Chapter Text
Group Text: Maddie, Bobby, Eddie, TK, Owen
Maddie: Um, I might have made a mistake.
Bobby: And... How could you have done that?
Eddie: I'm sure it's no big deal. Just tell Chim you're sorry and all will be forgotten. He loves you.
Maddie: This doesn't have to do with Chim. We're fine.
TK: Then what's going on? Buck's not in here so is this about him?
Owen: What's going on?
Maddie: I invited our parents here. They want to meet Chim before the baby is born, so I told them they could come to visit.
Eddie: What the fuck, Maddie?!? Why the hell would you do that?!?
TK: What Eddie said! What the fuck!?
Maddie: Evan doesn't have great memories of our parents, but I do and I want them to be in my life. They're trying.
Owen: They stopped trying a long ass time ago. They aren't worthy to be called parents.
Bobby: Should I expect Buck to be taking a few days off.
Eddie: No. You know he'll work through his anger.
Bobby: So plan to have a backup just in case. Copy that.
Maddie: That's not even half of it, but I can't tell anyone else without telling him first. If you guys see him, please make sure he's okay. I know he's mad at me.
TK: He's not mad at you. He's mad at them and how they fucked up raising him. They were terrible parents to him.
Owen: Yeah, I had a mess to clean up when TK and I took him in when he was in college. They gave up on him, so TK and I gave him a family and home.
Maddie: And I appreciate that. I do, but they are our parents.
Eddie: Eggs and sperm don't make parents, Maddie. As far as Buck is concerned Owen and Bobby are his fathers and YOUR parents are just his donors. That's how they treated him after you left. I really wish you would have run that by me or someone before you invited them. When are they coming?
Maddie: I'm not sure. They are driving from Pennsylvania, so it could be a few days. Can you please convince him to talk to me before they get here?
Eddie: I can ask him if he will, but I'm not going to force him to do something he doesn't want to do and you shouldn't either. You should have asked him, not told him. I think I hear his Jeep, so he's probably home now.
Maddie: Okay... Okay, I know I screwed up, but please help me make this up to him.
Bobby: We'll do what we can, but this is something you guys have to work out between yourselves.
Owen: What Bobby said.
TK: We'll pick up the pieces of Evan all over again if needed. He needs to know he's loved and cared for, and part of a family, and not alone.
Owen: And you're part of his family, too, Maddie. He just doesn't have the same experiences and happy memories with your parents that you do, so you've gotta remember that. Don't push him into a corner and I feel like that's what you did. You told them they are coming without much notice and that right there makes him feel like an afterthought.
Maddie: Yeah, I realized that after he stormed out of here. I know I messed up, so I'll do what I can, but only if he talks to me.
TK: Give him some time to cool off and he will.
~*~
From the moment Maddie texted the group, Eddie couldn't help wanting to rip her head off, but he was more concerned about his fiancé, so he was grateful when he heard him arriving home. He wasn't sure exactly how to check on him, but when he heard the door open and slam shut, Eddie jumped up from the couch and followed the noise. As soon as he rounded the corner and saw Buck, Eddie's shoulders fell, "come here," he murmured, pulling him into his arms.
Buck sunk into his embrace and tightened his grip on him. He was so upset and practically shaking with anger, but just feeling Eddie calmed him down, "did Maddie call you?"
"Nope," Eddie replied, gently rubbing his back.
With a groan, Buck sighed, "there's a group text isn't there?"
"Bingo," Eddied murmured, "don't worry. I laid into her, and so did the others, your dads and brother."
"I don't feel bad about that at all," Buck smirked, already noticing his mood lightening up as they spoke, "thanks."
"Don't thank me. I'm on your side, so are the others," Eddie assured him, "we're family."
"Family," Buck stated, pulling back, "it's so hard to believe she and I share genetics, but those two people are not my parents. Owen is my dad. Bobby's my dad. Athena and Hen are like moms to me. I don't see Maddie's parents as mine. I haven't since Owen and TK took me in."
"And you don't have to see them as your parents. It's why you now have Owen as your dad and honestly, you could change your name to Strand right now and I'd back you 100%," Eddie smiled.
"Yeah, but," Buck lifted his left hand and looked at his engagement ring, "I'd rather change my name when I can make it Diaz."
Eddie smiled at that, leaning in to press a kiss to his lips, "that works for me, too," he agreed, "or you could hyphenate it. Strand-Diaz doesn't sound so bad."
Buck's eyes widened at Eddie's suggestion and wrapped him up in a hug, "oh my God! That's genius!" He gasped, pressing a kiss to his lips, "you can not tell anyone that's what I'm doing, but when we get married, I'm changing my name to Evan Buckley Strand-Diaz," he noted, "I can keep my Buckley as a middle name so it's easy to figure out where Buck came from, but then my real last name would be Strand-Diaz."
"I'm all for that, but you're gonna have to tell Bobby, he is our boss, but we can keep a secret," Eddie promised, glad to see his mood was warming up as they spoke, "come on, let's sit down and relax for a bit before Carla brings Chris home," Eddie offered, holding out his hand to him.
Easily taking his hand, Buck followed Eddie into the living room and the two settled onto the couch. Buck soon found himself cuddled up against Eddie, "thanks," he murmured.
"You don't have to thank me," Eddie assured him, "but I'm glad you've calmed down. Would you like to talk about it more?" He wondered.
"There's not much to say. I don't see them as my parents and Maddie invited them here and wants to have me there when they arrive. She said you could come if you're up for it, but I don't want to drag you into that drama right now. That's the last thing I want to do with our relationship," Buck sighed, "you've already met the people I consider parents and I think they sometimes like you better than me."
Eddie laughed at his joke and smirked, "well, I don't try to make Bobby go gray as often as you try, so probably."
"Haha," Buck shook his head but leaned up to press a kiss to his cheek, "there's not much to do. I honestly will be there to put on a good front for them, to make Maddie happy, and then I won't have to see them again."
"If that's what you'd like to do, I've got your back, but it's okay to change your mind, too," Eddie offered, "I get difficult parents. Mine are a handful, too, so just stay open-minded. Granted mine haven't done anything to warrant me changing my feelings towards them, but maybe one day," he shrugged, tugging Buck to him, "but until then, you've already got a huge family who loves you unconditionally."
"You're right, I do," Buck agreed, taking a deep breath and relaxing against him.
Eddie reached over and grabbed two things off the coffee table, his phone and the TV remote. In just a press of a button, the TV came to life and he scrolled until he found Jurassic World playing, "here we go. Let's watch a movie about people getting torn to pieces by dinosaurs."
Buck laughed at him, but settled in, "I'm in. I can pretend the people getting eaten are my parents and Owen and Bobby are the dinosaurs."
"Oh, I can just hear you explaining that to them," Eddie smirked, shaking his head, before setting the remote down and using his hand to clasp on to Buck's, "just relax, cariño."
Group Text: Maddie, Bobby, Eddie, TK, Owen
Eddie: Buck's definitely upset, but I think he's calmed down a little. Just give him some time, Maddie, he's got a lot of hurts he can't just ignore. Don't expect him to respond to anything tonight, we're watching one of the Jurassic Park movies, to get his mind off of things.
TK: That seems like a fitting movie series.
Owen: TK!
TK: What? It's true! If I was pissed at someone I'd think of them getting eaten.
Eddie: I should warn Carlos for the next time you two have a spat. It's also scary that you and Buck think the same way.
TK: That's what brothers are for.
Bobby: As long as that doesn't translate to real life, that's not a bad idea to watch them. Just remind him we're here if he needs to talk.
Eddie: Will do, cap!
~*~
After just two dinners with his parents, Chim, and Maddie, Buck was done. He knew he shouldn't have raised his voice, but he was tired of hearing from his parents that they didn't know how to deal with him and that he never made their lives easy. That was the last straw for him, and he stormed out of Maddie and Chim's, heading right for the station, even though he wasn't working. He needed a punching bag and the gym had one. His fiancé was also there, so he could talk to him, too.
Maddie kept trying to call Buck while he was talking to Eddie. Through his conversation with Eddie, he realized he needed to at least apologize to his sister for how he acted. Even though everything he'd said was true, he thanked Eddie for the conversation. After a quick shower and a kiss and hug from him, Buck returned to Maddie's. Chim had already gone to bed and their parents had left, leaving just Maddie there to talk.
The last thing Buck expected when they were going through her baby box was a picture of a little boy taken in 1988. The boy looked a lot like Buck, but it had been taken several years before he had been born, so he had no idea who it was. Maddie was surprised to see the photo, but now it couldn't be unseen, leaving her to share with Buck for the first time that they had a brother who died. A brother between them who had been sick and died before Buck was old enough to know him; their parents having decided hiding his existence was easier than telling Buck.
Buck felt like the wind had been knocked out of him at this news, and though Maddie wanted to share more with him, he cut her off. He had gone numb and knew that he couldn't hear anymore, so he grabbed his jacket and left, heading right home on autopilot.
Walking into the quiet home, Buck was grateful that Chris was at Abuela's that night. Eddie was now home from work, so he dropped his jacket on the back of the couch, and just stood there, staring at a photo of him, TK, Owen, Chris, and Eddie from Christmas.
"Buck, you okay?" Eddie wondered, the silent man concerning him. "Evan?"
At his name, Buck turned his head to Eddie and sighed, "I never even knew," he murmured, falling to his knees on the floor.
"Knew what?" Eddie gasped, rushing towards him, "what's wrong? Are you okay?" Reaching out, Eddie brushed his hand over his cheek, "babe, talk to me."
Tears filled Buck's eyes as he slumped against his fiancé, "Daniel died."
"Daniel died? Who's Daniel?" Eddie asked quickly, wrapping his arms around Buck, "babe, your heart is racing, what's going on?"
"Our brother," he sobbed, tears falling from his eyes as he curled into the warmth.
"Oh God," Eddie groaned, rubbing his back gently as he cried, "I've got you. You're safe, I'm right here," he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. While he let his fiancé calm down, Eddie fished his phone from his pocket and sent a quick text to TK and Owen.
Eddie: SOS! Need to talk asap!
Not even a minute later, Owen was calling Eddie, "hey. You're on speakerphone with me and Buck," Eddie greeted.
"TK and I are in my office, what's going on? Are you guys okay? Are you hurt?" Owen asked with a shaky voice.
"I..." Buck choked out and then shook his head, "give me a minute," he took a breath.
"Buck's had a rough few days. His parents just got here and even just after a few meals with them, he's had it. And the way they're making him feel is making me hate them even more," Eddie sighed. "He just got home from talking with Maddie and is really upset because they had a brother named Daniel who died and he never knew."
"He had what?" TK exclaimed, "what the fuck is wrong with those people? You don't hide a child from their siblings!"
"Well, apparently I was only born for spare parts," Buck whimpered, biting his lip.
"That's absolutely not true!" Owen yelled, "Evan, you are not just spare parts!"
"It's true," Buck cleared his throat and shifted a little to look at Eddie, "I'm serious. Daniel was a few years younger than Maddie and he got sick. None of the treatments worked and none of them matched Daniel enough to be a donor, so they got pregnant again just so I could be a donor. I was a match, but even with all the things they tried, he still died. Maddie said my parents changed when he died and she thinks part of the reason why they treated me differently is that I looked so much like Daniel that every time they look at me they see him. So they decided it was best to just never tell me and treat me like shit because of it."
"Oh my God, babe," Eddie groaned, tightening his grip on him, "you are so much more to me than that. They don't deserve to have you in their life, Evan, you are better off without them."
"Exactly, what Eddie said," Owen agreed, "you have us. You don't need them," he paused, "TK what are you doing?"
"I'm looking for flights to LA. I need to give those two a piece of my mind, and Maddie, too!" TK exclaimed, "the nerve of her to text us about making a mistake telling Evan they were coming, yet fails to mention for the past thirty years or so that they had a sibling? What the fuck is wrong with her?"
"No, you don't need to come out for that," Buck replied, "I'm... I just need a few days. I've got Eddie and I'll tell Bobby and the team tomorrow. I'm sure Chim already knows since he's been acting weird around me the last week or so," he sighed, "and Maddie... As much as I want to be mad at her, she was only doing what my parents asked. I don't blame her for that, but I wish I would have known sooner. It's those people I'm pissed at."
"You have every right to be pissed at them," TK replied, "and are you sure you don't need me to come out?"
"I'm okay. I've got Eddie and the team. Save your leave for the next time you get hurt," Buck replied, a slight smirk tugging at his lips.
"But if you do come out here," Eddie cleared his throat, "I'm locking the two of you into the house."
"Eddie, I knew I liked you for a reason and I'm sure Carlos would agree," Owen responded.
"Why is everyone always ganging up on me? It's not my fault I get hurt!" TK pouted.
Buck laughed, "because as Judd called us, we're dumbass and dumbasser. It's inevitable."
Owen chuckled, "and you're the little brother, too."
~*~
Over the next few days, Buck was grateful to be off work. He needed some time to process and was lucky to get an emergency appointment with his therapist to help. Eddie was there for him, and so was Carla when she was able to be, but Eddie needed Buck to know he had family there, so he talked to Bobby. Surprisingly, Owen had also talked to Bobby and this led to Buck and Eddie being invited over to dinner with Bobby and Athena, so Buck could talk about what's going on.
"Wow, that's a lot to unpack," Bobby admitted as he listened to everything Buck had just explained to them over dinner.
"Yeah, it is," Buck agreed.
"Do you feel like you're clear-headed enough to come back to work tomorrow?" Bobby wondered, concerned for his son, but also worried about him as his Captain, too.
"I'll have Eddie and you there, so yeah, I'll be okay. I can't sit at home anymore. This whole situation sucks, but I just need to get on with my life," Buck told him.
"Oh it sucks alright," Athena agreed, sipping her wine, "good thing I don't have to deal with them or I'd give them a piece of my mind. What kind of people do that?"
"People who can't deal with their own drama so they push away their kids and toss money at them," Buck sighed.
"Not that I'm advocating for you to forgive them, but my parents have issues, too. Don't you think you've grown up and matured and now you could maybe talk to them as an adult?" Eddie wondered, having wanted to ask, but wasn't sure if he would take it well if they were alone.
Buck opened his mouth to respond, but he paused, unsure exactly what to say, "I... I don't know if it would do any good."
"Maybe instead of dragging up the past that you can't change, you could show them who you are now," Athena offered, "you have no relationship with them right now, and for good reason," she motioned around the table to mean their current discussion, "but if there's even a part of you who wants to have them in your life, you've got to start somewhere. And if they've visited Maddie once, they'll probably visit again. They're going to be around."
"Good point," Buck agreed, "I'll think about it."
"Just remember we're on your side," Bobby told him, "and Owen has asked me to keep an eye on you more than normal, so he's concerned, too. I'll let you back to shift tomorrow, but if I suspect you're not in the right mind to work, I'm sending you home, okay?"
"Deal," Buck nodded, "and if I don't feel up to it, I'll tell you."
Bobby returned his nod, "good."
~*~
The following afternoon, Buck was helping Eddie roll one of the hoses from the truck when Maddie showed up, "what are you doing here?" Buck asked, "are you okay?" He glanced at her stomach, "the baby?"
"She's fine, but I'm not. You're not answering my calls," she replied, moving towards him.
"I've had a lot on my mind," Buck replied easily.
"I get it," Maddie agreed, "I'm sorry you had to find out that way. Look, can we talk?" She wondered.
"I'd rather not do it on shift," he told her, "tomorrow, okay?"
"Mom and dad leave tomorrow and they want to see you one more time. They want to talk," Maddie explained.
"Look, if they want to talk to me, they have to come here. I'm not going to them."
"So you'll talk to them here, but not me?" Maddie sighed, "please, just... I can't lose you."
"You're not losing me. It's a shock and I get why you never told me, but I can't just be told something like that and not take some time to process," Buck admitted, running his hand through his hair, "and I'm nowhere near ready to forgive them, but I'll hear them out."
"That's all they ask. They know this was a lot and..." Maddie's words were cut off by the alarm going off.
"Sorry," Buck leaned in and pressed a kiss to her cheek, "we gotta go, but I'll talk to you later."
"I love you, be careful," she called out.
~*~
To: Buck, Eddie, Owen, Carlos, Bobby, Athena
TK: Uh, we heard about the big warehouse fire in LA. Are you guys there?
Athena: I'm not, but I'm on my way there. I know the 118 is in the area, so probably. It's a big one, so it's at least a 4 alarm.
Owen: Oh Shit...Let me know if you hear anything.
Athena: I heard that they were able to evacuate everyone but a couple of people. I'll let ya know what I hear when I get there.
Ten minutes later...
Athena: Helping with crowd control. 118 is definitely here, but inside, so not sure who's with who, but when I hear more, I'll let you know. Will try to get on their radio channel to listen in.
Carlos: Don't get in trouble by doing that, Sergeant.
Athena: Thanks, Officer Reyes, but I do it all the time. My rank says I can. Perks of being a sergeant married to a firefighter captain!
Carlos: 👮🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️(male police officer & man hitting forehead emojis)
Carlos: Yes, ma'am
Athena: Just wait until TK's a captain and you're a sergeant or lieutenant. You'll gain a lot of perks!
Owen: Athena, might you know of any single police sergeants in the Austin area?
Athena: I don't, but maybe your future son-in-law could introduce you to one!
Athena looked up from her phone just as she saw a group of firefighters walking out. She immediately saw her husband's familiar captain's helmet and then she counted three other 118 fire helmets, "damn it!" She groaned, looking at her phone.
Athena: Well, so far I count 4 118 helmets. Bobby, Hen, and Chim for sure. I'm assuming the other one is Eddie because the other three are holding him back from going into the building. I mean it could be Buck and Eddie's inside, but... I know Buck and he's probably doing Buck things.
Owen: Buck things?
Athena: Oh, you don't know your son! He is a never-give-up kinda person. He'll get himself killed and disobey orders just to save someone. He and I got off on the wrong foot, so to speak, when we first met. In fact, I thought he was an entitled spoiled brat, but he used a firetruck and water hose to help me catch a criminal, so I gave him another chance.
Athena watched as the four members of the 118 jogged back towards the building, this time going in another way than they had before. Over the radio, she could hear conversations explaining that one of the 118 members was trapped inside and the team was going back to get them.
She didn't have too long to wait for more information, because in less than 10 minutes, the full 118 were walking out of the building with a survivor. She knew they'd have quite the story to tell and gave them a few moments to pass the person off to waiting paramedics, before following them over to the ambulance where Hen began to check out Buck.
"Firefighter Buckley here pulled out the very last victim," Bobby commented when he watched his wife walk over.
"Of course he did," Athena smirked.
"Yeah, and then everyone else had to pull me out," Buck murmured.
"I'm sure whoever you saved is just glad you were being Buck," she explained.
Buck shook his head, "I don't even know what that means."
Athena stepped closer to him, "you never give up. That's what being Buck means to me. And whatever you do, don't stop," she told him honestly.
"Well, he could tone it back. I don't know if my blood pressure can handle this happening too frequently," Eddie murmured as he sat next to him on the back of the ambulance.
"It's not like I mean to," Buck groaned, leaning back against Eddie, "I just hate seeing people hurt."
"Oh, we know. We also hate seeing people hurt, especially when said 'people' usually end up being you," Hen glared at him.
"Oh, Hen, you really do care," Buck stood up and reached out to give her a hug, "honestly when TK and I stole the fire truck to rescue you, I didn't know if you actually would ever come after me."
Hen patted Buck's back and then shook her head with a laugh.
"You did what now?" Athena turned her gaze back to Buck, "did I hear you stole a firetruck?"
"The guy in charge was being an idiot and wouldn't let us go out and look for Owen and Hen. So, I just borrowed the keys for the 126's fire truck," Buck explained.
"Boy!" Athena shook her head, "just for that, you get to tell your dad all about your little adventure tonight. And maybe help Carlos set him up with a nice police sergeant there in Austin," she nodded at her husband and smiled, before moving to return to her duties.
"What?" Buck gasped, "how do they know?"
"Read your text messages!" Athena called back over her shoulder before she got too far away.
As soon as she walked away, Buck groaned, "my phone is in the truck."
Eddie shifted and undid his jacket, to fish out his phone, "I imagine it's a group text," he added, handing it over.
Buck took his phone and easily accessed his phone with the passcode, Chris' birthday, and found the group text. Skimming over the responses, he groaned, and handed the phone back to Eddie, "crap."
Eddie: Buck needed a rescue from us, but we're all good now. No injuries.
TK: Thank God!
Owen: So glad! Evan, we need to have a chat!
Eddie showed the message to Buck and watched him sigh, "just tell them I'll message them later.
Eddie: Buck says he'll text later. I think we're heading out of here soon.
~*~
In less than an hour, the 118 was backing into the station's garage. The whole team headed for the showers, while Bobby headed into his office to get started on the lengthy paperwork for their last call.
Buck dropped his gear and headed right to his locker, shucking off some of his clothes and grabbing his shower bag, before heading into the bathroom on autopilot.
Eddie watched him go and sighed. He was trying to squash the pit of nerves building in his gut at the turn of events during that call, but he knew it'd take him some time. He knew why couples shouldn't normally work on shifts together and that night was a perfect example of why. Sure, they worked well together, when they were together. He couldn't help being a little pissed at Bobby for not pairing them up, but in some ways, he knew he couldn't always be at his soon-to-be husband's side. He was just grateful they all made it out safely and he could hold him once more, which is why Eddie grabbed his shower things and followed Buck's steps into the bathroom.
Briefly, Eddie considered taking his own shower, but he was not going to let the opportunity to shower with Buck slip by. Finding the stall where Buck's things were, he added his to the pile and after pulling his clothes off, slipped around the curtain.
"Hey!" Buck exclaimed, whipping around, unsure who it was.
Eddie immediately threw his hand over Buck's mouth and lifted his finger to his own lips in a 'shh' motion.
Relaxing when he realized it was Eddie, Buck nodded, "you could have warned me," he whispered.
"Oh, did I scare you? Welcome to the club," Eddie murmured, as he wrapped his arms around him.
"I'm sorry," Buck replied softly, "I didn't mean to scare you."
"I know," Eddie agreed, pulling back a little to press his lips to Buck's, "and I know it's who you are. Just need a minute."
"That quick, huh?" Buck glanced down at his fiancé, "I mean we can try, but it won't be very entertaining."
Eddie groaned and shook his head, "Bobby would kill us if we do that in the shower. I can wait until we get home, but that doesn't mean I can't be close to you."
"Good, because as much as I want to make love to you right now, I don't think I have the energy to and I don't want Bobby to catch us," Buck admitted, guiding Eddie back so they were both under the spray. "Good thing we use the same products, too."
"Oh yeah, why is that?" Eddie asked with a grin.
"Because you always smell good and figure it's more economical and better for the environment," Buck noted, "TK's all about conserving things."
"Please don't talk about your brother while we're naked in the shower together," Eddie groaned, "or your dads for that matter."
"I'm not used to talking in the shower at all, so this is all new for me," Buck laughed lightly, leaning in to press a kiss on Eddie's lips, "thanks for joining me."
"Always," Eddie assured him, gently running his hands over his chest with the bar of soap, "thought we could both use some comfort."
"Definitely," Buck nodded, taking a deep breath, "I'm..."
Eddie shook his head and silenced him again, "don't apologize. It's our job. Sometimes it gets dangerous. I'm just glad you're okay. We can talk more about this when we get home."
Buck smiled and let his words settle, the two easily sharing body wash, soap, and shampoo as they rinsed the soot and sweat from the call away and finished up in just a few minutes. As they turned the water off, Buck kissed Eddie once more, "I love you, Eds," he murmured.
"Love you, too, cariño," Eddie assured him, watching him pull the curtain open.
Peeking out the shower stall, Buck looked around and didn't see anyone, so he knew the coast was clear. Unfortunately, his things were not where they had been left, "um, did you move my stuff?"
"No, I set my towel on top of yours and joined you," Eddie admitted.
With a sigh, Buck glanced around, "someone moved our stuff," he explained, finally landing on the pile of items across the room. Buck pulled the curtain further open and dashed across the room while it was clear. He quickly tossed Eddie's towel to him, before wrapping his own around his waist, just as Bobby walked into the room to shower, "uh, hey Cap," Buck waved.
Bobby paused and glanced between Buck and Eddie who was standing outside the stall drying off, "conserving water?" The older man wondered.
"Uh, yeah, that's it," Buck nodded, "I mean we use so much of it on calls, anywhere we can save a drop is great!"
Eddie glared at his fiancé, inwardly cringing at his explanation.
"Yeah, I think I learned that from one of Harry's science projects. You must have picked that up helping Chris," Bobby replied casually, glancing between the two again, "given what happened tonight, I get it, just don't make this a habit, unless we're on a water conservation order, okay?"
"You got it, Cap," Eddie nodded, moving towards where Buck was standing to grab his things.
"You two might want to hurry up, though. You have some guests upstairs," Bobby explained.
"Who's here?" Buck asked, but before he got a response, he groaned, "my parents?"
Bobby nodded, "yeah, and Maddie.
~*~
Eddie knew he needed to let Buck talk to his parents, and if voices got raised he'd be upstairs in a heartbeat. Thankfully after ten minutes, he hadn't heard anything, so he hoped that was a good sign. Bobby walked over, "why are you down here?"
"Giving Buck some space to talk to them. I honestly don't know if they know about us," Eddie replied.
"Do they really deserve the satisfaction of easing them into it? Buck's been away from them for over ten years," Bobby replied.
Eddie sighed, "I don't know. I want to be there, but I also don't want him to feel like has to bring me in."
"Okay, Owen's his dad and so am I. I'm telling you to go up there," Bobby put his hand on Eddie's shoulder and guided him towards the stairs.
Taking the hint, Eddie jogged up the stairs and looked to see the Buckleys sitting around one of the smaller tables.
Hearing footsteps, Buck turned and saw Eddie, smiling at him and holding out his hand, "good timing."
Eddie glanced at Buck's hand and considered not taking it, but with what Bobby had said, he took Buck's hand in his and squeezed it gently, "everything alright up here?"
"Yeah, I was just telling them that I'm engaged," Buck replied, "this is my fiancé Eddie Diaz."
"Oh, um, how long has this been going on?" Buck's mom asked.
"We proposed at Christmas, but we've been together almost a year. Friends for a few before that," Buck replied.
"I see," Phillip replied, taking a deep breath, "I didn't realize, um..."
"Just so you know, I fully support their relationship and you're welcome to leave if you don't," Maddie chimed in.
"No, it's not that. It's just a surprise. I mean, we should have known that you might be seeing someone, but engaged? You're so young."
"I'm almost thirty," Buck reminded her, "and we'd be married by now if we'd realized how we felt about each other a lot sooner."
"There's no use talking about what could have been. We're here and that's what is important," Eddie replied, "and it's a pleasure to meet both of you."
"You as well," Phillip replied, holding out his hand to Eddie.
Eddie shook the older man's hand and then Margaret's.
"Have you set a date?" Margaret wondered.
"No, not yet, but we're thinking maybe summer when Chris is out of school and maybe in Texas. Eddie's family is from there and that's where TK and Owen are," Buck explained.
"Yeah, and we have offers for a place here in the area, so it just depends on what's available when," Eddie added.
At the unfamiliar names, the two parents looked at Maddie, before looking at the guys, "who are Chris, Owen, and TK?"
"TK is my friend from soccer. He and his dad Owen took me in when I graduated high school. I was living with them when I went to college in New York. They became like a brother and dad to me. They are now firefighters in Austin, and Cap and Owen are good friends. Definitely crazy how we all know each other but it's really cool," Buck started and then smiled at Eddie, "Chris is our son."
"I would just like it to be known that I'm giving you a grandchild first because they probably won't get married before this one's born," Maddie smirked, rubbing her swollen belly, "I mean, yeah, technically Chris is your son now, but not legally yet."
"Well, actually when Shannon died I gave him guardianship in case something ever happened to me, so technically he's been his son longer than we've been together," Eddie explained.
"You did what? When?" Buck's eyes widened as he looked at him, "why am I just now hearing about this?"
"I was going to tell you, I just never found the right time. And it hasn't been something I've really wanted to bring up because I don't want to talk about not being around," Eddie replied.
"I get that, because I definitely want you around," Buck agreed.
"I wish we could meet him," Margaret admitted.
"Maybe next time you visit," Buck told her; he definitely wasn't ready for his parents to meet Chris yet.
"Of course. We would like to visit when Maddie has the baby, so if possible we can meet him then," Phillip suggested.
"Maybe," Buck nodded, glancing at Eddie before looking back at his parents, "so you guys are cool with this?"
"Are you happy?" Phillip asked.
"Happier than I ever thought I could be," Buck told him honestly.
"Then of course we're happy for you. We're just... We've missed so much of your life, and I hope we can," Margaret paused, "I hope we can make a change now."
"I can't just forget everything that happened, but if you want to be in my life, I won't stop you. You just have to give me time and show me you want to be. What happened when I was in my teens sucked, and it's going to take a lot to get through that," Buck admitted, "and you also have to understand, I've chosen a new family. TK's my brother, I call Owen my dad and Bobby, too. I'm not just going to turn my back on them. They are my family, too."
"We can respect that, and we're glad you've had family in your life," Margaret told him.
Buck smiled, "good."
~*~
Talking to his parents at the station was the last thing Buck wanted to do, but he was glad he could do it in a place he felt safe. Nothing they said truly sold him on them wanting to make a change in their relationship; he'd have to see that before he believed it, but he knew it was a good start. What he now realized was that he did need some time to process everything.
A few hours after his sister and parents left, Buck tugged his fiancé away from the balcony and down a hallway near the bunk room.
"What the hell, Buck," Eddie gasped in surprise.
As soon as they entered the currently empty bunk room, Buck began pacing, "so, um..."
"Babe, spit it out," Eddie moved towards him to stop his movements, resting his hands on his arms to calm him down, "hey, you look like you're going to have a panic attack."
"Well, I kinda feel like I am," Buck slowed his movements and slumped against Eddie, "I've got so much on my mind."
"Yeah, I can see that," he agreed, hugging him and trying to give him any comfort he could, "I would be shocked if you didn't. Would you like to talk about it?"
"I don't know. Yes, but I need dad and TK, too."
"So let's call them," Eddie moved to pull his phone from his pocket, but Buck stopped him, "no, Eds, I... I think I need to go to Austin for a while."
"A while?" Eddie raised a concerned eyebrow at him, "what do you mean?"
"I don't know. A week or two. Owen and TK were there when I first moved out of my parents' house and they really helped me back then. I'm not saying you can't help, but I... I want to make sure they know that nothing is changing between us, even if my parents do come back into my life somehow, and I want to be there to tell them that."
"Okay," Eddie nodded, "so we won't call them. We'll go to Austin."
"No," Buck shook his head, "I... We just got back and I don't want both of us to leave Chris again. I think this is something I need to do on my own."
Eddie gathered his thoughts, "um, okay. Are we good? It's not like you to not want me to go along."
"I know, and we're better than good, but I just need some time with my dad and brother. Maybe you and Chris could come in the last few days, and we could go home together. I just need some time with them."
Running his hand through his hair, Eddie nodded, "just promise me one thing."
"Anything," Buck replied.
"Come home to me and Chris, okay?"
"I will always come home to you both," Buck promised.
"Good," Eddie leaned in and pressed a kiss to his lips, "okay, if you want to go, I won't stop you, even if I'll miss you like crazy."
"I will miss you, too. Especially when I have to see TK and Carlos together," Buck groaned, "but you'll come the last few days I'm there?"
"As soon as you know how long you'll be there, Chris and I will get tickets," Eddie held out his hand, "come on. Let's go talk to Bobby."
~*~
Walking down the hallway to Bobby's office, Buck knocked on their captain's door, and when he said 'enter' Buck pushed the door open. "Hey, Bobby, you got a minute?"
Bobby eyed the two men as they easily came in and sat down in the two chairs across from him at the desk, "what can I do for you?"
"So, um, obviously I've got a lot on my mind," Buck started.
"That's an understatement," Bobby chuckled, leaning his arms on his desk, "but yes, you do."
"Look, I was wondering. Um, do you think it would be okay if I took a few weeks off? I'd totally finish this shift and a few more days if possible, but I'd like to go to Austin to see dad and TK for a bit," Buck explained, "and before you ask, I already talked to Eddie and he's supportive."
Bobby nodded easily and took a deep breath, "yeah, I think that's doable. If you could work a couple of shifts until I can arrange people to cover your absence, that will help. Just let me know when your flight leaves and when you plan to come back," he paused, "you are coming back, right?"
"Of course I am," Buck nodded, "I'm not leaving Eddie, Chris, or the 118. I just need some time with my other dad and brother."
"And once we know when he's planning to come home, Chris and I would like to fly to visit as well for a long weekend, so as soon as we figure that out, could we work those plans in?" Eddie asked hopefully.
"I kinda figured that would happen, so yes, we'll make it work," Bobby promised.
Buck relaxed into the seat and smiled, "thank you. It'll probably only be two weeks, but I'll let you know."
Bobby nodded, "sounds good. Is this going to be public knowledge or do I have to keep it a secret?"
Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Buck smiled, "well, I'd like to surprise them, so if you could avoid mentioning it until I'm on my way that would be great.
~*~