and eloped the moment Carol became eighteen. I worked my way up meeting Mav and the three of us just clicked. We’ve been RIO and Pilot ever since. My beloved little sister.”
“I’m older.”
“I’m taller.” Goose snorted back. “So did you get me anything?”
“After all that, yeah, here it is.” Mav sniggered as she pulled her hand out of her bag and flipped goose the bird, getting the others to laugh. Charlie sat down next to Mav and the pair of them waved at the boys to continue playing.

Slider could only laugh as he looked at Ice, his pilot and best friend was speechless as he gawked at Maverick sitting next to him.
“Dude, you’re melting.” Slider chuckled as he looked at him.
“Shut it.” Ice moped as he put his head in his hands.
“I can’t believe we’ve all been so oblivious.”
“It makes sense now, why they disappear from the changing room so quickly and are in and out of the locker room so quickly.” Ice moaned softly to not let the women next to him hear them.
“Yep, they have a key to my own locker though, I let them store some of there stuff in mine between hops or usually she throws my stuff like my camera in so that I don’t get reemed at by what ever CO walks in. They don’t look twice at her.” Goose snorted.
“Fuck me.” Ice groaned.
“Oh yeah, most pilots react like that when they finally realism Mav’s a woman. Not that I help.” Goose laughed.
“I will strap you to my f-14 and crash it into the ocean for this you asshole.” Ice growled under his breath.
“And I will do the same if you break her heart.”
“What.”
“Oh please, I’ve seen the way you look at Petra. If you break her heart, not only do you have me to worry about, but you have her dad and uncles and a good portion of the pacific brass to worry about and trust me when I say this, we will call it a training accident and will provide each other with an alibi so rock solid that they’ll never convict anyone for it. Understood Kazansky.” Goose glared evilly at the pilot who paled.

Thankfully, Ice snapped out of his shock just in time to catch the ball thrown his way.
“Come on guys, your turn.” Hollywood laughed as he threw the ball at Ice.
“Yeah, come on Ice, our turn.” Goose laughed as he watched Ice flip him the bird. “Come on Mav.”
“Coming, Hollywood mind my drink please.”
“Of course, mi ‘lady.” The man laughed as she placed the glass over into his hand. “Oh, Blueberry Margarita, you do have good taste.”
“Of course, I do boys. Margarita’s, pina colada’s, daquiri’s, blue lagoons, martinis and the occasional snowball. Gotta love beach life am I right.” Mav laughed as she took off her aviators.
“Damn straight.” Wolf whistled.
“If only we could stay on this side of the planet.” Slider smiled.
“Let’s hope they don’t ship us back out on the USS enterprise.” Mav laughed.
“Whys that.” Charlie called from the side-lines.
“Aircon is always, and we mean always, broken.” Goose laughed as he and Mav moved into position, both laughing at the expressions of their teammates. None of them liked the thought of being on board a stuffy carrier with no aircon in the middle of the gulf.
“So, who’s serving first?” Slider asked.
“Ladies first?” Ice asked.
“Start with that Ladies first shit now Ice after all these weeks and I will smoke you, both ground and air.” Mav rolled her eyes as the boys laughed, getting Ice to laugh at her, making Mav smile.
“Alright then, I’ll serve. Let’s hope you can keep up Mitchell.” Ice laughed.
“Oh, you’re on Kazansky.” Mav smirked back as they looked at their rival.

The groups laughter echoed around the beach as they played long into the evening, all watching as Ice and Maverick slowly got more confident in flirting with one another as the games continued long into the evening. It was going to be the start of a beautiful relationship between the two top pilots was all their classmates could agree with as they watched from a distance, placing bets on how long it would take before either pilot made the crucial move.

Typical Naval Aviators.

Chapter Text

“All hops for the rest of the day are cancelled, Med evac has returned and both Lieutenant Bradshaw and Lieutenant Mitchell are being taken to the nearby military hospital for now, Charlie and Jester have followed them both. They haven’t announced their states, but I can tell you all that it’s a possibility that neither of them will be able to fly the rest of Top gun. All of you are dismissed, go get some food from the canteen, rest, but none of you shall leave the base this evening. We don’t need any more of you ending up in medical. Jester will inform you of any changes in their health. Dismissed.”
“Yes, commander Metcalf.” The six men saluted as their commander released them for the evening. All six young pilots where pale and sweaty, all nervous and worried for the two friends who were missing from the room. One pilot in particular, looked green, as though he was going to be sick.

“Kazansky!” Viper called back.
“Sir?” Ice spoke up shakily as he watched his classmates leave, Slider motioning that he’d stand just outside the door for him.
“It’s not your fault lieutenant, you understand.”
“It was my Jet wash sir.”
“And if it was recoverable, Maverick would have been the only one of you lot capable of saving the jet. I know my daughter Thomas, I trained her to fly even before she joined the navy, I taught Petra everything she needed to know for combative flight, too much sadly. She’s developed some bad habits over the years and her ego can get in the way, which is understandable, she’s had to compete hard to get to where she is, more so than the rest of you men. This will shake her.” Viper sighed as he looked over the younger pilot.

“It feels like my fault sir.” Tom muttered quietly.
“The accident is not your fault but take it as a lesson, you continued to pursue when you knew you couldn’t get an angle, if your wingman can get an angle, swap and cover them. Be aware of where your wingman is in the future Tom. Today was a narrow miss, but if you fly as long as Jester and I have, you’ll lose a wingman eventually, there will be others, it happens eventually. If you fly jets long enough, something like this happens to you. No one escapes it. It touches us all. My first squadron in Vietnam, we lost eight out of eighteen planes. Ten guys. The first one kills you, but there'll be others--you can count on it.” Viper looked at the younger pilot.
Iceman was known for being cold and cool, no mistakes, the man standing before Viper was not Iceman, this was a scared and vulnerable young Pilot who needed reassurance. This was a young man who though he had killed two of his friends only an hour ago.
“They may call you Iceman because you don’t make mistakes but your Human Thomas, as long as there is a human in the cockpit, mistakes can still be made. You can recover from this; you all can recover from this.” Viper patted the younger man on the shoulder.
“Go try to eat something and aim for eight hours sleep son. Petra and Nick will be fine.”
“Sir yes sir.” Ice muttered quietly as he was dismissed.
The pilot left the classroom with a sullen face, the incident had shaken him up badly.

One hour earlier.

“You can’t shoot him, I can.” Maverick growled over the comms towards Ice.
“Stay out of it, stay out of it Maverick.”
“ICE Roll off, I can shoot him.” She shouted over the comms to the infuriating iceman. “If you can’t shoot him, I can.”
“No, I got him, I can take him.” Ice called over the comms as they stayed on the tail of the bogie. “Look out.” Ice calls out as Maverick watches the jet in front of her up to the right, right in front of Maverick before she has the chance to react. Her jet flying right through his jet wash.

“Oh no.” Goose cries out as their jet begins to lose control violently, one of their engines flaming out immediately as the jet wash reversed the airflow through it. There jet was sent into a wild flat spin as both Goose and Mav tried to pull out of it.
“PLANES COUPLING UP, PLANES COUPLING UP.” Goose cried out as they spun out of control.
“GOOSE I’VE NO CONTROL. We’re stalling and in a flat spin nose up.” Mav cried out to her RIO. As she fought to regain control against the jet and the forces pushing against her.
“This is not good… we’re low.” Goose cried out as he watched their altimeter drop rapidly.
“Im pinned to the panel.” Mav cried out as the centrifugal forces of the out-of-control jet pinned them to the side of the jet, pain lashing through her arm as it hit the side of the cockpit hard.
“Mav it’s time to go!” Goose called to his pilot as he began to reach for his ejection handles.
“I can’t eject!” she called.
“3000 Feet, I’ll do it.” The RIO calls over as he reaches up behind him to the handles.
“Goose, go ahead, I can’t reach. 2000 foot.” Mav called out as she looked at the ever-dropping altimeter. She heard the boom of the canopy blasting away above her as Goose began their ejection, “GOOSE CANOPYS NOT CLEAR.” She called out in horror as she looked up.
“Mav 1000 feet.” Goose cried out, Maverick hearing the fear in his voice as they called out their height. They had to risk bailing out or go splat.
“FUCK, NO TIME, EJECT.” She cried out to her best friend, hoping the canopy was cleared.

The next few seconds where madness in Maverick’s mind as she heard the launch sound of Goose’s seat ejecting before a loud snapping sound echoing out above her. Her eyes widened in horror as her harness tugged her back harshly as her own seat ejected. Her own arm burning in pain as her head hit the back of her seat harshly as she was launched out of the jet. Her vision blacked out as she watched Goose drop into the water below her.
She was shocked awake by the coldness of the water as she landed, having sunk under upon hitting it, waking her up as she went into shock. Petra quickly swam upwards, breaking the surface and choked out the water she had swallowed, coughing violently.
“Mav, Mav speak to me.”
“Go, goose?” Mav called out as her RIO swam to her side.
“Holy fuck.” He laughed hysterically, “Holy fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.”
“Goose.” Mav cried out as she floated next to her RIO as Goose began to float on his back next to her, one leg floating on the surface the other hidden under the waves that slowly turned red around them.
“Fuck Mav I thought you were dead.” Goose cried as he held her.
“I heard a snap, what happened.” She asked as she tried to focus her eyes on him.
“Fuck you hit your head; you’re bleeding.” Goose said, looking at the blood that coated the inside of her visor. Petra raised her arm towards her visor as she floated only for goose to grab it harshly. “Fuck your arm. Petra hold onto me and float with me.” Goose said as he reached over to hold her neck still.

Mav looked at him in confusion as Goose grabbed her and moved her onto her back, lifting her bloodied arm out of the water, revealing a three-inch-long gash along the arm that was pinned beneath her and her cockpit. It was bleeding badly as Goose lifted the wounded arm and kept it high above them, wrapping the shredded arm of her flight suit around it in a makeshift tourniquet.
“What about you.” Mav asked as she realised the water around his legs was ever growing bloodied.
“Hit it against the canopy, bleeding badly.” Goose winced out.
“Tangle your legs with mine. Get it out of the water.” Mav hissed out in pain as a wave crashed over her and goose.
“Kay. Give me a minute.” He gritted out as he lifted his bad leg out of the water, trying to straighten it as he plopped it over mavericks’ legs.
“Fuck…” Mav cried out as she saw the ripped fabric of the flight suit, revealing the nasty gash down her RIO’s leg.
“Yeah… gonna need stitches… might be broken.” Goose gritted out as he held Mav tight next to him.
“Hope evac comes quick… we might bleed out if they’re as slow as Viper.” Mav joked breathlessly as the adrenaline began to drain from them.
“Well, it’s either that… or Carol kills us herself.” Goose snorted in laughter.
“True… a few weeks into Top gun… and we crash…” Mav cackled quietly. “We fight… out in the gulf… only to crash… when at school.” She chuckles.
“Still safer than driving a car.” Goose snorted. “Just… stay awake.” Goose winced as he held his best friend.
“You can’t drive.” Petra snorted as she gently hit him with her free arm. “Can’t promise… visions blurry, seeing blackspots.” Mav admitted weakly.
“Concussed likely.” Goose spoke softly.
“Coulda lost you… fuck… fuck goose…” Mav whined softly.
“You didn’t, were here… were still here…” The blonde murmured softly, kissing her forehead. “Save your energy. We’ll need it for when Carol comes to reem us out… and for the inquest board...” Goose snorted earning a guttural whine from Mav, leading to him laughing.
Both of them huddled together in the water as they awaited evac. After too long in goose’s opinion, the helicopter arrived, lifting both out of the water. Neither Pilot nor RIO had the energy to remain awake as the medics on the helicopter began treating them.

Hours later.

All the squad were hanging out in their quarters, waiting for news on their classmates. It was late in the evening, and they had all retreated to Ice and Sliders quarters, to keep an eye on the pair. The crash had shaken the unshakeable Iceman up in a way that had them all worried… it only got worse when they saw Petra and Nick being transferred from the base hospital to the neighboring specialist military hospital only minutes after the med evac landed. Wolfman, Hollywood, Chipper and Sundown were taking turns on watch, making sure Ice and Slider rested and didn’t do anything to fuck themselves over after the stress of the hop.
They watched as both pilot and RIO barely ate anything at dinner and fall into an uneasy sleep. The events of the day replaying in all of their minds.

They all stood to awareness as their commander knocked on their door before entering the dorm. Wolf gently shook Ice and Slider awake as they all gathered around Jester.
“At ease men, I’m not here as your superior right now.” Jester informed them, “It’s too late in the night to even think about it after all of the day’s events.” The elder pilot sighed as he ran his hand over his face, watching as Ice and Slider woke.
“How are they Jester?” Chipper asked nervously.

The elder man sighs and just looks over the collection of pilots before him.
“They’ll live, Viper and his wife Mary are with them both now, Carol had called by before being sent home, Charlie’s gone on home to get some sleep, like the rest of you all should.” The commander sighed. “Nick and Petra were taken off base to the military hospital down the road. The black boxes have been recovered from the wreckage, but Petra and Nick managed to talk to us before they were sedated. So far, the image is as follows, engine one backfires due to the jet wash, the plane entered a nose up flat spin near instantaneously, Petra was pinned to the cockpit with the centrifugal forces exerted whilst trying to recover and Nick couldn’t relight the engine. The jet entered a nose up flat spin stall, unrecoverable, even for a seasoned veteran like myself and viper. With Petra pinned she couldn’t eject leading Nick to perform the ejection sequence. There canopy wasn’t clear, and they were too low to wait it out. Both ended up ejecting at just below 1000 foot, somewhere between 600 and 800 feet. It took over forty minutes for evac to get to them.” The elder pilot informs the younger ones.

“How bad are there injuries.” Ice gritted out, not able to look at his superior.
“Don’t do this to yourself Ice, this wasn’t your fault.” Jester told him as the rest of the RIO’s and pilots moved to comfort him, piling around the distraught pilot.
“How bad, Sir.” Ice gritted out, getting Jester to sigh as he looked at the younger man.
“Other than the usual aches and pains ejection causes. Both have been taken for emergency surgery to clean their wounds, both are receiving emergency saline and blood transfusions for what they’ve lost and are being treated for hypothermia from the water and will be under watch for a few days in the hospital. Bradshaw clipped the canopy and received an eight-inch gash down his leg, he’s receiving stitches to it and has a broken fibula. That along with the bruised ribs and minor concussion, he’s been given medical leave until he can pass the usual tests.”
“And Petra?” Ice asked.
“Our girl sliced her arm open when she was pinned to her cockpit, a three-inch gash that she’s receiving stitches to and a small gash at her hairline she seems to have hit her head upon ejecting, she is on a very severe concussion patrol. Goose said she wasn’t responding when they ejected until she hit the water, likely knocked out with the force and the shock of the cold water waking her up. Petra’s been given two weeks of medical leave pending an extension if needed for her arm.”

“They’re not going to finish top gun!” Wolfman muttered under his breath as they realized how long they had left of there course. There only was roughly two weeks left to their course, with Mav and Goose out it meant that neither could continue competing for the plaque. as the pilots and RIO's began to curse under there breaths, Viper spoke up.
“That has been undecided, higher ups have called for an inspection of all f-14 canopy ejections, we could have had a fatal incident here today and it’s pissed off a lot of our colleges. Mostly, those in our old squadron who’ve climbed high into the ranks, that’s our girl and she’s been injured in a training accident. As far as the brass is concerned, the canopy not clearing fully and injuring two top pilots is a complete canopy ejection failure, especially if there is now a high risk it effects other F-14’s.”
“So does that mean…?” Sundown asked as the men realized the implications the accident was having.

“Miramar’s jets are grounded for now until an inspection of all jets takes place whilst the NTSB and our boys investigate the accident, if they find something then it means all jets will be grounded until they are safe to fly. Classes are cancelled for the next fortnight until the brass is happy, but you should still study up, this is Top gun after all. You’ve all been given two weeks leave. Classes will continue again after those two weeks, hopefully maintenance will have tested the ejection systems by then, hopefully Bradshaw and Mitchell will be allowed to join us, but we do have a replacement RIO on standby for Maverick if Goose is unable to return to the cockpit for the time being. They’ll be sent the work from the last few weeks to catch up on and will also graduate with you all if he is called in. He’s already worked closely with Mav and Goose before, so you lads don’t have much to worry about. Oh, and visiting times are 10:30 to 16:30, they might not be aware or awake tomorrow due to everything, but you can visit them first thing in the morning.” Jester smiled at the mess of pilots. “If you’re all going to camp out here in Ice and Sliders quarters, neither me or Viper will say anything, we understand lads, but get some rest and return to your own rooms before morning inspection. It’ll not help either Nick or Petra if they see you all running around as raggedly as they are.” The instructor chuckled as he left the room.

The group of pilots looked at one another before looking back at Ice who sighed deeply and sagged in Sliders hold.
“They’re fine Tom, banged up but fine. Petra and Nick are safe.” Slider murmured as he hugged his pilot. Moving to use his actual name over his callsign for comfort.
“Petra and Nick are tough cookies Tom.” Wolf said as the other pilots moved to comfort the shaken man.
“Petra will be back up in the air in no time Tom, trust us.” Sundance chuckled as the bed beneath them sagged under the weight of six pilots.
“Back in the air and smoking us in no time.” Hollywood snorted. Nothing seemed to reassure the ice-cold pilot.
“There in there because of me Ron.”
“None of that shit Tom. We all know there was nothing that could be done that Petra could do to save the jet.” Wolf sighed as he looked at their friend.
“Still nearly killed them. I made a mistake and it nearly killed them.” Thomas Kazansky shook under his friends. “I should have rolled earlier when Petra asked or admit that she was right before I pulled that manoeuvre…. Fuck.” He shook.
“Thomas Kazansky, you stop this shit right this instant, you hear me?” slider snapped as he grabbed ice by the face and stared his best friend down.
Ice paled beneath Slider’s anger. “You did all you could, Petra did all she could. What ifs and What nots will do nothing for either of you. Petra and Nick won’t blame you Tom, and neither of them would be here if they weren’t the best. Petra’s file is filled with records of miracles Tom, just as many miracles and commendations as complaints by her superiors. If anyone of us could have saved the jet it was Petra and Nick, and for neither of them to be able to save it today means that there was nothing either of them could do. Yes, top gun is intense, we’re all intense, that’s how things are, but we’re here because we are the best, we’ve all fought to be here, some more so than others. Jester and Viper are here to make us better and if they say that it was unrecoverable, you better believe it, they wouldn’t tell us without knowing that. So, you stop this moping and become better. Become a better wingman to ensure that this doesn’t happen again, do you understand me lieutenant Kazansky.”
“Yes Slider.” Tom sighed as he cracked a small smile.

“So, here’s how things are going to go, we are going to get some sleep, we get up in the morning, freshen up, go to a florist and then we will march your ass into that hospital, and we will all be there for both Petra and Nick and Carol and Bradley. Agreed?” Slider instructed.
“Agreed.” The other pilots and RIO’s nodded as they made themselves comfortable in the room.
“Good, now someone turn out the light, I’m tired.” He said getting quiet chuckles from his classmates.
As the lights switched out, a small smile grew on Ice’s face. He was glad to have friends like these idiots who could see past his ice-cold bullshit. They had become a weird close knitted family over the past few weeks, and it was one Ice was thankful for in moments like this. All that was missing was the smiles and laughter of two very important people.

Miramar Military Hospital, 24 hours after the accident.

Petra moaned softly as she dug her head into her pillow. The light streaming into the room falling over her face as she slowly cracked open her eyes, looking at the unfamiliar ceiling above her.
The young woman furrowed her brows as she tried to remember what happened as it hit her as hard as she hit her seat. Flying through Ice’s jet wash, her own jet flying out of control, her being pinned and Goose going through the ejection sequence, there canopy not clearing and her and goose landing in the water. She could hardly remember there med evac but remembered waking long enough to see her uncles Jester and Vipers concerned faces as she muttered out what happened as her and Nick where being loaded up into ambulances to be treated off base. From there everything was fuzzy, she remembered Charlie and Jester following them, the doctors explaining that they needed surgery. The last thing she remembered was Jester and Charlie’s concerned faces as she and Nick were wheeled off for surgery.

The woman groaned as she tried to push herself up in her bed, her ribs ached in pain and her head spinning as she propped herself up.
She let out a gasp of surprise as she looked around the room.

She was in a small private hospital room with Nick on the other bed in the room next to her. But what shocked her was the sheer number of flowers and get well soon cards dotted around the limited counter space of the room. Nick was still asleep in the bed next to her soundlessly, little Bradley tucked up next to him with Carols handbag sitting by his feet, but to her surprise, Slider, Wolfman, Hollywood, Chipper, Sundown and Ice where all splayed out in the room on chairs and a small sofa, all sleeping in the afternoon sun.

Petra giggled softly as she looked over the group, smiling evilly when she saw Nick’s camera sitting on the table between their beds, reaching over with her good arm that wasn’t wrapped up in bandages to lift it. Minding the I’V line that was attached to her good arm she lifted the polaroid camera off the table and into her hands, albeit awkwardly. With a quiet giggle she began to snap away at the group of sleeping pilots and RIO’s. She was just about to turn and get a photo of the blonde-haired pilot snoozing next to her when a voice spoke up.

“You’re supposed to be resting.” A husky voice chuckled from beside her as she stared at ice blue eyes that had been closed only a second ago, getting Mav to jump in surprise as she let out a scream that woke the others.
“ICE you asshole. Don’t scare me like that. I thought you were asleep.” She pouted at the man sitting in the chair next to her bed getting chuckles from the man who rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
“Good to see your awake sleepyhead. You didn’t wake when the gosling came running in when we arrived at visiting opening hours.” Ice chuckled.
“She was on concussion patrol all night; they only stopped the hourly checks after six hundred hours.” Nick yawned out tiredly. “They kept us up all night… correction, I’ve been up all night, Petra could hardly stay awake during their checks and dropped right back off the moment the attendees left. At least we’re on the good shit. Just surprised Mav isn’t giggling off her head yet.” The RIO chuckled waving the hand with the I.v drip in it as Bradly cheered at seeing his aunt awake.
“Oh, she has been.” Ice said as he lifted the pile of polaroid’s that had landed on Mav’s bed as the woman began to giggle madly at the shocked and embarrassed reactions of her classmates. Goose just groaned loudly as he sunk into his bed, his hands covering his face at Mav’s antics.

“Auntie Mav, auntie Mav.” The four-year-old giggled as he climbed off goose’s bed and made his way to Mav’s.
“Hey there baby Goose. Have you been being a good little cadet for Carol?” Mav asked with a smile as Ice lifted the boy onto the bed for her. The men awing at the small kid and just how delicate Mav was being towards the kid.
“Uh huh. Mom said you and Dad where in an accident.” Bradley nodded.
“We were baby goose, we’re fine now. Just tired.” Mav smiled softly as she giggled at the child in her lap. Bradley moved to hug her gently as Mav wrapped her arms around her nephew. Pulling him in tight for a hug.
“I know, uncles Wolf, Wood, Slider, Sunny and Chipper said you’d be fine. Uncle Ice was still worried though, like how mommy was worried for daddy.” Bradley murmured as he buried his face into his aunt’s stomach.
“Oh, uncle Ice was worried, was he?” Mav cooed at her nephew as she blushed softly, giggling as goose and the others laughed as Ice’s face flushed red with embarrassment.
“Like a lovesick puppy.” Wolf snorted as goose pulled a hand over his face to stifle his laughter. Ice snapped his head over to the man and gave the group sitting on the sofa the coldest glare Mav had seen from the man yet, bringing out a light blush on her cheeks at Ice’s concern.
“Of course, Uncle Ice was worried Gosling, he knows your grandpa Viper and Great uncles would kill him if anything happened to Pete. You know how scary grandpa Viper can be.” Goose laughed as everyone looked at their resident iceman who was melting in embarrassment.
“Just as scary as angry momma.” Bradley chuckled.
“Exactly little goose.” Mav chuckled getting a laugh out of the rest of the boys. The boys had all been given a good scare by an angry Carol Bradshaw when they arrived at the airport, the young mother yelling at them all for scaring the shit out of her and that they better not give her anymore scares whilst there on land, at sea she said she understood but hospitalisation when at school, oh no, that was not acceptable and that all of them where welcomed to crash at the Bradshaw’s place if they needed to talk about anything.

“Well, I had to make sure my beloved rival made it, who else would compete against me for the Top gun trophy, not these idiots for sure.” Ice smirked as he looked at Mav who giggled softly as she lay back down on her bed.
“Oh, is that how it is?” Mav smirked back as they raised their eyebrow at the blonde-haired man, Ice laughed as he smiled at her.
“If you want, I can go find another rival? Though I doubt they could keep up.” Ice joked getting Mav to slap him up the side of his arm as she laughed along.
“Give me a little bit till this heals up then I’ll be back to smoking you in the air ice.” Mav smiled as she looked at Ice.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Ice smiled goofily as he got Mav to laugh once more.

The group of aviators laughed as they watched Mav and Ice interact, unaware of the smiles coming from there commanding officers who stood on the other side of the door, having watched everything from the shadows.
“Our kids are in safe hands. Our girl is in safe hands.” Viper smiled softly as he watched the group interact with his kids. Nick and Carol had become his and Marys kids just as much as Petra was his, and he was happy to see them finally get on well with other pilots after years of struggles.
“They sure are Mike. Petra has the Iceman smitten. He’s a good man, he’ll keep her safe.” Jester smiled as the two officers walked away, leaving the aviators to have this moment of relief. It wouldn’t be too long before this moment of peace would become a distant memory as the groups time at Top gun ended and they would be placed back into the firing line when they’re shipped off back to the gulf. They just hoped their little girl and the iceman worked out their shit before then.

Chapter Text

Vine vs TikTok part two.

Dangerous daggers group chat.

03: 13
Hangman: YO GUYS. GUYS.
Rooster: Its oh three hundred Bagman.
Phoenix: Bagman it better be worth it if you’re waking us up at this time.
Omaha: WHO’S THE FUCKER SPAMING CHAT.
Harvard: ….
Yale: ….
Halo: Omaha your tired go to sleep.
Omaha: THEN STOP SPAMING CHAT.
B.O.B: is he….
Halo: Omaha only gets like this when he’s tired. You wake him when he’s trying to sleep then you’ve just unleashed a nuke until he’s coherent enough to function like the android he normally is.
Fanboy: you mean you people actually sleep at a time like this.
Payback: your playing eve online again aren’t you mickey.
Fanboy: no, playing some weird horror game called backrooms at the moment.
Rooster: DO NOT PLAY AT NIGHT. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SLEEP EVER AGAIN.
Harvard: He means it, disengage from the game, DISENGAGE.
Yale: That game is scarier than my nightmares.
Phoenix: huh… I didn’t expect Harvard and Yale of all people to play video games, let alone horror games.
Harvard: Just because we went to an ivy league does not mean we spent all our time studying. I was an elite CSGO player for a few years.
Yale: He made it onto an E-sports team at a stage. Didn’t stay there for long obviously.
Harvard: Mickie can we come see your set up some time.
Fanboy: Sure, always welcome fellow gamers.
Hangman: So can I get back to what I wanted to say or are yall gonna just keep messaging.
Halo: Go ahead before we fall asleep bagman.
Hangman: Sent one Video.

“I know what’s wrong with it, ain’t got no gas in it.” Maverick laughed as he stood in front of his hangar in the desert. Sitting on the apron in front of his hangar was the bullet riddled wreckage of the stolen f-14 as it was being lifted off the back of a military truck. The camera cut to Cyclone, Warlock and Ice as the admirals bent over wheezing in laughter at Mavericks statement. Hondo’s barking laugh was heard in the background as the camera shook.

Rooster: OMFG. YOU FOUND HIS TIKTOK?
Hangman: There’s some cool shit here.
Rooster: LINK NOW.
Hangman: NotaDeathstarPilot @ MaverickMan.
Halo: OMG HE’S VERIFIED, HOW?
Phoenix: Holy fuck that’s a lot of views. How did we not find this before?
Bob: Look at who he follows.
Halo: Is that…
Rooster: OMG HE DID IT. I don’t know whether to be impressed or knock down the door to Mav and Ice’s room and call Ice a lying hypocrite.
Phoenix: Follows who?
Hangman: Yep. Turns out Mav seems to have convinced the Iceman about TikTok.
Rooster: IceIce Baby @Icedcoldman.
Fanboy: OMG those are so fucking nerdy. How did they get away with that?
Bob: everything that has military significance has been blurred, the locations set to private and there are three admirals there. None of them would have allowed that video to be shown unless they were happy it didn’t break any rules or breach national security.
Coyote: that’s great and all but can you all shut up and go to sleep now. TikTok’s can wait till the morning.
Coyote: I mean it Jake; I will come to your room and take your phone if you don’t turn it off right now.
Hangman: I’m fine Javy. Can’t sleep anyways.
Coyote: be right there.
Coyote: offline.

Phoenix: anyone else concerned by the fact that Maverick is part of the Lockheed Martin group on TikTok.
Halo: I mean he has worked for them as a test pilot for years, why wouldn’t they let him join it.
Rooster: …fair… but now I want to join in.
Fritz: Online.
Fritz: I go on holiday one time, and I miss everything. I’m up for remaking TikTok’s but I don’t see many in this chat yet
Bob: it’s your Floridian genes… and we’re working on it. There’s so many to choose from.
Phoenix: And not all of them are as good as the old men’s vines.
Fritz: fair.
Halo: How was Trinidad and Tobago?
Fritz: Warm, went hiking up some of the volcanoes and my brother broke his ankle when he tried to bike down the mountain. I told him he should have just paraglided with me.
Hangman: Lol. Was this the army bro?
Fritz: Yep.
Rooster: Now he knows which branch is better.
Fritz: Air superiority am I right.
Payback: Hell, yes brother.
Rooster: Oh fuc…
Rooster: Kid’s go to sleep, its after oh three hundred. I will get Ice if this chat doesn’t go offline in two minutes. -Maverick.
Phoenix: Lmao, damn Rooster got caught.
Rooster: I mean it Phoenix. - Mav.
Bob: Wait… what did Rooster mean by break into Maverick and Admiral Kazansky’s room? I know he’s living with Maverick for now but Admiral Kazansky? As in the COMPACFLT admiral Kazansky?
Halo: Wait… are they?
Hangman: Roo what?
Halo: Fuck the rumours are true aren’t they.
Rooster: KID’S I WILL GET ICE, SO HELP ME GOD.- Maverick.
Payback: What rumours.
Fanboy: Spill Halo.
Halo: Nope, goodnight, sir.
Halo:Offline
Omaha: Offline.
Bob: That the top gun class of 86 are all LGBT and married each other or are together romantically then yes, that rumour. That admiral Kazansky went up the ranks that far he singlehandedly overturned DADT by coming out in front of the president after a heated debate amongst the brass rumours. That the navy overlooks the fraternization rule for certain members due to friends in high places and presidential permission rumours.
Rooster: Not rumours, or a secret, it’s in our files. We’re professional at work and behave ourselves and live off base to keep the peace. None of us interfere in each other’s orders and business unless necessary. That and I can throw USERRA at the Navy for interference in my early career and denial of promotion in my early career if they try shit. Now I gave you all a chance, I hear my husband coming down the corridor right now, you have ten seconds to get offline.
Bob: Fuck, yes sir.
Phoenix: yes sir.
Rooster: Too late. I see that Lieutenants Seresin, Trace, Floyd, Fitch, Garcia, Avalone, Lee, and Lennox are still online after being given an order by there superior. Good, oh five hundred you will all meet Rooster for five hundred push ups and a ten-mile run. You will take off from my house and will also be responsible for bringing the newspaper back with you and breakfast for my husband and myself. Don’t even think of avoiding it just because you are on leave, I will know if you skip. See you all in an hour and a half.- Kazansky.
Rooster: It’s my house, here’s the address, address linked, and Rooster knows what Ice and me like. See you all shortly. - Mav.
Rooster: Oh, and one more thing, our TikTok profiles are classified. If we find entire squadrons suddenly following us, we will know who’s responsible for it and will do much worse. - Mav
Rooster: Offline.

Hangman: FFFFFFFFFFFFuuuuck.
Hangman: Offline
Fritz: I’ve only just got home god damn it.
Bob: Your Floridian presence has cursed us all.
Fritz: Do not blame this on me, I only just got home.
Rooster: Online
Rooster: BED. NOW.
Bob: Sir Yes sir.
Fritz: Offline
Bob: offline
Phoenix: offline
Payback: offline
Fanboy: offline
Harvard: offline
Yale: offline

86er’s group chat.

IceIce Baby: The kids found our TikTok’s.
NotaDeathstarPilot: Hangman found it.
Werewolf: Lol, would have thought it would have been Bobby. I taught him well.
IceIce Baby: That goddamn stealth pilot energy is scary Leon. Should have called him “Phantom” or “Shadow”, instead he ends up with “Bob”
NotaDeathstarPilot: Looks like Bradley has been snooping recently, he seems to have found our group chat the other day when I left my phone behind.
IceIce Baby: What did he see.
NotaDeathstarPilot: Seems him and the rest of the kids are gonna try taking another page out of our books.
Sunnydays: What’s that mean.
Chippedmyego: Mav what have you done.
NotaDeathstarPilot: Oh no, nothing like that, no… they’re remaking TikTok’s.
IceIce Baby: Thank fuck. If I have to write off another jet, I’m smothering you.
NotaDeathstarPilot: Don’t blame me, I did not pull a cobra to cover the gosling just for him to get shot down afterwards. He gets that from you.
Wolfman: Saved your ass from being riddled with bullets Bobby said.
NotaDeathstarPilot: I forgot Bob’s your nephew, its all his stealth pilot energy.
IceIce Baby: You mean my ass, cause your ass belongs to me.
NotaDeathstarPilot: Sappy fuck, come here.
WalkofFame: Keep it out of the group chat, it’s too early for this shit. Wolfie put the phone down and come back to bed.
MagicMan: so that’s two groups of sappy fucks tonight.
LetmeSliderightin: Can yall not right now. And when did Ice and Mav adopt a squadron of stray aviators. I’m only seeing the photos and like half of chat now.
IceIce Baby: Slider
NotaDeathstarPilot: Slider
Wolfman: Ayy man, how was Europe.
LetmeSliderightin: Fancy and on fire. Thank fuck I’m home now. If I have to give one more lecture to a hall of disrespectful loudmouthed know it all’s Ice is gonna have to write off another jet cause so help me God I would prefer to just crash and burn than deal with that.
IceIce Baby: Okay so please don’t Ron. I’ve just finished filing my idiots, both of them, paperwork for there lost jets. Is there anything else you want to tell us about your trip?
MagicMan: He brought me breakfast.
LetmeSliderightin: Because I plan on spending all day in bed with you sweetheart.
NotaDeathstarPilot: and you called us sappy.
IceIce baby: Damn Ron, getting that ass. I sent my ass back to Miramar with a squad of the navy’s best aviators plus Bradly. They train and complete a suicide mission and he come home with eleven stray aviators plus the gosling all following him like baby ducks.
NotaDeathstarPilot: don’t forget the f-14 I stole.
LetmeSliderightin: How’d you steal an F-14. We don’t have those in service anymore.
IceIce baby: Mav no
NotaDeathstarPilot: Mav yes.
MagicMan: you flew an f-14 without me, Mav how dare you.
IceIce Baby: Ron you don’t know what you’ve unleashed.
NotaDeathstarPilot: So, we’re on the homestretch of the mission under fire from SAMS, the gosling runs out of flares with a bogie on his tail, I cover him and get shot down, land in the snow and find an enemy helicopter shooting my ass down, like the audacity. Rooster the idiot comes in and shoots it down only to be shot down himself. We spend a good minute bonding over how stupid we both are. We sneak into the enemy airfield, find the one undamaged jet there was left, and it was an F-14.
LetmeSliderightin: And you stole it.
IceIce Baby: And he stole it.
NotaDeathstarPilot: Took off on a very short, very pockmarked Apron and took out two fifth gen jets with it. ACE BABY!
LetmeSliderightin: Oh fuck, what have I done.
IceIce Baby: I warned you.
NotaDeathstarPilot: TWO FIFTH GENS, WITH AN F-14. LMAO, UP YOURS KANE.
IceIce Baby: huh… I thought he was going to…
NotaDeathstarPilot: I AM THE GREATEST PILOT THERE IS. ADMIT IT ICE.
IceIce Baby: and there it is…. No, you’re not.
LetmeSliderightin: I assume the baby goose was a makeshift RIO? Good for him, knew we’d make an RIO out of him one day.
IceIce Baby: Now the goslings at three confirmed air to air kills, one of his own and two as the idiots makeshift RIO, and the other kid, Seresin callsign “Hangman” now has two.
Werewolf: The kid that was the first since Mav to get an air to air kill.
IceIce Baby: the very same.
WalkofFame: Damn, you have some very deadly kids then Ice.
IceIce Baby: so proud of them.
NotaDeathstarPilot: So very proud. He’s crying.
IceIce Baby: He’s lying.
NotaDeathstarPilot: Ice is so very proud of the ducklings.
Sunnydays:DUCKLINGS. Lmao.
Chippedmyego: OMG LOL. That is just so cute.
IceIce Baby: Speaking of which, Mav my beloved idiot, its time for the duckling’s punishment. Phoenix and Bob are out the front now.
Werewolf: Aren’t they on leave whilst we get the paperwork sorted for there permanent squad? What did they do to encounter your wrath and why is Bobby in trouble?
NotaDeathstarPilot: Rooster woke us up with his laughter at just after oh three hundred hours, turns out the kids found my TikTok and were going mad in their group chat. I gave them fair warning.
IceIce Baby: He did, he told them to get offline and down to bed or face my wrath for waking us up. We had been having such a good night too. They chose my wrath.
NotaDeathstarPilot: So now we get breakfast on the kid’s behalf.
LetmeSliderightin: LMAO.
MagicMan: LOL, hope you weren’t too harsh.
IceIce Baby: Wolfman, Bob would have been excluded but he told the kids about the rumours. Now they know they’re true.
Werewolf: Huh… I’ll tell Bobby he deserved it then. Lol.
WalkofFame: Fair enough. Send Photo’s.
IceIce Baby: Will do.
NotHoldoitsHondo: Do you need me to come record them?
NotaDeathstarPilot: Sure.
IceIce Baby: the kids can get breakfast for you too Hondo.
NotHoldoitsHondo: Hell yes, be right over.
NotaDeathstarPilot: I’ll put the coffee on. See you shortly.
NotaDeathstarPilot: Offline
IceIce Baby: Offline.

07:30
NotaDeathstarPilot: Uploaded 1 Photo. All the dagger squadron including Halo, Omaha and Coyote were curled up under blankets in the darkened home theatre. All piled in on one another over the large modular sofa. They all were sleeping peacefully in the darkened room as Mav leaned over kissing the top of Bradleys head as he slept. Phoenix had fallen asleep in her WSO’s hold with Halo curling up between Bob and Omaha next to her fellow female pilot. Harvard and Yale had arranged themselves together on the other side of Bob and Phoenix with Fritz lying across there feet. Tucked up into the corner of the sofa opposite the teams’ tandem groups was Rooster, clinging hard to Hangman who was clinging just as hard back as he sprawled out over Roosters’ stomach with coyote leaning up against his friend’s side, his head lolling onto Hangman’s shoulder.
NotaDeathstarPilot: That’s what they get for staying up all night. Thank goodness the push ups and run tired them out. I’m tired now from just looking at them.
IceIce Baby: I’m so glad they followed you home.
NotaDeathstarPilot: Sap.
IceIce Baby: All yours.
NotaDeathstarPilot: You love this.
IceIce Baby: I do. Coming back to bed?
NotaDeathstarPilot: Think we could join them.
IceIce Baby: Oh absolutely.

07:45
NotHoldoitsHondo: They forgot I was here. I’m just gonna go now. But first.
NotHoldoitsHondo: uploaded 1 photo.
Ice and Mav had settled down into the middle of the modular sofa and had curled up against each other, with Maverick tucked up tightly into Ice’s hold protectively. The kids had moved now and had moved to encompass Mav and Ice, with Rooster having moved to lean against them, Ice’s other arm wrapping around the younger pilot who had dragged Hangman up against him as they slept.

The picture was just that of love and peace. A family of stray aviators finding family and comfort in one another.

And it was adorable.

Chapter Text

The sun shown brightly overhead on the apron and runways of Miramar air base, the sun blindingly bright, basking everything in such a bright glow that even the shadows disappeared. Ice smiled as he stood outside the locker room, he had gotten changed into his flight suit first and was waiting on Petra to emerge from her own changing room. Laughter coming from the locker room as the rest of the pilots and RIO’s left the locker room, all of them wincing and avoiding Ice’s stare as they walked past him. He heard a sigh as Slider grabbed Ice by his arm, dragging him away from the lockers and out of the hangar, onto the apron where their jets stood lined up. Ice followed his friends out towards there jets, always looking back towards the locker room, his brow furrowed in confusion as two of his friends never emerge. A gap in the apron where their jet was normally parked, empty and void of the tomcat that Petra loved to fly.

“You can’t keep doing this Ice.” Slider spoke up.
“Doing what?” Ice asked.
“Don’t, just don’t, you know there not coming.” Slider sighed softly as he placed his hand on his pilot’s shoulder. “They’ll ground you if they catch you doing this again.”
“What do you mean?” Ice said as he flicked his head backwards towards the hangar.

The landscape around him had changed, the hangar disappearing into fog as he turned back to Slider and the jets. They had been replaced by a single MH-65 Dolphin Eurocopter sitting ominously where the Jets and the rest of the Pilots had been only a minute ago.
“Guy’s? What’s going on?” Ice asked as he walked around to the search and rescue helicopter.
The last time he had been this close to one was at the time of the accident.
“Guys? Slider?” Ice called out. “Mav? Goose?”

The man slowly walked around the chopper, pausing as he saw water gush out behind the vehicle, soaking the tarmac in a mix of Blood, oil and sea water.

He gasped as he saw his two missing friends. Both soaked to the bone and white as snow as they sat on the inside of the now opened helicopter.

Ice flinched as he saw the pair, Nick lay sitting against the side of the opening, one leg, twisted and shredded skin, muscle and cloth hanging over the side of the opening the other, splayed out on the inside of the chopper. His blonde hair hung limply as the wet curls matted together, concealing his face as he buried it into Petra’s head. Petra lay in his arms, head in his chest, one of her arms hanging limply against her RIO’s hold, the muscle splayed open revealing bone as it bled violently. Her normally spiky hair clung to her face as water dripped off the ends, matting together the same way as her RIO’s did.

“Maverick? Goose?” Ice asked quietly as he looked at them.

Nick had lifted his head up to stare at the pilot ominously, water and blood dripping from his face as he looked at the man, his eyes white and soulless as his head fell over into an unnatural angle, his neck broken, like a Christmas goose.
Petra twisted her head in her RIO’s grasp as she too slowly moved to stare at Ice, her face covered in gushing blood and speckled white bone fragments, her skull split open wide, showing parts of her cracked skull and brain matter that slipped down her face as she too stared at the fellow pilot with soulless white eyes.

He screamed when he saw them.

“You killed us.” Goose said.
“It was your jet wash.” Petra added.
“You killed us.” Goose wailed in anger.
“We’re dead because of you.” Petra moaned.
“How could you?” Goose growled.
“What did you tell Carol, tell Bradley.” Maverick wept, blood gushing from her eyes.
“That their husband and sister, there father and aunt, aren’t coming home?” Goose snarled, made even more terrifying as he and Maverick began to jerkily move towards him. Their bodies half decomposing and bleeding bodily fluids everywhere as they began to approach him.
“Pathetic.” Maverick snarled.
“Murderer.” Shouted Goose.
“Coward.” The woman growled
“KILLER!” They both yelled as they rushed at him, getting the pilot to scream and fall over.

Ice shook his head as he fell onto his ass, scrambling away from the corpses on the chopper. He flinched when he felt himself hit stone.
“No… no, NO.” he cried out as he looked at the two White headstones sitting before him. Looking around, recognizing that he was in Arlington National Cemetery. He looked back at the headstones in horror.

Nick Bradshaw, Virginia, Lt. Us Navy, “Goose”, July 19th, 1962 – May 16th, 1986.
Petra Mitchell, Arizona, Lt. Us Navy, “Maverick”, July 3rd, 1962 – May 16th, 1986.

“No… No, you both, you both lived.” Ice cried out. “You both survived, I didn’t kill you.”

“I didn’t.”

Ice squeezed his eyes closed, tears spilling over his cheeks as he tried to remember the aftermath of the training accident.

He remembered watching Maverick and Goose’s jet spiralling out of control, he watched as two chutes emerged very close to the ground as the jet hit the water. He remembered having to be pulled out of his jet by Slider, Hollywood and Wolfman.
The man watched as the Chopper arrived back on land as the Pilots where escorted into the classroom as Medics rushed towards the coast guard Heli. He watched as two stretchers were bumbled into the back of two ambulanced as Charlie and Jester jumped in the back of them.

Viper told them they’d lived.

That Goose and Maverick had made it back.

That Mav had become his wing woman, saving him from a group of Migs.

This couldn’t be happening.

It wasn’t real.

It couldn’t be real.

This isn’t what happened.
….

Ice gasped as he shot up in bed, sweat lashing off him as he struggled to get his breathing under control. Maverick’s callsign on his lips as he looked around the bunkroom, recognising that he was on board the USS enterprise.

“Guys, he’s awake.” Ice heard someone say.
“Jeez man, you scared us.” Another voice said.
“That’s it, deep breaths Tom, deep breaths.” A familiar voice said, recognising it as Slider, “We couldn’t wake you.”
“Nightmare?” Wolf asked.
“Y, yea…. Yeah.” Ice sighed out shakily as he flopped back onto his bunk. Forever thankful he had been assigned to the top bunk when they had flown in a month and a half ago.
“The accident again?” Slider asked. His friend knew Ice too well if he could tell which nightmare, it was despite this being the second time, he’d dreamt of it.
“Yes.” He whispered as he rubbed his eyes before turning his head to look at the guys.
“Our girls okay Ice, she’s fine.” Wood smiled sympathetically as Slider rubbed circles into his friend’s shoulder.
“Still scares me…. We nearly lost them.” Ice sighed as he dragged his hands over his face, “Don’t like the fact she’s not here.” he muttered quietly.
“Lieutenant Tracy and Howard are with Petra. Captain Neuffer said she’d keep an eye out on her fellow pilot. The girls are looking out for her, Petra’s never alone for long, we’re with her or they are.” Merlin spoke up, comforting the man.

There were very few women onboard the Enterprise, so it was easy to know the names of nearly all of them. Petra was the youngest of the women on board and found the others like protective older sisters, looking out for her. With that, the girls were assigned slightly better quarters than the rest of them, especially with the four of them being officers. The boys had been introduced to Petra’s bunk mates at breakfast the morning after arriving back on the ship. She had spent plenty of time with the other women before Top gun and all were ecstatic to see the first Female top gun graduate and winner return to the ship, all of them becoming good friends with the men who all swore to look out for the women onboard the ship.

“What’s the time?” Ice asked with a tired groan.
“Oh, five forty seven.”
“Shit guys, why did you let me sleep in so long.”
“We couldn’t wake you. Besides, the corpsmen said it was fine to let you just sleep, something about your body crashing after the non-stop action.” Chipper sighed from where he had been sitting next to Merlin and Sundance who sat around the table
“Corpsman?” Ice asked.
“Yeah, Stinger sent a Corpsman to check on us now before we get into port. He wanted to make sure we where okay before we docked. Said the command came from the COMPACFLT office themselves.” Wolf added.
“Really?” Ice asked.
“Yeah, said that after all the chaos we’ve been through these past few weeks that we need a break before we burn out. We might get an extended leave due to two back-to-back deployments.” Wolf nodded as he moved to lean against the bunks opposite of Ice’s.
“Didn’t realize Top gun was considered a deployment.” Ice chuckled.
“I mean its extra training so its gotta be classed as something. Especially with how intense it had been and the added stress of the accident and inquest too.” Chipper spoke up.
“So, we’re docking early, and we are the first to disembark. You know, heroes and all that. There’s a rumor going around intelligence that we’re getting promotions for this, hence why they want us off first so we can get a day to ourselves before a ceremony sometime in the next week when we’re back at North Island.” Hollywood added.
“And we still have to have our top gun graduation party.” Slider chuckled.
“I wonder who’s going to host it.” Merlin asked.
“Likely Bradshaw, seeing as your girl brought us home alive.” Slider laughed as he pointed to Ice who flushed violently.
“Amen to that, Goose really knows how to party.” Petra’s RIO laughed. Merlin had been to a Bradshaw party before they deployed the first time, as a way of getting their squad to bond before they were shipped out. It had been one fun night.
“My Girl?” Ice asked, he didn’t think they knew about him and Petra just yet.
“Oh please Ice, that kiss was a warning to everyone else. Petra Mitchell is yours and they are to back the fuck off.” Slider laughed, “It was like someone was playing Bonnie Tyler over the comms as she swooped in.”
“Felt that way.” Merlin laughed getting chuckles out of everyone else.
“I… I…” the man stuttered out as he went red.
“Come on man, we all see how you both look at each other, we know you and her are dating at this point.” Slider laughed,
“And that you both have snuck off to share a quick kiss a few times over the past few weeks.” Sundance laughed
“How the brass doesn’t know I’ll never understand.” Chipper rolled his eyes as he smiled.
“Her uncles likely know, I mean they saw how he acted around her after the volleyball game, Ice looked like a lovesick puppy, even more so after the accident. Hard to miss the fact there dating.” Wolf laughed.
“I didn’t say anything?” Ice blushed.
“Your glances did. So did the hickies.” Slider wheezed. “You really care about her Ice; you’d freeze at the thought of her getting hurt and have been spending as much of our free time with her as you can.” Slider smiled as he patted his friend on the back.
“Thanks guys, I feel so much better now.” Ice smiled as he rolled his eyes. It was true though; the nightmare was long since put out of his mind. “And for your information, it was after debriefing on that hectic day when we disappeared off to the engineering bay. Made it official against the setting sun.”
“Come on then Hotshot, how about you get cleaned up out of this, we’re docking in a few hours, and we can’t have you returning to your girls family smelling like shit.” Slider laughed as Ice took his pillow and hit him with it, getting the rest of the guys to laugh.
He was so thankful to have this group of idiots as his friends. All of them able to see past his ice-cold persona and past his bullshit, he’d never been so grateful to be friends with so many amazing people.

“So… who won the bet?” Merlin asked as Ice left the cubical towards the shower room, getting a consecutive groan from every man in the room.

1200 hours.

The horns of the USS enterprise blared loudly over the North Island port as the carrier docked. The squad all cheered from the top of the carrier as they stood to attention as they observed there gathered families below.

It wasn’t long before Stinger dismissed the group and gave them their orders to disembark the ship, telling them to enjoy their extended leave before informing them all that they would be stationed out of North Island for now but warned that they may be moved to Point Mugu in the future if not on deployment on a carrier. The group cheered that they where being kept together for longer as they moved below decks to gather their gear, all of them changing into their service khakis, ready to meet there families below.

Ice had gathered his bags and with the rest of the boys had made his way towards there exit, where they would disembark back onto land. Standing by the entrance waiting on them was Petra and the three other female officers she had been bunking with.
“Well gentlemen, we leave Lieutenant Mitchell in your capable hands.”
“Congratulations on your promotions, tell Bradshaw I hope to see his goofy face next time we’re on carrier together.”
“Take care of our sister will ya. We’ll miss not being around the navy’s deadliest active Aviator.”
“Yes Mam.” The boys saluted as Ice and the rest of them smiled.
“Take care of yourself Petra darling, keep in contact with us all you hear.” The captain smiled as she looked at her fellow aviator.
“Yes, Mam I will.” She smiled towards Captain Neuffer, lieutenants Howard and Tracy.
“Oh and Iceman. You break her heart we will join the admirals in making your death seem like an unfortunate training accident. Understood.” The captain smiled, getting a laugh from the group of disembarking aviators.
“Yes mam.” The blonde man shivered at the smile whilst the others laughed.
“Come on Ice, time to meet the family.” Petra sang cheerfully as she grabbed his freehand, dragging him out of the ship and down the gangway, the squad laughing behind them as the couple lead the way off the ship.

Petra laughed as she dragged her boyfriend and wing man down the gangway, there bags clipping the sides of the walkway as they disembarked. Ice smiling madly as he followed her down to the awaiting throng of families below. Petra and Thomas had both been able to use the ships phones in advance to tell their families when they were arriving to port. Ice had rung ahead and let his sister, his only family that he cared about know of when they were returning whilst Mav had called ahead to the Bradshaw’s, telling them she was coming home and to be ready for guests.
“My sister is going to go nuts when I introduce you both.” Ice smiled as they reached the bottom of the gangway, making there way through the mandatory checks that they needed to.
“And Goose and Carol will go apeshit when they realize, we’re together.” Petra smiled as they made there way through the crowds of people towards the exit. “You’re going to get the shovel talk from so many members of the brass I hope you know that.”
“If it means seeing you happy then I’d gladly take the shovel and hit myself with it.” Ice smiled, God slider was right, he really was smitten for Petra Mitchell. “If I ever break your heart then you can shoot me out of the sky.” Ice smiled as he pulled Petra in close.
“Sap.” Petra smiled as she kissed him. It was a dangerous offer to make but Ice knew what he was signing up for, after all, his girlfriend is the deadliest Naval aviator the United States had in their ranks since Vietnam and the beloved angel aviator to some of the navy’s top members. He broke her heart there was no where on earth he’d be able to hide.
“All yours if you’ll have me.” Ice growled against her lips.
“As long as you can keep up wing man of mine.” She giggled as she kissed him.

Ice chuckled as he kissed her back, only breaking apart when they heard multiple gasps and the click of a camera going off. Both looked up in embarrassment at the group of people awaiting them.
“LIEUTENANT KAZANSKY, GET YOUR TONGUE OUT OF MY DAUGHTERS MOUTH.” Came the bark of one pissed off Commander Metcalf as the man stood before them. There stood the shocked faces of Sarah Kazansky, Mary and Mike Metcalf, Carol and Nick Bradshaw and the giggling child that was Bradly Bradshaw.

“Does this mean I won the bet?” Goose laughed as the rest of the squad gathered around the embarrassed couple who looked furious at the rest of their squad.
“Nope, Viper won. They got together after Petra saved his ass and mine, from a squadron of Migs.” Slider laughed as he threw his arms around the couple and marched forward with them. “Yours was they’d get together on the final days of deployment.”
“Betting on our relationship? Really boys?” Petra asked indignantly.
“You both where dancing around for too long, we wanted to have a bit of fun.” Slider laughed.
“I’m shooting your ass down like the Migs next time we’re in the air.” Petra glared.
“Good to hear that sweetheart, what was the damage.” Mike smiled as he hugged his daughter, Mary rolled her eyes as she slapped her husband up the side of his head.
“Four Mig’s shot down, one for the Iceman, three confirmed air to air kills to yours truly, and rumor is we’re getting promotions from it.” She cheered as the group looked at her in shock. It appeared they hadn’t been told yet.
“And the photos to prove it.” Chipper laughed as he handed over a group of Polaroid pictures to the group.
“Huh, well I’ll be. You go on deployment as a nervous wreck and come home with not only a boyfriend but three confirmed kills.” Mike whistled as he looked at the Polaroids that the man had handed him before passing it around the now stunned Bradshaw family and off towards Sarah who began to laugh at it. “Now that is a fairy tale they’ll tell for years.”
“More like a dream come true.” Maverick giggled as she dragged Ice in against her side.
“Yeah, a real dream come true.” He smiled softly as Petra pulled him in for another kiss.

The group of pilots and civvies laughed as they watched the couple kiss again. They all knew in there hearts there and then that Thomas “Iceman” Kazansky was head over heels for Petra “Maverick” Mitchell and that he would do anything for her. With proud nods, Goose and Viper looked at each other, both having a silent conversation that said it all. He’ll do.
It was going to be a long week of celebrations at the Bradshaw house.

Chapter Text

Sitting in the locker room, a group of half wet and naked pilots in various stages of dress gathered around a bench in a group… well mostly, one of them remained in his khakis, one of his legs in a thick plaster cast, his crutches next to him. They had taken their time and waited for one pilot to get freshen up for the evening and take off after the female of the group. Ice and Petra had been spending many of their evenings after class walking around base or going on a drive around the San Diego coast, usually ending up at a diner or bar before dropping the other off at there on base housing or off base housing.

When he disappeared, the fun began for the rest of them, especially when the last of them hobbled in on his crutches.

“Alright, so the pool is as follows.” Wolfman grinned madly, rubbing his hands in delight as he opened his locker, pulling out a notebook and pen.
“Get together at the graduation party. We have our dramatic and beloved Mr walk of fame, Hollywood betting in half of his kitty. The only one of us to be so daring but I suppose if our couple have a drink too many then it’s possible. “The man read off,
“Next up is that they continue to dance around each other after graduation and only get together when our deployment ends. The distance of duty finally kicking their asses into gear, with that we have an all in Goose, a half kitty Hollywood and full in Slider.”
“What are you boys doing?” barked their CO as he stuck his head into the changing room.

The group of men froze as they turned to face their commanders, embarrassed at being caught out.
“Ah commander Heatherly, commander Metcalf sirs we um…”
“Looks like a betting pool Jester.” Viper raised his eyebrow in amusement. “At ease boys, it’s not like your selling drugs.”
“I see that. What’s the pool boys.” The elder pilots asked as they entered the changing room, pulling the door closed behind them.
“Um… How long it will take Iceman to admit his love to Maverick and become an official couple.” Goose winced in embarrassment as he looked at Commander Metcalf, his sister’s adoptive father and in recent years his own father figure. It was really embarrassing to be caught by the man like this.

“Alright, what’s the buy in.” Jester asked as he and Viper looked at one another, both wanting in on the fun.
“Fifty dollars, that can be split over multiple choices or all in on one bet, it can be one of our existing ones or you can throw a new one into the ring.” Slider informed there commanding officers.
“What’s the choices.” Viper asked.
“Choice number One: Get together at the end of our first deployment after Top gun, Choice number two: get together after the top gun graduation after party, choice number Three: get together before our next deployment if we’re sent to different squads, after our leave after we finish the course. Choice number four: they got together in the days after the volleyball match where we finally found out that Mitchell was, a she not a He, and finally Number five: They have a one night stand or ongoing friends with benefits relationship, Maverick gets pregnant and drags Ice back to shore and they work out there shit with a Baby Kazansky on the way.”

“Who the fuck dares insinuate my girl would get pregnant before marriage.” Viper growled lowly as the men looked at them. Sheepishly Sundance put his hand up.
“It could happen…. It happened to my sister and a marine.”
“Two hundred push ups will be added to your session tomorrow for that soldier, you hear me.” The man narrowed his eyes at Sundance.
“Yes sir, I apologize sir. I’d like to change my bet.”
“Nope, for that you get to stick to it permanently.” Jester smiled viciously.
“Yes Sirs.” Sundance dropped his head as the rest of the guys laughed.

After a minute of laughter, the boys quietened down.
“Right well, let’s start over. For choice number one: Ice and Mav get together after the end of our first deployment, we have Goose in full, £25 from Hollywood and Slider in full.” Wolf chuckled as he began to read out the bets.
“For choice number two we have Hollywood cashing in his other half of his kitty.”
“Choice three is that our next deployments will be separate and so our beloved couple will get together before they ship out on their different missions. This one has quite a few bets with Chipper full in, I am Half in and so too is merlin.” Wolf informed their superiors as he continued to read through the bet.
“And finally, we have choice number four, they are already together, and we are idiots.” Wolf laughed, “I place my other half in this and so too has Merlin. Then with choice number five we have Sundance in full and only Sundance. So, what’s it gonna be sirs?” Wolf asked as he pointed his pen at the superior officers.
“Put me half for there already dating and the other half on a sixth choice, they got together in the hospital or just after they where released.” Jester laughed as he waved at goose.
“Ohh, we hadn’t thought of that one.” Goose laughed.
“Well, I like to think I know my daughter well, so I throw in a seventh choice, A mission goes south when on deployment both just manage to come out alive and both realise, they love each other, becoming official within days of the mission.” Viper smiled.
“Damn that’s a good one pops but I still like to think they’ll get together after deployment.” Goose laughed as he smiled at Mike.
“Any changes? I want to wrap this up and make this the official pool before graduation next week.” Wolf chuckled as he wagged his notebook.
“No, Im positive im closer. Petra will dance around Ice until there practically kissing on the gangway after our next deployment ends and our leave begins.” The man laughed as he slapped his hands down on the bench.
“You mean, there deployment Bradshaw, you’re gonna be staying in Miramar doing admin work with us until that leg of yours heals up. You’re in the plaster for another month son, then physio for quite a bit.” Mike laughed.
“You get the sentiment old man.” Goose laughed, rolling his eyes.
“Looks like we’re all fine with our bet’s boys. How about we make it official now?” Wolf asked.
“All in agreement say I.” Viper spoke for them.
“I” the group of men called as they looked at each other. All pleased with their bets and excited to see which one of them would win.
“Then its settled. Everyone is in fifty dollars; the prize pot is sitting at £450 dollars so who ever our winner is will have a great night at the o-club.” Wolf whistled, impressed at the numbers. With a nod from everyone, Wolf shut his notebook and slipped it back into his locker

Two months later, a stunned Goose and Carol Bradshaw, Viper and Mary Metcalf, Sarah Kazansky and giggling Bradley Bradshaw all stand speechlessly around the docks. All of them having followed Mike and Goose towards the gangway where their sister and brother would be disembarking. It had been pure chance that Sarah Kazansky had stumbled upon the Bradshaw’s, recognising the pair from a photo her brother had sent her. Sarah hadn’t been able to make it to their graduation, she was too busy finishing university and getting her qualifications as a Lawyer sorted to move from Virginia out to California, wanting to be closer to her brother and get away from there abusive parents. Ice had sent her a photo of his class and friends, a polaroid curtesy of Goose, and had sent one of them all in the hospital after the accident, knowing that Sarah would probably hear about it through the news that filtered around the naval ports.

The group gladly greeted their friends and welcomed them back after Petra blew off a little steam at them, discovering the guys had bet on her and Ice.
“So, when do I get my money?” Viper asked with a laugh as the group of pilots and civilians made their way towards there transport. Slider, Hollywood, Wolfman, Chipper, Sundown, Merlin and Goose all groaned in disappointment as they looked at the commander. Ice and Mav shared a look before bursting out into laughter.
“Probably at our delayed graduation party. So, who’s hosting?” Slider sighed.
“Probably who ever owns their own house off base, we’d party that hard we’ll probably get in trouble.” Chipper spoke up.
“We can host it at either Petra’s or our own.” Goose laughed.
“Probably mine, I have the larger Pool and spa after all, can’t have a good beach party without the water.” Petra laughed as she hugged Goose.
“Hell yes, gonna break out the piano Bradshaw?” Merlin asked as he walked over to his injured friend and gave him a bear hug that had the man scrambling for balance.
“I will indeed Wells, good to see you lived.”
“Good to be back, she took a little wobble through some jet wash but was quick to regain her balance and get her head back in the game. So different being her back seater in a combat situation than her wingman or back in training. We’ve got one hell of a pilot, though I suspect it won’t be long before I get a new pilot seeing as your mostly healed now.” Merlin quietly told his friend before he raised his eyebrow, a fond smirk on his face.
“You’ll be assigned a new pilot shortly son, one of last year’s grads who’s lost his RIO, but as far as I heard, there keeping the squad together for now, you included Merlin.” Viper smiled proudly at his former students. All of them cheered and hugged the RIO, all of them having come to be great friends with him in the weeks they’ve been at sea.
“Well now that is a reason to Party.” Mav smiled, standing on her tip toes to kiss her partner.
“Well, if your offering, I hope you know that we go through a lot of beer my dear.” Ice laughed as he flushed at the affection.
“Oh please, I can out drink the lot of you.” Mav laughed as the group began to separate, “My house tomorrow night, nineteen hundred hours exactly gentlemen. Now if you don’t mind, I have a date with a bottle of champagne and a bubble bath.” Mav smiled before pulling Ice down to her level.
“And I’ll see you and your sister Sarah this evening, my place, your bringing Chinese and beer. Here’s what Goose, Carol, Bradley and I Like. Bring a change of clothes if you want to stay the night. I don’t know about you Ice, but I wanna cuddle now that we’re not stuck in separate berths.” She whispered into the blonde’s ear as he smiled like a mad man as she slipped him a piece of paper with the family’s food order on it and an address to one of the better Chinese restaurants in the area. The guys laughing as the man blushed bright red.
“I like the sound of that.” Ice smiled dopily as he hugged her before waving goodbye as the squad began to break apart.
“Remember, Nineteen hundred hours tomorrow boys.” Mav smiled as she handed her bags over to Mike.
“Yes mam.” The group of ecstatic Pilots and RIO’s cheered as they saluted their angel.

With that, the group began to split up, some making their way towards cars, others towards their own families awaiting them off in the distance.

Most of them were assigned to the bases housing but others like the Bradshaw’s, Metcalf’s and of course Mitchell herself all owned houses off base and were going to make their way to them. There leave officially started next week meaning they could travel across the country to their own homes and families, some of which had made it out to San Diego to see their relatives return from sea. But for others, that home was here in San Diego, Sarah had moved into her brother’s assigned house only a few days earlier and had got it ready for her brother for when he returned home. Upon finding out about Ice’s distance to his own family apart from his sister, Mav made it known that both Kazansky’s where always welcomed into her home. Petra made sure he knew that it was an open invite to both Sarah and Ice to swing by her house next to Coronado’s Ocean Boulevard, a beach facing property with a pool and spa on Loma Avenue with Nick and Carols giving them all the same offer with their house being just on the road behind them on Isabella Avenue. That the Kazansky’s where part of their weird family unit now. Though she put that offer out to all the guys, offering her place to crash at for whenever they get sick of their houses on base, she did have five spare bedrooms in her seven-bed house. Her room and Bradley's room being the only two that where occupied. Of course, her nephew would have his own room, how else could she be the best aunt in the world to the baby goose.

When the rest of the squad arrived the next night for their delayed graduation party, they noticed a new polaroid photo sitting on Mav’s mantel piece in the frame of her service photo. Mav was fast asleep in Ice’s arms in front of the fireplace, the man himself also deep asleep as he clung tightly to her. the Tv on in the corner as the pair of them, stretched out over the large corner sofa, her red and white baseball tee and red plaid pants bright against his black shorts and a faded grey Navy t-shirt. With proud smiles and thumbs up in the background was Sarah and Goose with Bradley laughing in his dad’s hold. Carol seemingly having taken the photo.

They all smiled at one another, proud at the two of them.

Despite the fact they were all out fifty dollars to Viper, it was well worth the loss when they saw the love and peaceful expressions in the photo and the smiles on Tom and Petra’s faces.

Chapter Text

Dangerous daggers group chat. 11:30

Rooster: Anyone want to come to the science museum?
Bob: Im down.
Harvard: In
Yale: In
Fanboy: Hell yes.
Hangman: Can I join?
Rooster: As long as you behave and don’t bitch about us being nerds.
Hangman: I would never Roo.
Bob: I didn’t think you had the intellect to understand science.
Hangman: We operate multi-million-dollar jets, and you don’t think I have a basic understanding of math and physics, harsh.
Fanboy: I mean he has a point, Bob. He’s a single seater, he must have a brain somewhere for that.
Hangman: Rude, just rude.
Halo: Phoenix and I are having a girls day and we’re taking Amelia with us so that a no from us.
Fritz: Enjoy, I’m meeting up with friends in the city later so im out. Coyote can join me if he wants to skip the nerd fest.
Coyote: Cheers, I’ll meet you later Fritz.
Omaha: Where are we meeting?
Rooster: Outside the hard deck in like a half hour? I’m taking my car.
Bob: I don’t like when others drive so I’ll take a car. We can split between the two.
Phoenix: You don’t have a problem with my flying, why do you have a problem with my driving.
Bob: We can eject from a jet, not a car. Cars are far more dangerous than a jet.
Rooster: This better not be a dig at my driving, Uncle Ice taught me to drive a car.
Bob: Yeah, but Uncle Leon told me that Maverick taught you all his bad habits.
Rooster: Maverick taught me to ride my motorcycle, not my car.
Bob: Still not risking it, especially now that you’re flying like Maverick 2.0
Rooster:. Fair. See you all shortly.

14:00

Bob: Uploaded one video
“We took the homie to the science museum,” came over the speakers in a robotic android edit, Hangman is standing before a giant mirror, warping around his view, adoring himself in the mirror whilst Rooster, Fanboy, Omaha, Harvard and Yale laughed at their friend, whilst bob laughed behind the camera.

Fritz: And the TikTok’s have begun.
Phoenix: Kinda on point for what we expected of Jake to be honest. Nice editing though Bob.
Bob: Thank you phoe. :D

Fritz: Uploaded one video.
The video was of Fritz and Coyote sitting in a pub in down town San Diego, coyote was laughing as he held the camera towards fritz. “Tell me what your mad at!” coyote laughed,
“I paid twenty dollars for bottomless mimosas, what is that,” Fritz stated as he lifted his glass towards Coyote “the bottom of a damn glass.” Fritz swore as he laughed.

Halo: Damn man, I didn’t know you had such good taste, you gotta join us girls.
Phoenix: Sent address.
Fritz: Can I get my nails done too, I wanna feel like a bad bitch.
Coyote: I thought we where meeting up with your friend?
Fritz: We are, they said they ran into another friend who’s at a bar that side of the city and we are going to go meet up with them somewhere in the middle. After we get our nails done.
Halo: Get a French manicure, it flies under the radar on inspections.
Phoenix: Or clear. Remember we still have a job to do and despite being on leave we could receive our next assignments at any time.
Coyote: Copy that, see you girls shortly.

86ers group chat. 15:30

IceIce Baby: Its official.
Wolfman: What is, and does it have anything to do with the email I’ve just received from your office.
IceIce Baby: Yes, yes, it is.
NotaDeathstarPilot: The squad is getting back together again.
NotHoldoitsHondo: Plus, the ducklings.
Sunnydays: Oh, hell yes. Gotta meet the ducklings.
MaleWitch: Cyclones let out the most guttural moan of disappointment I have ever heard from him.
MagicMan: So, he seems happy about the arrangement.
NotaDeathstarPilot: He just doesn’t like the thought of dealing with me for longer than five minutes. He knows I’ll steal another jet from him if he lets his guard down.
IceIce Baby: Mav no. But its always good to be kept on your toes. I sometimes think Sampsons gotten too comfortable to being based over there.
MaleWitch: He’s asking me how I managed to live with you as my top gun instructor.
NotaDeathstarPilot: Ouch, should I get him a basket of muffins to cheer him up or…?
IceIce Baby: LOL
MaleWitch: I think he’d take it the wrong way Maverick. Just send some of that fancy ass coffee you have. He’ll need it.
NotaDeathstarPilot: Fair enough, I’ll send an apology with it.
LetmeSliderightin: Ah yes, and have it say, “Sorry for my new posting, I never meant to piss off any more admirals.”
Chippedmyego: LMAO
Sunnydays: OMG I can totally see him doing that.
WalkofFame: he broke the rules enough that they decided to let him make the rules.
IceIce Baby: Not make them entirely, just give me a new carrier, an Elite training course for top guns best grads only, an elite squadron and begging me to make him take the promotions I’ve been trying to make his ass take for years.
NotaDeathstarPilot: Only because I want to remain close to the kids and not retire.
IceIce Baby: And the governments tired of losing expensive property to him but knows he’s too experienced to get rid of completely, so they gave us our own squadron. And pinned three stars on him at once… that ones on you Mav.

NotaDeathstarPilot: …..
NotaDeathstarPilot: I’m sorry they fucking WHAT?
NotHoldoitsHondo: LMAO
Magicman: Ice you absolute mad man, how did you get them to do that?
Chippedmyego: Well, you know what they say, be careful of the old men in a job where men die young. We’re all too valuable for them to lose, no wonder they pinned you with three stars, anything to make sure they don’t lose you idiot now you’ve made ace.
LetmeSliderightin: *WHEEZING* LMAO, FUCK ice really? That’s killing me. Fuck I can’t feel my ribs.
Werewolf: Good for you. You made them so desperate to keep you out of the cockpit they pinned three stars on your uniform.
IceIce Baby: I hear him groaning from the garage all the way here in the office. Serves you right Mav, at least you still get to fly idiot.
MaleWitch: That and I see you are going to be coming over to top gun to give lectures and hops on top of the additional training course.
IceIce Baby: You and Cyclone still get to weed out the weak Warlock and send the capable our way. We just get to break them or make them.
NotaDeathstarPilot: Isn’t that going to be my job.
IceIce Baby: It is, but we can’t leave you unsupervised. The Squadron is officially under my command mostly, its joint command between me and you Mav but only if you take those goddamned stars. Your responsibility is to oversee them, and teach, so I’ve called in everyone, our C.V’s are all fleshed out enough that we cover every aspect of leading an elite squadron capable of running the impossible missions like the enrichment plant.
Werewolf: Yes, more time with my favourite nephew.
IceIce Baby: Please don’t teach the rest of the squad how to be stealth pilots Leon, for the love of God I do not need the rest of the kids becoming CIA agents.
Werewolf: I can make no promises.
WalkofFame: I’ll do what I can to reel him in Tom. Might not hurt them though to learn a bit of stealth though Ice.

Chippedmyego: So, we’re all transferring to North Island.
Sunnydays: I didn’t realise North Island had the capabilities of hosting a squadron. They only host heli’s.
IceIce Baby: They didn’t but with the fact that Admiral Kane’s “Drones replacing Pilots” Scheme has fallen through due to the fact we had to create the dagger squadron to complete what his drones couldn’t, the money he had been getting has been re-allocated towards North Island. He’s in shit creek in Washington for voiding a government issued contract without informing SECNAV. He went over the department of defence’s head and is facing a court-martialling hearing because of it. It’s quiet the scandal in Washington at the minute. The Daggers will be flown into carriers and bases close to high-risk missions and flown out. Its our responsibility to keep them on there toes and ready for anything, especially now that we’ve got the only aviators that have confirmed kills against the enemies fifth gen jets. There will be more high-risk missions in the future because of Pete, Bradley and Jakes actions, the government trusts us to keep up the good work.
NotaDeathstarPilot: Kane can suck my ass, every time he came around base it was always “My drones are superior”, “Old relics like you are out Mitchell, Drones are in” and “I can’t wait to replace you with a Drone” well look at us now. Ace and our own squadron of the navy’s elites. Fucker pulled the contract before its deadline to try and get rid of me because he hated that we got my beloved hypersonic jet to work and it was another strike against his drone scheme. Now he has to suck it up.
NotHoldoitsHondo: I know, what an absolute asshole, we lost the jet because of him. All we needed was to break the jet in slowly to its new higher speeds but nope, not good enough, your money supporting all 140 people here is mine now for my drones because your deadline in three months’ time has been moved up to today and I only sent the email just as the test flight was being prepped. Whoops, I don’t see a jet breaking mach 10, time to cancel the contract and fire 140 people. Oh no, I’ve just lost a multi-billion-dollar hypersonic spy jet and have COMPACFLT, SECNAV and the entire pentagon on my ass. What a fucking ass.
NotaDeathstarPilot: Its destruction was fitting, it would have pained me to see it scrapped, A fireball through the sky like a shooting star. The kids have been re-assigned to other projects now Hondo, all of them are working on designing our own next gen jets.
IceIce Baby: Babe if you ever do that to me again, I will make you wish you went out with the jet. YOU WHERE MIA FOR HOURS. I love the fact you did it to protect your engineering kids but never give me a heart attack like that again, I will kill you.
NotaDeathstarPilot: No, you won’t.
IceIce Baby: No, I won’t.
NotaDeathstarPilot: Need a hug.
IceIce Baby: Please.
NotaDeathstarPilot: Offline.
IceIce Baby: Offline.
NotHoldoitsHondo: Idiots.
LetmeSliderightin: Yet we love them all the same.
MaleWitch: You’re all mad, but then I suppose I am too for joining this chat.
NotHoldoitsHondo: Welcome to the chaos club of 86 Mr 87.
MaleWitch: That’s one way of putting it.

Dangerous daggers group chat. 15:30

Rooster: Uh… hey guys… did any of you receive an email with your new orders on it yet?
Phoenix: No, are you leaving again? We’ve only been back together not even two months and there shipping you out already. I thought we still had another two weeks of leave left before our next assignments.
Halo: PHOENIX CHECK YOUR EMAIL ASAP. XD
Hangman: No way… Roo are they being serious?
Bob: HOLY FUCK THEY ARE! ITS COMPACFLT SIGNATURE.
Coyote: SWEET!
Omaha: Hell yes, there keeping the band together.
Rooster: I want to kill Ice and Mav for keeping this from me but omg I could kiss them.
Harvard: I’m down, no way am I missing this honour.
Yale: Same, no way are we leaving now.
Fritz: HELL YES, INAGURAL PILOTS AND WSO’S OF THE FIRST EVER NORTH ISLAND SHADOW DAGGERS SQUADRON!
Payback: They made it official, holy fuck that is awesome.
Fanboy: So glad my request to the astronaut’s corps was rejected if it means we get an opportunity like this.
Payback: Your what?
Rooster: You applied to the astronaut’s corps?
Fanboy: Don’t worry, my application was rejected like a week before we were called back to top gun. I was going to re-apply in a little bit again, but I think I’ll shove that on the back burner for now. There’s no fucking way I’m missing this.
Halo: we’ll discuss our wannabe Neil Armstrong later, but now just look at the commanders list. Look at it. How did they keep this quiet. I sure as hell didn’t hear shit about this.
Rooster: OMG LOOK WHO’S LEADING US.
Phoenix: There making Mav a VICE ADMIRAL!
Bob: Even better, we are under Admiral Kazansky’s command himself. He and Mav are the joint leaders Hondo’s staying and they’re reassigning admirals Wolfe, Neven, Piper, Williams, Wells and Kerner. they are all going to be assigned to North Island with us for training, strategic purposes and deployment issues.
Hangman: … Guys… I just realised something.
Rooster: What.
Hangman: They’re all part of Admiral Kazansky and now admiral Mitchells top gun class…. All having flown with them both for years… There gonna smoke us in training aren’t they.
Omaha: we’re fucked.
Rooster: Oh fuck… the uncle’s squad’s gonna smoke us.
Bob: There gonna show us no mercy. Uncle Leon’s sent me a fucking gif of the troll face. We are all dead.
Yale: Well, if Fanboy keeps his mouth shut this time, I think we’ll be fine. We’ve come a long way since the first hop.
Harvard: He’s right. Payback, keep your back seaters mouth shut this time alright.
Fanboy: I said I’m sorry.
Halo: Our arms still ache from the push ups you made us do.
Coyote: Payback I’ll buy you a round at the hard deck if you can keep your WSO from running his mouth.
Payback: I’ll do my best, but I can make no promises.
Fanboy: fuck you all.
Bob: You love us.
Fanboy: Damn it…

15:50

Rooster: So… now we have an issue… what are we going to do about housing.
Halo: You have your own house on north island just around the corner from Mavericks that you’ve rented out for years. Both of you have beach views and no reason to complain about housing.
Rooster: The people living in it haven’t moved out yet, then I’ll have to renovate it. I should have it back in a weeks’ time and then it’ll take another month with the contractors. Uncle Ice and Mav are already getting empty nest syndrome and I haven’t even left the house yet.
Phoenix: How many spare rooms you got?
Rooster: Five rooms including mine, but I might end up with three when the renovations are done and an office, I’m having ensuites and closets built in to enlarge the other bedrooms and the gardens being done up, they’ve destroyed my mom’s garden. I have a formal living room, a snug, a large kitchen, pantry and utility, a formal diner, A music room and games room, there’s a three-car garage with a gym and opens into the back garden Mavericks getting a landscaper in and paying for the installation of a pool and spa. If you want to live with me I have one main rule, no sex in public places, keep it to your bed rooms.
Phoenix: Dibs roommate.
Coyote: What?
Rooster: Sold. One room left to a responsible pilot or WSO.
Bob: Dibs the other Rooster.
Fritz: wait, no.
Rooster: That’s fine Bob. Means the uncle squad won’t have to go far to pop their heads in.
Halo: I’m fine, Me and my wife have a house in La Jolla anyways, Neil my beloved brother you’re free to move in whenever you want. Rachel’s excited at the thought of both of us being home with her.
Omaha: Cool, thanks Callie, tell Rachel I say hi. Well gents, looks like that my accommodation sorted.
Hangman: I’ll go buy something for the rest of us unless anyone wants to use the base housing they’re offering.
Coyote: Jake you are a life saver.
Hangman: I’ll look for something big enough for… how many of us, seven? I can get a viewing for a ten bed with a pool and six car garage on ocean boulevard for like an hours’ time.
Rooster: Dude seriously? These houses are fucking expensive now a days. Uncle Mav is the only reason why I even have this house. Can you even afford it, these houses are in the millions.
Hangman: Yes? My old man was an oil baron, I have bags of money that ironically, I don’t spend on myself. I can buy it tonight and we can have the keys in like a months’ time.
Rooster: Fuck now were gonna be neighbours. You’re another version of Maverick now you know that right?
Hangman: you love me Roo, don’t deny it. Your pleased that this beauty is only going to be a stones throw down the road from you. And what about pops?
Phoenix: Take Omaha, Yale and Harvard with you, there responsible enough to make sure that the house suits everyone’s needs.

Hangman: ???
Halo: Yours is going to be the place we all crash at idiot if you’re hosting everyone, it’s gotta be suitable for all of us to come and hang out at, not just a bachelor pad.
Hangman: I’m not that bad, I have an interior designer lined up too. Now can someone explain what you mean about Maverick.
Bob: Mitchells are old money, gilded era money, his grandfather bought swathes of land in the Mojave which held gold, invested it before World War two into mineral, transport and defence stocks and became one of the richest men in America in the early fifties. Maverick has multiple houses and has a habit of buying expensive gifts for those he sees as family. Quoted by my uncle Wolfe.
Rooster: That’s true, he bought my mom and dad’s house as a gift for them when they first moved to San Diego when they were going through Top gun. Mom stayed there because the thought of returning to the house in Texas was too painful. He bought me the family mustang when I was a teen in order to teach me to fly, paying for my civilian licence. We share it now though; I did throw it back at him after we fell out years ago and he took care of it since. He has an airstrip and house in the Joshua tree area with hangars. Then there’s the la Jolla mansion… phew… now that is something. He bought it for Ice as a wedding present. Its fancy and large enough to host a gala ball. Mavericks literally paying for my house renovations, he wants to make sure its in good condition for me… so I’d say he’s also got an interior designer for me too.
Coyote: OMG Hangman does the same. Is that like a rich person flex. Every where we are deployed with the choice of off base housing, he just buys a house or two and gives me one.
Hangman: No, it’s not. Its more like an “I’m emotionally stunted and rich, this is the only way I know how to show my love”, but its true Javy, I just don’t know what I did to deserve a friend like you. That’s why I spend big money on you cause your worth it.
Coyote: Dude, I love you too, but I don’t need a Rolex or Porsche to know you love me too. The house well…. Gotta makes a retirement investment somewhere.
Phoenix: Did hangman just admit he’s emotionally stunted?
Hangman: Don’t worry, I have an index account already set up for you all with my family’s finance team. You’ll be as rich as the rest of my family. Besides nix, I’m a changed man. I don’t leave my wingmen hanging anymore, a little bit of emotional vulnerability between friends is common is it not?
Bob: It is, the emotional vulnerability, but now you just live up to the executioner part now, fast, precise, no mistakes and does the job required and cocky as fuck in a cockpit. Iceman 2.0
Rooster: You and Maverick need to have a talk then. You really are the same. The man set me up multiple index accounts for me when I was born and had ones for my parents before transferring them to me when they passed. I didn’t touch them when I disowned him, but he kept paying into them, and now he still won’t let me pay for anything. I think he’s doing the same for the rest of you all. He has too much money and not enough things in life he wants to spend it on.
Hangman: welcome to the rich as fuck club, where the poor rich spend to prove their rich and us actual rich who don’t spend shit unless we want or need to, I’ll call in after the viewing to give you your hazing. Gotta go get ready. Harvard, Yale, Omaha, be by the hard deck in forty-five minutes.
Halo: Amen to that. Rich club am I right boys?
Bob: technically its your wife’s money Halo.
Halo: Rachel would never leave me; her parents would kill her, and she loves my ass too much to let me go, plus, no prenup, we where just two dirt poor young women before I encouraged her to build up her own online business. A love story of two strong lesbians, one serving her country, the other teaching her country.
Rooster: …. Why am I friends with you all.
Phoenix: Is that all?
Hangman: Love you too Roo. See the rest of you shortly.
Harvard: See you there.
Yale: On it dude.
Omaha: See you shortly.
Hangman: offline
Harvard: Offline
Yale: Offline
Omaha: Offline

Phoenix: No seriously Roo? Is that all you two are? The sexual tensions feel like its gonna snap life a failed arresting wire.
Rooster: Offline.
Halo: Damn even I want to know that.
Bob: Just shove them in a closet and let them fuck, uncle wolf says it worked for Ice and Mav, might work for Bagman and Rooster.
Coyote: I’ve got hangman.
Phoenix: I’ve got Rooster.
Fritz: and I’ll bring the popcorn.
Payback: Me and Fanboy will record the shit show then.
Halo: Deal.

86ers group chat. 15:55

WereWolf: So whilst Ice and Mav, are offline. Anyone want to help be get Rooster and Hangman together.
WalkofFame: Wolf no, they’d kill us.
Chippedmyego: How bad is it?
Werewolf: Bob says the sexual tension between the two is as tense as an arresting wire about to snap.
NotHoldoitsHondo: Yeah, I can see that.
Malewitch: Its been like that for a long time, long before Top gun i'm afraid.
MagicMan: Shove them in a closet and lock them in. Let them fuck it out.
Sunnydays: Ah, so there as bad as Ice and Maverick….
NotHoldoitsHondo: Yep.
Werewolf: Yep.
LetmeSliderightin: Someone better record the shit show when it goes down. Both sides. The gosling and his mini-iceman getting together and Iceman snr and Mav finding out about them both.
Werewolf: Never mind, the kids have the same idea. Bobby says Payback and fanboy are gonna record it. I’ll send videos into a chat without the Kazansky’s.
LetmeSliderightin: Deal.
Malewitch: Deal.
Wolfman: Now lets hope the Mitchell-Kazansky's remain oblivious to the chat above. They usually are unless its highlighted or pinned.

Chapter Text

The radio blasted loudly over the aircon of a black bronco. The occupants inside it were getting tired of the hour and a half long drive out of San Diego out into the desert towards the area of Joshua tree national park.
It didn’t take long before their destination began to rise before them in the distance.
“That it?”
“Seems to be, I mean, there’s an airstrip along with a row of houses on the hill opposite the couple of hangars they said, and I see two bogies in the air gliding around.”
“Huh, so that house then must be it.”
“Must be. I spy a barbeque and smoker sitting out and what appears to be one Carol Bradshaw standing on the porch.” The blonde-haired man sitting in the passenger seat smirked as he folded the map, they had been using to guide them out to the airstrip. He watched as one of the figures in the sky disappeared high into the afternoon sun whilst the second returned to the ground.

A series of cheers went up through the car as the group of Pilots and RIO’s as they saw a giant white wing flap in the distance, waving at them.
“What’s Goose pointing at?” Wolfman asked as he peeked past Iceman’s head. Watching the goose avian point his hand in the air.
They question was answered by the brown blur of giant falcon wings diving in front of them down to the top of the bronco’s roof. A smiling face with his aviator shades smiling in at them for a moment before taking off into the sky again, twirling as he soared past the car.
“WOAH.” They cried out as they watched one of the flying objects soar past the car as it pulled up to the airstrip. They began to laugh in awe as their friend soared gracefully above them.
“Damn Maverick, he really is just as fast with his own wings as he is in the jet.”
“I hardly saw him.”
“Well, we’re in the right place anyways. No doubt about that.” Ice snorted as he whipped off his aviators’ shades staring out the window at the sight of their winged friend, flying around so freely and carelessly, and placed them on with a smile.
“This is gonna be the best fourth of July I’ve had in a long time.” Hollywood laughed as the group pulled up in front of the seemingly only house in the area where Carol and Nick where waving at them.

The house itself was rather big, a dark brown house that blended into the desert around them, a large porch covering the front of the house and leading to the side where a large double garage was located. For a man with money, it was surprisingly modest looking the group thought, though they knew that the man’s other house in north island was probably somewhat flashier. Not that they had been invited around to it yet, they were all required to stay on base for top gun but were allowed out to the local area in the evenings for recreational purpose. This was the first time that either of them had been invited around to either of the Mitchell/Bradshaw flocks many homes, all owned by one rich motherfucker by the name of Maverick, and gifted to his brother Goose for every new city they arrived in.
This house was a simple flat roofed bungalow built up on the surrounding desert hills, overlooking the airstrip below. A traditional styled desert build, a house that could deal with the intense heat the desert could dish out with a surprisingly well-placed and well-developed cactus garden, the tallest being easily eight meters tall in the front of the house.
The pilots smiled as Slider drove up the hill towards the house, cheering as their host landed in front of the garage.
“Good to see you could make it.” Quipped Maverick as the falcon crossed his arms and leaned against the porch supports.
“Yeah well, traffic was slower than Viper’s flying, we couldn’t help that.” Ice laughed as the pilots began to hop out of the jeep, grabbing their gear as Goose and Carol laughed at them.
“It’s so good to see you all made it out anyways. It’s been so long since we’ve been able to have a good fourth of July. These idiots keep accidentally pissing off their superiors and are shipped off half ways round the world.” Carol laughed as she made her way to hug the men.
“Well, this year seems to be there lucky year.” Slider laughed, “They seemed to have behaved themselves this time.” He joked with Carol.
“Or just got lucky enough to go to Top gun.” Goose laughed, “Who knows where we’ll end up next time, when we piss off the next superior.”
“Maybe just try not to boys, wouldn’t want to miss the party if you guys are hosting it. This is one fine spot Mitchell.” Hollywood awed as he looked around at the view. Ice and Slider whistled in agreement at the man. It was one hell of a view.
“Yeah, it’s perfect. The hills give great thermals for gliding, the airstrip and hangars are just below us across the road and there’s no worry about air traffic out here as its all locals and it’s so quiet.”
“Perfect spot for a get away from the chaotic city life.” Goose laughed, “And an even better spot for teaching Bradley to fly. We won’t be throwing him off cliffs like our families did for us.” He laughed.
“From the hangar though maybe.” Maverick laughed.
“Where is the baby goose.” Wolfman asked delightedly.
“He’s down in our room sleeping in the nest. Come on, let’s get you guys settled in for the evening. The rooms are set up for two in each. So, you can break off into your usual pairs.” Maverick laughed as he led the guys into the house. They all sagged in relief at the coolness of the interior of the house as they walked through the entrance, the thick walls keeping the stifling desert heat out leaving the house a cool refreshing place to stand. The interior of the house was a mix of whitewash walls with pine wood panelling and shelving. The main living space was large and open, a well-worn corner sofa with a mountain of pillows and blankets stacked on it sat on one side of the room sat in front of a thick stone fireplace, and on the other was a large kitchen space and dining table sitting between the sofa and large double doors on the far side of the room leading out into the back garden. It was modest but functional and was a space they could all see maverick moving about through as naturally as he moved around the jets.
There were two corridors down on either side of the main living space and down past the sofa and dining table and past a decent sized bathroom. There were three doors opened leading into the three bedrooms for the guests. The other corridor past the kitchen lead to a closed door, leading the guys to realise it must be Carol, Goose and Mavericks room.

In the weeks since Top gun had started, each of their human classmates made it their mission to get to understand their animal hybrid classmates. Each of them learning their unique quips and habits that they had. From Slider’s vegan diet and learning to help him file his antlers down to allow him into cars and cockpits to Wolfman’s incredibly sensitive hearing and near boundless energy, joining him in the gym to burn it off or on a run/flight around the Coronado beach. Then there was the birds, Maverick and Goose, from helping them bind their wings to fit into the cockpits to leaving them seeds and nuts to snack on between classes due to both having insanely high metabolisms, higher than even Wolfman’s. Whilst Maverick was a falcon, a solo hunter, they learned to respect his struggles when in the air, all of them beginning to talk to him over the comms to bring their friend away from giving into his instincts and leaving his wingman hanging, helping Goose reel the falcon in. Leading to a greater improvement in their performance with the winged pair. One of the things they learned was pack mentality, where certain species aimed to congregate and bond with others like them. Somewhere fine with being in a herd or pack, some preferred solo lives and others fell in and out of the two categories.

This led to the discovery that Avian’s where one of the few that strongly preferred to be together in flocks even if they were a species that lived solo in the wild, there humanoid counterparts were ruled by pack mentality. With that it led to them learning that their teammates Maverick and Goose, having bonded as a Flock, did almost everything together, from preening, to flying, to even sleeping together in the same bed and nest, dragging the other members of their immediate family flock into the nest with them. Ending up with Bradley and Carol sleeping under their father/husband and uncle/brothers’ wings. It was cute to watch as the two adults took turns taking the younger up in their arms into the air to soar above them all, but it was weird when Goose and Maverick began to talk through just chirps, trills and warbles. The pair fell into it more often than they should have. Especially when in the air on their hops. When this happened, the pair began to fall into their instincts of hunting alone in the air, leading to the guys to interfere and snap them out of it. They found a way to work with it, getting thanks from Mav and Goose when they realised the lengths these guys were going to for them. Explain that not many of their previous wingmen and squad mates went to that sort of length to make them comfortable.

“So take whatever room you want, the bathroom is just through there with a linen closet filled with towels and extra blankets, Ron, Leonard, let me know if everything’s alright for you both, Carol made sure everything was alright for the humans.” Mav chuckled. “I’ve extra pillows for you both if needed.”
“You’ve gone above and beyond Pete, thanks.” Ron smiled as he patted the avian’s shoulder as he threw his bag into the first room.
“Well looks like that’s us sorted.” Ice snorted as he went and lifted his RIO’s bag of the floor and put it on the guest beds, setting them at the foot of the beds.
“Then make yourselves at home, the smoker is lit but there’s sandwiches for now, we’re saving the better stuff for later.” Maverick laughed as he moved off towards the kitchen area, going to the large fridge and pulling out giant stacked sandwiches and drinks for the guys.
“HELL YES, POOL TIME.” Wolf cried out as he dumped his bag into Hollywood’s arms and ran through the opened back doors, jumping straight into the swimming pool outside to the laughter of everyone else.
“Try not to wake up the gosling.” Carol called to him as the German shepherd surfaced, not bothering to take off his now soaked t-shirt. Hollywood rolled his eyes.
“No self-control.” Hollywood rolled his eyes, smiling at his friends’ antics.
“You could always tell him to heel.” Carol giggled.
“You would have thought I would have managed to train him at this point wouldn’t you.”
“I heard that.” The dog barked at them.
“We know.” The group laughed as they scattered through the house. Making their way into their rooms for the night and going back out to the car and grabbing the coolers of drinks and food that they brought with them, along with poker sets and VHS movies to watch over the weekend.

The group settled into the house quickly and efficiently, dancing around everyone like they had been together for years. Wolf was quickly joined in the pool by Hollywood and Sundance who had the decency to change into swimming trunks before jumping in the pool to cool off under the high desert sun. Chipper and Slider moved into the kitchen to help Mav dish out the large, filled sandwiches that he had premade for the group and bags of chips for the guys, pulling out cans of soda for them all to drink to cool down as well as bottles of ice-cold water. Ice himself was left to grab the coolers of food and drinks they had brought with them, goose helping the man load them into the spare fridge freezer that Mav had in the garage next to a workstation with a half-assembled motorbike engine and three different motorbikes all lined up next to Goose’ bronco and a large box of fireworks.
With everyone settling in, Goose moved to turn on the large stereo radio set that sat in the kitchen area, letting the radio play loudly through the living area as the group of fighter pilots took their lunch out to the large back patio area, sitting on the furniture dotted around the back yard and the odd beach ball and pool inflatable that belonged to Bradley.

As the men relaxed under by the pool side, Ice spoke up.
“Real nice spot you got here Mitchell, how the hell did you get this.”
“My family land, Grandpa bought the whole area back in the thirties hoping for a gold rush, he was a crazy man, went from a carnie at the circus to starting a mining business and then to wall street. he returned to New York for his childhood sweetheart my grandma, an America Kestrel avian and took her out here to Cali, building the airstrip below with his small fortune. He made a very pretty penny that he invested in defence, energy, technology and materials stock before the second world war. He was drafted and became one of the naval aviators who fought at midway, came home and found himself a millionaire. spending winters out here in Joshua tree but summers in San Diego whilst he travelled back and forth trading stocks in New York, flying a de-active mustang that was supposed to be scrapped, he spent a bit getting it in order to fly again and used it to cross the country.” Maverick explained to the guys, might as well tell them the whole story, it saved him from having to re-tell it multiple times later.
“Then my old man was born, he was an aplomado falcon, grew up learning how to fly from my grandpa as my grandma didn’t make it past the war era, she was never the same after my dad was born. He took too much out of her, a messy and long birth, and the separation she had to deal with when grandpa was at war didn’t help. She was weak and feeble when he returned, passing away not to long after. Grandpa stayed this side of the country after that, working with a finance team to continue investing. With that my dad grew up with a love for the air and became a naval aviator just like his old man, becoming the first Mitchell to go through the academy and one of the first avian’s in the navy. He married is childhood sweetheart, my mom, in a quiet ceremony in her hometown in Arizona, where I was then born and grew up.” He explained, the other pilots all nodding sympathetically as Maverick continued.

“I was three when he went AWOL in 65, abandoned me and my mother, called a national traitor. Ma… She couldn’t take the shame and hung herself, I was sent to my grandpa’s and grew up in this area until he passed. Only found out recently that he was K.I.A in a classified mission that the department of defence covered up. My dad’s squad mates did help, he saved so many of them during ‘nam and all of them felt indebted to him in some way or another, and they probably felt bad knowing the truth and not able to tell me. They became my old man’s other sons and my uncles in the years after my parents’ deaths. None of them had thought for a moment about getting the paperwork sorted to become my legal guardian, incase anything happened to my gramps before my old man dropped dead suddenly in my pre-teens, we all thought gramps would outlive us all, he was like a war horse. They tried for years but child services where assholes when they found out who my old man was. From then I was shipped from foster home to foster home, commander Metcalf did get custody of me towards the end of my foster stint. Stayed with him and Mary until I was old enough to join the academy, had to get some of my uncles to interfere after Mike pulled my papers, still went that year.”

“Damn, I knew I got Navy brat vibes off you.” Hollywood chuckled.
“And then I came into the picture, found a newly enlisted Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in the academy being picked on by a bunch of assholes who put two and two together about his old man. My instincts went mad at seeing him, another winged avian being assaulted and plucked. I decided there and then that he was part of my flock. I broke someone’s jaw, and another was expelled after pulling his primaries out.” Goose snorted into his soda as he looked at Mav who was pouting at Hollywood before shuddering at the reminder of the assault against him and his wings.
“Holy fuck man, that must have hurt.” Slider looked utterly horrified, Wolfman was just as pale in horror. It was a serious offence in the Navy to attack a hybrid members animal limb/limbs. A serious offence in all branches of the military, it was discrimination of the highest order and could result in serious bodily injury that could make a hybrid feral.
“It did, medic’s took ages to stop the bleeding, they pulled a blood feather out and that’s a near death sentence for an avian. After a few blood transfusions and my guardian Goose bonding with me I was fine. I thankfully had enough feathers left for flight before my next molt. We ended up moulting around the same time and I was dragged off to his place on our mandatory medical leave, where I met Carol who welcomed me to the flock and helped us through our molt.”
“The navy quickly decided to keep us together and once we finished at the academy, they shipped us off to the flight school and we’ve been RIO and Pilot ever since, flock mates, I think there’s a “do not separate” warning on our files.” Goose laughed as he stretched his wing around Mav’s in comfort.
“I’m over it. It was years ago now… they’re just stubborn old-fashioned asses now, none of them made it far in their service before being discharged.” Mav joked as he leaned against Goose, both relaxing in the sun. The pair of them laughed before both snapping their heads towards a set of large doors further down the building. Their feathered ears twitching as they both looked towards a set of doors further down the building, opening into the family’s bedroom. Wolfman smiled as he shook his head.
“Give us a minute.” Goose said as he and Mav got up and headed off towards the doors.

Everyone turned to the wolf in their midst, the one of them who’s hearing was sharp enough to hear for miles. He’d tell them what was up.
“Baby birds awake.” Wolf chuckled as everyone looked at him.
“I didn’t think they would hear him wake up.” Hollywood looked impressed.
“Bradley was chirping.” The dog hybrid laughed.
“And you know it was the baby goose how?” Sundance asked.
“He has a unique sound, lower frequency trill asking for his dad and uncle.” The dog smiled. “Heard it before at the O-club a few times. I think I can tell which is for dad and which is uncle.” Wolf smiled, his tail wagging madly. The others looked at each other before they rolled their eyes. Of course the man could, how could he not when he had the most sensitive hearing out of them all.

After ten minutes, both Birds emerged from the bedroom, Goose carrying the precious baby bird in his arms. Bradleys fluffy downy wings looked too neat from just waking up, Goose and Mav must have spent the past ten minutes working their way through and quickly preening them, to make the baby goose a bit more presentable to the rest of the squad.
“So, now that the gosling’s up, who’s up for a trip across the road? I did promise you guys the chance to see the mustang.” Mav smiled as Bradley waved at the group before shoving his head against Goose’s chest.
“I’ll keep an eye on the smoker. Don’t want it to burn out. Be careful boys.” Carol smiled as the boys cheered, all of them quickly getting up, running to drop there rubbish off inside, not wanting Carol to tidy up their mess.
“They will if they want a chance to fly the mustang, I finally got it going. Its safe to fly.” Mav chuckled as he moved to the front of the house.
“What do you say gosling, want to join daddy and the rest of the aviators?” Goose asked in a goofy voice to the child in his arms.
“Yeah, wanna fly.” The gosling cheered his wings flapping wildly in his father’s hold, getting laughs from everyone else.
“He’ll make a fine pilot someday.” Ice laughed getting a bright smile from Maverick, Chipper and Hollywood, the four pilots hi fiving each other at the prospect of the gosling following them into being a pilot.
“No, he’ll be an RIO.” Slider glared at his pilot, Goose’s wings flapping in laughter as he put his hand on his fellow RIO’s shoulder.
“Na.” Goose laughed, “He’ll be both, how could he not when his old man and uncle are the best in the business.” The avian laughed as the rest of the pilots and RIO’s chased after the goose and falcon as they lead the way down the road.

The group ran after their friends and followed the avian’s through the gates around the airfield, following their friend to the largest hangar on the field that stood not too far away from a radar tower and small air traffic control tower and terminal. The men watched as a small Cessna taxied around to the runway where it took off.
“So, this is a mostly private airfield. A few businesses run from here, Hot air balloon, helicopter tours, Grand Canyon tours, Skydiving. A lot of the hangars on the west side are all owned by some of Reno’s veteran pilots. If we aren’t on deployment, then you’re all welcome to come out for the reno races.” Mav smirked as he got awes from his friends as they walked past the smaller hangars with small private jets and planes. “Viper and Jester both have their own small hangars down the end here somewhere, I don’t exactly keep an eye on that, I leave that to the managers, controllers and finance team. They did a good job running the place when I was a kid and in foster care, I trust them to continue their good work.” Maverick laughed.
“Rich fuck.” Hollywood laughed.
“Na, I just prefer a simple lifestyle, so did my old men, only ever went to one posh rich man’s gala and we left after five minutes for the nearest Burger chef.” Mav laughed.
“Yeah, I can see that from you.” Wolf howled with laughter.
“You see someone offer you a posh slice of rare meat smaller than a chicken nugget and tell me you wouldn’t leave to fine somewhere better with actual food.” Mav laughed.
“Oh, I know that feeling. Absolutely hated my parents, they were so concerned about their standing in society that they would do anything to improve it, spent half my childhood starving at extravagant parties the socialites hosted. I would take our ration packs over those tiny appetizers any day.” Ice winced.
“So how many of us had shitty child hoods? Childhoods where you would consider yourself thrown through foster, starved, abandoned, and neglected or abused in some form.” Sundance asked as he raised his eyebrow at the group. Surprisingly a few hands went up, Ice, Mav and goose, along with Chipper and Wolf.
“Damn, we’re all messes, no wonder we get on so well.” Chipper laughed as he put his hand down, the rest of the guys laughing at that.
“Well, my parents where thoroughbreds and bought into that shit, they hated that I made friends who weren’t hybrids. They despised Carol and her family and Carol’s family was the same, they hated hybrids. Over the years me and Carol rebelled from there control, became best friends and then lovers. I ran away in the middle of the night a day before my eighteenth and held out another three days until Carol snuck out the night before her own. A friend of ours had parents in law enforcement and we were able to tell the sheriff that as consenting adults we were leaving the care of our parents. We eloped on her birthday with them as witnesses and dropped all contact with our parents and their families, I got into the academy and Carol stayed with her sister who had also left their parents for a horse hybrid in Texas. I on the other hand found my flock brother, got deployed, carol got the base given house moving in as soon as possible and we both lived happily ever after.” The goose smiled as he grabbed Bradleys little hand, waving it at the group as he wrapped a wing around Mav.
“I’m the same to be honest, parents are socialites in Washington, tried to mould me and my sister Sarah into good little banker or lawyer or doctor and a housewife to help further their standings amongst the socialites and being beaten when I didn’t meet their expectations. So nearly every day. They were so proud when I got numerous acceptance letters from Ivy league colleges. I said fuck that, gathered my documents and left in the middle of the night never looking back, headed straight to the academy without either of them realising it instead of Harvard or Yale. I left a letter with Sarah and set up a way to communicate with each other through a friend of ours. I was on leave around the time when she turned eighteen and had her gather her stuff and move in with me. My parents had her in an arranged marriage to a forty-year-old man, another day and my sister would have been married. Thankfully, yours truly rode up in my chariot and like a knight in shining armour whisked my sister away to college in Massachusetts.”
“Where did she go?” Mav asked as he patted the taller man on the shoulder.
“Harvard to study Law. I think she was looking into a master’s in government in Cornell as well now that her course is finished in Harvard. I hope to be there for her graduation next time, we were on deployment before top gun and couldn’t make it.” Ice winced, the guys smiled sympathetically at him, understanding that missing such a big event in his sister’s life must have been rough on the guy.
“As I said, the foster care system is rough, I lost track of how many times houses had me bind my wings or clip my feathers. The worst house left me hospitalized as the dad plucked my wings, pulling out a few blood feathers. I nearly went feral.” Mav winced as he looked at the group, “After that Commander Metcalf managed to get guardianship of me for a few months before I aged out of the system. He and my uncles helped me get into the academy when a few admirals tried to reject my application, thankfully, Uncle Neil came over from cape Canaveral and gave them all one hell of a yelling as far as they’ve told me.”
“Uncle Neil?”
“Yeah, as in astronaut Lieutenant Neil Armstrong, he was a part of my old man’s squadron, he was one of the older ones in the squad by the time my old man was assigned to it. They had a mentorship like relationship before he left service but kept up with the guys over the years after. Then years later my old man was one of the oldest when Jester and Viper flew with him. I have a squad of admirals and vets at my back if I need someone in my corner… only called in a favour once, and it was to get back for Bradley’s birth.”
“Damn everyone trauma dumping now? Alright then, I was always the lone wolf of my family. Everyone else in my family was preppy show dog breeds whilst I ended up a German shepherd, a service dog breed in their eyes.” Wolf sighed out, “They didn’t like that, and I was often left out of stuff and beaten for being different. My pa always yelled at ma thinking she’d cheated on him, if it wasn’t for the fact, I look just like him then he probably would have dropped me at an orphanage. The only one who ever did love me was my sister, she’s a Labrador, not entirely a popular show dog but still better than me in my families’ eyes. At least my instincts where fine with being a lone wolf, I’ve got all of you idiots now to bother when I need a pack.”
“Aww, come here you overgrown puppy.” Goose laughed as he dragged the dog into a hug, the group smiling as the men bonded over their shitty child hoods.
“And finally Chipper, want to share before I cheer everyone up with a piece of true American muscle. I have multiple flight plans ready to go, everyone gets there twenty minutes and Ice, Chipper and Hollywood gets to learn to fly a real fighter jet.” Maverick asked as he threw his wing around the other man, his version of a distanced hug. The group had walked quiet a distance around the airfield and were nearing the largest hangar away out from all the smaller ones. The other man nodded and began his story.
“Parents kept having children to fix their marriage. My pa was a troublesome recluse growing up and slept around, he slept with my ma before the second world war and got her pregnant with my eldest brother. Her parents forced them into a shotgun wedding upon finding her pregnant and when he returned from war he was alright for a few years, then shellshock began to set in, he was a drunk and slept around, the only reason he had a job was my gramps. He and mom kept arguing, making up, he’d sober up for a few months and relapse into old habits, a new child arriving in the middle every time. It was bad, I’m the youngest of us and my siblings helped me get out of the house and into their care when I was fourteen. It was one hell of a shock to life, too much choice and free time to sit and do nothing. Never sat right with me and here we are.” Chipper chuckled, it felt good having told these men his struggles, each had gone through their own, and all felt closer for it.
“Damn, we all came from messy families.” Goose laughed,
“No wonder we all get on so well. Childhood trauma attracts Childhood trauma.” Chipper laughed.
“That’s one way of putting it. Now gentlemen, why don’t we cheer up, were here.” Mav said as he pulled out a set of keys, opening the padlock on the hangar door before pushing it wide open.

The group stood in front of the largest hangar on the airstrip, in awe at it now that they stood in front of it. Whilst it wasn’t as big as the hangars on there bases, it was still very large, surprisingly so. Maverick pushed one side of the hangar doors open wide, before goose set Bradley down on the tarmac and made his way over to the other. The baby goose chuckled and ran over to help his dad push the hangar door open, getting awes from the older pilots.
“Look baby goose, you’ve turned the big scary fighter pilots into harmless kittens.” Goose laughed as he lifted Bradley into his arms as Mav disappeared into the hangar, switching on the overhead lights.
With the lights flickering on, there prize revealed itself from the darkness. All of the guys in awe at the plane sitting before them.
“Now that is a beauty.” Ice whistled as the guys entered the hangar.
“Damn Maverick, that’s amazing.” Hollywood whistled.
“Its like its brand new.” Chipper drooled.
“Oh yeah, all the maintenance was done by gramps and me. The old man would be rolling in his grave if I did anything to it that wasn’t original, especially when the reno air races began. He said if I ever dared give the mustang a paint job like those racers he’d kill me, and I wouldn’t put it past him to come back from the dead to do it.” Maverick laughed.
“And you said you got it to fly?”
“Yep, got it flying yesterday, got the inspectors to check it out too just for extra safety. She flies, but she’s got one hell of a kick.” Mav laughed as Chipper, Hollywood and Ice drooled over the P-51.
“He’s got the flight plans ready too, just let me grab them out of the trailer.” Goose laughed as he rolled his eyes, getting everyone to stare at the trailer sitting in the back of the hangar.
“I sometimes sleep in there, especially on long nights where I’ve gotten lost in repairs. Just couldn’t be bothered going back up to the house despite the fact it’s a minute’s flight away.” Mav shrugged as goose came out with a file load of flight plans.
“I keep telling you idiot its your instincts. Its why we’re not sent out on the graveyard shifts, our instincts just make us drowsy and sleepy in the immediate darkness and why we’re up at sunrise.
“God you really are birds aren’t you.” Slider laughed.
“Like your any better, I’ve seen you use pipes on the carriers as makeshift trees to scratch your antlers with.” Ice raised his eyebrow as slider flushed red in embarrassment.
“Is that why there’s scratch marks on some of the pipes on the USS enterprise?” Goose laughed.
“Shut up.” Slider muttered as he looked away from the group.
“Right then, lets get you guys into the cockpit. RIO’s first?” Mav asked. “Then I can take the Pilots up first, talk you through a flight then we swap over?”
“Sounds good to me.” Ice nodded as Maverick as the avian hopped up onto the wing of his jet whilst goose began to go around, lifting Bradley in his arms, letting the kid remove the covers from the pitot tubes.
“Alright boys, pre flight checks and fuelling then we can go.” Maverick laughed as he watched them all begin to scramble around the hangar.
Twenty minutes later, the mustang was in the air and the guys where whooping and hollering away as they watched the vintage piece of American history swoop over the desert around them. All of them listening in to Maverick over the radio.

Maverick took everyone up in the mustang for twenty minutes each. Taking the RIO’s up first, letting Wolf and Slider up first and second, followed by Sundance, then to everyone delight Goose and Bradley went up. After an hour and a half of waiting, the pilots got there turn up in the air, Maverick taking Hollywood up first, talking him through the controls before they landed and swapped seats, with Hollywood in the pilot’s seat and Mav in the RIO’s seat. The group laughed as they heard maverick talk the guy through flying the vintage fighter that was twice as old as all of them.
“Huh, Mav sounds like he’d make a great teacher.”
“He learned from the best. Metcalf and Heatherly taught him a few tricks long before he even went to the academy.” Goose smiled as Bradley played around with some of the other guys.
They just watched as Hollywood taxied the plane into the apron in front of the hangar and swap over for Chipper before they disappeared back down the taxi way.
“You know the mustangs top speed is 437 miles per hour.” Goose smirked as he looked at the guys.
“Yeah, it’s a fast thing for its age.”
“Yeah, but do you know what Mav has clocked in with his own wings?”
“Something close to that, he was asking if I could keep up with him when I get the chance to fly it.” Ice said getting every one’s attention.
“Well gentlemen. Everyone knows that the falcon species of birds are the fastest on the planet, able to hit speeds of over 240mph when in a dive, and a steady flight speed of 70 miles per hour. Now how fast do you think an avian like Pete can fly.” Goose smirked playfully as he teased the pilots.
“Well from this morning’s stunt I’d say pretty damn fast.”
“Oh, that was a warmup.” The goose honked in laughter. “If he went full speed, he’d have blown your car off the road. He can hit 315 miles an hour when cruising and up to 1080 when diving.” He said as everyone’s jaws dropped in awe.

They where all silent as they looked at the goose avian and giggling fledgling in his arms.
“Holy fuck, you mean he can?”
“Yep.”
“He’s less than five hundred miles an hour slower than the f-14’s top speeds? Holy fuck how?”
“It’s one of those things being a hybrid, we each have a physical enhancement or enhancements that matches up with our species, I’m a goose, I have webbed toes and can stay under water for longer than normal times in a free dive.” The man told them.
“Doesn’t that affect your wings?”
“So, one thing about us birds is that right under our wings is a gland that released oil onto our wings for the protection and care of our feathers, its essentially a conditioner but for our wings not our hair and we don’t have to wash it out. The oils I produce are naturally water resistant and salt water resistant.” Goose explained.
“So maverick likely has a physical attribute that allows him to pull speeds like that?” Slider nodded in understanding.
“Yep, he’s physically enhanced, he has extra ligaments and cartilage around his joints and in his neck and along his spine like reinforcement and shock absorbers, so his bones and muscles don’t separate from each other during flight and he’s got a weirdly efficient airway system that allows him to breath normally up to around 16 000 feet. And yes, we tested it when we were at flight school, our instructor got curious and authorised it. His eyesight is just as mad, he can spot a bird in the air from over ten miles away. Now transfer that to hunting Migs in a jet and its crazy.” Goose explained. “His xrays always scare the shit out of doctors, because it’s so complex.”
“Why do you guys have the cool enhancements. I have a tail, stamina and sensitive hearing.” Wolf whined
“Don’t forget the boundless energy and intelligence.” Hollywood snorted as he rubbed his friends head, getting him to yip and tilt his head in delight at the petting. “And the touch starvation of a dog, always looking for cuddles and pets.”
“Hey I like to think my agility and endurance is just as cool. I probably have a physical enhancement like mavericks to support the weight of these antlers too now that I think of it. Plus I can jump five times the height and distance of a human easily, further if I have a running start. Makes for hopping in a jet quick.” Slider laughed as the group watched the mustang fly overhead, landing and allowing Mav and chipper to swap seats before they where back in the air.

It wasn’t long before the mustang was pulling back into the hangar, chipper and maverick hopping out with big smiles on there faces as they got out.
“We’re doing a quick refuelling and then everyone gets to see who’s the better pilot, me or Ice.” Maverick cheered as he attached the fuel pump to the P-51
“What, how come we don’t get to fly solo?” Chipper asked.
“Because this idiot bet $100 he can out fly me.” Mav cheered as he waved a hundred-dollar bill before the group
“That was before I knew your top speed rivals an f-14” Ice moaned. There was no way he was going to get that bill now.
“Aww, goose you spoiled it.” Mav pouted as he looked at his flock brother.
“Aww sorry Mav.” Goose laughed.
“Alright then. Come on Iceman, whilst the suns still up.” Mav patted to the back seat of the plane as he hopped back up on the wing, the tanks now filled with fuel again.
“Ice, Ice, Ice, Ice.” The boys cheered as the blonde-haired man shook his head good naturedly as he began to climb up the side of the plane.
“Come on Iceman, stand there any longer and you’ll melt in the sun.” Maverick laughed as he hopped into the pilot seat.
“Alright, alright, now talk me through this so I can show you how to really fly it.” Ice smirked.
“Rude.” Maverick snorted as his passenger hopped into the jet.

Soon the pair where in the air, Maverick talking through the controls of the p-51 to his friend and rival, performing inverted twists and stunts in the plane to the pilot in the backs delight, Ice had started laughing five minutes into their flight and hadn’t stopped since, in awe at the capabilities of the decades old fighter.
“Right, we’ll land, swap and I’ll monitor you from the back.” Maverick said as he lined up with the runway. “We’ll let you behind the controls for another twenty and then I want you to drop speed and fly a low approach to the runway, I’ll open the canopy and start wing walking, closing it when I get out. If you need to make an emergency landing or escape keep her level, open the canopy at about twenty-five foot off the ground. I can swoop in and give you a lift out if shit goes wrong. Understood Ice?”
“Why do you assume I’ll crash it. I’m a perfectly capable pilot.” The man glared at him.
“Yeah yeah, your whole Ice cold no mistakes motto.” Maverick chuckled, as he landed the plane softly on the runway, pulling off into an apron to swap and allow Ice to take the mustang for his spin. “No, just a warning, the mustang has a kick and can send even the best of pilots on a crash course if you don’t handle it right. Those are just the safety precautions, especially for you flying alone.”
“Alright, those sound fair.” The man grunted as he unbuckled himself and retracted the canopy, moving out onto the wing whilst maverick hopped into the back of the fighter.
Ice heard the roar of cheers from the idiots in the hangar as the pair swapped seats. Ice took a deep breath as he took control of the jet, listening closely to Maverick’s instructions as he began to go through the pre-flight checklist, it didn’t take long before he moved on to taxing down the apron towards the top of the runway.
“Alright Ice, take us up.” Mav cheered as they began to taxi down the runway, Maverick continuously giving Ice instructions on the mustang whilst they flew for the first ten minutes in the air before encouraging him to pull some stunts, to get a feel for the plane.
“Damn Mitchell this is one sweet ass ride.” Ice laughed as he relaxed,
“She’s a beauty ain’t she.” Mav laughed.
“I want one.”
“Mustangs of this condition are next to impossible to find Ice, I only have this because gramps bought it off the navy back in the forties. I can’t get you a mustang but if your desperate I’ll find something with just as much power and agility.” Maverick smugly laughed from the back seat.
“So are you ready for our race yet?” Ice laughed back at him.
“Take us down and find out.” Mav replied as he reached in from behind, giving the man a pat on the shoulder.
Ice laughed as he moved to line up with the runway, dropping in for the instructed low pass, looking up as Maverick opened the canopy as he flew low over the runway. Ice watched as Maverick Scrambled out of the back seat as he flew over the runway, watching as his friend closed the canopy back up as he held onto the side of the plane, walking on the wing as the blond man flew it himself. Maverick indicated for Ice to gain altitude through hand signals.
Ice did as instructed but kept an eye out on Maverick who was smiling at him like a madman as the plane rose high into the air. When they were sitting at 5000 feet, Ice watched as Maverick unfurled his wings from behind him, removing his arm from the support he had been holding, giving a salute to the other pilot before diving off the back of the wing. Ice panicked for a moment until he saw the falcon fly back up next to him quickly, Maverick gaining altitude as he flew circles around the body of the plane before moving to fly side by side with the other pilot. Ice burst out laughing as he watched his rival fly level with him. Of course, now he chooses not to ditch his wingman.
As though the falcon had read his mind, Maverick then of course chose that moment to speed up and ditch Ice, who stared at the avian in disbelief before speeding up in the mustang to follow him. Soon the two where chasing after one another as they raced side by side. Both laughing as they soared through the sky. After what felt like no time, Maverick was indicating for Ice to land the plane. The other pilot nodded sadly as they made there way to return to the airstrip, the evening sun beginning to dip beyond the horizon now. Mav flying overhead and checking Ice’s approach, holding onto the canopy and letting the other pilot do the work for him, ditching as Ice brought the p-51 down gently and began to taxi off. Maverick himself just took a lap of the air strip before moving to land in front of the hangar as Ice pulled it up. Goose stepping up to direct the man into parking on the apron.
The man just powered down the fighter and moved to stand up, giving the group the biggest smile as he hopped out of the fighter.
“Best fourth of July, that beats any old fireworks.” Ice giggled, high on the adrenaline.
“Don’t say that yet Ice, we haven’t broken the fireworks out yet.” Goose laughed as he moved over to the pilot, throwing an arm around his shoulder.
“That was one hell of a flight, last time I had that much fun it was my gramps in the pilot seat. You did a good job Iceman.”
“Does that mean I won the bet then oh wingman mine.” Ice raised his eyebrow.
“Not a chance.” Maverick laughed.
“Well, I don’t know about you guys, but I think its time we locked it up here and crack open some beers and get the barbecue on.” Goose snorted as the rest of the guys moved around him, all beginning to help secure the mustang, placing the covers on the pitot tubing and listening to mavericks’ instructions.
“Sounds good Bradshaw. Sounds good.” Ice chuckled as the group made there way around the hangar.

It wasn’t long before the group of fighter pilots had the hangar tidied up and closing the hangar over. Once they had done their job, they all made there way back out of the hangar as Maverick handed over a couple of boxes of fireworks to Chipper and Sundance. By the time the men had made there way back up to the house, Carol Bradshaw had the dining table set with sides dishes, snacks and drinks and had the meat on the barbeque, handing the tongs over to goose as she kissed him and Maverick on the cheeks, taking Bradley off their hands, wanting to cuddle with her fluffy baby chick.
With Goose behind the grill and Maverick going between the garage and the house, the pair of them moved quickly to serve their friends with cold beers and good Texas styled barbeque. Maverick disappeared from there view for a few minutes out into the desert behind the house, taking the boxes of fireworks with him, setting them up before it got too dark. They watched as Maverick pulled out a large round fire pit from the garage, setting it up in the back garden for them all to sit around as the temperatures dropped.
As Goose began to plate up the brisket, ribs, burgers, sausages, kebabs and grilled veg onto serving platters, Maverick returned from the desert. Taking the platters off Goose and moving them into the dining area.
“Dig in boys, we’ve got ourselves a feast.” Maverick chuckled as Carol began to plate up a burger and hot dog for the baby goose before getting herself food, both moving to sit in the loungers in the back garden near her husband who was throwing on a second batch of meat.
The group of pilots all scrambled towards the table after making sure Carol and Bradley got food, before they began to pick the platters clean of food, stacking their plates with salads, chicken wings, burgers, hot dogs, ribs and kebabs. Maverick and goose laughed as they watched the guy’s scramble towards the table whilst the two of them began to pick through the meats around them as the guys spreads out through the house and into the back garden.
“There’s some rarer and raw meats out here Wolf if you want.” Goose chuckled as he held up some raw steak.
“Sure, this stuff looks amazing, but it appears to be a bit too well cooked for my liking.”
“Don’t worry, I’m just as bad.” Maverick laughed as he picked up a raw chicken thigh, picking the meat off it and eating it, getting laughs from Wolf who grabbed a few of the raw ribs that were sitting next to the barbecue, not bothering with a plate, instead grabbing a stick and placing it into the flames of the fire. Lifting it up as he began to head out into the back, beyond the wall that separated his back garden from the desert.
“He is, we both are. Cooked meats are fine but its like eating rubber. The rarer the better.” Goose snorted as he grabbed some seeds, he had in a bowl next to him.
“You guys are disgusting.” Slider winced as he watched the dog and bird hybrids eat away at the raw meat.
“Hey, come on now slider, not all of us are limited to a vegan diet.” Wolf snorted, “At least they didn’t break out any venison.”
The guys laughed as Slider choked on his beer, shouting at them indignantly at the banter before laughing with the rest of them.
“God this is the best Fourth of July I think I’ve ever had.” Sundance laughed as he took a bite of his corn.
“I know its one of the best I’ve ever had.” Chipper added with the widest smile the man had.
“Thanks for hosting us, Maverick.” Hollywood cheered.
“No bother guys, its great to be back shore side this year.” The falcon laughed as he began to light the fire works as the guys moved out into the back garden.
“Let’s hope it remains that way next year, we can do this all again. Make it a yearly tradition, flight in the mustang then party in the evening.” Ice laughed lifting his beer towards his rival.
“That sounds like a good plan boy, just keep Goose and Maverick out of trouble then if you want to do it again next year.” Carol giggled as she brought herself and Bradley out into the garden.
“Yes Mam!” The boys cheered as they saluted the woman.
“Well then, what do you guys say we get this party started huh?” Maverick said as he lit the first of the fireworks, laughing with the biggest grin on his face as he ignited the rockets, he had set up not only a few minutes before.

The guys all cheered as they watched the colourful rockets shoot up into the sky, silent and safe as they exploded quietly above there heads.
All the pilots smiled as they relaxed around the poolside, the fire pit and candles set up lighting up the back yard along with the pool lights. Good food and cool beers filling everyone as they camped out under the fireworks and stars. Each telling stories of the stupid stuff they did in there years in the naval academy, bootcamps and the stories behind there callsigns.

All the men growing closer and far more trusting of each other than they once had been. All knew that no matter what happened after Top gun, these where the guys they would want at there back both on the ground and in the air. Friendships that would last a lifetime born under the star lit desert sky that would withstand wars and tragedies to come. All of them knew that these men where brothers now, no matter where life takes them.

Chapter Text

Phoenix, Arizona, 1967

“Lieutenant commander Duke Mitchell has gone AWOL whilst on a mission in Vietnam Mrs Mitchell.”
“Oh… no, he… he couldn’t… he wouldn’t.”
“Lieutenant commander Mitchell has been dishonorably discharged from the United States Navy and has been classed as a traitor to this country and as such, any benefits you would have been entitled to such as his pay and pension fund have been forfeited. Not that a gold digger like yourself would care. You get the rich bastard’s money and estate anyways.” The officer informed the now young, widowed mother.
“SIR!” the woman gasped horrified.
“Mitchell was always a womanizer; he probably only married a slut like yourself to keep himself out of trouble with the locals. Probably took a fancy to those petite little girls they have over there and decided they were worth more than you.”
“Get out! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE.” The woman yelled at the naval officer standing before her.
“Mommy?” a little girl asked as she climbed down the stairs, dragging a blanket in hand.
“Petra, go back upstairs, our guest was just leaving.” The woman said as she looked at her daughter, not noticing that the officer standing in the doorway had paled.
“Is Daddy home?” She asked, green eyes glistening like emeralds staring up at the officer and her mother.
“I, um… I’m sorry for your loss mam. Good night.” The officer said quietly as he quickly fled from the Mitchell family’s house, Not wishing to stay around much longer. He’d already insulted Duke Mitchells memory and wife enough, he couldn’t do it to his daughter, not when Dukes emerald eyes stared back at him. He’d fucked up enough this evening, this wasn’t what he had expected when he broke the news of Dukes desertion to his Wife. No one ever said he had a child, and now, like so many others, that child was another statistic to the thousands of others who have lost a father to the war in Vietnam. He would be lucky if Mrs Mitchell didn’t report him for his mannerism and disrespect.

The woman turned around to the five-year-old girl standing at the bottom of the staircase, watching as her two little dark braids swinging as she walked over to her crying mother, her night gown swinging above her bare feet.
“Is Daddy, okay?”
“No Petra… Daddy’s…. Daddy’s not coming home.” Her mother sobbed quietly.
“Oh…” the child said as her mother pulled her daughter into a hug.
“Come on sweetheart, its past your bedtime.”
“Okay… can I sleep with you?” the child asked.
“Okay. Okay sweetheart.” She said as she pulled her daughter into herself, turning around and locking the door behind her for the night. When it was locked, she took her four-year-old daughter back up the stairs, crying quietly the whole time.
Duke lied to her… he wasn’t going to be home in time for Petra’s fifth birthday. He wasn’t ever going to come home to her.

As the weeks passed by, the Mitchells were increasingly isolated from there townsfolk. Word of Duke Mitchell’s treason had spread and soon both mother and child found themselves the victims of the towns women’s mean gossip and the brutality of the local peace protestors. Mrs Mitchell had become a victim of there hatred as their own husbands and brothers returned from war, each telling their own vile story of Dukes desertion.
The rumours spread like wildfire throughout every aspect of the Mitchells lives in the city. Many shops refusing to provide service to them, churches closing their doors on them and going as far as withdrawing Petra from school for the bullying that was taking place against the young girl.

Things reached a boiling point one day as a group of young naval aviators made there way into Phoenix, they had a mission to accomplish. The group of them setting out to find their commanders family. They found both of Dukes girls after a little bit, but not before they watched a crowd gather outside a shop that the pair where attempting to enter.
“Stupid bitch, your nothing but a Baby murderer like your treasonous husband.” An older man approached the pair of Mitchell women as they walked down the road to one of the few shops that still serve them.
That was all the aviators needed to hear to know they’d found the right woman.

Things had gotten hard for Petra and her mother in the months that passed since Duke was pronounced AWOL. They had no friends left to support them, and even if they did have any family left alive, who knows what they would have done, they possibly would have left them too. The older man grabbed Mrs Mitchell harshly and began to slap her. He was knocked off his feet as a group of uniformed aviators appeared on the corner.
“What’s your problems soldiers, don’t you know who that bitch is.”
“We do, that’s the woman our commander abandoned and the child he’s abandoned all responsibility of from, now get your filthy hands off of them you ungrateful son of a bitch.”
“Ah so you want your own turn.” The man made a lewd sound before he hit the concrete, one of the aviators punching him in the head, there where cries of shock and surprise through the crowd that had gathered on the street.
“You are all sick people, picking on a poor woman and her daughter. They did nothing wrong, Duke Mitchell did, leave them out of it. He abandoned his duties as a husband and father to them just as he abandoned his duties to his country. He’s the coward, not Mrs Mitchell and Petra Mitchell.
“And just who the hell are you?” Another man asked as one of the naval aviators helped Mrs Mitchell to her feet and another sheltering Petra.
“Lieutenant’s Heatherly, Lieutenants Metcalf and the rest of us are Pilots who flew with Mitchell.”
“Then why are you here?” a woman sneered.
“To fulfill the duty our coward of a commander failed to do, to look after and protect the two women in his life.” Lieutenant Metcalf spoke up from where he was gently helping Mrs Mitchell up. “That is a woman who is effectively a widow now, and his young daughter whom he promised he’d be back to see before her fifth birthday. We’re fulfilling the duty he’s abandoned; they are under our protection now, do you understand.” Mike snarled at the crowds, many looking away in shame and disgust as they realised what the young men before them where saying.

The local sheriff approached them, an older man who had been a decorated soldier during the second world war. He seemed to know more why the men where in the area than from there first looks. He knew they had an idea as to the actual fate of the city’s former hero Duke Mitchell.
“You heard the men, now scram.” He said to the crowds of people. “Any more transgressions against either woman will see some of you folks arrested, ya hear me. Mrs Mitchell’s a widowed woman now just like the lot of you, even if they find Mr Mitchell, he’ll be strung up on the gallows anyways, its what happens to deserters. This is a young wife and daughter who’s been abandoned by a selfish man. They are suffering enough with that knowledge alone, that they weren’t enough for him to come home to.” The sheriff spoke as he began to break up the crowds.
“Thank you, officer.” Jester nodded as the man watched the crowds leave.
“He’s gone isn’t he.” The sheriff asked.
“Classified but yes, he’s gone sir.” Jester said as the group of pilots looked around at the elder man.
“That’s all I needed to hear boys; it was like that too for us when I was your age. Good pilots don’t just go AWOL.” The sheriff nodded quietly, “I lost many a brother in missions the higher ups never want to release. Take care of them lads. She’s not doing well.”
“Sir yes Sir.” Viper nodded
“And thank you for your service lads. If they give you any more trouble let me know, I’ll get it sorted.” The man saluted.
“Thank you for yours too sir.” The aviators returned the gesture.

They where all quiet as the crowds disappeared, the aviators all standing around Mrs Mitchell protectively as they watched the locals disappear into shops and back into there houses.
“Are you pilots like Daddy?” Petra asked, her emerald, green eyes sparkling as she recognised their uniforms. Her eyes fixed on the golden wings against the dark blue of there blazers.
“We are little darling. Lieutenants Heatherly and Metcalf at your service mam. Everyone here is members of the VF-51 squadron both past and present.” Mike smiled as he shook her hand.
“You’re screaming eagles?” Petra said with a wide smile and even brighter eyes. Excitement evident as she looked at them in awe, her features pink and cherubic as she smiled at them widely. All of the men thought she was a little angel as she began to relay off there callsigns in awe, each man waving at her as she named them. Duke’s little girl was a smart one.
“Yes, we are little lady. All of us are pilots for the fastest and best squadron the navy has.” Rick laughed.
“Wow, You two are the kids Duke took under his wing. He’s told me a lot about you both.”
“And you must be Jenny. It’s a pleasure to meet you in person mam, we’re sorry that this is how it happened.” Mike Metcalf nodded with a sad smile on his face.
“We’re pleased to hear that, Mam; he’s told us a lot about you too.” The man said as he picked up the woman’s bag, brushing the dirt off it.
“Why don’t you gentlemen come back to our place. We can talk there.” Jenny Mitchell said as she gathered her belongings off the group of pilots.
“Of course, Jenny.” Mike smiled as they flanked the woman and child protectively.
It was then that the group of aviators vowed to do what they could to protect the last of the Mitchells to the best of there abilities. The men spent the rest of the evening with Jenny, sharing stories of Duke and spending time with young Petra, all enamoured at the little girl, smiling as she said she wanted to be a fighter pilot just like them one day. In another universe, the squadron never visited Jenny Mitchell and Dukes child, leading to a vastly different future for that version of Dukes child. None of them would ever imagine the change their visit would bring for the little girl running around before them, playing with paper airplanes, would bring.

Just down the street as the sheriff was hopping back into his patrol car, his deputy looked at him in confusion.
“Why’d you step in boss?”
“Son, there’s one thing you learn in war, that good pilots don’t just go AWOL. Mitchell was KIA and the higherups don’t want to release details of his mission.”
“So, they made him a traitor?” the deputy asked, horrified at the thought.
“It happens son, the dirtier the mission, the more they don’t want the people to know. Losing a good man on a dirty mission is a death sentence to their reputation.” The sheriff nodded.
“Do you think they’ll be alright.”
“Those are good men, Jenny and Petra will be alright. Duke’s boys will treat them right.” The man said as he nodded towards the aviators. “We’ll be seeing more of the screaming eagles in town in the future kid.” He smiled slyly as he began to pull away, leaving the aviators to protect Jenny Mitchell and her daughter.
Little did the man know that in a years’ time he’d be driving down the lane of the Mitchell’s estate, consoling the little girl as his medical examiners slowly removed the remains of her mother out of the house and into the back of an ambulance.

San Diego, California, 1968.

Sitting in a beach front property in La Jolla, Mike Metcalf and his wife Mary had just returned to there property after an evening walk along the beach. Mary had entered the house ahead of her husband, making there way into the Kitchen area, proceeding to start cooking supper for the pair of them. Mike himself had just picked up the day’s papers, turning on the stereo set, tuning it to some rock and roll, letting it play quietly in the background as he sat in his armchair. He had just opened the paper when the phone began to ring.
“Mike, could you get that please?”
“Of course, Mary.” Mike said as he made his way out to the foyer of the house where their main phone was located.
“Metcalf residence, Mike speaking.”
“Is this Lieutenant Metcalf, member of the screaming eagles squadron?” an authoritative voice spoke up over the phone.
“Yes sir.” Mike spoke, recognizing the voice as that of the Phoenix police departments sheriff.
“Are you aware of a Jenny Mitchell?” the man on the end of the line spoke, Mike was becoming worried.
“Yes, sir I am, is there any problems with Jenny or Petra?”
“I needed to make sure I had the right man there, son. I’m sorry to inform you son that Jenny Mitchell has been found dead in her house, she was found dead at just after 3pm this afternoon by her daughter. Mrs Mitchell was pronounced dead on scene, and I must inform you son, that you are listed as next of Kin for her daughter, young Petra Monica Mitchell.” The sheriff informed him.

Mikes eyes shot open in surprise at that. Him and the boys had only been able to travel to Phoenix a few times over the past few months to check in on Jenny, but he never knew that she would go ahead and register any of them as being guardians for Petra. They had talked about it once, the last time they where all there. Jenny said that if anything happened to her, she would have wanted one of them to take care of Petra for her. They didn’t have anything formally written up yet about that possibility, but Mike had left his home phone number if she wanted to call him about it further. He’d happily step up to be a guardian if she’d asked him in the future, he’d fill out the paperwork in a heartbeat. So how Mike had ended up being listed as a guardian for duke’s daughter surprised him, he hadn’t officially signed anything, just made it known he would support Jenny.

“I… Yes…I wow… Sorry, it’s a bit of a surprise.”
“Can you take the kid son? There’s no one else listed as next of kin or guardian for the kid and they’ll be sent to the foster services, and I can’t say what will happen to them when people realise, she’s Duke’s child.” The man informed the young pilot. Mary stuck her head in from around the kitchen.
“Can you give me a second to I discuss it with my Wife?”
“Of course, son.” The sheriff said.

Mike just set the phone down on the table next to its stand, as he looked at Mary.
“Who is it honey?”
“Phoenix police Arizona, Jenny… Jenny Mitchells dead.”
“Oh, my lord… What about her daughter?” the woman asked.
“There asking if we can take her.” Mike looked at her apprehensively.
“Do it.” His wife said, her mind made up and a face of non-negotiable determination showing.
“Mary?”
“We always talked about starting our own family Mike, and I know that your still being deployed out there, but you loved Duke like an older brother, you all did. Since you met that little girl, you’ve treated her as your own. We’ll take her. I can look after her when your away.” Mary nodded, a face of determination as she looked at her husband. Mike nodded with a smile as he picked up the phone.
“Sheriff are you there?”
“Yes son.”
“We’ll take her in, I’ll be there before midnight. Where can I pick her up.” Mike said with determination as Mary moved to grab the car keys they had as she threw Mike his go bag. With a nod, the man pulled out a notepad and pen that had been sitting next to the Phone. They had a lot to do in the next few hours.

One week later.

Mike and Mary Metcalf stood next to a young five-year-old Petra Mitchell, soon going six. All of them watched as the simple casket that held Jenny Mitchell was lowered into the grounds of saint Francis’s cemetery. Not many people turned up for the event. Neither Jenny or Duke had any family left alive and any friends they had, either cut contact the year before or where away at war. Only a handful of Naval aviators where at the service in Phoenix, many all older than Mike and Rick and all either higher up the ranks of the navy or retired at this point. It was as close to a proper memorial service for Duke as they will ever get. Both names etched onto the headstone that sat on the plot.
Duke and Jenny Mitchell, beloved by many, gone too soon.

Petra stared up at Mike and Mary emotionless, she had gone through enough loss in one year to have spent all her tears. So instead, the child just stared.
“What happens to me now?” Petra asked.
“You come back to San Diego with us now honey.” Mary knelt before the child.
“You’re our little girl now, your mom made sure that you would always be looked after even if she wasn’t there.” Mike said as he placed a hand on Petra’s shoulder.
The little girl nodded, her braids swinging gently in the breeze, the ribbons tying them swaying against the breeze as she ran her hands down her dark blue pinafore dress with its little sailor’s collar, a bright red bow tied at the front. Mary had asked her brother to come by and paint up one of the bedrooms whilst they stayed in Phoenix, looking after Petra whilst organising Jenny’s funeral. Mary’s brothers and sisters understood when the woman called, and all immediately pitched in to help create a bedroom perfect for a little girl. They had painted it a pastel blue colour and were fitting it with Aviation related knickknacks, something that Petra had plenty off between her dolls and toys, models of various vintage fighter jets and even newer models. It seemed she was born to touch the skies just like her father.
“What about my stuff? My parents stuff?” Petra asked.
“We’ve contacted your family’s financial advisors for that, they’ll continue to look after the estate for you, they’ll look after all your families’ estates and revenue sources until your old enough to inherit them and decide what to do with it yourself. The boys and I have already packed up your parents’ belongings and placed them away safely in the attic.”
“And I have your clothes and toys all packed away, they are in the back of the car darling already for the journey to San Diego. From there, we’ll let you get settled in, enjoy the summer and enrol you in one of the schools near the base. You can start back to school in September.” Mary said as she wiped away tears from her face.
“Do I have to call you mum and dad?” Petra asked. Mary and Mike flinched before they looked at each other.
“No, you don’t… Duke and Jenny where your parents’ darling, they will always be your mum and dad. If you want to call us that we won’t stop you, but if you want to call us by other names, we’ll accept that too.” Mike said as he knelt to the height of his little girl. She was his now, his little girl.
“Okay.” The little girl said as she took Mikes hand.

Mike smiled softly as he and Mary walked towards the car park, stopping halfway down the path to pick the little girl up into his arms. Petra Mitchell was his little girl now; she was the screaming eagle’s little angel. All of them would go above and beyond for the girl in Mikes arms and would fight the world to see her smile. Mike would do anything and everything he could to keep his little girl safe and happy. No matter the cost, if it meant she was safe and he didn’t have to bury a third Mitchell, he would do it. He just never realized just what issues this promise he had made to his little girl would eventually cost him.

Summer 1980.

“WHY THE FUCK DID YOU DO IT!” echoed loudly through the house, “YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THIS MEANT TO ME DAD!”
“I don’t think you’re ready for it.”
“Why? Why don’t you think I’m ready for the academy, I’ve been a girl scout, I’ve been part of the junior ROTC, I made the schools gymnastics squad and martial arts, and suddenly, I’m not ready for the academy, so you pull my papers?” Petra roared in Mikes face, tears trailing down her cheeks. “You and mom have spent years helping me prepare for life at the academy, you’ve never stopped me before, not when I first started joining you on your morning runs at fourteen, not when you began to teach me to fly at sixteen and not when I asked about the best ways to get ready to join the navy.”
“Pete honey…” Mike started.
“No, no honey me, dad. You have supported me in my dreams of becoming an aviator like you and Uncle Jester and the rest of the eagles. You made sure I can out swim my classes in both pools and open water, you’ve taught me survival skills over the years and saw to it I had the best education, physical fitness and academical prep to follow you all into the navy. I won’t let you stand in my way now.” Petra cried as she ran up the stairs to her bedroom, disappearing.
Mike and Mary Metcalf stood at the bottom of the staircase and listened to their little girl sob from her bedroom. Both looked disappointed and upset.
“Do you think we did the right thing?” Mary asked.
“I… I don’t know Mary… I really don’t know.” Mike sighed as he dragged his hands over his face.
“I understand why you did it.”
“I just didn’t want to bury another person I love.” He muttered as he pulled Mary into his side, hugging her.

Petra quietly placed a handful of phone calls whilst she packed a bag of her essentials and only essentials. She wasn’t going to let Mike Metcalf get in her way of becoming an aviator, she was going to the academy one way or another, and if it meant calling in a favour from her other uncles to get her back into this year’s academy class, she would do it. She had called a friend whose father was also in the navy, another commander over at Miramar air base who worked alongside Mike, she explained what had happened and asked if she could crash with them whilst she got her enrolment to the USNA back on track. They agreed and let her crash, her friend driving over to the avenue on which she lived, just staying out of sight of the house whilst Petra handed over contact and address information to her other uncles.

Besides, she had just graduated high school, and would be eighteen in a few weeks’ time, she’d soon have access to the fortunes of the Mitchell family estates to live off even if she couldn’t get into the academy this year. Thankfully she didn’t have to wait long as she received a call from the USNA administrations office, telling her that she had been re-enrolled for the new class. The admin officer informed her that Plebe summer began in a few weeks’ time and that she would be sent her paperwork shortly. Petra gave them an alternate address to send it too so that Mike Metcalf couldn’t pull her papers again. With the calls over she gathered her bags and walked downstairs past Mike and Mary.

“I’m going to the academy no matter what you say Commander Metcalf sir, I can’t forgive you for trying to interfere so I’m leaving to stay with a friend for now until plebe summer begins. Uncle Neil’s been in contact with the academy, and they have re-enrolled me, I called them personally after he spoke to the academy’s admin staff.” Petra narrowed her eyes as tears dripped down her face. “There going to send out my paperwork to a private address from where I’ll pick it up and sort through it without your help.”
“Petra?” Mary asked softly as she looked at the girl before them.
“I… Im leaving, I don’t want to talk to either of you right now, maybe in a little bit… but I just… not now… I’m sorry. Thank you for stepping in and raising me when you did, but I’m sorry that this is how I leave the house.” Petra told her adoptive parents.
“Petra please?” Mike started.
“No commander, I… I need time. I know you did it to protect me, but I can’t forgive you for how you went about it… not now anyways.” Petra said as she hoisted her bags in her hands. “Maybe one day I’ll forgive you…”
“Okay sweetheart… please be safe… and please… write home.” Mary sobbed as she looked at her daughter.
“Okay mom… Okay.” She nodded before she walked out the door.
Not looking back as she left the house, tears rolling down her cheeks as her friend pulled up next to the kerb allowing her to throw her bags into the back of the car as she hopped in.
It was time for Petra Mitchell to spread her wings and follow her own path in life now, a life without the Metcalf’s in it.

1985.

Mike Metcalf sat in his office looking at an old photo framed on his desk. It was one of his favourites, despite the young woman in the frame no longer spoke to him. Petra had walked out of the house years earlier, heading to the Naval academy after he’d pulled her papers. They had received letters and polaroid photos from her over the years, mostly always addressed to Mary specifically over Mike, but he did receive a few. Mary often wrote replies and sent them to her, Mike on the other hand kept a stack of unsent letters sitting in his desk drawer. He was scared about how she’d react to receiving letters from him.
“Commander Metcalf sir?”
“Yes?”
“A letter for you.”
“Oh… thank you lieutenant. I’ll take it from here.”
Mike watched as the young lieutenant left the room. It was a rather suspicious white envelope sitting on his desk. No indication it contained official documents or classified orders, but it was addressed straight to his office. Not many people knew the address of his office. Eventually after staring at it for a good five minutes, curiosity won over and he lifted his letter cutter.
He gasped when he read it.
It was a formal invite to NAS corpus Christi to NATRACOM, the naval air training command. It was a graduation invitation from one Petra Mitchell.
She’d done it. Petra had made it as an Aviator. The man stared at the invite for a good few minutes before he burst out laughing in delight as he moved to pick up his phone. He had many calls to make and a flight to book.

Two weeks later in NAS corpus Christi Texas, a class of newly qualified fighter pilots made their graduations. There families sitting in crowds behind them as the range of Pilots and RIO’s received their wings. And standing proudly in the middle of it all was one Lieutenant Petra Mitchell, call sign “Maverick”, one of only a handful of women to graduate, and one of the only ones qualifying as a pilot. As the ceremony came to an end and all the graduates had their official photos taken and their squadron deployments given, they were free to go and find their families amongst the crowds. Mike and Mary Metcalf amongst the crowds, overjoyed and delighted to see their girl take the top spot of her class and even more thankful to have received an invite from there daughter to even be here on this wonderful day. They hadn’t been there for her academy graduation, she hadn’t invited them or forgiven them then.

Mary and Mike awaited in the crowd for there little girl, the one who had overcome the odds they set for her only a few years before. It didn’t take long before they found their girl in the crowd of pilots. She looked so different in person, so much older and mature yet still as beautiful as her seventeen/eighteen-year-old self that walked out the doors of the Metcalf residence. Petra’s long hair was gone, shorn short into a manageable pixie cut, had it not been for the fact she had make up on and a skirt, someone could have mistaken her for a boy with how the short hair framed their face. It was a shock to see it in person instead of over the hundreds of polaroids she’d sent over the past five years.

They watched as the young woman stood next to a taller blonde man, a polaroid camera in his hands as the pair of them posed ridiculously in their dress whites. A blonde woman and young child called over to them both, laughing as she handed the child off to Petra who giggled as she was brought into a giant hug between the other officer and civilian as he took another photo. Mike and Mary looked at each other in absolute shock as they approached the group. They smiled as Petra turned to look at them. She muttered something to her friends next to her as she turned to the commander and his wife.

“Commander Metcalf sir.” Petra saluted as she watched her adoptive father approach her.
“Lieutenant Mitchell, congratulations pilot.” He said as he saluted her back. The commander threw all formality out the window and pulled his little girl into a tight hug.
“Dad?” Petra asked, her voice wavering. She had been wanting to do this for years now but wasn’t sure whether they would still accept her even after she walked out.
“Oh Petra, I’m so proud of you sweetheart.” Mike smiled. “You are ready for this. I trust you and I’m proud of how far you’ve come sweetheart.” The man said as he pulled away from Petra. “I’m sorry I ever doubted you or tried to stop you, Pete. Or should I call you “Maverick” now?” he chuckled.
“Only if I can finally call you your callsign fulltime dad.” Maverick chuckled as she wiped away a few stray tears. “Told you I could make it, made it even better than the boys.” She chuckled.
“As long as we’re alone and you’re not under my command then yes, Done.” Viper laughed, “And you did, you soared to victory today and have proven me wrong in every way today sweetheart. I couldn’t be any prouder of you, neither of us could be any more proud.”
“So, Petra darling… can you introduce us to…” Mary began as she noticed the man in white uniform, blonde haired woman and two-year-old child in his arms stand behind Petra. They looked familiar, like the people in the polaroids Mav had sent back over the years.
“Oh yes, Mom, Dad, this is my RIO, lieutenant Nick “Goose” Bradshaw, his wife Carol Bradshaw, and this is their son, Bradley. I’ve um, I’ve mentioned them a few times Mom, in my letters.” Petra smiled awkwardly.
“Oh, you’re those Bradshaw’s, it’s a pleasure to meet you kids.” Mary smiled as she shook Carols hands.
“Sir.” Goose saluted upon recognising the commander rank.
“At ease soldier.”
“Thank you, sir.” Goose sighed in relief. His arm sore from the number of salutes he’d had to pull in the last two hours.
“Ah of course, are you waiting on your family kid?” Mike asked.
“Um, no sir, it’s just us. We… we um disowned our parents and eloped before I joined the academy.” Nick explained as he rubbed the back of his neck.
“Yeah, they’re um, how to put it.”
“Maverick’s a sister to us, met her during summer plebe and we’ve stuck together since. I introduced her to Carol, and we’ve been family since then.” Goose smirked awkwardly.
“I’m Bradleys godmother too.” Maverick quietly told her parents.
“Ah, well then, are you free to join us for lunch then kids, we have a reservation downtown and we were hoping Petra would take us up on the offer.” Mike offered with a smile,
“You always did want a son to go along with a couple of daughters Mike.” Mary laughed, as Carol and Nick looked at the elder couple in shock.

The pair looked at Maverick with a questioning glance to which she giggled.
Petra looked between Nick and Carol with a smile, before she turned to the toddler in Goose's arm.
“What do you say baby goose, ya hungry?” She giggled as she tickled Bradley. Mary and Viper laughing softly at the child.
“Auh Mav, wan unch.” The kid giggled. Mary awing at the child calling Petra his aunt.
“I’ll bite, all this standing around burnt some energy.” Goose laughed as he offered Carol his arm.
“Well then kids, I think we’ve been waiting long enough for a good old family dinner, so how about we skedaddle from the base already. You’re not on deployment yet, are you?”
“No sir, we’ve been assigned to the fighting ace’s squadron based here in corpus Christie for now. We reported to our superior already but we've got the weekend off. We’re on duty from Monday to get some hours in with the squad but our first deployment is in three weeks out to the USS Enterprise.”
“Well then let’s get you kids fed up now, it’ll be a while before you get the good stuff once your out there.” Mike laughed as he threw an arm around Goose’s shoulder.
“Yes, sir commander Metcalf.” the lieutenant laughed.
“Call me Mike kid, or Viper, I’m not your C.O.”
“Not yet just wait till Pete and Nick get into Top gun mike honey.” Mary laughed. “After all, she is yours and Dukes daughter, she’s gonna give those boys hell and then you, I can feel it.” The woman laughed as she hugged her daughters, old and new, beaming brightly as the group of them laughed.

It wasn’t until the group split up into different cars to head to the restaurant that Goose asked the question he had been dying to as Carol began to drive.
“Mav?”
“Yes goose?”
“Did your parents just adopt us?”
“They have a tendency to do that to stray aviators.” She laughed at her brother, sister and nephew as they headed off to meet up with the Metcalf’s, “They really do.”
The woman laughed at the shocked looks her brother and sister sent her the whole drive across the city. capturing it permanently in Goose's many Polaroids.

The Metcalf’s walked away from the graduation ceremony with their family bonds repaired and expanded as three new faces joined the family. Nick, Carol and Bradley Bradshaw whereas much a family member now in the Metcalf’s eyes as their own daughter whom they raised. There little girl had grown into the strong independent young woman they knew she could be. It pained them to leave the small family in Texas, but they knew the four of them were where they wanted to be.

Two and a half deployments to the gulf later for Maverick and Goose, they were being handed new orders back to shore early, they were heading to Miramar, San Diego and to report to Commander Mike Metcalf for the Top gun Program.

One top gun class finished and another set to arrive, Mike Metcalf laughed as a file landed on his desk weeks before the new class of students for the top gun class of 86. There was the file for a lieutenant Petra “Maverick” Mitchell and Nick “Goose” Bradshaw, amongst the list of the next top gun students. Top guns first female pilot.

Mike smiled as he read through his daughter and sons files before lifting his phone. Mary would kill him if he didn’t tell her the news immediately.

He had kept his promise that his girl would be safe, even if it ripped her away from them for years. Now after all this time, there girl was back. He hoped she stayed for good this time.

Chapter Text

“Are you ready Pete? You have something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue, yes?”

“Everything but the something old Carol.” The woman sitting in front of the dressing table sighed nervously, Lifting the layers of her Skirt up and tightening the blue ribbon she had wrapped around her garter on her leg tighter. The dress was the new, the something borrowed was her navy uniforms gloves and the ribbon was one of her mother’s hair ribbons. “I think I would rather be shooting down Migs right now.”
“I feel you sister.” Charlie laughed as she took in the look of dread on her friend’s face.
“My brother’s probably thinking the exact same thing.” Sarah laughed as she smiled at her future sister-in-law.
“Naval aviators I swear.” Penny laughed.
“Petra.” A stern voice spoke up as a warning to her daughter, the woman then turned to the maid of honour. “Mike was getting her the something old Carol.”
“Sorry mom.” Petra chuckled, rolling her eyes at her mother’s antics.
“Never be sorry, you brought home a boy with you. Now my little girl is getting married to the guy who would chase you to the ends of the earth and beyond. A Naval fairy tale.” Mary Metcalf smiled as she dabbed away her tears. She looked fondly over the crowd of women before her, Carol Bradshaw, Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood, Sarah Kazansky and Penny Benjamin stood proudly around Petra in matching navy bridesmaids dresses, with white stashes pulled into bows around their middles. All the women had become good friends over the years, and where all excited to be asked to be Petra’s bridesmaids in what was the biggest Naval wedding of the decade.

“I never thought I would see the day Petra Mitchell would get married. Our girls always belonged in the sky; never thought she’d find the Mr right to bring her down to earth again.” Carol Bradshaw laughed as she finished adjusting the woman’s hair, placing the lace hair cap over the back of it from which her veil hung down. Petra had let her hair grow out over the past few months until it was long enough to put up into an updo for this exact day. She was counting down the hours until she would crop it short again into her old spiky pixie cut. Carol glided around the hotel room in her navy-blue bridesmaid dress as she got her sister ready for the ceremony.

“It was either Marry Kazansky or marry an F-14.” Charlie quipped getting the group of women to laugh.
“My wingman would never attempt to ground me though Carol, he’d gladly join me in the air, I’d shoot him down if he ever did try.” Petra laughed.
“And the Navy wouldn’t let her marry her jet. It humoured us but no, you can’t marry government property.” A male voice chuckled as a door opened.
“Or let me wear my White's like the boys.” Pete sighed as she nervously wiggled her gloves.

The only part of her military uniform she could wear that day whilst the rest of the boys were wearing their dress White's for the morning ceremony. They would change into matching navy tuxedos for dinner afterwards.
“You wore them to the city registrar’s office before your last deployment, now you have to deal with your mothers wish and be her naval princess for the day.” Her father laughed. Petra and her Boys had been shipped off back to the gulf suddenly and had feared they would have to cancel the wedding only four months ago and had all put on their dress White's and rushed off to the city registrar’s office to make it official before they were flown out to the gulf once more. Thankfully, it was a short deployment and they where back with a month to spare, with Mary, Carol and the wedding events co-ordinator to keep the wedding on track for the official big day.
“My point still stands; I would rather be shooting down Migs right now.”
“That’s my girl.” Rear admiral Mike Metcalf laughed as he sat down next to his adoptive daughter.
“What time is it?” Mary asked her husband.
“Oh, eleven fifty. Ten minutes until the ceremony. We need to be down in reception in five.” He said as he pulled out a jewellery box.
“I have never seen a wedding run so smoothly.” Carol laughed.
“That’s because they weren’t military weddings Carol, trust me, we get things done on time.” Pete laughed.
“Now out, I need a moment alone with our daughter.” Mike chuckled as he shooed the maid of honour, bridesmaid and Mother of the bride out of the Hotel room.

The wedding was taking place along the Coronado beach, with the reception and party taking place in the Hotel del Coronado behind the beachside venue, many of their old friends and squadrons had been invited, along with all Petra’s uncles, all admirals now and high up in the navy for their girl’s wedding. It was essentially the navy equivalent of a royal wedding, with many members of the department of defence trying to get invited to their top pilots wedding, even throwing out half the rules and guidelines on fraternization at the thought that Maverick marrying the Iceman might ground her a bit… not that it would happen. The destination was an easy choice for the couple to be to make, wanting to celebrate their union in the city they met in only a few years prior. After a disastrous start to their relationship where Goose had tricked everyone into thinking Petra was a man, again, Petra and Thomas Kazansky had been rivals in the Top gun academy, both fighting bitterly to win the trophy. Both where stubborn and butted heads over their different flight styles and habits and had remained that way until then commander Metcalf had enough and gave the group of eight pilots and RIO’s a day off with strict instructions to go to the beach and do some team bonding to work out their issues. The group agreed to the beach day and decided to go play some beach volleyball with drinks and it was then that the rivalry began to blossom into something else as the guys finally realised that their Maverick man, was a Maverick woman. Their behaviours and mannerisms around them suddenly making so much sense.

Things had begun to change rapidly for the group a few days later after the near fatal accident of hop 31. Whilst Petra and Goose recovered in hospital, the inquiry board found that neither pilot was in the wrong for the accident, Neither Petra or Tom faced a court-martialling or dishonourable discharge from the accident. That there was a flaw in the F-14 ejection system that had been flagged by Grumman in a recent newsletter, but no changes or replacements had been made mandatory on the jet yet at that stage. The NTSB and all air branches flying the f-14 quickly began to make their way through replacing the faulty canopy ejection system for the new, more powerful ejection mechanism. It would save lives in future ejections after nearly killing two of the navy’s best aviators.
Neither Petra nor Tom made a move on each other despite his hovering and just out of touch reaches that he made towards her during the pairs stay in the hospital, but the atmosphere around their relationship had changed in the aftermath of the accident, their rivalry had become somewhat playful, endearing. It took a squadron of enemy Migs and one hell of a dogfight in order to change that a few weeks later. Three years later, after numerous deployments and dates, Thomas “Iceman” Kazansky proposed to the one woman who could match him in everything, and she accepted. Their rivalry had flourished into a healthy romantic relationship over the years that held strong against the pressures and distances of their military service. And now, nearly a year since the proposal, the big day had arrived.

The Photo of the moment of realization was framed in rear admiral Metcalf’s office thanks to one Goose. To those who asked he said it was the moment one of his classes realised they were in the presence of Top Guns first female pilot and all of them being outflown by a woman. He was even prouder at the Photo next to it, Petra’s photo with the top gun trophy, having beaten Kazansky by one single point at the end of the course with her arm still bandaged from the hop 31 accident. They didn’t get to celebrate that evening as they were suddenly called out to the USS Enterprise, the group of pilots and RIO’s minus Nick Bradshaw, as he was still recovering from his broken leg, on a flight from San Diego out to the gulf within three hours of graduating. Sam “Merlin” Wells had lived up to his name and had been a wizard in the air with Petra, years of flying with her old wingman “cougar” helping the man get to grips with his new pilot and her flying skills quickly. Filling in the role Nick left open whilst he recovered, the RIO had been flown in to join the class under special circumstances once the jets were allowed back in the air and graduating with the rest of them. It was the first time in Top guns history that no RIO was written on the plaque as they couldn’t decide who deserved to be on it.
The news his daughter and her RIO had taken out three Migs however led them to celebrating for days upon their return home. Mike could only laugh as he watched Tom and Petra’s relationship flourish after the woman saved his life. The man laughed as he framed two of the now most infamous Photos the Navy have ever taken in the entrance hall of the Top gun academy. A Photo of Tom and Petra shaking hands upon landing with smiles on their faces after their legendary air battle, followed by a photo of them both kissing on the deck of the USS enterprise that had become as infamous amongst the branches as the “V-J Day in Times Square.” Photo.

And now it was another big day for Mike’s daughter, for Dukes daughter.
“Dad.” Petra smiled.
“There’s my girl. Are you ready?”
“Not a hope in hell, I was far more comfortable shooting Migs than I am at the thought of walking down that isle. But knowing whose awaiting me, I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
“Your parents would be proud of you Petra; god knows how proud I am.” Mike chuckled as he handed over the jewellery box, he had carried in with him. “And I know then that they would have wanted you to have this.”

Petra smiled softly before gasping at the opened box.
“The pearls where originally your grandmothers, passed down to your mother, she wore it on her wedding day. They had been in storage that long that the chain had weakened, so I took it to a jeweller and had it cleaned and re-fitted and had something of your fathers added to it.” Mike smiled softly, “It only seemed right to give your fathers wings to you.”
Sitting in the box was a beautiful triple strand pearl necklace with silver aviator wings hanging off the bottom most strand. Petra’s eyes watered as she looked at the gift. No wonder her adoptive mother Mary had her wear Mary’s own pearl earrings along with her dress. The bodice of her dress had small white and cream pearls sewn into the lace patterns and on the silk skirt and cathedral length train of fabric dragging behind her. It was a vera wang designer dress with an off the shoulder neckline and princess poofy skirt lined with silk, lace and pearls, fitting as she had become Navy royalty over the past few years, the young lieutenant commander having earned the respect and gratitude of many of her comrades as the stories of her callsign and deeds made itself through the ranks of the entire navy. The most decorated Naval aviator since Vietnam with a three air to air kill count and the first female pilot to graduate Top gun had left many impressed at her valour, skill and fearlessness.

She was an inspiration for a new generation of female officers and enlistees.

“The something old, following newlyweds’ traditions. You don’t want to know how many hoops I had to jump through to make sure that this was okay and not breaking any uniform codes.” Mike laughed as he gently reached over, “May I.”
“Yes… thank you dad.” Petra smiled softly as tears lined her eyes. She moved around to let him clip it into place.
“Are you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Petra chuckled as she dabbed away her tears with a tissue. She set it down and moved to gently lower her veil over her face.
“Good, its Oh eleven fifty-four, we have one minute to get to the reception and deploy out to the beach. Nick and the girls are all awaiting you downstairs, now up and at em soldier.” The admiral snapped with a bright smile.
“Yes sir.” Petra laughed, saluting the elder man who helped her up. It was time to go meet up with her bridesmaids and brides’ man. For Petra, she had Carol Bradshaw as her maid of honour, with Sarah Kazansky, Charlie Blackwood and Penny Benjamin as her bridesmaids, and Goose as the brides man after hearing him complain that he wanted to be on her side of the ceremony.
Thomas had laughed at that but agreed to take the others for his grooms’ men, with Slider as his best man, Hollywood, Wolfman, Chipper and Sundown as his grooms’ men, making it work out perfectly and they had the perfect little page boy in the form of eight-year-old Bradley Bradshaw. It was to be an unorthodox ceremony, given that the Kazansky’s where Jewish and Petra was a non-practicing Christian, so they took the time to plan a mixed ceremony that worked for them both, more so leaning towards the Jewish side, with a rabbi overseeing the ceremony.

Standing out on the beach front under the glorious morning sun underneath the Chuppah erected at the head of the venue, stood Captain Thomas “Iceman” Kazansky and his grooms men lined up to attention next to him. All of them dressed in there dress whites and swords sitting perfectly on there uniforms.
“Ready Ice?” Hollywood asked.
“I’d rather be shooting down Mig’s right about now.” The man in question balked.
“Well, your future wife will be laughing at that.” Sundance laughed.
“She’d probably want to join him.” Merlin laughed.
“He really would, he’s melting under the pressure already.” Slider wheezed in laughter, doing his best not to lose it at his friend’s nervous discomfort.
“Come on man, don’t be getting cold feet now. There’s only what, thirty admirals who are all uncles to Petra down there, and an astronaut.” Wolf laughed as he looked out over the crowds of guests below. Many of them where the families of the grooms’ men and of course the Groom, as they had all become one giant happy family in recent years, all sitting together on one side representing the Kazansky family and friends, a crowd of mostly civilians with the odd military personnel in the crowd dressed in their blues. It wasn’t as scary to look out over that side of the crowd, so Thomas continued to look over that way. The scary part was Petra’s side of the venue, the side that was filled out with many service men and women in military uniforms than civvies in formal ware.

The highest-ranking admirals and servicemen in this side of the country sitting before them on the rows of chairs lined out on the sand, with some of the most highest-ranking military families through the navy, all former members of the infamous VF-51st squadron who had become admirals and astronauts. The group of men had been in awe as Neil Armstrong himself along with his family arrived for the wedding, the man explaining that he had been a mentor for Duke Mitchell when the young pilot first was assigned to his squadron, keeping in contact as the man joined the astronaut’s corps not long after Duke and his RIO arrived. That he kept an eye out for Petra over the years as an uncle like the rest of her father’s squadron all of whom were looking at the group of younger aviators with the sternest glares they had ever seen.
“Well, we can gladly say that we’re never going to find your body if you break Petra’s heart. I’m just waiting for COMPACFLT Admiral Kelly to give the order for all of us to be thrown overboard.” Sundance gulped.
“They’d ask Goose for photos; I hear he had enough copies of the Inverted Mig flight made that they all have one. Admiral Metcalf has his framed front and centre of his desk in Miramar.” Chipper added with a nervous nod.
“I would never do that to Petra, you’d have to take my god damned wings and god damned life before I’d ever hurt her.” Ice glared at the RIO.
“That’s the attitude man, now make us all proud.” Ron laughed.
“Up and at them men, time is oh eleven fifty-nine and targets spotted at twelve o clock.” Hollywood smiled as he saw movement from the hotel.

The men snapping into attention sharply as they watched the ladies and Goose move into position as the band moved to play. Admiral Metcalf standing next to the splendid, veiled beauty that was the navy’s deadliest pilot. The grooms’ men smiled smugly as they looked at Ice who was stunned at the vision of his bride. A giant sappy smile filled his face as the band began to play, starting the bridesmaids and goose’s procession up the aisle, little Bradley Bradshaw leading the way in his tiny navy coloured suit, the rings on the cushion in his hands. Behind them, followed admiral Metcalf and the woman of the hour, Petra Mitchell in all her radiant beauty as the sun gleamed above them, making her look like an angel.

Ice chuckled softly as he smiled at his bride as Admiral Metcalf walked her up onto the small stage where they where waiting, turning to Ice to salute the admiral who saluted back. The groomsmen noticing as many of the admirals in the crowd nodded in approval towards the young captain upon receiving their girl. Tom moving to face his bride, lifting her veil off her face gently and smiling the whole time. Her smile as radiant as the pearls she wore.
“Well, hi there.” Petra giggled softly.
“Hello yourself darling.” Tom laughed, “Your gorgeous.”
“You’re not so bad yourself.” Petra raised her eyebrow at her soon to be husband.
“Why thank you.” The man laughed as he took her hands with the brightest dopiest smile, he ever gave anyone. Petra herself was no better, tears lining her eyes as she smiled back at him as they both turned to face the rabbi. They had agreed to a mostly Jewish wedding ceremony after the procession and unveiling, which followed Christian traditions.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today, to celebrate the holy matrimony of Commander Petra Monica Mitchell, to Captain Thomas James Kazansky. We thank the lord for all the blessings that brought our couple here today and all the miracles over the years that has made this day possible for our couple. A special thanks to all of you who have travelled from far and wide to witness the promise that our couple today are about to make to one another. We are here not only as guests but are here to offer our love and support towards Petra and Thomas as they begin this new chapter in their lives.” The rabbi started as he smiled towards the couple, he himself was from a military family and knew all the gossip behind the navy’s fairy tale couple over the years, serving the local North Island naval base as the rabbi for many years.

“Todays ceremony is only possible because of the bravery and skills of Commander Petra Mitchell, and her ability to outfly not only the men of the United States Navy she serves alongside with, but of the navies of the many nations that she fights against with her beloved wingman and now husband. We are here today to celebrate the love and commitment our couple has to one another that has grown out of the trials and tribulations they have been through over their many years of service.” The rabbi smiled, getting a laugh from the admirals and servicemen in the crowd. Petra giggled loudly as Ice only smiled. He knew she would get a kick out of that; he owed her his life after all.
“They are supported here today by their family and friends, those who have been with them from the start, and others gained along the way. Through those relationships, these two have learned lessons that have informed them on how to be good wingmen and even greater partners.” He added, getting smiles from the congregation. “As Petra and Thomas join together in matrimony and prepare to create another family to join our tribe, they carry their shared knowledge of our people onwards, promoting the values and ideals that they learned from those who came before them.”
“We will now begin the sand ceremony, through it, Petra and Thomas will symbolize the permanence of commitment of there marital relationship. Each of our couple will pour separate containers of sand into a single vessel.” The rabbi said as the couple grabbed the glass vials they had filled with sand on the altar before them. Petra had taken sand from the deserts that she grew up in, from the dunes of the Mojave. Thomas had taken sand from the shores of Virginia Beach, where he grew up. Both poured the sand into a decorative crystal glass that they would seal afterwards to take home as a reminder of there love.
“Each of these grains represents a unique aspect of themselves, there experiences, outlooks, feelings and the events that shaped them into the person that stands here before you all today. As these grains of sand intermingle into one shared vessel, they symbolize the merging of two individual lives into an inseparable pair. Petra and Thomas, just as these grains of sand can never again be separated, so too will you be forever joined, no matter the distance that threatens to separate you both.” The rabbi smiled.

“Do you, Thomas Kazansky, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto her for as long as you both shall live?” the rabbi asked.
“I do.” Ice smiled adoringly as he looked at his wife.
“Do you Petra Monica Michelle, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto him for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.” Mav smiled back just as love stricken.
“The couple will now exchange rings.” The rabbi announced, Goose giving Bradley a little nod as Wolfman and Hollywood gave the kid a pat to move towards the couple, just like they practiced. Bradley smiled and walked over to the bride and groom, carrying two gleaming silver and gold rings on the cushion in his hands.
“There a mix of gold and the same metal used in the productions of f-14’s, Admiral Metcalf and Admiral Kelly helped me get my hands on some for the rings.” Ice explained as Petra looked at the bands.
“You utter sap. I love you.” She smiled.
“These rings symbolize the never-ending love you feel for each other. The ring has neither a beginning or an end, just as there is no beginning or end to what the partners give and receive. These rings will be a reminder of the vows you have taken today. By this ring you are consecrated to me in according to the law of Moses and Israel.” The rabbi continued.

“Petra, as a token of your intentions, please place this ring upon Thomas’s finger and repeat after me, Thomas, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness.
“Thomas, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness.” Petra’s smile wobbled as she tried not to cry, taking the ring and gently slipping onto her partner’s finger.
“Thomas, as a token of your intentions, please place this ring upon Petra’s finger and repeat after me, Petra, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness.”
“Petra, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness.” Ice smiled as tears lined his eyes as he smiled widely, gently slipping the rings he had custom made onto his wife’s finger.
The couple laughed quietly as they wiped away their tears as the rabbi continued with the next session of the ceremony, the seven traditional blessings of the ceremony. The guests all enamoured and delighted as they watched the two pilots worked there way through the blessings before sharing a cup of wine handed to them.

The crowds cheered loudly as Thomas “Iceman” Kazansky and Petra “Maverick” Kazansky stamped on the glass chalice together, smashing it beneath there feet with one swift motion.
“Mazal Tov!” went the cry of the grooms’ men and bridesmaids as the crowd cheered in happiness at the union.

“Now doesn’t that feel nice?” Ice laughed as he threw his arm around Petra, pulling her in tight for the photos as the photographer moved in front of them.
“It does, so how about we give them a show.” Petra smirked, raising her eyebrow.
“Oh definitely, come here honey.” Ice laughed as he threw one arm on her shoulder and the other around her back, sweeping her off her feet for a kiss that was something out of a fairy tale. The Blue angels flying overhead as the bride and groom kissed, cheers from the guests and grooms’ men.
Breaking apart from there kiss, both Tom and Petra looked at each other in shock at the jets flying over head before turning to face COMPACFLT Admiral Kelly who simply nodded at the pair. Both Kazansky’s burst out laughing as they looked at each other.

Now that was a show they hadn’t expected.

The couple where quickly bombarded by their bridesmaids, groomsman and little ring bearer as Goose handed over his polaroid camera to the photographer.
“Everyone say Navy!” The elder Bradshaw laughed as they surrounded the newlyweds.
“NAVY!” Went up the cry from the pilots and maids as the polaroid camera flashed.

In the crowd below them, two men smiled as they looked at one another.
“Rear admiral Metcalf?”
“Yes sir?”
“I’d like to thank you for the invite.”
“Of course sir.”
“Duke would be proud of her.”
“We’re all so goddamned proud of her.”
“So, are we.” COMPACFLT Admiral Kelly chuckled. “So are we all. I think I’ll give them some extended downtime, perhaps assign them to Top gun for lectures and Hops?”
“If they get some time away from the Carriers, I don’t think they would mind too much sir.” Mike laughed as he smiled at his friend.
“I’m going to make a tactical retreat into the hotel now Mike, the suns beginning to get to me. I’ll talk to you afterwards, go get your photos with our girl.” The COMPACFLT smiled as he nodded to his old friend.
“Alright Robert, I’ll talk to you later.” Mike laughed.

Chapter Text

1994

Rain poured heavily over the quiet cemetery.

A small squadron of pilots and naval officers stood quietly next to casket over the open grave. A small funeral for such a beloved man, but he would never have accepted anything else. A somber sight as the flag was removed from the casket, folded by Wolfman and Hollywood on behalf of their friends before being handed over to the last remaining Bradshaw. Only twelve years old as his father was buried in the small plot next to his mother. Doing his best to stand tall and to attention just like his aunts and uncles who stood tall next to him, all in their full-dress military blues. There two headstones stood, one older than the other. One for Carol Bradshaw who passed away three years prior and now a new white one for the now former rear admiral (Lower half) Nick Bradshaw.

Nick and Carol Bradshaw, beloved husband and Wife, taken all too soon, forever loved, forever missed.

It was just as dark a morning as it had been the evening that Petra and Thomas Kazansky-Mitchell’s world shattered.

One week earlier.

“Bradley, dinner’s ready.”
“Coming aunt Petra.”
“How long do you think Nick will take, he was supposed to be here already.” Thomas “Iceman” Kazansky asked his wife as he set the table for the evening’s dinner. They normally would eat dinner outside on the patio; however, the usual sunny San Diego evening was overcast with dark clouds that had started to rain softly, forcing them to eat inside at the table in the kitchen.
“He should be here by now but if not then shortly. He had a meeting with a vice admiral about a squadron transferal, it could have run on longer than they thought, he’d have rung ahead normally if it was cancelled.”
“I didn’t hear anything about that.” Ice said as he moved to join his wife in the kitchen, helping plate up the food.
“We are on leave; it would go to the next person responsible because they all know I would kill them for keeping you away from me. It’s hard enough to get leave together at the same time and for this long and this was last minute, someone fucked up the paperwork somewhere and some poor admin is getting a reeming. Nick said he’d be straight over once he had the paperwork fixed.” Petra chuckled, digging her finger into her husband’s chest to emphasis her point. “So glad I turned down my promotion. I would not want to fuck up that amount of paperwork.”
“Now Goose knows what I have to deal with when admirals come complaining to me about you.”
“They just can’t handle me like you can.” She teased.
“They’re scared of your uncles is more like, they still have a lot of sway for men near retirement, that and its why they keep sending you back to me.” He snorted. “They’re gonna push you to settle down sooner or later Petra, you should take the next promotion and take that god damned star already, you’ve earned it just as much as the rest of us.” Ice smiled.
“And be grounded, nu uh. They’ll have to pry my wings off my cold dead corpse before they ground me.” Mav laughed.
“You won’t be grounded Mav; you can still keep up your certificates like the rest of us, hell Chipper and Sundown still fly over at Miramar.” Ice laughed at his wife’s antics, “You can still fly your beloved tomcats and super hornets. Hell, you just need to blink your eyes and Admiral Metcalf would assign you to Top gun no questions asked, but I doubt you’d want to be too far away from the action. I can see you leading squads from a carrier.” Ice growled playfully as he grabbed her rear, getting Petra to slap his hand.

“If aunt Petra goes back to Top gun, can we convince grandpa Viper to let us go up in a tomcat again? You haven’t taken me up in one for years, just the mustang.” Bradley asked as he entered the Kitchen area, making his way over to the breakfast nook to the smaller of the house’s dining tables.
“You took him up in an f-14? Mav.” Ice laughed, scandalized at his wife.
“That was supposed to be a secret baby Goose.” Petra glared at her almost teenage nephew. Bradley just smiled at his aunt and Uncle, laughing as he sat down at the table.
“I was nine and Dad took Photos.” The pre-teen giggled as he watched his uncle Ice shake his head as he smiled at his wife’s antics.
“Petra, really. I shouldn’t be surprised.” Ice laughed as he moved to the kitchen counter next to his wife.

“It was just after Carol took sick Tom, Nick needed the distraction and Carol loved the photos we brought back. She cried so hard that night when she realized what she’d miss, seeing Bradley in the jet was a glimpse of her baby’s future at least. Nick had to convince her that Bradley would be heartbroken if we stopped him from going to the academy, no matter how much it scared her. She made us promise to look out for him and make sure he becomes a pilot capable of surviving like us.” Petra muttered quietly into her husband’s ear.
“I understand sweetie, I’d do the same for you. We’ll make sure he’s ready, you’re already teaching him in the mustang. I just need to make sure he doesn’t break any rules before he even gets near the academy. He’ll be the next legend in the family.” Tom brushed some of Mav’s hair away from her eyes as he kissed her forehead. Mav only giggled as she grabbed his shirt collar, dragging him down to her height for a proper kiss.
“Hopefully not following exactly in our footsteps.” Mav chuckled as she let go of her husband who barked out a laugh.

Bradley scoffed at watching his aunt and uncle kiss, laughing as Petra shook her head and rolled her eyes at the kid’s antics. His aunt setting his plate before him, the lanky pre-teen digging into his aunt’s killer Chilli bowl with Mexican style rice, salad and Ice’s freshly made coleslaw. Whenever it came to the class of 86’s holiday cookouts, Mavericks chilli was the go to chilli, no one could top the Arizona woman’s fresh spicy chilli it and it had become a navy legend that you could win the favour of the top brass with just a single spoonful of the stuff, just like how Ice’s baking skills and ability to make amazing side dishes also became known, so much so that the cooks onboard some of the carriers changed their menu’s just to get practice in for the cook outs in an attempt to beat the Kazansky’s and there surprising culinary skills.

As Ice and Petra grabbed their plates and made their way over next to their nephew their doorbell rang. Both Kazansky’s furrowed their eyebrows as they looked at each other. Goose didn’t ring the doorbell, he just normally marched into the house and gave his usual holler, and none of their friends rang the doorbell either, usually knocking before they entered the large house. They were always welcomed into the Kazansky-Mitchell household without fear of intruding…. Unless it was the evening and neither where at the O-club, then it was intruding. Petra shared a look with Ice to see if he had invited anyone over, any of the admirals or if he was expecting anyone. He only shrugged his shoulders as he watched his wife stand up.

Upon hearing the door open, A quiet timid call echoed through the house.
“Thomas.”
Tom “Iceman” Kazansky has only frozen in shock once before in his life, the time Petra and Nick crashed during Top gun had scared the man half to death and was the defining moment in his life when he decided he would do anything to be there for Petra Mitchell and the Bradshaw bunch. But the quiet, raw whisper that echoed through the hallways of the house as Petra called him shook him. He’s only heard her voice that submissive, scared and timid before once in there time together… and it was when Carol passed away only three years earlier. He stood abruptly before running out of the kitchen and towards the hallway, moving to stand next to his pale shaking wife.

There in the doorway stood two police officers… their hats in their hands as they looked at the man grimly.

Nick Bradshaw wasn’t coming home.

Thomas Kazansky and Petra Kazansky stood strong in their dress blues as the rain poured down around them, both standing behind their nephew as Bradley was handed the folded flag. Watching the heart wrenching scene, Petra twisted her head minutely towards her husband before quietly speaking up.
“Tom.”
“Yes honey.” Ice replied softly, slipping one of his hands into hers and squeezing it tightly as the couple looked at their nephew. They were the only family Bradley had left now. They lost Carol to cancer three years prior, and now they lost Nick to a drunk driver who t-boned Nick’s bronco just a half mile away from Petra and Thomas’s waterfront property right by Coronado beach. He had just left the base for the evening and was on his way home to pick up Bradley who had been staying overnight with his aunt and uncle. He never made it far from base before his life was taken.
“I’ll take the next promotion.” She whimpered softly as she looked at the young teen in her arms.

The last thing left of her brother and sister.

If a promotion meant staying out of the line of fire, then for Bradley, she would do it. He was worth the clipping of her wings; she would never forgive herself if Bradley lost any more members of his family. Ice knew that this was coming, he knew the moment he held her as Mav broke down screaming and crying in his arms as they went to the hospital morgue to identify Nick’s broken body. So badly broken that even the dog tags where not enough to identify him, the blood covering them sticking to Petra's hands as she grasped at them.
Petra would never allow herself to continue flying active combat missions now knowing that she and Ice where all her nephew had in this world, despite what it would mean for her. Petra Mitchell-Kazansky belonged in the sky but would sacrifice her need for the joy and freedom of flight, for the ones she loved. She never wanted to see Bradley to live through the loss of a parent so young like she had and yet here they were, three years after Carols funeral, burying a second Bradshaw. Petra would never forgive herself if Bradley lost another family member. If it means sacrificing her rank as captain to become a rear admiral (Lower half) to keep herself away from the more dangerous direct action then she would do so, just to make sure that Bradley always had someone waiting for him when at home.

“Okay.” Ice whispered before moving to pull Petra into his arms as Goose’s casket was slowly lowered into the ground, Petra placing her head on her husband’s chest as Bradley moved back to stand next to them, Petra putting her arms around her nephew and pulling him close as the funeral service ended.

The rain and cold was fitting for that day, the light and warmth that was so characteristic of the presence of Nick “Goose” Bradshaw was gone, leaving behind an orphaned young son, a heartbroken sister and a lost brother-in-law all standing in the cold rain of one of the darkest mornings San Diego had ever seen. As their friends and colleges slowly walked up to give their condolences to Mav, Ice and Bradley, Ice listened as Petra mumbled under her breath.
“Talk to me Goose.” She muttered as she squeezes Ice’s hand and pulled Bradley in closer to her.

To Ice’s surprise he felt a cold blast of air behind him, nudging him closer to his wife and nephew. Ice only smiled softly for a moment, it was as though Goose had heard his pilot and sister’s whisper. He said nothing, wrapping Petra in tight against his chest, placing her head over his heart with one hand, and pulled Bradley in against Petra and himself with the other as the pre-teen began to cry as the crowds began to dissipate. No longer able to put up the strong front he had in front of his family superiors and colleges.

The rain clearing the crowds from the graveyard quicker than a tomcat’s take-off.

In the midst of the rain and dullness of the morning, it was a cold comfort that soothed a part of Ice that he hadn’t realized had broken. He was so worried and concerned for his wife and nephew in the aftermath of Nicks death that he could hardly think about how the loss of one of his best friends had hit him. It was a small comfort and relief to the man as he watched the sun begin to break through the clouds. Ice took comfort in the thought that even though his brother-in-law was gone, part of him would always remain with them.

Goose may not be here with them physically, but he would always be looking out for them.

Chapter Text

2011

“I don’t want the promotion Ice.”
“Maverick, I swear to God, YOU are taking the god damn promotion. It’s the only way we’ll be allowed to get married before retirement.”
“But it means no more flying.”
“Maverick, you’ll be an admiral, you can make the fucking rules you idiot.” Ice sighed as he facepalmed. “If you want to fly, go take the fucking plane, I got you a presidential order giving you permission to take the god damn jet for god’s sake.”
“Oh yes, go up to the ground crew and just tell them to prep the jet and take off for flight, like that happens.” Maverick glared at him.
“If it means we can get married now and not be charged with fraternization then yes you idiot. Because one of us will die before either of us retire and at this rate it’ll be from me smothering you with the couch cushions.”
“I…”
“No worry of fraternisation, we are removed from each other’s chain of command, they can’t prove we’ve been in an official relationship beforehand, still in the navy with no other reason for them to try and court martial us, and Sarah can get off our backs about giving her a wedding date.”
“Fuck…. That’s… that’s a lot of good points Ice…. Fuck.” Maverick sighed as he collapsed into the couch of the Kazansky residence. Ice and his sister Sarah, newly divorced from her husband, lived in La Jolla, with Ice as the air boss for North Island, the admiral running the largest of the naval bases in San Diego. Ice sighed and dropped into the seat next to Maverick.
“Point Mugu’s old air boss is retiring, you’d still get to play with the big toys Mav, just some more paperwork involved this time. They still fly jets unlike me in North Island, you can take them out for a short flight without pissing off any other admirals. You’d be the admiral this time.” Ice nudged him. “Its only a few hours up the road, you can make that journey back here at the weekends.”
Maverick just remained silent.

Peter “Maverick” Mitchell was being offered the position of rear admiral upper half, on behalf of the United States navy. A jump from the rank of Captain he had been at for a while now, skipping rear admiral lower half.

He was being offered the promotions as an apology for the Navy’s treatment of him during his early career, especially as the pentagon released confirmation of what Viper had told Maverick decades earlier. Duke Mitchell was K.I.A in a black ops mission in Vietnam, a mission that broke Geneva conventions for the navy’s use of banned weapons that they dropped on civilian targets, not military. Maverick had been approached by one of the Navy’s, top Judge attorney generals, who told him the US navy was willing to settle any issues they had caused the man in the past, knowing that Maverick could destroy the Navy’s integrity and reputation if he chose to sue and make it public. After all, they blocked his application to Annapolis based on his father’s reputation and not Mavericks own merit. They had staggered his early career and denied him promotions in the past all due to his father’s reputation back then. Duke Mitchell having been disavowed and dishonoured in a state department coverup, all but hampered Pete’s early career, many older admirals taking it out on the then young pilot.

Pete could throw the entire Navy handbook into the ocean and cause a tsunami with it.

“This is all fucked up.” Maverick sighed
“I know… but it’s a good time too, we’d be same rank and out of each other’s chain of command, especially with D.A.D.T being repealed.” Ice snorted. “We can continue to work, and you can do what you can to make sure no other soldier goes through what you did pete.” He added as he took his friends hand, rubbing his thumb over Pete’s hand.
“So what? Take the promotion, rewrite the rules as admiral and watch as the secretary of the Navy takes a heart attack.”
“Honestly, they owe you that. Go feral with it for all I care, if you don’t end up in hospital or writing off anymore jets. SECNAV can bite there fucking tongue and let you do what you want, you’d be the air boss.” Ice chuckled.
“Jesus what the hell would the guys say.”
“They’d go feral with you and ask to steal a jet next time there in town on leave. Then ask when’s the Batchelors party.” Ice laughed. “You can pay for a week in Vegas now with the settlement they’ve reimbursed you with of your old man’s pension.”
“And a new plane, what do you thinks my chances for finding another mustang?” Maverick shook his head as he laughed.
“Seriously, why would you need two mustangs Mav.” Ice shook his head at Mavericks antics.
“So we can both fly together idiot.” Maverick rolled his eyes, “And settle who’s the better pilot.”
“Shut the fuck up Mitchell.” Ice awed at the thought of getting his own mustang.
“Aww, that was a beautiful moment ice, and you ruined it.” Maverick laughed as his friend. Boyfriend? Partner? Wrapping his arm around his shoulder.
“So, will you take the promotion and my hand in marriage.” Ice asked.
“As long as I get to rewrite the rules and continue to fly then I don’t see any issues.” Maverick chuckled, “Means I don’t get my ass shot at.”
“And you piss off less admirals.” Ice nodded. “Besides, it’s not every day you get to skip multiple ranks. You can hold that one over my head, you got to jump up an extra rank whilst I had to work my way up. Means I’m less likely to take a heart attack every time you’re deployed.”
“Alright Ice, alright, you win. I’ll take the promotion.” Maverick chuckled, “If it makes you happy.”
“It does, knowing you’ll be close and won’t be at risk of serious injuries outside of your usual accidents. I missed it when you were close, and not on a carrier halfway around the world Pete. I’ve been waiting for the day I can call you mine for years now and if I have to wait till retirement to put a ring on your finger, I will throw you overboard into the ocean and leave you there.” Ice laughed.
“I miss you too Ice. I’m so glad you came out to the president by accident.” Pete smiled.
“So glad I did too, crazy what one missed coffee and three hours of sleep can do to an admiral. At least he liked me enough to give me a pardon there and then and help overturn D.A.D.T” Tom laughed.

He’d had a lot of paperwork to file the day before and had been up late filling it out before going to the white house hours later for an early morning meeting with the president, where he accidentally came out without realizing it. It was only when the president and other admirals in the room looked at him did, he realize what he said, two weeks later he was in Washington with the president as the D.A.D.T repel entered congress and was implemented two months later, just about saving his career. He got a presidential pardon for himself and a presidential order that Maverick could take jets without authorization as long as he put them back after he flew them.
“What do you say to a winter wedding Ice?”
“I’d like that very much.”

One month later

“Maverick no.”
“MAVERICK YES!”
“Welp… we’re fucked.” Hondo snorted as Ice face palmed as an f-18 buzzed the tower of point Mugu where Maverick was now the air-boss. The warrant officer having been reassigned to point Mugu to be with the rear admiral, considered a good influence on the newly promoted admiral.

Rear admiral Mitchell had been officially promoted days earlier in the month and being officially assigned as point Mugu’s new air boss. Ice and Sarah had helped him move into the new beach side house a few miles up the road from the base in Oxnard, both claiming it as the new family vacation home for when they wanted out of San Diego in the weekends. The house was right next to the beach, with its own private pool and spa and a park just a stone’s throw away for Sarah’s kids to hang out.
Sarah had already taken off back to San Diego to return to work, both her and Ice having spent a good portion of the weekend making Mavericks new home habitable for everyone, and not a Bachelor crash pad. Iceman himself was with Maverick on his first day in the office and could only laugh as rear admiral Mitchell already had commandeered an f-18 to fly around in. His fiance had a few days leave from north island and was spending it in Oxnard helping Maverick get used to his new position. Even Ice’s assistant came up from north island to help Mitchell's new secretary and assistant understand what the hell they had just been roped into, they’d already spent long enough as Ice’s assistant that they practically knew a manuals worth of knowledge on Pete Maverick Mitchell.

“He’s going to be one feral bastard isn’t he.” A lieutenant commander snorted, Ice’s assistant.
“Well, as long as he keeps the property damage to normal levels it should be fine.” Ice snorted.
“Hey Ice, wanna take an F-18 up and join me? There’s no admiral here to stop you, I can technically make that an order now.” Maverick’s voice came in over the comms.
“…We’re the same rank idiot, you can’t order me around….” Ice was silent for a moment, “… be in the air in five.” The other admiral laughed over the comms as Ice raced out of the tower down towards the lockers.
“Feral bastards the lot of you sirs.” Hondo laughed as Ice patted him on the shoulder as he ran out of the room.
“Welp… I’ll create a support group for you Davis, you’ll need it.” Ice’s assistant patted the young lieutenant assigned to Maverick as their assistant.

October 2011.

“Kazansky… what have you done.”
“I just convinced him to take the position secretary, which he did along with the promotions. I mean, it saves the humiliation and apologize the navy would have had to make to Mitchell and keeps one of the finest pilots in the ranks but I didn’t realize he’d change the rules so he could keep flying like he has been.”
“Goddamn it… well at least he’s a decent influence on some of the pilots over there, I heard one of the kids he looks after managed to get an air kill using one of his crazy tactics. Never thought I’d see the day we let a Mitchell run an entire airbase. He’s an absolute feral bastard but he’s not breaking any rules, I’ll give him that.”
“Well, he’s a lot calmer now sir I can tell you that. The younger pilots are just as mad as he is apparently, they love him up at Point Mugu. There keeping him on his toes.”
“How did you ever manage to wrangle that man in after all these years.”
“Threaten to withhold sex or send him off on a carrier for months at a time. Seemed to work a charm to calm Mitchell down, great distraction for the idiot.” Ice snorted. “Now he’s not breaking any rules and not pissing off any more admirals.
“That… well that’s true… and I suppose if he does piss us off, we can just send him extra paperwork or have him come to a gala ball.”
“He will do his best to behave in order to avoid those sirs. He despises gala balls; I recommend using that as a threat when he needs to be wrangled in.”
“Well, I’ll take that advise for when he next acts up… I’ll leave you to that Kazansky… keep him under control and you’ll make four stars soon enough, hell might even make you commander of a fleet someday.” The secretary of the navy shook his head. “No chance I can get an invite?”
“I’ll get my sister all over its sir. Expect it within the week.”
“Good, we’ll talk more later Kazansky… and congratulations.” the secretary of the navy said as he hung up the phone.

Naval camp lemonier, Djibouti city.

“Bradshaw, Letter for you.”
“For me?” the man asked as he lifted his head up, looking at his CO in surprise. He didn’t usually receive letters apart from his bills, which he paid every three months. He’d paid this quarters bills so he could mark that off. It was even odder that it was being handed to him by his CO.
“No for the president, get your letter and get your ass out of here lieutenant.”
“Yes sir.”

Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw grabbed the letter that had arrived for him and made his way towards his locker.
“A letter Brad-brad?”
“Yeah… I… I don’t usually receive letters. No one to send them to me honestly.” He frowned as he looked at it, opening it slowly only to have Phoenix snatch it out of his hands. The letters from Maverick and Ice had stopped years ago after he sent them a nasty call, yelling at them to stop interfering in his life. They stopped sending letters but did try to call him regularly and send him texts only for Bradley to ignore, delete them or block their numbers.
“Phoe? That’s mine.” He glares as his wing woman opened the letter, revealing the contents inside.
“And you’re taking forever Roo, I’m curious.” The woman smiled as she rolled her eyes at him. Rooster watches as Phoenix pales, silently handing the letter back to him as an invite falls out of her hands.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“You tell me…” She said as she looked at him, “Rear Admirals Kazansky and Mitchell are your uncles? North Island and Point Mugu’s air bosses?” she hissed at him.
“No, there not, once upon a time ago yeah, but they pulled my application phoenix.” He started before looking at the letter in shock. “Rear Admiral Mitchell, when the hell did, he get that? Let alone who the hell intrusted him with an entire base.” he asked as he looked through the letter, paling as he read through it, falling onto the bench between the lockers in shock.
“Seems to me that’s not the whole story Bradley.”
“Yeah… its um… wow…”
“So, are you going?”
“I… I don’t know…”
“If you do, you’re taking me as your plus one, you hear me Roo.” Phoenix narrowed her eyes, “And you’re telling me the whole story. You hear me roo.”
“Yeah….” Bradley wordlessly sighed as he read through the letter and invite, not believing what he was seeing.
“I’ll give you some alone time.” Phoenix patted his back as she got up, throwing him his phone from his locker as she left.

Rooster looked at the letter for a good few minutes in silence before opening his phone for a good few minutes before picking it up, putting a call through.
“Hello?” a female voice came through the other line.
“Hi …aunt Sarah... can we talk?” Bradley asked as a small smile grew on his face.

December 2011.

“Do you think he’ll be here?”
“I… I don’t know Pete… I hope he comes… he’s deployed out to Djibouti currently… but I know his CO is known to be a homophobic ass… The chance he’s been given leave is slim.”
“Why did we let your sister control the RSVP’s again?”
“Because neither of us had the faintest idea where to start. We can deploy squadrons on missions and oversee carriers, but we can’t plan a wedding… that’s…”
“Embarrassing?” Maverick offered.
“Yeah… honestly, how does she do it.” Ice smiled.
“Witchcraft?” Maverick shrugged.
“Oh yeah, Sarah can really pull off some miracles.” Ice laughed.
“Thank you for that Tom. I think I really have pulled off some big miracles here this weekend, security is ready, the florists arrive in the morning, the caterers have everything ready for tomorrow, our groomsmen are already down in the guests’ rooms, uniforms and tuxedos steamed and ready to be put on and your separate rooms are ready for you tonight.” Sarah smiled as she looked at her brother and future brother-in-law. She had just come in from the balcony that connected Ice and Mavericks master bedroom together with Ice’s upstairs office. He preferred the upstairs office over the downstairs office for the views. Mavericks’ office suited him just fine as it was next to the garage, he could keep an eye on his own paperwork and an eye on his bikes and mechanical parts. “Like the one standing in your office next door.” She said, watching as both men looked at each other before running off towards the office.

Ice stood before his office door with maverick standing behind him, grabbing his hand as they looked at each other before looking back down towards Sarah who nodded to them. Ice slowly opened the door to his office as both he and Maverick entered the room. There standing in front of Ice desk stood the missing member of their family.
“Uh…i… hi?” Bradley waved awkwardly as he looked at his two uncles.
“Bradley?” Maverick asked, tears in his eyes. He looked so hopeful.
“So, um… I’m not late or anything am I?” Bradley asked awkwardly. Ice burst out laughing as he approached his nephew, pulling the younger pilot into a tight hug. Ice laughed as Mavericks face split wide with a smile.
“No… not at all. The weddings tomorrow.”
“Great, because I’ve just flown in from Djibouti for this.” Bradley sighed as he collapsed into Ice’s hold as Maverick moved to stand beside them. Bradley looked at his godfather who stood next to the pair hopefully, “So… admiral Mitchell… who thought that was a good idea?” he asked as he raised an eyebrow.
Ice and Maverick burst out laughing as they looked at Bradley.
“The United States navy.” Ice rolled his eyes. “They don’t know what they’ve done Bradley, he’s a feral bastard, he’s rewritten the rules up at point Mugu just to keep flying. He’s like a kid in a candy store.”
“At least we can get married now without being court martialled for fraternisation.” Maverick snorted.
“Well… that’s good?” Bradley snorted before looking at them both awkwardly. He had heard hundreds of different rumours flying around base about maverick in recent weeks since he got the wedding invite, especially when he began to listen to them and not ignore them.

The feral admiral of Point Mugu Maverick Mitchell, the man who jumped from captain to a two-star admiral. A lot of older admirals humiliating themselves and making public apologize to the newly promoted admiral as the pentagon released Classified papers relating to Vietnam, admitting that Duke Mitchell was K.I.A not AWOL. It was quiet a scandal amongst the upper admiralty, that the man they treated horribly for years on his father’s reputation was completely innocent. A lot of the older admirals retired so they wouldn’t have to face the rear admiral upper half. The man who threw out the rule book on how an air boss was supposed to oversee his base to allow himself to continue flying alongside the squadrons stationed under him. That he’s essentially turned point Mugu into a second top gun without realizing it. That Bradley's rival, Lieutenant Jake “Hangman” Seresin was assigned to Mugu and took a page out of his air bosses’ books and landed himself a kill.
Who ever thought that Maverick would make an admiral was insane, at least it meant that Ice and Mav where of equal rank now, they couldn’t be court martialled for fraternization as neither are in the same chain of command anymore.
“It is baby goose, it is.” Ice laughed.
“I didn’t think you’d come.” Maverick spoke up, his voice wobbling as he looked at his godson. The man who walked out years ago and never looked back, who disowned and hated the man’s guts.
“I honestly didn’t think I would… or that you would want to see me… however, my wing woman stole my mail and gave me one hell of a wringer when she read it. She made me see things differently…” Bradley rubbed the back of his neck. “Then there was trying to get leave.”
“We’ve always wanted you to come home Bradley, our doors always open for you.” Maverick whispered softly.
“Yes, your CO’s known to be homophobic I’ve heard.” Ice snorted, “And your wing woman sounds like she’s a smart woman.”
“How you get him to give you leave.” Maverick asked, knowing Bradley had been on the other side of the world only days before.
“When he found out about the invite aunt Sarah sent, he kinda went mad until I said I walked out on you both years ago after you interfered with my academy application. I said I would object and raise hell at the wedding, if he let me go, so he gave me two weeks leave like I requested along with my friend. He doesn’t have to know though; I can always say there was eight scary elder admirals staring me down through the ceremony.” Bradley laughed, looking uncomfortable the whole time as he explained to his uncles how he got.
“And the SECNAV.” Ice snorted as Maverick laughed.
“And about ten other of the local admirals and COMPACFLT.” Maverick wheezed.
“You taught him too much Mav. He knows how to abuse his power and get away with it.” Ice snorted as he pulled Maverick into his grasp as the pair of them looked at the young lieutenant before them.

“So…um… I…” Bradley started as he looked at the floor, he knew what he needed to do but the words where stuck in his throat.
“Bradley?” Pete asked.
“I’ve… I’ve been an ass… and a brat… I’m sorry.” He said as he looked at his uncles. Ice and Maverick looked at each other before pulling the younger pilot into another hug.
“It’s alright baby goose.” Maverick whispered, tears spilling down his face in delight. There kid had come home. “We forgave you long ago.”
“You’re here now kiddo. That’s all we need.” Ice smiled as he hugged the young man tighter.
“After everything… I kinda expected to be thrown overboard here.” Bradley whimpered in there hold. Folding in on the affection his uncles were giving him.
“Never Bradley, never kiddo.” Maverick chuckled.
“We missed you kid.” Ice nodded, “It was too quiet around here without you.”
“So glad you came home baby goose.” Pete chuckled as he threaded his hands through Bradley’s hair comfortingly.
“Glad I haven’t been thrown overboard.”
“How could we throw you overboard.” Pete laughed, “We’re not wolf, he’s the one who has a ship under his command.”
“We just run some of the Navy’s largest bases, and besides, I think Pete you promised Bradley something years ago.” Ice smiled.
“So, baby goose, how about we uphold that promise. I did promise you could be my best man after all.” Maverick asked as he looked at the hopeful expression on Bradley’s face.
“I… I’d like that.”
“Now bed boys, Maverick, you’re in the master, Ice, you’re in the guest with the en-suite and Bradley is bunking with Natasha your plus one in Ethan’s room, Ethan is sleeping in Jacks room as the rest of the grooms’ men have taken control of the other guest rooms. Early start,” Sarah Kazansky ordered as she poked her head into the office, having watched them through the balcony door.
“Yes Sarah.” All three men nodded as they hugged once more, ice’s sister joining them.

The next morning, the grooms’ men all fumbled around the kitchen, half asleep as they all fought there way to the coffee machine. Slider and Merlin fighting each other hardheartedly as they pushed and shoved there way into the kitchen, Chipper, Hollywood, Wolfman and Sundance all fumbling in after them. Ice and Maverick where being brought breakfast in bed in order to keep the pair away from each other, bad luck to see the spouses before the wedding and all that. Sarah was making sure neither saw each other before the ceremony later that morning. They watched through the windows as the caterers and florists began to arrive, the wedding being held on the house’s expansive lawns.
They two RIO’s grumbled as they pushed each other as they tried to get into the kitchen as they headed towards the coffee pot before stopping in the door frame, all in shock and surprise at the man who had beaten them to it. There leaning against the kitchen cabinets glaring at the elder pilots stood Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, drinking the entire pot of coffee with a woman sitting at the breakfast bar next to them with a cup of coffee.
“Don’t bother him. Despite the fact he’s called “rooster” he’s a zombie in the mornings.” Natasha snorted as she watched the admirals in the rooms faces dropped.
“Fuck you Phoe.” Bradley sleepily growled.
“Well… looks like Merlin’s not Mavericks best man anymore.” Slider said as they watched the younger pilot
“Where the hell have you been?” Merlin asked in surprise.
“Until last night, Djibouti, thankfully I did listen to Mav when he taught me to manipulate superior officers.” He snorted behind the pot as he looked at his fly-boy uncle’s squad.
“Good to see your back kiddo.” Wolf laughed as he made his way over to the espresso machine.
“I gave him one hell of a talking to admirals sir,” The woman, possibly Phoenix, if Ices information was correct, chuckled.
“Nearly castrated me more like.” Bradley shivered. Ah, the baby goose managed to find someone who had their head on straight and didn’t put up with his shit. Good for him.
“That’s still on the table if you act like a brat again Roo, and next time I’m not sorting your family drama idiot. We don’t need you to become as bad as bagman.” The woman, snorted as she raised an eyebrow, not taking any of Bradley’s shit.
“I… I am so lost right now.” Chipper looked at them.
"Poor pilot, wonder how he ended up with Bagman as a call sign." Sundance snorted.
“I’ll put another pot on.” Bradley said as he finished the pot in his hand, rinsing it out before placing it back on the coffee machine.”
“He’s just as fucking feral, what the hell have we done.” Hollywood muttered under his breath.
“I’m not that bad, I’m only a lieutenant, not an admiral. Give me a few years.” Bradley raised an eyebrow as he smirked at them.
“Oh god we are all screwed.” Slider laughed.
“Come on Roo, we have a wedding to get prepped for, you’re doing my nails.” Phoenix smiled.
“Yes mam.” The man said as he followed the woman out of the kitchen, both heading back up the stairs towards wherever they had bunked down the night before.
“Now that, that’s all Ice. She’s got him whipped.” Slider laughed.

Hours later, Maverick and Ice where kissing proudly in front of a large congregation of family, friends and colleges in a ceremony that was essentially a Naval royal wedding. Two of there legendary admirals finally tying the knot after decades of dancing around one another, holding back from there love to save their careers.

Bradley cried more than Maverick did. Excited, proud and relieved to be there at the wedding.

A family of feral pilots all gathered around the newly weds enjoying the day.

Chapter Text

2000.
North Island. San Diego.

Sitting in the dark underneath a gentle orange light a woman nursed her coffee as she sat at her kitchen table. It was late at night and her kid had retreated to his room for the night whilst her husband was in the office, finishing off some paperwork that he needed to file first thing in the morning, It was just orders to re-deploy a number of squadrons to Iraqi, enforcing a no fly zone. That left Petra Mitchell-Kazansky to sit in the kitchen with open letters and files as she sorted through the paperwork that came with her own responsibilities as a rear admiral lower half.

“That doesn’t look like your own paperwork.”
“I finished mine in my office, unlike someone else.” She snorted as she raised her head towards her partner, he himself entering the kitchen with his empty mug. “Another coffee run? You’re not going to get much sleep tonight if you keep drinking it.”
“So, what are you doing then.” Tom asked as he put his mug into the sink, moving to stand next to his wife. “Are those?” he asked as he looked at her in confusion.
“Tom.”
“Petra? Those are Bradley's, what are you doing with them.”
“What does it look like.”
“Something stupid from the looks of it.” Tom sighed as he sat next to his wife.
“I don’t know what to do.”
“Its Bradleys life sweetheart.”
“I know Tom, I just want to keep him safe.”
“Petra, this better not be about that promise Carol tried to make you vow, Even Nick was horrified at it. We all know that Bradley would never be happy if we grounded him, even if it meant keeping him safe. Nick understood it, it’s why he stepped in Petra, its why we compromised with Carol and promised her Bradley would be safe if we taught him to fly, and we did.”
“But she was right. Our jobs are dangerous Ice, we taught Bradley how to fly civilian, not combat, we both know it’s a whole different ballgame. How many friends have we lost over the years, how many good men and women have we lost under our command.” Petra asked as she looked at him with a tearful gaze. “Look at how these jobs changed us. I don’t want to lose him like we’ve lost so many others.”

Tom “Iceman” Kazansky pulled his wife in for a hug, rubbing her back as he comforted her.
“I know darling… The academy will change Bradley, it’ll take our kid and change him from the carefree energetic young boy we raised into a man, into another soldier.” Ice sighed, “But they do that to every young officer who enters it, they all know what they’ve signed up for and know the sacrifices as well as we do. Bradley knows this sweetheart, so did we.” He spoke.

“Why do we do this Ice. Why do we keep putting good people in these situations when we know what the risks are. How many more empty coffins do we have to hand over because we’ve miscalculated something or given the wrong information. Is Bradley just going to become another one of those statistics?” Petra asked.
“You’ve been thinking on this for a long time now haven’t you.”
“Since Kosovo, fuck… those months on the carriers where horrible. So many young Pilots getting there first real taste of war. I saw the looks of horror on many of them as their friends were shot out of the sky. I don’t ever want to see that look on Bradley’s face. I’ve seen it on ours enough.”
“And we’ve been going to war for just as long, since the gulf, to Libya, back to the gulf, Iraq, Bosnia and Croatian, Haiti and Kosovo.” Ice said, “But we’ve worked our ways out of the immediate firing zone unless it’s a dire mission that no one else can do.”
“I know… but I’m just so scared at the thought of him being injured, gods know how many times we’ve been in medical over the years.”
“That’s a risk we all know comes with the job Petra.”

“Then why do we keep doing this, it kills me every time one of us is sent off on the carriers to the gulf or we’re both are called out. It kills me every time we must leave Bradley with Sarah or my mom and dad, knowing that we might never come home to him. I know that they do their best to assign only one of us offshore at a time but honestly Tom how much longer will they do that. We both know the tensions are rising again between us and the countries in the gulf, someone’s going to do something soon that’ll just escalate into yet another war, it always does. What if something happens and eventually neither of us can outfly it. I know what it’s like losing a parent to war, I never want him to go through it. Hell, I don’t want him to be anywhere near the other end of the enemy’s barrel.” Petra moaned as she looked at tom, her face scrunched up in pain.

“You know why we do it, we do it because despite the worst the job throws at us, there’s a beauty to it in our line of work. We’re adrenaline junkies, pushing the limits of ourselves and our jets to the limits and beyond, not out of service or duty, but out of sheer love for the freedom the experience gives us. You know why I began to climb up the ranks, why Nick and the others did, it was to see your smile, to see you flying as often and as freely as you did without pissing off any other admirals as you did something stupid again. Because it made you happy, and knowing it made you happy it made the rest of us happy. Despite the orders and despite the pain the job causes, there has always been those beautiful moments that make it all worthwhile over the years. It’s why we still do it, even though we’re now admirals Mav, because we love the thrill that war brings. We love the pounding of the adrenaline through our veins, the stress of being under fire, the bloodlust we get as we chase the enemies across the sky, hunting them as we pull off the impossible. Its why we still do it and why they still allow us to do it, because we belong in the sky.”

“Ice.”
“And that kid, that is why he wants to do it, because I can see it every time, he’s in the air, the freedom that flying gives him and the adrenaline he gets when the pair of you fly in the mustang, flying through stunts and all. It’s the same look of joy that you have, that I have, that Nick had, and you know it. Petra, if we do what I think you are wanting to do, we’re going to lose him. Yes, he’d be safe, but it means we could lose him.”
“We?” she asked in surprise.
“Of course, I wouldn’t let you pull his papers alone. I’d do it.” Ice stated as he swallowed hard.
“Ice no... no don’t let Bradley resent you too.” Maverick’s face scrunched up in pain.
“No, but I won’t let you take it all yourself.” Ice told her firmly as he grasped her hand.

The pair of them sat under the light for a moment, neither saying anything as they thought through what each other had been saying. Of course, they were scared, they knew it was true, everything had been getting tense behind the scenes, the admirals where all on alert for the next big attack, knowing that they’ll be the first to ship out to wherever they where needed. Never knowing if they’d make it back from deployment or not.

“So, what do we do?” Ice asked after what felt like an eon.

“How about talking to me about what I want.” A third voice spoke up. Both Kazansky’s jumped in their seats as they turned to face the young man standing in the doorway.

“Bradley?” Petra started.
“I heard you both shouting from the bedroom. Had we been in the La Jolla mansion I probably wouldn’t have heard you both at all, thankfully we’re not. I hate the empty space over there, we only stay there when you must host dinners and parties for the brass. You only shout or argue about three things, who’s the better pilot, one of you two, usually mom, being an Idiot, and me.”
“He’s right Mav. We do only argue over those three points.” Ice conceded with a slight chuckle. The couple did rarely argue but those where the three points that did lead to heads butting in the Kazansky household.
“I didn’t hear you arguing over who’s the better pilot, Mom’s not pissed off any admirals lately as she’s just back from deployment with her squadron in the Mediterranean and on leave. So, you’re arguing about me.” Bradley looked at them both angrily.
“Bradley…”
“So, what’s this about. My academy application?” he asked as he raised an eyebrow as he looked at the strewn papers and college letters on the table, Ice and Maverick looked away from him, “Yep, just like I thought.”

“I’m sorry kiddo, I just…”
“She’s scared kid.” Ice said. “She’s scared of the implications of what becoming an officer means, of the dangers you’ll be facing.”
“I know what I’ll be facing, I’ve grown up with you both and dad, I’ve seen the injuries you all came home with, heard your screams and cries on your worst nights, the photos of the bullets that hit your jets and the crashes you’ve both had over the years.” Bradley frowned sadly. “I know your scared mom.”
“Of course, I am kiddo, I’ve lost so many friends and family over the years to this job.” Petra’s voice wobbled as she spoke up.
“And you’ve lost just as many to factors outside the navy too mom. It wasn’t a war that killed either mum or dad, it was cancer and a drunk driver.” Bradley said bluntly as he walked over to the table, moving to sit next to Petra. “I get it. You don’t want to lose any more people you love; you’ve had so many close calls over the years, from the Top gun training accident to the close calls in the gulf, but if you even think for a moment about pulling my papers because your scared, I will walk out that door and not return.”

“Bradley.” Ice hissed as Petra froze in his arms.
“What, she did the same to Grandpa Mike when he pulled her papers, if mom wants history to repeat itself, go ahead, I’ll walk out the door and call uncle’s slider, wolf, wood, who ever I need to, to get my application back in if you’ve gone and pulled it and go off to Annapolis with or without your consent.” Bradley spat back before sighing, “You’ve both encouraged me over the years to follow my dreams to go to the academy. Mum and Dad had me become a boy scout as a kid. You both encouraged me to join sports teams, so I joined the baseball team in middle and high school, and I joined the junior ROTC. Mom, you made sure I could do martial arts, pops you made sure I had survival skills better than a boy scouts. You both made sure I could swim for extended periods in pools and open water, allowed me to join either one of you in the gym or on your morning runs, you spent so many weekends and holidays when either of you were on land teaching me to fly the mustang. Why change your minds now and try to get me to change careers when I know what I want and after all of that.”

“I’m scared I’ll lose you too kiddo. Combat is … different, very different, than civilian flights… I…” Mav cried silently as she looked at her nephew, the closest thing she could ever have to a son. “I’m scared that you’ll be taken out by a missile, or lost in a dogfight, or a critical mechanical failure. That you crash and burn, an ejection gone wrong, or you’re taken captive. Or worse, you’ll end up being like me and flying after ghosts until something happens that either kills you or ends your career happens.” Maverick explained to the young man,

“I flew after ghosts until it nearly got your father and myself killed, because I felt the need to prove myself as both a pilot and woman despite the fact i didn't need to, i already was the best but i never felt like i was taken seriously, and to clear the Mitchell name, my surname wasn’t exactly something many admirals liked back in the day. They didn’t care that Viper had adopted and raised me, all they saw was the second coming of Duke Mitchell. I don’t want you to be flying after the ghosts that are our legacies, because it’s such a big weight kiddo and I don’t want you to ever go through what I did. You’re coming from a family of legacies here, you’d be the third Bradshaw to the academy, the adopted son and nephew of the deadliest Pilots the Navy have had since Vietnam and grandson to one of TOP GUNS longest serving, legendary instructors who’s just as deadly. It’s a big legacy to live up to and legacies make desperate pilots who tend to push themselves into recklessness to live up to those who came before you. Believe me, I know. The what if’s that could happen to you, have been driving me crazy recently.” Mav cried as she wiped away her tears.

Bradley’s face fell as he looked at his aunt. Ice nodded as he bit his lip, he knew they were all valid fears, hell even he feared that any of those would happen to Bradley.

“Then train me.”
“Bradley?” Petra asked in surprise.
“Kid what?” Ice asked just as confused.
“You’ve already taught me to fly, got me my civilian licence. You’re the best of the best, your exploits are legendary, all the kids whose parents are in the navy at school know about your adventures, at least the non-classified ops anyways. So, teach me to fly combat, teach me how to survive. You both have more experience in the air in dog fight conditions than anyone else in the Navy, you’re the only two aviators in fourteen years to get confirmed air to air kills and you both have fought your ways out through hundreds of different missions from hell since then. Teach me when I’m at home, when I’m on holidays and neither of you are deployed if your so scared.” Bradley asked them,
“Not everyone has access to the navy’s two greatest aviators and a former top gun instructor grandpa. I can learn a lot from the academy, but I can learn a lot more from the both of you. I can graduate from the academy and then go to flight school already with experience and knowledge that’ll rival even the teachers.” He spoke.

Ice and Mav just looked at their kid like he’d grown a second head. Neither said anything as his request filtered through their heads. Ice burst out laughing, breaking the silence that filled the kitchen.
“Kid… you are a genius.” Ice laughed as he looked at Bradley. “An actual, evil genius. My god that’s exactly what Goose said when you were a kid.” He wheezed as he looked at Bradley.
“Damn… I should have used that argument against dad twenty odd years ago.” Petra giggled as she wiped her eyes. “Fuck, I forgot Goose said he’d be a rival for the flight teachers by the time we got the gosling there. A family of pilots and RIO’s/WSO’s would beat out the navy’s topflight trainers.” Petra giggled as Bradley smiled. Ice smiled as his wife cheered up, seeing her entire mood change at the option their kid gave them. It hadn’t occurred to either of them that they could train Bradley beyond basics, but the kid was right, they both have given lectures and the occasional hop at top gun before, Mike Metcalf was now retired from duty but would still be available to give instructions, and make sure Bradley didn’t gain either Maverick or Ice’s egos.

Maverick looked at Ice before the pair of them looked back at Bradley, the glance they shared said all they needed to.
“Well kiddo, looks like you have a deal. Do well at the academy, come home for holidays and we’ll train you to fight like us.” Ice laughed.
“No more interference in my academy application, alright?” Bradley asked.
“As long as you promise to call and write back as often as possible then we see no problems with it.” Ice told him as Maverick nodded.
“Then you both promise to visit me on the parents’ weekends and all.”
“We can’t promise anything kiddo, you know what duties like. We will do our best though to stay stateside in order to be there for you.” Ice nodded sadly as he pulled Bradley into a hug with Petra. “We can’t make any promises kiddo, not when the state of the world is like a pressure cooker about to blow if someone doesn’t handle it correctly.”
“I can continue to make up our deployment calendars, we can continue to make them up.” Petra smiled. “Stick to our usual colours, Blue for Ice, green for me, red for you Bradley. Every important event, you send us the date and we put it down on the calendars and we’ll tell you the same.” She nodded.
“Okay.” The young man laughed as he hugged his aunt/pseudo mother.
“Okay baby goose. We won’t pull your application. We trust you.”
“Just do us proud kiddo.” Ice nodded as he ran his hands through Bradleys curls.

She had started the calendars when Bradley was four. It was a joint venture between her and Goose, to keep Bradley happy whilst she and Goose where out at sea with the others. It was only supposed to be a short-term thing, just until they got home but soon one date on the calendar soon became two, and then Ice got involved and the family had been making them for years, never really growing out of the habit even after Carol and Goose’s passing.

A few weeks later, the family had a few suitcases of essentials ready as they boarded a plane to Washington. They had hired a car upon arrival as they gathered Bradleys few suitcases and drove out of the capital, heading off into Maryland towards the USNA. Both Ice and Maverick wore their dress blues, the admiral in charge of the academy having recognised Bradley’s surname in the pool of new students, had reached out to the Kazansky’s and gave them an open invite to perform this year’s entrance speech. Who better to give it than the two most successful and deadliest members of the Pacific fleet.
It was even all the funnier when Bradley’s roommate, another navy brat who was third generation Annapolis fainted when they saw the Kazansky’s helping Bradley move into his dorm before plebe summer began. They made every major event that the parents could come to during his first year at the academy, teasing and testing him when he came home for thanksgiving and Christmas, for there midterms and short summer holidays before his mandatory deployments.

Everything changed the September of Bradleys second year. Maverick and Ice’s worst fears had come true.

With the fall of the twin towers, Iceman and Maverick had been inside the pentagon at the time of the attack, both being called to personally give overviews of their squadrons readiness to be deployed if the event arose, just standard military briefings that couldn’t be done over the phone or via email. Both narrowly escaping the worst of the attack on the building, they had just left that wing as the plane struck to make it to their second meeting of the morning, both escaping with minor burns and broken bones. Bradley called them both in the aftermath knowing they were in the capital that week with meetings scheduled in the pentagon, terrified of the prospect of either of them being injured, he was nearly sobbing when Ice picked up the phone when in the hospital. Bradley’s teachers had allowed many of the students leave for the week to allow those had lost family in the attacks to mourn, others to go home and spend some time with their families.
Bradley had been driven into Washington by his roommate, Reuben Fitch, towards the hospital where Iceman and Maverick were staying at. The young man had been petrified when he saw the state of them, both covered in concrete dust and soot, many grazes and cuts littered their hands and arms. Bradley didn’t say anything as he sat next to his remaining family but knew that everything was about to change for them all. It would be harder for them all to be together in the future, the nature of their works now more prominent than ever. It did nothing but give Bradley a new sense of determination. He’d do all he could to become the best, so that his aunt and uncle wouldn’t lose him, and that he could do what he could to protect them like they protected him.

When they were well enough to continue their service, and Bradley had returned to the academy, the United States had already declared war against Afghanistan and invasions in Iraq. Maverick and Iceman, both found themselves being deployed both together and separately with the squadrons they oversaw, both undertaking hundreds of classified missions, mostly black ops so dangerous that only they could fly them experience wise. Both found themselves being pushed into the cockpits of their fighters more often than an admiral would be or should be, but there were very few aviators in the ranks that had their sort of experience anymore. Missing many of Bradley's parents’ weekends in his later years at the academy and struggling to be home for other holidays. They might have been home for Christmas on his second year in the academy but found themselves deployed the next, they might have missed one thanksgiving due to their duty only to be given the next. The same for his mid-term breaks, and any other little holiday the academies students were given. Even then they stuck to their promise, between spending quality time with the kid, they spent time teaching him manoeuvres and battle tactics, taught him to trust in his instincts and not to overthink in the cockpit. Anything they could do to prepare him for flight school. They did however make it back stateside in time for Bradley’s graduation from the academy, having to make many threats and pull in quite a few favours, including getting Maverick to behave herself, in order to make it to Maryland for his graduation before he left for Newport and then Pensacola for flight training before being sent on down to Texas for advanced flight training.

A few months later, they were watching as Bradley gained his wings, qualifying as an F-18 super hornet pilot, laughing as his C.O informed the admirals of the callsign the kid had landed himself with. A video of this year’s class, drunk as fuck, dancing on the co.’s roof and Following Bradleys drunken singings and hollering, waking up the c.o who scared the shit out of the kids, getting Bradley to fall off the roof. It was a fitting callsign to his father’s memory, “Rooster”, the beginning of a tradition for the Bradshaw name. Bradley, like his parents, biological and adoptive, had graduated at the top of his class and had made the two admirals proud. Even Moreso when Bradley showed them his helmet, bright red like his dads, with similar stripes decal, only difference being the yellow stripes and his callsign. Maverick cried softly when she saw the helmet, then even harder when she found out where the kid had been assigned to, corpus Christi to the fighting aces squadron, just like her and Goose had been so many years before and beginning his first deployment in the next few weeks ahead. Just like his entrance speech in Annapolis, Iceman and Maverick were invited to the graduation ceremony to give a speech. Sadly, duty didn’t allow Maverick or Ice to stay in corpus christie for long, just long enough to gift Bradley the house Maverick had bought his parents years earlier, renovated, furnished and cleaned up to allow him to live off base if he wished to without worry, having set up contacts with a company to keep the house presentable when Bradley wasn’t shoreside.

The family of three aviators spent years in the skies, separated by thousands of miles of land and sea, duty wearing them down as one deployment became two, then another for each of them. The odd holiday or weekend being the longest they could take to meet up with the kid or have him come home to San Diego. It was three years after Bradley’s graduation that the three aviators finally had been given extended leave all at the same time. Maverick and Ice had been given a long, overdue leave, medal ceremonies and promotions to rear admiral upper for Maverick and Vice admiral position for Iceman. The ceremony taking place in San Diego days after Bradleys latest deployment ended, the younger aviator would finally be coming home, having been reassigned to Lemoore base in California, leaving Texas behind. It was only six and a half hour drive up the road, or an hours long flight in the mustang. Both admirals where delighted that the kid was coming so close to home.

They weren’t expecting him to bring home two stray aviators with him. It reminded Mav of how she brought Goose and Carol into the Metcalf family. Both girls where Pilot and RIO, having finished their first deployment, being assigned as Roosters wing women for his last deployment. Both Kazansky’s where delighted to meet the pair of women, both had made waves in the navy over the course of the year as rumours flickered around about the crazy duo that was Phoenix and her WSO Halo, the second coming of Maverick and Goose. It only made sense that they got on like a house on fire with Rooster, the big bird declaring the two women his sisters and dragging them home with him. Rooster took great delight to watch as WSO Callie “Halo” Basset and her pilot Natasha “Phoenix” Trace salute in a mix of horror and shock as Ice and Maverick revealed themselves as Bradleys parents before both girls freaked out at meeting their hero, Maverick.
Ice good heartedly asked why not him but was met with laughter as Petra slapped his shoulder.

Petra Mitchell was an absolute hero and role model to the thousands of women who entered the navy, especially those who chose to become Pilots. The chance to meet the Navy’s deadliest aviator outside of duty was an honour for the two young women who instantly endeared themselves in Ice and Mav’s hearts. When they explained their backgrounds and why they followed Bradley home, Ice and Maverick immediately slapped “Kazansky-Mitchell” over each of the women’s files. Adopting them as there own and welcoming them into the house.

Callie Basset having fled her home life to the academy at eighteen to escape from an arranged marriage her parents had planned for her, disowning them as she fled in the night, days before she was to travel to Beijing for her wedding, working her way up to become a WSO after years of study at the USNA before going to the flight school. It was at Flight school that she was first assigned to Natasha Trace, another young woman from a rough background. Natasha herself was a victim of both her parents abuse, a child that both parents used as a weapon through her teens as they went through a nasty divorce, finishing with Natasha disowning her biological parents who had begun to use her academic achievements as status symbols for themselves as the Ivy league college acceptance letters began to flood her letterbox. Natasha had enough and had packed her bags, accepting her place at the USNA and dropping all contact with her parents, telling them she disowned them both. Ice and Maverick where sympathetic with their plight, understanding there struggles and comforting the two girls. Ice telling them of his own struggles with abusive and neglective parents and Maverick with the struggles she had adapting to her new adoptive family and the troubles they had over the years. Both girls were given their own rooms in the Coronado house, whether they liked it or not, and told to return to whenever they were on leave. They were welcomed into the family and told that if they ever had any issues to contact them… or well Ice more so.

Maverick had a habit of knocking out commanders and admirals who gave her issues, only getting away with it because of the sheer embarrassment many of the men felt at being knocked out by a petite five-foot something woman in a single punch. Both Ice and Maverick tutored them both in additional aerial combat when they were home, giving the girls an advantage and wishing them all the best on their next deployment. Both girls forever grateful to have found a family that understood them and the joy they got from flying and ones that would support them like they had. Petra and Tom gained two daughters that leave, both enamoured and adoring the two fearless women Bradley brought home. Both fitting into the chaos of the Kazansky-Mitchell-Bradshaw family with ease.

It wasn’t long before Bradley got his orders to Miramar to Top gun, not long after a carrier accident with Phoenix and Halo on their second deployment as Wingmen, smoking his classmates as he stormed away with the top gun plaque. Two proud parents delighted to be called to be recalled to Miramar for the graduation, the two legends making themselves at home on the base they had once trained at so many years before. The place where they had first been assigned to each other, where their rival ship and relationship took off just like a tomcat off a carrier. Both oh so proud of their son, and relieved that he had taken their lessons to heart. They were so glad that teen Bradley had walked into the kitchen all those years ago and talked some sense into them.
They couldn’t imagine missing their kids’ milestones, the fear they had every time they went out was still there, but they had faith in their kid and his abilities.

They trusted their big bird to fly home every time. And their trust and faith in him made Rooster thankful for there support as he followed in his parents’ footsteps, becoming one of the Navy’s best Pilots.

Who knew that he would be called back to top gun years later alongside the rest of the best.

Chapter Text

So, It will be a little bit before i upload any more chapters.
I am taking a week away from my PC for a holiday but it doesn't mean i wont be busy planning future au's and chapters.

Currently i have plans for the following AU's,

Independence Day/Independence Day resurgence Au
Featuring Penny Benjamin/Pete "Maverick" Mitchell pairing and a lot of adoption and a serious jump in the ranks for Pete. A lot of people will die, then i plan on taking a star trek aproach and reviving people who died decades ago for plot devices.. including de-aging because i can.... and Tom cruise doesn't age so.... I mean i'm not wrong.

More of the Always a Different Gender Au
Featuring a carrier accident and actual real life critical mechanical failure of a plane,
The mission (Multiple parts)
the aftermath of the mission (Multiple adoption of stray aviators)
Possible chapter on why female Pete and Ice don't have a kid of there own.

Feral Admiral Mitchell Au, (planned)
Featuring Mav on heelies, an Iced americano for our Ice americano, Cyclone's ever lasting disappointment as self proclaimed second best admiral, which admiral husband has the better kids (They share rooster), who is the better pilot and of course the mission.

More of the animal instincts Au
5+ times Pete/Goose/Rooster/Slider/Wolfman become victims of there instincts and one time it helps the group. Don't think i'll kill the goose in this Au so its a safe read.

More of the tiktok au
Mass adoption of stray aviators, fly-boys uncle squadron strikes, couples get together and a house party. that's it, that's the plot.

Supernatural creatures Au
Where both our top gun classes are a mix between supernatural creatures hiding in plain sight or human. possibly end up with multiple chapters.

Airforce au (planned)
Au where Maverick ended up being accepted into the US air force after being turned away by the Navy as he tried every route to enter, multiple times. A mission comes up that involves the joint assistant of the air force and Navy. Air force Maverick vs Navy top gun class. Maverick might or might not have already gotten multiple air to air kills in this one already.

Possible Omega verse au (planned)
Omega Maverick/alpha Iceman, Omega Rooster/Alpha Hangman, loving alphas who protect there omega's sort of thing. Packs and the lot. will be PG.

Baby Maverick Au
By baby i mean, Youngest aviator to enter top gun, babied by a group of new older brothers who instantly see baby faced aviator who's flown circles around them and call "Dibs". Like Maverick being 21 or 22, the rest of the squad being 25-30 years old. Possibly adopted by viper in this au and raised as his own kid, hence why he got into flight school and out the other side as an F-14 pilot so quickly.

Among us au (4:9:2022) (planned)
86ers and 2020 recall in among us. Who lasts the longest, who does first (it's goose, it's always goose)is there a traitor or traitors. Based on four0seven's modded among us videos.

Hurt au(planned) Mav takes shot for rooster, rooster doesn't return to crash site. Maverick is mostly fine, steals f-14, returns to the ship and quarters finding daggers and ice drinking his hidden bottle of bourbon. Takes a drink, says cheers before cyclone hauls his ass to the medi bay. Rooster is an emotional wreck, ice proposes, and maverick adopts fully grown aviators.

Chapter Text

2014

“Ice… when’s the next promotions coming?”
“Uh… at this rate between us… not until December roughly… why?” The blond asked, looking at his partner in confusion. He never expected to hear Maverick ask about taking a promotion, especially with the years he spent dodging them.
“You don’t want to know.” Mav quietly moaned.
“What did you do?” Ice narrowed his eyes at his partner.
“Nothing ironically, but our kid managed to piss off a now very annoyed admiral.” Maverick snorted.
“Bradley? What, the kids good, what did he do and to who?”
“Remember my requisition for a new desk… and locks for my office door”
“oh…. OH.” Ice flushed as his eyes widened.
“Yeah… how soon can we send him to Top gun?” Maverick asked.
“He’s going there shortly… don’t worry…” Ice winced, yeah, that wasn’t exactly an image he’d want to see.
“Just don’t send him back to me for a while…. I didn’t need to see our kid making out with his boyfriend on my desk…” Maverick sighed as he looked at his husband.

Both men were quiet for a minute as Maverick settled into his husbands’ arms as they cuddled on the sofa. The tv playing quietly in the background.
“…So…. Who topped?”
“Ice I swear to god.” Maverick glared at him as Ice lost it, bending over in absolute laughter.

It was just too funny to Ice. He had never been so glad to have abused a favour owed to him to send Bradleys squad to point Mugu. He told Maverick that the kid would one day pick up too many of there bad habits and it looked like it had come around to bite Mav on his ass.

One week earlier.

“Slider, I swear if you tell ice that I will send a rocket on your ass, and I won’t have the kids shoot it down unlike the battle of Palmdale.” Maverick snarled over his phone, cup of coffee in one hand as he glided through the corridors of his administrations building.
Ice had asked Maverick to call the others of there friend group to let them know there welcome to visit them at the la Jolla house in a weeks’ time. Maverick took the time to call their friends when he left his office to go on a coffee break, he started with chipper and Sundance, before moving on to wolf and Hollywood, knowing all their friends where back from foreign deployments recently. The last two people he had to call where slider and merlin but they usually where together now a days, telling one of them meant telling them both.

He finally managed to get a hold of slider as he grabbed his coffee and began to Heelys his way back to his office, loving the speed the rollerbladed shoes could give him. How discreet they could be as he found a pair that didn’t break the uniform code.
Both him and Slider were arguing over which one of them could cook better, Ice or Maverick.
“But we all know his baking skills are amazing, all you can bake is corn related shit.”
“ITS AN ARIZONA STAPLE ASSHOLE.” Maverick cried in disbelief.
“So what?” Slider laughed at mavericks horrified expression.
“Fuck you, I’m withholding your thanksgiving invite this year and you can explain to Ice why.”
“I’m sorry, your corn bread and stuffings the best. Better.” The other admiral down the line laughed only to furrow his brow as he watched his friend look up from the camera.
“I… I know I closed my office door…. Sorry Ron give me a minute.” Maverick said as he turned a corner into another corridor, his office was just down the way now.
But something was off as the man looked at his slightly ajar door. He had looked away from his phone and was looking at his door in confusion.
“Why what’s wrong? Old age starting to get to you or all the brain damage from your stupidity over the years.” Slider laughed as he watched Maverick push open his door before watching his friend paled as his jaw dropped.

Ron could only watch as the murmurs coming from the office quietened down as the door slammed open. Ron could only laugh in shock as the phone swung around enough in Mav’s hands to show him enough as it fell out of the other admirals hold onto the floor.
The glass touch screen shattering.
“BRADLEY PETER BRADSHAW WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING!”
“That’s my que to go… See you at dinner next week Mav.” Ron swore, laughing like mad before hanging up.
He’d seen too much but damn that was Ice and Mavericks kid alright.
The RIO laughed out a quick apology to the kids’ father, asking for forgiveness in not preventing the chicken from picking up his uncles’ habits. He needed to tell the others asap before Maverick could hush up the situation.

“Um… uncle Mav… it’s not what it looks like?” Bradley winced as he pulled an awkward smile.
“Admiral Mitchell sir.” The man beneath Bradley squirmed as he paled.
“You thought I took a jet out again didn’t you.” Maverick sighed as he buried his head in his now free hand, his phone shattered on the floor.
“Yep.” Bradley smiled in embarrassment.
“Clean up in here, get out and forget this ever happened.” Maverick ordered flatly.
“Yes sir.” The half naked man beneath Bradley winced as his face flushed red as he quickly pulled his fatigues up to cover the darkening bruises and bite marks that littered his shoulders and chest. Both pilots quickly broke apart from there positions on the desk.
“And hangman.” He spoke up.
“Yes, admiral Mitchell sir.” The blond pilot muttered out, his voice cracking in embarrassment.
“I’m not the admiral you should be worried about.” Maverick advised. “But I will help in hiding your body and giving them a rock-solid alibi. Dismissed lieutenant, get the hell out of my office.”
“Dad no.” Bradley winced as Jake froze next to him.
“You on the other hand Bradley Peter Bradshaw, you are a dead man.” Maverick sighed as Hangman ran past him.
“Fuck…” Bradley muttered as he hung his head. He knew he was fucked when his uncle/ pseudo father called him by his full name.

He really hoped he wasn’t kicked out of the house into the barracks after that stunt. He’d rather sleep in the sand dunes if that was the case.

December 2014

“We’ve both been offered three stars.” Came the cry through the living room from the office down the hall.
“Does that mean a change of base too?”
“They’ve offered me a joint position going between pearl harbour and North Island, but it looks like your still wanted at point Mugu for now… apparently the kids love you enough they’ve threatened to strike if you leave.” Ice smirked.
“Damn, there getting ready to offer you COMPACFLT at this rate.” Maverick laughed. “And I should throw a base barbeque to thank my idiotic kids... after i send Bradley away, i'm not dealing with him and Seresin again.”
“What, did you want it, Commander of the pacific fleet Admiral Mitchell, has a nice ring to it.” Ice smirked.
“No, too much paperwork, and I thinking Commander of the pacific fleet admiral Kazansky sounds far nicer.” Maverick laughed next to him. “And I probably wouldn’t be allowed to take a jet with that over my head. Whether I change the rules or not.”
“Yeah, that’s probably right.” Ice snorted, “Can’t have the COMPACFLT crashing a plane when in office. Or flying into active combat.”
“I only did that once and that was because there was no one else capable of running that gauntlet you idiot, I had your permission for that. You’d be able to deploy one anywhere in the fleet, then pull some strings to let me create a squad of elite pilots capable of running missions like that one I did. Hell, be able to deploy and move the whole fleet if necessary.” Pete pointed out to his husband.
“God imagine that.” Ice laughed, “I could deploy entire fleets around the world at a simple call.”
“So… if you’re going to Hawaii, does that mean I can send Bradley your way?” Mav asked.
“That bad huh?” Ice winced.
“I love the kid I do… but if I find him fucking Seresin on base again I will crash an f-18 on purpose ice I swear.”
“Alright, I’ll take Bradley with me, you can keep an eye on Seresin. I hear he’s a mini you.”
“Well, I can’t deny that. I’ll try to break his habit of leaving his wingman, but I can’t guarantee I’ll get far, he only hangs around for coyote half the time, none of the others on his squad.”
“Ouch… we’ll I trust you’ll do something that’ll set him on the right path.”
“Hopefully before he gets an air kill because if that happens, he’s never gonna change unless something kills him.” Maverick deadpanned.
“Alright, I’ll get viper to send him to next years top gun class. The old man still has as much pull as I do.” Ice winced.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, thank you for also taking the third star.” Ice smiled.
“Anything to piss off Kane and other assholes who want me gone.” Maverick laughed as he hugged his husband.
“Come here you ass.” Ice laughed.
“Your ass.” Maverick smirked back.
“I’m about to have that ass.” Ice said as he growled possessively, lifting Maverick up against the doorframe.
“Take me to bed you big stud.” Mav giggled as he wrapped his legs around Ice waist.
The taller man growled possessively as he sucked another dark bruise onto his husband’s neck, the smaller man moaning in delight as his husband takes him down to their bedroom.
“Gladly sweetheart.”

“You’re going to Hawaii.” Maverick stated as he looked at Bradley who stood opposite his desk.
“Dad?” Bradley asked in worry. Maverick had already told him to relax, that he wasn’t talking to admiral Mitchell at the moment but his uncle/pseudo-Dad.
“Your fine, this is just punishment for defiling every corner of my office without a write up in your file.” Maverick smiled evilly. “Seresin and half your current squad will remain here as there reassigned, you and the other half will be transferred to other squads in Hawaii.”
“Fuck you dad, stop interfering in my love life.” Bradley snapped.
“No, me and Ice have decided that we need to get Seresin head on straight before he ends up dead. We love you but if you both continue to fly like you have been, top gun graduation aside, someone’s going to have their heart broken when a coffins lowered into the ground. Seresin, is heading to top gun this year, you are going with Ice to Hawaii, and you will listen to what he says.” Maverick sighed as he looked at Bradley who paled at the thought.
“Yes dad.” Bradley sighed; maverick had a fair point.
“I know it’s hard Bradley but please, you’re flying better than ever and improving all the time, but you fall back onto your perch at times kiddo under really stressful situations.” Mav told his kid, “We believe in you and trust you as a pilot, but we want to help you and your friends get better kiddo. Just because you graduated top of your class doesn’t mean you’re the best yet. We’ll make you better.” Maverick comforted him.
“So, it’s true then, you really are holding impromptu top gun round two for top gun grads.” Rooster snorted.
“I’m not a teacher, god knows I lasted two months at Miramar the one time I tried but if I can help cocky young graduates who still don’t take this career seriously then I will school you all.” Maverick stated proudly.
“And Ice agrees this?”
“He does, trust me Roo kiddo, you fly like me, but you think like Ice, you tend to over think, a habit he had too, so he’s gonna keep an eye on you and hopefully break it out of you.”
“So you both think I’m shit.” Bradley sighed.
“Fuck no kiddo, we just want to teach you how to bend the rules enough to become as good as us without getting written up.” Maverick laughed, “And make sure Seresin learns not to leave his wingmen hanging before he learns it the hard way. He's become cocky since he made that kill but forgets why he made it.”
“But seriously, you’re separating us?”
“We need to do it now before either of you get court martialled for fraternization.” Mav told him seriously as he pointed his pen towards his kid.
“We’re not like you and pops.”
“You’re a lot more like me and Ice than you would think and if goose was here, he’d be laughing at how badly we raised you for you to end up being an idiot like us.” Maverick chuckled as Bradley rolled his eyes. “But one day, someone’s going to enter the base and will enter the wrong office to find you and Seresin fucking and then I’ll be dealt with the shit show.”
“We’re careful.”
“My door was open and unlocked, that was not careful.” Maverick glared at him, wondering if his kid was being serious.

“Um… okay… you might have a point.” Bradley admitted after a minutes silence, too embarrassed to admit that was true.
“Bradley, D.A.D.T might have been repealed but it doesn’t mean every member of the brass approves of it. There are many admirals who hate me and Ice because of our status who would do anything to get us out of the navy. If they find out about you and Seresin, they will not hesitate to do everything in their power to throw the book at you. That’s why me and Ice are taking steps now to prevent that from happening. You can only be together if either you are both in the same rank, are on separate squads or under different chains of command. The only other alternative is that one of you end up leaving and becoming a commercial pilot to continue your relationship. I know a guy who can help you with that.” Mav cheers.
“But we are of the same rank.” Bradley whined.
“For now, you’re racking up quite the points recently kiddo, add on top gun, give it a little bit and you’re going to be offered the next rank up. At the way you’re going it’ll be the early twenties and you’ll have made commander if not captain.”
“Really?” Bradley asked as his head snapped up.
“Oh yeah, you’re going to make lieutenant commander in the next year or two given another couple of deployments and all if you keep your file as clean and spotless as Ice did. Definitely.” Maverick chuckled.
“Ah, so Pops is keeping an eye on me then.”
“Yes, so when you’re on leave you can fuck Seresin brains out in the sanctity of your own room, or one of them anyways. Without getting into trouble.” Maverick laughed. “And I get the knowledge that my office is safe from any more defilement. I’m still going to remain here in point mugu for another few years, the kids threatened a walk out if I left… not sure how that would work but good for them.”
“Kill joy.” Bradley muttered.
“Oi,”
“Can you blame me? I learned it from the best.” Bradley smiled slyly.
“I hate this fucking family.” Mav sighed under his breath.
“You love us.”
“Too right.” He smiled as he dismissed his kid, handing him his new orders before watching him leave.

2020
San Diego, la Jolla.

Maverick stared at his phone screen for a good solid minute, completely silent as the man on the other end burst out laughing. He was too used to his husband’s silent glare to be intimidated by it, the kids though knew they had disappointed there dadmiral when Admiral Mitchell stared at them in complete silence. Maverick broke first.
“Your fucking shitting me.”
“What, you always did want a squad of elite top gun grads? Are you not happy.”
“Ice… if it wasn’t for the fact, you’re in Washington, I’d fuck your brains out right now and then smother you with the pillows.”
“I’ll try pull in some favours to be there as soon as possible…. Just try not to annoy cyclone too much.”
“He’s lower in rank than us.” Mav whined.
“Still his base sweetheart, Sampson might be a vice admiral but it’s still his base, we’re only using Miramar until I can secure the funding to get North Island for us, get you back home.”
“China lake was nice though, imagine the disaster that would have happened if they gave an asshole like Kane control of the base. He’d have scrapped everything unless it was a drone.”
“You’re only saying that because you got to play with the big toys.” Ice pouted over the phone.
“Your just jealous I was the first to hit mach ten.” Mav stuck his tongue out at his husband.

Ice laughed as he watched his husbands’ childish actions. He loved this man so much, despite the fat they where both nearing sixty Maverick could be the biggest child. Not that he helped, enabling his husband’s behaviour, it was just too cute.
“At least you didn’t blow the jet up.” Ice rolled his eyes. Now that one had been a miracle, goodness knows how many jets Mav had destroyed over the years.
“Hiller did, not my fault. How that man lived is a miracle… shame we have no jet left to test to mach eleven.”
“But you already hit mach ten…. IS THAT WHY IT BLEW UP? MAV?” Ice cried out when he realized what his husband said.
“Fine, I authorized a test to mach eleven, if we could get the jet to speeds beyond mach eleven then imagine the series of next gen jets we could create ice.”
“I… damn that would be brilliant… but still, mach eleven?” ice asked, half in awe and half reprimanding.
“It blew up at mach nine point four.” Mav winced, “Something about the heat shielding giving out.”
“So… you’ve lost a multi-billion-dollar jet.” Ice glared through the phone screen.
“I mean it was a test flight, we’re supposed to explode them.” Mav winced.
“Not really Pete, but at least there was no fatalities. I’m just glad you behaved yourself this time.”
“I’m capable of it.” Mav smirked.
“Keep telling yourself that.” Ice laughed.
“Asshole.”
“Your asshole. I need to go Mav, tell me how the kids are later.”
“Chaotic, there going to be fighting over who’s the favourite child now.” Maverick laughed.
“We both know its Rooster.” Ice laughed, “Remember to lock your office and classroom door this time.”
“Fuck you.”
“The only one doing any fucking is going to be Bradley.”
“I'm hanging up on you now.“
“Bye.” Ice laughed as Maverick cut it off.

Two days later.
Maverick stood at the back of the classroom in Miramar, watching as Cyclone glared at him as Warlock got the kids to settle in the room. All of them where young pilots who had caught both maverick and ice’s attention over the years… and Bradley.
Half of them he recognised as being Bradleys friends and pilots Ice had mentored in Hawaii with him a few years back, the other half where his own kids from point mugu. So, this was going to be an absolute shit show, but at least he had a heads up from debrief the day before.
He was so glad he had taken the promotion to admiral years ago; he couldn’t imagine having to teach these kids as a captain, he at least had an idea as to where all the kids where flight wise. Having taught many of them over the years and oversaw them. Now he had to train them together.
He heard warlock introduce him before he began to walk up towards the platform.
He could only smirk as all the baby aviators in the room deadpan glared at him.

The kids cheered when he threw the NATOPS f-18 manual into the bin next to him. He could only smile at their reactions as cyclone groaned behind him.
This was going to be so much fun.

Chapter Text

“Where the hell are we?”
“Some sort of spaceship?”
“I’d say air ship.” Halo said as she looked out the giant glass window before them.
“Mav what did you do now?” Ice asked as he removed the helmet he wore. It was difficult for him, having never wore something like it before.

Everyone but Maverick struggled to remove their helmets and gloves.
“I did nothing you asshole.” Maverick swore as he pulled off his helmet, “Jeeze, these suits are like the life support suits for the dark star.” He muttered as he unclipped his gloves seals. Everyone staring at him as he quickly removed it as they all struggled.
“Shit… is this the new airship map on among us?” Fanboy cried out.
“Oh, fuck me it is.” Fritz cried out, “And we’re the crew.”
“Um… kids, care to explain for us older officers?”
“It’s called among us, a computer game where there’s multiple roles, some good, some bad. You must do tasks to survive and beat the bad guys whilst they hunt you down to beat you to win.” Fanboy explained.
“Clue but in space and there’s an active murderer and multiple other roles.” Fritz panicked.
“Okay… so who’s all here then?” Ice asked as he looked around the room.
“Looks like both our top gun classes, you 86ers and us 2020 recalls.” Rooster said as they looked around the room.
Iceman, Maverick, Slider, Merlin, Hollywood, Wolfman, Chipper and Sundance all stood on one side of the room, whilst Rooster, Hangman, Phoenix, Bob, Payback, Fanboy, Yale, Harvard, Coyote, Fritz, Halo and Omaha.
Ice wore a white spacesuit whilst Maverick wore a black one, Slider wore a light grey suit whilst his partner merlin wore a purple suit, chipper wore an orange suit whilst Sundance wore yellow, wolfman and Hollywood wore a light blue and dark blue colour. Rooster wore a red suit, hangman wore a dark grey suit just a few shades lighter than mavericks black, Phoenix wore a lighter orange colour than chipper whilst Bob wore a really light grey colour, just a few shades from Ice’s white, Halo wore a pale-yellow suit whilst Omaha wore a shade of dark green, Fritz wore a shade of bright neon pink that somehow suited the young pilot’s personality, Payback, fanboy, coyote, yale had a light green suit and Harvard.

Each of them looked down to there arms as a small tablet screen lit up with instructions as a computer-generated voice spoke up above them.
“Welcome crew members, within the next hour, each of you will be assigned a role and a series of tasks to complete. The airships life support and electricity systems can be sabotaged by imposters, those without there personal life support systems on risk death, so continual wearof helmets and sealed space suits is advised but up to the individual. Some crew members life support systems will be linked to one another, if one player whose life support system fails, there partner player risks immediate death. There are a series of neutral crew member rolls in which crew will be given abilities in order to complete their rolls. There will be imposters and killer rolls amongst you, who will be hunting you down and sabotaging your progress in completing your assigned tasks in order to win. Complete these tasks in order to win. Good luck.”
“Fuck…” Hangman groaned as everyone looked between one another.
“Oh yeah…. This is Among us alright.” Fritz shivered as he looked at everyone.
“Welp… we’re all going to die.” Slider quipped before he pulled out a joint and lighting it.
“You’re a two-star admiral for god’s sake, put that shit out sli.” Ice groaned as he watched his former RIO pull out the blunt.
“Not in front of the kids Slider, now there all going to want some.” Wolf whined as the kids watched them in shock.
“Kids, this is why he was only an RIO, Admiral Kerner is an absolute stoner.” Mav deadpanned as he looked at his kids.
“You don’t even have a star.” Slider grinned.
“There giving him three for his sheer stupidity and how invaluable he has accidentally made himself.” Ice snorted as he saw Mav’s horrified face.
“He taught me how to make pot brownies though.” Bradley cheered getting whoops from the kids and stern glares from Ice and Mav.
“SLIDER!” Maverick yelled before the man in the light grey suit ran from the meeting hall. Maverick getting up and chasing the poor RIO out of the meeting room.
“Damn… I guess we know who one of the imposters is.” Fritz laughed as they watched there angry captain? Admiral dad? Run after the poor RIO. Everyone laughed as they watched Mav and slider disappear into the darkened corridors.
“Alright then, Lieutenants, you’ve been given your orders, complete your tasks and let’s get the fuck off this airship.” Ice ordered “And the same goes to the admirals, get off your asses and get to work. Pair up or go your own separate ways, whatever you need to do to get them done quicker.” The commander ordered as everyone nodded, the lieutenants snapping to attention out of force as their boss used his commanding voice. The admirals rolled their eyes at their friend and just pulled each other up off the floor.
They all had work to do.

Half an hour later they heard the first alarm go off. Everyone teleporting to the room they awoke in.
“WHAT THE FUCK?” Bradley yelped as he landed on a chair.
“COOL WE TELEPORT.” Fritz giggled.
“I shouldn’t have smoked that joint.” Slider said as he rapidly removed his helmet, turning around to throw up in a corner.
“What the fuck was that?” Ice shivered as he sat down, trying not to throw up.
“Sorry, I got curious and decided to check if the game mechanics worked in real life.” The Floridian pilot laughed.
“Okay… so unless it’s serious, no one, push, the button.” Ice ordered as he coughed Maverick who stumbled into his grasp.
“Um… admiral Kazansky sir…. We’re missing three people.” Bob spoke up as he raised his hand.

The group of people all looked around at one another as they took notice of who was missing.
“Wood?” Wolfman asked as he looked around the table.
“Um, anyone see Payback or fanboy?” Phoenix spoke up as she looked around the table.
The tablets on there wrists buzzed as they lifted them. The screens revealed a series of heart rates next to a photo of everyone… three of them had flatlined.
Hollywood, payback and Fanboy were dead.
And no one knew where their bodies were.
“Oh fuck…” Wolf swore as he sat down on his chair. He had let his husband wander off ten minutes earlier, he wished he hadn’t.
They really were playing for their lives right now.

“YALE DID IT!” Slider cried out as the group teleported back into the meeting room.
“I DIDN’T!” the younger pilot cried out.
“I CAUGHT YOU YOUR RAT BASTARD, HE STOOD OVER FRITZ’S BODY AS IT DROPPED.” Merlin called out as he held Slider protectively. The other RIO was shaking in his husbands’ arms from having watched Fritz die, he had seen merlin ahead of him and quickly ran to catch him up only to be grabbed by his husband as the purple suited man pushed his husband behind him.
“He’s right, I followed merlin into the kitchen where the kid murdered Fritz, Yale was over the body… Merlin shielded me from him.” Slider shivered.
“THE LIGHTS WHERE OFF!” Yale yelled.
“Don’t lie now kid, I caught you.” Merlin growled as Sundance and chipper moved to grab the kid. “They had just come on again when we entered.”
“Hold on, we have to vote on this.” Bob spoke up, trying to be the voice of reason.
“Vote? Kid we watched him murder. HE’S GUILTY AS FUCK.” Merlin called out.
“Perhaps, but no one else did, is there any CCTV footage or anything that he would have on him that links him to the murder?” Bob asked.
“Just look at his Glove, he touched the body.” Slider asked, pointing to the blood staining yales hands.
“I went to take his pulse, what if he had still been alive?” Yale argued back.
“Um guys… the computer on our wrists have a timer counting down?” Rooster spoke up as he looked at his wrist. Everyone else flicking down to look at it too.
“Fuck, it says vote or abstain/skip. What happens if we don’t?” Hangman asked.
“Just vote for who you think the imposter is or skip. It’s likely sticking to the game mechanic.” Harvard spoke up, tears in his eyes as he looked at his WSO, betrayal evident in them.

“Yale was ejected.” Popped up on there computer screens… not a word was said amongst the pilots.

Bradley jumped as the doors to the cockpit closed behind him. He had gotten separated from Hangman a few minutes ago and was beginning to get terrified… he hadn’t seen or heard anyone for a while now. He needed to find Jake, his life was tied to his and if Jake died then he died. What a stupid ass role to be stuck with. He really wanted his dads or boyfriend right now.
“Dad? Pops?... Jake?” Bradley whimpered as the lights went out.
“Right here kiddo.” A warped voice muttered from behind him.
“Oh fuck.” He whimpered as he backed up away from the white space suit of his pops straight into the black of his dads. Screaming as Mavericks arms wrapped around him suddenly.
“What’s the matter, kiddo?” Maverick smirked below him, too many teeth and black- and maroon-coloured tentacles on show.
“No… no, no… no.” Bradley cried out as he watched the doors slam shut at the other side of the room.
“It’s okay Baby goose, its fine… everything’s going to be alright.” Mav giggled, his arms clamped his hands around Bradley’s middle keeping him from fleeing. The smaller man completely overpowering Bradley as he was lifted off his feet.
“JAKE!” Bradley yelled as Ice moved before him, slowly removing Bradley’s helmet. Neither Ice nor Maverick had their helmets on now either.
“Oh… is he your lover baby goose? Are you both our love couple?” Ice cooed as he stroked Bradley’s hair with one hand, the other moving to check the computer screen attached to Roosters wrist, awing as he saw the linked hearts that indicated that the kid’s life support was tied to Hangman’s. “Don’t worry, we’ll get him together. We’ll change him just for you.”

Bradley could only whimper in fear, utterly petrified in his godfathers hold. Ice held his arms open and wrapped them around Bradley, lifting him from Mavericks hold and clamping onto the man tightly, tentacles slithering out from beneath his suit to further restrict the younger man’s movements as ice turned him to face Maverick.
“Do the honours sweetheart?” Ice smirked as one of his tentacles grabbed Roosters jaw, forcing it open. “Say ah kiddo.” Ice giggled uncharacteristically as Bradley fought against him, smashing his head against Ice’s as he struggled before more tentacles grabbed him.
“With pleasure Ice.” Mav smiled, “Now kiddo, just hold still, dad and pops know just what you need.” He smiled as black liquid oozed its way down the tentacles that rose from beneath the black space suit.
Bradley’s eyes widened in horror as he screamed and gagged in pain. Black viscous liquid forcing its way down his throat and through his nose, burning like acid as it changed him. Everything hurt as he thrashed against his pops hold before things went black. The younger pilot sagging in his pops hold as his body spasmed, Ice and Maverick purring above there kid.

“Merlin attacked Rooster.” Ice growled as he looked at the purple suited man.
“What, no I never. That’s bullshit.” The RIO yelled from beneath Maverick. The man having pounced on him the moment they entered the meeting room.
“He did, he jumped me… dad and pops just managed to get him off of me… he killed Fritz, pinned it on Yale.” Bradley shakily told the remainder of their group, they saw the drops of drying blood staining his red suit, a small trail of dried blood seemingly having leaked down his nose and forehead where a graze sat. His hair was all tussled up, indicating an alteration had occurred.
“You fucking ass jumped my kid and tried to kill him only to jump back into the vent you crawled out off when me and Ice heard him scream.” Maverick snarled as he wrenched Merlin’s arm tight against his back. He had tied him up roughly with chain they found lying around engineering. “Thank you, Hangman, for pushing the button when you did.” Maverick nodded to the pilot in the dark grey space suit.
“Ice…Ice isn’t lying.” Slider spoke up as he watched Ice, watching as the man pulled Rooster in tight for a hug.
“How do you know?” Omaha asked nervously.
“I know my pilot, my best friend and brother; I know he didn’t do this. I can tell when Ice is lying and he’s not. You stick with a person long enough you know their ins and outs.” Slider snapped at the group. He couldn’t look at merlin, his partner was hiding something from him right now. Someone was lying and they needed to get someone out now before they all died.
“What of the others, we’re missing three others.” Merlin cried out.
Bob, Phoenix and Harvard where missing from the group.

“It’s been three hours since our last meeting, that’s an hour per kill. There’s enough time between them for this to be separate killings.” Ice groaned as he sat down, dragging a hand down his face.
“This is an utter shit show.” Hangman muttered.
“Okay… so now it’s just Merlin, Wolfman, Sundance, Halo, Omaha, Chipper, Coyote, Slider, Hangman, Rooster, Ice and I left alive now… that’s twelve of us… we’re bound to have gotten an impostor out of the group so far.” Maverick muttered as he looked up from where he had been pinning Merlin.
“All I know is that fucker jumped on me, tried to kill me and Mav and Ice came to my rescue when I began to scream.” Bradley shivered as he wrapped his arms around himself in comfort, one arm reaching up to rub his throat. There were some dark bruises starting to form along his Adams apple when you looked at it.

“So, we eject Merlin?” Coyote looked at Hangman as he spoke.
“All in favour say I?” Halo asked nervously.
“I.” Stated Coyote, Maverick, Ice, Hangman, Chipper, Wolf and Rooster.
“All against.”
“I” Merlin yelled out with Sundance.
“We’re abstaining.” Halo spoke as she and Omaha looked at Slider, before looking at one another, neither knew who was correct.
“Its still airlock time for the impostor.” Coyote sighed in relief as Mav, Ice and Hangman dragged Merlin towards the airlock as Wolf opened it. They had to have gotten an impostor out by now, or at least some of the people with killing roles.
“Slider come on, you know me just as well as Ice honey, you know I’d never do this.”
“I… I don’t know what to think Merlin, had we stayed together I might have vouched for you but… you attacked the kid.” Slider looked away in shame, “I can’t just let that go.”
Only Wolfman, Sundance, Halo, Omaha, Hangman, Slider, Chipper and Fritz remained alive as they stared at the five people on the opposite side of the table.
“Merlin was the glitch.” Popped up on the tablet screens the other. Ron shuddered as he watched his husband’s corpse fly past the window… he couldn’t believe it.

Slider sat down in the meeting room as everyone else slowly trickled out of the room. Some patting him on the back whilst others like Mav and Ice hugged the guy as they walked past. He sat there for a long while as everyone else disappeared around the ship to complete the last of there tasks.
He didn’t move for an hour, just staring at the airlock where his husband had been ejected from not too long ago, his purple suit no longer visible as it faded into the darkness.
He needed to go finish his tasks, making his way down from the meeting room area of the airship, walking past coyote and chipper as he headed towards the engine room.

He could only stare in horror at the carnage he discovered as he entered the room.
Four bodies lay splayed out over the grounds of the engine room, three people standing tall above them all, blood dripping off their suits and splashed their faces whilst the fourth just sat curled up in the corner of the room, shaking in utter terror.
Slider could only gasp in horror as Maverick, Iceman and Rooster turned to look at the intruder, red eyes, black tentacles and an enlarged jaw of razor-sharp teeth turned to look at him. Blood dripping from the black, white and red suits. Hangman sat frozen in the corner of the room, looking up at the admiral who entered, mouthing at him to run. he appeared to be caught in the hold of many black tentacles that trailed back to Rooster.
Slider’s head snapped around as he heard the doors slam shut behind him, a tentacle on mavericks’ arm having used the computer override the door controls.
“I…Ice… what, what?” Slider gasped as he slowly backed away from his best friend.
The other admiral simply smiled widely as Maverick and Rooster giggled at his side, Ice said nothing as he stood before his RIO.

Ice stared at him for a moment before speaking.
“I’m sorry Ron, it was never meant to be.”
“Ice, ICE NOO!!!!” Slider screamed as his best friend stabbed him, staring him down the hold time as Bradley and Pete smiled menacingly in the background, fangs and tentacles worming there way out of there black and red suits as they stood above the rio on the floor, Bradley holding onto hangman tightly as the man whimpered in his boyfriends hold. He looked utterly terrified to be there as he mouthed “Help me” As Bradley stroked his hair. Three pairs of red eyes glowing menacingly in the darkness.
“GAME OVER, IMPOSTERS WIN.” Echoed out through the hallways as holographic lit up above the four men standing above Sliders dying body.
Iceman-janitor, Maverick-undertaker, Rooster-Traitor (Lover), Hangman-survivor (Lover).
“Goodbye Ron.” Ice smiled horrifically as he plunged his hand through his friend’s chest, slider screaming as ice’s hand wrapped around his heart and pulled it out of the man’s chest.

Slider woke up in a cold sweat, sighing as he ran his hand over his face. Merlin was sleeping soundly in the bed next to him, clinging onto him like the octopus he was known to be. He looked around with a sigh as he spied Chipper and Sundance in the other double bed in the room.

They had held a reunion party at Ice and Mavericks house in la Jolla as they celebrated Maverick finally taking the promotions, he was long overdue and the creation of there new squadron. All the 86ers where moving back to North Island to help their friends with the new squadron all of them staying the night at Ice and Mav’s. The kids from the squad and Bradley had all crashed in their old room or other guest rooms for the night, everyone thoroughly wasted if Sliders pounding headache was anything to go by.

“I really need to stop smoking that shit at parties.” He muttered as he looked at the bong he left sitting on the table.
“Honey?” Merlin asked sleepily as they cracked open one eye.
“Nothing… just a nightmare… lets just get back to sleep.” Ron smiled as he curled up around his husband in the bed again.

He never noticed the four pairs of red eyes staring at him through the shadows.

Chapter Text

“Come on kiddo, we need to get down to medi bay.”
“You usually don’t go there, what’s the gig?”
“You where an idiot who crashed after me.” Maverick sighed as he rubbed away some of the dried blood that stuck around a scrape on Bradleys neck. Likely from the trees he landed between.
“I’m fine Mav seriously I don’t need… shit…” Bradley snapped as his hand snapped around to his stomach before snapping over his neck to his scent gland.
“Kid?” Mav paled as he smelt the rapid change in Roosters sent.
“Fuck… Mav, my suppressants.”
“Shit, right, this way, we can’t go to the med-bay now. My rooms are sound sealed with scent blockers. Let’s get you there before you get worse, I’ll have ice speed us along and get us back to north island before debriefing.” Maverick swore.
“How are they failing.” Bradley swore, panic rippling in his voice.
“Adrenaline kiddo, after two rough landings the adrenaline has burned through the military grade suppressants.” Mav hushed to him as he dragged Bradley back to his quarters.
“But, how come?” Bradley pointed at Mav.
“I’m older and mated, time and experience give me a heads up over you. I can hold off for now, had Ice been on board then I’d be fucked, literally.” Mav explained as he pulled his collar down, revealing the years old bite mark. He however could only wince as he felt his stomach coil and knot as his own suppressants failed. Heat beginning to grow in his torso.
“How screwed am i?”
“Very, the longer we stay on the ship. I need to let Ice knows then we’ll have to tell Cyclone and Warlock.” Mav swore, growling under his breath. “Then I’m fucked when we get to land if Ice isn’t wearing blockers… which the fucker likely won’t. He absolutely loves it when I’m like this and the fucker knows exactly how to get his way.”
“No…” Bradley shivered. He didn’t like the thought of a ship’s worth of unmated service men and women jumping at him.
“I know baby goose, but right now the priority is getting you off the ship and checking on the others, I need to make sure Bob and Fanboys suppressants haven’t failed along with yours.”
“They’re omega’s too?” Bradley asked in surprise.
“Yep, a lot of NFO’s/WSO’s are, you’d be surprised how many I got to know over the years. It’s just the Pilot count that’s low in our number’s kiddo, now get in there, my nest should help you for now.” Mav instructed Bradley as he opened the door to his private quarters. A decent sized commanders’ quarters that he had been assigned to, whilst Cyclone and warlock had taken the larger captains’ staterooms. At least it had a larger than normal bed and a pull-out sofa that Maverick had converted into a small nest for the duration of there stay on the ship. A mix of blankets with his and Ice’s scent on them. He needed the calming scent of his nest to even think straight with the mission. He’d have been sick otherwise with the fear and nerves.

Maverick had just managed to herd the kid into his room as he spied Hangman approaching them. Maverick was just about to seal his door when the alpha stopped in front of it, looking worried as he hunted down his captain and wingman.
“Seresin, what are you doing down here?” Mav asked, shoving Bradley behind him, keeping the unmated omega away from the unmated alpha like a protective parent. He was ready to slam the door shut behind him if necessary to protect his kid.

“Are you alright?” the pilot asked, a look of concern on his face. “You both disappeared so fast and then didn’t show up at the medi bay, is everything alright?” he asked as he heard Bradley whimper behind Mav. The moustached pilot had begun to sweat as he flushed brightly, both a mix of embarrassment and the oncoming heat.
“No Seresin, how’s Bob and Fanboy?” Maverick asked.
“Oh… oh shit, is he? Are you?” Hangman whispered as he looked up and down the gangways, his nose catching the rapidly changing sickly sweet smell coming off Bradley and the slowly changing sent of his captain. He’d been familiar with the younger omega’s sweet peaches and cream scent before, having spent a heat or two with rooster before when they were younger, and foolishly in love before they broke each other’s hearts.
“Keep it quiet lieutenant, But yes. We’ve crashed twice in one day, been running on more adrenaline this mission than normal. Our suppressants are failing.” Maverick winced as he watched Jack straighten up, his stance not that of a predator but of a protector.
“Fanboy and Bob’s suppressants are holding out as far as I’m aware, Fanboy’s mated to Payback though, but Bob has Phoenix, she’s just after asking to court him, so he has her if things go south. Should I bring them to you?” Jake asked as he listed off the two of the group’s other omegas. they where the only two omega's in the group who had done this mission but where not the only omega's in the squad.
“Yes, if their suppressants are failing. My quarters are scent sealed and probably one of the safest on the ship and do it now. Then go and tell cyclone that there’s been an adrenaline induced suppressant failure if he asks and to expect a call from admiral Kazansky ASAP.”
“Yes sir, I’ll be back as soon as possible.” Jake nodded as he turned to move away.
“I’m trusting you again now Seresin, keep us safe. Keep Micky and Bob Safe, keep the rest of us safe until we can get off the ship.” Mav instructed as Hangman’s back straightened. The alpha taking the order with a nod. He’d protect the pack with Mav out of reach.
“Yes Sir.”

“Get in there Bradley.” Mav ordered as he shifted Bradley towards the small nest on the sofa.
“Kay ma...” he whimpered as he settled down in the nest that smelt strongly of home. Maverick’s heart broke at the kid. He remembered just how bad heats could be when he was that young, but he had been mated at that time, Bradleys where most definitely, worse, without an Alpha. Mav’s shoulders relaxed when he saw Bradley relax in the nest, the familiar scents of his pack soothing for the younger pilot.
It helped immensely as he watched Maverick pull out a phone, speed dialling the number of the one person who could help right now.

“Hi Ice… Yes, we’re… well, we’re as okay as we can be… Ice I need a favour… no I haven’t pissed off anyone yet… Ice… Is your line secure… good.” Maverick turned to look at Bradley, looking for his permission. The younger man nodded. “Ice, Bradley’s suppressants are failing, we need off the ship ASAP, mine are also failing and we’re checking none of the other Omega’s on this mission are experiencing adrenaline induced suppressor failure…. We were shot down, stole an enemy jet, proceeded to get our asses lit up by three fifth gens two of which I took care of as dagger spare wiped the third off the face of the earth then proceeded to have my third crash of the month on deck and Bradleys second of the day, both of our suppressants are failing from the adrenaline.” Mav told him, completely tired and done, usually he’d humour ice, but he was finally beginning to feel his age.

Mav turned to Bradley with a relieved smile. “Okay, love you sweetheart, see you soon. Hold on a second… Bradley? Do you want to stay on barracks or come home for your heat.” Mav asked his son, hoping the kid would want to return home to the pack after everything.
“Home Ma, please.” Bradley cried softly. He had wanted to go home for years but never thought Mav and Ice would take him back after how he left them.
“Okay, Ice, the kid’s coming home for his heat… thank you Ice… see you at Miramar soon enough. Love you. See you soon” Maverick sighed as he hung up. “He’ll have transport arranged within the hour, then it’ll be a fourteen-hour flight back home with stop overs likely in guam and hawaii. He’ll meet us on the tarmac with an escort home, think you can hold out that long?”
“Maybe… ‘s long’s not more…” Bradley whined as Maverick moved to step into his nest, pulling Bradley into his lap.

Mav wrapped his arms around his kid and hugged him in and began to rock Bradley against him, letting Bradley bury his head into Mav’s neck. Maverick’s peppermint and chocolate smell calming Bradley as he smelt it for the first time in years. The younger omega could only cry as he folded into Mavericks arms.

“I’m sorry I’ve been such a brat.” Bradley cried out.
“Its alright kiddo… its fine…” Mav hushed him.
“s’ not though… ma you saved me…. After everything… I’m sorry…” Bradley whined.
“Your just as much my kid as you are Nick and Carols, it’s a parent’s duty to do what they can to protect their kid.”
“S’ that why you pulled my papers?”
“Bradley… kid… I want to talk about that but not now.”
“No now… you nearly died for me… please Ma… just want to know… no waiting.” Bradley whined as he tugged gently on Mav’s fatigues sleeves.
“Okay… okay kiddo…” Mav sighed as they wrapped their arms around Bradley’s shoulders. “It…. It wasn’t because I thought you didn’t have it in you… I… Bradley… when someone you love is sick… you tend to do stupid things even if it means fulfilling their wish…
“Mom? Mom wanted you to pull them.” Bradley softly whispered as he realized what had actually happened.
“Your dad was twenty-four, she was thirty-six… she wanted her only child to outlive them… She was fine with you becoming a pilot kiddo… she just never wanted you to be a fighter pilot… she wanted you to have the chance to have a family of your own… not to end up in a grave as young as them.” Maverick softly told him.
“Fuck… Ma…. I… I’m sorry… I’ve been so horrible… to you and Pops… because mom wanted me to live.” Bradley sobbed in Mavericks hold. “I… I hated you for years and it wasn’t your fault… god im a fucking idiot. I shoulda known mom interfered. I knew she didn’t like the idea of me joining the Navy… should’a realised she would have asked you to interfere.”
“It’s alright kiddo.”
“Its not… fuck Ma I said such horrible shit… I would mourn ma… I would… I… I hate being angry… I… I’m sorry. Fuck Ma I am so, so sorry. For everything.” Bradley sobbed. The post mission adrenaline crash hitting him hard as he began to realise just what happened.
“Kiddo… hush… what’s happened has happened.” Maverick hushed Bradley, squeezing him. “But we never stopped hoping that one day you’d come home, that we could talk about it.”
“I… I wanted to… for years… just too scared after how I left… always wanted to come home… missed being part of the pack.” Bradley hiccupped.
“Then come home kiddo. Our arms have always been open.” Mav cooed.
“Okay.”

Ten minutes later, Bradley had fallen asleep in Mavericks arms as the elder heard a knock coming from his door. The younger having finally crashed from his adrenaline rush and the now inevitable heat, completely wiped out and tired after the day’s events. He carefully extracted himself from Bradleys arms and set him down on the nest, pulling a blanket over him.

He carefully made his way over to the door, slowly unlocking it and cracking it open, revealing Hangman and Cyclone standing outside. Cyclone looked pensive, whilst Hangman looked protective as he guarded the door, a plastic bag in his hands that looked like it was for them.

“Shit… its true.” The admiral swore as he smelt the air.
“Yep, how soon till we’re off ship.”
“Transports flying in from a near by base and should be landing on deck in forty minutes, Iceman’s already given us a heads up and explained it. Warlock and I will debrief the rest of the team in Miramar, you and Bradshaw will be debriefed by admiral Kazansky, when your heats over.” Cyclone dragged his hands down his face, the beta admiral understanding just how fucked the situation had become.

“Good. How are the others.”
“Fanboys alright, not sure about Bob yet, he looked like it but said he wasn't.”
“Figured, Wolfman could never tell if he’d suffered adrenaline related suppressor failure until a few hours had passed, and even then, it was a fifty/fifty chance. Admiral Wolfe could never tell if he was going into heat until it hit him like a plane. I figured his nephew might be the same, have Phoenix stay close to him and have Harvard and Yale stick close to them, keep them somewhere secluded until we’re ready to leave and move him here if he does fall into heat, Hangman, get Coyote to stick to Payback and Fanboy, even if he’s alright, have them, Halo, Omaha and Fritz move to gather our gear and get ready to go immediately when transport lands. I want all of you to come here to my quarters to form a protective guard around Rooster”
“Shouldn’t I give them the orders?” Cyclone raised his eyebrow. Maverick only glared at him.
“That was before two of us ended up crashing with an oncoming heat. I know better what shit show can break out the longer we stay on board. You’ve spent more time in Fallon and Miramar than on a carrier, where things like this are different. I’ve seen suppressor failures before on a ship and things tend to get violent.” Pete glared at him, completely tired from all the stuff that had been going on.
“Understandable, Seresin, with the others occupied, you’re on guard for Captain Mitchell and Lieutenant Bradshaw. No one in or out until Hondo, Warlock and myself come for you all. Then when this blows over, we will be having words, including Dagger spare launching without permission.” Cyclone instructed.
“I was going to ask the same thing, and I’m sorry for teaching the kids some of my bad habits, Seresin, two hundred push ups will be added to whatever punishment Cyclone chooses for you provided you’re not court marshalled before that.” Maverick was going to ask but the glare cyclone sent him made him bite his tongue, now wasn’t the time to ask.
“Pfft, he’ll be getting a bronze star for his idiocy with a scathing reprimand and glowing commendation in his file, but I suppose the push ups could be added in.” Cyclone snorted, having found the push up’s punishment hilarious once he realised how screwed the pilots where when against Maverick.
“Yes sir, but I did ask forgiveness.” Hangman nodded with a groan. “Here I got some stuff to hold you out from the shop for the moment.” Jake said as he handed maverick the rather full bag.

Inside was numerous brands granola bars, bags of chips, a few bars of chocolate that Maverick realised was Bradley’s favourite, then there was a few cold bottles of water and some bottles of Gatorade, both in Mavericks favourite flavour riptide rush and Bradleys favourite cool blue flavour. There was a lot of Bradleys favourite branded items in the bag, getting Maverick to raise an eyebrow at Hangman as the alpha tensely stood there. The alpha wasn’t looking at his captain but looked towards where Bradley was sleeping in concerned. Mav recognized that look, he’d seen it on Ice many times over the years before the admiral finally asked to court Mav and later mate him. He looked between Rooster and Hangman as a light bulb went off in his head. It explained a lot about the past two and a half weeks’ worth of interactions between them.

“Alright then Jake, I’ll hand these over to him. Adrenaline crash is hitting hard now. You keep watch and grab us some more supplies before we get on that jet alright. I need to seal the room now before the scent wafts through the ship.” Maverick
“Of course, sir, let me know if you need anything else before that.”
“Thank you, Jake, you’re a good kid.” Mav patted his shoulder before closing the door, sealing the room shut once more. He didn’t notice the beaming smile on the young alpha’s face at the praise.

The door remained shut until cyclone and warlock knocked on it forty minutes later. Mav had shaken Bradley awake and had him take a quick shower in his ensuite to clean off the dirt and sweat that had built up, so they looked less like a murder victim, having Jake run to Bradley’s locker and get him fresh clothes. Both looked far better than they had but they still looked flushed as they entered their pre-heat stages. They were greeted by the rest of the dagger squadron who pushed them into the middle of a protective huddle next to Bob who himself looked flushed. Maverick swore before pulling the youngest of the daggers into his hold as he pulled Bradley tight next to him as well.

“We need to go now, I’ve ordered all personnel to remain in their stations and seal the doors, only beta and mated personnel are on deck right now, but we need to go before some young stud goes against orders.” Cyclone instructed as he nodded at the captain.
“Good, lets go kids.” Maverick said as he looked at the group, picking out the two others he was most concerned about. Fanboy stood next to Payback who was looking completely fine and relieved as he stood protectively in front of the group. It was Bob standing next to him and Phoenix who worried Mav as he swore softly. Too many shared heats with his pack lead him to picking up on some of bob’s families quirks.
“God damn Wolfe genes I swear, remind me to beat up your uncle when I see him next kid.” Mav joked as he comforted Bob.
“I’m not going into heat.” Bob spluttered as the group looked at them in worry.
“Yes, you are, I’ve seen your uncle like this too many times. Your flushed and your ears are going red like his do. Phoenix, you take care of him, or you’ll have a pack of very scary admirals on your tail you hear me. Halo, run to the shop and grab some water bottles, Gatorades and food for him before we get on the god damn jet. MRES aren’t going to hold us over for long and it’s a long flight.” Maverick ordered. The woman nodded as the group made there way out onto the carrier deck. “No allergies?”
“No sir.” Bob flushed.
“Good, now let’s get going.” Mav said as the group made there way onto the jet sitting on the carrier deck. The Grumman C-2r greyhound that would take them stateside sat, it would be a long journey with fuel stopover in Hawaii, but they would be back state side between twelve and fourteen hours pushing it to sixteen if the weather wasn’t great. Mav just hoped the kids could hold out that long, he knew he could. Hondo and Halo where the last two on board the plane as the beta’s jumped in, sealing the doors behind them as they carried bags of snacks and drinks for the omega’s of the group who where fighting off there approaching heat.

“Thanks kid, you did good.” Mav smiled as the woman secured the bags of snacks in the hold as they prepared for take-off. “You all did good kids. Now let’s get back to dry land.” Mav sighed in relief as he looked over the group.
“Amen to that.” Cyclone smiled as he nodded to the captain, fully agreeing with the sentiment as they felt the plane take off.

It had been a long three weeks and the past few hours had only made it seem longer. The thought of returning to Miramar was like returning to paradise after everything they had been through. Everyone was just pleased to get off the ship.

“Come on Mav, come on Kiddo. We’ll get you both home ASAP.” Ice cooed as he wrapped his arms around his husband as Mav and Hangman helped lift Bradley by his shoulders towards the car.

The commander of the pacific fleet stood tensely on the tarmac in the darkness as the dagger squadron finally disembarked from the jet. The kid’s Maverick had adopted into his pack, whether he realised it or not as they all, protectively shielded their captain and colleges as Ice swore softly at wolfman. It seemed his nephew was like him as Phoenix stood guard over her omega back seater.

Mav faltered in Ice’s arms as his scent accelerated his heat, his suppressors failing completely now as the captain whined in his partners arms, burying his head in Iceman’s neck as the admiral lifted him up off the tarmac in one arm whilst wrapping his second around Bradley, pulling him away from the younger alpha. Ice smugly looked over the group of surprised Pilots and WSO’s as they watched their captain fall apart in the commander of the pacific fleet’s arms as he dragged Bradley in tightly under the other arm, propping him up. Ice really wished he had a camera on him right now, the rest of the 86ers would have loved to see the kids shocked faces. They knew the admiral had a pack, just not who was in the pack.

Bradley whined softly as Jake growled lowly at the admiral for pulling Bradley from his hold. Ice turned to face the younger alpha as both locked eyes with one another. Ice’s beta chauffeur standing by as guard if needed had moved forward ready to separate the two if things got violent. Hangman glared at the admiral as he looked over Bradley and Pete protectively, his glare rivalling Ices own. Ice glared back before snarling at Hangman who lowered his eyes.

“Ice?” Mav asked as he snapped his head up at his alpha, Bradley however unknown to the pair broke out into a wide smile.
“I’m pack leader here kid. Don’t get any idea’s pup, you hear me, Lieutenant? They are my pack, my mate and my kid.” Ice narrowed his eyes as he sized up Hangman. Both stood tense for a moment before Hangman backed off. The younger pilot looking away, submitting to the older alpha in a move which surprised everyone. The admiral cracked a smile that broke the group however, “Thank you for protecting my pack when I wasn’t available, and congrats on the second kill. Dismissed Seresin. Trace, Floyd, I’ve ordered a house be prepped on base in the event this happened, I had hoped Bob hadn’t taken after his uncle in everything, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared, its fully stocked, go take your gear and take care of your back seater and return to base for debrief as soon as his heats over. The rest of you will be given leave immediately whilst we organise your new orders seeing as you weren’t supposed to be on this mission for another few days.” The admiral barked off before looking at Seresin who refused to back off. He tossed the woman a set of keys and a small address book.

Jake looked like he wanted to argue back with the admiral as he glared at the elder. Ice sent his patented scary glare back at the kid getting him to submit again before the younger alpha looked away as he stepped back.
He was stopped as Bradley stuck his hand out and wrapped his arm around Jakes wrist. Ice looked at Bradley in confusion before Maverick let out a quiet laugh.
The brunette already had an idea as to Jake and Bradleys relation, or at least that they cared for one another, Jake launching without permission to save them and bringing them supplies like a good courting alpha spoke volumes. His knowledge of Bradleys favourite foods and drink also clued him in on the fact they knew each other on another level.

Maverick leaned into Ice’s side and whispered.
“They’ve been together before, Hangman’s been protective of us both and still cares for Bradley, he brought supplies to our quarters and onto the jet for us. He’s good.” Mav whispered as Bradley looked up at them.
“I… I want Jake to come… we’ve been together before.” Bradley timidly told Ice as his cheeks burned red, “We um… we didn’t last but we’ve been together.”
“You still want me sweetheart? Are you thinking clearly, or is it the heat talking sugar?” Jake asked quietly. Ice nodded as he heard the worry and love in the younger alpha’s voice.
“Still me, not that bad yet. Still want you, I was just….” Bradley nodded.
Seeing Jake come flying to there rescue earlier had settled it that he still loved the alpha, that despite everything that had happened between them in the past, Bradley still desperately wanted Jake and it seemed Jake still wanted Bradley.

“Stuck on your perch. Don’t worry sweetheart, I still waited for you.” Jake chuckled softly as he wrapped his arm around Bradley, comfortingly. The other nodded as he fell into Jakes arms as he dragged him next to Mav and Ice.
“Bring him with us, before they start fucking on the tarmac.” Maverick rolled his eyes as he whispered into his husband’s ear once more.
“Seresin, grab your bags and get in the back, but don’t even think about fucking him until we’re home.” The admiral rolled his eyes as he heard Jake and Bradley squeak, both forgetting the older couple were standing right next to them. The rest of the daggers laughed as they where frog marched away from the SUV by Cyclone and Warlock towards the hangars and housing. “I’ll debrief dagger spare Cyclone, then I’ll send him your way when we’re done. Dismissed vice admiral.” The admiral laughed as he saw cyclones eye twitch in horror.
“I, uh, yes sir.” Jake stuttered as he looked at the iceman as he commanded him. The younger alpha just wordlessly grabbed his bags and moved to follow the elder, placing his pack with Mav and Bradleys bags in the trunk of the SUV.

They lasted fifteen minutes out of a twenty-minute drive before Bradley practically jumped Jake in the back of the SUV. Mav laughed as Ice facepalmed before he also jumped his husband, there heat beginning to hit them both badly now. They where practically stripping off at the front door when they pulled up a few minutes later. Ice and Hangman practically threw the two-heat addled omega’s into there arms bridal style as they buried their heads in their alpha’s necks, practically drowning themselves in their scent.

“Take care of my kid Seresin, the Kitchens down the stairs to the left if you need to get anything, I had his mini fridge restocked and left him plenty of nesting material. If he needs more the linen closet is two doors down on the right.” Ice nodded as he moved Mav around in his hold again.
“Yes sir.” Jake smiled as he took his omega into the room before them.
“Good man, now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to take care of my own husband and rail him within an inch of his life for that stunt.” Ice smirked as Maverick mewled in Ice’s hold.
“Kinky fuck.” The omega in his arms moaned as he pulled his head out of his husband’s neck.
“Didn’t need to hear those pops.” Bradley perked up.
“Why, your about to get railed within an inch of your life too if that look Seresin giving you means anything.” Ice laughed as he opened the door across the hall to the master room. The admiral knew the look on Seresins face well, he once wore it too when he was younger.

“See you kids in a day or two’s time… or when we see you.” Ice laughed as Mav and Bradley groaned at his enthusiasm. The pack elder laughed as he slammed the door to the master room shut behind him.
“Eeww…” Bradley moaned, “Didn’t need to hear about my parents sex life.”
“Come on princess, time to get you sorted.” Hangman barked a laugh, “We can drown them out with our own noise if you’re concerned.” He laughed as the omega in his arms blushed darkly.
Hangman could only laugh at the squeak he got from the pilot in his arms as the omega grabbed his collar and dragged him in for a kiss.

“Hey Hangy, you big stud.” Bradley smirked as he looked at the alpha holding him, smiling at him teasingly. Jake raised an eyebrow at the nickname, smirking madly as he heard it for the first time in years.
“Yes sugar?” He asked, his Texas accent drawing it out, getting a shiver of delight from the omega.
“Take me to bed or lose me forever.” Bradley giggled as he sucked a dark hickey onto the alphas neck.
“Gladly sweetheart.” Jake smiled darkly as he pulled the black t-shirt off Roo’s chest in one go getting giggles from the omega as his alpha took care of him, closing the bedroom door behind them.

“Did you two finally work out your shit?” Mav smiled from the large modular sofa that took up a large portion of the living room, a cup of coffee in his hands as he curled up under a fuzzy blanket in equally fuzzy pyjamas. A strange sight considering where they lived… but explainable as Mav had spent the past few years living in the desert testing experiment jets. It was hotter inland than by the coast. Being near the coast was probably a lot colder than the desert. The elder pilot had built up a large nest in the middle of the large modular sofa, building it up against the large soft plush cushions and pillows.

Jake and Bradley had finally emerged from the kids’ room after three days of intense Heat.

“Don’t start.” Bradley moaned as he plopped down onto the sofa next to his godfather. He too wore soft fuzzy pyjamas as he scrambled under the comforting scent of the fuzzy blanket Mav wore, both alpha's smiling at the sight of the omega's getting along once more. The worst of the two omega’s heats over, the worst of it sated by there loving partners. Now they were just clingy and sought out comfort in their immediate pack members. Their necks black with hickies and bite marks that there partners had sucked onto them. A fresh scar half hidden under Bradley’s collar as the elder alpha and omega looked between the younger pack members in joy and shock.

“Seresin, break his heart and I will make your death look like a training accident and testify to the courts that there was nothing that could be done. Do you understand lieutenant.” Ice growled quietly to the Alpha who had entered the Kitchen.
“Yes sir.” Hangman flinched a little before standing straight again.
“Good, you did well in protecting my husband and our kid, thank you for that and welcome to the pack. Now how do you take your bacon?” Ice praised the younger alpha. Thankful the other got the message.
“Crispy sir.” Jake raised an eyebrow in confusion, not expecting the COMPACFLT to be so calm, as he looked between Mav and Roo who snorted in laughter.
“Good man.” Ice smiled.

Maverick and Rooster rolled their eyes as they watched their alpha’s putter about the kitchen, both moving in sync like they’d done this a hundred times before as they filled up plates of food for there omega’s.

After all the chaos they had been through, the domesticity was a welcome reward.

A family reunited in the warm San Diego morning as they bonded over the simplicity of a cooked breakfast and the knowledge that they were safe.

Chapter Text

“MAV NO!”
“Dagger one is hit! I repeat Dagger one is hit!”
“Does anyone see a chute?”
“We have to go back.”
“Negative dagger two, get back to the carrier… he’s gone kiddo. Please, I can’t lose you either.” Ice ordered Rooster.
“I…copy that… dagger two returning.”
“I…. I need a bit. Cyclone, get those kids back…” Iceman sighed as he stood up, leaving the control room. He’d just watched his wingman go down, finally witnessing the one thing he had feared for so long, watching as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell burned in.
“Yes sir.”

Below deck.

Iceman wandered aimlessly around the quiet gangways. Everyone on the ship at their ready positions, the ship still on high alert in the event the enemy sends fighters or ships after them.
It allowed the admiral to wander around the ship to himself and cry without any of his subordinates knowing.

After a minute or two he ended up in front of Mavericks quarters. A simple set of commander’s quarter whereas Ice held the larger, more elite Flag officer’s cabin. Cyclone and warlock both were allocated to the fancier captains quarters, leaving Maverick to take a commanders quarters instead of the one equal to his rank.

Unfortunately the commanders’ quarters where on the way towards the officers’ quarters where the daggers where staying. As he ran straight into one pale and shaking Pilot.

“Ic…Admiral Kazansky, sir.” Rooster squeaked out as he looked at the admiral.
“Bradley…” Ice flinched as he saw the pilot. “Er... Lieutenant Bradshaw.” Ice corrected.
“I… I’m… I’m sorry sir.” Bradley squeaked. “I… its … fuck.” Bradley stuttered as he straightened in front of the admiral. He was utterly petrified of what the admiral would say or do. It should have been his plane after all burning in the forest… not Mavericks.
“Come on kid… I need a drink.” Ice sighed as he wiped his tears, pushing open the door to mavericks’ quarters, “I always knew where the fucker hid the good stuff.” Ice snorted as he entered the small quarters. Bradley just watched him for a moment before taking a step into the room after the admiral.

Ice moved to sit down on mavericks’ bed, pulling up the mattress and to Bradley’s surprise, pulled out Mav’s seabag and hoked about inside it, letting out a laugh as he pulled out a set of spare fatigues rolled up in such a way that you wouldn’t expect it to be hiding anything.
“Um… Admiral…. What are you.”
“Here it is.” Ice gave out a whoop as he unwrapped and unfolded the fatigues, revealing a bottle of copper city bourbon. “Fuckers favourite surprisingly. He hasn’t lived in Arizona since he was a kid but he still always managed to track down a bottle of stuff from his birth town. A Mitchell family tradition Viper would have said. Duke Mitchell always had a bottle of good stuff with him for after successful missions, Pete decided to keep on the tradition.” Ice snorted as he opened the bottle, moving to take a swig. “Can’t tell you how pleased we where over the years after missions, passing the bottle between berths. It became our classes’ signature celebration for every good mission.”

The admiral took a good gulp, roughly larger than a shot.

“I… he… he told me that… once.” Bradley sighed as he watched Ice offer him the bottle.
“Only fair we finish it. He said someone wasn’t coming back from this one kiddo. He wasn’t going to let it be any of you kids burn in.” Ice rasped as the burn of the liquid hit his throat. “He’d call that a success.”
“Doesn’t feel like it.” Bradley wiped away his tears. “Should be me on that forest floor.” He swore softly.
“Bradley, there was not a hope in hell that Pete “Maverick” Mitchell was going to watch another Bradshaw die, not if he could do anything about it. Despite how you handled the past fifteen years and the other day, Maverick still cared deeply for you. He always kept track of where you where, how you where when you where hospitalized, when you where deployed and when you where stateside. He always hoped that you’d stop being stupid and go home to him one day.” Ice chastised his nephew. “Had your mother known how stupid the pair of you would have been she’d never have asked Pete to pull your academy papers.”

Bradley’s jaw dropped before he groaned in realisation. Of course, it was his mother, she always flinched when he talked about the Navy, she left the room when Bradley wanted to hear about the Navy from Maverick. How could he have been so stupid, his uncle Pete did all he could to set Bradley up for the academy and taught him how to fly. His uncle had helped him gain his civilians pilots licence before he was eighteen, becoming one of the youngest in America to hold a civilian licence. The rest of his flyboy uncle squad threw Bradley a party when he earned it, Maverick the proudest amongst them all.

He spent years hating Maverick for something as stupid as that. He’d still got into the Navy, still gotten to fly, he graduated from Top gun and had been selected for this mission.

“Is that why you’ve been up in captain Mitchells face this past two weeks?” Phoenix called out from the doorway. The woman’s eyes were red, she’d been crying as well. The rest of the pilots and Wizzo’s had all stood behind her as they stood at the captains’ quarters. They’d all set off to look for Rooster. Such a close call only to watch his wingman go down must have been really traumatising.
“Phoe?”
“I came looking for you… we came looking…” The woman said as she looked at her friend. “I um… Admiral Kazansky sir.” The four saluted when they noticed the admiral in the room.
“Lieutenants, come on in, sit. And call me Iceman right now… I’m not on duty, and neither are you.” The elder pilot sighed as he took a swig of bourbon.
“I um… sorry, what are you doing iceman, sir.” Bob asked.
“Old 86ers tradition, only Pete flew in recent years to keep it up but fuck it.” Ice said as he handed the kids the bottle of bourbon. “From there it was a Mitchell tradition. Every successful mission, a good stiff drink from a brewery in his birth town.” Ice snorted.
“Oh… of course… you where his wingman sir.” Halo spoke up softly as the group filtered into their captain’s room.
“The one who lasted the longest. We both were offered promotions to rear admiral at the same time, you know that kids?” Ice smiled softly as he wiped away his tears.
“Really? They offered him rear admiral?” someone asked, ice wasn’t sure.
“Yep. He turned it down, wanting to continue flying the fastest jets he could. Chasing his next high. Any time after that he was offered a promotion, he always managed to get the right number of reprimands in his file to make it optional, not mandatory.” Ice snorted.

“Got any more stories about pops then Admiral sir?” Hangman asked as he snorted at the story.
“Well… I’m not on duty any time soon, and There’s still plenty of bourbon.” Ice said, “Who wants to hear the stuff we couldn’t say around the baby goose.”
“Baby Goose?” Fanboy asked.
“My dads callsign was Goose. He was Mavericks RIO. Maverick, Ice and the rest of their top gun class called me that when I was growing up. They tried to get it to stick as my callsign originally before we… fell out. You know the part of flight training where they warn you to check for a clear canopy before you eject? That’s what happened him, Dad went straight into the canopy, was dead on impact, Maverick just barely avoided it, ended up with a nasty scar down his back from where he grazed the canopy.” Rooster murmured quietly as he plopped himself down next to Ice, grabbing the bottle and taking a swig of it.

“It’s the only fatal accident to ever happen at TOPGUN. I was desperate to win the plaque, it was down to me and Maverick, none of the other pilots could have caught up to where we where at that stage. I held out to try and get tone on a target I knew I couldn’t, but I held out, Maverick told me to roll off but I didn’t, not until he was too close to me.” Ice admitted, “They flew through my jet wash as i finally rolled off the target, reversing one of the engines blowing it out, the other engine was still firing at top speeds and sent their jet into an unrecoverable flat spin. We thought they where fine when we saw the shoots… it wasn’t until the ambulances arrived when the helicopter arrived back to Miramar, we realised just how bad the accident had been. Maverick flew once more on the course a few days later after they tried to court Marshall him, but the evidence was stacked in Mavericks side that it was an accident. He quit that evening, didn’t show up for the rest of our classes but showed for graduation. He showed at our graduation, he had enough points that he was runner up. Then we where all shipped out to the gulf that evening.” Ice admitted quietly.

The group of pilots hearing a side of a story they never would have imagined. They looked absolutely devastated as they looked at Rooster. Hangman and Coyote looked like they where going to be sick as they realised just how fucked up there tease the other day in Miramar had been.

“Commanders and admirals for years would blame Maverick for Goose’s death… it was only when I stepped in when Maverick wasn’t looking did, they find out what actually went down. I told them if they want to call maverick a murderer then they needed to call me one too. It shut them down.” The COMPACFLT sighed.
“And you kept being his guardian angel for years after that.” Hondo chuckled as he spoke up, getting the group to jump. “Telling the kiddos stories?”
“They asked.” Ice smirked at Hondo. The guy was brilliant and was Ice’s eyes on Maverick when he couldn’t be near. Hondo had perfectly fell into the banter and fun that there top gun class had over the years, he was one of them. Maverick’s babysitter they joked. He owed the man a lot over the years.
“Then let’s tell them who Maverick really is, not who the Navy say he is.” Hondo smiled sympathetically as he was handed the bottle.

Else where.

“Well…. That was fun.” Maverick giggled hysterically as he watched his half-deployed chute get caught up in the rotors of the enemy chopper, the down blast kicking the loose fabric and wires up, tangling around the rotors causing it to crash and explode as he hid behind a heavily shot log. He winced as pain lashed through his side, swearing softly as he saw the blood sluggishly dripping down his side. He must have been clipped by a bullet, unsure whether it had gone straight through or was lodged in his gut.
He had awoken in a snowbank, his chute half deployed with searing pain down his right side. He had just managed to shuck it off only to find an enemy chopper bearing down on him, guns blazing before his chute took care of it. Likely numerous broken ribs as he gasped, trying to take a breath. Every exhale painful, made all the worst with the now added gunshot wound on his side.
This would be one hell of a story to tell the guys at the next reunion if he survived Ice’s wrath.
If he didn’t bleed out before he made it back to the ship, because there was no way Ice let alone cyclone was going to launch search and rescue with fifth gen jets in the air. Cyclone will probably have taken over from Ice now, his friend probably speechless and distraught at Maverick going down. No… Maverick was on his own from here on out.
Good thing there was a mostly bombed out airfield a mile or two behind him, the smoke rising in the distance signalling its location.
Now just to hope there was a spare jet he could “Borrow”.

Command centre.

“Sir, Mavericks ESAT’s online.”
“Is it malfunctioning?”
“Negative, he’s supersonic.”
“He’s airborne?” Warlock smiled in awe.
“What’s he in.”
“Sir, overwatch reports an F-14 Tomcat is airborne and on track for the ship.”
“Sir, three bandits are approaching the f-14…. Negative, two bandits, one’s been eliminated.” Came the jubilant call from one of the lieutenants in the command centre.
“Someone get Admiral Kazansky’s up here now and have Dagger spare prepare for launch.” Cyclone ordered as his eyes went wide on the screen, watching the radar show the bandits and the tomcat.
“Sir, dagger spare’s been dismissed by admiral Kazansky. None of the Daggers are available and we’ve no Pilots prepped for launch.” Another lieutenant called out in frustration.
“Then is there anyone able to launch.” Warlock asked as he looked at cyclone in worry.
“Negative sir.” Was the call.
“Well…. Maverick better pulls of another miracle right now or Iceman’s going to have all of our heads in a few minutes.” Cyclone swore. “Get us in contact with the captain now.” He yelled as the command centre burst into chaos as they watched the screens.

Quickly watching as two bandits became one and one became none as the command room cheered as they watched from their screens as the Navy’s most bat-shit crazy and experienced pilot became there first Ace since Vietnam. Cyclone could only laugh as he watched the man Admiral Kazansky put so much faith in buzz the tower before he crashed on deck. Perhaps Kazansky was onto something when he chose Mitchell to become the teacher for this mission, this man really did know how to push himself and his jets to the edge and be the best. Perhaps Mitchell would accept an open invitation to a permanent teaching position in Top gun as an apology for how he handled the captain’s time on base.

“Sir we have him.” A lieutenant called out as they got the f-14 on radio.
“Maverick you are one lucky son of a bitch you hear me.” Cyclone exasperated.
“Yeah well, someone has to keep the Navy on its toes.” He heard a breathless laugh come over the radio.
“You are Mad Mitchell, absolutely mad. Get your ass back to the ship now.” The vice admiral laughed.
“I thought you’d, realised that already.” Mav snorted, “Well, get me the barricade, this girl’s missing her landing gear and tail hook. Someone, should break the news, to my guardian angel, we’ve finally sorted the, who’s the better pilot argument.” The captain spoke, breathlessly.
“Barricade’s coming out. Welcome back Captain Mitchell.” Cyclone chuckled “And tell Kazansky yourself.” He snorted, finally realising why his boss took off, it explained so much and why Ice had such faith in Maverick. He knew his wingman was like no other.
“Copy that. Dagger one out.” Maverick chuckled as he cut his radio just as he lined up with the runway.

The command centre was filled with sighs of relief and quiet chuckles. Warlock nodded at Cyclone with a smile before watching as his colleges face paled in horror.

“…. Shit… someone find the admiral and get Kazansky up on deck now before he kills us all.” Cyclone panicked as the f-14 scraped along the top of the carrier moments later.

Below deck.

“You know… and this is classified Lieutenants, but I thought I’d lost Pete three weeks ago.” Admiral Kazansky sighed as he took a swig of the bourbon in his hands before he passed it off around the lieutenants.
“Sir?” Bob asked as the daggers all looked around at each other.
“That meteorite that blew up over Idaho they showed on the news. The one going to the west coast?” Ice snorted, nodding at Hondo who laughed as he took a drink from the bottle being passed around.
“It was Mitchell in a classified jet, the SR-72 Dark star. Critical mechanical failure had it exploding at Mach 10 point 4 at an altitude of 110 000 foot. Admiral Kane decided to shut the project down early so Maverick said fuck that and decided to meet the contract deadlines. Saved 150 good people their jobs.” Hondo chuckled as he recalled the explosion, he’d nearly been canned along with Maverick by admiral Kane that day but thankfully, Ice had come to their rescue once again.
“We just used the meteor shower to cover it up to hide the fact we have hypersonic jets from the enemy. That’s classified though kids, just as classified as this mission.” The admiral shook his head in amusement as tears built in his eyes. He should have expected this though. Maverick had never really feared a mission, more so than was normally shown but with this one Ice could see his wingman was terrified. He should have known that Maverick would have sacrificed himself to save the kids. He had said that someone wasn’t coming home from this one… Ice just never believed how true that would end up being. He had faith that Maverick would get them home… just never thought about how he would get them all home.

Rooster choked on the bourbon, quickly handing the bottle off to Hangman.
“Holy fuck.” Hangman whistled as he handed the bottle of bourbon back towards the admiral, he looked like he needed another shot of it right now.
“HE WHAT?” Rooster yelled in horror. His godfather, the man who raised him, the man he once called dad, had walked away from that. He saw it on the news on the plane back stateside and was in awe at it. Now finding out that was his dad in an exploding jet days before the classes in Miramar began was just terrifying. He could have lost his dad and never known about it, and the man would have died then thinking he hated him. He died thinking he hated him, now Bradley would never get the chance to apologize.
“Damn… he survived a Colombia style break apart only to go by missile, that man really liked walking the edge.” Fritz whistled impressively, having seen the “meteor” explosion on the news when they arrived to Miramar, only to be slapped up the side of his head by Phoenix and halo.
“Dude, insensitive.” Halo whispered harshly as she pointed to Roosters paled horrified face and Iceman’s tearful gaze.

“That’s one way of putting it. I was so scared I’d lost him for good. Pete was never one to keep his feet on the ground, so I assigned him to teach, he’d still get to fly but no more dangerous missions or test flights… I was scared I’d lose him… so scared he’d take one more suicide mission… that I’d gotten him this.” The admiral’s voice wobbled as he reached into his pocket, pulling out a small black box. “I was going to ask him to marry me after this mission, when he oversaw that all of you got back to the ship, back to dry land. I hadn’t planned for him to be dagger one, didn’t even think for a second, he’d become mission leader when he was supposed to be the mission teacher. We haven’t exactly… dated… but we’ve been together for long enough that I never even thought about living without him… I think you kids would call it co-dependant.”
Inside sat a beautiful titanium ring in the shape of their aviator wings, with a beautiful sapphire sitting in the middle with two smaller emeralds next to it.

“Oh… oh ice… you were.” Bradley gasped as he looked at his uncle in complete sorrow.
“I’d been wanting to for years kid… but we focused on our careers… me climbing the ranks, Pete soaring through the skies and doing the impossible that I’ll admit, even I would struggle with some times, he always ended up roped into the black ops after Bosnia.… then there was D.A.D.T. But every time we came home or met up it felt like we were right where we belonged. I… I always wanted to ask him but… never worked up the confidence to get a ring or even think about proposing… but it was always on my mind. Dark star was the kick I needed to keep Pete close, the mission was a godsend to get him close to home again and finally ask him to settle down.” Ice smiled sadly as he got up and walked around the room, letting all the lieutenants see the ring before standing in front of the doorway.
“Finally admitting Uncle Pete’s, was the better pilot.” Rooster chuckled as he wiped away the tears rolling down over his cheeks.
“Nope,” the admiral chuckled “I was convinced he’d say he was the better pilot at my funeral, when I was at the worst point of my cancer treatment that I thought, I wasn’t going to make it. He teased me enough that it gave me enough strength to fight on, just to make sure I outlived him.” The admiral cried softly, tears rolling over his cheeks.
“Sounds like Uncle Pete.” Bradley laughed softly.
“Still convinced he’d have said he was the better pilot at my funeral.” Ice chuckled as he lifted the bottle of bourbon to his lips only for a hand to snake around past him and take the bottle off him.
“Cheers!” a new voice said behind him, “Oh… and I am the better pilot… ace Bitch. Six kills.”
The group just looked at the doorway in shock, horror, and hysterics.
There, covered in mud, oil, soot, and blood, looking like he’d climbed right out of a grave, having raised a finger to silence them all as he took a good big swig of the dark coloured liquid, stood the captain they’d watched go down only an hour ago.

“MITCHELL, GET YOUR ASS TO MEDICAL YOU’VE BEEN SHOT FOR FUCK’S SAKE.” Cyclones voice echoed in the hall behind him as the vice admiral ran through the gangways behind the captain.
“ARE YOU DRINKING RIGHT NOW? DAMN IT LIEUTENANTS GET OFF YOUR ASSES AND GET HIM TO MEDICAL NOW!” Cyclone barked as Hondo and himself wrapped their arms around Pete as he stumbled against the bulkhead.
“Yeah… but the kids good?” Pete asked as he looked at Tom before looking around the room at the shocked kids.
“Y…Yeah, the kids are… the kids are good… What the fuck Pete.” Ice swore as he looked at his wingman, snatching his bourbon back and setting it on the table against the wall.
“Good… if you don’t mind… I’m gonna pass out.” Pete muttered as his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he collapsed in his wingman’s hold.
“Fuck Dad!” Bradley cried out as he jumped up to help his uncle as the admirals and warrant officer grabbed Pete, Yale pushing his way to the front shoving Bradley and Iceman away from Pete as they set him down on the ground to render aid to everyone’s surprise, lifting him up as the corpsmen arrived with a stretcher.

They whisked him away off to the other side of the ship, assessing him before rushing the captain into surgery. Rooster and Iceman refusing to leave the captains side as they awaited on news for hours. The daggers popping in and out, bringing the pair food and water as the hour ticked by, then blankets and pillows, all of them beginning to camp out in the medi bay as the day trickled into the night, as the third section watch trickled into the first section watch. Even Cyclone and Warlock floated in and out through the night. They confirmed that Maverick had stolen an F-14 from the enemy that had miraculously managed to avoid destruction, take out three trailing bandits and land all without landing gear, whilst injured. The daggers where in awe at the skills there commanding officer had, not realising that even during training, Maverick had been holding out against them. No wonder the man had denied his promotions to admiral numerous times, his skills would have been wasted and they’d all have died on that mission.

They had newfound respect for the captain. All of them, taking guard around the medical bay as they waited for the return of Maverick and the team of doctors who had wheeled him into surgery a few hours ago.

It was after two hundred hours when the surgeons had finished and moved the captain back into the medical bay, shooing the daggers off to one side as they wheeled the captain into the room. The man looked so small on the bed as they wheeled it into place, the starch white bandages wrapped around his chest and torso not helping, his right arm splinted and placed in a sling and the cast placed on the man’s foot surprising everyone.

“Status on captain Mitchell doctor?” Iceman rasped out; he had fallen asleep on the chair next to the bed assigned to Pete but had been woken by a rough shove from Bradley.
“Gunshot wound to the back, having clipped his spleen before lodging in, the only reason why he didn’t bleed to death out on the field or lose part of his intestines was the bullet stopped the worst of the bleeding. He’s received a few transfusions, he’s got seven broken ribs on his right side, two broken fingers, dislocated right wrist, dislocated right shoulder which we’ve also popped back in place, a shattered collarbone that we’ve pinned back together, punctured lung so he needs to keep the oxygen mask on but we’ve seen to it, minor burns and cuts around his upper body, Broken ankle, numerous contusions and abrasions, exhaustion and a severe concussion from what the x-rays where showing. It seems he crashed hard on his right side. I’m surprised he didn’t have any more serious internal injuries, especially since he took a swig of bourbon if what cyclone was saying was correct and a hypersonic ejection three weeks ago. This man really should be dead.” The doctor said as they listed off the incredible list of injuries. “In fact, with his file alone he should have died ten times over but now I’m expecting him to awaken by oh eight hundred hours tomorrow… well this morning.” The man said as he looked at his patient.

“Some of us are well versed in captain Mitchells medical history doctor, I know what my wingman’s like. You can expect him to be awake around that time if not earlier.” Ice sighed with a fond smile.
“Right, well then… I assume your all going to camp out in my medical bay?” the doctor asked as the daggers looked at each other before looking at the admiral. Iceman sighed as he shook his head, trust Pete to adopt a squad of aviators in only two and a half weeks and have them adopt him back.
“Yes, it appears that way.”
“As long as your respectful of Captain Mitchells requirements of quiet and bed rest then I see no issues, just ensure there’s no escape attempts. I hear he’s quite the escape artist.”
“He is.” Ice snorted as the daggers nodded.
“Right, we’ll be checking in every few hours but if anything changes until he’s strong enough to be air lifted to balboa back in San Diego possibly in a day or twos time for further recovery, I trust Lieutenant Logan to step in to assist in stabilizing the captain and alerting the rest of the medical team if he gets worse.” The doctor said as Yale nodded, everyone else, including Iceman looked at the WSO in surprise.
“What? I went to Yale Medical school, it’s in my file. I just decided to go navy afterwards to get away from my controlling family.” The WSO explained sheepishly as he flushed red under the attention.
“Oh, so you’re the team’s field medic.” Halo pointed out, “I was wondering why we didn’t see more than one medic assigned on the orders list.”
“Yes, Yale was assigned as team medic for this mission.” Cyclone perked up, everyone having forgotten that he had been floating around. He had been quietly contemplating in the corner of the room. He had a favour to ask of Admiral Kazansky but now wasn’t the time to ask, considering the man it concerned was fresh out of surgery.
“And that was why we were chosen last on the launch schedules. We knew we’d not be put on the main mission but knew we could be placed as spares if needed.” Harvard chuckled.
“Good, I will leave you all to it. Admiral.” The doctor saluted before leaving.
“I’ll also leave you all to it. I need to finish paperwork. Admiral Kazansky.” Cyclone saluted before disappearing from the medical bay.
The med bay fell silent for all but the steady beeping of Mav’s heart monitor and the sighs of relief each of the pilots and wso’s gave.

Ice sighed as he leaned back into the chair, placing his face in his hands as he sighed in relief.
“Is… is that man immortal or some sort of cryptid?” Fritz asked finally as the doctor left.

No one said anything.

All quietly looking at the Floridian pilot in surprise and amusement. No one said anything until they heard a snort of laughter come from Admiral Kazansky.
The admiral snorted loudly in laughter as he bit his tongue, trying to maintain his composure before absolutely losing it as he bent over in laughter.
“That… that is the best description of Peter “Maverick” Mitchell I have ever heard. God kid, you’re finally asking the right questions.” Ice laughed.
The laughter was infectious as soon all the daggers were laughing quietly at the comment.
“I sure fucking hope not…” Came the quiet rasp of there captain as he winced under the bright lights. The man’s green eyes staring at the group that surrounded his bed. “Don’t, wanna be… the cantankerous bastard that, outlives everyone.” Pete wheezed.
“Holy fuck he’s alive.” Hangman jumped from where he’d been sitting, getting laughs out of everyone.

Ice and Rooster jumped up and stood over Mavericks bedside stared at Maverick for a minute as the captain’s smile widened under the oxygen mask, his eyes hazy with the drugs pumping through his system.
“Fuck, dad you absolute maniac.” Rooster swore as he cried above Maverick.

Ice on the other hand…

“Fucking marry me.” Ice cried out before spluttering in embarrassment, the daggers laughing at the admiral.

“I, shit, um… No one heard that. I did not just propose to captain Mitchell when he was sedated and heavily medicated.” The admiral flushed red.
“Hi idiot… yes.” Mav giggled softly underneath them both as he looked at Ice, he then turned his head to Rooster, “Good… to see, your okay… kiddo.” Mav chuckled as he raised his good arm up, pinching Roosters cheek, getting awes from the girls and chuckles from the boys as Roo blushed red in embarrassment like his uncle Ice.
“Yes? You’ll?”
“You proposed Kazansky… Yes, I’ll marry you.” Mav smiled.
“Why… Why did you do it.” Bradley busted in, getting Mav's attention
“Promised Carol… promised her I’d keep you safe. Promised Goose.” Mav hummed softly as Bradley slowly lifted his head as he looked at ice.
“My mom… Mav.. I’m so sorry… I should have realised Mom would have asked you to interfere with my application.” Bradley spoke.
“ ‘s fine baby goose… wanted to keep you safe.” Mav looked at the mustached pilot with a hopeful smile, “Always keep you safe kiddo. Still love you.”
“I’m a fucking idiot.” Bradley cried out, hearing a few snorts in agreement behind them as Phoenix wrapped her arms around Bradley, hugging him comfortingly.
“My idiot.” Mav hummed as Ice threaded his fingers through his hair. “Don’t… Don’t hate Carol… I pulled them.” Mav quietly whispered.
“Mav I’m so fucking sorry… I’ve been such a fucking brat… fuck, fifteen years… and after everything you still chose me and protected me. Why?” Bradley asked as tears rose in his eyes.
“You’re my kid… Why wouldn’t I protect you.” Mav asked in confusion as he hazily looked at the kids.

Bradley just started crying as Ice pulled him into a hug.
“Love you dad.” He sobbed out as he bent over and gently hugged Maverick.
“Love you too kiddo.” Mav cooed as he wrapped his good arm around his kid.
The group of pilots and wizzos smiled as the admiral bent down and joined in the hug before pulling back.

“So… are we invited to the wedding?”

Six months later.

“You may now kiss your husband.” The officiant smiled as the crowds cheered.
Ice laughed before picking Pete up off his feet, kissing him deeply as he held him in the bridal carry position.
“Been looking to do that forever.” Ice chuckled as he pulled back from Mav.
“So have I.” Pete giggled as tom smiled madly at his new husband.
“So, admiral Mitchell-Kazansky, how was that.” Tom asked his husband.
“The best gift you’ve ever given me, better than the dark star, admiral Kazansky-Mitchell.” Pete giggled back as he swayed in his husbands hold, Ice walking down the aisle towards there awaiting car outside the wedding venue.

Maverick had been out of commission for eight weeks as he recovered, by the time he’d been allowed back on Duty, Ice and oddly enough, the president of the United States, had moved mountains for Maverick. They had managed to smooth things over enough to give him the rank of three-star admiral, giving him command of North Island next to his husband and officially ordering the construction of the North Island Shadow daggers tactical strike squadron in exchange that he takes the god damned promotions.
The government did like the promise of a team of the best naval aviators to complete the missions that drones couldn’t. The daggers first official unofficial black ops mission alone was enough to cement the need in the governments mind that Pilots where better than drones for these types of missions. They had ordered Ice to extend open invitations to the pilots and WSO’s who had originally been selected to be the first official pilots on the squad. They had ordered Admirals Kerner, Wells, Wolfe, Neven, Piper and Williams to assist them in creating the squadron, there C.V’s all covered enough bases that they could easily run a new specialist squadron. Maverick would not only oversee the daggers along with there training and deployment but would also be teaching intermittently at Top gun, and work alongside his husband on North Island naval base.

“You can put me down now.” Pete laughed as their friends and kids gathered around them.
“Not a chance Pete, this idiot been waiting years to do this, let him have his moment.” Slider laughed as he walked up to his two friends.
“That and he’s probably scared you’ll fall into his arms again, literally.” Hollywood laughed.
“I’ll have you know I was shot.” Mav stuck his finger up at Hollywood.
"You got three back." Sundance laughed.
“And thank you for that, I got called off a ship in the middle of the pacific to come see you and meet up with my beloved nephew again. Bob, not Rooster.” Wolf smiled as Bob waved at his uncle.
“How that kids related to him I’ll never know, wolf’s not stealthy and bob is a literal baby.” Chipper whispered to Mav who laughed.
“No, I need to establish dominance before my admiral underlings. Let them know that Admiral Mitchell is mine and mine alone.” Ice smiled widely, giving off his predatory shark line grin. Some of the admirals in the crowd quickly avoided the COMPACFLT’s glare as he looked at them. Getting a laugh from the 86ers squad and the dagger kids.
“So, how’s the kids.” Mav asked as he looked at the dagger squad. The kids and the 86ers squad had been divided up between the two admirals as best men and bridesmaids. Ice and Maverick had essentially adopted the squad of younger pilots in the aftermath of the mission.
“I’m fine.” Bradley sobbed.
“Yeah, we're fine.” Hangman added as he quickly tried to wipe away his own tears. The rest of the dagger squad was halfway between tears and cheers, or just sobbing like Bradley and hangman, who denied it.
“Yeah… I think we’re going to be just fine.” Ice smiled as the class of 86, Hondo, and the dagger squadron crowded around the newly weds.

They had come a long way in six months, but they had come over their trials and tribulations as a family.
The photos that lined Vice admiral Mitchell's office walls spoke enough proof of the family that had been built.

Chapter Text

1979.

“Sorry son, but with a legacy like yours, you’re not someone the Navy wants in our ranks.”
“But sir I?”
“We don’t want a traitors son running around with our ships and jets, Mitchell, so you can kiss what ever dream you had of following in your old mans footsteps goodbye. Any application you make for the United States Naval academy or enlistments will be rejected, you’re a blacklisted name, doesn’t matter if you have Admiral Bradshaw’s recommendation as his pity foster kid. We, the United States Navy, want nothing to do with a rogue pilot’s legacy, we don’t want you setting sail into the sunset with one of our jets like your old man did in Nam’. Now get out of our sight kid.” A Naval recruiter commander snarled at the high schooler.

Peter Matthew Mitchell did his best not to flinch as he watched the recruiter continue to flag down his classmates, talking to them about employment opportunities the Navy could give them.

He looked disheartened and did his best to not break down there and then in the high school’s hall surrounded by hundreds of other classmates as they went between stands with representatives from many different colleges both in state and out of state.

There went his dreams of being a naval aviator and graduating from Annapolis like his old man and grandfather.

Unbeknown to Pete, someone had overheard the entire conversation.

“Ignore him son, I always found the Navy recruiters to be assholes.” A man said as he walked up behind the young adult, putting his hand on Pete’s shoulder.
“Sir?” Pete said as he spun around to face the man talking to him. There stood an officer in a blue dress uniform, two silver stars sitting on his shoulders as he looked at the young man standing before him, flight cap in hand.
“Major general Whitmore, united states air force. May I talk to you elsewhere son?” he introduced himself, getting Pete’s attention as the young man blinked.
“Yes sir.” Pete nodded
“You really are a legacy aren’t you son if the navy recruiter was calling you out there, what’s your name kid.” he spoke up, watching the smaller man nod.
“Peter Matthew Mitchell sir, I prefer Pete, Father was Lieutenant commander Duke Mitchell, a member of the VF-51 fighters squadron with the US Navy sir.”
“Well let me tell you something son, that my father, a WW2 veteran who flew in Europe told me and that I have told my own son. My own legacy kid granted he’s taken his mother’s surname, to distance himself from me for his own benefit. He’s already on his second year at the academy, a third gen air force officer.” The air force officer told the young adult with a sad look on his face.
“Sir?” Pete questioned, not understanding where the officer was going.
“Good pilots don’t go AWOL son. Come, we have much to discuss.” The man gave him a reassuring smile as he watched any expression fall of the kids face as he looked at him blankly before swallowing harshly as he looked away for a moment.

Pete nodded as both moved out of the hall, towards one of the high schools’ empty classrooms.
“Where you from originally son?”
“Phoenix, Arizona sir, then my father took us with him as he moved to Miramar where they were flying out of at the time.”
“Of course, son, it’s only natural, I have my own family too, they’ve followed me around the country from base to base. My son’s only two years older than you, but it was hard on him at first too, to move around so often.”
“Yeah well, Dad went AWOL, and my mother didn’t take it well. I was in the foster system within a year and for years I was thrown from house to house until I was placed with Admiral Bradshaw and his wife and son.”
“Admiral Bradshaw… Submarine?” the air force officer asked, getting a small smile on Pete’s face. He’d heard of the man through branch meetings a little bit ago. The man had climbed the ranks to become one of the highest ranked officers overlooking the submarine division of the pacific naval fleet.

“Yeah.” Pete nodded, a glitter of wonder and adventure sparking in his eyes.
“And you want to go air. I understand kid, it’s a freeing feeling being in the air. There’s nothing like it, its only natural for someone like yourself to hear the calling of the sky.” The sergeant smiled at him, “I see it in your eyes, your expression. You want to fly son?”
“More than anything, the faster the better.” Pete spoke wistfully, his expression said it all for the elder pilot before him.
“You want to chase after migs, drop bombs on targets, fly in some of the most dangerous conditions of the world, under fire, missiles and bullets, in dogfights that would make even the toughest of us scared.” The officer asked darkly as he narrowed his eyes, Pete looked him in the eyes in all seriousness, understanding what was being asked of him. He nodded proudly as he saw the seriousness of the young man before him as he straightened up, years of living with the Bradshaw’s seemed to have instilled some of the military lifestyle into the kid as he took on a rest parade stance. This was a kid who knew just what he was putting on the line, who knew that there was always a chance of him not coming home. This was a kid who wanted to serve, the officer noted as he smiled.
“Of course, sir.” Pete nodded, completely serious.
“The air force is your best bet son, fastest jets, biggest guns, stealth bombers, missions to every corner of the world, bases on nearly every continent. You want to fly, stick with us, we’ll make you the greatest aviator that the Navy doesn’t want. A clean start for the Mitchell legacy, son.” General Whitmore nodded with a smile as he saw Pete stiffen before him as wonder filled his eyes. “You could be the next aerial combat protégé to walk through the doors of Colorado Springs son, I see the makings of a great fighter pilot. Your talents would likely be overlooked within the Navy, they’d stagger you son, keep their eyes on you and do what they can to ground you before you ever got off the ground. We won’t make that mistake; I see someone with untapped potential, that can be the top predator of the skies. Choose the Air force son, we’ll help you become the pilot we both know you can be.” The major general smiled as he motioned for Pete to follow him.

They return to the careers fair in the hall as the air force officer hands him the necessary forms and applications to fill in for the air force academy. Before he was finished, he handed Pete his own card with a telephone number on it and an address.
“Any questions son, you can call me at any time or if the Navy household kicks you out, which I hope Bradshaw doesn’t, he’s a good man, but I have heard of it happening, there’s my own personal address son.”
“I… thank you sir, But why?”
“Because I see potential for a great man, and an even greater aviator. Son, I personally wish to support your journey to the academy. I see potential that I’ve seen in very few cadets over the years, those who had it have gone on to become the best aviators. I wish to see you too become the pilot I know you can become.” Major general Whitmore smiled at the young man before him as he handed Pete the business card and note.
“Thank you, sir.” Pete smiled as the major general sent him off.
“Its no bother son, I hope to hear from you soon. Feel free to ask away about air force life, we’re not the navy but I hope the difference doesn’t put you off. Good luck kid.” The officer smiled as he watched the kid disappear from the hall, looking intensely at the papers before him.

Pete Mitchell disappeared off into the corridors and moved into one of the empty classrooms, looking at the papers in his hands.

He had a lot of thinking to do if he wanted to become a pilot.

A Few months later.

“So, what, you’re going to break our promise? Have you been keeping me on for all this time? You’re going to the air force? Fuck you Pete I wish we’d never met. We should have thrown you out years ago Mitchell like everyone else. Your just as bad as your old man.” A taller man spat venomously as he threw a letter towards the smaller man in the room.
“NICHOLAS, that’s enough.” An older man stepped in between the blonde- and dark-haired young men in the living room.
There where three letters sitting on the coffee table, both addressed to the two high school graduates living in the house. They where academy letters, yet two of them weren't opened by there intended receiver.
“I told you nick, I did apply for the navy first, but they blacklisted me. I applied for Annapolis and went to the enlistment offices. I told you they didn’t want me but that I’d do my best to get in nick. I can’t do anything about that.” Pete tried to explain as he flinched away from the man, he had called brother until now.
“Pete, the Navy doesn’t just blacklist people for no good reason, perhaps there was a mistake.” Admiral Bradshaw looked pensive as he looked at his foster son.
“Yeah, he’s the mistake.” Nick Bradshaw spats angrily at the young man he had once called brother. He could hardly look at him, betrayed that Pete was going to the air force instead of the navy. He had promised him for years that they would both go to the navy together. Pete flinched hard, paling as he looked at nick in utter betrayal.
“NICHOLAS THAT’S ENOUGH, GO TO YOUR ROOM.” His father spat.
“No… no I… its okay.” Pete said as he backed out of the living room, disappearing upstairs. Nick only glared at the smaller mans retreating form, not noticing as his mother moved to stand before him.
A slap echoed through the room as Mrs Bradshaw slapped her son.

“I expected better of you Nicholas, I don’t care what you say, either of you. You’re apologizing to Peter, and you will support him. He’s had it hard enough over the years and he doesn’t need to lose the only family he has.” His mother sternly glared at him.
“He’s not my family anymore.” Nick spat as he stormed out of the room.

He didn’t realise he’d been heard as he stormed out of the house.

He disappeared off to his girlfriend Carol’s house as he vented to her about Pete’s betrayal, that he had gotten into the air force over the Navy. The blond slapped him and told him that Pete had it hard enough as it was. If the navy rejected his application and blocked him from enlisting, then there was possibly some truth to his claim of being blacklisted from the navy. That the navy was probably just trying to prevent another scandal from happening, even if it means stopping Pete from ever entering the service. His surname was disliked enough in the local area anyways by other navy families, Pete had it hard enough as it was, he didn’t need nick turning on him too. She told her boyfriend to go home and apologize to his brother and support him in his goal of going to the air force, that Pete would do the same for him going to Annapolis. After he took a walk along the beach, he needed to cool off before he returned home.

It was late at night before he decided to return home. He had been harsh on Pete, but his brother promised him he’d go to the Navy with him. Pete never told him about applying for the air force and the slightly older young man told him everything since they where fifteen. He set off from the beach as the sun was setting, slowly walking through the streets of North Island back towards his parents’ home. When he returned, he noticed Pete’s run-down old motorbike missing from its spot in the garage. Perhaps the other man did the same as him and took a drive to clear his head. It had been an emotional day. He shrugged at the missing bike before moving to enter the house, only to find his parents crying in the kitchen that evening.

“I hope your happy Nick.” His father sighed as he noticed his son return.
“Dad?” the young man asked in concern.
“Not now… I’m proud you got into Annapolis son, that’s true, but I’m not happy with how you treated Pete… neither was he. So, he’s left… your too late.” Admiral Bradshaw shook his head as he indicated to the opened bedroom door at the top of the stairs.

The room that Pete had stayed in ever since they took him in when he was thirteen. Nick’s eyes widened as he ran up the stairs to Pete’s room, the door lying open, finding the place quiet, tidy, and void of life. The blankets, and pillows having been stripped and stacked neatly on the end of the bed. Pete’s mementos and models of his favourite planes, jets and motorcycles missing, his cassette collection and Walkman gone from the bedside table it normally stayed on and engine and flight manuals missing, but what spoke volumes was the missing clothes from the wardrobe and important documents that Pete kept on his shelf.

Nick looked around the room in horror as he realized what he’d done.

Pete Mitchell was gone… and it was all Nicholas Bradshaw’s fault.

His brother was gone.

1988

“Lieutenant commander Kazansky, lieutenant Kerner, Lieutenant Bradshaw, Lieutenant Hiller, lieutenant piper, Lieutenant Williams, Lieutenant Neven and Lieutenant Wolfe, gather your gear, your transport arrives in two hours.” Commander Jardian ordered.
“Sir?” lieutenant commander Kazansky asked.

All the men had been placed together as a group, assigned back to Bradshaw and Hillers squadron after there successful mission to rescue the USS Layton two years earlier, deployed immediately the evening of there top gun graduation. Kazansky had become the leader for there little group, especially as he was given promotion to Lieutenant commander, the man being the one the rest of the pilots listened to and was able to keep goose and Loser under control.

“Your all being recalled to Top gun. A mission has come up that needs the best pilots the Navy has to complete it.”
“Yes sir.” The group nodded as they looked at one another.
“You’ve all be chosen by the top analysis for this mission. Not navy, but the top mission analysis that the United States has to offer, CIA, FBI, ARMY, AIRFORCE and Navy analyses all agree you’re amongst the best, the best four out of the top eight pilot/RIO groups in service to any US service branch.” The commander informed them, “This is a joint mission with the Air force boys. Do well and show those air force big wigs just whose boss. You hear me.”
“Air force, sir? Is that necessary.” Iceman asked as the Navy group looked at one another.
“I don’t know Kazansky, but from what I’ve been informed, they’ve pulled out the best of the best for this. You think you and Hiller are the best we have; your kills speak that. However, one of the other pilots you will be competing against for mission leader has 19 kills.” The commander exhaled as he looked at the file, the Navy Pilots and RIO’s paling at the thought.
“Sir? Nineteen?” Goose asked nervously, there was no way that was right. No pilot was that deadly.

“Yes, you’re flying with the “Maverick”, and his wingman “Hawk” the highest decorated fighter pilots the United States has seen since World War two and one of the youngest and most decorated pilots to ever reach the rank of major in the air force for a twenty-six-year-old, he’s a week older than you Bradshaw and you’re the youngest of this group. That pilot is the most respected and beloved they’ve had in there ranks in decades, so much so the air force has already renamed part of the air force academy after him. You will be training and competing against Lieutenant colonel Mitchell and his team to see who will become mission leader. You boys have the weight of the Navy’s reputation on your shoulder’s boys. Don’t let us down… and good luck. Wheels up at seventeen hundred. Dismissed.” The commander told them as he threw Ice the manila file to read over.

The Pilots and RIO’s scrambled to exit the room. They only had a few hours before they were shipped off from the USS enterprise and back to dry land. They hoped they had enough time to pack all their gear away. A few hours weren’t enough to pack up after months of deployment.

“FUCK!” Wolfe swore loudly as the group entered their quarters. the officers moving around the room as they quickly began to pull there sea bags out of there holds and pack there gear up.
“Wolfe?”
“IT’S MY FUCKING BROTHER-IN-LAW AND HIS WINGMAN.” The RIO cried out as he slammed his head repeatedly against his locker. the RIO let out a long gutteral groan as he set his head on his locker.
“Oof, Major Mitchell and Captain Floyd. Damn, this is going to suck.” Hollywood swore, he’d met Wolfe’s brother-in-law before when he joined his RIO in visiting their family on Edwards air force base, being introduced to Thomas “Hawk” Floyd and his Wingman/little brother Pete “Maverick” Mitchell.

“Mitchell?” Goose’s head shot up.
“Yeah, my sister Marilyn married into the air force, her father-in-law practically adopted some Navy legacy kid who’d been rejected from Annapolis around the same year you and Ice went Goose.” Wolfe said as he turned to face the guys, wincing. “He’s like two years younger than my brother-in-law but the kid’s apparently the best of the best, trained personally by General Whitmore. He was taking down instructors on his first proper dog fight training doing advanced manovers that we’ve only ever read about if what Hawk claimed is right. They had just returned from the gulf when I last saw them, Hawk had two airs to air kills and Maverick had nine confirmed air kills.”
“What’s his name? What’s his full name?” Goose asked Horsley as the guys looked at him, noticing the paleness of the RIO.
“Peter Matthew Mitchell? Why you know him?” Wolfe asked, raising an eyebrow at Goose.

“I… fuck…” Goose said blankly as he sat down on his berth.
“Goose? Goosy you with us?” Loser asked as he knelt next to his back seater. He’d never seen his RIO look so put out or pale.
“Fuck.” Nick swore getting everyone’s attention.
“Nick?” Ice asked as he knelt next to his friend.
“Pete Mitchell, Peter Matthew Mitchell, father was Duke Mitchell, the pilot who went AWOL from VF-51 during Nam?” Bradshaw asked as he looked at Wolfe who looked grim as he nodded.
“Yeah, that’s the kid.” Hollywood cheered as he recognised the name as wolf looked at him impressed.
“He ah… he was my… my brother… my foster brother…” Goose winced out as the guys went silent. You could hear a pin drop in the room.

No one said a word as they all looked at the distressed RIO.

“Talk now.” Wolfe stared at him harshly. Like he knew the story behind it.
“I… We... He came to my family at thirteen, just shy fourteen. He’d been through some rough houses… I… I took him under my wing you could say, broke him out of the protective shell he’d built. He was quiet, flinched like he’d expected to be hit, hadn’t the faintest idea what a family was like, not until he came to my parents and myself. Dad loved him immediately and we kept him for years… we did everything together for years. We promised to go to Annapolis together when I found out he was also a navy legacy kid. When time to apply to the academy came…He applied to the air force without telling me, and we told each other everything… he always kept his promises… except that one.” Goose started, “When we got our acceptance letters I got to them first, I saw his navy one had been rejected and was curious as to why he had a second one. I… um… I didn’t take his acceptance to Colorado Springs well.” Goose quietly told the guys as he buried his head in his hands.

“Nick… what happened.” His pilot asked as he rubbed his friend’s knee.
“I… I said some shit… he left… I didn’t mean it; I was just so angry he didn’t tell me. I went to cool off around San Diego that afternoon… by the time I’d returned home he’d left… packed up everything of importance to him and took off somewhere my parents never told me… likely to the air force academy early… and I haven’t seen or heard from him since…” Bradshaw looked at them, completely broken.

“Fuck.” Wolfe whistled out as he looked at the fellow RIO.
“Yeah… fuck.” Goose chuckled breathlessly. “He… he should have been my best man at my wedding, been Bradley’s godfather… he… I… I fucked up.” Goose admitted, the RIO looked disgusted with himself, something that concerned his friends.

“Nick… I need to ask you this in all seriousness.” Iceman asked as he looked at his friend. Gone was Ice, here was lieutenant commander Kazansky talking to him, all serious and professional.
“Yeah?”
“Can you work with him professionally. Can you handle being in a room with Mitchell. Can you still fly?”
“I… yeah… yeah, I can fly. I… I’ll stay away from him… I just… eight years is a long time.” Goose sighed as he dragged a hand down his face.
“Well… we’ll keep an eye on you and keep you close. If he gives you any trouble just let us know, alright.” Wolfe spoke softly as he looked at his friend.
“Let’s get our things packed for now. Transport will be here soon for us… we can leave that thought for when where at Miramar.

Two days later.

“We really need to report into commanders Heatherly and Metcalf.” Ice instructed as the group of pilots and Rio’s settled into there assignments, throwing their sea bags into their wardrobes. They could unpack them later. He indicated to Goose and Slider to follow him as they left their assignments, making their way towards the top gun facility in Miramar. That was where they would find there commanding officers.
“So, to their office?” Slider asked.
“We’ll we’ve done everything else but report into them. We’ve been to requisition; we’ve been to our assignments and now its just going and checking in with them.” Goose said as the three of them walked around the familiar corridors of Miramar, walking through the top gun training facility towards where there instructors/commanding officers where waiting.
It wasn’t long before they reached their commanders offices.
“So do we?” Goose asked
“Wait… they’re talking to someone.” Ice said as he listened through the slightly cracked open door. Not fully shut, allowing them to hear the conversation going on inside.

“REAR ADMIRAL BISHOP, WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO.” Rear admiral Metcalf yelled.
“I, I had the pilot blacklisted from enlistment and the academy, h…he’s Duke Mitchells kid, imagine the disaster that was going to happen when we let someone like him walk through the doors of the academy.” The rear admiral on the end of Vipers’ fury stuttered out.
“MAJOR PETER MATTHEW “MAVERICK” MITCHELL IS THE DEADLIEST PILOT IN THE ENTIRE US SERVICES. BLACK OPS, FIRST AIR TO AIR KILL IN AN F-15, NINTEEN CONFIRMED KILLS. WE COULD HAVE HAD THE DEADLIEST AVIATOR IN OUR RANKS SINCE WORLD WAR TWO.”
“You blacklisted my kid? You absolute bastard, do you have any idea the damage you’ve done. Mitchell has all the rights to sue us for this you idiot, he can make this into a giant scandal, that he was blacklisted from the navy on his father’s reputation and not his own merit. Mitchell’s S.A.T’s and GPA where higher than my own sons.” A third voice yelled, no where near as loud as the other.

“Hold up, whys my dad here.” Goose quietly whispered to his friends in shock.
“That’s your dad? But he’s submarines?” Slider narrowed his eyes in confusion.
“Subs to launch missiles? Air strikes from sea? Who knows, we’ll find out during debrief.” Ice told them.
“Shush, I want to hear this.” Goose narrowed his eyes as he leaned against the door, listening in.

“H, he’s a Mitchell sir.”
“DUKE MITCHELL WAS KILLED IN ACTION DEFENDING OUR RETREATING SQUAD, HE TOOK ON SEVEN MIGS IN A LAST MAN STAND TO SEE THE REST OF OUR SQUAD RETREATED SAFELY. VF-51 FLEW F-4’S DURING 68, NOT F-111’s. IT WAS A COVER UP BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BECAUSE WE WERE INTERCEPTED OVER CIVILIAN AIR SPACE.” Viper yelled.

“I watched, as my godsons’ father died, watched as his jet hit a temple filled with civilians as it crashed. Duke Mitchell sacrificed himself to save the rest of us, as we were intercepted by an entire squad of migs, four jets verses 12… I had to break the news to my sister and nephew that there husband, and father was gone before being shipped back out to Nam’ a week later, I found out months later, when I finally got leave, that my sister had took her own life and my godson was in the foster system. I spent years looking for him only to lose all hope of ever finding him, hoping one day he’d walk through top guns doors as a naval aviator like his father. It wasn’t until he was already an adult did, I find out he’d lived on the other side of the city with admiral Bradshaw for years and had left for the air force before I could even see him.” Viper spoke venomously, getting goose to freeze as he listened.

“I never imagined this is how that would ever happen. My godson, walking through Top guns doors as an air force major, the deadliest and most competent pilot in the entire US services. You absolutely sicken me, Bishop. Get out of my office and pack your stuff. I’ll see that your either demoted or dismissed by the end of the day.” Viper snarled as the rear admiral retreated, the three younger officers outside the door snapped to attention and jumping to one side as they stood out of the way of the retreating admiral.

Viper, Jester, and admiral Bradshaw exited the office behind him, all three superior officers looking at the three before sighing.
“I’ll assume you overheard?” Admiral Bradshaw asked with a sigh, watching as his son and two friends squirmed under there gaze.
“Yes sir.” Ice replied.
“Coming to check in boys?” Viper asked with a sigh as he signalled for them to relax and follow them.
“Yep.” Slider sighed as viper looked at the clock on the wall.
“Well, you’re just in time, the air force boys are due to land shortly, follow us to the tarmac, and be on your best behavior. We’ll swing by your assignment and grab the others on the way past.” Admiral Metcalf sighed as he dragged a hand over his face, leading the group out of the offices and towards the apron.

“Pete’s finally coming home kid.” Admiral Bradshaw quietly told his son as he wrapped his arm around Nick. “Please just… just try to apologize… even if… I just want my boys back… alright.” The mariner sighed as he tried to talk to nick as they made their way past their assignment, dragging the other flight officers and Pilots out to follow them.

“I… I’ll try dad… but eight years… I… I don’t know how he’ll take it.” Goose quietly replied as he fell into step with his father. The RIO just watched the jets approach in nervousness. He hadn’t thought he’d be standing here watching as the brother he drove away returned after years of no contact.

Slider and Ice patted his back and squeezed his hand in support. Knowing that this mission was going to be hard for Goose, knowing the brother he drove away will be here.
They had no idea how Mitchell would react to seeing them.

The group made there way towards the apron, standing in formation as they watched five planes appear in the distance. The silhouettes of four jets and a large troop transport arriving in the skies above San Diego as the navy officers watched them come in for landing.
“F-15’s?” Slider asked in surprise, “What sort of mission are we to take part in sir.”
“There actually F-15 N-PHX models, a version designed for carriers, but not implemented. They will carry the firepower and you will have to provide the maneuverability to cover them until the payload’s been delivered, there not as maneuverable when carrying a full payload of phoenix missiles like the f-14 but are accurate and do well in long range. When they lose their payload, they are just as maneuverable as the tomcats. For this mission, you’ll be flying out of an allied air base in the gulf before landing on the carrier.”

“But their air force, they don’t have the experience.” Ice asked in confusion
“They’ve spent the past three weeks in Pensacola practicing carrier launches and landings.” Jester informed them. “They were called back from the gulf early to get the carrier training in. the air force had no issue choosing who would be sent on this mission, all the pilots and RIO’s before you are known as the best of the best. Each of them with a confirmed air kill.”
“Why then where we not brought in until now?” Ice asked.
“Because the Navy didn’t have pilots with there stats, it took the higher ups time to choose who would be undertaking this mission and who would match them in flight skills. You lot were chosen due to the USS Layton incident. You’re the only pilots whose files can even begin to shape up like theirs.” Viper admitted, looking pained as he spoke. They were top gun instructors and top gun graduates, the fact that their files and training barely stood up against that of the four pilots and RIO’s landing was nothing short of embarrassing and painful for the Navy, even more so when they saw one of the pilots was a Navy legacy.

They said nothing as they stood on the apron, watching as the first of the jets landed and proceeding to taxi around the aprons as the next jets lined up for landing and the c-130 troop transporter followed behind them as it came in for landing. Within a few minutes, all the jets were lined up on the tarmac as the ground crew began to run around them as their pilots turned there jets off.

The C-130 opened, letting the air force officers step out of the transport, a team of ground crew racing down past the officers and heading towards the jets, checking them over and covering the sensitive equipment with covers they pulled out from inside the transporter.

“General Whitmore.” Viper saluted as the air force officer stood before him.
“Vice admiral Metcalf.” The greying air force officer replied, returning the salute.
“Are these your pilots?” Mike asked as he gestured to the air force enlistees and officers disembarked from the transport.
“Nope, my men and women decided to perform a last series of hops this morning before we set off. They proceeded to fly their own jets because of this. Those disembarking are the ground teams assigned to the jets however.” The general smirked, “Major Mitchell and Captain Floyd wanted to ensure that everyone was well prepared before we left for Miramar.”
“Sir, is that not a conflict of interest.” Ice asked, getting their attention.
“What son?” the air force general asked as he narrowed his eyes.
“Your presence and captain Floyd’s presence sir.” Wolfe spoke up as he narrowed his eyes at his sister’s father-in-law. It took the general a moment to recognize the RIO.
“Ah, Leonard, I should have realized you’d been assigned to this mission. Your sister did say you where one of the best, it looks like you match up.” The general snorted. “Normally yes, however, I don’t oversee my son, and we insure we follow rules to the t about this, but for this mission, until you all deploy in three weeks’ time, circumstances like these are overlooked for experience. I trust my son to remain professional in this situation.” General Whitmore nodded as eight people approached the group, all falling into stance beside the air force general.
“Understandable. Admiral Bradshaw will be providing assistance with the submarine force; we trust him and Lieutenant Bradshaw to work professionally also.” Rear admiral Heatherly told the general as they glanced at the two Bradshaw’s.
“Well then gentlemen, let me introduce you to the air forces’ finest and deadliest Pilots.” The general said as he had his pilots and RIO’s remove their helmets.

Goose and Admiral Bradshaw did their best not to flinch but did hear quiet gasps come from Metcalf and Heatherly as their eyes fell onto one pilot in particular as he removed his black helmet with red and white decals.

It was like they where staring at a ghost.

“May I introduce you to our radar interception officers, captain Julie “Thorn” Richards, captain Robert “Meep” Jackson, captain Joshua “Zombie” Walker and captain Daniel “Hijinks” Williams and our pilots captain Mary “Irish” Donahue, captain Marcus “Rico” Garcia, captain Thomas “Hawk” Floyd and Major Peter “Maverick” Mitchell, the deadliest pilots in the United States air force. All together, these four teams have a total of 28 air to air kills and have completed hundreds of black ops missions.” The general smiled as his pilots stood forward, matching up to the team of the navy’s finest. The air force pilots staring down the navy pilots and vice versa.

“Gentlemen, ladies, let me introduce you to TOP GUN’s best pilots. The squad responsible for the USS Layton rescue. May I introduce our Pilots, lieutenant commander Thomas “Iceman” Kazansky, Lieutenant Steven “Loser” Hiller, Lieutenant Rick “Hollywood” Neven and Lieutenant Charles “Chipper” Piper and our top radar interception officer’s lieutenant Ron “Slider” Kerner, lieutenant Leonard “Wolfman” Wolfe, Lieutenant Marcus “Sundown” Williams, and Lieutenant Nicholas “Goose” Bradshaw.” Admiral Metcalf introduced.

“Ladies, gentlemen, take a good look at your teammates, from these two planes from the air force and two planes from the Navy will be flying this mission, the rest of you will be spares in the air. These next two weeks will be spent flying together, running the course and practicing hitting the targets for this mission.” General Whitmore told them all as he looked at the groups.
“Airforce, we’ll give you a tour of our facilities. You all will be staying on base due to the nature of this mission, however, you will be allowed off base but will have to return before a twenty-three hundred hour curfew. That also covers our top gun pilots. All are to be back on base by twenty-three hundred hours. We hope you all enjoy your stay on base and hope that everyone gets along well.” Mike said as he narrowed his eyes at Bradshaw and Mitchell, both the naval flight officer and the air force pilot staring each other down as they stood in front of one another.
“Lieutenants, Dismissed.” Admiral Heatherly commanded as he turned to face the navy officers.

The navy officers saluted before marching off back towards there assignment. The eyes of the air force pilots staring them down as they walked away. Goose lifted his head as they walked away, looking back to the air force pilots.
Pete stared at him the whole time as the naval aviators and flight officers retreated.

He didn’t smile, didn’t frown… just retained a steel poker face that was impossible to read. Yet he stared at Nick the whole time as the navy guys retreated out of site.

Even as they retreated, Goose hoped that there was a chance that this mission could help him rebuild the bonds he broke with the man he once called brother.
This might be the only shot he got.

Chapter Text

A quiet, steady beeping echoed throughout a decently sized private room. Inside the room was three beds, all of which were occupied by three very bandaged aviators.

Sitting next to them where two older aviators, both having arrived within hours of the three patients being flown back to land. Their injuries where severe enough that they had to be air lifted off from the carrier they had been on. Both older aviators were sitting diligently by there sides, still in their dress khakis, both having rushed straight from North Island towards Balboa military hospital when they got the news. Neither had left their kids sides since they were flown in.

There had been a serious accident on board a carrier in the pacific, one on its way towards north island after leaving pearl harbour. It was the old USS enterprise carrier, the oldest aircraft carrier in the us navy and had finished up a near yearlong patrol in the gulf and eastern pacific between Guam and Japan.

Bradley, Nat and Callie had been on board it for over half a year at this stage, having seen combat in the middle east and gulf. It was there second deployment to a ship together as partners.
They had been performing routine air patrols and drills when the accident occurred.

An arresting wire snapped on deck as it caught an incoming f-18. It was catching the first of the morning patrols jets as the pilots and ground crew got ready to deploy the next group of jets.
When the wire snapped back across the deck of the carrier, it wiped out numerous ground staff and pilots who were making their way towards there awaiting jets. Numerous ground crew members had been injured as the cable came back and debris hit them. The worst however where the two pilots and W.S.O who were making their way towards there Jets. The three of them were hit the worst.

Whilst they were stabilised on the carrier, the doctors on board the ship declared that there was nothing else could be done on ship to treat the numerous injuries they received and ordered them to be Medi evacuated to a Military hospital. These pilots where Bradley “Rooster” Kazansky-Bradshaw, Natasha “Phoenix” Kazansky-Trace, and Callie “Halo” Kazansky-Bassett. All three had been the worst injured as they crashed to the deck of the carrier, all of them a mess of broken bones, abrasions and contusions, a dislocated shoulder, and numerous serious chest injuries and serious concussions as none of the three of them had their helmets on at the time of the accident. With the sheer number of injured running to the medibay, the decision to send the three worst injured to the mainland was easy for the captain and doctors to make.

The three had been stabilised before they were air lifted off the carrier to the nearest allied military hospital before they were stabilized enough to be transferred back to Balboa military hospital in San Diego.

Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw moaned softly as he cracked his eyes open, wincing under the bright lights of the room. He tried to lift his right arm up to shield his eyes only to groan as pain flared through his shoulder.
“Bradley, Bradley it’s okay.” A voice softly filled his ears as he flicked his head towards them.
“H..huh… mom?” he asked, his mouth dry as anything as he watched Maverick stand above him,
“You dislocated your right arm, the doctors had to reset it for you, just try not to move too much.”
“Huh… w, what happened.”
“Arresting wire failure, it snapped across the carrier deck as you, Nat and Callie where prepping for your patrol.” Maverick sighed as she moved towards the door, turning the lights down just enough to be less painful.

She then moved to her kid with a glass of water and a straw, allowing Bradley to take a sip before he continued speaking. It would be better than speaking with a dry throat as he gently scratched his face, feeling the butterfly strips on his face.
“Are they alright?” Bradley asked as he began to feel his mouth again.

“You took the worst of it, shielded your sisters falls, Nat broke three of her ribs and cracked another seven as well as broke her wrist, Callie cracked nine ribs and broke one, she dislocated her elbow. All of you were without your helmets when you hit the deck, ending up with serious head injuries and concussions.” Maverick explained to her son as she took his left hand. “You ended up dislocating your right arm, broke seven ribs and busted ten, you sprained your ankle when you fell and you cracked your skull open when you hit the deck, that was a week ago.” Mav squeezed his hand, not sure whether she was reassuring her son or herself.
“Oh…”
“Yeah… oh… you three where the worst affected. You were hit by shrapnel, not much but they hit your neck and face. Nothing serious there, just some minor scarring, it was the rest of your injuries that worried them, so they medi-evacuated you three to Balboa. Your home kiddo.”
“Oh… where’s pops?” rooster asked.
“Out talking to the captain of the carrier, they’ve been investigating the wire failure all week. The ship got in this morning to port. The Enterprise has docked back in North Island now for likely its final time. The brass in Washington agrees that the ships seen better days and the incident was the nail in the coffin.” Maverick sighed, “Just a shame they never fixed the air con onboard.”

“Sounds like you missed it mom.” Nat chuckled from the bed next to Bradley, letting the man know they were there and they were awake.
“Nat?” Bradley asked as he saw his wing woman yawn next to him.
“Hey roo, good to see your awake.” Callie cheered from beyond her.
“Are you alright?” Brad asked.
“Does it look like we’re alright?” Nat raised her eyebrow at her best friend/ adoptive brother.
“It was the first ship I flew off, Nat, after flight school, it was the carrier where Ice and myself first flew into missions on as partners. That infamous photo of me and Ice was taken on that deck.”
“Which one?” Callie snorted, there had been two infamous photos taken of Maverick and Iceman on that day. The handshake and the victory of the Layton, a.k.a, the snog, photos where infamous amongst the Navy.
“Both of them.” Mav deadpanned before chuckling.

They chuckled quietly as they relaxed against the beds, Mav pulling out her phone and snapping a pick of the kids. For their aunts and uncles, she smiled telling them that they were all worried about them when they heard about the accident.

“Penny says you get drinks on her when your well enough to hit the O-club.” Petra smiled as she sent the photo into the 86ers group chat.
“How’s her endeavour of buying the o-club coming.” Brad asked.
“She’s still saving, but it looks like she’s come to an agreement with the boss man, he’s admitted he’s looking to retire in a few years times, but even then, Penny was talking about gutting the bar and renovating it. If not there is a beach front bar property down past Coronado hotel near the o-club that could go on the market, it’s run by an older couple as well. I just need to keep an eye on her husband Dereck, he’s become a real ass in recent months.” Petra frowned.

Penny Benjamin had been introduced to her husband through her father when attending a naval ball back in the mid-nineties. He was a young lieutenant then, now he was a captain pushing towards admiralty, but with that came a change in his attitude and how he treated Penny. Penny was her own independent woman who loved working at the o-club, her husband didn’t like the fact she was working and practically demanded she be a stay-at-home mother for their child Amelia, that she should do all the housework, chores and full-on childcare by herself whilst he goes out and is the breadwinner.

He wasn’t popular amongst Penny’s friends. Mav, Ice, Sarah and all the 86ers let penny know that they didn’t like or trust Dereck as much as they did in the beginning, but that if she and Amelia ever needed somewhere to go, they’d always be open for her.

“Let us know when you need an alibi. That sounds cool though if she keeps the planes.” Nat laughed as Bradley snorted.
“Admiral Benjamin has that sorted… but he wouldn’t be opposed to help. He’d help us keep the planes and navy memorabilia, can’t have the navy’s official/unofficial bar be without its memorabilia.” Mav chuckled, the admiral had been sceptical of her and penny’s friendship in the early years. Her father’s reputation dogging his earlier views of the pilot, he’d mellowed his views of her as she racked up medal after medal from deployments and missions around the world. Admiral Benjamin was pleased Penny had such good friends.
“Oof… I hope things don’t get messy, I would hate for Amelia to be caught up in that, she’s a good kid.” Callie winced.
“She is.” Mav smiled before turning her head around when she heard the door behind her open.

Ice let out a sigh of relief as he entered the room. Delighted to see his adoptive kids awake and bright eyed after days of silence.
“Hey pops.” Rooster smiled as he saw the admiral.
“Hey kids, I would say I told you not to take after Mav but this one was an accident.” Ice chuckled as he closed the door behind him, entering the room.
“Oi.” His wife glared, slapping him up the side of his head to his delight. The kids chuckled at their parents as they watched Ice settle between Nat and Callie. Maverick had taken up vigil between Nat and Bradleys beds.
“You all scared us.” Ice told the three younger officers.
“Sorry pops.” Bradley winced, remembering Mav said he’d been out for a week. They’d probably been worried sick about them. A carrier accident is a serious incident, things could have been so much worse.
“It’s fine kids. You couldn’t do anything about an arresting wire.” Ice sighed as he looked over them.
“No, but you’re all getting extended leave for now.” Mav chuckled as she grabbed her adoptive son and daughters’ hands as Ice did the same.
“Home for now for all three of you, bed rest and taking it easy for the next six to eight weeks under mandatory medical leave, then they’ve added two more months on top of that as leave.” Ice informed them before turning to Petra. “We however might not be around for the latter half of your leave.” Ice told them.

“Why? What’s come up.” Petra asked her husband quietly, her eyes flicking to the kids, unsure if what he was about to inform her of was classified or not.
“Merlin’s informed me that our names have shown on a list for a possible stealth mission in the pacific. He said to brush up on the Northrop Grumman B-2 spirit guide and hit the sims.” Ice said as he looked at his wife. That was all he was saying then on that petra noted.
“Oh… its bad if they need us isn’t it.” She spoke. It had been a while since they flew together in the B-2. Put together as co-pilots due to their instinctive sync when flying, they were the best fighter pilots the US Navy had after all.
“Possibility of non Un sanctioned stuff like normal.” Ice rolled his eyes, but Petra could tell by the slightest pinch in his lips that her husband was concerned, holding a brave face for their adult kids.
“Sounds like its important.” Rooster winced as he looked at them.
“Normally spy missions are kiddo. Give yourself some time and a lot of missions and you could find yourself flying some of those types of missions.” Ice smirked.

“Are admirals still allowed to do that?” Halo asked.
“Normally no, we however are just that competent that for serious missions that need specialists top gun pilots, we happen to fit the bill. We still fly with Slider and Merlin when we need to go out in f-18’s for specialist black ops. That’s the only reason why we still go out flying for the navy.” Maverick chuckled.
“Yet we still get roped into about ten black ops missions a year.” Ice snorted as he looked at the kids.
“You mean I do.” Petra glanced at her husband. “Besides, what’s the worst that could happen besides a dog fight or the possibility of S.A.M.s in the area.”
“I… well I can’t argue with that. I haven’t gone on half as many as you have, but if it’s a bombing run or has a high possibility of ending up in a dog fight, we both perform it. And don’t be saying that, the b-2’s might have the safest record of all the jets the military use but if you start to say stuff like that then you’re begging for it to crash on us.” Ice raised his eyebrow at his wife as she pulled a smug face.

“You would look sexy post eject, all wrecked like that though.” Petra seductively smiled as Ice blushed softly.
“Stop it you two. Stop flirting with each other. Its nauseating.” Bradley gagged.
“Or is that your concussion.” Nat laughed.
“I’ll go get the nurse then.” Ice chuckled as he stood up, patting Natasha and Callie’s shoulders gently.
The three younger officers watched the admiral leave the room before turning to face their mother.

“How soon can you spring us?” Rooster asked with a mischievous grin.
“Nope, no, I’m not gonna do it.” Mav said as she looked away. “You’re getting out this evening, after the doctor signs off on it. No if’s, no buts, no coconuts kiddo. And don’t use those puppy dog eyes baby goose. I know you too well.” Petra narrowed her eyes, smiling happily all the while.
“So, spring us ma?” Roo pleaded.

The dreaded Bradshaw puppy eyes being drawn into combat as he stared at his mom.
“…Fuck it. Get dressed kiddos, home time.” Mav sighed as the three fully grown naval aviators cheered and whooped.

The puppy dog eyes worked every time.

Three hours later, they were sitting under blankets in the living room of the beach front property in North Island.

All of them eating away at a feast of Chinese food all laid out on the coffee table in the middle of the large sofa whilst the TV played a movie. Rooster, Halo, and Phoenix could only laugh as Ice and Slider got into an argument over the right way to cut a cake. The flyboys uncle squad all wandering around the house, all having been staying as they awaited news on their nieces and nephew.

“I got the god damn cake Ice, just cut it my way.”
“You got them a cake saying, “Baby aviators first accident.” Sli, so no, you can’t cut it.” Ice snapped as he glared at his best friend.
“You never got me a cake when I had an accident.” Mav said as she looked towards her husband, her chopsticks falling into the carton in her hands.
“The last time you had an accident serious enough to stay in the hospital for longer than three days, we had the room filled out with flowers, isn’t that the same?” Slider asked only to flinch as Mav frowned at him. It was not a good look to be on the opposite end of.

“That’s why you never managed to keep a woman for long sli, it takes more than a bouquet or room full of flowers to keep us happy. It’s different if it’s a man, get him cologne, artisan beer, a puzzle or something to keep him busy for a few hours and he goes wild.” Petra glared at her husband’s best friend. “Just do better with the next one and for gods’ sake, just ask us for advice next time. Look at Ice, he can keep me happy.” She shook her head.
“Sweetheart, all I must do is authorize an f-18 for you and your happy, you maniac petrol head. Everything else is just a bonus to see you smile.” Ice smirked proudly, God he loved his woman.

“Get me a new plane then, or a squadron of the best pilots that I can lead as a new strike squadron.” Petra crossed her arms and looked at her husband smugly as his face dropped, getting laughs from the group of elder top gun pilots and the injured baby aviators.
“Ohh, what are you gonna do pops?” Rooster laughed before coughing harshly as he wrapped an arm around his ribs, letting out a groan as Chipper and Hollywood propped him upright.
“I… give me a few years and a possible fourth star and I might convince admiral Jackson to retire, then I can send you to China lake to play with the experimental next gen jets? There’s no way the government would pay for a new strike squadron unless something major comes up, they’d send in the drones now a days. China lake seems more viable. Does that sound good?” Ice asked nervously as he looked at his wife.

Petra broke out into a smile at the prospect of playing with the Navy’s best test pilots and future jets.

“Sounds like a nice Christmas present.” Mav smiled before she froze as she realised what they had overlooked.
All the 86ers stopping next to them as they looked at one another before breaking out into giant grins.

“Oh, fuck we’re on leave this Christmas.” Callie sat up sharply before wincing and groaning as Chipper and Sundance pushed her back down gently into the sofa.
“Careful kiddo.” Chipper instructed as he pushed her down gently. All the 86ers had taken their new nieces under their wings and cared for the two women just as much as Ice and Maverick. Phoenix and Halo, or Maverick 3.0 as the guys liked to call the pair from time to time, fitted right into the madness that was the Kazansky clan and friends.
“Huh… I hadn’t even realised. We’ve missed thanksgiving though.” Bradley laughed as he looked at his family.
“Shit….” Mav swore as her eyes widened. “This is Nat and Callie’s first Christmas with us and not on duty and we’ve nothing planned.” She said as she looked at her husband from across the room.
“Well gents, looks like we have a new mission at hands.” Ice laughed as he stood to attention, getting their friends to do the same, just to hear the kids laugh. Nat and Callie looking at them all in awe and wonder. Mav ran around the room to grab her laptop as she threw Ice a notepad and Pen.
“We have only three and a bit weeks before Christmas, I need to order presents, turkey and the rest of what we need.” Mav freaked out as she pulled out her purse and reached for her credit cards only for Ice to swoop in from the kitchen and pull them out of her hands.

“Tom, hand them over, now.” Petra glared at her husband.
“No honey, you can’t go impulse purchasing. We already have three private planes, a collection of vintage and new motorcycles, a wine collection, and the latest technology, and no more houses. We don’t know where the kids are going to be based at next after leave, Bradley could be heading to next year’s top gun class for all I’ve heard.” Ice chuckled as he looked at the kids on the sofa and his wife.
“TOPGUN? HELL FUCKING YES!” Rooster cheered as he pumped his fist in the air. “Aw fuck… that’s over in Fallon Nevada. The fucking desert.” He whined as he dropped his fist, getting laughs out of everyone.

“Sorry brad brad, no beach volleyball montages for you.” Mav laughed as the guys and girls laughed at the young man. The young Bradshaw groaned loudly at the thought of being sent to the Nevada desert.
“Don’t be like that, Bates will love to see you over there. Warlock’s just as cool as us, we might even be asked to come over for a few hops or lectures.” Slider laughed as he patted the kid’s shoulder.
“Now that sounds like a good early Christmas present.” Hollywood laughed, the thought of going back to Top gun to teach their kid was tempting. Bradley was a good pilot, but Wood, Chipper, Mav and Ice still had plenty of tricks up there sleeve that they hadn’t taught the kiddies.

“Well then, sounds like we’ve got a Christmas party to plan for.” Nat laughed as she pulled out her phone and began to look through it as she pulled her W.S.O into her side, both beginning to conspire as to what to order for there new family.
“As long as it doesn’t break the bank then its fine.” Ice said before pointing the knife in his hands at his wife, “I mean it Mav, set a limit of five grand per person this year, none of us need new cars, new,” Ice started only for his wife to interrupt.
“New flight sim for the games room?” Petra blinked at him innocently. Ice froze, allowing everyone to see the cogs in his head spin as he thought about that one.
“I love you and will allow for that. Nothing else.” Ice grumbled as he kissed her forehead, the rest of the guys laughing.
“Whipped.” Slider called out only to be pelted by numerous pillows.

The older pilots and younger pilots laughing the whole time as they relaxed in the beach front property. They had nothing to worry about except for the youngest three’s recovery.

They couldn’t have imagined what would occur a few months later.

February, two months later.

On the taxi way in Guam lined up a B-2 spirit stealth bomber.

Its two pilots starting their taxi as they sped up the jet. They had finished their mission, using the B-2 for a stealth mission in the pacific to bomb an unsanctioned military target and where now starting a long haul flight back stateside. It was a rather short deployment for them, they were deployed to Guam only a few weeks ago.

Now they where on the return home. They would be stopping in Hawaii first for a refuelling stop, before flying onwards to Edwards air force base to hand the bomber back to the US air force, from there a team of air force aviators would fly the bomber back to its home base. An unusual procedure and not standard but with Maverick and Iceman, it could be argued that nothing was usual with them. But they got the job done at the end of the day, and they always did it beyond expectations. It was why they were allowed to do this.

“Clear right, move to line up.” Maverick instructed her husband as Ice took control of the jet. He was flying the first leg of the journey, but Maverick was in the mission commander seat for this, in the right side of the jet.
“One hundred knots.” She called out only to frown as beeping came from the console before quieting.
“What was that?” Ice asked as he looked over his console.
“fcs caution” She called out.
“Nope or go?” Ice asked her, following procedure.
“Go.” Mav nodded, it had only been an amber caution light, had it been red then she’d follow protocol and have Ice abort take off.
“145 Rotate.” Maverick called out as she watched the jet’s nose begin to pitch up slowly before it suddenly shot up on them. Alarms began to blare loudly around them as the jet began to fight them for control.
“Full power.” Ice called out as the jet started to go off course. The entire jet began to vibrate and shake violently in a way that they had only ever experienced in the sims. Both pilots looked at each other in horror as they glanced over the warnings popping up on the consoles.

There was no hope in saving the B-2 bomber.
“We got to get out.” Maverick yelled over to her husband who fought with the controls as the left wing of the jet began to trail along the grass verge.
Ice shot her a quick look and nodded. The panic in his eyes said it all.
He couldn’t control the jet.
It was going down.
“EJECT, EJECT, EJECT. Watch the canopy.” Maverick called out as she punched them out of the bomber. The ceiling panel ejecting out cleanly and fully before she felt the strong tug of her harness as she and Ice were launched out of the crashing jet. She saw the sky for a moment before she realized what was about to happen.

They were too low. The ground rising to meet them fast.

They had no time to prepare for there landing.

There hard impact on the ground spoke words for that as Maverick passed out as a wave of excruciating pain hit her as she saw the ground come up beneath her fast.

She blinked awake slowly, the lights dully glowing above her whilst the evening sun gently shined through the window.

“Hey Petra? You awake?” a voice came from next to her.
“Sammy?” Petra asked, recognising her RIO now turned Guam Air boss as Sam “Merlin” Wells stood above her.
He’d seen them off just before Ice and Mav got into the bomber.

“Yep, its me. I’ve been here for a while sister. Landed in not long after you and Ice where wheeled in.” He said as he pulled out a torch, checking her pupil responses. “Your concussed, badly.” The vice admiral sighed as he leaned back on his chair.
“Sammy, where’s Tom?” Petra asked as she lifted her head to look around the room.

“He’s currently away for a scan, he hurt his back badly in the ejection. They think he’s fractured his spine from the rough landing.” Merlin told her, grabbing her hand. “You on the other hand hit your head on impact and knocked yourself out, a sprained wrist some minor burns and numerous cracked ribs, I think they said two where broken. You were lucky you didn’t land on your shoulder, could have broken it.” The other admiral sighed as he looked at his pilot, Petra looked nervous and scared as he squeezed her hand, careful of the burn bandages wrapped around her arms.

“Fuck.” She muttered as she looked over herself.
“You’ve been asleep for six hours. I need to call the nurses in just to check you over. Before Nat, Bradley and Callie come bursting down through the door anyways.” The giant man laughed.
“Why would the kids?” Mav started in confusion.

They where back in San Diego enjoying the last few weeks they had of leave and spending that time getting back into shape after weeks of bed rest as they healed from the carrier accident.

“There on your papers as next of kin Pete, the doctors called them when you and Tom where rushed in. Hollywood’s flying out with them and the rest of the guys now. Wood had his Bombardier bd-700-1A10 ready to go within the hour and everyone had their go bags thrown into the hold. Ron demanded to know what the hell happened when Bradley called him, as the accident hasn’t broken on the news yet… or well, hadn’t.”
“Knew he’d like the jet.” The woman smiled as she relaxed into the pillows.

She’d bought Hollywood the Bombardier for his birthday not long ago, after he had spent months searching for a decent small jet to purchase. He had talked about going and becoming a private pilot for celebs for a while but still wanted to remain in the navy, so Mav helped set him up with a hangar in the airport she owned out by China lake. The pair of them worked with some of the local pilots to set up a small private business for chartered flights. If none of the 86ers where on leave, then the pilots they hired did the job of piloting the jet. Everyone joked about how Wood really was living up to the Hollywood lifestyle and callsign, mingling with the rich and famous.

“Let’s be honest, you only bought him that so we could have amazing holidays without the fear of any of you being dishonourably discharged for hijacking a civilian jet.” Merlin laughed as Mav smiled slyly.
“Please, we’re pilots, what were you expecting. Unless its us in the cockpit we don’t want to be on the flight.” She chuckled lightly, feeling pain spread through her ribs.
“Take a Xanax.” Merlin raised his eyebrow.
“Over my dead body. What if the pilots became incapacitated, and with us as the only other pilots on board, having us conked out on Xanax doesn’t sound like a good prospect.” Petra giggled as a nurse entered the room.
“Right, I’ll step out and let the nurse see you over. I’ll message the boys and let them know your awake.” Merlin said as he moved to step out of the room, “I’ll just be out here in the corridor. Give a holler when your done nurse.” The admiral nodded as he pulled out his phone.

“How long till Tom comes back?” Petra asked the nurse who quickly began to check her over.
“We’re working on its Admiral. When you both ejected, you landed far softer than he did, your husband landed very badly.” The nurse said. “He should be on his way back up here shortly unless the damage is significant admiral Mitchell-Kazansky. There is a possibility of your husband requiring surgery.” She told her as Petra paled.
“Surgery?”
“Its possible your husband has suffered from a break in his back, if not suffered from either a fracture or damage to his spinal disks.” The nurse admitted as she comforted the injured pilot.
“How will that affect his flying.” She asked quietly, a back injury like that could finish her husband’s career as a pilot and even see his civilian license rescinded. He’d be devastated… and so would she. They’d promised they’d fly together as wingmen for years, any dangerous mission it was always them, always as a team.

She couldn’t imagine flying without her wingman.

“That has yet to be determined. If it’s a slipped disc, he’ll be grounded for six months minimum with a lot of recovery on the books. Anything else… well that’s up to the doctors.” The nurse said before squeezing Petra’s hand.
“I… thank you nurse.”
“Well, your ribs haven’t moved, your concussion is still there so we’ll be keeping an eye on you but seeing as your awake there’s no immediate risk of brain injury. Just plenty of bed rest for now and await on this party plane admiral Wells has been complaining of.” The woman chuckled as she looked over her patient, fixing the iv. “Are you in any pain?”
“Just the usual from ejection.” Petra sighed as they pulled there blanket up around them.
“I’ll give you a drop of the good stuff then, take the edge off it for a few hours.” The nurse chuckled as she put some morphine in the I.v drip.

Petra relaxed, sinking into the bed as she watched her friend re-enter the room as some nurses and doctors entered, wheeling a second bed into the room.
“Tommy?” Petra asked as she lifted her head.
“Hey sweetie…. Good to see your awake.” Ice chuckled before groaning in pain. The ejection really messed him up.
“Is he alright?” Petra asked as she blinked at one of the doctors, doing her best to fight off the drowsiness of the morphine.
“Two slipped disks, five broken ribs and around ten cracked ribs and that broken ankle. A lot of bruising and a few grazes on top of that but he managed to avoid any burns. He’s going to be seeing a chiropractor and physiotherapist for a few months.” The doctor said.

“Damn Ice, that was a bad landing.” Merlin whistled.
“At least I didn’t Break my legs.” Ice snorted as he looked at his wife, raising an eyebrow at Petra.
“No, stop it you two. Behave.” Merlin fake gagged as he turned to the doctor, “Can you give them enough to keep them in bed and kill this idiot’s boner?” Merlin asked as the doctor checked over there I.V’s and pulled out a syringe full of morphine. They quickly put a good amount into the drip and let it work its magic.
“Sammy.” Petra called at her friend in embarrassment.
“Wells, if I ever become COMPACFLT, I’m gonna ship your ass to Antarctica for that comment.” Ice groaned.
“I’m sure you will Kazansky. I’ll leave you two to rest, the idiots will be in soon enough and I’ll have to go organise a hotel for them because they are not sleeping in the jet or on my tarmac. I’ll talk to you both after, get some rest.” Merlin snorted as he moved towards the door with the doctors and nurses.

Ice looked at him with a confused face. Merlin only shook his head as he left the couple alone.

“Idiot’s?” Ice asked as he faced his wife, his eyes half lidded in tired confusion as the morphine hit his system.
“Wood had the Bombardier in the air within an hour of the accident. He’s flying in with the kids and the older kids.” Petra smugly smirked at her husband before yawning.
“I don’t like that look Pete.” Ice groaned as he relaxed into the bed, the morphine hitting him. Ice could only smile at her though as he held his hand out for her.
“It’s the only one I’ve got Tommy.” Petra laughed quietly as she reached out to her husband, taking the offered hand, squeezing it gently as the morphine really kicked in.
“Do I at least look sexy post ejection?” he asked sleepily as he squeezed Mav’s hand tightly. The comforting feeling of the others hand in their own soothing them. Mav could only giggle softly as she fell asleep.

He did for a man on a hospital gown.

The pair awoke a few hours later to quiet mumbles from around the room, the place had changed drastically in the few hours the married couple had been knocked out.
There where flowers on every available surface, and a group of older aviators sprawled out on top of one another on the small sofa in the room.

It was like hop 31 all over again.

Except this time, it was Petra and Thomas injured in those beds, surrounded by their sleeping family this time. The friends who had become more to them both over the years.
“Seriously, I know you both wanted more time to stay with us on leave, but really. This is a new extreme even for you mom.” Rooster laughed softly from his seat between Ice and Mav as he watched his parents awaken, getting everyone’s attention.
“Didn’t have much choice kiddo. It was eject or burn in.” Ice groaned, “Not that I like the back pain of two slipped disks.”
“Look on the bright side Ice, at least there’s no polaroid camera.” Petra giggled as she looked at them.
“Sorry mom, the family legacy must live on.” Callie giggled as she lifted an old, battered but beloved camera up in her hands and began to snap photos of the elder aviators.
“That’s my girl.” Petra cheered as her adoptive daughter began to take snaps of the tangled elder aviators half asleep on the sofa. All of them snapping up at the sounds of the old camera’s mechanical snap.

Goose’s beloved polaroid camera.

The camera that had caught so many moments over the years.

“Oh god no.” Chipper moaned as the guys looked at the giggling Maverick who stuck her thumbs up to Halo.
“Not again.” Sundance sighed with a smile as he looked at the woman.

Maverick the minx was back and giggling just as maniacally as they had the last time they where in this position.
Worse was the two daughters she now had who where giggling just as badly as her next to the couple in a hospital bed.

The 86er’s groaned as they collapsed into one another as their friends laughed at them.

The photo’s taken ended up in the family photo album next to the many photos taken of Rooster, Phoenix, and Halo’s accident only a few months earlier.

They called that section, family misfortunes, getting a laugh from everyone at the next family reunion and everyone else who saw the photo album. In pride of place right in the middle of the section stood a photo of Halo, Phoenix, and Rooster all sleeping on their parents’ beds, that the 86ers class had pushed together. Halo and Rooster curled up in Mavericks sides as Nat clung to Ice on his side, Maverick’s head resting on her husband’s shoulder as Ice threw his arms around his wife and the young woman in his arms that they had adopted as their own.

It made for a great story for Roosters Top Gun graduation ceremony later in the year. The young Pilot following in his aunt/adoptive mothers’ footsteps and winning the Top gun plaque to the delight of his family.

Chapter Text

Maverick cooed softly as he watched the sun rise over the desert.

“Hmm? Mav?” Goose raised his head as he began to blink up at his flock mate as Bradley chirped softly beneath his wings.
“Yes, flock brother.” Maverick warbled as he snapped his head towards goose.
“Ah, your lost already?” Goose chuckled as he looked at Mav.
“Want fly, need flight.” The falcon twittered out as he stretched out his wings.
“Go fly. I’ll join you in a little bit, can’t leave the guys wondering where we went when they wake up.” Goose stretches as he re-covers carol and Bradley in his wings, keeping the heat in the family nest.

Maverick nodded with a smile and quiet trill and changed into a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt before throwing open the doors of their room and running out into the back garden.
Within a few flaps he was soaring through the crisp morning air the falcon was disappearing off into the morning sun. The call of the sky being answered as he soared higher and higher into the air.
With a screech he took off speeding over the dunes and hills.

Goose should have gotten up and followed his friend.
He went back to bed.

“Hey goose?” Ice asked a few hours later
“Yeah?” the goose asked as he put out scrambled eggs.
“Where’s Maverick?” Slider raised an eyebrow as the rest of the guys sat around the living space of Mavericks desert home.

The goose stops what he’s at as he looks out the windows.

“He’s… shit… he should have been back by now.” Goose swears as he sets the pan down. “Fuck he was lost to his instincts this morning; fuck I fucked up.” Goose began to freak, getting laughter from Carole.
“Oh goosie, after last night I don’t blame you for forgetting.” Carole giggled as she took the pan from her husband, continuing to plate up the squad’s breakfast.
“Um… is that good or bad?” Wolf winced, both him and slider sharing a look, realising what’s happened to the other resident avian. Maverick had fallen to his animal instincts.
“He could be hundreds of kilometres away by now.” Goose groaned as he threw on one of his famous Hawaiian shirts over the grey t-shirt he had on.

Everyone looking at goose in shock.

“Papa? Uncle Mav gone flying again?” Bradley asked as he pulled at his fathers’ shirt.
“Yep, papa was an idiot and let him go without realizing it.” the goose bit his lip as he looked at his fledgling.

“Uh… how bad is it when Maverick goes falcon?” Slider asked as the rest of the guys listened in.
“Full bird of prey mode, he will hunt the local wildlife and kill it.” Goose swore as he raced towards the door. “I apologize in advance for if he comes back carrying his prey.”
“So, like a bird or something.” Chipper asked and the guys looked around at each other in confusion and amusement.
“Try an actual deer. He brought home a southern mule deer carcass last time he went out unsupervised.” Carole laughed as Wolf’s tail started wagging.
“Oh my god. Dude keeps your pilot away from me then.” Slider squeaked as he hid behind Ice, getting laughter from everyone.
“It made for a nice barbeque but the bloodstains where so hard to clean up.” Goose laughed as he spread his wings wide.
“Bring back another deer for dinner please. I fancy some venison!” Wolf hollered getting a laugh from everyone as Slider’s jaw dropped in horror.
“Don’t need to when Sliders right there for the taking.” Goose winked, blowing the stag a kiss before giving everyone a salute before flapping up towards
“Fuck you Bradshaw, I’ll cook you like a Christmas goose if your pilot tries to eat me.” Slider squirmed as he looked at the goose.
There guest watched as Goose walked out into the back garden, flapping softly before he jumped into the air, taking off into the morning sky to go find his flock brother. He had an idea where Maverick might have disappeared off towards.

He returned half an hour later with a fussy falcon who refused to come down from the sky. Screeching high above them as he circled over the house and air range.

And with a small desert bighorn sheep being hauled in Maverick’s talons.
Which he promptly dropped onto the ground in front of the garage with a loud bang.

“Cool. I want the skull.” Wolf yelped in delight as he looked at the large horns on the sheep. Now that would make a nice hat rack, a horn for Woods Stetson and another for one of his own.
“You want a bone as well then big boy?” Goose said as he landed down, pulling out a sun lounger and moving to sit on it whilst keeping an eye on maverick who continued to circle high above them in the desert. Wolf yipped accidentally as he blushed with embarrassment. He really did want an oversized bone to chew on.

“How far out was he?” Hollywood asked, impressed at the haul the tiny avian pulled in. The sheep was nearly the same size as Maverick, and most definitely much, much heavier than him. He still avoided looking at the mauled neck of the poor creature, the blood still gushing out of it covering the desert dirt and drying on Maverick’s talons.
“About forty miles away on the edge of the national park.” The avian sighed, “He’d already gotten the sheep by that stage.”
“And he can do that?” Sundance asked.
“Those talons aren’t just for show boys, and when he’d going full speed, he’s like a bullet out of a rifle to the poor things.” Carole consoled the horrified Sundance, Slider, and Hollywood.

The others seemed to be amused by it.
“He usually breaks the spine alone when he pins them but slits the throat to make sure.” The woman explained with an awkward wince.
“I think I’ll become a vegetarian with you sli.” Hollywood gagged as he watched the blood gush from the clawed-out throat of the animal.
“Is that legal?” Slider asked.
“When the cops aren’t around anything’s legal. Not that they can catch up to him anyways.” Goose chuckled as Carole brought him out a cup of fresh coffee and some slices of toast. “Thanks honey.”
“Goose, we’re in the navy, we’re servicemen like the police.” Ice sent a questioning glance at his friend, “And what the hell are we going to do with the sheep.”
“Butcher it, we can’t release it, it’s dead and besides its fresh as anything thanks to Mav.” Goose looked at Ice like it was a stupid question.
“We’ll I’m not sorting the mutton out, I’ll leave you boys to handle that, but put down a tarp this time goosie, it can get very messy honey.” Carole laughed as she returned to the house.
“You hear that Mav!” Goose called up. The falcon above snapped his head down towards the group but never dropped in altitude or ceased his circling.

A single piercing screech was heard a few seconds later in clearing. The falcon above shaking his head, to clear the haze of instincts as he looked at the group below him.
“He says yes.” Goose chuckled as he looked at the group of confused aviators looking for a translation. “At least he’s responsive, he’s likely coming out of his instincts now.”
“No talking him out or anything?”
“Not when he’s like that. The pull of the sky is too strong for him. I can usually soften the urges by being there for him but when he’s alone its just better to let him burn it out. Give him another hour or two just you watch.” Goose sighed as he watched Maverick swoop overhead.

The guys chilled around the poolside in the morning sun as they watched the falcon swoop around over the landscape around the house. Wolf, Chipper and sundown had taken to an early morning swim before breaking out a beach ball to volley it back and forth for a while. Ice sat down on a hammock that was strung between two posts, pulling out a book and beginning to talk about it with Hollywood whilst Slider excused himself to go towards the gym equipment, he spied in the garage the day before.
Bradley took to running in and out of the house.
Goose ended up watching the falcon swooping overhead lazily.
It was relaxing to watch their friend dive and soar above them for hours until he finally landed.

Goose watched as Maverick shook his head above them as he began to drop in altitude. Goose pointed towards the sky getting everyone’s attention before he shoved another sun lounger towards Mav.
“Ugh… fuck… I lost myself, didn’t I?” Mav groaned as he flopped onto a sun lounger stomach first.
“Yep.” Goose snorted.
“Well… that um… sorry guys.” Mav winced awkwardly. He hadn’t meant to let the guys see him go all bird like so soon, wanting them to get to know him more before they saw. Maverick did fear how they’d react to him, despite their developing friendships with the group.
“Don’t be, we all lose ourselves in our instincts from time to time.” Wolf clapped maverick on his shoulder as he bounded over and comforted the clearly awkward avian.
“Its my fault anyways.” Goose admitted, as he looked at his flock brother guiltily.
“Is not.” Mav shot up, frowning at Goose.
“It is, I said I’d come with to keep an eye on you. I just went back to bed.” The other avian trilled sadly.
“Goose don’t blame yourself; you couldn’t keep up with me anyways.” Mav chuckled as he shoved his wing into gooses, getting his friend to honk in laughter.
“Well at least we’ve got dinner for tonight.” Sundance butted in as he pointed to the sheep.
“After you two clean it. I’m not doing shit.” Hollywood gagged as he threw his arms up, getting a laugh from his back seater.
“Alright misters walk of fame, really living up to the call-sign princess. Can’t you celebrities handle a little butchering and blood like the rest of us?” Wolf smirked as he grabbed the horns of the sheep.
“You’ll find that horn going right up your.” Hollywood started only for goose to jump up in front of him, putting his hand over the pilots’ mouths. Getting everyone to laugh at “Mother Goose”, the Navy’s self-proclaimed best parent.
“ANYWAYS, lets get lunch on then.” Goose cried out as he stared at the baby bird who had exited the house.
That explained it, no swearing around the fledgling or they’d have to deal with a very angry mother goose.

The group of fighter pilots laughed as they helped their friends butcher the sheep Mav had brought back. It was a fun experience for some but a horrifying one for certain others which made it just the more hilarious. The mutton ended up being thrown onto a spit and slow cooked as the group of pilots and RIO’s messed around in the desert, some playing football on the runway apron below, others chilling by the pool side and Ice convincing Maverick to take him up in the mustang once again.

It was a good weekend, and a great stress release from the intensity of the TOPGUN program.

Chapter Text

“So what else do we need?” Goose asked.
“Uh… we have the beets, mushrooms, lentils, carrots, potatoes, cheeses, bone in beef for stock, onions and a cabbage.” Maverick said as he looked over the list the other pilot had sent them out with early this morning.

Ice volunteered to make dinner for the group and wanted to make home comforts. So he announced that they were all going to be having traditional Ukrainian foods, foods from his childhood that his grandmother made for him and his sister, and proceeded to kick Goose, Slider and Maverick out of the house to go get the ingredients needed.

“Yeah, his borscht is amazing.” Slider clapped as they walked around the la Jolla farmer’s market. “It’s been a while since we’ve been able to make it and not rely on running to a mess for food. Thank God for the kitchen in the dorms.” The stag smiled as he looked over the market stalls excitedly.
“Oh, give me a second.” Maverick butted in as they walked past another fruit and veg stall, quickly picking up a carton of blueberries and paying for them.
“Seriously Mav?” Slider raised an eyebrow.
“What. I love blueberries.” The falcon sheepishly grinned.
“Don’t get between Mav and blueberries, Viper did that once and ended up with a nasty scratch that saw him unable to fly a jet for weeks.” Goose laughed. “You could win his friendship with lifetimes supply of blueberries sli, I’m telling you.” Goose laughed as he rustled his pilot’s hair as Mav’s ear feathers stood up in embarrassment as his face flushed red.

“When was that.” Slider asked as he looked at the avian’s questioningly. That was something knew he hadn’t known about the smaller pilot. They knew he was taken in by their commander at a stage but other than that they knew very little about Maverick aside from what he’d told them. There commander looked completely fine, so it wasn’t a recent injury, but clearly there was a story that needed to be told. Any chance for dirt on a commander was always fun, especially if it was embarrassing for the smaller avian.
“First holidays from the academy? I think...” Goose pondered.
“Nope, first leave after flight school.” Mav said. “It was the celebratory barbeque he threw for us for being assigned to the VF-1 squadron.” Mav smirked.
“Oh yeah. You apologized for weeks.” Goose laughed as Mav blushed.
“Now that sounds like a story you must tell us later. Any dirt on those old men is better than nothing.” Slider laughed as he threw his arm around Maverick.

The pair, despite having butted heads in the past few weeks seemed to be getting along better as the course went on. The weekend at Mavericks in the desert and the volleyball game before that seemed to have chilled them out a bit when around each other. It did the same for the rest of the guys, they weren’t so standoffish with Maverick anymore and neither was he to them. A plus in goose’s eyes, knowing Maverick wasn’t one to easily trust others after all they’d been through. Knowing he was slowly coming around to the guys left a smile on his flock brothers face. The weekend in the desert a week ago seemed to have left them all on a better standing, the other pilots no longer being assholes and actually seeing maverick as his own person, not as a shadow of a spoiled legacy.

Mav deserved good friends.

The trio of hybrids continued to walk around the marketplace as they picked up the last of the ingredients on Ice’s list. There was some fresh meat, some fresh apple cider vinegar, spices and other items. They had run into no problems at all whilst at the open-air market.

Not until goose caught a whiff of something fishy… literally.

As Slider and Maverick looked over Ice’s grocery list once more, they failed to notice their companion disappear off around them.
“Goose what do you think? Should we get some more meat or do you think that’s enough.” Mav said as he stopped and looked through their bags.
Maverick stopped and stood stock still.
“Um… Slider…” Mav said.
“Oh… oh shit.” Slider said as the pair of them looked around the market stalls. “Um Mav?”
“Yeah.” The falcon looked at the stag raising an eyebrow at him like he hadn’t noticed there missing accomplice.
“We’ve a problem.”
“Yeah, I hadn’t noticed.” Maverick grimaced as he handed Slider the groceries. “Take these, I’m going airborne. We need to find him in case he falls into his instincts.”
“How bad is he?” Slider asked as he ducked under Mavericks expanding wings.
“Um… not as bad as me… but will rip someone arm off.” Mav winced, remembering the poor sheep he dragged home in his instincts induced haze.
“Oh fuck.” Slider said before they heard a crash come from behind them along with a loud hiss and a shout.
“GOOSE!” the pair called out as they heard a series of crashing, smashing, hissing and screams.

Not even a minute later Slider was hauling a rabid Goose over his shoulder away from a very destroyed fish mongers stall.The taller of the two avians was hissing wildly as he flapped his wings madly, fighting against Sliders hold until Maverick threw his jacket over the avian head, getting him to calm down immediately. One of the Stall owners handed them over the largest salmon on there stall, the one that Goose had tried to lift. Leaving Slider with a now docile Goose, Maverick forked out his wallet and threw the owner a few hundred dollars in compensation as the markets organizers came over towards the three aviators.
This wasn't good.

Mav and Slider sighed as they watched their companion chew away happily at the giant salmon, he had gotten his hands on as they drove back to their assignment on base.

“Welp… I’m not telling Ice we’ve been banned from the farmer’s market.” Slider sighed, getting Maverick to look at him indignantly.
“Don’t look at me, he’s your pilot. He’ll kill me.” Mav squeaked whilst Goose honked. “He said ditto.”
Goose nodded his head as he looked at them, raw salmon in his moustache as he looked between the stag and his flock brother. His eyes were blown wide as he happily munched on the raw fish, the RIO let off happy trills as he munched away on the fresh fish.
“We’re both screwed aren’t we.” Maverick sighed as he took a tiny sliver of salmon.
“Yep.” The stag nodded.

And they were.

Ice spent an hour yelling at Maverick and Slider for how stupid they were.
When Goose awoke from his haze, he apologized to his friends profusely and was given a short lecture by Ice to tell the others around him if he was going to fall into his instincts again. The ice-cold pilot spent the next few hours living up to his callsign as he cooked vegetarian, and meat filled dishes. Treating his friends to a cold shoulder as he kicked them out of the kitchen with a sigh, shaking his head the whole time as he looked at them. He could only crack a smile as he placed the now sliced and pickled remains of the salmon onto the table for the guys, seeing the delight from there goose as he grabbed the plate and pulled it in closer to him.

Wolfman, Slider and Maverick all rolled their eyes in amusement as Ice, chipper, Hollywood and Sundance watched the avian go feral on them as he hackled and hissed at the table before he took the plate of fish down to his and Mavericks room. The door slamming shut behind him as the others looked at each other.

His instincts where still strong enough to overpower his normal brain it appeared.
And all it took was one large fresh caught Salmon.

“He’s not going to be leaving your room anytime soon is he.” Sundance asked as he looked at Maverick.
“Not unless you want an angry T-Rex attacking you.” Maverick snorted as Slider let out a bark of a laugh.
“Oh god, he was an angry T-Rex earlier wasn’t he.” The stag laughed as he lean on the smaller pilot, getting everyone to look at the pair as Ice sighed.
“Do we want to know?” Hollywood asked.
“… Na…” Wolf let out a grin as he looked at the other two hybrids in the room. He had an idea as to what happened already.
“Oh, did we miss mother goose falling into his instincts?” Chipper whined. “I wanted to see that.”
“Why?” Ice asked, everyone was looking at the other pilot like he’d grown a second head in that moment.
“I wanted to see if birds did evolve from dinosaurs.” The pilot shrugged as everyone looked at him in concern. “What? Mav went all predator mode and brought back a full sheep bigger than himself. Besides, have you seen an angry goose; they are terrifying. Little T-Rex's with teeth on their tongue. I wanted to see how big Goose would be like.”
“He’s probably just an oversize angry goose then.” Wolf laughed.
“Does goose have teeth on his tongue?” Slider asked as he looked horrified at the group, getting laughter from everyone around him. Mav subtly smiled, not saying anything to the stag who looked at him desperately.

The others laughed as they tucked into their dinner talking about if birds where related to dinosaurs avidly, getting Maverick to laugh and trill the hardest as they discussed the subject. Had Maverick known that he’d become closer to these idiots through the discussion of dinosaurs he would have told someone they were mad. Yet here they were avidly discussing it as they relaxed with these men. Once the food on the table was done, the group of aviators cracked open some beers they had brought back from the market and moved to the small living room area to continue discussing the like between dinosaurs and birds. Soon enough it evolved into whether their classmate could or should complete a hop, without a jet and just fly himself before the group began to share stories of the dumb stuff they did when learning to fly.

Both learning to fly a plane and learning how to fly with one’s own wings.
He needed to thank goose when he was coherent enough for the opportunity to open up in front of these guys.
They where all right.

With bellies filled with hearty foods and downed with plenty of crisp beer it wasn’t too long before the group eventually fell asleep in the living room area of their assignment. Slider and Ice having fallen against one another, with Maverick stretched out over Wolf and Slider, his wings partly but not fully covering the pair. Chipper and Sundance had fallen against one another from where they sat and had begun to cuddle one another with Hollywood stretched out over their legs, his hand in wolfs own as they stretched between the two sofas.

A few hours later the missing person from the group emerged from his room with the plate of devoured fish, doing his best to avoid laughing at the group but at the same time cursing his instincts as he missed out on watching the idiots around him cuddle. He was happy to see Maverick relaxed in their presence even as he slept so the goose quietly returned to his room and emerged with his prized camera, ready to take plenty of photos to blackmail the idiots with. Goose smiled as he threw a few blankets over the idiots before setting the camera down and pushing into the sofa next to his flock brother who cooed sleepily as he stretched over goose.

And if those Polaroids ended up disappearing from there assignment only to turn up in a discrete photo frame in Vipers office well, none of the aviators said anything. All to embarrassed at the thought of being adopted by their commanding officer like Mav had been.

After-all, what sort of commanding officer just goes and adopts a whole squadron of disaster aviators.

Chapter Text

Viper shivered violently as he looked out from the tower over the runways.
He took a long gulp of his steaming hot coffee, willing himself to stay awake, dragging his fangs over the boiling hot liquid before breaking into a giant yawn, his jaw dislocating before snapping back into shape.

It was early in the morning as he overlooked his class planner. A cold storm front had blown down from the north and temperatures had dropped to stupid cold levels. It wouldn’t be a good idea to complete a hop when the weather looked set to get worse through the day so it would be classroom learning for the pilots today.

“Mike?” Jester asked as he stuck his head into his friend’s office.
He’d made his way into the office earlier than usual this morning when he’d seen the late-night weather forecast.

“Hmmm?” He asked as he slowly lifted his head, yawning once more.
“Mike, go home, you’re falling into brumation.” Rick sighed, shaking his head as he looked at his snake friend.
He had figured the sudden drop in temperature over the last day as the storm front moved in would trigger this in his friend. He’d already seen Goose and Maverick return from an early morning shop where the pair had disappeared off to get warmer nesting material and warmer clothes to fight off any instinctive urges to migrate. Wolfman and Slider had also gone to requisition to get warmer gear to deal with their own instinctive urges the sudden cold front could bring.

Snakes and their human hybrid counterparts had the tendency to fall into a state of hibernation called Brumation. They weren’t sleeping for months at a time, instead it could be days or a few weeks as they became slower, sluggish and less active, there metabolisms slowing down tremendously as there bodies moved to conserve energy until the warmer months returned.

Usually this wasn’t a problem for Mike, San Diego was normally in the mid tens Celsius to high twenties up to even thirty or forty Celsius. However, the temperatures had plummeted over night as a cold front moved down from British Colombia and Alaska, sweeping California into numbers nearly in the minuses in some areas. The northern half of the state seeing snow on its higher peaks.

This was now causing problems for the sidewinder rattlesnake hybrid as San Diego’s temperatures plummeted into the nought centigrade.

“Hmm… no… no I’m. “Viper answered back as he blinked sluggishly, yawning once more, “I’m… fine Rick.” He slowly told his friend.
“Damn it Mike, your barely awake right now. Go home now or I will call Pete and Nick and have them drive you home and explain to Mary why your practically frozen.” Rick said as he placed his hand on his friends’ forehead. “Never mind, it’s too late, you’re already freezing.”
“I… What, about, the class?” He asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he fought to keep them open.
“I’ll cancel hops and classes today. The kids like a day off, it means they can keep an eye out on themselves and insure no one else falls to their instincts like you are right now.” Rick sighed as he removed his jacket, wrapping it around Vipers shoulders. “Go home, rest, and we’ll see you back here in a few days when this cold front has lifted, and you snap out of your instincts.” Jester sighed as he grabbed the phone on the desk, quickly dialling in the number for Pete and Nicks room in the student’s barracks.
“Yeah, Pete, Nick, I need you both to come to the tower, the idiots gone into Brumation and decided to come to work anyways. I need you both to take him home to Mary before he falls asleep here then we’ll never get him shifted.” Jester sighed, “And tell your classmates I’ve cancelled all lessons and hops for the day. Alright, I’ll see you both shortly.”
“I… Rick, you didn’t… have to.” Mike yawned.
“It’s fine Mike. Go take care of yourself. Pete will be here in a moment and Nick’s bringing his Bronco round. You’ll be at home in no time in your nice warm nest, Mary will have the blankets, electric blankets and duvets all stacked up for you and as many hot water bottles as possible.” The man said as he turned around and began to dial up his friend’s wife, letting her know about her husband’s instinct take over as he heard flapping landing on the balcony outside the tower before the doors opened.

Maverick stood at the exit, his wings fluffed up as he tugged on his leather jacket, taking relief in the warmth the old bomber jacket provided him.
“Hey old man… you sleepy?” Pete smiled softly as he looked at his adoptive father.
“Not old… smartass…” Viper pointed.
“Yeah, he’s going into brumation Pete. Let’s get him down to the entrance.” Jester sighed.
“Yeah, Goose is swinging his bronco around right now. We’ll see that he gets home uncle rick.”
“Good, make sure you get him into the house this time. We don’t need Mary finding his ass asleep in the lawn like the last time some of us dropped him off home. Make sure he at least makes it to the living room this time.” Rick snorted softly as he watched Pete wrap a wing around Mike.
“Come on pops, bedtime.” Pete nodded at his uncle as he walked him out of the control tower.
“I… hate you… rick…” Viper yawned.
“Yeah, yeah, love you too Mike, now go.” His college laughed as he watched his nephew take his adoptive father down the stairs and down to the awaiting bronco below.

Three days later, the class was all sitting around in the classroom, the cold storm front having lifted and the temperatures soaring back to blistering heat as Viper walked back into the classroom.
“Have a nice nap pop?” Goose snorted quietly as the instructor walked past them.
Only their immediate group heard him as they sniggered softly. Mav and Goose had to explain brumation to them as they wondered what happened to their main instructor.

“I did boys, thanks for that. Two hundred push ups for conspiring with Jester to get a day off though.” Viper smiled smugly as he let his fangs grow down over his lips, showing them how serious he was.
“Fuck…” Maverick swore as the rest of the class looked at them. Ice, Slider, Hollywood, Wolf, Chipper and Sundance snorted in quiet laughter as they watched Mav and Goose receive their punishment.

The polaroids of the two avian’s completing their push ups was taken by a rather excited Chipper as the rest of the idiots stood around with bright smiles with Goose and Mav beneath them doing push ups. Both avian’s had murder written on their faces, letting out warning hisses at the group of idiots laughing around them.

Viper placed it in a frame next to the photos of his own kids and Pete and the ones he swiped from there assignment early one morning, after he found them all asleep on one another. These stupid kids his adoptive son/nephew had gotten to know had become his own kids now in the weeks that had passed.

The snake hybrid could only shake his head as he smiled.

He loved this year’s group of dumb yet extraordinary pilots.

Chapter Text

The aviators gathered around the piano in the o-club on one of their late nights.
They had no classes or hops scheduled for the next morning, so the guys had agreed to go out to the bar for a night of drinks to relax and have a bit of fun. Currently Goose was playing away, with the rest of the guys singing around him. However, there resident bird of prey was missing from the group as Wolf watched as another group of Pilots enter the bar, all older than them from the looks of it, and likely from one of the local squadrons based in Miramar that’s not connected to TOPGUN fighter school.

Maverick had left their group and gone over to the bar to get them all the next round of drinks but hadn’t come back yet, not that it worried any of them. Maverick was likely talking to Charlie; the civilian contractor had been floating around earlier and had been talking to the guys earlier before spying a friend in the area. Yet something didn’t sit right with one member of their group, it wouldn’t have taken the avian long to get their drinks, and paying for them was never a problem, Mav was loaded, the richest out of them all. Wolf flicked his ear as he scanned around the bar looking to spot the avian who was being flanked by some of the pilots who had just come in.

Wolf narrowed his eyes as he looked at the group that surrounded maverick, noticing his friends ear feathers rising in a way he’d come to recognise as a hostile gesture, a defensive mechanism to make the avian seem bigger and a threat to be taken seriously. Right now, it did nothing against the two pilots sizing up the avian between them. That didn’t sit right with the German shepherd hybrid whose ears pinned back against his head hostility as he looked at them both.
Wolf growled lowly getting everyone’s attention as the dog hybrid narrowed his eyes and began to move over to the bar.

“Wolfie?” Hollywood asked as he looked at his partner. As everyone’s heads snapped up towards where their friend was as Wolf quickly made his way over to them.
“Oh, lookie here, birdy has a guard dog, does he?” One of the pilots said as the bar fell silent, other patrons noticing the cocky attitude the older pilots had taken.
“Leave him alone.” Wolf growled as his eyes narrowed viciously. Hollywood quickly pushed past the others and moved to make his way to his back seater before things escalated, recognising what was about to go down before the others did.
“Oh, look big scary guard dog for the traitor’s son.” Another said as he moved to grab maverick.

Then all hell broke loose inside the bar.

The avian let out a screech of pain as the asshole pilot ripped out a handful of secondary feathers before the asshole responsible went down as Wolfe jumped on him, angrily smashing his head into the floor as they started to brawl with the older pilots who had entered, many of the o-clubs patrons fleeing the establishment as wolf began to bite and rip and the idiots who dared attack his pack.
“MY PACK.” He growled as Slider, Sundance and Ice jumped on the other pilots, throwing their own punches as they dragged them out of the bar.

All of the older pilots shocked at their quick call to action to defend their friend. Goose ran towards Maverick and began to sooth the injured wing, massaging around the missing feathers, hissing hostility at the idiots who were getting the shit beaten out of them.
Chipper and Hollywood where the only two sane pilots left in the group as they tried to drag wolf away from the screaming pilot he was sitting on, having sunk his teeth into the man’s arms as he clawed at his face.
“GET THIS FERAL MUTT OFF ME.” The older pilot called out as one of them pulled wolfs tail, getting the hybrid to yelp in pain before snarling at the group.
“LIEUTENANTS!” Came a call that froze both groups of pilots as commander Heatherly entered the bar.

The two groups of pilots separated quickly, all of them black and blue as they turned to the commander.
“And just what the hell is going on here.” The commander yelled as he looked at the two groups.
“Just teaching this traitor to know his place, sir.” One of the pilots spat at Maverick.
“Didn’t realize he’d have this mangy mutt as his guard dog protecting him.” Another said as Jester looked over them all, his eyes narrowing as he spied the clump of missing feathers from maverick’s wing, still in one of the elder pilots’ hands.
“I hope you men realize that assaulting your fellow lieutenants and triggering an instinct induced haze will be written up in your files along with a demotion to your current rank.” the commander said coolly as he moved to stand in front of his students protectively. “Not to mention it’s an automatic dishonorable discharge to mutilate a fellow serving hybrids animal trait, yes? You’ve assaulted not only Lieutenant Wolfe, but mutilated Lieutenant Mitchell's traits.” he said as the police entered the bar. “These assholes here officers, escort them to the base and we’ll see them dishonorably discharged by dawn.” He said as he pointed to the group all of which paled as they were where placed in handcuffs.
All of the older pilots who had been harassing Maverick paled as they were placed in the cuffs and led away.

Wolf snarled as the older pilots where lead out of the bar by the police. He hovered protectively over Maverick and goose, dragging everyone in around the pair of avian’s.
“Wolfie?”
“My pack. Protect pack.” The dog growled lowly as his eyes flicked around the bar, looking for anymore potential threats.

He stood tense and poist to strike at any threat.

“Boys, go back to your accommodation, take the morning off. I’ll clear it up with Viper.” Jester said as he stood back from the group. Watching as Wolf’s eyes followed him the whole time as he backed off.
“Yes sir.” Ice nodded as he grabbed the others and moved to leave the bar, Mav throwing a few hundred dollars onto the bar top in compensation for any damage as they left.
Wolf prowled between them all as they made there way back up the street towards the base, a long walk for tired, intoxicated, and injured aviators. It was still the better choice as wolf would probably freak out if they separated into the two cars they arrived in, especially with the german shepard tense as he was in his instincts. Even when they got into there assignment the aviators took to there living room area.

The guys said nothing as they let the man check them over as he hugged them and rubbed himself over them.
“Should we… do something?” Wood asked, having never seen this sort of behaviour from his RIO.
“No, let him scent you. It’ll keep him happy.” Maverick winced as he looked over the group.

His wing was missing two large feathers, a primary and a secondary. Both had little dribbles of clotting blood drying up on where the feathers had come from. Wolf didn't look any better, but at least the blood wasn't his own.

Wolf looked over him protectively, half shoving the injured aviator under him as they returned to their assigned accommodation. Hollywood and Chipper dragged Maverick and Wolf off towards the sofa and sat them down whilst goose ran a basin full of warm soapy water and grabbed a soft cloth. Both Wolf and Maverick where gently cleaned of the blood that covered them, Wolf more so than Maverick. The man had bitten a few of there attackers after all.

The guys all sat around the living room as Wolf returned to scenting them all once they'd cleaned the blood off of him. The group sat around for a good hour before the german shepard seemed content that his pack smelt like him, before he backed up away from them all. Still hovering close but not down right in there faces, allowing for the guys to split up and head off towards there bunks for the night.

Prowling the corridors for ages as the guys settled down in their rooms for the night. Wolfe had originally begun to whine as they did that, but they had come to the compromise of leaving their doors open as they fell asleep, allowing for the attentive German Shepard to hear everything coming from his packs rooms. It allowed for Wolf to curl up under Hollywood’s arms and rest a little easier that night.

By the morning he was back to his normal self, well as normal as he could be. He was still guarding Maverick protectively the next day.

They all had a lot more appreciation for there over grown puppy, glad he saw them as pack and not a threat.

it made them all feel safer the next time they went out on the town knowing that he'd be there to protect them.

Chapter Text

Slider gritted his teeth as he listened to Ice and Maverick argue in the locker room once more.

His pilot was upset at a move Maverick and Goose had pulled to win the points on today’s hop. A totally reckless manoeuvre in Ice’s opinion that could have endangered the two avian’s lives if not wreck their jet. Viper and Jester hadn’t said anything but sighed at Maverick and Goose but for Ice it wasn’t enough. Everyone else had moved to the farthest side of the locker room when they saw how agitated Ice was making Maverick. The falcons’ feathers puffing up as his wings subconsciously rose around him, making him seem larger and a threat.

A threat that was currently beginning to trigger Slider, his stag instincts telling him to be on high alert.

Goose and Wolf where the first to notice Sliders increasing agitation as his pilot continued to argue with the increasingly agitated falcon.
“Ice… stop.” Slider winced, not liking the rasp of his voice as he fought against his overwhelming instincts to be on alert, to flee from the two men who his head was registering as threats instead of friends right now.
“Ice, Mav, cut it out or take it outside.” Wolf spoke first as he noticed the stag struggling with his instincts.
“Guys, your triggering Slider, cut it out now.” Goose added as Ice and Maverick turned to acknowledge them.
“Then tell your idiot of a pilot to stop pulling such reckless stunts.” Ice whined.
“You can be so annoying. IT WAS FINE.” The avian flapped, he was getting tired of Ice’s shit attitude to his piloting. If he had a problem, he should take it up with the pilots who taught him, they were just down the hallways after all.
“You’re going to get yourself killed you fucking birdbrained idiot, god is your head full of feathers.” Ice cried out in frustration before paling as he realised what he just said.
“Fuck you bitch.” Mav screeched as Goose moved to hold him back, keeping Maverick’s talons from scratching Ice as he screeched out in frustration. Mavericks’ hands flung over his mouth, but it was too late as he looked towards the stag.

It was enough to send Slider running.

The falcons screech triggering his fight or flight instincts.

They chose flight as the stag fled from the locker room. The startled deer noise leaving his mouth as he fled from the room.
“Fuck Ron!” Ice swore as he ran towards the door. Wolf, Hollywood, and Chipper already making their way after the startled RIO, trying to chase him down, pushing the pilot away.
“Your both idiots, you Ice know better than to call Mav that. And Mav, you know better than to retaliate, it was understandable but not the time.” Goose slapped the pair of them upside their heads, slapping Ice harder than Maverick. He looked angrier at Ice than he did at Mav.
“You’ve triggered your own RIO and insulted Mav and Goose dipshit. Keep your dick measuring competition outside the locker room in future and away from Ron.” Sundance narrowed his eyes at Ice as he looked guilty at them. “Mav, Goose, come on, lets go find Sli, we’ll need you both for aerial reconnaissance if he’s left the building. Ice… go cool off.” The RIO narrowed his eyes as he took off down the corridor, both avian’s nodded before leaving the stumped pilot sitting in the changing room.

“Guys, I found him.” Wolf called as the group of pilots and RIO’s minus Ice as goose and Maverick landed a short distance away.
“That’s good… I. um.. I’ll go let Viper, Jester and Ice know we found him.” Maverick sighed in relief. “I’ll apologise when he’s not lost to his instincts.” The pilot winced as he looked at the group. It had been his screech that triggered the stag.
“Probably for the better.” Goose winced back at his friend watching as Maverick spread his wings, ready to take off back to the other side of the base.
“Its… its fine…” Slider huffed out harshly as he panted.

The man had run from one side of the base to the other. The group had alerted Viper and Jester to keep an eye out for Slider in case anything happened to him.

“Its not… sorry Sli, I should have stopped arguing before it got that bad.” Maverick said as he looked at the stag.
“F, forgiven.” Slider wheezed out as the others slowly approached him. Taking their time as they moved to comfort him, showing that they had nothing that could harm him on them.
“Right, well I’ll leave you for now in case I do trigger his instincts again. Bird of prey and all. See you guys shortly.” Maverick nodded before taking off, the group feeling the power of his wings as the air rushed around them, slider flinched before relaxing as his friends moved around him.

Hollywood and chipper moved to hug Slider as the stag’s eyes began to return to normal, not completely blown wide but not completely normal either. Wolf and Goose took up positions in front and behind the stag, shielding him in an attempt to calm his stag side, Sundance himself stood back and kept an eye on their surroundings. The group sat with him for easily an hour as they sat out his instincts. His head slowly clearing as he looked at his friends with clear thoughts that weren’t overlapped by thoughts of flee or fight, friend, or foe.

“Sorry guys.” Slider sighed after a while. “That was building up for a while.”
“Don’t blame yourself Sli, you’ve seen the rest of us lose ourselves, its only fair you lose yourself too.” Goose rubbed his friend’s arm.
“Yeah man, Top guns intense and we’ve all had stressful moments where we’ve lost control to our instincts at a stage.” Wolf nodded as he scratched the back of sliders head, hitting a soft spot that had the stag relaxing in there hold. “Its only fair you have a breakdown too.” The dog added.

“Hey Ron… we don’t want to ask but…” Goose started. “Has Ice ever.”
“No, no he’s not racist… he’s just stressed over winning top gun. His old man called the other day and hounded him on the phone.” The stag sighed, “His old man’s an admiral in the Atlantic fleet and high up his horse as he’s explained before. His old mans a navy socialite and his mother’s just as bad. His old man found out Mitchell is part of our class and called the base asking for Ices number, so he got it and proceeded to call Ice. The bastard heard through the grape vine Mitchell was at topgun and practically ordered Ice to obliterate him and make you both quit the course and said a lot of stuff that’s got him on edge.” The stag sighed, explaining why his pilot had been on edge for the past few days.
“Oh…” Wolf winced, that parental pressure to succeed was something he didn’t want to experience, for once thankful his family saw him as a failure and kept him at a distance.
“Sounds about right if I remember correctly. Bastard never came to graduation, I had to tap Ice out.” Goose sighed as he looked at his friends, “No wonder he’s been so agitated, his old man’s a right piece of work.”
“It’s been building for a while now. I keep telling Tom he needs to cut his parents off, there not good people.” The stag sighed as he moved to get up.
“We both know he won’t do that until his sister is out of their grasp, Sarah’s still in college on the east coast.” Goose stated, “Get Sarah this side of the country and then we help him cut off contact with his parents, I can ask Maverick to ask Metcalf and Heatherly to pull a favour to get you and him into the pacific fleet and not back in the Atlantic.” The avian patted the others back.
“Only if you and Mav join us and get these idiots in too.” Sundance smirked.
“Oh we’ve grown on you boys?” Hollywood chuckled from where he stood.
“Oh yeah, despite Ice’s frosty front, he’s really melting for you guys. He’s really come around since the volleyball game. He’s beginning to realise he’s got a lot more in common with Maverick than he realises.” Slider let off a small reassuring smile, far different to his usual smirk.

“Oh yeah?” Goose raised an eyebrow.
“Oh yeah, shitty parents and neglectful childhood. A rich kid given nothing but disappointment. A need for flight to prove he’s the best there is, the pressure of a navy legacy on his shoulders. It’s been scaring him just how similar they are and he’s been freaking out over it. The call from Admiral Kazansky the other day just made it a whole lot worse.”
“Still doesn’t give him the right to call Mav a feather head… even if he is.” Wolf snorted as the others chuckled at the comment.
“I know,” Slider nodded as the others around them moved forward, pulling the stag off the ground as they all made their way back towards there assignment.
“Am I the only one who thinks they just need to fuck it out at this point?” Chipper asked getting hushes and laughter from the rest of the group as they all walked off towards the accommodation on the other side of the base.

When they entered, they found Ice had left them some more of his infamous Borsht soup, Sliders favourite chocolate and comfort items sitting waiting for him along with a note apologizing for upsetting his RIO.
Yet as they looked around, neither Iceman or Maverick where anywhere to be found, leaving the group to check around there assignment for the pair.

Mav’s bike was still out the front and Ice didn’t have a car now so neither could have gone far. It was only when they went into Slider and Ice’s room did they find the pair. Both were conked out as they slept somewhat peacefully on Ice’s bunk. Ice cuddling Maverick who had buried his head into the other pilot’s chest, one wing hanging off the bed and the other stretched out over the pair as a blanket.

“Well, looks like they’ve sorted their shit.” Hollywood chuckled quietly as Maverick sleepily chirped, burying his head deeper into Ice’s chest.
“Did anyone else get those vibes off them because I did.” Chipper sniggered quietly.
“Thank fuck. I hope we finally get some peace now.” Goose whispered in relief.
“I hope the fuck we don’t, they’re our free entertainment.” Slider chuckled as he grabbed a blanket from his bed before he threw it over the pair getting a quiet groan from Goose.
“Shall we go eat.”
“My apology dinner and snacks, get your own.” Slider flipped his friends off as the group left the two pilots to sleep.

After the chaos of the day, the hearty meal and comfort food was a welcome treat to sooth sliders weary soul.

Chapter Text

Goose and Maverick had just been released from the base hospital.

Both having been given medical leave for the rest of their top gun classes, there instructors and the brass unsure if it was safe for either avian to even be in a jet right now.

The avian specialists recommended they remained from flying jets for at least two weeks to give their wings time to begin to heal properly, so that there would be no irreversible damage, and if they did get back into a jet after that, they weren’t to pull stunts beyond two g’s for another few weeks after that. They would graduate, both had enough points to graduate from the course at this point, but they wouldn’t be able to continue competing for the plaque anymore. If Ice got any more points, then he could clinch it away from them, and there were still a few hops left to complete.

So much for setting a new top gun course record and becoming the youngest pilot and RIO to win the plaque.

On hop 31 earlier in the week, they had crashed. Flying through Iceman’s jetwash had blown out one of their engines, sending their jet into an unrecoverable flat spin.

When bailing out, there canopy had failed to detach properly, ending up with both avian’s clipping it as they ejected.

They were seriously injured in the aftermath; a specialist team of doctors and veterinarians having been summoned to the hospital to help reset the avian’s injuries. Goose ended up breaking his radius bone in his left wing, and losing a good handful of secondary feathers, secondary coverts, and wing covert feathers around the break. He also picked up a nasty head injury that left him unconscious for three days, only still alive thanks to his helmet which cracked as it hit the canopy. It had been thickly bandaged and splinted to hold the broken bones in place, to give it the best chance of healing to full strength. Maverick ended up dislocating his right wing, the wing bandaged tightly into a closed position to give the joint time to heal and get strong enough to support the wing. With exposure to salt water, Maverick ended up losing a good handful of feathers from his wings, his wings not protected against the salt like gooses were.

It had really shaken there friends up as they popped into the hospital room multiple times to visit them, always one pair of pilots and RIO staying with them at any time apart from their classes, that was Mary Metcalf’s time with her adoptive avian sons. Both avian’s had been doped up on strong pain killers for days, wing injuries were known to be the most painful injuries for any person to suffer from. Wings where classed as one of the most sensitive appendages in the world. Any damage received to them was as painful as being stabbed or having a heart attack. With both Mav and Goose doped up and completely out of it, not their usual selves, it really freaked the pilots and RIO’s out. Ice felt so guilty as he watched his friends snooze on their stomachs and uninjured sides in a drug induced haze, blaming himself for putting them both there.

It made them all feel guilty when Carol and Bradley called by both having found out about the accident from Viper. The woman having come over to the hospital immediately like a mad man on a mission to get to her husband and flock brother. The pilots felt so guilty when they saw the baby bird chirp pitifully at his dad and uncle. The kid’s wings had finally begun to grow his pin feathers to bring out his flight plumage, and neither Goose nor Maverick would be able to teach the kid how to fly for months now. It was painful to watch the two elder avian’s baby the fledgling between them when they realised, they wouldn’t be able to teach him to fly. Bradley would be flying by the time their wings where strong enough to support their own flight.

But now they had been released from the medical bay late in the evening. Both returning to their rooms on barracks. They would be continuing classes first thing Monday morning but would no longer be able to take part in hops. Goose and Maverick had been dropped off at the barracks by commander Metcalf and his wife. They had stayed with their adopted son and his best friend and flock brother for most of the week as Mav and Goose were weaned off the stronger painkillers. Mary had left the pair with a few Tupperware containers of cookies and brownies and told them to take them with some hot chocolate, ordering her sons to get plenty of rest and head straight on to bed when they got in.

Goose led the way into their dorm, walking past their classmates’ rooms. They were likely studying, napping or at the gym for the moment as Maverick and Goose walked through the corridor towards there room, past the open kitchen they shared. Goose watched maverick as his friends’ wings twitched minutely, getting a wince from the smaller avian along with a low warble as he grumbled at the pain. Maverick’s discomfort seemed to affect Goose as he too felt the urge to nest surge as he looked at the cushions lining the sofa.

“Mav?” Goose winced as he fought the rising instincts.
“Nest?” the other avian warbled. Goose’s eyes blew wide at the warble as he dove headfirst into their instincts. To anyone listening, they’d sound like two loud birds, to themselves they sounded like they were talking English.
“Yeah. Our room.” Goose warbled back.
“Yeah.” Maverick tweeted back at his friend as he stomped over to the sofa, pulling the cushions off and shoving them between him and goose. The two avian’s tweeting in delight as they stomped out of the kitchen space and towards there dorm.

They quickly set about throwing their door open with a bang as they stormed into the room, throwing the cushions down onto the ground as they began to strip their beds apart, pulling their mattresses off the frames and stacking the bed frames to make some more space in the room. The pair of them quickly set about building a large nest in the corner of the room as they began to wrap there blankets around.

“Goose.” Mav warbled.
“Yeah.” Goose honked.
“Not right. Too small.” A long trill echoed from Mav as his friend’s good wing puffed up in agitation
“Too small? Why, small?” Goose asked as he looked at his friend, his good wing puffed up along with Maverick as he looked around at the nest. His instincts telling him it wasn’t right.
“Want flock. Want others.” Mav trilled lowly as he looked out the door towards Ice and Sliders room opposite theirs.
“You too?” the other asked, he too felt like bringing the others into their nest.
“Yes.” Mav nodded in finality. They wanted their friends in their nest, to join their flock.
“Let’s go bring flock. Bring their nests.” Goose smiled as he moved out into the corridor.
“Yes, large nest, for flock.” Maverick smiled as the pair of them walked out and into Ice and Sliders room, turning it upside down as they stole their sheets, blankets, duvets, and pillows, dragging there mattresses out and into their room.

When they had those added to the nest, they went to Hollywood and wolfs room, busting down the door, awakening Hollywood and Wolf who had fallen asleep in each other’s hold, both jumped when Mav kicked their door open.
“Maverick? Goose?” Wood asked as he blinked at the two avian’s standing in the doorway.

His tail began to wag at seeing their friends out of the hospital and back with them.

“Oh… Oh, oh shit.” Wolf laughed as he looked at two avian’s, noticing their eyes were blown wide.
“Nest, now.” Goose gritted out in English as he grabbed the pillows, bedsheets, and cushions on wolfs bed as Maverick grabbed Wood and Wolf, dragging them up from the bed and down the hallway

Maverick dragged them into their room as Goose threw the pairs sheets and pillows into the nest, adding them in as Maverick grabbed the dog and human, manovering them both to sit in the middle of the nest as goose left the room, heading towards chipper and Sundance’s room.

“Stay.” Maverick rasped out between tweets before going after goose who reappeared with the other two people currently in the dorm as Maverick grabbed their sheets and added them in.
“Uh… what’s going on.” Chipper asked.
“Instincts.” Wolf laughed as the other pair where placed next to them in the nest. “They see us as flock now.” The dog laughed as his tail wagged madly, so happy to have been accepted by his friends into the flock, the dog hybrid losing himself to his own instincts that yelled out for his pack. Yipping happily as Hollywood began to stroke him.

“Oh my god, someone grab Goose’s camera, we need to take photos of when Ice and Slider return to this mess.” Hollywood laughed as Maverick and Goose finished there touches on the nest before the two avian’s settled on either side of the four men, spreading their good wings over them protectively.

The group of men giggled as they took turns petting their friends, finding their reactions hilarious as they scratched around goose and Mavericks feathered ears, and then scratch Wolfs head. The three hybrids lost to their instincts as they nested with their flock. They adored the soft little noises their friends made as they satisfied their instincts, reassuring their friends that they were alright and they were there.

After a while, the group heard cries come from across the hall as the last two people from there dorm arrived.
“WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU IDIOTS DO TO OUR ROOM?” cried Ice as he stormed down the hallway, throwing open the doors to the other dorms. When they discovered their friends’ rooms where a mess as well as their own, they decided to check the only other room in the dorm.

Big mistake.

The moment slider opened the door, Maverick, and Goose where on the pair. Goose grabbing Slider and Ice being hauled into the room by Maverick.
“Jesus, what the fuck?” Slider cried out as they found themselves being hauled into the room; the door slamming shut behind them.
“Mav? Goose? You’re here?” Ice asked in surprise as the pair found themselves being man handled into the room, eyeing where their four friends were in the middle of the giant nest of sheets, pillows, blankets, and duvets.

Sundance and Chipper where asleep in the nest, whilst wolf had buried his head into Hollywood’s chest, his tail was wagging away like mad but his eyes where half lidded.

“They landed earlier, then proceeded to drag us out of our rooms, stealing our sheets. They’re nesting and we’ve been accepted into their flock.” Hollywood yawned as he looked at the two late comers.
“Oh… Oh.” Slider gasped as Goose dragged him over to the nest, pushing his fellow RIO down into it as the avian chirped rapidly at him. The goose beginning to thread his fingers through Slider’s hair, doing his best to preen it, lost deep in his instincts.
“Just relax idiot, its mother goose.” Wolfe smiled lazily as he lifted his head to watch the commotion. Hollywood however lifted gooses camera and took a few snaps of the chaos, chuckling as he did it.
“And whatever Maverick is. Mother hen?” the other pilot chuckled.
“I have no idea.” Ice chuckled as the smaller pilot pulled him down next to him on the opposite end of the nest.

The falcon simply switched off the lights to the room, letting the glow of the setting sun gently light up the room through the windows before returning to the nest. Maverick settling down next to Ice, stretching his good wing over the other pilots and RIO’s. Ice froze in his tracks under the comfort of the appendage and the sheer gentleness Maverick gave them before groaning softly as Maverick’s talons began to gently scratch at his own hair. Mav preening him like how Goose was preening Slider.

The avian’s tweeting and chirping happily as they groomed the two latecomers. They didn’t have feathers but that wouldn’t stop the two determined avian’s. Gentle snores coming from the four others between them as they drifted between sleep and wakefulness, the growing darkness and the bird’s song gently lulling the six men between them into sleep.

“I guess we’re not going to be able to leave anytime soon?” Slider chuckled lowly as he grabbed a few extra pillows for his antlers, Goose fixing the nest behind the stag as they settled in for the night.
“Nope.” Wood chuckled sleepily as they listened to Maverick and goose trill at them and at each other.

Both avian’s had delighted smiles on their faces as they spread their giant wings over the men wedged between them.

“Well…. This is one thing I never expected to happen during top gun.” Ice muttered softly as he watched in awe as the giant wings spread out over them, surprised at how soft each of Mav’s giant feathers where, even though there was a good number missing from patches and the saltwater exposure damage.
“Yeah… I might be able to get some actual sleep tonight.” Wolf muttered as he curled up in Wood’s gentle hold.

The past week had been hell for the guys, Goose and Mavericks crash had shaken them all up. Seeing the two of them completely down and out for the count scared them all. Neither Goose or Maverick ever had the right to appear so small in hospital beds, sedated and heavily bandaged. There stillness scared the guys, it could have been so much worse. A canopy failure should have killed the two avian’s. Goose and Maverick were lucky, the rest of the guys, not so much. Everyone had fallen victim to nightmares in their sleep during the week, affecting their performance enough that they were given time off from classes to compartmentalise or deal with the issue.

“Missed you feathered idiots. You gave us all one hell of a scare.” Slider softly spoke in the darkness of the room.
“Sorry guys.” Goose hissed out in English, fighting his instincts enough to speak it.
“We’re fine. Flock safe.” Maverick rasped out next as he spoke up.
“Yeah… your safe.” Ice muttered quietly as he gently leaned in against Maverick.

He had taken the crash hard in the aftermath of hop 31, having caught Goose and Maverick being transferred from the rescue helicopter into ambulances, both Mav and Goose had been sedated due to the sheer pain they were in. Seeing them both so still and knocked out on stretchers freaked him out. Until commander Metcalf talked to him after, he thought he’d killed them both. None of them slept well the past few nights, and now sleep was dragging them all down with a vengeance as they fought to keep their eyes open.

It was a losing battle.

“Flock Safe. Flock sleep.” Goose rasped out as he and Mav stretched their good wings over the group again, setting it on them like a giant blanket, both ensuring all of their new flock mates where covered.

With that, it wasn’t long before the group of aviators fell asleep, all curled up under the warmth of the two giant wings. The wings shielding them all from the nightmares that had plagued them all week.

And if there instructors came looking for them the next day, well… they didn’t need to know.

After all the proof soon found its way onto Vipers desk, a single polaroid framed innocently of the eight aviators sleeping soundly after a week of chaos and disaster.

Chapter Text

“So… are we going to talk about this?”
“I mean, you’ve already bonded to me?”
“That’s not my point Roo and you know it.”
“I.. I know.” Bradley sighed as he felt Jake pull him in tighter to his chest.

Rooster and Hangman where cuddling on the back porch of Ice and Mavericks mansion in La Jolla, both having moved into Bradleys room since returning from the suicide mission they had been sent on. Mostly out of Bradley’s need to be close to Maverick, after their close call, it comforted the omega to be back with his family pack after everything.
Knowing Maverick was there and cared put Bradley’s omega at ease. Both Maverick and Bradley had been at ease in the days that passed after their heats and all knowing the other was safe and home, both being waited on hand and foot by there two doting alphas as they finally felt the pain of ejection and crash landing kicked in and the harness bruising finally showed up painting there skin purples and blues darker than the smatterings of love-bites their alphas had painted on there skin.
Seeing Bradley and Pete on such good term, albeit in pain from the ejections and crashes and comforting one another brought a smile to their alphas that the pair had repaired their torn bond and where both safe.

“We fell apart last time because you refused to open up.” Hangman sighed as he pushed a gentle kiss into Bradleys curls
“So did you.” Rooster tilted his head up to face his alpha.
“That was before I knew how messy both our family lives where Brad.”
“That’s true. We were both messes then Jake.”
“And we’re messes now. You should have seen me on the carrier.” Jake whined softly as he buried his face into his omega’s soft curls. “I’ve never felt so scared or heartbroken when they said you’d gone down. Fuck all that happened between us in the past Roo, it felt like someone had just ripped half my heart out then. I was ready to hop out of my jet and maul cyclone for denying my launch the first few times I asked. The moment your ESAT came back online I yelled at Hondo and the ground team to just fucking launch me, orders be damned.”
“Hondo’s used to override admirals’ orders, he’s spent too long with Ma, all he has to do is blink at Ice and pops will overrule anything their CO’s try to order or do against him.” Rooster laughed softly.
“We’ve all seen that Roo, that man’s just as mischievous as pops… or should I be calling him Ma now and Admiral Kazansky pops?”
“I mean… it’s probably better you talk to them about it but I don’t think they’ll mind, the pack always wanted kids but wanted to focus on their careers and help further omega rights in certain positions in the Navy. Ma was the first Omega pilot in TOPGUN after all and the First recorded Omega Pilot in a fighter position. I say recorded because grandpa Viper did say Grandpa Duke was supposed to have been an Omega. Said Ma’s ma was actually his dad, and his dad was actually his Ma, that Grandpa Duke broke his leg purposefully in his mid-trimester to return home to his alpha to have there kid before it became noticeable and give him time to heal before returning to duty.”
“Well, I would say that surprises me but it’s the captain, he’s gotta have a crazy origin story to be that brilliant, like a superhero.”
“You where the superhero that day though Jake. You came swooping in all last minute and saved us.” Bradley cooed as he squeezed Jakes hand.
“Only after I launched without permission, thank fuck your pops is COMPACFLT, think he can put in a good word for me to cyclone?” Jake asked teasingly.
“Oh don’t worry, I think you’ll get a scathing reprimand and a glowing commendation if you’re lucky.” Bradley laughed.

Both had a feeling that cyclone was probably going to be in the doghouse with Ice for a while after putting both his mate and pup in danger and denying Jake the clearance to go after them, even when Roosters ESAT came back online.

“So… talk?” Jake pushed.
“Alright… so you know Ma flew with my dad.” Bradley asked watching as his alpha nodded, “Ma met my dad when they were teens, he’d been orphaned as a child and instead of custody of him being handed over to his rightful family pack consisting of Viper, Jester, and some of his other uncles and there wives who were a part of their pack, he ended up being placed in foster care against state laws after rumors spread about his old man having gone AWOL. So after a decade in the foster system, he ended up being placed with my dad and paternal grandparents, they were all beta’s and it was a safer location for him to be in after he presented as an omega, he’d developed pack rejection syndrome. Dad loved Ma immediately, seeing him as his younger brother and taking him under his wing, they became a pack of two. My Dad and Maverick where really smart and both ended up going to college early at fifteen, both had like a week between them age wise, they both went to the same college and got degrees, Ma earned a mechanical engineering degree and my dad ended up with an aeronautics degree. Maverick under agreement with my grandparents also took flight lessons in this time period… well continued them, he’d been flying for a while at that stage despite being fourteen, fifteen, paying for them with his own money and flying his p-51 that he had inherited, he helped dad learn to pilot too before they got their degrees and applied for the naval academy.” Bradley began.
“Both of them graduated high school early. And got degrees before there eighteenth birthdays?” Jake said, impressed at them both.
“Yeah… Mav liked it, but Dad wished he’d slowed down and stayed in high school, he was the more social of them both in their teens, its why I didn’t skip years and graduate early, I did end up going to college on Mav and Ice’s encouragement along with my mom’s before she passed… after my own academy application was rejected or well… pulled.” Bradley winced.

“So, what happened next?” Jake asked.

“Well, Dad went on to the academy, but Ma ended up having his application rejected so he went back to college and got a technological engineering degree and a physics degree whilst doing ROTC, both at the same time. He graduated whilst dad had a year left to go at the academy, so he went on to the navy and went to Pensacola to flight school. Mav, suffering from Pack rejection syndrome was on a strong cocktail of blocker pills and chemical blocker patches, whilst it didn’t hinder his physicals or restrict him from flight, it did make people think he was a beta. He doesn’t talk about flight school but from what my uncles have told me over the years from the little bits he’s told them it was bad. The CO’s did all they could to get him to drop out and hand his wings in, constant hazing and harassment and so too did his classmates. Once dad was finished in the academy and flight school both filed the paperwork to be paired together and they stayed as Pilot and RIO until my dad’s death when they were in TOPGUN in 86. Before Dad got into the cockpit with him, Mav had been assigned skut missions despite being the top of his class.” The omega explained.
“Once they were together, they ended up on a few deployments before going to top gun. Dad married my mom Carol, a beta woman who adored the pair and joined them, creating a pack of three, before they went to the academy and by the time Dad and Ma got to top gun I was four. It was family week and me and mom flew into San Diego, Mav and Dad had filed the paperwork for a squad transfer to Miramar early into their top gun stint once Mav rediscovered his original pack, despite not returning to their family pack he wanted to be close to his uncles and rebuild the bonds he’d been ripped of with them. Mav bought us a house in North Island, so mom and I flew in for family week to discover we’d had the house of our dreams, a place to expand our family pack and for me to grow up in. They both returned to Miramar on Monday morning, the last thing I remember of my dad was him singing me to sleep the night before. The next evening it was Ma tucking me into bed and holding me and my mom for hours after telling me my dad wasn’t coming home, he still smelt of jet fuel and salt water from ejecting.

“Jesus Bradshaw… fuck…” Jake swore as he pulled his omega in closer, comforting him gently in the afternoon sun.

“Yeah… Ma and Dad flew through pops and uncle sliders jet wash on a hop, and it blew out one of their engines, sending the jet into a nose up flat spin. Ma was the most qualified pilot out of his entire class, with as much experience as Viper and Jester then, cause he’s also a qualified aerobatics’ pilot,but even he couldn’t save the jet. They had to bail and when it came to eject, the canopy failed. It didn’t detach when it was supposed to, the release mechanism was delayed, by the time the canopy popped, dad’s seat was ejecting out of the jet straight into the canopy… he was dead on impact… he broke his neck, complete internal decapitation. His death is the reason why in-flight school they order us to check for canopy clearance before ejecting.” Bradley explained.

“Sweetheart, you’re breaking my heart here,” Jake whined softly as he gently swiped away the tears that built up on Bradley's eyes.

“I… Ma didn’t get to stay state side long after the accident. There was less than two weeks between my dad’s death and their top gun graduation, Ma managed to find the energy to go to the graduation only to be ordered to grab his gear and head out on an immediate mission. The USS Layton mission. Ma was sent out with Pops and his pack, neither Ma or my dad where apart of pop’s pack back then, Dad turned down an offer of a pack joining from them originally because they treated Ma like shit, they did what many people did, listen to the rumors, and treat him like he was as bad as his old man. I heard that Dad once went off on them and threatened to castrate them all for how they treated Ma after they ended up reducing him to tears after a hop. It takes a lot to make Ma cry but how they treated him back then got to him. All I remember was that when they returned from the mission, Ice officially asked Mom and myself if he could court Maverick and keep an eye on our pack of three, all of them treating him much better than they had at the start of TOPGUN, letting us know that they would like to keep us close and be there for us. Three years later Pops and his pack moved in as Ma, mom and me joined there pack along with uncle Merlin who had begun courting uncle Slider in the aftermath of the Layton mission. We sold up the North Island house and bought the land this house is on now. Maverick and Ice as the heads of the pack agreed on having a large custom house here, large enough for every member of the pack, three large nesting rooms for joint heats or nesting time as a full pack, and room for future pack expansion for any kids along the way... not that they did have any kids aside from me.” Bradley cooed remembering the wonderful ceremony they’d had and his first summer in the newly built house.

“Ma and Pops bonded and married that summer; I was the page boy for the wedding. A few years later Mom ended up getting sick with cancer and Ma and Pops adopted me fully as she got sicker and sicker. She went downhill fast and was in the hospital so often before she eventually passed away when I was thirteen… the stress of the whole situation ended up with me presenting young as an omega to everyone’s surprise. I think it surprised everyone until we checked the records, turned out one of my grandparents from moms’ side was an omega. Ma, Uncle Wolf, Uncle Sunny and Uncle Merlin took care of me that week before I entered the family pack properly. They were there, always one pair of them around the house to raise me whilst the others where on deployment or working on one of the local bases. They went to my baseball games, saw me off to prom, came to my musical recitals, sports days, the lot, everything was going great until it came time to go to college. I had applied for the Naval academy and some back up choices, but my first choice was to go straight to the naval academy unlike my dad and Pops. I was shocked when my academy application was rejected, so I went to UVA, it was only as I was packing up for college did I find out that my naval academy application was pulled by Ma with pops help. I was furious, didn’t want to listen to any of their reasons, not that Mav would tell me it was my mom’s wishes back then. He didn’t want me to know she made him swear on his wings that I wouldn’t join the Navy and die young like my dad.” Rooster sighed as he looked back at hangman,

“After the family shattering argument, I left the pack and moved to Virginia to go to college under a baseball scholarship for aerospace engineering and then onto the academy. I flat out blocked and rejected any of Mavericks attempts at contact for years, barely tolerated any of my uncles and Pops attempts at reaching out to me. It was… it was tough… and then we met… and then we know how that went.” Bradley chuckled wetly into Jake's side as he buried his head into his alpha’s side.

“I know sweetheart… we were dumber… younger then… two stupid emotionally stunted idiots who both where stuck on our perches with our heads up our asses for too long.”
“Calling yourself a chicken Hangy?” Bradley giggled.
“You’re the only chicken here Roo.” Jack chuckled as he kissed his omega again.
“And your still shit at spelling.” The omega chuckled as hangman gawked.

The pair fell silent as they watched a jet off in the distance fly across the sky. Jake pulling Bradley in tighter to his side as he looked over his omega.
“So I’ve spilled my guts Jake. Don’t be a chicken now Hangy.” Bradley snorted.
“Wouldn’t dream of it sweetheart, your pops has many plans drawn up on how to deal with me if you give him the order.” Jake chuckled.
“He shovel talked you?” the omega laughed beneath him.
“Babe, he’s the COMPACFLT, you don’t need a shovel talk, just to be in the room with him to know he’d kill me if I ever hurt you.” The blonde shook with laughter.
“That’s pops, the ice cold no mistakes admiral who’s stare alone has made many admirals crumble.” Bradley laughed as he placed his head over Jake's heart.

After a minute or two of silence, Hangman gave his partner his overdue explanation of his own chaotic family pack.

“Well, where to start… I come from a family just as broken as yours I suppose. My old man was an Alpha of new money, a Texas oil baron, making billions before I was ever born. My mother was married to him in an arrangement with another oil business that his company was taking over. When they were married, my father made her his arm piece, his stay-at-home trophy wife, a traditional Omega, popping out heirs for him to keep the Seresin name living on. She wasn’t around in my life much, always on his arm at social events and if not, she was out real housewife-ing it. He was a right bastard, wanting the perfect Alpha son to inherit the family business and take his place as family pack alpha, and Mama just didn’t give too shits once she popped us out.” Jake explained.
“Uh huh.” Bradley nodded as he listened in.

“So he had my mother popping out child after child for years until he got what he wanted. I have three older sisters, Belladonna, Elizabeth, and Camilla, then came my only brother, the heir my father desperately wanted, Richard James Seresin the third. He was in line to inherit the family business and be pack alpha, he was tall, athletic, suave, and smart, everything my father wanted in a son growing up. He was three years old when my mother announced she was pregnant again with the “Accidents” as my brother called us. When me and my twin Abigail where born my brother despised us immediately and only saw us as a way to strengthen the family through selling us off through marriages like they had my older sisters, Elizabeth and Camilla presented as Omega’s and where in arranged marriages by their eighteenth birthdays to older business men, Bella had it easier as she was a Beta and managed to escape to the California Institute of Technology to study aerospace engineering, something that runs in this family it appears.” Jake told his Omega with a smirk, explaining his messed-up family life to his partner.

“Me and my twin Abigail where premature you see, both of us small and weak, for my father and brother it was a clear sign we were destined to be either beta’s or Omegas and having a male omega in their eyes was a sin and a Beta wasn’t nearly as valuable but was passable if necessary. Imagine our surprise when both me and my twin sister presented young at fourteen as Alphas and my seventeen-year-old brother had yet to present as anything. He was pissed when my old man started to treat me as the heir and stopped neglecting me and started to give him the cold shoulder as he was now the beta son, the less valuable in his eyes, and deciding to step up and mold me into an alpha he would be proud of. Richard, was so pissed off and stressed at the thought of either sharing the family business or losing it after being told all his life the business was to be his that he caused a stress related presentation… only to present as an omega.” Jake explained.

“Jeeze, your old man sounds like a right piece of work.” Bradley chuckled slightly at the thought of Jakes older brother receiving a taste of Karma.

“Oh he was. Richard, after his heat could never look the old man and our mother in the face again, he was the black sheep of the family suddenly and he couldn’t take it. Father started to remove all the expensive alpha gifts he’s gotten my brother like his car, his golf sets, expensive alpha styled watches and clothes. He replaced all his strong masculine alpha clothes with conservative omega style stuff that was right out of a sexist nightmare, skirts, dresses, heels, no trousers, no ties and no ordinary clothes. All he was given was a wardrobe full of feminine apparel where his once proud and vast range of designer alpha ware had been. Richard couldn’t take it and started to drink and do drugs, he stole his keys to the Mercedes that our father had gotten him before running out on us… the police found him hours later, the car wrapped around a tree. He was dead on impact.”

“Jesus Jake… I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, Richard was an asshole to me and my sisters, he always looked down on us until he became the thing, he despised the most. I didn’t have any relationship with him, the only thing I shared was my surname with him. We didn’t exactly have a normal pack, my oldman didn’t want me or my sisters in the pack as it would “Spoil” our purity for when he could sell us off to elder alpha businessmen. By the time I’d presented I’d already made up my mind and decided against having a pack with him, instead I was accepted into Javy’s family pack. Javy had always been there for me through our childhood, both of us are from rich families, his grandparents where millionaires due to his grandmother’s natural haircare salon business that spans the country, meaning he was in the same elite middle and high schools as me. They had a large extended pack and family so when that wealth was spread out it wasn’t much between the rest of their families but enough for them to live comfortably and pay for the expensive private education we got. Both of us got on like a house on fire and have been best friends since middle school, so we both decided to go to the academy. It pissed my old man off, so much so we got into a shouting match that ended up with him taking a heart attack.”
“Holy fuck.” Bradley shot up, looking at his alpha.

Jake looked at Bradley with dark amusement in his eyes, rolling them as he hugged the older man.

“Oh no, he was fine, the doctors advised him to quit some of his bad habits like smoking and drinking. He didn’t bother, his heath just declined even further when he found out Abigail was going to Harvard for business studies. He didn’t want that from his daughter, even if she was an alpha or not, he wanted a passive daughter who he could sell off to other rich families as an alpha for any of their omega sons. He took a stroke a few months after i left for the academy and Abby left for Harvard, leaving me to inherit the business, the estates, and every single penny the old man had. I decided to do the one thing I knew would piss the old man off even more, I had his wealth redistributed to all my family and handed the business off to Abigail. Abby runs the business and splits the profits between myself, Bella and a small percentage to our mother to keep her out of our lives and let her live her Beverly housewives life style. I got in contact with my three older sisters to let them know of the old man’s passing and that I would have loved to have a relationship with them. Camilla and Elizabeth thankfully ended up in really good packs that helped them go to college and get degrees and jobs instead of having them become breeders like my old man originally envisioned for them. They declined continuing contact with us but asked that we send their shares to domestic abuse charities and so we did, Bella did return to the family, she has a job with NASA as an engineer and is working on the Artemis project as one of the heads. She’s an actual boss and was delighted to hear I had become a naval aviator. She always wants to hear about my adventures and deployments and sort of wanted me to go be a test pilot for a while, apparently one of her designs was being tested by the Navy and Lockheed for a while there. Something Star project apparently, but it was all classified, she said the test pilot blew it up like a month ago, like a day before we were called back to Miramar.” Jake chuckled.
“So your loaded… damn, does this make me a gold digger?” Bradley asked in shock.
Jake looked at his omega in surprise before bursting out laughing at him, shaking his head in amusement before pulling him in tighter.
“That’s what you take out of this? Your just as rich, Maverick’s just as rich, your entire pack lives off his money practically, I mean look at this place, it’s a fucking dream house, dream view and two naval bases close by for flying.” Jake laughed as he threw his arms out indicating to the mansion behind them.
“Not to mention I own a decommissioned Naval base in the Mojave near china Lake as a third option for flying. But your sister didn’t mean the Dark star did she?” a voice came from behind the pair.

Maverick stood against the door-frame with a tray of drinks and sandwiches which he moved to place on a wicker table next to the large lounger Jake and Bradley were lounged out on. Ice stood behind him with a blanket in his arms as he emerged behind Mav with some bags of chips and pulled another lounger over towards the younger pack members. He looked like he was struggling to hold in his laughter.

“Yeah that was it Mav. Dark Star, she said I inspired her one night and she went on a caffeine binge with four friends who were visiting her from Lockheed.” Jake smirked, “Belle said it was her vision of me swooping in to save Javy’s ass over Afghanistan where I got the first air kill of this century for the navy, a futuristic mix between an Sr-71 and an f-35. Shame I never got to see my sister’s idea in real life, I saw some of the draft drawings she made years ago for it though. Not the same as seeing or sitting in it though.” Jake sighed, “No chance I can ask the COMPACFLT for the name of the pilot who blew it up, I want to kick their ass.” Jake snorted.
“Oh god, because that’s all your ego needed, a jet with you designed in mind.” Bradley laughed as he took in his alpha’s pleased look. Ice snorted as he pushed Mav out onto the porch, he absolutely loved Seresin, and he’d only known this kid for a week and a half properly now.
“Ah.” Mav paled as he bit his lip, “Tell her I apologize for breaking her toy, but the SR-72 did hit mach ten like designed to.” He spoke.

Jake's jaw dropped as he looked at the elder omega getting Ice to burst out laughing, the alpha wheezing at the younger alpha’s shock.
“Damn it kid, you really did know how to pick’em.” Ice laughed. “And it was more of an explosion than a break Mav.”

Bradley slowly turned to look at Maverick at that.
“Ma, what does pops mean by “Explosion”.”
“Um….” Pete paled as he looked at Bradley sheepishly.
“Oh its exactly how it sounds gosling. Admiral Kane went against the department of defense to shut down the Dark Star project early and redirect the funding towards a drone project he’s sponsored… only for Pete to say fuck it and meet the contract requirements… before pushing the jet beyond the contract speeds and blowing it up.”
“It was a critical mechanical failure. The fuel tank’s ruptured from the stress of the turbulence caused by the high velocity of mach ten travel. We know to reinforce the fuel tanks with a form of shock absorb-er or suspension now.” Mav tried to explain off only to be tackled to the other lounger by Bradley.
“YOU ASSHOLE, YOU WHERE IN AN EXPLOSION.” Bradley whined as he buried his head in Mav’s chest. “THAT WASN’T EVEN THAT LONG AGO WHAT THE FUCK MA.”
“You’re not going to let me out of your sight for a while now, are you?” Mav chuckled as he hugged his pup tight.
“Your damn straight pops.” Jake laughed, “Or should I be calling you that sir?” Jake raised an eyebrow at Ice as he grabbed a sandwich.
“I’m pops.” Ice narrowed his eyes. “He’s Ma.” The admiral smirked as he pointed to Mav.
“He is, he’s very protective of that title.” Mav laughed as he looked at Jake.
“I called him Ice pops as a kid and it just stuck.” Bradley chuckled as he looked at his partner.
“And he started calling Maverick Ma after he caught the chicken pox as a kid, the same time his mom had to leave us to go to Texas and sort up the house there and sell it up.” Ice smirked. “Ma started to cry when the gosling called him that the first time.” He chuckled as he pulled his omega into his side kissing Mav’s forehead as Rooster got off Mav and moved to sit back down next to Jake.
“Was he cute as a little chick?” Jake asked with a smug smile.

Maverick and Ice burst out into giant beaming smiles as the smaller jumped off the lounger and ran into the house, Bradley buried his head into Jakes shoulder with a groan. Within seconds Maverick returned with a group of leather backed photo albums.
“Welcome to the family Seresin, the others are going to love you when they return in a weeks’ time.” Ice laughed.
“Oh god the uncle’s squad, are they all coming?” Bradley asked his pops.
Ice and Mav shared a mischievous grin as they looked at the younger couple.
“Oh yes… and you’re all meeting them.” Ice smiled,
“All of us?” Jake raised an eyebrow.
“What do you mean all of us?” Bradley looked at Mav and Ice before he slowly clicked on it.

“No… no, no. I liked being an only child.” Bradley whined.
“Wait what?” Jake said, chocking on his sandwich. Was he going to meet the rest of the Kazansky pack so soon?
“Well, Bob’s wolf’s nephew, so we can’t override that claim but we always wanted a big family, had it not been for the Naval rules of our time which would have made Maverick, Sunny, Wolf and Merlin retire if they got pregnant, you probably would have had numerous siblings and cousins running around Brad.” Ice smiled.
“So I’m adopting your class. Your all my pups now. I’ve invited everyone over for dinner this evening and its non-negotiable.” Mav smiled. “Apart from Bob… and maybe Billy, I’ve a feeling Slider will steal him from us Ice.”
“Oh yes, yes, he will. Sli’s the only reason why Fritz got to top gun in the first place. I took one look at his file and was shocked he hadn’t been discharged yet, but Slider had the kid take him up in a hurricane when he was overseeing Pensacola a few years back, A HURRICANE. The crazy kid hit every target and was bouncing off the turbulence like he was doing a rodeo… successfully. Slider loved him immediately and sent him our way.” The admiral shook his head in amusement, remembering the conversation he’d had with his best friend over the chaotic pilot. “Maybe keep an eye on chipper and Sundance, they’ve flown with the ivy’s, Omaha and Halo before, they might steal those four from us too.” Ice chuckled.
“Oh god I can imagine the chaos energy they’ll extrude. Poor uncle Mer.” Bradley groaned.
“Oh well, not our problem.” Mav laughed as he cracked open a can of coke. “Slider can thank us for giving him the kid he’s always wanted.”
“Now, enjoy your snack, we’ve got a lot of cleaning and cooking to do to get ready for your new squad mates’ arrival.” Ice smiled as he handed over a pair of letters to Rooster and Hangman.

Both of them opened the letters and froze as they read them, flicking their heads back and forth between Mav and Ice. Stamped proudly on some of the fanciest orders letters they’d ever received was an open invitation to become the inaugural pilots of a new tactical strike squadron, run under Maverick and Ice’s supervision… or Ice’s supervision, with over sight and assistance from the rest of the pack elders, all of them coming to assist the squadron and oversee future missions and training. It was an actual dream come true for both younger pilots, the opportunity to become as legendary in the Navy as there elders. There was no way either of them would turn an opportunity like this down, an open invitation as well as a promotion for the pair of them.
“You decide to take up the offer, Pete and myself will be your commanding officers, He’s taking the promotion to vice admiral as ordered by the president if he wants to keep flying and keep you kids close…. That and piss off less admirals.” Ice glared at Maverick for a moment before facing the younger members of his pack. Maverick only blew his alpha a cheeky kiss before Ice pulled him in tight to his side getting a squeak from the smaller man.

“Welcome home Kiddo, we hope you both will make that permanent.” Mav smiled.
“The whole pack’s going to be back together once more. They’re all excited to have you home kiddo and to finally meet the saviour of these two idiots.” Ice smiled as he nodded at his kid and the packs newest alpha.
The younger pair of pilots just looked at their superiors in shock, both looking at one another before nodding at them both with bright smiles.

“I don’t know why you’re smiling Seresin, you have three more shovel talks to face later from three more overprotective alphas.” Ice sternly told the younger alpha.
Seresin face fell as Mav and Roo burst out laughing at the poor alpha.

It was good to be home.

Chapter Text

“Alright, I need you all to sign along here and here.” Mav smiled as the 86ers sat around the table in Ice and Mavericks kitchen. The man handing over four different piles of papers to the group to sign, all with his good left arm. His right all strung up in a sling since the shit show mission that saw him and Bradley shot down only to steal an f-14 and fly it back, making him the deadliest serving member of the navy that wasn’t a member of the SEAL’s.

“Pete honey, I love you but what did you do that requires me to fill out my signature next to yours for nine forms.” Ice sighed.
“And why are we signing stuff the only people who aren’t signing any forms are Hondo, Warlock, Cyclone … and the chicken over there on the counter EATING MY DORITOS.” Slider pointed to Bradley sitting on the island countertop with a bag of chips opened in one hand and a beer on the counter next to him.
“Tough shit uncle Sli, my chips now.” Bradley laughed as Mav walked past and nabbed a few chips out of the bag. Slider flipped the lieutenant the bird getting a laugh from everyone and a swat on both his shoulders from Maverick and Ice together.
“Witnesses.” Hondo chuckled as he pointed his beer at the two-star admiral.
“I should send you to the shop for some stuff if you’re just going to sit on the counter and laugh. Here, twenty-five dollars, go get us some steaks, beer, wine, some bread, and milk.” Mav said as he handed Rooster some cash.
“Dad that won’t get you shit.” Bradley snorted as he pocketed the money.
“Well then make yourself busy and get me my chips.” Slider hollered at the younger pilot.
“Back in our day, I could walk into a store with twenty-five dollars and walk out with 6 porterhouse steaks, 2 chickens, a case of beer, five bottles of wine two loaves and a gallon of Milk.” Maverick started getting everyone around the table to snort.
“Mitchell twenty-five dollars wouldn’t have gotten you that then or now.” Cyclone sighed.
“Of course, it can’t, there’s too many fucking cameras now adays.” Mav waved his hands around as everyone burst out laughing Slider had the most excited face as he levelled a matching manic grin with Maverick.

Neither man agreed on much over the years but by God if it meant causing some chaos then the two were Ice’s worst headaches. Not nightmares, his husband and best friend could never be nightmares, pains in his ass certainly but never nightmares.
“Mav no, Rooster, no stealing…. No stealing from civies, go to one of the local base messes and take some shit.” Ice barked out a laugh as cyclone shot him a horrified look.

After everyone calmed down, there attention turned back to the forms they were signing. All wondering what Maverick had insisted they come over and sign.
“So, what are these forms actually for?” Hollywood asked.
“And why do Warlock and I need to be here? Some of us have better things to do than babysit you, Maverick.” Cyclone sighed as he looked at Maverick.
“Silence 88.” Ice ordered as he pointed a pen in the Miramar air bosses direction. Cyclone looked like he wanted to object, but he respected Ice too much to go against him.

“Did you know its legal in the state of California to adopt adults, all you need is the paper filed and signed by a judge. I know a judge who owed me a favour and got me the papers, all I needed was your signatures. They’re now legal.” Mav smiled smugly as he watched his friends and husband finish signing the papers. All of them looked up slowly as they double checked the papers, all turning towards Maverick.
“…. Peter… what did we just sign.” Ice asked as his face paled. Rooster and Hondo just sat on the kitchen Island “oohing” at the use of Mavericks first name, not the short version he liked but his actual, on his birth certificate, name.
“Hollywood and Wolf get custody of Robert “Bob” Floyd. Merlin and Slider get custody of Billie “Fritz” Avalone, Chipper and Sundance get the Ivy’s, Halo and Omaha only because I caught how they reacted to being around both Chipper and Sunny… that and Chip squealing at being around them again like an over protective mother otherwise I’d have adopted them myself but they seem like the better choice of parents for them, and we have custody over Hangman, Phoenix, Coyote, Fanboy, Payback, and we already have custody of Rooster, and all signed with Warlock, Hondo and Cyclone as witnesses.” Maverick smiled cheekily as he looked at his friends.

“FUCK YEAH! WHOO!” Wolf screamed first as the others stared at Maverick in shock, all four remaining new parents in a state of stupor whilst Rooster laughed wildly as they took photos of his uncles’ reactions and faces.
Hondo on the other hand was one step ahead of him and recording the whole session.
Wolf jumped out of his seat and began to prance around the kitchen in delight.

“Huh… he’s right, you do act as a mother to those kids.” Sunny said as he looked at a flustered Chip whose jaw had dropped.
“…Ice can I kill your husband.” Slider asked.
“I’ll join you.” The COMPACFLT growled as he looked at his husband, smirking above him from the opposite end of the table.
“You can’t kill me, there’ll be paperwork involved.” Mav laughed as his husband and husbands’ best friends faces fell in disappointment. Warlock laughed at that and even Cyclone let out a snort.
“Damn it, the fuckers right.” Ice groaned as he buried his head in the papers beneath him.
“Never thought Mitchell could be as smart as this.” Cyclone laughed quietly.
“Bobbie’s coming home Wood, Oh I finally get custody of my baby nephew, finally get him away from those air force airheads that’s my brother-in-law’s family. Oh, thank you Mav.” Wolf cheered as he jumped around the kitchen before stopping next to Mav and pulling the tiny admiral into a bear hug.

“So, you’re leaving me with Ron’s kid?” merlin sighed as he raised an eyebrow at his friend,
“He’s not my kid?” Slider cried out in shock.
“He is now!” Rooster wheezed.
“I mean, I’ve seen the kid, he has your jaw, nose, and ears. Are you sure you didn’t have a kid? He could certainly pass as yours at first glance, minus the black hair.” Ice snorted as he began to chuckle at the situation, they were in. “I mean you treat him as your own, you even have a room for him in your house and have been calling him kid since he graduated flight school.”
“He’s right Ron.” Merlin barked a laugh at Sliders gobsmacked face as his husband realised, he had adopted the chaotic Floridian storm chaser, “That kid’s been yours since you first lay eyes on him in Pensacola. Plus, we always did talk about the idea of having a kid.” He smiled, watching as his husband froze before blushing softly.
“Damn it… I hate it when your right Sammy.” Slider shook his head.
“I’m always right asshole, now play nice and thank Maverick for finding a loophole to our adoptive child situation.” Merlin smiled smugly as he motioned his head towards his former pilot.

Slider’s face fell in such a quick fashion that had everyone laughing, Maverick the smuggest look on his face at it all.

“So why are you also adopting the chicken’s boyfriend.” Chipper asked with a raised eyebrow.
“So, if he tries to run there will be no place to hide in the world where we won’t be able to find him.” Mav smiled darkly getting approving nods from the rest of the admirals gathered.
“Dad no, stop.” Rooster moaned as he buried his head in his hands.
“Hangman will become a hanged man, if he ever breaks your heart gosling.” Ice smiled just as darkly.
“Damn it Pops, not you too.” The young lieutenant sighed as the elder officers laughed.

“So… how do we break it to the rest of the squad.” Slider asked.
“And tell them that they’re being assigned as the inaugural pilots of the North Island Shadow Daggers after that shit show of a mission?” Cyclone added with a raised eyebrow.
“Oh yes, we need to discuss that.” Maverick shrugged as Roosters jaw dropped.
“I’m sorry, what?” The younger pilot asked in surprise.
“Nothing to worry about now Roo.” Ice shushed his kid.
“Well, there all on leave for the moment, including Mav because that bruising looks fatal no offense, and technically we’re just running office days now, we could do something at the weekend.” Chipper piped up Maverick rolling his eyes before flipping the man the bird as his free hand fixed his shirt over the mottled patchwork of dark bruising that littered his right side of his body.
“Felt fatal when I hit the ground, still lived to spite Cane.” Mav proudly stated getting a concerned look from Ice.
“Amen to that, fuck Cane.” Cyclone muttered under his breath.
“And what ever god exists apparently.” Merlin rolled his eyes as he muttered quietly to his husband getting a snort from Slider.
“Barbecue. And they will not object to an admiral’s orders, especially if its orders straight from me.” Ice smiled as he looked at his husband.
“You people are evil.” Hondo chuckled.
“You didn’t realize that already?” Sunny asked as he raised his eyebrow at the warrant officer.

Everyone burst out laughing as they sat around the table, all smiles, and cheers as they snacked on the bags of chips Mav had left out as Rooster passed the beer around the older officers.

Wolf looked over at the rest of the group with a mischievous smile on his face, but more so Hollywood who shivered and paled at his husbands look.

“Now that we have a kid, does that make me a DILF?” the former RIO asked, getting everyone in the room to look at him as they choked on their beers. Mav, Slider, Warlock, and Chipper burst out laughing so hard they fell off their seats, Merlin, Hondo, Sundance and Rooster spat out their beers whilst Cyclone and Ice sighed at the antics of the group. Hollywood’s eye just twitched as he looked at his husband.
The pilot said nothing for a moment before Wood marched over to Wolf and threw the slightly smaller man over his shoulder, proceeding up the stairs towards there room in the mansion.
“And that’s enough beer for you tonight, Leon.” Rick blushed heavily.
“Aww, but Daddy.” Wolf cooed as he kissed Woods cheek as the man gained a visible third leg before the group.
“Just set the papers somewhere safe and we’ll sort them tomorrow. See you all tomorrow.” Wood hollered down the stairs as Wolf cackled loudly.

None of the admirals, warrant officer and lieutenant said anything as they shook their head at the pair of horn dogs that just left the room.
“Thank fuck I had the rooms soundproofed when we had this place built.” Mav chuckled.
“Not that that matter, you scream loud enough to drown out the whines of our jets engines when I get you going.” Ice smirked as Mav flushed brightly.

Cyclone paled as he threw his hands up and moved towards the door.
“Admiral it’s been a good night but I’m calling man overboard before I hear any more of your debauchery.” Cyclone announced as he left the house, his hands raised the whole time as he walked out the house.
“He needs to go to an orgy some time.” Ice sighed as he shook his head, getting everyone to look at him in surprise. “What?”
“I don’t think I ever expected you to stay that of all people. Maverick maybe.” Slider spoke up.
The smaller admiral slapping him up the side of his head as the others laughed.

“And I think I’ve heard too much of my parents sex lives.” Bradley groaned.
“And I’ve “Heard” too much of yours too Roo.” Maverick rolled his eyes.
“Seen too much too.” Slider snorted under his breath as he ribbed Maverick, remembering the first time they caught Bradley and Jake in a compromising position.
“Says the one who fucked his boyfriend in Maverick’s office and left the door open for everyone to see. That’s voyeurism Roo. Besides, it’s not the navy if you don’t get a little naughty, you’ll be pinning your little pilot down and tying him up soon enough and let him take it all. I mean I do it often enough.” Ice smiled seductively as he raised an eyebrow at Maverick, ignoring everyone else in the house.
“Bed now before I fuck you here and now.” Mav cooed at Ice as he threw himself into his husband’s lap, careful of his bad arm.
“Oh my god.” Bradley moaned as he put his head in his arms before hearing a vibration coming from his phone in his pocket. He pulled the phone out and quickly looked over it. He looked relieved at what ever popped on his phone.
“I think we’re gonna head off now and leave you all to your little sexcapades.” Hondo snorted as he grabbed Warlock’s sleeve, hauling the laughing admiral out of the house as they waved goodbye.
“I’m going down to the hard deck, some of the guys are down there.” Bradley muttered out as he left following behind after Hondo and Warlock.
“Don’t go too wild Baby goose, we won’t be available to pick you up if you need us.” Ice called to Bradley as he threw Maverick over his shoulder gently, remembering his husbands busted arm just before he hurt the smaller idiot and began to march up the stairs towards their bedroom.

Ice squeezed Maverick ass as he laughed up the staircase, getting a whorish moan from Maverick. The last thing the guys heard was a throaty growl from Ice before the door to the master bedroom up the stairs locked behind them.

Slider, Merlin, Chipper and Sundance all laughed in the kitchen as they watched everyone take off.
“Hundred dollars that was hangman texting the gosling for a booty call.” Chipper stuck his hand out to Slider.
“Na, those idiots have probably put a dampener on any chance he’d get laid tonight.” Slider laughed as he shook chippers hand.
“You’re going to regret that in the morning so it’s coming out of your account.” Merlin rolled his eyes as he clapped his husband on the back, “You’ll find me in our room, don’t stay up too late, its already late enough.”
“We’re not that old idiot.”
“Speak about yourself.” Sunny snorted as he threw an arm around Chipper as the two of them left the hallway and began to make their way around the house locking it up for the night seeing as their hosts had taken off to bed.
“Rude.” Slider guffed as he threw his arms around his taller husbands back and followed Merlin up the stairs towards their own room for the night.

“Ron go get the gosling, breakfasts nearly ready.” Ice ordered as he finished tossing the bacon, lifting it out of the frying pan and placing it onto a separate plate before bending over to give Mav a kiss as his husband worked away on the mountain of pancakes and waffles.
Surprisingly efficiently considering he had dislocated his right arm he was cooking up as the rest of their friends piled into the kitchen, all fighting for the coffee machine that was working overtime as eight admirals clambered for the liquid gold that was concentrated caffeine.

Slider groaned as he pulled himself away from the coffee machine, getting a pat on the shoulder from Wolf in sympathy of losing his place in the que that had formed around the coffee machine. The man flipped Ice the bird as he walked out of the kitchen and up the stairs towards Bradleys room. Slider groaned as he felt the old ache in his knee flare up, an old injury from one of his and Toms rougher landings over the years.
“Bradley, get up gosling, Mav’s got pancakes ready and knowing chipper and wolf there be none left if you’re not down here in a minute.” Slider sighed as he pushed the door open to the lieutenant’s room.
Slider chuckled slightly as he took in the giant lump under the duvet and comforter. Despite his callsign, Rooster really wasn’t a morning person, even after all these years he curled up under the covers like a cat, navy be damned apparently.

With that Slider grew an evil grin as he stood over the giant lump.

The eighty-sixers class had all gathered around the kitchen island when they heard it.
“ATTE-NTION!”
Ice snorted as he heard Slider bark out loudly. Getting laughs from everyone as they heard the loud crash coming from Bradley's room.
“OH SHIT. I SAW NOTHING.” Slider screamed before racing down the stairs away from the gosling’s room, sliding into the kitchen doorway just in time to be hit by a very accurate, flying boot.

Slider let out a yelp as he fell face first onto the kitchen floor as the boot clattered to the side.
“Damn he’s still got that MLB level throw.” Merlin laughed as the guys burst out laughing.
“Wasn’t the gosling.” Slider groaned.
“Huh?” Mav asked as he turned round to look at the groaning RIO.
“Damn gosling picked a good one. Can throw just as good as Roo, like a fucking professional.” Slider winced as he pushed himself up off the floor.
“HA, I TOLD YOU IT WAS A BOOTY CALL BITCH, PAY UP MOTHERFUCKER!” Chipper cackled madly as he realised what had happened, Ice barking out a laugh as he looked over at Slider as a giant boot print began to form underneath his black tank top that he was wearing.

“The only person I’m paying is Maverick after what I just saw.” The man blanched as he walked past the smaller pilot of the group patting him on the back and went straight for the coffee machine, taking the cup of pure black coffee Wood had made for himself as he walked towards the kitchen table.
“Welcome to the club.” Maverick snorted as he realised what Slider had stumbled in upon.
“I saw too much. Its huge, he’s huge, a cockerel. Both live to the callsigns. The other ones just as fucking hung.” Slider moaned quietly as he thunked his head down on the kitchen table.
“Shut it uncle Sli.” Bradley blushed as he emerged in the door frame in a loose t-shirt and plaid pyjama bottoms.
His neck was mauled with a ring of hickies that was as dark as his harness bruises peeking out from beneath his shirt.

“Damn kiddo, it’s like you’ve been hung.” Sundance snorted as he looked over the kiddo.
Bradley blushed darkly as he rubbed a hand around his neck.
“So that’s why he’s called Hangman.” Maverick chuckled as the young blonde pilot stumbled into the doorframe behind Bradley, wearing a borrowed pair of oversized sweats and a baseball jersey taken right out of Bradleys wardrobes. The younger pilot’s hair was all messed up and dishevelled in a way he never thought he’d see from the usually well put together lieutenant. Yet he walked up to Bradley with his usual cocky smirk on his face with his head held high as he proudly stood behind the taller man in the door frame.
He looked proud of having left admiral Kerner speechless which got a snort from Ice as he looked at the Navys new mini him.
“Huh… he is a mini-ice.” Merlin whispered to Slider, getting everyone’s attention to him, “Possessive, cocky, well built, one hell of a pilot with the stats to back it up… blonde.”
“Oh my god, Goose what have we done.” Hollywood muttered as the guys burst out laughing.

Ice and Maverick rolled their eyes at the group of admirals sitting around their kitchen.
“Come on, we weren’t that bad.”
“You are.” The rest of the class turned to face them with identical expressions of hopelessness.

“Who wasn’t as bad?” Jake asked.
“Don’t worry about that Lieutenant, how do you take you bacon.” Ice sighed as maverick moved to make more pancake batter.
Jake looked at Bradley, having expected to have been kicked out of the admiral’s house by now, Bradley only shrugged and pushed his boyfriend into the room, dragging him over to the kitchen island.
“Crispy sir.” Jake smirked.
“You don’t have to call me Sir in my own house lieutenant, I’m not your C.O in positions like this.” Ice rolled his eyes.
“I would sir, but it be rude of the Texan in me, sir.” Jake smiled as he looked at Ice whose eyebrows rose as he looked over the cocky young pilot standing next to Bradley.

No one said anything as Ice looked over the blonde before looking at Maverick who nodded proudly before Ice turned to Rooster.
“Alright Mav, you were right, I do like this kid.” Ice nodded with a sly smirk before turning back to the bacon.
“Of course, you do. Good, now come get your breakfast kids. And its “My” house, I paid for it.” Maverick sassed Ice who simply whacked his husbands rear with a spatula.
“I pay the bills.” Ice quipped back with a smug grin.
“With the money from our joint account.”
“Which you haven’t paid into for years.” The admiral pointed out at his husband, poking him with the spatula in his hand.
“My pay goes in it.”
“Explains why I don’t see the numbers move. Not much money to a captains pay when compared to an admiral.” Ice snarked back at Mav whilst their guests just chuckled from the table. Jake shared a look of disbelief with Bradley who just rolled his eyes and shook his head.
“Well, it’s a good fucking thing someone was stupid enough to give me a generous promotion after near three decades worth of navy bureaucracy bullshit and another idiot for convincing me to take the promotion from captain to admiral years ago. So yes ice, I pay in, so what the hell are you spending it on.” Mav spat back as he and Ice began to size each other up.
“OH, FOR GODS SAKE ITS TOO EARLY FOR THIS.” Slider moaned loudly breaking it up before the couple by the cooker could bitch on about who was the better pilot once again.

“At least the RC F-14 model tomcat was bought with my own money, should be here any day now.” Mav grumbled as he moved to sit down.
“The what now?” Ice looked at Maverick in betrayal.
“You wouldn’t let me keep the F-14 so I got a model F-14.” Mav shrugged, wincing as his bad arm moved.
“Your only allowed to keep the jet once Grumman gut it's interiors and mechanics, there are protocols in place to prevent F-14 parts from ending up back in the enemies’ hands, you’re getting it as a garden statue for the front of the office building in North Island.” Ice sighed as he sagged over the stove.
“I know your just as disappointed we didn’t get to keep it as an actual active jet. So, RC F-14 it was.” Mav smirked.
“Is that why you had me clean out a corner of the hangar the other day and said it was that or two hundred push ups?” Bradley asked as the rest of the people around the table looked at Maverick in delight and surprise.
“DIBS FIRST FLIGHT!” Chipper screamed over the table.
Then chaos erupted at the table as all the admirals started arguing over who would get to fly the RC jet first.

Mav and Ice looked at the other pilot at the table in betrayal as Slider burst out laughing at the identical looks of disappointment on their faces as there hard made breakfasts ended up being turned into weapons of war at the table in the hands of there friends.
“Is it always like a rodeo here with you admirals?” Jake asked Hollywood.
“Oh yes, it is cowboy, welcome to the family kid.” Wood smirked as he ruffled the blonde’s hair.

Chapter Text

86er's group Chat.

LetmeSliderightin: I have never seen a man look more willing to commit murder than Mav right now.
Magicman: Honey put the phone away, were in the middle of the ceremony.
Malewitch: He does look ready to punch someone I’ll admit it. This shit is absolutely hilarious. He looks so uncomfortable, like a new ensign.
Weatherfront: Do I have to be here, it’s bad enough the president made Mitchell the same rank as me, but my base for the ceremony?
IceIce Baby: Silence 88.
LetmeSliderightin: Ice put your phone down you’re the COMPACFLT for gods sake. You’re sitting next to the SECNAV and the president for god’s sake.
IceIce Baby: And your boss, now off your phones before he sees and.
NotaDeathstarPilot: You’re on the couch tonight, Thomas. THE PRESIDENT AND SECNAV ARE HERE! YOU UTTER BASTARD. Was it not enough that you were giving me the stars, no, the president and SECNAV had to be here to do it.
IceIce Baby: … fuck.

LetmeSliderightin: OMG LMFAO. How, your literally sitting front and centre.
Werewolf: It was Bob wasn’t it.
NotaDeathstarPilot: Where I learned these skills is classified. You’ll never know where and who I’ve killed with these skills.
WalkofFame: Links “Im an international superspy, superspy.”
NotaDeathstarPilot: I can neither confirm nor deny what went on in my decade and a half of Black-ops missions. Even Ice’s clearance isn’t high enough to ever have a peak at the vault the files are stored in bar the last one. And don’t worry about trying to become SECNAV, even that position doesn’t have high enough clearance.
Ice Ice Baby: Babe you know I must take a double length term as COMPACFLT because I wanted to remain in San Diego before I’d even have the chance to be Secnav and by that stage I’ll probably take retirement over more paperwork. They were not wanting to spend three years in north island and then move everything back to pearl all for one man, so I convinced them that I’d serve a double term. I only got it because the president loves that im the only competent mother fucker this high up. That love can get one a lot of favours.

Weatherfront: well, that explains how he stole an f-18 and got back on base after I canned him.
Ice Ice Baby: I hope you’ve sorted that security breach Cyclone, or I will have your wings…. Wait… did my husband, confirm that he’s committed espionage?
NotaDeathstarPilot: really, you ask that when you know the second last jet I was in that exploded was designed for espionage.
LetmeSliderightin: I mean there’s one way to find out if you want to. Just kill him and if we see people in trench coats hiding at the edge of the graveyard then yes, he’s done some espionage.
WeatherFront: Sir, he doesn’t appear on ANY camera, ANY. I have spent countless nights going over the footage of every camera and perimeter.
Ice Ice Baby: Excuses.
WeatherFront: The only thing that turned up on camera was a naked rear admiral Wolfe breaking into the rec room and picking the vending machine lock open and taking a packet of Reese cups. JUST ONE PACKET OF REECES CUP… he could have at least taken come Arizona tea to go with it.

IceIce Baby:…..
IceIce Baby: Wolf, what the fuck?
Werewolf: Huh… explains why I woke up with chocolate on my tits.
IceIce Baby: Ah… sleepwalking again.
WalkofFame: YOU BROKE OUT OF YOUR RESTRAINTS AGAIN? LEON WHAT THE FUCK! HOW DID YOU PUT THEM BACK ON WITHOUT ME KNOWING YOU’D BROKEN OUT!
MaleWitch: explains the rash around his neck.
Chippedmyego: I keep telling you people he needs to be microchipped with a tracker.
Sunnydays: Or put in a kennel. I told you that collar and leash wasn’t going to be enough. Not after the Pensacola debacle, yall nearly walked into a hurricane.
WalkofFame: No, he’d break out of the kennel, I might try more… through bed restraints next time.
Werewolf: At least fuck me if you go for them, don’t just leave me half mast, it’s a miracle we can get it up without aid at our age.
NotaDeathstarPilot: Oh, let me know when you’re going shopping, I’ll come with, it’s been a while since we had anything new in the bedroom.
Ice Ice Baby: We’re out of the peppermint lube you like sweetheart, remember to pick up a bottle for yourself, and if you spot something nice to play with you can get it.
Weatherfront: OMFG I need bleach for what I just read. I’m out.
Weatherfront went offline.

MaleWitch: Pussy bitch.
MagicMan: …To drink and end It all or to cleanse his mind of that image?
Werewolf: Man overboard. He could not handle the GAY
NotHoldoitsHondo: *WHEEZE* LMAO.
WalkofFame: Nobody sleeps alone on these ships.
Ice Ice Baby: Weakling, everyone knows the Navy is the gayest branch. He should have gone Airforce.
NotHoldoitsHondo: Need to be gayer, the marines are trying to take that title away from us.
IceIce Baby: DAMNIT. Stay in your lane Marines. They were supposed to be Feral crayon eating animals.
LetmeSliderightin: LMFAO. You broke him Ice, look at him. Look at Simpson. He’s trying not to freak out in the stands.
NotHoldoitsHondo: I would have thought he’d realized Mav isn’t the only crazy one of you. Each of you is a little shit, but the scale goes, so good at hiding it you become a four-star admiral to loving to make it everyone else’s problem.
Magicman: Well, I think we’ll need to change that scale now, Mavericks the little shit who made it everyone else’s problem until he eventually becomes so valuable, they can’t lose him.
MaleWitch: A pleasure torturing cyclone with you gentlemen.
NotHoldoitsHondo: It’s always an honour rear admiral.
NotaDeathstarPilot: Any excuse to mess with Cyclones a good one.
Ice Ice Baby: Oh shit, I need to give my fucking speech now and then give the kiddies their medals and promos. Drinks at the Hard Deck after this.
IceIce Baby has gone offline
Werewolf: FUCK YEAH FREE DRINK.
NotaDeathstarPilot: Yeah, free drinks for me and the daggers, not for your assholes. See you all later suckers.
NotaDeathstarPilot has gone offline.

Werewolf: MOTHERFUCKER!

Dangerous Daggers group chat.

Fritz: My god look how constipated Mav is right now.
Hangman: He has a great ass in that outfit though.
Rooster: That’s my dad?
Phoenix: he’s right though Roo, I mean, how else did he bag the admiral.
Bob: By being an annoying pansexual little twink whore according to my uncle wolf.
Rooster:………….

Phoenix: MavDad’s Pan? Whoop, Pan pride.
Hangman: I thought he was Bisexual?
Omaha: No that’s admiral Kerner, he’s poly too… don’t ask how I know that.
Rooster: HE’S MARRIED! TO ADMIRAL WELLS, AND HAS BEEN FOR YEARS.
Omaha: this was from before he met Merlin. Said something about a couple he slept with in 86?
Rooster:….O.M.F.G
Halo: I mean someone in their class needed to be, they can’t all be gay.
Rooster: Bob, if it wasn’t for the uncle’s squad, I would murder you. There was a lot of things I didn’t need to know about there sex lives.
Bob: You make it sound like you could kill me, I killed God in a Denny’s parking lot at 3am.
Yale: I mean bob’s… he’s not wrong Roo.
Harvard: The twink part, not the whore, the captains married… or former captain now. Rear admiral’s one hell of a jump.
Hangman: I don’t want to think about my C. O’s sex life, so if yall could change the subject.
Rooster: I can’t believe I’m about to say this but THANK YOU, hangman.

Halo: Can we convince him to change his surname to Kazansky.
Omaha: Halo no!
Fritz: Halo yes!
Halo: Halo yes!
Phoenix: HALO YES!
Rooster: Phoe no!
Coyote: I’m surprised he hasn’t. I want to see that meeting.
Hangman: Appointment with admiral Kazansky, which one, oh the scary one, sorry they are both scary, I need the responsible one.
Rooster: You assume Ice is responsible, I raise you little shit who hides it so well they made him a four-star admiral. He has a problem; he sets either Mav or Slider on them depending on whether he needs a competent pilot to perform the impossible or a chaos enabling admiral to completely shake up a bases operations.
Fanboy: Not going to lie, that’s a hilarious thought.

Payback: Should we not be paying attention to the ceremony guys, Vice Admiral Mitchell’s gotten his three stars, the presidents sat back down, now admiral Kazansky’s giving a speech and our promotions are next.
Fritz: Ah yes, our promotions to lieutenant commanders and Commanders respectively. Can’t believe they’re giving the chicken and bagman commanders. Congrats to Phoenix though who totally deserves it, you go queen.
Rooster: Get your own air kill whilst under enemy fire and then you can gloat.
Hangman: He got off his perch and beat me to it, it appears. But yes, get a kill, or fly days after ejecting, and become as good as us and perhaps you’ll be too good for lieutenant commander rankings.
Harvard: Fuck you too then Bagman.
Hangman: Fuck me yourself coward.
Rooster: Shut the fuck up before I make you dipshit.
Omaha: Harvard back away from the chicken’s man.
Yale: Harvard you traitor, you’re my pilot and fuck buddy get your ass back here.
Phoenix: Take the flirting elsewhere and get ready, Bagman, Roo, you idiots are going to miss your que. Thanks Fritz. SHIT THAT INCLUDES ME!
Hangman: Fuck
Rooster: Oh fuck.
Phoenix: Eject, eject, eject.
Phoenix has gone offline.
Rooster has gone offline.
Hangman has gone offline.

Payback: Wait… why’s phoenix getting promoted to commander. We flew the same mission and we’re only being promoted to lieutenant commanders.
Bob: We flew only days after an ejection and still performed exceptionally. She was due it apparently, my new pilot has balls of steel.
Payback:… Okay, that’s fair to be honest. If it was for anything else I think it would have hurt more.
Bob: Don’t worry, I’m only being promoted to lieutenant commander, your not alone. Phoenix absolutely deserves it.
Fanboy: Awe, little bobby has a crush.
Bob: We’re now dating. My uncles are very happy for us and threaten to bury anyone who makes fun of our relationship or report us. But you don’t have to worry about them, I have killed before and am willing to do it again if you make fun of us.
Coyote:… your joking… right bob?
Yale: I’m almost too afraid to ask who’s your uncles but Admirals Neven and Wolfe have been staring at you happily the whole time.
Harvard: Oh fuck… is there anyone here who doesn’t have and aviator uncle or aunt who was part of Admirals Kazansky and Mitchell's top gun class. Or have some form of connection to them.
Coyote: … Bob?

Fritz: Does accidental adult adoption count?
Halo:… Now this one I haven’t heard, spill the tea my dude.
Fritz: Was getting grief from a CO a few years back and Admiral Kerner walks past having heard the whole thing. Admiral Kerner was curious about me and why I’d pissed my C.O. When he found out I took a jet on an… unauthorised Hop into a hurricane he orders me into a jet with him in the back, we fly and do aerial shots during a hurricane, nailing every shot as I grew up in the Midwest with storm chasers, and he personally pulled a favour to get me to top gun and to Lemoore over Pensacola and has proceeded to visit me on whatever base I’ve been to since, as well as text me near daily.
Omaha: LMFAO Dude that’s awesome.
Coyote: Dude what?
Payback: Oh yeah, I’d heard about your hurricane chase before, didn’t know you’d taken admiral Kerner up with you too.
Bob: Welcome to the family. You’ll fit right in, just remember to buy yourself a Stetson before family rodeo night. Quick question, best place to hide a body?
Fritz: I have two, one is never enough when wolf’s around. And buried under a riverbed at low tide or flow, dig a few meters down, place body in hole and cover back up with large stones and sediment to keep it weighted down, by the time nature takes its course the body will have decomposed enough that all that’s left is bones that will be swept down river. And number two, feed them forty thousand banana’s in ten minutes because the radiation poisoning will kill them.
Harvard: Ah yes, the radiation will kill you.
Halo: Aww so sweet… and terrifying, dude just knock the fucker out and weld them up inside one of the dummy missiles we use for training purposes, claim a miss fire occurred and drop that bitch in the ocean. They’ll either have suffocated long before hand or drowned if still alive. We have the COMPACFLT on our side to collaborate with.
Yale: It’s like an episode of NCIS…. Just… I… fuck, my sacred medical oath of the Hippocratic… that said, just give them a subtle overdose or make it seem like an unknown allergy and dock the bloods.
Coyote: What is wrong with you people. We’re officers, at least pretend to be normal.
Halo: Like you haven’t wanted to murder Bagman at times.
Coyote: Touché Bassett, touché.

Omaha: Damn dude, is there any way for the rest of us to get adopted by one of these mad men?
Bob: What makes you think you haven’t been adopted yet. I believe the argument is who gets who between rear admiral Piper-Williams and now Vice admiral Mitchell-Kazansky.
Yale: I’m sorry what?
Harvard: I think were being adopted.
Omaha: I think it’s the Ivy’s, Halo and Me being argued over then as we’ve all flown with Admiral Piper before, and he secretly adores us. Surprised these three haven’t caught on yet, he snuck us contraband on so many occassions.
Halo: As long as they kick my biological parents out of this ceremony.
Omaha: WHERE ARE THEY!
Harvard: Why what’s the problem with them?
Halo: Twelve o’clock thirteenth row back, three seats on the left. I think that is the new suitor family they’re trying to sell me off to with them again this time.
Bob: Is everything alright?
Omaha: Guys, things are going to get messy.
Halo: I’m no contact with my bio parents and have restraining orders out on them. They have spent over a decade stalking me from state to state to sell me off into an arranged marriage to some man back in China, despite the fact I am married and a lesbian.
Fanboy: Target acquired; I have eyes on Halo’s bio parents.
Coyote: They’re talking to another couple, are they possibly there chosen suitors.
Halo: Highly likely.
Payback: Should we tell the admirals
Fritz: Can we kill them?
Omaha: TELL THE ADMIRALS AND GET SECURITY BEFORE THINGS GET UGLY NOW! ROOSTER GET YOUR ASS BACK ONLINE NOW.

Rooster is online.
Rooster: give me a moment to read what we’ve missed…
Rooster: Oh fuck, I’m telling Ice ASAP. We’ll get security on them now.
Bob: I’ll tell uncle wolf too and see about planning a backup escape route to the Hard deck for the party afterwards.
Rooster: We need to move ASAP, once you guys get your medals in a minute the ceremonies over and the families are free to strike.
Bob: Copy that, belaying the emergency squawk code to uncles now, I don’t think I’m in the full fly-boys group chat, just one with wolf and Hollywood, please read me in Rooster so we get this shit sorted.
Coyote: did bob just swear?
Payback: He’s been doing that a lot recently keep up would you.
Bob: I’m just comfortable enough around you all now. B.O.B doesn’t just stand for Baby on board after all.
Rooster has gone offline
Bob: Don’t worry Halo, we’ll sort them out. No murder this time though unless you want it.
Halo: Thank you bobby, you’re a saint, and no I’d rather not face a court marshalling and military tribunal for when they disappear.
Yale: I like the “When” in that sentence.
Omaha: Like you wouldn’t murder them to keep our beloved angel safe.
Fritz: True.
Bob has gone offline

Fly Boi’s uncles squad.

Gosling is online
Gosling added Bob
Giant puppy changed bob’s name to Baby Puppy
Gosling: Pops, we have an issue, Security breach on base, row thirteen three seats to the left of the aisle.
Slushie: What’s wrong?
Baby Puppy: That’s Halo’s bio family and possible suitors, Major issue is the restraining order Halo has out against them all and No contact order.
Chipsahoy: THOSE FUCKERS!
SunnyD: NO CHIP WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, NO MURDER.
Chipsahoy: YES MURDER! THOSE BASTARDS KEEP TRYING TO SELL MY DAUGHTER OFF.
Shitty Wizard: Surprising it’s not Mav or Sli who suggested it first.
WalkingHazard: I’m next to the secret service agents, I’ll let them know of a possible threat on base.
Slip’n’slide: That’s the smartest thing I think I’ve ever heard from you Mav.
Slushie: Please do, I’m gonna have to look at the security breach and how these people got into one of my bases. This should have been flagged immediately by the gate guards.
SunnyD: Please have them arrested for trespassing and charged with breaching the restraining order and contact order… and everything else we can throw at them.
WalkingHazard: Chipper, Sunny, I have the adoption papers in the office I was assigned for that mission, get your asses in there immediately when this is over, sign them and rush them to the president to officiate them. Ice stall the president long enough for these idiots to get the papers sorted.
Slushie: Damn, talking like an admiral already… really regret giving you that promotion now.

Slip’n’slide: Me, Wolf and Wood will escort Bassett towards the office to get her out of the way and keep her safe.
Giant Puppy: Have all the daggers head towards hanger Bravo and huddle together to distract them.
Walking Hazard: Tell the daggers to act normal and make it seem like Halo’s with them, it’ll distract them long enough for the Chien family to be escorted away from the ceremony.
Baby puppy: On it.
Gosling: Thank fuck for that. Omaha said this shit could get messy.
Chipsahoy: AND HE’S FUCKING RIGHT, THOSE FUCKERS BETTER PULL UP, NOW WHERE THE FUCKS MY CEREMONIAL SWORD.
Slushie: PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DON’T MURDER THEM CHIPS WITH THE PRESIDENT ON BASE. WE NEED THE PRESIDENT TO LIKE US TO KEEP THIS SQUADRON!
WalkingHazard: Charles if I lose this squadron before its even official, they will never find your FUCKING BODY!
Slushie: Mav no.
Slip’n’slide: MAV YES!
SunnyD: I for once agree with Mav and Slider, Chips I will help him hide your body.
Baby puppy: There’s shovels in my place off base, clean them in hydrogen peroxide and bleach before returning them.
Giant puppy: Awe, puppies first murder.
Baby puppy: Second.
Woody: Um…. Should we be concerned.
Baby puppy: Cheating boyfriend.
Slip’n’slide: Ah, understandable, have a good day.
Gosling: W.T.F is wrong with this family.
Baby puppy: Like you wouldn’t kill your ex long term partner for cheating on you with your ex best friend whilst you’re on long term deployment.
Gosling: …I wouldn’t tell our uncles about it though.
Slushie: Should we be concerned Bradley.
Baby puppy: No, he’s always been hung up on Hangman.
Gosling: … You can be a real bastard at times can’t you.
Baby puppy: Learned from the best.

Giant puppy: that’s my boy, now hypothetically, how would you hide a body.
Baby puppy: Dig a ten- to fourteen-foot-deep hole, prop body upright and fill in until dirt covers their head, place a large stone or large animal corpse on top and finish filling in. Police will never know and when they turn to ground penetrating radar all they’ll see is the stone or animal corpse and the body’s deep enough that cursory dig searches will miss it by a good foot or two.
Giant puppy: Awe, bobby you’re an actual angel.
Slushie: … I… I don’t know whether to be impressed or scared, and I’m the one in charge of the largest fleet in the world.
Walking Hazard: No, he’s right. G.P.R would be blocked by the stones or debris on top of the body so it would be missed.
Woody: And how do you know about that, some impossible black ops mission shit.
Walking Hazard: Classified, but you could say all of my recent missions have been impossible.
Slushie: My god, I can fucking hear Danger zone playing in the background.
Slip’n’slide: your life’s like a movie Mav. I S.T.G it’s like a fucking action movie.
SunnyD: Like an action franchise that somehow keeps getting crazier the more the years go on into unreal plot lines.
Chipsahoy: Like terminator or predator.
Gosling: So... let’s just keep Bob away from the Chien family as well before they go missing.
Walking Hazard: Secret service is moving in to intercept the Chien family and arrest them. We’ll meet you kids at the hanger and take one of the back exits off base.
Slushie: … we need a better group chat so were not jumping between chats to talk to the daggers.
Giant Puppy: All over it.

Littlemissairheart is online.
Littlemissairheart: Why are you old men blowing up the chat, i thought the ceremony wasn't over yet.
WalkingHazard: Halo's bio-parents are trying to abduct her from base for an arranged marriage and it doesn't seem like its the first time Mels.
Littlemissairheart: Should i warn Mom about potential conflict in the bar? Its still early enough that we can call in the bouncers.
Slushie: That would probably be for the best Amelia dear, tell Penny i'll send her photos of who to bar for life and have the bouncers aware of who poses a danger.
Littlemissairheart: Alright, Mom and I will see you all soon, aunt Sarah and the others have arrived now uncle Tom, and congrats uncle Pete. Gonna miss picking on your captain status now.
Slip'n'slide: Amelia have i ever told you how much i love you.
Littlemissairheart: All the time uncle Ron. See you all shortly, and no blood in the bar, take it outside.
Baby puppy: Understandable Amelia, see you soon.
Littlemissairheart: Bye Bobbie.
Gosling: Hey, what about me?
Littlemissairheart: Bye Bradley Peter Bradshaw.
Gosling: What did i do to deserve being called my full name
Littlemissairheart: You brought that pornstache out of the eighties, Just take that ugly slug off your face already and leave it in the eighties.
Gosling: >:X
Gosling: Leave the Bradshaw family mustache alone.
Littlemissairheart: Bye.
Littlemissairheart went offline.
Slip'n'slide: WHEEZE, I love this kid. Mav thank you for introducing us to the legend that is Penny Benjamin all those years ago.
WalkingHazard: I don't know whether i enjoy it or regret it. Penny has too much power but god damn does she rock it.
Slushie: I can understand why you both got on so well, but don't forget cowboy your my husband.
WalkingHazard: Oh don't worry about that, I think Sarah's been getting cozy with Penny in recent months though.
Slushie: W.T.F, SARAH'S WHAT?
WalkingHazard: Although it could be divorcee and shitty husband solidarity.
Slip'n'slide: Mav you've broken him, he's thinking back to all of Penny and Sarah's recent outings and interactions... damn now even i'm curious.
WalkingHazard: Sorry Tom, but to be honest, they'd make an amazing power couple. Sarah and Penny could rule the world together and i'd support them.
Slushie: ...Lets just get out of here... i need a drink ASAP.
Giant puppy: Amen to that, lets ditch this joint.

Dangerous Daggers group chat.

Rooster: Okay, so the admirals know, there informing the secret service and we need to go.
Bob: Uncle Wolfe's currently making a joint group chat for all of us so expect to be added now shortly.
Halo: Thank you both so much.
Rooster: No worries about it Halo. Your all family now, we’d do this for any one of us if there’s trouble.
Bob: Abusing the admiralty that your related to is fun.
Fanboy:…. You’re not so innocent are you, Bob.
Bob: Nope =) Only Bagman gave you that impression.
Rooster: Welcome to the family.

Deadliest Aviators and Baby Aviator group chat created.

Leonard Wolfe-Neven added 21 people to the chat.
Leonard Wolfe-Neven Changed nickname to Wolfman.
Wolfman: Welcome to the group chat, if there’s a problem or just anything in general, please use this chat to slag off the aviator who’s annoying you or report any issues to us and just generally a shit posting chat.
Thomas Kazansky-Mitchell changed nickname to Iceman.
Iceman: Wolf no. Lieutenants, treat this as a normal chat, from here on we’re not your superiors when using this chat but please refrain from sending shit that’s discharge worthy because I deal with enough shit from these assholes I don’t need more. And Halo, your problems are being handled promptly and we will be charging them for trespassing, breach of restraining order and everything under the sun that I can throw at them.
Pete Mitchell-Kazansky change nickname to Maverick.
Charles Piper-Williams changed nickname to Chipper.
Maverick: If Halo, Harvard, Omaha and Yale want to quickly pop into my office as you all swing by the hangars that be great, we’ve one quick piece of paperwork for you all to fill out and it’ll hide Halo for a few moments till the guards haul the intruders away.
Chipper: I’m adopting you all, there’s no negotiating, get your asses to his office ASAP before I go and murder Halo’s bio parents. That way we have further proof that they aren’t “Related” to you.
Callie Bassett changed nickname to Halo.
Halo: O.M.G, Bobbie was right, thank you so much dad. Were on our way…. Just one question, can Omaha go grab my wife from the crowds, he knows what she looks like.
Iceman: Of course, Halo.
Chipper: Tell Rachel that she looks lovely today and I can’t wait to see you all. *Sobs proudly* She called me Dad.
Marcus Williams-Piper changed nickname to Sundown.
Sundown: We’ll take care of everything sweetheart, don’t worry… and don’t worry I’m keeping an eye on Chip, Mav and Sli, they look so ready to commit a murder. *Sobs back* I know, we’re parents.
Ron Kerner-Wells changed nickname to Slider
Slider: Your all-sappy idiots.
Iceman: Like your one to talk, you cried during Marley and Me, and it wasn’t even the sad part yet.
Slider: WE ALL CRIED, IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL MOVIE!
Maverick: Guys… I’m at my office… where’s Chipper?
Iceman: Oh fuck!
Slider: Oh fuck!
Wolfman: Oh fuck!
Sundown: CHIPPER NO!

Robert Floyd changed nickname to Bob.
Bob: Let the chaos begin.
Rick Neven-Wolfe changed nickname to Hollywood
Hollywood: Bob no.
BOB: Bob yes!
Iceman: I regret this.
Maverick: No, you don’t.
Iceman: No, I don’t.
Slider: *Whip cracking*
Iceman: I’ll give you a thirty second head start Ronny.
Slider: OH FUCK. Tommy please I’m sorry.
Maverick: Take out his knees first babe, he can’t run after you fall the tree.
Iceman: Thanks baby.
Slider: Mav what the fuck?
Maverick: You should be running Ronny boy.
Jake Seresin changed nickname to Hangman
Bradley Bradshaw changed nickname to Rooster
Hangman: This chats gonna be a wild rodeo ain’t it.
Rooster: You’re just figuring that out?
Wolfman: Welcome to the family kids, time to break out the Stetsons.
Bob: So when is the next family rodeo?
Sundown: ASAP considering we might need an alibi for Chipper shortly.
Hollywood: Who’s up for a holiday to Texas?
Twenty people are typing….

Sundown: Guys, I’ve lost sight of Chipper.
Halo: I see him he’s about to destroy my parents right now.
Rooster: Should we stop Chipper?
Maverick: CHIPPER NO, NOT WHEN THE PRESIDENTS ON BASE, I NEED THIS SQUADRON!!!
IceIce Baby: CHIPPER NO!!! WHAT MAV SAID, FUCK, FUCK, FUCK, FUCK.
Slider: And here comes Admiral Piper with the steel chair.
Omaha: And here comes the shit show.
Harvard: Someone get popcorn, this shits gonna be hilariously violent.
Fritz: All over it.

Fritz uploaded one video.

A shaky camera recording shows Rear Admiral Piper murder strutting towards an angry Chinese couple who pointed at him, the man walks up and starts shouting at him, demanding to see Halo. The woman’s biological father moved to punch Chipper only for the admiral to grab him in a headlock and them flip the man over his shoulders and onto the dirt. Chipper them let out a cry before body slamming the man on the ground and beginning to beat the shit out of the man beneath him as he’s dragged off by the secret service men as the Chien family was hauled off. Throughout the entire video all that was playing in the background was Wrestle mania chants and quotes as well as the mad laughter of the daggers who lost it at the sight of one of their commanding officers beating the shit out of a civilian in his dress whites with an empty sword scabbard flapping uselessly at his side. Sundance stood off to the side holding the missing sword and looking disappointed in his husband.

Maverick: I’m not bailing Chipper out of the brig this evening.
Sundown: Neither am i.
Iceman: Let him suffer for the night.
Warlock: I said I’d get him after an hour or two.
Slider:… anyone up for a family vacation to Texas whilst this shit show blows over.
Twenty people are typing
Cyclone: DON’T YOU FUCKERS DARE LEAVE ME TO CLEAN THIS MESS UP, KAZANSKY DO SOMETHING.
Iceman: Aviators, pack your gear and head to the following address by ten hundred hours tomorrow morning, one of us admirals will be flying the jet so bring Xanax if you object to not being in the cockpit, beach clothes and appropriate horse riding and hiking gear preferably, and bring some good clothes for Rodeo night, a Stetson is also advisable, if you haven’t been stationed in Texas before or do not own a Stetson we will take you shopping for one, non-negotiable. Don’t forget sunscreen and any medication you need, that goes to you lieutenant commander Avalone, do not forget your Adderall, Ron you make sure your kid keeps on track with his med's and we will see you all at the hangers shortly as we attempt to leave base.
Hondo: Enjoy the holiday, My wife and Kids have just finished moving to the city so I’m taking us all around the city for some sight seeing and relaxation.

Cyclone: You were supposed to be the responsible one. I believed in you Kazansky. Why?
Iceman: Get to work 88, the sooner you have it done, the more lenient I might be towards your… security breach.
Maverick: I’ll send you some more coffee, you’ll need it. Enjoy fixing that mess Simpson, we’ll bring you back something nice.
Cyclone: I hate all of you. Thank you for the coffee though, Mitchell.
Solomon Bates changed nickname to Warlock.
Warlock: I told you he’d like it.
Maverick: Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is worth the $420 dollar price tag for 5kg’s of beans.
Cyclone: Shut it and get over here to help me with this paperwork. AND HOW MUCH IS THIS COFFEE WORTH, W.T.F MITCHELL?
Iceman: Warlock, your application for leave was approved starting tonight, enjoy your three weeks and say hi to the family on our behalf. Cyclone, consider it a benefit of working with my husband, he’s of old money ;D.
Warlock: Thank you Ice, Suck it Cyclone.
Cyclone: MOTHER FUCKERS!
Iceman: that’s your punishment for trying to ground my husband after I was hospitalized, pray I don’t alter it any further.
Cyclone has gone offline.
Fanboy: Dude just rage quit.
Slider: L.M.A.O
Rooster: … Should we get this party started or what?
Maverick: We should start it off with some great big balls of fire, what do you say kiddo.
Rooster: All over it.

Hondo uploaded one photo.

Tom had one arm wrapped around Pete who was hoisted into his husbands hold, both cheering loudly with Jake, Ruben, Javy, mickey, Natasha and Bradley all gathered around the piano at the hard deck, with a newly released Charles standing next to Marcus hugging Callie tightly with there arms thrown around there newly acquired sons, with Bob, Leonard and Rick standing on the opposite side of the piano and Sam was in the background laughing at Ron who was giving Billie a piggyback ride, trying not to drop the younger officer who was carrying both of there beers.

They where one crazy family but the love they had for one another was evident over the smiles all of them wore.

Chapter Text

1986, Naval air station Miramar.

“Who the hell does that arrogant Beta bitch think he is.” Ice snarled as he slammed his locker shut.
They’d had another infuriating day of hops and the ice cold no mistakes alpha was getting more and more frustrated over the pack less beta that was Maverick. The bane of the navy and the pilot that always had a new rumour nearly ever other week plastered around bases far and wide thanks to the gossip gearbox that never stopped, that was scuttlebutt.

Mitchell had won todays hop and left with more points than Ice, slowly taking the 1st place position and crawling away with it, Ice and Slider slowly trailing behind them. They were less than one month into the top gun program out of the three months the program works but it was already clear who was the top of their class. It was infuriating for the alpha seeing as it shouldn’t be possible for someone who flew as recklessly as Maverick to be that good or even be here in Top gun.
The ice-cold pack alpha couldn’t stop thinking about the arrogant little beta that was beating him and his packs score. Mitchell had already surpassed the minimum points needed to graduate from the course, and he and Goose where already set to overtake and set a new high score on the table.

“Just leave it Ice, we still have the advantage of the pack teamwork points that are given out at the end of the course. We’re definitely going to be winning those.” Slider nudged his brother alpha with a smirk.
Top gun was made up of three essential point systems. Firstly, the practical points, awarded for performances on hops, secondly, the academical points which were awarded to pilot RIO groups based on their understanding and knowledge of strategy and manoeuvres from the books, and finally, the all-important Pack management points, where efficient teamwork in packs scored bonus points for their effective teamwork and trust in the other pilots of their pack.

Which is why they were confident they’d win Top gun. Their pack was performing the best out of the two other packs in their class and the two individuals of the class that was Goose and Maverick. It was a surprise for them to see Goose still without a pack after so long but they knew he had his wife and son, a loving calm and caring Beta like himself would have no bother joining a pack so it was a surprise to see them without a larger pack after all this time since they left the academy. Then there was his pilot Maverick, the main focus of scuttlebutt these days, a sterilize scented beta pilot who graduated through flight school pack less, but that was of course to be expected when they looked at him.

To them Maverick was a reckless, narcissist who didn’t give two shits about those who flew with him. The son of a national traitor who shouldn’t even be here let alone in the military, who knew what he was going to do and it made Ice and his pack despise the pilot. He shouldn’t be there, and he most certainly didn’t deserve to even be in Iceman’s packs presence or even be around Goose in their opinion.

“I can see why Maverick’s pack less, but I feel sorry for Goose, He doesn’t deserve to be saddled to a pack less pilot like that. Must be such a burden to be tied down like that.” Chipper spoke up, the others nodded.
All of them knew goose from the academy and had been looking for him for years after flight school. They had wanted to invite him into their pack for years, but he’d always declined, yet they still wanted to offer him the chance if he hadn’t jointed a larger pack yet. They’d love to bring his wife and son into their pack if Goose wanted to join them.

They didn’t want the third wheeler that was Maverick of course.

“I’d asked Goose to join our pack years ago before we left flight school, but he never said anything then. I know he has his wife and kid but why the hell does he still hang around a disaster like Maverick. If I where him, I’d drop the extra baggage and maybe they’d be more appealing for a pack joining without the trash hanging around.” Ice rolled his eyes.
“I’m with him because he’s my brother.” They heard an angry snarl from behind them.

They’re stood Maverick and Goose who had just entered the changing room.

The group froze as they looked at the two, Goose was rightfully red in the face, angrier than any of them had ever seen his usual neutral tone of vanilla had soured impressively for an angry beta. Maverick on the other hand just shook his head and walked right out of the changing room. All of them just about caught the upset face the man had before he turned away from them fully, hiding his expression before he moved to leave the locker room. No one was able to get a scent off the retreating beta to get an idea of what he was thinking. Not that they’d been able to get a whiff of scent of the beta the whole time they’ve been there.

The sadness and hurt in Maverick’s expression caught them all off guard as they watched him disappear back into the corridor.

“He’s your?” Slider asked in surprise.
The other RIO had never told them he had a brother, let alone that brother being Mitchell. All he ever told them was that his parents fostered kids for a while before stopping. Never questioning why they stopped, thinking it was probably none other than their age.

“Yeah, he is, might be beta’s but he’s part of my pack. It was hard enough to get him to open to me and trust me after the years of abuse he went through, but he’s my adoptive brother, I wasn’t going to abandon him, not like everyone else in his life had before he came to us.” Goose snarled as he pinned Ice against his locker, scaring the four alphas in the room.
“Abandoned?” Wolf muttered in surprise.
“Abused?” Sundance asked, all of them looking between one another.

The omega’s looked sick at that, hearing one of their classmates had been abused before there service, whilst the alphas just paled at Goose’s statement.

“Everyone knows about his old man, they don’t ask about his ma, he was four when Duke Mitchell went AWOL. He was scarcely five when he walked in to find his Ma blasting her brains out all over there living room leaving him orphaned before he could ever join a pack or be taught the rules and proper etiquette. He was ripped away from his parent’s pack and placed in foster care before his ma was even buried. Every home he went through either beat the shit out of him, worked him like a slave or neglected him until he was fourteen all because of some rumours of what might or might not have happened to his old man. They didn’t care if he was a kid or not, just burn the son for the sins of the father. Maverick’s just a mask he wears as much as Iceman is yours you knot head; I would have thought you of all people would have picked that up by now.” Goose snarled, he stared straight into Ice’s eyes before dropping the smaller alpha, freezing the alpha in shock at the sheer hatred and anger in it for a beta.

“You absolutely sicken me Kazansky, what the fuck is your actual problem. I thought you of all people knew better than to go around harassing and ostracizing people just because you’re losing. Grow up asshole and learn from your mistakes like a normal pack alpha would.”

The group began to look sick as they paled at the Beta’s anger and protectiveness.

“Actually, let me ask you this before you make any more mistakes. Do you know what pack rejection syndrome is?” Goose asked as he shook the pilot still pinned to the locker.
Ice shook his head negatively. He’d heard of it in passing but didn’t know outright what it was.
A mistake goose decided needed correcting. He was about to teach the alpha in his hold but was interrupted by one of the two Omega’s in the lockers piping up quietly.
“It’s when a person’s been rejected or abused by a pack or multiple packs, to the point they reject joining a pack because their instincts tell them it’s not safe to be in one.” Wolf spoke up from behind Wood, hiding from the angry beta who simply turned his head to glare at him. “They don’t feel safe being around packs and are weary of advances being made and are known for acting out against those they see as potential abusers. It doesn’t stop them from living a normal life but just leaves them pack less and independent out of fear of their own safety or bonded to small packs of two or three people they trust and reject pack joining’s.”

The other pilots and RIO’s paled as they looked at Goose, not liking what he was insinuating.
Goose dropped Ice, letting the alpha fall to the floor.

“Exactly, so congratulations pack alpha, you’ve been harassing and targeting a classmate who already suffers from pack rejection syndrome, and yet you wonder why he doesn’t work well with you idiots as a team, even Cougar wasn’t this much of an ass when he first met and flew with Maverick. Cortell and Wells where only chosen for Top gun over Mav and me because unlike Maverick, Bill went to the academy and had the brass’s support with that. They’d rather see an academy graduate come through those doors over the actual best pilot in a squadron.” Goose snarled at them. “Good luck winning those pack teamwork points. Viper and Jester’s been watching all your interactions with Maverick, and you’d be lucky if you got any.” Goose spat.
“Goose, Nick I?” Ice started flinching when Goose moved sharply towards the alpha.
“Save it Iceman, I don’t want to hear it. You leave me and my little brother alone. I might not be an alpha but if you come near my pack, you will not like the consequences.” Goose said as he marched out of the changing room. “Don’t follow us unless you want to find yourselves castrated. Oh, and one more thing, if this conversation slips around base, I will know who’s got the loose lips and they will never find your bodies.” Goose snarled as he marched out of the lockers.

The group watched as the RIO retreated out after his pilot, none of them saying anything. They all knew they’d fucked up badly.

They continued to change and clean up in silence as they thought over the little but bombshell load of information the angry beta had given them.

None of them had ever had an inkling that they’d been doing anything wrong. The navy didn’t care about packs and individual, what they cared about was results. If packs and lone individuals could work well together then they saw no need to object to it. They did prefer it however, when certain areas did branch off into packs, such as their seals and Aviators. Working together in packs made it easier to communicate and trust in each other’s action and made for better mission results.

But this was different… it suddenly made sense as to why Maverick acted the way he did and avoided them.

The smaller pilot could get the job done but at the end of the day he didn’t like being near packs not because they were assholes but because it was a trauma response. He tolerated it but the moment he could be by himself, Maverick was normally gone and they finally had an explanation as to why.

“Let’s just… go back to our assignment for the evening… I don’t feel like hitting the town anymore.” Sundance asked as he looked over the group.
“Sure.” Ice said as he led his pack back towards there assignment.

He was quiet and needed to think over what he’d been told.

He was their pack alpha, he was supposed to look out for them all, now he just put them all at risk of trouble with the brass for potentially harassing an abuse survivor.
It did begin to explain things about their mysterious classmate. How Standoffish he had been around them, or perhaps it was the other way around, how standoffish they’d been with him. Goose was their friend but here came this unknown scentless beta with the man they wanted to join their pack.

They hadn’t thought about what Goose would have wanted and instead saw Maverick as a threat and treated him as such. It explained his flying, reckless, like he had something to prove, and now Ice was thinking that perhaps he did. Maverick had to prove he could fly and outfly them all, that he could take care of himself in the air because no one else would. Perhaps Maverick’s had to prove that he belonged where he was and show people that no one was going to stop him.

“Oh shoot, I’ve left my watch back at the changing rooms. I’ll meet you all back at our assignment.” Wolf said as he ran off back towards the changing room.

Wolf left the group and returned to the changing room, stopping as he heard quiet sobs on the other side of the door along with Gooses voice.

The RIO slowly opened the door a tiny crack, just enough to investigate the changing room. It was hot and steamy in the room, like someone was just after taking a shower. He wrinkled his nose in disgust as he caught a strong whiff of a disgusting burnt chocolate scent, now that caught him off guard, chocolate scents where more common amongst omega’s, not beta’s and certainly not alphas.

Whoever was producing such a sour smell must have been really upset. It just made the omega even more curious as he quietly investigated the changing room.

“I’m sorry Pete. I was so excited to come to TOPGUN I didn’t think about how it would affect you. I know flight school was horrendous for you and I fucking forgot about it. After we won over the rest of our squad and their packs, I thought that would be it, that you wouldn’t face anymore problems. Scuttlebutt calmed the fuck down about you when the guys back in Texas accepted us. I never thought you’d be harassed here at Top gun.” Goose said as he hugged his tiny shaking pilot. “We can quit if it’s too much for you. Go back to Texas to our squadron. We’ve passed the minimum points needed to graduate at this point anyways, it’ll take the others another month to get to this point on the points table, but hell if we did stay you could have another course record to your name, another one in the bag for you.”

Wolf’s eyes widened in shock as he looked at Goose and Maverick.

“It’s so stupid… Sorry Nick, I should have better control over this, I didn’t mean to cry. I won’t quit, not when you want this so much, I won’t do it.” Maverick sobbed softly; it broke the RIO’s heart as he looked over the smaller pilot. “I’m used to hiding…. ‘s just harder with Iceman’s pack hounding on me…”

That got Wolfs attention, the tiny pilot mentioning their pack, and what was this about the pilot hiding something. And quitting? Maverick? That can’t be right, he’s winning after all.

“Mav… do you feel safe around them?” Goose asked.
“…. I… I don’t know… No, not really….” Maverick whimpered quietly, fearfully.
Wolf paled as he heard the pilot whimper. It sickened the omega to hear the fear in his voice.
“I… I want to… I know they like you but… they don’t like me… and I know that’s fine, I’m hard to love anyways… who wants a broken thing like me after all.” Maverick quietly as he dropped the towel covering his shoulders as he reached over for his t-shirt. “I’m used to being rejected… you know that.” He sniffed softly.
“It’s not fair on you, I hate them for it. I hate every asshole who pins the fathers’ sins on the son. If I did something like that, I’d never want Bradley to carry the burden like you have. You deserve so much more Pete. You’re so perfect and strong and smart, three degrees before your twenty second birthday. Top of your ROTC class. Pilots licence before your seventeenth, motorbike and car licence on your sixteenth. We’re the youngest to participate in TOPGUN, and you’re one of the finest pilots in the Navy. I wish the whole world would just look at you the way Carol, Bradley and I do. See the smart, sarcastic, loyal, lovable person I do. I love you so much Pete, your family, no matter what those assholes say or think. I guess I was wrong about them, they’ve changed since the academy, they once would have cared for everyone who came there way as a friend, I know that’s how I felt when we were at the academy. I wanted to see about a pack joining with them years ago but only if you were happy with them. I’m sorry I was wrong about them and all the trouble they’ve been giving you since we arrived. You don’t deserve any of it, we’ll find an alpha or pack that cares about you just as much as Carol, Bradley and I do, one day, maybe Sammy too if things with Bills pack don’t work out, but it doesn’t matter how long we must wait but we’ll be there every step of the way.” The RIO stated proudly, giving his pilot a loving reassuring smile.

Wolfman looked ready to throw up as he stared at Maverick.

No wonder the guy took showers separate from them all, if a strange pack of mostly alphas had been hounding him, he too wouldn’t feel safe to be near them in such a vulnerable position, especially when he’s the baby of their class at barely 24 years old, surrounded by alphas with two, four, and even ten years on him.

There was no way what he was seeing was true… scuttlebutt would have plastered it through every base if what he was both seeing and smelling was correct.

And yet there it was, the raised unbitten gland and the sharp soured chocolate scent of a terrified, upset, unmated Omega.

The RIO watched as Goose wrapped Maverick in a tight protective hug, shielding him from the world in the beta’s large arms.

Wolf let a small smile grow on his face at seeing how protective Goose was over his omega pilot. It slightly lifted the heavy weight of guilt on his heart as he watched the loving protective beta fuss over Maverick. He’d hate to be alone in the world by himself but knowing Maverick did have someone to turn to made him feel slightly better after the outburst earlier in the locker room.

His smile dropped when he realised, he’d have to tell his pack about what he saw before they made things worse for Maverick.

“Thanks Nick.” The smaller man’s smile wobbled.
“No bother, now do you need any more scent blocker patches?” the taller beta asked.
“Yes please, it’s so disgusting, I’m sorry you have to smell this, the blocker pills won’t kick in for another few minutes and its already making me sick.” Mav let out a little gag noise.

Wolf’s eyes widened as he looked at the tiny pilot, paling in utter shock. Fuck his watch, that could wait. Right now, he had to go and tell the others what he’d just seen before they fucked up any more with the smaller pilot.
Discovering he was an Omega was one thing, but discovering how bad his pack had fucked up, how unsafe they’d made there two classmates feel, was something else entirely.

Wolf looked back at the two hugging in the changing room, seeing how peaceful and fragile there classmate really was under the cocky persona was quite a shakeup. They really had fucked up their relationship with their classmates, and now they risked everything if they continued this way. No, Wolf had the chance to warn his pack and protect not only his pack from Goose’s wrath and their commanders, but also protect Maverick from anymore harassment and abandonment.

After the way they’d treated the smaller, younger man it’s a chance to make things right.

Hollywood was the first to snap his head up as he heard the door to their pack assignment open. Their pack were staying on base provided housing, unable to find a house to temporarily rent for the duration of the top gun course that suited there packs requirements. Everyone else had disappeared off into the living room area’s or retreated to the nest room, leaving Hollywood in the kitchen making some toast as he awaited his omega to return. The pilot was a little concerned at how long it took for His omega had return from the changing rooms however, a little later than he should have been but at least he was there now.

“Hey Wolfie, you took longer than I thought… wait, are you okay?” Wood asked as he saw how pale his omega had become.
“Where’s everyone?” Wolf asked, panic in his tone, his omega cords whining for the protection and care of his alphas.
“Why, did you run into Mitchell? Goose? Who upset you.” Ice said as he shoved his head around the corner, growling as he looked around for threats to his pack.
He’d come down the stairs to check on the omega, making sure he’d returned from the hangar buildings safe and sound. It didn’t take more than a few seconds to pass before everyone in their pack peeked their heads out into the kitchen. The distressed whine wolf gave off was enough to send them all running to protect the omega.

“We’ve fucked up… we’ve fucked up big time.” The omega shook as he looked at his pack who quickly moved into the living room where he was standing.
“Wolf?” Wood asked as he took his omega into his arms.
“Mitchells not a beta, I… I caught him and Goose in the changing rooms.” Wolf shook as he looked at the other omega of the group, Sundance. “He’s an omega. He… he…I saw his raised unmated gland, caught a whiff of his scent… as upset as he was. I saw the pack of chemical blocker patches sitting on the bench next to him, I caught them both talking.” The RIO squeaked out, getting everyone’s attention.

The pack of pilots and RIO’s paled as they looked at the late comer. Ice, the pack’s leader froze in abject horror as the rest of the alphas and omega’s who made up the pack blanched and launched into interrogation mode on Wolf.
“He’s what? But there’s no Omega pilots in the navy? Are you sure.” Slider asked as he stared at the man.
“There’s a few, just not any in our line of service, they usually fly freighters, support and taxi runs, not combat roles.” Chipper spoke up.
“I’ve never heard of an omega pilot flying fighter though.” Wood told them.
“I swear. It makes sense, he’s small, petite, he hasn’t taken a shower when all of us where in the changing room, waiting until we were gone or in and out before us all.” Wolf started, as he looked over his group, “You couldn’t mistake him for an alpha with his height and wide hips, that brilliantly plump bubble butt Ice has a habit of staring at, but he could still easily pass as a beta with blockers. Which he’s on. Goose asked if he needed more and he, he…”
“Whoa there Wolfie, take a deep breath.” Wood ordered his omega.
The man in his arms nodded before he took a deep breath, calming down as his mate’s strong pungent musk washed over him. Ice however blushed at the mention of his habit, not realising the others had picked up on it.

None of the group spoke as they looked at their freaked-out pack member.

“The pack rejection syndrome Goose was mentioning, for omega’s the more severe the more side effects can occur. You said you got a whiff of his scent?” Sundance spoke up, the groups other omega had folded into himself as he sought out his mate for comfort. Chipper just put him under his chin and held his RIO closely. “How did he smell.”
“Completely terrified and upset… I felt like throwing up when I caught a whiff of his scent. All horrible burnt chocolate smell, like “Oh shit I’ve cremated the chocolate cake or brownies I was baking” type of smell.” Wolf gagged. “He himself was getting sick from his scent and was using a combination of both chemical blocker patches and blocker tablets. It’s why we couldn’t get a whiff of his scent. He’s really gone through a lot of shit to reject his scent to the point he has to use tablets and patches.” The taller omega told his pack.

That confused the alpha’s but made Sundance shiver at the thought of having been harassed bad enough to suffer from such severe pack rejection syndrome.

“He puts on a cocky front but I… I saw him… he was so… so small...” the blonde-haired omega whimpered. “He’s terrified of us Ice. He’s absolutely petrified of us, of our pack. He doesn’t feel safe at all around up.”

Ice paled to the point that he began to turn green, sick at the thought of absolutely terrifying a young, petite, unmated Omega. He wanted maverick to know that he didn’t trust the other pilot and thought very little of him, but he never meant to make the omega fear for his own safety, he never wanted to outright terrify someone who was supposed to be his wingman when in the air. He didn’t mean to make the other pilot feel unsafe around him and his pack.
“Not at all?” Chipper asked horrified at the revelation.
“No… he was shaking in Goose’s hold, distraught and terrified. That’s not all either.”
“What else is there?” Slider spoke up blandly, his face stony as he avoided everyone’s eyes. He himself had been very antagonistic towards Maverick, probably the worst out of there group seeing as he was the largest.
“Bradshaw was apologizing to him. Turns out only Goose wanted to come to Top gun, not Mitchell. Goose suggested quitting if it was too much for him.” Wolf freaked out.
The whole pack looked at him in horror and disbelief at what he’d just said.
“Quitting?” Ice whispered quietly in horror, finally speaking up.

They were hardly even a month into the top gun course, Maverick and Goose couldn’t just quit now.

The thought of having pushed his rival to the point of quitting was unthinkable but with the bombshells that had been dropped on them that day he knew he’d really fucked up as a pack alpha if he’d harassed Mitchell to the point where he’d rather leave than continue the course. Harassing an Omega was frowned upon, in both society and the Navy, finding out he’d harassed one to the point of quitting, that would ruin Ice’s pack’s chance of not only winning TOPGUN but risked their wings. If either Bradshaw or Mitchell reported their pack, then they all risked being court marshalled over their treatment of him.

It would ruin their pack’s reputation and they’d never get the chance to advance up the chain of command.

“Yeah, Bradshaw was apologizing to Mitchell about how he wanted this so badly he didn’t think about what Maverick wanted. Mitchell’s only doing TOPGUN because Nick wanted to be here.” The RIO told them, looking pale as he talked to his pack.
“He didn’t want to be here? In TOPGUN?” Slider asked, taken back by the information. “Why, this is every Aviators dream to come here, to try and prove they’re the best.”
“I don’t know why, but Mitchell didn’t seem enthusiastic about it. He didn’t seem at all like how he’d been around us… he was quiet, timid… scared.” Wolf sighed as he put his hand on Hollywood’s arms as his mate hugged him tighter. “He was really upset, sobbing in Goose’s arms. He said he didn’t feel safe in our presence. Nick said he wanted to ask about a joining of our packs but only if Mitchell was happy… he doesn’t want that anymore, he said we’d changed since the academy and not into people he’d want to be a pack with.” The RIO whined softly as he tried not to cry.

Everyone looked sick at the thought of someone as loud and extraverted as Maverick being reduced to a scared sobbing mess, even more so with only one person to rely on for comfort and not a pack like theirs to return to. They couldn’t imagine the smaller pilot, as extraverted and outgoing as he was being reduced to a timid state. It was made all the worse when the beta they’d so desperately wanted to join their pack years ago flat out rejected them and saw them as unfit to bond with, saw them as a threat to his small pack, having unknowingly harassed a pack member.

They all looked shellshocked at each other as the implications of their treatment of the tiny pilot sunk in.

The thought that their pack had gone out of their way to harass and terrify a lone vulnerable omega was sickening and left a dark pit in their stomachs. They never wanted to scare Mitchell to the point he’d felt unsafe around them, just let him know that they didn’t see him as someone who was fit enough to be in Gooses pack. They wanted to let Maverick know they thought Goose could have done far better than take pity on a traitor’s son and a known thorn in the navy’s proverbial back side. They had no idea that the Bradshaw’s where his only family or that he hadn’t his original family pack to return to. No wonder Maverick struggled to co-operate with them, they’d been actively making it known to the newly discovered Omega that they saw him as a threat and treated him as such. Who would want to co-operate or work with people who were outright hostile and standoffish towards you, whether you were on the same side or not.

“We’ve been giving him bother over his old man and what scuttlebutt says about him… do we even know a thing about Maverick aside from the rumours we heard about him before we met him? Like where he grew up? What school did he go to? What’s his favourite foods? Favourite colour, hell even his childhood pets?” Chipper asked, “Goose said his whole life people have had it out for him because of his father… he probably received shit the whole time he was in Flight school and maybe that’s why he didn’t want to be here.” Chipper pondered.
“I… no… I don’t really know much about Mitchell now that you say it.” Slider winced, he himself had been one of the ones to instigate the abuse against Maverick out of there pack the most, annoyed at the smaller pilot over how he got under Ice’s skin and seemed to show his own pilot up at every turn.
“Makes sense, what instructor would have wanted the son of a traitor to come through the ranks. They probably harassed him until they thought he would drop out and use scuttlebutt to continue making his life hell.” Sundance shivered, the thought of being alone and harassed by people he didn’t feel safe around terrified him.
“Who knows how bad it’s been if we’ve been this horrible to him to the point Goose rejected joining our pack, and we were close to him in the academy too.” Slider added as he looked between the second mated pairing in their pack.
“It explains why he always said no to joining our pack, he was waiting for Maverick to meet us and decide if we would be good enough for him, safe enough for him.” Sundance swallowed harshly as he looked at the alphas.
“And all we’ve been, is a threat to Maverick… no wonder he flies like he has to watch his back, he actually has had to watch his back because we’ve been so horrible to him without knowing a thing about him. He probably expects his wingmen to leave him hanging in the air so has developed his crazy flying style to be his own wingman for his and Goose’s safety. We thought he was a threat to our safety but the threats actually us. A lone omega protected by a couple of Beta’s…” Chipper shuddered.
“We need to make this right… I… I feel sick thinking that we’ve done this.” Ice spoke up from where he’d been quietly standing, completely green in the face at the realization of what his pack had done.

Everything clicking into place about the newly discovered omega pilots flying style and personality, it was a mask to protect himself and a way to look after himself and Goose when flying, because they felt like no one would look out for them. That he had no one to look after him and protect him but a pair of Beta’s. Ice couldn’t imagine how isolating that must be, to know that if trouble arose that he only had himself to protect himself and Goose when in the air. How scared was there colleague when he had to fly in the air to have developed such a reckless yet efficient flying style to look out for himself.

How much of a threat did Maverick see there pack as to his and his packs own safety.

The leader of their pack could only think back to when he pretended to bite Maverick, how much of a threat that would have been to the unmated omega. How scared he probably would have been with the act, even if he pretended, but looking back now, Ice can remember the distinctive look of fear in the tiny pilots’ eyes and the sudden tenseness he’d shown that day. His false bite could have been seen as a forced attempted mating. To force a bond on an omega against their consent was a horrifying assault that could see the alpha’s who did it lynched, there would be nowhere to hide.

It made the blonde-haired pilot sick as he thought on his actions, his mother raised him to be a better alpha than that.

All of them agreed as they looked to their ice-cold pack alpha.
“So, what do we do?” Slider asked.
“Let us make the first move… Maverick might be more… approachable if Sundance and I approached him or did something first… or at least Goose won’t take us as much as a threat to Maverick as he would if it was the rest of you.” Wolf said as he looked around his pack.
“That’s a good idea. Mitchell might be more open around the pair of you than he would the rest of us.” Ice nodded. “I know Goose wouldn’t see either of you as a bigger threat to him than he would us.”
“Then its settled, Wolf and I will talk to Maverick first and hopefully begin to fix this mess we’ve gotten ourselves into.” Sundance nodded as he looked at his alphas.
The alphas nodded as they all moved into the large nesting room assigned to their pack, taking their time to comfort one another and cuddle up with each other. After the revelation of their mysterious classmate and the rejection from there old friend, they all needed the comfort and reassurance that they were alright. They had a lot to think about and do to fix the situation they’d dug themselves into.

Wolfman and Sundance where the first up from there pack, deciding to take an early breakfast in the mess when it was quiet. They decided not to disturb their alpha’s and quietly made their way out of the assigned pack housing unit they had. It would give them both time to discuss the issue of bonding with their teammates without any issues from the alpha’s. Sometimes Omega’s just need to have some time to themselves.
“So how do we bond with Maverick?” Sundance asked Wolf as the pair walked towards the rec room.
“I… I didn’t think that far ahead to be honest… we don’t know shit about him.” Wolf muttered casually.
“I… I know this is going to sound bad, but should we spy on him first for a day or too?” the smaller omega RIO asked, “Like, see what his rituals are, what he does when were not in class or on hops. See what we can get from following him first before we do anything.”
“That could work… but we’re gonna have to be sneaky, Goose was so angry yesterday and Mavericks probably going to be skittish around us all today after what I heard yesterday.” Wolf smiled sadly; he was ready to do all he could to help the other omega in their class feel at least somewhat safer than they probably have felt since arriving at Miramar.
“I feel so horrible because of it, knowing we’d been making another Omega uncomfortable and unsafe after these past few weeks… would we have even bothered doing this if he was an alpha or Beta?” Sunny asked.
“Probably not… not without getting a kick up our backsides like the one we were given yesterday… but he had a point… what if we were partnered up with another Omega RIO or pilot in the future who has a past as… checkered, as Mavericks. We’ve already made enough mistakes out of our own pride; I don’t want to do that again and hurt an already vulnerable omega brother or sister the way we’ve already hurt Mitchell.” Wolf sighed softly, speaking the truth of the situation.
Both knew they had their work cut out to try and fix things with the omega they’d hurt. They’d have to work hard to earn the smaller man’s trust.

It didn’t take them long to spy Goose and Maverick making their own way into the mostly empty and quiet mess hall for an early morning breakfast, explaining why they hadn’t seen them at the mess before. Goose and Maverick must have taken early breakfasts in order to avoid meeting larger packs who would make the young Omega uncomfortable.
It was common for Pilots and RIO’s to come in early to base if they lived off it or over from base housing, performing early morning walk abouts of their jets the days of hops before going for a quick breakfast before briefing.
“There they are now.” Sunny quietly muttered to Wolf.
They watched as Goose checked over the food on offer, piling up their plates whilst Mav went and grabbed their drinks. However, they watched as Mav lingered by a station too long and pocket a good number of granola and protein bars into his fatigues before happily strutting back over to goose as they made their way to the back of the mess hall well away from everyone else. The beta eyed them suspiciously as he noticed them in the mess hall, picking up on the fact they were there early and without the rest of their pack.
“Why’d he takes a fuck tonne of granola bars?” Wolf whispered.
“Well… I have seen him snacking in class and after hops before… think he gets hungry often?” Sunny asked.
“With his size, I would doubt that, not unless he’s got a stupidly high metabolism or a workout routine as intense as Sliders.” Wolf muttered quietly.
“Well, I say we follow him and keep an eye out on him.” Chipper nodded.
“Sounds good. We keep an eye on him for the day, see what habits he has and work around them.” The taller man nodded.
“Sounds good.”

So, the two omegas quietly observed there classmate the whole day, intermittently reporting to their pack about what the watched him doing. From watching him between classes to there down time in the rec room when waiting to go up for their hop of the day.

They saw that their classmate took his coffee with six sugars and a ridiculous amount of creamer, and snacking on the mountain of granola and protein bars he had picked up that morning, picking up more throughout the day and stuffing them into his pocket. When they told there pack this Ice compared Maverick to a little chipmunk, storing food in his pockets for when he got hungry. The pack agreed with the comparison when they saw him stuffing a granola bar into his face after they landed from a hop., all of them having heard the small Omega’s stomach grumble as they made their way into the locker room as they were leaving.

They watched as Charlie cozied up with Maverick after their classes had finished as the pair of them discussed older flight techniques and strategies and watched as Maverick gave the beta woman a lift on his bike off base. Hollywood gave the two Omega’s a lift off base to follow them from a distance. The pair of them went out for coffee at a little place by the beach, soon after meeting up with Goose, and whom they assumed was Gooses wife and Kid. The rest of the Bradshaw pack, after all, family week was that week and it only made sense for the rest of their pack to be in the city. All of them got dinner in the diner and spent the evening talking with the blonde-haired instructor.

It made Ice jealous as they told of how Maverick was interacting with Charlie, the omega seemingly very happy with the Beta woman. Something that confused and embarrassed the packs alpha, but Wolf and Sundance knew better, even if Ice hadn’t caught on yet.

The two packs omegas smiled slyly as they watched Ice freak out over the thought of Maverick seeing the Beta woman. He didn’t like the idea of someone else having Mavericks full attention. Ice, for as smart as he is, could be extremely oblivious at times, especially when it came to his own feelings. Perhaps that’s why the alpha had been getting so frustrated over Maverick, not realising his Alpha had taken a liking to the petite gorgeous Omega pilot in their class.

“So, what do we know so far.”
“He likes a ridiculous amount of sugar and creamer in his coffee, as well as putting away what, an entire box worth of shitty ration pack granola bars between classes and our afternoon hop, on top of eating full meals from the mess.” Wolf snorted. “He’s like a little chipmunk when he snacks. He does his best to shove half the bar in his face and eat them as quickly as possible.”
“A chipmunk really? No one let short stack hear that.” Slider laughed.
“So, what else do we know about him now?” Ice asked as he looked over his pack.
“He’s very friendly with Charlie, who is friendly and protective of him in return, as well as Viper and Jester keeping what I presume is a protective eye on him.” Sundance informed them.
“Yeah, I did catch those looks they shot us today. Every time we tried to look at Maverick in class either one of them were shooting us dirty looks.” Wood admitted.
“I did see that; Charlie gave us those looks too. Do you think her relationship with Maverick is friendly or something else.” Ice asked, doing his best to hide the low growl that came out of his throat. His pack new him better though and knew he was trying to hide the growl that lowly came out over his throat.

“Friendly, definitely friendly. They were talking about his original family pack in a way that makes it sound like they were family friends or that Charlie’s a part of it which would make them siblings or cousins possibly, not potentially courting, besides she’s a beta not fully compatible with him for obvious reasons.” Wolf laughed as they watched Ice pace across the floor of their assigned living space.
“His family pack? I though Goose said they abandoned him?” Slider asked.
“Well, we don’t know the story there and from how they were talking it sounds like not even Maverick knows what actually went down for him to end up in foster care.” Sunny shrugged as he grabbed a mug full of steaming coffee.
“Right… so for now, avoid talking about his family, when we’re in the rec room between hops make him his ridiculously sweet coffee and cream concoction and sneak him better snacks than the once the mess hall provide?” Ice proposed.
“Yeah, oh, maybe have a spare clean unscented sweatshirt hanging around, Maverick appears to get cold easily. I caught Goose giving him his sweatshirt the other day when they were in the library. It was adorable.” Chipper cooed. “It just shows how small he really is.” The pilot awed in delight.
“Maybe not, who knows how goose would react if he thought we were trying to scent Maverick. He might think it’s a cruel joke or something towards Maverick.” Wolf reminded them of the protective beta and his threat with a raised eyebrow.
“No, he can have one of mine, I’ve spares with me.” Ice narrowed his eyes with a growl before flinching back, getting everyone to laugh, “Sorry… don’t know what overcame me there.” He apologized, not noticing the careful looks and nods that some members of his pack were giving each other.
“Maybe we should keep that new one you got on hand, you haven’t worn it yet, have you?” Wood asked with a careful smile.
“No, I haven’t.” the alpha admitted.
“Then keep it handy in your bag at least if he gets cold, if you gave him one of your older ones with your scent on it either of them might take it the wrong way. Only hand it to him if we think he can handle it…” Sunny nodded as he looked at them pensively.

So, their pack set their plan into motion that evening, Hollywood took Wolfman and Sundance off base to the nearest shop that had decent groceries. There the two omegas picked out boxes of their favourite snacks and protein bars, bars small enough to fit plenty of into the pockets of their fatigues and flight suits. Ice himself changed the gear he had in his bag to keep the new fresh jumper close on hand. Whilst Slider and Chipper made up a notebook for them all to write down and keep track of things they know about Maverick and what they should say and do around him to make the omega comfortable.

The next day they were able to move into action as after their morning briefing, they all soon were getting ready for their hops. First up was Iceman, Slider, Hollywood, and Wolfman, whilst the rest of their class retreated to the rec room awaiting their turn in the air. Chipper and Sundance would be flying with Maverick and Goose later, they would be the third pair up in the air.

Chipper watched as Goose sat down next to Maverick, handing the omega a cup of coffee. Sundance saw that and quickly moved to pull out a packet of peanut butter boppers fudge chip bars he’d shoved in earlier that morning, pulling out one for himself too as chipper took the coffee pot and made them both a drink.

He waited until he saw Maverick begin to rummage around in his pockets for the bars and snacks, he knew where there, whilst trying not to spill his coffee.

Sundance threw the bar over onto Maverick’s lap, getting both the beta and omega to look over at him. Maverick tensed at the gesture, not sure what was going on as he slowly looked at the bar thrown into his lap, looking between Goose and Sundance.
“Keep it, I’ve more.” He said, “Don’t know how you eat those rations you constantly carry round. They can get so tasteless after so long.”
“I… uh, thanks.” Maverick said as he stared at the RIO like a deer caught in head lights at the gesture.
“No problem.” Sundance said as Chipper handed him his mug of coffee before the pair moved away to the other side of the room, secretly watching the small omega as he looked at the package in his lap.
Maverick looked a little confused at the gesture before he opened the packaging and began to eat it after he got a reassuring nod from goose.

If Wolf later joined in as he handed over a packet of Hostesses chocodiles after classes when he saw Maverick pull out another one of the bland granola bars they get from the mess hall, Maverick said nothing, taking the treat with a look of suspicion as he thanked the taller RIO before carefully retreating away next to Goose. Maverick looked at the treat in suspicion before he opened the package and slowly ate it, not noticing the small smiles he got from the two omega RIO’s. The pair kept handing him different snacks and bars whenever they had the opportunity to, between hops, after class, and when they retreated to the rec room to wait for their hops.

The more they did it, the less tense and suspicious Maverick seemed to become around their presence. A bar here, a packet of chips there between classes and hops and the youngest of their class slowly relaxed a bit when Sundance and Wolfman where in his vicinity, no longer a threat to maverick but acting as two caring omega’s who wanted to make sure the youngest of them all was fed and looked after. It made goose and Maverick suspicious at first but when the pair didn’t seem to pull any pranks or cruel jokes as the days went by Maverick and Goose relaxed a good bit when either wolf or Sunny approached them.

It made them happy to see the other pilot come out of his shell and stop watching them with suspicion and hidden fear, instead watching as he smiled softly as the other omegas of the class treated him gently. If by the next week Maverick took to bringing better snacks to class and handed them back across to the pair no one said anything, just smiled reassuringly as they worked on becoming friends or at least friendlier towards the pilot. Goose nodding at Maverick reassuringly the whole time as the pilot began to reach out and respond positively to Wolfman and Sundance’s advances.

Their plan was going to work.

With Chipper and Hollywood, they were stumped as the classes and hops went on, Ice and Maverick where storming away from the class with points, leaving Chipper and Hollywood behind in the dirt. It didn’t matter that either pilot was following behind in second and third, there pack Alpha was running away from them in the competition as Maverick forced him to work for it. They liked seeing Ice being pushed, to see him have competition who could not only keep up but actually challenge Ice, but it made them feel like inadequate pilots. They should also be good enough to keep up with Ice, they needed to work together as his wingmen to protect him in the air. For Maverick to come along and storm away out front surprised them and made them realise they needed to change their approach to flying if they wanted to keep up with their pack’s leader.

They watched as their Omega’s built up an understanding with the small pilot of their class. Smiling happily as they watched Maverick slowly open up around the two other Omega’s, feeling safe and secure enough in their presence to talk freely and even drop the cocky pilot facade. Wolf and Sunny surprised the pack when they told them Maverick was really sweet and caring for those he liked. They told their pack that the smaller pilot was absolutely adorable and lovingly friendly, loyal to a fault and ever so modest when he wasn’t putting up the walls of his callsign. Wolf and Sunny where completely blown away by the person behind the callsign that Ice and Slider knew their plan to get to know Maverick would work. It would just take time to fix their mistakes and hopefully be able to become friends again with Bradshaw and perhaps one day meet the rest of his pack.

“We need to get better.”
“We do, how can we protect Ice if we can’t keep up with him in the points table.”
“… We could ask Maverick?” Chipper asked.
“I… I suppose. Where do you think he is?” the taller pilot nodded.
“He was staying back after class to study more; I overheard Charlie and Viper talking with him earlier about performing more advanced manovers and tactics they used during Nam. He said he wanted to study them and see if they where applicable to the F-14.”
“Really? He’s top of our class and still wants to continue studying?” Wood asked.
“Yeah… he’s really dedicated to becoming the best, isn’t he?” Chipper smiled slyly as he and Wood left the changing room and headed off back towards the classrooms.
“He’s really giving Ice a run for his money.” Wood chuckled.

After a few minutes of walking, the pair of alphas reached the classroom, seeing the light left on in the room. Maverick was sitting up at the front of the room, his legs crossed as he sat on the chair, studying the files and schematics intensely in front of him. To their lack of surprise, Goose was sitting next to maverick, sprawled out over the leather seats, snoring softly as Maverick and Charlie talked intensely about flight manoeuvres. The pilot looked so carefree and youthful that it caught the older two pilots off guard for a moment. He looked so happy and cheerful, and not in the false attitude way that he’d been presenting when around their pack.

It made both Alpha’s want to see that innocent carefree smile more often. No wonder Goose loved the omega, he looked so carefree and cute in the moment. So young and adorable. It was quite deceptive when they remembered this was one of the deadliest and most skilled members of there class who’s gone face to face with Migs in the air.
“The tomcat can definitely pull this off.”
“But it exceeds the NATOPS structural limit on the wings.”
“That’s the NATOPS recommended limit, you can still push the structural loads on the wings beyond that a little bit Charlie but the risk of mechanical failure beyond that point grows if you’re not careful or don’t know what you’re doing. You’ve a little bit of lee way if you know what you’re doing.” Mav explained to her.
“Trust him, he’s an engineer.” Goose snorted sleepily from where he was laying.
“I suppose that’s true, but it doesn’t mean you should pull it.” The blonde beta explained.
“Perhaps in an emergency then.” Mav nodded.
“I’d say so, it’s a good idea and it would catch the enemy off guard to see the f-14 pull a stunt they previously thought it was incapable off.” Charlie chuckled.
“Then I’m just the pilot for the job.” Maverick chuckled getting a smile off Charlie.
“Yes, you are Mister inverted flight.” She chuckled.

Wood looked at Chipper who nodded, they probably should go and talk to the pilot in the room now before Viper or Jester found them loitering if they were to come around. Both taking a deep breath before knocking gently on the classroom door, getting Mav and Charlies attention.
“Hey um… Maverick. Can we talk for a minute?” Hollywood asked as the pair of pilots entered the room, leaving the door cracked open. Charlie and Maverick looked at them both in surprise as Goose sat up abruptly, falling off the seats he was slayed out on, getting soft giggles from Maverick.
“Lieutenants, is there a problem?” Charlie asked as she looked at the pair suspiciously.

Both Chipper and Hollywood looked a little constipated as they tried to talk to Charlie, but that quickly changed into surprise when Maverick spoke up.

“Its fine Charlie,” Maverick said as he watched the two betas’ stand up around him protectively. It seemed that Charlie knew that they’d been hounding on Maverick if not knew he was an omega by the way the Beta took up a protective stance.
“So, what’s up?” Mav asked as he looked at the two alphas in the doorway.
“Can you teach us some of those moves you’ve pulled in the air.” Chipper asked as he looked at the smaller pilot who looked at them in shock.
“I… why?” Maverick asked in surprise.
“We want to be able to keep up with Ice in the air and the only one on his level is you.” Hollywood explained.
“I mean, we’re close but we’re nowhere near as good as either of you. We want to be able to protect our pack alpha in the air and we can’t do that as efficiently as we want to.” Chipper told Maverick and Goose.
“So, you want Maverick, to teach you some of our moves.” Goose asked as he tilted his head in disbelief.
“If it’s… not too much trouble, then yeah…” Hollywood rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “You and Ice are leagues ahead of the rest of us in the competition, whilst we’re trailing behind in third and fourth. We want to be able to keep up and improve so that we can be better pilots out in the air with Ice and Slider. Your moves, whilst dangerous and extreme at times are pulled off so precisely that it impresses even Jester and Viper.”
“You’re pulling off moves that even our lecturers struggle to do, and they are veteran pilots. We want to learn some of them so we can apply them to future hops and for our own future deployments.” Chipper explained.
“And you want me to teach you some.”
“I mean, it’s not like Jester or Viper will teach us your moves.” Hollywood smiled awkwardly.
“We brought snacks too.” Chipper said hopefully as he pulled out a box of granola bars and a few bags of chips, which got an excited smile from Maverick as Goose rolled his eyes.
“That’s for sure.” Goose snorted, “I just hope you’re ready for the reaming you’re going to get when they find out you listened to Mav.” The RIO snorted.
“I’ll go grab you boys some coffee then I’ll leave you too it. Looks like you won’t be getting anymore studying done this evening Pete.” Charlie smiled as she walked towards the exit.
“Charlotte Blackwood you are an absolute gem. Thank you.” Maverick smiled as the blonde woman walked past the men, heading off towards the rec room to make them all coffee.

Wood and Chipper could only give each other small hopeful smiles as they walked into the classroom and moved to sit down as Maverick got up and moved into the front of the classroom. Maverick turned back to face them, looking nervous and shy as he picked up a piece of chalk with a small smile.

“So… what do you want to know?”

“Seriously, where are Chipper and Hollywood.” Slider groaned. “I’m starving and of all nights to disappear they do so on the night we chose to go out for food.”
“Sunny said they were going to be running late they were going to do some studying to try and find a way to catch up on points with us Slider.” Ice explained as they walked through the corridors of the building, going between the classrooms as they looked for the two other alphas of their pack.

“So, in order to do this, you’ll need to be aware of…” The two heard someone say as they walked past one of their classrooms.

Ice and Slider looked at each other as they stopped, pushing the door open before looking at the four people in the room.
Goose was slayed out over the chairs napping whilst Chipper and Hollywood sat in the front of the classroom with notepads and pens in hand and standing with a piece of chalk in his hands in front of the blackboard was Maverick, who had written “Illegal pilot shit 101.” On the blackboard.

“What would happen if you extended the flaps and pushed the throttle forward at the same time?” Hollywood asked.
“The jet takes a photograph.” Goose snorted sleepily.
“Goose I love you but for the last time, get the fuck out. Leave this to the pilots.” Maverick glared at his RIO. “You risk stalling if you can’t keep the jet in control.” Maverick sighed.
“So, if we do it at the wrong time, we could Stall.” Chipper sighed as he rubbed his eyes.
“Then why not do a normal cobra?” Wood asked.
“Because you can get an immediate tone on the enemy before they have a chance to evade or deploy flares.” Maverick told them with a smile.
“I mean that’s true, but there is still a stall risk.” Hollywood chuckled.
“Then it’s a good thing we’re top gun students, I’d be worried if you couldn’t get yourself out of a stall if you’ve gotten this far in your career. If you’re not doing this below…. Let’s say three hundred feet then you should be fine, theoretically you should have enough time to recover from a stall if it occurs. There’s only one type of stall you need to be scared off and that’s a flat spin, which is recoverable until your nose lifts higher than the body of the jet, then you need to bail.” Maverick laughed, getting smiles from Wood and Chipper as there classmate freely, the other two pilots chuckling at that.

Ice and Slider noticed how relaxed and carefree their other classmate seemed to be in Chipper and Hollywood’s presence. He didn’t seem as tense or as stressed around the two alphas’ as he had been when around the rest of the pack. Wolf and Sunny’s plan seemed to be working, slowly getting the other pilot to warm up to them. Sadly, someone had to break their friendly banter up for the evening. There was a couple of hungry omegas awaiting their alphas for their dinner out on the town.

“What are you lot doing?” Ice asked as he looked at the group in the classroom.
“Um…” Holly and chipper looked at their pack alpha embarrassed as Maverick snapped his head towards the alpha. Ice swore he saw fear in the omega’s eyes for a moment before he pulled on his usual cocky façade. It made his gut roll in worry for the younger pilot, he hated seeing the fear in the younger smaller pilots’ eyes, he hated knowing he’d made Maverick react in that way. It made him feel so guilty and ashamed of himself.

“Teaching them to be better pilots, what’s it to you.” Maverick asked as he narrowed his eyes, forcing the cocky arrogant flyboy mask back to the fore front.
“Aren’t those restricted manoeuvres?” Slider pointed out as he saw what appeared to be a form of cobra manoeuvre drawn out on the board with a very mechanically precise miniature drawing of an F-14.
“They’re… frowned upon but not restricted. Plus, we’re top gun pilots, I’d be worried if you didn’t know about these manoeuvres, we might need to perform them in the field if ever in a tight combat situation.” Maverick pursed his lips as he looked at the giant alpha.
“Leave it Slider, he’s a qualified stunt pilot, this shits like breathing for him.” Goose snorted a laugh as he sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he moved into a protective stance.

Now that caught their attention.

“Seriously? You’re an Aerobatic pilot too?”
“The first fighter jet I ever sat in was an F-4 phantom, the first I ever flew was a P-51 mustang, I’ve got the most flight hours in our entire class, beginning lessons at fourteen and getting my full private licence by my seventeenth birthday, you’ve only been flying since graduating the academy though and seven is a larger number than four Kazansky.” Maverick snorted as he rolled his eyes, not realising Ice’s eyebrows rose incredulously. “Of course, I’d go and get a stunt pilots qualifications, it’s a great parallel to being a fighter pilot and means I can take part in races and shows when on leave.”
“What are you, some sort of Mary-sue?” Ice raised an eyebrow.
“There’s a lot about me that you’ll never know Ice, its why I’m dangerous.” Mav smugly looked at the ice-cold alpha, a hidden fire of anger burning in his glare.
It made Ice smirk at the fire in the omega.

“Guys, guys chill. Ice we only asked Maverick for advice on ways to work better together in the air. Me and Holly are good pilots but we’re trailing behind you both. How can we protect you in the air if we can’t keep up with you.” Chipper pleaded with his pack alpha, seeing Ice tilt his head and concede at that point.” Maverick’s neck a neck with you and yes, his techniques are unorthodox but he’s good at keeping up with you and has a good head for strategies that you wouldn’t think of pulling.”
“Fine, whatever. You two could have just asked me.” Ice rolled his eyes, a small smirk on his face as he looked at the group, seeing them all mostly relaxed in each other’s presence. Perhaps they could salvage any relationships they wanted with Goose and his pack.
“Na, he’s got the better technique and insight into just how we can push our jets to the edge. We gotta do something to catch up to you on the points table someway man.” Holly smiled softly as he looked at Maverick, a greater appreciation for the smaller pilot and just how he thinks.
“And what’s that.” Slider asked.
“My university degrees.” Maverick smirked as he pointed at the two alphas. “More than you two have anyways.” Maverick smiled smugly as he looked at Ice whose eyebrows rose even more in surprise, nearly off his face entirely.
“Well then, it looks like that’s class for the evening.” Goose butted in as he grabbed the blackboard eraser and began to wipe down the board, making sure nothing was left of their impromptu class. “We’ll see you all tomorrow for hop 23.” Goose nodded at chipper and Wood but narrowed his eyes towards Ice and Slider. The beta grabbed Mav’s items and quickly corralled the omega out of the classroom before they could talk anymore.

They were gone before Ice could say anything else. Ice put his head in his hands and groaned as Hollywood and Chipper patted him on his back.

“You’ll get there, big guy.” Wood chuckled.
“Damn it, why is it so hard to talk to him.” Ice muttered quietly as he stared off after Goose and Maverick.
“You know why idiot, but Wood’s right, you’ll get there.” Chipper offered a reassuring smile.
“So how was it?” Slider asked as he returned to them, he had followed Goose to the door and watched as their two classmates left.
“He’s absolutely adorable.” Chipper cooed.
“An absolute menace parcelled up in a petite package of beauty and brains.” Wood chuckled. “The omega’s where right, he is so shy but so friendly and mostly modest when he’s comfortable around you, he is very confident in his skills though and proud to flaunt that.” The man smiled as he patted ice’s shoulder.
“A lot like someone else we know.” Chipper wiggled his eyebrows at ice, getting the man to blush.
“So, are they loosening up around you all?” Slider asked, missing the blush on his pilot’s face.
“Oh yeah, Goose was suspicious of us but relaxed more so as the evening went on. He seemed glad that we were trying to reach out and acknowledged his presence in a positive way. He slowly went from keeping us in his line of sight and out of his blind spots to relaxed and accepting of us, that we weren’t a danger to him. It was painful to see the involuntary responses he has….” Wood explained.
“He deserves better, he really does. I want to give him the world and pamper him the way I would Sunny. He’s like a tiny adorable little kitten that you just want to hide in your arms and protect.” Chipper smiled sadly.
“Pft, with the way he ate those snacks I gotta agree with the omega’s that he’s definitely a chipmunk.” Wood laughed.
“He’s probably never been treated like that until he found Goose.” Slider nodded. “So, what was that about short stack having degrees?”
“Oh yeah, we couldn’t believe it either until Goose told us.” Chipper exclaimed excitedly, “So you know how Goose went to college early in his teens?”
“Yeah, he already had a degree when he entered the academy at eighteen, and he was the youngest of us in our class, it was aeronautical engineering I believe.” Ice nodded.
“Yeah, turns out Maverick went to college with him, both went to college at the same time when they were both fifteen. Maverick went and got the first of three degrees before him and Goose both applied for the academy on top of both taking flying lessons.” The smallest Alpha giggled excitedly.

“Three?” Ice’s eyes shot open as his eyebrows fought to remain on his face, Slider could only whistle, impressed at the achievement.

“Yeah, three.” Wood nodded, as he butted in, “So, whilst Goose’s academy application was accepted, Mavericks was denied because of his father, despite having been a serving officer and academy graduate himself, and despite Maverick’s own academical achievements, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of the academy down turning an Ivy leaguer with a 4.0 GPA, especially one who was the top of their class. Maverick ended up taking on two more degrees and going through ROTC to get into the navy, picking up degrees in technological engineering and applied physics, both 4.0 and top of his class in even those.” He continued.
“Bradshaw and Mitchell went to an Ivy league? I thought he went to UVA Wonder why he never said anything.” Slider pondered, stumped with the new information.
“Probably to make sure he didn’t get stuck with “Harvard” or “Yale” or “Cornell” as a callsign. Would make him sound like a pretentious prick, and it was Carole his wife who went to UVA, they met at a football game between there colleges when she got bored and went to check out the campus library remember.” Ice snorted as he saw Sliders idiotic expression as he remembered.
“Yeah well, all of this was paid for on Maverick’s dime apparently. Goose said Maverick’s loaded and bought a beach side palatial villa over in North Island for their pack to live and grow.” Chipper told them.
“Huh… well, it seems like we are getting to know more and more about Mitchell all the time.” Ice gave a small smile.
“Yeah, perhaps we should invite them to the beach some time for a volleyball match, maybe ask them to stay for dinner afterwards next?” Slider offered.
“Maybe it’ll help build a rapport with the Bradshaw pack. We were planning for one this weekend, we could invite them to it.” Wood suggested, “I know we clearly earned back some respect from them both today.”
“Well how about we discuss this more at the diner, we’ve two very hungry omega’s who’re waiting for pack date night to go ahead.” Slider chuckled as he threw his arm around Hollywood as ice threw his arm around chippers shoulder, all four alphas’ moving to leave the room

They did invite Goose and Maverick to the beach that weekend, both of whom took part in the volleyball games they held during the day but to everyone’s disappointment, neither Maverick or Goose stayed for dinner in the evening, Goose returning to their off base housing whilst Maverick took off on his bike for what Goose said was a date with Charlie, secretly upsetting Iceman, who did his best to look unaffected. The rest of their pack could only pat Ice’s shoulder, at least their plan to have the Bradshaw pack warm up to them was working, but whether they could ever have a pack joining with them in the future was held solely in Mavericks hands.

The alpha did look both frustrated and upset as he realized the Omega was gone before he seemed to pale as he realized something. Chipper and Hollywood could only just pat Ice on the back as they realized, he’d finally realized why he was desperate to see the Omega.

The omega had the choice at the end of the day over who joined their pack or not.

They hoped he would one day the omega would see them all as friends and safe.

It was a busy night in the O-club when Slider and Ice turned up.

It had been a long week on base, most of their hops had been postponed due to bad weather so their timetable had been completely chocka blocked with Classes all week. By the time Friday evening had come around, everyone except for Iceman and Maverick, was absolutely shattered from the amount of reading and paperwork they’d had to do. But those two where always on another level over their classmates, always driving to be the best and re-write the rules and books on how to fly and also prove that sticking to the book was just as rewarding. It was insane just how much work the omega could get done when compared to the rest of their class. Viper using both Ice and Maverick and their drive to complete their work as an example of pilots striving to become the best in order to motivate the class and by the end of the week everyone was sick of the classwork, all itching to be back in the cockpits of their jets.

There pack ended up deciding they would treat themselves to go their separate ways for the evening to relax after the hellish week. So, it saw the pair of alphas going out by themselves, looking for a good time as their other pack members went off for date night, with Wood and Wolf heading off to the cinema to watch a cheesy romcom, whilst Chipper and Sundance where away to a fancy restaurant that he had booked as soon as he found out that their pack were going to top gun weeks before hand. So, it just left Ice and Slider for the night and so the pair of them decided to freshen up and hit the town, get a few drinks, see about maybe flirting with a few omegas in Slider’s case.

“Damn Ice, you’ve just walked past all those pretty omega’s and not even a glance, what’s up with you this evening?”
“I… nothing Ron.” Ice avoided Slider’s gaze as he ordered neat vodka from the bartender.
“Oh… oh have you got your eyes on someone?” the taller alpha teased.
“Does it matter if I do, he’d never see me that way anyways, not after how we’ve been around him.” Ice sighed, “I’m thankful Goose has been quite tolerant of us all recently, but I don’t think I’d ever be allowed to court the omega my alpha’s crying out for.”
“Oh… OH!” Slider flushed, “Maverick? Seriously?”
“I mean, I’m surprised you didn’t pick up on it till now, Wolf and Sunny caught me staring at him a few times before the talk went down and we all actually found out he’s an omega.” Ice winced.
“Damn, you must be pining hard for him if the others were able to catch you.” Slider laughed as he ordered a beer.
“Well at least this evening can’t get worse.” The blonde alpha sighed as he downed his vodka and ordered a second glass.

Slider could only snort at his pack alpha before chocking on his drink as his eyes wandered over the patrons in the bar, catching a familiar dark-haired omega on the other side of the bar having just entered.
“Are you sure, look who’s on the other side of the bar.” Slider nudged Ice.
Ice’s eyes widened as he paled before a deep blush flushed his cheeks.

There by the bar, stood Maverick, dressed in a nice maroon shirt with a white undershirt and skinny black jeans finished with polished black boots talking away to Charlie, the beta woman dressed up just as nicely. It was almost like it was a date for them both as they ordered drinks, both the Omega and Beta being handed cocktails before they disappeared off towards a booth in the back of the bar.

“Oh, fuck me.” Ice swore as he grabbed his vodka and downed it instantly. Ice did his best to hide the dark blush that broke out over his face.
“He really does clean up nicely.” Slider mused as he looked at Ice whose blush only got deeper. “I can see why your alpha wants him, short, cute, small enough for you to hide him away from the world in your arms…that delectable bubble butt and a great pair of tits to match.”
“Shut up Kerner, I can’t believe I agreed to come out with you.” Ice snarled weakly at his friend as he continued to stare at the omega across the bar.
“Well then let’s get a booth for ourselves and see just what we can spy?”
“More like who decides to try and hang off our arms you mean, we both know we’ve never actually managed to take a beta or omega out of a bar.” Ice snorted.
“Such a downer Tom, relax, we’ll find partners someday.” Slider shoved his friend’s shoulder before ordering a couple more drinks for ice to take back to their table. If the way, he was downing the vodka was anything to say about his mood tonight then he needed the drinks.
“Someday.” Ice nodded as he continued to stare across the bar to the one who’d captured his heart.

After a few drinks for the blonde, Ice watched as Maverick got up to go to the bathroom, watching as another alpha in the bar looked the man up and down as he strolled past the table where the alpha had been. Ice didn’t like the look the alpha had as he watched him follow Maverick into the bathroom.

They hadn’t seen Maverick interact with the guy all evening, so watching him follow the small omega into the bathroom didn’t sit right with Ice.

“Did you see Mav talking to that brunette alpha at all?”
“What the one just away into the bathroom?” Slider asked looking at Ice in confusion.
“Yep.” The other nodded.
“No, why?” the RIO asked.
“Somethings not sitting right Sli, I’m going to check on Pete.” Ice said as he moved to stand up, noting Maverick hadn’t left the bathroom yet.
“I’ll come with, let’s take our drinks with us.” Slider expressed, not wanting to leave the drinks they’d already bought.
“Come on, I didn’t like the look of that knot head who followed Mav.” Ice firmly told Slider, a lowly growl making its way out of his throat as the pair entered the men’s bathroom.
“Oh goodie, a chance to beat up a creep?” Slider joked before seeing the darkening face on his pilot. Slider realized this might actually be serious as he looked back at the bathroom entrance. The taller man took a long swig of his drink figuring he’d need it if Ice went apeshit and they ended up being kicked out of the bar.

They were glad they did follow Ice’s gut feeling as they entered the bathroom. Both alphas where disgusted at what they saw.

The alpha that had followed Maverick had shoved him up against a wall, one hand holding Mavericks wrists above the omega's head as he shoved the smaller man into the corner. Maverick had practically folded under his grasp, shaking minutely as the alpha towered above him threateningly. He was terrified of the taller man.
“Come on Doll, what’s an alpha gotta do to sleep with a pretty thing like you.”
“Back off and leave me alone asshole, I’ve told you, no means no.” the smaller man practically squeaked, he had never been isolated like this before, Goose always having his back when they went out. Of all nights to go out it was the night Goose was making a romantic dinner for his wife, with Bradley at the neighbours who was babysitting him.

“You’re just saying that sweet thing, you’ll loosen up pretty quickly once I get my teeth in you and split you open on my knot.” The alpha pushed, trying to shove his knee between Mavericks legs.

The omega paled as he realized what was about to happen, he was pinned between this alpha and the wall. He cursed himself for being so small, he might be strong but with the alpha crushing his wrists he knew he’d struggle to get free against the man pinning him down. This alpha had the advantage on him as he couldn’t get into a good position to fight back.

So it surprised him when he saw a hand grab the other alpha’s shoulder and haul him away.

Maverick watched in shock as his rival Iceman grabbed the man’s shoulder and shoved him away from Maverick, noticing the minute shakings of the smaller pilot. He hadn’t seen Kazansky enter the bar that evening, so to see him here pushing the alpha off of him shocked him. He was even more surprised when he saw Slider throw the man to the other side of the bathroom as Ice shoved the shaking Omega behind him protectively.

Ice himself took note of the minute tremors wracking Maverick’s petite frame. The omega must have been terrified by the alpha trying to force himself on him. It made the alpha inside Ice roar in anger that his omega had been attacked and was scared, it roared at him to comfort and protect the smaller pilot, to drag him into Ice’s lap and scent him to reassure him. Ice knew he couldn’t do that to Maverick, he’d damaged any chances of courting the man from the beginning of the course. Maverick leaving the volleyball match early for a date with Charlie spoke of that and all the other times he’s moved to avoid being left alone around the Alpha. He could only hope that they could end up being good friends instead.

“What the hell man, just back off this is between me and the pussy little twink.” The drunk asshole snarled at the other alpha.
“Back the fuck off dipshit and leave him alone.” Ice snarled as he shoved him back into Slider, the taller man grabbing the arrogant alpha by the shoulder and turning him around and punching the asshole.
“Stay right the fuck away from our friend asshole.” Slider snarled as he grabbed the man and punched him again, breaking his nose before grabbing him by the shoulders and throwing him out of the bathroom into the bar, getting cries from the patrons. “And get the fuck out of here ya creep, don’t ever try shit on him or any other omega ever again, you disgusting pig.” Slider snarled as Ice and Maverick moved out of the bathroom. Maverick just stared at Slider after the older man called him a friend.
“He givin’ yall any trouble lieutenant?” One of the barkeepers asked.
“Oh yeah he was, if he doesn’t get out of our sight in a moment, I’ll remove the trash from the premises for you.” Slider growled.
“Alright, alright I’m going. Place sucks anyways.” The alpha cowered, especially when he saw the disgusted looks the patrons of the bar were giving him now that he’d been caught and exposed.
“Lifetime ban for harassing omega patrons, throw him overboard and do what you want with him.” The bar tender called out as a group of older alphas approached the piece of shit on the floor, grabbing him by the arms and hauling him out. Ice and Slider growled at him as they escorted Maverick back to the table where Charlie was sitting.

“You alright Pete?” the beta woman asked.
“I…I’m fine… really.” Maverick stuttered as he sat down again in the booth.
“Are you alright, that creep didn’t do anything did he?” Ice asked as he looked at maverick, the concern on his face was surprised. The alpha gently looking the shaken omega over.
“No… no he didn’t… you came in right at the right time.” Maverick said as he looked at his rival.

The alpha gave him such a gentle look of concern it shocked him, especially when Slider joined Ice again, standing over Maverick and Charlie protectively.
“Wait… you... ah?” Maverick paled quickly before a strong red blush broke out on his face when he realised what Slider and Ice knew.
“Hey, no, it’s okay, Maverick it’s okay… we know.” Ice gently soothed him as he looked at the frightened omega.
“You, you know?” Maverick whispered quietly completely embarrassed at being caught out as Charlie threw her arm around his shoulder.
“It’s alright… we know you’re an omega…” Ice softly reassured him as he motioned to sit down. Charlie nodded as Slider and Ice moved into the booth, keeping an eye out on the other alphas in the area.
“Yeah, it’s alright short stack, we’ve known for a few weeks now.” Slider admitted as he returned to drinking his beer.
“A few weeks?” Maverick moaned quietly.
“Yeah… Wolf forgot his watch in the locker rooms one evening and caught you emerging from the showers when we weren’t there… sorry for not saying anything earlier but we’d already made you uncomfortable enough around us… we didn’t want to scare you anymore by holding that information over your head.” Ice quietly told them.
“So you weren’t going to say anything unless he said anything.” Charlie narrowed her eyes.
“Yes.” Ice admitted. “You were already uncomfortable around my pack, and I didn’t want to make you even more uncertain and uncomfortable around us by holding it over your head that we knew.” He added.
“Oh…” Maverick whispered.
“I… I know we got off on the wrong foot Mitchell… but I just want to say I’m sorry for how I was and have been around you over the past few weeks. I never wanted to make you feel unsafe around us or like you didn’t belong at top gun… I was just infuriated that someone who flies as recklessly as you do has managed to continually prove me wrong and challenge me in a way no other pilots managed to before… but it still doesn’t excuse my original behaviours towards you or the stance my pack first took around you. I’m sorry.” Ice blurted out, blushing slightly as he spewed out his apology.

Maverick’s eyes widened in surprise as he looked between Ice, Charlie, and Slider.
“I… um, thank you… I think?” Maverick winced slightly as he looked at the alpha, quickly looking away as a gentle blush began to break out over his cheeks.
“You’re not very good at talking to people when you’re not hiding behind that cocky mask you put up are you short stack.” Slider huffed a laugh, showing a fond smile as maverick turned to look at him in indignance as Charlie snorted into her drink.
“Childhood trauma am I right?” Charlie quietly pointed as she lifted her drink. Maverick could only nod before he realised what Slider had said.

“Fuck you Kerner, and short stack? I’m not that small?” Maverick whined, he had hoped people would stop making cracks at his height, he was perfectly proportioned for a male omega thank you very much.
“Well, it’s either that or Chipmunk.” Ice smiled as Maverick looked at him with a glare that despite its intended intentions made him look like he was pouting instead of being intimidating.
It was quite cute Ice noticed.
“Chipmunk?” Charlie asked a smile full of mirth.
“Maverick snacks like crazy between classes we saw, it was Sunny and Wolf who first called you a chipmunk.” Ice smiled as Maverick groaned slightly, failing to hide the smile that grew on his face.
“Is that why your packs been sneaking me bars?” the omega asked with a small smirk. “Try’na get me fattened up to take me out of the competition.”
“With how quickly you seem to metabolise it I think the hell not.” Ice snorted. “It makes Wolf and Sunny happy that your being looked out for and cared for… I know you only have Goose and his family in your pack and recently Charlie here to support you but… we want to offer you our support too… if you’re okay with that. If not, we’ll understand.”
“I um… I’d have to think it over and talk to Goose about it.” The omega muttered as he looked away from both the alpha’s sitting in their booth as he rubbed his arm awkwardly.
“That’s not a bother Maverick.” Ice admitted as he moved to give him space in the booth.
“I think we’ve had enough excitement for the night, don’t you think so too fellas?” Charlie butted in, seeing Maverick’s discomfort.
“I think so too.” Slider butted in before Ice could say anything. “Did you drive? We’ll escort you to your car to make sure that creeps not hanging around.”
“Um, no we walked, my off-base housing is just a block away from here.” Maverick blushed slightly at the offer.
“Can you give us a lift Lieutenants?” Charlie asked, “It might be safer if the creep is still around.”
“Yeah, I can give you both a lift, I’ve only had one all night, he’s had a few vodkas though.” Slider snorted as he pulled out his keys. Ice sighed and rolled his eyes at Slider, getting a quiet giggle from Maverick who looked at him bashfully. It made the alpha’s heart soar.

“Come on then, let’s get out of here.” Charlie nodded grabbing mavericks’ free hand whilst the omega downed the remains of his cocktail drink.
“That’s okay, you can point it out to us.” Ice said as he stood protectively behind Maverick as Slider took the lead in leaving the bar, Charlie sticking close to Pete’s side as the four of them left the o-club, heading out towards the black bronco sitting in the car park that belonged to Slider.

Ice kept watch as Charlie moved to sit next to Maverick in the back of the jeep. Once the pair where in the car Ice stopped his patrolling of the vehicle and moved to get into the front of the Jeep. Ice kept looking through the mirror back towards Maverick as the Omega began to give them directions towards the beach front, directing Slider to drive up ocean boulevard before turning down one of the many little side roads before Maverick told them to stop in front of a beautiful large house only a stone’s throw from the beach. It shocked Ice and Slider as they took in the beautiful beach side villa that Maverick called home.

“Damn Mitchell, you’ve good taste.” Ice whistled as he unbuckled himself from the front seat and moved to open the passenger door.
“Thank you.” Maverick blushed slightly, “Its large enough for Bradley to grow up in and for our pack to expand in the future. It was kind of a lucky find, everything else this side of the city’s quite expensive to buy straight out.”
“How expensive.” Ice inquired as his eyes roamed over the immaculate building. It was something he’d like to buy for his pack if they were to move to San Diego.

“Just under thirteen and a half million for this place.” The omega admitted. “Although this is a new build, the others down the street range from the high hundred thousand to a few million, then there’s one priced at twenty million down near the Coronado hotel.” He chuckled at expression on the RIO’s face. Slider just gaped as he looked at the Omega, Ice laughed at Sliders expression.
“Come on Ron, it’s not that bad.” Ice laughed as he walked Maverick towards the gated wall that divided the house from the sidewalk.

Ice had grown up in a rich pack, his family’s house in Virginia was easily a few million dollars, and whilst he distanced himself from his father it didn’t mean he didn’t receive a generous sum of money from his grandparents in their will. The Alpha had decided to use that money to invest in his pack’s future, intrusting it to financial advisors who invested it wisely into a nice, neat sum of money at the end of the day and would be enough to get his pack a nice large house like this one and the money to maintain it for years to come. Or at least until he’d made it to admiralty, and he could use his admiral salary to cover stuff.

“You haven’t even gotten us a house yet; we’re still using base housing. Had I known I’d fall in with two of the richest Navy brats I swear I’d have jumped overboard.” Ron glared getting a laugh from Maverick.
“Pays to be from old money. That was one of the few things the foster system couldn’t steal from me. I inherited 75% of my family’s estate whilst my family pack got the other 25%. And even then, there were far too many zeros to that amount.” Maverick laughed getting a snort from Ice.
“Shut it Kerner, you like my wallet just as much as you like me. Besides we don’t know where we’ll be based after Top gun, we could be back up at Lemoore after this.” Ice rolled his eyes at slider getting giggles from Maverick.
“You could always put in for a squadron transfer to Miramar like Maverick here. He and Goose have put in the request to be closer to his original family pack who were delighted to find he was in the city.” Charlie smiled slyly as she watched Maverick blush slightly.
“Oh, could we?” Slider’s head shot up in delight, the older Alpha having fallen in love with the city over the past few weeks they’d been here.
“I mean we could buy somewhere permanent for our pack in the city and return to it when on leave? We’re only based in Lemoore a couple hours up the road anyways normally. It would only be a quick hop on a regional from Fresno Yosemite to San Diego.”
“Me and Goose were based in Texas with our squad. There are rumours that the VF-1 is “supposed” moving to Miramar but so far, we’ve heard nothing from them about a move, so we’ve just submitted the forms to move anyways. If our squad does make the move to Miramar then it’ll be great for us, they really are some great friends there but if they don’t, well moving to a new squadron shouldn’t be too hard, especially after we graduate from the course. Should buy us some likeability points.” The omega admitted.
“Are you alright now.” Ice asked the smaller pilot.
“Yeah, I’m fine, thank you Ice.” Maverick smiled thankfully as he nodded to his rival as he moved up the path towards the front door of the villa.
“No bother Maverick… I um… See you Monday?” Ice winced.
“Yeah, see you Monday. See you Slider, Charlie.” Maverick waved before disappearing into the villa. The other two in the car called out and waved the omega good night as they watched him disappear into the house.

Ice groaned before burying his head in his hands as they returned to the car.
Slider and Charlie shared a wince as they looked at him.
“Now that… that was rough.” Slider laughed as he pulled off from the kerb.
“You’ll get their big guy, your packs winning Bradshaw over again. He knows you’ve all been going out of your way to “Secretly” fix things with Maverick. It’s been quite amusing for Goose and Carole. It’s his original family pack you need to worry about now.” Charlie giggled as she gave ice a reassuring pat on his shoulder.
“His original family pack? There here in San Diego?” The man blanched.
“Oh yes, All the alphas belong to squadrons based here in Miramar, and they were overjoyed to find he was still alive and a pilot like many of them. A natural response to discovering your long lost pup is alive. You’re so screwed when the six alphas give you the shovel talk.” Charlie slyly smiled as Slider absolutely lost it laughing behind the wheel.
“So, are you dating Maverick or not?” Ice asked the blonde beta, the question slipping out before he realised it.
“Nope, just a family friend playing mediator for the Bradshaw pack and his family pack.” Charlie giggled as she patted Ice’s shoulder, “Don’t worry Kazansky, you still have a shot ya big stud.”
Ice could only groan as he buried his head in his hands. It seemed everyone else around him had caught on to his attraction to the omega before he ever did.

He was so screwed.

A few days later, and the class had just finished up hop number 30 of the course. Ice and his pack where all waiting around the Rec room for Maverick and Goose to get freshened up and leave. They wanted to invite the other pack out for dinner to one of the local diners their pack had frequented over the time of the course. They wanted to do so soon as there was less than two weeks before their graduation and they wanted to spend some more time with their two classmates before there packs went their separate ways after the course. The Kazansky pack would soon be returning to their squadrons up in Lemoore whilst Maverick and Goose would be returning to Texas before there hopeful move to Miramar.

Before either Pilot or RIO could exit the changing room Viper wandered down the corridor, getting the Kazansky packs attention as he glared at them, wagging a finger at the six of them.

“Lieutenants, A word if you will.”
“Commander?” Ice asked, confused at why the commander wanted to see them. They were to be debriefed on their hop in the morning before they went on hop 31 in the afternoon.
“Now Kazansky, your pack included.” Viper narrowed his eyes.
The pack of six looked at each other, all of them knowing they were in some deep shit now. Had Goose reported them for their previous harassment of Maverick or had Mitchell himself reported them to their commanding officer. He was quite shaken up the other night when Slider and Ice dropped him off at his accommodation after the incident at the o-club, but Maverick had only thanked them before disappearing off into the house. They hoped it wasn’t serious or career risking. None of them said anything as they all walked towards there commander.

“Come.” Viper said as he took them out onto the tarmac, walking away from the building and out into the mild evening air.

“Is everything alright sir?” Ice asked after they had been walking for easily twenty minutes.
“That depends on what you tell me Lieutenant.”
“Sir?” Wood asked.
“The packs that come through Top gun are some of the bests there is, I understand that your pack has been together since the academy, congratulations on keeping your pack together through all that. It’s been a while since we’ve been graced with a pack like yours in Top gun. We had to do things differently back in the day before top gun was introduced. We built up our packs through weeks and months of training, working dates around deployments and training. It was tough but it worked, we had a brilliant pack, we survived through a lot of struggles but even then, we ended up losing parts of our pack.” Viper told them, “Our original pack had seven of us alphas and our omega wives, Jester, Pyro, Anchor, Fender, Beaker, myself and, Duke. We were a happy family and pack for years before everything went to hell in a handbag for us.”
“Duke… as in Duke Mitchell?” Slider asked, wide eyed. Viper just stopped and stared at them all harshly, full of anger and venom. They’d never seen a C.O get this angry before.
“Did you know that nineteen years ago my pack lost not only Duke and his wife but our eldest pup as well?” Viper told them.
“No sir.”
“I say lost, but he was kidnapped from us by the state. Scarcely five years old and orphaned all because of a fight that happened over the wrong borderlines.” The man quietly told them, the Kazansky pack’s eyes widened as they realised what their C.O was telling them.

Maverick’s parents where apart of Vipers pack, Maverick himself as a child had been a part of Vipers pack.
Maverick was a child of the original first ever winning Top gun pack. No wonder he was such a good pilot, he was practically born with jet fuel in his veins.

“We were in for one hell of a fight from the start, incorrect information given to us by the brass and our squad which consisted of my pack and Commander Jardins, mavericks current squad commander, at the time ended up over the boarders and away from nam, straight into enemy territory.” The man told the group who listened eagerly. “We were outnumbered three to one from the start with more bogies incoming. When we radioed back to command we were told to retreat, that the information was wrong. It was too late, there was no way we’d have been able to escape without losing anyone, Half of Jardins pack had already been shot down but for each of them we saw good shoots. Those poor lads ended up in P.O.W camps for a few weeks before they were liberated by ground forces.” Viper sighed before he turned to look at the group. All of them had a mixture of shock and reverence on their faces as they listened to the commander’s story.
“What happened to Duke Mitchell was far, far worse.” He told them watching as they all become uncomfortable at the mention of Maverick’s father.

“Sir… if your uncomfortable… you don’t have to tell us.” Ice informed their commander as he looked over his pack, they all looked very uncomfortable at the new information they’d been given on their classmate.
“No, I’m already risking my career as it is lieutenant, but I need to do this.” The commander told them. “What I’m about to tell you all is classified lieutenants, this could see me pronounced as an enemy of state if word slips. Why do you think I took you all as far away from any building as possible.” Viper narrowed his eyes at them.
“Upon given orders to retreat we were getting shot at badly, not a single jet was untouched, all of us limping out of enemy air. Duke had been hit the worst, his jet barely hanging on, he reported having been hit by shrapnel from one of the bullets and was bleeding out. Duke knew he’d never be able to make it back to the carrier, or likely fly ever again after that battle. Instead of coming home, he apologized to us all, told us to take care of his wife and son and turned back to face the enemy, to give us all time to flee.” Viper told them all.
“Oh… damn sir he?” Slider gasped silently as he stared at his CO.
“He drew them away from us, let us flee even if it meant he was flying back over a different countries boarder against orders to return. He’d have never made it to the carrier and likely would have either attracted every shark in the ocean or bled to death before rescue could get him either way. He’d shot down seven Migs before he’d run out of Ammo, no bullets, no missiles, and no miracles left in the tank.” Viper sighed, wiping away a single solitary tear. “He was blown out of the sky, his jet erupting into a fireball over the Laos boarder. He left behind not only our pack, but his then four-year-old son Pete “Maverick” Mitchell and his wife Jenny. Jenny Mitchell couldn’t take the loss of her husband and within a few months of the news breaking she took her own life, our wives did everything they could to save her but mentally she was gone. Blew her head off and left Pete to find her dead body. Losing Duke destroyed her. We were still on the Oriskany returning to port when we found out our mission was being covered up and that Duke was being pronounced AWOL. When we got to shore imagine our disgust and heartbreak when our omegas tell us child protective services took our packs kid off them and sent him into the foster system. That was illegal considering we had the custody agreements written for as long as Pete was born that he was our packs kid, didn’t matter if something happened to his parents, his guardianship would have fallen to me and my wife or the rest of our pack. That didn’t stop them, the sick rumours that Duke had gone AWOL and abandoned our pack and family had already begun to circulate stateside enough that Pete was removed from our omega’s custody.”

“But wouldn’t they have had rights to intervene?” Wolf asked horrified. He’d never want any pups he would possibly have in the future ripped out of there packs arms against their will like their classmate had been.
“Different times kid’s, our omega’s had to have their alphas permission to open their own bank accounts and get credit cards. They were paid only 60% of what a beta made if they wanted a job, society was still really segregated. Far different than today. For them to have kept Pete, the CPS worker said they’d have needed an alpha to sign the paperwork and gave a 48-hour deadline for one of us Alphas to sign knowing damn well we were still in the pacific on a stuffy carrier.” Viper spat.
“By the time we’d gotten back stateside Pete was long gone, we searched for years looking for him, could never find anything on him for years so we assumed he’d died… another unfortunate lost soul to the shit show that is the American foster system. Imagine my surprise when I got the paperwork a few weeks back telling me that one Peter “Maverick” Matthew Mitchell, same name, same age, same birthday as our packs kid, was being sent to Top gun with his pack member and RIO. I knew the moment I read his file that our kid was finally home after nineteen years, damn kid’s as stubbornly brave as his father and a far better pilot than Duke ever was. It’s a damn shame Cortell handed in his wings but it’s understandable, he has a new-born pup of his own to worry about now, an encounter with a Mig like that where your C.O denies you the right to fire on them to scare the buggers off is scary. It takes some crazy, unauthorized flying to scare the commies off when you can’t fire on them. It would make any good man rethink his life in this career, not everyone is cut out for this type of life and sometimes it takes an encounter that close to make a pilot realise that.” Viper told them.

“Sir… why are you telling us this?” Ice asked.
“Because I want to know what your intentions are towards my nephew lieutenant.” Viper narrowed his eyes as his scent soured violently, the elder alpha squaring up before the younger pack who quickly faltered under the elder’s glare. “So far over the past few weeks you all have been isolating him and picking on him only to turn around and change your entire attitude towards him. I want to know what you have planned and if it’s some sick game you’re attempting to string my nephew on you all better be damned ready for the consequences because if you fucking hurt him, I will see you all court-martialled for harassment, assault, conduct unbecoming and any other charge I can levy against you idiots faster than a carrier launch. Do you understand me lieutenants.” Viper spat ferociously.

“Yes sir.” All of the pack straighten up in fear immediately, all standing in parade rest and in line at the angry commander.

“That’s not the answer I’m looking for lieutenant, what are your intentions towards my nephew and his pack Kazansky.”
“We realised we were wrong about him sir. We didn’t mean to make him feel at risk or in harm’s way, we realised after an… altercation with Bradshaw that we had… enforced mavericks’ belief than he’d have to look out for himself on the ground and in the air instead of being the wingmen we should have been and looking out for him. We didn’t realise we’d come off as a threat to Mitchell… we just didn’t think he was a good partner for Bradshaw sir, we’d known Goose since the academy and wanted him to join our pack but he always put it off… we know now he wanted us to meet Pete and his own pack that he had, to let them meet us and see if they wanted to do a pack joining.” Ice swallowed as he avoided his commander’s glare.
“And you idiots judged him off scuttlebutt didn’t you. Didn’t think my kid was good enough for Bradshaw and not good enough for your pack.” The man narrowed his eyes.
“Yes, sir we did sir.” Chipper winced.
“We are willing to make it up to Maverick and the Bradshaw’s in whatever way we can sir, we have both been working on offering our friendship and protection towards Maverick and the Bradshaw’s and want to amend our mistakes and make them comfortable around us, even if they never agree to a pack bonding like we once wished for. We realise how unfair we’d been towards Maverick and how little we knew about him that was truthful instead of the rumours and scuttlebutt levied against him. We wanted to and have set out to rectify that and hopefully one day reach a point where we can be friends with him and restore our friendship with Bradshaw sir, and if not, we want them to know that they can trust us enough to be there wingmen when out their sir.” Ice swallowed harshly as he looked at Viper.

Viper said nothing as he assessed them all. After letting them stew in their own nervous sweat for a minute Viper spoke up.

“You know, my pack where nearly at our limits with yours Kazansky, we’ve been watching you all over the weeks and until the incident last Friday evening we were suspicious of your rightful intentions and were going to warn you all to stay away from them. However, I can see that you’re all truthful and desperate to make amends and make Pete comfortable in your presence so I will tell you this. I’ll give you idiots one chance, break his heart or worse and I will testify to the courts that your deaths were training accidents. Understand lieutenants.” He informed them.
“Yes sir.” The pack shouted back.
“Alright, dismissed, you all have an early debrief in the morning before hop 31 starting from nine hundred hours. Don’t party too hard oh and Kazansky?” Viper’s lip curled slightly as he dismissed the lieutenants.
“Yes Sir.”
“Thank you for protecting my packs eldest pup last Friday night. Our packs very grateful that you and lieutenant Kerner stepped in when you did.”
“Of course, sir. It was no problem, sir. That asshole had it coming anyways.”
“Dismissed kids, get out of here.”

The lieutenants nodded as they made their way back to the main buildings of the base. Maverick and Goose had long since left for the night by the time they made it back, so they decided to just head back to their base assignment and order food in instead. They could always invite them out for dinner tomorrow evening or even Friday evening. They wanted to do it soon before they became too busy with the last few hops of the course coming up.

They didn’t realize just how little time they had left with their classmates.

The events of the next morning broke all six pack members as they watched the helicopter land on the tarmac, two stretchers being lifted from the rescue vehicle into two awaiting ambulances.
The group could see the paramedics work on stabilizing the two men in the ambulances, watching as the E.M.T’s closed the door over on the one Bradshaw was in. They could only watch on from a distance as the commanders and the base’s admiral began to talk to the rescuers before Admiral Johnson and Commander Metcalf returned to the ambulance Maverick was in. They stayed there for fifteen minutes before re-emerging, the admiral and commander moving over to the second ambulance where Goose was located. Neither the commander or Admiral where in the second ambulance for long before they exited it, everyone watching as the flashing lights were turned off and the engine of the vehicle cut. Commander Metcalf looked sullen and shocked as he finished talking to the rescuers, the admiral was pinching the bridge of his nose as he called the two commanders over to him and began to give them instructions before looking at the gathered group. The admiral pointed to the gathered group and said something to the commanders before he turned to leave them. Then Viper turned to Jester and held a quick conversation before returning to the ambulance which Maverick was inside, hopping into it before it took off.

The Kazansky pack and the other competing pack for their class all stood nearby at the hangers awaiting news on their classmates as Commander Heatherly approached them.

The commander looked at the rest of the class grimly and seriously before he proceeded to speak.

“All hops for the day are cancelled, all hops will continue after an investigation is launched into the accident. Lieutenant Mitchell has been taken to the hospital for shock, hypothermia, a serious but non-fatal throat injury, and dehydration as well as standard ejection protocols, Commander Metcalf is going with him as he is Maverick’s emergency contact outside of the Bradshaw’s.” The man said.
“What about Bradshaw sir.” Someone asked, Ice not entirely sure who. The ambulance the RIO was in was slowly driving away in the background, none of the bright lights or sirens blaring that there had been for Maverick’s a few moments before.
“So far… Its…” The man started before sighing, clearing his throat before looking over the class again. “Lieutenant Bradshaw… lieutenant Bradshaw’s dead, E.M.T’s called it just after they landed… there was nothing they could do for him, despite Mavericks best attempts at rendering aid and keeping him above water and physically stable… it appears that Lieutenant Mitchells jet suffered from a partial if not a complete canopy jettison failure, and as a result of the failed jettison, lieutenant Bradshaw appears to have hit the canopy upon ejection before the canopy was cleared, killing him instantly.” The commander broke to the gathered group.
“Mitchell was found clinging onto Bradshaw screaming at him in his omega cords, he’s possibly damaged his cords from continued screaming and the dehydration from being in the sea. They had to sedate him to remove Bradshaw from his hold, but he woke up upon the helo landing and was able to give us a basic debriefing before being sedated again for his own health.”

All of the gathered Alpha’s, Beta’s and Omega’s from there class where shocked at the news.

One pack in particular, where horrified at the aftermath of the crash.

Hollywood and Chipper grabbed their omega mates and pulled them in close to their hold as the two Omega’s let out quiet sobs whilst Slider sunk down onto the balls of his feet, putting his head in his hands. Ice just stood there staring at the spot where the ambulances had been only minutes ago as the E.M.T’s closed the door and slowly drove away with the body of their beloved friend.

Ice couldn’t say or do anything, shocked in place as he stared on in horror.

He’d done this.

He’d caused the crash and now, he’d killed Goose. He’d widowed Carole Bradshaw, orphaned Bradley Bradshaw of his father and killed Pete Mitchell’s brother and best friend. He’d had left a pack in mourning of one of their own over something so stupid as a competition.

He’d killed Goose.

He’d almost killed Maverick.

Ice threw up.

The next few days passed slowly and painfully as Ice and Slider were called forward to give testimony before the military tribunal that was assigned to investigate the cause of the accident and if someone was to be held responsible for it. The jet having been recovered from the ocean and investigators having been able to run around and look at the jet and review the black boxes. There they found out that there was in fact a fault in the canopy jettison mechanism of Mavericks jet, one that wasn’t visible to the pilot when performing his walk around as it was a fault inside the release mechanism itself. Goose was the unfortunate victim of the malfunction with Maverick the miraculous survivor of a horrifying accident that the investigators said should have also killed him.
The blonde-haired pilot barely ate and hardly slept in the immediate days that passed, his alpha crying out to see the injured Omega, to go to him and comfort him. Yet he knew he couldn’t, Pete wasn’t his Omega and after this, he had probably lost all chance of ever courting the younger Omega or holding a pack joining with the Bradshaw pack. Who would want to join the pack or be around the Alpha responsible for killing one of your own, especially after weeks of harassment against Mav.

None of them had talked to Maverick since the morning of their shit show of a hop. He’d been staying off base in the house he had gotten for his pack for moving out to California… a house that was now forever going to be missing a key person from it. They only saw him in fleeting around the base as he was in and out for the tribunal and briefly for Goose’s funeral. Whilst they wanted to go and talk to Maverick and the Bradshaw’s, to offer their comfort and support at the loss of their packs leader but they found themselves being kept away for the time being by Commander Metcalf’s pack. Top guns original pack all gave their pack hard stares and the women murmured quietly to one another before disappearing off to comfort Pete and Carole. It wasn’t a day they’d forget anytime soon, the guilt of their actions would for ever be burned into their hearts and minds as they watched the casket be lowered into the ground.

So, it surprised them all when not even a week after the crash, hops where allowed to continue as classes resumed. Maverick re-immerged from the shadows and returned for one class and hop… Only for it to go sideways quickly. Sundance had been assigned to Maverick as his temporary Rio but even then, Maverick couldn’t fly like he had been. Calling it quits early and blowing up at Sundance before disappearing off into the base’s main buildings. When Ice found him in the changing rooms not long after he was distraught to find the Omega packing up his gear. He tried to say something meaningful to Maverick but could only say that goose was a good man. He was terrified that Maverick had already handed his wings in and discharged himself from the Navy.

The groups worse fear had come true in so many ways.

Goose was dead and Maverick was quitting.

And they were helpless in the situation. All they could do was comfort one another in their nest as they watched the Bradshaw pack disappear from their reach. Everyone in various stages of disbelief and distress at the loss of two people who had left such an impact on their lives over the past few weeks rocked them all.

They wished they had been better friends to them both.

Perhaps if they had, then they would still be here.

So, it was a surprise to their pack when they spied the omega walking towards them after graduation, making his way towards them purposefully as Viper gave the group a small nod before having to turn to talk to a lieutenant commander who had rushed over to him. They didn’t know what to say to him as he congratulated Ice on the victory, when they all knew it should have been the Omega picking up the trophy. Ice only won because Maverick forced him to work for it, he only got as far as he did because he had a rival who could keep up and make him work for it. Ice set a new course record after overtaking Maverick in the points, only winning because of Maverick’s refusal to continue hops and early exit a week from the end of the course, allowing him to overtake the smaller pilot on the leader’s board but even then, only by a few points. Knowing he was there for their pack after everything they’d been through over the course of twelve weeks, was more than enough to settle all the alphas and omegas of the pack and gave them hope that they could still be friends after everything, even if it meant they’d never be pack members like they once hoped.

So, it was a shock for them to find out that they were being sent out on an emergency mission to the gulf instead of celebrating their graduations. Ice, Slider, Hollywood, Wolfman, Sundance, Chipper and to everyone’s surprise, Maverick, all chosen to be sent out to the USS enterprise immediately, all chosen to go as being the topmost graduates from Top gun in its history. Everyone was given three hours to gather their gear and return to base for immediate deployment to the gulf. When they all returned to the base in their fatigues and gathered gear, they found Carole and Bradley standing next to Viper as they stood by Maverick. Viper gave them all an update on the mission and told them that they would all be deployed out to the ship for an additional three months after this immediate mission before they would get an extended leave. Whilst Maverick said his painful goodbyes to his pack, Viper took the Kazansky pack aside and spoke to them.

“You boys look out for my pup now, you hear me. You’ll all be out there with the VF-1 squadron and commander Jardin as there the closest carrier to the Layton, they’ve all been good to him and Nick since they were assigned to them. They know of Nick’s passing but aren’t aware of just what happened due to just returning to sea. Take it easy with them all and take care of him alright? I’ll try see if I can have you all brought back shoreside as soon as possible but I can’t guarantee any miracles.” Viper told them.
“I mean if we’re desperate we could try trigger a heat.” Wolf snorted.
“With the suppressants we’re on, it’d take one hell of an adrenaline rush to flush them out of our system.” Sunny rolled his eyes.
“One hell of a dogfight or crash can knock your systems around boys trust me on that, just be careful out there all of you, they’ll make you sit through a heat on the carrier before they’d fly you all shoreside before that, maybe become a fleet commander if you want that privilege. You’re a pack, all it would take would be an adrenaline induced heat or rut in two or three of you for your instincts to trigger a pack heat and trigger any other unmated omega’s in your range into heat if you’re not careful and out in the middle of the gulf doesn’t seem like the best place to have one of those now I tell you all that.” The older pilot warned them.
“We’ll take care sir. What’s the worst that could happen, a six vs one?” Ice chuckled.
“Don’t push your luck Kazansky, your good, but even those odds are terrifying when you’re alone up there.” Viper warned him sternly.
“Thank you, sir.”
“You all take care out on the seas now boys and take care of Pete for me.”
“Yes sir, of course sir.” The pack saluted the commander who nodded proudly as he watched the group make their way onto the awaiting transport.

It was going to be a long flight to the gulf.

“Sammy?” Maverick’s face broke out into a wide smile as he saw who his RIO was to be.

The group had just exited the transport plane that had taken them to the USS Enterprise, the carrier that Maverick had flown off of most of his naval career. It was like coming home for the Omega as he saw his squad mates standing by the door all welcoming there youngest and newest top gun pilot back to the squad after three months away. Out of all of them, it was Sam “Merlin” Wells who approached the group. Maverick smiled widely for the first time the group had seen since the accident.

“Hey Pete, looks like I’m your RIO kiddo.” The older omega smiled as he hugged the smaller man who all but disappeared into the giants’ arms. The others were surprised when they caught a sweet maple syrup scent of the giant man, another Omega RIO. It surprised them all when they looked at him, the man was bigger than Slider, he would have made a good Alpha, but to be an Omega surprised them all.

“Hey Maverick? Mind introducing us?” Sunny asked.
“Guys, this is Sam Wells, callsign Merlin, He was Cougars RIO.” Maverick smiled sadly at Merlin.
“So, your Cortell’s Magic man in the back.” Wolf smiled as he looked at the other man.
“Yep, or well, I was… Bill just left me high and dry. I don’t blame him though; he hadn’t even seen his daughter yet and that Mig scared the shit out of him. Thankfully Maverick here was our saviour when he went inverted over the ugly fuckers.” The man nodded as he shook hands with everyone before throwing his arm around Maverick’s shoulder.
“Wait that was true? He was inverted over the top of a Mig?” Ice asked in surprise as their pack’s eyes blew wide in shock.

They thought Maverick and Goose had been joking.

“Pff, a whole four foot away from the ugly fuckers. Of course, it was true, only Mav’s both mad enough and skilled enough to do something as crazy as that. God knows how I’m gonna cope being your RIO Kid.” The giant RIO laughed.
“I’ll give you a warning before I pull my crazy stunts Merlin, trust me.” Maverick smiled, but behind it the pack could see the pain in his eyes at the loss of his brother and trusted RIO.
“I do Maverick, we all do.” The man said as he pointed off towards there squad mates, some of whom were moving off towards their own jets for patrols whilst the others move to return to their ready stations.
“So how was shore leave. Heard you all came into dock three weeks after we left. Maintenance?” Mav asked as the group moved to enter the carrier.
“Yeah, maintenance, it’s working for now. We were only shore side for two months whilst you were at Miramar, didn’t do much, visited Cougar, saw the little wildcat that’s his daughter, then leave ended, the rest of the squad left port about a week and a half ago, but I was left behind as I’d no pilot until they assigned me to you. Oh, they fixed the aircon again when we docked… just hope it holds out longer than the last time.”
“What’s wrong with the Aircon?” Chipper asked.
“It always breaks.” Maverick and Merlin sighed together at the same time.
“We got what, five weeks out of the air con last deployment before it broke down again?” Mav tried to recall.
“No that was the time before, we got three months out of it last time before it went kaput.” Merlin laughed.
“Oh god, this is the infamous carrier that always has no aircon isn’t it.” Hollywood groaned, remembering the rumours that the Atlantic fleet had a problematic carrier that never had working aircon.
“Yep, you’re on the only ship in any of the fleets to not have working aircon for half your deployment.” Mav laughed, getting a smile from everyone as they watched him lighten up a bit.
“Oh yeah, Stinger wants to see you Mav, you know where he is, I’ll meet you down in the bunk room we’re assigned to, I’ve been down there already seeing as I was flown in last night with other intelligence specialists.”
“Copy that Merlin, I’ll see you shortly. I’ll let the commander know we’re here, you guys get your stuff down to the bunk rooms.” Maverick said as he shouldered his bag and disappeared inside the carrier.
“Welcome to the USS Enterprise, home of the VF-1 fighting aces aka the firebirds. Welcome to the carrier that is home to the craziest, stupidest but most recklessly brave and best pilots in the navy boys.” Merlin chuckled as he led them to the entrance that Maverick had disappeared down.

The group followed merlin into the bowls of the ship, following him down passageways and stairwells towards the bunk rooms. It wasn’t long before Merlin stopped the group in a quiet passageway, finally getting his chance to do the one thing he’s been itching to all day. He didn’t want to ask it with Maverick around, instead waiting until he’d gone to check in with their C.O.

“What happened to Nick? They say your pack was involved in his death somehow.” Merlin narrowed his eyes as he looked at the group.
The happy omega they’d seen on deck had been replaced by a menacing figure who glared at them darkly.
“I…” Ice started, looking at his pack before sighing.
“It’s true… we were caught up in the mess of it.” Slider stumbled over his words as he looked at the taller muscular Omega before him. Merlin looked at them darkly as the omega straightened up, as though getting ready for a fight.
“On the 31st hop of the course, I was aiming for target against Lieutenant Commander Heatherly, I didn’t have an angle, but I didn’t want to lose the points, not when I was tailing him on the leader board.” Ice admitted as he looked at his feet. “Maverick had an angle and pushed me to roll off, I refused to until I did… I didn’t warn him until I’d rolled off and he and Goose got caught in our Jet wash. I didn’t mean to hurt them. It was never supposed to happen.” The alpha admitted.
“Doesn’t explain how he’s dead, they only told us he was dead but not how. They ejected fine did they not, two good chutes?” Merlin inquired, his glare lightening slightly as he realised there was more to the story, jet wash could down a jet yes, but outright kill someone, no.

“There was a fault in their canopy jettison, it didn’t release as supposed to and by the time it did Goose was ejecting straight into the canopy… he uh… he was dead on impact.” Chipper spoke up.
“Mav held him until the coasties brough them back to base, they had to sedate him to remove Nick from his grasp. He’d screamed himself hoarse from using his omega cords begging him to wake up and fought the coasties until they had no choice but to sedate him before he hurt himself further. He’d been floating in the mid-day sun in the middle of the ocean for over an hour by the time they got out to him.” Sunny quietly told the other omega.
“They kept him in the hospital on a drip for a day to rehydrate him and follow ejection protocols. He was on concussion patrol for two days after that.” Wolf informed Merlin.
“So, you didn’t go after them… right… I’ll be keeping an eye on you all though, know that. Our whole squadrons gonna be watching your backs you hear me. If I catch any of you giving him grief, you’ll find yourselves being thrown overboard, I ain’t no dainty little thing secondary gender aside but I can still crush an apple in my biceps and a watermelon with my thighs. That’ll be your heads if you step out of line, understand.” Merlin threatened.
“No, we didn’t… well we did at the start but Goose shovel-talked us all. We’ll forever regret how we treated Mav in those first few weeks, but we’d never want to hurt him again.” Ice admitted. “I don’t want to hurt him.”
The giant Rio searched the man for any sigh or deceit. When he saw that Ice was being truthful, he pulled back from the pack.
“The bunks are just down this way, just… give me a minute alright before you follow.” Merlin said before disappearing down the passageway.

“I want him.” Slider wordlessly gasped as the Giant RIO who left them.

All of the pack turned to look at the muscled alpha as he looked on down the passageway where the other RIO disappeared down.
The man was completely love struck at the site of the giant Omega RIO assigned to Maverick, to cougars old RIO.

Sliders Alpha instincts where in overdrive at the site of such a strong, tall Omega. The alpha inside him yelling at him that there walked a strong, healthy, and fertile omega who could produce a squadron of strong pups for him if he wanted, and by God he’d never ever had that reaction to an Omega before in his life. It felt like he’d been hit by a plane as he continued to stare down the passageway to where their bunk was located.

“Damn… your alpha really is love struck.” Hollywood awed as they dragged Slider down the passageway.
“Come on knot head, we don’t have long to get our stuff to our bunks, we need to be down for briefing in the next half an hour.” Ice ordered as he snapped his pack out of it as they began to stalk off down after the fleeing Omega.

All of them where sharing an officer’s pack bunk with Maverick and Merlin, which made the scene they walked into understandable. As they entered their assigned bunk room for the forceable future, they saw that it was in fact a pack room, one of the few on board the ship. Pack bunks where large enough to hold up to eight people of the same pack, with bunks that where wider than a standard bunk and had more head hight than the standard bunks as well, allowing for pack members to share bunks, could be divided up into two smaller rooms with a partition curtain and a large main room between two bunks to create a large nest for if member of a pack went into heat or rut and where scent sealed. It was hard to get one as lieutenants normally unless you had a large pack of eight on ship, other times it was usually reserved for those of a full pack of eight officers on board or those ranked Lieutenant commanders and higher but when they were assigned it, they made the most out of the room.

It was surprising for them to see that Maverick and Merlin were assigned to their pack bunk room but figured it must have been Viper and Stingers doing, having someone familiar look out for Maverick in these trying times. Maverick had the bottom bunk in the corner of the room where Merlin had the top, but what surprised them was that they saw the two omega’s hugging, Merlin pulling the younger Omega in against his chest as he shook in his hold.

It made them all feel guilty for everything that had happened to Maverick, but it also warmed them that the smaller man still had other people in his corner.

“Right, come on, we have a mission to get ready for.” Ice ordered as he threw his pack into the lockers, they could sort there gear out afterwards.

They had a mission to complete.

*Pornographic material from this point onwards*

The mission was a complete success, the USS Layton had returned from enemy waters, communications re-established with the ship.

Wolfman and Hollywood survived there plunge in the ocean, and Iceman and Slider, Maverick and Merlin had just become heroes plastered on every news station and paper in the western world. After some photos on the carrier deck, Wolfman, Hollywood, Iceman and Slider went to the medical bay to be checked over, Sundance and Chipper following them down into the bowls of the ship, leaving Maverick and Merlin to head to their bunk room to freshen up and shower. The humidity and heat of the gulf left them sticky with sweat, and the heat of their cockpit didn’t help either man either.

It was as they were showering up did both pilot and RIO realize, they themselves weren’t one hundred percent alright. Heat slowly building up in their lower torso as painful cramps began to ripple through them. Both stumbled out of the head, half dried as they threw on clean shirts and fatigues. Both stumbled into their bunks in the corner of the room as they felt the symptoms of preheat begin to burn through their systems.

“Well, this is fucked.” Merlin huffed out as he felt the oncoming cramps and tingling warmth growing in his lower torso as he entered preheat, feeling a full-blown heat about to overtake him. “I need to get the emergency heat kits.” He snarled softly as he felt another cramp ripple through him as he shoved maverick into his bunk, throwing himself down onto the mattress next to Mav before realizing he’d need to get out.

“I don’t understand, we’re on suppressants and birth control, how are we going into heat?” Maverick whined quietly in worry as he too began to flush brightly as heat set in, getting the younger man to seek comfort in the older Omega. Merlin quickly crawled out of Mavericks bunk and stripped off the top half of his flight suit, tying it around his waist as he hunted through his and Maverick’s gear, grabbing the two small cases containing their emergency heat kits from their lockers. The kits where standard ones that the Omega’s were allowed to put together themselves containing knotting dildos and other toys for sexual relief to help burn through there heat quicker in the event their heat suppressants failed when at sea. Maverick himself followed suit and stripped off the top half of his flight suit, the suit and t-shirt underneath sticking to him from the sweat already beginning to coat his skin, his hand reaching down to rub between his thighs.

“Adrenaline crash could have flushed our systems… or” Merlin started before being interrupted as they heard their bunk door opening as the rest of the group returned.
“Fuck me, he wasn’t kidding about the adrenaline flushing our systems.” Wolf complained only to moan as Hollywood let out a growl and began to grope at his mate, quickly stripping his mate out of the damp flight suit.
“Your almost in heat sweetheart, let me throw you stuff to make a nest for you and Sunny. Then we’ll take good care of you both, all of us will.” Wood growled heavily to the Omega who moaned as his partner rutted against him, grabbing him by the waist and letting him feel just how hard he’d become so soon.
“Maybe you should both go to the head quickly and clean off before you fuck your brains out, you both stink of sea salt, jet fuel and scorched metal.” Slider sniffed loudly.

“Yep, it’s as I feared.” Merlin whined as he pushed Maverick back into his bunk and sat next to him, trying to avoid the others who entered.
He was thankful there bunks where on the edge of the room away from the main nesting area of the pack bunks, it allowed them some privacy.
“What?” Mav whimpered quietly.

“Pack heats can trigger unmated omega’s who are in a close proximity to whoever is unfortunate enough to be there.” Merlin whined. “And we’re just unfortunate to have been in close proximity to them for long enough to be triggered too.” The giant RIO threw his head back in frustration.

“Shit, guys where’s Maverick and Merlin. They need to know we’ve gone into rut and heat before they get triggered into heat. Commander Jardin’s got a room ready for them if there not affected yet.” Ice swore as he groaned, Maverick blushing as he caught the Alpha palming away at his hardened member that was straining against his pants.

“It’s a bit late for that now Kazansky.” Maverick whined from his bunk, turning his head away from the alpha who snapped it over his direction.

Maverick was blushing hard at the substantial size of Ice’s package that threatened to burst through the material of his fatigues.

“Shit, you guys are already here.” Ice blanched as he peaked his head around to where Mav and Merlin’s bunks where located spotting both Omega’s hiding in the bunk, flushed and beginning to look drunk on heat.
The alpha had hoped to get them both away from there pack before Vipers warning came true, it seems like he’d been to late to find them. The Alpha then blushed brightly when he caught Maverick staring at him, noticing how flushed and sweaty the younger pilot was in the light.

“Here and already in preheat about to go into full blown heat.” Merlin winced as he pulled Maverick in against him, trying to keep him safe from the alphas who might take advantage of them both.
“Shit… Shit.” Ice swore as Chipper, and Hollywood began to growl behind him as their Omega’s let out whining moans. “Okay, right…You have your heat kits?” Ice winced as he looked between his own pack members and at the pair of Omega’s bunking with them.
“Yep, we’ve got them. Right here.” Merlin winced as he grabbed his bag and waved it in front of them. “God damnit of all times to be single and pack less am I right Mav.”
“They didn’t accept you? I thought Bill said his pack would accept you once he talked to them.” Maverick snapped his head to his RIO at that. He could have sworn that Cougar promised Merlin a place in the pilot’s pack when they returned shoreside, he knew Merlin would have gone out to visit them.
“They did until they saw me, seems like Cougar neglected to tell them just how big and jacked I was… they thought I was an Alpha until they scented me. I freaked some of their omega’s out… Mary tried to convince the other three omegas and four betas’ in their pack, but we decided to just remain friends.” Merlin sagged against the bulkhead. “I told you they wouldn’t accept an omega who looks like me into the pack. Maybe if I had a mate, it might have been different but guess we won’t know now.” The Rio relented.
“Well, you’re always welcome to come home to me and Carole in California, Nick was always fond of you and wanted to extend an invite to our pack if things with Bill’s didn’t work out. Carole and Bradley would love to see you and Bills pack again, they’re being looked after by my family pack right now… Carole and Bradley missed you.” Maverick sighed as he sagged up against his friend.
“Thanks Pete.” Merlin smiled as he threw his arm around Maverick’s shoulder.

Ice was about to speak up and offer the same to the RIO, he was also responsible for saving their lives today and he owed Maverick and Merlin his and Slider’s life. To his surprise, Slider threw himself up against Ice’s back as he looked at the two omegas’.

“Why wouldn’t they accept you gorgeous, you’re the hottest omega I’ve ever seen in my life, whoever rejected you is full of shit and threatened by someone as beautiful as you.” Slider gasped out as he stumbled to where Ice was standing, looking at the two-heat addled Omega’s before looking straight at Merlin before blushing in embarrassment as everyone in the room stopped and looked at the Alpha. Slider looked sheepishly at the other RIO as his face broke out into a deep blush.

Merlin blushed darkly as he looked at the Alpha. He’d never have an Alpha talk to him like this before and it was cute and made his stomach feel like it was filled with butterflies as he looked at the strong handsome Alpha before him. He hadn’t been too bothered earlier to actually look at the alpha but now he was he was quite impressive. He hadn’t met many alphas before who were impressed or even turned on by having an omega as muscular and taller than they were.

“Damn Slider, no thought control on that mouth of yours when in rut eh?” Maverick laughed first as the others in the room began to giggle at the RIO’s outburst.
“Not in full blown rut yet short stack, but I’m serious. Who would reject an omega who looks as ethereal as you do.” Slider pushed forward giving Merlin a lovestruck gaze, flipping Maverick the bird as Wood, Wolf, Chipper and Sundance absolutely lost it in laughter. Maverick shot Ice a look to which the blonde-haired pilot only shrugged back and looked at his Rio with just as much concern. Merlin just gaped and floundered at the complement, it was rare for an Omega of his size and muscularity to be seen as beautiful.
“You look like a roman god, carved from marble to sheer perfection.” Slider growled lowly as he smiled at the Omega.

“Well, he’s not lying. We’ve known this idiot since the academy, I’ve never seen him like ...this.” Ice told Maverick as he stepped away from Slider, watching as Merlin’s blush deepened as the two RIO’s continued to stare at each other.

“You’ve only just met me today.” Merlin gaped, not believing he was being hit on by an alpha for his looks for once.
“Doesn’t matter, I know I’m looking at a god incarnate.” Slider smirked slyly as he looked at the omega who was utterly speechless. Ice moved completely to stand next to Maverick on his bunk quite impressed with his RIO, deciding to let his friend continue this bazaar mating dance he was performing as he wooed the giant RIO. Maverick followed Ice’s lead and shuffled away from the other omega.
“When did Slider become such a smooth motherfucker.” Wolf muttered in the background as the four other pack members stuck there heads around just enough for Mav and Merlin to see them.
“You want a hole to fuck for a night sailor or a friend with benefits?” Merlin smirked back at Slider.
“I think I’d prefer the latter, but I’d also be partial to wining and dining you once we’re shoreside Magic man. You ever been with an Alpha before.” The alpha winked.
“A few in the heat houses. You know the drill then, no biting each other’s glands, you back off if I say so, you can use my toys on me and if you want, I can use your rut kit on you if you want.” Merlin ordered as he moved to go to Slider, grabbing his heat kit and enough of his bedding material to make a small makeshift nest for himself.
“Let’s take this to my bunk then, Ice can bunk with Maverick.” Slider smiled hotly as he let out an aroused growl as he pushed his Pilot into the corner next to Maverick’s bunk.

Ice and Maverick looked on at the retreating Alpha and omega pair as Wood and Chipper whistled to their fellow alpha as he took Merlin back to his bunk. Slider pulled the heavy dividing curtain over behind him, turning Ice and his own bunk space into a more private room for the Omega in his hold. Slider peaked his head back out again for a moment before throwing Ice his rut kit and some of his bedding material.

“Well then, I’m just going to pull this across for you, we don’t want to scare Mav off with our sex lives.” Wood stuck his head in around the corner before he too pulled the thick and heavy dividing curtain across the foot of the bunks, separating Maverick and Ice from the two mated pairs in the main area of the bunk room.

“Did, did that just happen?” Maverick moaned as his stomach cramped painfully as his heat began to take over.
“Yes… yes it did.” Ice winced in embarrassment before groaning softly as he palmed his hardened member which was begging for relief. “Guess I’m bunking with you… sorry.” Ice apologized as he moved to grab his stuff and put it on the bunk above him.
“That’s… that’s fine.” Maverick squeaked as his face redden.
“Do you have enough materials to make a nest for yourself?” Ice asked, his face red as he avoided looking Maverick in his eyes.
“I, I do… just… not expecting to go into heat in the middle of the ocean with the sheer number of suppressants the navy have us shove down our throats and my chemical scent blockers too.” Mav stumbled over his words,
“I um… I’ll get settled in above you… if… if you need anything Pete, please let me know… I’ll do what I can to make this experience at least a little bit more pleasant for you.” Ice smiled softly hoping to reassure the omega as he moved to set his rut kit and bedding into the bunk above the omega.
“I… I…” Maverick started only to shake his head as he quickly made his nest.

Ice stopped and looked at the younger pilot who was carefully avoiding his gaze.

“What is it.” Ice asked as he unzipped his fatigues down low enough that Maverick could see his straining boxers.
“Sorry… I, I don’t want to make you uncomfortable is all… but um…” Maverick blushed as he looked away from the alpha. Ice knelt next to Maverick’s bunk and put one of maverick’s free hands in his own.
“Hey, it’s… it’s alright… what is it?” he reassured the omega.
“I um… can I… can I scent you… it would make me feel safer.” Maverick asked paling as he looked away from the alpha above him. His omega whined at him to submit to the man before him, telling Pete that Ice, no… Tom, that Tom could keep him safe, could love him, could give him what he needed.

His instincts had been telling him that ever since the bar incident, pleased at the protection and care the alpha had been giving him since the incident. It made Pete embarrassed with the desperation that he felt the need to ask for even something.
Even if that something was reserved for pack members or potential mates in courting.

“You don’t have to. It’s just… it made me feel safe when Nick and Carole would let me scent them during my heats and I know scents are for pack only and… its stupid, just forget I ever asked…” He spewed as he began to spiral, moving to pull away from Ice.

“Hey, hey Maverick… Pete… look at me.” Ice hushed softly as he put one hand on Mavericks’ cheeks, calling him by his first name to get his attention. “I want to know, is it you talking or is it the heat. I want to know if you’re asking me or if your omega is asking me. I want to know it’s you who’s consenting to it.”
“It’s me… it’s me. Heats not fully here yet… close… but not yet.” Maverick whined softly as he nuzzled the hand on his face, getting a soft laugh from Ice.
“That’s fine… that’s all I wanted to know. I want your consent before I do anything, and I won’t do anything you don’t want.” Ice nodded as he removed his shirt and the remains of his flight suit. He grabbed some of his bedding material and offered it to Maverick who quickly added it to his own pile and built a small nest on his berth. Ice leaned up against the bulkhead when the omega invited him in, taking up residence against the wall.

“Want it… want you.” The omega said quietly, not sure if ice picked up his quiet declaration.

The alpha did in fact hear it but only smiled.

“Strip your top, its better with skin-to-skin contact for between alphas and Omega’s. I should warn you, it’s not like a beta, this is going to be stronger and like someone’s given you laughing gas at the dentists… well that’s what Sunny and Wolf say.” Ice gently kissed Maverick’s forehead as the omega followed his orders, stripping out of the white t-shirt he had on and removing his fatigues. Ice held his arms out and allowed Maverick to settle into them, “Just let me know if it’s too much.”
Maverick cuddled up in Ice’s hold, as the other pilot gently maneuverer him around in his hold allowing the smaller man to shove his head into Ices neck.

Maverick was quiet for a moment before he began to settle into Ice’s hold, allowing the alpha’s musk to sooth him.

The omega was blown away at how strong the scent was as he settled into Ice chest. It was easily a hundred times stronger than anything he’s smelt before; Carole’s chamomile scent and Goose’s vanilla scent was never this strong.

Ice waited until Maverick had settled and taken a good couple of sniffs of his scent before he would scent the omega in his hold. Maverick moaned softly as he buried his head into the older pilot’s neck, the strong musk was making him feel light and giddy as ice attempted to drown him in it.

Ice felt the omega go boneless after a few minutes as his scent soothed the heat addled omega. Whilst Ice knew scenting was one way to help an omega in heat, he knew it wasn’t a good substitute for a knot of which the omega’s body would soon beg for as the heat ramped up and hit him at full force.

“You smell nice.” Mav quietly keened in ice’s hold.
“Yeah? How’s it smells baby.” Ice growled softly, as he placed a small kiss on mavericks’ forehead.
“Sea salt smells like sea salt and gasoline… s’nice. I like it.” Mav moaned quietly as he buried his head in Ice’s neck. “Gasoline suits you, sharp, strong, gives a kick and intoxicating.”

Ice’s eyes widened as he looked at Maverick.

Only compatible and potential mates could smell both scents an alpha could give off.

He knew his packmates got a strong whiff of sea salt naturally from the alpha, but he’d never found a mate that could smell his secondary scent. His heart leapt in joy as the omega in his arms told him he had two scents. He was desperate to know if he and Maverick where compatible. That their alphas and omega’s where happy with one another and seen them as compatible mates.

“Mind if I scent you?” Ice whispered quietly.
Maverick nodded and shifted around to let Ice sniff his glands.

The alpha was glad to see that Maverick hadn’t any chemical scent blocker patches over his glands. The heat must have hit them quickly enough to throw off Mavericks bathing routine and the blocker tablets he would consume would have burned out of his system alongside the military grade heat suppressors pills.
It meant that the omega’s scent would be available for everyone to smell.

Ice’s eyes widened in delight as his omega bared his neck.

He was surprised at the restraint he held as he sniffed maverick, tempted to drag his teeth over the sensitive glad at the bottom of the neck like his alpha growled at him to do.
He got the scent of sweet chocolate that they knew the omega had, but to his shock and delight he picked up on a secondary scent.

The omega was compatible with him, he was compatible with the omega.

“You smell so sweet and delicious Mav. So sweet and delicious and wonderful, how could you ever hate your own beautiful scent.”
“How do I smell?” the smaller man whimpered out as he buried his head back against Ice’s neck.
“Like the freshest and crisp peppermint and richest chocolate, I’ve ever smelt. So beautiful, so perfect.” Ice cooed as he rubbed his face into Maverick’s neck, getting the omega’s irresistible scent over him before the omega buried his own head back into the alpha’s neck as he slowly began to rut up against Ice’s leg.

Both groaned as their parts rubbed against each other, the friction from their underwear getting both of them moaning as the alpha wrapped his arms around the omega’s plump ass, encouraging him to rut into him as Ice thrusted up into Maverick.
“Fuck, Maverick… Mav, Pete.” Ice growled in delight as he felt his hardened member rub against the omega’s dampening pants. “Mav, Mav, Pete stop.” Ice ordered getting a whine from the omega.
“Listen please… just talk first.” Ice moaned his member pained for relief.
“Sorry.”
“No, no don’t be. I just… what do you need.”
“Need you… please Ice… please Tom.” Maverick whined against the alpha.
“Pete, have you ever been with an alpha in this way before. What birth control are you on?”
“N, no…no. not like this. Been with a few betas but never anything like this, and I’ve an IUD and pills… I’m fine on that front.” Maverick whimpered as he looked away from Ice, embarrassed at his lack of experience in this department.
Ice gently grabbed his chin and guided mavericks face back to his.
“Hey, hey Mav, no its okay… I just want to make sure that I’ve got your consent.” Ice soothed. “I want to know that you want this. That you want me to…”
“I do, yes, please Ice, please Tom. Please, fuck me, knot me even, but no biting me… at least court me first before that. But please Ice, please, please, please Tom, please fuck me, fill me, knot me please.” Maverick mewled into his ear, begging sweetly for the alpha who grinned proudly at hearing the smaller pilot beg for Ice to help relief him of his heat. He wasn’t fully lost to his instincts yet, but Ice knew the omega was close. He himself knew he was close.

Then the smaller man moaned a quiet prize that had the Alpha in Ice roaring to take over and give the omega what he needed.
“Please Alpha.”
Ice growled proudly at hearing the tiny omega lying on him call him Alpha, his arms reaching up and hauling the omega into him before in a quick flash Ice had flipped them around, pressing the omega into the bedding of his nest as he began to rut against him.
“Say that again omega.” Ice growled lowly into Maverick’s ear.
“Please Alpha, please fuck me.” The omega mewled as the alpha above him rutted up against him on just the right spot, getting a gasp from Maverick as his hole began to weep slick out onto his underpants, practically soaking them.
“My pretty Omega, so pretty, gonna make you feel better.” Ice proudly stated as he nuzzled into Maverick’s neck, littering it with kisses before turning Mav’s head far enough to plant a kiss on his lips. Maverick bit Ice’s lower lip before dragging him in for a deeper kiss as he rutted up and into Ice’s hold.
“Gonna fill you up so pretty and knot you.” The alpha growled as his fingers danced over the elastic of the omega’s underwear before hooking them under there. When Mavericks underpants were removed and lying on the nesting material, he quickly shucked off his own strained underwear that was stained with his precum that dribbled out of his weeping dick.

He growled seductively as his alpha purred in delight at the submissiveness of the omega beneath him, his rut mind demanding he take apart and breed the man beneath him. That he’d found the perfect mate to love, care for and protect and that he needed to claim and mate him as he rutted against him.

Both the alpha and omega moaned softly as Ice rutted his rock-hard member up against the slick puffy lips of Mavericks weeping pussy.
“Ice, alpha, fuck please.” The tiny pilot moaned.
“I will, I will, gotta stretch you first baby. Gotta stretch you for my knot.” Ice panted as he did his best to control his alpha, in order to not hurt the smaller man as he rubbed his fingers between Mavericks glossy lips, his fingers dripping with slick. He continued to press kisses along Mavericks back and neck as he gently rubbed circles on the omega’s clit.

Mav let out a wanton moan as Ice hit a sensitive spot, getting a deep chuckle from Ice as he slowly pushed his fingers backwards towards Mavericks fluttering hole. With a gentle kiss placed above Maverick’s scent gland the alpha pushed his first finger into the sopping wet hole, feeling the omega’s needy cunt suck his finger in, first the tip, then the knuckle and finally all the way up to his hand. Maverick sagged beneath Ice in relief at feeling pressure inside his aching passage, letting out a mewling purr at the relief before rutting up into Ice hand.

“Steady kitten, steady.” Ice chuckled as he buried his nose into Maverick gland, inhaling the intoxicating smell of the omega’s arousal. Ice quickly added a second finger, quickly scissoring the omega who mewled and moaned and begged beneath him.
“Fuck Tom, Ice, fuck me, please fuck me, knot me. Please alpha.” Pete cried out softly.
“Let me get another finger in sweetheart, let me finish stretching you.” Ice growled as he nipped at maverick’s ear playfully as he slowly teased the omega beneath him, gently rubbing a third finger around his rim before pushing in.
“You can fist me some other time just get in me already, please Ice, please Alpha.” Maverick cried out as Ice’s fingers ghosted over his prostate getting a sharp moan out of the smaller pilot. Ice growled and sucked a dark hickey onto Mavericks jaw at the thought of getting to see maverick like this at other times, that there was a possibility of having him even after the heat had passed.
“Alright princess.” Ice growled possessively as Maverick shuddered beneath him with a breathy mewl, smiling as he realised the omega liked the nicknames.

Ice began to rub his member up against Mavericks slick covered clit, letting the slick coat his member. He removed his fingers and gently placed the tip against mavericks fluttering entrance.

He stopped for a moment and looked at the omega beneath him.

“On your back sweetheart, I wanna see your face as I fill you up and take your holes virginity.” Ice nipped at Mavericks ear as he flipped the omega over in bed.
“Fuck Ice.” Mav gasped as he bucked up in the alpha’s hold as he held out the two slick soaked fingers for the omega to suckle on.
“There you are, such a pretty little thing. I’ve wanted this for a while, wanted you for a while. I was just too stupid to realize I was attracted to you for so long.” Ice growled as he gently prodded at Mavericks sopping wet hole, getting a moan from Mav. “Coulda spent all of Top gun courting you like you deserve if I wasn’t such an idiot.”
“Ice, alpha, please.” Mav bucked underneath his alpha as Ice pulled his fingers out of his mouth.

He was desperate for Ice’s dick to make its way home in his needy little hole.

“Relax sweetheart. You’ll get my knot, just relax.” Ice chuckled as he placed a chaste kiss on Mavericks’ lips before slowly sliding into the omega’s warm velvety hole.
He kept pushing in, in one continuous slide until he bottomed out completely against the omega as his long thick member rubbed against his cervix once he’d completely bottomed out, getting a pleasant purr sound from the omega beneath him as he wrapped his legs around Ice’s waist, holding him in tight.

“Fuck mav.” Ice groaned in pleasure, “Fuck omega, so tight, you take me so well. Made for me, I’m all the way in and filling you up so thickly aren’t i?” he teased.
“Ice, Tom, Alpha Move, please.” Maverick whined as he gently rocked his hips up in the alpha’s hold, seeking pressure.
“I will sweetheart, just, just give me a minute… I want to savour this.” Ice growled playfully as he nipped at Mavericks lower lip, kissing him again as Maverick opened his mouth.

With his mouth on Mavericks, he slowly pulled out until only his thick tip remained inside the omega. Maverick moaned at the sudden movement, but it was cut off by Ice’s tongue being shoved inside his mouth. Maverick reciprocated the kiss and let out more moans as he indulged in Ice’s kisses as the alpha began to plaster the omega in kisses as the alpha slid back inside the tight heat.

Ice began to rock against the omega slowly, dragging his member out until only the tip remained inside Mavericks needy tight little hole before shoving back inside at an agonisingly slow pace that lit every nerve inside the omega and himself as he slowly dragged the approaching orgasms out of themselves, wanting to make Mavericks first time a slow, gentle love session, instead of the madness that is a synchronized heat and rut.

Ice felt Maverick desperately grab his shoulders and try to force himself down on the dick inside him harshly.

This didn’t sit well with the alpha who simply grabbed both hands and force them above Maverick’s head, pinning the omega down with a growl.

“Na uh, you come from me omega. I set the pace.” He warned with a growl before he kissed Pete who wiggled beneath him as he slowed his pace even more so, dragging a gasping sob out of the omega. To back up his point to the omega that he was in control, he thrusted in fast and hard, just enough to tip the omega over into a mind-numbing orgasm that left him crying out in extasy as his passage clamped down painfully onto the alpha’s member, the rippling muscles milking the alpha hard, doing its hardest to tip the alpha over into his own orgasm and knot him.

Ice relented and held his own for a few minutes whilst the omega beneath him rode through the waves of pleasure before he surfaced long enough to talk.
“Huh… Ice, alpha?” he sounded confused.
“Hey sweetheart, you with me?”
“Feel empty, D’ya not knot?” Mav whined sadly.
“No no, Omega. I will now, just want your first one to be memorable.” Ice kissed his jawline.
“Fuck memorable, falling into heat on a carrier after getting numerous air to air kills will always be memorable.” Maverick grinded against him needily.
“I supposed that’s true.” Ice barked a laugh as he nuzzled Maverick’s neck. The omega doing the same as he cuddled into the alphas’ arms, relishing in Ice’s large frame that hid him from the world, Maverick purring up a storm as Ice growled protectively above him, the noise reducing maverick into a boneless mess in the nest.

After a few minutes of cuddling, scenting and nuzzling one another, Maverick began to rut against Ice as he turned in his hold, flipping over onto his hands and knees.

“What are you doing.”
“You haven’t cummed yet. Must be sore.” Mav said as he looked at the alpha’s hard and most definitely sore member.
“Its… its fine.” Ice winced as he realized that yes, he really was hard, and it was beginning to become painful as his rut took hold. “Mav, mav? Jesus christ.” He groaned as the omega smiled slyly at him before pushing his ass back up into the alphas hold as he grinded against the Alphas taught erection. His control was strung tight as he fought the urge to pin the smaller man down onto the bed and plow his pussy.
“Fuck me alpha, please… Fuck me, knot me, breed me.” The omega whined as he spread his legs wide and dropped into a mounting position, utterly aware of the lust in the alpha’s eyes.

His tease seemed to work as Ice growled and threw himself over Maverick, losing himself to his alpha’s need to rut and breed this virile omega that was so kindly presenting to him.

He quickly slid up Mav’s passageway and began to hammer his way home. Maverick giggled and moaned as the alpha satisfied his need to rut and the omega’s heat, ice took to sucking dark hickies onto the omega’s neck and shoulders as he gave up what little hold, he had over his alpha.

Both a mixture of whimpers, groans and moans as Ice thrusted hard into Mavericks tight passage, quickly chasing after the building orgasm that was about to overcome him as he felt his knot ache at the bottom of his member as his heavy balls began to clench.

“Ice, Ice, tom, alpha, please, fuck.” Mav groaned as he felt the alpha’s pace become erratic. “Fucking Knot, me, please alpha.” He whimpered before crying out as he felt his second orgasm blind him, his eyes rolling into the back of his head as he went boneless beneath the alpha.
“Fuck omega.” Ice swore as he felt the omega’s passageway clamp down once more, this time trapping him as he slammed his prick in hard to Maverick one more time before he was blinded by his own orgasm, his knot blowing wide inside the rippling, impossibly tight passage that sucked him in greedily.

Ice continued to grind his knot deep into the omega as his balls dumped load after load of hot cum deep into Maverick’s womb, the alpha inside him doing its best to impregnate and breed the omega. Ice groaned into the back of Mavericks neck as he wrapped his arms around the limp fucked out mans stomach, feeling it swell slightly under the sheer volume of spunk being released into it.

“Fuck me… damn Pete, I ruined you haven’t i?” Ice chuckled lowly as he pulled the omega in tightly to his hold before lowering himself down into the nest. The omega could only moan quietly as he grinded against the man. “Never gonna want a different alpha now, your pussy’s only ever gonna want my dick inside it. Only ever gonna want me.” He growled proudly, the alpha instincts preening at him for claiming the omega beneath him in all ways but the one most important way.

“You really had to be efficient in everything didn’t you.” Mav chuckled quietly, opening one eye half lidded.
“What can I say, I didn’t get “Ice cold, no mistakes” from nowhere. I’ve always been perfect.” Ice preened, before blushing brightly, “But let’s hope I’m not that efficient, and that your birth control is stronger than my swimmers. I don’t want to lose my wingman so soon because I’m too efficient.” Ice cooed as he grabbed a blanket and threw it over the pair of them.
“Damn it Kazansky, you really have ruined me for anyone else. Both in the air and the bedroom.” Maverick giggled as he planted a kiss on the Alpha’s jaw before Ice returned the gesture with one on his forehead.
“This is a bit backwards; I was going to ask your permission and your packs to court you first before I bedded you. A few dates, a few hops on a chartered plane, flowers, and wine, then ask if you wanted to have sex, suppose I’ll just have to rearrange those dates then seeing as we skipped straight to third base.” Ice laughed as he kissed Maverick.
“I’d like that.” The omega chuckled softly as they felt the alpha place their chin on his head. “Still want me to be your wingman?” the omega asked quietly.
“I want no one else as my wingman Mav. Your it for me, I know there’ll be times where we’ll butt our heads but how could I not want such a smart, sassy, pretty little pilot who can easily keep up with me in the air and on the ground and push me to become a better pilot, and hopefully a better alpha.”

“Smooth motherfucker.” Mav giggled.
“Smooth as Ice?” the alpha chuckled as he wiggled his eyebrows.
“Shut up and cuddle me.” The omega giggled as he kissed the alphas jawline.

Both where crashing hard now, there adrenaline having burned out and the high from the first orgasms of their heat and rut. Ice grasped him tightly, placing one hand down by the omega’s entrance, feeling the bulge of the knot tying them together as the omega’s small penis twitched under his hand. He soon lifted it and placed it lovingly on his stomach as he rubbed soothing circles into the soft golden skin.

The soothing motions gently lulling Maverick to sleep. The omega looked so delicate, soft and ethereal beneath Ice’s ministrations, the alpha smiling at how lucky he was.

He was glad that his pack-mates where quiet now, Maverick might have been too out of it to hear properly but the other three pairs in the bunk room had been very loud before there moans and groans quietened out as they all crashed from the first rounds of heat and rut. It was Ice and Mav who were the longest lasting apparently which made the alpha chuckle.

“We’ll look out for him Goose. We’ll take care of him and your pack, I promise you.” He whispered softly as he kissed Maverick’s neck before gently falling to sleep in the soft nest, forever thankful to the friend who gave them all an invaluable gift in the form of one Pete “Maverick” Mitchell.

The four heat/rut addled pairs woke up a few hours later when they heard a loud whining sound followed by clunking. That didn’t sound like the typical groans of liquids moving through the pipes or jets landing on deck or taking off, and they were too high up to hear the humming of the engine and power generators but not to far away from the ships air conditioning system.

To everyone’s surprise Maverick and Merlin where the first to say anything.

“GOD FUCKING DAMN IT. OF ALL TIMES, WHEN WE’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A HEAT.” Merlin groaned.
“AGAIN, SERIOUSLY, YOUR ONLY OUT OF PORT NOT EVEN A MONTH AND IT GOES. ONE MONTH OUT OF AN EIGHT MONTH DEPLOYMENT.” Maverick whined before groaning as he felt Ice pull out his now deflated knot from his hole, feeling the alpha’s cum slowly drip down his legs.

“So… I take it that was the air conditioning going kaput?” Hollywood asked.

The two omega’s who’d been deployed on the enterprise the longest could only sigh before calling out from their individual nests.

“Yep.”
“Well… this is going to be one hell of a deployment” Hollywood groaned.
“So… round two?” Slider asked getting a laugh out of everyone before they heard the alpha be tackled by Merlin who mewled getting a groan off the alpha RIO before there side of the room became a mess of moans, groans and the slapping of skin on skin.

Maverick on the other hand had taken to sitting in Ice’s lap, grinding against the alpha’s hardening member.
“I think that can be arranged for.” Ice growled playfully into Mavericks’ ear.
“Then take me to bed or lose me forever ya big stud.” Maverick purred into Ice’s neck before the alpha flipped him onto the floor of the nest, bracketing the omega beneath him.
“Gladly Omega mine, gladly.” Ice growled as he began to take care of the omega.

*Porn ended, resuming our normal schedule.*

A few months later, when their deployment on the USS Enterprise has finished and the Carrier had pulled back into Corpus Christi in Texas, Maverick and Merlin received the orders they had been hoping for. Both were being relocated to Miramar California with the VF-1, even if Maverick’s request to join Top gun as an instructor was accepted as well.
Stinger not one hundred percent convinced he’d last longer than a few months promised to keep him a position in the squadron for when he, “Eventually returned” he joked. It meant that even if it didn’t work out at Top Gun, they were always welcome to return to the VF-1, which would now be based in Miramar. So neither man had much to worry about, apart from Maverick helping Merlin gather his belongings and move them all from Texas to San Diego California. Merlin would join the next Top gun class as a student to learn what he needed to whilst Mav would become an instructor. Not only that, the taller Omega RIO accepted Mavericks request to become his new backseater and join his and Carole's little pack of two and a pup.

To no one’s surprise, the Kazansky pack followed suit and since they all had gained a favour they could use, they all chose to request a squadron transfer over to the VF-1 to be with both omegas, Ice now courting Maverick and to no one’s surprise, Slider had begun to court Merlin, leaving there normal squadrons in Lemoore behind to join the squadron that had welcomed them all with open arms in the past few months since the originally flew out to the carrier.

In that time, Ice and Maverick took those months at sea to become closer to one another, doing impromptu dates around the carrier like sneaking off to make out like horny teenagers. Both disappearing off around the ship in the evenings to watch the sunset if they weren’t on patrol, going to the gym together and in the long evenings taking some time to cuddle together and read the various books and manuals they’d brought with them. It was funny to see Ice struggle to read the technical layouts of the various mechanical maintenance catalogs and manuals, Maverick laughing as he slowly helped his wingman read through them whilst Ice read the various fictional novels he brought to the omega.

Soon enough, there deployment was over, and they were pulling back into port, the two missing members of the Bradshaw/Mitchell pack waiting for them all shoreside, Bradley and Carole having flown in from California to welcome Maverick home after all those months at sea. It was a lovely reunion for the pack as Bradley ran into Pete’s hold, the omega putting the pup on his lap making Ice’s heart soar. He looked so adorable with a pup on his hip. Perhaps that will be them one day.

It was later that night, when the boys where in the hotel’s bar did Ice knock on the door of Carole, Pete, and Bradleys room.

“Oh Thomas? Is everything alright?” Carole asked as she opened the door, the woman in her pyjama’s as she carried Bradley on her hip.
“It is actually, I just want to talk to you and Bradley both without the others hounding on me.” Ice sheepishly explained.
“Oh, alright then, come on in, just mind the mess. Bradley pulled everything out of his suitcase early to get Mav’s present.” She chuckled as she moved to sit down on one of the two double beds in the room.
“It’s fine, I’ve seen worse on the carrier on days when people are shipped off.” Ice chuckled, “Goodness knows our own bunkroom was a mess as we tried to tidy up all the nests in the pack room. So many sheets and blankets and not nearly enough space in the bags for them.” Ice chuckled.

“So, what is it you need.” Carole asked as Bradley blinked at the alpha tiredly, wondering why his new uncle Ice was bothering him when he wanted to sleep if the glare the kid was giving him was anything to go by.
“Carole, Bradley… I want to ask you both a very serious question.”
“Yes Tom?”
“Ice is fine Carole, you can call all of us by our callsigns like you do for Maverick and Merlin, we ‘d like it.” Ice smiled softly as he sat opposite the Bradshaw’s.
“Alright Ice.”
“It’s a bit late to ask this now after all the chaos and fun we’ve had when we were deployed but it’s only fair, I ask for permission from Pete’s pack, May I have your permission to court Maverick?”

Carole’s face split wide in a smile as she looked at the alpha.

Bradley beat her to speaking first.

“Mama, what’s court?” he asked curiously, his wide brown doe eyes staring up at the two adults.
“It’s when an Alpha like Tom, decides to love an Omega like your uncle Pete. He wants to care for him like daddy cared for Mommy, to take him out on trips, bring him sweet little gifts and flowers, cook him dinners and take him out to dinners. Sing him silly little songs like your daddy did.” Carole smiled wetly as tears filled her eyes.
“Carole are you okay?” Ice asked in concern as Carole wiped her eyes.
“Sorry, sorry, just been wanting someone to see Pete the way we do for years now. God Nick would be so happy, he always wanted a smart, kind and caring alpha to court Maverick. He was so pleased in the last few days before the accident that you all were making an effort to earn his trust and see the Pete that we knew and not the mask he wears when on base. He’d be happy. I’m happy.” Carole smiled as Bradley hugged her. “What do you say baby, do you want uncle Ice to court Uncle Maverick?” she asked the kid.

Bradley nodded excitedly.

“Yeah, want unca Mav to smile. Want him to be happy, like daddy made mommy happy.” The kid cheered getting a small smile from Carole.
“Then you have our permission, Thomas Kazansky. You can court Maverick, not that I couldn’t tell, he stinks of sea salt now with a faint hint of gasoline that wasn’t there when he left.” Carole giggled giving him a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you for helping him love his own scent too.”
“Yeah, sorry about that, I couldn’t help myself when we cuddled last night. My alpha wanted everyone to know he belonged to me when we docked shore-side so I kinda lost it a little last night with scenting him.” Ice sheepishly admitted, his secondary scent had begun to be more detectable to his packmates in recent months as he and Maverick spent more and more time around one another. Maverick was the same as he slowly accepted his own scent more and more, weaning himself off the blocker pills and patches altogether to just patches when on duty. His scent was so sweet, refreshing, and delectable now that it wasn’t being so heavily neutralized.
“So much for my plan of taking things slow.”
“Oh Ice, there’s one thing you’ll find out about Mav now, he doesn’t like to take things slow when there’s no need to, sure there’ll be moments where he’ll savor things for as long as possible but don’t forget he’s our speed demon, if it doesn’t need to wait, he’ll get it done in as little time as possible. He trusts you; we trust you.” Carole smiled.
“Thank you, Carole, thank you Bradley. You’ll like to hear that our packs moving to San Diego, we’ve all handed in our paperwork to move to the VF-1 air squadron now that they’re moving to Miramar. You’re not gonna lose us now, we’ve been given a nice few months of leave to boot.” Ice smiled as Bradley reached over to the alpha, wanting his new uncle to lift him up onto his lap.

“Oh Tom, that’s wonderful news. It’ll be nice to have some friendly faces around now. So, what does Commander Metcalf and Lieutenant Commander Heatherly think of their newest Top gun courting their eldest nephew.” Carole asked, laughing as the man paled.

“Oh god… I’m screwed.” The alpha realised.

“You are, I’ve heard the shovel talks they’ve all prepared for you. Turns out you’re both the talk of the scuttle butt, even after all these months.” The blonde giggled.

Ice threw his head back and groaned, getting giggles from Carole and Bradley. Seeing the Bradshaw’s laughing lead to him bursting out into laughter along with them.
“Alright hot shot, I’ll let you go. You boys have a lot to celebrate tonight, just don’t party too hard, we have flights back to California in the morning.” Carole warned the alpha.

Three years after the USS Layton mission, everyone watched as Ice and Maverick tied the knot officially by the beach in a small ceremony that had only their close friends and some of their extended family pack members.

The two pilots had Mated only the month before as there heat and rut synced, Maverick allowing Ice to bond to him permanently. The freshly scarred bite marks on their necks permanently binding them together as one.

The Bradshaw/Mitchell pack officially joining the Kazansky pack as they all moved into the newly built Mansion in the La Jolla area of the city.

The mansion was large new build that the packs had talked about months before hand. Pete, Carole, and Sam had discussed joining there packs not long after both the Pilot and RIO had their first-year anniversary with their Alphas. Both where head over heels with the care and devotion both alphas had shown them, both shoreside and on deployment. Carole was over the moon for her brother and friend as she watched them finally be happy with mates who loved them.
So, the two packs discussed just what they wanted from there potential future pack home, the Coronado mansion seemingly too small for the ever-growing pack, especially if they ever wanted pups of their own if the Navy changed the rules around serving omega’s.

So, Maverick bought a large plot of land over in La Jolla, a large flat expanse on the top of a steep hill on Encelia drive that looked out to sea. It might not be by the beach front anymore, but it didn’t lose the beach view, even if it means a short cycle or drive towards the ocean front now. It was located perfectly between the two major bases in the area, a short drive to both Naval air station Miramar and North Island Naval station.

The pack agreed on having three large nesting rooms, one for themselves and one for any pups of there if they had them even if it eventually just became a pack nesting room for Bradley’s future packs when he was old enough to strut out and make his own and a third for any of the packs couples wanting some quite nesting time. With that each couple immediately demanded master bedrooms with small sitting room spaces for building nests, as well as full ensuites and wardrobes for obvious reasons, all soundproofed per Carole’s request as Bradley shouldn’t have to put up with hearing his uncles sex lives.
On top of that they doubled the bedroom count for any future children they would or could possibly have and a minimum of two guest rooms for when extended family members came to visit like Wolf and Ice’s sisters or Chipper and Sunny’s small family packs. Then there were the unnecessary but completely necessary rooms such as offices for when they all began to climb up in ranks, a garage large enough to house at least five or six cars for the pack. Two giant kitchens giant laundry room and a pantry just as large for when the whole pack was at home and not on their various deployments as well as a breakfast room and giant dining room as well as three different reception rooms.
Then they all got to have fun with the remainder of the rooms they wanted, deciding to incorporate a private movie theater, wine room and private bar, a music room and large games room into the building along with a private gym, sauna and to everyone’s surprise, a giant cloakroom that would each have space for their gear and go bags to be stored for when they need to be shipped out at little notice, something Ice demanded be made necessary because he knew they’d lose a lot of their shit around a house this big.

Then there were the outside spaces.
Not only did they have their poor architect draw up a house that suited everyone’s needs but then they had the architect add on a large swimming pool and spa area outside alongside numerous patios porches and balconies for the pack to enjoy the Californian sun. The last big surprise was the tennis court Slider recommend they get, telling them all that they could always get the equipment needed to turn it into a volleyball court and even a place to practice baseball with for young Bradley as he began to grow older.

Especially to make sure he didn’t start hitting balls down the hillside into the housing estates below.

The kid readily agreed with his uncle Slider and demanded he have the court built just so he could practice playing baseball. Then they had a vast expanse of land around the house was left for a vast green garden and flowerbeds for Carole to toil in during her days.

So soon the architect had plans drawn up that left everyone pleased with the plans and soon construction was under way. The aviators sadly didn’t get much time to see their home being built over the months or the work the interior designer and Carole were putting into the house to make it a home, all of them being deployed to the gulf or to different naval air stations in California. Carole oversaw the transfer of all their belongings from one house to the new one as they got ready to put the ocean boulevard house up for rental. It would be offered to Bradley some day for his own pack if he wished.

So instead of a honeymoon, the pack would instead be moving into the new paradise that was their new home.

By the time the wedding ceremony was over, the newly expanded Kazansky pack finally made their way towards their new home. They would all have a few hours to explore it first before their guests arrived in the evening for the small reception they were hosting. The catering staff were setting up for service in the marquee in the garden that was beautifully arranged, a large table with beautiful white drapes stood by the front door with a welcome sign, a large silver trough sitting filled with Ice and numerous bottles of champagne and glasses sitting neatly next to a few pitchers of juice.

They had all arrived up at the house in two groups. Hollywood, Wolfman, Chipper, Sundance, Slider, Merlin, Carole, and Bradley all arriving in the new family people carrier for when the whole pack needed to get to one place in one car, whilst Ice and Maverick were driving up behind them in a vintage 1956 Aston martin DBR1 both smiling as Ice laughed like a maniac at driving the speedster in the Californian sun. He absolutely loved the classic car his husband owned, the green paint matching Mavericks eyes enthralled him, he hoped Maverick didn’t object to the Ice blue ford mustang soft top he’d his eyes on joining the growing collection of cars and motorbikes. Their hair wind slicked, and their aviator shades only made for a memorable site as the happy couple drove up the shiny black asphalt drive parking up right at the front of the main door. Ice parked it quickly and to everyone’s surprise, the alpha jumped out of the driver’s side and quickly made his way over to the passenger side where maverick was sitting, grabbing his mate and to everyone’s delight carrying him out of the car bridal style as Maverick hit him up the side at the site, telling him off for rumpling their dress whites.

“So shall the happy couple break the threshold for the first time?” Carole asked as she grabbed a bottle of champagne sitting in the buckets set up by the door by the caterers they’d hired in for the evening.
“Sounds good to me.” Ice smiled cockily as Maverick rolled his eyes.
“If you kick the door down your paying for it, it was a custom Ten-thousand-dollar door.” Mav warned him.
“Well then it’s a good thing the Kazansky’s are of old money just like you Mitchells, my pockets might not be as deep as yours, but I can still cover quite a good bit.” Ice kissed his husband chastely.
“That’s Mitchell-Kazansky now. Oh, hold on a second.” Mav giggled from his husbands hold, smirking mischievously as he tightened his hold on his bouquet before tossing it over his shoulder, very accurately, as it fell into Merlin’s hands.

Ice, Chipper and Hollywood all lost it and burst out laughing, as they saw Sliders broken expression of shock and disbelief as Merlin caught the flowers, Carole, Wolf and Sunny squealed excitedly on the other hand as Merlin giggled, looking at his alpha smugly.

“YOUR SUPPOSED TO THROW THE BOUQUET AT THE END OF THE NIGHT!” Slider cried out as he looked between Maverick and Merlin.

“Suck it up Slider, your next now.” Ice laughed madly, trying not to drop his omega. “Nice aim.” He wiggled his eyebrows at his omega.
“Always wanted to do that, and besides, he’d take too long to do so himself unless someone gave him a push.” Maverick giggled as he placed a kiss on his alpha’s lips.
“Now then, where were we.” Ice said as he kicked the large door open, walking into the threshold of the packs house.
“Here’s to the years to come.” Carole cheered as she popped the bottle of champagne.

“CHEERS!” the pack cried out as they watched Ice and Maverick twirl around in the large foyer of their new house.

There pack would face so many ups and downs in the years to come, from deployments to cancer, to school, crashes and the inevitable fallout from pulling their pack’s pups papers from the academy but had either Maverick or Iceman known that over thirty years after they first met their dreams of a large pack and family would be fulfilled and there home filled with music and laughter as the dagger squad, Bradley’s new pack all mingling with their own pack, they would once have laughed at you. But seeing their dreams come true after all this time was something special for the pack leaders.

“Alright Tom, you were right.” Maverick chuckled as he watched the daggers interact with his pack, all the older admirals doting on the younger lieutenants.

The younger pilots and WSO’s had all encountered the admirals of the Kazansky pack at different times over the course of their service and it seemed that their pack members recognized them. They adored the younger officers who had come home with Bradley, all of them deciding to try and work it out to become a pack together in the aftermath of the mission and there upcoming transferal to the newly constructed shadow dagger squadron.

“Who knew all it would take would be a suicide mission, a couple of crashes and an adrenaline induced heat to get here and get our pup home.”
“I’m always right.” Ice laughed, “Thank you for bringing them home with you.”
“You can thank Bradley for that, all I did was teach them that it was possible.” Mav smiled.
“You did, and you brought us home the pups we always wished we had.” Ice smiled softly as he kissed his husband’s forehead.

“…So, who adopts who?” Mav asked getting a snort from his husband as they looked between the two intermingling packs, the kids, and the admirals.

“…This is a nice moment, let’s not ruin it …” Ice smiled as he wrapped am arm around his husband’s waist, dragging him into his side for a kiss as they watched their family grow and reunite.

Notes because there is actually a limit on how much i can put in the actual notes section apparently.

Iceman is an idiot in this, a lovestruck idiot who doesn’t realise he’s in love until he’s already hurt the one, he’s got a crush on. Maverick is a sweet little innocent baby, young, socially dumb, highly intelligent academically but with a lot of trauma, this idiot liked the Kazansky pack as soon as he saw them, having heard all good things from Goose but when they show themselves to be assholes and hurt him he .

I have now jumped on the “Smart Mav” Train, where Maverick has multiple college degree’s all before he’s twenty two (Im assuming its around twenty two) but it makes sense in one way, when he was a kid, who would want to play with the “Traitors” kid, no one, so he spent most of his time in school and foster homes studying and doing practical stuff like repairing mechanical engines, advancing grades quickly and going to college young enough to earn multiple degree’s before a set age. So the A.B.O universe Maverick was orphaned young, removed from his family pack practically ripped from his aunts arms, spends years being thrown from foster house to foster house doing chores and studying as other children didn’t want to play with a boy like him. He presents as an omega young but displays pack rejection syndrome and is placed into the Bradshaw family’s custody where young goose is also smart like Maverick. Both soon forge a strong friendship as admiral Bradshaw (I keep seeing posts that Goose’s father was a submarine admiral and I like that thought.) both Maverick and goose go to college at fifteen (I picture an ivy league because my version of Maverick is rich and there’s no way an ivy league school in the seventies/early eighties would say no to a rich genius kid. It would look better for their image.) by the time there both eighteen and applying for the naval academy they both have one ivy league degree at the top of there class and Nick has now presented as a beta and has created a pack of two for him and maverick. Goose gets into the academy but mavericks’ letter is rejected so he goes back to college for two more simultaneous degrees whilst doing NROTC. When he gets his degrees he goes straight into the navy and on to flightschool and then everything else begins to occur like the film, he's assigned Goose as his RIO, both are assigned to the VF-1 etc.

universe expansion head-cannons i've created for this au.

Heat houses: A medical version of a brothel where un-mated omegas and alpha’s who come from small or mostly beta packs can go to spend their heats and ruts and be partnered up with a mutual unbonded person of the opposite gender to help ride out a person’s heat/rut. A popular option for sitting through heats if one doesn’t like constantly taking suppressor pills. Also doubles as a courting/ dating facility where the houses try to set up those who are compatible with others. Using sex toys also work if an unmated person wishes to remain with their packs during heat/rut instead of choosing to sit through a heat or rut through a heat house but many prefer to go to long established heat houses.
Pack heats: Where one member of a pack enters heat or rut and triggers the other pack members around them to enter heat/rut. During this the pack will retreat to the main pack nesting room to hold an orgy or break off into smaller groups to satisfy their biological needs and mate.

Heat suppressor pills: Works as a chemical balancer to regulate an omega’s hormones to postpone or delay heats. Not recommended for long term use and recommended that users sit through a minimum of one heat per year in order not to cause any long-term damage to their reproductive organs.

Chemical blocker pills: Works to neutralise or dull the intensity of a person’s scent through chemical hormones. Can neutralise it completely or dull it for rare cases of extremely strong scents. Sometimes prescribed for those suffering pack rejection syndrome if they show signs of rejecting their own natural scent.

Birth control: Same as normal, Alpha’s and beta Males have condoms, Omega’s and female Beta’s mostly go on the pill, but other forms of carrier (Female) contraception is available. For those who serve in the Navy, the use of IUD’s and contraceptive pills is the recommended choice for serving omegas to have.

Heat/Rut kits: A mandatory package all alpha and Omega personnel must carry onto the ship with them in the event their mandatory military grade heat suppressor pills fail when at sea. Usually, a package containing a handful of sex toys that help relieve the symptoms of a heat and rut. Normally personnel effected by heat or ruts are assigned to private sealed rooms in the medical bay to ensure they don’t affect other unmated personnel or trigger a pack heat. This changes however in the rare event of a pack heat occurs where all members of a pack can remain in their assigned “Pack Berths/room” on board the ship.

Pack berths: a series of large rooms onboard carriers and other naval ships that are assigned to packs. Members of a pack must inform there commanding officers of who is in their pack before a deployment occurs so that all members of a pack are assigned together. Usually given to officers, pack rooms are usually between eight to twelve berths large in a two-by-two bunk formation, usually laid out in a way that there is a large main nesting area and smaller area’s which can be curtained off to create smaller “rooms” inside the main berth room for those in a pack who want more privacy. These rooms usually have private head (Bathroom) with four shower cubicles. The bunks themselves are small double beds for mates to share. This is standard for lieutenants and lieutenant commanders. Those with rank of commander get a slightly better pack berth assigned to them and their pack which has a small living area that can double up as an office to complete work at. Then there is those with the ranks of Admiral and Captain onboard a ship. Admirals and Captains don’t usually have pack berths as by the time many reach these ranks, many pack members take positions stateside at naval bases or have retired from service. However, the main captains and admirals berths usually have the stateroom (A dining/living room), office, private head, and the main bedroom with a queen size bed, however they also have a spare bedroom for other pack members to stay in if onboard.
All pack berth rooms are scent sealed meaning that the scents of their pack members doesn’t drift through the ships air conditioning vents to other area’s of the ship.
Enlisted personnel are usually assigned in pack groups to their own berth areas, where there are assigned berth areas for female service members, for male service members and a mixed berthing area for packs of both males and females to be in if they’ve informed there commanding officer in advance and filled out the correct paperwork before deployment. In this Commander Metcalf made the call ahead to get these boys a pack room and pulled a favour with commander Jardin to have Maverick bunk with them just so they could keep an eye out on him, commander Jardin is the one who assigned Merlin to Maverick, knowing the RIO was still without a new pilot since Cougar left. Commander Jardin did not expect to have accidentally played match maker and end up getting his two favourite omega servicemen partners.

In this time period I’m going to have it that the Navy’s policy was that Omega’s who wished to start families would be forced to retire from service and be given honourable discharges from the service whilst if their alpha mates were serving then they were allowed to continue their service in the navy. If an Omega’s birth control failed and they got pregnant during service (I.e actually out on active deployment on ships or foreign bases) they were given medical discharges after being given a choice of keeping the pregnancy or termination before a certain deadline, usually before the end of the first trimester. This was not a popular policy the navy in this au had and was reversed in the early two thousand to allow omegas to continue serving in positions away from immediate combat. They would have been transferred to administrative roles, engineering, or medical roles and positions like such until they either finished their contracts or were passed for combat.

Packs: Consist of Adult Alpha’s and omegas with beta’s acting as mediators/ and glue, calming down and looking after the members of the pack and being the brains and carers when needed, gently able to remind the alphas and omega’s to eat. Alphas are protective, providers and normally lead their packs. Omega’s are the soft, caring parents who in older generations past where mostly home makers and stay at home parents, looking after the pups of the pack with help from the packs beta’s. In the 1980’s it was becoming more and more acceptable to find Omega’s in military roles, such as R.I.O’s, warrant officers, and support pilots, Maverick was the first recorded Omega in a combat pilot role in the US navy at the time, silencing critics who said Omega’s where too soft and not able to perform their duties as well as an alpha in a combat situation. Maverick shut them all up and set a change for omega combat pilots entering the service. Usually, packs will have two nesting rooms, one for the adults and adults only for pack mating and shared pack heats and ruts, and a second “family nest” for scenting and cuddling with the pups of the pack.
Pups are part of the pack and not at the same time. Pups are protected by their family packs until their secondary gender presents itself. Only then are they accepted into the adult pack.
When a pup presents and enters their families adult pack, they are there only to learn about how there secondary gender reacts and to protect them until they are mature enough to control the needs and wants of their secondary genders instincts, so essentially they are brought into the pack to be watched and cared for during their first few heats and ruts as they are still usually too young and immature to enter proper bonds and begin their own packs or join new packs. This makes sure the teenage omegas or alphas are safe and not forced into packs or mated without being taken advantage of. Bradley is a young teen when he first presents as an omega and is brought into the family pack to take care of him, protect him and teach him how to control his omega instincts.
Usually there is a lead Alpha of a pack, who is responsible for leading and protecting their pack, and being the primary breadwinner, when they mate their chosen omega (And Beta if in a triad mating partnership) that Omega becomes the packs secondary leader in the hierarchy. Usually, the pack agrees on who fulfils the role of pack alpha. The other alphas fall into line behind there pack leader and will have a hierarchy behind the alpha. So for example, in the Kazansky pack, Iceman is the pack’s alpha leader with Maverick as his pack’s Omega leader.

Alpha Instincts: Like a voice that impulsively tells the Alpha to protect their pack, sus out threats to them and their pack. Also guides them to omega’s who are compatible with them, omega’s who will produce the strongest pups for them. When in rut it can overpower the alphas rational mind and turn them into an animal who’s only purpose is to breed their partner and care for them.

Omega Instincts: A little voice that tells them to care and provide for their pack, tells them when there’s a threat to their safety and helps them find an alpha who would help them conceive strong pups, protect them, and provide for them. When in heat the omega’s instincts can overtake their rational mind and turn them into knot hungry sluts who’s only purpose is to breed.

Betas don’t have any instincts like alphas or omega’s but do have an urge to fulfill caretaker roles and act as mediators. They are usually calm and level-headed and can settle pack disputes with ease and can assist in ensuring that alphas and omega’s are taking appropriate care of themselves during heat/rut as there neutral scents don’t trigger any of the alpha or omega’s protective instincts and don’t make them seem like a rival coming for the omega. They can however become as violent and as volatile as an alpha if there pack is under attack and no alpha is near to protect them. This also means that Betas can form and lead small packs, whilst not common it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen, as usually these packs soon meet or join larger packs. These smaller Beta packs are usually safe havens for victims of pack rejection syndrome as Betas aren’t as fussy over who’s in a pack like Alpha’s and Omega’s are. Goose formed an alpha less pack with Maverick when they where teenagers before meeting Carole and inviting her into there small neutral, safe pack to help protect his brother (Maverick) from his pack rejection syndrome.

Chapter Text

“Mitchell, Bradshaw, you are to report to the USS Enterprise for an immediate emergency situation and then remain on board for an eight-month deployment.” Viper told them both as he looked at his kids.

Both Nick and Pete had been teaching a class from the officer candidate school on basic fighter manoevers when Commander Metcalf ran in, dismissing the class and began to give his two temporary instructors their new orders.
“What? Already? We thought we’d be lucky and get Christmas.” Goose moaned, his wings drooping at the change of orders.
“Don’t worry about that, Lieutenants Kazansky, Kerner, Williams, Piper, Neven, and Wolfe have been recalled from there carriers and squadrons to join you all in the gulf. The USS Layton lost contact twelve hundred hours ago and within the last hour has begun to sail off course, if communications aren’t established quickly, it will enter enemy waters, your wheels are up in four hours, Kazansky and Kerner are arriving on base shortly from Lemoore, and Wolfe and Neven are an hour out on their transport. You’ll have stop overs in Hawaii and Guam before flying on out to the enterprise.”
“Shit, this is big isn’t its sir.” Maverick straightened.
“It is, the brass there fore decided to call in the best top gun Graduates, the ones who have scored the highest out of all graduates to come before and that are still flying, that is you four pairs.” Viper said as he began to escort the pair of them out of the building and towards Goose’s Bronco.
“Shit, but straight into a long-term deployment?” Nick asked.
“Orders are orders son, it was supposed to be a different squadron, but the brass elected to send the VF-1 back to sea immediately, your stunt with the Mig’s placed your squad in the brass’s books as the boys who can get shit done when things have been torpedoed into the Mariana trench and still save the day. Look on the Bright-side kiddo, there’s talk of the VF-1 moving from Corpus Christie to San Diego. They want the best squadron on the front-lines in the largest fleet.” Viper told them, watching as the pair cheered and high fived.
“Right, so wheels up in under four hours sir?” Maverick asked as Goose raced into the locker room, gathering their kit and grabbing his car keys.
“Wheels up in under four hours, be back in two hours with your gear and tell your wife and the gosling that Mary and I will swing by later with dinner for her. Just some comfort food for how little warning you boys got and some company.”
“Thank you, Viper. It’s nice to know someone’s there for Carole when we’re away.” Goose nodded.
“It’s nothing Goose, Now go. Get your gear and we’ll see you shortly.” The man said as he escorted them to the car park, watching as Maverick stole the keys off Goose and hopped into the driver seat, Nick was barely in the car before they’d torn out of the car-park, maverick speeding off towards there off base housing.

They had no idea how chaotic the next Seventy-two hours where about to be.

“Maverick, Goose!” Slider yelled out in delight as he saw the two walking up towards the transporter.
“Holy shit guys, I thought they were kidding?” Wolf yipped as he bounded out of the transporter and began to run circles around the pair.
“Hey Wolfie, someone’s excited.” Goose laughed as he dragged the German shepherd in for a hug.
“Good to see you two. I’m surprised, you not flying yet?” Ice said as he moved to hug Maverick.
“We’re cleared to fly jets, but it’ll be a few weeks before we build up our wing strength for flight. We’re gonna have to spend a few hours an evening in the maintenance bay practicing flying, thankfully commander Jardins on ship so he understands. The maintenance guys are usually chill to let us have some space to fly around.” Maverick told them.
“Come on idiots, we need to go now.” Slider hollered down to the group as he began to put on his helmet for the ride, slotting it around his antlers.
“This is going to be an utter shit show of a deployment I swear it.” Hollywood grumbled as he put his own helmet on for transport.
“Come on guys, it’ll probably just be a few Migs that we’ll need to scare off. What’s the worst that could happen?” Goose laughed, getting Maverick and Ice to look at each other before back at the goose.
“Oh, you know, a five vs one where there actually shooting at us this time.” Ice rolled his eyes.
“Well at least I’ll be there, I have a tried and trusted method of communication when it comes to Migs.” Maverick laughed, making a gesture of flying inverted before flipping the bird to the group who laughed.
“Shut the fuck up Mitchell and get on board, we’ve a carrier to get to.” Ice snorted as he grabbed some of the bags the two avian’s had with them.

Each had three giant bags, meaning they had six bags in total and a seventh sat between them that was larger than nearly all of them. The group knew that they had two bags each with their gear for flying and working on the carrier and there third contained their personal belongings, preening kits and oils, and other hybrid friendly products that where acceptable on the carriers. The largest bag that they shared however contained blankets and pillows for their nest, also acceptable for the long deployment. Both avian’s where lucky they received some special treatments.

Hours later they where landing on the deck of the USS Enterprise and where quickly whisked away into the bowls of the ship for briefing and to there assigned bunk rooms, luckily they where assigned two bunks next to each other, a commanders bunk room for Maverick and Goose, for privacy for there nest, and an officers bunk room, for there friends. They only had minutes to drop there gear off into there bunk rooms and get changed before they found themselves all situated into there jets, all ready for combat.

It wasn't long after that before Ice and Slider where airborne towards the Layton with Hollywood and Wolfe on their wing. Maverick and Goose were sitting in their F-14 tensely on the deck before their worst nightmares came true. There flock mates were shot down, Hollywood and Wolfman were shot down and Maverick and Goose where in the air chasing after the Migs. It was spectacular, scary and awe inspiring.

Maverick had both managed to lose himself and remain in control of his instincts as he hunted the Migs in the sky, getting three splashdowns whilst Ice got one before the shit show was over. The falcon’s hunting instincts provided him with the most perfect reflexes and techniques as he hunted and fought to keep his flock safe whilst remaining cognizant enough that he could speak English without falling into trills, and chirps.
When they landed back onto the carrier not long later, they were treated to an uproar of cheers and jubilation's, with Ice proudly declaring that he’d fly as Maverick’s wing-man anytime.

But that was two weeks ago, a back-up carrier and fleet had arrived at their quadrant of the Indian ocean to take over patrols, now the USS Enterprise was escorting the USS Layton away from the Gulf and into U.S Naval Support activity Souda Bay, Crete, Greece where emergency replacement communications parts where being sent, awaiting installation into the damaged communications systems of the Layton. All was going well and the guys where excited to go exploring around the Greek island, all of them never having been to this region before, normally only passing through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea before there carrier sailed out to the Atlantic, a safer passage than sailing around the tip of south Africa.

All of them where excited to explore the new destination but where able to spend the few days it would take to travel from the gulf together, catching up on what everyone had been doing. When they weren’t on patrols, or lounging about their bunk room, they where found teasing Wolfman, by throwing a small red ball he’d smuggled on board tossing it down a passageway and watching as his ears twitched and tail wagged as he happily chased after it, before yelling in indignation when he realized what was going on. Other times they’d spend their free time working off their built-up energy in the gym onboard, where they discovered that Slider had the tiniest of tails, the small brown and white tail sticking out of a pair of very short sports shorts. The stag was slightly embarrassed but laughed it off when Hollywood cracked a joke about the Stag’s dick taking all the length from his tail. That joke made them all crack up and they found themselves being kicked out of the gym for the evening after that.
Instead, they spent the evening, after changing into their fatigues, wandering around the engineering bay where space had been made for Goose and Maverick towards the stern of the ship. The three-story space allowed the avians plenty of height to rebuild their strength as they practiced there take offs, trying to get as much height in the space as they could as they worked in a few powerful flaps, getting more and more height and longer glide times as they rebuilt their wing strength after months of being grounded.

Their friends cheered them on as Maverick and goose both took off for a short flight around the waterline of the ship as there first proper flight since the accident. It wasn’t long but when both landed back on the hangers rear opening both avians where completely drained, there stamina practically non-existent. They’d have to work on that over the next few months to return to their old strengths.

The journey to Crete so far had been smooth sailing for the group. A relaxing break after their dogfight only days before, well as relaxing as serving on a naval aircraft carrier could be.

That was until Slider, Wolfman, Goose, Maverick, and all the other animal hybrids onboard the ship began to go crazy, all of them losing themselves to their instincts for hours.

They hadn’t just fallen into their instincts; they had gone completely feral. All of them scratching, screeching, and prancing like caged animals.

No one could get through to them at all whilst they were lost to their instincts, lost to them so deeply that they were no longer human and all wild feral animals for hours.
No one knew what had happened to send all of the hybrids onboard the ship to go into instinct overdrive, but Commander Jardin and the ship’s Captain gave orders to lock all those effected into their bunkrooms until they surfaced from the haze of instincts and sedate them where necessary. They all thought it would last only a few hours. All of them where feral for well over a day, to the point it began to scare the rest of the remaining crew on the ship. Slider began to gore at the walls and pipes of the ship with his antlers angrily, Wolf began to growl and snap at everyone who approached him nearly foaming at the mouth with his ears pinned back into a state of heightened alertness. Maverick and Goose screeched for hours and clawed at anything, nearly damaging their wings as they attempted to flap inside the small commander’s bunk, they were assigned to.

Ice, Hollywood, Chipper, and Sundance had to get the doctor to come and sedate Slider and Wolfman before they either attacked them or hurt themselves, Maverick, and Goose where far easier to handle, a thrown blanket over their heads and within seconds both calmed down enough for Ice and Sunny to approach the pair. They made makeshift falcon hoods out of spare t-shirts, wrapping them around their heads like blindfolds and gently tying them tightly to ensure they didn’t slip off before escorting them to their nest, letting the pair get settled in as they fell into a submissive haze.

It took them all well over a day to come out of the haze of instincts that led them to a feral state.

They thought everything was over and that things could return to normal as the hybrids on the ship awoke from there instinct riddled haze.
They weren’t expecting orders to come in, quarantining them all on board the carrier.

In the late hours of the evening of the 27th of October, orders came in that they were all to remain on ship from command back in America. That there would be no disembarking and that they were to quarantine onboard the USS Enterprise.
To everyone’s horror, news of a large-scale nuclear disaster in Ukraine the day before, within hours of all the hybrids having gone feral having reached the crew on board the ship in the hours after the orders came in. That the country was being blanketed in high levels of air born radiation. The hybrids instincts must have pick up the change in the atmosphere and the new toxic presence and their instincts took over, forcing everyone into a fight or flight mode.

It took them days of little knowledge and word on the accident before the USSR finally admitted that one of their nuclear reactors in a newly established power plant in Chernobyl had malfunctioned and exploded. That was the first time a nuclear disaster of that scale was reported, and no one knew what to expect from the side effects and the radiation sickness that was sweeping the continent. Not until the first horrific reports began to trickle in from behind the nigh impenetrable walls of the Soviet Union.

No one expected what happened next.

“Fuck guys, get in bed and get fluids, Wolf, Slider, go get the doctor, I think there suffering radiation sickness.” Goose ordered as Maverick, Slider and Wolf all tended to their friends.

There four friends had spent the morning throwing up and shaking in their bunks, all of them developing fevers and fatigue that slowly got worse as there days in the carrier passed. Maverick, Goose, Slider, and Wolf all took turns running rotations to keep them all in check, feeding them the thin watery broths the chefs in the canteen where cooking up as a third of the ship fell ill and the rest of the non-essential crew for running the ship whilst docked took to caring for their shipmates. They had tried to get the four humans of the group up and walking around, managing to get them all to the head to clean up and change into cleaner clothes. It both seemed to help and seemed to worsen their health situation. What surprised them all was that their hybrid friends didn’t seem to get sick, not after their instinct haze only days before.

“Damn, look at them.” Slider cursed as he ran his fingers threw Ice’s hair. “Fuck, Tom’s got rashes around his hairline and cheeks. Is that normal? What the hell even are the symptoms of radiation sickness?” the stag asked.
“Acute radiation poisoning syndrome can show in loss of appetite, fatigue, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and at the worst can cause seizures and coma. This can last for hours to months, and higher radiation exposure and dosages can lead to skin damage and organ damage.” Maverick grimaced as he told them.
“How do you know?” Wolf asked, tilting his head curiously as his ears perked up.
“I took physics classes when at the academy, studied nuclear physics and nuclear engines when completing my major. I know how the carrier runs and am one of the few on board qualified to take over the position of captain if no one else higher is available.” The falcon waved off as he continued to look over his friends.

“Seriously?” Slider stopped and looked at Maverick.
“Yes, in order to captain a Nimitz-Class air carrier you need to go get a specific Naval qualification that takes roughly a year and a half to two years to get it in order to qualify to be a carrier captain or have a physics degree. So if the captain and main bridge crew falls ill and the backup crew falls ill, the next person responsible for sailing is Commander Jardin, then one of the head engineers and then there’s a lieutenant commander on board who has the qualification and then me.”
“So your essentially the what, fourth mate?” Chip asked as he looked over half lidded at the avian.
“It doesn’t work that way but if something happens to all those people and the main and back up bridge crews then yes.” Maverick nodded as he checked over chipper who groaned in his bed as he curled into a foetal position.
“No offence Mav, I don’t think I’d want to be on board a ship with you at the helm.” Wood piped up from his bunk, he didn’t open his eyes but did throw one arm over his eyes.
“Yeah, no that’s fair, I really want to avoid that too, I’d rather be flying over sailing.” The falcon admitted, twitching his wings in discomfort.
“He gets seasick when sailing.” Goose laughed.
“For god’s sake Mitchell, we’re in the Navy.” Ice groaned out quietly getting a chuckle from Slider.
“And we’re on a carrier.” Wood groaned from his bunk as he turned onto his side to look at them all.
“Only because Penny’s absolutely insane.” Maverick chirped in embarrassment.
“Anything worse than five-foot waves and he’s off to the head.” Goose snorted, laughing as maverick’s wing raised up and slapped him.
“Who’s Penny?” Wolf asked.
“Penny Benjamin, an on again off again girlfriend. Well, one of them.” Goose snorted as Sliders eyes went wide. Ice perked up and looked over at Maverick in surprise.
“Admiral Benjamin’s daughter?” the stag asked as Wolf laughed and patted Mav’s back, mindful of his wings and healing muscles.
“Shut it Kerner.” Mav grumbled, his cheeks flushing red. “Let’s just focus on the guys for now, not my sex life.” He sighed as he heard the laughter from all the others. Ice was thoroughly amused at the avian before him.

The others nodded as they ran around the officer’s bunk room that Slider, Wolfman, Iceman, Hollywood, Chipper and Sundance had been assigned to for the deployment, it was next to the commander’s room that their winged colleagues were allocated to, so they didn’t have to go far to meet up with there friends. Maverick and Wolf made their way out of the room and off towards the med bay to try and see if they could get a doctor to come up and look at their friends. That left Goose and Slider to look after their friends until their friends returned.

It took them a while, but Maverick and Wolf eventually did return to the bunk room, both carrying plastic bags filled with bottles of water and sports drinks and numerous ration packs, enough to feed a small army for days. Both looked worried as they looked at their friends on the bunk. Ice, Wood, Sunny, and Chipper had all thankfully fallen asleep.

“Where’s the doctor?” Goose asked as he looked at them.
“They’ll be around later.” Wolf told them.
“Over half the humans on the ship are all down sick. We’re running on a skeleton crew of chefs and engineers keeping the power and plumbing going.” Maverick explained as he dragged the two to the furthest point away from the room.
“Why are you dragging us away from them, what’s going on.” Slider asked.
“It’s bad… it’s really bad. News has begun to trickle in from Ukraine and Belarus.” Mav whispered as he looked at their friends. “Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Albania, Czechoslovakia, Poland and east Germany are all reporting the same stuff, western Germany, Austria Sweden, Finland, Switzerland and France are all in crisis mode.” Mav quietly panicked.
“And what’s that?” Goose asked.
“The radiations causing a large number of European citizens to fall sick with odd symptoms.” Wolf threw his hands out towards there sleeping friends.
“What is going on?” Slider asked irritated.

“They’re mutating.” Maverick bluntly stated. No one said anything as the two looked between Maverick and Wolf, silent and shocked.

“I’m sorry?” Goose asked, his eyebrows shot up high after a minute, seeing the truth in his brothers face.
“Half of the people hospitalised or reported to be showing signs of radiation sickness are mutating.” Wolf admitted.
“…. Mutating how?” Slider nervously asked.
“They’re developing hybrid traits, growing them in.” Maverick admitted nervously as he worryingly looked back and forth from his friends and their bunks. “The closer to ground zero, the quicker they are mutating, and so far, Greece has reported levels of radiation 5 to ten times stronger than normal atmospheric levels, whilst the north of the countries in 10 to 20 times that. People in Ukraine started to mutate within hours of the event whilst Romania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia started to see the effects happen within a day or two of the events and now that more than five days have passed, we’re seeing it here.”
Slider and Goose froze in horror as they looked at their two friends.

“You’re shitting us?” Slider hoped he was joking.
“He’s not. The doctor showed us photos that were coming in that the medical staff have been given to prepare themselves for.” Wolf whimpered, pale as he remembered the graphic photos he’d seen. “Commander Jardin told us the enterprise and Layton have been given orders to return back to port stateside as soon as possible and the navy is currently making emergency supply shipments to all ships, delivering radiation detection kits to every ship in the Atlantic and the gulf.”
“Fuck me.” Goose trilled lowly as he snapped his head back to the rest of their friends.
“So, what do we do now.”
“Keep an eye out on them. The most common features for people to have are ears, tails, claws, teeth, eyes, gills, fur patches, scales. We should do pat downs every half an hour and keep a track on the rashes. It could be their traits manifesting if they are mutating.” Maverick relayed.
“This ships gonna be one mad menagerie when this shits over.” Slider muttered as he put one arm on his waist and the other covered his eyes.
“We should probably be ready in case anything else shows up too. What’s less common and rare?” Slider asked as he pursed his lips in concern.
“Horns, antlers, Wings, fins, dorsal fins, Digitigrade legs, hoofs, additional limbs, Antenna, even mandibles, split jaws and different tongues.” Goose admitted, pointing out Sli’s antlers and his and Mav’s own wings.
“How do we know what they’re manifesting then?” Slider asked as Maverick went over to Ice, gently rubbing his talons over the blondes’ cheeks and up into his hair line.

The three of them heard a pained chirp followed by a cough from Ice as Maverick held up a small grey feather in a little sheath.

Everyone’s eyes open wide as they saw the fledgling feather that the youngest had just pulled from Ice’s hairline.

“That’s how.” Maverick told them as he gently rubbed his hands through Ice’s hair as the man woke up, tears in his eyes at the pain.
“Ow… what? Mav?” Ice whimpered.
“Shit, Ice, what’s wrong? What’s hurting?” Slider raced over to his pilot’s side.
“What’s going on, fuck.” Ice groaned as he flipped over onto his stomach. “Fuck, Sli, Ron, my back, my throat.” He whimpered before rubbing his hands over his cheeks, gently scratching the irritated and red skin before Slider pulled his hands away.
“Fuck, Slider, get that shirt off him now before I claw it off.” Maverick ordered, “Goose, you might need to start bringing our nest in here or we’ll need to bring Ice into our bunkroom, and our mattresses to build up a platform level with his bed.” Mav said as Slider moved to gently pull Ice’s shirt off, getting groans and coughs from Ice as some chirps made their way out of his mouth, getting his eyes to widen in fear. Goose just looked on in shock, not responding to Mav’s order.

“Mav, Sli? What’s *Chirp* going on?” he asked before coughing dryly again. His eyes widened in fear and confusion as he grabbed his throat in shock.
“Side effect from the nuclear disaster in Ukraine is that people are mutating into hybrids.” Mav explained briefly as he grabbed Ice’s hands, removing them from his throat “Wolf, Goose, you two check the others.”
“It’s alright Tom, just need to get your shirt off.” Slider soothed his panicked pilot, gently grabbing the hem of the blue top his friend had on.
“Shit, on it.” Goose panicked as he raced over to Sundance and Chippers bunks, checking them over.
“Mav talk to us, what should we be looking out for?” Wolf asked as he raced to Hollywood’s side.
“Give me and Sli a minute and we’ll know.” Maverick swore as Slider removed the shirt off ice who grabbed it with a trill and placed it under his head.
Slider gagged whilst Maverick sucked a breath in as he looked at Ice’s reddening back and neck.

His back was bright red with dry, scaling skin that was cracking and looked like it was blistering. Along his hairline and down his neck was a series of small grayish brown pin feathers breaking through the skin. From that they could clearly see where the rash was concentrating as the cracking, blistering skin seemed to form two parallel lines down his back as those area’s showed signs of swelling.

“Look, look for red, irritated skin, peeling or scaling skin.” Maverick started ordering as he tried not to let the sight of Ice’s back get to him like it was Slider who ran towards the head, retching making itself known. “Check for swellings along the spine and head where ears and horns might grow in or where tails would be.” He stated emotionlessly, not looking away from his wingman.

“Mav, what’s happening?” Ice asked quietly as he looked at his wingman, reaching out one of his hands, grasping Maverick’s wrist. The Avian took his hand in his own and gave it a gentle squeeze, noting that the skin around Ice’s fingertips appeared to be scaling up to the knuckle, turning a familiar yellow scaled colour that made Maverick swallow harshly as he looked on, realising that the man’s nails had slowly become sharp talons and none of them had realised.
There friends could have been slowly manifesting for days and it was probably only showing now.

Maverick said nothing for a moment, waiting until Slider re-entered the room. The stag needed to hear what the falcon was going to say next.
“Ice… Tom… I think your growing wings.”

Ice was quiet for a few moments. Everyone was quiet for a few moments as Maverick and Goose looked between themselves as Slider faintly sat down on the edge of Ice’s bunk and Wolf whistled softly, the room was mostly quiet apart from the quiet groans and whimpers that came from the other three bed bound patients in the room.

“Please tell me you’re joking.” Ice groaned.
“Tom, he’s not joking. Look at your hand.” Slider said as Maverick looked at him. The blonde pilot nodded before moving one of his hands In-front of his face, giving himself a second to focus on the blurry limb… when he saw the scaling yellow tinge to his fingers he swore softly.
“Oh… oh fuck.” Ice whispered before fainting back down onto his bed.
“Well… that might be for the better, let them sleep through there changes.” Slider whispered as he ran a hand through Ice's hair in worry, trying to sooth his unconscious brother.

After that, all hell broke loose as the four hybrids moved to take care of their friends. Goose had quickly begun to drag his and Maverick’s nest into the room, Slider having followed Goose, dragging in their mattresses and placing them next to ice’s building up a platform with them to keep the nest on the one level as Goose began to build it up, but left Ice’s area bare as Maverick grabbed some towels. Hollywood had begun to whimper and cough like Ice had been, beginning to sound like a dog as Wolf nuzzled his partner’s throat. Sundance had been letting out some low groans of pain that had begun to sound more and more like the lows of a cow, and Chipper had been going between coughing and making weird barking squeaks, Maverick recognising them as prairie dog chirps. With their friends slowly making more and more animalistic sounds, they had a feeling thing were going to get messy. They’d barely managed to wake their friends and get them to drink some of the fluids they’d gotten them and nibble on some crackers before they’d all fallen asleep again.

“So, when is the doctor coming round?” Slider asked nervously.
“I don’t think a doctor will be helpful now, even they didn’t have a clue what to do.” Mav sighed. He’d been keeping the closest eye on Ice the whole time, with Slider hovering close by too. “And they were struggling to get civies to come in, there either running ragged at civvies hospitals or manifesting themselves.” He warbled tiredly.
“So, we’re on our own?” Wolf whined as he looked at the falcon in horror. “Fuck what are we supposed to do?”
“How is everyone?” Mav asked, looking at the dog.
“Chipper’s jaws been bleeding slowly, he’s spat out his front teeth half an hour ago and two new larger one’s have grown in, and he’s got two lumps forming on the side of his head, possible ears. Should I feel along his spine?” Goose questioned.
“Yeah, he might have a tail growing in and check his hands.” Slider suggested.
“Yep, I feel another lump growing just above his ass.” The goose sighed.
“Sounds like a tail.” Wolf muttered. “Woods got a lump around the same area, and he’s got two swelling lumps on his head too but that’s all I can see or feel. His canine teeth have enlarged too.”
“Slider, how’s Sunny?”
“His ears have stretched, there like a cow’s now and he’s two horns piercing through. I think he’s got some fur growing on his chest or he’s been on deployment long enough his chest hairs grown back and not had enough time to wax.” Slider swore as he removed his hands from the other Rio’s head, revealing blood on them. “Shit, I feel a tail as well.” Slider swore.
“Fuck, Wolf, go to the med bay and ask for a few rolls of bandages, cotton pads, antiseptic cream, towels, and a few suture kits, maybe… what two kits per person, four for Ice if we need to if he’s growing wings in unless it’s just a feather patch along his back.” Mav said as he looked at Goose.
“Probably for the better, grab a few razors and scalpels too just in case we need to shave around their heads and cut what we assume is wings out of Ice’s back, you want to stitch?” Goose asked as he looked to Maverick.
“Out of all of us I seem to have the steadier hands right now.” Mav quietly nodded.

The other three in the room looked down at their hands, noticing he was right. Their hands all shook minutely, all worried for their friends who slept on. Their new features slowly making themselves known over the hours that passed.

“You can stitch?” Slider raised an eyebrow, “Just what all can you do Mav.”
“It’s a learned skill from having to clean myself up after years of beatings. But now is not the time to talk about that. Wolf, don’t forget to bring a pair of scissors, if they’re growing tails, we’re gonna have to destroy some of their clothes until we can make it to a shop or tailors.” The falcon snorted, like it was an inside joke.
“I’ve an emergency sewing kit with me, we can alter their clothes as needed.” The dog admitted, “I tend to accidentally bust a few seams when I get excited.” He rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment as his tail wagged.
“Yeah, very little people are gonna want to beat you up now that we’ve three kills.” Goose chuckled with a dark look towards Maverick as they watched Wolf leave the room. “And it’s going to be hard to Alter Sunny’s helmet out here. He’ll need to have a new one molded to lock around his horns and comfortably molded to his ears.”

“What do we do now?” Slider asked.
“Keep watch, remove their clothes when needed and keep them clean.” Goose instructed, as he looked at the other two in the room who nodded, giving him permission to start removing their friends clothing in order to make their manifestations easier.
“Imagine what would have happened if we had to go through this instead of born like this.” Slider sagged against
“Fuck I don’t know, that would probably have been absolute hell, at least there sleeping through this.” Mav yawned, “Fuck we’re gonna be watching out for them all night.”
“We’ve pulled 72-hour patrols before Mav, it’s just another walk in the park.” Goose said as they returned to pacing between the room.

They all took turns rotating through checking their friends over every ten minutes as the hours dwindled into the late night.

Chipper seemed to have been the quickest to manifest during the night, two fuzzy round ears had emerged on his head and a smallish stubby tail. Hollywood was next after Chipper, his own longer golden tail growing out along with a matching pair of floppy golden ears, getting his RIO to yip in delight that Holly had manifested as a golden Labrador or golden retriever as Wolf nuzzled in closer to holly, moving to curl up behind him on the pilot’s bunk. It was a few hours later before Sundance’s own traits finally came through, his ears had changed first and they’d noted he’d begun to grow horns but the horns had quickly gained a decent length, just shy of five inches each and curling upwards like a Bisons. The only one who hadn’t manifested much was Ice, all he had so far was the scaling and yellow tinging of his hands as talons replaced his nails, and the growth of feathers around his upper back, neck and hairline, feathers growing out to cover up his ears with decent length, some feathers quickly growing to over twenty-five centimetres on each side, all a brownish golden colour.

With no sign of Ice growing anymore traits the group began to relax at the thought of not having to constantly monitor the guys. With that Wolf curled up in Holly’s bunks and began to drift off to sleep next to his partner, Slider took to hopping up into his own bunk calling it a night. Maverick and Goose stacked there mattresses up to be level with Ice’s bunk, building up their nest on the raised bunk.

The group had begun to doze off in the wee hours of the morning before they all jolted awake at the sound of screaming coming from one of the bunks.

They swore as they scrambled over to their screaming friend, not ready to see the horror that was trying to break through his back.

Burning, all he could feel was burning. So painful and hot that Ice screamed as he woke up, trying to claw at his back at the searing pain.

“TOM, TOM STOP.” Slider yelled as he pinned down his friends’ arms, stopping him from clawing straight into his back carelessly.
“Sli, Burns, make it stop.” Ice cried as he felt someone pin his arms down.
“Fuck, there breaching, Slider hold his arms down, Goose, Wolf get on his legs.” The blond heard someone barking orders above him before he felt weight landing on his legs pinning him down. “It looks like his left wings caught under his skin.”
“Mav?” Ice cried as he tried to look up, his eyes blurry with tears.
“Hey, hey, it’s okay. How does it feel.” The falcon cooed softly to his wingman.
“Hurts.” Ice slurred, “Hurts so much.”
“Tom, your wings are coming through your back.” Slider told his best friend, before looking away, “Mav get a scalpel, it’ll be quicker.”
“WHAT!?” Ice cried, “No, NO.” he panicked as he fought against the hold on him.
“HOLD HIM STILL, HE’S ONLY MAKING IT WORSE.” Someone cried above him, Ice crying as he felt them all pin him down even more, feeling a warm liquid dribble down his back.
“Ice, Ice, Tom.” Someone called above him, getting Ice to look up hazily at them.
“Mav, hurts, it hurts.” He whimpered as a low pain filled chirp left his throat; he just about recognized the falcon standing above him.
“I know, I know, just hold on a minute please, deep breaths Ice deep breaths.” Mav instructed, as he grabbed one of the packaged sterile knives Wolf had brought earlier.
“No, no, get a doctor.” Ice flinched as he saw the knife gleam under the lights.
“None are available Ice, the whole ships on lockdown and medics are running ragged. Not enough of them for everyone whose manifesting.” Wolf spoke up, “Maverick has the steadiest hands out of all of us right now. He won’t hurt you.”

Ice gasped as he felt the sting of antiseptic along his back, whimpering out at the pain that the stinging feeling.

“Okay Ice, deep breath in. When you breath out, I’m going to cut in gently to free your left wing.” Maverick ordered.
“Come on Tom, deep breath in.” Slider gently reassured his terrified pilot. It scared the stag to see his brother in so much pain, but he would rather it be Maverick cutting and stitching him up right now, he had the steadier hands out of all of them and they knew he didn’t flinch at the sight of blood.
Ice’s back looked bad enough a few hours ago when they first noticed the rash, but now it resembled two large blisters with how swollen the area had become. The raises on his back twitched and pulsed grotesquely in a way that made him queasy, watching as the limb tried to burst through the skin.

“Kay Ron.” Ice whimpered before breathing in.

Slider looked to Maverick who nodded as Goose and Wolf looked away.

“And breathe out Tom.” His RIO ordered, feeling his friend breath out.

Maverick quickly and gently sliced down into his back, working as quickly as he could to cut through the skin to free the moving pulsing muscle mass that was pushing through Ice’s back. Mav quickly threw the scalpel down next to him as he grabbed the bare, blood and puss covered wing barely bigger than Maverick’s forearm, gently guiding it out.

“That’s one. One out!” the falcon called out.
“Shit Mav, start on the second, it looks like it’s about to burst out.” Slider warned as the avian raced to open the second scalpel package.
“I’m working on it Sli, I’m working. Someone’s gonna have to go find a clean bowl or bucket and fill it with warm soapy water so we can clean these.” He trilled nervously as he raced to wipe down the second weeping ridge on Ice’s back as it pulsed and strained.
“Sli?” Ice whimpered as Maverick got the new knife.
“Almost over Tom, it’s almost over.” Slider cooed, gently reassuring his brother.
“I need a deep breath in, and when you’re ready, let it out.” Mav quietly told Ice who nodded gently.
Iceman took a deep breath in, fighting against the pain in his back before breathing out, feeling the knife cut across his back. Suddenly it felt like his back had been dumped in ice, soothing the searing pain that had burned his back only moments before. He flopped down on the bunk bonelessly as he involuntarily began to trill loudly, letting his relief be known to Maverick and Goose who could understand him.

“That’s it, Ice, that’s it. It’s all over.” Someone whispered above him as they felt a hand run through his sweat-soaked hair. “Just a few stitches to stop the bleeding and that’s you.” Someone told him before he felt his head be tilted up as a bottle of water was placed near his lips. Ice downed the water greedily as he felt warm water gently being wiped over his back with a soft towel as someone began to pat around his back with soft cotton pads and then followed that with steady, repeating pricking down his back.

“That it… that’s it, Tom.” Slider sighed in relief before he climbed up into his bunk, flopping down tiredly as he watched Maverick and Goose below pull the new avian into the nest they’d made and fixing up his bunk, expanding their nest into the newly fledged avian’s bunk, covering the small, fleshy wings in blankets to keep them warm as pin feathers began to push through the skin quickly over the next few hours.

They kept an eye on the rest of their friends as they slowly manifested over the course of the night, thankful the traits that Chipper, Sunny and Wood were showing where not as bad as their frosty snowman’s were.

Ice blinked awake lazily in the darkness, he groaned quietly as he felt the gentle scratch of a blanket covering his back and head and weight of a wing over his back, gently moving to poke at it, trying to get either Maverick or Goose, which ever one of them was covering him to shift. He jumped as he felt a pricking feeling coming from his hand, a loud surprised chirp escaping his throat.

“Morning sleeping beauty.”

Ice snapped his head to his right, spying Maverick next to him.

“Ged off me.” Ice slurred as he pushed at the weight on his back.
“Ice, Ice stop. That your own wings idiot.” Maverick chuckled as Goose lifted his head up from beside him, blinking sleepily at the ruckus. Both avians where flanking either side of him ice noticed as he blinked the sleep out of his eyes before looking back at maverick who continued to talk. “Stop it before you burst your stitches.”

“Guys, keep it down.” Goose warbled quietly in warning. “Tom, stop trying to swat your wing, you’ll slice your hand on your pin feathers that are growing in.”

“Actually, stop and give us a second to check on your wing growth now that your awake.” Maverick instructed as he sat up, gently pulling Ice into his lap getting a squawk of embarrassment from the blonde and a chuckle from Goose.
“Yeah actually, check his reflexes, we need to make sure his muscles are developing correctly, the barbs are coming through cleanly and there’s no calcification of his wings.”
“What are you two on about, why am I squawking and chirping like a bird.” The blonde pilot asked as he rubbed his throat nervously, not sure of what was happening as he found himself to be in the middle of the avians nest.

“How much do you remember?” Slider yawned above them as he poked his head out of the bunk, pulling the curtain back.
“I… what?” Ice snapped his head up to look at.
“Oh… well…” Maverick winced as he looked over Ice. “So, you recall that as we pulled into port all of us hybrids on board fell into our instincts.” The falcon asks him,
“Yeah. Something about a nuclear explosion setting you all off?” Ice asked.
“Yep. A nuclear power station in Ukraine suffered a catastrophic failure in a reactor, causing it to blow up and has been releasing high amounts of radiation into the atmosphere. That radiation has been blown-up all-over Europe, causing some horrific side effects.”
“Like what?” Ice asked.
“Like your new wings.” Slider said as he leaned down to tilt Ice’s head far enough to allow his pilot to see the two new limbs growing on his back.

Ice’s eyes widened as he looked at the large pink fleshy limbs on his back. Maverick gently ran his fingers over the limbs allowing Ice to feel that they were real, getting an indignant squawk from him as he flinched at the touch, his small new wings flapping before he pulled it in tight to his back. Maverick only moved to straddle Ice and pin him down, stretching out his wings again.

“GET OFF ME MITCHELL!” he yelled.
“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” Hollywood barked from his bunk, waking the others in the bunk-room, getting Chipper to fall out of his top bunk by there feet with a squeak and a huff from Sundance who picked his head up from his pillow and glared at Wood, which made the pilot sheepishly apologize.

“Jesus someone woke up and chose violence.” Chipper groaned as he sleepily as he pushed himself up off the floor before he looked over at the other pilot who stuck his head out of his bunk, pulling the closed curtains back.
“Damn Mav, ride that cowboy.” Wolf cackled as he stuck his head up from behind Wood who pulled a pillow over his new ears. Very sensitive to sound now it appeared.
“Sit still, I need to check your wings dipshit to make sure there growing in right. There reacting right and you already have some sense of motor control, what do you think Goose.”
“Oh yeah, there already twice the size they were last night. Maybe ask for a couple of spare rations and all, he’ll need them if his wings continue to grow at this rate.”
“Might need to go on land to grab some specialised supplies, some bottles of hatchling oil, maybe fledgling oils just until his adult plumage comes in.”
“The fuck do you idiots mean?” Ice pushed himself up, wary of Maverick sitting on his ass as he continued to look at the two fleshy wings sticking out on his back.
“Your chicken wings where about the size of Mavericks forearm a day ago. They are now double that and still growing.” Slider chuckled, getting a laugh from the two natural born avians.

Ice's jaw dropped in shock.

“A day ago?” Ice asked in disbelief.
“You slept for a good twenty-four hours after the wings came through Ice. Scared the shit out of us, out of me.” Slider chuckled as he ruffled Ice’s hair.
“I slept a whole day, fuck me.” Ice’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“All four of you did. We had to get the doctor in to check on you all, even commander Jardin was worried when he did the rounds to check in on the crew.” Wolf admitted.
“Don’t worry, you haven’t missed much, we’re still in port. There’s still too many ill engineers and bridge staff to run the carrier, so we’re gonna be in port for another week or two before we’re at sea again. Even then we’ve been recalled to port stateside. Commander Jardins been doing what he can to make sure we’re all given extended leave for obvious reasons.” Maverick explained.
“Oh… so when are we gonna be in the air again?” Ice asked.
“Not for a while now buddy, Woody, Chipper and Sunny are going to need to have their helmets remade and get new flight suits for their tails, but you are going to need to have your entire flight suit altered to match the kit Mav and Goose have.” Slider sighed before dipping back into his bunk, picking up a book that had been at the foot of his bed.

“Fuck.” Ice groaned.

“Yeah, of course you get the rare traits to match these two idiots.” Hollywood snorted from his bunk.
“Guys, shut it please.” Chipper groaned, “I wanna sleep.”
“Actually, I want to know, what the hell are we then? We’ve been mostly sleeping this shit off the past few days, and why are we still so tired.” Sunny asked as he gently rubbed against the horn on the side of his head, they were of a decent size easily five inches on each side.

“Well, firstly, your traits are still growing in, which is likely requiring a lot of energy so your body’s doing what it can to conserve your energy. Secondly, we’ve all been discussing and running through the limited books from the library to check, but you’re a bull of some sort, maybe an American bison, Holly’s a golden Labrador or golden retriever no clue what Chipper is and it’s too early to tell what ice is.” Goose sighed as he flopped back down into the nest, not noticing the darkening look on Maverick’s face.

“Chippers a Black tailed Prairie dog.” Mav smiled, letting his strong Arizona accent bleed through as everyone looked at him.
“How do you know that?” Chipper asked shrinking as he saw the darkening look on Maverick’s face as the falcons’ eyes dilated into pinpricks focusing on him as he grinned widely. Everyone panicked for a moment as they saw Maverick fall into his instincts at the sight of prey.
“Because I know the sounds of my prey.” The falcon screeched out as though he was hunting as the falcon flapped their wings, getting a series of squeaks from the other pilot before bursting into laughter.
“Fuck you asshole, what the fuck was that.” Chipper asked after a moment as their initial panic subsided as Maverick flopped backwards in utter laughter as the others slowly joined in when they realised their friends where fine. The prairie dog grumbled as he climbed back into his bunk.

“Prey response, your instincts seem to be developing nicely Chip.” Wolf laughed as he flopped back down on his bunk next to his partner.
“And what the hell about me?” Ice asked as he looked at his wings.
“Well, you appear to be a raptor like me, but what sub family we can’t say yet until your wing shape takes form and adult feathers grow through. You could be anything from an Eagle, falcon, Kestrel, hawk, buzzard, harrier, kites, osprey, owl, vultures, or even a secretary bird. Won’t be able to tell until your wings grow.” Mav explained as he grabbed Ice’s hand, showing him the matching golden scales and large talons that the two birds of prey had.
“Huh…” Was all Ice could say as the guys flopped over onto their bunks again, all pulling the blankets and duvets over themselves.

After all of the stuff that went down, everyone was completely exhausted,

“You know something?” Maverick started, getting a groan from everyone as they tried to sleep once more.
“What Mitchell?” Ice grumbled into the nest.
“I’m honestly surprised you’re an avian, I would have thought you would have been a shark.” Mav chuckled, getting a snort from Slider and Goose.
“A… Shark?” Ice looked at Maverick in confusion.
“You know, *Chomp*” the falcon snorted, mocking the biting movement, snapping his teeth closed at the adult fledgling next to him and Goose as their friends tried their best not to laugh.

“…Shut up Mitchell.” Ice rolled his eyes, picking up a pillow and hitting the falcon with it with a fond laugh.

The guys all chuckled lightly as they all began to doze off again in their bunks and makeshift nest.

All glad the events of the past few days had come to an end letting them finally rest.

Four weeks later, the USS enterprise naval Carrier had finally made it back to port. There deployment cut off early as the USS enterprise entered Naval Station Corpus Christie, no longer able to return to the gulf due to the vast change in many of her service members.

Commander Jardin gave all of them plenty of leave as well as inform Maverick and Goose of the VF-1 fighter squadrons relocation from the Atlantic fleet to the pacific fleet, moving from Corpus Christie to Miramar air base. Quietly thanking Maverick and Goose for earning them all bonus points with the brass in Washington for their recent endeavors. Not that there was much of their belongings left in Texas, with Maverick and Goose having moved to San Diego to help assist in teaching at Naval air station Miramar, they did make a phone call with commander Metcalf who advised them both to go return to their squadron, earn points for promotion and work their way up the chain of command a bit but that they were always welcome to return to teaching at Top gun later in their careers.

With that in mind, Commander Jardin also extended an invitation to the fellow pilots who joined them, offering them positions with the VF-1, extending a warm welcome to join the “best squad” in the navy, as proclaimed by all the VF-1 pilots who were stationed onboard. For two of them, they would need to make the change to the squadron in order to sooth one’s newfound instincts. Ice’s newly developing Avian instincts had left him imprinting on Maverick and Goose, like he was a little fledgling. Maverick and Goose did not help the situation by imprinting on him too and welcoming the new avian into their flock as a brother. The three of them spent the better half of an afternoon preening and chirping back and forth between one another as they cuddled in the nest, having moved it back into Goose and Mavericks room as to not disturb the rest of their friends with their early morning bird habits, it was a tight fit for three people in a two person commanders room but they made it work, thankful Ice’s wings weren’t full size yet but growing quickly as the days passed.

By the time the enterprise entered the Gulf of Mexico, the wings where the size of an adults and where almost completely covered in adult feathers.

Before the Enterprise left the Mediterranean however, the port authorities let them disembark onto shore for the first time since the ship entered port, giving the crew of the ship time to get used to their new limbs. As the days passed in Crete, the guys soon got used to their new limbs and instincts that came with them. As soon as they were well enough to venture off the carrier and onto shore once the orders to quarantine had been lifted. It allowed them to leave for some shore time before the Enterprise departed back for the states. It allowed them time to go and pick up supplies on the mainland for the trip back across the ocean, from hybrid friendly soaps and shampoos to emergency sewing kits to make alterations to their gear and finally get some clothes that fitted around their new appendages. The more difficult item they needed to pick up was bottles of feather oils for Ice, the blonde pilot seemed to be going through a quick fledging as within days of his grey downy feathers breaking out over his wings, they were quickly moulting off revealing adult feathers. This led to Goose and Maverick picking up bottles of fledgling grade oils and adult strength wing oils, hopefully enough to last until Ice’s own oil glands in his wings began to naturally produce the protective oils for coating his feathers.

There friends struggled getting used to their new clothes and the alterations that had to be made for the tails and wings. The various ties, zips and extra buttons needed proved to be a struggle at the beginning, the zips on their new trousers that wrapped around their tails and the extra buttons and ties on the shirts for Ice’s new wings. With the enterprise being berthed in port, commander Jardin allowed for the servicemembers to wear their new clothes around whilst they altered their service uniforms for the journey home, telling them that they will be sent to requisition for their new gear when they return to the states. The downtime on the Greek island seemed to pass quickly before they received the orders to return to ship for departure back to the states all too soon but at least they had enough supplies to last them the two and a half to three-week voyage back to port in corpus christie, and by that stage, Ice’s wings where fully grown and nearly completely covered with his adult plumage.

Twenty-four hours later, all eight of them were pulling up in front of a large palatial villa in La Jolla, San Diego, in two fully packed-out rental jeeps late in the evening. Maverick, Iceman, Goose and Slider in the lead jeep, with Chipper, Hollywood, Wolfman and Sundance in the second bringing up the rear, everyone swapping over at various points in the drive to make it from Texas to California as soon as possible, including a quick pit-stop at Walmart for Christmas presents, which where hastily wrapped and labelled in the parking lot, loading up the jeeps with as many presents as possible to make a great Christmas for everyone and the little gosling back home in San Diego. After all, the Christmas holidays where just around the corner now and they did get their extended leave for the Christmas holidays.

It was also going to be the first time Carole, Viper, Jester and Sarah, Ice’s sister, saw the changes to the guys. Sarah had graduated from her law course during the summer and quickly moved out west to be with her brother. She had originally planned to move out to Lemoore to be with Ice and Slider but instead landed a job at a prestigious firm in San Diego without ever applying, having been head hunted suddenly out of the blue upon graduation. To those in the know however, well a quick call placed by one of the law firms’ long-time loyal clients was all it took for the young Sarah Kazansky to get her name in for an interview and a well-paid offer of employment.
As Maverick pulled up into a private neighbourhood, the two passengers gasped in awe at the large house up a private drive.

It was a giant mansion that had balconies and flat roofs, a large garden and from what Slider and Ice could see, it also had a giant garage at the side of the house.
“Dude…. This is fucking awesome.” Slider said in awe.
“It’s a quiet, gated, private neighborhood, on top of a hill that looks out to sea. There’s a thicket of trees for a quiet spot on the far side of the property, large outdoor dining area, multiple living rooms, bar, couple of fully equipped kitchens, plenty of soundproofed bedrooms all en-suites, and a giant gym. The main bedrooms where Nick and Carole, Bradley and I sleep all have access to the nesting room along with a guest room which is now Toms room as your part of the flock now. Your instincts will go mad without a flock. With the house on the hill, we get Perfect thermals sweeping up for lazy gliding, balconies for take-offs and landings and a large garden for Carole to work with.” Mav smiled.
“And a pool.” Goose smiled.
“And a pool.” Mav snorted as he rolled his eyes as he put the car in neutral and applied the brakes. He switched it off and began to undo his belt and begin to exit after the long drive. “Honestly, we would have been staying here if it wasn’t for the fact we had to stay on base for top gun. I was pissed I couldn’t stay at home for the course, I missed living here. Thank God the VF-1’s moving home, you get to stay here with us now.” The avian trilled in delight.

“We’re all one giant family now, Bradley will love to meet his uncles Ice and Slider properly this time.” Goose laughed.
“Damn Mitchell, have I told you I love you? Because dude I love you.” Slider awed as he looked around the sprawling estate in the hills of La Jolla, looking out to the ocean beyond the house.
“So, what you’re telling us is this is going to be the best Christmas/Hanukkah we’ve ever had.” Ice snorted at his RIO.
“Yep.” Goose smiled. “Don’t tell anyone, but Mav’s a big’o’softie.”
“Hush Nick, I have a reputation as a dangerous narcissist to keep.” Mav pouted playfully at his brother avian.
“You lost that rep the first time you cuddled with us in the dorms Mav.” Ice laughed as he stretched.
“Shut up Kazansky and help me get the gifts out and under the tree.” The falcon laughed as he walked around the jeep, stretching out his wings and opening up the boot of the vehicle. The others soon followed and began to exit the cars.

“Oh, thank fuck we’re here. I was getting cramped in there.” Chipper sighed in relief as he stretched.
“Do you think they know we’re home?” Goose asked before he heard a door open behind him.
“Yeah, they know we’re home.” Mav laughed as he heard the people in the house make their way to the top of the stairs and foyer.

The group of eight all turned around to face the top of the stairs where their family was gathering. Carole, Sarah and Viper stood by the entrance of the house whilst a pyjama clad Bradley raced out of the house. All of them looking delighted to see them home safe and sound, especially after having spent weeks watching the news closely, wondering how there loved ones were doing when they knew they were out in Europe.

“Daddy!” Bradley cooed out as he jumped down the stairs, flapping his wings as he flew a short distance down into goose’s arms as the RIO knelt down to pick him up.
“Hey there gosling, gosh look how big you’ve gotten.” Goose cooed as he nuzzled Bradley’s face, lifting him high into the air.
“Look how far he’s flying too.” Mav cooed as he moved to walk around.
“Uncle Mav, Uncle Mav, I can fly now too.” The infant smiled as he flapped his beautifully patterned wings, no grey downy feathers left.
“I can see that. Do you know what you are yet kiddo?” Mav laughed.
“You’re not a little gosling, look at your tiny talons, so cute and itty bitty.” Goose cooed as he spread Bradley’s hand, noticing the lack of webbing between his fingers but instead noticed the yellow golden scales that covered them.

He was slightly disappointed his son didn’t immediately seem to be a waterfowl.
“What are you gosling?”
“Mama says I’m, I’m an, an off-spray.” Bradley flapped cheerfully.
“An osprey?” goose raised his eyebrow as he looked between his kid and his wife up the stairs. Carole giggled as she nodded happily at her husband.
“Aww little man took after his dad and uncle, a seabird and a bird of prey.” Wolf yipped in delight, his and Holly’s tails wagging happily.
“After two of his uncles now you mean.” Goose laughed as Maverick threw a wing around Ice and dragged him over to the fledgling. “We’ve now got a golden eagle and an osprey in the flock, with a golden Labrador, prairie dog and a bull in the family now too.”
“Yes, we’d heard about the mutation incident happening over in Europe.” Viper spoke up as he looked at his boys, having come down to stand around them, looking over each of them closely in a parental way. “I’m just shocked to see just how many of you where effected. I know Stinger and the other brass said it was bad but I didn’t expect the rest of you to manifest traits. So now we’ve got a Goose, a falcon, an eagle, two dogs, a stag, a prairie dog, and a bull. Gosh requisitions going to be busy aren’t they getting your new gear sorted.” The snake laughed, especially as his own young teen kids pushed past him and ran to hug their older adoptive brother Pete, maverick moving to hug them back before shooing them back up into the house as he hugged his adoptive Mother.

“Tommy, you look so weird. Good, weird. God Mom and Dad will never want to talk to either of us again now.” Sarah laughed, taking in the new feathered look her brother returned with and gently touched his new wings, watching them twitch under her touch. “You said joining the Navy changed you but this is not what I was expecting. I half expected the mullet to have made a return.” She laughed as she ran to hug her brother, gently scratching underneath his ears getting a coo from him that made everyone laugh.

“Told you he’d coo.” Carole laughed as she made her way down to hug her husband, glad that his deployment had come to an end early.

“Shut it Sare, but at least that’s one bonus, we no longer get to keep in contact with those racists.” Ice groaned as everyone looked at him and Slider burst out laughing, remembering the photos he’d seen of Teenage Tom’s rebellious phase where the guy wore jean jackets and had a mullet.
“A mullet, really?” Sunny asked as everyone looked at Ice like they’d stumbled upon a treasure trove of information.
“It was a fuck you to my dad alright?” Ice trilled lowly, embarrassed at his punk phase.
“Fair enough Kazansky, Peter’s hair was once long enough when he was a teen that he wore it in a ponytail.” Viper laughed as everyone looked between Ice and Maverick. “He even bleached it once too, as blond as those frosted tips of yours. Black leather, piercings everywhere and bleached blond hair long enough for your then baby sisters to braid it.” Viper smiled smugly as he looked at Maverick.
“NO, NOPE. TREASON, we don’t talk about the summer of 78!” Mav flapped as he ran up to Viper to shut the man up, the look of sheer horror on his face was hilarious.

The guys were looking at the small avian like he’d grown a second head before bursting out laughing, ruffling Mav’s hair like older brothers would. Ice gave Maverick a smug look as he wiggled his eyebrows, quietly asking to hear the story to which Mav glared at him and rolled his eyes before marching off into the house.

The group all began to laugh loudly as they made their way into the house, grabbing their gifts and gear and saying hello to the other guests in the house such as Mary Metcalf and commander Metcalf’s kids who jumped on their older adoptive brother once more the moment Pete entered the house. All of the group would be staying in the la Jolla mansion for the holidays, just to keep an eye on their friends and making sure they don’t hurt themselves as they get used to their new instincts. They all put the gifts under the large tree sitting in the living room just off from the foyer.

The guys were met with a lovely feast set out on the kitchen island for themselves as they entered the house, the eight lieutenants dumping their gear by the door as they raced towards the food. There was a mix of salads, both pasta and green salads, various meats both cooked and raw, and other nibbles the boys liked, such as a whole raw salmon for Goose, large raw tomahawk steaks for Mav and Wolf, and an entire large bowl of fruit salad for Slider. Sorting food out for the other four lieutenants was much harder to sort out, they had been having a rough time eating foods after there traits emerged on the enterprise, constant calls from Goose on the ship keeping them informed as there friends newly altered bodies rejected their old diets and leaving them requiring new ones.
They may have been stuck eating rations catered for personnel with there traits whilst onboard the enterprise.
So a good homecooked meal was probably exactly what the four new hybrids needed to help them get used to there new lifestyles, and that would require a mixture of foods for them, Sarah and Carole spent ages researching foods that would be better for Sundance and Chipper, Hollywood and Iceman where easier to deal with, they already had a dog and bird of prey in the group, they just got an extra steak for Holly and a second giant raw salmon for Ice. For Sundance and chipper, Carole and Sarah had made up a salad of greens and whole grains for both pilot and RIO to eat, something easy for both of there stomachs to handle.

Seeing the eight men race around the table piling the food high on there plates made both women smile and high five each other as they watched everyone get their fill. Watching as the boys smiled and began to pick at the feast, all of them thanking the two women for putting together the feast. It was hilarious to watch them all race around the table. The women and snake laughing as they eight of them clambered over each other in an attempt to get to the food first. All of them stacking there plates high with food as they sat around the giant dining table, all indulging in the homemade food, far better than the rations they’ve spent weeks eating. Once they had their plates full, they quickly moved off into the living room, each man grabbing a cold beer from the fridge to clean it all up with.

Whilst they were eating, Viper and his wife and kids said their goodbyes and left whilst Carole and Sarah made their way upstairs to put Bradley to bed. Knowing his lieutenants where home safe and sound was enough for commander Metcalf, he’d swing by in a few days’ time to check in on them, giving them enough time to regain their bearings after having been at sea. The Metcalf’s said their goodbyes for the night as Carole and Sarah put the baby bird to bed, leaving the eight lieutenants to enjoy their beer and food.

By the time the two women returned down the stairs after putting the toddler to sleep in his room, they discovered that the boys had all fallen asleep in the living room. It appeared that they had pushed the giant cushioned ottoman against the giant corner sofa, and all took up positions on the couch, all of them stretched out against one another as they hid under the three sets of wings stretched out over them.

“Um… should we do something?” Sarah asked as she pointed to the idiots.
“Mhh… no, not tonight. Let’s just let our boys sleep for now. I think they’ve earned it. It’s been a long few weeks and months for them all.” The blonde chuckled as she moved to the back of the sofa leaning over and kissing Pete and Nick on their foreheads getting loving cooes from the pair.

Sarah nodded and quickly made her way around to Ice and slider, also dropping gentle kisses over her brother and pseudo brothers’ foreheads. She missed hearing Ron’s quiet grunt as he sleeps, but what got a quiet chuckle from her was her brothers gentle coo that escaped from his throat as they slept. All of them content and relaxed as they snuggled into the sofa, there bellies full of good food and crisp cold beer and no where to go lead to all of them finally giving into the exhaustion of a day’s non-stop travel.

At least Pete’s sofa was an absolute giant of a thing, allowing all of them to stretch out comfortably over it.

Both women walked over to the doorway and smiled softly as they watched there sleeping soldiers rest peacefully, switching off the light and letting them all sleep soundlessly together in the pale moonlight.

Chapter Text

Four people where mingling around the large room in a palatial ocean front villa.

All of them were placing blankets and fluffing up the pillows that completely covered the floor, fixing the draping billowing netting and canopy that covered the ceiling of the pack nesting room. They were just back from there deployment a week ago and were given a long, well deserved, and overdue leave. This gave the four omegas in the room the time to get off their heat suppressors and let the chemicals burn out of there systems. So, everyone had met up at Maverick’s house by the beach, where merlin and maverick stayed along with the rest of the Bradshaw pack, the Kazansky pack where still searching for a decent sized house in the area that met all their needs. They had managed to find a decent sized one that worked for the six of them temporarily, but it was designed more for a small pack, not one that would work for a large pack like theirs. Besides, two of their omega’s were living with their pack in a house large enough for both packs, if barely when the Kazansky pack are around. So, they agreed to have their heat in the Bradshaw/Mitchell packs household.

So the omega’s had begun to set up the pack’s nesting room for their upcoming heat. Maverick, Merlin, Wolfman, and Sundown all were intertwining there nesting material together, setting up their own corners in the room for when their heats hit them later.
All four omegas knew their heat was coming on, there military grade suppressants having finally burned out of there systems after a week shoreside. The tell-tale signs of preheat beginning to burn in their systems, thankfully a lot slower and less intense as the adrenaline induced heat, they had in the aftermath of the USS Layton mission.

So whilst they were setting up the nesting room for their heat, Carole kept coming in and out placing the last of the snacks and drinks they’d bought into the fridge and cupboards of the small kitchenette and began to set up the icemaker for them. She had just left the room after placing the last package of Gatorade into the fridge before re-entering the room carrying four white boxes.

“Oh boy’s, we got you guys a gift.” Carole smiled sweetly.
“Aww Carole, you didn’t have to.” Merlin smiled as he watched the beta put the boxes down on the ground, doing her best to keep them from falling over on the uneven surface.
“Well, we did. Nick and I wanted to do something to make this all special for you, your last heat wasn’t exactly… planned… and we weren’t expecting to be expanding the pack so soon. So we thought there’s nothing better to do than to celebrate and get you all a nice little gift to make this heat just as memorable as your foray on the enterprise.”
“Oh my god, Carole please tell me you didn’t?” Wolf began to giggle as he looked between the boxes and the beta woman.
“Of course, I did, if your alphas are anything like my Nicky, well, they’re not going to be able to keep their hands off you all.” Carole smiled seductively.
“What… what am I missing?” Maverick asked with a slightly concerned look, as Merlin began to giggle alongside Sundown at the youngest omega’s innocence.

If Carole had got them what the three older omegas’ thought she did they’d forever be eternally grateful, you couldn’t exactly get new lingerie out at sea after all.

“Oh, my goodness Carole, if that’s what I think it is I will kiss you sweetheart.” Sunny giggled as the beta smiled, handing over the boxes to each omega, each had their names written onto the lids.
“How about you all take a look.” The packs only woman laughed as she handed over four boxes.

They slowly tugged on the ribbons, untying them before they pulled the lids off the boxes and pealed back the paper wrapped around the outfits inside.

None of them said anything as Carole began to giggle, enjoying the various faces each omega was making.

“Carole… are you… why?” Maverick whined, blushing softly as he put his head in his hands in embarrassment.
“Oh my god… we are going to be railed so hard.” Wolf chuckled as he bit his lip, excited at the prospect of ramping up their heat to the next level.
“This might have been acceptable if it wasn’t for the fact there the alpha’s helmet colours?” Merlin blushed. “Oh my god I don’t know whether to be embarrassed or adore you, Carole.”
“Oh my god. This is going to either go well for us or well for our alphas.” Sunny laughed.
“Don’t be scared Merlin, they’ll love it. Come on Mav sweetie, you never once thought about wearing something a little dangerous?” Carole giggled into her pack brother’s ear.
“Jesus Carole it’s like you’re trying to get them to knock us up.” Maverick muttered quietly into his sister’s ear. “And you know I never had an alpha before, only beta partners for short stands, nothing long term until now to do anything like this.” He blushed deeply.
“Please, I’ve seen how you look at Nick and I when we’ve got Bradley. You’d love it if Tom bent you over every surface and kept you filled until something takes.” Carole whispered into his ear teasingly as his blush got deeper and deeper. “Have him knot you over and over, keep you filled nice and thick as he pumps you full. Have him keep you plugged up afterwards when he pulls out. You’d love to have him mark up that flawless neck of yours and have everyone see him stake his claim on you. Have his bitemark visible for everyone to see. I think both of you want those Alpha’s to fill you and mate you, to bite those necks until there’s not an inch of skin uncovered” She wiggled her eyebrows, temptingly, teasingly as she looked at Maverick and Merlin.
“One problem carole sweetheart is that I’d lose my wings and be forced to retire from the navy.” Maverick whined, “I’m not ready for that.”

“Kick up a big enough of a fuss and they might change the rules, especially now that your nearly an ace. Use Vipers’ connections to the COMPACFLT’s office and have him go straight to Washington to save the careers of the thousands of serving omega’s. I mean come on, its nearly the ninties, what do they expect you to do, breast feed on the battlefield.” Carole giggled, “Although, this has been such a romantic story for our packs joining. Our Omega slowly making friends and overcoming your pack rejection syndrome, overcoming the aftermath of that horrible crash that nearly killed you only to be sent back to the front lines and then the omega’s coming to their alpha’s rescue, swooping in for the kill, then ending up being railed to oblivion as he declares his love for you.”

“Carole please stop reading those sexy romance novels please.” Merlin quietly whined in embarrassment as Sundown and wolf laughed. His face completely scarlet as he hid behind his hands.
“Where do you think I got the idea for this from. Nick helped pick the colours though.” Carole winked.
“Oh my god.” Maverick moaned as Merlin, Wolf and Sunny giggled at his expression, trying, and failing to hide their amusement despite their own faces blushing with embarrassment.
“Only the best for his brother.” The beta laughed as she handed him the first of the four boxes. “Now go and put them on, Nick can only distract four alphas on the verge of rut for so long. The kitchenettes stocked, your toys are in your sections, your alphas are on the way home and all that’s awaiting is for you four to get yourselves prepped and dressed.” Carole laughed.
“Oh my god, how’d we end up so lucky with such a shameless beta?” Wolf giggled.
“Carole darling where have you been all our lives. You’re amazing.” Sunny smiled.
“Please, can’t be a military wife without having an… adventurous side. Now go on, get changed.” Carole giggled, as she turned to leave the room, “I’ll be back in a minute to grab your clothes. Enjoy.” She smiled.

“Dude, seriously, that surf shack had everything.” Hollywood laughed as he held up a Hawaiian hula dancer bobblehead, placing it onto the dashboard of the car, reaching over between Goose and Ice who were in the front.
“Yeah, we’re definitely going to have to go back when our ruts over next week. Bring the omegas with us to see what they’d like.”
“Yeah, well, it might be a while before you can convince me to go back into the water, and probably Maverick if he’s like me.” Goose winced as he pulled the black broncho that belonged to maverick up into the drive.
“Why’s that Goose.”

“I… its gonna sound stupid considering I was unconscious but … being out in the ocean freaks me out. I’m fine in a pool but out there, if I get out any deeper than chest height I just… I freeze, I suppose… I just… everything gets cold and quiet, like all the heat has been sucked out of me and I’ve gone deaf.” The beta explained with a tightness to his face as he looked out towards the Pacific Ocean just a few hundred meters away from them.

“Shit that’s a good point… I don’t know how either me or Leo will cope now, all I can think of now is having to bail out as we were shot down.” Hollywood shivered. “That was terrifying, but it was combat, you and Mav went down during training… that’s honestly gotta be worse... scarier.”
“That’s understandable, that spin scared you, and next thing you know your waking in a hospital without us or Maverick anywhere near you only to be told we wouldn’t be back for months.” Ice comforted the now former RIO.
“It scared us too Nick. We thought we lost you.” Slider quietly reassured his friend, placing a hand on his shoulder, “It killed us to have to leave you and Carole alone after all of that. Mav was so… lost… quiet… it scared us just as much as seeing you lying in that coma scared us. You have no idea how relieved we were when Viper called us when we were in the gulf to let us know you’d awoken. We were a mess for a day at least, Stinger gave us a little bit of reprieve from patrols for a day to get back on track. Just a shame they wouldn’t let us leave early, they needed their deadliest pilots in the area in case the enemy tried anything in revenge those early months.”
“I know, I was pissed off too but when scuttlebutt trickled back, but I knew it was the right thing to do especially after the Layton. I was so proud of Mav when I heard the news, especially when other C.O’s and aviators in Miramar began to regard him with respect instead of shit talking him for his old man. I nearly rebroke my neck with laughter when Viper heard that you all had an adrenaline induced pack heat and had triggered Maverick and Merlin into heat too. He was so overprotective and tempted to take a jet out and drag you all home when he heard that, but the COMPACFLT wouldn’t let him, so you all ended up having to hold over for the rest of your deployment.” Goose laughed.
“And now we’re on the verge of our second pack heat together.” Hollywood smiled proudly as he clapped his hands.

“At least we’ll have everyone this time, sorry you and Carole couldn’t join us the first time.” Slider laughed as he patted his friend’s shoulder.
“I hope your all willing to put on a good show to make up for that.” Goose laughed, “And just in time too, we’re home now.”
“What about Bradley? Who’s he going to be staying with?” Ice asked as the guys unbuckled themselves from the car and exited, noticing the grin that grew on Nicks face as he looked at them all.
“Well, Viper and Mary will be along shorty to take Bradley for a few nights if they haven’t been by already. He loves playing with their pack’s kids now, he's a bonus baby cousin now. Once the goslings gone Carole and I will join you guys. But don’t wait up on us, go and enjoy your surprise.”
“Surprise? Really, it should be us surprising you guys, we did take off on an eight-month deployment with nothing more than some apologise to your wife and promises to look out for maverick and then Merlin.

The alpha’s entered the nesting room to find their omega’s sitting in a semi-circle in the middle of the room. All of them stunk of pre-heat and slick, along with the various scents the omegas gave off, from Mavericks Chocolate and peppermint scent to Wolf’s honey and orange blossom sweet scent, Sundown’s crisp cinnamon and apple pie scent and Merlin’s marshmallow and chocolate wafting strongly around the room.

But all the alpha’s stopped dead when they saw what the omega’s where wearing.

All of the omega’s snapped their heads up to look at their alpha’s as they heard the door shut with a loud bang and four aroused throaty growls echo through the room as they got up to greet the alphas. The presence of the four alphas in the nesting room made all of the Omega’s turn around in there kneeling position to face them. As they moved they revealed the luxurious lace lingerie the omegas where wearing. All four of the alpha’s jaws dropped, all of them stunned at the sight before them.

All four of the omega’s where wearing matching lace bodysuits which framed them beautifully, revealing their narrow waists, wide hips, and perky tits, letting the smell of heat and lust waft around the room .
The suits where perfect, framing and revealing their strong male omega features in such a seductive manner. On their legs were matching lace stockings attached to the garter on the suits. Sundown and Wolfman wore their bite marks proudly on their necks, revealing their mated omega glands. However, unlike the mated pair, Maverick and Merlin both wore lace choker collars covering their unmated glands, anti-bite collars Ice and Slider recognised them as, worn by omegas in relationships during their heats for when there not ready to fully commit and forever bond to their alpha, which was fair enough, they’d only been properly dating for around nine months now. It was understanding that the two omegas weren’t ready to commit to their alphas, perhaps in their next heat or the heat after if they were lucky and their relationship grew stronger and both pairs where ready to commit to one another.

The suits however had one last surprise for the alpha’s, the openings they had to their omega’s sensitive parts. The ass of the body suits had a giant slit in the panty line that revealed their omega’s tiny dicks and slick soaked cunts, trailing all the way back to their asses allowing the alphas there choice of hole, as their tits hung out temptingly against the materials that hugged their figures, a big silk bow tied in front of their chests, attached to the straps, covering the omegas perky hardened nipples that where begging to be played with.

But what got their attention was the colours the omega’s where wearing. Sundown’s lingerie was a picturesque pale yellow, Wolfman’s was a beautiful baby blue, Merlin’s was a romantic red and Maverick was in a whimsical white lace suit.
The lingerie mostly matched their alpha’s helmets, a statement on which omega belonged to which alpha.

“And what do we have here?” Ice growled seductively as the alpha’s prowled the edge of the room, stripping off their jackets and shoes before moving to step onto the blankets and cushions.
Maverick blushed deeply in embarrassment as his alpha boyfriend looked him up and down.

“…Hi?” the omega quietly giggled out as the blonde alpha moved around him, inspecting him. Maverick let out a giggle and moaned as Ice picked him up, both hands going around the smaller pilots mid pulling him in tightly from behind lifting Mav clean off the floor and nipped at his jaw seductively as he bent Maverick over, one hand wrapped around the omega’s middle, the other teasing at his tits.
“All this for us?” Holly growled playfully as he bent down to nip at Wolf’s ear as he
“Do you like it?” Wolf giggled out.
“It was Carole and Nick’s idea. Those two planned this.” Sundown blushed as Chipper threw himself over his omega, knocking him down into the piles of cushions and began to suck kisses straight onto his bare neck.
“Did they now.” Slider chuckled as he pulled Merlin into his arms.
“Oh yes, you all seem to forget that Goose and Carole have been together and married the longest, so they really do know how to spice things up after all.” Merlin giggled. “Which make it even funnier that Maverick’s quite the blushing virgin right now.”
“Please, we’ve all heard him moaning on Ice’s knot. He ain’t no blushing virgin.” Slider chuckled as he nudged Ice, the alpha proudly puffing out his chest as he sucked a hickey onto a sensitive spot-on Mav’s neck that got the omega twisting his head up with a wanton moan before the omega released a giggly scream as the alpha began to fondle their exposed pussy lips.

“Not anymore. Aren’t you kitten.” Ice growled between breaths as he sucked and kissed Maverick’s neck purple, occasionally licking the anti-bite collar the omega wore, some day, when his omega was ready, Ice vowed he would leave the most beautiful claim mark on mavericks perfect neck.
“Yes Alpha, not a knot virgin anymore.” Mav giggled, as he leaned into Ice’s ear, “Your big fat cock and knot made sure of that.” He purred.
“Damn straight Omega mine.” Ice growled back with a predatorial smiled as he fell down onto the giant pile of nesting material, pulling a giggling maverick down with him onto the fluffy pile.
“So, who do we watch first?” Holly asked as he began to fondle wolfs toned chest, getting little mewling sounds from the RIO as his fingers slipped under the silk ribbon to rub and twist at his perky nipples.
“Not Mav or Ice, they last the longest out of all of us.”
“How about, you pin those three down to face me, and all three of you eat out your omega’s first and let me take care of Mav, then you can all begin to fuck them apart whenever we finally get close to knotting, how does that sound.” Ice puffed his chest up, as he watched Chipper, Hollywood, and Slider’s expressions darkened in lust as they tugged their omega’s beneath them. “How does that sound kitten, want to show everyone just how well I fill you up?” Ice asked Mav.
“Yes Ice, please Ice, fill me up.” Mav moaned as Ice scissored his sopping wet pussy lips.
“You going to be good Pete, show Leo, Marcus and Sammy just how well you take my knot?” Ice teased as his free hand quickly moved to remove his shirt and jeans, adding them to the nesting material for Maverick, “Show Charles, Rick and Ron just how well you take me.”
“Fill me up Tom, please, need you.” Pete whined as he began to grind on Toms lap.

Ice smiled as he heard three other wanton moans echo in the room, looking over to see that Charles, Rick and Ron had their omega’s bent over and pinned, all of them watching Maverick and Ice as their alphas began to play with their omega hoods as there slick began to drip from them already as there heat finally kicked in.

An hour later, eight horny and debauched heads rose up from the blankets as they heard a knocking on the door.

“Knock, knock. Sorry we’re late. Mike and Mary had some issues getting the kids into the car, they wanted to come in and play in Bradleys room.” Goose chuckled as he and Carole peeked into the room.
“Oh, started already?” The beta giggled as she looked over the four pairs.

Ice growled proudly as he saw Goose and Carole’s eyes roam over him and Maverick, spying the blissed-out omega who was whimpering in ecstasy at the thick knot that was filling him, flooding his womb with torrents of warm spunk. The beta pair quickly looked around the room as they watched the other three pairs quickly come together. The presence of the beta’s watching them seemed to have kicked the alphas into overdrive as they began to pound into there partners fast and hard.

Slider was plastered over Merlin’s back, pinning the omega down beneath him as he fucked into his sopping wet whole fast and hard, mounting him. Merlin mewled and let out broken moans as Slider growled proudly at the noises his partner was making as he mounted Merlin, fucking into him fast and hard. The alpha looked up at Goose, winking at his friend as he caught his eye before he threw his head back with a throaty growl as Merlin screamed in ecstasy on the rapidly inflating knot that tied them together, the alpha’s thick cock filling Merlin’s empty womb with torrents of cum that soothed the giant omega beneath him. Slider chuckled proudly as he nuzzled Merlin’s neck, pulling the omega tight against him as he began to cuddle him similarly to how Ice was treating Maverick.

Hollywood on the other hand had Wolf flipped onto his back, his wrists pinned above the omega’s head in one hand and his other wrapped around wolf’s narrow waist, the omega’s legs thrown over his pilots’ shoulders as Hollywood slowly took his omega apart. Wolf looked blissed out as tears streamed down his cheeks at the tenderness his Alpha was showing him, taking his time to pleasure his beautiful omega beneath him. It didn’t take much longer before both were crying out as Holly’s knot blew wide inside of Wolf as Carole and Goose watched on.

The last pair they looked over was Chipper and Sundown who where half asleep in there pile, both tied together by the pilots knot as they cuddled tightly in there own awkward way that probably was uncomfortable. Sundown’s legs were wrapped tightly around Chippers waist as he tucked his head under his pilot’s chin. That position should not be comfortable and yet Sundown was fast asleep in Chippers arms as the alpha sleepily ran his hand through Sunnys short hair.

“Jesus, you guys where really blown away by the lingerie weren’t you.” Goose chuckled as he looked around at the red faced, panting and giggling couples in the room.
“Aww, we missed the fun already.” Carole giggled as she kissed her husband’s cheek.

Maverick giggly looked up at Goose and Carole from Ice’s arms in their nest of blankets and pillows, making grabby hands towards the pair who gently stepped past Slider and Merlin who were busy cuddling together in a pile as the giant alpha rutted slowly into his just as big omega, trying to fuck his cum deeper into Merlin’s womb.

“Goosy!” Maverick giggled, “Carole.”
“Hey there sweetheart, wow I’ve never seen you so blissed out before.” Carole giggled as she peppered Maverick’s face in little kisses.
“Jesus, I don’t know what I expected to see but damn Ice, Mav was right, you are just as efficient in bed as you are in a cockpit if he’s this blissed out on your knot. Not even his toys got him this relaxed before during his heat.” Goose chuckled as he knelt down next to the alpha and began to rub his hand over Mavericks slightly inflated belly.
“First knot, Filling omega good.” The Alpha growled proudly as he grinded his knot back into Maverick.
“Yeah Tom, we can see that. Such a good Alpha to your omega, taking good care of our Petey pie.” Nick laughed, he was in awe at the bloating, forever thankful he chose something elasticated like these bodysuits. “Damn, I hope you’re not so efficient that you make his birth control null and void already Tom. I’m not ready to join Viper and COMPACFLT Admiral Simpson in their adventure to lift the legislation banning Omega’s who’ve had pups from serving.” He quietly chuckled.
“I’d like that.” Mav giggled.
“Like what honey.” Carole asked.
“Have a pup and still serve.” Mav sighed as he sunk into Ice’s arms, “Want a pup someday.” He murmured, getting the alpha to purr beneath him at the thought of fucking a pup or two into the omega.

“I know honey. Viper’s working on it, but it helps that the Navy’s deadliest Aviator is an Omega.” Goose kissed his forehead, “They wouldn’t want to lose one half of a dynamic duo just yet.”
Ice grunted in approval as he nodded at the beta’s, kissing the back of Mavericks neck again.
“I’ll give you a pup Omega. Fill you with me.” Ice nuzzled his neck with a gentle smile, “You can be a mommy and the second deadliest Aviator.” He chuckled before yelping as Maverick tugged at his knot before grinding down hard.
“That’s what you get. Big mean alpha thinking he’s the best pilot.” Goose laughed, getting delighted purrs from Maverick and Ice who just nuzzled one another.
“Come on honey, let’s get some liquids and some crackers into them before they start round two.” Carole giggled, “You promised us a show, so they need their energy.”

Five days later, the pack left the nesting room towards there own rooms, airing out the sex debauched room, Nick and Carole doing their best to get rid of the stench whilst the alpha’s and omega’s made there way to the many bathrooms and ensuites to wash off after a week of heat.

Once that was done, Mav watched as Goose took Ice out on a walk along the beach, both of them coming back a few hours later with smiles on there faces as Ice wrapped his arms around Maverick and pulling him in to a tight hug. What ever they said out there seemed to have left them both on the same page and happy enough.

As he later found out, Goose, as the leader of there small pack, was happy enough with how Ice and the others where treating Maverick and Merlin and agreed to a pack joining, that they would become one big happy pack now. The beta trusting the alpha to look after and out for Pete just like Goose and Carole would. That the Kazansky pack loved the omega and finally saw the real man behind the persona and ego he’d once shown as his shield at the beginning of their journey at TOPGUN.

All looked to be going well in their lives.

Six weeks later.

“Mav honey, why are you eating grapefruit and honey, honey?” Carole asked one morning.

The beta and her husband where puttering around in the kitchen, cooking away at the large range, making eggs, bacon and pancakes. Wolf and Wood were standing near them at the kitchen island cutting up various fruit and adding granola to a few bowls of fruit. Slider and Merlin were stretched out on the couch behind the kitchen off in the snug that adjoined the room. Chipper, sundown, Ice, and Maverick where all sitting around the dining table eating the breakfast the others had prepared.
The omega in question was slowly nibbling away at some pieces of dry toast, along with some sliced grapefruit and honey and a glass of water.

“Only thing I can keep down.” The tiny omega grimaced, wincing and scrunching up his nose as Goose offered him a cup of Coffee, he whipped it away at the sight of Mavericks scrunched up face.
“Are you sick? You don’t look sick.” Ice questioned as he began to check his boyfriend over, putting his hand against his forehead as Maverick swatted at him.

Not long after their heat, both packs sat down and discussed a lot. The Kazansky pack moved into the Coronado villa, moving out of there temporary base housing, Maverick and Ice had been on an evening drive in the days after their heat and spotted a large plot of land for sale next to a private gated development in La Jolla. The pair curiously scoped it out and went to the estate agents that was selling the land and building the development. The houses next to the plot of land where a series of large mansions, to attract the rich and wealthy to the area, and that the plot of land was available for building on if a customer was interested in something different. Any house built on the land would be part of the gated community and would have access to the private security that would be patrolling the estate once the houses where completed.

After talking it over with their pack and deciding what they wanted for their future, Maverick and Ice both went back to the agents the next day and bought the plot straight out and talked over there packs needs and list of requirements with one of the area’s best architects, informing them that money was of no concern for the build, both of them having inherited there family (Or part of) fortunes. After handing over a long list of requirements for their new pack’s future home, and their address, the architect’s office drew up numerous plans and soon the pack had chosen one that suited them all. Once the plan was agreed the architect went off and sorted everything for the Pack. The build should be finished in a couple of months and then the interior designers where going to be let loose on the house.

“ ‘S fine, just… ate something off.” The pilot muttered.
“In this household, yeah I don’t think so.” Slider raised an eyebrow as he looked at Goose and Carole in concern.
“Petey honey, have you been feeling sick recently.”
“…no…” he flushed trying not to worry his pack.
“Try again honey.” Goose narrowed his eyes.
“I… it’s just the smell.” Maverick whined.
“What smell?” Ice asked.
“Everything… the coffee, the bacon, anything greasy and I’m either gagging or running to the head.”

Carole’s eyes widened as she raced over to his side.
“When did this start Pete?”
“A, a few days ago… why?”
Carole slowly raised her head to look at Ice.
“If what I think has happened, has happened, then you are one efficient motherfucker because military grade birth control is practically 99% impossible to get pregnant on.” She stated with a pointed look of hysterics and disbelief.
“CAROLE?!” Goose choked on his coffee as everyone looked at her.

Pete’s jaw dropped as he looked at the pack’s beta and only person in the pack to have given birth.
“Carole?” he asked getting her attention again.
“Honey, it sounds like morning sickness, so I need a responsible pair to go to the nearest pharmacy and get a few tests and some ginger tea and salted crackers, Nick honey, lay off the butter for the bacon and keep it away from Pete as well as the coffee.” She ordered, watching as her husband quickly moved the greasy food away from his little brother’s plate. “And bring some spare tests, if one omega’s birth control failed during heat then we might have a situation where all of there birth control has failed.” She added as all the alphas stopped to look at each other.

Everyone else just stared at the pair in shock and awe as the beta’s words sunk into there minds.
“…I… Pregnant?” Pete’s jaw dropped.
“…. Holy fuck…” Ice whispered before fainting.
Next thing they knew, there peaceful morning breakfast had dissolved into utter chaos.

Two hours later, the joint pack all stood around outside the main bathroom. Hollywood and Wolfman had raced out of the house to their car and went to the nearest pharmacy, grabbing every available tester on the shelf before returning to the villa, tea included. Maverick snatched them all out of the other omega’s hands and raced off to the bathroom immediately, dragging Ice and Carole into the large room with him before locking the others out.

They waited quietly for quite some time before they heard the door unlock.

All he did was hold up a handful of tests and the pack went wild with joy and laughter.

They were positive.

A few days later, the pack was running back to the same pharmacy for more tests and tea. Later celebrating as the other Omega’s tests came back positive.

Wolf had begun to throw up in the days after Maverick’s store-bought tests and it led to them running out for more, and soon both Omega’s were heading off to the medical centre to consult with the midwifes as they got proper blood tests done to officially confirm what the storebought tests confirmed.

There were two pregnant omegas in their pack.

At least the government was working to remove the legislation that prevented pregnant omega’s from returning to active service in the militaries now that Maverick and Merlin had become the two deadliest naval aviators on active duty. To lose them so soon after the USS Layton mission would be a big loss for the Navy.

They’d still be able to fly after all.

Six and a half months Later

“FUCK YOU AND YOUR THICK ASS KNOT KAZANSKY!”
“Pete please, I’m sorry.”
“YOU DID THIS TO ME YOU RATSHIT MOTHERFUCKER. IF IT WASN’T FOR THE FACT YOUR HOT AS FUCK AND YOU’VE SUCH AN AMAZING KNOT I’D FUCKING KILL YOU!” The omega howled in pain.

“Jesus… better Ice than us huh?” Slider looked at Holly and Chipper, wincing at every threat that was yelled through the shut doors. Sundown was sitting next to Wolfman and Carole, with Merlin helping Goose entertain little Bradley and covering the child’s ears every time Mavericks screams as his labour quickened.
“I don’t know what you’re saying, that’ll be me in a month or two’s time when Leo’s ready to pop.” Wood muttered, shuddering as their pack alpha pled with the labouring Omega.

“Poor Pete, the baby must be as big as Bradley was.” Carole winced as she remembered her own struggle with Bradley, the doctors needed to use forceps on her baby goose because his head was so large. She ended up needing stitches from that birth.
“Pete was rather big, wasn’t he? I’m surprised they haven’t taken him in for a C section. Sounds like he’s struggling.” Sarah added. The young woman had graduated from college and moved out to San Diego with a few other members of her pack after landing a job at a prestigious law firm in the city. It had been a fun day for Sarah when she finally got the chance to meet her brothers pack and omega, only to discover she was going to be an aunt a few months later. She had left work early the moment Ice called her to tell his sister that the baby was on their way only a few hours ago, quickly joining her brothers pack in the hospital.

“He’s a watermelon compared to me.” Wolf chuckled, rubbing his hands over his own large bump, however his bump was smaller than Mavericks was despite being at nearly the same stage of pregnancy. “At least we’ll be able to return to active service together in a few months.” The RIO smiled.

Maverick had quickly swollen up over the duration of his pregnancy, his stomach swelling up like a watermelon, leaving Maverick waddling around Miramar air base and home like a penguin. Now the smallest Pilot of the pack was in labour at just over seven and a half months,

“GOD DAMN IT, STOP STANDING THERE LIKE A USELESS FUCKING ASSHOLE KAZANSKY AND GET THIS HELLSPAWN OUT OF ME ALREADY PLEASE.” Echoed out the door getting everyone to flinch at how loud and angry it was.
No one had ever heard Maverick yell that loud or with that much vitriol.

It was scary.

They all looked towards the door as silence echoed throughout the hallway. It appeared Mavericks cries had scared a lot of people in the maternity ward as midwifes peeked their heads around corners and even a few expectant mothers too.
“Uncle Sli?” Bradley looked up as he waddled away from his parents.
“Yes gosling?”
“Uncle Mav alright?”
“He’s… yeah he’s alright, he’s just wrestling with the stork right now for your new baby cousin.” Slider winced as he tried to smile at the kid.
“I though Uncle Mav was too fat to wrestle with you guys like uncle wolf, why’s he wrestling a stork?” the kid asked innocently, getting laughter from the others around.
“You’ll understand better when your older kiddo.” Goose laughed as he lifted his kid up, putting him on his lap as they sat outside the room where there packmate was giving birth.

Not much longer later, the pack realised everything had gone rather quiet in the room, watching the door as the nurses and midwife eventually exited the room.

“Congratulations Bradshaw-Kazansky pack, the mother and father would like a few minutes to themselves first and then you can go in to see the new arrival.” The midwife smiled as she nodded at the pack.

So the pack sat around anxiously awaiting to be called into the room.

“You guys can come in now!” Ice’s voice called out from the maternity room about fifteen minutes later after the nurses had left.

Everyone looked at each other in total excitement as they gathered their collective belongings and gifts. Holly and Wolf were let into the room first, just so the pregnant RIO could get in and sit down as he waddled in, but where quickly followed by Goose, Carole, Bradley and the rest of there joint pack.

Lying on the lone bed in the room was a sweaty, tired Maverick, with Ice sitting on the bed facing his omega, his back facing the guests to the room. The pilot was a mess, his skin pale, and his hair greasy and standing on him, the smell of sweat and pain lingering under the medical incense burners that freshened the air to calming and relaxing scents for the new young family.

Goose was about to speak up when he saw not one, but two incubators in the room sitting next to the bed but his little brother beat him to it as Maverick carefully moved upright into a better sitting position to see his family, careful of the delicate package in his arms.

“Guys… say hello to Jacob Nicholas Mitchell-Kazansky.” Maverick giggled as he looked at their pack, before Ice turned to them with a second bundle in his arms.

Everyone’s eyes shot wide open, and their jaws dropped at seeing the second bundle in Ice’s arms.

“And say hello to Natasha Linn Mitchell-Kazansky.” Ice smiled proudly, tears lining his eyes as he showed the pack their baby girl.

“TWINS!” Bradley cheered as he climbed up onto his uncle’s bed and looked at the two bundles.
“No way…Twins?” Goose asked in awe as the rest of the pack clambered to stand or sit in Wolf’s case around the bed.
“Yep, two little pilots.” Ice smiled proudly, tears of pride and joy in his eyes.
“Jesus Tommy, you really are a perfectionist aren’t you, getting fraternal twins on what your first proper heat together that wasn’t adrenalin induced.” Sarah shook her head as she took a photo on the polaroid camera she was carrying, “Jesus if the old man could see you now he’d probably take a heart attack out of anger that you’re a better alpha than he ever was.” She praised her brother, who smiled thankfully at his sister.

“Oh, Petey pie, there perfect.” Carole smiled, tears in her eyes.
“Of course they are, look who they have as their parents.” Mav chuckled as Ice puffed out his chest proudly.
“Damn Mav, no wonder you were so big, you were hiding two kids in there.” Wolf giggled as he looked at the new mother.
“Gosh Pete, how’d you manage to keep that a secret.” Chipper squealed quietly in delight.
“And how fuc, fudging efficient are you, Tom.” Slider gasped, remembering to censor himself so the kids didn’t hear the swear.
“Very efficient apparently.” The blond smirked.
“Uh huh. Big babies for eight months.” Mav yawned as he rested his head on Ice’s shoulder. “Docs said a couple days in the incubators just to check as they are six weeks premature, and a few nights here for me but then we can all go home.”
“Stitches?” Carole asked as she raised an eyebrow.
“Seven stitches actually, they where big babies.” Mav chuckled.
“He’s on the good stuff now.” Ice laughed as he pointed to the IV drip in Mav’s hand.
“You’re going to have one hell of a workout plan to get back in shape.” Sundown added.
“Give the man time sweetheart, he’s only just had his pups.” Chipper laughed.
“At least when that happens, there will be two of us at home to look after the pups, especially when Bradley starts elementary school soon.” Carole giggled in delight as she looked at her new niece and nephew.

“Can we… can we hold them?” Goose asked as he looked at his brother and his pups.
“Sure, there fed for now and I,” Mav yawned, “I’m tired.” He gently reached over to hand the bundle of blankets over to Goose, with Ice handing Natasha over to Carole.
“I know honey, get some rest. We can look after the twins for now.” Carole cooed as Ice moved to lie down next to Maverick, pulling him into his hold.
“Oh, gimme, gimme, gimme.” Wolf giggled as Goose sat down on the free chair next to the omega, both the beta and omega cooing over the little boy in Goose’s hold.

“You can wait a few minutes Leon, you’re gonna pop your own in a few weeks’ time anyways.” Merlin chuckled as he rubbed the pregnant omega’s stomach gently, reminding Wolf of his own pup who made his presence known with a kick against Merlin’s hand.
“Just give him his moment please before I end up like tom.” Rick muttered as he looked to the other pilot, spying the bandages wrapped around his wrist and hand.

“What can I say, we put these pups in our omega’s, just roll with it when the time comes rick. At least you only have one to worry about.” Ice snorted as he looked at the other man who paled at the thought.
That left the group giggling as they let the tired Omega get some well needed sleep, everyone in the pack getting their time with the two new-born pups under the watchful eye of their father.

A little while later, the pack jumped as they heard doors slam open in the corridor, the noise getting the twins to cry softly at the scary noise and waking up Pete, Leo and Bradley who had all fallen asleep in the room. Merlin and Carole quickly moved to the incubators and gently picked the twins out of them and began to sooth them whilst Goose, Slider and Chipper stuck there heads out into the corridor to see who caused the noise.

“Where is our first grandbaby!” echoed through the corridors.

Ice sighed, shaking his head in fondness as Mavericks family pack finally arrived to the hospital. Sundown shook his head in fondness as he moved to help sooth Maverick who panicked at the loud noise, looking for his children who where swiftly handed over to him.
“I take it you didn’t tell them?”
“Nope.” Maverick giggled as he watched the door to there room where thrown wide open and Viper stop dead in his tracks as he spied the two tiny bundles in the new parents’ arms.
“Are you up for visitors, if not we can get them to come back later.” Carole asked.
“…Na, I’m awake now. Let the circus in.” Mav yawned as he smiled at his godfather and the rest of his family pack who began to filter into the room.

It didn’t take long before the room was packed out by Mavericks family pack, all his aunts and uncles crowding the room and congratulating him on the birth of the twins, aweing at how the pair of them kept it quiet that they where having not just one pup but two.

The new mother could only cry in joy as the family he’d always wished for as a kid crowded around and that his dream to be able to serve and be a mother was finally being fulfilled with his own loving pack, wonderful alpha and two beautiful little pups.
It was everything he could ever wish for as he pulled his twins in tight to his chest as his alpha pulled out a ring and kissed him on the forehead.
“Be my wingman forever.” Ice asked.
“Bullshit, you can be mine forever.” Mav cried in delight as he kissed Ice as everyone around them cheered.
Even Natasha and Jacob let out tiny gurgles as their parents and family celebrated.

He couldn’t have asked for a better family.

A month later the pack welcomed the arrival of baby Robert Flynn Neven-Kazansky to the pack, and the chaos began all over again.

Chapter Text

It was a noisy evening in San Diego, the streets where a buzz with traffic, families were driving home and beach goers were packing up to return home for the day, and yet all the while, sitting nestled into the bustling streets, the Bradshaw’s house was deathly quiet.

The piano sat silently in the corner of the living room gathering dust, the vinyl record player in the hallway sat lifelessly, the last record it played sitting ready to play once the needle was dropped.
The only noise that filled the house was the distant crashing of waves on the beach down the road.
The once lively Bradshaw family house stood achingly silent.

Carole had passed away only a few weeks before, buried behind her husband in the fort Rosecrans national cemetery, loyal to her one love husband to the end. Never taking another lover and staying true to her wedding vows even years later.
It meant the house was left alone to the orphaned seventeen-year-old in the care of his uncle Mav.

Bradley Peter Bradshaw had spent the first two weeks after his mother’s passing staying over in La Jolla at his uncle Ice and Sarah’s home, with Maverick staying with them too. Ice and Sarah wanted to make sure they were coping well after the loss of their mother and sister. It had been a long few months watching Carole Bradshaw waste away as her cancer ate away at her life.
All that was left to make noise in the house was one angry teen who stared down at the letter that arrived on his doorstep.
He’d barely read past the first few sentences that told him about his entrance for the year 2000 was denied.
He couldn’t believe what he saw. There was no reason for him not to have gotten into the naval academy. In his anger he threw the letters down onto the coffee table.
He was the son of a naval officer who had gone there before, he was on his high school varsity baseball team, he did junior ROTC, he was on the athletics team, he was a graded pianist at a professional level, he was a straight A student and had earned his private pilot’s license with the help of his uncles. He was the perfect candidate to enter the naval academy.
He knew that someone had done something to his application.
There was only one person who could have done anything was his uncle Pete.

Maverick had looked so concerned and guilty the last few weeks since his mother passed.

He remembered watching as Ice and Maverick took off for a walk around the edge of the house’s property line, both avoiding the house for a while as the newly promoted rear admiral had a heart to heart with his wingman and brother. So many years together watching each other’s back in the air left Ice and Maverick growing close, all of their top gun class grew close over the years, all of them growing closer over the shared trauma they experienced of losing Goose in the horrible accident.
Every one of them had been haunted by the crash in some form or the other over the years, Hollywood, Wolfman, Sundance, Chipper, and the rest of their class who’d been on the ground still remember hearing their classmates’ panicked cries over the comms and watching goose’s covered corpse being rolled off the rescue helo into the back of an ambulance. Ice and Slider suffered from intermittent nightmares and occasionally where found with a thousand yard stare, both of them remembering vividly watching the f-14 spin wildly out of control as it crashed into the sea below, some nights they awoke screaming as Goose’s corpse dragged them underwater, other nights it was both Goose and Mav and others it was their partner dragging them down into the waves below, trapped in the flooding cockpit of the crashed jet.

Maverick’s trauma from the crash was always the worst, nights where he screamed, nights where he babbled inconsolably as he cried in his sleep, thousand-yard stares and a fear of deep open water that he could never shake in the aftermath of the crash. They always had to watch him whenever he was washing his hands too, having scrubbed them raw too many times, the vision of Goose’s blood staining them still haunting him years later.
When Maverick returned from the USS Layton rescue mission and subsequent deployment months after they originally left, his uncle’s Ice, Slider, Merlin, Hollywood, Wolfman, Chipper and Sunny all followed Maverick home to California, all of them not wanting to leave either Maverick or the Bradshaw family alone. All of them extending friendship and brother hood to the family of three, whilst his uncle moved to become a top gun instructor before he was canned and sent back out to sea on deployment. It remained that way for a while, but his uncle Ice managed to pull Maverick out on many deployments, helping him earn the points needed for promotion, both quickly working their way up the ranks from lieutenants to lieutenant commanders, to commanders and eventually captains. They didn’t need to worry about money, as Maverick was rich from inheritance, but the higher up the ranks he climbed the more control he had over where the Navy sent him, meaning he and Ice ended up staying in squadrons in California.

His uncle Maverick could have interfered with his academy application.

There was no other option, besides his uncle Ice who was an admiral now, Maverick was the next highest ranked of his uncle’s next to uncle slider who also shared the rank of captain with Mav.

Maverick and Ice must have done something to pull his papers from the naval academy. It wouldn’t have been Slider, he was currently out as captain of the USS Carl Vinson having swapped for Maverick who was initially supposed to be captaining the ship, uncles Wolf and Chipper where currently undertaking the training course up in Norfolk to become carrier captains before there promotion in the next few months, and uncles Sundance and Hollywood where over in Fallon Nevada working as teachers at Top gun. Maverick was one of his only uncles who didn’t have to do the carrier course, having a physics degree meant he could just go straight into captaining a nuclear carrier, and slider had left to do the course in the months before Ice’s promotion from captain to rear admiral.

Bradley sat in the living room fuming for probably an hour before he heard the familiar rumble of a motorbike engine pull up. Within seconds of the rumble being cut off, there was a jangling of keys in the door before they were dropped in the bowl by the entrance.

Mav was back.

Bradley angrily stared at the coffee table as he heard his uncle shuck off his jacket and close the front door behind him.

“Bradley kiddo? You home.”
Bradley gritted his teeth and blew out a breath of air, trying to calm down before replying.
“In here.”
“You okay kiddo? You don’t sound too good?” Mav asked from the hallway as he removed his jacket.
“Just peachy Mav.” Bradley gritted out, trying to keep his growing anger down.
“Are you sure?” Mav asked as he stuck his head into the living room, pausing in the doorway when he saw the opened letter on the coffee table. Seeing the Stamp that signaled it was naval related.

Maverick quickly realised what it was, it was Bradleys US Naval academy application.

“Oh, it landed.” Mav muttered.
“Yeah, it landed,” Bradley spat at him full of vitriol.

“WHY ARE MY PAPERS REJECTED MAV?”

Mavericks’ eyebrows shot up in surprise and shock at the outburst.
“Brad what?”
“REJECTED, AS IN IM NOT GETTING INTO THE ACADEMY, WHAT DID YOU DO?” the young man yelled, his face red as his anger boiled over.

Maverick grabbed the papers on the table and quickly read them over. The pilot was about to reply when Bradley shoved him down onto the sofa, towering above his uncle.
“YOU DID SOMETHING, YOU AND ICE, WHAT, AFRAID I’D BE BETTER THAN YOU. WHY ARE YOU STANDING IN MY WAY NOW?” He yelled at the smaller man.
“WHY AFTER EVERYTHING, ALL MY ACADEMICS, MY ATHLETIC COMPETITIONS, MY PILOTS LESSONS, WHY STOP ME NOW. WHY WAIT UNTIL AFTER I’D APPLIED. YOU KNEW THIS WAS MY DREAM DAD, WHY DID YOU PULL MY APPLICATION.”
Mav looked disgusted at the young adult as anger flickered on his face for a moment.

“I DIDN’T PULL YOUR PAPERS, JUST DELAYED YOUR ENTRANCE FOR A YEAR.” Mav yelled over the teen, finally getting a word in.
“What?” Bradley asked as he froze in shock.
“I had Ice call administrations to delay your entrance into the academy until next year.” Mav admitted, sighing in relief at having gotten a word in this time. “That’s all I did, that’s all Ice did. I swear to you, kiddo.”
“I, what? Delayed? I… I don’t understand?” Bradley asked quietly, confused.
“You’re still going to the naval academy… just not this summer…” Mav sighed as he shook his head, an amused smile on his face. “You didn’t read the whole thing did you, just stopped when you saw it say that your entrance to this year’s class was cancelled. Didn’t read on to see that it was delayed, and you’ve been enrolled into next year’s class.” Mav said as he handed Bradley back the letter, moving to stand up from the sofa.

The teen took the letter and re-read it, gaping at it as he tried to form words.

It took him a few minutes before he could say anything.
“Oh….”
“Yeah, oh…” Mav chuckled as he put his hand on Bradley’s shoulder. “Sorry kiddo, you must have thought the worst when you read it.”
“I, I did… sorry Mav.” He quietly apologized as he looked at the floor. “But why?” he asked.
“You know, your mother actually wanted me to pull your papers to the academy altogether, said you weren’t ready. I can agree with her on that part, you’re not ready kid, this melt down proves it.”
“But, I? What?” Bradley looked at him heartbroken.
“No, no, not like that Bradley.” Mav guided Bradley down to the sofa, getting him to sit down. “You’ve had to shoulder a lot over the past few months, you’ve been stressed out between being your mom’s carer and keeping on top of your schoolwork and activities to keep your C.V as polished as it needed to be for the academy. You should have spent your last year at high school messing about, partying with friends, making memories, growing up, you’ve sacrificed that to care for your mom when Ice, Sarah and I haven’t been able to be here between our deployments, Ice’s flag ceremony and work, and Sarah’s work. We did what we could to be around for you and Carole, but you still ended up having to help care for her more than we ever wanted you to.” Mav admitted.

“I... I know it’s been hard but I’m ready… or I thought I was?” Bradley admitted, his voice breaking as he spoke, unable to keep his disappointment out of his tone.

“No kiddo, you are, but this past year has been… horrible, absolutely horrible im not going to lie.” Mav admitted as he rubbed his hand up and down Bradleys back, before the pilot took a deep breath and began to explain to his kid what was happening.
“When you mom was in the hospital, those last few days, she asked me, made me promise you wouldn’t go to the academy, that you’d get to live and grow up, to grow older than your father ever got to. I was going to do it too, but when I was talking to Ice about it he pointed out how stupid I was and how vague of a promise it was. Ice reminded me of how I felt when I had been rejected from the academy and that knowing what I went through, it would be unfair to make you go through the same experience. Ice and I talked about what your mom wanted, what you wanted, didn’t need to talk about what your father would want of you because he’d have supported you no matter what you wanted to do, even if it was to become a clown. So, we talked, or rather Ice lectured me on how pulling your papers altogether would be a bad idea and we, er, I came to a bit of a realisation. I delay your papers, you get a part time job to support yourself for the year, learn some responsibilities, spend time with friends, party, make some mistakes, spend some time learning some extra side bits from me and your uncles, do the growing up that you didn’t really get to do this past year, keep your record clean enough and then, after having lived a little, you head on to the academy for plebe summer next year. That way I fulfill both your mothers promise of keeping you away from the academy until you’ve grown up and you still get to go. That way by the time you’d be graduating flight school you’ll be around the age Nick was when we had the accident.” The pilot admitted as he looked at his adoptive son.

“Oh…”

“I… I know it’s not what you wanted, and I know I did this without consulting you, but kiddo, you need time. Time to get your head screwed on straight, time to learn some life skills and stuff you haven’t had the chance to this last year… and see a grievance councillor before you spiral anymore.” Mav admitted, “I, I’m sorry I pulled them without consulting you, kiddo, but I had to.”
“Why, why did you have to?” the young adult snapped as he looked at Maverick angrily.
“Because you’re too much like me at times kiddo.” Mav sighed as he looked at Bradleys face as anger morphed into confusion.

“Your anger comes from Nick, when he got mad, he got mad, I see that in you, as well as his kindness and gentleness. Your stubbornness, that’s all Carole, you’ll persevere through anything even if it hurts you to get what you want, but you get your drive from me, I do my best work out of spite, and you picked up that drive too, if a teacher told you that you couldn’t do it you used your fathers anger and mothers stubbornness to push through but it’s my determination that keeps that anger and stubbornness lit to drive you to your goal. Not only that but despite Carole’s best attempts, you still ended up getting both Goose’s and my stupidity. I had hoped your uncle Ice’s presence would have overpowered Nick and mines joint idiocy.”
“I’m not stupid, asshole.” Bradley snarked.

“You thought you were rejected from the academy after reading three lines and not the whole letter.” Mav rolled his eyes as he snorted.

“I… I, yeah. Okay then… I can be a little stupid.” Bradley admitted.
“Bradley… this past year… it’s been tough. You’ve hardly gotten a break, and it shows. You’ve been despondent and easy to anger, well easier to snap, over the past few weeks and months. I know it’s tough, but something needed to happen. If you went to the academy now like how you are, angry, snappish, tired, you’d risk washing out before even getting through your first year, and that was Slider’s words. We’re all worried about you, kiddo. You were too young to fully understand what happened to Goose, your grandparents where never in your life and you’ve never actually lost a relative till now, despite your uncles and mines close calls over the years.”
“Oh…” Bradley whispered.
“Hey, it’s not that we don’t trust you, kiddo. You’ve just gone through a lot this year, and that can screw anyone up mentally. Kid… I…” Mav sighed as he looked at his kid.

They sat in the silence for a few minutes, letting the tension between them both defuse and sizzle out. Maverick looked over his nephew who refused to look him in his eyes, ashamed of how he’d blown up at his adoptive parent, especially after everything Maverick had done for him over the years. Perhaps it was time to tell him now of his own struggles after Goose’s death, it might help Bradley understand just how similar the situations are.

“You know I was ready to quit the navy entirely in the aftermath of the Top gun accident.” He started.

“You where?”

“I was.” Maverick nodded, “I had just lived through something extremely traumatic; the flat spin shook my faith in my own abilities as a pilot. Not only that but within hours of the accident I was in dress whites, standing before a tribunal as they went over the series of events that caused the accident, when really, I should have been at home resting and sleeping off the concussion and shock. The brass back then wanted to call me a murderer until the information came out from maintenance that the ejection system had issues and was to be replaced on the f-14 upon the next maintenance overhaul. I was only twenty-four, and your dad was twenty-six.” Maverick sighed as he explained.

“Instead of going through the correct routes to get it changed immediately, it was issued in service bulletins to be given as warnings to pilots for emergency jettisons and was left to the discretion of the Navy’s maintenance teams to replace the two-step ejection system with the current ejection system, with no awareness made to the admirals and SECNAV about the issues. The Top gun accident brought to light the ticking time bomb that was the separate canopy jettison and seat ejection systems, neither were connected and, in order to eject properly from the f-14 back then, the canopy was to be jettisoned first with a separate leaver and then when the canopy was clear we were to pull the ejection handles. Protocol stated that we only needed to pull the seat ejection handles and the canopy would clear followed by the seats, which was standard procedure for all other fighters of the time which lead to the Top gun incident. The was the kick needed to get those changes made immediately but the cost of the change was your dads life and my mental health.”

“The tribunal let me, Ice and Slider go, stating there was nothing we could have done, and your father’s death was a horrible accident down to a maintenance issue. I didn’t even get time to think before I was being shuffled off down to the changing rooms and forced back into a jet. I was fresh out of a crash, funeral, and tribunal, and instead of giving me some time to screw my head on straight again, I was back in a jet being told to continue like nothing had happened.”
“Shit Mav...”
“Yeah… shit… So, the hop went bad. I flew through some turbulence and was immediately thrown back into the crash. I broke out of formation, landed the jet and broke down into hysterics apparently, I can’t remember exactly what happened other than yelling at sunny. I, I refused to continue classes at top gun, I had the lead for so long and had set a new course record already, but then with me out Ice was able to overtake me by a few points and take the trophy. I had a heart to heart with grandpa Viper who realised I hadn’t been told the truth of what happened to my own dad, and he realised just how fucked I was after my shitty childhood. He realised he’d failed as my godfather to step in and care for me like he’d vowed to and moved to set things right. He told me I had two options as a pilot. I could have quit, and never fly again, or I could analyse what went wrong and learn from the crash.”

“And so, you did?”

“Not initially. It took a dog fight over the Indian ocean for me to kick back from being the scared traumatised twenty-four-year-old to deadly and efficient naval aviator Maverick. I was a danger in the air, I was a mess, I shouldn’t have been in the air and yet I didn’t have a choice. I managed to snap back into the arrogant know it all flyboy persona I built up for myself back then and get three air to air kills and then that was that. The USS Layton mission was over, and it was back to normal deployment. It didn’t mean anything; I was still just as fucked up. My flying after that was spotty for a while, I was having nightmares, I was terrified and still am of deep water, I panic if I can’t see the shoreline or carrier if I’m out in water that far. It was a shit show, I was so glad for my orders to go through to return to Top gun as an instructor. It gave me time to talk to Viper and some older pilots who’d made kills and been in similar situations. Being at Top gun was a godsend, it helped me get my head on straight for a while and regain my footing beneath me, despite admiral Johnson canning me two months into the next class to arrive. I regret teaching Warlock that cobra manoeuvre, I told him not to pull it in our classes and he goes and pulls it, but that remains a secret between us alright.” Mav snorted.

“And then you and uncle Ice went on deployment after deployment.”

“It was a choice of desk work, or deployment, Viper recommended deployments as it meant I could earn points quickly for promotions and with the promotions came larger paid salaries for you and your mother, its why Ice is now a rear admiral whilst Slider and I are captains. Your uncle Ron and I where both offered rear admiral with Tom, but we want some more time on active duty before we’re shoved behind desks.” Maverick chuckled. “Not that im ready to give up my wings just yet. I promised I’d fly with you as your wingman someday.”

Bradley was surprised, he didn’t realised Mav remembered the promise he made to him as a kid, that they’d fly together as Wingmen one day.
“You still remember that? Dad, I’d even accept flying together if you were a flight instructor or Top gun instructor like Uncles Sunny and Wood. But why worry about taking the promotions for your salaries, your loaded anyways.” Bradley admitted, watching a small smile grow on Maverick’s face.

“Your mother didn’t like taking my money Brad. I may be rich, but she never liked relying on my money, so I made an agreement with her, all my navy salary went to her and you, for household bills, spending money, clothes, groceries, childcare, toys, you get the idea. My salary and your father’s benefit that she got after his death where all she would allow for me to pay for. I did pull a few sneaky ones over her head though, I paid for your tuition all in advance, so she’d never have to worry, paid for the upright piano in the corner too, and all your Piano and singing lessons kiddo. It should have been Nick teaching you to play and sing, goodness knows I couldn’t play the piano anywhere near as well as Nick could back then, I’m a bit better now I like to think, I’m more of a guitarist and whilst I’m an alright singer, I knew you’d be better so might as well pay for a vocalist teacher who’d make sure you could learn to your fullest.” Mav smiled softly as Bradley wrapped his arms around him hugging him. Maverick’s face fell slightly as he tightened the hug around Bradley once more, “I paid for every single treatment the doctors could think of giving your mother to try and keep her on this earth. I promised her I would look out and after you as she suffered through treatment after treatment in the hopes of being here for your high school graduation at least. We sign the adoption papers the day we found out the cancer had spread, and she was terminal… that’s when she made me promise.”

“So, you… Mom… but why?”

“Carole… your mother liked to be self-sufficient, something her short stint in foster helped her develop. She hated me spending money on her and Nick unless it was necessary stuff like a new car or house repairs. It was how she grew up kiddo, we both grew up in foster care, granted I was there longer, but either way we both grew up living rather frugal lifestyles. I learned mechanic’s, woodworking and as many survival skills as possible for the day we aged out of the system. I was lucky enough to be smart enough to move up a few grades as a kid, meaning I ended up quite a few years ahead of where I should have been, I was a junior when everyone else my age would have been in seventh grade. Both of us had been assigned to the same foster home at that time when I first met her, she was only there whilst her parents recovered in hospital after a nasty crash, which originally was supposed to be a few months but with her parents’ treatment came a lot of complications which left them needing full time assistance, neither of them able to take care of her anymore. It was her and me, being taken to the Bradshaw’s for our foster placement. You dad’s folks had already met me a few times and Nick had taken to me as a little brother in high school, so my social workers had worked something out with his parents, and they’d take me in as their foster kid. Nick was so delighted to have a younger sibling and so was your grandparents, what they weren’t expecting was a phone call asking them to take in another placement just for a night or two, so Carole ended up joining us as an emergency placement for a few nights whilst our social workers ended up working out a more permanent situation for her. It was literally love at first sight for your mom and dad. She was a freshman, he was a junior, and I was the baby sibling that was sickened with the lovey dovey shit they did when me and Nick weren’t running off being idiots.” Mav chuckled getting a laugh from Bradley.

“So you and Mom, both met during foster care?”

“Yeah, we did, my social worker made it known that she would only be in the system a few days or weeks at most, which was true, her grandparents let her parents move in with them during their recovery and she went home with them, but to our surprise, her grandparents lived two doors down so the three of us grew close. Me and Nick went off to university first, and your mom got a part time job to save money to come up and visit us when we moved to Massachusetts to MIT, I went there to study Mechanical engineering whilst your dad did there aeronautical engineering course. He was twenty when he applied to the USNA did you know?”

“Really? That old?” Bradley asked.

“Yep, we both graduated high school early, him at seventeen, me at fifteen and we both went off to college for three years to do a course before we’d go on to Annapolis. Hey, look kiddo, the academy keeps its doors open to people up till the age of twenty-four kiddo. Some people like to enter the academy already with a degree in hand to win themselves some bonus points with the Brass or help them secure their path down the line. It helps shape up your file to have extra things like a degree, or a pilots or boating licence, shooting awards, athletic awards, you get the picture kiddo. If you have a pilot’s licence, whether it’s for a helo or plane, it means you’re more than likely going to get assigned into your first choice if that’s aviation, otherwise you’ll be stuck going the long way.”

“Huh… I guess with how everything has been over the past few months… I never really stopped to think about it.” Bradley admitted, “I was just that you just had to go straight into the academy after graduation… I never realised the academy allowed people a few years to make up their mind and apply.”

“Of course, they do Gosling, not everyone knows what they want to do straight out of high school and so they allow a few years deference to allow people to make up their minds and chose the path for them. You’ve got time kiddo, it’s a precious thing. When you’re a pilot out there on the sea’s, we pray for it, we pray for time to spend with our friends, with our families, for time to spend with the ones we love. This career… it’s a dangerous one, one that can end careers and even lives as quick as that.” Maverick said snapping his finger. “It’s why your mother was so scared Brad. She knew that, so do I. Its why she begged me to pull your papers, to give you time, time to grow up, make friends, find some love, just… just have time to live a little.” He sighed.

Bradley looked at his dad, reflecting on all the memories he’d had of him growing up. Every time Maverick got leave, he was always taking Bradley out on daytrips to local zoos, waterparks, and even amusement parks. Every memory he had of Maverick being on leave was always chock blocked with memories, not only of Maverick but of the rest of his uncles, every moment they had on the ground was filled with happy memories.

His uncles spend every moment of time they had on the ground making time for him and his mother, going to concerts, sports fixtures, everything fun he’d experienced over the years.

They had a point… he was young, he had spent the last year being his mother’s carer when he should have been out partying with friends, doing dumb stuff with them. the academy kept its applications open to people up to twenty-four years of age. They already had his name; his previous application was accepted. He could have one of his uncle’s ring the admin staff and pull a few strings with no issues, that proof was on the table before him.

Perhaps his uncle was right, he should take time out to live a little…

“So… how, how many years deference to my academy application can I get?... and how quickly do you think I could get a degree from the local college?”

“Brad?” Mav’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Your right… the last year has been… stressful… and the idea of living a little sounded great. I really do want to go to the academy though, I want to go because my dad went, and I want that connection to him even though he’d been gone fourteen years and I don’t remember much about him dad. You both are the reason why I want to become an officer and a pilot so bad. But your right… I haven’t been able to spend my senior year goofing off with my friends like I originally wanted to… maybe… maybe I should take a year or two out… maybe go to one of the local colleges and try get a degree in maybe two years if I try hard enough…” Bradley rubbed the back of his neck.
“Of course, you can kiddo, your smart enough to get one in that time frame, it’ll be a heavy enough workload, but you can get a three-year course in two if you apply yourself, and still party like a college student. Perhaps grow out of the stupid you’ve accidentally inherited from me. What would you like to do?” Mav chuckled.

“You said dad did aeronautics?” Bradley said, looking hopeful.
“Yep, Nick went and did aeronautical engineering at MIT, I did Mechanical engineering as my first course and then I ended up doing computer engineering and physics at the same time when he went off to the naval academy. Thinking about going to one of the local colleges to do aeronautical engineering?”
“Maybe…”
“Well think about it kiddo. You think it over tonight, and I’ll take you over to the university of California tomorrow afternoon, we can stop by uncle Tom and aunt Sarah’s and bring them brunch. How does that sound.”
“Sounds good dad.” Bradley hugged Maverick tightly. “I’m sorry for shouting.”

“Its fine baby bird, Come on, Pizza?” Mav chuckled as he hugged his baby bird back tightly. “I’ll let you have a beer too; I think after everything that’s gone on the past few months you could do with a drink.”
“Gotta builds that tolerance before I join you and the flyboys in the navy someway.” Bradley snorted, getting a laugh from Maverick.
“Oh, you’ll be drinking Chipper, Hollywood, Sundown, Merlin and Wolfman under the table in no time kiddo.” Maverick barked proudly.
“Not you, uncle slider or Ice?”
“God no, you’ll never beat the three of us, Ice is polish and has drunk nothing but straight vodka and the odd beer since he was in the academy, Slider’s German remember, and that man can put away easily twenty pints of beer before feeling it. And I’ve been drinking since my early teens, and brewing beer in old group foster homes, I got good at hiding it when I moved in with your grandparents but was always able to keep up with Sli and Ice. You’ll struggle to keep up with us three.” Maverick laughed.

“Well, no harm in trying to outdrink the others?” Bradley snorted.
“Just don’t tell your uncle Ice.” The older pilot laughed as he hauled his kid off the sofa.
Bradley laughed as he got up to follow the old man off into the kitchen, going to grab the menu for their favourite pizza place.

The next day, Maverick and Bradley went over to La Jolla, calling in with Ice and Sarah with bagels, doughnuts and other breakfast pastries and some coffee, all of them having a nice early lunch on Maverick’s dime as Maverick and Bradley explained to Ice what the kid’s new plan was. Ice whilst apologetic for helping Maverick go behind Bradleys back, was surprised with the turn of events but was impressed with the idea of checking out the local university and offered to join them. He also bugged Maverick about taking on the promotion to rear admiral at the same time, telling his friend that the diplomatic approach he’d had with Bradley the night before should have shown him he was more than capable of fulfilling in the position of an admiral. Maverick rolled his eyes and said that they’d have to take his wings over his cold dead body, which was poorly timed as Bradley nearly choked on his breakfast.

After leaving Sarah to clean up after them, the three of them headed off to the university, Maverick had rung ahead earlier in the morning requesting a private meeting with admin and a tour of the campus. They were met by the university’s dean who recognised them as local Naval hero’s and welcomed them graciously to the college. After explaining the situation to the dean, they were treated to the private tour around the campus that maverick had requested and meet the engineering department faculty and department head.

By the end of the day, Bradley had been admitted and signed up to the Aerospace engineering course with encouragement from both Ice and Maverick, after talks with the department faculty that if he pushed himself then he could complete the three-year course the college offered in under two years. Ice admitted that Bradley may have to re-apply to the academy if that was the case, but he could easily get in with the new addition of a degree and any of the extra activities he decided to pursue when at the college, like the college baseball team he was eager to join and that he would still sponsor the kid.

So, when the new college semester began a few months later, Bradley made the daily drive from North Island over to La Jolla in his mother’s old caprice car, his timetable very busy but he really enjoyed the classes.
When he wasn’t in classes, studying or messing around with his new friends, others of local naval backgrounds who hadn’t made their first choice like him instead going about college and then off to the officer candidate school in the future or reapplying like him for the academy, he was messing about on the beach with his fly boy uncles and his dad, Jet skiing, and roughhousing on the beach, and when he came back, joining his uncle slider in the gym in the evenings, the captain giving him a head start on his physio for when he joined the branch. But the craziest thing that he got up to when at college was setting Maverick up after the flyboys, Ice’s kids and aunt Sarah and them both decided to have a fun day on the beach when everyone was shore side for once.
They had run out of soft drinks in the cooler for Jack and Ethan, and Nicole wanted strawberry lemonade, so Maverick and Bradley threw on t-shirts and sandals before heading down the beach towards the new bar recently opened up by one of the older O-club bartenders lovingly called the Hard Deck. The newest and coolest navy bar in all of San Diego and perfectly located just south of North Island Naval station.

So, Bradley could only grin mischievously as he and Mav moved to stand up by the bar. It was still mostly quiet, just the odd early afternoon pundit off in a corner booth. So it was hilarious when he watched Maverick’s face drop when the young bartender moved to serve them.

“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me, Pete.” The woman said with a sly smirk on her face.
Maverick looked blown away, his mouth moving to speak but no words came out for a moment. Bradley could only laugh.
“Penny?” Maverick asked, not believing his eyes as he blinked rapidly.
The woman laughed as Maverick looked at her.
“What are you doing here?”
“I should ask you the same thing.” Penny chuckled back. “I haven’t seen you properly since the spring of 86, you and Nick buzzed over me and my friends, you swung by to take me out to dinner then ended up on a deployment in the gulf and I never saw you again, apart from your infamous photo.”
“I sent letters, tried to call but your old man wasn’t exactly fond of me back then.” Maverick shrugged his shoulders with a nervous smile. Penny just shook her head with a mischievous smile that Bradley swore was identical to Mav’s.
“Who’d you piss off this time to end up here?”
“No one actually, Dad’s on extended leave.” Bradley spoke up, trying to stifle his chuckles. “He’s free from the navy for a little while longer, no admirals he can piss off, not that he’s dating any of their daughters currently, or anyone.” Bradley winked whilst Pete looked at him scandoulsly at his kid, setting him up already, they’d only just entered the bar.

“Oh really?” Penny raised an eyebrow before asking Bradley a question, surprised to hear the young man next to Pete call him dad... and that her ex was still single as she briefly ran her eyes up and down Maverick, who looked absolutely stunning for a man in his mid to late thirties. “And who are you?”
“Yeah well… it’s been, a rough few months, but the leave was for Carole. Penny, he was only a little tyke when you last saw him but...” Maverick said before seeing Penny’s eyes widen in surprise as she recognised the young man before her.
“Bradley Bradshaw.” She gasped, “My goodness, look how big you’ve grown. I should have recognised those bronze curls, just like your old mans.” She chuckled as she looked at the young adult before turning to glare at Pete. “And why does he call you dad?”
“After Nick’s passing, I stood up to be his father figure, it was the least I could do for Carole, and for baby goose.” Mav explained, getting a sympathetic and proud nod from the woman before she realised something.
“And where is Carole, surely she wouldn’t be too please knowing you’ve taken her gosling into a bar, he’s only what eighteen-ish?” She glared at him for a moment before seeing the pained look on both of their faces.
“Carole’s... she not… Carole passed away earlier in the year. She’d been sick with Cancer for just over a year and lost the fight earlier in the year.” Pete winced as Bradley looked away.
“Oh Pete... Bradley, I, I’m sorry.” Penny winced, having realised she’d struck a nerve with both men.
“Not your fault Penny. Things where hectic and stressful and I’d lost your number in the middle of it all. It’s my fault for not telling you.” Pete apologized.
“No, its fine miss Benjamin, dad’s been running himself ragged the past few months making sure mom was taken care off and that I could study without much distraction.” Bradley explained, “He took care of a lot of stuff that I couldn’t, currently based out of north island and has been behaving himself in recent months.” The young adult smiled softly as he looked between Penny and Pete, doing what he could to meddle in his dads’ non-existent love life. Pete sighed softly, plunking his head on the bar as he realised that Bradley wasn’t going to relent in his newfound mission, embarrassed at having his nephew slash pseudo son set him up with an old on again off again girlfriend.

“Sorry, um, your tabs on me, what do you want.” Penny winced awkwardly as she moved to grab some glasses, figuring it was the least she could do for her old friend.
“We’re actually looking to take some bottles out actually, the twins wanted cola’s, Nicole wanted Strawberry lemonade, Sarah wanted a bottle of water, Merlin’s designated driver so he wanted water too and we’ll take seven beers and what do you want kiddo.”
“I’ll take a large cola too.” Bradley chuckled as Penny’s face dropped at the large order, racing around the bar to get the drinks. She nearly dropped the bottles when they heard the door slam open behind them.
“Hey short-e-rick where the hell is our drinks.”
“Coming now Asshole.” Mav hollered back “Why don’t you get your ass over here and help us.”
“Need the head dumbass.” Slider snorted before disappearing into the bathroom at the back of the bar.
“…who was that?” Penny asked in confusion.
“That was Slider, err Ron, Ron Kerner.” Pete chuckled, correcting himself and giving Penny Sliders proper name. “He’s an ass, but a good friend and has become a good brother too.” he gave her a genuine smile.

“Hey Penny?” her boss approached the trio at the bar, he had a sly smile on his face as he looked over the gentle blushes on both Pete and Penny’s faces and the mischievous grin the teen next to Maverick was giving off.
“Yes Jim?” Penny flipped around to see her boss.
“I see your busy catching up with Mitchell there, take the evening off and go join those kids on up the beach. Go catch up with him and his friends, they’re good people.” Jim winked at Maverick and Bradley.
“I can’t do that to you Jim,” Penny turned to her boss.
“Of course, you can girl, you’re a work horse behind the bar here and have been working nonstop since I opened up four months ago. I know your new to the area, but Pete and those boys have been here since the late eighties, go make some friends kiddo. Enjoy the night, its young.” The middle-aged man winked at her as he shooed her out from behind the bar.
Slider, who had returned from the Bathroom looked at Bradley with a raised eyebrow at Maverick and Penny who were making small talk as the woman grabbed her bag and chucked it on her shoulder as he grabbed the beers, letting the younger man take the waters and soft drinks.
“we’ll take care of the drinks alright Dad, you and Penny can follow behind us, right bye.” Bradley said as he shouldered Slider, pushing him in the direction of the doors as Pete and Penny looked at the pair.
“Bradley wha?” Slider started before he saw the mischievous smile the younger man had. “Oh yeah, No don’t worry we’ll get the drinks, go have a nice walk and join us after.” Slider bit his tongue, trying to stay collected as he hid his laughter at the disbelieving looks on both Pete and Penny as the two men with drinks practically ran out of the bar and back down the beach.

A few minutes later, Bradley and Ron finally made it back to their little group on the beach. Iceman was the first to look at them both as he reached over to help them with the drinks.

“Where’s Maverick?” Ice asked as he looked down the beach, the others slowly gathering around and looking for the troublemaker of their group.
“Catching up with an old flame.” Slider snorted as he looked over to where Penny and Pete were strolling up the beach behind them, both chatting away animatedly.
“Who’s she?” Sundown raised an eyebrow as he lowered his aviator shades.
“That, ladies, and gentlemen, is the one and only, Penelope Benjamin. Commander of the Atlantic fleet, Four-star admiral Harold Benjamin’s daughter. A.K.A his once on again off again girlfriend of the eighties, Penny Benjamin.” Bradley smirked as he looked at his uncles.

Everyone’s jaws dropped as they watched the youngest of them talking away to the beautiful woman next to him.
“No way, that’s Penny Benjamin, the Penny Benjamin.” Ice’s jaw dropped “The Penny Benjamin he buzzed over in 86 before TOPGUN Penny Benjamin?” he said as he looked at Bradley.
“The one and only apparently.” Bradley began to lose it laughing.
Everyone watched Maverick smile in a way they’d never seen from him before as he talked to Penny. None of the other girls he dated before ever left him looking like that. The youngest of them was in love and still Loved Penny Benjamin it appeared, despite the years between them.

None of them said anything but the looks they shared where telling. They were all plotting to be the best wingmen to their baby brother and help him bag the girl. He deserved to be happy and find love after everything he’d been through, even now just looking at Pete and Penny off down the beach they could see a complete change in their younger brother, like he was glowing. A mischievous smile on his face that they had never seen before that looked so natural that it made him look nearly two decades younger.

However, the moment had to be broken.

“I can see what’s happening.” Slider chuckled as he broke out singing.
“No, no, no. Do not start.” Ice warned his RIO, he’d gotten into one very particular habit over the years, especially when his kids came into the picture along with Wolf’s niece and nephew, beginning originally with their gosling.
“And they don’t have a clue.” Slider continued, getting loud audible groans from all the men and laughter from Sarah and the kids, “They’ll fall in love and here’s the bottom line, our trio’s down to two.” He said before throwing his arm around Bradley’s shoulder.
“We never where a trio uncle Sli.” Bradley groaned, “Lion king? Seriously?”
“You get the idea Brad squared. Besides, the kids liked it.” Sliders shoulders sagged in disappointment, but he cheered up when Jack and Ethan jumped on him whilst Nicole moved to sit with her mother.
“You know, I think I’m really glad I’m not at the academy right now.” Bradley laughed.
“Really?” someone asked, but Bradley wasn’t too sure who it was.
“Yeah,” Bradley smiled as he sighed out. “Dad was right, I did need some time like this, it’s been fun. Even college is fun, the course is much easier than I thought it would be, my lectures are pleased enough with the speed I’m getting the work done with and say I’m on track to finish in under two years, and the baseball team is great too, we’ve a competition coming up and they want me as a main batter for the game.”
“Glad to hear that gosling. You look far better than you had back then. You’ve got that mischievous sparkle back, the one both your dad’s had and have. You’re growing up into a fine young man and you’ll be an amazing young officer in a few years’ time.” Ice smiled, pleased to see his pseudo nephew relax and goof off like a kid.

“We’re proud of you, kiddo. We know it wasn’t what you originally wanted to do but honestly Mav and Ice where right, you did need some time to be a young adult and goof about for a while longer. You’d never get away with doing half the stuff you and your classmates are doing now when you reach the academy and honestly, you look better for it, like the weight of the worlds off your shoulder’s kiddo.” Wolfman ruffled Bradley’s hair.
“You’re doing so well. We know it’s been a rough year for you but remember we’re here for you. Sure, some of us are going to be away between Fallon and on carriers but we’re always here if you need us.” Hollywood hugged the young man.
“You’re really trying to show us up now aren’t you.” Chipper laughed, “A bachelor’s degree before you go to the academy, your files going to shape up better than most of us.”
“I’m still pissed over that. The baby birds gonna be as qualified as me soon once he graduates both college and the academy.” Slider pointed as he looked at Maverick, “I also still hate the fact Short-e-rick has more qualifications than me. I lost fifty dollars to Cowboy back then.”
“I told you not to make it, Cowboy knew them both long before the Navy. Not my fault you’ve more muscles than brains Slider.” Merlin laughed. “And don’t you mean, more qualified than you, look at him, he’s thankfully got both his dad’s academical smarts.” The man laughed, getting everyone to break out again.
“Still doesn’t say much considering Mav’s socially stupid, not that Nick was better at times.” Ice muttered under his breath whilst the others laughed.
“Go fu…dge yourself Merlin.” Slider started only to remember Ice’s young kids were running around them when their father shot him a murderous glare.

“Well good for Maverick. Lord knows he’s turned down the numerous dates Carole and I tried to set him up on over the years. He looks happy to see her.” Sarah cooed as she looked over to the small couple. “And good for you too Bradley, I might not be Navy, but I can see the stress the job has on you boys and after the past year I was worried as to how you’d handle the academy. Pete and Tom where right, you did need some time to be a kid again and goof around and I think it paid off. You look like a load has been taken off your shoulders, you’ve got that mischievous little smile back and twinkle in your eye again.” Sarah smiled as she looked over her family of pilot brother-in-laws.

“They’re the same height too.” Chipper pointed out as he took a swig of his beer, “Probably helps for you know what.” he snorted.
“Please stop, I do not want to visualise dad’s sex life.” Bradley gagged.
“What sex life, you where his wake-up call to stop being a himbo, he’s been single for years now.” Ice snorted getting chuckles from the others, “But hey, who know, having Penny back in the picture might help him put his feet on the ground more permanently.”
“He’d never agree to that.” Bradley winced.
“I don’t know kiddo, he did it for you and Carole. I’d say he’s more than capable of giving up his wings with the right incentives.” Ice admitted.
“I can’t ask you to ground him just for me or Penny. It would be like cutting off his legs or his arms. Besides, I want the chance to fly as his wingman with him some day, or at least fly together at a stage.” Bradley whined.

Hollywood chuckled quietly, quickly getting between the two, looking around first before speaking.

“Well… I don’t want to say anything… but apparently Top gun might be moving back to Miramar, if not perhaps move to North Island. Word is the Marines don’t like having the water so close now and have been lobbying to get Fallon back. And the brass have gotten a bit testy at having no water in sight of one of their bases. But don’t say I told you.” Holly wriggled his eyebrows at Ice, who gave a sharklike grin as he began to formulate an idea.
“Seriously? What, are you going to have him take the promotion to rear admiral and have him oversee the Top gun program?” Bradley raised an eyebrow.
“Well. I wouldn’t say anything yet.” Holly added.
“Well, it might be a good way to keep him out of trouble, and perhaps help him settle down with the right woman.” Sarah blinked her eyes prettily at Ice, practically begging her husband to pull some strings.

“You do remember he lasted two months before he got the can.” Merlin looked at Ice in disbelief.
“Oh yeah, apparently commander Bates had him show him how to do his cobra manoeuvre on paper when he was part of the 87 class, and then proceeded to pull it in a hop and that was how Mav got canned. Admiral Johnson was in the tower that day, saw the manoeuvre and knew exactly who had taught it.” Sundown wheezed out.

“How about this, we give Mav some more time in the air, he’s currently overseeing the HSC-85 at north island under my watch because I did not know that man went and got qualified as a Helo pilot without telling anyone. However, he is scheduled to captain the Abraham Lincoln in just over three months, he’s supposed to be getting his orders next month. It’s a supposedly short one though, six months. He’ll be leaving in January but back in time for the summer. He might be offered the promotion then or perhaps another year or two but when he gets it, I’ll try to get him back to Top gun and we can drag his ass over to Metcalf’s and have Viper give him a talk about not fucking it up and guilt trip Maverick into behaving long enough to see him teach you when you eventually get to Top gun kiddo.” Ice smiled at Bradley, ruffling his long curls.
“Lucky fu, duck.” Slider rolled his eyes. He’d ended up on a nine-month long deployment to sea, that was originally to be Mavericks orders but with Carole’s illness, Slider bit the bullet and took the deployment for his friend allowing him to take on a position in North Island with Ice to be there for Carole in her final months.

“Oh.” Bradley’s face dropped.

“Don’t worry kiddo. He’s not going to be in the gulf. He’s to be patrolling around Japan, Guam, and Hawaii, he’s not going into any combat situations and won’t be doing much flying, it was how we managed to swing him a land-based position so close to home for so long. There is supposed to be a joint naval exercise with our allies in that part of the world but knowing captains and admirals no one likes overseeing those shows because if any jets lost then your reps fucked, but I’m scheduled to go out and oversee it with him when the joint exercise is to begin. He’s not going to be anywhere near combat. He will be here for Christmas and the new year before he goes baby goose.” Ice smiled.
“That’s good. Perhaps it’s what Maverick needs too.” Bradley looked over to his uncle with a happy smile as he and Penny finally made their way over to the group.

In the days and weeks that followed, Penny quickly became a familiar face around both the Bradshaw home and Pete’s own home just down the road, mostly Pete’s home. Even as the months passed, it was still too painful for the pair to walk through the house there mother and sister once lived in, so Bradley had taken to renting the house out and ended up moving full time into his dads home. The income the house’s rental was making paid for his college tuition and fuel, with some money left over for savings and spending. Bradley was happy for his uncle; it was like a heavy weight was lifted off his shoulders whenever he was around Penny. He was happy to see his dad find love for once, actual love and not the quick flings he’d had in the past.

He watched as Maverick took Penny on sunset drives around Coronado and la Jolla, taking her out to the hanger in the Mojave for Sunday evening flights. Both enjoying the time they had before the new year arrived and Maverick was sent out to sea. Penny found the situation quite funny when he complained about being a pilot, not a sailor. Penny took him out on her own shoddy ship and after an afternoon on the rough pacific seas, told him his ships far bigger and not as rough as her’s and that he’d be fine.
Pete bought her a beautiful j/125 yacht for Christmas to replace the old dingy, half water worthy one she sailed, telling her it was an apology for the lack of communication over the years and that her current ship was a bit of a death trap. Penny absolutely adored the ship and thanked him immensely kissing him repeatedly until he was a bright red mess which ended up being photographed by Slider who made that the extended families Christmas cards for the next year. Bradley and the flyboys where very proud of their youngest and where happy to see the relationship he was building with Penny. Both Bradley and Penny went with Maverick to North Island to see him off on his deployment.

Bradley spent the next few months hanging out with his friends, studying, going to baseball games, and having weekly dinners over at his aunt and uncles house or even the odd occasion where he’d go and take Penny out around San Diego for food, showing her all the little places that him and Mav would go to. She was a wonderful woman, with the same adventurous and mischievousness that his dad had. No wonder Mav loved her so much.

The moment Maverick landed back on shore, Bradley met him at the docks with Ice and Sarah. Bradley had driven his bike over and was going to get a ride back with Ice and Sarah. Maverick was surprised to see what his kid had in his hands. Bradley had a box of chocolates and a bouquet of flowers.

“There’s a one Penelope Benjamin awaiting her aviator’s arrival.” Ice laughed.
“Go get her dad, she’s missed you a lot.” Bradley smiled.
“Really? I was going to have an easy evening now that I’m back. Me and you go out to our favourite diner.” Mav looked at his kid in surprise as Bradley laughed him off.
“We can do that for breakfast tomorrow dad.” Bradley smiled; he could wait one more night before hogging his dad to himself.
“I got you the weekend off, you can finish your reports and all during the week, then you can take your leave.” Ice smiled.
“No promotions?” Mav asked hopefully, not ready to give up his wings just yet, but the thought of staying on the ground with his family was now more appealing than ever. Perhaps soon, after he flew with Bradley as his wingman or instructor, then he’d perhaps take a promotion to admiral.

“No, not yet I heard they want you to take another two six-month deployments minimum before they offer you the chance again after the last stunt you pulled to avoid the promotion.” Ice nodded towards Maverick. “Now go get your girl Mitchell, go get that life you’ve been spouting at Bradley about for yourself now.” He chuckled as he looked at his speechless wingman.
“You heard him dad, go have some fun with Penny and take your own advice to heart.” Bradley encouraged.
“Just try not to piss off any admirals this time.” Sarah chuckled as she handed him over a bouquet of flowers.
“No promises.” Mav laughed, only to cry out as Ice grabbed him harshly by the shoulders and stared him down.
“If your serious about being there for Penny Benjamin then you will listen to me Mitchell and you will behave yourself and conduct yourself in proper manner. Do so and you likely won’t be captaining a carrier again and I might pull a favour to try and get you into Top gun as a rear admiral after you take another long deployment, to oversee the program or return to it as a “Mature, respectable, mellow,” teacher, especially if the gosling’s going to be there in a few years’ time. Wouldn’t you prefer that, to teach him advanced aerial combat yourself and know that he knows what to do, and fly along side him as wingmen like you once promised the gosling, you get the girl, your family, a star on your shoulder and still get to fly. So, B-E-H-A-V-E.” Ice smirked watching as Maverick’s jaw gaped like a fish as he tried to come up with words.

“Hey dad?” Bradley looked at him innocently.
“Yes?” Maverick asked wordlessly, in a little bit of shock at the sudden bombardment when he’d only just disembarked.
“You deserve to be happy, and Penny adores you and loves you still. Go for it, and besides, if you were to become the admiral overseeing the Top gun program, especially with its move back to the area now, in a few years, you would get to fulfil your promise of flying with me.” Bradley smiled innocently as ice did his best to hide his laughter, he taught Bradley well how to twist his words to get what he wanted. In this case it was Maverick’s happiness that he’s sacrificed for others for years.
“Alright…” Mav shook his head fondly. “I might bring home a guest then kiddo, if you want a peaceful night, it might be better if you stayed at your own house or play some music if you’re going to stay at mine.” Maverick pointed at his kid who blanched at the thought of Mav’s sex life.

“Eww dad, did not need that image in my head.” Bradley wrinkled his nose. “Wear protection, I’m a bit too old for a sibling.” Bradley hollered over to his dad, Ice and Sarah laughed at that as he waved goodbye to Maverick with a mischievous smirk.
Maverick shook his head with a laugh as he stuck the keys in his Kawasaki bike and the engine roared to life. Maverick carefully put the flowers between himself and the tank and with a two-finger salute towards Ice and Bradley, he was off towards the hard deck to see Penny Benjamin.

Who knew just how crazy things would get over the years to come.

As Bradley settled in for what would be his final year in the local university, he watched in horror alongside the rest of his family as the world changed suddenly overnight. Watched as his Dad woke him up and rushed him to one of the safe rooms in his house, Poor Penny joining him quickly after staying the night with Mav, ordering both of them not to leave unless he said it was safe to or Admiral Benjamin called the house, to hangup unless it was either him, Ice, Viper or Jester or admiral Benjamin, that he had to go to work as he raced out of the house one early September morning after he and Slider who lived a few streets away arrived home from there early morning runs, and returning for a few hours at most that evening to explain what was happening, that the states had declared war against their attackers. Maverick could only hug Bradley tightly and explain that his orders had changed, that he was no longer to oversee the Helo’s like he had been but instead was to return to overseeing f-18 strike groups off a carrier. He could only say goodbye grabbed his to-go bags and readied himself to leave.

Pete could only apologize to Bradley, telling him that he wasn’t sure if he’d be home in time for his graduation and to see him off to the Naval academy in the summer, not sure if he’d be able to get leave with the state of the world now. Bradley just nodded and said he understood. The young adult held Penny close as she said her goodbyes to Pete, who pulled out a ring and placed it on her finger,
“It’s not an engagement ring, but a promise ring, I promise to you Penny that I’ll come back home to you this time, I’ll come home to both of you.” Maverick smiled sadly as he hugged both of them.

There farewells to their loved ones where short, time not on their side. Ice could only hold his children tight and kiss Sarah tenderly as he said his goodbyes, for once not even able to tell his family how long he would be away for. He had taken the promotion to rear admiral to be able to come home to them in the evening and now he was being sent back to the gulf. Maverick could only just wrap an arm around his wingman’s shoulder in solidarity at having to leave his family behind, unsure of when they’d be back, that their future had changed once again as America once again returned to a state of war.

The cold war was over but now began the war on terror.

Maverick, Slider, and Iceman found themselves being deployed to the gulf and out to the middle east within days of the September eleventh attack, Slider as the Captain overseeing the enterprise carrier, Maverick as the captain overseeing the spec ops aviators being sent on board and leading them on various bombing runs, and Ice as the admiral overseeing the operations between them and land-based task forces.

Chipper, Merlin, and Wolfman where soon also joining them as captains on carriers, overseeing task force operations in the middle east as the United States went to war once more.

As summer came, Bradley graduated from the university of California, and to his surprise and delight, Iceman, and Maverick where in the crowd watching him with both Sarah and Penny next to them. When the new graduate approached them both afterwards, Maverick explained that Ice pulled a favour with commander Simpson and another captain that owed the admiral a favour and cashed it in to have them both come out to the enterprise and cover for them as they took a fortnights worth of leave, giving them enough time to help him move across the country to Annapolis intime for plebe summer to begin. He did end up having to re-apply to Annapolis for the naval academy, however this time, instead of having Ice’s sponsorship on his application or grandpa Vipers, Bradley had managed to get Admiral Harold Benjamin’s signature, as courtesy of Penny as a thank you for being so helpful around the bar and her own house, fixing and repairing things around her house when needed, as Maverick wasn’t available to do so.

Having the commander of the Atlantic fleet sponsor him most definitely helped him stand out amongst the applicants.

Penny stood next to Maverick, both of whom looked on proudly at Bradley, but what caught Bradley’s eyes was the new ring on Penny’s finger, a beautiful platinum ring studded with diamonds, set with a cushion cut sapphire that glistened in the San Diego sun. Bradley giggled in delight like a child as he looked at the blush that his dad was sporting as Penny kissed his cheek.
“So, I take it you’re going to settle down dad?” Bradley asked as he wiggled his eyebrows mischievously.
“Ice says that as long as I continue to behave, I should be offered promotion to rear admiral after this deployment. It’s looking like I will be assigned to Point Mugu up at Oxnard once we return to shore as there are still some logistics to work out about moving Top Gun back to San Diego from Nevada, with some of North islands air fleet being moved to Mugu for the swap. So now we’ll be looking at getting a new beach front house.” Mav chuckled.
“So, it gives me an excuse to take more long weekends, sailing up the coast to visit him, and break out that new laptop and accessories you got me on top of that, especially now that we’re engaged.” Penny laughed, “You’re spoiling me Mav.” She kissed his cheek.

“How did the commander of the Atlantic fleet take it.” Sarah asked cheekily.
“Surprisingly well when he found out the price tag on the ring. He shut up immediately after that.” Penny chuckled as she wiggled her fingers.
“Your father only shut up because I gave him a matching yacht to yours so your mother and father can sail around the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean at their leisure when he retires.” Pete rolled his eyes.
“So, you bought his approval. What next, take her up in a jet without permission or clearance?” Ice snorted next to him before frowning at the twin mischievous looks the newly engaged pair were giving them. “No, no don’t, don’t even think about it, at least wait until you become an admiral and then you can pull your own ass out of the fire, or at least give yourself clearance… or cover it up.” Ice sighed.
“I think if you found out your future son in law was actually a secret billionaire then you too would shut up and approve of him.” Sarah laughed.
“If any man approaches me asking for Nicole’s hand in marriage, if he’s not a doctor, Lawyer, Engineer, a person of old money who has a stable corporate job earning more than a quarter of a million annually or of a serving rank above lieutenant commander he will find himself hog tied and abandoned in the desert as a warning. Same for the boys, no gold diggers looking for an easy life as a housewife, they must have some form of stable job and willing to share responsibilities.” Ice huffed as he narrowed his eyes at his wife, Maverick nodded in approval whilst Sarah and Penny looked at them both like they were disturbed… but considering they had kills it was only fair.

“Is that how rich you are Dad?” Bradley asked, curious of just how rich his adoptive dad really was.
“Well, it depends on what the pricing on my assets are, but currently the whole Mitchell estate, so everything from houses, to furniture, vehicles, stocks, business investments everything I can think of comes in at roughly $1.2 billion, but that’s probably every single asset I own, Forbes wouldn’t count half of the stuff I do because of depreciation and varying price markets. So, it depends on who’s asking, My estate management team, $1.2 billion probably more, Forbes $600 million roughly with their calculations. Then there’s the offshore investments… all legal.” Maverick shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly as everyone looked at him in shock and awe.
“Mav… that’s a ridiculous amount of money.” Ice struggled to comprehend it, “Why the fuck do you shop at Walmart and Target if you can afford better.”
“I like the frugal lifestyle, I grew up in foster care and couldn’t access the money until I was fifteen with the help of Nicks parents, Bradley’s grandparents which I used for college tuition. The frugal lifestyle was just something I grew up with and its always stayed. If I can get five t-shirts for Ten dollars, or pay fifty dollars for one t-shirt, I’m going to go for the ten-dollar offer thank you very much.”
“Until you look at that man hanger, you pack rat.” Ice laughed.
“Please you love the hanger just as much as I do. And that I can fix your plane when it needs a service.” Mav shoved Ice’s shoulder with a laugh.
“Fair enough.” Ice patted the smaller man’s shoulder.

“So, speaking of hanger, we’ve got a surprise for your kiddo.” Maverick said as he pulled a set of keys out of his pocket.
“Seriously? Jeez Dad you didn’t have to, the fact you’re here is enough for me.” Bradley chuckles as he takes the keys and hugs Pete before getting a good look at what was handed to him. “Wait, these are Ford keys.”
“Yep, I know you’ve been driving your mothers beat up old caprice and my black bronco, however, there was one car I know you really wanted to drive. So, I had an old friend who specialises in restorations take a look at it and fix her up for you whilst we were deployed.” Mav smiled.
“No way, do you mean it?”
“Yep, your fathers old 1975 electric blue ford bronco restomod. Fully restored, rust free, engine fully cleaned, refurbished, and rebuilt and she’s in storage at the hanger waiting for you for whenever the baby aviator in training comes home. Sparkplugs and battery disconnected though for obvious reasons; you just need to reconnect them.” Maverick chuckled as he ruffled Bradleys bronze curls. Bradley pulled Maverick into a tight hug.

“Damn it, I can’t take her to Annapolis with me?”
“Not unless you want someone to destroy her kiddo. The number of times people fucked with other student’s windscreen wipers and engines would scare you. Cars are easy targets and despite the fact we are naval officers, you’ll be surprised to find out just how many of us are little vindictive shits.” Ice snorted as he threw an arm around Bradley.
“Now come on, we have a party to get to before you leave for Annapolis next week.” Mav chuckled.
“Hell yes.” Bradley fist pumped, laughing as his dad, aunt penny, uncle Ice and aunt Sarah lead him away from the crowds and away to the family’s favourite restaurant where the rest of their family who could be there where, such as grandpa Viper and Great uncle Jester. It was the best they could do in such a crazy world.

A week later one sunny afternoon, Penny and Sarah stood out on the apron of the airfield with Nicole, Jack and Ethan, along with Viper and Jester who travelled out to Mojave, all of whom where all waving goodbye to the two planes taxing down the runway. In front was a piper malibu mirage, followed behind by the p-51, Iceman and Mavericks own private planes. Bradley was in the piper malibu with Ice, where the twenty-year-old would be flying the first leg towards Houston towards their first fuel stop before they’d stop for the night before continuing towards Annapolis in Maryland early in the morning.

When they landed the next day in Annapolis, Ice and Maverick rented a single car as they parked there planes up, moving Bradleys limited luggage into the car, Maverick and Icemans years of light packing rolled over into packing up Bradley’s belongings, only the essentials and a few extra personal belongings with him and all the schooling materials he would need. They dropped by the hotel Ice and Mav would be staying in first, letting both the captain and rear admiral get freshened up from there time in the plane’s cockpits, before both exited in their dress blue uniforms before they would take Bradley over to the naval academy.

Both men could only laugh at Bradleys excitement as they snapped as many photographs as possible of his first day on campus. Maverick’s smile slightly bittersweet that this was how he finally got to the Naval academy, not as a student but as the proud father of one and making a speech to the class of officers transferring to Pensacola for flight training. He was still very proud of Bradley and made sure that the kid knew just how proud he was of him. Ice smiling softly at the pair as he took a photo of them both before they saw Bradley off to finish his enrolment and to get his dorm assignment so that they could transfer his belongings to his room. Once they had the dorm assignment, Ice led the way with Brads belongings and set them all neatly and orderly in the room by the bed Bradley dibbed as his own, seemingly first of his roommates to their assignment.

Once he was settled in, Iceman and Maverick had to excuse themselves as a lieutenant commander came looking for them both, reminding them that it was nearly time for their speeches.

Both had been asked to give a welcome speech to the new class and some words of advice for the members of the graduating class of whom were heading off towards Pensacola for flight school. The new class gathered in the sports field, listening in to their welcome speech by the admiral in charge of the academy and followed up by Ice and Mavericks own speeches. Which secretly was hilarious considering Maverick had been denied entrance to the academy, the admiral in charge looking constipated and under a spotlight through Mav’s speech hoping he didn’t tell them that. With fond smiles and proud, tearful goodbyes, Maverick, and Ice left Bradley off at the academy, seeing him get settled into his dorm and watching as he went off to partake in the enrolment events and activities and ready for the upcoming classes and drills that his summer would be jam packed with as Plebe summer got underway.

Bradley called home to Aunt Penny and Aunt Sarah as often as he could, and even took the scarce calls from his fly boy uncles, and Dad whenever they could make them from there over sea’s deployment and active services. Ice and Maverick ended up flying there planes back to San Diego before returning to their positions on their assigned carrier in the gulf for another few months.

By the summer of 2003, Bradley was returning to San Diego for his short summer holidays before his summer assignment began. His first year at the academy had already transformed him into a disciplined young man who had returned to San Diego taller and broader, more muscular. His uncles laughed as Bradley lifted Pete straight off his feet in a hug the moment, he entered the arrivals lounge at the airport. This holiday being made even more special by the beautiful beach side wedding of Pete and now Penny Benjamin-Mitchell.

Bradley had brought his new academy dress whites’ uniform with him for the occasion, his midshipman rank on the uniform which got many teases from his uncles as they helped him fix his uniform, all of them proud of him and letting him know that. Pete himself was looking splendid in his new dress blues, the ranks on his shoulders now reflecting the rank he’d fought off for a few years now, taken up along with the post of point Mugu airboss as the old world war two base was finally being brought up to modern standards and an old fighter squadron being re-established at the base thanks to Ice’s input at a recent pacific brass meeting when they were discussing the creation of a new base, the now rear admiral upper half reminding the COMPACFLT and other admirals that they had a base in a prime location north of LA that had seen decades of neglect that could be re-transformed into a modern, high tech air station, instead of beginning the long lengthy and expensive process of first finding a suitable sea side site, then buying large swathes of land and transforming it into a new base, which then led to Maverick taking the promotion to Airboss of the old base.

Maverick who now was airboss to a currently limited but rejuvenating naval air station, with access to a squadron of f-18 fighter jets and three transporter and support squadrons and an expanding fleet of reconnaissance planes. Meaning that he was free to do as many hops as he could squeeze in around his paperwork and not piss off any members of the brass. He was having the time of his life up in Oxnard and it didn’t hurt that Penny loved the chance to sail up the coastline on her days off to the beach front property that Maverick ended up getting for them both. Bradley could only laugh at his dad’s antics, glad that his dad wasn’t sticking his neck out any more than he normally would. Happy to see their little family of two grow.

Today however had been a very special day, as Bradley watched his dad and now mom, slow dance on the floor. He was so pleased to see his dad so happy, he was an admiral, he had his son, and now his wife and he could still fly. There was nothing better for the small family. Bradley had his dad, his mom and his many uncles and aunts, his grandpa Viper and great uncle Jester. He may have lost his birth parents, but he still had such a wonderful, loving mix match of a family who he knew would love and support him unconditionally in everything he did. He was glad to see his dad settle down into the life he’d provided for Bradley and his mom, even sacrificing his own happiness for them both as he took deployment after deployment and even went as far as taking the ground position he’d avoided for so long. He could only laugh when Maverick called him to say that being airboss of point mugu was brilliant as he discovered that there was nothing that specifically stated that as an admiral he couldn’t fly. The younger man wished his parents where there to see this, but he knew that they were looking down on them today and laughing at Maverick for finally tying the knot after so many years.

“You have a good night kiddo?” Slider asked him as he came up to Bradley with a drink.
“Brilliant uncle Sli. A nice break from the academy before I head back in a fortnights time.” Bradley smiled.
“It’s a good look on him isn’t its gosling.” The hulking behemoth of a captain smiled softly, genuinely happy his pseudo younger brother was finally moving on with his life and had stopped punishing himself, he was like a new man. A youthful glow had returned to him that none of them had seen since 86, a few ghosts shed from his shoulders.
“Dad deserves to be happy, after everything he’s gone through, I’m glad that life’s finally being kind enough to him and us to have this.” Bradley smiled.
“You look happy too kid.”
“What can I say, I am happy. I got a degree, I got the chance to learn some new skills and prepare for the academy in ways I hadn’t before Dad and uncle Ice delayed my enrollment, It’s way different than I imagined and I don’t know how I’d have managed to get through it two years ago. Now though with the extra time and preparations, I’m way ahead of my classmates in nearly everything and am on track to be top of my entire year.” Bradley chuckled.
“You look better for it too kiddo, even with that half attempt at your old man’s moustache, looks good but could be a lot bushier.” Slider chuckled as he ruffled Bradleys bronze curls, cut up short into regulation length.
“Wow uncle Sli, betrayal.” Bradley pouted. “It’s not that bad, is it?” he asked.
“It’s getting there kiddo, don’t trim too much, get a small comb and train it and go get some beard oil or wax, it’ll help thicken it out quicker son, and keep it fine and dandy when you put your mask on in the cockpit.” Viper chuckled as he hugged his grandson. “Good hair care routine in the navy might be hard to do and keep up with but if you want the best moustache in the navy follow this old snake’s advice.” Viper laughed as he slithered up next to the pair, admiring his pseudo grandsons developing moustache.

“Finally admitting your age sir?” Slider raised an eyebrow with a smirk.
“Quit it Kerner, I can still whoop yours and Kazansky’s asses in the air.” Viper chuckled.
“Dually noted sir.” Slider laughed.
“Don’t test me Slider, I now have an admiral son who has control of an airbase, I wonder if he’d be willing to take an old man for a hop again.” Viper brushed his moustache thoughtfully, his lips twisted into a sly grin.
“You wouldn’t dare.” The captain paled.
“He would.” Bradley laughed, knowing that Viper was just as enabling of Mavericks crazy tendencies as Ice was, Maverick would do anything to make his pseudo father happy too and had since 1986.

“At least let them get away on their honeymoon first.” Chipper cheered as he walked past them, “That man’s going to struggle to walk for a while when Penny’s through with him.” He cackled.
“What your uncle Chip meant was that he’s not going to be able to sit for a while.” Sundown snorted into his drink as he dragged his former pilot away.
“Eeww uncle Chip, Uncle Sunny, I did not need that info.” Bradley winced as Viper and Slider laughed.
“Why, I make it hard for Tom to walk and sit too some nights, and days.” Sarah whispered conspiratorially with a wink as she walked past with cocktails in hands as she left the bar, heading back to her husband who dragged her up onto the dancefloor.
“She says that like I haven’t known that since the eighties.” Slider rolled his eyes, too many years of living out of one another’s pockets in the navy left little hidden from each other. They both knew too much.

“It’s nice to see you young kids having healthy love lives. Any partners for yourself yet kiddo?” Viper asked.
“Na, no one yet, maybe one day things will be different, until then I’ll stick to quickies in a broom closet.” Bradley stated, getting both older men to snort.
“Fair enough kiddo, I know that feeling. So too do the rest of your uncles.” Slider sighed.
“… You don’t think Ice and Mav?” Bradley raised an eyebrow.

He always did think his uncle Ice and Dad shared a special relationship, closer than the other flyboys for sure anyways.
“They had a few times where they went to, blow off steam in the following few years after Top gun. The stopped when Tom met Sarah and… Oh god, the double date nights.” Slider paled as he realised something. “Tom and Sarah would stay overnight at short stacks place and vice versa with Penny and Mav and someone has always come out covered in hickies, rumbled clothes to the max and limping.” He whispered in horror as he looked over to the dance floor were Ice and Sarah were up dancing now, conspiratually close to Maverick and Penny, with smiles that did not bode well for their mental sanity if they continued to think about it.

Viper and Bradley looked at him before bursting out laughing.
“Welcome to Navy life kiddo, drinking, debauchery and putting it out are just some of the few things your gonna need to get used to know gosling. Next up will be the lack of privacy on the ships, how to sneak contraband in and where are the best spots to hide them.” Viper winked.
“So glad to finally jump aboard gramps.” The young man laughed as he patted Bradley on the back.
“Now let’s see how much you can handle kid.”
“Hope you can keep up old man.” Bradley smirked.
The flyboys laughed as they watched Viper drag the young officer in training away towards the Bar as Pete and Penny, Sarah and Tom slow danced away on the floor. They were happy to see their brothers and nephew so happy with everything, Bradley was growing into a fine young man and Pete was finally stepping away from active combat, slightly lowering everyone’s stress level as they worried about him out on the field, and finding his own happiness for once.

It was a good look for both the father and son.

By summer 2004, Bradley had once again returned to his family in San Diego, or well more so Oxnard, California to where Maverick and Penny where currently living for his second-year summer holidays, but instead of everyone partying at the beach like they had a year ago, they were instead gathered around in a naval base hospital waiting room, waiting for the news that had taken them all by surprise months earlier.

Despite being in their late thirties and early forties, Pete and Penny where shocked by the surprise of their life when she began to feel sick around Christmas time. When they went to the doctors to have a health check-up, to the newly wedded couples surprise, the doctor only had good news for them. On Christmas day, Bradley opened one of the gifts he’d received to find two small items set on top of some tissue paper, a used pregnancy test and a sonograph sat on the papers with a t-shirt underneath it that said, “Best Big Brother.” On it. Bradley broke out crying in delight as he hugged Maverick and Penny at the news that they were blessed with their miracle baby, that he was going to become an older sibling. Maverick ended up breaking the news to the guys when they were all stateside, all having a boys night reunion out at his house and airstrip out in Mojave, Sarah and Penny where having a girls night to themselves back in San Diego.

He had Ice set up a video recorder to capture everyone’s reactions to finding out the baby of the group was about to become a dad again to his own spawn this time.
It took them a good two hours before they put the tiny pilot down and stop crying at finding out they where becoming uncles once again.

With Maverick living up in Oxnard, and Penny working in San Diego, the now retired admiral Benjamin and his wife moved out to San Diego, moving into Maverick and now Penny’s main Californian residence in the city to help take care of their daughter and alleviate any stress the pregnancy was bringing to her, whilst Maverick would fly between Oxnard and San Diego at the weekends to be with his wife. However, the further into the pregnancy Penny got, it was decided that she’d move up to Oxnard to the beach front property Pete had bought so that both could raise the new-born baby until Penny’s maternity leave was over, so both parents could spend as much time together as possible.

Jim understood and even encouraged Penny to take as long as needed for maternity, knowing the loud rowdiness of the bar was not going to be healthy environment for a developing pregnancy, especially in a Navy bar, so he encouraged her to take maternity and move to Oxnard as soon as she hit her third trimester, promising her job was safe and she could return to it after a year, that he wasn’t going to let his best bartender come back to work before she was ready to do so and to enjoy the first year with their new child. Pete left Jimmy a decent, in the tens of thousands of dollars, tip next time he was in the Hard deck for the old veteran, as a thank you for being so understanding and an apology for stealing his favourite and most competent Bartender for a year.

So as the due date arrived, all of the people they’d come to call family over the years, or those who were stateside or available, came running to hear the news.

After an hour or two of everyone’s arrival to the hospital, a nurse came to the waiting room.
“Is there a Bradley here?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“Your parents are in room 8607, congratulations to the new big brother.” She smiled as she walked out of the room.

Bradley looked at his uncles and aunts who nodded and left the family room, heading down towards the room where his adoptive mother was. With a quick pep talk to himself, he knocked the door and pushed it open, entering slowly, peaking his head around the corner. Mav snapped his head up and looked over to Bradley with a beaming smile, dried tear tracks down his face. Penny looked at him with a smile and gently shifted to allow Bradley to see the little bundle in pink blankets in her arms.

“Hey kiddo, come and meet your little sister.” Mav laughed.
“A sister, you had a little girl?” Bradley’s face beamed as he moved to sit on the edge of the bed.
“Yep.” Penny chuckled hoarsely as she nodded at her husband, gently handing the new-born off into her older brothers’ arms.
“Bradley, meet Amelia Caroline Benjamin-Mitchell.” Mav smiled as he kissed Penny’s forehead. Getting a laugh out of Brad.
“Of course, you name her Amelia. The aviator naming their daughter after the most infamous female aviator.” The academy cadet laughed.
“She’ll be our little Amelia Earhart in no time, unless she takes after Penny and wants to be our little sailor.” Mav chuckled as Penny rolled her eyes.
“She’s so tiny.” Bradley awed as he gently bounced his new baby sister, laughing in disbelief when she awoke and opened her eyes, revealing a pair of bright green emeralds just like her fathers.

“Hey little lindy, I’m your big brother.” Bradley started to giggle.
“Lindy?” Mav raised his eyebrow.
“Sorry, fell in with some guys at the academy who like oldies and play jazz and it’s been stuck in my head since. We’ve got a little jazz club for free time.” Bradley laughed.
“Alright, whatever floats your boat kiddo.” Mav laughed at the nickname.
“Next thing you know he’ll be wearing Hawaiians and leather jackets together.” Penny giggles.
“Now there’s a thought.” Bradley smirked, liking the idea.
“No, don’t you dare kiddo, the mustache is enough, we don’t need a horrid clash between leather jackets and Hawaiian shirts.” Mav laughed.
“But it be like carrying a piece of both my dad’s around.” Bradley gave his patented puppy eyes that still worked despite his age.
“Damn it, not the puppy dog eyes.” Mav chuckled.

Little Amelia gurgled and let out a tiny laugh at her dad and brother, getting Mav to melt and awe at his baby girl.
“Get used to it daddy dearest, you’ve got two kids who have you wrapped around their little fingers.” Penny laughed as she watched her husband be reduced to a blubbering pile of goop as Bradley’s puppy dog eyes and Amelia’s innate cuteness rendered him completely useless like the idiot he was.

Maverick sighed half-heartedly as he bent down to kiss his wife once more as Bradley handed baby Amelia back over to her parents. The three adults cooing and adoring the missing puzzle piece of their small family.

A little while later, the flyboy uncles’ squad, Aunts and grandparents where finally allowed to enter the room,

“Well, hey there pops and momma, how’s it hanging.” Slider laughed as he led the group in, noting the dried tear tracks on everyone’s cheeks.
“Sli, please punch me because I can’t believe I have a daughter.” Mav chuckled as he looked at his brothers, yelping as Admiral Benjamin punched him.
“You have no idea how many years I’ve been waiting to do that Mitchell. Now I finally have a good excuse.” The grey-haired man laughed as he punched his son in law.
“Noted sir.” Maverick winced. “No taking this little one flying until after her mother has her in a boat first then if I want to live.”
“A wise idea Mitchell.” Admiral Harold Benjamin laughed at his son in law, getting a loud laugh from Penny that startled the child in her arms, Mav gently pickling her up and soothing her quickly, back to Penny.

“Oh, another little girl for the family?” Sarah cooed.
“Oh dear god, some poor fuckers never going to be found twenty years from now.” Wood winced as he looked at Maverick, getting a laugh from Ice.
“Poor fucker’s going to turn up asking permission to take her to prom, who’s just as delinquent as you are, and never be found again.” Ice shook his head as he looked at Maverick.
“You say that like you aren’t as protective of Nichole.” Mav chuckled back as Ice came round and hugged him.
“Touche. We’ll talk about potential burial sites and techniques later.” Ice stated, getting an approving nod from the retiring commander of the Atlantic fleet.
“Jesus you two, leave the murder talk till we leave the hospital at least.” Sundown sighed.

“Forget the helo dad’s there, show us the newest little princess to the family!” Chipper pushed Ice, Slider, and Sundown out of the way as he dragged over a cow plushie. No one asked questions to the existence of the plushie, it was just another one of his weird little lovable quirks. Everytime one of his pseudo brothers had a kid, he got them a stuffed toy like their father/uncles callsign. Wolfman’s nephew and Niece Robert and Patricia both got wolf plushies, Ice’s eldest Nichole received an artic fox plushie and the twins Jack and ethan got matching penguin plushies. For Bradley’s fifth birthday he got the kid a goose plushie and a little cow plushie, explaining that a Maverick was another name for a young wild runty calf, which ended up with Maverick showing him the bird. Today was the return of the cow plushie, a plush black and white cow with soft small stubby horns, pink nose and ears, a pink ribbon around its neck with a bow at the back and a bell dangling on its front.

“She’s so cute.” Wolf cooed.
“Give the kid a few days wolf, she looks like a raspberry right now.” Hollywood joked.
“Rude.” Penny stuck her tongue out.
“So how are you feeling Penny, no stitches?” Sarah asked, fussing over the new mother.
“Sore, tired, and thankfully no stitches. Thankfully Mitchell genes are small.” Penny laughed, getting laughter from everyone.
“Penny!” Mav gawked at his wife.
“Kidding, kidding, all your height went to the one place that mattered.” She giggled as she pecked him on the cheek, the rest of the boys howling at the new father.
“So, what’s the little one’s name?” Chipper giggled as he pushed his way to the front.
“Guys, meet Amelia Caroline Benjamin-Mitchell. Mel’s meet your big scary fighter pilot and admiral uncles and kick ass lawyer aunt… and scary grandpa admirals, whenever Grandpa Viper finally gets down from his hop and his secretary tells him the news.” Mav laughed as Penny handed her over to him.

The group of aviators awed and cooed at the little girl in Mav’s arms. All of the overwhelmed with delight and happiness at their youngest brother finally living the happy life he deserved.

“Dibs godfather.” Merlin called out over the crowd.
“Sorry Merls buddy, Ice dibbed godfather before we even knew Penny was pregnant. Who do you think helped plan the surprise party at the hanger.” Mav laughed.
“I knew what to look out for, Sarah’s first trimester was a nightmare with the twins. It was easy to spot Penny’s pregnancy when you know what to look for.” Ice laughed, smugly taking in the shocked expressions of everyone. The women shared a look of exasperation as they rolled their eyes at their husbands respectively.
Bradley was the first to bend over laughing, soon everyone was joining in and laughing alongside him, Mav beaming brightly at it all.
“Don’t give us that look Pete.”
“What look?” Mav smirked.
“That one.” Penny laughed.

The hospital room was full of laughter and coos as the new parents and the people who had become their family over the years eagerly welcome the surprising new addition to their family.

By summer 2006, Bradley had graduated summa cum laude of his academy class, all of his fly boy uncles, and dad cheering the loudest and the rowdiest as they all marched towards where he was standing to attention, waiting his family to tap him out. Due to there rankings and legendary status in the Navy as being the deadliest and most competent officers serving, the eight of them found themselves being invited to the many graduation events that takes place before graduation and appointment as an ensign. All of them wore there summer whites, there stars on there collars gleaming and golden shoulderboards gleaming as they approached.

Maverick and Ice where the first to walk up to the newly commissioned officer, having picked up his midshipman’s cap, with Penny and baby Amelia behind them, awaiting to see their son and brother. The two highest ranking officers of there family stood before Bradley with their serious brass business faces. Ice looked at Maverick and nodded. Maverick had been the one they were giving the honour to for the pinning of Bradleys ensign shoulder boards onto his uniform, Maverick was his godfather, the only one of them there who had been there from the start of his life, who stepped up and fulfilled the role of a father for the young man when tragedy struck and took his own. Maverick was the one who had soothed him to sleep during his nightmares, told him bedtime stories, helped him with his schoolwork and homework’s, picked him up when he was sick and poorly, looked after the kid and adopted the teenager upon finding out his mother was dying. Maverick had been there for nearly all of his major moments in life, helped to create a new family for both the young man and him after losing a brother and sister, a father and mother. It was only fair that his adoptive father did the next part of the graduation ceremony, who held his hand and helped him grow and learn, all to become the man he is today.

“Ensign Bradshaw.” Maverick stated.
“Rear Admiral Mitchell, sir.” Newly commissioned officer ensign Bradshaw replied.
“I believe these are yours’s officer.” Maverick smiled as he held the shoulder boards in his hand. “You’ve come so far, learned so much and we are so proud of you son. Thank you for giving me the honor of doing this today. We are all so proud of you. I know that it should have been someone else doing this for you, but I think he’d say I was a decent stand in for him.” Mav’s voice wavered as he pinned the ensigns rank onto his shoulders.
“Thank you sir. I like to thing he’d be proud of you being here to do this for him.”
“Congratulations officer, at ease and give us all a hug son.” Mav laughed as he tapped Bradley’s shoulder, the man in parade rest quickly broke out into a smile and fell into his dads’ arms, picking the smaller admiral up in a tight hug.

“Thanks Dad.” Ensign Bradshaw whispered into his ear.
“Congrats baby goose, you made it.” Mav cheered.
“Top of your class too.” Ice preened, “Looks like some of us where great influences on you.”
“Oh hush, had I not been barred from the academy I can guarantee I would have been top of my class back then.”
“Would you though, remember the brass in the eighties still absolutely hated your guts.” Ice raised an eyebrow. “Not to mention you’d have only been going to flight school in 85 considering you’re two years younger and would probably have not gotten into our top gun class. Maybe fate worked out in your favour for once, no academy for you but you got a squad of brothers out of it.”
“… fair enough.” Mav shrugged. “They’d have probably pulled some bias shit to have me drop out, which to be honest would not look good on their account because I already had numerous degrees from ivy league colleges anyways.” Mav chuckled.

“Probably glad that didn’t happen otherwise you might have been stuck with a different callsign dad.” Bradley laughed.
“Speaking of Callsigns, ship out to Pensacola is in forty-eight hours kid. You’re heading to flight school.” Mav smiled.
“But before that, we have a party to get started.” Slider cheered as he threw his arm around Ices neck.
“Academy tradition for us aviators is to get absolutely smashed.” Wolfman cheered.
“Fuck you asshole, some of us had to go the other way, we didn’t get these traditions.” Maverick rolled his eyes.
“I hope the hell it’s not, some of us need their husband to be somewhat sober to help look after the baby. Isn’t that right Mel’s, daddies on diaper duty.” Penny cooed as she handed the grabby baby over to her brother.
“Hey lindy, look at you, cute little sailors dress to match with the rest of us huh?” Bradley laughed as he realised what Penny had dressed Amelia up in.

“Adwee.” The baby girl giggled as she looked between her dad and brother.
“She’s speaking?” Bradley asked in awe as he looked at her.
“Yep, it’s a recent development.” Penny laughed.
“Guess what her first word was?” Mav sighed.
“Jet, plane, mom or Dad?” the ensign guessed.
“Boat.” Mav shivered in mock horror, getting a smack to the back of his head from Penny.
“No, little lindy you’ve betrayed us, why a sailor, be an aviator.” Bradley moaned as the baby giggled. The rest of the fly boys commiserating with Maverick.
“Or at least become a J.A.G, serve but not in any line that’ll give me a heart attack when she’d older.” Mav muttered as his baby girl giggled as he picked her up.
“Come on boys, you can negotiate your terms of surrender to admiral Amelia over a nice dinner and a drink.” Penny smiled as she took Pete’s arm as he offered it to her, whilst Pete himself threw his arm up and over Bradley’s shoulder.

The group of officers laughed as they lead the newest officer of the family away from the stands.

A year later in 2007, Bradley was graduating flight school, acing everything that the naval air forces threw at him, almost beating out the course records that Maverick set decades earlier, impressing every one of his uncles who welcomed the baby of the flyboys group to their elite rankings proudly. He’d started off his training in Pensacola, able to skip the beginners class as he already held a plane licence and could fly and was then transferred to the more advanced training courses in Texas where he was graduating. Once the graduation ceremony was over, the large family all took off towards their youngest pilot. He was met however first, by the youngest of the family barrelling into her older brother’s legs.

“Well, hey there little lindy, you’ve gotten so much bigger and faster since I left haven’t you.” Bradley chuckled as he patted his sisters head, falling out of parade rest.
“Babdlee.” The little brunette giggled as she hugged his leg.
“That she has gosling.” Penny giggled as the adults all finally stood around there youngest. All smiling brightly at him as his adoptive parents and many uncles who were looking at him proudly in their own dress uniforms.
“So, you got a callsign yet gosling.” Mav laughed as he hugged his son tightly.
“Don’t tell me we managed to make gosling stick.” Chipper laughed behind him.
“Nope, however our commander recognized the name and immediately gave me my callsign the moment he looked at me.” Bradley admitted with a light blush breaking out over his face.
“Oh really, I’ve never heard of that before.” Ice laughed, “Normally you do something stupid, or tell a stupid joke or story and end up with your callsign.”
“Don’t mistake his ice-cold exterior, he repeatedly slipped on the tarmac like there was Ice on it.” Slider winked, getting Ice to slap the back of his head as the man frowned at him.
“And you walked into a sliding door, repeatedly.” Ice deadpanned at his former RIO.

“I was lucky enough to get to choose my own because dumb fuck and shithead where not appropriate, so I chose one that represented my numerous degrees and academical genius.” Mav smiled before frowning at Ice as he coughed out a “bullshit” into his hand behind them, with Slider leaning over and whispered, “Academic genius, Socially Stupid.” Which got a laugh out of Ice and an elbow from Maverick to his gut.
“Pete, language around Mel’s.” Penny kicked her husband’s shin as she handed her daughter off to her adoptive son with a smile. The young pilot took his baby sister off his adoptive mother’s hands with a smile and hoisted the squealing toddler up into his arms.
“And Goose was attacked by a goose.” Merlin laughed as he patted Maverick’s shoulder in sympathy.
“Really? That’s how my dad got his callsign?” Bradley’s eyebrows raised in surprise.
“That and his mothering tendencies baby goose.” Mav chuckled.
“So, what have you been saddled with Gosling.” Wolfman excitedly asked. “Please tell me it is Gosling or Duckling.”
“At least stick to something bird related for your father.” Penny chuckled as Amelia giggled in Bradleys arms, patting his face.
“It’s something alright, it’s Rooster.” Bradley laughed as he rubbed the back of his neck as all his uncles looked at him proudly and confused.
“It’s great to see the return of the bird callsign but… I didn’t think you were packing that much down their kiddo.” Holly laughed before yelping as Penny shoved a sharp elbow into his stomach, reminding them of the kid there.

“That’s not why the commander gave me it. But I do pack a lot down there according to my flings.” Bradley winked getting Maverick to splutter out a “dear god” as he blanched at the thought his adoptive kid had picked up his flirtatious habit of sleeping with anyone wanting a good time.
“Really, why not.” Chipper asked.
“I gave him Rooster because he was Maverick’s wakeup call to stop being a himbo.” Cowboy laughed as he came up to his old classmates, clapping the newly dubbed Rooster on the shoulder. “And what wakes a cowboy up early in the morning fellas?” Kimmy laughed.
“Excuse me?” Maverick spluttered as his jaw dropped in horror as the others burst out laughing.
“A goddamned Rooster.” Wolf howled in laughter at his fellow Texas cowboy. “Damn Kimmy, this where they stored you?”
“You can take a man out of Texas, but you can never take the Texas out of a man. When I was offered the position of commander and trainer here, I leapt at the opportunity and took it back home, finally got my ass out of the firing range and seeing a nice, sophisticated lady down in San Antonio now.” Cowboy nodded, “And damn, look at you lot, captains and admiral bigwigs now, they suit you all.” He laughed.

“So, how’s our chicken fly Cowboy?” Slider asked with a smirk.
“As instinctive as Mav but with a certain ice-cold snowman’s carefully planned approach and less of the controlled chaos, a little slower, more cautious though. He’s good but it’s a habit that I’d worry about if he can’t break out of if he’s in a dog fight, its fine for bombing runs and other things, he’s not likely to go crashing into the side of a canyon wall. He’s brilliant though when he switches his brain off and takes someone “Don’t think just do” approach, maybe light a fire under his tail to shift his ass into gear when he needs to get off his perch.” Cowboy admitted the last part quietly to Mav and Ice. A warning to them both that Rooster, whilst being a capable pilot, had seemingly picked up some of their bad habits that worried his trainer.
“Congratulations Lieutenant junior grade Bradshaw, your old man would be mostly proud.”

“Mostly?” The others side eyed the commander.
“Mostly because he went and got qualified as a single seater pilot, not a Weapons systems officer, now that, that would have the Goose we knew rolling in his grave for a few minutes before he began his gushing and honking laughter. Congrats kid, knew these two would convince you to join the better side.” Cowboy laughed as he clapped Ice and Maverick on the shoulder all three pilots laughing as Slider, Merlin, Wolfman, and Sundown looked at them indignantly. “But seriously Mav, Nick would be proud of you too, you stepped up for his kid, where there for him and whilst he lost a dad, he gained seven new uncles and mostly positive male role models in his life. I say mostly because he got drunk and sang on top of my roof at oh four hundred, just as tone deaf as his godfather after an entire bottle of whiskey.”
“…Thanks Kim.” Mav shook his head fondly and laughed.

“So, he’s got the weekend and then he’s been assigned to VFA-87, Golden Warriors. But he’s not shipping out to oceana until Monday with his other classmates, so you’ve got the weekend boys. Have fun and remember not to fly whilst intoxicated.”
“Not the pacific with us?” Slider sighed.
“Familial ties, brass wasn’t going to be that lenient, probably feared what trouble we’d get up to if all of us where on the west coast. At least some of our classmates are still commanders and a few of them are coming up for captain shortly if we need to pull a favour.” Mav shook his head.

“Hey, I can still fly back to San Diego when I’m on leave, it’s not all that bad. I did expect to end up on the east coast though, figured it would be the brass’s way of telling dad to behave and not try anything.” newly dubbed Rooster chuckled.
“Blackmail me, how dare they.” Mav cried out indignantly.
“I mean, would that stop you though from doing something stupid?” Ice raised an eyebrow at his friend.
“No probably not, but I do like being in California and don’t want to end up shipped off to be boss of God forbid Guam of all places. Penny would kill me, she likes the sail up to my base but she’d drown me if she had to sail all the way across the pacific.” Mav chuckled.
“That I would, at least if you ended up in Hawaii I’d be able to sail there in under a week.” Penny kissed Mav on his cheek, a warning to her husband to behave himself.
“I’ll thank them for sending you a reminder not to piss off the wife then at the next meeting I need to be present for.” Ice snorted.
“Come on dad, uncles, let’s get out of here. I heard someone booked out the best barbecue place in the city for this evening.”
“That he did kiddo, come on now, there’s a rack of ribs with my name on them.” Slider laughed.
“Permission to jump aboard sirs?” Cowboy laughed.
“The more the merrier, come on, ribs awaiting us all.” Mav smiled as Bradley nodded, giving his permission for the family friend to join them all.

They’d had a good evening catching up and letting the youngest flyboy of the group now, know just how proud they were of him.

In 2009, his wish came true, he had made it to top gun. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw had made it to the school for the elite 1% of the navy’s top aviators. The Top gun program had finally made its long-awaited return to San Diego, now based in North Island, under the purview of now rear admiral upper half Maverick Mitchell and now airboss and commander of the pacific strike wing vice admiral Iceman Kazansky, trading postings with Slider who was now the rear admiral of Point Mugu, renting out the beach house from Maverick.

Speaking of which, Maverick was in his home office, it was a study day for his class, and it allowed him time to mark and check over this term’s classwork. He was looking over the work his newest class had handed to him when his phone began to buzz.
Picking it up he saw he had one new message from Rooster. “Hey dad, I forgot my homework. Can you drop it off at the seminar hall? Its empty, don’t worry.” The text read.

Maverick sighed as he went off to Bradleys room, looking over the kids’ desk, finding the work he needed to hand in to Hollywood and Sundown. Both of them where captains now overseeing the training of the program, both sticking it out for a few more years to train there gosling before they’d hand the reigns over to another set of trainers who had joined them last year, one who had studied under Mavericks short lived first stint as a top gun teacher, aka the one responsible for getting him fired the first time, and the second, the second coming of Iceman, Commander Solomon “Warlock” Bates and Captain Beau “Cyclone” Simpson.

Maverick located the papers he needed and shot off a text towards Bradley as he grabbed a bag and his helmet, he needed to set a good example for Amelia however it was already far too late to convince Bradley to wear one.
“Okay, on my way over to base now.”

So fifteen minutes later, Maverick, who had somehow managed to change into his spare service khakis he kept in his office, and proceeded to walk into the Top gun classrooms, heading towards the seminar hall. He did very little teaching, however he was in charge of overseeing the program, the lesson plans and reviewing the files of the pilots who entered the school and assist in mission planning, so whilst the students knew who he was, he interacted with them very little unless it was the odd surprise hop where he joined Hollywood in the air to scare the shit out of the students.

He opened the door and walked on in, stopping when he realised, most of this year’s class was in the seminar hall, all of whom stopped and looked up at the admiral entering the room in awe and wonder.

“EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM OWES ME FIVE DOLLARS, I TOLD YOU MY DAD WAS AN ADMIRAL!” Rooster cheered.

“Lieutenant Bradshaw, what have I said about abusing familial connections?” Maverick raised an eyebrow tiredly.
“I’m not abusing them, sir; I genuinely forgot my work at home.” Bradley smiled mischievously.
“Alright, lieutenants, if Vice admiral Kazansky ever gets word that I fell for this, all of you will be finding yourselves running laps of Coronado beach for a full day. Understand.”
“What about captains Neven and Williams, sir?” someone asked, whom he recognized as a young pilot called Payback, he’d laughed upon seeing the young man lose a bet with Bradley and began to grow a mustache over the past few weeks, and honestly, it suited the guy.

“Holly and Sunny will each be sworn to secrecy with other methods. Lieutenant Bradshaw, your work. See you for dinner later, its Korean barbeque tonight remember, and pick up some strawberry lemonade for your sister on your way home would you.” Mav winked as he decided to embarrass his adult kid, kissing his cheek as he dropped the papers on his desk.
“Dad no, not in front of the class.” He spluttered as his classmates chuckled.
“Consider it your punishment, or I could have you do two hundred push ups.”
“Noted sir.” Bradley sighed as his classmates laughed.

“Good, just because we’re related does not mean you will receive special treatment over your classmates, you are here to learn to be better. All of you are good, but Top gun is to make you all better pilots, there is always room for improvement. Your all-good pilots who all think you’re the best of the best and that Top gun’s just a title to add and show that you are one of the best, but you’re here to learn from the mistakes that us older pilots have experienced, and those that you have experienced. Some advice I once received was this, A good pilot always questions himself, always questions his judgments, stays alert for drift and makes the corrections, what I’m telling you now lieutenants will save your lives someday. You all know the manual inside out, along with the so-called limits of your aircraft, so does your enemy, what the enemy doesn’t know is you, your limits. Top gun exists to find them, test them and push beyond those limits. Flying faster than the speed of sound with one split second to make a life-or-death decision requires a level or trust, feel and instinct that doesn’t exist in any manual. That’s why we start with what you only think you know. So for tomorrows hop, your going to show me what you’re made of and what you've learned so far.” Maverick smiled, watching as the class paled suddenly including Bradley at the thought of going up against the admiral in charge of the Top gun program.

“Try something like this again lieutenant Bradshaw and I will give Retired rear admiral Metcalf and Heatherly clearance to come on base and kick you and your classmates asses into shape lieutenant. Or worse, I get Vice admiral Kazansky and he’ll join me in the air, together, and we don’t want that now do we.” Maverick chuckled, watching as the students paled at the thought of going up against one of only two naval aviators left in the navy with confirmed air to air kills under his belt. “And if I hear about the rest of you making fun of him for nepotism, I’ll gladly be able to tell my wife she has volunteers for cleaning out the latrine at the Hard deck, understood lieutenants.”
“Sir yes sir.” The class straightened up; many having paled at the thought of getting on the admiral’s bad side.
“Then that’s all. Have a nice afternoon and remember to take a break and get some fresh air at a stage.” Mav smiled as he left the room.

When the course finished a few weeks later, Maverick congratulated Bradley as he handed over the Top gun plaque. Rooster having come first in his class, his points just below Mav and Ice’s, in the top five for Top gun participants. A well-deserved victory for him, even with his classmates gunning for him and getting other members of brass to confirm that nepotism was not behind the winning results.

Not that his classmates cared, they did end up getting a night of free booze from the hard deck from the massive after party rear admiral Kerner hosted, the man having come down from Point Mugu to throw one for his “Favourite” nephew. As long as Jack or Ethan got parties just as big when it was there turn to end up at the academy and Top gun then they’d be none the wiser as to who Sliders actual favourite child was.

2020.

Maverick was frothing at the mouth as he stormed into his office in China Lake. How dare Cane march into his base unannounced, threaten his staff and try to interfere in classified projects that are beyond not only his security clearance but that of 97 percent of the Navys Brass altogether. He quickly changed out of his Flight suit, glaring down Canes MP’s who had been sent by the rear admiral upper half to collect the unruly pilot who’d “Stolen” the Dark star and pushed it to its contract speeds, meeting the government contract requirements three months before the official deadline. Cane was literally pissing himself when he saw that he’d accidentally pissed off a four-star admiral who not only was overseeing the whole project but also test piloting the jet to ensure what his pilots where telling him was up to his standards and proceeded to spend the next three hours raking him over the coals.

He’d just watched as the bases MP’s cuffed the man as the JAG’s began to read out the list of crimes they were going to charge the now former rear admiral when his private mobile phone began to buzz next to him.

Maverick however wasn’t in any mood to talk and ended up snapping at whoever was ringing him as he picked up the phone.

“WHAT?” Maverick yelled down the line as he picked up his mobile phone.
“Jesus Pete, the hells got you up in a twist.”

Maverick sighed as he pinched the bridge between his eyes.

“Hi Tom, sorry Tom. Just got finished nailing an Atlantic fleet admiral for treason up here.”
“I, I’m sorry, an Atlantic fleet admiral?” the confused voice on the other line stuttered.
“There is a security breach I’m dealing with right now; members of the lower brass are aware of an advanced jet program going on up here and now former rear admiral Cane attempted to steal the funding for it. I’ve ordered an investigation into the security leak, and informed secnav and sec def so if you hear shit from them about it all, I apologize. I had no option but to jump to full power and pull the deadline forward to meet the contract in order to keep the program afloat. Can you believe this, but he wasn’t aware I was an admiral?”

“Seriously, the brass is aware of how difficult a choice it was for the president when it came to choosing which one of us, he was going to make his pacific fleet commander? They can’t all be that ignorant… never mind I know better than to even say that. The president was so pissed and confused on who to choose so much so he said fuck it and made you admiral with me but gave you a new roll and position that suited your crazy ass and still lets me babysit you.” Ice laughed over the line.
“Hey, commander of special operations is actually a pretty good deal. I get to work with our arms suppliers and get to fly and oversee the non-existent specialist missions that literally have never come up. meaning more time for me to test pilot and do hops.”
“Yes well, we finally have a mission that needs our commander of special operations and if it goes well you might get your first specialist strike squadron, so when your done smoking Cane, get your ass in either a jet or on your bike and Sarah’s holding a pot roast tomorrow evening, bring Mel’s and Penny, but stop by the hard deck and bring a bottle of the good stuff with you.
“Ciroc or grey goose?”
“Ciroc please. So don’t forget to report in to Vice admiral Simpson and Rear admiral Bates tomorrow before fifteen hundred hours for briefing on the situation.”
“No bother. See you then Tom. At least Penny will be happy I’ll be home earlier this weekend.” Mav sighed as he hung up.

Maverick could only glare at Ice as Amelia and Penny entered the house, Bradley laughing as he hugged his younger cousins Jack and Ethan who both where home from deployments too.
“You have got to be shitting me. Seriously Tom, a suicide mission, and Bradley of all people?”
“Pete, there’s no one better to teach this, and if anyone’s going to lead it, it’ll be Bradley, he’s ready to start stepping up into a leader roll. Pull this off, you get a squadron, moved back to North Island and the gosling gets his promotion to lieutenant commander and fast tracked to commander in a few years by the time we’d be retiring.” Ice smiled, having there final few years in the navy all planned out.
“We’re gonna lose a lot of jets, you realise that right.” Mav sighed as he covered his eyes with his hand.
“Eh, you can pay me back.” Ice smirked, waving a hand at his friend.
“Fuck off Kazansky.” Maverick shook his head with a laugh.
“Come on, it’s not like you’re going to be mission leader.” The man added, not realising he was digging himself into a hole.
“No but my son might be, imagine it was Jack or Ethan then you’ll understand my reservations, or worse, Nichole.” Mav glared, getting ice to freeze as he realised just how big a hole he’d dug for himself.

“Oh… oh shit.”
“Yes, oh shit.”
“… So, I take it that’s a rain check on the mustang flight next month.”
“Damn straight.”
“Fuck.”

Two and a half weeks later.

“What are you doing here?”
“I saved your life.”
“I saved your life, what the hell where you even thinking.”
“You told me not to think!” Rooster yelled back.
“Welp…. It’s good to see you?” Mav winced, bending over to catch his breath. “…Do not tell Penny about this.”
“Good to see you too…since when could we keep secrets from the girl’s dad… we’re fucked.” Bradley groaned as he threw his head back to the sky.
“Yep, we so are.” His dad agreed.
“Think she’ll be lenient?”
“As in guest room lenient, or couch lenient?” Mav chuckled.
“Yeah.”
“Nope.”
“Fuck… I hate scrubbing the latrines at the deck.”
“You and me both kiddo, you and me both.” Mav sighed. “Come on, time for a family road trip.”
“Why did I come back for your stupid ass.” Bradley muttered as he hefted his parachute up on his shoulder.
He could only shake his head and roll his eyes as he followed his dad deeper into enemy territory.

It would be a breeze compared to what dealing with Mom and Mel's would be like when they eventually got home.

A week later, Maverick and Rooster where kneeling in front of an enraged Penny Benjamin-Mitchell, with Amelia sitting on a workbench eating popcorn as she watched her mom rage at her father and brother for there impromptu venture into enemy territory. She’d come back from her and Amelia’s trip to Baja California Mexico whilst the boys where away, knowing that this mission was serious enough that either one of them, or neither of them might come back. Penny didn’t want to hang around and find out through scuttlebutt before an officer would make it to her and her husband’s home to tell her that either her husband or son hadn’t made it.

Thankfully, she found the pair out in Mojave at her husband’s hanger, recuperating from there ejections and fixing up the p-51 mustang, and looking over the destroyed wreck of an f-14 that had somehow been hauled into the hanger. Ice, after being bribed with a bottle of the good stuff, had quickly told Penny where her husband and son had taken off to when they found the girls gone. Ice melted under Penny’s hard stare and told her about the mission mishap.

A few hours later, Penny had retreated to the trailer for a refreshing shower, after peppering her husband and son in hundreds of kisses and checked her idiots over, with Amelia having retreated to Mav’s room in the trailer for a nap, leaving Bradley and Maverick resting on the sofa, there jackets strewn over their shoulders.

“Do you ever think back to when you deferred my academy application dad?” Bradley asked.

“Hum?” Mav sleepily asked.
“Do you ever think about what would have happened if you’d pulled my application altogether.” Bradley asked.
“No… not really. Sure, sometimes I have horrible nightmares and PTSD episodes of what ifs and deployment scenarios over the years.” Mav admitted. “The worst are the ones where you never come back from the front lines or are involved in an accident like your fathers… but I’m glad I didn’t, I’m so proud of the man and pilot you’ve grown in to.”
“I think if you’d pulled my application, I think I’d have been as angry as I was, would have hurt you badly dad and walked out on you and the flyboys. I’d probably have gone to a college on the other side of the country and try to reapply for the academy, eventually getting in but four years back instead of the two I was. Might have never made it onto the dagger squadron, might never have made it to this level of flying.”
“Of course, you would have baby goose, you were born for the air. Even if we had fallen out and lost contact, you’d have still made it to the squadron. Probably be rightfully pissed and stubborn to boot, but that’s to be expected, you’re as much as a Mitchell as you are a Bradshaw, and your parents where just as stubborn as I am.” Mav chuckled, “You’d have made it, and we’d probably have just repeated the forest and end up making up on the carrier when we realised how stupid we’d been and just how much time we lost.”

“That’s… oddly insightful for you dad. Are you sure you’re still not suffering from a concussion?” Bradley asked with a laugh.
“Rude son, I’m perfectly fine for a sixty-year-old admiral who just made ace.” Mav laughed.
“Come on you old geriatric, let’s see if we can steal a blanket of lindy, I could do with a good nap.” Rooster smiled as he stood up, hauling the old man up off the sofa.

“Oi, gosling, behave….” Mav rolled his eyes before freezing as he remembered something he’d seen from training. “So… what’s really going on between you and hangman.” Mav asked cheerfully as the pair walked towards the trailer.
“Wouldn’t you like to know old man.” Bradley replied with his dad’s trademark mischievous smirk.
“Come on, I want grandkids already, and if you thought your grandpa Viper was bad, I will be worse, you call me a geriatric old man and I will give you one.” Mav laughed as he leaned into his son’s side.
“Alright, alright, I surrender. No more age jokes until your eighty.”
“I’ll live to ninety then will I, give you and the kids at least a decade to crack jokes.” Mav laughed.
“Sure, old man, sure. If there’s no more life-or-death situations for a while, I think that’s alright.” Rooster smiled tiredly.
“I think I can do that.” Mav smiled.

Both walking into the trailer laughing, arms wrapped around each other’s shoulder.

If they’d looked out the hanger door, they might have seen the two geese looking in at them. One would say the geese where proud if they looked at them, watching the happy family. The smaller of the two birds leaned into the larger one who nodded happily, honking before spreading his wings and taking flight, his partner right next to him as they disappeared into the evening sun.

Their brother and son were happy and healthy, with a large loving family, they’d gotten there happy ending.

It wouldn’t be for another thirty years before they welcomed their brother to the flock in the sky, and another five years after that when there gosling joined their flock.
The Bradshaw-Mitchell family reunited once more forever.

Chapter Text

“So, how’s your project been up there been, you’re not tiring yourself out, are you?”

“Classified, you know that, Sarah. It’s been good, a bit strenuous but that’s just on my shoulder, I think I pulled something a few weeks back and it’s just been slow to heal like everything else now a days.” Mav laughed.
The pilot was toiling away on the engine of the P-51 mustang he owned, performing some minor maintenance, and replacing a cracked part. He had his phone on his shoulder up against his ear, talking over the phone to his pseudo sister Sarah, Iceman’s sister, calling down to her for a check-up on Tom.

“I know, but if it gets Tom excited about it, I can only imagine how excited you are to be working on it. He was saying that if it goes well, you’re going to have one hell of a time fighting off the next promotion, he said Washington was pleased with yours and Canes reports on the project, and it made him happy. It makes a girl curious and yes, I know classified, but I can still ask how you feel about it.” Sarah chuckled down the line.
“Oh, its brilliant, one of the best things I’ve ever had the privilege of working on, it’s an engineer’s dream and my team here is amazing, Hondo my right-hand man is brilliant, and we instantly clicked when we began discussing the project. Tell Tom to twist Ron’s arm some day and swing by and we’ll shove him in the sims for a day.” Mav laughed over the line once more.
“It’s a bit early into his recovery yet Pete, you know that. Toms trying to put on a strong front, but he’s still wiped out from treatments yet. Be careful what you say over the phone anyways idiot, Toms sick but not sick enough that he won’t beat the crap out of you if you accidentally leak classified information!” she laughed, the image of her brother beating the crap out of Mav whilst he's sick and in recovery was quite funny to her.

“Probably not beat the crap out of me, just send me to Alaska or Antarctica again but it’s true, all these kids are so brilliant and have so many good ideas for future projects. I’m so proud of them all.”
“You’ve taken them under your wing, haven’t you?” the woman’s smile could be felt over the phone call at that.
“I have, some of their designs are brilliant but others need a bit more refining, I’ve also been able to help point them towards better choices of materials for their projects.” Mav sighed happily over the phone as he threw a wrench down on his tool tray.
“Are you still working on the Mustang?” the woman inquired as she heard the clattering of metal on the other side of the line.
“Yeah, the rotor cuff had a metal fatigue crack in it and needs to be replaced fully before its next flight otherwise its engine failure and I go kaput with it. Only, replacing it would be so much easier if I could use both hands freely, I don’t know what I did to my right shoulder but its… how to describe it, its... stiff and there’s a persistent ache around my lower shoulder blade. I think I pulled something when we were replacing a part on the project, but it could have been me pulling a muscle during the last Physical examination I had around the same time.” Mav explained.

Sarah was thankful they were only calling, not on a video chat, it hid the worried grimace that flooded over her face. The woman was thankful her brother was asleep in the living room right now, he didn’t need to see the worry on her face as she worried over Pete. Pete had been such a big help over the past few months that Tom had been sick, him and Ron specifically, both of them pulling favours to end up back in San Diego, both working out of North Island naval station for a few months as they helped Sarah take care of Ice.
Sadly, where Slider had become an Admiral, Maverick remained a captain, this meant that Maverick, whilst respected by many didn’t have as much leeway as Slider when it came to pulling favours, so the month that Ice was given the all clear, Mav found himself being shipped out again, managing to luckily be placed as a test pilot instead of on active duty up in naval station china lake, probably thanks to Slider, not that either would admit it. It meant that Mav whilst not home in San Diego, he was only a few hours from the city instead of across the country.

It made it easier for him to come home on the days he wasn’t needed on base.

“How long did you say this was going on for?” she asked nervously.
“A few weeks now, why?” Mav replied over the phone, a little worried at the woman’s tone of voice.
“Just… just curious, has anything else happened or have you been feeling unwell?” the woman asked before continuing, failing to keep the worry out of her voice, “Pete have you been to a doctor about it?” She asked.
Pete was thankful Sarah had only called him over the phonelines and not a video call, he heard the nervous wobble in Sarah’s tone, and it began to freak him out a little.

“I… Well, I thought I’d give it some time to heal by itself.” Pete answered, “But I have been feeling a bit more lethargic recently, but I just put that down to the running I’ve been doing around San Diego and up here at China lake.” Pete explained.
“Pete… please go to the doctors at the first chance you get… we don’t need you to be sick too.” Sarah pleaded over the phone, alarm bells going off in the back of her mind as she remembered the warning sighs her brother had missed until the tumour appeared visibly against his throat. The horrible little lump that sat beneath his Adams apple when it first became visible.

“I… right, how about this, we give it to the end of the week, if by Friday I still don’t feel any better I’ll go straight to the doctors and get it checked out. I have scheduled flights for the end of next week so if I was to get a physical check up on Friday it gives me plenty of time to get the paperwork sorted for if we have to push the flights back.” Pete compromised, doing his best to keep the worry out of his voice as he talked to Sarah.
“Okay… okay, Friday. You hear me mister, Friday morning you go to the doctors and get them to check you over. You send me photos and videos the whole time to prove your there or I will drive up to China lake and drag your ass into the medical centre myself do you hear me, Pete.” Sarah laughed as she let off a watery laugh.
“Okay, okay, I will. I need to go here Sarah, replacing this cuff is going to be a pain but I want to get it done by tomorrow so I can get the rest of the plane checked over before the air show next weekend.”
“You still plan on flying it?” Sarah huffed good heartedly; Pete could practically hear her rolling her eyes over the call.
“I mean, I’ve flown in worse conditions. It’s a sore shoulder but im an aviator, aches and bruises are a constant in our line of work the older we get.” Pete chuckled.
“Anyways… I’ll let you go, take care Pete, and please… please just go to the doctors as soon as possible.” Sarah begged quietly over the phone.
“I will, take care Sarah, tell Ice the Mustangs almost ready for that flight I promised him, just a few more touch ups.” Pete replied with a soft smile.
“I will, Bye Pete.” The woman softly spoke before
“Bye Sarah.”

Pete looked over the mustang and the broken part he’d just removed. He had a long night ahead of him as he wiped his hands on a rag before disappearing into the airstream trailer to go put on the coffee pot for himself and grab the sandwiches he’s left out for himself for lunch, they’d been sitting on the table in the trailer for hours at this point but even then, Mav couldn’t bring himself to eat them, he hadn’t had much of an appetite for a while now.

He swallowed roughly as he thought over what Sarah had said, perhaps she did have a point, Ice had complained of a sore throat in the weeks before the tumour showed up, he’s been tired and lethargic and had developed a lack of appetite in the weeks before the diagnosis. He slowly set his cup down before slowly lifting his hand up and feeling around the aching shoulder.

He felt nothing out of the ordinary, but it did ache slightly as he ran his fingers over it. He’d go to the doctors at the end of the week just to be sure.

But for now, he had a plane to fix.

Pete swore loudly as he groaned in pain the next morning, struggling to roll over in his bed.

The dull ache in his shoulder had flared red hot during the night and early hours of the morning. He rolled over onto his left shoulder and slowly hobbled his way into the bathroom, throwing open the cabinets to grab the icy/hot he had lying around in there somewhere. He hadn’t been wrecking himself too much last night as he fixed the plane, so the suddenness of the pain he was experiencing was a shock to him. Perhaps he had overexerted himself last night but was too exhausted to realise it by the time he fell into bed.

With fingers lathered in the ointment, he began the painful dance of moving around to reach the spot that hurt to rub the ointment over the spot.

He froze when his fingers glided over a small, almost unnoticeable bump, right on the edge of the collarbone.

He hadn’t felt that last night.

Ten minutes later he was out of the hanger and heading off towards the bases medical centre after twisting and turning around in front of the mirror for a better look at the bump and deciding it was something the doctors would be more equipped to handle.
The morning sun barely rising over the desert horizon as he headed off to the bases’ hospital.

A few hours later as the early morning peace gave way into the busy business hours, he found himself sitting in the nearby military medical centre waiting for the doctor he’d been assigned to, to return with some news. Upon arriving at the medical centre, he’d sweet talked his way into an immediate appointment with the doctor with a lovely young receptionist. Within minutes of that he’d found himself being checked over by a doctor who quickly ordered him off for a series of tests and procedures after he’d explained his symptoms and told them about the lump on his shoulder, showing them it.

He shot off a text to Sarah, asking her to call him immediately when she could, but not to let Ice know.

It didn’t take long for Sarah to ring him from the office of the house, Sarah putting him in for a video call.

“Jesus Pete, you look horrible.” Was the first thing out of her mouth as Sarah looked at him. Pete could see the worry on her face as she realised, he wasn’t in the hanger. Sarah took in just how pale Pete looked, a far cry from the sun kissed golden colour he’d been not too long ago and the horrible black bags lining his eyes.
“Yeah… feel like it too. Took your advice.” Pete said as he showed her around the doctor’s office.
“How bad Pete?” Sarah asked.
“I don’t know, I’m just after going for an x ray and emergency scans.” Pete winced as he looked at her. “Woke up this morning and my right shoulder was on fire, still is, and… I… Sarah…” Pete started.
“Pete?” the woman inquired, the worry on her face making him feel so guilty.
“I… it could be swelling but… I… there was a, a bump… I found a lump this morning. So small I… it was easy to miss but I, I found it this morning.”
“Oh Pete… is this why you wanted to talk to me alone?”
“Yes… not until I know more. I don’t want to be worrying Ice when he’s recovering.”
“We, not until we know more.” Sarah affirmed over the call.
“Sarah if it is, I can’t burden you with me.” Pete sighed, knowing just how much taking care of Tom during his recovery had taken a toll on them all. He didnt want to put them all through that again, not with Tom only a couple of months into remission.

“Nonsense, you gave up months of your time to come back to San Diego to help me and Ron look after Tom, don’t you dare ever think of going through this by yourself if it is cancer, not after all you did for Tom and me.” Sarah scolded him, “I will have Ron fly up to China lake and drag you out of that hanger and down to La Jolla before you can turn tail and run if I need to, and we both know how much delight he would take in dragging you back down here over his shoulder.” Sarah huffed half-heartedly, the worry quickly returning to her face as she watched Pete. She already knew he'd be self-sacrificing and wouldn't burden them with himself at a time like this.
“I… Sarah…” Pete stuttered.
“Have they done a Biopsy?” Sarah piped up, breaking Pete’s chain of thoughts before he spiralled.
“Yeah… they performed it when I was getting an Xray, they said the lumps wasn’t too deep under the skin so they could perform one under local anaesthetic.”
“Have you been waiting long?”
“At this point… about three hours going on four shortly.” Pete admitted.
“I’m here Pete, I’m not leaving, I’ll stay on the line as long as you need alright?” She reassured as she smiled softly at him.
Maverick smiled softly at her, giving her a gentle nod before Sarah began to gossip about mundane stuff. Just enough to keep his thoughts away from the looming possibilities the doctor could give him.

It didn’t take much longer for the doctor to return, a file in his hands as he looked at Pete and the phone now propped up on his desk.

“Captain Mitchell.” The doctor nodded before looking at the phone.
“Its fine, it’s my sister, she’d the reason why I’m here this morning. She can hear.” Pete smiled nervously. Sarah smiled softly at the man, Pete had become a brother to her over the years and to hear him call her sister made her heart swell in joy. Sarah loved the strays her brother brought home to her, all of their 86ers class friends where all older brothers to Sarah.

“Well, you’ve had a stroke of luck this morning, one of the nurses’ husbands is a specialist and had popped in to deliver coffee to her as it’s his day off. I was able to snag him before he left to have a look at your scans. He then stayed on to look at your Biopsy as well before he left, otherwise you would have been waiting a couple of days for results from the scans and Biopsy.” The doctor started. “However, that’s where your luck seems to have… run out.”
“…Oh…” Pete whispered quietly as he took in the grim expression on the doctor’s face. Sarah slapped her hands over her face as she continued to watch and listen to the doctor.

“I’m afraid Captain, that it is cancer.” The doctor admitted as he brought the scan results up on his computer.

Neither Pete nor Sarah said anything as the doctor looked at them, giving them a minute to absorb the information before continuing.

“What we are looking at is stage three Chondrosarcoma, located just under the collarbone, which is why it’s been missed until now from your mandatory physical. You would have just mistaken it for a pulled muscle until it became noticeable, or the pain flared up like it did today. My college Doctor Malcom, the specialist who checked your test results, recommends referring you over to specialists in either L.A or San Diego for immediate treatment, they have better equipment and facilities to treat this type of cancer.” The doctor gently informed Maverick.

“I’ll give you a minute to talk to your sister Captain.”

“Oh Pete…” Sarah sobbed softly as she looked at the stunned and shocked man.

Pete said nothing as he stared blankly at the wall ahead of him. That was it… its over… he knew what it meant…

“I’m grounded…” Pete quietly mumbled out.

It hadn’t been too long ago when they were sitting in a medical office being told that with cancer comes the disqualification of a pilot’s licence. When Tom’s diagnosis first came in months ago, Ice had his private and military pilots’ licences revoked and even when they tried to get it back recently through consulting with an aviation medical examiner and a review by the FAA, the admiral was denied his licences back. With him the moment they see “bone cancer” on the forms they would just throw out his appeals case.

He’d never fly again.

“Oh Pete….” Sarah gasped quietly; she knew just what this meant for him. Flying was his life outside of his family… to lose it would be losing a part of himself. Ice was devastated and never the same after losing that connection to the sky, it was yet just another small part of Tom that the cancer took.

Now they were about to see it happen all over again.

“I… I… Sarah?” Mav stuttered, “What… what do I do?” he quietly begged her to talk to him. He was unsure of what to do next.

Sarah was quiet for a moment before he saw her sure up over the phone.

“You come home, you come home Pete and we’ll take care of you like how you took care of us. You hear me, when you leave this office, you’re going onto base and will inform Admiral Cane and whoever else you need to of your diagnosis and get your medical leave, and you ask Hondo to drive you home. We transfer your care to balboa, to where they treated Tom, and you will get better. You hear me, Pete.”
“I… I… Okay Sarah… I, I don’t think I’d be able… able to do this without you and Tom and Ron.”
“Damn right, you hear me. You come home to us.” Sarah wiped her eyes.
“Okay… Okay.” Pete huffed out a small smile, relieved that Sarah was there for him.

Pete and Sarah looked up as the doctor re-entered the room with a file of papers for him to sign. They had a lot to do in the next few hours.

An hour later Maverick stood in his dress khaki’s outside of Cane’s office, the medical papers from the base’s hospital in hand to hand over to the admiral.

After a minute he heard Cane call him in.

“So what the hell sort of fire have you lit for yourself this time Mitchell if you need to have this meeting so urgently.” Cane asked, not looking up from his desk as Maverick entered.
“I, um… its…” Mav sighed as he looked at the floor, setting the papers on canes desk, the older man looking up at them before looking over Maverick.
“Mitchell, I may dislike you, you’re a crazy son of a bitch, but are you all right? You don’t look well.” The admiral said as he finally looked over the captain before him, grabbing the papers the man had set down.
“Not as well as I thought I was…. Me and Iceman make a right pair now don’t you think.” Maverick chuckled as he plopped down on the chair opposite the desk, letting Cane read over the medical reports and papers.

“Well fuck me.” Cane swore softly as he read through them, looking between them and Maverick.
“Spent all morning in medical being prodded and poked. I was lucky there was a specialist off duty who had a favour with the doctor I was seeing to get my results so soon. Otherwise, we’d be having this meeting next week.” Maverick quietly informed the admiral.

Cane was silent for a few minutes as he read through the papers.

Maverick just sat back in the chair, looking despondent but thankful Cane decided not to push him on it. It was a while before his commanding officer spoke up again with a sigh.

“Mitchell, I don’t like you, you’re a crazy, smart sarcastic son of a bitch who should be a two-star admiral with your file but for some reason you always manage to wiggle your way out of the promotions. It doesn’t mean I downright hate you, your… magnetic I suppose, attract some people, repel others, but god damn it, you have had so much input to this project that you have begrudgingly earned my respect, you’ve singlehandedly managed to check and advise these young civilian engineers on how to create some of the finest technologically advanced jets in recent years, you’ve tested and perfected the F-35’s under my watch not too long ago and now you’ve managed to create a jet that’s capable of currently mach five. You have taught both the naval engineers on base and Lockheed various engineers how to perfect supersonic stealth flight and how to create a possibly structurally and technologically perfect jet without any serious maintenance changes or material requests after construction began thanks to your inputs on the original designs.” Cane started.
“Helps having three degrees and some old friends in high places.” Mav snorted.

The SR-72 project was an idea Mav and Ice had discussed whilst heavily intoxicated not long after Maverick finished his first long term stint as a test pilot, when he tested the F-35 jets, just a few months before Ice’s cancer diagnosis. The pair talked about what a modern version of the SR-71 would look like and low and behold, one drunken night, and a few beer ring-stained napkins with a basic design sketched in pen and the plans for the SR-72 began.
It didn’t take long for Maverick to draw up some more, official looking designs for a concept stealth jet with Ice’s input and knowledge of NASA’s own hypersonic test flights that lead to Maverick calling some old friends who worked with Lockheed and soon enough he was back at Naval air station China lake, working with Lockheed skunkworks division to create the official plans for the SR-72 and unless you were in the know, people where none the wiser that the concept of the fastest piloted jet in the world was born from the mind of a drunken pilot with two advanced engineering degrees and a physics degree and the commander of the pacific fleet…who was just as wasted.

“You still surprise people even after all this time, I’ll admit it. I have wanted your crazy and reckless ass grounded for years and was pissed when Kazansky pulled that favour to send you my way but damn it with your recklessness and stupid when you fly we’ve been able to see what the f-35’s where capable of in the hands of a highly experienced pilot and find the jets limits, and your additional input and knowledge into the creation and testing of the SR-72 has helped create the first of a new generation of jets so I’ve had to step back and bite my tongue, I may not have liked you for your flying but I respect your engineering knowledge and prowess. I’ll admit, three degree’s is impressive, and I was surprised that scuttlebutt never found that bit of information about you. Yet this is never how I expected to ground you. You are begrudgingly the most decorated pilot the Navy has seen, and you are recognised by the government as one of the best Pilots to ever serve and I am sorry that this is how we lose you.” Cane admitted.

“Never thought I’d hear that from you of all people, knowing Iceman, he won’t let me retire from this though, if he’s still serving then he’s not going to let me off the hook so easily.” Maverick smiled slyly.
“And it’s the only time you’ll hear it, tell people I’m soft and you’ll find yourself in Antarctica, sick or not Mitchell.” Cane shot him a trying look before rolling his eyes. “So, you’re heading to San Diego?”
“The medical staff admitted there was nothing they could do here, and I’d receive better care from specialists in San Diego, they’re transferring my case to Balboa, the same unit where they treated Kazansky.”
“You have everything sorted for the move back?” Cane asked him, concerned about his subordinate for once.

“Yeah, Sarah, Ice’s sister’s strong armed me into staying with them, threatened to send Kerner on me to drag me down to San Diego if I refused and I don’t want to give Slider any more blackmail material.” Mav admitted getting a chuckle from Cane.
“I can imagine.” Hammer admitted, having worked with the Navy’s most jacked and muscled RIO before when Slider first became a one-star admiral. “Alright Mitchell, I’ll put in the request for a new test pilot immediately, but it looks like we’ll be grounded for quite a long while seeing as I don’t believe there’s another pilot with the same qualifications and experience as you who still flies this side of the country.” Cane admitted.
“I hope not, I didn’t go on all those deployments just for some kid to come along and be better than me.” The younger man shook his head.
“Well, there’s only Lieutenant Seresin up in Lemoore with the vigilantes who comes close these days, Kid was the first to make an air kill this century, took out a relic of a Mig but still got a kill. A few more deployments and medals he’ll soon be a rival to your title.” Cane sighed as he looked at Maverick, a small smirk showing for a moment.

“Well, can’t say I’m not surprised, both me and Ice did big things after we got our kills in the gulf.” Maverick admitted.
“Well then Mitchell, I won’t keep you… under one condition.”
Maverick winced as he looked at Cane, “And that condition is?”
“I’ll file your paperwork; your emergency medical leave starts now and will last for as long as it takes to get you back on your feet but knowing Kazansky he won’t let you return until he himself signs off on it to stop you from doing something stupid. It’s likely the FAA won’t make an exception to returning your licences when you return to full health, so anymore flying is clearly out of the picture but you can still do more for the Navy. In return for me doing your paperwork, you will take the god damned promotions you’ve so desperately avoided, and I will file those too for you.” Cane admitted.

“It pains me to admit this but Kazansky’s right, you are too valuable to the navy to lose. I hope you have a speedy recovery and return to service with the rank you have avoided for so long. I know the engineers and staff on base would like to see you return to oversee them some time in the future, I know I would, means I can go take over the drone program without pissing off Kazansky.” Cane sighed.

“Alright. Alright I’ll do it then. But at least let the kids out there hit mach ten before the projects pulled, I know you want the funding for your drones Cane, I’m not an idiot. But it would be a shame to stop the program just because I’m not here. It be a shame to just scrap the SR-72, Kazansky and I worked long and hard to get her off the ground, be a shame to ground our baby before she ever hits her target. You’d be throwing out years of technological advancements only to start over, you’d be giving our enemies time to further invest and develop their own hypersonic weaponry. Admiral, look out over those engineers, they’ve just given the country a technological boost that shoots us another two perhaps three decades ahead of countries like Russia, China, Korea, any country developing nukes. The SR-72 has so many potentials, not only to see action but as an inspiration for future technological development. We’ve managed to make a smaller, faster, longer ranging, more fuel-efficient version of the sr-71, it’s carrier capable and is as easy to maintain as an f-35 and has the potential to travel from new York to Singapore in over an hour and a half. You let this team hit mach ten, let them fulfil the contract and then you can take as many copies of the SR-72’s technological readouts for research for your drones.” Maverick all but begged as he looked at the rear admiral, knowing that without Maverick keeping Iceman in the loop of the project, Cane was free to run it without supervision.

“Imagine how terrified the countries enemies would be with hypersonic drones flying overhead, then all of us will go down in the history books, Kazansky and myself as the men behind the first jet to hit mach ten, and you, admiral cane, the man behind the first hypersonic drone program anywhere in the world.” Maverick proposed.

This sweet talk from Cane about filling in his papers, illness or not didn’t sit right with Maverick.

Not when it came from the mouth of Cane.

Men like Cane always had ulterior motives.

The rear admiral sat up straighter with a sly smile as he thought over Maverick’s proposal, subtly nodding his head as he looked past Maverick, like he was already visualising a squadron of hypersonic drones under his command. Maverick could see that his little sweet talk seemed to have stroked Canes ego.

“You sly fucker, damn you Mitchell, no one ever told me that this was how you sweet talk your way out of trouble… I’ll do what I can.” Cane chuckled; he should have expected Mitchell to realise he would think about his drones over this project, but Maverick did raise a good point, if he let the SR-72 project finish its contract he could take the research and apply it to the technology he was so desperate to work with and push forward with.

“I’ve been here long enough to catch on to your mannerisms, and your… distaste, for manned flight programs. Don’t ah, don’t call Kazansky please… I’ll tell him myself this evening.” Maverick smirked but it didn’t last on his face, reality sunk back in.
“Go on Mitchell, I’ll get started on this for you and update the project’s files. I wish you all the best with your treatments and hope you recover.” Cane stood up and moved around the desk, putting a handout for the pilot before him, surprising Maverick who looked at the admiral and shook hands with him for a minute.
With that, Cane saw the captain out of the office and saluted the man as Maverick left.

Who knew if the captain would ever return to the base. He had one hell of a fight on his hands from here on out.

Ice watched as Sarah puttered around the house all afternoon, his sister had looked stressed and heartbroken all morning and afternoon but wouldn’t tell him anything. He caught the redness in her eyes that she had tried to hide from him as she scurried around the house, making herself busy and avoiding Ice and Slider all morning and afternoon.

“What’s got Sarah in a tizzy?” Ron asked as he brought over the man’s lunch,
“Don’t know, she was in my office earlier this morning. I thought she was calling someone, but it could have been one of her kids over on the east coast, it would be around lunch with them when they called us here. Pete was talking with her last night so it wouldn’t be him so early in the morning.” Ice signed.
“Are you sure it was one of the niblings? I saw her going into Pete’s room with fresh linen and blankets earlier, she was making it up.”
“I haven’t heard anything from Mav that’s out of the ordinary… he’s got a test flight next month and a show next weekend, and he’d been busy trying to fix up the mustang, he promised to take me up in it now that I’m on the mend. It pays that one of us still has their licence.” The younger man signed.

“Well…. He has been behaving himself, hasn’t he? I mean, he’s gone longer than normal without pissing an admiral off… perhaps he’s fallen back into bad habits.” Slider chuckled as he stabbed a small cherry tomato as he tucked into his salad.
“He needs his guardian angel again, doesn’t he? Surprised he hasn’t called me yet before Cane does.” Ice rolled his eyes, getting a snort from Slider. The admiral reached over for the laptop he used for remote working and checking up on things, only for Slider to push it away from him.

“Let him stew for a few hours, I’ll yell at the idiot on your behalf when I get home in the evening.” Ron laughed. “And don’t think about it, you can play guardian angel after lunch. You need to rebuild your strength tom, yelling at the idiot can wait.”
Ice smiled as his shoulders shook in silent chuckles. Perhaps he would let Maverick stew for a little bit, he had a nice lunch to eat first.

When both men had finished their lunch, Ron helped Tom up the stairs towards his office, carrying the laptop into the office and connecting it into the computer set up. The blonde was still weak after his cancer treatment and his mobility was no longer at its best, leaving him requiring a walking stick for now to get around, but he was getting stronger as he recovered and hoped that in a few months’ time he’d no longer require the stick and could return to working on base. Ron smiled sadly as he helped his friend up the stairs and into the office, when he had everything set up for his friend and knowing Ice was sitting comfortably, Ron left him.

“Don’t be on there too long, go take a nap in an hour or two’s time, don’t leave it too late into the evening or you’ll be up all night. I will send Sarah after you if you don’t Tommy.” Ron raised his eyebrow as he looked at his best friend.
Ice looked at him sheepishly as he waved his friend off.

“Alright, I’ll bring in-out burger and dairy queen back for dinner and desert this evening.” Ron chuckled as he saw Ice light up. “Bye Ice.”

Ice just waved his best friend off as Ron left the house to return to North Island Naval station, back to Ice’s official office. Ron was the admiral Ice chose to step into his shoes temporarily whilst he underwent his treatment.

Ice sighed as he booted up his computer, searching through the navy’s database whilst he looked for the files on the “Dark star project”. Ice grunted in frustration as he read through the latest files that had been updated on the project. His fears that something was going on were confirmed when he saw that the files had been updated not even an hour ago.

It was just as he feared, Cane had put in a request for a new test pilot. Ice shook his head wondering what shit Maverick did now to get pulled off the project. Ice decided to read on and see what the idiot did now and whether he’d have to call Cane.

He froze when he read the recently updated files.

The update left him petrified as he slowly read through it in a way he hadn’t felt in a long time, not since Mav left for his first deployment alone after Ice and Slider took their promotions to rear admirals years ago.

“Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, the assigned test pilot to the SR-72 test programme has been grounded indefinitely due to immediate medical concerns. Captain Mitchell has removed himself from the oversight of the project to seek immediate medical treatment. Emergency Medical Leave has been granted to Captain Mitchell. A new test pilot is required for the continuation of the project, until a suitable pilot with similar experience to Captain Mitchell is assigned, Project SR-72 Codename : Dark star will remain grounded until proper training and briefings are given to a replacement pilot.

Captain Mitchell has shown vast engineering prowess and knowledge through the duration of the project and has been influential to the refinement of the designs of the jet. He has shown great knowledge in supersonic and hypersonic flight and has uncovered and rectified many technological flaws in the plans designs and frame to produce a structurally sound and efficient Jet that has surpassed initial test boundaries. He has singlehandedly rewrote the protocols and manuals on how to handle the Dark star jet and just what evasive and combative manovers the jet is capable off during his time as a test pilot for the SR-72 project, as well as advise the ground crew on changing materials used in the construction of the jet for stronger materials that where not considered for the construction of the jet but have outperformed the requirements needed of them, saving on maintenance when turning the jet around for its next flight. When asked why the captain has invested so much time into the refinement and perfection of the jet he gave the following statement, “When there are so many cases to study on why a jet has failed, a good engineer will take note and modifies designs as problems and issues emerge, a great engineer who is dedicated to their job will design a product that will never develop those issues and one that will surpass every test put to it, both conceivable and inconceivable. To learn from the mistakes of engineering past saves the taxpayer a hell of a lot of money in the future, especially if you ever want a fleet of these things like back in the day.” And as opposed as I am to agree with the captain, he has a point, we have made many structural changes to the project since his arrival and improve the maintenance procedures of the project, all of which have made some savings on the running costs of the project, keeping the brass in Washington very happy with the development.

Perhaps the Dark star Project is a viable solution for the future, it is not as financially draining as its parent project the SR-71 blackbird, despite the current two billion dollar price tag, after modifications are taken into account.
It is with this report that I recommend promotion to rear admiral upper half for Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell on behalf of his contributions and oversight of the project, he has already turned down the promotion to rear admiral (Lower half) numerous times and has presumably earned the promotion to two stars after all this time. His contributions have pushed the mechanical and technological development of the United States militaries sixth generation jets far beyond any current expectations, rapidly advancing the military technology we have and can use to hold superiority over the enemies of the State.

To lose Captain Mitchell from this project is a shame and he will be sorely missed from the project. We wish him well on his treatment and recovery and hope to see him back one day as the next admiral overseeing the development of future technologies.

Signed Rear admiral (Upper half) Chester “Hammer” Cane.

No wonder Sarah was worried, Pete must have called her earlier in the morning to tell her he was sick. It made a pit form in Ice’s stomach as he looked out of the open door, watching his sister running around the house trying to get it cleaned up. She must have ordered Pete to come home as soon as she found out.

Tom felt a pit of ice grow heavy in his stomach as he thought about his wingman.
Pete never let any of them know he was sick, and always stubbornly refusing to be cared for until the guys ended up turning him into a human burrito and forced him into a pilot pile until the sleeping pills snuck into the snacks, they fed him kicked in. For him to admit he was sick to someone and actually come home looking for their comfort was new for Ice.

It must be really bad.

Ice just sat quietly in his office as he awaited Pete’s arrival, listening out for the rumble of either his ford Raptor jeep or his new Kawasaki ninja motorbike. The man stewed nervously as his mind wandered into the various sicknesses that his best friend could have come down with, especially if it was bad enough to ground him from flying.

As the afternoon passed into the early evening, he finally heard the rumble of an engine pull up to the house. It was too early for it to be Slider, and Sarah was still downstairs cleaning up. He grabbed his walking stick and hobbled over to the window slowly, spying the red ford raptor parking up around the side of the house. He spied the familiar Kawasaki on the truck bed as he watched Hondo get out of the car and grab some of Mav’s bags, heading up into the house where he heard the warrant officer talking to Sarah who had been waiting patiently by the entrance for his arrival. He couldn’t see Mav but heard him close the door to the jeep and after what seemed like an eternity, Maverick made his way to the door to enter the house, Hondo returning to the raptor as he began to manoeuvre the motorbike off the back of it and down into the drive. Ice decided it was time to move, slowly and quietly leaving his office to stand just out of view at the top of the stairs.

He heard Sarah gasp softly as he peaked around the corner where he was hiding. His sister pulled his wingman into a tight hug, and he watched as Maverick fell apart in her arms, the captain shaking in silent sobs as he clutched her tightly.
It scared Ice. Never before had Maverick fallen apart like this in front of them before… at least not so publicly, usually it would have been in a bathroom or bedroom. Not for Nick, not for Carole, not after Bradley walked out of their lives… not even in his worst PTSD episodes. He’d never broken down like this even when Ice got his cancer diagnosis.
To see him so vulnerable like this scared Tom in a way that the worst combat situations they faced never could.

He descended the stairs quietly towards the foyer where his sister and wingman where crying, stopping at the bottom of the stairs to knock on the wall, letting the pair know he was there.
Sarah stiffened before flipping her head around to look at her brother, her expression just as distraught and heartbroken as it was when he received his diagnosis only a few months ago. Tom’s expression fell in horror as he looked at Maverick who slowly lifted his head to face him.

Pete’s skin had lost its golden tan colour, his cheeks had hollowed, and his eyes held deep black bags underneath them that showed just how tired the man before him must be. It reminded Tom of how he looked in the days and weeks before he’d discovered the tumour in his throat.

Tom slowly walked over to his wingman who tried to put on a brave face. Neither said anything for a moment as they looked at one another.

“We make a real right pair now.” Mav chuckled quietly as he released Sarah from his grasp.
“What is it? How bad is it?” He rasped softly, his expression filled with worry as he looked between Sarah and Pete.
“Chondrosarcoma, Stage three…. I uh… I found the lump this morning and um… yeah…” Mav explained cautiously, trying not to breakdown again as he spoke.

Ice’s face fell as he threw his arms around Maverick who shook silently in his hold.
Ice only held his friend tighter.

“Come on into the living room Petey, you’ve had a long day.” Sarah quietly ordered as she motioned for her brother to follow her into the room, the woman gently guiding both her brothers into the front room of the house.
She got Tom settled onto the sofa, the man refusing to let go of Pete, dragging him down onto the sofa next to him, gently avoiding touching his right shoulder when he heard Mav hiss quietly in pain… he’d felt the small lump on the man’s back and ripped his hand away from it violently. Sarah watched as Tom gently began to thread his hand through Mav’s hair as Sarah threw a large throw over the pair of them as they settled into the sofa.

They didn’t need to talk, the comfort and hold Tom had on Pete was reassuring enough to the man as he calmed down in his hold, slowly falling asleep as Ice continued to stroke through his hair. The smaller man was completely exhausted with how long the day had been, from the early morning to the long drive home.

“Poor Pete, I have never seen him so scared Tom.” Sarah sniffed as she dried her eyes. Speaking only when Maverick had fallen asleep.
“Neither have I… I’m terrified… Sarah, he’s… I…” the older man whispered to his sister, tears falling down his cheek as he held the smaller pilot close to him. His own treatment was hell and even now months later in recover he still had days where he was riddled with pain, he would never have wished that on anyone he loved and now here in his arms one of his best friends was about to go through the same hell he went through.

“We’re gonna be here for him Tom, he was here for us, we’re gonna be here for him. He’ll get through this, we all will.” Sarah stated as she grabbed her brother’s free hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
Tom lay on the sofa cuddling his tired best friend, wondering about the future that lay ahead for the man in his arms as he slowly fell asleep listening to Pete’s gentle breathing. When both men had drifted to sleep, Sarah quietly got up out of the room and closed the door quietly behind her, letting them have their nap in peace.

God knows both men need it.

“Tom, Sarah I’m home, where’s short stack, I have an interrogation to begin with the idiot.” Slider called as he entered the house, the RIO entered the main foyer of the house finding the place silent. It took a minute, but Sarah soon appeared in the hallway.
“They’re sleeping Ron, keep it down please.” Sarah pleaded, getting Ron to stop and look at the tired tear-stained expression she had on her face.
“Is… is everything alright, is Tom alright?” Ron asked as he investigated the living room where he saw the silver hair of Ice just over the edge of the sofa. Sarah nodded to him to move into the living room.
“Its… Pete’s…” Sarah started as Ron set the bags of food down on the ground as he followed Sarah into the living room, allowing Ron to see just how sick the smaller pilot had become.
“Oh… oh fuck…” Ron muttered silently as looked over the sleeping pair, realising Pete looked just as ill and sickly as Tom did just before his diagnosis.
“It’s cancer… Pete’s got cancer…”
“Couldn’t let Tom out do you, huh Pete.” He whispered, his voice catching in his throat as he looked at the pair sleeping on the sofa, “They really are a right pair now.” Ron softly spoke as he looked over the pair.
“Come on… let them sleep… I’ll tell you all you’ve missed.” Sarah whispered as she grabbed Ron’s hand and lifted the bags of food, he’d brought with him.

A few days later and a series of intense scans and tests Pete sat with Sarah and Tom in the doctor’s office of the hospital in San Diego he’d been transferred to. Slider would have joined them for the support, but he was busy taking over Ice’s important meetings and still performed some of his pilots’ duties as COMPACFLT. Pete was half asleep in Toms hold, the man completely shattered from the intensity of the testing he was subjected to over the past few days since returning to the city. It allowed for Tom, Sarah, and Ron to see the lump that sat just under his right shoulder blade. He’d gone through bone x-rays, MRI scans and even a bone biopsy in the days that had passed. So many tests it made Tom’s head spin, he swore even he didn’t have this many tests when he was diagnosed.

It didn’t take long for a doctor to come in to talk to them about Pete’s options.

“Captain Mitchell?” the doctor asked, getting Mav to wake up from his light doze.
“That’s him.” Ice chuckled softly as Mav Woke up.
“We’ve gotten your results here; I take it you wish for them to be present as your support?” the doctor asked.
“Yes, they can hear it.” Pete nodded with a yawn as Sarah and Ice took his hands.

“Right, well then, you already know its stage three cancer, from looking at the results it is Chondrosarcoma, from your results it appears to be a high-grade sarcoma, so no change from your results from China lake, meaning we will have to start an intense treatment plan immediately to prevent the spread and growth.” The doctor explained. “For that we’ve looked and for now, it seems we should be able to perform a limb sparing surgery, meaning we can save your right arm instead of amputating it. However, we will be cutting off a section of your lower scapula and grafting a piece of healthy bone to it, possibly a piece from your foot. The part of the shoulder blade where the tumour is located and will need a follow up surgery for reconstruction of your shoulder to return as much physical function to your right arm as possible. Even with this we must inform you that as this is a bone cancer there will likely be permanent side effects such as possible nerve damage and muscle weakness in your right arm that might always linger even after physiotherapy and reconstruction surgery. No matter what we do Captain to treat it, your right shoulder will always have a weakness to it and give you moderate chronic pain. We intend to do both surgeries next week at the earliest in order to give you the best chance of recovery.”

None of the three in the room said anything but squeezed Pete’s hands in comfort.

“As I’ve said, this is a type of Bone cancer, it’s much more taxing and intensive than a cancer that develops in the muscle. For your treatment, you’ll be receiving both an intensive course of radiotherapy and Proton beam therapy for the first steps immediately after the surgery for six to eight weeks each followed up by chemotherapy for another three months, we’ll be checking in on your progress the whole time to check that the cancer hasn’t spread.”

“Is that a risk?” Sarah asked as she saw Pete and Tom freeze.
“With Chondrosarcoma’s there is a high risk that with later stage diagnosis, such as stage three, that there is a risk of developing lung cancer and other tumours in later life or that it will continue to develop and spread over the neighbouring bone, so possible extension up his scapula and even possibly developing in his clavicle, into his ribs and humorous if it does spread. That is what we will be most concerned about for follow up appointments once treatment ends.” The doctor admitted. “Hopefully however we won’t have to worry too much about that if we start treatment immediately. I will admit, it will be intense and tiring treatment for you, but it’s the best shot at extending your life.”
“Extend?” Pete blanched in horror.

Even Sarah and Tom paled at the doctor’s statement.

“It’s too early to say whether your cancer has spread at this point as the tumour in your arm is, of a rather concerning size, which is why we’re slotting you in for emergency surgery as soon as possible and which is why we are recommending such an intense treatment package at this stage. With Bone cancers the risks of them returning are high, and the risks are higher the further along you are, we can’t guarantee that this tumour will be the only one you will have. With constant monitoring we hope that we won’t have that worry of finding additional tumours down the line. So far, all the scans we’ve seen are clear but constant monitoring will be needed over the next few months. For a person like yourself, we would classify your sarcoma as localised, no signs of cancer spreading outside of the bone it started on, it is a 91% rate of survival for the first five years after initial treatment, however if the cancer does spread to other bones or lymph nodes near the original tumour site, or even spread into the body the rates begin to fall drastically with the survival rate being 75% for regional stages and falling to below 23% for those in the distant stage within the first five years after diagnosis.” The doctor informed them. “However, as I said, the tumour is of a concerning size that has grown up underneath the scapula before finally showing up as a lump recently. With the size we are looking at, we are concerned that it has possibly spread but so far, your scans are coming back clear for now which is why we’ve put you at stage three…” the doctor admitted.

“So… if the cancer comes back… then…” Sarah spoke up for her brothers.
“We can’t guarantee anything Ms Kazansky, but what we can do is take the steps now to ensure that captain Mitchell has the best chance of recovery and future as possible.” The doctor admitted.
“When a… when is the, when’s the surgery?” Pete spoke up.
“Your scheduled in for surgery first thing Monday morning, you’ll find after surgery that your arm will suffer a temporary paralysis for a few weeks to months and you’ll have to keep your arm in a sling for this duration and will have physiotherapy three times a week to begin with whilst doing radiotherapy. Its going to be an arduous and tough recovery captain.” The doctor admitted as he looked over the small group. “I’ll let you have some time with your family to discuss your treatment.” He said as he left the room.
“We’ll get through this. We got through Toms; we’ll get through yours too Pete.” Sarah nodded as she looked at the two blank faces that Tom and Pete were giving her. Neither man knew what to say… Pete was in shock and Tom seemed to be in a form of denial as he grasped the smaller mans hands, giving him a squeeze.

There was nothing more to say that the gentle gesture could give.

A few days later, on an overcast Monday morning, Pete was sitting in his private hospital bed, for once compliant as he sat on the bed. Tom sat next to him as Ron paced back and forth on the other side of the room. They didn’t say much.
Sarah was out in the reception area, checking over the initial paperwork before the surgery.

“Ron sit down before you wear a hole in the floor.” Tom rasped out. “Stop stressing us out.”
“No keep going, I like watching you run around like a headless chicken.” Mav chuckled softly, but the smile on his face fell flat quickly. The anxiety of the surgery was forming a heavy pit in his stomach as he watched the clock.
The nurses would soon be there to take him away for the long surgery.

“I’m just…. Waiting.”
“He’s not coming Ron… you don’t have to wait.” Mav sighed softly as his head dropped.
“I didn’t realise you knew I was there?” the eldest man admitted as he looked at the youngest of them.
“Who?” Tom asked for a moment before he realised who they were on about. “Oh… Bradshaw.”
“Since the diagnosis there’s always been one of you either in the same room as me or in the room or corridor next door to me… I know you caught the phone call I made last night.”
“Did he pick up.”
“…no…. it went to voicemail… like usual.” Mav sighed. “…I don’t think he’s coming.”

Ice just pulled Maverick into a hug as the man sat sullenly on the bed.

“What a bastard.” Ron muttered as he dropped his head.

There was no point in waiting anymore, Pete’s surgery was only a few hours away and the kid never turned up.
He never was going to show, and Ron had to accept that Bradley had made his choice.

“Ya stood up, you raised him, you where there for him for everything. You became a father to that kid because you knew what it was like to grow up without one, you stepped in to be the third parent in that kids life so he never had to experience what you did if the worst came, which it did, and he throws you away because he’s pissed, just because he didn’t get to go to his first choice after high school. The both of you stood up to become wonderful father figures to him, filling in the giant shoes nick left behind. Tom, Pete, neither of you had families or kids of your own but God damn you both did everything in your power to make sure that kid had everything, you both became fathers to him. Sure the application pulling was rough but that was all you did, you could have had him blacklisted from the Navy altogether to fulfil Carole’s wish, but you didn’t and compromised enough to give him options to still get into the Navy. He lashes out like a brat towards the rest of us because he thinks we knew and supported the decision to pull his academy application. Where did he ever get away with thinking he could treat you, let alone us like shit.” The man snapped, “I know Carole wanted him to stay away from the navy and made you promise to her he would get the chance to live a little, but this is ridiculous.”

“Ron, leave it… what’s done is done. I only ever wanted him to resent me, not Carole… I had no idea he would cut you all out of his life either.” the sick man quietly accepted that his son wasn't coming.

“Mav, Pete, you did keep your promise to her, Carole wanted Bradley to outlive Nick, that he’d get a chance to experience life, you made sure he did granted we didn’t agree with pulling his papers but he got to have fun and grow up before he joined the Navy like we all did in our early adulthood, he was twenty-two when he got into the academy, he was twenty six when he graduated from the academy, two years older than you and Nick where when the accident happened. He had four years in college to mess about and experience life. If he was so pissed off, he could have gone through ROTC, or officer candidate school and the naval pilot academy that way. He had so many options available to him that we all reminded him off, but did he listen to us no. He was pissed he couldn’t go to Annapolis, and he decided to cut us out of his life. He didn’t care Pete, and he’s been given plenty of olive branches over the years from all of us if he wanted to reach out and listen. We’ve given him hundreds of chances to apologize to one another and for him to return. I hoped he’d finally pulled his head out of his ass but apparently not.” Slider growled as he clenched his fists by his side.

“He was invited to Rick and Leons wedding, he declined, he was invited to Marcus and Charles wedding, he declined, he never once sent any messages or letters asking about Sarah or Penny and their divorces and if they were doing alright, he never came to Amelia’s baptism, Nicole’s Bath mitzvah or to Ethan and Jacks bar mitzvah.” Ron sagged as he sat down in the chair next to the bed.
“Pete I’m going to be honest with you. Rick, Leon, Sam, Marcus and Charles have already long since given up on the kid ever returning to the family… Sarah and Penny have also lost faith in the kid like we have. Tom, I watched as you stared hopelessly at the door of your hospital room and watched your heart break at every time someone came in when you realised it wasn’t Bradley Bradshaw, I watched your heart break as you realised the brat wasn’t coming after we all begged him to before your own cancer treatment… now it’s happening again.”

“The kids not coming Pete… I don’t think he’s ever going to come back home again… we’re not family… not to him anymore.” Ron sighed as he looked at Ice and Mavericks heartbroken faces.
Maverick just slowly put his head in his hands as he began to shake silently with sobs. Ice just looked at Slider with reluctant acceptance as tears rolled down over his cheeks. The man shook for a few minutes before he got a hold of himself as he sagged in Ice’s hold.
“I…I just hoped that he’d finally come… I wanted to hear him or even see him before the surgery… even if he wanted nothing more to do with me…I just wanted him… just in case it goes wrong, or something happens or…” Pete sobbed dryly.
“Hey, hey now… we’re here Pete. We’ll all be here for you.” Tom started.
“You’re going to be fine short stack. You’re doing to go in there, the doctors will remove that tumour, you’ll come out and we’ll be here for you when you waken. Rick and Leo are flying in from Texas and Charles and Marcus are making their way over from Florida, Sammy and his family are stuck in Guam but he promised to be over as soon as he can get leave. There all going to be around to help for a few weeks until the worst of your treatments completed and it’s just the nasty chemo to go.” Ron soothed Pete as he rubbed his hand down his back as he sat next to him on the bed, avoiding the opening in the paisley green gown the doctors had Pete wear. “Penny and Amelia promised to swing by at dinner time with your favourite chilli and cornbread and some bottles of ginger beer, better than the hospital food, and Nicole, Jack and Ethan are all flying in for the end of the week to see you, and Sarah’s just down the corridor finishing your paperwork for you.” Ron told him.

“We’re your family, we’re here for you.” The giant man told him softly, “We’re all here for the both of you.” He added softly as he looked at Tom who’s eyes watered.

The trio was silent as they comforted Mav. They sat in the gentle silence for a good half an hour before the nurses arrived to take him away for surgery. They didn’t say anything to Pete as they took him away, the gentle reassuring squeeze of their hands on his before he was wheeled out was all the reassurance the smaller man needed.

True to their word when Pete woke up later that evening, his right arm and back numb to the world, he saw Tom and Ron sleeping soundly on the chairs and sofa in the room, tom sitting upright in a position that did his neck no favours next to his bed one arm on his lap, the other gently grasping mavericks good left hand, whilst Ron was stretched out over the sofa against the foot of the bed, half falling off the sofa as he slept. It warmed his heart to see the love and care his friends gave to him that they would stick with him.
Even after all these years he still couldn’t believe how fortunate he was to have such amazing friends like them.

Mav gently squeezed his left hand which was gently woke the man sitting in the chair next to him.
“Hey.” Mav rasped as he looked up at Ice.
“Hey sweetheart.” Ice rasped softly with a smile as he woke, “Told you we’d be here.”
“Thank you.” Mav whispered as he began to cry softly.

Ice just smiled as his own tears rolled over his cheeks as he threw an arm around Mav’s shoulder, hugging him gently.

The pair looked up when they heard a loud thump from the end of the bed.

“Huh, oh what?” Ron snorted as he woke up, pushing himself up off the floor. “Oh… hey short-e-rick, promised you we’d still be here.”
Mav could only giggle as he looked at Slider who smiled at them sheepishly.

Oh yes, these people where definitely his family no matter what happens to him now.

He didn’t know why he was so worried.

Tom sat next to Pete as the man hopped onto the table for the first of six weeks of proton beam therapy. One of the nurses helped Maverick lie down onto the specially moulded bean bag (Vac Bag) gently manovering him around into a comfy position with his limp right arm. He’d thought the doctor was lying about the paralysis, expecting a few hours or day of no movement from it but a week after the surgery and he could still not feel or move it an inch. It remained in a sling most days apart from the daily physiotherapy to bring movement back to it.

“So, this will work?”
“It’s much less harmful than radiotherapy yes and offers the best choice of treatment for you as it has the highest possibility of success, but for your treatment Captain Mitchell this is only the first step, the doctors really where worried about the size of the tumour you had and so it will be Proton, followed by radiotherapy and finishing with Chemo, a very long treatment plan but the one with the highest chances of success. A case of, throw everything at it.” A doctor standing by a computer spoke up.
“Its rear Admiral Mitchell now.” Ice chuckled smugly as he saw Mavericks pouts. “The promotion to a two-star admiral came in on Tuesday morning, the day after the surgery. Things can move quickly when you don’t piss off the admirals who respect you. If he behaves for long enough, he could even become a three-star admiral before retirement.”
“It’d still be captain if you let me retire two weeks ago.” The tiny man on the giant bean bag sighed. “Let me go out in dignity and not under a stack of paperwork when I can finally get back on base.” He sighed as Ice barked out a laugh.
“Nope, you only get to retire when I retire, and I have another few years left in me, cancer treatment notwithstanding.” Ice laughed as he moved to stand behind the protective screening where the doctor stood.

“Your gonna remain at your post till you die you idiot, everyone knows that. You’ll become the oldest serving admiral in the Navy thanks to the love the president gives you if you don’t become COMNAV or SECNAV.” Mav sassed to him.
“Oh, hardy har Mitchell. I’m not that bad, I’ll be out once I finish my extended term as COMPACFLT, I’m not moving back to fucking Virginia of all places to lead the Navy. If they want to make me SECNAV they can move it all out west.” Ice laughed, “At least you don’t have to wear the plastic face mask pinning you to the table.” Ice rolled his eyes, remembering his radiotherapy.
“Nope, admiral Mitchell gets his own personalised vacuum bag.” The nurse laughed as they began to fiddle with the bag, filling it with air and vacuuming out air from pockets, immobilising Maverick for the start of the hour-long session.
“At least you have the money for all that treatment, you rich fuck.” Ice snorted.
“I covered your treatments, the most cutting-edge treatment plan that they had at the time for your ass, don’t be mad I get to be immobilised via beanbag when you had a mask pinning you in place. As a matter of fact, I plan on giving a portion of the Mitchell estate to cancer charities and the veterans association to help those who need treatment like this but can’t afford it. I need to talk to my lawyer and get my will re-written now.” Mav chuckled as he looked at Ice.
“You better not be giving away the Mustang.” Ice narrowed his eyes.
“It’ll go to someone… if the worst comes to pass. They’ll get the hanger, the Mustang, and enough money set aside to continue flying it and performing maintenance for it for well, a decade or two depending on financial outlooks before it probably reaches the end of its lifespan and ends up in a local museum. No point in either one of us getting it, we’ve already crashed and burned.” Mav smiled sadly, it was painful to be reminded that they were permanently grounded, forever cut off from the sky.
“Don’t say things like that Pete, you make it sound like we’re dying. I’m in remission and soon so will you. Although, that I want to see, that fight will be bloody.”
“Chipper will pull out Hollywood’s hair first before they turn to murder and Slider will clothesline both of them.” Maverick barked out a laugh.
“Admiral Kazansky sir we’re about to start the session now, if you’d just want to step behind the protective screen sir.” The doctor spoke up as a series of green criss-crossing lights lit up the room, forming on Mavericks back as the nurse grabbed a marker, using the lines to draw x’s on his back.

“Feels weird being on this size of it.” Ice admitted as he looked at Maverick who tried his best not to move at the sensation of being drawn on. He was always very wriggly and ticklish, something Slider, Ice’s niece and nephews, and Penny’s daughter Amelia took advantage off whenever their Uncle Maverick was in town.

“Thank you, for being here with me.” Pete smiled softly, forever thankful that Tom was there for him.

“You where there for me, now you’re going through what I went through. I wasn’t going to let you sit through your first round of treatment alone, you where there for my first treatments.” Tom smiled as he looked Pete in the eyes, giving his bare ankle a squeeze.
He gave his best friend a reassuring smile.

“I’ll be here the whole time.”

Six weeks later Tom smiled as his friend rang the bell signalling the end of his Proton beam therapy. He had recently got feeling back in his fingers and was able to wiggle them again as he slowly went between physiotherapy and Proton beam therapy. Tom couldn’t be too happy though, he had caught the doctors looking at Mav’s result from his scans during the week, he could tell doctors hadn’t been fully confident that the proton beam treatment worked but to see Mav smiling made him forget all about the doctors’ worries.

Pete was the strongest of them, he’d overcome this.

Six weeks later, he could only smile wider as a bell was rung once more as the radiotherapy course was finished, Maverick delighted he was over half way’s through with his treatment.

Things were beginning to look up…

But of course, it can’t all be smooth sailing.

Tom held Pete close as Sarah stood above them, both sitting on stools in one of the houses bathrooms. Maverick was two weeks into an eight-week course of chemotherapy and whilst having a shower by himself, with Ice waiting on him out in the corridor in case he needed help if he tired himself out. Something that had been happening often from the treatments. Today seemed to be one of his better days so far, he wasn’t in any pain, he had a little bit more movement back in his right arm than he’d had in weeks able to lift it up to just below his chest, and it was a Saturday, a day off from the intense treatment course. It had been a good day for them all.

That was until Tom heard a clattering from the bathroom.

The man quickly raced into the room to find Pete on the verge of a panic attack as he held a clump of his black hair. There were more clumps sitting on the floor of the shower. Reminding ice of when his own blond hair was falling onto that same floor months before.

“Its… it’s coming out…”
“No matter how many times they warn and tell you it happens its horrible when it does hit.” Tom reassured as he turned off the shower, picking up one of the warm soft fluffy towels off the rails as he moved to turn off the shower, gently wrapping the towel around Pete.
“…Makes it real.” Pete whined softly as Tom wrapped his arms around his friend.
Of course, there was no visible side effects with the radiotherapy and proton beam therapy, maverick could and probably pretended the whole time he was fine and wasn’t sick, treating it as thought it was another physiotherapy course. Seeing physical signs of the illness beyond his weak arm seemed to break the fantasy Maverick had built up.

Pete just broke down completely in his friends’ arms.

He cried harshly as his smaller frame shook violently in the ugliest sobs tom had ever heard from Pete, even worse that the Sobs he’d held the man through in the long nights of 86 after Goose, and even after Carole’s passing in the early two thousand. It broke Toms’ heart as he began to cry with Pete.

This one was different; Tom knew as he pulled Pete into his chest and rocked him slowly.

Pete had so far throughout the past three months from surgery to proton beam therapy and then radio therapy cried quietly and sparsely, still holding onto the bitter hope that this was a horrible dream as he faced the world with a smile that had lost its sparkle and mischief and an attitude that felt forced in Toms opinion, but then again he too pretended everything was fine with him until reality finally set in that he had throat cancer. The side effects of the chemotherapy finally made Pete face reality in a way the surgery and previous treatments hadn’t. This one made his illness visible in a way that the scar on his back couldn’t.

Because now he could see it and know it was there.

They sat like that for a while until Pete’s sobs pewterer out into gentle hiccups whilst Tom grabbed a few more towels to help dry his friend off before passing him his underwear and a pair of clean sweatsuit bottoms.

Neither of them said anything for a long time until Pete whispered softly.

“Cut it off.”
“Pete?”
“Cut it off… just… just get it over with.” Pete sobbed. “It’s going to come out anyways.” He said as he put his face in his one good hand.
“I…I don’t think my hands are steady enough Pete.” Tom admitted quietly as Pete finally looked at him. The older man was shaking minutely himself, emotions running high as he relived the sensations and memories of his own struggles only months prior.
“…Let Sarah do it then… you can hug me.” Pete comforted.
“Heh, try’na comfort me right now? I should be the one comforting you, Pete.” Tom let out a breathy sob as he wiped the tears away from his own face.
“You don’t need to…this… this is probably just as hard for you to watch as it is for me.” Pete whispered as he tightened his grip on Ice’s cardigan.
“Yeah… I never… never wanted anyone of you to go through this… it’s hell. I’d prefer to be in a six vs one again over the treatment.”
“Well, I can honestly say it absolutely sucks and I’d really rather be in a dog fight… at least I only have another six to ten weeks of this, let’s just hope everything goes to plan.” Pete laughed dryly.
“I hope so too Pete…” Tom smiled sadly as he held Pete close.

It took him a while before Ice could let go of his wingman, but he needed to get Sarah and something else he knew would help Maverick in this situation… and let him slip into some clothes before he caught a cold.

Half an hour later Sarah was standing behind Pete who was sitting on a stool place in front of the bathroom sink. Tom himself sat on a second stool right next to Pete, his arms wrapped around the smaller man’s shoulders. Sarah took a deep breath to stabilize herself before she turned on the clippers, letting the two men hear the clippers before she did anything else. Pete had since changed into a pair of light grey sweatpants, and fuzzy novelty cow slippers, a Christmas gift from slider that year who had gotten Ice a pair of shark slippers.
He sat bear chested so that it would be easier to brush the falling hairs off of him. He did however have a towel wrapped over his shoulders, just barely hiding the long scar that wound its way down his back.

“Are you ready Pete.”
“Go for it.” The man nodded as he closed his eyes, not wanting to look at what was about to happen. He’d never been completely bald, sure he’d gone through the traditional shaving when he went to bootcamp but that was a buzz cut, he still had some hair. this was going to be an adjustment for them all.

Sarah stilled before she nodded, looking at her brother who nodded and gently glided the clippers over Pete’s head. Tom watched as the hair fell onto the towel wrapped around his friends’ shoulders.
It didn’t take long before it was done.

Sarah carefully brushed the stray hairs off the back of Pete’s neck whilst Tom squeezed Pete close.

Pete slowly opened his eyes to have a look at his new hairless style, slowly dipping his head as he shook with quiet sobs. Tom had a feeling this would happen and gently placed the soft grey woollen beanie he’d grabbed from his room over Pete’s head. It was part of a two pack his wing man had gotten for him months before. It was from a two pack, one a light grey colour, the other a light blue that matched the lightning bolts on Ice’s old flight helmet. He’d never worn the grey one, but he’d absolutely loved the softness and warmth of the blue one he wore during his own treatment, occasionally wearing it on days where he struggled to stay warm even after his hair had grown back.

Pete looked up slowly as he raised his left arm to tug on the soft woollen hat.

“Keep it, I still have the other.” Tom chuckled lightly as he returned to hugging Pete who simply buried his head into his wingman’s chest.
“You two go on and lie down for now… it’s been a long afternoon.” Sarah softly ordered as she gave both of her brothers a loving squeeze on their shoulders.

Tom nodded and gently helped Pete to his feet, handing him a warm t-shirt and helping him put it on.

Before Pete could walk away from Tom, the older man grabbed his hand tightly.

“Stay with me… please.” Ice whispered quietly before a gentle blush broke out over his face, “I um, I want to cuddle with you. It might help you feel better.” He blushed.

Maverick smiled slightly as he fell into Ice’s outstretched arm.

“Okay.” He quietly rasped before burying his head in Ice’s chest as the elder man took the smaller pilot down into his own bedroom.
Ice gently took him into his arms and lead him down to his room, pulling up his numerous blankets and duvets on his bed. It was a soft haven of warmth and comfort; plush blankets lay on top of a thick duvet covered in some of the warmest and most luxurious jersey-knit sheets fitted to them. Between the duvet and the equally luxurious fitted bed sheet, there were more blankets made of the softest cashmere wools. There was a mountain of pillows of all sizes and shapes at the top of the headboard that looked perfect for snuggling up on.
“Cosy.” Maverick chuckled as Ice gently wrapped his wingman up in one of his spare cardigans for warmth, hiding a coo as the oversized fabric hung off Mav in an adorable fashion.
“It is… Sarah said I went overboard but she doesn’t realise how cold I could get at night, especially after the chemo… it’s helped me so much since them.” Ice admitted while he gently lay his wingman down on the king-sized bed, Maverick could only nod gently as he shuffled onto the bed. Ice looked at him before slowly undressing to match Pete, removing his grey shark slippers, and the grey scarf that he always wore around his neck, showing off the giant scar across his throat. It felt debilitating to have it so open for people to see at times, like a weakness vulnerable to the pack of rabid navy brass, all of whom would rip him apart at any sign of weakness. But he had recently taken to removing the scarf in private to Pete and only Pete, knowing that the newly appointed admiral understood the pain.

Soon Ice was moving into the bed next to Maverick, his black sweatpants rubbing up against Maverick’s grey as he gently pulled his wingman into a comfortable position on top of him. Pete went willingly into his hold and gently curled up into the warmth of the Pacific’s fleets ice cold commander. Ice gently pulled the covers up over them both as they settled into the bed, planting a small kiss on Mav’s forehead, just below the beanie. He’d been getting more physical in recent weeks with Maverick, going from simple hugs and odd touches to full on bear hugs, cuddles and constantly drowning him in loving kisses to his forehead, cheeks, and hair.

It made both of them feel better, especially in quiet moments like this as Tom gently rocked both him and his wingman back and forth, slowly lulling the pair of them off to sleep in the warmth of each other’s hold.

Slowly, and to neither man’s objection, Maverick seemed to move from his room in the house, into Ice’s, going from the odd sparce nap and cuddle sessions to full on refusing to sleep without the other as the weeks of treatment began to go on. It was a tentative change in their relationship, one that they neither addressed or acknowledged but knew that it felt right, and that it was something they should have done long ago.

Maverick slept peacefully in Iceman’s hold as the admiral pulled up the heavy weighted blanket over them both. They were currently lounging in the sunroom of the house, enjoying the warmth of the mid-day San Diego sunshine. Ice had one arm wrapped around Pete’s back, keeping the smaller man pulled in tightly to his chest whilst he thumbed through a book with his free left hand. The weighted blanket was a rather new addition to the household, one of Mavericks nurses recommending it to help them deal with anxiety of Mavericks treatment and help improve the quality of sleep he’d been having, knowing that the man had been struggling with nightmares and bouts of insomnia as the weeks of chemo began to blur together, for both men.

They were only a third of the way through Mavericks first round of chemotherapy and the effects were beginning to show on Maverick who was only getting sicker and sicker with the wear and tear of the chemo. Making him sicker than he’d ever seen, the proton beam and Radiotherapy was a breeze compared to this. Whilst Maverick hadn’t seen it, Ice hadn’t liked the expression he’d seen on the doctor’s face at the scans and check-up he’d had early that day to see how the treatments where taking. He hoped it was nothing, it would be too early into the Chemotherapy to see any major issues, but he had a horrible feeling in his gut that the doctor was hiding something from his friend. They might have to up the dosage and treatment time for Pete if it was a setback to his treatment.

Pete himself though looked utterly exhausted, the chemo had left him with some horrible side effects like insomnia and when he could find a few hours of sleep, it had a tendency to be plagued with nightmares of all the wars and deployments he fought through. He’d ended up taking refuge in Ice’s bed more and more often in recent nights, finding he slept better being held or in Toms proximity anyways. Ice couldn’t object to it, knowing Pete was still there and fighting his illness in his arms helped the older man sleep at night too. But the worst was Maverick’s loss of appetite, and for a man who had a ridiculously high metabolism all his life it was scary to watch the weight drop off Maverick and leaving him nearly anorexic, anaemic and in pain. His skin had lost its once vibrant sun kissed bronze and was reduced to a pale greyish pallor, nearly as grey as the beanie he constantly wore to hide his baldness, the chemo dragging all the energy out of the smaller man. He looked as horrible as Carole had in her final months over a decade ago. It made the admiral wonder if he looked like this only a few months earlier when he went through his own chemo.

But what worried him the most was the quiet wheezing he could hear from Maverick after times of great physical exertion.

Ice prayed to whatever gods that existed that they caught Mav’s sarcoma in time, that they caught it, and it hasn’t spread. He also prayed that the wheeze he’d noticed in his own breathing the past few days was from the cold he picked up from the hospital.
He wasn’t even sure he should be this close to Maverick right now; he’d been feeling a little sick as the week went on. Possibly having picked up a cold on one of the hospital outings, and with Maverick going through chemo, he didn’t need to pick up a cold or other illness on top of it. Both of their immune systems were shot as it was from there different treatments and medications.

Ice felt a wet tickle itch its way up the back of his throat. He’s been wheezing a little the past few days along with suffering from a mild case of heartburn the past day or two and now and felt a few coughs come on overnight but it was nothing surely, he was in remission, he had nothing to worry about surely.

He set down the book gently on Mavericks back before placing his free hand over his mouth as he erupted into heavy coughing.

The coughing quickly turned into a burning sensation up his throat that had him push Maverick off him as he threw himself over the side of the Sofa.

Pete yelped as he fell onto the sofa behind Tom, panicking as he heard the other man retch over the floor suddenly.

“Tom?” Pete whispered quietly as he blinked at the man, pushing himself up with his left arm.
Tom gagged, his body quaking as he wheezed and coughed. Slowly he pushed himself back up onto the sofa and up into a sitting position as he turned to look at Pete, slightly disorientated after the heavy coughing fit.

He noticed his friend paled underneath him as he felt fingers swipe across his lower lip.

“Tom… there’s blood.” Pete told him, the fear evident in his voice as Pete lifted up the hand, showing off the blood-stained fingers.

Ice froze as he stared at them, his own hand shooting up to his mouth, feeling tacky blood coating his fingertips as he slowly turned to look at the regurgitated mass of blood and half-digested food that lay on the floor next to the sofa.

His eyes widened in fear as he looked at the man sitting in his lap as Pete rubbed his left thumb over Toms lower lip, cleaning off the blood that coated his lip. He couldn’t keep the fear from his eyes as he looked at Pete who had paled in his hold.
Pete who looked absolutely horrified as he let out a loud call.

Pete immediately called for Sarah, the woman racing down the stairs at the urgency of Mavericks shriek.

She looked at the men in horror as she entered the living room, seeing the blood dripping down her brother’s chin and the mess that lay next to him on the floor.

Sarah paced back and forth in the doctor’s office as she waited for the man to come back, he was off looking at the latest batch of scans and tests they’d performed on her brother. Tom just sat in the chair, his eyes to the floor as he gently poked and prodded around his throat, feeling along the scar left from his first Laryngeal surgery. Whilst he couldn’t feel anything this time, it didn’t mean that there was nothing there. It could have come back for another round, growing slowly in the time between the last of his treatment, through the worry and distraction of Pete’s diagnosis, to now.

After the coughing incident at the house, Maverick immediately called for Sarah to come into the living room from where she was relaxing down in her bedroom. She paled when she saw the blood on Tom’s lips and immediately asked what was wrong. Tom could barely speak, his throat on fire with pain as he looked between his sister and wingman. Pete could only look between them in worry, not fully aware what was happening as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, all he could comprehend was that there was blood on Ice’s lips and he’d been coughing violently. He could only tell Sarah that Tom started hacking up horrible wet coughs that shook him awake.

Tom’s hands shook as he slowly began to sign to his friend and sister.

“Bad cough, horrible, wet, sore chest and sore throat.” Ice signed.
“Shit… shit this is bad.” Sarah muttered as she knelt next to her brother. “How long Tom?”
“A few days, no more, thought it was something picked up from the hospital.” He signed.
“Right, well I’m calling Ron back ASAP, your doctor said if this happens to take you in immediately for a check-up.” Sarah paced as she pulled out her phone. “Ron will stay with you Pete and I’ll take Tom to Balboa.”
Sarah placed a call in with Slider telling him to come home immediately before she rang up Tom’s specialist, telling them of the situation and that they’d be by the hospital in less than an hour.

Ron was at the house in under twenty minutes, breaking numerous speeding laws in order to make the trip from North Island to la Jolla in half the time it usually would after he left base. Once he was home to look after Pete who was silently panicking, Sarah helped Tom out to the car before tearing off out of the drive and across the city.

When they reached the hospital, he was seen immediately by his specialist, quickly escorted away for a series of scans and tests to check his throat. As the afternoon ticked over into the evening, the scans and testing went on for hours before Sarah and Tom were shown to a doctor’s office to await the results of the scans. For a while Sarah had been busy texting on her phone, checking up on Ron and Pete back at the house.

“Ron’s gotten Pete to eat and he managed to convince him to go to bed for a nap.”
“Who’s bed.” Ice signed with a snort, knowing that Pete had slowly began to move from his own room in the mansion into Toms in the past few weeks, not that his wingman minded, he loved waking up to cuddling Pete in the mornings, especially on days where he had a lay in, instead of the early morning meetings and naval business he had begun to conduct from home more so in recent weeks, slowly picking up his COMPACFLT duties once more as he got better.
“Your joint bedroom now.” Sarah chuckled lightly. “Honestly Tom, you should just marry him already, your both madly in love with each other but just too scared to ruin what you have, and you’ve both been like this for years now.” She told her idiot of a brother.

Ice just hummed softly, not acknowledging his sister’s statement.

The doctor returned not long after.

“Admiral, Ms Kazansky.” The doctor nodded as they returned to the room, there face hard to read as they sat down at the desk.
“How bad?” Ice rasped, coughing slightly at the pain. He wasn’t in the mood for dillydallying.
“Right to the point admiral. Well, our fears seem to have been correct, I’m afraid it appears that the cancer has come back.” The doctor informed them.

Sarah looked heart broken.

“The new tumour appears to be in the Larynx itself this time, we can see that Lymph nodes close to the tumour also appear to be developing small tumours. I’m afraid we’re going to have to go in with more… aggressive treatments this time admiral to stop it from spreading further and risking lung cancer from developing or tumours appearing on your spinal cord or move into your head.” The doctor admitted.
“Do you have a treatment plan already?” Sarah asked.
“I’m afraid that for this, admiral Kazansky will need a total Laryngectomy of his throat. That means that not only do we remove the tumour and tumours Nodes, but also will need to remove your vocal cords.” The doctor began as he looked at the admiral in his office, “With this we will have to create a permanent hole in your neck, a stoma to help you breathe after the surgery unobstructed. It will be an adjustment and can seem daunting and frightening at first when the stoma is made, but most people do get used to it after a few months. You’ll be given training on how to keep your stoma clean after the surgery.” The doctor informed them. “Along with that we’ll begin another round of Chemotherapy but at a higher dosage.”

“How soon’s the surgery.” Sarah asked as her brother looked at the ground.
“Friday afternoon.” The doctor told them. “I’ll give you some time to discuss this over with your sister, if you choose to fight this. I can only apologize admiral; I know this isn’t the news you wished to hear but we will do all we can to ensure that this fight is the last fight you’ll have with it.”
“Choose?” Sarah gasped horrified as they looked at the doctor.
“With how quickly this new tumour has appeared we can’t guarantee that even after the surgery and a new round of treatment that there will be more. If there is any more tumours develop in the future, then the possibility of future treatments working are low. We’re not saying it won’t work but this new round of treatment we recommend is much more intensive than the last round. It will be a battle for you admiral. I’ll give you some time to discuss and decide your treatment plan.” The doctor nodded before leaving the room.

Neither Kazansky sibling said anything, sitting in the silence as their worst fears came true.

Later that evening, the Kazansky siblings finally made it home to La Jolla, the sun setting in the horizon. Sarah had slowly rolled up into the drive and parked the car, choosing to remain in the vehicle as her brother left it, Ron stuck his head out of the downstairs office where he had been working at since he returned home. He looked between Tom who was retreating upstairs towards his room and the wide-open front door, realizing Sarah was still outside, Slider elected to go out to the woman as he watched Ice all but flat out run off towards his room.

Slider didn’t have to ask or say anything. He knew it wasn’t going to be good news.

Ice quietly moved to enter his bedroom… or well, his and Mavericks now, choosing to remain quiet in case his partner was still asleep.

“I know you’re their Tom.”

Maverick’s voice called out, muffled by the door. Ice gulped quietly before opening the door and entering the room.
Maverick was in their bed, wrapped up in Ice’s cardigan under the duvet.
His wingman himself stood in the doorway for a moment, neither man saying anything.

“It’s back, isn’t it.”

Four little words, that’s all it took for Tom to breakdown as Pete lifted his good arm, allowing for Ice to fall into his wingman’s chest as he rushed into the room, seeking comfort from the one person who knew what it was really like to suffer from this hell. Pete buried his head in Toms neck as he tightened his grip on his wingman.
Ice could only nod in Mavericks hold.

The pair of them stayed huddled together in each other’s embrace for a long while, the sky outside darkening down as the night.

After a while, Maverick moved to sit at the top of the bed, propping himself up against the mountain of pillows propped against the headboard. Mav pulled Ice into his chest, holding him gently as Ice wrapped his arms around Mavericks back as he buried his face in the smaller mans chest. Maverick hissed slightly as he slowly moved his limp right arm, a tiring effort when the limb had little movement, even after all these weeks after the surgery. He had made progress in physiotherapy but when they moved him to Chemo it seemed like all that effort went out the window as the muscle mass, he built up disappeared along with his appetite. He gently began to massage Ice’s head.

“God we’re a mess.” Maverick sighed softly.
“Well…. That’s one way of putting it.” Ice croaked. “I… they… they need to operate again.” He whispered.
“Oh Tom.” Maverick gasped.
“I’m gonna lose my voice box… I’ll be permanently mute.” He rasped before breaking down again in the smaller man’s hold. “There gonna cut a hole in my throat permanently to breathe through. This is it now, not only have I lost my wings but now I’m gonna be looking at a medical discharge.” He cried hysterically.
“Oh Tom, Ice… fuck.” Pete cried as he pulled his wingman in tight to his hold.

The elder man already had one big part of his life ripped away from him against his own terms, now he was facing the end of his military career to the loss of his voice, admiral or not, no number of favours would save Tom’s career now. He could keep it hidden perhaps for a few months but when his treatments and medical leave come to an end then there was going to be no way to continue serving as Commander of the Pacific fleet.

“When? When’s the surgery I mean?”
“Friday… this Friday… they need to start as soon as possible… it’s going to be worse Pete.” Ice cried in his hold and Mav couldn’t say or do anything but hold him close.

The pair lay rocking in the bed for hours as they cuddled into the early hours of the morning.
Neither had been able to sleep but both tired and weary from everything in their life.

“Any regrets?” Ice rasped quietly in the darkness of the room.
“I… what?” Maverick asked, confused at the sudden question.
“Any regrets… about life, the paths we took over the years, our careers?”
“What’s brought this on?” Mav asked.
“I barely made it through the last round of treatment, they said this next one’s going to be far more intense… i… I don’t know If I’ll make it this time round.” Ice admitted.
“Hey, hey no stop, look at me.” Mav asked as the taller man, “You’ll make it. I’ll be here every step of the way just like last time. I know your strong enough to fight this.”
“I don’t think I am Pete… I don’t think things are going to work out this time around.” Ice whispered softly.
“It will.” Maverick’s voice quivered. “You’ll get better and so will i.” Maverick said, not truly believing himself. “We’ll play around with our medical leave for a bit when we’re recovering, sort our files and paperwork and any other stuff and I’m sure you can use your position as COMPACFLT to manipulate the paperwork to say Honourable discharge instead of Medical. You retire and I’ll retire with you, get a dog or two or even a few cats.” He smiled wobbly, not entirely believing in what he was saying himself.

“I wish life came with a reset button. I’d have quit smoking and chewing tobacco earlier; you’d have thought I’d have been smarter that to take that shit.” Ice started, getting a chuckle from Maverick.
“Well, we can’t all be as smart as I am.”
“As dumb as you, you mean.” Ice rasped.
“I know… god if I had a reset button I’d change so many things… maybe have settled down earlier with Penny or one of the many people I dated over the years when I had the chance and not nearly face court marshalling over Admiral Jordans son… not date Charlotte Blackwood, the bitch… would have done things differently to saved Nick… Tell Bradley why I pulled his application…” Maverick listed, trailing off as he spilled some of his biggest regrets.

“I wish I did things differently that day too… I should have trusted you then and swallowed my ego and let you take that shot… then I was always jealous of what you did to admiral Jordans boy… wanted that to be me for years. I regret never doing this before either.” Ice said as he suddenly pushed himself up into Pete’s hold, putting his hands around his face and kissing the smaller man who melted under the touch.

Maverick melted into the kiss, wrapping his good arm around the back of Ice’s neck when he felt the man begin to pull back before deepening the kiss, getting chuckles off his wingman wo eagerly returned to exploring his mouth.
They didn’t want to pull away from one another, but Ice eventually pulled back to cough and breathe a little.

“Fuck… Ice… wow.” Maverick breathed out, getting a chuckle from his wingman.
“Better late than never huh?” Ice rasped after he coughed a bit, checking for blood.
“Had I known you were on the table years ago I’d have jumped you like a tree.” Mav laughed as he smiled up at Ice who wheezed out a laugh before breaking down into a short coughing fit.
“Always loved you… just afraid I’d fuck it up and lose you.” Ice admitted, “Not afraid now.” He said as he pulled of the silver and blue sapphire academy ring on his finger, moving to place it on Mavericks.

“I didn’t exactly plan this but Marry me?” he asked, tears streaming down his face once again. “Preferably before I lose my voice. I want you to hear me make the vows through my own voice and not a fake voice app thing. If this is it, this short ass illness filled life we’re going to be living now, going back and forth from the hospital, facing chronic pains and being scared over common colds for the rest of our lives then I want to spend the rest of my life and days married to the man who has been making me happy since 86, to the man I love.” Ice smiled, “So be my wingman forever?
“Bullshit, you can be mine forever Tom. Yes, a million times yes.” Pete cried as he kissed Ice relentlessly once again.

When Sarah walked into the room with breakfast for the pair the next morning, she squealed as she saw Toms ring on Pete’s finger, her brother blushing as she said about God damn time.
She then proceeded to jump about the room in delight when Mav asked her to plan a wedding for the end of the week, preferably before the surgery on Friday and sometime after his morning chemo sessions, giving him time to nap and recuperate his strength. Sarah readily agreed and Pete threw her his wallet, telling her to go crazy and that it was on him.
That they might as well use his money for once, that there wasn’t much point in his fortune sitting in a bank account doing nothing but gathering interest.
It helped get everything they needed at such short notice when money wasn’t an obligation.

Three days later, a short ceremony was being held in the back garden of their La Jolla home. The ceremony was short notice but with favours called in many of their friends where quickly able to fly across the country to make it to the impromptu ceremony, all glad Ice and Maverick finally admitted to each other they loved one another. A small stage was set up in the back garden set up perfectly for a Jewish ceremony, but with two chairs on the stage for both of the grooms to rest on during the ceremony, and a marquee was off on the other side with a small group of caterers prepping food for the guests.

The class of 86 was spread out equally between Maverick and Ice, with Slider, Hollywood and Sundance on Ice’s side, and Wolfman, Chipper and Merlin on Mavericks. The two pilots old RIO’s acting as their best men. Other old friends such as Hondo and his family had made the journey down from China lake to be with them, Penny Benjamin and her daughter Amelia came to the ceremony and so did Sarah’s three children Nicole, Jack and Ethan with Viper and his wife also making their way to the ceremony from their retirement village just north of the city outside Cardiff-by-the-sea where he and his wife had retired to after he left the navy.

Ice also invited two of the local admirals from Miramar air base whom he’d been working closely with before his cancer diagnosis, Cyclone and Warlock. Both of whom had each flown with either of the pilots before, with Warlock smiling as he saw Maverick, telling everyone proudly he was the reason why the newest two-star admiral to the pacific fleet only lasted two months at Top gun. That he’d convinced Maverick to teach him how to do his newly mastered, infamous cobra manoeuvre and proceeded to do it against Viper and Jester and apologized for being the one behind admiral Johnson firing him from Top gun. Viper could only laugh at the admission and the flyboys instantly felt a connection to the other admiral, inviting him for drinks next time there all in the city. Cyclone could only sigh and roll his eyes getting a laugh from Ice.

The two local admirals were going to take the pre-prepared paperwork and file them upon their return to base for Iceman and Maverick, changing their official Naval paperwork to state that they are legally married and every other little change that needed to be filed. Both Iceman and Maverick also secretly filed their honourable discharge papers with Cyclone, who would file them on their behalf if the time came for either man to take a medical discharge, where he would file the paperwork for the honourable discharge before the medical discharge papers would be filed. To give both men some dignity to their navy legacies, that they’d be recorded as having gone out on their own terms and not to their on-going medical treatments. Cyclone could only nod at their request and stowed the paperwork away for when it was needed.

It was a lovely ceremony, everyone wearing their dress whites, including Maverick who had managed to get his new dress uniform with his rear admiral rank quickly thanks to yet another one of Iceman’s many favours he owed people. He might not have been able to have his official flag ceremony to celebrate the promotion due to Mavericks on going medical treatment but that wasn’t going to stop Ice from making sure his friend had the right gear for their last-minute wedding. Ice’s perfectionist streak showing as he wanted perfect photos of their family. Secretly, both Ice and Maverick talked about their family having good quality photos of them all together one last time if they get worse. Photos to remember their friends in better times.

It made Tom and Pete smile as they shared the day with their family. They didn’t know if they’d ever get this lucky again.

The day after the wedding Ice was admitted for surgery to remove his larynx.

He spent the next week in the hospital recovering from the surgery and learning how to clean his stoma as well as listen to his consultants show him voice apps and other methods for communication now that he was mostly permanently muted. He was told that with time and practice he could manage to manipulate the little muscles he had left in his larynx to sound a few rough words. Maverick spent most of his days by Ice’s side, coming in early in the mornings for his chemotherapy, and spending the rest of the day sitting by his side until either Slider or Sarah dragged him home late in the evenings. The admiral returned home after a week in hospital, and both returned on the Monday to sit through there chemotherapy together every day as they went through the treatment. The pair spent their honeymoon phase of their marriage cuddling together in bed or on the nest of blankets in the main living room, sleeping and going for their daily treatments.

Yet as their treatments continued, both noticed that their energy was being zapped quicker than they thought. Both began to struggle to walk very far around the house, with Maverick developing a wheeze to his breathing that got more and more audible as days passed, and Ice’s coughing got rougher and wetter. Sarah began to worry when she noticed that neither man had much of an appetite in recent weeks, even before their wedding, the weight began to drop off both men but Slider reminded her that it was a known side-effect from the treatments, Tom had suffered from the same weight loss from his first round of treatment. However, neither man seemed to get over it, and both Slider and Sarah began to worry when Mav began to complain of pain when swallowing solid foods.

It was when Maverick began to cough violently one evening not even a month after their wedding that Sarah got extremely worried, especially when Ice, in his rush to get to his husband’s side was left wheezing through his stoma and struggling to breathe through the hole in his neck. When Sarah took them both to their morning chemotherapy session, she called up the specialists working with her brother and brother-in-law and explained her concerns about their health, the new symptoms, and the worrying lack of energy they’d had the past week that was only getting worse.

The doctors listened to her concerns and kept the pair in overnight which soon trickled into a few days, assigning both husbands to a joint room whilst they ran through the long series of tests and repeating those tests twice or even three times to check they were both recovering as how they should have been.

On the morning of there month anniversary, the doctors finally entered their joint hospital room with their diagnosis, the hopeful looks that both husbands had didn’t stay on their faces for long as the doctor.

They could only hold each other’s hands tightly as the doctors explained their new diagnosis. The doctors admitted that there was nothing more than they could do for them and that their treatment would be withdrawn and that they should make themselves comfortable in there last few months. It wasn’t the diagnosis that either man wanted to hear. The doctors admitted that despite all the treatment they’d been through so far, there chances of recovery were now nil. They’d exhausted all options available for them, not even any new experimental treatments could save them now. Neither where healthy nor strong enough to be seen as candidates for any experimental treatments that where available. The doctors admitted that they should prepare plans for palliative care, that at most they were looking at between three to six months left each.

Maverick’s sarcoma had moved into his lungs, numerous small tumors having developed and the original sarcoma on his scapula seeming to have spread up the bone and to the ribs beneath it.
Iceman’s throat cancer had rapidly advanced, numerous smaller tumors growing up and down his throat and into his lungs, and around the few remaining lymph nodes that were previously cancer free that hadn’t been removed in his latest surgery.

After giving both men a few hours to absorb the knowledge that there was nothing the medical staff could do anymore apart from make them comfortable, the doctors brought in a specialist who talked to them both about what prescriptions and medications they could give them to make them both comfortable now, including scheduling both men for surgery for feeding tubes to be installed into their stomachs.

With there bleak diagnosis, both men were discharged from the hospital, cannula around Maverick’s face and a laryngeal mask over the stoma in ice’s throat and a lengthy prescription for each of them to make them comfortable in there last few weeks as they returned home to their la Jolla house with the knowledge that despite medical intervention, their respective cancers had spread.

They were terminally ill.

Sarah and Ron peaked into the master bedroom, Ice and Mav had retreated to the room not too long ago.

The newlyweds, both spending there days cuddling as they suffered through there different treatments, even if those treatments where now halted and the only thing the pair of them received was painkillers and palliative care. All of their medical equipment turned the once luxurious bedroom into a slightly fancy hospital room at home. It made it all seem so surreal, what was going on, the grey pallor lumps under the covers that was of her biological brother and brother-in-law sleeping soundly for a change. There nights had been plagued by nightmares for a while now, a side effect from the various drugs pumping through their systems.

They deserved the peace they got.

Tom in his sleep had pulled Pete into his chest and his head had fallen onto the smaller mans, his head cushioned by the dark grey beanie the smaller man had taken to wearing since he started his Chemotherapy a couple months ago now. Despite the fact his dark locks had begun to grow back as not long ago, Mav continued to wear it, self-conscious of the fact his hair was thinner than before. No matter what support Ice offered to show solidarity with Mav, it didn’t change the fact that the smaller pilot held issues with it, his hair had been the one thing he prided himself on over his friends. He was the last of them to have his natural black hair colour at nearly sixty years of age, lacking in the aging greys the others had developed over the years. When his hair began to grow back, it grew back peppered with the silver threads he had dreaded.

Ice himself had taken to wearing a similar ice blue beanie that Mav had gotten for him when he went through his first round of chemo, the beanie making a return as Ice began his newest batch of treatment as his cancer returned, his hair slowly falling out again as he went through more aggressive treatment. Tom had secretly told Sarah it made him feel better to wear the beanie again as he saw the lightness in Pete when he saw Tom wear it months ago, before his new diagnosis. It made him feel like he had done something positive to help Mav feel better. Knowing his wingman understood the struggles of hair loss made Ice feel somewhat better. Said wingman himself, had buried his head into Tom’s chest and had a tight grip on the sweatshirt the older man was wearing, a small damp patch forming from the small stream of drool coming from Pete. They looked so peaceful.

The only thing misplaced from the whole scene was the nasal cannula over Mav’s face and the Stoma and laryngeal mask in Ice’s throat sitting out starkly against the domestic scene as they slept. It made their situation hit reality, that both where desperately sick.

Ron sighed as he turned away from the sleeping pair and stocked off down the corridor and down the stairs.

“Ron?” Sarah asked as she quietly followed the other brother in her life.
The first stray Tom had brought home, the foundation to the little family they’d built up over the years.

Slider stopped by the living room door before slamming his fist into the wall, letting out an angry cry that cut off into heart breaking sobs.

“They don’t deserve this… god they don’t deserve this, Sarah.” The RIO cried softly as he collapsed into a ball, balancing on the balls of his feet.
Sarah quietly slipped down the stairs and sat on the bottom step, throwing her arms out for Ron who quickly knelt before her.

“I know… fuck I know.” Sarah sobbed softly as she hugged Slider.
“They’re getting worse.” Ron shuddered as Sarah put her hands against the sides of his face. “I just… damn it… we lost Carol to cancer now here we are, not even twenty years later about to lose Tom and Pete the same way at near enough the same time.”
Sarah jerked tearfully in sliders hold, looking at him eyes to eyes. He was his brothers oldest and closest friend, she was her eldest brother, the protector and mother hen of their family, to see him like this was heart breaking.
“I… I had hoped it was a misdiagnosis but fuck… i… Sarah… I think it’s time we called in the cavalry.” Slider held her close, letting her bury her head in his chest, doing his best to hide his sister from all the pain as he wrapped his muscular arms around her. “Rick, Leon, Sam, Marcus and Charles said they’d be there if we needed them… and I think they need them too. I know you and Tom never had much family who you could trust, and Pete only ever had Carol and Nick, and him, until we came along… I think it would be nice if they had their family with them if this is the end.” Ron whispered softly into his ear.
“I… I think so too Ronnie. I don’t think they have much fuel left in the engines… they’ve gone downhill quicker when they realised, he’s not going to pick up the phone or come home… Tom and Pete’s finally given up hope that Bradley would ever forgive them. I don’t think I ever expected their end to come like this.”
“Yeah… I don’t think they did either… you know, Pete cried on his fortieth when he realised, he’d outlived both his parents and all four of his grandparents… now he’s not going to ever see sixty, Fuck… those two deserve the world and all eternity together and now…”
“…we need to start making plans for their funerals… don’t we.” Sarah sighed pitifully.

Slider could only sigh and bury his head in his hands.

He looked up a few minutes later and addressed Sarah once again.

“Tom’s is easy, Military commander funeral, military cemetery, the works as appropriate to his station. He’s already got the plans in place from his first treatments a year ago.” Slider started, “Pete… I don’t know…on paper he’s now a two-star admiral thanks to Cane, despite the fact any medal ceremony’s postponed until he “recovers” as everyone expects from him. Pete’s… he’s entitled to a flashy funeral fit for his ranking like Ice… but I don’t think he’d want that all that fuss or to even be buried… he always belonged in the air… he might prefer to be cremated and his ashes scattered into the winds and out to sea, but part of me thinks he’s wanting to be placed with Carole and Nick too in the end, Tom next to him as well.” Slider admitted, knowing that his youngest pseudo-brother would always belong in the sky.

“I know, but where Pete goes Tom would always want to follow… it seems more fitting for a pilot to be cremated and scattered somewhere, back to the skies you loved so much… we could have a traditional ceremony but remove the caskets before burial and take them for cremation or bury empty pine boxes, get there headstones placed on the plots they have next to Nick and Carole… but we should be asking them in the end shouldn’t we… it’s their funerals…” Sarah admitted.
“Pete has his plot next to Nick and Carole bought long ago Sarah, whether he’d get the chance to be buried in it or have an empty pine box lowered we never knew, only that he had one ready for a white headstone for when our careers eventually killed us. Tom bought the plot next to it too not long after… We all bought plots next to them after the Layton incident over in fort Rosecrans. It was when we realised that our jobs could end up with us all six feet under or an empty pine box buried in our places.” Slider snorted with a dark look on his face. “We’ll let them rest for now… then we can talk about funeral plans after their palliative care consultation this week.”
“Ron… maybe… maybe they’ll have good news this time… a misdiagnosis, or a new treatment or, or something…” Sarah tried to speak up, keeping her tone light.
“Look at them Sarah… there in a dual engine failure now…. They are both stalling now and are on crash courses into the ground. They’re not making it out of this fight.” Slider sniffed as he looked back up the stairs to where two of his oldest and closest friends were sleeping.

“Oh god I know Ronnie.” Sarah broke down as she finally accepted the truth that was in front of her.
Both of her brothers weren’t going to make it.
“I… I think it’s time Sarah… It’s time we called the family together to be here.” Ron softly whispered as he wiped away Sarah’s tears.

Sarah nodded as she looked at her brother’s oldest friend.
“Okay… Okay… your right… it be nice to have the family around for their last days if this is it.” Sarah cried softly.
“I can contact the guys, all of them have been located on bases stateside in recent months and will probably have no issues getting temporary leave.”
“I’ll contact the twins and Nicole out east… they’ll come home for their uncle Tom and Pete…” Sarah started before her face soured.

She took a moment before speaking up to Slider once more, taking a breath to steady her already emotional and wavering voice.
“But what about… him…”
“Bradshaw?” Ron asked.
“Yes, Bradley.” Sarah nodded.
“Fuck him.” Ron snarled, “Fuck Bradley Bradshaw, he’s old enough now to have wizened up and think about his problems and has had years to reach out to us when we have offered him every branch available to us. He’s had months Sarah, months, years, hell a whole fucking decade and a half to call or even check in on Maverick and Ice and nothing.”
“But he should know.”
“He does Sarah, we left voicemail after voicemail and hundreds of emails begging him to come home, Pete left one the night before his first surgery, we left one when Pete was shot down in Afghanistan we sent them, when Tom and I crashed after landing gear failure a few weeks after Pete’s crash, for every promotion all of us have taken over the years. We sent him letters and Invites for Rick and Leon’s wedding, for Charles and Marcus’s wedding, Sarah and we got the invite sent back to us the exact same way it was sent. He’s not coming home, we’re not family to him anymore. Bradley doesn’t care about us or what happens with us, when Tom took ill the first time we sent phone calls, texts, emails and every way possible to connect to the kid, hoping he’d come. We left voicemails on his phone that Tom had taken ill with cancer. Nothing… and you know what Sarah, that pissed us off.” Slider started.

“Jesus Mav has sent hundreds of voicemails, texts, and emails to the kid over the years, begging to speak to him even if it’s just one last chance and he just blocked Pete. I have sent the kid emails, voicemails, texts the lot begging him to come back and telling him about both of their fights with cancer and he did nothing. No calls back, no emails, no texts. He just keeps ghosting us.” Ron sighed. “He doesn’t care Sarah… and frankly, none of us care about him anymore either. He wants to be a shit head then yeah, he can be one, but taking it out on Tom and Pete, no that’s too far. Rick and Leon where disappointed when he didn’t show for the wedding, so too where Charles and Marcus, they stopped holding out on the kid returning when he never showed or even send a card.”

“When Tom’s first diagnosis came in, I watched his heart break when the kid he thought of as his own ignored him and reject every branch of peace we offered, I watched as he finally accepted the fact that the kid hates our guts and wants nothing more to do with us, that we mean nothing to him anymore. I watched as Pete’s heart broke into tinier and tinier pieces with every ignored call and text, he sent to the kid back then and I watched as he broke down in Tom’s hold when he realised the kid wasn’t coming. Pete called, messaged, emailed, practically begging, the kid to come home after he got his own diagnosis. We both watched Pete’s heart break the morning of his surgery as he finally realised that the Kid, he raised was no more than a stranger to him know who wants nothing to do with them. That bastard isn’t ever going to call them or come home. Bradley Bradshaw isn’t family to us anymore, and he hasn’t been for a long, long time now. He has no excuse for how he’s treated us over the years, and we owe him nothing, he’s made his stance clear and now it’s time we did too.”

“…Okay… okay Ron… if that’s the case… should we bar him from there funerals?” Sarah asked.
“I think it be for the best… I can’t say what I’d do to the bastard if he ever shows his face up around San Diego again. I’m so glad he’s already gone to Top Gun years ago.”
“Oh Ronnie.” Sarah sighed as Slider sat down completely on the floor and looked at her completely broken.
He let out a quiet laugh as he gave the wall opposite him a thousand-yard stare.

“How did we ever fail that boy, Goose was such an amazing person, Carole had the patience of a saint to deal with our shenanigans and then there’s the kid… I… I… I don’t think there’s anything else to say about him… he’s… he’s one cruel and mean son of a bitch… I bumped into him a couple years back when he was first stationed at naval station Norfolk, he was a perfect miniature for his father in looks… but his personality… I don’t know where it came from because he was such a cruel bastard. I can’t ever repeat what he said to me… he took digs at all of us, I thought if we gave him some time, he’d realise Carole wanted him as far away from the Navy as possible, to outlive Nick at the least and that Mav, our ever lovingly loyal idiot kept his promise to keep him out of the academy to let him grow older than nick ever did.” Slider huffed as he tilted his head tiredly at Sarah. “But how he’s reacted to our calls, texts and emails tell another story. I don’t think he’s ever even bothered to read them.”

“I know Ronnie… I know…” Sarah sighed, “I’ll have him barred from their funerals, unless by some sheer chance he’s stateside and in the area and ordered to come as part of the honour guard Tom’s funeral plans have.”
“If that’s the case let him stew in the honour guard and let one of us remind him of his place. He threw away this family like we were trash, he’s not allowed to come crying back to us. It’s probably not going to happen, his squadrons being sent to Japan for a year but if they are stateside for some miraculous reason, let his squad mates see what a horrible, cruel person he is, underneath his victim act, for all I care. It might save their lives in the long run when they realize just how cold and callous, he really is.”
“Alright. No Bradshaw, no contact, or anything with him from this point out. If he wants to find out about them, he can find out through Scuttlebutt when the news eventually breaks.” Sarah swallowed hard as she nodded at Slider.
“Now come here.” Slider said as he pulled her back into his arms again once more.

The pair of them sat at the bottom of the stairs hugging each other tightly as Ron rocked Sarah back and forth reassuringly.

A few days later, multiple cars were pulling up to the house as their occupants came to move into the many guest rooms. Chipper and Sundown, Wolfman and Hollywood all arriving from there stations from Point Mugu, and in from Lemoore, whilst Sarah’s kids returned to San Diego from New York and Washington D.C.

Pete and Tom were touched that the family that they’d built up over the years all came running back home to them. That their pseudo brothers would take leave to be there for them in their final weeks, that their niece and nephews would up and move across the country to be there for them.

To see everyone, they love come rally around them made both men cry in both joy and sorrow. To know that they had such a wonderful family brought them both joy but knowing that their time left with them was short broke their hearts. They wished they could have had more time.

Both Tom and Pete appreciated the love and care their family gave them, and the patience they had as they helped monitor and look after them both as the days went by and both men got sicker and sicker.

They watched as Maverick became more and more dependent on oxygen, his breathing becoming dryer and raspier as his lungs began to fail him. They watched as Iceman’s coughing fits became longer, harsher, and physically draining on him, leaving him wiped of what little energy he had. Wolf and Wood would take their time to gently wrap the pair of them up in blankets and prop them up against the various pillows and cushions built up against their favourite sofa in the sunroom in the morning, playing the news or the local radio station for their comfort. Sundown and chipper would swap in to care for them in the afternoon, taking them both out of the house and around the yard and garden for some fresh air, both supporting their friends as their strength waned as the days went by, the walks getting shorter and shorter until they could do nothing but sit on the patio furniture. Then Sarah’s kids Jack, Ethan and Nichole and their families would work through a rota as to who helped their uncles in the evening and who would help their mother and other uncles clean up around the house.

It was Sarah and Slider however who would tend to the pairs more private needs. They would feed them through there feeding tubes, would clean them and clothe them when there strenght waned. They didn’t want the others to see them so vulnerable, didn’t want their friends last memories of them to be the sickly grey pallor, the tubes poking out from their skin, the bones that had begun to jut out prominently underneath their clothes as their bodies struggled to keep their muscle mass and then there was the rest of the pains and aches, they were suffering from.

To Slider it was slowly beginning to take its place as the worst thing he’d ever witnessed. That said a lot considering that the worst thing he’d ever witnessed was a flat spin that left one injured and another dead, one that he and his pilot had caused.
A dual engine failure, stalling out beyond control, beyond recovery that neither of his younger brothers would ever recover from.

A month and a half after their final diagnosis, and Ice and Maverick were sitting in Ice’s office, Maverick curled up on the futon that had been brought in for him curtesy of Slider, dosing in the mid afternoon sun that shone through the window, and Ice sitting upright at his desk as he worked away at his computer, looking over files that needed his attention that his temporary stand in Slider himself didn’t have the clearance for. There was still only so much clearance slider had as a vice admiral, it didn’t matter whether he was the stand in for the COMPACFLT, he was only given the security clearance that matched his ranking.

It was one of his few energetic days, which were now few and far between as most of his days revolved around lounging in either the sunroom or living room or sleeping in the bedroom curled up next to his husband when the meds left him loopy and weightless. Today was one of his better pain days, a day where the pain wasn’t debilitating, and he could get by on only a few pain killers, his mind clear instead of in a haze. A day when Ice found himself in his office, working over some files he wished to finish before there time was up and all when he received a new notification for an important mission, Maverick snoozing away on the sofa that Ron had brought in for him earlier, meaning the two grounded pilots could stay as close to one another as possible, something that soothed them both in recent weeks.

Ice, even on his deathbed, he was still serving as the pacific fleet’s commander.

So, it surprised him to have a look over the file.

It was an unsanctioned uranium enrichment plant that spy sats and C.I.A moles had uncovered in enemy territory, and it was weeks away from being used. Ice looked at the files sent to him, slowly working his way through them as he began to send emails back and forth to Cyclone and Warlock, both overseeing North island Naval base and the Top gun program. They’d need the best pilots available to perform this mission.

The admiral froze as he slowly read through the files and began to play through the surveillance video’s.

Cyclone had sent him an email asking for his help on this seemingly impossible mission that began to leave a dark pit in Ice’s stomach the more he read on.

He replayed the part of the surveillance that worried him the most. The series of S.A.M.S that lined the main entrance way towards the mountain that Ice could see. After staring at it for a good twenty minutes trying to come up with a plan, the admiral sighed and plopped his head down on his desk. This mission was suicide, even to seasoned veterans like himself and Maverick. He couldn’t see a possible way of this mission finishing with no casualties.

Not realising his husband had woken up and slowly gotten up and walked over to him, leaning heavily on the desk as the surveillance played once more.

Seeing Ice’s frustration, he decided to speak up, his decades of experience in active combat letting him see a possible way of entrance and plan to complete the mission.

“That would normally be a cakewalk for the f-35 stealth’s. But the GPS jamming negates that.” He rasped out dryly, getting Ice’s attention as his husband slowly looked up.
“Surface to air threat, necessitates a low level, laser-guided strike, tailor made for the f-18.” The man continued, looking at the computer screen, “Make it four planes, flying in pairs. Two foxtrots and two solos.”

Ice pointed to the screen, indicating the target they needed to hit before zooming the screen out to show the steep mountain.
“That’s one helluva climb out, exposing you to all the surface-to-air missiles. Survive that, it’s a dogfight all the way home.” Mav nodded as he gripped the table, wheezing deeply from the length of his explanation. Ice quickly swivelled around and pulled over his spare chair, ushering his husband into it as he began to type up the plan.

Ice stopped and looked at Maverick for a moment before slowly typing up a question on the screen.
“Who should teach this, how should they teach this.” Was written on the screen.
“How long do they have?” Mav rasped as he leaned against Ice’s shoulder from his seat.
“Three weeks from Monday till operation, possibly less.” Was quickly typed up, replacing his original question.
“Shit.” Mav hissed as he began to look over the mission file.

“Who’s the next best pilot in the navy after us who you would recommend to teach it?” Ice wrote onto the screen.
“After us… Holly, Wolf, Sli, then Chipper and Sunny, then Warlock and Cyclone…” Mav sighed.
“How to train them.”
“Break it into three parts. Stage one, Dogfighting.” Mav nodded, “Have Holly and Wolf go up against the selection of pilots, one vs two, beat the younger kids “Grace of god” attitudes out of them. Two- or three-day’s worth of hops and analysis and pilot shaming should pull their heads out of their asses and understand the seriousness of the mission.” Mav continued slowly, letting Ice type down the plan. “Stage two, day three or four onwards, canyon run. Have a solo and foxtrot team fly in pairs through the canyon, rotate through until we find pairs that work together. Spend first two days flying canyon run before adding restrictions, hard ceiling below S.A.M.S radar, Bandits in the air chasing them, time limit of 2 minutes thirty maximum from canyon entrance to missile delivery.” Mav explained.
"Final Stage is climb out. Pilots will be pulling beyond seven g’s, possibly bending airframes, and ruining the jets afterwards. Practice climb outs and simulate intercept by bandits on way out and practice evasive manovers for S.A.M.S. bring everything together half way through mission training. Gives time for mission to be pulled forward if necessary.” Mav sagged against ice, coughing dryly at the extended period of talking. His energy drained and throat sore.

“Okay. I can see it now. Best shot of getting all aviator’s home.” Ice typed, feeling his husband nod next to him. “What should they do if G-Lock occurs.”
“Dive after affected pilot and get tone lock, hopefully should awaken pilot in time.” Mav yawned as he sagged against Tom.
“Okay. I’ll let Cyclone know and send Wood, Wolf and Sli, over to north island ASAP.”
“Good thing we’re dying, everyone’s here already.” Maverick snorted in laughter before wincing and pulling his cannula off, pulling out a tissue to clean the snot off his breathing apparatus.

Ice stopped typing for a moment and looked at his husband in disbelief before his began to shake in silent hackles, it took him a moment before he composed himself enough to type, “Only you Mav, could make a depressing situation hilarious.”
“Yeah well, Nick would have once said I’d have cracked a joke at a funeral if I thought it would get a laugh. Jokes on me cause it’s our funeral now.”
“More like a funeral for your sense of humour, the chemo killed it and not the cancer apparently.” Ice smiled smugly as he shook with laughter.
“Damn, you just put the nail in the coffin Tom.”
“You’re the one who opened the casket to your deceased sense of humour.” The man typed on the screen.
“I think that’s enough, anymore and I’ll pass out.” Mav chuckled.
“Nap?” his husband suggested, signing.
“Yes, please… although it feels like that’s all we do now a days.” Mav muttered as he leaned into his husband’s shoulder as Ice helped lift him up as he signed off the computer, he’d finished his few reports anyways.

As they left the office, Ice could only look around the room longingly, wishing for times long gone as he wondered if this might be the last time, he’d be his office as he switched off the lights, not looking back as he and Mav made their way to their room for a nap, the little energy he’d had this morning drained from him already.

A nap did sound nice right about now.

Iceman never did get to return to his office, instead he and Maverick got their daily reports on the mission read to them from Slider, Hollywood, and Wolfman themselves. The men coming into their room in the evenings to see how they were, not that there conditions had been improving.

Their illness had kicked both already sick men down onto their knees even more as the days went on. The only bit of joy they got aside from the pain was seeing their friends come home to them in the evening, telling them all the gossip about the younger pilots, whilst Slider, Hollywood and Wolfman oversaw the mission, Chipper, Sundown and Merlin helped assist Sarah around the house and assist the nurses that came in with their friends’ care.

Ice and Maverick laughed upon hearing that there was a pilot they swore was the perfect mixture between Ice and Maverick, Ice’s cold calculating attitude with Mavericks flying skills. That they swore he was the secret government experimental lovechild of both of them, getting feint chuckles from the sick pair.

Maverick could only wince upon hearing about Bradley and how angry and hostile the young pilot was being towards them. Ice was glad that Maverick was here in his arms and not overseeing the mission down on North Island. He wasn’t in any condition to deal with an angry Bradshaw.

So far, the mission plan was proving a success, Hollywood and Wolf had loved the excuse to return to the air once more and did a brilliant job, Sliders and Hondo’s words, of beating the ego’s out of the young pilots by flying circles around them.
Their time was coming close, they knew it. So Ice waking up one evening to find Slider red eyed as Maverick quietly talked to him. Ice didn’t need to ask what he was telling his friend; from there pained expressions he already knew.

A week later,

“Do you, think they’ll, make it?” Mav rasped quietly between breaths.
Ice nodded, typing weakly on the computer on his lap. “They’ll make it. We’ve done all we can to prepare them… it’s up to the guys to finish this for them.”
“Good…” the smaller man weakly replied as he curled up against his. “Do you, think he’ll, make it.”

Ice nodded as he weakly took his husbands hand in his.
“I wish, he’d come, home… I hope, he knows, how proud, I am, of him.” Maverick wheezed out as he sagged against Ice’s shoulder, putting his fading strength into squeezing his husband’s hand.
“He’ll know.” Ice typed with his free hand before gently pushing the laptop off his lap and onto the bedside table next to them shakily, his strength fading just like his husbands.

Ice gently wrapped his arms around Maverick as he sagged into the comfort of their bed.

“Love you.” Maverick wheezed gently; his voice lost in the noise of the oxygen concentrators by their beds. He shakily raised his head up to kiss his husband’s cheek.

Ice shakily raised one hand to his stoma, removing the laryngeal mask over the hole in his neck and closed it over, barely managing to make the noises he needed to say.

“Love you.” He whispered before kissing Maverick’s forehead, gently placing the mask back over the hole as he struggled to breathe.

The pair of them embraced in each other’s hold as they watched the world go past outside their windows.

Both slowly drifting off to sleep in the afternoon sun as a gentle breeze blew through the open windows as two vapor trails formed over the house heading out to sea.

If one listened closely enough, the distant roar of jet engines and the laughter of two men could be heard flying by the open window, heading out to sea.

Two white headstones gleamed under the San Diego sunlight as the joint funeral took place.

Two large photos representing the newly deceased, Tom “Iceman” Kazansky’s official COMPACFLT portrait photo was used, and a photoshopped, not that the crowd knew, service portrait of Maverick with his two-star uniform seen once, his wedding.

The funeral of a four-star admiral and a now, posthumous, three-star admiral.

In the end, the newlyweds were buried together in Fort Rosecrans military cemetery, buried next to the brother and sister they’d lost decades before. Both were sent off with huge fanfare, jets flying in a missing man formation with two jets pulling back. Many of the officers and enlisted personnel held their surprise at discovering that the commander of the pacific fleet and the most decorated Naval pilot to ever serve had gotten married in their final months. Others shocked that both had been sick and passed away together, it appeared that for once, the scuttlebutt about both Maverick and Iceman had been respectful of their illnesses and no rumours had been started about there conditions. Many respected that the pair of legendary wingmen however remained wingmen until the end.

It was a devastating blow to not only the naval air force but to the pacific fleet itself. Two of the Navy’s most legendary modern-day aviators, who had four kills between them and had made it to admiralty had passed away.

Sitting under the pale moonlight, Bradley Bradshaw wept for the family he’d lost. Tears trickling down his face in the silver light of the night.

He couldn’t cry at the funeral, not then, not even after Sli, no Admiral Kerner, Admiral Wells, Admirals Neven-Wolfe’s and admirals Piper-Williams snarled and hissed at him earlier, Sarah Kazansky, Jack, Ethan and Nicole Kazansky and Penny and Amelia Benjamin angry at him for throwing away their family and attempting to slot himself in at the end as he tried to talk to them, to ask about how his dad and the man he’d once affectionately called pops died. He was thankful Admirals Simpson and Bates had turned the other way when he tried to talk to the admirals. Now though, in the early hours of the morning as the mourners left the hard deck, he was free to wander down the beach and cry.

Cry for the loss of the family he’d always had but never realised until he’d pushed them away. Until he broke them, and they left him just like how he left them.

His phone was in his hands, as he slowly began to replay through the thousands of voicemails he’d blocked over the years.

“Hey, this is Bradley, I’m not available to talk right now but please leave a message after the tone, or if you’re the usual callers I’ve blocked please just screw off already, *Beep* Hey…. Hey Bradley… It’s me. I, I know you don’t want to hear from me… but its… I’ve… I’m sick… I, I know you probably don’t care anymore, you’re probably going to just hang up and delete or block this or do whatever you do when you receive these calls but… you deserve to know from me… before scuttlebutt eventually hear this and twists it… but I…. its… Its cancer, stage three… the, the prognosis is…. Mixed… there operating first thing in the morning… I, I don’t know if your stateside or even in San Diego but uh… if, if you are… I, I really want to see you kiddo, I just. I want to see you before the surgery… in case anything happens… can never be too lucky knowing my history…. If, if you’re not then, then that’s okay… I, the doctors start me on proton beam therapy the week after the surgery, so I’ll still be here… in San Diego… still staying with your unc… with Tom, and Sarah, Ron’s moving back in to help look after me as I go through treatment and look out for Tom as he continues to recover from his. He’s in remission now, Ice had it tough, but he’s overcome his throat cancer… I hope I can overcome mine too… anyways, I… I’m sorry kiddo, for everything… I love you. *Call ended” the phone beeped.
That voicemail was the last one he’d ever received from Maverick… nearly nine months ago… back when his treatment had started.

Now, it was the last time he’d ever hear his dad’s voice.

The last time he’d ever hear his dads voice and all it was, was a broken and sick man begging his son to call or even see him one last time.

And he ignored it.

“Thought I’d find you out here.”

Bradley stiffened as he snapped his head around.

“Finally pulled your head out your ass long enough to listen to them huh?” Slider asked as he plopped down in the sand next to the younger aviator, noticing the phone in hand.
“A, admiral Kerner sir.” Bradley swallowed hard, this man wasn’t his uncle anymore, he’d made sure of that. He was only a superior to him now.
“At ease Bradshaw,” the man grunted as he settled down in the sand next to him. “You really fucked em up in the end kiddo. I hope you know that. Pete broke down crying in our arms before his surgery months ago when he realised, you’d given up on him. Tom was the same months before that when we waited to see if you’d finally turn up to see them when they were at their worst.”

“What was it.” Bradley asked quietly, wanting to know what had taken his dads from him.
“Laryngeal cancer for Tom brough on from his smoking earlier in life, Chondrosarcoma for Pete, genetic we were told, throat cancer and bone cancer, which ended up developing into lung cancer for them both at the end. Tom had just finished his first long ass round of chemo and was two months in remission when Pete discovered his lump, nearly lost his arm and went through half a year of treatments, with Tom’s coming back towards the end of Mav’s chemo before we got the news that they were too far gone, even with all the proton beam and radiotherapy. Though I’m wondering if they’d amputated Mav’s arm in the first place would at least one of them still be with us. No point wondering about that now though.” Slider sighed, wiping away a tear before taking a long swig from his beer.

Bradley said nothing.

“What, nothing to say, you’d been very vocal about your hatred of them both and us up till now.” Slider narrowed his eyes at Bradley.
“… I’m sorry.”
“The people you owe that apology to are dead Bradshaw. It means nothing to the rest of us. We gave up on you ever pulling your head out of your ass years ago, we gave up on you when you ignored the twins and Nichole’s bar and bath mitzvahs, Amelia’s baptism, Holly and Woods wedding, Chipper and Sundown’s wedding. Only Tom and Pete where stubborn enough to hold out hope that you would ever put your anger aside and come home to them, even for a day. When you didn’t show up after Tom and Pete reached out after Ice’s first diagnosis, I knew you would never return, and when you didn’t come home to them when Mav got his diagnosis it was the last straw lieutenant. The last straw of the hundreds of straws we held out for you over the years, I was glad when they decided not to invite you to their wedding, I’d have hated to see how you’d have rejected that one.” The admiral spat, getting the younger man to flinch violently as tears rolled down his eyes, not realising that he’d missed so much and that yes, he had been wanted.

Now he’d only thrown that family that was patient for years away out of his own anger and spite and that they too had now eventually left him.

“Then why…” the younger man started.
“You know, none of us knew what went down originally. We did manage to piece together a few things though over the years from little bits that Pete told us, that your mother was scared and didn’t want you dying young and so had him promise to pull your papers. I pieced together everything a few years ago after taking care of him whilst he was fevered out of his skull and hallucinating. None of us knew what actually went down between her and him, not until Maverick confirmed to me what I already had pieced together a few days ago, a deathbed confession.” Slider sighed, knowing what Rooster wanted to hear. “Your mother twisted the knife into an already open wound and made him promise that you’d stay away from flying long enough to outlive your father, even outlive her. That he should do something to deter you away from the Navy completely and keep you on the ground in a safer job, that you where to go find a partner and have a family.” Slider shrugged his shoulder watching as the look of horror spread over Bradley’s face. “He took the blame to spare your image of your mother, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she twisted his guilt into making him take the blame either.” Slider admitted with a dark chuckle. “She always did like to remind him of that when she needed something done that he wasn’t on board with, always gaslit him with that one. Sadly, that one still worked too well on Tom and myself to ever confront her about it, after all, it was our jet.” He admitted darkly.

“Oh…. Oh dear god… fuck.” Bradley moaned quietly before breaking down crying at the truth of it all.
“Yep, and from what i've pieced together this past fortnight, you never once thought about they why behind it all, just walked out, and stayed angry because you thought them and us didn't think you could make it as an officer and pilot. Both of those men spent years supporting your goals and dreams and then in an instant, they act all different and like they hadn’t done it. We all should have seen the warning sign of what was happening back then and stepped in to stop it, but we didn’t realise until it was done, and you were gone that something major had gone down and it involved your academy application, shame it took a death bed confession over fifteen years later to get the full truth from Pete.” Slider said with another swig of his beer. “Now you have to live with it kiddo.”
“I… how… fuck.” Bradley cried, shaking, unable to stop the tears that rolled down his cheeks.
“They loved you like you where their own flesh and blood, they’d have killed for you and have ruined officers’ careers for you. Why do you think the commander in charge of the enterprise was relieved of duty so quickly after the accident that caused these scars, why the carrier was promptly decommissioned.”
“They interfered in my career again?” Bradley paled.
“Only when they needed to, and that was only once before this mission.” Slider admitted.

“Huh?”
That piece of information caught Bradley Bradshaws attention.

“This plan, this crazy, reckless, and stupid plan for this mission, is all thanks to Mav. Ice said he had the pathing and planning on how to approach this mission within a minute, that they picked us out to teach you because as good as you are, no one has ever flown this type of mission before and the only two people who could where permanently grounded before this mission ever came along. You have no idea the lengths they went to in their final days to make sure that you and your fellow pilots make it home. Even up till yesterday they were still working away when they could to make sure that you would be able to come home from this mission, that your classmates could come home.”
“This crazy plan… is their plan?” he looked up at the admiral, heartbroken at the thought that the men who raised him chose him as one of the pilots to possibly fly in there final mission.
“Yep, two foxtrots, two solos and all under two and a half minutes, do you want to know why, because they believe that you all can do it… granted Ice and Mav would be complaining saying your all taking too long and that they could do it in under two fifteen.”
“Pft, they would.” The lieutenant snorted wiping away some of his tears.
“So now you’ve got a choice kid. You can either continue to fly like you have and end up being buried in an empty pine box next to them, or you can get off your perch, fly this mission the way you know you can, that we know you can, hit that target, escape from enemy airspace, S.A.M.S and Bandits, and make them proud. Or there’s the third option, you return to your squad in Japan, move on with your life, forget about us we’re not your family anymore, you never talk about this again and they will do this mission.” Slider said, pointing to the group of pilots who’d been recalled with him.

“But i?”
“No buts, we gave you too many excuses and straws over the years, but we’ve had enough, you emotionally destroyed those two fantastic men in there final years. None of us see you as family anymore, the fact Penny hasn’t banned you yet from the Hard deck is because your little performances do help her business but that’s it. None of us want anything to do with you and we’re fed up with you acting like a man child, your over thirty years old and its time you acted like it. So, are you going to step up and be the man and pilot we know you can be or are you going to sit on your perch once more and let the world go by around you.” Slider sternly warned him.

“I… I will. I’ll get off my perch and fly… its what my dads would want.” Bradley nodded as he dried his tears on his sleeve.
“That’s our boy. Now, you’ve got a mission to complete. Cyclone plans on taking you off this mission, you however have permission to take an f-18 and proceed to run the course the way its supposed to. So are you gonna fly it.”
“Yes sir.” Bradley nodded.
“You going to fulfil there wishes and become the mission leader, making them proud.” The admiral asked, nodding at having finally gotten the kid to understand everything.
“Yes sir.” The young pilot nodded.
“Then get going lieutenant, show us this can be done, be the team leader and pilot they knew you could be and bring them all home.” Slider smiled at him. “Do that and we’ll be on mutual talking terms again kid, maybe one day we’ll forgive you and perhaps even allow you to come back to us.”
“Yes sir.” Bradley nodded, willing to work his way back and show his family he could be the man his dad and pops knew he could be.

“One more thing kid.” Slider said, tossing him a small package.

The young pilot opened it and gasped when he looked at the chain inside the small box.
Inside sat three pairs of dog tags, linked together on one chain.

“They wanted you to have it, even after everything. You always made them proud, even if you hurt them. They where proud to call you there son, even after everything.”

On the chain sat the dogtags of Thomas “Iceman” Kazansky, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, and lastly Nicholas “Goose” Bradshaw.

The tags of the three men who he once called fathers.

“Thank you.” He whispered as his tears dropped onto the box.

The next day he was dismissed from the mission by Cyclone, leaving the office and heading down to the ready room and put his gear on and headed out to the Jet his uncle Slider stood next to.

Ten minutes later, he was in the air.

Three minutes later, he was flying the course, the count down started.

Two minutes fifteen seconds later, he'd nailed the target blind and completed the course.

Three days later he sat in the cockpit of his jet, dagger one, flying into the danger zone launching off the deck. He had just made the call to begin the mission, still over the ocean with the shoreline rapidly approaching. He couldn’t chicken out now, he needed to be Dagger one, there leader, he needed to do this, for the men who raised him.

He quickly reached up with one hand and grasped his dog tags.

“Talk to me dad’s, please.” He whispered lowly enough not to be picked up by the comms system.

He swore he heard chuckles in his cockpit.
“Don’t think, just do kiddo.” Mav’s voice whispered into his ear.
“Its just a walk in the park kid.” Ice’s joined in.

But it was the third one that kicked his ass into gear as he pushed the throttle down and entered the canyon.
“Come on Roo, do some of that Pilot shit.” A voice he barely recognized added. One that he’d only remembered from his early childhood.
“You got it dads.” He muttered back as he smiled.

His dad’s where with him.

They entered the canyon.

Two minutes fifteen seconds later, they’d popped the target, Dagger one and two both bulls eyeing the target.

They’d done it, they’d hit the target, now they just had to make it through the mine field of S.A.M.S that awaited them on the other side of the mountain.

Ten minutes later they’d all landed on deck, mission successful after almost losing dagger one to S.A.M.S, his flares having been depleted in protecting dagger three and four. However, Hangman, Dagger two swooped in last second with a perfect cobra, saving him with his spare flairs.

“Hey hangman, you look good.” Rooster called out over the deck as the ground crew gathered around them, cheering at the successful mission.
“I am good rooster, I’m very good.” The Texan laughed.
“You can be my wingman anytime, as long as this new habit of yours sticks of course.” Bradley laughed. "Saviors a good look for you."
“Bullshit, you can be mine Rooster, as long as you keep leaving that perch of yours.” Hangman laughed, pulling the taller and older pilot in for a hug. “It’s a good look on you too. Some of the best god damn flying I’ve ever seen.” He admitted.
“Same to you Hangman, same to you.” Bradley laughed, glad to be alive. “Thank you for saving my life.”
“Thanks for trusting me with yours.” Hangman nodded back.

Up on the tower, Admiral Kerner nodded proudly as he watched the young pilots mingle about and celebrate.

“He did it guys, he did it.” He whispered out to the air above them.

“I hope he’s made you proud.”

He could only smile softly as he heard the feint rumblings of two f-14’s engines on the wind.

He knew his brothers were looking on and flying with them today.

One day, he’d reunite with them in the air, but for now, he’d stick around and watch how these new kids grew.

If they were anything like Ice and Mav, then they’d need a guardian angel to watch out for them for a while here on the ground.

Chapter Text

Alright gentlemen, thank you for coming along today, shall we get started?” a warrant officer asked as they looked at the three men who entered his building.

“Not like I’ve much choice, let’s get this over with and try to get through as much as we can today.”
“We’ll be doing this over two full day appointments sir, your frequently worn uniforms and gear will be measured and altered today, followed by the more formal dress uniforms next week.”
“Alright, that’s good enough warrant officer Biggs, let’s get down to business.” Ice nodded as he looked at them all.

Maverick, Goose and Ice where currently all over in North Island base, all at the specialised uniform dispensary. Miramar may be their new designated base, with Maverick and Goose remaining with the VF-1 and Iceman and Slider transferring from the VFA-25, but it had a rather limited dispensary when compared to the one on North Island, which had actual tailors on base for when they needed to work to a hybrid’s unique specifications.

“From the notes sent to me from the boys over at Pensacola, you two where a nightmare to tailor to.” The warrant officer in charge of the uniform dispensary chuckled.
“Why a nightmare?” Ice asked.
“First avians with wings to join the Navy since Nam, and that was only one other winged avian in the navy’s history. All other avians with wings that serve in the military serve in the army first before the establishment of the air force took the majority of them all in, and the navy is not asking the chair-force for help on this one, we can take care of our own boys. Had to do some digging through the archives to pull out the noted modifications done to the fatigues and G-suit back then and work it to our modern standards.” The warrant officer sighed.
“So, what your saying is the next few hours are going to be me being a pin cushion… great.” Ice rolled his eyes.
“Sadly, lieutenant commander, it appears like that’s how it’s going to be.” The tailor apologized to the avian.
“And we are here to offer our own inputs into to the gear.” Goose smiled.
“We’re in for a long afternoon aren’t we.” The golden eagle sighed.
“Sadly, but at least it won’t be as long as either of us, they had to start from scratch from the little records left of my old man’s gear.” Maverick sighed.
“Hey, at least we brought our uniforms to help speed up the process and eliminate what needs to be altered and what doesn’t.” Goose smiled cheerfully, trying to lift Ice’s already grumpy spirit.
“Amen to your uniform records, I thank whatever seamstress was in charge of the pair of you over at Pensacola for being so thorough in recording and annotating your files.” The tailor chuckled as they snapped out a measuring tape. “Now, arms and wings spread please.”

Ice sighed and spread his arms and wings wide as the seamstress moved towards him to start the long process of measuring him and beginning to tailor his uniforms to size and specification for him.

Hour, one saw the tailor alter and stitch up his service new khaki uniform, a new tailor made regulation standard khaki shirt and spare, and a couple pairs of white undershirts that now had two slits in the back for his wings to sit comfortably in. his white undershirt and khaki shirt which was fitted with khaki-coloured buttons up to the cut collar which also was closed over with some more buttons thanks to some careful alterations and the dedicated annotations on both of Maverick and Goose’s files.

By hour three they had his summer whites and his flight suit fatigues altered in much the same way, his new summer whites now had slits up his back and buttoned up to the collar like his khaki shirt. Iceman’s new flight suit however took a little longer because of the heavy-duty specialist material and the fact that they had to order it in just to make the back section of the jumpsuit, it had a thin layer of padding added around the two new back holes and a silk liner added around his wing joints to prevent rubbing and chaffing from the Kevlar and fireproof material of the flight suit. It was then zipped up from both openings towards the collar and had two small elastics and hooks on the top to reconnect the collar seamlessly together, better than any buckle or button would do when considering the extra gear, they would be wearing.

At least Maverick and Goose had brought their uniforms and suits with them to the dispensary to allow the tailors to see what modifications where needed and just how the finished modifications and uniforms should look. Crisp, cleaned edges, parallel and pristine buttons and reinforced seams, zippers and buckles. It made the officers and enlisted personnel on base sigh in relief that they had examples to work with to make sure Iceman’s new uniform and gear is up to approved uniform code standards. Or as standard as it can be for the navy’s newest winged aviator, bringing the total of winged servicemen to three, out of the entire three hundred and forty-six thousand three hundred people all serving in every position in the navy.

“Alright lieutenant commander Kazansky, that’s your basic uniforms and fatigues altered, now it’s onto the more technical tailoring, your G-suit, survival vest and gloves. We can alter your dress blues, whites and full dress and Dinner dress at our next full day appointment next week, unless you need it earlier.”
“No, we’ve got a few weeks until we’re required to attend the Naval gala ball.”
“Which one?” Goose raised an eyebrow.
“Pacific side held at north island for the pacific brass, according to Viper and Stinger, but with how big a celebrity we’ve all become we might end up having to go to all the big ones coming up, so the big one they host for this side of the pond, then to Virginia for the big wigs brass ball, all the top members of the navy and the military contractors one.”
“Fuck me then.” Goose muttered.
“I’m going to lose a lot of money on getting Carole nice designer dresses aren’t I.” Maverick sighed.
“Yep, and don’t forget the nanny for Bradley and hotels considering we can’t leave him with Viper for the evening.” Goose snorted as he rubbed his eyes at the thought of beginning preparations for numerous gala balls, remembering the ones he had to attend at the academy and only one other since then.

“Thank god I’m more concerned over my career than dating right now.” Ice laughed.
“Looking to make commander in a few years’ time then lieutenant commander.”
“Aiming for admiralty by the turn of the millennium.” Ice admitted.
“Jesus’ sir, that would make you one of the youngest in the brass then, you sure about that, the bureaucracy is very different than flying around in your jets.”
“Positive, I’ll leave the record breaking up to you two bird bra… fuck.” Ice sighed as he realised the mistake he’d made.
“You’re a bird now too idiot.” Goose honked as he pointed at the eagle, Maverick could only just wrinkle his nose and shoot his RIO a confused look.
“Alright, G-suit time.” The warrant officer broke in, breaking up the goofballs.
“This is the worst of it now Ice.” Maverick winced as he watched the head of the uniform dispensary.
“Look at it this way, at least you don’t have to go through the bullshit I did to get working gloves for the radar.” Goose chuckled, flexing his webbed hands in front of them.

Hour five saw Ice’s G-suit bottoms altered, the zips and buckles being altered for wider stronger grips and buckles to withstand the sharp claws of Ice’s hands. The straps being reinforced with stronger anti-cut materials that would take more than a few careless strikes of his claws to do any serious damage to it. It was the only real major change needed as the new G-suit was quickly stitched together and fitted once more to ensure it was tailored correctly to perform its very important job for when they were flying in their jets.

Hour seven saw Ice beginning to get testy and grouchy as his new harness and survival vest was being fitted and altered around his wings, the constant pulling and pushing and poking from the day was finally beginning to wear on him and he was beginning to get irritated and snap every time the harness or L.P.U rubbed against his wings, and the weight of the survival vest didn’t help either, throwing his balance off with the extra weight. It was slow going for this part of the gear fitting and altering, many new bits of padding and reinforcements where needed, along with the placement of zips and buckles for the wing holes which unlike the rest of the uniform, had zippers and buckles going downwards towards there butt. So as to not inhibit the deployment of parachute in an ejection, as their wings were bound by parachute silk scarves, the material being water-resistant, fire-proof, and tear resistant against the strain of wings.

Ice was really starting to get grouchy and tired, unknowingly letting out angry warning trills as the tailor continued to manhandle them and put the pins in place to hold the vest and all together. It had goose and Maverick on edge, ready to ground him if he fell into his newfound instincts.

It was after an angry screech after being pricked by a pin.

Mav and Goose where up and by his side in a second, ready to restrain him if he was falling to his newfound bird instincts.

“Woah, Ice. Its fine, your fine, you with us.”
“I think we’ll stop here today; you got the measurement you need?” Mav snapped his head over to the tailor.
“Got them all, thankfully just in time. Sorry Lieutenant Commanders sir.” The warrant officer apologized, quickly removing the gear from the eagle, and put it back on the table next to them.
“I, fuck, I’m fine, can we just go now.” Ice snapped out, shaking his head, blinking slowly and tiredly.
“Yeah, that probably be for the best.” Maverick winced as they looked at the tailor who nodded.
“Go on out to the car I’ll join you in a few minutes.” The eagle sighed.
“Alright.” Goose agreed as he quickly left the room.
“You can take your Whites and Khaki’s with you lieutenant commander and your flight suit. We’ll have the rest of this gear altered and sorted by the next session next week so we can pick up where we left off then.”
“Fine.” Ice snapped as he left the room, heading to the changing room and leaving Maverick and goose behind him.

The car ride home was silent.

Neither Maverick nor Goose knew what to say to their flock brother.

Ice had been growing restless the past few days and neither man knew what to do for their friend. How could they help him when they didn’t know what was going on in his head. Was it the sudden major physical change he’d gone through, was it his human mind conflicting with his newly developing instincts?

They watched as Ice stormed out of the car and into the house as soon as goose put the car in neutral and hit the hand break.

“Are we being too overprotective of him?” Mav asked, worry in his voice as he looked at goose.
“I… it’s a big change… he’s taking it a little harder than chipper, Sundown and Hollywood because it’s such a big change.” Goose reminded Maverick. “They didn’t have to worry about half the stuff he does, and alterations for them was mostly a breeze, but Sundown’s helmet’s taking a little longer than expected, he might have to trim his horns down a few inches, but at least Slider can help him deal with that.” The goose shrugged.
“I don’t think that’s it Nick. He’s been doing everything right the past few weeks, he picked up preening and nesting fairly quick, he’d not been to upset at his change of diet, it’s not like there was much of a change other than the meat being raw now and he’s even mastered full control of his… wings…” Maverick trailed off, eyes narrowing.

“Do you think?” Goose looked at his flock brother with wide eyes.
“Of course, he’s been cooped up in the house and on the courtyard training and strength building with both of us since we came back. We’ve barely let him practice gliding down the hillside since he went crashing into the bushes at the edge of the property boundaries two weeks ago.” Maverick nodded, of course that was it.

Ice was an avian like them now, and the biggest instinct for them was to feel the breeze of air filter through their feathers and fly. No wonder he’d been getting broody, he’d been grounded for too long, the flight lessons and daily wing stretches and workouts probably didn’t help his developing and settling instincts either, the call for the sky finally kicking in and making him grouchy and testy at being grounded.

“How strong do you think his wings would be currently.” Goose asked.
“Enough to sustain his weight during for a good ten to fifteen minutes currently.” Mav admitted.
“So longer than that last crash test then… how do we do this.” Goose asked.
“Leave that to me.” Mav smirked mischievously. “You go grab us some beers and see what Carole’s making for dinner.” He smiled.
“Alright, I’ll meet you on the back porch shortly then, shall I?” Goose chuckled.
“Yep, see you in a minute or two.” Mav cackled as he flew up to a second-floor balcony and let himself in, heading towards his target.

Goose just shook his head and entered the house normally through the front door.

Ice flopped onto his bed, face planting into the mountain of pillows that lined the edges of it as the door to his room slammed shut behind him, his wings puffing up behind him as he flapped them out, letting them fall out over his bed.

His new room was enormous, but that was to be expected from the actual mansion he now lived in, even bigger than the one he’d grown up in back at his parents’ house. It was well furnished, everything in it designed for a winged avians total comfort. His bed was ginormous, an Alaskan king size according to Sarah and Carole, rounded and enclosed by drapery, giving it a closed off cosy and safe feeling, with a rug underneath the bedframe. On the opposite side of the room was a large fireplace with a small coffee table and wing friendly seats, two tall bookshelves standing tall next to the fireplace. There was a large walk-in wardrobe off to one side that led to a large bathroom with giant tub and a just as large shower with numerous faucet heads to get everywhere and assist in washing wings. On the wall opposite the ensuite there was a door towards the large family nesting room, a room that Mav’s, Goose and Carole’s room and little Bradleys rooms all connected to, a giant room of soft plush luxury of pillows, mattresses, and blankets. Finally there was a giant desk in the corner of his new room, with a brand new Compaq deskpro 386 computer, with flight simulator 2 already on the computer for him, allowing him to keep up with his skills whilst being temporarily grounded until the flight surgeon was happy enough he was able to work without his new limbs and instincts interfering in his daily life and that he could function like a normal avian.

He just grumbled into the pillows at the hand that had been dealt to him. On the one hand, he and Sarah finally had a reason to disown their parents fully and drop all contact, on the other, he had one hell of a bill with replacing his entire wardrobe with new custom and tailored shirts, t-shirts and stronger materials for his clothes that won’t tear against his talons. It was just… too much to deal with, and not being able to go and take his f-14 up into the air didn’t help, yearning for the sky’s more and more as the days go by. Not to even get started on Maverick and Goose’s constant hovering since his wings came through, sure it was nice at times, like when they dragged him into the family nest and indulged in their instincts, loving the blissful tingle of ecstasy he got whenever they preened through his wings and feathers. But recently there constant hovering around him was getting on his nerves, sure it was great that they cared and where helping him adjust, but it was beginning to just seriously bug him, he was a grown man, not a child, he didn’t need to be constantly monitored or given assistance with basic tasks.

The days’ worth of poking and prodding at the uniform dispensary was the end of his tether, he was thankful for Maverick and Gooses input but damn it felt like he was a child having to hold his parents’ hands.

He groaned when he heard knocking on his door.

“Go away.” He moaned out, not sure who was knocking, whether it was Slider, or the birds.
“Uncle Ice?” echoed through the door as it slowly cracked open.

Ice sat up immediately and felt bad for telling them to leave.

“Bradley?” He asked as he pushed himself up to look towards his door. “What are you doing kiddo?”
“Daddy and Mav are stuck making dinner with mom, and I want to fly.” The four-year-old pouted as he ran up to his new uncle’s side.
“Bradley, gosling… I can’t fly.” Ice winced awkwardly, whilst he absolutely loved and adored Goose and Carole’s kid, he did strike a bit of a nerve. He felt that he would never be able to fly at this time.
“But you have wings.” Bradley pointed out, getting a laugh from Ice who shook his head at the child.
“I didn’t always have these kiddos.” Ice reminded the baby bird.
“Uncle Mav said you gained them like how spiderman gained his powers.” The fledgling giggled as Ice lifted him up from the side of his bed onto his lap, letting the kid into his nest as the eagle snorting at the story.

It was how they agreed to explain it to Bradley until he was old enough to understand just what actually happened to cause the worldwide mutations.

As the weeks past, the numbers were beginning to come through from the aftermath of the nuclear fallout. Europe saw a rise in the number of hybrids, the population doubling in the aftermath of the mutation, the same with north Africa and middle eastern countries. Countries farther away and on different continents where a lot luckier, they only saw a rises to hybrid populations up to a third or less. However, there was a worrying trend on the rise through pregnancies, more and more children were being born hybrids when their parents where either both human, but he didn’t have to worry about that, he wasn’t in a relationship with anyone or expecting to become a father anytime soon… not that he didn’t mind the notion now, baby sitting little Bradley did at times make him wish he had his own kid.

“That’s one way to put it kiddo. The evil enemy that your daddy, uncles, and I fight against, released a harmful toxin into the atmosphere when your uncle’s, your father, and I where away to save the communications ship USS Layton. Uncles Hollywood, Sundown, Chipper and I got very sick because of the toxins and in the end, we grew our features the way spiderman gained his spider powers.” The eagle explained, keeping it child friendly and easily understandable for the four-year-old.
“But you have wings, and you’ve been learning how to fly from Uncle Mav and daddy for weeks now.” The little osprey blinked at him, not taking no for an answer.
“I’ve never taken off kiddo, all I’ve done is stretch my wings… and barely glide down the hill that one time.” The eagle winced.
“So come stretch your wings with me.” Bradley giggled. “We can glide down the hill now, it’s been weeks.”
“Alright kid, alright.” Ice chuckled as the kid dragged him off the bed.

He could do that alright, simple stretching of his wings and see about gliding down the hillside, not that he’d done it much, the first few times he ended up landing in the bushes at the bottom of the slopes around the estate.

Bradley dragged Ice through the house and out to the back garden, the San Diego evening sun shining as it lowered over the horizon, Bradley dragging him over to the edge of the garden, right to where it slopes off down into a steep enough embankment. Thankfully, there was a large, decked area that Mav and goose had built during their recovery, a launch pad for themselves off the cliff. They built it with Bradley in mind for when he started to learn but it also was a good benefit to helping themselves on their road to recovery.

“Come on uncle Ice, come on.” Bradley giggled.
“Alright kid, jeeze, you really are Maverick’s godson.” He shook his head fondly at the energetic young boy. It seemed like the falcon’s energetic personality was rubbing off on the little osprey. “Got all his crazy energy.”
“Okay, now stretch.” Bradley laughed.
“Yes sir.” Ice chuckled, giving the fledgling a little salute.

Ice and Bradley moved through the motions of stretching out their wings, the child giggling and laughing as he helped his uncle stretch.

What Ice didn’t realise, was that they were being watched.

“Come on uncle Ice, come fly now.” the osprey giggled excitedly as he dragged the eagle towards the launchpad.
“I can’t fly kiddo; I can barely glide. Remember last time?” Ice raised his eyebrow as Bradley led him to the edge of the decking, the kid stretching his wings wide, letting the wind thermals that blew up the side of the hill push against them.
“That was funny, mommy only had to dry my feathers my first time, I fell into the pool.” the young child admitted.
“Jumped from a balcony?” Ice raised an eyebrow with a smirk as he stood next to Bradley right on the edge of the decking.
“Uncle Mav can do it.” The little osprey pouted.
“Your Uncle Mav is an adult and has years more experience in flying on us. No more jumping out of windows until your dad and uncle say so.” Ice chuckled.
“Okay uncle Ice.” He nodded.
“Now, are you ready?” The blond pilot chuckled as he watched the kid stretch out his wings, leaning into the wind.
“Are you?” A voice said behind him as he felt a strong shove to his back, pushing him off the edge of the deck.

Ice let out a yelp and snapped his wings out as he closed his eyes and prepared for the pain of hitting the dirt below.

“That’s it, you’re a natural Ice.” He heard chuckles from above him as a pair of claws dug into his shoulders. “Keep your shoulders straight and head up Tom, open up your eyes too.”

“Maverick, what the fuck?” Ice yelped as he snapped his eyes opened, scanning the ground easily fifty meters below him.
“There you go, you’ve got it, just keep flapping every so often and let the thermal’s lift you.” Mav laughed.
“You’ve got it Tom, you’re doing great.” Goose hollard next to him as the man’s white wings appeared next to him on his right, a giggling little osprey flying just above his dad on the thermal, just in reach of goose if his wings got tired, to piggyback off his dad.
“You two idiots planned this.” Ice realised as he looked between the three other avians and the ground beneath him, flapping his wings as he followed the advice. “Damn it Pete, Nick, you sly… sly idiots.”
“Feeling better now though I bet.” Mav chuckled as he let go and moved to the eagles left.

Ice stopped and looked up and beyond, realising what they’d done. They’d pushed him off the deck, he spread his wings and caught the thermal.

He was flying.

“Holy shit.” He gasped.

“Yeah, just realised what you’re doing bud?” Goose honked.

“Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit.” Ice laughed, a little hysterically.

The realisation that he was flying finally sunk in and it felt utterly euphoric.

Like a piece of him that had been leaving a hollow ache he’d barely noticed since the whole mutation incident began, finally clicked into place as he flew by himself, under his own power for the first time in his life.

“Yeah, you do kind of get that feeling after not having flown in a while, or before.” Mav chuckled.
“Holy shit.” Bradley giggled getting all three men to snap their heads towards the child. Goose panicking as his son swore.
“No, no gosling, no swearing. No swearing or mommy will pluck me like a Christmas goose.” Nick panicked.
“But daddy we had turkey for Christmas.” The osprey laughed.
“What your dad means baby goose is that for every time you repeat that swear, your mom will pull out his feathers and our feathers in punishment for teaching you that. You don’t want that do you?” Mav asked his nephew.
“No uncle mav, if mommy plucks your feathers, then you can’t fly with me.” He cried out, not wanting his dad and uncles to be grounded again. The fledgling loved his new flying lessons and excursions with his flock.
“That’s right Bradley, so no swearing or we can’t fly with you.” Mav chuckled.
“So, what do you think Tom? You like flying.” Nick asked.
“This is amazing.” The eagle laughed.
“Yeah, feel’s good doesn’t it.” Pete laughed as he flew up next to the eagle.
“It’s brilliant, fuck, there’s no way to describe it.” Tom laughed in disbelief, hardly believing that he was flying by himself.
“Language.” Goose honked as Bradley laughed.
“How are your wings feeling.” Mav asked.

Ice flapped a few times, feeling the strain on the wings finally begin to burn, his wings becoming a little achy.
“Yeah, there beginning to ache, not too sore, I can still fly.” He admitted, remembering the struggles Mav and Goose had a few weeks ago with their shit stamina.

That was what he’d have to work on now, knowing that at their prime both Maverick and goose could keep themselves airborne for hours at a time and cross great distances. Days even.

“Come on then, angle your alula and turn around just like we practiced, you too Bradley. Mommy’s got dinner on and a little fledgling could do with a preen before dinner.” Goose instructed as Maverick peeled off from them and gained altitude.
“I’m fine, give me a few more minutes.” Ice looked over to him.
“Alright, Mav can keep an eye on you.” Goose chuckled. “Come on gosling, dinner time.” Goose cooed as he flew around and over his little fledgeling, guiding him down to land.

Once the goose and tiny osprey avians had landed, Ice watched as Maverick barrel rolled around him, the change of the wind throwing him off.

“MAVERICK, CUT THAT OUT.” Ice screamed at him as he tried to keep his balance.

“Keep your legs out straight behind you, use them to counterbalance like a bird tail.” Mav said as he swooped in front of Ice, coming to a hover mid-air face to face with the other avian, using the thermals rising beneath them to keep aloft with very little effort. “Your legs work the same as a tail to counterbalance in the wind.”

Mav grabbed Ice’s hands, pulling them in front of him and helping him balance out. Ice nodded as he gulped, trusting his wingman fully to help him balance in the air.

“That’s it, stretch one of your legs out beneath you and lift and bend the other upwards, keep your wings spread open and just let the thermal keep you aloft, just flap when I do, just follow me into a pattern.”
“Okay, okay.” Ice nodded as he slowly followed the instructions, “I think your time at Top gun’s paid off.”
“Yeah.” Mav raised his eyebrows.
“You’re a decent teacher.” He laughed.
“And here I thought you were going to say I’m the better pilot.” The falcon rolled his eyes as he chuckled.
“Not a chance Mitchell.” Ice looked up at Maverick, laughing a wide smile breaking out on his face.

Maverick laughed at the eagle smiling widely as they held onto each other, both laughing as they flew around in circles for a couple of minutes.

“Yeah, uh Mav?” Ice panted a few minutes later.
“Wings tired?” the falcon raised an eyebrow, guessing the issue.
“Yeah, can we land.” Ice chuckled, a little breathless.
“Sure. You did great for your first flight.” Mav chuckled. “If it wasn’t for the fact, I know that you’re not a natural born avian I would have said you’ve been flying your whole life.”
“I… thanks.” Ice said as he looked over to his wingman, a feint blush covering his cheeks at the complement.
“Do the burn or anything, any muscle pain?” Mav asked as he landed on the soil, hands out to catch Ice as he glided down.
Ice gulped and came in for a rough landing, only stopped from face planting into the ground thanks to Mav grappling his arms and pulling him up.
“A bit, but I have no stamina.” The man admitted.
“You have a decent bit of stamina for a first flight, not many can hold out for ten minutes on their first flight, and you’ve been doing your stretches daily, you’ve better motor control over your wings than many first-time fliers.”
“Yeah, because those first-time fliers are kids.”
“Well… that’s mostly true, but fledging can actually occur all the way up to the early teen years. It’s just more common to be an early developmental phase, especially those who are capable of actual flight, usually the flightless ones are late bloomers, but you do get the occasional surprise amongst them.” The falcon explained.
“Oh.” Ice blinked at the information. He learned something new every day about his new hybrid status.

“I have some oil in my room that’s a miracle worker for strained muscles, it helps after long flights, I mix a bit in with the oil from my own glands and spread it deep into the underlayers of feathers. Come on, we can fly up to the balcony at the least, I left my room open.”
“You sure.” The eagle inquired.
“You can manage, you’ve a higher jump than you think you do, just flap down hard to boost up and immediately follow up with a couple more powerful down flaps, just follow me.” Mav chuckled, flapping back up and into the air, landing on the edge of his bedroom’s balcony.
“I… sure.” Ice shook his head, spreading his wings wide and flapping down.

It took him a few flaps to get airborne, underestimating just how strong the flaps had to be from standing in order to get airborne. Maverick laughed the first few times but was quick to grab him and pull him onto the balcony as he stumbled mid-air, nervous about getting too close to the side of the house.

“That’s it Tom, you made it.” Mav chuckled.
“Why couldn’t we have just taken the stairs.” Ice sighed as he bent over, panting as his wings fell to his sides. He could feel the burning sensation of exhaustion in his wings from there flight.
“It’s fun to just fly straight into your room.”
“We aren’t horny teenagers sneaking around to be with their boyfriends.” Ice tiredly snapped before paling and looking at Maverick.

He didn’t mean to reveal that, no one but Slider knew he was gay. He'd just been so flustered, confused, tired and overwhelmed for so long that he finally slipped up with the one secret that could ruin his entire career. He had no idea how Maverick would react, would he be kicked out of the flock, reported to the navy. He was paralysed by panic as he looked at his wingman.

“Dude its fine, I know your gay.” Mav rolled his eyes.

Ice was stunned, his jaw dropped. He thought he had kept himself hidden.

“H, how.” He asked meekly.
“Despite the fact you had hundreds of women throw themselves at you the whole time we were at Top gun, you didn’t date or hook-up with a single one whilst nearly everyone else in our class at least had one or two hook-ups over the entire duration of our classes. Even Holly and Wolf hooked up, although I think they were lesbians looking for a cover, and those two are the ones from our class that are the most unsubtle couple.” Mav chuckled. “Not holding an occasional hook-up or leaving a bar without some hickies from a lady is not a great way of hiding it Tom, it raises some eyebrows and makes people question you, and trust me, I know all about being questioned for any faults that could get me discharged, I’m only saved because I can play the racism card.”
“Oh… shit.” Ice grimaced as he listened to his wingman.

He hadn’t realised that he was putting himself at risk and not even realising it.

“Yeah, but staring at my ass didn’t help your case either… nor did the bite.” Mav chuckled as he pushed his wingman into his bedroom. “Shirt off.”
“Yeah, and you’re a himbo.” Ice snarked back before he fell over as his legs hit the edge of Mavericks bed, falling into the other guy’s nest. He could only look up at the falcon before slowly unbuttoning his shirt, removing it.
“Your just as desperate, don’t think I haven’t noticed.” Mav smiled mischievously as he pushed Ice down into the nest, a pleased warble thrumming up from his throat.
“This is not how I ever pictured getting into your bed.” Ice blushed.
“You pictured yourself in my bed huh?” Mav smirked as he ran a hand through Ice’s feathers on his hair line, “That can be arranged if you want.”
“This feels like this come on out of nowhere.” Ice’s blush deepened as he smiled like an idiot.

He hadn’t been expecting his wingman to have felt similarly to him, hell it took him until there separation after graduation to realise he’d fallen head over heels for the falcon. He was so glad Charlie broke up with him in the aftermath of the hop 31 incident, and that she had been removed as a teacher. Viper said something about abusing her position in order to obtain classified information above her station.

“Is it, I remember a certain pilot staring at me like I was a juicy steak he wanted to devour the first night we met at the O-club.” Mav said as he pushed Ice down into the nest, climbing onto his lap.

The blonde-haired pilot beneath him just went completely red in the face, his mind going a hundred miles an hour as he looked at the grinning falcon above him.

“Turn over.” Mav instructed.

“I don’t bottom.” Ice deadpanned getting a laugh from Maverick.
“Good thing I do then.” Maverick whispered in his ear as he leaned into the eagles’ face before pulling back, “But no, seriously I need you to turn over so I can oil your wings.”
“O…Oh.” Ice muttered in embarrassment, quickly turning over and burying his face into his pillows to hide the embarrassment, slowly spreading out his wings as he felt Maverick begin to lean down on top of him.

“If you want to play with my wings after I’ll let you top me though.” Mav whispered seductively into his ear, getting Ice to sink deeper into the falcon’s nest.
“Jesus Pete, you like this to everyone you let in your nest.” Ice groaned into the bed.

“Only those I really care for even get near the threshold of my nest. And never any bedpartners, they always stay in a spare room. Only had one girlfriend in the past who I almost let into my nest, but she had her eyes set on an admiral’s son, a seal. Still good friends though.”
“Oh, so I’m the lucky one.” Ice lifted his head.
“Extremely lucky, especially if I do… this.” Mav chuckled, as he twisted his hands up against Ice’s oil glands, getting the eagle beneath him to moan seductively in pleasure as it rippled through him.

“Fuck… oh, fuck… what?” the man arched up right into Mav’s hold, his dick hardening beneath him near instantaneously at the magical touch on his wings.
“Adult avians oil glands, when massaged right, also gives you adult pleasure just as good if not better than ordinary sex. A little secret me and Nick have been keeping from you just to suffer, but maybe that’s just another thing on the list of problems that’s been making you… testy. You need a good stress relief huh Tom.” He seductively whispered into the eagle’s ear as he teased and twisted the glands again.
Touching areas, he hadn’t before during their preening sessions.

“Fuck, Mav, Pete please, fuck.” Ice Moaned as he thumped his head repeatedly against the pillows.
“I think we’ve got some time to kill before dinner.” Mav chuckled.
“If you fucking think your leaving me hard and hanging like this, I will shoot you out of the sky when I get back in a cockpit.” Ice moaned.
“I don’t know, I kinda like you beneath me like this.”
“I’ll show you beneath me.” Ice said as he squirmed around, grabbing Mav by his shirt and pulling him down into a kiss, getting the smaller man moaning as he swapped their positions around on the bed as he practically ripped the smaller man’s t-shirt off him.

“Fuck, yes.” Mav moaned as he sunk into the pillows beneath him with a smirk, moaning when Ice’s fingers began to tease at his sensitive oil glands. “Damn, Tom, you’re ah, ah quick learner… fuck.” The falcon moaned.
“I do pride myself in being a quick learner.” The eagle preened proudly.
“Then show me just how quickly you can learn then wingman.” Mav winked.

“Bradley, I think your uncles Mav and Ice disappeared up to the nesting area, do you think you could be a big boy and go and get them for us please. Dinners ready.” Carole asked, standing by the kitchen island. Goose had gone down to the basement level of the house heading off towards the gym where slider currently was working out.

“Okay mommy.” Bradley giggled as he left the kitchen, flapping his wings excitedly behind him.

The fledgling made his way up to the giant nesting room that connected to his room, his parent’s room, and his uncle’s Mav and Ice. He was disappointed to see his uncles weren’t in the giant family nest in the middle of the room and so began to look around for them. When he checked his uncle Ice’s room, he couldn’t find his blonde-haired eagle uncle in it, so he decided to check the only other possible room for his uncles to have disappeared off to in the nesting area. If they weren’t here, then maybe they were still outside gliding and flying, or perhaps they were in one of the house’s home offices, like his dad’s or uncle Mav’s, they still hadn’t gotten uncle Ice’s and uncle Sliders offices set up yet, the builders where dividing one of the larger guest rooms into two pairs of home offices so they can do there very important flight calculations and maths at home.

He made his way over to his uncle Mav’s room. Giggling when he heard his uncle’s grunting and cooing behind the door. They were in Uncle Mavericks room, the kid smiling as he realised, he’d found them.
The kid giggled as he jumped up in delight at having won the impromptu game of hide and seek, the one his uncles didn’t know they were playing with him, over to his uncle’s room, grabbing the door handle and pushing it open.
“Uncle Mav, uncle Ice, found you. Mommy says dinners ready.” Bradley tweeted happily as he entered his uncle’s room.

Ice and Mav’s heads both shot up from beneath the mass of pillows and blankets on the man’s bed. Both raptors looked terrified at the child as Bradley narrowed his eyes.
Ice had pinned Mav beneath him, their wings messy and spread wide open, neither man had their shirts on and had the majority of the drapes around Maverick’s nest pulled leaving them mostly in darkness.

They must have been preening each other after their flight, like how his dad preened him when they came in. it was the only thing his little five-year-old brain could suggest.
“What are you doing?”
“We were just preening my feathers kiddo.” Mav’s voice strained.
“Oh, can I join.” Bradley asked as he moved to jump into the nest.
“NO!” Both men shouted, the fledgling flinched at the volume.
“No, ah, it’s okay Bradley. Me and Uncle Ice where just finishing up. Go you on back downstairs and tell your mom we’ll be back down shortly.” Mav smiled nervously, trying to reassure the child.
Bradley smiled and nodded, “Okay uncle Mav.”

With that the fledgling ran out of the room back down to the kitchen.

“…We’re gonna need to put a lock on the door if we want to continue to do this.” Ice muttered as he picked himself up off Mav. The falcon looked stunned beneath him.
“You want more?” Mav asked, preening proudly a bit. He looked lovestruck at the eagle.
“Been fascinated by you since the o-club, you piqued my interest that first night and have been in my sights since then, you where an amazing rival in top gun, actually giving me a challenge and the only wingman that’s ever been that in sync with me in the air since cougar when we were in flight school.” Ice smirked.
“Please, we were the only real competition, holly and chipper eventually did manage to catch up to our level towards the end, but you were the only real competition.” Mav smirked.
“And then there’s that intoxicating smirk, every time you crack that look, I just want to kiss it off your face every time.” The blonde moaned as Maverick’s smile only got wider.
“What look.” Maverick winked.
“That one.” Ice chuckled as he kissed the falcon beneath him.

“Any, anything else.” Mav asked breathlessly when they broke apart.
“You worked your way right in deep, I missed that stupid smirk and your obnoxious personality the whole time I was back up at Lemoore. When we were all sent out to rescue the Layton and how you cared and looked after me so carefully in the aftermath of our mutation, and the care you’ve given me ever since. I know I’ve been…” Ice winced, trying to find the wording.
“Testy being cooped up?” Mav raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah that.” Ice winced.
“Yeah, that was mine and Nicks fault, we mothered you for a bit too long and you just blew up earlier. Its normal, every avian gets cooped up too long without access to the open airs or spaces to satisfy our instincts.” Mav replied, squeezing his arm in apology.
“But not the point, the point is you have single handedly ruined me, there’s no one else for me.” The eagle admitted.

Maverick blinked, dumbfounded.

“Really?”
“Really.” Ice smiled.
“Your aware of the struggles that lay ahead if we do this Tom. There will always be people looking at us, looking for faults and a reason to take everything away from us. The Navy will dishonourably discharge us if they ever find enough evidence to charge us with being gay and bisexual and fraternising. The only real defence we can use is to pull the racism card, that if you want a relationship with me, we’ll need to keep it behind closed doors. Anyone who accuses us or asks will need to be accused of racism, are you ready for that, who knows if or when they navy might lift the ban on gay service members. People will take any opportunity to cut our careers short and stifle them, you could become COMPACFLT someday but if we slip up you could lose everything. You won’t be able to have a family, have kids of your own, if we become a couple and you will always have someone looking over their shoulder waiting for you to slip up, even for a moment.” Maverick looked at the older pilot, reminding him just all he could face to lose if they were caught, and court marshalled for being together.

“My family lost everything but our wealth after one bad black ops mission in Vietnam, my dad’s reputation, my mom’s mental health, my grandfather lost his beloved son and daughter in law, that loss never left him, and I’ve faced years of hardships and setbacks since I joined up. I nearly was blacklisted from the academy, I only just got in because Viper informed the then COMPACFLT that it could be seen as racism if they singled me out for simply existing.” Mav reminded him, giving Ice time to think about this.

“Jesus… imagine a world where hybrids don’t exist then. You might not have gotten into the academy.” Ice whistled at the thought. “It still doesn’t change the fact I want this, want you. I know what it’s like to always look over your shoulder, to have people try to stifle my career. My Father abused his powers and positions to try and make me a lesser man than him, so he could try and remind me that I would always be inadequate to him. Well fuck you daddy dearest, you no longer have a son and when you come asking for me to take you in and care for you in the future, you and racist old mom will be shoved into the nearest depraved and run down care home. Fucking rot for all me and Sarah care.” He added with a delighted trill. “I don’t care the suffering and suspicions that people will place on us, I’ve dealt with my old man and his connections scrutinising me and Sarah’s a lawyer she can offer us advice if we do get caught in a… compromising position. As for a family of my own, I don’t care, sure I’d love a child or two but as long as I’m with you I’m happy enough… besides Bradley has your manic energy, I think one kids enough.” Ice laughed, getting maverick to laugh.
“Firstly, in another world, maybe, makes you wonder though what would happen if I didn’t get to the academy. I would still be the best pilot though.” Maverick replied snarkily. “Secondly, I thought I had daddy issues.”
“Bullshit.” Ice laughed. “This is a nice moment, let’s not ruin it now Mitchell, and yeah, you could say we both have serious family issues. Maybe that’s why we get on so well, shitty family circumstances growing up and why we love our found family so much.” Ice rolled his eyes.
“Fine Kazansky.” Mav rolled his eyes.

“I’m still the better pilot though.” Ice smiled as he flopped down onto the next to Mav.
“Why you little shit.” Mav laughed as he grabbed a pillow and whacked it against Ice who began to laugh.

“PETER, THOMAS, DINNER.” Came a holler through the house. “AND FOR GODSAKE, GET DRESSED.”

“Welp… what are the chances they know.” Ice whispered as the pair froze.
“… Grab some collared shirts and say we spilled oil on our clothes.” Mav winced.
“Does that work?” the eagle raised his eyebrows in worry.
“… maybe?” He awkwardly shrugged his shoulders.
“Well thank goodness neither of us have children then. Having baby goose walk in on us is one thing, imagine if it was a child of either one of us.” Ice muttered.
“I think having a child right now is a bit fast, even for me, Baby goose is enough for now unless Carole and Nick want a second or third down the line. We’re not even boyfriends for an hour yet, give me a day before I just go to the nearest orphanage and adopt the first broken child I see. We’re still screwed when they find out though, Nick and Carole’s going to pluck us.” Mav laughed, getting a chuckle from Ice as he flopped back onto the nest.

“…Fuck.” Ice moaned for a moment before he too began to laugh.

The next morning, Ice was sitting in his room in his nest, preening and fixing his wings, doing his best to straighten them out and cover up the missing feathers from where an angry Carole Bradshaw had plucked them after Bradley had told her and Nick that his uncle’s Mav and Ice where wrestling one another shirtless whilst preening their feathers…. That and Carole caught sight of one of Mav’s hickies on his neck. Goose had laughed and said Ice really should have been a shark.

Maverick had retreated to his private office upon receiving a call to his personal landline, calling Goose and Carole into the office not too long after that.

He wondered what was going on. Where they being recalled for a mission so soon, surely not without Ice and Slider on their wing. He knew he wasn’t cleared for flight, he had a series of tests to go through first to show his new instincts wouldn’t interfere with his flying in the cockpit, yet but surely the navy wouldn’t separate them so soon, Mav and Goose were given special leave to assist in his recovery after all.

“TOM, RON?”
“YEAH?”
“CAN YOU BABY SIT BRADLEY FOR THE WEEKEND?”
“SURE, WHY?”
“FAMILY EMERGENCY IN TEXAS, WE’LL BE BACK IN A DAY OR TWO’S TIME.”
“What’s going on?” Slider asked as he stuck his head around a corner.
“Welp…” Goose started as Carole grabbed the phone and took charge, ringing Sarah, Hollywood and Wolfman and began to explain the situation and ask them to get certain items. Also ringing the interior designer who had fixed up their rooms for them before they moved in.
Goose just turned to look at them again as Maverick stood next to him shellshocked, “Apparently, someone’s protection failed, and we have to go to Texas as his ex and her family can’t look after the baby.”

“Wait, wait, whoa.” Ice stuttered out, “What?”
“You’re a dad?” Slider asked, his jaw dropped at the thought of the falcon having a kid.
“According to the San Antonio social services, yes.” Maverick admitted breathlessly. He looked shellshocked and stunned.
“You are sure there his child?” Ice narrowed his eyes, hoping this wasn’t a scam being pulled on them or Mav. He didn’t think Mav’s throwaway comment last night would come true so soon, they hadn’t even been official partners twelve hours yet.
“Considering the child’s apparently a winged avian that one of his ex-partners carried then yes, it’s his, don’t need a D.N.A test for that, but we have one lined up for when we land.” Goose looked just as shellshocked.

“So, everyone knows about my “Relationship” with Penny Benjamin, yes?” Mav smiled awkwardly.
“Dude did you get an admirals daughter pregnant.” Slider gasped as Ice’s eyes widened.
“No, Admiral Benjamin had Penny introduce me to a friend and for a few months we had a friends with benefits style relationship because the man she wanted to pursue was an admirals son and that admiral wasn’t going to allow her to date him unless she has a college degree and a full time job to prove she wasn’t a gold digger because she was friends with me, not realising I’m the loaded one with a net worth hundreds of times larger than his little check book. So, I paid for her to go to Trinity college in San Antonio, her tuition fee’s only, she’s paying for her living expenses herself by working at a bar. Then she dared me to buzz over Penny’s place and that’s when we were sent out to sea again. We’re still friends.”
“What’s her name?”
“Eleanor Trace, you wouldn’t know her, nice girl, strong as fuck and all legs.” Mav smirked as he looked at the stag.
“I take it she was the one you almost let in your nest?” Ice raised an eyebrow.
“Yep, could give as much and take like a champ. Kinky too.”
“Dude, I did not need to hear about your sex life.” Slider blanched as he turned to Ice, “He’s as bad as you, yall are made for each other.”
“Then remind us not to tell you the story of admiral Jordans boy, this idiot nearly got discharged but we managed to save his ass by telling… the truth from a certain perspective.” Goose pointed with a teasing smirk.
“Meaning?” Ice looked Maverick up and down from head to toe.
“Pulled out the racist card, the admiral ended up getting a stern warning from other admirals and was demoted a star.”
Slider burst out laughing, nudging his pilot.

“Welp, looks like you now have an excuse to pull that will work.”
“So, when are you leaving.” Ice asked, stifling down a disappointed trill at being left alone without his flock brothers.
“Now. Viper’s letting me borrow his Cessna to bring the nestling home. Goose and Carole need to come because whilst I’m going to be the main legal parent, Carole will need to take guardianship for whenever we return to deployments until we get higher up the ranks and get more control over our deployments.” The falcon admitted.
“Okay, so… you’re bugging out to Texas and will be back either tomorrow or the day after.” Ice looked at him.
“Yes, Carole and Nick are coming because with us away on future deployments, Carole is going to be our main guardian for the hatchling whilst we’re away.” Maverick nodded at his wingman
“Hopefully it’ll only be a few more years, either till we get to the rank of commander or captain.” Goose admitted.
“Yeah, just gotta hold out a few more years until they start to introduce the new f-18 super hornets to the fleet.” Mav nodded. “I hear they’ve single seaters.”
“You’d take a single seater?” Ice raised an eyebrow; he couldn’t imagine Maverick flying without goose. Heck, he couldn’t imagine himself flying a jet without slider in the back.
“If Nick’s looking out of the air later in our careers to be on the ground closer to home, there’s no other RIO or flight officer that I’d trust to watch my back up there… well, none as good as Nick.” Mav admitted getting a happy trill from goose at the admission.
“I would say fuck you to that short stack, but I’ve seen your flying.” Slider laughed good naturedly.
“No, that’s fair enough.” Mav laughed.

“So, you’ll be gone all weekend then.” Ice asked.
“Yes, now, I’ve called Sarah, Holly, Wolfie, and the interior designer should be swinging by later. I’ll hand Sarah a list of items for her, holly and Wolf to go and get for Pete’s room for the nursery corner for the hatchling. The interior designer will also swing around and see what plans they can draw up for the house so that the baby will have access to the nesting room when there a little older and are a nestling.”
“There are only four rooms that lead to it though. Remodelling?” Ice asked.
“Honestly, I have no clue. Maybe give us a few weeks or months until we get settled in and sorted.” Mav looked at him.
“Too early to share a room and give the kid mine?” Ice snorted getting Maverick to blush.
“I know but I want to take some time, take our relationship slowly first, this isn’t exactly slow and it’s a big step in a relationship… I don’t want to overstep any boundaries and push too fast… that and my and our instincts are going to want to keep the baby close to imprint on them so my rooms better for now as we’ll have to take some more leave, and paternity leave. Maybe return to working at Top gun for a while longer before returning to active service when the baby’s old enough.” Mav sighed, rubbing his eyes.
“Hey it’s okay.” Ice said as he put his hand on his boyfriend’s shoulder, “If you want to take it slow that’s fine by me, we can talk about it again in a few months’ time when things are settled and we’re confident in the direction of our relationship.” He smiled softly at Maverick who looked at him thankfully.
“Thank you."
“So, when are you going?” Slider asked.
“We’re heading out to the hanger now. We’re sorry to spring this on you so suddenly.” Mav smiled softly as Slider picked up Bradley.
“It’s no bother Mav, now go get your kid and I’ll make sure these two bird brains get everything ready for you three and the babe coming home.” The Stag nodded as he threw an arm around Ice who let out a disappointed trill.
The stag and eagle watched as the trio left not long after, there bags hoisted onto their shoulders as they waved goodbye to their flock.