EPILOGUE List Of Names

The song: If you want blood (you've got it) played on the machine.

Kate sat down next to Pete, prompting him to look at her. "Hey, okay, what do you want for a drink? 'Cause you really, really deserve it after all of that." Pete asked. "I will gladly pay for it."

"Pete. I really don't want a drink."

"Yeah, I know, you've been saying that for a while now. It's deeply concerning." Pete said, he looked at the bartender who had his back facing them. Pete went to order a shot of whiskey but Kate stopped him.

"Pete... I don't want a drink." Kate repeated, hiding her smile.

"But— but why? You know what— they actually have coffee here. And if you say you don't want coffee then there's something extremely wrong, and I'm taking you to the ER." Pete stated, ordering a coffee.

He slid the cup over to Kate, only noticing the hint of a smile in her eyes and on her lips.

"Okay, what's going on? You're scaring me."

Kate drank her coffee, not answering him.

"Something's goin' on. And I am gonna be the one who figures it out."

"Well, technically..."

"Technically? Technically what? Who knows, Kate?"

"Viper, and Carole."

"How the hell do they know and I don't?" He whispered.

Kate stood up, looking at the photograph with the label 'Kansas City' on it. "Are you gonna stick around?" She asked.

"Yeah. I guess, it's really nice here." Pete knew what she was asking. "And I don't think I could ever leave you if I tried."

"So, you're not planning on running."

"Not really. Why?"

Kate smiled, sitting back down as she ordered another coffee. She poured the milk into her coffee. She took off her jacket and placed it on her lap. Then, Pete figured they'd walk to the other room.

"Second time you stayed at my place." She hinted.

Pete furrowed his brows. "Second time— oh. Yeah, that was nice." He recalled, but he was still confused. "You're not gonna outright tell me what's going on, are you?"

"Nope."

Pete looked at her. "The only things I know now are no alcohol and second time at your place... I mean, Carole and Viper know..." he trailed off, trying to put the pieces together.

Kate sighed in annoyance, then Pete thought of one.

"The only thing I can think of is—" The look on her face was all he needed.

"Yeah."

Pete started smiling. "Holy shit. You— you're— holy shit!" He whispered.

"So, you're staying?"

"Hell yeah." Pete replied, bringing her close to his chest.

"Are you about to cry?" Kate asked softly.

"N-no. No. I am not. I'm just allergic to happiness." He responded, then he looked at her. "You do know that you will be resting, right? Because our job is high stress, and— did you know before the crisis situation..."

"Yeah. I knew when we at the graduation."

"I'm sorry— you knew before and you didn't tell me?"

"Yep."

"How did Viper and Carole know?" He wondered.

"Carole said she 'sensed' it, and Viper... he knows me all too well."

Pete shrugged, excitedly grabbing the closest napkin and the pen near.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing..." Pete lied, writing down names.

Kate looked at the list of names, smiling when she saw one: Carter.

"So, you went and saw Viper before me."

"Yeah, I needed to ask him something."

Kate nodded, crossing her arms over her chest. Pete quickly checked his back pocket for something, then he put his hands in his front pockets.

"What are you doing this time?" She asked, not knowing what he was doing.

"Following through with a promise I made Goose."

"And what would that be?"

"Well," he laughed softly, "Kate Freya Maxwell..."

"Wait— how do you know my middle name?"

"I actually asked Viper two things." Pete corrected himself, looking around before kneeling on one of his knees, causing Kate's eyes to widen. "Will you marry me?"

Shock took over her body and she didn't know how to react. "Yeah."

Pete stood up, holding up the ring for her to see. "He said to go simple, very simple." Pete explained.

"So, we surprised each other."

"Yeah, I'd say that. You know, considering you didn't exactly see the proposal coming, and I did not... I did not consider you being pregnant with our kid. And I just— I'm happy."

Kate laughed softly, watching as Pete carefully placed the ring on her finger.

"I hope you know that after this I'm still flying." Kate said, referring to after she would give birth.

"Had a feeling. Hey, maybe the kid will be close with Bradley."

Kate nodded, sitting down beside Pete, resting her head on his shoulder.

"What's on your mind?"

"Can it be really simple? I mean, like very few people?" She asked, referring to the wedding.

"Of course it can, Cap."

"Good. It's weird, you know. I mean, I love you, and this is great. It's just the fastest thing I'm used to is flying a fighter jet."

"I know. And I love you too." Pete whispered, kissing the top of her head.

"How long did you have that ring with you?" She questioned.

"Doesn't matter."

"Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell." She threatened.

He grinned. "Day before you, me, Carole, Goose and Bradley all went to the bar. Goose came with me."

Kate took a sip of her coffee, smiling. It was weird. She knew things were going fast, but she was used to fast in the plane. And for the first time, she wasn't really thinking about how her life had somewhat turned into a movie plot.

"Hey, we could teach at TOPGUN together." Pete suggested, half-joking.

"I'm not a teacher."

"One day. I bet that one day, in the future, you'll be an instructor, whether it's for a specific mission or a general instructor job."

"How much are we betting?"

Pete shrugged. "Twenty bucks."

"Alright, you got yourself a deal." Kate replied, holding out her hand for him to shake. He laughed and shook his head, but shook her hand nonetheless. And... cut the sceneThere's gonna be two fics published as sequels to this one: Kerosene (focuses on Kate), and White Liar (focuses on the kid), and they are both set in Top Gun: Maverick, at the same timeOkay, bye!

And... cut the scene

There's gonna be two fics published as sequels to this one: Kerosene (focuses on Kate), and White Liar (focuses on the kid), and they are both set in Top Gun: Maverick, at the same time

Okay, bye!