Chapter Text
Buck
Normally Buck didn’t care much about his birthdays. When he was younger it was usually just him and Maddie anyways, when she went away for college it was just Buck and a few friends doing stupid stuff to mark the occasion. The couple years that he spent travelling up and down the country Buck didn’t even know what day of the week it was let alone when his birthday was, the months would come and go, one week he would be a year older than before but he never paid it any attention. After all who wants to celebrate their birthday on their own.
His birthdays since becoming a firefighter have been very different. His first year at the 118 as a probie Hen turned up to shift with a cake and few presents. He hadn’t even mentioned his birthday was coming up so how she found out was a complete mystery to him. Since then he had always gotten a cake and presents from the team, all though he tended to get a lot more if his birthday fell after he’d had an injury at work, like after the truck bombing when his leg was still in a cast for the celebration, Buck thinks he got more on that day alone than he had in his entire childhood.
Buck had a felling that this year was going to be the same. After the whole lighting and dying thing everyone had become a lot more protective in a way. The team still had there usual cookouts at Bobby and Athena’s but they started doing a lot more activities together, like beach days at the weekends with the kids and hikes during there off days when the kids where at school they toke every little moment and made into something special, something that would be memorable no matter what. It was nice but it did fell like everyone was still in shock and needed those moments to remind themselves that he was still here.
On the day of his birthday by the time Buck got to Bobbys house for his party the whole street was packed with familiar cars, it was a good thing it wasn’t a surprise.
When Athena open the door to let him in, he was meet with cheers and hugs from everyone. It was a lot like this welcome back party after the truck bombing accept this time there was a lot less fire truck decorations and hopefully it wouldn’t end in an ambulance being called.
The table outside was piled high with gifts, just like Buck had suspected it would be, the minute everyone had stopped hugging and greeting him Chris was pulling on his top leading him outside and thrusting different boxes into his lap.
“Bubble wrap Chim, really” Buck huffed, rolling his eyes in fake annoyance as he pulled out the roll to show off to everyone, but they all knew he was secretly holding back a smile at the inside joke, for years the house had been saying he needed to be wrapped in extra protection as even on the most simple of calls he still managed to get hurt, even if it was nowhere near his fault.
“It was Jee’s idea!” Chim gasped as he lied with a smile while Buck pulled a shocked face at his oblivious niece sitting on his lap who laughed at his antics anyways.
A lot of the gifts he received were either lightning themed or had something to do with safety only a few of them like Eddie’s, Maddie’s and Bobbys were actually sentimental gifts.
The whole dinning table was covered in food ranging from delicious pastry’s and cakes to Bobbys mouth watering grilled ribs. Buck was going round the table piling his plate high, when he lifted his head up after having no room left on his plate only to be meet with the sight of his own young face smiling back at him.
Buck would be the first to admit that he maybe sometimes gets confused easily, but seeing his graduation picture hung in his captains and his wife’s home next to there own daughters graduation picture was the most confusing thing he had ever seen. Buck was frozen in place staring at the picture as so many thoughts passed through his mind starting from how did they even get that photo to why they would even put it up, there was no individual pictures of ant members of the team hung up let alone there high school graduation photo.
“You okay there is there something,” Eddie began to ask as he joined bucks side before he passed once he noticed what Buck was looking at, “Oh, you’ve finally noticed” Eddie stated as he joined him in staring at the picture.
“Eddie that’s my graduation picture how.. why.. what?” Buck stammered in confusion as he toke the picture off the shelve to look at it more closely, after all it had been years since he had last seen it.
“Bobby he knows!” Chim yelled as he caught sight of Buck holding the picture.
Upon hearing Chim’s yell Bobby came hurrying into the house looking a little frantic but as soon as he saw Buck staring at the picture a soft smile appeared on his face while he slowly walked over to Buck as the rest of the team trickled out on to the patio to give them some privacy, while conveniently leaving the door open and staying just close enough that they could watch.
“You have my graduation picture” Buck stated as he turned to face Bobby with his voice laced with uncertainty and his brows pinched together confusion.
“I do” Bobby answered as he watched Buck gaze down at his younger face.
“Why..how..who..what?” Buck stuttered, his mind was so confused with thoughts that he couldn’t manage to form a complete sentence, the only thing he could do was stare at Bobby with wide eyes and hope his captain would explain what his mind was struggling to.
“I’m proud of you kid” Bobby stated as he placed his arm around Bucks shoulder and pulled him into his side for a half hug.
“Bobby every adult here has graduated high school and it was a long time ago anyway” Buck brushed off with a shy smirk.
“I know but I’m still proud of you” Bobby repeated with his own soft smile that had began to be reserved just for Buck.
Not knowing what to say back Buck put the picture back on the shelf next to mays where he found it, seeing it up there felt nice in a way that he couldn’t understand but he still didn’t get why Bobby and Athena would have it hung in there home anyway. “Why? Why did you put it up and next to Mays” Buck asked as he stared back at the pictures, something warm bloomed in his chest as he looked at them together. He didn’t expect to ever fell this loved it was like he finally found a place to call home.
“Because I’m proud of you both” Bobby repeated again only adding to Bucks confusion, he didn’t see how his graduation form ten years ago could cause Bobby so much pride, they didn’t even know each other then and wouldn’t for several more years.
“I still don’t get it” Buck confessed with a frown which only made Bobby smile at him again as he turned to look at with one hand on his cheek and the other on his shoulder.
“You’re my kid Buck, I’m going to have your accomplishments placed in my house to show off to everyone” Bobby stated with his voice full of pride as he squeezed Bucks shoulder in a comforting manner, Buck to swollen back the tears as he looked into Bobbys fond eyes.
“My parents didn’t even put it up, they didn’t even come” Buck mumbled remembering the disappointment he felt when he looked out at the crowed and saw no one there for him.
“Well I want it up and I have many others around the house” Bobby comforted sensing the sadness in Bucks voice that usually came when he spoke about his childhood.
“How did you… this is what Maddie gave to you for your birthday! But that box was big” Buck gasped in realisation, the team had all taken bets on what was in the box he never would have imagined that Maddie would give Bobby a box full of pictures of him.
“Follow me kid” Bobby beckoned as he walked towards the living room where he pointed out Bucks baby picture.
Bobby guided Buck around his whole house pointing out each photo he had placed around, there where several placed in the main areas that sat beside the other kids photos. As Bobby pointed out each additional picture tears began to gather in Bucks eyes. He still couldn’t quite understand why Bobby and Athena would place his childhood pictures around there house.
“Why would you want my pictures up” Buck finally whispered his thoughts as a small tear ran down his face that Bobby promptly wiped away.
“Because I love them and I love you” Bobby soothed as he pulled Buck into a hug as he finally understood. There didn’t need to be an explanation, Bobby loved him and that was everything he had ever wanted. Buck turned his head in to his father figures neck as he let himself cry, he had spent years trying to gain an ounce of affection from anyone but he didn’t need to look anymore because he had Bobby who would always be by his side.
“Guys we were right he’s crying!” Chim yelled out to the others as he poked his head in to see the two embracing.
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Bonus
“So what do you think is in the box Maddie gave cap?” Chim asked the team when they were all changing for work the day after Bobbys birthday party.
“Shouldn’t you know Chim, she is your fiancé” Eddie smirked with realised eyebrow.
“Hen has Athena said anything?” Chim inquired as he ignored Eddies teasing in favour of solving the mystery that had them all gripped.
“No and there’s no bribing Athena” Hen laughed, when Maddie gave Bobby that box Athena she was just as clueless but there is not doubt that unless Bobby wants everyone to know she would not be telling.
“I bet you its just some old call logs that he talks about” Buck shrugged, unlike Chimney Buck wasn’t all the fussed with what his sister had given his captain.
“No she wouldn’t be able to give that away” Eddie frowned as he shock his head, he had learnt a lot about how dispatch centre worked during his short stint there.
“Care for a little wager then?” Hen asked with a teasing grin.