Chapter Text
Eddie loves Valentine’s Day. He loves getting dressed up, going out with Buck, and trying to outdo each other in the romance department. It’s like having two anniversaries (or five—Buck and Eddie celebrate their first kiss, date, ‘I love you’, and wedding anniversaries). The past few years have been a little different, though.
“Papá! Look at this one!”
Isabella runs to the end of the aisle and points up, bouncing on the balls of her feet and looking at a sparkly, yellow dress with wonder in her eyes.
“That’s pretty!” Eddie tells her, scanning through the rack for her size. “You want this one?”
“Do you think Daddy will like it?”
“I know Daddy will love it.”
She smiles and reaches out for the dress, holding it against her body and twirling to test out the skirt when Eddie hands it to her.
For the past three Valentine’s Days, Eddie and Buck have been trading off taking their daughter on a date instead of each other. They celebrate together when they have time, happy to show their affections through little gestures and gifts rather than a big, planned out evening. Because this is so much better.
The idea had been Eddie’s. When Isabella was two, Buck had been distraught over the idea of leaving her with Tia Pepa while he and Eddie went out to dinner. So much so that they’d almost skipped it altogether (until they’d been forced out the door and instructed to “spend some alone time together or else”—Eddie knew better than to argue). Later that night, with Buck fast asleep next to him, Eddie came up with the brilliant plan of organizing a date for Buck and Bella the following Valentine’s Day.
Last year was supposed to be the second annual Buck And Bella Valentine’s Day Extravaganza, but Buck flipped it around and insisted Eddie take her out instead.
“Be careful, mija,” Eddie said, helping Bella into the booth.
“I won’t fall!” she insisted. “I’m good at climbing.”
“You’re very good at climbing! But having some help so you’re safe is okay.”
“Yesterday, when Daddy was on the ladder, you didn’t help him,” she informed Eddie.
Eddie chuckled. “Daddy told me he didn’t want my help, and then he fell off the ladder and we had to ice his back, remember?”
“Oh yeah.”
He dropped a quick kiss to the top of her head and slid into the other side of the booth, smiling so fondly.
The waiter came to the table a couple of minutes later, and Bella ordered some sickeningly sweet looking root beer floats for them both. Of course, Eddie wasn’t exactly sugar-averse, but bedtime was going to be an event later if she also wanted dessert. It wasn’t like Eddie was going to tell her no. This was a date and he was a gentleman. And also, Isabella Buckley-Diaz got her way more often than not with him.
“Can we buy one more?” Bella asked, happily sipping her drink. “It’s yummy and Chris likes ice cream, and so I want to give him one.”
Eddie promised he would text Chris and see if he wanted a root beer float, and, yes, he would definitely be sure to tell Chris they were yummy and had ice cream. Chris’ dorm wasn’t too far from the restaurant, so maybe he could come say hi for five minutes on the way home.
Eddie
Gonna bring you a root beer float in a bit if that’s okay
Chris
idk i really have to study for this exam, how’s this weekend?
Eddie
Let me rephrase
Eddie
Your sister wants to bring you a root beer float because she just discovered them
Eddie
And I’ve been told to tell you that it’s very yummy and has ice cream
Chris
OH
Chris
gouda can bring me anything she wants :)
Eddie
Please don’t nickname your sister after cheese
Chris
ur just jealous bc she calls me gorgonzola and u wish that was u
Chris
but instead u got stuck with papá
Eddie
I’m just impressed she can pronounce gorgonzola
Eddie
Papá is cute! You just call me dad
Chris
u would prefer edmundo
Eddie
Do not call me Edmundo, Christopher
Chris
i’ll call u dád
Eddie
That’s not how Spanish works and you know it
Chris
si papá, lo siento papá
Eddie
“We can go see your brother after dinner!” Eddie said happily. “He’s very excited to have a root beer float.”
“Yay!” Bella clapped excitedly. “Will you bring me root beer floats when I go to college?”
“I promise I will, whenever you want. But that’s a long time from now.”
Taking Chris to school last fall was hard enough. Eddie couldn’t think about Bella being eighteen and starting college or he’d burst into tears in the booth. He was already too familiar with how fast kids grew up, he didn’t want Bella wishing away the next fourteen years of him being her dad.
Dinner was positively perfect. Bella ordered “the most chicken tenders in the world,” and the waiter looked at Eddie, who confirmed two platters would suffice. They’d take the leftovers home to Buck. Bella regaled Eddie with her day in Pre-K, during which he learned all about how she colored in the lines better than everyone else, told her teacher about Eddie’s Silver Star (how did she even know about that?!), and scolded a boy in her class for being mean to a cat they saw outside. Definitely Buck’s kid, definitely the light of Eddie’s life.
“Papá?”
“Hmm?”
“Can we get dessert?” Bella asked, leaning across the table and batting her big eyes pleadingly so Eddie got the full effect.
“Of course we can, sweetheart. What do you want?”
She slammed her little hands on the table and said, very seriously, “I need a brownie right now.”
He should’ve foreseen the outcome of the brownie considering Bella filled up on the root beer float and barely touched her chicken fingers, but she made the very good point that Buck would be so happy they brought him dessert!
After Eddie paid the check, got a root beer float to go, and Bella very politely thanked every member of staff she could find on the way out, they drove over to Chris’ dorm for the fifteen minutes he could spare from studying. He was such an amazing older brother. Always patient in letting Bella get her thoughts out, always happy to spend time with her despite their age difference. Eddie could not have asked for a more perfect family unit.
“This is a root beer float,” Bella said seriously, handing Chris the drink. She looked at him with wide, expectant eyes.
Chris took a sip and pretended to contemplate before answering. “That’s really good! Thank you, Gouda, this is going to help me study.”
“I helped?”
“You helped a lot! I think I’ll study better after this.”
Bella looked so proud of herself as she turned to Eddie to make sure he knew she helped.
“Very sweet of you, princess,” Eddie said. “You’re an excellent helper.”
Pleased that everyone knew she did a fantastic job, Bella turned her attention back to Chris. “Can we go see the fish tomorrow?” she asked.
“I can’t take you to see the fish tomorrow,” Chris told her sadly. “But my test is on Friday, which means Saturday…”
“Cheese Board?!” Bella asked, bouncing up and down.
“Cheese Board all day,” Chris confirmed.
Eddie raised an eyebrow. “Do I want to know?”
“I bought a second whiteboard,” Chris pointed to his wall, “and I keep a list of all the things we like to do. The Cheese Board.”
Truthfully, Eddie did not understand the cheese thing. Both Eddie and Buck had been on shift, came home, and suddenly there were raising cheesemongers. It was cute, though, he had to admit. Eddie and his little sisters had all kinds of stupid nicknames and jokes growing up, so he was supremely happy to see Chris and Bella sharing the same experience.
“Why don’t Buck and I get invited to the Cheese Board days?”
“You’re not cheese, Dad,” Chris said matter-of-factly.
Bella nodded sagely. “You and Daddy are people, not cheeses.”
Well. Fair enough.
They spent a little more time with Chris before he signaled to Eddie that he really needed to get back to studying. Which was Eddie’s cue to be the bad guy and make Bella leave. Usually he’d get a little more pushback, but the promise of Saturday seemed to have appeased her. They told Chris they loved him and good luck in his exam, and he said he loved them too and that he’d see them that weekend.
“Can we bring food to Daddy now?” Bella asked as they walked back to the car.
“It’s our date, we can do anything we want.”
They came to quick agreement that both of them missed Buck, so they made a second pit stop at the station to say hello and bring him dinner.
“There’s my girl!” Buck said when he caught sight of them. He squatted down and opened his arms, and Bella jumped into them. “I missed you! What are you doing here?”
“Brought you dinner,” Eddie said, holding up the bag of leftovers.
Buck stood up, bringing a laughing Bella with him. “Hi,” he said brightly.
“Hi.” Eddie leaned in and kissed him. “Hungry?”
“Starving.”
They were gifted a solid half an hour before the alarm went off, during which Eddie was happy to watch his daughter be the center of attention for their extended family. She spent most of the time bouncing between Buck and Eddie, but happily chatted with Hen and Chim and Ravi as they came in and out of the firehouse loft.
“Is Papa being a gentleman?” Buck asked. “Is he paying for everything and giving you whatever you want?”
“He always gives me whatever I want.”
Eddie’s head snapped towards the kitchen when he heard Ravi and Hen snickering together.
“Something funny?” he called over to them.
“Honestly, no,” Hen told him. “Seeing you whipped for a Buckley is nothing new.”
“She’s much cuter than Buck, though,” Ravi added.
To avoid being roasted any further, because that was surely just the tip of the iceberg, Eddie hummed and smiled and turned his attention back to his husband and daughter.
“…and this is the best date ever!” Bella exclaimed, jumping into Eddie’s lap where he sat on the couch.
“Yeah, he’s a pretty good date,” Buck agreed, as he reached over and squeezed Eddie’s hand.
Sentimental man that he was, Buck insisted on taking some pictures of Bella and Eddie to commemorate their date. Unfortunately, Eddie and Bella had never taken a serious picture together in their lives until Buck gave them The Look, which he did here after a lot of laughing and messing around. However, Eddie couldn’t fault him, because the very sweet photo of Bella hugging Eddie around the neck and giving him a kiss on the cheek would become one of his all time favorites.
No trip to the firehouse was complete without a ride down the fire pole, but nor was it without the alarm interrupting family time either. Bella was taking her fifth trip down the fire pole when they were interrupted.
Buck dropped a quick kiss to Eddie’s lips, one to Bella’s head, then called, “Gotta go, love you so much,” over his shoulder as he hurried towards the engine.
The two of them sent ‘I love you’s after Buck, and Eddie took Bella’s hand as they waited off to the side until the 118 were well on their way to the emergency.
“Spa night?” Bella suggested.
Eddie looked down at her with a smile. “Absolutely.”
On the way home, they stopped at the grocery store to grab some bananas, honey, and cucumber to really enhance the spa experience. They prepped everything quickly (Eddie did the work while Bella delegated from the countertop) and changed into their matching pajamas. Eddie reclined on the couch while Bella laid cucumber slices over his eyes and gently spread the banana facemask over his skin. His instructions were to lie still and relax while she gave him a manicure. Nights like this were unironically soothing. He wouldn’t trade them for anything.
“I think this color would look pretty with sparkles,” she mused. Eddie could feel her tilting his hand back and forth, likely examining her work. “What do you think?”
Not moving from his horizontal position on the couch lest he disturb his cucumbers, Eddie replied, “Whatever you think, princess, I trust you! I like sparkles.”
“Will you get in trouble at work?”
“Nah. Your Uncle Ravi might be jealous, though.”
“Uncle Ravi doesn’t get to come to my spa,” she said darkly. “He knows what he did.”
That was unsettling. Why were kids so scary for no reason? Eddie made a mental note to ask Ravi about that next shift.
Then, in the sweetest voice in the world, Isabella said, “Daddy is going to think you are so pretty!”
Eddie laughed softly. “Only because you are so talented at making me look nice.”
Bella took the cucumbers off Eddie’s eyes and gave him a stern look. “You’re already handsome, Papá,” she told him matter-of-factly.
“Thank you, sweetheart. And you are very beautiful.”
“I know,” she informed him, flipping her hair back in a distinctly Buckley fashion.
“Mhm. You’re just like your Daddy,” he said fondly. Eddie pulled Bella in, dropping little kisses all over her face while she giggled, until they were equally covered in mushed banana.
After freeing them both from the mess of banana-related skincare, Eddie sat still while Bella painted the glitter top coat over his nails. Of course, he was enlisted to paint Bella’s nails when his were dry (Eddie was the manicurist in the Buckley-Diaz household), but that was Eddie’s pleasure. They chose to match, as they often did, and texted a picture to Buck, who promptly hearted the message and sent a brick of a reply praising his daughter’s eye for color.
Later, Bella fell asleep in Eddie’s lap while they watched ‘Wreck-It Ralph’ for the fifth time in a week. Despite it being February, Bella had made it very clear that she would be dressing as Vanellope Von Schweetz for Halloween, and Buck, in no uncertain terms, would be dressing as Ralph.
This part of bedtime was tricky, because she had some switch in her brain that would flip and wake her up the moment Eddie turned the movie off. But that was what the system was for.
The general rule was that Bella, being a big girl and four years old, had to sleep in her own bed. But Buck and Eddie worked such long shifts that on special occasions, like when one of them was on and the other was off, she could sleep in their bed if she wanted. And because tonight was special—Isabella Buckley-Diaz date nights were always special—that meant it was a sleepover night.
Careful not to wake Bella, Eddie slid his phone out of his pocket and used it to stream the movie to the television in his and Buck’s bedroom. That way, he only had to contend with the walk from the living room to the bedroom before she inevitably woke up to ask why Eddie would do something as awful as turning off her favorite movie.
Eddie placed Bella gently on Buck’s side of the bed and dropped a kiss to her head. He stood in front of the television and watched the movie with his arms crossed for precisely two minutes before realizing what he was doing. As he tiptoed out of the bedroom, Eddie smiled at himself and shook his head. Buck was fond of pointing out Eddie’s so-called “dad behavior.” He’d have to text his husband about this one.
He wasn’t in the habit of going to bed at the same time as their daughter, but the house was kind of boring after 8 p.m. with no Buck and no Christopher. Eddie decided to get in bed with the intention of reading or watching television but knowing he’d annoy the family group instead. College students and on-shift firefighters didn’t have normal schedules and were, therefore, available to entertain Eddie for the rest of the night.
When Eddie walked back into the bedroom, Bella was still lying down but fixing Eddie with a wholly unimpressed stare that looked identical to one that Buck gave him. And so, Eddie knew what was coming next.
“You left,” she accused sleepily.
“It’s not my bedtime yet,” Eddie replied, climbing into bed.
Bella made some adorable disgruntled, whiny noise and reached out towards Eddie. He laughed softly and pulled her onto his chest, holding her tight and petting her head.
“Did you have a nice Valentine’s Day?” he asked quietly. She nodded. “You wanna wake up early tomorrow to make breakfast for Daddy when he gets home?” She nodded again, hugging Eddie tighter.
“Okay, we can do that,” Eddie whispered, pressing another kiss to her curls. “Go back to sleep. I love you.”
“I love you,” Bella mumbled, already mostly asleep again.
Trading off Valentine’s Day dates is actually a brilliant plan because it makes each year extra special for Isabella. Besides, helping her get ready for her date with Buck is just as much fun as Eddie taking her on a date himself.
Home from clothes shopping, Eddie is sitting on the floor of Bella’s bedroom, very carefully pulling some of her hair back to clip in the bow she picked out.
“Make sure it’s perfect!” she says.
“Don’t worry, I’m an expert hairdresser.” He secures the clip in her hair and spins her around. “Go look in the mirror, tell me what you think.”
Bella runs over to her full-length mirror and checks herself from multiple angles. Seemingly satisfied, she comes back over and squishes Eddie’s cheek.
“You did good, kid,” she tells him.
Eddie laughs out loud. “Thanks, Cap.”
He checks his phone. Buck should be home any minute. They’d had a long discussion about this date, with Buck planning it out like Bella would quit being his daughter if it wasn’t good enough. It was one of the cutest bouts of Buck exasperation in recent memory. Buck had decided he wanted to buy Bella flowers and chocolate and pick her up at the door, just like a real date. It hasn’t even happened yet and Eddie is already melting at the thought.
“Okay, beautiful, what do you think?” Eddie holds up a thin, red Strawberry Shortcake box of play makeup. “Yes or no?” he asks.
“Hmmmmmm.” Bella brings a hand to her chin and tilts her head back and forth. “Only here,” she points to her cheeks, “and here,” she points to her lips.
“Blush and gloss, yes, ma’am!” Eddie says, giving a little salute. He lightly dusts the pink blush over the apples of her cheeks. Years of practice doing this with Sofia and Adriana were really coming in handy having a daughter.
Just as Eddie finishes applying Bella’s lipgloss, there’s a hard knock on the front door.
“I think your date is here.”
“Daddy!” she yells, sprinting out of the room and bolting for the front door.