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Lucy wakes up to Emma crying and she sighs rolling over in bed. Tim is already slipping out of bed and walking out of the room. Lucy watches on the baby monitor as Tim enters Emma’s bedroom and scoops her up in his arms. The baby instantly relaxes and closes her eyes, her little fingers clutching his shirt.
Lucy smiles knowing that Emma would be in bed with them. The minute Tim picked her up she knew she was safe from whatever bad dream she had.
She was only two, but she knew in her little head that Tim was her safe place. Day in and day out. He was always there for her, he was always by her side the minute Emma needed him.
He was the same way with Lucy, whatever she needed he provided for her. He was Lucy’s safe place too. She never felt safer and more loved than when Tim’s arms were around her.
Lucy looks back at the baby monitor and sees Tim and Emma had disappeared. They appear a minute later in the doorway.
“Look Bug.” Tim says softly. “Mama is okay.” Emma looks up briefly, sees Lucy and then buries her face back in his shoulder.
“She had a bad dream.” Tim explains coming over and putting Emma in the middle. He climbs in too and Lucy rolls over so she’s facing them both.
“Oh?” Lucy says softly. She leans in to give Emma a kiss. “I’m sorry baby. Mama and im are right here.”
“Tim.” Emma mutters. “My Tim.” Lucy hums softly and she has always had to share Tim with Emma.
And quite honestly she didn’t mind one bit. She was living the life she always dreamed of.
To be loved. For her daughter to be loved.
And to feel safe.
“He’s my Tim too Bug.” Lucy says softly running her fingers through Emma’s hair. Emma looks at Lucy with tired eyes.
“No.”
“No?” Lucy questions looking at her daughter in amusement. “He’s just yours?”
“Yes.”
Tim huffs out a laugh and rubs Emma’s back. “There’s enough of me to go around ladies.” He says.
Lucy rolls her eyes a little. “You’re enjoying this aren’t you?” She asks.
“Mmm.” Tim hums leaning over Emma to kiss her. “Yes. I love you baby.”
“I love you too Tim.”
“Love you Tim.” Emma mutters. Tim makes a soft noise and Lucy watches as he presses a kiss to the top of her head.
This was a wonderful, wonderful life.
***
“Want Tim.” Emma mutters sleepily when Lucy picks her up from daycare. “Want Tim.” Lucy sighs and bends down to pick her backup up.
“You have been very attached to Tim lately.” She says shifting her on her hip. “Tim is at home baby.”
Emma smiles and it lights up her face. “Tim!” She giggles. “Love Tim.” Lucy can’t help but smile because she loves Tim too. She has never been in love before and even though they had been together for awhile—she still wasn’t used to it.
To have someone who loves her. And her daughter.
“I know Bug.” Lucy says softly looking at her daughter. “I know baby. I love Tim too. Let’s go home to him.”
Lucy loads Emma in the car and then gets in her car. She looks in the rearview mirror and sees Emma nodding off a little.
She knows her daughter will be more awake the minute she sees Tim and that’s okay. She loves that Emma has a connection with him. She loves the way Emma loves him. She never had or would have that with her bio father.
And while Lucy was 100 percent cent okay with Chris not being in their lives, it still broke her heart that he didn’t want Emma. That he just tossed her to the curb like she was trash.
Lucy pulls up totally Tim’s house and looks in the backseat to see Emma fast asleep. She sighs but gets out of the car. She gathers her stuff and then Emma’s. She unbuckles Emma’s car seat but the toddler doesn’t wake up. Lucy shifts so she can shut the car door and then walks up to the door.
She rings the doorbell and within seconds Tim is there. “I don’t have any hands.” She says before he can say anything. Tim hums softly and takes some of the bags from her.
“She’s asleep?” He asks looking at Emma. Lucy nods and steps inside the house.
“She will probably wake up soon. She was eager to see her Tim.” She gives him a look and Tim laughs. He takes Emma from her who opens her eyes slowly.
“Tim!” She squeals her little voice tired but excited. She wraps her little arms around his neck and clings onto him. “Mine.”
“Hi Bug.” Tim says giving her a squeeze. He leans over to give Lucy a kiss and her heart swells a little. “How was your day?”
“Play.” Emma says.
“You played?” Tim asks. Emma nods and Tim starts walking towards the living room. Lucy follows them and stops at the entrance. Emma and Tim go to sit down on the sofa and Emma curls up into Tim.
“Tired.” She mutters. Lucy tilts her head at her them. She knows Emma hasn’t been sleeping the best lately but she seemed really tired. Like abnormally so.
“Okay Bug.” Tim says rubbing her back. “Just rest and I will make a quick dinner for you.”
“No! Stay!” Emma says holding onto him. “Stay!” Tim looks up and gives Lucy a concerned look.
“I can get it babe.” Lucy says. “She clearly needs her Tim.” Tim nods but he still looks concerned. Emma was attached to Tim but she usually let him go after awhile.
Lucy goes to the kitchen to start Emma’s dinner. She watches Tim in the living room whispering softly to Emma. A few minutes later, Tim gets up off the sofa and joins her in the kitchen.
“She’s asleep?”
“Passed out.” Tim says. “She’s exhausted.” Lucy blows out a breath as she puts the noddles on Emma’s plate.
“She’s been having bad dreams and she loves her Tim.” She says. “And she’s two. She has a lot going on in that little head.”
“I wish I could make the bad dreams go away.” Tim says. “She can’t really tell us and we can’t help.”
“I know.” Lucy says. She pauses and looks at him. “It’s not easy being a parent especially when you feel helpless. It’s just part of the learning process.”
“Well you are an amazing mom.” Tim says stepping closer to her. He takes her in his arms and she drops the spoon she was holding. “You teach me something new everyday.”
“Mmm.” Lucy says. She traces her finger across his jaw. “And you are an amazing dad. You are Emma’s hero. Her favorite person.”
“That’s you.” Tim protests. “How can I—”
“Because you are always there. She’s too young to understand but one day she will and it will always be you she turns to. You will be the one who chases the boys away.”
“She’s not dating until she’s 30.” He grumbles and then looks at her. “So you are saying me and you—it’s a long time thing.” Lucy smiles a little up at him. She was usually the one questioning things.
“That’s my plan. Unless—” She trails off but Tim shakes his head. She couldn’t imagine being with anyone else other than Tim.
“No. I want this. Us. Forever.” He says. “I love our little life we are building. I love you and Emma. I—”
“Me too Tim.” Lucy says pulling him down for a kiss. “You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. And Emma. Even if you didn’t like me at first.” Tim rolls his eyes and pokes her side.
“Not true.” He says softly. “You know how it was for me Luce.” Lucy shrugs remembering when she first met Tim. He was tough, and a little bit of a hardass. She knows he was going through stuff and she didn’t fault him at all.
“I know baby.” She says. “You eventually got used to me.” Tim shakes his head, and pulls her against.
“No.” He says. “I fell in love with you. You were and always will be the one who pulled me out of the darkness.”
“Mmm.” Lucy mutters. “I love—” But she’s interrupted by a tiny voice from the couch.
“Tim?” The voice says. They exchange a look as Emma looks over the couch and spots Tim. “Tim!” Tim walks over to her a scoops her up, he blows on her belly making her giggle loudly.
Lucy smiles a little and finishes making Emma’s dinner. It might not be perfect all the time but—she has the man she loves and her baby girl who makes her world spin and that’s all she could ever want.
***
“Want Tim!” Emma says scrunching up her face. “Want Tim!” She shakes her head when Lucy comes to put on her shirt.
“Baby, Tim is at work.” She says. “You are hanging out with mama today.”
“No! Tim!” Emma says stubbornly. “Want Tim!” Lucy lets out an exasperated breath and bends down in front of her daughter.
“Sweetheart—”
“No mama.” Emma says pouring a little. Her eyes fill with tears, and one slips down her cheeks. “Want Tim.”
Lucy sighs but takes her chance to pull the shirt on her. She manages to do but Emma isn’t happy. She plops down on the ground and crosses her arms. Tim has to work and Lucy has the day off. Lucy thought she could make it a fun mommy and daughter day but apparently Emma had other plans.
“I know sweetie but Tim is at work. You get to hang out with me today.” She says. She pulls Emma into her lap and turns her around. She grabs the comb and hair tie she brought in from the bathroom.
Emma is silent as Lucy does her hair. Once she’s done she turns her back around and presses a kiss to her forehead.
“It used to be just you and me baby.” She says. Emma just looks at her with sad eyes and Lucy knows what she has to do.
“How about we bring Tim lunch and you can see him for a little bit?” She says. Emma’s face lights up in a smile and she jumps up from Lucy’s lap.
“Yes!”
“Okay.” Lucy laughs. “We can do that.” Emma leaves the room and Lucy follows her out.
It was going to be okay—Emma would be okay as soon as she saw her Tim.
***
“Tim!” Emma says as they walk into the station. Lucy shakes her head as she tries to balance the wiggly two year old and the bag of food.
“He’s probably—” Lucy starts but stops when Emma squeals loudly.
“Tim! Tim!” She says wiggling in Lucy’s arms and pointing to a tall figure in the distance. She knows it’s Tim even from here. She would recognize him anywhere. Lucy puts Emma on the ground and the toddler takes off. Lucy chases after her just as she crashes into Tim’s legs. She falls down but Tim scoops her up making her giggle loudly.
“What are you doing here?” He asks flipping her upside down. “And where’s your mama?”
“She got away from me.” Lucy says a little out of breath. “She was determined to get to you.” Tim laughs and sets Emma on his hip and then draws Lucy close.
“She’s fast.” He says.
“No kidding.” Lucy grumbles. Tim presses a kiss to the top of Lucy’s head.
“What are you doing here?” He asks. “It’s your day off.” Lucy holds out the bag of food and motions to Emma.
“Someone missed her Tim.” She says. “She fought me getting dressed and kept saying she wanted you.”
“Oh Bug.” Tim mutters. “You can’t give your mama a hard time like that.” Emma just rests her head on Tim’s shoulder. She’s smiling and is at complete peace. Lucy doesn’t know what she’s going to do when she has to tear her away from Tim.
“Love you.” Emma mutters. Lucy watches as her boyfriend melts a little.
“You just wanted to torture me huh?” Tim asks taking the bag from her and leading her outside. Lucy rolls her eyes and takes a seat at one of the tables.
“No.” She says. “This was unplanned. Besides she’s not the only one who misses you.” Tim gives her a look but he’s smiling as he takes the food out of the bag.
“I miss you too.” He says. “And you Emma.” Emma leans forward and reaches for one of Tim’s fries. She shoves it in her mouth and Lucy shakes her head as Tim wipes her face.
“Careful baby.” Lucy says. “And those are Tim’s fries.” She reaches one for herself and Tim rolls his eyes at her.
“My fries huh?” He asks teasingly. Lucy laughs and leans back in her seat to admire her boyfriend and her daughter.
“Mine.” Emma says picking another one up but this time feeding it to Tim. Lucy watches in amusement as Tim takes the fry and eats it. And then blows on Emma’s stomach making her giggle loudly.
“Thank you for coming to visit me Emma.” Tim says standing up. Lucy stands up too and goes over to join them. “I love you.” Emma wraps her arms around his neck and hugs him.
“Love you.”
Tim smiles and then turns to Lucy. “I love you too.” He says. Lucy hums softly, and gives him a kiss before taking Emma from him.
“I love you Tim.” She says. Emma pouts as Tim goes to gather the garbage up. He goes to throw it away and the comes back over and gives them both a kiss.
“I will be home soon Bug.” He tells Emma. “Okay? Be good for your mama.” Lucy smiles as he turns to walk away and she gives Emma a little squeeze.
It’s not always perfect and they miss each other sometimes but they would always come back to one another. And they would both be safe in Tim’s arms.
Always.
And that’s all that matters.