It's a Girl
A little something that could just possibly happen in s8…
Tremendous thanks to my amazingly patient betas, ginchy-amanda and my-little-yellowbird, for both challenging and trusting me on this one.
Chapter 1
As evening turned to night and Shelagh folded the last few items of clothing from the laundry basket, she reflected that this was one of her least dreaded chores. Folding them meant that the task of laundry was soon to be completed and it was always a joy to tidy the precious tiny clothes that belonged to Teddy and Angela. Picking up a larger item that was clearly Timothy's, she began to wonder what was going on with him these past few weeks. He was staying out later on a somewhat regular basis and the explanation was either extra orchestra practise or some social event with scouts that inexplicably involved the Girls' Brigade, usually over on the far side of the district, nearer to his school.
She voiced her concerns, "Patrick, you don't think Tim is spending his time so far from home so he can get up to mischief where no one will recognise him, do you?"
"Of course not, Shelagh," he replied, looking up from The Lancet, "he's a sensible lad and has a long track record of doing what is right."
"That's true," she agreed, breathing a sigh of relief. "You always know just what to say to make me feel better, dearest." Noting his smile of appreciation she returned to her work with a lighter heart.
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On the afternoon of the following day, Shelagh entered Timothy's room to deliver his freshly washed and folded clothes, intending to leave them on his bed to be put away at his convenience. Oh, is this what a tidy bed looks like to you, Timothy? Shaking her head, she straightened the sheets and blankets but discovered a lump underneath; reaching in she extracted a winter scarf in a lovely green, yellow and lavender plaid.
"Mum!" Tim was at the bedroom door, his face twisted in irritation.
She turned to him and held out the scarf. "I'm sorry, Timothy, I was just tidying your bed. I didn't mean to invade your privacy."
He just looked at her, then took the scarf and tossed it onto his desk. "I got it from Jack," he said in response to the question she hadn't asked, "remember when he gave me some jumpers and things he'd grown out of?"
"Yes," she said slowly, "but I remember laundering all of those and this one wasn't with them."
"No, it was," he countered, nonchalantly.
"I wouldn't think lavender was his color," she noted. He stilled at that observation. "Timothy," she touched his arm and looked directly into his eyes, "is there something you're not telling me?"
He sighed and looked away. "Well, I was going to wait a little longer to bring it up…" he struggled to get the words out.
"Yes?" She replied, trying to keep the nervousness out of her voice.
Another sigh, then sheepishly, "...I have a girlfriend."
"Oh," she answered, making sure she maintained her composure, yet relieved at the relatively benign admission. "Well, that's nice, Timothy. What's her name? Where did you meet her?"
"Her name is Debbie. I met her when the Scouts went to the fun fair with the Girls' Brigade."
"That's lovely, Timothy," she encouraged, "When do we get to meet her?"
"You're taking this very well," he said suspiciously.
"Why wouldn't I?" She continued to hold her stance as supportive mum.
"What about 'you should be focusing on your school work' or 'you're too young for this'?" Tim was prepared for the worst.
She smiled her reassurance, "Timothy, you're 16 years old; it's perfectly appropriate for you to have a special girl in your life."
"Well Dad's not going to be this cool about it," Tim huffed.
"Whyever not?"
His trademark eye roll made an appearance. "Either he'll launch into one of his Dr Turner lectures about 'responsible courting' or he'll take the opportunity to tease me relentlessly."
"Tim, you're not giving your father enough credit; he'll be pleased for you, just as I am. Besides, he was your age once, I happen to know he had a sweetheart or two at the time."
Tim rolled his eyes again, then smirked, "I'll bet you didn't."
"I wasn't born in the habit, Timothy," she lightheartedly scolded. "But you're essentially correct; I wasn't as…confident at your age as your father was."
Tim nodded his understanding before asking tentatively, "Are you going to tell him?"
"I really think it should be you, Tim, but I won't be able to keep it from him for long; do you think you can be ready to tell him by tomorrow night?"
"I guess I'll have to be," he groaned, retrieving the scarf and then slumping onto the bed.
"Good. Now put your clothes away and please make an effort to be neater with your bed, dearest."
"I will...and Mum?"
"Yes, Timothy?"
"Thanks."
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That night couldn't have come soon enough for Shelagh. Even though she knew she would wait for Timothy to share his news with Patrick, she was hoping she could prepare him to receive said news favorably, for Timothy's sake. All afternoon her thoughts and emotions had been in a whirl. As much as Tim's confession made her mourn for his boyhood, another part of her delighted to see him take another step into adulthood. Similarly she couldn't help but feel a soft spot for the young woman who had developed a fondness for her son. A giggle rose up with yet another reaction to this unanticipated situation; did Tim really have any right to be upset that Patrick might tease him? Surely he must realise it might be time for him to reap what he had been sowing all these years.
Propping herself up against the headboard, she paged through the latest issue of the British Medical Journal while waiting for Patrick to finish his bedtime routine. Her mind occupied with today's revelation, she didn't hear him come in.
"Find anything interesting?" he asked, with a bit of a smirk.
"No, not really," she said, placing the periodical and her glasses on the nightstand, nearly missing his look of disappointment as he slid in next to her. She pursed her lips and tutted, "Patrick, please, I have something I want to talk to you about."
"All right, what is it?" he inquired, the regret on his face turning to concern.
"Timothy and I had a particular conversation today and he wants to tell you about it himself tomorrow evening." She saw his expression change immediately. "It's nothing to be troubled over," she quickly added to soothe his unease, "it's just not my place to share it with you."
"Then why bring it up?" he wondered.
"Well," and she took his hand in hers, "your teenage son will be taking the opportunity to speak with you and I want you to consider in advance how you will respond."
His eyebrows furrowed. "How I will respond?"
"Well, yes," she continued gently, "Timothy's at an age where our reactions can determine how much he wants to communicate with us. We both need to respond in a way that encourages future conversations. Promise me you'll try to see things from his perspective and remember what it was like to be his age?"
"I do try," he insisted.
"I know you do," she reassured him, placing her hand on his cheek, "just continue that tomorrow night. As long as there are no surprise call outs, we can sit down with Tim after the little ones are tucked up in bed."
"And you're certain I don't need to be nervous about this 'conversation'?"
"Completely," and she followed her assertion with a sweet kiss. "Lights out, then," she instructed, and slid under the bedding.
He turned out the lamp and joined her, bringing her under his arm so she could lay her head on his shoulder. "Shelagh, why is it that you can tempt me with only a bit of information and then let it go, but if the situation were reversed you wouldn't let me sleep until I told you?"
"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about," she giggled softly into his chest. "Now, good night, dearest."
With a slightly defeated sigh he kissed the top of her head, pulled her closer to him and wished her good night as well.
A/N: I had a lot of fun writing about Tim's first love, but I want to reassure everyone that you don't need to worry about me messing with certain CtM fanfiction canon. This is just Tim's first girlfriend, and while she may make it through to the end of this story, you can rest assured that she won't be around forever...because, as we all know, Tim marries Julie! (If you don't know what I'm talking about, see lovetheturners epic story, Unexpected, and the prequels.)