A/n "Still coming to the terms with the news of her pregnancy, Lucy is struggling with nausea from morning sickness but also anxiety. Tim turns up at her place to check in as they continue to try and navigate this journey together."

Hello hi so I have been completely blown away about the support for the previous instalment of this series, so much so that it is now a series (on AO3, it's a multi-chapter fic on here). I am a sucker for a pregnancy arc, and it looks like others are too!

Thoughts are very much welcome - if anyone has any topics that they want to be touched on in this series then please leave a comment!

/

Unwavering Support

It's a warm Saturday in Los Angeles, with the sun shining brightly in a cloudless sky. The air is dry, and a gentle breeze carries the scent of the ocean inland. People are out enjoying the day – jogging along the beach, browsing the farmer's markets, and sipping iced coffee at outdoor cafes.

The inside of Lucy's apartment is quite the juxtaposition to this. It's quiet, almost too quiet, and dark from how she's kept the curtains drawn. She lives simply with a mismatch of furniture styles and a couch, where she lays now, that she found at a flea market. She remembers trying to get it up here with John and Jackson which was a real struggle. It was like that scene out of Friends, something that was obvious to her but made even more so by Nolan yelling out, "Pivot!"

This is not how she planned to spend her Saturday though. Lying on the couch, watching reality TV on repeat whilst bundled under a blanket. Her original plans were to go shopping with Tamara to look for maternity clothes, grab supplies from the grocery store to batch cook for what looks like will be a busy week on the job, and continue reading her various parenting books. She's not even three months along but she's already cramming her brain with as much knowledge as possible because of how important it is.

She's not doing any of this though because of the waves of nausea that have not relinquished all day. Lucy tries to remind herself that it will all be worth it, but that's hard to reason when feeling like this.

Lucy is snuggled under a soft, worn blanket that she's had since her college days. Her favourite sweater, oversized and frayed at the sleeves, provides extra comfort as she tries to block out the swirling thoughts and anxieties that have plagued her all morning. The faint sounds of traffic outside are a distant hum, but inside, her mind is far from peaceful.

Suddenly, a knock on the door breaks through her thoughts. She groans, not in the mood for company, but reluctantly pushes the blanket aside and drags herself up from the couch before switching off the TV. As she shuffles toward the door, she catches a glimpse of herself in the small mirror hanging on the wall – pale, with dark circles under her eyes, clearly not ready for visitors.

Peering through the peephole, Lucy's brow furrows in surprise. Tim is standing on the other side, unannounced. Yes, it may not be unusual for him to be at her place, but that stopped when they separated… Well, apart from when he dropped her back home after her brief hospital visit. She shakes away the unnerving feelings and after a brief hesitation, she unlocks the door and pulls it open, greeting him with a mixture of curiosity and caution in her eyes. "Hey." He greets simply whilst clutching a brown paper bag of what she assumes are groceries.

"What are you doing here?" Her mind is so frazzled that she forgets to say hello, but she does step aside allowing him to enter.

"Juarez mentioned you're not feeling too good today. So I thought I'd come over and check in." Tim explains and closes the door with the sole of his shoe, his arms busy with the over-full grocery bag.

"She messaged you?"

"No, I saw her at the station." He clarifies. "Grey called me in briefly because of an old fugitive has surface that I'm familiar with." Lucy looks back at him with a flash of fear to expression, thinking about everything that happened that led to their break-up. It was an extreme situation sure, but it really is no surprise that she's not finding it easy to trust him. Tim deciphers what's got her panicked though and is quickly reassuring, "It's nothing to be concerned about. Promise."

"Okay." She looks down at her fluffy-sock-covered feet, ashamed that she allowed her insecurities to make what should be a completely innocent situation awkward.

Lucy longs for the day when things stop feeling awkward between them. She doesn't know what she wants that to look like, she doesn't know if she will ever trust him enough again that they can go back to how things were, she doesn't even know if she wants that. What she does know, is that there's life growing inside her thanks to him and they need to make the best of it. She doesn't want to bring a child into a difficult situation or conflict.

She chews her bottom lip anxiously before catching herself and forcing herself to stop by bringing her eyes back up to meet his. "What's in the bag?"

Tim smiles. It's the kind of smile that used to throw her off when he was her TO and she his Boot, but then when their relationship shifted it made butterflies soar in her stomach. It would bring her comfort on tough days, it would make her feel adored, it would help her forget her troubles even just for a few seconds. Now, it makes her confused. Confused because she doesn't understand her thoughts and feelings for him currently.

He does have a nice smile and perhaps she should count herself lucky that she's one of the people who actually gets to witness it. "Well when Celina said you weren't feeling great I realised that you probably won't be able to do your usual Saturday grocery shop so I got you some stuff to tie you over until tomorrow." Tim reveals whilst wandering around the kitchen island to put the bulging bag on the countertop. "But I couldn't decide what you would like so I got a lot of different options. All pregnancy safe of course."

Now she's able to smile too, albeit weakly, already grateful for his generosity without even knowing exactly what he has procured for her. "Like what?"

"Err… salmon, turkey, sweet potatoes, quinoa, vegetable stir-fry mix, asparagus…" He reels off, his blue eyes pointed upwards as he attempts to remember everything that he had in his cart. "Peppers, because I know you like your stuffed peppers, strawberries, soup, ginger tea, and some whole grain bread, an avocado and eggs for your breakfast tomorrow." He may just be listing items of food, but every word that comes out of his mouth has tears starting to well. "Oh and that mandarin sorbet you like." When his gaze is next fused with her, he frowns. He doesn't need to be a detective to have spotted how he has moved her. "I hope you don't think I am over-stepping."

Lucy feels the dam inside her break, and the tears come rushing out like a flood, overwhelming and unstoppable. "Lucy…" Tim mutters and takes an unconscious step forward, wanting to wrap both his strong arms around her, letting her sob into his shirt, but knowing that it probably wouldn't be appropriate.

This is made clear by her raising her hands, warning him not to come near. "Sorry. It's just nice being looked after." Yet she admits something so vulnerably honest that it is now him who feels like crying.

"Well I am always around if you need me. You know that, right?"

Lucy's arms have snaked tightly around herself. Her eyes, glassy from tears, anxiously dart to the floor, avoiding Tim's eyeline. She bites her lower lip, trying to hold back another wave of emotion, and her fingers fidget with the hem of her sweater. In this moment, she seems smaller, as if the weight of her worries have pressed her down, leaving her exposed and fragile. "Doesn't that make things complicated between us?" She asks in a tiny voice that can barely be heard.

"We are having a baby together. I don't think me feeding you every-so-often is going to make things more complicated than that, do you?" He questions in reply but so kindly that Lucy's heart pangs. "Now, put your feet up. I will sort all this out."

Tim moves around the kitchen space, his voice filling the small apartment as he begins unpacking the groceries. He chatters on about the case that brought him into work on a Saturday (even if it was briefly), his tone animated as he recounts his previous interactions with the fugitive, the rustle of the grocery bag punctuating his words.

Lucy, feeling a bit more at ease but still emotionally drained, retreats back to the couch. She tucks herself under the blanket again, pulling it up to her chin as she reclines against the arm of the chair, giving her a good view to follow Tim's movements as he goes about his task. Though she remains quiet, her ears tune into his voice, the familiar rhythm of his prattle providing a soothing background to her thoughts. She feels a strange comfort in his presence, knowing he is here, talking about his day, even as she cocoons herself in her blanket, trying to hide from the world.

"Oh I almost forgot." Tim murmurs, halting his previous line of conversation as he pulls a small packet out the bottom of the now empty bag. "I bought these vitamins because they have a picture of a pregnant lady on the front which must mean they're good."

"Thank you. I have been meaning to get some."

"Contains 19 vitamins and minerals. Sounds like a lot." Tim muses. "I will put them in your medicine cabinet."

Lucy is so drained that it doesn't hit her the risks of him doing so. It feels so normal him wandering around her apartment that she has seemed to have forgotten that even though she's pregnant with his child, there are things about her life that he is no longer in the loop about. It is him emerging from the bathroom, holding up a small amber bottle of pills, with an expression that has shifted from casual to concerned that refreshes her memory. Every muscle in her body tenses.

He turns it over in his hand, reading the label just to make sure it doesn't belong to her roommate, his brows knitting together in confusion when seeing it is her name. "Are you taking Prozac?" He asks, his voice tinged with shock and a hint of panic. His eyes flick to Lucy, who is still huddled under her blanket, her face half-hidden but clearly caught off guard by his discovery.

"Yeah." She somehow utters but grips the edge of the blanket tighter.

"Is it safe?" Tim's voice softens, but the worry is evident as he takes a step closer. His gaze drops to her stomach, his concern not just for her but for the life growing inside her. The room, which had felt comforting just moments ago, suddenly seems heavier, thick with unspoken fears. Lucy can see the questions flowing through his mind, and her heart sinks, knowing she needs to explain, but unsure of how to ease his worry.

"It's safe. I-I promise. I checked." She stammers. "Please don't shout at me."

He blinks at her with a sigh that appears to alleviate some of his strain. "I'm not going to shout at you. I'm sorry." Lucy nods at this, seemingly accepting his apology. "Can I sit?"

"Yeah, okay."

Tim walks over to the couch, taking a seat at Lucy's feet, his movements slow and deliberate. He places the bottle of pills on the coffee table with a gentle thud, his eyes lingering on it for a moment before noticing the box of tissues beside it. A few crumpled tissues are scattered nearby, evidence of Lucy's earlier tears. The sight of them tugs at his heart, making the worry in his chest tighten. He glances back at Lucy, her vulnerability more evident than ever, and feels a surge of protectiveness, mixed with the uncertainty of how to help her through whatever she was facing. "Have you been crying?"

When he made the decision to come over here, it was because Celina had mentioned her feeling sick, probably morning sickness, and he knew what his mission was, to make her feel better, but this is more complicated. "Earlier. It's just hormones." Lucy replies nonchalantly, making out it is nothing.

"That answer isn't going to wash with me." It wasn't before and it certainly isn't now, not with him grasping that whatever is going on runs deep. "Talk to me."

"I don't know where to start."

"How about we start with the Prozac, and then we can go from there?"

He makes it seem simple, it is one of his many skills being able to straighten her wavy thoughts, and after a deep breath (or two) Lucy finds her voice. "It's only been a few weeks. I started to realise that the nausea wasn't just morning sickness but the added bonus of anxiety. My doctor suggested I go on it to help. I disagreed at first, but things weren't getting any better." She pauses on realising that she's been rambling to take yet another deep breath whilst he continues to be nothing but patient. "I was on it briefly after… after what happened with Caleb." Lucy reveals and feels how her mouth immediately goes dry. "I've never declared any of this to the department."

"I don't care about that." Tim decides but then he's retracting his statement. "Actually, I do a bit because I was your TO when the Caleb stuff went down, and I would have liked to have known in case… I don't know in case something happened." He flusters and forces himself to look away from Lucy's beautiful doe-eyed stare. "That doesn't matter now though. What matters is that you get better."

"I know because of the effect this is all having on our baby." Tim opens his mouth to interject but Lucy doesn't let him. "High levels of stress and anxiety can lead premature birth, low birth weight, developmental delays, cognitive issues, nervous system development, and then there's-"

"Hey Lucy, it's okay. Take a breath." He now interrupts and finds himself resting a hand affectionately on her knee. "I can't believe I am saying this but maybe you should cool it on the reading."

Lucy sighs. "I just… I just want to be a good mom." There's a crack to her tone when she admits this. "I told my mother two weeks ago about the baby. Her reaction has been confusing. I can tell she's disappointed with me, yet she cares. About the baby not me so much."

"I am sure that's not true." Tim attempts to reassure but he too is confused. "Why would she be disappointed? I thought she wanted to be a grandparent."

"Because I am having the baby out of wedlock. Because I am not with the father of my child. Because she thinks I won't be able to support my child, that we won't be able to support our child, due to the line of work we are in." Lucy reels. "A few days after I told her, she turned up with a stack of real estate listings not for here but in Hawaii because her and my dad are moving there."

"Wait… What?" He stutters out with fear abruptly rising within him at just the thought of his baby and the woman he still loves moving over two-and-a-half thousand miles away.

"Obviously I am not going to Hawaii. It's not what I want, and I wouldn't do that to you." Thankfully Lucy is swift to add, and he senses the relief in his next exhale. "She then started talking about us getting back together and getting married. Saying how she found a lovely dress making brand that's good for maternity wedding dresses. When I told her that it isn't going to happen, she went on some rant about how I am going to have a baby that I don't share a name with. Made out that would be the worst thing I have ever done." She halts her rant and takes a shuddering deep breath before sadly admitting, "Tim, she makes me feel like a failure."

"Lucy…" He sits up straighter as if to highlight the importance of what he's about to say. "You're not, I repeat, not a failure." Tim states firmly. "Things happen and yes we didn't plan to have a baby, but we are, and we are going to be great parents."

"How can you know that?"

"I don't know. I just do." He shrugs with a relaxing casualness. "What about Bradford-Chen? For the little one's last name." Yet still he keeps the helpful suggestions coming effortlessly.

Lucy manages a smile. "I think that would work."

"Me too." Tim stretches as he gets up from the couch, giving Lucy's knee a light squeeze before heading to the kitchen. "I'll make you some of that ginger tea. It might help with your nausea." He says, his voice carrying a note of care as wanders to the kitchen area. The sound of cupboards opening and the clinking of cups soon follow, a familiar and comforting routine.

Left alone on the couch, Lucy sinks deeper into the cushions, the warmth from their shared moment fading slightly as her thoughts begin to drift. She can't help but imagine how different things would be if they were still together as a couple. She pictures Tim being there with her every step of the way – his hand resting protectively over hers as they felt the baby's first kicks, his reassuring presence at every doctor's appointment, and the shared joy in planning for their future as a family.

It still would have been a shock getting pregnant sure, but maybe he could have been there as she waited for the test to show the result. Maybe he would have embraced her with a wide grin when they found out that two was going to become three. Maybe he would have guessed sooner that her sickness bug wasn't a sickness bug but the miracle of life.

A pang of bittersweet longing stirs in her chest. The path they are on now feels uncertain, uncharted, and she wonders if it will ever feel as secure as it once had. The idea of navigating this journey alone has been daunting, but seeing Tim here, involved and caring, makes the ache of what could have been even sharper.

The whistling of the kettle pulls her back to the present, and she watches as he returns with not one but two steaming mugs of ginger tea, his eyes full of a quiet concern that makes her heart ache even more. "You've gone for the tea too?" She questions as he slides them onto the coffee table.

"Thought I'd give it a try, but it does smell awful."

"It's not that bad. Plus, it helps." It's become her staple beverage since not being able to drink coffee. That and apple juice – but that might actually be a craving. "Do you think it is too soon to be buying stuff for the baby? It's just that Lopez mentioned a sale at a baby store which I was going to check out today."

"Is it online? We could look together now. I've got my credit card on me."

"You know we are doing everything 50-50, right?"

"I know. Is your laptop in the bedroom?" She nods. "I'll go and grab it."

Lucy and Tim settle closely on the couch, a comforting silence wrapping around them as they both focus on the laptop Tim had set on his lap. The screen illuminates their faces with soft, flickering light, displaying an array of colourful baby items on sale. Tim scrolls through the listings with a mixture of curiosity and excitement, occasionally pointing out items and making light-hearted comments about their choices. His tone is warm and steady, a welcome contrast to the earlier tension.

Lucy sits beside him, her posture relaxed but her hand resting subconsciously on her abdomen. Even though she is only in the early stages of pregnancy, with the baby no larger than a lime, she can already feel a subtle firmness in that area. She gently presses her fingers against the spot, her touch light and affectionate. The slight hardness beneath her fingertips is a comforting reminder of the life growing inside her. As she does this, she glances over at Tim, who is absorbed in the laptop screen, his eyes crinkling with a smile as he comments on a cute onesie. "Look it has ears. Our baby would look like a teddy bear."

"When I thought about looking at this sale, I was thinking for furniture." Tim pouts earning a roll of Lucy's eyes. "Add it to the basket."

The soft hum of the laptop and Tim's murmured commentary creates a cosy backdrop, blending with the warmth of the afternoon sun filtering through the blinds. Lucy's anxieties seem to recede a little as she shares this small, hopeful moment with him. Their shoulders occasionally brush, and despite the subtle tension that still lingers from earlier, there is a sense of calm in their shared focus. Tim's presence and the quiet companionship they offer each other provides a gentle reassurance, making the future feel a little brighter as they imagine the days to come. "We will look at furniture now."

"Wait." She states and he does pause with a dipping of his brow. "Where are we even going to put this stuff? We haven't talked about… the living situation."

"Do you want to talk about that?" He asks calmly but she's already shaking her head.

"Not right now." Lucy feels her breath shudder. "My heart just sped up at just the thought."

"Then we will park that for another day. For now anything can go in my garage." He decides which she's happy about. "Look they have these nursery sets that include a crib, dresser changer and a wardrobe."

"How will we know what colour to get?"

"White will kind of go anywhere."

"Or natural." She murmurs and then points at one of the sets with a slight extension of her finger. "Look at this one with the curved edges and the olive accents." Her eyes light up… until she spies to price tag. "Oh my god, Tim it's almost a thousand dollars."

"Reduced by 40%. That's a bargain." He reasons, "Plus it's three pieces of furniture."

"That will come flatpack."

"I'm good at flatpack." Of course he is… although Lucy is struggling to tell if he's being serious or not thanks to the cheeky glint in his eye. "Come on, let's get it. We could have a jungle themed nursery. It would go with the green." He envisions with his appearance quickly turning dreamy as he talks out loud to himself. "I could go to Home Depot next weekend to look at paint samples…"

"I think you're jumping the gun slightly there." Lucy says but in such a tender manner. "But we should get them, you're right." Tim doesn't need to be told twice; he adds them to the basket. Lucy isn't looking at the screen anymore but his serene expression. "You seem very calm about all this. It would make sense if you weren't, you know."

"At this very second in time, I am calm because you're here sitting next to me, and it has made me realise that everything is going to be okay. We can do this." He confesses with an air of determination. "There have been moments since finding out when I've not been so calm, but I think that's natural. I actually talked some stuff through with Angela which helped."

"Yeah? Like what?"

"Cost of childcare, where are the safest areas for the little one's childhood, which schools are good, the risks associate with our jobs…" He lists assuredly but then some of that sureness falters as he looks down at his fingertips tapping the edge of the laptop keyboard before he's peering back up at her. "And also, even though I want to be a dad I have this… worry that because of my upbringing I won't be the best at it."

Tim's admission hangs in the air between them, raw and unguarded. Lucy watches him quietly, her own thoughts swirling as she tries to process what he has just revealed. There's a lot that she knows about his upbringing but there's also so much she doesn't know. But hearing him voice his fears about fatherhood, about potentially repeating the mistakes of his own father, makes her see him in a new, vulnerable light.

She takes a moment, her mind racing with thoughts about their situation, their future, and the kind of father Tim could be. Despite the unresolved tension in their relationship, she knows him well enough to see the goodness in him – the way he cares, his instinct to protect, and the gentle moments they have shared.

Lucy realises that, beneath his doubts, Tim is someone who can break the cycle of his past. He already is, just by worrying about it. Slowly, she reaches out and takes his hand, letting the warmth of his skin ground her in the moment. The gesture is simple, but it speaks volumes. It is her way of telling him that she believes in him, in his ability to be a good father, regardless of their current relationship. For now, it doesn't matter where they stand as a couple or not a couple; what matters is the connection between them in this shared journey toward parenthood. "Tim, you could have talked to me about this."

"I know. I just… didn't want to dump on you when we are still figuring things out." His honesty is refreshing, and so is how he has softened around his eyes from just having his hand held. "This isn't me trying to keep things from you, I learnt my lesson on that one, but I guess I was waiting to see where we stood and how we felt in each other's company. I think we're okay which is why I am telling you now."

"We are okay. Mainly." She produces a lopsided smile that he mirrors. "Thank you for telling me." Lucy gives his hand a reassuring squeeze. "I know I've told you this before, but you're nothing like your father. It hasn't once gone through my head that you could be like that with our child."

"Okay, good."

After a moment of shared silence, Lucy gently pulls her hand away from Tim's, the connection between them lingering in the air for just a second longer. She clears her throat softly, trying to shift the mood as she turns her attention back to the laptop screen. With a slight, purposeful movement, she points at the link for car seats. "We should probably start looking at these." She says, her voice steady but tinged with a subtle undercurrent of emotion. It is a practical focus, a way to ease back into the familiar rhythm of planning for their baby, sidestepping the heavier conversation they've just had.

The total bill ends up being just shy of two grand, an eye-watering amount even though it's absolutely necessary. Tim sets the delivery address for his home and uses his credit card, but Lucy is immediately transferring him half of the funds. He decides that it isn't worth the debate but hopes that one day they'll be in a position where this won't even have to be considered.

Lucy's stomach suddenly rumbles loudly, breaking the silence with an unmistakable growl. Her cheeks flush with embarrassment, and she quickly glances at Tim, hoping he hadn't noticed. But the sound was too obvious to ignore, and she lets out a nervous laugh, instinctively placing a hand over her abdomen as if to quiet the noise. "Sorry." she murmurs, her voice tinged with self-consciousness.

"Don't be sorry. It's lucky I bought food, eh?"

"Yeah…" She trails and tucks a loose lock of her dark hair nervously behind her ear before she's riskily asking, "Is there enough for two, for any of the food options?"

"Yes. Definitely the salmon." He beams.

"Will you stay to eat with me?" And the questions keep coming but how he chuckles is a clear indication that he doesn't mind. "And will you cook it?"

"Of course. I will marinate the salmon and bake it with homemade sweet potato fries and asparagus. How about that?"

"Sounds nice." Lucy agrees and immediately Tim is getting back up, grabbing their drained mugs as he does. "Tim…" He pauses to give her all of his attention. "I am glad you came over."

"Me too."