Chapter Text
Two weeks later, Lucy found herself nervously fiddling with the hem of her oversized sweatshirt as she stood in Tim's backyard. At 22 weeks pregnant, her belly had grown undeniably round, and she still hadn't told Tim about the babies' kicks. It was selfish, she knew, but she liked keeping those little flutters as her own secret moments—for now. She wasn't ready to share them just yet.
Tim, ever the attentive best friend, had set up the backyard with a table, a couple of comfortable chairs, and an array of snacks. He'd even prepared her favorite herbal tea, knowing caffeine was off the table. She gave him a grateful smile as he poured her a steaming cup.
"Alright," Tim said, settling into his chair across from her, "it's time we talk about everything. No more avoiding it."
Lucy nodded, taking a sip of her tea to steady her nerves. "Yeah, we need to figure this out. I mean, we're... halfway there, Tim. These babies will be here before we know it."
Tim's lips quirked into a half-smile. "It's crazy to think about, isn't it? Two babies."
"Two," Lucy echoed, her voice tinged with awe and disbelief. "Sometimes it still doesn't feel real."
Tim leaned back, running a hand through his hair. "So, let's start with the basics. We agreed to co-parent, right? That hasn't changed?"
"Right," Lucy affirmed. "But... I think we need to iron out some details. Like, where they're going to live, how we're going to split time, that kind of stuff."
Tim nodded thoughtfully. "Makes sense. Okay, first few weeks, obviously they'll be with you. You're breastfeeding, and newborns need their mom. But I'd like to stay over at your place during that time. Not permanently, but... a few days, maybe a few weeks, to help out. Bond with them. Be there for you, too."
Lucy's eyes widened in surprise. "You want to stay with us?"
"Yeah," Tim said, looking at her as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Lucy, I don't want to miss those first moments with them. And I want to make sure you're not overwhelmed. Taking care of twins isn't exactly a one-person job."
"I just... I didn't think you'd want to do that," Lucy admitted, her voice soft. "I thought you'd visit a couple of times a week and wait until they're old enough to stay with you."
Tim frowned. "Why would you think that? We're in this together, Lucy. I'm not going to be some part-time dad who drops by for playdates. These are my kids, too."
Lucy's heart squeezed at his words. She didn't realize how much she'd needed to hear that until now. "Okay," she said, her lips curving into a small smile. "You can stay. But you're sleeping on the couch."
Tim chuckled. "Deal."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the warm evening breeze rustling the leaves of the nearby trees. Then Tim cleared his throat.
"About splitting time," he said, his tone more serious now. "I think we should wait until they're a little older to make any permanent arrangements. Let's see how things go during those first few months. We'll figure out what works best for them and for us."
"I agree," Lucy said. "It's hard to plan something so big when we don't even know what life with twins will look like yet."
"Exactly," Tim said, nodding. "We'll play it by ear and make adjustments as needed. But in the meantime, I want to be as involved as possible. Diaper changes, feedings, midnight wake-ups—I'm in."
Lucy raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Even the midnight wake-ups? You sure about that?"
Tim smirked. "I've survived the army, rookie training and overnight stakeouts. I think I can handle a couple of crying babies."
"We'll see about that," Lucy said with a laugh. "But seriously, Tim, I appreciate you wanting to be so hands-on. It means a lot."
Tim's expression softened. "You're my best friend, Lucy. And these babies... they're everything to me. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you or for them."
Lucy felt a lump form in her throat at his words. She blinked back tears, suddenly overwhelmed by the depth of his commitment. "Thank you, Tim," she said quietly. "For everything."
Tim reached across the table and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "We've got this, Luce. Together."
They spent the rest of the evening discussing smaller details—what kind of cribs to get, whether they should hire a night nurse, how to baby-proof Lucy's apartment. Tim even pulled out his phone to show Lucy the baby app he'd been using.
"This week, they're the size of... a papaya," Tim announced, holding up the screen.
Lucy laughed, shaking her head. "You and your fruit comparisons. It's cute, though."
Tim grinned. "Hey, it helps me visualize. Plus, it's fun. Speaking of which..." He reached into the bag he'd brought and pulled out an actual papaya. "I figured we could snack on it while we talk."
Lucy burst out laughing. "You're unbelievable."
"You love it," Tim teased, slicing the fruit and handing her a piece.
As the evening wore on, Lucy felt a sense of peace she hadn't experienced in weeks. For the first time, she truly believed that they could do this—raise these babies together, as best friends and partners in parenting. It wouldn't be easy, but with Tim by her side, she knew they could handle anything that came their way.
By the time Lucy left Tim's house that night, her heart felt lighter. They still had a lot to figure out, but one thing was certain: they were in this together, and that made all the difference.