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“Are you sure you’re okay with us keeping this a secret for now?” Buck asks, tucking his engagement ring back in its box and popping it into a kitchen drawer. Maddie’s supposed to be coming over later to pick some stuff up for Jee’s bake sale and Buck doesn’t want her accidentally stumbling on his engagement ring. He’ll tell Maddie soon. He’s just not ready yet. “It doesn’t feel like I’m forcing you back in the closet or anything?”
Tommy snorts which Buck can’t decide is attractive or an asshole move. Maybe it’s both. Maybe Buck’s just attracted to asshole behaviour in general. It would certainly explain his dating history.
“What?” Buck asks.
“Evan, this is hardly the same situation as our first date,” Tommy says.
Buck winces. Yeah, still not his proudest moment. Honestly, he’s amazed Tommy was willing to give him a second chance after that.
Tommy sets his uneaten apple down on the counter and saunters over to Buck, running his hands down Buck’s arms until their fingers interlace and Tommy gently tugs Buck in for a little kiss. “I get it, Evan,” he says. “We haven’t been back together that long and we’re already getting engaged. You don’t want the people you care about judging you or saying you’re moving too quickly.”
“Do you think we’re moving too quickly?” Buck asks. It doesn’t feel like they are to him but what does he know?
“No,” Tommy says, eyes steady, none of the fear that had been a near constant for much of their early relationship (well-hidden though it had been) present in his deep blue eyes. This new, confident-inside-and-out Tommy was breathtaking. “I think we already wasted too much time being apart.”
“Yeah,” Buck says, trying to keep his thoughts from straying. He needs to leave for work and so does Tommy and Buck really can’t be thinking about how much he wants Tommy and what he wants Tommy to do to him right now. “Me too. Why wait when we know, right?”
“Exactly,” Tommy says, giving Buck another quick kiss before pulling away. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah,” Buck says. “See you tomorrow. Stay safe.”
#
A few hours into his shift, Maddie arrives looking furtive. At first, Buck thinks she’s there to see Chimney, but she beelines towards him and drags him away from the others. “Uh, Madds, what’s up?”
“What’s this?” Maddie pulls a small, familiar, velvet box from her purse.
“Why do you have that?” Buck snatches his engagement ring out of his sister’s hands and shoves it into his pocket. “Why were you going through my kitchen drawers?”
“I was looking for your rubber bands,” Maddie says like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “Are you going to propose?” Maddie’s eyes sparkle.
Buck takes a beat.
Oh.
Maddie hasn’t caught onto the fact that they’re already engaged. She assumes that Buck stashed the ring in an attempt to hide it from Tommy. “Don’t say anything,” he says.
“Do you have a plan?” Maddie asks.
“Um, not yet,” Buck says. “I’m working on it.”
“Well let me know if you need any help,” Maddie says.
“You don’t think it’s too soon?” Buck asks.
Maddie shrugs. “It’s not like you’re planning to propose right away, right,” she says.
“Um, right,” Buck says. “Yeah, not planning to propose any time soon.” That’s not a lie since Buck’s not planning to propose at all. Tommy beat him to it a month after they moved in together. “But you’re okay with it?”
“Buck,” Maddie smiles up at him. “I’ve never seen you happier than when you’re with Tommy. I just want you to take your time. Make sure you’re sure.”
“I am sure,” Buck says. “Just, uh, don’t tell anyone. Not even Chimney.”
“Okay,” Maddie says and with that she goes in search of Chim.
Once Maddie’s out of sight, Buck races up the steps to the roof and whips out his phone, calling Tommy.
“Evan? What’s up?” Tommy answers right away, because of course he does.
“Maddie found the ring,” Buck says.
“Why was she digging in our drawers?” Tommy asks.
“Looking for rubber bands, apparently,” Bucks says. “But I kind of let her think that I bought the ring to propose to you.” Buck’s pacing now.
“Okay,” Tommy says, and Buck can just picture the face Tommy’s making, high brows high in some mix of confusion and concern which is fair because Buck’s pretty confused and concerned by his own actions as well. “I take it that she made an assumption, and you just rolled with it.”
“Pretty much,” Buck says. “I, uh told her I wasn’t planning on proposing any time soon.”
Tommy chuckles. “I guess that’s true enough.”
“Only cuz you beat me to it.” Buck’s feeling calmer already, talking to Tommy. Honestly, he’s not sure why Maddie’s visit panicked him so much. Maybe because he was already feeling the weight of the secret he decided to keep. “Should I tell her, do you think?”
“Do you want to?” Tommy asks.
“I mean, eventually,” Buck says. “I was kind of hoping I’d be able to keep the secret for longer than a day though.”
“Good thing it’s been four days, then,” Tommy says.
Buck rolls his eyes. “Yeah, pretty sure those first three days don’t count because I didn’t see anyone but you,” Buck says.
“I mean, we saw the hotel concierge when we were checking out,” Tommy says very unhelpfully.
“Yeah, and I’m pretty sure I told her you proposed,” Buck says. God, he’s even embarrassed by himself.
“Oh, you definitely did,” Tommy says. And how can he sound so fond? “So, what do you want to do?”
“Well, I guess I have to start planning your proposal,” Buck says.
“Do you?” Tommy asks.
“If I don’t, Maddie’s going to catch onto the fact that we’re already engaged,” Buck reasons.
“Just seems like kind of a drastic decision when we could just invite her and Howie over for dinner and come clean about already being engaged,” Tommy says.
“But then they’ll judge us for getting engaged too soon,” Buck says.
“Pretty sure they’ll mostly be happy for us, though,” Tommy says.
But no, Buck can already see Maddie adopting that same tone his mother uses when she’s trying to be supportive but is deep down disapproving and he doesn’t want to deal with that. So yeah, he’s going to have to plan an epic, rom com style proposal for Tommy, though first he’ll have to veto anything that mind end with 9-1-1 getting called. Now that he thinks about it, the 118 has been called to an awful lot of proposals gone wrong.
Buck must’ve gotten lost in his thoughts because Tommy clears his throat on the other end of the line. “I’m getting a proposal, aren’t I?” he asks.
“Yup,” says Buck. “It’s the only way.”
Tommy gives a resigned sigh. “Okay,” he says. “Just not a skywriter, please and nothing involving birds.”
“Okay,” Buck makes a mental note. “I’ll be epic though.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Tommy says. “Love you, Evan.”
“Love you too,” Buck says.
“I’m hanging up now,” Tommy says.
“Yeah,” Buck breathes before the line goes dead. Buck tucks his phone back into his pocket and leans against the low wall that marks the edge of the station roof.
“Um, so now seems like a good time to tell you that I’m here,” Ravi says somewhere behind Buck.
Buck spins, taking in the sight of his heavy rescue partner standing awkwardly at the other side of the roof. Ravi waves. “Um, you heard all of that, didn’t you?”
“Would you believe me if I said no?” Ravi asks.
Buck groans. “You can’t tell the others,” he says.
“That you and Tommy are engaged or that you’re going to pretend you’re not engaged so that you can plan an elaborate proposal for the sake of throwing your sister off the scent that you’re already engaged?” Ravi asked.
“It’s sounds insane when you put it like that,” Buck groans.
“Because it is,” Ravi says with that brutal honesty of his. “Why don’t you just tell your sister the truth?”
And isn’t that the million-dollar question?
Buck sighs and leans back against the wall, fiddling with his phone. “You know how they are,” he says.
“Overprotective?” Ravi asks.
“Yeah.”
“Judgemental?” Ravi continues.
“That too,” Buck nods.
“Supportive,” Ravi finishes.
Buck frowns. “Are they though? You’re my only friend who even tried to get Tommy and me back together. Everyone else told me to move on or hid my phone from me.” Buck hasn’t said anything to the others about that, but it still irks him.
“Yeah, well, kind of hard to be overprotective of a guy who once chased me around the station with a chainsaw,” Ravi says dryly.
Buck winces. “Sorry about that.”
“Oh, I’m over it,” Ravi says. “Congrats, by the way. I’m happy for you.”
“Are you going to say anything?” Buck asks.
“Nah,” Ravi shakes his head. “This is just too entertaining.”
And Buck’s not really sure how he feels about that but at least Ravi’s not going to reveal that he’s engaged and Buck’s going to count that as a win.
#
Maddie keeps sending Buck listicles about proposal ideas. Each link drives the dagger of guilt deeper into Buck’s gut. Maybe he should just come clean.
“Ooh, proposal ideas.” Hen snatches his phone scrolling through the latest article Maddie’s sent him. “Oh, Tommy would absolutely hate most of these.”
“Hey, give it back,” Buck yanks his phone away from Hen, getting flashbacks to after Tommy dumped him and Buck was about to text Tommy. In hindsight, it probably would’ve saved a lot of trouble if Buck had just called Tommy the first time, he felt the impulse rather than taking up a whole new hobby to avoid calling Tommy. That said, Tommy does benefit quite a bit from Buck’s baking so that at least worked out.
“Do you know when you’re going to propose?” Hen asks. At least she’s whispering so that the others can’t hear.
Buck shakes his head. “Not yet,” he says. “Just looking at ideas.”
“But you are going to ask?” Hen prods. As far as Buck can tell, she looks genuinely excited about the idea of the engagement which is more than he can say for how she was when Chimney was getting ready to propose to Maddie.
Buck smiles, relieved because Hen’s not the type to mince words. If she thought he and Tommy shouldn’t get married, she’d let him know. “Yeah,” he says. What started out as a panicked attempt to divert his sister’s attention from the truth suddenly transforms into a genuine desire to ask Tommy to marry him. Sure, they’re already engaged, but that doesn’t mean Buck can’t do something for Tommy too. They make their own rules.
And since they make their own rules, Buck’s going to ask Tommy to marry him in the most Buck way he can think of. He just has to think of it first.
“Well, I’m happy for you, Buck,” Hen says, pulling him into a side hug. “I’m sure, whatever you come up with will be fantastic.”
Buck grins and ducks his head. “Thanks, Hen.”
#
“I’m proposing to you,” Buck announces when he gets in the door.
“Now?” Tommy asks, leaning in for a kiss. It’s hands free because he’s actively rubbing spices into a roast.
“No, not now,” Buck says. “But I’ve decided I’m gonna propose to you for real.”
“Okay,” Tommy says. “You know I don’t need you to do that, right? We can just make up a story about how you did and say that’s what happened.”
“I know,” Buck leans in to smell the spice rub, trying to pick up on the different ingredients by scent. Paprika definitely, cumin, oregano. Something else. “Is that cinnamon?” Buck frowns.
Tommy smiles and gives Buck another kiss like it’s a gold star for a job well done.
“Just nothing in public when you propose,” Tommy says.
“I wouldn’t do that to you,” Buck hops up on the opposite counter so he can watch Tommy work.
“And nothing that will land either of us in the hospital,” Tommy says.
“Yeah, already crossed skydiving and faking an air emergency off my list of ideas,” Buck says.
Tommy turns and gives him a questioning eyebrow which means that Buck has to launch into the stories of all the proposals-gone-wrong he’s been called to in his time with the LAFD. He leaves off the escalator guy though because it was just too sad and he doesn’t want to borrow any of that tragedy for his own proposal.
“I’d be happy with a weekend away and a romantic candlelit dinner,” Tommy says.
“That’s what you did,” Buck says. “And it was great, and I loved it, but I can’t just copy you.”
“I’m literally giving you permission to,” Tommy says.
Buck hops off the counter and gives Tommy’s shoulders a quick squeeze. “I know.” He plants a kiss on the back of Tommy’s neck. “I just want to do something special for you.”
#
“What’s this I hear about you planning to propose to Tommy?” Lucy Donato asks when they run into each other at a badge and ladder while Buck is out with the team for a rare round of after shift drinks.
“So much for keeping that a secret,” Buck says. Though, honestly, he’s not surprised that the news has gotten to Lucy. She’s always been good at keeping her finger on the pulse of the LAFD.
“Once Chimney found out it was only a matter of time before the whole department did,” Lucy says. “Honestly, I thought Tommy was going to beat you to it. I could’ve sworn I saw him looking at rings online a couple months back.”
Buck stiffens and tries to keep his expression normal.
Lucy’s eyebrows shoot up. “Wait,” she says, eyes bright.
“No, no, no, Lucy,” Buck warns.
“He already proposed, didn’t he?”
“Shhhhh,” Buck tries to put a finger to Lucy’s lips, but she bats his hand away. “Don’t tell anyone.”
“Wow!” Lucy throws her head back and laughs.
“Please don’t,” Buck hangs his head.
“Oh, that’s hilarious,” Lucy says. “Who else knows?”
“Ravi,” Buck says.
“Figures,” Lucy nods. “But Hen doesn’t suspect anything?”
Buck shakes his head. “She keeps giving me ideas for what to do for my proposal.”
“So, you’re going to propose even though Tommy already has?” Lucy asks.
“That’s the plan,” Buck says.
A sparkle comes into Lucy’s eye then that fills Buck with a mix of dread and excitement. “I have an idea.”
#
With Lucy and Ravi’s help the plan takes shape. They rope in Bobby and Athena who are more than happy to help, Bobby even offers to cook.
On the day they’re supposed to enact the plan, Buck tells Tommy that they’ve been invited to Bobby and Athena’s for a dinner party, so he doesn’t suspect anything.
Buck brings a cake that he’s been decorating in secret – honestly, the hardest part of the plan was keeping Tommy from sneaking a look at the cake.
Bobby and Athena welcome them warmly, giving Buck subtle nods when Tommy’s out of sight greeting Maddie and Chim.
“Ready for this, Buck?” Bobby asks.
“Yeah,” Buck says.
His nerves build throughout the dinner. He barely tastes the delicious food Bobby made. What if this isn’t such a good idea after all? And then Tommy catches his eye, and there’s that smile, soft and crinkled like a well-worn coat, warm against the world’s cold.
Buck’s nerves melt away. He grins back.
Dinner ends and Buck leaps to his feet, ready to bring out the dessert.
“Shouldn’t we take some time to digest before cake?” Chimney asks, leaning back.
“No!” The exclamation comes from five directions at once as Buck, Bobby, Athena, Lucy, and Ravi all interject. Which of course makes everyone else suspicious, but that’s okay. Soon there won’t be any secrets left.
Buck brings the cake out from the kitchen and places it in front of Tommy who raises an eyebrow like he knows exactly what Buck’s up to.
Buck takes the cover off and holds his breath.
Tommy scans the lettering. Blinks. Looks up at Buck. “Do you mean right now?” he asks.
Buck nods. “Bobby’s already agreed to officiate.”
Tommy blinks back tears. “Yes,” he says.
“Wait, what’s the cake say?” Chimney cranes his neck. “Marry me? Now, Please.” Chimney looks up from the cake, smile cracking as he puts together what’s going on.
And with that, Athena herds them into the backyard where they’ve set up a floral archway and honestly, everything after that is all a bit of a blur as Tommy and Buck exchange vows and Bobby says all the appropriate wedding things and Maddie cries from a lawn chair.
Afterwards, at home in bed, Buck rests his chin on Tommy’s chest. “Did I surprise you?” he asks.
“Honestly, yes,” Tommy says. “Though I did notice you never actually told anyone that we were already engaged.”
“Oops,” Buck says before closing the conversation with a kiss.