Chapter Text
~ Eddie's POV ~
Eddie had just put Chris to bed when his phone rang. He looked at the screen and saw it was his Tia Pepa Eddie smiled as he had always been close to his Tia Pepa Her and Abuela had helped him when he first moved to Los Angeles. They had been supportive of his decision unlike his parents. Eddie answered his phone.
Eddie: Hi Tia Pepa. How are you?
Tia Pepa: I want you and Chris to come over for a family dinner tomorrow night. Make sure you bring Buck with you as well.
Eddie: Ok Tia Pepa. I will see if Buck is available to come.
Tia Pepa: Ok see you tomorrow mijo (darling)
After he hung up with Pepa Eddie sent a text to Buck.
Eddie: Hey Pepa invited us for family dinner tomorrow. She expects you there as well.
Buck: Sounds like a plan. Should I just meet you at her house?
Eddie: Of course not. We will meetup at my place. Afterwards we can have the movie night Chris has been bugging us for.
Buck: Sounds like a plan. I will see you tomorrow.
Eddie smiled at the text message. He was happy that Buck was going to come to dinner tomorrow and then have movie night. Eddie has always enjoyed spending time with Buck. Eddie had recently realized that he had feelings for Buck that went deeper than friendship. He would never say anything though. He didn't know how Buck felt, and he would never do anything to ruin their friendship. Buck was so important to him and to Christopher that he couldn't risk losing him. So Eddie just pushed those feelings down and tried to ignore them.
~ Buck's POV ~
Buck was currently hanging with Maddie. He loved hanging with his sister. It was something he missed all the years they were apart. He and Maddie were getting ready to watch a movie when his phone pinged. Buck took his phone out of his pocket to see who it was. He smiled when he saw it was a text from Eddie. Asking him to have dinner tomorrow at Pepa’s with him and Chris.
“Who are you texting?” Maddie asked.
“It is Eddie. He was inviting me to dinner tomorrow at Pepa's house.” Buck said.
Maddie smiled and said, “I should have known. He is the only one that puts that kind of a smile on your face.”
Buck blushed and said, “what are you talking about Mads?”
“I am talking about you being in love with Eddie. So tell me how long have you been in love with him?” Maddie said.
Buck rubs his neck nervously and said, “I don't know how long I have been in love with him exactly. I realized it the other week.” Buck choked back tears and said, “I was so afraid Mads. When all that dirt fell on him. I thought I had lost him. That was when I realized how much I couldn't bear the thought of losing him. Then I realized I was in love with him.”
“You should tell him.” Maddie said.
Buck shook his head and said, “I can't tell him. What if he doesn't feel the same. I can't risk ruining our friendship. I can't lose him Mads.”
Maddie took Buck's hand in hers and said, “I don't think you would lose him if you told him Buck. You never know he might just feel the same way.”
“I can't tell him Mads.” Buck said.
Maddie didn't say anything else about it. She knew that Buck wasn't ready yet, and she didn't want to push him.
~ Eddie's POV ~
Eddie and Chris were waiting for Buck to show up so they could head over to Pepa's. Chris was holding the soccer ball he had just recently got smiling as he said, “Dad, do you think Buck will be able to teach me how to play soccer?”
Eddie smiled at Chris as he ruffled his curls. “I am sure he would love to mijo (darling).” Eddie said.
Just then the door opened and Buck walked in. Chris got up and ran to Buck hugging him, “Buck you are finally here. Can you teach me later how to kick a soccer ball?” Chris said.
Buck hugged him back and said, “of course I will superman.”
The three of them climbed into the jeep and Buck drove to Pepa's house. Once they get to Pepa's Buck helps Chris climb out of the jeep, and the three of them make their way up the walk. They knock on the door. Pepa opened the door and greeted them all. Giving them each a hug.
When they got inside Pepa told them to sit in the living room while she finished supper. Buck said, “Do you need any help in the kitchen Pepa?”
“You are so sweet for asking Evancito, but you are a guest. You do not need to help me.” Pepa said.
After she went back in the kitchen Eddie leaned close and said, “don't feel bad Buck. She never lets anyone help her in the kitchen.”
Once they were done eating supper Pepa shooed them out to the backyard. Telling them she would clean up. Eddie was sitting on the deck watching Buck teach Chris how to kick the soccer ball. He smiled as he watched them. He was so focused watching them that he didn't notice his Tia Pepa come outside until she spoke.
Pepa came outside and she say Eddie watching Buck and Christopher. She had suspicions that Eddie had feelings for Buck, and she decided she was going to find out. “¿Cuánto tiempo llevas sintiendo algo por Evancito?” (How long have you had feelings for Evancito?) Pepa said.
Eddie jumped at the sound of her voice and quickly looked at her like he had been caught doing something he shouldn't. “¿De qué estás hablando tía Pepa?” (What are you talking about, Aunt Pepa?) Eddie said.
“Estoy hablando de tus sentimientos por Evancito. Lo amas, ¿no?” (I'm talking about your feelings for Evancito. You love him, don't you?) Pepa said.
Eddie swallowed nervously and said, “Él es mi mejor amigo. Por supuesto que amo a Buck. Él es familia.” (He is my best friend. Of course I love Buck. He is family.)
Eddie has his back to the yard while he was talking to Pepa so he didn't even realize that Buck and Chris had come onto the porch. Until he heard the familiar sound of Chris' crutches. Eddie is glad that he and Pepa had been speaking Spanish, since he didn't know if Buck overheard any of their conversation.
After Buck and Chris joined them Pepa gave Eddie a look. He recognized that look. It was his Tia Pepa's famous I am not done with you look. He knew that she was going to want to talk more later about his feelings for Buck. Eddie was nervous, because if Pepa noticed the way he looked at Buck. That means other people might have noticed as well. He was also afraid of how Pepa would react if he admitted he had feelings for Buck.
~ Buck's POV ~
Buck always loved hanging out with Eddie and Christopher. As well as Pepa. She was always so nice to him.
After they had finished dinner Pepa had shooed him, Eddie, and Chris out to the backyard. While Eddie sat on the deck Buck was trying to teach Chris how to kick a soccer ball.
They had been kicking the ball around a bit. When Chris had suggested they sit and take a break. So they made their way over to the chairs where Eddie and Pepa were sitting. As they got closer Buck overheard part of the conversation. He knew Spanish from when he had lived in Peru.
As he and Chris were walking over to join Eddie and Pepa he heard Eddie say, “of course I love Buck. He is family.” It warmed his heart to hear Eddie call him family. He always felt like he was family to the Diaz boys, but hearing it confirmed made him so happy.
Hearing that Eddie thought of Buck as family made him all the more anxious about his feelings for Eddie coming out. He feared that if Eddie knew, and didn't feel the same that he wouldn't want to hang out anymore. Eddie and Chris were two of the most important people to Buck and he couldn't lose them. He knew he needed to talk to Maddie about this. Since she was the only one that knew how he felt about Eddie