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Buck’s eyes flutter open for a second, and he forgets where he is until he feels the weight of Eddie’s arms wrapped around him. Buck has always been the big spoon in every relationship, including Tommy.
Last night, Buck had expected to fall asleep with Eddie in his arms, but Eddie had other plans, pulling Buck into his arms and holding him close. For the first time, Buck was the little spoon, and he really liked how it felt falling asleep being held by someone who loves him.
“Buck, I know your mind is running. Care to share?” Eddie murmurs into Buck’s hair.
“Never been held like this before.” He responds, trying to turn towards Eddie.
Eddie lets go, and Buck flips over to face him, as Eddie pulls him back into his chest. “You deserve to be taken care of.”
“Okay, but I am still making breakfast, because you burn toast.” Buck teases as he enjoys the feeling of being held.
“That was one time,” Eddie whines, his eyes finally opening.
“Yeah, you will never live that down.” Buck looks up to see Eddie grinning at him.
“Buck, we should probably get up before Chris…,” Eddie said last night, that he wasn’t worried about Christopher’s reaction to them dating, but that doesn’t stop Buck from worrying.
He knows how fragile Eddie and Christopher’s relationship is. Christopher, having an adverse reaction, could tear them apart.
He pulls on a pair of sweats he left the last time he crashed over, nervous about facing the kid whose opinion matters the most. “Buck.”
Eddie walks over to him and grabs his pulse point to help calm him. “It’s going to be ok, Chris loves you.”
“Yeah, as his dad’s best friend.” Buck has always been the best friend to both Diaz boys since he met them, and he didn’t want to lose that with Christopher.
“Stop. He is going to love you as my boyfriend, too.” Eddie pulls in for a kiss, and Buck melts into his embrace.
“Can I just hide here until he goes to school?” Buck leans into Eddie; he is a coward, and he owns it.
“No, Cariño, you can’t, let's go, ” Eddie says as he drags him out of the room and down the hall to the kitchen.
“I’m making pancakes.” So what if Buck knows they are Christopher’s favorite? Nothing wrong with bribing the kid to like you still.
“Chris’s favorite, huh?” Eddie laughs; he sees right through Buck.
“A little bribe won’t hurt.” He winks at Eddie before he gathers the ingredients. Ten minutes later, a fully dressed Christopher walks into the kitchen, rolling his eyes.
“You two are not subtle.” Christopher leans his crutches on the wall before sitting at the table. “Pancakes? Is this a bribe?”
Eddie is laughing, and Buck turns his mouth dropping open, his cheeks turning beet red, “I wanted to make you breakfast.”
“Buck, you don’t have to bribe me to date my dad.” Christopher is side-eyeing him.
“How?” Buck is panicking; he feels Eddie take the plate of pancakes from his hands.
“Why don’t we sit down?” Buck lets Eddie guide him to a chair.
How is Eddie not panicking?
“Ok, Christopher Edmundo Diaz, how long have you known?” Eddie asks, taking a sip of his coffee.
“Since I was eight,” Christopher says, shrugging his shoulders as Eddie spits out his coffee and starts choking.
Buck still can’t form words, Christopher knew at eight? How? Buck didn’t even know he liked men when Christopher was eight.
“Eight? How?” Eddie looks as surprised as Buck feels.
“Dad, you are happier when Buck is around, and you look at each other like Athena and Bobby looked at each other,” Christopher says, and it hits Buck in the gut.
Christopher talking about Bobby in the past tense, and comparing his relationship with Eddie to one of the strongest couples he knows, would have brought him to his knees if he wasn’t already sitting.
“Hen and Karen are always making comments about you two when I am over at Denny’s.”
Christopher looks at him. “Everyone at my school thinks you’re my stepfather, and I stopped correcting people years ago. My classmates’ moms think you two are married, that's why they don’t hit on dad.”
Christopher grabs the stack of pancakes as Buck finally looks over at Eddie, and he is laughing.
“How is any of this funny?” Buck is finally finding his voice.
“Our kid is smarter than us, that’s why.” Eddie leans over and kisses Buck on his birthmark.
“Gross, not while I eat my pancakes, please.” Christopher wrinkles his nose.
“So you’re okay with me dating your dad?” Buck needs to hear that Christopher is okay with this.
“Yes, I just don’t want to see any of the gross stuff like you two making out.” Christopher is looking at Buck with a serious face. “It’s not just people who see you as my stepdad, I do too. I know you and Dad aren’t getting married yet, but if you do, I want you to adopt me.”
Tears stream down Buck’s face. “Your dad has to agree.”
“His dad has no problems with dad number two adopting his son.” Eddie jumps in. “Buck, he is just as much your kid as he is Shannon's and my kid.”
“I don’t want you to think I am trying to replace her.” Buck never wants to overstep where Shannon belonged; she was gone, but she was still Christopher’s mother.
“You can’t replace her, and you don’t need to, Cariño, because you take up your own space in Chris’s and my hearts.” Eddie cups his face. “The fact that you respect her makes me love you more.”
“Okay, no more mushy stuff.” Christopher groans as he finishes his pancakes.
“You need to grab your backpack, mijo, we need to get you to school.” Eddie tries to sound annoyed, but Buck can see the smile on his boyfriend’s face.
“Fine, but maybe Buck should go move his truck. You two didn’t fool me. I know he spent the night last night. When we got home last night, and Buck wasn’t on the couch, I knew you two finally figured it out.”
Christopher didn’t even look at either of them as he left the room, leaving both men stunned.
🚨🚨🚨
Once Christopher is dropped off at school, they return home, both silent in the car as they absorb the teenager's words. Eddie can sense that something is eating at Buck, but he waits and lets Buck come to him.
“Eddie, we need to talk about this.” Buck finally confronts him as they enter the house.
“Talk about what?” Eddie waits.
“Chris wants me to adopt him. You can’t be serious; you're okay with it?” Buck looks like he is waiting for Eddie to be mad, and Eddie is angry, but not why Buck thinks.
“Like hell I can’t, Buck?” Eddie is not threatened by Christopher seeing Buck as his dad; he feels lucky his son loves Buck as much as he does.
“You’re his dad, not me.” Buck is so used to being kept on the outside, and Eddie’s heart breaks for the man he loves.
“Cariño, you’re just as much his dad as I am. You don’t take away my role in my son’s life; I am secure that Christopher sees me as his father. You are a second dad to him. Your relationship with him is different and special to the two of you.”
“Eddie, why isn’t this scaring you. You have been so calm about coming out, and now all this with Christopher.”
“Because Evan, I am tired of hiding who I am, plus I have you to do all of this with. I trust you to have my back just like I did seven years ago.” Eddie isn’t ready to confront his parents, but he isn’t hiding who he is anymore.
“You mean that,” Buck says, it’s a statement more than a question. He looks shaken, tears streaming down his face.
“Yeah, I do, Buck. You are an equal part of this family that won't change.” Eddie drags Buck to the couch, and he sits, pulling Buck onto his lap.
“Eddie, I am going to squish you.” Buck pulls away, but Eddie holds him in place. Buck deserves to know what it’s like to feel wanted.
.
“Cariño, no, you won’t.” Eddie needs Buck to know how much he loves the feeling of Buck straddling him. Yes, Buck was taller, but Eddie had built up a ton of muscle after coming back from El Paso. Not sure of how to express his feelings, he had been left with a lot of pent-up energy, so he had started lifting weights.
“Bebé, you feel so good in my arms.” Eddie pulls Buck’s head down for a kiss, and Buck moans into Eddie’s mouth.
“I love you, Eddie,” Buck murmurs as they come up for air.
“I love you too, Cariño. Will you go on a date with me on Saturday?”
“Yes.” Buck moans as he brushes his lips across Eddie’s.
“Good, and then after you and I are going to have the best night of our lives.” Eddie whispers in Buck’s ears as he goes in for a deeper kiss.
He is Edmundo Roman Diaz, a gay man in love with his best friend, and he can’t wait to show Buck off on their first date.