Chapter Text
the one where Genny finds out
Genny knew something was up when Tim didn’t answer his phone right away. He always made sure to answer her calls. She tried again but still no answer, she knew that Tim was probably busy or he had to go back to work. But he always answered her calls. She sighed and put her phone down. She had other things to do than chase Tim down. She would try to call him again later. She wanted to invite him over for dinner because even though he was coaching the baseball team they still never had time to get together.
Genny really was busy so she forgot about trying to reach Tim. Two days went by and Genny realized it was Thursday. She was planning the dinner for Saturday..
She sighed and picked up her phone to call her brother. He answered on the first ring barking out a hello.
“Thank god you finally you answered your phone.” She tutted at him. She heard the rustle of covers and then he whispered something. It took a minute for Genny to realize the whisper wasn’t directed towards her.
“Do you have someone in bed with you Timothy?” She asked trying not to laugh.
“Uh yes. Kojo.” He said and Genny rolled her eyes. There was no way in hell that her Type A, to the book, clean freak brother would let his dog in his bed or on any furniture for that matter.
“Since when do you let Kojo on your bed?” She questioned him. She heard him sigh and then heard another voice. Soft and sweet (not Kojo).
Tim snorted and then his voice was back in her ear. “What do you want Genny?”
“I was wondering if you wanted to have dinner with me and the boys on Saturday. You could bring Kojo and you know whoever.”
“Sure sounds great Gen.” he heard the voice again. “Fuck.” She heard Tim mutter and there was another whisper.
“I gotta go Gen. See you Saturday.” And the line went dead.
Genny snorted to herself. She was 100% sure there was someone in bed with Tim. And she was even more sure that person was Lucy. She knew how close her brother and his former rookie were. She knew they both would go to the ends of the earth for each other. She really hoped it was Lucy because she honestly had never seen her brother happier than when he was when he was with Lucy. It was different with Isabel, he was happy but she broke him in so many ways after. Genny had no hard feelings towards Isabel, she was happy she got the help she needed. Genny was just happy that Tim had the chance to be happy again.
Saturday came before Genny knew it and she was racing all over the house getting thing ready yelling at the boys to help. She knew Tim would be on time so she was in a rush getting everything prepared. She told the boys to clean up the mess they made in the living room and then she set the table. She wasn’t sure why she was trying so hard. This was only Tim and possibly his girlfriend. He hadn’t actually said he was bringing anyone.
Two hours later, right on the dot the doorbell rang. Tyler ran to open it knowing Kojo was on the other side. Genny followed her son and saw Tim holding a very excitable Kojo.
“Take him to the back.” She heard Tim say to Tyler and her son grabbed the leash and led the dog through the house. She stepped into view and saw her brother and Lucy.
She grinned to herself before ushering them in. Tim had his hand on Lucy’s lower back as he leads her in. He doesn’t even notice Genny grinning at them. Finally he looked up at Genny.
“What?” He frowned at her expression. She nodded toward Lucy who was looking away from them.
Tim rolled his eyes. “What about it?”
“You two really do spend a lot of time together.” At this Lucy turned to look at them both. She laughed at the expression on Tim’s face.
“Tim.” Lucy said and Tim turned to look at her, he was still frowning but Genny could see it wasn’t serious.
“Everyone basically knows about us. We might as well tell your sister.” Lucy made her way back to Tim’s side and he immediately wrapped her in his arms as if that was what was grounding him.
“Okay fine.” He turned to Genny. “Lucy and I are dating.” He said. Genny tried not to laugh. She kept a neutral expression on her face and didn’t say anything. Tim pulled Lucy closer to him and frowned.
“Well?” He prompted.
“Well what?” She asked him.
“Aren’t you surprised? I mean I didn’t even introduce you to—”
Genny did burst out laughing then. She saw Lucy hide her face in Tim’s chest.
“Surprised? Tim I saw this coming a mile away.”
Tim glared at her. “What do you mean? You didn’t know we were—”
Genny rolled her eyes and sighed loudly. “Timothy. She came and helped you coach Tyler’s baseball team. She helped with the house.. I knew a long time ago you guys weren’t just friends.”
Lucy looked up at this at then at Tim. “Babe you aren’t exactly subtle.” She said lovingly.
“And you are?” He snapped back at her. She just rolled her eyes reaching up to place a kiss on his cheek.
Genny just shook her head at them smiling. Despite the annoyed look on her brother’s face, she could tell he was happy.
Later that night after they had dinner and Lucy was outside with boys and Kojo. Genny found Tim in the kitchen washing the dishes. Because of course he was.
“Hey you don’t need to do that. That’s Tyler’s job.” She winked at him and Tim shut the water off looking at her, he looked relaxed and comfortable. She loved seeing Tim like this. After everything with their father, Isabel and everything else he had been through. Tim deserved this.
“You’re happy.” She commented and Tim looked at her and smiled.
“Yea I am.” He glanced behind him at the backyard and Genny saw his eyes on Lucy.
“She’s everything good in this world and I can’t believe she chose me.” Genny shook her head. Despite everything Tim still didn’t think he deserved something good.
“She chose you because she wanted too Tim.” Said Genny softly. “I’m glad you are happy.”
Tim tore his eyes away from Lucy and looked at her. “Thanks Gen.”
(Genny made sure to invite the couple over at least once a month. And each time she did, they seemed happier and happier. It was a good thing seeing Tim this happy. He deserved it).
After Genny found out about Tim and Lucy there really was no one else in their lives to find out about them. Tim and Lucy were actually relived at the revelation and to be honest there were tired of keeping it a secret. They were still professional at work of course and they had their double dates with Angela and Wesley. They had their monthly dinners with Genny. So they were in the clear. Until of course Vanessa Chen saw them together. Vanessa hadn’t actually talked to her daughter in a long time. Last she heard she was dating a lawyer which good for her. Maybe she was learning from her mistakes. But when Vanessa saw her with a very tall, very frown man she realized maybe Lucy hadn’t learned from her mistakes.
the one where Lucy’s parents find out
Vanessa Chen was a women on a mission. She wanted to go into the store and get the ingredients for dinner tonight and then leave. But of course the universe had other plans. Instead of going alone her husband had insisted on coming. Vanessa signed as they pulled up in the parking lot.
Patrick and Vanessa both walked into the store silently. Vanessa grabbed a cart and gave her husband a sharp look.
“This shouldn’t take long.” She said and he nodded and followed along in the store. Vanessa was turning the cart down the drink aisle when she heard a familiar laugh. She glanced at Patrick who was looking at a carton of cranberry juice. Vanessa glanced down the aisle but there wasn’t anyone else in it. The laugh must of come from another aisle. Vanessa pushed the cart down to end of the aisle and looked around the corner and her heart almost stopped.
It was Lucy but she wasn’t alone she was with a very tall man whose hand was a little too low for Vanessa’s liking.
“Tim.” She heard Lucy say. “We are in public.” She was trying to frown but Vanessa could see she liked the attention this Tim was giving her.
She had to say something. She hadn’t seen her daughter in forever. Maybe it was her choice. Or Lucy’s she wasn’t sure at this point. She glanced back at Patrick who was looking at her curiously. She motioned for him to come and he did. He looked where Vanessa was looking and his jaw dropped. Vanessa stood there for a few more seconds debating on how she was going to go about this.
“Excuse me.” Came a gruff voice and Vanessa looked up to see the man Lucy had been with trying to get through the aisle.
Vanessa merely blinked at him. “I need to get through.” He said and Vanessa moved over not saying a word.
“Tim where did you—” Lucy was now in front of them a look of shock on her face. “Mom? Dad?” She looked between them. “What—”
At Lucy’s voice the man had turned around and saw them. He immediately came to Lucy’s side grabbing her hand.
“Luce? What’s wrong.” He asked and Vanessa noted how gentle he was with her.
“Um Tim.” Lucy gulped her face pale. “This is mom and dad.” Vanessa looked at her husband who was staring at Lucy still as if she were a ghost.
Tim gripped Lucy’s hand and held out his other hand to Vanessa.
“Tim Bradford ma’am.”
Tim Bradford why did that seem familiar?
Vanessa shook his hand but let it go immediately realizing who he was.
“Oh Lucy you didn’t.” Vanessa chided her daughter. Because honestly sleeping with her superior was not who her daughter was.
Lucy sighed and Patrick looked at her in confusion. “What’s wrong?”
“He‘s her superior.” Vanessa hissed as if they weren’t standing right there.
“Actually ma’am.” Said Tim before Patrick could say anything. Vanessa looked up at him. “I’m not. Lucy is a patrol officer and I’m a metro sergeant. We are in different divisions.”
Vanessa blinked at him. “So you didn’t sleep with him to get to the top?”
Lucy shook her head. “No. I would never do that. Do you real like think that low of me and my job?”
Vanessa shrugged. It was almost if she didn’t even know her daughter anymore. Not the one she raised.
Lucy rolled her eyes at her response and then turned to her dad. She had a determine look in her eyes one Vanessa knew all too well.
“What do you think dad? Are you going to insult my relationship too?”
Patrick sighed. “Lucy we just want to be proud of you and you are not making the best decisions.”
“I’m happy. That’s all that should matter to you. Tim makes me happy and before you say it we did everything right.”
She looked to Tim who was just staring at her fondly.
“I don’t need your approval for my job, my relationship or anything else. You made it clear a long time ago that you weren’t happy with me no matter how hard I tried.”
Vanessa stared at her, wanting to say something but not knowing what. Patrick was silent too.
“Goodbye mom. Goodbye dad. I hope someday you will come to your senses and realize I’m still your daughter.”
Vanessa watched as they both turned around and headed away from her and Patrick. She saw Tim bend down to say something in her ear and they were close enough still Vanessa could hear it. “You did good baby. I’m so proud of you.” Tim stood up straight and looked behind him. He met Vanessa’s eyes and he shook his head and then turned back to Lucy. He gripped her hand and they walked off without another glance back.
Vanessa stood there frozen. She wanted her daughter to be happy. She seemed happy so that’s was all that mattered right?
She wasn’t sure. She still didn’t approve of Lucy being a cop. She knew it was going to take awhile to gain Lucy’s trust back. And she wasn’t sure if their relationship would ever be the same.
Vanessa sighed and motioned for Patrick to follow. She wanted to get out of here. The overwhelming feeling of anger, frustration and guilt seeing her.
Maybe one day they would get their daughter back but it wasn’t going to be today.
(In the end Vanessa never reached out to Lucy, still feeling disappointed in her. Lucy didn’t mind. She had her found family who supported her. And that’s all that mattered.)
Everyone in their life knew at this point. They were supportive of the couple, every single one of their friends loved seeing Tim and Lucy happy and together. There were the bitter ones (Chris and Ashley) who didn’t know why Tim and Lucy chose each other. There were the best friends (Angela) who teased Tim every chance she got. There were the ones they scarred for life (Nolan and Aaron) who just went along with the flow of the couple. There were the ones (Genny and Nyla) who like Angela teased them relentlessly for not being subtle at all. And there was Smitty, Celina and Wesley who just wanted good things for the both of them. In the end Tim and Lucy had people who supported them and loved them not matter what. For them that was what mattered. And they had each other, and really that was the most important thing.
Fin.