𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐘 𝐈 𝐇𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐔 | 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐲 "𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫" 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐰

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐄𝐍

{CHAPTER 10}
FIGHT OR FLIGHT & LOVE

"Come back home."
-𝐬.𝐜

🝮

MAVERICK

I ran faster than I think I've ever had in my entire life. And that's saying something.

I ran and ran towards the descending parachute in the distance, hoping to God that Bradley would be okay. I couldn't loose him like I lost Goose..I just couldn't. After nearly 15 minutes of straight sprinting, I could see Bradley in the distance - attempting to bunch up his parachute. My heart and spirit lifted, knowing that he was okay - but his legs didn't stop moving.

"You alright?!" I shouted, still running as fast as my feet would allow.

"Yeah, I'm alright! Are you-?" He asked as I got closer, shoving Bradley with all of my might, and he plummeted into the snow behind him. I ripped my helmet off and stood, hunched over, and attempting to catch my shallow breath. Running that distance with his full gear on was a workout and a half and I think I was beginning to feel my age.Bradley struggled with taking his helmet off, still submerged in the snow."What the hell?" Bradley exclaimed, attempting to get up."What are you doing here?"

Bradley shook off the snow, aggravated with my tone. "What am I doing here?"

"Yes what are you doing here? I sacrificed myself for you! Not so you could be down here with me! You should be back on the carrier by now!" I shouted."I saved your life!" Bradley shouted back. "I saved your life. That's the whole point." I argued, panting still."What the hell were you even thinking?"
"You told me not to think!" Bradley rebutted.I stood panting, still staring up at Bradley but now with a guilty conscience. I did tell him that. Shit.

Bradley threw his hands into the air and then placed them on his hips, staring up at the blue sky and watching as his breath formed a cloud in front of him. He couldn't believe this.
"Well...it's good to see you." Mav said. Bradley nodded, looking at him again, "Good to see you, too." They stood in silence, both catching their breaths and coming to terms with what just happened."So, what's the plan?" Bradley asked, looking around seeing nothing but snow and tall trees surrounding then. Unless a search party was put out - which Maverick doubted considering the circumstances - they were
never going to get home.

"I know where we can go. Come on." Mav instructed, walking past Bradley.Bradley watched his godfather walk away and towards whatever was in front of them. He groaned and caught up to him. The next thing on their mind was Fallon. They both thought of he at the same time as if she was a song they couldn't get out their heads. "Is-

"Hondo's taking care of her." Mav said before Bradley could even finish his thought. He nodded, "Okay. Good. Do you think he knows we're okay?"Mav stayed silent for a while as they walked, not exactly knowing the answer to that.
"He knows me, but he also knows this mission.
He's aware of the risks so, who knows? They could be grieving us right now or they could be laughing and drinking tea for all I know."Bradley smiled a little at the thought of Fallon and Hondo just laughing and chatting about nothing, just waiting for him and Mav to get back. But his stomach sunk to his ass at the thought of you heartbroken over - not just your father, but your best friend, too.

He still had no clue if you guys were yet, highschool sweethearts who lost a chance to be together now getting it back,But he sure as hell knew that he loved you.
"I'm in love with your daughter." Bradley blurted out Mav didn't even pause for a second, he smiled to hisself, "I think I've loved her for my whole life."
Mav nodded. And without looking to Bradley, he simply said, "I know."Bradley gulped, looking next to him. Mav kept walking, his eyes going from the snow beneath his feet to the road ahead."You knew, what?"

"I always knew you loved her. So did your parents.
We weren't that naïve."Bradley was wide-eyed now. He felt so exposed, like if he been dancing around in his underwear singing fireball and someone walked in.

"How?"

Maverick scoffed a laugh, "You two were inseparable. You were so nice to one another and the way you both talked about each other, Jesus Christ, it was adorable at the time but yes, we knew how in love you two were, You're mothers both practically planned the wedding." Maverick explained. "You're telling me mom and dad both knew?" Bradley asked still in disbelief.

Mav laughed, "Of course they did. Remember that winter ball what 7th maybe 8th grade and Christopher thomson gave Fallon some blue snowflake? Carol told me later that night when you got home you threw anything blue out of your room."

Bradley had his mouth hanging open in shock. He completely forgot about that."Oh my god." He laughed, rubbing a hand over his flushed face.How could he have been so stupid to believe his crush on you was under-wraps. He was so blatantly in love with you it was humiliating. How jealous and angry he was that another boy gave his girl a gift. He knows it doesn't really matter anymore but the child inside him is face-palming himself so hard right now being so naive.
"And I knew as soon as you found out about Fall being on the mission, you two would get back to how you were."Bradley scoffed a laugh, "Well, it took a while to get past the how much of a dick I was."

Mav nodded, "She hated you for so long, but I knew she was just hurt. And I knew you'd be hurting, too. In more ways than one. Right after you left her mom did too, she felt so abandoned. But now you've sorted things out. Don't dare lose it, again."Bradley looked at Mav, clenching his jaw. Mav didn't scare him per-say, he just intimidated Bradley slightly.
"Because if you hurt her, I could kill you. And if she hurts you, then there must be a reason for it, and I'd still kill you."Bradley chuckled and nodded, "Fair enough, Mav."

"Now, I've got a plan. Follow my lead."

🝮🝮

While the love of my life and father were currently prepping to get into an ancient F-14, I was walking quickly to the locker room. Hondo followed behind me."There's no way I'm letting them lie there dead for all I know, Hondo." I told him as I shoved the locker room door open. Hondo huffed, "You're not going to get the go ahead, Fall. There's no point."You paused in your tracks. Your stomach ached but you didn't care about that right now. The feeling as something you'd never felt before, you felt sick but you didn't quite know why.

I stopped in my tracks once more, leaning on the wall for support holding my stomach . "Fallon?" Hondo, asked concerned at my state as his hand fell to my back. I groaned as everything Id eaten came out. "Fallon." Hondo expressed as he held my hair back soon helping me back up as i felt my legs turn into jelly and the room went quiet and dark.

The UPDATEEEE more COMING SOON thank you for your support my lovelies 🫶🏼