What if Tim and Lucy both had kids

Part 22

The next day dawned quietly, the house bathed in the soft morning light. Tim and Josy went through their morning routines—breakfast, some light conversation about the week ahead, and a quick exchange of "have a good day" as Tim dropped Josy off at school.
At the station, Tim walked into roll call to find Lucy already in her seat, casually flipping through her notes. She glanced up when she saw him and gave a bright smile.
Lucy- Morning, Tim.
Tim- Morning, Lucy.
She opened her mouth to say something, but Grey strode in, clipboard in hand. The room fell silent as the sergeant took his place at the front.
Grey- Morning, everyone. Let's make this quick—stay sharp out there today. Calls have been piling up, so I don't expect much downtime. And remember, your safety is the priority.
He rattled off the day's assignments and dismissed them, sending the room into motion. Tim and Lucy fell into step as they headed for their patrol car.
Lucy- So, how was your father-daughter weekend? Did you survive the chaos?
Tim chuckled as they climbed into the car.
Tim- Barely. No, it was a lot of fun. Saturday was about as planned—breakfast, art studio, a little shopping, and, yes, the dreaded manicure.
Lucy- (mock-surprised) Wait, you got a manicure?
Tim- Hey, I went along with it. Figured, why not?
Lucy leaned over dramatically, grabbing his right hand and inspecting it while he kept one hand on the wheel.
Lucy- Huh, not bad! Although... you might want to invest in some hand cream. Dry hands, Tim. Not cute.
Tim pulled his hand back with a mock of annoyance, giving her a glare.
Tim- I'm fine without it, thanks.
They both laughed as they turned onto their patrol route. After a quiet stretch, Lucy glanced at him, curiosity lighting up her face.
Lucy- So? What was Josy's big surprise? You've been holding out on me.
Tim hesitated for a moment, the memory of the amusement park making him smile.
Tim- She got me to an amusement park. The same one we used to go to when she was little.
Lucy blinked, surprised.
Lucy:- That's it? I thought it was going to be something big, like... I don't know, skydiving or a puppy.
Tim let out a soft chuckle.
Tim- It was big, in its own way. That place means a lot to us.
He explained how they'd spent countless weekends there when Josy was younger, how it was their "special spot."
Tim- I might've even called her in sick a few times on my days off just so we could go.
Lucy- Tim Bradford, breaking the rules?
Tim- Only when it counted.
Lucy leaned back in her seat, smiling.
Lucy- Okay, I'll admit—that's sweet. A manicure and amusement park nostalgia? You're setting the bar high for any guy coming at her.
Before Tim could respond, their radio crackled to life with a call.
As they sped toward the scene of their latest call, Tim couldn't shake Lucy's earlier comment:
"You're setting the bar high for any guy coming at her."
It kept circling in his mind, nudging at him in a way he couldn't quite pin down. What did she mean by that? He hadn't said anything at the moment—there was no time to, not with the radio crackling and their shift ramping up. But as the hours passed and the pace of their day ebbed and flowed, the words stuck with him.
Was Lucy just teasing, or was there something deeper behind what she said?
By the time afternoon came around, and they'd picked up their kids for after-school drop-offs, Tim still hadn't pieced it together. The car ride to Lucy's place was filled with the usual chatter between the kids, and he stayed quiet, his mind elsewhere.
When they finally dropped the kids off and pulled away from Lucy's driveway, the silence between them was almost a relief. Tim glanced over, deciding it was time to address the elephant in the room.
Tim- So... earlier.
Lucy (looking at him, puzzled) Earlier when?
Tim- When you said I was setting the bar high for any guy coming at Josy. What did you mean by that?
Lucy gave him a confused look, eyebrows raised.
Lucy- What do you mean, "What did I mean?" Isn't it obvious?
Tim shook his head, keeping his eyes on the road.
Tim- Not to me, apparently. I've been thinking about it all day, and I just... I don't get it.
Lucy sighed, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She leaned back in her seat, studying him for a moment before speaking.
Lucy- Alright, let me break it down for you.
She shifted to face him more directly, her tone softening.
Lucy- You know how people say a girl's first love is her dad? It's not about romance—it's about the kind of love and support you give her. Unconditional, steady, reliable. You're showing Josy what she deserves from the people in her life—especially the guys who'll come into her life one day.
Tim's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, his jaw setting at the thought of anyone "coming into Josy's life." He definitely hates that Jake guy. Lucy noticed but kept going.
Lucy- You're teaching her that she deserves respect, kindness, and someone who's willing to show up for her the way you do. Whether it's the goofy stuff, like amusement parks and manicures, or the serious stuff, like being there when she needs someone to lean on. You're setting the standard for how she expect to be treated.
Tim glanced over at her, his expression unreadable.
Tim- And that's a good thing?
Lucy nodded her head with a smile.
Lucy- Yes. It's a great thing. But it does mean that you're raising the bar pretty high. Any guy who comes along is going to have to meet it—or, let's be real, exceed it.
Tim let out a soft chuckle, though his thoughts were still turning.
Tim- (half-joking) Sounds like a lot of pressure. For them and me.
Lucy leaned forward, her tone gentle but reassuring.
Lucy- You're doing great, Tim. Just keep being the guy Josy deserves—the guy who shows her what love and respect look like. That's all she needs from you.
Tim nodded slightly, though his mind was still grappling with the weight of it all.
Tim- She deserves the best. Of course, she does.
He paused, gripping the steering wheel tighter as they approached a red light.
Tim- But in my eyes... no guy will ever be good enough for her.
Lucy laughed softly, shaking her head.
Lucy- Hate to break it to you, but that's not your call to make.
Tim glanced at her, one brow raised in a mix of amusement and mild indignation.
Tim- Doesn't mean I have to like it.
Lucy smirked, crossing her arms as she leaned back in her seat.
Lucy- True, but that's part of the deal, isn't it? You don't have to like it. You just have to trust that the way you've raised her—the things you've taught her—will help her make good choices.
Tim exhaled heavily, the light turning green as they continued on their route.
Tim- (half-joking) You make it sound so simple.
Lucy- It's not. But you've got this, Tim. And when the time comes... you'll find a way to deal with it.
Tim glanced at her again, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Tim- You sound awfully confident about that.
Lucy- Someone has to be.
They both laughed, the tension easing as their conversation shifted to lighter topics. But even as they joked and bantered, Tim couldn't help but think about Lucy's words—and the unspoken promise to always be the kind of dad Josy could look up to.
As they drove in comfortable silence for a moment, Tim finally broke it with a wistful sigh.
Tim- Why can't they just stay little forever? Four was perfect.
Lucy glanced at him, amused but curious.
Lucy- Four? That's a pretty specific age to love. Why four?
Tim chuckled softly, his gaze distant as he remembered.
Tim- At four, Josy could talk well enough to have a conversation, but she still had that baby charm. She thought I was the coolest guy in the world. She loved cuddles, was hilarious without meaning to be, smart enough to surprise me, but not smart enough to outsmart me.
Lucy laughed at that, shaking her head.
Lucy- So basically, she was the perfect mix of cute and manageable.
Tim- Exactly.
He said pausing, smiling to himself.
Tim- It was like everything about being a dad was just... simple then. If you forget about the tantrums they throw.
Lucy's smile softened, her own memories surfacing.
Lucy- I get that. When Theo was around that age, he used to follow me everywhere. He'd sit on the kitchen counter while I cooked, asking a million questions about everything. Always so curious.
Tim glanced at her briefly.
Tim- Bet he still asks a million questions.
Lucy laughed, nodding.
Lucy- Oh, he does. But now they're about homework, social media, and why you have to be 16 to drive. I miss the days when his biggest question was why the sky's blue or if dogs dream.
Tim- (grinning) Dogs dream. I read that somewhere.
Lucy- Yeah, just about ten years too late.
They both laughed, the warmth of shared parenting stories filling the space.
Tim- You know, Josy used to have this thing... She'd make up these crazy bedtime stories. She always had to be the hero—riding dragons, saving kingdoms. Every night was an adventure.
Lucy's face lit up with recognition.
Lucy- Theo went through that phase too! Except his stories were all about being a rock star and saving the world with his music.
As their laughter subsided, Lucy suddenly sat up straighter, waving a hand in front of her face as if to clear the air.
Lucy- Okay, stop. Enough of this trip down memory lane. You're going to give me baby fever, and that's dangerous territory.
Tim smirked, stealing a glance her way.
Tim- Baby fever, huh? That's a bold confession.
Lucy chuckled softly, but her expression shifted subtly—her smile faltering for just a second before she recovered.
Lucy- (lightly) Yeah, well, I'm too busy raising the one I've got.
Tim didn't miss the flicker of something in her eyes, though. He knew that look. He'd seen it before.
Tim- (gently) Lucy...
She waved him off before he could finish, her tone breezy but carrying an undertone of finality.
Lucy- Don't, Tim. It's fine. Just one of those "what if" moments, you know?
He nodded slowly, his grip on the wheel tightening briefly. He didn't need to ask what she meant. He already knew. The pain of losing what could have been still lingered in her quiet moments, and no amount of time seemed to erase it completely.
Tim- (softly) If you ever need to talk...
Lucy shot him a quick, appreciative smile, her voice deliberately light.
Lucy- I know. Thanks. But I'm good.
A beat of silence passed between them, the air heavier now, though not uncomfortable. Lucy shifted in her seat, forcing a grin as she pointed out the window.
Lucy- So, what's the deal with this weather? Cloudy but no rain? Make up your mind already.
Tim smirked, recognizing the deflection but letting it slide.
Tim- California. Predictably unpredictable.
They eased back into casual conversation for the remainder of their shift. The topics were light and scattered, neither of them lingering too long on anything serious. The hours ticked by, and eventually, their patrol ended without incident.
When their shift wrapped up, they returned to the station to clock out. Lucy got home first, where Theo and Josy were waiting. She greeted the kids warmly, quickly settling into the usual after-school chaos of snacks and chatter.
A few minutes later, Tim pulled into her driveway, stepping out of his truck with a calm but tired smile.
Tim- (calling out) Hey, Josy! Ready to go?
Josy appeared at the door, waving goodbye to Theo and Lucy as she grabbed her bag.
As Josy climbed into the truck, Lucy leaned casually against the doorframe, watching her go. She glanced at Tim, a teasing grin spreading across her face.
Lucy- You know, you should really start charging for all those chauffeur services. Maybe set up a side hustle—Dad Cabs. "Reliable, grumpy, and free sarcasm with every ride.
Tim turned to look at her, one eyebrow raised, his expression deadpan.
Tim- (dryly) Hilarious. Truly. You missed your calling as a stand-up comedian.
Lucy smirked, leaning in just slightly.
Lucy- Oh, come on. That was a good one. Admit it.
Tim stared at her for a beat, then let out the most obviously fake laugh imaginable—stiff, monotone, and completely insincere.
Tim- (mockingly) Ha. Ha.
The delivery was so bad that Lucy couldn't hold it together. She burst out laughing, doubling over slightly as she tried to catch her breath.
Lucy- (between laughs) That... was terrible.
Tim finally cracked a genuine smile, shaking his head as he watched her.
Tim- Yeah, well, I figured I'd match the joke.
Their laughter filled the quiet evening air, and for a moment, it felt as though all the weight of the day had lifted.
As they calmed, Lucy straightened, her grin softening into a fond smile.
Lucy- Drive safe, Tim.
Tim nodded, stepping back toward his truck.
Tim- Always. Night, Lucy.
She waved as he climbed into the driver's seat, the truck rumbling to life. Josy waved from the passenger side, and Lucy returned the gesture with a warm smile.
As they pulled out of the driveway and disappeared down the street, Lucy lingered at the door for a moment longer. She sighed softly, a thoughtful expression crossing her face, before turning back inside to Theo and the chaos of home life.
Meanwhile, as Tim drove, Josy chattered away about her day. But even as he listened, part of him replayed Lucy's words from earlier. They stayed with him, a quiet reminder of the dad he strived to be—and the friend he was grateful to have.