The Captain's Daughter (Bradley Bradshaw)

Chapter 31

Katie barely slept that night. She controlled her crying after Maverick left. When Phoenix came back to their bunk, it was mostly silence. She had brought Katie some food, because she knew she hadn't eaten. They just wanted to be in each other's presence. Part of her wanted to go to Bradley's bunk, but she was too sad to even barely get out of bed.

She was partly mad because Bradley never came to visit her. She didn't know why he wouldn't come see her, especially if he's the one leaving tomorrow. Little did she know, Bradley had been up most of the night too. He could barely even get a word out to anyone. After eating, he went straight to his bunk. He laid there most of the night with tears in his eyes, silent sobs filling the room. Bob and him shared a room. Bob was surprisingly calm, it almost bothered Rooster as to how calm he was.

Bob stayed up with Bradley for a good portion of the night. He knew how upset Rooster was. That's also when Bradley told Bob that he was gonna be a father. Part of him was scared if he could actually pull off being a father, but Bob convinced him that those thoughts were all in his head...that him and Katie would make the best parents to their child.

As soon as Rooster found out Katie was pregnant, he's had fears of him becoming a father. He was more scared of the fact that something would happen to him, and his child will live the life he lived. Katie for that matter too. He also never expected he would actually get to a point where he would have a baby with Katie, let alone go out on a date with her. He didn't want her to live the life his mother lived. He couldn't bare the thought of her living a life with their baby, and him not be in it.

Katie also had the same fears. Nat, Jake, and even Maverick assured her that he's coming home. That they'll live the life she always dreamed of with him. She never imagined she would love someone as much as she loved Bradley. She always loved him, but once she saw him again, for the first time in 4 years, she knew she never wanted to be away from him ever again. She just wasn't expecting a baby at all...not that she was mad about it.

The next morning, Katie was up and going before breakfast was even ready. She was sure no one was about to eat breakfast with this mission going up in a few hours. She stood by a rail on the edge of carrier, taking in the ocean air and the sound of the waves treading through the Indian Ocean.

"Thought I wound find you here." Bradley said as he walked up to her. She jumped because she was t expecting him.

"Oh! I thought you'd still be asleep." She turned around and smiled at him.

He looked at her and gave her a sad smile.

"I couldn't. I've barely slept. I'm sorry for not coming to see you." He came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and put his head on her shoulder.

"Neither have I. And it's okay. I really wanted to be alone anyway. Hangman and Mav came to visit me last night." She told him.

"Maverick came to see you?" He asked.

"He did. He felt bad for not making me wingman. And then I told him I didn't care, and that I wanted him to come back okay, because I didn't want to lose my father." She explained.

"You're gonna try and make it work?" He asked.

"Yup. I want my father Brad. This baby deserves a grandparent." She said holding her stomach. Bradley's hands moved to rest atop hers.

"Does he know?" He asked.

"No. I have hope he'll make it back. That you'll all make it back." She turned to look at him.

"Good. Because we will." He smiled and kissed her.

"Just please protect him, Rooster. I can't lose both of you in one day. Bring him home for me, Bradley?" She wrapped her arms around his neck.