Work Text:
“Hey.” Lucy says coming into the kitchen where Tim is. He’s at the counter, making what looks like pancakes. “What are you doing?” Tim turns to face her, a soft look on his face. He’s still in his pajamas and he looks a little tired but he’s smiling at her.
“Making breakfast.” He says. Lucy smiles at him, and watches as he flips one of the pancakes over.
“It looks good.” She says. Tim gives her another smile before he turns back to the task at hand.
“Good.” He says. “They are almost done.” Lucy goes around the counter, and sits on the stool watching as he finishes up. He is concentrating hard, so he doesn’t burn any of the pancakes.
“I appreciate you making me breakfast Tim.” She says. “But you don’t have to.” Tim looks up at her, and he still has a smile on his face. She’s not sure if she has ever seen him smile this much.
“I know.” He says he gets a plate and puts a pancake on it. And the puts it in front of Lucy. “I wanted to.”
Lucy watches as he serves himself and then comes around to sit next to her. She turns her stool so she’s facing him, her knees touching his.
“You are amazing.” She says. “You know that right?” Tim pauses and tilts his head at her, he has a soft look on his face as if he trying to figure Lucy out.
“Because I made you pancakes?” Tim asks looking a little confused. “I—”
“No—well yes.” She says. “I love your pancakes. But it’s not just because of that.” She takes a deep breath, and lets it out.
“You have grown so much. You were in a dark place, and you worked hard for yourself and for me.”
“Of course I did.” He says softly. “I love you.” Lucy bites her lip, willing the tears in her eyes to not spill over.
There’s so much she wants to say to Tim and she doesn’t think she has the exact words. Everything that they went through before and during their relationship just made her realize how important he was to her.
It made her realize that he was—is—that person.
Her person.
The man who would do anything for her, even if it was as simple as making pancakes. The one who would make himself better no matter how hard it was. No matter how many wounds he had to reopen.
She had never really been in love before. She thought maybe she could be with some of the guys she went out with but—
She knows she’s in love with Tim, she knows he’s the love of her life. Nobody compared to him on any level.
It’s an overwhelming feeling to be this in love with someone.
It’s like it takes over your whole body, and she never wants it to go away.
“Luce?” Tim puts his hand on her leg and she looks up at him, looks at the sincerity in his eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“I love you too.” She says but she knows it’s not enough. “I’m in love with you.”
“Well that’s good.” He teases leaning forward. “I’m in love with you too.”
Lucy smiles and reaches up to wipe the tear from her face but Tim beats her to it. He drags his finger across her cheek and then pauses.
“Lucy, what’s going on?” He asks his voice serious. “Why are you crying? Is it the pancakes?”
Lucy snorts but it comes out all wet. “It’s not the damn pancakes Tim. It’s you.” She says and he pulls back looking startled and she realizes how that came out.
“No.” She says pulling him back. “I love you. You are the love of my life. And it’s a little overwhelming.”
“Oh.” Tim says. He doesn’t move from where he is but he does look like he’s trying to figure out what to say.
“I’m sorry.” She says. “This probably isn’t what you wanted first thing in the morning and I sound a little crazy.”
“No.” He says. “You don’t.” He leans forward even more and presses a kiss to her forehead.
“Have you ever felt like this?” She asks. “So in love you can barely breathe sometimes?”
“Everyday.” He says putting a hand on her cheek. “You are the love of my life too.” He leans back, and she gapes at him a little stunned.
She knows Tim loves her, he shows her everyday but he has been in love before. He was married to Isabel, he had plans with her.
How could Lucy be the love of his life?
“I know what you are thinking Lucy.” He says. He takes a bite of the pancakes.
She swallows hard, and looks at him. His eyes are twinkling a little. “How can I be the love of your life? When Isabel—”
“I loved Isabel.” He says. “And she is a part of my story, but she is also a part of my past. I have learned to not dwell on the past, to not let it affect me like it has. Isabel never was the one. I didn’t know it at the time.”
“So if she hadn’t left and gotten into drugs. Do you think you would still be with her?” Lucy asks. Tim gives her a long look, and leans back.
“Maybe.” He says. “But you also came into the picture during the one of the worst times of my life Lucy. Isabel and I weren’t right for each other. No matter what I tried to tell myself.”
Lucy takes a bite of her pancake, and then puts the fork down. She doesn’t say anything, so Tim continues.
“I don’t know where we would be if it turned out differently with me and Isabel. I would like to think we still would have made our way to one another. You are it for me Lucy, the good the bad and the ugly. I just want you.”
Lucy nods and scoots her stool closer to Tim, so she’s in between his legs. “So I’m the love of your life huh?”
“Absolutely.” He says. “I made a lot of mistakes. I messed up and I regret a lot of things. But you will never be one of them.”
Lucy’s heart pounds in her chest, who knew pancakes could afflict such emotions. She kisses him on the lips pouting all her love for him in that kiss.
“I love you so much.” She mutters against his lips. “Love of my life.” Tim grins as he pulls her in for a hug.
Tim Bradford—love of her life sounded pretty damn good to her.