If you look closely, you can see a lonely car on the road. This car was full of people and dogs alike. 

The Floyd Family made their way to the condo they would call home for the next few weeks. It had taken some work but they had finally found someone who would allow animals, much less 2 fairly large dogs. But they finally pulled into the driveway, exhausted even if it was only a 3 hour drive. 

The dogs desperately wanted out, but with the longer drive, they had to be in car kennels for the safety of everyone. But as soon as the car stopped, Malina hopped out, stretching her arms. 

"I'm gonna get the dogs," she tells Bob, who has just gotten out himself. He nodded before grabbing a few of their bags. 

The dogs, two purebred German Shepherds, named Risky and Nala, were practically begging to be let out. They had no problem staying in their kennels when needed but a new environment was too exciting to stay still. 

They almost ran right over Malina to investigate the yard. Even without leashes on, they knew to stay by the woman's side. 

You see, these two dogs weren't just family pets. Risky was a Registered Therapy Dog and Nala was a Service Dog, strictly for Malina. (But more on that topic later.) 

Mal let them sniff around for a few minutes before whistling. The dogs come running, following her into the house. 

"The house seems nice. Very open, perfect size for now," Bob tells her, as she comes around and wraps her arms around his torso. His arm comes around her waist, as they watch the dogs sniff around the living room. 

They quickly set up the dog beds and rearrange a bit of the living room, so the dogs don't destroy anything. Once all is settled, Malika takes the bags into the bedroom as Bob goes to get the rest of their stuff from the car. 

Malina is already beginning to unpack when he walks back in. "Let me at least help get the initial stuff away." Malia can be very particular when it comes to packing and unpacking. 

But Mal knows what he's trying to do. "Oh no you don't. You know everyone called back for this super secret mission is going to that bar. What's it called, the Hard Deck?" She looks up at him. "You promised you'd go and at least meet the people who will be your team. And hopefully meet your pilot." 

The last part has Malina shooting Bob a stern look. She was well aware of just how important the level of trust had to be between a Pilot and WSO. The sooner Bob met his pilot for this mission, the faster this trust could be built. 

Bob opens his mouth, ready to argue but quickly shuts it at Mal's look. 

He sighs before saying, "Fine. But at least let me get the dog's food ready as you start unpacking. I can be at least a little helpful." 

Malina laughs, shaking her head as Bob dramatically stomps out of the room, making sure to flash the most unrealistic mad face she had ever seen. 

☽☆☾   ☽☆☾   ☽☆☾

Just on the beach lied a bar, one that was popular with the Navy folk around town. It was called: 

The Hard Deck.

And it was in said Hard Deck that a group of aviators would come together. 

"What do we have here? If it ain't Phoenix!" Hangman says smugly, watching as Phoenix walks up to the pool table with two men flanking her. "And here I thought we were special Coyote. Turns out they give it to anyone." 

Phoenix just stares, annoyed. "Fellas," she begins, "this here is  Bagman." She smirks a little as she finishes, knowing the nickname will piss him off. 

"Hangman," he corrects almost immediately. 

"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 brags, 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?" 

(Enter our sweet boy, Bob.)

Bob looks up, looking slightly out of place among the self assured pilots. Malina has been trying since they met to break him out of that shell just a little bit, but it always goes back when she's not with him. 

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

Everyone looks over at the man, who is brushing some crumbs off his pants. He notices the others staring at him, so he just shyly smiles. He really wishes Mal had come with him. 

"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," Bob says with a sweet, shy smile. 

"Man's a stealth pilot," quips Hangman deadpanned. He just didn't show he was also surprised, having not seen the man either. 

"Literally," Coyote continues. 

"Weapons systems officer actually," Bob correctly sheepishly.  

"With no sense of humor," Hangman sighs. The man hands Phoenix his pool cue and goes for a drink. 

"What do they call you?" Phoenix questions Bob. At first glance, he didn't look like much, but he was here so he was good. 

"Bob," he says looking down quickly. "No your call sign," Payback corrects 

"Uh, Bob," he says after a moment's hesitation. 'Bob' was pretty much the only nickname he had ever had. Although, Malina did occasionally call him 'Bobby' just to annoy him.  

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

So this was his pilot. He could already tell Mal would like her. "Looks like it, yeah," Bob answers.  

"9 ball Bob, rack 'em," Phoenix says, while handing Bob the pool stick. Might as well get to know the man who will be watching her six. 

"OK," Bob gets up to start setting everything up. The next thing he knows, Phoenix is calling out to someone new. 

"Bradshaw! Is that you?" She yells to be heard. "Is this how I find out you're stateside?" Phoenix asks, slightly offended, while lining up her shot. 

Rooster takes off his shades before answering. "Yea I just thought I'd surprise you." Just as Phoenix lines up her shot and nails him in the gut with the back of her pool stick, while also making her shot. 

(Yeah, Malina would LOVE Natasha.) 

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

"It's good to see you," Rooster says while still hunched over, but smiling back. 

"It's good to see you too," Phoenix replies back, also smiling. (Was Bob crazy, or was there something there? He'll have to tell Mal later.)

"Bradshaw, as I live and breathe" Hangman comes back to the group after changing the jukebox song, taking the pool stick from Bob just as he's about to take his shot. 

"Hangman you look," he hesitates slightly, "good," Rooster says reluctantly. 

"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 other shaking their heads. (Okay, this guy Malina would have problems with.) 

"So anybody know what this special detachment is all about?" Payback ask the group, trying to get rid of the tension. 

"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, as always, has had enough. "Hangman, the only place you'll be leading anyone is an early grave." 

"Ooohh," Fanboy exclaims, the tension palpable in this corner of the bar. 

Hangman gets up from the pool table, walking past Phoenix 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. 

"I love this song," Hangman says with a smile, very smugly/arrogantly. He walks away from the group, taking a few other aviators with him. 

As soon as he said that, Rooster made up his mind. After another quick exchange with his close friend, he made his way to the jukebox. 

He unplugs the jukebox, prompting boos from the crowd. He sits down at the piano, shades on ready to play. After playing a few keys to warm up, Phoenix looks over, knowing exactly what he's about to do. 

"Hey guys," she calls out to the others. Hangman, confused, just wonders why everyone is leaving their game. 

Rooster just smiles at Phoenix as she, Fanboy, Payback, and Bob all walk up to the piano. 

Soon enough, the entire bar is singing the iconic song with Rooster. 'Great Balls of Fire' was sung out so loudly, you could hear it down the beach. 

And that's how Malina Floyd discovered the group of aviators that were about to become some of the most important people in her life. 

Watching from just outside, on the beach, Mal holds her camera up, snapping a few shots of her husband just having fun with some new friends. 

The Floyd Family didn't know it just yet, but this night, this bar, and this group of aviators were about to change their entire world. 

And neither would have it any other way. 

✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈

Word count: 1,677

The first chapter!!!! I'm trying to switch up some of the writing style so all my stories aren't the same thing when it comes to shared scenes. 

But yes!! Malina and Bob have arrived!! Mal is off taking pictures, Bob is already noting who Mal will like and dislike (cause he's a SIMP). 

AND YOU MET THE DOGGOS!! I know there are people out there that don't like Shepherds (one of my close friends doesn't particularly like any dog that can potentially be a K-9 police/military dog) but my mom grew up with German Shepherds. Risky was the name of my great-grandparent's shepherd. 

And a big FYI!!! Unfortunately my father and I are highly allergic to dogs and cats, so I did NOT grow up with dogs. Literally every member of my family has had a dog at some point, as well as all my friends. So while I don't live with dogs, I have been around them for a large portion of my life. I am basing my information off of those experiences and that knowledge. And the ideas of the dogs being therapy and service dogs are things I am researching but am not an expert on. If I have made a massive error, please let me know.  

But that's it for the LONG A/N, sorry about that. So, see you next time!!!