Chapter Text
Eddie groaned as the sound of jingling bells reached his ears. He had barely slept since Lucia was born, and now, thanks to Buck, his quiet morning had been turned into a Christmas carnival. He shuffled out of the bedroom, bleary-eyed, and found Buck and Christopher in the living room, surrounded by tinsel, ornaments, and other Christmas decorations.
“Buck,” Eddie said, voice gravelly from lack of sleep. “What are you doing?”
Buck grinned, a Santa hat perched on his head. “Good morning to you too. It’s officially December 1st, so we’re making Christmas magic, obviously!”
Chris beamed, holding up a Christmas-themed clipboard. “Look, Dad! Buck gave me a clipboard for our checklist. We’re going to make the house look amazing.”
Great. Another Clipboard Buck in the making, just what he wanted for Christmas.
Eddie crossed his arms, glancing over the chaos. There were string lights tangled on the couch, a half-assembled fake tree, and glitter everywhere.
“I just wanted to sleep in today, possibly the whole day.” He muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“You are sleeping,” Buck quipped. “On the job of spreading holiday cheer. Don’t worry I’ve got you covered. Number 14 on the list is ‘Wake Eddie up if he’s being a Grinch.’”
Chris snorted as Eddie rolled his eyes.
“Well, sorry if I was up all night trying to get your daughter to feed from me and put her to sleep.”
“How come it's only ‘my’ daughter whenever you’re mad?”
Eddie huffed but didn’t argue. Buck stepped closer, his teasing tone softening into genuine concern.“Why didn’t you tell me you’re still having problems with her latching on, I could’ve made a bottle or—“
“I didn’t want to be a bother since it was so late,” Eddie interrupted, his voice quiet. "You’ve been working long shifts lately, and I figured I could handle it."
“We’re a team, babe, remember? I’m in this just as much as you are.” Buck reassured, as he cupped Eddie’s cheek and kissed him on the lips.
A loud groan interrupted them. “Not in front of the poor child, please.”
“And Chris, what happened to the moody teenager phase you’re going through? I thought you were too old for this. Your words, not mine.” Eddie remarked, raising an eyebrow as he watched Chris’s shifting expression.
“Well, I realize I have 364 days to be one, just not during my favorite holiday of the year,” Chris said with a slight shrug as he glanced around at the festive decorations.
“Also, it’s Lucia’s first Christmas, and as her big brother, I feel a responsibility to make it perfect for her.”
Eddie tried his best to not turn into a sobbing mess right in front of them. After the birth of Lucia, his hormones have been all over the place. So who can blame him?
“Exactly, now let’s get Lucia and start the decorating festivities,” Buck exclaimed, heading for the nursery.
“She finally managed to go to sleep about an hour ago, so if you want to deal with a cranky baby, be my guest,” Eddie spoke out, stopping Buck in his tracks.
Buck winced and turned to Chris. “Okay, maybe let’s get your sister when she has gotten her full beauty sleep.”
Chris nodded, crossing off an item on his colorful checklist. “Good idea. The first agenda on the list is tree decoration, so you have time to get more sleep Dad, but don't get too comfortable because we’ll be back for costume fittings and photoshoot!”
“Costume fittings?” Eddie whispered to himself.
“You’ll see what I have planned.” Buck shot him a playful wink, his grin widening.
Despite his initial annoyance, Eddie felt his heart soften. Christopher’s excitement was infectious, and even Buck’s clipboard antics were… endearing. He still loves the holiday season deep in his heart, but it was hard to focus on anything when dealing with a newborn.
Eddie walked back into the nursery to check on Lucia and whispered. “Why are you the only normal one in this family?” He watched his daughter’s tiny chest rise and fall and couldn’t help but smile. Her little hand was curled into a fist, her cheeks rosy and peaceful.
A soft knock at the door pulled Eddie from his thoughts. Buck peeked in, his Santa hat was slightly askew.
“Hey,” Buck whispered. “Tree’s up. I just wanted to check on you real quick.”
“I’m fine,” Eddie said, though his tone lacked conviction.
Buck didn’t buy it. He stepped inside, moving with that easy familiarity, and sat down on the edge of the rocking chair next to Eddie. His gaze was gentle, his presence grounding.
“You don’t have to fake it with me, y’know,” Buck said quietly, meeting Eddie’s eyes. “You’re allowed to be tired. Or annoyed. Or whatever you’re feeling.
“I mean, you had a baby less than three months ago," He added, shaking his head in disbelief. "I wouldn’t have the strength to get out of bed ever again."
Eddie sighed, leaning back in his chair. His shoulders seemed to drop a little as the tension in him eased. “I know. It’s just—this is our first Christmas as a family. I want it to be amazing for Chris and the baby. I guess I’m trying to find the Christmas spirit within me.”
Buck reached out, resting a hand on Eddie’s knee. The warmth of his touch offered a comforting presence. “And it will be,” he assured him, an understanding smile spreading across his face. “Just leave it to me. I can handle it.”
Eddie met his gaze, the weight in his chest lightening just a little at Buck’s words. He let out a quiet laugh, more of a release than anything else. "I love you.”
Buck smiled a soft, easy grin that only Eddie ever saw. "I love you, too," He replied, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to Eddie’s forehead. "Now, get some rest."
By the time Eddie woke up from his nap, the house was quiet—too quiet. He stretched, groaning at the stiffness in his back, and checked on Lucia, who was still sound asleep. As he stepped into the living room, he immediately saw why the silence had felt suspicious. The house was transformed.
The Christmas tree, fully decorated with shimmering lights and ornaments, stood proudly in the corner. Tinsel hung from every possible surface, and stockings with all their names—including Lucia’s—were carefully pinned to the wall. Eddie blinked, overwhelmed by how festive everything looked.
Buck appeared from the kitchen, balancing a tray of hot cocoa mugs. He froze when he saw Eddie, grinning like a kid caught sneaking cookies.
“Surprise! We wanted you to wake up to the magic.”
Chris popped out from behind the couch, holding a plastic candy cane as if it were a wand. “It was on the list—‘Create Dad’s Perfect Christmas Reveal.’”
Eddie glanced around again, his chest tightening in that warm, too-full way he’d come to associate with his little family. “You guys… this is incredible.”
“Hold your applause,” Buck said, setting down the tray and motioning dramatically toward the hallway. “The real gift is coming.”
Eddie raised an eyebrow. “What did you—”
Before he could even finish his sentence, Buck surged forward, his heart racing with excitement as he dashed back, gently cradling their little girl in his arms. The sight of his fiancé, holding their daughter with such tenderness brought Eddie to an abrupt halt. However, what truly captured his heart was the adorable tiny red onesie that Lucia was dressed in, adorned with shimmering golden letters that proclaimed “Baby’s First Christmas” across the chest.
“I know it’s early, but I couldn’t resist when I spotted it while shopping for decorations,” Buck said, a sense of pride illuminating his features.
“Mi Princesa, oh, you look absolutely adorable,” Eddie exclaimed, his voice filled with warmth and affection as he gazed at the precious little girl nestled in Buck’s arms.
He looked up at Buck, who looked entirely too smug. “And what’s this about ‘costume fittings’ earlier?”
Buck held up a hand, disappearing briefly into the hallway before reappearing with something behind his back. “Oh, I saved the best for last.”
With a dramatic flourish, he unveiled a collection of festive Christmas outfits. Each costume was vibrant and whimsical, showcasing a cheerful elf with pointy ears and a jingly belt, a majestic reindeer with antlers and a bright red nose, and a charming pair of Mr. and Mr. Clauses, complete with fluffy white beards and santa hats.
“No,” Eddie said immediately, crossing his arms.
“Oh, come on,” Buck pleaded, stepping closer. “It’s just for a picture. Our first Christmas card as a family. We’ve gotta go big. Chris is the elf, Lucia is the reindeer, We’re the Santa clauses.”
Chris, now holding Lucia on the couch, chimed in. “You promised, Dad. No Grinch vibes.”
Eddie groaned, but one look at the expectant faces of his husband and son—and the tiny reindeer onesie meant for Lucia—was enough to wear down his resolve. “Fine,” he said, grabbing the larger Santa hat.
“Trust me, Diaz, this is gonna be perfect.”
The picture turned out to be exactly what Buck had promised: perfect chaos. Chris held Lucia, who had just started to wake, one hand flailing in front of the camera. Eddie sat next to them, his Santa hat slightly crooked but his face full of warmth. And Buck, sitting on the other side, leaned in close, his arm wrapped around Eddie’s shoulders, his smile wide and proud.
“She’s not even going to remember this,” Eddie said as Buck adjusted tiny antlers on Lucia’s head.
“Doesn’t matter,” Buck said, now snapping a photo of Chris holding his baby sister. “We’ll remember it. And she’ll have the pictures to prove how much we love her.”
Eddie glanced at Buck, his heart swelling. The truth was, he didn’t need a picture to remind him of this moment. The sight of Buck cradling their daughter, Christopher laughing beside them, the warm glow of the tree lights—it was all seared into his memory.
“Look at how much she loves the little antlers on her head.” Buck pointed to Lucia, who was stretching her tiny hands towards the delicate antlers, her fingers grasping at the air playfully. “You’re the most adorable reindeer I’ve ever seen,” he cooed, a warm smile spreading across his face.
Buck stood at the counter, dusted in flour, carefully rolling out the sugar cookie dough. His hands, usually so strong and capable of life-saving heroics, were focused on an entirely different mission: cutting out stars and snowflakes with precision.
Perched on a stool beside him, Christopher was holding a cookie cutter shaped like a Christmas tree, his tongue peeking out in concentration as he pressed it into the dough. "Buck, is this one good?" he asked, lifting the cutter carefully to reveal a slightly wobbly tree shape.
"Perfect," Buck said with a grin. "You're getting better at this than me."
Christopher's face lit up. "Told you I’d be a pro! Dad, did you see?"
"I’m seeing everything," Eddie called from the other side of the kitchen, where he was bouncing baby Lucia in one arm and sifting powdered sugar with the other. "Looks like you’re the head chef today, huh?"
Christopher nodded proudly. "Buck’s just my sous-chef."
Buck gasped in mock offense, tossing a light dusting of flour in Christopher’s direction. "Oh, really?"
"Yup," Christopher said with a giggle. "You can help me with the icing later."
Lucia let out a little coo from Eddie’s arms, and Eddie looked down at her with a smile. "Hear that, Lucia? Your brother’s in charge."
"She's still my little helper," Buck added, leaning over to kiss the top of Lucia’s head as Eddie brought her closer. "Aren’t you, sweetheart?"
Lucia blinked at him with wide hazel eyes as if taking her role as "helper" very seriously.
Once the cookies were all cut and placed on baking sheets, Eddie handed Lucia to Buck, freeing himself to slide the trays into the oven. "Alright, cookies are in the oven," Eddie said as he set the timer.
When the timer dinged, the cookies were pulled from the oven, slightly uneven but smelling heavenly. Buck went over to inspect them, declaring, "They came out great!"
"Time to decorate!" Christopher said, already grabbing the green icing tube.
Eddie strapped Lucia into the baby carrier, her little face peeking out as he grabbed the yellow icing and joined Christopher at the table. Buck set out bowls of colorful sprinkles and edible glitter before taking a seat beside them.
As they got to work, the kitchen descended into cheerful chaos. Christopher was remarkably precise with his icing, carefully outlining his tree cookies before adding ornaments with sprinkles. Buck, on the other hand, had less luck—his snowman cookie turned into a lopsided blob of white and blue.
"Uh, Buck?" Christopher said with a raised eyebrow. "What’s that supposed to be?"
"It’s... abstract," Buck replied, trying to salvage his creation.
Christopher laughed, leaning into Eddie, who was busy decorating a star cookie with golden glitter. "Dad, your star looks so much better than Buck’s... whatever that is."
"Hey!" Buck exclaimed, laughing as he reached for a handful of sprinkles. He gently tossed them at Christopher, who shrieked and grabbed a spoon to retaliate.
Lucia let out a happy gurgle at the commotion, her tiny hands waving as if she wanted to join in.
"Careful, you two," Eddie warned, though he was smiling. "We’re supposed to be decorating cookies, not each other."
"But it’s more fun this way!" Christopher said, grinning as he smeared a dab of icing on Buck’s cheek.
"Oh, you’re in trouble now!" Buck playfully lunged toward Christopher, pretending to tickle him. Christopher laughed so hard he nearly fell off his chair, but Eddie caught him just in time.
Once they were finished, Eddie brought Lucia closer so she could “see” the finished product, and Buck held up one of the more intact snowflakes with a grin. "Our first family Christmas cookies," he said proudly.
Christopher beamed. "And next year, Luci will be old enough to help, right?"
"Definitely," Eddie said, kissing Christopher’s head before leaning over to press a soft kiss to Lucia’s.
Later that evening, after Chris had gone to bed and Lucia had finally fallen asleep again, Eddie and Buck sat curled up on the couch, the house quiet for the first time all day.
"You really went all out," Eddie murmured, his head resting against Buck's shoulder, his voice filled with appreciation.
Buck smiled, his hand finding Eddie's and giving it a gentle squeeze. "Well, you know me, I wanted this holiday season to be special for all of us."
Eddie pressed a kiss to Buck's cheek, lingering just a moment longer than usual. "You did great," he whispered, his words sincere. "But I'm kind of scared to see what you've got planned for Christmas Day."
Buck chuckled, the sound light and easy. "All I'm gonna say is prepare to be blown away."
Eddie snorted. "As long as you didn’t get Chris and Lucia something way over our budget, we're good."
Buck hesitated for a beat, then rushed out, "Well, about that… I may have gotten Chris the PS5 he's been begging for, and a baby pink jeep for Lucia."
Eddie froze, looking at him as though he’d lost his mind. "A jeep?" he asked slowly. "She can barely walk!"
Buck shrugged, completely unphased. "Well, when she figures it out, it’ll be waiting for her." He smiled wide, as though the absurdity of it made perfect sense.
Eddie shook his head in disbelief, but a fond smile tugged at his lips. "You're absolutely ridiculous. There’s no way I can top that. They're going to hate my gifts."
Buck chuckled, nudging him with his shoulder. "Don’t worry. You’ve still got time. It’s not gonna top mine, but you can try."
Eddie shot him a mock glare. "Whatever," he muttered, though the corners of his mouth twitched into a smile.
Buck laughed, wrapping an arm around Eddie’s waist and bringing him closer. They sat there in comfortable silence, watching the twinkling lights of the tree. Eddie glanced at the bassinet where Lucia slept peacefully. For the first time in weeks, he felt like he could finally exhale. His family was messy, chaotic, and loud—but it was his.
And he wouldn’t trade it for anything.