Cecelia lost the battle with her siblings.

The next morning, while they were all still waiting for any sort of news regarding the mission, the boys had finally convinced Cecelia to go to the doctor just to be sure she was okay. While she hadn't thrown up again, she was still incredibly pale and not eating a lot.

After nibbling on some toast, she and Cat got into the car and left for the doctor's office, planning on picking up the boys after the appointment. Once at the office, Cecelia told them her symptoms, Cat making sure she didn't leave anything out. Between her brothers and Cat, Cat had the best idea of what could be happening. She might not have grown up with her, but she knew Cecelia better than her brothers at times.

The results showed nothing that was a surprise to either woman, considering recent events. And when Cece called the boys to tell them, she gave them a big 'I told you so' as well. Both boys truly didn't care about that, all they wanted to know was that she was okay.

After all of this was finally resolved, the group of four went out to do some retail therapy and hopefully get some food into Cecelia. Nothing too extravagant since Cece was still saving up for a wedding, but it was nice to find clothes with Cat and annoy Kai and Ronen with their constant stops.

But they didn't know that something would be waiting for them when they got home. Someone, to be specific, that would bring them all the news they had been so desperately waiting to hear.

☽☆☾ ☽☆☾ ☽☆☾

After what can only be described as one of the most harrowing experiences of their lives, Rooster and Maverick were finally on their way back to the carrier. Hangman had come in to save their asses in the nick of time, something he will never let them forget.

Approaching the carrier after Hangman lands, Maverick radios in to inform them of his plane's landing problems. "Maverick is down wind, no front landing gear, no tail hook to catch cable."

As he waits for the net to be brought out, he does something only Maverick can truly get away with. He buzzes the tower. Cyclone and Warlock are inside, but both just let him go with this, considering he had just helped pull off two miracles and perform a few of his own as well.

But because nothing can ever go smoothly, the engine blows out just as they begin their approach. "Please don't tell me we lost an engine," Rooster sighs, ready to just be on the carrier and out of the air for once.

Maverick cheekily replies, "Ok, I won't tell you that."

Sliding onto the deck of the carrier, they crash right into the net. Stopping, they slowly make their way out of the plane, glad to be back on semi stable ground. Or at least as stable as a carrier in the ocean can be.

Everyone on deck runs over to them, cheering and clapping. The mission was a success and everyone came home alive. Phoenix, Bob and some of the others make their way to Rooster, all giving their congratulations. Phoenix grabs Rooster and pulls him into a hug.

"Thank god you made it back. I was not going to be the one to tell Lia you had died." Rooster just laughs at that. "Well if that's the only reason you're happy," but before he can finish Phoenix hits his arm, telling him all he needs to know.

The final one to make their way over is Hangman. He and Rooster just look at each other for a few seconds before Hangman offers his hand. Giving in, Rooster grabs it and shakes his hand, both of them smiling. It's honestly something Phoenix never thought she would see, no matter how long she lived.

"Shot yourself another kill," Rooster says, giving a rare compliment to Hangman, no matter how well deserved this one is.

Always one to brag, Hangman replies, "that makes two."

Phoenix swoops in quickly, "Mav has five, makes him an ace." They can't argue that, both men just shrugging it off before laughing. Phoenix pulls Hangman into a hug as well. One that they stay in for a little while longer than anyone else. Rooster makes a note of that to tell Cecelia about later. While she hadn't let Phoenix's secret slip as per Girl Code, he was still good at reading people, especially his fiance. And the way she always reacted when Phoenix and Hangman interacted was something he had noticed quickly. Not to mention the two hadn't exactly been subtle lately, no matter what was actually going on between them.

Shaking his head, he began to make his way through the crowd, trying to find Maverick. "Captain Mitchell, Captain Mitchell," Rooster calls out to Maverick once he spots him. "Sir."

And before he can say anything else, Mav grabs him for a hug. "Thank you for saving my life," he tells Rooster, immensely grateful. If you told him, even yesterday, that Bradley would have saved his life, he can't say he would have believed you. Their relationship was so rocky, nothing was guaranteed anymore. But it looks like that might be changing and for the better.

"It's what my dad would have done," he replies without hesitation. And Maverick just pulls him in for another hug.

☽☆☾ ☽☆☾ ☽☆☾

The group of four were laughing as they pulled the car onto the correct street. "I still can't believe they didn't recognize me," Kai says, still in disbelief. Ronen is really trying not to burst out laughing at how dejected he sounds. "It's not my fault they had seen Dear Evan Hansen during my run."

In the front of the car, Cecelia and Cat have no reservations about laughing and are practically crying from laughter. Calming down, the girls still let out a few giggles here and there but the topic of conversation has changed.

Finally pulling onto their street, all talk within the car stopped when they all noticed a car in the driveway. As they got closer, it became evident that it was an old Ford Bronco. There was no calming Cecelia down once she realized who it was.

She practically jumped out of the car once they pulled into the driveway, not waiting for Cat to put it into park. Kai was right behind her, knowing his sister well enough to know her hands would be shaking too much to unlock the door. He quickly grabbed her keys to do just that, glancing at her over his shoulder. Cecelia was shaking with both anxiety and anticipation. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and took a step inside. And sitting on the couch for all to see was the man she had been longing to see for two days now.

Bradley 'Rooster' Bradshaw.

Without a word, Cecelia took off like a rocket, barely giving him time to properly stand up before she jumped onto him. Wrapping her arms around his neck and legs around his waist, Cecelia was finally home.

Bradley was just as quick to hold onto her. One hand circled her waist to support her entire body while the other went to the back of her head, weaving his fingers through her hair. With everything that had happened in the past 24 hours alone, he was just glad to have her in his arms again.

They stayed like that for a few moments longer before pulling away slightly, but that didn't last long. Cecelia didn't even have time to think before Bradley's lips were on hers. This kiss was different from any kiss they had shared. One full of relief, love, passion, you name it. This kiss told both of them that this was real life, it wasn't a dream.

The others had been waiting by the door, not wanting to interrupt this reunion. Though they all glanced away when the couple kissed, all three of them were trying not to get too emotional themselves.

When the couple came up for air, they just looked into each other's eyes. "Hi," Cecelia whispered, almost like she was afraid if she spoke too loud she would wake up. Bradley's lips turn up slightly into a small smile as he responds, "hi."

And that's all they need to know this is truly real. Without them really knowing or doing it on purpose, whenever Bradley would come home from deployment or Cecelia was coming back from traveling shows, they would say one simple word. Hi.

Cecelia finally unwraps herself from Bradley, but doesn't let go of him completely. As she turns around to face the other three, her arms wrap around one of his so she is still essentially clinging to his side.

The others take that as the sign to move forward and take their turns welcoming Bradley home. While any hug is slightly weird because Cecelia refuses to let go, they make it work. Cat wraps her arms around his neck and confirms that she won't kill him now, making him laugh.

There's not much about the mission he can really divulge at the moment, with it still being fairly classified. Not that he really wants to because he knows that would send Cece into a panic immediately. But he tells them what he can.

"The mission was a success. And no one was killed, we all made it home." That sentence alone makes the four let out simultaneous sighs of relief. All glad that their friends are also okay. They know a full reunion will be happening soon where they can officially relax.

For the next few hours, they all tell Bradley what they had been up to over the past few days. The retail therapy got him to shake his head disapprovingly, although everyone knew he was just joking. He was also informed that a few more of the minor details for the wedding have been looked into as well, so now they can really move forward with planning.

Throughout the afternoon, Bradley could tell there was something he wasn't being told. And once the couple had a few moments to themselves, he asked. "I know there is something else. It was pretty obvious there was something you all were avoiding mentioning."

Cecelia sighed, hoping he hadn't noticed, but she should have known better. "I promise it's nothing bad. I just haven't been feeling the best since you left and they all got worried." She hoped that was enough to satisfy him, but it wasn't. He just looked into her eyes, urging her to continue. "I got sick yesterday and the boys insisted I go to the doctor just to make sure nothing was wrong."

This time, Cecelia continued before Bradley could interrupt, knowing where his head was at. "No, I'm not pregnant." That statement alone had him letting out a slight sigh of relief. It wasn't that he didn't want kids with Cece, he absolutely did. But after what he just did and where they both were at the moment, it wouldn't have been the most ideal situation.

"So what was wrong? Are you ok?" He asked once he realized that she hadn't actually told him what was wrong. "I was so anxious and worried, I made myself physically sick. I've done it before, used to do it a lot in college. That's why Cat knew what it was before we even went to the doctor."

Bradley was just glad she was okay. He had witnessed a few of her anxiety episodes where she worried herself nauseous, but he had never seen it physically manifest. He hugged her a little tighter after she finished.

"I promised I would do whatever I could to come home to you. And that's exactly what I did." He reassured her, giving her a little squeeze for emphasis.

"I know. And I'm glad. But nothing I did could stop that worry."

They just sat in silence for a little while longer before going to join the others for some food. And before long, they were all getting messages that they were required to be at the Hard Deck in the next two hours for a reunion. While Penny may have left, she had explicit instructions to make a private event happen when the aviators returned.

After all, tonight was a night of joy and reunions. Everyone had survived what was predicted to be a suicide mission and they were going to enjoy every second of their victory party.

✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈

Word count: 2,105

THEY ARE REUNITED!!!

And yes, Cecelia is NOT pregnant. I know the clues led to that, and I did that on purpose. I've had experiences where I was so worried or anxious, I was nauseous for hours and had no appetite whatsoever. And other friends I have actually have been physically sick from this as well.

Next chapter is our overall reunions, so prepare for possible tears. Any last guesses on what Cecelia's honorary callsign could be? Because we find out next chapter as well.

But that's all for now, so until next time. Bye!!