Lock & Key: Epilogue - B.B

It was the day after the mission. The night everyone got home, everyone went home. There was no way any of you had the energy to go out that night. You somehow convinced your Dad to let Bradley stay over with you in the house because you didn't want either of them to be alone, so it was the best option in your mind. You, your dad, and Bradley sat in your living room with some of your dad's favourite records playing in the background – some of which Rooster had recommended – and you sat with some drinks and chatted. You all got along - talking and conversing with each other for hours.

Your heart was full. You were leaning back into your dad and your legs were slung over Bradley. You were the happiest you had been in a long time with those two finally getting along.

But soon, you felt your dad's body relax and Bradley nodded when you asked if he had fallen asleep. So, you carefully stood from the couch, and slung a blanket over him and you and Bradley left to your room. You both crashed as soon as your head's hit the pillow, in all honesty. You were both just so happy to be in each other's arms.

In the morning, you woke to the smell of bacon. You and Bradley walked out of your room to see your dad in workout gear, making breakfast for the two of you before leaving for his morning run. He had a bowl of cereal while you and Bradley scoffed multiple rashers of bacon down.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing. You did, however, have to go to a doctor's appointment about your back. But luckily it wasn't as bad as it was before, you just had to take it easy. You were extremely happy no hospital time was needed.

You and Rooster walked on the beach and grabbed some lunch at a nearby diner in town. And you couldn't not take the opportunity to fuck your boyfriend in his bronco.

When you arrived home, you and Bradley got a text to meet the team at The Hard Deck later on. And you informed your father of the invite.

On the warm summer's evening, you put your favourite pair of jeans on and a plain white t-shirt that fit the cut of your jeans. You didn't bother with makeup, and you let your hair go naturally. Bradley – of course – wore one of his father's old Hawaiian shirts with his white t-shirt and jeans. And he couldn't forget the aviator glasses. You and Bradley rode on his motorcycle with your dad on his own behind you, to the bar. You pulled up and placed your helmets on the seat before walking into the crowded and hot bar.

Bradley led the way, holding on tightly to your hand as you weaved through the crowds. You knew your dad was going to see Penny, so you didn't need to wonder where he went off to.

"Hey, guys!" Phoenix welcomed you and Rooster as you finally got to the team in the usual spot.

"Hey, babe." You smiled as you embraced her, letting go of Bradley's hand to do so.

"How's you?" She asked, sitting back onto a barstool.

Bradley brough a seat for you and him and you thanked him as you sat down.

"I'm great. Feeling a lot better. How are you?" You asked.

"Want a beer, hun?" Brad asked you, placing a hand on your hip.

You looked up at him and nodded, "Thanks."

He pressed a kiss to your temple before sliding his hand and his body from you to the bar.

"I'm also a lot better, thank you. But you guys...I mean, come on."

You blushed. You couldn't help it. Just the thought of the man made your whole body get hot. You and Phoenix both looked to him standing at the bar being so casual and charming to Penny. You groaned as you turned back to her.

"I can't even." You sighed.

She chuckled, "He's so happy with you, it's unreal. I've worked with Rooster quite a few times, but I don't think I have ever seen him so genuinely joyful."

You pouted your lips, "I can't believe we went 10 years with no contact. It's crazy to me, now."

"Well, you've got each other now. And I better be first to know when he proposes."

You scoffed a laugh and smacked her leg, "Phoenix!"

"What! He's infatuated with you and he's not a waiting kind of guy. That man knows what he's got, and I don't think he's going to lose you any time soon."

Your whole body warmed. God, you felt like a kid with a playground crush. Your stomach flipped at the thought of him down on one knee. You opened your mouth to retort against her but a hand came to your shoulder to shut you up.

"My ears are burning."

You rolled your eyes and looked up to your boyfriend as he handed you a cold bottle of your favourite beer.

"Were you intentionally listening?" You asked as he sat down next to you.

He shrugged, "I guess you'll never know."

You shook your head and looked to Phoenix. She smiled and sighed.

"You two make me sick in the nicest way possible."

"Love you, too, Phoenix." Bradley commented.

She pretend-laughed before getting up and heading to the bar.

You turned back to your boyfriend and watched as he took a swig of his drink, slinging an arm around the back of your barstool.

"I'm guessing you want marriage at some point, right?" You asked, resting your closest hand on his mid-thigh.

He nodded, "And the house and the kids. The whole package."

"How many kids?" You asked, raising a brow.

"I want an equal number of genders. So however many it takes to get that."

You scoffed, "Well, I'm telling you right now, mister; no more than three."

He furrowed his brows, "Three? That's hardly any!"

"We are both only children. How is that not enough?"

"Because I want a whole baseball team, baby."

You shook your head, "No way in hell, Bradshaw."

You watched your boyfriends eye level rise and his hand lifted from the back of your chair.

"Aint that right, Mav? You want a whole baseball team of grandkids?"

You shook your head ferociously, realising your dad was now behind you.

"Or even a football team would be great." Your dad commented, placing a hand on your shoulder.

You shrugged his hand off and he came around to face you with the stupid grin he always wore when he wound you up.

"Not a chance in the world." You said.

Brad placed his arm around your shoulder and you nipped his inner thigh. He yelped, jumping slightly in his seat.

"Any more talk about sports teams, and I'll nip you someplace else where it won't be possible to have one kid."

He held the hand holding his beer up in a gesture of surrender. You smirked at your win and settled back, rubbing your hand over his thigh soothingly. He played with your hair as you both engaged in other conversations with the team.

After about 30 minutes and two and a half drinks down, your dad shouted over to the group from afar.

"Hey, Rooster?"

You all turned, and Bradley moved his hand from behind your seat to your knee.

"Wanna give this old girl a play?"

Mav trail his hand over the top of the piano and tapped it. A grin grew on your face. Bradley turned to look at you as if he needed permission. You squeezed his thigh and nodded.

"On you go." You encouraged.

You thought it was the most wholesome thing ever that he looked at you with such hopeful eyes. He slid off his seat and pressed a kiss to your cheek before heading over to the piano. Your dad pulled the plug from the jukebox and a collection of annoyed sounds came from the crowd. The energy tonight was insane. There were probably more people in the bar than you had ever seen before – and it was all because of your amazing team and your two favourite men.

Phoenix came to stand by you, and you watched as your boyfriend lifted the lid of the piano and sat his beer on top of the instrument, sitting down on the stool. His fingers began toying with the keys and your heart – and somewhere more north – fluttered.

"If that man plays Great Balls of Fire, I'm gonna need another drink." Phoenix commented before leaving your side for the bar.

You chuckled to yourself and stayed seated, happy with your clear view to Bradley. Your dad stood by the piano, and you watched as they laughed and chatted together. He took his aviators from their folded place on his t-shirt and put them on his nose.

He is definitely about to play Great Balls of Fire. You thought to yourself.

You looked at your dad and then to your boyfriend. You watched how happy they both were and how your dad used to tell you and Bradley about the times where Goose would play in the bar with you and Rooster sitting on the piano. And Carole usually joining in, too. You wondered if your dad had somewhat healed from that memory, because he was enjoying himself so much with Bradley.

He started playing some improv, but you knew just by the notes and the key he was in, what he was about to play.

You had such a clear flashback in your mind of a moment you and Bradley spoke about a lot growing up. It was his mom and dad's catchphrases before Goose played something or did something silly. You smirked at the memory and gained a rush of confidence.

"Hey, Rooster, you big stud!" You called from your seat.

Bradley looked over to you, tipping his sunglasses to look through them at you with a huge grin on his face, his fingers still playing the keys. You felt the whole crowd – including your dad – turn to face you.

"That's me, honey!" He replied.

You sat forward, "Take me to bed or lose me forever!"

"Show me the way home, honey!" He called back.

The crowd watched and erupted in laughter and applause as your interaction with Bradley finished and the four iconic chords began to play.

"You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain!"

You giddily laughed and stood up from your seat, meeting Phoenix on your way to the piano. She replaced the bottle in your hand with a new one and you thanked her. You both had your arms around each other before you parted ways so you could get closer to Rooster.

"I laughed at love 'cause I thought it was funny!" Your boyfriend sang, looking to you as you managed to fight your way to his inner circle.

"But you came along and you moved me, honey!"

You grinned as you danced closer to him, using his signature shimmy to get yourself to him. He laughed at you as he sang because you were getting that kind of tipsy. He opened an arm quickly for you and you swiftly slid onto his lap, resting your butt on his right thigh. He closed you back in with his arm.

You wrapped an arm around his shoulders and he winked at you.

"Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire!" You all sang in unison.

"Kiss me, baby!" He looked to you.

You grabbed the nape of his neck, and he craned his neck slightly to press a kiss to your lips. You held it long enough for you to taste the beer from his lips, but not long enough that it affected the song.

"Ohh, that feels good, baby!" He shivered comically after your kiss and you laughed, shaking your head.

"I want to love you like a lover should,"

He pressed a quick kiss to your arm, tickling your skin with his moustache. You ran your fingers into his hair and smiled at him as he played.

"You're fine!"

"And so kind!" You sang to him.

"Imma tell the world that you're mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!"

You giggled, and laughed, and danced your way through the song. You even attempted to play a few notes, but they were so wrong that you couldn't continue.

As Bradley finished, the whole place erupted in cheers and applause. You looked around the room and it was almost intimidating how big of a crowd had actually formed. Bradley did the same and you both exchanged a look of awe. You grabbed his sunglasses from his face and put them on your own, ignoring how big they were on you.

Bradley swept you up into his arms and you squealed, holding onto his broad shoulders. He had you in bridal hold, swinging you around in circles. Everyone began chanting your names and you felt like you were in a movie.

"Rooster! Locket!"

They kept going. And going. You were laughing and smiling so much your cheeks hurt and the warmth of the beer was spreading through your veins.

Bradley eventually placed you back on the ground, but you still held onto his shoulders for balance. His hands slid around your waist, and you could finally look up at him without the room spinning.

He was smiling so big; his cheeks were flushed, and his hair was messy. You knew how happy he was in that moment, and you felt the exact same.

"You know what?"

"What?" You asked, looking up at him through the aviators.

"I was always going to be the only key to your lock, honey."

Your cheeks flushed, "You are so cheesy, Rooster."

He smirked, and you felt the glasses getting removed from your nose.

"I know. And I don't care." He said, before his lips crashed into yours and the whole bar exploded in whistles and cheers.