For Fiona

35. Permanent Condition

Though she tried not to, Lucy was tempted to call in sick every day, because the days when she was off of work that she spent with her family were always the best ones. Of course, she loved her job, but waking up cozied against Tim and getting to stay in bed for a few extra minutes then taking her time to enjoy breakfast while her daughter babbled and made barking sounds at Kojo as a sign of affection between bites of her food were moments that could never be beat. While clearing the table after breakfast, she glanced at her two favorite people and smiled.

Brightly, Tim told Fiona while crouched down to meet her eye, "Guess what? I've got a surprise for you today."

"A surprise?" Fiona wondered enthusiastically.

"Remember how we went to that baseball game last week?"

"Yeah, we all sang the song together with all those people, and they played with bats that aren't anything like the animal."

"That's right. Well, I want to show you how to play baseball today. How does that sound?"

"Me?" Fiona pointed at herself while grinning. "Yay! I want to play baseball."

He smiled. "Good. Let's go outside and play."

Though he gestured towards the sliding doors that led to the backyard, she shook her head. "No, Daddy. I can't play baseball with a green bow. I have to wear a blue bow like the Dodgers. I'll go get a different ribbon."

"No one will doubt that you're my daughter," he replied to which she only raced up the stairs to her bedroom, so he turned his attention to Lucy where she was rinsing off plates in the kitchen sink. He sidled up behind her and wound his arms around her waist while dropping his chin to her shoulder.

"I thought we were supposed to fill out her school registration forms today before we showed her how to play baseball," Lucy reminded him of their previous conversation.

He nuzzled her neck while his grin widened. "I couldn't wait," he reasoned.

She hummed, since she understood then felt him try to make a trail of kisses with his mouth stretched in a smile. "You're in a good mood."

"That's been happening a lot lately," he mumbled into her skin.

"I'm not a doctor, but I'm diagnosing it as a permanent condition."

"Permanent condition?" He murmured and sucked on her neck playfully. "What's the treatment? Princess kisses?"

She chuckled while setting down the plate in her hand, completely giving up the pretense of doing the chore when he was being quite distracting. "I'm sure you'd like that."

"How many should I give you today for looking so beautiful?" He wondered then laved over the skin he had sucked on.

"I'm wearing a t shirt," she scoffed.

Between pressing kisses into her jawline, he replied, "I like everything you wear."

"Who are you and what have you done with Tim Bradford?" She jokingly asked and tilted her head just enough to capture his lips, but that was clearly not satisfactory as he gripped her hips to twist her fully around in the minuscule space between him at the sink. They only broke away when they heard their daughter sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" while descending the stairs.

He wiped his mouth and took a step away from Lucy as Fiona came into view, and she waved the blue ribbon in her small hand happily. Without her having to ask, he untied her green bow and speedily replaced it with the blue one. "Now you're ready for baseball," he said. "Do you want to put the green bow back in your room, or do you want your mommy to wear it?"