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Maddie's a little worried when she has to use her spare key to get into her brother's apartment, after Buck didn't answer the door. However, that melts away the second she and Chimney walk inside and their eyes fall onto the couch. Jee's lying on Buck's chest, his arms wrapped around her, her head nestled under his chin. They're both fast asleep, with Paw Patrol playing on the TV. One glance at Buck's kitchen and it's clear that lots of baking happened. Actually, there's remaints of flour scattered on the counter-
"Please tell me they did not have a flour fight," Chimney says, shaking his head slightly, not expecting anything less from his brother-in-law.
"It doesn't matter. This is the cutest thing I've ever seen," Maddie says, walking over to the couch with her husband. He chuckles when she takes out her phone, snapping a picture of them.
FIREFAM 🚒🚨
Maddie Han
[Image Attached]
These two are wiped out!
Eddie's sitting on his couch, watching a movie that, to be honest, he doesn't really understand the plot of, when his phone chimes. He glances at it, seeing that Maddie's sent a picture from his home screen's notifcation. Curious, he opens up the groupchat. Immediately, a warmth fills his heart and a smile lifts up his face. There is only one word he can think to describe this: adorable. Eddie can't help but focus on how peaceful and relaxed Buck looks and the way his curls are smushed against his pillow. Why has he never let his curls grow out before? It's definitely his favorite hairstyle of Buck's.
FIREFAM 🚒🚨
Hen Wilson
So cute!!
Bobby Nash
Thanks for the photo, Maddie. Very sweet. :)
Maddie Han
[Video attached]
Eddie happily clicks on the video. In it, Chimney's crouched down next to the couch, gently waking his daughter up. "You wanna wake up your Uncle Buck?" He asks her.
She nods excitedly and sits up, giggling. Jee reaches out and scribbles her fingers over Buck's neck, tickling him. At first, he only smiles and turns his head to the side. "Try his feet," Maddie suggests. Jee climbs over her uncle's legs to do just that. Buck definitely has a stronger reaction, laughing loudly as his eyes fly open and pulls his legs away.
"H-hey!" Buck says, grinning at his niece, then at Maddie and Chimney. He's blushing and Eddie smiles even more, glad to see his friend so carefree in the midst of the break-up he's going through. Buck quickly spots the phone. "Oh, that is not fair!" He reaches for it and Maddie quickly turns away, which is where the video ends.
Hm, Eddie had no idea he was ticklish (might be something to remember when he wants to tease Buck later). He's reminded of all the photos he has of Buck and Chris and goes looking in his camera roll for them. Looking at pictures of Chris lately has been bittersweet, as he's only further reminded of his son's absense. Right now, though, it just feels sweet. Out of all the people in his pictures, Eddie realizes that Chris and Buck pop up the most. He easily locates some great ones and sends them in the groupchat. The first one is of Buck swinging Chris in the air, both of them mid-laugh. The next is one where they're asleep on the couch, Chris's head on Buck's shoulder and Buck's arm wrapped around him. The third is a video of a few Halloweens ago, where Chris had wanted to scare Buck with his costume. He had a mask on and Eddie watches fondly as his son creeps up behind Buck, yelling "Boo!" and popping out in front of him. Buck lets out a high-pitched yelp, nearly falling over, and the video ends with Chris and Eddie's laughter.
He misses his son so, so much. More than anything, he wants Chris back home. Nothing's been the same without him and the guilt of hurting Chris emotionally has been eating at Eddie every single day. But, he reminds himself, he has to let joy in, like the priest told him. Chris has always been his jaw - unfortunately, he's the one thing that's not there. Eddie's been doing other things to try and lift himself up and make himself happy. He watched his favorite movie before putting on this confusing one. The highlight of tonight, what's made him the most joyful . . . is Buck.
That thought lingers in his head for a moment before he presses send on his text.
Eddie Diaz
[Image attached]
[Image attached]
[Video attached]
Sorry, Maddie. I think I got you beat in the cute department.
Maddie Han
Game on.
Buck
I expected this from Maddie but you're a traitor, Eds.
Eddie Diaz
I wouldn't go around name-calling. I have plenty more photos where that came from.
Chimney Han
Wow. I had no idea you were such a scaredy-cat, Buck.
Buck
Why are you texting me? You're literally standing in front of me.
Eddie laughs and closes the chat, going back to his camera roll. He scrolls through his pictures, letting his memories with Chris wash all over him. He feels empty without him. Sighing, Eddie checks his text messages with his son. The last contact they had was two days ago and all of their exchanges have been, well, dull.
He's tired of this. He needs to let joy in. He needs his son. He's not gonna wait around any longer for things to resolve themselves.
Eddie knows that the one person he hasn't talked to about this is Buck. He's wanted to, but he knows how much Buck has also missed Chris. That's Eddie's fault.
He also knows that he can't resolve things with Chris on his own. Those efforts so far have not been working. It's time to accept some help, and there's no better person to help than Buck. There's a reason Eddie put him in his will.
That will be a conversation to come soon, Eddie decides. He'll sit Buck down and they'll talk. Really talk. Because in a way, he's missed Buck too. They see each other everyday at the fire station but still, on Eddie's end, things feel a little off. He's been sad, Buck's been sad, Chris's been sad, he thinks.
No more. No more of only sadness. There has to be joy, too.