The house was quiet, with only the gentle hum of the refrigerator breaking the silence. Tim sat on the couch in the living room, his long legs stretched out in front of him, a book resting on his lap. The late afternoon sun poured through the windows, casting a warm, golden glow across the room.
He was trying to focus on the book, but his mind kept wandering. It was hard to concentrate when Lucy was in the other room, and all he could think about was her and the baby growing inside her. They were in the middle of their pregnancy, and every day felt like a new adventure, filled with small moments that made Tim's heart swell with love and anticipation.
Lucy had been tired lately, so Tim had insisted she take a nap after lunch. He could hear the soft rustle of blankets from their bedroom, a sign that she was starting to stir. Tim smiled to himself, closing the book and setting it aside. He knew she'd be up soon, and he wanted to be there when she woke up.
Just as he was about to get up, he heard the familiar sound of Lucy's footsteps coming down the hallway. He looked up and saw her standing in the doorway, her hair slightly tousled from sleep, her hands resting on her growing belly.
"Hey, boot ," Tim greeted, his voice warm and affectionate. "How are you feeling?"
Lucy smiled at him, her eyes still heavy with sleep, but there was a softness in her expression that made Tim's heart skip a beat. "Better," she replied, walking over to the couch. "The nap helped."
"Come here," Tim said, patting the spot next to him on the couch.
Lucy didn't need any more encouragement. She moved over to the couch and settled herself beside him, her head resting on his shoulder as she tucked her legs beside her. Tim wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close and pressing a kiss to her temple.
"Anything new while I was asleep?" Lucy asked, her voice light and teasing.
Tim chuckled, shaking his head. "Just me and my book," he replied. "But I was thinking about you."
"Good things, I hope," Lucy teased, looking up at him with a playful smile.
"The best things," Tim assured her, his hand gently rubbing her back. "I can't wait to meet this little one."
Lucy's smile softened, and she placed her hand on her belly, feeling the subtle movements of their baby inside. "She's been moving a lot today," she said, her voice filled with a quiet wonder. "I think she's getting stronger."
Tim's eyes widened slightly, his gaze dropping to her belly. "Really?" he asked, his voice full of anticipation. "Do you think...?"
Lucy nodded, understanding his unspoken question. "Here," she said, taking his hand and placing it gently on her belly, right where she had felt the last flutter of movement.
Tim held his breath, his entire focus on the spot where his hand rested. He could feel the warmth of Lucy's skin through her shirt, the steady rhythm of her breathing. For a few moments, there was nothing but silence, and then—there it was. A small, but unmistakable kick.
Tim's eyes widened in shock and amazement. "Was that...?" he whispered, his voice barely above a breath.
Lucy's smile grew, her eyes shining with happiness. "Yeah," she whispered back, her hand covering his. "That was our baby."
Tim stared at her belly in awe, his hand still resting where he had felt the kick. "That's... that's incredible," he said, his voice full of emotion. "I can't believe I felt that."
Lucy's heart melted at the look on his face. She had been feeling their baby's movements for weeks now, but seeing Tim experience it for the first time was something special—something she would never forget.
"She's saying hi to her daddy," Lucy said softly, her eyes locked on his.
Tim let out a soft laugh, a mix of joy and disbelief. He had known Lucy was pregnant, had seen the changes in her body, but feeling that tiny kick—feeling their baby move for the first time—made everything so much more real.
"Hey there, little one," Tim murmured, his voice filled with love as he kept his hand on Lucy's belly, hoping for another kick. "I can't wait to meet you. You keep growing strong, okay? Your mom and I can't wait to see you."
As if in response, there was another small kick, and Tim's smile widened, his eyes misting over with unshed tears. He looked up at Lucy, his heart so full he thought it might burst. "Luce," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "This is... it's just... amazing."
Lucy reached up to wipe away the tear that had escaped down his cheek, her own eyes filled with tears of happiness. "I know," she whispered back. "It's incredible, isn't it?"
Tim nodded, unable to find the words to express what he was feeling. Instead, he leaned in and kissed her, pouring all of his love and gratitude into that one, tender kiss. When they finally pulled apart, they rested their foreheads together, both of them savoring the moment.
"I'm so glad we're doing this together," Tim said softly, his hand still on her belly, feeling the occasional flutter of movement from their baby. "I wouldn't want to do this with anyone else."
"Me neither," Lucy agreed, her voice equally soft. "I love you, Tim. So much."
"I love you too, Luce," Tim replied, his voice full of conviction. "More than anything."
They sat like that for a while, wrapped up in each other and the quiet joy of feeling their baby move for the first time. It was a moment that neither of them would ever forget—a moment that made everything else fade away, leaving just the two of them and the life they had created together.
As the sun continued to set outside, casting a warm, golden glow across the room, Tim and Lucy knew that this was just the beginning. There would be so many more moments like this, so many more firsts to experience together. And they couldn't wait for all of them.
Because in that moment, with their baby kicking inside Lucy's belly and their love for each other stronger than ever, they knew that they were exactly where they were meant to be. Together.
