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“Okay buddy, bedtime.” Eddie groans as he got up from the couch, his tired muscles aching as he stretches. Yesterday's shift had been brutal and his body agrees.
“But Eddie!” Theo whines. “I’m not tired.”
“You’ve literally yawned like 5 times in the last 2 minutes Theo” comes Chris's voice from the couch as he grabs his crutches from the floor..
“But I'm not tired!” Theo whines once more.
“Theo, please bud I don't want to fight tonight.” Eddie sighs, feeling incredibly exhausted.
“Fine.” Theo mumbles, “But I want to sleep with Chris.”
“Theo, you cant ju-”
“Its okay dad, he can sleep in my room.” Chris says as he stands up from the couch.
“Yeah! “ Theo yells excitedly before running to the bedroom, his little feet scurrying against the wooden floors.
“Don't forget to brush your teeth! I'll come tuck you in now!” Eddie calls out after him
“Okay.” Theo shouts from the other room.
“I don't know how he has so much energy.” Chris muses as he makes his way to the bedroom.
“You were also like that at his age.” Eddie responded as he began to clean up the living room.
“Yeah, yeah sure.” came his son's reply.
“He huffs out a laugh before heading to the kitchen to get started on the dishes. Ten minutes later he hears Chris call him “dad, theo and I are ready for bed!”
“Alright bud im coming, he picks up a rag and wipes his hands and heads to Theo’s room grabbing a few books and then making his way next door.
“Alright, what story do you want?” Eddie asks as he scans the books in his hands, flipping them so Theo can see the titles.
“No story! I want a lullaby!” Theo demands as he snuggles closer to Chris who’s been yawning non-stop.
“Yeah?” Eddie asks, putting the spiderman comics on the dresser. “No spiderman tonight?”
“No” came the quipped response of a tired (and frankly stubborn) child.
Chris, who's been silent for the most part, snorts, looking down at Theo mumbling "that's a surprise.”
“Chris.” Eddie warns as he makes his way to the bed. “What? He asks for a bedtime story every night. Im just stating that is surprising that he changed his mind” Chris shrugs as he tries to hid his smile.
“Right.” Eddie snorts, disbelieving.
“Okay, what song?” Eddie asks as he gets in the bed, Theo squished between his body and Chris’.
“Uhhh ‘milton!!” Theo decides, tired voice coming from under the covers.
Eddie glances up at Chris, clearly confused. “‘Milton?” He asks, eyebrows raised.
“Hamilton dad, we watched it with Buck last night when you were on shift. Theo wanted to watch your favourite musical”
“It's one of my favorites, not my favourite.” Eddie mumbles in defence of his pride.
Chris gives him a look and Eddie decides not to comment.
“Okay, what song from Hamilton” Eddie asks turning his attention to Theo
“You choose.” Chris say, clearly just wanting to sleep. Theo, who hasn't decided on a song, also nods in agreement.
“Okay, let's see.” Eddie racks his brain as he gets comfortable, well as comfortable as he can, on the bed.
The room goes quiet for a moment before Eddie softly begins to sing.
Dear Theo, what to say to you?
You have Buck’s eyes, you have your mothers name
When you came into the world, you cried
And it broke our hearts
Theo begins to relax, deeply breathing in and out as he snuggles deeper into the blankets. Eddie slowly begins to stroke his head, fingers playing with Theo’s hair.
I'm dedicating every day to you
This kind of life was never quite my style
When you smile, you knock me out, I fall apart
And to thought I was so smart
Theo’s breaths began to even out, signaling that he’s slowly falling deeper and deeper into unconsciousness. Mumbling incoherent words that Eddie doesn’t bother making out.
You will come of age with our little family
We'll bleed and fight for you
We'll make it right for you
If we lay a strong enough foundation
We'll pass it on to you, we'll give the world to you
And you'll blow us all away
Someday, someday
Yeah, you'll blow us all away
Someday, someday
Eddie takes the opportunity to glance at Theo's face. His eyes are closed and his breaths deep and even. He’s asleep. Eddie smiles and kisses the boy's forehead. He takes a moment to glance up at Chris, God he’s grown so much. Eddie's heart hurts as he thought of when Chris was Theo’s age and how much he has grown since. He smiles at his boy before carrying on with his lullaby.
Oh, Chris, when you smile I am undone
My son, look at my son
Pride is not the word I'm looking for
There is so much more inside me now
Tears well up in the corner of Chris’ eyes as he listens to the words. Eddie's soft rendition shooting him with arrows in the heart. He closes his eyes tightly, willing his eyes to not shed anymore tears. Eddie too began to feel the tell tale signs of tears welling up. His throat growing tight as he tries to push through the rest of the song and not get too emotional..
Oh, Chris, you outshine the morning sun
My son
When you smile, I fall apart
And I thought I was so smart
Chris’ breathing begins to slow as he snuggles into the blankets with Theo. Dried tears he didn't bother to wipe, now just stains on his face. He looks so young like this, Eddie thinks as a tear drips down his face.
My father wasn't around
I swear that I'll be around for you
I'll do whatever it takes
I'll make the world safe and sound for you
Eddie can’t help but notice how true the words are, he would do anything for both his boys. He’d kill for them, die for them. He would make sure that they both have the best life imaginable and that if they ever needed him, he’d be there. He thinks about his own father and how absent he had been for so many parts of his life, in a silent vow, he promises to himself to never be anything like Ramon and to be the best dad imaginable.
He also thinks of the 118, and how he would fight for any of those children as well. Jee, Nash, Denny, Mara, May, and Harry. All of them. He will make sure they all grow up loved and supported and he knows the rest of the team would do the same for his kids.
You come of age with our little family
We'll bleed and fight for you
We'll make it right for you
If we lay a strong enough foundation
We'll pass it on to you, we'll give the world to you
And you'll blow us all away
Someday, someday
Eddie begins to soften his voice to just above a whisper as he slowly slips out of the bed. Softly turning off the lamps and making his way to the door. Before he leaves, he turns once more to look at his boys. Theo is sprawled out on the bed like an octopus, his limbs flying in all directions. Chris is softly snoring, braving Theo's limbs on top of him. Eddie get emotional again, silently wiping a tear and sending a silent prayer and thanking God for the beautiful gift that is his children.
He stays there for a few moments until he feels arms snake around him, a head resting on his shoulder to look at the kids.
“They out?” a voice asks.
“Yeah, quickest they've ever fallen asleep" Eddie whispers, still looking at his life right in front of him.
“That’s good, which book did he choose this time?” Buck asks as he turns eddie to face him.
“No book tonight, he wanted a song.”
Buck raises an eyebrow “A song huh? Which one?”
“That’s between me and my boys.” Eddie muses
You and your boys huh, alright I see where I'm not wanted.” Buck pouts, though clearly joking.
“Go shower, you sell like smoke” eddie jokes, pushing buck towards the bathroom.
“Sir yes sir” Buck mock salutes, heading to the shower.
Eddie glances once more over his shoulder, smiling at the sleeping boys before closing the door
Yeah, you'll blow us all away
Someday, someday