Work Text:
Their Clearer Future
Lucy sits in the hospital waiting room, the sterile scent of antiseptic mingling with the distant murmur of conversations and the occasional beep of medical equipment. She shifts in her chair, her hand resting protectively on her slightly swollen belly, where her baby moves occasionally, a subtle reminder of the life growing within her. The room is a dull mix of pale blue and beige, with worn-out magazines scattered on a low table, but Lucy can't focus on any of them.
Her foot taps rhythmically against the linoleum floor, a nervous habit she can’t quite control. Her eyes flick repeatedly to the clock on the wall, each tick bringing her closer to the appointment time. Tim is still nowhere to be seen. He had assured her he would be here, but he was pulled away on a job at the last minute.
Lucy’s phone buzzes in her hand, but it isn’t Tim. She sighs, setting it down on her lap. A wave of conflicting emotions surge through her – excitement at the thought of finding out the sex of their baby, but also a gnawing anxiety. She had imagined this moment with Tim by her side, holding her hand, sharing the joy and surprise together, especially considering how well things have been going between them recently. But now, as the seconds tick by, she fears she might have to face it alone.
A nurse walks by, smiling kindly at her, and Lucy returns the smile half-heartedly. She takes a deep breath, trying to calm the fluttering in her chest. The excitement of knowing what she will be having battles with the disappointment of Tim’s absence.
The door to the waiting room creaks open slightly, and Lucy's heart skips a beat as she looks up, hoping to see Tim’s familiar face. But it is just another patient, and her heart sinks a little more.
The appointment time is drawing closer, and with each passing minute, Lucy’s anticipation and anxiety grows in equal measure. She knows she might have to do this without Tim, but she holds on to a flicker of hope that he rushes in at the last moment, just in time to share this special moment with her.
She’s not seen him for a few days because of a difficult op that he was a part of. He has messaged every day, usually every few hours, checking in but she understands that this is part of the job. It’s given her time to think though, think about what she wants and what she wants the future to look like. Things have been going really well between them, almost too well, and although she is certain that she never completely fell out of love with him, it’s still noticeable to her that those feelings are growing again.
Trust is still not straightforward, but as Celina told her last night: “It’s not like he cheated on you or betrayed you. He just screwed up when he was going through a tough time.” Celina doesn’t know the full details of what happened of course, and she also wasn’t trying to be flippant in disregarding Lucy’s feelings, but what she did say made a lot of sense.
Tim is not a bad guy. Lucy knows that and trusts that to be true despite what Tim might doubt about himself. There isn’t an ounce of her who believes that he won’t be a good father to their child, but that has to be the priority. Despite any growing feelings, she can’t just jump back in with two feet, not yet, not when there’s so much on the line… But does this mean that they wouldn’t be able to live together, as friends, as co-parents?
Last week when Tim was in one of his productive and motivated moods, he laid out to her how they could manage a co-parenting situation. It isn’t that Tim’s feelings have depleted for Lucy, he has made that clear, but he’s being respectful of her and her decision to take each day as it comes. He even had notes as he talked her through their options with a buzzing determination that she has grown accustomed to. It took Lucy by surprise, she thought she was the super prepared one, but she appreciated the effort even if it has given her a lot to think about.
Perhaps she’s being naive, but she can’t see why – when they’re getting on so well – they can’t live harmoniously to avoid the messiness of a strict childcare schedule. She also doesn’t really want to remain in her apartment when the baby comes, deciding it’s not in the sort of complex where she wants her son or daughter to grow up. If they got somewhere together, they should be able to afford somewhere in a decent area with good schools and safer streets.
After her conversation with Celina last night, she couldn’t sleep so she scrolled through various real estate listings online and today, because of not working, she visited a couple of houses that seemed to meet her criteria and one of them made her heart flutter because it appeared so perfect. She is unsure whether she is ready to broach the idea with Tim yet, but she’s going to trust her gut when they’re having dinner later.
Lucy’s phone buzzes again, and she quickly glances at it, hoping for a message from Tim, but it is just a notification from a news app. She lets out a frustrated sigh and slips the phone back into her pocket, trying to ignore the tightening knot of anxiety in her stomach.
The door to the waiting room opens again, but she doesn’t bother looking up this time, convinced it is another stranger. But then she hears his voice – slightly breathless, laced with urgency. “Lucy!”
Her head snaps up, and there he is, standing in the doorway, his hair slightly dishevelled and his cheeks flushed from rushing. Relief washes over her like a wave, and she feels the tension in her body melt away. He has made it.
Tim strides across the room, his eyes locking onto hers with an apologetic smile. “I’m so sorry. Traffic was a nightmare, and the op ran longer than I thought. But I’m here now.”
Lucy blinks back tears of relief and joy, a smile spreading across her face despite herself. “I was starting to think you wouldn’t make it.”
“I wouldn’t miss this for the world. It’s too important.”
“You and I both know that’s not how the job works.”
“I would have gone code seven if necessary.” He tells her in no uncertain terms. “Grey would have understood.” He adds as he takes a seat in the uncomfortable chair next to hers, giving her knee a supportive bump with his own. “Are you okay? How are you feeling?”
“Nervous. I don’t know why.” She admits, her voice trembling slightly. “But excited too. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“I’m glad I am too.”
A nurse appears in the doorway, clipboard in hand. “Miss Chen? We’re ready for you.” Lucy takes a deep breath, her heart pounding with anticipation as she stands up. Together, they follow the nurse down the hallway, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the walls.
The examination room is small and dark, the best suited environment to be able to easily see ultrasound images. Inside, the technician greets them warmly, guiding Lucy to the examination bed. Tim stands close by whilst the technician prepares the equipment, the moment of pause causing a spike to Lucy’s anxiety, so she finds herself reaching out, brushing her fingertips over the edge of Tim’s hand. He gets the message and takes hold of hers with a gentle smile. The cool gel on her belly makes her shiver slightly, but Tim’s presence keeps her calm.
It’s not long before a grainy image of their baby appears on the screen as the probe is moved over her skin. Lucy’s breath catches in her throat, her brown eyes fixed on the tiny figure moving on the screen. Tim’s grip on her hand tightens, and she glances up to see him smiling down at her, his eyes filled with wonder and love. “Everything looks good.” The technician announces and instantly Lucy feels lighter. “Did you want to know the sex today?”
Lucy nods, her heart pounding in her chest. Tim leans in closer, his breath warm in her ear as he whispers, “Whatever we’re having, they’re going to be perfect.”
The technician moves the wand slightly, and then, with a smile, she reveals, “Congratulations, you’re having a girl.”
Tears well in Lucy’s eyes, a mix of overwhelming joy and relief. She looks up to Tim, who is beaming, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “A girl.” He repeats softly, almost as if testing the word on his tongue. “We’re having a daughter.”
Lucy can’t hold back her tears any longer. She feels an overwhelming sense of love and gratitude, not just for the baby girl growing inside her, but for this moment with Tim by her side, sharing in the magic. It makes the future look a little clearer and she knows she is ready to talk to him about what happens next.
xxx
Later that evening, Lucy and Tim are back at her cosy apartment, the warm, homey scent of the vegetable pasta bake they had cooked together still lingering in the air. They are sitting on the couch, plates empty on the coffee table in front of them, and Lucy leans back into the soft cushions with her clasped hands resting on her bump, feeling content and a little drowsy after the meal.
The dinner had been a collaborative effort, with Tim chopping vegetables while Lucy stirred the sauce, both of them tossing out baby names as they worked. The kitchen had been filled with laughter as they vetoed each other’s more outlandish suggestions - Tim jokingly advocating for names like “Storm” or “Falcon,” while Lucy insisted on something more traditional. They haven't settled on anything definitive yet, but the discussion was fun and light-hearted, a preview of the many decisions they will get to make together.
As the conversation drifts into a comfortable silence, Lucy senses a sudden weight settle in her chest, a question that has been lingering in the back of her mind all evening now pushing its way to the forefront. She goes quiet, her fingers absentmindedly tapping to gather the courage to speak.
Tim notices the shift almost immediately, sensing the subtle tension in her posture. He looks at her, his brows knitting together in concern. “Hey, what’s on your mind?” He asks gently, his voice low and soothing.
Lucy hesitates, her gaze fixed on a spot across the room as she tries to find the right words. The joy of the day – the ultrasound, the shared dinner, the excitement of planning for their daughter – has been wonderful, but beneath it all, after seeing that particular house this morning, she has allowed herself to dream. “Can I show you something?” He nods.
Her hand instinctively moves to her phone, which was resting on the cushion beside her. With a deep breath, she unlocks it and pulls up a listing that is her most recently opened tab on her browser. It is for a three-bedroom house not far from the station, with a small garden and enough space for the three of them to live, but it’s more than that though. It’s a potential home for their little family.
She hands him the phone, her entire being vibrating with anxious energy as he takes it from her. Tim’s brow furrows slightly as he looks at the screen, scrolling through the images of the house, evidently concentrating. He doesn’t say anything at first, just takes it all in, and Lucy feels her nerves start to fray at the edges. “It’s a house.” She unnecessarily explains, her voice surprisingly steady. “It’s in a good area. I’ve been thinking… with the baby coming, it might be good to have a place where we can all be together.”
Tim looks up from the screen, his expression unreadable for a moment as he continues to let it sink in. “Are you saying… you want us to live together?”
“I know we’re not… you know, officially together. But I want us to be a family, Tim. A real family. I don’t want to raise our daughter in separate homes, having to split up our time on a schedule. I want her to grow up with both of us there, every day.”
Tim’s eyes soften, the gravity of her words settling in. He looks back at the photos on the screen, imagining what it would be like to come home to that house every day – to Lucy, to their baby girl. It is a lot to take in, but it isn’t unwelcome. “I know it’s a big step.” Lucy continues, her voice growing more confident as she speaks. “And I can’t promise anything beyond that. Not yet. I just want us to try to give our daughter the best life we can. Together.”
Tim is silent for a moment, his thoughts swirling. He had always imagined being there for his child, but Lucy’s proposal takes it a step further – a life together, sharing a home, a future that looked a lot like a family in every sense of the word. It isn’t what they had planned, but plans have a way of changing when life throws something unexpected your way.
Finally, he sets the phone down on the coffee table and turns to Lucy, his gaze steady, searching her eyes. “Let’s do it.”
Lucy’s face lights up as she smiles. “Really? Are you sure?”
“I am.”
“Good. I-I actually saw the house earlier and it’s super nice, but we don’t have to go for this one. It’s just the best I saw today and-”
“Lucy, it’s okay. Take a breath.” He makes her pause but with a gentleness that bolsters her. “It’s… adorable that you’ve been looking at houses. I have been wondering how things were going to be in the future but now it’s a lot clearer.”
“If it feels complicated for you because of your… feelings then don’t feel pressured because Tim-”
“Do I look pressured?” He asks, the embodiment of care-free. “Lucy, I feel like we are going to work things through, and you know I love you. For now though, I get why our focus has to be the life we are bringing into the world.”
“I do love you too.” It just comes out and Tim’s brow shoots towards his hairline whilst her cheeks turn pinker. “That’s not the problem though.”
“I know.” It’s not about love, it continues to be a trust but also fear. Fear that’s fuelled by the thoughts of what if he gets cold feet again and walks away. She could deal with him walking away once, but not again. “I know me saying sorry doesn’t fix everything I did and the pain I caused you and probably continue to cause you, but I will do everything in my power to make things okay between us again.”
“Okay.” Lucy smiles, relieved to finally have this all off her chest. “When I was a teenager, I picked out what names I would have for my children. I always liked Mia.”
“Mia.” Tim repeats back.
“I’ve seen it mean ‘mine’ and ‘beloved’. I don’t know. I’ve just always liked it.”
“Mia Bradford-Chen.” Tim ponders and then smiles. “It’s definitely in the running.” But then his eyebrows scrunch together when a fresh thought hits. “Will you teach me how to style hair? Like pigtails and plaits and whatnot.”
“Of course I will.” The thought fills her with joy. She knows they would have been thrilled regardless of their child’s sex, but the vision of him being a girl-dad is endearing.
Lucy’s phone vibrates from the coffee table and when she looks at the screen, she is both disappointed and thankful that it’s Celina telling her that she’s staying at her mother’s tonight. Disappointed at the thought of being alone, but thankful because this means she does have another option. “Will you stay tonight?” She asks Tim in a hopeful tone.
“Are you feeling like you need, err, release?” He says surprisingly awkwardly.
“Release.” She giggles, her cheeks turning pink once more. “Honestly, I just want to be held. If that’s okay?”
“You know it is.”
xxx
Tim and Lucy burst through the door of Lucy’s apartment, both grinning from ear to ear, the excitement from the house viewing still buzzing in the air between them. They have just seen the three-bedroom property they both dreamt about last night, and everything about it had felt perfect. The light streaming through the windows, the cosy layout, the spacious nursery – everything screamed home.
Lucy laughs and practically bounces into the kitchen space. “Did you see that backyard, Tim? Yes it needs a bit of work, but there’s plenty of room for grass and decking for some outdoor seating. Maybe a barbecue.” She grabs a glass from the cupboard, her mind racing with visions of their future.
Tim follows her in, his smile as wide as hers. “Oh there will definitely be a barbecue. I am a grill wizard.” He claims. “The bedrooms are reasonable sizes too, but the one at the back of the house I think is perfect for the nursery.”
“I agree. I think we’ll have to revisit your previous jungle idea.” Her voice is light and giddy as she talks. She leans against the counter, still in a whirlwind of joy and possibilities. “I can already picture our little girl running around the backyard, the smell of fresh cut grass-”
But as she speaks, something shifts. The room seems to tilt slightly, and a wave of dizziness washes over her, catching her off guard. She blinks, trying to steady herself, but her vision blurs for a second, and her grip on the glass falters. She reaches out instinctively, grabbing the edge of the countertop with her free hand, her knuckles turning white from the sudden strain, whilst the glass tumbles to the floor where it smashes impressively.
Tim whips his head around to look at her, his expression changing in an instant, his elation a distant memory. “Lucy! Are you okay?” His voice is sharp with concern as he steps closer hurriedly, noticing the way her face has paled, her smile fading into something that looks almost fearful.
Lucy’s head is spinning now, and she swallows hard, trying to stay steady. “I-I just feel a bit dizzy.” She manages to say, her voice faint as she leans harder against the counter for support. Her heart pounds, and she feels her stomach churn uneasily.
“O-okay. Let’s get you sat down and away from this broken glass.” He says, his voice low and calm but underpinned with worry. He guides her towards the couch, his hands firm but careful as he helps her sit. “You don’t look good. Are you feeling sick?”
Lucy closes her eyes for a moment, focusing on breathing through the dizziness. “I don’t know.” She whispers, her hand pressing against her forehead as a cold sweat begins to bead on her skin. “I just… Everything’s spinning. It came on so fast.”
Tim crouches down in front of her, his face level with hers now, his hand resting on her knee in reassurance. “Okay, just breathe. Slow breaths. Is it the baby? Do you think-?”
Before he can finish his thought, Lucy opens her eyes, and he spots the flicker of fear in them. It makes him realise he has to be the strong one in this situation. “I don’t know,” She murmurs, her hand instinctively moving to her belly. “I felt fine all day, and then…”
Tim’s heart thuds in his chest, but he has to push down his panic to put her at ease. “The past couple of days have been crazy and you’re eighteen weeks pregnant. Maybe you’re just exhausted.” He suggests, disguising his worry with a firmness to his tone that almost echoes his TO voice. “How about you have a lie down for a bit? If things don’t improve, I’ll call the doctor.”
“What about the glass?”
“That can wait. We both have shoes on.” He quashes her concerns in an instance. “I’ll sit at your feet.”
Lucy nods, feeling a bit more stable with Tim by her side. She leans back into the cushions, closing her eyes as the room slowly settles back into focus. Tim sits beside her, his hand resting on her leg, offering silent support.
After a few minutes, Lucy’s breathing steadies, and the colour begins to return to her cheeks. She opens her eyes, meeting Tim’s concerned gaze. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” She murmurs, a hint of embarrassment in her voice.
Tim shakes his head, his expression softening. “Don’t apologise. Your health is the most important thing right now. Should I call the doctor?”
“No, I am already feeling better. I think you’re right. It was just the busyness of life.” But he doesn’t look so sure. “If I start feeling bad again, we’ll call her.”
“Okay.” He agrees and gives her leg a gentle squeeze. Lucy can practically see him thinking as he does, she can tell he’s in deep thought by the slight flicker of his eyes and the tension to his jaw. She reaches down and manages to just about brush the tips of her fingers over the edge of his hand making him look to her, immediately discerning from the tilt of her head that she wants to know what is going through his head. “You know the whole living together thing?” He voices and straightaway Lucy frowns.
“You’re having doubts.”
“Definitely not. I was literally about to suggest we put an offer in for the house before you went all faint on me.” Tim reassures, adding the latter detail to try and lighten the mood while alleviating her anxiety. “If you need me around more before the baby comes and before we manage to find a place together, then I am happy to sleep on the couch or your bed if-”
“Tim…” She interrupts him with a sternness that tells him that this isn’t going to happen.
Lucy chews on the inside of her bottom lip as she moves so she is no longer reclining on the couch but instead sitting next to him, her sneaker-clad feet now touching the hardwood floor. “You’re scared because I got a little pale and queasy. It’s normal for my body to do weird things at the moment.” Her words are even more comforting when she takes hold of his hand with hers and laces their fingers together. “And you know the deal, you can only stop over when Celina is at her mom’s or on nights or with Aaron.” It seems easier that way right now. She doubts Celina would be judgemental about Tim’s presence, but for now whilst they’re working things out, they need to keep their closeness to themselves.
Tim looks down at their conjoined hands and frowns, his worry palpable. Lucy chooses then to tighten her grip, hoping it somehow helps. “I promise you, if I ever need you and you aren’t here. I’ll call.” She swears and he nods, finally believing her with a small smile. “You really want to make an offer?”
“Definitely. It’s so perfect for us.”
“I’ll need to have a look at my financials before we do. Try to get a mortgage.”
“I have savings from selling my dad’s place and then I will get money from mine.” He makes it sound so simple.
“Tim…” But she wants to be able to pay her own way.
“I know you want to be equals and we can be. Think of this as an advance just so we can make this place ours.” Tim reasons, making a lot of sense. “Plus we are going to need a place soon for all this baby stuff that’s filling my garage.”
It will just be the deposit they need currently for the mortgage and between them they will be able to make things work. Yes, right now it probably won’t exactly be 50-50, but she really does like the house, and she can envision the three of them being very happy there. “Okay.” So she agrees.
“Okay?” He checks but his expression lights up and she nods. “Really?” She nods more enthusiastically now, with her face breaking out into a smile. “I am going to call them!” He decides and pulls himself from her hold.
“Tim.” She silences his excitement by saying his name and he does pause with his hands on the edge of the couch cushion as if he was about to push himself up. He looks at her with a quirk to his brow. “Can you sweep up the glass first? I don’t want Celina getting home and getting hurt.” Tim smiles sweetly at this, his blue eyes practically sparkling with adoration as he gazes at Lucy. “What?” She questions, a little perturbed by his reaction to the simple request.
“You’re going to be a great mom.”