Chapter Text
My One and Only
July 12 – Day 2 Chenford Week 23 – TV Topes
Tim had just come back from his second tour in the army and was debating what he should do next with his life. He wanted to start thinking about finding someone he could settle down with as his friends had been teasing him for being the only one in their friend group that was still single, but he first wanted to focus on the next steps in his career, so he decided to apply to LAPD and then take things slowly from there.
Tim finished his run and walked back into his house when his phone rang.
Stephanie: Hi, I’m looking for a Tim Bradford
Tim: Speaking.
Stephanie: Hi Mr. Bradford, my name is Stephanie and I’m calling from the reality dating show My One and Only.
Tim: Excuse me? How did you get my number?
Stephanie: I got it off the application you sent in to be this season's bachelor.
Tim: Um, I’m sorry, I did no such thing.
Stephanie: Well, that doesn’t matter right now. I’m calling to let you know that we have chosen you to be the bachelor and we will be expecting you at the mansion in Malibu on Sunday.
With that Stephanie hung up leaving Tim staring at his phone speechless when Genny walked in.
Genny: Tim you, okay? You look like you want to puke.
Tim: That’s because I think I am going to be sick.
Genny: Why? What happened?
Tim: I got a phone call from My One and Only, they want me to be their bachelor this season.
Genny: Tim, that’s awesome!
Tim: Genny!
Genny: What? Oh, come on? Tim, you haven’t been home in 4 years, you have no female friends, no girlfriends this will be a chance for you to meet someone knew.
Tim: Genny, I understand you want me to date and get married but to submit my name for something like this without asking?
Genny: First of all, Tim, I didn’t submit your name and second even if I did, who cares. This is your chance at trying something new.
Tim: Genny!
Genny: What? Tim, what do you have to lose by trying?
Tim: Embarrassing myself on national TV.
Genny: Tim you're smart
Tim: and handsome
Genny: Oh gag. Tim, I know you and you will be just fine. The world will fall in love with you, you have nothing to worry about.
Tim: Fine, I’ll do it. But I want it noted for the record that this was not my choice.
Genny: Noted.
Lucy was sitting in classroom trying hard not to fall asleep, but this professor was not one of her favorites and he was making it very difficult for her to stay awake. Lucy thought she had done a good job but realized that she had fallen asleep when she felt Tamara shaking her shoulder when the class was over. Lucy looked around and noticed that everyone had already left the room and it was just her, Tamara and Professor Scott.
Professor Scott: Ms. Chen, can you hang back a minute, there is something I would like to discuss with you.
Tamara: Uh oh. That is what you get for falling asleep in class, again.
Lucy: Tamara!
Tamara: What? It's true and you know it, you fall asleep every class.
Lucy: That’s because this class is soo boring.
Tamara: Whatever. Do you want me to wait for you?
Lucy: No, you can leave, I’ll be fine. I’ll meet you back at the apartment.
Tamara: Are you sure?
Lucy: Yeah. I’m good.
Tamara: Okay, I'll see you later.
Lucy walked over to Professor Scott and looked back over her shoulder just in time to see the door close behind Tamara.
Professor Scott: Ms. Chen, as you know the semester is halfway through and the term paper is coming up. I’m not sure if you are aware but every year one of the students from my class gets chosen to go on the dating show My One and Only to write their term paper on topic of whether one can find love on a dating show or not.
Lucy: I did not know that sir.
Professor Scott: Anyway, I have decided to pick you this semester to be our contestant on the dating show.
Lucy: Professor Scott, I don’t know what to say, but I have no intention of going on such a show.
Professor Scott: Ms. Chen, did you hear me say that this was optional.
Lucy: No sir, but I have a boyfriend.
Professor Scott: Ah yes, Mr. Sanford.
Lucy: That’s correct.
Professor Scott: Include that in your written part of the assignment Ms. Chen.
Lucy: And if I say no, I will not go on the show.
Professor Scott: Then I will be forced to fail you for this semester and will have to be in my class again next year with no guarantee that I will choose someone else.
Lucy: So, if I want to pass this class, I have to do this.
Professor Scott: That is correct Ms. Chen.
Lucy: What exactly do I need to do?
Professor Scott: You will go and experience it like everyone else. But the question you need to answer in your paper and oral presentation is whether the setting of reality dating is a good environment for one to find true love.
Lucy: Okay.
Professor Scott: And Ms. Chen.
Lucy: Yes?
Professor Scott: As the show begins filming on Sunday you will no longer need to attend any of my lectures, I just need you to present your final paper at the end of all of this along with the rest of the class.
Lucy walked out of the classroom in a daze. She had no idea what had just happened or how she was going to deal with all of this. She had never watched the show, but she knew her roommate Tamara was a huge fan and was going to be super excited when Lucy told her what was going on. Lucy was just a college student, a psych major going on a reality dating show to supposedly fall in love with some guy she never met sounded crazy to her, but if she never had to sit in Professor Scott's class again then maybe this would be worth it.
Lucy walked back into her apartment and found Tamara sitting on the couch watching TV.
Lucy: What are you watching?
Tamara: My One and Only.
Lucy: How did you find out?
Tamara: Find out what?
Lucy: That I'm going to be on that show.
Tamara: Uh, what did you say?
Lucy: You heard me. Professor Scott is sending me on that show.
Tamara: Lucy! That is so cool. I’m so jealous. Why only you?
Lucy: I don’t know. But this is definitely not something I want to do.
Tamara: I will gladly go instead of you.
Lucy: You can’t. Professor Scott said they pick someone specific and no trading spots.
Tamara: This is going to be so great Lucy.
Lucy: What about Chris?
Tamara: What about him?
Lucy: He's, my boyfriend. How do I tell him I’m going on a dating show.
Tamara: Well, I never liked Chris, so maybe now will be a good time for you to break up and see if you can fall in love with someone else.
Lucy: Who said anything about falling in love?
Tamara: Uh, Lucy. That’s the whole point of the show. The bachelor proposes to his first choice during the finale episode.
Lucy: This is crazy.
Tamara: Crazy good.
Lucy: Tamara!
Lucy quickly got her personal life in order, telling her parents what was happening and to say that they were upset was an understatement. Her mother said that she was not supposed to be dating right now as she had to focus on her studies and her father said that he was not paying thousands of dollars in tuition only to watch her embarrass the whole family on national TV. So although Lucy had no intention of falling in love, she was determined to prove her parents wrong and show them that she was still their daughter, and someone they could be proud of.
Tim was standing in this stunning mansion in Malibu overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the costume designer had given him this uncomfortable tux to wear, and he was regretting his decision to come on the show, but it was too late to turn back now.
Stephanie: Are you ready to meet this season's contestants?
Tim: I guess so.
Stephanie: Okay, so Tim Bradford, I would like you to meet our first contestant. Are you ready?
Tim: I’m as ready as I will ever be.
Stephanie: Rachel Hall, social worker from LA
Rachel: Hi Tim, I’m Rachel.
Tim: Rachel, nice name. So, tell me about your job.
Rachel: Well, I guess you could say, it's my job to keep children safe.
Tim: That is really a wonderful thing, Rachel. Thank you. See you later.
Rachel: You can count on that Tim.
Tim: Rachel,
Stephanie: Ashley McGrady, Lifeguard from Malibu
Tim: Pleasure to meet you Ashley.
Ashley: Pleasure is all mine, but please call me Ash.
Tim: If we are going to get to know each other, I guess a nickname is okay. I’ll see you soon Ash.
Stephanie: Isabel Monroe, LAPD detective from LA.
Isabel walks over to Tim and embraces him in a big hug.
Isabel: It is so nice to meet you Tim. I’m Isabel and I really hope that you will keep me around for a long, long time.
Stephanie: Tim, I would like to introduce you to your final contestant this season. Lucy Chen. Lucy is a college student from Los Angeles, California.
Lucy: Hi
Tim: Great to meet you.
Lucy: Great to meet you too. Sorry that I am a little awkward, I’ve never done anything like this before. I’ve never even watched the show so I’m not really sure what I'm supposed to be doing right now.
Tim: Don't worry, neither have I.
Lucy: Good so I’m not alone then.
Tim: No, you are not. So, you are still in college?
Lucy: Yup, Psych major.
Tim: You don’t sound so enthusiastic about it.
Lucy: Well, both my parents are therapists, so they chose my major for me but if I'm being honest with you, I'm just not feeling the whole thing anymore, probably never was. I’m sorry, was that too personal?
Tim: No. So, can I ask you what might be sort of an odd question?
Lucy: Sure.
Tim: How would you define true love?
Lucy: True love is what makes us feel whole. Well, it was nice to meet you, Tim.
Tim: It was really nice to meet you too Lucy. I’ll see you soon.
Lucy walks away from Tim and goes to join the other 9 contestants.
Ashley: I could tell as soon as we locked eyes, instant connection.
Isabel: I wasn't going to just stand there and do nothing, so I gave him a hug.
Rachel: We were told to keep it professional, like a job interview.
Isabel: Oh, come on, Tim is ridiculously handsome up close I mean his hair, his eyes, his perfect skin, I couldn’t not touch him.
Lucy laughs at Isabel which causes Isabel to look in her direction.
Isabel: Something funny?
Lucy: No, no. Don’t mind me.
Isabel: Sure, it doesn’t seem like nothing, Little Lucy.
Lucy: Is that supposed to offend me? Look, yes Tim is very handsome, but none of this is real life.
Isabel: Good Luck making it past the first week with that attitude.
Lucy: You’ve known him for what thirty seconds? If I'm sent home first, I won't take it personally.
Isabel: Clearly you are way too young to be here, Little Lucy. Anyway, I am already looking forward to our first kiss.
Lucy spent the rest of the week practically rolling her eyes. This whole place was fake, it was so not real, and she couldn’t comprehend how anyone could even possibly imagine let alone want to fall in love in a place like this. She so badly wanted to go home, back to college and her real life. She missed being around normal people who didn’t look down on her simply because she was 10 years younger than most of the other contestants.
Lucy was not surprised when during the first elimination ceremony she was in the bottom 3. As she stood there waiting to find out if Tim was going to keep her around longer a part of her wouldn’t have minded going home but there was a small part of her that really wanted to stay at the mansion and try to get to know Tim better.
Stephanie: Hi contestants, welcome to the first elimination. In My One and Only, just like in life first impressions aren't everything but they are important. You all had a chance to make a lasting impression on Tim and hopefully he now feels the same way about you as you do about him. For eight of you tonight will not be the end of your journey with Tim. You will continue to spend time with him, and he will get to know you and you will get know him better as you continue to date him in the hopes that Tim will be able to leave here an engaged man and get to call one of you his fiancé. But that means that for two of you your journey here at the mansion is coming to an end tonight.
Tim: I met ten incredible and amazing women this week. We got to hang out and spend time together and although this is only the first elimination, I am already extremely overwhelmed with this decision that I have to make here tonight. When I say your name, please step forward to accept a token of my affection. This necklace represents my desire to get to know you on a deeper level. If you do not hear your name being called, please know that I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy lives to come here and get to know me, and I am glad that we have met. Even if it was only for a short amount of time. So, let's get this over with, shall we?
One by one Tim started calling names and Lucy stood there unsure if he would call her name or if she would be going home.
Tim: Isabel
Isabel: I had no doubt about your judgement Tim. Thank you so much. Wow, so unexpected. Thank you.
Tim: Rachel
Tim: Ashley
By the fifth name he called Lucy, was starting to believe that she was going home that night and as much as she had enjoyed her time on the show with Tim, she was also more than ready to get back to her real life. So, with a new sense of calm, she stopped worrying and started paying attention to what Tim was saying. He called the next two girls and Lucy looked around, there were only three girls including herself who had yet to receive a necklace from Tim and Lucy knew that this was it and she was going home.
Tim: If I could hand out three more of these, I would but I don’t make the rules. So, this last gift goes to someone who has already in the first week captured my heart and it would make me extremely happy to have them stick around here a little while longer. This necklace goes to... Lucy Chen.
Lucy stood there in shock, not only did he call her name, but had she heard correctly did he really say that she captured his heart?
Tim: Lucy, will you do me the honors and continue to date me?
Lucy: Of course, Tim. I will
Tim: Thank you Lucy, for giving me this opportunity
Stephanie: Ladies, those of you who did not receive a necklace tonight, know that somewhere out there your one and only is waiting for you. Good night.
Lucy walked back to her room, took out her phone and called Tamara.
Tamara: Hey girl, how's it going there on My One and Only?
Lucy: He gave me a necklace.
Tamara: Of course, he did. What’s his name?
Lucy: I’m not allowed to tell you that Tamara, I am not allowed to leak any spoilers.
Tamara: I still can’t believe that you chose me to be the one person you are allowed to call. You know you are way too good to me Lucy. I don’t deserve me.
Lucy: Your right, you don’t. Maybe we should break up.
Tamara: Lucy! Anyway, what’s it like living in a mansion?
Lucy: I feel like I'm living in a whole different universe right now. I know that to you it all looks so amazing on TV but up closely this is just a bunch of people pretending. There is no way that you can form a real relationship like this.
Tamara: Isn't that the purpose of this assignment Lucy?
Lucy: Yes, but I was not happy about this from the beginning.
Tamara: I know. Look, this guy is obviously smart enough to know that you are the best thing that has ever happened to him as he already gave you a necklace.
Lucy: Tamara, this was only week one, there is still plenty more time for him to get rid of me.
Tamara: Nope, no way, just you wait and see by the end of this Lucy Chen will have an engagement ring on her finger and you will be completely in love with the man of your dreams.
Lucy: Tamara!
Tamara: Fine is this mystery man cute at least?
Lucy: Oh my god Tamara, he is drop dead gorgeous the guy is really handsome, I will have to give him that.
Tamara: That's the spirit. Now you go and win this thing.
Lucy: Bye.
Tim continued going on the dates with the other girls, but the one girl he was most interested in was Lucy. Every time he was with someone else his mind kept wandering to Lucy. Tim knew that it wasn’t fair to the other contestants but if he was being honest with himself, he had pretty much fallen in love with her on day one. But this wasn’t his game, he didn’t make the rules and so he continued dating the other girls.
As the weeks passed by Lucy kept wondering how it was possible that she was still here. But the longer she stayed and the more she got to know Tim, the more she wanted to know and a part of her knew that she was actually falling in love with him.
By the end of fourth week there were only 4 girls left Ashley, Rachel, Isabel and Lucy. Tim like all of them, but the only one he wanted to continue seeing was Lucy but this wasn’t how the show worked. So that week he said goodbye to Ashley and Rachel and now he was sitting in his room worrying about the family visits. This week he was going to meet both Isabel and Lucy’s family and by the end of the week he was going to have to propose to one of them. At this point Tim knew without a doubt that by the end of the week he was going to ask Lucy to marry him.
Lucy had gone home to prepare for her hometown date with Tim and she was sitting in her room with Tamara.
Tamara: Lucy! I can't believe that you have almost made it to the finale. This is huge!
Lucy: I can’t even believe that I got this far.
Tamara: I knew you would Lucy, you are amazing. Can you picture his proposing to you at the end of the week?
Lucy: Tamara, no one goes on TV to actually fall in love. Do I like him? Maybe but get married to guy? I didn’t sign myself up for this and you know that.
Tamara: Okay, admit it, you do like this guy.
Lucy: I mean yes, he checks off a lot of boxes
Tamara: How many boxes?
Lucy: All of them. Every single box. He is tall, blonde, handsome.
Tamara: So, you do like him.
Lucy: Maybe a little?
Tamara: Lucy?
Lucy: Okay, okay. Yes, I like him a lot, Tamara, I really do. But there is no way he feels the same about me.
Tamara: Oh my gosh! Lucy Chen, in love, never thought I would have seen the day.
Lucy: Nope, Tamara, no way look it doesn’t matter, I am probably going to be eliminated at the end of the week and that will be the end of my adventure into TV dating.
Tim went back to LA and spent several days with Isabel and her family. If he was being honest, yes, he liked her a lot, she was kind and nice and beautiful, but she wasn’t Lucy. The dates were okay but nothing major. He knew if Lucy wasn’t here that he would probably propose to Isabel at the end of all of this, but Lucy was here, and he was really looking forward to spending the next couple of days with her.
He pulled up in front of Lucy’s home and looked around. It was a small Spanish style house, and it reminded him of Lucy. Tim parked his car and knocked on the door and he was happy when Lucy answered.
Lucy: Tim! I’m so glad you found it. My mother is preparing lotus soup for lunch, so if it is okay with you, we can walk around the neighborhood a little, while we wait for lunch to be ready.
Tim: I would like that.
They start walking down the block and Tim and Lucy are bumping elbows and Tim is actually surprised by how natural this all feels with Lucy.
Tim: I can't believe that we both live in LA, and we have never met before.
Lucy: I don’t know if you have ever looked at a map of LA before, but it is not exactly a teeny tiny city.
Tim: Fair point. So, what is your plan for when the show is over?
Lucy: Go back to school, get my degree.
Tim: I thought you weren't sure if you wanted that.
Lucy: I’m still not. But what else am I going to do?
Tim: What excites you?
Lucy: I don’t know. How about you Tim, what is your plan for when this is all over?
Tim: I signed up to join the LAPD.
Lucy: So, you knew Isabel from before?
Tim: Isabel? No, it was just a coincidence that she is a detective.
Lucy: So, is that why you like her? Because you are both cops.
Tim: Not a cop yet, but it definitely helps me to understand her better. Does that bother you?
Lucy: Does what bother me?
Tim: Me, becoming a cop.
Lucy: No, it actually makes me respect you more.
Tim: Thank you Lucy.
Tim and Lucy walked back towards her house, and they continued talking. The lunch was awkward, but Tim didn’t mind as long as Lucy was by his side even the most awkward of situations were bearable. Tim knew that he had fallen hard for Lucy and there was nothing that was going to make him break up with her, ever.
The next day Tim was sitting alone with Lucy’s parents hoping to get their blessing to marry Lucy.
Mr. Chen: So, Tim, what exactly is your intention with our daughter? It is my understanding that you are also seeing another young girl.
Tim: Well, if I am being honest with you Mr. Chen, I love your daughter and I would like to propose to her tomorrow.
Mr. Chen: You will do no such thing sir.
Tim: Excuse me?
Mrs. Chen: Tim, what my husband is saying is that we will not give you our blessing to marry our daughter.
Tim: I’m sorry, but I did not expect to hear you say that. I’m not trying to be disrespectful here, but why not?
Mr. Chen: Lucy tells us that you are a cop.
Tim: Yeah, that’s true.
Mr. Chen: Well, our daughter is not supposed to be the wife of a cop. Lucy will marry a doctor or a lawyer, someone with money who can provide for her in the way that she deserves.
Tim: Is Lucy aware that you feel this way Sir.
Mrs. Chen: She knows, and she agrees.
Tim: She does?
Mr. Chen: She told us last night that she doesn’t see how this can work between you two because you come from two totally different worlds. She worries that you are so focused on becoming the best cop that you will either lose focus of her or that one day you won’t come home, and she doesn’t think she can handle that.
Tim: Lucy said that?
Mr. Chen: She said that she thinks Isabel is better for you than she is, and she was hoping we would tell you this so you wouldn’t make a fool of yourself to propose to her and then she be forced to turn you down.
Tim: I don't understand where this is coming from.
Mrs. Chen: Tim, Lucy just doesn’t want to hurt you, but maybe the best thing for everyone would be for you to choose Isabel tomorrow and not Lucy.
Tim didn’t have a chance to talk to Lucy again that day, but he was so conflicted. His heart was telling him that Lucy was the one, his one and only, but her parents said they would not support this marriage, that Lucy did not want a proposal. He went into the last day extremely conflicted.
Stephanie: As we are about to go to the final elimination and the proposal ceremony Tim, where is your heart at?
Tim: Well, you know, Isabel is a lot of fun and we are both in the LAPD and I really think that we can make a great team in our careers and in life.
Stephanie: And Lucy?
Tim: It's complicated.
Stephanie: Complicated how?
Tim: What I feel for her is real and it is much deeper than what I feel for Isabel. I really feel like I cn be myself around her. She has been a good influence on me, she makes me want to be a better man without actually saying the words. Her heart, her empathy, her humor, her ability to share her feelings and to listen to what others are saying and really care about them. How can I ever let her walk out of my life?
Stephanie: It sounds like you plan on picking Lucy.
Tim: I wanted to but it turns out, that a proposal, marriage, its not something that she wants with me.
Stephanie: Why would you think that? You clearly like her and I know she likes you too.
Tim: She told her parents that we are from two different worlds and that there is no way we could possibly share a life together, it doesn’t make any sense for me to pick her. That Isabel is so much better for me than Lucy will ever be.
Stephanie: Lucy really said that?
Tim: She did.
Stephanie: Do you think that Isabel has any doubts?
Tim: I don’t know.
Stephanie: You need to make a lifetime decision here Tim. Imagine if the woman you chose says no to you on national TV because she doesn’t want a relationship with you anymore.
Tim: That is what is making this decision so tough to make.
Eventually Tim knew what he had to do and with the ring in his pocket and Lucy’s best interests in his heart he walked towards her that day. Lucy was standing there in front of him, her brown hair flowing down her back. She looked gorgeous in an emerald green dress and Tim’s heart thought it couldn’t handle what he was about to do, but he knew that he loved Lucy with all of her heart and if this is what she thought was best for her than he was going to do it, even if it made him want to scream and cry and ask her to reconsider.
Lucy stood there looking at Tim with all the love in the world and in her heart she just knew that there was no going back. She had fallen completely in love with Tim Bradford and by the look on his face and his hand in his pocket Lucy was slowly beginning to believe that she was going to be walking away from this mansion as the future Mrs. Tim Bradford.
Tim held out his hands and took Lucy’s hands in his. He looked at her straight in the eyes and with all the love in the world. He smiled at her, and then took a deep breath before talking.
Tim: Lucy, you captivated my heart from the first moment I laid eyes on you. And I knew right away that there was something special here. Lucy you are incredible and special, and I could see us having a life together, getting married, having kids growing old together, you and me. But Lucy, we live in two totally different worlds. I’m just afraid that my life, my job will stop you from becoming the best person you can possibly be. You don’t deserve to be sitting by the phone every day waiting to find out if your husband is coming home to you or not. Lucy I just can’t, I won’t do that to you.
Lucy: Are you breaking up with me?
Tim: I'm so sorry.
Lucy stood there and sobbed; this was not how she had expected this day to end. She really thought that they understood each other, that they were in love. Yet here she was, Tim had just dumped her on national TV and Lucy honestly did not know what to think of it.
Tim felt like he wanted to throw up, but he knew there was no turning back, no telling Lucy he made a mistake. He did what he thought was best for her. So here he was standing in front of Isabel, and he so badly wished it was Lucy, but it wasn’t.
Tim: Isabel, from the moment I met you, I couldn’t get you out of my head. I can see us having a good future together on the job and in marriage.
Tim takes out the ring and gets down on one knee.
Tim: I have fallen in love with you Isabel. Will you marry me?
Isabel: Yes, yes, yes!
Tim slides the ring on Isabel’s finger.
Isabel: I love you so much Tim. I can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together.
Isabel then leans in and kisses Tim.
Lucy went home and was still heartbroken. She was sitting on her bed the night the finale aired when Tamara walked in.
Tamara: Hey Lucy, how are you holding up?
Lucy: I just don’t get it. How could he pick Isabel over me, I really thought he loved me also.
Tamara: I don't know, have you heard from him since?
Lucy: Not a word. I really thought he would call me tonight; tell me it was a mistake. Or that there would be some apology in the episode. But no Tamara, he really dumped and proposed to Isabel. Tim Bradford broke my heart on national TV.