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This was it. Last night at the Hard Deck, last night before his meeting with the Admiral. Last night to tell Phoenix how he felt.The whole day, he’d been thinking about how to approach her about it, maybe on their way back to base at the end of the night? He’d thought about postponing it to the next morning since he just needed to do it before his meeting to decide which request to deliver, Lemoore or Oceana, but his was the first and hers the last and he didn’t want to steal her the joy of being able to sleep in.Halfway through the night, he noticed her stepping out and going outside. He’d felt her a little distant that evening but she always tended to go a little quiet at the end of a deployment, so he ended up dismissing it.-This was it. Last night at the Hard Deck, last night before her meeting with the Admiral. Last night before going back to normal life. Since, clearly, everything was staying the same.She’d known it was stupid to let herself believe Bradley felt the same about her but she’d let herself believe in the signs, signs she thought she was sending too, let herself believe in Hangman’s so-called observations, let herself believe that there really could be something between them.Natasha hadn’t talked much to Rooster that evening. She hadn’t told him her feelings but he was a smart guy, he should know, after all, most others did. However, he’d said nothing, acted like usual and she would’ve loved that. If it didn’t remind her of everything she would never have.The next afternoon, she’d be packing back to Lemoore, him probably to Oceana. They’d stay friends because he was too important to her. And she’d get over him because she’s Phoenix. But there would always be that tiny what if at the back of her mind. - “Are you ever going to take a chance on anything, Rooster?”He’d been looking out the window, right in her direction when Hangman approached.“What the hell are you talking about?”Jake laughed “You know, you can be really stupid sometimes.” Before Bradley could reply, he finished pointing out the window “You were looking right at precisely what I’m talking about.”Oh. He meant Nat.“You see, I’ve watched you pine for her for years and just when she’s right there, you sit around here and do absolutely nothing about it.”Rooster thought about the other pilot’s words “You're saying she’s out there waiting for me?”“No, I’m pretty sure she’s out there because she’s done waiting for you. I sure would be”With those words, Hangman left his colleague alone and went back to the group. “Hey”“Hey,” Natasha replied looking up to see Bradley sitting down next to her.“Don’t know if anyone’s told you this but you look amazing tonight.” He spoke softly.“You flatter me.”They were silent for a few minutes until Rooster thought he’d gathered enough courage to speak:“Nat, I need to talk to you…”She sighed and interrupted him “Roo, I…”“No, I need to get this out.” She parted her lips but eventually conceded and decided to let him speak. After all, if he was about to break her heart, he might as well just get it over with.He took a deep breath before starting. “I’ve been so… oblivious. To you but especially to me. I think I never really thought it through because… well, it’s easier to lose sight of feelings when you’re miles away than when you’re right in front of me every day.” This was going completely off track from what he planned. “And, it’s taken me a while because I didn’t want to assume anything but when everything’s wrong, it’s you that makes it right and I have to tell you…“He couldn’t decipher the look in Phoenix’s eyes. She, on the other hand, could read through everything in his. Maybe Jake wasn’t so wrong after all. Maybe waiting hadn’t been so hopeless after all.Next thing he knew, she was leaning in, her lips touching his. Softly, gently, lovingly.And then she realised: he hadn’t finished talking. She retreated and turned her face away. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to” Maybe she’d gotten it wrong. Maybe he was going to say he saw her feelings but didn’t share them.Just then, he cupped her face in his hands and pressed their lips together, with all the urgency in the world, as if there was an unspoken force drawing them in.Bradley broke their lips apart, not too far, just enough so he could say “I think I’m in love with you and I’m terrified.”She laughed, softly, almost letting out a breath of relief. “Well… then we’ll just be terrified about love together.” He smiled back at her and as their lips touched once again, hungrily, as if making up for lost years, their hearts burst a little bit, finding the adrenaline of flying, of soaring through the skies, right there, in each other’s embrace.-Back inside, Jake and Bob stood at the bar, looking at the scene outside. The rest of the group was on the other side, oblivious to the developments of the night.Bob got up from his stool and patted Jake on the shoulder. “Good job, man.”The blond pilot smiled and pointed to the rest of the group. Bob replied “They don’t need to know just yet” - “So, how was it?” Rooster was rocking his usual Hawaiian shirt and sunglasses as he waited for Natasha outside the main building.“Please tell me you did not go to a meeting with the Admiral dressed like that.” She remarked immediately.“Of course not, I just changed right after.”Phoenix relayed what her meeting had been like as they made their way towards the entrance road of the base. Outside, not far from the gates, there was a small chunk of grass with a wooden bench next to it. The two sat on it just as she finished explaining that her request to stay at Lemoore and be partnered with Bob had been approved.“That’s great. You guys make an amazing team, I’m sure Maverick didn’t even have to convince him.”She laughed faintly before popping the question on her mind. “You never told me… where are you staying?”“Well, my meeting with the Admiral went great, thanks for asking” she punched his arm lightly “Seriously, though, I think me saving the country-““Oh, the great American hero, Bradley Bradshaw”“… made him only be slightly upset about having to request a station transfer.”Hope sparked up in Phoenix’s eyes. She’d hoped there were chances they’d be able to get stationed at the same base with the opening to requests and all but this was Bradley actually mentioning a station transfer.“Did you request to get stationed at Lemoore?”“I did. And hold and behold, request approved. California here I go!”“Guess you’ll finally have an excuse to wear those awful shirts all the time, you’ll blend right in.” She said as she messed around with his clothes, a giant smile on her face.“Well, I did want an excuse, it just wasn't to wear my great outfits, I don't need one for that.” He leaned in and kissed her. Phoenix gasped in surprise. She’d have to get used to this. “I just wanted an excuse to be close to you.”“Bradshaw, you are so corny!” They both laughed as she threw her arms around his neck to kiss him again.-Little did they know that, down the road, an older couple was sitting in a van.“Pete, we look like teenagers spying on them.”“We’re not spying on them, we’re admiring from afar.” Maverick turned to look at Penny. “I haven’t seen him smile like that in ages.”She smiled at him as he turned on the motor and drove away. - That evening, as Bradley and Natasha boarded the same plane to California, hand in hand, life felt more thrilling and simultaneously safe and simple than any mission they’d ever been on. As it turns out, pilots don’t just fly high, they also love hard.