Our Bruised Bodies | Bradley Bradshaw

ACT ONE - PART THREE

Cheers to one more!

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It wasn't even 2300 but Maverick was so tired, he felt like he could sleep forever. He was glad after all that Ice had decided to come with him, even though he had tried to shake him off, as they children have asked, but now, he was sure Ice was the only one who would be able to drive them home after what they all had just went through or witnessed. He was so glad that Ice was back home. Completing their little family.

He had just parked the car in their driveway at home, which caused Maverick to reach out and settle his hand on his thigh only for Ice to look over at him. Mav smiled at him gently, thankful that he had brought their family safely back home, even though he knew they would face a storm now. He was glad for the smooth sailing provided by Ice that had brought them home. He preferred it when he was home. Always did and always will. It was so hard to be apart. For him, and for the children.

It was the falling shut of the backseat doors, which pulled them out of their little bubble, at some point Maverick had been sure the kids have fallen asleep after so much adrenaline in their bodies, but they were teenagers after all, so instead of cute and sleepy, they were anxious and rude. Throwing the doors of the car shut before stomping into the house.

"What are you going to do?" Maverick asked Ice, as they climbed out of the car too and made their way over to their front door. The kids having left it slightly ajar for the adults to follow.

Somehow it was always the question what Ice would do and never what Maverick wanted to happen. Tom was Gracie's father after all, and somehow that always weight heavier than the fact that it was Maverick, who raised the kids. Biologically, Gracie wasn't his and they somehow never managed to get rid of that hanging right over them. The younger man would always step back and let Ice make the decisions. Somehow, it never felt as if it was his place. Maverick was just the caretaker, Ice was the father. Gracie's father but the decision making had swamped over to Bradley too. Even though Bradley was more Maverick's boy than Ice's. Ice was the father figure in their family. Maverick was the caretaker. He sometimes jokingly thought to himself that he had something of a 50s housewife and mother.

"We will listen to what they have to say. Then we'll decided how to go from there." Ice decided, always using we over I when it was about the children they came to have together, even though Pete had wanted to know what it was he was going to do, for Kazansky they were always in this together and Maverick instantly agreed with the plan, just their kids didn't. Grace was already half up the stairs, while Bradley was putting the jacket, she had been wearing on a hanger to store away.

"What on earth are you wearing." Maverick asked bewildered before he could stop himself. He had seen prostitutes who wore more of a top than his sixteen-year-old wore, who froze on the steps, her hand resting of the fall protection. Not moving any further.

"Both of you, living room, now." Ice decided, not giving the children any chance to wriggle out of it, causing Grace to exhale slowly before she came back down the stairs again her arms tightly wrapped around her torso, sharing a look with Bradley, which had Ice step in between them instantly.

"None of that." He warned them. "No inaudible conversation about what you're going to leave out or lie about." Ice added knowing the children living under his roof, before putting both his hands down on Bradley's shoulders before almost shoving him into the living room. Grace following closely behind while Maverick picked up one of the sweatshirts Bradley always lets laying around everywhere and handed it to Grace, who pulled it on over her 'top'.

Ice made them sit down next to each other on the couch, while Maverick joined them, a pack of frozen peas in his hand and a kitchen towel. He gave Bradley a meaningful look, as he wrapped the frozen pack into the towel before pressing it gently to Bradley's knuckles, which had the older teenager hiss slightly, his own hand came up to hold the pack and kitchen towel in place, a dimmed 'thank you' coming from his lips.