Dakota turned off the lights to the kitchen, a bowl of popcorn in her hands as she settled in her spot on the couch next to Ameila, spreading the throw blanket over the both of them, and unpausing the movie Mean Girls that they had previously started. Phoenix was in the shower after Dakota when the two of them arrived, the curly haired claiming that she 'took the longest' and it was 'only logical' that she went first.

"Have you seen your mom?" Dakota questioned, muffled slightly by a mouthful of popcorn. The blonde shook her head, eyebrows furrowed, "No, actually. I don't even know if she's home yet." She checked her phone for the time, 12:03 am. "Mom!" She yelled, as the older paused the movie yet again. The sound of soft movement thudded through the roof of the living room, making Dakota quirk her head upwards. "I thought you were gonna be at a friends house?" Penny yelled back, sounding slightly breathless.

Her and Amelia looked at each other, throwing the blanket off of them as they shifted to the kitchen once more, "No? Tonight's movie night with Nat and Dakota remember?" She yelled back, opening the refrigerator and grabbing a soda. "Oh yeah! Do you need me to make some food?" The aviator looked up toward the ceiling once more, hearing a particularly loud thud. "Nah we got snacks." Amelia joined the older in sitting on the counter of the kitchen, leaning back against the cool glass of the window. "Alright be right down!"

Dakota grabbed the soda that was handed to her, and opened the can. "Hm, it's not like her to forget our movie nights," she took a sip, feeling the bubbly substance go down her throat. "I know, kinda weird but it's whatever." She shrugged, jumping off the counter, Dakota doing the same.

Right as the two of them faced the window, her jaw went slack. Their gazes landing on Maverick, who held his jacket in his hand, cheeks tined with a thin layer of rosy pink, out of breath slightly. The three of them just stared at each other, Dakota being thankful that her can of soda was placed on the counter next to her and not in her hand, fearing that she probably would've dropped it in this situation. Maverick nodded his head lightly at the two girls, his lips pulled in a thin line. "Just don't break her heart again." Amelia said firmly, eyebrows raising at the man, before her walked out of view of the kitchen window.

The sound of the bathroom door opened broke Dakota out of her, frankly disturbed state. Phoenix walked to the two girls who just got settled again on the couch. "Hey," she breathed, sitting next to Amelia and throwing her feet up on the younger's lap. Her head quirked, noticing the two girls' silence. "What's wrong?" She questioned, leaning over the grab the bowl of popcorn that was placed on the coffee table in front of the couch.

"I think we'll wait to explain when Penny gets down here."

"Wait to explain what when I get down here?" She spoke, walking down the last step and rounding around the couch, sitting next to Dakota. The freckled woman inhaled, trying to fight the smile that threatened to tug on her lips. "Explain why me and Amelia caught Mav jumping out your window." She said, a smirk finally breaking out of her. Phoenix's eyes widened as she placed the bowl of popcorn down on the table, "Oh shit."

The girls watched as a vigorous red over took the pigmentation of the apples of her cheeks, a bashful smile breaking out on her lips as she sighed heavily. "I think I'll wait to explain that situation when I know what it is." Penny leaned against the arm of the couch, leaning her head on her elbow as her eyes shifted between the three girls. "Is this the first time since he's been back?" Phoenix questioned, throwing her arm around Amelia and leaning back.

"No, the first time was after your guys' day at the beach." Penny stated quietly, shrugging. The girls looked at her expectantly. The older scoffed playfully, "If you girls are dying to know, he gave me a ride back home and then just came in," "Came in what the front door or you-" Dakota threw a pillow at Phoenix's head before she could even finish the sentence. "Natasha! Gross!" A playful smile on her features, "Well what it's a genuine question! And lord knows you don't spare us any details about Bradley so it's what I'm used to." She shrugged, tugging Amelia closer to her as the younger giggled.

Dakota's jaw dropped, a light tint of pink evident on her cheeks, "Hey no ma'am, do not pin the fact that you said that on me." She wrapped her fingers around another throw pillow and chucked it toward her friend.

The four women chuckled lightly, a warm feeling spreading in Dakota's chest. Ever since her Top Gun days, ever since Penny would sneak her a beer here and there when she was a couple years short of 21. The protectiveness she felt over Amelia, the smile that spread on her lips each time the girl's gaze would find her, the sister relationship they shared, talking about anything and everything that came to mind when the two of them were together. The comfort she felt whenever Phoenix was in her presence, the buzzing of her nerves and thoughts instantly fizzing out when she would place a warm hand on her knee, thumb rubbing soft circles into her skin, eyes always a comfort.

The more that Dakota would think about it, the more her brain inevitably ran over the headache inducing thoughts of one Bradley Bradshaw, she realized that she felt all those aspects when she was with him. The protectiveness, the comfort, the love. Yet, no matter how much her heart was screaming at her to just tell him, especially after that, quite odd moment between them after her flight sequence earlier today, the way he just looked at her felt different. The way he touched her felt different. The way he kissed her ignited an emotion in her body that she just would not let herself come to terms with. No matter how much it hurt her.

"So, speaking of," Penny said, laying her arm across Dakota's shoulders and pulling the girl into her side. "What's going on with you and Bradley? Last time I heard anything was a week ago, yet last time I saw anything was a few days ago." Dakota furrowed her eyebrows, as Amelia quirked her head, "You're still doing shit with him?" She questioned from Phoenix's side. "Amelia! Language!" Penny scolded her daughter, making the younger roll her eyes and brush it off. Dakota smiled at the exchange, yet nonetheless sighed heavily, "Well we went to dinner after the beach," she felt her cheeks heat up at just the sheer thought at the sinful activities he had pursued in public that night. "And then after dinner I went home, couldn't sleep, then he showed up and y'know we did what we usually did. Yet, it was different this time. I mean to me, obviously."

She felt Penny squeeze her shoulders as she spoke, "Just, I don't know," her eyes moved down to her lap, where she played with her fingers, a nervous habit of hers. "Like I don't wanna get to the point where I was that night when we yelled at each other. I mean, what if after this mission I'll never see him again? That's worse than any other pain." She internally cringed at her words, knowing how cliche it sounded but, it was oh so true.

Dakota felt her heart pounding in her chest, hating the fact that she's talking about it, despite the fact that she knows she has to at some point. "Last time, he just held me. Like and his words didn't feel as lust driven as they usually are." Her eyes drifted over to the youngest female, "Sorry Amelia, you probably don't wanna hear-" she cut her off with a wave of her hand, "Bullshit. I like hearing about this stuff." She sent a loving smile to her. "And plus the fact that he's hot helps. Ow!" Amelia exclaimed, in result to Phoenix pinching her arm.

The females laughed, Dakota leaning down to grab the bowl of popcorn from the coffee table, settling back in Penny's arms. "Well after that little intervention, how about we," She threw the blanket over her and the older woman, "I don't know, finish the movie. Considering it's movie night?" Dakota said, fingers wrapping around the remote that was placed to the left of her. The girls agreed, the sound of Damien's voice sounding through the quaint living room.

She basked in the feeling of Penny's arms, leaning her head on the older's shoulder.

She had always been close with the woman ever since she was little, the fact being that her mom was best friends with the barmaid. Even when she died, the last person that Dakota had left in her family, inevitably leaving her, she never felt lonely. Penny ultimately treating her like her own, always inviting her over for holidays or family gatherings. The older woman always made her feel comfortable, no matter what. She was there for her when her dad left at an early age, when Bradley broke her heart without even knowing it, when her mom died not long after she got deployed.

-

Not long after the movie ended, the sounds of Amelia and Phoenix's snoring alerting the two awake women, making them giggle to each other ever so quietly.

They got up, Penny taking the bowl of popcorn and various cans of soda to the kitchen, while Dakota took the blanket that she was using and placed it over the two girls, leaning over them and placing a loving kiss on each of their foreheads. She walked into the kitchen, joining Penny, leaning next to the sink, the edge of the counter digging uncomfortably into her lower back.

"So, now that the children are asleep," Dakota started, jumping up and sitting in the counter, leaning her head against the cabinets above her. Penny let out an airy chuckle at the younger's words. "You and Mav." She watched as she tensed slightly as she scrubbed a plate that looked to have spaghetti sauce along the rim. "What's going on there?"

Penny turned off the water and sighed, "I really couldn't tell ya. Like the first time we did it," she blushed ever so slightly, "We had this talk, about why Bradley is so mad at him. And just, I couldn't describe to you the feeling I got. Just watching him talk, and how he said he'd rather Bradley be mad at him then his dying mother." Dakota's heart clenched at the sheer memory at that. Maverick had told her the story one day while they were both working on the plane he has in his hangar.

"And I guess, I'm willing to give him one more chance," She sighed heavily as she took off her gloves and placed them along the side of the sink. "Just as long as he doesn't hurt me again." Penny leaned her back, Dakota placing a comforting hand on her mother figure's shoulder. She heard her sniffs quietly, not judging her at all, knowing very well first hand just how quickly emotions run through one's mind. Yet when Penny turned around, she wiped her nose quickly with the back of her hand, a small smile tugging on her lips.

"Enough about me though," she waved her hand, as she turned and walked out of the kitchen and towards Dakota's room that she had at her house. The younger smiled lightly as she passed through the living room, the sound of the two girls snoring echoing. She enter her room, seeing as Penny had sat down on her bed, an expectant look on her face, "What's going on with you and Bradley?"

Dakota's stomach fluttered slightly at just the sound of his name. She hated herself. She sighed heavily as she sat down next to the older woman, "Nothing other than the usual." She tightened her lips in a thin line. "And you hate that." Penny said, only to be met with silence from the young pilot. She nodded her head lightly. "You don't want it to be nothing. Don't you?" Dakota only nodded her head once more, scared to talk, that she might say her true feelings towards the man, even though she knew Penny knew how she really felt.

"It's like when I'm with him, I get this feeling that I never got and I always get scared. I know it's not gonna do anything to me, but I just know I'm gonna get hurt. I know that he doesn't feel the same way." She inhaled deeply, feeling the slightly stinging behind her eyes, not wanting to lift her gaze up to Penny's.

Silence engulfed the two of them, Dakota felt absolutely stupid and quite frankly embarrassed. She chuckle ever so quietly as Penny placed a soft hand on her leg, rubbing soothing circles into her skin. "I probably sound so stupid right now." She said, being quick to wipe away the small tears that managed to escape her eyes. Penny shook her head, a loving smile on her face, "No," She scooter closer to the tan woman, her hands cupping her face lightly. "No you don't baby." She said quietly.

"We can't help who and how we fall in love. Trust me if we were able to I would be married for life." A small smile broke out on Dakota and Penny's face. The younger sniffled, "But, if you are in love with Bradley you are in love with Bradley. And yes, it might hurt if he doesn't feel the same way but you are only hurting yourself if you deny these emotions any longer."

Penny got up from the bed, leaning over the curly haired female and placed a lingering kiss on her forehead. Dakota felt more tears falling down her cheeks at the intimate moment, one that she wished she could've shared with her birth mom. She hated crying, she believed it made her weaker the more she did it.

"Now, you get some sleep, okay?" Penny pulled away, tucking a few stray curls behind Dakota's ear. She nodded, "You have training tomorrow?" The older questioned, as she walked to the door of the bedroom. "Yeah, another sim flight sequence."  She said quietly under her breath. A small smile pulling at her lips. Penny nodded, "Okay well don't be late. I love you." She said, blowing a cheesy kiss to the girl before closing the door, leaving a deafening silence to engulf her, the only light being the dim orange on her nightstand from her salt lamp.

PAIGE SPEAKS

THAT CHAPTER WAS PROLLY MY FAV SO FARR 😟😟😟 like writing emotions and internal dialogue is so fun i stg

SORRY IF THIS TOOK LONG! i had a hella fun fourth of july weekend and needed to recoup after it lolz🤭🤭🤭

FIRE FOR YOU AFTER THIS!!!!! ik you guys have been waiting along time for it and i am SO sorry that too so long. ive been rlly focused on getting this as close to completed as i can buttt THE PLOT FOR FIRE FOR YOU IS JUST TOO SEXY😝😝😝

hope you liked the lil finding moment between our girlsss lemme know what you guys though😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨

much love as always <333