Archive of Our Own ^beta

I.

There were several loud knocks echoing through the house as Tim put down his coffee. He checks his watch and frowns. It was 8:01 am on his day off, and he wasn’t really expecting anyone, but nevertheless he made his way over to the door. He peeked through the side panel glass and his eyebrows knit together, reaching for the doorknob to open.

“Lucy what are you doing here?” he asked surprised, and Lucy shifted from one foot to another, a small smile on her lips. “Surprised to see you up this early on a Sunday.”

“Morning…. and I know, but we’ve got business to attend to.”

“Business?” He stepped back so she could enter. She brushed past him with a playful pat on his chest.

“So, remember how on April 1st we had this prank going for 24 hours?” She raised her brow and Tim nodded slowly, lips twitching upwards a little.

“How could I forget? I never had to change my sheets as many times as I did then in a 24h period,” he smirked, and Lucy flushed.

“Well, yes, but,” she paused, drawing her lower lip between her teeth. “We didn’t get the full 24h. We spend at least 12h of them at work.”

“We did, didn’t we?” He grinned and Lucy rolled her eyes. “But wasn’t the prank meant for work?”

“Yes, but you know, we owe it to ourselves to get the whole 24h,” she mused, and Tim crossed his arms over his chest, eyes flicking to look at the clock on the wall.

“It’s 8:03 am right now, which means we have until 8 tonight to catch up,” he stated and let his eyes roam over her body, his innuendo not particularly subtle, and Lucy’s cheeks warmed just enough to make her press her lips together in a smile.

However, as she did the math in her head, a frown appeared on her face. Celina had her boyfriend over tonight and her whole idea was to escape that, and hopefully get laid in the process, so Lucy wracked her brain for a moment before she snapped her fingers.

“I think we can push the 8 pm a little,” she said.

“Oh?” Tim’s eyebrows rose curiously.

“Well, other universes exist and in some of them time moves slower, so…..,” she trails off and Tim’s eyes light up a little.

“You are so right,” he said, folding his arms with a feigned seriousness, “if we go by some DC multiverse logic, we could extend that considerably.”

“Multiverse?” she asked. “Okay, you’ve got my attention.”

Tim stepped closer, taking her hand to lead her over to the kitchen. He pours her a cup of coffee and adds some of her favorite coconut creamer, handing it to her. Lucy takes it with a thankful nod and take a sip, smacking her lips at the delicious sweetness.

“For instance, on Earth-2, or Earth-19…. depending on which storyline you follow…time doesn’t always move at the same speed. It can warp, shift or slow down. Ever read those comics where they cross universes and suddenly it’s a totally different year?” Tim asked excitedly and Lucy couldn’t hold back a grin.

“No, but I have seen most of the Arrowverse shows on The CW…with you,” she chuckled, and Tim nodded.

“Riiiight,” Tim paused before he continued. “Why settle for just eight o’clock tonight when in another universe it could be eight o’clock tomorrow morning, or even next week, or year?”

A flicker of genuine intrigue passed over Lucy’s face. She leaned in a little closer, clearly caught up in the idea. “So, wait… how does that even work? If The Flash travels back in time or zips between Earths, wouldn’t that split the timeline? Or cause a paradox, like that one season with the Flashpoint thing?”

Tim’s eyes lit up at the fact Lucy remembers, and he grinned. “Exactly! Barry Allen might run so fast he literally changes history, but in some stories, it’s just a cool way to jump over to Earth-2 or Earth-19 without screwing things up too badly. Maybe we can apply the same concept to buy ourselves extra hours.”

“You mean you and I pop over to another Earth and come back and no one here would know we were missing?” She raised an eyebrow and Tim shrugged.

“It’s the Arrowverse. People come back from the dead, jump timelines, fight Nazi doppelgängers. I’m sure hooking up for a solid twenty-four hours somewhere else is small potatoes in comparison.” Lucy let out a laugh at that, reaching to playfully nudge his shoulder before taking a sip of her coffee.

 “You’re such a nerd sometimes,” she giggled.

“Guilty,” Tim admitted, leaning down just enough so their foreheads nearly touched. “But you’re the one who said we missed out on time…so just offering… creative solutions.”

Lucy’s eyes flickered with amusement as her lips curved into a more mischievous smile. “Creative solutions, huh?”

“Yeah…you know—”

He didn’t get to finish this time either, because Lucy surged up onto her toes, closing the distance between them with a sudden, searing kiss. Tim’s words disappeared into a small, surprised sound against her lips. She pulled back just enough to meet his gaze.

“Tim,” she said, her tone low and sweet, “we’ve already determined we have more time. Do you really want to spend it geeking out about the Arrowverse … or do you want to use that mouth of yours for something else?”

Tim is immediately on board, snapping into the present. “You’re right, what was I thinking?” he husks leans back in, but he misses her face when Lucy turns.

“That’s what I’m here for,” Lucy teased. She grabbed his hand and started tugging him toward his bedroom. “We might not have a cosmic treadmill to buy us hours in another timeline, but I think we can squeeze plenty of time out of this one.”

“Fine by me,” Tim replied, stepping closer so that their shoulders brushed. “Though, for the record, I’d love to revisit that whole ‘time traveling to Earth-19’ conversation later.”

Lucy’s eyebrows shot up. “Later? Sure. Let’s say… eight in the morning tomorrow….when we’re done making up for all those lost hours.”

“I can work with that,” he growls and swoops her into his arms, Lucy laughing as he carried her into the bedroom like a caveman.

II.

Lucy laid on her bed and she thumbed through her phone, Clip Talk not really offering anything exciting. She switched from the app into her gallery, her eyes landing on a thumbnail that was Kojo lying on his back while Tim was giving him belly rubs. She smiled and opened it, staring at the picture for a moment.

She missed him.

And no , Lucy wasn’t going to admit to herself she meant both, not just one.

She pulled up the message thread with Tim and pondered for a moment what to type, making a quick decision.

Lucy: How’s Kojo doing?

She watched as the message was delivered and almost instantly, it switched to read. Her stomach flutters at that and Lucy rolls on her stomach, waiting for Tim to finish typing his reply.

Tim: He’s good. Taking him for a walk. Here, see for yourself.

The text came attached with a picture of the dog, stick in mouth and his tongue hanging out. She giggled at that and quickly saved it to her Kojo folder.

Lucy: So cute. Be a good dog Daddy and give him a treat when you get home.

Tim: You know I won’t do that.

Lucy giggled again and moved the phone, tapping on her camera to take a picture of her pouting.

Lucy: Please?

She types and sends the photo with the message.

Tim: Too cute.

Tim: All right. He’ll get a treat.

And with that, Lucy got out of her bed and quickly threw on some clothes before grabbing her purse and keys, getting in her car to drive off to Tim’s place. She knew he was not going to give him a treat and she couldn’t let that happen.

A little while later, when Tim returned from walking Kojo, he felt the dog jump excitedly, causing him to let go of the leash. Tim huffed as Kojo disappeared around the bush, walking after him to the front door.

“Kojo,” he growled as he rounded the corner, eyes widening. “Lucy?”

“Hiiiii,” she said as she bends down to cuddle her fur baby, who was happily yipping at her, squeaking when her turned and pressed his butt to her legs. Lucy immediately scratches his butt and cooed as the dog stretched and turned to lick her arm.

“What are you doing here? Is everything okay?” He asks and Lucy finally pushed herself back on her feet, unclipping the leash from Kojo to pick it up.

 “It is now….He really looked like he was missing me in that photo you sent,” she added, an unmistakable note of playful exaggeration in her voice, “so I decided to be responsible and do something about it.”

Tim let out a small laugh, unlocking his door. “You raced over because you thought Kojo couldn’t handle another minute without you?”

“Maybe,” she said and shrugged innocently. “Why, is there some other reason I might show up unannounced?”

“Is that a serious question?” He raises his eyebrow, and he stares at Lucy, who bites her lower lip to keep herself from giggling.

“Sorry,” she blushed, and Tim let her walk inside. “I also wanted to make sure he gets his treat.”

“Lucy, he already had dinner,” Tim sighed, but she ignored him and made her into the kitchen. She grabbed the dog biscuits from the high shelf and quickly took two out, making her way over to Kojo.

“So?” She ignored Tim’s grumbling and instead made Kojo sit and lay down, feeding him the treat. The dog gave her an appreciative nudge and Lucy scratched his head before making him roll over.

“You know, he’s not a circus animal,” Tim said as he crossed his arms and Lucy looked over her shoulder.

“No, but he’s my best boy and he likes to make me happy….,” she stuck out her tongue and Tim had to hide an amused smile. He watched as Lucy gave Kojo a kiss on the head and got back up, making her way over to him.

“Anyway, I should go,” Lucy said softly, turning toward the door. She made it exactly one step before a warm hand curled around her wrist, stopping her in her tracks. Her heartbeat thudded, and she turned back to see Tim’s gaze fixed on her, his eyes dark and suggestive, making her breath hitch.

“Or you can stay,” he murmured, his voice rumbling low, “…. and maybe give me a treat.”

He lifted his eyebrows suggestively, doing his best to look nonchalant, but Lucy could see the faint flush in his cheeks that betrayed his eagerness. She let out a low chuckle, glancing down at his hand around her wrist before meeting his eyes again.

“I’m pretty sure you already had your dinner,” she echoed his words, free hand coming up to rest lightly against his chest. She could feel his heartbeat beneath her fingertips, steady and strong. Tim huffed in amused protest and pulled her closer, his other hand settling lightly at her waist.

“Good thing I didn’t have dessert yet,” he husked. His face inched nearer, until their noses brushed.

“Mmm,” she hummed, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Really is.” 

Her hand slid up to cup his cheek, thumb brushing lightly across his jawline. She could feel the faint rasp of stubble there, and she savored the warmth of his skin under her touch. Slowly, she guided him towards her, their eyes locked until Lucy let her lashes flutter closed and pressed her lips to his. The kiss was soft at first, a tender meeting of mouths that said far more than any words could. Then, Tim’s hand tightened at her waist, drawing her closer, and Lucy sighed into the kiss, letting her own desire rise to match his. 

“Let’s move to the table, I don’t want to leave crumbs everywhere,” Tim mumbled against her lips, walking Lucy over to the kitchen island. When her back bumps into her solid material, she hisses and Tim helps her jump up, stepping between her parted thighs.

“I didn’t have dessert today either,” she winked, and Tim growled, diving back in to kiss her passionately.

-

III.

Lucy paced around her apartment for a moment, staring at her phone. She had been mentally running through every possible reason she could manufacture to see Tim. It had been less than four days since their last hook up, but she already felt the tug in her lower body that signaled she wanted more.

Ever since they’d talked about where they were heading, there has been this insatiable hunger for him and Lucy really enjoyed it. The sex they were having was fantastic, mind blowing, completely satisfying and it made her crave more.

She paused in the kitchen for a moment, eyes landing on a notepad stuck to the fridge. She tilted her head and moved closer, reading the grocery list Celina had left for herself. There, halfway down, was one word that lit a lightbulb in Lucy’s mind.

Ice Cream.

In a flash, Lucy grabbed her car keys, drove to the store, and found the exact vegan brand she usually kept stocked in her own freezer. Two pints in hand, she marched to the checkout and then practically ran to her car, getting in to drive towards Tim’s house. She checked the time—it was football night -and the game was about to end.

After parking her car in his driveway, she checked herself in her rear mirror before scrambling out of the vehicle, ice cream and purse in hand. Taking a deep breath, she makes her way to his front door, raising her hand to knock. She can hear a groan and chuckles to herself, running her hand through her hair. When Tim answered his door, still in jeans and a simple T-shirt, she expected him to be surprised, but as he looked at her, seeing the ice cream in her hand, he just smirked.

“Lucy,” he greeted, pressing a hand to the doorframe. “What an unexpected pleasure.”

She flashed him the biggest, most innocent smile she could manage and held up the ice cream. Tim looked at it and nodded his head, clearly waiting for her excuse to drop by this time.

“My freezer broke,” she declared dramatically. “I had to rescue my ice cream before it melted. But two pints are way too much for me to eat alone, so I thought maybe you’d help me. Gotta eat it right now.” 

“Uh-huh,” he drawled, and his lips twitched, amusement shining in his eyes.  “And this brand is… vegan, right?” 

“Yes,” Lucy feigned innocence. “My favorite.”

“Yeah, well,” Tim said, stepping aside so she could enter, “You know as well as I do that, I’m not really a fan of that vegan stuff, so why didn’t you ask Celina to help you eat it?”

She raised an eyebrow and sauntered past him, letting the door swing shut behind her. She put the ice cream on the counter as she walked into the kitchen, grabbing two spoons and turning around.

“Celina isn’t home yet and,” she paused for a moment, looking at Tim. “I figured I might have a way you convince you to try it again.”

“And what plan would that be?” Tim blinked once and closed the distance between them.

“Remember that one time during that really hot summer day,” she said, and Tim’s Adam’s apple bobbed as the memory flashed in his mind.

The two of them had been hanging at his house and Lucy was complaining she was too hot despite the air conditioning being on. On top of that she had been whining, because he didn’t have any lactose free ice cream for her, while Tim was spooning a pint of his favorite peanut brittle. That’s why he had flung a spoon full of creamy cold at her collar and proceeded to lick it off, the whole thing escalating into a really, sweaty, sticky round of sex on the couch, followed by a drawn out semi cold shower to clean off.

“So, the plan is melted ice cream and no clothes?” He asked and Lucy shrugged as she handed him a spoon.

“Yes, if it gets you to try it,” she smirks. “Can’t have this stuff going to waste, can we?”

Tim leaned in, bracing his hands on the counter on either side of her, effectively trapping her. A playful light danced in his eyes. He licked his lips and ground his hips against her, Lucy’s breath hitching when she felt his arousal against her already.

“You know,” he said, voice low, “I might be able to force a spoonful or two… under the right conditions.”

She tilted her head, mirroring his playful tone. “What kind of conditions?”

“Well, you mentioned one already,” he hummed and looked at her, leaning closer to ghost his lips against her ear. “But I definitely need something to eat it of off.”

She shivered at his words and clutched the spoon in her hand, Tim flicking out his tongue to catch her earlobe on between his lips. He sucks it gently and lets it go, dragging his lips down her neck to nuzzle his face into her shoulder.

“On second thought, you could just store the ice cream in your freezer, and we’ll warm up first cause brrrr….,” she pretends to shiver from cold. “I’m a bit chilly.”

Tim pulls away and looks at her, reaching behind her to grab the ice cream. He gives her a knowing smirk and puts them into the freezer, Lucy licking her lips as she blatantly stares at his ass. He whips around again and grabs her wrist, leaning down to capture her lips in a hungry kiss.

“Bedroom?” He husked into her mouth and Lucy’s hand curled into his t-shirt, nipping at his lower.

“Yes please,” she moans and Tim grins, pulling her in for a kiss. His lips never left Lucy’s as he navigated their way down the hall towards the bedroom, mewling when her hands fumble with his jeans. When they finally reached the threshold of Tim’s bedroom, he spun Lucy around, pressing her gently against the closed door.

He moves her hair to the side and attaches to her neck, licking and sucking the skin as he twists the knob to push the door open, prompting him to draw back just enough to let them catch their breath. One of his hands slipped around her waist, the other coming up to wrap around her jaw, turning her head to make her look at him.

“You really do love your excuses, don’t you?” he teased, his eyes alight with amusement. “Broken freezer and two pints of vegan ice cream? Good one.” 

“I know you weren’t going to buy it for a second,” Lucy shrugged, her breathing still a little ragged. Tim grinned and shook his head, brushing his thumb along her jaw.

“Maybe not. But you still came here, didn’t you?” He walked them towards his bed, waiting for her to turn around again and wrap her arms around his waist.

“Duh! Do you know what four days without you feels like?” Lucy said with a quiet laugh. “A lifetime.”

“I agree,” he murmured, voice husky as he pressed a soft kiss to her temple. “But you could just tell me you’re coming over, no excuse necessary.”

“I feel cheap just giving you a booty call for a quickie,” she moans as Tim runs his hands down her back to squeeze her ass.

“You know we don’t do quickies,” he grunts and bends down to claim her mouth in a fierce kiss. Lucy reciprocates and quickly opens his jeans to slide her hands into them, cupping him through his boxers.

“That’s true, so how about we stop talking and make good use of your bed.” She squeaks when Tim slaps her ass and pushes her towards the bed, the two toppling over and landing on it together, a laugh escaping Lucy as Tim nuzzled her neck.

“Maybe there’s a way to convince me to try the ice cream after all,” he chuckles as he rolls on top of her.

-

IV

A few days later, Lucy somehow ended up on his doorstep again, fiddling with her phone. This time she didn’t even have an excuse other than wanting to see him. She wracked her brain on something, and Lucy lifted her hand to knock, but Tim opened the door before her fist could connect. A broad smile curved across his face, the corners of his eyes crinkling.

“Well, look who it is….to what do I owe….” A lightbulb goes off in Lucy’s head and she lifted her phone, effectively cutting him off.

“This is why I’m here,” she announced, cheeks already heating. She tapped the screen to open up a text conversation and thrust it out for Tim to see.

Lucy: I think my bed is uneven. We should lie on it to figure out where it sags. 

Tam: Uhm? 

Lucy: Oh shit, that wasn’t meant for you. 

Tam: Is that you and Tim’s cringe way of hooking up? Ew. 

Lucy: We are not hooking up.

Tam: ….

Lucy: I swear….

Tam: *sighs*

Lucy: We are not….

Tam: Celina told me… and really, if you are this desperate, just go to his house. 

Lucy: We are not hooking up. 

Tam: hmhm….so maybe ask Celina to test your bed with you?

Lucy: Oh, shut up.

Tim took the phone from her hands, scanning the text conversation as Lucy stood there, arms crossed, face growing warmer by the second. She was torn between mortification and the nagging sense that Tim was about to find the whole thing hilarious.

Sure enough, when his gaze landed on Tam’s accusation about ‘a cringe way of hooking up’, he burst into laughter. A low, rumbling sound that made Lucy’s stomach flip and despite her best efforts to maintain an expression of exasperation, Lucy felt her own lips twitch upward at the corners. His amusement was too genuine, too infectious.

And that laugh?

It did things to her.

So, she cleared her throat, finally tugging her phone back out of his grasp.

“Yeah, anyway,” she began, lifting her chin with feigned anger, “that’s Tam being nosy, thanks to Celina running her mouth.”

“I can’t believe you texted that to someone by accident.” His tone was part teasing, part sympathy, and he slid a hand around Lucy’s waist, pulling her into his arms. The warmth of his palm spread through her like a soft ripple, and she leaned against him for a moment.

“In my defense, I was half-asleep, trying to do three things at once.” Lucy rolled her eyes at herself. “Once I read it over, I cringed so hard I nearly threw my phone across the room. I was actually glad I didn’t text it to you.”

His answer was to tug her fully inside, closing the door with a quiet click, and then leaning in for a firm, claiming kiss. Lucy felt her heart thud in her ears, almost loud enough to drown out her embarrassment.

The warmth of his mouth on hers chased away every lingering trace of mortification, and her pulse jumped when his fingers found the curve of her waist, sliding slowly along the fabric of her shirt. By the time he pulled back, her lungs felt tight, and she had to inhale a shaky breath. She found herself momentarily speechless, still processing the dizzying effect of his kiss.

“You can send me those texts any time you like,” Tim murmured, voice low and playful. “I promise I won’t call it cringe.”

Lucy let out a breathy laugh, trying to compose herself. The way he looked at her, eyes bright with humor and affection, made her feel warm all over. She reached up, letting her hand drift over his shoulder in a gentle, absentminded caress.

“Duly noted,” she managed. Her gaze lingered on his lips for a moment, remembering the taste of that kiss

“So,” he said, his voice still holding that gentle teasing, “how’s the exam prep going? Celina mentioned you’d started studying.”

 “I’ve been studying pretty much nonstop the last three days. Flashcards, questionnaires, the works.” She shook her head and let out a short sigh. “It helps that there’s some overlap with the detective’s exam, but I won’t lie…I’m exhausted already.”

Tim’s hand rose to her cheek, his thumb brushing lightly over her skin. The softness in his gaze made her heart flutter again, an odd mix of comfort and thrill that she could never quite get used to.

“I know you’ll ace it,” he murmured, the confidence in his tone unwavering.

“I’m definitely trying to,” she said, eyes dipping momentarily as she swallowed back a wave of self-doubt. “Still isn’t easy, though.”

Tim offered a small, knowing smile and bent his head for another gentle kiss. Lucy leaned into it, her arms sliding around his waist, letting him hold her for a moment. When they finally broke apart, Lucy’s eyes fluttered open, and she couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips.

“Thanks,” she whispered. “For the pep talk…and for not laughing too hard at my text fiasco.”

Tim chuckled under his breath, pressing his forehead lightly against hers. “Believe me, I’ll be reminding you about it for a while.”

He smirked, but the warmth in his voice made it clear he was only teasing. “But I’ll also be your biggest cheerleader until you nail that test.”

“Now how about we check if your mattress sags?” She raises an eyebrow, and Tim throws his head back as he laughs, pulling her flush against him for a heated kiss.

-

V

Lucy let out a frustrated sigh, tossing her highlighter onto the stack of study guides sprawled across her coffee table. She had been cramming for her upcoming sergeant’s exam for weeks now, and it felt like her brain was on the verge of total meltdown. Usually, Celina was right there with her, offering moral support and quizzing her, but tonight she had plans with her boyfriend, leaving Lucy alone with nothing but textbooks and jitters.

It didn’t help that it had been nearly three weeks since she had spent some quality time with Tim. They’d exchanged texts here and there, but between her study schedule and Tim’s own workload, carving out time to see each other after work felt impossible. And Lucy realized quickly, the longer it stretched on, the more she missed him.

It wasn’t just the sex she missed, but the post sex cuddles, the nights spend curled up together and the hurried kisses between showering and breakfast in the morning. The more she thought about it, the more she realized they completely fell back into old habits and for the first time in months she didn’t feel that surge of anxiety when she thought about telling Tim that maybe she was ready.

Ready for more.

She sighed to herself and groaned as she tried to focus on her notes again, but she couldn’t so Lucy grabbed her phone. She scrolled through her messages with Tim, finding the last one from a few days ago. It had been a quick ‘Good luck with the studying’ text. Chewing her lip, she typed out a new message.

Lucy: Hey. How’s your day going?

She was about to put down her phone, when the three dots appeared, and Tim responded within a minute.

Tim: It’s okay. Took an extended jog with Kojo. You’re still studying, right? How’s that going?

Lucy: Honestly… I’m anxious. This exam is killing me. I can’t shake the feeling that I’ll fail like I did last time and remain a P3 forever.

She sighed and rubbed her temples. It was stupid to think she’d fail. Lucy had always been a good student with good grades, but after failing her detective exam, her nerves were frayed. Sergeant was the last opportunity to rank up and move forward with her career.

Tim: Knowing you, you’ll score higher than me. Just breathe. I know you’ll do great.

Lucy couldn’t help smiling a little. Tim’s faith in her always felt rock-solid, no matter what her own doubts screamed.

Lucy: Thanks. I’m trying. But I’m so tense I can’t focus anymore…

Tim: Take a break?

Lucy pursed her lips. She stared at the half-finished flashcards on the table and at the highlighters strewn around in neon chaos. She was definitely due for a break, but this time Tim wasn’t around to properly distract. That’s when an idea popped into her head, and she smiled to herself as she typed.

Lucy: Celina told me I should scream into a pillow to release tension. I might do that.

She waited for the three little dots that signaled Tim was typing, but they never popped up. He didn’t even read the message, and the minutes dragged on. After five more she sent a quick ‘??’ to see if he’d answer.

Still nothing.

Scowling lightly, Lucy shoved her phone aside. She knew her booty-excuses –that’s what she’d started calling them in her head—would eventually blow up in her face. She worried her lower lip and buried her face in her hands. She was frustrated and debated whether she really should just get up and go scream into her pillow, without the aid of anyone else.

Just as she was about to get up, a sudden knock at the door nearly made her jump out of her skin. Heart pounding, Lucy approached the door, half-expecting Celina to have forgotten her keys, until she peered through the peephole.

“Tim?” she muttered, twisting the deadbolt in a hurry. She pulled the door open to find him standing there in sweats and a hoodie, the smirk on his face evident, causing a little pitter patter in her chest.

“What are you doing here?” She asked in surprise as he stepped inside when Lucy made room and turned to look at her.

“Read you needed to scream into a pillow,” he said as she closed the door. “Figured I’d drop by and offer my assistance.”

“You… came to help me scream?” Lucy felt her cheeks warm as she chuckled and noted how Tim’s smirk turned just a bit sly.

“You know I’m always game to help you,” he said, dropping his gaze to the study materials spread around the living room. “Looked like you could use a break.”

Lucy’s mouth twitched in amusement, her cheek flushing a little. Celina had joked about the pillow-screaming method with a hint of mirth, knowing exactly what she had been implying. For some reason she had clocked them having sex on April 1st, but somehow never brough it up directly again.

“You have great timing,” she said, cocking her head toward the half-finished notes. “I was seconds away from burning those flashcards.”

Tim stuffed his hands in his pockets for a moment, his eyes crinkling with mischief that he usually reserved for her. He moved over to the couch and took a look at the clutter of study materials, scanning her notes.

“Well, how about we hold off on the arson for the evening?” he said dryly. “We’ve got other ways to blow off steam.”

“So, you’re volunteering to be my screaming pillow buddy?” Lucy crossed her arms, and she grinned. Tim held her gaze, the corner of his mouth quirking.

“I’ll do whatever it takes,” he winks. “Maybe even slip into the shower.”

Lucy bites her lip as her mind flashes back to the morning where she had been studying for the detective’s exam, abandoning it as soon as Tim told her he was going to shower. It had let to a rather long, drawn out fuck session before they moved to bed and teased each other until the sun nearly set. She shivers at the memory and her eyes sparkle.

“I’d be down for that too,” she whispered, and Tim quirked an eyebrow. That familiar spark hummed between them, banishing some of Lucy’s anxiety as she found herself leaning into Tim who moved closer to her, wrapping his arms around her and pressing a kiss on her forehead. She melted into his embrace and took a deep breath, leaning her forehead against his chest.

“You know, this might be the first time in weeks I’ve relaxed at all. Guess you showed up at just the right time, huh?” She mused as she looked up at his face.

Tim’s grin softened, and he reached out, brushing the back of his fingers gently across her cheek. “We’ll make sure you get that break. And when you’re done screaming into a pillow or whatever you want to do, we can chill on the couch and watch a movie. Taking breaks is not a bad thing.”

Lucy nodded and she rose to her tip toes, arms circling his neck as she pulls him closer for a soft kiss. The two sigh and Lucy mewled when his hands caress the exposed patch of skin on her back where her shirt had ridden up.

“You always know how to make everything just a little bit better,” she admitted quietly, and she felt Tim’s grip around her waist tighten in response.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured and dipped down again to kiss her.

“How about we try that screaming thing,” she husks and Tim chuckles, twirling her in his arms and hugging her from behind as she tumbles against him.

“Lead the way,” he grins.

-

V + I

Lucy lay sprawled on her bed, the soft glow of the bedside lamp illuminating the textbook pages she was only half-studying. In two days, she would face her sergeant’s exam, a big step in her career that should have occupied every corner of her mind. But somewhere between reviewing policy guidelines and jotting down last-minute notes, she found her thoughts drifting to Tim.

It wasn’t as though she hadn’t seen him recently. They actually had spent almost every other day together since their last hook up and the time in between had been filled with teasing texts and playful banter at work. Lucy realized that each time they had to part, she really didn’t want to go.

She hugged a pillow against her chest, eyes drifting over the bold lettering of her study materials without really taking them in. Her mind couldn’t focus, and she kept wandering to Tim. She thought about the break up—how deeply it had hurt her and how she often wondered what had happened that made him walk away.

It wasn’t until he made that promise to pay her back in small doses that she started to listen to him again and reflect on the things that had gone wrong between them. She could finally acknowledge that they had both made mistakes. And while they hadn’t cleared the air completely by talking, Lucy finally felt like she was ready to listen.

Over the past few weeks, they had created a dynamic that resembled their old relationship, but somehow it had been so much better than before. Lucy turned to him for advice and Tim had finally given her a sense that she had torn down the walls he had built around his heart.

Rolling onto her back, she let out a slow sigh, staring up at the ceiling.

It hit her like a ton of bricks.

She’d already forgiven him.

The only thing holding her back was the impending sergeant’s exam. It was the final obstacle in their way of being a couple again, but right now she wasn’t sure if she wanted to wait another two days. If she could wait another two days.

Lucy wanted to be with Tim. Really be with him.

She wanted to define their relationship again. She craved the feeling of belonging, calling him home again. She wanted him to be her boyfriend again. The word was so simple on the surface, but it carried a weight of commitment and promise that she was finally ready to embrace again.

A soft fluttering sensation filled her chest, equal parts excitement and nervous energy. She pressed her palm to her chest, where her heart thumped with unspoken hope against her ribcage. She closed her eyes, allowing the anticipation to wash over her.

He had already shown her he was all in and was waiting for her. The ball was in her court to be played when she was ready. Tim had signaled more than once that he wanted to talk about what had happened but he hadn’t pushed it, because she’d kept him at arm’s length.

And at this moment Lucy knew she was done holding back, done letting the fear of messing up something good prevent them from reaching something great. So she put her book away and grabbed her phone, typing out the one message he had been waiting to receive from her.

Lucy: You wanna come over and help me study?

She glanced at her phone and her heart thrums with anticipation, but no dots appeared. She waits a few minutes, because he usually replied immediately, growing a little anxious as he leaves her un unread. Waiting a bit longer she shook her head and finally set aside her phone, trying to dive back into her notes. Highlighters and flashcards surrounded her like a makeshift fort of study materials, and she tried to focus.

If Tim was busy, he’d text back when he could.

More time ticked by, and it was nearly an hour later when Lucy realized her eyes were skimming over the same paragraph again and again. Her thoughts refused to settle, nerves jangling with every silent second that passed. She was just about to give in to the tight knot in her stomach, maybe call Tim to see what was up, when an unexpected knock at the door jolted her upright.

Her heart lurched as she got up. She heard Celina’s footsteps in the kitchen, walking to the door. Lucy paused in the doorway to her bedroom, pulse thudding in her ears as she caught Celina shooting her a glance after looking through the peephole.

The door swung open, and in the pale glow of the hallway light stood Tim, tension radiating off him. His eyes roamed the apartment as though searching for someone and his expression doesn’t change when his eyes land on Lucy.

Without wasting a second, he rushed past Celina, ignoring her as she tried to greet him. Lucy’s heart pounded harder with each step he took toward her. Celina, who had taken all of two seconds to absorb the atmosphere, arched her eyebrows in surprise.

“I’ll…just go,” she said, grabbing her keys off the counter. “Don’t wait up, either of you.”

She slipped out, shutting the door softly behind her, leaving Lucy and Tim alone in the apartment. The moment the door shut; Tim’s gaze locked fully on Lucy. Her stomach twisted in a heady mixture of emotions.

“What’s going on?” she whispered, snapping her notebook shut with a shaky breath. She shoved it onto the coffee table, trying not to notice how her hands trembled. She’d been craving this moment, but now that he was here, she felt a spike of anxiety that didn’t relate to her impending exam.

“Did you mean it?” he asked, voice rough, as though he’d been holding back a hundred things he needed to say. “What you texted me…?”

Lucy’s heart thundered in her chest as she nodded and bridged the space between them in a few swift steps. When she reached him, she placed her hands on his arms to calm herself— and him—down.

“Yes, Tim,” she said gently, lifting her hands to rest on his arms. “I mean it.”

For a split second, he just stared at her, something like disbelief mingling with relief in his eyes. Then the dam broke, and he surged forward, covering her mouth with his in a kiss so fierce, it drove the air right out of her lungs. Lucy gasped, fingers reflexively tightening on his arms as if he might vanish if she let go. She poured all her pent-up worry and longing into that moment, meeting his intensity with her own.

When they broke apart, her head spun. She could barely draw a breath, still caught in the heady press of his body. Tim’s eyes flickered with raw emotion, and she felt her heart squeeze.

“We still need to talk,” she reminded him, voice unsteady. “About… everything. What happened and where we’re going.”

He nodded, swallowing hard. “Yeah… we do.” 

Lucy exhaled slowly, grounding herself in his presence. She could practically feel his nerves rolling off him in waves. She reached for one of his hands, lacing her fingers with his. “But I need you to know right now that I love you, Tim,” she paused and pondered her words. “And… I forgive you.”

He let out a shaky breath, eyes glistening with relief, his breath stuttering when he murmured her name, making her heart feel like it might burst. She gently cupped his cheek, feeling the faint roughness of his stubble against her palm. He wanted to say something else, but Lucy shook her head, and she rose onto her toes to kiss him again

“Tomorrow,” she promised in a husky voice when they parted, her body thrumming with adrenaline and longing. Tim’s arms circled her waist, drawing her closer until not a single inch of space was left between them. She placed her hand on the center of his chest, feeling his sped-up heart beating against his sternum.

“I love you, too,” he finally rasped, and Lucy glides up to cup his cheek, her thumb caressing his cheekbone.

“I know you do,” she whispered, voice trembling with emotion as she watched tears shining in his eyes. He gave a watery smile, leaning in for another kiss. This time, when their mouths meet, a surge of electricity zings through them and Lucy coaxed his lips apart, brushing her tongue against his.

They stood there and kissed and kissed and kissed, neither wanting to part, but when Lucy’s head spun, she finally pulled away, leaning her forehead against his as she panted.

“Take me to bed,” she murmured, skimming her fingertips along the back of his neck. The tension in his muscles told her he was as overwhelmed, but just as eager as she was. “I need you.”

Tim groaned lowly and he pecked her lips before he threaded his fingers through hers. He stared right into her eyes, and he guided her gently into her back. When they reached her bedroom door, Tim pushed it shut with more force than necessary, already pulling Lucy back into his arms as if he couldn’t stand another minute to be away from her.

“I fucked up, Lucy, but I promise you that it won’t happen again. I love you so fucking much and the past few months without you…they were hell,” he murmured. Lucy felt her tears burn behind her eyes and she blinked them away while she threaded her fingers through his hair. “I missed you so much and I don’t ever wanna be apart from you again.”

“I know, babe,” she whispered. “I missed you too.”

She surged up, connecting her mouth with his as she tugged him towards the bed. She lowers herself and takes him with her, lacing their fingers together as she wrapped her thighs around him. Tim pauses for a moment and nudges her nose with his, gliding their hands over the bed to hold them above her head.

“You’re it for me, Luce,” he murmurs, “You’re the love of my life and I’ll remind you of that every single day from now on.”

Lucy’s breath hitches as she looks at him, Tim leaning down to slant his mouth over hers, both knowing that it was it.

This was the beginning of the rest of their lives.

FIN