𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐱𝐯 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫

❝ 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐨 ❞

✈ ✈ ✈

THERE WAS A NEVER-FALTERING SMILE ON FAITH'S FACE AS SHE DROVE BACK TO HER HOME.

Training had been rough, on not only her, but everyone else, and this weekend away with family was just what they all needed.

Faith had offered for Bradley to come over to her home with her, but his mother was not in the best condition, and he wanted to be around her instead. Faith had immediately agreed, pushing him towards his car with a final warm hug and friendly kiss on the cheek before she walked away. Don't ask where she got the courage to give him said friendly kiss on the cheek, the fogginess in her brain had made Faith not think straight.

Faith jumps out of her car the second she's able to perfectly park the car, skipping the steps on the porch and ringing the bell twice, her way of saying she was back home.

Sarah Kazansky is by the door with a huge smile in the matter of seconds, opening the wide glass door and pulling Faith into a long hug. She pulls away, placing her palms on Faith's shoulders and sliding them up to cup her cheeks, brushing her thumb against the faint faded scars on Faith's cheeks.

Sarah steps aside, letting Faith enter, and the smell of her signature roast chicken hits her nose, mouth watering. Faith turns back to Sarah behind her, who stood with an ever so bright smile on her face at Faith's happiness.

Faith didn't even say anything, the question practically tattooed on her face as Sarah immediately takes in her excited state and nods, confirming Faith's question if she'd actually prepared her favorite dish. Faith throws her hands up in victory, taking just two steps and pulling Sarah into a hug again.

Faith kisses the top of Sarah's head since she was a foot shorter than her, rubbing her back before stepping back. "Hi, Sarah. How've you been?" Faith asks when she pulls back, grasping the shorter woman's hand in hers'.

"Honey, I've been well." Sarah squeezes Faith's hands. She asks, "How are you? How's training? Is Hurricane treating you guys fine? He told me you've been flying a bit too much like your uncle, sweetie. I don't want to hear complaints again."

The motherly look on Sarah's face was what Faith realized she was missing these past few days. She shakes her head at Sarah's instincts kicking in, chuckling at her worry, erasing the older woman's doubts with a shake of her shoulder, "Hey, I'm fine. A few bumps here and there, but we've made it through." Faith nods.

A beat passes after Faith's reply, and the mother figure could practically feel the urgent need of the young pilot, pursing her lips and giving her a slight nod, "He's in his study, he's been waiting for you."

With a quick kiss on Sarah's forehead who just shakes her head at her with a chuckle, Faith rushes out the main room to his study. She knocks thrice, hearing him mutter a 'come in', before twisting the door knob and stepping in with slow steps.

Emerald green eyes clash with light green ones, and Tom is out of his chair with a grunt, immediately pulling Faith into a long hug. She wraps her hands around his back, holding him close for a hug she'd needed for the past couple of weeks. It was exactly what she dreamed it would be. The warmth of his hugs never wavered for the man with a cold name, and the feeling was one Faith would never want to forget.

He pulls back just a little, cupping Faith's face in his palms and planting a kiss on her forehead, before pulling away and looking her in the eye. "My girl. You're home." His voice was rough, more like his words were strained on their way out. She quickly salutes him, falling back when he gives her a nod and proud smile.

Faith takes in the warmth she's yearned for since many days now. She pulls away after a second with a soft smile, stepping back to grab a chair and placing it before his as he takes his seat. She takes a seat, looking up at him with a natural smile. He smiles back, not letting go of the hand of hers' he'd held. His smile, however, falters when he has to cough, using his other hand to bring the scarf on his neck closer to his mouth, covering it.

Faith's smile drops the slightest at his actions, worry replacing joy as she watches him pull the scarf away and hiding the part he'd coughed into behind his back. He tries to hide the tiny droplets of crimson blood splattered on the white scarf. But she noticed.

Faith shifts forward in her seat, bringing her other hand to capture his in hers', asking with furrowed brows and widened eyes shifting between his comforting ones, "You doing okay?"

Tom barely nods, slightly coughing, "I'm okay, honey. Enough talk 'bout me. How's training? I heard you're knocking Hurricane off his feet?" He smirks at her, raising his brows proudly.

A sheepish smile replaces her frown, "It's been good. Hurricane, he's just a bit of a boomer for us people." Faith shrugs, squeezing Tom's hand.

"You been preparing well for finals? It's a good thing they have you back at home for the weekend, we can study later if you want to." He suggests, nodding at his suiting idea as he looks at Faith who simply answers with a chuckle, "Sure, Ice."

She leans back in her seat as Ice pulls out his model replica of the F/A-18, making it fly around as he imitates real-life fighter maneuvers and problems and solutions to solve them.

The first day he'd brought her home, she had been gloomy and sad about leaving home. The one thing that she'd calmed down to was not a puppet, or a story, or some board game, but this very same F/A-18 model in his hands at this moment that he was waving around with. Sarah had cooked up the very same roasted chicken she'd made this day when she was brought home, catching the pair running around the backyard with similar jet models. She'd snapped a picture of Faith chasing after him with a broad, happy smile on her face and jet model in her hand, as Tom ran in front of her with a large smile holding his jet model.

Faith smiles as she hears him talk about the inverted maneuver he'd heard her pull multiple times during training. He had a scolding look on his face, but his eyes said nothing but how much he was proud of her to have come so far, and to have him support her the entire way to this very moment.

It felt good to be home.









































✈ ✈ ✈ THE BACKYARD WAS JUST HOW IT WAS THE DAY FAITH'D LEFT FOR THE ACADEMY.

The target with those eight concentric circles with two yellow in the center, followed by double reds, further two blues, two blacks, and then a single white strip, all decorated with multiple holes from practice before. The arrow she'd last thrown before leaving for the academy still stood on the single target in the middle most yellow circle.

Her bow was in the case, the very same bow which belonged to her mother. It was silver, just the gripper in the middle a rubber black. The second Faith had picked it up in her hands, chills ran across her whole body for a solid minute, as she looked up to the sky. A small smile on her lips, she pulled her index and middle fingers to her lips, kissing, then pointing to the sky.

Iceman was right behind her, sitting on the balcony chair as he watched her stretch and exercise her hands which had not touched the bow and arrow in so long. She rolled her shoulders back, throwing her right hand behind to grab an arrow from the dark grey quiver she'd slung on her back.

His words were sharp in her ears as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her eyes dart open, the warmth in them lost, replaced by the cold now.

Unwavering focus. Deep breath. Unwavering grip. Deep breath. Unwavering target. Deep breath. Unwavering aim. Deep breath.

Ice cold.

Faith's hands move fast, not taking the time to celebrate each time she shoots through the previous arrow which hits the target dot in the center, cutting through it and replacing it with a new one. The wood piles down on the ground as it falls.

Within the matter of twenty seconds, the quiver filled with fifteen arrows was emptied, and broken to pieces into a mess on the ground below the target.

Sarah, who stood by Tom a few feet behind Faith clapped her hands, muttering, "Record speed, honey!"

Tom nods back at Faith with a simple smirk who had turned to look behind with raised eyebrows and her own smirk, running back to pull the both of them into a hug.

They move down to sit by the stairs leading up to the house, gazing at the blazing sunset orange sky which poured into the horizon like sweet honey. Periwinkle blue surrounds the reddish-yellow shade, laying a large albeit heavenly contrast.

The three of them sit right next to each other, leg to leg. Faith sits in the middle of them two, Sarah wraps a hand around Faith's waist as the younger woman leans her head onto her shoulder, and Tom wraps his arm around her shoulder. They gaze and gaze out at the mesmerizing scene in front of them as the sun shies from the moon's deep purity, falling down and letting the luminous white body shine.

Tom begins, still looking at the sky as he affirms, "Faith. I don't mean to ruin this beautiful moment, but I've been meaning to ask since the moment you came back home. Are you alright? I know you haven't been going to the mandated therapy they assigned you after the accident. We're right here if you want to talk about it." His words cut deep.

The scars are raw once again.

Iceman always amazed her. For a man with a reputation as cold as his, he was nothing but kind to her. He'd always known exactly what she would feel, her exact moves to extract herself out of all the problems she'd be thrown into. He was everything her father wasn't. Sweet, kind-hearted, loving, caring, all of the above. And most importantly, she was safe. Safe with him. Safe with him, and Sarah, in their arms as they held her, all three of them watching the sun fall.

Faith said nothing in reply to Tom's words. She simply nods, leaning her head against his shoulders and savoring all moments she could have with them together like this.

They gaze and gaze out at the mesmerizing scene in front of them as the sun shies from the moon's deep purity, falling down and letting the luminous white body shine.

✈ ✈ ✈

SARAH HAD PRACTICALLY CORNERED FAITH AFTER DINNER.

The pair of women sat in Faith's room on her bed with the younger woman's head in Sarah's lap. Sarah was brushing her fingers through her hair, massaging from time to time. Faith had changed into sweatpants and oversized shirt, wanting to do nothing but sink into her soft, warm, bed, when Sarah had broken in, pulling the girl laid on it up into a sitting position, making her groan. Faith's head had fallen down into Sarah's lap, and they'd been sitting like that since god knows how many hours.

"Tell me about that Bradshaw boy." Those words were ones Faith had hoped Sarah would never bring up. But she did. She freezes in her place for a moment, before moving her head out of the older woman's lap, pulling herself to sit up, giving her a look of absolute disbelief.

Of course. Natasha told her.

"Sometimes, I wish I hadn't given you Trace's number." Faith speaks up after a moment of silence, shaking her head in awe.

Sarah gently slaps Faith's knee, making her eyes widen and mouth pull into an 'o' shape, as the older woman blurts, "At least she tells me stuff."

Faith slumps at that, head falling into Sarah's lap again as she closes her eyes.

Bradley.

His eyes, his mustache, his smile, his body, his warmth, his safety. Her hope, her sadness, her heart, her soul.

"He's... god, Sarah, he's so... He's like a shot of espresso. He knows exactly how to lighten up my mood if I'm scared about training. He sings, he plays the piano. There's this.. force, it pulls me to him, and it feels like it's gravity, so much more powerful than a single string. He's so good to me, Sarah. And, god, he's beautiful. So beautiful. I love talking to him. I love his laugh, I love the way he makes me forget about all the stress that comes with the job with his stupid dirty jokes, I love how he makes me smile so much whenever I'm with him. He brings out the best in me. And I've never been able to trust him as much as I've trusted anyone besides you guys and Natasha. He's my best friend." Faith closes her eyes as he sees his hazel greens in her inward eye, his face, his smile. Sarah stays quiet, continuing to brush Faith's hair with her fingers as the younger woman lays in her lap.

Faith continues, opening her eyes and bringing her hand to comb through her hair as Sarah places her hand on the bed, tears spring to her eyes as she thinks about the accident which happened not too long ago, "The day of the accident, I was so scared. Seeing him not moving in the water, it was so scary. He wasn't moving. His pulse was so weak. Faint, but still there. I don't... I don't think I've ever felt that scared of losing someone. When the doctor said he'd be fine, Sarah, the relief that ran through my body, I-" Faith is cut off by a quiet sob at remembering the event. The older woman moves her hand across Faith's scalp in comfort.

Silence surrounded the pair in Faith's room. It was soundless, but filled with so much. Love. Sarah's love for Faith. Faith's love for Sarah. Faith's love for Bradley. She could hear it in the silence.

Faith's crying quiets down. Sarah takes the chance to make the young pilot realize. She pulls Faith into an upright position, wiping her tears and cupping her cheek with a soft smile on her face.

"Faith." Sarah gazes and searches deep in the young woman's eyes. She finds nothing but love. Nothing but care. Nothing but comfort.

"You're in love, Faith."

Sarah was right.

Faith was deep in love.

Deep.

Really fucking deep.

In love.

With Bradley Bradshaw.















































✈ ✈ ✈







IT WAS NEARING FOUR O' CLOCK IN THE MORNING WHEN FAITH'S PHONE HAD SUDDENLY RUNG.

Shifting her hands through the covers, Faith brings her hand to the bedside table and grabs her phone, checking the caller i.d.

Bradley.

The sleep on her mind is replaced with a pang of worry, Bradley never called her this late at night. Or this early in the morning.

The phone cuts off, though, Faith being too tired to move her thumb to accept the call. It rings again immediately, and she picks it up on the second ring, placing the phone at her ear.

Silence, for the first few seconds.

Oh god.

"Bradley?" A soft, hushed whisper escapes Faith's mouth with a breath, worry now returning in constant waves. She sits up completely now, turning on the lamp with a push on the button.

"Faith." A sob. A quiet cry of struggle. A significance of loss.

She's completely awake now, eyes wide open as she hears shuffling and soft sobs escape from the other side of the phone. She gets out from under the covers, pacing around the room as her heart beats rapidly in her chest.

"Bradley, hey, what's going on?" No reply to her question again.

Faith pushes, voice impossibly softer, "Talk to me, Bradley. What's wrong?"

"Mom. She's-" Another sob, and it brings tears to Faith's eyes, hearing him cry. He needs her. She needs to go to him.

"Oh, god." Faith closes her eyes, palm to her forehead, as she shakes her head.

"I'll be there within the hour, Bradley, just, just find somewhere to sit and take deep breaths with me, okay? Just breathe." She rushes out of her room, running down the hallway into Tom and Sarah's room, knocking, before slowly entering, still on the call with Bradley as she hears a chair scrape against the floor and a grunt followed by a sob.

Faith shakes Sarah awake gently, whispering about what tragedy had just happened, mentioning how she needed to be with Bradley right this second.

Sarah whispers back, "But you just got home, sweetie? Are you sure?" A single nod from Faith is what Sarah has to take for an answer as Tom stirs awake, looking towards the pair of women speaking in hushed whispers.

Faith quickly mentions, "Bradley's mother just passed away." She gives no further explanation as she runs back into her room, running and pacing around until she had gathered all of her belongings and stuffed them back into her bag. Sarah and Tom quickly follow her to her room as they help her pack. They're done within five minutes, leaving the room to let Faith change.

She quickly does so, running out her room and down the stairs towards the front door, the older couple following, watching as Faith struggles to tie her shoelace before finally getting it right. She takes a moment to look up at her caretakers, pulling the two of them into a bear hug as they hold her too.

"I'm sorry. I know you guys wanted to spend some time with me, but Bradley, he- He needs me. And I need to be with him." Faith pulls away, placing kisses on both their cheeks. Tom and Sarah give her an individual hug again, savoring their time together, giving her kisses on the forehead.

Faith makes a move for her car, but Tom pulls her back and she turns around to look back at him. Naturally, he says, "Come back home to us. Fly ice cold, no mistakes. But come back home." Faith nods at him with a smile, standing straight up as she gives him a salute. Tom nods at her with a smile of his own as he watches her fall back and run towards her car and throw her stuff into it before getting in the driver's seat.

Sarah waves Faith off when she's in her car, looking back with a sheepish and sorry look on her face. Faith waves at them again, before turning her attention back to her phone where Bradley was still on call with her. He's taking deep breaths as she'd told him to, an occasional sob escaping his lips.

Thank god the roads are empty at night.

Bradley lived around TOPGUN and so did Faith. She reached his home in the matter of fifteen minutes.

When she pulled into his driveway, she could see him sitting on the stairs of the porch with his head hung between his shoulders and sobs shaking his body. His head perked up when he heard her car enter the driveway, tears streaking his face.

Faith does not wait a single second after she parks before his house, watching as Bradley jumps up from his position on the porch stairs at the sight of her, more tears falling down his face and staining his beautiful face. She hops out of the car, practically sprinting across the short distance as she opens her arms to hold him.

Bradley clashes into her, wrapping his hands around Faith's waist as she wraps hers' around his neck. He pushes his face into her neck, taking one single deep breath before completely breaking down in her arms. Faith says nothing, holding him tighter and closer than ever, not planning on letting go anytime soon.

His knees tremble, and Bradley falls to the ground, knees hitting the ground, as Faith falls with him, pulling him impossibly closer. His sobs are uncontrollable and he stumbles around his words as he apologizes to her for calling her to him so late in the night. Faith shakes her head, shushing him and rubbing her palm up and down his back as his grasp on her waist gets tighter and tighter. His tears soak her shirt, but Faith could care less about any of that, as she whispers sweet nothings in his ears for him to calm down.

They stay like that, him, completely broken like shattered glass in her hands, and her, trying to hold him together as he continues to cry into her shoulder. She cries with him, shedding salty, crystalline tears of her own as she continues to comfort him, staying quiet as he stumbles out words of utter disbelief and shock at the sudden misfortune. She holds him still, on the porch of his home as the sun rises and brings about a new day, a new beginning. He quiets down just a bit, the tears still eminent as they streak down his face. As he whispers to her to not leave him alone, she says just one thing,

"I'm not letting go of you, Bradley, ever. I promise you."