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“Christopher! We’re going to be late!” Buck calls out, checking his watch as he paces in front of the door, car keys in hand. He smiles, watching his husband—yes, his husband—Eddie tie his necktie in the mirror they have hung up in the back doorway. Perfect for last minute necktie adjustments or last minute mustache comb throughs. Not a day goes by since their wedding almost five years ago that he doesn’t thank the heavens for putting Eddie Diaz in his life.
Crossing the space, he kisses the other man’s temple before taking over the tying, a skill he’d learned from Bobby in what feels like another lifetime now. “Buck, you are vibrating .” Eddie says with a laugh, tilting his chin up and letting Buck fix the half-assed Windsor he was trying to tie. “Take a breath. We’ll get there in time.” Eddie’s hands find their home on Buck’s waist, somewhere they’ve gotten nice and familiar with for years now, even before they were anything more than friends—though, some people would say they crossed that line within one week then just bumbled their way through the rest of their thirties around each other like idiots. Still, they can’t be mad at the journey when the destination was so beautiful.
“I know, but it’s not every day Christopher graduates with his degree.” He was giddy—he knew that much. He was like a kid on New Year’s Eve whose blood had been replaced by hot cocoa. Pride threatened to burst out of his chest like a xenomorph and make him die a happy man as the little boy he used to read bedtime stories to and take to the aquarium was about to cross the stage and earn a degree in engineering at twenty-one. Christopher is like a son to him, and even if they never really did sign any paperwork formalizing it outside of Eddie’s will, it was a sentiment shared between the three of them, especially as Buck tried to find his footing as not only a friend, but a father figure who had to keep Christopher accountable even when it broke his heart to have to be stern with him. He was amazing, a fruit from his father’s tree and Buck adored him.
He’s pulled out of the daze he didn’t know he’d fallen into with a kiss under his chin from the shorter man, who smiles as he pulls back. “Earth to Buckley. Come on back.”
“Sorry.” He chuckles sheepishly, leaning down to meet Eddie in a soft kiss when Eddie moves forward.
“No need to be. I love how excited you are—I’m excited too.” Eddie squeezes his hands and smiles lovingly at Buck. “Our baby boy’s all grown up.”
Buck nods, trying to stave away the emotion welling up in his throat. His lip quivers as he smiles, looking as tears brim Eddie’s eyelids. “No! No. You aren’t allowed to cry. If you cry, then I’m going to cry, then he’s gonna think we’re embarrassing.” He looks up with a laugh, blinking his tears away.
Eddie does the same as the door to Christopher’s room creaks open and the familiar sound of his crutches hitting the ground is heard as he rounds the corner, looking dapper in his graduation gown. “Oh God, are you guys being sappy already?” He rolls his eyes as the two men give him proud looks, Eddie’s hands in a prayer-like formation in front of his mouth as he looks his son up and down. “Dad, don’t cry. Then Buck’s gonna cry and it’s going to be a whole mess.” He shakes his head, curls bouncing like Buck’s does when he does the same thing. Beside Eddie, Buck has to laugh at the unintentional parroting of his words.
“Hey, let’s get some pictures and hit the road, huh?” Ushering his Diazes towards the living room, Buck stages them in front of the mantle before stepping back to take treasured photos that he will keep close to his heart forever. “Okay, smile, boys.” The camera clicks a few times on his iPhone as he makes sure to get a few angles and zooms in on a few shots. He directs them into a few poses, getting the father-son duo to smile at one another, which makes them burst out laughing which winds up in a beautiful candid shot. Buck, once satisfied, pores over the shots he took with loving pride.
“Alright, your turn.” Eddie breaks into his bubble, taking his phone from him and nodding his head towards Christopher as he resets the camera.
“Come on, Buck. We’re gonna be late.” The young man mocks, which Eddie laughs at while Buck gawks.
“Well there goes a hundred bucks out of your grad gift, you smartass.” Buck wraps his arm around Christopher’s neck and pulls him in, pretending to give him a noogie, knuckles against his head. Eddie looks gleeful as he mirrors Buck’s technique, taking multiple snaps from multiple different angles. Eventually, Buck takes it seriously, turning to fix Christopher’s hair and gown where he mussed it. When he turns back, Eddie is tearful again.
“Eddie? You okay?”
“You guys really do look so much alike, it’s—it’s crazy.”
“Dad, come on—take some more photos so we can get going!” Christopher chides, but neither adult misses the slight upturn of his lips.
“Alright! Alright! Jeez, can’t even let your old man be sentimental that his baby is all grown up.” Eddie fake pouts, taking more shots. Once satisfied, he joins them, flipping the camera into selfie mode. “Alright, a few of these…” he snaps in quick succession, the three of them quickly moving into different, silly poses before ending with a genuine one with Buck’s arms around Chris’ shoulders and over Eddie’s chest. That one’s getting printed and it’s gonna be the wallpaper on his phone for years to come. “…And we’re good! Okay, let’s get going. Hen and Karen are never going to let us live it down if we’re late.”
“Neither will I!” Christopher exclaims, leading them out to the car as Buck and Eddie laugh, shaking their heads fondly.
The campus was abuzz with activity—students all adorning their caps and gowns, friends cheering and squealing as they see one another. Everywhere, there were students finding their friends, grouping together to take photos. Christopher was whisked away within minutes of them arriving, and Buck and Eddie were once again left alone after they agree to text when the commencement ceremony was about to begin.
Buck sighs wistfully, looking around them at the campus, his hand tangling in Eddie’s as their arms swing. “I feel like it was just yesterday we were going on college tours with him. Now he’s graduating and he’s gonna live his life.” Buck sniffles, and Eddie leans into his side, kissing the blazer cloth over his upper arm.
“I know. He’s not a kid anymore. He’s a man—a smart, kind, funny man.” Eddie sighs as they walk, reflecting on the years. “He makes me so fucking proud. Every day, I thank God that he gave me a son as good as Christopher and a partner as good as you who helped raise him be the man he is.” Buck turns his head to look at Eddie, and when he does, he’s met with the most breathtakingly loving look that makes the Earth under his feet unsteady. “I love you, babe.”
“I love you too. So much. Thank you for letting me into Chris’ life. I’m thankful every day too.” He leans down and their lips meet chastely in the middle of the campus quad, leaves rustling around them through a soft breeze.
“Ugh. You two are the worst.” The break their kiss with grins on their faces as the voice of Hen Wilson breaks through.
Buck nods at her, chest puffed. “Captain Wilson.”
“Captain Buckley.” She nods back before they engulf each other in a tight hug as Eddie and Karen do the same. The four of them laugh and greet one another as they switch off, Karen hugging Buck and Hen hugging Eddie. Time and experience may have dissolved their original core team, but their bond was as strong as ever.
Bobby had retired a few years ago to be a full time grandparent all of the 118’s kids, as well as take up a few hobbies before Athena joined him in retirement. Now they spend their time travelling the world with May and Harry tagging along every few trips between their own busy lives.
Hen had taken his place as captain of the 118’s A-Shift and was instrumental in Buck’s growth and advancement in the LAFD. She and Karen were celebrating their fifteenth wedding anniversary soon and celebrating their baby boy’s graduation just like Buck and Eddie were. Karen and Eddie see another fairly often as he, Karen and Maddie still have their monthly wine nights, and Eddie works at the 118 under Hen.
Maddie and Chimney grew their family with a third baby—a boy— after their second daughter was born in 2025, and now they were considering themselves complete as a family of five. Maddie took a position managing shifts at dispatch, which she loved even if she found herself back on the phones by accident more than once. Chimney and Hen are still the dynamic duo they always were, and Interim Fire Captain Han has matured over the years to not be so insufferable when Hen is away.
Finally, Buck and Eddie have grown and matured in their own ways. Despite being married for five years and together for seven and some questionable third option for much longer, they were consistently finding ways to learn more about each other. Each and every day was an adventure with the other, as cliche as that sentiment is, it was true. Buck was constantly amazed by Eddie, and he can only hope he grants even a fraction of that wonderment right back. In the last five years, Buck’s taken his career to the next level, doing what he’s had to do to become captain of his own house. While it broke his heart to have to leave the 118, he knew that he needed it to grow. Besides, he was never going to be without the 118–just together in different ways.
“So good to see you guys here.” Eddie says, arm wrapped loosely around Hen’s shoulder. “Buck and I were just reminiscing about Chris not being a kid anymore.” They all turn and see Chris, Denny, and their friends laughing and posing for the camera.
“No, he and Denny are all grown up now. Look at them—just yesterday they were hip height and now they’re adults. About to start their lives.”
Buck nods, and Karen squeezes his waist when she notices how teary he is. “Oh, how are any of us going to get through today?”
“Not easily, I can tell you that.” Buck nods, laughing wetly. The four of them laugh along, waving when the boys wave at them. For a brief moment, Buck could swear a younger version of Christopher and Denny appeared in their place. “Come on, let’s go find our seats.”
“You guys absolutely should take a trip for your fifth anniversary. You’re only going to have it once! Besides, this is the first year you guys aren’t in the same firehouse on your anniversary so it should be easier to both take the time off.” Hen clicks her phone to get the screen to wake, checking to see if anyone’s complained about Chimney yet.
“It would be nice to get away for a bit. Could even make it a graduation trip for Chris before he inevitably tries to move out.”
“Don’t even start, Diaz.” Buck supplies, bottom lip pushed out in a pout at the very idea. He pokes his husband in the chest, and Eddie laughs as he grips the other man’s hand so he can kiss his knuckles. “He doesn’t need to move out—he is welcome at home for as long as he likes.”
“Well, yeah—and I’m sure he knows that, but are you gonna stop him from doing what he wants?” Eddie asks, scoffing and tilting his head.
“No…”
“Yeah, thought so.” A soft kiss is laid on Buck’s cheek, along with a quiet chuckle.
“It’s okay, Buck. Let me know when you guys inevitably have that talk and I can send some Ben & Jerry’s to your house to cry into.” Karen supplies, shaking her head. “Lord knows I needed it.”
Buck and Eddie both turn to her as Hen laughs softly. “You mean?”
“Yeah, Denny said he wants to get his own place downtown in about two months or so. He’s starting a new job in two weeks and wants to save his first few paycheques for a damage deposit, then he’s gonna go set up his own nest.” Karen shrugs, sighing. “We’ve been very normal and not sad about it at all .” Hen makes an affirmative noise as she rubs where wife’s back.
Buck gulps, his throat feeling like it’s tightening as the reality of the young boy-turned-man making his own way through life becomes realer and realer. He still has them—he’s pretty sure Eddie would level hell into a flat surface before leaving his son to fend for himself, but Eddie’s been able to adapt to giving Christopher space to grow in a way Buck’s struggled to.
Eddie wraps an arm around Buck’s torso, hugging him into his side and kissing his temple, right atop a pink birthmark. Words need not be shared between the men to understand the idea is hard for them both.
Seated in the gallery of the theater, they watched as students start to file in below them, taking their seats to prepare for the stage crossing. They see Christopher walk in, Denny and a few of their friends with him. The young Wilson was first to split off, seated near the back. Followed by the Montgomery boy and the Jewell girl. Finally, Christopher finds his way closer to the front of the room, only two rows back.
“Huh.” Eddie murmurs. “They don’t have that many kids in their class between A and D?”
Buck purses his lips, brow quirked. “Maybe it’s where they put him so he could move easily in and out of the row?” He rationalizes. Just then, both their phones vibrate with a notification.
“ You guys in your seats??? It’s starting in 10 .”
“ Sure are, mijo .” Followed by a clapping reaction from his step dad. A quick text is shot to Maddie, who was currently at their place decorating it for the boys’ graduation celebration to let her know that the ceremony would be starting soon, which gives her a little over two hours to get everything done before they and the Wilsons head over. “Alright, here we go.” Eddie tangles their fingers together, interlacing them and leaning in for a kiss.
Buck kisses him back, and it’s the most grounding, comforting thing.
An older gentleman takes the stage first, talking about the history of the school and some quick stories of those who came before them. It probably would’ve been interesting if it was completely lacking in any sort of energy. After he finishes off, a younger girl who was part of the graduating class and takes the the podium to speak about how this was the beginning of the rest of their lives. It felt like it was cut right out of a coming-of-age flick—probably because neither of Christopher’s dads actually graduated college, so their only exposure to it were coming-of-age flicks.
Eventually after almost twenty gruelling minutes of fluff, they were finally able to get the show on the road with the first students crossing stage. Anderson…Annable…Aquino…Arbuckle…Archuleta…Avonmore and a bunch of other ‘A’ surnames were called in quick sequence, bright smiles plastered on the faces of those crossing the stage and receiving their diplomas.
“He’s coming up really quickly.” Buck says quietly, pulling his phone out to get ready to take a shot of Christopher from the projected views on the screens. He misses the quiet giggle from Hen and Karen that Eddie clocks, but they brush it off when he looks at them inquisitively. He turns back to the stage, a little wary, but trying to focus in.
Bartlett, Benitez, Benson, and Brock are some of the next in the line up, until a familiar mop of curly hair was up next. No ‘C’s? In a world of Carters and Carmichaels, that seemed next to impossible.
“Christopher Buckley-Diaz. Bachelors in Transportation Engineering.”
Buckley…Diaz? Tears were rolling down Buck’s cheeks as he held the camera in front of him, fingers frozen. Beside him, Eddie’s hand covers his mouth as he gasps. They can hear the faint sounds of a camera clicking as Hen takes over, knowing full well how shell-shocked the men were going to be at the name call. Karen pats Eddie’s free hand, her thumb running over the the back of it comfortingly as she records their reactions.
When they got married, they opted to keep their names the same. It was one of the conditions the LAFD had for them to stay at the same firehouse together, because it would’ve been damn near impossible to differentiate them in the field should there be a massive emergency and they were working with people who didn’t know them. It just made sense to keep things simple and clean. Besides, Buck’s been part of the Diaz family for almost two decades now, and four additional letters at the end of his name doesn’t define that.
But now, their whole world just shifted on its axis.
“Did you guys know about this?” Eddie asks incredulously, overcome with emotion.
Karen nods and smiles before looking to her wife. Hen affirms them. “We did. He asked us to make sure we caught you guys on camera.” She reaches over and holds out her hand for Buck to take so she can give him some affirming squeezes. “You guys should talk about this. You aren’t at the same house anymore, after all.” She smiles at Buck, then to Eddie, as they both smile back through tears.
The rest of the procession could not have gone slower. Buck had to apologize to the nice lady beside him because his long jittery legs bumped into her more than once. He was teeming with energy and had no outlet for it. Poor Eddie probably has Buck’s wedding ring imprinted into his skin from where Buck was gripping onto his hand for dear life.
Buckley-Diaz keeps replaying in his mind, and he was grinning like a madman. Honestly, everyone between Christopher and Denny on the call-out list may as well have been faceless and nameless because nothing mattered more than getting to their son and giving him the biggest hug Buck’s ever given him—and he’s given him his fair share.
The push bar on the door clatters loudly as Buck races into the concourse, looking around as the students started to filter out. He feels his husband’s warm presence beside him, also searching.
“Dad! Buck!” Christopher calls out, and the two of them don’t even look before bolting in the direction of his voice. Christopher’s crutch clatters on the ground when Buck, despite Christopher being in his early twenties, picks him up like he’s eight again and spins him around. He laughs, trying to hug the man back, but his arms are stuck in the embrace. “Buck, you gotta let me go, man. This is not a good look.”
“No, I’m never letting you go, kid.” His face was pressed into Chris’ suit jacket, and thank goodness it was a dark fabric so the dampness on Buck’s face didn’t mess it up.
“Dad!” Christopher complained, which makes the elder Diaz laugh.
Eddie pats his husband on the shoulder, giving him a squeeze. “Alright, Buck. If you want a hug back you’re going to have to release the prisoner.” He beams with pride at his son, ruffling his hair. “We are so proud of you, mijo. You make us so grateful we’re your parents.”
Chris nods, smiling back brightly. He grunts once his feet his solid ground again, and is quick to wrap his arm around Buck and using the other to gesture Eddie over so they could all share in a hug.
“Mr. Diaz.” Their three heads poke up at the sound of a woman’s voice. “Or should I say, Mr. Buckley-Diaz?”
“Oh hello, Professor Sandoval.” Chris says, smiling at the woman who’s joined them. “Dad, Buck, this is Professor Sandoval. She helped me a ton with my final year project. Professor Sandoval, these are my dads—Eddie and Buck.”
Chris was just full of arrows and he was hitting bullseye after bullseye to Buck’s heart today.
The truth is, Buck is his dad. Christopher is his son. They are one cohesive family unit. But he’s also always been Christopher’s ‘Buck’. When he and Eddie got married, Chris was in his mid-teens, and him calling Buck anything other than his name was just going to be weird for all parties involved. But still, hearing Chris openly call him that makes Buck warm and fuzzy.
“We’ve heard so many good things, Professor.” Eddie says, shaking her hand. Buck follows suit with agreement.
“Well I had to nurture all the potential I see in your son. You’ve got a very, very bright future in front of you, Christopher. I’m sure you make your fathers very proud.”
“That, he does.” Buck says, pride dripping like honey in his voice.
“I just wanted to stop by and congratulate you, young man. It was a pleasure to meet you both.”
“Thank you, Professor.” They bid their goodbyes before Denny comes over.
“Hey guys, my moms are saying we gotta get some group photos.”
Group photos all taken care of and goodbyes bid by the boys to their friends, the three men sat in Buck’s Jeep in comfortable silence. The radio was quietly playing one of Eddie’s Spotify playlists, and he was humming along.
“So…” Christopher broaches from the backseat. “Was that…okay?”
Buck’s eyes flicker to the rear view, a little surprised by the pensiveness he’s sensing.
“You mean that stunt you pulled, Mr. Buckley-Diaz ?”
Chris blushes ever so slightly. “We don’t have to do it. I just thought it would be nice.” He looks out the window, avoiding eye contact thorough the mirror with his step-dad, and avoiding his father’s gaze when he turns in his seat.
“Mijo, you could’ve told us, you know. It didn’t have to be some big secret.”
“I know, but it’s not exactly an easy thing to talk about.” He sighs heavily, rolling his eyes. “What was I supposed to say? ‘Hey guys, Buck’s been my dad since I was single digit years old and you guys are kinda weird for being married and not once considering your last names.’? I mean, not that everyone has to change their names, but you guys are you . i thought you would’ve jumped at the chance to be as…together as you could be.”
Eddie swivels his head, smiling at Buck, who shrugs with a soft smile. “Oh, we definitely considered it.”
“Yeah, work made it a little complicated. Though, I guess we could’ve legally changed our names and still went by the singular ones at work.” Buck supplies, to which Eddie thoughtfully hums at in response.
“So. Should we…change our names? All three of us?”
Buck turns to Eddie, love in his eyes. “I think that sounds like an amazing idea.”