#happy birthday John Egan | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

thedeviltohisangel · 4 months ago

Text

All The Things I Did (Interlude): Happy Birthday, Flyboy

@gloryofroses19 reminded me over the weekend that it was John's birthday so I had to write a little interlude. this takes place circa 1951 while the Egan's are living in Japan. I hope you all enjoy it, it is nothing but fluff fluff fluff with maybe a little bit of sexy flirting sprinkled in. love you xoxo

Cass craned her neck in the mirror to make sure she had gotten the hair at the back of her head into her curlers. She had tried to pack her entire vanity into her suitcase but hadn’t been completely successful. And she could tell exactly what was out of place in front of her as she sat in front of the mirror. She was missing her eye shadow brush that was tapered at her preferred narrow angle. The other three laid out in front of her just weren’t the same. Same for the two blush brushes that were different than the one she knew must have been left at home and the pan of eyeshadow that wasn’t the shade of pink that she had thought she’d packed. She sighed, knowing it was probably smeared over Penelope’s face by now.

When it came to biding her time, the toddler was most certainly taking after her mother. She knew how to be patient. How to observe for a weakness. How to act innocently for forgiveness. It worked on John like a charm. Their daughter knew how to play him like a maestro on violin and he fell for it happily every time.

“I thought you were going to take a bath with me before dinner?” John bent down to kiss the top of her head but paused when he couldn’t find an opening in the curlers. His hand wrapped under her chin and tilted her head back. “I don’t like when things get in the way of kissing you.” His thumb stroked over her throat as their lips connected.

“I said I would take a bath with you after dinner. We would never make it to dinner if I took one with you before.” They were spending John’s birthday weekend in a villa with a stunning view of Mount Fuji. The morning had been spent in the natural hot springs and the evening promised a beautiful dinner by candlelight. The relaxation they needed with only a few months left before Imogene’s first birthday brought a new wave of activity into their home. “And don’t distract me from trying to get ready! I haven’t gotten dolled up in a while and I’ve been looking forward to it.” She turned back towards the mirror and the various creams and serums and powders with a huff.

“Have I told you how much I love you recently?” Cass blushed. After four kids and six years of marriage, she would never tire of her sweet man.

“It’s been a couple of hours I think…” she mused as she tried to focus on curving the bronze tone around her eye just right.

“I guess I should fix that then.” She giggled as he dropped to his knees before her and wrapped his arms around her waist to pull her robe-clad figure to his lips. His nose nudged open the fabric and kissed at the skin of her stomach that was bare, smiling as she squirmed slightly from the tickling. “I love you so much. You’ve given me the four most beautiful babies in the entire world. You’ve allowed me the honor of being your husband. You moved across the world so we’d never have to be without each other’s touch. Telling you I love you can’t even begin to capture the extent of what I feel for you.” She held his face in her hands.

“It’s your birthday. I’m the one who should be making such wonderful speeches about you.” John shook his head and pressed forward to kiss her.

“You’re the only reason I’m even here to celebrate my birthday, Spook. The only reason I even have it in me to be happy.” It wasn’t lost on him that he could have been alone for this birthday. That he could have been spending it at the dining hall on base with his men trying to cheer him up, rereading the letters from Cass and the kids until his sorrow allowed him to find a restless sleep.

Instead, three months after the birth of Imogene, Cass had packed up their family and their home and moved to Tokyo. She was Chief of Operations at Tokyo Station. John had been promoted to Colonel. They were busy and they were exhausted but they were happy. They were in love. And most importantly, they were together.

“I love you.” It was her simple attempt at trying to capture everything swirling in her heart. There would never be the words for the feelings. They hadn’t been invented because a love like theirs had never occurred.

“I love you, too, baby. I love you so much.” She puckered her lips and he pecked a kiss against her gently.

“Now if you don’t mind…”

“Fine, fine. I’ll leave you to your potions.” He rose with a grunt, Cass biting back her remark about him becoming an old man but holding back her ogling when his fingers scratched at the hair that disappeared into his boxers. “I offered a bath, Cassandra Ann Egan. You don’t get to say no then look at me like that.”

“My full name?” she gasped. “As if I could say I changed my mind and you wouldn’t be on me in a second.” She pointed a makeup brush at him for effect. His head poked back into the bathroom instantly.

“Have you changed your mind?”

----

Every nerve in her body felt on fire as their fingers danced together in the middle of the dinner table. Their last course was being cleared before dessert but her husband looked more appetizing than anything they could put in front of her.

He hadn’t let go of her hand once the entire meal. Had stroked his thumb over the top of her hand. Traced a heart onto her palm. Twisted their fingers together in a waltz that had her breath stolen and heart skipping. She loved the way their fingers slotted together like they were carved from the same rock at the center of the earth. Like he was made just for her to love.

“You look very handsome tonight,” she hummed.

“It’s a wonder I even have the sanity to sit at this table, Cass, with how beautiful you look tonight.” The champagne urged a giggle from her lips and he smiled triumphantly. “How’s it possible to love you more everyday?” His question was sincere. His eyes soft and curious as he regarded her like the eighth wonder of the world.

“I wish I had the answer. But I love waking up every morning and learning that it remains to be true.” Cass brought his hand to her lips and kissed each knuckle before bringing it to her cheek. “Happy birthday, Johnny.”

“Thank you, baby.” He leaned across the table to kiss her and was about to ask her to ditch dessert and head back to their villa when the manager appeared next to their table.

“Colonel Egan, Mrs. Egan, I apologize. We have your children on the phone at the front desk.”

“What?” Cass pushed back from the table with a preternatural speed. “Is everything okay? Oh my God!” John jogged after her as she made a beeline for the front desk.

“Mommy?”

“Penny? What’s wrong, my love? Where’s Joan?”

“I want to talk to Daddy.” Cass handed the phone to her husband, pressing her chin into her chest so she could listen.

“Hi, Princess.”

“Happy birthday, Daddy!” John smiled and the tension eased from Cass’ muscles. “Gale and Lillian and Immy are asleep but they say happy birthday too.” Penelope knew it was tomorrow but was resolved to be the first of her siblings to say it to her father.

“Thank you, my love. And why aren’t you asleep?”

“Too hard. I miss you and mommy.”

“We’ll be home tomorrow and I want so many hugs and cuddles from you as my birthday present.”

“Tea party?” He chuckled and hugged Cass closer to his chest.

“A really big tea party.” Penelope squeaked with delight on the other end of the phone…Before she was quieted by the muffled sounds of the nanny discovering her in the kitchen.

“Bye Daddy. Love you.” The line was clicked off before he could even respond.

“Well, Penny knows how to use the phone,” he mused. He apologized as he handed the phone back to the front desk.

“She’s going to be a menace as a teenager.” John kissed the top of his wife’s head as he pushed her chair in for her, back at their table after the momentary distraction.

“That’s why we have Gale to balance her out. Maybe the two of them can meet in the middle some day.” Where Penelope was fire and brimstone and spinning on every axel, Gale was quiet and patient and observant and measured in his approach to everything.

“But they're both so full of love. All of our babies are.” Cass’ voice was dreamy as she thought of the precious little Egans that were at home. “I miss them.” Immy in particular was still so little. A tiny baby that clung to her parents and was just happy to tug on Butter’s ears all day.

“I miss them, too. But we’ll have them back in our arms tomorrow. And you deserved a couple nights to focus on yourself. You put them first and are the most wonderful mother in the world, Cass. It’s okay to give yourself a full night’s sleep once in a while.”

“I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to balance it all, as hard as I try. But I love this life so much, John. The life we’ve built together.”

“You thrive in the chaos, baby,” John teased with delight in his eyes. “Actually-” Cass clapped as he was interrupted by the appearance of a chocolate cake with a litany of candles.

“Happy birthday, Flyboy!” It was simply sinful coming out of her mouth. Made his cheeks burn hotter than the flames dancing on the cake. Made him shift his hips to try and quell his growing desire for his wife. “I could sing for you…” He hummed as the cake settled in front of him.

“The song of a siren. You can sing for me in the bath.” She rolled her eyes.

“You and that bath.” He merely winked, closing his eyes to make a wish before blowing out the candles. “I love you.” Cass leaned across the table to meet him halfway in a kiss as the cake was taken away to be plated for them.

“Are you going to let me feed you cake like it’s our wedding day?”

“Is that what you wished for?”

“We can have another wedding if you want, Spook.” He’d marry her every single day. Every version more opulent than the last if that is what she wanted.

“Maybe in a few years. I want to just relax and enjoy Immy as a baby. Enjoy all our kids exactly in the stage of life they are now.” They thanked the waitress who returned with cake and John tugged Cass’ plate away from her. His fork cut through the sponge and extended towards her lips and she made sure her desires for what she truly wanted between her lips were known through her eyes.

“Just like that,” he whispered in a daze as he didn’t even try to control the lust coating his gaze. He was a selfish man, wanting this angel all to himself. But he had no interest in ever sharing. The world had already taken so much of her. The pieces that remained were his to cherish. His to protect. He wouldn’t fail her again. He couldn’t fail her again.

And it was that thought that woke him violently from his sleep only a few hours later. A cool sheen of sweat across his skin. His chest heaving with the struggle to bring in oxygen.

“Baby?” Cass pinched her face together where it rested on his bare chest as his turmoil woke her from her slumber. “What’s the matter?” she slurred.

“Nothing…Just…” Germany. Wisconsin. Flashing through his mind at a dizzying speed. The level of anger he had held for her. The near hatred that had watered in his mouth when he saw her in that camp. How the word divorce had fallen from his lips that night in his childhood bedroom. How his actions could have led down a path that didn’t end here.

“Bad dreams?”

“Memories.” He didn’t ever want to forget the horrors they had been through together. Ever let the ache in his chest at putting her through what he did escape him. He needed to remember so he could be sure to cherish the moments they had now. Cherish the gift heaven had given him by keeping her in his universe.

“And they’re just that. In the past.” Cass kissed at the patch of hair over his heart and rested her chin on her hand, gazing up at him.

“I’m sorry. For how I treated you in Germany. For everything I said to you that night in Wisconsin.” She sighed and shifted so her elbow was resting on the pillow next to him. The nightmares of the war plagued both of them. Woke them from sleep less frequently than they had before but often enough they’d had this conversation many times.

“You’ve made up for it four times over with our babies.” Her fingers wrapped with his as she pressed kisses to each of his knuckles. “You’re loved, John. You’re endlessly loved.” She had forgiven him years ago. Received his forgiveness in kind. But she would remind him of that every night if he needed. Anything to bring him the peace he had earned.

John leaned forward and pressed kisses to her bare shoulder, collarbone, up her neck and to her lips. “If I give you another baby, am I forgiven five times over?” Her leg was over his hip with a breathless laugh, his hands steadying her at the waist.

“When Immy is older, we can talk about it.” Considering John’s apathy for condoms, it might happen sooner.

She guided him into her with ease, sighing at the feeling of him stretching her out. John needed this. The physical reminder that she was his and here and not leaving. The reminder that they worked together better than they ever had. “I need you, always.”

“You have me, always.” Her blue sky. His north star. A compass he’d follow anywhere knowing it would lead him home. It wasn’t a place, it was a person. His wife. His own corner of the universe that was his to seek solace in.

No one could take this from them.

It was theirs. And they'd protect it with all they had.

No matter what it may cost them.

#john egan #masters of the air #john egan fanfiction #masters of the air fanfiction #john egan x oc #callum turner #cass and bucky

53 notes · View notes

blakelysco-pilot · 4 months ago

Text

A friend said yesterday that we all die twice. Once when we physically leave this world, and a second time when people stop speaking your name. John Egan and his memory are very much alive on this side- and I’m glad for that. Happy Birthday Johnny Egan 💗

you’re missed on this side honey. i hope you’re at peace.

#john egan #masters of the air #happy birthday johnny egan #I just know he’s up in heaven wearing that fez and having a drink with the fellas #the real masters of the air

144 notes · View notes

caustinen · 2 months ago

Text

✧˖°. navigation ⋆˙⟡

multi-part fics & posts

hollywood au

a series of tumblr posts including drabbles, headcanons and fake ig-posts set in a modern au universe where bucky is a popular hollywood heart-throb and gale is a publicist - they have been in a secret relationship for years before they go public after getting engaged. mostly silly with barely-there plot. masterpost.

regency au

gale comes from humble background but falls for the rich, alleged playboy, most seeked out bachelor john egan. there's the original headcanon and then a short fic on ao3 set on the morning after their wedding. original headcanon / morning after fic "maybe i'm amazed" (ao3)

oneshots

"summer kisses/in my body" (ao3)

Sometimes – not often, mind you, but sometimes – Bucky wonders if he should be worried by what he’s unleashed. (canon post-war pwp)

"sharp dressed man" (ao3)

When Gale realizes he has forgotten to buy a present for his boyfriend's birthday, he ends up giving himself wrapped in something special. (modern college au, lingerie, established relationship, pwp-ish)

"hold me like a knife" (ao3)

The mission is done and Bucky is wounded, but he’s got a date to make. (agent!bucky x mob!gale (kinda-not-really), secret relationship)

"oh, when the saints" (ao3)

A moment shared in the night after Bucky arrives to Stalag Luft III. (canon, hurt/comfort)

drabbles

(also posted collectively on ao3)

chance meeting - gale is hit on at a bar and bucky comes to the rescue

lawyers au - a moment in the office after a very special day

headcanons

teacher!gale x single dad!bucky

pilot!bucky x cabin crew!gale one & two

singer!bucky x songwriter!gale one & two & three

"you better paint the bedroom ceiling your favorite color"

bucky flirting with gale post-surgery not knowing they're married

modern au cleagan roleplay

college au gale discovers he's into bondage (could be read as part of sharp dressed man universe)

canon post-war clegan buy a house together

concubine!gale/king!bucky

one of them didn't go to war (currently working on making this a fic where gale stays behind)

everyone in the 100th has a crush on buck and bucky is not happy

buckies being obvious with their pda and everyone being annoyed about it

family christmas hc part 1 & part 2

++ jumping on other peoples business one & two & three & four & five

what's your favorite? which one should i write more about? ask box is always open 💞

#just wanted to make it a bit nicer than the previous one #damn I'm always surprised how many things I've actually posted #clegan #buck x bucky #buck #bucky #mota #writing

48 notes · View notes

cetaitlaverite · 1 month ago

Text

Anything to Anywhere

Masters of the Air - John Egan x OC

masterlist is here <3

25. To Smile Or Weep

There was so much Stella wanted to tell John, so much she’d been dreaming of telling him in the lonely months they’d spent apart. And just like always, he was content to listen to her talk, watching her with a tiny smile as she spoke at length about the details of her life since he’d gone down.

The two of them were sitting on the floor beneath the window of their barracks in the stalag, John’s back against the wall, Stella on her knees, facing him between his legs. Her hands moved wildly as she spoke and she was so animated, like all the life had been breathed back into her just for seeing him.

John was mesmerised. He knew all the other men could see it, had noticed it, were probably talking about it, but he didn’t care. Stella Finley, his Stels, here, in front of him, babbling and happy to see him. She didn’t hate him, she’d just never gotten his letters. It made sense now; she’d been sent to another base and then she’d been a fugitive in France. It wasn’t that she hadn’t wanted to reply, it was that she hadn’t been able to.

He’d never known love like this. He’d never even known attraction like this. If he’d ever looked at another woman and thought she was pretty it hadn’t been even half of what this was. Even the prettiest woman he’d ever seen beforehand, all dolled up in a fancy dress and makeup, hair styled to perfection, wasn’t half of what Stella was with her hair tangled and old blood crusted on her face and a too big uniform which was covered in dirt. He could have sat there with his back aching against the hard wood behind him, watching her talk, forever.

“... presents for my birthday,” she was telling him, managing a smile just at the memory, faraway thought it now was. “And cake!” she exclaimed. “I’ve never had a birthday cake before but they got me two, just in case I didn’t like the first one.”

John opened his mouth to say something to this but Stella didn’t notice, simply carried on talking, as was her way.

“And I have a best friend,” she added. “Her call sign is Lucky, because her last name means ‘fortunate’ in Polish, which is where she’s from. She fled to England when Poland was invaded. She’s a tiny force of nature and I love her so much.” Stella faltered. Her eyes became faraway. In a daze, as though hypnotised, one of her hands dipped beneath her - John’s - jacket, searching for something. When she withdrew it, she was holding a raggedy old toy rabbit.

She stared down at it as though she’d never seen it before.

“That hers?” John asked softly when all Stella did was stare at it. “Your friend’s?”

“My best friend’s,” Stella corrected quietly. “Her childhood bunny. Before my last flight she gave him to me to look after, to bring me luck, and I gave her Ralph.” Shaking her head, Stella sniffled, swiped at her nose, and lifted her gaze to the light streaming in from the window. “She’s going to be so angry with me,” she said. “She specifically told me to bring him back in one piece and instead I dragged him all around France and now he’s in a prisoner of war camp.”

John was watching her closely, his frown pronounced on his face. “I bet she’s just glad you’ve got her rabbit looking out for you,” he offered after a beat.

At this, Stella cracked a tiny, rueful smile. “We’ve been through a lot together, this rabbit and I.” She shook her head, sniffling and wiping at her nose once more. She placed the rabbit down on the table beside her and finally, reluctantly, met John’s gaze.

She smiled for him, as wide as she could, more secure now, more certain. “John,” she said softly. Her eyes were gentle and reverential, bright and sad all at once. “I’m so happy to see you.”

John was sure he felt his heart melt. Any second now he was sure to catch sight of it leaking out of the soles of his boots. God knew they were thin enough after being worn so relentlessly all winter.

He couldn’t find his voice for a second, struck dumb by her sincerity. She’d only shown him glimpses of this side of her before and only right at the very end, just before he’d gone down. It was new to him in its certainty. She was new to him in her vulnerability. Something in what she’d experienced in their time apart had softened her to him, had opened her up to him, had made her realise he wasn’t her enemy.

He wanted so desperately to take her into his arms and cradle her to his chest. The tips of his fingers were itching with the ache for it.

But he denied himself the pleasure, the honour. Just in case. He didn’t want to do too much too soon, be too much too soon. Baby steps, even now that they were reunited. He wouldn’t allow himself to chase her away as he had so many times before.

So he cleared his throat and offered a small smile. “Happy to see you too, Stels. Just wish it was under better circumstances.”

Stella took a look around at the small wooden room. It was dirty and cold, even in the spring. Crowded, too, with too many men and too many beds. But it was no worse, really, than the bedroom she’d spent her childhood in. There was maybe even something comforting about having so many familiar faces packed into one space. Here, no one would be able to get to her in the middle of the night. Whether they knew her well or not, Stella knew these men would look after her

Turning back to John, Stella shrugged. “I’ve been locked in worse.”

His eyes were hard as they searched her face, seeking an explanation.

She wouldn’t give him one - not yet, at least. Maybe not ever. Instead, she asked, “Can I sleep in your bed?” and waited patiently for his reply.

John didn’t have a reply - not yet, at least. His jaw was hanging slightly ajar, his eyebrows slightly raised.

Heat flooded to Stella’s cheeks. She had to look away. “Okay, nevermind.”

“No - I mean - wait,” John sputtered immediately. “I mean, yes, of course. Sure you can, Stels. Of course.”

From where he was leaning against the wall to Stella’s left, John Brady snorted. John shot him a dirty look and he promptly looked away, pretending to mind his own business.

“Which bed is yours?” Stella asked next, still blushing and furious at herself because of it.

Reaching out an arm, John patted the mattress of the bed on his left, in the middle of the three beds stacked on top of each other as bunk beds.

From the other side of the room, where he’d clearly also been eavesdropping, DeMarco said, “We can swap if you want.” When Stella turned to look at him he inclined his head in the direction of the beds.

Following the gesture, Stella noticed for the first time the photographs which were taped up on the wall beside each bed. The bottommost had photos of the dog she recognised as Meatball, the Siberian husky DeMarco had brought to Thorpe Abbotts with him. He’d been under the custody of Freddie Leroy ever since DeMarco had gone down with Buck - probably she’d been the one to send him the pictures.

Stella turned back to give DeMarco a small smile. “That’s okay. Thank you, though.” She didn’t want to cause any more upheaval than she surely already had.

DeMarco breathed a laugh. “Sleeping in a bed with two guys on top of you is one thing. Sleeping in a bed with two guys and a woman on top of you is another.” When Stella laughed he grinned. “You take the bottom bunk.”

“You tryna say the lady’s heavy, Benny?” John teased with a smile in his voice.

DeMarco rolled his eyes. “I’m tryna say I don’t wanna be stuck underneath the two of you rolling around in bed together. On top is bad enough.”

Stella choked on her next inhale.

“No, that ain’t -” John started to insist.

“I’m a virgin!” Stella snapped.

Silence fell on the room.

Buck coughed awkwardly into his fist from his bed.

No one knew what to say in response to that. And suddenly no one wanted to look at each other, either.

That was, until out of nowhere John could hold in his laugh no longer and it all but burst out of him, even when the eyes of the room were upon him.

Stella turned to the room at large and inquired curiously, “Is there a bathroom around here?” to no one in particular. All of a sudden the need to escape was so strong it was making her palms itch, her underarms sweat, her eyes water.

John, still chuckling, planted his hands in preparation to stand, but before he could Buck had jumped down from his bed, the topmost of the three on his side of the room. He gave Stella a small smile. “I’ll show you,” he said. “Make sure no one gives you any trouble.”

“Thanks.”

There were no men in any of the stalls in the communal bathroom of their block. Buck stood guard outside to make sure it stayed that way while Stella was in there. As quickly as she could, Stella took the opportunity to wash herself of the blood and dirt and sweat she was caked in. She scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed until her skin was red raw and still didn’t feel clean, would never feel clean, but she was conscious of Buck waiting for her outside and all the other men who were likely waiting to use the bathroom.

It was against her better judgement that she washed her hair in the sink but she wasn’t sure when she’d next get the opportunity. She would just deal with the cold - she must have been used to it by now anyway.

When she reemerged, as clean as she was likely to get, with her clothes sticking to the wet patches of her skin where she hadn’t had a towel to dry off with, Buck gave her another tiny smile and started back the way they’d come.

Stella fell into step beside him easily. Their footsteps were loud on the creaky wooden floors, likely echoing in all of the rooms beyond the closed doors they passed. “Thank you for waiting.”

“Not a problem,” Buck replied.

Stella nodded, wondering whether she even wanted to say what she was about to, but she said it anyway. “I’m sorry for all the trouble I’m probably going to cause you by being here.”

Glancing over at her, Buck furrowed his eyebrows. There was a confused smile on his lips. “You didn’t ask to be here any more than I did, Fin.”

Stella shook her head. “But John took me in before asking any of you. I don’t want to impose or -”

“We were never gonna let you go anywhere else, Fin,” Buck cut across her. “Me or any of the others. Even if John wasn’t here we woulda taken you in. It’s not a problem.”

Sighing, Stella relented. Secretly, the sentiment warmed her. The unspoken implication wasn’t lost on her and it wasn’t lost on Buck, either; she was one of them, whether she’d made a conscious effort to be when they’d all still been at Thorpe Abbotts or otherwise. None of them had ever had any question or any doubt about whether or not she’d bunk with them.

Back in the room, Stella took a seat at the table in the centre of the room and took another look around, at the photographs and letters pinned to the walls next to beds, at the primitive lights in the ceiling and the solitary window with its view out into the camp courtyard. She surveyed the books on a shelf in the corner and the mugs left scattered across the table. She smiled when she noticed the wooden aeroplanes hanging from the ceiling by the window, and smiled wider when she saw that DeMarco had already switched his bed with John’s, evidenced by the new location of his photographs.

John’s bed didn’t have any similar distinguishing features, no letters and no pictures taped to the wall, just the same threadbare blanket and pillow that everyone else had. But now there was a stuffed bunny lying back against the pillow, its body tucked beneath the blanket. Stella grinned when she saw it and she knew John had seen, had been waiting for her to notice, because when she looked over at him he was hiding his smile, busying himself with shuffling the deck of cards in his hands.

She didn’t say anything, didn’t want to embarrass him in front of his friends, so instead she took to looking out of the window, wondering just what she was going to do with herself all day.

She didn’t have to wonder for long.

The door banged open, slamming into the wall and swinging on its hinges, and three camp guards stormed in.

Stella was on her feet with her back pressed to the furthest wall in an instant because, by now, she recognised this aggression, had an idea of what was coming. Her heart was racing, loud and insistent, her back was sweating, all the blood rushed to her head. Her hands were shaking and her toes were curling in her boots and her breath was stuttering, as though someone had their hands around her neck.

John was immediately in front of her, the bulk of his frame covering her completely until she couldn’t even see the guards anymore.

The guards recognised his protective stance. “We just want to talk to her,” one of them said in heavily-accented English.

Stella’s hands curled into the back of John’s jacket.

“She’s already told you everything you need to know,” John replied, his voice calm but cold, unforgiving. Stella was sure his eyes were even colder.

The guard who had first spoken laughed. “No,” he disagreed, “she has not.”

“Then ask her right here,” Buck cut in, coming to stand beside John.

“Interrogations must take place in private to prevent interference,” the guard replied pleasantly enough. “Move aside.”

“I told the Gestapo everything,” Stella said. Her voice was shaky to her own ears. “I answered all their questions. Anything else I don’t know.”

One of the other guards, his voice significantly higher than the first’s, cackled. “You expect us to believe you do not know the location of your own airfield?”

Stella swallowed hard. Her hands were tight in the back of John’s jacket. “I don’t. They blindfolded me when they took me there.”

“You flew out of that airfield many times. Almost forty times, if our records are correct.”

“That doesn’t mean I know where it is.”

“That is exactly what it means!” the guard snapped.

Stella flinched.

John reached a hand behind him for her and she took it without a second thought, edging closer to him when he gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

“You have not told us the call signs of any other pilot who flies for the Moon Squadron,” the guard continued.

“I don’t know their call signs,” she said.

John knew this wasn’t true because she’d told him her best friend’s call sign not two hours earlier. He squeezed her hand again in encouragement as well as reassurance.

The guards had evidently had enough of conducting this conversation here. “Move aside,” the first guard demanded of John and Buck once more, “or we will move you aside.”

“Then move us aside,” John replied evenly with a casual shrug.

The scuffing of feet along the floor, the shuffling of footsteps. Stella couldn’t see what was going on but she knew well enough what was happening. All at once, wordlessly, the rest of the men in the room came to stand in front of John and Buck, forming a human barrier between Stella and the guards.

She wasn’t sure whether to smile or weep.

There was a moment’s contemplative pause. Stella imagined in her mind’s eye the staredown which was taking place between the American airmen and the German guards. But after a long, torturous moment there erupted into the air a shrill, sharp laugh, almost hysterical in its suddenness and undeniably from one of the guards.

“Fine,” that same voice said next, his bitter smile audible even in the way he spat the word. “You may keep her. For now.” With that sinister threat said and nothing more, Stella listened with bated breath to the retreating footsteps of the guards. Only once the door was firmly shut once more did the men who had banded together in her defence disperse.

When John’s posture relaxed, Stella finally let herself breathe properly.

Even when John turned to face her, ducking his head and seeking out her eyes, Stella still didn’t relinquish her hold on his jacket. It twisted and bunched in her grip, the leather quietly protesting between her fingers, and she only relaxed her hold so she could grip another section, this time near his chest, then scrunched it right back up again. Tentatively, slowly, warily, like a guilty child knowing they were about to be reprimanded, Stella met his eyes.

Inexplicably, John was smiling. It was only a tiny smile, largely hidden in the corners of his mouth as though it was there entirely against his will, but it made his eyes scrunch just slightly in that way Stella had been dreaming of all these months. When he spoke, his voice was unbearably gentle, like the feathers of a docile bird. “You been lying to the Nazis, Stels?”

Reluctantly, Stella cracked a smile of her own. “Through my teeth.”

John breathed a laugh. He was so much bigger than she remembered him being, tall and broad and protective. “All this time,” he said, shaking his head a little bit but keeping his eyes locked on hers, “I been comforting myself with the thought that you were safe. Back at Thorpe Abbotts with Alice and Jessop, drinking and flying Hurricanes and outsmarting every fool who looked at you and only saw a pretty face.” He shut his eyes momentarily, still with that rueful, indulgent smile, half pained and half amazed. “Stels,” he breathed, “what the fuck are you doing here?”

“You know what I’m doing here,” Stella reminded him softly. “I always told you I was destined for greater, and I was right.”

“You were destined for greater than this,” John objected, peeling open his eyes and gazing deeply into hers. “You weren’t supposed to sit out the war like this.”

“Neither were you,” Stella pointed out. “But we are. And here is better than where I was before.” At least here I’m with you, she thought.

John’s eyebrows crashed down over his eyes. He opened his mouth and she knew he was about to ask about what had happened to her in her last prison.

Stella looked away. She shook her head. “Not yet,” she said before he could.

John let out a low exhale, chewing on the inside of his cheek.

“It’s okay,” she assured him. “If I was given the choice now I’d still choose to join the Moon Squadron, even knowing what would happen after.” She’d held onto that throughout her interrogation. She hadn’t always been so sure of the sentiment, had often felt like she was holding onto a lie, but she was sure of it now. She would still choose to do what she’d done. It had all happened the way it was supposed to. There was no other way she could think about everything which had happened and still believe it made sense.

John’s eyes fell resignedly closed. “I wish I never went down,” he confessed.

Stella smiled softly, fondly, and curled her fingers tighter into his jacket. “But then I’d be here without you,” she said, “and then what would I do?”

#ata #my writing #masters of the air #masters of the air fanfic #masters of the air x oc #masters of the air fanfiction #mota #mota oc #hbo war #hbo war x oc #john egan #john bucky egan #bucky egan #john egan x oc #john egan fanfic #john egan fanfiction #bucky egan fanfic #bucky egan x oc #bucky egan fanfiction

21 notes · View notes

mercurygray · 7 months ago

Text

Orders For The Day - A Masters of the Air fanfic

It's @shoshiwrites' birthday today, and I thought we could mark the day with an idea she gave me a couple of months ago - John Egan has gone to Hollywood to help make a movie, and god help him, the entire town is driving him insane - except the film's leading lady, that is. Happy Birthday, Sho! I hope you enjoy this.

---

A regular visit to the boss's office - the regular chair, the regular offer of a drink. Colonel Egan, we've got a special assignment for you. Paramount's making a POW picture - evade and escape sort of thing. Orders for the Day. We've already okayed the premise, but they need a technical advisor, and we need a man on the ground to make sure the thing looks good and the re-writes are okay.

He remembered shifting in his chair, hands laced together. I don't know much about making movies, sir.

You don't have to! But you do know a hell of a lot about how we flew during the war. They'll want you to talk to the actors, advise the technical crew on how it should look and feel. Four months in California and all expenses paid by the studio - hotel room, studio car, full access to the studio lot - and all the, ah, amenities that go with it. Be like a vacation. You'll come back feeling like a new man.

They tell you who's...in it, sir?

Oh, that's the best part, Egan - it's an Eileen Hammond picture.

[read the whole story on AO3!]

#i have written a thing #mercurygraypresents #tds cinematic universe #masters of the air OC #masters of the air x oc #shoshiwrites #eileen hammond #john egan x oc #mota x oc

35 notes · View notes

scotianostra · 3 months ago

Text

youtube

Happy Birthday James “Midge” Ure born October 10th 1953 in Cambuslang.

Born to a working class family Ure attended Cambuslang Primary School and Rutherglen Academy in Glasgow until he was 15 years old. For the first 10 years of his life he lived in a one-bedroom tenement flat. After leaving school Ure attended Motherwell Technical College and then began to work as an engineer, training at the National Engineering Laboratory (NEL), in nearby East Kilbride.

Midge started playing music in a Glasgow band called Stumble in 1969, before joining Salvation, a Glasgow-based group that became the bubblegum band Slik in 1974. Upset in the change of direction, Ure left the band to join the Rich Kids, a punk-pop group led by former Sex Pistol bassist Glen Matlock. The Rich Kids only released one album, 1978’s Ghosts of Princes in Towers, before breaking up later that year. Ure spent a brief time with the Misfits (not the American band) before forming Visage with drummer Rusty Egan and vocalist Steve Strange; he left the group to replace Gary Moore in Thin Lizzy, who had left in the middle of an American tour. After the tour was finished, Ure fulfilled an agreement to join Ultravox as the replacement for John Foxx.

Once he joined the band in 1980, Ure helped make Ultravox a mainstream success; during this time he also worked as a producer, making records with Steve Harley and Modern Man. In 1982, Ure released a solo single, a cover of the Walker Brothers’ hit “No Regrets”; it climbed into the U.K. Top Ten. Ure and Bob Geldof formed Band Aid, a special project to aid famine relief efforts in Ethiopia, in 1984. The two wrote the song “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” and assembled an all-star band of musicians to record the single; it sold millions of copies over the 1984 holiday season.

In 1985, Ultravox was put on hiatus and Ure began to pursue a full-time solo career. Recorded entirely by Ure, his 1985 solo debut, The Gift, launched the number one single “If I Was,” as well as the minor hits “That Certain Smile” and “Call of the Wild.” The following year, he recorded the final Ultravox album; in 1987, the band broke up and he began recording his second solo album. The resulting record, 1988��s Answers to Nothing, was less successful than The Gift in the U.K., yet it charted in the U.S., which is something Ure’s previous album failed to do. Three years later, Ure released his third album, Pure; while it didn’t do any business in America, the album featured the Top 20 British hit “Cold, Cold Heart.” He attempted a comeback in 1996 with Breathe, which went ignored by both the American and British markets. Four years later, his score for the Jon Cryer drama-comedy Went to Coney Island was issued by the Evenmore label.

Ure’s recording activity during the 2000s began with Move Me, which featured some surprisingly hard rocking material. A few years later, he published an autobiography, If I Was, and then, with Geldof, arranged the Live 8 concerts.

Following the release of the covers-oriented 10 IN 2008, Ure participated in an Ultravox reunion and continued to record as a solo artist. Fragile was issued in 2014, and featured the Moby collaboration “Dark, Dark Night.” In 2017, he collaborated with composer Ty Unwin on the album Orchestrated, which featured orchestral reworkings of Ultravox songs, as well as songs from his solo career.

In 2020 Midge released an album Soundtrack 1978-2019, he was one of the lucky artists to have completed his tour promoting this in February that year.

Midge has recently revealed why he turned down an offer to join the Sex Pistols, telling The Telegraph that he considered that taking up the invitation from the band's manager Malcolm McLaren would have been like "joining a slightly edgier Bay City Rollers". He received the offer to join the fledgling punk band back in 1975, while on a visit to McCormack’s instrument hire shop in Glasgow.

In an interview published in the Telegraph he said;

"I was stopped in the street by the Clash’s manager, Bernie Rhodes, who then introduced me to Malcolm McLaren, I didn’t know who either of them was, but they literally asked me to join the Sex Pistols without even asking what I did. To me it would have been like joining a slightly edgier Bay City Rollers, so I turned them down.

Last October Midge celebrated seven decades of music with a concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

Concerts coming up for Midge are, 24th October: Tvonica Culture - Zagreb , 31st October: Stadfeestzaal - Aarschot, Belgium with Lena

Lovich, before 27 dates in Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales ending in December, he then travels to United Arab Emirates for a gig in February, March sees the hard working Scot play 11 nights in Sweden and Germany.

Midge Ure is one of Scotland’s all-time most successful musicians. He is married with four daughters and lives in Somerset.

The video is Midge, with Pilot,s David Paton from a Live Hogmanay show in 1995.

#scotland #scottish #history #musician #singer songwriter #happy birthday #Youtube

15 notes · View notes

amiserableseriesofevents · 14 days ago

Text

There was a star danced, and under that was I born (part 2/2)

For Gale's 30th birthday John has a very special gift in mind

such stuff-verse

#happy birthday Gale Cleven #clegan #buck x bucky #mota #john egan #clegan theatre au #gale cleven #mota fanfic #ginia writes #masters of the air #buckbucky #such stuff verse

20 notes · View notes

d-criss-news · 8 months ago

Text

John Musker: Last night at the Wallis Annenberg Theatre in Beverly Hills, Ron Clements and I were part of a panel hosted by Michael Kerker of ASCAP and celebrating the brilliant Howard Ashman. Clips were played from Alan Menken, Jodi Benson, Paige O'Hara, and Susan Egan all talking about how much Howard meant to each of them and their careers. Howard's sister Sarah sent some rarely seen early photos of Howard and a witty , heartfelt 7 minute audio narrative that Michael Serrian made into a wonderful film ( and we saw Nancy Parent, great friend and colleague of Howard's, there too.). There were live musical performances from legendary Broadway star Faith Prince, who I learned was almost Audrey in the original "Little Shop" until a scheduling conflict kept her from doing it and Ellen Green went on to deserved acclaim for her iconic performance. Darren Criss also sang among many talented performers including Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, who are doing new songs for the Moana sequel. I was happy to share tales of working with Howard and the enormous impact he had on me and on Disney animation. Photos by another Howard, someone that's Green, who helped get us involved in the first place. Coincidentally the event unfolded on what would have been Howard's 74th birthday. God rest your soul, Howard, gone from us too soon.

Faith Prince and Darren Criss perform "Somewhere That's Green" and "Suddenly Seymour" from Howard and Alan's "Little Shop of Horrors." I saw the great Faith Prince on Broadway in the terrific revival of "Guys and Dolls." Darren I saw at the Hollywood Bowl in. the Richard Kraft extravaganza as Prince Eric, but he has been doing Seymour more recently in the acclaimed Little shop revival on Broadway.

#darren criss #ascap musical theatre fest #facebook #may 2024

23 notes · View notes

luminouslywriting · 4 months ago

Note

hi carley, very happy belated birthday!!

i was wondering if you had any recs for mota related blogs to follow or if you had fic recs (besides yours, they're so good)

hope you have a nice day <3

Hi darling! Thank you so much :)

This is such a wonderful ask and I have a few fics that I'm very very partial to, as well as a few blogs! GASP—me??? Getting to brag about my mutuals and friends??? I've been ready for this since I entered Tumblr!

@precious-little-scoundrel has a DELICIOUS couple of series'—including one for Bucky Egan and a starlet, their story is just darling—and then she also has The Ones Who Can, and it's an Integrated AU! that I just eat up every single time!

@instructionsnotincluded has a delightful Bucky Egan fic on AO3 called True North that I simply adore!

@blurredcolour has never missed a single time with any of her John Brady works and I think she may be one of the most iconic people ever.

@claireelizabeth85 has a delightful fanfiction centered on Bucky and one of her OC's, who is just darling!

@ktredshoes is working on a wonderful James Douglass/Everett Blakely/OC fic that I'm just thrilled about :)

@lambcow has two wonderful fics on AO3 that are Buck/Bucky and I'd be REAL REMISS to not mention my IRL bestie's MOTA fics because I love her and she's brilliant haha

@prettyinlimegreenboots is another sweetheart with a wonderful Bucky fic that I just love!

@steph-speaks is literally the nicest person in the world and one of my favorite writers in the world! Her MOTA works are just stunning and everyone should adore her haha!

I know I've definitely missed a few of my other favorites, but if you want more recs, just message me and I'd be happy to send you more!

#mota fanfic #mota recs #fanfic recs #masters of the air #masters of the air fanfiction

16 notes · View notes

prettyinlimegreenboots · 8 months ago

Text

Taking Comfort (In Your Arms) - Chapter 9

September 8, 1934 - 0600 Hours

Addie was frazzled, which wasn’t something she normally admitted. But today was a big day and she wasn’t going to let anything get in the way of her big plans. Grabbing the necessary supplies, including a bag with newspaper stuffed into it, she hurriedly made her way from the hut, hoping to catch Bucky before he left for training.

Seeing men congregate in front of the mess made her pause. Usually, they were all pushing into the door, their stomachs growling for food. Hearing the cacophony of sound that included her boyfriend’s overexcited voice made her grin. How Bucky Egan was this wide awake at 6am, God only knows?

“Who put a quarter in your boyfriend?” Buck slid up next to her mumbling while a yawn escaped. “He woke the hut up at 0430, singing loudly while the boys threw pillows and other items at him.”

Addie giggled, trying to envision the scene. “It’s his birthday, you know. And if you think John Egan normally is a pain in the ass - I’m guessing that’s going to be tenfold today.”

“Luckily you have that big surprise up your sleeve.” Buck smirked.

Addie watched Bucky sing and dance into the mess hall, knowing no one would shoot him down on his birthday. “Does he suspect anything?”

Buck quickly shook his head, popping a toothpick in his mouth. “Nope. Thank goodness he’s oblivious.”

“Thank goodness indeed. See you inside?” Addie nodded her head, giving Buck a grin before ducking into the mess hall.

Just inside the doorway, she scanned the room. Men were scattered everywhere but her eyes lit up when she found Bucky, standing near a table towards the back, with DeMarco and Blakely at his side. He was scanning the room as she made her way towards him.

“There’s my girl.” If his smile could have gotten bigger it would have. He immediately pulled her into his arms, swaying slightly as he kissed her. “Good morning, beautiful.”

She pulled back, a bright smile on her face. “Good morning and happy birthday. Heard you woke everyone up at 0430. Just couldn’t wait to get your birthday started, huh?”

“You know what they say? Early bird gets the worm.” He chuckled, just as Buck and Brady came up to the table, both wishing Bucky happy birthday.

“Glad to see you’re in a better mood, Buck.” Raising an eyebrow in his best friend’s direction, Bucky grinned.

Taking a seat, Buck gave him a look of disbelief, shaking his head. “I apologize for throwing a pillow at you this morning but waking up to an offbeat performance of Blue Skies wasn’t not in my plans.”

Addie snickered, causing Bucky’s head to whip in her direction. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”

“Usually, I am but if you woke me up with an offbeat performance of Blue Skies, I’m with Buck on this one. You’d get a pillow in the face as well.” Addie shrugged, as Buck high fived her, causing pout to cross Bucky’s face.

Plates were distributed around the table as the boys sat. Muffled conversations floated around them. Addie laughed, listening to Bucky grumble under his breath, taking a seat. Shaking her head, she placed the bag on the table in front of him. “Will this help bring you out of your grumpiness?”

“You got me a present?” His eyes lit up as she took her own seat, nodding and motioning him to open it.

Taking out the newspaper she used as filler, he placed it on the table before peering into the bag. Taking out a piece of poster board that had been folded a few times, he unfolded it to see scribbles of happy birthday wishes from almost everyone on base. “How?”

“It was in my office, and everyone came by to sign it. You are one beloved person, Egan.” Addie smiled, watching his eyes scan the makeshift card, laughing a few heartfelt wishes. He reached over and slugged Buck playfully at his well wishes. “Meatball even signed it?”

DeMarco laughed. “Don’t ask Addie how long that took when she had an artist in her back pocket that would have happily drawn a footprint. Nope, had to do it the hard way.”

“Meatball is part of the family and needed to have his footprint signature on Bucky’s card.” Addie argued, glaring at DeMarco.

“They’ve been having the same argument for the last few days.” Crosby came up to the table, dropping his plate, looking between DeMarco and Addie. “Happy Birthday, Bucky.”

Bucky nodded at him, before looking between Addie and Demarco. “I like the personalized touch Meatball added to the card. Thank you.” He stole a quick kiss from Addie, placing the card aside to continue to see what was in the bag.

Pulling out a wrapped present, he placed it on the table, slowly tearing back the tape. “Who knew Egan liked to take his time opening presents?”

Glaring up at Blakely, Bucky shook his head, shooting him a one finger salute, continuing to carefully unwrap the paper. “Maybe I want to read the news after I’m done opening this, you doodoo. Besides, I'm savoring the experience.”

As he unwrapped the present, a gasp escaped his mouth as he looked the book over. Somehow Addie had managed to find a book about the New York Yankees. “Bluebird, this is great.”

“You can’t stop talking about the Yankees so figured you might like to read about them as well.” She grinned, watching him flip through the book.

Placing the book on the table, he leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Thanks Addie.”

“There’s one more thing in there for you, John.” She winked at him.

A gasp tore from his mouth as he clutched the item, eyes widened as he looked at it. “How? These things are highly coveted.”

“What did you get, Bucky?” “Show us.” The cacophony of sound from the boys caused her to smirk.

“It’s a complete set of 1933 Goudey Baseball Cards.” He flipped through the stack of them, looking up at Addie. “How? Where?”

“Charlie collected cards for a bit and knew that these were quite rare and popular. When I saw them in a store in Norwich, I knew you would love them.” She grinned as the boys crowded closer to him to see which cards he had gotten.

Addie sat back in her chair, satisfied her gift had gone over so well. She started eating her breakfast, getting lost in her thoughts. She had been nervous to give him the presents, especially since he did so well with her birthday. She was knocked out of her thoughts as he laced his hand with hers and gave it a squeeze. Bucky looked over at her with a smirk, stealing a piece of bacon off her plate. “Birthday off to a good start?”

He winked, grinning. “The absolute best. Now if only I could get out of the training and spend the day with you.”

“Hmmm don’t see that happening so good luck with that.” She smirked, knowing if he put his mind to it, he could get out of it.

“What’s your day look like, Bluebird?” He dropped his voice, watching his boys go through his baseball cards.

Sighing, she gave him a look. “Not as fun as yours. I’m in back to back meetings all day.”

“Boo. That’s no fun.” He protested, leaning in closer to her. “Thank you for my presents. I love them.”

Squeezing his hand, she tilted her head, pressing a kiss to his lips. “You’re welcome. Happy you like them.”

“I do but love them because they came from you.” He whispered back.

“Smooth talking Egan.” Blakely cracked up ruining the quiet moment between them.

Bucky glared at him, rotating his watch to look at the time. “Five minutes boys then we got training to get to.”

Dropping her hand, Bucky tucked his presents back in the bag, pushing away from the table to stand. Offering her his hand, she slipped her hand as he helped her to her feet. They made their way out of the mess hall, stepping out into the bright sunshine as Bucky walked her over to the side of the building. He leaned against it, pulling her into his arms as his arms wrapped around her waist. She linked her arms behind his head, stepping onto her tiptoes to kiss him. “Date later after dinner?”

“What did you have in mind?” She raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his suggestion.

He hummed, stealing another kiss. “A blanket, you, me, and the crickets?”

“Cake?” Addie suggested as his eyebrows raised, nodding. “If you can whip up a cake, sure, I’d love cake.”

She nodded. “I will attempt to whip up a cake for you.”

“Come on Bucky. Don’t want to be late.” Buck yelled, giving the two of them a look.

“Have a great day, handsome. I’ll see you later at dinner.” She promised, kissing him, pushing him in Buck’s direction. “Have some fun today.”

He saluted her, walking away. She grinned, watching Buck throw his arm around Bucky’s shoulder, running his hand through Bucky’s hair roughing it up. The two squabble as they made their way to the training rooms. Watching them walk through the door, Addie looked at her watch, sighing. She had a lot to do before the boys were released from training later that morning

1015 Hours

Leaning against the jeep, she watched the boys stumble out of the training rooms with shouts and glee from being released. They quickly made their way to wherever they needed to go, leaving her alone to wait for Bucky to arrive.

“Everything set up?” Buck snuck up to her side with his normal quiet tone, causing her to jump while he cackled at scaring her.

“You need a bell, Cleven.” Attempting to slow her racing heart, she kept her eyes on the door. “Yes, everything is already there. Josie and I took everything to the field while you all were in training. You and the boys will get there at 1100 hours?”

“We’ll be there. Are you good to keep him busy for the next hour?” Buck wiggled his eyebrows up and down in anticipation.

Addie reached over and slapped him, causing him to yelp while Bucky pushed his way through the door. “You and I are fighting Buck Cleven. Get out here before he suspects something.”

“Just asking the important question, Addie. You can’t fault me for that.” Buck yelled back, walking away from her as she chuckled.

Bucky stepped up to her, looking around. “Hi, you. You okay?”

“Hi yourself. Good - your best friend is a menace, nothing new. How was training?” She asked, watching him run a hand down his face at her words.

Lacing his hands with hers, she gave it a squeeze. “Long. I know we have to do this, but it just gets redundant. It was harder today with the especially nice weather we are having and no one wanted to be inside.”

“Well, you’re done for the day, right?” She inquired as they started walking back towards the barracks and tower.

Sighing, he shook his head. “We got training again at 2 - some field where we’re going to do weapons training.”

“Sounds ominous.” She grinned. “Might have to join you all for that training. Maybe I’ll put you all to shame with my own training.”

Bucky’s eyes went wide at her words. “My girl knows how to shoot?”

“You thought with my father and Charlie both in the service that I wouldn’t know how to shoot, now did you?” She teased. “Of course, I know how to shoot and I bet I could shoot better than you.”

Bucky threw his head back and laughed. “Of that, I have no doubt.”

They continued their walk, each lost in their own thoughts. Squeezing his hand, Addie looked up at Bucky who had a crease on his forehead. “What’s going on in your head, Bucky?”

“Something’s going on but I’m not sure what.” He confessed, eyes sweeping the base.

“What do you mean? You know almost everything that goes on around the base.” She grinned at him, expecting him to return the grin.

Shaking his head, he bit his lip. “Nah, something else is going on. The guys have been much too quiet today.”

“Are we talking about the same guys? They were crazy at breakfast just like they always are. Did something happen in training?” She inquired, thinking about how the boys that they usually hung around with were awful at keeping secrets, which she assumed that’s why they had been avoiding Bucky the last few days.

Looking down at her, he tried to smile. “No, nothing happened. Just something is telling me they’re avoiding me.”

“Maybe they have a birthday secret for you up their sleeve - we all know they’re shit liars.” She joked, raising an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Maybe something will happen at dinner.”

Bucky looked into her eyes, attempting to see if they knew anything. “What do you know?”

“I know nothing - those goons don’t tell me shit, knowing I would just tell you.” She chuckled. “Besides, who knows what they have up their sleeves? Best just to wait until they reveal it.”

“You’re right.” He sighed, scrubbing his hand over his face. “Should we go get some lunch?”

She shook her head. “I have the rest of the day off - Colonel Harding is heading to London. I was thinking of taking a drive. Want to tag along?”

“Can we make a stop at the barrack so I can drop my gifts off first?” He asked, turning them towards the barracks.

She nodded, looking out onto the quiet base. Without looking at her watch, she knew the boys would be heading to the field shortly. “Where are you thinking of taking a drive?”

“There’s a lot of Dickleburgh that I haven’t seen yet. Was thinking of just driving just to drive.” She paused, smiling. “Used to love taking the car out and just driving. Elizabeth, Charlie, and I would pile into the car, Charlie usually driving and whenever we’d get to an intersection, he would ask us left, right, or straight. We’d do that for hours and would eventually get lost and attempt to figure out how to get home. One time we got so lost we had to stop and ask where we were, and we didn’t get home until well after 2200 hours. Mom and dad were so worried they were about to call the police to report us missing.”

Bucky laughed at that. “Those sound like some really happy memories.”

“They are. I think about those memories a lot.” She smiled. “Hopefully, we can do more of those random driving trips after we’re back in the US.”

Nearing the barracks, Bucky quickly ducked inside, dropping his presents. He grabbed his baseball hat, throwing it on, walking back outside. “Holy hell.”

He chuckled at Addie’s words as he stepped up into the jeep she was sitting in. “What?”

“The baseball hat.” She looked him over. “Didn’t know you would look so good with one on your head.”

“Noted, Addie likes the baseball cap.” He tapped the side of his head as she laughed, starting the engine. “I don’t get to wear it much but it feels like a piece of home.”

She shifted the gear of the jeep, looking over him as she started to drive. “Happy memories playing baseball?”

“My sisters used to play catch with me in the front yard.” He smiled, thinking back on the memory. “There was always a game being rounded up with the neighborhood kids so I was always playing. Usually the Yankees against the Cubs.”

Speeding down the street, she smiled at the happiness in his voice. “Let me guess, you were always on the Yankees?”

“I was usually the captain of the Yankees with my buddy Buck being the captain of the Cubs. We were the only two that were constant on the teams, we’d always change up the teams by picking different kids. Hell, most of those boys are probably over here serving. Would be nice to get a pick-up game going.”

She grinned. “Next day off, you should organize the boys together and get one going.”

“Would you play?” He was quick to ask, already knowing what her answer would be.

Laughing, she shook her head. “Nope, don’t have the hand eye coordination required. I suck at batting as well so you wouldn’t want me to play for your team.”

“Fair enough.” He laughed. “As long as you were there cheering, that’s all I need.”

“Someone has to keep Buck company.” She quipped back, causing him to throw his head back and laugh.

They continued on their journey through the countryside, passing more houses and farms. But there was something calming as she drove, wind whipping through her hair and him squeezing her hand every now and then. They were the only two in the world at the current moment.

Flipping her arm over, she saw that it was 1110 and she was right on time. Pulling off a side road, she hit the pedal making them speed up a bit. Bucky being thrown back into his seat at the adjusted speed. “Going a little fast there Bluebird?”

“We’re going to be late then I’ll never hear the ending of it.” She looked straight ahead, avoiding his wide eyes.

“Late?”

Her lips curled into a smile. “Just have a little bit more patience with me, Bucky. I promise you’ll love this.”

She drove a bit more before seeing the field up ahead on the left. The boys were standing around obviously waiting for something, or someone to arrive. Pulling off the road, she pulled the jeep to a stop, hopping out of it as the boys cheered at their arrival. “You’re late Adelaide.”

“I told you I would be here with him around 1115.” Rolling her eyes at DeMarco’s voice, she flipped her wrist up, looking at her watch. “And lookie that it’s 1114, which makes me early. He’s here and wondering why we’re standing around.”

Looking over her shoulder, she grinned at the confused look on Bucky’s face. “Your wish came true.” She motioned behind her. “Twenty five men to play baseball with you. Buck and I will be the cheering squad but you’re a captain along with Blakely.”

His eyes were wide as he looked around the poorly kept baseball field. “What?”

“Happy birthday.” She looked around the field and the guys that were standing around. “This is why the boys have been avoiding you and acting squirrely. This is part of your birthday surprise - a baseball game and the afternoon off.”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly as the boys catcalled and hooted. Pulling back, she pressed her fingertips to her lips as they tingled. “Have I told you how much I love you today?”

“Nope, you’re failing at that, Major.” She smirked.

He copped her jaw, running his thumb alongside it. “I love you Adelaide. Thank you for pulling this together.”

“The boys had the idea, I just orchestrated it and made you think you were in training all afternoon.” She smirked, giving him a nudge. “Go, have fun. I’ll be sitting on the jeep cheering you on.”

Jumping up on the jeep’s hood, she let her legs hang off as Buck wandered over to her, taking a seat next to her. “He seems surprised.”

“You all scared him!” She cried, reaching over and smacking his shoulder. Buck’s eyes went wide at both her cry and the slap. “He knew something was amiss but didn’t know what. I asked him to give me a few more minutes of patience just before we pulled in. I had to pull out the line about you all being shit liars, even though we all know you can keep the biggest secret, Buck and no one would know.”

Buck threw his head back and laughed loudly. “Well thank you for taking one for the team and getting him here in one piece.”

She smirked. “You’re welcome. You didn’t want to play?”

“Never been good at it.” He confessed. “Would rather watch these ‘professionals’ play. You know Bucky will be in his absolute element for the next few hours.”

Watching Bucky and Blakely discuss teams before having the men line up as they formed their teams. “Oh for sure. Should I tell them we only have four baseballs or let them hit fly balls until we run out?”

“What’s going to be more entertaining for us?” Buck shot back at her grinning wickedly.

“Let the balls fly until they run out.”

Two hours later

Josie had arrived with sandwiches and cold water for the boys. The game was still in full swing, currently the Yankees were up 6-3 and Bucky was up to bat. Josie had joined Buck and Addie on the jeep, aviators on their faces.

Addie’s eyes narrowed, watching Bucky step up to the plate, bat high over his shoulder. Blakey, surprisingly a good pitcher, wound up and threw the pitch, causing Bucky to swing and miss. Bases were loaded, DeMarco, Douglass, and Crosby all waiting and watching Bucky.

She wore under her breath, lacing her hands behind her neck. “Come on Bucky.”

Bucky smacked the gum he was chewing, throwing her a grin, getting back into batter’s stance. Blakey threw another pitch, this time his bat hit the ball with a crack, sending it into the far outfield. Addie grinned, jumping to the ground with a shrill whistle. “Great hit Bucky.”

Watching him round the bases, Addie whistled watching him stop on third as the other boys ran in for runs. 9-3 and the Yankees were winning.

Before long, Blakely’s team had caught up and the score was 9-7. Bucky was providing commentary as he stood on the sideline, his team on the field. “Big man himself, Everett Blakely, hails from Elgin, Illinois. He’s had some big plays today already, but can he hit himself a homerun and win the game for his boys. DeMarco winds up and throws a strike right down the middle.”

“Bucky, shut up!” Blakely hollered back, looking over his shoulder at the grinning Major. “You’re ruining my concentration.”

“High pressure situation, Blakely.” Bucky called back, utter amusement in his voice. “You going to show up for your boys or will the Yankees once again be victorious.”

Addie shook her head at her boyfriend’s taunts. The game had been a lot of fun to watch, each side ribbing each other naturally. Everyone was easy-going for the most part, just glad to be out of training and outside enjoying the rare England sunshine.

“Are you nervous?” Buck looked over to see a grinning Addie staring at him. “Buck Cleven, actually nervous for a game?”

Buck rolled his eyes, pushing his shoulder into her side. “You know how he’s going to be if his team loses.”

“Nah, I think the high of having a baseball game on his birthday will outrun the outcome.” She looked out, seeing DeMarco wind up before throwing the ball. Blakely’s bat caught an inch of the ball but Douglass quickly caught the popup ball, calling the game to be over.

Addie watched both teams line up and hit hands, calling a good game to each other. Bucky threw a bit more taunting in while the boys ribbed him.

“What now?” DeMarco yelled, his arm thrown around Josie’s shoulder before stealing a kiss from her.

Addie shook her head grinning. “That’s all that was planned. You all have the rest of the afternoon off so don’t go causing trouble or Harding will have my hide.”

The men saluted her, already making plans for back at base. She heard several calls for a game of poker while others were going to the Officer’s Club for some drinks. Buck, DeMarco, and Josie hopped into the jeep and yelled that they’d see them back on base.

Bucky wandered over, throwing an arm around Addie’s shoulder, pressing a kiss to her lips. “Best birthday ever.”

“Ever?” She raised an eyebrow at him. “That’s some high praises, Major.”

Bucky nodded. “Ever. Might even have to put that in a letter home to ma when I write to her.”

“Aww, you write your mom.” Addie looked up at him, eyes shielded by her aviators grinning.

Bucky scoffed. “You didn’t think I wrote my mother?”

“I mean I’ve never seen you write out a letter before.” She defended. “Besides, this is the first time you’ve ever mentioned it.”

His cheeks blushed a little at her proclamation. “I can’t believe I didn’t tell you that I wrote to her. I even mentioned you in a few letters.”

Addie’s eyes went wide at that. Sure, they had been dating for a while and her family knew about him but she didn’t stop to think that he had mentioned her to his family. “What?”

Bucky threw his head back and laughed. “You didn’t think I didn’t write to my mother about you, Bluebird? I wrote to her back in May after I found you in that fort and told her that I thought I met my match. Since then she has asked about you in all the corresponding letters. Even my sisters have started to ask about you.”

She didn’t say anything, letting his words swirl around. He had written to his mother about her. She wanted to know more but was scared to ask. What had he told her? Would he divulge her past and antics?

Tilting her head up to meet his eyes, Bucky could see the storm raging in them. Her stormy eyes met his concerned ones as a small smile crossed her lips. “You’re worried that she won’t like you?”

“Among other things.” Addie whispered, giving him a look.

Bucky shook his head, chuckling. “Come on, let’s go back to base. There’s something I want to show you.”

Taking her hand, he led her to the Jeep, helping her get in before driving them back to base. The entire drive, she was lost in her thoughts about what he had written to his family. She knew Bucky was in love with her but the fact that her past wasn’t all that pleasant might have sat right with others, especially his family.

She was knocked out of her thoughts as Bucky pulled the jeep to a stop in front the Tower, yanking the keys out. “Meet me at “Our Baby” in like 15 minutes, okay?”

Addie gave him a look, nodding. She quickly headed back to her barracks grabbing his last surprise before making her way onto the tarmac. Taking a seat under the wheel of the fort, she let her head fall back, lost in thought. Her family loved him - at least Charlie and her father did. She had written Elizabeth about him and in every letter, she wrote back, she inquired about him and just wanted Addie to be happy. In her last letter, Elizabeth mentioned that she couldn’t wait to meet the famous John Egan that both her father and brother couldn’t stop talking about.

Heavy footsteps drug her out of her thoughts. Looking up, she plastered a smile on her face at the sight of Bucky coming closer to her. He spread out a blanket before sitting on it, patting the side for her to come closer to him. “Come here Bluebird.”

She moved, settling in beside him. Before she could say anything, he held up a few envelopes. “Letters from Manitowoc, Wisconsin.”

“Bucky, those are your personal letters.” She started, before he shook his head.

Lacing his hand with hers, he gave it a squeeze. “You’re worried about what they would think - I can tell, so don't lie. So I figured if you saw with your own eyes what they think, that’ll help calm some of that fear and anxiety.”

Taking one of the letters, she opened it, skimming the warm cursive strokes of a pen. Towards the bottom, she picked up the words “she seems like a lovely girl and anyone who can keep up with you is a winner in my book. I cannot wait to meet her.”

Tears welled up in her eyes at the words. “She can’t wait to meet me?”

“That’s what she wrote. I told her about you delivering the B-17 from Ratcliff. And you giving me a lecture about keeping us on the download.” Bucky grinned. “Why wouldn’t I write my ma about the girl I love? And hopefully, one day call my wife?”

Sniffling, Addie looked up at him with tears streaming down her face. “I’m sorry I didn’t think about that. It just took me by surprise when you mentioned you had written to them. You’ve been two-thirds of my family so it’s only fair that you write yours about me.”

“Trust me, Bluebird, they already love you. They just haven’t met you yet but that will happen just as soon as we win this war and get home.” Bucky promised, leaning over to wipe the tears that had fallen away.

Squeezing his hand, she silently promised that would indeed happen. “I can’t wait to meet them.”

“Do you want to read the rest of these?” Bucky held up the other four envelopes grinning.

Shaking her head, she reached up and wiped away the stray tears. “Maybe later. I have two more things for you.”

“Bluebird, you’ve spoiled me enough already.” He chuckled, watching her fight a laugh from escaping.

“Bucky you’re an easy person to spoil.” She held up a box. “This didn’t cost me anything before you started yelling at me.”

Handing him the box, she watched him pop it open, eyes going wide at the watch sitting in between the velvet. “Bluebird, what’s this?”

“It was my grandpa’s - my mom’s dad. He served in WWI and when he passed, I inherited the watch. I used to be fascinated by it when we would go visit.” She paused. “I know you have an army regulated one but I thought you might want to wear this instead. I took it into town for a new battery and strap but the sentiment is there. I even had something engraved on the back.”

Flipping over the watch, he held it up to see the engraving. Forever yours, Addie. “I will cherish it always, Addie. Thank you.”

Placing the watch back in the box, he closed it, putting it on the blanket beside them. Leaning forward, he cupped her jaw, placing a kiss on her lips before pulling back and placing another on her wrist. “I love you, Adelaide.”

“I love you too, Bucky.” She whispered, reaching behind her for his last present. She lit a match, lighting the candle.

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear John, happy birthday to you.” She quietly sang, holding a Twinkie with a candle in it. “Make a wish, Bucky.”

Closing his eyes, he made his wish before gently blowing out the candle. “To whatever you wish, may it come true.”

Watching her take the candle out of the Twinkie, she broke it in half, giving him a piece. As she popped her piece into her mouth, his thoughts turned to needing to get a ring sooner rather than later.

July 16, 1943, 0900 Hours

“Captain Baker?” Harding yelled from his office as she sighed, pushing back from her desk. Grabbing a legal pad of paper and a pen, she headed towards his office, peeking in. “Oh, there you are Baker. There’s a plane coming in about 20 minutes - a couple of new pilots that I’d like you to meet and show around the base.”

“Who am I looking for?” Addie asked, making notes on her pad of paper.

Handing over a folder, she took it from him before flipping it open, raising an eyebrow. “Robert Rosenthal?”

“Have you heard of him before?” Harding looked up at her from the document he was reviewing.

She sighed. “His name came up a few weeks ago in documents I was reviewing. He’s made quite a name for himself, just surprised he came here instead of Ratcliff or London.”

“We’re lucky to have him.” Harding smirked. “He’ll have his copilot Lewis with him along with Nash, and Speas. Can you show them around and drop them off at the barracks? Let them know about the shindig tonight.”

Addie nodded. “When is Dye anticipated to be back?”

“Around 1100 hours. You going to be out there?” Harding asked, dropping the paper onto his desk, leaning back in his chair, giving her a look.

“Wouldn’t miss it. It’ll be good to see a team reach 25 - we haven’t had that in a while.” She murmured.

Harding murmured in agreement. Addie gave him another look. “Do you need anything else sir? I’ll go meet them if not.”

“Nothing right now, Baker. Thank you.” She nodded, retreating from his office, going back to her desk.

Dropping her pad of paper and folder onto her desk, she grabbed her flight jacket, throwing it on before picking up a set of keys. Nodding to Josie, she took her leave from the tower. Not in a big hurry, she walked down the stairs, breeze ruffling her hair as she slid on her aviators. Running a hand through her hair, she hopped into the jeep, gunning the engine. Cruising down the runway, she tracked the incoming fort as it landed and navigated towards the hardstand. Following behind it, she pulled to a stop as the plane’s engines came to a silent stop. Getting out of the jeep, she leaned against it, watching the crews chock the tires as the hatch was thrown open and men started jumping down from the plane.

“Rosenthal?” She called, pushing herself off the jeep, walking towards them, hand already extended.

“Yes ma’am. Robert Rosenthal. This is Lieutenants Nash, Speas, and Lewis.” He quickly introduced them, shaking her hand as she shook the other gentlemen. “And you are?”

“Captain Adelaide Baker, but you can call me Addie. It’s nice to meet you all. If you come along, I’ll give you a quick tour of the base before dropping you off at the barracks.” She smiled, leading them back to the jeep.

Jumping into the driver’s seat, she watched them all pile in, with Rosenthal sitting beside her. “Welcome to Thorpe Abbotts.”

“Thank you, Captain. It’s nice to finally do something within the war.” Rosenthal smiled back, tilting his hat in her direction.

Humming, she started the engine before driving the jeep towards the barrack. “You’ll do something alright. Were you all pilots before the war?”

“No, lawyer.” Rosenthal commented as her eyes went wide. “You?”

“I came over in 41 as an ATA pilot, ferrying forts around England.” She smiled. “Now I’m a secretary for the US Air Force.”

Rosenthal’s face held about twelve different emotions, none of which she could discern. “That sounds like an interesting story.”

“It is Rosenthal, and one day I’ll tell you all about it.” She promised, pulling to a stop in front of the barracks. “This is your barracks boys. Three huts down is the mess hall. There’s a party in the officer’s hut, which is back there later tonight - starting at 2000 hours. Hope to see you all there. If there’s anything I can assist with, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Thank you, Addie.” Rosental hopped out of the jeep, grabbing his bag. “And Addie?”

Raising an eyebrow at him, she smiled. “Yeah?”

“You can call me Rosie. Rosenthal is too much of a mouthful.” He winked, causing her to chuckle at him.

“Rosie it is.” She chuckled, watching him and the other three duck into the barracks, causing her to shake her head.

2000 Hours

Walking into the Officer’s Club, she grinned hearing “In the Mood” being played by the band. Her eyes swept the area looking for anyone she knew. Looking towards the bar, she grinned seeing Bucky leaning against the bar. Making her way over to him, his face split into a grin, pulling her closer to him. “Hello there, gorgeous. Haven’t seen you all day.”

“In and out of meetings and meeting new pilots will do that.” She quipped, looking over at the bartender and motioning him to head over. Placing an order for a Moscow Mule, she stepped closer to Bucky.

“Meeting new pilots?” He mused, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “I thought I was the only one that got door to door service.”

She chuckled, picking up the glass the bartender had placed on the counter. “You were the first but not the last.”

“How many pilots came in today?” He asked, taking a sip from his flask.

Wrapping her arm around his back, she let her hand trail up and down comfortingly. “I picked four up and gave them a nickel tour of the base. Invited them to the fiesta so you’ll meet them at some point.”

“There’s so many new faces around.” Bucky mused, eyes trailing around the room, picking up so many new faces around. “I hardly know any of the new guys.”

Taking a sip, Addie sighed. “I see names on a roster, but I couldn’t point out who’s who if you gave me names.”

They fell silent, taking in the scene as they drank, watching couples dance and laughter rang out from around them. Both of them were lost in their thoughts as Buck sided up to them. “You two look like you’re going to a funeral instead of a fiesta. Why the sour mood?”

“So many new faces around here - don’t know one from the other.” Bucky gave his best friend a look. “It’s almost as if we go down, none of them will remember us.”

Addie’s eyes went wide at his words. “Bucky . . .”

“It’s true, Addie. Outside of you, would anyone remember us if we went down?” Bucky argued back, shaking his head, taking another sip of whiskey.

Buck looked between the two. “What does it matter, Bucky? You’re not here to be popular. You’re here to do a job and get home.”

Running his thumb over his lip, Bucky gave Buck a hard look. “You’re right.”

“Of course I’m right.” Buck gave him a look before looking over at Addie. “Cheer up Bucky and get out of your head - enjoy tonight. We’re celebrating Dye and his crew.”

Addie looked at him. “Come dance with me.”

Leaving their drinks behind at the bar, Addie pulled him out onto the dance floor, arms going around his shoulders as his arms wrapped around her waist.

They got lost in the music as the dance floor grew crowded with more couples as the music kicked up. A laugh escaped her mouth as Bucky danced wildly with her. After dancing three songs, she pushed him in the direction of his boys while she went to get a glass of water to cool down.

Standing at the bar, sipping her water, she watched Harding gather the boys around. Narrowing her eyes, she watched Bucky swat the back of his hand to Harding’s chest before watching Harding do it back. She let her eyes trail from Harding and Bucky to Buck, watching his jaw tighten, just in case he needed to step in.

Harding stepped back, calling over his shoulder. “Single fillies, gentlemen.”

The boys followed behind Harding, heading towards the dance floor as Buck turned to Bucky, eyes full of concern. “I think you should have the Colonel get you a weekend pass to London.”

“Mmm . . . you should come, Buck. London. Live it Up.” Bucky shot back, giving his best friend a look.

Buck shook his head. “Maybe next time.” Pushing off the bar, he crouched down and scratched Meatball’s scruff before picking him up and heading to the dance floor. Addie smiled, watching the pair dance as Bucky called out, “I’m telling Marge, Buck.”

Stepping up to Bucky’s side, she slid her arm in the crook of his elbow. “You need a break, Bucky.”

“That’s what Buck just told me.” He sighed, running a hand over his face. “I’m going to talk to Harding about a London pass. Will you come?”

She looked up at him, locking eyes with him. She could see the pleading in them for her to accompany her. “I’m not sure he’ll grant it but I can ask.”

“You’ll ask?” Bucky’s voice was unsteady as he looked at her.

Reaching an arm around his waist, she leaned into him, placing a kiss on his lips. “Yes, I’ll ask first thing tomorrow morning.”

Chapter 10

Thank you for reading! Feedback would be greatly appreciated!

#addie + john #Masters of the Air Fan Fiction #MOTA Fan Fiction #John Egan Fan Fiction #John Egan x OC #taking comfort (in your arms)

13 notes · View notes