Work Text:
Eddie had packed all of his bags, ready to move to Texas and to be with his son once and for all. Eddie felt…happy? He was excited to be with Christopher again, but something felt unknowingly off, he just didn’t know what . He let out an exhausted sigh as he looked around his now empty bedroom. This was it. He was leaving LA, and hoping not to look back. Texas will be his home now, not LA.
It honestly felt unreal to Eddie. He was leaving a place that he genuinely loved, and he was leaving the people he loved as well. It was kind of scary. But he’d do anything for Christopher, even if it meant leaving everything else behind.
He slowly walked out of his bedroom, glancing around his house one last time, all of the memories flooding his brain. It was bittersweet. He frowned slightly, sadness running through his veins.
Suddenly, Eddie’s phone rang in his pocket, making him jump slightly. He reached into his pocket and pulled it out. He saw it was Buck, and let out another heavy sigh before answering. “Hey.” Eddie greeted.
“Hey, I’m out front. You ready?” Buck asked.
Eddie took one last glance before answering. “Yeah. I’ll be out in a minute.” Eddie said, then hung up the phone. He slowly made his way outside, carrying what felt like a hundred bags in each of his arms. Buck hopped out of his car, and walked up to Eddie. “I got it.” He said, taking his bags for him. Eddie didn’t even argue it.
Buck set Eddie’s bags in the back of his car, and he looked at Eddie. “Are you okay, man?” Buck asked, taking a step closer to him. “Yeah. I’m fine.” Eddie dismissed. The two hopped into Buck’s car, and headed to the airport. The ride there was silent and awkward, and Eddie hated it. This wasn’t how he imagined one of his last times with his best friend before moving a couple states away.
Once they arrived at the airport, Buck carried most of Eddie’s bags as they went inside the building. Eddie’s plane didn’t leave until 10:30 in the morning, and it was only 9:52. They still had a bit. The two sat down together for a bit before Buck suggested getting breakfast. “Hey, you up for some breakfast? I’m starving.” He asked Eddie. “Me too.” Eddie grinned slightly.
“Alright, I’ll be back.” Buck said before parting to get breakfast.
Eddie decided he’d use the bathroom as Buck got breakfast for them. As he was on his way to the bathroom, his phone rang. He picked it up and saw it was Christopher. He answered it right away. “Good morning, buddy.” Eddie smiled as he answered the phone.
“Hey Dad. Listen, I need you to listen to me right now.”
Christopher said. Eddie’s smile dropped at his son’s demand. He paused before responding to him. “Is everything okay, Chris?” He asked carefully.
“No! No, nothing is okay. Dad, I love you, but you can’t move here. Please.”
Christopher sounded upset, and Eddie was confused.
Eddie let out an awkward chuckle, now standing by the men’s bathroom. “Christopher, what are you talking about? You don’t want me to move to Texas?” Eddie raised an eyebrow. Chris let out a soft sigh. “This isn’t about me, Dad.” Chris said quietly.
“What are you talking about?” Eddie asked again.
“This is about Buck! Dad, please listen to me. You can’t leave him, and I don’t want you to! You know how many people have walked out of his life. You’ve heard all about it. So why are you leaving him?” Christopher asked, his voice filled with frustration.
Eddie didn’t know how to respond to that. “No, Chris, this is different. I’m not…leaving him forever.” Eddie said, his voice a bit quiet. “He knows that.” Eddie added.
“Don’t do it.” Chris said.
Eddie stammered at this point. “Chris…”
“I probably won’t ever forgive you if you even step foot in that plane. Okay, bye Dad! Love you!” Chris said. Then Eddie heard the beep. Chris really just hung up on him? What the hell.
Eddie just shook his head, and went to use the bathroom. When he was finished, he made his way back to his and Buck’s spot. Buck was already back and halfway through his breakfast when Eddie got back.
Buck had already felt Eddie’s odd energy as he sat down. Buck took a couple seconds to study Eddie’s facial expressions before speaking to him. “What’s the matter?”
Eddie looked at him. “Uh…I don’t really know.”
Buck arched a brow at him, and smiled a little. “You don’t know?”
“I don’t know. Chris just called me—“
“Oh! He must be really excited to see you.” Buck smiled.
Eddie shook his head. “No. He’s not.”
Buck’s smile turned into a small frown. “What? Why not?” Buck said. “I thought you guys were talking now.”
“We are . Listen, can I ask you a question?” Eddie looked at Buck. He had a conflicted expression displaying on his face. Buck nodded slowly. “Do you…feel like I’m leaving you?”
Buck’s heart stopped for a solid second or two. “What? No! Not at all. Why would you think that?” Buck chuckled nervously. Eddie let out a soft sigh. “I mean…Chris is the one who said it.”
“Chris said that you were leaving me?”
“No, not like that…well, I guess he did. He wants me to stay here. He said he doesn’t want me to leave you. His words.” Eddie said.
Buck smiled slightly, licking his lips. “He shouldn’t be worried about that though. Look…I know I have problems or something related to that but this is different, completely different.”
Eddie shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
Buck tilted his head. “You leaving LA to be with your son is totally different, Eddie. Even if I was… am a little sad or whatever, I would never blame you. You’re a good dad. This isn’t about me at all.”
Eddie grinned slightly. “I think Chris made a point. I think he meant you need me more than he does. I don’t really think he’s wrong.”
“Don’t say that.” Buck chuckled. “He will always need his dad. I just happen to need you too.” Buck said, a quirky smile playing on his lips. Eddie smiled too, chuckling softly. “You two have always been the most important people to me. I can’t imagine—”
“Dad! Buck!”
Eddie whipped his head around, along with Buck. Christopher. Eddie stood up, immediately opening his arms for his son. “Oh my God—Chris, what the hell are you doing?” Eddie said as Christopher practically jumped into his arms. “Buck, get in here!” Chris said, not answering his dad. Buck had quickly done so, wrapping his arms around the two.
Eddie’s parents eventually caught up to Chris, seeing the three conjoined into one big hug. Chris giggled, pulling away. Eddie turned and saw his parents, and Buck stood next to him. “He wanted to come home.” His mom finally said. “Said he wants to be with his dad and Buck.”
Chris nodded. “Yeah!”
Eddie smiled, and looked at Buck. “Definitely your kid.” Buck smirked, giggling. Eddie rolled his eyes playfully, bending down to kiss his head. “Welcome back home, buddy.” Eddie said to him. “Thanks, Dad. I just did everyone a huge favor. The whole world would shake if the two of you separated.” Chris laughed.