What if the UC mission had ended well (Season 5, Episode 1)

Part 37

Tim takes out his phone and quickly sends a text to Tamara.

Tim's Text: "Hey Tam, I need to talk. Can we meet at your place tonight around seven? It's important."

Lucy- You really are full of good ideas today.
Tim- What can I say? I'm on a roll.
They had enough time so they headed to the bedroom and snuggled up together, turning on an episode of "Top Chef." As the show played, they both got comfortable, Tim's arms wrapped around Lucy.
Lucy- (relaxing into his embrace) This is nice.
Tim- (kissing her forehead) It really is.
They watched the show in comfortable silence, but not too long into the episode, Lucy noticed that Tim had fallen asleep. She turned off the TV and cuddled up closer to him, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest. She reached for her phone and started watching some Clip talk (or how ever they called it on the show) videos, occasionally glancing over at Tim to admire him.
After a while, she put her phone away and simply held him, marveling at his peaceful expression. To others, it might seem like she was staring, but how could she not when she was cuddled up with her handsome, sleeping boyfriend? She gently brushed a strand of hair from his forehead, her touch light and tender.
As the minutes passed, she felt a profound sense of contentment. Being in this moment, with Tim asleep in her arms, filled her heart with warmth and love. She rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. Time seemed to stand still, the world outside fading away.
Eventually, Tim stirred, slowly waking up. He blinked a few times, his eyes focusing on Lucy's face.
Tim- (sleepily) How long was I out?
Lucy- Not too long. You looked so peaceful; I didn't want to wake you.
Tim- Thanks for letting me nap. I guess I needed it.
Lucy- You did. You've been working so hard.
Tim- (pulling her closer) So have you. But I'm glad we have this time together.
They lay there for a bit longer, enjoying the closeness and the comfort of each other's presence. Finally, Lucy glanced at the clock.
Lucy- We should probably start getting ready to head over to my place.
Tim- Yeah, you're right.
They got up and began to prepare, gathering everything they needed for the evening. The anticipation of surprising Tamara added an extra layer of excitement to their plans. As they headed out the door, hand in hand, they both felt a sense of happiness and contentment, looking forward to the evening ahead.
At the grocery store, they started picking up ingredients for lasagna.
Lucy- You know? I love to see you work your magic in the kitchen.
Tim's cheeks flushed a deep red at her comment. He blinked, momentarily at a loss for words.
Tim- (stammering) W-Well, I guess I'll have to make sure it's extra special then.
Lucy- (playfully leaning closer) Trust me, it's not just about the food. There's something about seeing you in action that gets me every time.
Tim was caught off guard by her flirtatious remark. He couldn't help but feel a mix of flattered and nervous.
Tim- Uh, well... I'll definitely be cooking more often if that's the case.
They continued shopping, Tim still slightly flustered but smiling at Lucy's comments. Their playful conversation and flirtatious comments made the trip enjoyable.
Once they had all the ingredients, they headed back to Lucy's apartment. They unloaded the bags and began prepping the kitchen for their cooking session.
Tim- Alright, time to get this lasagna started.
Lucy- I'll get the counter cleared and the ingredients organized.
Tim started on the sauce and Lucy prepared the ricotta mixture and grated the cheese.
Tim- I've missed cooking for you and Tamara.
Lucy- I've missed this too and I'm so excited to finally see her again.
As they layered the sauce, noodles, veggies and cheese, the lasagna came together beautifully. Tim put it in the oven.
Tim- There we go. Now we just wait.
Lucy- It already looks amazing.
With the lasagna baking, they took a few moments to relax and enjoy each other's company before Tamara arrived. The apartment filled with the comforting scent of the lasagna, and they eagerly awaited the surprise dinner.
A few minutes before dinner was ready, Tamara came home. She smelled the delicious aroma and knew Tim was there.
Tamara- Hey Tim, it smells amazing in here!
Without looking, she headed straight to her room to put her things down. When she came out, she finally realized Lucy standing next to Tim. As realization hit her, she stood frozen for a moment before running up to Lucy and almost knocking her off her feet.
Tamara- Lucy! I can't believe you're here!
Lucy- Surprise!
They hugged tightly, the joy of the reunion evident in their smiles. Tim watched, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction and happiness seeing them this happy. A few tears were shed as they embraced, overwhelmed by the moment.
They sat down to eat, catching up on everything that had happened in the four months Lucy had been away. There was laughter, and a lot of heartfelt stories were shared. The lasagna was a hit, and the evening was filled with warmth and joy.
Around 8:30 PM, Tamara had to leave to meet a friend for a project they had to finish. She was clearly sad to go, but Lucy reassured her.
Lucy- It's fine, Tamara. We'll spend time together tomorrow.
Tamara- (hugging Lucy tightly) Okay, but I'm holding you to that!
After Tamara left, it was just Lucy and Tim, the apartment to themselves. The realization of being alone together made the air thick with anticipation. They moved to the bedroom, where their longing for each other quickly took over.
Everything was great, and it wasn't too long until Lucy reached her climax. A few tears rolled down her face afterward. It wasn't something to be too concerned about because it happened sometimes if it was intense. However, this time was different. Tim stopped every movement and checked in on her, as always, and then more tears slipped.
Tim- Lucy, are you okay?
Lucy- I'm fine, really. Just keep going.
Tim, however, pulled out and laid down next to her, pulling her into a hug.
Tim- What's wrong, love? You can tell me.
Lucy didn't really know what was wrong. She didn't want to cry but she couldn't stop it.
Lucy- (sobbing) I don't know, Tim. I don't know why I'm crying.
Tim pulled a blanket over them and just held her tight, telling her that it's fine and not to worry.
Tim- It's okay. Just let it out. I'm here with you.
A little later, they got up and cleaned up, put on some comfy clothes, and went back to bed. When they were back in bed, Lucy spoke quietly.
Lucy- I'm sorry about what happened.
Tim- Don't be sorry, Lucy.
Lucy- But you didn't even finish.
Tim- That's not important.
Lucy looked at him, her eyes glistening with residual tears.
Tim- You can always stop things if you're not feeling it anymore, no questions asked. It's your right, and it's not your responsibility to take care of my wants or needs. I care about you more than that.
They lay in silence for a few moments, the weight of Tim's words sinking in. Lucy felt a surge of love and gratitude for the man beside her.
Lucy- I love you, Tim.
Tim- I love you more.
Lucy- No, I love you more.
Tim- Okay we both love each other the same.
They continued to talk, their conversation drifting to their dreams and future together.
Tim- After you graduate UC-Academy and are back, here in LA with me, I promise I'll cook for you every day. Whatever you want.
Lucy- That sounds wonderful. I can't wait for us to have our own little routines and traditions.
Tim- And I'm looking forward to the night our daughter or son—doesn't matter as long as they're healthy—comes up to us at night, telling me they're hungry. I'll make cookies, brownies, pancakes, or whatever they want. I'll tell them to be quiet and not to tell you because you'd chew me out for filling them up with sugar at night.
Lucy laughed softly, the image warming her heart.
Lucy- You'd be the best dad, you know that?
Tim- And you'd be the most amazing mom.
Lucy- Do you already have some names in mind?
Tim- Yeah, I've thought about it.
Lucy- Oh, now you have to tell me! What names are you thinking of?
Tim- Okay, okay. For boys, I'm thinking of Ethan, Benjamin, and Nathaniel.
Lucy- Those are great names. What about girls names?
Tim- For girls, I've got Olivia, Sophia, Mia, Chloe. And I really like Elle or Ellie. Maybe even Elly.
Lucy- Those are beautiful names.
Tim- Do you have any names in mind?
Lucy- Well, I haven't really thought about it in detail, but I do have a few names I like. For boys, I think August, Alex, and Michael are great choices.
Tim- I like them but I actually have a small concern about Alex. My middle name is Alexander, and I feel like it's just a bit too similar. I'm not sure if I want to pass down my name like that if we'd have a son.
Lucy- I see what you mean.
Tim- Exactly. I want our child's name to be unique and not just an extension of mine. I like the idea of giving them their own identity.
Lucy- That makes sense. I didn't really think about the similarity to your name.
Tim- What about girls names?
Lucy- For girls, I like June and Eva—or Ava, maybe. I'm also considering Eloise, but I'm not entirely sure about it yet. Daisy's a cute option, but I really like your suggestion, Ellie.
Tim- June and Eva are lovely choices. Eloise and Daisy have their own charm too, but Ellie seems to be a standout for both of us.
Lucy- Definitely. Ellie feels right. But I think it's still missing something. Something that makes it more unique and special.
Tim- Maybe we could add a middle name to make it more unique and special. Like Ellie June or Ellie Mae. What do you think?
Lucy- It's not about the middle name, really. I think it's the first name itself. Maybe Ellie could be the nickname.
Tim- Hmm, I see what you mean. So, a longer first name that we can shorten to Ellie?
Lucy- Exactly. Something like Eleanor or Elena. But I don't like those names.
Tim- Alright, let's think of other names that could work with Ellie as a nickname. How about Eloise or something similar?
Lucy- Eloise is a possibility, but I'm still not sure about it.
Tim- It's tricky finding the perfect name, isn't it?
Lucy- Definitely. We'll find the right name eventually. There's no rush.
Tim- You're right. We've got plenty of time to think about it.
Lucy- How did we even end up talking about baby names? We haven't even started trying, and it's still a while until that's happening.
Tim- I know, right? We just got a bit carried away.
Lucy- It's kind of nice though, thinking about the future and all the possibilities.
Tim- Definitely. It's exciting to imagine what our life could be like. But we've got plenty of steps to take before then.
Lucy- Exactly. One step at a time. Let's just enjoy the journey.
Tim- I couldn't agree more. And no matter what, I know we'll figure it out together.
Lucy- Together. Always.
Tim- And just so you know, I call dibs on being the good cop when it comes to parenting.
Lucy- Oh, really? You think you can get away with that?
Tim- Absolutely. Someone's gotta be the softie, and I think I can handle the job.
Lucy- Actually, I don't want one of us to be the good cop and the other the bad cop. I want us to be a team, on the same page, and not undermine each other.
Tim- What do you mean?
Lucy- Growing up, my parents did that—my dad would let me do things my mom wouldn't, and it caused a lot of friction. I quickly learned to go to him to get what I wanted, and it wasn't healthy. I want our kids to know they can't play us against each other. If one of us makes a decision, the other needs to back it up. We need to be consistent and present a united front.
Tim- I see what you're saying. Go on.
Lucy- It's important for our kids to see us as a team. If we have disagreements, we should talk them through privately and come to a resolution together. Our decisions need to be respected by both of us, even if we initially disagree. It shows our kids they can trust us and rely on us equally.
Tim- That makes sense.
Lucy- Exactly. It's about showing our kids that we support each other and they can't manipulate the situation to their advantage. We should always present a united front and make decisions together.
Tim- You're right. We need to be a solid team for our kids. No undermining each other or going behind each other's backs. We'll handle it together.
Lucy- You know, I think we're overthinking this a bit already. We haven't even started trying for a baby, and here we are planning every detail.
Tim- (laughs) Yeah, maybe we are. It's just exciting to think about the future.
Lucy- It is. But let's not get too caught up in the details. We've got plenty of time to figure it all out.
Tim- Agreed. For now, let's just enjoy the moment and take things one step at a time.
Lucy- Absolutely.
Lucy- You know what? I'm craving ice cream. Want some?
Tim- I'm good, but you go ahead.
Lucy- Okay, I'll be right back.
Lucy gets out of bed and goes to the kitchen, but she comes back empty handed.
Tim- Did you change your mind?
Lucy- No, we're out of ice cream.
Tim- Well, put on your shoes. We're going to the store to get some.
Lucy, surprised but delighted, quickly gets ready. They head to the store, dressed in mismatched sweatpants, T-shirts and oversized jackets. Despite their unconventional attire, they enjoy the spontaneous trip.
Back home, they scoop generous portions of ice cream and settle on the couch, resuming the episode of "Top Chef" they started earlier.
Lucy- This is perfect. Thank you for going to the store with me.
Tim- Anytime, everything for you.
Lucy- I love you.
Tim- I love you too.
They continue watching, sharing laughs and savoring their ice cream, content in their shared future and the moments leading up to it.