For Fiona

39. School

Once the three plates of princess breakfast had been set out, Tim paused, noting the rare silence that was rather unexpected considering by the time he usually finished making breakfast, his girls would be downstairs or on their way down from the second floor. Curious to find out why their usual schedule had not been adhered to, he ascended the stairs and went over to Fiona's cheery green bedroom to find Lucy holding their daughter tightly. "Everything okay in here?" He asked.

"Yeah," Lucy lied weakly. She let Fiona go to look into her eyes. "I love you so much."

"I love you, too, Mommy," Fiona replied sweetly.

"Are you sure this is what you want to wear to school?" Lucy questioned.

"Yes!" She wiggled her legs in her favorite pair of blue jeans as she shook her arms in her favorite green t shirt.

"Okay, then, let's go have breakfast." She took her daughter's hand then looked up at Tim to give him her most confident smile despite how her bottom lip trembled.

"Daddy, hugs for you, too!" Fiona called and outstretched her free arm so that her father could scoop her up. When he did, her mom let go, so she was able to rest her head on her dad's shoulder.

"Hugs, huh?" Tim whispered while carrying their daughter through the house.

"It's been a rough morning," Lucy admitted.

"For you or her?"

"I'm freaking out."

"Luce-"

"I'm allowed to panic about our daughter's first day of school."

"Maybe keep it under wraps until we drop her off, so she doesn't freak out," he suggested as lowly as he could. He reached the kitchen table and set Fiona in her booster seat.

"Mommy? Do you need another hug? Are you okay?" Fiona asked.

Lucy's lips formed her most convincing smile. "I'm okay, honey. Thank you for asking. I'm just so excited about you starting school! That's really great!"

Fiona, unconvinced, tilted her head as she surveyed her mom. "Daddy, I think she needs a princess kiss."

"I was just about to suggest the same thing," he agreed and cradled Lucy's face. He whispered, "It's gonna be okay. I really believe that."

She had to somewhat smirk at that. "Are you using my words against me?" She recalled uttering the exact sentiment to him years prior when he had been exposed to a deadly toxin, and she was seated on the other side of the door from him trying to be as encouraging as she could despite the circumstances.

"Yup," he responded smugly.

"Why are you always so aggravating?"

"I thought that was one of the things you love about me."

"Absolutely not," she joked and smoothed her hands across his chest. "Are you gonna shut up and kiss me now?"

He hummed against her lips before he captured them fondly. There was an effortlessness to the way they moved together he sometimes forgot to appreciate, but in the moments when he did remember how perfect it was when her hands were on him and her mouth molded with his, he felt thankful for Lucy.

"Yeah," she breathed when she pulled away, "I love everything about you." She gazed at him for a beat, her eyes shining with affection. "Including how you piss me off."

"Of course," he shot back with a smirk. "You like getting a little pissed off. That's how you learn best at least."

Lucy let out a quiet nervous giggle, because he was right. He always knew her so well. She felt a pair of eyes on them and looked over at Fiona smiling brightly; though she could not hear their discussion, she seemed to be pretty happy to see her parents together. "Alright, let's have breakfast," she said with pink stained cheeks that darkened a shade when Tim pecked her temple.