Work Text:
Eddie
I’m sorry this is taking so long (11:12am)
Buck
Don’t apologize?? There’s nowhere else I’d rather be. (11:14am)
Have either of you eaten? (11:15am)
Eddie
How’s Chris doing? (11:23am)
Buck
He’s doing okay. We’ve been talking. Sharing memories. (11:24am)
We’re watching movies to keep our mind off things (11:24am)
Have you had lunch? (11:26am)
Eddie
Tell him I love him (11:37am)
Buck
I will. Will you answer my question? (11:40am)
Eddie
Did you send us food?? (12:38pm)
Buck
YOU WERE AVOIDING ANSWERING ME IF YOU ATE LUNCH (12:39pm)
I KNOW YOU TOO WELL EDDIE (12:39pm)
Eddie
Buck, you didn’t have to. (12:40pm)
Buck
Shut the fuck up. The literal least I could do for you two. (12:42pm)
You both have club sandwiches. Fight over the soups. The brownie is yours. (12:43pm)
Eddie
Thank you. 💙 (12:45pm)
Buck
You’re welcome. 💚 (12:46pm)
“Is Dad coming back soon?” Chris asked, glancing up at Buck.
“Not yet, bud,” Buck shook his head.
He looked down at Chris under his arm and smiled sadly. Now a teenager, Chris had stopped curling up beside Buck on the couch when they would have their regular hangouts. Now, his arm was draped around Chris’ shoulders as Five Nights at Freddy’s played. A chicken and rice casserole was baking in the oven. It was a taste of what they had been the few months Buck had lived with them after they moved back to Texas. He loved his new house. It’ll just take a while to feel like home the way Eddie’s does.
Chris’s cell phone then rang, startling them both.
“It’s Grandma,” Chris said, looking at the screen.
Buck paused the movie then tilted his head to the kitchen. “Want me to…?”
“No,” Chris said quickly. “Stay?”
Buck nodded and settled back into the couch. “Always.”
Buck
Any update? (2:49pm)
Eddie
Not yet. (2:51pm)
Buck
Do I need to call another funeral home? This is ridiculous. (2:52pm)
It’s almost been 7 hours! (2:52pm)
Eddie
This place says they’re an hour away. (3:00pm)
Buck
They said that 2 hours ago (3:02pm)
Eddie
I know. (3:05pm)
Buck
Can I make any calls for you? I told the team. (3:10pm)
What can I do? (3:10pm)
Eddie
Hen and Ravi have texted me. (3:14pm)
I assumed you fed my kid lunch, so that’s all I need. You taking care of him. (3:16pm)
Buck
Shit, I knew I was forgetting something. 😏 (3:18pm)
Eddie
Ha (3:21pm)
Buck
Actually, you two will be set on food for a while. (3:22pm)
I made you chicken and rice casserole (3:23pm)
And Karen and Maddie brought a pan of baked spaghetti, enchiladas, and a big salad (3:24pm)
Within 20 seconds, Buck's phone rang with a Facetime request from Eddie. Buck smiled softly, glanced into the living room to check on Chris before carrying the phone out the back door to answer. When Eddie’s face filled the screen, Buck’s heart kicked a bit. It had been doing that more in the last few months and Buck had been trying really hard not to read too much into it.
Eddie looked exhausted, understandably so, but with a softness in his eyes Buck couldn’t place.
“Buck, that’s so much food,” Eddie opened the conversation, a soft but tired smile pulling at his lips.
Buck smiled back, shrugging a shoulder. “I don’t know what to tell you. We’re all pretty fond of you.”
Eddie blinked and smiled softly before rubbing his face. “Thank you, Buck.”
“I also have a delivery order from Ralph’s coming to Pepa’s house tomorrow morning with a lot of pre-made meals for her to heat and eat. And a bottle of her favorite red wine.”
Eddie blinked and Buck realized with a gentle swoop in his stomach that Eddie wasn’t staring at the camera… He was staring at Buck on the screen.
“You…” Eddie cleared his throat and finally looked down. “Buck, thank you. I…”
As Eddie faltered, Buck frowned slightly. “How are you doing?” he asked, his voice gone soft.
His heart did that kick again.
“Better,” Eddie replied, glancing off to the side. “Pepa is napping on the couch. She’s completely wiped.”
“I’m glad you’re there with her. How is she?”
Eddie sighed slowly. “She’s pissed this is taking so long so that’s kind of overshadowing her pain. We cried a lot this morning, I guess we’re just recharging our tears I guess.”
“A nap wouldn’t hurt you either,” Buck said, eyes roaming the tightness in Eddie’s face. He sighed when his friend shook his head. “Eddie…”
“I’m okay, really.” Eddie betrayed his argument with a long yawn. “Shut up.”
Buck huffed a laugh. “You need to take care of yourself, Eddie.”
“You’re doing a pretty great job of doing that for me, right now.” There, Eddie’s eyes slid down again, looking at Buck on the screen rather than the camera.
Buck’s heart really needed to stop kicking.
“I like taking care of my Diaz boys,” Buck said quietly.
Eddie’s cheeks tinged pink and he cleared his throat after a long moment. “So, uh… you had a damn squatter in your new house?”
Buck groaned, dropping his head back, and Eddie laughed softly. “It’s an even longer story than that, but yeah.”
Suddenly, Eddie’s eyebrows went up. “Hey tell me when I get back, the funeral home is calling.”
“Oh yeah, take that. Talk later.”
It was past sundown before Eddie texted to say he was finally on his way home. He just had to drop Pepa off at her home before heading back to South Bedford Street. Chris had been in his room for the last hour or so while Buck picked up around the living room. Eddie hadn’t eaten dinner, of course, so Buck had a portion of casserole ready to reheat for whenever Eddie was ready to eat. A little before 5:30, the front door swung open.
Buck looked over his shoulder then stood, walking toward the entryway. “Hey…”
“Hey,” Eddie replied tiredly, hanging his leather jacket up in the closet. “I’m sorry it took–”
“Shut up,” Buck said fondly, sighing slowly as Eddie sank against his chest. He wrapped his arms around him to hold Eddie close. “Isabel was one of the sweetest people I’ve ever known. She adored you and Christopher.”
“I loved her so much,” Eddie sniffed again and drew back, giving his head a little shake.
Buck’s heart sank. That was Eddie’s tell-tale sign he was fighting back his emotions.
“Eddie…”
Eddie shook his head again then looked at Buck. “Where’s Christopher?”
Buck smiled sadly. “In his room. I have dinner ready to heat up whenever you’re ready.”
“Thank you,” Eddie softened and squeezed Buck’s arm, cheeks pink. “What would I do without you?”
“Starve,” Buck winked. “Beer?”
“Yes please. I’ll be right in.” Eddie sniffed and slid past Buck to gently knock on Chris’ door.
Buck cleared his tightening throat at Chris’s soft, broken “Dad” as he walked in and Buck ducked into the kitchen. He hated seeing Eddie and Chris in pain, and god they’ve gone through so much. It wasn’t fair. Death was a normal part of life, but could it just stay the fuck away from the Diaz’s for any semblence of time? Buck wished more than anything that he could take their pain and endure it for them.
About 15 minutes later, Buck heard Chris’ door open then close, then Eddie’s bedroom door squeaked open. As Buck stood at the microwave, he heard Eddie’s sock feet pad down the hall.
“Eddie, you can get comfortable on the couch,” Buck called gently. “I’ll bring you your plate.”
“Fuck yes…”
There was a groan and the soft whump of a body collapsing on the couch. Buck couldn’t help but smile but startled slightly at the beep of the microwave. He carried the plate in one hand, scooped two bottles of beer between the fingers of his other hand, and walked into the living room.
Eddie was slouched into his deep couch, head tipped back onto the back cushion with his eyes closed. He looked exhausted and on the verge of sleep. Buck couldn’t have that.
“Wake up,” Buck said, setting a beer bottle on the coffee table in front of him.
“‘M not asleep,” came Eddie’s slurred reply.
Buck smiled and gently nudged his foot against Eddie’s shin. “Very convincing. Come on, you need to eat.”
Eddie huffed a laugh and slowly opened his eyes, shifting to sit up with a groan. “It smells good.”
Buck set the plate on the table in front of Eddie and fell back on the couch beside him. He sipped his beer, letting Eddie eat in the quiet of the living room. Buck did his best not to stare but he stole glances to the man beside him, trying to get a read on his best friend.
“This is delicious, Buck,” Eddie murmured, and Buck’s cheeks pinked a bit.
“You have several portions divided up, already in the freezer.”
Eddie turned to look at Buck, his eyes soft. “You’re so… thank you.”
Buck’s heart kicked. Again.
“You’re welcome.”
“She was the reason I survived being a kid in Texas,” Eddie said, nursing his second beer.
He and Buck were slumped back in the couch, their legs propped up on the coffee table together. Eddie was curled closer to Buck’s side, head resting on his shoulder.
“Yeah?” Buck smiled softly.
Eddie smiled and hummed. “When I’d get in fights with Mom or Dad, when he was there, Abuela would always be there. I hated when she moved to California. I was heartbroken.”
“How old were you?” Buck asked. He winced slightly as his shoulder ached from the angle, and he murmured quietly. “Sorry, hold on…” He eased his arm from under Eddie’s head, stretching it along the top of the couch cushions.
“It’s okay.” Eddie just filled the void space, tucking his head into Buck’s chest at his collarbone. “I was sixteen when she moved. I lost my backup against my parents, and I didn’t handle it well.”
“‘M sorry,” Buck murmured, idly tracing his fingertips across Eddie’s shoulder. “She was more like your family than your own parents were, it seems.”
Eddie nodded, his hair tickling Buck’s jaw. “She was. I didn’t feel like I had to earn her approval. She saw me and…loved me.”
“Of course she did,” Buck spoke quietly, his fingers still tracing patterns across the shoulder of Eddie’s sleep shirt. “You were her Eddito. She adored you…and Chris.”
Eddie sniffed softly. “Chris said Mom called him today.”
Buck nodded. “She did. It wasn’t a long call, and Chris didn’t make a lot of conversation.”
“She didn’t try to get him back to Texas?” Eddie asked sullenly, taking a long pull of his beer.
“No.” Buck sipped his beer. “And she’d have to go through me if she tried again. How’s your dad taking this?”
“I don’t know,” Eddie sighed. “Guess they only called Chris, not me.”
Buck blinked and stared at the top of Eddie’s head, his heart starting to pound in anger. “You’re kidding.”
“Nope,” Eddie replied, the exaggerated ‘p’ almost echoing in the living room. “It’s fine.”
“It’s not-”
Eddie sighed harshly. “I brought Christopher back. Took the son they actually wanted and loved away from them…”
“Eddie, stop,” Buck said gently, his fingers gently tugging Eddie’s hair to get his focus. “They never treated you right. They never deserved you. Christopher is your son, and you’re doing an amazing job raising him.”
After a moment, Eddie nodded. “Thank you,” he whispered.
“And,” Buck continued, his heart still beating fast, “I’ve never liked your parents, because you are so easy to love. So easy, Eddie. So the fact they don’t seem to is on them. Not you.”
Eddie slowly looked up to stare at Buck, his eyes tired and shining. The air shifted the second their eyes met. More warm. Like standing on the edge of a cliff on a summer day, finding the courage to take that leap of faith. Weighty but uplifting. Peaceful.
What is love if not proof of God’s existence?
Looking back, they’ll have no real way to explain how it happened. There was no sudden bolt of realization. No swelling music, no powerful speech or declaration. Buck and Eddie were just sitting, curled up together, eyes locked as their orbits simply…collided.
Eddie tipped his head up as Buck leaned down, unable to pull away. Their lips met, slotting together in easy, shared connection. Buck’s fingers gently threaded into Eddie’s hair. Eddie’s hand curled into Buck’s hoodie.
It was chaste. It was soft. It was kind. It was them, finally, after all these years.
They parted and Buck’s eyebrows raised, waiting to see if a shoe was set to drop. If there would be panic, excuses, rejection. Instead, Eddie smiled. Buck mirrored it, then leaned down for another kiss which Eddie met in kind.
Their foreheads rested together, breaths mingling between them as they separated.
“We need to talk about this,” Buck whispered.
“I know,” Eddie whispered back. “But not now? We will. But…after?”
After the funeral.
“Okay.”
Buck lifted his head to kiss Eddie’s forehead before gently bringing him back to rest on his shoulder. Eddie’s hand reached slowly for Buck’s carefully threading their fingers together, allowing time for Buck to withdraw. But he didn’t.
They sat together like that for who knows how long, enjoying the feeling of whatever risk they’d taken together, before Eddie broke the silence.
“Chris wants to make an ofrenda,” Eddie said quietly, his chest rumbling.
Buck blinked and smiled. “I can help. If you’d like.”
Eddie squeezed his hand. “Will you make more snickerdoodles? I’ll put them on it for Bobby.”
Buck’s heart kicked once again but this time, he dipped to press a kiss in Eddie’s hair.
“I will. Anything for you.”
They fell back in comfortable silence, the weight of the day followed by the weight of the shift between them settling over the evening like a blanket. Eddie’s eyes slid closed and Buck’s arm curled around his shoulders.
As Eddie slipped into sleep, he heard Abuela's voice. Clear as day.
Mi niño. You were looking in the wrong place.