Work Text
It starts out as a joke, they were just discussing what they were going to be for Halloween (much to Tim’s chagrin.) He wasn’t agreeing to anything Lucy suggested and she was getting a little frustrated with him. “Then you suggest something.” She says indignantly. Tim gives her a look, and she shrugs her shoulders. “Okay—” He says. “How about—” He trails off because he wants to say nothing. He wasn’t going to dress up for a kid’s holiday but maybe he could have some fun. Lucy raises her eyebrows and he knows she’s waiting for his answer. “How about you be my wife.” He says before he can stop himself. Lucy’s jaw drops a little, and he squirms nervously in his seat. The truth is, he has been planning to ask Lucy to marry him for a few weeks now. He has the ring and he has a plan but it never was the right moment. He just needs the right moment. “What?” She asks looking bewildered. “Your wife—” “Yes.” He says. “My wife and I will be the husband.” He leans back casually in his seat as if he didn’t just ask Lucy to be his wife for Halloween.
As if it a normal thing to do.
“As a costume?” She asks. “I would wear white and—” Tim nods his head, although this wasn’t how he planned on asking her to marry him. But now it’s out there, now that planted it in her mind maybe—“Yes or—” He pauses and she’s going to really think he’s gone insane. “Or it could be real.” Lucy’s jaw drops again, and she scoots closer to him.“You want me to be your wife?” She asks almost in disbelief. He nods his head, and scoots closer to her, he reaches out to run his fingers down her face memorizing the feel of it. “Yes, of course I do.” He says. “We could go get married at the court house, and then dress up as husband and wife at the party and celebrate with our friends.”“Who are you and what have you done with Tim Bradford?” She asks incredulously. Tim laughs, and gets up from the sofa. If he’s going to do this, he might as well do it right.“I will be right back.” He says. He feels Lucy’s eyes on his back, as he leaves the room. He finds the ring (safely hidden in his sock drawer), and then walks back out to the living room where Lucy is waiting.He takes a deep breath, and then gets down on one knee. “Lucy, I know this is crazy but I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to marry you and argue about whether or not to dress up for Halloween. And you know I will let you win every time. So what do you say? Will you marry me?” Lucy is silent and still as she stares down at Tim, tears filling her eyes. He shifts a little wondering if he did something wrong and then— She’s on the floor with him, peppering his face with kisses. “Yes Tim.” She breathes and his shoulders relax a little. I will marry you.” He breathes a sigh of relief and then slips the engagement ring on her finger. “Thank god.” He says. She pulls back to look at him, her eyes full of awe as she studies him.“You really want to get married at the courthouse?” She asks. Tim tucks some hair behind her ear, and nods. He would marry Lucy anywhere at any time. “I do.” He says. “But we can do whatever you want to do Luce. If you want a big wedding—” Lucy shakes her head, and gives him a kiss on the lips letting her lips hover over his for a few seconds. “No.” She says. “I want to marry you now. And then we can invite all our friends and have a part and—”“Surprise them?” Tim finishes for her and really this started out as a joke but now—“That sounds perfect.” She says. She puts her hand on his chest where her engagement ring sparkles. “Really?” He asks. “It’s kind of a crazy idea.” She shrugs her shoulders, and he stands up pulling her with him.“Alright,” he says. “I guess it’s time to start planning a party.” Lucy grins at him, and he can’t help but kiss her again. And he got this for the rest of his life, and it was oh so sweet.***They get married at the courthouse, a week after Tim proposes and it also happens to be the same day as the party on Halloween. It was quick party planning on Lucy’s part but she managed to pull it all together.“It’s a costume party.” She says to Angela and Nyla who just raise their eyebrows at her. “7pm don’t be late.”Tim watches as Lucy, hands the invitations to everyone. He told her to just spread it around without the invitations but she insisted this was more formal.They planned to go to the courthouse after work, get married and then throw the after party. It wasn’t lost on him that this was an insane idea. But the more he thought about it, the more he wants it to happen. Lucy glances over her shoulder and sees him watching. She smiles at him, and the walks over with a soft smile on her face.“Hi.” She says. “Are you ready for this?” He nods and he’s well aware they are at work but all he wants to do is gather Lucy in his arms. “I am.” He says. “Are you ready?” Lucy blinks at him and then reaches out to squeeze his hand.“Ready to marry you?” She asks. “Absolutely.” He grins and gives her hand a squeeze before she steps away. “See you at the courthouse.” She whispers and then she’s turning her back.
He sighs happily, and yeah he’s in love.
***The courthouse wedding is quick and no nonsense. They both say their vows, and then pledge their love to each and slip the rings on. Lucy is in a simple white dress, and he’s in a tux that Lucy dug out of his closet. It’s not anything fancy, but Tim wouldn’t want it any other way.They step out onto the courthouse steps, hand in hand. “So now what?” Lucy asks. Tim leans over and gives her a kiss.“Now we go and tell our friends we are married.” He says. “While they are all dressed up in costumes. Lucy giggles and pulls him down the steps, Tim follows his wife because he would follow her anywhere.
His wife.
“Wait,” Tim pulls her to a stop and he gets on her level as he looks down at her. “What?” Lucy asks. Tim doesn’t answer, just looks at her and he can’t believe this is real. “I just want to soak this in.” He says softly and brushes some of her hair out of her face. She gives him a soft smile and pulls him down for a kiss. “We have the rest of our lives for that babe.” She says. “Come on. We can’t be late to our own party.” Tim huffs out a laugh but allows himself to be pulled down the steps.
The rest of their lives. He likes the sound of that.
***Tim and Lucy arrive at their house just before the first guest arrives. And then more start arriving all dressed in different costumes. Angela pauses at the door when she sees Lucy, her eyebrows raised.“What are you suppose to be?” She asks. And then Tim is next to her, and Angela looks even more confused.“Husband and wife.” Lucy says casually flashing Tim a smile. He grins at her, and his eyes go to her wedding ring on her finger. They didn’t bother taking their rings off, it was after all part of the costume. And he wasn’t sure he would be able to take his off when he just got it. “That’s…different.” Nyla says stepping into the house and looking at both of them. “Who came up with that?”“Tim.” Lucy replies. She pats him on the chest, flashing her ring. Tim sees Angela and Nyla exchange a look.“What’s going on?” Angela asks. “What—”Tim ignores her, and takes Lucy’s hand leading her to the living room. “We have an announcement.” He says. He looks around the room, and he realizes this is kind of silly with all their friends dressed up. Smitty is a giant pumpkin some kind of mix up with his costumes, Jack is a football player, his little sister Andi is Taylor Swift. Wesley is a cop, while Angela is a lawyer (apparently they just switched jobs tonight). Nyla, James and Leah are all matching skeletons. It’s a strange sight but—
It’s perfect.
“This is not just any costume party.” Lucy says and she reaches out to grab Tim’s hand. “This is our wedding. Well our reception technically.” There’s a stunned silence, and then everyone starts talking at once. “Wait,” says Angela looking a little stunned. “This isn’t a joke? You are actually husband and wife?” “As of 5:45pm.” Tim says proudly grinning at the look on Angela’s face. Her jaw drops and she shifts Andi in her arms. “You got married today?” Wesley asks. “At the courthouse?” Tim nods in confirmation, and glances at Lucy who is still grinning. “But—” Angela sputters. “Why? When did you get engaged?” Tim looks over at Lucy, they had discussed all the questions that would come their way.“Last week.” Tim replies. “We didn’t want to wait, and we thought this would be perfect since we want to be able to celebrate with everyone.”There’s more silence, but Tim can see some people are smiling. Grey (who is dressed in all black and looks like he is some kind of bodyguard) just shakes his head at them. “Leave it to you two to get married and then announce it like this.” He says but there’s a giant smile on his face. Lucy grins and squeezes Tim’s hand, before she’s bouncing out into the crowd. Tim watches her for a minute, before he turns away only to come face to face with Angela.“You got married and you didn’t tell me? Your best friend?” She asks. “One I just told you.” He says rolling his eyes. “And two I’m a grown man I don’t have best friends.”“Right.” Angela says. “Because you can only have one.” Tim rolls his eyes again, and looks around the room. He spots Lucy with Grey and Luna who are hugging her. And then she’s being pulled away by Celina and Aaron who hand her a drink.
And god he’s so in love with her.
“If anyone is my best friend. It’s my wife.” He tells Angela in a matter of fact tone. And his eyes still on Lucy.
His wife.
“Okay.” Angela says and he tears his eyes away from Lucy to look at his friend. “I will give you that.” Tim gives her a grin and then he’s walking off into the crowd, Lucy spots him coming and meets him halfway.“Hi husband.” She says giving him a big grin. He grins back at her, he can’t help himself and pulls her close. “We need our first dance as husband and wife.” He whispers in her ear. Lucy hums in agreement and she looks around the room. He spots Aaron at the speakers, and then a song comes on.“I can’t help falling in love with you.” Elvis sings. Lucy hums again and he spins her out before pulling her back in. “You love me.” She says when she’s back in his arms. He glances around and sees Smitty in his giant pumpkin costume, he sees Nyla and James dancing with Leah in the middle. He sees Jack pulling his sister around the room. And then he glances back at Lucy, his wife and it’s like they are the only two people in the room. “I do love you.” He confirms. “I can’t help it.” She grins at him, and leans up to give him a kiss. “I love you too.” She says as he sways her across the floor. This was without doubt the weirdest wedding but it was their wedding.
And it was perfect.
“Happy Halloween Lucy.” He says. She grins at him, and he knows this will be a story for their kids, their grandkids.“Happy Halloween Tim.”