Chapter Text
No POV specifically
*Three years later.
The beach was still warm from the hot, Mexican sun that shined all day, as they walked on the beach, hand in hand, watching the sun crash down into the sea, painting beautiful orange and red colours into the dark blue sky and water. The water splashed under their feet as they walked down the shore, ankle deep into the warm water.
Buck pulled his phone out taking pictures of the picture mother nature had painted just for them. The beach was empty, and it felt like the sunset was putting in effort to make itself extra pretty for them, as if it knew what Eddie had planned for today.
He silently moved behind Buck, hand playing with something in the back pocket of his blue jorts. Buck was still taking pictures, raving to him about how phenomenal that looked. He had no idea what would await him the second he would turn around to Eddie again.
“We should take a sel-” His words stopped, not coming over his lips as he looked at Eddie. He was on one knee, a hand presenting a small, red, saint box, with a thin, silver ring inside of it. “Oh my god.”
Eddie smiled wide, hand slightly trembling, tears in his eyes as he tried to keep his balance. He looked at Buck’s face, one hand covering his still open mouth. Buck’s eyes were glossy and wide as he stared back down at Eddie.
“I love you so much, Evan.” Eddie spoke, voice shaken from all the emotion that roamed through his body. “Much more than any song, poem, or words could ever say. I want to spend every second of my life with you, so will you do me the honour and marry me?”
“Yes.” Buck breathed, still standing frozen in the ocean in front of Eddie.
“Yes?” Eddie repeated Buck’s answer as a question.
“Yes! Of course!” He repeated, louder this time, almost throwing over Eddie as he cowered down to pull Eddie into a tight hug.
He put the ring on Buck’s left hand, not being able to stop the tears rolling over his big grin. Buck cried as well, watching the man he loved more than life itself put a ring on his finger, a promise, a commitment no one ever came close to giving him. He pulled Eddie into a long, deep kiss. The lukewarm breeze flying past them.
*A year after the proposal
Today was the day, the long awaited wedding day. Buck and Eddie were going to get married today. Neither could believe it as the organisers of the wedding, Maddie and Rose, made sure everything came together perfectly.
They wanted an evening wedding so they could get married as the sun was setting. A big garden wedding had always been Eddie’s dream, while Buck just wanted a location somewhere outside. It was a long, and tiring process to find the right spot, but after months of looking they found the perfect venue.
A big meadow field with a lake. In front of the lake a big, old willow tree was shown off. Its long, thick branches were a wonderful bright green, and its leaves almost touched down to the ground. between the leaves someone braided in fairly lights, making it gently glow in a warm light. They would give their vows and ‘I do’s in front of it. Small, potted flowers were the barricade, forming the aisle they would be walking down soon. Bright, wooden chairs decorated the left and right of the aisle.
Eddie made sure the colors were all coordinated as they chose which flowers they wanted to have there. Buck let him have full creative decisions of the flower arrangements, but had strong opinions when it came to the wedding cake. He wanted a classical vanilla based flavour, with something fruity to top it off. He decided on a two tier cake, white frosting and white roses as a decoration to make it less boring, then he had the pastry chef put their initials in gold frosting on top.
While the guests arrived, and sat down on the chairs, chatting with excitement, Eddie and Buck were in the small house a little more aside from where the wedding would take place. They were in a room together getting ready, trying to calm the other down while they were both freaking out. Eddie combed his hair one last time, leaving the ‘slut strand’ as Buck named it hanging in his face, his black tuxedo fitting perfectly on his body. He fixed his tie, glancing over his face to make sure everything was perfect. Buck on the other hand, was still struggling with tying his. Eddie watched the whole thing with an amused thing in the mirror he was standing in front of. Buck cursed angrily and Eddie decided it was time to step in and help him. He tied it for Buck, who muttered an embarrassed thank you, but Eddie only chuckled. He leaned upwards, trying to kiss Buck. Buck pulled away, shoving Eddie off him lightly.
“It’s a bad omen to kiss each other before the wedding.” Buck protested, overly serious about this.
“Oh, come on Buck.” Eddie rolled his eyes, annoyed that he couldn’t kiss Buck right now. “If we really believed that we wouldn’t even be allowed to see each other.”
“No, that one’s for the bride, we don’t have a bride.” Buck explained like it was the most important thing ever. Eddie smiled at Buck’s superstitions. He didn’t believe in them, but never made Buck feel stupid for believing in them. “Though we all know, you’d be the bride.”
“Really? Why me?” Making stupid jokes and teasing him was Buck’s way of dealing with the pre-wedding anxiety, Eddie knew that. And in reality he loved the way Buck always wanted to annoy him, some sort of love language of his.
“You just have that bride vibe.” He backed his answer up, winking at Eddie.
“You’re unreal.” Eddie chuckled, eyes glaring at Buck’s black tuxedo that matched his own. “And very lucky that I love you.”
“Aw, you love me.” Buck’s pitch changed upwards, repeating Eddie’s love confession in a silly way.
“Shut up.” Eddie shoved Buck’s face to the side, laughing along with Buck. Moments like these were the ones Eddie cherished the most, just the two of them being silly in the comfort of their presence.
A knock on the door interrupted their loving dispute. It was Bobby wanting to pick them up before the ceremony started. Bobby was the officiate, and the one who will be walking Buck down the aisle, giving him away to Eddie who became like another additional son of his.
Eddie marched the aisle down first with Rose at his side. Her hand was hooked around his. She was his best woman, an easy choice for both of these things. He loved her to death and she always carried him through everything, keeping him from sinking. She truly was his sister and he wouldn’t want anyone else to be up there with him when he says yes.
He stood to the right, looking through the, with familiar faces, filled seats. Everyone was there, the 118, Maddie, Karen, Athena, who Eddie had the honour of meeting pretty soon after getting together with Buck, and her kids, May and Harry. Then there were Chester and Mike, who made their relationship official and public shortly after Buck and Eddie got together. Eddie’s aunt Pepa, and his Abule were there as well, smiles big, eyes teary. He had reconnected with them before the wedding and they were so excited to meet Buck and be part of Eddie’s life more than his own parents. Eddie texted them after he got engaged, telling them that he was happy, and that he will never be able to forgive them for how badly they treated him. Buck’s parents weren’t there either, not pleased by his life choices as well.It was a small wedding but everyone that mattered was here.
Now it was Buck’s turn to walk down the aisle, Bobby hooked around his arm as they walked down together. Eddie had seen Buck this whole day, but now that he was walking to him in this very official setting he couldn’t resist his tears. He weeped like a baby, sight blurring as he realised that this was real and happening. Rose patted his arm lovingly. Buck’s first tear rolled as soon as he realised Eddie was crying already.
Bobby got behind them, standing in the middle of the two lovers who were about to get married. He started the ceremony off with a few words, about how much he loved the both of them and how happy he was they found each other and that they asked him to be the one who affiliated the wedding. He spoke through a small paragraph of what marriage meant and how it was a thing you had to treat well, and work everyday to keep fresh and steady, then he let them read their vows to each other.
Eddie pulled out his note from his pocket, unfolding it, trying his best not to break down crying. He cleared his throat harshly, he looked at Buck, whose hands were folded in front of him looking at him.
“My dear Buck,
Or Evan, which apparently is his real name and I only found out about one year into dating him.
I have thought about this day so often, thought about what to say to you when we were finally giving each other the word. There is so much I want to say to you and I probably wrote a hundred drafts that I scrapped, because I couldn’t get it just right.
Then I realised you know most of it already. You know how much I love you. You know that my favourite place to kiss you is your birthmark. You know that I would do anything for you, no matter how big or small the favour is. And you know that I couldn’t be more grateful for everything you have done for me, all of your support, all of your understanding, and all of your reassurance is what got me through every hard day.
It is your smile I can’t wait to get home to after being away on tour, and it's your touch I miss when I’m alone somewhere across the world. Though technically I know that’s a lie, because you are with me everywhere I go, because I carry you right here, in my heart that’s beating only for you. You are my anchor when my ship is floating aimlessly on sea. You are my backbone when I can’t find my own. You are the light that shines when I can’t see through the darkness. You are the reason I am standing here, with all our friends and families, celebrating our love. I am so thankful for our time growing, and learning together.
I promise to never give up on us as a whole, I promise to always stand by your side, no matter what, and I promise to always be the best version of myself. I promise to cherish every moment the future holds for us.
I know that marrying you is the right decision, the best one of my life. I know I am doing the right thing for the first time in my life. Because I know you would do all of that for me, too. And lastly, with a hand on my heart, I swear that nobody wanted somebody more, than I want you.”
Eddie struggled, and cried though the entirety of his vows, taking breaks and wiping tears from his cheeks. He earned some laughter and lots of tears from the people that were present. The most probably from Maddie and Rose, who practically grew into best friends the moment they met. Then it was Buck’s turn, he struggled just as bad as Eddie, completely touched and overwhelmed with everything Eddie said in his.
With the comment, “It’s not hard at all to top that.” He started his own vows, reading it from his note.
“I’m not a musician, and I sure as hell am not as good with my words as you, but I still gave this my all.
Four years, eleven months, and five days ago, we met in L.A. on a call, you were trapped inside one of three vehicles in a collision. I thought it would be just another day on the job, rush to the scene, do what we always do, and go back to the station. Evidently that was not the case. Because on that call, all this time ago, I met my not yet husband, my best friend, and my soul mate. On that call I met you, Edmundo Diaz, the man that set my world on fire.
I know I kept you up on your feet, annoyed you, and even stressed you out, a lot. But somehow I think you secretly enjoy it when I get on your nerves. You are always so patient with me, which is a thing a lot of people weren’t.
Eddie, You showed me so many sides of myself I didn’t know of, or kept away. You showed me that the right people, the people that truly love me, will stay by my side, no matter how ugly or difficult it might get. You taught me that I don’t need to let people step all over my boundaries just to accommodate their needs.
You made me a better person, and you motivate me to never stop trying every single day. Because every day I get to spend with you, is a day that’s worth fighting for. Now, for the finale I have a small surprise. Don’t kill me for my terrible pronunciation.
(he says this is spanish) I love you more than anything, you are my world and I am so honoured to spend the rest of my life waking up, and going to bed next to you.”
Buck caught a glance of Bobby wiping at his eyes. He only ever saw his captain and father, Bobby W. Nash cry one time since he met him. He was an emotionally well behaved and reserved man, so seeing him almost shed a tear at his wedding meant so much to Buck.
“Please join hands.” Bobby commanded, and Buck took Eddie’s hands into his own. “Do you, Edmundo Diaz, take Evan Buckly to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, keeping onto him as long as you both shall live?”
Eddie took a deep breath, eyes locked on Buck, before he answered with “I do.”
“And do you, Evan Buckley, take Edmundo Diaz to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, keeping onto him as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.” Buck heard himself answer with a speed that even shocked himself.
Rose and Maddie, the best women, gave them the rings. Buck put a small golden wedding band with a green stone in it on Eddie’s finger, while he received the same ring in silver, with a blue stone in it.
“Let these rings serve you as a reminder to the beautiful years that are to come, and to remember what you have waiting for you if you’re apart. These rings symbolize an invisible bond that will keep you together as long as you wear it.” Bobby smiled, a fatherly expression on his face as he watched his chaotic firefighter probie get married, because sometimes in his mind Buck is still the same.
“Now, before these many witnesses you have pledged your lives to one another. By the authority vested in me by the state of California and the Los Angeles Fire Department, I declare you husband and husband.”
“You may kiss your husband.”
They stepped closer and shared a long, deep kiss while everyone else cheered and applauded them. Buck felt Eddie smile into the kiss, which he returned. They walked back down the aisle, hand in hand as official husbands. As they walked down the aisle in the dawn the guests that sat on the outside to it, held sparklers over them, having them walk beneath the fire sparks.
They walked to the other side of the reception where a long table was set up beneath a row of pergolas. White flowers were hanging down from them over the tables, between them were fairly lights, exactly like in the willow tree. It was getting dark now, so the fairy lights stood out stunningly. Between the trees around the table were fairy lights as well as colourful lanterns. The tables were already set up with tableware, flowers and candles. Everything was painted in a nice, warm light. It looked better than they could have ever imagined. Everything was so perfect.
Everyone came by to congratulate them before they started eating, talking and laughing. Eddie felt like he was floating and he was sure Buck must feel the same way. Not once have the two lovers stopped grinning, they were just too happy.
Maddie and Rose let a fork gently cling against their white wine glasses, catching the attention of the other guests and Buck and Eddie. Buck and Eddie sat next to each other, hands intertwined between them.
“As the grooms’ sisters we felt obligated to hold a quick speech.” Maddie started, winking at Buck and Eddie.
“Maybe not that short, Maddie.” Rose added pulling out a stack of paper, showing it off to the guests, earning murmurs and chuckles from the crowd. “Jokes aside, we tried to keep it as short as possible for you.”
Rose went first,
“Growing up with Eddie wasn’t always easy, he used to be very stubborn, still is, if we’re going to be honest. Eddie was a stupid kid, angry and definitely petty. But the one thing Eddie never was, was mean. He is the kindest soul one can meet. He is honest, funny, and charming. I sat with him through many things, his breakups, his stumbles after he jumped too high. And he was always there for me, too. In the time I was blessed to watch you get close and grow together I saw Eddie change. He changed into something beautiful, I have never seen him bloom in a relationship more than in this one. He never looked at anyone with so much love in his eyes as when he looks at Buck. He even wrote a song about you, but I’m sure we are all aware of that. So, Hollywood, I feel good giving my beloved Eddie to you, because I know that he will make an amazing husband to you, Buck. Because he has been the best friend and brother I ever had. He is the most thoughtful person ever, and deserves nothing but honest and gentle love. And Buck, I know he found that with you. Thank you for loving my Eddie with all your heart. He deserves you, and you deserve him.”
Maddie followed.
“Buck has always been one to love with his whole heart, it didn’t matter if it was a movie he watched over and over again until he knew every line by word. Or If it's his job as a firefighter. Or If it’s the family he found at he 118. Or if it's you. I know my brother well enough to know that he is completely set on you, Eddie. And Buck wouldn’t be Buck if he didn’t hold onto the things he set his mind to. He is protective of the people he loves, cares and rushes to their side the second he notices that something is off. Which reminds me of a funny story of when he was a kid. I’m going to spare you the details of the lake-incident, because I see your begging eyes, but in case Eddie doesn’t know the story he should ask about it after tonight. A story I have to share though is that after Eddie left L.A. Buck came home to me and talked about you, and the mean plan of his family to bring you up to Buck over the whole shift. Truth is I was part of the whole campaign too. I couldn’t handle how oblivious he was about his feelings for you. I more or neither shoved him in the right direction.”
“We both wish you all the best for your marriage, may peace and much, much love always be with you.”
After their speech it was time to cut the cake. They cut a big piece together, feeding it to one another, before the guests were encouraged to get their own piece.
This Magic Moment played through the speakers as they shared their first dance. A slow waltzer with Eddie leading Buck over the grass as he had much more experience from his years of dancing. Buck rested his head on Eddie’s shoulder, and Eddie leaned his against the side of Buck’s. Eddie’s hand laid on Buck’s waist, moving him around as the music played. In this moment it was just them, the others that stood around them, filming and gushing over them were blocked out by the intensity of the moment.
“I love you so much.” Buck whispered in Eddie’s ear.
“I love you, more, cariño.”