The morning at Mid-Wilshire station was bustling with the usual activity—officers typing away at reports, detectives discussing ongoing cases, and the familiar scent of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. But for Tim Bradford and Lucy Chen, today was anything but ordinary.
The two had been dating for three years now and everyone at the station knew it. Their colleagues had seen it coming long before they had finally admitted it to themselves, and once they did, there was no hiding their relationship. But today, Tim and Lucy had something new to share—something that made Lucy's smile a little wider and Tim's steps a little lighter.
As they entered the bullpen, they spotted Nolan, Harper, Angela, and Wesley gathered by the coffee machine, chatting away. Sergeant Grey was at his desk, quietly observing the room as usual. Tim and Lucy exchanged a quick glance, both of them trying—and failing—to keep the excitement off their faces.
"Morning," Lucy said, her voice tinged with anticipation as they approached the group.
"Morning," Nolan replied, eyeing them both with curiosity. "You two look like you've got something to share."
Nyla smirked, crossing her arms. "Oh, I know that look. Spill it. What's going on?"
Angela and Wesley, who had been deep in conversation, turned their attention to Tim and Lucy, both of them smiling in anticipation. "Come on," Angela urged, "don't keep us in suspense!"
Tim chuckled, unable to keep the grin off his face as he reached into his pocket. "Alright, alright. We've got some news." He pulled out a small velvet box and opened it, revealing a sparkling engagement ring. "Lucy and I are engaged."
For a split second, the bullpen was silent. Then the room exploded with cheers and congratulations.
"Finally!" Angela exclaimed, rushing over to give Lucy a hug. "I knew it was just a matter of time. Congratulations!"
Nolan clapped Tim on the back with a broad grin. "Congrats, man! I'm so happy for you guys."
Angela squealed in delight, pulling Lucy into a tight hug. "This is amazing! I'm so happy for both of you."
Wesley, standing beside his wife, shook Tim's hand and then pulled him into a quick hug. "You two are perfect together. Congratulations."
Sergeant Grey, who had been watching the scene unfold with a rare smile, walked over and nodded approvingly. "Congratulations, Bradford, Chen. I'm glad to see you two are making it official."
Lucy felt her heart swell with happiness as she looked around at her friends—her family, really—and saw the genuine joy on their faces. She held out her hand, and Harper immediately grabbed it, examining the ring closely.
"Tim, you did good," Harper said, nodding in approval. "This ring is gorgeous."
"Thanks," Tim replied, his arm naturally slipping around Lucy's waist as he spoke. "I wanted something that would show her how much she means to me."
"And you nailed it," Angela chimed in, still beaming. "Now tell us, how did it happen?"
Lucy laughed, her cheeks flushing slightly. "It was really sweet. We were in the backyard, just the two of us... and Kojo, of course."
"Of course, Kojo was there," Nolan said with a laugh. "He wouldn't miss something like that."
Tim nodded, smiling at the memory. "Yeah, Kojo was there. It was simple, just the way we wanted it."
Sergeant Grey raised his coffee cup in a rare display of celebration. "To Tim and Lucy," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "May your life together be full of happiness and success."
Everyone raised their cups, echoing the sentiment. "To Tim and Lucy!" they cheered, their voices overlapping in a chorus of good wishes.
Lucy felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, overwhelmed by the love and support of her friends. She leaned into Tim, who pulled her closer, his heart swelling with the realization that this was his future—standing here with Lucy, surrounded by people who genuinely cared about them.
"To us," Lucy whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
"To us," Tim echoed, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple.
As they stood there, enveloped by the warmth and joy of their friends, Tim and Lucy knew that this was just the beginning of a beautiful new chapter. They had found something extraordinary in each other, and with their friends by their side, they were ready to face whatever the future held.
And as the morning continued, the bullpen buzzed with an extra layer of excitement, knowing that two of their own had taken a huge step forward. There would be more celebrations to come, more moments to share, but for now, Tim and Lucy were content just to be in the moment—with their family, at Mid-Wilshire, right by their side.
