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When they’re not working, Eddie and Buck take Christopher, Bailey and Blaze to their local park as often as possible.
That’s where they are right now - Christopher is playing on the jungle gym with some other kids, Bailey and Blaze are hanging around him protectively and Buck and Eddie are sat on a nearby bench, watching on fondly.
“We need to get you a dog.” Buck suddenly says.
Eddie turns to him with a raised eyebrow.
“We already have two dogs, or did you forget?” Eddie deadpans.
“No I didn’t forget.’ Buck snorts. ‘Both dogs love me the most out of us two.” He winks.
“Of course they love you the most - you have the same mentality as them.” Eddie snarks.
“Ha ha.’ Buck glares a little. ‘But I’m serious. Blaze is my dog counterpart because of his little birthmark, and Bailey is Christophers dog counterpart because of his cerebellar hypoplasia. So we need to even out the playing field. We need to find a dog who’s exactly like you.”
And while Eddie can’t really argue with his logic, he can definitely argue with his point.
“I don’t need a dog counterpart. I’m happy with Bailey and Blaze.” He tells Buck.
“So am I. But, I want more dogs. I want all of the dogs.” Buck pouts.
Eddie rolls his eyes. “I know you do, but you can’t have all of the dogs.”
“Why not?” Bucks pout deepens and his brows furrow.
“Because our house isn’t big enough for starters. Or our salaries, for that matter.”
“But we could easily afford one more dog.” Buck presses.
Eddie sighs. The 118 weren’t lying when they compared Buck to a Golden Retriever - he really is intelligent, friendly, reliable, kind, trustworthy and confident. But, unfortunately for Eddie, he’s also stubborn as hell. There’s no way Eddie is going to be able to talk him out of this and - even though Buck promised not to - Eddie really wouldn’t put it past him to adopt another dog behind his back.
So, with a heavy sigh of resignation, Eddie nods.
“Fine. We can get one more dog. But that is my hard limit, okay? No more dogs.”
Buck grins widely and throws his arms around Eddie’s shoulders to kiss him soundly. Eddie kisses his husband back with his own smile. Making Buck happy and look at him like that will remain his favourite thing in this world, beside doing it for Christopher.
—
That’s how Eddie finds himself at their local shelter the very next day, with an excited son in his arms, an excited husband stood right behind him, holding the leashes of their two excited dogs, as they browse for a third.
They pass a few kennels, and Bailey and Blaze have eagerly shoved their noses against each and every of them to greet whoever is inside. Christopher eyes them all critically, obviously trying to find one that reminds him of his dad - thanks for that, Buck - and apparently not finding one.
Until-
“That one.” Christopher states.
Buck gets to the kennel he’s pointing at before Eddie does, and proceeds to fall about laughing as Bailey and Blaze make friends with whoever is inside once again.
“Chris, you are so right! He looks so much like your dad!” Buck cries literal tears of laughter and Eddie is worried™️.
Finally, he gets a peak at the dog, and lets out an indignant squawk.
Sat in the kennel, is a stocky English Bulldog with dark brown fur and eyes and a screwed up face.
“Dad, he’s perfect. He even has your frown.” Christopher nudges him.
“And he drools just as much as you do when you’re asleep.” Buck tacks on.
The kennel volunteer guiding them around has to look away to hide her own laugh.
“What’s his name?” Christopher turns to ask her.
“Benson.” She tells him.
“He certainly fits the name quota.” Eddie deadpans.
“Oh come on Ed’s. He’s perfect.” Buck laughs.
Eddie has to admit he is, too. The woman has opened the door to Benson’s kennel and he’s already made fast friends with Christopher, Bailey and Blaze - the four of them are playing with Benson’s toys happily.
Eddie crouches down, and Benson plods over to him, his squished up face pulled into a grin, and Eddie finds himself grinning back. He scratches the dogs head lovingly and sighs.
“Looks like you’re coming home with us, bud.” He tells the dog, who lets out a booming bark.
“Yes!” Christopher squeals happily behind Eddie.
He spins around to see him sat on the floor with Bailey and Blaze lying over him. Benson goes to stand by his head, and receives scratches from both Christopher and Buck, who’s crouched next to them all. Benson’s tongue lolls out of his mouth in ecstasy.
“Should we begin the adoption process?” The woman asks Eddie.
“Yeah, we’d better had.” Eddie rolls his eyes fondly.
He leaves his family where they are to follow her back to the office to sign whatever he needs to.
They end up having to leave Benson where he is for now, just until the documents are filed and Benson is prepped for leaving the kennel. Buck and Christopher pout the whole way home, and Bailey and Blaze whine for their new friend.
“It wont be long until Benson is home.” Eddie reminds them.
—
It takes a week to sort out everything with the kennel but, soon enough, they’re bringing Benson home with them for the first time. He makes himself right at home, and becomes yet another member of their family instantly.
Bailey and Blaze take to him like a fish to water - they play with him and bathe him and relax with him as though he’s been there all along. Christopher and Buck go shopping for - even more - dog toys and treats with him and Eddie seriously regrets leaving the two of them alone.
“You are not dressing Benson up in that.” He states and crosses his arms.
“Oh but dad-“
“Nope.’ Eddie cuts his son off. ‘He is a dog, not a mermaid. Take it back.”
Christopher huffs, but leaves with Buck again to return the silly costume. Eddie refuses to let Benson go with them again, and settles down on the couch with all three dogs while he waits for their return.
His boys come back with In-N-Out and big grins, so Eddie forgives them.
Carla simply lifts an eyebrow when she comes over three days later to look after Christopher and Bailey, and finds Benson snoring in his own bed, placed next to Bailey’s and Blaze’s along the kitchen wall.
“Surprise?” Eddie says weakly.
Carla snorts. “I know the guys joked about you being similar to Cesar Millan, but I’m honestly starting to see it.” She deadpans.
“Blame Buck. He wanted to adopt another dog and-“
“You have trouble saying ‘no’ to him?” Carla fills in with a smirk.
“Well, yes, but he said that I needed a dog counterpart.”
“A what now?” Carla questions.
“A dog counterpart.’ Buck repeats as he joins them in the kitchen. ‘Bailey is Christophers counterpart, because of his cerebellar hypoplasia, Blaze is my counterpart because of his mark above his eye, and Benson here is Eddies counterpart because their frowns are practically identical.”
Carla lets out a bubble of hysterical laughter at that, before clamping her hand over her mouth and giving Eddie an apologetic look.
“I still resent that.” Eddie huffs.
“Resent it all you like, it’s true.” Buck winks and fishes out his phone. He pulls up a picture for Carla to look at, and she busts up laughing again.
“Oh Eddie. Sweetheart, it is true!” She giggles.
Eddie takes Bucks phone from his hand and looks at the picture. There’s actually two pictures on the screen, side by side. One is of Benson looking directly at the camera, and the other is Eddie.
He’s not entirely sure when it was taken, because he definitely didn’t know it even existed. He’s stood next to Buck, both of them looking down at something on the floor. Bucks mouth is open in a laugh, while Eddie’s face is screwed up into a disgusted frown.
And - while he loathes to admit it - Eddie really does look like Benson in that picture.
“Damn it.” He groans, making Buck laugh at him.
“In any case, welcome home baby.” Carla coos and crouches down to pat Bensons head.
He blinks open an eye at her, and lets out a soft bark, before going back to sleep.
“They’re basically twins. Benson hates mornings just as much as Eddie does.” Buck nods.
“And he drools as much too, remember!” Christopher hollers as he joins them.
“How about we back off dad for a minute, okay?’ Eddie pouts. ‘Will you be okay with all three of them?” He asks Carla.
“Don’t you worry about us.” Carla waves him off.
Eddie nods, and goes back upstairs to get ready for work. He finds Bailey and Blaze in his and Bucks room, lying across his clean uniform on the bed.
“Really guys?’ He huffs. ‘Buck! Christopher! Come and get your counterparts!” He hollers back down the stairs.
“Okay mr grumpy face, we’re coming.” Christopher yells back, and Eddie hears him, Buck and Carla fall about laughing.
“I’m never living this down.” He grumbles to himself.