Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Eddie hates Texas. No. He hates El Paso. God , he hates it so much. He hates the weather. He hates the roads. Hates his house. Hates that he still can’t find a job. Hates that all the fire stations in a 50 mile radius didn’t need any floaters. Hates that Buck is 800 miles away. Hates that the only people he knows here are his parents. Hates that he is here, has been here for almost a week and still hasn’t seen Chris. Because his parents keep saying Chris is too busy. He has school or chess or swim or... Or, or, or. There’s always something that means they can’t have dinner. Something that means he can’t see his son. And he misses him. He misses him so much it hurts and now he’s so close but still so far. And it aches.  

He doesn’t know what to do. His 9 to 5 this whole week has been going from place to place doing interviews, meeting managers, filling out job applications and trying over and over again to find a time to meet up with his parents and Chris, but there is no positive result from any of those. His evenings are spent calling Buck, hearing about calls the 118 have taken and research binges Buck has been on lately, or, when his best friend is on shift, trying to fill his time by baking.

Yes, he picked the coping strategy from Buck, sue him . The things Buck makes are good, great , even, so he figured it would be nice to learn. Then maybe he could bring a homemade treat to ease the tension when he goes to see his parents and Chris. That was the idea. 

But it’s failed. Miserably. Eddie has ruined everything he’s tried to make. Cookies, banana bread, brownies, now two batches of muffins, probably soon to be three. 

Buck and Chris are right, he is a disaster in the kitchen. 

Though even as he has yet to make one successful baked good in almost a week, (baking is hard, okay?), the actual act of trying to bake something might potentially be helping. It gives him something to do, something to try to be good at when he feels constantly like he’s failing.

Failing Chris, at everything. Failing Buck, for leaving. Failing himself, for not admitting… no. That’s… irrelevant. 

So here he is, alone, in this city he hates, in an unfamiliar house, trying not to fret about the dead-end job applications and the near radio silence from his son, hoping and praying that he can finally do something right and bake a successful batch of muffins.

The oven timer goes off and he pushes away from his flour covered counter and opens the oven revealing- shit.

He groans as he pulls another tray of unrisen, but somehow also burnt blueberry muffins out of the oven and dumps them in the trash. That’s the 3rd inedible batch... Buck is gonna have a field day when he hears about this. 

Eddie’s phone chimes, and he walks to pick it up from where it's charging by the sink, tossing the muffin pan in soapy water as he goes. 

It's a text from his mom.

Mom - 2:38pm.

We will be home from Chris’ chess tournament at 4:30. Dinner is at 6, be here before then. Chris wants you to see you. 

He responds instantly.

Eddie - 2:39pm.

I’ll be there at 5. See you soon.

Read - 2:40pm

Eddie grins. Chris wants to see him. He gets about 10 more seconds of pure joy as he stares at the text thread.

And then the panic hits. 

What if Chris doesn’t want to move into Eddie’s house here. What if he wants to tell Eddie he wants him to go away, that he doesn’t want to see him again, that he wants to stay with his grandparents permanently . What if, what if, what if-

No. He can’t think like this. 

His heart is beating out of his chest and his ears are ringing. Eddie grips the counter and breathes deeply as he tries to stop his oncoming panic attack. He stands there for what feels like hours (it's only about 6 minutes) before he decides it's not working and does the next best thing. 

He grabs his phone and calls Buck.

Calling Buck :) ...

It only rings once.

“Hey man, what’s up?” He hears Buck's voice, an edge of excitement to it. He can hear the sound of the station in the background, and while it helps to ease his nerves, it’s still not enough. He still can’t breathe.

“Eddie, hey.” Buck sounds concerned and the noise in the background quiets as he moves to a different room, probably going to the bunks. “What’s wrong man, talk to me.”

“Buck, I-” It’s all he can get out before he is breaking off around a sob, choking on his breaths. 

“Eddie hey, shhh. It's okay. Take a deep breath.” Buck reassures him. “In for 4.” Eddie breathes in. “Hold it for 4.” Eddie does. “Out for for.” He breathes out. “There you go, Eds, just like that. Do it again, with me.”

They continue like that for several minutes, and somewhere in the back of his mind he has the awareness to be thankful the alarm hasn’t gone off. 

“I’m sorry” Eddie cuts Buck’s breathing exercise instructions off as soon as he can take a full breath again. 

“Hey, no. None of that, man. Don’t apologize to me for this.” Buck replies instantly. “But just let me know what’s going on. Because 25 minutes ago you were sending me pictures of the muffins you were about to put in the oven. What led to this?” 

Eddie sighs. “My mom. Uhhh she texted me saying Chris wants me over for dinner tonight. I’m going over at 5.”

He hears Buck suck in a breath. “Oh my god, that’s great Eddie! That’s amazing!” He sounds giddy. “Wait.” Buck trails off. “Why, uh why did that cause this? You want to go, right?”

“Yes. ” Eddie gasps out. “Yes, of course I want to go, Buck. How could I not?”

“Okayyy.” Buck draws out, “Then what is this?”

He feels silly now. He should be excited to see his son again.

“C’mon Eds, you know you can tell me.” Buck reassures him.

“It’s just… what if he wants me there to tell me he doesn’t want to see me again. Or wants me to go back to LA. I can’t-. Buck. Buck. That would break me.” He feels like he could cry again. Like he could spiral back into a panic attack in seconds. But Buck doesn’t let him. 

“Eddie, no. You can’t think like that. There is no point in catastrophizing the situation.” Buck takes a breath. “But beyond that, I know that is not what's happening. Chris wouldn’t do that. He loves you too damn much to do that to you.”

“I don’t know.” Eddie whispers.

“But I know. I know you’re fighting right now, Eds.” Buck continues. “But that kid loves you so much. You are an amazing dad and he knows it, no matter how rough it seems right now. There is no way he wants you to leave.”

“Okay.”

“Eddie. Eddie, listen to me.” Buck pleads with him. “He reached out. He did that. He wants to see you. He misses you. He loves you. You have to see that.”

“I know. At least, the rational part of me does.” Eddie explains. “But, I don't know. I get so, so scared. I can’t lose him, Buck.”

“I know, Eddie. And you won’t. You’ll go to dinner and this will just be the first step in getting him back to you completely, I know it. You just have to trust everything will work out. Because it will.”

“Okay. Buck, I- thank you.” Eddie needs him to know. “I- I don’t know how I would get through this without you.”

“Well that’s good then, that you have me. Because there’s no point in worrying about the alternative. You have me Eddie, you always do.” Buck responds easily. Eddie swears he can hear the smile in his voice. “And, listen, I- there’s something else I wanna tell you.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, I- uhm-” He is cut off by the alarm blaring loudly around him. “ Shit. I- Eddie I gotta go.”

“Yeah, you do.” Eddie can hear him moving through the station. 

“Listen, Eds. The dinner will work out. Don’t stress too much.” He says quickly

Eddie laughs, “Buck you gotta go. Get to the truck.”

“I know, I know. I’m going. Tell me all about it later, okay?” Buck gets out breathlessly. He’s definitely running. 

“I will.”

“Lo- Bye Eds.” 

The call drops. 

Eddie just stares at his phone. Did Buck just? No. No Eddie just misheard him, that’s all. He runs a hand through his hair and looks around the kitchen. Fuck. He has a lot of dishes to do. And now less than 2 hours until he has to leave. 

He gets started. He does the dishes and cleans the kitchen first, and 30 minutes have gone by. He showers and shaves, another 20. He goes through half a dozen options for what to wear, settling on jeans, and a tan plaid button up, something his dad got for him years ago. 

He looks at the clock, 4:15pm. Too early to leave. 

But… he is ready, he could use some gas in his truck, and he should pick up a nice bottle of wine as a gift- a show of good faith, really - because the baked goods didn’t work out. So he grabs his wallet, phone and keys, and heads to his truck.

He stops at a Chevron and fills up his truck, and damn , that must be the only good thing about Texas, the cheap gas prices compared to LA. He finds some corner store and picks up a dry red wine, the kind his dad likes, and makes the rest of the drive to his parents’ house.

He pulls up at 4:56pm, shifts the truck into park, and grabs his phone, shooting a text off to Buck, telling him that he arrived and to wish him luck.

Eddie takes a deep breath, running through the grounding exercise Frank taught him. He can do this. It’s just a dinner. 

His phone chimes.

Buck :) - 4:58pm.

Take a deep breath. You’ve got this, Eds. Go see your kid.

He breathes. Buck’s right. He’s got this.

Chapter Text

Buck was wrong. He has not got this. The evening has been… tense. To say the least. Between the stiff hugs he received from his parents, and the boring small talk, Eddie is practically begging time to go faster so he can get out from under his parents’ stares. The lifesaver of the evening though, is Chris, who was way more excited to see him than Eddie expected. He practically knocked Eddie over in his rush to hug him. They caught up while sitting on the couch for a bit and Eddie learned all about swim team and chess club. It was better than anything Eddie could have hoped for from his reunion with his son. 

He wished it would have lasted longer.

The calm atmosphere was broken when Eddie moved to help his mom plate dinner and set the table. With his and Chris’s little bubble broken, it was like all the air was sucked out of the room and no one could seem to get it back.

The evening reverted back to dumb small talk about the weather and local politics and the dumb corner store closing down. All of which are entirely irrelevant to the situation at hand. 

And it leads to this:

The four of them around his childhood dinner table, with the most awkward tension Eddie has ever experienced. Which is saying a lot. 

The small talk ran out, even Chris didn’t have any more updates, which led to sitting in silence for most of the last 5 minutes, everyone just picking at their food and glancing around the table when no one else was looking. 

Chris is the one to finally break the silence. He looks over to his dad. “How is buck doing?”

“Oh. Uh” Eddie takes a second. “He’s good. He actually, uh, took over the lease on our house. So I wouldn't have to go through the trouble of finding someone.” He hears his father scoff quietly. 

Chris frowns at his grandfather. “Oh cool. He hated his loft anyways.” Chris chuckles. “Always complaining about it being too cold.” 

“Yeah. He did.” Eddie responds with a smile.

Chris hesitates, then looks back to Eddie. “Is he still with that guy?”

Eddie freezes, the room suddenly feeling suffocating for a reason he can't pinpoint. “Tommy?” Eddie questions, the only “that guy” Buck could be with is Tommy. Chris nods. “Uh no they broke up a couple weeks before I left.”

Helena looks between the pair. “Who is this Tommy you two are talking about?” 

Eddie pales, and looks down at his plate, pushing around some food before, “A friend from LAFD, and, uhh. Buck’s ex-boyfriend.”

A fork clatters as it falls to a plate. Eddie looks at his father, who is staring intently at him, his fists clenched and breathing heavily through his nose.

“You mean,” Ramon starts, “the man that you’ve been friends with, that you’ve been letting see Chris for 7 years… was dating a man?”

Eddie inhales sharply. He was pretty sure he knew his parents’ views on this type of thing but, he didn’t think they would be this upfront about it. He spares a glance at Chris, who is staring at his plate before looking at his mother, who is glaring at him in shock.

Helena sighs. “I knew that man was bad news but this…?” 

“Mom,” Eddie begins, “There is no one I trust Chris with more than Buck. He’s my best friend. He’s been there through everything, the tsunami, me being shot-”

“ENOUGH!” Ramon gasps out as he slams his hand on the table, causing the rest of them to flinch. “That… Man. Is not family. It was a mistake for you to let Chris around him, I can’t believe you have been letting this-”

“DAD! Please.” Eddie interrupts him. “Can we not do this now, please .” He says, shooting a glance at Chris, who is now staring at his grandparents in shock and anger?

Ramon just continues. “Maybe if you hadn't let him into your lives, Chris would never have been in danger and you wouldn’t have gone down the horrible path with that woman.”

Eddie is shaking, but he can’t seem to form any words. “Dad-”

“ Maybe . If you hadn’t have let Buck into your lives, you could have a real family and you and Chris wouldn’t be so influenced by that- that fa-”

“STOP”

The whole room collapses into silence as Chris stands. “Stop talking like that right now. You know nothing. Nothing!” The teen is vibrating in his rage and all heads are turned to him. 

“You don’t get to say shit about Buck. You know nothing about him. You have never cared to ask, to find out how wonderful he is. How important he is. If you had , you would know that he is the best thing to happen to us, both me and dad.” Helena gasps quietly but stays silent. “Ever since he came into our lives,” Chris continues, “he has made it better. He introduced Carla to us, he’s helped take me to PT appointments, has made things for bake sales, and was there for us when mom died. He built me an accessible skateboard, takes me to the zoo and has helped me with homework and all my science projects and was there the second dad called him saying I wanted to come to Texas..”

“Chris-” Eddie tries to cut him off, to stop him from forever damaging his relationship with his grandparents, but Chris won't be deterred. 

“And beyond that-” Chris says exasperatedly, “Buck has saved our lives multiple times over. Starting with the tsunami. He searched for hours to find me while he was injured and should’ve gotten help for himself. He tried to dig dad out of the mud with his bare hands when he was buried under 40 feet of it.” He shoots a glance at a very concerned Eddie, because he had hoped Chris had never learned how close he was to losing his dad that night. “I saw the video dad. He would’ve done anything to get you out.”

Chris turns back to his grandparents. “He came over when dad had a breakdown.”

Ramon frowns and Eddie cringes because his parents were not supposed to know about that.

“He kept dad alive after being shot and took care of me when dad was in the hospital. And this is only some of the stuff I know. Dad and Buck are partners , in all senses of the word . ” Eddie pales, it's true , his mind screams and Chris just keeps going. “They look after eachother at work and I know that Buck has probably saved my dad dozens of other times and I know I can always trust him to get dad home safe after every shift. So no! Do NOT tell me that he is a bad influence and that we would be better if Buck wasn’t in our lives because it's not true. It will never be true. He is kind, and caring and pours his whole heart into everything he does and neither me or dad would be alive without him. He is the absolute best thing to happen to us. ” 

Chris stops to catch his breath and nobody in the room moves. Eddie just stares at his son. His son, who is wholeheartedly defending Eddie’s best friend to his parents. Because Eddie was too caught off guard to do it himself.  

“Chris-” Eddie starts, but is cut off by his son. “Dad, no. I'm not going to sit here and let them say shit about him when he’s not here to defend himself. And apparently you talking about him hasn’t been enough so maybe I can make them understand how much we need Buck in our lives.”

Chris takes a shaky breath, turning back to his grandparents. “He loves me and my dad, and has been there for us through everything. He supported both me and dad coming to Texas even though it probably destroyed him but he did it because he loves us. Buck is more like family to me than either of you, and if he hadn't had a boyfriend when I walked in on dad, then I would've asked to go live with him instead. Because he is basically my second dad and he fits perfectly in our lives.”

Eddie feels like he can’t breathe. Because that… fits. Eddie hears his son call Buck his dad and something slots into place. It fits perfectly and fills a hole Eddie hadn’t actually realized was there. Because Buck.. Buck has been a part of their family for years , and it feels so right. It… it’s embarrassing, really, that it took Chris shouting at his parents for Eddie to fully realize how well Buck fit into their lives. The movie nights, the zoo trips, Buck cooking for them half the time… Buck had filled the role of partner in his life for so long. To hear Chris say it that blatantly, it feels right. Buck was theirs, and they were Buck’s. He had given his whole heart to his best friend without even realizing it. But Chris… Chris knew- knows. His boy is so damn smart. 

“So please,” Chris begins again, eyes darting between his grandparents wildly, even as his voice is low and steady, “do not ever speak that way about Buck ever again because he is a better person than either of you could ever dream of being. And while I need Buck in my life, I do not need the two of you.” Chris ends with a finality that shocks the adults in the room. 

He turns to Eddie, “I want to go back home to LA. Back to Buck. Now. I’ll be in my room packing. ” With that, he grabs his crutches from where they lean against the table, and storms out of the dining room.

And… yeah. That is not all that shocking at this point. It is so blatantly clear that they need to leave. To get back to their home. To Buck.

Eddie stands, addressing his parents, who are still staring in shock at the space where Chris just disappeared from. “Chris is right. You have never once cared to ask about the important people in my life, even though you know how much I lean on Buck. You have barely cared about our life in LA at all.” Eddie spits out at them. “And then, instead of supporting me as a parent and helping Chris and I, you just packed him away and brought him here, away from me, his friends, Buck, school, everything.”

Eddie pauses, waiting to see if his parents are gonna snap out of their shock. 

They don't. 

“So, Chris is right. We’re leaving. Because I don’t want to be here. And he doesn’t want to be here. And I'm scared to even find out if you had anything to do with his lack of communication with me. To find out if he even wanted to be here at all.”

Eddie pushes away from the table heading towards Chris’ room. As he does, he shoots over his shoulder, “The second , Chris is done packing, we’re gone. If you have nothing helpful to say, stay out of our way.”

With that, he exits the room, not even bothering to see his parents’ reactions. 

Chris has mostly packed by the time Eddie gets there. He apparently is just throwing all his clothes haphazardly in a suitcase, not bothering to fold or organize them. It also seems like he had been planning on trying to leave soon, as most of the things he already had packed was not something he could’ve done in the last five minutes. 

He has been wanting to come home. Eddie realizes with a start.

They spend the next 30 minutes packing the rest of Chris’ things in silence, with the exception of Eddie asking if Chris wants to take random trinkets. Most of which he declines. Eddie can hear his parents doing dishes and talking quietly in the kitchen, but he can’t hear what they're saying. And quite frankly he doesn’t really care. There’s nothing they could say to him that he finds important right now. Even if they want to rekindle a relationship, it is not happening tonight… or anytime soon. 

Once finished, Chris puts on his backpack, grabs the penguin plush Buck had gotten him years ago on a trip to the zoo, and heads out of the room. Eddie maneuvers the rest of Chris’s bags into his arms and follows after him. They pass through the kitchen on the way out of the house and Eddie’s parents, who had been sitting at the, now cleared, table stand and follow him and Chris out of the house. 

Eddie throws Chris’s bags in the back of the truck and helps him get settled into the front seat. He leans in and kisses the top of his son’s head, surprisingly with no pushback, and says quietly, “I’ll be right back.”

He closes Chris’s door and turns back towards the house, walking up the path to where his parents stand. 

He looks between each of them, and takes a breath. “I do not forgive you for taking my son 800 miles away from me. But while he was here, thank you for keeping him safe.”

His mom nods. His dad starts, “Eddie-”

“No.” Eddie cuts him off. “Just because I can appreciate you kept him safe from harm, that does not make this okay. As far as I’m concerned, he never has to see you again if he doesn’t want to. But that will be his decision, when he’s older.”  Eddie glares at both of his parents. “That being said. Unless you can get your heads out of your asses and see how important Buck is to us, you aren’t coming anywhere near any of us ever again. And if the day comes where we reconnect… you have one chance. One. And if you say anything remotely offensive or rude about any of us, Buck included, you will never see us again. That is a promise, and one I intend on keeping.”

Eddie turns on his heel, stalking away from them. “Goodbye. See ya if you ever decide to not be shitty people.”

“Eddie-” “Mijo, wait-”

He hears them call after him as he opens his car door and gets inside, not hesitating to turn on the car and back out of the driveway. 

“What did you say to them?” Chris asks, watching as the house grows smaller as they drive away.

Eddie looks at Chris, then turns his attention back to the road, gripping the steering wheel tightly. “I told them Buck is family. And if they can’t see that, then they don’t deserve to be in our lives.”

Chris just nods, “Good.” 

And then, “Can I choose the music?”

Eddie just laughs. “Yeah bud. Of course you can.”

Chapter Text

The actual driving part of getting back to LA couldn’t start till the next day. Unless Eddie wanted to start the nearly 14 hour drive at night. Which… did not sound like the smartest idea. He has seen enough car crashes as a result of sleep deprived drivers to deter him from attempting that. Which meant going back to Eddie’s house for the night. 

Chris pretty much crashed the second they got back, worn out from the wild emotions of the evening, which left Eddie to pack up his things. It wasn’t much, he had never really gotten around to fully unpacking, so it’s mostly just clothes and some cooking supplies. His lack of unpacking also meant he hadn’t yet returned the U-Haul, so even though it was an added expense the past week, he wouldn’t have to worry about getting another one for the trip back.

Once both their stuff was packed away in the truck and trailer, with the exception of the necessities, he sent off an email to his realtor explaining the situation and that the house would now be back on the market.

All of this took him a couple hours, and before he knew it he was collapsing into bed, setting a 6am alarm so they could be on the road by 7. 

And they were. After indulging Chris and stopping at McDonald’s for breakfast sandwiches and coffee, they were on the road. Heading to LA, their home, and most importantly, Buck. As promised, he let Chris choose the music, so there’s been an odd mix of Cage the Elephant, Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan & Weezer playing with some other random songs added in. But it’s helped the time pass, and before they know it they are 5 hours into the drive and stopping for lunch and gas in Tucson, Arizona. They eat at Whataburger, Chris’s request because he claims it's supposed to be the best place ever. And then they once again find themselves on I-10 to LA.

At some point, Chris’s music stops holding their attention, so a random playlist is turned on. Well, not a random one. It’s a playlist Buck made Eddie for the drive to El Paso. Oh and isn’t that ironic. The playlist Buck made for a one way road trip being used to drive right back to him.

Eddie and Chris sit in a comforting silence with the music playing softly. But Eddie’s mind drifts, thinking about the suitcases Chris already had packed before dinner. How he appeared to be ready to leave at the drop of a hat. So many implications with those few packed suitcases and Eddie doesn’t know the meaning of any of it.

“Were you planning on asking to come home before the dinner?” Eddie asks, breaking the silence.

Chris keeps staring out the window. “Uhh why do you ask?”

“Because you packed way too fast in the few minutes it took for me to follow you to your room.” Eddie answers. “The only way you could’ve had all that done is if it was done in advance.”

“Oh uh. Yeah that makes sense, I guess.” Chris says slowly. “Yeah. I was.”

“Why didn’t you just let me know you wanted to come over? Why wait till dinner? Why with them there?” Eddie questions, glancing over at Chris.

“I was going to. I was going to call you and ask to come home.” Chris says quietly. “But then they told me you were in Texas, and I didn't know what to do with that. Dad, you moved here. How could I have asked you to go home when you wanted to be here?”

And Eddie… doesn’t know what to do with that either. Because he had thought Chris just wanted to go to his house in El Paso. “Mijo. I- you were gonna ask to go home? To LA ?”

“Yeah, dad.” Chris replies. His voice sounds wet. “I didn’t want to be there anymore. I never even really thought you would let me go in the first place. I thought you would come get me after a week and I didn’t know what to do. But I missed you, and I missed Buck .” 

“Chris… you could’ve always come back. At anytime. You know that.”

“Well yeah, I know you said that. But then they kept saying bad things about you and I just got mad that you weren’t there, so I stayed. But then they started saying really horrible things about our life in LA and about Buck and I just couldn’t be there anymore. But then you were in Texas. And I didn't want to pull you away from somewhere you wanted to be.”

Eddie’s heart breaks because his kid was still thinking about what Eddie wanted, not just himself. “Chris, no. I didn’t want to come here, not really. I only wanted to be with you. I didn’t want to miss out on more of your life. Why do you think I was so on board with dropping everything and leaving last night?” 

Chris is staring out the window like nothing could ever be as interesting. “Honestly I didn't think you’d agree to that either. I figured we would just move into your house there since you were already in Texas.. But you were so quick to agree and say ‘let’s get out of here’ and that’s when I realized how wrong I was about the whole situation.” Chris pauses, leaving them in silence. He sniffles. “Thank you for coming to get me. For bringing me home. I never should have left.”

Eddie looks over at him, tears shining in his eyes as well. “Oh, Chris. Always. And I'm sorry if I ever made you feel like I wouldn't do anything for you. Because there is nothing in this world that could stop me from being a part of your life. Stop me from loving you. I need to make sure you know that.”

“I do, dad. I do.” Chris is full on crying now, but reaches out and shoves Eddie’s shoulder. “But keep your eyes on the road. We still have to get back to Buck in one piece.”

Eddie laughs, wiping tears from his eyes. “Okay kid, yeah I know.”

They settle back into silence, letting Buck’s playlist fill the air between them. There is a longer conversation to be had, for sure, but this is a start. 

A few more gas and food stops later and they're only about an hour away from home. There is a vibrant energy in the air, both diazes undeniably eager to get back home, to Buck. 

Eddie has been telling Chris about calls he went on before he left, and including some stories Buck has told him from the past week. But the conversation has moved, Eddie telling Chris about the night that Buck revealed he was going to move into their house. 

“And this renter, the name Buck came up with?” Eddie says exasperatedly, “was Freddie Fakeman!” He laughs and Chris joins in, wiping tears as they appear.

“No way.” Chris says. “Dad, that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.”

“Yeah I know, like who comes up with that?… Well, Buck, I guess.” He says laughing.

Chris just rolls his eyes. “Dad, no. ” He says laughing. “Yeah Buck came up with it, but you believed it? Freddie Fakeman ? C’mon dad, seriously? That is so obviously fake or a scam or something. ”

Eddie groans. “Ugh, not you too. That’s what everyone else said.”

“Well yeah, dad, cause it’s dumb!” Chris says, laughing once again. 

Eddie joins him. “Yeah yeah, have your fun. You try reading it under a ton of stress and not believing it.” He finishes, and there’s a few beats of silence before Eddie starts up again.

“Uh, Chris… there’s actually something else I wanted to talk to you about. I don't want any more secrets between us.”

“Yeah, dad?”

“I’ve been… thinking a lot, and. You know, your mom and I were best friends.”

“yeah dad, I know.”

“And… and when we lost her, I never thought I’d find someone else like her. That I was best friends with, that was good enough for you, no one I’ve seen has really come anywhere close to being important to me…”

“You love him don't you? Buck.” Chris interjects. And Eddie chokes on air as he whips his head to look at his son, who is grinning wildly at him. 

“I mean. It’s kind of obvious. You guys have never acted like me and my friends do, it’s kinda gross actually.”

“Yeah, kid, I do.” Eddie says with a smile. “Is that okay?”

“Of course, dad, I’m not like homophobic.” Chris says with a disgusted face. “Besides, he’s been like my second dad for years. I think some of my friends think you guys are actually together? I dunno but my point is that you two are sickeningly in love and I do not know why it’s taken you so long to realize it.”

Eddie laughs. “Yeah, yeah, okay I get your point.”

“You should tell him.” Chris insists. “I think he feels the same.”

“Really?”

“Ya, dad. It’s obvious.”

“Okay.” Eddie smiles at the road. “I think I will.”

They lapse into silence, with the exception of the lyrics of Chappell Roan. And it's good. It is such a nice feeling compared to the last months of… well, hell, that Eddie has been living in. It’s just him and Chris, and they are on their way home. To Buck. Their little family back together. Everything is perfect.

“Uhh, dad?”

“Yeah, Chris?”

“Seeing as, I assume, we're going to what is now his house,” Chris starts hesitantly, and Eddie looks over at him. “You did tell Buck we’re coming back, right ?

And– Oh .

“Shit.”

Chapter Text

The realization that Buck had no idea they were coming back to LA was quickly followed by the decision to keep it that way, and surprise him. Eddie knew that Buck was about to come off of a 12 hour, so, assuming he made himself food before crashing into bed, he should still be up when they get there. 

He was right. Pulling onto South Bedford Street, Eddie can see light coming through the windows. Chris is practically vibrating out of his seat in excitement, and honestly, Eddie feels the same. The promise of seeing their missing piece in the next few minutes has him driving faster down the street than he should be, and before he knows it he is parked in front of his- no, Buck’s house.

The second they are stopped, Chris is jumping out of the truck and bolting up the path towards the house, Eddie hurrying after him, barely remembering to lock the truck behind him.

As Eddie catches up with his son and approaches the front door, he can hear music playing from inside, and some part of his mind recognizes there is a strong possibility of it being the same playlist Buck had made for his road trip. 

Chris knocks, rather frantically, if Eddie’s being quite honest, and then, because the kid can’t contain his excitement, yells, “Buck! Buck come on, it’s us!”

Something clatters inside, and the music is turned off. Eddie can hear quick footsteps getting louder. And then the door swings open to reveal Buck. Wide eyed and panting, his curls wet from a recent shower. He’s wearing a pair of soft cotton shorts and a well worn LAFD t-shirt. He looks cozy, and Eddie gets the urge to wrap Buck into his arms and never let him go.

They all just stare at each other for a second, Eddie and Chris grinning wildly at him. 

“What-” Buck starts, but is cut off by Chris barreling into him. He returns the hug easily. “Hey Chris.” He says fondly with a wide smile on his face. 

“Eds,” Buck looks at him, definitely not understanding what is going on, “What are you doing here?”

Eddie grins, stepping towards Buck with Chris still between them, and placing his hand on his shoulder, his thumb falling easily onto his pulse point. “We’re home. For good.” Buck gapes at him. “If you’ll have us, of course.”

“Yeah.” Buck gasps out. “Yes, Eddie, always. Of course.”

Eddie's hand grips Buck’s shoulder tighter, and then he is pulling him into a hug. Something settles in Eddie’s chest as he holds Buck and his son. He feels calmer than he has in months, with everyone important to him in his arms at last. 

They stay like that for an unidentifiable amount of time, until Chris starts to get restless and wiggles out from between them. 

“Do you have food?” He asks, looking up at Buck. “I’m starving, we haven’t stopped in hours. ” Chris complains, and Buck just laughs, watching the teen who is already moving to go inside.

“Yeah, bud, I do. I just finished making some chicken fettuccine alfredo, Bobby’s recipe.” He says, grinning at Eddie as he pulls him along, the two of them following Chris inside. “It was gonna be meal prep for the next couple days, but feeding the two of you is definitely more important.”

The next hour goes like this:

Eddie explains very vaguely what happened to make them come home. We got in a fight, and Chris asked to come home. That’s all, Buck. And Eddie knows that Buck doesn’t believe that’s it, but it’s not the time for that conversation. The important part is that they’re home.

They eat the fettuccine alfredo and garlic bread, laughing around the kitchen table like the last 3 months never happened. 

Eddie does the dishes, Chris helping him dry and put them away while Buck starts to unpack Eddie’s truck, bringing Chris’s stuff to his room, Eddie’s to the master bedroom, and leaving the miscellaneous boxes in the dining room for them to deal with later. 

Then they pile on the couch, Chris in the middle, and turn on an old episode of Hotshots in the background while Buck tells Chris about some new additions to the zoo, promising to take him soon if he wants.

The conversation tapers off into a comfortable silence, the three of them zoning out while watching the tv. Half an episode goes by and Chris is now slumped into Buck’s side, snoring softly against him, Eddie watching the pair fondly.

As much as Eddie would love to stay here forever, falling asleep on the couch with the most important people in his life, he knows it’ll kill both his and Buck’s backs, and Chris should really be able to stretch out his legs in a real bed after being cramped in the car for so long. 

So, shooting a small smile at Buck, he attempts to arouse Chris from his sleep. “Chris, mijo, let’s go to bed buddy.”

Chris just groans and shifts, in typical teenage fashion, nuzzling further into Buck. “Don’t wanna.” He manages to get out, and then he’s asleep again.

Buck laughs quietly, and moves to slide his arms under the boy to pick him up. “I got him, Eds.”

Buck picks him up easily, moving towards the bedrooms, and Eddie knows that if Chris were awake he would protest this repeatedly because I’m fourteen dad, i’m too old to be picked up.  

Eddie follows his boys down the hall, stopping at the doorway to Chris’s room just as Buck gets his kid settled into bed. He can’t help but notice that, while this is clearly decorated to be a guest bedroom, it has a youthful air to it. The LA Zoo poster on the wall and the glow in the dark stars on the ceiling make it almost feel like he and Chris had never left. 

He watches as Buck leans down and kisses the top of Chris’s head before turning to Eddie, smiling softly as they both step out of the room, closing the door behind them. 

Buck heads to the kitchen to grab them beers, and Eddie plops back down on the couch, taking a second to just breathe, finally calm now that he is at home. Buck comes back into the room, sitting down next to him, pressing their knees together. It's a natural thing, after all these years. It feels safe. It always has.

There’s an elephant in the room. They both know it. They need to talk about why Eddie and Chris are home. The logistics of them coming back to this house. The implications of that. 

The silence is comfortable but Eddie can tell they are both trying to hold onto this silent companionship for as long as possible. 

Buck is the one to end it.

“So…” He takes a long drink from his beer, and turns to look at Eddie. He is smiling, and his gaze looks hopeful, but Eddie can tell it’s still guarded, like Buck doesn’t trust how happy he is at this moment. 

“Back in LA?”

Eddie looks at him. He smiles, nodding thoughtfully.

“Yeah, back in LA.”

Chapter Text

They sit in silence for another minute, letting the reality of them all being in LA, for good this time , wash over them.

“Eddie,” Buck starts, “Not that I'm not glad you're here, but what happened? Just yesterday you were settling in, finally seeing Chris… you just got the house… wait what did you do with the house?”

“Put it back on the market. It honestly wasn't as complicated as I thought it would be. My realtor has already let me know there are some people interested. But she is gonna take care of all of that for me.”

Buck snorts. “Well, that’s nice.” He pins Eddie down with a stare, not letting him avoid the topic. “But that still doesn’t answer my first question. What happened at dinner that made everything blow up like this?”

And… That’s the question. Because honestly, what didn’t happen at dinner? 

His parents said some of the worst things he’s ever heard from them. They basically told both him and Chris they think Eddie is a bad father. They tried to reduce Buck to something insignificant, as if that word could ever be applied to Buck, and in front of Chris no less. A disaster all around, except-

Except.

Except this dinner showed Eddie, quite vividly, how intertwined Buck is in their lives, how important. This dinner showed Eddie just how much Buck means to Chris, and the lengths his son will go to defend his partner. His partner. Because yeah. That’s exactly what he is. But… he’s more than that, really. But he couldn’t reconcile with those feelings in El Paso, and since that dinner he has tried to push away his feelings about, well, everything, because getting Chris home was top priority. 

But now… Now, if he thinks about it, if he really thinks about it. It’s Buck. It always has been. He’s not sure when it happened. Maybe it started with that ambulance explosion, maybe it changed during the tsunami, the well, the shooting, or any of the moments in between. But sometime in the last seven years, Buck has become more to him than a best friend. They have become partners, in more than just work, just like Chris said twenty-something hours ago. 

So yeah. The dinner was a disaster. Except for the fact that sometime since then, Eddie has realized, not with panic, but with a comforting clarity, that he is hopelessly, desperately, and undeniably in love with Buck.

Eddie bites his cheek, trying to keep all these words from spilling out, to keep the truth of dinner bottled up inside of him, even though it’s useless, because he will always give Buck exactly what he wants. But he tries anyway, because if he opens that can of worms, he isn’t going to be able to control what comes out next. If he goes there... There is nothing stopping him from saying everything that he has been pushing down and out of the way just like he has for years.

And since there is nothing else he can possibly do, besides physically run away, which he will never do again, not to Buck, he deflects, or… delays really. “Oh, you know, the same old same old. My parents being so shitty and trying to pretend they aren’t. Basically said "I'm a terrible father.” He laughs it off in a way he knows can’t possibly convince Buck at all that it’s the whole story .  

“Eds. C’mon.” Buck sighs. “Don’t do that. Don’t… push away your feelings and pretend like they aren’t important. Because they are.”

And oh . It feels so jarringly similar to a conversation they had years ago sitting on the edge of a hospital bed, after one of the worst days of their lives.

Because, Evan… you act like you're expendable… but you’re wrong. 

His own words are echoed back to him, and he can’t help but turn his head back towards the tv, some part of him still trying to hide this from Buck. It's futile. He can feel it all bubbling towards the surface, and it's as their Hotshots scene comes on the tv that he knows with complete certainty that this conversation will end with a confession. 

Eddie sighs. “They talked about…you.” He says slowly. 

“About me?”

“Yeah, uh…” He’s wringing his hands together, staring at the tv like it's the most interesting thing in the world. “They tried to use you as a weapon against me.”

Buck snorts, and it's jarring enough in the quiet that Eddie breaks his staring contest with the screen to look at Buck, who is taking another drink from his beer and running his free hand through his hair. 

“That's… Eddie, that's crazy. What would they have even said?” He questions. “They know how close we are right?”

“Yeah, they do. That's kind of the problem.” Eddie says, looking at his hands. “They said that you’re a bad influence, which is crazy by the way because you are the greatest thing to ever happen to us. They started blaming you for essentially everything bad that has happened to us. The tsunami, Kim. ” Eddie says exasperatedly. “And you barely knew anything about that situation so it's so stupid .”

“Eddie, calm down, you need to breathe.” Bucks says, reaching to put a hand on Eddie’s shoulder, immediately calming him some. “What even caused them to start talking about me?”

Eddie groans “Chris asked about you and Tommy. And, I know they maybe aren’t the most progressive people, but I never thought that they would be outright homophobic. And my dad just started talking about how you’re a bad influence and shouldn’t be around Chris and that you are preventing us from having a real family.” Something like guilt flashes across Buck’s face, and it makes Eddie’s blood boil because nothing about what his parents said was true. “Which-” he continues, “is bullshit because I have a real family. You’re our family.”

“Eddie.”

“And they still just kept going even though I was trying to stop them. And they were saying this in front of Chris. How could they even think it was a good conversation to have in front of our son? But nothing I was doing was stopping them and he was about to call you-” He looks at Buck, swallowing hard. “He was about to call you a slur, Buck.” Eddie whispers. “And i’m- i’m sorry that i’ve let you, let Chris around them because they’re just so horrible and-”

“Eds, hey. Don’t apologize, you didn’t know. You shouldn’t have to guess that your parents would react like that. It’s not on you.” Buck says easily.

“And Chris, God bless that kid, he just started yelling, out of nowhere. Before I could even get the chance to open my mouth he was yelling at my parents about how wrong they were, about how you’re family and how much you mean to us. He told them off, then turned to me and said he wanted to come back here, as soon as possible.”

“Wow.” Buck’s mouth parted slightly in shock. “What did your parents say?”

Eddie laughs. “They didn’t get the chance to say anything. I think they were too caught off guard from Chris’s outburst. And in their silence to figure out what to say to keep the attack going, I agreed with Chris and told them to stay out of our way. 30 minutes later, his stuff was in my truck and I was telling my parents to never contact us again unless they decided not to be shitty people.” He finishes. “So. That’s that, I guess.”

He looks at Buck and he can tell his friend’s thoughts are going a mile a minute. They sit in silence for a minute, Eddie waiting for Buck’s reaction, the latter clearly trying to get proper thoughts to form. 

“Eddie, I can take people talking bad about me, it’s happened my whole life.” He says slowly, and Eddie’s heart breaks a little. “You shouldn’t have ruined your relationship with your parents over this, over me.” Buck says, very concerned. “I mean, I appreciate you both defending my honor, but you didn’t have to burn that bridge.”

“Buck listen-” Eddie tries to cut him off. 

“Like Eddie, they’re your parents, Christopher’s grandparents, that’s a relationship you should want to have, I don't understand why you ruined it for me.” He trails off. “It’s… I mean it’s just me.” 

Eddie chases Bucks eye’s, and when they meet, he sees all the emotion and guarded love that lingers there, and Eddie knows he’s fucked. “Exactly, Buck.” He says, breathless. “It’s you . It’s always been you.”

“Eddie, I-” 

“You kept the room decorated for him.” Eddie says, cutting him off. It's not a question, just an acknowledgment of something intimate and important that has been lurking beneath the surface of their partnership for years. 

“I- well yeah of course.” Buck looks confused, like he isn’t sure how this is relevant to their current conversation. “What if he came to visit he would need a place to-” Buck is cut off by the sudden press of Eddie’s lips against his. There’s a second where Buck stills, shocked by the action, and then he’s moving his hand to cup Eddie’s cheek and returning the kiss. It’s everything Eddie had dreamed it would be. 

Buck pulls away, taking a deep breath. “Eddie, I- What? Are you sure?” 

Eddie just grins at him. “God, yes. Buck, I've never been so sure of anything in my entire life. You’re my best friend. You’ve been there for me, for Chris, since the end of our first shift when that damn ambulance exploded. You were there after I was shot, helped build Chris a skateboard, you come over for movie nights and to cook dinner.” Eddie laughs wildly, running a hand through his hair. “I mean, God, buck you kept Chris’s room decorated for him so he would always have a home here. You’ve become his second dad and Buck- you’ve obviously been in our family for years, and I- sometime in the last couple of years you’ve become more important to me than just a friend, and Buck.. I can’t keep pretending I don't want you in our lives permanently. Because I do. Chris and I have spent years loving you and I never want to let you go again. I want you here making Christopher pancakes and helping me fold laundry and complaining about having to set the table. I want to drive to work with you and come home after with you right by my side. I want to fall asleep next to you and listen to you snore. I want every part of you, Evan Buckley.” Eddie promises. “You’re it for me, and I don’t want there to be another second where you don’t know exactly how much you mean to me. You’re everything. And I hope you feel the same, and I think you do based off of the last thirty seconds” Eddie laughs out, suddenly feeling raw and vulnerable. “But if you don't, that’s fine Buck, I might need some time to get over you-”

It’s Eddie being cut off by Buck kissing him, this time. It’s desperate, perfect , and it feels like coming home. He returns it easily, and Buck’s lips part as Eddie licks into him. Eddie’s hand finds its way to the back of Buck’s head, his fingers gripping the hair there as he pulls Buck closer. Buck moans, and suddenly Eddie is being pushed back into the couch as Buck moves to straddle him. Eddie’s hands find Buck’s hips, anchoring them together as Buck’s hands cup Eddie’s face as he kisses him desperately. 

“Eddie. Diaz.” Buck says thickly between kisses, then pulls back to look at Eddie seriously. “Don’t you ever think about getting over me again. You have no idea how long I've wanted this. Wanted you. I want the grocery store trips and PTA meetings. I want to take you on cheesy dinner dates and fall asleep on your shoulder during movie nights. I want to wake up with my arms wrapped around you and never let you go. You’re mine, Diaz.” And then he’s crushing his mouth against Eddie’s, his hand snaking up his shirt while simultaneously grinding down, trying to feel every inch of him. “There’s no one else for me either. You’ll have me for as long as you want.” 

“I want you forever.” Eddie gasps out, pushing Buck off him as he rolls, flipping them so Buck is the one now pinned against the couch.

“Forever it is, then.” Buck says grinning, as Eddie presses him into another hungry kiss. He leans back, placing a soft kiss on Buck’s birthmark before pulling him up. “Come on, bedroom. I don’t want to scar Chris if he wakes up to get something.” 

Buck seems to startle with that, pulling away with wide eyes from Eddie who was trying to trap Buck in another kiss. “Wait, Chris. We can’t do this- not without talking to him-”

Eddie stops his spiral with a gentle kiss. “He already knows, Buck. He’s the one who told me to finally tell you. Said you’re already like a second dad to him and that it's gross how in love we are.” He says with a laugh.

Buck’s relief is practically tangible, if the long sigh as he drops his head onto Eddie’s shoulder is anything to go by. “Oh thank god.” He mumbles, wrapping his arms around Eddie’s waist. “We couldn’t do this if he thought otherwise.”

‘Well it’s a good thing he agrees then. Though I’m sure that would change if he heard us, so you’ve got to be quiet, baby.” Eddie teases. 

“Baby?” Buck asks, pulling his head up to look at Eddie. 

“Yeah, baby. If you’re fine with it, that is.”

“Oh I am.” Buck draws out, getting a mischievous look in his eye. He grabs Eddie’s waist and jaw, kissing him as he moves them further from the couch until Eddie’s back hits the wall with a soft thud. Eddie’s hands wrap around Buck, pushing up his shirt and gripping at his back. Buck moans into his mouth, and then moves quickly, his hands finding the back of Eddie’s thighs as he hoists him up against the wall, Eddie’s legs wrapping about him as he goes.

Buck carries Eddie down the hallway towards his-, no, their room. As they move, Eddie tilts his head down, latching onto the side of Buck’s neck with his mouth, sucking at the soft skin there. 

Buck moans. “God, Ed’s.” He stops halfway down the hall pressing Eddie’s back to the wall and uses it to grind up into Eddie whose head tilts back against the wall as he moans quietly, Buck chasing after his mouth with his own.

Eddie pries his lips away from Buck. “Bedroom, Buck. Now.” He breathes, and Buck just nods, kissing him once more before finishing the trek to their room, kicking the door closed behind them. He presses Eddie up against the door, dropping his legs and inserting one of his own in between Eddie’s thighs, trapping him in the sensation. He moves his mouth to Eddie’s neck, kissing him roughly and creating the start of a twin mark to the one forming on his own.

“Buck, please.” Eddie isn’t even sure what he’s asking for as he grinds down on Buck’s thigh. He’s not sure if he’s ever been this hard in his life, but he wants more of it. More of Buck.

“What do you need, baby?” Buck moans, capturing Eddie’s mouth in his once again.

“You, I need you.” Eddie says halfway through a breath.

“You have me.” Buck whispers in his ear. And that’s all Eddie needs before he’s pushing away from the door, guiding Buck in between kisses to the bed, and pushing him into a sitting position settling on his thighs.

Buck surges upwards to get to him, and Eddie meets him halfway, their mouths slotting together and tongues tangling in a desperate battle. It’s hot, and wet, and it’s better than Eddie could have ever imagined.

Buck's hands slip under the hem of Eddie’s shirt and he gets the hint, pulling away from Buck to stand, tugging his shirt off as he does. 

“Fuck. Ed’s . You’re beautiful.” Buck admires, and Eddie can feel his face flush as Buck looks at him like he hung the moon and stars. 

Eddie responds by leaning forward and pulling Buck’s shirt off of him, discarding it somewhere on the other side of the room. And, God, he’s so gorgeous, like he was sculpted by Michelangelo himself, and he needs Buck to know it as well as he knows his own name. So he tells him.

He presses their lips back together again in a soft kiss. “You’re beautiful, baby. God, Buck. You’re gorgeous.” Eddie breathes out. “Perfect like you were sculpted by Michelangelo himself, but it's all for me.” And now it’s Buck’s turn to flush, turning the same shade of pink as his birthmark as Eddie kisses him like a starved man.

His hands find the waistband of Buck’s sleep shorts, fingers trailing across the soft skin there before pulling them off, taking his boxers with them and discarding both on the floor. Eddie leans forward and places a kiss on Buck’s forehead, then pushes him back on the bed. His hands go to the button of his own jeans, sliding them down and stepping out of them.

He looks back up to Buck, who is staring at him eagerly as his tongue darts out from between his lips, wetting them. 

Eddie’s mouth waters at the sight and it’s all the motivation he needs to move closer to Buck. He crawls up to him, sucking hickeys into Buck’s chest in a scattered trail as he goes. Buck moans, and writhes under him as he wraps his legs around Eddie’s hips, hands moving to grip the back of his head, fingers digging into Eddie’s hair.

Eddie continues up, his lips once again finding Buck’s, pressing into them desperately.

“You’re so perfect for me, baby” he says, landing another deep kiss on Buck’s lips.

Buck’s fingers grip his hair tighter as moans into Eddie’s mouth. He swallows it down hungrily, moaning in return as their tongues slide against each other. Eddie drags Buck’s lip in between his teeth and Buck jerks forward to follow him, chasing his tongue. 

He pushes him back into the mattress, mouth claiming his and Buck keens as Eddie’s tongue works its way into the warm heat of Buck’s mouth, traveling down his throat. Eddie feels like he belongs here and a low moan rips out of him as he makes himself at home.

It seems to do something to Buck, and he grinds upward into Eddie pushing their bodies flush together. His hand slides in between them, his fingers just starting to pull on Eddie’s waistband when Eddie’s mouth leaves him abruptly.

“No,” Eddie growls out, grabbing Buck’s wrist and pining it above his head, “Not tonight. Chris is home and I want to be able to hear you when I fuck you for the first time.”

Buck whimpers, nodding. “Okay. Okay, Ed’s but please I need you back here.”

And Eddie had never been able to say no to him, so he does. He crashes back into him, mouth finding his and moaning as Buck licks inside of him, their tongues wrestling for purchase as their hips grind together. 

He releases Buck’s hands, and instead moves to cradle his face using it to pull Buck into him more and more every kiss.

He feels incredible. This, being here with Buck, licking into him and listening to all the pretty noises he makes, is perfect and everything he didn’t know he wanted. 

They are hot and sweaty, they’ve both flipped eachother a few times in a battle to be in control, and Eddie’s jaw is starting to be sore by the time he starts to pull away. Not far, but Buck still whines a little when he does.

Eddie shushes him. “Shhh, baby. It’s okay I’m not going anywhere.” He just moves down slightly, settling with his head on Buck’s shoulder and wrapping an arm around his waist. Their chests are flush and his leg moves over Buck’s setting in between his.

Their bodies slot together like they were made to be there and Buck’s arms come up around Eddie’s back, one hand slipping into his hair as he places a soft kiss there. 

Buck sighs contentedly. “I love you.”

Eddie smiles into his neck. “I love you too, Buck. So much.”

Buck cards his fingers through his hair, as Eddie places soft kiss after kiss into his neck, sometimes slowing his movements down and sucking a bit in a way he knows will leave a mark tomorrow.

He drifts a bit, the feeling of Buck’s gentle hands pulling him to sleep. At some point, he feels Buck shuffle out from under him and then the light clicks off, engulfing the room in darkness. 

Before he can do much more than let out a soft groan of protest at the loss of warmth, Buck is rejoining him on the bed, pulling Eddie up close to him. Their legs entangle eachothers and Eddie settles easily into Buck’s chest, sighing contentedly.

As Eddie fully drifts off to sleep, head resting over Buck’s heart who is already beginning to snore softly, all he can think about is that he finally made it home.

Eddie wakes suddenly to the sound of a pan clattering and hushed laughter. He groans a little, trying to stretch out a bit, hand ghosting along the sheets as if reaching for something. Someone , he realizes as he recalls the night before, the longing glances, whispered promises and roaming hands .  

He lays there for another minute, letting the sounds of soft voices and scattered giggles wash over him, until the smell of bacon wafts into the room and Eddie is motivated out of bed. He moves to the door, sliding on some sweatpants and a shirt before leaving, moving down the hallway towards the kitchen.

The sight he’s met with as he walks in warms his heart and pulls a wide smile out of him. Chris is sitting at the counter, preparing to scarf down a plate of pancakes by drowning them in maple syrup. He’s watching Buck, who is standing at the stove with his back turned to him, flipping some pancakes while simultaneously moving some strips of bacon from the pan to a plate. He’s in his sleep shorts and one of Eddie’s old army T-Shirts, with the bee themed fuzzy socks Chris gave him for Christmas last year. He’s wearing a goofy sky blue apron, adorned with the phrase kiss the cook , and Eddie can see a small patch of purple bruise that he made last night peeking out from under a towel Buck has over his shoulder. He’s swaying a little and humming what sounds like a Taylor Swift song, and is overall just so adorable that Eddie wants to wrap his arms around him and kiss him silly.

His thoughts are interrupted by Chris, pure joy evident in his voice. “Hi dad!” 

Eddie chuckles fondly, walking over and kissing him on top of his curls, before stealing a strip of bacon off his plate and popping it into his mouth. “Good morning. Chris,” he says in between chews, and turns to Buck, gliding over to him, “you too.” He says, knocking his shoulder into Buck’s.

“Hey.” He says with a smile, his eyes sparkling.

“Hey.” Eddie replies easily, grinning back at him.

“Ugh, get a room.” And he startles, his head whipping around to look at Chris who is rolling his eyes dramatically. “I’m glad you guys finally figured out you're in love, but please do not start being gross with each other. I do not need to see that.”

Buck chokes on seemingly nothing, eyes wide as he looks between the two Diazes. “I didn’t tell him.” He whispers to Eddie.

Chris just laughs out loud. “You didn’t have to. I woke up in the middle of the night and neither of you were on the couch, it wasn’t hard to put the pieces together. And before you ask,” he addresses Buck, who already had his mouth open in the start of a question. “Yes, I’m totally fine with you and dad being together. I’ve been waiting for you guys to realize for years and at least now I won’t have to awkwardly try to explain your relationship to my friends.”

“Chris, I- thank you. I love you, buddy.” Buck says, and Eddie can see tears forming in his eyes. 

Chris must be able to tell too because before Buck can do or say anything else, Chris is moving on. “Love you too, Buck, but please make me more bacon. Dad took all of mine.” He whines, like he’s not fourteen.

“Hey! No I did not.” Eddie argues, but it’s a useless argument, as Buck is already agreeing and putting more bacon in the pan.

“You so did, Ed’s.” Eddie swats him with a towel because rude.

“You’re lucky I love you, or that would not fly.” Buck taunts with a smile.

“Oh, I am. I’m the luckiest man on earth.” He replies, wrapping his arms around Buck and kissing his shoulder.

“ Please, what did we just talk about?” Chris groans exasperatedly.

“Sorry, bud.” Eddie says, pulling away from Buck and leaning against the counter, settling to just watch him instead. Eddie will never understand how Buck works so effortlessly in the kitchen, he’s never ruined a thing and always seems to genuinely enjoy it too. 

Buck must somehow be able to read his mind because he’s suddenly asking about something Eddie was trying to forget about. 

“Hey, how did that last batch of muffins go?” Buck questions, loading some pancakes and bacon onto a plate and handing it to Eddie.

“Muffins?” Chris asks, amused. “I thought we banned you from baking?”

“We did.” Buck says, shooting a pointed look at Eddie, but is clearly trying to push down a grin.

Eddie just sighs and shakes his head. “Not good.”

Buck lets out a partially shocked chuckle. “No way you ruined a third batch? Have you successfully made any of the recipes I sent you?”

Chris laughs and Eddie groans. “ No . They were complex and I’m pretty sure you changed the measurements to mess with me because I’m not that dumb.”

Buck has joined Chris in laughing at him. “No, I definitely didn’t.” Buck insists between breaths. “I just think we were right to ban you from the kitchen.

“Shut up.” He laughs out, reaching out to shove Buck’s shoulder. 

They promptly all dissolve into giggles, Eddie unable to hide his amusement anymore. Buck finishes cooking and while eating they talk about possible plans for the day, week, month, all of it, as the realization hits that this is permanent, their family back together again.

It’s not long at all before Chris disappears off to play video games, and Buck and Eddie are left standing at the sink, Eddie washing the dishes as Buck dries and puts them away. 

It feels so normal and similar to their old routine, but there’s also something better and more special to it. It’s domestic and it’s perfect and it’s what Eddie wants the rest of his life to look like.

He fishes the next plate, putting it on the drying rack and turning to Buck who is already reaching for it. Eddie halts his movement by sidling up to him, wedging himself in between Buck and the counter, and wrapping his arms around him.

“Don’t ever leave us.” He pleads to Buck, even as he knows the answer.. “Stay with us, with me .”

“That’s the plan. For as long as you’ll have me.” Buck replies easily.

“Forever.” Eddie whispers. “I want you in our family forever.”

“Done.” Buck says breathlessly, words dripping with emotion. His hand slides up Eddie’s side from where it had been resting on his waist, finding his jaw easily and using it to guide Eddie up into a soft kiss. 

It’s different from last night. Less desperate, but still just as sweet, just as passionate. It’s resolute, and it tastes like a promise, and somehow Eddie knows that every kiss they share for the rest of their lives will hold just as much love.

Eddie deepens it slightly, his tongue just barely finding Buck’s before pulling away, moving out of Buck’s space.

“You know, Buckley” he draws out, voice low. “Maybe you should undo this ban you have on me being in the kitchen.” 

Buck hums, looking amused, tongue darting out along his bottom lip. “Oh yeah? And why is that?”

Eddie steps toward, his mouth ghosting against Buck’s as if to kiss him again while moving his arm to reach into the sink, collecting a pile of bubbles in his hand.  

Eddie smiles deviously, “Because then I can do this.”

He brings his hand up to chest level between them, Buck’s face just barely slipping out of a smile and into shock -then betrayal- before Eddie is shoving the bubbles in his face, immediately turning on his heel and bolting towards the hallway.

He makes it all of two steps before hears Buck sputter behind him, water sloshing as Buck undoubtedly arms himself with an arsenal of bubbles, and then frantic footsteps are following after him.

“Oh, it’s on , Diaz!”