Chapter Text
The venue looks nice, Maverick thinks. He and Ice did a great job.
Everybody quiets as the music starts playing. Jake gives Mav and Bradley a double thumbs up and a grin to where they stand at the altar.
The door opens and Ice and his mother walk in. He looks as amazing as ever, and as he walks up he gets a familiar smile on his face, one that’s reserved for Maverick, and Maverick alone.
He can remember vividly the first time he ever got that smile. It was the night after Layton, and they both couldn’t sleep.
“What’re you doing up?”
Maverick turns from where he looks at the ocean. “I just couldn’t sleep. You?”
“I was looking for you.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Why? I didn’t know you enjoyed my presence.”
Ice snorts. “I was just wondering… when you got in that flat spin today… are you okay from that?”
Maverick blinks. “Uh…I mean, sorry- I didn’t think anyone would ask about that. In truth, no, I’m not, but I would rather focus on other things instead of that, like saving your ass.”
“Why wouldn’t anyone ask about that?”
“Well-It’s hard to explain.”
“Well you don’t have to, just know there’s people looking out for you now.” Ice smiles at him. It’s soft, as if he melted the Ice.
Maverick blushes. For once he doesn’t feel alone.
“Welcome, friends and family.. We are gathered here today to join Captain Peter Mitchell and Admiral Toma Aleksandr Kazansky in matrimony.”
Ice takes Mav’s hand in his. “Peter Mitchell. I have loved you since I first saw you in that briefing room. Everytime you’re sad I’m sad too. I’ve waited so long to marry you,
and I’d have done it again if I had to.”
“I remember trying to keep my cool everytime you pissed me off with your crazy flying, but I also had to keep my cool because I was trying to hide the fact that I was completely in love with you.”
“When we finally started to talk about it in secret, I remember when you asked me if I really wanted it —to stay professional in public and romantic in private, like a secret mission— and I told you that hoping they never found out would be better than never giving it a chance.”
“They never found out until now, even with all those watchful eyes on us, and now we can say whatever we want without worrying about making a sound.”
“You were worth it, Pete. You always are.”
Maverick grins tearfully. “My Ice. After all these years of grieving my family, I thought I would be alone all my life. But when you came to me that night on the carrier, I had a person looking out for me now. You were cold and blue when I met you, but now I can say that I thawed out the Iceman.” People quietly snicker as Ice only grins more.
“After all that hiding and grief, I’m so happy I ended up here with you. Can’t wait to be overdramatic and true to my husband. ”
He leans in, stage whispering with a grin. “And you'll save all your gossip and jokings for me,” More laughter rings throughout the hall.
“And at every table, I'll save you a seat, my husband. ”
The officiant laughed. “Do you Admiral, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to live together in matrimony, to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, to have and to hold, from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?”
And after 2 and a half decades, Ice finally says “I do.”
“Do you, Captain, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to live together in matrimony, to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, to have and to hold, from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
“Then by the authority vested in me by the State of California, I now pronounce you Husband and Husband. You may now kiss your groom.”
Cheers ring as they kiss. It’s everything Maverick imagined it would be, Bradley’s cheers are the loudest, and he imagines Carole and Nick cheering from wherever they are now.
“Those were some crazy vows.”
“Well our Petey has always been one over dramatic bitch.”
“Carole!”
“What? Just because I’m dead doesn’t mean I can’t curse!”
“Well-Okay. Can’t argue with that.”
“Oh I just can't believe our boys are finally back together again!”
“I can’t wait for Mav to finally get his karma for being a huge pain in my ass. That Jake kid is going to cause him some stress. ”
She giggles.
“Also, they could’ve picked a better picture of me. I’ve seen Mav’s stalker wall.”
“Stop calling it a stalker wall, hun.”
“You’re just mad I’ve got more pictures on it than you.”
“Hey, Slider.” Slider turns to Ice.
“Yeah?”
“Just… thank you. I know I told you to distract Mav, but I didn't think you would get our kid back and give us another one. You surprised the hell outta me, that’s for sure.”
“Oh yeah, it was actually pretty fun, besides I did fix it.”
“Just-“ Ice hugs him, “I’m really thankful for you, Sli.”
“Thanks Ice. Hey, if you’re really thankful, you can get me, Jake and Brad outta trouble with the Navy and the law.”
Ice sighs. “I was already going to have to do that.”
“So you’re an orphan?” Mav asks Jake.
“Yep. Born and raised.” He grins as Maverick laughs.
“Well I wouldn’t say I was born an orphan, but I certainly was raised one, where’re you from?”
“Well I think we might be from the same state, if you are from Texas.”
“I am! I moved for a bit for foster care, but I’m Texan just like Bradley’s parents.”
“Really? He doesn’t seem Texan.”
“Living in California for almost all your life will do that. He doesn’t even remember living in Texas.”
“Shame, now he’s stuck with that godawful thing he calls a wardrobe.”
“He gets it from his Father. He lived in Texas from his birth to when he left for the academy and he still paraded around in those colorful shirts.”
Ice and Bradley look at them from where they stand across the hall.
“This is going to be a nightmare.”
“You haven’t seen the half of it.”