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Tim unlocks the door, and opens it. He hears soft music playing in the living room. He hears Kojo and then suddenly the dog is in front of him. Tim bends down and scratches behind his ears. It was always nice being greeted by Kojo, it was even better when Lucy was right next to him.
“Hi buddy.” He says. “Where is your mom?”
“I’m right here,” a voice says and Tim looks up to see Lucy. Her hair is down and she’s wearing the clothes she had on when she left work. Her engagement ring is on her finger, and she has a soft smile on her face.
“Hi.” Tim says standing up and making his way over to her. She immediately steps into his arms and he feels instant peace. He’s not sure how that is possible, but whenever he is near Lucy he just feels better. “I’m sorry I’m late. I—” He stops and really it’s not his fault. He has been burying himself in work ever since he got back.
“It’s fine.” Lucy says and then she takes a step back. She has a nervous look on her face and she avoids looking at him. “I did something. You can’t be mad.”
Tim narrows his eyes at her. “You did something?” He asks and he’s not sure he likes the sound of that. Whenever she did something it always meant trouble for him or them. Always.
Like the make a wish kid. He knows that was for revenge for a Tim test. He’s not sure what he did this time.
“Yes.” Lucy says and she reaches for his hand. She laces her fingers through his. He doesn’t say anything as she leads him to the couch. He sits down with her, and she turns to look at him.
“Look at me Tim.” She says. “Now.” Tim raises his eyebrows but he does look at her.
“Yes?”
“Remember after Caleb, I uh I got Kojo.” She starts. Tim just stares at her.
“Yes and he destroyed your apartment and all Jackson’s stuff.” Tim deadpans. “Which is why we don’t leave him home alone.” He turns his head to look at Kojo but Lucy snaps her fingers and he’s looking at her again.
“Right but I got him to feel… better. You know after being kidnapped and almost dying.” She says. “Being put in a barrel.” Tim holds up his hands, he doesn’t need a recap of that day. It haunts him even to this day. He was so close to losing Lucy even if she wasn’t his to lose.
Not then anyway.
“Sure… a emotional support animal. I don’t know how much support Kojo could—”
“Hey don’t knock our boy.” Lucy says. Tim swallows hard. Our boy. And sure he offered to take Kojo so he could have a backyard to run around and a bigger house to destroy but he was always their dog.
“Sorry,” Tim says. “What’s your point Luce?” Lucy avoids his eyes now but he doesn’t take his eyes off of her.
“I may have gotten—I may have uh gotten another dog.” Lucy says. Tim sits up straight and stares at her.
“Might have?” He asks. Lucy swallows and nods. He looks around the living room now. He sees two beds, two food and water bowels in the corner. There’s a plethora of new toys by the new bed.
“Oh my god Lucy.” He says. “Why?” He hasn’t even seen the dog yet and he’s not sure what to think.
“Kojo was alone for a day before people even realized we were missing.” Lucy says. “He was alone Tim. And we got kidnapped. I got kidnapped again. I needed to feel better.”
“So every time you get kidnapped you are going to get another dog?” He asks staring at her. “Really?”
“Yes.” Lucy says without missing a beat. “If that’s what it takes. Anyway wait until you meet her. She’s amazing.” Tim blinks at her, it’s not lost on him that the dog is already here.
She jumps up and walks away, Tim sits there because he’s not really sure what to do.
Another dog?
Kojo was already a lot of work. He couldn’t stay home alone because he ate his damn PlayStation. It’s not that Kojo was a bad dog, because he wasn’t a bad dog but—
Lucy walks out with a black and white dog. She’s smaller than Kojo but she’s seems comfortable in Lucy’s arms.
“Her name is Pickles.” She says and she sits down petting the dog. “She and Kojo get along but I didn’t want her to startle you. Tim stares at the dog, the only thing running through his mind is he can’t have a dog named Pickles.
“She’s—” Tim starts but stops when Lucy puts the dog on Tim’s lap. “Pickles?” Lucy shrugs and Tim scratches her behind her ears. The dog licks his arm and looks up at him with big brown eyes.
“So?” Lucy says. “What do you think?” Tim has a lot of things he wants to say. Like how she shouldn’t keep bringing dogs home without any warning.
That maybe she should ask first. He loves dogs as much as the next guy but a little warning would be nice.
He thinks maybe this might be really good for the both of them. Kojo seemed attached to Lucy, and now both of them after they came home.
“I think you are crazy.” Tim says. Lucy raises her eyebrows a little looking amused. There’s more. There’s always more. “But I love you and if this makes you feel better—”
“It does.” Lucy says reaching over to pet Pickles. The dog is curled up on Tim’s lap now and his resolve is making. Fast. “I haven’t been myself since—”
“I know,” Tim says softly and even though he went through this too (they were just separated). He wanted to do everything he could to make her feel safe again. He realizes that maybe he isn’t enough. Maybe she needs another outlet. “I’m sorry if I'm not—”
“No you are amazing Tim. Amazing. You have been my rock through this whole thing.” Lucy says. She reaches out to pet Pickles. The dog looks up, sniffs her and then lays her head back down. She seems completely relaxed with Tim, and he didn’t hate it.
“You have been my rock.” Tim says and it’s true. He has been dependent on Lucy more so than before. She was what kept his world spinning, his heart beating.
When she was alone in that room without Lucy—he felt dizzy and like he couldn’t breathe.
“We have held each other up.” Lucy says softly. Tim nods and puts a hand on her cheek. “I just don’t always want to depend on you.”
“You can always depend on me.” Tim says his voice firm. “But I get it.” He looks down at the dog in her lap and he can’t help but smile.
Lucy nods and smiles at him. “I got Kojo to feel safe.” Lucy says. “You make me feel safe. I think I got Pickles to feel steady.”
“I don’t blame you.” Tim says. It might be nice for Kojo to have a friend. “Although is this just another way of you convincing me to get a dog walker?”
“It crossed my mind.” Lucy says. “Daycare for two dogs will get experience.”
“What is going to happen when we have kids?” Tim asks. “We can’t leave them home alone. What if we have multiples?”
“Baby, that’s a long way off.” Lucy says softly. “A dog walker wouldn’t be so bad and plus they would have each other.”
“I know.” Tim says and he runs his fingers through his hair. She has a point, and really Kojo and Pickles would be more comfortable at home.
“I think she likes you.” Lucy says pointing at the dog on Tim’s lap. Tim smiles and he bends down to press a kiss to the top of Pickles head.
“About time.” He grumbles. “Ever since you moved in Kojo has been attached to you.” Lucy smiles and she scoots closer. She lays her head on his shoulder.
It might not be perfect, they might be still dealing with some PSTD of the kidnapping. But they would get through it.
Together.
The two of them and their two dogs. For the rest of their lives.
He could live with that. He really could.
He could live forever with Lucy.
And Kojo.
And of course Pickles.
Forever.