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The moment the invitation came in the mail, Eddie felt his heart sink. It wasn’t because of what the invite said, it was because of what it meant, and what he’d have to do in the not too distant future.
His little sister was getting married. He wasn’t surprised. Sophia had been dating the man since her junior year of high school, surviving being separated by college. They’d stayed together during the nightmare that was Eddie returning from Afghanistan, still healing from his injuries and surrounded by a dark cloud every day. Hell, his soon-to-be brother-in-law had followed his path into the military, now a decorated Air Force service member.
He couldn’t be surprised that Sophia and Matt were finally tying the knot after ten years together. But it was where they were getting married that was bothering him.
Matt had been stationed at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield for years now. Sophia had been the first to leave home to join him. When Eddie made the decision to leave Texas, he almost headed that direction. He’d briefly thought about joining the Sacramento Fire Department, had even looked at apartments online with the help of Adriana (who had supported his decision to leave). It was only later when he decided that he’d be in the same state as his sister, but he’d head further south, to give some distance so that she could live her life. It was only an hour plane trip between the two major cities, or a six hour drive. He didn’t want to crowd her.
But they weren’t getting married in Fairfield. They weren’t getting married in California at all. They were getting married in their hometown.
Eddie was going to have to return to El Paso.
He hadn’t been home since leaving the wildfires a year prior. The visit at that time hadn’t been horrible, but he couldn’t say it was pleasant. His parents had been hospitable to his teammates while they were there for a quick dinner… except for Buck. It was clear that his parents knew who Buck was, and they didn’t hide their disdain for him. It was a combination of being Eddie’s partner and “constantly leading their son into danger” and being Christopher’s favorite person.
Buck had taken it in stride, being polite as always and charming Adriana at every chance. If Adriana hadn’t already been married with two kids, she might have fallen for Buck’s old tricks, but she could also see that he was putting on an act.
Before they had left El Paso, his parents had pulled him aside and questioned him on whether he’d found a new mother for Christopher, and when he answered in the negative, demanded that he stay behind to meet the young woman that had just moved in down the street. Eddie had just walked away, grabbed his jacket off the hook by the front door, called out a goodbye to his sister, and stormed back to the truck. Buck had clocked his mood pretty quickly and just offered him his phone, showing a very nice picture of Christopher with Abuela, both in the kitchen, prepping something sweet for when they got back to Los Angeles.
Going back to El Paso would be… uncomfortable to say the least.
Eddie sat back onto the couch, letting the card fall almost bonelessly from his hand. He’d have some time to mentally prepare to go, get the time off, prepare Christopher for the smothering that his family would inevitably do, and then suffer for however long he got stuck in Texas.
Maybe he could lie and just go to Austin and meet up with the 126 for a beer or something. It would still be Texas, even if it was eight hours away.
The sound of the front door opening drew him from his thoughts. A quick glance at the clock gave him the answer to who would be walking into his house. It was nearly eleven in the morning; Christopher would still be in school for at least another four hours, until he picked up his son. Carla, Tia Pepa, and Abuela would have called before coming over. Which left only one option.
Eddie turned just as a burrito from his favorite food truck was placed in front of him on the coffee table. Before he could even offer his thanks, the person who brought him the food plopped down next to him, a grin already settling on his face.
“What? Do I have guac on my nose again?” Buck said.
The former medic sighed. “No, just checking my mail. Thanks for the food, I didn’t know I needed it.” He took a big bite, making it a point to not look at the invitation sitting innocently on the table before them.
But of course, Buck noticed. “What’s that?” he said, nodding towards the fancy cardstock.
Eddie held back another sigh and just answered him. “Sophia is getting married. Chris and I are invited.”
“Really? Good for her! And you get to drive up towards Sacramento, I am jealous,” Buck said. Eddie was touched to see that he genuinely meant it. He had made a great impression on both the Diaz sisters, so much so that if one of them called while Buck was over (which was frequent), they’d ask to speak to him as well.
“She’s… not getting married in Sacramento. Or California,” he answered.
“Are they getting married in Matt’s hometown or something?” Buck asked.
“Yeah. Sophia’s too. The wedding’s in El Paso.”
Buck winced. He was well aware of the hang-ups that both Diazes had with that town. Neither wanted to go back. It would be a visit of demands to come home (Eddie) and coddling to deal like he was still a toddler (Christopher). “Shit.”
“Yeah.”
Buck sat back, half eaten burrito set down in front of him. “What are you going to do?”
The chuckle Eddie let out was dark. “I’m half tempted to go to Austin instead. Same state, eight hours away from my parents.”
The other man gave him a soft shove. “You do that, I’m coming with. I have to get back at TK for that boyfriend comment.”
Eddie opened his mouth to continue to retort, then paused. Buck froze, not recognizing the face he was making. It was a cross between contemplative and shock.
“I have an idea. You won’t probably like it-”
“Tell me first before you decide what I will or will not like, Diaz.”
“-But it would keep my parents focused on someone other than Christopher and I.”
Buck blinked. “You want me to come? Me? Eddie, please remember that your parents came close to verbally threatening me to get me away from you in El Paso. I even overheard them arguing with you about custody of Christopher!”
“They only have empty threats. I have a secure full time job, an airtight will, and Christopher is thriving. Hell, even his therapist has flat out said that Christopher should remain with only a few people right now. My parents aren’t on that list. You are.” Eddie said.
The younger man could only be described as speechless. He knew about the will, but to be considered one of the few people who could take care of Christopher if something happened to his best friend?
Eddie watched the range of emotions play across Buck’s face. “I know it’s a lot to ask, and it really hedges on whether or not Bobby will give us both the time off, but I’d feel much better knowing that Christopher was with you if and when I need to deal with my parents.”
“Eds…”
“I didn’t lie when I said I trusted you with my son.”
Buck finally started nodding. “Only if you’re sure. I’ll call Bobby. Just give me the dates and I’ll be there.”
Eddie grasped his shoulder. “Thanks Buck.”
Three months later, after nearly a week in El Paso, the Diazes and Buckley boarded their flight back to Los Angeles.
It had been six days of festivities celebrating Sophia and Matt. Every event they went to for them was beautiful. It was clear that the pair was truly happy with getting married, and every moment they spent together, they fell a bit more in love.
But it wasn’t all love and celebration.
They’d elected to rent a car while in Texas, which turned out to be the best idea they possibly could have made, overshadowed only by their choice to get a suite in the same hotel that the reception was taking place at.
Neither decision sat very well with Ramon and Helena Diaz. Apparently, they had prepared the guest rooms for Eddie and Christopher (not even bothering to consider Adriana’s family, who was also coming in from the east coast and were never even invited to stay at her old house.) Buck had taken a moment to poke around on his way back from the bathroom when they had visited the Diaz house, and had seen the guest rooms. Eddie’s was a standard room, but the room they’d prepared for Christopher would have better suited Adriana’s twin four-year-olds.
He was not impressed.
That afternoon, the only time they ended up being alone with Ramon and Helena, had not been pleasant. So much so that Buck ended up taking Christopher outside to the field next to the house so that he wouldn’t have to overhear the fighting.
Eddie had barely walked into his home before the argument started. Apparently he had insulted his family by not staying with them and why had he dared to invite ‘that man’. It had only gotten worse from there.
Nearly ten minutes later, Buck had seen Eddie storm out of the house, clearly trying to hide how pissed off he was. Buck had quickly gathered up Christopher and brought him back to their rental truck, knowing without a word that Eddie was done. Eddie had practically thrown himself into the passenger seat and gave Buck a look of please let’s leave before I say or do something I might regret tomorrow.
He still didn’t know exactly what had been said in the argument, but it was clear that whatever relationship Eddie had previously had with his parents was now pretty much gone. Any time their paths crossed while at wedding events, they didn’t acknowledge each other.
Buck did what he could to distract them from thinking about the schism that had been formed between his best friends and their family. He had texted Adriana, who was still firmly on their side, and made sure that Christopher got to spend some time with his aunt, uncle and cousins for an evening, while he found a hook and ladder bar and got Eddie drunk to relax him. The tequila had worked its magic, and Eddie was in better spirits after that night.
It also helped that a friend from Austin was actually at the wedding as well. It turned out that Matt’s cousin was Officer Carlos Reyes, boyfriend of TK Strand. The reunion of TK and Buck had left Eddie regretting his life choices, but Christopher managed to get along famously with the pair. Carlos and Eddie had made a fast friendship as well, unintentionally giving them another buffer away from his family.
By the end of their stay, Eddie had made peace with El Paso. He never wanted to return, but he could see just how much he had grown since leaving for Los Angeles. Christopher had the same feelings, quietly asking Buck nightly when they were leaving when they were tucking him into bed. He missed LA.
As for Buck, he was just glad that he was there for his friends. It wasn’t the best trip, but the wedding was beautiful, and he’d made some good memories with Eddie, Christopher, Eddie’s sisters, and their friends. Though, he would be happy to leave El Paso behind.
Their flight touched down at LAX and all three breathed a sigh of relief. It was over, they’d survived, and Sophia was safely married to the love of her life. They were back to their normal lives.
Everything was fine.