Chapter Text
Buck felt like he had been waiting for this day forever. It was the annual Christmas celebration with his team and all their families. Chim and Maddie were hosting this year, seeing as they just got settled into the new house. Chimney updated everyone daily on how well Jee was adjusting to the new place.
Hen and Karen were bringing a noodle dish (Toni’s recipe), along with all the drinks. Bobby and Athena were on turkey and stuffing duty, Eddie and Chris were in charge of dessert and appetizers, which left Maddie and Chimney to do the pot roast.
Oh, and Buck? He was supplying Mac&Cheese and the potatoes for Bobby to use. Bobby has asked him specifically to bring potatoes, the reason still unknown to Buck.
Chimney had told everyone that the door would be open at 6. Buck’s watch read 5:24. It would be okay if he was a little early, right? He was a certified uncle, so it had to be okay. He hopped into his Jeep, food and hand, and headed to the Buckley-Han’s.
His watch read 5:41 as he pulled in their driveway. That was weird. Athena’s car was already there, parked right beside Buck’s. Oh, well, I guess he wasn’t the first person to arrive.
Buck knocked, and Maddie opened the door, holding a very happy looking Jee-Yun. “Buuuck! Hi!” His sister has a huge smile on her face and it’s all he’s ever wanted to see.
“Hey, Maddie!” Buck moves his free hand to tickle Jee’s sides, causing her to shriek out, laughing. “Trade you?” Maddie says, gesturing to the food in Buck’s other hand.
He smiles and takes his niece from Maddie. She takes the food and leads them into the kitchen. Buck turns back to make sure the door closes all the way.
Buck plays around with Jee, tickling her and saying stupid words to make the little girl laugh. “Ucle Buck!” she says, over and over. Maddie smiles, while watching her brother and daughter having fun.
“Buck! Do you have those potatoes! I need them!” Bobby yells from the kitchen. Maddie runs to Bobby and hands him the potatoes that Buck brought. He thanks her and whispers something that Buck can’t hear.
He finds Athena with Chimney and decides to go make his presence known. “Buckleyy! Hey, baby!” Athena calls to him. Chim gives him a slap on the back, welcoming him in.
Jee-Yun crawls out from Buck to go sit with her daddy and Athena. Athena coos at Jee and holds her hand, while Buck and Chimney talk about a random video game they discovered. Maddie’s still with Bobby in the kitchen, what, Buck doesn’t know.
“Grwammy!” Jee shouts, and pulls Buck away from all his previous thoughts. Athena’s still talking to Jee-Yun and she doesn’t seem fazed one bit. It affects Buck, though. If Athena was Jee’s grandma that would mean- No he won’t let himself go there.
“Is that- is that like what she calls you?” Buck dares to ask. Athena just smiles up at him. “I don’t mind. She’s cute enough to be my grand baby, anyways.”
This earns a chuckle from Chimney. “If you think about it Buck, it’s not that far off. Bobby and Athena have practically adopted you, which means Maddie too, it just so happens Maddie has a daughter, so Bobby and Athena have a granddaughter.”
Chimney says this as if it’s the most simple thing ever. It’s not simple to Buck. He’s imagined Bobby becoming his dad for ages now, and Chimney just says it like Bobby is his father. But Bobby is, isn’t he? And Athena? Athena is Buck’s mom in every way that matters. He knows that. He knows that, he just never thought about how Maddie and Jee fit in to his whole imaginary family world.
The doorbell rings and Maddie hustles over. “Hey Buck, Bobby needs your help with the food. Can you go?” she shouts as she’s unlocking the door.
Buck jumps to his feet and goes to the kitchen. He finds Bobby staring deep into a recipe written on paper. “Uh, Bobby?”
Bobby looks up, brows furrowed. Buck can tell he’s frustrated about something. He comes closer, crowding into Bobby’s space. Bobby doesn’t seem to care.
“Alright, what’s tripping you up? C’mon spill, how can I help?” Bobby shakes his head, smiling, and explains his problem. They figure it out and Buck helps dice out ingredients for Bobby.
Hen pokes her head in, making sure not to bother them, but also let them know that her and Karen are here. Buck runs over to say hi to Denny and goes back to Bobby.
Bobby gets frustrated, again, about some measuring of the oil, and Buck just laughs at his da-his captain. “Could’ve just catered, Bobby. It would’ve been easier on you.” he said, shrugging.
The other man side-eyes Buck. “You calling me old, Buckley?” Buck chuckles. “Never. I would never.” Bobby whispers something he can’t make out. “Hm?”
“I said, Christmas would be less family-ish if I didn’t cook. It needs to feel like home for all of you.” His words surprised Buck. It also makes Buck love him more. He tips his head to get a better look at Bobby.
“So, you’re deciding to overwork yourself, just do we know you love us? How cute, Bobby.” Buck teases. Bobby isn’t amused. “You know that’s not what I mean, Buck.” Buck sighs.
“Bobby, this is a family, whether you cook for us or not. We all know you love us, you don’t have to be so stressed.” He waits for Bobby to say something, but he never does. “Bobby? Hey, you in there?”
Bobby clears his throat, and looks up at his son, his eyes misty. That’s right, Buck is his son. It’s about time he accepts that.
The holidays are always hard for Bobby and his family knows that. It’s the time that he remembers Brooke and Bobby Jr. the most. It’s the time that he feels most guilty that Marcy can’t be here, with him and the rest of his family.
“C’mere, kid.” is all he says to Buck. Buck doesn’t have to be told twice. He lets Bobby’s arms wrap around him and feels their chests bump together. Bobby knows that Buck didn’t get hugs like this as a kid, which makes them so much more special to the two of them.
Neither one of them is aware that everyone is looking at them and whispering. Thankfully the doorbell rings and redirects everyone’s focus. Buck unwraps himself and shoves his hands into his pockets, standing there awkwardly.
“Go on, that’s probably your boyfriend at the door anyway.” Bobby chuckles. Buck questions him. “Are you sur- wha- he’s not, ugh, he’s not even my boyfriend!” Bobby laughs more.
“I’m sure, kid. Go.” Bobby gestures to the front door, where Chimney is letting Eddie and Chris in. Buck nods and runs over to pick up Chris and spin him around.
“Christopherrr! Hey, bud!” Buck calls out. Chris’s smile grows the size of a watermelon. “Buck!” he shouts and goes to hug his Buck. Eddie stands behind the two of them, a huge smile on his face as well. Once Buck sets Chris down, he goes to hug Eddie.
“Hey, Buck.” he says. “Hey, Eds. You’re the rotten egg.” Buck whispers and Eddie laughs out loud. No one else hears what Buck says and they all look at the pair with odd expressions. It’s BuckandEddie, though, what else would you expect from them?
The 118 and family sit around the living room, scattered around talking with whomever, about whatever. Buck tries checking on Bobby to see if he needs any more help, but he only lets Maddie in with him, because she’s the only other one that has something to cook.
He shoos Buck out, saying “Gooo, leave the kitchen, Buck. I’ve got this, I promise. I love you, now get out.” It’s such a simple saying, that Buck tried to not think about it. But he can’t help it. Bobby told him he loved him. How was he supposed to act like it was nothing? It was Christmas, for God’s sake. And all Buck wanted for Bobby to really be his dad. Was that too much to ask for?
Maddie lets Jee-Yun ring the little bell she bought, signaling it’s time to sit. Everyone has their unsaid seating chart and they take their places. Because the littles are here too, Chimney has to dig for extra pop-up chairs to use.
Athena and Bobby set the food on the table, Athena swats at Buck, who’s trying to taste test everything too soon. Bobby takes his seat at the head of the table, Chimney holding Jee on the other end. They all join hands.
Most of the team isn’t Christian, or doesn’t do grace, so they all say something positive about the person to their right. Most of them are sitting next to their partners or kids, so it all works out pretty good.
May tells Buck that she looks up to him and his dedication to his job and his team. He grins stupidly at her.
Laughter fills the table freely, smiles cross each and everyone’s faces. It feels the Christmas spirit and Buck is happy. His family, it’s all right here, in front of him and he wouldn’t ask for anything more than this.
As if his thought have summoned the devil, the doorbell rings. Maddie looks at Chimney, who is just as confused as she is.
“Did’ju invite anyone else, Cap?” Chim points to Bobby. He puts his hands up in surrender. “Wasn’t me.”
Maddie gets out of her seat and starts toward the door. Conversations resume and dishes continue clinking.
“Mom? Dad?” Everyone freezes. Everyone also knows about the Buckley family. The whole table seems to tense up and lose their appetites.