Maverick woke up with to his husband fast asleep next to him. It was a rarity for him to awake before Ice. Despite both being Navy men for many years, Ice naturally woke just a few minutes earlier than Maverick most mornings unless they were in different time zones.

Maverick took a moment to admire is his husbands face, relaxed and calm. No stresses weighing it down.

"Stop staring at me." Ice mumbled, his voice coming out gravely and harsh causing him to cough.

"I'm just admiring you in your sleep. It's rare to see you so calm. Would you like some water?"

Ice merely nodded, sitting up their bed.

Maverick walked downstairs and filled a glass of water before starting some tea.

"You glass of water, and tea is steaming downstairs."

Ice nodded in thanks, taking a few sips of his water.

"Do you want me to tell Bradley and Jake to delay their visit?" Maverick asked leaning against his husbands side.

Ice gave him a look that clearly said 'don't you dare'.

Despite Ice's reputation for an unreadable face, able to stay blank as he waited patiently for the person to screw up, he could make his expressions say just about anything. A useful skill when using his voice was painful during the cancer and again when he there was a chance he would never speak again.

"I figured that would be your answer, but I was at least going to give you the option."

Ice set down his glass and signed 'Thank you, but I want to see out kids.'

Maverick rolled his eyes as he signed, 'Told you that you would love them.'

Ice smiled at his husbands skill. After learning Ice could potentially lose his voice for ever Maverick quickly picked up on sign language and helped Ice learn too.

"Do you need anything else or just the tea?" Maverick asked knowing when his husbands throat decided to rebel against him it was painful, and there was little Maverick could do to help.

'Just the tea, but please add honey'

"Of course, my love."

Maverick drifted back downstairs knowing the water for the tea would be ready any minute. It was one of the only ways he could help Ice on days like this. When Ice still had the cancer, he was too weak to do a lot, so Maverick could help in many ways. 

Now, Ice refused to let go of the independence he had regain since he went into remission and now was in complete remission. 

Despite being declared cancer free, occasionally he would have hours or days where speaking became painful again, but they passed. Ice would take the occasional days of painful speaking over what he once experienced any day.

Though out of this, both Mav and Ice became fluent in sign language which became quiet useful. Especially at military events where they could most converse freely across the room or table. It was especially useful when Ice wanted out of a conversation and could just sign behind his back for Maverick to come save him.

"One tea with honey for my honey."

Ice rolled his eyes but smiled regardless taking his mug.

"Jake and Bradley should be over within the next hour or so." Maverick reminded Ice, giving him another chance to push off them coming. He knew Ice wanted to be able to speak with them, and would likely push through the pain to speak to them.

'Stop worrying, I'll be fine. I want to see them.' Ice signed while giving a pointed look.

"I know you will be fine, however, I also know you and your stubbornness. You will likely decide to talk through the pain."

'And if I want to talk to my kid and my other kid than why shouldn't I?'

"I'm not saying you shouldn't talk to your kids, I am saying that you shouldn't hurt yourself doing it."

'I won't.'

"Then you are fine if I tell Bradley ahead of time and let him know it's one of those days where you can't speak?"

'Go right on ahead' Ice signed, not backing down from the challenge.

"Alright," Maverick gave him a look before grabbing his phone and dialing the number. If Ice was going to be stubborn, he was going to be stubborn right back.

Ice rolled his eyes.

"Hey Bradley, yeah, I know you will be here in a little bit. I was just calling to let you know ahead of time Ice is having one of his days where he can't speak. He still wants you two to come over though."

"Mav, are you sure, if he's not feeling good we can come later."

"No, minus that it hurts to speak he is fine." Maverick made sure to clarify, he knew worst case scenarios were flying through Bradley's head.

"Do we need to bring anything?"

"No kid, just wanted to give you a heads up."

"Alright, I'll see you in an hour then."

"See you then kid."

Ice gave him a pointed look.

"Stubborn as you are, you can't go against me and Bradley telling you not to hurt yourself by speaking."

"Don't challenge me Maverick." Ice spoke, ignoring the sharp pains across his throat.

"Ice," Maverick said softly shaking his head, as he climbed back on the bed next to him, curling up against his side. "I don't like knowing you are in pain, especially when it can be prevented."

Ice kissed the side of Maverick's head.

"I'm sorry." Ice whispered, trying to settle Mav's mind.

"Ice, I don't want you to not speak. I missed your voice so much those weeks where you couldn't get a peep out, but I don't want you in pain. Ever."

"I don't ever want you in pain either." Ice whispered back, whispering causing minimal to no pain.

"This is avoidable pain though Ice, you can whisper or sign, just please don't hurt yourself speaking."

"I will minimize my words." Ice promised with another whisper.

"Thank you."

---

"Dad! Pops!" Bradley greeted walking in the front door.

"Baby Goose." Maverick smiled hugging his god son.

Ice a step behind pulling him into a hug after Maverick.

"You doing ok Popsicle?" Jake asked a smirk on his face.

'I see you've learned your lesson on our names?' Ice signed.

Mav interpreted. 

"I think you scared him to death the other day."

"No, I just know when to take orders from my CO."

"Maybe we can teach you not to leave your wingman while we are at it." Maverick added.

'Careful, if you're not careful you will create another you Maverick, and the Navy can only handle one.' Ice signed.

Maverick laughed.

"Ice claims the Navy can only handle one of me, and if I'm not careful you will become too much like me."

---

Dagger Group Chat

Fanboy
I'm bored. Entertain me.

Payback
Why?

Fanboy
Because I am bored

Hangman
I have an idea

Phoenix
No. No, Hangman ideas.

Hangman
No, you will like this one Phoenix

Phoenix
I doubt it, but what?

Hangman
Everyone want to meet up and learn sign language?

Payback
That's random even for you

Hangman
No, not random, actually quiet relevant to us.

Fritz
How is sign language relevant to us

Hangman
Because we need to learn it

Harvard
But why, you are avoiding the question

Hangman
For Pops

Phoenix
Why do we need to learn sign language for Pops

Rooster
Because Ice has days where he can't really speak with out it being really painful, so he signs instead

Fanboy
For Pops! Of course!

Phoenix
And how did you come to have this knowledge Bagman?

Hangman
I was at Mav's house with Bradley yesterday and he was having one of those days

Bob
Can we screenshot this and put it in a glass case like Tony Starks Arc Reactor with the words 'Proof Hangman has a heart'?

Fanboy
YES!!!

---

Ice, being the nice 'Dad'miral that he is decided to bring lunch for his husband and 12 kids. He picked up a small platter of food before heading to Top Gun, quiet proud of himself for actually having a day around lunch where he had a schedule clear enough to bring them lunch and stay with them.

He texted Maverick to gather the aviators into the rec room for the impromptu lunch.

Ice walked into the rec room with a handful of food, then laid it out across the table.

"Thanks Pops!" Bradley said with a smile, and the other aviators echoed his words, but they also touched their finger tips to their chin before gesturing out.

Ice had to do a double take.

Maverick just smiled seeing what their kids had just done.

Ice smiled as he turned to Maverick and signed.

'Did they just sign thank you?'

'I think they did.' Maverick signed back.

"Look Pops, we just started learning a few days go, that was far to advanced." Hangman said with a thick southern drawl.

'Looks like someone is trying to get on the good sides of their future father's in laws.' Maverick signed laughing softly.

'I appreciate the effort though.' Ice signed back.

"Mav? Care to let us in on the conversation?" Bradley asked with his plate full of food.

"If we wanted you to know, we would have said it out loud, and it seems we won't be able to communicate through sign for much longer without you all knowing what we are saying. So, we have to use it as much as we can now." Maverick nodded.

"I appreciate the effort, if you have questions feel free to ask me." Ice nodded to them.

'See they aren't just my kids. They want to do stuff for you too.' Maverick signed.

'When they get into trouble, they are your kids.'

'No they are yours, because you have the power to pull them out of it.'

Ice rolled his eyes.

'You know you love them.' Maverick signed.

"I know that one!! He said they they loved us!" Fanboy exclaimed jumping up and down.

.

.

.

So first one shot of sorts complete! Let me know what you thought and please send in any requests!!! I am open to them!!