#in the December playlist!

[sometimesanalice]

Oh Christmas Tree

Summary: Bradley’s never been one to look forward to the holidays, that is until he met you. He’s excited to do everything, including getting his very first real Christmas tree.

Warnings: Fluff, slight angst, allusions to smut. Minors DNI.

Length: 7.2K 

Pairing: Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw X Female Reader

(What was supposed to be a quick fluffy Christmas fic, somehow turned into this, enjoy!)

The atmosphere at the Hard Deck was livelier than usual, the music seemed more upbeat and the voices a little louder. It was the first time in a while that the entire Dagger Squad was together in one place. News of the success of the Uranium Mission traveled fast and had been keeping them busy in the months that had followed.

Things seemed to settle down a bit as the holidays rolled around, some has dispersed home for Thanksgiving while a few others had been given last minute orders to ship out for a short mission. You’d been dying to take Bradley Bradshaw home to meet your parents in person, but he had been one of the few sent away only set to return the day after Thanksgiving.

You’re sitting across from Natasha at a high top near the pool tables in the back of the bar listening to Jake talk about his visit home, while your boyfriend next to you talks animatedly about something related to his latest mission with Bob.

“I shaved off an extra 5 minutes from the last Trot. Turns out I’m in even better shape than I was the last time I was home for Thanksgiving,” Jake brags smugly taking a swig of his beer from his nearly empty bottle.

“Wait, you come from a Turkey Trot family? That explains so much. Please tell me, you guys wear matching Seresin family shirts for it too,” you tease without remorse. “Oh! Or maybe those turkey leg bobble headbands?” 

You hear Bradley snort into his beer as he drops a well-defined arm across your shoulders. He’s wearing one of your favorite Hawaiian shirts from his collection, and you’ve been having a hard time keeping your eyes and hands to yourself.

“Bradshaw! Are you going to let your girl trash talk me like that?” You turn to Bradley to see him smirk with a shrug at Jake’s indignation.

“I mean, if the headband fits,” he replies lifting his bottle up in cheers.

“Darlin’, you wound me. And for the record they don’t match, since we all get to decorate our own with those paints in the little squeeze bottles,” he says pointing his empty bottle at you before turning to Bradley, “And see if I ever save your smug ass again.” He walks away making his way to the bar for another beer.

“Formal petition to change his callsign to Turkey now. Him and Rooster could be the Bird Bros,” Natasha jokes after he’s out of earshot. “What about you, how was your trip home?”

“It was pretty good,” you feel Bradley start playing with the ends of your hair, while he picks his conversation with Bob back up. “Since my sister had the baby, my parents have been leaning into the new grandparent thing pretty hard. So I set to establishing myself as the fun wine aunt, and basically drank cranberry mimosas all day.” You pause to take a sip of your drink, “Which I regretted immediately the next day when my parents decided it was imperative that we all go to their favorite Christmas tree farm as soon as it opened to cut one down together. Baby’s first Christmas all.” You unlock your phone to pull up the folder you made of pictures from the visit, handing over your phone to let her scroll.

“Since they’re flying out to spend Christmas with my sister and her in-laws in Philly, I tried to talk them into an artificial tree. Which is blasphemy where I’m from, I’m pretty sure the state tree is the Douglas Fir. My family takes the tree hunt very seriously, there’s a science to it and everything,” you lean over to swipe past some of the selfies you took to show her the completed tree in your parents sitting room. 

“However, as you can see, my attempt to talk them into the lower maintenance, yet slightly ostentatious, fluffy pink tree of my dreams was met with a hard pass,” you say laughing to yourself.

She swipes backwards a couple times on the pictures. “This one is cute, why didn’t you post this photo?” she asks holding your phone up showing a selfie of you at the tree farm.

“Which one? Let me see,” Bradley requests, his conversation with Bob now abandoned. He’s already leaning into you and reaching across the high top with his large hands to take the phone from Nat.

It was a photo of you that Bradley hadn’t seen before. You were pink nosed wrapped up in cozy looking scarf, surrounded by pine trees and grinning into the camera. And his heart swells at the sight of the image before him. It’s just so you.

“You really look pretty,” he states sincerely. He glances at you briefly to see a hint of a blush spread across your cheeks before turning his gaze back to the picture of you.

He’d known you had been just as eager as he was for to him come home with you to meet your parents in person. You had even concocted a plan that involved him to try and help you get your hands on your Aunt Christine’s corn soufflé recipe.

“My mom has tried to get it for years, and she refuses to share it with anyone!” you’d lamented to him one evening after a couple large glasses of wine. “She always says she’ll email it, but she never does!” You gesture wildly. He loved getting to know all sides of you, but two-drink you was a particular favorite of his.

“Mmm. Girlboss, gaslight, gatekeep,” he nodded along in solidarity.

“Exactly, Bradley! You get it!” You take another long, deep sip of your Merlot, your feet tucked under you on his couch. “Me with my wiles and you with your Rooster charisma, I think this might be the year! I’ll set the groundwork and you can lay the ruggedly-handsome-impossibly-sexy-American-hero-thing on thick,” he loved how animated you were getting and he was having a hard time keeping the indulgent smile off of his face. “And she’ll fall right into our trap and release the goods all while thinking she’s staring in her own Hallmark movie.” He knew he would do anything for you, what his girl wants she gets. If that involves some light to heavy flirting with your aunt, so be it. He was getting soufflé recipe for you one way or another.

However, those plans were quickly dashed when he got the mission orders at the last minute. His stomach was in knots when it came time to tell you, but you were quick to put him at ease by reminding him there was always next year. “Plus” you’d said, “it gives us a whole year to craft our Stealthy Soufflé Scheme. Although, maybe we can pop up in May or June? I want to show you all the sights, we can even go hiking! And I’m definitely planning on taking you on a beer tour.”

“That sounds like the perfect trip, Sweetheart. I’d love that. I’ll see about getting a request submitted first thing in the morning,” he was already setting a reminder in his phone so he wouldn’t get too distracted at work and forget. He wasn’t going to let you down again.

“Oh. That’s probably one I snapped really quick and forgot to send to Bradley. I was probably already spamming him too much as it was,” you answer in response to Natasha’s question. Even though you knew exactly why that one never made it his inbox.

Since you’d be spending the holiday apart, Bradley had requested that you send him pictures throughout your visit so that he didn’t feel like he was missing anything. You had sent him ones of you at the grocery store with your mom, of you holding your niece, a few silly ones fueled by too many champagne heavy mimosas, and some less family friendly shots of you in bed wearing the deep wine-colored lacy lingerie set you had planned to surprise him with. And then a few without the lingerie set too.

You had known he wouldn’t have the best reception, so you sent them as things happened knowing that he’d respond whenever he could. You just wanted them there waiting for him. However, a few days in was getting hard to know what was too much when all you could see were all your outgoing messages to him.

You had felt yourself getting a little self-conscious and started second guessing the things you sent, like the picture from the tree farm. You didn’t want to go overboard and scare him off or make it seem like you were rubbing his face in all the things he was missing while he was on assignment. You had just wanted him to know that you were thinking about him- which was pretty much all the time.

Turning your head to take him in next to you. He’s sitting there with a soft smile on his face while he is tapping away on your phone. When his phone lights up mere moments later, you realize he’d just sent the image to himself and was now paging through the folder looking for others.

“For being a Communications Specialist, you’re really bad about updating your own social media. That one was definitely worthy of making it to the grid,” Nat announces as she slides off the barstool taking Bob with her to go dominate on one of the pool tables.

Bradley hands you your phone back. “You know, I’ve never been to a Christmas tree farm. Or even had a real tree for that matter,” he murmurs a bit ruefully when it’s just the two of you, picking at the label of the bottle Natasha had left behind.

“When I was younger we only ever had a fake tree. And then after my mom passed, everything with Mav, and moving around so much I just kind of didn’t ever want to think about it. I never thought to get anything for myself.” He lets out a breath, shaking his head slightly. “I’m really happy you’re sticking around to show me the ropes this year,” he says earnestly, sounding much lighter than before.

The thought of him fending for himself for so long makes your heart hurt. You lean into him pressing a lingering kiss to his cheek. “I’m happy you want to spend the day with me,” you tell him brushing your nose against his as you pull away. 

“I did my good daughter duties, but flying home during the one of busiest days of the year was enough for me. And I wouldn’t want to subject you to the Richardson’s by going to Philly, my parents call them the Dickardson’s for a reason,” making a face that causes him to laugh.

“We’re going to have the best Christmas together, I wouldn’t want to spend the day with anyone else.” This time when you pull him in for another kiss your lips are eager to meet his. The slide of his mouth against yours never fails to make your heart beat wildly in your chest.

You could spend days kissing Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw and never want to break for air. It’s only at the sound of someone’s loud wolf whistle that you break apart as you’re brought back the moment.

“You know, I’m still not over the fact that my girlfriend withheld such ‘compelling content’ from me,” he teases, using air quotes the buzzwords he’s heard you say from listening to one too many of your late night zoom meetings.

“It was the last day! You were getting in before me, and I thought you’d want the real deal instead. And to tell the truth, I didn’t know if I was overdoing it. I didn’t want to make you feel left out,” you explain honestly. You’ve always been the type to keep those insecurities to yourself, but you’ve been trying to do better. He makes you feel safe enough to open up without holding back.

“Sweetheart.” He picks up your hand his mustache brushing the back of it as he places a kiss there. “You could never overdo it. Spam away, send me everything. I love getting those pictures, it makes me feel closer to you. But, I do know how you could make it up to me.” As he sends a mischievous wink your way.

You’re hit with a brief vision of you on your knees before him in that wine-colored set he still has yet to see in person. 

“Oh, do you?” You ease off your stool to stand in front of him, his legs automatically widening for you to step in between them.

“Wanna come help me pick out a tree this weekend?” he asks, slipping his hands into the back pockets of your jeans to tug you in even closer. “I hear you know a thing or two about picking out the best one,” his eyes crinkle around the edges as he smiles broadly at you.

You don’t bother fighting back the grin that takes over your face. “Stick with me, kid,” you say taking his sunglasses from where they rest against his chest and sliding them on, “I won’t lead you astray.” 

Bradley had the best afternoon learning the ins and outs of selecting the perfect tree at the tree lot with you. 

He had found a tree place with a festive name that was about 30 minutes away, it was probably a bit different than what you were used to, but he hoped you’d be happy with the options there. He had even called in advance to make sure they had the specific variety your parents usually got after texting with your dad to find out what he should be looking for.

He had wanted to pick you up from your apartment, but you had insisted on meeting him at his place since you had an early work meeting scheduled in the morning. And had greeted you with a coffee in hand from your favorite shop when you arrived.

He’d even worn the plaid flannel shirt you had bought for him when you were visiting home for the occasion. When he parked the Bronco in the lot, you had giddily exclaimed, “Bradley, look at all the trees! There’s way more than I thought there’d be. It smells like home!” 

Once you were both out of the car you had grabbed his hand threading your fingers between his, and set off like a woman on a mission. He’d felt rather pleased with himself. 

The outdoor speakers were playing the local Christmas radio station and there were rows and rows of trees under a few large white topped tents. He loved how seriously you were taking this, and if he wasn’t already totally enamored with you this would have sealed the deal.

You’d taught him how to determine its freshness, “You have to pull a needle off and see if it bends or snaps. If it snaps then it’s already way too dried out and you’re just purchasing a giant match stick.” 

From there the came the scent test, “Now sniff the tree, you have to get your face in there. The stronger the tree scent the longer it will last.” 

And finally, the aesthetics. 

“I like mine a little girthy and on the fuller side, but that’s all a matter of personal preference. You want some gaps, so that the heavier ornaments can hang better, but not too many. And the top has to be straight, no one wants a lopsided tree topper.”

“That’s not the only thing you like full and girthy,” he couldn’t help but let slip out.

“Bradley, there are children here!” you admonished while looking around wide eyed, but that didn’t stop you from grazing the front of his jeans every chance you got.

So, when he managed to find what you excitedly deemed to be the “absolute most perfect tree!”, he couldn’t help but preen his face feeling a bit warm from the attention and praise you showered him with.

He’d hauled the tree up to the check out where it was bundled while he paid, and then carried it over his shoulder out to the Bronco. You’d trailed behind him carrying the wreath you’d picked out humming along with the music.

“Is there such a thing as a competence kink? Because this,” you had mused gesturing to him tying the tree down in the back, his hands tingling, “is definitely doing it for me.” He had just grinned and shaken his head at you, his face heating up a bit. However, he couldn’t help but flex a bit more for your benefit as he finished up.

And when you made him pull off the road less than 10 minutes later, to indulge in that new self-discovery with your mouth around his cock, well that was very much for his benefit.

Now you’re with him at his place.  You guys had wrangled the perfect tree into the house and had gotten it set up in front of his windows in the living room near the upright piano he had tucked in the corner. He loved the smell that was filling the room and the way you’d lit up once it was in place. If he had his way, you’d be around all the time.

Bradley could hear you singing along to the Christmas album he had picked up that was playing on his Dad’s old record player as you worked on putting together some hot toddies in the kitchen. You had put him on light duty, and he was determined to make it the best-looking thing you’ve ever seen.

He worked going round and round the Christmas tree, the lights all shining merrily. He took his time making sure to wrap and tuck the lights around the branches, the cozy glow filling his chest with warmth.

But the longer he worked the more he was starting to get worried that he was coming down with a bug or something, his face starting to feel slightly feverish. His throat getting thick and uncomfortable.

He’d noticed it earlier at the tree lot, but didn’t want to give it too much thought. The Navy had ruined his Thanksgiving plans with you and he didn’t want to let you down again. He worked to string lights on a few more branches adamant to push through for you. 

“Sweetheart,” he reluctantly called out to you, “I think I might be coming down with something. I’m not feeling too hot, and my throat is kinda scratchy.” The guilt was starting to settle in the pit of his stomach, maybe if he rested now he could keep it from getting too bad.

He turns to see you coming out of the kitchen with two steaming mugs in your hand, your eyes going wide.

He turns back to the tree looking to see if he accidentally fucked something up. It was his first time with a real tree, maybe the lights needed to be strung differently.

“Bradley. Oh my god.”

You had just put the finishing touches on the hot toddies and were already walking out of the kitchen when Bradley had called out to you. Those beverages were quickly abandoned on his coffee table as you propelled yourself towards him.

His face was brightly flushed and his eyes were shade of red that made your own itch in sympathy. You reach up to tug at the collar of the flannel he was wearing to get a better look at the skin of his neck and chest. The scars on his neck were standing out in contrast to his reddened skin.

“Sweetheart, what are you doing?” Even his voice was sounding a bit scratchy. You ignore him in favor for undoing the buttons at the cuff and rolling up the sleeve of his shirt, trying to not let yourself get too anxious. “You tryin’ to get me to put these lights up topless like some kind of sexy Santa?”

You shush him as you finally get the sleeve rolled up when your suspicions are confirmed, his thick forearm is absolutely covered in angry looking raised red welts. 

“Oh no. Roos, baby. You’re breaking out.” Already pulling him away from the 7-foot issue occupying the living room and heading towards the kitchen, “I think you have pine tree allergy.” 

He finally looks away from your face and down to his arm, a deep furrow settling over his features, “Oh fuck.” You get him seated at his oval oak dining table grabbing your phone to figure out what to do next.

“Yeah, ‘Oh fuck’,” you repeat back to him eyes skimming the information on the page you clicked into.  You’ve always been the type to take charge in a crisis, this would be no different. You’d make sure he’s taken care of the way he needs to be. The way he deserves to be.

“How’s your breathing feel? Is your throat feeling tight or like it’s closing up?” you ask looking up at him.

His red-rimmed honey eyes seem to shift focus like he’s lost in thought for a brief moment.

“Rooster.”

He shakes his head. “Sorry, baby,” he says a bit bashfully. “I’m used to being the one levelheaded in stressful situations, but you should see the intensity on your face. I think you coulda been a pilot.”

“Bradley, I’m flattered. Truly,” you’ve learned that he isn’t the type to say things he doesn’t mean and you respect the hell out of what he does. “Although I’m sure there are a few more qualifications I’d have to pass than that,” you reply lightly, petting the back of his hand resting on the table. “But I need you stick with me here. I just need to figure out if we need to get you to the ER or not.”

He nods. “It’s a little thick, but not like it’s going to close up. And really scratchy, ‘s all.”

“Ok, that’s good. That’s good,” you repeat again more to yourself than him. 

You love this man so much, and he deserves the world. This is the last thing you would have wanted for him and his very first, and last, real tree.

You can still hear the record playing in the background as you try not to gnaw on the inside of your cheek working to put your game plan together.

After firing off a quick text to Jake, you quickly pop upstairs to Bradley’s medicine cupboard, hoping that he has some antihistamines tucked away in there. You breathe a sigh of relief when you see the pink box, grabbing it you tear off a couple squares from the silver lined sheet to bring back to him.

He’s still sitting where you left him at the dining table. He’s slumped down in the chair his mouth pulled down at the corners, and you think it’s probably because he’s not feeling the greatest right now. You hand him the meds and a fetch him a glass of water, watching as the tendons of his throat flex as they work to swallow the pills down. The red welts have finally made an appearance there too, and are an angry contrast to his usually golden skin.

“Let’s get you out of these clothes, hmm?” You bend down to catch his eyes with your and holding out our hands to him. He nods once taking your smaller hands in his as he lets you pull him up. 

You help him to unbutton and remove the flannel shirt trying to avoid further contact with the hives on his body, not wanting to cause him anymore discomfort. Once his wide chest and arms are uncovered, you work his jeans down his thick thighs leaving him in his tight black boxer briefs. There’s nothing more than you love than being up close with Rooster’s body, but right now you’re on a mission and can’t be distracted by all the skin before you.

While you’re still feeling concerned for him, you can feel your anxiety starting to settle a bit from where it was at earlier. You’ve got a plan, you’ve already checked off a few things, and you’ll be able to take a breath once Bradley is taken care of.

He’s ruining everything with you. First Thanksgiving and now Christmas. 

How the fuck did he not know he was allergic to pine trees? He’s 35, he should known those kinds of things by now. Shouldn’t he?

He is frustrated as fuck laying on top of the king-sized bed in his darkened bedroom, the stinging of the hives on his arms and upper body were driving him crazy. God, his eyes itched and burned. Although, he couldn’t tell if it as from the reaction to the tree or from fighting the sudden urge to cry for the first time in a very long time.

The afternoon was not going as he had envisioned it. He wanted to sing some carols loudly while getting tipsy off hot toddies with you. Dance with you in between hanging ornaments on the tree. Maybe fuck you under the tree if he played his cards right, he wanted to be the one to get your tinsel in a tangle. 

All he had wanted was to make you happy. You weren’t spending Christmas with your family, and he didn’t want you to miss out on anything being in California with him instead. He was really excited about the holiday for the first time in what felt like forever, and it had everything to do with you.

“Do you have any oatmeal here?” You had asked him not too long ago, and it was all he could do to point you in the right direction as the guilt was eating away at him. Once you had found it, you had sent him away to go upstairs to get him further away from the tree. His strong, capable, and pretty girlfriend was left to deal with the mess downstairs without him. 

He could hear the whir of the blender and wondered what you were up to. Sulking at the fact that all he could do is wait for the antihistamines to kick in, and hope that he’d be feeling better soon so that he could help you take care of things.

“Bradley? Baby, are you awake?” You entered the dimly lit room cautiously, approaching him gingerly on the bed and holding a large bowl with something fluffy and powdery looking in it. He hadn’t heard you come up the stairs.

He loved the sound of your voice. He loved it in the morning when it was thick with sleep, how excited you got when you were talking about something you were passionate about, and he especially loved the breathy whispers and words of encouragement from you in his ear late at night when he was moving so deep within you. What he didn’t love was being the reason you were so anxious, that he was at fault for why your tone was so laced with concerned. 

“Yeah,” although he was starting to feel sluggish, “’m still awake.” He felt your cool hands on his face and leaned into your soothing touch, pressing a kiss to your palm.

“I’m going to make you an oatmeal bath,” you informed him gesturing to the bowl in your hand. “From what I’ve been reading online that should help calm down the hives, hopefully stop them from spreading anymore.’

“Okay, Sweetheart,” he sighed. He can hear how pitiful he sounds, but right now his girl is the only thing that is making him feel good, and he will do anything you ask of him.

You set about turning the taps on for the large tub in the bathroom, twisting the handles to get the water to come out at the right temperature. Once you were satisfied, you swirled in the oat powder you had made watching as the water turned cloudy, then headed back into the bedroom to get Bradley.

“Let’s get you in the tub so you can soak for a bit, yeah?” He looks so miserable alone stretched out on the bed. “It’s not too hot, and it should help you feel better,” you help him to sit up placing a kiss to the lines of the scars on his cheek trying to comfort him.

Ever the soldier, he dutifully follows you into the bathroom. Once he is stripped of his briefs and comfortably situated in the milky mixture, his eyes flutter closed as he reclines back, leaning his head against the ledge of the tub. You move kneel on the floor next to him running your fingers through his sun-streaked waves.

Your little pocket of peace is disturbed a few minutes later by the ding of your phone.

“Jake just got here,” you announce filling him in on the next part of your plan, “He’s going to help me with the tree.” 

“’posed to be my job,” Bradley sulks making a petulant sound in his throat. You can’t help but let out a gentle tsk while fighting back a small smile at his response.  

“I just want you to relax here and let the oatmeal do its thing. I’m going to get things wrapped up downstairs it shouldn’t take too long, and then I’ll come back to check on you.”

“Mmhm, fine,” he sighs as you press a kiss to his forehead.

You let Jake in and he is quick to jump in taking over by unwinding the lights off from the partially lit tree. He’s even quicker to haul the massive thing out of the house and into the back of his truck, as the new owner of the 7-foot Noble Fir. After the tree is deposited, he heads back in and helps you coil the lights back up so they’re not in a tangled mess on the floor making some light small talk because he can tell your mind is elsewhere. 

On his way out the door he shoots you a cocky salute, a shit-eating grin already plastered on his face.  “You can thank my new Trot PR for how quickly I was able to run back to my place after I got your SOS text to get here as quickly as I did, Darlin’,” he drawls. 

You flip him off, but tell him to text you what meals he’d like you to make and bring over later in the week as thanks for his help. And with a quick kiss to his cheek, you shoo him out the door wanting to get back to your boyfriend.

After he leaves, you break out the vacuum and work on getting the needles off the ground before moving on to the laundry. You grab the pile of Bradley’s clothes from the floor in the kitchen where you had left them before stripping down to your underwear, throwing everything in the washer and turning it on to get rid of any potential lingering irritants.

You make you way back upstairs, stopping to slip on one of Bradley’s old UVA t-shirts and grabbing him a loose pair of navy sweatpants, before going in to check on him. He is still there soaking his head tilted back and eyes closed, just as you had left him. Thankfully the hives have seemed to stop their spread leaving his face untouched. His neck, chest, and arms still bearing the brunt of his allergic reaction.

You gently knock on the door to announce your presence, not wanting to startle him. “You ready to come out now, baby?” Before him you had never been a pet name person, but now all you wanted to be a source of comfort in his life. A soft place for him to land.

“Yeah,” he turns his head towards the sound of your voice, “I think I might be getting a bit prune-y, but that felt really good. Thank you, Sweetheart.” He has finally opened his eyes and looking right at you, with a smile small and soft, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. 

You’re trying not to read into it too much, not wanting to let your anxiety get the best of you. You help him up from bath and use the handheld to first shower him off, grabbing a fluffy towel to help gingerly pat him dry. As he bends to pull on the sweatpants you had brought in you turn to rinse out the remaining oatmeal residue from the tub. He presses a kiss to the back of your head as he passes by you to make his way back to the bedroom.

By the time you’re done he has already climbed into bed, the comforter on your side already pulled back as he reaches out for you to get in with him. The white percale sheets you had helped him pick out were cool and luxuriously soft to the touch, and you feel yourself release the breath it felt like you’d been holding since you entered the living room holding those long forgotten hot toddies.

Bradley is quick to lace your fingers together and tuck his face into the space between your neck and shoulder, his mustache ticking the soft skin of your throat there. For all of his golden retriever energy, he is soaking up your affection and attention like a lap cat as you slowly rub your free hand up and down his broad back.

However, he’s still entirely too quiet. Your lips press tightly together on their own accord as you begin to think that there’s something more on his mind that he’s not sharing with you than just the effects of the hives and double dose of Benadryl.

You’re about to speak up when he beats you to it, “I’m so sorry, Sweetheart. I just wanted you to feel at home and now I’ve ruined Christmas.” You’ve never heard his voice sound so small.

Oh. Oh no.

“Bradley, please look at me.” 

You lean back a bit as he removes his face from the spot it was tucked into and study his beautiful yet troubled looking eyes. “Is this why you’ve been so quiet? Please tell me you haven’t been spiraling thinking you’ve ruined anything.” He looks away, and you feel your brows scrunch together.

You cup his cheek in your hand, running your thumb down the cleft of his chin, “I love you so much and we’re going to have such a wonderful Christmas together, a tree is a nonissue here, baby. You matter more to me. I hope you know that.” His gaze finally meets yours and you continue on, “I need you to hear me. You’ve got absolutely nothing to apologize for. Nothing is ruined and nothing that happened today is your fault. Ok?” Nodding your head, needing for him to understand and let go of his misplaced guilt. 

You see the exact moment he absorbs and believes everything you’re saying to him, his shoulders releasing the tension that had gathered there. “Ok, I hear you.” You lean into him to place a tender kiss on his lips. “I love you so much,” he breaths against your mouth.

“I love you too,” you say pressing one more lingering kiss to his lips before encouraging him to settle his head back down again. He reaches for your hand, guiding it to his hair, prompting you to comb your fingers through his curls. 

“Now that we’ve settled that, how are you feeling? What else can I do to help?” 

“You’ve done so much for me,” he murmurs kissing your neck gently. “’M just tired now and want to hold you for a bit. The Benadryl is starting to kick my ass.” He pauses for a moment, “But maybe we can order some pizza, Sweetheart? And put on one of those Christmas movies you like? Y’know the ones where the people live in a town is named something like Tinselville and their dogs fall in love?” He asks his voice sounding a bit boyish and hopeful. 

You can’t help but let out a giggle because, really, his description is not too far off. You can feel his smile against the side of your neck as you turn the tv on.

“You can have whatever you like, handsome boy. Pizza and Oscar quality Christmas content, it is.” You grab your phone unlocking it and opening up to the delivery app, when Bradley plucks it from your hand tossing it to the side and placing his in yours instead.

“Order from mine instead, it’s my turn to take care of you,” he states slinging his arm low over your hip.

You click the button on the side to wake his phone up only to see your face smiling back at you on his lockscreen. Nose bright from the cold, surrounded by trees, and wrapped up in a scarf your mom had loaned to you since you hadn’t brought any practical winter-wear home with you.

It’s the picture that Bradley has sent himself the other night at the bar, and you’re flooded with a rush of affection for the man nestled against you. You notice his wallpaper is still the picture of you and him from this Halloween when you’d surprised everyone by dressing up as him, he’s kissing you squarely on the mouth while grabbing a handful of your ass. It was one of your favorites too.

You’d just finished submitting the order, when a text from Jake comes through, and you roll your eyes.

Those 5th Gens didn’t get you, but you’re taken out by a fucking a Christmas Tree. Would hate to see what one of those tree shaped car fresheners would do to you.

You’re not going to let him come for your boyfriend, even in playful roasting, when you just managed to picked his spirits up. Not tonight, Hangman. And you set to typing your response with your one free hand, the other still carding through Bradley’s curls. 

Listen up, Lieutenant Turkey Trot. I was planning on surprising you with a bottle of that Texas bourbon you like when I swing by with the food later this week, but now that’s up to you. Do with that what you will... xx

Not bothering to wait for a response you hand Bradley back his phone only to see it light up again. “Lieutenant Turkey Trot,” he snorts, “Damn. Hangman apologized. And he says he wants a lasagna and your chicken and dumpling casserole.”

Southern men are too easy. Nothing is as important to them as food and their mamas. You smile smugly to yourself, making a mental note to go to remember to stop by that speciality liquor store by your place.

The food is delivered not too much later, you and Bradley eat in bed the box sitting between you while making fun of the plot of the movie you had turned on. You can tell the Benadryl is staring to win when Bradley’s running commentary tapers and his breathing begins to even out.

“It’s ok to go to sleep, baby.”

“Just resting my eyes, wanna see if they figure out why the poinsettias aren’t blooming.”  

“You should get your rest,” you gently press, “I’ll set record it and you can find out tomorrow.”

“You’re gonna stay the night, right?” He asks sleepily as he concedes and begins to burrow down into his bed.

“Of course. If you want me here, I’ll stay.” Truth be told, you liked his bed better than yours. You’d even went back to the shop where you’d helped Bradley pick out his sheets from and bought the same percale set for your place in an attempt to help you sleep better.

You set an alarm for earlier than you’d like, remembering you have a meeting first thing in the morning. “I might have to leave a bit earlier than usual though,” you mention softly, “Since I’ll need to go to my place before I have to head in to the office.” You hadn’t originally planned on staying over due to your early morning and now you were kicking yourself for not grabbing a few things to keep in your car just in case.

“Yes. Stay,” he murmurs and reaches out to you, wrapping his arm around your midsection and pulling you to his chest. You let your fingers trace lightly down his forearm, feeling the hills and valleys caused by the welts that litter his arm. He lets out a hum of contentment in response, you’re pressed so close to him you can feel the vibrations of the sound from his chest against your back.

You think you’ve finally lost him to sleep when he mumbles already half gone, “Why don’t you keep more things here?” You can feel his warm breath against the back of your neck.

“How much were you thinking? You saying you want to share a drawer with me?” you lightly tease.

“Bring it all,” he sighs, “Want you here.”

The sound of his soft snores filling your ear only a couple minutes later.

You don’t bring up Bradley’s half-asleep musings, you won’t hold him to anything said under the influence of the antihistamines. While the thoughts of moving in and living with Bradley made your heart beat a bit faster, you kept those hopes tucked away just for yourself.

It was now a week after the pine tree debacle, Bradley’s hives were quick to clear up after a couple days and a few oatmeal baths later. Your skin was still reaping the benefits of the oatmeal too after he managed to coax you in with him one evening. 

He had texted you earlier in the day asking for you to swing by his place after work. You knew the door would be unlocked for you, and you let yourself in.

“That you, Sweetheart?” He called out from nearby, you can hear the sounds of some crooner singing in the background.

“Yeah, it’s me." You set your purse and work tote down before bending to undo your heels at the door. “Hey, I was thinking on my way over here, I bet lots of places still have artificial trees left in stock that we could get. I feel like we need a Christmas redo.” You get one off and begin working on the other, “I was planning on getting one to liven up my place too, maybe I can find one of those ostentatious pink ones I tried to talk my parents into getting and fulfill a lifelong dream.” You say that last part with a little laugh.

You finally win the battle against the top buckle of your cute shoe finally kicking it off and wiggling your toes out, “Ooh! Maybe we can go to that cute cocktail bar off 17th afterwards? One of my coworkers was talking about their new seasonal drinks today and it seems festive.”

You fish your phone out of your purse and make your way to the living room, “That is if you didn’t have anything planned.”

Your voice trails off at the end because when you round the corner you find Bradley in his living room looking very proud with a self-satisfied smile on his face already standing next to a Christmas tree.

A very large, very fluffy, pink Christmas tree.

You stand there entirely stunned. The juxtaposition of your tall, handsome naval aviator next to this truly over the top frosted tree has your brain working overtime. The entire room is cast in a dreamy glow from many strands of white lights he had already spun around it.

“I still feel bad that about what happened the other weekend, and I wanted to make it up to you. At the bar, I heard you telling Phoenix that you always wanted a pink tree, so I hope this is similar to what you hand in mind.” He seems to be getting a bit nervous now, since all it seems you can do is just blink at him. He reaches around into his back pocket pulling out a small tube, “I even got some of those scent stick things to tuck in if you-” 

He doesn’t get to finish since you’ve launch yourself at him.

“Bradley!” He catches you easily with one arm as you begin peppering his face with kisses.

His laugher fills the room and his grin lights up his face at your reaction, “Are you happy, Sweetheart?”  

“I’m the happiest! Oh my god! Are you for real?” you exclaim in between kisses. You stop the assault on his face to take it in your hands, “Seriously though, there is nothing to feel bad about. You’re what matters most to me. I mean, yes, I absolutely love this. But you should have what you like too.”

He takes a step back, with you still in his arms and propped up on his hip. He thoughtfully studies the tree in front of you both. “Yep. This is definitely the perfect tree,” he declares proudly, “It’s full and girthy. Has some good gaps, and look at that top. Straight as an arrow. Although we might need to get some more decorations for it, but I got it started.”

You look from him back to the tree puzzled, since you don’t see anything on it aside from the lights. He walks you both closer, and pulls off what looks to be a strand of curling ribbon with a shiny silver object dangling from it from a branch on the tree. 

A key.

He sets you down back on your own two feet, holding you close against his body bringing his forehead to yours. “I meant it, Sweetheart. Bring it all. There’s nothing I want more than for you to be here. All the time. With me. You’re the only thing on my list this year, you’re all I want. Will you let me give you more than a drawer?” His honey brown eyes gazing at you hopefully.

You already knew what your response would be even before he pulled that key from off the tree, and the answer must be all over your face because Bradley’s face breaks into a beam as he picks you up and spins you around.

The choice has always been easy with him, it’ll always be a yes.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Causally hyper-fixating over all things TGM at bradshawburner

You can find the prequel to this story here!

Find out what happens during their second Christmas together here!

You can read more of my stories here!

#bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley bradshaw x you #bradley rooster bradshaw x reader #bradley bradshaw fanfiction #rooster x reader #rooster x female reader #rooster x you #bradley bradshaw x female reader #bradley bradshaw imagine #top gun fanfiction #bradley bradshaw fic #bradley bradshaw #bradley rooster bradshaw #hello december playlist challenge

[gretagerwigsmuse]

(christmas) baby please come home

summary: in which lieutenant commander bradshaw and his girlfriend throw a christmas party, complete with a christmas tree, copious amounts of champagne, blended friend groups, and the true meaning of the word home

OR what do you do when your boyfriend gets deployed over christmas and he gets you two christmas presents?

pairing: Rooster x Fem!Reader 11.8k

warnings: 18+, explicit language, explicit sexual content

part of @notroosterbradshaw ‘s hello december challenge

masterlist and playlist

It was obvious that you knew how to throw a party. 

Furthermore, it was obvious that none of your and Bradley’s friends - baring Max, but only because he had professional help - would ever be able to pull off a party of the same caliber as your Christmas party. 

Subconsciously, you wanted your friends to be jealous of you and impressed with how well you and Bradley had pulled things off. It was, admittedly, such a vain and shallow thought - no, desire to want to be the best at this. At throwing parties.

The Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack was currently echoing throughout the downstairs on the Sonos, the twinkling jazz giving off a whimsical, yet sophisticated vibe, the Christmas tree looked stunning in the living room where it was covered in nearly three thousand white lights and countless ornaments, and the food that you and Bradley - but mainly Bradley - had spent all morning and last night preparing was laid out on festive serving dishes, complete with seasonally appropriate plates and napkins, perfectly folded in their napkin rings. 

You had scoured San Diego county for the most gorgeous garland possible to serve as the centerpiece on the dining room table, the berries and pine cones in it perfectly matching the plates and napkins and serving dishes. You had vacuumed the hardwood floor twice and washed it once before everyone came over and knew you would do so again once everyone left, if only so you could casually say it’s fine, you can keep your shoes on, we’re washing the floor tomorrow anyway. The candles weren’t overpowering, there was soft lighting all throughout the house, and you’d somehow wrangled a recipe for the cookies Bradley’s mom used to make from Sarah Kazansky and hadn't even burnt them.  

Because you wanted people to talk about it - the party. And to say did you see their bathroom? It was so clean, there weren’t any water spots on the faucet. The beef tenderloin appetizers were delicious, they had to have gotten the meat someplace special? No, definitely not Vons, maybe some local butcher in La Jolla? Aren’t they such a sweet couple? Such a good pair.

Because it had to be perfect. 

All of it.

Because this was Bradley’s Christmas. His only Christmas that year. Nothing could go amiss. And you wanted everyone to be jealous of it, so much so that tonight would be equal to if not better than how they celebrated the actual holiday with their own families - in their own homes - on Christmas Day. 

Because they weren’t going to be spending the holiday on a drafty aircraft carrier in the middle of the Pacific far from home like Bradley was. 

And Bradley deserved the entire world and all the happiness he could possibly have. The way his face had lit up when you’d first suggested the party after he’d gotten his orders at the beginning of November would stick with you for months. You’d told him that everything would be perfect, that you would pack enough Christmas spirit and love and gifts and food into one evening that it would take the sting out of being away from home - being away from you - at Christmas. Even if for just one night.

The guests had all arrived, some promptly and some not-so-promptly, with you and Bradley greeting them all, telling them to help themselves to all the food and drinks they wanted. Apparently, Max had a surprise for later that you prayed was not him putting on a Santa suit. But the conversation and drinks were flowing with ease, despite the blending of your two friend groups for the first time. 

It was a good party. 

Except right now, it was your turn to be the jealous one.

You watched, enviously, as one of your work friends leaned against the kitchen island with a glass of prosecco in her hand, while the other gripped Jake Seresin’s bicep. The jealousy wasn’t because of Jake or any attention he may have been giving her, mind you. 

(Because no, no - while you may no longer have had an intense hatred for Bradley’s nemesis cum friend, you still didn’t actively seek out his presence and you definitely didn’t want his attention - not for anything other than a great party as he left your - no, Bradley’s house later that night.)

No - you were jealous of her dress. Her gorgeous, deep garnet, midi-length, sleeveless dress. That looked absolutely stunning on her, though a touch too fancy for a Christmas party in South Park. She looked gorgeous, beautiful - statuesque. 

You absentmindedly fixed the bow on your wrap dress. Your long sleeved, silk wrap dress - that also did plenty to hide any unwanted lines or bumps around your stomach. And your arms. 

Weeks ago, back when the party was but a pipe dream, you’d been eyeing this absolutely adorable, sleeveless, mini-dress for the event. Like your friend’s dress, it probably erred on the side of slightly too fancy for a house party, but it had been so pretty and so perfect. It had sat in your cart online for at least two weeks - you just wanted to see if it would go on sale before you finally pulled the trigger. 

Until Thanksgiving. 

When you saw how unflattering your arms looked in the black cashmere tank you’d brought for dinner to your parents’ house. You thanked your past self for having the forethought to pack a cardigan, which didn’t come off until hours later after all your aunts and uncles and cousins had left and you were snuggled up in Bradley’s arms. 

Maybe you should try the HIIT classes on your Peloton instead of all those beginner rides you were still doing with Cody? Or get arm weights? The girls who worked out in the front two rows of your pilates class swore by them. They barely needed any input from the instructor - they just knew how to move their bodies that way. Or maybe you could ask your parents for a higher Class Pass subscription for Christmas? It would give you something to focus on while Bradley was gone. 

You hadn’t been this self conscious at the gala back in October and that dress was far more daring than anything you’d ever worn before; practically open back, with a risqué slit and a deep v neckline, to say nothing of what you had worn just for Bradley later that night. 

So, why now? Why tonight when you were supposed to be enjoying this time with your boyfriend and all your friends before the holidays? Why tonight, when everything else was going so right, were you being bogged down by this insecurity in your own home - no, no, it was Bradley’s home, not yours.

Was it because he was leaving? And you didn’t want one of his last images of you for three months to be your arms in a too tight dress? Because that was so shallow and silly and ridiculous. 

But what if it was true? Bradley was so pretty and handsome and charming and sweet, what if there was someone else on that boat that also thought he was pretty and handsome and charming and sweet? And you’d seen all the other aviators and naval personnel at that gala, they were stunning. What if Bradley thought that too - no, no, no. You weren’t going to focus on that for one of your last nights with him. 

Bradley loved you, Bradley proved how much he loved you every single day, Bradley catered to your every whim about this party with the biggest smile on his face. 

Bradley loved you. 

You were just being ridiculous and shallow and over dramatic and spiraling before he left. Bradley loved you, Bradley loved you. He loved you. He - was wrapping his arms around your waist. 

“How’s it going?” His voice rumbled in your ear and you leaned back against him. 

God, he was so strong and soft and warm and smelled so pretty all the time. You were going to miss him so much. You felt him fiddle with the bow tying your burgundy dress together and ducked your head. 

“Good, just came to get a drink.” Which you had been doing - about three minutes ago. “And wanted to make sure everyone in here was all set.”

Bradley hummed and swayed you back and forth in his arms. “Look at you, hostess with the mostess - or however that goes. You want me to make you another drink?”

You nodded. “Please.”

You both had decided to set up the bar in the kitchen, while keeping the food in the dining room and the dessert in the sitting room for later. Hours ago, before you had even hopped in the shower, the bar had been painstakingly set up and organized. Now, it needed some work. You cursed yourself for not checking on it earlier in the evening - you couldn’t believe your guests had been serving themselves from this all night. 

The glasses were no longer in neat rows, organized by type, the bowl with the limes was running dangerously low, and the caps to the liquor bottles and the champagne corks were scattered across the table. Without a second thought, you started organizing everything before Bradley could even get you a fresh glass. 

You could tell he wanted to say something, but - at least for that moment - he just rubbed your back and then poured you another glass of champagne, making sure to put the bottle back properly. Meanwhile, you scooped up the stray corks and foil and other bottle caps and threw them in the garbage underneath the sink. You had enough time, maybe you could pop those dirty wine glasses in the empty dishwasher? Wait - there was a puddle of condensation underneath an open bottle of champagne. You frowned. Clearly, someone hadn’t put it back in the bucket. Who would do that? Didn’t they know to put it back exactly where -  

“- You good?” 

Bradley’s voice was so soft and reassuring and you couldn’t believe you’d soon be going without hearing it for months. Unable to wait another second, you wrapped your arms around him in a hug, which he eagerly returned and you nuzzled his chest. Bradley’s shirt for the party was an exceptionally soft flannel in a solid navy color that you’d found on sale. He hated buying himself clothes, even more so spending a lot of money on them, but he always liked whatever you picked out for him. 

Maybe you could buy him some new clothes while he was gone? By now, you knew what he liked and didn’t like - right down to the colors and fabric types. He needed some new undershirts - and socks. You nuzzled your face into his chest. He felt so warm and soft and smelled so good. You had to buy a travel sized bottle of his cologne before he left. 

“You sure you’re okay, kid?” he asked again. 

“Just a little overwhelmed - and kinda tired.” You pulled your head back to look at him, but the two of you still kept your arms around the other. 

“Well,” Bradley started, “to be fair, you did do like all the work for this party, think it’s valid to be a little tired, sweetheart.”

“What? No?” You were offended on his behalf. “Bubs, you made all the food and -”

“- Yeah, but you helped with the food and did all the work getting the house ready.”

You cocked your head, considering this. “I mean, I did. Didn’t I?” Bradley chuckled. “Okay, fine - I’m tired. But it’s a good tired, I think?”

“A good tired, huh?” His thumbs were making the most soothing circles on your hips.

“Like a heart full tired? A changing for dinner after a spending a day at the beach tired - no, wait. A post gala eating french fries in bed and watching Moonstruck tired?” An after you fucked me so hard I could barely remember my own name tired. 

“You should’ve just led with that last one.” He kissed your temple and ran his hands up and down the silk fabric covering your arms. “Would’ve known exactly what you were talking about then.”

You lightly shoved his chest and then pulled him back in for a hug. “I’m also gonna miss you a lot…”

That was the crux of it. You were going to miss him so much you thought your heart was going to burst. And enjoying all the Christmas festivities tonight - on the second Saturday in December - made it all the more apparent that Bradley wasn’t going to be with you over the holidays. He wouldn’t be with you again until March. 

You two had gotten through plenty of training missions, short diplomatic visits, and off-sites - on your end - over the last eight months. But this was Bradley’s first, real deployment. 

God, if only Emily Simpson could see you now. You and Bradley had both been so cocky, so confident back in October at the gala about how effortlessly you handled the time spent apart. But you hadn’t been staring down a three month long deployment back then. 

Three months was a long time. Six pay cycles, at least twelve trips to the grocery, four off-sites, the entirety of Q1, five nail appointments, twenty four pilates classes, and if he knocked you up that very night, it could be the entirety of a first trimester of pregnancy. Not that you wanted to be pregnant - at least not for a while. Like quite a while. It was just a way to compare time. You didn’t want to be pregnant. 

Three months, three months, three months. 

And then he’d come home to you. To you and your life together.

That’s why the party had to be perfect. Because it would remind Bradley of home and all he had to look forward to when he came back in three months. 

“I’m gonna miss you, too.  Never really had someone to miss before on one of these - not like this.” 

And then he kissed you - quick, little butterfly kisses that soon turned bolder and more daring, especially considering there were five or so other people milling about the kitchen. Bradley’s tongue licked your bottom lip, eventually coaxing your mouth open. He tasted like the old fashioned you saw him drinking earlier. You slid your arms up his chest to wrap around his neck, pulling him closer and fiddled with the ends of his soft hair. 

The sounds of the party disappeared around you - you could no longer hear Frank Sinatra singing Jingle Bells, Jake and Georgie talking in the corner, or Javy getting drinks for him and his girlfriend to your right.

All you could focus on was Bradley. And how warm and soft and strong he felt in your arms and how -

“- Fuck’s sake, Bradshaw. Do you want us to leave or…”

You turned around to face Jake and Georgie, the latter of whom looked beyond embarrassed, and leaned back against Bradley’s chest. Shit - you’d forgotten you had an audience, especially Jake and Javy.

“Sorry…” You felt warm all over at getting caught. Normally, you and Bradley weren’t big on PDA, but you’d been needy lately - both of you had been. 

Further down to your right, Javy just chuckled. “Give ‘em a break. You’d be the same if you could hold someone down long enough.” Bradley laughed, while Jake turned beat red.

While him and Javy started chirping at each other, Bradley took your hand and led you out of the kitchen, past all the guests congregating in the dining room and over towards the sitting room. 

“Here, I know what’ll cheer you up.”

There were only a couple people in this part of the house - Caroline and Max, Bob and Callie, and Natasha and Rory, the latter of whom had gone with her to the gala back in October. They were a relatively quiet crowd and looked to be captivated by a story Max was telling. But then again, people were always captivated by Max. 

“…so I say to Garoppolo, ‘you really wanna get the shit beaten out of you for the second time this week?’ Because a guy who folds in front of the fucking Broncos’ defensive line is not one I think can handle being humiliated like this on - aww, if it isn’t Bradley-Boy and our lovely hostess. Come here and give me a kiss, sweetheart.” You chuckled and started over towards Max. “No, not you, darling. I meant Bradley-Boy.” 

With giggles and jeers, everyone turned towards Bradley, who was definitely blushing. But ever the dutiful host, he trudged over towards Max and planted a sloppy kiss on his forehead. 

You had met Max over a year ago via your best friend from college, Caroline. Bradley, on the other hand, had met Max in late March at Mission Beach, right before the two of you had started going out. 

Since moving back to California, Bradley had taken up surfing again and relished his weekend mornings out in the chilly Pacific. It had taken a couple weeks for the guys to realize they were both regulars and get past the initial head nod greeting, but after that they got on like a house on fire. Despite Max being a typical nepotism baby, VC-firm-bro type and Bradley the outgoing, naval man, they were each other’s best friend.

And to be perfectly honest, you thought they may have been a little in love with each other.

Who knows, maybe you would have been at Bradley and Max’s holiday party if you hadn’t met him in April.

“All good now, peaches?” Bradley teased and then turned to everyone else in their little group. “Just so you know, the story ends with Jimmy G challenging Maxi-Pad to a closest to the pin contest and Max shanking his tee shot.”

You laughed and wrapped your free arm back around Bradley’s waist. “Was this how you planned to cheer me up?”

“Oh, god. What’d you do now, Rooster?” Natasha teased. 

“Can I call you ‘Rooster?’” Max asked, much to Caroline’s delight.

“Absolutely fucking not,” Bradley said and then turned towards Natasha. “And nothing, just trying to do everything so can to make sure my girl has a lovely evening.” Everyone let out various sighs and swoons, except Nat and Max, who feigned gagging. “Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

He grabbed your free hand again and brought you over to the upright piano in the corner, next to where Callie and Bob were lounging on the loveseat. You desperately hoped Bradley was going to play for you - maybe even some Christmas carols. He had such a natural talent for it, even beyond his usual Hard Deck repertoire of that damn Jerry Lee Lewis song. He could play Debussy, Ravel, Schumann - anything, really. You figured he’d start off with Jingle Bells or something like that, but he surprised you with something new.

Bradley’s fingers twinkled out the opening notes to Linus and Lucy and you, and the others in the sitting room, couldn’t help but laugh. He had been right - this did cheer you up. You had always loved the Peanuts. 

Growing up, you’d gone to the Charles Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa too many times to count. It became your favorite place during your parents’ divorce and you always begged your dad to take you whenever you were having a bad day. But then, when the divorce had been finalized and you, your dad and brother eventually moved down to Berkeley, you didn’t get the opportunity to go as often. But your love for the cartoon characters never died and you had the sneaking suspicion that Bradley had learned the song for you - this was the first time you’d ever heard him play it.

You took a hearty sip of your champagne and leaned your arms on the top of the piano, eventually resting your cheek against your fist. Your cheeks hurt from the massive smile stretching across your face as you looked fondly at Bradley. He was concentrating so hard, his tongue was peeking out of his mouth. And his long, graceful fingers were flying across the keys. 

You couldn’t imagine how long it took him to learn this if he was already off book. Did you mention his fingers? His hands? God, they were beautiful. Strong and long and corded - was that the right word? You recalled it from those regency romance novels you had hidden on your Kindle. God, you loved him so much. So fucking much. You’d never loved a person this much before - oh, you were going to miss him so much.

“You two are just like Lucy and Schroeder,” Callie cooed, snapping you out of your thoughts and causing Bradley to fumble a couple of notes. He also was blushing, which was sweet. 

A couple more people filtered into the sitting room, drawn in by the music, and soon people were throwing out requests for Bradley to play while others chatted in the background. He took Pete’s suggestion of Jingle Bells and soon played a jazzy version of the song. 

While Bradley played, the older man came up to you to chat. Penny couldn’t make it to the party, which was admittedly a bit of a disappointment, but she was hoping to stop by later once things wound down a bit at the Hard Deck. 

“Hell of a party, kid.” He toasted you with his beer. 

“Thanks, I just wanted to do something nice for Bradley.”

“Pretty sure you could’ve gotten a pizza and he would’ve been happy.”

You considered that. “True, but that hardly sounds fun - plus, this way I could get a new outfit.”

Pete smiled and you both glanced over towards the piano for a moment as Bradley got Natasha and Bob to sing along with him. It was nice seeing them all carefree and happy and just lighter. Bradley glanced over his shoulder at you and winked. 

“It’s nice seeing him like this,” Pete said. “Hell, last Christmas it was like pulling teeth to get the kid over to Penny’s for Christmas Eve and to see him get a tree and have people over at his place is just - it makes me really happy. Sorry if that’s corny or -”

“- No,” you reassured him, “well, maybe a little. But corny is good sometimes. Especially around the holidays.”

“You guys gonna do gifts tomorrow or…”

You shook your head. “Nah, we’re gonna do them tonight after everyone leaves.”

Pete took a sip of his beer and nodded. “The kid wouldn’t stop talking about your gift, I swear he told everyone on base.”

You felt yourself heat up and glanced over at Bradley again. “Really?” Pete nodded. “I’m nervous now, we promised we were only doing one present, so I hope he likes mine...”

“He will,” Pete sounded certain. “You think you guys will do this at your place every year? Maybe start a new tradition?”

That was a lovely thought. Celebrating Christmas with Bradley for the next x amount of years. Plus, doing this before Christmas would give everyone the opportunity to get together before the actual holidays. 

“Oh, I’d love to,” you gushed, “but it’s Bradley’s call. It’s his house - what?”

Pete cut you off with a look. “Come on, by now you know it’s your house as much as Bradley’s…”

Oh, gosh. You hoped so - one day, at least. The two of you barely spent a night apart, baring whenever one of you was away for work. You barely considered your apartment your home anymore. Instead, it was on the couch in Bradley’s living room, watching TV. Or cooking breakfast together on the weekends and watching Sunday Morning at the kitchen table. Laying beside him in bed at night, his big arms wrapped around you, as you whispered how much you loved each other. You had never felt this way before Bradley, like another person was home. 

And you wanted to be home all the time. 

You could feel the heat creep up your neck, the warmth only amplified by Bradley’s soothing voice singing Let It Snow. 

“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” Pete apologized, “I just wanted you to know that I can see how much you guys care about each other. And he’s my kid - at the end of the day, I just want him to be happy.” He laid a reassuring hand on your shoulder and you ducked your head before nodding.

Back when you had first met him, you had imagined that gaining Pete’s approval was how you would have felt had Bradley’s parents been alive to give it to you. You thought about them often - more often than you’d ever let Bradley think - and especially as of late. Would they have liked you? Would they have gotten along with your parents? From what you’d been told, they would have made amazing grandparents. Maybe Bradley would even have had more siblings? Maybe, maybe, maybe.

“He makes me really happy, too,” you whispered. Pete pulled you in for a hug and then the two of you just watched Bradley playing for a few moments while the party continued around you two. 

“I’m gonna get another beer, you want anything?” Pete asked. 

You just shook your head. “Nah, I’m good for now, but thanks again for coming. It means a lot to both of us.”

“Wouldn’t miss it, just make sure the kid doesn’t drink too much. He always gets a little chatty…” And then Pete set off towards the kitchen, leaving you alone, but only for a moment until you heard Max’s voice in the hallway.

“Caro, darling, will you help me with something outside…” You crept over towards him, curious to see what he was up to and why he needed Caro’s help.

Caroline didn’t even look up from her phone. “I’m not giving you a handjob, darling.”

“Oh, please don’t,” you drawled, alerting them both to your presence, “Mr. Harrington already thinks we’re delinquents, can’t have him thinking we associate with them, too,” you said referring to your - no, Bradley’s neighbor. 

Mr. Harrington hadn’t exactly called you and Bradley delinquents - rather, he had called you a fresh young lady after you had unknowingly flipped him off at an intersection in another neighborhood, only to find out that he was the crotchety old man that lived next door to Bradley. He had been waiting for you in the driveway when you’d gotten home a few minutes later, demanding to talk to Bradley about you. But the old man hadn’t stood a chance with you and Bradley had just stood on the porch with a proud smile on his face as you gave him a piece of your mind. Since then, he’d just pass silent judgment whenever he saw you outside.

Max held up two fingers. “I’ll be on my best behavior, Scout’s honor.”

“It’s three fingers, dumbass.”

He breezed past you and started towards the door, gesturing for Caroline to follow him. “Good thing I was never a Boy Scout then…”

“Please, Max. Just tell me if you’re going to -”

“- Secrets, secrets are only fun unless you don’t share with anyone -”

“- That’s not even how it goes!” 

Max shrugged and grabbed Caroline’s hand, pulling her close to his side. “It’ll be fun, we promise! Plus, maybe Max won’t even come back to the party…”

Oh, he was definitely doing the Santa thing. But at this point, maybe it would be fun and memorable? And maybe you were just drunk enough to let it happen. 

“Fine, fine. As long as Max doesn’t come back to the party, you can do whatever you have planned -” 

Max cut you off with a sloppy kiss on the cheek. “Thanks, love. Now, Caro! Your assistance, please!”

You waved them off towards the front door and made your way back to the sitting room where Bradley was taking requests for his next song. 

His eyes were scanning the room for whom you realized was you and a great, big smile spread across his face. “Nah, I got one already. Just needed my girl in here for this.” You chuckled and walked over towards the piano. “Figured we had to end on a high note, plus I heard a rumor Santa’s coming…”

There were hoots and hollers throughout the room, which didn’t let up even as Bradley played the first notes of the song he apparently needed you for assistance. 

“I’ll sing the first few lines, but then you gotta take over, alright, sweetheart?”

You sat next to him on the narrow bench and giggled, not quite knowing what he had up his sleeve, but more than ready to go along for the ride. “You got it, rocketman.”

Bradley pecked you on the lips and then turned to the room as he played. 

“I really can’t stay…baby, it’s cold outside…I’ve got to go ‘way…baby, it’s cold outside…”

Oh god. 

---------------

Hours later, after all your guests had left, fuller and far drunker than they’d been when they’d arrived, you and Bradley were tidying up the living room. The dishwasher was rumbling in the kitchen, the first of many loads you’d have to do tonight and tomorrow, but it was drowned out by the music still playing on the Sonos, while the extra food had been put away in the fridge.

From your spot across the room where you were fluffing the couch cushions, you glanced over towards Bradley. He sat, leaning against the chaise lounge, and idly sipped from a bottle of champagne that he kept putting down on the floor - though on a coaster, mind you. His hair was perfectly tousled and messy and he had a pleased smile on his face as he stared at the Christmas tree in front of him. His right hand was absentmindedly running up and down his thigh, just begging for you to ride it.

You joined him on the floor and he wordlessly passed the bottle of champagne to you before throwing his arm around your shoulders. 

“You did good, kid,” he said suddenly. 

A smile lit up your face. “Really?” Brady chuckled at your earnestness. “You’re not just saying that because this is like the first halfway decent party you’ve ever -”

“- Hey! I’ve been to plenty of decent parties! But I think - I think that this might be the best one yet.”

As a reward for his sweetness, you gave him a kiss on the cheek. “You think everyone got along? I only overheard one argument between Caro and Jake.” And it had been over the latest cryptocurrency scandal of all things. 

“Yeah, but to be fair, I think trauma bonding over your singing really brought everyone together.”

You were not as bad as Bradley had said - at the very least, you could carry a tune. Granted, you wouldn’t be on the Voice anytime soon, but if you were an SNL cast member and needed to sing for a sketch, you might be okay. And no one really focused on the actual singing during Baby It’s Cold Outside - it wasn’t exactly the paragon of Christmas songs or social norms. 

But it was just about the perfect duet, in that it was a crowd pleaser, a little slutty, and campy as hell. And as it so happened, you had been feeling a little slutty with all the champagne you had drunk throughout the evening. Plus, with Bradley on the keys and no one else sober enough to make fun of your less than stellar singing skills, you had been a glutton for attention. You had used your champagne coupe as a microphone and had only spilled a couple drops - at first.

“- But baby, it's cold outside -”

“ - This welcome has been -”

“ - How lucky that you dropped in -”

“ - So nice and warm -”

“ - Look out the window at that storm -”

“ - My sister will be suspicious -”

“ - Gosh, your lips look delicious -” Bradley kissed your proffered hand and you shimmied around the piano bench, eventually draping yourself over his shoulders while he continued playing.

Would you regret it in the morning? Probably. Did the song have a weird history? Yes. But it was your goddamn Christmas party! And you had wanted to have fun and fawn over your boyfriend. It had also been a good distraction from what you had correctly assumed was Max planning to crash the party as Santa with a sleigh full of presents for everyone. But Max was richer than Croesus; he could afford it.

“Come on, Bradshaw. How’s she been this year? Naughty or nice?”

You shot Bradley a glance, curious as to what his answer would be. But he just smiled wryly and toasted Max with his drink before taking a sip.

You closed the distance between the two of you and whispered in his ear, “Clever boy…”

He grabbed your ass, thankfully out of sight of your guests. “My smart girl…”

“Is that what you want me to be tonight?”

Frankly, you had been shocked Bradley hadn’t kicked everyone out then and there. 

But now you were cozy and tired in all the best ways and had Bradley to yourself for the rest of the evening. You burrowed your face into his chest and pressed a couple kisses to the column of his neck, suddenly desperate to touch him. It seemed Bradley was of the same mindset and carefully settled you on his lap. Your arms wrapped around his neck, pulling you closer and you shifted your attention to his lips. 

Somehow, the two of you wound up laying on the floor at the edge of the Christmas tree. The soft lights made Bradley’s brown eyes appear like pools of chocolate and you flushed. He groaned as you rolled your hips against his lap, already feeling the bulge forming in his jeans. Shit - were you going to fuck underneath the Christmas tree? Like properly fuck on the floor underneath the Christmas tree.

You started grinding against him, desperate to be closer, and then kissed along his neck in the hopes of leaving a reminder of this night for him. You peered up at the Christmas tree, lost in the beauty of the moment, when you suddenly noticed something. 

The presents.

The presents under the tree.

The three presents under the tree. 

Except…

There were only supposed to be two presents under the tree. One from each of you. You had been very clear about that right after Thanksgiving. Had even set a price limit.

Fuck. Oh, no. No, no, no. You pulled back and Bradley chased your lips with his own.

“Bubs! We said one present each!” 

He shrugged underneath you and kept rubbing his hands in soothing circles on your hips. “It’s nothing - well, it’s not nothing. But it’s just something I’ve been thinking about for a while and I figured this would be a good time.”

“But - but I only got you one!” 

Oh god - oh god. You ruined it. You ruined Bradley’s Christmas. You knew you should’ve gotten him that Otis Redding vinyl, too. But a Theragun? What had you been thinking? That was such a dumb gift. So impersonal, so boring, so basic. It was on three different gift guides from the Strategist for fuck’s sake. You figured it would be good for his back while he was deployed, you knew it had been giving him a lot of trouble lately. But now that Bradley had given you two gifts? In two separate boxes? 

You didn’t think the ornament you’d gotten him counted as a separate gift. Tacking it onto the box was just something your family had always done.

Clearly noticing the panic on your face, Bradley sat up slightly. “Hey, hey. It’s okay, sweetheart. It’s -”

“- I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to ruin everything. I knew I should’ve had a back up present for you-”

He said your name firmly and you looked up at him. “- You didn’t ruin anything, alright? Hey, why don’t you open it first and then we can talk about it, okay?”

“Okay…”

You reached out for the present like it was going to explode, barely even taking notice of how nicely it had been wrapped. (Granted, you were still you, so you did actually notice, but probably would have fawned over the quaint wrapping paper and grosgrain ribbon a bit more had you not already been wigging out.) Next to you, Bradley bit his lip as he watched you peel through the paper. Why was he so nervous? He always gave you the best presents.

At first, there was nothing but a small gift box. It wasn’t terribly heavy. And it definitely wasn’t jewelry. Mainly because any of the jewelry you actually would have liked was definitely not within the spending limit, which Bradley knew. But also, it just didn’t feel like jewelry. It couldn’t have been an ornament, he wouldn’t have been this nervous.

So, what the fuck was it?

You slid your finger underneath the flap of the box and popped the lid open. But then there was the tissue paper. Goddamnit, Bradley! Why was he so good at wrapping presents! You glanced up at him only to see that he was blushing. Properly blushing. Like pink neck, pink cheeks - hell, even the tips of his ears were pink - blushing. 

Unable to take the suspense a moment longer, you dove into the tissue paper to find -

“- A key?” Your fingers gently picked up the offending object, only belatedly noticing that the key fob matched your favorite work tote bag. 

Bradley nodded. “Yeah, I’ve been wanting to ask you to move in with me for ages, it’s just we had so much time until it would become an issue, but then I got deployed and I know your lease will just about be up by the time I get back in the spring. So, I figured now would be a good time to ask if you wanted to move in with me? But if you think it’s too soon, I can totally wait. However long it takes for you to be comfortable with it is fine with me - I just want to have my life with you.”

“Bubs…” your voice was thick. “I uhh -”

“- I always want to come home to you - if you’ll have me?”

Oh god, oh god, oh god. You let out a disbelieving laugh. You would have Bradley Bradshaw in any way you could get him. He was your home.

You wiped away a wayward tear. “Bradley, this is - this is so unbelievably perfect. Yes, yes, I will move with you.”

He surged forward to kiss you and you temporarily forgot all your previous worries because Bradley wanted to move in with you. He wanted to share furniture and go grocery shopping for food that would go in the same fridge. He wanted to wake up beside you every single morning and come home to you every single evening and go to sleep beside you every single night. He wanted everything. And that’s what you wanted to give him.

“God, I love you so much.”

You never got tired of hearing him say that. “I love you, too. Sorry I made such a big deal about the presents…”

“No, I’m sorry. I should’ve just put it in with the other gift, I get how it could have thrown you off.”

He was being nice and not pushing it for the moment, which you really appreciated. “Say, why don’t you open your gift from me and then I’ll open your other one?”

You crawled over towards the other two presents under the tree and gave the one that said to; rocketman to Bradley, while you took the other one with your name on it. It was decently sized and relatively light. The thing with Bradley that always made you nervous was that he gave the best presents.

For your birthday, he had not only organized a trip for the two of you out to Catalina Island, but he had also learned how to fucking sail Penny’s boat, so he could be the one to take you there himself. He had been so excited and had looked so cute in his white linen pants and navy blue button down and you swore you had never been more attracted to him. 

And then, for your six month anniversary, he had somehow gotten you two into Addison out in Carmel Valley for dinner and then followed that up with a trip to the drive-in to see a special showing of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Though to be fair, neither of you had paid as much attention to the movie as you had been too busy necking each other in the backseat of the Bronco.

In short, he was a prince among men. Well, except when he wasn’t. But that wasn’t often. So, you were excited, but wary to open his gift, knowing nothing could possibly top the house key.

You tore through the wrapping paper to find another box similar to the one from earlier, except this one was heavier. Beneath the tissue paper laid a thick white envelope and an apron in a Liberty pattern. Your smile grew as you opened the envelope and saw that Bradley had gifted you cooking lessons for the next three months.

“Bubs.” You nudged his shoulder. “This is perfect, thank you. The apron is super cute, too.”

Bradley chuckled. “Now you can stop wearing mine and hopefully stop burning risotto -”

“- It was one time!” 

“Yeah and you almost burned down your apartment.” You made a face and he made one right back before turning serious. “But I thought it would be nice, something for you to do while I’m gone.”

You kissed his cheek. “I’m excited and I’m gonna make you the best dinner you’ve ever had when you come home to me, alright?”

“It’s a date.” 

“Perfect, now open yours!” You pushed the present towards him. 

Bradley was one of those people that opened presents like they were going to save the wrapping paper, which meant he did it slowly and purposefully. This normally didn’t bother you, but you were already a little on edge from earlier and had to sit on your hands to stop you from ripping the paper off yourself.

First, he took off the little ornament you had affixed to the package. Harkening back to your first date, you had gotten him a Saturn V Rocket ornament to add to the tree, giving your rocketman something to aspire to.

He shook his head. “I’ll get there one day, sweetheart…” he said fondly. “Now let’s see what we have here.”

The nerves settled in your stomach again and you barely let him unwrap the present before you jumped on him with an explanation.

“Wait, is this one of those -”

“ - It’s a Theragun. I know I make fun of you for having a sore back and being old a lot, but I thought this could help when you’re deployed and I’m not around to tend to your every need,” you teased.

Bradley conceded a nod. “You do give good back massages…” You preened. “But I get these ads on my Instagram all the time, so this is perfect, thank you.”

“I figured it wasn’t something you’d buy for yourself and it’ll come in hand -”

“- I bet it’s a wicked strong vibrator - owww!”

“Bradley!” You giggled. Holy shit, you hadn’t even thought of that. There were like five different speeds on that thing and six different attachments. Fuck. “In that case, maybe I should keep it…”

“You wouldn’t dare.” He slid the box behind his back and you crawled over to steal it away from him.

But before you could wrap your arms around him, Bradley pulled you into his lap and eventually the Theragun was pushed away and the two of you were sprawled out on the floor making out like a bunch of horny teenagers again.

Goddamn - you really were gonna fuck underneath the Christmas tree, weren’t you? Now that would be the perfect memory for Bradley to take with him. Festive and fun and spontaneous.

His hands felt sinful as they crept up your thighs. It was like he was mapping out the slowest route to his destination, especially as they cupped your ass and ground your body against his. Suddenly, you let out a hiss as your elbow hit the hardwood floor, but quickly reassured Bradley that you were okay once he stopped to check in with you.

He whispered your name. “I need you so badly.”

“- Fuck, me too. Want you to take me right here -”

“- Owww,” Bradley let out a groan against your lips.

You immediately pulled back, concern lacing your features. “Shit, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I just - I don’t think we should do this on the floor?”

“But it’s very spur of the moment?” You glanced around the living room, past the Christmas tree and the wrapping paper from your respective presents. “What about the couch?”

“We just got it dry-cleaned - again.”

You sat further back on his lap and Bradley propped himself up on his elbows. Your wrap dress draped prettily over your bare thighs. “We can put a towel down?”

“Isn’t it upstairs?”

You made a face. “I could go get it? Or we could break out a new one?”

“Then I might as well come upstairs with you -”

“- But I want it to be spontaneous!”

He rolled his hips and you sighed. “We can be spontaneous upstairs…”

“Yeah, but…” You could feel the tears starting to form and your throat closing up.

Bradley tried to get in your line of sight after you ducked your head. “Hey, what is it? It’s alright.”

You sniffled. “I just want you to have some good memories before you leave and be spontaneous - especially since during the party I was pretty stressed and uptight -” The last word came out bitterly, but Bradley didn’t let you finish your sentence. 

“- Hey, none of that, alright? I knew you were a little stressed, but just chalked it up to the party. What’s really going on, sweetheart?”

You wanted to tell him. That you were going to miss him and wanted him to be able to think of the two of you doing all these fun and exciting and wonderful things before he left. That you didn’t want him to think of you crying and puffy eyed and sad. That you didn’t want him to think of you having sex in your bed, like any other night, but how you couldn’t even make it upstairs because you needed each other so much, so desperately and had to make due with the living room floor. 

Just say you were tired. Just say you were tired. 

But when Bradley took your hand and threaded your fingers together and started drawing circles across your palm, the tears came. And came and came and didn’t stop. You rubbed at your eyes with your free hand and repositioned yourself to lay beside him. 

“Hey, hey. It’s okay, come here.” Bradley wrapped his arm around your shoulders and let you rest your head on his chest. “Shh, shh, it’s okay, honey.” 

Once the tears slightly abated, you took in a deep breath to ground yourself. “I wanted everything to be perfect for you since you’re not going to be home for Christmas and all this stuff went wrong -”

“- Sweetheart, baby, no, no. It didn’t go wrong, everything went really really right.”

“Really?” you whispered.

Bradley chuckled. “Yeah, best Christmas I’ve had since - fuck, I can’t remember when. Come here.” He wrapped his arms around you.

“I know it was dumb to be worried about it - and to let myself get upset over it - but I think I was just so focused on the party and the presents and making everything perfect because I don’t want to think too much about you leaving.” You sniffled. “And I feel like that makes me seem childish or like I can’t handle this - your job, I mean. But I’m really just going to miss you, so fucking much. And I’ve never felt like this before.”

The look in Bradley’s eyes after you unloaded all that made you feel ten times lighter and you regretted not saying anything earlier. 

“Sweetheart…” He tucked your hair behind your ear. “It’s definitely not dumb to be worried about stuff like that and I know you can handle all of this - I’m not worried in that respect. I just want you to know how much I appreciated every single thing you’ve done for me these last couple weeks trying to make sure I had a good Christmas. And I know it’s cliche to say, but it’s the goddamn truth - I don’t care what we do for Christmas as long as I get to spend it at home with you, alright?”

Your heart soared and you felt the tears forming again at his words. I don’t care what we do for Christmas as long as I get to spend it at home with you. Because in the end, that was all that really mattered. You just kept your reply simple. “Alright, rocketman.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.” You kissed him again. “I love you so much, bubs.”

“Even though I’m old and don’t think we should fuck on the living room floor?” 

You chuckled at his attempt to bring some levity into an otherwise heavy conversation. “Yes, Bradley. I love you even though you wouldn’t let me fuck you on the living room floor…”

This time, Bradley pulled you closer, so your body was spread out on top of him and kissed you, licking your bottom lip before opening your mouth up to him. His hands snuck underneath the skirt of your silk dress, skirting the edge of your panties. You sighed. His hands were calloused and a little rough, but they still touched you like you were the most precious thing in the world. 

“Hold up, I never said I wouldn’t let you, I just said I don’t think - hey!” Bradley tried to fend off your tickle attack, but could only get a few words out between his giggles. “Stop, you know I’m old!”

Your ridiculously handsome, thirty-six year old, naval aviator boyfriend was giggling on the floor of your house because your were tickling his sides. If only you could show this version of Bradley to the Navy - maybe then they wouldn’t take him away from you at Christmas. Stupid US Military Industrial Complex. Fucking Lockheed Martin. 

“Also, are you still upset that I got you two presents? Because if you are, can I just make you come once tonight? Level the field.”

You giggled. “Shut up.” Your kiss cut off any reply he had been about to give and you licked his bottom lip, coaxing open his mouth. 

“Uh, uh, uh.” You paused and tilted your head slightly to look Bradley in the eye. “Now, what did Santa ask earlier, huh? You been naughty or nice this year?”

There were two ways in which this could play out - with two different, though ultimately satisfying results. One would play out relatively quickly - and the other would ensure you were occupied all night. 

“Nice?” 

Bradley clicked his tongue. “Don’t know about that…”

“Why not? Haven’t I been good?” You pouted, completely exaggerated, which Bradley picked up on in an instant.

“Good girls don’t typically have to ask if they’ve been good…”

“Maybe I don’t want to be good tonight…”

Bradley sucked in a breath as you snuck your hand underneath his shirt and teased the waistband of his jeans. His skin was hot to the touch beneath your fingers as you unbuttoned his shirt. You leaned forward to press little butterfly kisses to his neck and gradually made your way down past the little tufts of hair on his chest. 

“Please touch me, sweetheart. Please.” 

There was a carnal need inside you to mark his skin. To give him proof of your love and need for him, so that he could look at the marks in the mirror until they faded. A kiss across his neck, a soft bite on his shoulder, another on his bicep by his tattoo. You’re mine. Mine, mine, mine. And I want everyone to know. 

“God, Bradley. You’re so beautiful,” you whispered against his skin. “So beautiful and all mine.”

Bradley let out a whine as your teeth grazed against the sensitive flesh on his neck. “Fuck, I love you.”

His hands inched up your thighs, getting closer to the throbbing heat between your legs. Maybe it was the festive spirit, the fact that Bradley had asked you to move in with him, or that he was shipping out in 28 hours for three months, but you were pathetically wet already. Desperate and needy and as naughty as he had joked earlier. 

“I can feel the heat pouring off you, sweetheart.” 

“Can we go - ahhh - can we go upstairs, please?”

He pulled back slightly. “What happened to fucking on the living room floor?” he teased. 

“Don’t want to fuck up your old man back anymore - Bradley!” you cried out as he smacked your ass. 

“Old man, huh?” His smile was sinful and you were putty in his hands.

You widened your eyes, trying to appear contrite. “Sorry, sir. It won’t happen - Bradley!” He cut you off again, but this time because he was tickling your sides and your giggles made it impossible to speak. “Ta-take me upstairs, bubs - please. Don’t - don’t want you to hold back.”

“Now how could I refuse that?”

Gradually, the two of you made your way upstairs to the bedroom, though with a couple of breaks in between for Bradley to press you up against the walls and on the staircase. You’d have bruises tomorrow, you were sure. But you wanted them to last - to be something to remember this night by for the weeks and months to come. 

You landed heavily on the bed, bouncing slightly, and peered up at Bradley. His bare chest was rising and falling steadily with each breath he took as he looked you over, like he was trying to memorize you. 

Without breaking eye contact, you rose to your knees and pulled at the pretty little bow tying your wrap dress. Hours ago, you’d felt self conscious about your body in front of everyone else, but at that moment you felt like the most beautiful girl in the world. Bradley’s eyes widened as he took in the way you slowly pushed the silk dress off your shoulders, leaving you only in your burgundy bra and panties. It wasn’t exactly a matching set, but the colors matched and that was enough for the two of you that night. 

“God, you’re gorgeous.”

Bradley lunged forward, causing you to fall back against the pillows and you wrapped your legs around his hips with a gleeful cry, which he promptly cut off with his lips. 

After spending ample time just kissing you and running his hands up and down your body, Bradley lavished attention on your breasts, licking and biting and sucking on them like a man possessed. Your nipples were peaked to attention, thanks to the slight chill in the bedroom and his thorough ministrations. With one hand, he paid special attention to the skin just below your nipple, rubbing his middle finger along the tender flesh while thumbing at the raised bud. Meanwhile, his other hand kept trekking downward towards your clit. 

“Oh god!” you cried out against his lips as he slid his fingers inside you and crooked them just right. 

“So fucking wet, sweetheart.”

Fuck. You could feel yourself clenching around him, desperate for something more. You were needy for him that night. Needy to have your boyfriend all to yourself. To give yourself to him completely. Your orgasm was well and truly building up inside you, but you wanted to come on his cock first. There would be plenty more opportunities that night to come apart in other ways. 

You’d work him all through the night if you had to just to get your fix before he left. The thought made you desperate. 

“Bu-bubs, please. I need more - need your cock inside me.” You pulled him closer, grazing your thighs against his throbbing cock. 

Bradley groaned. “Such a needy fucking thing, bucking against my fingers like that, huh?” You whined. “But I’m gonna fuck you nice and slow, yeah. Make sure you savor it.”

It sounded fucking sinful the way your cunt was sucking in Bradley’s fingers. He’d begun scissoring them inside you so as to not have to remove them just yet. 

More. More. More. You chanted the words mindlessly in your head. Mine. Mine. Mine. 

Finally, he pulled out his fingers and shamelessly dried them off on your breasts. “You ready?” You nodded frantically. “Don’t think either of us is gonna last long.”

No, you didn’t think so either. But you didn’t want to prolong this. You needed to be close to him and to know he was real and good and yours. At least for tonight. 

Knowing each other as you did, you raised your hips slightly, letting Bradley to slip inside you. You both moaned, you loving the stretch and him loving the tight warmth. You wrapped your arm around his neck, bringing his lips closer to yours, but not daring to lean in those final few centimeters to touch, and instead just breathed against each other. 

“Fuck,” you rasped against his lips, “I love you.”

“Love you so much.” He snapped his hips against yours and you cried out. “Gonna miss you.”

You ducked your head to swipe your lips across the scar on his neck. “Can’t wait for you to come home to me.”

Home. Home. Home. Bradley wouldn’t just be coming back to San Diego in three months: he would be coming home - to you. And to this great, big, beautiful house he wanted to share with you. And to the life he wanted to share with you. 

He groaned your name. “I’ve wanted this for so long. Can’t believe it’s happening.”

Tears pricked your eyes and you bridged the gap to kiss him. “Bubs, I’m so close, please.”

“Tell me how to get you there? I wanna wait for you.” 

If he kept saying things like that, you wouldn’t be too far behind. Without breaking eye contact, you brought Bradley’s hand down to your clit and he played with the sensitive nub. You keened against his hand, which was coupled with a particularly deep thrust of his cock. You felt that coil in your belly finally unraveling.

“‘M close, feels so good. Again…”

He repeated the action again and again, telling you how gorgeous you were as you took his cock and how much he loved you and needed you and you felt like the luckiest girl in the world. Because for tonight you were.

With a strangled cry of his name, you came and true to his word, Bradley followed shortly after. Fuck. He felt so good. He made you feel so good, so full, so loved. 

“Good girl, such a good girl for me.” He peppered kisses up and down your neck and across your cheeks, before settling on your lips. The two of you sat there like that for a few moments, trying to even out your breathing and be as close together as possible. 

But eventually Bradley had to pull out and you whimpered at the loss. He settled you back against the pillows and then started cleaning you up with the towel in his nightstand. Before he got to your still leaking cunt, he scooped up some of your cum with his fingers and brought it to your lips. 

“Open.” You did so without a second thought and cleaned off his fingers, getting high off the taste of the two of you mixed together. “Good girl.”

Then you let yourself get settled underneath the covers. You could go to the bathroom in a few minutes because right now you wanted to be with Bradley. Your bodies were both hot and sticky underneath the white sheets, but you couldn’t think of anywhere else you wanted to be than in his arms. 

“I’m gonna miss you so much, bubs.” You cupped his cheek tenderly, like he would disappear at any moment. A nagging little voice at the back of your mind said that he would, in fact, do just that - on Monday morning. But that night he was yours. 

Bradley nuzzled your hand, eventually pressing a kiss to your palm. “It’s not too long, just three months.”

“Three months without you.” Kiss. “Without your singing.” Kiss. “Your cooking.” Kiss. “Your smile and your silly little mustache.” Kiss. Kiss. “Three months without you, rocketman.” 

Your eyes were swimming with tears, but they were properly dripping down Bradley’s cheeks. 

“But we still have tonight.”

You still had tonight. And you’d be in each other’s arms till the morning light. 

---------------

Two weeks later, as you sat in your childhood bedroom on Christmas Eve, you were at once hit with a startling realization: it wasn’t your home anymore. It hadn’t been in years, really. Not since you’d officially moved out after college. But that fact had never been so apparent until you were waiting for the Facetime call to connect to Bradley. 

Your home was in San Diego with your friends and your job. Your home was with your boyfriend, snuggled up on the couch watching TV, perusing the aisles of the farmer’s market, watching him surf, and cooking dinner together. Your home was with Bradley. 

And you just wanted to be home - you just wanted Bradley. 

You had put on a brave face during Christmas Eve celebrations with your family - at least with your extended family. You had sung carols at church, helped Mary and your dad prep and lay out all the traditional Christmas Eve dishes, organized the Yankee Swap with your brother and Lauren, and had a few too many cocktails with your cousins. But as the last of your grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins had left and your dad had turned on NBC for the end of It’s a Wonderful Life, you had lost it. 

Properly, honestly, well and truly lost it. As in fat tears streaming down your face, snot clogging your nose, remnants of your mascara rimmed around your eyes lost it.

Goddamn Harry Bailey got to come home in time for Christmas! Harry got to toast to his “big brother George: the richest man in town.” Granted, George had basically just tried to kill himself, so the comparison wasn’t perfect - but still! Congressional Medal of Honor winner, Navy pilot Harry Bailey got to be home for Christmas! Why couldn’t Bradley? Fucking Navy. Fucking stupid US Military Industrial Complex. Fucking Lockheed Martin. 

At the sight of your tears, Mary had just opened up her blanket and let you burrow against her side as she rubbed your back like she used to when you were a kid, while your dad had gotten you a cup of Sleepytime Tea. Eventually, once you had calmed down enough and they had said all the right words to soothe your heartache, you had kissed your dad and Mary goodnight  - Mary had hugged you a bit tighter than usual - and they both had told you to give Bradley their best during your Facetime call. 

They liked Bradley - a lot, actually. Of course, they’d given him a tough time when they first talked on the phone all those months ago, but by the time Bradley officially met them at Thanksgiving, it was like he’d known them for years. He just fit. 

He loved to talk to Mary about her history classes at Berkeley and how her students were doing. He had the same sense of humor as your dad and also loved the Patriots despite their recent offensive coordinator troubles. 

He just made you lighter and made things lighter. He fit. 

And you could only hope that one year he’d be able to come up to Berkeley with you to celebrate for the holidays instead of being all alone on an aircraft carrier somewhere in the Pacific. Fucking Navy. Fucking stupid US Military Industrial Complex. Fucking Lockheed Martin.

Shit! The call was finally connecting. You felt tears in your eyes as you finally got to see your beautiful boy again. Though the picture was a little grainy, Bradley was sitting in what looked like one of the quiet rooms in your office, clad in his green flight suit. And he had the most wonderful smile on his face at the sight of you.

“Hey, sweetheart. Merry Christmas!”

“Merry Christmas, bubs,” you said, hoping your voice didn’t come out as thickly over Facetime as it did in your room.

For what felt like the longest time, but was probably only a few seconds, you stared at each other, just drinking in the other’s face. Bradley already looked tired. This was your first Facetime since he’d left two weeks ago. Normally, you talked over email - which was actually kind of fun. 

Early on in your relationship during a one week special detachment, you had unironically sent him a pretty formal email to check in:

Bradley,

Hope you’re settling in well. Let me know when it would be a good time to connect via FaceTime. I can put some time on my calendar whenever you’re free. I’m heading to an off-site in Raleigh on Thursday, so I’ll be on East Coast time. 

Miss you and stay safe,

x

It had even been from your PwC email address, which he never let you forget. But soon quasi-formal emails became your thing. They probably set off a bunch of red flags to the censor team and you had never sent one from your work email again, but it was fun. You’d even thought of a couple code words and phrases to use.

“You have a good night? How’s your dad and Mary? Tell them thanks again for the package.”

Your parents had had the idea to send everything they normally would have put in Bradley’s Christmas stocking to him on the carrier. He had emailed the three of you a picture of the package, received in perfect condition, on his bunk yesterday. You two had decided that he would open it while you were on your FaceTime call. It wasn’t anything particularly special, except for two small gifts you’d snuck in before bringing it to the post office, but you were excited and could tell Bradley was too.

You held your breath as he parsed through the Dr.Jart sheet masks, Churchill cigars, various Christmas themed candies, new electric toothbrush heads, and scratch cards until he got to the bottom of the stack where your two special presents were hidden.

“Now, what’s this?” He shot you a teasing glance as he opened the envelope. 

You remained tight lipped, just glad it hadn’t been opened by Naval mail security. Bradley slid the object out of the envelope and you could see his eyes widen, even over Facetime, as he realized what it was before he promptly turned it over and glanced around even though there was no one else in the room with him. 

“Shit - how’d you - how’d you take this?” He leaned back in his chair and stared at it, clearly a little in awe.

You felt your cheeks heating up. “Well, I know you have a couple on your phone, but figured an old fashioned one might be nice too - especially if you’re in a tech blackout or whatever it’s called. But do you really like it - seriously, you don’t have -”

“- No, I love it. You’re not getting this back from me.” You giggled. “But you gotta tell me how you managed to get the Polaroid in the shower with you and still get the soapy titties in the picture?”

“Can’t tell you everything, now can I?”

(Caroline had taken them for you. It truly had been a bonding experience and was honestly not half as sexy as Bradley was probably thinking. But you just smiled - more than content to keep that a secret from him.) 

“Well, it is very much appreciated. So, thank you, I love it, seriously.”

You tried to peer into the box from halfway across the world. “There should be one more thing in there from me - and you don’t have to use it, but I know something similar always makes me feel like you’re right next to me…”

Bradley gingerly unwrapped the final tissue paper package only to reveal a travel sized bottle of your perfume. You giggled, watching him spritz his wrist and breathe in the scent.

“Fuck…I’ve missed that.” 

You rested your cheek against your fist and just watched him. For a minute, it felt like he was right in front of you. It made you want to do something terribly cliche like hold your palm up against the screen and imagine you could feel the heat from his hand as he did the same thing back.

But instead Bradley just smiled at you and asked you all about your Christmas Eve activities.

So, you told him about sneaking outside to smoke with your cousins, drinking too much champagne, eating too much food made from your grandma’s recipes from the old country, getting an actually good gift in the Yankee Swap, and crying over Harry Bailey. And he just listened and smiled and asked questions at all the right parts and kept telling you how much he would have loved to do all that beside you next year. 

And then with your remaining five minutes of calltime, Bradley told you all the goings on aboard the ship and how he and Bob and Reuben were doing and about the fancy dinner and breakfast planned for tomorrow.

But then the dreaded countdown clock on the side of the screen popped up, signaling you had thirty seconds left. By then, both of you had tears in your eyes as you tried to say goodbye until your next call.

“So, we’ll talk in two weeks, okay? Should be just after New Year’s, but keep emailing me. I love reading them when I get the chance.”

You wiped a stray tear from your eye. “Of course, I’ll give you a full Christmas morning breakdown.”

Bradley chuckled, but seemed to glance at the countdown clock and sobered up. “I love you, I love you so much and I’m so happy I get to come home to you, sweetheart.”

“I love you, too. Merry Christmas, bubs. Please come home.”

-----------

a/n: sorry it took me so fucking long to write again, but a girl can only be so self indulgent! merry christmas, this taglist is shit sorry!

Taglist: @sunderlust @seasonsbloom @ticklish-leafy-plant @lass-that-is-gone @katcoquette @daniellef89x @double-j @bradshawswife @hufflepuffprincesse @cloudycluster @sithbelova @mavencalorers @fav-rooster-fics @thebeautifullydamnedone @unordinare @callsignvalley @pricklepearbloom @browneyedboys @cherrycola27 @whatblogisthis216 @agentofkrypton @lcahwriter @kyliesalvatore @noellreadfiction @coyotesamachado @heartsofminds @jocsrecs @notroosterbradshaw @roosterforme @iblogtopassthetime @karateperson @nessrin @frenchtoastix @piceous21 @princessphilly @spideyngwen @mrsjobarnes @calmpunker @softspiderling @feralforfrank @fivsecondsflat @sexualparkour @greenorangevioletgrass @sexygaypalpatine @moonyscardigans @carousallie @liveholland @supernaturaldawning @melancholyy-hill @currentlybradshaw @summ3rlotus @seesaw-jk @roostereads @milestomaverick @some-lovely-day​ @steadfastconviction​ ​​@sometimesanalice @jupitercomet @rae-gar-targaryen @oncasette @whisperofsong @call-sign-jinx @howdysebby

#bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley and smart aleck #bradley bradshaw #bradley rooster bradley x reader #top gun smut #bradley fic #y’all i’m so tired and if this doesn’t show up in the tag i’m suing!! #hello december playlist challenge

[a-reader-and-a-writer-for-all]

I'll Be Home For Christmas

Fandom: Top Gun, Top Gun: Maverick, Jake “Hangman” Seresin, f!reader

Summary: When Jake's plans to come home for Christmas fall through, he promises you he will be there for you next year. But will he be able to keep that promise?

Word Count: 2354

TW: Angst, Fluff, Separated for Christmas, Reunited for Christmas, Happy Ending, Pregnant Reader

Note: Thank you to @heart-0n-fire for looking this over for me!

Written for @notroosterbradshaw's #hello december playlist challenge and based on "I'll Be Home for Christmas" by Andrea Bocelli

Jake continued staring at the phone hanging on the wall before him. He had been standing in the same spot for five minutes now, just trying to gather the strength to make the call. It had been almost a month since they had been given phone privileges and as much as Jake longed to hear your voice, he didn’t know what he was supposed to say to you.

“She’ll understand.”

The voice shook Jake from his thoughts. Turning around, he noticed Rooster standing behind him, a small smile on his face. Normally, Jake would have snapped a witty comeback at him, but he just didn’t have it in him at the moment. Instead, he sighed and rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. “Yeah, I know she will. And that almost makes it worse.”

Rooster chuckled softly. “Yeah, it kinda does, doesn’t it? But it won’t be forever, Jake. I’ll make sure of it.” He clasped Jake on the shoulder. “I got your back.”

Jake smiled, thinking about how far their relationship had come since the Dagger Mission a few months ago and how the thought of flying with Rooster as his wingman would have irritated him before then. “Thanks, man. And you know I’d have yours…. If you could ever catch up.”

The two men laughed as Rooster shook his head. “Yeah, whatever, Hangman. Go call your girl.” Then he walked away, leaving Jake to stare once more at the phone. 

Taking a deep breath, he grabbed it and quickly dialed before he lost his nerve. You picked up on the second ring. “Hello?”

“Hey, baby. It’s me.”

“Jake! Oh my god, hi! It feels like forever since I actually got to speak to you. How are you?” Jake could practically see you vibrating with joy on the other end of the line. 

“I’m– I’m good. Hangin’ in there. Missing you like crazy though. How are you?”

“I’m okay. I just miss you so much. But I have everything all planned for you to get here in a few days! I just bought stuff to make those cookies you love, and I thought we could roast a turkey for Christmas dinner, and it looks like we’ll have snow on Christmas Day this year! An actual white Christmas, can you believe it? We haven’t had one of those in–”

Jake groaned as he leaned his head heavily against the wall. You were so happy and excited about all the plans you had made. How was he supposed to destroy that? What was he even supposed to say?

It turned out, he didn’t have to say anything. You knew him too well and you figured it out on your own. “You’re… you’re not coming home, are you?” you asked softly.

“No, baby, I’m not. I just found out about an hour ago. They need the squad to ship out for the next mission immediately.”

“Well… that’s okay. I can just leave the tree up and we can make it a joint Christmas/New Year’s celebration!” Though you were trying to sound upbeat, Jake could hear the disappointment in your voice and that just made what he needed to say next all the more difficult.

“That’s the thing. They don’t know how long we’ll be gone but it’ll probably be a few weeks at least, if not longer. I’m so sorry. I know I told you I’d be home for Christmas but–”

“It’s okay, Jake. It’s not your fault and I know you’d be here if you could. Besides, you spelled out exactly what this life would look like when we started dating and I agreed to it. We’re never guaranteed Christmas, your leave just happened to fall near it this year. So, it is what it is. If you can’t come home, you can’t come home.”

Jake squeezed his eyes shut tightly. “God, I want to be there, you don’t even know how badly. It sounded like you had such an amazing time planned for us, and now… I hate the thought of you being alone for Christmas. It’s not right.” 

“I’ll be fine. I mean, I’m just a little disappointed, but not at all with you. This was going to be our first Christmas together since you proposed and it sort of felt like the first one for the new family we’re building. I was hoping we could maybe start some traditions that we could do every year, but maybe we just need to accept that this– us being apart for the holidays – might have to be our tradition.”

Jake’s head shot up and he gripped the phone tighter. In a firm, clear voice, he said, “No, I refuse to accept that. This will not be a tradition. I swear, baby, next year I’ll be home for Christmas. No matter what I have to do, I will not miss the first Christmas with my wife.”

“You need to make it back here and marry me first. So over everything else, please be careful. That’s all I need from you this Christmas. Don’t make me a widow before you make me a wife, Jake. Okay? Just come home. I don’t care how long it takes. Your presents will still be by the tree when you get back. And so will I.” Despite how strong you were trying to be about this situation, Jake could hear the tears in your voice. 

 Choking back his own tears, Jake murmured, “Thanks for understanding. I’ll make it up to you when I get home. Anything you want, just say the word.”

“I want you. That’s all I ever want,” you said. “But you tell them they better not do this again in May. Weddings aren’t cheap and that shit’s non-refundable.”

Jake chuckled. “I’ll tell Mav you said that. Word for word.”

“Good. And add that if he makes you late, I’m retracting his invitation.”

“I’ll make sure he knows.” Jake was just about to say something else when Hondo walked in and caught Jake’s eye. The Chief Warrant Officer sadly tapped on his wrist and motioned for Jake to hurry up. Taking a deep breath, Jake said into the phone, “Baby, they’re telling me I have to go. But I’ll call or email you as soon as I can. Hopefully I can at least manage that on Christmas day.”

“Okay. Just whenever you can, I’ll be here. I love you, Jake. So, so much.”

“I love you too, baby. And I’m so sorry.”

“It’s alright. Just…dream of me,” you whispered.

“I always do,” Jake whispered back just before the line was disconnected. 

Jake’s Uber pulled up in front of his house at 11:53 pm on Christmas Eve. He had cut it a lot closer than he had hoped, but he had made it. Despite all the odds, he had kept the promise he made to you the Christmas before and he was home for Christmas.

He smiled at the inflatable Santa and his reindeer placed in the front yard along with a handful of lights. It was a cute if somewhat quaint display especially compared to the neighbors, but Jake loved that you put in the effort. Especially considering you were alone and were having a harder time moving around lately. Jake took one more look at it before unlocking the front door.

But as it swung open, Jake gasped and his jaw dropped. You had promised you were going to make up for him missing Christmas last year, but based on the display outside, he never expected the sight that greeted him. Strings of lights and garland stretched along both walls of the hallway and paper snowflakes hung down from the ceiling. Ornaments were scattered here and there, and Jake noticed many of them were photo ornaments with pictures of the two of you, including some from your wedding. 

If the hallway took his breath away, it was nothing compared to what he found as he stumbled into the living room. While the normal lights were off, the room was aglow with tiny colorful lights draped across the mantle of the fireplace and encircling the massive Christmas tree with the huge pile of presents in the corner of the room. The live Christmas tree. The kind that would turn brown and die if he didn’t make it home in time. But he had sworn he would make it home, and you had believed him.

However, none of it mattered once his eyes settled on the figure slumped on the couch. You were fast asleep on the far end, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas hanging limply from one hand while your other hand rested on your protruding stomach. Jake hadn’t seen you in person for the last three months and it appeared that there was a bigger difference between four months pregnant and seven months pregnant than he had expected. He knew he had missed out on a lot– doctor’s appointments, ultrasounds, morning sickness –but seeing tangible evidence of it all almost brought him to his knees. He should have been here for all of it, but it was yet another time you had to carry on alone while he was gone. But not anymore.

Walking over to the couch, he carefully slipped the book from your hand and placed it on the nearby end table. It was only then that he noticed the plate of his favorite cookies and a glass of milk that had been left out along with a note. Glancing at it, he read: Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas is for my daddy to come home safely. Thank you, The Seresin girls. It looked like Santa had worked his magic after all.

Kneeling down next to the couch, Jake gently placed his hand on your stomach. Leaning over, he pressed his lips to your bump before whispering, “Hey there, jelly bean. I made it. Have you been behavin’ and keepin’ your mama company while I was gone?” Jake felt a small flutter of movement beneath his hand and he grinned. “That’s my girl.”

Giving your stomach one last rub, he stood up and leaned over you as you continued to sleep. Tipping your chin back, he pressed his lips to yours. For a moment, you moaned and started to pull away. But then, you must have recognized him even in your dreams because you leaned into his kiss and returned it. 

When Jake pulled away, your eyes slowly opened and it took you a moment to grasp what you were seeing in front of you. But when you did, your lip began to quiver as you reached out your hand to cup his face. “J-Jake? Are you really here?”

Jake chuckled deep in his throat as he leaned into your hand. “What kind of question is that?”

“I mean, I’m not still dreaming, am I?”

“No, baby. I’m really here.”

Tears streaming down your face, you threw your arms around his neck as you choked out, “Oh God! I didn’t think you were going to make it.”

Jake buried his face into your hair, breathing in deeply. “I promised you last year I wouldn’t miss this.” He ran his hand over your stomach. “Especially now. Our first Christmas with our new family.”

You sobbed into his neck. “I know, but I still… I wasn’t sure. I hoped though.”

The two of you held each other for a long time. Then in a soft, fearful whisper, you asked, “How long can you stay?”

Jake sat back and wiped the tears from your face. “We’ll talk about that later. Right now, let me just look at you.”

“Ugh, no. I’m a whale.” You tried to cover your stomach with a nearby blanket, but Jake stopped you. 

Taking your hand and placing it over your stomach, he said, “You’ve never looked more beautiful.”

You bit your lip and glanced away. But then your smile slipped as you asked again, “How long, Jake? I have to know.”

Glancing at his watch, Jake sighed. “Well, it is now 12:08 Christmas morning, so I guess I can give you your gift now.”

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a letter and handed it to you. Warily, you took it from him and opened it. Squinting in the dim light from the decorations, you read what it said, your lips silently mouthing the words as you went along. Jake grinned as your eyes grew wide and you stared up at him in disbelief. “Is this– is this real?”

“Yep. Maverick got them to transfer me off the Dagger Squad for one year. Instead, I’ll be working in recruitment here at the base in town. So I’ll be here for all of it. The rest of your pregnancy, her birth, all those first milestones. I know it doesn’t make up for the time we lost but I thought—”

He was cut off as you once again threw your arms around his neck, sobbing harder than before. “J-ake, you didn’t have to– but what about the Squad? You love flying with them.”

“I do, and I’ll miss it. But I love you, both of you, more. And Mav said I can come back after a year if I want. He already cleared it with Cyclone.” Jake squeezed you tighter against his chest. “I’ve already missed so much. I don’t want to miss a second of our daughter’s life or being here to help you raise her.”

“Wow…” you hiccupped through your tears. “You really made up for last year.”

“I’m glad you think so.” Jake laughed. Then he took your face and kissed you, deeply and lovingly. It was the kindt of kiss that said all the things you could never put into words. The kind of kiss that only happened between two people who loved each other fully and completely. The kind of kiss he hoped to give you every day from now on.

And when you broke apart, Jake gazed into your puffy, tear-stained eyes and promised, “This is our new tradition. From now on, I’ll be home for Christmas. You can count on me.”

Taglist: @valoraxxx-blog, @m3laniehearts, @autumnleaves1991-blog,  @rule107, @vintageleather, @impossiblebagelcowboyfreak, @slutforadambanks, @americaarse, @reneki, @ynbutbetter , @sugarcoated-lame, @imagineadream, @sadpetalsstuff, @salty-thembo, @rachelizabethgraham, @duckandrobin, @queenbbarnes, @grincheveryday, @uselesslyromantic, @choochoo284, @littlebadariell, @blue-aconite, @thescarletknight2014, @dempy, @nik2blog, @dumb-fawkin-bitch, @shirley2996, @kkrenae

#hello december playlist challenge #fic #top gun #top gun maverick #top gun: maverick #jake hangman seresin #jake hangman seresin x reader #jake seresin #jake seresin x reader #hangman #hangman x reader #glen powell #f!reader #fluff #angst #christmas #happy ending #pregnant reader

[roosterforme]

All I Want For Christmas Is You | Rooster x Reader

Summary: Bradley returns from deployment just before Christmas and immediately falls for the new bartender at the Hard Deck.

Warnings: None, just fluff

Length: 3600 words

This fic was written with the song prompt All I Want For Christmas Is You for the Hello December Playlist Challenge which was brought to us by the lovely @notroosterbradshaw

Pairing: Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw x Female Reader

Check out my Masterlist!

Bradley parked his vintage Bronco in the lot at the Hard Deck. He took a deep breath when he saw the colorful lights that twinkled outside his favorite hangout. He had just returned home from a three month deployment, and now it was mid-December and everything was decorated for the holidays.

Christmastime was always a little difficult for him, mostly because he'd been on his own for so long. There was really nobody for him to enjoy the holiday with. 

As he walked into the bar, looking for the other aviators, he noticed a huge Christmas tree in one corner and lights strung along the doorways. "Rooster!" Phoenix cheered, running over to hug him when he arrived. "I missed you so much!" Bradley smiled against his friend's cheek as she squeezed him tight. 

"Missed you too, Nat," he said, and he let her buy him a beer before they joined the other aviators at the pool table. Everyone was happy to see him back, and he was honestly happy to be back. 

After a round of handshakes and fist bumps, he settled into one of the empty stools with his beer and ate the peanuts that Bob had offered him. He hummed along to Frosty the Snowman as it played, giving himself a quick reminder to mail a holiday card to his mom's cousins. 

Then he cocked his head to the side slightly. "Has there always been Christmas music in the jukebox? I don't remember this from last year."

Bob chuckled and shook his head, chewing on some peanuts. "No, the Christmas songs are new, just for this month. Actually, the jukebox got an update when the new bartender started."

"New bartender?" Bradley asked, turning to look back toward the bar, just as All I Want For Christmas Is You started playing. Bradley's jaw went a little slack as he stared longingly. "Is that her?" he muttered. "God, she's gorgeous."

Bob hummed in agreement. "She's really nice too. The guys all went nuts when she started last month, asking her out constantly."

Bradley sighed. Of course that's where his mind had immediately gone. But if all the guys were already asking, he was definitely too far behind in the game. "That's too bad." All Bradley wanted for Christmas was to get to know you.

--------------------------------------------

You were frantically pouring six tequila shots while trying to recall the list of orders you'd memorized a few minutes ago. 

"Four Miller Lites and two Heinekens. Or was it two Miller Lites and four Heinekens?" you murmured to yourself. Friday nights at the Hard Deck were always busy, but you loved working here. Penny was the best boss you'd ever had, and the extra money in your pocket while you finished your master's degree was very welcome. 

"Hey, babydoll, can we get another round of beers? Our prodigal Rooster has returned, and we're trying to make him feel welcome." It was Hangman. It was always Hangman, and he was always calling you babydoll. 

"Sure," you told him with a smile. He'd asked you out twice already, and you weren't trying to encourage anything else from him. You popped the tops off of nine bottles of beer and slid them toward him before adding them to his tab. "This Rooster character should at least help you carry all of these bottles."

"Yeah, he will. He's on his way up now," Hangman drawled, and you looked up to see the guy in the Hawaiian shirt with the mustache approaching you. You'd noticed him when he walked in about an hour ago, and you'd noticed him again as he played pool. It was hard not to notice him. Oh no, he had a cute smile too. 

"Are you Rooster?" you asked after he set both large palms down on the bartop. 

"Yes," he answered with a grin, reaching out to shake hands. "I'm Bradley."

You told him your name and shook his warm hand. Oh no, his eyes were a warm shade of brown and his hair was adorably wavy. "Nice to meet you," you managed to say, withdrawing your hand from his before you could embarrass yourself. Because he was very cute.

"Nice to meet you, too. I hear you're the one responsible for the Christmas music?" His voice was luxurious sounding. "I can't believe you managed to get Penny to update that thing," he said with a crooked smile, nodding toward the jukebox. 

You leaned across the bar a little bit and crooked your finger at him. He leaned a little closer to you and gazed at your mouth as you said, "Listen, you can only hear Slow Ride so many times before you lose it completely."

You watched as Rooster tipped his head back and laughed. He had scars on his face and neck, and you imagined yourself perched on his lap, gently tracing them with your fingers while he talked to you. 

You realized you definitely already had a crush on this man after meeting him approximately two minutes ago. 

"I'm honestly digging the Christmas playlist, so thanks," he told you, gathering up the bottles that Hangman had left for him to carry. "See you around." He glanced down at your lips one last time. 

You watched him walk away with a sigh before returning to your Miller Lite vs. Heineken conundrum. 

-------------------------------------------

Bradley was trying his best to play pool and converse with his friends, but his eyes were drifting to you at the bar pretty frequently. The problem was, a few of those times, you'd already been looking at him when he glanced up. Another problem was, everyone else kept buying him drinks, so he didn't even have a tab to close out with you. 

There was literally no reason for him to talk to you again, no matter how hard he tried to come up with something. And now it was getting a little ridiculous, because he was in his thirties and acting like a teenager. So he took his shot in pool and tried to focus on the game. 

"Hey babydoll, I would have brought those up for you," Hangman said, drawing Bradley's attention away from the pool table. You were a few feet away from him, gathering some empty glasses onto a tray while Hangman eyed you up. 

"That's okay, you're all supposed to be enjoying Rooster," you said, flashing your beautiful smile Bradley's way. Oh how he wanted to be enjoying you. 

And why exactly did Hangman have a nickname for you? Were you dating Jake? Oh God, you must be dating Jake. Bradley tried to hide his scowl as you turned and took the tray back up to the bar. 

Bradley left when his friends closed out their tabs, but not before he told you good night just to see you smile one more time. 

----------------------------------

Always the glutton for punishment, Bradley returned the following evening. There were even more decorations now. An inflatable snowman stood in the far corner, and there was some holly on the doors. The Christmas playlist even had Coyote and Phoenix dancing along to Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree.

"Come dance with me, Rooster!" Bradley was helpless to say no to Phoenix, and soon they were slow dancing along to the music. Bradley caught sight of you as he spun Nat around. 

"You should just go talk to her," your friend whispered. "I can tell you think she's cute."

Bradley laughed. "Everyone thinks she's cute, Nat. And she's got Hangman calling her babydoll."

"Ugh. He's the worst," Nat replied, and you both danced and laughed awhile longer. 

--------------------------------------

"Well, nevermind then," you muttered to yourself as you shook a gin and tonic. Rooster had been dancing with Phoenix for three songs, and it didn't look like they were about to stop anytime soon. You actually liked Phoenix, so you were going to have to get over your crush on her boyfriend as quickly as possible, or you'd be miserable at work. 

When Bradley eventually wandered up to the bar and ordered two beers, you took your sweet time opening them for him. 

"You look nice," he told you softly, and you fumbled with your bottle opener a bit. When you met his eyes, they looked soft and sincere. But he shouldn't be saying things like that to you, especially since it made you want to reach across the bar and place your hand on his where it rested. 

"Thanks," you muttered, sliding the beers across the bar. "You having a fun time tonight?" you asked, because you wanted to keep him talking. Were you truly going to chat up another girl's boyfriend? Apparently. But you'd keep it G rated. 

"Yeah," he said with a smile, looking at your mouth. "It's nice to be back after being away so long. Gets lonely."

"I can imagine. You must have been happy to see Phoenix," you replied, just to make yourself feel bad, apparently. 

"Oh yeah. Actually, you can go ahead and put these on Nat's tab. I'm sure she won't mind." Someone else was trying to order a drink, so he grabbed the bottles with a wink before he left for the pool table where he handed one of the beers to Phoenix. 

But then he was looking at you again! Just like he had been last night! What was he playing at? 

You tried your best to ignore him the rest of the evening, and you were doing a pretty good job of it when an hour later, you looked up to find him sliding into a seat at the bar.

"You need another one?" you asked him while you moved a bunch of empty bottles to the recycle bin under the bar. 

"Yeah," he said with a grin. "And just put it on my tab this time, please. I'm not looking to make Nat mad at me, especially not this close to Christmas. I want to get a nice present this year."

You couldn't help but smile. "What does she usually get you?"

"She usually gets me nothing," he said with a chuckle. "Maybe this year will be different."

They must have started dating recently. You couldn't help but think about the kind of gift you'd get him if he was dating you. Maybe a new Hawaiian shirt. 

"Well, hopefully you're on everyone's nice list," you told him. 

Bradley studied you with his brown eyes and smirked. "Are you on the nice list or the naughty list this year?"

Your jaw dropped open just as his eyes went wide and he started to blush. 

"Shiiiit, I didn't mean to say that." He looked panicked as he grabbed his beer, muttered an apology and quickly left for the pool table. 

You were sweating a little bit now. Had he actually asked you that? You wanted to tell him he could mark you down for his naughty list. In fact you had almost said just that. But he had vanished so quickly, and then Phoenix's face flashed through your mind. You groaned and let your forehead rest against the bartop for a second before you got back to work. 

-------------------------------------

Bradley made a few appearances at the Hard Deck the following week. But ever since he'd put his foot in his mouth in front of you, he had been avoiding you as much as possible. He went so far as to order his drinks from Jimmy. 

He also noticed someone had hung mistletoe from the ceiling in several spots, which was just plain obnoxious. The one he kept almost walking under was strategically placed right next to the inflatable snowman. Luckily he had only earned himself a kiss on the cheek from Penny, but still, that shit was dangerous. 

Now it was the last Friday before Christmas, and you were behind the bar wearing a shirt that said So Naughty I'm Nice while you mixed a drink, and Bradley was trying not to look at your chest, but it was impossible. He wanted to touch you. He kept thinking about kissing you. 

"Grab us a round, Rooster!" Fanboy called to him, and with a sigh, Bradley made his way to where you were working. All I Want For Christmas Is You was playing again. It seemed to be playing every time he was near you. And it was messing with his head. 

"Hey," he said softly and you smiled at him. So far, so good. "Can I get a round?"

"Your tab this time?" you asked with a grin.

"Oh yeah, please. That did not go over well with Nat," he said with a wince that had you laughing. 

His eyes dipped back down to the writing on your top, and of course you noticed immediately. 

"You like my shirt?" you asked, and Bradley wanted to disappear. 

"Mmhmm," he hummed, trying to keep his eyes on your face at all costs. 

"Yeah, turns out I'm on the naughty list after all," you told him, and he almost groaned out loud. Fucking Jake, that lucky asshole. 

"Really?" he managed to ask you, and he knew his voice sounded needy. You nodded and smirked at him, and Bradley prayed he wasn't as transparent as he felt.

-----------------------------

Something had you feeling extra bold tonight. Maybe it was the fact that Rooster had clearly been avoiding you for the past few days. Maybe it was the fact that his eyes always seemed to find you when he was playing pool. Maybe it was your sassy shirt. Maybe it was the fact that Phoenix was standing with her arms around Coyote's neck at the moment, a fact that could not have escaped Bradley's attention. 

It didn't really matter the reason, you just went for it. "Yeah... I must be on the naughty list. Because I didn't get to meet you until after you were off the market."

The look on Bradley's face made it all worth it. His mouth was opening and closing, but no sound was coming out. His brow was furrowed and he was blushing. 

Then you heard Penny calling you from the stockroom doorway. "Gotta run, but maybe you should get back to your girlfriend. She's looking a little cozy over there without you."

Then you turned to see what your boss needed in the back room. When you walked away, you could practically feel Bradley's eyes on you.

----------------------------------

"What in the world?" Bradley muttered to himself at the bar. As soon as you had mentioned his nonexistent girlfriend, you had vanished. 

Were you interested in him? It sounded that way. He waited a few minutes for you to return, but you didn't. 

And then it all clicked into place. He watched Phoenix and Coyote getting handsy with each other. You thought he was dating Nat! Hilarious! But, he had put a bunch of his drinks on her tab. And he had been dancing with her a lot. 

But what about Jake? Bradley rocketed off the barstool and found Hangman by the dartboard. "Are you dating her?" Bradley asked him.

Jake smirked at him. "You'll have to be more specific."

Bradley rolled his eyes. "Our beautiful new bartender. Are you going out with her?"

When Jake's face fell, Bradley's heart skipped a beat. "Nah, I tried to jump on that one too early, unfortunately. Babydoll turned me down."

"Yes," Bradley whispered, turning toward the stockroom door where he was met with Penny returning with another case of beer. 

"You need another drink, Rooster?" she asked with a smile.

"Is Y/N in the back room?" he asked.

Penny frowned. "No, I sent her home early. She's been working so many hours this week."

"Right," he replied, and turned back toward the pool table. 

---------------------------------

You got to work the following evening to find the bar was busier than you had ever seen it. The jukebox was blasting Christmas music, but it could barely be heard over all the laughter and conversation. You were in for a long night of mixing and pouring drinks faster than you ever had before. 

You saw Rooster was there, but you tried to ignore him. You felt so guilty about flirting with him, and you should have never pointed out that Phoenix was hanging off of Coyote. What were you thinking? 

When he eventually came up to the bar, you quickly asked him, "You need a round? On your tab?"

Bradley looked at you with such open longing, you had to avert your gaze down to your bottle opener. 

"Yeah. I mean, no," he said. "Well, yes, I do want to get a round, but I also wanted to talk to you."

You glanced back up to his pretty brown eyes, and you noticed the line of people behind him awaiting drinks. 

"It's crazy in here right now. Maybe later?" You shoved the beers across the counter to him. But you didn't intend to talk to him later, because he was making it abundantly clear who he was here with. Phoenix. He was handing a drink to her and whispering in her ear. And you reminded yourself that he was taken.

-------------------------------------

Bradley had tried again to get your attention, but on top of being busy, you didn't seem to want to talk to him. You thought he was with Nat. He needed to make it clear that he was not. He needed to make it clear that he was interested in you. And he really wanted to do it tonight. 

But the bar was filled with patrons all the way up until last call. And that was when Bradley noticed that Payback was sloppy drunk. 

"Guys, he's a mess," Bradley informed the others.

"Yeah, I'll drive him home," Phoenix agreed. And when Bradley tried to help Phoenix and Coyote guide Payback toward the door, Payback collided with you. Bradley watched in horror as you tried to juggle the tray full of empty bottles and glasses in your hands, but it was no use. Suddenly you were standing in the middle of a bunch of shattered glass, sighing and shaking your head at the ceiling. 

"You guys got him? I'm going to help her clean up," Bradley told the others, before squatting down in front of you.

"You don't have to," you told him as you looked down into his eyes. "I got it."

Bradley just shook his head up at you. "It's really no problem."

Bradley picked up the large pieces of the broken beer bottles while you stepped gingerly over the mess and went to get the broom and dust pan. But when you returned, he couldn't take it. He tossed the glass pieces back onto the mess.

"Can we talk? Please?" he asked you as he stood. The crowd had mostly cleared out as it was now closing time. 

"I don't think we really have anything to talk about," you told him, sweeping the glass into a pile. But Bradley gently took the broom from you and propped it against the jukebox. Then he took both of your hands in his and slowly, carefully guided you around the inflatable snowman and away from the broken glass. 

"I'm not dating Phoenix," he told you before you could pull your hands out of his grasp. 

You looked at him with wide eyes and slightly parted lips. "You're not?"

"No. Never have, never will. Just friends," he confirmed. He waited for you to say something, but you just looked at him a bit surprised. "And you'll have to excuse me for thinking you were with Jake. That's why I didn't ask you out the first night we met."

"Jake?" you asked. You looked like you were still trying to figure everything out. "I'm not with Hangman!"

Bradley chuckled. "I know that now, but he was calling you babydoll."

You rolled your eyes. "Yeah, he tends to do that. I think he wants me to tell him it's annoying, so he knows I'm paying attention to him. That's why I don't."

Bradley couldn't help but smile at you as he pulled you a little closer to him. 

------------------------------------

Bradley wasn't dating Phoenix! He never had been! And he thought you were seeing Jake? How had things become so confusing? 

And now he was guiding you into his arms, a hesitant look on his face as he said, "You know, if you went out on a date with me, Jake would probably cut it out with the pet names."

You pressed your lips together, trying to hide your smile. "Is that your version of asking?"

He grinned. "Do you want to go out with me? We could get dinner and follow it up with a long walk on the beach."

You let your palms rest against his chest as his hands drifted down to your hips. He smelled so good, like sandalwood mixed with a minty pine. Almost like mistletoe. You glanced up to find you and he were standing right under one of the sprigs you had hung up, and his gaze followed yours. 

"I must be on the nice list after all," you whispered. 

"Me too," Bradley agreed as you wrapped your hands around the back of his neck and pulled him closer to you. You traced one of his scars with your thumb as he pressed his lips against yours. His mouth was warm and perfect, and his mustache made you a little crazy.

"Mmm," you hummed, and Bradley deepened the kiss, tasting your tongue with his. He pushed you back a few steps until your butt hit the jukebox. You broke apart as the ancient machine started playing All I Want For Christmas Is You. 

"It's true though. It's all I want," he told you, forehead pressed to yours as you both smiled and listened to the opening lines. 

--------------------------------

Happy Holidays! Make sure you check out all of the other amazing fics written for this challenge!

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#bradley rooster bradshaw x reader #top gun fanfiction #bradley bradshaw imagine #hello december playlist challenge #rooster x reader

[helloliriels]

It turns out freedom ain't nothing but missing you; wishing i'd realized what I had when you were mine ...

I go back to December all the time...

Happy New Year, John.

#December #sherlock #bbc sherlock #johnlock #the johnlock playlist

[notroosterbradshaw]

fluff and smut! maybe where Rooster and reader are friends who are choosing to spend the holidays together (him because no family and reader because family sucks) and they realize they like each other. something about getting caught underneath the mistletoe (that Rooster put up btw this was a plan) and it evolves from there.

A/N: this was supposed to be a drabble. it’s 3.2k of Rooster Christmas smut. I couldn’t get this out of my head so it got its own one-shot. the inspo hit different, so this is for you, darling nonny, whoever you are in the tumblr wilderness! xo 

It had been the perfect Christmas Eve: drinks at The Hard Deck, Rooster on the keys drawing in a raucous crowd, late-night pizza collected on the way home and you found yourself cackling on the couch with Rooster and Phoenix around 2am. "I am so happy I decided not to go home."

"You are welcome to join our little orphan Christmas any time you like," Rooster handed you a wine glass with a wink. You sat on the couch in the living room, Natasha perching herself on the floor, the colourful flicker of the Christmas tree the only real thing illuminating the room. 

"Thank you," you told him, your fingers grazing his and it was beyond the point you could avoid the flirt in your voice. You knew you'd made the right choice to stay. You'd been flirting with him all night, there had been enough wisecracks from everyone that you were cute together.

"You can cut the sexual tension with a knife," Hangman broadcasted at one point.

"Mistletoe, Rooster?" Natasha teased, finally taking her leave and heading for the guest bedroom you were supposed to share with her. "Merry Christmas, friends," she said, disappearing. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do. Or do," she teased and you both heard the door close.

And finally, it was just two of you. You loved Natasha, but if you didn’t find a way to get Rooster to yourself, you felt like you’d spontaneously combust. You had just enough liquid courage to hide the shyness in your smile and he had to admit, he was feeling a little bold too.

“Just us,” you said, stretching your legs, your sneakers lost on the way in and he reached for your calves, massaging them from the other end of the couch. “I have heard you for years at a piano, but I gotta say, the guitar is a surprise,” you noted the instrument in the corner.

“Love to play,” he admitted, with a shrug. “Sometimes the only way I can unwind from a long day.”

“The only way?” you dared ask. 

His lip quirked. “I said sometimes.” 

You hummed. “Can you play me something?” 

He seemed surprised by this. “Okay,” he said a bit uncertainly. “Dealer’s choice though,” he said, popping up and crossing the room for his acoustic. 

“Surprise me,” you allowed it with a smile, as he sat back down, pulling the guitar to him. His long fingers gently strummed and he shook his head, adjusting the tuning. When he seemed happy a moment later, he looked a little bashful. “I don’t generally play for intimate audiences like this.”

You grinned. “You don’t have to be embarrassed with me.” 

He took a deep breath. “Well...” he started and laughed coyly. “Okay, okay. Be kind, I’m just learning this one,” he composed himself, strumming the first few chords and you couldn’t pick it, but the song was so familiar...

I would climb any mountain Sail across a stormy sea If that's what it takes me, baby To show you how much you mean to me

“Foreigner,” you covered your face with your hands. “I love this song,” you told him, scooting closer. His voice that you’d heard sing so many times had you enraptured. You could not be more attracted to him if he tried, and right now, he wasn’t having to do anything except be himself. He was so much more than just Rooster Bradshaw, the naval aviator. You kind of wished he was Bradley Bradshaw, under you as you came.

You couldn’t help yourself, and you may have sounded like nails on a blackboard, but you went for it anyway. He chuckled quietly as you joined in.

And I guess it's just the woman in you That brings out the man in me I know I can't help myself You're all in the world to me

Spying the mistletoe again later as he strummed some random chords, the words of the song long gone ."So, does it work?" You pulled yourself off the couch and wandered away as Rooster stopped playing and put his guitar out of reach. It was now or never, you realised.

"Does what work?" Rooster asked, a little confused.

"Does the mistletoe work?" you asked again, standing underneath it and pointing up casually.

Recognition crossed his face and he eased a slow smile. It was starting to become your favourite thing about him. The way the side of his mouth quirked was incredibly sexy. You wondered if he even knew he was doing it. Rooster stood to his full height, took a deep slug of his whiskey and approached you as you eased back against the doorframe.

"I fuckin' hope so," he said, taking the last step and he could touch you now, the mistletoe he put up for this purpose alone dangling precariously above you. "Wanna find out?"

"I really think we should," you told him, reaching for the white V-neck tee he wore, pulling him to you. You had dreamed of this moment for so long, you hoped and prayed it didn't fizzle and he could feel the sparks you were sure you were feeling between you all night.

His lips were remarkably soft, plump, and extremely kissable and you could swear, he was smiling against your lips as he closed the gap between your bodies and wrapped his arms around your waist, his strong hands pressing into your lower back. Your body felt perfect against his. You recalled afternoons on the beach gawking at the well-worked peaks and ridges now under your touch, something you never dreamed. “I’ve wanted to do this for so long,” he said between breaths, tongues and touches. 

“Me too,” you admitted.

“How drunk are you?” He asked softly.

“Pizza helped sober me up enough to know I really want this. Probably made me a bit more ballsy than usual.”

It appeared to be the answer he wanted. “Tired?”

“Could stay up all night if you want me to,” you told him as he revealed a dark chuckle, caressing your jaw and leading your mouth back to his. He hitched you into his arms and you could feel how hard he was. If only he knew how turned on you were with him… how turned you always were in his presence. He disregarded his successful ploy of planting the mistletoe and carried you to the couch, letting your body fall onto him as he collapsed back and you straddled his lap, taking control of the kiss you both refused to break. You adjusted your posture, rolling your hips forward over his straining cock. He groaned, head rolling back. “I want you, Rooster,” you whispered to him.

“I know, sweetheart. I’m aching here. Let me just savour your kiss a while longer, okay?” He licked his lips and claimed your mouth again. “We don’t need to rush.”

But you were desperate. You had planned this whole seduction act when he asked you to stay for Christmas. Tomorrow Hangman was putting on a spread and you knew if you didn’t tell Rooster how you felt right now, you weren’t sure if you’d have the courage again.

You’d been deeply in lust with Bradley Bradshaw for so long, your body ached for him, and you ground on him to let him now. He held your hips and helped you work against him. He was so confined to his jeans and asked if you could take them off.

Rooster sat back and gave a casual shrug, leaving the next moments to you. You reached for the belt, loosened his fly and he cursed, your delicate fingers anything but around his dick. “Raise your hips?” You asked quietly and he did as requested as you laced your fingers in the waistband of his jeans, dragging them to his knee as he raised his feet from the floor and you disregarded them altogether. “Better?” You asked.

He scoffed a laugh, noting his lack of modesty in his boxer briefs. “I suppose. You look so sexy. Do you want where this is going? I need to know where to stop because I’ve wanted this so long, I dunno if I can give you what you deserve as slow and sweet or just to fuck you hard and fast.”

Both seemed delicious to you and he patted his powerful thighs, a seat you greatly appreciated. You picked up the skirt of your dress and drifted onto his lap, so close now you could feel the outline of his cock against your clothed core. “I wanna ride you,” you told him. “I’ve wanted to for so long.”

“Can’t wait to feel you,” he was doing everything in his power to remain calm. He’d pleaded to hear your words for so long and it was better than he ever expected. 

“Thought about it so many times,” you confided.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he sighed, brushing his hands through his mussed curls. 

“Have you seen you?” you asked him, tracing a gnarly scar on his shoulder.

“Have you seen you?” he retorted. “You are so fuckin’ far outta my league. If I had half a hint you were into me, I would have made a move months... years ago.” 

You gave him an easy smile. “So I guess that’s out.”

He laughed quietly. “Can’t take it back now,” he agreed, trying to remain calm. He really had no idea you felt like this, had such an urgency for him because if he knew, the politeness would have been over months ago. But, he figured, it was a nice full circle fucking near the Christmas tree on Christmas morning. It would be pretty hard to forget this day and moment. 

First kiss, first fuck. December 25. 

He was a simple man after all. 

“Hey,” you smiled fondly at him. “You with me?”

He grinned, hitching you closer to him. “Yeah, I’m so fuckin’ with you.”

“Then show me.”

“Well, I’m enjoying you in charge, but I will give you anything you want,” he reasoned.

You were encouraged by his words and may have suddenly grown bashful as he giggled quietly. You reached for the hem on his tee and lifted it over his head. “Your body is in so much better than I give you credit for.”

He rolled his eyes. To be honest, he knew. He worked hard on it so at times like this, whoever was with him knew it too. “Come here,” he laughed quietly. “Lemme show you what I can do with it, kid,” and he kissed you again. 

You appreciated his hands, they wear incredible. Strong, and everywhere. Tugging your hair, gripping your chin, pressing into the sides of your ribs, curling under your breasts, looking for the zip on the back of your dress - 

You gave him a negative hum. “No zip,” you giggled.

“Well, ya need to give me a hand here, because I got no fucking clue,” he teased. 

You gently pushed him back into the couch and stepped back, bunching the material in your palms and raising the soft garment over your head, letting it drop beside you.

“Oh,” he managed, mouth dry at the sight of you, naked except for a measly scrap of underwear. He reached for the whiskey before him and took a sip. As you moved back to him in only your undies, his eyes never left you. He offered you the glass that you finished and placed back on the table. “Holy shit, you’re beautiful. Lemme have you,” he urged, reaching his hands but you playfully hesitated. “If you’ll have me?” he looked at you with big puppy dog eyes.

That was new, you realised. You had to laugh as you dropped your undies to the floor and he eagerly removed his boxer briefs. His body hard, heavy and wanting. You held his face as his eyes fluttered closed to kiss you and you seated yourself again. He wrapped his arms around you, pulling your body against his. He could feel how wet you were - his inner thigh covered in your slick. 

“Can I touch you?” he begged.

“Anywhere,” you granted, kissing across his chest and again, his hands took the lead. Strong and they massaged your hips, desperate to touch every searing part of your body. His hands groped your ass and he gasped as you beat him to the punch, your soft palm lopping around his long cock and massaging in a rhythm that was, well frankly, perfect. 

“You beat me,” he joked, kissing you while you continued pumping him. “Shit,” he muttered.

“What?” you didn’t cease your actions as you kissed away his dismay.

“My condoms are in my room,” he muttered. 

“You clean?” you asked as he nodded once. “It’s your lucky day, champ, I’m on birth control. It’s okay,” you reassured him. 

“You sure?” he raised a concerned eyebrow.

“I’m a big girl, I make my own choices. And if you say you’re clean, I trust you.” 

He nodded slowly, impressed with your moxie. “You keep getting hotter in my estimation. Each time I think I’ve got you figured out... I realise I don’t know a goddamn thing.”

“Well, I’ll let you know something for now.”

“I’m all ears.” 

“Stop talking, start fucking,” you demanded. “Have you always been this chatty?” you teasingly accused.

“Yes, ma’am,” he laughed, guiding your eyes to his cock and you started again. “That’s perfect baby, but I don’t wanna cum in your pretty little hands.”

You nodded, adjusting your body closer to his and sunk down on his dick. It was a sweet stretch, Rooster’s clearly had something to strut about. You’d heard the rumours in passing about Rooster’s BDE and you could now comment on the affirmatory.

“That is...” your eyes rolled a little, bottoming out and adjusting to him inside you. “Amazing.”

“I know, baby,” he held your hips, watching intently where your bodies met and he waited keenly for you to move, but surprised him by kissing him and if it wasn’t the hottest thing, his tongue melding with yours. He appreciated the cockwarming, it was so personal and kind of sexy and when he least expected it, you started to slowly roll your hips, raising and falling along his cock. He struggled to keep his eyes open, wanting to see every single move you made, how your body flowed, how much you were enjoying yourself.

He desperately chewed his lower lip as you flicked your hair from your eyes, a little more intensity to your movements now and he was excited to move his hips to your rhythm, pushing his hips up and enjoying those oh-so-sexy moans that escaped those pretty lips you chewed to keep from calling out.

The next time you fuck, he vowed, Phoenix would not be in the next room. 

“Yes, baby, that is amazing,” he murmured, gripping your hips and forcing you down on him.

“You feel so fuckin’ good,” you told him and kissed him madly. “Touch me, Rooster, please,” you begged.

He released your hips and protectively wrapped an arm behind you. He’d never understand why men couldn’t find the clit. They didn’t deserve the gifts that came with it if they didn’t dedicate the devotion it required and deserved. You hissed as he slipped his middle finger on the sensitive and you chewed your fist.

“Fuckin’ wake her,” he encouraged as your moans got louder, his wet tongue tracing around your nipple, and you wrapped your arms around his head, begging him to continue what he was doing. “Christ, you’re so tight. You’re so close.” 

“Wanna cum,” you managed, driving your hips further down and he hissed. 

“Come on, baby. Lemme feel you,” he dared. “You are so so so,” he grunted, his hip speeding up and needing the friction. “Sooo fucking close.” 

“Fuck,” you cried as Rooster’s hips pistoned roughly into you, and you saw stars. It was one of the most intense orgasms you’d had as you bit into his brawny shoulder to avoid yelling out. Rooster held both your hips, forcing you down on his, desperate for his release. “Do you want to finish another way?” you asked him sweetly, panting, spent. He raised an eyebrow and smiled, darkly. He gave a slow nod as you stood, legs a little shaky, and he bent you over, your hands gripping the end of the couch for life. 

You knew this would be a rough ride.

He breathed, collecting himself, his strong hands caressing your back and the curve of your ass that you slowly wriggled back at him enticingly. He let out a raw laugh. “Yes baby, I see you,” he licked his lip, almost unbelieving this was how his night ended up. “I see you.” 

He pumped himself a few times before gently pushing into you but there would be nothing sweet about it. He wanted to cum, and bonus if you did again after before, but he wouldn’t last long in this position. He teased you with his first few thrusts, savouring how wet and silky you felt but it only encouraged him. He clutched your hips and started to give his all, the sound of skin slapping harshly as you tried to keep your balance, his quads ripping into your ass and hamstrings, your unsteady legs faltering. 

He was all around and surrounded you. Had he always been this big? Had he always been this strong?

The whimper you made when he slapped your ass was one of the sweetest, hottest sounds he’d ever heard. His hips snapped into you harshly as he started to come. 

“God dammit,” he breathed, quickly pulling out and catching himself in his palm as he came white hot. “Holy shit,” he shuddered, lowering his chest to cover your back as you smiled and looked back, reaching and kissing him crudely. He held you tightly, kissing you with as much vigour, standing you and pulling you to face him. “You okay?” he stroked your cheek with his knuckle, a smile tugging at his lips. You were so blissfully fucked out and he’d never seen you more beautiful. You reached for his boxer briefs, realising he might want to tidy up. “Thanks.”

“Why did we wait so long for that?”

“I dunno,” he breathed with a laugh, tossing the underwear away. “C’mere,” he flopped onto the couch, and you snuggled into him. You tried to hide a small yawn, resting your forehead on his shoulder, bashfully. “All night?” he teased. You giggled into this golden skin.

“Might need a kip,” you admitted. He tenderly wrapped his arms around you and you trembled anyway. 

“Sure you’re okay? Not sore?” 

You shook your head. “Cold. Adrenaline waning.”

He kissed your temple and found his tee near his feet, latching on close enough to reach. “Ease back, baby,” he said quietly and lowered the shirt over your shoulders and moved back to lie down. “Get that kip, sweetheart.”

“Hmm,” you hummed, peppering hisses around his chest and he groaned. “Merry Christmas, Rooster.”

“Merry Christmas. Thank you for staying.”

“Thank you for planting the mistletoe,” you giggled as he grinned at him, sleep finding both of you quickly. 

“Well, this was bound to happen. About time, losers,” Natasha whispered to herself with a small smile, looking at Rooster on his back and you snuggled into his chest in his tee from last night on the couch. A throw blanket covered any lack of modesty from her gaze as the lights from the tree zoned in and out. “And ew,” she tiptoed out, closing the door behind her. 

masterlist.

A/N: the tag list no longer exists. To keep up to date, give @notroosterbradshaw-library a follow x

#rooster #rooster x reader #asks answered #bradley bradshaw #bradley rooster bradshaw #rooster bradshaw #rooster smut #bradley bradshaw smut #top gun smut #top gun fanfiction #rooster x you #rooster x female reader #rooster x oc #hello december playlist challenge #notroosterbradshaw

[thedroneranger]

I Can Make It

Jake "Hangman" Seresin

Précis: Jake gets a lengthy deployment—will he make it home for the holiday?

Note: For @notroosterbradshaw’s #hello december playlist challenge. My song is One More Sleep by Leona Lewis—fic incorporates many of the song lyrics.

Warnings: Angst n' fluff

Word count: 1.7k

The last year had been hard.

While Jake was floating on a carrier in the icy waters somewhere between Greenland and Russia, you were in California starting your life as a married woman alone. 

You remembered last year vividly—you and Jake had just gotten out all your holiday decorations. As you sifted through boxes and checked lights, you were doing your best to sell Jake on going to Minnesota for the holidays. 

Born and bred in Texas, Jake never had the pleasure of a white winter. Snow was a foreign concept he never really encountered until he attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Maryland. Since college, Jake hadn’t been deployed many places where it was cold unless he was on an aircraft carrier, so the best he got was ice flows and permafrost.

Although you had been together for years, Jake had yet to make it to Minnesota during the winter. You wanted to fly into Duluth and then rent a car to drive to your parents’ place just outside of Two Harbors. After Christmas, you would continue up the Lake Superior coast to Grand Marias to your family’s lake house to ring in the New Year just the two of you.

Discussion of your pitch was cut short when Jake’s phone vibrated. He signaled it was a work call, so you continued assessing decor while he wandered into the kitchen to get away from the soft music you had playing.

“What’s wrong?” You stood as Jake returned to the room, looking disappointed. He wrapped his arms around your shoulders as you stepped into his embrace, encircling his waist with your arms. Your cheek laid against his hard chest, and his cheek rested on top of your head. 

“I’ve been tapped for a special mission. However, the deployment is eight to 10 months, and I leave on January first.”

This what you signed up for—you knew deployments would happen at inconvenient times. But it did not make hearing that your summer wedding and starting your family would have to be put on hold any easier.

Instead of stringing lights, you and Jake spent the afternoon rearranging the next year of your life. Jake could tell you were deflated from the news, so he ordered takeout and popped open a bottle of wine. 

“Let’s get married next week,” Jake said as he topped off your glass.

“Are…you serious?” You could not tell if he was messing with you as you settled into the couch.

Jake nodded. “Serious as a heart attack, honey.” He sat the bottle on the coffee table and joined you, laying an arm along the couch behind you. “Let’s go to Minnesota and get hitched. I want to come home to my wife in a year.” Your heart swelled three sizes at his statement. A smile pulled your lips as you leaned forward and pressed yours to his. 

A week later, on Christmas Eve, you and Jake stood at the end of a dock jetting into Lake Superior at your family cabin. The sun was shining, making the snow glitter and the ice glisten. Your family holiday had been extended to include Jake’s family, so both your parents, all your sisters and their families—partners and children—were huddled at the top of the dock to witness your wedding.

With the help of your sisters, Jake had surprised you by purchasing your dream dress, which thankfully wasn’t traditional, so it was tailored and ready in a matter of days. Jake wore a dark heather charcoal suit—you loved that it made his eyes pop. Jake’s oldest sister owned a salon back in Austin, so she lent her skills to you and Jake for the big day.

Your lifelong best friend, who happened to be a photographer, was recruited by your sisters to document your nuptials. And your father, a retired district judge in Duluth, officiated your ceremony. Your mothers could not help themselves and teamed up to cook one of the best meals you’ve ever had—a combination of traditional southern and midwestern dishes that featured many of yours and Jake’s favorites. 

The next morning, your families left you and Jake alone at the cabin. It was the closest thing to a honeymoon you were going to get, and you were thankful to have a couple days at the lake. 

You were dreaming of the few days you woke up shrouded in the warmth from the fireplace and tangled with Jake between the sheets as the pair of you drove to the base. Jake kept his eyes on the road and his fingers laced with yours on the center console. Meanwhile, you could not take your eyes off him. “Why are you staring, weirdo?” he teased. 

A smile crept across your face as you squeezed his hand and looked away for a minute. “Soaking you in—this is going to be the longest we’ve been apart.” It was his turn to steal a glance at you. He then raised your entwined fists and kissed them.

You were proud of yourself—you managed to keep it together until you climbed back into the vehicle. It took you 15 minutes to compose yourself and the tears to subside enough that you could drive home.

Nearly a year later, you weren’t sure Jake would be home for the holiday. Once his deployment hit eight months, it became nine, then 10. Ten turned into 11 and now he was in Month 12 headed into Month 13. 

You didn’t even bother to get the holiday decorations out. Not wanting to chance spending the holiday alone, you packed your bags and caught a flight to Minnesota. Since he had finally admitted that he enjoyed your home state in the winter, you agreed he would come there if he were to make it home.

The last time you spoke, Jake chattered about how excited he was to celebrate your anniversary. He was hoping you two could sneak away to the cabin. You agreed but didn’t want to get your hopes up. Although the last time you spoke you knew it was five more nights until he was next to you, you kept telling yourself one more sleep until you saw him. Daily doses of disappointment seemed more manageable than a week’s worth of time.

Lost in your memories of you and Jake, holding a warm mug of coffee and irish cream, you were staring out the living room window into the darkness of night. Fluffy flakes fluttered through the crisp air and disappeared into the undisturbed gentle slopes of a fresh snow blanket. The decorative lights on the house cast a golden glow, making the snow sparkle.

Your mind spiraled further into your memory bank to your youth, recalling the sound of your boots stamping prints into the fresh accumulation and the sound of snow falling all around you. Being alone in the silence of snowfall was your childhood escape. “Ma, I’m going for a walk!” You abandoned your drink on the nearest surface, slipped on your boots, coat, hat and mittens before bounding out the door.

Your nose was already chilling, surely turning red, and your lungs burned from inhaling the icy air. Muscle memory had your legs carrying you to the trailhead that disappeared into the treeline on the backside of your childhood home. As your eyes adjusted to the darkness, a smile pulled your lips as you listened to the silence and the hard crunch beneath your feet. It was tough to say how much time passed while you stood on the trail, listening to the snow, letting the flakes hit your face, feeling your resolve harden.

In the distance, you heard crunching. Keeping your eyes closed, you listened as it neared. Years of listening to the snow, you knew those were human feet, and they were headed your way. Curious who would approach you, you kept your eyes closed and just listened. The crunching was within yards of you when it stopped.

“We’ve got a lot of catching up to do,” you heard from behind you. Your entire body tensed. Eyes cautiously opening, you turned to look over your shoulder. Jake was casually standing there, hands in his pockets, smiling at you. 

Still in disbelief, you turned your entire body to face him. “Hey, stranger,” you greeted.

His smile grew three sizes bigger, his dimples really digging into his cheeks. “Has it been that long?” he teased as he stepped toward you.

Pursing your lips, you glanced at the ground and then at him. “Just 357 days.”

“But who’s counting?” He continued to walk closer. His hands were still in his pockets, while yours were balled in your mittens at your sides.

You shrugged as he closed the distance between you. “I had my doubts you’d get back home,” you added. Your eyes were locked on his, your head tilting back to keep eye contact as he stepped into your personal space. Your lip disappeared between your teeth as you watched him lean closer and closer—his eyes landing on your mouth.

Jake’s warm hand slipped out of his pocket and gently cradled your jaw, his index finger resting behind your ear and his thumb resting on your cheek. Your lips were almost touching. “I told you I’d be with you real soon, honey,” he said before pressing his lips to yours. His warmth melted the winter night chill. Jake pulled away and let his thumb graze your bottom lip while his hand remained on the side of your face.

“I’m still in shock that you’re really here,” you confessed. His signature smile reappeared—nearly as radiant as the snow. He pulled you as close as your thick down coats would allow and pressed a lingering kiss to your lips. 

“I can think of a few ways to prove I’m really here.” He held you so your bodies were completely pressed to one another. “But first, let’s go celebrate the holiday with your folks.” He gave you one more kiss—this one hungrier than the last. 

“You can prove yourself when we get to the cabin tomorrow night.” Lust was evident in your voice. You slipped your mitted hand around his and led the way back to the house.

#hello december playlist challenge #notroosterbradshaw #holiday fanfic #top gun holiday #top gun maverick #top gun #jake seresin #jake hangman seresin #hangman #top gun hangman #jake seresin x reader #jake seresin x you #hangman x reader #jake hangman

[half-lightl]

POSTERS INSPIRED BY MY MOST PLAYED SONGS FROM FITF BY LOUIS TOMLINSON (ACCORDING TO LASTFM) (pt. 1) ALL THIS TIME LUCKY AGAIN SATURDAYS

#dailytomlinson #louistomlinsoncouk #theonedeepalsedit #louis tomlinson #hlcreators #misediciones #fitf #lt2 #I know what the next two are gonna be but i'm still not sure about the sixth one mmm #anyway i started making these in early december but i just muster up the energy to finish them today. i'm always just so tired tired tireddd #can you all believe saturdays exists???? that song is my main baby at the moment #spotify made me do the 2024 future playlist thingy i added saturdays as my choice for ''song i need to hear live this year'' #let's pray it happens!!!! #fitfposters #credits for the ticket vector: https://www.rawpixel.com/image/2849758/free-illustration-png-movie-frame-cartoon-cuteeyJrZXlzIjoidGlja2V0Iiwi #gfxorcollages*

[disturbedbeautywrites]

Let It Snow - Jake Hangman Seresin

A/N: This imagine is for @notroosterbradshaw and her december playlist challenge!

Synopsis: Jake has an extra special gift for you this Christmas.

Family time was important to Jake Seresin, and he made sure you always knew that. That’s why you were currently curled up in the guest room at his moms house on his chest, his fingers slowly tracing a pattern into your arm. The two of you had flown in a couple of days ago to spend Christmas with his family, and you couldn’t be happier. You had bonded with his sisters and his mom and you were already making plans to fly down and see them more often; when you could.

“My family loves you, you know that, right?” Your boyfriends voice was muffled against your forehead as he pressed a kiss to the skin there. It was a warm gesture that you had grown to love and appreciate from your aviator. You hummed in response, hearing tiny feet running around outside your door.

“Uncle Jake! Auntie (Y/N)! It’s Christmas and it’s snowing! Come out!” You chuckled as you heard Jake’s niece on the other side of the door, knocking expectantly. You scooted out of Jake’s grip, slipping on a pair of fuzzy socks as you watched him slip a shirt over his torso. “Come on, let’s not leave the princess waiting.” He grabbed your hand and the two of you walked out to the living room; curling up on the couch as you watched the white snow falling from the sky outside the window. It was a beautiful and fluffy white blanket that covered the entirety of the ranch that sat right on the other side of the glass.

It filled you with a sense of warmth, your eyes soon glancing over to Jake’s niece as she started to go through the presents and hand them to everyone. She gave you and Jake yours before her and her brother started to tear into their own. “I love you.” The words were whispered from Jake as he put his arm around your shoulders, pressing a chaste kiss to your lips before he got up from the couch. You repeated the words back, a bright flush evident on your cheeks that was almost as bright as the fire in the fireplace. You caught Jake’s sister flashing you a smile as she saw how her brother interacted with you; happy he had finally found someone that was good for him and could put up with his attitude.

“Who wants hot chocolate or coffee?” His voice cut through the room as the squeals of the kids seemed to get louder the more wrapping paper they tore off, a blizzard of the colorful paper falling onto the floor. You and all of his sisters all piped up with their orders, your eyes trailing after Jake’s back as he made his way into the kitchen. You could hear the water turning on as well as him riffling through cabinets to get mugs out.

“He really loves you.” You heard the words come from across the room as you felt a blush creep up your neck and into your cheeks. “I’ve never seen him this smitten with anyone, ever.” The words came from his mom and you couldn’t help but smile at her. She had been so kind to you since you had met her and you were really wanting to make a good impression; which you seemed to be doing according to Jake. “Take good care of him. He may act tough, but he’s a big teddy bear.” She threw a wink your way and you chuckled, nodding.

“I really love him too, and trust me, I don’t plan on getting rid of him anytime soon. He’s absolutely the love of my life.” You had been with Jake for a little over a year now and he had swept you off of your feet from the moment he had locked eyes with you at the Hard Deck. You were new in town and had been hired on by Penny as some extra help. You had gotten used to the flirting from the pilots, but once Jake Seresin walked in, all your defenses fell down. He was sweet towards you; a stark contrast to how he treated everyone else. It immediately made you start to crush on him and you were ecstatic when he finally asked you to go out with him.

That was where your love story had begun and it had been flourishing ever since then. “Auntie (Y/N), when are you and uncle Jake going to get married?” You were lost in your thoughts and talking with Jake’s family that you didn’t register his niece’s words at first. You went to answer when you actually thought about her words, a shy smile on your face. “Whenever your uncle Jake asks me, honey.” Your words were shy as you watched her giggle motion you towards her. You stood up and walked towards her, getting down on her level. “Uncle Jake wants to ask you today.” The words caused you to go beat red as you stood up, your mouth slightly agape.

You heard a throat clear behind you and you turned around to see Jake on one knee in front of the Christmas tree; a small ring box in his hand that was open to reveal the most beautiful ring you had ever seen. “You know, before I met you I wasn’t one to think I would ever get married. But, when I walked into the Hard Deck, I told Rooster that day I was going to marry you one day. You’ve completely changed my mind about love and marriage and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.” You were wiping your tears away as you took a step towards him. “(Y/N), will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?” You couldn’t form the words as you launched yourself into Jake’s arms, both of you crying as you nodded profusely. “Of course I will.” There wasn’t a single dry eye in the house, tears being shed by everyone before a small laugh broke through.

“Well, lovebirds. To celebrate your engagement, looks like you get to be snowed in with us for a few days. The roads are closed and so are the airports. Merry Christmas!” Jake’s sister quipped up as she got the alert on her phone, a bright smile on her lips.

“Merry Christmas, fiancé.” The words coming out of Jake’s mouth sounded so magical that you couldn’t help but have a million butterflies run through your stomach as you pressed your lips to his.

Best Christmas ever.

#hello december playlist challenge #jake seresin x y/n #jake seresin x you #jake seresin x reader #jake hangman seresin #jake hangman seresin fanfic #jake seresin imagines #jake hangman seresin imagines #top gun maverick x you #top gun maverick imagines #jake seresin fanfiction #jake seresin fluff #hangman imagines #jake seresin oneshot #hangman imagine #hangman fluff

[bradshawsbaby]

Looks Like Christmas

Pairing: Rooster x Wife!Reader

Author’s Note: This is another contribution to @notroosterbradshaw​’s #hello december playlist challenge! It was inspired by Michael Bublé’s version of It’s Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas. Cass, thank you so much again for putting together this challenge! It’s been such a fun way to celebrate my favorite time of year with some of my favorite characters!

For those who read it, see if you can spot the reference to Underneath the Tree in this one!

Warnings: Enough Bradshaw family fluff to give you a toothache.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas Toys in every store But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be On your own front door

Humming softly along with the Christmas music that was jingling from the speakers of the entertainment system, you leisurely made yet another lap around the Christmas tree, carefully arranging the string of multi-colored lights across the dark green boughs in a way that would maximize the twinkling effect once all was said and done. 

It was a slow process, made all the slower by the fact that you kept stopping every couple minutes to take a few steps back and admire your handiwork from across the living room, but you didn’t mind. Stringing the lights on the Christmas tree was actually one of your favorite parts of the decorating process, right behind actually getting to decorate the tree. What other people, including your own husband, found to be an incredibly boring and tedious chore, you found peaceful and relaxing. Getting completely swept up in your task, you would have had no idea how much time had even passed, had it not been for the fact that you were keeping a mental tab of how many Christmas songs had played since you’d gotten started.

By the time you finally reached the bottom of the tree, the familiar strains of It’s Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas had just started swirling around the living room. Moving to the other side of the room, you crossed your arms over your chest and tilted your head to the side, eyeing the tree critically.

You rather had to agree with Michael Bublé. It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas. And you absolutely loved it.

Yesterday had been a complete and total whirlwind, with it being Nick’s first Thanksgiving and all. You’d been frantic about making the day as special and memorable as possible, on top of seeing family and friends, to the point that Bradley had forced you to go sit down on the couch and actually enjoy the time you had with your four-month-old son.

“Honey, I know you have your heart set on it, but we don’t have to decorate the apartment for Christmas tomorrow,” your husband had told you later that night, once you were both in bed. “You must be exhausted. Why don’t we just take tomorrow to rest?”

“Not decorate for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving?” you blinked, certain you’d misheard him. That was like blasphemy to your ears. You’d been decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving for as long as you could remember, a tradition you’d had no qualms about introducing Bradley to.

Bradley chuckled, kissing your surprised frown away. “Yeah, should have figured I’d get that reaction,” he teased, wrapping an arm around you as the two of you snuggled up under the covers. “It was only a suggestion, babe.”

“Don’t even joke around like that,” you told him, your eyes crinkling in humor as you started to laugh softly. “You almost gave me a heart attack.”

“Sorry, my little Christmas Queen,” Bradley grinned, tucking your head under his chin and pulling you close to his chest.

You were more than happy to proudly wear the moniker of Bradley’s Christmas Queen. Christmas was your very favorite time of year, and nothing brought your heart more joy than bringing the warmth and happiness of the season into your home. Each ornament, each decoration, each little knick-knack that you placed around the apartment told a story—stories from your childhood, stories from Bradley’s childhood, stories from the life the two of you had built together. That was why today was so meaningful to you.

And this Christmas would be the most special one of all, you thought with a smile, lifting the sweet little Baby’s First Christmas ornament that you and Bradley had picked out together, before your precious little bundle of love had even been placed in your arms.

Running your fingers over the delicately embossed bauble, the sound of beloved Christmas carols filling your ears, you didn’t even hear the sound of your husband’s footsteps behind you at first.

“Look who’s up from his nap, just in time to help Mommy decorate the tree,” Bradley’s smiling voice came from behind, wrapping around you like the coziest, most well-loved blanket.

Turning with a bright smile, your heart melted at the sight of Nick sitting up in Bradley’s arms, eagerly reaching out to you with a large, gummy grin.

“There are my boys!” you cooed, carefully placing the ornament you’d been holding down on the coffee table and hurrying over to your two favorite guys, holding your hands out to your son. “Did you get a good nap? Huh?” you asked in a sing-song voice, tickling Nick’s belly lightly before taking him into your arms.

“Well, it was alright,” Bradley yawned, stretching his arms over his head. “Oh, you were talking to him,” he added with a teasing smirk.

You rolled your eyes playfully, pressing a kiss to the top of Nick’s head. “Listen to Daddy, huh? Already with the bad dad jokes,” you stage-whispered to your son in a conspiratorial voice.

“I heard that. Don’t listen to her, Nick. Your old man is a gold mine of comedy,” Bradley insisted, resting a hand on your son’s back as he leaned over to peck your cheek.

“Maybe unintentionally so,” you winked, rocking the baby in your arms as he buried his chubby fingers in your hair and began tugging.

“Sounds like Mommy’s been spending too much time around Uncle Jake,” Bradley sighed, which elicited a loud laugh from you. “See, Nick? I always know how to make her laugh.”

“Mmm, you do,” you nodded, leaning up to peck his lips. “I’m sorry for teasing. You are very funny,” you assured him. “Daddy is very funny,” you added, looking down at Nick.

Your son just babbled incoherently in response, a little bit of drool dripping down his chin in his enthusiasm, which you wiped away with a gentle finger.

“It’s already looking great in here, honey,” Bradley said, hands on his hips as he began gazing around the living room.

Your husband had been an absolute champ getting the tree and all your decorations over to the apartment in time for you to start decorating today. Being that there was only so much room in your apartment, a lot of your stuff had been put in storage, also known as Penny and Mav’s basement. With Mav’s assistance, Bradley had managed to get everything up to your place by the time you’d woken up that morning.

Which is why he’d happily accepted when you’d suggested that he go lay down at the same time you were putting Nick down for his nap.

You didn’t mind getting things set up on your own, content to listen to your favorite Christmas songs as you opened boxes and determined where everything needed to go. But you were glad that your husband and son were here now, ready to help put the most important touches on the tree.

“Thank you,” you beamed, shifting Nick in your arms and gently taking a hold of his hand as he attempted to pull on your necklace, the necklace that Bradley had given you to wear on your wedding day. The necklace that had belonged to Carole. The necklace that you hardly ever took off. “I should especially thank you for being so patient in wrapping up the lights for the tree last year. It made my work so much easier this year,” you laughed, stepping closer to the tree so Nick could look at the lights in question.

Though you loved getting ready for Christmas, you could fully admit that you were not a fan of cleaning up after Christmas. Taking down the decorations was the most depressing day of the year in your book, and you got rather impatient when it came to putting certain things away.

“Honey, you know that’s going to be a disaster come next year,” Bradley had chuckled last January, watching you unwind the lights off the tree and throw them into a heap on the floor. “Let me wrap them up,” he said, patiently winding them around his arm until they were bound in perfect, neat little loops.

“My knight in shining armor,” you told him, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

“Every Christmas Queen needs one,” he winked, capturing your lips with his own.

“Very true,” you laughed, beaming as he helped you put away the rest of the decorations.

“See? I told you a little patience would pay off,” Bradley smirked, pinching your butt playfully.

“Well now you’re officially on light-wrapping duty for the rest of our lives,” you joked, giggling as you adjusted one of the snaps on Nick’s onesie.

“Whatever you say, baby,” Bradley nodded, smiling down at you with a sweetly indulgent twinkle in his eyes. “So should we start decorating then? I know you’ve got us on a strict schedule,” he winked.

“You’re absolutely right about that, Lieutenant. I’m the Admiral when it comes to Christmas decorating in this house,” you teased, jokingly pulling rank.

“Trust me, Nick, we better do what she says,” Bradley warned your son, lifting him out of your arms and settling him against his side. “No one takes decorating more seriously than Mommy.”

“And don’t you forget it,” you smiled, walking back over to the coffee table to pick up the ornament you’d been holding earlier. “Look, sweetie, this ornament is just for you,” you said, holding it out to show Nick. “Daddy and I picked it for you before you were even born. It says Baby’s First Christmas,” you explained, pointing to each word. “That’s you. You’re the baby,” you cooed, poking his belly softly and kissing his nose.

Nick gurgled happily once again, bouncing in Bradley’s arms.

“Oh, yeah, he’s a big fan of that,” Bradley beamed, pressing an affectionate series of kisses to the side of your son’s face in quick succession.

“Do you want to put it on the tree?” you asked with a smile, holding the ornament out to your husband.

“No, you do it, baby,” Bradley insisted, patting Nick’s back gently. “You’re the one who went through hell to bring him into the world. Seems only right,” he added with a lopsided grin.

God, you loved him so much.

“Can’t argue with that logic,” you nodded, winking as you stepped over to the tree and chose a spot right in the center, carefully draping Nick’s ornament over the branch.

“Look at that, buddy. Front and center,” Bradley murmured, pointing enthusiastically at the tree until Nick’s gaze followed the direction of his finger. When your son just stared at the tree, mouth hanging open, Bradley began laughing. “I think he likes it, honey.”

“Do you? Do you like it, sweet boy?” you asked, grinning when you witnessed another luminous smile light up your son’s face. “Do you want to help Mommy and Daddy decorate the rest of the tree?”

Nick let out a loud little babble in response, which you and Bradley took for eager assent.

Decorating the tree took much longer than it had in years past, namely because you and Bradley kept passing the baby back and forth between one another as you grabbed ornaments out of the box and began dispersing them across the branches, stopping every now and then to point out a particularly shiny or interesting looking one to Nick. Your son, the sweet, docile angel that he was, just stared at everything you showed him with wide eyes, seemingly as entranced with Christmas as you had always been.

“Looks like we’ve got another big fan of Christmas in the family,” Bradley winked, setting your son’s bouncer down at the foot of the tree so that the two of you could get a break, while still keeping Nick included in the festivities.

“It’s in the genes. Very powerful stuff,” you replied, your eyes dancing with merriment as you knelt down to carefully settle Nick in the bouncer and strap him in. You smiled and dropped a kiss on his forehead when he began kicking his feet happily.

It was only when you stood back up to continue decorating the tree that you realized the music you’d been playing had come to an end. It had been playing for hours, since you’d first started setting up.

“Oh, baby, can you go turn the music back on?” you called to Bradley from where you were currently standing at the back of the tree.

He didn’t verbally respond, but a moment later, you heard the familiar notes of a classic tune floating across the room once more. And then suddenly, there was a strong pair of arms wrapping around your waist from behind, and a very familiar mustache brushing against your neck as your husband began peppering you with kisses.

“Mmm,” you sighed contentedly, lowering your hands to rest them over Bradley’s forearms and closing your eyes, enjoying the feel of his kisses.

“I love you,” Bradley whispered against your ear, nipping lightly at your earlobe.

“I love you, too,” you whispered back, leaning against his chest and reveling in the feel of his strong, protective arms holding you close.

“I was thinking,” he began slowly, his voice sounding like warm honey as his lips moved against the shell of your ear. “Maybe once Nick is asleep for the night, you and I could have a little private fun by the tree. You know, just like last year,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to your ear.

You smirked, though your cheeks flamed at the memory of the time you two had spent under the Christmas tree last December. “Hmm,” you hummed, turning slowly so that you were facing him and wrapping your arms around him. “Only if you can guarantee that you’ve been a good boy this year,” you winked.

“Oh, very,” Bradley nodded eagerly, pecking your lips. “The best.”

“Then I’d say it’s a very strong possibility,” you told him, your lips pressed against his.

The look of absolute victory on your husband’s face made you grin from ear to ear.

“But first we finish decorating,” you told him, wagging a teasing finger in his face.

You didn’t think you’d ever seen him move so quickly to fill in the empty spots on your Christmas tree.

Another hour or two slipped by as you and Bradley put the finishing touches on the tree, and then finished decorating the living room. Between the hot cocoa that Bradley made, the music chiming merrily in the background, the lights twinkling all around, and your sweet baby boy cooing happily in your arms, you couldn’t think of a better day you’d ever had in your life.

At one point, you turned around and saw that Bradley had taken Nick back into his arms, walking him around the tree and pointing out all the different ornaments, and the bright, multi-colored lights. You stopped what you were doing at once, taking this opportunity to just soak in a beautiful, candid moment between the two people you loved more than anything else in the world. 

Getting to see Bradley become a father, getting to witness the way he loved your little boy, was a gift that you never wanted to take for granted.

Struck by a sudden burst of inspiration, you hurried over to the drawer where you had left the small Polaroid camera that you had recently purchased. Holding it up to your line of sight, you quickly snapped a photograph, Bradley turning his head to look at you only after you’d done it.

“No paparazzi, please,” he joked, holding up a halting hand in your direction.

“Sorry,” you smirked, lowering the Polaroid as the film popped out. “A hot man with a baby? Too sexy to resist,” you teased. 

Pulling the photograph out of the camera, you waved it slightly, giving it a few moments to fully develop. When it did, you looked down at it and beamed. It was a beautiful, perfect shot, and one you would cherish always. Both Bradley’s and Nick’s gazes were transfixed on the Christmas tree, Bradley pointing towards an ornament that had been his when he was a little boy.

“What do you think?” you asked, holding the picture up for him to inspect.

“Oh my God,” Bradley breathed out, eyes widening as he looked down at the picture. He just stared, not saying anything else for a moment.

“What is it?” you asked in confusion, glancing between him and the Polaroid picture several times.

“I have to find something,” Bradley said suddenly, gently placing Nick in your arms and marching deliberately over to the cabinet where you stored all the photo albums in your possession.

“Baby, what is it?” you asked again, stroking the back of your son’s head as Bradley began flipping determinedly through a few older albums.

“Look at this, honey,” he exclaimed suddenly, evidently finding what he had been looking for. “Come look at this,” he told you, moving over to the couch and sitting down.

Curiosity piqued, you sat down beside him, settling Nick comfortably on your lap.

“Look,” Bradley smiled, pointing at a small photograph, almost the same size as the Polaroid you’d just taken. The caption beneath it read Bradley’s First Christmas in Carole’s strong hand.

When your eyes beheld the image that Bradley was pointing to, your breath caught in your throat instantly.

It looked almost identical to the photo you’d just taken of Bradley and your son. The man in the photograph was holding a little boy in his arms, hand lifted as he pointed eagerly at one of the ornaments on the Christmas tree. His bright, laughing smile and mustache were the mirror image of your husband’s, just as the baby boy in the photograph looked like your son in every way.

“It was my mom’s favorite picture,” Bradley said softly, gazing at you as you stared down in shock at the photo of him and his father. “She took it while we were decorating the tree, same as you did just now, honey. I just—I can’t get over how much—look,” he breathed out, laying the photograph you’d just taken next to the picture in the photo album.

The similarity was almost too great to be believed.

“I feel like it’s my parents’ way of saying that they’re here with us,” Bradley whispered, wrapping his arms around your shoulders and pressing a kiss to your forehead. “With you. With me. With Nick,” he went on, resting a hand on your son’s back. “It’s just—it’s amazing. You’re amazing.”

“Me?” you asked in surprise, eyes widening as you looked up at him. “I didn’t do anything,” you argued, shaking your head slowly.

“Honey, you did everything,” Bradley insisted, cupping your cheek in his hand. “You’ve made this place our home. Everything that we have is so special because of you. And I just want you to know how much I appreciate that. How much I appreciate you. Thank you, baby,” he told you, resting his forehead against yours. “Thank you for being my home.”

You felt tears trickling down your cheeks as you reached up to touch your husband’s face, gazing into his warm brown eyes. “Thank you for being mine.”

Setting the photographs down on the coffee table, Bradley pulled you into his lap, Nick starting to doze off on your chest as the three of you sat bundled up together, taking in the peaceful glow of your newly decorated Christmas tree.

“This is all I ever wanted,” you whispered, laying your head in the crook of his neck as you rested against his chest. “This is all I need for Christmas.”

Bradley smiled, kissing you softly and wrapping his arms around you and Nick. “This is all I need forever.”

#hello december playlist challenge #mr. & mrs. bradshaw #bradley rooster bradshaw #mrs. bradshaw #rooster x wife!reader #rooster x reader #x reader #x female reader #top gun #top gun: maverick #miles teller

[kazoosandfannypacks]

sabezra life day week day six • sabezra christmas playlist edits • do not repost • likes and reblogs are grealy appreciated • I used christmas music in every day of this event so far, so I figured I'd end on a high note with some edits based on some songs I didn't already use from my christmas love playlist. It's not technically labeled a sabezra playlist, but they were definitely one of the things on my mind as I made it!

taglist:@laughingphoenixleader @accidental-spice @kanerallels @piraterefrigerator @jedi-nurse @dootchster @lucasbridger @redroverrider @light-umbra @commander-tech @jedimandalorian @sabezra-life-day-celebration {if you’d like to be added to or removed from my Sabezra taglist, let me know!}

#Spotify #sabezra #sabezra life day week #sabine wren #ezra bridger #life day #christmas #star wars #music #edits from the fannypack #playlist #ezrabine #a kazzy little christmas #winter song #cold december night #all my christmases #my song for you #christmas tree farm #all i want for christmas is you #otp: im counting on you

[whisperofsong]

Pairing: Bob Floyd x Female Reader

Summary: Bob fulfills a promise he made to a special someone years ago.

Word Count: Approx. 2K 

Warning: One mildly suggestive line

Note: This fic corresponds with @notroosterbradshaw ‘s #hello december playlist challenge.  After discovering this challenge, I immediately thought of the included song and how it suits our precious Bob Floyd.  I hope this piece gets you in the Christmas spirit💛

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Ever since Bob was a kid, he considered snow to be special. He loves the stillness it brings. He reveres its ability to transform one’s surroundings, giving the outside world a brilliant glow.  However, his appreciation for this side of Mother Nature was not inherent; rather, it sprung from his paternal grandfather’s Christmas record.

Although Bob’s older brothers often spent their time playing football and roughhousing in the backyard while visiting their grandparents, these activities didn’t hold the same allure for their younger brother. Instead, Bob frequently found himself reading alongside his grandfather, Theodore Floyd, in the spacious living room. His grandfather sought comfort in his worn, yet loved, brown leather recliner while Bob sat cross-legged on the edge of the couch with a favorite book.  He enjoyed the shared solitude, something that was foreign in his own home.

Bob recalls the Christmas he and his family spent with his paternal grandparents when he was eight years old.  His grandmother was doting on two of his brothers in the kitchen while his other brother was engrossed in conversation with his father about something in which he had no interest.  As a result, Bob decided to join his grandfather in the living room where he found him setting up a record to play.  The album jacket read Christmas Classics and was somewhat tattered.

“Thought we could use some additional Christmas cheer. Whaddya say, Bobby?”

Bob nodded enthusiastically in response.  Within seconds, a familiar Christmas song softly filled the space and his grandfather returned to his beloved spot, ensconced in the coziness of it all.

For a while, Bob and his grandfather only listened to the music, no words exchanged between them, until the fifth song began, its melody producing a grand smile on Theodore Floyd’s face.  “Ah, this is one of my favorites,” he recalled with understated glee.

“What is it?” Bob asked curiously.

‘A Marshmallow World’ by Dean Martin,” revealed his grandfather. “The lyrics paint quite a picture, Bobby.”

Bob’s attention returned to the music and he focused intently on the lyrics as the singer crooned on the record player.

Those are marshmallow clouds being friendly

In the arms of the evergreen trees

And the sun is red, like a pumpkin head

It’s shining so your nose won’t freeze

The vision that the lyrics evoked made Bob smile, too, and his grandfather took notice of Bob’s approval.  “This next part is my favorite,” he announced and Bob leaned forward, eagerly anticipating the upcoming words.

Oh, it’s a yum-yummy world made for sweethearts

Take a walk with your favorite girl

It’s a sugar date, what if spring is late

In winter it’s a marshmallow world

“You know, Bobby.  Lemoore doesn’t make it easy for such a thing to happen.  Sure, we get a dusting here and there, but not enough snow to make it a marshmallow world.”  His grandfather briefly paused as he gazed out the window, lost in thought.  “I’ve always wanted to share in an experience like that with your grandmother, but at my age now, I doubt it’ll ever happen.”

Despite the disappointment laced within Theodore Floyd’s words, he didn’t appear to be melancholy.  Instead, there was a twinkle in his eye that Bob couldn’t pinpoint.

“Promise me something, Bobby.”  His grandfather held his finger in an authoritative manner as his eyes locked with his grandson’s.  “When you meet a girl, the right girl, you’ll find a way to have an experience like that.”

“I will, Grandpa,” Bob asserted as much as a gangly eight-year-old boy possibly could in such a situation.

Every Christmas after this, Bob and his grandfather would steal a few minutes away from the rest of the family and escape to a place that was only made possible by Dean Martin.  This became a beloved holiday tradition, one that Bob was proud to have reserved for just the two of them.

Twenty years following that memorable Christmas, Bob is putting away the last of his items in the dresser in the guest bedroom at his aunt’s house.  You recently hit your eight-month anniversary and Bob timidly suggested you spend Christmas with him and his family at his aunt’s house in Colorado.  Although he prepared himself for rejection, you instantly accepted his invitation and the happiness that flowed throughout his body hasn’t ceased since you agreed to accompany him.

When he turns around, he finds you sitting on the bed, staring at him lovingly.

“What is it?” he asks with a faint smile crossing his face.

“I’m just happy to be here with you.  Thank you for inviting me.”

He walks towards you and joins you on the bed, reaching for your hand and bringing it to his lap.  “I’m happy, too, Y/N.  I, uh, wasn’t sure if you would even want to come with me.  I mean, I know you have your own family traditions and would never want you to-“

You delicately brush your fingertips against Bob’s cheek. Bob’s rambling comes to an abrupt halt and his eyelids flutter closed, breathing in sharply.  He ever so slightly leans farther into your touch, savoring the contact.

“I’m always certain with you, Bob,” you admit and his eyes open once more, struck by the weight of your statement.  He recognizes what a privilege it is to love and be loved by you.

“I love you, Y/N,” he declares before gently grasping the side of your face and bringing you forwards so he can kiss you.  The kiss is tender and far too brief for your liking, but it solidifies that what you two have is not finite; it’s forever.

“We should probably head downstairs.  Otherwise we’ll be met with incessant teasing from my brothers about what kept us up here…” Bob gives you a sheepish look and you caress his chin affectionately before taking his hand as he leads the way.

The Next Morning

Bob can’t recall the last time he slept this restfully, but when he peers down, still somewhat groggy from slumber, he’s reminded why he slept so well: you.  Throughout the night, he hadn’t tossed or turned and it was apparent you hadn’t budged either as he observed your intertwined hands, something you two had done before drifting to sleep.  He smiles to himself and strokes his thumb over your smooth skin, grateful to belong to someone as angelic as you.

He slowly sits up and gingerly removes his hand from your grasp. He reaches for his glasses on the nightstand, but when he peeks out the window, he blinks rapidly several times to ensure his eyes aren’t deceiving him.  The outside is covered in snow.  Not merely a coating or sprinkling, but several feet of authentic, fluffy, glorious snow.

Bob launches himself out of bed and begins changing into all the winter gear he brought with him, wanting to be prepared for the day.

A half hour later, your eyes flutter open, slowly adjusting to the unfamiliar surroundings.  What you weren’t expecting is to see your boyfriend wearing his puffer jacket, wool hat, thick scarf, gloves, and snow boots while lying beside you in bed.

“Bob…what are you doing?”

“It snowed last night.”

“Uh huh…” You’re hoping he’ll provide you with more because you aren’t making the connection.

“Real snow, Y/N.  This is a big deal for a guy from Lemoore,” he admits with a boyish grin.  “I wanna take you outside with me,” he says excitedly.

“I’m not really a fan of the snow, baby,” you tell him, hoping this won’t result in too much disappointment.

Bob’s heart plummets.  “Oh.  Oh, well…in that case, we can just forget about it. It’s uh, it’s fine.”  He gives you a small smile, but he looks deflated.  He begins to take off his hat with his back to you and you can tell this means something to him, although you’re not entirely sure why.

You sit up on your knees and wrap your arms around his shoulders. “I can make an exception for today,” you whisper in his ear and he whips his head around.

“You’re sure?” he asks.

“I’m sure.”

Bob grins from ear to ear and squeezes your hand in gratitude before leaving the room so you can get ready.

Once you’re finally dressed from head to toe in the proper apparel, you find Bob waiting outside.  He turns around at the sound of the front door opening and extends his hand, which you take instantly.

“I thought we could take a walk,” he shares, his cheeks already pink from the frigid temperature.  You didn’t think it was possible for him to look any cuter than he already did, but you were proven wrong.

“Can I tell you something?” Bob asks in a voice that suggests he’s on the precipice of sharing something significant, something deserving of your full attention.

“Anything, Bob.”  You squeeze his hand in a reassuring way, prompting him to continue.

“When I was younger, we would spend Christmas with my dad’s parents and I especially enjoyed being with my grandfather.  He was quieter like me and more of an observer. One Christmas, he introduced me to a song that’s stuck with me ever since.”

“What song is that?” you question softly.

‘A Marshmallow World’ by Dean Martin.  He was fond of it and after he showed it to me, I developed fondness for it, too.  His favorite part of the song was, well, it’s kind of sill to say aloud…”  Bob fiddles with the nape of his neck, indicating he’s somewhat nervous.

“I still wanna know.  I wanna know everything about you, Bob.”  Your honesty dispels Bob’s uneasiness, causing him to take a deep breath before sharing the following lyrics:

Oh, it’s a yum-yummy world made for sweethearts

Take a walk with your favorite girl\

“He made me promise that someday, I would fulfill that part of the song with the right girl.  At the time, I promised him that I would.  But as the years went by, I began to doubt whether I’d ever meet someone special enough who I’d want to experience it with.  But…” Bob sighs and stops walking, looking down at his snow boots.

“But what?” you ask, ducking your head to attempt to meet his gaze.

“But now that you’re in my life, I realize you’re not just special enough.  You’re the most special woman I’ve ever known, Y/N.”

Your breath hitches in your throat at your boyfriend’s romantic proclamation, your heart swelling with pure love for the man who gives so much of himself to you that you no longer want a life that doesn’t involve Bob Floyd.

Bob glances around and the endearing smile you’ve quickly grown to adore spreads across his handsome face.  “I’m finally living in a marshmallow world, Y/N, and it’s even better than I imagined it would be all those years ago in my grandfather’s living room because you’re living in it with me.”

Your eyes well with tears and without a second thought, you tackle him to the ground, causing Bob to grunt as you two land in the plush snow. You cup his cheeks with your mittens and kiss him passionately, letting him know the effect his words had on you. When you finally pull away, your lips land upon his forehead, cheeks, and nose.

“I love you, Bob Floyd.”

“I love you, Y/N Y/L/N.” His lips seek yours again, but you recoil.

“I don’t think so, Bob.  You’ve got to finish what you started first.”

He furrows his eyebrows and an amused grin appears while peering up at you.  “And what would that be?”

“A walk with your favorite girl.”  You wink before resuming an upright position and guiding your boyfriend to his feet.

“You’re right.  I can’t let Grandpa Floyd or my favorite girl down,” Bob states before reaching for your hand again and pulling you close to plant a prolonged kiss on your cheek as you two decorate the snow with your footprints.

 @bradshawsbaby @luminousnotmatter @bobfloydsbabe @demxters @roosterforme @notyoursbutlewis @sebsxphia @joaquinwhorres @notroosterbradshaw @theforgottenmcrmy @mothdruid

#hello december playlist challenge #robert bob floyd #bob floyd #bob floyd x reader #top gun maverick #top gun maverick fanfiction

[a-reader-and-a-writer]

I'll Be Home For Christmas

Fandom: Top Gun, Top Gun: Maverick, Jake “Hangman” Seresin, f!reader

Summary: When Jake's plans to come home for Christmas fall through, he promises you he will be there for you next year. But will he be able to keep that promise?

Word Count: 2354 TW: Angst, Fluff, Separated for Christmas, Reunited for Christmas, Happy Ending, Pregnant Reader

Note: Thank you to @heart-0n-fire for looking this over for me!

Written for @notroosterbradshaw's #hello december playlist challenge and based on "I'll Be Home for Christmas" by Andrea Bocelli

Jake continued staring at the phone hanging on the wall before him. He had been standing in the same spot for five minutes now, just trying to gather the strength to make the call. It had been almost a month since they had been given phone privileges and as much as Jake longed to hear your voice, he didn’t know what he was supposed to say to you.

“She’ll understand.”

The voice shook Jake from his thoughts. Turning around, he noticed Rooster standing behind him, a small smile on his face. Normally, Jake would have snapped a witty comeback at him, but he just didn’t have it in him at the moment. Instead, he sighed and rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. “Yeah, I know she will. And that almost makes it worse.”

Rooster chuckled softly. “Yeah, it kinda does, doesn’t it? But it won’t be forever, Jake. I’ll make sure of it.” He clasped Jake on the shoulder. “I got your back.”

Jake smiled, thinking about how far their relationship had come since the Dagger Mission a few months ago and how the thought of flying with Rooster as his wingman would have irritated him before then. “Thanks, man. And you know I’d have yours…. If you could ever catch up.”

The two men laughed as Rooster shook his head. “Yeah, whatever, Hangman. Go call your girl.” Then he walked away, leaving Jake to stare once more at the phone. 

Taking a deep breath, he grabbed it and quickly dialed before he lost his nerve. You picked up on the second ring. “Hello?”

“Hey, baby. It’s me.”

“Jake! Oh my god, hi! It feels like forever since I actually got to speak to you. How are you?” Jake could practically see you vibrating with joy on the other end of the line. 

“I’m– I’m good. Hangin’ in there. Missing you like crazy though. How are you?”

“I’m okay. I just miss you so much. But I have everything all planned for you to get here in a few days! I just bought stuff to make those cookies you love, and I thought we could roast a turkey for Christmas dinner, and it looks like we’ll have snow on Christmas Day this year! An actual white Christmas, can you believe it? We haven’t had one of those in–”

Jake groaned as he leaned his head heavily against the wall. You were so happy and excited about all the plans you had made. How was he supposed to destroy that? What was he even supposed to say?

It turned out, he didn’t have to say anything. You knew him too well and you figured it out on your own. “You’re… you’re not coming home, are you?” you asked softly.

“No, baby, I’m not. I just found out about an hour ago. They need the squad to ship out for the next mission immediately.”

“Well… that’s okay. I can just leave the tree up and we can make it a joint Christmas/New Year’s celebration!” Though you were trying to sound upbeat, Jake could hear the disappointment in your voice and that just made what he needed to say next all the more difficult.

“That’s the thing. They don’t know how long we’ll be gone but it’ll probably be a few weeks at least, if not longer. I’m so sorry. I know I told you I’d be home for Christmas but–”

“It’s okay, Jake. It’s not your fault and I know you’d be here if you could. Besides, you spelled out exactly what this life would look like when we started dating and I agreed to it. We’re never guaranteed Christmas, your leave just happened to fall near it this year. So, it is what it is. If you can’t come home, you can’t come home.”

Jake squeezed his eyes shut tightly. “God, I want to be there, you don’t even know how badly. It sounded like you had such an amazing time planned for us, and now… I hate the thought of you being alone for Christmas. It’s not right.” 

“I’ll be fine. I mean, I’m just a little disappointed, but not at all with you. This was going to be our first Christmas together since you proposed and it sort of felt like the first one for the new family we’re building. I was hoping we could maybe start some traditions that we could do every year, but maybe we just need to accept that this– us being apart for the holidays – might have to be our tradition.”

Jake’s head shot up and he gripped the phone tighter. In a firm, clear voice, he said, “No, I refuse to accept that. This will not be a tradition. I swear, baby, next year I’ll be home for Christmas. No matter what I have to do, I will not miss the first Christmas with my wife.”

“You need to make it back here and marry me first. So over everything else, please be careful. That’s all I need from you this Christmas. Don’t make me a widow before you make me a wife, Jake. Okay? Just come home. I don’t care how long it takes. Your presents will still be by the tree when you get back. And so will I.” Despite how strong you were trying to be about this situation, Jake could hear the tears in your voice. 

 Choking back his own tears, Jake murmured, “Thanks for understanding. I’ll make it up to you when I get home. Anything you want, just say the word.”

“I want you. That’s all I ever want,” you said. “But you tell them they better not do this again in May. Weddings aren’t cheap and that shit’s non-refundable.”

Jake chuckled. “I’ll tell Mav you said that. Word for word.”

“Good. And add that if he makes you late, I’m retracting his invitation.”

“I’ll make sure he knows.” Jake was just about to say something else when Hondo walked in and caught Jake’s eye. The Chief Warrant Officer sadly tapped on his wrist and motioned for Jake to hurry up. Taking a deep breath, Jake said into the phone, “Baby, they’re telling me I have to go. But I’ll call or email you as soon as I can. Hopefully I can at least manage that on Christmas day.”

“Okay. Just whenever you can, I’ll be here. I love you, Jake. So, so much.”

“I love you too, baby. And I’m so sorry.”

“It’s alright. Just…dream of me,” you whispered.

“I always do,” Jake whispered back just before the line was disconnected. 

Jake’s Uber pulled up in front of his house at 11:53 pm on Christmas Eve. He had cut it a lot closer than he had hoped, but he had made it. Despite all the odds, he had kept the promise he made to you the Christmas before and he was home for Christmas.

He smiled at the inflatable Santa and his reindeer placed in the front yard along with a handful of lights. It was a cute if somewhat quaint display especially compared to the neighbors, but Jake loved that you put in the effort. Especially considering you were alone and were having a harder time moving around lately. Jake took one more look at it before unlocking the front door.

But as it swung open, Jake gasped and his jaw dropped. You had promised you were going to make up for him missing Christmas last year, but based on the display outside, he never expected the sight that greeted him. Strings of lights and garland stretched along both walls of the hallway and paper snowflakes hung down from the ceiling. Ornaments were scattered here and there, and Jake noticed many of them were photo ornaments with pictures of the two of you, including some from your wedding. 

If the hallway took his breath away, it was nothing compared to what he found as he stumbled into the living room. While the normal lights were off, the room was aglow with tiny colorful lights draped across the mantle of the fireplace and encircling the massive Christmas tree with the huge pile of presents in the corner of the room. The live Christmas tree. The kind that would turn brown and die if he didn’t make it home in time. But he had sworn he would make it home, and you had believed him.

However, none of it mattered once his eyes settled on the figure slumped on the couch. You were fast asleep on the far end, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas hanging limply from one hand while your other hand rested on your protruding stomach. Jake hadn’t seen you in person for the last three months and it appeared that there was a bigger difference between four months pregnant and seven months pregnant than he had expected. He knew he had missed out on a lot– doctor’s appointments, ultrasounds, morning sickness –but seeing tangible evidence of it all almost brought him to his knees. He should have been here for all of it, but it was yet another time you had to carry on alone while he was gone. But not anymore.

Walking over to the couch, he carefully slipped the book from your hand and placed it on the nearby end table. It was only then that he noticed the plate of his favorite cookies and a glass of milk that had been left out along with a note. Glancing at it, he read: Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas is for my daddy to come home safely. Thank you, The Seresin girls. It looked like Santa had worked his magic after all.

Kneeling down next to the couch, Jake gently placed his hand on your stomach. Leaning over, he pressed his lips to your bump before whispering, “Hey there, jelly bean. I made it. Have you been behavin’ and keepin’ your mama company while I was gone?” Jake felt a small flutter of movement beneath his hand and he grinned. “That’s my girl.”

Giving your stomach one last rub, he stood up and leaned over you as you continued to sleep. Tipping your chin back, he pressed his lips to yours. For a moment, you moaned and started to pull away. But then, you must have recognized him even in your dreams because you leaned into his kiss and returned it. 

When Jake pulled away, your eyes slowly opened and it took you a moment to grasp what you were seeing in front of you. But when you did, your lip began to quiver as you reached out your hand to cup his face. “J-Jake? Are you really here?”

Jake chuckled deep in his throat as he leaned into your hand. “What kind of question is that?”

“I mean, I’m not still dreaming, am I?”

“No, baby. I’m really here.”

Tears streaming down your face, you threw your arms around his neck as you choked out, “Oh God! I didn’t think you were going to make it.”

Jake buried his face into your hair, breathing in deeply. “I promised you last year I wouldn’t miss this.” He ran his hand over your stomach. “Especially now. Our first Christmas with our new family.”

You sobbed into his neck. “I know, but I still… I wasn’t sure. I hoped though.”

The two of you held each other for a long time. Then in a soft, fearful whisper, you asked, “How long can you stay?”

Jake sat back and wiped the tears from your face. “We’ll talk about that later. Right now, let me just look at you.”

“Ugh, no. I’m a whale.” You tried to cover your stomach with a nearby blanket, but Jake stopped you. 

Taking your hand and placing it over your stomach, he said, “You’ve never looked more beautiful.”

You bit your lip and glanced away. But then your smile slipped as you asked again, “How long, Jake? I have to know.”

Glancing at his watch, Jake sighed. “Well, it is now 12:08 Christmas morning, so I guess I can give you your gift now.”

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a letter and handed it to you. Warily, you took it from him and opened it. Squinting in the dim light from the decorations, you read what it said, your lips silently mouthing the words as you went along. Jake grinned as your eyes grew wide and you stared up at him in disbelief. “Is this– is this real?”

“Yep. Maverick got them to transfer me off the Dagger Squad for one year. Instead, I’ll be working in recruitment here at the base in town. So I’ll be here for all of it. The rest of your pregnancy, her birth, all those first milestones. I know it doesn’t make up for the time we lost but I thought—”

He was cut off as you once again threw your arms around his neck, sobbing harder than before. “J-ake, you didn’t have to– but what about the Squad? You love flying with them.”

“I do, and I’ll miss it. But I love you, both of you, more. And Mav said I can come back after a year if I want. He already cleared it with Cyclone.” Jake squeezed you tighter against his chest. “I’ve already missed so much. I don’t want to miss a second of our daughter’s life or being here to help you raise her.”

“Wow…” you hiccupped through your tears. “You really made up for last year.”

“I’m glad you think so.” Jake laughed. Then he took your face and kissed you, deeply and lovingly. It was the kind of kiss that said all the things you could never put into words. The kind of kiss that only happened between two people who loved each other fully and completely. The kind of kiss he hoped to give you every day from now on.

And when you broke apart, Jake gazed into your puffy, tear-stained eyes and promised, “This is our new tradition. From now on, I’ll be home for Christmas. You can count on me.”

Taglist: @loverhymeswith, @babblydrabbly, @lorecraft, @green-socks, @heart-0n-fire, @marvelousmermaid, @mayhem24-7forever, @wildbornsiren, @hederasgarden, @the-untamed-soul, @inglourious-imagines, @airhogger, @piscesvancouverite, @straightforwardly, @bonnieelizabethparker, @srry-itshockeyszn, @flyinlove, @fandomhopped, @sweetheartlizzie07, @yjwnoot, @wanderdreamer, @pansexualwitchwhoneedstherapy, @callsign-fox, @imjess-themess, @callsign-phoenix, @shanimallina87, @forever-sleepy-sloth, @notroosterbradshaw, @dezthegeek, @blessupblessup, @cherrycola27, @phoenix1389, @nicangelinee, @smells-like-perfect-senses, @boringusername3, @petlaufeyson, @cycbaby, @topguncortez, @imjess-themess, @footprintsinthesxnd

#hello december playlist challenge #fic #top gun #top gun maverick #top gun: maverick #jake hangman seresin #jake hangman seresin x reader #jake seresin #jake seresin x reader #hangman #hangman x reader #glen powell #f!reader #fluff #angst #christmas #happy ending #pregnant reader

[bradshawsbitch]

white christmas | bradley bradshaw x f!reader

this is my contribution to @notroosterbradshaw 's #hello december playlist challenge! my song was 'white christmas' by bing crosby - so feel free to listen to that to get in the mood!

what to expect in this fic: Bradley couldn't remember the last time he hadn't spent Christmas on some type of naval base. After all, he figured it would be better to work through the holiday than sit all on his lonesome. Lucky for him, his girlfriend of two years has other plans this Christmas. You can expect northern lights, snow lanterns, a little good ol' whimsical fun in the Swedish wilderness!

warnings: afab!reader, she/her pronouns, christmas content, santa clause, reindeers, foreign countries (if you're not swedish), mentions of ditching a plane, mentions of security measures on planes (listen, I couldn't help myself. I used to be a flight attendant), mentions of alcohol, l-bombs, random information about swedish christmas tradition, fluff, whimsical stuff.

disclaimer: this was such a fun challenge! and I went a little self indulgent and figured I'd teach y'all some swedish christmas fun! I added some links along the way to help visualize some Swedish stuff that people perhaps have not encountered before. enjoy!

Bradley was sat by the window seat of the Airbus A330 from Chicago. Glancing over to his side, your head had already settled on his soft, hoodie-clad shoulder. During your previous flight from LAX (in a smaller Boeing 737-900), you’d been granted the window seat. On this longer flight though, Bradley had offered to sit by the emergency exit over the wing.

The flight attendant had looked so relieved it was almost comical. They were always surveying their passengers, and he was grateful that they took the extra step to make sure able bodied and stronger looking people were sat at the emergency exits should they need to evacuate. 

His girlfriend had given him a small smirk as he’d sat down at the emergency exit seat, and he could tell she was about to tease him light-heartedly. “Oh, I’m a pilot,” you’d giggled, soothing your words with a soft kiss to his shoulder. Bradley had only offered you a smile back, and as he felt the aircraft vibrate for takeoff, he’d smirked and decided to annoy you further, leaning over, letting his lips ghost by your ear as he murmured:

“V1,” as the aircraft hurtled by the last safe speed for which the runway would allow it to stop in case of engine failure or error

“Rotate,” he continued, right as the nose rotated and started it’s ascent, mimicking the words currently spoken in the cockpit by the first and second pilot. He’d snickered as you rolled your eyes, muttering “Show-off,” before turning to read your book. That had been at the beginning of your twelve hour flight, which was now soon coming to its’ close - with you snoozing softly on his shoulder.

He glanced over to the other emergency exit across from him, where a woman in her late 40’s sat with a crossword. Bradley had heard her tell the attendants that she too worked as a crew member, and was very familiar with the procedure should they need to make an emergency landing, or ditch.

Just the thought of ditching this enormous plane made him shudder. He was quite glad that he’d never attempt it in his jets. More often than not, even with a bigger, slower flying aircraft, landing on water was tricky. If the water was rough, a bigger aircraft like this sometimes broke off in the middle. It wasn’t impossible though, and he spent a good 5 minutes thinking of successful ditchings before kissing the top of your head, inhaling the sweet scent - one that instantly brought him peace and comfort. The rest of your flight to Stockholm Arlanda airport was uneventful, some turbulence here and there but it was to be expected.

As Bradley took in the sight of you snoozing on his shoulder, he couldn’t help but smile. Bradley hadn’t asked for leave from work over the holidays since he’d joined the Navy. There was never a reason for him to be home over Christmas, and most years he’d actually ask if there was any available work for him, just so that he’d have something to do on what most would consider one of the more cheerful days of the year. The exception had been last holiday, when you’d asked him if he wanted to come around for dinner with your parents to celebrate Christmas; the year before that your relationship had been relatively new, and you’d exchanged gifts on the 26th instead. 

So, last New Years, after a few too many drinks - Bradley had confided in you his secret of having worked during the holidays since his early twenties - and that he’d often been stationed somewhere there really wasn’t any snow, and how he really wished for one of those White Christmases that you saw on TV. Bradley would be the first to admit he got sappy when drunk, but your response had been so sweet - promising him a white Christmas next year, and he was almost sure he heard you swear that he’d never have to spend Christmas alone again.

And so, a few days into the new year, the two of you had begun to plan the journey you were currently on. A journey that would take you deep into the Swedish snow, up in the north where a small village called Jukkasjärvi lay. You’d decided upon it together, both agreeing that staying a night in the iconic ice hotel was a sure thing for the Christmas bucket list.

Bradley knew his girlfriend had spent the entire year researching everything Christmas-related in Sweden, and he also knew she was dying to tell him every single thing she’d found. The two of them had scoured the internet for fun things to try whilst in Sweden, and they’d narrowed it down to a list they figured they would manage during their two week stay. 

The first week was for exploring, experiencing their bucket list, and lastly, Christmas. The second week would be for lounging, relaxing and just generally enjoying each other’s company in the wooden cabin they had booked for themselves for the second week. Bradley had insisted on one of the cabins that had a sauna, because he desperately felt he’d need one in the cold climate.

You had teased him, asking him if he knew that it was tradition in the northern countries to sauna in the nude, and then roll in the snow in between sessions. He told you promptly that he did not know that. It sounded almost like a torture tactic. After he’d told you so, you’d forgone telling him about the use of smaller tree branches as whisks to whip against your back. He wasn’t ready for that information yet, you’d decided.

As you successfully landed at Arlanda airport, the two of you sleepily made your way underground for the next part of your travel itinerary. You’d decided that you might as well take the night train to Jukkasjärvi as soon as you’d landed, and you’d only have to switch to a bus when you made it to Kiruna, a town that lay only 30 minutes away from your final destination.

Getting comfortable in the bunk bed you’d booked, Bradley smiled as you snuggled up against his chest and fell fast asleep. Bradley, however, found himself too excited to let sleep grasp at his consciousness just now. He was spellbound as his eyes gazed out at the gray night sky, already seeing thick snowflakes falling around the moving train. But soon, the warmth of your body, the gentle rocking of the train, and the flurry of snow outside the window of the compartment had him lulled to sleep. 

Bradley was fucking freezing. Of course, he had anticipated that the Northernmost cities or villages of Sweden would be cold, but this was beyond anything he’d ever experienced. He was surprised to find he liked it. It kept his head surprisingly clear as he inhaled the icy air.

He was suddenly glad the two of you had researched extensively what type of gear you’d need to sleep in a hotel made of snow and ice, because his wool thermal underwear, his fleece midlayer, his balaclava, warm hat and mittens kept his body sufficiently warm in the coveralls the ice hotel had provided you. 

He snuck a peek at you, where you stood, enraptured by the guide that had welcomed you. The guide had first informed you that the temperature was about -15 degrees celsius, which meant that it was roughly 5 degrees fahrenheit. The guide then started telling you about the Polar nights, or as they called it, mid winter nights “Oh my god, Bradley that sounds magical” you whispered to him, your voice laced with an endearing amount of excitement.

He smiled down at you and squeezed you close to his side to show he was excited too. The polar nights were a period of time in Lapland where the sun never dared to show itself, the guide expressed, and the only light they got were two hours near noon that they called “blue hours”, when the night sky turned a little lighter blue, and the white snow reflected that soft light to make it illuminate the nature just a little bit. Your eyes were twinkling excitedly, and Bradley thought he might not have seen anything more beautiful in his life. 

You were looking up at him, giggling softly as the hot breath made wisps of smoke appear in the cold air. “You have ice in your mustache, Roos,” you murmured, in awe of the fact that almost every single individual hair of his mustache had ice crystals on them, on the bottom from the moisture of his lips, and the top from where he exhaled warm air onto it.

Rooster was pretty sure he could feel the hairs in his nostrils freezing as he inhaled - it was a weird sensation, but something he got used to surprisingly quickly. “Yeah, well your eyelashes are icy too,” he mumbled with a quick smile before nudging your side, to make you turn your attention back to the guide. 

The guide was smiling at the two of you, explaining how the inside of the ice suites were actually about -5 to -7 celsius due to the insulation that the snow and ice provided (Bradley thought that sounded like a contradiction if he ever heard one), which was about 19 degrees fahrenheit.

As the tour ended, the two of you made your way into the hotel. Bradley was blown away at the detail with which the artists had sculpted ice to look like art. He could hardly voice how in awe he was, which caused him to just gape and stare at the interior. You, on the other hand, were ohh-ing and ahh-ing and pulling on his hand to drag him further in to explore the ice bar, and the ice church. The two of you shared a very cold drink in one of the bars icen glasses, giggling and sharing an excited kiss over the first drink of the night. 

“Happy holidays, Bradley” you sighed happily, leaning your body into him. Bradley was used to having you close, so the distance your thick clothing provided had him whining softly at not being able to have you closer to him.

“Happy holidays, my love. This is already above and beyond any of my wildest dreams right now,” Bradley confessed into your beanie clad head, pressing a soft kiss to the fabric, hoping you felt the sentiment of it. It seemed you did, since you offered him a breathtaking smile that had his heart doing double time somewhere under all his layers of clothing. 

“We can’t forget to watch for the northern lights tonight!” you reminded him softly, sipping on your drink. He shook his head, smiling at your eager tone. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world, sweetheart,” he had listened to your calculations, and the general knowledge you’d picked up about the aurora borealis, and he hoped you’d get to experience one tonight. 

After a chilly night in the ice suite, you spent the rest of the week in your booked warm hotel room, enjoying fancy dinners during the evenings (which, admittedly, didn't always feel like evenings due to the almost constant darkness), treating yourselves to glasses of prosecco and wine. Giggling with each other in the room beforehand as you dressed up fancy. Bradley alternated between slacks and a button-up, and full blown suits. A favorite of yours was his navy blue one, that he wore tonight, on the 22nd of December. 

“Have I told you that you look gorgeous in this?” you said, voice a low murmur as you slung your arm around his neck in the elevator on the way to the dining hall.

“Nope,” Rooster smirked, dropping down to give you a breathtaking kiss “But thank you, sweets. You look real handsome,” he teased, noticing that you referred to him as the endearment he most used for you - ‘gorgeous’, switching up the endearment to the one you most used for him - ‘handsome’. But he’d have likened your look to ‘beautiful’ in all reality, because that’s what he could best describe your deep green attire, hair and makeup all done up and pretty. 

As you sat down to eat, you figured you’d go over the plans you had for the morning. Bradley had been looking forward to this one all year. You’d booked to go sledding, to see the reindeer farm located on the native Swedish land.

Bradley and you had spent countless hours searching for the perfect place to be able to interact with the reindeer, and the perfect opportunity seemed to be close enough, with a museum of the Sàmi customs and cuisine, which gave you a two for one experience - culture and some good old fashioned Christmas experiences. 

“What if we see Santa?” you exclaimed excitedly as you raised your glass to your lips. “Why would you say that?” Rooster furrowed his brows, feeling like he might’ve missed something important here

“Roos, he lives here!” his girlfriend exclaimed, as if mortally wounded that he did not know that Santa Clause resided in Jukkasjärvi. “I thought he lived on the North Pole?” Bradley laughed, and you shook your head vehemently “No, babe. The Swedes insist he lives here, in Lapland. Of course, I saw some forums argue he lives in Finland - but I choose to believe he lives here. Wouldn’t it be great if we saw actual Santa?” 

Bradley could only smile at your satisfied smile over the rim of your champagne glass, a determined twinkle in your eyes. He loved the fact that you were kind of whimsical, trying to make this a real White Christmas for him to remember - and he couldn’t exactly help that it made his heart grow three sizes. 

“And how is it that you know this then?” Rooster inquired, smiling softly as you took a bite of your meal. He had an inkling that you’d gone all in for the research, to surprise him with fun facts during your trip. Your bashful smile confirmed his suspicions. 

“Well, I might have read up on Swedish Christmas traditions - wouldn’t it be fun to follow them? I’ve even booked their Christmas smörgåsbord!” Bradley couldn’t help but throw his head back and laugh at the excited sparkle that hid beneath your lashes, his chest filling with warmth for his girlfriend again. “There’s a Christmas smörgåsbord? Is that tradition?” he inquired curiously.

“Yup! There sure is. They have small sausages, meatballs, of course, and a ham that they eat with sweet mustard - and some weird pickled herring. I’m a bit wary of those, but we have to be brave, Bradley. We have to show the vikings we’re one of them,” your soft giggle mingled with his laughter, as the soft voice of Bing Crosby meandered through the dining hall, singing about White Christmas as the snow fell peacefully outside of the window. 

“Is that on the 25th, then?” you shook your head no, “Swedish folk celebrate Christmas on the 24th. Which makes sense if Santa lives here! He’ll do these countries first, and then come to us. I knew that man couldn’t possibly do the whole world in one day!”

As dessert was served, and your glasses began to empty, the two of you were feeling giggly, sleepy and all around filled with warmth and Christmas cheer. As you stood up after having paid, Rooster wrapped a large arm around your frame, pulling you into his chest to place a lingering kiss on the top of your head. “This was one of the best ideas we’ve ever had, darling,” he murmured, placing a couple of more kisses against your temple as you slowly made your way up to your room.

Cold, biting air nipped at Roosters cheeks as the sleigh moved forwards in the snow. It was a clear sky today, which heightened the chance to see the auroras considerably, you’d told him happily after the two of you enjoyed a lengthy breakfast together. You’d made Bradley try some Swedish spread called ‘kaviar’ to which he retched for a good three minutes, before he swore revenge upon you, making you giggle as he pretended to glare at you. 

Bells were softly jingling as the large horses trotted along the small streets through the tiny village, headed towards the snow clad boreal forest. Bradley was squinting to see the houses that lined the streets. Some of them had snowmen and women in their front yards, but many of them had weird, cone shaped little snow buildings by the entrance to their homes.

He furrowed his brows, pointing with a mittened hand in the direction of one before he asked out loud “What are those little lit up things? Are those made of snow?” he watched as you turned your head to inspect them too, before the driver of the carriage half turned and smiled. 

“Those are snow lanterns,” he spoke, before gently saying something in Swedish to one of the horses to calm it before continuing “they’re made out of snow. Mostly children will make them by making snowballs, and arranging them in a cone shape. Their parents will then put a candle in the cone as the dark falls, and it works as a pretty lantern the children can watch from their windows before they go to sleep. Some parents tell their children that’s how Santa will find their houses.”

Bradley thought to himself that if he ever had any children, he’d make snow lanterns with them to make sure Santa and his reindeers found his house. The smallest stitch of sorrow settled deep within his chest, before he caught sight of your face - looking as enamored as he was by the idea of snow lanterns. 

“Maybe we could make one later?” Bradley told you softly, smiling down at your bundled up form. “Sadly, the snow is too dry to form anything. They must’ve made these earlier in the year, when the snow was still wet.” the driver said before turning around completely to steer the horses into a narrow path in the woods. At this, your face lit up, and Rooster could tell that that was something you had read up on.

“Roos, did you know that the native people of Sweden are said to have about one hundred different lexical words for snow? Like the quality of snow matters!” you looked so beautiful like this. The soft light of the day, the crystal white and sparkling snow whirling all around your face, cheeks cold and eyelashes frosted. He had to take a deep breath to settle himself, a lopsided, goofy smile on his face. “Is that so? What type of snow is this then?” 

“Well, seeing as it’s so cold, I’d say this is probably the powdery sort. The kind that when you throw it at someone, it just dusts away in the wind. I would guess that to make snowmen and snow lanterns, you’d need the heavier, wetter kind that falls in the beginning of the season, when it’s not below freezing,” you surmised, and Bradley just chuckled, ruffling your hat on your head “That’s my smart girl!”

As you approached the reindeer farm, Bradley could practically feel you vibrating with excitement beside him, and as the sled came to a stop, Bradley jumped down, offering his mitten clad hands out to you to help you down.

His heart stuttered a bit at the breathtaking smile that had formed on your lips, and he opted to seize you by the waist, lifting you down instead. Your happy peal of laughter as he spun you once, made a large grin appear on his lips as well. “Hi, baby,” he murmured, as your arms snaked around his neck, leaning down to peck his lips lovingly before he let you down. 

The afternoon on the 23rd was spent petting and feeding the reindeer, cooing over how absolutely sweet and adorable they were, eating candied almonds you bought (and learning they were popular here during Christmas), had a glass of mulled wine each with almonds and raisins in it, and learning about native Swedish customs and culture. As the two of you meandered towards the end of the little market they had put up, suddenly Bradley heard his girlfriend suck in a heavy gasp.

“Bradley!” you whisper-screamed, jumping up and down whilst pointing towards the thicker forest a bit away.

There, between the thick cover of pine trees, a soft gold light was moving slowly in the thick snow. Bradley furrowed his brows, staring more intently as he caught a glimmer of red flashing in the soft light.

“Oh my God, Roos!” your voice was borderline hysteric with unbridled, childish excitement, and Bradley himself couldn’t help but feel somewhat the same way as you. There, in the woods, was undoubtedly a man, who was quite large - his thick white beard decidedly not a fake one.

One of the reindeer close to you, heard the ruffle of movement and it snapped its head around to look at the man. It slowly turned and started walking towards the man, and both yours and Bradleys’ jaw dropped as you faintly saw the man chuckling, a small piece of parchment sticking out of one of his deep, worn pockets. 

Bradley hardly wanted to blink, but he had to gauge your reaction - were you seeing this!? Were his eyes deceiving him? But no, as he looked at you, the same stunned, wondrous facial expression was on your face as well. “Baby…” Bradley said incredulously, and when his gaze returned to the spot where he’d seen the man and the reindeer - they were gone.

“Was that…?” Bradley started, and you only nodded mutely, completely flabbergasted at what you’d just witnessed. “I need a moment,” you told your boyfriend and he nodded, only letting one small laugh escape his lips as he shook his head - a new found twinkle shining in his amber eyes as the two of you ordered a cup of hot chocolate, Bradley opting to have the smiling girl clad in a Gákti (a traditional dress for the Sàmi) fill his cup with a minty liquor as well. 

As the two of you sat in the carriage on the way home, silence stretching through the darkness of the night, the moon illuminating the snow enough so that every single detail of the landscape was still dimly visible, you finally spoke.

“That was the real Santa Clause, wasn’t it?” your voice sounded revered, and serious. “I am so fucking sure that that was the real Santa, didn’t you see the reindeer approach him!?” Bradley could barely contain his mirth “Shh, Bradley! No swearing!! He’ll know!” you hissed before triumphantly saying “I told you he lived here!”

“Oh, fuck! Shit, I mean–” he laughed at himself “I won’t swear anymore,” before silence fell between the two of you. However, the night wasn’t completely silent anymore. Aside from the soft noises from the horses, and the bells jingling softly, a peculiar sound met their ears.

The driver smiled softly “I believe we’ll see some northern lights soon,” you gasped softly at the drivers words “Oh my god, I read that some people can hear the auroras,” and as soon as the words were out of your mouth, the sky exploded in shades of green, blue and at some spots violet as well.

The sharp intake of air from you was the only thing filling the night, except for a peculiar crackling sound. It was so overwhelming, seeing the lights dance slowly across the expanse of the night sky. Bradley had never seen anything more beautiful in his entire life, and as the sled slowly came to a stop, he noticed that his tears had already frozen on his cheeks. 

When you’d admired the aurora in awed silence for a few minutes, the driver softly had the horses come to a walk again, sensing that staying still for any longer would have them freeze. However, the lights were still slowly dancing back and forth over the skies, and Bradley was sure he’d have a kink in his neck from the way he couldn’t bear to rip his gaze away from this phenomena.

All at once, Bradley could understand why the Sàmi, and natives in his own home country might believe that a higher being was sending them omens through the lights. They were breathtaking, and if he hadn’t known the science behind the lights - he was pretty sure he too would believe that they were otherworldly. Perhaps he’d choose to believe they were either way. 

The two of you reached your room, drawing a hot bath before peeling your clothes off. When you’d warmed up a little, the two of you chattered excitedly about what you’d experienced that day - arguing over who had been the nicest this year.

“Listen, I am one hundred percent sure Santa saw me give Hangman the last piece of the birthday cake earlier this year!”

“Bradley, that was his birthday cake!” 

“So then it was pretty nice of me to let him have it, right?”

Waking up on the 24th, Rooster nuzzled his face into the crook of your neck, inhaling your sweet scent as you slowly came to consciousness. “Merry Christmas, Roos,” your soft voice had a sleepy hint to it as your fingers carded through his slightly longer locks.

“Merry Christmas, love of my life,” Bradley sighed happily, placing soft kisses to your exposed neck as his arms wound tight around your midsection. The two of you lay wrapped in each others embrace for a big part of the morning, before exchanging a single gift with each other. 

Later that day, you joined the other residents in eating a Christmas smörgåsbord, listening to Christmas songs, and lastly, dancing around the large tree that sat in the lobby. Drinking Christmas ale, mulled wine and sparkling cider. It was the best Christmas Bradley had had for years, and as the jolly type of music wound down to a beautiful Swedish rendition of ‘O Holy Night’ transitioned into ‘White Christmas’, Bradley once again embraced you, swirling you around in a slow dance.

His lips found yours in a kiss that felt as if the northern lights had exploded within the two of you, and were dancing merrily between you.

“Thank you,” Bradley murmured against your lips “for giving me the best Christmas of my life,” he continued, pulling back to admire your beautiful, twinkling eyes.

“Thank you, Bradley,” you replied softly, squeezing his hand before resting your cheek on his sweater clad chest, swaying softly to the tune of the beautiful song that rang out in the winter night.

a/n: ahhh!!! I hope you guys liked this one! I added links to give a visual to things that not everyone knows of or has seen before. I hope it wasn't distracting! Please let me know what you thought of this whimsical little fun fic! <3 lots of love to those who don't celebrate christmas, or have a hard time with christmas as well - I love you so much<3

#bradley rooster bradshaw x reader #bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley bradshaw x you #bradley rooster bradshaw x you #rooster x reader #rooster x you #bradley rooster bradshaw imagine #bradley bradshaw imagine #bradley rooster bradshaw fluff #bradley bradshaw fanfic #my writing #hello december playlist challenge

[komi-lovee]

Since I have free time I'm gonna spend an hour making (finally) a Qsmp and Qsmp Egg playlist on Spotify.

It may not seem like it, but this takes much planning and concentration 😌

#qsmp #qsmp eggs #Maybe soon (in a few months) ill make more dedicated to specific people/duos/trios/groups #spotify playlist #spotify #i put this off since December lol

[thedroneranger]

Puppies are Forever

Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw

Précis: Puppies aren't the only thing that last a lifetime.

Note: Another one for @notroosterbradshaw’s #hello december playlist challenge. I have zero chill and needed to write one for the Bradshaw Baddies 🖤 The song is Puppies Are Forever by Sia.

Warnings: Aging pet, sexually suggestive language, otherwise fluff

Word count: 2.8k

You and Bradley had already discussed it. Now, it just was just a matter of when—which you had not discussed.

Nervously, you wrung your hands on the steering wheel and took a deep breath. You glanced into the backseat where you were greeted with aging eyes and soft tail wags.

You knew the holidays were the worst time to get a pet.

“Puppies are forever.”

The phrase you used to say over and over to kids and parents who came into the shelter looking for the perfect present looped through your mind. Chewing your lip, you thought about how much Bradley would tease you, having been on the receiving end of the infamous phrase.

It was one of Bradley’s favorite memories to share: the day you and Clipper came into his life.

Bradley’s first week at Officer Candidate School had been particularly rough and included a dressing down from the school commander in front of his entire class.

Embarrassed and frustrated, Bradley decided he would blow off steam at the local country club’s driving range. Pretending each ball was the head of one of his instructors, he was about halfway through his basket when, in the distance, he could see a shape bouncing along the range.

It was a dog. While everyone was busy announcing the animal’s presence and yelling at each other to stop hitting balls, Bradley’s thumb and finger dipped behind his lips to unleash a shrill whistle.

Bradley watched as the dog’s ears perked up and it began a full sprint toward him. He whistled once more to keep the dog on track. As it neared, the dog slowed and postured cautiously. Hand out, Bradley crouched down, one knee on the ground, to welcome the dog. Tail slowly wagging, its nose came within centimeters of the back of Bradley’s hand—he could feel its warm breath. Slowly, Bradley flipped his hand to reveal an open palm. The dog took another sniff before pushing its nose into his hand. Still moving slowly, Bradley brought his hand to the dog’s chin.

“Is that your dog?” the man in the stall beside Bradley asked. Bradley shook his head as he continued to gain the dog’s trust. Intrigued, some folks continued to watch Bradley, while others went back to thwacking golf balls.

After a few words with the club general manager and getting his basket, clubs and range time comped, Bradley was walking the dog out of the clubhouse using his belt as a makeshift leash. The GM mentioned it likely sprung loose from the shelter a few blocks east of the club.

In zero rush to get back to school, Bradley and his new friend leisurely strolled in the direction of the shelter. Both were enjoying the attention from kids and glances from women. However, Bradley only had eyes for you once he entered the shelter and was met with your smile.

You were caught off guard when you looked at the door and saw the warmest puppy dog eyes you’d ever seen. Paired with his mustached grin, Bradley’s gaze had heat rushing to your cheeks. You quickly shifted your focus to his four-legged counterpart, whom you recognized.

“Clipper!” The dog reacted to your voice, whimpering and wagging his tail. Bradley undid the makeshift restraint, and Clipper raced toward you. Coming around the counter, you crouched with open arms, and Clipper nearly bowled you over.

Bradley was taken with your laugh as Clipper showered you with kisses. Bradley found himself wishing he were the one raining affection on you… “Thank you for bringing him back,” your voice interrupted Bradley’s thoughts.

His hazel eyes met yours. “You’re welcome.” His voice was deep and gravely. Feeling the heat in your cheeks again, you focused on petting Clipper. As excited as he was to see you, you could tell he really liked Bradley.

Clipper was a good dog that had yet to find his forever home. He was a medium-sized dog that definitely required an active parent. However, Clipper was six years old—he seemed ancient compared to the two- or three-year-old rescues that quickly found homes because they were still “young.”

Bradley also seemed to like Clipper. Based on his haircut and physique, you would wager he was in a dorm at one of the military schools in the area. You’d seen his type a million times around town. But he was different—you couldn’t quite put your finger on it, but he had something you hadn’t encountered before.

“Clipper seems to really like you.” You looked between him and Clipper. Bradley offered a shrug and side smirk.

“I s’pose we have something going.” Bradley squatted down and Clipper swaggered over to him, nosing his open palm. You rested a knee on the floor as you watched them. Clipper rolled his head into Bradley’s hand as he scratched behind his ears.

For the next 13 weeks, Bradley showed up every day to exercise Clipper. If you weren’t there when he arrived, you usually were around when he returned.

Sometime during the first few weeks, Bradley finally worked up the gall to ask you out. Of course, Clipper came on your first date—a picnic at the park.

Since then, the three of you had been on many picnics in the park, runs along the beach and road trips around the country.

It was hard to believe it had been seven years since you and Bradley met that day at the shelter. And Clipper was by your side for every relationship milestone.

This was the least you could do for your best friend. Clipper watched as you put the truck in park and killed the engine. You slid out the driver door and opened the backseat door closest to Clipper.

You waited as he stood on the seat and shifted so you could hug all his limbs to put him on the ground. His tail wagged as you closed the door, and then you headed inside.

It only seemed right that you get Clipper’s companion from a shelter. You had already called ahead to confirm Clipper was welcome. Your nerves eased as a twentysomething woman welcomed you. It took you right back to your days volunteering.

What really made the time well spent was seeing energy in Clipper’s eyes and his step. He was aging—his runs were shorter and he was less willing to jump onto the couch, your bed or into the truck.

“I think we’ve found the one.” You and the shelter worker, who you learned was Liz, watched as Clipper ran with a similar-sized dog about half his age. You whistled and both came running. They heeled at your signal.

“What’s his name?” you asked.

“Hornet,” Liz replied.

Your smile widened. “You’re kidding.”

“You can always change his name. We typically don’t recommend it, but you can if you feel strongly.” You hadn’t told Liz your history, wanting to ensure you got the full adoption experience.

“No, it’s perfect,” you responded.

An hour later, Hornet was leaping out of the truck while you helped Clipper to the ground. Following Clipper’s lead, Hornet sat and waited as you collected your things. The pair was on your heel as you walked toward the house.

As you watched Clipper and Hornet bounce around the backyard, you knew Bradley would be thrilled when he returned from his deployment.

His return aligned with the holidays, and Hornet was as much a gift for Bradley as he was Clipper. Just as you were, Bradley was struggling with watching his best friend age. Clipper had been through every career milestone with him.

One of Bradley’s favorite photos was himself in full dress blues sitting next to Clipper, who had Bradley’s combination cap perched on his head. You knew the photo well—you took it at the first commendation ceremony you attended with Bradley. You had surprised him by bringing Clipper. Since it was outside, you called Pete to see if you could get away with bringing a furry plus-one.

With Hornet buzzing around the house, the final month of Bradley’s deployment was a breeze.

Along with his gift, Hornet, you wanted the house to be holiday ready when Bradley returned. You spent your evenings setting up the tree, stringing lights and wrapping gifts. Initially, Bradley was supposed to return a few days before Christmas. However, due to weather, among other things, you were expecting him back on Christmas Eve.

You giggled as you wrestled with Hornet to put the bow around his neck. Clipper watched you two from the couch—his bow already in place. Finally, Hornet allowed you to slip the ribbon around his neck and make it presentable. Unsure of Bradley’s arrival time, you knew odds were high it would be mangled by the time he saw it.

Recovering from your tussle with Hornet, you sat on the floor with your back against the couch. You sighed and sipped your wine. It was one of the first truly cold nights this winter. A northern girl always jonesing for an excuse to use the fireplace, you had built a fire and were enjoying the results. Between the wine and warmth, your eyes began to close.

Clipper laid on the couch near you with his head on your shoulder. Meanwhile, Hornet scooted on his belly up to you and rested his head in your lap. You told yourself you could close your eyes for a few minutes…

Bradley’s heart was racing as he clamored out of Rueben’s truck and collected his bags. He did one more check to make sure he had your gift. Duffle slung over his shoulder, he headed for the door as Rueben’s F-150 backed out of the driveway.

Wanting to surprise you, he had his keys at the ready and was as quiet as possible while letting himself in. He wasn’t worried about Clipper—somehow that dog knew who was coming in the door before they entered. He never barked when Bradley came home.

However, Hornet was another story. The minute he heard the key jiggle the lock, he announced Bradley’s presence. Bradley's eyebrows knitted together—that bark did not belong to Clipper.

Slowly, he cracked the door open, deciding to announce himself. “Honey, I’m home!” His voice boomed through the house. Hornet, already on alert, was the first to the door. Clipper pulled himself off the couch, knowing it was Bradley, and headed the same direction.

You jolted awake and jumped to your feet. Once you had your bearings, you ventured toward the door. “Who is this?” You heard Bradley ask. When you rounded the corner, you saw Bradley squatting down with Hornet between his knees, wagging his tail and reveling in the attention. Clipper stood a little further away, waiting his turn to greet Bradley.

“Hornet, Clipper’s companion,” you said.

A smirk graced Bradley’s face as he turned his attention to Clipper, who happily accepted ear rubs and a kiss atop the head. Bradley stood to greet you. “A dog for Christmas?” He teased as you walked into his embrace. You tilted your head back to meet his gaze and he placed a kiss on your lips.

Bradley’s hand slid to the small of your back. “Missed you,” he added as he kissed you again. Before you could respond, he circled back to Hornet. “I can’t believe you broke your own rule!” He looked down at the dogs. “Puppies are forever, remember?” They wagged their tails as if in response.

You smiled and pressed a kiss to his jaw—the highest point you could reach on your tiptoes. “That’s the plan.” You met his gaze as you returned to flat feet. Bradley had the same puppy dog eyes as the day you met. “Besides, Hornet is as much a gift for us as he is for Clipper.”

Bradley smiled. “Did you change his name?”

You shook your head. “That’s how I knew it was meant to be.” You looked at each other. Bradley kissed you again.

“Wine?” You asked.

“Yes,” he replied. You squeezed his arm before heading to the living room to collect your glass. Bradley grabbed his duffle and headed to the bedroom.

Clipper and Hornet followed him. He smiled when he realized they were trailing him. Bradley chucked his bag on the ground, slipped off his coat and dug the small box out of his pocket.

Quickly, he changed, and then knelt down with the box open so Clipper and Hornet could inspect the ring inside. “You’re not the only ones that are forever.” He patted both dogs on the head before standing up and pocketing the box.

You were busy in the kitchen, opening a bottle of champagne. “What are we celebrating?” Bradley and the dogs joined you.

“Your return,” you said as if it were obvious. Bradley came up behind you and gently took the champagne bottle. He easily palmed it, twisted the cork off in one fluid motion, and then handed it back. You snagged it by the neck and, with two flutes in your other hand, headed for the living room.

Bradley followed, helping Clipper onto the couch before settling in himself. Hornet jumped onto the couch cushion nearest you. You handed Bradley a healthy pour of champagne and nestled into his side.

“To you coming home to us.” You held out your glass. He gently touched his to yours, and you both drank.

Two flutes of champagne later, you were straddling Bradley’s lap, arms resting on his shoulders, fingers toying with the buzzed hairs at the base of his neck and your tongue in his mouth.

“I missed this,” he announced as you moved onto leaving wet kisses on his neck and nibbling on his ears.

“I can tell.” You acknowledged his growing hard-on.

Startled, you yelped and sat back. Bradley braced you so you didn’t fall off his lap. You were eyeing Hornet, and Bradley’s gaze followed yours. A soft smile pulled your lips as you scratched Hornet’s chin. “He licked my foot,” you chuckled.

You were used to Clipper, who thankfully respected yours and Bradley’s intimate time. You never took him for granted, especially when you heard the stories from friends of their furry counterparts howling outside the bedroom door or disrupting mid-thrust with a weirdly placed lick.

“He’s being a good wingman,” Bradley joked.

Your eyebrow crept up your forehead. “Oh, you didn’t like where this was going?”

Bradley laughed and put his hands on the tops of your thighs, looking directly at you. “Oh, I liked where it was going, but we’ll still get there.” He paused for a second. “But I wanted to give you your gift sooner rather than later.”

“Oh?” He piqued your interest.

Bradley reached behind Clipper, between the couch cushions, and pulled out a small black box. Your heart skipped a beat as he pulled back the lid, and then balanced the box on his large palm between the two of you.

Staring back at you was a marquise-cut diamond on a gold band. You recognized it from pictures of his mother. “Will you spend forever with me?” His hazel puppy dog eyes stared at you from behind the box.

You felt Clipper’s muzzle come to rest on your thigh. He was looking up at you and his tail lazily wagged. Hornet let out a little whimper and stacked his chin on his paws—he knew something was happening but wasn’t sure how to react.

You looked back at Bradley, who was still awaiting your response. Your bottom lip quivered, and you could feel the tears threatening to breach your lower lash line.

“Yes!” You leaned forward and kissed Bradley. He was smiling as you pulled away. Clipper and Hornet watched as Bradley slipped the ring on your finger. You wiggled your fingers as you admired it.

“It looks good on you,” he said.

You put your hand down and looked at him. “I’m happy you think I’m enough to wear it.” You adjusted yourself on his lap and let your forearms rest on his chest while you looked at him.

His arms pulled you closer to his torso, hands resting on the top curve of your backside. “You’re more than enough—you’re my girl.” It was his turn to press a kiss to your lips.

You smiled as you separated. “I guess old dogs are forever, too, eh?”

Bradley hummed, and ran his hands up your sides. “At least you can still teach me new tricks.” You laughed together and, as if on cue, Hornet popped up and swiped his tongue up Bradley’s cheek.

“That’s it,” he said teasingly. Bradley stood, and you slid off his lap. Unexpectedly, Bradley flipped you over his shoulder. Supporting yourself with your hands on his back, you looked at the dogs who hadn’t budged from the couch. “Clip, you gotta teach Hornet a thing or two about adult time.” You chuckled as Bradley carted you to your bedroom to properly seal your engagement.

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