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Buck will admit that when he was a young boy, he dreamed of things like Superheroes being real, coming to rescue him from his parents. Of aliens coming and claiming him, saying that they were his real family and that they loved and missed him. His wishes never came true; he was just Evan Buckley, the unlovable little boy.
For years, he took to the road, travelling, looking for a place, anywhere, that he could belong. He found empty places, temporary at best, where it dangled before him but was never meant to be.
Then, a movie playing in the bar he worked at in Peru set him on the path that would forever change his life. It led to the 118th and to the people he would come to call family. At last, that lonely little boy finally found what he had been looking for all those years ago. He even had Maddie back in his life, the only one of those related to him by blood who ever loved him.
Most of all, he had Eddie and Christopher in his life, the two people whom he had to come to love so deeply that he felt it like a physical ache at the idea of being without them. He got a taste of that during the lawsuit; being unable to talk to either of them had him considering dropping it, but Chase wouldn’t let him. He made it very clear that if he did, he could say goodbye to his firefighting career for good. It had taken time for the two to find their footing again. It had taken time, but he understood Bobby’s fear and guilt. He had felt it that day on the pier when he thought he had failed Christopher, but when Eddie told him he forgave him and let him see Christopher again, it was like he could breathe again; the pressure that had been on his chest had finally lifted.
Then he nearly lost Eddie again that horrible day when he watched Eddie get shot in front of him. The taste of Eddie’s blood in his mouth is something that Buck knows he will never get rid of, no matter how many times he washes his mouth out. He had nearly burned his tongue with how hot he had the water was running. May had been an angel. She figured out that he was struggling, not that the others hadn’t, but May beat them all to it, and she forced him to face the fact that hurting himself wouldn’t make Eddie better.
“Do you really think Eddie won’t blame himself if he learns you hurt yourself as a result of him getting hurt?”
Her words echoed with him, and once Eddie was okay, and Eddie made it clear to him how important he was to him, ‘because Evan,’ lingered with him.
It would always leave a scar to know that his parents could never love him. He has Maddie, his sister, who never stopped loving him, who even gave up her way of escaping Doug to give him the freedom he needed to save himself. He had a second older sister in Hen, a younger sister in May. He had parents who loved him in Bobby and Athena. He has Eddie and Christopher. He has a found family in the 118th, and that was better than anything he could have ever dreamed of as a child.
There was only one thing that would make it better if he could gather up the courage to tell Eddie how he really feels. Looking back, he now knows that he entered his relationship with Taylor because he didn’t want to be alone, as Eddie tried to make something with Ana, a relationship like his with Taylor that seemed doomed to fail. Looking back, Buck knew that he had entered into a relationship with Taylor to fill the lonely space that was left when Eddie spent more time with Ana and seemed to be slowly putting Ana in his place. He just wishes he knew that Eddie was struggling and nowhere near ready to be involved with Ana. Eddie was a lot like Buck, both wanting their parents' approval and to hear them say they love them just once. Buck knew from his conversations with Eddie that Ana would be his parents perfect ideal of a wife for Eddie and a mother to Christopher and any other children that they might have and while Ana seemed more than happy with the idea of being the future Mrs. Diaz it was clear to Buck that Eddie couldn't see that kind of future with her but Christopher had bonded with her and for Eddie that was all that matter, she could never be Shannon but she could be a good mother to his son and everyone knows that for Eddie Christopher always comes first. For Buck, seeing Eddie and Christopher happy is what comes first for him, even if that includes building a life with Ana and her taking his place in their lives. Taylor might not be the love of his life, that is, Eddie, but maybe they could be happy together.
When you have a romantic partner, you should want to spend time with them and as amazing as Taylor is, Buck couldn’t help but be a little upset with her for asking him to come over to her place. It shouldn't bother him that, finally, Eddie asked him to hang out just the two of them like old times, and he had to tell Eddie that he would be a little late. Buck could admit that Eddie’s petty grumblings about Taylor had him smiling. “I swear, Eds, I will be at your place as soon as I leave Taylor’s. I just plan on dropping in and seeing what she needs to talk to me about. She knows that I have plans with you tonight, and I won’t change them for any reason.”
“That’s why she did it. She knows that you have plans with me and is out to sabotage them. You better be here, Buck or I will track you down and drag you here.”
Buck shouldn’t find that as hot as he did, but growling Eddie was pretty damn hot. “I swear, Eds, I will be there.”
“You have one hour, Buck, then I am coming for you.”
Buck did not doubt that Eddie would indeed hunt him down and drag him out of Taylor’s place. Those two would never get along. “I guess I should be going.”
“The sooner you see the she-devil, the sooner you can get here. See you soon, Buck.”
It took everything in Buck to hang up the phone and force himself out of the jeep when he wanted nothing to call Taylor and cancel, but he was trying to be a good boyfriend. This was his first relationship since Abby; Ali had been more of a long-distance relationship that never really had the chance to be anything. He wanted a family, he wanted to get married someday and have children. The problem was that he wasn’t sure that Taylor wanted that, and he didn’t know if he wanted that with Taylor.
Steeling himself, he exited his jeep and made his way towards Taylor's apartment. Knocking on her apartment, he waited for her to let him in. The moment he laid eyes on her, he knew that this wasn’t what he expected.
“Thank you for coming, Buck.” Moving aside, Taylor let him in. As the door closed behind him, Buck didn’t know why it felt like a warning of what was to come.
“We need to talk.” Taylor closed her eyes after the sentence left her mouth; it was clear she hadn’t meant to say that. “I mean, clearly you are here to talk, but this is important, and I knew it was best to tell you now before you go see Eddie because it is something you will want to share with him.
Buck will admit he is confused, but he couldn’t deny that feeling in his gut that he knew what was coming. “Taylor, just talk to me.”
“I got a job offer from New York that would make my career.” Buck knew what was coming. Taylor never hid that her career was everything to her: “I accepted it.”
Looking into her emerald eyes, he saw what they both knew was coming, “You're not going to ask me to come with you.”
“No. We both know that your place is here. Even if you did agree to move, you would slowly be killing yourself. I might not love you, but I do care about you, Buck deeply,” Taylor smiled softly at him.
The look on Taylor’s face was one of sadness and acceptance. “You and I were never going to be one that ended in marriage and us growing old together. I am not the love of your life, and you are not mine. We were both lonely and tried to take a strong friendship, and we hoped it could become a strong romantic relationship. My career means everything to me, and I am not ready to have a husband, and I never want children, something I know that you do want. I care about you, Buck, but I know I will never love you, and I know that you will never love me. I will never be first in your heart; those places are taken by Eddie and Christopher.”
Buck wanted to lie to Taylor to tell her that she was wrong, but she had been there; she had seen him after Eddie had been shot, him covered in Eddie’s blood, shaking as all that mattered was getting to Christopher in that moment. No matter what anyone tried to tell him, Buck couldn’t shake the feeling that he had failed Eddie and that it should have been shot and not Eddie. Christopher needed his dad, and so did his family. What they didn’t need was Buck. He would have happily traded his life for Eddie’s. “I do care about you, Taylor.”
“I know. You wouldn’t be with me if you didn’t. But we both know that we are better off as friends, not together in a romantic relationship. I want to try and save our friendship. You are my best friend, Buck, and I don’t want to lose you.” Taylor didn’t have many friends, and Buck truly was her closest; she would hate to lose him from her life just because they attempted a failed romance. “I don’t want to be another Abby to you, Buck.”
“You never could be. You are stuck with me, Taylor, and that is a promise.” Abby and Taylor were different. Abby was his first love, his first attempt at a real romance that ended with her ghosting him, only for her to return to his life with a fiancé and an empty apology. Taylor was giving him what Abby never did: a truly closing, ending something before the two of them got in too deep. Pulling her into a hug, Buck squeezed her tight. “You are going to take New York by storm; they wouldn’t know what hit them.”
Taylor had never been a touchy person, but she sank into Buck’s embrace, “You bet I am.” This was a break she had been dreaming of since she decided to become a reporter.
Pulling back, Buck looked Taylor in the eyes, “Will you need any help in packing? I happily volunteer.”
“That would be wonderful, you can even invite Eddie, I am sure that he will be happy to make sure that I leave nothing behind as I leave for New York.” Taylor’s smile turns wicked, “And to make sure that I leave you here. Hell, he will probably drive me to the airport and make sure that I get on the plane.” Taylor was also certain that Eddie would be the one planning her going-away party and was counting down the days until she left. She was well aware of his dislike of her, and she wouldn’t lie; she loved being able to make the cool and collected Eddie Diaz turn into one petty and jealous man.
“He isn’t that bad…” Buck tried to defend Eddie, but the knowing look that Taylor shot him had him sighing. The moment he told Eddie that Taylor was leaving, he would be supportive while celebrating on the inside and would no doubt drive her to the airport and wave happily as her plane took off. “Yeah, he will do all of that.”
“I have much to do. I plan on leaving in a few weeks, and I need to fly out to New York to check out a few places, so I need to get looking. No doubt Eddie is staring at his phone waiting to hear from you, and I have a feeling you are on a time limit before an overprotective and possessive Texan comes hunting you down.”
A faint blush appeared on Buck’s cheeks. “I'd better get going. Call me Taylor, we might not be dating anymore, but we are still friends, and I can’t wait to brag to the world that I once dated the famous Taylor Kelly.”
“And I’ll make sure to get you some of the Avengers autographs, and maybe I can try and set you up with one. Not that you need a superhero, you already have a former Silver Star Army medic turned firefighter.” Taylor teased.
Buck could feel his face burning. “I’ll talk to you soon.” Taylor’s laughter followed him all the way towards the elevator.
Eddie Diaz was not stalking Buck; he was just making sure that he was on his way.
Okay, so he was stalking Buck, but this was supposed to be his time with Buck. He knows that he has let his relationship with Ana cut into his time with Buck, and he hates that lately the only time he sees Buck is at work. He had promised himself that when he started dating Ana that he wouldn’t let their relationship interfere with his relationship with Buck. Buck was a huge part of his and Christopher's lives, and he was here to stay.
The truth was, he hadn’t wanted to start dating anyone; he was happy with the little family he, Christopher, and Buck had created. Then his parents called, and it was the same old story with his mother; she was demanding to know when he was going to find a new wife and a new mother for Christopher. She refused to listen to him when he reminded her that Christopher had a mother, Shannon; she might be gone, but no one was going to replace Shannon. Then it was her constant reminder not to drag Christopher down with him; those words had dug deep into his soul and wouldn’t go anywhere. It was a reminder to him that his parents, especially his mother, still doubted that he could look after his son. He knows that his mother wants him to give up custody and send Christopher to live with them. He just doesn’t get why they are so obsessed with having custody of his son.
“Eddie, listen to me. They don’t want Christopher because they think they can raise him better than you; they want a do-over son. It’s part of the reason that Adrianna moved out of El Paso. Mother talked about how much better Isabella would be raised by them instead of her single mother, who would move heaven and earth to make her smile. They want a do-over daughter. None of us turned out to be the perfect ‘yes, mother, whatever you say’ children, and she wants to start all over with their grandchildren. They would snuff out Christopher’s light.”
The conversation he had with Sophia lingered in his mind. He knows that Adrianna had earned their mother’s wrath by becoming a single mother to an adorable little girl and his beloved niece. Isabella, named after their much beloved Abuela, was Adrianna’s pride and joy, and she worshiped her little girl. Eddie understood his sister needed to run away from their mother. Sophia had been the first to leave; she refused to follow their parents' wishes for her. She didn’t want to be a nurse; she had a passion for the arts, and Eddie knows that she loves Italy.
He wasn't a fool; he knew when his sisters made their escape, especially Adrianna, that his mother would increase her play at getting custody of Christopher from him. He thought that dating Ana, a woman whom they would approve of, would get them off his back. Ana didn't deserve to be treated like that, stuck in a relationship that had little chance of going anywhere. 'I could grow to love her. It is early in our relationship.' Eddie knew that those thoughts were false. Ana is a beautiful woman, but he didn't love her, and he knew that he wasn't going to fall in love with her. The truth was, he was only dating her to prove himself to his parents that he wasn't a hopeless case, that he was someone they could be proud of, that he was a great father and could be a great husband. He hadn't told anyone, not even Buck, that he had planned on breaking up with Ana before he had been shot, but then Buck started dating Taylor Kelly. Eddie couldn't understand how Buck always ended up dating someone who didn't deserve him and he couldn't hide his dislike of Taylor...okay he couldn't hide his dislike of anyone Buck dated, he hadn't even met Abby before the train accident and he hated her, her using Buck's lingering feelings for her had only confirmed what Eddie thought she wasn't good enough for Buck. Adrianna and Sophia asked him why he disliked Buck's relationships after one of his latest rants about Buck dating Taylor and he couldn't examine why he turned into a possessive and petty man towards Buck's romantic love interest, he knows Buck wants to have a family and children someday and he wants that for his partner he just can't lose Buck as his partner and Christopher's co-parent, call him selfish but Buck he is Christopher’s and his and he doesn’t want someone else to take their places in Buck’s life.
‘But how is that fair to Buck?’ The voice that whispers those questions sounds so much like his sisters, and he can’t answer that, as he doesn’t have an answer. No, that isn’t true; he does have an answer to that, it’s because he wants Buck with him and Christopher. He wants to be the one able to kiss and hold Buck the way all of his ex-s and Taylor get to. Eddie knows that his son would love for them to get together. Fear of losing Buck is what stops him, well, that and the fear of his parents. He still wants them to look at him with pride and love, and they would never accept Buck as his partner or Christopher’s second parent. So he stayed with Ana, trying to make something work that, in the end, would crash and burn, leaving him, Ana, and, most of all, Christopher caught in the aftermath. At the same time, Buck starts to make something with Taylor.
Eddie was thankfully pulled out of his thoughts before they could spiral into him imagining Buck marrying Taylor, like the nightmare he had last night, one that had him shooting up in bed with a strong plea to dream Buck not to marry her by the sound of Buck’s jeep arriving. That allowed Eddie to reflect on how thankful he is for Buck. Buck hadn’t found it at all odd when he called him early enough, and Buck, oh amazing Buck, hadn’t even asked him any questions; he just knew that Eddie needed to hear his voice and started up on his latest info diving, which had been about whale sharks it was just what he had needed and he allowed himself to get lost in the sound of Buck’s voice and like that day when Shannon passed away and he allowed Buck to comfort him Eddie found himself slipping off to a peaceful slumbering safe with the knowledge that no matter how dark it got Buck would always be that light keeping him safe.
Buck shouldn’t be surprised that Eddie was already standing at the door with his arms crossed and that pout that he can’t help but want to kiss. Everyone called it Eddie’s ‘Buck is talking to Taylor and not paying attention to me’ pout. Christopher was slowly becoming a master at that look as well. Shaking his head, Buck moved up to meet his friend.
Neither spoke until they were inside. “So what did the wicked witch need now?” Eddie knew that it was petty, but he couldn’t hide his hatred of her.
Buck was about to make Eddie’s day: “Taylor and I broke up.”
Eddie wondered if it would be wrong of him to break out the wine he saves for wine nights and toast to the end of a relationship that never should have started.
A small smile tugged at the corner of Buck's lips, “She is also moving to New York. Now you can celebrate.”
Somehow, Eddie managed to shove down his excitement and be the best friend Buck needed at the moment, placing a hand on Buck's shoulder. Eddie gave it a gentle squeeze. “I won't lie and say I am going to miss her, but I know she meant something to you.”
“Thank you, Eds. I know you didn't like her. I know most of our family didn't. We both admitted that we should have never been anything more than friends. It was a clean breakup with no hurt feelings, and we both plan on staying friends.” Buck wasn’t blind; Taylor started on the wrong foot with everyone. Even though he wasn't fond of her for what she tried to do to Bobby, Athena was the one holding onto the lingering distrust.
Eddie couldn't help but be grateful to Taylor Kelly, and didn't that make him shudder inside, that she didn't end up being like Abby and break Buck's heart when she left. He also felt a weight lifted off his chest when Buck made it clear that he had no plans of going with her. "Do you still have to be friends with her though?"
Buck's laugh warmed Eddie, and he wanted to bottle it up, "Yes, Eds, I don't have to be, but I want to be. She is going to be in New York, and we are going to be long-distance friends, but technology will help us keep in contact."
"This is just another reason to hate technology," Eddie grumbled as he crossed his arms over his chest. At least Taylor would be out of Buck's life, and they would no longer be spending time together. 'At least Buck won't be teaming up with her for any more treasure hunts.' Was Eddie still a little bitter that Buck chose to work with Taylor before him? Yes, yes, he was.
No one knew Eddie better than Buck; not even Shannon could read him this well, so Eddie wasn’t all that surprised when Buck’s eyes narrowed as he studied Eddie. “Are you still upset that I asked Taylor to be my treasure hunting partner? I asked you and the others first, and none of you wanted to do it.”
Tossing his hands up in the air, Eddie let the truth out, “Well, maybe I wanted to work with you and just you and was going to ask you when we were alone.”
For a moment, Buck just stared at Eddie, “You really wanted to just work with me and no one else? Not ever Ana?”
Eddie didn’t miss the hope and wistfulness in Buck’s voice and once again silently cursed himself for letting Ana get her way and take up so much time. Placing his hand back on Buck’s shoulder reminded both of that moment when Eddie spoke from his heart, telling Buck that there was no one he trusted more with his son, and he meant it then, and it was still true to this day. “I mean it. I know that Ana has been taking up a lot of my time, but I wanted to work with you, just the two of us, on a crazy treasure hunt.”
The shy smile, the one that Eddie had come to think of as his smile, appeared on Buck’s face. “I wanted that as well. I understand that you are building something with Ana and that she is more important than I.”
“She is not more important than you.” Eddie cut in; it ripped into his heart to hear that Buck thought Ana was more important than him.
“But you invited her to Carla’s welcome back dinner.” Buck’s voice was soft, and there was no missing the hurt in it.
Eddie wanted to kick past Eddie’s ass. “It should have been you. I shouldn’t have let Ana demand that she be there, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer. I should have invited you to join us as well, and that is on me. I regretted not having you there, and I know both Christopher and Carla missed you as much as I did.” Eddie was convinced that the only one happy that Buck wasn’t there was Ana. He couldn’t put his finger on why Ana didn’t want to get to know Buck; he was the best person Eddie knew. Abuela and Tia Pepa see him as one of the family, something that they don’t see Ana as.
Buck studied his friend, and he knew the pressure that Eddie's parents put on him to find a woman to marry, be a mother to Christopher and have more children with. He couldn't understand how they couldn't see what an amazing man Eddie already is. "Are you happy with Ana? And don't try to pretend with me."
Eddie let out a deep breath. "I like her. She is the kind of woman that my parents would want me to marry."
"Don't settle for her, Eddie. You, Christopher and Ana deserve better." Steering them towards the couch, Buck made sure he was facing Eddie. “I know what it is like, Eddie, to be left waiting, clinging to a relationship that is already turning to ash. Abby did it to me. She made me believe that we had a future. I dropped her off at the airport, promising with my whole heart that I would wait for her. She made me believe that we had a future. She knew then, when she turned away from me, that was the last I would ever see of her. Abby forgot that when she gave me her big speech that I knew her, and I knew that she was lying to me; she never planned on coming back. I don't want you, Ana, or Christopher to go through that, living with that feeling you aren't enough for the person you love." Cupping Eddie's face, Buck smiled at Eddie. "You could never be Abby, and I know that you would never treat Ana the way Abby did to me, but it hurts hoping for something that someone knows will never happen. If you know that you won't ever be able to love her, then it's time to end it."
Eddie knew that Buck was right. "You're right. I won't do it over the phone. Do you think you can watch Christopher tonight while I go talk to Ana?"
A bright smile appeared on Buck's face, "I would love to! Me and my favourite Diaz are going to have a blast together."
Eddie couldn't stop himself from smiling; he never could when it came to Buck. “Just keep the sugar down. I don't want to look after the two you hyped up again.”
Buck's bright smile never dimmed. “Don't worry, I will save the sugar for tomorrow when the three of us have a Buckley-Diaz weekend out!”
Eddie knew that Christopher wouldn't be the only one enjoying spending the weekend with Buck. “Alright, why don't the two of you start planning our weekend, and I'll go speak to Ana and bring home supper.”
Buck perked up and looked like the golden retriever he was so often compared to, “Thai?”
The laugh escaped Eddie before he could stop himself, “Of course, I will get it from our favourite place.” Holding up a hand when he stopped Buck from speaking, “and yes, I will get you your usual as I will get Christopher’s.”
If Buck had a tail, he would be wagging it at that moment, “You are the best Eds.”
‘No, you are the best.’ Eddie thought fondly that once again, he and Christopher were so blessed to have Evan Buckley in their lives. “Now, how about I kick your ass at some video games until you go pick up Christopher and I talk to Ana?” Eddie suggested hand already heading towards the game controllers he had sitting out waiting for them.
Taking the one Eddie offered him, Buck’s smile turned into a smirk. “Sounds like a plan. Prepared to get your ass kicked.”
Flashing his own cocky grin, Eddie bumped his shoulder into Buck’s, “You wish, Buckley.”
As someone who has had his fair share of breaking up or being broken up with, Buck did not envy the task that Eddie had set out to do while he went to pick up his favourite Diaz.
“BUCK!”
The worry for how Eddie was doing, he knew that he was going to break up with Ana as easily as he could, but Eddie was the kind of man who carried a lot of weight on his shoulders, trying to be the best dad, and he is! Trying to get his parents' approval and, most importantly, to make them stop trying to take his son with their stupid (in Buck’s opinion) idea that they could raise Christopher better than him, from what Buck knows about them from Eddie, Abuela, and Tia Pepa, they want to make Christopher completely depended on them, take away his freedom, they can’t see past Christopher’s CP and see the amazing young boy he is. And it isn’t just Christopher that they want, but any or all of their children’s children to make them do over, which is twisted in Buck’s opinion, and he needs to make sure that Athena knows how dangerous Helena and Roman are.
“Superman!” The moment Buck reached Christopher, he pulled him into a tight hug.
“Buck, I’ve missed you!” As Christopher said those words to Buck, he clung a little tighter to his Buck. He didn’t understand why his dad had to date Miss Flores. Yes, he liked her as a teacher, but not as his dad’s girlfriend, who seemed to think that she was going to be his new mom. He didn’t want a new mom; he had a Buck, and that was a hundred percent better in his opinion, and his dad might go back to acting normal.
It took everything in Buck not to start crying. Oh God, how much he loves this kid. "I've missed you too, so much, Christopher."
Pulling back Christopher's smile could outdo the sun. "Where's dad? What are we doing here? Are we having a movie night? I've missed those."
"I'm here to pick you up, and while we wait for your dad to come home with dinner, and I may or may not spoil you with cupcakes that we will not tell your dad about, and before your dad is back, we can get started on planning a Buckley-Diaz weekend," Buck informed him.
If Christopher was thrilled before, he was practically vibrating in Buck's arms at the news that he was getting to spend the whole weekend with Buck and his dad. "No, Miss Flores?" He needed to be sure that she wouldn't be coming.
Buck knew that there was something that Christopher wasn't telling him; he had a feeling that Christopher had only pretended to like Ana because he thought that his dad loved her, while Eddie was dating her because he thought that Christopher loved her. 'Myself sacrificing boys.' Father and son were both so alike that they were willing to make themselves miserable if that meant the other one was happy. "It's just going to be us three guys." 'I need to make sure that Eddie talks to Christopher before he tells him that they have broken up to find out how Chris really feels about Ana.'
"Alright, what do you say we get this weekend started?" Buck asked.
Christopher let out a cheer. "Denny, Harry, and May are going to be so jealous that I get to hang out with you." He was going to have to brag to the others that he got to spend the weekend with Buck the next time they saw each other.
Buck could feel his cheeks heating up, and he knew he was wearing a bashful smile at how happy Chris sounded at the fact that he got to brag to the other 118th kids that he got to hang out with him for the weekend. 'I should plan something that involves the others. I know that Hen, Karen, Bobby, and Athena won't mind if I steal their kids away for a day, and I know I can talk Eddie into coming along with us.'
"You can brag later; we have things to do." Buck reminded him as they headed towards his jeep. 'I hope that Eddie is doing okay.'
Standing in front of Ana's apartment, Eddie took a deep breath. He had only been here a couple of times, and that was mostly to pick her up and drop her off after a date, and she managed to convince him to come up for a little bit before he headed home to Chris and to Buck. He wasn't a fool; he knew that Ana wanted to take their relationship to the next step for a while, but he had been holding back; he hadn't wanted to spend the night with her or sleep with her. "That was a sign if I ever saw one." He muttered under his breath as he knocked on her door, needing to do this before he lost his courage.
Part of him hoped that Ana wouldn't be home, so he could put this off a little longer, but he shoved that thought aside. He needed to do this sooner rather than later; he had to tell Ana the truth before she fell deeper into a relationship that was one-sided.
“Edmundo, this is a happy surprise.” Ana was thrilled to see Eddie at her door. “I missed you so much.” She hadn’t been happy when Eddie informed her that he planned on spending the day and weekend with Buck. She had suggested that Buck might be too busy spending time with his girlfriend, or if he had to make plans with Buck, that she and Taylor could join them and make it a double date. Eddie had turned her down flat. But he was here now, and it surely was a sign that he missed her and broke off the plans he had with Buck to see her instead. Leaning in to kiss him, he turned her head so her lips brushed his cheek instead. “Edmundo?”
“I’m not here for that, Ana. I came to talk to you.” There was a firmness in Eddie’s voice and eyes that had her eyes filling up with tears as a sense of dread filled her.
"Please still come in. I don't want my neighbours to hear this." Ana suggested moving aside so Eddie could enter.
Nodding at her, and the last thing he had wanted was for anyone to overhear him telling Ana that he didn't want to date her anymore, it was already going to be tough enough, the last thing he wanted was for them to have an audience.
Closing the door softly behind herself, Ana took a deep breath as she tried to think of a way that she could stall or change Eddie's mind in what was a conversation that was sure to end in her heartbreak. Plastering a smile on her face, she entered her living room, where she found Eddie waiting for her. "Would you like anything to drink or eat?"
"Ana." Eddie's voice was soft but full of conviction.
Eddie just had to take one look at her to know that Ana knew why he was here, but trying desperately to cling to hope that this was any talk but the one she knew was coming.
“So this is it.”
Blinking, Eddie was pulled out of his thoughts and met Ana's sad but knowing eyes. “Yeah, it is. You are a lovely woman, Ana, and you deserve better than someone who doesn't love you." Eddie hated the way Ana's lower lip trembled slightly and the sheen that appeared in her eyes.
"You don't think you could ever love me? Love takes time, and we haven't been together that long." Reaching out, Ana covered Eddie's hand with her own. "I know that I am your first relationship since the loss of Shannon, and I think we have something truly special. We could slow down a little." Ana knew that she sounded like she was pleading, but she had been looking for someone like Eddie her whole life; he was her Prince Charming. "I am not Shannon, I won't ever leave her like the way she did."
Looking at Ana, Eddie could see that she was trying to cling to a fantasy relationship and couldn't help but wonder if she was like him, having parents who were demanding that she find a partner, get married and have some children. He understood her desire to hold onto this relationship, but he wasn't the one for her. "Ana, I am truly sorry, but I know that I will never be able to love you like that, and it has nothing to do with Shannon. I will always miss her, but I have come to realize that I had built up our marriage. We had our amazing times, but so many fights that we both knew where it was heading. I saw you as someone who would fit my parents' ideal as the perfect woman, a perfect wife for me and a perfect mother for Christopher."
"Isn't that a good thing? Your parents would like me." Ana spoke up. "Your parents want what is best for you, and you just say I would be their ideal partner for you."
Eddie shook his head, "My parents have never been proud of me or my sisters, and I have to realize that I don't want a partner who would be the perfect person that they have picked out for me. I want a partner for me that I love because I love them, not one that will make my parents happy. Ana, you have someone who will love you for who you are, but that person isn't me. I am sorry for leading you on."
Pressing a kiss on her cheek, Eddie decided that it was time for him to go. "I will explain it to Christopher this evening with Buck's help, that I didn't want to lead you on anymore."
The scoff escaped Ana before she could stop herself. "Of course, Buck is going to be there." She liked Buck all right, but she knew that as long as he was in Eddie and Christopher's lives, there would be no room for anyone else. For Eddie, Christopher always came first, but Buck was a very close second. She had tried to take Buck's place in both Diaz's lives, and it worked for a while until that horrible day when Eddie got shot, something that still gave her nightmares. She might not have witnessed it, but she would never forget the fear she felt as she waited for Eddie to wake up. Then something shifted suddenly. Eddie and Christopher wanted Buck by their side, she had thought when Buck started dating Taylor, things would go back to the way they were when she was the one they wanted around.
Eddie's brown eyes flashed with warning. "You should be thankful for Buck. He was the one who talked to me and made me see that it wasn't fair to you in leading you on and making you get deeper into a relationship that had no future. I am sorry I hurt you, Ana, but Buck isn't to blame, and you know that he is very important not only to me but to Christopher."
Ana swallowed, "I am sorry. I'm just jealous of the big role Buck plays in your life. I had hoped that someday it would be that you looked to me for help and not him. I was fooling myself."
Eddie couldn't tell her that no one could take Buck's place in his life and that she would have come in third behind Christopher and Buck. "Goodbye, Ana, I hope you find happiness."
"Goodbye, Eddie, I hope you find happiness as well." Ana wouldn't cry, yet she would save that for after he was gone.
Giving her one last smile, Eddie turned. He had the two most important people in his life waiting for him at home, and he needed to stop and get them supper like he promised.
As the door closed behind Eddie, putting an end to their relationship, Ana wondered if Eddie already didn't have the perfect partner and co-parent in his life. "No, that isn't my business." Ana knew it would be a while before she got over Edmundo Diaz, and wasn't even going to touch the subject that is his relationship with Buck.
Letting out a sigh and running a hand through his hair, "Well, it could have been worse." Eddie wasn't used to breaking up with people. Shannon was his first real relationship, and the moment she informed him, with tears in her eyes, that she was pregnant, they were forced into a relationship that neither of them was ready for. They would never regret Christopher, but they weren't in a position to be parents, and their relationship wasn't allowed to flourish. If Shannon had lived, Eddie knew that the divorce would have happened, and hopefully they would have found a way to be co-parents for Christopher's sake. Eddie knows his parents would have hated the idea of him being divorced, they never hid their dislike of Shannon, at her wake they had already been pushing for them to return to El Paso where they could introduce Eddie to a woman they would approve of, he hated that they wouldn't allow him to mourn his wife, it was better that he was a widower it was less shame on them.
This is one of the reasons he is so careful in dating, and he rushed into this, including introducing Ana to Christopher so soon and pushing Buck away to allow her to take his place. It hadn't been fair to Buck, Christopher, or Ana. He let Christopher get close to someone who is gone from their lives, he let Buck, who is always there for them, think he was replaceable, and he let Ana think there was hope. Eddie refused to acknowledge the little voice in the back of his head whispering that it is not the reason he is afraid of examining his relationship with Buck. Buck is his and Christopher's best friend, and that is it.
'And that is the only reason you made Buck Christopher's guardian.'
Eddie knew it was more than friendship and that Buck was one of the few people who would support Christopher and who didn't see his CP as what defines Chris. Buck chose them just like they chose him; they have become a family, and Eddie refuses to do anything to risk losing that. Even if that means watching Buck date others and possibly settling down with someone. "At least it won't be Taylor Kelly. Huh, maybe I should pick up a small cake to celebrate the fact that she is gone from our lives." That actually sounded pretty good. "I should call Hen to see if her cake person could make something."
Without looking back at Ana's place, Eddie regretted hurting her, but the weight off his chest reassured him that he had done the right thing. “Time to get my two favourite guys something to eat and to make sure that Buck isn’t feeding our kid nothing but junk food, and making a pinky promise to buy Christopher everything he wants this weekend.” Eddie never noticed his slip as he called Christopher his and Buck’s kid; it was how he had come to see Buck as Christopher’s other parent, and it felt natural to him.
As Eddie left, he never noticed or heard Ana opening the door just enough to watch Eddie, hoping that the reason the man was still lingering in the hallway was because he was having doubts about ending their relationship, but that hope was shattered the moment he called Christopher his and Buck’s kid. There was no use trying to fight for a man whose heart had met its matching beat.
Buck and Christopher were in the middle of their snack, with Buck patiently waiting for Christopher to speak up and tell him what was bothering him. He could tell from the way a small frown was pulling at Chris’s face that something was bothering him; he looked so much like Eddie did when he was feeling the same way that it took Buck’s breath away.
“Buck…do you think…is Miss Flores going to become my mom?”
Buck was thankful that he didn’t have anything in his mouth when Christopher finally voiced what was bothering him, pushing away his plate, he focused all of his attention on the little boy who was looking to him for answers. Taking a deep breath, Buck did his best to explain, “That is a question for your dad. But I do know that you already had a mom, and no matter what happens between your dad and Ana, Ana will never be able to replace your mom in your life. That doesn’t mean that your dad can’t eventually decide he loves someone enough that he wants to marry them and have them as a part of your lives, but whoever is lucky enough to end up being a part of your lives is lucky.” And that just killed Buck, talking about Eddie marrying someone else and that person getting to be a co-parent to Christopher.
A huff escaped Christopher as he crossed his arms over his chest, “I don’t get why Dad needs to date Miss Flores or anyone! We have you, and that is all we need! If Dad needs to marry anyone, it should be you, Bucky! I asked Dad what he would do if you married Miss Kelly and Tia Pepa, and Bisabuela wouldn’t let him have any dessert; in fact, they gave me his share!” There was no missing how pleased Christopher was at the fact that he got double dessert, and Buck couldn’t blame him. Abuela’s was a gift.
‘Huh, that explains why Eddie looked so disgruntled when he gave me my share.’ Buck hadn’t been able to make it to the Diaz family dinner that Sunday; he was on shift, but he was always invited, and there was no telling Isabel Diaz no; she had declared Buck as family, and that was that. “Eddie must have said something really bad to not get any of Abuela’s dessert.”
Nodding his head, Christopher's delightful smile turned into a small pout, “And no one would tell me what dad said. He said it in Spanish, and I am not allowed to learn any bad words until I am thirty.”
Somehow, Buck managed to smother his laughter. “Well, I don’t think you want to have to start putting money in the swear jar; your dad puts enough in for both of you already.”
That brought a thoughtful look to Christopher’s face, “That’s true, Bisabuela made dad put in ten dollars this time, he tried to protest, but Bisabuela's word is law, so dad did.” Christopher gave a firm nod, one that Buck returned. Isabel Diaz’s word was, and Buck could just picture the pout Eddie wore as he put double the amount in for a swear word.
As if he knew what Christopher was spilling, the door opening followed behind the smell of delicious takeout from their favourite Thai place and Eddie’s voice informing them, “Dinner is here.” Buck would have to tease Eddie that he managed to save himself from Christopher spilling the beans about what trouble Eddie got into, until after they ate, of course.
The sight that greeted Eddie as he entered the kitchen never failed to make him smile and feel warm all over as pure happiness filled him at the sight of Christopher and Buck smiling at him. “I thought I heard some hungry stomachs threatening to eat themselves, and since I am rather fond of both of you, I brought dinner.”
Letting out a cheer, Christopher beamed at his dad, “You’re the best. Did you get me my favourite?”
It never failed to make Eddie feel like he was doing right by his son and driving away the fact that his parents were wrong; he is a good dad, and he did the right thing in moving him and Christopher away from El Paso. “Of course I did, now how about we eat and you two can fill me in on the plans you have made for us this weekend?”
As Eddie was setting the takeout containers on the table, Buck went and grabbed the silverware and plates, letting Christopher launch into telling his dad all about the plans they had made for the upcoming weekend. Watching them, Buck couldn’t deny that this is what home is. That this is where he belongs, and he would stay as long as they wanted him around.
Once the plates and silverware were handed out, Buck slipped into his chair as Eddie handed him his container. Their hands brushed against one another in a way that was so familiar but had been missing for a while since Eddie started trying to make the relationship really work with Ana. It felt like a sign that things were going to be okay. “So Chris was just telling me about how you managed to lose dessert privilege with Abuela.” Buck’s blue eyes twinkled, “For shame, Eds, for shame.”
Tossing his head back, Eddie groaned before looking at his giggling kid, “You just had to tell Buck, didn’t you?”
Buck mocked, swatting at Eddie as he teased, “Of course he did, he needed to make sure that someone could keep an eye on you and make sure you don’t get into any more trouble.”
The deadpan look that Eddie sent Buck in return had Christopher giggles growing louder, “And who is it that keeps you out of trouble? As I recall, when Bobby hired me, he had been on the hunt for a partner for you, because someone needed to keep you from getting into more trouble.”
A squawk escaped Buck, “That was Buck 1.0, I am now Buck 2.0, and he is very different.” Buck was very proud of his personal growth he has made since arriving in LA, and as much as Eddie hates Abby, she did help shape him into the man he is today. He found peace, a sense of belonging, and a family in LA, things he had been missing since Maddie left for college. He no longer felt the need to run and try to find something to fill that void that had nearly consumed him more than once. Not that he had ever told anyone about how close he had come to never having met any of them, Maddie especially could never know.
“Hey, are you okay?” Eddie’s worried voice helped to pull Buck out of his spiralling thoughts.
A small but truthful smile appeared on Buck’s face as he took in the worry on Eddie’s face, “Yeah, Eds, I’m okay. I promise.” It had taken a while for Buck to realize that he had people who cared about him and that didn’t only worry about him when he was injured, it was so different from how he grew up with only Maddie caring about him until he hurt himself, that he sometimes still wondered if this was a dream.
The moment was broken as Christopher launched into his plans for the zoo, pulling the two men's attention to him.
Once dinner was done and Christopher was happily in the living room picking out the first of the movies they would be watching before his bedtime, Buck and Eddie were cleaning up, well, Buck was, and Eddie was just trying to put off the conversation with his son about Ana.
“So I hear that you weren’t allowed any of Abuela’s dessert.” There was no missing the laughter in Buck’s voice. “Is that why you tried to steal mine?”
Eddie should have known that his kid wouldn’t be able to hold back from blabbing to Buck that his dad had gotten his dessert taken away for swearing in front of his Abuela, Tia Pepa and his son. “Thank goodness it was in Spanish, Christopher doesn’t know any of the swear words yet, and I normally swear in English, and I know if I had, I wouldn’t get any of Abuela’s desserts for a year.”
“And once Christopher shares this tale with Denny, Harry, and May, you know that Athena is going to order Bobby to withhold dessert from you as well.” Buck teased, knowing full well that she would do so.
A groan escaped Eddie as he dropped his head backwards, “My own son is a squealer. Selling out his own dad for extra desserts and laughs.”
Smiling at his defeated-looking friend, Buck went on, “Christopher also told me that you had to put ten dollars in the swear jar at Abuela’s. Was it because you swore in Spanish?”
“Yes. Abuela wasn’t happy with that. At all. I think that jar soon needs to be empty again, and the kids are going to get some great Christmas gifts this year.” At Buck’s raised eyebrow, Eddie clarified, “All the money goes towards the great-grandchildren, no adults, unless you haven’t put a cent in, get nothing. To serve as a reminder of the consequences of our bad habits.”
Buck’s shoulders shook with his laughter. “I’m surprised that Bobby hasn’t done that for the station yet. It would help pay for groceries.”
The idea of firefighters having to put money in the jar with a disappointed Bobby staring at them had Eddie breaking out into his own laughter.
Once the laughter between the two men died down, Buck met Eddie’s eyes, “You can’t keep hiding out here forever. I have got this covered, go talk to your son.”
“I’m not hiding out,” Eddie muttered under his breath. At Buck’s Athena-like look, he sighed, “I just don’t want him to think it's his fault that Ana isn’t going to be around anymore. He lost someone else he cares about, Buck, and I don’t know how to tell him that she isn’t going to be around anymore.”
Look, Buck loves his Diaz boys so much and adores how alike father and son are, but they are both so stubborn in the same ways. “Look, talk to Christopher, I mean, really talk to him. You might be surprised at just what you hear.” Shaking his head Buck held up a finger and Eddie snapped his mouth shut, “I mean it Eddie, you two are so alike you didn’t want to hurt Christopher by breaking up with Ana because you think he really likes her, did you stop to think that Chris might have pretended to like her as much as he does because he wants you to be happy and he thinks you are with Ana?” Buck already knows that he didn’t think of that.
For a moment, Eddie opened and closed his mouth trying to find the words to come before he slumped, looking defeated, “You are right. I guess the only way to know how Christopher really feels about Ana and the fact that I am not dating her any longer is by talking to him.”
Buck shouldn’t find Eddie adorable as he shuffles his feet, but he is, and he fights back the urge to coo, “Go talk to Christopher while I finish putting these away. There might be some brownies and ice cream coming once you two are done.”
Eddie perked up; he knows that Christopher will love that as well, and if he is mad at him, Eddie can drown his sorrows in ice cream. “Alright, I’ll call you once we are finished.”
Putting down the dishcloth, Buck rests his hands on Eddie’s shoulders, “It is going to be okay.”
Knowing that it wouldn’t be fair to make Buck promise that Eddie can only nod before heading towards the living room, where his son is waiting.
Eddie almost wishes that Buck could have been in the room with him when he talks to Christopher about the fact that Ana is no longer going to be around.
Beaming at his dad, Christopher happily informs him, “Hi, Dad, I picked Treasure Planet, so once Buck joins us, we can get started.”
“Great choice.” Since discovering movies like Treasure Planet, Atlantis, and A Goofy Movie, those have been the three main ones they have watched endlessly. “Buck will be out soon. I need to talk to you about something.”
A frown appeared on Christopher’s face. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No.” Taking a seat next to his son, Eddie took a deep breath as he ran a hand through his hair. “You did nothing wrong. I need to talk to you about Ana.”
“Oh.” Christopher’s oh wasn’t a very happy one; in fact, Eddie thought he sounded a little sullen.
“I know that you like Ana and had fun with her.” Eddie started trying to figure out a way to explain to his son that he and his girlfriend broke up because he didn’t see a future for them.
Christopher shrugged his shoulders, “I liked her because you like her.”
That had Eddie stopping and staring in disbelief at his son, “I thought you liked her.” He managed to sputter out. ‘Is this what Buck was telling me to really talk to Christopher?’
Christopher shook his head, “No, she was a nice teacher and I liked her as a teacher, but that didn’t mean I wanted you to date her or for her to take Mom and Buck’s places in our lives. Miss Flores was here all the time, and we barely got to see Buck.” A small scowl appeared on Christopher’s face as he thought about all the lost time he could have been with his Buck when Miss Flores came over wanting to do something with them, and they ended up cancelling their plans with Buck. “Buck is more fun than she is. She wouldn’t even let me go to the zoo!”
Eddie had to agree that his son, Buck, was more fun to be with than Ana; he knew that Buck gave Christopher the freedom to be a little kid, something Ana had trouble with. She just saw a child who was different from other children. “I know and I agree.” He had taken Ana aside one time when she had protested Christopher going on the zoo outing that Buck had put together for the 118th to see the latest zoo exhibit; she hadn’t thought that Christopher would be able to keep up. Eddie had put his foot down and told her that his son could go. He was supposed to go as well, but to keep Ana happy, he had agreed to take her out instead, and May and Hen had gone along with Buck to keep an eye on the kids. He had the picture of Buck and Christopher together with wide smiles and laughter in their eyes framed and sitting on the mantel. The one where all the boys are using Buck as a jungle gym is in Eddie’s bedroom; the sheer joy radiating off of Buck always takes his breath away. Buck is meant to be a dad.
“Christopher, I want you to know that no one could ever replace your mom. She loved you so much. She didn’t want to leave, and no one could ever take the place she has in our hearts or our memories.” Eddie and Shannon might have been meant to be husband and wife, but she loved her son so much. He never wanted Christopher to doubt that.
“I know, Dad. I guess it just felt like Miss Flores was trying to do that, and I didn’t like it, but I thought you really liked her and didn’t want to make you sad.” Chris explained. “I hate seeing you sad.”
“I hate seeing you sad, too. I thought dating Ana would work out. I did like her, but I could never see myself marrying her or raising you with her. I guess I didn’t want to hurt you by taking another person you liked away from you.” Eddie admitted in a soft voice.
“And I didn’t want to make you lose someone else you like. I wasn’t the only one who lost mom.” Christopher pointed out his way of thinking.
A laugh escaped Eddie, “This is why Buck was telling me how alike we both are. How about this, next time we talk about things like this and no more hiding our feelings just because we don’t want to hurt the other one’s feelings, we talk gently, without mean words thrown about.”
“Deal.” Holding out his pinky, Christopher wiggled it, waiting for his dad to do the same.
“Buckley’s and their unbreakable pinky promises,” Eddie muttered fondly as he linked pinkies with Christopher’s.
“It’s an unbreakable promise, Dad. We have to honour them.” Christopher sounded so much like Buck that it stole Eddie’s breath away.
“Of course. Now, how about I go get Buck because I am sure that he is making a sugary nightmare out of our dessert.” Giving Christopher a tight hug, Eddie climbed to his feet once it was over. “I love you, kid.”
“I love you too, Dad.” Waiting until his dad was in the kitchen with Buck, and he could hear them bickering if that was an unhealthy amount of chocolate syrup, Christopher grinned. “Dad, why don’t you just marry Buck. I know you love him and he loves you.” Hopefully, someday his two dads would see that and he could finally call Buck his dad.
Things between Buck and Eddie quickly returned back to the way they were before Eddie started dating Ana; they were once again BuckandEddie happily spending all of their time together, and everyone was relieved to have their boys back together. There was only so much they could take of Buck looking like a sad puppy. And while Ana seemed like a nice woman, she never wanted to join in any of the 118th get-togethers, and they didn't hold it against her; she didn't fully understand how first responders, especially the 118th, became a family. They were forged through fire, and they all knew that they could trust each other to watch their back. The 118th had been through more than most stations, from nearly losing Buck to the bombing to now, with both Eddie and Bobby being shot. These BBQs were a way to relax and remind everyone that they are all still here.
"I think Chimney is hiding something from me." Buck commented as he joined Eddie, a pout on his face as he had lost Jee to her pack 'n' play that was set up in the shade, where everyone was able to keep an eye on her.
A small snort escaped Eddie, "You mean him running away from you with panic in his eyes every time you even look in his direction isn't normal?"
Chimney had begun avoiding Buck two days ago, and everyone couldn't understand why, not even Hen could get it out of him. He had willingly taken on cleaning the bathrooms when he had been assigned to do inventory with Buck. He had muttered something about 'the return of clipboard Buck' before making a run for the cleaning supplies. Leaving a very confused team, but no one was going to try and take bathroom duty away from him, it was the most hated of them all, and no one volunteered to take them on. When they were out on calls, Chimney still did his best to avoid Buck, which was a little easier since Buck usually worked with Eddie. Still, it was a clear sign that Chimney was hiding something, and he was bound to break soon.
A groan escaped Buck, "You don't think my parents are finally coming to LA, do you?" Buck hadn't been happy when Maddie admitted to him that when they got back from helping out with the wildfires in Texas that she had invited their parents to visit because she wanted Jee to have her grandparents in her life. She wanted Buck to be there, and Buck had been angry at her. Maddie had done that behind his back, and he understood that she wanted Jee to know her grandparents, but he didn't have the same relationship with them that she did. Buck didn't know the loving parents she had growing up; he had the cold parents, forgot his birthday, refused to come to any of his football games, hell, they barely remembered they had to attend parent-teacher nights. It only got worse when Maddie moved out. They didn't come to his graduation, nor did Maddie, but she had been in college, and Buck knew that Doug had started showing signs of being abusive and wouldn't let her attend. Buck never told Maddie about the weeks when he was left home alone because they were on long trips and he had nothing to eat but frozen foods or sandwiches. Thankfully, they got sick and couldn't make the trip. They didn't want to make Maddie sick. They planned on rescheduling after Jee had been born, and Buck was truly afraid that time had come.
Now, look, Eddie likes Maddie. She is awesome, an amazing big sister, an amazing friend, and an amazing partner for Chimney, and he has no doubt she will be an amazing mom, but she has blinders on when it comes to her parents. "I hope not. I think you should try and talk to her here. I'll keep Chimney distracted. Ask her out right and remember what Doctor Copeland told you, your feelings matter. If Maddie wants your parents in her life, that is her right; she can't decide if you want them in your life, that is your choice and only your choice. You cut them out for a reason, and she needs to respect that." From the moment Buck's parents refused to show up at the hospital after the bombing, Eddie didn't have a favourable opinion of the Buckley's only Bobby and Athena have him beat in hating them. He is convinced that Athena will happily find a way to get them banned from LA, if not all of California. Buck just needs to give her the word.
Biting his lower lip, Buck looked uncertain. "I don't know, I mean I want a warning that they are on their way, but at the same time I don't want any more bad news, we've had enough of it this week."
Eddie wasn't surprised that Buck didn't want to bring down the mood of the party; he just hated that Buck was putting everyone's happiness above his own peace of mind.
It was supposed to be a peaceful weekend. Everyone had been looking forward to the Grant-Nash BBQ, but then a second alien attack on New York City occurred on Friday, and Iron Man, along with Spider-Man and an unknown man, had disappeared. As a result, everyone was on edge, wondering what was coming next.
The 118th had been kept busy; the terror of the attack in New York had made its way into LA. Making shifts feel longer, people were panicking and worried, wondering what was coming next. It was an uneasy feeling. No one had any answers. It felt like the world was holding its breath, waiting for what came next. So when Bobby had announced that there was going to be a BBQ at his and Athena’s, everyone was there, mostly because none of them wanted to be alone.
Video after video played on channel after channel of the second alien attack in New York. Footage that people shot in the midst of a crisis, where people should have been getting to safety, but that's humans for you. The boys were entranced by the alien fight, talking about how cool and awesome Iron Man is.
“Repeating our top story, Iron Man and Spider-Man are both officially missing after the latest attack in New York. Footage shows that they both went after the alien ship that appeared over the city, and they haven't been seen since Friday. The whole world is waiting and watching to see what is to come next."
It was just Eddie's luck that Taylor was the one covering the story. But it also served as proof that she really was in New York and no longer in LA, something not just he was thankful for. Even though he had been there helping Buck pack up her stuff into a U-Haul, he had wanted to make sure that she was really leaving and wouldn't try and take Buck with her. He knows that Athena has never forgiven Taylor for wanting to air the footage of Bobby high from those damn brownies at the edge of his guilt, consuming him.
Christopher, Denny, and Harry were crowded around Harry's iPad, watching a repeat of the news stories about the attack. Eddie just wishes that they would turn it to a different news station.
There was something in the air, a change. One that had them all on edge, as their bodies tingled; it was a warning. As first responders, they learned not to ignore those feelings.
“Daddy?”
Eddie was certain his heart stopped the moment he heard the tremble in his son's voice. His son only called him daddy when something was truly wrong.
“Christopher, what's wrong, mijo?” Falling to his knees, Eddie carefully held his son as he looked him over.
“Dad, I don't feel so good.”
What happened next would forever haunt Eddie, mixing with his nightmares of Buck trapped under the fire engine and the two halves of his soul caught in the tsunami. Right before his eyes, his son turned into dust.
An inhuman scream filled the air as Eddie desperately tried to catch the dust Christopher had become before the wind carried him away.
Eddie collapsed against the solid body, and he allowed the strong arms to wrap around him and hold him as he fell apart. Eddie's heartbreaking sobs were the sounds filling the Grant-Nash backyard.
Buck's own shaking shoulders or his own silent sobs didn't go unnoticed, but no one knew what to say or explain what had just happened.
The silence was broken by a soft and scared, “Howie.”
Turning towards the love of his life, Chimney knew the agony Eddie was experiencing that moment as he took in the sight of Maddie slowly turning to dust as well. “MADDIE!’ Chimney made a mad leap for her hand, praying that somehow he could stop this, only for his fingers to brush through hers before she was taken from him.
A sob escaped Chimney as he closed his eyes, crying at the loss of the other half of his soul. He never even noticed as he turned to dust himself, following after Maddie.
"Mom!" Denny's fearful cry filled the air as he looked from where Christopher had been standing next to him towards his mothers, only for his lips to tremble in horror as he watched Hen reach out for him and Karen, only to turn into dust. "MOM!"
Athena caught Denny around the waist, holding the young boy close as he fell into sobs, as Hen was lost to the dust. Karen's unearthly wail reminded Buck of a Banshee as she collapsed to the ground, trying desperately to grab onto the dust that used to be Hen, only for it to float out of her reach.
Next door, Athena heard the same wailing coming from one of her neighbours, and she offered up a silent prayer. Whatever was happening was soul-crushing. She just hoped that Michael, David, and her parents were all okay.