Chapter Text
From the kitchen, Eddie could hear faint chuckling from the other side of the loft, where Buck was lounging on the sofa, stretched out, like an oversized golden retriever, smiling at whatever he was looking at on his phone and Eddie just had to smile. Hearing Buck (and Christopher) laugh will always be his favourite sound.
A few years before he would’ve felt foolish for it, for being this disgustingly in love with someone, that the mere thought of them would be enough to make him smile and instantly feel better. But that was before he met Buck. Before Christopher was born and before he realized, that no, being gay isn’t a sin, that he doesn’t have to have a wife on his side to be fulfilled. He tried (and failed) multiple times, and he always came to the same conclusion: that he would take being with his best friend and son over any woman he’s ever been in a relationship with, including Shannon. He always knew he loved her, but only after getting divorced did he figure out, that he was never in love with her.
And wasn’t that a fun realization. Sitting by Buck’s hospital bed, after a fucking ladder truck fell on him, waiting for his best friend to wake up after hours and hours of surgery, silently begging him to hold on, to come back to him and the idea that he might’ve fallen in love with his very male best friend and that he never felt so strongly towards Shannon was born.
It took a long time, an embarrassingly – not embarrassing, Eddie, everyone’s journey is different and there’s no point in rushing into something you’re not ready for – long time to come to terms with the fact, that he was, in fact, not only gay, but head-over-heels in love with Buck.
And now he had Buck. He still couldn’t believe that this amazing, sweet, kind, selfless -not to mention hot as fuck- man, was his. His to hold, his to love, for the rest of their lives.
“Who are you texting?”
The question interrupted Eddie’s trip down to memory lane as he saw Chim looking over Buck’s shoulder, not actually trying to read what he was writing, but enough to make out, that the man was having a conversation with someone.
Even from a distance, Eddie could see the giddy expression on Buck’s face. He knew that smile very well (he was wearing his own version of it). Buck only ever smiled like that at him, Christopher and…
“My brother.” Buck said. As always, Eddie was right, feeling just a little proud, that he knew his boyfriend so well. “His name’s Nick, he’s 17. Lives back in England with my mother.” Also, did he mention his boyfriend was British? Yeah, like he said, hot.
They were in Buck’s loft, packing up his stuff (what little he still had left lying around in the mostly empty apartment) before they moved it all over to Eddie’s house. Buck’s lease was about to expire and he wouldn’t be renewing it, finally making his move into the Diaz home official, even though he has been basically living there for the past few months (read: years). Chim, Hen and Eddie all came to help with the packing, while Maddie and Karen volunteered to take the kids out for icecream and a trip to the aquarium.
What started off as hard work, a few hours and a beers later turned into lounging on the living room floor and what little remained of the furniture. Buck wouldn’t be keeping the couch (Eddie’s was bigger, more comfortable, a better colour and not to mention, they picked it out together), so they were in no rush to take it apart, and because of that he was now occupying it, with that special smile on his face that he resolved for the most precious people in his life.
“Oh” was what Hen’s immediate response was, looking curious by this new topic. “How is he?” Eddie could tell, that she was subtly fishing for some more details.
Buck almost never spoke about his family. In the first few years, the most they got out of him was that his relationship with his family was complicated. On the other hand, Buck loved to talk and he loved talking about the people he loved even more, so every now and then, when he wasn’t paying to much attention, he would drop a few comments about his mom or a brother. They learned pretty quickly not to ask any follow-up questions or mention the slip-up, because every time Buck would get either defensive or quiet. So they kept their mouths shut, respected his boundaries and tried not to go too wide-eyed, when Buck dropped some random family lore on them. They could be patient for Buck to feel comfortable sharing that part of him with them.
Buck said he was working on it though, being more open about these kinds of things. So even though he still didn’t share much of his past from before he came to America, the crew has heard him mention his siblings and sometimes his parents a lot more often.
Eddie obviously had a bit more information – being Buck’s partner and all – about Buck’s family situation. And all of that was thanks to Christopher. When Eddie and Buck started dating (and to some degree even before that), Chris naturally had a few questions, and to Eddie’s surprise, Buck was happy to answer all of them and trusted not only Christopher, but Eddie as well, with that part of himself.
Since then Eddie has found out, that Buck was the oldest of three, shared a mom with his two half-brothers, Nick and David. Buck had lost his dad when he was five and didn’t really remember him. He absolutely adored his mother, but didn’t really talk about his step-father, other than mentioning, that he was part of the reason Buck left the UK. Now that he was thinking about it, Buck rarely mentioned his brother David, as well, but never gave any reason for it. His other brother, Nick, however, was frequently mentioned in conversations.
“He’s doing good, he just had his GCSEs this year. They’re kind of like the SATs in America.” He explained and then suddenly stopped. “Actually, I don’t think I should be sharing this with you guys. Not yet, anyways.” He said, but it wasn’t like the other times he didn’t want to talk about his family. He sounded, freer, somehow. He didn’t go quiet, he just realized, that whatever him and his brother were talking about was more on the personal side.
Eddie returned to the living room with the beers he originally went into the kitchen for and poked his boyfriend over so he could also sit down on the couch. Buck, predictably, laid his head on his lap as soon as he got comfortable. And how could Eddie not smile at him lovingly as he started stroking his boyfriend’s perfect curly hair.
Sensing the lighter atmosphere, Hen sat up to prod for more information.
“Is there a chance we will ever meet your family?”
“Yeah, someday.” Buck shrugged. It was the freest he’s ever been speaking of them. “Would you want to?” he asked Eddie then.
“Of course I do.” Eddie said. I mean, we all met your mom, but that wasn’t anywhere in the near past.” Buck hummed at that in acknowledgement.
They all remembered that. It was right after Buck got crashed by the ladder truck (yes, around the time Eddie was inwardly having his own personal sexuality crisis). Buck was awake, but still high on pain meds, content to just be listening to Eddie catching him up on his and Christopher’s day. The rest of the 118 had been chilling in the waiting room, lingering, not really knowing if they should leave or stay, when a tiny woman with light-brown hair, wearing a yellow knitted jumper stormed through the hospital doors, booking it towards the reception desk, like a woman on a mission. She spoke quickly and with a heavy English accent, demanding to see her son. They remember the relief on her face when she was given a room number and a few moments later, when she spotted them, most of them still in their uniforms and how she pulled Bobby into a crushing hug and thanking him for looking after her boy. Sarah Nelson was not at all what they were expecting, but after just a few seconds of interaction they realized, that she was an older, female version of the cheerful, chatty Buck they grew to love, so meeting his mother had explained a lot.
Eddie will forever remember how Buck’s face lit up when Sarah entered his hospital room. How vulnerable he suddenly looked as he uttered “Mum” as his eyes filled with tears.
“Oh, Evan.” Was all Sarah could say, as she looked at her boy, broken and bruised, in a sterile hospital bed, that made him, a six feet, two inch tall, almost 200 pounds guy looks small.
“Are you really here?” Buck asked, mind hazy with the pain meds, not daring to believe his own eyes, even as he could feel his mother tightly clutching his hand.
“Baby, of course, I am here.” Sarah whispered and oh so gently touched Buck’s face. “Oh, my boy. My sweet, sweet boy.” And then she pulled him into a tight hug, one full of motherly love, and showered his forehead with kisses.
Eddie watched the 27 year old man shrink into a little boy in his mother’s arms, no longer needing to be tough. In Sarah’s arms, Buck could break down, without a care for the rest of the world.
That is when Eddie decided to leave the room. To let mother and son have their reconnecting moment and no, he did not have tears in the corner of his eye, thank you, Hen.
He, of course, met Sarah Nelson officially a bit later and was immediately in awe of her.
“You must be Eddie.” She greeted him back in Buck’s room with a big hug, that was warm and loving. “Evan was right, you are very handsome.”
Eddie was speechless for a couple of seconds. Firstly because he didn’t expect the compliment from Buck’s mother and secondly, because apparently Buck thought he was handsome?! Hollyshithollyshithollyshithollyshit! Buck, the traitor, just laughed into his hands. And if Eddie noticed how he got a few shades redder in the face, he was not going to mention it.
“Uh” Eddie said when he got his brain back online again. “Thank you, ma’am.” He hoped he didn’t stutter too much. God, he felt like meeting his crush’s parents (which to be fair, he was). “You’ve raised an amazing son.”
“Charming too.” Sarah nodded with approval. “I’m keeping him, Ev.”
“Mum!” Buck yelped.
“I’m just saying, he’s a lovely boy.” Eddie and Buck were blushing harder and harder by the minute.
And from that day, Eddie had been a big fan of Sarah Nelson.
And from that day, Buck has never hid his accent.
What took Eddie by surprise, was when that night, after most of the boxing was done and him and Buck went home, put Christopher to bed and were putting away a last load of laundry before going to bed themselves, that Buck brought up the subject again.
“Nick asked me to visit them back home this summer.” He suddenly said, looking at Chris’ green shirt with pineapples on it, instead of looking at Eddie directly.
Eddie was surprised, to say the least.
“It’s just that I haven’t seen them in so long in person.” Buck continued. “Nick came out to me a few months ago as bisexual. A few weeks later, he told me about his boyfriend, Charlie. He couldn’t stop gushing about him, he sounded so happy. And then I realized just how much time I’ve actually missed out on with him. I was 21 when I left home, Nick had barely started school and now he’s almost graduating. And David, he’s in college now. I know I don’t talk about my family very much, but I really, really miss them.”
Eddie felt something inside him melt. He hugged Buck from the side and rested his chin on his shoulder.
“I know you do.” He kissed Buck’s jaw. “And I think you should go. I’m sure Bobby won’t mind giving you the time off.”
“I want you to come with me.” Buck said, unbearably soft. “You and Chris.” He turned, without breaking the hug, so he was face to face with Eddie. “I want you to meet the rest of my family.”
To say that Eddie was surprised would be an understatement. On the other hand though, he was also honoured. Other than Sarah, Buck hadn’t seen his family in person since he left England, and now that he was finally going to reunite with them, he wanted Eddie there, with him.
“If- Only if you want to, of course, I know it’s a big step.” Buck was quick to reassure him, his fear of being rejected already peaking through. As if Eddie would ever reject him.
“Baby, look at me?” Eddie said quietly, turning Buck’s face towards his with his index finger, coaxing him to look up. His eyes were so blue and so soft, Eddie wanted to get lost in them and never get out, but that would mean leaving Buck’s embrace, and he was not ready to do that anytime soon. Instead, he leaned closer and kissed Buck’s nose. “I would be honoured to come with you. To meet your family. Plus, I never left the country that was purely for fun, and I’m sure Chris would love to meet his grandparents and uncles.”
Eddie’s voice was so unbearably soft, that Buck honest to God giggled. “How are you so perfect?”
“I could ask you the same thing.” Eddie said and maneuvered Buck into a proper kiss on the lips.
It was a week later when the Buckley-Diaz triad found themselves in front of a cozy-looking brown family house, basking in the late summer afternoon sun, in Slough, Buck’s birth town.
If Eddie seemed cool and collected on the outside, that was purely an act of deception, because under the surface, he was ready to vibrate out of his skin. Yeah, sure he might’ve already met Buck’s mom, but he was about to meet his extended family and also, for the first time as Buck’s boyfriend. He was allowed to silently freak out a little bit, mkay?
Come to think of it, the only one who wasn’t nervous at all, was Christopher. When Eddie and Buck asked him if he wanted to visit Buck’s family in England, he was ecstatic. All he could talk about the week leading up to their flight was getting to meet his uncle Nick and grandma Sarah –and wasn’t that a kick in the ass for Buck, hearing his son referring to his baby brother as ‘uncle’.
Buck’s hand was twitching by his side since they already unloaded all their bags from the taxi they took from the airport. Sarah offered that she would come and pick them up, but they assured her, that it wasn’t necessary, that she didn’t have to worry about getting them to her house on top of organizing everything, so instead she ordered a car for them.
Eddie reached out and took Buck’s hand, as a wordless sign of support and to calm down both of their racing hearts. It seemed to work and Buck took one last deep breath before he rang the doorbell. It didn’t take more than ten seconds before the door opened and Buck found himself with an armful of Nellie as the collie all but tackled him to the ground, yapping cheerfully at the sight of him.
“Hey, Nellie.” Buck said cheerfully, also lighting up, like fireworks, all anxiety leaving his body at one. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“Evan” came the equally as happy sound of Sarah Nelson, just a few paces behind Nellie and the next second, after God knows how long, Buck held his mom in his arms again. It melted Eddie’s heart to see them like this. “Oh, I’m so glad you came. I missed you, baby!”
“I missed you too, mum.” Buck was a good head taller, than Sarah, enveloping her in his big arms, but he was so gentle about it, like handling a flower.
When the hug ended Sarah took half a step back to take a closer look at Buck.
“Oh my, you got so much bigger since I saw you.” She said. “How many days a week do you spend in the gym? And you have so many new tattoos.” She said, looking over each and every one of them curiously. When she got to the mockingbird on his bicep she exclaimed. “Oh, this one’s so pretty, your artist is very talented.” (Eddie was slightly surprised by her reaction, but he had to agree, Buck looked mighty fine with all his tattoos).
“Yeah, do you like it?” Buck was grinning ear-to-ear.
“I love it.” Sarah declared.
When the inspection was over and Sarah let go of Buck’s hands, Eddie found himself in Sarah’s arms next. “Eddie, it’s so nice to see you again.” She said. “When Buck told me you two got finally together, I couldn’t be happier.”
“Thank you! And it’s really good to see you too, ma’am.”
“Oh, please, none of that, Sarah is just fine.” She winked at him, then turned her attention to Chris. “And who is this fine young man?” she asked, kneeling in front of him, which made Chris chuckle. Eddie was glad, that Chris was not too much in a rush to grow into an angsty teenager and was still his adorable child self.
“I’m Chistopher.” He said, his smile lit up the whole front yard.
“You must be my very first grandchild then.” Sarah said. “Your dad told me so much about you.”
Chris’ eyes shined. “Really?”
“Of course, you’re all he talks about.” Eddie managed to catch the blush on Buck’s face. Next thing they knew, Chris was hugging Sarah with all his might.
“He really lies her.” Eddie whispered in Buck’s ear.
“Yeah, he does.” Buck sighed. “I wasn’t worried about that.”
“Were you worried?” Eddie asked.
“Well…”
“Evan?” Buck was interrupted by a surprised voice. Inside was a young man, who looked alarmingly similar to Buck, just barely shorter and quite a few years younger. Judging by the tone, Eddie was sure he was not expecting them.
“Hi, David.” Buck said, extending a hand towards his brother.
“Hi.” David looked hesitant, but accepted the handshake. “It’s uh- it’s good to have you back.” Eddie could feel the tension between the two, but somehow, he could hear that David had meant it.
“It’s good to see you.” Buck answered in the same manner. Complicated family, indeed.
Before the conversation could really begin, they were interrupted by the sound of socked feet coming down the stairs in a hurry. And then, turning around the corner was the third Nelson son, grinning widely as he laid his eyes on his big brother for the first time.
“EVAN!” he all but screamed.
“Nicky!” Buck answered, as his brother threw himself into Buck’s arms, holding on, just like he did last time, when he was six years old.
“I missed you so much!” came the muffled sound from Nick, who buried himself in Buck’s neck.
And there, holding his little brother after all those years, Buck, finally, felt at peace.