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As Lucy's eyes fluttered open, the world felt dimmer than usual and she considered that maybe, for once, she had miraculously woken up early. When her gaze fell to Tim snoring softly next to her, Lucy's heart did a little leap. She rarely woke up before him which was only further confirmation that she'd somehow managed to wake up early on her day off.
Her eyes lingered on the softness of his face that lacked it's usual bite when he yelled at rookies and fought through meetings that lasted longer than they had sex for. She was content to lay right next to him and be reminded at how beautiful he was and her heart tugged gently against her ribcage. There had been days when she though that this was impossible, days when she wished she could've had it back and days when she wished time would stretch on forever; this was definitely on of those days.
They finally had the weekend off, lord knows how many weeks of overtime and swapping shifts it took for both of Mid-Wilshire's best Sergeants to be off at the same time for more than 24 hours. As a wash of calm flooded her bones, her eyes finally withdrew from Tim to their bedroom window.
The light refused to stream in like it usually did—sharp and harsh, but instead slowly stepped in over the ledge before finding it's place on the floor. If the undercurrent of pattering rain was anything to go by, then today was going to be a cozy day, not that Lucy minded, in fact a part of her just craved to stay at home with him.
She peeled back the covers and slid out, bumbling towards the kitchen to make herself some well needed tea. As she left the room, a flash slipped out by her ankles and the jingle of Kojo's collar made her smile as she turned back to shut the door with a click, not wanting to disturb Tim with their antics.
The quick patter of nails was hot at her feet as she roamed around the kitchen with practised ease, flicking on the kettle, pulling the teapot from it's place on the shelf and dropping everything into the strainer. As she waited for the water to boil her eyes drifted to the wooden tea bag holder that Tim bought when they first started dating. It was a large box, 3×3 and her eyes danced over the classic tea packets with her favourites stacked at the front.
Camomile, Peppermint, and Green. The others were stacked at the back and Lucy laughed when she saw that they were all still full. Tim was never a tea drinker and probably had his first cup in decades when she'd forced it upon him, thinking that maybe he'd enjoy the bitterness of Earl Grey.
She vividly remembered him giving her the fakest smile she'd ever seen and though even though he'd deny it, she saw him drain the rest into one of her pot plants. From that day forward she never gave him earl grey again. She made him try other flavours but the only outcome seemed to be that her plants were always watered.
As the kettle clicked off she poured it into the teapot, letting it sit before pouring it into her favourite mug—one she had picked out at a farmer's market with Jackson. Taking the mug in her hands she dragged a stool over to the window looking over the back yard before setting on it slowly, hugging one leg to her chest.
It hadn't rained like this in a long time, the clouds and rain tinting the world so dark it almost looked green. Kojo wandered to her stool a few minutes later to receive a few ear scratches as Lucy cooed different variations of 'Hi baby' before she sat back up, nursing the warm liquid again.
Moments later Kojo's head ticked up and she heard a slight commotion from the bedroom and she smiled into the rim of her mug, Tim was up.
The bedroom door opened, she could hear the creak, but her gaze remained on the outside storm, completely mesmerised. That was until the cutest sneeze she'd ever heard echoed down the hall.
He'd shuffled slowly out of the bedroom in nothing but his sleep shorts and that super soft shirt that she loved. His face was scrunched in that after sneeze shock before twisting again and letting out another equally cute or if not cuter sneeze.
Lucy nearly fell off her chair.
Inhaling quickly, he made his way over to her, oblivious to the way she was looking at him and sleepily wrapped his hands around her waist, pulling her back into his chest.
"Gmornnin," he mumbled into her shoulder, nose tickling her neck and her face couldn't help but break into a smile. She loved this version of him all sleepy and loving, like it was to early to be doing anything that he considered hard. And loving her was as easy as breathing.
"Tea?" he asked, as if he didn't already know the answer, the smell wafting around them.
"Yeah," she hummed, leaning back into his warmth and for a second she almost felt like he was almost too warm but she brushed it off.
"What's the time?" he yawned and she glanced over, surprised to see a number that had double digits.
"Ten-thirty," she replied, not fully wrapping her head around the realisation that she hadn't woken up early but instead, Tim had woken up late.
He cleared his throat a little excessively like he had something to hide and Lucy turned slowly in his arms, bringing the back of her hand to his forehead. He only stared back at her, eyes half lidded, and only then did Lucy get a proper look at how flushed he was.
"Are you feeling alright?" she asked, the heat from his forehead radiating through her palm.
"A little stuffy but I'm fine," he said before not a sneeze, but a cough wracked his chest. Oh so this is why he slept in.
"I'm fine really."
Lucy's eyebrow arched.
"I'm not sick," he defended, but his voice came out strained.
"Tim, you do know that the world won't end if you're sick right?" she asked, running a hand up and down his arm.
"I know," he grumbled, "But today is our day off and even thought we didn't make plans we wanted to do something together and I-, I'm not sick so we can still do them."
Lucy rolled her eyes, "For someone who just woke up you're very stubborn. And besides," she glanced back outside, "I don't think this twilight-esque weather would permit them anyways."
"Twilight? You mean that vampire show?" He huffed, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Technically it's a book and movie franchise, not a show." she clarified before shutting her mouth, this was not the moment.
"Do you want some tea?" she asked, offering her mug up to him, "It might help?"
He sniffed the liquid, "What is it?"
While he might not reciprocate her love for tea he would never be opposed to trying things now and then.
"Goji, red date and longan tea," she answered, and his hand raised to steady the cup as she brought it up to his lips. Lucy watched as he took a small sip before pausing to assess and her brain nearly broke when he brought his lips to the cup again.
She burst out laughing when he peeled the cup from her hands, "Do you want me to pour you a cup?"
"You've been hiding this from me," he accused, watching as she slid off the stool to grab another mug from the cabinet, a more recent addition bought from a beachfront stall from her time undercover with Nyla.
"No I haven't?"
She poured another cup and traded mugs.
"Is this what tea is supposed to taste like?" he asked.
"I will say this is better than the packets you just get at the store," she hummed, "It's good for you."
"Maybe I should be sick more often, then you'll actually bring out the endurable tea from your stash," he joked, pulling her into him by the waist.
She looked up at him accusingly, "So you admit you're sick?"
He opened his mouth and closed it again.
"Whatever I say you're just not going to believe me," he sighed, trying to hold back a cough and failing.
"Need I say anything?"
His voice came out crackly, "No."
He was trying to be strong she could tell, he'd done this before, showing up sick to shift for three days straight without getting better and being forcefully sent home by Grey. She'd teased him about it mercilessly for weeks after.
One hand lifted to rub circles across the back of his neck, scratching gently at the hair on the nape of his neck and Tim almost moaned at the contact. He hadn't realised how stiff and sore his body was until she'd started to loosen the muscles.
He leaned into it slightly, eyes falling shut. Damn those plans he could just stay here forever.
Lucy smiled at his reaction, he was as easy to please as a dog.
"So…" she started, her hand sliding down his spine before she moved from the kitchen and towards the living room.
He popped an eye open, "Yeah?"
"Yeah what?" she replied amused, curling her cup of tea into her chest.
"You're really gonna make me say it?" he sighed already missing the ghost of her hand and the warmth of her body next to his.
Her eyes danced in the dim light that filtered through the sliding doors, "Say what?"
"That we should just stay home today?"
Mock surprise painted her face as she found her spot on the couch, "Oh is that what you want is it?"
He let out a groan that ended in a splutter, drawing another sip to soothe his throat. The more he woke up the more ache and pain seemed to flare up that was dulled by the haze of sleep.
Lucy's gaze softened, "Hey, how about you throw on a hoodie or something and we can watch something?"
Tim didn't think he'd ever obeyed so fast, propping the cup on the table before disappearing into their bedroom.
When he emerged, Kojo was settled on his dog bed while Lucy was engrossed on some streaming service, flicking through the numerous shows and movies they could watch, only glancing at him when he settled next to her on the couch.
"I- oh I uh, wow," she stuttered the moment her eyes caught his. "What, are those?"
She dropped the remote to the table, completely ignoring the tv.
"What's what?" he asked tilting back slightly to scan his upper body for any bugs.
Lucy raised her finger, pointing towards the glasses on her boyfriends face.
"You have glasses?" she gaped, the brown frames making her stomach flip and it was like she had a silly little crush all over again.
"I thought I told you?" he replied, looking all the more bashful as his ears turned pink.
She would remember if he told her about this.
Lucy didn't know what it was, whether it was the lighting or the fact that he looked so calm or the fact that he looked like a goddamned nerd, but he looked hot, like really fucking hot and if he wasn't on his deathbed she might've jumped him already.
"Since when did you have glasses?" she breathed, coming face to face with him so she could merely observe.
"I usually," he let out a dry cough, "wear my contacts."
Lucy briefly considered hiding his contact lenses forever.
"I uh," she started, thumb tracing the rim, "I like it," she swallowed.
He glanced up, "Yeah?"
"Yeah."
With a groan his forehead fell to her shoulder, snapping her back to reality as if she finally remembered the task at hand.
"Hot? Cold? Do you want me to crack open the door a little?"
"I'm a grown ass man, I can take care of myself," he grumbled but didn't stop her as she grabbed a throw blanket and placed it gently around his shoulders, scooting backwards to admire her handy work.
He just stared back at her like she'd hung the moon.
"Come here," she gestured and he nearly keeled over out of love.
Now he was just staring at her like an idiot
"Do I have to say it twice?"
Lucy stared at him all frozen and completely smitten. He was going to be the death of her.
She shuffled forward, hoping to coax him into relaxing with a quick kiss but felt all the more confused when he pulled away.
"Luce I'm gonna get you sick," he murmured before watching her face break out into laughter, her palms coming up to cup his cheeks.
"Sweetheart I'm probably already sick, and besides, maybe that way we can have more days off together," she replied, staring at him with so much adoration he thought he might combust from the intensity.
Tim wanted to say something romantic back but all that came out was, "I have a headache."
Lucy couldn't believe that this was the man that had tormented her as a rookie and that he was so easily crumbled by a mere cold.
"Don't worry, I'll kiss it better," she hummed, gently moving in to press their lips together as his arms automatically tightened on her waist. He was hesitant at first, still opposed to the idea of spreading whatever he had to her but with enough convincing from Lucy his tongue slipped into her mouth fervently. If she hadn't been sick before then she was definitely going to be now.
She pulled back to take a breather and Tim's lips chased hers, letting out a huff of agitation before clearing his throat forcefully.
"We probably shouldn't get you so worked up, huh?" she mused, hands sliding to circle around his neck.
"You're the one that wanted to kiss me in the first place," he murmured, only making her smile deepen.
Lucy slipped away and he already missed the warmth, following her to the other side of the couch like a moth to flame.
"Now come here," she muttered opening her arms as she lay down, "and don't make me say it a third time."
He complied easily, taking off his glasses to place them on the table, a wave of dizziness washing over him as he slid his hands around her waist before half-laying on top of her. Her hand rose to his hair once again as his head lay on her chest, letting her hand slip through the strands Tim closed his eyes, soaking up the moment. When he was with her everything felt less alarming, like with her, her could always find the peace he needed.
She was so soft and in no way was this comfortable for her but he was too tired to argue and as her nails scratched his scalp and he let an involuntary noise slip out of his throat. They stayed like that for a while cocooned against one another, their warmth seeping through each other to reach a steady equilibrium—like the rare warmth you wake up to every once in a while that makes you feel like goldilocks. Not too hot, not too cold, but just right.
After a while, Tim grew heavier against Lucy, moulding against the shape of her body as the crease in his eyebrow smoothened out. His breathing had evened out slightly, the flutter of his breath soft against her skin and she realised that she really had been craving just this. Him, her, them. Not chasing after suspects, not coordinating a scene or leading roll call, but stripped down to just being Tim and Lucy and the warm crackle that ignited in her chest whenever she thought of him(which, to be honest, was all the time).
Lulled gently by the hum of the fridge, the familiar weight of Tim on top of her and the future promise of her making him wear those glasses for her, Lucy's eyes fell closed too, feeling nothing but completely content.
She woke up later that day with a sore throat.