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Planning a wedding was, in short, exhausting. Even with sage advice from their many married friends, Tim and Lucy were unprepared to confront so many apparently urgent decisions after a long day at work. They came close to eloping several times. Vegas was a special place for them after all.
But sitting down to write their vows? Now that was a piece of cake.
They sat across from each other on the couch and started scribbling rough drafts on the back of old junk mail. While they looked up at each other from time to time for inspiration, Tim grew suspicious when he felt Lucy’s gaze on him for a longer period of time. “Lucy,” he said while keeping his eyes on his own paper, “Are you drawing me?”
Lucy clutched her paper close to her chest. “No.” He blinks at her. “Fine, yes. It’s not my fault you make for a great subject. Here, I’ll show you in a minute after some finishing touches.” She made several additions to the page with a flourish before proudly presenting it to her fiancé.
“Not bad,” he told her honestly. It decently resembled his likeness, down to the firm set of his mouth that showed he was concentrating on the task at hand while Lucy doodled him. “But how far along are you into writing?”
She looked offended that he even asked. “You’re very distracting so I’m going to finish these on my computer.” She left the room and Tim shook his head while smiling. He loved that girl so much.
They briefly considered doing private vows, but Lucy wanted the world to know just how much she loved Tim. They had to be professional for hours while on duty, this was her time to be romantic and dramatic in public. When she put it like that, Tim acquiesced quickly.
It was hard keeping the vows a secret from each other after they were written. Every time the impatience gnawed at Lucy she’d tell Tim, “Two words: Vegas elopement.” Then she’d walk out of the room to give herself a better chance at keeping mum. Something about Tim just had a funny way of making her want to wax poetic.
He always texted her I love you after she left the room and it made her smile (and sometimes squeal) without fail. She had to pinch herself to: 1) stop herself from screenshotting it every time because then her camera roll would be overloaded and 2) remind herself that this was real life and she was really, truly marrying that guy.
When their wedding day finally arrived, the wait was worth it, as it so often is. Tim watches in awe as Lucy walks down the aisle. She asked Grey to walk with her and his presence helps steady both bride and groom.
Lucy insists on reading hers first. She knows she’ll cry through Tim’s and she doesn’t even want to attempt her own vows in that state. He bows his head to her to signal go ahead and she pulls out her printed notes, waving them in the air with unrestrained joy. He’d have to get that paper framed, Tim thinks distantly.
“Tim, when I first met you I thought you were just an obstacle I had to get through. Thirteen months of Tim Tests and then I’d be free to make my own decisions and sit in the driver’s seat.” Everyone laughed, Tim included.
“To my surprise, I did more than just tolerate you. I found myself leaning on you everyday. I started to look forward to the hours spent in the shop and to sharing meals together. I wanted to know what you thought of the world even after working hours were over. It certainly didn’t hurt that you’re easy on the eyes.” Someone (likely Angela) whistled in the audience.
“You truly know me. I trust you with anything and everything because you always keep my best interests in mind. You have a beautiful heart and I’m privileged to witness it up close. You make me laugh everyday with your wit and good natured teasing. I have endless respect for you and I love watching you be a leader, there’s no one more capable or more deserving.” Luna nudged her husband and Grey whispered, “He is pretty good.”
“You are my partner in every sense of the word and I’m so grateful for it. You let me fight my own battles, but to quote you, I know I’m never, ever alone. Life is unpredictable, but if there’s anything I’m prepared to do, it’s love you forever. I love you, I adore you, you are worth everything good in this world. There’s no one who makes me feel more safe, more beloved, more cherished.”
She reaches out to squeeze Tim’s hand and brings her vows to a close. She takes a deep breath, comforted by the warmth of his skin. “I’m glad it’s you who taught me almost everything those first thirteen months, I’m glad it’s you watching my six, I’m glad it’s you I get to come home to.”
She looks up from the paper, eyes brimming with tears. “I’m glad it’s you, Tim Bradford.”
He doesn’t know if it’s against the “rules” to bring Lucy in for a hug before being granted permission to kiss the bride, but he doesn’t care. He wraps her in his arms and places a gentle kiss to her hair. It feels so right. “You did good, boot.”
She leans up to peck him on the cheek and quickly wipes away the mark left by her lipstick. “Thanks. Your turn,” she says softly.
“Tough act to follow,” he remarks before unfolding his own paper.
“To my future wife: I once told you that I would be judging you every minute of every day and in a way, that’s still true even now. That’s just my way of saying I pay attention to you all the time. I have cop eyes. When I walk into a room I pay attention to the number of exits, anything that seems suspicious and where exactly Lucy Chen is.” Lucy gasps softly. She knew Tim would tug at her heartstrings with his vows, but not this early on. She needed to steel herself for the rest of his speech; she could not ruin her makeup.
“I love the way you see the world. You see me for who I am, even if it means exposing that I’m secretly a big softie. I hope you never lose your positive outlook on life. I will do my damnedest to protect that light. You’ve shown me that there are plenty of good people in the world. I’ll admit I’m biased, but you’re the best of them all and, by far, my favorite.” If there’s one thing Tim Bradford is going to do, it’s be competitive. Lucy laughs in delight and holds up a single finger to say number 1! His competitive streak had certainly rubbed off on her.
“Maybe this goes without saying, but I would die for you.”
“Please don’t die on me,” she whispers. He’d been wondering how long he could ramble on before she’d make her first interruption.
“I’d swim across the ocean or crawl through the desert if you needed me.”
“You practically already have!” she whispers again. She can’t fight the urge to give him a little tap on the chest and it makes him smile.
“Loving you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done and I promise to put you first everyday even when the going gets tough.”
He clears his throat. His vision had grown slightly blurry with his own tears. “I’m lucky to know you and even luckier to love you. It’s been the honor of my lifetime to watch you grow since the day you became my rookie, and I can only imagine the even more incredible person you’ll be in the many years we share together.”
The way he looks at Lucy nearly knocks her off her feet with its intensity. “Lucy, I live and die for you. I’ve loved you for a long time, I love you today and I promise to love you tomorrow. I’m so proud to be your husband.”
He lets out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. Who knew he’d be so nervous?
The audience bursts into applause when the ceremony ends with the officiant announcing that they could kiss, but the happy couple barely even hears the noise.
“I love you,” they say to each other at the same time after breaking away. Lucy leans back in his arms and laughs with her mouth wide open and it’s music to Tim’s ears. They only turn away from each other’s embrace to clasp their hands together tightly and face the crowd.
“Are you ready for this?” he asks, gesturing with their joined hands to the aisle.
“Mm, not yet,” she says. “One more.” She goes in for another kiss and Tim gladly obliges.
“Okay, sorry. Now we can start the rest of our lives,” she says with a satisfied smile.
“I’m not sorry,” he responds before kissing her a third time. “Lead the way,” Tim tells her. “I’m right behind you.”
He knows she’ll want to dance down the aisle and greet their guests, and he’s perfectly content to let his wife do as she pleases. They’ve got nothing but time.