Chapter Text
With three coffee cups in hand, Angela made her way to Tim Bradford’s house. Well, no- Tim Bradford and Lucy Chen’s house, to be more precise. A small but significant distinction.
Was she nervous? Maybe. She never really knew what to expect when she visited Tim and Lucy. Over the past three years, she had seen and heard a lot. Some things that she might never recover from.
She rang the doorbell and, as if on autopilot, immediately slapped a hand over her eyes. A beat passed before she heard the familiar, drawn-out sigh that only one man could be the owner of.
The door swung open. “What are you doing?” Tim’s voice was flat and unimpressed.
“Are you dressed and not in the middle of something?”
Tim let out another sigh, the kind that practically had an eye roll baked into it. “Angela, I opened the door. Why would I do that if I was naked?”
“So you’re not naked,” she clarified, just to be sure.
“No, I’m not naked,” he deadpanned. And though she couldn’t see him at that moment, she knew he was rolling his eyes hard.
She lowered her hand, giving him a once-over. “Well, I had to make sure.”
Stepping inside, Angela noted how Tim’s house had softened over time. Ever since Lucy moved in, the place had become warmer, and cozier. It used to look like something that could be defined as borderline sterile but Lucy’s presence had transformed it into something that actually felt lived in. There were cozy blankets thrown over the couch, candles that smelled like vanilla and something fancy she couldn’t name, and framed pictures of the two of them that practically screamed ‘We’re in love and annoyingly photogenic.’
And the two of them? Oh, they were disgustingly in love, even after three years. It still shocked Angela sometimes. Lucy who was this sharp, radiant, effortlessly charming woman had fallen head over heels for Tim. Tim! The guy who was a walking eye roll and gruff. And yet, the first time Angela saw them together she got it. Weirdly enough they made sense.
Tim was different now. Happier. Lighter. He still had his signature grumbles and his exasperated sighs (clearly), but he smiled more. Before Lucy, Angela could count his weekly smiles on one hand. Now, it was constant. And what’s worse? He didn’t even try to hide it.
Tim didn’t believe in soulmates, but Angela did. Wholeheartedly. Which is why she would never, ever stop telling him that Lucy was his. No matter how many times he begged her to drop it.
She carried the coffee cups into the kitchen, setting them down. “Where’s Lucy?” she asked, eyes scanning for any sign of her.
“She went for a run with Kojo.” Tim reached for one of the cups, taking a sip.
“And you didn’t go because of your leg?”
“Yeah,” he admitted, his gaze flicking downward to the leg that was still healing from the gunshot wound he got while on duty.
Angela remembered that night, the chaos, the hospital, the sheer panic in Lucy’s eyes. It was the kind of fear Angela understood all too well. If anything ever happened to Wesley… Well, she didn’t even want to finish the thought.
Tim exhaled. “I wanted to go, but Lucy didn’t let me.”
Angela smirked over her cup. “She’s a smart woman. You should listen to her.”
Setting her coffee down, she leaned against the counter. “So, what did you actually want to talk about?”
Tim hesitated, just for a second. Then, almost instinctively, he glanced toward the window, checking to make sure Lucy wasn’t anywhere in sight. His shoulders tensed slightly, and when he spoke, his voice was quieter.
“I’m thinking of proposing.”
Angela blinked.
Then, in the span of a single second, she went through approximately five different emotions - shock, excitement, barely contained glee, and then, finally, the overwhelming need to tease the hell out of him.
"Finally!" She exhaled dramatically, shaking her head. “About time. I mean, seriously, what took you so long? Three years? That girl is patient.”
“Are you done? Three years is a respectable amount of time. If I’d asked her earlier, it would’ve been too soon.”
Angela’s expression turned incredulous. “Are you kidding me? You two confessed your love to each other in, what? Less than 24 hours? Lucy basically moved in with you the second she got back to LA-”
“No.” Tim lifted a finger, the exact way Lucy did when she was making a point. “Lucy moved in much later.”
Angela snorted. “Oh, right. She crashed at your place for four months, panicked when I pointed it out, found her own place, only to move back in a month later because you two literally couldn’t go a single day apart.”
Tim opened his mouth, then closed it. His jaw clenched slightly as if he were trying to find a flaw in her argument and failing miserably. “Okay, fine,” he relented. “So we moved in together quickly. But it just happened.” He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “I just didn’t want to rush the proposal.”
Angela pursed her lips a little making Tim feel a little on the edge, already spiraling if proposing was a good idea even though just seconds ago Angela seemed excited.
“What? You don’t think it’s a good idea?”
“Tim, if you don’t propose to that woman, I will. You two are perfect for each other, sometimes even annoyingly so. But I was wondering, have you ever met Lucy’s parents? I know she is good friends with your sister, and your mom loves her, but I don’t think I have ever heard you mention her folks.”
Tim exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “No, I haven’t. I brought it up once, early in our relationship. She was very… firm about not wanting to see them. Her relationship with them is complicated.”
Angela nodded slowly, but her expression remained skeptical. “Don’t you think you should at least meet them once before proposing? Your wedding can’t be the first time you see them.”
“If she were to say yes-”
“She will.”
He huffed out a small smile before continuing. "If she says yes, I don’t think she’d even want them there."
“Okay, I might not know the full story with her parents, but sooner or later, there’s going to come a time when she wants to try reconnecting. Maybe before the wedding, maybe after, maybe when you two have a kid, but wouldn’t it be better if you at least met them first?"
Tim froze, actually froze. The mention of a kid sent something warm and unfamiliar fluttering in his chest. He wasn’t even done wrapping his head around the fact that he was ready to propose, and now Angela was out here casually planting the image of a little girl with Lucy’s smile and his stubbornness. He could already feel the blush creeping up his neck.
"I just don’t know if Lucy will ever go for it," he admitted, desperate to pull himself out of the future he was suddenly picturing way too vividly. Not that he hadn’t already been thinking about it every single day since Lucy came back into his life.
Before Angela could say anything else, the front door swung open, and Kojo came barreling inside, his tail wagging wildly as Lucy followed close behind.
"I’m home!" she called, her voice bright and full of warmth.
Angela didn’t even need to turn her head to know that Tim was already grinning like a complete idiot. It was disgusting, honestly.
"Oh! Hey, Angela! I didn’t know you were coming over." Lucy beamed as she walked in, immediately pulling Angela into a quick hug.
It was impossible not to like Lucy. From the moment they met on what was supposed to be a double date but turned into Lucy and Angela laughing all night while Tim sat there in suffering, Angela knew she was special. Now, they had their own girls’ nights filled with deep talks, wine, and a concerning amount of gossip.
Lucy turned to Tim next, her smirk softening into something more private, more theirs. “Hey, babe.” She walked right up to him and, without hesitation, leaned in to kiss him.
Angela groaned internally. Of course.
One thing Tim and Lucy definitely lacked was self-awareness. They were oblivious to how they made the entire room feel like a third wheel. And Angela was 100% sure neither of them even noticed the quiet, content sound Tim made the second Lucy’s lips touched his.
Tim’s eyes fluttered shut, his whole body melting. "Mmm." He exhaled when Lucy pulled back. "I missed you."
Angela shot him a deadpan look. “You just saw her this morning.” Tim and Lucy turned their heads toward her at the same time, as if suddenly remembering she existed.
Lucy blushed, quickly turning away to busy herself at the sink. “So, what are you doing here? Did you need something?” She asked casually, putting her hands under the running water.
Angela barely had time to process the question before she caught something in her peripheral vision. Tim, silently losing his mind.
He was frantically mouthing words at her, his eyes practically bulging out of his head.
Angela squinted. “What?!” she mouthed back, just as dramatically.
Tim tried again, moving his lips slower this time like that would somehow help. But to Angela, it meant nothing. What was he saying? Was he having a stroke? Tim’s panicked gestures only became more erratic, and right as Angela was about to throw up her hands and tell him to use his words, Lucy turned around.
Tim froze. His mouth snapped shut so fast Angela swore she heard his teeth click.
Lucy frowned. “Are you okay?”
Tim immediately stiffened trying to play it cool but failing miserably. “Yeah. Yup! All good!”
“I came here to…” Angela stalled, grasping for literally any excuse. “…ask if you’ll make it to Jack’s birthday.”
Lucy’s face lit up. “Of course! We wouldn’t miss it for anything. Do you need help with planning?”
If Angela had a light bulb above her head right now would be the time when it would light up. Her lips curled into a wicked grin as she turned toward Tim who knew he was in trouble just by that look alone. And there was no way he could protest.
“No, don’t worry about it,” Angela said sweetly to Lucy before shifting her mischievous gaze to Tim. “Tim was so thoughtful that he actually offered to plan the whole thing!”
Lucy’s face melted into pure adoration. “You did? That’s so sweet.”
Tim shot Angela a look before forcing a tight-lipped smile. “Yeah, you know. It’s about time I step up as the godfather.” He shrugged, trying to sound casual.
Lucy leaned in, brushing against him as she whispered, “Keep it up, Bradford, and you’re getting very lucky tonight.”
Tim’s smirk was immediate. Cocky. Pleased. A little too pleased. But before he could respond-
“No. Nope. Absolutely not.” Angela clapped her hands together interrupting their little moment. “You are not talking about your sex life immediately after mentioning my kid’s birthday party.”
Lucy threw her an apologetic look before kissing Tim’s cheek. “I’m gonna take a shower,” she announced before turning to Angela. “It was great seeing you! Text me about tomorrow?”
Tim’s brows knit together. “Wait, what’s tomorrow?”
“Oh, nothing major.” Angela waved a hand dismissively. “Just a little shopping trip.”
She turned to grab her things, but not before flashing Tim a knowing look. “And thank you for planning the surprise party.”
Tim sighed, already resigned to his fate. “Yeah, yeah. Don’t gloat.”
Angela smirked but then quickly dropped the playfulness, her expression turning serious. “I mean it, Tim. You should ask Lucy about meeting her parents before you… you know.”
She made an exaggerated motion of dropping to one knee, mimicking a proposal, but barely got halfway before Tim leapt forward in a panic, shoving her back up.
“Get up!” he whisper-yelled, eyes darting toward the hallway as if Lucy might suddenly reappear. “If she sees you doing that, I swear to-”
“She’s in the shower.” Angela deadpanned, crossing her arms.
“Yeah, well, I don’t want to risk it.” Tim cast another paranoid glance toward the hallway before striding over to the bookshelf. He reached behind some instruction manuals on the top shelf and pulled out a small velvet box.
Angela raised an eyebrow as he approached and flipped it open.
“So, what do you think?”
Angela looked down at the ring. Then up at Tim. Then back at the ring.
“Wow, Tim. I feel very honored, but I won’t marry you,” she said solemnly, pressing a hand to her chest.
Tim let out the longest suffering sigh as she barely contained her laughter.
“You’re an incredible man,” Angela continued, “but I just don’t see you that way. And honestly, I don’t know how Lucy’s gonna react to you proposing to me like this-”
“Are you done ? ”
Angela tilted her head, pretending to think about it. “No.” She pointed at him. “If you propose by just saying, ‘ So, what do you think? ’ Lucy is going to murder you.”
Tim clenched his jaw, waiting out her antics before exhaling. “What do you think about the ring? Do you think she’ll like it?”
Angela’s teasing smile softened. As much fun as it was to mess with him, seeing Tim this vulnerable, this nervous. It was honestly kind of sweet.
She reached out, squeezing his arm reassuringly. “She’s going to love it.”
The ring was stunning. A delicate gold band adorned with small diamonds, curving like flower petals around a beautiful center stone. Elegant, timeless, so Lucy.
“It’s perfect. You did great.”
Tim gave her a shy smile, nodding once. “Thanks.”
With that, Angela finally took her leave, grinning the whole way out. She was genuinely happy for them. Sure, they were responsible for at least 70% of her headaches (and the occasional gag reflex from being too cute), but she loved them both tremendously.
And what better way to leave than by knowing Tim Bradford, a certified tough guy, was now also in charge of throwing a surprise birthday party for her son?
Truly, what a gift.
***
Tim sat on the couch, still mulling over Angela’s advice. Lucy’s relationship with her parents had been complicated ever since she moved to LA, but that wasn’t even the half of it. First, they were furious at her for running away when she thought she was dying. Then, they were mad at her for not coming home. And then, after one phone call things got even worse.
Tim would never forget that night, how hard Lucy cried. How he held her, furious on her behalf, as she told him everything.
Her father had dismissed her completely, rejecting her for choosing a new life. Called her a failure. A disappointment.
It made his blood boil just thinking about it. Lucy, his Lucy, was the most incredible person he’d ever met. And if her own parents couldn’t see that? Well, that was their loss.
He never pushed the subject. Never brought them up unless she did. And honestly, from everything he’d heard, he wasn’t exactly eager to meet them himself.
They were awful. Plain and simple.
The sound of the bathroom door opening pulled him from his thoughts. Lucy walked in, fresh from her shower, wearing his oversized t-shirt, the one she always stole, paired with tiny shorts. She was towel drying her hair as she made her way over, and for a moment, Tim just stared.
She was so beautiful. And the fact that she was his? God, he was so lucky. And if everything went as planned…she’d be his fiancee soon. And then his wife.
Lucy plopped onto the couch, tossing her legs over his like it was second nature. “Did you know Angela was coming over?” she asked, casually running the towel through her damp hair.
Tim forced himself to act normal, keeping his tone light. “Nope. You know her. Shows up unannounced, then complains that we were in the middle of something.” He leaned in and stole a quick kiss.
“You know, it’s really sweet of you to offer to throw Jack’s party,” she mused, absentmindedly playing with his hair. “We’ve got plenty of space in the backyard- ooh, maybe we could set up a bounce house?”
Tim smiled, already sensing she was mentally planning the entire event. “Yeah… actually, I wanted to talk to you about something.”
Lucy immediately froze, fingers stilling in his hair.
“Uh-oh.” She sat up slightly, giving him a wide-eyed look. “Wait, this isn’t about Sally, is it? Because you really don’t have to come with me to Eaton Canyon. I know you’re not her biggest fan.”
Tim groaned. “I still can’t believe you named the bear.”
“She’s a cutie.”
He shot her a look. “Lucy, she’s a bear.”
Ever since they started hiking there, they’d run into Sally way more than Tim liked. And somehow, somehow, Lucy had decided they were friends.
“You act like she’s some bloodthirsty monster,” Lucy teased.
“She literally looked me in the eye last time and licked her lips.”
“She yawned.”
“Yeah, right before licking her lips!”
Lucy giggled and leaned into him, letting him pull her closer by the legs until she was tucked against his side. “Well, as much as I appreciate the concern, I promise I’ll be fine.”
“Yeah, well, as much as I love you, there’s no way I’m letting you go alone,” he said, wrapping his arm around her. “I need to make sure Sally doesn’t decide you’d make a great afternoon snack.”
“Aww, my knight in shining armor.” Lucy giggled and kissed his cheek.
Tim felt his face warm, but before he could get too lost in the moment, the thoughts that had been swirling in his head pushed their way forward again. If he didn’t say something now, he’d chicken out.
He exhaled. “Actually… I wanted to talk about something else. Something a little serious.”
Lucy immediately sat up straighter, her expression shifting to concern. “Okay?”
Tim hesitated, scratching the back of his neck as he absentmindedly rubbed circles on her leg, trying to ease both their nerves. “Lucy, I want to meet your parents.”
As soon as he said it, Lucy inhaled sharply and looked away, already shutting down. That was her tell, her way of putting up a shield when the conversation got too close to something uncomfortable.
“I know you said ‘no’ before,” Tim continued gently, “but it’s been three years, and I still haven’t met them. Don’t you think that’s… a little weird?”
“There’s a reason for that,” she said flatly.
“I know,” he admitted. “And I completely understand why you’ve kept your distance. But I want to know more about your childhood, your family, your heritage. I want to see where you grew up.”
Lucy let out a dry, humorless chuckle. “Tim, I have told you about my childhood. I was even generous enough to let you see my childhood photos, which is a big deal, by the way.”
“I know,” he said, biting back a smile. “That was very generous of you.”
“Exactly.” She huffed, crossing her arms. “So, why now? For three years, you were perfectly fine not meeting them. What changed?”
Tim swallowed. He couldn’t exactly blurt out, ‘Because I want to propose to you, and meeting your parents feels like the responsible thing to do.’ So, he settled for the next best truth. “It’s not that I haven’t thought about it before. I just never wanted to push you. But I know you talked to your mom recently.”
Lucy tensed.
Tim softened. “Which means that despite everything you miss her.”
Lucy opened her mouth to argue, then closed it again. She glanced away, chewing on the inside of her cheek. Finally, she sighed. “She asked if I was ever coming back to visit. But I don’t know if I’m ready for that.”
“Okay,” Tim said, nodding. “How about this? We just go. Rip the band-aid off. That way, you don’t have to stress about it anymore. We’ll show up, be very polite, grab any of your stuff that’s still there, and then-” he gave her a hopeful smile, “stay in New York for a couple of days. Relax. Maybe even find a slice of pizza that actually lives up to your hype.”
Lucy stayed quiet for a long moment, just staring at him. Then, finally, she exhaled, shaking her head like she couldn’t believe she was about to say this.
“Fine,” she muttered. “We can go to New York to meet my parents.”
Tim grinned, already leaning in to kiss her.
But just as their lips were about to meet, Lucy pressed a single finger to his mouth. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you when you hate them,” she teased.
Tim smirked against her finger. “I’ll just have to make sure to make up for it.”
Lucy laughed, and as soon as she did, he cupped her cheek, pulling her into a kiss that felt every bit as exhilarating as the very first time.