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“How are you feeling?” Tim asks putting the plate in front of Lucy. She tilts her head at him, and he just gives her a smile. He feels bad about this morning, he was just frustrated and she seemed to know but still he just wants her to know that he just wants her here. “After today?”
“It’s been a day for sure.” Lucy says and she gives him a look. She looks like she doesn’t want to talk about it. Not yet. “Are you going to sit down?” He does and then leans across to look at her some more.
“Sorry,” he says and he’s still used to living alone. To eating alone. He’s not used to having someone at the table. He loves it, he absolutely loves it but it’s strange having that. It’s been like that for the last week.
(They had to make room at the table but that was going to be solved very soon.)
“Don’t apologize.” She says and she looks around the house again. “I should apologize. This is all my stuff and I didn’t realize.”
“No.” Tim says. “I am just very particular. Maybe too much so, this is your house too.” Lucy grins at him.
“Yeah?” She asks. “That’s why you are unpacking and I am supervising.” Tim shakes his head a little in exasperation but really he wouldn’t have it any other way.
If Lucy was on his—their—couch supervising for the rest of her life than so be it.
At least she was here.
At least she was here.
***
After they eat, Tim starts on what he has wanted to do all night.
(Actually all week but he wasn’t going down that road). And Lucy does start to help him, it only lasts a few minutes before she’s sitting on the couch and tucking her feet underneath her.
“So you really meant you are going to supervise?” Tim asks. Lucy raises her eyebrows and he rolls his eyes.
Of course.
He pulls out a candle and a candle holder and then looks in the box. There are several more candles and holders. “Why do you need this many candles?” He asks. “Where did you put them all?”
“Around.” Lucy says. “You know me.” Tim sighs and sets it aside, he has a storage where he can put them all.
(He really was prepared for her to move in. He just wasn’t prepared for all her stuff).
“I remember when you lit all those candles and the smoke detector went off in the middle of the night.” He says. It was the first time they slept together, and maybe he was planning to make that night the night. He showered, he put on a shirt that was easy to get off. He made sure that the job thing was squared away.
He wasn’t going to let another night slip through his fingers. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could hold on. They had done stuff, over the clothes stuff but it wasn’t the same.
“Oh yeah.” Lucy says looking up and grinning at him. “And the dinner we never ate.”
“You never started it.” He points out. He pushes the box aside once it’s empty, and pulls another one towards him.
“Mmm.” Lucy hums softly. “I remember. That was a good night.”
“I agree.” Tim says and he pulls out a blanket. Lord knows he would have enough blankets to make a fort now. He tosses it to Lucy and she wraps it around her.
God he loves her.
It continues like that for the next hour, a box is emptied and put aside. And more stuff is revealed but Tim finds a place for all of it. They make conversation and it’s easy, it’s them.
The best part of all of this—other than getting rid of the boxes—it was finally going to feel like she has finally moved in.
Finally.
At last.
God he can’t wait for these boxes to be gone.
***
Lucy is quiet after awhile and Tim looks over at her, she’s not asleep but she looks like she’s lost in thought. He sets down what he’s holding (a lamp— who needs this many lamps?) and walks over.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” She replies. Tim sits down next to her and she turns to face him. “Everything okay?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing.” Tim says.
“I was just thinking of Samantha—she’s been through so much. And she is still going through it. I told her she’s going to survive. I did.” Lucy says and Tim’s heart plummets a little.
“You sure did.” He says. Thank god. “You are right. She will survive.”
“I told we would have her back.” Lucy says. “All the women at Mid Wilshire.” Tim nods and he doesn’t know exactly what Lucy or Samantha went through. He would never know how that feels. He just knows Lucy was stronger than she even knew and from the sound of it.
So was Samantha.
“And you will.” Tim says and he reaches for her hand. She takes his and he squeezes it. “You did good.”
“Thank you.” She says and then she straightens up and gives him a smirk. “Break is over.” Tim rolls his eyes but he stands up.
“You think you are funny huh?” He asks.
“I am.” She says. “Now back to work boot.” Tim rolls his eyes again.
Back to work.
***
“Hey Luce,” Tim says. “Where do you want me to put the pictures? It’s the last thing—” He glances over at the sofa and sees Lucy passed out. She’s curled up like she usually is, her head on the small pillow. The blanket is laying half on her and half off. He sighs and walks over. He pulls the blanket over her and bends down to give her a kiss.
“Never mind.” He mutters. “I’ll figure it out.” He walks away slowly and then pauses to look back at her.
Home.
She was finally home.
***
It’s about an hour later when Lucy wonders into the bedroom. Tim is sorting out the boxes in there and he’s almost done.
“Hey,” she says and he glances up at her. “You are still working?”
“My supervisor fell asleep on the job.” He says shaking his head. “I’m almost done.”
“Good,” She says. “I’m exhausted.”
“I’m sure that nap took it out of you.” He teases her. He pushes the empty box aside and stands up. He puts the neatly folded clothes into the dresser and then turns to look at her. “Done.”
“Done?” She asks. “You unpacked everything?” She looks stunned and he’s not sure why, he was determined to get this done with.
“Yes.” He says. “We will have to break down all the boxes tomorrow but otherwise—” He gestures around the room. It’s back to normal, clean and organized.
“Oh you really are my hero.” She says and she walks up to throw her arms around him. He kisses her the minute that he can and she giggles a little. “Now let’s go bed.”
“Yes ma’am.” Tim says and he kisses her again. “Your wish is my command.” He backs her towards the bed.
He is tired, he is exhausted actually and they both had a long day. Tim figures Lucy will be asleep the minute her head hits the pillow.
He’s right.
But he’s not too far behind, he pulls her close and thinks of all the memories they will share in this bed. He thinks of all the memories that they will make in this house together.
It wasn’t just him anymore.
It was them.
She was finally home, the missing piece to the puzzle.
His missing piece.
And he couldn’t want anything more.