Chapter Text
Chapter 1
Tim nervously walked into the store and looked around. The lady behind the counter looked at him and smiled sweetly.
Lady: Can I help you sir?
Tim: I'm actually waiting for someone to join me.
Lady: If you want, I can show you a couple of items before your girlfriend gets here.
Tim: Oh, um. My girlfriend.
Lady: Most guys get nervous in a place like this, don’t worry about it. I’m going to get a couple of samples to show you and you can look at them while you wait.
Tim: Okay, thank you.
The lady goes into the back of the store leaving Tim alone in the front. Tim knows that asking Lucy to marry him is the best thing he could ever do, so he was confused as to why he was getting nervous. He really wanted Angela and Tamara to be here with him, to help him chose the ring. Where were they? Tim decided he was going to call Angela to find out what was taking them so long to get here when the lady came out with a box of 6 different rings.
Lady: Why don’t you come and check these out. All of these rings are custom made, we don’t create any two that are alike. I really hope you can find one that your fiancé will love.
Tim walks over to counter and slowly looks at each ring. When he got the 5th ring he stopped. This ring was perfect, it was exactly what Lucy would want.
Tim: This one. This is the ring I want for my girlfriend.
Just then the door opens and Tim sees Angela and Tamara walk in.
Tim: Thank you both for coming, I was starting to get nervous that I would have to make this decision all on my own.
Angela: Sorry we weren’t here on time; we had a little situation come up.
Tim: Situation?
Tamara: Lucy pulled up in front of the house right before Angela did
Tim: Oh
Angela: So, I drove around the block until Tamara texted that Lucy had gone inside.
Tamara: But Lucy wanted to know who I was waiting for cuz I told her I was meeting a guy
Tim: Tamara
Tamara: What? It’s not like I lied. I told her I was meeting a guy which is technically true. You are a guy and I am meeting you.
Tim: But you made her think you were dating someone and she got nervous.
Tamara: Okay so what did you want me to say? Hi Lucy I’m meeting your boyfriend at a jewelry store so he could buy you a ring.
Tim: No, but you didn’t have to make her worry.
Tamara: I didn’t know what else to say. Anyway, she tried waiting with me. Eventually Angela called to see if it was safe and I told Lucy that he called to cancel but since I was hungry, I wanted to go for lunch anyway.
Tim: And let me guess, she offered to join you.
Tamara: Of course, she did. But I told her that this was her day off and she should spend it at home alone and I was okay eating lunch by myself. So, she went inside and I met Angela around the corner in case Lucy was spying on me out the window and then we came straight here.
Tim: Okay well you’re here now.
Angela: Did you look around yet?
Tim: Yes, and I found the most perfect ring for her. You want to see it?
Angela: Of course, we do.
Angela and Tamara walked over to the counter and looked at the rings that the lady had picked out. They both looked at each ring slowly and eventually Tamara pointed to ring number 5.
Tamara: Tim,
I hope you picked this one. This is perfect for Lucy.
Tim looked and smiled
Tim: Yup that was my choice.
Lady: He’s not lying. That was his choice.
Angela: It really is a stunning piece.
Tim: I’m really doing this. I’m going to buy that ring.
Tamara: I'm so happy for you both. You really deserve it.
Tim turned back towards the lady who went to pack up the ring when the door opened up once again and in walked a guy all dressed in black with a black ski mask on his face. Tim instinctively pulled Tamara behind him when the guy pulled out his gun and started waving it at him.
Robber: Open the safe! Now! Give me all the money in the safe.
Lady: Excuse me.
Robber: You heard me. Give me everything from the safe right now and no one gets hurt.
Lady: I don't have access to the safe.
Robber: Then I will shoot these nice people and then kill you too.
Lady: Let me see what I can do.
The lady goes to the back and Tamara looks at Tim.
Tamara: Shouldn’t we call in the cops?
Angela: I think Tim is going to want to try and get us out of this without calling it in.
Tamara: Why not?
Tim: If it gets called in Lucy will know about it and she will find out that the three of us were here.
Tamara: I don’t think a surprise proposal will matter if we are all dead.
Tim: We’re not going to die.
Tamara: How can you be so sure about it?
Angela: Because the gun is empty.
Tamara: What? How do you know that.
Tim: We’re cops, that is something we have to know.
The lady comes out from the back hands the guy a small package. He looks at it, then looks at her and walks right out of the store.
Lady: I'm so sorry about that.
Angela: What just happened?
Lady: My boss said that he comes in once a month dressed like that, waving an unloaded gun until he gets what’s in the safe.
Angela: And what was in the envelope you gave him?
Lady: I don’t know but my boss said to give it to him and he will leave.
Angela: If it ever escalates, call me.
Lady: And who are you?
Angela: Detective Angela Lopez and that is Sargent Tim Bradford, LAPD. His fiancé is also a cop. You need us, we will be here to help you.
Lady: Wait, you're not the fiancé?
Angela: Nope, I’m just the best friend.
Lady: Okay, well I’m sorry about all of that.
Tim: It's okay. As long as no one got hurt I will let it slide for now. Anyway, the ring. When can I come pick it up?
Lady: In about a week or so. I’m going to make sure that we get it in her size and then I will package it up nicely for you. I will call you when it’s in.
Tim: Thank you.
Tim, Angela and Tamara left the store and now that he had bought the ring, Tim knew it was time to start planning the actual proposal. As both he and Lucy had the day off, they had planned a date night and when Tim looked at his watch, he saw that he was running late. Ever since they had each started working more hours, they made the effort to make sure that they had at least one night a week that they both didn’t have to work where they went out together. And today was the day this week they were both off. It didn’t have to be anything too fancy but he knew it was important that they spend time together just the two of them. They had never missed a date night yet since they started dating and now that he was so close to proposing he had no intention to start missing date nights now. So, Tim put the proposal planning aside for a different day and quickly drove home to get ready for their date.
Lucy was dressed and waiting for Tim to pick her up when Tamara walked through the door.
Lucy: How was lunch?
Tamara: It was very nice. How was your afternoon?
Lucy: Good relaxing.
Tamara: You going somewhere now?
Lucy: Yeah, it's date night with Tim.
Tamara: Oh, cool. Enjoy.
Lucy: Thanks. Don’t wait up for me. Not sure how late I'll get back.
Tamara: I never wait up for you on date nights. You and Tim always end up coming home way after I'm fast asleep.
Lucy: Sorry.
Tamara: Where do you go on date night?
Lucy: Every week is something different.
Tamara: And tonight?
Lucy: Tim wanted to do paintball then the food trucks. Not sure after that though.
Tamara: Sounds fun.
Lucy: You want me to bring you something home for dinner?
Tamara: No, I'm still full from lunch. I’ll be okay. You just go and have fun with Tim. I’ll see you tomorrow.
Lucy: Good night.
Lucy slipped on her shoes and then left the apartment. She got outside just as Tim was pulling up in his truck. Tim, like always, opened the door for her and she kissed him gently before buckling.
Tim: Hey babe, how was your day?
Lucy: Good and yours?
Tim: Better now that you’re here?
Lucy: That bad?
Tim: My day always becomes better when I see you.
Lucy: Tim
Tim: What it’s true.
Lucy: Fine. Are we going out or what?
Tim: Yes, we're going.
Lucy: Good.
Their date went well like it usually did, and Tim as always kissed Lucy by the front door before watching her walk inside her apartment before he left for his own home. Tim had hoped to one day move in with Lucy but somehow the timing had never felt right so he hadn’t brought it up. At this point he decided to wait until they were engaged as he wanted to surprise her with the most amazing house, and honeymoon after the wedding.
He still wasn’t certain on all the details but it was still a long way off and he had enough time to plan to make sure it worked out perfectly. For now, he had to focus on the proposal first. Once Lucy was inside Tim drove home and as he was so exhausted, he fell asleep before he even had a chance to start thinking about the proposal.
The next several days Tim was so busy he didn’t have a minute to spare. On the day of their date night Tim was trying to figure out if it was even possible for him to meet up with Lucy as he had been called in to work and it didn’t look like he would be able to leave in time to spend some time with her that evening. Tim was trying to figure out what to do when his phone rang. He looked down and saw that Lucy was calling him.
Tim: Hi Lucy, everything okay?
Lucy: Yeah, just wanted to know what time you wanted to meet up tonight.
Tim: I have no clue. Pine called in sick and I was forced to come in and we’ve been swamped all day.
Lucy: Do you want to cancel for tonight?
Tim: No! No, I really don’t. Look I’m going to make it work tonight. I promised you that.
Lucy: I know, but please don’t make yourself too crazy. Things happen and it’s okay if you can’t make it tonight.
Tim: No, Lucy that would not be okay. I will not be the first one to cancel date night.
Lucy: Okay, so what’s your plan.
Tim: I'm going to cancel half the date, give me 3 hours to finish up here, and instead of an activity I’ll meet you directly at the restaurant if that’s okay.
Lucy: So, canceling half the date is better than canceling completely?
Tim: As long as you and I get to spend some time together tonight, I think that is what is most important.
Lucy: Okay, thanks, see you later.
Tim did make it to the restaurant in time and Lucy was really happy that he had shown up. They had promised each other when they started dating that they would never let the job get in the way of their relationship and the fact that he had shown up for at least a little really meant a lot to her, and Tim knew that which was why he didn’t tell her that he still had to go back and finish his work once he dropped her off.
When Lucy saw Tim at the station the next day, she noticed that he was more tired than usual, but she didn’t say anything because she didn’t want to make him feel bad. She did feel bad that he pushed himself too hard because of her but she also really did appreciate how hard he was trying to make this work between them.
Tim was starting to get worried; the store was going to call any day now to tell him that the ring for Lucy was ready but he still hadn’t planned out how he was going to ask. So, he took half the day off of work to plan it out. He finally had it all figured out besides for one small detail so he walked back into the station to talk to Angela.
Tim: Lopez, you got a minute?
Angela: Sure, what's up?
Tim: I wanted to ask you a question regarding the proposal.
Angela: Oooh! The ring is ready?
Tim: Not yet, but I wanted to plan it all out so that as soon as it is I could ask her, but I wanted to know if you
Angela: Tim stop! Tim!
Tim: What?
Angela: Turn around
Tim turned around to see Lucy and Tamara walking towards them
Tim: Thanks
Lucy: Thanks for what?
Tim: Um, nothing. Lopez was just helping me figure something out.
Lucy: You sure? Cuz your acting weird. Is everything okay?
Tim: Yup, all good. Everything is fine. Why are you here? Thought you had the day off.
Lucy: I did, but they asked if I could help with some undercover thing.
Tim: Oh, so no date night?
Lucy: Um, no, I never said that. They asked for my help, never said I’m going under.
Tim: So, what about tonight?
Lucy: I wouldn't miss it for the world Tim.
Tim: Okay.
Lucy: I gotta run, I’ll see you later.
Tim: Okay great. See you later.
Angela: That was close
Tamara: What was close?
Angela: Tim was talking about his proposal plan when you both walked in.
Tamara: Oh, okay Bradford lets here it, what's the plan?
Just then Tim’s phone rang. He looked down and saw that the store was calling him
Tim: One second, it’s the jewelry shop.
Tamara: So, answer it
Angela: What are you waiting for?
Tim took a deep breath and then answered the call.
Tim: Hello
Lady: Hi, Mr. Bradford?
Tim: Speaking
Lady: I'm calling from the jewelry store regarding the ring you purchased from us last week.
Tim: Yes, is it ready? Cuz I'm waiting for it so I can propose.
Lady: I know um, I’m not sure how to say this
Tim: What’s wrong? What happened?
Lady: Your ring came in last night and one of the other sales ladies sold it before I had a chance to call you.
Tim: so, what does that mean?
Lady: The ring you wanted for your girlfriend is gone.
Tim: Gone? My ring is gone? Who bought it? Maybe I can get it back.
Lady: I'm really sorry. I can’t give you that information, but why don’t you come back down here and we can see if we can try to find you a different ring.
Tim hung up the phone and started to panic.
Angela: Tim, talk to me. What happened to Lucy’s ring?
Tim: Some other guy came in this morning said the ring was perfect for his girlfriend. He paid and walked out of the store with the ring, my ring. Lucy’s ring.