**New Beginnings**

As they sat on the couch, cradling their newborn daughter Emily in their arms, Tim and Lucy couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder at the tiny little human they had created together. It had been a few weeks since Emily's birth, and Lucy was finally starting to feel like herself again. The exhaustion and pain of childbirth were slowly giving way to a sense of normalcy, and her doctor had given her the green light to resume normal activities, including intimacy with Tim. Lucy gazed adoringly at Emily, who was sleeping peacefully in her car seat. She was a tiny, perfect little bundle of joy, with a mop of dark hair and a tiny nose that wrinkled up when she cried. Tim was smiling at her, his eyes shining with happiness, and Lucy felt a surge of love and desire. She reached out and touched his hand, feeling a spark of electricity between them. "Hey," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Hey," Tim replied, his voice low and husky. Lucy felt a flutter in her chest as she looked at Tim. She had been waiting for this moment for weeks, and she was excited to reconnect with him on a physical level. But she was also a little nervous, unsure of how he would react. Had the birth of their daughter changed things between them? Was he still attracted to her, or was she just a mom now? As they sat there in comfortable silence, Lucy couldn't help but think about how much had changed since Emily's birth. Their little family was still getting used to the new dynamic, and Lucy was still figuring out who she was as a mom. But one thing was for sure: she was ready to reconnect with Tim, to rekindle the spark that had brought them together in the first place. Tim, on the other hand, was struggling with his own fears and doubts. He had always been careful with Lucy, making sure not to hurt her or push her too far. But now, with the memory of childbirth still fresh in his mind, he couldn't shake the fear of hurting her again. What if he did something wrong? What if he caused her pain? As the silence between them grew, Lucy started to feel a little anxious. She knew that Tim was hesitant, and she wasn't sure why. Was he still attracted to her? Did he still find her desirable? She decided to take a chance and lean in close to him. "Hey," she whispered, her lips brushing against his ear. "I think I'm feeling pretty good these days." Tim's eyes flicked to hers, and for a moment, Lucy saw a flash of desire there. But it was quickly extinguished, replaced by a look of concern. "I don't want to hurt you," he said, his voice low and rough. "I don't want to hurt your body." Lucy's heart sank a little. She knew that Tim was coming from a good place, but she also knew that she was ready for intimacy. She had healed well, and her doctor had given her the okay. "It's okay," she said, trying to reassure him. "I'm good. Really." But Tim just shook his head, his eyes filled with worry. "I don't want to take any chances," he said, pulling away from her. Lucy felt a pang of disappointment, and a little bit of hurt. Was Tim still attracted to her? Or was he just not interested in sex anymore? She didn't know, but she did know that she needed to talk to him about this. "Tim," she said, her voice firm. "We need to talk about this." Tim looked at her, his eyes questioning. "What do you mean?" "I mean, we need to talk about what's going on between us," Lucy said, her voice steady. "I know you're hesitant, and I understand why. But I also know that I'm ready for intimacy. I want to reconnect with you, to feel close to you again." Tim sighed, rubbing his temples. "I just don't want to hurt you," he said, his voice filled with frustration. Lucy reached out and touched his hand, feeling a surge of love and compassion for him. "I know," she said. "And I appreciate that. But we need to talk about this, to figure out what's going on between us." Tim looked at her, his eyes searching. And then, slowly, he nodded. "Okay," he said. "Let's talk."