Chapter Text
Buck put down the loaf of bread before turning to Eddie. "I heard you finally got the call from El Paso Fire. Congratulations." Eddie looked at Buck, almost with a look of fear or annoyance in his eyes.
"Who told you?" He asked.
"Let's see, uh, Hen told Chimney that she wanted to throw you a surprise barbecue. Chimney told Ravi, and Ravi called me 'cause he wanted to know if he should bring a gift."
"I was going to tell you."
"Yeah, but you didn't, did you? No, instead everyone has been tiptoeing around being my back because apparently I'm too fragile to accept the truth." Buck's eyes gave off a hint that he felt betrayed, and so did his voice.
"Can you blame us? Look how you're acting now."
"You really think I wouldn't have been happy for you?"
"No. I know you wouldn't be. You'd make it all about you. The trials and tribulations of Evan Buckley. A tragedy in 97 acts. You've been spiraling since the funeral, and no one knows how to talk to you about it."
"I'm sorry, I'm sad that Bobby is dead." With that response, Eddie grabbed onto Buck's shirt, pointing a finger at him.
"You're not the only one who lost him. We all lost him. And we're just trying to do our damn best to get through it." With that, Eddie let go of Buck and turned around.
"You know what, Eddie, screw you. You wouldn't have had to go through it alone if you had just stayed here. You think you had it bad? Bobby was the closest thing to a father I had, and I watched him die, and you weren't there." Buck turned to leave the kitchen. "So fine, sure, I make it about myself, but you weren't here when I needed you, Eddie. And look, I get it, you needed to be with your kid, but there were so many better ways. You just had to choose the one that meant I wouldn't be there for you and you wouldn't be there for me." Buck didn't wait for a response; he just grabbed his car keys and left. He didn't know where to go; he had been living in Eddie's place since he moved to Texas, Maddie and Chimney had a kid who was so close to making its way into the world, and Athena was mourning her husband. Buck ended up on the beach, looking out as the waves softly touched the shore. He walked out until the water was to his ankles. He didn't know what to do; he had just said some pretty awful things to his best friend, and the man who was like a father to him was gone. He felt so lost.
"Hey, Buck." A voice said from behind him. Buck quickly turned, seeing the face of his favorite brother-in-law, also his only brother-in-law.
"Chim? What are you doing here?"
"Eddie called Maddie. Told her you two had a fight and asked if she could send me to find you, make sure you're okay." Chimney said, a bit of concern on his face.
"I'm fine, really," Buck said, whipping away tears that had been falling since he got to the water.
"Buck, you're not fine. You don't need to play tough; it's okay, no one would judge you." Buck didn't respond. Buck felt as if the whole world was caving in on him, and he couldn't do anything about it. He fell to his knees, water splashing, and began to sob.
"Bobby would be so disappointed in me if he were here." Buck cried. "Acting like a dick to Eddie, he told me everything would be okay, it's not, and really isn't. Why did he have to go!" With that last word, Buck punched into the water to hit the sand, water spraying his shirt and Chimney's shirt.
"Buck, Bobby would never have expected any of us to hold the brave face and not let our emotions out. Everything will be okay, it'll just take time." Even though Chimney didn't quite believe it himself, he thought it would be good for Buck to hear.
"I just- he-." Buck was choking on his words. Chimney walked into the water, helping Buck up and to Chimney's car.
"I'll ask Hen to pick up your Jeep, and you can stay with Maddie and me tonight. Jee-un would love to see her favorite uncle." The two got into Chimney's car and drove home in silence. Once home, Buck fell asleep quickly on the couch.
The next morning, Buck woke up to the sound of someone ringing the doorbell. "Buck, can you get the door?" Chimney yelled from his bedroom. Buck walked to the door, praying that whoever was there was not Eddie. He wasn't sure if he was ready to see him. But of course, the universe couldn't care less about what Buck wanted, and when he opened the door, there was his Latino friend, whom he honestly didn't know what to say to.
"Hey, Buck," Eddie said, leaning on the door frame. "Listen, we both said some things yesterday that shouldn't have been said. I apologize, and I brought a peace offering." After saying that, Eddie moved to the side, revealing Chris behind him.
"Chris?!" Buck's eyes went from regretful and sad to happy and filled with relief. He walked over to the teenager and gave him a big hug. "How did your dad convince you to come home?"
"He told me that he had been rude to you and that you needed someone to cheer you up," Chris said, shooting daggers at Eddie with his eyes. Buck gave a grateful look to Eddie.
"Eddie, did you start that fight with me just to try and get Chris to come back?" Buck asked with an obvious playful tone. Eddie just rolled his eyes.
"Come home with us, Buck. I messed up, and please stop trying to find a new home. You are more than welcome to live with Chris and me." Buck's eyes went wide.
"You're staying?" Buck asked, tilting his head. Eddie nodded.
"The only reason I was going back was for Chris, but he said he wants to move home. So we're staying." Eddie explained.
Buck nodded silently. Then he walked inside the house, telling Chimney and Maddie he was leaving, and then jumped in Eddie's car.
"Can we stop near the pier? My jeep is over there, and I'd like to grab it." Buck said once Eddie started driving.
"Uh, yeah, sure, what side of the pier is it at?" Eddie asked.
"The right side." Eddie nodded and started to drive towards the area Buck described. Once there, Buck got out of the car. "Do you wanna ride with me, Chris?" Buck asked.
"Can I, Dad?" Chris asked, looking at Eddie from the back seat.
"Yeah, you can go with Buck," Eddie said. Buck helped Chris out of the car and then walked with him to his jeep. "Make sure he drives home, Chris," Eddie called after the two. Chris waved his dad off before getting into Buck's car. The drive home was fun, Buck put on some of Chris's favorite music, and the two started singing their hearts out. Once at Eddie's place, the two got out and met Eddie at the door.
"I'm glad you're staying, Buck." Chris said before going to his room.
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Later that night (A couple of beers in
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"You know, I swear he likes you more than me sometimes." Eddie laughed. "Do you want another beer?"
"Yeah, I'll take one." Buck said, sitting on the couch. "Do keep in mind, Eddie, you are his father, so of course, he is going to have more issues with you than me. I'm just his dad's fun best friend. I don't have to discipline him or anything like that."
"Buck, you do understand that he doesn't see you as his 'dad's fun best friend', he sees you as another dad." Eddie said, sitting next to Buck on the couch, handing him a beer. "On our way to Maddie's, he gave me a whole lecture on not ruining his relationship with his 'second dad', Chris loves you." Buck got a brave idea right there and decided to tease his friend.
"Do you?" Buck asked, a smirk on his face.
"Do I what?" Eddie asked, confused.
"Love me, you said Chris loves me, do you? Or does just one Diaz find me to be the most amazing person ever?" Buck chuckled. Eddie's face flushed red for a moment.
"Rest assured, Evan, both Diaz boys love you." Eddie said. "You know, Buck, Tommy was never good enough for you. I'm glad you two aren't together anymore." Buck furrowed his brows, looking at Eddie.
"I thought you two were friends?" Buck said, confused.
"He broke your heart, Buck, twice. I'm not staying friends with someone who hurts my best friend." Eddie said, looking Buck straight in the eyes. Buck couldn't help but choke on his beer hearing that.
"You know it's crazy. After you left, I ended up bumping into Tommy again, no thanks to Ravi. He ended up telling me that he broke up with me because of the "competition", apparently referring to you, Eddie." Buck laughed, leaning back into the couch. Eddie froze for a moment, taking that in.
"But we're best friends, not boyfriends." Eddie replied.
"That's what I said, but he said he didn't believe me." Buck shrugged. "Would be funny if we did get together someday, would prove him right though, I guess. But you're straight, so no need to worry about that." Eddie was frozen in thought. Did Buck say that? Buck noticed the look on Eddie's face and sat up. "Sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"No, Buck, it's okay, just unexpected, I guess."
"Is it really?" Buck asked.
"I mean, I guess not. But Buck, I- never mind. I'm going to go to bed. Why don't you take my bed since you've been sleeping there for a bit?"
"Hang on, Eddie, what? What were you going to say?" Buck pressed.
"Nothing, Buck, just go to bed, you're taking too much of the couch." Buck furrowed his brows at his best friend.
"You're not sleeping on the couch in your own house, I'll take the couch."
"You've been paying for this place for the past few months; it's yours just as much as it is mine."
"In that case, we'll share the bed. Let's go." Buck was on his feet in a instant, and put his hand out to Eddie. "Come on." Eddie reluctantly took Buck's hand, but the two held on till they got into the bedroom and realized they both needed to change. The two blushed, but let go and went to different sides of the room to change.
"I'm so grateful for you Buck, have I ever told you that?" Eddie said as he laid down.
"You're drunk Eddie, go to bed." Buck said, getting in bed next to Eddie.
"You're my favorite Buckley...I think I might even love you." Eddie said slurring.
"Wait what?" Buck looked at Eddie with shock, but he was already fast asleep. Buck shook his head and laid down, telling himself he heard him wrong and that Eddie was drunk, so it meant nothing. He tried to fall asleep, but it took forever, he only got maybe, three hours of sleep that night.
When Buck woke up, the bed was empty next to him. He got up and put on some clothes and walked into the kitchen. Eddie was making pancakes while listening to some music."Where is Chris?"
"Carla took Chris to the zoo today. Do you want some pancakes?" Eddie asked.
"Uh yeah, thats fine." Buck leaned against the island, studying Eddie. "Eddie do you remember what you said last night?"
"When last night?" Eddie asked. Buck moved closer to Eddie, standing to his right, just close enough to feel his body heat.
"When we were in bed, you said something that I think I need to hear again." Eddie's body shivered, Buck was so close.
"I-I don't quite remember that far into the night."
"Maybe I could help you remember." Buck said, putting his hand on Eddie's back, trailing a few circles before moving away. "I'm going to go shower." Buck said, then walked away. Eddie turned off the stove and leaned back on the counter. Why was he feeling so hot inside, his heart felt like it was beating like crazy in his chest. What the hell did he say to Buck to make him act like that with him. After about ten minutes, Eddie came to the conclusion that he was going to get Buck to tell him exactly what he had said. But due to Eddie being so focussed on his mission, he didn't think to knock on the bedroom door. When he opened it, Buck had had a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair wet and dripping. "Eddie? Have you heard of knocking?" Buck said, a smirk on his face. Eddie couldn't help but look Buck up and down, before turning away.
"Sorry Buck, I uh, I'll wait out here." Eddie said, walking outside of the bedroom, closing the door. Eddie could hear Buck chuckle a little. A few minutes later Buck came out with sweats and a t-shirt on.
"Okay, whats up Eds?" Buck asked. "And what are you doing sitting on the floor?" Eddie ignored his questions and stood up, only inches away from Buck.
"What did I say last night Evan? You were acting weird in the kitchen earlier." Eddie asked. Buck's smile faltered for a moment.
"You really don't remember?" Buck asked, a frown starting to form on his face.
"I wouldn't be asking if I remembered Buck." Eddie said, a hint of impatience in his tone.
"Alright alright. Well, we had gotten into bed, and you told me how grateful you are for me, and that I'm your favorite Buckley." Buck said, shrugging his shoulders. "Nothing big."
"I had to have said more then just that to get you to act how you've have been acting." Eddie pushed.
"Eddie I don't think you meant it." Buck paused, seeing the look on Eddie's face. "Guh, fine. You said that you thought you might be in love with me." Buck finally said. Eddie looked shocked for a moment before smirking.
"I said that, did I?" All Buck could do was nod his head. "They do say that being drunk can bring out feelings that have been pushed down, or hidden. Would it be horrible if did?"
"Did what?" Buck chocked.
"Like you, like as more then a friend. You said yesterday that I was straight and thats why we couldn't be together. But what if I were tell you that I'm not so sure about that anymore?" Buck's eyes were wide, his mouth slightly parted. He couldn't believe what his friend was saying. Did Eddie actually like Buck? But more importantly, could it work?
"Okay hold on Eddie, are telling me that you actually are in love with me?"
"Would it be so crazy? We've been friends for years now, you're there when I need you, I'm there when you need me. I guess at some point it just felt like, everything between us is something I'd want from a partner."
"Eddie...would it even work? I don't think I could stand losing you and Chris."
"Evan, you will never lose Chris or me, I swear to you that. And honestly, yeah, I think we could work." Eddie said, he had inched closer to Buck, getting close enough to feel Buck's breath on his face. "But the real thing to discuss here is, do you like me too Buck?" Eddie got a simple answer, Buck closing the gap between the two with a kiss. It wasn't short, but not long.
"Does that answer your question?" Buck asked once they stepped apart. Eddie pulled Buck into a hug in response.
"Yeah, it does."