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Tim, Tamara, and Lucy were at his house eating takeout and watching true crime documentaries, the girls trying to ignore Tim's comments about police procedure in the reenactments of the crimes. Tim and Lucy were on the couch while Tamara sat on the floor at the coffee table with Kojo beside her. They had just finished another episode.
"Oh, Tamara! Remind me, I need to call the leasing office about the next lease tomorrow." Lucy said.
The girl on the floor nodded, "Okay."
"About that, what if you didn't resign your lease?" Tim asks.
Lucy looks at him, slightly confused, "Then I wouldn't have anywhere to live?"
"You could live here."
"Here." Lucy pauses, "At your house...With you."
Tim chuckles, "I would live at my house too, yes."
"You want to move in together?"
Lucy doesn't know why she is so surprised; it's not like they haven't talked about it. Because they have, it's just surprising her that it was happening now. They had talked about moving in together and Tamara, but it had always seemed far away.
"Yes."
It's the look in her boyfriend's eyes combined with the certainty with which he said that one word that had her smiling like Dopy the Dorf, "That's a big step."
Tim shrugs, "We basically live together now; I would have suggested moving into the apartment, but Kojo has a yard here, and the last time he lived in an apartment, it did not go well."
Lucy laughs, "No, it did not." she nods, "Yes."
And with that, they are going to move in together. Their smiles grow as they lean in and share a kiss. When they let out, Lucy is blushing. Tamara gives them a few moments of bliss before clearing her throat.
"Do you mind if we maybe pay, month-to-month for a few months. Just while I find a roommate or another place?"
"Oh-"
Before Lucy can even really start her sentence, Tim is off the couch. He cuts her off, "Follow me." and starts walking down the hall. Tamara looks at Lucy, who shrugs and gets up.
Tamara catches up to Tim just as he opens the last door on the right and turns on the light. He walks into the room and spins in a circle. He looks at Tamara and nods for her to walk in. The room is bare; the walls are all white, and the only thing on them is the mount for the TV, with the bed frame, dresser, and nightstand all in the middle of the room tarped in clear plastic.
"This is your room." Tamara walks in slowly, taking in the room. "Lucy and I are upstairs. So you have the whole floor to yourself. Well, Kojo sleeps in the office across the hall, but who wouldn't mind sharing with Kojo. The box of spray paint and paint is for you to decorate however you want. You should be far enough from the kitchen that when we leave early or come home late, we won't disturb you, and you have your own bathroom."
He points to the bathroom. Tamara turns on the light and peeks in the bathroom. She quickly looks in the bathroom and notes that she'll have her own shower. She looks back at him.
"Really?"
That response tells Tim all he needs to know: that she doesn't quite believe that this is real or that he really wants her here. He looks at her, so she knows he is serious.
"Tamara, no one is pushing you out. If you really are ready to move out and find a different place, then this will be for when you come visit. But you need to know that despite the nickname you got when you came into our lives, you are not a puppy that is going to get sent back to the pound. This home is your home now. And it's going to be that way for as long as you want it to be."
Tamara is fighting to keep her tears from spilling over; she surprises him by darting at him and wrapping her arms around him in a hug; she holds on tight, and after a minute, she says, "Sorry, I know this is weird, and you and I don't hug but… thank you."
Tim wraps his arms around her. "Not weird, Kid, just new."
Lucy, leaning on the door frame of the room, watches as a piece of the little boy her boyfriend used to be, the little boy who never had a safe place to call home, the little boy who took the brunt of the abuse so that his little sister had a safer place to live then he did is healed. She watches as a piece of the girl who lost her safe place to soon and spent years living in constant fight or flight is healed as she finally learns that she has a family that loves her and is safe. Tamara lets out of the hug she is in with Tim. She smiles at him, and he nods, an unspoken conversation happening between the two; Tamarra leaves the room, and Lucy walks to Tim, taking his hands from his side and entwining their fingers.
"This was incredible, but I thought we would talk to her about moving together."
Tim shrugged, "I thought it needed to come from me, and she needed to see it to believe it. Plus, I was going to talk to you about moving this weekend, and then you brought up the lease. So I.."
"So you asked." she smiled wide at the thought of officially living with him, "and I said yes."
"You did." he leans in, and they kiss.
Two months later, on the eve of moving day, Tamara and Lucy were spending the evening having one last girls' night in the apartment while they finished packing. Tamara was in her room packing, or thats what she was supposed to be doing. Lucy was in the kitchen getting a glass of water when there was a knock on the door. Opening it to see Tim holding pizza and a bag from the corner store that clearly had pints of ice cream.
"I know it's girls' night; I'm not staying, just the pizza delivery guy."
Lucy smiles as she lets him in. Tim steals a quick from her lips as he walks by.
"You are the perfect man. You know, I used to think it was Chris Evans. But I was wrong. It's you."
"Good to know, I'm better than Captain America." Tim puts the things he brought on the counter before asking, "Where's Tamara?"
Lucy nods towards the young adult's bedroom, "She is supposed to be packing, but I think she is having trouble."
Her door was open, so he walked over, leaned on the door frame, and looked at the girl sitting at the end of the bed. Tim looks around the room, noticing how it is not packed at all. He lets her know that he will not be staying. He knows that they need this time. Not that it won't happen once they move tomorrow, but because this is a big change. Change, even a good change, is hard. He knows the girl in front of him has had enough change to last a lifetime.
"I brought Margarita pizza from Cleos."
Tamara nods, "Thanks."
He nods at her lap. "Whatchya got there?"
She looks up at him, and he really sees her face for the first time since they started talking. Tim notices she's holding back unshed tears. Tamara takes a shaky, deep breath.
"I-uh-thought I'd start with the top shelf in the closet. There's not much up there, and I pulled on some extra blankets, and he came tumbling down." She adjusted the squishy green character in her lap. "I bought him for Jackson after I broke his crystal one. I didn't even know that Baby Yoda was up there."
Tim smiles at the mention of their friend. Tamara scootches over and nods, inviting him to sit down. He takes the invitation and joins her at the end of the bed.
"Look, I know it's different, but I know what it's like not knowing if you are safe at night."
"This is the first place I've felt safe in years."
"I know."
"It's not that I'm not excited-"
"I know that too."
He does know that she is excited, at least partially, about moving. She has been coming over roughly three nights a week to work on painting her bedroom. Sometimes, he and Lucy were home when she was working, and sometimes, the house would be empty, giving her time to be in the space and adjust. Tim sighs.
"For me, it was the Army. The first place where I didn't have to wonder if I was going to be tuned up by my dad."
"Lucy and Jackson let me into their home."
"Can I tell you something?" Tamara nods.
"Home isn't a place, it's people. The people you are with are what makes a home a home… And the person who makes a home for the both of us the most is in the other room waiting for you to celebrate the fact that you two made a home together after a lot of tragedy."
The girl nods again in understanding.
"It's okay to be sad. Just remember that when good things end. It's a good start to a new beginning."
The two are quiet for a few minutes, both in their own thoughts, some of the past, some of the future.
"Do you want to stay?"
"No, thank you for the offer, Kid, but you two should do this together. I'm meeting a buddy from my Army days for dinner. I just wanted to bring dinner. I'll be here with the moving truck at 10."
Tamara nods, and Tim gets up from the bed; she follows him, standing at the door, watching him walk over to Lucy, whisper something in her ear, and place a kiss on her temple. When he tries to leave, Lucy holds his arm, rises to her tiptoes, and kisses Tim. Tamara smiles and rolls her eyes.
The next morning, the trio carries box after box out while movers carry the furniture. They are getting close to the end. Lucy looks around the empty living room. Tamara walks with a box, stopping when she sees her roommate's face.
"Hey, you okay?"
"Yeah, it just feels weird."
"Wierd good? weird bad?"
"Wierd. A lot has happened in this apartment. We got this place because it was a crime scene."
"Then another when we found someone living in the wall… then another…"
"Yea… but it wasn't all bad; I mean you, me, Jackson… Me and Tim."
"Ew!"
"You are so dramatic."
Lucy rolls her eyes, chuckling. The girls look out at the empty living room. Tamara lays her head on her shoulder.
"Yeah, but this is a beginning, not an ending, and besides, Tim has a pool." Lucy chuckles. "No, seriously, we have each other, and that's what makes it."
Tamara hears Tim walk back in and lifts her head.
"Right?" Tim's eyes shine with pride, and he gives a single nod, agreeing with the young girl. "Come on, this is the last of it."
Tim takes the boxes from Tamara's arms.
"I got it; you guys take your time. I'll be in the truck."
"Thanks, Babe."
A few weeks later, the girls are completely moved in, and the house is officially theirs; it shows a perfect mix of Tim, Lucy, and Tamara. Tim's favorite part that shows the house is officially theirs is the gallery wall in the living room. It was Lucy's idea, and there are framed photos of all the people they love and photos that Tim and Lucy have taken of each other through the years. It makes him smile every time he walks by, like now when he passes it to put something in Tamara's room. Tonight, they are having a housewarming party. Everyone from the station is here, some metro people, Genny and the boys, and Tarmara's friends from school.
The party was in the backyard and already started; he was running slightly behind. He got home, kissed Lucy, and ran to shower.
Tamara and her friends took up the lounge chairs by the pool, and she watched as Tim rushed out to the backyard; she smirked at his slightly stressed face as he ran a hand through his hair. Tim Bradford does not like to be late. And he was fifteen minutes late. Tim goes to Lucy. Tamara's friend Tara, sitting next to her, leans into her ear. "Who is that?"
"That's Tim."
"Damn, he is fine."
"Hate to break it to you. But he's taken…. Also, he is old enough to be your dad."
"More like Zaddy. Damn, the gods really blessed that one, huh?"
Tamara rolls her eyes at her friend while the others laugh.
She watches Tim and Lucy from the lounge and notices that Lucy is wearing a concerned look at Tim. She can't help but sigh. She had gotten used to everyone she cared about, pretty much constantly being in danger. Hell, basically, everyone in her life was a damn cop or married to one. They had all had scares with psychos and cases. But since the change to Metro and Undercover, the danger and physical toll it took on them was so much worse. It was a different level of holding her breath, waiting to see if they would come home, than she was used to. But she was getting better at it.
Lucy looks at the cut on her boyfriend's eyebrow. He shows her his arm that's wrapped up.
"He came at me with a knife. Got me. There will be a pretty big bruise on my side tomorrow. But I'm okay."
This has become somewhat of a ritual for them after he has a case, she gets back from an undercover op, or they just have a rough day on the job. They run through their scars with each other.
"I'm glad. Are you ready to celebrate?"
"Yeah."
"Good; you start the grill, and I grab you a drink."
And they do just that: Arron comes over while he is starting up the grill. They talk about the shift. Then Lucy puts a beer bottle on the grill's small counter, wraps her arms around his waist, lays her head on his back, and matches the natural sway of his body with hers. She listens to them talk, just enjoying being present in the moment. There are too many nights where they go to sleep without each other, and so she is going to PDA with her boyfriend all she wants at their house. Besides, based on the way he squeezed her hand with the hand not holding the spatula, he didn't mind.
William, Tim's five-year-old nephew, walks up with a Capri Sun in one hand and a straw in the other, "Uncle Tim, I need help." the boy holds both hands.
"You know, Buddy, my hands are kinda full, but I bet if you ask Lucy, she'll help you."
"Lucy, I need help." Again, the boy holds out the pouch and staw.
With a smile, Lucy reluctantly lets go of her man and leans down so she's on Will's level. She takes the the drink and straw from him, "I would love to help. Let's see here. What flavor you got?" she opens the straw wrapper, "Oh, Fruit Punch. Good choice."
"It's my favorite."
"Mine too." Will's smile grows because he and Lucy have something in common. Lucy pokes the straw through the hole. "There you go." She handed him the fruit pouch, and he brought it to his mouth.
Will starts to walk away as Lucy stands to her full height. "Freeze," Tim calls at the boy, and he looks at his uncle questioningly while sipping the pouch. "Manners, what do you say?" Tim questions his nephew expectantly.
Will stops sipping, holding the pouch away from his mouth, and says, "Thank you, Lucy."
Lucy smiles, "You're welcome, Buddy."
A little later, everyone has eaten and is having a good time when Tim calls Tamara over to him and Lucy. When she is standing with them, he calls for everyone's attention. "Ah, thank you all for coming. We are excited to share this time with all of you. Tonight is about being together and spending time with the people we care about. Thank you for being those people. We are grateful that you are all those people. So eat, have fun, relax, enjoy." everyone cheers.
"Ah, wait," Tamara calls. She walks over to the wall and picks up a rectangle that's wrapped. "So, I don't know how much all of you know about the beginnings of Chenford, but long story short. I walked in on their first kiss-"
"Oh wait." Nyla laughs
"Didn't know that," Angela calls with a smirk.
Tim rolls his eyes, knowing his friends won't let that go. "And you haven't stopped since," he smirked.
Tamara laughs and rolls her eyes, "And despite how scaring it can be. You make a great team. Well, the morning after I walked in on them, they were going on their first undercover op, and Lucy kept telling me that the kissing was for work. This is when I coined the phrase 'Make out. Stop crime. That totally tracks.' because I've been scared enough to know that this is what you two do. So this is for you."
She gives the wrapped rectangle to them, and Tim and Lucy open it. It's a canvas painting with a silhouette painting of the two of them clearly in their uniforms based on the belts and the bun; there is also a clear height difference. The silhouette is surrounded by color exploding out from the silhouette like fireworks. At the top of the canvas is the Phrase Make out. Stop crime. That totally tracks.
"I love it. A Tamara original." Lucy says. Everyone agrees. Angela says she wants one.
After the party, Tamara is getting ready to go to bed when she sees a box on her nightstand under it, a piece of paper that reads: To safe places. - Tim
She opened the box, and in it was a silver bar necklace engraved on one side, TLTK. Meaning Tamara- Lucy- Tim- and Kojo.
Upstairs, Tim and Lucy were getting ready for bed. "Okay, so Tamara isn't the only one who has a present." From her side of the bed, she pulls out a gift bag. He joins her on the bed. He takes the bag and opens it. He pulls out a pillow. He reads it out loud, "No, sexy naked time tonight." his eyebrows raise.
"Turn it over."
He reads again, "Yes, sexy naked time tonight!"
He laughs and shakes his head.
"It's for the bed."
"It's cute. Thanks, Babe." he smiles, giving her a kiss, then grabs his gift from his bedside table.
He hands it to her. She opens the matching necklace to Tamaras. He tells about Tamara's matching one. They kiss. Kojo jumps on the bed, and Lucy immediately goes to pet him.
"So tomorrow hike ?" Tim asks.
"Yeah, it's been a while since we've been on one, huh, Kojo?" Kojo barks in agreement.
Tim sits back against the headboard, watching his girl and their dog. He chuckles.
Lucy looks up, "What's going on in that handsome head of yours?"
"Just thinking."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, we did things backward." Lucy tilts her head to the side in question. "We got a dog together first."
"Then we had a kid." Lucy adds, and he nods, "Then we got together."
Lucy leaves her spot by Kojo and sits against the headboard next to him, "Backwards worked for us."
"It did."
"Any regrets?" she asks.
"Not a one. You?"
She shakes her head firmly, smiling, "Nope."
She grabs his hand, entwines their fingers, leans, and kisses him.