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“Alright, everybody wash up, dinner in 30,” Bobby announced.
“Hopefully,” Chimney sighed, knocking on one of the wooden pillars on his way to the locker room.
The members of the 118 quietly drifted off to various corners of the firehouse. They’d had a day full of boring, tedious calls, that had kept them out in the sun almost the entire shift so far, and dinner had been “in 20” three separate times so far. Buck followed Hen, Chimney, and Ravi to the lockers, sat on the bench, and sighed, the cool air a relief.
“If we get one more faulty smoke detector, I’m gonna have to start stocking up on batteries in the rig,” Hen said. Buck honestly couldn’t tell if she was serious, or if she was just too tired to put the playful edge in her voice.
“At least this time it was the smoke detector! How do you not know the difference between your alarm clock and a fire alarm?”
“Aw, c’mon Ravi, give the guy a break. He was clearly not well enough to be living on his own, at least now his kids are helping him out.” Buck chimed in, moving to open his locker.
“I’m telling you, we’re cursed. It was the cat.” Chimney and his curses. At least no one said the q-word today.
“It was not the cat, Chim, it’s just been a weird day. No one is cursed.”
“Now is not the time for skepticism Buckley, don’t tell me Eddie made you a non-believer too. He ran right in front of the engine, and then we all drove straight through his path. And since then, we’ve had eight false alarms. Eight!”
Buck coughed, pulling a fresh navy blue t-shirt over his head. “You know, for a lot of cultures black cats actually bring good luck. In Ancient Egypt, killing a cat was a crime punishable by death. And, in Japan, women often adopt black cats in the belief that they’ll bring them good husbands!” Buck had stumbled upon a documentary about cats a few weeks ago, and was happy to have an opportunity to share some of his new knowledge. “So I'm not being a skeptic, I’m just being optimistic!”
“Yeah well, here, black cat means bad luck. I’m gonna go find some salt to throw over my shoulder,” Chimney said on his way out of the locker room.
“I’ll make sure he doesn’t make a mess.” Hen followed, leaving Buck and Ravi alone in the locker room.
“Hey at least Bobby hasn’t called me Eddie today, that’s a win in my book.”
Buck hummed, and picked up his phone.
Ravi rolled his eyes and sighed. How the rest of the 118 survived Eddie and Buck together but not together for years, he’ll never understand. “Well, I’m gonna hit the showers, see you at dinner.”
Buck might have grunted in response, but it was clear he’d become absorbed in his phone. Eddie had sent him a tweet about Brad Torrance, which had led to Buck discovering Eddie runs a very active twitter account. (Due to his prior position at dispatch, twitter is about the only form of social media he really knows how to use) (Don’t even try explaining to him that it’s no longer called Twitter).
Apparently, in his free time while not being able to find a job, Eddie had decided to do a deep dive into Hot Shots, presumably in an effort to have more to talk about with his son. Buck thought his dedication was absolutely adorable and admirable, though he knew Hen and Chimney would be worried it might be a prelude to some kind of breakdown.
Buck was discovering Eddie rarely tweeted his own original tweets unless it was live tweeting his reactions to episodes, but he was a chronic retweeter of various Hot Shots accounts. Buck was quickly becoming convinced that Eddie was mostly just retweeting to be active on his twitter, rather than really paying attention, otherwise why would he be retweeting so many thirst posts?
…
Two more false alarm calls later, one very real car accident (no casualties), and a leg impalement during a bar fight, Buck and the rest of the 118 are headed home.
“So. Should I expect you at my door with cookies in a couple hours or…” Chimney teases Buck, throwing his back in the backseat of his car.
“No, no, I promised Maddie I would stay home tonight. It’ll be easier… once I’ve done it, ya know? Ripped off the band-aid I guess.”
“Well, you are always welcome, you know that. Jee has loved having sleepovers with her Uncle Buck these past couple weeks. But you’re right, you will have to live there eventually.”
Buck nodded in return, waved goonight to Hen and Bobby across the parking lot, and climbed into his car. He was about to pull out when he got a twitter notification - looks like Eddie is watching his next episode of Hot Shots. Buck opened the tweet, something about the medical inaccuracies of the current scene, one of Eddie’s rare original tweets. As he scrolled down, he realized that Eddie had actually developed quite a following. It seemed like people were really enjoying his medical insight into the show. Some users had found out that he was a paramedic, and from there it looked like people had become really invested.
Buck’s not sure why, but this bothered him. It bothered him even more so that many of the interested parties were the same accounts that were posting edits of the men of Hot Shots. Edits that Eddie had been reposting and liking.
Buck was… jealous?
No, that’s not right.
He was just nervous. For Eddie. Buck knows how sketchy people on the internet can be.
Hell, Buck 1.0 was all over social media.
He knows.
meow
It’s not jealousy. It’s concern. For a friend. Which is normal.
Totally normal and not weird and why is Maddie’s voice in his head asking him if he’s in love with Eddie?
meow
Irrelevant.
Eddie is straight.
meow
Straight.
meow
Eddie’s straight.
meow
Finally, Buck noticed the meowing outside his car. He looked out his window, and there was the black cat from this morning, sitting in the empty space next to his car, staring at him.
Buck froze, his mind suddenly empty from the surprise. He stared blankly back at the cat, until it meowed at him, again, tail flicking on the ground impatiently. Buck opened his car door slowly, climbed out, and got down on his knees. He blinked slowly at the cat, something he’d read somewhere along the way was supposed to convey trust.
“Hey, uhhh, what’s up?”
mrrow
The cat meowed happily, and strolled over to Buck, tail in the air, tip twitching around. It brushed up against his outstretched hand, then pushed past him and jumped up into the driver's seat of his car.
“Oh, uh, do you want to come home with me? I mean, that’s cool I guess? I did warn Eddie I might be getting a pet, and hey, maybe having you off the streets will be good for Chimeny’s mental health.” Buck smiled at his own joke.
meow
The cat stared back at him again, with that same demanding look that had wiped Buck’s brain the first time. Then it hopped into the passenger seat, sat down, and curled its tail around its paws, still fixing its stare on Buck.
“Okay okay, let’s go then.”
The drive home was uneventful, Buck yapped about the day, explaining that while he knew the cat meant good luck, not everyone agreed with him. Naturally, he spent most of the drive talking about Eddie, as the cat had to know who Eddie was if it was going to be a part of Buck’s life. Then, Buck felt silly talking to an “it” and decided that from what he saw (or didn’t see) when the cat jumped past him into the car, “it” was probably a “she”.
“I don’t know what to call you yet though, but I feel like you need a name. Maybe Christopher will have some ideas! He’s the most creative person I know. You know, he and I once came up with a whole story with these dragons, and knights of the round table…”
The still-unnamed cat yawned, stretched, and settled into her seat as Buck continued to ramble about the most important people in his life.
…
“So, I gotta say I was a little surprised when you didn’t show up on our doorstep last night. What changed?”
Buck looked up from the bumper he was polishing to give Chimney a smug look. “I promised Maddie, didn’t I? It did break my heart to not spend the night with my favorite niece, but I made a new friend.”
“Oh, Buck finally made a friend?” Ravi chimed in as he walked up. “Does this mean I’m spared?”
“Hey, I’m still holding you to drinks one day! ... I can make friends, can’t I?” Buck frowned.
“Sure you can buddy.” Chimney clapped him on the shoulder as he walked past. “Just, maybe try to find a mutual interest. Not everyone can spend as much time talking about Eddie as you can.”
“Who’s this new friend you made?” Hen asked, walking up to join the group now forming around Buck at the bumper.
“Oh, she’s the best, she settled into Eddie’s house super quick too. I need to get to actually unpacking so that it’s more comfortable, but that’s a project for this weekend I think. I ordered some new stuff for her too. Wanna see some pictures?” Buck said, already pulling out his phone.
Hen and Chimney shared a skeptical look, then simply nodded. Buck quickly pulled up some pictures of his new cat in Eddie’s house, sitting on the windowsill, exploring the kitchen counter, and curled up on the bare mattress.
“Tell me you did not take our curse home with you Buckley.”
“This is your new friend? Well, she’s cute. Relax Chimney. If anything, Buck giving our curse a home will mean she’s forgiven us for crossing her path. Curse lifted!
“Exactly! Thank you Hen! Just look at her! She’s the best, and she’s so smart, I swear she knows what I’m saying.”
“Oh my god, he really did find himself a friend who will listen to him talk about Eddie all day.”
“Hey-”
RING RING RING
Whatever (surely scathing and smart) comeback Buck was going to come up with was cut off by the bell.
“You can all make fun of Buck’s new friend later, let’s go!” Bobby called on his way to the engine.
…
“You brought who into my house?” Eddie’s voice rang through the phone, tinny and not as beautiful as it would be in person but still music to Buck’s ears.
“Well I don’t know for sure yet, I’m supposed to call Chris later this week so he can help me come up with a name. For now I’ve just been calling her Cat.” Buck shrugged. “I don’t think she minds.”
“I’m sure she doesn’t.” Eddie scoffed as the cat jumped into frame, and began affectionately rubbing all over Buck’s face. “Lucky cat.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Oh, just, you know. She gets to live there with you is all. She’s a lucky cat, to have found a home with probably the most caring person I know.”
Buck felt the smile on his face get even bigger, somehow. “Yeah, well, I’m pretty lucky to have her too… It’s weird not having you here. No one else wants to listen to my ramblings about the ocean or fire code safety or you- well you know. All the stuff you used to listen to.” The smile faded, just a bit.
“You’re telling me I’ve been replaced? By a cat?” Eddie joked. Because it was definitely a joke. No way Eddie was jealous of a cat. Nuh-uh. Not even if that cat was rubbing all over his best friend's face, sticking her nose in his neck, tracing his cheeks with her tail - nope. Eddie was not jealous at all.
“Ha. ha. No Eddie, you haven’t been replaced with a cat. She doesn’t make nearly the mess in the kitchen that you do.”
Eddie gasped. “Me! A mess? I have never.”
Buck laughed, and the two settled into a silent moment. Buck stared at Eddie through the screen, trying his best to pick up on his friends emotions through the limited pixels.
“Are you okay,” He said, squinting.
“Yeah? I mean…,” Eddie hesitated, looking down. Buck could tell from the shifting of the camera that he was shuffling his feet, scrunching his toes the way he does when he’s thinking too much. “I’m okay. I just, I don’t know… I don’t know what to do. I’m scared my kid is never gonna want to live with me again, that things are never going to go back to normal. And my parents, god, my parents, I can’t do this, I can’t be around them all the time, and watch them pretend like they know what’s best for me, for Christopher! I just want to be there for him, and to take care of him. I want him to let me back into his life.” Eddie sighed. “Sorry, sorry, I didn’t mean to… sorry.”
“No, no, don’t apologize. You can always talk to me, you know that.”
Eddie gave him a small smile through the screen, which Buck knew was supposed to be reassuring, but to him looking more like a man on the verge of spiraling (even more).
“Hey, listen to me. You and Chris have been through so much. Together and apart. I think… I think sometimes you forget how old he is. How smart he is. Not that you don’t think he’s smart, I know you do, that’s not what I mean. I mean, Eddie… your son can read you. He knows when you’re holding back on him. Lying, or simply not being honest with him. He knows you better than anyone. You have to talk to him. Treat him like an adult. That’s all I ever wanted from my parents, was just a bit of transparency. Tell him what you’re going through, tell him why this is so hard on you, and tell him what you want going forward, and what you’re going to do to prove it to him. Moving to Texas was a big step, and he knows that. But talking to him about your feelings? Your grief, your trauma? I’m not saying unload on the kid, but, you know, just, talk… I don’t know, did that make any sense? I feel like I just rambled at you, I’m sorry.”
“No, no… that was… thank you Buck.”
“Yeah, uh, no problem.”
“So, is this cat sleeping in my bed?”
…
“What about Goose? Like Captain Marvel’s cat?” Buck suggested.
“No, no, that’s an orange cat, you can’t name a black cat Goose.” Chris’s voice rang back over the line. “Put the camera on her again?”
“Hang on.”
Buck’s camera focused in on the cat, sitting regally on top of the couch, tail wrapped around her feet while she used one of her front paws to clean her face.
“Hmmm… what about Salem? You know, like the cat from Sabrina?”
“Like Sabrina Carpenter?”
“Buck are you serious? How do you know Sabrina Carpenter and not Sabrina the Teenage Witch? All you old people love that show, it’s from your time?”
“Oh, I think Maddie used to watch it maybe? I don’t know, I was usually watching Animal Planet.” Buck shrugged.
“You know what? That doesn’t surprise me.”
“I feel like you’re saying that like it’s an insult, but I’m not sure how.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Ooh, what about Ahsoka? Our favorite female badass? Even Eddie can understand that one.”
“Buck, why do you care if Eddie understands her name? It’s your cat you know? It should really be your choice.”
“Well yeah, but I don’t know, you- you guys are my family, and if I’m gonna bring someone new into our family, I feel like the name should at least be something we can all understand. Right?”
“Mmhmm. Okay Buck. Dad does love Ahsoka, even though he still hasn’t seen the actual Star Wars movies. But maybe Snips instead? I feel like it fits her more. Plus she’s got the tip snipped off her ear.”
“Chris, you’re a genius. Snips is perfect. Right Snips?” Buck addressed the cat, and she continued cleaning herself. “Perfect. Thanks Chris.”
“Anytime.”
“Hey, how are things going… you know, with your dad?”
“It’s… good. Like, really good actually.”
“And…? What, that’s it? Good is all I get?”
“Good is good Buck. I gotta go, I’m supposed to hop on a call with my friends.”
“Alright alright. Goodnight Chris.”
“Goodnight Buck.”
…
Buck heard the first knock on the door as he’s fixing a fresh trash bag into the kitchen trash. “One second,” he yelled out to what he guessed was Bobby and Athena, always the first to arrive at any event(usually the first to leave, too). Buck bounced over to the door and swung it open, plastering a big smile on his face.
“Hey guys! Come on in! Food can go over in the kitchen that way - well, you know.” Athena stopped to give Buck a hug, while Bobby brought the food into the kitchen.
“The place looks great Buck, I’m impressed! But, what’s with all the cat stuff,” Athena gestured vaguely around the living room, presumably at the two cat trees, scratching pads, water fountain, window seat, and toys scattered everywhere.
“Oh, that’s all for Snips! She’s around here somewhere - oh! Here she comes!”
Snips hopped up on the back of the couch and stalked over, sniffing Athena carefully.
“Buck adopted a stray cat that was living outside the station.” Bobby pitched in from the kitchen.
“I see that. She’s… had all her shots and stuff?” Athena looked apprehensive, and kept her hands to herself. Interestingly enough, Buck had never seen her look so nervous.
“Yep, I took her to the vet yesterday. She’s already been spayed, that’s why the tip of her ear is missing. That’s how they tag street cats when they fix and re-release them, so that they don’t get trapped again. And she got her rabies and distemper vaccines, and a dewormer, just to be safe. But she’s been great!” Snips meowed, almost in agreement, and nuzzled into Buck’s hand as he reached out for her. “She’s sweet, see?”
Athena hummed, but any other response was cut off by another knock at the door.
Maddie and Chimney arrived next, Jee and food in hand, then Ravi, and lastly Hen, Karen, and Denny pulled up, apologizing for their tardiness (Karen got stuck at work late working on some insanely complicated project Buck is dying to hear more about).
Snips spent most of the night perched on top of the taller cat tree, the highest point in the room, surveying everyone, and Buck spent most of the night being complimented on how well he’d decorated the house, which he wasn’t quite sure how to feel about. He didn’t really think he’d changed much, simply substituted Eddie’s stuff with his. He actually started to get worried that Eddie might be upset that he’d apparently transformed the house.
No one commented on the fact that Christohper’s room remained untouched.
…
“How was the housewarming party?” Eddie’s facetime voice rang out through the kitchen as Buck cleaned up. He was getting way too used to this form of communication. Only hearing Eddie’s voice through a speaker, seeing his face through the screen. He didn’t like it. It wasn’t enough. And yet he ate up every minute of the time he got.
“It was good! Everyone seems to think that I did a great job decorating, and Snips was really good with everyone here. She sat up on her tree and kept an eye on everyone. I think she’s a good guard cat.”
“Yeah, Chris showed me the pictures you sent him, the place looks great.”
“Hey, uh, I’m sorry if it’s too much, I didn’t mean to change everything. I honestly don’t feel like I changed much at all, I mostly just replaced stuff with my own. I mean… I did paint the bedroom, but aside from that-”
“You painted our bedroom?”
Buck got caught for a minute on the “our” slip-up, but recovered. “Uh, yeah, sorry, I should’ve asked you, I just-”
“Oh thank god. That wall was looking rough, I’m glad you painted it, thank you Buck. What color did you paint it?”
“Blue. I… I read somewhere that blue walls are calming, and they did a study that indicated that it might actually help ease the symptoms of people suffering from PTSD. I’m sorry, did you say our bedroom?”
“Did I?”
Buck blinked.
“Did you paint Chris’s room too? I didn’t see any pictures of his room.”
Buck blinked.
meow
“Oh, uhh, no, no I didn’t touch Chris’s room, it didn’t really feel right to change anything in there. Besides, I’d like to think that he might be back here. To visit I mean. I miss him, and I want him to know he still has a home here. If he ever wants it.”
“Well… I don’t want to get your hopes up, but…” Eddie trailed off and looked over his shoulder.
“Eddie? Eddie what is it?”
Eddie dropped his voice to a whisper. “Chris decided to stay here this week. At the house, with me! I think we’re making some real progress. And Adrianna said he told her he wants to go back to LA. I don’t know what the timeline would be, or if he truly means it, but I think we’re really getting somewhere.”
“Eddie… that’s amazing. I’m so happy for you, and so proud of you.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you, you know. Not just the support you’ve given me while I’ve been here, but back in LA too. You made me a better dad Buck. Chris and I owe you so much. You showed up for us every day, every time I needed someone, or Chris needed someone, you were there. You’ve always been my partner. You know, things are starting to feel normal here, with Chris back in the house, and us on better terms, but I think we’re still missing the most important thing.”
“...what’s that?” Buck found himself whispering too.
“You, dummy. Our family isn’t full without you.”
“Oh.”
“Anyways, I gotta get to bed, Chris has to be at school early tomorrow. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay?”
Buck hummed.
“Goodnight. I love you, Buck.”
“Right, I love you too, Eddie.”
Buck’s screen returned to his messages with Eddie as the call ended. Suddenly their last text exchange consisting of facts about pineapples seems wildly out of place.
Our bed.
You’ve always been my partner.
Our family isn’t full without you.
I love you, Buck.
Suddenly Eddie’s voice in his head was replaced with Maddie’s. Are you in love with Eddie?
No. Eddie’s straight. Buck’s been over this. Eddie is his straight best friend.
Chris is the kid of his straight best friend. That he just so happens to co-parent. Platonically.
meow
Eddie is his partner. Platonic partner. Work partner actually. And Eddie is straight.
Of course Eddie is his family. The whole 118 is his family. Buck is a found family poster boy.
They’ve said I love you to each other before. Because it’s true. They’re platonic best friends platonically in love.
Our bed.
That was a slip. An accident. Technically, the bedroom has belonged to both of them in the past two months so… it makes sense.
meow
All of this makes sense.
Right?
meow
“Right snips?”
mrrow
Snips purred, and curled herself up in Bucks lap, making biscuits on his leg. “You get it.”
Two minutes later, Buck was passed out on the couch, Snips in his lap, and his phone still open to his texts with Eddie, an unsent “I miss you” in the message bar.
…
“Hey, Maddie?” Buck called, looking up from the drawing he was working on with Jee on the floor of the living room.
Maddie popped her head out from the kitchen, knife in hand. “Yeah Buck?”
“Why did you ask me if I was in love with Eddie?”
“Oh.” Maddie disappeared, then returned a few seconds later, no longer carrying the knife. She sat down on the couch, across from Buck. “Listen, I didn’t mean to put words or feelings in your mouth, I just… it felt like a question that needed to be asked. Is it bothering you?”
“Well… I don’t know… I- I convinced myself that it didn’t matter how I felt, because Eddie was straight, so, it’s not possible, right? And I know we have this codependency, this partnership, but I never let myself think that it could be anything more than platonic. And I thought I was okay with that. But, him being gone, being in his house, it’s been way harder than I ever thought it would be.”
“Have you talked to him about it?”
“I don’t know, he has so much going on with Christopher, and it doesn’t really matter, I mean he’s so far away, and he’s straight, so… I mean, it wouldn’t even matter if I had… feelings… for him, right? It’s too late. And he’s straight.”
“I know, but, if it’s bothering you this much, and he matters this much to you, he’s always going to be a part of your life. And it sounds like these feelings haven’t faded at all since he left?”
“If anything, it’s gotten worse.”
Maddie giggles.
“What? This is funny?”
“No, no, you’re just describing it like you’re diseased.” Maddie finished giggling, suffering the wrath of Buck’s glare. She took a deep breath, put her elbows on her knees, and leaned down to his level. “Alright. Listen. I really, truly, think you should talk to him about it. I know you’re scared it’ll ruin everything, or he’s going to freak out, and you’ll lose him. But I would not tell you to do this if I thought that was even a slight possibility. Tell him how you feel, talk it through. You’ll feel better.”
“But… there’s no way he feels the same way.”
“Buck. Just talk to him. Please.”
Buck sighed. “You know how I told you sometimes I’ll check out a hot guy's ass?”
“And I lied and said it was normal?”
“It was just Eddie. Eddie’s was the hot guy's ass.”
…
The 118 was 12 hours into a 24 hour shift when they pulled back into the station in the middle of a sunny, hot, LA day. Buck pulled out his phone as he hopped off the engine, and his heart dropped. He had six missed calls from Eddie, and a text that said “Call me.”
Buck immediately clicked Eddie’s name, calling him back. All Buck could hear between rings was his heartbeat pulsing through his ears. He was vaguely aware he wasn’t breathing, and he could feel Hen’s hand on his shoulder, but couldn’t hear the words she was saying.
On the third ring, Eddie picked up.
“Hey, Buck-”
“What’s wrong? Are you okay? Is Chris okay? Where are you?”
“Woah, woah, chill Buck, it’s okay, we’re okay, everythings okay. Chris and I are at home. We just have some news we wanted to tell you.”
“You’re okay? Jesus Eddie you scared me.” He finally started breathing again, and felt Hen’s hand leave his shoulder. Again, he missed whatever words came out of her mouth, still reeling.
“Sorry, sorry, I should’ve known that many missed calls would freak you out. I just got excited! It’s good news! Can we facetime? Chris is here, and he wants to tell you together.”
“Yeah, of course.” Seconds later, Chris and Eddie’s smiling faces popped up on Buck’s screen. Suddenly, his phone seemed achingly small, an inadequate way to see the two people he loved the most in the world. “So, what’s up?”
Chris and Eddie looked at each other, and Buck noticed both of them looked the happiest he’d seen them in a very long time. Eddie gave Chris a little nod, and Chris blurted out “we’re coming home!”
Buck’s brain buffered.
“Buck?”
“You there bud?”
“Dad, I think we broke him.”
“Nope, nope! I’m here, I just, I can’t… you’re serious?” Buck felt like he'd just run a marathon. 60 seconds ago he thought he was about to get the worst news of his life, and now here he is, getting quite possibly the best news he could’ve hoped for? Buck doesn’t get this lucky.
“Dead serious. I’m gonna finish out the semester here, I’ve got three more weeks, and then we’re coming home.”
“This is great! This is fantastic! Oh my god, you’re really coming home? In three weeks!” Buck looked up from his phone. “Bobby! Hey! Guys! Get over here!” then quieter, “Oh wait, is it okay if I tell everyone? I know I kinda outed you last time you moved, I don’t wanna do that again…”
Eddie snorted. “It’s okay Buck, out me all you want.”
Buck saw Chris give his dad a pointed look on his tiny little screen. Weird.
“What’s up Buck?” Bobby asked.
“Guys, I have news. Oh wait, no, you guys tell them.” Buck turned around his phone, pointing Chris and Eddie at everyone.
“Your turn dad.”
“Alright, well… we’re moving back to LA!”
A series of excited congratulations later, Eddie and Chris had to hang up.
Three weeks.
In only three weeks, Buck’s family would be whole again.
…
Buck almost got in four different accidents on his way to the airport, practically vibrating out of his seat the whole drive. Eddie and Chris decided to fly back this time, and get the rest of Chris’s stuff later.
Buck had to wait in the cell phone lot for an aching two hours, because of course he got there super early. He couldn’t risk being late. As soon as the text came through that they’d landed, and were headed to baggage claim, he zipped out of the lot and to the arrivals gate. After moving his car three times to escape the airport security lady telling him he couldn’t park if he wasn’t actively loading, he spotted his two favorite people in the world, headed his way.
“Buck!”
Buck reached Chris in a record-breaking six strides, and swept him up into a huge hug. He felt Eddie’s arms wrap around the two of them, and pressed his head into Eddie’s shoulder in response.
“I missed you two so much.”
“We missed you too Buddy.”
“C’mon, let’s get you two in the jeep before this lady puts another boot on it.”
…
On the drive home, Chris filled Buck in on all the drama going on in the chess club, and his online friend group, they talked about the new Captain America movie, and spent a long time talking about the new Daredevil show. Then Chris started filling Buck in on Eddie’s life in El Paso.
“Yeah, Dad didn’t really have much going on, he ended up working construction with some of his old friends from high school.”
“Oh? How was that?”
“...weird.” Eddie looked out the window, and didn’t provide any elaboration.
“Oookay. Oh, uh, obviously you guys are moving back into the house, but is it okay if I stay on the couch, just for a little bit? I haven’t been able to find a place of my own yet, and my credit score isn’t great, so it’s been… an uphill battle.”
“Dad? Did you not talk to him about it?”
“Well, no I… figured I’d do it in person.”
“Talk about what?” Buck slammed on the brakes, narrowly avoiding running a red light. “Sorry, sorry, just excited to have you guys home.” He turned so he could see both Eddie and Chris. “So, talk to me about what?”
“We, uh, we want you to stay. In the house. With us. You know… like… have it be… our house?”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I mean, we’re a family, right?”
“Yep!” Chris nodded in the back seat. “Green light.”
“Oh!” Buck kept driving. “Okay, well, yeah. I mean if it’s what you guys want, I- yeah.”
“Okay cool. Glad that’s settled. Anyways, Buck, you have got to see the El Paso Zoo, it’s so cool.”
…
After they got to the house and Eddie and Chris were introduced to Snips, Chris went to his room to reset and redecorate, stating very obviously that he would be “occupied for at least an hour, and would not be leaving his room.” Snips followed him, and he closed the door behind her.
“Well, what do you think?” Buck asked, gesturing around the living room.
“I think you’re much better at decorating than I am. I can’t believe I bought a fixer upper house in Texas without you.”
“So, what, you only asked me to move in for my decorating skills?”
“Well, duh.”
Buck and Eddie stood staring at each other for a few seconds.
“I really missed you,” Buck said quietly, glancing down at his toes.
Eddie stepped forward. “I missed you too.”
Eddie stepped forward again.
Are you in love with Eddie?
Buck took a deep breath. “I’ve been thinking, a lot -”
“Me too,” Eddie cut him off, and closed the gap between them, bringing his lips to Bucks, and his hand to the back of Buck’s neck in one swift movement.
Buck stopped breathing. He froze. He’s pretty sure his heart stopped beating. If he was hooked up to an EKG, he’d be flatlining. Eddie pulled back.
“Buck? Shit Buck, I’m sorry, I just, I didn’t know how to say it, but, I’m pretty sure I’m gay, and I think I’m in love with you, and Adriana said I should just talk to you and I-”
This time Buck cut Eddie off. He kissed him back, this time actually breathing into it.
“So?” Eddie said, once they broke apart.
“So, I love you too, Eds. Of course I do. I always have.”
“Finally!” Chris exclaimed. Buck and Eddie whipped around to see Chris standing in the hallway, Snips weaving between his legs and crutches.
“You said we had an hour!”
“I got impatient, sue me.”
“He’s gotten really quiet on those crutches.” Buck whispered to Eddie.
“Yeah, well, sneaking around is a survival skill in the Diaz house. They may be old, but their hearing is still impeccable.”
“Who wants lasagna?” Buck clapped his hands together, herding his boys (and his cat) into the kitchen, where they settled in for a new kind of family dinner.