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The thing about Emma is that she is picky about her hair. She loves when Lucy does it and Lucy gets creative since she has two girls hair to do now. When it was just Emma, Lucy would make it cute but she wouldn’t do anything fancy. That was of course when Emma was younger and hadn’t quite found her voice yet.
Now she was 7, and she had an opinion about everything including her hair and how she wanted it each day. And usually Lucy was able to do it. But there were some days that just didn’t have time or she needed to get Sophie ready first.
(The two year old was not a morning person).
And then Lucy was working late nights, and would come home in the morning. She wasn’t able to get the girls ready and Tim even told her to go straight to bed.
Today was different than the last week except when she walks in Tim is doing Emma’s hair.
It’s odd.
Emma had an opinion about how Tim did her hair. It wasn’t that she didn’t like it but she preferred Lucy.
(Lucy tried not to get a big head about that).
“What’s going on?” Lucy asks. She yawns and Tim sends her a look.
“Do you need help?”
“No I got it right Emma?” Tim asks. The little girl nods but she looks unsure. “Mommy needs sleep.”
“That’s the understatement of the year.” Lucy says. “Is Sophie up? I can—”
“Go to sleep mommy.” Emma says. Lucy raises her eyebrows. She has no doubt Tim practiced this with Emma.
“Okay. Okay.” Lucy says and then looks at Tim. “Good luck.” She stands there for a few more minutes looking at Tim and Emma but neither are paying attention to her. She gives her daughter one last look before she’s walking away.
***
Lucy wakes up the next day without Tim next to her. It’s not unusual especially when she has worked late and Tim doesn’t want to bother her. She gets out of bed and wonders down to the living room where she sees Sophie on Tim’s lap with one of her books in front of her. Tim is putting her hair in little ponytails even if there isn’t much of it.
“Hi.” Lucy says. Sophie turns at her voice and her little face lights up in a smile.
“Mama!”
“Hi baby.” Lucy says. “What are you doing?” Tim looks over at her but doesn’t say anything as he ties one last ponytail.
“All good Soph.” He says. Sophie slides off his lap and runs to hug Lucy’s legs and then she toddles off probably to go find Emma.
“You did Sophie’s hair?” Lucy asks raising her eyebrows. Their two year old wasn’t as picky as her older sister, and she didn’t have much hair but still it was usually Lucy who did the girls hair.
“Yes.”
“Did you learn how to do Sophie’s hair?” Lucy asks and she’s sits down next to him. Tim shrugs his shoulders.
“One there’s not much to it. She doesn’t have too much like Emma.” He says. “I can work with it.”
“You think Emma has too much hair?” Lucy asks and she’s not mad but more amused than anything. “She has my hair.”
“No. No.” Tim says shaking his head. “No. I just—it’s harder and she—she has amazing hair.”
“Babe relax.” Lucy says. “I know what you are saying and I appreciate you helping with the girls hair. It actually helps me a lot.” Tim gives her a smile and then leans over to kiss her.
“Anytime.” He says softly. “Anytime.”
***
Lucy comes home once again to Tim doing Emma’s hair. Her daughter is sitting patiently as Tim carefully puts her hair into a bun.
“Oh my god Emma has ballet today.” Lucy says. They both turn to look at her, Tim has some Bobby pins in his mouth and and carefully putting them in her hair. “I forgot.”
“You have been busy.” Tim says nonchalantly. “It was on the schedule and I thought I could help her get ready. Huh Bug?”
“Daddy is learning to do my hair.” Emma says proudly. Lucy looks at her husband and she feels unbelievably proud of him. She feels so lucky too. It wasn’t just here and now but when Tim took on Emma as his own.
It was actually long before they were even together and that’s what still gets Lucy. He didn’t know Lucy or Emma but he made sure they were always okay. He checked up on them. He offered to take Emma so Lucy could go and do errands.
He still does even if it’s a little different now. They fell in love along the way little by little. They are married, they have Sophie now too. But he is still that Tim that would do anything for her.
(And Emma and Sophie of course).
Even Emma’s hair, and Lucy stands there And watches as Tim finishes and then gives Emma’s shoulders a squeeze. “We are leaving in a few minutes Bug.” He calls as Emma runs off. Once she’s gone Lucy turns to Tim.
“You did her hair.” She says. “Thank you. I totally forgot. I—” Tim walks over to her and pulls her into a hug. He presses a kiss to the top of her head.
“You have been busy baby.” He says. “It’s fine. I’m going to take both girls so you can get some rest.”
“You don’t have to take Sophie.” Lucy says shaking her head a little. “That’s a lot. She is a lot when she can’t run around.”
“Don’t worry about it babe.” Tim says gently. He rubs her arm. “I got it. Sophie knows how to behave.”
“Okay if you are sure.” Lucy says feeling a little guilty.
“I am.” Tim insists and he gives her another kiss. “I got it.” Lucy nods and Tim gives her before he walks off without another word.
***
Lucy comes home to Tim doing both girls hair. Emma is sitting patiently but Sophie wiggling a little.
“Mommy.” Sophie says and she escapes Tim and runs over to Lucy. “Hi mommy.” Lucy laughs and scoops her up.
“Is daddy doing your hair?”
“I’m trying to.” Tim grumbles. “I take it back. Emma’s hair is easier to do.” Lucy laughs and walks over to where Tim is. She sits down and presses a kiss to his cheek.
“I got it Tim.” Lucy says. “You do Emma’s hair and I got Sophie.”
“But—”
“It’s a team effort babe. Trust me.” Lucy says. She had both girls alone plenty of times, and it was no walk in the park.
“Fine.” Tim says. He turns back to Emma and then looks back at Lucy with nothing but in his eyes. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” Lucy says and it does take both of them for some things and she wouldn’t have it any other way.