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It was the sun rays that slipped past the curtain that woke Eddie. He stirred, rubbing at his eyes to push back to sleep. As he lifted the blanket the cold air slipped under the blanket. He would’ve shivered, if it wasn’t for his hot water bottle of a husband splayed on the other side of the bed. Buck’s arm was wrapped around Eddie’s waist, his face smooshed into the pillow. Eddie looked down, admiring the way his husband’s mouth was open, a spot of drool on the pillow under him. His birth mark seemed to be a brighter shade of pink than normal. He went to sit up, but Buck’s weight was holding him down.
“Corazón.” He whispered, leaning over to kiss the mop of curly blonde hair. “Mi amor.” Buck finally snorted, stirring just slightly. It had no right being that cute. “I need to get up.” Eddie whispered, already starting to shift. He reached over carefully to grab his wedding ring, pulling it onto his left hand.
“Eds?” Buck murmured sleepy.
“Go back to sleep. Te amo.” Eddie leaned over to kiss his hair again. Buck blinked one eye open, before humming and closing it again. He likely wouldn’t have any memory of this when he was more awake. Once he was standing, he slipped on his track suit pants and a hoodie, before jogging down the stairs. He laughed when he saw his son, barely awake, eating cereal at the kitchen bench. “Morning hijo.” His son lifted his head, which was covered in his Oodie (a contraption Eddie refused to admit looked comfortable).
“Morning Dad.” Chris muttered into his food.
“Got a lot of energy in this house this morning.” Eddie commented as he pulled his shoes on. “I’m going to the sunshine bakery, do you want anything?” Interestingly, Chris’ head picked up at the mention of sugar.
“Can I have a chocolate scroll?” He asked. “Por favor, Papa?”
“Don’t use your Spanish against me.” Eddie laughed, but he nodded his head anyway. “I’ll be back in twenty.” Once he grabbed his truck keys, he ran outside. His breath started to fog up around him as he realised that his hoodie was not sufficient. LA didn’t get very cold normally, but for a select few weeks in the year they were hit with frost. He started the engine, starting to scrape the ice off the windows. “The things I do for you.” Normally, when Buck was awake they would walk down the street together, enjoying the sunshine. But now he was driving along, happily humming to himself. The truck was barely driven these days, Buck enjoying driving his jeep and Eddie enjoying indulging his husband. Once he pulled up on the street he jogged over to the front window. “Morning Debby!” He called out to the twenty-something year old that seemed to live at the cafe.
“Morning Eddie.” She smiled, grabbing two large coffee cups. “Your usual?”
“You’re too good to us.” He answered. Debby was the usual barista, who Buck was normally delighted to be reminded that she remembered his sugary order. She had bright pink hair and he was convinced Buck normally came here just to gossip.
“Hubby didn’t make it out of bed?” She laughed. They definitely came to this cafe too often.
“We just came off a forty eight hour shift.” Eddie sighed, leaning against the open window. “Personally I didn’t want to get up either, but there’s something about the way he smiles when- sorry.”
“No, don't stop!” She laughed, winking at him. “The two of you and your perfect little marriage gives me life. You know you’ve never told me how you two met.” She raised an eyebrow, brushing her pink bangs out of her eyes as she did the milk patten on top of his cup.
“At work.” Eddie answered.
“Well I know that.” She huffed, pulling out the pot for Eddie’s own black coffee. “Did you guys get along right away? Was it like magic when you saw him?”
“Not quite.” Eddie laughed properly. “He was all weird against me for a day, then we were working on a patient in the evening and we just… had each other’s back from then on out.” Debby looked delighted by that. “And you know what I’ve just been looking after him from then on out.”
“So, when did you know?”
“Know what Debora?” He teased as she passed over his coffees. “A chocolate scroll for Chris and a ham, cheese toastie for Buck too, please.” She smiled and pulled out a couple of paper bags, sealing them with a little sticker.
“Know that he was the love of your life?” For a second, he swore he could see the flash of lightning, the feeling of rain pelting at him from where he was desperately trying to climb the ladder. Screaming Buck’s name, praying the man would make it to the end of the night. Realising that Buck’s heart wasn’t beating.
“That’s a story for another day.” He announced instead. He smiled at her, before handing over a twenty and winking at her. “Keep the change.” He ran back up to the road, before pulling open the car door. He gently placed their coffees in the cupholders, Buck and Christopher’s food on the other chair. He did a careful U-Turn before driving back up the road. Juggling all the food into the house was a struggle, but Christopher still looked half asleep against the kitchen bench.
“Dad!” Chris cheered, as he struggled to his feet.
“Wait there, hijo. I’m coming to you.” He dropped off the scroll with a smile. “Still warm.” He reached over and pulled a plate out of the cupboard.
“Papa won’t buy it if you just put that on a plate. He’ll know.” Christopher laughed, poking his tongue out at Eddie.
“A lot of attitude from the boy eating the chocolate pastry.”
“A lot of attitude you raised me to have.” Christopher shot right back. He had the same grin on his face that Buck has when he’s won an argument. He poured the coffee into the mug, carrying them up the stairs.
“Are you guys going to be all gross and in love?” Christopher called out from the kitchen bench.
“Yeah.” Eddie called back. “Get over it.” He knocked gently on the bedroom door, just to announce his presence, before pushing it open. Buck was sitting upright in bed, the blankets pooling around his hips. Eddie focused on maintaining eye contact instead of getting distracted by the many tattoos that ran down his chest, down to his abs, to his-
“We’re gonna be gross and in love, huh?”
“Something like that.” Eddie passed over the plate, resting the coffee on the bedside table. “And that’s your caramel, sugar, creamy nonsense, with some coffee in it.”
“Perfect.” Buck smiled, reaching out for Eddie’s wrist, pulling him in for a kiss. He had to plant one knee on the bed, kissing Buck softly.
“Good morning, mi vida.”
“Good morning, Eds.” He glanced down to the toastie. “Sunshine?”
“Debby asked about you.” Eddie almost collapsed onto his side of the bed, taking a sip out of the disposable cup.
“You couldn’t even be bothered to pour your coffee into a mug like mine?” Buck teased, taking a sip of his own coffee. The groan he let out made Eddie swallow extra hard. “I’m starting to think you were trying to trick me.”
“That’s what Chris said as well.” Eddie muttered.
“You never would’ve been able to trick me.” Buck replied as he took a bite of the sandwich. “Thank you so much for going out and hunting me such a beautiful sandwich.” Eddie almost said something sappy, but he leaned over to kiss Buck’s curls again.
“Did you tell me you were leaving?”
“You know I never leave you without telling you where I’m going.” Eddie smiled, trying not to smile too big. Buck curled, somehow making himself so much smaller, to tuck his head under Eddie’s arm. When he wasn’t eating, he fiddled with Eddie’s hand. Sometimes it felt like Buck twisted Eddie’s ring more than he did.
“I love our quiet mornings.” Buck’s eyes seemed unfocused, content to have Eddie so close. “Maybe we should just say this forever.”
“What about Chris?”
“He can come up. Even bring his X-Box so that he doesn’t get bored of us.” Eddie laughed, squeezing his arm around Buck’s shoulders. He planted another kiss on his head. With Buck being slightly taller than him, he only got to do that when Buck was lying down.
“You really have this all sorted out.” Buck had moved on to pulling on the cord of his hoodie. It yanked the hood around his neck in a slightly weird way, but he wouldn’t change it for the world. “What else have you thought about?”
“We could get the toasted sandwich maker up here and-”
“You’re just saying that because you have a toastie.” Eddie challenged. “But what would Christopher do without his chocolate scroll?” Buck gasped as he stepped up.
“You’re so right. He would never recover.” Eddie laughed, using his arm to drag Buck in for a kiss. They heard a knock at the front door, but the tell-tale sound of Christopher’s crutches on the ground deterred them from moving.
“Are you expecting anyone?” Eddie asked softly.
“No.” Buck muttered, kissing Eddie’s chest through the hoodie. “Oh no. Who is disturbing my perfect Saturday morning?” He whined softly.
“Well you did curse us.” Eddie kissed him again.
“Dad?” Christopher’s voice was shaky, he was scared. Eddie shot up, moving towards the door. His crutches were moving towards their bedroom, making Eddie speed up. Behind him he could hear Buck pulling clothes on, slamming their draws in the process. Once Chris was in eye-sight, Eddie took his face in his hands.
“Are you ok?” Chris shook himself free.
“Yeah Dad I’m fine. There are people at the front door.” Eddie raised an eyebrow, almost side stepping his son. “They’re locked out, the flyscreen is shut.” Eddie nodded, starting to move carefully around his son’s crutches.
“Did they say who they were?”
“Yeah, but I think they’re lying.”
“Why?” Eddie rounded the last corner, almost at the front door.
“They said they’re Pop’s parents.” Eddie stopped walking, spinning on his heel to look at his son. “Yeah, but it’s not Athena and Bobby.” Adjusting the hoodie slightly, Eddie stepped in sight of the door.
“Margaret. Phillip. What are you doing here?”
“Dad?” Christopher asked, peeking back over the corner. “Who are they?”
“Eddie.” Phillip starts. “Maddie informed us that Evan was living here now?” Eddie wasn’t sure what to do. He couldn’t go back down the hall to warn Buck that his parents were here. But he wanted to give his husband as much warning as possible. “We need to speak to him right now.” Honestly, Eddie hadn’t seen his in-laws since before the engagement. Buck rang them privately and just informed Eddie curtly that they would not be attending the wedding.
“Yeah, watch that tone when you’re in my house.” Eddie said sharply.
“We say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’.” Chris explained, nodding alongside his Dad. Eddie almost smiled, but was trying really hard to maintain a straight face.
“You know what? Come on in.” Eddie unlocked the front door, opening it for them to enter. “Christopher, could make them a cup of tea, or some water. Whatever they would like.”
“We don’t want a cup of tea.” Margaret snapped. “Where is-”
“Pleases and thank yous.” Eddie called over his shoulder, intercepting Buck. He pressed a hand over Buck’s mouth firmly, pushing him subtly into the laundry. “Your parents are here.”
“Oh.” Buck smiled.
“Not those parents.” They’d been married for two years, dating for two years before that and friends for what felt like a lifetime before that again. But the look on Buck’s face wasn’t one that Eddie could figure out. That scared him a little.
“I- Eddie I’m so sorry I never told you but-”
“Ok move!” They both spun from the shout from the kitchen. “I’ll just do it.” Buck pushed past Eddie, moving faster than he’d ever seen into the kitchen.
“You will not use that tone with my son.” Margaret and Phillip both looked surprised by Buck’s entrance, despite demanding him a few times.
“You will not use that tone with your Mother.”
“Dad, what are you doing here?”
“Dad?” Christopher muttered, looking up at the pair. “I thought Bobby was your Dad?” A silence that was so uncomfortable Eddie almost couldn't stand it. But by this stage, it would take a bullet to move him from Buck’s side.
“Who the f-”
“I’ll only warn you one more time.” Buck announced. “Chris, buddy, do you mind going to your room? If you wanna play X-Box you can turn it up as loud as you want.” Chris looked between his Dads, before settling on the strangers in the room.
“Ok.” He started shuffling towards his room. He stopped next to Eddie to lean up. “I’m not the toughest in a fight, but I’m pretty sure I can hit someone with my crutches if you need.” He whispered, just loud enough for Buck to hear as well.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Eddie whispered back. “Ok, let’s go.”
“What are you wearing?” Margaret demanded from her seat. She was holding an empty mug so tight you could have convinced Eddie there was tea in there. Buck looked down at himself, slightly confused. “Not your outfit. On your hand.” It took them both a horrible second to realise she meant his wedding ring.
“Mum-”
“Evan.” Phillip interrupted. “Look, we came all this way to talk to you about…” he watched their eyes flick down to his hand.
“This again?” Buck muttered, tears stinging his eyes. He tucked one hand behind his back, flexing his fingers. Eddie stepped up, slipping a hand into his. Buck pulled his husband’s arm around his waist. “Dad, I already told you.”
“No, Evan, that wasn’t fair.” Phillip was starting to shift on his feet. “I’m sorry, can you two please stop that.”
“Stop what?” Eddie asked, raising an eyebrow. He wanted to hear the man say it.
“That.” There was a very upsetting and vague hand gesture.
“Dad, I don't know how to tell you this but obviously I went ahead with it anyway. And besides. You guys are almost 30 months late.” Eddie was trying to do the quick maths, landing them at Buck’s last phone call.
“Went ahead with what?” Eddie accidentally muttered.
“You didn’t tell him?” Margaret sounded all to happy about that statement. “Evan, if you’re ashamed of who you are-”
“That is not what I’m ashamed of.” Buck crossed his arms, flexing his arms just a little bit.
“The wedding.” Margaret answered, smiling over at Eddie. Some strange, possessive and protective part of Buck didn’t like that at all. He stepped in the way of his husband and his biological parents.
“Mum can we please not-”
“He deserves to know the truth.” Phillip announced. “Do you not agree?” Eddie hated the way these people made his husband shrink. Physically, he could see Buck’s shoulders rounding, his back curling. He was trying to make himself smaller, but he was still standing in the way. Refused to let Eddie in harm's way, even when he was scared. But Eddie wasn’t. And Buck stood by him when his Father had a whole moment over their marriage. He’d be there for him too.
“Please Phillip.” Eddie sarcastically waved his hands in the air. “Enlighten me.”
“Our son called us, after you proposed.” Margaret started and Eddie already thought her voice was grating and annoying. “He told us what had happened and we told him we didn’t approve, we wouldn’t support him and we wouldn’t come to the wedding.” That was all within what Eddie had assumed, but Buck didn’t look any less ashamed.
“We told him, if he got married to you.” Phillip continued. “We wouldn’t call him. We wouldn’t come to visit. We wouldn’t do anything to try and have a relationship with him. Evan would be-”
“As dead to you as Daniel.” Buck finished, tears about to roll down his face. Eddie squeezed his biceps.
“So.” Eddie interpreted. “Obviously we got married and you’re clearly here. So what changed?” Buck didn’t laugh like he’d hoped, but he looked slightly less upset. Margaret and Phillip however looked pissed at his attitude.
“We were talking to Maddie and Chimney. He mentioned that you two were… living together.” Eddie had to physically fight the urge to roll his eyes. Don’t yell at the in-laws, don’t yell at the in-laws, don’t yell- “and that’s completely unreasonable for obvious reasons.”
“Yeah, I’m a soldier.” Eddie started. “We’re stereotypically stupid. Do you want to break that one down for me a bit further?”
“It’s wrong!” Phillip shouted.
“What’s wrong?” Eddie tried again, if only to watch the man’s face go bright red.
“This!” He gestured wildly to the pair again.
“Oh married people.” Eddie did a vague gesture back at them. “I agree.”
“Eddie.” Buck warned.
“This doesn’t concern you.” Phillip decided, before looking back towards Buck.
“Actually what concerns my husband concerns me.” Eddie shot back.
“You shouldn’t say that word.” Margaret sounded like she was about to cry.
“What word?” Eddie prompted again.
“Husband!” Phillip shouted. “Men should not say that word.”
“But you just-” Buck grabbed Eddie’s hand as gently as he could.
“Eddie, I think you’ve said enough.” Buck whispered. He nodded, moving to stand beside his husband. “You don’t want to make him angry.”
“Evan. Why don’t we take a walk?” Phillip was twisting his fingers in a way Eddie recognised from his street fighting days. That wouldn’t fly at all, not with his husband.
“Dad please, I don’t want-”
“Evan just listen to him.” Margaret was crying into her tea.
“I-” he looked desperately over to Eddie. “Please, I- I don’t want to.” Eddie turned to focus all his attention on Buck.
“Then you won’t.” He promised, holding Buck’s face in his hands.
“This doesn’t concern you.” Phillip was rounding the kitchen bench now, storming towards Buck. Eddie pushed his husband behind him, guarding Buck with his body.
“Try it.” Eddie challenged. In hindsight, the punch should’ve been expected. He did tell the man to hit him. Maybe Eddie assumed that he would hit a little harder, or that he would be less prepared. His head snapped to the side with the force of the punch, but he was quick to recover. Phillip was not a young man and an even worse puncher. “Hmm ok, well that was a try.” His ear was aching, but the man hit too weak, too far back to do anything more than shock him slightly.
“Dad please!” Buck shouted, starting to step forward.
“Get out of my house.” Eddie directed, a stern look on his face. One more punch and Eddie would be ready to hit back. At this stage however, it felt cruel to hit the elderly man. As it stands he was rubbing his knuckles, which were bleeding.
“Not until I speak to my son.” Phillip shouted. “Evan. Let’s go.”
“If you say right now that Eddie is my husband, then we can go for a walk.” Eddie could hear the crack in his husband’s voice. “And it’s Buck. I go by Buck.”
“Your name is Evan Buckley.”
“My name is Evan Buck Robbert Diaz.” A flash of pride ran through Eddie, as Buck squared up against his biological parents. “Say my name.” There was a crack in his voice as he begged, “please.” Phillip and Maragret sat there in an awkward silence. “Ok.” Buck whispered, tears running down his cheeks. “Ok then I’m going to go. You should leave.”
“Evan we are not-”
“He made himself clear.” They both whipped around to see Athena standing in the door way to the kitchen. She was in full uniform, standing in a way Buck remembered, right before getting in serious trouble.
“Ma’am.” Margaret finally piped up. “There’s been a misunderstanding-”
“The legal owners of this house have made their instructions very clear.” Athena continued. “So you, Ma’am are trespassing and Sir, I have a key witness who saw you assaulting another legal tender of the house. So you both have two minutes to vacate the premises, or I will remove you.”
“Chris?” Buck tried to look past Athena to the hallway, the sight of the crutch disappearing at the last second. Oh no, that poor kid.
“What’s your choice?” Athena asked sharply.
“We’ll leave.” Margaret answered, gathering her things. Comically she placed her empty mug back in the cupboard, frustrating Eddie.
“Diaz, I’ll supervise this. Take your husband to another room.”
“Evan, don’t expect us to call you.”
“I chose love.” Buck shot back. “Maybe next time do call though. I do not want you in my house. Stay away from my family.”
“We are-”
“Don’t even joke.” Buck was crying now, turning back towards the hallway. Eddie was right behind him, watching his back as they left the kitchen. Christopher was posted outside of his room, not trying to hide that fact.
“I’m sorry I rang Nana.” He whispered. “I was scared, Dad. There was lots of yelling and then I saw him hit you and-”
“Oh Christopher.” Eddie knelt down, Buck following on his other side. “I’m ok.”
“You’re not mad?’
“Could never be mad at you.” Buck whispered, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. “Are you ok? It had to be scary, seeing that.”
“I knew you would protect me. I just didn’t want Dad to get hurt anymore.” Christopher shifted, until he was hugging Buck awkwardly. “Are you ok Papa?” The tears actually started rolling down Buck’s face now. He couldn't hold it back, holding Christopher as carefully as he could. He wouldn’t let anything bad happen to this boy. The front door closed behind them, Athena walking back down the hall.
“To the couch. Let’s go.” She helped Eddie up, who lifted Buck into Athena’s arms. Christopher walked down the hall, collapsing into his new favourite armchair. Since he decided he was too cool and old for cuddles with his Dads, he had chosen the armchair. Eddie however, loved cuddles with Buck. When he dropped down onto the couch, he pulled all two-hundred-something pounds of his husband into his lap. Buck curled the best he could, tucking his head under Eddie’s chin. A sharp feeling of right ran through him as they lay there. Eddie would always be impressed with Buck’s ability to fold himself so small into his arms. It broke his heart.
“I’m with you, Corazón.” He kissed Buck’s head.
“What happened, Buck-a-roo?” Athena asked, interrupting the hug for just a moment to run her hand down Buck’s back. “Do I need to hunt them down to take them to the station?”
“They didn't do anything illegal.” Eddie admitted sullenly.
“The man hit you.” Christopher said, looking up at Athena. “Nana, is that illegal?” Athena almost answered, but Chris was redirected. “Who were they?” Buck straighten up here, but he didn’t move from Eddie’s arms. Only feeling safe with his husband’s hands wrapped around his waist.
“So you know how I call Athena and Bobby my Mama and Pops?” Buck prompted, waiting for Christopher to nod. “But they didn't give birth to me, like your Mum and Dad. I met Athena and Bobby when I was a grown up.” He looked down slightly. “My Mum and Dad, when I was little, weren’t very nice to me. When I told them that I was marrying your Dad, they didn't like that. They asked me to choose between them and you guys.”
“That’s silly. You always pick us.” Christopher laughed. “Are they homophobic?” Christopher clarified slowly, before looking back at his Dad. “Is that why he punched you?”
“There’s a bunch of things that are wrong with-”
“Hey.” Buck whispered.
“It may be a fair assessment.” Athena muttered. “Either way,” she said as she knelt next to Chris’ chair. “They were not nice to your Papa, so I took them away. Anyone that is unkind to you, or your Dad don’t deserve to be here.”
“What’s the other thing you say.” Christopher prompted with a little grin.
“And anyone who messes with my children or my grandchildren will face the wrath of Athena.” She teased, pinching Christopher’s cheek lightly. “Now for you two.” She turned around, smiling at them both. “Are you ok, Buck?”
“I wish they weren’t my parents.” He muttered, trying not to cry in front of Chris again.
“Just because those people made the blueprint, doesn't mean they deserve the beautiful, kind and brilliant human you turned into.” Athena explained as softly as she could. Buck was crying now, so Eddie loosened his hold with one hand, wiping the tears away. “I know Bobby is sitting at home right now, worried about his son. Hoping that those foolish, foolish humans understand what they’ve lost.” She muttered. “But everytime they fail, he feels the smallest bit of gratitude that he gets to love you as your Father always should have.” She knelt there, until Buck looked more stable.
“Guapo, te amo, ok?”
“I love you too.” Buck whispered.
“You two call me if you need anything.” Athena calls out, as she slips out the front door, holding it open with her foot. “You too Christopher. If your Dads are boring, I know Harry would love to catch up. You two could have a gaming night at our place.”
“Thanks Mama, I love you!” Buck called out.
“I love you too, Baby.” The door closed behind her.
“Dad can I-”
“Of course you can.” Eddie smiled. “Go pack a bag, I will be checking it before you leave!”
“Dad.” Christopher whined as he walked out. Once he was far enough down the hallway, Eddie pulled back to hold Buck’s face in his hands.
“I really don’t want to say this.” He whispered, looking into his husband's big blue eyes. “But you did say the ‘Q’ word.” There was a hesitation before Buck started giggling. He had to duck his head to hide from Eddie’s gaze as he laughed.
“You don’t believe in that stuff.”
“But I believe that you’re the love of my life.” Eddie changed topic. “That they are wrong. Selfishly, I’m so glad that you chose me Buck. You are the greatest thing to ever happen to me.” Buck went red. “You are my heart, my darling, my sweetheart, my pookie bear-”
“No no.” Buck laughed. “Stop that.”
“It’s true!”
“I love you too. I had no hesitation. I’m just sorry I didn't tell you before.” He sighed, resting his head back on Eddie’s shoulder.
“I love you so much.” He leaned up to kiss Buck. “My husband.”
“I love you too, my husband.”