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Little did I know that you would annoy your way into my heart and never leave

Summary:

Tim had spent a considerable amount of time thinking of and then rejecting potential ideas for a proposal. The idea didn't occur to him, however, until he saw the wedding invitation for John and Bailey. Tamara approved the plan. And when he confided in their mutual friends about his plan, he was overwhelmed with gratitude toward them. As they eagerly offered their assistance, and he couldn't help but feel touched by their unwavering support.

 

or

 

Tim enlists the help of their mutual friends to propose to Lucy at John and Bailey's wedding.

Notes:

Hi everybody,

I originally wrote this as a post but later decided to turn it into fanfiction. I know most of us probably see our favorite idiots having an intimate proposal. Lucy, however, was shown giving John shit during episode 4X9, when he revealed he planned to propose to Bailey during their dinner date. She suggested they brainstorm to come up with better ideas. So, it’s canon that Lucy desires an out-of-the-box proposal. And we know Lucy's wish is Tim's command, so our boy gives her that. And as their romance has progressed in front of their friends, who are also their coworkers, I thought it would be fitting for Tim to involve them in his proposal to Lucy. Hopefully, you'll enjoy it; if so, please leave kudos, comments, and bookmarks. Thank you very much.

 

P.S. If you squint, you can see I also served on my Thorez agenda.

Work Text:

Tim and Lucy are lost in the moment, oblivious to the world around them, as they slow dance to the melody of Elvis' Can't Help Falling in Love on the rooftop venue. The rooftop, which is adorned with twinkling lights and fragrant flowers, provides the perfect backdrop for John and Bailey's wedding celebration. True to Celina's prediction, John and Bailey did indeed tie the knot in the month of September. The couple has invited only their close friends and family, but somehow Smitty has managed to crash their wedding. However, John and Bailey, being the softies that they are, can't bring themselves to ask Smitty to leave. But the mere presence of Smitty is an immense source of stress for the newlyweds. Nonetheless, there's someone much more on edge than they are, and that person is Sergeant Tim Bradford.

 

Tim's heart races, pounding against his chest with the force of a thousand galloping horses. He prays that Lucy, whose head is nestled against his chest, doesn't feel his frenzied rhythm. His anxiety originates from a plan he has been developing for months. He plans to pop the question to Lucy tonight. The perilous encounter with the ruthless assassins, which nearly cost him Lucy's life, made him realize that he didn't wish to wait any longer. The thought of losing her forever was too much to bear, which is when he decided that he was ready to ask Lucy to marry him.

 

Since their catastrophic first date, or, if Tim's being completely honest, even before that, he's known Lucy's the one for him. Nonetheless, he's anxious because, in some respects, this will be his first time. Of course, he had been married to Isabel before, but the decision to do so had been based more on practicality than emotion. Though they were very much in love yet there had been no grand proposal. Instead, they took the decision one day that it would simply be more convenient for them to be married than just being partners. But Lucy is different. She has always dreamed of a proposal straight out of a fairy tale, and she deserves it. He is determined to go to any lengths to make her dream come true because she is worth the effort. Furthermore, despite his reluctance to admit it aloud, he is quite enthusiastic about this proposal too.

 

However, as the pivotal hour draws near, Tim's mind clutters with voices reciting what-if scenarios. He attempts to regain his composure by kissing the top of Lucy's hair. Lucy lifts her head from his chest, gazes into his eyes, and gives him a bright smile. He berates himself for not having confirmed it sooner, as he didn't want to give away much about the proposal. Nevertheless, he realizes that he does not wish to make Lucy uncomfortable and is prepared to abandon his plans if need be. To ensure that he and Lucy are on the same page, he whispers, "Someday, I want this for us," his voice barely above a breath. His heart is racing with anticipation as he keeps his eyes fixed on her. Lucy's cheeks flush a deep crimson as she gazes at him with her mesmerizing, chocolate-brown eyes. Her unwavering stare conveys a resounding affirmation, conveying her utmost agreement. Then, with a gleaming smile on her face, she stands on tiptoe, holds his face in her hands, and kisses him passionately. With this, his last speck of fear dissipates.

 

Tim's heart swells with an overwhelming sense of joy, leaving him to ponder how he got so fortunate. He wishes to forego all preparations and just fire the question right away. Tamara shoots him a scathing look from across the rooftop, assuming he has abandoned all plans and popped the question. To reassure Tamara that he hasn't done anything rash, he shakes his head slightly to indicate that the plan is still in place. This makes her grin with delight.

 

Tim holds Lucy close, her body swaying in his embrace. Her eyes are shut, lost in a state of pure blissful surrender as he reminisces about how Tamara caught him rehearsing his proposal speech in Lucy's absence at their apartment. And with a shriek that almost burst his eardrums, she announced how happy she was for them. Nonetheless, after she was done with her happy crying and hugging him, she declared that Lucy has always dreamed of a proposal that is equal parts unique, dreamy, and romantic, yet not too extravagant. And of course, she would love the presence of their friends to share the moment. Nolan, who overheard him discussing the proposal with Angela, also confirmed the same. Tim had spent a considerable amount of time thinking of and then rejecting potential ideas for a proposal. The idea didn't occur to him, however, until he saw the wedding invitation for John and Bailey. Tamara approved the plan. And when he confided in their mutual friends about his plan, he was overwhelmed with gratitude toward them. As they eagerly offered their assistance, and he couldn't help but feel touched by their unwavering support. As he is about to further drift in his thoughts, John's announcement, "It's time for toasts," cuts through the haze, jolting him back to reality.

 

Once the speeches are over and the feast begins, Tim's gaze is inevitably drawn to Lucy across the table. As usual, she is busy making conversation, laughing, and being polite to everyone. He couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at the thought of their promising future together. He is pulled back to the present when Grey rests his reassuring hand on his shoulder and asks him in a whispered voice so that only he can hear, "Today marks a significant milestone in your and Lucy’s journey, son. Are you ready?" He nods gently, attempting to focus on his plate of food and not stare at Lucy. But Angela pinches his elbow and mutters, "Blondie, chill out. You're ogling at Lucy like a hungry puppy eyeing a juicy bone. If you keep doing this, you'll get caught," with a low chuckle. He simply mouths "Stop it" while massaging his arm, and Angela mouths back "All the best dum-dum" with a smirk.

 

As the festivities for the evening draw to a close, Tim's heart begins to race with both trepidation and excitement. The moment he has been anxiously awaiting is fast approaching, and he can feel his pulse quickening with each passing second. Lucy is standing next to him, their arms interlocked as she is engaged in small talk with Luna. Just as Bailey declares that she is about to throw her bouquet, Tim takes a shaky breath, which makes Lucy turn to face him. Lucy's suspicion has barely begun to take root when Celina appears by her side, ready to play her part in the plan. Never before has Tim felt such immense gratitude for Celina's presence.

 

Celina pleads, “Hey, Lucy, will you please come with me? I really want to catch Bailey's bouquet, but as Aaron and I have just recently started dating I’m a tad bit afraid. I don't want to scare him away, but I also want him to know that I'm in for a long haul. Besides, except for both of us, all of our friends are married. So will you please stand with me for the bouquet-tossing ceremony? Please, please, please.” Lucy's eyes widen as she pauses, looking at Tim. With a display of remarkable self-restraint, Tim motions for her to proceed, his demeanor betraying no hint of emotion. After a moment of hesitation, she reluctantly accepts. Then Celina nearly drags Lucy to where they must stand to catch the bouquet.

 

Lucy's heart races as Bailey prepares to toss the bouquet, even though she isn't expecting a proposal from Tim anytime soon. Still, she steals a furtive glance at Tim, whose eyes are fixed upon her with an intensity that speaks of his deep affection. Lucy is taken aback when Bailey doesn't toss the bouquet, but instead simply presents it to her. For a moment, she is unable to process what is happening, her mind struggling to grasp the reality of the moment. However, she is able to catch a glimpse of Tamara giving the DJ for the wedding, Silas, some sort of instruction, and right after that, he begins playing At Last by Etta James. Finally, the realization of what is about to happen fully dawns on her and she feels elated like never before. She is exhilarated because she never expected a proposal, not even in her most joyful dreams. Obviously, she is not complaining.

 

However, when Celina turns Lucy, she is surprised to see Aaron instead of Tim standing in front of her. "As you know, Lucy, I recently survived an assassination attempt, so I am practically a superhero. I'm not boasting, but I'm quite a celeb with 4 million Clip Talk subscribers. Therefore, I have a question: Will you marry me, Lucy?" Aaron asks with faux sincerity. This causes Lucy to be even more perplexed, and she exclaims "No!" with an expression of confusion. Before her eyes could locate Tim, Celina inquires, "And what about me? What do you say, will you marry me? You know I have the best intuition and I can sense auras, so what do you say?" with a mischievous smile. This time, Lucy shakes her head and responds, "No," with a little less perplexity.

 

Angela and Wesley emerged from behind Aaron and Celina. First to speak is Angela, who asks, "Hey Chica, will you marry me? You already know that I am the most badass detective you've ever met plus I come with two cutest babies,” with a playful grin. But Wesley begins before Lucy can respond to Angela, "What do you think about me, Lucy? Will you marry me? I mean, I come from money, so if you want, I can be a house husband too," he says with his signature grin. Lucy laughs and replies, "No!"

 

Then Nyla and James enter, with James speaking first this time. He claims in a pleasant voice, "Lucy, as you know I run a community center and have three wonderful children, and I can guarantee that I will be a better househusband than Wesley, anyway. Will you marry me?" Nyla snorts and continues, "Chen, you know, I ace in whatever I do. And moreover, I’m the hottest of all and I have two most beautiful daughters. Therefore, will you marry me?” with a flirtatious wink. Lucy utters "no" once more, growing impatient to meet Tim for her actual proposal.

 

Before Lucy can reach Tim, she comes face-to-face with Henry and Abigail, much to her dismay. "Hey, Lucy, Henry, and I come as a package. You can marry both of us. We can be a wonderful throuple," she says with the typical Abigail energy, as Henry continues to nod in agreement. However, by the time Abigail is done, Lucy catches sight of Tim on his knees from the corner of her eye. Overwhelmed with joy, tears begin to well up in her eyes. Unable to find her voice, she simply shakes her head in refusal.

 

As she finally stands before Tim, the soulful melody of Etta James’ At Last fades away into the background. Tim gazes up at her from his kneeling position, his eyes are filled with an intense adoration that seems to consume his entire being. But before he can begin speaking, a drunk Smitty, stumbles towards them out of nowhere, slurs out his words, “Chen, you cleaned my trailer real good; you should marry me. You'll make an excellent wife. I’m in search of one, anyway. Moreover, in my prime, I was way hotter than Bradford. So, what say?" Before Lucy has a chance to speak. Grey yells, "God, Smitty I have been patient with your theatrics in the past, but if you ruin this for Bradford and Chen, I will personally notify IA and fire you." John rushes to the spot and drags a very inebriated Smitty away from the spot while profusely apologizing for Smitty's weird interruption. Smitty's silly antics generate laughter from all present, including Tim and Lucy.

 

Tim then clears his throat and quips “So, where were we before? Okay, Luce, I'm not gonna lie, I was pretty terrified when Angela and Harper proposed. I thought you might accept one of their proposals.” This elicits a soft chuckle from Lucy despite the tears streaming down her face. He continues with a more earnest voice, “Lucy Chen, I knew you were going to be an awesome cop, from the day Grey made you, my rookie. Little did I know that you would annoy your way into my heart and never leave. You have saved me, both literally and figuratively, since the first day you set foot in my life. Despite witnessing my worst, you still found something redeemable in me. You broke down every wall I had with your sunshiny disposition and made me realize what an extraordinary person you are. You have transformed me into a better version of myself. You have shown me that I’m worthy of being loved. You've made my life brighter, happier, and more meaningful than I ever thought possible. You are my partner and best friend, and I can't possibly picture a single second of my life without you.” He inhales deeply, his pulse pounding with nervous anticipation, and asks, “I know we haven’t been dating for that long. But you are it for me, Lucy. I've been in love before, but never like this. Being with you makes me feel whole like all the missing pieces of my life have finally fallen into place. My heart has found its home in yours, Lucy. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and I hope to start doing so as soon as possible. So, baby, would you do me the incredible honor of becoming my wife? Please, will you marry me, Lu?” with a quivering voice.

 

Lucy has always yearned for a proposal like the ones in movies, but she has never expected to be so fortunate. Overwhelmed with emotions, Lucy's tears continue to flow as she looks down at Tim, who is waiting anxiously for her response. She feels her heart swell with love and happiness, knowing that this is the moment she has been dreaming of. Through her teary-eyed smile, she manages to utter a resounding "Yes!" that is filled with uncontainable joy.

 

“Yeah?” Tim asks with a euphoric smile.

 

"Yes, Tim! A million times, yes!" Lucy says cheerfully through her happy tears.

 

Their friends erupt in cheers and applause as Tim rises to his feet, his face breaking into a wide grin. He takes Lucy's hand in his and slips a beautiful diamond ring onto her finger, sealing their commitment to each other. The world around them seems to fade away as they share a passionate and heartfelt kiss and then he sweeps her into his arms, twirling her around in a joyous embrace, completely lost in their own little bubble of happiness.

 

Lucy is still nestled in Tim's embrace, her lips brushing against his ear as she whispers, "Oh wow, babe, this was just perfect. This ring, your proposal speech… All of it was beyond perfect. Did you plan this up all by yourself?”. Tim tuts, “I did! Is that shocking?” With a tiny giggle she remarks, “No, I have always known you are a romantic softie; you’re the one who never accepts.” He plants another passionate kiss on her lips and says, "But then I have made it pretty clear from day one that I'm more of a show-you kind of a guy," in an attempt at nonchalance. However, they are snapped out of their reverie by Tamara, who jibes, “Oh, come on, guys, you have your entire lives to make out with each other. Please, stop now; you can resume when we get home and I'm in my room with my headphones on.”

 

Tim and Lucy laugh, finally aware of their friends' presence again. He puts her gently on her feet but not letting her out of his embrace. Then their friends, who have been eagerly watching the proposal unfold, rush forward to congratulate the couple.

 

Tim and Lucy are locked in a tender embrace at that moment, surrounded by their loved ones, their emotions overflowing with the warmth of their affection and the anticipation of what lies ahead. They know that their love story is just beginning, and they eagerly look forward to all the adventures and challenges they will face as husband and wife.