𝟭𝟵𝟴𝟵
"Hahaha!" A little girl runs through a yard with a toy airplane. That little girl is Dani Mitchell.
"Dani!" The little girl stood still. She turned around, with a big smile.
"DAD!!" She ran into Maverick's arms. He picked her up in a big hug.
"Hey little Rebel." Mave kissed her forehead. Dani smiled.
"Look what mommy got me!" Dani showed of her new toy. Maverick smiled.
"Aw that's nice. You know daddy flys real planes like that." He said. She nodded her head.
"I told mommy I'm going to fly like you." Dani said smiling. He smiled.
"Alright Captain Dani. Time for take off. Brrr." He carried her as he ran in the yard. Charlotte stood in the door way smiling. She loved seeing her daughter laughing.
Dani saw her mom in the door way.
"HI MOMMY!" She waved as her dad carried her. Charlotte waved at her daughter. Maverick walked Dani and himself over to the house. He place Dani on his shoulders.
"Hey Charlie." Mave said.

"Hi Pete." Charlotte smiled. "Out early?" She asked.
"Captain gave me the day off. Said it would be better. Ice said the same." Mave said placing Dani on the ground. "It's only been a year and it feels like yesterday." Charlotte nodded understanding. Goose's death effect her to. He was a nice guy. Charlotte looked down to her daughter.
"Honey you can go play. Me and dad are going to talk." Charlotte said. Dani nodded running off with her plane. Charlotte looked back at Maverick.
"Honestly Charlie, sometimes I would feel jealous that he had a family like that. Now I have it and I'm scared." Maverick looked at her trying to hold back tears.
"What happened wasn't your fault. You two wouldn't have know. Or would never know. Also, if it was you who died.... He'd feel the same way you are right know. And Dani wouldn't know who you are. You wouldn't know about her." Charlotte informed. Maverick put his head down.
"You're right. But it just feels so fresh ya know." Mave looked back up at her. She brushed the hair out of his face.
"I know Pete. I know." Maverick turned his head to look back at his daughter. She raced around the yard with her toy plane, enjoy every moment.
"She takes after you a lot. Even that damn smile." Charlotte chuckled. Maverick turned back to Charlotte and smiled. "That one right there." Dani ran up.
"Dad?" She asked. Maverick squatted down. "Can we go for a ride on the bike?" She asked. Mave smiled.
"Sure. Anywhere special you want to go?" He asked her.
"The beach." She smiled. He smiled and nodded.

They were on the bike, on their way to the beach. They parked. Dani jumped of running around with her helmet on. It was an old helmet of Mave's. He painted it to look like his but with Rebel on the front. He watched his daughter play around on the beach.

𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗼𝗻𝗮

"Ma?" Bradley called for Carol.
"Yeah hunny?" Carol rounded the corner holding a phone.

"I uh wonder if we could visit Uncle Mave?" The young boy asked. Carol frowned.
"I don't know about visits but we could call. The last time I called he was busy.
"Oh." Bradley said quietly. Maverick was the closest thing to dad Bradley had after Goose passed three years ago. It killed Coral that even though Bradley was only around four years old. He was so mature. She saw Goose in Bradley everyday. From the faces he made, to his dreams of being a pilot.

The next day Coral got a call from Maverick.
"Hello?" Carol asked.
"Hey Carol." Maverick said quietly. "Just checking in." Carol smiled. She knew from the start Maverick was a good man. "Just called to say happy birthday. I wish I could travel. But you know how it is." Maverick said sadly.
"I know. Nick missed his first birthday. I know." Carol said.
"Oh yeah and uh Dani wished Bradley a happy birthday too. She's over with Charlie now." Carol smiled.
"It's no problem. Hell he'd be ecstatic you called. He's missed you a lot." Carol said. "Let me get him."
Bradley took the phone.
"Uncle Mave?" Bradley asked. Maverick chuckled. He even said "Mave" like Goose did.
"Yeah it's me buddy." Bradley smiled. "Happy Birthday kiddo." Maverick said.
"Thank you. I'm going to be four years old. Mommy said I'm getting to old." The boy giggled.
"That you are kid. Growing up to fast. Soon you'll be a pilot in a blink of an eye." Maverick joked.