𝐅𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐘𝐨𝐮 || 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐰 {1}

~𝕤𝕚𝕩𝕥𝕖𝕖𝕟~

While Bradley went to his lesson, he dropped Elaina off to talk to her parents with Levi.

Sitting in the hard deck, she noticed her parents were uncomfortable.

"You guys okay?" Her mother nodded. "Yeah, sure it's just um... So many pilots and navy people here." Elaina chuckled. "Yeah it's more of pilot bar for students at Top Gun." He mother smiled shyly. "Look, mom. I know you both think your doing what's best for Levi, but you don't even know him." Her mother scoffed. "Because you won't let us get to know him." She lied. "No. No do no turn this around on me. You both disowned me. You wanted nothing to do with me. I didn't leave you, you left me." Elaina said. "Do you know how hard it is... Raising a son all by yourself? He doesn't have a father figure, a dad to come home too, and grandpa and grandma to fill him up with chocolate and ice cream to he's a hyper wreck when he comes home. Yes, he has Katrina's parents but they can only do so much they have their own grandchildren to take care of. And I never once doubted that they singled out Levi because they didn't, but I don't want to burden them more than I already have." She continued. "What's your point, Elaina?" Her father spoke. "My point is... Look at him." Their gaze turned to the bar to see Levi behind the counter with Penny, dancing to music. "He's happy. He's one of the happiest kids I've ever met. And sure he has his days, all kids do. But Ive done an amazing job raising him." Her parents looked at her. "I've never put anything before him. He loves my job, he thinks its cool. I love my job. He loves moving from school to school. He likes comparing them to figure out which one is better and he loves making new friends. He likes to think he's grown and plan his own outfits. He likes waffles but only if their homemade. He loves the color green, which I'll never understand why. He likes calling me by my callsign, Rookie. And he loves adding extra cherries on his sundaes." Elaina told them. "He sounds like a great kid, reminds me a lot of you when you were younger." Her father said with a smile. "I know every single small detail about that boy. I remember when he first started to really talk, he counted his steps when he walked around the house. He used to hide in the bathroom when thunderstorms got bad because he was scared but he was a big boy and could handle it on his own. When he first learn to ride a bike, he wanted to ride the bike every single day to school. Mom, dad, I know him. He's my son, you can't... You can't just take him away. What if someone took me away from you because dad went on to many business trips and mom got drunk on the weekends after church?" Her parents shared a look. "Okay, okay, we get it. But we want to be in his life, Elaina. We want to be in yours." She shook her head lightly. "I'm sorry, guys. But I can't let you. You've caused more pain in my life than you could ever imagine. You may have been absent, but it still kills me, everyday. But I'm not your daughter anymore." Elaina couldn't help but smile as she finally got it off of her chest. She had been waiting to say that to them for years. "Levi, baby, let's go home."

•°•

"Bradley?" She called out as she entered her home with Levi after Penny dropped them off. "Oh, hi, Nala." She laughed as Nala barked and ran in circles in front of the door. "I'm in here." She heard how quiet Bradley was. "Levi, take Nala out back for a moment, okay?" Levi nodded and ran outside, Nala following closely behind. "Bradley?" She slowly walking on her crutches to her bedroom, opening the door. She saw rose peddles all around the floors and Bradley sitting on the bed. "Elaina." He stood up quickly. "Bradley, what is all this?" She asked. "I know we've never come out and said it but I think we both know... That I love you. Elaina, I have loved you since I bumped into you before the sunrised." She was speechless as she walked closer to Bradley. "Elaina, this mission... This mission is in a week and no one knows if I'm gonna be there or if I'm gonna be benched but either way, I could die." He said. "Bradley, you're not gonna die."

"Let me finish." She sighed. "I love you, Elaina Argent... And we don't know what life will bring us. And I think you almost crashing that jet was a wake up call. Elaina, I love you, please marry me." Bradley slowly got down on knee, pulling out a black box, opening it to reveal a simple engagement ring. "Bradley...." She whispered. "Say you'll marry me." Silence filled the room. The tension could snap in half like a twig. She began to cry as she stared at the man she knew she liked, on one knee asking her to marry him. "Bradley, I can't..." She finally said. ".... What? What do you mean you cant?" Bradley asked.  "Bradley- we're not ready for marriage." She told him. "Yes, we are, El. I love you, we can do it." She shook her head. "Bradley, it's too soon." She stated. "I don't understand." He said as he stood up. "I love you, El, how are we not ready?" Elaina stayed quiet as he repeated the same words.

I love you

I love you, El

Elaina, I love you

"Oh." He said. "I get it now." He laughed a little. "Bradley, no, wait." She reached for his hand but he snatched it away. "No, no I just told you I loved you 6 fucking times and you haven't said it back, not once!" He shouted. He didn't mean to and neither did she. "Bradley, please." She begged as tears rolled down her face. "No, no! You don't get to cry, Elaina. I love you! For fucks sake I love you! I want to marry you! I want to be there for you and Levi and you can't even say those 3 words back to me! I want to fly with you in the sky for the rest of my life, Elaina. I want to be the home you fly back too. I want you to be home I fly home too. I want you to be the home I think of returning to if I get stationed over seas. I want you." Elaina didn't know what to say. "I need to go." He grabbed his jacket off of her bed, stuffing the ring in his pocket. "Bradley, wait." He stopped, staring straight at her. "Tell me you love me." He said. "I.... I can't, Bradley! Everytime I tell someone I love them it ends up going up in flames! I don't know what you want me to say!" She told him. "Yes. I wanted you... I wanted you to say, yes. I'll see you later, Rookie." He brushed passed her and once she heard the front door shut, she broke down, completely.

•°•°•

word count: 1280
A/n:
Well that currently was an unexpected plot twist. ;)

What's your personal opinion? Why do you think Elaina couldnt say it back? Why do you think she didn't say yes? Maybe your opinion could alter what happens in the end and in the sequel ;)