You brought down the Stitch onesie and left it sitting next to you on the couch. You quickly queued up your favorite movie, Lilo and Stitch right as Jake walked in the door and kicked off his boots. “Sunshine I’m home!” He called out. You ran across the glossy hardwood floor of your shared home and stopped short of Jake’s body, sliding to a perfect stop right in front of him, and you wrapped your arms around his waist hugging him tightly.

“We’ll aren’t you super cute!” Jake coos to you. “Come on bubs! It’s Stitch day!” You said excitedly trying to peel his flight suit off of him as you made your way to the couch where the Stitch onesie was waiting for Jake. The only other day that rivaled this day's excitement each year was Christmas. “I got you one too bubs!” You said in a very chipper tone handing the onesie to Jake.

Jake cocks his eyebrow up at you, with a questioning look, that you understand immediately. He was silently questioning if he really had to do this or not. “Bubs please?” you jut out your lower lip into your signature pout that makes him almost feel bad, but what flips him inevitably is the puppy dog eyes in combination with the pout.

Jake nods, taking the onesie from you, “Of course Sunshine, or should I say Angel?” He responds, and your face lights up like it’s Christmas. “Have you been studying my favorite movies Bubs?!”

He chuckles as he walks away, “Maybe just a smidge Angel. I know how much it means to you, and just want to do what I can to make you happy.” He quickly showers to wash the smell of Jet fuel and sweat off, swapping one of your favored scents for another, the smell of citrus and cedarwood.

By the time he returns you’re already cozied up on the couch, with both plates of dinner sitting on the coffee table awaiting Jake’s return. Jake comes bounding down the stairs in his Stitch onesie and pounces down onto the couch next to you and in the best Stitch voice he can do, he yells “Blue Punch Buggy!”

You couldn’t contain your laughter for a good few moments. After the giggle fit caused by Jake, you both ate dinner and had a movie Marathon of Lilo and Stitch, Lilo and Stitch 2, and Leroy and Stitch, before you both were tuckered out and made your way up to bed. It was the Best Stitch day ever.

Taglist:

@mayhemmanaged @roosterforme @startrekfangirl2233 @desert-fern @cassiemitchell @sarahsmi13s @lavenderbradshaw @lovinglyeternal @bradleybeachbabe @thedroneranger @cherrycola27 @twsssmlmaa @bobby-r2d2-floyd @that-one-random-writer @horseshoegirl @footprintsinthesxnd @djs8891 @kmc1989 @starset21 @emma8895eb @shanimallina87

“Hey there Sunshine!” He says pulling you into his side, placing a soft kiss on your temple. “All packed and ready to go?” He asked, although he already knew the answer to that question, but you still excitedly piped up, “I sure am babe! Park passes, spare clothing, sunscreen, towels, sunglasses.” You said listing off each item while counting them on your fingers. “You name it babe, and I’ve already got it packed in the bag.”

You both piled into the truck, and made the drive to the park. The drive there was filled with loud country music that you both sang along to with the windows rolled down, and letting the breeze of the day cool you down. The sky was a gorgeous shade of cerulean blue, and was littered with little white fluffy clouds. It was the perfect weather for a day at the amusement park, minus the humidity that was already leaving you both a little sticky.

You both arrived right as the park was opening, not a lot of people were here yet since it was a work day, that you both had taken off, just to be able to spend the day together. You both usually don’t have many days off, each of you having high demanding jobs that always have long hours. 

“So Sunshine, where do you want to start first?” Jake questions, while intertwining your fingers together after taking the backpack from you. 

“I was thinking we could browse the shops here down Main Street, but they have the water feature running and it sounds so nice! What if we just walked down next to it?”

“Whatever you want to do Sunshine!” He says happily as you begin to walk towards the long water feature that spans the entire length of Main Street in the park. Already enjoying your time, you jump up on the brick wall that acts as seating as well, and act like you’re tightrope walking along the brick wall while holding Jake's hand tightly for support.

Your happy carefree attitude has Jake falling in love with you more and more each day. He couldn’t wait for the day that he could make you his. You’d both been dating for years now, but with both of you having busy schedules, it never seemed like it was in the cards just yet, although he already has the perfect ring in mind.

Jake is so lost in thought he doesn’t notice you’d stopped walking until your hand jolts him back a bit. 

“What’s up Sunshine?” He asks trying to figure out why you stopped, and all you could do was beckon him to you with your index finger. You had noticed the park photographer wanting to snap a photo of you both, trying to meet their daily quota of photo-ops that they could then upcharge you on some package later at one of the booths. You placed your small hands on his cheeks and placed a sweet soft kiss to his lips. Right when your lips connected the photographer snapped the perfect photo. Once you broke apart, the photographer gave you a little card, that you could take to the booth later to view your photo, and purchase later. 

You nodded to the photographer, thanking them. 

“Babe, could you turn around please, I wanna slip this card into the backpack, I want to view this later!” Jake chuckled and turned around while you still stood up on the brick wall, and placed the card into the backpack. 

“Thank you!” You said excitedly jumping off the wall, and resuming your position tucked up under Jake arm, and in his side. 

“Of course Sunshine! Where to now?” He asks. 

“How about we cut through there?” You say pointing towards the path that leads to Viking Fury, the swinging boat ride. “We could ride Viking Fury when we cut through, or skip it for now, and hit it on the way back through?” You offered. 

“Whatever you want to do Sunshine, I’m fine with either.” He replied back. 

“Yeah let’s ride that first, after that we can go ride Congo Falls, to cool off, and then hit Banshee and Delirium before making our way through the rest of this side of the park.”

“Sounds like a perfect plan Sunshine!” Jake agreed while you both hopped in line for Viking Fury. You were on the ride in no time, and you clung to Jake’s side the whole time as the boat swung higher and higher back and forth, until it was over. 

“I know you fly multi-million dollar jets, and face G-forces daily, but holy smokes babe, I’ll never get over the feeling of the boat going fully around in a circle.”

Jake chuckles, “Even if that would happen, I’d never let anything happen to you Sunshine, you know that for a fact.” As you both walked down the exit ramp of the ride you both constantly bumped into each other playfully towards the fence on either side of the ramp. You both could hear the chuckles of the people behind you, and the faint whispers from them saying how cute it is to be young and in love.

You both made your way over to Congo Falls, and before getting in line, you both stood on the bridge over the ride, and wanted to see if this time the log boat would splash enough as it came down the hill to splash the bridge viewers. Looking down at the ground, you both saw it had done so recently, as the pavement below your feet was still wet, and in the process of drying out already. 

You both talked while waiting for the log boat to approach the drop hill. 

“Babe Look!” You shouted excitedly to Jake. 

“Oh it’s go time Sunshine!” Jake replies back standing up against the fence on the bridge, you were right next to him tucked up under his arm again. As the log boat traveled down the hill, it had enough weight to splash a wave so big that it completely coated the bridge above the ride. You quickly turned to bury your face in Jake’s chest, and squealed as the cold water coated you both. Jake laughed holding you to him. 

“C’mon Sunshine!” He took your hand in his again, leading you both to the line of the ride. A 10 minute wait in the line, finally had you both in the boat, and ready to splash the next set of bridge spectators. 

“Y’know, that ride doesn’t last long enough!” You huff when the ride ends, and you disembark off the log boat. 

“I know Sunshine, but we have so much more of the park to hit!” He said excitedly.

“Yeah you’re right about that.” You replied back. 

—

You both rode Congo Falls once more, before heading to Banshee, then Delirium after that. 

“Whew! After that, I think I need a break from the rides.” You said. 

“Well luckily for you we are walking up to Coney Island, how about some games? Maybe I can be the macho man that wins his girl the biggest prize.” Jake says flexing his muscles, as you giggled next to him. 

“That sounds wonderful!” You said as you both rushed off to the row of games in Coney Island. You had your pick of games, the peach buckets, water gun games, ring toss and many others. 

“Babe! Babe! Looky!” You excitedly shout, pointing towards the water gun game. “Look, it's got a Red Panda for a prize!” You jump happily, before taking off towards the game. Once you both sat down in the seat, the game attendant explained the rules of the game, and set up the two lanes for you both to play. 

“Are you ready to eat bubbles, Sunshine?!” Jake says razzing. 

“Pft! You couldn’t even keep up!” You retort back, knowing that his hand eye coordination is infinitely better than yours. “Game’s on!”

The attendant counts you down, “3…2…1…Go!” The attendant continues to rattle off the play by play, of the game to the passersby. 

Jake’s hand eye coordination really pulled through as he was in the lead, it took you a moment to find the bullseye, but you got there, and it was almost neck in neck, Jake was still in the lead though. You tried one last ditch effort and called over to Jake, he turned to look at you as you squeeze your arms against the sides of your chest while still holding the water gun, obviously trying to distract him with your cleavage but it was to no avail. 

The alarm above the water tubes went off, and you looked up to see which one was lit up. Jake cheered when he realized it was his. “Which prize do I wanna get?” He questioned. “May I have that Red Panda right there?” He points to the one you’ve had your eye on since you ran up to the game station. The attendant nods, and grabs it down, handing it to Jake. “Here you go Sunshine.” He hands you the Red Panda, and you hug it tightly, bouncing on your feet. “Thank you Babe!” You happily walk towards the next game of the afternoon, hand in hand with Jake, and hugging your red panda in the other arm. 

You both then made your way past some other games before you asked, “Babe, can I play the ring toss?”

Jake looked down at you, before slightly grimacing, “Sunshine, that game is pretty rigged, and you can absolutely play it, but don’t get your heart set on winnin’, okay?”

You nodded before skipping over to the ring toss counter and setting down five dollars for 3 rings. You tossed the first ring, and it looked like it was going to land on a bottle with a yellow cap, which meant you’d win a medium sized prize, but at the last moment it clipped off the edge of the bottle and between them. 

You tossed ring number two and got nothing but air before the putter and patter of the ring you’d tossed, hitting the glass of the bottles as it fell between them. 

Jake came up behind you and gently rubbed up and down your arms, leaning down to whisper in your ear, “It’s okay Sunshine, remember, it’s pretty well rigged for failure, just toss it carefree.” 

Carefree you thought, and did just as Jake said. You tossed the rings fully expecting it to miss yet again so you thanked the attendant and turned to walk away before the attendant yelled, “We have a winner!” You turned back around to spot the last lone ring, wrapped around the neck of the bottle with a red cap. 

“You can pick from any of these small prizes here.” The attendant said, gesturing to the many different squishmallow keychains on the racks. You did a glance over all of them before deciding on one in particular. You pointed at the one you wanted, “Could I have that one please?” The attendant agreed and handed over the keychain that you then happily turned to Jake to show him. In your hands was a very smiley Shark squishmallow keychain named Gordon. 

“Look babe! He looks just like you!” Jake chuckled before plastering that million dollar smile that would make any dentist wet and weak at the knees. You held up the smiling Shark next to your boyfriend’s face, before quickly snapping a photo of them both. You turned your phone around to Jake, “See! Looks just like you! Now I get to have you with me even when you’re gone on deployments!” Jake looked like he had tears welling up in his eyes. “I love that Sunshine.” He said, pulling you into a tight hug, before letting you go a few moments later, “What would you like to do now?” 

You pondered it for a moment, before listing off excitedly, “We definitely need to ride Adventure Express, The Racers, and the Antique Autos!”

“That sounds perfect, I'm assuming lunch after that?” Jake questioned while you nodded back to him, “Oh yes!”

You and Jake rode Adventure Express first, and both of you ended up complaining to each other how that ride is not as smooth of a ride anymore. After that you both made your way to the Racer, and chose the Red Train to ride in. You could hear the ruckus of “Red Train! Red Train!” and “Blue Train! Blue Train!” By the time that the ride ended, the Red Train did beat the Blue Train in the race back to the station. 

After that, and right before lunch you made your way to the line for the Antique Autos. You both mindlessly chatted about anything and everything you could think of until it was your turn to get into one of the cars. Of course, Jake knowing what this day was truly about let you drive the car along the track. You bumped around and had such a blast you both got back in line to do it all over again, this time you opted to be the Passenger Princess and enjoyed the peaceful ride with your boyfriend, while you looped your arm around his, and laid your head on his shoulder until the ride was over for a second time.

By the time the second trip on the Antique Autos was finished you both were sufficiently hungry enough to grab some lunch. You both made your way to the Brew House to grab two beers, and some pizza, before making your way over to Potato Works to get some of the best bacon cheese fries anyone could ever ask for. While you sat and ate your lunch you watched the Diamondback coaster, which was the tallest in the park standing at its highest point of 230 feet. You watched the train cars make their way up to the first drop of 215 feet, while the passengers on the ride shrieked as they finally went over the hill. 

Every so often the two trains that were exact scale replicas of the 1800’s The General would pass through to pick up people to take them to the waterpark or for those that just wanted a nice relaxing round trip ride around the two parks. You knew exactly what you wanted to do next, and that was to head over to the waterpark. By this time in the early afternoon the sun was at its highest point, and it was getting to be really warm, and all you wanted to do now was cool off in the pools, maybe ride a few water slides, and bask the afternoon away in a lounge chair, or in the Lazy River.

You both hopped on the train and made your way to Soak City. Once in the gate you both went immediately to find lounge chairs and laid your stuff down, before stripping down to just your swimsuits. 

“What’s first on the list to do here Sunshine?” Jake asked, getting an eyeful of you in your cute swimsuit that really really accentuated your body well. 

“How about we go spend some time in one of the wave pools?” You suggested, while Jake nodded back to you agreeing. You both picked the less busy of the wave pools and waded out together in each other's arms. Every five minutes an alarm would ring out letting you know that either the waves were starting or ending. You spent a good majority of your time together splashing in the waves, or treading water together when the waves stopped. 

After a while you wanted to take a break, but Jake wasn’t ready to leave the wave pool yet, so you got out, and went to lay down on your lounge chair, and watched Jake play around in the wave pool for a little while longer, until he decided that you should apply more sunscreen so you don't burn. He liberally applied the sunscreen to your back and body, before you did the same to him. 

All the swimming in the wave pool had made you both hungry for a snack, so you ran over to Coconut Cove to grab you both a boozy slushie drink, while Jake ran over to Island Smokehouse, to get you both a pulled pork sandwich. When you both met up again, you notice how Jake had even gotten you extra barbeque sauce for your pulled pork sandwich remembering how in conversation once you had mentioned that restaurants never put enough on the sandwich, and they were always too dry. You both ate your sandwiches and drank your boozy slushies before relaxing for a little bit longer. 

Once it had gotten later in the afternoon, you decided that to end your time at the waterpark, you wanted to spend the rest of your time in the Lazy River with Jake. Your first go around in the river you both had gotten individual floats, and held hands along the ride, as kids at various points of the ride, lined up at water cannons, to spray you both, and following riders. Your second time around, and for as long as you could, you lost count after the 3rd lap, you had both gotten a two person float and just enjoyed each other's company, although at one point Jake thought it would be funny to act like the float was tipping over. You grabbed a handful of water from the River to throw at him for that. 

The announcement came overhead that the waterpark would be closing at 7:00pm which was only 20 minutes away, so you both went and got changed back into dry clothing, and made your way back over to the train to get back to the coaster side of the park. You spent the next few hours riding as many roller coasters as you both could. Around 10:25 you both made your way to the Grand Carousel, where you rode that twice without having to get off since everyone was starting to gather in their spots on Main Street around the water fountains for the fireworks show to begin. 

“Hey Sunshine, I think we need to go get our spot for the fireworks show!” Jake said excitedly, once you both exited the carousel. 

“Okay! I’m so excited for them, they always have such a beautiful show!” You said, grabbing Jake’s hand and pulling him underneath the ⅓ scale Eiffel Tower at the end of Main Street. Before you could fully make your way out from under the tall structure, Jake stopped walking and tugged lightly at your hand. 

“Let’s head up.” He said, which left you with a bewildered look on your face. The park usually never allowed anyone up on the Eiffel Tower during the fireworks show. 

“But we can’t.” You said back to him, as he pulled you over to the elevator attendant at the base of the tower. The attendant nodded to him, and Jake said, “Seresin, party of 2.” The attendant pulled back the rope barrier and only allowed you and Jake to the elevator. You heard another guest try to join you, but was denied by the attendant, and they grumbled away as the elevator doors closed, and began to rise to the top of the Tower. 

You peered through the glass walls of the elevator and began bouncing happily on the balls of your feet. Out of all the rides here at the park, your favorite was the Eiffel Tower, because on a clear day like today, you could see as far as the eye could see. You enjoyed being able to point out all the rides in the park to Jake, and no matter how many times he heard about which ride was where, or what new spot the next ride was going to go into, he never got tired of listening to you ramble on about it. 

As you both exited the elevator, Jake nodded to you, allowing you to sprint off to the wall of the Eiffel Tower that was caged just enough to keep people in, it still allowed you great visuals beyond the gate. You started pointing out where some of your other favorite rides were, and when you turned around to make sure Jake was listening to you ramble, you were in complete shock. You slowly walked half the length of the floor back to Jake, your hands immediately flung up to cover your mouth, and your eyes welled up with tears, as you saw Jake kneeling on one knee with a gorgeous diamond ring on display, held up to you. “Sunshine, will you make me the happiest man in the world? Will you Marry Me?” He said, his voice slightly wobbly with nerves. You couldn’t even form words at the moment, so you just shook your head yes, before squeaking out a barely audible “Yes!”

Immediately Jake was off his knee, and placed the ring on your finger. You barely gave him enough time to get the ring on your finger, as you pulled him into the most passionate kiss your both could muster up, your arms wrapped around his neck, and his wrapped around your waist pulling you tightly to him. At that very moment when your lips connected to each other is when you truly felt the fireworks. Both figuratively in the kiss, but also for real, as each mortar popped in the background. Jake had timed the proposal perfectly with the start of the show. 

“Jake…” you began to say, but he cut you off, “I love you so much Sunshine.” You swatted away, the few stray tears that had fallen down your cheeks, “I love you too. Babe, this is a night I'll never forget, thank you.” You both enjoyed the rest of the fireworks show, but you were more mesmerized by the flashy ring now placed on your finger. The colors of the fireworks reflecting off the ring. It truly was a night you’ll always remember.

Taglist: Open @mayhemmanaged @roosterforme @startrekfangirl2233 @desert-fern @cassiemitchell @sarahsmi13s @lavenderbradshaw @lovinglyeternal @bradleybeachbabe @thedroneranger @cherrycola27 @twsssmlmaa @bobby-r2d2-floyd @that-one-random-writer @horseshoegirl @footprintsinthesxnd @djs8891 @kmc1989 @starset21 @emma8895eb @shanimallina87

Not paying attention to the world around her, Gunner eventually danced her way right into none other than Lieutenant Bradley Bradshaw, who had his hands full of beers for his squad buddies. Now feeling the cold sticky liquid on her back, Gunner whipped around to face Bradley. The man was wearing a god awful Hawaiian print buttoned down shirt, with a skin tight white t-shirt underneath. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry!” Gunner squeaked out, “I wasn’t watching where I was!” 

Bradley chuckled, “Here you might need this.” He said as he pulled off the Hawaiian print shirt, and handed it to Gunner. “Oh uhm, thanks. Stay here! I’ll be right back!” Gunner said as she ran off to the bathroom to remove the now sticky shirt. She pulled on Bradley’s shirt, buttoned the third button down before rolling the rest of the shirt up, and tying it in the front as a crop top. She made her way back over to where she had left Bradley. 

“Oh you listened.” Surprise filled her voice seeing Bradley in the spot she left him. “I mean it’s not every day that an insanely pretty girl dances her way into your beers.” Gunner laughed lightly, “I wouldn’t say insanely pretty, but thank you…” She trailed off, not knowing his name. 

“Rooster.” He said. 

“Well if we’re going by callsigns then, I’m P.A.” she replied to the just over 6ft man, with honey brown hair and eyes to match. She debated how much she would be able to handle the ferret that adorns his upper lip. 

“P.A. huh, what does that really stand for?” Rooster questioned her. 

Shyly she mutters back, now embarrassed, “It stands for Party Animal. I might have a reputation around here.”

His eyes widen in realization, “Wait, you’re the infamous Party Animal I’ve heard about around here?” 

She cringes before scrubbing her face, “Please for the love of god, tell me you are fucking joking.” Bradley starts laughing, “Don’t worry Honey, I’m definitely joking with you.” He gets soberly serious for a split second, “Or am I?” He busts out laughing once more. Gunner can’t help but laugh herself, “Oh now I know you’re actually just fucking with me.” 

Her hand extends out to him, “I’m Gunner. Gunner Savage.” the strong grasp of his hand is now on hers shaking it, “I’m Bradley, Bradley Bradshaw.” 

“Here I thought my parents hated me by naming me Gunner Savage, and you’re out here walking around as Brad Brad. Wow what peas in a pod we are.” She says, chuckling. “Can I grab you more beers?” 

“Of course you can Honey, what kind of man would I be if I didn’t allow the pretty lady to buy my drinks.” He says back confidently. 

That night, sparked something in the both of them, and they really had become two peas in a pod together. Bradley’s friends immediately warmed up to her, and accepted her as one of their own. She eventually got assigned to be the lead mechanic for Bradley’s squadron as well. Every night ended the same, after working with the squadron, Gunner and the squad all went out for drinks. It became tradition for them, until the day where Bradley, Phoenix, and Bob got orders. They were needed for a mission, and Bradley had to leave his fiancee in the care of Jake, and the rest of the squadron. 

“How long are you going to be gone again?” Gunner had asked, her voice barely above a whisper, afraid that if she spoke any louder, sobs would break the dam that she was holding in place so well. She buried her face in his chest, inhaling the scent of him. Zesty citrus, with cedarwood overtook her senses for a moment. 

“Only 3 months Honey, The time will fly by, and I’ll be back before you know it.” He said, trying to reassure his fiancee. He rested his head gently atop of hers, holding her small stature to him, and swaying softly from side to side. 

Gunner held on to him as tightly as she could for as long as she could. “You’re gonna come back to me in one piece right?” She questions him. 

“Honey, you know I’m going to try my hardest, but I can’t promise that.” He replies burying his face in her hair, inhaling her scent as well, soft delicate apples flood his senses. 

The loud garbled sound of the PA System screamed out, letting the sailors and pilots know it was time to say their final goodbyes, and start boarding. One more really tight hug, and a promise to behave for Jake and the rest of Roo’s squad, and Roo himself was boarding the carrier, with Natasha, and Bob. 

Gunner stood on the dock until she could no longer see the carrier in the distance. Night had fallen by that point, and the stars were out in the clear sky. She climbed into Bradley’s Bronco, and drove it home. For the next 3 months anywhere she went, was in that Bronco, as it made her feel that much closer to Roo. 

Jake, Javy and the rest of the squadron kept up the tradition of working the entire day, then meeting at the Hard Deck when the work day was over to let off steam. 

2 Months and 29 days later, they were still enjoying their night out. Gunner chose to only have one drink, calming that party animal within, so that she could really party tomorrow when Rooster got home. “Hey guys I’m gonna head out, I’m kind of tired.” She said to the group before hugging them all and leaving to get into her car, since she was having the bronco detailed for Bradley’s return. 

Gunner always messaged Jake when she got home, but tonight 10 minutes later, the time that it took for her to get home, Jake never got the message. He jumped into his truck and followed Gunner’s route home. 5 minutes into the drive his phone started to ring, as he pulled up onto what looked like a gruesome crash site. 

“Hello.” He answered as he slowed down to the traffic that was around this accident. “Is this Mr. Seresin?” The voice on the other end of the line that was Gunner’s spoke. “Y-yes” he stuttered out, clapping his hand over his mouth. “Ms. Savage was in a car wreck-“ the voice said, but Jake cut him off, “I’m here, about 5 cars back.” In no time Jake’s truck was ushered up to the mangled mess that is now Gunner’s car.

“Her Fiance is due home tomorrow, I’m her contact when he’s deployed.” Jake rambled out jumping into the ambulance with Gunner and the paramedics.  The ride to the hospital was pure silence aside from the paramedics talking and keeping track of her vitals. 

She was immediately taken into Surgery and then was placed in an ICU room to recover. Jake stayed by her side, while Javy waited outside. Jake now had to do the hardest thing imaginable, he had to call Bradley and tell him that his fiancée was in a wreck, and now in a Coma. He paced the room before deciding to call the emergency line on the ship. He spoke to the commanding admiral aboard, and they rushed Bradley back via Helicopter. 

An hour or two later, Bradley rushed into the room with a nurse in tow behind him. “What happened?!” He quietly shouted to Jake after the nurse ushered them out into the hallway. 

“She said she was tired, and decided to drive home. She was sober, you know I wouldn’t let her drink and drive and ruin her career with the Navy.” Jake paused, gasping out a sob, “They said a drunk driver blew a stop sign, and t-boned her, tossing her car over a few times.”

For the first time Bradley broke down in front of Jake. His body wracked with sobs, learning the news of his fiancée, his future wife. He raced back into the room, with Jake behind him, and he took a seat in the chair next to the bed. 

“Honey what happened?” He said softly to the comatose woman in front of him, “We’ve had a million nights just like this, what happened?” The tears poured down his face as he remained planted into that seat. 

A few days later the Daggers had convinced Bradley to go home, shower, and change, and that Nat will stay with Gunner, until he returns. It took almost 2 hours of convincing before Bradley budged. 

Jake drove him home and led him into the house. Jake sat in the living room while Bradley quickly made his way to the bathroom to shower, just wanting to get back to his fiancée already. He completely bypassed everything. It was only then after his shower that he saw what was laying out on the bed. The loud sob that the man released shocked Jake so much that he ran into the room.

There stood Bradley in fresh clothing, sobbing, his hand over his mouth, looking down at the tiny article of clothing on the bed. As Jake approached his heart shattered for the future Bradshaw’s. There was a onesie laying on the bed, that in the cutest script font, said “Daddy’s little copilot.” Jake gasped, “She’s…” Bradley finished his statement, “Pregnant.”

They both rushed back to the hospital. Running through the hospital to get back to her room as quickly as possible. Nat left as soon as they got back, making her way back out to the rest of the Dagger’s in the waiting area. Bradley quickly pressed the call light on the bedside remote. The doctor came in with the nurse, and Bradley told them they had found a onesie in the house, and asked to see if the baby was okay. 

They agreed and left to go get the equipment needed to verify if the pregnancy was still viable. Bradley leaned over the bed pressing a soft tender kiss to Gunner’s forehead. “Honey, it was never supposed to happen this way, please come back to me, I still need you.” He choked out another sob, before placing another soft kiss to her forehead. 

Part 2

Tagging some people who might be interested:

@mayhemmanaged @roosterforme @startrekfangirl2233 @desert-fern @roostette @cassiemitchell @sarahsmi13s @lavenderbradshaw @lovinglyeternal @bradleybeachbabe @thedroneranger @cherrycola27 @twsssmlmaa @bobby-r2d2-floyd @that-one-random-writer @horseshoegirl @footprintsinthesxnd

“Gunner was an amazing Aviation Machinist’s Mate. You always knew that when she was assigned to your squadron, you were getting nothing less than perfection, every time. Everything was always checked, numerous times in fact, she was very anal about that. She would never put anything less than perfect into a jet.” Nat said, while standing at a podium, next to a portrait of Gunner in her Navy Dress Blues, the same thing currently adorning Nat’s and the rest of the Daggers’ bodies. Nat sniffled sadly, reading the rest of her speech to everyone in attendance, sometimes glancing up to Rooster. 

As Nat stepped away from the podium, Jake took her place at the podium, and Nat took her place beside Bradley. “That was a really sweet speech Nat, thank you.” Rooster whispered to the woman to his left. She nodded back in silence to him. 

“To those of us that knew her best, we called her Gunny, or more embarrassingly, Gunny Bunny. Sometimes just Bunny.” Jake let out a small chuckle, as did the rest of the crowd around him, the somber feeling cut for that brief moment in time. “Or as the Navy knew her best, ‘Party Animal.’ I will never forget the day that I watched Bradshaw over there, spill his beers all over the woman that danced into him. Nat and I razzed him for a while after that. There was just something about Gunny though, no matter where you were, or who you were with, she always brought the party with her. She was always the life of the party with us. She made being up on that flight line more bearable, even if it was only for a few minutes before take off, and after landing.”

The crowd of Daggers’ filled the silence with murmurs of their stories to one another about Gunner’s antics on the flight line. 

“I think my favorite moment though, was one night at the Hard Deck, after a particularly rough mission, Gunner queued up all the best “2000’s gangster rap” and dance songs.That woman single handed pulled each and everyone one of us, out of funk, in just her music choices alone. She had us all dancing and having a great time in no time flat. I don’t think anyone else could ever come close to bringing that same energy.” 

Jake’s speech following Nat’s left almost no dry eyes in the vicinity, except for one, Rooster. He stopped to hug Jake, “Thank you, for everything. From that night, until now, thank you.” Jake hugged Bradley back tightly, before releasing him, Jake taking the spot to the left of Nat, and Bradley approached the podium himself.

He sighed into the mic, and played with his tie clip to ease his nerves. “First off I would love to thank each and everyone of you for showing up. Seeing the amount of people here that wants to share their time and memories of Gunner, is truly astounding. It means a lot.” Bradley quickly glanced over all his buddies in the Dagger squad. “I’m so glad to see the impact that Gunner had on each and everyone of your lives, whether it be her Party Animal days, or her more professional Navy Days. Thank you again and please enjoy the rest of the Ceremony.”

On that note Bradley had made his way back to the spot he originally started in. A small hand took his right hand, “This is such a beautiful way to go.” The female voice to the right of him stated. “I don’t think I could have asked for anything better.” 

Bradley now turned to stand right in front of the female voice, releasing his hand from hers and wrapping them around her waist, and her hands wrapped around his neck. “It sure is honey, although I’m sorry for Jake bringing out the Gunny Bunny, I didn’t know he had planned that.” Bradley stated while pressing his forehead to Gunner’s.

“Hey now, at least he left out the most embarrassing stories, and only went for the embarrassing nickname instead.” She replied back to him. “Oh!” Gunner exclaimed, grabbing Bradley’s hand, and placing it on her ever growing bump. “Is that-” Bradley started to say, but Gunner just nodded her head. “Yeah lil copilot is kicking.” 

“Okay Bradshaw! Enough hogging your fiancee, and my godchild!” Nat exclaimed, coming over to hug Gunner. “How’re you feeling?” Nat asks Gunner. “Oh you know, still sore, and wobbly, finally getting out of that wheelchair has been a blessing though. Glad to be up on my own two feet again, even though I still need Bradley’s help every once in a while. I also am starting to feel like a whale, a very cute pregnant whale though. Wish i could look as spiffy as you guys though.” Gunner and Nat share a laugh together, as Gunner refers to everyone dressed up in their Dress Blues. “I think I’m honestly going to miss those. So sleek and put together.” Gunner mentions.

Everyone enjoys the rest of the retirement ceremony for Gunner. Her Commanding Officer made a speech, and then she turned up the Party Animal to as much as the max as she could given her situation of being pregnant and still recovering from the accident. Some of her favorite songs played, and everyone danced along with her. 

A little while later the retirement orders were read, and Gunner made a very brief speech, quoting being too tired and filled with too much love to drone on for longer. When back in the company of all the Daggers as the ceremony came to close, and Gunner was leaning against Bradley for support, her back pressed against his chest, Fanboy asked excitedly, “Alright Future Mrs. Bradshaw, When’s the wedding?!” Both Gunner and Bradley chuckled, before Gunner spoke up, “I think Bradley and I are going to go for an extended engagement. Give me more time to rest and recover.” Bradley chimes in, while softly rubbing Gunner’s bump,  “And allow this little one to be in the ceremony as well.”

Everyone said their goodbyes, and Gunner made a promise that even though she’s retired now, she’ll still come by often to pay them all a visit, and maybe bring them lunch or snacks, and will bring the baby along too after they’re born. 

Bradley helped Gunner out of his prized Bronco and up towards the threshold of their home. “We’re definitely eloping, right?” Gunner laughed, “We definitely are, I don’t want another day to pass by that I'm not officially a Bradshaw. We’ll still have a massive ceremony later down the line, to include our friends, family and this little one.” She smiled down at her bump. “But for now Rooster you big stud, take me to bed, or lose me forever!”

Tagging some people who might be interested:

@mayhemmanaged @roosterforme @startrekfangirl2233 @desert-fern @roostette @cassiemitchell @sarahsmi13s @lavenderbradshaw @lovinglyeternal @bradleybeachbabe @thedroneranger @cherrycola27 @twsssmlmaa @bobby-r2d2-floyd @that-one-random-writer @horseshoegirl @footprintsinthesxnd @starset21 @emma8895eb @shanimallina87 @mak-32

During his school years he only got worse. Still always picking fights. Always had barely passing grades, was even held back a year or two before he shaped up enough to barely meet passing grades each year. 

During highschool was when he finally met her. What she saw in that boy always shocked Bradley himself. He tried his hardest to push anyone and everyone away, including her, but she never faltered. 

Bradley had turned 16, and that just enabled him to be more reckless and wild. His first car was supposed to be Goose’s beloved Bronco. Carole never allowed that to happen, Bradley ended up with some beater that should have been dead on the road from how badly he ran it, but it never faltered as well, until one fateful night.

Bradley had been at a party that one of the school kids had thrown when their parents were out of town. He had one too many drinks and made the decision to drink and drive. He’d swerved all over the road, eventually wrecking that beater car into a tree. He wasn’t wearing his seatbelt, and was thrown through the windshield of the car. 

That night sobered him up well and fast. When he awoke in this hospital bed, he felt that his right hand was soaked. There he had found her. Devoid of all energy, tear stained cheeks, and sleeping. From that night he decided he wanted to be better, if not for himself, but for her.

“When I was getting crazy, reckless and wild…”

That night should’ve been the night that she threw in the towel and walked out of his life once and for all but she didn’t. She stuck by his side through it all. She went to school, got a voice recording of his lessons, and would grab his schoolwork, and as soon as the day ended she was right back in that hospital with him. When he was finally discharged she’d continue on just like before, but arriving at his house after school. 

With her help, his spirits after the wreck were lifted, and his grades greatly improved. She saw something in him, and during the worst of it, she never left. She helped him get to and from PT, even sometimes planning little outings for them. On the particularly hard days, she took him to her favorite ice cream shop, before taking him to the beach, where they would spend their time decompressing from stress, with the sound of seagulls and crashing waves. 

That had quickly become a tradition for them. Even on the anniversary of Goose’s death, they’d get ice cream, and then head to the beach. It was only a shock to her on that day, that Bradley had asked her to be his girlfriend. It was an even bigger shock to him when she agreed. 

“It took a heart like yours to find its place.”

They’d graduated high school together, and eventually graduated college together. They were stuck together like glue. They ended up back on that same beach that they frequented all those years ago, and that was when Bradley dropped two of the biggest bombs on her. Firstly he wanted to join the Navy, to continue to improve himself. The second bomb he dropped was asking her to Marry him. She of course said “Yes!” They had an extended engagement. 

Two years and a deployment later, came to this very moment. Bradley and his now wife, dancing their first dance at their wedding reception. Bradley spinning her is slow elegant circles as he sang their entire first dance song to her, as she giggled those music like giggles that he’d never get tired of. He looked her in the eyes finishing the song, “But I got one thing right.” He placed the most tender yet passionately filled kiss to the soft lips of his now wife, before looking deeply into her eyes, whispering, “You.”

If you like what you read, check out my MasterList, for more one shots or stories.

Tagging some people that may be interested:

"Okay, okay, fine, I'm getting up, I'm getting up to get ready now, I'll see you in 10 minutes country boy" I joke before hanging up and going to the bathroom to wash my face, brush my teeth and put my hair up into a ponytail. I throw on one of my PT uniforms from the USNA, and a windbreaker. I grab some fruit and a protein shake for a snack while filling up my water bottle waiting for Jake to show up at my door.

10 minutes later on the dot Jake is knocking on my door. "Good morning small fry," Jake says so cheerfully. "Mpfh, mornin'" I grumble back to him. "Are you ready to go?" He looks at me waiting for my answer. "No, I'd rather go back to bed, but with you around that's not humanly possible, so I guess so." He just chuckles at my non-morning personality, and we head off to do our morning jog/run.

"Are you excited for today?" He asks once we get to a steady pace in our jog. "I guess so, I mean I get to finally meet my back seater, I hope they aren't some stuck up prick, or something like that." I sigh, "It's only by the grace of whatever god is out there that we became such easy friends, I'm not too great with making friends." Jake nods along listening to me ramble, "It's just I'm afraid they all use me to get close to my dad, or they fear me because of yet again, MY DAD." I say slightly upset.

"Aww c'mon Kota, they can't all be that bad" Jake says chuckling at me. I give a look of disbelief before stating, "Well that's easy for you to say Mr. I Fly Alone." We both laugh at my joking and mimicking tone of Jake. "Race ya!" I yell to Jake before sprinting off laughing and giggling back to the barracks on base. "Now that's just not fair, small fry!" Jake yells still jogging before breaking out into a sprint to follow me.

We made it back to my barracks room, "Hey, meet you at the hangar in say an hour and a half?" I question Jake once we are at my door, "Or you can stay and shower here after me, and we could make some breakfast?" I keep a change of clothes at Jake's place and he keeps an extra change here at my place. "A shower and breakfast sounds like a wonderful idea, Moon." He replies using the nickname we gave each other in the Academy. "Haha okay Sun, I'm going to go hop in the shower, feel free to hang out, watch some cartoons or something" I mentioned jokingly while walking towards the bathroom.

Once I'm out of the shower, I change into a pair of Adidas shorts and a Navy hoodie. I wrap my hair up in my towel, before reaching into the closet to pull out another towel to hang up on the rack for Jake. I also grab his shampoo and body wash and set them into the shower, and set his deodorant out on the bathroom counter.

"The bathroom's all yours Sun." I was surprised to see the man watching Yogi Bear on my couch, and smiled happily thinking back to my childhood of watching Yogi Bear with my dad on the couch before he had to leave for base.

"Thanks Moon, I won't be long!" He says tapping me on the shoulder and walking towards the bathroom. I grab some apples, grapes and oranges, along with some eggs and turkey bacon from the fridge and start to cook the turkey bacon and eggs. I'm so into preparing the eggs and bacon I don't even notice Jake coming back into the room after his shower.

"It smells so damn good in here, Kota!" Jake exclaims before questioning, "Is there anything I can do to help?" I point to the cabinets, "You could grab us some cups and silverware and set the table while I finish cooking and plating the food." He gets right to work grabbing cups out for us, and getting our silverware. He grabs some juice out of the fridge, and before I know it, he's helping cut up the apples, and peeling the oranges.

I plate up our breakfast of eggs, turkey bacon, a handful of red and green seedless grapes each, an orange for each of us, and our cut up apple slices. "Kota I don't know what I would do without you, breakfast with you is always amazing." Jake says, while I put our plates down on the coffee table in front of the couch, so we could eat and continue to watch cartoons.

Once the cartoons were over and it had gotten closer to the time that we needed to report to the hangar, we got changed into clothing that would go under our flight suits. I decided that I would throw my hair up into two Dutch braids ending in two buns at the base of my skull. "Are you almost ready to go?" Jake calls out from the other room.

"Yeah, I'm ready, let's go meet our new Squadron!" I say excitedly as Jake and I make our way over to the hangar, where our Squadron leader and members are. Jake sits at a table in front of me, while I take one of the two empty chairs at my table.

"Welcome to VFA-151 Vigilantes." Our squadron leader says to us, "Today we will be spending the day getting to know each other, finding out our wingmen, and reviewing the F/A-18 NATOPS." I zoned out during most of the introduction of the day until I heard my name called, "Dakota Kazansky" I raised my hand so everyone knows who the name belongs to, "your WSO is Tatum Thatcher." Tatum stands up from the table she was at and moves over to take the empty seat at my table. "Dakota and Tatum, your wingman will be Jake Seresin."

Jake reaches back towards me with his palm facing, and I plant a low five into his awaiting palm. He then turns around to Tatum and I. "I'm Dakota, but you can just call me Kota" I reach out my hand to Tatum. "Tatum, but you can call me Tate" she replies, taking my hand and shaking it. "This is Jake, he seems tough and cocky, but don't let him kid ya!" I tell Tate, while pointing with my thumb at Jake.

"It's nice to meet you guys." Tate says happily. In unison Jake and I say, "the pleasure is ours." I glance over to Jake, "oh you have got to stop rubbing off on me country boy!" I say jokingly to Jake. "Hey, do either of you wanna go to the bar after this?" Jake questions. I look over to Tate who nods to Jake and I, "Sure, we can grab a drink and use this time to get to know our wingmen more!" I say excitedly.

Jake, Tate and I spent the rest of the work day helping each other memorize the F/A-18 NATOPS. I grab Tate's number and save her in my phone as "Tate ✈️". I sent her a message with my barracks room number and told her to meet us there in an hour before leaving the hangar for the day.

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