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If anyone asked Buck what the hell happened the night of Chimney’s bachelor party, he’d tell you he didn’t remember. Because he didn’t. Both him and Eddie had drunk their body weight that night. The last thing he remembers is inviting those strangers into the karaoke room.
After that, he draws a blank. His body had regretted it the next day, and he felt even worse realising Chimney was missing, that nobody had seen him since the day before.
Luckily, they found him in time, and both Chimney and Buck's sister, Maddie, had joined together in holy matrimony right there in the hospital. All things aside, it had been a beautiful day. And, for a reason unknown to Buck, he hadn’t needed to come out to the rest of his friends and family: it was like they already knew!
But time had passed since the wedding. Buck and Tommy had pursued a relationship for six months, and then Tommy absolutely fumbled the relationship, leaving Buck heartbroken and confused. He had really liked Tommy, and genuinely wanted him to move in.
Buck pondered his previous relationships after Tommy broke up with him, how they’d never lasted longer than a year. Part of him wondered if Taylor was the exception, but they’d been friends (with benefits) a lot longer than they’d been together.
Then Lucy kissed Buck, Buck had kissed Lucy back. Then, out of guilt, Buck had asked Taylor to move in. That lasted no longer than a couple of weeks. Taylor broke Buck’s heart by publishing that story, and she moved out.
Ali had sort of lived with him, sort of didn’t. If she wasn’t travelling for work, she was living in the loft, and if she wasn’t in the loft she was travelling for work. To save her own heart, she broke Buck’s by leaving after the truck bombing, arguably the worst time she could’ve done it.
Safe to say, the breakup with Tommy had been a shitty end to the year. Before he could even process it, Buck had written out Chimney and Maddie’s anniversary card, ready to give it to them at the celebratory dinner he was going to make for them (after they’d celebrated privately).
But Buck wasn’t in the loft anymore, he’d given it up the minute he’d accepted that Eddie was going to El Paso for Chris. He’d sabotaged all of those house viewings because he was going to be the one leasing the house.
That had been a long three months, Buck thought. He peeled off some sellotape from the roll, using it to tape the envelope closed. Both Eddie and Chris were back, and Buck was forever grateful for it.
He didn’t want to admit how many times he’d crashed out over not having his best friend and pseudo son around. Well, crashed out in private. Everyone knew about his public tantrums.
‘That Maddie and Chim’s card for their anniversary?’ Buck jumped at the sudden voice, and glanced up. There stood Eddie, leaning against the frame of the arch with a fond, and slightly amused look on his face.
‘Uh, yeah! I wanted to make sure it was all signed and stuff before I go round to their’s on Thursday.’ Buck smiled, standing up from the dining table. ‘I signed it from the three of us- I hope that’s okay?’
Eddie jokingly faked a sigh of relief, wiping his brow. ‘Phew, more than okay. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to run to the drug store and get a last minute one.’ He stepped further into the kitchen, opening one of the cabinets. ‘It slipped my mind, what with all the travelling, rebuilding my relationship with my son.’
‘I get it.’ Buck said softly, watching Eddie pour himself a glass of water. ‘I know I say it a lot, but I’m glad you’re back.’ There was a lot Buck wanted to add on, but for the sake of everything, he just kept it short. Eddie turned to look at him over his shoulder, and smiled back.
‘Glad to be back, man. I know it wasn’t for the best reason…but, it beats being an uber driver.’ Buck looked at Eddie, tilting his head. ‘Not- that being an uber driver is a bad thing. But we both know it doesn’t suit me.’ Eddie had quickly backtracked, and Buck couldn’t help but laugh.
‘Maybe you Cap will let you drive the rig.’ Buck wiggled his eyebrows, gaining an eye roll.
‘Funny. Did you find a sense of humour without me?’ Eddie fully turned to face him, leaning back against the kitchen counter. Buck placed a hand over his heart, gasping loudly.
‘Rude! I’ve always been funny, you know that better than anyone.’ He whined, faking to be offended by Eddie’s statement, and Eddie just laughed in response.
‘Sure Buck, whatever you said.’ He said softly, before sipping his water. And that was how he and Buck spent most of their evenings now, bouncing off of each other with taunts and jokes that were borderline flirtatious.
A comfort between two best friends in a room, one would argue that they might kiss. It’s funny how one simple thing is enough to change everything you thought about your best friends, and your relationship with him.
——
Two letters landed on the table in front of Buck. Glancing up from the intense game of UNO he and Eddie were in the middle of, he stared at Chimney with a weird look. ‘These were brought here this morning. They ended up at your old loft. One of your neighbours was kind enough to drop them off.’ Chim answered Buck’s unspoken question, shoving his hands in his pockets.
Buck shrugged, placing his cards face down on the table, and looked at the envelopes. One was addressed to him, and one to Eddie, both with the loft’s address. ‘Here.’ He murmured, handing one over to his best friend. Buck helped himself to a couple of popcorn kernels, shoving them in his mouth before ripping open the letter at the same time as Eddie.
Buck was very glad he’d swallowed the popcorn when he did, his eyes bulging as he removed the contents from the envelope. A check sat in his hand from the IRS. He looked up at Eddie, noticing he had the same thing, a check.
‘Did the IRS send us both a check?’ Buck was confused, more confused than the time the 118 had been accused of robbing a bank.
‘Yeah.’ Was all Eddie responded, his brows furrowed. ‘Did we do our taxes wrong?’
‘I don’t think so, that’s one thing I’ve not had a problem with since the lightning strike.’ Buck murmured, looking back down at the objects in his hand. By now, Hen, Ravi and Chimney had sat around the table, invested in what was happening.
Buck placed the check on the table, and pulled out the actual letter, unfolding it and reasoning the words on the page out loud. ‘Dear Mister Evan Buckley…please find with this letter…check…reimbursement on your taxes…we apologise for any miscommunication…do not have to pay as much since you’re marriage to one Mister Edmundo Diaz…’
‘…marriage to one Mister Evan Buckley.’
What the fucking fuck.
The table went silent as Eddie and Buck looked at each other, processing what they’d just read. It was so qui- q word that you could hear a pin drop. Until Chim burst out laughing. His hands smacked the table, the cards spilling across the surface. ‘Y-you guys?! Married? This had to be the best prank you guys have pulled.’
Though Hen didn’t find it as amusing as Chimney as she glanced between Buck and Eddie. She reached over, taking the letter from Buck’s hand gently, reading over it herself.
‘Marriage…blah blah…as of April 30th, 2024.’ She read out loud, eyes flickering up at them. ‘That would have been…’ she paused for a moment, thinking of the date. ‘One year ago yesterday.’
Chimney’s laugh ceased, staring at Hen incredulously. ‘Wait what?’ He stood up, and rushed over to where she was sitting, peering over the table at the letter. ‘A year ago yesterday was supposed to be the bachelor party those idiots threw for me.’
Buck stared blankly at the table in front of him, his brain seemingly doing a factory reset. If the others had to describe what it looked like to them, it looked like Buck was one of those old fashioned computers from the late 80s that made a loud whirring noise while it tried to boot up.
‘There has to be some kind of mistake. M-maybe they mixed us up with another Evan Buckley and Edmundo Diaz. L.A is a big place, right?’ Eddie tried to argue, but gave up upon seeing the look on his co-worker’s faces.
‘There is one way you could disprove this.’ Hen spoke up softly, breaking Buck out of whatever trance he was in. ‘Contact the records office, ask them to search for a marriage certificate, they’re bound to have one if it’s not a mistake.’
‘Hen’s right, Buck. We’re off at nine tomorrow morning, we could head straight there after our shift.’ Eddie glanced at Buck, offering him a small smile. But Buck couldn’t offer one back. Partly because he was still in shock, but mostly because he thought that this was just some cruel dream his mind had conjured one night.
It had taken a post-hookup argument with Tommy and a sibling heart-to-heart with Maddie for Buck to realise he was madly in love with Eddie, and had been for a long time. He couldn’t give an exact timeline of when he started to fall, but it was sometime around Eddie being buried alive under that well.
‘Y-yeah…’ Buck stuttered, before coughing to clear his throat. ‘Records office…prove the tax office wrong.’ He mumbled with a strained smile. The selfish part of Buck was ecstatic at the thought of him being married to Eddie. He couldn’t imagine his life without the man. I mean, he’d being fucking help raise his son for the last seven years.
It was clear to Buck that the rest of the shift was going to be filled with comments, and jabs, and jokes about him being married to Eddie, and so Buck being Buck, said the only thing that he could think of to pause those comments for now: ‘I hope the rest of our shift is quiet, don’t think I can handle another shock like that.’ It had come out playful, teasing. And he knew by the look on his co-worker’s faces that his quick-thinking worked.
Within seconds the alarm blared, and Buck let out a false groan. ‘I didn’t mean it like that!’ He whined, pretending to be upset with himself for “accidentally” saying the q word. Would Buck regret it in the morning when he was running on two hours of sleep and five coffees? Sure. But for now, he had time to think.
Time to pretend, for a short amount of time, that Eddie was his husband.
——-
‘I hate you.’ Eddie moaned, flopping onto the bunk beside Buck.
‘No you don’t.’ Buck teased back, crawling onto his own bunk. Chim had agreed to take them offline for at least an hour so they could get some sleep. It was nearing two am with back to back calls. As he looked at Eddie’s soft pout and tired eyes, Buck did regret his idea for a moment. Only for a moment.
‘Yes I do.’ Eddie huffed back, turning onto his stomach and hugging his pillow under his head.
‘Since when were you superstitious, Edmundo?’ Buck grinned, leaning up on his elbow. Eddie opened his eyes a sliver and glared at Buck affectionately.
‘I’m not. But everyone else is, and we’ve had nothing but back to back calls for fourteen hours.’ Buck winced, and smiled sheepishly.
‘Yeah, that’s my bad. I upset the jinx gods.’ He sighed dramatically and flopped onto his back.
‘No such thing as a jinx, Buck.’
‘I’ll stop believing in jinxes when pigs fly, Eddie.’ Buck replied softly, tilted his head to the side to look at Eddie. Maybe it was the trick of the light, but Buck could’ve sworn there was a hint of…something glittering in Eddie’s eyes. His eyes trailed over his face, admiring the short stubble beginning to grow on his best friend's face.
If he was accurate, the stubble would be gone by the next shift. Shaving was something Eddie had become almost religious about, ever since he shaved the moustache.
Fuck, he missed the moustache. There was something about it that gave Buck butterflies. It was thoughts like this that made Buck wonder why he didn’t notice his feelings for Eddie sooner.
‘Sure, I’ll check out a hot guy’s ass, but that’s normal, right?’ He was actually so dense. Eddie was the hot guy whose ass he couldn’t stop staring at. Hen had caught him a couple of times checking Eddie out.
‘What’s going on in that big old head of yours, Buck?’ If he hadn’t been watching Eddie’s mouth, Buck wouldn’t have known he was speaking to him.
‘Hmm? Oh, just…what I’m going to bake next.’ Buck regretted his answer almost immediately when he watched Eddie’s face contort into one of concern.
‘What’s going on? You only bake when something’s on your mind. Is it about the…you know…’ Buck sighed, turning his head to glance up at the ceiling.
‘Yeah.’ He answered. ‘Just…how the hell did this happen, Eds? I…I don’t remember anything from that night. Did we really get so drunk that we got-‘
‘-Married?’ Eddie cut Buck off. ‘We’d remember, right? We’d have rings, or some kind of documentation?’
‘…not unless it got left at the hotel? We never went back to get our stuff. Not that there was a single thing salvageable.’ Bucks face twisted at the reminder of the monthly he paid off every month. He’d told Eddie he managed to pay off the damage, but in reality he was still paying it off each month a year later.
‘They’d have contacted us about it, surely.’
‘After the way we left the room? I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re blacklisted from the hotel.’ He heard Eddie shift and sigh on the bunk.
‘…at least our taxes are cheaper this year.’ Buck snorted, slapping a hand over his mouth to quieten the chuckles that threatened to break the silence of the bunk room.
‘Y-yeah.’ Buck finally agreed after taking a moment to compose himself. ‘I can put it toward a down payment.’
‘You’re still looking at houses?’ He could practically hear the disappointment in Eddie’s voice. ‘There’s still plenty of space at the house, Buck, and Christopher is loving having his personal chef back.’
‘I know, Eddie. But that couch ain’t doing your back any good, old man.’ Buck grinned, swallowing the pang in his heart. He grunted as a pillow smacked harshly across his face. ‘Alright, alright.’ Buck swatted the pillow away, sighing gently.
He heard Eddie inhale beside him, like he was going to say something, but instead the man shuffled and coughed slightly. ‘Night Buck.’ Eddie murmured.
Buck but his lip, turning his head to face his best friend, Eddie’s back toward him. ‘Night.’ Buck responded, closing his eyes and shuffling to get comfy in the bunk. But despite the exhaustion seeping into his aching bones, he couldn’t bring himself to fall asleep, his brain too active and whirring at a million miles an hour.
He tossed, and he turned, changed what side of the bunk he slept on, fluffed his pillow, everything he could think of, and nothing. With a frustrated groan, he got up and slipped out of the bunk room, using the wall as support to move through the darkness of the station.
He blinked rapidly as the bright lights hit him once out of the bunk room, before trudging up to the loft. Buck’s blue eyes glanced at the oven, noting the time reading just after three am. ‘Fuck.’ Buck sighed, wondering if it would be worth going back to where everyone was sleeping, but decidedly he instead slumped on the sofa, pulling his phone out of his pocket.
He began his rabbit hole, deep diving and researching everything he could to help jog his memory: opening bank statements that went as far back as that night, looking up the city records opening times, scrolling through his photos to find some kind of sign that would help.
Buck was so wired into his research, he hadn’t noticed his eyes drooping, or his body finally giving into exhaustion.
—-
‘It sucks that-‘ hiccup, ‘-Chim’s not here to enjoy his party.’ Eddie pouted, drunkenly slinging his arm around Buck before sipping his beer like a baby with a bottle.
Buck hummed as he hazily watched everyone in the karaoke room have a great time, shotting and drinking as much liquor as their bodies could hold. ‘Sucks to suck.’ Buck grinned at his own words. ‘Hah, suck.’
‘You don’t…you don’t suck, Buck.’ Eddie grabbed Buck’s chin and turned him to face him. ‘Suck…Buck…You-‘ Eddie pointed his finger at Buck. ‘You don’t suck. You are my faaavourite person.’
‘Thanks man.’ Buck grinned at Eddie, leaning into the man. ‘I suck…past me, used to suck.’
‘I mean you did some shitty things but-‘ Buck put his fingers on Eddie’s lips.
‘N-No…I used to suck, Eddie. People. In-‘ Buck took a swig of his beer, ‘-in 1.0.’
‘Woah…so you’re like…a master sucker?’ Eddie looked at Buck in awe and amazement, to which Buck gave him a blindingly proud smile.
‘Yep! Don’t get how I didn’t realise I was bisexual till now…thought it was normal to just enjoy sex, with people.’ Buck shrugged, and Eddie nodded thoughtfully with a small pout. ‘I mean, like I thought it was normal to check out a hot guy’s ass.’
‘Who? Tell me.’ Eddie shook Buck slightly.
‘You, Diaz. Your ass is smoking hot.’ Buck groaned, throwing his head back like a toddler.
‘That’s the greatest compliment ever.’ Eddie grinned, leaning his head against Buck’s shoulder. They swayed together on the cushioned bench, drunkenly “singing” along to “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” by Kylie Minogue.
Shot after shot, beer after beer, bordering on alcohol poisoning level did Buck and Eddie continue on, until a bright idea came to Buck. ‘If- if Chim can’t come to the party…we should bring the party to Chim.’
Eddie looked at Buck like he’d just said the smartest thing he’d heard, pointing at him. ‘We’re getting an uber.’ Eddie declared, Buck nodding feverishly in agreement.
‘We’re getting an uber!’ He yelled, downing the rest of his drink. He almost jumped feeling a hand on his shoulder, gazing up at the person.
‘Hey, you two should get married tonight! Screw- screw waiting till tomorrow!’ The girl shouted over the cheering and music.
‘Dude, she’s so right! S-screw waiting! Marry me Buck!’ Eddie whined, gripping the lapels of Buck’s blazer.
‘Nooo I was gonna ask you first!’ Buck huffed, pouting at Eddie, but the drunk man paid him no attention and dragged him shakily onto his feet.
‘Yeah!! Hey, you guys should- should get married at that Elvis chapel that just opened up down the road. Pretend you guys are in Vegas’ the girl giggled, before stumbling away to inform the other party-goers the change in plans.
‘Dude she’s so right, we could have Elvis Presley marry us.’ Buck said in awe, blinking rapidly at Eddie, who just looked at him like he was the moon shining brightly in the sky.
‘Think about it-‘ Eddie cupped the sides of Buck’s head, bringing their faces closer. ‘He came back from the dead just to marry us, the universe is screaming at us!’
‘Ed’s you’re so right, we’re getting married!’ Buck screamed, the whole room erupting into cheers. The journey to the chapel was a bit of a blur to Buck and Eddie, giggling like school kids telling secrets. Before their drunken brains could catch up, the two stood hand in hand at the top of the rock n roll altar, a Presley Priest behind them, and dozens of drunk strangers filling the chairs.
‘Well dearly beloved.’ The fake Prestley spoke up, sounding tipsy himself. ‘It is with the deepest of pleasures, that I, Elvis Presley, unite these two men in the holiest of matrimony.’ A few “whoops” and claps sounded from the audience spectating, making Buck giggle. The Elvis continued to drone on in his slurred, butchered impression, dropping puns and jokes in every other sentence.
Eddie stared up at Buck with so much love and adoration that Buck thought his heart would burst out of his chest. He couldn’t wait to tell Tommy what he missed after leaving for his shift, tell him how he and Eddie got married.
‘Do you, Tubbs, take your Crockett to be your blessedly loved husband till the day the music stops?’ The Elvis asked, looking at Buck through his shades.
‘I do.’ Buck grinned wolfishly at Eddie, squeezing the man’s hands.
‘And do you, Crockett, take your Tubbs to be your blessedly loved husband till the day the music stops?’ Prestley Priest turned to Eddie, who nodded fervently.
‘Absolutely I do.’
‘Then by the power invested in rock and roll-‘ he struck a pose, ‘- I pronounce you husband and husband, huh huh.’ Throughout the small chapel, “Can’t Help Falling In Love” blared over the speakers as the Elvis impersonator pulled Buck and Eddie to one side, having them sign an official marriage certificate.
‘Buck look, we’re officially married!’ Eddie held up the freshly-signed marriage certificate, waving it around.
‘Dude, this is so amazing.’ Buck gasped, patting Eddie’s arm. ‘We need to show Chim!’
‘Uber?’ Eddie grinned at Buck, who grinned back.
‘Uber!’
Buck groaned as he felt consistent tapping on his face. He cracked his eyes open, glaring at Chim. ‘What, dude?’ He groaned, sitting up on the sofa.
‘What? What do you mean, what? We’ve been trying to wake you for like an hour, you’re on breakfast duty!’ Chim frowned, placing the back of his hand against Buck’s head.
‘I’m fine, stop.’ He swatted Chimney’s hand away, rubbing his eyes. ‘What time is it?’
‘Just after six.’ Chimney replied, crossing his arms as he stared down at Buck.
‘Shit.’ Buck sprang to his feet, noticing the golden rays of sunrise glittering through the station. He kept pressure on his right leg as he moved to the kitchen area, pulling out ingredients for a quick breakfast.
‘You injure your leg on the last call?’ Chim questioned as he moved over to the island, placing his backside on one of the stools.
‘Nah, it just aches sometimes. It’ll be fine in a few minutes once I’ve woken up.’ Came Buck’s automated response, one the team had heard numerous times.
‘Okay…so are you just going to ignore the elephant in the room?’ Buck glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.
‘Don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Buck shrugged, cracking eggs into a mixing bowl.
‘Look, it’s not really any of my business. Honestly, I should be mad you took the spotlight from me and Maddie-‘ despite the accusatory tone in Chim’s voice Buck knew there was no malice behind his words, ‘-I’m glad you and Eddie tied the knot.’ Buck went to argue, but faltered at Chimney’s raised hand. ‘I know you guys don’t remember, but Buck, it’s been painful watching you both pine over each other for years.’
‘We’re not pining, Chim! H-He’s my best friend, it’s purely platonic love.’ Buck protested, whisking the omelette mixture.
‘Would it be crazy if you did love Eddie?’ Buck gawked at Chimney, blinking at him.
‘You sound like Maddie.’
‘I married a wise woman.’ Chimney shrugged, reaching over to steal a slice of pre-cooked bacon, crunching on it.
‘Yeah, I know.’ Buck sighed, continuing on with breakfast. ‘Even- even if I did, Eddie doesn’t love me. Not in the way I want him to.’
‘Did Hen ever tell you the story- the full story of how I got her and Karen together?’
‘Please don’t tell Eddie I died in a car crash.’ Buck cringed, but Chimney shook his head.
‘Not where I’m going with this- look, Buck, you and Eddie have been through a lot, together. The well, the bombing, the tsunami, the lawsuit, the shooting, the lightning strike, Chris leaving, Eddie leaving, bob…’ Chimney swallowed harshly. ‘Bobby dying.’
Buck felt his heart clench, and he found himself blinking back tears. Sometimes, Buck wondered if he’d fully processed Bobby’s death, or if he’s still due a crash out.
‘You’ve seen it all, together. It’s only reasonable after all this time, there’s something between you. Sure, maybe it’s one sided or platonic, but you’re basically a second dad to Christopher. You’re living in the guy’s house still-‘
‘-Because I haven’t found anything that feels like…like…’ Buck tensed his jaw, pausing what he was doing.
‘Like home?’ Chim finished softly, and Buck felt himself melt, staring at his brother-in-law with a look that answered his questions. ‘I can’t tell you what you should, or shouldn’t do. Only you and Eddie know where to step.’ Chimney gave Buck a small smile, before jumping up from his seat. ‘Now! I’m gonna go get the rest of the team, oh and Buck-‘ he turned back to the taller male, ‘-maybe don’t tell Maddie yet? About the date you guys got married?’
‘You? Telling me to keep a secret?’ Buck scoffed, and Chimney just barked out a laugh.
‘Ironic, isn’t it?’
Buck watched the captain saunter to the fire pole, sliding down it gracefully, leaving him alone with his thoughts. He allowed his mind to wander, thinking back to his dream. Bits and pieces were starting to come back to him, and it only made Buck more devastated.
He knew he had to speak to Eddie, that much was certain. The selfish part of him wanted to wait until either it was forgotten or Eddie brought it up, but he knew realistically the longer this went on, the more awkward it would get between him and his best friend.
Best friend. Chimney was right, whatever Buck and Eddie had, it had long passed the line of friendship, morphing into this…this partnership. Eddie was Buck’s partner, both in and out of work. Without Eddie, there was no Buck. The three months Eddie was gone was evidence of that. Buck hated the person he was before Eddie, and thanked whatever higher power was out there that Bobby had fought for Eddie to be a part of the 118. Too bad he isn’t alive so I can say thank you, Buck thought bitterly as he poured some of the omelette mixture into the pan.
Buck 1.0 was a past he wanted to bury deep, the part of himself that was reckless and arrogant, who didn’t think about his actions till it was too late. Eddie was his breath of fresh air, him and Chris. At his age, Buck had wondered if he’d ever have children, but now he just felt so stupid. He was a dad, he had been one to Christ for the last seven years. He’d sat with him, read to him, helped with homework, comforted him, and took him on day trips. In every meaning of the words, and by law through the will, Buck was just as much a dad to Christopher as Eddie was.
Buck pictured married life with Eddie, the ups and downs, the scheduled routines, the soft looks, the hugs, the kisses, the comfort, the reassurance, the love, the home. One confession and it could be his, permanently. Could. ‘Would it be so terrible?’ Buck murmured to himself, brows furrowed as he stared so intensely at the sizzling pan, flipping the omelette.
‘Would what be terrible?’ Buck bear jumped out of his skin and stared at Eddie like a deer in headlights.
‘When did you get here?’ He questioned, rubbing his chest slightly to relieve the panic.
‘Just now, don’t change the subject.’ Eddie crossed his arms, leaning his hip against the island next to where Buck was cooking.
‘Nothing, just something I was researching.’ Buck shrugged, playing the omelette on the steady growing plate of them.
‘And what’s that?’ Eddie’s doe brown eyes held fascination, one reserved only for him and Chris whenever they had something new to tell him. Buck hadn’t paid much attention to it before, but he was seeing things in a new light. Could he?
‘Uh…did you know, that penguins have an adorable mating ritual?’ Buck blurted, forcing a smile on his tired face. ‘Penguins- they mate for life. When a male wants to mate with a female, they find them the prettiest stone, and present it to them. Almost like an uh…’
‘A proposal?’
‘Exactly! Like a proposal.’ Buck grinned brightly, before wincing at the implications. ‘Uh, sorry, I didn’t-‘
‘It’s okay, Buck.’ Eddie laughed, patting his shoulder. ‘After yesterday, I’m not surprised you ended up down another research rabbit hole. It’s very…Buck of you.’
‘What does that even mean?’ Buck frowned at Eddie.
‘It’s not a bad thing, it’s like…a comment of endearment. A special little quirk of yours.’ Eddie reassured him. ‘Anyway, I’ve got Pepa to watch Chris a little longer so we can go to the records office.’
‘That woman is a godsend.’ Buck groaned, turning off the stove as he finished up breakfast for the team. ‘Uh, actually, I do have a question.’
‘What’s up?’ Eddie tilted his head slightly, a strand of hair falling in his face. Buck stared at the strand, mouth agape slightly, before shaking his head.
‘If it’s true, if we are…you know…married.’ Buck swallowed harshly. ‘What are we gonna do?’
‘I’m confused.’
‘Well, I know you’ll want to divorce me as soon as possible, right? Cause it’s past the year mark we can’t file for annulment, but I know you’ll wanna get married to the woman of your dreams when you eventually meet her, not to mention how confusing everything gonna be, and-‘
‘Shhh, Buck.’ Eddie cupped his hand gently over Buck’s mouth to quieten him down. ‘You’re doing that thing where you overthink.’ Eddie smiled softly, taking his hand away. ‘Truthfully, I don’t wanna get married again. Not after the whole Kim situation.’
Buck felt his heart drop a little, but he forced himself to nod. ‘Understandable. Single and stuff.’ Perhaps luckily, or unluckily, he was saved by the alarm ringing. His team groaned, sending flares at Buck, before rushing to the engines. Buck smiled and gripped Eddie’s bicep, running off to follow the others.
For the remainder of the shift, it was back to back calls. Chim finally managed to swap the shifts over a little after ten, sending everyone home to rest.
‘We grabbing coffee first or going straight to the records office?’ Buck asked Eddie, shutting his locker after grabbing his bag.
‘Records first, Pepa is insisting on making us breakfast, or, well, lunch by the time we get there.’ Eddie glanced at his watch.
The car ride thankfully wasn’t as awkward as Buck expected it to be, Eddie filling the silence talking about stuff Buck truthfully barely paid attention to, giving the occasional input so Eddie wouldn’t think he was ignoring him.
The pounding in his chest seemed to get worse as they stepped into the office. It was easy, wasn’t it? Go in, ask for a copy of the marriage certificate, if there is one, and let Eddie file for divorce. Piece of cake.
‘Hello, good morning!’ The clerk greeted brightly, a young woman, Buck estimation be mid to late twenties, sat behind the desk. ‘What can I help you with today?’ She stared between Buck and Eddie, nothing but kindness, and what he could’ve swore was a hint of recognition, in her expression.
‘Hi, so sorry to bother you. We were just wondering if you could help us with something. See, we’ve been moving some stuff in the house and I’ve somehow managed to lose our marriage certificate.’ Eddie greeted the lady, and Buck guffawed at Eddie. What the fuck was happening right now?
‘Of course! You’ll be surprised at how often stuff like this happens.’ She smiled at Eddie, before turning to her computer, her fingers whizzing over the keyboard. ‘Eddie Diaz, right? And Evan Buckley?’
‘You know us?’ Eddie looked at Buck with a confused smile, before glancing back at the woman.
‘Sorry, yeah.’ She laughed a little shyly. ‘I was one of the witnesses at your Prestley wedding last year.’ Buck had to be dreaming. What alternate reality was he in right now? Were there cameras- surely this was some kind of prank.
‘You were? Small world. I’m afraid we were too drunk to remember anything.’ Eddie laughed alongside the girl, playing along.
‘That’s a shame, it was a beautiful night.’ She paused her typing for a moment. ‘In fact, I’m sure I have a video recording on my phone. I’ll airdrop it to you once I’ve got you a copy of your certificate.’
‘You’re a gem, thank you.’ Eddie grinned at her, before turning to Buck, who just stared at him with the biggest “what the fuck?” expression.
‘Give me one moment.’ She stood up from her desk, moving out of sight somewhere in the office.
‘What the fuck?’ Buddie hissed, stepping closer to Eddie.
‘What?’ Eddie frowned in confusion.
‘What the hell was that? We’ve been moving stuff around the house and lost our certificate?’
‘I…I wasn’t lying.’ Eddie huffed, shrugging his shoulders. ‘We’re getting proof of the certificate, right?’
‘You’re making it seem like we’re happily married, Eds.’ Buck just gave Eddie an incredulous look.
‘Are we not?’
‘Not when you’re about to ask her for divorce papers as well.’ Buck hated how vulnerable he sounded right then, and he hated the sad look Eddie had on his face.
‘Divorce? Buck, what-?’
‘I know how this is gonna go, Eddie. She brings the certificate, proving we’re married, you then ask her for divorce papers, she’s gonna give us the whole “oh I’m so sorry you were such a beautiful couple” speech, you’re gonna file for divorce, and I have to go on pretending that-“ Buck cut himself off, looking everywhere but Eddie.
‘That what, Buck? I don’t know what you’re thinking if you don’t talk to me.’ He silently cursed how caring Eddie sounded.
‘That I love you more than I should.’ And there was the drop of the shoe, the full realisation of how Buck truly felt for Eddie.
‘Look at me.’ Buck refused, closing his eyes. He felt Eddie’s gentle fingers cup his cheek, and shamefully he leaned into the delicate touch. ‘Buck, look at me.’ And who was Buck to deny Eddie what he asked for. ‘There’s those baby blues.’ Eddie smiled oh so softly at Buck, brushing his thumb over his cheekbone. ‘I don’t fully know what’s going on in that beautiful brain of yours, but I think I have some kind of inkling.
You are my partner, Buck. In work, and out of work. If I have a soulmate, it’s you. My other half, anything else I can think of to describe the two of us, that’s it. You’re it Buck.’
‘But you’re straight Eddie.’
‘I don’t think that’s fully true.’ Eddie admitted, and Buck dared to allow himself to have a spark of hope.
‘I’m confused.’
‘So am I. I have been, I think for my whole life. I don’t fully know how to label myself. Maybe I am straight, but there’s one thing I’m certain of, Buck. I love you.’ Buck’s ear rang as he heard the words haunting his dreams for years, words he wished Eddie would say. ‘I love, I love, I love you.’
‘You mean it?’ Buck asked shakily, holding out his pinky finger, and his heart exploded as Eddie wrapped his around it.
‘Buck, you have bewitched me, body and soul.’ Eddie grinned cheekily pressing his forehead against Buck’s. Buck couldn’t help but snort, shaking his head.
‘Did you just quote Pride and Prejudice to me?’ He laughed a little.
‘Did it work?’ There was a cheekiness to Eddie’s words, but Buck was too high on cloud nine.
‘Yes.’ He mumbled. ‘A thousand times, yes.’
‘Who’s the one quoting stuff now.’ Eddie teased.
‘Shut up and kiss me.’ And Eddie did, he kissed Buck like he was a breath of fresh air. It felt different than kissing Tommy. Better, like it was meant to be. He felt that familiar tickle of butterflies, that slight shock of electricity people described in books.
‘Here it- oh my gosh, I’m so sorry to interrupt.’ They quickly pulled apart, blushing at the clerk who smiled sheepishly at them. ‘I have the marriage certificate right here. Brand new copy for you guys to keep.’ She handed them an A4 sized card envelope with the certificate inside, before pulling up her phone.
Eddie pulled out his phone, grinning down at the screen. ‘Now we have a memory of the wedding.’ He elbowed Buck teasingly. ‘Thank you for your help today…’
‘Maggie, my name’s Maggie.’
‘Thank you, Maggie.’ Eddie said sincerely, and they waved her goodbye as they left the office. Standing in front of Buck’s truck, they took out the certificate.
‘There it is.’ Buck whistled lowly, the physical proof of a drunken mistake in their hands.
‘Best mistake of my life. Can’t wait to frame this.’ Buck rolled his eyes at the bright grin on Eddie’s face.
‘Another stop before we go home?’
‘Oh, definitely.’
‘Right.’ Buck slid the certificate in the envelope, and the two packed up into the truck. ‘So, how are we gonna break the news?’
‘News?’
‘About our marriage…to Pepa and Chris…’ Buck pulled out of the parking lot, eyeing Eddie in the rear-view mirror.
‘Right. Well…we do it together.’ Eddie placed his hand on Buck’s thigh, squeezing it gently. ‘As partners.
Buck felt his heart soar, a goofy smile on his face. ‘Partners.’ He groaned, leaning back in the driver's chair. ‘Chim’s never gonna let me hear the end of this.’
‘Never.’ Eddie just laughed, and Buck wouldn’t have it any other way. ‘Have you thought how you’re gonna tell Maddie?’
And, well, Buck just sighed, deciding that was a problem for another day.