What if Tim and Lucy both had kids

Part 23

The next morning unfolded with the same predictable rhythm for both Tim and Lucy, each of them navigating the familiar routines of parenting and work.
Tim was the first to rise in his household, moving quietly through the kitchen as he started breakfast. The smell of frying bacon coaxed Josy out of her room, her hair slightly tousled from sleep.
Tim- Morning, Jo. Eggs or toast?
Josy- Eggs. Scrambled, please.
Tim nodded, cracking eggs into a bowl as she settled at the table.
Josy- We're doing this group project in history today. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who's actually read the assignment.
Tim- Sounds about right. Let me guess—you're carrying the team?
Josy rolled her eyes but smiled.
Josy- Pretty much.
After breakfast, they left the house, Tim grabbing his coffee as Josy slung her bag over her shoulder. He dropped her off at school.
Josy- Bye, Dad. Love you!
Tim- Love you too, kid.
He watched her head inside before driving off toward the station.

Lucy's morning started similarly. She was up before Theo, prepping his lunch and scanning through her emails while waiting for the coffee to brew. Theo stumbled into the kitchen a little later, rubbing his eyes.
Lucy- Good morning. Bagel or cereal?
Theo- Bagel.
Lucy nodded and got to work, slicing an avocado, frying an egg, and crisping a few pieces of bacon. She layered it all onto a toasted bagel, adding a sprinkle of salt and pepper before handing it to him.
Lucy- Here you go. Gourmet chef service at its finest.
Theo- Looks awesome, thanks.
He slumped into a chair, taking a bite and letting out an appreciative hum.
After breakfast, they headed out, Lucy dropping Theo off in front of the school.
Lucy- Have a good day. Love you.
Theo smirked as he grabbed his bag.
Theo- Love you too. Bye, Mom.
Lucy watched him go, smiling softly before heading to work.

Theo spotted Josy near the lockers as he walked into school, his bag slung casually over one shoulder. She was already deep in conversation with another student, but when she saw him, her face lit up.
Josy- Theo! Over here!
He grinned and made his way over, exchanging a quick fist bump with her before leaning against the lockers.
Theo- Morning. What's up?
Josy-Not much. Just ready to crush this group project in history. My team's hopeless.
Theo laughed, shaking his head.
Theo- You? Carrying a group project? Never.
Josy smirked.
Josy- I know, shocking, right? Anyway, what about you? Anything exciting happening?
Theo shrugged.
Theo- Tennis tournament on Saturday. Coach wants me to get there early for warm-ups, so that's my weekend gone.
Josy perked up.
Josy- Wait, speaking of Saturday—are you going to the mall?
Theo raised an eyebrow.
Theo- The mall? Why?
Josy- A bunch of us are going. You should come! It'll be fun.
Theo thought about it for a moment, already feeling hesitant.
Theo- I don't know, Josy. You know I'm not really a fan of the whole 'mall with friends' scene. Too much chaos, and I don't have time anyway with the tournament.
Josy's face fell slightly but then brightened as Theo offered an alternative.
Theo- But hey, if you're free on Sunday, we can hang out then. Unless you're sick of me by now.
Josy grinned.
Josy- Oh, please. We hang out every day, and I'm still not sick of you. Sunday it is, then.
The bell rang, and they started walking toward their first class together.
The rest of the school day passed uneventfully, a steady rhythm of classes, notes, and the occasional shared smirk between Theo and Josy when someone did something and they "weren't" judging. They definitely were judging. Definitely. In French, Josy discreetly slid her notebook toward Theo, who gratefully copied her work. Later, during physics, Theo returned the favor, letting her glance at his work when she hit a roadblock on a problem.
When the final bell rang, they both headed out to meet their ride. Tim and Lucy picked the two of them up, offering a quick, "How was school?" as they climbed in.
A short while later, Josy and Theo were dropped off at Lucy's house, their usual after-school hangout spot.
Josy immediately flopped onto the couch the moment they got inside, pulling out her phone and scrolling aimlessly.
Theo- Homework first, Josy.
Josy groaned, tossing her head back dramatically.
Josy- Can't we just skip it today?
Theo crossed his arms, a playful but firm look on his face.
Theo- Nope. Come on, the sooner we finish, the sooner we can do... whatever it is you want to do and I can play video games.
Josy grumbled but sat up, pulling her books from her bag as Theo grabbed his own. They settled at the dining table, occasionally muttering complaints about assignments but managing to get through most of the work.
At some point, Theo got up and returned with snacks—chips, cookies, and a couple of sodas.
Josy- You're a lifesaver.
Theo- Don't mention it. But finish that last problem, or no cookies for you.
Josy stuck her tongue out at him but complied.
Eventually, their focus drifted from homework, and they found themselves chatting, laughing about the quirks of their classmates and recounting stories about their mutual friends.
Theo leaned back in his chair, tossing a chip into his mouth.
Theo- So, did you tell your dad about Ryan yet?
Josy blinked, her cheeks coloring slightly before she sighed.
Josy- Yeah, I told him last week.
Theo raised an eyebrow.
Theo- And? How'd that go?
Josy- He wasn't thrilled, obviously. But he didn't totally lose it, either. I think he's... tolerating it for now. Probably because Ryan hasn't given him a reason not to.
Theo chuckled.
Theo- Well, that's progress, I guess. At least he didn't lock you in your room or anything.
Josy rolled her eyes but laughed.
Josy- Yeah, no kidding. What about you?
Theo tilted his head.
Theo- What about me?
Josy leaned forward, her curiosity sharpening.
Josy- What about you? Isn't there something one you like. Like, like like?
Theo blinked, clearly caught off guard. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms as he considered how to answer.
Theo- Why do you want to know?
Josy shrugged, but her grin betrayed her excitement.
Josy- Because we're pretty much best friends, and I want to know what's going on in that head of yours. Come on, Theo. Spill.
Theo hesitated, his fingers drumming lightly against the edge of the table. After a moment, he sighed, leaning forward again, his voice quieter this time.
Theo- Okay, fine. There's... someone.
Josy's eyes widened, and she sat up straighter.
Josy- Wait, what? Seriously? Who?
Theo shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Theo- I'm not telling you that.
Josy groaned, flopping back dramatically.
Josy- Oh, come on! You can't just drop that and not give me anything.
Theo- I just did.
Josy- At least tell me something!
Theo glanced down at the table, as if gathering his thoughts, before looking back at her.
Theo- They're... the most beautiful person I've ever seen, funny, nice and just...them.
Josy tilted her head, narrowing her eyes slightly as she processed his words.
Josy- Wait a second... "They're"? You said "they." Is it a guy?
Theo raised an eyebrow, his expression shifting into an almost amused challenge.
Theo- Really?
Josy- What? You didn't say "she," so I figured maybe... you know...
Theo leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table as he studied her, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Theo- And if it was?
Josy hesitated for just a moment before shrugging, her tone turning casual but sincere.
Josy- Then it'd be totally fine. I'd still like you the same. You'd still be my best friend. You ain't getting rid of me. You know too much. And it's not like you're turning into someone else.
Theo's smirk softened into something gentler.
Theo- Appreciate that. But no, I'm not into guys.
Josy- Oh.
Theo chuckled, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms.
Theo- Don't worry. I'll leave the guys to you. I personally prefer girls.
Josy exhaled a laugh, a playful grin creeping onto her face. Josy studied him for a moment, her grin turning mischievous.
Josy- So... you like girls, huh? And this one's the most beautiful person you've ever seen?
Theo just looked at her, his expression unreadable but tinged with a knowing smile.
Josy- You're seriously not going to give me anything else, are you?
Theo- Nope.
Josy groaned, throwing her hands in the air.
Josy- You're impossible!
Theo laughed, the sound warm and genuine.
Theo- Maybe. But it's more fun this way.
Josy huffed but couldn't help laughing too.
Josy- Fine, keep your secrets. But you better tell me someday.
Theo shrugged, his smile not giving anything away.
Theo- Maybe. Maybe not.
Their laughter echoed through the room, the conversation settling back into its usual, easy rhythm. But Josy's curiosity lingered, even as she pretended to let it go—for now.
After a few more minutes of teasing banter, Josy grabbed another chip from the bowl and leaned back against the couch, glancing at Theo with a thoughtful expression.
Josy- You know, you've got me really curious now. Like, really curious.
Theo smirked, taking a sip of his soda.
Theo- That's the idea.
Josy rolled her eyes, but her grin betrayed her amusement.
Josy- One day. I'll figure it out.
Theo- You can try.
The two fell into a comfortable silence, the kind that only best friends could share. Josy scrolled through her phone idly, occasionally showing Theo a funny meme or video, while Theo leaned back, absorbed into his game.
After a while, Josy set her phone down and glanced over at Theo again.
Theo glanced up from his game, noticing the way Josy was staring off into space, her brow slightly furrowed.
Theo- Alright, what is it?
Josy blinked, looking over at him.
Josy- Huh?
Theo- That look. You've been zoning out for the last five minutes. What's going on?
Josy sighed, pulling her knees up to her chest and resting her chin on them.
Josy- Do you ever think about... why we're even here?
Theo blinked, setting his controller down.
Theo- Like, in this room? Or...
Josy- No, I mean, here. Alive. Existing.
Theo smirked, leaning forward as he set his controller down.
Theo- Wait, wait. Don't tell me... you don't know how babies are made yet?
Josy opened her mouth to respond, but Theo plowed on before she could get a word in.
Theo- Alright, here's the quick rundown. There's a guy, and there's a girl. They do... "things," and boom! Nine months later—baby.
Josy groaned, smacking her forehead with her palm.
Josy- Oh my god, Theo.
Theo grinned, holding up his hands like he'd just delivered some profound wisdom.
Theo- Hey, it's science.
He leaned back, adding with a shrug,
Theo- There's more stuff to it, of course, but that's the short version.
Josy gave him a look, halfway between exasperation and amusement.
Josy- I know about the baby making process and stuff. That's not what I was asking!
Theo chuckled, crossing his arms and tilting his head at her.
Theo- Alright then, what are you asking?
Josy sighed, hugging her knees closer to her chest.
Josy- I mean... why are we alive? Like, why do we even exist in the first place? What's the point?
Theo's grin softened into something more thoughtful. He rested his arms on his knees, staring at her.
Theo- Oh.
Josy- Yeah. Oh.
Theo scratched the back of his head, his teasing demeanor replaced by a more serious one.
Theo- That's... kind of a big question.
Josy- I know.
She stared at a spot on the carpet, her voice quieter now.
Josy- It's just... weird to think about. Like, we weren't here before, and then suddenly we are. And we do all this stuff—school, phones, playing video games, sitting here—but why?
Theo leaned back against the couch, tapping his fingers against the armrest as he thought.
Theo- I guess... I don't know if there is a reason.
Josy looked at him, frowning slightly.
Josy- Doesn't that bother you?
Theo shrugged, his tone calm but thoughtful.
Theo- Not really. I mean, if there's no reason, then we get to decide what it all means, right?
Josy tilted her head, considering his words.
Josy- So you think we just make it up as we go?
Theo- Pretty much. It's like... there's no rulebook, so we get to write our own.
Josy let out a small laugh, shaking her head.
Josy- That sounds so... you.
Theo raised an eyebrow, pretending to be offended.
Theo- What's that supposed to mean?
Josy smirked.
Josy- That you're good at not overthinking stuff.
Josy and Theo's conversation meandered as the time passed. They joked about how terrible Theo was at multitasking when gaming, argued over the best chips flavor, and shared memes from Josy's phone. The philosophical moment felt like a blip now, replaced by the comfortable rhythm of their banter.
The light outside dimmed to a deep orange as Josy glanced at her phone.
Josy- My dad's gonna be here in, like, five minutes.
Theo- Five more minutes for me to prove you wrong about spicy chips being the best.
Josy rolled her eyes, smirking as she grabbed her hoodie from the couch.
Josy- You wish. And by the way, sour cream and onion is still superior.
Theo snorted, lounging back dramatically.
Theo- Keep telling yourself that.
She shoved the hoodie on, her laughter fading slightly.
Josy- Hey... thanks for today.
Theo raised an eyebrow.
Theo- You don't have to thank me for hanging out.
Josy- Not for that. You actually should feel honored that you get to hang out with me. I mean for not making me feel dumb about all that "why are we here" stuff.
Theo shrugged, his usual playful smirk softening.
Theo- You're not dumb. Just weird, but in a good way. In a Josy way.
She rolled her eyes, tossing a pillow at him.
Josy- Okay, and now you've ruined it.
The phone ringing, breaking the moment.
Theo- Saved by the call.
Josy laughed as she headed to the door.
Josy- See you tomorrow.
Theo leaned on the doorframe, waving lazily.
Theo- Bye, philosopher. Don't break your brain thinking too hard.
Josy climbed into the passenger seat of her dad's car, slumping into the seat with a content sigh. The faint smell of his aftershave mixed with the familiar scent of the car interior, a comfort she hadn't realized she missed.
Tim glanced over as he started driving.
Tim- How was your day?
Josy- Good. School was like usual. We did or homework, and just hung out, talked about random stuff.
Tim raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing.
Tim- Random stuff? Like video games and food, or deep, meaningful conversations?
Josy snorted.
Josy- Both, actually.
Tim- That kid always manages to give you everything you could even think of.
Josy grinned, fiddling with the sleeve of her hoodie.
Josy- Yeah. He's... Theo.
Tim chuckled, glancing at her.
Tim- Okay, so what's got you thinking so hard?
Josy hesitated for a moment before exhaling.
Josy- I was thinking and then I asked him why we're here. Like, why we exist.
Tim's brows went up, surprised but intrigued.
Tim- And what did Theo say?
Josy rolled her eyes, already laughing.
Josy- Oh, you'll love this. First, he assumed I didn't know where babies come from, so he gave me this... weird, awkward explanation.
Tim barked out a laugh.
Tim- Oh, no.
Josy- Oh, yes. He was like, "There's a guy, and there's a girl, they do... things, and boom, baby."
Tim was laughing so hard he had to wipe at his eyes.
Tim- Doesn't quit sound like him.
Josy- Oh, he said that there was way more to it but thats the short explanation.
Josy grinned, shaking her head.
Josy- After that I told him what I actually meant, and he said maybe there isn't a reason. That we just get to decide what life means.
Tim's laughter faded into a thoughtful hum as he mulled that over.
Tim- Huh. That's a pretty solid answer.
Josy turned to him, raising an eyebrow.
Josy- You think so?
Tim nodded, keeping his eyes on the road.
Tim- Yeah. Life doesn't come with a manual, Jo. But that's not a bad thing. It means we get to figure it out as we go.
Josy tilted her head, staring out at the dark streets passing by.
Josy- Does it ever bother you? Like... not knowing why?
Tim was quiet for a moment, then shook his head.
Tim- Not really. I think about it sometimes, sure. But instead of worrying about why, I focus on the things that matter—the people I love, the stuff I enjoy, moments like these.
Josy- Moments like these?
Tim smiled, glancing at her.
Tim- Talking to you, hearing about your day. Knowing you're growing into someone who asks big questions. That's what makes it worth it for me.
Josy blinked, caught a little off guard by her dad's honesty.
Josy- Wait... do you really enjoy hearing about my day and all the random stuff I talk about?
Tim glanced at her with a small smile before looking back at the road.
Tim- Of course I do.
Josy tilted her head, studying his expression.
Josy- Like, really? Even when it's just me going on about school, people being weird, or, I don't know, stuff you probably don't care about?
Tim chuckled softly, his tone warm but sincere.
Tim- Yeah, I really do. Don't get me wrong, there have been moments when what you tell me makes me nervous, or even upset—like if something happened that I wish hadn't, or you did things you weren't supposed to do.
Josy frowned slightly, shifting in her seat.
Josy- Like what?
Tim hesitated, his hands tightening briefly on the wheel before relaxing.
Tim- Like... times when you were little and told me about someone being mean to you, or when you were hurt or upset and I couldn't fix it. Those moments are hard. But I still want to hear about them.
Josy- Even when it's something you don't like?
Tim nodded, his gaze steady as he turned to her briefly at a stoplight.
Tim- Especially then. Because no matter what, you're sharing your life with me. And that's something I'll always appreciate—even if it's not always easy to hear.
Josy thought about that for a moment, letting his words sink in.
Josy- So, even if I'm just rambling about stupid stuff, you still care?
Tim smiled, his voice filled with affection.
Tim- Josy, the "stupid stuff"—it's not stupid. It's part of who you are. It's your world, your thoughts, your humor... and I love all of that. So yeah, I care.
Josy felt her face heat up slightly, a small, shy smile tugging at her lips.
Tim noticed Josy's shy smile and chuckled softly.
Tim- You're blushing.
Josy- Am not!
Tim smirked, his teasing tone light.
Tim- Sure, sure.
Josy rolled her eyes, but the grin on her face gave her away.
As they pulled into the driveway, the warm glow of the porch light welcomed them home. Tim parked the car, and they both climbed out, grabbing their things from the back seat, heading in after a long day.
Tim set his bag down and opened the fridge, scanning its contents with a thoughtful hum.
Tim- Alright, what are we feeling for dinner tonight? Something quick, or are we going all out?
Josy leaned against the counter, tapping her chin dramatically as if contemplating a major life decision.
Josy- Hmm... let's go all out. It's been a while since we cooked something 'fancy-ish' together.
Tim- Alright, 'fancy-ish' but not too complex. Let's see what we've got.
He rummaged through the fridge, pulling out a fillet of salmon and holding it up.
Tim- What do you think? Salmon fancy enough for you?
Josy- Definitely. How about... lemon butter salmon? With roasted veggies or something?
Tim nodded, already pulling out a bag of baby potatoes and some asparagus.
Tim- Lemon butter works. Potatoes and asparagus for the sides—simple but classy.
Josy- Ooh, we could even add garlic to the butter. Garlic makes everything better.
Tim chuckled, grabbing a bulb of garlic from the pantry.
Tim- You're not wrong. Let's do it. You on veggies or sauce duty?
Josy thought for a moment before grinning.
Josy- Sauce. I'm claiming the fun job.
Tim smirked, setting the potatoes on the counter.
Tim- Alright, Chef. I'll handle the boring stuff.
They got to work, falling into an easy rhythm. Tim washed and halved the baby potatoes, tossing them in olive oil, salt, and pepper and some more seasoning, before sliding them into the oven. Meanwhile, Josy melted butter in a small pan, adding minced garlic and lemon juice with a satisfied hum.
Josy- Smells great already.
Tim glanced over, nodding in approval.
Tim- Looks like you've got the sauce game locked down. How's the asparagus coming?
Josy- Oh, wait—I forgot about that.
She darted to the fridge, grabbing the asparagus and rinsing it quickly. Tim chuckled as he slid the salmon onto a baking sheet.
Tim- Don't worry, we've got time. The potatoes need a few more minutes anyway.
Josy- Crisis averted.
She trimmed the asparagus, tossing it in olive oil and seasoning it lightly before arranging it alongside the salmon.
Josy- Ready for the oven.
Tim- Perfect timing. Let's get this masterpiece cooking.
They slid the salmon and asparagus into the oven, setting the timer. While they cleaned up, Josy stirred the sauce to keep it from burning.
Josy- You know, we should do this more often. Cooking together, I mean.
Tim smiled, handing her a towel to dry the cutting board.
Tim- Anytime you want, sweetheart.
As the timer beeped, they worked together to plate everything, drizzling Josy's sauce over the perfectly cooked salmon.
They sat down at the table, their plates a colorful display of golden-brown salmon, roasted potatoes, and tender asparagus glistening with olive oil.
Tim- Alright, first bite. Let's see if this lives up to our expectations.
Josy smirked, watching as her dad cut into the salmon and took a bite. His eyes widened slightly, and he nodded with approval.
Tim- Not bad, Chef. Not bad at all.
Josy grinned, digging into her own plate.
Josy- We should open a restaurant. Call it... Fancy-ish Eats.
Tim chuckled, shaking his head.
Tim- Sounds like a hit. But only if you're in charge of the menu.
Josy- Obviously. And you can be the dishwashing guy.
Tim- Hey, I cooked too. I'd at least make it to sous chef.
They both laughed, the easy banter filling the kitchen as they ate. Between bites, they talked about everything and nothing—school, a new show Josy was into, and even Tim's day at work.
As they finished up, Tim leaned back in his chair with a satisfied sigh.
Tim- That hit the spot.
Josy- Definitely. Good job, us.
Tim nodded toward the sink, where the dishes were already piled up.
Tim- Usually, I'd recruit you for dish duty, but I'll handle it tonight.
Josy blinked, clearly surprised.
Josy- Wait, seriously?
Tim- Seriously.
She didn't question it, quickly standing up and grabbing her plate to bring to the sink.
Josy- Thanks, Dad.
Tim- Anytime, sweetheart.
With a small smile, Josy slipped out of the kitchen and headed to her room, leaving Tim to handle the cleanup. He didn't mind; watching her relax after their evening together was reward enough.
As he washed the dishes, Tim found himself smiling, thinking about how moments like these made the long days worthwhile. It wasn't just the food or the laughs—it was the connection, it was the connection, the bond that seemed to grow stronger with every shared experience. Tim put the last plate in the dishwasher, the warm water and the sound of running water almost meditative as he reflected on the evening.
Moments like these reminded him why he worked so hard to create a home where his girl felt safe, loved, and heard. It wasn't about grand gestures or over-the-top family events—it was about the quiet, everyday acts of care. A meal cooked together. A conversation in the car. A simple smile exchanged across the table.
He dried his hands and glanced toward the stair, imagining Josy in her room, probably reading or sketching in her notebook. For a moment, he thought about knocking on her door to check in, but he decided against it. She needed her space, and he was content knowing she was happy and relaxed.
Tim turned off the kitchen light and headed to the living room, sinking onto the couch with a sigh. The house was quiet, the kind of quiet that came with a day well spent. He grabbed the remote, but instead of turning on the TV, he sat there for a while, letting the peacefulness of the evening settle around him.
Eventually, the faint sound of Josy's laughter floated around the house, the sound a reassuring melody in the stillness of the house.
The clock on the wall ticked softly, the time slipping by until it was well past ten, almost eleven. Tim glanced at it and sighed. It was getting late, and tomorrow was another busy day for both of them. Standing, he stretched, his joints popping slightly, and made his way toward the stairs.
As he reached Josy's door, he knocked gently, leaning against the frame.
Tim- Hey, Josy, it's getting late. You should probably start winding down and get some sleep.
From inside, there was a pause before Josy called back, her voice light but a little teasing.
Josy- Okay, Dad. But do I really have to?
Tim chuckled softly.
Tim- Yeah, you have to.
Josy opened the door a crack, her face lit up with a mischievous grin.
Josy- Well, maybe I need the sleep to keep up with your bad jokes.
Tim smirked, tapping the edge of her door.
Tim- Fair enough. But seriously, it's late. Good night, sweetheart.
Josy smiled, softer this time.
Josy- Night, Dad.
He waited until he heard her door click shut before heading to his own room. As he changed and settled into bed, the house grew even quieter, the kind of stillness that felt safe and comforting. Tim lay there for a while, his thoughts drifting between memories of the day and the plans for tomorrow.
A while later, the faint creak of footsteps caught his ear. Josy, probably grabbing a glass of water. He smiled to himself, closing his eyes fully now, content in the knowledge that everything was as it should be.