Something to know about Luca Marcellini. He loved planes. Couldn't fly to save his life, but that didn't stop him. Airshows, model kits, documentaries, you name it.

Something else to know is that he didn't want any of his kids or grandkids getting involved with the military.

He was a military man himself, serving in the Navy during Korea. But his time left him with scars he would never speak about. And because of this, he didn't want his family to deal with anyone else in that position.

So when he was told about Bradley Bradshaw, he had his reservations. (Although he got a few points for being a pilot.)

Cecelia was his oldest grandchild and only granddaughter, so of course he was protective of her. But, because he had such a hard time saying 'no' to Cecelia, he reluctantly got to know Bradley.

Luca had to admit, the kid wasn't bad. In fact, Luca liked him more than all of Cece's past relationships combined. He was respectful, kind, and had a good heart. Not to mention he fit right in with the family, despite not having much of one left for himself.

One fateful day changed everything for Luca. This day gave the assurance that no matter what, Cecelia would be in the best hands with Bradley. Regardless of his military status.

Because that day, Luca got to live out his dream of flying.

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"I promise you, everything will be fine," Bradley once again reassured a nervous Cecelia. Out of everyone, she was the most worried about this event.

Twisting her fingers around, she simply says, "I know. But that's not going to stop me from worrying. He's never gone up like this before and he's not exactly young anymore." She bites her lip, worrying it enough for skin to start peeling.

The approval — well not approval necessarily but the 'ok, fine I like him' — from her grandfather was very important to her. And while the two had a good bond forming, there was still a small part of her grandfather that was hesitant to let Bradley fully into the family.

After discussing it with Riccardo and getting the okay from doctors, Bradley decided to surprise Luca with an offer.

Bradley would take him up in a plane for a while and they could talk about anything Luca still had reservations about.

Luca, wanting to fly for decades, almost jumped for joy at the offer. He weighed his options before accepting, but also began his mental list of things to discuss while in the air.

"Alright Nunnu, up you go," Kai said, helping Luca get ready for the plane. The whole family was going to be waiting at the hanger for them to return.

Bradley was there in an instant, helping him up the ladder. After making sure Luca was secured into the back seat, he climbed back down. Giving Cece a hug, he leaned down to whisper, "we've got this." Kissing her forehead, he heads back to the ladder and turns back to the family.

"See you in a few hours."

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Finally up in the air, Luca couldn't believe his eyes. Bradley could hear exclamations of joy, wonder, and awe from the headset, smiling at each one.

"So what do you think?" He questioned. "Is it everything you imagined?"

Luca could only let out a breath before replying, "that and more. I never thought I would see the day I could come up here."

The two men sit in silence for a little while longer, basking in the clear blue skies, the fluffy clouds, all of it.

But eventually, Bradley has to ask the one question he has for Luca. The question that could make or break this entire experience.

"I love Cecelia. I love her more than anyone else on this planet," he begins. "And I feel like I've proven that over the time you've known me." He takes a deep breath, preparing for whatever answer is going to come after he asks this question.

"What else can I do to prove to you that I am not going anywhere?"

Luca knew something like this was bound to come up eventually. He was surprised it had taken this long, but he also respected Bradley for having the guts to ask it in the first place.

"There truly isn't anything else you can do." Luca begins, Bradley listening closely. "I like you Bradley. I really do. I think you are a great match for my little Celia. It's what you do that makes me worried."

"And before you go defending yourself, I know exactly how you feel. I don't know if Celia has told you, but I was once in the Navy too. And I saw how it tore up my brothers in arms. I've seen more families ripped apart because of their roles in the military than anything else. And that is not something I want for my family."

It's quite for a few moments as Bradley takes time to understand what Luca has just laid out. "I wish I could promise you that won't happen with me. But the reality is that I can't." He takes a slightly staggered breath before continuing.

"But I can promise you I will do everything in my power to always come home to her. I know what losing my father did to my mom. And I never want to put Cece in that position. So I will continue my hardest to make sure I come back. Not just for her, but for us and our future together. Because I very much see one."

Bradley stops after that declaration, chest slightly heaving after putting more emotion out than he thought possible.

Luca, to his credit, takes everything in stride. He thinks hard about what was just said and the magnitude of those statements. And he is finally able to lay his worried aside, because now he knows exactly what kind of man Bradley Bradshaw is.

"Then you have my blessing Bradley. For whatever your futures may hold, you have my blessing."

And that was the best gift Bradley could have received. Because while he had begun to think of proposing, he knew there was no way he could without Luca's approval. His opinions meant so much to Cecelia that he wanted to do it right.

When the two landed not much longer after their conversation had ended, the family was met with a sign that all had gone well.

Both men were all smiles, laughing about some story Luca was telling from his Navy days.

And Cecelia knew, right then and there, that she didn't have to worry about a thing.

Because everyone loved Bradley. But not as much as she did.

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Word count: 1,127

In Italian, Grandfather is Nonno (pronounced No-No). However, in my family, we say Nunnu (pronounced New-New). Not sure why, I asked my dad and he said to ask his older cousins who started it in the first place. So that's what we're running with, lol.

I had briefly mentioned that Cecelia's grandfather had loved Bradley and had given his blessing long before her father did. I kinda wanted to show that relationship and why it was so important, especially since her grandfather passed about a year before our movie timeline.

I hope you liked it, it was definitely fun for me to explore. I imagine this is something like I would have had, if my grandfather was still alive today, with the exception of me being the baby grandchild, not the oldest heehee. 

But that's all for now, so bye!!!!