Aftermath (Chenford)

Chapter 13

The pain was excruciating, but Angela was right. The second her baby girl was laid in her arms, all thought of pain disappeared.

"She's perfect, just like her mama," Tim said softly, carefully running his fingers through Lucy's hair and watching his baby girl.

"Do you want to hold her?" Lucy asked.

"Of course," Tim replied, shrugging off his jacket, vest, belt, and button up, so he was left in a white shirt and black pants. He pulled a chair closer to Lucy and carefully grabbed his baby girl.

"This is your daddy," Lucy said softly as she handed the baby to Tim. He cradled her head gently, kissing her forehead.

"Hi baby girl." The three got a few minutes alone before Nyla, Angela, Wade, Nolan, Bailey, and several other officers walked in with balloons and baby toys from the gift shop.

"She's precious," Nyla cooed. "Can I hold her?"

Tim looked to Lucy for approval to which Lucy replied, "you're her dad, you don't have to ask me."

"Yeah, but you just pushed her out of your body. I think you trump me." Tim laughed, passing her off to Nyla.

"They learn so fast," Lucy smiled.

"Have you guys picked a name?" Wesley asked.

"We have. Her name is Harlen Angelia Bradford, we've had the name picked out for a while." Lucy said. "Her name is a mix of the the start of Harper, and the start of Angela in honor of the two people who helped me the most."

"That's beautiful," Angela said, tears brimming her eyes as she leaned down to hug Lucy.

"We didn't want to name her directly after you guys since Harper Angela or Angela Harper didn't sound quite right, so we found a different way to do the same thing." Tim filled in the rest of the story.

The rest of the evening was a mix of people cooing over Harlen, congratulating the two, and taking pictures. It wasn't until the nurse kicked everyone out so Lucy could feed her that they got some time alone.

Tim had since climbed into the essentially large hospital bed to sit with Lucy, Harlen cradled between the two of them.

"I love you both, so much." Lucy sighed, laying her head on Tim's shoulder and closing her eyes.

"We love you too, why don't you get some sleep. Today has had to have been exhausting." Tim offered, and before he could even finish his sentence, both of his girls were asleep in his arms.

—

When Lucy and Harlen were omitted from the hospital, Tim took the drive home very slow and very careful. Lucy sat in the back with the baby, humming softly.

While they were at the hospital, everyone made sure the house was ready for baby Harlen to come home. They baby proofed, finished setting up the nursery, and made sure the fridge was stocked.

Everyone has agreed to give the new family a few days to settle in before they did the whole 'surprise we bought you things that you knew we were going to do so it's not a surprise but surprise!' Party.

— Time Skip —

It has been nearly 2 months since Harlen was brought home, and both Lucy and Tim were officially off of parental leave. The hardest part was by far leaving Harlen with someone they didn't know.

Angela had offered her babysitter double to watch Harlen as well, so at least they know she is safe with someone Angela trusts.

"Goodbye, my love. Mommy will be home before you know it." Lucy said, kissing Harlen once more while trying to hold back tears.

"It will get easier, I promise." Angela said, rubbing her back as she laid Harlen into the playpen.

Tim was waiting just two steps away, hiding the fact that he also didn't want to leave baby Harlen.

"She'll be okay, Luce," Tim said as they left the house.

"I know she will, but it doesn't make it hurt any less." She shrugged.

"I know it doesn't, but just think. You get to go back to the job you love, then come home to our daughter." Tim smiles.

"What if I don't. Yknow? Come home? What if something happens?" Lucy asked.

"Don't say that."

"Tim-"

"I won't let that happen. You won't let that happen, I know you and you'll fight to make it home to us no matter what." Tim says, putting the truck in reverse and driving to the station.

When they arrive, they are greeted with an abundance of welcome backs and congratulations. They thank everyone and head to Lucy's desk.

"You have three cases already by the looks of it," Tim says, picking up the files sitting in the middle of her desk.

"No rest for the wicked," Lucy winked as she sat down.

"Have a good shift, be careful," Tim says with a kiss.

"You too, I love you."

"I love you," Tim calls as he walks into roll call.

—

The day goes by way too slow and Lucy is way too happy to get home. As much as she loves her job, she loves her family more.

Tim and Lucy pick up Harlen, giving Angela their half of the money to pay the babysitter, and headed home.

Angela was right. Leaving Harlen everyday to go to work did get easier, not that she wants to, but it gets easier. Tim has worked his way up to metro while Lucy has found her footing in the detective seat. It started out rough, feeling like every mistake was a failure, but she learned from each and every one of those mistakes.

Lucy and Tim had a few bumps in the road as well, but they got through each obstacle that only resulted in their relationship getting stronger. A few years down the road, they gave Harlen a baby brother, Liam, and they found a babysitter that they trusted.

Tim and Lucy couldn't be happier, and their family was complete. Harlen tells all her teachers she wants to be a cop one day just like her mom and dad. Spoiler alert, she does become a cop several years down the line. Liam on the other hand, he joins the army and they all live happily ever after.

~ The End ~

A/N -
I think I've learned my lesson with saying I'll write a sequel. (For new readers, I didn't update for almost 2 years. Leaving everyone in a cliffhanger. Also I don't know why people kept reading my writing style was awful the first 10ish chapters 😭) So I'm not going to promise a full sequel, but if you all want some short stories/snippets of Harlen and Liam's upbringing and their life after 18, I will gladly add a few chapters about them. (Maybe one chapter per kid).

Thank you all so much for reading and a huge thank you for everyone who was here from the very start, that being 2022 😅. Thank you so much for staying and encouraging me to finish this story. I kept putting off updating, but when I got back into writing it, the ideas came so quickly. If you made it to the end, I appreciate you and hope you have a wonderful day, morning, night, evening, or whatever time you are reading this. 💋💋 XOXO ~ Mya ❤️