Work Text:
Lucy wanders into the kitchen when she wakes up to the smell of bacon. She pauses when she sees Tim at the counter. He’s wearing sweats, and a different shirt than last night because she currently had that one on.
None of her clothes were unpacked yet and she loves wearing Tim’s clothes. They were soft and they smelled like him. And he was her favorite person.
She watches as he moves around the counter but he doesn’t turn around. She makes her way towards him and wraps herself around his back. She presses a kiss there and he turns his head.
“Good morning.” He says. He puts the spatula down and turns to face her. “How did you sleep?”
“Good.” She says and it’s true. Ever since they got back together, they hadn’t spent one night apart save for the night he brought her food. But in terms of sleeping, she was already getting used to his bed with him next to her and wrapped around her.
Tim already was a physical touch guy, she noticed it when they first started dating. He had to be touching her even if it was just a hand on her arm. He would always tap her thigh as a signal to ground himself.
And she didn’t mind it, because it didn’t just ground him. It grounded her too. When they broke up she craved that touch. And even when she couldn’t have it, she didn’t want to have it.
She needed it.
So after they got back together, after the sweat dried and their hearts slowed down. She didn’t mind at all that Tim was so close.
It was a comfort and luxury that she missed. And she would never take it for granted.
“How did you sleep?” She asks him. He looks down at her, his eyes sparkling.
“I’m glad my sleepless nights are over.” He says. He pushes some of her hair back, his finger brushing her cheek.
“Me too.” Lucy says and she stands on her toes to kiss him and then turns to look at the living room. Her boxes were still everywhere, all her stuff now spread out in Tim’s living room. Their living room. “We have a lot to do.”
“I know.” Tim says. “I’m making us breakfast and then we can start.”
“And you are just going to let me put stuff wherever?” Lucy asks. Tim nods his head and turns back to the food.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“I don’t know.” Lucy says. “It’s just your house and you have everything—” Tim pauses and turns to look at her again.
“It’s not just my house anymore.” He says. “It’s yours too and I want you to feel comfortable here.”
“Okay.” Lucy says and her heart pounds a little. Their house. Their house. This is real. They were living together. “I appreciate— I love you.” The words just slip off her tongue and he smiles at her. He looks happy, and that’s all she could ever want for him.
“I love you too.”
***
“Look what I found.” Tim says. Lucy looks over and sees him holding up the trophy he made for her. “I can’t believe you kept this.”
17th place.
It seemed like a lifetime ago she took the detective’s exam. And now she was roving sergeant and her boyfriend was Watch Commander.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Lucy asks moving towards him. “It was sweet of you to make this.” Tim gives her a look and then pulls out the killed in action radio.
“And this?” Tim asks his face darkening a little. “You didn’t throw this across the room?” Lucy sits next to him.
“No.”
“But this was—”
“I remember.” She says. “It doesn’t mean it didn’t have some meaning to it.” She lays her head on his shoulder.
“I thought it would be a normal night.” He says. “I had no idea—”
“Me neither.” Lucy says and puts her hand on his knee. “You thought you were protecting me.”
“I was shutting you out and it was stupid of me. You deserved better than that.” Tim says. Lucy squeezes his knee and he looks at her.
“I got it.” She says. “Right here. You became more emotionally healthy, you want to communicate.”
“I wasn’t kidding when I said I would be a better communicator.” He says looking serious. “I mean it Lucy. I’m not going to keep anything from you.”
“I know.” She says and she reaches into the box and pulls out the necklace he gave her for Valentine’s Day. “I guess this is my Tim box.”
He gives her a look but then presses a kiss to her cheek. “That’s kind of flattering actually.” He says. Lucy just shakes her head, and moves over to the next box. It’s labeled cookbooks. She didn’t even realized she had them.
“I didn’t even cook that much.” She says pulling out the books. “I mean I guess I did some.”
“Well good thing this is the one thing I don’t have.” Tim says and she shoots him a smile. She has a feeling they are going to be cooking together a lot.
In their kitchen.
Together.
She hopes they are in this house for awhile, building it together. Making new memories here as she unpacks all her stuff.
***
“I put all your clothes boxes in our room.” Tim says coming back into the living room. Lucy looks up from where she is plugging in a lamp. “What are you doing?”
“I love your house.” She says. “But it’s dark. It needs some light.” She fixes the lamp and then turns it on. It lights up the whole room in just a few seconds.
“Well I didn’t really feel the need for light.” Tim says. “But this is nice.”
“I know.” Lucy says and she makes her way over to him. “It feels more like home doesn’t it?”
“Yes.” Tim says. “But you are here so it’s already home.” Lucy smiles and cuddles into his side.
Home.
Home. She was finally home and exactly where she belonged.
***
“Well that took all day.” Tim says coming into the bedroom where Lucy is putting away her clothes—finally. She likes wearing Tim’s clothes but she also knows she can’t do that forever. She has to wear her own clothes sadly.
“But it’s done.” Lucy says standing up, she looks at Tim and he looks exhausted. They had to take a break from unpacking to go to work.
After the day they had between the kidnapping and finishing unpacking. It was a lot to handle, Lucy felt the exhaustion too and it was weighing down on her shoulders.
“It’s done.” Tim agrees. He walks over to her and pulls her up. He rests his forehead against hers and blows out a breath.
“You okay?”
“Did today trigger anything?” He asks his voice cautious. “I mean—” Lucy shakes her head, and maybe being in a tight space brought her right back to barrel and add in the fact they were looking for a missing girl.
“A little.” She says. Tim’s eyes drop to her side where the tattoo is. “But I’m okay.”
“Yeah?” He asks. He tucks some hair behind her ears. “Are you sure?” Lucy takes a deep breath, and nods.
“That’s something you never really get over.” She says and she sees a flash of guilt in his face. “But I’m okay Tim. Really.”
Tim nods and pulls her into his arms. She instantly relaxes and she knows she’s safe. She’s at home, with Tim. His arms are her safe place and nothing else matters.
“Good.” He says softly. Lucy nods and rests her head on his chest. “I’m glad you are home.. with me.”
“Me too.” Lucy whispers and it dawns on her that she is home—she is finally home.
With Tim.
Home.