Work Text:
2019
Buck isn’t even thinking about it until it gets brought up at work. Why would he?
“So, Valentine’s Day here in a few, you guys have any plans?” Hen asks, settling at the table with her plate. She’s not directly addressing him when she asks, but he can’t help but notice her eyes drifting to him for just a moment.
“We’re all working,” Buck replies, hoping to shut down the conversation before it really begins.
She just scoffs in response. “Sure, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do something special for it.” She turns her attention on Bobby. “I sure hope you know where you’re taking your fiancée, Cap.”
Bobby chuckles. “I think we’ll be enjoying a quiet night in this year. But, I do plan to make sure it’s a nice, romantic night in.”
“Well, I’m available for childcare services for anyone who needs it,” Buck volunteers.
“Ooh, I might take you up on that,” Hen says, “Karen got us reservations months ago.”
“You don’t have any plans with Ali?” Chimney asks.
“It’s a bit hard to have plans with your girlfriend when she’s on the opposite side of the country,” Buck declares. And he’s not bitter about it. He likes what he and Ali have going. Chill. Casual. Without the expectations that come with a Relationship™.
“You could still do something,” Hen says. “Flowers, chocolates, dinner over a video call.”
Buck shrugs. “I’ll probably order some flowers to where she’s staying, I’m not an asshole. But she doesn’t seem to care that much about it either.”
“That’s so low effort,” Eddie finally speaks up.
Buck rolls his eyes, but Chimney speaks before he can. “Careful what you say around Mr-Anti-Valentine’s-Day, Eddie.”
Eddie raises an eyebrow at Buck. “Anti-Valentine’s Day?”
And. Come on. Buck really needs Eddie on his side on this one.
“It’s not like that,” he defends.
It is.
Bobby jumps in, “I believe his exact words were ‘it’s a fake holiday designed by women to make guys feel guilty and go into debt.’”
And of course, the whole table gets a kick out of it. Buck just groans.
“I think I’m well within my right to dislike it after how my last one went,” Buck grumbles.
Chimney grimaces. “Yeah, try not to end up in the hospital this year.”
Eddie’s head snaps back to meet Buck’s gaze. “The hospital? How have I not heard about this?”
“He choked on bread,” Hen explains, “his date had to give him an emergency tracheotomy, right there in the middle of the restaurant.”
It’s such a small thing, but he appreciates her saying his date because he really doesn’t want to think about—
“That was your first date with Abby, right?” Chimney asks.
“Yes,” Buck replies through gritted teeth. He really doesn’t need the reminder of the signs he missed that their relationship was doomed from the start.
“What are you and Shannon doing?” Bobby asks Eddie. Buck sends him a silent thank you for diverting the attention to literally anyone else.
Eddie shrugs. “Probably just dinner. Spend time with Christopher. Not much.”
“I mean,” Chimney suggests, “or you could stick Chris with Buck and have the night all to yourselves.”
“Maybe,” Eddie says with a laugh.
“And where are you taking my sister, huh, Chim?” Buck interrogates.
“Well, I’ll remind you, again, that Maddie and I are not dating, so I don’t have to take her anywhere,” Chimney answers calmly. But then, a little nervously sticks his phone in Buck’s face and says, “But I got reservations at this steakhouse she keeps mentioning wanting to try. What do you think?”
Buck pulls the phone back a little to glance at the photos of the nice interior. He rolls his eyes with a huff, but mutters, “I’m sure she’ll love it.”
Besides Hen and Karen, who have taken up Buck’s offer to babysit and will be having their Valentine’s Day celebrations on the 15th, most of the 118 seem to be having their plans the night before their shift. And none of them seemed to want or need Buck, babysitter extraordinaire. So instead, Buck is alone, and he’s fine! And he’s not checking his phone every few minutes to see if anyone has texted. Because they haven’t. Because they’re all out with their families. And Ali hasn’t texted either. Which is fine.
Which is what makes it all the more surprising when there’s a knock on the door. He pulls it open and is met with a face full of flowers.
A muffled voice behind the bouquet says, “Delivery for Buck?”
And Buck can’t help but let out a loud laugh, because he still recognizes it despite how muffled it is. He takes the flowers to reveal— “Eddie? What are you doing here?”
“Felt bad that you were alone,” he says, pushing past Buck, “figured I’d come to join you.” When he reaches the dining table, he sets down a box that Buck hadn’t realized he was carrying. Buck sets down the flowers as well.
“Chocolates?” Buck observes. And not the cheap kind either. Some nice, fancy chocolates. And Eddie had gotten them for— He spots a note on the flowers. “To the best wife a man could ask for,” he reads, turning on Eddie. “Aw, thanks, babe.”
Eddie rubs the back of his neck, looking appropriately guilty.
“Last time I checked, Eddie, I’m not your wife,” Buck comments. “Mind telling me why you brought me flowers that you clearly bought for her?” He picks up the chocolates. Definitely expensive. “And I’m willing to bet you didn’t spend an arm and a leg on these chocolates just to give them to me.”
Eddie sighs and slumps into a chair. “She didn’t want them. And she didn’t want to celebrate Valentine’s Day together.”
Buck sits down next to him. “Shit, Eddie, I’m— I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. It’s not like we’ve spent the day together in… since before Christopher, at least. And I knew it was never really her thing, but I guess… after Christmas, it’s just been finally feeling like we’re a family again. And I thought— I don’t know, I guess. I just had these big ideas of what could be. But she just wants a quiet night with Chris,” Eddie explains. And Buck watches the obvious disappointment appear on Eddie’s face. He wants nothing more than to reach out, to comfort him.
“That— sucks,” Buck sympathizes, not knowing what else to say. “I’ve got alcohol if you want.”
“I mean, I mostly just wanted the company.” Eddie looks back at him with a grin. “But alcohol couldn’t hurt.”
Buck claps as he stands. “Now we’re talking!” He finds his way to the fridge and opens it up. He winces. “I definitely drank the last beer yesterday, but Maddie’s got about a hundred different types of wines.”
“Got anything stronger?” Eddie inquires.
Buck searches for a minute longer. “We got—” he laughs a little when he sees it, “strawberry lemonade flavored vodka?”
“That’ll do.”
And so that’s how Buck finds himself enjoying a Valentine’s Day celebration for the first time in… maybe ever? Settled on the couch with his best friend making fun of some 90s rom-com (not for the fact that it’s a rom-com, but just for how incredibly outdated some of the humor is), and passing a box of fancy chocolates and a bottle of flavored vodka back and forth (he mentally notes that he’s definitely gonna have to buy a new one soon. Sorry, Maddie!)
He’s not sure how much time passes, just knows that they finish a movie and at some point they finish the bottle and Buck is finding more liquor for them. He must drift off at some point, because he wakes up to the door shutting and the chatter of two familiar voices.
“Told you it was Eddie’s truck.”
Maddie turns to where Buck and Eddie are sprawled out across the couch with a curious gaze. “Of course it is. Seems like you two had a good night.”
Buck gives her a guilty smile. “I hope your— your date went well,” he greets, trying his hardest not to slur his words.
“Wasn’t a date,” Chimney corrects, picking up the vodka bottle from the ground, “Did you guys finish my flavored vodka?”
Buck grins sheepishly. “It’s not like it was full or anything. I’ll— buy you more, promise.”
“Good flavor,” Eddie mumbles from the couch.
“Do you need any help putting Thing 1 and Thing 2 to bed?” Chimney asks.
Maddie giggles, then turns back to them. “Eddie, are you staying here tonight, or do you want a ride home?”
“He’s staying,” Buck answers for him, then glances back down to okay it with Eddie, but he’s already back to sleep. “If that’s okay…?”
But Maddie’s there with her kind smile, as always. “Of course.” She turns back to Chim. “I think I’ll be alright.”
She walks Chimney out while Buck gets Eddie settled on the couch. When Maddie returns, she starts cleaning up some of their mess, grabbing the empty bottle and some of the candy wrappers. Buck quickly jumps in to help her.
When she walks into the kitchen, she stops for a moment to admire the flowers. “Pretty flowers,” she notes.
“Yeah,” Buck agrees, “Eddie got them.” And he’s not sure why he says it when it’s not quite true, but he adds, “For me.”
She hands him a glass of water, which he downs almost immediately. “Oh, he did?” she questions, turning to him and leaning a hip against the counter, arms crossed with a mischievous smile that Buck doesn’t exactly know how to read. He’s not sober enough for this. “That’s sweet. I didn’t know you two had plans tonight.”
“We didn’t. It was a surprise.”
“A good surprise, I’m sure,” Maddie adds, refilling the glass and getting another for Eddie.
“Absolutely. You know I love— I love spending time with Eddie.”
And there’s another expression. And Buck really doesn’t know what it means. “I know you do.”
2020
Buck will probably feel self-conscious later about the way he runs into Eddie’s house in a panic, calling “Eddie?!”
“In here,” Eddie calls back from the dining room.
Buck follows his voice, looking around the room frantically, “What’s up? What’s the emergency?”
Eddie holds up a piece of paper with a heart drawn on it. “Does this heart look okay?”
It’s only then that Buck takes a moment to breathe, observing his surroundings. Eddie’s table is a mess of red and pink paper, markers, crayons, and other craft supplies.
Christopher looks up from his drawing and shakes his head at Eddie before turning and brightly greeting, “Hi Buck!”
Buck approaches the table, giving Chris a squeeze on the shoulder and saying, “Hey buddy.” He watches as Eddie sighs and begins erasing the heart drawn on his paper and tries not to laugh at the marks of all his previous tries. “So,” Buck starts, “is there a reason it looks like a craft store threw up in your dining room?”
“A craft store did throw up in my dining room,” Eddie answers with a roll of his eyes. “Christopher wanted to make homemade valentines for his class, and I thought it was a cute idea, but…” he trails off as he looks at the mess on the table. “I’m in way over my head. Can you help?”
“Of course,” Buck agrees from where he’s already sitting down and picking up some supplies.
Christopher picks up a finished card from beside him to show off. “This one’s for my friend Dylan, isn’t it cool?”
Buck admires the drawing and replies, “It looks so good, Chris.”
“There are like twenty kids in his class,” Eddie complains.
“Plus,” Chris adds, “we have to make ones for Carla, and Denny, and Chimney, and Maddie, and all our other friends.”
Eddie shoots Buck an exasperated expression.
“Well, that’s a very nice gesture, Christopher,” Buck tries, “but you’re probably gonna get tired from all that drawing, right?”
Chris shakes his head. “I’m only making super special ones for my best friends. And I won’t get too tired cause you guys are helping me.”
Eddie holds up his next attempt for Chris. “How’s this one?”
Christopher pauses his drawing to frown and point. “It curves in too far on this side.”
Before Eddie can start erasing his heart and starting fresh, Buck takes the paper and pencil from him and says, “Why don’t I give the heart a shot and you can do something else?”
He fixes the heart and gets approval from Christopher to use it as a stencil. While Eddie starts writing ‘Happy Valentine’s Day’ on each card, Buck starts cutting out hearts to glue on the cards.
Christopher finishes his extra special cards for the people he cares about most within the first hour of crafting and starts making a list of everyone besides his classmates that he wants to make cards for, which ends up being basically every member of the 118 and their families. After a thorough amount of time getting an ungodly amount of glitter everywhere, Chris leaves them to go get ready for bed. Eddie takes a break long enough to say goodnight to his son before returning to join Buck. It takes less than an hour to make their way through the rest of the cards, writing short, cute messages in each one that Buck finds across a few blogs online.
When he finishes the last one, Eddie collapses back into his chair. “I don’t know why we agreed to this.”
Buck laughs, already starting on cleanup. “Because the cutest kid in the world asked you to and neither of us can say no to him.”
“Oh, I can. I just didn’t realize how long it was going to take,” Eddie replies, sitting back up and starting to gather materials. “If he asks us to do it again next year, just remind me how painful this was.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“I really appreciate you helping,” Eddie says. Buck’s a bit startled when Eddie takes a hand in his, a gentle thumb brushing over Buck’s skin. Buck barely has time to process what’s happening or the effect Eddie’s actions have on his heart rate before Eddie’s dropping his hand with a laugh, telling him, “You are going to be finding glitter everywhere for weeks. How did it even end up in your hair?”
Eddie’s hand moves up like he wants to touch it, and Buck kinda wishes he would, but within a second, his hand is snapping back down to gather scraps of paper.
Buck looks down to notice just how much glitter is on his hands, especially the one Eddie had been holding. He brushes off any disappointment with a laugh of his own. “At least I won’t be finding it everywhere in my house.”
“You’re right, next time Chris wants to do arts and crafts, it’s at the loft.”
And despite throwing out a glare in response, Buck secretly loves the way that Eddie says it. Not like this house is Eddie’s house and the loft is Buck’s loft, but like they’re two spaces that they share between them and they freely float back and forth between them. He supposes that really has been the state of things for a few months at least. And it’s not uncomfortable in the slightest.
They continue their playful bickering as they keep cleaning up the room. And Buck tries to ignore how his skin still tingles where Eddie’s thumb had brushed over his hand.
They’re working again that year and Buck is surprised to find that Eddie isn’t there by the time Buck gets in. He doesn’t question it, though, just settles in the loft and listens to Chimney recount the details of how he went all out for his date with Maddie. Buck fake gags and rolls his eyes at all the right places, fulfilling his place as ‘Mr-Anti-Valentine’s-Day,’ but secretly finds himself delighted at how well his sister is being treated. He never in a million years thought he’d say this about Chimney, but after all that Maddie’s been through, a guy like Chim is exactly what she deserves. Someone who wants nothing more than to go above and beyond for her.
His attention is drawn away when he spots Eddie climbing the stairs. Eddie who is holding… chocolates and flowers.
Chimney notices him at the same time and starts walking over, joking, “Aww, Eddie, you shouldn’t have.”
Eddie dodges Chimney’s attempts to steal the chocolates. “Good, cause I didn’t. They’re for Buck.” Buck stands with a grin and gratefully accepts the gifts. “Happy Valentine’s Day,” Eddie greets.
He’s not sure if Eddie means that the flowers and chocolates are actually for him, but he doesn’t know who else Eddie would’ve gotten them for. He recognizes the chocolates as the same ones that they had the previous year, and he wonders if Eddie remembers him saying how much he really liked them. The flowers are different, and he finds himself wondering if Eddie intentionally figured out his favorite flowers (and if so, how??) or if it was just luck.
“Thank you,” Buck replies shyly, hoping the blush on his face isn’t too bad.
He barely even notices Chimney sneaking up next to him to snatch the card from the flowers. “To the best boyfriend a man could ask for,” he reads. Then frowns. Then reads it again.
Buck meets Eddie’s amused gaze with one of his own. “Aww, babe,” he coos. Eddie looks a little relieved to see Buck playing along. But why wouldn’t he? Any opportunity to fuck with Chim is one Buck is always going to take.
“Alright, Diaz,” Chimney says, “What poor, unassuming man did you steal these from?”
“No one,” Eddie responds, looping an arm around Buck’s waist. “I just figured I owed Buck something special this year.”
Buck gives Eddie a fond gaze before turning his attention back to Chimney, who’s pointing a finger back and forth between the two of them. “You two are…?” He frowns. “You two are pulling my leg. That’s what’s happening here.”
Eddie shrugs but doesn’t remove his arm from around Buck. “Whatever you wanna believe, Chim.”
“Are you guys actually dating?” Chimney presses, his curiosity taking over.
Buck just grins. “Whatever you wanna believe, Chim.” He sets the chocolates down and uses his now free hand to pat Eddie’s chest softly. “I’m gonna go put these in some water.”
Even as he walks away, he hears Chimney pestering Eddie with questions and Eddie dodging the answers. He barely notices when Hen appears beside him.
“So… Eddie got you gifts for Valentine’s Day, that’s… a sweet gesture. Are you two actually…?”
Buck smiles, but doesn’t look up at her, concentrating on the flowers. “No, we’re, uh,” he clears his throat, “no. Just friends. Don’t tell Chim, though, I think Eddie’s having fun with this.”
Hen laughs softly. “No, I won’t spoil your fun. But… I mean, feel free not to answer, but do you want to?”
Buck looks at her at this. “Do I want to…?”
“Date him?”
Buck scoffs. “What? Eddie? No, of course not,” he replies quickly.
He tries to ignore the memories of Eddie’s hand on his only days prior, of Eddie’s sincere gaze when he said, ‘There’s nobody in this world I trust with my son more than you,’ of every gaze or touch that lingered just a little too long. He and Eddie are just friends. And it’s all they ever will be, so best not to start going around hoping for more.
“Right,” Hen says, not quite sounding like she believes him.
But she doesn’t push it because Eddie’s approaching them, asking, “How are the flowers?”
Buck turns to greet him with a smile. “Great. How’s torturing Chimney?”
Eddie laughs. “Great.”
“Well, I’ll leave you two lovebirds,” Hen says as she walks away. Buck tosses one of the stems at her and she just laughs.
“They look nice,” Eddie comments, gesturing to the flowers in their makeshift vase.
“Yeah,” Buck agrees. “So, uh, what’s with the gifts?” Eddie shrugs in response. “I really hope you don’t feel like you owe me for helping out with Christopher’s valentines the other night.”
Eddie shrugs again. “I know I don’t owe you. I just… you know, wanted to get you something nice. As a thank you. Plus, I mean, I guess last year made me realize how much I miss giving gifts and doing the whole Valentine’s Day thing with someone. And… I don’t exactly have a girlfriend right now, so you’re the next best thing.”
“I’m the next best thing?” Buck asks with a laugh. “And giving them to me at work was… just a good way to get a reaction from Chim?”
“It’s Valentine’s Day,” Eddie responds with a shrug, as if this explains anything. “…And it’s a good way to get a reaction out of Chim,” he adds.
There’s a beat of silence before Eddie slides something across the counter to him (Buck has no idea where he had been keeping it because he would’ve sworn he hadn’t seen Eddie holding it).
“There’s also this,” Eddie tells him.
Buck can’t even help the smile when he looks down to see the homemade card that says ‘Happy Valentine’s Day!’ He opens it up to find a photo of him and Chris, taken in that brief period of time after the tsunami when he spent almost every minute of his spare time watching Chris before filing the stupid lawsuit. As much as he tries not to, his eyes well up a bit, especially when he spots the piece of paper folded up inside the card. He opens it to see a picture of the three of them drawn by Chris. He looks away so Eddie won’t see how close he is to crying.
“Thank you,” he says. “I… I love it.”
“Of course,” Eddie replies. Buck can hear as he takes a few steps closer, but before he can say anything else, the alarm goes off.
Chimney spends the next several weeks pestering them, trying to figure out if they’re actually dating or not. And as entertaining as it is, each new question or dodged answer cuts a little bit deeper into Buck’s heart. But he tries not to think about it. Tries not to think about what it means that Chimney is even considering it as a real possibility. Tries not to let it bother him when Chimney finally gives up, resigned to the fact that they really are just friends. Tries not to care when the flowers die.
2021
“Anybody need a Valentine’s Day reservation?” Bobby asks.
Unlike most years, Buck hadn’t forgotten about the approaching date this year. Since they have the day off, it’s all any of his friends can talk about. He only ever gets a reprieve when he’s with Eddie.
“Trouble with Athena?” Hen questions.
Bobby lets out a light chuckle. “No, no. We both got reservations to surprise each other. So, I figured rather than cancel, I’d offer mine up to you guys.”
“I’ll take it,” Eddie speaks up.
“Ooooh,” Chimney jumps in. “Taking your girlfriend?”
Eddie frowns at him. “Not my girlfriend.”
“Are you going to though? Take Ana?” Buck inquires.
Eddie winces. “I don’t think I want to take her to whatever fancy place Bobby picked out on Valentine’s Day as a second date. That sounds like so much pressure.”
“So then what are you trying to snatch up the reservation for?” Buck teases.
“What are you doing that night?”
“I am wide open if you need a babysitter,” Buck answers.
But Eddie gives him a grin. “Actually, I was thinking maybe I could take you.”
Buck raises an eyebrow at this but doesn’t drop the teasing smile on his face. “You asking me on a date, Diaz?”
“Oh no,” Chimney interjects. “No, no, no, we are not doing this again.”
Eddie just ignores him. “So was that a yes?”
“I mean, I’m free,” Buck repeats.
He spends the rest of the week waiting for the other shoe to drop. Waiting for Eddie to say, ‘No, I was just kidding. Please watch my kid while I go take a gorgeous, wonderful woman that I am actually interested in out on a nice date.’
But it never happens. So he finds himself changing his outfit three separate times because he’s too dressed up, then he’s not dressed up enough. It’s too fancy, then too casual, but he doesn’t let himself change again because quite frankly he’s making a big deal out of nothing. If Eddie thinks he’s dressed too nice, he can blame it on the restaurant, but if his outfit choice is too informal, he can say it’s because it’s just a chill hangout between two friends.
He figured Eddie would text him when he arrived, but he’s surprised when there’s a knock on the door just before their agreed upon meeting time. He opens it to find Eddie there, for the third year in a row, with flowers and chocolates.
“It’s tradition by now, isn’t it?” Eddie asks, pushing past Buck to set the gifts down.
“I suppose it is,” Buck replies. “You’re gonna spoil me, you know, getting me fancy chocolates every year.”
Eddie shrugs. “Maybe you deserve to be spoiled.”
And it’s shit like that that’s going to be an issue. That has been an issue. For a while now. Because Eddie will just say something stupidly sweet and Buck is supposed to? What? Ignore it? Take it for the platonic way it’s intended? He’s trying. But he can’t control the way it makes his heart do flips in his chest.
But he can manage his expectations. Call him a masochist if you want. “What did you get Ana?”
“Oh, uh, you know,” Eddie waves him off, and Buck barely catches him mumbling, “a card.”
There’s a part of Buck that celebrates at this. Buck - 1. Ana - 0. Actually it’s probably more than that on both sides, but he’s definitely still winning. Not that there’s anything to win here. But the thing is… he doesn’t know her that well, but he… he likes Ana. Really. And Christopher seemed to like her, as a teacher at least. And Eddie… well, Eddie definitely likes her. He should be encouraging this, right? He shouldn’t allow Eddie to fuck this up now that he’s finally gathered the courage to get back out there.
“You got your girlfriend a card?”
“Not my girlfriend,” Eddie cuts in.
Buck just keeps going, “That’s it? At least tell me it wasn’t some cheap, store-bought thing.”
“We’ve gone on one date.”
“Eddie,” Buck scolds.
“We’re gonna be late, come on,” Eddie deflects, grabbing Buck and practically pulling him out the door.
Buck doesn’t drop the subject for the entire drive, despite how much Eddie seems to be trying to brush it off. If this woman was enough to convince Eddie to date again, then Buck wants to make sure Eddie does it right, not that Buck knows how to properly go about a relationship, that much is clear.
By the time they’re pulling up to the restaurant, Eddie not quite snaps, “Can we just… drop it? I just want to have a nice night with my… best friend.”
Buck shrinks a little at this. “Yeah, I’m— I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine,” Eddie says.
They go in and get settled at their table and Buck is pleasantly surprised at how nice the place really is. But he knows Bobby has good taste and would’ve picked somewhere nice to bring Athena. Eddie fills Buck in on the (store-bought) valentines he and Chris picked out for his class this year.
When the waiter brings out a basket of bread to their table, Buck can’t help but laugh. The memories of his date from years prior aren’t nearly as painful now.
“I’m just saying,” Buck jokes, “if my throats going to hurt by the end of the night, I’d prefer it to be for reasons other than my date giving me an emergency tracheotomy in the middle of the restaurant.”
He almost regrets saying it, afraid that it’s just a little too close to a truth that he hasn’t told anyone yet, having barely admitted it to himself.
But Eddie just says, “For your information, I think I could perform a mean tracheotomy.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
The rest of the dinner passes with no tracheotomies, thankfully. And Buck tries not to spend the entire time comparing it to his last Valentine’s Day date, or any date he’s ever been on. Because it’s not. A date.
But, for the record, if it was a date, it’d definitely be the best one he’s ever been on.
Honestly, despite the fancy setting, it feels just like a normal hangout between the two of them. They spend the evening laughing and cracking jokes.
As they’re leaving the restaurant, Eddie asks, “So, honest review, Mr. Anti-Valentine’s-Day?”
“Solid 8/10,” Buck replies.
“Eight?” Eddie questions with an offended face that’s barely hiding his smile.
Buck just shrugs. “Night’s not over yet.”
The teasing continues through their drive and Buck doesn’t even notice that they’re home until they’re pulling into Eddie’s driveway.
“I’ll have you know, Diaz, I don’t put out on the first date,” Buck jokes.
“Damn, I guess I would’ve had more luck a few years ago. Unless all that Buck 1.0 stuff was just rumor,” Eddie teases.
Buck cackles. “No rumors there. But Buck 1.0 didn’t date guys.” Buck barely realizes what he’s said until it’s already out of his mouth.
He looks over at Eddie slowly, hoping for a positive response. Eddie’s just looking at him, though, earnest expression on his face. “Does Buck… now? point 0?”
“Three,” Buck corrects.
“Right.”
Buck looks back down at his lap. “Um, I— I think he… might?” His gaze flicks to meet Eddie’s once again. “Is that weird?”
“No. Absolutely not,” Eddie assures, hand coming to rest on Buck’s knee. “This doesn’t change a thing between us.”
“Good.” And it is good. Really. Eddie is the best supportive straight friend a guy could ask for. It’s not like Buck expected it to change anything. Or that he wants anything to change between them. He doesn’t.
“Come on,” Eddie says, getting out of the truck. “Come here.” As soon as Buck is out as well, he’s pulling him into a hug.
And Buck feels just that much lighter. His night only gets better when he and Eddie get to say their goodnights to Chris, change into some comfortable clothes, and then put on a romance (which Buck definitely doesn’t cry over, thank you very much). It’s a lovely movie at first and Buck can’t help but falling for this beautifully crafted story of an actress and musician, but he didn’t realize when Maddie suggested it that it would have such a sad ending.
He tries not to resonate so hard with Sebastian at the end, but he knows the universe must have it out for him when his eyes catch a glimpse of Ana’s name on Eddie’s phone screen and he looks back up at the TV to see Mia walking away with her husband.
2022
Buck groans at the incoming messages over his phone.
Hen: finally got a girlfriend again this year
Hen: hope you have plans
still no
taylors not a big fan of it either
Chim: Hes finally found his mrs. anti valentines day!
And if Buck was a little more bitter, he might say something like ‘Have you finally found my sister?’ But they’re steadily on their way back to being on good terms, and he’d really prefer to keep it that way, even if he can still sometimes feel the stinging of Chimney’s fist on his face. So, he settles on:
fuck off
Hen: if she told you she doesnt care about the holiday i understand
Hen: but if she told you she doesnt care about getting gifts shes lying
we’ll probably still go out for dinner or something
but im not doing something big and fancy
she doesnt want that
Eddie: I think she’d actually have to have a heart for that.
be nice
Chim: Why? Shes not here
Eddie: I’m civil. To her face.
is that what u call that
Buck winces at the thought of every time Taylor and Eddie had interacted in the last year, only getting worse once he and Taylor started dating. And, look, he understands that Taylor isn’t exactly beloved by most of the 118, but he really believes she’s trying! And if they could just see that, they’d like her, too. But Eddie just seems determined to hate her. Taylor isn’t any better.
besides
shes going to some anti valentines shindig with her friends
Hen: arent those usually for single people
When Taylor had explained the concept to him, he had said that as well. But she had explained that she was going to protest the idea of the holiday in general and the idea that the only people who dislike Valentine’s Day are single people who are bitter about their relationship status.
Eddie: I didn’t realize she had friends.
she does
theyre very cool
some might say cooler than you
Chim: The bar isnt particularly high
Eddie: It’s probably still taller than you.
Chim: count your days diaz
but shes going to the party in like
solidarity
yknow
Eddie: Right.
When Buck’s shift ends on Valentine’s Day, it’s like any other. He goes home. Showers. Watches some shitty reality TV. The best thing about both being bisexual and having a bisexual girlfriend is getting to watch dating shows and debate who’s hot and who’s not. But since he’s alone, he settles on The Bachelor, Chimney’s been begging him to get caught up since he and Maddie usually watch and discuss it together. At some point, he falls asleep, only waking again to his phone buzzing.
He texts Taylor back, complimenting her outfit and wishing her a fun time with her friends. As much as he doesn’t like the reputation he’s gained as someone who hates the holiday, he wouldn’t have minded going. But when presented with this idea, Taylor reasoned that even if she resents the idea about single people being bitter, she doesn’t want to ‘rub her relationship status in their faces.’ Which he was kind of sad about. He likes her friends! But he’s only gotten to meet them a few times, most notably at the gay bar where they ended up running into each other again.
But he gets it. So instead, he’s spending his evening at home. Like normal. Which is fine. He’s fine. Really.
But then there’s a knock on the door. A knock and then a key in the door.
“Buck! Wake up!”
Eddie.
He can’t even help it as a smile spreads on his face.
He turns to where Eddie is marching in and setting two bags on the counter.
“You’re already awake?” Eddie asks when he spots Buck sitting up on the couch.
“Just barely,” Buck replies. He gets up to meet Eddie at the counter, where he’s pulling takeout from one of the bags. “Where’s Chris?”
“Friend’s house,” Eddie replies. “Where’s Taylor?”
Buck raises an eyebrow at him.
“What?” Eddie asks. “She left her hot as hell boyfriend all alone at home on Valentine’s Day. Now I’m having to pick up the slack.” Buck doesn’t even have time to think through a coherent response before Eddie keeps going, “Speaking of, as per usual, Happy Valentine’s Day.” Out of the other bag, he pulls out the usual box of chocolates and flowers.
“Eddie, you really didn’t have to,” Buck tells him.
“Well, I knew Taylor wasn’t going to. Anyway, I’m free all night and I brought food and booze,” Eddie says with a grin.
And. Well. Buck isn’t going to say no to that.
He gets them set up with food and drinks while Eddie puts on a movie (insisting that Buck doesn’t get a choice after his pick last year. To which Buck has to insist again that it was Maddie and Chimney who recommended the movie to him!) Buck has to laugh when the movie title pops up on the screen.
“Valentine’s Day,” Buck reads. “Funny.”
Eddie shrugs. “This movie’s got, like, everybody and their mother in it. Besides, I think you’ll like it.” Buck rolls his eyes, so Eddie says, “No, seriously.”
At some point after they finish their food, Eddie gets up to gather their dishes. When he comes back though, he deposits a box in Buck’s lap.
“I forgot about this,” he tells Buck a little nervously, “when I was giving you your other gifts.”
“Eddie, I appreciate the gifts, I do, but you really gotta stop getting me stuff.”
Eddie shrugs as he plops back onto the couch. “Or maybe you gotta start getting me stuff.”
“In your dreams, Diaz,” Buck replies, but makes a note in his head that he really should start getting Eddie stuff.
“So, you gonna open it?” Eddie asks.
Buck turns back to the box in his lap, opening it gently to find… “A necklace?”
Eddie takes it long enough to open it up. “It’s a, um,” he clears his throat before turning it back to Buck, “it’s a locket.” And inside, a picture of Buck and Chris. “You can change the picture if you want—”
“No,” Buck interrupts. “No, I love it. It’s perfect.”
So rather than his previous plans (sleeping), Buck ends up spending the night watching rom-coms with Eddie. And Buck’s pretty sure Eddie chose the first movie just because of the name, but he goes through the entire thing and keeps making connections to his own life. There are two best friends who are in love with each other, not that Buck is in love with his best friend. Not anymore. But then there’s another reference to marrying your best friend. And Buck knows that at one point in time (not anymore), he would’ve seen a scene like that and thought I wish. Not that it matters, because Eddie’s straight. And then because apparently the universe wants to tease him, there’s even a reference to a character named Eddie being gay. There’s even the whole Anti-Valentine’s-Day party and Buck can’t help but check his phone a few times, just wondering if Taylor has texted him, at all. Which, she hasn’t.
And as fun as it is (because Eddie wasn’t kidding and that cast really is stacked), he’s a little glad when it’s over and they put on another movie where all the characters are different from him or Eddie or anyone else he knows, for that matter. At some point they make a drinking game of it and the night gets a lot more interesting. Buck isn’t sure how many movies and drinks in they are when his phone chimes. He means to move to grab it but he isn’t quite sure where it is. He’s also quite comfortable from his position nearly upside down on the couch. He has his legs up on the back of the couch, head almost entirely in Eddie’s lap.
Eddie shifts a bit and then Buck looks back up at him to see him holding Buck’s phone. Eddie rolls his eyes as he says, “It’s Taylor.”
Buck raises a hand to take his phone and skims the messages, sending a quick one in return. “I asked her to let me know when she made it home safe, so she’s just following through.”
Eddie rolls his eyes again.
“I don’t get why you hate her so much,” Buck says.
“I don’t hate her,” Eddie defends. Then adds, “I just… don’t like her.”
Buck brings a hand up to pat the side of Eddie’s face. “You know, I don’t think you’d be so grumpy if you were getting laid, Eddie.”
Eddie scoffs. “Whatever, man.” He tries to brush Buck off with a smile, but even in Buck’s inebriated state, he can see it’s fake.
He sits up for real now, spinning himself around to look at Eddie right side up. “Hey, what’s— what’s up?”
“Nothing,” Eddie replies.
“I mean, really, I meant it as a joke, but like, it’s been… a while, since you and Ana broke up,” Buck starts gently, except… well, he doesn’t really know where he’s going with this. He thought Eddie was really happy in his relationship with Ana, and having a girlfriend could really make him happy again, but also… the idea of Eddie dating again makes Buck sick.
And he had gotten over his little… crush, okay? Really, he had. Eddie had starting dating Ana for real, so Buck pushed himself back into the dating scene, even opening himself up to the possibility of guys now that he had realized that was something that he was interested in. Where he bumped into Taylor. And they had been friends for a while. And that had been great.
And then Eddie had gotten shot in front of Buck. And that was. Well, it made it clear just how not over Eddie he was. And that it was… maybe not so little and not really a crush. But Eddie was dating Ana. And Taylor kissed Buck. And he thought. Yeah. Okay. Here’s someone who likes him. And he does like Taylor. And so while Eddie spent a good amount of his recovery getting closer and closer to Ana, Buck threw himself headfirst into his relationship with Taylor.
And now here he is. In love with Taylor. And 100% completely over Eddie.
Eddie is, however, still his best friend. He wants to see him happy.
“I just… don’t know if I’m up to dating…” Eddie trails off.
Buck frowns. “Eddie. I know things didn’t go great with Ana, but… you’ll find a nice girl someday. I’m not actually trying to pressure you into getting back out there if you’re not ready, but, once you are, whenever that is, I want you to know that… I’m a pretty good wingman if I do say so myself.”
Eddie avoids his gaze but gives a soft chuckle in response. “Right. Thanks.” And there’s a beat of silence. Where Buck can tell Eddie wants to say something, but he doesn’t want to push it, so he just waits. And then. So quiet Buck can barely hear it, Eddie says, “I just… don’t know if I’m up to dating… women… anymore…”
And Buck has to be incredibly drunk. Because. What?
He tries to control his reaction, but he’s pretty sure he just ends up staring at Eddie, mouth hanging open. Eddie does look up at him after a few and giggles at Buck’s face.
“Sorry,” Buck stumbles out. “I just… what?”
Eddie shrugs. “You know, about my— my panic attacks when I was dating Ana.”
Buck nods, despite the fact that… he doesn’t. Not really. He knows that they happened. But not much about the details. About why they happened.
“I just realized that… you know, they say you should marry your best friend.”
Marry me, Buck wants to say. But. Wait. No. That’s not right. He’s dating… Taylor. He likes Taylor. Loves Taylor.
“So I did,” Eddie continues. “And I loved Shannon, but… god, I was miserable in that marriage. And I liked Ana, but… the idea of doing that again. Of marrying her. Of marrying someone that I wasn’t in love with. Again. I couldn’t handle it.”
At some point, Buck’s hand found a place over Eddie’s. “I’m sorry, Eddie, but I— I’m really glad you didn’t do that. You should… you deserve to be happy.”
Eddie gives him a sad smile. “I know. I… I want that. To be happy. And I just realized that… I don’t think I’m going to be if I keep making myself date women.”
“Eddie,” Buck says. Because. He really doesn’t know what else to say in this moment. He doesn’t understand how Eddie can form coherent words right now cause he’s definitely had, like, just as much as Buck, right? “God, I’m so bad at this,” he sighs. “You were so good at this. You were, like, so much soberer, though.”
Eddie hands him a glass of water that he hadn’t even realized was next to them and says, “And I think you need to be soberer. Besides, for the amount of alcohol between us, I think you’re doing great.”
“I remember there being a really good hug,” Buck recalls, not exactly intending to, but definitely basically climbing into Eddie’s lap to hug him. “And I can definitely do that.”
2023
“So remind me again how we got here?” Eddie asks, as he sets down the stack of ingredients.
“Come on, Eddie, you know I can’t say no to this face,” Buck says, squeezing Christopher’s cheeks.
Christopher pushes his hands away, and groans, “Buck.”
“Right, no, I understand that part. I just thought we’d agreed never to do that again,” Eddie teases.
“Technically,” Buck reasons, “you said if he asks to do it again to remind you it sucked. But, this isn’t arts and crafts. This,” he sets the milk down on the counter, “is baking.”
“Right, baking, which Christopher isn’t even helping with,” Eddie retorts, gesturing where Chris is settling himself in the armchair to play video games.
“I can help,” Chris calls. “Just give me a job.”
“Don’t worry about it, buddy,” Buck responds. “You can help with the decorating. That’s the fun part, anyway, right?”
“Yeah!” Chris cheers.
Buck turns back to Eddie with a smile, “He’s gonna help with the decorating.”
Buck really doesn’t mind baking for Chris. It’s an excuse to try out a new recipe that he wouldn’t have otherwise. And he can’t say he doesn’t like having someone else in the kitchen. Eddie’s more than willing to fetch him ingredients when he asks for them or reference the recipe on his phone when his hands are a bit too messy or mix the dough when Buck doesn’t feel like it (and he does have a stand mixer, but why would he deny himself that view?)
He pops the pan into the oven and turns to see Eddie looking at him expectantly from where he’s sitting on the counter. “What’s next, chef?”
“Uhhh, now we wait.”
Eddie looks a little disappointed at this. “That’s it? I figured you’d have more things for me to do.”
Buck looks around the kitchen a little. “I mean, we can do some preliminary cleanup? I don’t want to do a ton of cleanup cause it’s gonna get messy again when we decorate, but we can start.”
He spots the bowl they had been using to mix. “And! My favorite part of cleanup.” He scrapes the side of the bowl with a finger and pops it into his mouth.
Eddie reaches out, but Buck steps back. “Hey! Gimme!”
Buck just gives him a grin. “I did the baking, I get the reward.”
Eddie pouts at him. “I helped!”
And Buck cannot resist that face, so he steps forward. Eddie reaches out, but Buck pulls the bowl back and laughs at Eddie’s face. He gets some more dough, but right as he holds it up to his face, Eddie grabs his arm and pulls it towards his own face, taking Buck’s fingers into his mouth.
And. Well. That’s definitely a thing. A thing that should definitely probably be gross, but instead makes Buck’s breathing still a little as their eyes don’t stray from each other for even a second. And that’s without even considering what Eddie’s tongue is doing, licking the dough clean off of Buck’s hand.
“Buck!” Chris calls and Buck’s attention snaps to the living room, where Christopher’s gaze is still focused on his game, thankfully, not that he’d be able to see anything from there anyway with Eddie’s back facing the living room. “Can you help me with this level? I’m stuck.”
Eddie and Buck both seem to realize at the same time that Buck’s fingers are in Eddie’s mouth. Eddie lets go of Buck’s arm and Buck backs away quickly right as Eddie’s hops off the counter and goes to wash his hands, both of them laughing it off a bit awkwardly.
“Yeah,” Buck agrees, glancing at Eddie again, who’s pointedly keeping his gaze focused on the sink. “I’ll— I’ll be right there.”
Eddie steps away from the sink long enough for Buck to wash his hands before he goes to help Chris with his level, chancing a few gazes over to Eddie, who just stops and stares down at one of the counters for a bit too long. Eventually, though, he starts cleaning up the kitchen a bit and Buck feels a bit bad that he’s not helping despite this being their usual arrangement for a while now. Buck cooks, Eddie cleans. After the cookies are ready to come out of the oven, Eddie takes them out and sets them out to cool, joining Chris and Buck in the living room. Due to the lack of a couch, they end up sitting on the floor until the cookies are cool enough to decorate.
They spend the next hour making a mess of red and pink frosting, sprinkles, and—
“Edible glitter?” Eddie asks incredulously. “Seriously? Don’t you remember last time?”
“I do,” Buck affirms. “That’s why we’re doing this here and not at your house.”
Eddie just scoffs fondly, but takes the opportunity to get the glitter everywhere.
The cookies turn out to be so good that Buck makes another batch to bring in to the 118. Chimney and Hen are all over them from the second he steps into the firehouse.
And when asked he just shrugs and says, “I’m just… not feeling so Mr. Anti-Valentine’s-Day this year.”
Eddie brings Buck his usual gifts at the beginning of their shift, and Buck can’t even pretend to be surprised. In fact, he’s delighted. It’s nice to be spoiled.
“It’s tradition,” they both reason in response to Chimney’s exclamations.
And Buck tries to ignore the feeling in his chest when he reads the note that reads, ‘To the best friend a man could ask for.’
Despite the fact that their shift ends on the 15th, Buck still makes Eddie walk out to his car with him.
“I, um, was thinking about what you said last year,” Buck starts.
“I said a lot of things last year, Buck, you’re gonna have to be more specific.”
“Just about how I should get you gifts, too.”
Eddie scoffs. “That was a joke.”
“It’s true, though,” Buck replies, “So I, um.” He opens his car, barely catching it as it tries to tumble out of the backseat.
“You didn’t,” Eddie exclaims, accepting the giant teddy bear when Buck hands it over.
“You said you wanted gifts.”
“I didn’t,” Eddie contradicts. “But thank you. I’m not gonna carry it around all day with me, though.”
Buck gasps. “So you don’t love me?”
Eddie rolls his eyes. “Of course I do.”
And even though Eddie doesn’t mean it like that, it still makes Buck’s chest feel a little lighter. In the end, Christopher gets the most use out of the giant teddy bear, using it to sit on or lean up against, and every time it makes an appearance, Buck likes the little reminder.
2024
Now, the thing about realizing you’re not exactly over being maybe kind of in love with your best friend and then almost dying is that it really makes you wake up to the reality that you don’t have all the time in the world to sit around and wallow in self-pity about it. But Buck still gives himself some time. Nearly a full year of time, in fact. And he keeps telling himself that he’s gonna do it. Gonna say it, once and for all. Just. Not yet.
But all the Valentine’s Day shit is just absolutely taunting Buck now. And before he can think it through, he finds himself pointing at Eddie and saying, “Diaz. Wednesday. 7pm. Dress nice.”
Eddie looks up from his phone and says, “O…kay?”
And god, Buck has absolutely no fucking idea what he’s doing.
But on the 14th, he shows up to Eddie’s house promptly at 7 and knocks.
Eddie opens the door a little surprised. “Buck, you have a… key.” His voice trails off as he takes note of the items in Buck’s hands. Flowers. And chocolates. Buck gives him a nervous smile. Eddie gestures Buck in. “You look… really nice.”
Buck looks down at his own suit, which he had definitely panicked was too much for the evening, but he had told Eddie to dress nice, and then back to Eddie’s casual outfit. Well, shit.
“Should I change?” Eddie asks.
Buck shrugs. “I mean, you got all dolled up for poker night. A hot guy asks you on a date, I’d think you’d put in a little effort.”
Eddie meets his gaze with a nervous look. “A hot guy asks me on a date, huh?”
And Buck’s really second guessing this. Shit. He tries to play it off. “I mean, I am hot, aren’t I?”
Eddie grins, falling back into their easy rhythm. “Oh definitely, but… is that what this is? A date?”
Buck wants nothing more than to back down. Say of course not. Say it was a joke. But. It’s been nearly a year. A year of him saying he was going to tell Eddie eventually. So.
“It’s… whatever you want it to be.” Call him a coward. He is. Okay? He can admit that. But he’s not about to ruin the best friendship he’s ever had. Not yet.
But it doesn’t look like that’ll be happening today. Eddie gives him a shy smile and asks, “And if I want it to be a date?”
Buck’s heart absolutely soars. “Then it’s a date.”
Eddie’s smile grows. “Good. I’ll go change.”
Buck is suddenly super nervous. He needs something for his hands to do, so he arranges the flowers in a nice vase and sets them on the dining room table. Eddie’s still not out, so Buck sits on the couch, and fiddles with his jacket, the cushions, his phone, until finally, finally.
“You look stunning,” Buck comments as Eddie steps into the living room.
Eddie glances down at his outfit a bit self-consciously but replies, “Thanks.”
Buck stands up from the couch and starts walking to the door but just before he reaches it, Eddie’s tugging him back with a hand around his wrist. Buck looks back at Eddie, who looks… terrified.
“We’re really… doing this?” Eddie asks. “Going on a— a date? Not like a friend date, but like a… a date date?”
Buck nods. “Only if you want to.”
Eddie’s hand slides down to wrap around Buck’s and give it a squeeze. “I want to. I just didn’t know you wanted to.”
Buck smiles a little nervously. “I really want to, Eddie.”
And Eddie gives him a tentative smile in return. “Okay.”
Buck turns back to the door to reach for it, but Eddie uses their intertwined hands to tug him back again. “Hold on,” Eddie says, “I don’t think I’m gonna be able to get through this entire date without first—” He tugs Buck in by the lapel of his suit jacket and their lips meet in a soft, chaste kiss. Eddie beams at him. “Much better.”
But Buck isn’t satisfied with that, instead moving his hands so one is cupping Eddie’s jaw to pull him back in. He drops Eddie’s hand to rest his on Eddie’s waist. There’s a part of him that doesn’t exactly believe how real this is (despite how real it feels, his skin burning with every point of contact between him and Eddie), so he wants to kiss Eddie for as long as he’ll let him.
“You know,” Buck teases when he pulls back, resting his forehead against Eddie’s, “we don’t have to go to dinner. It’s not that important.” He presses a kiss to Eddie cheek. “We could just,” he pauses to press another kiss to Eddie’s jaw, “stay here.” He continues kissing down Eddie’s jaw and neck, pausing between each word of his next sentence, “Have a nice, romantic, evening in.”
Eddie laughs and pushes Buck away gently. “As nice as that sounds, we’re going out.”
Buck sighs playfully, but goes back to exiting the house. “Didn’t you say fancy dinner on Valentine’s Day was too much pressure for a second date? Wouldn’t it be far too much pressure for a first date?”
Eddie laughs as he hops in the car. “This is far from our first date, even if one or both of us didn’t realize it was a date, I think we deserve this. A real, nice, official date.”
“I suppose.” As Buck pulls out of Eddie’s driveway, he finds himself once again wanting to take Eddie’s hand in his, but he realizes, now, he… he can? So he does and when he looks over at Eddie, he sees Eddie with a soft smile on his face.
“Just… don’t tell Chim that our first official date was on Valentine’s Day, okay?” Buck begs. “He’d never let me live it down.”
Buck thinks back to all those years ago when he and Eddie went out for dinner, and how he remembers thinking that it was pretty similar to any of their regular hangouts. Although now, due to Eddie’s words, he’s realizing just how many of those really were date-like in nature. Tonight is really no different. Sure the place is nice, but despite how worried he might’ve been about the pressure of a date complicating things, Eddie seems determined to keep the conversation flowing and not let things get awkward. The only difference is that every time Buck has the desire to reach out and touch Eddie, he realizes he can. He can hold Eddie’s hand, press a gentle kiss to his cheek, put an arm around his waist. And Eddie not only preens under the attention every time, but starts to return it after not too long, being the one to reach out first.
“I still don’t know how you managed to get a reservation here,” Eddie comments as they’re leaving the restaurant, hands linked together because now that they’ve started, neither of them seems to want to stop.
“Do you want the truth?” Buck asks. “But you’re not allowed to laugh.”
“No promises,” Eddie teases.
“I… made the reservation a while ago. Like last April. I didn’t imagine it being for our first date. Was kinda hoping I’d have gotten the courage to tell you and when I faced epic rejection, I’d move on and maybe find someone else to take. And if that didn’t work out, then I probably would’ve given it to someone else,” Buck explains.
Buck doesn’t realize Eddie’s stops walking at first until he’s pulled back by their connected hands. When he turns to look back at Eddie, his face is a mixture of sadness and frustration.
“You really thought I’d reject you?” Eddie asks quietly.
Buck shrugs. “I don’t know. The thought crossed my mind once or twice… or, you know, a thousand times.”
Eddie takes Buck’s face in his hands. “Buck.”
Buck rocks back and forth on his feet a little nervously. “I just… you know, I don’t have the greatest track record with past partners, so I didn’t exactly have confidence that this perfect guy could return my feelings,” he rambles.
Eddie kisses him softly. “I am far from perfect.”
Buck reaches up to grab Eddie’s hands, starting to pull him back along to the car. “Sure, but you’re no Taylor Kelly.”
Eddie groans. “Barf. And thank god for that.”
When they pull into the driveway at the end of the evening, Buck can’t help but kiss Eddie again. Just because he can. And how crazy is that?
“Just wondering, how long are we childfree?” he teases.
“All night,” Eddie replies.
Buck grins. “Good.”
As they’re getting out of the car, Eddie says, “Hm, I recall someone saying something about not going home with people on the first date.”
“Well, you also said this isn’t our first date,” Buck shoots back. “Besides, I’ve been in love with you for so many years, I think I’m allowed this.”
Eddie stops and looks at him. “You’re… in love with me?”
Buck rolls his eyes and bumps Eddie with his shoulder, turning back to unlock the door. “No, I just went on a date with you because we’re such good friends.”
They both laugh. It’d probably be funnier if it wasn’t something that they’d actually done many times before.
“Okay, yeah, whatever,” Eddie says, following him in. He stops Buck as soon as he’s shut the door behind them. “I love you, too.”
And. Okay. Wow. It’s not a surprise, necessarily. Considering the whole… date and kissing. But actually hearing it. It’s different. And Buck honestly can’t even believe any of this is real.
Buck thinks back to Bobby’s words from so many years before, and, okay, maybe he was right. Because as he looks at the man he loves, he thinks yeah, now that he has someone to share it with, Valentine’s Day can be pretty great.