Chapter Text
Time For Me to Come Home For Christmas
July 14 – Day 4 Chenford Week 23 – Happy Hawley Day
When Tim got back from the Army, he decided to join Jackson and become a police officer. Lucy, who had been struggling in college since her parents forced her to major in psychology, decided that instead of joining her parents' practice she would join Tim and Jackson in the LAPD as well. Lucy’s parents were less than pleased with her decision and wanted her to become a therapist just like them. But Lucy knew that she had to do what made her happy and for now being a police officer gave her purpose to her life and she was loving every minute of it. Getting to spend all of this extra time with Tim definitely was a plus but it was not the reason she was doing this.
Their class in the Academy finished mid-December with Graduation on December 23. They were then given the week to celebrate the holidays with their families and their first day working at the station was scheduled to be January 3rd. Lucy was looking forward to putting on the uniform, getting her badge and meeting her training officer, but she still had to get through graduation first. As her parents did not agree with her job choice they did not attend the graduation, she had asked Jackson if he could come but he had just received a promotion at work so his parents had taken him out to a fancy restaurant to celebrate as they were so proud of all that he had accomplished in the 5 years he had been on the job.
Lucy was feeling really sad that her family didn’t support her. Everyone else had their families there. Most were going out to celebrate after the graduation ceremony, but Lucy had no one there and no celebration planned either. Lucy smiled at Tim and then looked over to where she saw his family, both his parents, his sister Genny and even her boyfriend had come all to support Tim. Tim had told her that he would have loved to celebrate with her after the graduation but he couldn’t because his mother had decided that the Bradford annual Christmas party would also be Tim’s LAPD graduation party as well.
When Lucy got home, she saw her mother sitting at her kitchen counter waiting for her.
Lucy: Mom, you’re here?
Mrs. Chen: Lucy, we really need to talk about this whole police officer thing.
Lucy: Really mom? This again?
Mrs. Chen: Lucy, this job is not for you.
Lucy: Really? And being a therapist is?
Mrs. Chen: Lucy, you should be doing something meaningful with your life.
Lucy: Something meaningful?
Mrs. Chen: Yeah
Lucy: Being a cop is meaningful for me.
Mrs. Chen: Well, it’s not to me.
Lucy: Mom!
Mrs. Chen: Lucy, I want to be proud of you, instead of hoping people don’t ask me what you do for a living, especially now during the holidays.
Lucy: Mom, why can't you just support me on this? Tim’s family is throwing him a party, Jackson’s family took him out to celebrate and what do I get?
Mrs. Chen: Jackson and Tim are not my children Lucy, you are. And if you want to celebrate then come join us in the practice, give us something to celebrate and we will.
Lucy: This is not about you throwing me a party mom. I just wish you would support me
Mrs. Chen: Lucy I can’t sit around and watch as you as work a thankless job that can get you killed, that is just not something your father and I can support. Lucy, we will always love you, we just want what is best for you.
Lucy: No, you just want me to do exactly what you do, but mom why can’t you just accept that being a therapist was your dream, but it is not mine. I love being a cop, I get to help people.
Mrs. Chen: If you want to help people become a doctor.
Lucy: Wow!
Mrs. Chen: Lucy, please!
Lucy: Just get out! Now!
Lucy watched her mom leave the apartment and she sat down on the couch crying. Lucy heard her phone ring, but she had no energy to pick it up, so she let it go to voicemail. When her phone did not stop ringing, she decided to turn it off so she could wallow in self-pity uninterrupted.
Tim was at his family’s Christmas party and was feeling guilty for leaving Lucy all alone with her parents, so he tried calling her but after his third call with no answer he was starting to get nervous, so he texted Jackson.
Text from Tim: Sorry to bother you, I know you are with your fam, but have you heard from Lucy?
Text from Tim: She’s not answering my calls.
Text from Tim: Congratulations on promotion btw.
Text from Jackson: Just finishing dinner
Text from Jackson: Haven’t heard from her. Want me to call?
Text from Tim: No, I’ll go to her place.
Text from Tim: Can you come to my family party? I think Lucy might need all the friends she can get right now.
Text from Jackson: Sure, I can be there in thirty.
Text from Tim: Perfect. I’ll see you soon.
Tim told his mother that he was going to get Lucy and bring her over so she could celebrate with them. He then drove over to Lucy’s house and got nervous when he saw that the place was dark. He knocked several times, but still no answer.
Tim: Lucy it’s me. Can you please open the door?
Still no answer
Tim: I'm using my key and coming in.
Lucy had given Tim a spare key to her apartment when she moved into her own place, so Tim used that key and opened the door. His heart broke at the sight of all the lights off, Lucy sitting on her couch crying. Tim walked over to her, wrapped his strong arms around her and let her cry while he held her. After 5 minutes she pulled away and smiled at him sadly.
Lucy: My mom was here when I got home, and she yelled at me.
Tim: Again?
Lucy: Yup, my parents are still really mad that I will not be joining the practice.
Tim: I'm sorry.
Lucy: I just so badly wanted them to be proud of me.
Tim: I'm proud of you, if that counts for anything.
Lucy: Thanks Tim, it means a lot.
Tim looked at her and he so badly wanted to kiss her, to tell her that everything would be okay, but they were just friends, had been best friends for years and he was not about to go and ruin that friendship by attempting to pursue something romantic when he had no idea if Lucy felt the same way about him so he decided to just smile at her. Lucy loved sitting like this with Tim. He made her feel loved and safe, she knew how she felt about him but unsure about his feelings for her she decided against saying anything to him. Eventually Tim stood up and pulled Lucy off the couch with him.
Lucy: Tim, what are you doing?
Tim: Taking you to my family Christmas party
Lucy: What? No, I can’t crash your party.
Tim: Please, my family will be so happy to see you.
Lucy: Really?
Tim: Yup, my mother has been asking about you she made your favorite gingerbread cookies
Lucy: Did she frost them yet?
Tim: You're going to have to come to find out.
Lucy: Tim!
Tim: Come on go get your shoes, we have a party to get to Miss Chen.
Lucy: Okay, okay. I’m coming.
Lucy went downstairs with Tim. Tim opened the door of his truck for Lucy and she smiled at him lovingly. This all felt so perfect, and he made her feel so special. Lucy so badly wanted to tell him how much he meant to her, but she didn’t want to ruin her friendship with him and Jackson, so she decided to keep it to herself for now. Tim’s hand was on the small of Lucy’s back as they walked into the party.
Lucy: I am not dressed up for a party Tim.
Tim: You look beautiful Lucy.
Mrs. Bradford: Lucy! I am so glad you made it.
Tim: I promised her cookies mom.
Mrs. Bradford: I set some aside for you, they are in the dining room waiting for you.
Lucy: Thank you.
Mrs. Bradford: Tim told us the good news. We are just so proud of both of you.
Lucy: Thank you.
Lucy turns around to go get her cookies when Tim puts his hand on her shoulder and turns her around to face him.
Tim: Lucy,
Lucy: I want my cookies Tim.
Tim: I know. But I have one more surprise for you. I think it's in the kitchen
Lucy: Plus, the cookies?
Tim: Yeah, don't worry about your cookies Lucy. You will get to eat plenty but first I want you to see the other surprise.
Tim and Lucy walk towards the kitchen and Lucy is so genuinely happy. She does not know how she got so lucky to have someone as amazing as Tim Bradford as her best friend. She is laughing as they enter the kitchen and then she just stops.
Lucy: Jackson? What are you doing here? I thought your family was taking you out to celebrate before you went out of town for the holidays.
Lucy gives him a big hug. Jackson pulls back and smiles at her lovingly.
Jackson: Change of plans.
Lucy: What? why?
Jackson: Tim and I thought that it was important for us to spend these holidays with you so that you wouldn’t be without any family.
Lucy: Tim! You didn’t tell me that Jackson was staying home for Christmas.
Tim: If I told you, it wouldn’t have been a surprise now, would it?
Lucy: You two are the best friends a girl could ever wish for.
Jackson: Okay, okay. Lucy, I have something for you.
Lucy: What? You guys are too good to me.
Jackson: Well, I knew that your parents are not supportive of your career change, and I just wanted to give you a little something to show you how proud of you I am.
Jackson takes out a box and hands it to Lucy. Lucy opens it and sees a necklace inside.
Lucy: Jackson!
Jackson: You like it?
Lucy: I love it! Can you help me put it on?
Tim watched with envy as Jackson put the necklace on Lucy. He so badly wanted to be the one to make her smile like that. But he kept reminding herself that they were just friends, best friends. Tim, Lucy and Jackson, the three of them, would always be best friends and no matter how much Tim wished it could be more with Lucy he knew that nothing would change, so he tried to be okay with being just her friend for right now.
Lucy: I'm so glad you're staying home for Christmas.
Tim watched as Lucy and Jackson hugged each other while they laughed.
Jackson: Okay Tim, it’s been way too long since the three of us last hung out together. I want to hear all about how Lucy was at the academy.
Tim: Lucy was the most impressive recruit in our entire class.
Jackson: Of course, she was. Lucy is impressive.
Lucy: I'm right here you guys.
Tim and Jackson: We know.
Tim: Did you tell him?
Jackson: Tell me what?
Lucy: Tim and I were assigned to Mid-Wilshire
Jackson: What?
Lucy: Yeah
Jackson: Both of you?
Tim: Yup
Jackson: That's amazing!
Lucy: Yeah
Tim: We start right after New Years.
Lucy: Yeah, I can’t believe it. This is everything that I, well that we have ever wanted.
Jackson: All three of us at Mid-Wilshire, what could be better?
Tim looked at Lucy, one thing on his mind that could be better than this, but he really had to stop letting his brain go there. The rest of the evening went really well. Lucy was enjoying spending time with both Tim and Jackson, and she was so glad that Tim had convinced her to come and join the party.
After a while Tim got up and went to hang out with his family a little.
Genny: Hey Tim, how’s Lucy?
Tim: She’s good.
Genny: Uh huh
Tim: What is that supposed to mean?
Genny: You should really tell her how you feel.
Tim: What?
Genny: Ask her out already, take the girl on a real date.
Tim: A date?
Genny: I know you like her
Tim: Yeah of course I like her. She’s my best friend.
Genny: And you wish she was more than that. It’s obvious.
Tim: Its obvious... wait is it really obvious? You think she knows?
Genny: Well, you could always ask her out, take her on a date and find out.
Tim: I don't know Genny.
Genny: Well, I do. You like her, just tell her that.
Tim: Your impossible.
Genny: I'm serious Tim, you won't know how she feels unless you ask her.
Tim: Fine. I’ll do it. But if my relationship with Lucy is ruined because of this, I will blame you.
Genny: That is a chance I am willing to take.
Tim walked away from Genny and went to find Lucy. He spotted Lucy and Jackson in the dining room, took a deep breath before walking over. Tim had almost gotten to the room when he heard Lucy’s voice, and he stopped walking when he heard what she was saying to Jackson.
Lucy: I know this is a lot to take in. Say something, please.
Jackson: How long have you felt this way?
Lucy: A while, I guess. I didn’t mean for this to happen. Really, I didn’t. And I haven’t said anything until now because I knew that it would change things between us, but I just can't continue being friends when I really want our relationship to be so much more than just friendship
Tim watches as Jackson puts his hands on Lucy’s shoulders and then brings her in for a hug. Tim felt like his heart had just been ripped out of his chest and could no longer go on listening to this. Tim turned around and was halfway out the front door when Genny came running behind him.
Genny: Where are you going?
Tim: I need air.
Genny: What? Why? What happened?
Tim: Let's just say I’m keeping true to my word and blaming you for all of this.
Genny: Oh, Tim! I’m so sorry. I really believed she felt the same way about you.
Tim: Guess you were wrong Genny.
Genny watched as the door closed behind Tim. She honestly thought that Lucy was in love with Tim, how could she have been so wrong about this? She wished that there was something she could do to fix it, she just didn’t know how.
Lucy was having a lot of fun but as it was getting late, she knew she had to get back home, so she tried looking for Tim as he drove her there and she had no car. Not seeing Tim anywhere, she walked over to Genny.
Lucy: Hey where's Tim?
Genny: He left.
Lucy: He left? But he’s, my ride.
Genny: Yeah. Said he needed some air.
Lucy: How long ago was that?
Genny: Maybe ten, fifteen minutes ago.
Lucy: Oh um okay.
Lucy: Hey Jackson, Tim left.
Jackson: Without you?
Lucy: Apparently
Jackson: That's unlike him
Lucy: I know. I’ll call him later, but I really have to get home. Can you give me a ride?
Jackson: Yeah sure.
Lucy: Thank you.
Jackson: You should really talk to Tim though about what we spoke about earlier.
Lucy: I will. But I’m exhausted and I really need to get home now. I’ll talk to him tomorrow.
Jackson: Lucy. You can’t keep hiding this from him. Lucy, I know you are nervous but if you don’t say something now, I think you will regret it.
Lucy: I'll tell him. I promise. Tomorrow.
Jackson: Lucy!
Tim was sitting in his apartment, trying to figure out how he was in love with Lucy when she was in love with Jackson when his phone rang.
Tim: Genny! Do you know what time it is?
Genny: Tim, where are you?
Tim: I'm at home why?
Genny: Tim, Jackson was driving Lucy home tonight and they got in an accident.
Tim: Lucy? Is Lucy, okay?
Genny: All I know is that one of them didn’t make and the other I'm not sure about.
Tim: Lucy’s dead?