Rooster Top Gun A Love Story

H O L D M Y H A N D

Ava tried to keep up with Nat. Both girls had gone out for a jog.
Ava was trying to remember why she had agreed to it. "Give me a second..." Ava stopped to breathe. She wasn't too active. Only when she wanted to be, like for a new years resolutions or for a big important event, like trying to fit into a black mini dress. That counted for something, right? But to jog just because...? Ava couldn't wrap her head  around it. Who worked out for fun? If Nat wasn't as active, they would probably be inside baking cookies while watching movies. Which was done half the time, but right now Ava heaved for air. Her lungs burning. "I don't think I can anymore. I'm dying," she heaved for air. "Waterrrrr..."
"Oh, come on, we're almost done," Nat told her as she jogged in place, rolling her eyes. Ava looked over at Nat. Unbelievable, How could Nat still look so beautiful even with sweat dripping from her face and her neck? And Ava, well, Ava looked like a mess. She looked like she'd just awoken from a nap.
"One more mile," Nat said as if that mantra would keep Ava going. It was something Nat kept repeating during every corner. It was very annoying. "Would you stop saying that!" Ava hissed through her teeth as she gulped for air.
Nat rolled her eyes. "You got this,"
"I'm telling you-you elite pilots are built differently," Ava said.
Nat took that compliment and smiled. "We have to be,"
Ava grinned. "You know I started taking pictures again," Ava was breathless.
Nat stopped. "Ava, that's awesome!"
"Tu piensas?" Ava answered.
"Si!" Nat breathed happily. "I am so happy. It's about time, does Rooster know?"
"Yeah, but he hasnt really asked, I think his trying not to scare me or what he thinks he might do," Ava said. "I'm kinda working on a little project,"
"For him?" Nat groaned teasingly. "Really?"
Ava shoved her, and both girls kept running.
"I thought you wanted to keep the bar one day?" Nat asked.
"Who knows what my aunt would want, I can do both run a business and do photography for a living," Ava informed Nat as they kept at their pace.
Hangman pushed himself up one more time. "Beat that Bradshaw," Hangman grunted before finishing the last push-up.
Rooster had been running on the treadmill. He had his earphones on when he turned to face Hangman.
"Did you say something?" He was covered in sweat.
"Men," They heard a familiar voice greet them.
Both men had been training. They had heard that Maverick would not be returning to teach. But it was after that last practice that Rooster realized he needed to work more on himself physically. Following him was Hangman. Both had been slacking, and at this point, they were all in this together, and everyone was counting on them.
What they did not expect was seeing Maverick again. Rooster and Hangman looked to one another as they stared at their captain.
After Ava got home, she showered and went over to Aunt Penny's. She was going to show Amelia her new instant film camera.
"Hey, Aunt Penny, where's Amelia?"
"She's with her dad,"
"Oh, uncle Jimmy came for her?"
"Yeah, honey," Penny said. "Listen your dad and I aren't on speaking terms, but I'm going to the bar, the guys need help and if you want you can bring him over, just a reminder, Maverick will be there,"
Ava sighted.
Amelia wasn't here, and despite her father and Aunt Penny having their difficult differences, Ava didn't want to ruin the suprise.
"Alright," Ava said, and with that, she took a leave.
When Ava arrived at Rooster's apartment, she knocked on the door, Rooster opened it for her. "Come in, baby," he ran toward his room.
"What are you doing?" Ava curiously wondered, walking into the apartment.
"I'm just getting some magazines I found while moving some of my mom's stuff the other day, old boxes," he handed her the magazines.
Ava smiled down at them. They were obviously outdated. But they were wedding magazines. Ava hadn't been wedding planning yet. Her mind like Roosters was with him on the mission."Baby, these are cute," she circled her arms around his neck to hug him, tip-toeing to kiss his chin.
"I know what you are thinking," he placed his hands on her waist. "Those dresses are outdated,"
"No, not all," she laughed. When Aunt Penny found out the news, she jumped with excitement. Her aunt had begun planning to fine locations, and she and Rooster agreed only on one thing. The bar was off-limits. Ava only agreed if they stopped talking about the wedding. She explained to her aunt how she felt about it all, and she wanted to be able to also enjoy it with Rooster.
"But..." Rooster pulled away and took one of the magazines and flipped through it. "I have never seen these," he informed her. "They were my mom's," his voice broke on the word mom, and Ava knew he was missing her. "She circled this one and..." he cleared his throat and turned it around to show Ava. "My wedding dress will get passed over to my daughter in law if she'll have it," it read in big red ink. Snug in between, next to it was a picture of Roosters parents' wedding day. It was the dress in the magazine.
Ava gasped softly. "Rooster..."
"I remembered she had asked for these issues when she was in the hospital. I had searched the house," he let out a breath as if a massive weight was lifted. It was something Rooster thought he could not bring up, but he managed. "Now, I know why, look I know we haven't even talked about the wedding or what you'll wear and you don't have too...I have her dress in a box but baby you don't have too,"
"I love this," Ava placed her finger over his lips. "And I love you," She stared at the magazine. The dress was lace, which was a plus, and the neckline was of high a tunic with flowers on the side. That was something she could work with. Fix it up to her liking. But the fact that Rooster gave all this a thought made her heart melt.
"She would have loved you," he whispered, never taking his eyes off of Ava.
Ava glanced over at him. "Bradley Bradshaw, take me to bed or lose me forever," she breathed. This was something he always told her, and tonight, it was her turn.
Rooster lifted Ava up and kissed her. Tracing her lips as his tongue softly circled with her, Ava moaned ever so softly, making Rooster groan in need of her. He loved to hear her sexy noises of Rooster, placed Ava up on the piano and quickly as both wanted one another she took his shirt off revealing his bare chest, his strong muscles flexing slightly as he unbuttoned her dress, revealing her perky breast, oh how Rooster loved the padded dresses, he didn't have to take her bra off. Rooster stripped the dress of her shoulders and eyed her nakedness. He still couldn't believe how much he loved Ava. He still couldn't believe she was his.
"I love you," he whispered closely, his warm breath fanning against her ear, causing her to tremble. Rooster's lips traced down to her neck, nibbling at her skin, Ava pulled her head back as he trailed kisses down her neck to her chest and finally at her breast. When Ava looked over at Rooster, his eyes we're dark with need, his face serious.
Ava pulled him close and kissed him gently. As Rooster carried her over into his bedroom.
In his bedroom, after making love, they laid holding each other. Rooster pulled the blanket over them and looked up at the ceiling fan. Roosters roommate's were out for the night, so they had all the place to themselves.
"Did you really mean what you said?" Ava asked.
"What baby?" He whispered.
"About your mom liking me?"
Rooster looked over at her, Ava stared back at him. "Yes," his voice was husky. "She would have loved you,"
"I would have loved her too," Ava whispered. Her only mother figure was her Aunt Penny, and that was more than enough, but now that she had rooster in her life, she realized how lonely he must have been.
Ava squeezed him then. Feeling sad for him.
Rooster smiled warmly at her. He pulled her near his lips and kissed her forehead. "I have you now," he breathed. As if he had read her thoughts.
"You know, that night we had just stared getting serious, you had canceled on me. Do you remember? When we're supposed to go to the carnival and see Garth Brooks?"
Ava nodded, but she didn't say anything. She listened.
"That night I wondered why you had canceled, so I went to go look for you at the bar, and I found you arguing with your dad and...
"My mom," she sat up, pulling the blanket around her nakedness, covering up.
"Baby, it's fine," Rooster sat up, trying to comfort her that this shouldn't have been a problem.
"She has never been a mom," Ava's voice fainted away.
Rooster had seen her cry hereslf that night. It had pained him, and he could not go and comfort her at the time. He didn't want to invade her space. He always regretted it, so that's why now he wanted nothing more than to be there for Ava.
"That's why I never asked you where your mom was or who she was," Rooster tried to make her realize. "I know you were hurting. That's why I never wanted to bring my mom up because of what you had gone through,"
"I-No," Ava shook her head. "I never wanted you to feel such way," Ava felt terrible now. Saddened by this. "She is no longer in the back of my mind. You shouldn't have felt like that," she cupped his cheek. "You could have told me, you can always talk about your mom I would love to hear more about her, I know I should have told you about mine...I just felt she wasn't worth the talk,"
"I know," Rooster breathed. But he needed her to know why he had avoided such a topic. Rooster had brought his mother up without realizing in the past, but he would remind himself not too only to himself.
"I will always be here for you, Ava," Rooster took her hand and kissed it. "I'll hold your hand if you hold mine?" he said against her skin, a smile playing gently on his lips.
"Always," Ava promised.
"Now," Rooster said as he got on his feet. He pulled his boxers on. "Would you care to join me?" He pulled out his hand like a gentleman.
Ava rolled her eyes and took his hand, getting on her feet. She wrapped the bed sheets around her as he tossed his t shirt over towards her. Ava caught it as the sheets draped down to her ankles.
Rooster watched her for a moment. Memorizing that body of hers. He was certain he wouldn't ever get used to the beauty of it. Once Ava covered up with his shirt, he pulled her close and began to swing right and left, twisting her around as she laughed. Both danced their way towards the kitchen.
While Rooster made some eggs, Ava stepped outside the balcony and stared at the sunset. The sun was beginning to set in the far west, and all Ava could do was admire it. She went back to the magazine and stared at the page the dress was on and imagined herself in it for the longest time.
"Hey... the eggs are ready, and I made some bacon too," Rooster came into view. He noticed the magazine in her hands. "Ava, you okay, baby?"
Ava nodded softly. But soon after, she started to feel the tears. "Hey-hey," Rooster went toward her.
"I'm okay, I promise," Ava assured him as she took a gulp of air. "I just..." she looked over at him with watery eyes. "Why don't we just get married soon?"
Rooster smiled gently at her, his eyes softening. "I would have married you that first night. I saw you at the bar," Rooster admitted. He cupped her face now.
Ava smiled halfway.
Rooster made a goofy smirk. "You don't look too cute when you have a runny nose," he teased.
Ava laughed. "Stop it, I thought you said you love me even if I had three eyes," she wiped her nose.
"I do," Rooster said. But now he went to the more serious matter. He knew what this was about."Baby, I'm going to marry you when I come back," he eyed Ava when he told her this. "Because I feel you deserve the wedding I always wanted to give you,"
"I'm just being over dramatic with emotions," she breathed.
Rooster chuckled. "Yeah, you are,"
Ava felt his lips on her forehead. How many times had he helped her feel better? It was just a desperate attempt from her side, and Ava felt terrible and idiotic. "Sorry," she took a deep breath and let it out. She was, after all, afraid for what was to come. This was the very first time obviously that she had to see Rooster do something very dangerous.