Work Text:
Two weeks before the wedding
“I want to take your last name.” Lucy says to Tim one day. “When we get married.” Tim pauses, and turns in his chair to look at her.
“You do?” He asks. “Really?” Lucy nods and steps forward in between his legs.
“Yes really.” She says. “Do you not want me to?” Tim shakes his head, and pulls her down onto his lap.
“Of course I do.” He says. “I just thought you would want to keep your last name.” Lucy blows out a breath, and then leans in to press her forehead against his.
“My last name will always be a part of me. And I will probably still use it at work.” She says. “My history. My story but it’s also connected to my parents who don’t even care enough to come to our wedding.” She sighs and cradles his face in her hands.
She had sent an invitation to her parents, and an RSVP. Two weeks later, she had gotten a no.’it hurt to say the least but—
“I’m sorry baby.” Tim says softly. He presses a kiss to her lips, and then pulls back. “I can’t wait for you to be a Bradford.”
Lucy grins at him, and it’s not just about the last name. It’s about becoming one with Tim and starting a life together with him. It was about planning for their future and everything that came with it. Sharing a last name with him would be a bonus.
“I can’t wait either.” She says wrapping her arms around his neck and playing with the hair on the back of his neck. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
***
The wedding day
“May I introduce Mr. and Mrs. Bradford!” Grey announces. Lucy looks over at Tim who has a smile on his face. He pulls her into the room where all their family and friends are waiting. Tim twirls her around as soon as they get in.
Bradford.
Her husband.
Tim pulls her up to the table where they would be sitting, and she sits down next to him. He puts a hand on her leg, as if it’s a comforting weight and it is.
“Hi.” She mutters to him. “How are you husband?” Tim smiles at her, and she’s not sure she’s ever seen him this happy.
“I’m wonderful.” He says. “How’s my wife?” And god. My wife, just those two words gave her butterflies.
“I’m great.” She says reaching up to touch his face. “I got to marry this really amazing guy today.” Tim grins at her, and turns in his seat to face her despite the fact that they are probably being watched.
“Do I know him?” He asks teasingly. Lucy opens her mouth to reply but she’s cut off by Angela.
“It seems like the Bradford’s forgot they were at their own reception.” Angela says sending them an amused look. Tim scoffs at her and reluctantly moves away from Lucy. He does keep his hand on her leg, and leans in a little closer.
“We can do this later Mrs. Bradford.” He whispers. And it takes all her strength not to grab him and drag him to the bathroom.
“I will hold you to that Bradford.” She says her voice just under a whisper. He smiles at her, and squeezes her knee. And then he inches it up her leg and under her dress.
“Careful.” She warns him. He squeezes her thigh and keeps his hand there. She studies him, as he listens to all the speeches.
And she knows taking his name was the best decision, she was connected to him now in a way they never had before.
And she couldn’t wait to get started.
***
Two weeks after the wedding
“Hey.” Says a voice behind Lucy, she turns to see Grey behind her. “Where’s Bradford?” Lucy tilts her head at him.
“I’m right here.” She says. Grey raises his eyebrows a little.
“I mean the other Bradford.” He says. Lucy’s mouth twitches into a smile, and she points across the bullpen where her husband is talking to Angela.
“Right over there.” She says. Grey gives an amused laugh before he’s walking towards Tim. Lucy smiles and shuffles through the papers in front of her.
When she decided to take Bradford as her last name, she didn’t even think of the confusion at work. And it hadn’t happened much but when it did she couldn’t help but smile a little. Because now Bradford was a part of her, and she wore it like a badge of honor.
“Hey Bradford.” A familiar voice says. She looks up to see Tim grinning down at her, he was smiling and she’s not sure if he would ever stop.
“Hi.” She says. “What’s up?” He shrugs his shoulders, and she stands up from the chair inching closer to him but only just.
“Just wanted to say hi.” He says. “I’m going out for a bit.” Lucy inches even closer and reaches out to touch his hand.
“Be safe.” She says.
“Always.”
***
Lucy is in Tim’s office when there’s a knock on the door. She doesn’t both turning around, just calls out come in.
She hears the door open and then: “Bradford.” A familiar grating voice says. She frowns and turns in her hair. It’s Chris, the bane of her existence and quite honestly Tim’s too.
“Yes?” Lucy asks. Chris frowns at her, and walks more into the office so he’s standing in front of her.
“You aren’t Bradford.” He says. “I’m looking for Sergeant Bradford.” Lucy puts down the pen she’s holding and then stands up.
“Actually I am Bradford.” She says. “Sergeant Bradford isn’t here right now. Can I help you with something?”
“No.” Chris snaps. He clenches his jaw and glares at her. “Just tell Sergeant Bradford I need to see him.” He turns on his heels and walks out before she can say another word. Lucy shrugs, and shuffles through the papers again.
It’s about fifteen minutes later, when there’s another knock on the door. Lucy calls out come in and this time a comforting voice speaks out.
“Excuse me.” Tim’s voice says and she turns in the chair again to see her husband leaning against the doorway his arms crossed. He’s in the metro shirt that is just a little too tight and shows off his muscles. “What are you doing in my office?” She grins at him, and he walks over to where she is.
“It’s quieter in here.” She says. “I just needed a place to study.” Tim looks down at the papers on the desk and then at her.
“Mm.” He says. “How’s it going?” She shrugs her shoulders, she’s planning on taking the detective’s exam again. And this time she wasn’t going to let anything get in her way.
“Hey.” Tim says and he tilts her chin to look up at him. “You got this Luce. I know it was a bummer last time. But there’s nothing stopping you now.”
“Have I told you how much I love you Tim Bradford?” She asks. Tim has been the most supportive partner, both at work and home. He never for one second doubted her, and she knows he will keep supporting her.
“How much Lucy Bradford?” He asks his eyes on her lips now and she knows how far this could get in a few seconds.
“I have to keep studying.” She says turning away from him. “And the more I do here, the more you get me at home.”
Tim makes a soft noise, and bends down to kiss her. “Deal.” He says. He moves away, and he’s about to walk out the door when she calls after him.
“Oh! Sergeant Bradford! You had a visitor.” She says. Tim raises his eyebrows.
“Chris.” She says and watches as he frowns at the name. “He was looking for you but found the wrong Bradford.”
Tim huffs out a laugh, and then shakes his head. “He’s an idiot. But I will make sure to find him.” He says and then he’s walking out the door.
Lucy laughs softly, and it was really good to be a Bradford.
***
“Family of Tim Bradford?” A nurse calls. Lucy jumps up, and stumbles over to the nurse. She knows she looks like a mess. But she can’t really help it, not when she got a call on her day off that her husband had been stabbed.
“I’m his wife.” She manages to get out. “Is he okay? Where is he?”
“He’s okay.” She says gently, “He just got out of surgery, and he should be waking up soon.” Lucy lets out a sob, and wipes the tears away from her eyes.
“Can I see him?” She whispers so her voice doesn’t break like she knows it wants to.
“Of course. Follow me.” The nurse gives her a sympathetic look and leads her down a hallway. It feels like it’s a thousand miles long and then—
She sees him in bed, he has a sling on his arm and he has his eyes closed. Lucy pushes her way into the room, and as soon as she steps inside he opens his eyes.
“Hi baby.” He mutters and motions her forward with his good arm. She’s in his arms in seconds, and she’s sobbing into his neck.
He’s alive.
He’s alive.
“Lucy,” He pulls her back and puts his hand on her cheek. “I’m okay.”
“You got stabbed.” She snaps. “I wouldn’t say that is okay.” Tim sighs and brings her in again, and presses a kiss to her forehead.
“But I’m alive Luce.” He says gently. “I’m alive and I’m here.” Lucy takes a deep shuddering breath.
He’s right.
“Sorry,” She mutters. “It’s just kind of scary when you get a call that your husband has been stabbed.”
“I know.” He says and he runs his fingers through her hair. “But I’m okay.” Lucy breathes him in, and then she feels herself relaxing.
He’s okay.
He’s alive.
“Mr. Bradford.” A voice says from the doorway and Lucy detaches herself from him. She sees the doctor looking at them both with a smile. “I’m glad you are up. The surgery went well and you will be in a sling for awhile but other than that you will be good to go home today.” Lucy sighs in relief and Tim nods.
“Thank you.” He says. The doctor nods, and then leaves the room. Lucy turns back to Tim, and shakes her head at him.
“You scared me today Bradford.” She says. Tim blows out a breath and motions her back to him. She leans down when she’s close enough, and he smiles at her.
“My apologies Bradford.” He says. “I will try not to get stabbed next time.” Lucy rests her forehead on his and lets his words echo in her mind. She will never be used to being a Bradford. It’s amazing, and she loves it but—
She looks down at Tim and sighs, she loves Tim more. “I love sharing a last name with you.” She says. “But I love you more and I kind of need you here with me.”
Tim kisses her, and then pulls back. “And I will do my best to stay here with you Lucy. I need you here too.”
She smiles at him, and she’s not sure if she’s ever been more in love with Tim.
“Hey Tim?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too Lucy.”
***
Lucy doesn’t see him coming, she doesn’t even hear him say her name until he’s right in front of her. She just clutches the item in her hand, and wills the tears not to fall.
“Luce.” She looks up to see Tim with his hands behind his back, looking at her in concern.
“Oh hi.” She says and she puts her hand in her pocket depositing the item inside.
“Are you okay?” He asks. He steps forward and takes one of his hands and wipes a tear away. “Why are you crying?”
“I um—” She starts and suddenly her pocket feels heavy. She has a plan on how she’s going to tell him but—. “I have something to tell you.”
Tim raises his eyebrows at her, “Yeah?” He asks and he looks curious but there’s another look on his face. “I have something for you.” She tilts her head at him curiously.
He pulls his hands from behind his back and she sees a large blue box. “What’s that?”
“Why don’t you open it and see?” He says handing it to her. She looks at him and then she shakily opens it.
It’s a badge.
A detective’s badge.
“Oh.” She says staring down at it. “Oh.” She hears Tim let out a laugh, and she looks up at him.
“Congratulations Detective Bradford.” He says softly. She swallows back the tears, and Tim pulls her into his arms.
“I did it.”
“You did.” Tim says sounding proud. “I knew you could.” She sniffs and then looks up at him, and swallows hard.
“I have something for you too.” She says.
“Oh?” He says. She nods and this wasn’t how she planned on doing it. She had so much more planned but—
She pulls the pregnancy test out, and presses it into Tim’s hand. “Baby Bradford.” She says as his eyes widen. “Coming soon.”
“Wait.” He says. “What? Baby Bradford?” She nods, and she watches as his face softens and she swears she sees tears in his eyes.
“We are having a baby Tim.” She whispers, and lets out a soft noise, pulling her in to kiss her. She almost drops her detective’s badge in the process.
“Detective Bradford. Baby Bradford.” His hand goes to her stomach. “Wow.”
“And Sergeant Bradford.” She says. “We are one hell of a team aren’t we?” Tim nods and kisses the top of her head.
“We are having a baby.” He whispers. She laughs and kisses him again, and pours all her love into that kiss.
“You don’t mind sharing your last name with one more person?” She asks. Tim shakes his head, a smile on his face.
“What’s mine is yours baby.” He says. “It would be my honor to.” She laughs softly, and studies the detective’s badge. And then the pregnancy test in Tim’s hand and she knows sharing a last name with Tim was one of the best decisions she could have made.