#mom!pennybenjamin
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Line Without A Hook
Title and chapter loosely inspired the song “Line Without a Hook” by Ricky Montgomery.
Summary: Aurora arrives back in San Diego, and reunites with people she both expected and unexpectedly anticipated.
Warnings: Swearing/language and mentions of PTSD
Word Count: 6.5k
A/N: Sorry I haven’t been posting as much, been going through some stuff mentally. But without further ado, here’s a longer chapter and enjoy the reunion of the BAP trio 💛
Thanks to my beta reader and editor @reginleight!
As always, likes are great and all, but comments, reblogs, and feedback are highly appreciated and loved! 🤭
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“Where do you want this last box, Rory?” Amelia asks from the living room.
“Over there in the kitchen please!” Aurora replies to her sister.
Aurora was so happy to be back in San Diego. She, Maverick, and her puppy, CJ, arrived in San Diego late last night and stayed in a hotel. Aurora had called her mom and Amelia the day she had left Washington DC, to let them know that she was going to be back in San Diego.
Penny and Amelia were currently spending the morning and afternoon with Aurora as they were helping her move into her new house within the city. Maverick had yet to see Penny and Amelia as he went straight to the Navy base where they had provided him lodgings for the upcoming mission. In the afternoon, he would be going to the Admirals to be briefed a little more on it.
“I still can’t believe my little star is back in San Diego!” Penny gushes over her daughter, as she gives Aurora another hug for the hundredth time today. Aurora groans as Amelia cackles, taking the box into the kitchen.
“Mom,” Aurora whines as Penny refuses to let go of her eldest daughter.
“She gets worse with age. You should have seen her last year when I bought my dress for the homecoming dance,” Amelia snickers, holding CJ, who Amelia had already bonded with.
“My babies are growing up. I’m getting so old,” Penny groans, releasing her daughter.
Aurora and Amelia both roll their eyes and chuckle, knowing their mother looks so much younger than her actual age.
Aurora kisses her mom’s cheek as she finishes unpacking the box she was working on before Penny left, walking into the kitchen to most likely unpack the remaining box Amelia had brought in.
Aurora was lucky that NCIS had helped her find a nice three-bed and two-bathroom house she was able to rent on short notice.
Apparently, Gibbs and Director Vance had pulled a few strings to help her find a good place that was a ten minute drive from the Navy base since the NCIS office was also located there. As well as her mom’s house being fifteen minutes away, with another five minute drive from Penny’s house to Goose and Carole’s.
She would sometimes hear the sounds of the naval aircrafts flying above her house, and it made her smile remembering Bradley. And Jake and Peyton obviously, but mostly Bradley. Everything seemed to be settling in place.
“So, when do you start work?” Amelia asks, sitting on the floor and tossing CJ’s ball for him to chase after. The dog ran after the ball as it bounced away, skidding across the hard floors and almost tumbling straight into the wall.
“On Wednesday,” Aurora recalls from the email she got from her new boss. Since it was a Saturday, her boss had figured Aurora would need a few days to get used to her new surroundings before she started her new desk work.
Amelia smiles at her big sister from where she sat. She had missed Aurora so much, always looking up to her. When Amelia heard she would be coming home, she was so happy she screamed with excitement.
The two sisters were always close, with Aurora helping out as much as she could, especially when Amelia’s dad had left them. Amelia didn’t really consider her father as a dad, as Maverick had helped fill that void a while ago. But she never said it out loud.
“Have you heard from Peyton lately?” Amelia questions her, as Aurora pulls out a framed photo of the family. Aurora sighs as she hears the question. She stares longingly at the photo, where it was Maverick, Penny, Amelia, Peyton, and her at their graduation party.
“You know for being the talkative one out of all of us, he sucks at replying to letters,” Aurora responded, setting the frame down on the table next to her.
“I hope he’s doing alright,” Penny sighs, walking back into the living room.
She knew not to worry too much about her son, but it never got any easier when he went on deployments. She preferred if all her children lived in the same place, even though she encouraged them all to live out their own lives and dreams.
“He’s fine. He has Bradley,” Amelia surmised.
“That’s what I worry about,” Aurora chuckles, as she pulls out the stuffed rooster that was given to her by Bradley when he told her his callsign.
Aurora thinks back to the letter she wrote to both of them. She didn’t tell them about meeting Hangman, or any of her cases. Just that she was usually drowning between paperwork and fieldwork.
Penny and Amelia give each other a look as Aurora stares off into space.
Even though they were both happy that Aurora was home, they noticed she was different, even though they just saw her today. Sometimes she would go into a daze for a bit before returning back to normal. She would flinch and reach for her knife at a loud noise sometimes, occasionally falling silent and biting her cheek, or even fidgeting with her bracelet.
Penny knew a bit of her PTSD to an extent, but not the whole story, where Amelia didn’t know anything. They didn’t say anything though, wanting Aurora to get settled before saying anything.
“Any big plans tonight?” Penny asks, drawing Aurora out of her mind.
“Probably nothing as fun as what you’re going to ask me,” Aurora smirks at her mom.
“Well, how about a little help tonight at the Hard Deck then since you don’t have to work yet?” Penny suggests. “Amelia is sleeping over at her friend’s house. I had a coworker have something come up and I need someone to help me with the Saturday rush.”
“Sure! I haven’t bartended since college, so I might be a bit slow,” Aurora shrugs.
“No, you’ll be fine,” Penny reassures her. “Plus, you’ve always been good at it.”
“And there’s always hot eye candy to look at too!” Amelia pipes in.
“Amelia!” Penny turns to her youngest daughter. Aurora bursts out laughing at her sister’s antics.
“Not that it matters, you only have eyes for Bradley,” Amelia teases in a singsong voice.
Aurora rolls her eyes, not objecting to her statement, and throws bubble wrap at her. Amelia catches it and tries throwing it back at Aurora and soon they end up throwing a lot of the leftover bubble wrap around, with CJ jumping up and down, joining in the chaos.
Penny chuckles at her daughters, wishing Peyton was there to complete the family.
—
Maverick had just finished his meeting with Cyclone and Warlock as he sat at the bar of the Hard Deck. How was he not only supposed to train this new group of aviators but also work with his godson who had still yet to even talk to him ever since he pulled his papers from the Academy?
He had already spotted two of the students he was going to be training for the mission at the dartboard, noting that he could already sense the ego of the blonde guy. He was texting Ice about his meeting before he heard a voice speak to him.
“Dad?”
He looked up and saw Aurora had walked in with her purse in hand with a confused look on her face. Maverick turned to her, confused about what Aurora was doing at the bar.
“Sweetie? What are you doing here?”
“I should be asking you the same question. Aren’t you supposed to be in a meeting with your higher-ups about the mission?”
“I finished. Why are you-”
“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me,” a voice says behind the bar. Maverick turns back towards the bar and sees Penny. “Pete.”
“Penny? What are you doing here?” Maverick questions, stunned and confused, until remembering the bar he’s at and laughs to himself. He was so deep in his thoughts, he had forgotten that Penny owned the bar and was most likely working.
“I should ask you the same thing,” Penny answers him. “Hi sweetie, you can put your bag in the office near the kitchen,” Penny tells her daughter.
“Sure thing, mom.”
“You’re working the bar tonight?” Maverick asks Aurora.
“Duh, gotta help mom out,” she winks at both of them heading towards the kitchen/back area and leaving her purse inside the office before walking out toward the bar area.
“No way. Artemis?!” a voice calls. Aurora freezes in her tracks and turns to the voice.
In all his glory, stood Jake Seresin in his khaki uniform, standing next to the dartboard.
“Holy shit! Hangman?” Aurora was stunned.
Last she had heard from him, he was stationed down in Texas, near his family for the time being. They would message each other now and then, as they had truly bonded quite a bit ever since Aurora had saved his life.
He holds out his arms, as Aurora walks quickly towards him and launches herself into his arms.
“What are you doing here?” Jake questions the woman after pulling back from the hug, holding her within arm's length.
“Reassigned to the office here in San Diego. What about you?”
“Called in for an assignment at Top Gun. They called in the best of the best,” Jake answers proudly.
Aurora freezes for a bit.
Does that mean Bradley would be called back? What about Peyton? No way, she thought. They would have called her. She shakes that thought from her mind, focusing back on the guy in front of her.
“Who’s this?”
Aurora and Jake turn to the friend he was with, the other guy confused as he had never met the woman who had hugged Jake.
“Oh, crap right. Coyote, this is Aurora. Aurora, this is my friend, callsign Coyote,” Jake introduces.
“Lieutenant Javy Machado, at your service ma'am,” Javy says as he puts out his hand for Aurora to shake, to which she does.
“Aurora Benjamin-Mitchell, nickname Artemis,” she smiles proudly.
“Wait, hold on. As in THE Artemis? The NCIS agent who is part of the infamous Gibbs team in DC? The team that solved the Port-to-Port killer case?” Javy questions incredulously. He wonders how Jake knew her.
“The one and only,” she proudly smirks at him before shortly being called by Penny to hurry and get behind the bar.
“Sorry for the short introduction. Duty calls,” Aurora winks at both of them before hurrying towards her mom, who was still talking to Maverick.
“Wait. Mitchell? As in?”
“Apollo? Yeah.”
“Holy fuck.”
“Holy fuck is right. C’mon. I’ll tell you all about it while I beat you at pool,” as Jake drags Javy to the pool table.
Aurora was behind the bar and she could hear her mom and dad talking, and she smiled at their interaction. She loved seeing her parents together.
Even though many times they’ve told the kids to never get their hopes up of them getting together, Aurora also held hope for them. She saw the way her dad looked at her and her mom never talked badly about Maverick, even though Maverick would leave constantly. They loved each other too much to ever talk badly about each other.
Aurora was drawn out of her thoughts when her mom rang the bell. She looks at her dad and sees that he has his cell phone on the bar, looking around confused.
“What am I missing?” He asks his daughter. She chuckles and gestures to the sign.
“Disrespect a lady, the Navy, or put your phone on my bar,” he reads.
“And you buy a round,” Penny finished his sentence. Aurora laughs as she scoops ice into a shaker and makes a drink for someone.
“For everyone?” Maverick looked around, nervous as there were quite a few people in the bar.
“I’m afraid rules are rules,” Penny smirks at him.
“You’re lucky it’s early dad,” Aurora chuckles as she leaves to serve the drink.
Aurora smiles as she hands the drink to a lady, taking her card to open a tab for her. She was getting into the groove of things behind the bar with her mom.
She used to bartend a bit in college before her NCIS internship in order to earn a bit of money on the weekend. It helped her out a lot during an undercover case, as well as when her mom purchased the Hard Deck.
“What do we have here?” Aurora hears Jake call out from across the bar. She turns and glances at who he’s talking about, seeing a woman and two other men wearing their khaki uniforms enter into the bar.
“If it ain’t Phoenix!” Jake smiles at the woman who had stopped in front of him. “And here I thought we were special, Coyote.”
Aurora rolls her eyes at Jake’s ego literally oozing out from him, as she turns to reach the beer tap next to her, filling a drink for someone. A bit goes by and she hears Jake call for her.
“Artemis, my dear.”
Aurora rolls her eyes as she turns to him.
“What do you want, Hangman?”
“I’ll have four more on the old timer,” Jake says, as he makes eye contact with Maverick.
Jake didn’t know who he was, which made Aurora want to laugh, but didn’t say anything about it.
“Say please,” she teases.
He rolls her eyes as her mom comes up right behind her.
“I got it, can you get some glasses in the back for me? And fill up the kegs as well,” Penny tells her.
“Sure, mom.”
“Mom?” Jake asks, as Aurora was about to leave. She winks at him, as she rushes to go to the kitchen, but before she does, she goes up to the jukebox and puts on the song “Tramp.”
It was a song Bradley had added to the Spotify playlist that he, Aurora, and Peyton shared, and it reminded her of him. She smiles as it comes on, before running to the back.
Outside, Bradley had just parked the Bronco outside the Hard Deck and turned to Peyton.
“You ready?”
“Hell yeah.”
Together, they both exit the car and strut into the Hard Deck with their sunglasses on. Both of them decided to forego their khaki uniform and wear comfortable clothes instead.
“Ha! Someone’s playing your song Rooster,” Peyton chuckles, as Bradley rolls his eyes, not that Peyton could see it.
“Bradshaw! Mitchell! Is that you?”
Penny and Maverick turn to see the two standing near the Hard Deck doorway, shocked. Maverick knew Bradley was going to be part of the mission, but he didn’t know about his son being stateside. Penny didn’t know either of them would be back.
Bradley and Peyton walk up to Natasha.
“This is how I found out you both are stateside?”
“We just thought we’d surprise you,” Peyton smirks, taking off his sunglasses and tucking them into his shirt pocket.
Bradley chuckles at his best friend’s remark, but then grunts in pain as Natasha hits him with the pool stick as she hits her ball into the pocket.
“I guess I surprised you back,” Natasha replies as Bradley looks up.
“It’s good to see you.”
“Good to see you too.”
Bradley pats her shoulder before standing up to say hello to everyone else. Peyton hugs Natasha before greeting Mickey, who was also someone he had met during his time at the Naval Academy.
“Here you go,” Penny says, before handing over the beers to Jake.
“Thank you,” he genuinely says to Penny, now that he also realized that Penny is Aurora and Peyton’s mom.
“Much appreciated Pops,” Jake says to Maverick, winking at him before heading to the jukebox.
Maverick shakes his head going back to nursing his drink.
Aurora, still in the back, was bobbing to the faint music as she moved a few of the empty kegs so she was able to change the hose to the full kegs. The full kegs were always heavy to move, so she knew this would take a while.
The jukebox changes to the song Jake had put on, “Slow Ride,” and Aurora in the back chuckles knowing that it was him that put the song on. Jake soon walks back to the pool table and spots Bradley Bradshaw.
“Bradshaw, as I live and breathe,” Jake smirks as he hands the beers to Coyote and faces him. He takes the pool stick from Bob as he lines up to take a shot.
“Hangman, you look…good,” Bradley admits before giving a quick glance to Peyton next to him, to which Peyton, who was sitting on a bar stool, kicks him.
“Well, I am good Rooster,” Jake says as he shoots the ball into the pocket. “I’m very good. In fact, I am too good to be true.”
He stands up and sees Peyton and tries to keep cool. “Apollo, still attached to Bradshaw's hip I see.”
“Hangman, still vying for attention I see,” Peyton retorts back.
“So,” Payback interrupts the two. “Anybody know what this special detachment is about?”
“Well, a mission’s a mission. They don’t confront me” Jake replies.
Bradley had to hold in a chuckle before turning to Peyton, who was trying his hardest not to let out a groan, as Peyton had repeated those exact words to Bradley that day.
“What I want to know is,” Jake continues, “Who’s gonna be team leader?”
The pool balls clatter.
“And which one of y’all has what it takes, to follow me.”
Bradley was over Jake’s ego, so he decided to say something back.
“Hangman, the only place you’ll lead anyone is an early grave.”
It quiets around them, besides the music playing in the background, while you can hear Mickey let out a small laugh. Peyton smacks Bradley’s arm, while even Natasha looks at Bradley with a little disbelief.
Jake smirks at Bradley as he makes his way in front of Bradley, passing by Payback and Phoenix.
“Well, anyone who follows you is just gonna, run out of fuel,” Jake smirks as he sits on the edge of the pool table. Bradley smirks at him, keeping eye contact and never backing down.
“But that’s just you, ain’t it Rooster,” Jake sighs as he stands up to eye Bradley, chest to chest.
“You’re snug on that perch, waiting for just the right moment, that never comes,” Jake whispers to him.
Not only did Jake mean in the sense of Bradley’s flying skill, but also meaning Bradley’s waiting for Aurora. Jake wondered how long Aurora would wait for him if Bradley would ever make a move. Aurora would brush it off whenever they talked about it via letters and texts.
Him and Bradley stand chest to chest, neither backing down. “Slow Ride” continues playing in the background.
“I love this song,” Jake grins, as he walks away and leaves Bradley, pondering what Jake had said. Natasha walks up to Bradley, who both were watching him walk away towards the bar.
“Well, he hasn’t changed,” Nat says.
“Nope, sure hasn’t,” Bradley looks at Nat and they both just roll their eyes at Jake.
“So am I the only one who felt the sexual tension, or…?” Peyton speaks up.
Bradley swats at him, and they both laugh it off. Bradley sits next to Peyton, both watching the next pool game happen, their seats against a pillar blocking the bar.
Aurora walks back out of the area, and lugs the box of clean glasses from the kitchen, to the bar.
“Need help there, hon?” Penny asks her, moving out of the way so Aurora could set the box down.
“No, I’m fine. I’ll set them down over there on the other side of the bar.”
Aurora sets down the box as she huffs to take a breather.
“You look like you were struggling for a bit there.”
Aurora looks up and sees Jake leaning against the bar, smirking at her.
“You think you can do better?”
“Oh, I know I can,” Jake teasingly winks at her as she laughs.
She fiddles with her bracelet, and Jake realizes how much Aurora was still struggling with her PTSD and anxiety. He gave her a worried look, to which Aurora shook her head, not wanting to talk about it.
“Need another beer?” Aurora asks.
“Please.”
Nat looks back over to Jake and sees him flirting with a woman, whom she felt she recognized, but couldn’t quite place her.
“Hey, who’s Hangman flirting with? She looks familiar.”
Mickey, Bob, and Payback look to where Nat was gesturing towards.
“Oh, that poor girl. She must be a new bartender,” Mickey assumes.
“She’s pretty cute though,” Payback admits.
Coyote looks over to where they were looking, laughs to himself, and takes a glance at Peyton and Bradley who still had yet to look at Jake and Aurora.
“Wait, who?” Peyton was confused, feeling a bit jealous, but trying not to show it.
“Look, over there,” Bob says as he points behind Bradley and Peyton, towards the bar.
Peyton and Bradley both get out of their seats to look at Jake and this so-called new bartender and they froze.
Aurora and Jake were laughing as Aurora handed him a beer.
Peyton was the first to react as he got up and walked past Nat, Bob, and Mickey who were staring at the two.
“Wait, Apollo, what are you-? Rooster? Where the hell are you two going?” Natasha was confused at their sudden urgency.
Bradley trails behind Peyton, knowing it was best to let the twins have their own reunion first.
Peyton walked faster towards the bar. Soon he could hear his sister and Jake talking until he spoke up.
“Rory.”
She froze and looked over Jake’s shoulder, gasping.
“Pey?”
She exited the bar area and ran straight into her brother’s arm, tearfully wrapping her arms around him. It had been about 3 years since they last saw each other, the longest they had been away from each other.
Jake smiles at the two, before leaving to go back to the pool table to give them space for their reunion.
“What are you doing here?” They both asked at the same time before laughing and looking into each other’s eyes.
Peyton examines his little sister, who didn’t look so little anymore. Her dark brown hair now had faded blonde tips, Peyton guessed from when she had dyed it and just decided to let them grow out.
Aurora smiles as she puts her hand on her brother’s cheek. She could feel the stubble underneath her hand. Peyton and Aurora, as different as they are, were the spitting image of each other, especially now that they had grown up.
“Wait, if you’re here then…” Aurora trails off before looking over Peyton’s shoulder, tears filling her eyes.
There stood her best friend, all grown up. Bradley was not the lanky boy she had left those years ago. He had filled out, and had a mustache just like his father. She would poke fun at it later, but all she could do is take him in.
Bradley couldn’t believe the girl he was just thinking about was finally right in front of him again. He had to be dreaming. It wasn’t until Aurora tore herself from Peyton and started running towards him did he finally realize this was reality.
He took her into his arms, lifting her up and swinging her into a little spin, as she gripped onto him tightly, giggling and burying her face into his neck.
He stopped after a few turns, setting her down, before taking a good look at her, cupping her face in his right hand, and leaving his left hand on her waist. Aurora stares at the man in front, her heart beating fast, finally being back in the presence of her best friend.
“Am I dreaming? You’re actually here?” Bradley wistfully asks her, still not believing Aurora was right in front of him.
Aurora smirks as she keeps her hands around his neck, even with the height difference, she was on her tippy toes to help reach around his neck.
“Dream of me often, Bradshaw?”
Bradley chuckles in disbelief. He gives Aurora a kiss on her forehead before replying.
“Every hour, every minute, every second that I breathe princess,” he whispers with his raspy voice into her hair.
Aurora’s breath hitches at the nickname. It had been so long since she had heard him say that. She would never get enough of Bradley calling her nicknames.
Her heart was full of love, as Peyton approached the two, grouping all of them into a hug.
The trio was back together as they held each other tightly, before letting go.
“What are you doing here, Ro? Aren’t you supposed to be back in Washington DC?” Peyton asks her.
“I was reassigned to the San Diego NCIS office after uh…after realizing I wanted to come home, especially for Amelia and mom,” Aurora changes her answer quickly, remembering she had yet to tell them about her PTSD.
Technically it was the truth, just half the truth.
Aurora then realizes that the two idiots in front of her didn’t even call her to let her know that they were both stateside.
“And you two! When were you both going to tell me you were stateside?” She accuses the two.
Bradley and Peyton suddenly both looked interested at their surroundings, refusing to look at Aurora.
Peyton soon spots his mom and his dad across the bar. He sighs, relieved that he found a way out.
“Oh my gosh, is that mom and dad?” Peyton interrupts Aurora mid-rant of telling them off for not letting her know they’d be in San Diego. “I better go say hi to them!”
Immediately, he’d taken his way out and left to go say hi to their parents.
“Peyton, get back here!” Aurora follows her twin. Peyton tries not to run into people as he tries to escape his sister’s wrath.
Bradley chuckles, realizing how much he missed the twin’s antics before following them, knowing he also had to say hi to Penny and Maverick.
As much as he wanted to avoid Maverick, he knew his dad would be mad at him for not saying hi to his godfather.
“Oh, my baby boy!” Penny hugs Peyton tightly, just as Aurora caught up to him. Aurora rolls her eyes, as Peyton sighs, realizing he had safely escaped her fury. For now at least.
“I’m not done with him yet, mom!” Aurora hisses at Peyton.
“Now, now little star. You and your brother behave while you’re in the bar. Don’t make me ring the bell.”
“For what?!” both the twins exclaimed.
“For Peyton, disrespecting a lady. For Aurora, disrespecting the Navy.” Penny shrugs, with a mischievous grin.
Both the twins start to protest until Penny reaches for the bell, about to ring it. They stopped arguing, realizing it was best not to piss off their mom.
“That’s better. Oh, Bradley! It’s good to see you as well, hon!” Penny smiles, as she reaches to give Bradley a hug. Peyton and Aurora roll their eyes, knowing the Bradshaw boy was well-admired by Penny. Peyton turns to give his dad a hug.
Aurora stares at Bradley, realizing how much Bradley looked different from a few years ago. His biceps were bulging from the gaudy Hawaiian shirt he wore, and she could feel his chest when they hugged.
Realizing she was still staring, Aurora turned to join Penny behind the bar again, an attempt to calm the blush that was threatening to show on her face. She fanned herself a bit, feeling hot all of a sudden. Aurora couldn’t believe she was ogling at Bradley so outwardly.
“How long are you two here for?” Penny asks both the boys after Bradley had given Maverick a nod, not wanting to interact with him much more beyond that.
“Not sure yet, we’ll know after we find out what our assignment is tomorrow,” Peyton answers his mom.
“Where are you two staying?” Maverick questions both of them, wondering if they were staying on base.
“Mom and dad said we could stay at their house until they come back next week,” Bradley answers, giving a side glance to Maverick, before settling his eyes on Aurora.
Staring at her, he was really seeing how much she had changed since the last time they’d seen each other. He couldn’t help but admire Aurora, watching as she moved about behind the bar, helping her mother. He was full-on ogling her, and as soon as Peyton noticed this, he elbowed Bradley to stop.
“Wait, I have two spare bedrooms at my place! Just move in with me!” Aurora suggests.
“Are you sure? We don’t want to be a bother,” Bradley was hesitant and gave Peyton a glance.
Peyton smiles, as he wouldn't mind sharing a house with his two favorite people. Plus, it would get Peyton more opportunity to get Bradley and Aurora together. He was already plotting out a scheme in his head.
“Of course! You’d have to share a bathroom though. Oh and I have CJ, so I hope you don’t mind.”
Bradley’s heart sank. Who was CJ? Was it her boyfriend?
“CJ?” Peyton speaks up for both of them, as they were confused at who Aurora was talking about.
“Oh, yeah, CJ! My emotional support puppy!” Aurora chuckles, realizing what it had sounded like at first, not noticing Bradley’s reaction.
Bradley lets out a sigh. Okay, so not a boyfriend.
“Wait? Why did you name your dog CJ?” Bradley wonders. Penny laughs, as she hands someone a drink.
“She won’t tell anyone else, but whatever it was, she told Amelia and they laughed for like ten minutes straight.”
“Well, if you’re okay with it. We’d love to be your two new roommates!” Peyton smiles as Bradley nods along with his statement.
“Wonderful. We’ll settle everything tomorrow then,” Aurora smiles at both of them.
They nod as they realize that work was really starting to pick up for Penny and Aurora at the bar. Bradley and Peyton decide to head back to the pool table where some of the other newcomer aviators had joined the rest. Aurora smiles before giving them a wave.
Before the evening rush could get any worse, Maverick decided to ask Penny to close out his tab for the day. Penny leaves to close it, while Maverick talks to his daughter for a bit. He started noticing Aurora getting a bit apprehensive, chewing her inner cheek.
Reaching out his hand, Maverick offered it to Aurora to ground herself with. Glancing over, there was little hesitation before taking it and slowly taking a few deep breaths. Once calmed enough, she whispered her thanks to him before releasing the grasp.
Penny then comes back with news about his card.
“It’s been declined,” Penny states. Maverick looks at her in disbelief while Aurora arches a brow in amusement.
“You’re kidding?” Maverick sputters.
Penny shakes her head. Maverick reaches for his wallet, and pulls out a few bills. Glancing at the receipt Penny held in her hand, Aurora’s eyes went wide at seeing the total.
“How about-?”
“That’s not gonna cover it,” Penny shows him the paper. Maverick chokes at the sight and awkwardly chuckles.
“Uh, I’ll come by tomorrow and bring you the cash.”
“I’m afraid rules are rules, Pete,” Penny says as she rings the bell. The crowd cheers at the sound as someone yells overboard.
Aurora groans, feeling second-hand embarrassment that her dad was getting kicked out of the bar, and also the fact her mom had rung the bell.
“Overboard, overboard!”
Jake, Javy, and Reuben show up behind him. Jake smirks at Maverick, before the three boys lift him out of his seat to throw him out of the bar.
Aurora waves her dad goodbye, as she knew he could handle himself. She wished she could be in the room on Monday when Jake found out that not only did he throw out his instructor for their mission, but Aurora and Peyton’s dad as well.
“Great to see you, Pete!” Penny waves at Pete being carried away. Aurora uses the rag that was on her shoulder to whack her mom for her stunts. Penny smiles, realizing how much she had actually missed Maverick.
The jukebox soon stops working, and the crowd groans at the lack of music.
Penny sees the Bradshaw boy, followed by her son going towards the bar, before realizing that they had been the ones to unplug the jukebox.
She takes a glance at her daughter who was starting to get a bit restless. Penny knew it wasn’t because she was tired, but the crowd was getting a bit much for her, as Aurora started fiddling with her bracelet again.
Penny looks through the crowd and sees Bradley and Peyton walk their way towards the two.
“Hey Mama Pen, do you think Aurora can go on her break?” Bradley asks her with a pleading face.
Penny laughs. “She’s done for the night actually, take her for me, will ya Bradshaw?”
“Gladly!” Bradley smiles. Aurora turns upon hearing this.
“Are you sure, mom? I can finish up here-”
“Nonsense, Jimmy and I have it from here. Now go, before I change my mind.” Penny reassures her daughter. She gives Aurora a quick kiss on the cheek before heading to the other side of the bar.
Aurora smiles before putting her rag down, and stepping away from the bar. Bradley grins at her exiting the bar area, before lifting her over his shoulder.
“B! Put me down!”
“You’re coming with us, sweetheart.” Bradley smiles, as Peyton pats his sister’s back before they traipse towards the piano.
Bradley sets her down on the piano bench, while Peyton stands next to her, as Bradley sits on the other side of the bench. He smiles at Aurora before showing off his piano skills, playing a little jazz melody, knowing Aurora was a sucker for jazz. She rolls her eyes, as Peyton leans on her.
Soon a few people joins them.
Nat pats Bradley on the shoulder before turning to introduce herself to the girl sitting next to him.
“I’m Natasha Trace, callsign Phoenix.”
“Aurora Benjamin-Mitchell,” Aurora smiles at the woman shaking her hand.
Nat lights up at the name. No wonder she looked familiar to her. She was the girl in the photo Bradley had in his cockpit every time he flew. Peyton and Bradley always talked about her whenever they had the chance.
They were interrupted as Mickey, Reuben, and Bob came to introduce themselves to the girl.
“Wait, you’re Artemis, right? Apollo’s sister?” Payback asks, as Bradley continues riffing on the piano.
“Unfortunately,” she sighs as Peyton hits her arm.
“Holy crap. Is it true you saved Hangman from a killer?” Mickey asks. Peyton and Bradley turn to Mickey confused.
“What?!”
“I don’t know, ask him yourself,” Aurora gestures to Jake and Javy who were walking over to join the group. Bradley huffs, scooting closer to Aurora, feeling a bit threatened by Jake's and Aurora’s friendship, knowing he would ask her about it later.
“Yo, Hangman. Is it true Artemis saved you from a killer?” Mickey repeats the question to Jake when they get closer. Jake laughs and looks at Aurora.
He takes a sip of his beer before nodding at the question. “She brought a knife to a gunfight,” he answers. They all gasp as Aurora rolls her eyes.
“You’re leaving out details,” Aurora says.
“Holy damn, you’re badass. How are you Apollo’s sister?” Natasha wonders out loud.
“Hey!” Peyton protests.
They all laugh. Aurora turns to Bradley who has gone silent, still playing a bit on the piano. She smiles softly before putting her hand on his thigh. He looks up from his hands, meeting her gaze.
“Great balls of fire?” She asks him.
Bradley smirks. “Only if you sing it with me, princess.”
Aurora nods, and soon Bradley starts off the song.
You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain
Too much love drives a man insane
You broke my will, but what a thrill
Bradley looks at Aurora and Peyton before they join in with him singing.
Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire!
Everyone around them starts singing along, and soon the whole bar starts cheering and singing along as well.
Outside, Maverick watches all of this happen from outside. He gets flashbacks of him and Goose singing the exact same song, with Bradley and Aurora on top of the piano, and Peyton on Goose’s lap.
He remembers how he almost lost Goose, and how this mission could change almost everything. Maverick wonders if Bradley was ready for the mission, and if he didn’t choose Bradley to fly, what would happen to their relationship? Bradley would never forgive him.
Maverick then looks at his son and daughter and sees their smiles. He hadn’t seen Peyton in a long time, but Maverick was just happy to see Aurora smile since they had left Washington DC. He walks away, leaving them to enjoy their moment.
Kiss me, baby.
Bradley gestures his head for Aurora to give him a kiss on the cheek, to which Aurora smacks her hands on her lips and uses the hand to push Bradley’s cheek away. Peyton chuckles as Bradley fake pouts at Aurora for not giving him a kiss, but continues on singing.
Ooh, that feels good, baby
Hold me, baby
I wanna love you like a lover should
You're fine, you're so kind
I'ma tell the world that you're mine, mine, mine, mine
Aurora glances to see Jake nodding along to the song, who was looking at Peyton. Peyton seemed to actively refuse to look his way. Making a mental note of that, she knew she would have to ask her twin about this later.
For now though, she decided she was going to take in this moment, watching the people around her play off of Bradley’s energy.
Kiss me, baby.
Aurora gives Bradley a kiss on the cheek to which he grins and glances at Aurora.
Ooh, that feels good.
Bradley gives a little fake shudder, as Aurora laughs at his action, singing until they end the song.
Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire!
Everyone in the bar cheers for Bradley. He stands up to give a little dance and Aurora shakes her head and laughs.
“Rooster! Rooster!”
Aurora stands up and claps along with everyone as she watches Bradley twirl and give a few more dance moves. Finishing his dance break, Bradley smiled at the scene around him. He glances at Aurora who was standing next to Peyton after the song before dragging the twins into a tight hug.
For now, everything felt right. Not worrying about the past or future, and instead living in the present with each other.
- - -
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Disclaimer: This story is fictitious. All works are written by me and only posted here. Please do not copy, repost, or plagiarize on any other platform without my permission!
#top gun#top gun maverick#top gun fanfic#top gun maverick fanfic#top gun fanfiction#top gun maverick fanfiction#top gun au#ncis#ncis x top gun#oc ncis agent#bradley bradshaw#bradley bradshaw x oc#bradley rooster bradshaw#bradley bradshaw fic#bradley bradshaw fanfic#bradley bradshaw fanfiction#mom!pennybenjamin#dad!maverick#shrimp writes#shrimp writes stories#grateful shrimp#I'll be Waiting Story
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Repercussions
Title and chapter inspired the song “repercussions” by Bea Miller.
Summary: Aurora loves working for NCIS, but this case will uncover a lot of what she’s been trying to hide.
Disclaimer: This story is fictitious. All works are written by me and only posted here. Please do not copy, repost, or plagiarize on any other platform without my permission!
Warnings: Mentions of dead body, torture (not in graphic detail), and language.
Word Count: 3.5k
A/N: Sorry this chapter is a bit late! I’ve watched all the original NCIS seasons (20 seasons), and a few episodes of NCIS: New Orleans. I’ve had this idea for a long time, and have been waiting for this chapter. I hope you like this as much as I do. Also to note, there are no more huge time jumps!
Thank you to my editor and beta reader, @reginleight. I made her watch an episode of NCIS to help understand the character dynamics. 🤭💛
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“Give it back to me Tony!” a voice yells out across the NCIS bullpen.
Anthony Dinozzo was holding a postcard out of reach from Aurora as she was trying to grab it from his hand. She reaches for it as Tony holds it up, trying to read it from his height.
“Why are you nosy?!” Aurora grunts, trying to reach for it still.
“Because it is my job as senior agent to know what you’re up to, and this postcard seems suspicious.” Tony answers, trying to get a read of the postcard. Aurora, then deciding to take matters into her own hands, stomps on his foot causing the man to bend over in pain. Taking the opportunity, Aurora grabs the postcard and turns away from him.
“What did you do, Tony?” asks Ziva David walking into the bullpen alongside Timothy McGee.
“DiNosy over here tried grabbing and reading my mail!” Aurora hisses, pointing to Tony who was still recovering from the attack.
“Well you shouldn’t have shown it to me.”
“It was laying on my desk!”
“Well that’s just irresponsible, leaving it there.”
Aurora groans, as she puts the postcard into a drawer in her desk making certain to lock it. Her charm bracelet was also safe in the drawer, as she didn’t ever want to lose one of her prized possessions.
Aurora’s desk was on the other side of their team leader’s desk, Gibbs, who still had yet to appear in the bullpen. Across from McGee, they had made an open room for her desk when she had officially joined the team.
“Why are you so worked up over a postcard?” McGee asks, setting down his go bag near his desk before sitting down.
“Because it’s my business and no one else’s!”
“What are you trying to hide?” Tony walks to Aurora, still sitting at her desk.
“I value privacy, something YOU should learn!”
“Please, we’re a team, we know everything about each other! And if we don't, we should.”
“You don’t have to know everything.” Ziva chimes in, backing Aurora up.
“Yes, I do. We know almost everything about each other.” Tony explains.
Little did Dinozzo know, Aurora’s profile wasn’t all the way transparent. When Aurora had applied for the NCIS internship position, she had left out her father’s last name and kept her mother’s maiden name. She didn’t want to be treated any differently by nepotism.
The only one who knew her full background was Gibbs and the director of NCIS. Having an uncle as an Admiral, who was also the Commander of the Pacific Fleet is useful at times, especially when you want to work at NCIS without being compared to your brother. Or father.
The Mitchell name became popular in the Navy, so Aurora didn’t want to carry that burden. Her father agreed with it, as did her mom and brother.
“Rifling through my mail is a federal offense.”
“Well it’s not if it’s just laying there.”
Aurora rolls her eyes, leaning on her desk. “Can we talk about something else?”
“Yeah, like, what about where the postcard came from?” McGee asks, curious why she was making this postcard a big deal.
“Oh my gosh!” Aurora exclaims.
“Dinozzo, McGee, leave Artemis alone.” Walking in with a coffee in hand, Gibbs was quick to shut the situation down upon his entry proceeding straight to his desk.
“Yes, boss!” “Shutting up boss!”
Aurora was given the nickname Artemis her first week of her NCIS internship. She had rambled on about Greek mythology during a case, but had coincidentally helped them close it.
Tony had nicknamed her Artemis after the goddess of hunt, due to how she’d been very persistent in the hunt of the killer during that case. Plus the throwing knife she usually had strapped on made Tony name her that. It didn’t help that he also happened to be on the receiving end of the knife at one point.
Coincidentally, Peyton was given a nickname between his navy friends and the naval aviators he worked with. Due to a fire he set on accident during a training exercise, he was nicknamed Apollo. The twins laugh about their work nickname being the Greek twin duo coincidentally, as no one knew the connection between them.
“Grab your gear, dead naval officer in Norfolk,” Gibbs says, grabbing his gun and badge. With those words, the team quickly sprung into action.
“It’s a postcard from Japan, by the way. What do you have hiding over there?” Dinozzo wonders aloud as they all get in the elevator.
“Your dead body if you don’t shut up about it.” Aurora turns to him with a menacing smile on her face. The startled look that had gotten out of Tony had the other three of their group in the elevator laughing as the elevator doors shut.
—
They get to the crime scene, each team member doing their designated job that Gibbs had assigned for them that day. Tony and Ziva were interviewing witnesses, McGee taking crime scene photos and IDing the body, Aurora collecting evidence, Gibbs talking to local law enforcement officers who were on the scene first.
The medical examiner, Ducky, and his assistant, Jimmy Palmer, had just gotten to the scene and were approaching the body.
“Who do we have here?” Ducky asks McGee.
“Petty Officer Derek Hayes, arresting gear operator assigned to the USS Seahawk.”
“Cause of death Ducky?” Gibbs asks, as he approaches them.
“Blunt force trauma with the pipe that happens to be next to the body,” Ducky recounts, “I’ll know more once I get him back on the table.”
Aurora sighs. “Another murder. Whoopee.”
Gibbs gives her a look that makes her cringe, going right back to bagging and tagging evidence.
“Time of death, Duck?” Gibbs asks.
“Well, let’s see here.” Ducky examines the body. “I’d say about 12 to 14 hours, rough estimate.”
“Alright. Get the body out of here.” Gibbs tells Ducky.
“Get the gurney, Mr. Palmer.” Ducky calls out to his assistant.
“Right away!”
“Boss!” McGee calls out.
“What d’ya got, McGee?” Gibbs asks, turning to him.
“Hayes was reported UA about two days ago.”
“You and Dinozzo go to the USS Seahawk and talk to his shipmates. Benjamin, David, head back to the Navy yard after you’re done processing the scene. Give me everything you got on our petty officer.” Gibbs shouts the orders out to them.
“Got it boss!” They all reply in unison.
“Looks like it’s girl time for us, Ziva!” Aurora smiles at her. Ziva winks, giving Aurora a high five.
The two women had gotten very close, along with Abby, their forensic scientist when Aurora first started at NCIS. Ziva had taught her many tricks and how to fight, while Aurora helped her with her English and American culture. The trio became so close, Aurora considered both her and Abby older sisters, since she never had one.
“Aww don’t miss us too much, Arty.”
“In your dreams, DiNutsos.” Aurora sticks out her tongue at him. He copies the gesture back, as Gibbs smacks him on the back of the head.
“Now Dinozzo.”
“Right boss!”
Dinozzo hussles after McGee as Ziva and Aurora wrap everything up. Gibbs passes by Aurora and smacks her on the head. She hisses from it while he walks away as Ziva chuckles.
—
“So a Japanese postcard?” Ziva questions Aurora, leaning on her desk.
“Let it go Ziva,” Aurora says in a singsong voice as she sits in her chair.
“Oh c’mon, Arty. No secrets, remember?”
“Some things are kept private.”
“Well, I want to know every private thing about our dead petty officer,” Gibbs says as he walks into the bullpen. Ziva and Aurora get up as Ziva gets the remote for the tv screen to display information that they had found.
“What do you got for me?” Gibbs asks.
“Petty Officer Derek Hayes, assigned to the USS Seahawk. Works as an arresting gear operator. In the Navy for five years after graduating from the Naval Academy.” Ziva presents the background.
“No misconduct charge, or any strikes. No parents, wife, or children. Has a girlfriend who is coming in soon.” Aurora adds on from her desk.
“There’s not much on this guy, Gibbs.” Ziva tells him.
“Well, then find me more, Ziva.”
“I got something.” Tony announces as he and McGee walk into the squad room.
“I think you mean we, Tony,” McGee interjects.
“Yeah, whatever. Anyways! Turns out our petty officer got into an altercation with another person on board.”
“Why wasn’t it reported?” Gibbs asks.
“It just happened yesterday, paperwork hasn’t gone through.” McGee replies.
“Who did he have a fight with?”
“A naval aviator on board the USS Seahawk, he should be coming in soon.”
“Good,” Gibbs nods. “While McGee interviews the petty officer’s girlfriend, you and Artemis can interview him.”
“Wait, Gibbs I don’t think-” she pauses as he turns to stare at her. She bites the inside of her cheek, then caves.
“Right, okay, fine.”
Gibbs heads upstairs to update Director Vance about the case. Tony smiles at Aurora.
“Aww what? Are you scared of me?”
“More like what I will do to you if you keep getting on my nerves.” Aurora mumbles as she goes back to work.
—
Aurora heads to the restroom with the postcard she had received earlier in her hand. She wanted privacy to read it, and the bullpen was not an option. She heads to a stall and locks it. She sighs and begins reading the postcard.
‘Dear Rory,
Life at sea is a bit rough. Still don’t understand how dad does it. But I guess it helps to have a friend on board! Missing you tons, wish you were here. Hope you’re doing well.
-Pey’
She lightly chuckles at the paragraph as she moves on to the next one, who she knew who had written it.
‘Hi princess,
Who knew life at sea with your brother would make me miss you more? I hope you’re doing well. The view may be great at sea, but nothing beats being near you. Hopefully we will be back soon for the holidays. I miss you lots. Be safe.
-Love your knight in shining armor, B’
She weakly smiles at his words and gently brushes a finger over his writing. Aurora missed both her best friend and brother so dearly. If only they knew all that she’s been through. She didn’t like talking about her job with them, because she knew they would worry. In fact, she doesn’t talk to any of her family about her job, except maybe her Uncle Ice, but that’s only because he’s the Admiral of the Pacific Fleet and would hear about her through scuttlebutt, aka Navy gossip. No one in her family knew about the one case that had changed her.
A slap sounded through the air. Aurora was tied to a chair, covered in her own blood, grime and dirt. Her hair was matted a bit from being pulled on by the man in front of her.
“That all you got?” she remarks, spitting out the blood that had begun to fill her mouth. She looks up to her attacker as he chuckles before landing another slap across her face. The man was a murderer that the team was looking for. Apparently he had an eye on the team and took their weakest link, Aurora.
“Your team will never find you. And if they do, it will be your dead body that they find.”
“They’ll find you, and they’ll kill you.” Aurora grunts from pain as he tugs on her hair.
“Not before I have a little fun with you.” Another slap echoes through the air.
Aurora is brought out from that flashback, feeling herself shake from the memory. That day, Aurora became a different person. She was still herself, just a little bit stronger and tougher. The team had found her and shot the man who had her held captive. The only one who knew about her panic attacks and nightmares was her team. She kept her family in the dark, even Bradley. The only thing she had to show for what she had gone through were the scars and the mental trauma.
Reigning in the emotions that those memories had stirred, she began focusing on regulating her breaths. Counting from one to five on each breath she takes in, and the same as she breathes out. Slowly beginning to calm, she wipes the tears from her face.
Minutes pass by until Aurora hears a knock coming from the bathroom door.
“Artemis, are you okay? Tony is looking for you.” McGee calls out from the restroom door.
“Coming, McGee!”
She walks out of the stall, splashes water on her face from the sink, stuffs the postcard into her jacket pocket (that fell on the floor during her small breakdown) and she grabs her eye drops she has in her pants pocket. She gets dry eyes on occasion and usually has them in emergencies.After putting some in her eyes, she checks herself over once more in the mirror before letting out a sigh and walking out of the restroom.
“Sorry.”
“You alright? I thought I heard you crying.” McGee asks, concerned for the girl. He always looked out for her, as she became a younger sister to him.
“Fine, McGee. Tony in the conference room?”
“Yeah, just try not to strangle him so much. He may be irritating but that’s just how he is.”
“I know, McGee. Besides, if he irritates me anymore, I always have my knife,” she smiles and winks at him before heading to the conference room.
—
Aurora walks into the conference room where Tony and the person they were interviewing were. “Sorry, Tony, I had something to take care of.”
“About time, probie,” Tony turns to her.
“Not a probie anymore, Tony.” She points out.
She looks and sees the person that Tony was sitting across from, the one that they were supposed to be interviewing. Aurora had to admit, he was really handsome, but had a stupid smirk on his face that she would love to slap off. He had brown-blonde hair and green eyes. His energy reminded her of her dad, with a mix of her Uncle Ice. As he stood up to shake her hand, she noted that he was about 6 feet, which was the same height as Bradley.
“Lieutenant Jake Seresin, ma'am,” he puts his hand out and winks at her. She looks at him incredulously. She shakes his hand.
“Aurora Benjamin.”
She lets go of his hand, and sits down next to Tony.
“So, what did I miss?”
“Well probie, Lieutenant Seresin here was just about to tell me his alibi for the night of the petty officer’s murder.”
“Look, like I said I had nothing to do with his murder,” Jake replies as he sits back down in his chair. “I was on board the USS Seahawk at the time. I was tired after a flight routine check, so I passed out in my bunk.”
“Uh huh, and what exactly do you do for a flight routine check that made you tired?” Tony asks.
“Making sure the aircraft is up to date, checking the mechanics, and depending on the mission, they’d perform overall mission exercises,” Aurora replies, as she looks down in her notepad, reciting what naval aviators normally do, since she had practice whenever anyone asked about her father.
The two men stare at her as she still had yet to make eye contact, as she was still looking through her notepad. Feeling eyes on her, she looks up and sees them looking at her.
“What?”
“How do you know that?” Tony questions.
She freezes. “It’s naval aviator common sense, Tony. You’ve been with NCIS for a long time, and you don’t know what naval aviators do?”
“Well not like that. You said that as if you know it.” Tony eyes her skeptically.
“Can we please just get back to the case?”
“You look familiar,” Jake says, as he looks at her, trying to figure out how he knows her.
Aurora chuckles. “I have a feeling I don’t.”
“So I haven’t slept with you before?”
“Trust me when I say, highly doubtful,” she scoffs. “Now can we get back to the murder we’re trying to solve.”
“Right. So, why did you fight with Petty Officer Hayes?” Tony questions.
“He came onto me. Accused me of sleeping with his girlfriend.”
“And did you?” Aurora asks.
“No. I didn’t sleep with another man’s girlfriend. I may be a dick sometimes, but I’m not that much of a dick,” he explains. “Are you sure we haven’t met before? Have you ever been to the Academy?”
“Lieutenant, trust me. I’ve never met you before nor have I attended the Naval Academy,” she sighs, as she writes notes down in her notebook.
“Maybe you know me by my callsign,” he flashes a smile at her.
“Which is?”
“Hangman.”
Aurora stills for a moment then shakes her head.
“Nope, still don’t know who you are.”
Of course she knew who he was. Peyton and Bradley wouldn’t shut up about him. Peyton knew him from the Naval Academy, and Bradley knew him from Top Gun. Both of them would complain about him, Bradley specifically.
Peyton would always say, “I would love to ride his airplane,” and “He may be an ass, but with an ass like his I wouldn’t mind--” and that was when she would cut her brother off. She just prayed to God that Jake really didn’t know her from them. She didn’t want her background to be revealed, let alone due to a case.
“Well, I think that’s all the questions we have. But if we need anything else, we will call you back in. The USS Seahawk isn’t set to sail for another couple of days, to which we should have solved this case by then. Shouldn’t affect your deployment.” Tony tells him, as he stands up from his seat.
Jake and Aurora do the same. They all walk out the door as they lead Jake back to the elevators to let him out of the building. As they pass the bullpen, Ziva looks at Aurora and gives her a stare and a motion to go next to her. Aurora walks to Ziva and sighs.
“What, Ziva?”
“He’s hot,” Ziva whispers. Ziva always wondered why Aurora never dated, so she always tried her best to get Aurora to open up to dating someone.
“Ziva, he’s a suspect.”
“Still hot. He flirt with you?”
“Oh big time.”
“Interested?”
Aurora scoffs. “In his dreams,” she rolls her eyes as they spy Tony and Jake who were by the elevators.
“Thanks again for coming in on such short notice, Lieutenant,” Tony says, shaking Jake’s hand.
“Not a problem. Sorry I wasn’t much help.”
The elevator dings, and out walks McGee, a security guy, and a woman who was presumably the petty officer’s girlfriend.
“Oh hey Tony, hold on real quick. Miss, you can follow this gentleman to the conference room and I’ll be there shortly.”
The lady nods, her eyes watery and still quite obviously deep in her grief. The security man helps guide her to the conference room, as McGee talks to Tony.
“Do you know where Art is?”
“At her desk, just making sure Lieutenant Seresin finds his way out.”
McGee and Jake nod in hello at each other.
“Hey Artemis!” McGee calls out causing Aurora to groan. Apparently unaware he was interrupting her conversation with Ziva.
“What do you want, McGee?” She asks, turning to him.
“Gibbs is asking for you down at Abby’s lab.”
“Well shit McGee, why didn’t you say that earlier?!” She gets up from her desk and panics as she runs to the elevators to go down to Abby’s lab.
“Artemis?” Jake asks, as he and Tony all walk into the elevator.
“Oh yeah, it’s a nickname we gave her.” McGee replies, as he holds the elevator door for Aurora.
“Yeah, plus the knife she always has on her, and loves to throw kind of sealed the deal on her nickname.” Tony adds.
Jake hums in thought as Aurora runs into the elevator.
“Thanks, McGee.”
McGee nods and walks to the conference room to interview the petty officer’s girlfriend, as the elevator door closes. Aurora chooses the floor number where Abby’s lab is.
Jake chuckles to himself.
“What?” Aurora questions him.
“Nothing, nothing. I think I know how I know you.”
“Like I said Lieutenant, you and I have never met before.”
“You’re right we haven’t.”
Aurora nods as Tony just stands awkwardly. The elevator dings and music blasts as soon as the door opens on the floor to Abby’s lab, an indication of Abby hard at work.
“Well, have a nice day Lieutenant,” Aurora smiles at him as she walks out.
“You too,” Jake smirks at her.
Just as she was about to walk away, she heard him mutter, “Tell Apollo and Rooster I said hi.”
Aurora froze, turning to face him just in time to see him wink at her before the elevator doors shut.
Well shit.
---
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At The Beginning
Title and chapter was inspired by the song “At The Beginning” by Richard Marx & Donna Lewis.
Summary: Aurora’s story has to start somewhere! This is just the beginning.
Disclaimer: This story is fictitious. All works are written by me and only posted here. Please do not copy, repost, or plagiarize on any other platform without my permission!
Word Count: 3.4k
A/N: Timeline and ages are changed to fit the story. This is my first work so please be nice! Shoutout to my beta reader and editor @reginleight!
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Pete “Maverick” Mitchell had a secret not many people knew. His on-again-off-again relationship with Penny Benjamin became real when Penny became pregnant and gave birth to twins. A boy and a girl.
The girl was named Aurora and the boy, Peyton. Both had dark brown hair and brown eyes, despite both their parents having green eyes. The only one who really knew about his children was his best friend, Goose, and Goose’s wife, Carole. Goose and Carole were so excited that Maverick had children and was instantly named godparents to both twins.
Maverick loved his children the moment he laid eyes on them, but because he was gone on deployment often, the twins lived with Penny. Today was the day Mav was introducing the twins to not only Charlie, but to Bradley Bradshaw as well. Bradley being eight years old still had yet to meet the twins since Penny lived in San Diego and Bradley and Carole in Virginia.
That day, Mav was going to pick them up on the way to the restaurant where he was meeting Charlie, Goose, Carole, and Bradley, as Carole and Bradley just landed that morning.
“Daddy!” Two voices shouted as he got off his bike that he had parked in the driveway of Penny’s house. He looks up and sees the source of the voices, his four-year-olds running out the front door and into his awaiting arms.
Maverick immediately scooped them both into a hug and proceeded to pepper kisses across their faces, earning excited squeals from his kids. The sight of the three of them together was the very picture of a happy, and long anticipated reunion.
“You know you’re not letting them ride on that death trap Pete,” a voice called out. He looked up and standing against the front door frame was Penny. She softly smiled, but also had a look on her face that meant she was serious about what she had said. Pete put the twins down and went to hug Penny.
“It’s good to see you too, Pen.” Wrapping her in a hug, Penny was the first to pull away and fix him with a stern look.
“Pete,” she warned.
“Okay, okay I won’t take them on the bike,” glancing back towards said beloved ride, Maverick quickly turned his gaze back to Penny with a slight tilt of his head.
“I’m guessing it’s okay to borrow your car while I take them for the day then?” Maverick asked, forgetting he should have asked Goose to borrow his truck at least.
“Yeah that’s fine.” Penny agreed. “How has Top Gun been treating you?”
“Great, I am the best at what I do,” Pete smirks at Penny, causing her to roll her eyes but the smile on her face is still undeniably fond.
“Uh huh, well please remember that they actually have a curfew at 7pm, and that’s not a suggestion,” Penny said as she looked over to the twins, Maverick following her line of sight and seeing Peyton chasing Aurora with a toy plane that Maverick himself gave to him a while ago.
“I’ll make sure they’re home on time Pen, don’t worry. I’m just excited that they’ll be meeting Bradley for the first time. It’s really been long overdue,” Maverick mused watching the twins play. They were running around so much it’s almost like they both forgot that they were going to spend the day with their dad.
“And of course, the woman you’ve been seeing right? One of your instructors at Top Gun?”
Maverick’s eyes blew comically wide when he heard those words.“How did you-”
Amused by his reaction, Penny continued.“Carole and I speak on the phone from time to time. She mentioned in passing about what Goose had told her, which in turn she then told me.” She paused briefly, the smile on her face softening just a tad with her next words. “I’m okay with the twins meeting her. She seems nice from what Carole told me. You know you didn’t have to hide that from me.”
“It wasn’t that I was trying to hide it from you. I just…I guess I was nervous. I mean are the twins okay with meeting another woman? Are you okay that they’re going to be meeting another person in their life? I just didn’t want to make you uncomfortable or feel like you’re being replaced.” Maverick rushed to say, leaving Penny a bit shocked.
She was not used to seeing a nervous Maverick, only recalling one time before and that had been when she’d told him he was going to be a father. Maverick definitely wasn’t one to doubt himself, normally confident in everything he did. Especially when it came to flying.
She laughs softly, “Pete, I’m okay with it. The twins will be fine, I think they’ll be more excited about meeting Bradley than your instructor, but from what Carole has told me you have nothing to worry about. And they understand that we’re not together so introducing them to someone else they should be fine with.” This had been explained to Aurora and Peyton some time ago, so of course they understood now. “Besides,” she grinned, “it’s hard not to fall in love with the twins.”
They both turned just in time to see Aurora now had the plane and was chasing Peyton with it. It brought a laugh from the both of them before Pete realized it was probably time to take them to meet the others.
“Aurora, Peyton, it’s time to go! Unless you don’t feel like seeing Uncle Goose and Aunt Carole.” Pete calls out to them.
At the mention of their godparents, that got both twins to pause before they started to run back to their parents in excitement. With both kids back and eager to go, Aurora and Peyton were quickly strapped into their car seats as Penny made sure to give them both kisses and to ‘behave for their dad’. Once both the twins were secured, she closed the door and gave the car keys to Maverick.
“7pm Pete, don’t forget it.” Penny told Maverick as she gave him a serious look.
“I won’t forget Pen, have a little faith in me.” Maverick replied as he got in the car.
Penny softly smiled as she waved them all goodbye, Maverick backing out of the driveway and heading to the restaurant where he and Goose both agreed to meet.
80s music played softly in the background of the car on their way there. Both the twins kept talking about their day and how excited they were to see their godparents during the car ride. Maverick had also told them that they would be meeting Bradley and another friend of his, both siblings excited to meet new people either way.
Once they’d arrived, Maverick parked in front of the restaurant right next to Goose’s truck when he spotted it. Charlie’s car was yet to be seen, but he knew she would be on the way.
Getting out of the car, Maverick helped both the twins out of their car seats before proceeding into the restaurant hand in hand with them when he heard Goose on the piano. He chuckled as the duo let go of his hands, running to Goose.
“Uncle Goose!” They both screamed hearing their uncle on the piano.
“My favorite twins!” Goose yells back as he gets off the piano bench and bends down to scoop them into his arms.
“They’re the only twins you know of Goose,” Maverick states, walking up to give Goose a hug as well.
“Shhh they don’t have to know that,” Goose replies as the twins giggles at their uncle’s antics.
“Don’t tell me you forgot about your favorite aunt?” a voice calls out to them. They all turn around and see Carole sitting at a table with Bradley right next to her, coloring. She waves and the twins squirm in their uncle’s arms, signaling him to set them down.
“Auntie Carole!” Peyton yells out running to give their aunt a hug as she stepped out of her seat, Aurora following right behind him.
“We could never forget you!” Aurora exclaims running into her aunt’s arms. She looks up and smiles at her aunt, having always adored Carole just as much as she does her mom. After greeting her god-daughter, Carole stood up and hugged Maverick, even though they just saw him a couple of hours ago.
Aurora then peaked over and saw the boy she knew her mom and dad had talked about. He was busy coloring and wore Goose’s hat that was a bit big on him.
Carole, now noticing the twins were looking at her son timidly, smiled at them and whispered, “Don’t go shy on me now. Bradley doesn’t bite.”
“Anymore,” Goose whispered to Maverick. Maverick chuckled as Carole slapped Goose on the arm and the twins laughed along with their antics.
“Bradley, come say hi to Uncle Mav’s kids,” Carole called out to her son. Bradley set down his crayon and slipped out of his seat and walked over to them. The young boy looked at the twins and put his hand out.
“I’m Bradley,” he said, “I’m eight.”
Peyton, being a little bit more outspoken between the both of them, took Bradley’s hand into his own and shook it.
“I’m Peyton, this is Aurora, my sister.” he replied, gesturing to his sister, who hid behind Peyton as soon as Bradley approached.
Aurora timidly stepped aside and gave Bradley a wave. Bradley gave Aurora a smile and put out his hand to her as well, and just as Aurora gave her hand to shake, he instead leaned over and gave the hand a kiss. Aurora turned red as the adults chuckled behind her.
“Well Goose, looks like your son is following in your footsteps,” Maverick mumbled to Goose as he realized the amount of boys he would have to keep away from his little girl. Goose merely smiled at the interaction between the kids.
“I saw in princess movies that’s what you do when you see a pretty girl. Mom said it’s the proper thing to do,” Bradley said with a smile as he let go of Aurora’s hand. Aurora, still speechless, just nodded, not knowing what to say.
Goose, Carole and Maverick then helped the kids back to the table, and just as they were seated, Charlie walked in. Almost immediately noticing them she began approaching their table with a smile.
Maverick then started introducing her to Carole who Carole already takes a liking to.
After introducing those two he began looking for his kids to introduce next but found them already occupied with coloring. Bradley was sat next to Aurora, and Peyton on her other side.
“Kids, this is my friend Charlie, can you say hi?” Maverick asked. The boys looked up and waved and went back to coloring. Aurora on the other hand, even though being four, had better manners than that. She gestured for her brother to move so she could properly greet her dad’s friend.
“Hello,” Aurora spoke softly.
Charlie leaned down to speak at Aurora’s level.“Well hi there. You know your dad has told me all about you.” She says.
“He has?” Aurora asks. Charlie nods.
“He talks about you all the time, says you and your brother are the best things that happened to him.”
“Even more than flying?” Aurora asks, looking at her dad. Maverick smiled and gave Aurora a big hug.
“Even more than flying.” He assured her. Aurora smiles and says thank you to Charlie as she runs back to the comfort of her brother and her new friend. Bradley gives her a hand and helps her back up in her seat. The adults then got themselves reseated, this time including Charlie and began ordering food and drinks around the table.
Time passes by and after the meals and drinks are finished, Goose has found his way back to the piano, the coloring abandoned on the table as Bradley and Aurora sat on top of the piano hand in hand, and Peyton sat next to Goose.
Immediately, a familiar song favorite of a certain group can be heard around the restaurant from where Goose plays.
You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain
Too much love drives a man insane
You broke my will, oh what a thrill
Goodness gracious great balls of fire!
Goose sings out with Bradley joining in on the smaller phrases of the song. Aurora and Peyton, not knowing the song, giggles at their antics. Maverick, Carole, and Charlie laugh watching them.
“Maverick, will you go fetch him,” Carole begged jokingly. “Doesn’t he ever embarrass you?”
“Goose, hell no,” Maverick replies. “Well there was the time-”
“Admiral’s daughter, mother to your two children over there?” Carole teasingly interrupts him.
“What?” he responded, shocked.
“He told me all about the time you went ballistic with Penny Benjamin. And you know I talk to Penny from time to time.” she teased. She looks back at Goose and the kids.
“Did he? Well that’s great” Exasperated, Pete was still a little hung up on the fact that Goose tells Carole these things.
“He tells me about all of them, Maverick. How my little angel Goose goes home early for church, and you always go home with the hot women.” Carole stated. Maverick laughs uncomfortably while Charlie laughs on the side. Carole then looks and gestures to the duo on top of the piano holding hands.
“How long do you think it will take for those two to fall in love?”
“Oh no. No way,” Maverick stated. He loved Bradley, but he did not want to think about his daughter already dating.
“Oh, come on Maverick, look at them.” Charlie added as they all stared at them. Aurora had gotten out of her shell as soon as she realized she was safe with Bradley, who beside her looked at Aurora and smiled, continuing to sing along with his dad.
“I bet by high school they’ll get together,” Carole says lovingly. Charlie nodded in agreement.
“Alright, thank you Carole.” Maverick interrupts her and gets up from his seat.
“I’m going to go and embarrass myself with Goose for a while.” He smirks at Charlie and leaves to join the kids and Goose at the piano.
Maverick in that moment, feeling a bit protective over his little girl, picks up Aurora into his arms, yanking her’s and Bradley’s hands apart from each other. The women laugh at Mavericks antics.
You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain
Too much love drives a man insane
You broke my will, but what a thrill
Leaning in towards one another, with a flair for dramatics Goose and Maverick then belted out the chorus line of the song together with their children.
Goodness gracious great balls of fire!
While the boys and kids went on with their dramatic rendition of “Great Balls of Fire”, Carole and Charlie talked about Maverick and how he is now officially off the market because of Charlie.
“He’s one hundred percent prime time in love with you. He wouldn’t have introduced you to the twins if he didn’t. They’re his whole world. He’d give up flying in a heartbeat for them.” Carole admitted to Charlie. They look over to the men and children at the piano.
“Hey Goose ya big stud,” Carole yelled out.
“That’s me honey,” replied Goose.
“Take me to bed or lose me forever!”
Goose instantly turned around to look at Carole.
“Show me the way home honey!”
Carole and Charlie get up to join them at the piano as Maverick reluctantly sets Aurora back down next to Bradley and takes Peyton in his arms.
Bradley instantly finds Aurora’s hand again, gives it a quick kiss before holding it tightly next to him. Aurora giggles at the gesture, while Maverick gives the kid a warning look. Peyton laughs while Charlie wraps her arm around Maverick and Carole sits on Goose’s lap.
“C’mon everyone, let’s sing with the family.” Goose calls out.
You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain
Too much love drives a man insane
You broke my will, but what a thrill
“Goodness gracious great balls of fire!” They all sing out for the last time.
Soon after, everyone began to head out of the restaurant after paying for their dinner. Goose and Maverick were arguing about who pays while the women made sure the kids were doing okay. Bradley and Aurora were still holding hands, Aurora also holding onto her brother’s hand. The trio were giggling as if they had been friends their whole lives.
“Alright kids, it’s time I took you home back to your mom’s,” Mav announced to the twins. The twins realizing that they had to leave, meant they had to say goodbye to their new friend, as well as their aunt and uncle.
Solemnly nodding, they give goodbye hugs to their aunt and uncle. Aurora giggled as Goose said that he was taking her away to live with them, Carole rolling her eyes at her husband’s antics and as soon as Goose put her down, Bradley then yanks her into a hug. Aurora smiles realizing how comforting it is to be in his arms and pulls back when Bradley starts to say something.
“We can send each other letters, and our moms call each other so that means we can talk to each other too!” Bradley said excitedly to the twins.
The twins were happy to know that the friend they had made today was not temporary. They both said goodbyes to Charlie as well and Maverick put them in their car seats, with Goose helping him. Maverick tells Goose he will see him at training, bids a goodnight to Carole and Bradley, and tells Charlie he will meet with her later after dropping off the kids.
With goodbyes exchanged, Maverick and the twins then began exiting the parking lot to start the trek back home.
Maverick looks back and sees that the excitement wore off, and the twins were already tired, falling asleep.
Finally making it back to Penny’s house, Maverick tells the twins to wake up, only to get groans in reply, neither moving from their seat. He chuckles as he gets out of the car and sees Penny has been reading on her porch chair waiting for them to come home. She puts the book down and helps Maverick with getting the kids out of the car.
“Wow you really tired them out Pete. What did you do? Strap them in an F-14 until they stopped screaming with excitement” Penny teasingly asked him, as they set the children down into their beds after changing their clothes. Maverick laughed.
“No, Goose tired them out with his singing. Also, I think they made a new friend. Bradley was quite the charmer with Aurora.” Maverick remarked. Penny looked over at Maverick.
“Really?” Penny questioned as if she couldn’t believe her shy daughter took to Bradley so quickly.
“Yep,” Maverick replied, “Goose took a picture to prove it.” He took out a photo of Bradley, Aurora, and Peyton sitting next to each other at dinner, and another photo of Bradley and Aurora holding hands on top of the piano.
“Aww that’s so adorable. I’m surprised Bradley was able to get her out of her shell. Peyton I get, but Aurora has had a tough time with other people,” Penny explained.
“Yeah well I think she was sold as soon as Bradley kissed her hand,” Maverick teasingly replied. Penny laughed.
“Well you got some competition there. Carole and I have a bet going on when they’re getting together. She says high school, I say after college. You should probably save those pictures for their wedding,” Penny giggled leaving the twins room.
“What? Penny what do you mean wedding? There will be no wedding!” Maverick silently shouted as she left. He turned to the twins and sighed. He hated this part, leaving them. But he knew he would be back soon. He leaned down and kissed Peyton’s forehead.
“Good night sweet Peyton.” Tucking him into his blanket.
He turned and saw Aurora was still holding on to the coloring page she and Bradley both colored, and he pried it out of her hands and set it down on her nightstand. He then proceeded to tuck Aurora in, and place a kiss on her forehead.
“Good night princess.” whispered Maverick. “Sweet dreams.”
As if Aurora heard him, she indeed had sweet dreams that night, as that day was the start of a journey she was ready to embark on.
---
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You’re On Your Own Kid
Title and chapter inspired the song “You’re On Your Own, Kid” by Taylor Swift.
Summary: Aurora has a decision to make, but so much to look back on.
Disclaimer: This story is fictitious. All works are written by me and only posted here. Please do not copy, repost, or plagiarize on any other platform without my permission! The timeline and ages are changed to fit the story, not the movies. Some of these storylines/backgrounds are based on what I write or imagine for my Top Gun DR.
Warnings: Mild language? Mention of cancer. I never know what to put here. Just be cautious.
Word Count: 3.7k
A/N: The story is now finally getting somewhere. I’m so excited for all of you to read this chapter! Shoutout to my beta reader and editor @reginleight, who also inspired a new OC character.
Previous | Next | Masterlist
Warm air blew on Aurora’s skin as she stood in the sun with her fellow classmates, waiting to walk across the stage to receive both her diplomas from college. Today she was graduating from college with her family in the stands watching her. Her father had just flown in from one of his deployments. Amelia and Penny were there, and her stepfather, if you could even still consider him that, was absent.
After the divorce, Aurora became a rock for her mom when she needed to. Even though the twins had gone to schools across the country from Penny and Amelia, they still came back home when they could. Peyton went to the Naval Academy, and Aurora went to UVA, much to everyone’s surprise, since this would be the first time the two siblings would be separated.
Peyton had just finished his training at the Naval Academy and came just in time for Aurora’s graduation. Goose and Carole had flown in the day before, and Iceman and Sarah were also in town to watch her graduate. The only person who wasn’t there was Bradley. Bradley and Aurora had found their footing back after Christmas, as friends, but then something had happened.
Aurora had gotten word that her dad had tried to pull Bradley’s paper for the Naval Academy. Unsuccessful, but still something to note that he did it.
Bradley had been mad. He was beyond furious that Maverick thought to do such a thing, and assumed Aurora took part in it, until Aurora had explained she had no idea why Maverick tried to pull his papers. Bradley was still a bit angry with Maverick to this day, but had put the anger away for his dad and his best friend.
On top of Maverick trying to pull his papers, Carole had also started getting sick. Ovarian cancer. Thankfully they caught it in time to operate. Those days had been a hard time for the Bradshaws and while grateful Carole had been cured, the news that she wouldn’t be able to have any more children was also saddening to find out. Aurora was simply thankful to still have her aunt, and would visit her often when she had moved to Virginia for college.
Although when Bradley was attending and finishing up at the Naval Academy, Aurora was finishing high school, they both still had time to write each other letters. Of course, Bradley would call in now and then but they found letters to be a better time when they were able to write about their days and send it off. After Aurora and Bradley both finished at their respective schools, they thought they would see more of each other, with Aurora going to UVA, and Bradley about to be stationed in Virginia. At least, that was what they were hoping for when Bradley finished flight school in Pensacola, Florida.
“You didn’t have to help me move into my dorm, B. You have to leave soon for flight school. You too Peyton, you literally start at the Academy in 2 days.” Aurora sighs out as she puts down a box onto her bed for the year. Bradley was right behind her, with a few other boxes, as well as Peyton who was also there helping his twin sister move into her new room.
“What, you think we’re gonna leave you by yourself, without giving you a proper goodbye?” Bradley smirks, setting down the boxes.
Peyton chuckles, “No, she thinks you’re gonna chase down any guy that looks her way.”
“Damn right I will.”
Aurora rolls her eyes but smiles at Bradley’s protectiveness. Even though they never discussed the kiss since that Christmas day, they both went back to being best friends. Little did she know, Bradley felt the same way she did. They both didn’t want to lose each other. She looks at Peyton.
“What if I can’t do this without Pey? I don’t remember the last time we were separated for this long. What if something happens and you're not here?” Aurora starts panicking. “What if I get a boyfriend and you're not here to give him the ‘I’m her brother and if you hurt her I’ll hurt you’ talk? Or worse, what if you get a boyfriend or girlfriend before I even date?”
Peyton had come out as bisexual to his family during their senior year of high school. Everyone in the family had supported him, with Aurora helping defend her brother when he started getting bullied at school. Gone was the shy girl, and out came a protective sister when she realized how much family meant to her.
Peyton laughs and hugs his sister to stop her rambling. “I will be just fine. I got the Benjamin-Mitchell blood in me. We’re fighters, we got this.”
Peyton turns to look his twin in the eye, drawing her out of her thoughts. “I’m worried about you though. You’ll be alright, Aurie? I’ll always be a phone call away.”
Touched by those words, Aurora smiles and drags Bradley in for a group hug with her and Peyton.
“Of course, I have you two to always check up on me.”
Peyton had a great time at the Naval Academy, while Aurora went through college on her own. It was a bit tough at first but she had finally found her footing once she got the hang of being on her own. While Bradley was at flight school, he had finally earned his callsign, and couldn’t wait to tell his best friend.
“Ok, it’s not my birthday, so why are you so excited for me to open this package?” Aurora sets her phone down on her apartment desk, with the camera still facing her as she was on a video call with Bradley.
“Because you finally get to know my call sign!” Bradley exclaimed excitedly, causing Aurora to gasp.
“Wait, so it’s not BradBrad? Damn I owe Peyton $20,” she teases. Bradley groans, as he was already impatient that he had to wait for the package to even get to Aurora.
“Just open it.”
“Okay fine, they should have called you Hothead because you’re so easily bothered.”
“So you’re calling me hot?” Bradley quips back at her.
Aurora rolls her eyes and sticks up her middle finger. She then proceeds to open the package and she takes out the item Bradley had sent her.
“Oh my gosh! Your callsign is Mother Hen!?” she cackles.
“Wait, What? No! It’s Rooster, dummy!”
“I don’t know. I think I like Mother Hen better,” Aurora teases. She holds up the rooster stuffed animal that he had sent her.
“That’s not gonna stick.”
“Oh, it so is!” she exclaims, hugging her new stuffed friend. Bradley took a screenshot of that moment.
After a year and a half, Bradley had finally graduated flight school. Aurora could remember that day. She’d gone to his graduation tapping out ceremony along with Carole, Goose, Maverick and Peyton. They all agreed that they would all be tapping him out, but the day of, Carole and Goose wanted Peyton and Aurora to tap him out.
“Wait, but Uncle, Auntie, it should be you two to tap him out. Why us two?” Aurora gestures between her and her brother.
“Because without you two, Bradley wouldn’t be here.” Carole simply says as Goose nods next to her.
Aurora was stunned, not sure why they didn’t just do a group hug to tap him out, but they all insisted that the twins do it. So as Aurora and Peyton find Bradley amongst his fellow graduates, she starts getting nervous. Peyton was subtly checking out the graduates while they weaved through the crowd.
They soon spot their best friend, who still was standing at attention, waiting to be tapped out. They approach him hand and hand, with Carole and Maverick trailing behind the twins, Goose capturing the moment with his camera.
“Look at this, the BAP trio, back together again!” Peyton speaks up, knowing Bradley couldn’t respond until he was tapped out. Aurora had tears running down her cheeks.
“We’re so proud of you Bradley,” Aurora beams at him. Bradley stood still, itching to hug his best friends. Aurora and Peyton then look at each other and go in for a group hug, tapping Bradley out. He instantly clung to both of them, tears running down everyone's faces.
“Thank you for being here,” Bradley whispers to them.
“Wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world,” Both Peyton and Aurora reply at the same time. They all look at each other and laugh, as Bradley pries himself out of the group hug and goes to hug his mom and dad, who were already in shambles, proud tears on their faces, while Maverick took over the camera to take pictures of the family.
After that, Bradley was finally stationed in Virginia, assigned to his squadron which meant Aurora got to spend a lot more time with her best friend, until his orders came through for his first deployment. It lasted six months, with Aurora already in her junior year she and Bradley relied a lot on their communication with letters. It never stopped Bradley from sending her flowers, or even small packages to her containing treats from wherever he was docked, or even postcards, while Aurora did the same, she would often send Bradley care packages to help him through deployment.
They kept in constant communication, even with them being miles apart from each other. Aurora was a bit sad when she found out Bradley wouldn’t be able to make her college graduation due to his next deployment, but she understood that.
“Psst, you alright Mitchell?” a voice calls out drawing her out of her thoughts. She looks and sees her girl best friend and roommate since freshman year seated next to her.
‘I’m fine Belmont, why do you ask?” she replies.
“You just look very deep in thought. Wouldn’t want you to miss your own graduation.”
Aurora laughs with her friend. Lucille and Aurora became great friends when they realized that they were going to be roommates. Lucille was graduating with a criminal justice degree, and going straight into law school in the upcoming fall semester. They had each other’s back throughout college, and soon became family to each other. Aurora was sad that her friend was moving all the way to California for her law degree, but was so proud of her for staying on her path to becoming an attorney.
“Aurora Benjamin-Mitchell, with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science, and a Bachelor of Arts in Aviation, Cumme Laude!” a voice calls out, drawing her back to the present.
There is a loud cheer as she crosses the stage, as she could spot her family from the stands, as she takes her diploma and shakes hands with the dean. She walks off smiling and waving at them, to which they cheer even louder. She laughs and goes back to her seat until the end of the ceremony.
—
“I’m so proud of you!” Penny hugs her older daughter tightly, after she had already hugged everyone else.
Aurora laughs. “Mom, you already said you were, we took pictures and everything just a few minutes ago.”
“I know, but I just wanted to say it again because I’m so, so proud of my little star.” Penny gushes as she squishes her daughter’s face. Aurora rolls her eyes, and locks eyes with her dad.
“Dad, a little help please.” she pleads to him. Maverick chuckles.
“Oh no kid, you’re on your own.”
She groans as Peyton helps pry their mom off the girl.
“Alright mom, we get it, Aurie is the favorite child.” Peyton jokes.
“Hey, I thought I was the favorite!” Amelia calls out, who was standing next to Maverick, hand in hand.
“Of course you are Ami, don’t listen to your older siblings, they’re just jealous.” Maverick leans to stage whisper to her. She giggles at Maverick’s antics, as the others roll their eyes. She looks to see her Auntie Carole, without Goose by her side.
“Hey, where’d Uncle Goose go?”
“Probably went to the car to take a nap. He’s getting really old.”
Penny smacks Maverick’s arm at his answer while everyone laughs.
“He’s getting your graduation present,” Carole answers Aurora’s question.
“You really didn’t have to get me anything, Auntie.” Aurora nervously says, thinking it was an expensive gift and she didn’t want her godparents to be giving her such a gift.
“Well, unfortunately we can’t return this gift,” Goose says from behind her.
She turns towards her uncle and gasps. Standing next to Goose was Bradley Bradshaw, her best friend in the flesh, and not on deployment like he had said. He was dressed in slacks and a polo shirt, holding a bouquet of flowers in his hand, pink peonies and white carnations.
Pink peonies meaning prosperity, and white carnations good luck, appropriate for graduation as well as it being Aurora’s favorite color combination.
She squeals at the sight of him before running into his awaiting arms and when he caught her, she’d truly felt like she was home. Like she had found the missing piece from today.
“Congrats princess, I’m so proud of you,” Bradley whispers into her ear. She clings on to him, never wanting to let go.
“Am I dreaming? You’re actually here?” she questions.
He pulls back to take a look at her face and smirks. “Why? Dream of me often, Mitchell?”
She smiles at him and cups his face. “Every hour, every minute, every second I breathe, Bradshaw.”
She pulls him back into a hug as he kisses her forehead. “Best surprise ever,” she whispers to him.
“Well there goes the car we got her ‘ey Pen?”
—
Carole and Goose went all out to celebrate not only Aurora’s graduation, but Peyton’s graduation as well. The twins had decided to do a joint party, like they normally do with birthdays and other big celebrations. The Bradshaws’ backyard had quite a few people. Mostly all family friends, since Aurora and Peyton’s friends had other celebration plans.
Lucille and Aurora had walked in, arms linked laughing at a joke Lucille had made. Aurora had made her rounds around the backyard, making sure to hug and greet everyone at the party. She talked a bit to Viper, who was Maverick’s old Top Gun instructor. He had made a joke saying he hopes to see her in the skies soon, to which Aurora just laughed it off lightly. She got to hear old stories from her Uncle Ice, and his backseater Slider, but her favorite interaction was when she had introduced her best friend to them.
“Uncle Ice, Slider, this is my friend Lucille. She just graduated and is headed to UCLA for law school. Lucille, this is my dad’s other wingman, callsign Iceman, and his RIO, Slider.” Aurora introduces them.
“Hi, it’s nice to meet you,” Lucille greets them, shaking their hands. “Your callsign is pretty neat. I also like slider burgers!”
The older men stood frozen as Aurora looks at her best friend in shock. She apologizes and excuses both of them, and drags her best friend away as they laugh at what had taken place.
“So, you tell your dad about what you’re doing next?” Lucille asks, as she takes a soda from one of the many coolers that were set out.
Aurora took a considerable sip of the drink in her hand before answering.
“Not yet. Think I could make a run for it before I make the announcement?”
“You try and run, I'll be right behind you following in your footsteps,” Peyton replies, coming up from behind the duo, with Bradley in tow wrapping an arm around Aurora’s waist. They had just come back from talking to another group of family friends.
“What’s the big announcement? And why haven’t you told me? You always tell me everything,” Bradley pouted at both the twins.
“Because Mother Hen, we don’t know if our dad will like what we have to say,” Aurora answers, as she chews the inside of her cheek. Nervously, she began playing around with her silver charm bracelet, adorned with a new charm Bradley got her, a graduation cap one.
Bradley looks down at the girl who couldn't keep still. He knew her mind was racing but didn’t say anything about it.
“Seriously? That name is sticking?”
“Hell yeah!” Both twins answer.
“I don’t know, I'm still partial to Chicken Little,” Lucille answers as Bradley sticks up his middle finger in retaliation.
“Rory, Pey!” They turn and see Maverick calling out to them, gesturing for the twins to come up the steps leading to the house, as if it was a makeshift stage. Penny stood by him waving to them. It was time for the twins to tell everyone what was next.
“Showtime,” Peyton sarcastically mutters, as he yanks his sister out of Bradley’s arm and drags her to the crowd that was forming around Maverick and Penny, the two making room for the twins as they climbed the steps.
“Alright Pey, you first,” Penny says to him.
“What? Wait, maybe Aurora should go first.”
“Oh heck no, mom says you go first, besides you’re older!” Aurora points out.
Peyton groans, while Penny tells them to behave. He clears his throat before beginning to speak to everyone in the backyard.
“Hi, everyone! Thank you all for coming! I think I speak for both my sister and myself when I say we are so happy to see that all our friends and family are here. First I want to give thanks to our parents.”
“For we wouldn’t be here without them.” Aurora speaks up as she turns to smile at her parents, her stomach twisting in anticipation.
“And thank you to the Bradshaws for not only their hospitality, but for being the best godparents we could ask for.”
“And our best friends Bradley Bradshaw and Lucille Belmont for being our anchors.”
“Okay, stop stalling, just tell us already!” Goose shouts from his spot in the crowd, as everyone laughs and Carole tries to shush him. The twins give each other a nervous look before Peyton continues on.
“After getting my BAs in Aviation and Aerospace Engineering,” Peyton says, “I have decided to go to Technical School and become an Aviation Mechanic.”
Everyone gasps and after a bit of silence, cheers and claps for Peyton. The twins turn to Maverick and Penny. Penny had the look of a proud mom, whereas Maverick’s face was unreadable.
“What happened to wanting to be a Naval Aviator?” Maverick murmurs to Peyton.
“As much as I want to be in the skies, I think my love for Legos knew I wasn’t ever going to be in the skies as much. Plus, I love fighter jets, just not enough to pilot one. I hope you’re not too disappointed in me dad.” Peyton explains. Maverick pulls his son into a hug.
“I could never be disappointed. Just a bit shocked.” Maverick pulls out of the hug and taps Peyton’s shoulder. “I’m proud of you Pey. You’re gonna make us proud.” Penny then hugs her son and whispers something in his ears that makes his eyes almost water. He nods and turns to his sister who was beaming with pride.
“I’m happy for you, Pey.”
“Oh please, like you didn’t see that coming. I told you like a month ago.” They laugh and he pulls his twin into a one arm hug.
“And Aurora, what about you?” Maverick turns to look at her daughter. Aurora takes a deep breath and turns to the awaiting crowd. She spots Bradley in the crowd as he gives her a smile and thumbs up.
Aurora’s thoughts ran rampant in her head, her next words being the big life changer. She grabs her bracelet again as she fidgets with it in anticipation, hoping it would calm her down.
“With getting my degree in Political Science and Aviation, I have decided that-”
Aurora stills and turns to look at her parents. They smile at her, knowing her parents would support her decision. She grabs her twin’s hand and she thinks back to when she had made her decision.
“Wait, can you say that again?”
“I want you to work for me. You’ve already proved that you have the skill set to be a great asset here, and you already get along with the team.”
“But, this was just an internship, a requirement for one of my classes. Why me? You have a ton of willing candidates out there,” she turns to the gentlemen that stood in front of her.
He had a stern look on his face, serious about what he had asked Aurora. He was an older man that had white hair and stood up straight, with an expression showing he was serious. Aurora had gotten to know him and his team during her internship. He was intimidating and quiet at the same time. Everyone knew of him because he was just that intimidating. He took his job seriously, which was why Aurora was confused why he had approached her with a job offer on her last day of her internship, a few months before she was set to graduate.
“Because I see a potential in you,” he simply tells her.
“Ok, but I’m perfectly content in following my dad’s footsteps.”
He sighs “Rule #5”
“You don’t waste good,” Aurora mutters as she rocks back on her heels. She looks down at her wrist where her charm bracelet Bradley had given her sat. It brought her comfort as she thought about the situation in front of her,
She had memorized all the weird rules this man had when she worked with him for the past couple of months. No one but her brother knew about the internship. She didn’t even tell Bradley because she knew what he would say. She was old enough to finally make a decision on her own without having to tell her parents or her best friend about it.
“Exactly, and you are good. But you can be better,” he tells her, as she draws herself from her thoughts. She looks up and sees him make eye contact with her.
“So what do you say probie?” He approaches her with his arm extended for her to shake.
This was the moment. Follow her father’s path, or make her own name for herself.
“Ready to work for NCIS?”
---
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On This Cold December Night
Title and chapter inspired the song “My Song For You” by Bridgit Mendler and Shane Harper.
Summary: Christmas looks a bit different this year for Aurora.
Disclaimer: This story is fictitious. All works are written by me and only posted here. Please do not copy, repost, or plagiarize on any other platform without my permission!
Warnings: Mild language? Mentions of a car accident? A bit of angst and fluff!
Wordcount: 8.2k
A/N: We have a Christmas chapter for once! These chapters get longer and longer every time I write a new one, so I hope you enjoy it! Made the moodboard myself! Like usual, timeline and ages are changed to fit the story, not the movies. Some of these storylines/backgrounds are based on what I write or imagine for my Top Gun DR. Thanks to my beta reader and editor @reginleight for putting up with this long chapter!
Previous | Next | Masterlist
Aurora always adored Christmas at the Bradshaw’s. Not only did she get to spend time with her family, but also the snow. She loves San Diego, but there was always something about the cold and snow in Virginia that she loved just a bit more, especially it being Christmas. But this year was a bit different.
She was glad that Christmas break was here, but she was not looking forward to going to Virginia for once. She didn’t want to have to tell Bradley about her semester, when he himself was already having a great last year of high school. She especially did not want to tell her dad what had gone down either.
This year, they were meeting him in Virginia as he had just gotten back from another deployment and took time off to spend Christmas with them. Her mom and stepfather were staying in San Diego as they had baby Amelia to take care of, the little girl having already turned three. With that being the case, the two wouldn’t be able to make the flight this year to Virginia with the twins. That and the fact that their dad and stepfather did not get along.
While packing for the trip that she and her brother would soon be leaving to the airport for, Aurora’s mother steps into the twins' shared room. Her brother, Peyton had already packed and was hanging out with his friends before they were to leave.
“Almost done packing?” Penny asks from the door frame.
“Yeah, almost,” Aurora replies, stacking the last few items in her suitcase, before moving onto her backpack for the smaller stuff. While her daughter continues packing, Penny surveys the room a little, her eyes landing on a particular corner when she spots the broken fragments of a picture frame.
“You know, it may have been better to just throw the frame out rather than leaving the broken pieces for someone else to clean up in here,” Penny says, moving into the room to go pick up said pieces.
“What, is that supposed to be a metaphor or something?”
Penny sighs and throws the frame in the trash.
“Look, I get your upset and I get how you feel,” Penny empathizes, coming closer to Aurora. “But going to the Bradshaws will make you feel a lot better. And soon you’ll forget all about what happened and come back feeling better, and be stronger from it.”
“Yeah because hanging out with Bradley and his new girlfriend will be so fun,” Aurora replies sarcastically, throwing her laptop in her bag along with the charging cable.
“Apparently they broke up,” Penny shrugs, recounting what she’d been told “She wants to go to college without a boyfriend so she broke up with Bradley before Christmas so she wouldn’t have to wait until graduation. Carole said he was heartbroken but he cheered up when he heard you were going over there for Christmas.”
Aurora was silent as she sat on her bed.
“And at least now you’ll be able to see and talk to him.”
“Yeah well that makes one of us, because he hasn’t been my friend in a long time ever since he met precious Dakota.”
“You and I both know that’s not true.”
“Tell that to all the empty letters and the short phone calls he’s made to me. Every call or letter he wouldn’t stop going on and on about her and how she was the most perfect girl for him.”
“Rory...”
“No, I'm tired of talking about Bradley,” Aurora sighs. “I just want to get this trip over with and spend time with Peyton and dad.”
Penny sits on the bed next to her daughter and hugs her from the side. It’s enough to make one, solitary tear escape from Aurora’s glassy eyes before she could furiously brush it away.
“I’m sorry we can’t spend Christmas together.” Penny speaks, momentarily after seeing Aurora fighting to keep tears at bay. She felt guilty for not being there for her daughter as much as she should be.
“Mom, it’s okay. You definitely made up for it with the ukulele you brought me and the new journal, trust me.
“That doesn't mean I don’t feel guilty.”
“And you shouldn’t have to.”
“But I do.” Penny turns to face her daughter. “Ever since we’ve had Amelia, I feel like I haven’t been involved with your life when I should be.”
“It’s okay. I understand. Peyton even understands. I’m just glad we got to do a small Christmas dinner last night. And got to open our gifts.” Aurora turns to her mom and smiles at her brightly. Penny laughs and pauses to take a look at her daughter.
“You know every time you laugh and smile, you remind me so much of your dad.”
Aurora pauses at the sentence. “Is that a good thing?”
“It’s a wonderful thing,” Penny reassures her daughter. “That just means you are more and more like your father, which can be a scary thing, but you have the best qualities of him.”
“Like?”
“Like how strong you are, how you’re able to go through problems and either fix it or fight your way through it. A bit stubborn but I think you get that from both of us,” Penny admits.
They laugh and soon Aurora looks at her clock and realizes that she and her brother were leaving soon.
“I have to finish packing mom.”
“I know. I just wanted to come in and see if you needed anything. I’m glad we talked a bit before you leave,” Penny smiles, fondly pushing back some of Aurora’s hair.
“Yeah me too,” Aurora says, returning the smile.
“When you come back, we’ll go out shopping and we can talk more, okay? Just a girl’s day. Me and you.”
“That sounds great, mom. Thank you.”
Penny gets up to leave, but she pauses at the doorway. She turns to look back at Aurora with one last thing to say.
“Just when you see Bradley, hear him out first before shutting him down. You know he wouldn’t mean to hurt you.”
Aurora pauses at her words.
“We’ll see mom. We’ll see.”
—
When Aurora and Peyton had touched down in Norfolk airport, their dad greeted them with a big hug, and soon they were in the car, on the way to the Bradshaw’s. Peyton sat up front with their dad, talking about school, while Aurora sat in the back, looking out the window with her headphones on. Maverick throughout the trip tried to include her in it, but only got one word answers or was ignored. He knew something was wrong but didn't want to push her. He didn’t know about anything that happened at school, but Aurora knew she would have to talk to him soon before Penny said anything to him. They arrived at the Bradshaw’s in a manner of time, and as soon as Maverick put his car in park, Goose and Carole were already outside on the porch waiting for them.
“Uncle Goose!” cries out Peyton as he rushed into Goose’s awaiting arms.
“Oh my gosh, Pey you’ve grown tall! Unlike your father.” Goose jabs at Maverick. Peyton was already past Maverick’s height, 5 feet and 9 inches.
“Hey, I’ll have you know my height is just fine.”
“That’s what old men say nowadays ‘ey?”
Maverick and Goose start a bit of a shoving match while Peyton hugs Carole and Aurora just now getting out of the car. Her face is neutrally void of any emotion.
“Hey, little star!” Goose spots her. Uncle Goose had given her the nickname ‘little star’ in reference to her namesake, the Aurora Borealis. He started calling her that ever since he realized how much she loved stargazing and constellations.
“Come give your uncle a hug, or do you think you're too cool for me? Because I’ll have you know I’m very cool!”
“That’s what old men say nowadays ‘ey?” Maverick retorts back at Goose. Goose sticks out his tongue while Aurora slightly chuckles as she goes to hug her Uncle Goose.
“Don’t worry, we love you even if you are short, your dad on the other hand,” Goose whispers in her ear, Aurora biting back a smile. Aurora was not gifted with height like her father, as she stood at 5 feet exactly.
Goose gave her an extra squeeze before she went to hug Carole.
“Are you alright, angel?” Carole whispers in her ear. Aurora just nods and steps out of her arms, following along as they all begin to head inside the house.
“So where’s Bradley? It’s not like him to miss the twins’ homecoming?” Maverick asks as the twins come back into the kitchen after putting luggage away, now having separate rooms since they were older. Bradley was not one to be late with his best friends coming back to the East Coast, let alone not be there to greet them.
“Oh he went to go see his girlfriend, well I guess ex. He went to try and win her back. Emphasis on try,” Goose says rolling his eyes, showing obvious signs that Goose did not like this girl.
“But not without leaving homecoming presents for you two!” Carole exclaims excitedly gesturing to the items that were set behind her.
On the table was another Lego set for Peyton, one in which he was hunting for and didn’t have, and a flower bouquet. Carole explained that Bradley told them that these weren’t their actual Christmas gifts but wanted to give them something like he normally does when they’d visit. Unlike the usual tradition, however, he wasn’t there to give them in person this time.
Peyton immediately goes over to pick up the Lego set and is rambling on about the set while Aurora approaches the table to look at the bouquet of flowers.
They were red roses and white tulips. They stood out and made the room shine brighter with its Christmas colors, but Aurora knew what they meant.
Forgiveness.
Aurora and Bradley knew the different meanings of flowers, thanks to Carole who tells them all about it. White tulips to make amends with someone who is important to you, red roses to help express affection of said amends and forgiveness. There was a note on it simply saying “Sorry I wasn’t there to greet you. Had important things to do.” It causes Aurora to roll her eyes and scoff at the note and flowers, walking out of the kitchen in a huff. Everyone turns just in time to see her leave.
“What’s wrong with her? She usually loves the flowers Bradley gives her.” Carole asks, concerned.
“Maybe she’s allergic to flowers now.”
Carole smacks Goose on the head for his antics.
“She’s been like that for a while.” Peyton responds, not looking in anyone’s eyes as he pretends to be interested in a scuff mark on the table he was sitting at.
“Why?” Mav says, concerned for his daughter.
“She wants to tell you. So I’m not saying anything.”
“Is this about the fight that happened in school?
“A fight?” Both Carole and Goose said in unison.
“I’m not saying anything until you talk to her. I’ve learned that Aurora will say something when she wants to. Right now. It’s best to leave her alone.”
—
Aurora sits on the front porch swing watching the snow fall slowly to the ground. She had so much emotions pent up inside her. She was angry at Bradley, upset with everything that had happened at school. Sad she’s not at home with her mom and sister. But she was also happy that she was in Virginia to spend time with her brother, father, aunt and uncle. She knew she had a lot of emotions trapped in her. But most of all, she felt numb. It was hard to describe the feeling, that she felt so many emotions that it left her numb. Her face said it all, ice cold. If her Uncle Ice saw her expression, he would say she looked like him.
She had her headphones in as she was listening to music and watching the snow fall to the ground until she saw a car approach the Bradshaw’s driveway. She knew whose car it was. The one person she absolutely did not want to see.
After parking, Bradley had gotten out of the car heading towards the house, face down as he was distracted with his phone. Aurora could see he had grown almost the same height as his dad. His hair was a bit shaggy, but wasn’t too long. He was a bit more built, she knew that was probably due to baseball training.
As much as she wanted to run up and hug him, she just couldn’t. So instead, she opted for waiting, watching what his next steps would be.
His shoes finally hitting the steps leading up to the house, Bradley did eventually look up, face lighting up noticing his best friend on the swing.
“Well hey there princess!” Bradley brightly greets as he approaches her, arms open wide expecting her to get up and hug him. She looks at him and gets up, taking the headphones out of her ear. She walks to him, but then passes by him to reach the front door and go inside the house, closing it and leaving Bradley standing in shock. Did his best friend just act like he didn’t exist? She didn’t even hug him or even say hi. She just got up and left?
Bradley, who was still frozen in shock at what had happened, finally rushes into the house to look for her.
“Hey Rory!” Bradley calls. He spies her walking up the stairs to go to her room, he was about to go after her until a head peeks out from the kitchen.
“Oh, good! You’re home Brad Brad!” Goose cries out. “Come say hi to Peyton and Mav.” Bradley looks at his dad, then looks back to the stairs. Goose shakes his head and gestures to the kitchen silently telling him to get his butt in the kitchen and not to run after Aurora. Bradley sighs and walks into the kitchen, knowing he’ll be trying to talk to her later.
—
A few hours later, Aurora peaks out her door. It was getting close to dinner time, but she knew she still had another hour or so until then. Bradley had come to her door multiple times during the course of that time knocking, pleading with her to let him in so they could talk, thinking that the only reason Aurora was mad at him was because he wasn’t there to greet them.
Little did he know that was the least of his worries. He kept trying to get her to open the door, but Aurora put her headphones in and just ignored him while she was reading her book. After some time passed, Bradley grew tired and instead hung out with Peyton. Aurora, after hearing the knocks had stopped, realized this might be the best time to go talk to her dad since she knew he was probably working on something in the garage. So in a swift manner Aurora came out of her room and quickly ran to the garage before anyone could see her.
“Oh hey little star,” A voice calls out as she enters the garage. She looks and sees not her father, but her Uncle Goose.
“Oh, sorry Uncle Goose. I thought dad was in here.”
“Nah, he went on a shopping run for your Auntie Carole. He said something to piss her off again and now he gets to pay the price.” Goose says to which Aurora laughs softly at.
“Oh well. Sorry to bother you, I’ll just head back-“
“Well wait a minute, come sit. Let me just finish this up and I’ll be yours in a bit.” He says with a wink and gestures to the couch that was set in the corner of his garage. Aurora tries to protest but is given a look that tells her that she shouldn’t argue with him.
She sighs and goes towards the area. The couch was set up next to two sofa chairs with a sort of memorabilia wall set up behind it. It was similar to something she’d seen back at her father’s apartment, a little living space he’d rented for when he was staying in San Diego. Her dad usually either stays there or at the Bradshaw’s when he’s not on deployment.
A wall covered with pictures, patches, and awards. She looks through it and easily spots a photo with the graduating Top Gun class of 1986, easily able to pick out her dad, uncle, and even her honorary Uncle Ice. Aurora lightly brushes the photo before looking at the rest on the wall.
She spots her dad in a lot of photos, as well as Carole and Bradley, but there was one photo that stuck out in general that she had to take into her hands in order to see the full picture. It was a photo of her and Bradley when they first met, they were hand in hand and sat on top of a piano. Aurora vaguely remembers the moment she met her best friend and smiles at the photo until she remembers that she’s mad at him and puts the photo back in its spot before scoffing at it.
Moving on from that photo and looking around more she sees a photo of her uncle and aunt, so happy and in love. Carole had tears in her eyes while Goose was holding her tightly as if letting go of her would make her disappear. They were looking into each other’s eyes, foreheads pressed together. She takes that photo into her hand and smiles at it.
“That photo was taken by your father.” Goose speaks up as Aurora turns around at the sound behind her. “It was the day I came back from my last deployment. Right before I hung up my wings.”
Goose approaches the couch and sits as Aurora looks at Goose.
“Do you ever regret not going back?” she timidly asks. Goose thinks for the right words before answering her.
“I miss flying with your dad. Heck I’m sure your dad says the same thing. I loved flying with him even though he got us in trouble a lot.” Aurora laughs at the thought of what chaos her father must’ve dragged her uncle into with him.
“But as much as I loved flying with your dad, I needed to come home to your aunt and Bradley.”
Gazing fondly at the photo held in Aurora’s hand, Goose’s smile was a little strained with his next words.
“We already had a scare before graduating Top Gun, and after that last deployment, I couldn’t leave them alone. You sacrifice a few things to get things right, but I don’t ever regret giving up my wings. Because I would do it over and over again in order to live my life with the family and watch you all grow up.”
Aurora thinks and sighs before putting the photo back in its place, coming over to sit beside her uncle.
“Alright little Mav. Talk to me.” Goose teasingly says.
Aurora pauses for a moment before admitting “I don’t know where to start.”
“Well then, let’s start at the beginning.”
With a deep breath, Aurora began talking about school and what had gone down. How what was supposed to be a great first year of high school, turned out to be one of the worst semesters she’s had. Her friends that she made in high school all turned out to be fake and were talking behind her back.
Her so-called junior boyfriend was only dating her because there was a bet going on saying that no one could get Aurora to go on a date. Also the fact that he was sleeping with her so-called best friend behind her back. Aurora was mad at not just the situation, but herself. She couldn’t believe that she had let herself be fooled the way she was. Her brother had gotten into a fight with her ex, but thankfully did not get into so much trouble since he was provoked, only having to serve detention.
As Aurora rambles, there are a few faces that Goose makes, showing he is listening to what was being said. He would add a few funny comments to lighten the mood such as “What an ass!” and “Hell yeah, way to go Peyton!” but other than that he would listen to her.
“So yeah. Now I’m here. Spending the holidays here, wondering how the hell I’m gonna survive the next few years of high school.” Aurora sighs. Goose looks at her as she finishes her story. Aurora could feel his gaze on her as Goose hadn’t said another word since his last comment of ‘Mav and I should go to the school and threaten to kick their butts’ to which Aurora shut it down right away.
“What Uncle Goose?”
“I’m sorry Aurrie. I know the first year of high school sucks, but it will get better.”
“You wanna know what sucks more? Having your best friend cut you out and not even talk to you because he's busy with his girlfriend.”
“More like ex.” Goose retorts back.
“Still! I’ve known him since I was four, Uncle Goose and he just pretends as if he didn’t just ignore me when I needed him the most!” Exasperated, Aurora tosses her hands up recounting the events of what had happened with him. “He hung up on me when I tried to talk to him on the phone because he was getting ready to hang out with her.”
Goose sighs. “I honestly don’t know what’s going on with him. Carole and I raised him better than that.”
“I know, Uncle Goose, you both did good. It’s just,” she pauses. “I miss my best friend. It really hurts that he’s pushing me away”
“Yeah I know kiddo.”
Aurora then thinks about something.
“How do you do it Uncle Goose?”
“Do what?”
“You and Auntie Carole? You two fight but you always find a way back to each other. You don’t push each other away, and even if you try, you both are always there for each other.”
He didn’t know which situation Aurora was referencing. Her breakup or Bradley.
“Ha, yeah your dad always said your Auntie and I are like soulmates.” He smiles at the thought of his wife.
“What do you believe are soulmates, Uncle Goose?”
Goose looks at Aurora who looks at him thoughtfully.
“I think a soulmate is someone you can be yourself around. Someone you can take comfort in and someone you can tell anything to,” Goose tells her sincerely. “They know you better than you could ever know yourself. Someone who accepts you for who you are. And despite some of their qualities, you’ll love them for who they are in return.”
Aurora then asks. “Do you think I’ll ever find my soulmate, Uncle Goose?”
He chuckles at her question. He kisses her forehead. “Of course, everyone has a soulmate. Romantic or platonic, everyone has that special someone.” Even though in his mind he knew Aurora had already found her romantic soulmate.
“What about mom and dad? Are they romantic or platonic soulmates?” she questions.
“Well their situation is a bit different. But I think it’s just a matter of the right person, wrong timing.”
“So you think they’ll ever get back together?”
Goose cackles. “Oh hon, I got a bet with your Uncle Ice and Auntie Carole about it! They best better in a few years.”
Aurora and Goose giggles as Maverick comes back in the garage from running his errands for Carole. He sees his daughter and best friend giggling away on the couch and he smiles knowing she found comfort in his best friend.
“What’s going on in here?” Maverick speaks up as Goose and Aurora looks at him.
Looking away from Maverick and at each other they grinned.“Nothing,” they reply simultaneously, breaking out into even more giggling.
Maverick shakes his head and squeezes himself between them.
“So, you wanna tell me what’s going on?” Maverick asks his daughter. Aurora then goes on to tell Maverick about what she told Goose, besides the conversation about soulmates. Before Maverick could say anything she tells him that he didn’t have to say anything since she felt better after talking with Goose.
Maverick smiles, gives her a kiss on the forehead and tells her to get ready for dinner. She smiles and gets up from the couch heading towards the door. As she reaches the doorway she pauses and turns to look at uncle Goose and her dad.
“Thanks for the talk, Uncle Goose. And thanks dad for understanding.”
“Anytime kiddo.” Goose smiles with a wink. She turns to run back into the safety of her room.
Maverick sighs.
“What’s with the sigh Mav?” Goose’s brow arches questioningly.
“Nothing. I just can’t believe she’s so grown up. Had a boyfriend and first heartbreak in just a couple of months. And I wasn’t there,” Scrubbing a hand down his face, Maverick’s gaze was still on the door where Aurora had just left through.
“You know you would be if you could.”
“I know Goose.”
They revel in silence for a bit until Goose speaks up and says, “Ya know she asked about soulmates?”
“Really? What was she referencing? Her breakup or her fight with Bradley?”
“Beats me. But I just hope they make up soon.”
“Yeah it’d be a real shame if you lost the bet between her and Bradley.”
“Jokes on you old man. They call me Cupid for a reason.”
“No they call you Goose because you quack a lot of nonsense,” Maverick snorts.
“That’s it. Bring it on Mav, I can’t wait to take out a short pancake.”
“Why do you always bring up my height?!”
Maverick and Goose jokingly wrestle on the couch as Carole walks in to tell them dinner was ready. She shakes her head and sighs. “Men.”
—
Bradley and Aurora barely spoke throughout the break. Bradley knew to give her space as soon as she didn’t speak to him for dinner that night, and it didn’t stop at dinner either. She didn’t speak to him most of the time she was at the house, mostly spending time with Auntie Carole in the kitchen, or at the floral shop. And when she was at the house, she hung out with her brother until Bradley came along then ran to the garage where Uncle Goose and Maverick were.
Maverick even took the twins to an airstrip, where they got to ride in a plane with their dad. They’ve been in a plane before with their dad behind the wheel, but he got to show them the ins and outs of the plane, as well as helping them learn landing and taking off procedures, something that they loved to learn when they were little. They had definitely gotten their love for aviation from their father.
In all honesty, Bradley felt like he was going nuts not talking to her, but he knew he was also going to have to talk to her soon.
It was the night of Christmas Eve. Nobody had wanted a big party and instead they had all opted for family time at the house for spending Christmas. The adults were still talking at the dining table while Peyton was on the phone with his friend in his room.
Bradley took this as an opportunity to approach Aurora, who was out on the porch with her ukelele and her journal that her mom and stepfather gave her. With a single red rose in hand, he went outside to the porch dressed in his Christmas sweater and jeans. It was pretty cold outside, but the Bradshaw’s installed a small outdoor heater above the porch swing so he knew he didn’t have to bring out his winter coat.
And so, when he stepped out onto the porch immediately he saw her.
Aurora also had a red sweater and leggings on. Her hair was in a braid in order to prevent any strands from getting caught in the instrument. She had a blanket over her legs, ukulele in hand strumming a pattern of chords. She was humming along until she’d pause, set the instrument down and jot something into her journal. She didn’t need to look up to know who had stepped onto the porch.
“So you gonna stand there and look dumb staring at me or are you going to sit down and actually say something?” Aurora spoke up, breaking Bradley out of his trance from staring at her. He takes a breath and walks up to Aurora and sits next to her as she makes room. She still had yet to look up into his eyes.
“Look, I’m sorry I wasn’t here to greet you when you came. I got busy with Dakota and I wanted to see if I could get her back.”
She sharply inhales.“Bradley, do you honestly think I was mad about just that?!”
“Is that not what you’re mad about?”
“Are you shitting me?” Aurora looks at him with a bewildered look on her face.
“Is that rhetorical? And when have you started cussing?”
“Gosh Bradley! If you had at least picked up the phone, you’d know that I’m mad because you’ve been ignoring me for 2 months!” Aurora exclaims.
“Yeah well, we’ve both been busy,” he states simply.
“Pushing me away was the worst thing you could do! If you had picked up the phone you’d know about my breakup and Peyton’s fight.”
Bradley looks at her while tears run down her face and she quickly wipes it away.
“Shit, I’m sorry Rory.” Bradley sets down the rose on the table in front of them as he turns to her.
“Yeah, well so am I. Gosh I’m so mad at you! You and not telling me things anymore, B. We’re supposed to be best friends.”
“We are best friends, I am still your best friend.” Bradley pleads.
“Really?! So you were gonna tell me about your car accident?! Or was that something you were gonna withhold too?” Aurora looks at Bradley making eye contact with him for the first time in a while. Bradley becomes silent and Aurora scoffs at his response.
“Yeah that’s what I thought.”
“How did you-“
“Did you really think I wouldn’t hear my mom and Auntie Carole not talk about it the night of?” Aurora questions him, baffled. “Mom thought Peyton and I were asleep when in reality we were sitting on the steps of the stairs trying not to cry about your car accident. Mom had to end the call because we were crying so hard since we thought we were gonna lose you.”
Bradley and Aurora sat in silence looking away from each other, watching the snow fall.
“Were you ever gonna tell me?” Aurora speaks up after a few seconds go by.
“Eventually.”
“Really?”
“I don’t know.”
“Damnit Bradley this is what I’m talking about! What happened to us?” she cried out.
“I’m sorry Aurie.”
She sighs and looks at Bradley as he turns back to look at her. She can see the scars on his face and neck, remnants from the accident. Bringing her hand up from her lap, her fingers lightly traced over each scar, Bradley staring into her eyes as she did so.
“Does it hurt?”
“Not anymore.” She cups his face, caressing the raised skin. Her eyes filled with tears and Bradley panics thinking he made her cry again.
“I was so afraid I was gonna lose you B,” she whispers softly.
“Oh, darling.” He brings her into a hug and she hugs him back tightly, arms wounding around his neck.
“I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Promise?”
“I promise princess. I’m so sorry, I’ll do better to tell you everything from now on.”
Bradley holds onto her as if she was his lifeline. He focuses on his best friend, the girl who always had his heart, even if she didn’t know it as she cries holding on to him, making up for lost time from fighting and accepts his apology. They hold each other for a long time after that, as Aurora’s breathing slows and stops crying. It’s only after calming down does she then realize about the rose Bradley left on the table.
“Is that for me?”she says as they break from the hug and she picks up the flower.
Bradley blushes and rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.“Well I couldn’t really come out and not give you a flower since I wasn’t here when I gave you that bouquet.”
She laughs and leans on him, flower in hand. He kisses her forehead as they both sit and watch the snow fall, wrapped in each other’s arms, probably the most relaxed in each other’s presence since this break had started.
—
Christmas morning came and the Bradshaws, Maverick, and the twins were sitting in the living room next to the Christmas tree, all wearing matching Christmas sweaters. Everyone in the house had also called who they needed, to greet whoever a Merry Christmas, from Penny to their Uncle Ice, and even Maverick’s and Goose’s old Top Gun instructor Viper, who they kept in constant contact with.
It was a perfect picture of Christmas morning, hot chocolate or coffee in hand, the kids sat on the floor while the parents watched them open their presents, and the fireplace was lit (after Maverick and Goose argued about who could light the fireplace, so Bradley and Peyton shoved their dads to the side and lit it themselves). Aurora opened her gifts and had already gotten an old polaroid camera from Goose, a fluffy blanket from Carole, a new phone from her dad, and a mug from Peyton that said “You’re a great twin sister…I guess” which was something he made from his pottery class at school.
Peyton loved his gifts that he had gotten which was a new Lego set (Goose), cellphone (Maverick), beanie (Carole), a bracelet that said “Twins Forever” (Aurora) and new basketball shoes (Bradley) that he was already up and getting another drink refill while the adults were already talking about the gifts they had gotten each other.
Bradley and Aurora look at each other with smirks, grabbing their presents that they got for each other. Bradley stands up and walks to sit next to Aurora.
Aurora smiles.
“You open your gift first, B!” she gives him a wink, prompting him to start unwrapping his gift, and gasping as soon as he sees it.
The first gift was a picture frame that contained three photos. One was the first photo they both ever took together, on top of a piano, hand in hand at four and eight years old. The other photo was of the twins and Bradley during the summer. Goose had taken a photo of the trio when they were racing each other on bikes laughing so hard, you can almost hear it from the photo. And the last one was another photo of the trio, from last summer when they were sitting on the porch, another photo Goose had taken when they were stargazing. Under the photo frame was a small box, Bradley opened it and it was a necklace. It had a plane pendant on the chain, and engraved on the side was “Always Flying Home” with the trio’s initials next to it. BAP. She knew Bradley would soon want to join the Navy soon and follow his dad’s footsteps. Bradley looks at her in awe.
“So do you like it, or are you looking at it like that because it’s super ugly?”
Bradley laughs and gives her a big hug.
“I love it, Aurie! Like a lot. I’m not taking this off.” He says as he releases her from the hug. Goose, Carole and Maverick break the moment, wanting to see the gifts. Bradley passes it around to have the adults get a good look at it as Aurora proceeds to open her gift from Bradley.
Peyton then comes back from refilling his drink just as she unwrapped her gift. The first one being a stuffed toy of a bunny. It was white, pink, and fluffy causing her to laugh in delight. Bradley was going on about how a bunny suits her personality and knew it was one of her favorite animals, with her favorite colors. She shakes her head in laughter and smiles at him.
“I’m gonna keep this forever!” She exclaims. Everyone in the room laughs as she opens her last gift. She opens it and reveals a box. Aurora looks at it, then looks back at Bradley.
“I swear if this is another paper wind up butterfly or a ring pop again B, I swear to -”
“Oh my gosh just open it!” Peyton exclaims, excited to see her sister’s reaction. She looks at her brother, suspicious of him as well.
She slowly opens the box, arms extended from her body, scared that something would come out, but nothing did. The adults laugh at her antics as she then peaks in the box and gasps. It was a beautiful silver charm bracelet.
“Everyone added a charm on it and engraved their initials on each charm, so you have a piece of everyone whenever you need us,” Bradley explains as he helps Aurora remove it from the box.
Carole said she chose the sunflower one, whereas Goose chose a goose charm since Maverick took the plane charm. Bradley said even Penny chose one for her, and that she picked the star charm.
“I chose one that had two hearts intertwined on it!” Peyton exclaims, proud of the charm he chose as he gave her a side hug.
Bradley helps Aurora put on the bracelet as she spies Bradley’s charm. He had added two. One was a princess crown and right next to it was a sword. Bradley looks into her eyes and grins at her.
“I figured that the princess should have her knight right next to her,” he says, still holding her hand.
Aurora blushes while Peyton groans and gags on the other side of her. She ignores him in favor of throwing her arms around her best friend. Bradley laughs and hugs her back. A flash goes off causing them to break their hug and look around to see Goose taking a photo of the moment, Peyton gagging in the photo and all. Bradley then takes Aurora’s hand again and kisses it, as Peyton was still acting up and the adults were laughing at his antics, not looking at the duo.
“I love it, B. I don’t think I’ll ever take it off,” she says as she brings her wrist up to examine the bracelet closer. Bradley glances at her and grins.
The excitement soon dies down as they start cleaning with the music record playing in the background. Bradley and Peyton go to collect the wrapping paper from the floor while the men set up the projector for their Christmas movie day, of course bantering on who gets to do what, as they normally do whenever they are paired together for any job together. Aurora goes to the kitchen to assist Carole in helping set up lunch. Aurora then looks out the window and sees that the snow had finally settled and turns to her aunt.
“I’m gonna go and get some air real quick!” she tells her, as she rushes out the kitchen and to the front door.
“Don’t forget a coat or turn on the porch heater!” Carole yells from the kitchen. Aurora rushes past Bradley and Peyton as they finish picking up the trash.
“C’mon let’s go make snow angels!” as she grabs her coat from the coat rack and runs out the door.
“What are we, 5?” Peyton yells after her.
“Mav, let’s go!” Goose exclaims from behind the two, hand on the back of the man whose name he just called out, and drags him towards the front door.
“No, but apparently he is,” Bradley mutters to Peyton. They snicker as they grab their coats and follow the three that went out the door.
Aurora was already making a snow angel, back on the ground and waving her arms as if she were doing jumping jacks. Goose was right beside her as Maverick was staring out from the porch, shaking his head at his best friend’s and daughter’s antics. The duo laugh at the sight in front of them and follow their lead and start to make snow angels as well, Peyton laying next to Aurora, and Bradley next to his dad. They start laughing while Maverick sighs at them, for once not being the irresponsible one in this situation. Carole comes out with Goose’s camera in hand and takes a photo of the scene in front of her.
Peyton then gets the bright idea to start a snowball fight, then all hell breaks loose. No one was safe as snow balls started flying left and right. Even Carole and Maverick had joined in after Carole had put the camera in a safe corner to record the moment. Because in this instant, if you can’t beat them, you might as well join them. There were no teams, it was just a flurry of snow flying everywhere.
Maverick then lifts up his daughter after she smashes snow on top of her dad’s head while he was kneeling to make a snowball causing her to scream in delight and laughs as he throws her softly into a pile of snow. Peyton then joins in, jumping onto Maverick’s back, but because he wasn’t expecting the weight, they both tumble onto the ground, next to Aurora.
The Bradshaws have their family moment as Carole and Bradley team up and take down Goose, ending up right next to Maverick and the twins also in the same manner. They all look at each other and laughed so hard, their stomachs and sides were hurting. With their adrenaline from the fight dying down, the cold and wet had begun setting in through their clothes causing them all to finally call a truce and head back inside before anyone could end up sick.
As they walk into the house, Carole and Goose first, Maverick, Peyton, with Bradley and Aurora still on the porch straggling behind them whispering and shoving each other, Peyton stops in his place.
He exclaims out “Wait, Uncle, Auntie! You have to kiss.”
They all pause their conversation and turn to look at Peyton. He gives them a look and points to the doorway that they all just passed through, and the doorway Bradley and Aurora were about to go through. Hanging on the doorway was mistletoe, all in its glory. The adults look at each other with confusion.
“Who hung that up?” Carole asks, curious.
“Maybe Santa.”
Maverick smacks Goose’s arm. Peyton looks at the adults.
“You have to kiss, it’s like the mistletoe law.”
Carole and Goose chuckle as Goose dips his wife down for a kiss. Maverick rolls his eyes, and looks at the duo who have yet to cross the doorway.
“No.”
“I didn’t even say anything.” Peyton exclaims
“Not you, them,” Maverick points at Bradley and Aurora. Both were blushing, either from the mistletoe or the cold.
“What do you want us to do then? Stay outside for the rest of the night?” Aurora sarcastically replies.
“You can cross the doorway, but no kissing.” Maverick states.
“But it’s the law!” Peyton exclaims.
“Screw the law, they’re not kissing!” Carole and Goose laugh at Maverick’s protectiveness towards his daughter and Bradley.
Bradley sighs and comes up with another idea.
“We can go through the back door while you get the mistletoe down, how’s that Uncle Mav?”
Maverick thinks about it. “Fine, but no funny business.” He gives them a threatening look.
The duo roll their eyes as they make their way to the backdoor.
“Who do you think hung up the mistletoe?” Aurora asks Bradley.
“I don’t know, maybe dad? He would come up with that idea.”
Aurora giggles at his response, and soon they approach the back door until she looks up and groans.
“What?”
Aurora points at the doorway and Bradley glances to see another mistletoe hanging. Bradley laughs and puts his palms to his face.
“We could just take it down, we don’t have to obey the mistletoe law,” Aurora nervously speaks up as she walks up to the doorway and reaches up to grab the plant, but because she was short she was struggling quite a bit. She was so focused on getting the mistletoe down, not even seeing the look Bradley was giving her at that moment. A look that showed love and adoration.
Bradley then decides in that moment to not think, but to just do. He gently grabs Aurora by the waist from behind her causing her to gasp and spin around now finding herself in his arms. Instinctively, she found herself clutching onto his arms in response.
Their eyes meet, and Bradley glances at Aurora’s lips, as she looks back at him nervously. Was she about to kiss her best friend? Her heart began beating so fast, she wasn’t sure it was beating at all because at this moment all she could think about was Bradley, who was waiting for her answer, afraid that she would push him away.
Slowly, she brought herself to give him a slight nod, and with that he leaned down.
Aurora meets him halfway, as she gets up on her tiptoes and their lips finally meet. His lips were a bit chapped from the cold, but Aurora didn’t care because they were warm. Her arms slowly go up Bradley’s arms and she wounds them around his neck. Bradley leaves his left hand on her waist, and the other slides to her cheek, cupping it and giving her more butterflies in her stomach, if that were even possible.
It’s as if the world went still for the first time. Frozen in a snow globe, and just for that moment, Aurora felt love and compassion from Bradley in that one action. Bradley held on to her, believing it was a dream, and he didn’t want to let go.
They both slowly part after their kiss, their faces red, from both the cold and the lack of air. They look into each other’s eyes, and all Aurora could see was the hazel eyes that she grew up with, full of happiness and love.
Bradley gazes into her dark eyes and for the first time in his life, he was speechless. They both laugh at the expression they were giving each other.
Kissing her cheek, he whispers into Aurora’s ear. “Merry Christmas princess.” Aurora practically glowing at those words.
“Merry Christmas, B.��� The two then separate, giving each other another warm smile, and as Aurora goes to open the door, Bradley reaches up to take down the mistletoe and pockets it in his jacket, as if to hide the evidence of the moment, but also wanting to keep a memento.
Aurora and Bradley walk a few steps into the kitchen where the backdoor was connected, and spot Peyton sitting on the kitchen counter drinking from his mug. He was facing the back door with a smile on his face as he saw the two walk in. He jumps down from the counter, walking towards them.
He whispers to both of them and says “Don’t worry, they don't know. They think you two were talking again so I won’t say anything.”
He winks at them, as the two release a breath they didn’t realize they were holding. They follow Peyton back into the living room as they hang up their coats.
“C’mon you three, you’re gonna miss the movie!” Goose calls from his seat on the couch, while Carole is sitting next to him, and Maverick is sitting in a sofa chair that was next to it.
The three rush to their usual spot on the floor, set already with the floor cushion Carole leaves out for them, along with the food and drinks on the coffee table, also courtesy of their Auntie Carole.
Aurora sits in the middle of the two and settles in watching the movie in front of them until they hear Peyton whisper at a volume only they can hear.
“By the way, mistletoe is very hard to find. You both are lucky Auntie Carole works at a flower shop.”
Bradley and Aurora freeze at his words and turn to look at Peyton who had a mischievous grin on his face. The trio laughs as Aurora winds her hand in Bradley’s and leans on her brother. Maybe this Christmas break wasn’t as bad as she thought it would be. She smiles at that and settles in her seat, ready to take what was coming because as long as she had her best friend and brother by her side, she felt prepared.
---
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#top gun#top gun maverick#top gun fanfic#top gun maverick fanfic#top gun fanfiction#top gun maverick fanfiction#top gun fan fic#top gun maverick fan fic#top gun au#bradley bradshaw#bradley bradshaw x oc#bradley rooster bradshaw#bradley bradshaw fanfic#bradley bradshaw fic#bradley bradshaw fanfiction#dad!maverick#mom!pennybenjamin#shrimp writes#shrimp writes stories#grateful shrimp#I'll Be Waiting Story#top gun Christmas#Rooster Christmas fic#Bradley Bradshaw Christmas fic#rooster Christmas fanfic#bradley Bradshaw Christmas fanfic
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Upcoming Work...
This is a summary of what I will be publishing soon!
Aurora “Artemis” Benjamin- Mitchell is someone who is loved by many. Daughter to Pete Mitchell and Penny Benjamin. She’s a caring sister, and Bradley Bradshaw’s best friend since they met. She’s loyal to a fault, dedicated, hardworking, and sometimes stubborn. Her life is filled with many stories to tell, and new exciting adventures to go on.
*~*
Disclaimer: This story is fictitious. All works are written by me and only posted here. Please do not copy, repost, or plagiarize on any other platform without my permission.
Consider this almost like a Top Gun AU. Everyone is alive. Timeline and age will most likely not fit. Aurora’s story will start out as one-shots. Each of these one-shots will contain a small story pertaining to the background of the character. This will be a very slow burn! Although there will be no smut involved, please be advised that there will be mature words as well as topics!
Special shoutout to @reginleight for being my beta reader and editor! We’re making some real progress already!
#top gun#top gun maverick#top gun fanfic#top gun maverick fanfic#top gun fanfiction#top gun maverick fanfiction#bradley bradshaw#bradley bradshaw x oc#bradley rooster bradshaw#bradley bradshaw fanfic#bradley bradshaw fic#dad!maverick#mom!pennybenjamin#top gun au
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