California. The state known for surfing, sun, and fun. But for a select group of people, it's also home to Fightertown, USA. More commonly known as Miramar Air Base, aka Top Gun.

The best of the best of Naval Aviators are schooled there, the top 1%. But something brought back an even more select group.

The top 1% of the 1%. Twelve aviators were called back for a special mission, one they know nothing about.

Now, if you know anything about this town, it's that the Hard Deck is the place to be. A Navy bar at its core, a place most frequented by Navy personnel.

And that's no different for the aviators. A few of the specially selected pilots arriving for their mission just so happen to be there, enjoying their last bit of freedom before this "special mission" starts in the morning.

☽☆☾ ☽☆☾ ☽☆☾

"Oh come on," Coyote says in despair when Hangman sinks a ball into the pocket of the pool table.

As soon as Hangman looks up, Phoenix walks up with Payback and Fanboy behind her.

"What do we have here?" Hangman asks. "If it ain't Phoenix!" He states smugly.

Phoenix just stares at him, as he smirks right back.

"And here I thought we were special Coyote. Turns out they give it to anyone."

Phoenix looks at him annoyed. "Fellas," she says to Payback and Fanboy, "this here is Bagman." She smiles a little as she finishes, knowing the nickname will piss him off.

"Hangman," he corrects almost immediately, a strained smile on his face.

"Oh whatever," Phoenix quips back. Looking back to Payback, she continues. "You're looking at the only naval aviator on active duty with an air-to-air kill."

"Stop," Hangman falsely states, looking smugly at the other aviators.

Never one to let Hangman brag for long, Phoenix is quick to say "Mind you, the other guy was in a museum piece from the Korean War,"

"Cold War," Coyote corrects.

"Different wars, same century," Payback replies without hesitation. "Not this one," Fanboy is quick to back him up.

Getting fed up, Coyote asks "Who are your friends?"

"Payback." "Fanboy."

"Hey Coyote," Phoenix finally greets the aviator.

"Hey," he cheekily replies.

Noticing someone sitting in the corner, Phoenix gestures. "Who's he?" The man looks up, looking slightly out of place among the self assured pilots.

"Who's who?" Coyote asks, not looking away from Phoenix

Everyone looks over at the man, who is brushing some crumbs off his pants. Looking up, he notices the others staring at him, so he just shyly smiles.

"When did you get here?" Coyote asks, having not seen him come in or hear a sound from him.

"Oh, oh I've been here the whole time," the man says with a sweet, shy smile

"Man's a stealth pilot," quips Hangman deadpan.

"Literally," Coyote continues.

He looks up, "weapons systems officer actually."

"With no sense of humor," Hangman sighs.

Hangman hands Phoenix his pool cue and heads for the bar to get a drink.

"What do they call you?" Phoenix questions the man.

"Bob," he says looking down quickly.

"No your call sign," Payback corrects

He hesitates for a moment, "Uh, Bob."

"Bob Floyd. You're my new back seater?" Phoenix questions. "From Lemoore?"

"Looks like it, yeah," Bob answers

Phoenix looks at him for a few more seconds before shrugging, knowing he had to be good if he was there with the rest of them.

"9 ball Bob, rack 'em," Phoenix says, while handing Bob the pool stick

"OK," he gets up and starts setting everything up

Over at the bar, Hangman walks up to Penny, looking straight at Maverick. "Penny my dear, I'll have 4 more on the old timer."

Meanwhile outside, Rooster pulls up in his Ford Bronco, in jeans, a white tank top, and an open Hawaiian shirt, instead of his uniform like many others in the bar that night.

Cecelia climbs out next, wearing a simple pair of jeans and a t-shirt. However he upper body is covered in Rooster's bomber jacket, sleeves going far past her hands.

"Are you ready?" Cecelia asks him. "This is your last night of normalcy until after this mission is over."

"I don't really have a choice," he reminds her. "But as long as I've got you, I'll be alright."

Phoenix notices his entrance, almost immediately. However, Cecelia is hidden behind him, set for her surprise for Phoenix.

"Bradshaw! Is that you?" She calls out, as Rooster readjusts his aviators.

At the bar, Maverick looks away quickly, trying not to be noticed by Rooster, but keeping his eye on him after not seeing him for so long.

"Is this how I find out you're stateside?" Phoenix asks, slightly offended, while lining up her shot.

Rooster takes off his shades, walking up behind her. Cecelia is still, surprisingly, hidden from view. How, she's not quite sure, but she's not questioning it.

"Yeah, I just thought I'd surprise you," Rooster says, just as Phoenix takes her shot, nailing him in the gut with the back of her pool stick.

"Guess I surprised you back," Phoenix says smugly, straightening up and smiling down at Rooster.

Still hunched over, Rooster responds. "It's good to see you," he smiles, "But I'm not the surprise."

Phoenix looks at him, confusion clear on her face. Just then, Cecelia pops her head around Rooster, who stands back up to his full height.

"Surprise Nat!" She exclaims, laughing at the shock settling on Phoenix's face.

She wastes no time launching herself at Cecelia. "OH MY GOD!! LIA YOU'RE HERE!" Phoenix practically yells out.

However, all of the men are quite confused, wondering just who this woman is and why Phoenix is so happy to see her.

At that moment, Hangman walks back to the group with the beers in hand.

"Bradshaw, as I live and breathe" he taunts, taking the pool stick from Bob as he's lining up his shot. Not paying any mind to the new woman in the group, who Phoenix has finally let go of.

"Hangman you look," Rooster hesitates, "good."

"Oh I am good Rooster," Hangman says, lining up for his shot, "I'm very good," he says while taking his shot looking directly at Rooster. "In fact, i am too good to be true," he continues

Rooster, Phoenix and Payback all look at each while rolling their eyes. That's when Hangman finally takes notice of Cecelia.

"Who do we have here," he flirts. "The names Hangman, sweetheart. And what might yours be"

Before Cecelia even has a chance to respond, Phoenix beats even Rooster to replying, "taken, so don't even think about it."

Taking in the too large jacket hanging off her frame, Hangman looks between Rooster and Cecelia. "Oh, I see. She your girl, Bradshaw?"

Rooster smirks before replying, "fiancé actually," knowing the reactions he's about to get. Cecelia is quick to blush, still getting used to the title.

Phoenix looks like she chokes on air. "WHAT?!" She immediately grabs Cecelia's left hand, looking at the ring. "Why was I not informed of this immediately?" She demands, smiling like crazy for the couple.

Cecelia looks over the moon, a constant state for her these past two weeks. "I'm sorry, I wanted to spend some alone time with my fiancé before everyone descended on us like wolves," Rooster quickly tells her. "Another reason you didn't know I was stateside, thank you very much."

The men have finally snapped out of their shock, congratulating the couple. Fanboy is the one to quickly ask the question they all want to know. "I'm sorry, but Phoenix seems to be the only one that knows your name," he laughs slightly.

"Oh, of course. I'm sorry, my name is Cecelia. Cecelia Marc..."

"Cecelia Marcellini," Coyote finished before she could. Everyone looks at him, wondering how it's possible he knows the woman who he only just met.

Taking in the stares, he clarifies, "I took my niece to see Anastasia last year, to make up for missing her birthday. You were still the lead at the time. She's a massive fan of yours." He kind of keeps staring at her, a little awestruck that he's actually meeting her.

"Wait, wait, you mean the Broadway show, Anastasia?" Fanboy asks, wanting to make sure he heard right.

Cecelia blushes slightly, "yea that's me. You're probably more familiar with my dad Riccardo Marcellini. He played Ferris in Ferris Bueller's Day Off." Cecelia has no problem bragging about the achievements and history of her family, trying to not make it all about her.

Now it's Hangman's turn to look at them in shock. "How the fuck did YOU score HER?!" He literally can't wrap his head around the fact that Rooster managed to land acting ROYALTY.

"Now that is a story for another time," Phoenix is the one to answer. She is opening smirking, as is Rooster, at the shock still on everyone's face.

"And the story of how exactly you seem to know all about this," Payback chimes in, curiosity clawing at him to know everything. They all knew Phoenix was close with Rooster, but none of them had even a hint of Rooster dating, especially so seriously.

At that, the guys turn to Phoenix, who simply shrugs her shoulders. "I've known Lia for two years now, although I had no idea a proposal was coming," she ends through gritted teeth glaring slightly at Rooster.

He just gives her a look. "Only three people knew it was coming, everyone else only speculated. Sorry, but you weren't on the list of 'Need to Know' just yet."

To that, she has no argument, going back to Cecelia's side to keep looking at the ring. "At least you have good taste in jewelry," she compliments him.

A lull in the overwhelming news most of the group has just received allows them to refocus on what called them all to California in the first place.

"So anybody know what this special detachment is all about?" Payback ask the group.

"A mission's a mission," Hangman says, "What I want to know is who's gonna be team leader? And which one of you has what it takes to follow me?" He says smugly, looking directly at Rooster

Rooster, always fed up with Hangman's attitude, quickly states "Hangman, the only place you'll be leading anyone is an early grave." Cecelia is quick to go to his side, calmly grabbing his hand to keep him from blowing up.

"Ooohh," Fanboy exclaims, as the tension surrounding the two gets even thicker. You could almost cut it with a knife.

Hangman gets up from the pool table, walking past Phoenix, looking down at her quickly, and goes straight for Rooster.

"Well any man who follows you is just gonna run out of fuel, but that's just your aim Rooster, you're stuck on that perch, waiting for just the right moment that never comes," Hangman says, getting right up in Rooster's face. Phoenix grabs Cecelia's arm, getting her away from the two.

Without breaking eye contact, Hangman smiles and says, "I love this song," baiting Rooster, before walking away.

"Well he hasn't changed," Phoenix says as she a Cecelia walk up to Rooster

"Nope, sure hasn't," Bradley replies

Just then, a few more aviators walk through the door, causing those at the pool table to look over.

"Check it out," Fanboy says. "More badges."

"That's Harvard, Yale, Omaha, shit that's Fritz," Payback names them all.

"What kind of mission is this?" Fanboy questions

Phoenix is quick to correct them. "That's not the question we should be asking,'' she starts. "Everyone here is the best there is. Who the hell are they gonna get to teach us?" Leaving everyone to wonder the same thing.

Without further discussion, Rooster grabs Cecelia's hand and brings her over to the piano, unplugging the jukebox along the way.

Sitting down at the piano, shades on ready to play, he motions for Cecelia to take a seat on the bench next to him.

"What are you gonna play for me tonight," Cecelia asks.

Rooster at her over the top of his glasses. "Now that is a silly question Cece. What is my go-to song?" He doesn't even wait for a response, beginning to warm up.

Phoenix looks up, hearing the keys. She grabs a bunch of the others, knowing exactly what's about to happen.

"Hey guys," she calls out to the others, leaving Hangman confused as to why everyone is leaving their game. He follows their path and his question is answered.

Rooster just smiles at Phoenix as she, Fanboy, Payback, and Bob all walk up to the piano. Before he can start the song, Penny rings the bell again, while a chant of 'overboard' starts up.

Hangman, Coyote and Payback head over to the bar to "escort" the man out. Despite all of this, Rooster starts a song that has become quite famous around Fightertown, since his original days at Top Gun.

Glancing at Cecelia, Rooster hits that first line.

You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain

Too much love drives a man insane

You broke my will, but what a thrill

Everybody joins in for that famous line, the entire bar singing it loud and proud.

Goodness gracious great balls of fire

I laughed at love when I thought it was funny

But you came along and you moved me honey

I've changed my mind, this love is fine

The crowd hasn't stopped singing, always making sure to scream out these words. Cecelia looks right at Phoenix singing out,

Goodness gracious great balls of fire

Rooster stares right into Cecelia's eyes, or at least she thinks he does through his aviators. Singing out the next line, singing it to her.

Kiss me baby,

Cecelia happily obliges, kissing his cheek immediately.

woo, it feels good

Rooster shivers afterwards, knowing that any kiss from his girl sets his body on fire.

Hold me baby, ooh, yeah, you gonna love me like a lover should

Phoenix smiles at the couple, seeing as, despite being in a full bar, they are in their own world. Singing to each other like no one was around.

You're fine, so kind, I'm gonna tell this world that you're mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!

I chew my nails, I twiddle my thumbs

I'm really nervous but it sure is fun

A slight chuckle comes from him, this line always ironic, because it describes exactly what he feels with Cecelia.

Come on baby, you drive me crazy

Goodness gracious great balls of fire

Then Rooster goes into his famous piano solo, hitting all the notes perfectly. Bobbing his head to the beat, his aviators start sliding down. Cecelia wastes no time in taking them right off and putting them on her own face, Rooster smiling right back at her.

The other aviators are cheering him on, dancing to the piano and the happiness radiating off of the entire bar.

Ohhh, kiss me baby, woo-oooooo, feels good, yeah

Like every time, Cecelia kisses his cheek, this time getting under his arm, so she's trapped while he continues the song.

Let me love you like a lover should.

You're fine. So kind.

I'm gonna tell this world that you're mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!

This line alone sets both their hearts racing, always being a driving force behind their love. Simply wanting the world to know that they had someone who loved them for all they had, no matter their faults.

I chew my nails and I twiddle my thumbs

I'm real nervous but it sure is fun

Come on baby, you drive me crazy

And as the song comes to a close, once more the entire bar screams out that oh so famous line.

Goodness gracious great balls of fire

Cheering erupts from all, so loud you could probably hear it a few blocks away. Rooster stands, taking his bow as the bar chants his name. And without hesitation, he takes Cecelia's hand and pulls her up. Dipping her into a kiss that has everyone cheering even louder for them.

☽☆☾ ☽☆☾ ☽☆☾

Outside the bar, Maverick looks in, seeing what he can only describe as a ghost. Rooster, the son of his late best friend, singing his heart out to a song Maverick himself used to belt out with Goose. Not to mention the woman at his side, looking at Rooster with nothing short of absolute adoration.

It was truly like Maverick was looking back in time, watching Goose play with Carole at his side. And from what he was able to overhear inside, the couple was thriving, ready to start a new chapter together.

Maverick knew this mission would be hard. As soon as he saw Rooster's picture on that screen, he knew. But now he had to make sure Rooster came home. Not just for Goose and Carole. But for his fiancé and the future they both deserved.

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Word count: 2,819

Wow, I just did that. I'm trying to include as much from the movie as I can, since Cecelia isn't a pilot.

How are we feeling about longer chapters? I'm trying to get between 1000 and 2000 words (slightly overshot on this one oops). I personally like longer chapters when I read, so I'm going with that.

Also, we will be getting a more in depth look at Cecelia's family as the book goes on, and a performance list later on as well. This won't be the last time Cecelia's Broadway Royalty status is mentioned.

That's all for now, see you in the next chapter!