Gemma snuck through her grandparents house on tiptoe, she had never had the need to sneak in before so this was all new to her. She heard a floorboard creak and froze waiting she didnt hear anyone move so she continued on her way.

Then the light flicked on revealing her father leaning against a wall in the living room waiting on her, she jumped

"Hey, Dad! Whats up?"

"You're late young lady?"

Gemma rolled her eyes "Dad, I'm not fifteen anymore."

Thomas frowned "No, you're not which means I expect you to be responsible, you are living with your grandparents, one if which happens to be a trigger happy WWII veteran and you just snuck into his house... Now tell me whats wrong with this picture?"

Gemma gave a sheepish grin, she knew the rule, no sneaking in after bedtime lest you get shot by trigger happy relatives.

"I'm sorry."

Thomas approached her "Where were you?"

This time Gemma blushed "I was with someone, we were talking and I guess we lost track of time."

Thomas swallowed thickly before he asked "Just.. Just talking right?"

"Daddddd!"

Thomas sighed and reached out to pull his daughter into a hug "You're growing up baby girl, and as much as I want to keep you that bright eyed little pilot fresh out of the Academy I know I cant... I'm sorry if I'm hard on you, I just want you to go as far as you possibly can, because you deserve the best baby girl... So I'm sorry about earlier and I love you."

Gemma tightened her grip "I'm sorry too, I acted like a brat..." She looked up at her father and smiled "I love you daddy."

Thomas pulled back sitting down in his chair and pulling his daughter into his lap where she snuggled close like she used to when she was a child.

"Your grandfather has been telling me about a certain pilot that has been showing you some attention."

Gemma groaned "ugh, between Grampa and William I'm surprised he is."

Thomas laughed "If your grandfather and brother vould run him off he wouldnt be worth anything. I heard his names Tom, thats a good name if I do say so myself.."

Gemma chuckled

I've heard good things about him,your Grampa says his records distinguished, Viper and a few others said he's a good man... Your Granma already has the names of your children picked out... I approve of him, if he'll make you happy."

Gemma smiled "He reminds me of you, he cares about his wingmen, he's flashy but down to earth where it matters... And he listens to me, he wants to know about my problems."

Thomas looked down and frowned "But?"

"But, what if it doesn't last? What if we get done with Topgun and we never hear from each other again?"

Thomas sighed looking towards the piano on which sat a picture of his and and his wife's wedding day.

"You know, when I met your mom I was in my last semester at the academy, I knew I would be moving on soon and so did she... But we took a chance anyway, and it was the best decision of our lives. Dont be scared of something just because it might not work.. Live life a knot at a time honey, thats the only way to truly be happy."

Gemma smiled and snuggled deeper into her fathers embrace, the two fell asleep like that.. And for just one moment Gemma was able to be a child again safe in the arms of her father before she went back to real life.

_________________________________________________



The next day class was back in session, Firebird sat behind Maverick and in front of Iceman, trying her best to stay awake. Ice was currently leaning forward trying to get his girls attention while she worked hard to ignore him.

They were watching a flight simulation program and were supposed to be paying attention but Ice wasnt making it easy. He had blown in her ear, whispered sweet nothings, and even pulled her hair, and Firebird had to admit he was hard to resist.

She turned around and looked up into his eyes with a grin before blowing him a kiss and turning back around

Iceman grinned and sat back before slipping his sunglasses on and resting on his forearms using the glasses to hide his dreamy expression as all the lights came on in the room.

Turtle gave his best friend a look of confusion wondering when this had happened but shrugged knowing she would tell him eventually. He looked back tot the front as his dad began to speak

"You take a hard right, select zone five, you can extend an escape. You made a bad choice." Viper looked to the women beside him "Charlie."

"Aircraft one performs a split S? That's the last thing you should do. The MiG's right on your tail." She looked at the screen "Freeze there, please. The MiG has you in his gunsight." She looked across the room searching for the pilot that had performed this maneuver "What were you thinking at this point?"

Maverick spoke up "You don't have time to think up there. If you think, you're dead."

"Well, that's a big gamble with a $30 million plane, lieutenant."

Above them Iceman smirked and sat up removing his sunglasses to watch this show go down. Hey, he might be love struck but that didnt mean he liked Maverick any more then he used to.

"Unfortunately," Charlie addressed the class "the gamble worked. The MiG never got a clean shot. Maverick makes an aggressive vertical move here, comes over the top, and he defeats the bandit with a missile shot. The encounter was a victory, but I think that we've shown it as an example of what not to do. Next."

"Gutsiest move I ever saw." Slider muttered from his spot beside Iceman and Firebird leaned forward squeezing Mavericks shoulder encouragingly as Charlie continued.

"Now, then, this is a perfect example of a textbook manoeuvre."

As they left class Firebird was walking alone while Turtle and Goose went over strategies, suddenly a hand shot out and grabbed her pulling her into a closet.

She moved to punch her attacker only to realize it was Iceman

"Tom! What are you doing!?"

He grinned and leaned down kissing her passionately, before pulling back "Just thought I would say hello.."

"Hello." Gemma muttered slightly dazed making Icemans smile turned cocky, she reached up pulling him back down to her level.

Outside Goose patiently waited for this wife's best friend to show up, he figured she had stopped in the ladies room. Suddenly the closet door down the hall swung open and Iceman exited hair disheveled followed by Firebird who's bun was not quite as tight as it had been.

Goose's jaw dropped and Firebird looked up noticing him, she whispered something to Iceman who nodded, kissed her cheek, and turned walkingthe opposite way.

Firebird headed towards Goose as he started to splutter

"What? When? How???What?."

Firebird grabbed his arm and began dragging him down the hall "Come on Goose, Carol's waiting."

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That night they went to a bar, Maverick was out with Charlie again so it was just Firebird and Turtle, Goose and Carol.

"So when did this thing with you and Iceman happen?" Goose asked Firebird who just shrugged "Last night, we had a conversation and then we kissed, and talked until like two in the morning."

"Maverick ain't gonna like it."

Firebird and Turtle both nodded knowing it was true, but Carol smiled "Well, I don't care what Mavericks going to think, I think its sweet how he's been going out of his way to find you."

Turtle was watching the door and suddenly grinned "Like right now."

Everyone looked and entering the room was Iceman and Slider, Icemans sunglasses were on but it was still easy to tell that he was looking for someone.

Carol grinned and grabbed Firebird's hand "Come on!"

"What?" Firebird squealed as Carol drug her to the stage where they were doing open mic. "Hey, I got your next singer!" Carol called to the band before shoving Gemma forward, Gemma groaned but got on the stage

"What so you want to sing ma'am?" The band leader asked and she grinned before leaning on and whispering the song, the band leader smiled before they started to play.

"Stupid Cupid you're a real mean guy

I'd like to clip your wings so you can't fly

I am in love and it's a crying shame

And I know that you're the one to blame

Hey hey, set me free

Stupid Cupid stop picking on me"

Iceman looked towards the stage and grinned when he realized it was his girl singing, he pushed through the crowd all if which was kind of excited because this was the best singer they had heard all night.

"I can't do my homework and I can't think straight

I meet him every morning 'bout half past eight

I'm acting like a lovesick fool

You've even got me carrying his books to school

Hey hey, set me free

Stupid Cupid stop picking on me"

Turtle and Goose grinned at each other and began loudly singing along making Carol laugh and hunker down in her seat so no one would see her with the goofballs.

"You mixed me up for good right from the very start

Hey now, go play Robin Hood

with somebody else's heart"

You got me jumping like a crazy clown

And I don't feature what you're putting down

Since I kissed his loving lips of wine" Iceman had made his way to the front of the stage and Gemma leaned down pointing at him with a grin.

"The thing that bothers me is that I like it fine

Hey hey, set me free Stupid Cupid stop picking on me You got me jumping like a crazy clown And I don't feature what you're putting down Since I kissed his loving lips of wine The thing that bothers me is that I like it fine Hey hey, set me free Stupid Cupid stop picking on me"

Hey hey, set me free Stupid Cupid stop picking on me!"

As the song ended Iceman raised his arms and Gemma jumped down into them. Laughing the two made their way over to her table, where Goose shook his head in disbelief, but Carol greeted the newcomer warmly..

At the back of the bar William Ross sat with his wife, his father had flown out earlier that day and told him one thing.

"You gotta stop trying to protect your sister from everything."

"But dad!"

Thomas had raised his hand for silence "Son, remember when you were younger? Gemma always wanted to play with you and your brothers, she thought she was as strong and tough as all of you were. And I told you boys, let her play, but dial down your strength, save your strength for protecting her not hurting her."

William frowned in confusion "Thats what I'm trying to do, I'm trying to use my strength to protect her."

"No son, your throwing your weight around trying to scare off this pilot, and he ain't scaring, so you throw a little more... The more weight you throw the more likely you are to hurt your sister, this is her life William, let her live it."

William clutched his wife a little closer watching as his sister laughed in the arms of the Iceman.

He still remembered the first time his sister took a step, the first time she talked, her first word had been her trying to say his name of course she had butchered it but still.

He had always been her protector the one that guarded her from their other brothers. And now this hotshot pilot had a chance to break her heart, and he was being ordered to stand down.

Grace looked up at him and smiled gently "She's a big girl William, you gotta let her spread her wings."

"What if they get broken?"

"Then you be there to swoop her back up before she hits the ground."

_________________________________________________



The next day Maverick and Goose walked down the tarmac with some of the other pilots from the class. Firebird and Turtle had flown earlier and were sitting back and watching the next round.

"Hey, Maverick." Hollywood called

"Yeah."

"You hear about Ice and Fire?"

"What's that?"

"They both won another one."

"Really?" Maverick contemplated what they said for a second before he shrugged "l feel the need."

Goose grinned and joined in high fiving his best friend "The need for speed."

As they loaded up Goose wondered what Maverick would say if he knew Iceman and Firebird were dating. He took a deep breath before he said "Hey Mav."

"Whats up?"

"When we get back, you and Fire need to talk, she has something she's wanting to tell you but you've been busy."

They were interrupted by the voice of Jester, and Maverick just shrugged off the conversation, he would talk to Fire when they got back.

Firebird listened to the radio as the others flew. She and Iceman had been flying as each others wingmen earlier and had both been surprised when Viper showed up but together they had managed to take them both down.

Iceman had taken down Jester but when he did Firebird had gotten seperated from him. He had quickly been caught by Viper and killed, but Firebird had dropped in behind Viper and got a lock.

Iceman walked up beside his girl and wrapped his arm around her waist as they listened to the radio. When Maverick abandoned his wingmen they both sighed, when would Maverick learn?

Later in the mens locker room Iceman listened as Jester berated Maverick

"That was some of the best flying l've ever seen. Right up to the part where you got killed! You never, never leave your wingman!"

As Jester left Iceman walked up and leaned his head against a pillar thinking a second before he spoke "Maverick... it's not your flying. lt's your attitude. The enemy's dangerous... but right now, you're worse than the enemy. You're dangerous and foolish. You may not like your wingmen, they may not like you... but whose side are you on?"

With that Iceman got dressed and left the room, he found Firebird waiting and stopped "Hey."

She smiled and leaned up kissing him gently "Hey"

"You want to go somewhere?"

Gemma shook her head "No, I need to talk to Pete, I cant keep this from him any longer.. He's my oldest friends."

Tom frowned but nodded "I understand.." He considered his next words "Hey, Gemma... I lo.."

"Hey Gem!" Mavericks voice cut through Icemans words and Gemma smiled gently before looking to Pete who was watching their interaction with a scowl.

"Coming Pete." She looked up to Tom "I'll meet up with you later?"

He nodded "Meet me at the beach at like seven, we'll go have a nice time afterwards."

Gemma grinned and walked towards Maverick who glared at Iceman before wrapoing his arm around his friend shoulders.

They went to an ice cream parlor, which was their thing since childhood.

"So Goose said you wanted to talk to me about something." Maverick finally said and Gemma nodded taking a deep breath "Yeah, umm look Pete, you, your arent going to like this."

Maverick smiled gently and reached out taking his friend hand "Hey, no matter what you say, you know I'll support 1000%."

Gemma smiled awkwardly "1000?"

Maverick nodded "1000%."

Gemma bit her lip before she blurted out "I'mdatingIceman.."

Pete frowned then laughed "Your going to have to repeat that Gem, cause from what I heard it sounded like your said you're dating Iceman.. And I know that cant be true, he's a douche."

Gemma sighed "Pete, I am dating Iceman."

Maverick stared at her for a second taking a few more bites of his ice cream before he shook his head "Dump him."

Gemma blinked in disbelief "I'm sorry, what?"

Maverick shrugged "He's just using you too get to me and distract you from Topgun, so just dump him."

Gemma laughed slightly "You think this is about you?"

Maverick nodded "I mean yeah, guys like Iceman don't.."

"Don't what Mav!" Gemma interrupted "dont date girls like me?"

Maverick blinked "What? No, thats not!"

"No because its about you right? Like everything else on earth, like everything has always been!" She stood glaring down at the dark haired pilot "Yhe whole world does not revilve around you and your little rivalry with Ice."

Maverick stood "No, but guess what, Iceman is the type of guy who has fun with a girl and dumps her.. If you think your special be prepared to be disappointed, and dont come crying back to me!"

Around them the other patrons of the ice cream store had turned to watch as Maverick turned to leave Gemma yelled

" I wont but when your little romance with that conniving little instructor ends dont be crying to me either!"

Later Iceman held his girlfriend in his arms and rocked her gently, she didn't cry, she never did.

"He'll get over it." Tom told her gently makin her sigh "I dont know Tom, we've fought a million times but, I've never told him he was self centered before."

Tom shrugged "Maybe its for the best, if that doesnt wake him up what will?

"I don't know."

Neither of them realized that an event would soon take place that would not only shake their world but shake Pete "Maverick" Mitchell wide awake.

_________________________________________________



The next day as they were paired off, Iceman and Maverick were each others wingmen. Maverick gave his typical nonchalant look but as they walked to the planes Iceman stopped him

"Maverick!"

The hot shot pilot came to a step and looked back "What?"

Iceman got up close to the dark haired pilot "You hurt my girl Maverick, there is no way you are winning today."

Maverick raised an eyebrow "Your really going to pretend that you care about her?"

Iceman stepped forward fist clenches as though to punch the smaller pilot but Slider reached out and grabbed him quickly.

"Hey man save it for the skies."

Goose grabbed Maverick and drug him to their plane, "Hey man why you gotta do that?"

"What do you mean?"

Goose rolled his eyes "Why cant you just be supportive of your friend instead of acting like a grade a jerk."

Maverick gave his best friend a disbelieving look "You really think that jerks interested in her for more then one thing?"

"Yeah Mav, yeah I do, and I think if you would get your head out of your backside you would too."

Maverick just scoffed and got into his plane, later he would wish that he had said something else... That those hadnt been the last pre-flight words he had said to his best friend and brother.

Hours later Firebird was in a state of shock and disbelief as she stared into nothing, Goose was dead.. And nothing made sense anymore.

"Its hard to loose a wingman." Buchanan approached his granddaughter, when she said nothing he sat beside her staring into the distance with her for almost an hour before she finally spoke "He was more then just a wingman, he was a brother.. As much as William, or Alexander, or Bucky... It doesnt make sense, he had so much to live for, he was level headed, he was the smart one of us... But he's the one who dies?"

Buchanan pulled her close and sighed "My best friend in the war, he was like that everyone used to stay he would live to be a hundred cause he was so level headed and calm. He had a family back home and he wasnt going to leave them... He was the first one of us to die."

Gemma bit her lip to try and keep from crying, big girls didnt cry.. Not with her grandfather around, she looked over and blinked in surprise when she realized that Admiral Buchanan Ross had tears in his eyes.

"Grampa?"

Buchanan looked over and smiled sadly at his grandbaby then he reached out and pulled her close. It was a moment Gemma Ross would remember her entire life, she would only ever see her grandfather cry one other time... And oddly enough it was not because he was about to die.

About an hour later William entered the room, at his grandfathers look he remained silent. Crossing he sat on the other side of his sister and put his arms around her, and they all found solace in each other.

_________________________________________________



A knock sounded at the door and Shirley came through from the kitchen to open it, she smiled when she saw Tom Kazansky.

"Oh, Tom." She allowed the boy in but pulled him aside to whisper to him "are you alright dear?"

Tom shrugged and smiled sadly "As well as I can be... It's Gem that I'm worried about, is she alright?"

Shirley looked down sadly shaking her head "Her, William, and Buck have been in the living room together for yours just staring at the wall... Its brought back memories far Buck, and poor Gemma and Billy, have known Nicky ever since high school, he might as well have been family."

Tom nodded "Should I come back another time?"

Shirley opened her mouth to answer when William entered the room "Gran, who was at the door?"

The older pilot stopped when he saw Ton standing there, and Tom waited for the typical reaction he got from the Eagle. Instead William sighed "You better take care of her, break her heart and I'll kill you and make it look like an accident."

With that he motioned towards the living room and Tom walked that way, he found Gemma curled up asleep with The Admiral on the couch. Buchanan looked up and rolled his eyes before he gently moved himself out from under Gemma.

Then he stood and walked to Tom "Take care of her."

"I promise." Tom approached the couch and knelt down beside it, he gently stroked Gemma's tear stained face, she began to stir and muttered "Tom?"

"Hey baby..."

Gemma stared at him for a second before she raised a hand to run it over his face "Are you okay?"

Tom shook his head tears in his eyes "Its my fault... If I had just pulled up, if I hadnt been so stubborn."

Gemma shook her head and sat up "No, no Tom.. This was not your fault, you did what any of us would have done... That was a freak accident, this was not your fault, do not ever sat that again."

She pulled him to her and leaned her forehead against his own when she heard him mutter "I love you Gem."

She pulled away and stared at him, he pulled back "I'm sorry, that was too soon wasn't it?"

Gemma shook her head and kissed him gently before pulling back "I love you too Tom." She stared deep into his eyes "I think I'm always going to love you."

_________________________________________________



The funeral had been a solemn affair, Carol had cried in Gemma's arms and afterwards Gemma had cried in the arms of Tom. Now they were back, Pete had been cleared of many wrong doings and they were already sending him back into the air.

Gemma walked beside Turtle who's arm was around her shoulder, then two had spent some time together before the funeral to talk through some things.

"If anything ever happens to me up there or down here, you gotta keep living.. Dont live your life regretting what happened to me." Turtle had told her

Gemma bit her lip recalling the conversation before she ignited the engines, she looked over to Mavericks plane.. They hadnt talked since their argument, and now with all of this going on she didnt know what to say. She shook her thoughts away, it was time to fly.

The flight was a wash, Gemma could tell they were being easy on them today to try and ease Maverick back into flying.

As they left their planes Sundown who had been assigned as Mavericks ROI was yelling at him "Hey, man, we could've had him." When he didnt answer Sundown yelled again "Hey, we could've had him, man!"

Firebird and Turtle both moved forward shoving the ROI back "Leave him alone!"

"He'll fire when he's good and ready, it aint your decision!" Firebird yelled in Sundowns face before turning to Maverick who nodded and walked away.

Firebird sighedand looked across the runway to Ice and Slider who were watching it all go down..

In the mens locker room Iceman observed Maverick for a moment, he took a deep breath looking up at the ceiling before he spoke "Mitchell....I'm sorry about Goose.... Everybody liked him.....I'm sorry."

With that Iceman turned and left, he needed to find Gemma, he was much better at comforting his girl then he was at comforting Maverick.

________________________________________________



The next day was graduation day, and the officers all sat together as it commenced, Firebird held Icemans hand but her eyes searched for Maverick.

"He's not here Ice."

Iceman's eyes scanned the crowd as well and he nodded "I'm sorry Fire."

"Now" Viper spoke "its time to crown the best of the best, Top gun.. Today is a strange day, because two of you came out on top, two of you had the same score... Everyone Iceman and Firebird are the two best pilots in the navy!"

Everyone cheered and as they stood later celebrating Firebird looked through the crowd to see Maverick approaching. He walked up to Iceman and nodded "Congratulations."

Iceman smiled and nodded "Thank you."

Turning to Slider he did the same "Congratulations."

"Thanks, Mav."

Maverick looked to where Firebird and Turtle stood holding their plaque, Firebird looked into his eyes and realized all was forgiven.

She shoved the plaque at Turtle and threw herself into Petes arms "I'm sorry Pete."

Maverick shook his head and wrapped his arms tightly around his oldest friend "There's nothing to apologize for."

Mav looked towards Iceman who was watching his girlfriend and rival hug each other tensely while pretending he didnt care. Maverick opened his mouth to speak when Viper called out "Lady and Gentlemen. I hate to break up the party before it really gets out of hand, but there is work to be done. Some of you have to depart immediately. We have a crisis situation."

Jester began to read a list. "Ice, Slider."

"Yo." Iceman called peeling his eyes from his girlfriend who had pulled away from Maverick to listen

"Firebird, Turtle."

"Here!"

Firebird moved to her ROI who's father tensed slightly but didnt allow it too show.

"Hollywood, Wolfman."

"Yes, sir."

"Maverick."

"Sir."

Viper looked to Maverick before speaking "Maverick, you'll get your RIO when you get to the ship. And if you don't, give me a call. I'll fly with you."

Turtle gave his father a proud grin, before he and the rest of the group departed... It was time to soar.

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Wow, I am overwhelmed by all the support for this story, I hope you all enjoy Chapter 2: Anger, Love, and Tears!

Again thank you all for your support!

I like the version of Stupid Cupid that is sung by Mandy Moore in Princess Diaries and that's what I had in my head for this story...

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Disclaimer: I own nothing but my OC's...