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Buck can tell Eddie is starting to get better. It’s been a long tumultuous journey since Chris left but Eddie is starting to look a lot better.
There’s no dark circles under his eyes anymore, that stopped when Buck and Eddie started sleeping in the same bed together.
Eddie being able to curl up with Buck while Buck softly caressed him into a comfortable sleep.
Buck would give anything in the world for Chris to come back but this has done monumental things for Eddie to be able to discover parts of himself that he had locked away since his childhood.
Because Eddie believed that it was wrong to look at another boy growing up. It was wrong to want to have sleepovers with your best friend all the time and sleep in the same bed. It was wrong to want to kiss one of your male friends when you played spin the bottle at a teenage birthday bash and become deflated when it landed on a girl.
Wrong. Wrong . Wrong.
Eddie had to do a lot of soul searching to realize that none of this was wrong, it in fact was what made him Eddie. And after a lot of therapy sessions with Frank and crying in Buck’s arms after the therapy, Eddie was ready to admit his queerness.
Which was as terrifying as it was exhilarating to Eddie because he could not only say hello to a piece of himself he kept locked deep deep inside but he could also finally put a name on these feelings he’s had for Buck for years.
Those feelings have just grown with every hug Buck gives him or every time Eddie can sleep in Buck’s arms. They just get stronger and stronger until one night Eddie gathers up his courage and asks Buck out on a date.
“Hey Buck.” Eddie asks one night as they were getting ready for bed, just doing their usual nightly routine together. Buck is grabbing his night cream and rubbing it on his face.
“Yeah Eddie.”
“Do you have any plans tomorrow?” Eddie asks grabbing the extra pillows on the chair to put on the bed
Buck pauses to look at Eddie.
“No, no plans just thinking I’d hang out here if that’s okay with you?
“Yeah that’s totally fine with me….except I won’t be here.“ Eddie is playing with one of the pillows as he doesn’t look at Buck.
“You have plans and you didn’t tell me?” Buck gets up after finishing up his nightly ritual.
Buck is truly completely oblivious to what Eddie is trying to suggest. Which makes Eddie smile at how adorably clueless he can be sometimes.
“Well I was hoping my plans can involve you.” Eddie asks shyly as he gets in the bed.
“Yeah sure Eddie, of course we could hang out and spend the day together.” Buck says as he gets on his side of the bed completely oblivious.
As they’re sitting on the bed beneath the covers, Eddie continues to play with the comforter covers before turning to Buck.
“It’s not a hang out Buck….I want to go on a date with you.”
Which catches Buck off guard, Eddie does know Buck is single and has been for a little bit.
The thing with Tommy was great for what it was but in time that fizzled out and Buck has been happy exploring his sexuality even though he’s been able to admit that the person he truly wants to be with is Eddie.
Something he thought was unattainable until Eddie came out to him and since then he and Eddie have gotten so much closer.
Eddie is thinking Buck isn’t gonna say yes.
“I mean it’s okay if you just want to hang out, that’s fine I’ll just get over it you know if you -“
“I’d love to go on a date with you.”
Eddie lets a breathe of relief
“You know you could have answered me quicker.”
“I was too caught off guard to realize what you were implying.”
Eddie lets out a laugh, Buck can really be oblivious sometimes, which makes him very cute to Eddie.
“Cool, so let’s get some sleep cause I have plans for us tomorrow.”
Buck’s not sure if he can still cuddle Eddie, which is something they’ve been doing for a while. It helps them with nightmares being able to be near each other and while they don’t have nightmares consistently anymore they still do appear out of the blue.
As if Eddie is thinking the same he moves a bit until his back is facing Buck’s front and Buck does not hesitate to wrap his arms around Eddie and they fall asleep in their cocoon underneath the covers, safe and a first date secured.
————————
Buck goes back to his loft to make sure he gives Eddie enough time to get ready for their date.
He has to admit he’s freaking out which is completely in character for him especially because he doesn’t want to have another first date after tonight. He wants this to be the last first date he ever goes on.
Nobody can blame him either every single one of his past first dates either ends with him needing to get either immediate medical attention or completely ditched by his date which has happened more times then Buck could count including his recent ex Tommy.
Ditched him all because he wasn’t ready at that moment to come out. But he is thankful for the experience Tommy gave him in fact he’s using all that Tommy taught him now with Eddie since as far as he knows this is going to be the first date Eddie goes on with a man so Buck is going to be playing the role Tommy played for him with Eddie.
Although with how Eddie has been incredibly affectionate with him in particular especially recently he’s not sure Eddie will be as hesitant or shy about accepting his queerness now that he’s been out for a couple weeks.
Buck has changed outfits probably four times because he wants today to be perfect, he settles on his favorite striped white shirt which makes his arms look really tight and these summer pink shorts which make his nonexistent butt actually look like it has a shape.
Plus with how hot it is outside Buck wants to be comfortable as he knows it’s going to be a pretty simple date with Eddie.
Just spending the day together doing what they’ve always done except this time the word date is going to be hovering over their heads the entire time.
Content with how he looks he waits for Eddie as he said that he’ll pick him up and not a moment later he hears a knock at the door and opens it to see Eddie Diaz.
One of the hottest men he’s ever seen wearing a matching grey henley that complimented his jeans he’s wearing which makes his ass look unbelievable but if there’s one thing Eddie had was an ass.
Buck could also smell Eddie’s good cologne on him which made it all come home that he’s about to go on a date with Eddie. Eddie only wears the good cologne when he really likes the person he’s going out with. Buck knows this first hand.
“You look great Buck.”
Buck blushes while Eddie appreciates what he sees which he has caught Eddie in the past checking him out but he always brushed it off. Now Eddie is appreciating what he sees without shame, therapy really has done wonders for him.
“Yeah so do you.”
Eddie blushes as well, he looks really cute with the red tint on his cheeks.
“Shall we get going? I figure we could just keep it simple grab some lunch and go watch that movie we’ve wanted to see for a while.”
“Simple sounds perfect.”
And it really is perfect, because it’s going to be just like any other hang out they’ve had and there’s nothing to be nervous about.
As they walk to the Eddie’s car Buck wants to hold Eddie’s hand but he’s not sure if this would be going too far since it is just a first date so he settles with walking shoulder to shoulder with him which is perfect for now.
This is all at Eddie’s pace, he has to remember that. He will do anything as long as Eddie is comfortable with it. It seems Eddie though is not perturbed as he gets on the passenger side while handing Buck the keys to his car.
“Really Eddie?”
“I really like when you drive.”
How could Buck never pick up on the tone Eddie always has with him compared to others, this is one million percent flirting and it’s been flirting the entire time.
“God you are such a passenger princess.”
Eddie doesn’t say anything but just has a teasing smile on his face and he reaches over pass the gear shift to hold Buck’s hand in his own which Buck is perfectly content with.
Eddie really seems to be just letting loose and being free.
—————————-
When they get to the outlet that has the theater in it Eddie decides they should go for ice cream before the movie and he knows this great little spot. So they walk towards the ice cream shop both get vanilla ice cream and sit there.
They’re just enjoying a peaceful conversation, with dates in the past Buck’s felt like it’s just been tedious because you have to get to know a person and they get to know you.
Dating your best friend is like you’re already on the sixth or seventh date and for Buck and Eddie it’s probably like they’ve been dating for months with how much they know about each other.
The conversations they have truly are endless and not forced and when they eat in comfortable silence there’s no sense of awkwardness just happy being together.
Buck sees Eddie looking at him which makes him blush before asking, “what?”
And Eddie reaches forward to wipe a little bit of vanilla ice cream Buck had on his nose with his finger before taking that same finger and licking his fingers clean.
Buck is left speechless and bothered in the best possible way, that was really hot.
“You had something on your face, I just decided to get it off.” Eddie winks at him.
“You know me and Chris used to go to this ice cream shop all the time before a movie. It’s nice just watching the people walking around on a beautiful day.” Eddie pauses before looking down at his ice cream clearly reminiscing on times he had with Chris,, Buck tries to comfort him.
“Well when Chris gets back we can take him here together and he can tell us all about everything he did in Texas.” Eddie nods his head and gives Buck a hopeful smile, “hey how is he doing, everything okay.”
“Yeah he’s doing good. The family therapy sessions have been really helpful for me to really understand his point of view and he understands now that it was never my intention to ever bring her into our lives. That I never asked for her to do any of the things she did and he understands that I would never do something like that because I know it would rip his heart out just as much as it ripped mine.”
Eddie continues discussing all the things Christopher has told him in their sessions.
“Eddie everything is going to work out. Just you wait, any day now you’re gonna get that call that Chris wants to come home, you’ll see.”
“Thanks Buck…I really mean it for everything.” Eddie scrapes the last of the ice cream in his mouth looking like he wants to say something, “…do you think we can go pick him up together?” Buck with no hesitation replies, “of course Eddie. Of course I’ll go with you to pick up Chris.”
Eddie reaches forward to hold his hand and Buck holds his hand over Eddie’s.
Eddie glances down at his watch, “we should get going, movies gonna start in fifteen. We can just walk to the theater.”
“Yeah let’s get going.”
They pick up their trash and throw it away before starting their walk to the movies. Buck really wants to hold Eddie’s hand as they’re walking shoulder to shoulder through the outlet.
He wants to make sure Eddie is comfortable but before he knows it Eddie has answered his question for him and reaches for his hand to hold in his own.
Buck turns around to look at Eddie’s face and sees unbothered confidence as if it’s no big deal holding another mans hand in public.
If Buck could kiss him he would but this is at Eddie’s pace and Buck couldn’t be more prouder of him than at this moment.
As they walk though Buck hears someone call Eddie’s name and he turns around to see who it is and he spots the owner of the voice….her.
She’s standing outside the store she works at looking right at Eddie who doesn’t seem to spot her.
The woman who is responsible for all of this. The woman who is the splitting image of Eddie’s dead wife. The woman who literally caused a rift to form between the two most important people in his life.
She has the audacity to call Eddie’s name after everything. Buck is seeing red but before he can do anything, Eddie tugs on his hand.
“Hey is everything okay?”
Everything’s great except for the person that ruined both our lives is right over there. Buck doesn’t say any of this of course.
“Yeah. Yeah everything is great. Lets go.”
Eddie doesn’t look convinced but Buck reaches forward to grab his hand and tug him to the movie theater. Ignoring the desire for now to give that woman a piece of his mind.
—————————-
The movie was great as much as Buck was able to concentrate on it what with Eddie lifting up the hand bar between them and cuddling close with him the entire movie.
Buck has never been more thankful for therapy cause the Eddie from a year ago would have never been able to do this in public, even if it’s in a dark theater it just would never be something Eddie had the courage to do and Buck couldn’t be prouder that Eddie can be as openly affectionate as he is in this moment with Buck.
Once the movie was finished the outlet was close to closing and as they were walking to back to the car. Buck decided now would be the best time to go and confront that woman when their would no other costumers in her shop as she was beginning to close down.
“Hey Eddie I forgot I wanted to buy something real fast, can you go wait at the car for a minute?”
“Buck the stores are about to close in ten minutes.”
Buck goes to assure him.
“I know I’ll be quick I promise.”
Buck goes to jog the familiar route to the store and his suspicions are confirmed when he sees no one inside except for the women at the register…Kim.
Buck enters the shop trying to keep a calm face looking at the women that destroyed his family. She raises a polite smile.
“Hi sir just as a reminder we do close in ten minutes.”
Buck’s about to explode but he has to do this right cause he can’t believe this woman can go about her day smiling unaware of the sheer pain he’s cause to the two most important people in his life.
It seems like she doesn’t recognize him. Good, he looks forward to reminding her just who he is.
“Oh I’m going to be quick." Buck says as he starts looking at the candles." So why were you calling the name Eddie Diaz?” He takes his eyes from the candle and glares at her. So she can make no mistake what he's here for.
Kim turns around at the name looking like a deer caught in headlights.
“That’s my boyfriend’s name so I was wondering why you were calling him?”
“Oh…I didn’t know Eddie was into that -“
“He is…actually. He’s also a great person who did not deserve what you did to him.”
Buck goes and approaches the cash register where she’s standing next to it.
“Eddie is not your little acting experiment where you can just do what you want to do.”
Buck waves his hands around, getting very animated.
“Who the hell do you think you are to show up at his house dressed up as his dead wife as some kind of sick method acting experience. Like what the hell is wrong with you?”
Buck is letting out months of rage and pain that he and Eddie have felt because of the “therapy” session Kim did.
“Did you ever consider the psychological damage you were about to inflict on not just him but also his child who literally thought he saw his dead mother alive. You have no idea the amount of pain you have caused to the two people I care about more than anything else in the world.”
Kim can only stand their speechless, looking down in shame.
“I bet you smile and waved at all the customers, you work in your little boutique and you have the audacity to say Eddie’s name as if nothing happened. Just cause you’re some washed up actress you somehow think you can use one of the people I care most about as a way to get your kicks off?”
Buck is starting to calm down from his adrenaline rush but he still has more to lay out on Kim.
“I’m going to say this as nicely as I possibly can. As far as Eddie is concerned he’s dead to you. Don’t ever approach him again, don’t ever say his name again. Don’t ever even think about him. Do I make myself crystal clear to you?”
Kim can only do nothing but nod her head. Buck continues.
“As far as I’m concerned….hate is an exhausting emotion. I don’t really have hatred in my heart for a lot of people but I can confidently say that I absolutely hate you.”
With a final look of disgust Buck backs away.
“Stay the hell away from my family.”
And with that Buck walks out of the store without looking back and it’s not till he’s outside breathing regularly he notices Eddie sitting there by the bench right in front of the store.
“Eddie…I thought you would be by the car.”
“You were taking too long.”
“Oh…listen I just wanna say -“
Eddie closes the distance between them and kisses Buck passionately not caring how many people are still around, he wraps Buck in his arms and it’s one the best kisses Buck has had in his life.
Eddie brings his arms from Buck’s waist to cup his cheeks as he deepens the kiss. Putting as much emotion and love as he possibly can.
The kiss could go on for seconds, minutes, or even hours they do not know but not long enough as far as either is concerned. They pull away both breathless at the emotions, the smiles on both their faces.
“Thank you Buck…I’ve never had anyone do that for me.”
Buck is still reeling from the kiss to try to attempt to get a sentence out but he needs Eddie to know this.
“I’d do anything for you Eddie, you need to know that.”
Eddie wraps his arms around his neck.
“I do and…honestly” Eddie brings his lips to Buck’s ear before whispering “ seeing you in there was really freaking hot. The way you acted and defended me that I kind of want to get you home so I can repay you properly.” Eddie nips at Buck’s ear which causes goosebumps to course through Buck’s body.
“Eddie you need to know I didn’t do that just for you, I did it for me as well. What she did affected both of us and our family. I couldn’t let her just do what she was doing”
“I know you did.” Eddie cups Bucks cheeks, “ I know that you did it for us and what we’ve made together all these years. So let’s stop wasting time and live and soon enough Chris will come back and we’ll be the family we’ve always been.
Buck nods his head before grabbing Eddie’s hand and running towards the car, driving back home for a fun night with hope for their family reuniting in the future.