secrets

The Rookie: A Secret Marriage (Day One)

Lucy stood in the kitchen, watching Ellie zoom around the room in her superhero pajamas while Jake, her two-year-old, sat in his highchair, happily making a mess with his scrambled eggs. The chaos of their morning routine was something she cherished, even when it was overwhelming. It grounded her before the whirlwind of her job at the FBI.

Across from her, Tim was in the middle of getting Ellie to focus long enough to eat her breakfast. Unlike at work, where he commanded the room with a tough, no-nonsense attitude, here at home, he was dressed casually in a t-shirt and jeans, a stark contrast to the uniform he'd be putting on before heading to the LAPD's Mid-Wilshire precinct.

"Ellie," Tim said patiently, catching her mid-run and gently guiding her back to her chair. "You've got five minutes to finish your breakfast or you'll be late for school. I know superheroes don't rush, but we've got to move it."

Ellie giggled, finally sitting down as she grabbed her spoon. "Okay, Daddy!"

Lucy smirked, tossing Jake's daycare bag over her shoulder. It was moments like these that reminded her of how well they balanced their chaotic lives. Tim, the stoic LAPD sergeant, and Lucy, Special Agent at the FBI, raising two kids together while keeping their marriage a secret from Tim's colleagues. It wasn't the easiest life, but they had made it work for six years now.

Her phone buzzed on the counter. Lucy glanced at the screen and saw a text from her FBI partner, Jackson. "Urgent case. Meet me at the office ASAP."

Lucy sighed, knowing that the calm of their morning was about to be disrupted. She turned to Tim, catching his eye as he handed Ellie her school bag. "I've got to head in early. Jackson says it's urgent."

Tim nodded, his gaze softening. "I'll handle the drop-offs. You just go." He walked over to Jake, wiping his face before getting him out of the highchair. "We'll be fine. Go catch the bad guys."

Lucy smiled, feeling a surge of gratitude. Tim always stepped in without hesitation, making their home life feel seamless despite their hectic schedules. But today, her work would bring her closer to his world than either of them liked.

As she kissed Ellie and Jake goodbye, she paused at the door and turned to Tim. "I'll see you later. And... good luck with the case today."

Tim gave her a knowing look. "You too."

They shared a brief but meaningful glance. Neither of them said it out loud, but they both knew today was going to be a delicate balancing act. Lucy worked for the FBI, and today, she was heading into a case at the Mid-Wilshire precinct—Tim's precinct. The LAPD didn't know they were married, and they needed to keep it that way.

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Lucy arrived at the FBI field office a little earlier than usual, her mind already racing with the possibilities of what Jackson's message could mean. She found him waiting for her in the briefing room, his expression serious, but he gave her a familiar grin as she walked in.

"Good morning, Mrs. Bradford," Jackson teased.

Lucy rolled her eyes but smiled back. "Don't you start. I've got enough on my plate without you blowing our cover."

Jackson chuckled. He'd been her partner for years and was one of the few people who knew about her marriage to Tim. The entire FBI team knew, actually. It was no secret on her side, but LAPD? That was a different story. There, Lucy was just Agent Chen, and they needed to keep it that way.

"Okay, seriously," Jackson said, his tone shifting back to business. "We've got something big. LAPD's asking for our help on a series of high-end robberies."