Chapter Text
It's still early when Buck wakes up from the sunlight sliping through the blinds. Eddie's arm is slung around his waist, heavy and warm. For a moment he just breathes, the kind of deep and easy breath he couldn't take years ago when everything felt like hiding, heartbreak and chaos. Now it's soft. Safe.
His phone buzzes on the nightstand. He groans softly, blindly reaching until the screen lights up and nearly blinds him. Then his eyes widen.
Subject: LA PRIDE - HEADLINE OFFER
"No way..." He whispers to himself as he shoots up.
Eddie grumbles into the pillow, still half asleep. "If it's another early call time, I'm throwing your phone out the window."
Buck's heart is pounding as he stares at his screen. "Eds. Eddie. You- I- Look!" He stumbles out as he shoves his phone into Eddie's face.
It took Eddie a moment to focus as he blinks at the screen, raising an eyebrow in confusion. "Headliner?"
"Headliner," Buck echoes breathlessly, still processing the message. "They want me to headline LA Pride."
That got Eddie's attention. He sits up, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes as he looks at Buck. He really looks at him, the messy curls, the shock still written across his face, the small smile threatening to break through. "You're serious?"
"Deadly."
Eddie starts grinning, slow and bright, the kind of proud grin that always hits Buck right in the chest. "Guess we'll have to get the crew back together, start rehearsing. I should start stretching again, too. Wouldn’t want to embarrass the headliner."
That's all it takes. Buck laughs, the nervous, giddy kind of laugh that shakes all the disbelief. He throws himself into Eddie's arms, who catches him easily, steady and grounding like always.
“Holy shit,” Buck breathed against his neck. “This is huge, Eds. Like, massive.”
“It is,” Eddie agrees, pulling back just enough so he can look at Buck. “And you deserve it.”
“What… What if I screw this up? What if I’m not good enough?”
"You won’t screw this up.”
“You don’t know that for sure.”
Eddie’s voice softened. “I do," Eddie says simply. "Because you don't have to prove anything, Buck. You already did." He leans forward, pressing his forehead to Buck's. "This isn’t about living up to anything, it’s about showing up. About being your authentic self."
Buck sighs softly, a tiny tremor in the sound. "You always know exactly what to say, don't you?"
Eddie smiles, brushing his thumb across Buck's cheek. "It's easy, because I mean every word of it."
Buck's smile wobbles for a second, but holds. "Alright. Then... I'm gonna let Karen know that I'm doing it."
"Damn right you are." Eddie grins, and then, with a teasing undertone, "And I'm saying yes to a month's worth of glitter in my hair again, aren't I?"
Buck laughs, pressing a quick kiss to his lips. “You love it.”
Eddie hums against his mouth. “Yeah I do. Because I get to do it with you.” He smiles. “Now do what you gotta do, and I’ll go wake up Chris and start on breakfast.”
“Just start the coffee machine. I don’t wanna risk you burning the kitchen down again…” Buck teases as he grabs his phone again. “I’ll be there in like… ten minutes at the most.”
“One time! It was one time.” Eddie grumbles as he puts his shirt on before making his way out of the room.
By breakfast, the kitchen smelled like coffee and pancakes. Christopher sat at the table, hands and chin sticky with syrup, smiling as Buck explained everything.
“You’re gonna sing at Pride?” Chris asked, eyes wide.
Buck nodded. “Yeah, buddy. Main stage, headliner.”
“Can I come?” Chris asks, turning to Eddie with pleading eyes.
Eddie reached over, brushing some syrup off his chin, before playfully ruffling his hair. “Of course. Wouldn’t let you miss it for the world.”
Chris’s grin widened. “You’ll need rainbow lights, glitter, and confetti! Lots of confetti!” He started listing things up, making Eddie and Buck chuckle at his enthusiasm.
“... balloons, oh and matching jackets!” Chris kept going.
Buck laughed. “Matching jackets, huh? You designing my show now?”
“Obviously!”
Eddie grinned as he shook his head. “You’re lucky he’s got good taste.”
The rest of the morning was filled with a whirlwind of calls.
First Hen. she screamed so loud Buck had to pull the phone away. “LA Pride? Headliner? Buck, this is content gold! I’m talking behind-the-scenes, interviews, livestream snippets-”
“Hen,” Buck laughed. “Slow down. I haven’t even officially accepted yet, I need to talk to your wife about that.”
“Then go and do that you idiot!” she shot back. “Oh Karen’s gonna lose her mind when she hears!”
And she did. Karen called five minutes later, already talking through logistics, press releases, sponsorships and stageplans.
“Buck, sweetie, we’re doing this right.” Karen said, her voice warm but no-nonsense. “It’s not just a concert. We’re gonna write history. I’ll handle press, contracts, the whole shebang. You just focus on the music.”
Next came the dancers.
Ravi answered first, grinning so wide Buck could practically hear it in his voice. “Bro, are you kidding? LA Pride? This is gonna be legendary! Count me in!”
His phone buzzed with May’s answer seconds later.
May: If you think I’m letting anyone else do your choreo, you’re out of your damn mind. I’m working on choreo as we speak. Also, tell Eddie he better stretch this time. ❤️🔥
Buck laughed so hard he had to show the message to Eddie, who just rolled his eyes. “One pulled muscle, that wasn’t even my fault! But she’s never gonna let me forget, is she?”
Maddie was next. She’s been Buck’s biggest support, and stylist from day one, and she was ecstatic.
“Buck, this is huge! Do you know what we can do with your wardrobe for Pride? Glitter jackets. Rainbow accents. Your bi flag, obviously! You’re gonna blow them away!”
Buck smiled, a little misty. “Couldn’t do it without you, sis.”
“Damn right you couldn’t,” she teased, but he could hear the pride beneath the sarcasm.
Finally, Athena picked up when he called Bobby’s house.
“Well, look who’s headlining Pride,” she said, her voice warm and filled with laughter. “You know I’m handling your security detail, right?”
“Wouldn’t trust anyone else.”
“Good answer.” she replied.
When Bobby came on the line, his voice was warm, steady, proud. “You’ll need someone for staging and lightning, right?”
Buck grinned. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
“Chim and I already talked about it,” Bobby said. “We’re in. We’ve got some new tech that will make your finale unforgettable.”
“Perfect!” Buck beamed. “Glad to have you both back.”
By noon, the whole crew was back together.
Karen on PR and logistics.
Hen on production and content.
Bobby and Chimney designing stage visuals and lighting.
May and Ravi as dancers.
Athena leading security.
Maddie designing a wardrobe.
And of course Eddie. Partner, choreographer, dancer, and anchor through it all.
That evening, Bobby and Athena hosted a cookout to celebrate.
Their backyard buzzed with laughter and the smell of grilled food. String lights draped over the patio. Music hummed low through a speaker. Chris chased Ravi with a water gun while Hen and Karen argued over burger seasoning.
Buck leaned against the railing, cold beer in hand, watching it all with a soft smile. The family they’ve built over the years, coming back together like no time had passed, at all. He didn’t realize Eddie slipped away until he spotted him near the porch, talking quietly with Maddie, deciding not to think about it too much.
Maddie folded her arms, eyes flickering from the velvet box back to Eddie’s face. “You’re serious about this.”
Eddie nodded. “I’ve been thinking about it for months.”
Her breath hitched with a quiet, emotional laugh. “You and my brother. God, he’s been through so much. I still remember when he couldn’t even say what he wanted without apologizing for it.”
“I know.” Eddie nodded softly. “That’s part of why I want to do this right. I don’t ever want him to doubt that he’s loved, ever again. Not even for a second.”
Maddie’s eyes softened. “You love him like that?”
“Yeah,” Eddie said, voice steady. “He’s… my home. When everything’s loud and chaotic and the world’s watching, he looks at me, and it all quiets down. I never had that before.”
Maddie blinked hard, fighting tears. “You’re going to make me cry.”
Eddie smiled gently. “Then you’ll understand why I wanted to ask you first. You’ve always protected him. I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t have your blessing first.”
Maddie’s voice trembled. “You already have it, Eddie. You’ve had it since he told me about you guys. He was smiling so brightly I thought he was gonna burn me.”
Eddie laughed softly, relief washing through him. “Thank you.”
She stepped forward, hugging him tight. “Just promise me you’ll take care of him?”
“I already do,” he murmured into her hair. “But I’ll keep doing it.”
When she pulled back, she smiled through her tears. “You better tell me before you do it. I’ll want to make sure his outfit matches the ring.”
“You got it,” Eddie chuckled.
Across the yard, Buck threw his head back in laughter as Chim tried, and failed, to show Chris a magic trick with a disappearing coin. Bobby was watching with quiet pride, Hen snapped a picture for the socials, and Athena just shook her head with a smile.
Eddie stood at the edge of it all, that little box heavy in his pocket. “Yeah, this is it.” he thought. “This is everything we need.”
He looked at Buck, the man who had turned every stage into a home, and knew that no matter how bright the lights got, this, their family and love, would always be there.
And soon, the whole world would know it.