New Chapter Alert!
As Fate Would Have It Chapter 2
I’m going to try and keep up with these but we’ll see.
FF.net/AO3
“Wyatt I am not putting him in that seat it’s disgusting!” Lucy argued at the entrance of Target. She tightened her grip on Henry as Wyatt moved to take him.
“Lucy it’s fine! A little dirt will do him some good.” He huffed.
“Wyatt he’s ten months old he’s not even big enough for that seat.” Wyatt stood his ground, giving her a stare that he reserved for when he meant business, hoping it would cause her to surrender. No surprise that it didn’t. Lucy is the only person brave enough to constantly go toe to toe with Wyatt, and frankly she’s the only person he’ll allow to do so. Lucy straightened her spine and met his stare with the same intensity, years of being a college professor have perfected her ‘no nonsense’ glare. Henry obliviously giggling between them, completely unaware of the silent power grab going on above his head.
Wyatt gripped the cart tighter before muttering, “fine.”
Lucy smiled and whispered to Henry, “See? He can never say no to me.” Henry babbled in response. An older couple walked past and just smiled and shook their head at the pair. To everyone else they looked like a young couple running errands as a little family. She’d never admit it but it was fun to pretend that’s what they were… even if it was only for a few hours.
As they strolled through the aisles, everyone they passed seemed to smile at them. Lucy huffed when one too many women made eyes at Wyatt. He shot her a quizzical look and she pretended she was just blowing hair out of her mouth. They nearly crossed everything off the list Lucy made a crib, a car seat, a stroller, some bottles, diapers, a few toys and now they were standing in the food and formula aisle. Wyatt was just about to comment on how easy Henry had been through the store when he decided he’d had enough. His little face turned red and scrunched up, Wyatt was sure his screams could be heard in the parking lot.
“Damn little mans got pipes. You sure he’s not your kid?” Wyatt joked. Lucy involuntarily blushed at his indirect compliment. She just laughed and rolled her eyes. Lucy began soothing Henry, shushing him while holding him close to her chest, bouncing him up and down. Lucy’s heart broke for the child. This morning he woke up in his own bed with his mom there to take care of him then suddenly he was thrown into a new environment, surrounded by people he doesn’t know. Poor thing is confused as all hell, looking for anything familiar, most likely his mom. Lucy wanted to cry along with him.
“I know little guy. Shhh, I know, I know. It’s scary but I’ve got you.” Lucy cooed softly to the boy. Lucy met Wyatt’s eyes and the way he was looking at her took her breath away. She hadn’t seen such a genuine smile from him in such a long time.
“You’re a natural, you know” Wyatt said softly. His compliments and the way he was looking at her was too much to handle. Lucy had to remind herself not to get sucked in. Things were finally back to normal, well as normal as two people who have gone through what they did could be. They were Lucy and Wyatt no doubt about it, but not quite Logan and Preston. It was a weird limbo they were in, neither knowing where they stand with the other. Had the moment for them passed? Are they destined to just stay friends? These are the questions that keep Lucy up at night, it also doesn’t help that she’s currently holding his baby, a baby she has to keep reminding herself isn’t hers. She was just going to end up getting hurt if she kept pretending they were a family. Wyatt and Henry were a family, Lucy assumes she’s just going to be called in from time to time to baby sit, probably be referred to as ‘aunt Lucy’.
“I adored Amy as a baby, my parents had to remind me all the time that I was just her sister not her mom.” She joked, desperately trying to deflect from the situation. Wyatt chuckled and turned his attention back to the wall of baby food. He stood with two containers of formula in his hands, intensely checking the nutrition and ingredients. Lucy’s heart warmed at how much he already cared for this little guy that he has only known for a few hours. Lucy looked around she spotted something that she knew would help Wyatt immensely. She silently walked over and placed a large box in the cart.
“Lucy what is that?”
“It’s like a Keurig, but for babies” Lucy replied hoisting Henry higher on her hip.
“Absolutely not, we don’t need that.” Lucy tried not to get too excited over the word ‘we’ but it made her smile nonetheless.
“Trust me I saw this on Oprah you want it!” she challenged.
“Since when do you have time to watch Oprah?” he teased.
“I do have a life outside of our training sessions, you know.” She scoffed lightly. Even though the threat of Rittenhouse is gone Wyatt still makes her train with him three times a week. He claims you can never be too careful, especially living in the city, but Lucy doesn’t mind. She likes all the extra time she gets to spend with him, having a reason to be physically close with him even if it is only for a few hours a week.
He took a step closer, his flirtatious tone having an even greater effect at his proximity, “well then sounds like I’m not working you hard enough since you have time to watch Oprah.” She sucked in a breath, he hadn’t flirted this openly with her in a long time, possibly ever.
Standing her ground, she knew she couldn’t let him win. Lucy took a step closer so she could whisper in his ear, being a full head shorter than he is she had to stand on her toes which forced her body to be pressed against his, “I think you won’t do a damn thing considering I’m standing in the baby section of Target at 9:30 on a Saturday.” He didn’t have a response but he swallowed hard and Lucy knew she won their little flirting match.
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Lucy eventually dragged a reluctant Wyatt over to the clothing section, a place he had been dreading since they stepped into the store. He smiled and rolled his eyes as Lucy pilled outfit after outfit into the cart.
“I think that’s enough Luce, he probably has more clothes than you do at this point.” He teased. Lucy tried not to outwardly show how affected she was by the nickname. She ducked behind a rack of clothes to hide her blush.
“Daddy doesn’t know what he’s talking about, you can never have too many outfits. Right little guy?” she cooed at the baby. She honestly doesn’t know why she referred to Wyatt as daddy, it just slipped out but somehow it felt natural. She laughed at his stunned expression at her bold teasing. He cocked his head to the side. Lucy knew that look, he was about to dish it right back out, he was about to speak when an older lady placed a hand on his arm.
“Your family is absolutely precious, how long have you and your wife been married?” Lucy turned her head,
“Oh uh…” she fumbled unsure of what to say. A deep blush appeared on her cheeks at being called Wyatt’s wife. The name secretly sent a thrill through her. She was about to politely correct the lady when Wyatt cleared his throat next to her.
“Um… almost four and a half years.” His answer took her completely by surprise. She hadn’t expected him to just go with it. If her cheeks were pink before she probably looked like a tomato now. He smiled and glanced at Lucy. Her heart fluttered at the memory and she wondered if he remembered as well.
“Well stop the presses here I am going on and on how’d he do it with you?”
“Do what?”
“Propose silly I mean look at that rang!”
The smile and small wink told her he did.
“He is just the cutest little thing on God’s green earth!” the lady gushed at Henry, “what’s the little angel’s name?”
“Henry” Wyatt and Lucy said in unison. They made eye contact with each other, his lips turned up into his signature smirk and she felt her face heat up again. Get it together Lucy! He walked over so he could stand next to Lucy. He put his arm around her to he could rub Henry’s back. They’ve been closer in the last 20 minutes than they had been in a long time. The smell of his cologne all around her was intoxicating. Her mind fogged with the memories of their time in 1941, being able to completely give themselves over to each other. They let themselves fall hard, knowing the other would be there to catch them. Lucy missed being this close to him, the whole time he was with Jessica she ached for his touch. Seeing the way their future selves were with each other gave her hope but it’s still been a long journey back to him. Not one Lucy minds taking if it means she’ll end up in his arms. Feeling bold she leaned her head back against his shoulder. She felt him freeze for half a second but then instantly relaxed and moved his hand to her lower back, falling into a comfortable familiarity that she’s missed so much.
“You don’t let anything happen to them!” the lady warned.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Wyatt said softly while pressing a kiss to the top of Lucy’s head, her breath caught in her throat as she fought back tears. The gesture was so small yet so intimate, her mind was swimming with all the things his action could mean. Was this all just a show for the nice old lady? Were they finally at a place to cross over into something more? Seems like kind of an odd place to make that jump, the infant clothing section of a Target…lost in her thoughts she didn’t even notice the woman walk away, Wyatt awkwardly cleared his throat and stepped away from Lucy, both refusing to make eye contact.
“We should probably get the little nugget home.” Lucy whispered glancing down at a sleeping Henry.
“He’s certainly had an eventful day.” He agreed. They made their way to the check out in silence and carried all their items out to Wyatt’s jeep. The mood lightened as Lucy laughed at Wyatt fighting to install the car seat, she kept telling him he was doing it wrong and he just grumbled in protest. Mumbling something about a ‘bossy-know-it-all’. Climbing in on either side of the car they both turned towards the back seat. They sat in silence for a moment watching Henry sleep. Lucy traced his face with her eyes, the soft fullness of his cheeks, his large eyes, long eyelashes, cute little button nose, lopsided grin that she would know anywhere, the grin she fell in love with all those years ago in the waiting room at Mason Industries. Lucy looked to her left and saw Wyatt staring at her with admiration but quickly turned away when she caught him staring. Blushing slightly, she turned her gaze back to Henry, wishing so bad he was hers.
