Chapter Text
Friday afternoon, Tim stood in the grocery store in front of the bakery counter, looking over the cakes displayed behind the glass. He had spent the last few minutes deciding which one he wanted, even though he already knew exactly what he was looking for. When he finally spotted the medium vanilla cake, a smile crossed his face.
He stepped up to the employee behind the counter and pointed toward it. "Can I get the medium vanilla cake, please?"
The employee smiled and nodded. "Of course."
Tim glanced at the cake again before adding, "And can you write 'Happy Friendship Anniversary' on it?"
The employee smiled as she took the cake from the display. "That's so sweet."
Tim nodded, already imagining the look on Angela's face when he showed up at her house with it. "Thank you."
He paid for the cake and carefully carried it toward the checkout line. As he waited, he couldn't help smiling to himself. Angela had surprised him with a cake the year before and had teased him about their friendship anniversary ever since. Tim had told her that he would be the one bringing the cake this year, but she had laughed because she clearly hadn't believed he would actually follow through.
Well, she was about to find out that Tim Bradford did, in fact, keep his promises.
Tim carried the cake out to his truck and carefully placed it on the passenger seat. He made sure it was secure before getting behind the wheel and starting the engine. As he pulled out of the parking lot, he glanced over at the cake and smiled again.
He couldn't wait to see Angela's face.
As he drove toward her house, Tim found himself thinking about how much had changed since the last time they had celebrated their friendship anniversary. A year ago, he had been sitting in his house watching his games when Angela had shown up with a chocolate cake and reminded him that they had been friends for over fifteen years.
Now, another year had passed, and somehow their lives had changed even more.
Tim was a Watch Commander now. Angela and Wesley had bought a new house and spent months turning it into a home for their family. Wesley had received a promotion that gave him better hours, meaning he and Angela had more time together.
And then there was his girlfriend.
Tim smiled at the thought of her.
They had been together for almost a year now, and a month ago, she had moved in with him. His friends absolutely loved her, and Tim understood why. Maya was kind, caring, and sweet, and she had a way of making his house feel even more like home. She was also beautiful, but it was everything else about her that had made Tim realize he wanted her in his life for good.
He had spent a lot of time thinking about that over the past year.
By the time Tim pulled up outside Angela's house, he was smiling again. He shut off the truck, carefully picked up the cake, and carried it toward the front door. He knocked and waited.
A minute later, the door opened, and Angela stood there. The surprise on her face was immediate."Hey, what are you doing here?"
Tim smirked as he lifted the grocery bag slightly. "Happy friendship anniversary."
For a second, Angela just stared at him.
Then she burst out laughing."Oh my God. Get in my house, you goofball. It isn't until tomorrow!"
Tim chuckled as he stepped inside. "I know, but I had to make sure I got the cake and showed up today before you showed up at my house tomorrow."
Angela shook her head, still laughing. "You actually remembered."
"I told you I would."
She looked at him with a grin. "I honestly thought you were kidding."
"I don't kid about cake."
Angela laughed again, and Tim pulled her into a hug. She immediately wrapped her arms around him, giving him a squeeze before pulling back.
"Come on. Sit down, you crazy man."
Tim followed her into the house and sat down, looking around the room. Everything was familiar, but there were still little changes from the last time he'd been there.
He looked toward the hallway before turning back to Angela. "It's too quiet. Where are the kids?"
Angela chuckled as she headed toward the kitchen. "At the park with Wesley. I was cleaning, and they kept getting in the way, so I kicked them out of the house for a few hours. I told Wesley to take them to the park."
Tim laughed. "Sounds like you had a plan."
"I did. I needed to actually get some cleaning done."
Angela walked into the kitchen and began setting two plates and two glasses of water on the counter. Tim followed her, carrying the cake. She handed him a knife, and he placed the cake on the island before looking down at it.
Angela looked at the writing and immediately laughed."Nice, Tim. And it's vanilla. You listened."
Tim looked at her with a grin. "No gift, though."
Angela laughed as she remembered their conversation from the year before. "I remember."
Tim picked up the knife and began cutting the cake, giving them each a slice before sitting down across from her.
He lifted his glass. "To another year of friendship and to all the changes we've gone through in the last year."
Angela tapped her glass against his. "That's right, Watch Commander."
Tim chuckled. "And your new house."
Angela smiled before giving him a teasing look. "And your new girlfriend."
Tim smiled at the mention of Maya, his mind immediately going to the woman waiting for him at home. He had never expected his life to change quite this much in such a short amount of time, but he couldn't deny how happy he was.
Angela laughed when she noticed his expression.
"Look at you. I mention your girlfriend, and you zone out."
Tim chuckled. "Can you blame me she’s amazing."
Angela smiles she liked her, and she was great for Tim.
"Now," he said, picking up his fork, "tell me. How is Wesley liking the new promotion?"
Angela's smile widened. "He loves it. We get more time together, and he has better hours."
Tim nodded. "I'm happy for you guys. You deserve it."
Angela smiled before taking another bite of cake. Tim did the same, enjoying the cake while they continued talking.
He looked around the house again, taking in the work Angela and Wesley had put into it over the past year. He had been there quite a few times while they were fixing everything up, and seeing it finished now made him smile."I see the house is finally finished. It looks nice."
Angela laughed. "It took forever."
"You took forever to unpack those last two boxes."
"Hey, no, I was just trying to find the perfect spot for what was in them."
Tim shook his head, amused. "Sure."
Angela smiled.
Tim smiled."The kids must love having their own rooms."
"Oh yeah," Angela said with a laugh. "So many arguments about 'stay out of my room.'"
Tim laughed. "They're not even teenagers yet, and they're already banning each other from their rooms."
Angela shook her head. "Tell me about it."
Tim smiled as he thought about Jack and Emmy. He loved those kids. They were sweet, funny, and full of personality, and watching them grow over the years had become another part of what made Angela's family so important to him.
Angela looked across the island at him.
"Can you believe that in one year, look at all the changes we've gone through?"
Tim smiled. "Yeah. But they're good changes."
Angela nodded. "They are."
She took another bite of cake before looking at him again."I'm going to tell you something that everyone at the station agrees with."
Tim looked at her curiously. "What?"
Angela smiled. "Everyone says you're doing an amazing job as the new Watch Commander."
Tim's expression changed slightly, and he listened as she continued.
Angela looked at him. "You lead with such a presence that everyone says you were the right person for the job. You respect everyone. You listen. You don't dismiss their ideas. You're there for your officers when they need you."
She looked directly at him."You, Tim, have done a hell of a job as Watch Commander. I'm proud of you."
Tim swallowed and cleared his throat, clearly touched by her words."Wow. Thank you for saying that."
Angela smiled.
"I always worry that I'm not doing a good job," Tim admitted. "I know I can be hard on myself, and sometimes I wonder if I'm actually doing what everyone needs me to do. But hearing you say that makes me feel better."
Angela's expression softened for a moment before the familiar smirk returned."Well, I would've told you right away if you sucked at it."
Tim immediately started laughing."I don't doubt it."
Angela laughed too, and the moment became lighter again.
Tim looked down at his plate for a moment before speaking again."You know, since last year, when you surprised me with the cake, I've thought a lot about our friendship."
Angela looked at him.
"I'm so happy the academy brought you into my life," Tim continued. "Who could have imagined that all these years later, we'd still be good friends?"
Angela smiled."If you look back at our time in the academy, did you ever picture us sitting at my table celebrating our friendship with a cake?"
Tim chuckled. "Absolutely not."
Angela laughed."The Tim and Angela from all those years ago would be rolling on the ground laughing and making fun of something like this."
Angela giggled. "That's so true."
She looked at the cake between them before looking back at him."Yet here we are. And this is going to be a yearly thing way into our nineties. We'll still be showing up at each other's houses with cakes."
Tim started laughing. "Damn. That's definitely a lifelong friendship."
Angela smiled. "Exactly."
Tim glanced at the time and realized he should probably get going."I should get going. When I told Maya what I was going to do, she had a good laugh. She kissed me, told me it was adorable, and said dinner would be ready when I got home."
Angela smiled. "That's so sweet. She's so good for you, Tim. Tell her I said hello."
"I will."
Tim stood and picked up his plate, carrying it toward the sink. He had just started to put it down when the front door opened.
A moment later, Jack and Emmy came running into the house with Wesley following behind them.
"Uncle Tim!"
Tim's face immediately lit up as the kids raced toward him. He crouched down and opened his arms, catching both of them in a hug."Hey, you guys. I'm so happy to see you."
Jack and Emmy squeezed him tightly.
"Did you have fun at the park?" Tim asked.
Both kids nodded enthusiastically.
Tim smiled. "Maybe next time I come over, we'll go to the park."
The kids immediately cheered.
Angela laughed as Wesley walked farther into the house."You've got to stop spoiling them, man."
Tim stood and laughed. "I can't help it."
He walked over and gave Wesley a hug.
"Nice to see you, man."
Wesley smiled. "You too."
He looked toward the cake sitting on the island and then back at Tim."You want to stay for dinner?"
Tim smiled and shook his head. "Thanks for the invite, but my girl is making dinner. So next time."
"Sounds good."
Tim turned back toward Angela and gave her another hug."Thanks for bringing the cake," Angela said.
Wesley laughed. "Isn't that supposed to be tomorrow?"
Tim pulled back from the hug and smiled. "I figured I would beat her to it this year."
Wesley chuckled. "Nice."
Tim grabbed his keys and the bag before looking toward the stairs."Bye, guys!"
A moment later, he heard the kids calling back from upstairs."Bye, Uncle Tim!"
Tim laughed.
Angela walked with him toward the front door. When they reached the entryway, she looked at him with a warm smile."I'm glad you came with the cake today. I love these moments in our friendship."
Tim smiled."Me too," he said as he gave her another hug. "I look forward to next year."
Angela laughed as they pulled apart.
"Someone thought this was silly last year."
Tim chuckled. "I changed my mind."
Angela opened the door.
"It's my turn next year."
Tim started laughing as he walked down the driveway toward his truck."So it's a thing now? We trade off every year?"
Angela laughed from the doorway."You're accepting it, so yes."
Tim opened the truck door and looked back at her with a grin."I want chocolate cake then."
Angela shook her head, laughing. "Sure."
She closed the door, still smiling.
Tim climbed into his truck and started the engine. As he backed out of the driveway, he glanced toward Angela's house one last time before heading home.
He was still smiling.
He couldn't wait for their next friendship anniversary.