For Fiona

11. Mommy

When Lucy woke up, she did not want to move a muscle between Fiona sprawled out on top of her and Tim laying next to her and holding her close. Even Kojo was there rolled up on the foot of the bed. She had her whole family together, and she considered calling in sick to stay in bed in that exact position for the whole day.

"Hey," Tim rasped when he opened his eyes. She gave him one of her beautiful soft smiles he absolutely adored, so he gently pushed her hair out of her face to get the best view of it. Only slightly, she tilted her head into his touch, which made him impossibly happier. He glanced down at Fiona and asked at a whisper, "Do you think we should pretend we're sick and stay home?"

"I was just thinking the same thing," she replied. "When we wake her up, we'll see if she needs us to be with her for the day."

"She was so spooked last night."

"We were here for her. That's all we can do," she assured him.

"I'll call Rachel today and tell her she can't talk to our daughter like that ever again."

"Only after I give her a piece of my mind."

He snickered. "I would expect nothing less."

Fiona started to stir, and then she felt soft, warm arms around her and kisses being dropped to the crown of her head. She opened her eyes as she giggled, "It tickles."

"It tickles? Are you ticklish?" Lucy asked jokingly and set Fiona down on the mattress between her and Tim before tickling her stomach to earn her light, adorable laughter as her whole body shook.

Kojo woke up to the sound and scampered over to lick Fiona's face and join in on the fun.

Tim wished he could record the moment and keep it captured forever.

"How are you feeling today, sweet girl?" Lucy asked.

"Okay," Fiona replied. She wanted to try the word on the tip of her tongue, so she added with a grin, "Mommy."

"Is that your mommy?" Tim asked as he pointed to Lucy.

Fiona giggled and nodded before wrapping her arms around Lucy's midsection. "Mommy," she said proudly.

"I'm your mommy," Lucy confirmed; perhaps the first time Fiona said it, it was fueled by fear and a need for comfort, but in the light of day, Fiona said it happily. "And I love you so much. You know who else loves you a lot?"

"Kojo," Fiona guessed.

"Well, yeah, but also your daddy." Lucy looked up at Tim, who was beaming. Every fiber of her being adored him; it struck her in that moment that the sheer enormity of her feelings for him could only be rivaled by her love for Fiona. "Do you want your daddy to help you get dressed for the day, or do you want him to make you breakfast?"

"Princess breakfast!" Fiona requested excitedly.

"Uhh, sure, Fi, I'll make you princess breakfast," Tim responded even if he had no idea what that would include. He tried rolling away to get out of bed, but Lucy took his hand.

"Can princess breakfast wait a minute? I need a few more minutes of cuddles," Lucy requested with a pout.

He was more than happy to oblige, so he curled onto his side to get close to Fiona and reached across to hold Lucy by her waist. Even if he would be late for work, it would be worth it to savor extra time with his girls.

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Lucy barely held back from laughing as she watched Tim try to cut strawberries in some fancy way to make scrambled eggs and fruit look like "princess breakfast".