What if Tim and Lucy both had kids

Part 14

The next morning came quietly, sunlight filtering through the blinds and casting soft rays across the house. Tim stirred in bed, his body already attuned to the early hour. He stretched, feeling the stiffness in his muscles from the long day before, but there was also a sense of renewal as he rose. He glanced at the clock—time to start the day.
Down the hall, Josy was already waking up, her phone buzzing softly on her nightstand. She blinked against the morning light, rubbing her eyes before finally tossing off the covers. After getting dressed, she headed downstairs where Tim was in the kitchen, brewing coffee.
Tim- Morning, kiddo. Ready for another day?
Josy yawned, stretching her arms overhead.
Josy- Barely, but I'm up.
They shared a light breakfast, the morning routine calming and familiar. Conversation flowed easily, the tension of the previous evening now replaced with the steady rhythm of their daily lives. Josy grabbed her bag as they prepared to head out and Tim dropped her off at school before heading to the station.
Tim- Have a good day at school.
Josy smiled over to him.
Josy- You too, Dad.
At the station, Lucy arrived a little later than usual, her steps still slightly heavy but not as burdened as before. She had worked through some of the emotional weight that had been dragging her down, but Tim could tell there was still a shadow behind her eyes when she joined him at their usual spot.
Tim- Morning. You look... better today. How are you feeling?
Lucy gave a small smile, adjusting her belt and nodding slightly.
Lucy- Better. Still not all the way there, but... getting there.
Tim glanced at her, concern mingled with a steady resolve.
Tim- You up for heading out today? Nothing big, just some routine stuff. We can run plates, check on quiet calls. No heavy action.
Lucy thought it over, taking a deep breath before nodding.
Lucy- Yeah, I think so.
Tim and Lucy walked to the roll call room together, exchanging a few nods with fellow officers as they made their way to roll call. The room was buzzing with quiet chatter, but neither of them said much as they took their seats. Tim noticed Lucy's silence. He didn't push it, figuring they'd get into the swing of things once they were out on patrol.
After roll call wrapped up, Tim and Lucy headed out to the shop. The crisp morning air greeted them, but the silence between them lingered. Tim turned the key in the ignition, the engine purring to life as they pulled away from the station. He glanced over at Lucy, wondering how to break the ice without making it feel forced.
Tim- How's Theo doing?
Lucy glanced at him, her fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. She seemed to consider the question for a moment before responding.
Lucy- He's good.
Tim- Josy's been talking about how much Theo's been helping her out with school lately. She's actually been improving in a few of her classes—especially math. She's really grateful for his help.
A small smile tugged at the corners of Lucy's mouth, her expression softening as she heard Tim's words.
Lucy- Yeah? That's good to hear. He's always been good with that stuff, but it's nice to know he's helping someone else. I'm glad he's been making a difference for her.
Tim nodded, keeping his eyes on the road.
Tim- She's always talking about how patient he is, even when she's asking him the same questions over and over. You've got a good kid, Lucy.
Lucy's smile grew a bit wider, pride flickering in her eyes.
Lucy- Thanks. He's a good one, even if he doesn't show it all the time. But it's not just him helping her. Josy's been helping him out too—especially with languages. His grades went up in French recently, and she's been a big part of that. Languages have always been a struggle for him.
Tim grinned, surprised and impressed.
Tim- Really? I had no idea.
Lucy nodded.
Lucy- Yeah, they have been studying together. It's nice to see them supporting each other like that.
Tim grinned, still surprised by the news.
Tim- Sounds like they make a great team. Josy's always been good with languages, so it's great that she's able to help him out, too.
Lucy smiled softly, her fingers resting more comfortably on the armrest.
Lucy- Yeah, I think it's been good for both of them.
The car fell into a comfortable silence after that, the hum of the engine and the quiet streets filling the gap. Lucy seemed to relax a little more with each passing minute, and Tim didn't want to break the quiet.
A few moments later, Lucy cleared her throat, her eyes still focused on the road ahead.
Lucy- So... about that Ryan kid you mentioned yesterday. What's the deal with him?
Tim's jaw tightened slightly at the mention of Ryan. He exhaled through his nose and glanced sideways at Lucy.
Tim- Yeah, that's been... complicated.
Lucy turned her head slightly, giving him a curious glance, wanting to hear more of the story.
Tim- On our way home, Josy told me she's been spending quite a bit of time with that kid. And well, I didn't exactly take it well.
Lucy raised an eyebrow, but didn't interrupt. Tim sighed, gripping the wheel a little tighter.
Tim- I tried my best to stay calm when she told me. I didn't want to hear about it. But that only made her more hesitant to tell me things. So, during dinner, we had a real talk about it. Josy said she wasn't sure how to bring it up and actually thought about not telling me at all—because she was afraid of how I'd react.
Lucy's expression softened, understanding the tightrope Tim was walking. She nodded for him to continue.
Tim- I hate that she felt that way, but I'm glad she was honest with me in the end. She told me a few things, and I laid down some boundaries. She wasn't too happy about that but I guess it went as well as it could've.
He paused, shaking his head.
Tim- But, God, Lucy, I hate it. Why?
Lucy leaned back slightly, her eyes soft with understanding. She knew exactly where his frustration was coming from.
Lucy- She's growing up, Tim. This is just the beginning. You can't scare off every boy she likes, no matter how much you want to. Trust me, I get it. But... that's not going to work long-term.
Tim shook his head, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
Tim- I know. I know I can't. And that's the hardest part. The only reason I'm even remotely "okay" with this is because if I overreact, she'll just do it behind my back. She's a good kid, but if she thinks she can't talk to me, then she'll start hiding things. I need her to talk to me and trust me.
Lucy glanced over, her eyes reflecting the weight of his words. She knew how important that connection was, how fragile trust between a parent and a teenager could be. She was that kid.
Tim- I don't want her to get in a situation where something happens, and she doesn't come to me because she's afraid of what I'd do or how I'd react. I'd rather she tells me everything now, even if it means I have to grit my teeth and let some things go. If something goes wrong, I need her to know she can come to me.
Lucy nodded slowly, absorbing his concerns.
Lucy- That's the best you can do, Tim. Be open, let her know she can come to you no matter what. I know it's tough—letting go of some of that control. But if she's willing to be honest with you, that's half the battle won.
Tim exhaled deeply, the tension loosening a bit as Lucy's words sank in.
Tim- Yeah... I just hope I'm doing the right thing.
Lucy smiled gently, her voice reassuring.
Lucy- You are. And it sounds like she trusts you more than you realize.
Tim turned his head slightly toward Lucy, his face more serious now, his voice quiet but heavy with concern.
Tim- So... how concerned should I be?
Lucy frowned slightly, sensing the weight of his question. She took a moment before answering, choosing her words carefully.
Lucy- I think... it's normal to be concerned. You're her dad, and this is all new territory. But from everything you've said, Josy seems like a smart, level-headed kid. She's not sneaking around, she's being honest with you. That's huge.
Tim's eyes reflected his worry, but he tried to remain composed as he considered Lucy's advice.
Tim- I get that it's normal to be concerned. But you've been through this with Theo, right? How did you handle it?
Lucy glanced at Tim, her expression thoughtful as she considered his question.
Lucy- Well, I wouldn't say he was in relationships, I think of it more as in situation ships or something like that. With Theo, it was a mix of being open and setting boundaries. It wasn't easy, and there were definitely moments of tension, but communication was key. I tried to focus on talking about respect, safety, and making sure he understood the consequences of his actions.
She glanced out the window, reflecting on her own experiences.
Lucy- I also made it clear that he could come to me with anything, no matter how uncomfortable it might be. It was important for him to know that he wouldn't be judged or punished for being honest. It helped build a level of trust where he felt he could talk to me about his relationships and the challenges he faced.
Tim nodded, absorbing her experience.
As Lucy was talking, the radio crackled to life, cutting through their conversation.