The pieces of my puzzle.

Forty-Nine.

*9 months later*

(Azara's POV)

A smile worked its way onto my face as I lifted my newborn out of the crib, something in my chest warming at the sight of his tiny legs tucking underneath him in a newborn scrunch.

"Hi baba." I coed, gently moving him to be cradled in my arms. His eyes opening slowly and a frown scrunching his little brows; apparently very displeased by me waking him.

I swayed with him gently, his bug eyes looking up at me with a reverence reserved for romance, only softer, awe mirroring the warmth I was feeling for him looking back at me.

Just as I was about to head out to the living room, the sound of the front door opening and familiar warm greetings echoed from down the hall.

A mix of nerves and excitement fluttered in my stomach as blew out a breath. "Are you ready to meet your grandpa?"

A couple months ago Maverick had made the difficult - and long overdue - decision of retiring upon reaching the age of 64. It had been hard for him to officially give up everything that had been his life since he could remember, but it had been time.

And by the time I had the baby, my dad was on his last ever deployment; a low risk set of missions created as a sort of last flight journey. So, Mav didn't vet a chance to meet the baby until now.

With a deep breath I slowly made my way to the living room - key word being 'slowly'. A postpartum body is not the fastest thing in the world.

Bradly was already waiting for us by the back of the couch and I caught his gaze as I entered. That gaze that still manages to look at me with so much adoration; even in my current state; hair up in a mess you couldn't even call a bun, baggy sweats, and a still healing body. Yet he his eyes still softened at the mere sight of me.

He offered me a soft smile as I walked around the couch where Mav finally caught sight of me, standing with a look in his eye that resembled a mix of love and concern.

A smirk tugged at my lips. "All those years of near death experiences accompanied by your whole family trying to get you to quit and all it takes is for your daughter to have a baby to make you hang up the helmet?"
He chuckles at my teasing, lightly shaking his head. "What can i say? It was too much of a risk." His eyes dimmed slightly. "And besides, it was time."

A moment of silence filled the room before he smiled and stepped forward. "Anyway, lemme see the lil guy."

I gently lifted the baby out of my arms and into my father's, watching as a smile lit up his face. "This," I started, pausing for a beat as the name clogged in my throat. "this is Evren Lukas Bradshaw."

Mav looked up at me at hearing the name, gently wrapping one arm around my shoulders as he pressed a kiss to the side of my head. "He's perfect, sweetheart."

I gave him a watery smile as I rested my head on his shoulder.

I looked around at these people standing in my living room; my family, my loved ones, my people,

My home.

A/N: heyy people! So only the epilogue left then it's officially over........👀😭