The pieces of my puzzle.

Forty Five.

(Bradly's POV)

*continuing the events of the previous chapter*

The familiar mix of sweat, jet fuel, and men's shampoo hit my senses like a brick wall as I stepped into the the men's locker room the next morning, grabbing my flight gear and getting ready for our drills that day.

"Ooi Rooster!" One of the other pilot's, Raptor, called from the other side of the room. "Your first full day back as a married man, how does it feel?"

I huffed a laugh at his playful tone. Raptor, otherwise known as Woo Cheng, was a good guy. A transfer from the naval base in Texas, and while the other guys and I had teased him about being the only middle aged, short, Asian on base, he ended up becoming a part of the gang.

Before I could reply, one of the newer guys, a few years younger, having overheard our conversation, spoke up. "Wait. Bradshaw's married? No way, thought the legend would never settle."

I raised a brow at the use of the word 'legend', not seeing myself as such. Shrugging on my vest which held my oxygen tube, I turned to him. "Legend? And yeah, just got back from my honeymoon actually."

The young guy's eyes sparkled in awe as he elaborated. "Yeah. You're totally a legend. Everyone hears how your Godfather is not only the Maverick but also how you went back to save him on the Uranium mission."

I bit back a chuckle. That was years ago, I didn't think my reckless actions would become the talk of the base under the newbies.

Raptor chuckled like he was amused by the guy's reaction as he finished touching up his suit. "Well, not only that but his wife is Maverick's daughter."

The younger guy actually made a choking sound, his eyes blown wide. "H-hellfire? She's my Captain for today, Admiral Bates gave me an option between her and Maverick and I thought she'd be easier on me."

The poor guy looked borderline panicked now, Raptor failing at stifling his laughter beside him. While I just resisted the urge to roll my eyes, because in reality, Azara wasn't that bad. Well, it has been more than a few years that I've been her student.

With a chuckle I shook my head. "Well. Maybe you should rethink your choice making abilities, buddy. Good luck. You'll need it." I patted his shoulder before heading to the airstrip with a smile. We'll see how he'll handle it.

***

I had begun the process of checking and prepping my jet when Maverick came up to me. Wearing the usual jeans, white T shirt, and leather jacket, aviators resting on the bridge of his nose. "Hey kid!" He greeted over the sounds of jet engines roaring.

"What did the doctor say about that allergic reaction of yours yesterday? Anything serious?"

One side of my mouth lifted at his concern, even over something simple. "Well Mav, they did some blood tests." I began, trying and failing to keep my expression serious. "And I'm afraid to say, they discovered that I have jet fuel and flame retardant in my blood."

I watched as his look of concern turned to one of amusement and then without skipping a beat he calmly replied, his lips lifting in a smirk. "Yeah, I was born with it Kid."

We heard a suppressed snort of amusement come from the jet beside mine and turned to see Phoenix. "Sorry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, that was just.....so Mav."

Maverick's smirk widened as he turned back to me. "Well, I'm glad you're ok."

And before I could reply, a hurried figure appeared at my side; it was the young newbie from earlier, breathing heavily as he looked at me desperately. "Sorry to interrupt lieutenant-Commander Bradshaw. i just-I just wanted to ask if you have any uh, tips as to how to get Captain Bradshaw to approve of me."

His rambled words and nervous sweats earned a chuckle from Phoenix as she went about to continue preparing for takeoff.

"I mean, you're kinda on your own." I started, shrugging and then the rest of the guy's, apparently called Kitty, class came up and started begging for tips too like a bunch of kindergarteners.

And before either Mav or myself could utter a word. A familiar stern voice rang out across the tarmac. "Lieutenants!" Azara, clad in full flight gear, aviators, her hair tied up in a tight, slicked back, military bun; strutted toward us.

When she stopped in front of our little gathered group everyone except Mav saluted, the newbies backs as rigid as boards as they stood at attention.

She said something to them, but I didn't hear a thing because my mind was completely preoccupied by how absolutely and undeniably hot she looked in her kit; from her sturdy combat boots, her kaki flight suit underneath her oxygen vest hugging her form just enough to show off her fit frame, to her dark hair perfectly styled back into a tight bun at the back of her head, and the aviators that rested on her nose like they were made to fit her perfectly.

And damn. All my brain could register at that moment was how se-

"Lieutenant-Commander Bradshaw." Her authoritative tone ripped me from my thoughts. I snapped my head to meet her hard gaze behind her aviators. "Do I have to remind you that I am your superior and that protocol states that anyone under my level of command are to stand at attention until stated to do otherwise?"

I swallowed hard, straightening my back and raising my hand to my brow in a practiced salute, my gaze locked on the apace beside her head. "No need to remind me. Won't happen again ma'am." My voice came out slightly choked and I could practically feel Maverick's smirk grind into the side of my head.

"Alright, at ease." She dismissed. And after returning to a relaxed posture, I met her eye and the faintest twinkle of amusement in her brown gaze told me that she had caught me staring.

And as she rounded up her students and got them to preparing jets, I let out a sharp breath, Mav practically vibrating with amusement beside me. He was having wayy too much fun with this.

"Well kid, thats why pilots usually marry someone outside of their job, and especially not their superior. You're in for a hell of a ride. For the rest of your life."

I huffed a sound between a laugh and a groan of mock annoyance as I turned to face him. "You raised her! Its not my fault she's so freaking commanding and sometimes genuinely terrifying. If I have problems with her down the line, I'm blaming it on you because you taught her everything she knows. Including how to be illegally stubborn."

And with a smirk and a wink as he turned and walked away, it told me he didn't regret a single thing he taught her and turned her into.

And turning back to my jet to get ready for takeoff, I let a smile grace my lips, because I knew I didn't regret a single thing either, and I couldn't imagine I ever would.

A/N: credits for the allergy thing and mav's reaction to it all goes to Miles Teller and Tom Cruise. (Yes that actually happened!)
Anyway, we're getting close to the end of this book. It will be a good couple chapters left. But we're almost in conclusion now. Hope you all have a good day/night!
Love you. ❤️

~Mike❤️