Work Text:
Friday, December 6th at 7:27pm
Eddie gets a text from Bobby saying that he needs to get to the fire station, immediately.
As Eddie’s walking into the fire station and walking past the firetruck’s and ambulance, he thinks about all the good times he’s had with the 118.
Chris spending the day with them the day Abuela had gotten hurt and was in the hospital, the Christmas party Buck and Athena had surprised the rest of the 118 with, all the family lunches and dinners, going to the rooftop and talking in the middle of the night when no one could sleep, and dealing with clipboard Buck whenever they had to check all of the items in the firetruck.
He was going to miss everything.
As he walked up the stairs, he thought it was really q- well, silent.
“Bobby?” he called in confusion.
As he reached the top of the stairs, he heard a bunch of people yell “SURPRISE!”
Everyone was there, Bobby, Athena, Hen, Karen, Maddie, Chimney, Jee, Mara, Denny, and all of the other firefighters from the 118. Everyone was there, well, except for Buck.
Eddie noticed that Buck wasn’t there, but didn't say anything about it.
Eddie went up to everyone and said “Thank you so much guys, but you really didn't have to do all of this.”
Bobby responded “We did. You are a member of the 118, whether you're here in LA on in an another city, you will always be apart of the 118.” Eddie hugs Bobby and soaks it all in. This would really be the last time he would see everyone for a while.
Everyone was having a great time. The kids were playing and everyone was talking amidst themselves, while Eddie stood near the railing drinking a beer, just kind of looking at the firetrucks.
“So, when’s your flight?” A voice came from behind.
Eddie turned around to see that it was Maddie.
They both smiled at one another and started a conversation.
“It’s tomorrow morning at 6AM.”
“Wow, that’s really early.”
“Yeah, I booked the flight so late that the only reasonable price I was getting was that early in the morning.”
“Are you excited?”
“Honestly, the only part I’m excited about is seeing Chris, and that’s if he lets me actually see him. My parents are a whole other story.”
“Yeah, I can really relate to you on that one. We both got stuck with really bad parents, huh?”
Maddie and Eddie share a laugh over their equally terrible parents.
“Chim was telling me that you didn't sell your house?”
“I decided not to. I’m gonna stay with some family over there. I don't want to stay in EL Paso forever, I eventually do want to one back here, no matter how long it takes. I just wanna come back with Chris this time. I hope he wants to come back as much as I want him to.”
“Eddie, Chris loves you. He’s just.. confused. He doesn’t know where to place all of these feelings of his. He’s growing up and he’s learning new things abiout himself and the world around him, but at the end of the day, you are his dad. Whether it takes 6 days or 6 months, he will always come back to you.”
Eddie found comfort in Maddie’s words.
“Thank you, Maddie.”
Eddie looks down at his almost finished bottle of beer in his right hand and says “Buck really didn't come.”
“I called him when we were getting ready, and on the drive over here, but he didn't pick up. He texted me saying he was busy with something.”
“We haven’t really talked to each other ever since I told him I’m moving. Even when we had shifts together these past 2 weeks, we kind of just stayed silent around each other. He’s my best friend, I wanted to talk to him, but I guess he didn’t wanna talk to me.”
“Buck has a hard time when the people he cares about leave him. It’s been like this ever since we were kids. He was a teenager when I left him behind with our parents to go be with Doug, and didn’t speak to him for years after that, only to leave him again after I had Jee. Abby left him, Chim left so he could find me and bring me back home, you left to go work at dispatch, and then last year, Chris left. He doesnt know how to cope when the people who he loves aren’t in his life anymore. I know my brother. He wants to talk to you, he just doesn't know how to right now.”
Eddie understood what Maddie was saying. He knew that Buck was just upset about him leaving. Eddie also knew that he couldn't get on that plane the next morning and go away for awhile without talking to Buck and clearing the air with him first.
Later that night, 9:03pm
Eddie arrives at Buck’s loft and knocks on his door. As he’s standing there for a couple of seconds, he thinks about all the time’s he’s been to Buck’s loft. The dinner’s with Chris, hanging out and drinking beers, it was all running through his mind like a train. He starts getting lost in his thoughts, and then the door opens.
Buck stands there, just looking at Eddie.
“Hey, Eddie.”
“You didn’t come to the party.”
Buck looks down and chuckles nervously, then looks back up at Eddie and says “Yeah.. I had some… something came up.”
There’s a silence.
“Can I come in?”
“Yeah, of course.”
Buck steps to the side and Eddie walks in. Buck closes the door behind him and walks stands in front of the kitchen island. Eddie and Buck are now standing parallel to one another.
“Are we okay?” Eddie asks in a calm, soft voice.
“Yes, of course we’re okay Eddie.”
Eddie knew something was wrong. He knew that Buck was upset about him moving, but for whatever reason, he wasn't telling him.
“You’ve been avoiding me for the past 2 weeks. The only time we talk is at work, and it’s about the calls, nothing else. Just tell me. If youre mad, tell me. If youre upset, tell me. Just talk to me.”
Buck takes a deep breath. There’s another silence. Buck and Eddie just look into each other’s eyes, and then Buck speaks.
“I’m not mad, Eddie, of course I’m not. You haven't seen Chris in 6 months, more than that, and I’m so glad that you are finally gonna be able to see him and talk to him and resolve your issues and hopefully bring him back home. I am so happy for you. I just…”
He pauses.
They look into each other’s eyes, but then Buck looks down again, overcome with emotion.
He looks back up at Eddie and says “You’re my best friend. You’ve been there for me for everything the past 7 years. After the accident with the firetruck and my leg and how I couldn't go back to work, you brought Chris over to cheer me up, you forgave me after everything that happened with the lawsuit even though I was a total jerk to you, you trusted me enough to put me in your will to be Christopher’s legal guardian after I had only known the both of you for about a year, you pulled me down from the ladder when I got struck by lightning and helped me cope with how I felt about it after I didn’t know how cope with all those feelings myself, and when I came out to you last year, you didn't judge me at all, you made me feel safe. I’m not mad at you at all, I just… I just don’t know how to be me without you.”
Buck’s eyes were watery and red. They looked the same as when he was in the firetruck with Eddie after Eddie had gotten shot and he was telling Eddie “I need you to hang on.”
There was silence, again.
Eddie stepped towards Buck and put his right hand on Buck’s left shoulder.
Buck tried to look away. He tried to look anywhere else in the room except at Eddie, but Eddie searched for Buck’s eyes, and Buck ended up looking into Eddie’s eyes.
“Hey. I know this is hard for you. It’s hard for me too. When I first came here, I didn't think that I would get close to anyone, even all of you guys. I thought that it would just be me and Chris, but then I started getting closer to all of you guys, to Bobby, to Chim, to Hen… to you. And so that’s exactly why I’m not “leaving” leaving. I’ll be back, I don't know when, but I’ll be back. I just can’t be away from Chris any longer than I’ve already been from him. I miss my kid, and hopefully, whenever I do come back, I want him to come back with me.”
Buck nods. He understands. He misses Chris too. He misses playing video games with him, and having Eddie and and Chris over for dinner. He misses him.
Eddie takes his hand off of Buck’s shoulder.
Buck asks “What time’s your flight tomorrow?”
“6am. That’s why I had to leave the party early. I still have some packing to do and I need to get some shut eye in before I have to leave for the airport at 4.”
“So, I guess this is it.”
“You know I’ll be back.”
“Yeah.”
They both look at one another before Eddie whispers softly “Come here.”
Eddie and Buck move closer to each other. Eddie put his right hand behind and around Buck’s shoulder’s and puts his left arm around Buck’s lower back.
Buck doesn't hug Eddie back, not yet.
He takes it all in. He thinks about how this is the last time he’s gonna see Eddie for a while. He doesnt know when the next time he will see Eddie will be.
Then he closes his eyes, and hugs Eddie back. He puts his right arm around Eddie’s upper back and his left arm around Eddie’s lower back.
The both of them stay like that for a few seconds, just hugging one another, but then, Buck’s grip on Eddie tightens. Not in the way where Eddie cant breathe, but to the point where Buck and Eddie are almost stuck to one another.
Buck hold’s Eddie like Eddie is the air he needs in order to breathe.
Eddie doesn't feel uncomfortable, rather, he is comfortable with it.
Eddie knows that Buck is having a hard time letting go, and truthfully speaking, so is he.
Neither of them wants the other to let go.
They're each other’s best friends. For the past 7 years, they have been each other’s person, and it’s hard to stay away from your person, especially if you don't know how long you’ll be gone for.
They stand there hugging each other for the next few seconds, and then, their moment turns a little more romantic.
As Buck’s grip on Eddie tightens, Eddie closes his eyes and glides his right hand from the back of Buck’s shoulder, to Buck’s neck.
Once Eddie had his hand on the back of Buck’s neck, he strokes it gently with his thumb, telling Buck that it’s okay to let him go, that Buck will be okay if he leaves.
Eddie continues to stroke Buck’s neck, and Buck buries his face deeper into Eddie’s shoulder, indicating that he doesn't want to let Eddie go, that he just wants to hold him for a little bit longer.
After a few seconds, Eddie moves his hand from the back of Buck’s neck, onto the back of head.
Eddie moves his hand through Buck’s hair, feeling every soft curl between his fingertips.
Eddie opens his eyes and pulls away from their hug.
They’re both looking down at first, but then both look up at one another.
There’s very little space between them at this moment, just a few inches of room, if any.
Eddie glides his right hand from the back of Buck’s head to his shoulder, and ultimately puts it against Buck’s chest.
While Eddie is looking at his hand on Buck’s chest, Buck’s gaze is entirely on Eddie, looking at his eyes, then that curl swooped on his forehead, and then back at his eyes.
Eddie hears Buck’s heart beating against his hand. Eddie closes his eyes and focuses on Buck’s heartbeat. It reminds him of when Buck got struck by lightning. He remembers how Buck’s heart didn't beat for 3 minutes and 17 seconds. It reminds him of how he didn't know whether or not Buck’s heart would beat again, and in that moment, he was feeling his heart beat.
“Buck.” Eddie says very softly.
Eddie opens his eyes and looks back up to Buck.
He moves his eyes back and forth looking into both of Buck’s eyes.
Buck’s gaze into Eddie’s eye’s deepens as he sees Eddie’s eyes soften.
Buck drops his arms from the middle of Eddie’s back to Eddie’s lower back and pulls him closer.
Whatever little space was left between them before was completely gone now.
Theres a silence.
The both of them are looking into one another’s eyes.
Eddie closes his eyes and leans his heard towards Buck, followed by Buck closing his eyes and leaning his head towards Eddie.
They both lean into each other.
Eddie feels Buck’s heartbeat against the palm of his hand.
Buck hear’s Eddie’s soft moan every time he pulls him in closer.
Time stops.
Hearts beating.
Their lips almost collide until…
*RINGTONE*
Eddie’s phone rings.
The two back away from each other.
Buck’s hand’s slide off of Eddie’s waist, and Eddie’s pulls his hand away from Buck’s chest.
Eddie reaches for his phone in his back pocket.
He looks at his phone and tells Buck “It’s my Abuela. I promised her I would come see her tonight.”
Buck smiles and puts his hand out, as if he’s gesturing at Eddie. “Yeah, of course! Go, go meet here! I’m sure she’s expecting you.”
Eddie open’s the door, turns around and looks at Buck and says “Bye, Buck.”
The smile on Buck’s face vanishes and he puts his hand down.
“Bye, Eddie.”
Eddie closes the door and Buck is left all alone in his loft.
He leans against his kitchen island, taking in all of what had just happened.
Me and Eddie almost kissed.
This was the first moment they shared together that didn't involve anyone but themselves. No relationships, no beers, and no NDE’s.
It was just the two of them.
It was THIER moment.
After 7 years of knowing each other and being best friends, something finally happened between them in a more romantic sense.
Buck thinks about what just happened and slightly starts smiling, but then it vanishes quickly with the thought of not knowing when he will be able to see Eddie again.
Saturday, December 7th at 8:51am
Eddie stand’s in front of the door of his parents house in El Paso.
He hesitates to ring the doorbell.
He doesn't want to go in. He doesnt want to face his parents and listen to everything they’ll have to say about this entire situation.
He wishes that he could just talk to Chris alone, and go back to LA with him, but he knows that his parents like getting into his and Chris’s business, so they’ll be involved in the conversation in someway shape or form.
Eddie takes a deep breath and musters up the courage to ring the doorbell.
A couple of seconds later, Helena opens the door.
“Hey, mom.”
“Hey, Eddie. Come in.”
Eddie told his Abuela, Tía Pepa and his sisters that he was coming to El Paso 2 weeks ago.
He didn't tell his parents until he landed in El Paso, just about an hour ago
He didnt want his parents to know because he didnt want Chris to know.
If his parents knew that he was coming to El Paso, they would defiently start something up involving Chris, and he didn't want that.
He didnt want any drama.
In a perfect world, he could just talk to Chris and they could leave together, but he knew that wasnt possible.
As Eddie walks into his house, he passes all the picture frames on the walls.
He notices that there are a lot of new pictures on the walls.
Pictures with his parents and Chris, taken just in the past 6 months.
Eddie sits down on the couch and Helena sits next to him.
Ramon comes from out of the kitchen and stands in front of Eddie.
“Hi, dad.”
“Hi, son..”
“Is Chris awake?”
Helena and Ramon look at one another as if they're having a conversation between themselves without words.
Eddie notices them and says “No, no. I know what you guys are thinking. I am here to talk to Chris. I need to talk to my son.”
Helena respond saying “Eddie, we know you miss Chris, we just don’t think not ready…”
A door opens and a voice comes from behind.
“Dad?”
Eddie seeing Chris and he stands up.
Eddie thinks about how this is the first time he’s seeing Chris after 6 months.
He’s taller now.
Eddie walks up to Chris.
“Chris, I-“
“What are you doing here dad?”
“I just wanna talk-“
Chris walks back into his room and shuts his door.
Eddie closes his eyes.
He knew this wouldnt be easy.
There’s still so much to talk about with Chris, and he was determined to talk to him in any way, even if it meant he had to do it thought a closed door and he would be the only one doing the talking.
Eddie opened up his eyes and starts walking towards the door.
Helena and Ramon watch from the back, and Helena says “Eddie, I don’t think he wants to talk…”
Eddie turns around and says “Mom, I love you, but this is between us.” Immediately cutting Helena off.
Eddie turns back around and faces the door.
Chris is on the other side of the door sitting at his desk chair, close enough to the door where he can hear his dad.
Eddie leans against the threshold of Chris’s door, while Helena and Ramon watch quietly from behind.
“Chris. I know you’re mad at me. I know you're upset with me, and I don’t blame you. I’m mad and upset at myself too. The lady that you saw, who looked like your mom, her name was Kim. Nothing happened between us. She didn't even know about your mom, or that she looked exactly like her until I showed her a picture of your mom. I guess…”
Eddie looks down and starts nervously playing with hands.
“…I guess I just missed your mom. She looked exactly like Shannon. But it was wrong of me to do that. I was lying to her, I was lying to myself, and I was lying to you. You didn't deserve that Chris. You didn't deserve any of it. You didn't deserve to walk in and see me with a lady that resembled your mom. And I am so sorry Chris.”
Eddie looks back up, teary eyed.
“I am so sorry for not telling you what was going on at that time. Christopher, you are the most important person in my life. I lied to her, I lied to myself, and I lied to you. I’m so sorry for lying to you. You didnt deserve any of that. I just, I miss you so much, son. Our house isn't a home without you in it. I miss you so much. Please, just talk to me.”
There’s a silence for an entire minute.
No one says anything.
Eddie is still leaning against the door and a tear streams down his right eye.
He wipes it away almost immediately.
He looks to his right at Ramon and Helena, and then a door opens.
Eddie looks back towards the door and leans off of it.
Chris comes out of the room and starts walking towards Eddie.
He hugs Eddie and says “I miss you too, dad.”
Eddie smiles and wraps his arms around Chris, hugging him.
This is the first time Eddie and Chris hugged in 6 months.
Later that night, 11:48pm
Eddie couldn't sleep that night, and not just because the bed was uncomfortable in his parent’s guest room, but he was caught up in thinking about what had happened the night before, with Buck.
So he layed there, on that uncomfortable mattress, with his right hand under his head, staring at the ceiling, and he replayed those moments that happened between the two of them like a broken record.
Buck’s grip on his waist.
Buck’s soft curls in between his fingers.
Buck’s heart beating against the palm of his hand.
Buck’s gaze into his eyes.
Buck leaning in closer before they almost kissed.
Almost kissed.
He thought about every tiny thing, but the main thing Eddie thought about that night was if Buck was thinking about their moment too.
The night before, December 7th, 1:03am
Buck could’nt sleep that night.
He tossed and turned in his bed, trying to go to sleep, but nothing was working.
He ended up laying on his bed, staring at the ceiling, and thought about what had happened between him and Eddie just a few hours ago, downstairs, near his kitchen island.
Eddie stroking his neck.
Eddie’s fingers as they went up his hair.
Eddie’s hand against his chest.
Eddie’s soft moan as he pulled him in closer.
Eddie leaning in closer before they almost kissed.
Almost kissed.
Buck got up immediately and started to lift 2 weights that he usually kept on the side of his bed.
He tried to stop thinking about Eddie, but he couldn't.
Then he went downstairs and started pacing around his loft, but he still thought about Eddie.
He stopped and looked at his kitchen and thought about the one thing that could help him stop thinking about what had happened: baking.
He put on his apron, blasted some music, well, not too loud that it would wake up all of his neighbors and he would get complaints, but just loud enough to drown out the voices and thoughts in his head, and started baking some bread.
For the next 3 hours, Buck listened to ABBA and baked a bunch of loafs of bread, until he finally got tired and went to sleep.
December 7th, 8:39am
Chimney grabbed a water bottle from his fridge before asking Maddie “Hey, have you heard from Buck? He didn't show up to the party last night either.”
Maddie walks into the kitchen “No, I haven’t heard from him all night. It’s so weird actually, we usually text each other a few times a day but he really didn't text me at all yesterday.”
Maddie and Chimney look at each other in confusion for a few seconds and then Jee calls “Mama” from inside her room.
Maddie rushes to go inside Jee’s room and the door bell rings.
Chimney opens the door and is surprised to see Buck.
Buck walks past Chimney and starts frantically asking
”Hey, uh Chim, is, uh, is Maddie here? I need to talk to Maddie.”
Chimney looks at Buck “Yeah, she’s in the room with Jee. Are you okay? You look like you just saw a ghost.”
Maddie walks into from behind, carrying Jee.
Chimney says to Buck “Wait, are your parents coming?”
Maddie panics and says “Are Mom and Dad coming into town.”
Buck looks and Maddie and then Chimney and says “What? No, no, I promise it’s nothing like that.”
Maddie and chimney both take a sigh of relief.
Chimney says “I have to go on a jog so I’ll see you guys later. And, Buck…”
Buck looks at Chimney, still freaked out. “You’re acting weird.”
Chimney leaves and closes the door behind him.
Maddie walks into the living room and sets Jee down with all of her toys.
”Yeah, Buck, you are acting weird. Are you okay? Did something happen?”
Buck gestures Maddie to come into the kitchen so they can talk.
Buck and Maddie both stand and talk by the kitchen island.
”What’s going on Buck.”
”Something happened last night.”
Maddie looks at Buck in confusion.
”Between me and Eddie.”
“Did you guys kiss?”
What? What, no. Why would you say that?”
Maddie raises her eyebrows, “Oh, no, no. Just tell me what happened.”
“But why would you…”
”Buck, just tell me what you needed to tell me and then we’ll get back to mine. Just tell me what you need to say.”
Buck puts his hand on the kitchen island and starts telling Maddie about last night.
“Eddie came over to my place last night, after the party.”
”The party that you didn't show up to.”
“Thank you for pointing that out. That was very crucial.”
Maddie chuckles a little bit and Buck just looks at her, then Maddie stops laughing “Okay, okay, I’m sorry. Please, continue.”
”As I was saying, Eddie came over to my place last night. We talked for a little bit. He told me that I’ve been kind of distant with him for the past couple of weeks which I have, but that it’s not because I’m mad or upset with him that he’s going away, and that I’m so happy that he’s gonna be able to see Chris again, but that it’s because I don't know how to cope with the fact that he’s leaving. He told me that he would be back, and that he’s not going away forever. What he told me was really comforting, and it made me feel better about the fact that he’s leaving, and then…”
Maddie interrupts “You kissed.”
“We hugged.” Buck pauses for a second. “But it wasn’t a friendly hug.”
“I knew it. What made it not-friendly?”
“Well, it started off friendly, and then we just held each other for a while. I kind of started holding him a bit tighter, not too toght that he would be uncomfortable, I held him tighter because I didnt want to let go. Then he moved his hand from shoulder to my neck and then my hair.”
Buck took his right right and put it on the back of his hair, touching his curls.
“The way he ran his fingers through my curls and how I could feel the warmth of his fingers at the back of my head, I’ve never experienced a touch like that before.”
Maddie smiles. “And then?”
Buck takes his hand off the back of his head and continues saying “And then we both pulled away from the hug, and he moved his hand from the back of my head, down to my chest, to where my heart is. He looked down on my chest and closed his eyes to as of he was feeling my heart beat. As if feeling my heartbeat was calming him.”
A soft smile appeared on Buck’s face.
“He looked back up at me with a twinkle in his eyes that made me want to stare into them forever. The light reflecting off of them made me see his light hazel eyes clearly. I pulled him in closer and I could hear his little moan every time we moved closer to each other. And as soon as we got centimeters away from one another… his phone rang.”
Maddie’s jaw dropped. “Are you serious? You’re telling me that you guys had this rom-com moment between you, and you didn't even kiss?”
Buck’s smile disappears from his face and he says “And now I don’t know when he’s coming back. I think we just ruined our friendship.”
Maddie comforts Buck by saying “Buck, you did not ruin your friendship.”
“How do you know that? And what did you mean when you asked if we kissed?” Buck asks.
Maddie takes a deep breath.
“Look, Buck. Whenever I see you guys together, you look happier with him than I’ve ever seen you with any of your other partners. You guys have family dinners together, you wanna hang out with him in your free time, you love Chris like he’s your own, and when he’s not around, you miss him. Isn't that how it is when you like someone? When you feel romantic feelings for someone? I’ve seen you with your friends, Chim, Hen, and even Bobby, and then I see you with Eddie, and I know that there’s something else there. Don’t you?”
There’s a silence.
Buck takes in all of what Maddie has just told him.
She’s right.
How I am is around Eddie and what I feels for Eddie is how someone feels when they are romantically inclined toward another person.
Is that what I was feeling? Romantic feelings towards Eddie?
“Okay, so maybe you’re right. Maybe I do have romantic feelings towards Eddie. Maybe I do like him. But what are the chances that he likes me back? Maybe.. maybe what happened last night was just the heat of the moment for him.
Maddie puts her hand on Buck’s arm to assure him. “Or maybe it wasn’t.”
Buck thinks about what Maddie said.
Buck made a lot of advances towards Eddie last night, but so did Eddie.
Maybe it isn’t all in his head, maybe there a chance that Eddie like’s him too.
“I can’t stop thinking about what happened between us last night.”
Buck gets nervous as his grip on the kitchen island gets tighter.
“All I want to do is talk to him, to tell him how I felt about last night, but we left things in such an awkward place, and he’s 800 miles away. I don’t even know when he’s coming back, or if he’s coming back for that matter. I just…”
Buck stops halfway through his sentence and takes a deep breath before saying “I miss him.”
Buck pauses for a second and thinks about everything him and Maddie just talked about.
“I wanna tell him about all these things I feel for him. I just, I want him. I miss him.”
Maddie rushes over to hug Buck, and Buck thinks about Eddie and his relationship.
Is it too late for us? We had 7 years to be together, and now I can’t even tell him how I feel about him because I dont know if he feels the same way and he’s in an entire different state. He the right person, but it’s our wrong time.
For the next 3 weeks, Eddie finally started to get back the relationship he had with Chris. He was making progress.
For the first few days that Eddie was there, Chris didn’t really speak to him unless it was at dinner. Eddie didn't mind that because at least he was having dinner with his son, and that’s what mattered to him.
After almost 2 weeks passed by, Chris started asking Eddie for help with his homework, and this opened many doors to conversations between them.
Chris started telling Eddie that he wasnt really enjoying it at his new school and that he missed his teachers and his friends back in LA.
This was good news for Eddie. This meant that Chris missed LA and that there was a possibility that he might want to come home soon.
Eddie spent Christmas with his parents, sisters and Chris in El Paso.
He was enjoying opening gifts on Christmas morning with Chris, but couldn't help thinking about how Buck was spending his Christmas.
Was he working a shift with the 118? Did he have a date for tonight?
3 weeks had passed by. It was the end of December.
Chris and Eddie had started playing video games again.
Eddie missed playing video games with Chris. It was one of their favorite things to do together.
They had just finished their game and Eddie was about to leave Chris’s room when he started to notice some things.
“Hey, Chris, where is all the stuff I sent you these past few months?”
Chris looks at Eddie, confused, and says “What stuff?”
Eddie was just as confused as Chris, but brushed it off for now.
The two said goodnight to one another and Eddie closed the door behind him.
He went into the kitchen to talk to his parents, or more like, argue with his parents.
“Where is all the stuff I’ve been sending Christopher the past few months?”
Helena and Ramon are sitting on the dining table, looking at one another, confused.
Helena stands up and says “Eddie, what are you talking about? What stuff?”
“These past 6 months, every couple of weeks, I sent a bunch of things for Chris to the house. Books, video games, clothes. I didn't know if he was going to use them or not but I wanted him to have it either way. I haven't seen anything that I sent him anywhere in his room, so where are they?”
Ramon says “Eddie, did you send them to the right address. Maybe you got the address mixed up, or wrong.”
“Dad, I’ve lived in this house for the majority of my life, I know this address. And everytime I checked if the mail got delivered, it said it did. So either the mail delivery service is lying or you two are.”
Ramon stands up and says to Eddie angrily “You think that your parents are lying to you?”
Something comes to Eddie’s mind.
He remembers when he was a kid and he got in trouble for whatever reason, his parents would take his toys and hide them in the garage, and give them back to him whenever he wasn't in trouble anymore.
Eddie doesn't utter another word to his parents and walks straight to the garage, frantically looking in and behind boxes for parcels that were unopened.
Ramon angrily tells Eddie “What are you doing? You’re messing up all the boxes.”
Eddie doesn't listen to his dad and keeps searching through boxes, until he finally find a box with hundred of unopened parcels that all were shipped from LA.
Eddie moves away from the boxes and see’s Helena looking at Ramon and Ramon looking at Eddie.
Eddie says “So let me get this straight. Not only did you guys lie to me about getting the boxes, but you hid them. These are for Christopher. You two had no right taking them and hiding them in a place where no one could find them, stuffed inside of a cardboard box, and put that box behind other boxes. Who does that?”
Helena steps up to Eddie. “Eddie, you started sending him stuff just a few days after he came here. It was too soon. He was still trying to not only adjust living with us again, but having to live without you. We thought it was too soon to…”
Eddie steps away from Helena.
“We? Who is we? I am his father. You two have absolutely no right to...”
“HEY.” Ramon shouts at Eddie angrily. “You cannot be talking to your mother that way.”
Eddie chuckles.
“So I can’t talk to my mother about hiding stuff from my son, but when you guys hide stuff from him, it’s okay? Did you never want him to come back to me? Is that what it is, Dad? Did you want to keep Christopher all to yourself just to prove that you're the better father? Well guess what? You’re not. I would never treat Christopher the way you treated me when I was younger. I will never let Christopher feel the way you made me feel when I was younger. Christopher is MY son, and the two of you have no right over him, not even if I’m not in his life anymore.”
Eddie took a deep breath.
Did he just inadvertently tell his parents that they aren’t in his Will?
Helena gets a confused look on her face,
“What do you mean that if you aren’t in his life then we have no right over him? We are his grandparents, after you, we are the only people who have a right over Christopher.”
Eddie looks down. “No, you're not.”
Ramon walks up tp Eddie. “What does that mean, Eddie.”
It was the conversation that Eddie was dreading to have with his parents.
The conversation about Eddie’s Will.
About 6 years ago, Eddie had put in his Will that if something ever happened to him, that Buck would be the one to take care of Christopher, to be Christopher’s Legal Guardian.
Ramon raises his voice. “Tell us now, Eddie.”
Eddie looks at his parents and says “It’s in my Will that if something happens to me, and I don’t make it one day, that Buck will become Christopher’s legal guardian.”
“Who is Buck?” Helena asks.
“He’s… he’s my bestfriend. We work together. He’s been in Christopher’s life ever since we moved to LA. He and Chris spend a lot of time together. Chris adores him, and he adores Chris. And I know that if I was never in Chris’s life one day, that Buck would be the one to take care of him.”
“How could you make such a huge decision without talking to us about this?” Helena asks.
“Did you guys ever call me to tell me that you were coming to take Chris away from me 6 months ago?”
There was silence.
“I don’t even know why I started this with you guys. You guys are never gonna change.”
Eddie starts walking away from his parents, but then stops and turns back around to face them.
“At least Buck would never keep all of this away from Christopher.”
Eddie turns back around and starts walking to the door that leads from the garage door back into the house, but is startled when he sees Chris there.
“Chris.”
Helena and Ramon hear Eddie say Chris’s name and rush up behind him.
“How much of that did you hear?” Eddie asks
“Everything.”
Helena says “Chris…”
Chris interrupts and says “I wanna go back home, Dad.”
Friday, January 3rd at 10:29am
Eddie booked a flight for him and Chris to fly back to LA.
The flight was for 1pm that day.
They both packed their bags and were ready to leave.
Ramon and Helena were going to drop them to the airport.
Once they got to the airport, Eddie took out their luggage from the trunk of the car, they all said their goodbyes, and Eddie and Chris went inside the airport.
Chris didn't have any hard feelings between his grandparents.
He was going to miss them.
He spent 6 months with them and whatever probalem they had with Eddie, Chris still loved them, but he knew that it was time to go back home.
Eddie left things a little rocky with his parents, and he knew that it would be like that between them for a while.
He was just excited to go back to LA with Chris.
He stayed at his parents house for almost a month, but having Chris go back home with him made that entire trip worth it.
They sat on their seats in the plane, and Chris asked about he Will.
“Hey, Dad?”
“What’s up?”
“Did you really make Buck my Legal Guardian, or was that just something you told Grandma and Grandpa.”
“No, he is actually your Legal Guardian. Are you okay with that?”
“Yes, I am. I heard what you said about Buck, about how we have a great relationship, and we do. I love hanging out with Buck. He’s one of my favorite people.”
Eddie smiled.
It was nice for him to know that Chris enjoyed having him around.
So did he.
“Dad, can Buck come over tonight?”
Eddie hesitates to answer.
Not only have Buck and Eddie not seen each other for a month, but they haven’t talked to each other at all, over phone or text.
Eddie was nervous enough to see buck as it is, but the idea of having to see him tonight made him even more nervous.
“Dad?”
“Yeah, Of course. Of course he can come over.”
“Great, we’ll call him as soon as we get home.”
Great. Now that’s the only thing I’m gonna think about for the next 2 hours on this flight- Buck.
Later that day, 2:17pm Eddie sat on his couch looking at Buck’s contact in his phone.
He stared at him name and his contact picture.
The picture was from Christmas a few years ago. They were at the fire station. Buck was wearing a Santa hat and holding a bunch of presents, smiling for the camera.
Eddie took that picture, and it’s been Buck’s contact picture ever since.
Eddie just kept staring at the contact picture, too nervous to actually press the call button.
“Dad, did you call him?” Chris says as he steps out of his room.
Eddie looks at Chris and says “Uh, no. no not yet.”
Chris walks up to Eddie and grabs his phone and says “Here, I’ll do it.”
Chris clicks on the “Call” button and the phone rings.
At Buck’s place, Buck is sitting on the couch, playing a video game, when he hears the phone rings.
He pauses his video game to answer his phone call, but is startled when he see’s Eddie’s name.
He stares at it for a second, and then answer’s the call.
He puts his phone to his ear and softly says ‘Eddie?”
“Buck! It’s Christopher!”
Buck smiles and says “Hey, Christopher! Did you guys gets home?”
“Yes, we got home about an hour ago.”
“That’s good. I’m glad.”
“Buck, can you come over for dinner tonight? We’re gonna order takeout. Dad isn’t cooking. I don't trust him with anything in the kitchen unless it’s s’mores.”
Buck’s smile vanishes.
He realizes that this is the first time he and Eddie will be seeing each other after a month of being apart.
“Buck?”
Buck smiles again. “Yeah, of course, Chris!. I’ll be there! What time?”
Chris tells his dad “Buck’s asking what time.”
“We can do 7, if that’s okay with him.” Eddie says.
“Dad says 7.”
“Yes, that’s great.”
“We’ll see you tonight. Don’t be late. Bye, Buck.”
Buck chuckles and says “Bye, Chris.”
Chris hangs up the phone and gives it back to Eddie.
Buck and Eddie both are nervous, very nervous, and they have less then 5 hours to get all the nervousness out of their system.
Later that night, 7:03pm
“Everything needs to be perfect.” Chris says as he walks out of his room and into the living room.
“Dad are you ready?” Eddie walks out of the kitchen with utensils and plates for the takeout.
“Yes, we’re good to go.” Eddie rubs his hands together all nervously, and then…
*DOORBELL RINGS*
Chris walks up to the door to open it.
On the other side of the door, Buck holds a gift bag in one hand and closes his eyes, taking everything in one last time before ringing the doorbell.
He then opens his eyes and finally rings the doorbell.
This would be the first time Buck sees Chris in 7 months and Buck and Eddie see each other after a month.
Chris opens the door and exclaims “BUCK!”
Buck says “Hey, buddy!” And gives Chris a big hug.
“I missed you so much, Buck.”
“I missed you too, Chris.”
They let go of one another and Buck looks up at Eddie, who’s already looking at Buck.
They stand there for a few seconds just looking at each other, taking it all in.
“Hey, Buck.” Eddie says with a twinkle in his eyes.
“Hey, Eddie.” Buck says with a soft smile.
“You are 3 minutes late.” Chris tells Buck.
“I know, I'm so sorry, there was a bunch of traffic, but I hope the gift I got you makes up for it.”
Buck hands Chris the bag and Chris gets excited.
He open’s it.
It’s a video game that the 3 of them used to play together at Buck’s house, and he got Chris another one to keep at his house.
“Thank you, Buck.” Chris and Buck hug again, and as they back away from each other, Chris says “Can we eat now, please?”
Over the next 30 minutes, the 3 of them share a meal together, just like the countless amount of times they already have.
Chris talked about how it was staying at his grandparents house, going to school there, Eddie talked about how he and Chris spent their Christmas and New Years.
Buck talked about how he was working a shift on Christmas, and how Hen and Karen hosted a New Year’s Eve party and everyone went, and that everyone wished that Chris and Eddie were there.
After they finished eating and everyone helped clean the table, Chris told his Eddie and Buck that he was gonna go inside his room to try out the new game that Buck got him.
Chris went inside the room, and this was the first time that Buck and Eddie would be alone after an entire month.
The first time they would be alone after the night before Eddie went to El Paso.
“Hey, can we talk?” Buck asks.
“Yes, lets uh, lets go inside.” Gesturing towards the kitchen.
Eddie walks inside the kitchen while Buck follows him.
“How have you been.” Eddie asks, nervously.
“I’ve been good.” Buck answers, nervously. “How was it in El Paso, and with your parents?”
“The longest month of my life.”
They both chuckle a little, and then stop.
There’s silence.
They both look into one another’s eyes.
They both think about that night.
Buck thinks about how Eddie held him and Eddie thinks about how Buck held him.
That moment replays in both of their minds.
Buck says “I wanted to talk about…”
Eddie interrupts and says “Yeah, me too.”
“What was that for you?” Buck asks.
Eddie takes a deep breath.
He keeps his eyes focused on Buck, looking into Buck’s eyes.
“Honestly, Buck…” He takes a step towards Buck.
“That was everything to me.”
“That moment, it meant the world to me. Remember when you told me that night that when you had come out to me last year that you had felt safe?” Buck nods his head.
“That’s what you made me feel in that moment— safe. I’ve spent my entire life trying to be understood by my parents, running away, or chasing ghosts, and with you in that moment, I felt safe. When you held me in your arms, I didn't feel the need to run anymore.”
Eddie raises his right hand at puts it on Buck’s chest, right on his heart.
He gazes deeper into Buck’s eyes and says “That night, I felt your heartbeat, and time stopped. The night of the lightning strike, when your heart stopped, it was the longest 3 minutes and 17 seconds of my life. When I doing compression’s to try and get your heart beating again and I didn’t feel that heartbeat that I feel right now, it felt like I was about to lose my best friend, one of my favorite people, and one of the the most important people in my son’s life, and I never wanna feel anything like that ever again. I never want to lose you again, Buck. You mean the world to me, more than I could ever put into words. I want you to hold me like you did that night, forever.”
Eddie get’s teary eyed, and he looks down on his hand that’s still on Buck’s chest.
Buck puts his left hand on top of Eddie’s hand which is on his chest, and takes a step towards Eddie.
There’s very little space between them.
Buck takes his right hand and raises Eddie’s chin so he can look up.
“I always give into my relationships more than what I get out of them. I make stupid decisions and move too quickly, where the other person can’t catch up with me. I’ve always wanted someone who can touch my heart, without me having to ask them. That night, when you put your hand on my heart, it told me everything that I needed to know, that the person I’m looking for, that my heart needs, the person who is willing to touch my heart without me having to ask them, is the one that’s right it front of me. I didn't have to ask you to touch my heart, you just knew.”
Buck gets teary eyed, and his eyes turn red.
He sniffles and said “I want this one to last. I want me and you to last, because after you, there’s not gonna be any other person for me. You’re my last.”
Buck and Eddie’s forehead touch, while both of their hand are still on Buck’s chest.
They stay there for a minute and then….
“Dad?”
They hear Chris’s footsteps.
They quickly back away from each other and wipe their tears.
Eddie open the fridge and grabs 2 beers while Buck starts frantically washing dishes.
The kitchen door opens.
“Dad? Buck? Are you guys okay?” Eddie put the beers on the dining table and opens them while Buck turns around with a plate in his hand.
“Yeah, of course.” Eddie says.
“Why wouldn’t we be?” Buck follows.
“Buck, why do you have a plate in your hand?” Chris asks in confusion.
Eddie looks behind him to see Buck holding a plate in one hand and a sponge filled with soap in the other.
Eddie gestures with his eyes for Buck to act normal and to put down the plate and soap.
Buck puts the plate back into the sink and the soap down and walks up next to Eddie.
“What happened, Chris? Are you okay?” Eddie asks.
“Yes, I’m okay, Dad. I just forgot to tell you something Grandma told me.”
“What did she tell you?” Eddie asks, confused.
“When Grandma and Grandpa picked me up to go El Paso last year, Grandma asked me about Buck.”
“She did?” Buck asks.
“She asked me who that was, and I told her that Buck works with Dad and that they’re really good friends. She told me she thought you guys were dating.”
“What?” Eddie and Buck both say in unison.
“Yeah, I thought it was hilarious. But I’m not surprised she did, If I didn't know you guys I would probably think you were dating too.”
Eddie asks “You would?”
“Yeah, I mean, you guys are always together, I see Buck more than I see anyone else, we have family dinners, and Buck’s in your Will.”
“Wait, hold on.” Buck looks at Eddie and says “Your parents know I’m in your Will?”
“It happened to come up, I kinda forgot to tell you.” Eddie innocently tells Buck.
Eddie looks back at Chris and says “Wait, so you're saying that IF the idea happened to come, hypothetically speaking, if someone thought we were dating, you would be okay with it?”
“Yeah, why not. Besides, you guys would get along more than any other person you would want to date.”
Buck and Eddie look at each other and smile.
“Okay, I’m going back into my room.”
“Bye, Chris.” Eddie says.
“Goodnight, Chris.” Buck says.
Eddie turns around to look at Buck, who has his hands behind his back and is smiling.
Eddie says “So, I’m taking that as we have Chris’s blessing.”
Buck takes a step towards Eddie and says “And you told me how you felt.”
Eddie takes a step towards Buck and says “And you told me how you felt.”
Buck teases Eddie “Does that mean I can go home now?” And smiles.
Eddie says “Oh, shut up.”
Eddie puts his hand behind Buck’s head and pulls him in for a kiss.
They both hold each other and kiss one another, while they smile and giggle between every little kiss.
Buck and Eddie’s first kiss.
In Eddie’s kitchen.
Exactly how it should be.