An: I'm lazy, not spell checked.

I nod.

  That's all I can manage. My throat feels as if it has been stuffed with cotton, and I can't speak.

He gently opens the box, taking the simple ring out of it— a silver band, with a single, small diamond encased in it.

"It's the best I could manage." He says, his eyes searching my face. "It was my mother's. I will get you a better one, as soon as I get the—"

I cut him off with a kiss, gently cupping his face in my hands.
"It's perfect, Jake. Absolutely perfect."

He smiles, gently taking my left hand and sliding the ring into my fourth finger.

  "I'm sorry, it's not the best." He says, standing, his hands on my arms. I roll my eyes, taking his hands.

"Damn it, Hangman." I say, pressing a kiss to his nose before pulling him into a hug. "It's beautiful, and I wouldn't have asked for anything different."

Coyote peeks his head around the corner, followed by Phoenix and Bradley.

Brooke's back is too them, and Hangman raises his eyebrows.

"Did she say yes?" Coyote mouths, and Hangman gives them a thumbs up. They silently cheer, high-fiving before ducking out of view.

***

The Harddeck is packed, but our small group of aviators managed to snag a booth in the corner.

  "So." Rooster says casually, leaning forward on the table. I raises her eyebrows at her brother, and he grins. "You're pregnant."

I sip my soda, glancing at Hangman, who is deep into a conversation with Coyote and Phoenix. His hand rests on my knee, his thumb gently rubbing circles over my jeans.

"He told you?"

"Yeah. It's just..." he trails off. "I wish you had said something to me."

"I just told Jake." I say, sighing. "I was— am embarrassed."

He smiles kindly at me.
"I know...Mama would be so excited." I sigh, playing with my hands, my newly acquired ring catching the light.

"Y-Yeah, she would be." I say, smiling. Jake leans towards me, his breath fanning out across my neck.

"What was that, baby?" He asks, and I shake my head.

"Nothing."

***
(Ten years later)

(A hella long time jump, I know, just trust me.)

  "Natasha, please put your brother down." I say, sweeping up my daughter and putting my youngest son, Pete, on my hip. She was holding him my his ankles, his head sweeping dangerously close too the floor.

  "But he wants to be held." My little look- alike says, frowning. I give her an exhausted smile, placing Pete in his high chair.

   He blows a raspberry, pounding his chunky hands on the plastic tray. His dark hair sits in a matted pile atop his head, and I make a mental note to give him a bath later.

"I'm sure he does, honey, but right now he is sitting in his chair." I say, glancing around the small kitchen.

"Where is Jr?" I ask, referring to my middle child, a crazy child of nine years old.

"He's outside waiting for daddy to come home." Natasha says, and I raise my eyebrows.

"Still?" I ask, pulling the pre-made pizza out of the oven. I am way too tired to cook tonight, but my three little pirates could live on Dino Nuggets and Mac n Cheese if I gave them the option.

"Yeah, he has one of his planes. He's building it." She reaches for the pizza, and I grab her hand, letting out a sigh of relief.

"The pizza is still hot, love. How about you start a movie while it cools?" I ask, getting excited dancing from my daughter and happy blabbering from Pete.

The phone starts ringing as I settle Natasha into a blanket, and I answer it, breathless.

"Hey, Uncle Mav." I say, bouncing Pete on my hip. I peer out the front window at Jake Jr, who is painting a model plane on the front porch, his tongue sticking out of his mouth in concentration.

"Hey Brookie," my uncle says. "I was wondering if you needed Penny and I to swing by... help with the kids."

"I.. yeah, I could really use the help." I say, letting out a shaky breath as I glance around the house. A messy kitchen, a trashed living room. I don't even want to think about the kids rooms.

With Jake deployed as a Captain in some top secret squad, somewhere far out in the Pacific Ocean, everything falls on my shoulders. He's supposed to be home today, but not until late.

"Great. We're outside right now." He says, and I see them walking up the pathway, hand in hand. I laugh, putting down the phone and beginning to cut the pizza.

We moved close to Maverick and Penny because they wanted to be in the kids' lives. They show up spontaneously, along with Bradley, who is working as a TopGun instructor. Penny loves the kids, and helps me with everything from grocery shopping too laundry.

Jr runs out to meet them, and Maverick picks him up in his arms as my son excitedly shows him his plane.

Penny comes to the door, helping herself inside. I shoot her an exhausted smile.
"Hey, Penny." I say, and she shoos me out of the kitchen.

"Go, shoo." She says to me, smiling and taking Pete. "Go relax. I've got your kiddos."

"Thank you so much, Aunt Penny." I say, my eyes watering. "I- I really needed this."

"I know." She says, smiling. "Trust me, I know."

I go into the laundry room, moving the wash out of the dryer, before putting another load in. I hum music too myself, taking the laundry basket too my room.

I dump the clothes onto the bed, starting the fold and sort them.

  When I finally finish the rest of my chores, I find Baby Pete sound asleep in Penny's arms, sucking on his thumb.

Natasha is curled up next to Maverick, her eyes half- closed. Jr sits up at the kitchen table, a single light above his head showing his work: a small grey plane, a vintage F-18.

I gently take the baby from Penny, bouncing him up and down before carrying him towards the room he shares with me. Well, usually Jake and I, but right now it is just me.

He is passed out, and I gently lay him in his crib, rocking it a few times, before kissing his head and leaving the room with the door half closed. Penny meets me in the hall, her hand resting on my arm.

"Have you heard from him?" She asks, and I nod.

"His plane landed, and he should be here soon..." I trail off, glancing at the table, where Jr is working on his plane. "Jr is so intent on staying up to see him, but he might not be home until late."

Penny smiles.
"Let him stay up. He would be awake in bed, anyway."

"That's what I was planning." I say, and we both step back as Maverick carries a mumbling Natasha down the hall towards us. She grumbles, burying her head in his shoulder.

"Idon'twanttogotobed." She mumbles, and I take her, nodding my thanks at my uncle.

"I know, honey." I say to her, kissing her head as I take her to her room, gently laying her on top of the covers. "But when you wake up in the morning, you can hang out with Uncle Mav some more, yeah?"

"M'Kay." She mumbles, and I tuck the covers around her tiny frame.

"I love you, Nat." I say, kissing her head again.

"Love you too, mama."

***

It is almost ten thirty when Jake pulls into the driveway, the headlights of his truck illuminating the yard.

  I gently shake awake Jake Jr, who is up in seconds and bolts out the door, model fighter laying forgotten on the counter.

  Jake Jr, or, 'Baby Jake', is the spitting image of his father. With nice hair and sharp features, he is sure to be trouble when he grows up. He has an obsession with planes— any planes, all planes— and he dreams to be a pilot. He is quiet, usually keeping to himself.

  I watch Jake scoop up his boy, holding him to his chest in a hug. I think Jr. is crying. I walk outside slowly, leaving the door open a bit, a cool night breeze blowing on my face. I wipe the tears away from my eyes.

  I reach them, and Jake gives me a smile, holding out one arm to hug me, the other keeping a firm grip on Jr.
  "Hey, sweetheart." He whispers in my ear, kissing my temple before gently handing me a bag. I take it in my hands, following him slowly into the house.

Baby Jake has fallen asleep in his Dad's arms, and is taken too his room, the sound machine loud in my ears.

I make my way to our room, listening to Jake say goodnight to Natasha, and even though she has been asleep for hours, she mumbles a tired: 'I love you'.

Pete stirs as Jake walks in, and he gently pulls down the side of the crib, kneeling down tiredly. He strokes Pete's little fist, whispering sweet nothings to the baby.

I go into the bathroom, closing the door before turning on the light, splashing water on my face.

Jake slowly opens the door to the small bathroom, closing it shut soundlessly behind him, before gently turning me around. I giggle as he tickles my sides, making me smile.

I've missed you.

"Jake." I whisper, eyes watering as he gently kisses me, one of his hand cupping my jaw, the other finding home at my waist.

"I've missed you." He whispers, and my hand brushing the stubble on his chin.

"You have no idea." I whisper, and he rests his forehead against mine, his eyes closing. "Baby Jake was depressed without you. He's been a little terror these past six months."

"I know, darling, I know. When I was his age, I was the same." He says. His eyes open again, and he gives me a weary smile.

"I know, I look like hell." I say teasingly, wiping my eyes. He smiles at me, a hint of his old smirk surfacing.

"On the contrary, I think you look quite stunning."

Ahhh!! The sister: A TopGun fanfic, is finally finished!!!

Thank you all so much for the amazing support through your comments, votes, and words. I am more than blessed to have an amazing crowd like you reading my stories.

Also, I am so attached to these characters, it hurts too see them go. Possibly a Jake Jr. fanfic in the future, with Rooster being an instructor?

I hope that was a good enough ending for you guys!

God bless you all!!!

-❤️kena

Edited:

New amazing cover made by magnottic

Before

After!!! Thank you so much, I love it!!