Work Text:
- Maddie
Maddie’s been working hard, with Jee-Yun now at preschool she’s gone back to the call centre full time. They’ve sorted out hours so she can drop Jee off and pick her up and Chim does it too on the days he’s off. It works well for them both, she’s occupied and busy and doesn’t have too much time to think, and she still gets to spend quality mom daughter time with Jee. Chim’s happy and settled and looking towards his captain qualification.
The biggest drawback is the fact that she doesn’t get to spend as much time with Buck as she wants to. She’s busy and now he’s busy too, with the first real relationship that she’s approved of totally. Eddie and Christopher adore her little brother, as they should, and she’s seen him change into this happy, confident, wonderful man with their love as a strong backbone. He’ll always be her baby brother, her confidant, the person she wants to talk to after Chim whenever anything happens. It’s just that a lot of their conversations have been moved to video calls, instead of face to face. It was different when he was single or in unhappy relationships, when he’d spend as much time as possible with her. Now he’s happy and settled, they have a weekly Buckley get together, even if they speak every single day on the phone. Seeing him with Eddie and Christopher every day is worth it, when Christopher calls her Aunt Maddie and talks to Jee-Yun for ages until Buck can wrestle the phone back, when Eddie just looks at him with the biggest heart eyes and love in every facet of his face. She lives for those lovely moments.
Plus she’s also become closer to Eddie and Christopher. She’s always known about them, right from the start Buck has always talked about them constantly. What Eddie was up to, what Christopher did at school, what they did at weekends together. She still remembers the day she moved into the apartment and Buck thought she was talking about Eddie being cute when it was really Chim. It took them a while to actually sort out from crush to dating, but no one was happier when they sorted themselves out than Maddie is. Buck deserves someone who adores him and treats him the way he should be, and Eddie does that. Seeing them grow into their relationship, how they fell from best friends to lovers has been so sweet and wonderful, even if Chim still pretends to gag when they’re being heart eyed towards each other. And Jee has the best cousin she could wish for, Christopher adores her and she follows every little thing he does constantly. They’ve definitely lucked out in their choice of partners.
She’s going around to their house today, Buck is almost ready to move in to the Diaz home when his lease runs out soon on the loft, but to be honest, they’ve more or less been living together anyway for ages. Buck’s clothes are at Eddie’s, his bed moved over a few months ago - “Maddie, I love him, but his bed is the worst thing ever!” Buck had moaned to her when he’d first started dating Eddie - and his kitchen utensils now hang proudly in the kitchen. They’ve combined their money and they have plans for the future that involve house hunting and babies. Today, Buck is alone at home. Eddie has to take Christopher to a doctor's appointment, that usually he’d go to, but he sprained his knee the week before at work whilst trying to run from a burning warehouse and so he’s been constricted to couch or bed rest for two weeks. He’s been grumpy, Maddie’s had the privilege of being called every single time she’s not at work so he can talk to her, but at least his knee is getting better. Eddie’s had a big part of that, making sure that he’s been looked after too and Maddie can see it on Buck’s face every time they’ve spoken.
“Eddie’s been driving me crazy though,” Chim tells her as he hugs Jee before he puts her in the seat in the back of their car. “He can’t work without Buck, and he’s like a little lost puppy dog, just staring at the door with his tail between his legs and the biggest doe eyes you’ve ever seen on anyone. I don’t think any of us can wait for Buck to come back to work.”
“It’s what people are like when they’re in love,” Maddie tells him with a laugh as he scrunches his nose up.
“They’re ridiculous, is what they are,” he declares and she knows he’s teasing because Buck is like his brother too now and he also cares greatly for Eddie. It’s just that his way of showing them he loves them is to tease them mercilessly. Buck’s even said he’d be worried if Chim was nice to them now.
“They’re sweet,” Maddie protests and then laughs against Chim’s mouth as he kisses her goodbye.
“They’re nauseating,” he tells her as he lets her go, tweaking Jee’s plaits lightly too.
Maddie lets herself into the Diaz house with the key Eddie gave her almost shyly when he and Buck got serious about each other. She can see Buck on the couch, his leg propped up on the table carefully and he waves as he tilts his head back and sees them come in. “Jee! Come say hi to Uncle Buck!” he calls and Maddie is careful when she puts Jee onto his lap for a cuddle and kisses his forehead hello herself. He looks good, considering he’s been off his feet all week, none of the usual discontent on his brow, his face happy and healthy. It’s clear Eddie and Christopher have been doting on him, as shown by the piles of carefully considered magazines, the tray of snacks and drinks left within easy reach and the blanket she recognises as Eddie’s absolute favourite, a hand knitted one made by his Abuela. Buck kisses Jee hello, showing her the toys Christopher has bought into the lounge for her and laughing when she wriggles off his lap carefully and gets immersed in them immediately.
“You’re looking good, Evan,” Maddie says as she sits in the chair next to him, “how is your knee?”
“It’s ok,” Buck smiles as he says it, his hand caressing over the joint gently. “Getting better, even though Eddie threatens me every time I even try to stand up. Even when I need the bathroom, he’s hovering all the time. And Christopher is just as bad.”
“And you love it,” she says knowingly and is overjoyed to see the flash of joy that settles over Buck’s face.
“Yeah, I do,” he admits. “I’ve never been cared for as much as I have this last week, they’ve done everything for me. I love the fact they want to look after me and make sure I’m ok, even if I get infuriated when Eddie tries to help me pee.”
“That is too much information about my little brother,” Maddie gets out, through the images that she does not want and Buck takes one look at what must be her horrified face and throws his head back and laughs so loud that even Jee turns and stares at him, her little face lighting up as she gazes at her uncle.
“I’ve never seen you like this when you’ve been injured,” Maddie says quietly when he’s calmed down and wiped his eyes and Buck sobers up at her words.
“Well, when I was younger I was trying to prove something to people who didn’t care about me, not really. Getting hurt was the only way I could get them to notice me. And then I didn’t care if I got hurt because I had no one that cared about me. But Eddie and Christopher, I know they’d be devastated if I was badly hurt. He put me in his will and told me I wasn’t expendable, I’d be ignoring all of that if I just carried on regardless. So yeah, I have reasons to be different now, I guess.”
“I love you,” Maddie tells him, to hide the fact that her eyes have filled with happy tears but she knows he’s not fooled at all. They’re both saps, her and her little brother, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
They spend the afternoon together, watching and helping Jee with the toys and when Maddie stands up to get them fresh drinks of coffee or juice, Buck tilts his head back. “Say, Mads, I think Eddie said I had some mail that he’d left on the side. Can you grab it for me please? I think I’d be better not getting up unless it’s necessary. Don’t want to have to sleep on the sofa tonight.”
“Sure,” she says as she squeezes his shoulder, smiling as he turns his full attention back to Jee who wants to show him what she's made. She grabs the pile of mail on her way into the kitchen to switch on the fancy coffee machine Buck already has moved into the kitchen.
It’s when she’s distracted that she notices and she’d never knowingly look at Buck’s mail, it’s private and she’s not snoopy, but it’s there in large black letters printed on the top envelope, so how can she miss it?
Mr Evan Buckley-Diaz.
Fuck, she covers her mouth so quickly she drops the drawer she’s been pulling out and she hears Buck’s worried call from the lounge and tries to cover herself up as quickly as she can.
Buckley-Diaz? Are they….married?
“Howard Han!” Maddie does not scream loudly when she lets herself into their apartment, making Chim drop whatever he was doing with a loud clang. “Tell me what you know and don’t hold anything back, I’ll know. I’m his sister!”
“What?” Chim calls back as he makes his way to grab Jee from her, tickling her stomach to make her giggle. “What are you on about? What has Buck done now?”
“Have they got married?” she demands, her hands on her hips and she sees how Chim’s face changes, from concern at her entry, to absolute bewilderment.
“No?” he says slowly. “I mean, they’re as loved up as ever, I even caught them making out behind the fire truck the other day like they were teenagers, but married? No one has said anything to me about that?”
“I saw an envelope addressed to Buck with a double barreled surname,” Maddie points out, as she sits down next to him. “Why else would he have a different surname? And why didn’t he tell me if it’s true?”
“Maybe because they’re moving in together they set it up like that?” Chim suggests but she can tell he doesn't really believe it himself either. “Or is it a misunderstanding or miscommunication? Don’t jump to conclusions, yet, Maddie. Did you actually ask Buck?”
“No, because then he would know I had been snooping around!” Maddie says and she definitely sees Chim hide a smile now. “But I have a better idea! I have you after all. Ask Bobby.”
“What? No! I’m not getting involved in Buckley drama again!”
“But look at your girls… do it for us, honey, please?”
“Fine,” Chim takes one look at her pout and then sighs. “But if I get caught by them I am blaming you totally, I hope you understand that.”
“Don’t get caught!”
Maddie leaves Chim to think about his plan and takes a second in the kitchen to think. If Buck is married to Eddie she’s so pleased and happy for him. He deserves so much in life and being married, being a father is top of his list. She just wonders why, if it is true, he never told her. There’s got to be some reason right?
But the overriding emotion is happiness right now. Her little brother is happy and settled and potentially married, what is there not to be happy about?
2. Bobby
Bobby is in his office doing paperwork at the start of shift when there’s a knock on the door and Chim opens it slowly. He sticks his head around, checking that Bobby is alone before sliding in and Bobby just knows that there’s something going on. Chim being sneaky is bad news for everyone.
“Chim? Can I help you?” he asks as he gestures for him to sit opposite at the desk and pushes the pile of papers to one side because he gets the feeling that he’s not going to be able to do much more right now.
“Cap,” Chim starts. “I’d normally not ask anything like this, but I’m under duress. If I don’t ask then I’m going to get in trouble at home and trust me, when Maddie wants something she won’t stop until she gets it. So, I’m going to ask you even though I bet you can’t tell me and then if you can tell her I’ve asked I would really appreciate your support.”
“Chim?” Bobby asks again. He can just tell it’s going to be one of those days, when his usually calmest shift member is the one spiraling in his office right at the start of work. “Just ask me.”
“Are Buck and Eddie married?”
Bobby doesn’t know what he was expecting to come out of Chim’s mouth but that is the last thing he even considered. Chim’s rambling again, almost half to himself, something about an envelope and Maddie and he stops his talking by means of putting his hand flat onto the table and waiting for Chim to stop. He’s like a kid sometimes, Bobby thinks almost ruefully. “I don’t know where you and Maddie got that from, but as far as I am aware they’re not.”
“Just their normal soppy irritable selves?” Chim says and he looks so thankful that Bobby misses the chance to say anything more to him because he’s jumping up and almost making a run for it. “Thanks, Cap, you saved me!”
Bobby takes a deep breath and then gives up totally on the paperwork. Maybe it’s time for lunch prep early?
He leaves his office and takes the time to look over his firefighters. They’re having some down time, Hen’s been joined by Chim on the sofas, Eddie is sitting at the table, his phone in his hand and such a hangdog expression on his face that it makes Bobby do a double take on his way into the kitchen. He knows Eddie’s been missing Buck whilst he’s off recuperating, and the idea that he’s back on light duty next week has at least lightened the mood a little but he looks so despondent right now. Eddie’s been through a lot and Bobby looks after all his firefighters and so he taps his shoulder as he passes and jerks his head towards the kitchen. “Want to help?” he offers and ignores the look of pure bewilderment on Eddie’s face. He doesn’t cook, Buck even went far enough to ban him permanently from the kitchen after one disaster with egg and pasta that Bobby still can’t think about without shuddering.
“Are you sure?” Eddie asks and gets out of his chair before Bobby can even answer, his face becoming more animated at the idea of having something to do. He hears Chim’s strangled noise, knows Hen has probably cut him off and instead focuses on Eddie in front of him who is looking a little shy. “I can’t do anything, Chim is probably right to complain,” he says quietly.
“Ignore him,” Bobby says as he manoeuvres them so Eddie is in front of the chopping board and knife, grabbing vegetables for the pasta bake he has planned. “He’ll be on the phone to your boyfriend soon anyway, complaining about how good you are. Just you wait and see.”
Eddie’s cheeks flush at the mention of Buck but he says nothing, a small smile playing on his lips as he reaches for the onion and busies himself in peeling it. “I can do a bit more than before,” he protests, even as he’s smiling so Bobby knows it’s absolutely laden with fondness. “Buck’s given me some recipes to look at and I can do them. Just, when I’m under pressure I can’t do it. I’ll probably do something stupid with this onion, just because I can see them staring at me. They are, aren’t they? Staring at us, I mean.”
Bobby hides his grin as he turns towards the stove, grabbing the oil and heating the pan up. He holds his hands out for the onion, hiding his wince at how hacked up it is but at least it’s just onion and nothing more.
“Asparagus next,” he says, avoiding the conversation and the low chat he can hear from the sofas. He does roll his eyes and neatly swaps the broccoli for asparagus in Eddie’s hands without saying anything, he supposes they’re both green at least. “So, how is Buck? Are you happy to have him back soon?”
“He’s going crazy at home alone,” Eddie says as he works on the asparagus, trying his hardest to cut them equal and failing miserably. Bobby hates to think what Christopher’s math homework must look like at times. “You know him, needs to be kept active constantly. It wasn’t so bad when he just had to stay on the sofa and rest, now he’s mobile he’s just driving me loopy. He’s reorganised our drawers you know, colour coded my socks and underwear and hung all our clothes in size and season order. I can’t find anything.”
Bobby tries to hide his laugh with a cough and he thinks he fails if the way Eddie glances over at him is any sign, but he just sighs and carries on chopping veg. It’s been clear to Bobby for a while that he misses Buck, like he’s missing part of his own body. He remembers the first shift they shared, when he’d fought so hard to get Eddie at the 118 and then had almost had everything derailed by a territorial Buck. But by the end of that shift they were friends and they’d never stopped since. Watching them fall in love had been both wonderful and irritating. The way Eddie talks about Buck now is fond and loving and he wonders for the first time if there is any truth to what Chim came bursting in to tell him that morning.
He says nothing to Eddie, just directs him to the mushrooms and gets the pasta bake into the oven. But when Eddie goes off to sit by the others and join in the game of cards - or call Buck, Bobby knows where he’d put his money if he was a betting man - Bobby returns to his office and thinks carefully.
It’s shady, he knows this, but he reaches for the files on Eddie and Buck, pulling them out carefully. There’s new things in here, he’d seen them last week when the captain of B shift had updated everything and mentioned it in passing, but Bobby hadn’t even looked. Now he’s so curious, maybe he should just give it a quick glance? After all, it’s in the file, so it’s within his rights to look, isn’t it? He forgets he could just go outside and ask Eddie, but he’s always been so careful about his emotions, even when he and Buck first started dating and they couldn’t keep their hands off each… actually, that’s not changed, but Eddie is still not the one who will just sit and talk about his feelings. Bobby knows he loves Buck, but he doesn’t ever say the words in front of everyone else, rather he shows it in his actions. So Bobby’s sure that even if he went out and asked Eddie he’d not get a proper answer.
He’s still cautious when he pulls the files out and flicks through, Eddie’s first. When he actually finds the latest document he pulls it out fully and stares at it before reaching for Buck’s and checking the same things.
Then he replaces them both and slides them away. Fuck. If they’ve not told anyone there must be a reason and Bobby’s not about to tell the rest of the shift that his two best firefighters have gotten married in secret.
But this means Chim is right and Bobby is not looking forward to the day they do eventually tell everyone, because he will be unbearable.
3. Ravi
Ravi is still new to the 118 A shift team, the probie, the one who gets all the bad jobs and the one who finds out about everything last.
Like how that woman wasn’t actually Eddie’s wife and how much panic and pain that caused. Like how Buck and Eddie apparently were never divorced and when they got together it was actually the first time they’d kissed. Even if it was in the middle of the firehouse after a quiet shift where nothing had happened and in front of everyone. He was also the last to know that the station does not actually have a cat mascot, rather it was a food and attention loving animal from the nearby neighbourhood but he’d been feeding it for months because he thought it was the 118’s.
But he’s got eyes and he’s been sitting and watching and he’s sure everyone is missing something. Something to do with Buck and Eddie.
“You’re seeing things,” Chim told him ages ago when he’d first dated to raise the issue. “They’re best friends, they’ve always been like this.”
He’d not reacted to Chim when it turned out they were dating, after all, he’d known them both less longer than Chim had and gloating over your coworker is probably bad…
He’d watched them from afar, the perfect example of a working relationship. At least, he thought that, he didn’t dare to mention it to the others. Hen he knew would listen to him and probably agree even if she didn’t say it in so many words, Chim would have spluttered with laughter and told him to get a better outlook on life. But there’s just something about the pair of them that makes his heart clench with how much they obviously adore each other. Buck is loud and beautiful and yet only has eyes for Eddie in every little thing he does and Eddie will spend hours listening to Buck and asking him questions, hanging off his every word. They work so well together too, knowing each other’s moves before they have to speak, working in tandem so well it’s like they’re one well oiled machine. Ravi wants that, someone who looks at him the way Buck looks at Eddie and the way Eddie looks at Buck, and so he keeps his mouth shut and watches as they fall deeper and deeper in love with each other.
He likes them, but he’s not prepared for what actually happens.
He’s cleaning the fire truck one day. He quite likes the job, it’s monotonous for sure, but sometimes that’s great because it means he doesn’t have to think of anything except the rhythmical swoosh of cloths against red metal. He knows not many of the others on shift enjoy cleaning but there’s just something about seeing the gleaming cleanliness of the truck appear again that gives him a bone deep feeling of satisfaction. Hen’s restocking the ambulance, her feet propped on the step and she’s leaning against the door and chatting to him as she does it, inconsequential stuff that means he can half listen and make appropriate noises when she pauses. His attention is caught by Buck and Eddie, coming in from where they’ve been talking to Christopher via video call outside. They’re their normal selves, shoulders brushing as they walk so close to each other, Buck leaning in to something Eddie says and then smiling so broadly and beautifully that Ravi misses the bucket with the cloth he’s using, splashing the floor. They’re both hot, but Buck’s always been nice to him, bar the chainsaw incident, easy to talk to, helping with this training, and he’s not failed to notice how gorgeous he is. He has eyes, after all, and Buck is both hot and nice and to Ravi that’s a killer combination. Luckily, his boyfriend laughs whenever he goes on about Buck at home, sharing the same joy of watching the Buck Eddiness of the duo in videos and photos Ravi has of them.
He hears Hen chuckle as he bends to pick the cloth up, shaking it out to try to dislodge the dirt it’s picked up from the clumsy drop to the floor. “You ok there, Ravi?” she asks and he can tell she’s got a shit eating grin on her face even before he straightens up and looks at her.
“Fine,” he mutters and when he does risk it, her eyes are full of understanding. This is why he likes Hen so much. He knows that she treats him like a little brother, looks out for him and understands things about him that no one else does.
“It’s ok, you know. Buck has that way about him that makes a lot of people react like that around him. Human puppy dog, after all,” she says gently.
“My boyfriend agrees,” Ravi says and Hen’s smile is wider now, like she gets that although he’s overwhelmed by Buck’s presence, he’s not in love with him or anything. Rather, he’s in love with the idea of Buck and Eddie and their relationship being the goal he wants for his own. He clears his throat to bring himself back to the here and now. “I’m going to go change this cloth, don’t want to scratch the truck in case Bobby gets mad.”
“Sure,” Hen laughs, “he is definitely overprotective of his baby. It’s a good idea.”
Ravi grabs the cloth carefully, waving a little at her as he steps away from the truck, heading to the supply closet where they keep all their spare equipment. He passes the rest of the shift doing their own cleaning jobs, all of them focused on the task at hand. They take no notice of him or anyone walking past.
When he reaches the cover, he goes to open the door but stops with his hand on the knob, because there’s a hum of voices from behind it, and if the door has been shut and they’re talking quietly, it's definitely a private conversation that he doesn’t want to walk in on.
But he can’t help overhear the sound of one of them, a voice he thinks he’d recognise wherever it is in the firehouse.
“Eddie,” Buck is whining. “Eddie, stop being such a tease and kiss me.”
“We’re at work,” Eddie’s voice filters through the door, his tone firm. “You know we need to be professional.”
“You want to…”
“You know I want to kiss you all the time, but unlike you, husband dearest, I have control over my emotions…”
Ravi rubs his hands over his ears, surely he’s hearing things, maybe he’s got a back up of ear wax that he wasn’t aware of? Because did Eddie really just call Buck his husband? They’re not married, not as far as he’s aware and he’s sure as far as anyone else on the team is aware. Someone would have said something if it was common knowledge, Chim would have been teasing them, Hen understanding but also making him giggle by her reactions. They’d have been gossiping everywhere, he knows that. So either he’s hearing things or there’s something very strange going on with Buck and Eddie that no one knows about.
Of course, he’s not proud to admit that now he does eavesdrop shamelessly. Finding out the truth is so important, after all, he’s doing everyone a favour…
“Eds, love of my life, my world, my universe, hubby… I never thought I’d have anyone to call that and now I do and you won’t even give me a little kiss…,” Buck says, loud and clear even through the shut door and Ravi can imagine him prowling towards Eddie with that look he gets on his face when he’s near his boyfriend - maybe husband? What the fuck - and he doesn’t know just how Eddie can resist it.
There’s a loud bump from inside the cupboard, and then the unmistakable sound of a low whine, from the back of someone’s throat and he guesses that Eddie can’t resist Buck either. He also decides pretty quickly that scratching the fire truck with a cloth that he can actually just clean in the showers is a better risk than walking in on whatever is going on in there. He turns and flees to the showers, making sure he’s back before Hen asks any questions and busies himself with cleaning again just in case she wants to say anything.
It’s about half an hour later and the fire engine is sparkly clean and Ravi is wondering how he’s going to go back to that cupboard and see if they’re still in there when he spots them, Buck and Eddie walking through the firehouse. They look innocent, nothing amiss, clothes tucked in carefully, faces normal, but he can see how they sway into each other, how Eddie’s hand brushes against Buck’s lower back, how Buck leans against Eddie’s shoulder when they stop. They’re definitely in love, that’s obvious, but are they married? How is he ever going to find out for sure? He could ask them, but imagine if he’s wrong. Actually, imagine how he’s going to tell them why he thinks they’re married, that he overheard them getting amorous in a cupboard at work.
Yeah, that’s not a great idea. He pretends to find a spot of dirt and scrubs harder. Maybe if he does that he’ll forget what he heard and go back to a trouble free life?
4. Abuela
Isabel has seen Eddie change over the last few months. He’d always been one of her favourite grandchildren (not that she has favourites, obviously!) Named after her husband, he’d always been a sweet child despite the obvious disapproval over everything he did from his parents. The army, parenthood and marriage, how overbearing his parents had been on the only boy in their children, it had all changed him. He didn’t smile so much, he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.
He’d moved to LA and he’d started to lighten up, and then he’d met Buck and Isabel had seen him flourish underneath her gaze day by day. He laughed and smiled a lot more, made jokes with Christopher, but it was more than that. It was the way his shoulders lifted, how he carried himself like he believed in himself that little bit more, how there was someone to share the burdens with him. And Christopher adored Buck too, so much so that it wasn’t long before he was introduced to her and to Pepa. Isabel used to spend hours on the phone after that first meeting discussing the future of the two boys, Pepa needing lots of reminders not to meddle, that they’d sort themselves out, that it was their life. Of course, Christopher was just as bad and it used to make Isabel both roll her eyes and laugh.
There’d been obstacles along the way of course, both of them having girlfriends, the tsunami, the shooting (god, she still crosses herself every day when she thinks of what may have happened there), but no one had been less surprised when Eddie had sat her down at her kitchen table one day, his cheeks red as he stumbled through an explanation that he was dating Buck. She’d listened to him, touched his cheek and kissed him and he’d almost fallen off his chair in surprise.
“I love you and I want you to be happy,” she’d said then. “And Buck makes you and Christopher happy so therefore why would I not be supportive of you both? Plus, I like Buck too, he listens to everything I have to say and never tells me off for gossiping.”
Eddie had smiled, relief etched into his face. “He’s too nice,” he’d said, but his voice had been laced with so much fondness that it had almost made her cry.
So they are in love and dating and now she’s waiting for them to take the next step and yet she knows the biggest stumbling block for Eddie is still his parents. Evan’s parents are a different kettle of fish - if she ever sees them again she thinks she won’t hold back on telling them how dreadful they are - but she knows Eddie still wants the approval of his mom and dad. Maybe that’s what is holding him back from proposing?
Her theory gets tested when Ramon and Helena message to say they’re coming for a visit to LA and invite themselves to Eddie’s for dinner. Isabel grabs him on one day when he comes to pick up Christopher, touching his cheek that is now furrowed with worry. “I’ll be there to help,” she promises. “I can even bring Pepa, if you want. You know she’ll take no mess off your father.”
“I know,” Eddie smiles for what seems like the first time in a while. “I’d love you to be there, Abuela. And see if Pepa is willing to control herself before asking her too maybe?”
“OK, Eddito,” she agrees and he bends down to kiss her cheek. “Leave it to me. You just sort out Chrisotpher and the lovely Evan.”
“I always knew you preferred them to me,” he calls as he returns to his truck but he definitely seems lighter than earlier.
Isabel chuckles as she waves him off. She does adore both Christopher and Buck too, her house seems so much lighter and happier when they’re all there with her, and she knows that Eddie is so pleased deep down that Buck’s part of their extended family, even if he struggles to voice it sometimes.
And if her son and his wife are going to make trouble for any of them, she’s prepared for it.
Buck lets her in, his face breaking into a smile when he leans in to kiss her cheek hello, but she can see the tension in his shoulders. “Not going so well?” she asks, softly.
“It's awful,” he whispers back to her, more honest than Eddie will be about his feelings. He’s always worn them out and open and it’s one of the reasons she loves him. “They don’t say things out loud in a way that he can say they’re being horrible, but everything they say is implicitly telling him he’s not good enough. And I hate it, because he’s the best man and father and partner ever.”
“Leave it to me,” she says just as quietly and pats his cheek, smiling in return as he finally relaxes a little under her touch.
She sweeps into the lounge to see exactly what Buck means. They’ve set the dining table up and Christopher is sitting in between Ramon and Helena, his face so bored that Isabel heaves a sigh. Eddie is hiding in the kitchen and Buck gives her a soft smile as he heads there too, leaving Isabel to greet her son and his wife and try to suss out what’s happened before she arrived there.
“How are you, Mom?” Ramon asks as she sits down opposite them, smiling for Christopher wriggling to get down and then sitting next to her.
“I’m doing well, thank you, what do you want?” she asks bluntly and Christopher hides a giggle as Helena frowns at him.
“What makes you think we want anything?” she says, her voice frosty. “Just a chance to spend some time with our family.”
“You told Buck he should go home,” Christopher suddenly says. “And when dad said no, you told him it should only be family but Buck is our family.”
“Christopher is right,” Isabel agrees, ruffling his wild curls a little to see him cross his eyes at her and laugh. “Buck is part of our family so of course he’s going to stay. Besides, I bet he cooked anyway, didn’t he?”
Christopher giggles again, looking so much better now he’s not being stifled by the pair of them. “He did, he’s a great cook, and he’s been teaching dad and now he’s good too,” he adds, so loyal to his dad that Isabel wants to grab him and smooch him sometimes, he’s such a lovely little boy.
There’s a noise from the doorway that heralds Eddie and Buck coming in, and Isabel isn’t sure how much they heard, but Eddie’s smile almost reaches his eyes when he greets her. Buck brushes his shoulder against Eddie’s as he sets down the food he’s carrying in, a big dish of enchiladas that look perfect, sitting them next to the salad that Eddie’s probably prepared.
“Is this your recipe, Mom?” Ramon asks suddenly, when he’s taken just one bite of the cheesy, gooey, perfectly spiced food that makes Isabel so proud of Buck and how well he listens in his cooking lessons with her.
“They're so good,” Christopher enthuses, not noticing the rising tension around the table. He’s got a plate full, tomato sauce around his mouth and he looks so happy. Buck takes a cloth and hands it to him to keep himself clean and Isabel notices how Helena frowns and how Eddie gives her such a look that shows exactly how he’s currently feeling.
Buck goes to answer Ramon, but Isabel knows why he’s asked and she butts in first. After all, she’s chosen to support Eddie in anything and everything he does and she does not want Buck to be getting flack for something that he’s done which is lovely and thoughtful and everyone - almost everyone - appreciates.
“It is my recipe,” she says quickly. “And Evan, you’ve made them perfectly. It’s a great job, well done.”
She sees Ramon’s scowl, but Buck ducks his head, his cheeks slightly pink as he smiles bashfully and it’s worth it to make him happy and to see how Eddie smiles at him too at the compliment.
“Thank you, Abuela,” Buck murmurs and hands her the salad bowl with a twinkle in his eye. “Eddie made this, do you want some?”
“Buck,” Eddie says, but his tone is so fond that no one takes it as anything other than a soft tease. Buck dishes her up some salad, then makes sure Christopher has what he likes, lettuce and cucumber, no peppers before he gets back to his own food. Isabel watches as Helena’s mouth tightens, as Ramons brown wrinkles but she winks at Christopher and ignores them. There’s nothing they can say about Buck and how attentive he is, even if it’s clear they’re hedging their bets for an argument. Also, how keen Christopher is to eat the enchiladas and salad shows how well he’s eating and how well raised he is. She’s so proud of all three of them.
They last until the end of the meal. She’s proud of Buck, how he keeps a light conversation going about inconsequential things, but keeping them all involved. Christopher is the main focus, happy to chatter about his friends and school and his work, and with Buck’s gentle encouragement he flourishes. Eddie is so tense she can feel it radiating off him in waves and she’s sure that Buck’s holding onto his thigh under the table, their hands linked all the time. She can see how Buck keeps a close eye on him, how he turns the conversation back to Christopher when he thinks there’s any chance of anything bad being said, how he makes sure their plates are full if they want anymore. He’s an angel, she’s sure of it.
When they get to the end of dinner, a dessert of brownie and ice cream that she knows Buck also has made, Christopher asks if he can go into his room and even though Ramon and Helena look like they’re going to say something, Eddie agrees so quickly. It’s only when Christopher is out of hearing range that he sighs, settles his hands flat on the table and says, “you may as well come out with it now, get it over and done with.”
“I don’t know why you think we’re going to say something,” Helena says, sounding tearful and Isabel wants to snort, catches Buck’s eye and turns it into a cough instead.
But Ramon isn’t as careful as her daughter in law. He fixes Eddie with a stern glare. “Do you really think this is the best way to raise Christopher?”
Isabel makes a noise, but Buck reaches for her, asking her silently to wait. And she gets why, when Eddie sets his jaw and then stands up for himself like she’s never heard him do before. God, it shows just how much of an impact Buck has had on his life, how having someone believe in him so unashamedly has made him feel about himself. She’s so proud of both of them.
“I do think it’s the best way to raise our son, actually. He’s happy here with us, he has both me and Buck for support and love and help. And I know that he’s happy with us. We’re doing a good job, no matter what you think.”
“But your job is unsafe, both of you. And you work long hours. You have no one here for support,” Helena argues.
“What am I, chopped liver?” Isabel mutters under her breath and she knows Buck’s the only one who catches it by the sympathetic smile he shoots her.
“We have each other. We have family,” Eddie says and waves his hand when Ramon snorts. “Abuela is here…”
“And she’s getting on, sorry, Mom,” Ramon interjects and damn him, he doesn’t sound sorry at all and he’s her son and she’s getting so angry right now that it’s only Buck’s touch on her arm that stops her from saying something.
“Abuela is brilliant and wonderful and Christopher adores her,” Eddie says firmly. “And she is here to support us, in whatever way she can. That’s not your decision to make. There’s Pepa too, and the 118 crew because they’re all our family. We’re doing well here, Dad, so please, just drop it.”
“You’re going to drag Christopher….”
“No. I’m not. And you know why? Because I fell in love with someone who believes in me and the father I am. And we’re raising Christopher to be an amazing young man who isn't afraid to say when he’s scared or frightened or worried. He knows it makes him more brave to admit to it. And that’s all because of Buck. So you don’t get to say I'm dragging Christopher down with me because I know now that I’m not.”
Eddie’s voice doesn’t waver once as he’s speaking and Isabel catches the look of pure adoration on Buck’s face and her heart clenches with how wonderful this boy has been for her grandson.
“Eddie is the best father I’ve ever met,” Buck speaks for the first time, his voice low and calm and even. “And I don’t think saying things like that should be allowed in our house. So I think maybe you should leave tonight? If you want to try again tomorrow and be polite, I’m sure we can find time to see you.”
It all descends into chaos then, Ramon frowning and standing up abruptly, Eddie agreeing with Buck and asking them to leave and Isabel follows them to the door because she wants to have her say finally. She’s kept her mouth shut for long enough but now that she’s got them away from Eddie and Buck, she’s not holding back.
“I’m ashamed of you, Ramon,” she says and she’s proud of how she sounds, firm and sure and how her son flinches at the tone of her voice. “Eddito has done nothing except ask for you to love and support him and instead you still make him feel like he can’t do anything right? The difference now? He has someone by his side who honestly and truly loves, adores and supports him. So if you want to keep a relationship with your son and grandson, I’d think carefully about what you’re going to do tomorrow. Because that will either make or break your relationship with them.”
She can see Ramon go to answer her, see how Helena’s eyes have filled with tears and she takes great pleasure in closing the door behind them and then breathing heavily once the tension is gone.
She lingers by the doorway to the lounge for a second. Eddie and Buck haven’t noticed she’s returned and they’re standing by the table and Buck has Eddie in his arms. His head is on Buck’s shoulder and Buck’s murmuring something to him that’s too low to hear. But then Eddie raises his head and looks at Buck with so much love on his face that it takes Isabel’s breath away.
“I love you,” Buck says clearly, his hands cupping Eddie’s cheeks. “You're my everything, my world, you and Christopher, I would do anything for you even if that means standing up to your parents. After all, you’re my husband. I’m not going to let them bully you into letting them have our son.”
Isabel chokes and then retreats quickly, sure she’s stumbled over something she’s not supposed to hear. They’re married? Since when? And why didn’t she know? There has to be a reason surely?
She slams the door like she’s just said goodbye to her son and then moves back into the lounge. Now they’re not in each other’s arms, they’re cleaning the table up, even if they’re close to each other. Buck walks over to her and kisses her cheek and she tries to catch a look at his left hand, wonders if she should just ask, what should she do?
But as she sees how Eddie melts into Buck’s side when he gets closer to him, how they perfectly compliment each other, she realises it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter if they’re married or not, if she knows or anyone knows. All that matters is that they’re happy together and it’s so clear that’s true.
- Hen
“Hey, Buck,” Hen says as she sits next to him on the sofa. “Karen and I are going out for drinks this weekend, do you and Eddie fancy coming along with us?”
Buck’s sitting on the sofa with his feet on the table, pretending to play one of the computer games the station has, but Hen’s not fooled. She knows that he’s actually watching Eddie, constantly and unashamedly. The only saving grace to the otherwise embarrassing situation is that Eddie also does the same thing. It’s both sweet and sickening, according to Chim at least. Hen’s always been more sympathetic towards them. Realising they’re in love with their best friend, all the trauma that they’ve been through to get to where they are, she can understand why they get so sappy with each other. Normally at work they're fine, as long as you don’t look too hard when they both vanish for a while.
Now though, Buck drops his gaze to where Eddie and Chim are playing pool, his eyes lingering on Eddie’s back as he leans over the table to take his shot. “Sorry, Henrietta,” he says eventually, probably when he realises she’s still waiting on an answer. “We’ve already agreed to go around to Abuela’s and you know what Eddie’s like when he doesn’t get those empanadas she makes. Maybe another time?”
“Sure,” Hen claps him on the shoulder and tries to hide her smile as he jogs over to Eddie and says something to him, making him laugh as he turns towards Buck. The love on his face is clear to see and Hen is incredibly happy for them.
When she goes home and explains to Karen what Buck said, however, Karen frowns at her a little. “Are you sure he’s ok? That sounds like a flimsy excuse not to come out to me. Maybe there’s something going on that we don’t know about! Is he ill or feeling low?”
“I don’t know,” Hen admits, and now she’s thinking too and Karen’s got her worried about Buck too. “He seemed ok and Eddie was there with him, so I just assumed everything was fine.”
“Remember that party? He swore he was fine then too and didn’t want to worry any of us…”
“Stop it,” Hen scowls a little. “He was younger and a lot more impulsive then. He’s calmer and older now. He’s ok. I’m sure of it.”
But now Karen’s mentioned it, Hen can’t get the thoughts of Buck being upset and sad and depressed out of her head. What if he’s actually really hurting? About something she doesn’t know about, obviously. And Eddie seemed ok, but maybe he doesn’t know either. And if it’s so big that Buck can’t tell anyone about it, maybe she should take the plunge for him?
That’s how she finds herself on their day off shift sitting in her car outside Buck’s loft complex and thinking of an excuse as to why she’s dropped around to see him. Should she say she needs to borrow something or that she wants him to help her learn how to cook one of Bobby’s famous meals? Or maybe she could ask him for advice on where they should take Denny for his upcoming birthday extravaganza?
She makes her way up to Buck’s apartment and knocks on the door, still none the wiser about what she can ask about. When it opens, Buck’s there, with a science magazine in his hand. He breaks into a large smile when he sees her. “Henrietta!” he says, hugging her when she comes into the room. It’s barer than she’s used to seeing, but she knows how much time Buck spends with the Diaz boys so she guesses some of his things are over there. But right now there’s a stack of notepaper on the table and the magazine that he carefully puts down on the table and turns to face her. “Is everything ok?” he asks and he looks concerned, like she’s the one who should be being worried over.
“Everything is fine,” she says, blinking at how happy and content he looks. “What are you up to today?”
“So, Christopher has a science project on the universe and I’ve been so interested in quasars and black holes and never had a chance to just read about them. So he’s starting his part at home and I had to wait for the real estate agent to come here - I can’t believe there’s only a few months until the lease on this thing is over - and I thought why not sort out my magazines for him and then I got distracted by all of these incredible things. Do you know scientists now think a quasar can destroy an entire galaxy? That’s just mad.”
He’s got that puppy dog excited look on his face when he’s really interested in something and Hen goes to answer him when something catches her eye. “Evan Buckley, what is this!” she gasps as she reaches for his hand - his left hand - and extends it to look properly.
Buck stops talking and flushes as she stares at his hand, at his left hand, where there is a thin, classy gold band sitting on his ring finger. “Shit, I forgot to take it off, I wasn’t expecting you,” he murmurs and then shrugs. “Well, I guess the cats out of the bag then. Surprise, I’m married.”
“To Eddie?”
“Well, considering we’ve been dating for a year, I’d hope so, imagine if he’d run off and just found some random person to marry instead of me, his boyfriend. Or I’d done the same, I’ve always dreamt about running off to sea and eloping somewhere romantic.”
“Buck,” Hen cuts him off, her head reeling. The band glints in the sun, and she can see a faint tan line, a small scratch that shows this is something Buck wears normally and with pride. “You’re married, you and Eddie are married?”
“It was quick and small,” Buck admits, “and we wanted to keep it quiet, not tell anyone until we had to.”
“Why?” Hen has to ask. She remembers how it started, when Buck hated Eddie for all of half a shift before they became best friends, how they’d gotten together slowly but surely, drifting into each other despite any obstacles life threw in their way. They’d always gravitated towards each other, they’d always been there for each other when things were tough and now they have a relationship based on friendship. And Buck’s been so dear to her since he walked into the 118 and to see him so happy and settled makes her happy. The idea that the pair of them wanted to keep things quiet is both sweet and a little worrying if they think they’ll not be supported at the firehouse. Hell, she’d let anŷone who was awful to them know just how incredible they are and suggest the idiot who dared speak in that way found somewhere else to be quickly, and she’s not even that person.
But Buck ducks his head a little, his cheeks flushing pinker. He fiddles with the ring on his finger, turning it around as his fingers caress it and it’s so sweet to see how much he takes comfort from it, the physical manifestation of their love. “Everyone said we got together too fast after the disaster of last year, then moved in so fast. I guess we just wanted to have this for ourselves without anyone knowing about it for a while at least. I don’t mind people saying things about me, but Eddie and Christopher and our relationship? It hurts when anyone thinks that it’s less than what it is. He’s the love of my life, Hen, and I love him too, so much more than I ever thought possible. So yeah, we didn’t tell anyone for that reason.”
Hen’s eyes fill with tears as he’s talking. He’s so clear on his devotion for the Diaz boys and she knows that Eddie, a usually quiet, reserved man, absolutely and openly adores Buck. They deserve each other and if they’ve been made to feel less than special at all, she’s suddenly upset on their behalf.
“I won’t tell anyone if you don’t want me to,” she promises and Buck looks up at her, a little startled look on his face.
“It’s not that we don’t want to tell anyone, and we will, soon, but we just want to do it on our terms,” he explains, so earnestly and sweetly.
“It’s fine,” Hen reaches out and touches his arm, her smile warm and genuine. “I won’t tell anyone. But I will sort them out if they’re being mean to either of you about this. We all love you both, and you go at your speed on everything, Buck. Not our opinions. I’ll tell Chim off if he goes off on one, I promise.”
Eddie catches Hen in the locker room the next day at work, and she wonders how she never spotted the secret before now she knows. Eddie’s messing with his ring finger too, even though there’s no ring on there, but she can now see the faint line too on his hand and how even rubbing the site makes him seem less on edge. “Buck told me you caught us out,” he says when they’re alone, “it was more me than him, I just want him to be happy you know, and it always makes him so sad when someone implies something about anyone he loves. And there’s been a lot of teasing about how fast we’ve been moving through things and he hates it. So I convinced him to keep everything quiet. I know we have to tell people but I just love him so much and want him to be happy.”
The thing is, she knows that’s true, she’s always known it. It would have been easy for Eddie to have reacted badly to Buck and how he’d been on their very first shift and yet Eddie had listened to them and worked out how to be Buck’s friend. And maybe she wishes they’d said something just so they could have celebrated with them, but she also gets why they wanted this just for themselves. They’ve been through so much and coming out late in life after realising how much they loved each other is hard anyway, without overzealous teasing.
“It’s ok, I understand,” is all she says now, but Eddie’s eyes flash with warmth as he realises that she’s speaking the truth.
“I do want to tell everyone though,” he admits with a sigh. “He means so much to me I don’t want him to think he’s a secret. I was thinking, maybe if we got the kids and everyone together in a few days I could just tell everyone then?”
“I can help,” Hen suggests and knows she’s said the right thing when Eddie’s face breaks into a wide, happy smile.
“Thank you,” he says.
It’s only later that Hen now realises that she has two secrets to keep thanks to Buck and Eddie. It’s a good job she actually does like them both, really.
+1 Eddie and Buck
“I think we’re ready to tell people,” Buck whispers against Eddie’s chest, his lips soft over his skin as he kisses over his body slowly and full of heat.
They’ve been in bed for a while, supposedly sleeping but definitely not and Eddie’s a little distracted by the meandering, warm and wet path that Buck’s mouth is taking over his rib cage so it takes him a while to answer.
“About us?”
“Yeah, I’m fed up with hiding the fact that I’m deeply and ridiculously in love with you and that you’re now my husband. I want to tell everyone,” Buck moves up his body, hovering over him so he can press a short, but sweet kiss to his lips. “I want them all to know that you are mine for the rest of my life and that I am yours. I want to be able to stand on the balcony in the firehouse and shout it out loud so everyone can hear. I want to tell the entire world that you married me. Mr Buckley-Diaz. My husband.”
Buck’s voice cracks on the last word and Eddie takes a second to breathe through the absolute happiness that’s bubbling through his entire body. He knows why they kept the wedding a secret, from everyone except Christopher, and yet the idea that Buck now wants to tell everyone makes him practically fizz with how overjoyed he is.
“I’m sure we can come up with a plan,” is all he says, as he hauls Buck down so there’s not a millimetre of space between them. “Husband…”
*****
It went like this.
They’d been dating for about a year. Eddie knew from the very start that Buck was it for him now, that he would want nobody else in his entire life. And it seemed like Buck felt the same way. It was easy to ask Buck to marry him, on a quiet night at home. It had been nothing special but at the same time the most special thing in the world. He’d picked out a ring after their first date, and it had been sitting hidden in a sock for months in the back of his drawers. Christopher knew he wanted to marry Buck, and he’d been so overjoyed at the idea, but it had only been Christopher that he’d told. And then one night, when he’d looked over the kitchen table at his boys, Christopher with tomato sauce all over his mouth and Buck with it in his hair and smudged over his cheek, both of them giggling at the other’s face, he knew there and then that he couldn’t go another day without asking Buck to be his husband. He’d proposed right there at the kitchen table and Buck had cried as he said yes and then the three of them had hugged and cried and had ice cream as a celebration. They’d wanted to keep it quiet and Christopher loved the idea of a secret, even if he didn’t know why, so it had been easy to not let anyone find out. Buck had confessed his deepest feelings one night when they were in bed, Buck’s safe place to be, and even though Eddie knew that he didn’t agree with anything Buck said, he had to support his boyfriend - his fiancee - no matter what.
They had a quick engagement. After everything that had happened to both of them, and they both knew this was it for them, what was the point of hanging around? And so a month after they’d got engaged, the three of them went away for a weekend. Buck had asked Bobby for time off, but everyone just assumed it was for a trip.
Instead, with Christopher beaming at the side, they got married in a tiny chapel in North California, the most perfect wedding day for both of them. The photos on Eddie’s phone are some of his all time favourite, him, Christopher and Buck in their suits, Christopher in the middle of them, their faces so happy and alight and they’re his family, for now and forever.
*****
Eddie and Buck sit Christopher down at the kitchen table to tell him about the party they want to throw to announce they’re married. Christopher takes one look at their faces and starts grinning in excitement. “Really?” he says and he’s beaming and so proud, Eddie’s heart is so full of love for him. “I can tell everyone that Buck is my dad?”
“At the weekend, we’ll have everyone over and tell them all then,” Buck says and Christopher giggles.
“You’re cooking, not Dad, right?” he asks and Eddie pretends to be shocked at the statement just to see how Christopher’s face crunches up as he laughs.
“Buck is cooking and I’m sure everyone will bring something too, I’ll be in charge of decorations,” Eddie eventually admits and Christopher nods, in agreement with the idea.
“I can help both of you!” he suggests.
“Too right!” Buck says, with a soft smile on his face and an even softer kiss for Eddie. “It’ll be great. I bet no one knows except Hen, at the moment at least. So if we tell them at least she won’t blab it out without warning, and she won’t have to keep things quiet around work.”
There’s a lot to organise for their get together and so the week passes really quickly. Buck invites everyone they want there and then they sort out food and decorations, spending at least two hours in Target just looking at colour schemes. Eddie is sure that Buck will divorce him when he can’t choose between turquoise and teal plates and in the end Buck kisses him and then replaces both of them and chooses sunshine yellow himself.
“They remind me of your smile,” he says and Eddie wants to half scoff at him and half be wooed by his romantic silliness. He settles for waiting until they’re back home and Christopher is in the shower before he pushes him against the wall and kisses him so slow and deep that they’re both gasping when Christopher calls to say he’s ready.
There’s a massive list of food Buck wants to cook and so he takes Christopher, his sous chef, to the grocery store whilst Eddie cleans and makes sure that they have enough seats in the garden, and then makes a surprise of his own, hiding it until the day itself arrives.
The day of the party comes and it’s a beautiful one, with no clouds in a sky that reminds Eddie of Buck’s eyes. He finds his husband outside, his hands in his pockets and his face turned up to the heavens, his eyes shut and he’s so beautiful and he’s Eddie’s husband, he’s forever and Eddie can’t help but slot in behind him, his chest against Buck’s back so close that he can feel the heat of his body through his T-shirt and hug him tight. Buck sighs happily and presses back against Eddie and they sway together for a few blissful quiet moments until Christopher’s voice floats into the garden. “Dad! Dad! I can’t find my best shirt!” and Eddie presses one last kiss to Buck’s neck before disengaging his arms.
“Duty calls,” he says regretfully, but the blinding smile Buck gives him still manages to take his knees out. He’s never had anyone look at him the way Buck does and he knows he wants no one else to ever.
“Yeah, your son is asking for your help,” he teases as he turns for another kiss before gently pushing Eddie away.
“Our son,” Eddie corrects, almost second nature by now, just to still see the bashful, shy, sweet look that appears over Buck’s lovely face at the words. He’s smiling to himself as he heads into the house, still amazed at how lucky he’s been, to find and have Buck in his life, to now call him his husband, to know that this incredible, wonderful human being has fundamentally changed both his and Christopher’s lives for the better. He’s so thankful every single day, with every single touch and look and mundane thing that they do.
Christopher has a bright grin on his face, the envelope that Eddie secreted away laid carefully on his bed. He doesn’t really have much help needed with his shirt, but together they hide the envelope in one of his pockets, carefully and tenderly.
“He doesn’t know, right?” Christopher whispers, almost vibrating with how excited he is.
“He doesn’t have a clue,” Eddie reassures him.
“I keep the best secrets, first your wedding, now this, but it’s going to be so nice to tell everyone too,” Christopher says and Eddie agrees with him. The idea that in a few hours everyone will know the full truth makes him excited too, sure his son’s grin is matched on his own face.
Their family and friends start turning up soon afterwards, met by Eddie and sent out to the garden where Buck and Christopher are waiting for them. Maddie, Chim and Jee-Yun are first to arrive which means Eddie gets an uninterrupted cuddle before he has to pass her off to her doting uncle. Abuela and Pepa both bring food, and he hears them calling to Buck loudly as they get into the kitchen, discussing the best place to lay out what they’ve bought with them. Bobby goes to help Buck with the food, whilst Athena, Hen and Karen grab Maddie and some drinks and sit in the sun, Harry and Denny joining Christopher in their computer game hangout at the far end of the yard. Ravi and Albert are standing in the corner and chatting quietly, their partners with them. Everyone they love is here, in their house and he suddenly can’t wait any longer to tell them the news.
He starts to head over towards where Buck is with Bobby, manning the grill, and he sees him look up, a little startled, and their eyes meet. Then Buck’s smiling, says something to Bobby and comes over to him, looking so happy Eddie wants to kiss him so badly. “Now?” he asks, and he sounds excited too.
“If you’re still ok,” Eddie checks and when Buck merely beams at him, he knows he’s definitely ready for this.
“There’s nothing I want to do more,” Buck whispers as he steals a kiss and then waves for Christopher to join them. He claps his hands, getting the attention of everyone in the garden.
“We’d like to make a quick announcement,” he says, as he picks Christopher up into his arms. “Eddie and I, we…” he pauses, as everyone turns to face them and Eddie slides a hand down his arm, watching as their faces all change from bewilderment to absolute joy at the sight the three of them must make.
“We’re married!” they both blurt out at the same time and the yard falls completely silent.
But the looks on their friends and families faces are not the look of surprise he’d been expecting to see.
“I knew it!” Maddie cries and she turns and actually hits Chim. “I told you so, I knew I was right and you were wrong. Ha!”
“I also told you, Pepa, and you told me I was too old and hearing things!” Abuela splutters at an open mouthed Tia Pepa.
“You knew!?!” Athena yells at a smug looking Bobby who immediately pretends to be involved in cooking.
“Yeah, well, they’re not that subtle are they, canoodling in cupboards at work!” Ravi shouts from across the yard, but his face is split in a massive smile.
“Hang on, you all knew?” Buck gets out and it’s then that they all rush the pair of them, with hugs and kisses and congratulations, and confessions of how they’d all found out the truth.
It’s turned out into a lovely evening, with so much talking and love in every single inch of their yard. And now everyone knows Buck is Evan Buckley-Diaz, there’s only one surprise left.
Christopher finds Eddie and asks to be picked up, both of them sitting opposite Buck at the table he’s relaxing at, with Maddie at his side. His smile is so warm and fond and lovely that it manages to take Eddie’s breath away and he catches the way Maddie looks as she watches the three of them, like she’s so proud and happy for them all. Christopher pulls the envelope out of his pocket carefully and hands it over to a bemused Buck. “What’s this?” he asks as he takes it.
“It’s my present to you, now you and dad are married,” Christopher sounds a little nervous and Eddie squeezes his sides comfortingly.
Buck looks at both of them, his eyes concerned as they meet Eddie’s gaze but then they clear at what he must see in them and he rips the envelope open.
The minute he reads what’s in there, he drops it onto the table and gathers Christopher into his arms, crying as he reaches for Eddie too. Eddie slides towards him, kissing the happy smile off his lips as he leans into his family.
The signed adoption papers sit on the table, proclaiming Christopher Buckley-Diaz to be legally Evan’s child and Eddie knows there’s nothing better than this in the entire world.