Work Text:
Buck had thought so many times before, 'This is it, this is where life begins.'
In times like after surviving a fire truck crushing his leg, tsunamis, a lightning strike that left him dead for three minutes and seventeen seconds, or even being the one to guide his biological (donor baby) son into the world. (Okay, so maybe that was where life literally started, even Buck can admit that).
But none of that even began to prepare him for the true beginning of his life. That was now, his husband's hand tightly in his as he squeezed and bore down to a chorus of "Push. Just like that."
"Okay. Relax, Buck. You're doing great," Dr. Hall told him, watching the monitor closely.
Tommy leaned down and kissed his forehead gently. "You're doing so good, baby. I love you."
"I... love... you..." Buck panted back.
"Alright, Buck, get ready, here comes another contraction." Buck nodded his head, and as soon as he felt it, he didn't need to be told. He took a deep breath and pushed for all he was worth.
"Yes, that's it. That's the one. Keep going. One... two... three..." the doctor counted, and Buck kept pushing, squeezing Tommy's hand until his fingers were purple.
"Ten. Okay, breathe. I can feel the head; this baby is right there. I want you to take a deep breath and push for me, with all you have," the doctor said.
Buck shook his head. "Can't... so... tired...."
Tommy jumped in then and placed his free hand on Buck's face, forcing him to look up at him as he spoke.
"Oh, baby, I know. I know you're tired. And I'm sorry. I know I did this to you, but baby, our baby needs you. They need you to push so we can finally hold them in our arms. Can you do it for them, baby?"
Buck narrowed his eyes up at Tommy. "Yeah, you're fucking right you did this to me. I hate you so much." He said with no conviction behind it.
"No, you don't," Tommy laughed a little.
"No, I don't," Buck looked at Tommy and breathed, "Stay here. Keep looking at me, I want to look at your eyes. Just you and me baby. "
"Okay. I'm not going anywhere. Just you and me. Ready?" Buck nodded his head, took a deep breath, and pushed.
"Yes, baby, just like that."
"Push, great job, Buck, I can see the head. Wow, that’s a head full of hair," she chuckled.
"A little more, okay, stop, head’s out. Relax for just a minute. Wow, you're amazing. You got yourself an amazing man there, Tommy."
Tommy smiled at Buck and leaned in and kissed him. "I sure as fuck do."
Buck smiled. "You had to go give them your head of hair, didn’t you?" he joked.
"Hey, what can I say? Kinard's have great hair."
Buck reached his hand up and ran his fingers through Tommy's hair. "They do. It's very pullable."
"Whoa, easy there, tiger. That's what got us here." Tommy winked.
"Airtight, you ready, Buck? Let's have a baby. Give me one more good push like before, and we should be home free from there."
Buck nodded his head and looked into Tommy's eyes as he took a deep breath and pushed with all he had left in him. He pushed past the crushed legs, the lightning strikes, and all the failed relationships. All the moments that led him here.
To his true beginning. With his husband and their new baby...
"It's a girl," Dr. Hall announced. And Buck let the tears fall as their baby girl's cries filled the delivery room. Looking into Tommy's eyes, Buck watched the emotions play out in them.
And as the nurse pulled down Buck's gown and their daughter was placed against his chest, Buck bawled. Looking up at Tommy.
"She's here. Oh hi, sweetie. Hi. We love you so much, baby girl," Buck looked back up at Tommy, and Tommy leaned down to kiss him. Placing several short little kisses against Buck's lips, before kissing the baby's head.
"Hi, sweetheart," Tommy whispered to her, and she settled at the sound of his voice, blindly reaching a tiny hand toward the source of the noise.
"Aww, I can't," Buck cried, happy tears.
It didn't take long for things to settle from there. Being quickly brought back to Buck's suite, they both just sat and stared at their baby girl.
"Can you believe it, babe? We have a daughter." Buck said, grabbing hold of Tommy's hand.
"It's the best feeling in the world," Tommy replied.
Buck smiled and nodded in agreement. "You don't find it, son, you make it." Buck thought back to that call and smiled.
He had made it. His life began now. And his life was the tiny baby he just brought into the world.
Evangeline "Evie" Mae Kinard.