Survive - Phoenix X Rooster

13- The End

Phœnix

I wake up in my bed, smiling to myself.
Tonight, I'll fall asleep with Bradley.
I can't wait to see him. It's been three days and he didn't leave my mind for a single hour.

Feeling like dressing nice, I put on a baby blue dress and I let my hair down. When I eat my breakfast, Evelyn and Jayden are in my parents' living room. "You're already here? I thought-" "Actually we wanted to see you but if de bother you, we can leave," Jayden jokes and hugs me. "Nah, you can stay here," I smile, hugging him back. "How are you, little princess?," I ask my niece, picking her up. "Fine. I'm hungry," she states and I sit her on the counter. "Right, I'm making breakfast. What do you to eat?," I turn to her as I'm taking ont the ustensiles I need. "Grandma has brought my favorite cereals," she smiles. "She did? That's nice", I smile. "And you, Jayden? Did you eat?," I turn to him. "No, I'll have the same as you," he says, sitting down. I nod and a make us eggs and bacon, bread and butter.

As we are all eating, my mother enters the kitchen, and immediately goes for her niece. "How is the most beautiful girl on this planet?," she asks her and she laughs. "Fine!," she answers. "No offense, Nate, my baby is more beautiful than you" Jayden says and I laugh, "I know, I know." "Don't say mean things to your sister, Jayden," my mother frowns. "You said Evelyn was-" "Nate is a woman, not a girl," she rolls her eyes. "Speaking of beautiful women, call your wife and tell her the Bradshaw arrive at 5pm at the airport," she orders and I smile, clapping my hands excitedly.

My brother does so and it's now my dad's turn to join us. He is dressed up as always, wearing his blue shirt and white pants. "Nice dress, Natasha," he compliments before sitting and eating. "Thanks dad, you're classy as always," I smile.

"Are you sure it doesn't bother you that Bradley and Carole stay there for the next month?," I ask my family for the thousandth time. "Yes, stop asking," my mom rolls her eyes and I sigh. "Ok, ok, a month is just-" "very long and you don't want to deprive us of our privacy, yeah, we know," my dad completes. "Right, I'll stop asking," I give them a small smile.

Once we were all ready, we went on a walk around the city. My brother took a day-off to be with us, but Caitlin couldn't, because she didn't know it early enough. I walk with my dad, a little behind my mom and my brother, who are talking about whatever serious subject. I hold Evelyn's hand, when I see an ice cream shop. "Wanna have an one, Evelyn?," I ask her and she nods excitedly. We stop by and she asks for a strawberry and raspberry ice cream. I pay and she eats it carefully, as I'm explaining my mission in details to my dad, while my mother's not listening.

"Fuck, and you survived," he says as he realizes how tough it was. "Yeah, but i wouldn't have if we didn't have Maverick as an instructor. He is the best pilot I've ever seen, I swear, this man is a magician," I tell him and he nods. "Is he as good as you?," he asks with a smirk. "I'm rubbish at it, next to him," I laugh. "You're not rubbish next to anyone," he says, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "And Rooster?," he asks and I sigh. "Call him Bradley. And, well, he is a great pilot, one of the best I'd say. His only problem is that he thinks too much. The only time he didn't think was when he jeopardized his life to save Maverick," I explain and he nods. "Would he had done the same thing if it was you?," he asks and I stay silent for a few seconds. "Probably... I would have tried to dissuade him but he would have done it anyway I think," I shrug. "And I guess you would have done the same for him, if you refused to land to help him," he suggests and I nod immediately. "Of course. Don't make fun of me, but I'm in love with him, I'd do anything for him," I look into his eyes. "You sound in love, yeah," he smiles. "I am," I repeat. "What about your RIO, Bob? Will you fly with him again?," he asks. "Probably, yeah. When the Navy finds a good pair for a two-seater, they often spend years together. Look, Maverick and Goose flew together for years before Goose died," I explain. "Goose was Bradley's father, right?," my father recalls. "Yeah, and Maverick is his godfather. Their relationship is complicated, Bradley didn't forgive Maverick, but I'd say this mission brought them together again," I drop my gaze on the floor. "Ok, that's good to know," he says.