Chapter Text
Lucy sat back in the hospital chair early the next morning, and she was sure she looked like death warmed up. She had snoozed the alarm on instinct a few times before she remembered about Tim (and spent the next hour feeling guilty for it) By that point she needed to be in the car in 5 minutes.
She pulled on whatever clothes her hands found first in the dark, which turned out to be leggings and an old academy tee that desperately needed ironing. She skipped makeup all together, but in a stroke of genius, grabbed her travel bag and touched up a bit in the hospital bathroom. What she didn’t grab though was a hairbrush, and even after she he’d run her fingers over and through it, it still sat like a birds nest on her head.
At around 7, her favourite nurse popped her head in and held out a hairbrush to Lucy. “Oh thank you thank you thank you” the nurse chuckled a little from being gushed over. Hair brushed, and feeling 100% better for it, Lucy watched as Tim slept peacefully next to her. She really wanted to run her hand over his head, but she knew that he needed sleep. Tim frowned in his sleep and turned to his side facing Lucy and patted around on the bed until he found her hand. She looked up but was met with his closed eyes and her eyes watered. He had reached for her while he was still asleep. Hearing a rustle, she turned toward the door to see the back end of a retreating pair of scrubs.
Tim groaned, annoyed to be waking up already. But then his nose caught a whiff of vanilla and lavender. A very specific vanilla and lavender smell. He peeled his eyes open and saw beautiful browns looking back at him. “Oh good you're awake” He turned toward the door as the nurse walked in. “You know… I walked in earlier and you grabbed her hand, in your sleep, it was the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen” Lucy watched as Tim’s cheeks, and even the tips of his ears turned pink as he carefully avoided looking at her. She did squeeze his hand though. “Ahhhemm, so when do I get out of here” The nurse rolled her eyes at Tim “At this point, probably tomorrow, but the doctor will be in soon and he’ll be able to tell you more.” Lucy squeezed his hand at the frown on his face “Thank you so much” Tim felt his shoulder being nudged and he smiled at the nurse, a real smile “Thank you” “Awww you two are just the cutest” She left.
“Morning Luce” She looked down at Tim, who reached for her cheek and ran his hand along her face “Good morning, did you sleep ok last night?.” He laughed a little, which was a lot for Tim “Well I slept much better from about 6 this morning lets just say that” It was Lucy’s turn to have pink cheeks.
“I’ll be back soon, don’t go anywhere” She snickered as he grumbled “Just go”. She was going home for a shower, then to Tim’s to pick up some clothes for him and maybe get some food that didn’t come from the cafeteria. Mmmmm yeah that sounded good. Maybe tacos. Or burgers, Tim loves burgers. And me! she thought and she felt warm from the inside out.
Lucy walked in the door 2 hours later and he could feel himself cheer up a bit. It had been quiet and really boring without her. And what was better was the delicious smell that had his mouth watering that came in with her. She held the bag out to him as she sat on the edge of the bed. He took it gratefully, unwrapping his burger and inhaling it in about two seconds flat.
He reached into the bag and held the other burger out to Lucy, but she shook her head “That ones yours too” “Oh yes! I love you so much” and then he was stuffing it into his mouth not even realising what he had said. Lucy felt a huge smile split her face and and then a few tears pricked her eyes. ”Luce? Hey what’s wrong?” Tim reached out towards her and she let herself fall into his arms. “No, nothing I’m just really happy” “Well I’ll be really happen when they let me out of this place” She chuckled against his chest. “Soon Tim, the doctor said tomorrow” He lightly pushed her shoulders back so he could see her face “What’s going to happen?… I mean I’m not supposed to stand up sooo.” She gave him a confused look “I’m staying.” “With me? You would do that?” He looked genuinely unsure and that made her suddenly sad.
“Tim… do you really think that I wouldn’t?” She could feel real tears running down her cheeks and he rushed to wipe them away “Luce, wait no…” “Tim” she sobbed “Even… even before last night… I would've… I will always… I’ll never leave you… not when you need me… or even want me.” She was standing now, moving away from the bed and wiping her eyes on her sleeve. “Luce…please come back over here…I…I…” she didn’t look at him, she couldn’t stand to see the pain in his eyes that would be there if she dared to look. She glanced at the door, thinking about going for a while. “Luce, no… please don’t walk away…I….not when I can’t follow you…please” and it was the breaking of his voice that pulled her back into his arms. He wrapped them tightly around her, and she thinks that he probably wont ever let her go. One hand ran down her head, fingers tangling in her hair. He waited until her sobs went quiet and he placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head.
“Luce, I’m so sorry. I… I really didn’t mean to make it sound like I was doubting you. I… I just, I’m not used to somebody caring about me like that. I… growing up, it… it just wasn’t like that and I guess that stuck with me. My father… he…he used to tune me up on the regular” she whimpered at that and he pulled her even closer if that was possible. “And mum, she just couldn’t… she couldn’t be there. I just… God, I love you so much, and I want you with me all the time… but I wasn’t sure if you wanted to be with me, like really be with me or if you would do it just because you’re you. And you're so kind and you always put others first and if you had come home with me but not stayed…I…I couldn’t… I wouldn’t…I wouldn’t be ok. Like ever” She sat back now, and this time her fingers wiped the tears running down his face, the tears that he didn’t even know were there. “Tim…Tim I love you. I…I do want to be with you, yes like really be with you.” She gave him a watery smile and suddenly he couldn’t wait any longer. He leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. She only protested for a second before she was kissing him right back. After a minute she pulled away “I wasn’t finished” but she said it with a smile and Tim knew she wasn’t mad. She put her hand on his cheek, brushing her thumb over his few-day-old stubble. “Tim, I’m not going anywhere. I won’t leave you, not like Isobel did. I promise. Nothing would ever make me leave like that. Nothing.” He nodded and leaned into give her a quick but slow and soft kiss. “I love you” he whispered. “I love you too” She snuggled into his chest and sighed happily.
The nurse came to check on them as visiting hours closed and found them both asleep, Lucy still snuggled up against Tim’s chest. And she decided to leave them like that. After all they were the cutest couple she had ever seen.