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The soft sound of a baby’s breath was the first thing Eddie heard when he walked into the hospital room. Coffees and tea in one hand and a bag of pastries in the other, wandering in just in time to see Skylar yawn and full body stretch as big as her tiny body would let her.
“Well, good morning to you, miss Skylar.” He smiled at her in his friend’s arms, leaning in after putting their breakfast on the tray-table in front of him.
Buck picked up her little hand and waved it towards Eddie, “Look, Sky, it’s uncle Eddie,” he gently dropped her hand and kissed her head, “and he brought Daddy and Papa breakfast!”
“I got you a tea, Buck.” Eddie took it out of the holder for him, pushing the remaining cups towards the other end of the table for Tommy.
“Ooo, thank you.” Buck patted Sky’s little bottom as he said it, rocking her slightly. It’s like his body was already moving on autopilot.
Next to his husband’s side on the bed, Tommy grabbed the coffee with his name on it from where he sat, he took a sip and hummed a thank you to Eddie. It was just the way he liked it.
“Now, I’ve paid the coffee and breakfast tax, it’s time for a cuddle with my niece.” He rubbed his hands together and gave Buck an award winning smile. Buck rolled his eyes and carefully handed over his daughter.
“I need a shower anyways, I was actually waiting for you to arrive so you could hold her while I do that,” he peeled the covers off himself and got off the bed slowly, “I’ll have breakfast after.” Buck steadied himself, still feeling a bit weak in the legs from the day before.
Sitting in the chair next to the bed, and Sky snuggled against his chest, Eddie arched a brow, “You were waiting for me? But Tommy’s right there.” He didn’t mean for it to sound rude, but the other two knew that, it was evident in their giggles.
Tommy put down his half drunk coffee and leant down to pick up their bag of clothes, he moved around the room towards the small adjacent bathroom.
“He’s helping me.” Buck simply stated and shuffled over to Tommy, following him into the bathroom and suddenly shutting the door behind them.
The door then swung back open, “Oh, and she’s been fed and had a diaper change, so she should be good and happy for the time being, we won’t be long anyway.” And just like that, the door closed again, leaving Eddie and Sky alone in the quiet room, the sun shining in through the blinds onto them.
Eddie sighed, “Just you and me then.” He smiled down at her and saw her hand balled in a fist, so just like he’s been doing, he balled up his own hand and landed the world’s softest fist bump.
There wasn’t much room for two fully grown men, who also happen to be firefighters, in the bathroom, but they could make do.
With a grimace, Buck lifted his arms and Tommy pulled his shirt up and over his head, folded it and then placed it next to the bag to be put in later after the clean clothes were taken out and put on.
Buck caught his reflection in the mirror, eyes scanning over his body to where he still had a noticeable bump, he ran his hand over it and frowned, “I still look pregnant.”
Tommy untied his husband’s sweatpants, pulling them all the way down, “Yeah, well you did just have a baby, like yesterday.” He said matter of factly, tapping Buck’s leg to tell him to step out of the sweats.
He could hear Buck’s thoughts swimming, could see them getting louder as he stared at his body in the mirror. So, he did what any devoted husband would do, he got up, kissed his birthmark and said “Thank you, for bringing our beautiful daughter into the world, you are so amazing, you are incredible, and I love every inch of you.”
A sweet smile broke out over Buck’s face, his cheeks burning a rosy colour as he captured Tommy’s lips in a kiss. “What did I do to deserve someone like you?” He whispered as he pulled away and Tommy looked almost offended at what he said.
“Hey, I should be the one asking that!” Tommy squawked, making Buck giggle.
But as he reached for Buck’s underwear, a hand stopped him and Tommy looked at him in silent question.
“It’s not gonna be pretty down there, I still have that after birth pad and it’s gonna have a load of blood on it.” Buck swallowed, legs feeling even more weak with the added nerves.
The pilot just shook his head and continued to pull down the underwear, “Baby, it’s my job to take care of you, so that’s what I’m going to do,” underwear now in hand, he pulled the bloody pad off, rolled in up and deposited it in the trash, “it’s just a little blood and as for you not looking pretty down there, like I said, Evan, you just had a baby so it’s completely normal.”
Buck’s eyes filled with tears, his body still fresh with a million raging hormones, he never thought he’d find love like this. Someone to care for him, to be there for all the good and the bad, see the ugly and still see beauty.
“I love you.”
Tommy stripped from his own shirt, leaving his sweats on as there is no way they’re both having a shower in such a small space, “I love you too.” It was said like it was the most natural thing in the world, because to them, it was.
Twisting around, Tommy turned on the shower, water rushing out cold before warming on his arm, “Alright, should be warm enough for you.” He held out his hands for Buck to take, guiding him under the spray of the water, steadying his swaying steps.
Buck groaned at the feel of hot water on his skin, washing away the dried sweat and some flakes of blood left on his inner thighs. Leaning forward, he soaked his hair, curls plastered to his forehead and let the water run over his face. Tommy just stood and watched with a smile.
After he was thoroughly soaked, he moved so Tommy could scrub shampoo in his hair. Tommy even graciously gave his dear husband a scalp massage while he was at it. He grabbed the shower head and aimed it to wash all the suds out, moving his hand back and forth through wet curls. Buck just loved it so much when Tommy washed his hair, it was soothing, especially after a particularly long shift.
Once his hair was washed, Tommy moved the shower head down lower, “Okay, I’m gonna wash between your legs now, so tell me if it hurts at all and I’ll stop.”
Buck gripped the bar on the wall to stabilise himself as he spread his legs apart slightly, “Okay.” He nodded.
He jolted as he felt the warm water hit a sensitive spot and Tommy immediately pulled away. “Did I hurt you?” His voice filled with worry.
“No, no babe, just a bit sensitive, keep going.” Buck tried not to laugh at how cute Tommy looked, all worried and pouting.
Tommy tentatively moved the shower head back, going slowly as he moved it side to side to wash off any bodily fluids still clinging on. It wasn’t the first time he’s washed him down there, but it was the first time in this context - and probably wouldn’t be the last.
Satisfied with his job well done, Tommy turned off the shower and reached for the folded towel next to him. One hand took Buck’s as he carefully stepped out and once safely back on dry ground, he wrapped him up.
While Buck stood there in nothing but a towel, Tommy quickly grabbed the clean pair of underwear from the bag and a clean pad and stuck it down inside, he gathered the rest of the clothes and then shoved the dirty ones in the duffle. Putting it all aside, he turned his attention back to his shivering husband.
Swiftly, he removed the towel and started to rub Buck dry, wiping all the droplets off of his skin. He took a wad of tissue and gently dabbed between his legs, before throwing the now wet and spotted blood tissue in the trash can with the used pad. Holding out the padded underwear, he instructed Buck to lift each leg and step into them, he then dragged them up his legs and let him adjust them to sit comfortably.
He did the same with the sweatpants and then ruffled his hair with the discarded towel, attempting to dry it to some extent. And next was the shirt, he lifted his arms for Tommy to slide it on him, giving him a kiss once his head popped out of the hole and the material fell over his torso.
“I also got you these.” Tommy said as he presented a pair of fluffy socks and one of Tommy’s cosy zip-up hoodies that Buck loved to steal.
Buck laughed, “You know me so well.”
Helping with those too, Tommy got him all dressed and cosy, ready to cuddle with their baby girl again. He quickly found his shirt, putting it on before opening the door. But just as he went to step out, Buck rested a hand on his chest and leant in for a short kiss.
“Thank you, Tommy, for all of this.” He whispered.
Tommy cupped Buck’s cheeks and kissed him again, a soft, loving kiss, “I’m just doing what I love,” he kissed him on his birthmark, “taking care of you.”
Stepping out into the room, they stopped to see that Eddie was no longer holding Sky, he was eating a croissant and scrolling on his phone. Opposite him was Bobby, perched on the end of the bed, talking to a very happy Skylar who laid in his arms.
Noticing their presence, Bobby looked up and smiled at the two, “You’re looking a lot more awake today, and fresh.” He joked.
“Well,” Buck smiled, moving towards him to stroke a hand down Sky’s arm, “I have a very doting husband to thank for that.” He threw Tommy a wink.
Once Buck was settled back on the bed, Bobby passed Skylar over to her father’s arms, he then stepped back beside Tommy and watched with the same smile he had been wearing the whole time he’d been in the room. It never left his face.
Resting his hand on Tommy’s shoulder, Bobby gave it a light squeeze, “Thank you, for being there for him and loving him no matter what.” There was complete sincerity in it, he’s known for years how much Bobby thinks of Buck as his son, so of course Tommy stands tall when complimented by the man, complimented on how good he is at taking care of the man he loves with his whole being.
The pilot nods, “I wouldn’t have it any other way, sir.”
Bobby waves his hand in front of him and laughs, “I thought we were past calling me sir.”
Eddie and Buck, eavesdropping on their exchange, burst out laughing causing Tommy’s cheeks to go red. But aside from the slight embarrassment, it was exactly what Tommy had always wanted, a family that is there for one another, and to have moments like this, moments where laughter comes after joyous new beginnings.