For Fiona

12. Princess Kiss

Before Tim was fully awake, he could smell Lucy and feel her everywhere. He muttered her name as he opened his eyes, and there she was cozied up with him the same way she had been when they fell asleep. Fiona was snuggled on top of her making his girls an easy enough pile he could wrap his arms around and hold as long as he wanted to.

"Tim," Lucy sighed when she registered what was happening.

"Hey," he whispered.

"Good morning," she smiled. "Guess what? We have the next two days off."

"We should do something special as a family."

"Do you want to go to the park for a few hours today?"

"Sounds good."

"But can we stay in bed for a little longer? I love family cuddles."

"Are you sure it's not just because you're not a morning person?"

"I am a morning person!" The look in his eyes forced her to amend her statement. "Okay, I'm a morning person after coffee. That still counts."

"No, it doesn't."

"Are you trying to say you're a morning person?"

"I actually am."

"Since when are you more chipper in the morning?"

"Since when am I chipper at all?"

Lucy blew out a quiet laugh. "You're right. I guess maybe you are a morning person."

"Kojo isn't a morning person. I gotta take him for a walk."

"Can't you let him out? I don't want you to go," she pouted as she rubbed her cheek against the soft material of his t shirt.

"I guess I could stay a little longer." He had no desire to move a muscle anyways. Tim took a risk allowing his fingers to dance on her shoulder in an unnecessary way that was purely selfish. "Should we...," he lowered his voice even more, "should we talk about last night?"

"You're willing to stay in bed AND talk about your feelings? Who are you and what have you done with Tim Bradford?"

He pursed his lips.

She turned serious. "Okay," she murmured. "I meant what I said last night. Think about it."

"We agreed everything was going to be for Fiona."

"I know, but I changed my mind. I'm allowed to do that after we have an absolutely perfect date. Actually, the whole day was perfect because of you. I don't know what you want me to tell you."

"How come you aren't more scared?"

The simple answer was how they were curled up together in bed with their daughter. "Nothing could make me happier than right here and right now with you two. Being scared can't take away my happiness." She watched him swallow hard. "I'm not telling you all of this to rush you."

"I'll...I'll think about it."

She shimmied as carefully as she could to avoid waking Fiona while also moving up Tim's body. "You know what helps me think?" She rasped against his lips.

He could read her mind and agreed with a grin, "It's worth a try."

Fiona woke up and laughed at the sight of her parents kissing. "Princess kiss! Princess kiss!" She said happily.

Lucy let her daughter wiggle around, even when she kneed her in the stomach, until she was standing on the mattress and dancing. "Okay, I think we're done cuddling for the morning," she stated the obvious.