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It’s the end of the year all over again. Time flies by like crazy but this time, everyone’s going to be spending Christmas and the New Year together.
This year, when going to visit Santa, Christopher wanted to dress up as an elf. Buck and Eddie had agreed and Buck had went to the store on the same day to find a good, fitted costume for the little one.
That’s how they end up in the living room, with Eddie putting the elf hat on Christopher.
“Look at you!” Buck grins widely as he enters, shoving his keys into his pocket. Christopher giggles and Eddie smiles as he stands back up. “You’re so freaking cute!” Buck scoops him up in his arms and kisses his cheek roughly, but in a playful way.
Christopher bursts out laughing, trying to push him away. “Bucky!”
Eddie stands behind them, smiling fondly.
Buck finally stops, pulling away to stare at Christopher. “You excited to go, Superman?” He asks. Christopher nods frantically. “Yeah. I can’t wait to tell Santa what I want for this year.” He says.
Buck pinched his cheek lightly. “I’m sure you’ll get it.” He murmurs. Christopher smiles and Eddie claps his hands together. “As much as I love the sight before me, we’ve gotta get going.” He states.
Buck nods. “You’re right. Let’s go.”
Eddie grabs his keys and they head out to the truck. Buck puts Christopher in his seat and hops into the drivers seat. Whenever they hang, Eddie never drives. He doesn’t like to drive anyway so when he has the chance, he makes Buck do it.
And Buck doesn’t mind. He’d do anything for Eddie.
On the drive over, Eddie plays Christmas songs for Christopher because it’s his favorite holiday of the year, if it isn’t already obvious. And Buck makes Eddie record a few videos of him so he can have them on his phone.
Soon, they arrive and Buck parks the truck, turning the engine off. They hop out and Buck takes Christopher out of his seat, setting him on the floor as he adjusts his crutches.
Eddie comes around and smiles as they start walking to get in line.
“We’re taking a bunch of pictures this year, okay?” Buck asks. Christopher laughs and nods. “Okay. That’s fine.” He agrees and Eddie chuckles quietly.
Once they make it to the front, Buck kneels down to get the good angles of Christopher and Santa. Christopher giggles. “Okay, Bucky! I wanna tell Santa what I want for Christmas.” He says.
Eddie nods. “He’s right. Come on,” he grabs Buck’s arm and practically pulls him away as the younger man swipes through the photos.
“Let me see them.” Eddie says once they’re to the side. Buck grins and hands him his phone to let him swipe.
Eddie accidentally swipes out of the app and his eyes fall on the back screen of the phone. His heart melts when he sees it’s a photo of them three.
“What’re you—oh,” Buck murmurs, cheeks burning up. Eddie smiles up at him. “This is cute. I don’t remember taking this picture.” He recalls.
Buck shrugs as he takes his phone, rubbing the back of his neck. “It was a while ago. When we were still getting to know each other.” He says, not willing to meet Eddie’s eyes.
Before Eddie can say anything else, he hears their names being called by Christopher.
They walk back and Christopher holds his arms out towards Buck who happily leans down to pick him up. “Did you tell Santa?” He asks. Christopher nods. “Yep. But it’s a secret so I can’t tell you.” He claims.
Buck chuckles. “Okay. That’s fine. You wanna get something to eat?”
Christopher nods again and Buck signals to Eddie who nods as well. “You guys go ahead. I wanna get the photos from the photographer.” He says. Buck turns to walk back to the truck, saying something that makes Christopher laugh.
The sound is music to Eddie’s ears and he smiles as he walks over to the photographer.
They exchange number and she tells him to receive the photos in the mail. “Also, it’s free. My treat.”
Eddie frowns. “Are-are you sure? I don’t mind paying. It’s worth it.” He tells her. The woman waves him off. “Please let me do this. You guys have an adorable son. He’s just the cutest little guy I’ve ever seen—especially in that outfit of his. You guys are doing a great job.” She says.
You guys have an adorable son
Eddie clears his throat. “Okay. Thank you so much.” He says and she smiles as he walks away.
You guys have an adorable son
It keeps ringing in Eddie’s head. He and Buck have an adorable son. She didn’t just say Eddie, she said they both did.
Christopher is his and Buck’s. And he has been for a long time since Shannon passed. Buck’s been there through everything. He treats Christopher as his own and Eddie couldn’t have asked for anyone better to be in their lives.
“Did you get the—“
Eddie cuts Buck off by pressing their lips together, holding his face gently and giving him enough time to back away in case he’s been reading everything wrong.
But Buck wraps his arms around Eddie and pulls him closer, both men forgetting about the world around them.
Eddie pulls away first, exhaling with his eyes still closed as he rests his forehead against Buck’s. “We have an adorable son.” He says.
Buck pulls back far enough to look at him. “What?”
“We have an adorable son, Buck. Chris is our son. He’s not just mine, he’s ours. And I love you so much, I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to tell you.” Eddie says.
Buck smiles softly. “Yeah, we do. And it’s okay, ‘cause I love you too. But let’s not dwell on the past, let’s just focus on now so we can—“ but Eddie stops him by leaning in to kiss him again, feeling Buck’s smile against his lips as he does the same.
“So we can definitely do more of that,” Buck mumbles when Eddie pulls away. He chuckles and Buck pecks his lips, rubbing his nose in an Eskimo kiss.
“You’re such a dork.” Eddie laughs lightly.
Buck grins with a wink.
“Does this mean I can call you dad now?” Christopher’s voice from his seat breaks them apart. Well, just their heads. They’re still holding each other when they face their son.
“I, uh—if that’s what you want,” Buck fumbles out. Christopher smiles widely as he nods. “Yeah. I do. It’s easier.” He says.
Buck returns the smile. “Okay, bud.”
“Can we get food now? I’m hungry.” Christopher claims. Buck and Eddie chuckle as they step apart, but hold hands. “Yeah. Let’s go.” Buck squeezes Eddie’s hand before they let go, getting into the truck as Buck drives away.
Eddie can’t believe all it took was for some stranger to tell him that he and Buck had an adorable son. But he’s not complaining, he’s got his family now.