Chapter Text
The day after the operation, there was something strange about returning to reality.
Tim had been back at work first thing that morning. He hadn't managed to get any time off, and in any case, Lucy wouldn't have been available. The undercover operation debrief had been dragging on for hours. Meeting after meeting between the LAPD, the FBI, and the other agencies involved. Reports, statements, procedures... there was no escaping any of it.
Still, Lucy and Nyla had gotten something essential back. They were finally home. Back in Los Angeles. Back in familiar surroundings. That alone made the long day a little easier to bear.
By late afternoon, edging into the evening, Tim was waiting by the food trucks with Angela, Wesley, and James.
A little farther away, under the watchful eyes of the four adults, Jackson, Emmy, and Leah darted between the tables and chairs scattered around the plaza, laughing every time one of them suddenly changed direction.
Eventually, Emmy, the youngest of the three, slowed down.
Her tired little legs carried her straight to her mother. Without saying a word, she climbed onto Angela's lap before bursting into exhausted tears.
Angela smiled warmly and immediately wrapped her in her arms.
— Are you tired, Peanut?
She gently stroked her daughter's hair while Emmy buried her face against her shoulder.
Wesley exchanged a glance with James.
— Should we go get food before the other two crash too?
James nodded.
— Good idea.
The two men headed toward the food trucks while Angela continued rocking Emmy gently. Little by little, the little girl's sobs faded until they disappeared completely. She simply stayed curled up against her mother, her eyelids growing heavier by the second.
Angela watched Tim interacting with the three- and four-year-olds.
Jackson and Leah were still weaving between the empty chairs, laughing as they chased each other around the tables.
— Jack, can you stop running for five seconds, please?
There was the slightest hint of irritation in Tim's voice. Barely noticeable, but unusual enough when he was talking to a child that he caught it immediately himself.
Jackson froze and looked up at him, slightly surprised.
Tim's expression softened right away.
— Your dad's ordering dinner.
He nodded toward Wesley, about fifty feet away, studying the menu of one of the food trucks.
— He wants to know if you'd rather have chicken nuggets or fish nuggets.
The concern instantly disappeared from the little boy's face.
— Fish!
And he immediately took off running again.
Tim shook his head with a smile.
— What do you say?
Already several yards away, Jackson shouted back without slowing down.
— PLEEEEASE, UNCLE TIM!
A few customers nearby chuckled.
Tim huffed a quiet laugh before pulling out his phone. He quickly replied to Wesley's text. **Fish for Jack.**
He slipped the phone back into his pocket and looked up at the two children, who had already resumed their chaotic race between the tables. A faint smile tugged at his lips. It vanished the instant he looked back at Angela.
She was watching him with that expression he knew by heart. The one that meant a question he absolutely did not want to answer was coming.
He sighed before she even spoke.
— What now?
Angela shrugged innocently.
— Nothing.
Tim rolled his eyes.
— Come on. Spit it out.
She shrugged again before asking in an almost casual tone,
— So... you and Lucy... do you talk about kids?
Tim let out an amused breath.
— She moved in five months ago, Ange.
Angela raised an eyebrow.
— And...?
— And what?
He lifted one hand in confusion.
— We're not rushing anything. We just got through a one-year breakup.
Angela dismissed his explanation with a wave of her hand.
— That's not what I asked, Timothy.
Tim closed his eyes briefly as soon as she used his full first name.
— You know I hate it when you call me that.
— I know.
She already looked entirely too pleased with herself.
Tim sighed in surrender.
— Okay... yeah, we talk about it.
Angela waited.
— But it's not happening anytime soon.
She nodded slowly, clearly preparing another question.
Tim, however, suddenly looked over her shoulder. His entire face lit up.
— Finally.
Angela carefully turned around, making sure not to disturb Emmy, who was still asleep against her.
At the end of the walkway, Lucy and Nyla were finally making their way toward them, with Celina and Grey a few steps behind after finally escaping the debriefings themselves.
At the same moment, Wesley and James returned from the food trucks carrying trays loaded with the kids' meals.
— Perfect timing, Wesley said as he set two trays down on the table.
Grey glanced at the children's food.
— Celina and I'll grab dinner for the adults.
— Come back with fries, Angela called without taking her eyes off Emmy.
— We'll see what we can do, Celina replied with a grin before heading back toward the trucks with Grey.
They pushed a few tables together and gathered enough chairs so everyone would have a place to sit.
While Wesley and James handed out food to the three kids, Lucy quietly walked around the table.
Tim didn't see her coming. He only felt two arms wrap gently around his neck. An instant smile spread across his face. He reached up, gently took one of her forearms in his hand, and tilted his head just enough to press a kiss against the back of her hand.
Lucy tightened her embrace slightly and whispered close to his ear,
— You okay?
Tim turned his head just enough to steal a quick, tender kiss.
When he pulled back, he rested his forehead close to hers and whispered,
— I am now.
The evening slipped into an easy rhythm, filled with overlapping conversations and relaxed laughter around the tables.
Tim sat beside Lucy, one arm draped across the back of her chair behind her, while Jackson, sitting to his left, defended his opinion with absolute conviction.
— But Spider-Man is the best superhero ever! I already told you, Uncle Tim!
Tim laughed.
— Oh yeah? Why's that?
Jackson rolled his eyes as though the answer couldn't possibly be more obvious.
— Because he's Spider-Man!
Tim burst out laughing at such an airtight argument before reaching over to ruffle his hair.
Jackson immediately protested, trying to flatten it back down.
Beside Tim, Lucy leaned closer.
— He's only saying that because he has a crush on Zendaya, she whispered with a mischievous smile.
Tim shook his head, amused.
— That explains a lot.
Lucy stifled a laugh.
A few seconds later, Wade, sitting across from them, decided to join the debate.
— What about Superman, Jack?
— No.
— Batman?
— Nope.
— Iron Man?
Jackson let out an exaggerated sigh.
— But I told you! It's Spider-Man!
The entire table laughed at the seriousness with which the little boy defended his favorite hero.
Then Jackson suddenly grew thoughtful.
He grabbed a French fry, took a bite, chewed carefully, then looked back up.
— But... Mom... Uncle Tim... and all the police officers...
He turned to Wade.
— Are you superheroes too?
A warm silence settled over their end of the table.
Wade smiled gently.
— What do you think?
Jackson shrugged. He took his time swallowing before answering with complete sincerity.
— You stop the bad guys... and you protect the good guys.
He thought for another second. Then his face lit up.
— So I think you are.
For a moment, no one knew what to say. Angela smiled softly. James exchanged a glance with Wesley.
Even Tim felt something tighten quietly in his chest.
— That's a really nice way to look at it, buddy, he finally said with a smile.
Jackson nodded, completely satisfied with his conclusion.
Little by little, conversations picked back up around the table.
Lucy, who hadn't said much for the past few minutes, slowly leaned closer until her head came to rest on Tim's shoulder.
Without thinking, he tightened his arm around her and kissed the top of her forehead. Then he lowered his voice.
— You want to go home?
Lucy nodded slowly without lifting her head. She snuggled a little closer.
— With you...
Tim let out a quiet, amused breath.
— You really think you're getting away from me?
Lucy opened one eye to look at him. Then closed it again with a small shake of her head.
— No.
Tim smiled fondly before looking around at the rest of the table.
— Alright... we're gonna head out.
Everyone looked toward them.
Tim nodded discreetly toward Lucy.
— I've got a little marmot here who can't stay awake anymore.
A wave of amused laughter followed.
Angela smiled.
— Let her sleep for three days.
— That's the plan, Tim replied.
Then he looked over at Jackson.
— See you Saturday, buddy. Big day.
The little boy's face lit up instantly.
— Yessss!
He proudly held up one hand with all five fingers spread.
— I'm gonna be five!
— Five already... Tim said with a smile.
Then he gave him a wink.
— Try not to torture your parents too much before then, okay?
Jackson widened his eyes in mock offense.
— Never!
Tim laughed.
— Liar.
Jackson dissolved into laughter too.
After several attempts to convince Lucy to get out of her chair, Tim finally managed to coax her to her feet. Still half asleep, she instinctively slipped her hand into his. Their fingers intertwined immediately.
Without another word, they said one last goodbye to their friends before making their way across the parking lot, hand in hand.