Work Text:
“She’s perfect.” Lucy mutters looking down at Ava. “She’s just—” Tim watches as Lucy runs her finger down Ava’s cheek. The baby is sleeping sounding not even realizing her parents are looking at her. She’s probably exhausted from being born and in this big world.
“She is.” Tim agrees. He stares down at his daughter. His daughter. Their daughter. The one they made together. “How can you love someone so much that you just met?”
Lucy looks up at him and smiles. “I know.” She says. “It’s amazing. I knew I would love her but now that she’s here…” She trails off but Tim understands—it’s a little overwhelming.
Tim presses a kiss to Ava’s head and then to Lucy’s forehead and sighs softly.
“We get to bring her home.” Tim says. Lucy looks around the room, they were just waiting for the discharge papers to be brought in. Both Lucy and Ava had been cleared to go home.
“Are you nervous?” Lucy asks looking down at Ava again. The baby shifts a little in her arms but doesn’t open her eyes. “We have a whole human being to raise.”
Tim sits on the edge of the bed, and looks down at Ava. He is nervous, Ava is so tiny and fragile. One of the nurses had shown him how to change a diaper, how to bathe her as gently as possible.
And Tim had been doing all the diaper changes no matter what time of day or night. He wanted to make sure that Lucy took it as easy as possible.
“A little.” He says running a finger across Ava’s soft cheek. Her eyes flutter open for a second and then they close just as quickly. “But we make a good team. We can do this.” Lucy nods and sits up more in bed wincing a little.
“Are you okay?” He asks looking at her in concern. But Lucy waves him off and gestures at Ava with her free hand.
“Do you want to take her for a few minutes? I have to use the restroom.” She says. Tim nods and carefully takes Ava from her arms. He moves off the bed and goes to sit on the chair. Lucy moves slowly as she gets out of bed.
“Having a baby is no joke.” She says once she’s up. Tim smiles at her, and then stands up with Ava in his arms and walks over to help her.
“I got it babe.” She says as he guides her to the bathroom. He had been helping her up and down whenever she needed it since Ava was born. He just wanted to make sure she was okay.
“I know.” He says shifting Ava in his arms. “But you just me the best thing ever. I want to help.” Lucy pauses and looks down at Ava, a smile on her face. “She is pretty great huh?” She asks. “The best gift.”
“The greatest.” Tim says. They make it to the bathroom and Tim waits outside while rocking Ava in his arms.
“You are going to love your new home.” Tim tells Ava. “I know you are used to your mom’s belly but it’s pretty great. It has a great backyard.” He hears Lucy make a soft noise, and he looks up to see her watching him.
“What are you two talking about?” Lucy asks as she gets up from the toilet. Tim shrugs and moves into the bathroom to help her.
“Do you think she likes being out in the world?” He asks. Looking down at Ava. She looks like she doesn’t have a care in the world except for sleeping. Tim leads Lucy from the bathroom, and they pause at the doorway.
“Maybe.” Lucy said. “I think she was comfortable though.” Tim smiles down at his daughter, he is still amazed he has a daughter now.
His Ava.
His baby girl.
“Mm.” He hums. “She loves her mama. Can’t say I blame her.” Lucy smiles at him as he goes to sit on the edge of the bed.
“She’s a daddy girl already.” Lucy says. Tim opens his mouth to reply but a nurse comes into the room with the discharge papers.
“You are all set to go.” She says smiling at them. “Ava passed all her tests. She’s up to date with her shots.” Lucy thanks her and takes the papers as another nurse comes into with a wheelchair. Tim goes over and puts Ava in her car seat strapping her in. Ava opens her eyes and looks at Tim with a worried look.
“It’s okay baby.” He mutters. “You are okay. We are going home!” He turns to look at Lucy who is gathering all their bags.
“Are you ready to go?” She asks. He nods and picks up Ava’s carrier. He takes the bags from her and puts them on his shoulder and then starts walking ahead of Lucy.
Home. They are going home. With their daughter.
***
Lucy watches as her husband walks ahead of her. He has Ava’s carrier turned around so she can see her sleeping daughter. She swallows as the nurse rolls her down the hall. She pulls out her phone and takes a picture of Tim.
She always thought and knew Tim was attractive. He had this kind of attitude about him that he knew he was attractive. It was a little cocky but she loves it and she would tell him all the time.
But seeing him as a dad, seeing him carry their daughter out of the hospital did something to her. It made her want to have a couple more babies just so she could see him being a dad, because he was a natural at it.
He just knew what to do when Ava cried or when he just held her and talked to her like he had known her forever.
He not only took care of Ava but he took care of her. He helped her shower, he helped her get in and out of bed no matter how hard it was. He brought Ava over so she could breastfeed her. He never complained but was so gentle about it.
Oh she loves him.
Tim turns around just as they reach the exit. He waits for them to catch up and then puts the carrier on Lucy’s lap.
“What?” He asks furrowing his eyebrows at her. She shrugs looking down at Ava who was sleeping.
“Nothing.” She says. “But you just did the hot dad walk.” Tim raises his eyebrows at her.
“The what walk?” He asks. Lucy chuckles and she will explain it later but for now—
“You are just a really good dad.” She says. Ava had been here for a little more than 24 hours and she just knew.
“Yeah?” He asks smirking at her a bit. “And you think I’m hot?” Lucy scoffs at him.
“Maybe.” She says. “Now go get the car so we can go home.” Tim shoots her an amused look and then bends down to kiss her.
“Yes ma’am.” He says. Lucy rolls her eyes but doesn’t take her eyes off of him. He disappears out the doors and Lucy looks down at her sleeping daughter.
“You are going to love your new home baby girl.” She mutters sweeping a finger across her cheek. She can’t believe Ava is actually here and with them. She can’t believe after all this time she has her daughter. She stares down at her, amazed at what she and Tim made.
Their daughter.
Tim comes back in and takes the carrier from her. The nurse rolls Lucy out of the hospital and parks it in front of the car. Lucy thanks her and watches as Tim puts Ava in the backseat.
“She’s in securely?” Ava asks. Tim looks back at her, and nods his head.
“Yep.” He says coming over and helping her up. “She’s perfectly safe.” Tim pulls her in close and presses a kiss to her cheek.
“You are a good dad.” Lucy says not letting go of him. “And an amazing husband. Thank you.”
“Anything for my girls.” Tim says bending down to press a kiss to the top of her head. She smiles and finally pulls away. Tim helps her into the car, and then presses one final kiss to her forehead.
“Let’s go home.” He says. And he has said that so many times before but this was different. This time it was better. It wasn’t just them anymore.
It was Ava too.
The three of them.
“Yeah let’s go home.” She replies. Tim closes the door and she looks back at Ava who is opening her eyes a little. Tim gets in the car and looks back at Ava the softest expression on his face.
And then he turns to Lucy reaching for her hand. He places his fingers with hers and gives it a squeeze.
“We are going home.” He says. She nods and leans back against the headrest. They are going home, they are bringing Ava home to start their life as a family of three.
And she’s not sure how it can get better than that.