Chapter Text
Eddie closed the door, wishing that Buck could come home with him - to their son. Despite the fact, Buck still had his own place, he spent most of his time here with him and Chris. This house was his home. Eddie wasn't quite sure why he hadn't already asked Buck to move in…or even marry him. Sure it hadn't been long since the two of them started dating, but it had been years in the making. Years of partnership, basically a relationship just without the sex stuff. If anything they were probably taking it slow. Eddie didn't want to scare Buck off but at the same time, he wanted to show Buck that he wasn't leaving. No matter what. Unlike the others - Ali, Tommy…Abby. Oh how he hated them all. How they had shown Buck he wasn't worth staying for. But Buck was so worth staying for. He made life more beautiful. His joy an love were so infectious. Their loss was his gain. Buck was his sol, his sun.
"Hey Carla," greeted Eddie as he saw Carla in the kitchen. Surprisingly there was a lack of a little figure, his son, near Carla. Maybe he was in the bathroom or something. But there was no water running sounds.
Carla seemed a bit tired. Like she had something to tell Eddie that she wasn't sure how to. Then she took a deep breath in and spoke.
"Hey Eddie….Chris locked himself in his bedroom. He ran to his bedroom the minute he heard your truck. I tried to talk to him but he wouldn't say a word - just that he was mad at you. He was fine when I picked him up and all afternoon."
"Thanks Carla, I'll try talking to him."
Eddie wondering what he could have done to set off his son. He was pretty sure he hadn't forgotten anything big or any promises. Not that Buck would have let him, between that beautiful brain of his and the shared calendar they had. Lost in his thoughts, he waved Carla goodbye, that he didn't need some time with Carla still there. That he'd be okay and would figure things out with Chris. Eddie figured maybe it was best to give Chris his space.
He made his way to Chris' room. The door was shut. His parents probably wouldn't have cared and just opened the door, had they wanted to talk to him. Eddie hated that growing up. He had decided to do better with Chris, and show him respect. Eddie knocked on the door.
"Hey mijo. I'm home. Carla let me know that you were mad at me. I'm not sure what I did, but I hope you know you can talk to me mijo. I love you."
Eddie waited for a response. It seemed like he would get none. Eddie knocked again.
"Mijo, you don't have to talk to me right now, just let me know you're there."
Chris gave the smallest grunt to affirm he was there. Eddie breathed a small sigh of relief. He figured there hadn't been enough time for Chris to sneak way like he had the last time, but there was a small part of Eddie that wondered if Chris had snuck out. He was tired and a bit lost in his thought. Chris could probably have done so if he wanted.
Lunch and dinner had passed around with almost no sign of Chris. He hadn't come out for either meal. Eddie left him plates in front of Chris's door. Those had been taken into Chris' room quietly, eaten and then the clean plates put back out.
Eddie was at a loss of what to do. Sure Chris had been mad at him before, but it had come out so differently. And they hadn't lasted that long. Like there was the time, when Eddie told Chris about Ana, Chris had run away to Buck then. Buck then had helped fix things.
Buck. Eddie was frozen for a moment. Why hadn't he thought about calling Buck? Sure they had texted throughout the day. But he could have called or told Buck about what was going on with Chris.
Buck was Chris's best friend, and his second dad. If Eddie were to be truly honest, Buck had been Chris's second dad since the moment the two had met. Buck would probably have been able to get Chris out of his room and maybe even get Chris to say what was going on. Chris adored Buck. He had been so excited with they told him that they were dating. Chris was all for Buck moving in then and there. To his regret, Buck had to explain that they had just started dating and were taking things slow. If it were up to Eddie though, Buck would have moved in that day.
Eddie's phone pinged. Buck had sent him a photo with Jee-Yun on his shoulders. That's why Eddie hadn't told Buck about Chris. He had made plans that day to spend time with Maddie and Jee-Yun. Eddie sighed. It had been a bit too long. He needed to get Chris out of that room.
Eddie decided he's try to open Chris's door. Even if Chris wouldn't talk to him, he still wanted to say good night and tuck in his baby—excuse him, his teenager. Though Chris would always be his baby.
He knocked on Chris' door asking if he could come in. He leaned into the door to see if he could hear anything. Nothing and Chris hadn't said anything.
"Mijo? I'm going to come in. Just want to say good night to you."
Still nothing so Eddie, gently attempted to opened the door. The door wouldn't budge. It had been locked. Chris was seriously pissed. Eddie was at a lost at what to do.
Eddie went to his room, and called the one person he figured might be able to get Chris out of his room and talking - their best friend. If he Chris's dad couldn't get anything out of him, then maybe Buck could.
Buck had rushed over the minute Eddie had called and told him what had gone down. He used his key and quickly entered the house. He looked at Eddie quickly, seeing if he needed someone too. Eddie knowing Buck, shook his head and gestured towards Chris's room. He was the priority.
Buck knocked on Chris's door, saying
"Hey superman, it's me Buck."
Chris didn't respond but it sounded there was movement from Chris. Maybe like he had gotten right up to the door but then had hesitated to open the door. Buck waited a beat, and told Chris that Eddie was in the living room. Chris immediately opened the door and launched himself into Buck. Buck wobbled back a little, a bit unprepared for Chris to do so. Chris just cuddled up into Buck, seeking comfort. Not a word said from him. Buck tucked Chris up into his arms, and sat down. Just the two of them sitting there, Chris soaking up the comfort and Buck hoping he might talk.
Unfortunately Buck hadn't had much more luck that Eddie in getting anything out of Chris. He had been a locked chest with whatever he held secret deep inside.
Eddie had peeking in on the two and trying to creep closer to the two of his boys. Eddie managed to make his way pretty close to Buck, almost ready to plop down next to them. When Chris stiffened up, and moved. He moved in a way to face his dad, and like he was shielding Buck from Eddie. Neither Buck or Eddie knew what Chris would do next and they waited with a bated breathe. Hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.
"I want to go live with Buck! I'm not staying here any longer!" burst out of Chris.
Eddie's face fell. Chris didn't even want to stay with him. How badly had he fucked up for Chris to want that. At least he was willing to stay with Buck, and would be close by. At least he hadn't demanded to stay with his grandparents who wouldn't have done anything to reunite the two of them. At least it was his other dad that Chris wanted to go with. Eddie's heart was still broken. That was his baby, their baby.
Eddie didn't know what else to do besides agree. Hopefully some time apart and spent with Buck would help Chris open up. That way he could know what he did wrong and fix what he had done.
Chris glaring at his dad, warning him to keep away from his Buck, got up from Buck and when to back his bags. Buck got up from his spot on the ground.
"Chris buddy I'll be waiting for you in the living room okay?"
"Okay Buck."
Buck gently grabbed Eddie and took them both to the living room. Where Buck embraced Eddie, leaning his forehead to the other's mans. In a way to offer what comfort he might be able to in this situation.
"Eds, I promise I'll keep you updated and let you know what's going on as soon as I can," promised Buck in a whisper. "He loves you, remember that. Even if it feels like he doesn't. He does. And he will come around."
A questioning look or text began each interaction Eddie had with Buck when they first met after a gap of not being together. Buck responded with a shake of a head no and pressed lips together, unsure what what more he could say. This went on for a week. Then one day, Eddie got call from Buck while the two were on a 48 off.
Buck had asked him to come over as soon as he could. In the call, as Buck was talking to him, he could hear the faint voice of their son telling Buck to tell him to come over now. That he, Chris was asking for his dad.
Eddie hadn't really had plans for that day, so he had been lounging around in just his boxers. He grabbed the first shirt and pair of pants he could find and shoved them on along side a pair of shoes. Then he grabbed his keys and made his way into his car and over to Buck's loft. The drive to Buck's usually took 20 minutes, he made it in 15 minutes.
When Eddie reached Buck's door, he stood there for a minute debating if he should knock or use his key. Before he could make a choice, the door flung open and someone ran into him. Eddie's arms wrapped around the figure without a thought. A moment and Eddie knew this was his baby. He buried his face in Chris' curly hair. Tears began falling from his eyes. For a while it seemed like Chris was going to never talk to him again.
Eddie felt his shirt getting wet. Then he realized that Chris was crying as well. That he was talking to him. Saying that he was sorry over and over again. Eddie rubbed Chris's back and told him how much he loved and missed him. Eddie lifted his head and looked over at Buck looking for an explanation. Buck had been looking over them in fondness but a hint of laughter on his face.
Buck tilted his head inviting Eddie (and Chris) into the loft. Eddie picked up Chris, either of them ready to let go of each other. The three of them made their way over the living room. The two six foot tall men sat down on the couch, facing each other, knees touching each other. Then Buck began his recounting what had happened.
Chris and Buck had been watching a movie, Encanto, the movie was on the later half. There was a scene where Mirabel was talking to Bruno, when all of a sudden Chris broke down and started crying saying that he was sorry. How he didn't want to break Buck's heart.
Buck immediately swept up Chris into a hug, rubbing his back trying to comfort and calm down the boy. This went on for a bit. Eventually Chris calmed down enough and the tears stopped. Buck gave it a second before he asked Chris his question, hoping he wouldn't set him off again.
"Superman? What are you sorry about? That you think will break my heart?"
Chris shook his head like he wasn't quite ready to tell Buck what had happened. Then he took a breath like he was strengthening himself, pulled back a little and looked Buck in the eyes.
"Dad's cheating on you!"
Buck's brows furrowed. Where had Chris gotten this idea from?
But before Buck could ask Chris. Chris continued on.
"I heard him last week. He was on the phone with someone. Some guy. On the call, he told the guy he loved him. He called him Evan! I hate him! DAD AND EVAN! How dare get between you and dad. You're my papa!" Chris exclaimed, angry at his dad and for Buck.
Buck had to hold back a bit of a laugh. But he smiled at the love that Chris had for him. How angry and heartbroken Chris had been over thinking Eddie was cheating. How protective he was of Buck. Then Buck realized that was the first time that he had ever called Buck Papa. Buck was stunned.
"Can I say a bad word, Papa?"
Buck gave Chris a yes, not sure what to expect and still processing what he had been called. And now for a second time.
"FUCK EVAN!" proclaimed Chris loudly.
Buck was going to yell language but then he realized he had just given permission to Chris to use a bad word. So instead he decided to move on, over that word. That maybe it was time to clear up things for Chris.
"Superman, you know Buck is my nickname right?"
Chris gave Buck a nod yes, slightly confused as to the topic change.
"Do you know my legal name buddy?" Buck gently questioned Chris as he reached for his wallet to pull out his ID.
A small no came out of Chris' mouth. Buck took his ID and gave it to Chris, "Why don't see what my legal name is."
Chris slowly being reading out Buck's full name.
"Evan Daniel Buckley," came out quietly. Chris looked at Buck and then back at the ID. He did this a few times before bursting into tears again. This time the sobs came out shaking Chris's body. Luckily Chris was still in Buck's arms so the comfort began again. Then Chris began asking for his dad. He had been so mean and all for no reason.
That's when Buck had called Eddie, leading them to where they were now.
Eddie had to hold in his laughter. How silly this had all been. But he and Buck would definitely laugh about this together later, when Chris wasn't around.
Eddie kissed Chris's hair. Then he told him that he was sorry that he had done anything to make Chris think he had cheated. Least of all on Buck, their person. The person that Chris had hoped it was when Eddie said he was dating someone. The person that was the love of his life (though he wasn't sure Chris knew that yet).