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Lucy blames it on the postpartum emotions but she’s already crying as she dress her 8 week old daughter in the onesie she bought specifically for this day. The day she knows she will remember forever. The day she has been waiting for since the minute Tim had come home and told her was being deployed. It was the same day that Lucy had handed him a positive pregnancy test. It wasn’t the best timing but they made it work.
Her husband, the love of her life, her baby daddy was finally coming home. He would finally get to meet their baby girl Ellie who he had only seen over FaceTime at this point. It was hard but Lucy knew this would all be worth it.
“You are going to meet your daddy today.” Lucy says to Ellie who just stares up at her with blue eyes. Tim’s eyes. It was something that got Lucy through the day, knowing her daughter looked like her daddy.
“He’s the best and he’s amazing.” Lucy tells her. She fastens the onesie on and then picks the baby up. She grabs the matching bow and puts it on. “He loves you so much.” Ellie just looks up at her and Lucy smiles pressing a kiss to her cheek.
“I know.” Lucy mutters. “But he’s coming home. And we will finally be all together.”
Finally.
After months apart, after going through her pregnancy and birth alone—she would finally begin her husband’s arms again. And he would be able to meet their baby girl.
Finally.
At last.
***
Lucy arrives at the base with Ellie in her arms. Tim told her that she could “tap him” out while they stood at attention. And she’s not sure she will be able to contain herself. She’s not sure she will be able to hold it in when she’s sees him in front of her for the first time in months rather than a computer screen.
It’s hot and Lucy still feels overheated sometimes even if she’s not pregnant anymore. She feels like there’s sweat running down her back but she’s not sure if that’s because of the heat or the nerves coursing through her veins.
There are hundreds of soldiers lined up on the grass. There’s families milling in and out of the rows looking for their soldiers. Lucy is looking too trying to spot Tim in the sea of soldiers. She feels someone push her a little and sees someone run past her to a man a few feet away. Lucy sighs and holds onto Ellie tighter. The baby had been asleep but woken up as soon as Lucy started moving towards the soldiers. She was restless and Lucy didn’t blame this was a lot stimulation for a 2 month old.
Lucy looks around and then stops abruptly when she sees a familiar stance and a familiar face.
Tim.
She swallows hard and makes her way towards him. She stands in front of him, and he doesn’t flinch but she knows he knows she’s there. They could always tell when the other was nearby.
“Hi. I can’t believe you are here and not in front of me on a computer screen.” She says her voice shaking. “This is Ellie. Your daughter.” She shakes her head trying to keep her tears at bay, and then reaches out to hug him. He immediately relaxes and pulls her into his arms. She holds onto Ellie, and him at the same time. She hears him mutter her name into his neck and then he pulls back to look at her.
“Good lord.” He mutters. He has tears in his eyes, and Lucy leans in to kiss them away. She can count on her hand how many times she has seen Tim cry.
Twice.
Once when he saw her for the first time in her wedding dress. It was during their first look and it was only them. She really thought he was about to lose it. And then again when he saw Ellie for the first time over FaceTime.
It was unusual to see him cry, it was unusual to see him in tears like this because he acted so tough on the outside.
When she met him just over four years ago, he had been through a lot with his dad and ex wife. He was just starting basic training and wasn’t ready for a relationship yet but they had that casual thing going on. And then they became friends, and slowly started to fall for each other. She was there when he graduated from basic training. She was there when his father was put in hospice and she was there for everything else in between.
He became her rock, her best friend and her person when she went into the the police academy. He was always there and when they got together it was more or less the same. He was there and now they were married and had a baby. And even though he had been gone for 7 months— and missed the birth of their daughter. He was still her rock, her best friend and her person.
Lucy pushes back and gives him a smile before putting their daughter in his arms. She knows this was going to be when her tears started. Tim stares down at their daughter, not even blinking as the baby peers up at him.
“Hi baby girl.” He mutters. “I’m your daddy. I’m sorry I’ve been gone so long.” Lucy has to cover up her mouth to keep from sobbing. She couldn’t believe the two most important people in her life were finally together.
They were all together.
Tim looks up at her, and she gives him a watery smile. “Come here.” He says and pulls her in with his free arm.
“I missed you so much Luce.” He mutters. Lucy can’t even form the words to say what she is feeling right now. It feels surreal to have him here and holding their daughter.
“I love you.” She says. He presses a kiss to the top of her head and she hasn’t head this type of contact in months. “Ellie loves you.” Tim looks down at their daughter who is just staring up at him. Lucy wonders what she is thinking, she wonders if she knows Tim’s voice. Or if she just knows he’s safe and she’s okay in his arms.
“I love you both so much.” Tim mutters. He takes Lucy’s hand and then starts to lead her out of the crowd. He still has a hold on Ellie as he moves. They get to a clearing, and he stops and pulls her into a hug again.
“Hi.” He says looking down at her. Lucy’s heart clenches but in the best way possible. “I know it’s kind of crazy.”
“Hi yourself.” She says standing on her toes to kiss him. It’s quick because he’s still holding Ellie but it’s everything. “It’s okay. I knew it would be. I couldn’t wait to see you.”
“I know baby.” He mutters. He turns his eyes to Ellie who looks like she’s about to pass out. “Baby girl looks tired.”
“She has had a busy day.” Lucy points out reaching to fix Ellie’s headband. “She ate, fell asleep, woke up and met her daddy.”
“Mmm.” Tim mutters. Lucy sighs softly and puts her hand on his chest. She’s so glad he’s home and she’s a little overwhelmed too. She feels a little overstimulated like she just needs to get out of here with her husband and daughter and just be with them.
“What do we do now?” Lucy asks softly. Tim pulls her into his side and gives her another kiss.
“We go home.” He says looking down at her. “Together.”
“Finally.” She mutters. “At last.” Tim hums softly in agreement.
“At last.”
***
Ellie starts screaming at 1am and Lucy is used to this. She’s used to getting up and getting the baby to feed her. She’s used to be the only one up comforting her baby girl. She’s not used to Tim next to her even if felt so natural when they went to bed. She’s not used to Tim getting out of bed and scooping Ellie up and walking around the room with her. She’s not used to just watching her husband being the dad she always knew he was. He was just across the world and couldn’t help.
She sits up when he brings her over and lays her in his arms. “Unfortunately I don’t have the goods.” He says. Lucy rolls her eyes and pulls her shirt down so Ellie can latch on. She’s pretty good about nursing even if it’s around the clock at the moment.
“She loves them.” Lucy says as Tim climbs back into bed. “Like father like daughter.” Tim lets out a laugh and rolls on his side to watch.
“That’s my girl.” He mutters. “She loves her mama as much as I do.” Lucy shakes her head willing the tears not to fall. It feels surreal to have Tim back in their bed.
“What’s wrong?” Tim asks softly reaching over to wipe a tear from her cheek. “Why are you crying?”
Lucy shifts a little but not so much she would bother Ellie. “I’m just happy you are home.” She says softly looking down at Ellie and then at Tim. “It feels surreal that you are home and with us.”
“I know.” He mutters. “I hated that I was away from you for so long.” Lucy shifts on the bed a little. It’s the middle of the night and she’s used to this. Tim isn’t used to this but she’s sure he will get used to it.
“Well you are home now.” Lucy mutters and looks down at Ellie just as she unlatches. She moves her up to her shoulder and pats her back gently.
“I am home.” He agrees leaning over to press a kiss to her cheek. He pauses for a minute and she sees him look at Ellie.
“Do you want to take her?” She asks. He nods silently and she hands the baby to him.
“She’s amazing.” He mumbles.
“I agree.” She says softly and she feels sleepy. She’s not used to getting help with the baby at night.
“You can sleep Luce.” Tim mutters. “I got her.” Lucy nods and the last thing she sees is her husband rocking their baby girl to sleep. She sighs happily as she falls into a deep slumber. They were all together. They would finally get to be a family for a little bit. It’s the best feeling she could have as she falls asleep.
At last.
At last.
At last.