#grateful nova

Lucille -> Aurora

Jake -> Aurora

—

Aurora rolls her eyes at the text when she hears the front door to her house open. CJ lifts his head up from her lap, the both of them lounging on the couch together. Bradley and Peyton walk in, looking a bit tired from training. 

The pair moved in the day after their reunion at the Hard Deck. As they didn’t have many things to move, they made themselves at home and the house has since become more lively for the first time since Aurora had moved in. She was very happy that they were both able to move in and didn’t realize how much she had truly missed them. It was as if the house had become more like a home with the three of them together in it. 

“I take it training was not great?” Aurora asked. Peyton simply walks to the kitchen without a word while Bradley, still in his flight suit walks to the couch and plops down next to CJ and Aurora. 

“Your dad is the instructor,” Bradley sighs, petting CJ.

“Huh?” Aurora gave him a confused look. “I thought he was part of the mission?”

“Apparently he’s going to be instructing the other naval aviators on how to do the mission. He and dumbass over there broke the hard deck today during a dick measuring contest,” Peyton walks back in, leaning against the door frame and drinking a beer he’d gotten from the fridge.

Bradley cringes, knowing what was coming.

“You broke the hard deck?! Are you nuts?!” Aurora reprimanded, fixing Bradley with a scathing look.

“In my defense, he started it.”

“Seriously, B?” 

“He pulled my papers, Ro. I can’t just let that go,” he whispers, sinking into the couch. CJ walks over and settles down next to him, trying to comfort Bradley. 

Aurora and Peyton look at each other and sigh. They knew what their father did was bad. The twins still to this day don’t understand why he did it. Aurora reached for one of Bradley’s hands to comfort him, getting his attention as those two made eye contact.

“Look, I know he was an asshole for pulling your papers. Pey and I understand. But in order to make this mission a success, you need to not kill yourself. I need you both to come back to me. Please B,” Aurora pleads to him.

Bradley sighs, knowing he would do anything for her. 

“Fine, okay. I will do my best to not get so mad at him,” Bradley reluctantly agrees. 

“And?” Aurora smirks at him.

Bradley chuckles. “And to always come back to you.” 

Aurora beams at him, leaning in to kiss his forehead immediately causing him to blush at her actions.Turning to give her attention to CJ, Aurora hadn’t even seen what she just caused but from the corner of his eye, Bradley could see it didn’t slip Peyton’s attention from his spot in the doorway.

“Simp,” Peyton mouths at him, while Bradley uses his left hand to flip him off.

“Well, how about we go get some tacos and hangout at the lookout spot for today?” Aurora suggests, knowing the boys would need to go out and let loose before another tense day tomorrow. 

“I’m down,” Peyton responds while Bradley nods in agreement. Aurora beams at both of them.

“Wonderful. Now, go get washed and changed please. You stink of sweat and jet fuel,” she chuckles as she heads into her room to change out of her sweatpants and oversized shirt.

Bradley and Peyton look at each other.

“She’s talking to you asshat,” Bradley stands and gestures to Peyton, dirty from repairing a jet.

“Or she’s talking about you shithead,” Peyton retorts.

“Both of you. You both stink,” Aurora calls out from her room.

—

Golden Trio (aka The Mitchell-Benjamin siblings)

—

“So you’re telling me, you went undercover for a case as a bartender, for 5 days?” Amelia questions Aurora, who was taking a bite of her taco. Aurora held a hand up as she finished chewing and swallowing a bite.

“I’m lucky it didn’t go any longer. Many agents have gone undercover for like a year if the case goes that long,” Aurora responds.

Currently, Aurora and Amelia were sitting next to each other, across from Bradley and Peyton on a picnic bench, CJ sitting next to Amelia as she fed him scraps.

The spot they were at looks out at the beach of San Diego, a place that the twins had discovered growing up in the city. When Bradley would visit, they would always go hangout at this spot to get away from the parents, then soon they showed it to Amelia and they deemed it the lookout spot, never really showing it to anyone else.

They had bought a bunch of tacos from a taco truck on the way to the lookout after picking up Amelia in Bradley’s Bronco. It was a nice day out, the sun was setting as they ate their food and got to listen to Aurora's stories about being an NCIS agent, having never told them much from past correspondences.

“Do you think you’ll miss the action?” Peyton asks, taking a sip from his drink.

Aurora hesitates for a bit to think about it. She had yet to tell them about the one case that she was still recovering from. She knew she’d miss the action, it was all she knew for 3 years but on the other hand, she had lived the agent life she wanted to. She was good. But she was ready to actually spend time with her family.

“Yes and no.” Aurora chews the inside of her cheek.

“I miss my team. I miss being on the field. But it was the right move to come home. Spend time with mom and, of course, you Ames. I’m glad it all lined up that you both are here too.”

Aurora gestures to Peyton and Bradley, but both were busy stuffing their faces with tacos. Amelia gives them a disgusted look, while Aurora laughs at them. 

“Sowwy, wha id yo ay?” Bradley asks Aurora, mouth still full as he speaks. Aurora chuckles at his confused expression.

“I said, I’ll miss it but I’m just glad to be here with all of you,” she reiterates.

“Yeah, it really worked out,” Bradley says after swallowing his bite and smiling at Aurora. She blushes while Peyton and Amelia give each other a knowing look across the table.

They were the biggest shippers of Bradley and Aurora, but both knew why they were hesitant about being together. That didn’t stop them from scheming behind their backs on ways to get them together.

“How long are you both stationed for? Are you leaving after the mission?” Amelia asks. Peyton and Bradley turn to look at each other and shrug.

“Not sure yet. The mission is already intense, and we just started training,” Bradley responds.

“Yeah, Bradley sucked today, and it was only dogfighting,” Peyton adds on, as Bradley gives Peyton the middle finger. 

“I mean, they brought all the top graduates of Top Gun, that in itself is already saying something,” Aurora defended Bradley a bit.

“Yeah, but I mean he really sucked today, like I’ve seen him better when he’s doing test runs,” Peyton says, egging Bradley on.

“Okay, Mr. Mechanic. Where’s your pilot license?” Bradley accuses.

“You know I can cut the fuel line to your jet, right?” 

“Okay ladies, break it up,” Aurora interrupts the two. Amelia chuckles at their small banter.

“What have you got, Miss NCIS Agent?” Peyton taunts his twin.

She glares at him. “A knife, a forensic best friend to help hide or destroy your body, another best friend to help me hide, while the rest of my team helps clear my name when I get blamed for your unexpected death.”

Bradley and Amelia burst out laughing as Peyton pales at Aurora’s sentence.

“Fine. You win, for now.”

Aurora smirks at him, knowing she won that round.

“So, you wanna tell me what’s going on with you and Hangman?”

Peyton sputters out his drink while Bradley slaps him on the back. Amelia giggles.

“Nothing, nothing is going on,” Peyton wipes his mouth with a napkin.

“Really? Because the first time I brought you up, he blushed,” Aurora smiles at him.

“Oh, Peyton does the same thing!” Bradley chimes in, earning a slap on the arm from Peyton.

“Nothing is going on. Whatever he said, it’s nothing anymore,” Peyton sighs.

“What happened?” Aurora was confused. Hangman looked like he liked Peyton a lot, and would ask about him whenever he and Aurora would text from time to time.

“He doesn’t want anything but sex from me.”

“Woah, dude! There’s a child here,” Bradley blurts out.

“I’m a lot more mentally mature than you, Bradshaw,” Amelia points out.

Bradley sticks his tongue out at her, to which Amelia puts up her middle finger.

“What do you mean?” Aurora wonders, ignoring the two.

“He doesn’t want a relationship. He’s scared about dating someone like me.”

“A guy?” 

“No, being with someone also in the Navy. He’s worried that it’ll mess up his career. Especially with our family’s reputation.”

“If anything, Hangman is very open about being bisexual,” Bradley rolls his eyes.

“So he doesn’t want to date you because you’re a Mitchell?” Amelia snorts.

“Pretty much.” Peyton replies.

“Well that’s stupid.”

“I know. I just…I want to move on, but I really like him.”

“I’m sorry, Pey. He really seems like he likes you.” Aurora comforts her twin.

She was going to have a word with Jake later. Probably smack some sense into him when she sees him or threaten the asshole with her knife, whichever comes first.

“Apparently not enough,” Peyton grumbles, finishing his drink. 

“I’m bored, I’m gonna skate around.” Getting up to throw away her trash, Amelia grabbed her skateboard and was about to wander off.

“Please be careful, Ames,” Aurora tells her.

“Always! Pey, want to come with me? I’ll teach you some basics.” 

Amelia gives her best fake smile. Peyton looks at her confused, until Amelia makes a face that Peyton finally understood to give Aurora and Bradley some alone time.

“Oh, yeah! Sure! I’ve always wanted to learn how to ride a skateboard!” Peyton gave his best smile as he stuffed the rest of his taco in his mouth and threw away his trash.

“Wait, since when?” Aurora looks at him confused.

“Since, like forever! Amelia is going to teach me how to do an Olive!”

“You mean Ollie?” Amelia corrects him.

“Yeah, that too!”

Aurora and Bradley look at Peyton in disbelief as both he and Amelia leave to go do some skateboard tricks on an even road, while CJ follows them.

They both throw away their trash then sit back at the table, but this time Bradley sitting next to her as they watch the sunset. 

Bradley faces Aurora, who was keeping an eye on Peyton, Amelia, and CJ. Smiling, he could see how much love Aurora holds for her family. Plus the fact that she moved back to San Diego, and gave up a successful NCIS career in Washington D.C. in order to be home, it really warmed his heart. 

Turning her head, Aurora catches Bradley staring at her.

“What? Do I have something on my face?” Becoming self conscious, she grabs a napkin and begins wiping at her mouth.

“No, no, you’re fine. I was just…I just still can’t believe you’re here right in front of me.”

Aurora chuckles as she puts the napkin down.

“I missed you, a lot.” Bradley confesses, reaching his hand over to Aurora’s so they could hold hands.

Aurora smiles and interlocks their hands. “I missed you a lot too, B.”

Bradley looks down at the charm bracelet. It still looked brand new, as if it was just yesterday he had given it to her that Christmas day when they shared their first kiss. He soon noticed a new charm on it.

“That’s new,” he points out, simply curious at the charm.

Looking down at it, Aurora realizes the charm he pointed out was the North Star charm given by her NCIS team.

“It was a goodbye present from my team when I left last week.”

Bradley looks up to see Aurora’s eyes glaze over a bit.

“Hey, you okay?”

Aurora was drawn out of her thoughts. “Sorry, I was just thinking.”

“You miss it?”

“Oh yeah, I loved being shot at all the time,” she sarcastically answered.

“But you were safe, right? No like bad calls or close to your death bed?” Bradley worriedly asks.

Aurora hesitates. Was she ready to tell him about the cases where she would get hit by stray bullets? Or the time she almost got blown up because she refused to leave Ziva’s side when Ziva was disarming the bomb?

Probably not the time her and McGee got stuck in an elevator and almost fell to their death? The case where Tony had almost got them caught undercover was not one she wanted to relive. Or the time that she was in Abby’s lab and inhaled a bad toxin, leaving her bedridden for a few days? Surely she couldn’t tell him about the case where she took a bullet for Gibbs. Or the case where she was tortured. 

“No, I’m fine, B. I loved my team, but I think it was time for me to stop running into gunfire,” Aurora brushes off her thoughts. That was a problem for another day.

“Well I’m glad you’re here. And that you’re safe.”

“Worried about me?”

“Always for you, princess.” Bradley says, kissing her hand causing Aurora to blush.

“This mission is going to be an intense one, isn't it?” Aurora asks Bradley after a few minutes of silence, besides the ocean waves crashing and the speaker they were playing music out of from Bradley’s Bronco.

“Yeah, I think so, darling.”

“Promise you’ll be safe. That you all will come back home. Including Jake.”

“So it’s Jake now?” Bradley turns to her.

“Jealous?” She smirks at him. Bradley shook his head.

“No way.”

“Don’t worry,” Aurora leans her head on his shoulder. “You’ll always be my knight in shining armor.”

Bradley chuckles. “And you’ll always be my princess. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure we all come back safe and sound.”

Aurora hums in content with Bradley’s answer as they go back to listening to the waves and the music.

Just a distance away, Peyton and Amelia high five. Seeing the two being close and having a moment for the first time in a while was a win in their books. 

“So, who do you think is going to win that bet the parents have placed on those two?” Amelia asks, throwing a stick for CJ to fetch.

“Oh, mom for sure! They all had to change their bets when they didn’t get together in high school.” Peyton replies.

“Let’s hope they get together soon. For everyone's sake.”

- - -

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—

Aurora had started work at NCIS San Diego and as much as she hated being behind the desk, she found it comforting since she was able to come home at a decent time.

She would spend her evening dinners with Bradley and Peyton, cooking for all of them since they rarely got home cooked meals. Since living in the same house now, they all had fallen into their own routines together.

A few days later, tensions were still high across the team about the upcoming mission. Bradley really tried his best to keep his emotions in check, but it was hard when his instructor was someone he despised, and one of his teammates was becoming increasingly more irritating. 

Today, they were working on part of the mission maneuvers, but no one had gone through the simulation successfully and on time.

Although Rooster’s team did make it, they were behind on time. Maverick kept asking why Bradley’s team was dead and tensions were rising fast. Bradley was pissed off at him, and they got into a bit of a spat in front of the other aviators, Bradley determined to prove his worth.

Jake was being his cocky self inserting himself into the conversation because Bradley just wasn’t getting the situation.

“It’s no time to be thinking about the past,” Hangman soon speaks up, catching his attention.

Bradley looks at him incredulously as if daring him to say the next line, itching for a fight. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Rooster,” Maverick warns his godson not to get into a fight.

“I can’t be the only one that knows that Maverick flew with his old man,” Hangman continues on.

Bradley suddenly realized what he was saying while Maverick, seeing the man’s anger rising, tried to get Jake to stop.

“Lieutenant, that’s enough,” Maverick warns.

“Or that Maverick was flying when his old man–”

“Lieutenant, that’s-”

That was Bradley’s tipping point for launching at Jake.

All the other aviators got up to break up the fight before it started. He tries to grab at him, while Bob and Phoenix try to hold him back, Payback in the middle trying to get in between. On the other side was Fanboy and Coyote holding Jake back.

“That’s enough!” Maverick shouts at them, trying to contain the situation.

“You son of a bitch!” Bradley shouts at Jake. 

Jake laughs, and brushes off Mickey and Coyote. He didn’t feel the urge to try and come at Bradley, having already riled the other man up.

“I’m cool, I’m cool,” Jake smiles at Bradley who was still visibly simmering.

“He’s not cut out for this mission. You know it,” Jake starts.

“That’s enough,” Maverick repeats with authority.

“And let’s face it, Rooster, I’m not the only one who knows it. I bet Artemis knows it too. You just aren’t cut out for anything, are you?” Jake taunts.

The mention of Aurora had Bradley ready to fight again, trying to launch at him again.

“Don’t you dare say her name like you know her!” 

“Funny, as close as you two are, I bet she hasn’t told you everything now, has she?”

“What the hell do you mean?!”

“Lieutenant!” Maverick becomes furious at Jake for now talking about Aurora.

“You know I’m right,” Jake directs his statement to Maverick before walking off. There was heavy breathing in the room as he left, the atmosphere tense. Maverick was still shocked in disbelief while Bradley was just plain furious, trying to bring down his temper.

“You’re all dismissed,” Maverick orders all the aviators. After a few seconds of silence, everyone shuffles out, with Bradley first to leave the room, after Jake.

Maverick lets out a heavy sigh sitting on one of the chairs, before reaching into his pocket and sending a text to Iceman and Aurora.

—

Peyton, in his mechanic overalls, was standing next to a plane he was fixing up until Bradley came in search for his best friend to tell him what went down. Bradley stood there, while Peyton took in the information.

“What do you think he meant by, ‘She hasn’t told you everything now has she?’” Bradley worriedly asks. 

“I don’t know. Maybe he just meant that to rile you up.”

“Or what if there’s truth to his words?”

Both men look at each other before realizing that talking about ‘what ifs’ and ‘maybes’ weren’t going to change anything.

“I’m going to look for him. Go home to Aurora. I’ll be back later,” Peyton puts down his tool, packing up for the day.

Bradley agrees with his statement. “As much as I hate him, it’s probably best if you talk to him anyways.”

“Oh, trust me. I’m going to give him a piece of mind.”

—

“It’s you.”

“Yeah it’s me, asshole. We’ve gotta talk.” Peyton storms into Hangman and Coyote’s apartment, not waiting for an invite.

“C’mon in,” Jake grumbles, as Peyton stands in the living room waiting for Jake to close the door.

“If you want to talk about me and the chicken’s fight, trust me, Coyote already slapped some sense into me. He left a while ago for the Hard Deck.”

“Well, now you’re going to hear it from me!” Peyton huffs out.

Jake held out his arm in a “lay it on me” motion.

“Seriously, what the hell was that about? Riling up Bradley and Maverick? Bringing up the accident where we almost lost Uncle Goose?! Then bringing my sister’s name into it?!”

“Look, I get it-”

“Do you?!” Peyton exclaims. “That’s my family you just threw into the fight, two people who weren’t even in the room, and you used it against Bradley, the person who cares for both of them. And my dad who has still yet to recover from almost losing Goose?!”

“I’m so-”

“No! You’re going to shut up while I talk! Got it?”

Jake stares at him, while Peyton waits for an answer.

“Well?”

“You told me to shut up while you talk, I didn’t know you were-”

“Damnit Jake! Seriously?!” Peyton throws up his arms in disbelief.

Jake winces.

“Look, I get that you’re trying to be the best. You worked hard being in the Navy. But you involved my family, that was a low blow and you know it!”

“I-”

Peyton glares at him, as Jake shuts his mouth.

“Aurora’s name shouldn’t have been brought up, you knew that would piss him off! You know how much he loves her! I get that she probably went to you for something in the past, but shoving that in Bradley’s face, knowing how much he and Aurora trust each other, that was so low even for you, Jake.”

Peyton huffs, out of breath from his rant. Jake stands there letting Peyton take his break.

“You done?”

“Yeah.” Peyton replies, walking to the door, ready to leave.

“Wait, wait, wait,” Jake blocks the exit wanting to talk to Peyton before leaving.

“Can I, can I say my peace before you leave?”

Peyton sighs and nods.

“Look, I get what I did was messed up. I’m sorry. I just-”

“Just what Jake?”

“How do you do it?”

Peyton looks at him confused.

“Do what?”

“Support your family, even though you know they don't do everything right? Like Mav pulling Bradley’s papers, or Aurora not telling you everything? How can you just sit aside and support them when you know they’re wrong?”

Peyton laughs softly. “Because that’s what you do for your family. You love them through their own faults, even though they fucked up, you support them because you know they’ll always love you and have your back. No matter what.”

“Why? Just because they’re family?”

“Because I love them, and they love me.” 

Jake and Peyton hit a lull in conversation, just thinking about what was said in the last few minutes.

“I really am sorry,” Jake sighs, after a few seconds had passed.

“I know, Jake. I get it. And I’m sorry for coming and yelling, it was uncalled for.”

“No, I deserved it.”

Peyton lightly chuckles. “Take the apology, will you?”

Jake and Peyton laugh before Jake gazes into Peyton’s eyes.

“Why did you come? Besides to yell at me?”

“Honestly…I wanted to make sure you were okay too. As much as I hate to admit it, I care for you a lot Jake,” Peyton confesses.

Jake looks at him and finally sees Peyton as he is. The guy who loves his family, and will fight for them no matter what. He was selfless that way. Jake never understood what it was like to be loved. So seeing Peyton defending his family, it made Jake feel something.

Taken with so much emotion, Jake leans in and kisses Peyton, cupping his face.

Peyton was shocked, but kissed him back, wrapping his arm around his neck. He knew in his mind he was supposed to move on from him, but his body didn’t react that way.

They stood there kissing for a few more seconds until Jake started grabbing Peyton’s waist. That was enough to make Peyton come to his senses and push Jake away.

“No, no I can’t do this again,” Peyton reminds himself.

“Pey-”

“No. You can’t do this to me again. I can’t-”

“Peyton.”

“I’m trying to get over you, Jake! You didn’t want a relationship, and it can’t be ‘just sex’ for me. I can’t do this if you’re not willing to be with me. I won’t go through it again, Jake. I can’t,” Peyton pleads.

Jake looks at Peyton, full of regret and pain.

Peyton, hurt that Jake didn’t even say anything else, brushes by him, and walks out the door. Jake starts to tear up, and leans his head back in disbelief at what he had just done.

“Shit.”

—

“Princess?” Bradley steps into the house, looking for Aurora. Her car was in the driveway, so he knew she was home. He spots takeout on the table, knowing Aurora probably decided to buy dinner instead of cook today.

He could hear music coming from the backyard, so naturally he decided to follow it.

The house that they were currently staying at had a gorgeous backyard, looking out towards the ocean and had a gate for beach access. The backyard had a porch with a lot of grass that CJ was currently playing on.

Aurora was sitting on a couch where a table was out in front of her with her laptop and a few NCIS files scattered around it. The porch lights emitted not too bright of a light, but just bright enough for her to read the files she was going over.

She was consumed in her work, not even noticing Bradley leaning against the doorframe watching her. Music was coming from a wireless speaker she had brought outside as she did her work.

Bradley stood admiring her from the doorframe, all the worries and stress just fading away. Aurora soon looks up and sees him watching her.

“How long have you been there?”

“Long enough to know that you should not have brought work from home. I can feel the stress coming off of you from here.”

Aurora groans as she puts a file down, Bradley coming to sit next to her on the couch.

“Transitioning from fieldwork to desk work is just a lot right now.”

“I believe in you. It’s different, but I know you always put your best in whatever you do.”

Aurora chuckles at the encouragement. 

“Thanks, B. It means a lot.”

They sit in quiet as Aurora shuffles the files to make an organized pile, while Bradley throws a ball for CJ to play with in the yard.

“Your parents are coming home tomorrow, right?”

“Yep, we’re picking them up at the airport and then having dinner at Uncle Ice’s house.”

“I’m so excited to see them! I can’t wait to hear the stories your mom has and see the photos your dad has taken. How long has it been since you saw them?”

“Since my last deployment.”

Aurora hums in response, then remembers the text her dad had sent her. “So, you wanna talk about today?”

Bradley stiffens and remembers what had transpired that afternoon.

“Not really.”

“Bradley.”

“Aurora.”

“C’mon, we have to talk about it,” Aurora groans.

“I really don’t.”

“You promised me you wouldn’t get mad.”

“It was just a rough day today,” Bradley concedes without giving any information.

“I know, but what happened specifically? Because dad didn’t give me a lot of details.”

“Your dad and I got into a fight, and Hangman decided to put himself in between us,” Bradley grumbles.

“So how did that end up with you and Jake almost fighting?” 

“He said something.”

“Hangman says stupid things all the time, what made this time any diff-”

“What did Hangman mean?” Bradley blurts out. Aurora looks at him confused, as she turns to face him.

“About?”

“About, not telling me everything. He said something along the lines of you not telling me everything.”

Aurora sighs. She was mad at Jake, he knew how much she didn’t want Bradley and Peyton to worry about her, especially with everything that had gone down the last 3 years when she was at NCIS.

“He just…when Jake and I met, he helped me through a rough patch. It was something between him and I. He shouldn’t have even told you.”

“Something you haven’t even told me? I thought we agreed we shouldn’t be keeping secrets,” Bradley’s voice starts rising.

“It’s not a secret when I’m trying to protect you!” Aurora defends, her voice cracking. She was trying hard not to break down.

“Oh, so HE gets to know, and I don’t?! What happened to trusting each other with everything?”

“Bradley, don’t you get it?! It’s not a black and white thing where I can just say it in a casual conversation,” Aurora pleads with him. She felt her throat closing up. No, please not now.

“Why?! What’s so special that he gets to know and I don’t?! Do you really think I can’t handle it? That I won’t get it?”

“So many things have happened these past 3 years that I just can’t…I won’t,” Aurora soon starts hyperventilating.

Aurora didn’t want to tell Bradley, not now. She wasn’t ready to put him through that, to relive her own trauma just so he could understand.

Bradley’s expression soon turns to worry. He wasn’t used to Aurora having a breakdown. Her breathing became more erratic and he became increasingly more concerned. He didn’t know what to do.

“Ro? What do you need? What can I do?” Bradley fretted.

“CJ,” Aurora says between breaths. Bradley calls CJ and the little pup comes running, jumping into Aurora’s lap. She instantly clung to him, breathing into his fur.

“Breathe, Ro breathe. I’m right here, I’m not going anywhere,” Bradley softly says. the pup’s breath starts to slowly even out as CJ lets Aurora cling to him. With her face still buried into CJ’s fur, she uses her right hand to feel for her bracelet. The thing that helped ground her.

Bradley soon grabs her water bottle off the table as Aurora lifts her face from CJ’s fur. He gives her the water and she takes a few sips from it. She puts it back on the table, wiping away the stray tears from her face.

Bradley gives a silent gesture, asking if he was able to put his arms around her. She nods, and he holds her, while Aurora buries herself into his side, CJ in between them. 

They both sit in silence, listening to the music still playing in the background and the faint noise of waves crashing in the background. 

“Hangman knew about my anxiety attacks. I don’t like talking about it,” Aurora soon whispers out after some time has passed. 

“How long has it been happening?”

“Hard to say. It got worse after a bad case.”

“I’m so sorry, Ro.”

“Don’t. Don’t be. I’m getting better. It’s just…it’s been one of those days and I don’t like arguing with you, B.”

“No, princess. Don’t be sorry about having one. I’m sorry you went through that alone, and for making it worse right now,” Bradley clarifies.

Aurora looks up at him, bewildered. “I thought you were mad I didn’t tell you.”

“Darling, when it comes to shit like that, I’d rather you tell me. But only when you are ready. You’ll tell me when you’re ready about the case or about the other stuff. I trust you always that you will tell me eventually on your time.”

Aurora’s eyes start to water. The fact that Bradley didn’t push any further and understood made her feel better. She buries her face into his neck as he holds her tighter. 

“I’m here for you always, princess. If you ever have another attack, will you let me know?”

Aurora nods and Bradley was satisfied with that answer. 

They sat there for a bit. CJ runs back to the grass, as Aurora shifts her position, finding her comfort in Bradley. She followed his breathing, feeling better and calmed down a bit quicker than usual since she had him by her side. 

Another song came on, and Bradley stood up. Aurora almost whined at the loss of warmth, until he held out his hand.

“Care to dance?”

Aurora was thrown into a flashback from a few years ago when he had asked the same question during her graduation party. She chuckles and takes his hand, lifting her up from the couch.

“What took you so long, Rooster?”

He smiles at her, leading her to the open space in the yard, grabbing hold of her waist with his left hand and his right holding her left arm. She giggles and settles into the sway of the dance.

It may have been a different song they were dancing too, but any song they danced to was Aurora’s favorite because they all reminded her of Bradley.

At that moment, everything felt perfect. The setting sun, the cool summer breeze, the fairy lights coming from the porch. Aurora buried her face into Bradley’s chest.

He smelled like jet fuel and the warm ocean breeze. She could smell the musky body wash he uses. To her, Bradley was her home, the person she felt comfortable with whenever she was in his arms. 

Bradley looks down at Aurora, seeing her pressed closely to his chest. Bradley could smell her coconut shampoo and vanilla perfume, the one she always wore and the one he loves, remembering the simpler times of their childhood.

She looks up and smiles, giving Bradley the glowing smile she usually saved just for him. The one that held so much love and appreciation for him. She gazes at her best friend, the scars on his face shining ever so slightly in the light. 

Bradley glances at her lips and looks back into her eyes. He starts to lean in, as Aurora starts to meet him halfway, her heart beating so fast she was sure Bradley could hear it. Just as their lips were about to touch, they heard the front door slam shut to their house.

“Rory? Bradley? Where are you at?”

With that moment being interrupted, Bradley groans and Aurora pulls out from his arms.

“We should, uh, probably head in.”

“Yeah,” Bradley sighs, clearly disappointed that they were interrupted. Aurora turns to the house, with CJ following her.

She pauses, and walks back up to Bradley to give him a kiss on the cheek, but because of her height, it was close to his lips.

Bradley stills at the action, as Aurora pulls back with a grin.

“C’mon, the food’s gonna get cold.”

Aurora, Bradley, and CJ go inside, just as Peyton was putting away his shoes.

“I’m going to put my stuff in my room, takeouts on the counter,” Aurora says, as she walks towards her room.

“Oh and B,” she turns. Bradley looks at her.

“Thank you, for understanding.”

Bradley was taken aback, not understanding why she was thanking him. Aurora smiles, turns and walks into her room.

“Dude, what was that about?” Peyton asks, walking up to him. Peyton was still upset about what had happened at Hangman’s place, but could feel the tension in the house between Aurora and Bradley.

Bradley sighs and grabs Peyton by the arm to drag him into the kitchen.

“Let me talk to you about cockblocking.”

- - -

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