(GIF Banner by my lovely wife: -Aphrxdite- )

Miranda "Gremlin" Mitchell was the daughter of Pete "Maverick" Mitchell. Born in 1990, the Navy was all Miranda knew. Miranda never knew her birth mother. Instead, she grew up with Carole Bradshaw when her father was overseas. She never knew her mother. Bradley was like a brother to her. In 2001, Miranda was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes and her dreams of being in the Navy were shot down, yet she refused to let that immense disappointment destroy her. Miranda was a strong, active young lady. She excelled in school and was a master prankster. She loved to make people laugh.

So, when Carole died, Miranda made it her mission to help Bradley. Maverick seemed to spiral when Carole died and he couldn't really take care of them. Then came in his wingman, Admiral Tom "Iceman" Kazanksy. Sarah Kazansky, his wife, stepped up and took in Miranda while Bradley pursued the Naval Academy and his dreams to be an aviator just like his father.

That's when Miranda met the Kazansky Twins, Adam and Derek. Adam was outgoing, yet serious and calculated. He knew how to have fun, but he also knew when to be serious. Derek, on the other hand, was shy, quiet, and anxious. He always was one to make sure things were as safe as possible. Despite being somewhat opposites, they were as close as close could be.

The twins were a year younger than her but they were her only friends for a while. Miranda may have been out-going and kind, but being around huge groups of strangers scared her. She didn't like large groups of people. Normal teenagers scared her. No one ever understood what life was like for her. While her brothers and family went into the Navy, Miranda decided to pursue engineering and mechanics.

Life as a diabetic was difficult, but never impossible. As long as she kept her sugars in check and took care of herself, she was going to live a long, happy life. Miranda was not one to brag, but she loved to say she was living healthier by watching her carb intake and everything. It definitely showed. But, the mental health part of it took its toll on her. As mentioned before, no one truly understood what it was like for her. She had a very small community who understood, but it wasn't the same as a familial bond.

But, Miranda always found a way. Nothing could hold her down. She was the daughter of Maverick, after all. Though she wasn't a naval aviator, she was granted her own callsign which quickly became "Gremlin" as in inside joke. Miranda couldn't find it in herself to hate the callsign. She deserved the nickname after the incidents of the cupboards...and the great snow incident...and the slime pranks...well, you get the picture.

Adam's callsign was "Snowman" and Derek became "Hotshot". Derek was Adam's wingman, and together in the skies, they were unstoppable. Even on the ground, when they put their mind to something, they were menaces. And if you added Miranda to the mix, the three could give the most patient Admiral a headache. Which Ice fully blamed on Maverick's genes. He would jokingly claim that Miranda had corrupted his sons. Slider and Maverick found everything the trio did absolutely hilarious.

After graduating highschool, Miranda had a tearfilled goodbye with her adoptive brothers and moved on to college. Four years of hard work, happy breaks to spend with family, lots of all-nighters, and Miranda had her degree. Wanting to stay close to home, Miranda found a job in Miramar (that Ice swore he did not help her get) at a shop on base that worked on the personal vehicles of the Naval officers and very rarely worked on the Naval military vehicles.

There she met many pilots and WSOs. Many became acquaintances, but few became friends. Bradley and her lost contact, and she missed her oldest friend. Life went on and she helped Penny Benjamin with her bar as a side job. Penny became the second mother figure in Miranda's life. With both Sarah and Penny, Miranda had no wish to meet her birth mother. Why look for someone who didn't want her when she had multiple people who did want her?

Miranda and Maverick constantly sent letters and called to each other. It's the one way that they managed to keep up the strong father/daughter bond they shared. Maverick hadn't been back in Miramar since he first left after Carole died. Miranda grew up in Miramar with Carole and Sarah. sure, she wished her father took her when he moved around the states, but realistically it wouldn't have worked. Too many unpredictable variables would have been at play, and Maverick wanted his daughter to be raised in a stable home. His fear of messing up helped him do his best not to make an unfixable mistake with Miranda...with Bradley? That was a different story.

Now it was 2019, and Miranda had built her life. She lived off base in a small beachside home with her two cats, Goose and Duckie. She helped out Sarah on the weekends and constantly spent time with Ice and her twined partners-in-crime. Work was work, and Miranda loved every minute of it. So what if most of her clothes had grease and oil stains. Miranda wore them with honor.

Life was moving on, and Miranda was living on. Even though she was worried about Ice, she had been mentally preparing for the worst. Penny and Amelia were there for her and the Kazansky family. Miranda sat in Penny's bar long before it was open for its public hours, scrolling through her phone.

Icicle: I know you will probably yell at me for not telling you in advance, but you're welcome.

Gremlin: ???

Icicle: :)

Gremlin: What did you do, Pops?

Icicle: You'll thank me later.

Gremlin: Thank you for what? Stop being ambiguous! I wanna know! :(

Miranda scoffed and pocketed her phone when Ice didn't respond after a few minutes. She groaned and went back into the lounge to help Amelia with her homework before the opening rush started. She couldn't help but wonder what Ice had meant. 'Doesn't matter,' she shrugged. 'I'll find out sooner or later.'

But nothing could prepare her for what was to come.

Hey guys!

I hope you all enjoyed this first chapter! Comments and votes are appreciated! I love hearing from you all!

Have a wonderful day!

~Kat