Dani sat at her trailer, working on her bike. She saw that damn blue bronco pull up. He walked over to her. She sat looking up at him. He removed his aviators.
"Hi." He said. Dani smiled.
"Well Howdy." Dani said making fun of the little southern accent he picked up from Carol. Bradley smiled.
"You ain't gonna give that up, huh." Bradley squatted down. "I'm sorry about the other day." He said seriously. Dani chuckled.
"I don't know what your on about but apology excepted." Dani smiled. Bradley shook his head.
"That damn smile." He laughed. "Always that damn smile."
"Can't help it, family charm." Dani joked.
"I guess." Bradley smiled.
"Maverick." The lady smiled. Maverick smiled then faded to worry.
"It's come back?" He asked. The lady's head fell.
"No one knows." She said walking him in the house.
"There's nothing else they can do?" Mave asked.
"Even speaking is painful now." She answered.
"Sarah, I'm so sorry." Maverick hugged her. She walked Maverick to Iceman's office.
"Admiral." Maverick stood at attention. "How's my wing man?" Maverick took a seat. Iceman typed on a computer.
"Want to talk about work?" Iceman asked. Maverick shook his head no.
"Please, don't worry about me." He looked back to Iceman. "What can I do for you?" He asked. Iceman pointed to the computer with the type. Maverick sighed.
"All right." Mave chuckled. Well, rooster's still angry with me about what I did. Same with Dani. I thought eventually they would understand why. I hoped they'd forgive me." Maverick informed. Iceman typed, while Maverick watched.
"There's still time." Iceman typed. Maverick shook his head.
"The mission is less than three weeks away.The kids are not ready." Maverick said. Iceman typed again.
"Then teach them." Maverick swore he could hear the voice of his old friend while he read the screen. Maverick shifted.
"I don't think they want what I have to give. Ice, please, don't ask me to send someone else to die. Please don't...Don't ask me to send either of them. Send me." Maverick said.
"It's time to let go." Iceman typed.
"I don't know how." Maverick said. Maverick held back his tears. "I'm not a teacher, Ice. I'm a fighter pilot. A naval aviator. It's not what I am. It's who I am. How do I teach that?" Maverick asked. "Even if I could teach it, it's not what rooster wants. It's not what Dani wants. It's not what the Navy wants.
That's why they canned me the last time. The only reason I'm here is you. If I send them on this mission, they might never come home. And if I don't send them, neither one will never forgive me. Either way, I could lose them forever." Maverick sighed. He looked back at the screen. "I know. I know." Iceman stood up, Maverick followed. Ice coughed.
"The Navy needs Maverick." Ice said in a horse voice.
"The kid needs Maverick." He talked about Bradley.
"Your kid needs you." He talked about Dani. "That's why I fought for you. That's why you're still here." Ice said. They hugged.
"Thank you, Ice, for everything." Maverick said. They broke the hug.
"One last thing. Who's the better pilot? You or me?" Ice asked.
"This is a nice moment. Let's not ruin it." Maverick chuckled.
Dani got a text from Maverick. It said to wear sports cloths and meet at the HardDeck. Dani hopped on her bike and drove to the HardDeck.
Once she got there everyone filed in. There Bradley stood in a Hawaiian shirt, tank, and jean cargo shorts.
"Can't get rid of those damn shirts." Bradley turned to her smiling.
"Nope." He said piping the "p". Dani chuckled. He looked at her outfit. Black tee with bike shorts. He was removed from his daze when Phoenix talked.
"So anyone know why we're here?" She asked. Dani shrugged her shoulders. Then out of no where Maverick showed up.
"We are here to play Dogfight Football." Maverick smiled. Dani smiled hearing of the game. She remembered watching her dad play on the beach. He walked them down to the beach.
"The goal is to play offense and defense. Like a dogfight." Maverick explained.
Once the rules were explained they started to play. Dani and Bradley high-fived before getting into position. They all chased after each other. Maverick even played too. Dani's head fell back from laughing at Bradley. He pointed at her after he won a point. She copied. Phoenix and Dani high-fived.
Dani caught the ball and ran. Fanboy was behind her. Then out of no where Bradley tackled Fanboy. In so made Dani fall with them. Maverick jogged over and helped Dani up smiling. Maverick hasn't seen his daughter so happy in a long time. Dani rushed over to Bradley and pushed him.
"I had that!" She laughed. Bradley laughed. He picked her up. "NO! ROOSTER!" She yelled laughing. Maverick felt like he saw his two best friends again.
"NO! GOOSE!" Carol yelled, laughing. Goose picked her up to throw her in the ocean. Maverick sat on the beach laughing.
"GET HER GOOSE!" Maverick yelled. He heard Goose laughing.
"I'm trying! She's a wild one!" Goose yelled back to his friend.
"A wild one? Really?" Carol laughed.
"NO! ROOSTER!" He was brought back seeing Dani get carried over to the ocean. Bradley dropped her in the water, but before she went under she pulled him in with her. Everyone laughed at the sight. Even Penny had a chuckle.
Dani and Bradley's head popped out of the water. They just stood there staring at one another till Dani splashed him.
"You got my shirt soaked asshole." Dani laughed, walking up to where they were playing.
"Well I'm sorry ma'am." Bradley smiled at her. She shook her head waking back to the game. She pulled off her tee and tossed it to the side. Bradley just stood there. Dani wore a black sports bra.
Phoenix passed the ball to her and she through it to BOB.
"BOB HEADS UP!" Dani yelled. BOB caught the ball.
"Run!" Everyone yelled. He did as he was told, and ran. He won them a point. Bradley picked BOB up and put him on his shoulders. Everyone cheered for BOB.
Maverick sat off to the side and watched them. He felt like he was back to 1989 when he'd take two year old Dani to the beach and play.
Everyone basically chased one another. Dani jumped on Bradley's back.
"Well howdy, lil lady." He chuckled. Dani sighed.
"I need a drink take me to the bar." Dani placed her head on his shoulder.
"Yes ma'am. You're lucky. I need one too." Bradley walked over to the HardDeck. As they walked over Maverick sat next to Penny.
"They seem close." Penny smirked.
"I never knew they were that close." Maverick said.
"Hush. Your father side is showing." Penny joked.
"They remind me so much of them. It's scary." Maverick said. Penny turned to him.
"I think this is a way of them saying they are here. In the form of them. Not to sound cheesy or anything but she is quite a little Maverick." Penny chuckled.
"That's what makes me so nervous." Maverick looked at her.
Dani was in her trailer getting her stuff ready for tomorrow. Her hair laid damp from her shower. She looked at her phone it was around almost 9 o'clock. She jumped at a knock on her door.
"Shit." She whispered. Dani walked over to the screen door and gave a sarcastic smile.
"When I said see ya later, I didn't mean literally." She joked. Bradley chuckled on the other side of the door.
"Can I come in?" He asked. She nodded opening up the door. He walked in.
"You can sit if you want." Dani said before walking to her fridge for two lemonades. She really didn't want to drink tonight. She walked back. "Here lemonade." She handed him the cup. He smiled tacking a seat on the arm of the car. Dani sat on the couch.
"Uh. I....." Bradley started. "I don't know why I drove here." He smiled shyly. Dani smiled.
"Well at least I have company." Bradley placed his cup on the coffee table. She watched him. "I know it's to lemony. I added way to much sugar on the first try. I remember you telling me about your ma's wild lemonade and I remember you telling me about how to make it. But I guess I got the measurements wrong..." Dani was cut off by Brad kissing her. She melted into the kiss.
"Bradley" she whispered.
"I really like you Dani." He said. "And I don't want to ruin what we have but god I love you." Dani stared up at him. She placed her hands on his cheeks.
"You love me?" Dani asked. Dani has been Bradley's wingman for over a decade. They been through hell and back.
Bradley nodded.
"I really do Dani." Bradley brushed her hair back.
"Well cowboy," she smiled. "I think... I love you too."