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Every summer Mid-Wilshire held a Family day. Equipped with BBQ food, beers, and games and bounce houses for the kids.
Unfortunately most of the gang have had to work it for the past 3 years.
However they had closed a huge case yesterday meaning they had all deserved the day off. With Tim being the sergeant in charge it meant he also felt that having time as a team outside of work, would be good for them all, especially after the horrors they have dealt with over the past week.
Over the past few years the team had gotten closer and closer, really becoming a real mix match little family.
With a whole weekend off it was a no-brainer that they were all going to go.
Angela and Wesley were excited to share this with Jack and little Anabella who was now nearly 5 years old. The perfect age to be enjoying and exploring the family day to its full potential. It helped that Jack played the big brother role so well, there might be an age difference but that didn’t seem to bother either of the siblings who were best friends.
Tim stood watching as Aaron pretended to be tackled by Anabella, falling dramatically in the bounce house. Causing a chorus of giggles as his weight caused all the little ones to lose their balance and topple too.
He was a good uncle figure to all of the kids. And he took his ‘Fun Uncle’ role very seriously. Using his money to spoil all the kids rotten. As much as the parents would roll their eyes and complain seeing their kids happy made them happy.
Angela also had a soft spot for Aaron, seeing him enjoy family life, surrounded by the kids and his friends. It made her smile, knowing he felt a love like this after everything he’d been through.
Plus having an on call babysitter who jumped at the change to whisk Jack and Anna off for a day of fun was an added bonus.
Tim looks over at their table seeing Nolan beacon his newest rookie over to introduce her to all the members of his found family.
But Tim’s eyes drifted to their surroundings as he turned back around. His Army training still always gets him to scan the area, an old habit he's never broken out of. Especially when the current area contains his loved ones.
What he sees as he does makes him freeze.
He has to double take, almost. His eyes must be deceiving him.
Walking over to their table with a smile on her face is no other than Ashley McGrady.
He’s frozen in place, unable to move. Shock routing hun to the spot.
He never thought he would see her again.
Especially not here, today.
Their break up hadn’t been pretty. After nearly 2 years together Ashley had turned rather mean when he decided to call things quits. Having your girlfriend beg you to leave your job daily, a job in which you loved dearly just wasn’t good for him. The rumors which evolved around the station spread by the very blonde in question really did upset the sergeant.
Afterwards she apologized and told him she was just broken to lose him. But her actions solidified Tims decision in his head. Still they parted on good terms after that. He hasn't seen her in the 4 and a half years since.
He can’t seem to look away, his eyes glued to hers as she approaches. Unable to look away herself.
“Hey” Asley says as she walks up next to the table. Eyes not leaving him as she does so. A smile on her face he recognises even all these years later. A smile she always reserved just for him.
Her voice draws the whole table's attention.
“What are you doing here? We didn’t know you were back in LA.'' Nyla asks
“I’m back to visit my dad, he loves these thingsI. Thought i'd swing by and say hello” She says eyes drifting back to Tim. “It’s been a while. How are you all? You look good” She asks but her body language and eye line show that she's only asking Tim.
Was she flirting with him? After all this time she really just struts up and begins to flirt with him.
Angela was giving both her and Tim the side eye, wondering just how this conversation would go down.
Tim shakes himself out of his daze and is just about to open his mouth to speak when he’s interrupted by a little voice. “Papa help”.
Tim turns his full attention to the little hand currently trying to use his arm as a climbing frame “Hey buddy. What’s up?” she asks as he moves to lift his son up onto the table in front of him. The tone in which his son had asked for help was calm meaning he wasn't in danger or pain, just unable to do something.
3 year old Alexander sits with his bare feet resting on Tim’s legs. “I can’t open. Uncle Aaron made me thirsty” she says with a slight lisp in his voice as he tries to pronounce ‘th’. Holding out the apple juice box towards Tim, the open staw in his other hand. Just as suspected his son's little fingers couldn’t yet quite manage straws or the opening of packets.
Tim smiles, taking the straw off him. “Ok we're gonna hold it tight. Then the straw.” moving so Alexander was holding half of it too. Then move it over the box. Chuckling softly at all the little indentation marks where he’s clearly tried to already open the juice.
“Get those big muscles ready” he jokes, moving to push the straw into the box. “I barely did anything there bud, that was all you” he smiles seeing Alexander giggle happily.
“Thanks papa” he says, bringing the box to his mouth to take a drink through the straw.
“No problem” Tim replies, moving to ruffle his blonde curls.
“Papa stop, mama did my hair, don’t make it messy” he replies gently pushing Tim's hand away. Clearly not aware that his time in the bounce house had made his curls long pass the state of messy.
Angela chuckles a little “mama’s boy” winking at Alexander who happily sits drinking. Smiling at his aunt and godmother as he does so.
It was true Alex was a total mama’s boy. He loved and adored both his parents but would always hug Lucy first.
Tim loves it though. Both him and his son adored Lucy, often racing to see who could hug mama first or who could wake her up with the best cuddles. It was a running game in the Bradford household.
It was no secret that Tim is completely in love with Lucy - hanging on her every word, he has been for many years now. He was truly smitten, constantly doing things to show his love or just make her smile. He was what Celina called ‘whipped’ and he had no problem admitting it. When Alex was born that didn’t change, it just now meant Tim had a partner in showering Lucy with love and affection.
Nyla insists Tim is where Alex got his charms from. Being taught to love from day one by his father means Alex could pull at anyone's heart strings if he tried.
Lucy would never complain about any of the love, more often than not she'd find herself sandwiched between her two boys. Tim held her close from behind with his arms around her as she sat between his legs, with Alex curled up on her lap. There is no place she likes more.
It was also fun to turn Alex's charm back on Tim, seeing just how much her son had his father wrapped around his fingers.
He really was a mini Tim, right down to the baby blue eyes. Seeing the two boys interact was always a sight for everyone. Nomatter what they were doing or saying you could see nothing but love in their eyes.
Anyone who looked in on anything the three of them did knew just what a happy family looked like. They radiated nothing but love.
Alex might only be 3 but he was very smart and well spoken. Ever since he was young they would speak to him normally, without the baby voice which seemed to speed up his process of learning to talk.
It also helps that he’s cute as hell.
His baby blue eyes, blonde hair had everyone falling for him instantly. He also has Lucy loving smile and Tim’s eyebrow tilt when his cheeky side comes out.
One look at Alexander and his parents and you’d instantly know he was their kid. He was a mini Tim with many Lucy contributions thrown in. Stealing hearts wherever he goes.
“You have a Kid?” Ashley’s voice snaps him out of his trance. He’d forgotten she was here.
Alex turns at the new voice, having seemingly not noticed the new person before. Alex moves off the table and sits himself into Tim’s lap. He was always a very outgoing child, happy to make new friends anywhere he went, but new adults always took him a few moments to warm up to. Any adult instantly loved him but he always started off shy for some reason, they hadn’t quite put their fingers on why.
Usually it’s just the situation. Any time he visits the precinct he walks in like he owns the place, waving and talking to any one he passes on his way to Grey who was always his first stop. Maybe it was to do with the fact he was used to being there for the uniforms they all wear. Either way everyone knows little Alexander Bradford and they all adore him. Nobody ever questions why he’s there; they just fight to be the one he’s giving his award winning Bradford smile to.
It was nice for them knowing Alex felt safe there. It was like his second home and boy did the child act like it. - It also helps that he considered all the gangs members his aunts and uncles.
Not only did he consider them that it's exactly what Lucy and Tim had referred to them all as. They never mentioned it during her pregnancy but both decided that their unit was their family and should also be their child as well.
When they came to visit Lucy at the hospital Angela was first to her side looking at the baby boy. The others swiftly followed her, excited to meet the newest Bradford. When Tim had said “Let's pass you to your Auntie Angela, she looks like she's going to burst if she doesn't hold you soon. Then you can be passed to your other Aunt and Uncles who are hard as nails but I bet they will melt for you” Angela turned from excited to almost crying.
“You’re our family so it’s only logical you’d also be his .. if that’s ok with you” Tim had said when Nyla looked at him with a raised brow. With a smile on his face Nyla had embraced him, congratulating him and thanking him. They always said they were a little family but moments like that solidified just how much that was true.
Tim is pulled from his reminisions by his son’s voice.
“Papa, who's that?” Alex asks quietly, Ashley's words had come out rather harsh, making Alex nervous of the strange new lady standing looking over his family.
“Alex, this is Ashely, she’s an old friend. Her Papa used to work at the station with us all. A long time ago, way before you were even born” Tim explains, his hand resting on Alex’s back.
The use of the word friend makes Alex instantly relax. “Hi,” Alex says sweetly. Making no effort to move away from where he was cuddled into Tim.
Ashley was at a loss for words. Coming here today the last thing she expected to see was a mini Tim. She’d never wanted kids and he had seemed ok with that. Yet here he was with a child in his arms. His child.
Tension fills the air. No one really knows what to say or do. How do you interact with your family members ex who left years ago and was a total dick about it?
That's when another member of the family rejoins the table.
“Having a break are we?” Lucy says, directing it to Alex as she places several bottles of beer onto the table. Seemingly having not even noticed Ashely yet.
A chorus of thanks go around the table as they all take a beer Lcuy had bought for them.
She senses the tense ness in Tim almost immediately. Following his eye line she spots Ashely. “Ashley. Hi” she says, shock evident in her voice.
“Chen” Ashley nods. Her mind is still trying to wrap around the situation in front of her.
“What brings you to LA?” Lcuy asks, trying to be friendly. Her hand comes to rest on Tim’s shoulder, begging to rub small circles with her thumb.
“Visiting my father” Ashely replies rather bluntly, her eyes still glued to Tim.
“Nice” Lucy replies with a slight bite in her voice. How can she not?
Your husband's ex shows up and looks at him in all kinds of ways. Lucy knows she never has anything to worry about. She’s not jealous, not at all. She just can't help bragging about the fact she has the perfect man and the perfect family to the woman who let it all go. Especially since this woman is looking at Tim like he's a snack. Tim chuckles in her head, he’s not a snack he's a full 5 course meal.
“Mama come bounce?” Alexander asks as he hands his juice off to Tim, finally giving up trying to get his father to drink more. Then he moves to stand on Tim's lap so he could lean on his shoulder to get closer to Lucy.
“I thought you were playing with Uncle Aaron?” she asks.
“He’s dead” Alex says pointing to we’re Aaron was laying on the grass panting as Jack throws grass on top of him.
Lucy chuckles before looking back to Tim. Trying to make sure if he was ok for there to go. After a moment he nods and she lets Alex drag her over towards Aaron and the other kids. No words needed between the two of them.
Lucy picks Alex up and begins to jog towards the others. Making Alex giggle uncontrollably as he bounces around, then she makes him squeal as she pretends to throw him on top of Aaron.
Tim watches them fondly with a smug smile on his face. Thinking of how Lucy is currently creating their next little bundle of joy. Unbeknown to the rest of the group Lucy was almost 9 weeks pregnant, with what Tim was hoping to be a baby girl - or boy he will love either but he’s selfishly wanting one of each.
He can just imagine himself struggling to braid her little hair and have tea parties but also hold her in his arms as she giggles while they play football with Alexander.
He knows Lucy wants the same. Both hoping for a little girl this time. However, just like himself she will be happy with anything. Excited to expand their little family even more.
It isn’t till Angela speaks that snaps him out of his trace.
“Even after all these years, every time you have one of those silent conversations it freaks me out a little” Angela admits before taking a sip of her beer.
Tim rolls his eyes fondly at her. “You’re just jealous that we could be talking about you and you'd never know” he winks.
“Ah Bradford you’re smarter than that”.
“A Bradford being smart? That sounds unlikely” Nyla joins in, her voice full of mischief and laughter
“So far the smartest Bradford is 4 years old” Grey joins in.
“I’m going to tell Lucy that you called her dumb” Tim retorts with a smirk.
That is when Ashley’s eyeline falls to Tim’ hand, spotting the black band wrapped around his finger. Not only did he have a child now but he was also married. Wow.
Of course he was happily married with the cutest little family. How could she be so crazy to think he wouldn’t find himself a home.
Honestly she thought he would be too stubborn to ever get help he needed that was making him extremely hard to date. Looks like his old boot had changed that.
After all those times he had told her he was happy to never get married again, and happy to never have a family.
It looks like he was at his happiest with both of those things.
Ashely coughs at that, getting all of their attention.
They were too busy in their little family bubble.
“It was nice seeing you all again but I really should get going” She says.
“Are you sure? You're welcome to stay for a drink?” Nolan offers. Earning him a kick to the shin under the table from Angela.
“Thank you but I should get back to my father.” and with that she walks away. Leaving the whole team shocked, she's shown up at all.
Angela is the first to turn back to the group and start talking about the surprise visit.
Yet Tim doesn't join in. He chuckles at one of Angela’s comments before glancing towards his pregnant wife and his son.
Tim truly wasn’t expecting to see the woman who stood on his heart all those years ago at a family bbq.
But honestly he didn’t care. No matter how she looked at him or what she said, he was happy. He had the perfect family and the perfect life, he truly couldn’t be happier.
And truthfully it was a little nice to rub it in her face, clearly she was still in love with him. But he has moved on, found the love of his life and had the world's cutest child.
Tim had everything he ever wanted in life and more. Happy doesn’t begin to explain it. He’s got everything his past had never wanted to give him.
Who wouldn’t want to rub that in their ex’s face just a little.