**Chapter 3: A Heart-to-Heart**

The tension between Lucy and Tim had been building for days, and Lucy knew she had to do something to break the ice. She couldn't just sit back and let their relationship continue to deteriorate. As she was changing Iris's diaper, she thought about how much she missed the intimacy and connection she used to share with Tim. She longed for the days when they could talk openly and honestly with each other, without fear of judgment or rejection. After finishing up with Iris's diaper, Lucy decided to take matters into her own hands. She walked into the kitchen, where Tim was making himself a cup of coffee, and cleared her throat to get his attention. "Hey, can we talk?" Lucy asked, trying to sound calm and non-confrontational. Tim looked up, his eyes wary, but he nodded. "Yeah, sure. What's up?" Lucy took a deep breath and walked over to him. "I think we need to have a heart-to-heart conversation. About us, and what's been going on." Tim sighed, but he put down his cup of coffee and nodded. "Okay, let's talk." They sat down at the kitchen table, and Lucy took Tim's hand in hers. "I know you're worried about hurting me, and I appreciate that. But I need you to understand that I'm not the same person I was a few weeks ago. I'm healing, and I'm getting stronger every day." Tim looked at her, his eyes searching hers. "I know that, Lucy. But I just can't shake the feeling that I'm going to hurt you again. I don't want to cause you any more pain." Lucy squeezed his hand. "I know, Tim. And I appreciate your concern. But the thing is, intimacy isn't just about physical contact. It's about connection, about feeling close to each other. And I feel like we're not doing that right now. We're not connecting like we used to." Tim nodded, his eyes dropping to the floor. "I know. I feel it too." Lucy pulled his hand up to her face and made him look at her. "So what can we do to fix it? How can we get back to where we were?" Tim took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I don't know, Lucy. I just feel like I'm walking on eggshells around you, worried that I'll hurt you again. But at the same time, I miss being close to you. I miss our intimacy." Lucy smiled softly. "I miss it too, Tim. I miss us." They sat there for a moment, just looking at each other. Then Tim spoke up. "Can I ask you something?" he said, his voice hesitant. "Of course," Lucy replied. "Do you feel like...do you feel like I'm still attracted to you?" Tim asked, his eyes searching hers. Lucy's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected that question. But she thought about it for a moment before answering. "Tim, I know you're worried about hurting me, but I don't think that's it. I think you're just scared, and you're not sure how to navigate this new chapter in our relationship. But I want you to know that I feel like you're still attracted to me. I feel like you still love me, and that's not going to change just because we're parents now." Tim looked at her, a small smile on his face. "I do love you, Lucy. More than anything." Lucy smiled back at him. "I love you too, Tim. And I think we can get through this, together." As they sat there, holding hands and looking into each other's eyes, Lucy felt a sense of hope that she hadn't felt in days. Maybe, just maybe, they could work through this after all. And as they shared a tender kiss, Lucy knew that their love was strong enough to overcome any obstacle, even the challenges of parenthood.