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Lucy walks up to her apartment expecting to find it empty and dark. Celina was working the night shift and hadn’t been home when Lucy came home and Tim and her were just getting back into the swing of things since getting back together. He usually would come over a few hours after he got off work. And Lucy appreciated that he was still respecting her time and boundaries even if she wanted him there all the time. She wanted to be near him, and close to him. After being deprived of him for so long.
But they were just getting back and she knows he’s still a little nervous and he feels guilty about everything even if she reassured him that she forgave him. And she did because he made it up to her in small doses just like he said he would..and she loves him so much more for that.
And now—
She enters her apartment and is instantly hit with the aroma of lasagna. She looks around and sees Tim in the kitchen. He turns around and his face softens when he sees her, and she smiles at him wondering how she got this damn lucky.
To have Tim in her life.
To have him in her kitchen.
Again.
She thinks of all the nights that she came home to an empty apartment and went straight to her bedroom. She thinks of all the nights where she wanted to call Tim to yell at him or cuss him out or just not saying anything. But she never did, and even if it turned out for the better with them being apart for a little. She regrets not fighting for them more even if it would have been her fighting for them.
She shakes her head of those thoughts because he’s here now and he fought for them and she knows there’s no turning back.
“Hi.” She says as he meets her in the middle of the kitchen. He brings her in immediately and she melts into his familiar embrace. Feeling safe and protected.
“Hi.” He says back pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “How are you?” She doesn’t answer right away, perfectly content on just hugging on Tim.
“I’m better now.” She finally says and Tim lets out a soft laugh.
“Yeah?”
“I didn’t know you would be here.” Lucy says. “I thought you were coming over later.” Tim’s smile drops a little bit.
“I’m sorry I should have—” He starts but Lucy stops him with a hand to his chest.
“I love coming home to you.” She says and his face relaxes a little. But he still seems tense so she kisses him softly. “You are welcomed here anytime.”
Tim wraps his arms around her waist and pulls her to him. “Baby steps right? Small doses.” He mutters into her hair. Lucy nods and she feels him relax completely.
“Giving your key back was big babe.” Lucy says. But she gets what he means, he was still trying and taking it a little at a time was a good step.
“I know.” Tim mutters and then they stand there for a few minutes, and Lucy breathes him in before taking a step back. Tim moves too but he seems more relaxed as he starts cutting up some vegetables.
Lucy watches him for a few minutes before she’s moving out of the kitchen and sitting at the counter to watch him some more. He moves around the kitchen so effortlessly, it almost takes her breath away.
It’s amazing how fast they fell back into being them. It wasn’t easy by any means but it just felt right.
Like it had always felt right with Tim.
God she loves him.
“Hey.” She says and he looks up pausing what he was doing to look up at her. His eyes are bright and his face soft. It’s the most relaxed he has looked in a long time.
“Hmm.”
“I love you.” She says and his face lights up even more. He leans forward on his elbows and she leans forward too just wanting to be as close as possible.
“I love you too Luce.” He says and she smiles softly giving him a soft kiss. “I’m never letting you go again.”
“Good.” She replies back putting her hand on his cheek. “Because I’m not letting you go either.”
“Mmm.” Tim hums. “Well I’m glad.”
Lucy leans back in the chair and continues to watch him. He finishes the salad and then pulls the lasagna out of the oven. Lucy licks her lips in anticipation and Tim pours her a glass of wine before setting a plate in front of her.
“Thank you.” She says and he nods at her smiling before he’s serving himself some. She takes a bite and closes her eyes.
It was delicious.
Tim comes to sit next to her and she scoots closer to him and leans on him, feeling his familiar worth wash over her.
“Thank you.” She says.
“Anytime Luce.” He says smiling at her, his eyes still bright and his face still soft. “Always for you.”
***
After they eat and Tim insists on cleaning up the kitchen, they curl up on the couch together. Lucy’s head is on his chest and Tim is running his fingers through her hair wondering how he let her go so easily.
He wanted to make sure she knew how much he loved her and how much he appreciated her. And they finally made it back to one another, it took awhile but it was worth it.
Lucy would always be worth it.
No matter what.
He wasn’t going to make the same mistake again and let her go. He was going to choose her everyday.
He wraps his arms around her and pulls her closer to him and kisses the top of her head. Lucy cuddles in more and gets comfortable. Tim smiles as he turns on the tv, and flips through the channels. He finally lands on a cooking show and he hears Lucy sigh happily. And he just pulls her tighter against him.
Home
He was home.
After awhile he realizes she is falling asleep and kisses the top of her head again breathing her in. He feels her soft breathing as she moves a little on his chest, and he smiles to himself. He gently nudges her awake and she mumbles something into his skin, her lips moving softly against him.
“You are tired baby.” He says softly, gently. “Let’s get you to bed.” Lucy cracks one eye open to look at him.
“Are you coming with me?” She asks. He swallows hard because he hadn’t planned on spending the night, even though they were back together he was still taking it slow.
At her pace. Because she mattered more than just jumping back into bed.
Although he really missed that too—
“If you want me too.” Tim mutters into her hair. Lucy doesn’t answer right away but she does open both eyes to look at him.
“I want you to.” She finally says running her fingers across his cheek. “I really need you back in my bed.”
And well how can he argue with that?
“Okay.” He says softly and stands up pulling her with him. “But I don’t have any clothes—”
“Who said you needed any?” Lucy says a smile on her lips. He lets out a soft laugh and tucks some hair behind her ear, as much as he would love for something to happen tonight he knows it won’t.
And it would be worth the wait—again when it happened.
“I will stay.” He says pressing his lips to her forehead. “Now—” He’s interrupted by the front door opening and a cheerful voice.
“Hey Lucy what are you—” Celina starts but stops when they both turn to look at her. Her jaw drops a little and then she breaks out into a giant smile. And Tim has all the words ready to say, but Celina beats him to it. She’s still smiling big and Tim’s not sure he trusts it.
“I knew it!” She says excitedly. “You two are back together.” Tim sighs and Lucy lets out a giggle that he wants to bottle up and keep it forever.
Lucy smiles at Celina, and then pushes Tim back towards her bedroom. She waves at Celina over his shoulder and he looks back to see Celina just grinning at them. He takes over and pushes her in the room and closes the door.
She pushes him against the door and stands on her toes to kiss him. It’s slow and deep and everything he’s been craving the last few weeks—the last few months.
And he’s really glad he decided to stay.
Even with Lucy’s roommate here.
It’s all worth it.
And he knows he will always choose Lucy.