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Buck knows that Bobby is up to something.
Okay, true, everyone’s probably up to something with the whispers and the giggles whenever he comes around.
He’s just not exactly sure what the giggles could possibly be about.
So, he’s a bit suspicious, especially when Bobby makes a point to invite him (and Theo) out for breakfast on his birthday, not that he ever acknowledges his birthday. In fact, he’s pretty sure that only Maddie knows when his birthday even is. Well, Bobby is his emergency contact, so he might also know, but … he’s never pushed him on acknowledging his birthday before, so it’s just… odd.
Luckily, Bobby seems content to just chat as normal, teasing Buck about how he somehow has different colored pen marks on his hands from helping Theo learn to write, but Buck still suspicious.
He hasn’t referenced Buck’s birthday, but there’s just something that feels… off.
“So, uh, what prompted this little breakfast?”
“I can’t take my favorite grandson out to eat?” Bobby teases as he tickles Theo, who is sitting beside him enjoying his waffles and getting ridiculously sticky.
“So, this isn’t about me?” Buck asks, half-teasing and half-suspicious.
“Not everything is about you, Buck,” Bobby teases. “Not even on your birthday.”
“Yeah, well, I mean – it is a little suspicious, especially since now I know you know today is my birthday,” Buck retorts, giving him a look.
Bobby merely grins. “Just because I know doesn’t mean we have to celebrate. Maybe I just wanted to spend some time with you both and it’s a mere coincidence that it happens to be your birthday.”
Buck hums. He doesn’t believe it, but… “I guess that makes sense.”
“It absolutely does,” Bobby confirms, but there’s still something in his eyes that’s bugging Buck a bit.
Yet, he knows that Bobby isn’t going to cave, so he merely nods and says, “Yeah, sure.”
***
Buck should not be surprised as he is that they attempted to throw him a surprise party. He should’ve known that’s what the giggling and whispers were about.
The funniest part about it was that they didn’t hide their cars at all, so it’s blatantly obvious what’s going on.
Still, it does make him feel special. So, he lets Theo lead the way inside the house with a gleeful look on his face because at four, he absolutely cannot keep a secret and it’s so obvious that there’s a party waiting inside their home.
It’s adorably cute.
Despite knowing that it’s coming there’s still the slight surprise when he hears, “SURPRISE,” the second that they come through the door.
He smiles and laughs as everyone hugs him and tells him happy birthday.
Time for the party to begin.
***
“Enjoying yourself?” Bobby asks as he offers Buck a drink where he sees alone for a moment in the backyard.
Buck hums. “It’s the first birthday in thirty-five years that I’ve actually celebrated.”
“We could’ve been celebrating for years,” Bobby offers.
It took a while for any of them to even have an idea of when Buck’s birthday actually is, and when he did figure it out, it had been well after the Daniel reveal and suddenly Buck’s aversion to birthdays made a whole lot more sense. They wanted to do something for him that year, but Buck merely shook his head and said that maybe someday he’d be okay celebrating but not then.
But Buck had gone all out for Theo’s birthday and when Theo asked about his own birthday parties, it looked like maybe Buck was disappointed that he couldn’t give him amazing stories of his own birthdays, so Bobby had asked Maddie what she thought about a surprise party, and she’d been thrilled to do most of the planning for it.
Bobby was just the distraction and had managed to find the perfect present.
“I just – I’ve had so many disappointments that I didn’t want to get excited about a party that might never happen,” Buck admits.
“So, a surprise party was a good idea?”
“The best, honestly.”
The bright smile on his face matches the brightness in his eyes and it spreads a warmth through Bobby’s chest. He’s so genuinely happy that this was a good choice.
“I’m glad,” Bobby says, genuinely. “And I think I’ve got the perfect gift, too.”
“You don’t have to –”
But Bobby’s already moved away to where he’s hidden his present for Buck.
***
Buck isn’t sure where Bobby’s present is that he’s disappeared, but he’s easily distracted by Theo asking if it was time for cake.
Maddie nods and goes to get the cake just as a gorgeous beagle puppy comes running into the backyard.
Buck kneels down to pet the puppy as he can never resist petting a dog.
“Hi, there, buddy, who do you belong to?” he asks the dog, not paying any mind to everyone else watching him.
“You,” Bobby says, appearing before him.
“Me?” Buck asks, looking up at him.
Happiness bubbling in his stomach. He briefly remembers trying to adopt that dog he saved, but the dog’s real owners came to collect him.
He’s wanted a dog ever since, but so much has happened…
Bobby’s grinning at him as Theo joins him to pet the dog and everyone else gathers, too.
“I know how much you’ve wanted a dog, and I thought… this is one you can raise yourself.”
Buck grins. He’s got his very own Blaze, again. This one that won’t get taken away.
“Thanks, Bobby. I love him, already,” he admits as he and Theo pet the puppy, with some of the other kids coming over to pet the dog, too.
“Good, I’m glad,” Bobby says as Maddie comes out with the cake.
“Time for cake!” she says. “You can play with the dog later.”
“Gladly.”
***
As Buck goes to bed, his new puppy curled up at the end of his bed, his son tucked in bed, he can’t help thinking that this was his best birthday ever and maybe it shouldn’t have taken thirty-five years to celebrate it.
Maybe next year, he won’t have to be surprised into it.
Either way, this year, he can fall asleep on his birthday, happy and content with the days’ celebrations – maybe next year, it’ll be even better.
He’d like to think so, but only time will tell.