Chapter 1: Summer of ‘86
Chapter Text
May-july 1986 at The fightertown naval base:
The main lobby of the base was busy as ton of seamen and aviators alike walked in and out of the base. A large portion were littering waiting for something or someone. But there were two men who walked right up to the desk and asked if they could get their base housing assignments and their keys. The woman at the desk looked up at them before simply sighing as she said “you’re both kids if navy officials aren’t you?”
“I am,” the shorter one nodded. Barley glancing at the taller one before going. “Jesus Ron, what are you doing here?”
“What?” Ron said, having not seen the other’s face. “Oh Pete, well Dads gonna have fun with this,” he hummed. “We both are, yes. Our parents are somewhere around here now I think.”
Pete nodded “I think I see Dad coming round the corner now anyway,” he pointed to a graying man in his mid 50’s.
As the older man rounded the corner another guy in his late 20’s started towards hte counter trying to find Pete. Yelling “Mav! What’re you doing?”
Pete shook his head, “Goose! I was getting our keys man!”
“Mav why?” The man said putting an elbow against Pete’s shoulder in a brotherly gesture. Looking apolgetalcy at the lady at the desk, and then noticing Ron standing beside Pete he stammered out an “Oh, Slider hey man, did’t see you there. What’re you doing here?”
Ron pretended he wasn’t blushing. “Trying to get my keys too, didn;t realize you;d bother be here too.”
“Yeah Ron, we made it to TopGun!” Pete bragged.
“Fuck, so well be competing once more huh?”
“Shit you too?”
“Yeah.”
“Wait, how do you two know each other?” Goose asked.
“Ronnie here’s my big brother,” Pete gestured.
“Woah really?” It was clear Goose was trying to make sense of it as his face scrunched up just slightluy in confusion. ”but”
Ron shook his head, his eyes following the old man around the base once more. “Of you’re trying to ask about out last names it’s cause we’re both adopted but have our birth names.”
“Yeah we were fosterd by out mom before her and my uncle started dating and her got custody of me.”
“Then Mom just adopted me and we started calling them both Mom and Dad,”
“Oh okay, wait a damn minute, that means your both?”
“Related to him?” Pete pointed at the older man who was stopped by the door conversing with a younger man in kahikis. “Yeah.”
“Shit that’s Iceman.Fuck I gotta go save them both”
The lady behind the desk had gotten up during the trios conversation and retuned as Ron was walking away. Holding 2 sets of keys she looked confusdly at the remaking duo. “Where’s he going? I’ve got his keys,” she said handing Pete his set of keys.
“Went to save his Pilot and commander Metcalf.”
Pete took the keys generously, handing out to Goose behind him. “Thanks for the keys!” He smiled. “I suppose, we should let you keep working and maybe also work to save the other guys form my dad huh?”
“Oh, you’re Metcalf’s kids? He and Commander Heatherky talk an awful lot about you boys. They’re real proud of you and your siblings.” the woman smiled softly, in awe of the legends that were before here.
“Oh well Thanks. Now I have material to bring up at the next family dinner,” He laughed slowly starting to walk away.
“Of corse, it was good to meet you,” she smiled once more.
Commander Metcalf was laughing as Ron tried to push him away form his Piolt when they got over there. Goose laughed as he walked up beside the blonde man who’d been talking with he commander untill Ron came over here. Pete however paused, watching his brother and Dads shenanigans, smiling feeling like a teenager once more, watching his barely 18 year old brother trying to push their dad out of the way so he could sign up for the academy and enlist the second he finshed school.
”Hey Mav,” Goose called to him form a few steps back.
He turned around, frowning as he was no longer able to watch his family be stupid on base. “What?”
”you gonna go help either of them?” Goose asked, gesturing to the two men by the door. Commander Metcalf wrangling Slider down into some semblance of a headloc and messing up his hair.
Mav just laughed. “No, Ron can suffer and Mikes got a handle on things.”
“Mike?” they guy who had Gooses arm casually slung over his shoulder spoke up, “How are you on a first name basis wiht the commander?”
“Oh uhm, long story, he’s my adoptive dad and your Rio out there is my brother.” Pete hummed softly.
“What?” The blonde almost yelled.
“Yeah, Ice keep up man!” goose laughed slapping him on the back. “Oh shit yeah i should introduce you two huh?”
“Sure, You two secretly sibling like yall both learned bout me and Slider?”
Goose laughed, “Dear you’re a hoot. But no. Mav this is Iceman, the coldest flyer back in school and I assume still that way huh?”
“Yep, cant risk anything going wrong, mother goose.”
Slider returned at that moment. “Oh, but thats not where his callsign comes form!” He teased, whispering to his brohter “I’ll tell the true story later,”
Pete looked at his brohter michsevious smiled and nodded, looking back towards Goose and Iceman. “Okay,” he pretended to not already be crushing hard on the blonde.
“Anyway, Iceman is a piolt and I bet he’ll be tied with us for the win.” goose continued.
“Promise, won’t let sibling rivalry get in the way, we’ll go by the name of the game.” Pete swore as Ron said “do’t you know it!! You little shit why’re you being nice for once?!”
“Alight? Well Goose, you sure gave me quite the intro, who’s your pilot hmm?” Iceman hummed, his blue eyes slicing across Mavs body.
“This is my buddy Mav. He’s the best Piolt I’ve ever had.” Goose smiled dragging Mav over toward him, letting the toe pilots shake hands before he basically locked the shortes man in their group in the ost akward hug. “Nowhere near as codl and calculated as you are but that adds to the fun!” He laughs.
“Oh come on! Don’t sugar coat it, I’m plenty of fun! Also you can’t downplay our inverted mig encounter last week!’ Mav protested the sentence, But accepted the arms wrapped around his shoulder and chin on top of his head as the taller man’s way of showing affections. It also helped keep their pack bonds strong as they interacted with all the others there.
“Oh yeah! Don’t worry honey, we’ll tell the whole story soon. We gotta tell Carole and brad too.”
“Oh! When are they coming to visit?” Mav asked his friend excitedly. “I was see my gosling,”
‘you’re gosling?” Slider quirked a brow.
“My godson, he’s the best kid. Ron you’ve gotta meet him, you;d love him more than you love his parents” Mav winked at his brother, knowing full well he exposed something but nobody but Slider caught on to it.
“So what gosling?” Slider asked, pretending he wasn’t called out for his crush on Goose since flight schoo,l and since he’d met Carole the first time her too.
Maverick just started laughing hysterically and he heard Iceman sigh beside them. “Don’t be stupid man! What are baby Geese called?” Ice all but yelled at his RIO.
“Gosling, thats still… Oh my god I’m a dumbass.” Ron exclaimed. “How do I work for the govt when I forget shit like that.”
Pete still laughing and trying to calm himself as he buries his head in Goose’s elbow hollers “Took you long enough.” Pretending he can’t feel Goose behind him honking like one as he himself starts to laugh too.
/ - - \
Days later, they’ve gone through the course introduction. The brothers have gone home and suprissed heir mom anad younger siblings with their presence. Toturuing their Dad and Pops with it though. They group of aviators had gone to the bar, Ice and Mav having a tension filled debate over who was best in the air. Man struggling to keep his reckless persona and not crave right then and there for the man. In front of him. Goose had dared him to get Carnal knowledge of a girl which led him to meeting Charlie. A pretty girl but much too goo for him to ever date, beside he was alright pinning hard for Iceman. They’d all met Charlie the next morning as one of their instructors and Goose laughed the whole way back to their house about it. But he shut up about it as r they went to bed and forgot about tit all together when they were up in the air the next day. Doing drills and practice and dog fights against their commanders. Just yesterday Carole and Bradley had got in to town and that was a much needed reunion between pack members. Their base house was joyful and lively wiht all 4 of them there.
Today they had no classes, and Mav took Bradly fro the day allowing Carole and Goose to have some much needed intimate time together.
Their first stop was too the base where he showed the pup his and Goose’s plane.
“you, n Daddy fwy dis?” The toddler asked him, eyes sparkling in amazement as he admire the plane.
“I fly this, You daddy, he helps me make sure we know where everyone else is, and save my but when I’m not able to find them,” he explains carefully.
“okay! Beach Ime?”
‘How bout we go get some Lunch then we’ll do the beach?” he prompted softly.
“Lunch!” The kid cheered. Squirmming to get out of his uncles arms and run off to find food.
Mav kept a tight hold in the kid though, and was able to walk him towards the cafeteria. “Alright buddy what do you want for food hmm?” You wanna walk with me and do a big task?”
“Yeah! I Big boy!” Bradley cheered.
Mav smiled ignoring all the other navy personal around them as he set the kid down and led him into the line. “Okay, you hold your tray and I’ll get you what you want okay?”
“Otay! Mavy!” The toddler hooped excitedly. Taking the tray from Mavs hand and holding it so tightly he couln’t drop it if he tired.
“Okay okay, not so tight Gosling. We don’t want you hurting you hands.” Mav exclaimed seeing his nephews knuckles. He didn’t grab his own tray till he was satisfied with Bradley’s hold on his own, then they continued down the line. Mav taking small scoops of some things for Bradley, and bigger scoops for himself. Then he grabbed a chocolate milk cartoon for the boy and a normal water for himself when they got closer to the end.
Bradley wrinkled his nose,”it smells funny”
“Whay does? The food? I think it smell okay,” Mav hummed.
“No. Hewe” Bradley tried to say.
“Here smells funny?” Mav tired to understand. “Oh all the people? Yeah I bet, your not used to this many things huh?”
“No.” Bradly shook his head.
“okay, kiddo. Let’s go find a place to sit and eat. By the doors yeah?”
“Yeah. Weave soon?”
“Yea, we’ll leave soon. but we gotta eat up first.”
“Otay. I try it.” Bradley said sadly.
As they ate Bradley got increasingly more uncomfortable with all the scents around him and Mav became more aware of the looks they were getting as he realized his omega side was coming out the more the kid felt distressed.
But they were almost done with lunch and their saving Grace came in the form of Iceman walking through the doors and at first glipms of the two came over and sat with them.
“Hey you two okay?” He asked softly. “The kids awful upset here.”
“Yeah, just too many alpha scents he’s not used to,” Mav sighed. Refusing to look away from the kid.
“Oh I get it, the only alpha in his life must smell much nicer than the macho navy bs these guys all smell like.” Ice agreed.
“Yeah, theres only. His grandpa’s who’re alphas, and one of them’s my dad so not like Brad sees the guy much.”
“Oh, damn yeah. Hey mav?” Ice dropped his voice into an even lower whisper. Making sure only Maverick could hear him speak.
After a second Mav looked at Ice and dropped his own voice to the same hushed whisper, “Yeah?”
“They all look like the wanna eat you. Let’s get you boys outta here yeah?” Ice mentioned eyes shifting enough to make it clear what he meant but they.
“Shit” Mav hissed under his breath. “Yeah, lets go, Can you help with the trays? I;m just gonna get the kid out to the car.”
“yeah of course, you two just go.” Ice smiled, picking up the trays as the other man got up and picked up the kid, carrying him out of the cafeteria.
“Stupid resilient omega,” Ice shook his head, thinking of his rival fondly. ingoring the douche who was coming up to him as he out the trays away.
“So Iceman, they yours? you sure found em fast.” the douche was saying.
Ice turned around, facing the guy, spitting out “So what if the are? You can’t fight me for em. We both know I’d beat your ass.”
“Oh just didn’t think you or man for that matter were whore enough to have a pup in the world. Who takes care of the kid when y’all can’t or is he basically orphaned any time you boys are deployed?” the man laughed snidely. ”I bet I could’ve done a much better job, letting him stay home wiht his kid as I provided for them.”
“your a pathetic man, you know that?” Ice hissed. Turning his back and pretending that didn’t strike a nerve.
The other alpha opend his mouth to respond as Ice elbowed him in the sternum and then left, heading to find the omega and the pup he’d been with mere minutes ago.
He found them in the parking lot. Sitting by a car that was defiantly Goose’s and not Mav’s, poor Bradley a mess in Mavs arms. Overstimulated by the pure mass of Alpjhas and beta’s in the cafeteria. MV HINAELF AHking as he calmed the kid down.
“Hey, he okay?” ce askded as he got back to them.
“he will be. I think he needs a nap and maybe to skip the beach today.”
‘Okay, Are you okay? ” Ice asked trying for eye contact and not quite getting it.
”it’s never that bad, fuck. No wonder I’m one of the few omega left who’s umatted in the navy. I‘ll be okay eventually.”
“you don’t need a nap too d‘you?
“No, just might need someone else to drive for a bit, think your down to hang out with us for a bit?”
“You and the kid? Always.” Ice promised. Driving Mav and Bradley around town for a while. Slowly Mavs smug smile came back to his fave and Ice smiled seeing the omega feeling better now. their rivalry put to rest for now as they hung out for the remainder of the day. Going to the beach with the kid and resembling the perfect happy family for the few hours they were there.
Then they were dropping a sleepy Bradley back into Caroles arms. Maverick smiled sleepily from the doorway as he watched Carole and Goose tucking their baby into bed. Ice standing beside him humming softly as he watched the domesticity of it all.
“you don’t want that?” He couldn’t help but whisper to Mav,
Mav was clearly shocked by the question as he turned prevaiously happy eyes on Ice panick overtaking his expression for a moment, fearing he’d been caughint pinning. But he wrote it off quickly, asking “You do?” in a whisper and staring to lead Uce away form the room.
Ice glanced back at the happy family smiling softly. He agreed, “Maybe if I ever met hte right person? You never answered me though.”
”I- I want a family of my own I really do. But thats gotta wait for the right Alpha and the right time and I can’t give up flying yet, not so young.” He hummed in response.
“Okay,” Ice hummed along, pretending it dind’t hurt to hear he maybe wasn’t the right alpha, but he understood it was a one day type of thing. “So one day? You’ll settled down, have a couple kids of you own?”
“Yeah but untill then I can always borrow Bradley. Do you have any nieces or nephews?”
“Yeah, one of both actullly, My sosters kids but her and her family all live up in fuckin; Hershey Pennsylvania, so i can’t borrow my niece or nephew all that often.”
“Well, when ever you feel a need to nurture yo can borrow mine.Just ask those two.”
“Sure thing.” Ice smiled and the first link of their bond formed, barley notices be to them but still there.
/ - - \
Soon the boys were home. For a family dinner. Their mom Karen sat between her two eldest sons, making their other three kids sit across the table form them and the older men sit on either end of the table. This was not their normal seating arangments but this was what they would do for the one night.
”So Pete, when can we see your godson hmm?” Karen asked him randomly.
Pete almost choked on his water with that before he nodded and spoke. “I dunno mom. Gotta plan that out with his folks. I can’t just steal the boy to reintroduce him to grandparents he don’t remember.”
“Fine you wont help. Ronnie won’t you figure it out? Your basically dating the Bradshaws now aren’t ya?”
This time one of the siblings did choke on his drink. When Ron stopped coughing he spluttered out “W-what? No I’m not!”
“Sli, Iceman was asking me what was up with you and Goose the other day…” Pete deadpanned. “And you must be really obvious if he can catch onto that but not Wolf and Holly being together.”
Ron had no smart retort to that comment, though he tried to come up with something. Mouth gaping like a fish untill he gave up and just said “Y’know what shhh.”
“Wow great comeback,” Pete teased.
“Shut up Mav.” Ron grumbled. Getting a laugh out of their teenaged siblings across form them.
“Man why can’t you two be home more often?” Their eldest little sister, Eliza asked.
“sorry kiddo, you know the breaks. We’re new enough to be deployed all the time.” Mav apologized.
“Yeah, there was once a day where even Dad and Pops were deployed almost constantly.” Slider tacked on, “just how it is. Sorry y’all.”
“booo” their brother Danny yelled. “Can’t you both just stay longer?”
“Maybe? We’ll see.” Mav smiled. “Don’t think Pop’s could handle us around for much longer” he laughed.
“sure he could” Karen laughed. “He will never say it but he missed you boys. Rick’s just a big softy under all that toughness.
“Ewww ma,” Sam the youngest of the 5 kids mumbled as she ate.
“Oh hush you,” Karen scolded softly. “So who wants to start catching us up on things, how was everybodies days?”
They all took turns telling their days in detail to each other, everyone else listening and then putting their ow two cents in. Before long, dinner and desert had came and gone and the teenagers were heading to their rooms. Leaving their adult siblings to hang out with their parents even more throughout the night. Karen wanted to know everything from her son’s recent lives, and Viper and Jester would be lying if they said they didn’t want to know just as much.
So they told their parents as much as they could. Getting them all caught up from the point of about a year ago up tp them each getting the news they were going to TopGun. Then they just teased each other relentless over everything that’s happend since then, liek the growing crushes on each others partner, the growing pack bonds with the other boys. How insane some of hte bonding was, how the two duos were neck and neck with each other in terms of who would get the trophy.
They find out Ron was in fact dating Goose and Carole, but the throughly never out a label on it. They find out abut Charlie and Maverick’s really short little fling that died before it even began. All those kinds of things.
/ - - \
Then the unimaginable happens.
They’re almost done with the class, in the middle of hop 31. Ice and his need for precision losing them precious time to get both instructors. Maverick and Goose are willing to recklessly go for the kill.
theres a whole argument between the two pilots over it, it’s pointless they both know it but Mav’s trying to get Ice to break form his cold calculations and let him take the shot, while Ice keeps saying theres no good way to get the target lock on, theres no way thet’d win this.
The Rio’s are their voices of reason and both are just trying to get Ice out of the way at this point. Which is fatal, but not for who they things it would’ve been.
The lower plane gets caught in their Jetwash. And suddenly the only things that matter are Mav and Goose. They need to get back into control, and their both fighting for it. Yelling at one another in their panic to get everything sorted out.
Everything form that day is a blur, for everyone. No one knows exactly what happens, just that they get control back long enough to eject into the ocean. But Goose comes in contact with their roof during ejection. Busting his forehead open and causing his neck to break, killing him almsot isntatly.
As Mav hits the water he feels 2 things hit hard, the cold rapid movement of the waves, and his bonds dissolving, fading away and leving a hole in his heart. He realizes suddenly goose was the first pack member he’d ever had who wasn’t family. He was the first one Mav became friends with as quickly as he did and the first one to become pack with in only a few weeks. Carole was the only other one he bonded with that fast. This pain is the worst feeling ever and he clings to Gooses lifeless body, not being able to imagine what Carole must feel like, her own bonds dying just as fast.
Hours later the rescue helicopter is above them and the rescue team is yelling at Mav to let Goose go. But he can’t. He does long enough for the two to get onto the chopper and looked after by the responding team. He hears nothing that said around him. He just reached out and holds Goose’s lifeless hand, refusing to belive his friend was dead.
They land an idescernable amount of time later. And there on the tarmac is a whole team of people. Ready to take Mav to the medical wing. He refuses long enough to see the body bag his friend, his brother, his pack was put into and carried out on. He crashes then and there. Collapsing into the arms of the paramedics. He feels but isn’t aware of the fact he is put on a stretcher and walked into the building. He misses the devastation thats left in the pairs wake as they’re both carted off to different parts of the medical wing on base.
Waking hours later to the quite whispers of someone beside him. He peeks an eye open expecting it to be one of his parents but it’s Carole, holding his hand and crying into the side of his bed. He’s confused for a moment as to why, before he remember all that happend. And suddenly his parched through is scarping though the sentence “I;m so sorry, it’s my fault. Carole I’m so sorry.”
she perks up, smiling despite the tears that fall. “Holy shit, your awake. Okay don’t talk, Pete dear shh. I will be right back okay? I’ve gotta get the nurse,” she scrambled to her feet and towards the door.
“Carole” he tired again hoarsely. The tears finally falling again as he realizes the variety if what’d happend. How at fault he was of it all. he apologizes to goose this time hoping to hear the mans laugh and the question of “for what” echo around the cold sterile room. But he hears nothing but the beeping of the jointer beside him and the general scuffle outside his room.
He decides then and there that if his recklessness cost him his best frined he either has to become like Ice, cold and calculated, or retire at only 23. He wouldn’t be himself if he were to become an cold and calcualted pilot, or a cold uncaring person, hell it’s in his nature to be open and caring, if he were to deny that part of his biology he’d slowly start to kill himself. Maybe he deserves it though for killing Goose, he thinks to himself befor the nurse walks in
/ - - \
Days pass, and he’s just in a funk. His parents and his brother don’t eant to see him leave the navy. Carole is reasonably depressed having lost her mate, and she leans on Maverick. He leans on her just as hard, they clean up Goose’s stuff get it ready to either be given away or moved into Carole house with Bradley a bit off base. She convinces him that he can’t quite yet.
So Maverick goes back to class begrudlinuy. Sundown is his Rio for a few of the final hops. And it scares Sunny, to see his friend like this and to be in the back seat as they fly they way they do. Ron wants to step in and help, offer to be his brothers Rio, but he knows the younger man would hate him in the back seat more. Ice just watches concern etched into every crevice of his being when Maverick lashes out at Sunndown.
Ice finds Maverick the same day, cleaning our his locker, once more trying to leave. His eyes red rimmed form crying so much recently. And well he’d be lying if he said seeing Mav like that didn’t hurt Ice’s heart a bit.
“I’m sorry about goose, he was a good man. A good friend.” He whispers into the silent locker room.
Maverick nods silently. Sniffling softly as he turns to look back at Ice.
”I know how much he meant to you. he meant a lot to everyone, but you two. You just understood each other. Im sorry that was cut short.”
“It’s my fucking fault he’s dead, if I-“ Mav started, “I cut it short. There’s nothing to apologize for.”
“you weren’t the cause, no body but you blames you for his death. C’mere Mav. Listen it’s not your fault alright? It was an accident. I’ll repeat this for you untill you accept it okay?” Ice said making eye contact, trying to gage Mav’s understanding of Waht he just said.
“okay. So what are you doing here?”
“I was trying to convince you not to quit, but I if that what you really what and need then so be it. I’ll just sit here in silence with you, help you pack up, be there as you mourn Goose.” Ice vowed. “We’re all mourning him, of course you and Carole more than the rest of us.” He hummed.
Mav went silent, simply nodding once more. Then he did the unexpected and moved closer to Ice, slowly leaning his head against the taller man’s shoulder, well what he could reach of Ice’s shoulder at least. It warmed both their hearts just a bit and their bond settled into their chests more. Now it was noticed by Ice, and Mav although he tried to ignore the new bonds formation, he found an odd sense of comfort in it.
/ - - \
Despite still being in mourning he showed up to their graduation and conngratulaed Ice and Slider on their win. He was happy for them after all. he knew things would get better form here. He planned to turn his wings into his dad after the days as done, but liek always the unexpected happend and he was called to action. Along with Ice and Slider, Hollywood and wolfman.
They were back in his carried, the same one he bjunck in with Goose just a few months prior. it hit like a sucker punch to the gut, he refused to let it show though. Just quietly tugging on his other bonds, feeling for the one he shared with Iceman.Takign comfort in the mans steady presence even when he was feet away.
then it came time for the actual missinon. And He was set up, standing by for action. He went into he fight with Merlin who was no replacement for Goose, but a damn good Rio and friend. Merlin kept him from pulling out to far, yelling in his ear, when the memories got to much and he tried to go back to the ship. But Hollywood and Wolfman were shot down, and hopefully in the chopper now.
And the enemy migs were going ham on Ice and Slider, and Mav, well he couldn’t loose another friend, pack members nor family memeber. He couldn’t let his brother get shot down and his curiosity about the bond with Ice drove him back in when he ignored their yelling. He jsut needed to collect himself and flew up. Disappearing against the sun and getting the win, back in the fight he and Merlin saved Ice and Slider’s asses. The favor being retrained not long after.
Together they got a bunch of migs down and off the ships air ways. Saving the carrier and the other piolts. He was a tad calculated wiht his actions, but his recklessness was back and Maverick was back and he could feel his own joy at that radiating though the cabin on his plane. And down the bond lines he could feel the excitemt Ice and Slider had in their plane. Then Ice uncexpecdtly joined in the recklessness, following Mav home and then together they buzzed the towers before they landed safely.
Once their feet were on the tarmac they had a crowd surrounding and cheering for them.
”Hey man, that was great! I look forward to out next flight together.” Mav smiled at Merlin.
“Gotta be honest here Mav, you terrify me. But we make a good team.” Merlin smiled back before going to party with the crew.
Mav looked aorund, find the mated pair both wrapped in shock blankets but leaning out of ther helipcoter their own smiles on their faces and the waved and thanked the crowed surrounding their feet. He smiled wider. Slider ran over hugging him quickly, their sweetest display of brotherly affection in awhile.
“you save out asses Mav!” He yelled.
“Hell yeah i did!” Maverick replied jsut as happy his brother was there.
“Oh my god. your back! My brothers back bitches. This deserves a party when we get home yeah?”
“Sure Ron,” Mav chuckled softly.
Then there was the matter of Ice who was there just as suddenly and SLider was. Pointing at him, sounding angry as he yelled “you.”
Mav simply tuned his big eyes on the man and smiled.
“you can be my wingman antytime.” Ice smiled. Shoving a hand his way.
Mav consider the deal for a moment. Smiling wider if possible as he laughed “Bullshit you can be mine” and grabbed Ice’s hand in his. They were both bangles ware of the camera’s snap beside them as the shook on it. Hoping it would be great and they would be immortalized forever like that.
/ - - \
A few weeks later Maverick was back at topgun. Teaching his first class. His newly formed packbonds wiht hte rest of the flyboys thrumming in his chest as they each got up and started their different routines.
He smiled depsite the pain he’d gone though mere weeks ago. Using the trauma to build more character and he hummed happily knowing his new Rio wasn;t to far off sure being sent back home soon and his wingman was safe somewhere on his first deplyomnt as the winner of TopGun.
Carole and Bradley having Mav live wiht them for the few months he taught becoming the best choice the trio had made, letting the adults bond now they they didn’t have Goose to keep them connected, and Bradley learning to get used to 2 caretakers, both omegas instead of his 3rd caretaker, his beta dad being around.
Chapter 2: First year(or so) at the 118
Notes:
Also kinda rewrite, if you wanna call it that? Of the first season. But oh well, chapter 2 is out!
Chapter Text
January 8th 2013
Evan Buckley walked through the doors of the 118. He was excited to start at the fire station as a probie. Having graduated from the academy just a week ago.
He asked one of the guys who was heading out; “where can I find Captain Nash?”
“I think he just settled down with the paramedics for their “family dinner’” the man said, pointing up towards the loft.
“Oh, okay thank you.” Evan smiled.
“Yeah of course. Have fun, those three are something. But Cap is great.”
Evan nodded and let the guy leave as he headed up the steps. He stood there awkwardly for a moment unsure of what to do. “Hey, uhm, I’m looking for Captain Nash?” He asked the table at large.
The man sitting at the head of the table smiled asking a woman beside him “you know a Captain Nash?” She chucked and started laughing as the man asked the other guys at the table the same question.
“What?” He mouthed.
Then the man at the head of the table took pitty on Evan. “I’m Captain Nash. You must be Evan,” he introduced.
“Buck, everyone calls me Buck” he said.
“Well then. Pull up a chair Buck.”
“Here you go man” the guy beside him said as Buck sat down and was handed a plate.
“Thanks.” He smiled taking the plate, and joining them in their meal.
The man who handed him a plate introduced himself. “I’ll
Chimney. Don’t ask. That’s Hen,” he pointed at the woman across from them. “And you’ve met Bobby. The Captain.”
“Nice to meet you all,” he smiled.
“So Buck?” Hen asked.
“Too many Evan’s at the academy. They guys there started calling me Buck cuz my last names Buckley.” He explained.
After a minute he spoke again. “Okay I really wanna ask how’d you get saddled with Chimney?”
“How old are you probie?”
“I’m 21. Why?”
“He’s being an ass. Doesn’t wanna explain cause you’re “too young to hear” the insane story.”
“Hey! That’s not true!” Chimney protested. “I was just curious.”
Buck and Bobby both laughed at the paramedics as they kept arguing.
“This is really good. Did you make it?” Buck asked Bobby after a moment.
Bobby nodded. “Thanks, it’s rare to get a compliment from those two recently.” Then he started to explain what Buck will do as a probie and why.
Buck just nodded along. Excited to be able to prove himself over the course of the next few weeks and they would slowly start him in on the calls.
/ - - \
It didn’t take long for Buck to fit into the 118. He laughed at Chim's jokes, was the first one to do whatever Cap ordered. He helped Bobby in the kitchen. Talked with hen for hours. The team made sense.
Except there was one slight drawback, the team thought he was some fratboy. That he was immature and not ready for the real world. But he knew the truth. So did his family. Bobby knew it too, because of his files.
So he kept laughing at the jokes made at his expense. Kept being the young and dumb 21 year old his friends saw as he told stories of meeting Sophia or Adriana, sometimes he’d mention Eliza or Sam, maybe even his own sister Maddie. Then Chim would oh and ah as if he was telling stories about a date or a wicked one night stand. He’d simply roll his eyes at them and never further explained.
Then one day dispatch sent them to an apartment building. Where someone said they’d heard a babies cry through the wall. He questioned the call as Bobby explained what was going on. Then they got there heard the baby in the guys tubes.
Sargent Grant was there already, making them shut of plumbing and sending a team of cops and the 118 around to knock on doors. Ask if anyone had just given birth in the bathroom.
Buck asked the right questions before they went. “Is it possibly a teen who hid the pregnancy from their parents?” He heard Hen and Chim suddenly realize maybe it was possible and Athena nodded. “So then we can’t ask straightforward if someone just have birth in a bathroom?” He continued pretending he was clueless but it aided the rest.
Athena nodded once more and told them “ask about teenagers, bathroom habits, nothing straightforward. Like Buckley said there could be a scared freshly postpartum teenager somewhere here who flushed their baby.”
Then he went with Bobby to find where it would be easier to get the baby out of the plumbing system. Bobby asking him “how do you know what to ask? Athena’s gonna ask you the same question later.”
“You’ve read my file,” he stated glancing at his captain.
“Yes,”
“Then you should know why,” he didn’t explain anything as he walked following his instincts. Listening in on the conversations around them as people knocked on doors asking about teenagers and pregnancies.
“Hey Captain Nash, we’ve got the mother,” Athena radio’d after roughly 10 minutes.
Buck smiled glad the mom was found. “Let’s find that kid” Bobby said and lead him down as far as they could.
Eventually they came across a lone toilet and were able to get the baby out through there. Buck took hold of the infant careful to him correctly as he ran out towards the ambulance. Where Hen and Chim were getting the mother situated. Done with their preliminary check they loaded her into the ambulance and had Buck ride along. He’d hold the baby until they got to the hospital with the kids.
He talked to the mom in the back of the ambulance. Hen driving and Chim back with the rest of the team in the fire engine realistically heading back to the station.
“You’ll be okay, and look baby is okay.” He hummed.
“I’m sorry,” the girl cried.
“For what?”
She cried harder at his understanding tone, “for flushing my baby. Can I hold him?”
“Once we get you both to the hospital,” he answers her question. “And while it’s not okay, nobody's mad about it. You were scared. It was the only thing that made sense to you.”
“I didn’t even know I was pregnant,” she told him.
“That must’ve made it scarier.” He hummed. Imagining what it would’ve felt like to not know then give birth.
“Yeah. God what’ll my dad say? He was upset enough when you were knocking on doors.”
“Don’t worry about that now, focus on recovering and resting.”
“What if my dad makes me give the baby up?”
“We’ll do you think your ready for a kid?”
“I dunno,” she cried “maybe? I don’t think anyone’s ever ready for a kid.”
“Cause we’re not, let alone teens. It’ll be alright. Your still on the way to the hospital. And you have time to decide if you want to keep your baby. Your dad can’t tell you what to do.”
She smiled at him.. “Thanks, how do you know what to say?” She mumbled form behind her hands as she wiped her tears.
He smiled, “cause I had a baby when I was 16, and I remember how scared I was and I knew about him. I bet it’s 10x worse not knowing about your own baby, then giving birth on the toilet instead of in the hospital.”
“I guess we’ll never know?” She hummed. “You must be a good parent, you’ve helped me a lot and I just let you a few minutes ago,” she smiled.
He smiled back. “Thanks, now looks like we’re here let’s get you a baby checked in huh?”
“Yeah,” she hummed. “Thanks.”
/ - - \
Back at the station Hen pulled him to the side. Immediately grilling him.
“Your son, that’s why you knew to ask Athena what to ask?”
“Yeah.”
“Why didn't we know you had a son?” She asked, her voice dripping to a sad almost whisper.
He winced slightly. “I uhm, he’s in Texas. With his Dads side of the family.”
“What’s his name?”
“Christopher. We all call him Chris.”
“So, he’s in Texas?”
“Yeah, I got PPD pretty bad after he was born. My uncles supported me until his dad came back from his tour then I went to get proper help and left Chris with Eddie.”
“How long ago was that?”
“I’ve been here for what 3 months and the academy took another 3. And for the 4 months before the academy I was at recovery. So 10 months ago.”
“Oh wow. And you haven’t seen your son or his dad since?”
“No, we fall weekly and the boys both came for my academy graduation,”
“So when will you see them next?”
“No idea. Eddie’s mom doesn’t trust me with Chris anymore since I "abandoned" him, and Eddie’s going for another tour with the army.”
“Oh that’s rough I’m sorry Buck.”
“Yeah, I’m coming to terms with it. And I don’t believe Helena and her abandonment thing. Not after what my parents did to me.”
“What’d your parents do?”
“Oh now that’s a story for another day,” he laughs. “Just now I ran away at 16 and never looked back.”
“You ran away and gave birth in a year?”
“Yep,” he pipped the p. “But I’m alright now. Chris is 5 and and my uncles and cousins are great, so’s Eddie’s Tia. You guys are great too.”
“Oh wow. He’s older than I thought.”
“Hen, you know I’m 21 right?” He questions.
“Yeah. What’s that got to do with anything?”
“Your heard me tell that girl I had Chris at 16?”
“Yes, oh right, yeah that’s 5 years. Didn’t do the math, sorry Buck,” she laughed then dragged him into a hug. “Keep me posted yeah?”
“Sure,” he whispers as he returned the hug. Then they went back to join Chim and Bobby in the loft.
“He alright?” Bobby asked as Hen stepped into the kitchen.
“Yeah, I think he’s doing okay. And he’ll get better with time and love. We were wrong about him Cap. I think he’s the strongest of us all.” She hummed.
“The kid sure is.” Bobby agreed. “You okay?” He checked in.
“Yeah, don’t worry. I’m alright. You?” She questioned.
“Yeah, just a tough call for us all. Chim might have it easier not knowing what’s life with a child is like.”
“Yeah. He’ll understand one day” hen laughed.
Bobby laughed at it too. “God that’ll be a day.”
“Sure will” she agreed laughing hysterically and she thought of Chimney with a baby on his hip.
/ - - \
Days later Buck came into the station a bright smile on his face.
“What’s with smiley over there?” Chim asked during breakfast.
“You think I know?” Hen sassed. But she had an idea of what it possibly could be.
Bobby chucked watching his team from the counter. “You sure are smiley today Buck?”
“Yeah, I talked to the boys this morning,” he explained wich got Hen’s attentions and she shit up joking them over by the fridge away from Chimney who still didn’t know a thing about Chris.
“You talked to the boys this morning?” She asked excitedly.
“Yeah. Eddie’s tour gets deployed in 3 weeks. He told him mom flat out that I’m getting Chris for the while he’s gone. Meaning I’ll need to figure out summer care and then school in the fall. But I think I can handle that.”
“Oh your getting Chris!” She smiled!
“Yeah, his school is letting him off 2 weeks early so he and Eddie can come visit and get the kid moved in,”
“Oh Buck, that's great!” Bobby smiled.
“Yeah!” He bounced on his toes excited. Letting himself get pulled against Hen as she gave him a huge hug. Her own excitement singing through and they let go.
Then she asked “when can we meet him?”
“I dunno. We’ll figure that bit out.”
“Woah, what’s going on here?” Chim laughed. As he calmed round the counter and put his bowl in the sink to rinse before they threw today’s load in the dishwasher.
“I- it’s a long story,” Buck chuckled. “But I'm gonna have a little roommate for the foreseeable future.”
“Oh I’m so excited to meet him! Does he look more like you or his mystery dad?”
“Me, he came out looking like his dad but with my hair. Looks more and more like me as he grows up.” Buck explained.
“Aw I bet he’s adorable.” Bobby threw in.
“He is! Wanna see a picture of him?”
“Okay who are we talking about?” Chim asked.
“My son.”
“You have a son!” Chimney yelled. Shocked by the sudden news. His jaw dropped as he watched Buck pull up a picture of his kid.
“Yes keep up,” Hen teases her partner. Before cooing at the 5 year old on screen.
“Oh he’s really cute. He does look an awful lot like you,” Chim agrees. Then the bell goes off and they race to get on their gear and Into the engine as they’re called out.
/ - - \
Then months pass and Chris isn’t mentioned again until Tia Pepa brings him in yelling for “Evancito!”
“Tia Pepa?” Buck responded leaning over the railing.
“Momma,” Chris whined.
“Oh Superman,” Buck hummed heading down the steps he put a hand on his sons shoulder and forhead when he met them down there. “You poor thing, your burning up.”
“He wouldn’t take anything just wanted you,”
“Okay,” Evan hummed. “Hey cap?” He yelled not realizing Bobby had followed him downstairs curiously.
Bobby hummed in response to the kid. “You need the rest of the day?”
“Can I?”
“Of course. Get him feeling okay again. See you tomorrow?”
“We’ll see,” Evan smiled. “Thanks Bobby. Oh yeah by the way. This is my son Chris. Chris this is my captain, Bobby. You can meet him again when your feeling better.”
“Okay, momma,” the kid whined limping slightly.
“What happened to his leg?” Bobby asked concerned over the 5 year olds health.
“He’s got CP. So mister we gotta get you some medicine and watch that leg huh”
Chris whined, “Boo!” Objecting the meds. “I’m not sick.”
A look at Pepa contradicted that. “Sure you aren’t. Let’s still get you some meds just to be safe.”
By the time Hen and Chimney got downstairs, Buck was holding Chris and starting to head for the doors.
“What we missed him?” Hen complained to Bobby as Pepa started to follow the boys out.
“Sorry you two. The kids sick, no chance today. Later,” Bobby laughed at his paramedics.
/ - - \
The months later Buck pulled Chris out of school for a day and his family drove in.
Why? Because he had his badge pinning ceremony.
“Congratulations, firefighter Buckley” Bobby said pinning the medal onto Bucks uniform lapel.
After thanking Bobby he was ushered towards his kid.
“Congratsulations Momma” Chris smiled, putting the new helmet on his moms head with the help of Tia Pepa.
“Thanks kiddo,” Buck smiled wrapping his arms around both his son and Pepa.
“Oh Evancito. Congratulations, you’ve come so far!” She smiled.
“Thanks Tia.” He smiled.
“Alright!” Chim yelled after a moment. “Party time! Bring out the cake Hen!”
“You made a cake?” Buck yelled at Bobby.
Bobby laughed “I sure did kid!”
“Oh my god,” he laughed watching Hen carefully carry a cake down stairs.
“What, come one Ev, you deserve it” Bob smiled as he snuck up on his cousin.
“Holy,” he censored himself for Chris’s sake. “What are you doing here?”
“How did you miss us while standing up there!” Bob laughed. “Some brother you are.”
“Hey!” Buck laughed faking offense.
“Oh you know I’m joking. Still think your better than Bradley over there.” He points to where Bradley was talking to another firefighter.
“Buck! Get over here for your cake!” Hen yelled already holding two plates out. “I assume you want some too huh bud?”
“Yes please!” Chris smiled as he got set down as the table with Pepa and Bob. Buck brought back 4 plates one for each of them as he sat down with them.
Later Buck was with his uncles, calling them Mom and Dad like he did when he was 17, as they talked excitedly about his probie year ending.
“Congratulations kiddo,” Mav smiled hugging Buck.
Ice nodded also having congratulated him. “Yeah! You’ve worked hard for this kid. Glad you got here”
“Thanks you guys. How long are you staying?”
“We’re aiming for a week or 2?” Mav hummed.
“Wow, dad, how can you manage that? Is uncle Sli taking over for the week?”
“Yep, let’s pray I don’t regret this.” Ice sighed.
“Oh c’mon, he’s a dumbass but he knows how to lead” Mav told his husband.
“Oma!” Chris yelled suddenly. Hobbling over the 6 year old still getting used to his new crutches.
“Hi baby,” Mav smiled lifting the 6 year old up. “Oh gosh your so big now.”
“Hey buddy.” Ice smiled look over at his grandbaby.
“Deda,” Chris smiled. Reaching for a hug from the other man.
Buck smiled. “Guess what Superman, Oma and Deda might stay around for a while! So they can visit with us.”
“Are Brad an’ Bob too?”
“Not sure kiddo,” Buck shrugged as he eyed them. “Hey Brad! Are you sticking around?”
“Yeah for a couple days! Why?” Bradley yelled back stopping his teasing.
“Bob what ‘bout you?”
“Gotta get back on Monday.” He shrugged apologetically.
“Hear that?” Buck asked his son.
“Yeah,” Chris smiled. Then he went to find out if Hen bright Denny and smiled when he saw the 7 year old. And the two boys started playing together.
“So now your officially onto the 118. What’s the plan Buckaroo?” Athena asks coming up to him a few minutes later.
“No idea. Just keep on responding to calls and hanging out with all of them,”
“Yeah. That’s a good plan.” She smiles.
“Thanks,” he smiles. “So you and Bobby huh?” He asks having seen their interaction from early that day. How touchy it was.
“Oh hush you. Now congratulations baby.”
“Thanks ‘Thena” he smiled.
“So that’s your mom and dad?”
“Oh no, my Uncles. Moms, brother and his husband,”
“Oh,” Athena raised an eyebrow.
He chuckled shaking his head. “It’s a long story. They’re better parents though.”
“Well I’m glad you have them and their kids. They clearly love you and Chris.”
“Thanks. We love ‘em too.”
Athena laughed as she walked away going to talk to Hen.
The only thing missing was Eddie and Maddie. Otherwise it was a picture perfect “Probie no more” party.
/ - - \
“Ev, what would you say if I applied to the academy?” Eddie asked one night while on call a few days later.
“I’d say finally get your ass out of the army. Don’t you dare go for a third tour!”
Eddie laughed. “Alright alright. So you’d be okay if I worked for the fire department.
“Well are you gonna work at the LAFD?” Buck hummed. “Cause we get some crazy calls,” he laughed before explaining a call they got just before his party. Where they had to go save a guy from his neighbor who had to many pets and was crazy from one of them getting out.
“Well, maybe not if that’s the case. But yeah I’d like to work with you guys, I wanna be close to my son and his mom. If that’s alright?”
Evan smiled. “Yeah that’s more than alright. Let us know when your coming home will ya?”
“Sure thing. I miss you guys.”
“We miss you too,” Evan hummed.
They talked for a while. Eddie getting a view of Evan’s normal nighttime routine. Checking in on their kid then going to change and brush his teeth.
“Okay, I’ve gotta go. I have a 24 starting after I get Chris dropped off in the morning. I’ll talk to you soon, yeah?”
“Yeah. Same time next week if we can’t do earlier?”
“Sounds good,” Evan smiled. “We love you.”
“I love you, both, too.” Eddie said. Stressing the both to make sure Evan got the point.
Which he did and it was all he could think of during their downtime the next day. He told Hen about it and she told him that once Eddie’s back in solid ground they better get back together or else.
He laughed at her before they were called to a car crash off their major highway which took hours for them to clear.
Chapter 3: new changes
Summary:
Some backstory to why they are they way they are. Aka the Buckley parents being shitty while Mav and Ice are relatively sane for once. Then teenaged Buck moving in with them and finding a new home.
Notes:
chapter title subject to change... I'm so bad at title's..... and summary apparently! Anyway have this chaotic little happy Segway that I wrote in a few hours lol.
Chapter Text
July 30th 1991
“Y’know Maggie I’m happy for you,” Tom said while gently rocking his month old nephew back and forth.
“Really? Thank you,” she smiled softly. “But I don’t understand how you can be happy for us in a time like this. My poor son is dying and none of us were matches,”
“But Evan’s here and I remember you and Phil wanting more kids after Maddie was born but not having any,” he paused watching his sister's face pinch ever so slightly. “So I’m happy you finally got your third, and I’m happy to have another nephew.”
“Tom, we'd stopped wanting him. But Daniel, he needed a match.”
“So you had Evan specifically to be a match for Daniel?” He asked shocked by the news and his voice taking on a harder tone as he knew if anything happens to Danny, the baby in his arms would lose his parents.
“Yes,” she sighed like she’d explained it a million times already and it’s possible she had. “I had Evan to be a cell match for Daniel and once Evan’s a little older we’ll start doing the treatments.” She explained it and that hardens Toms resolve.
“I don’t like this. That can’t be good for you guys. What happens if it doesn’t work?”
“It will work” she said.
“Maggie, your delusional, you’ve gotta take into account the possibility of it not working. Not just for you and Danny, but for Mads and Evan too.”
“You don’t have to like the plan. But it will work and we won’t have to figure out a plan for if the treatments don’t work.” Her voice got meaner as she spoke which scare him. But he was trying to hear her out despite her clear delusions. “Now you either accept that or forfeit your role in their lives. Not like we see you much anyway.” She muttered the last sentence beneath her breath.
“Oh Maggie. Hell no. I am not accepting that you don’t love Evan and it will be made clear if the treatments don’t work. I get it Danny is your first baby but you’ve gotta consider everything and to not do that is delusional and not good.” He lectured. “And there is no way I’m forfeiting my role as their uncle. I love them unconditionally unlike you will with Evan.”
Margret scoffed, rolling her eyes at him as she stood and scooped her baby back into her arms. Roughly saying “nothing will happen to Danny, and I do love my kids without conditions. You know nothing of our lives Tom, so fuck yiu for saying that. Get out of my house!”
“Maggie!” He begged her to see things they way he does. Whining her name.
“No. Out!” She yelled pointing at the door.
He nodded quickly and quietly. Walking swiftly towards the door but stopping with her right as they reached it.
“I’m sorry you feel it has to come to this. I love you guys.” He hummed,
She said nothing just watched his hand land heavy in the knob.
“See you around Maggie?”
“No,” she said sternly. Walls that never existed for her big brother now in place as she stared him down. “You won’t see us around. You will leave and go home to your mate and his nephew and you’ll never hear from me or my kids again.”
“Oh, we’ll still I love you and will be here if you ever need me. Bye Maggie, tell the kids I love them?”
“Fine.” She said holding the door as he walked backwards out of it and towards his car waving at Maddie in the window above the front door. “And stop it with the nicknames!” She yelled after him.
/ - - \
Later he was in the hotel room he’d booked for the night and he called Pete.
“Hey Mav.” He smiled when the line connected.
“Hey Ice! How’s it going? How are the kids and your sister? She adjusting fine with the new baby?”
“Well, about that,” he sighed, not ready to talk about it yet but knowing he had to.
“Oh god, Ice baby what happend?”
“Uhm, well she told me that Evan the new baby? He’s a savior baby, born specifically to donate cells to Danny.”
He could hear Pete’s shock and the anger from the omega radiate over the phone. “What?!” He yelled, “that’s bullshit! How can someone have a baby only for cells!”
“I dunno, I kind of bet it. None of them were a match for Danny. So they did what made sense to them.”
“Yeah well that’s still stupid.” Mav fumed and in the background Ice could hear a very sleepy sick sounding Carole yelling “Mav shut up!” Before the man in questions voice came softer as he apologized to the woman.
“Was that Carole?”
Mav hummed softly explained that’s “she’d gotten another spell this morning. Brads asleep in his room here and she’s crashing in the guest room. Might sleep in there with her to keep an eye on her.”
“Oh that sucks. How have her treatments been going?”
“I went to the one last week. It seemed like everything was going well. I don’t get how it changed so quickly.” Mav fretted over his best friend.
“Things like that happen, listen I’ll be home late tomorrow, and we can tell eachother everything and for the rest of our leave we can work together to keep an eye on Carole yeah?”
“Yeah that would be great thank you. But I’ve got to know now what else happens with you sister?”
“Well I asked her what was going to happen if treatments failed and she said they wouldn’t fail.” His tone turned grim as he spoke, regret ringing his words. “After that I told her it was delusional to not consider all the possible outcomes and she kicked me out for refusing to accept that Evan was born for one purpose.”
“Oh Tommy I’m sorry baby” Pete coed down the line calming him.
“I know. It gets worse though.” He braced for impacts.
Pete sighed knowing his own Kazansky everything could always change and be assumed his mate's sister was just like him which made sense. So he simply said “of course it does” sarcastically before genuinely asking“how so? What happened?"
“At the door I told her I love her and she didn’t respond so I told her to tell Dan and Mads thag I love them too. And she said Fine in a bichy way. When asking if I’ll see them soon she said no. Because “i forfeit my role as their uncle” and can never hear from her or their kids again.”
“Well good riddance to the Buckley. I’ve never been a fan of your brother in law and Margret’s never been around for me to meet but she seems like a bitch.” He laughed softly. “But still I’m sorry to hear that. I can’t imagine how hard this must be for you.”
“Very,” he hummed softly. “Though talking to you helps.”
Mav quipped back “glad to be of service” and Ice could hear the cheeky grin his mate wore over the phone.
After a long pause to process everything Mav’s voice was back on Ice’s ear “I hope you told her that we’d still be there if she or her kids need us for anything. Ever.”
“I did. I’m glad we’re on the same page with this.”
“Well we do so much for Carole and Bradley. It’s only right to help Margret and the kids whenever we can if they choose to come to us.”
“Shhhh” Carole whined again closer this time. Coughing lightly as the recover clearly switched hands. “Hey Ice?”
“Yes Carole, hi. How are you feeling?”
“Like I’m about to fall asleep on you couch and you and your mates chatting is keeping me up.” She audibly rolled her eyes.
“Sorry Carole” he chuckled softly. “We’ll wrap it up soon and you can have your wicked ways with our Mav then alright?”
“Good, you boys better be done soon.” She sounded like she was trying to be intimidating but her poor sickly voice made it fall flat.
“We will Carole, don’t worry.” He chuckled softly. “Head to bed and Mav will be there soon. Feel better in the morning.” He hoped for her.
“Thanks Ice, I’ll see you soonish yeah?” She asked.
“Yeah late tomorrow of your still up when I get home. Or Sunday morning?” He hummed softly.
“Okay, that’s earlier than expected. Have fun. Goodnight ice” she said then handed the phone back but could still be heard saying her goodnight to Mav.
“You promised her I’d be there soon?” He asked softly.
“Yeah, can’t let our leading lady go on too long without you,” he laughed.
“Yeah I s’pose so. I should check on Brad soon anyway,”
He hummed softly. “But I don’t want to stop talking.”
“Call me while you make breakfast tomorrow?” Ice suggested.
Please! And then I’ll see you not long after that!” Mav smiled excitedly.
Which got Ice to smiled even wider. “Yes I’ll be home soon. I love you Mav. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight Ice. Love you too.”
They hung up from there and ice went to bed feeling better about his day than he had before.
/ - - \
August 10th 2007
Years down the line, what’s they’d always said when thinking of the Buckley’s, their open door policy came true.
Maverick was deployed, in charge of his own squad as Iceman was on base in his office, talking to the retired commander Metcalf. Aka his father in law. When Slider burst through the door.
“Ice do you have a secret 16 year old out there somewhere?” He joked.
“What?” Ice responded dumbfounded. What was Slider taking about? The man knew Ice and Mav’s only kids were the 25 year old Bradley who’d just graduated the academic and a 15 year old Bob who was at a post season Volleyball match.
“Cause there’s a kid who looks damn near identical to you, except his birthmark, out there asking for you,” Slider explained after a second of watching the gears in his friends head turn. “Oh hey dad! What are you doing here?” He asked once noticing Viper in the office too.
“I was just talking to Ice, he’s taking on another class and he’s up for a possible promotion, besides where else can I see my family huh?”
“Well the rest of the kids can be found across San Diego, but your navy kiddos and grandkids can be found right here.”
“Exactly.” Viper smirked laughing at his kid.
“Sorry Sli, you said birthmark? What’d it look like?”
Slider shrugged, his eyes rolling off toward the right as he thought. “Uhm, I don’t know? Just a little thing it was on his eyelid and across his eyebrow. Just a small couple reddish pink blobs?”
“Okay, he’s where?”
“Jake brought him from the gates to the main building. Should still be there too,” he hummed, referring to Hollywood and Wolfman's kid who was joining up next year. Once he gets his Gen Eds done.
“Thanks Sli, I’ll go find them,” Ice stood and walked towards the door patting both his in-laws shoulders as he left. “See you guys soon.”
“Your welcome!” Slider yelled after ice. Turning back to his dad. “So Dad, what are Pops and Momma up to now that yall are empty nesters? Again?” He asks.
“That won’t last long. Dan and his kids just moved out Sam will be back soon. Hopefully with kids of her own, and not staying long term.” He rolled his eyes softly.
They walked out of the office together walking casually towards the front doors to watch Ice interact with his younger duplicate.
They got there’s in time to watch Ice round the corner coming the opposite direction they did for whatever reason. Probably taking the long way to gather his wild thoughts if the way he ran out of his office told them anything.
“Hey Jake, thanks for sticking with him.” Ice smiled pressing a comforting hand onto the boys shoulder.
“Of course, kid looks like he needs the company.” The kid in question responded, then he looked towards the younger boy saying “Remember to hit me up whenever you need a friend.”
“Thanks Jake” the 16 year old smiled.
“Bye you guys.” Jake excused himself walking towards Slider and Viper where they stood by the desk. “So your both here too?” He laughed softly.
“Yeah. Now spill what the hell is going on over there?” Slider demanded.
“Looks like a tearful reunion to me.” Jake sassed. “The kids supposedly Ice’s nephew. Now shut up.”
Case in point after staring at each other for a few moments the teenager asked “uncle Iceman?”
And Ice nodded, calling the kid “Evan,” before asking “what the hell are you doing here. Shouldn’t you be at home with your family?”
At the kid broke down in tears. “I’m so glad I found you.” He cried to his uncle. “They suck. I haven’t been "home all summer.” He said. The air quotes emphasizing whatever he was feeling.
“Oh kid, what happened?”
“I don’t wanna talk about it. Jus’ Mads always told me to find you if I needed anything she couldn't provide.” Be sniffed pathetically. Pretending to not be fazed by her recent wedding and his loosing her to a douchebag. Or the fact his parents never reported him missing. He even stayed in Hershey long enough for it to hit the news if they had.
“Of course buddy, here Ev let’s go to my office? I just need to know some details before we can do anything and with how upset you are? It may be best do privately.”
“Thanks Ice.”
“Of course Evan. Come on kiddo.”
They walked past the trio, ices arm over his nephews shoulder. The kid almost as tall as iceman already.
“So that just happend.” Slider laughed.
“At least we can say we met one of Ice’s nephews that’s not from the fly boy pack?” Jake hummed softly.
“Hear hear,” Viper laughed. “C’mon let’s get you guys home. Jake your mom must be worried your here so late.”
“I actually came to pick Dad up, he always works late. He shoulda gone into commercial air flights when Mom did.” Jake groaned walking away towards Hollywoods office knowing the commander and current TopGun instructor was probably working through a stack of new recruits for next years classes.
Back in Ice’s office Evan told him everything he knew, “I found out about Daniel. How I was just his savior. Mom and Dad didn’t want me. When Danny died Maddie became my parents a big responsibility for a 9 year old.”
“Very”
“And I kept getting hurt and all it did was stress them out cause they still treated me like my cells were more important that I was. I had enough and begged Maddie to run from her abusive husband. Let me take her away from Hershey with her.”
“She’s not here so I’m guessing it didn’t go that far huh?”Ice shrugged reaching a hand across the table for his nephew to grab.
“No, she stayed. Told me to send letters and postcards to her at the hospital where she works. And gave me the Jeep. That’s how I got here. In her Jeep.”
“Yeah, that’s it out there isn’t? We’ve got one just like it but in the brightest blue you could ever see. It’s out son Bradley’s.” Ice hummed:
“You have a son? I knew you were mated but bit that you’ve got a son.” Evan grimaced slightly embarrassed to admit that.
“Yeah we’ve got 2. Both came along after your mother cut me off for trying to make her consider why would happen if your brother died.”
“She never did until it happened. I was too young to remember though.”
“Yeah. You were what 2 years old?”
“Somewhere around there? How old are you kids?”
“Our eldest is 25, Mav’s godson actually but we adopted him when he was 10. And our youngest Bob is 15.”
“Oh, that’s cool. So your open to adoption?”
“Yeah? Why?”
“If I asked would you and Mav adopt me?” Evan asked eyes alight with a newly kindled hope.
Ice winced ever so slightly, trying to hide it from his nephew. It was a big thing to do. But he was sure if the boy needed it they’d take him in, in a heartbeat. “Y’know Evan. Mav’s actually deployed right now, so I’m not sure what he’d say. But I bet you we could at least take you in for now, support you until you go off to college if we can’t adopt you.” He smiled softly. “But what would your parents say?”
Evan grimaced now. “Good riddance probably? They didn’t want me, and they haven’t loved me a day in my life.you know I stayed in Hershey for 2 week after I left their house. Was couch surfing at a couple friends places. Figured I’d run away but stay close, just to see what’s they do.” His voice got angrier as he spoke. “You know what happened uncle ice? Nothing, absolutely nothing. They didn’t care they’re omega son was roaming the streets god know where’s. They didn’t call any of my friends houses, didn’t ask Maddie if I was with her and Doug. Didn’t call the cops to issue a missing persons report. I didn’t once see them in the parks calling my name. They acted like nothing was wrong.” The boy ranted.
Iceman? Well his heart shattered as all the anger gave way into a hurt little boy who just needed a good parental figure, somehow to hold him as he cried, and feed him when he’s sick. Sing him lullabies when he can’t sleep. Someone once for him. He made up his mind.
“Okay, I’ll call Mav, you're staying right here in San Diego. This can be your home now. Mav can be mad at me for not talking to him first but you need a home, so welcome to ours.”
Evan whopped his head around to meet his uncles eyes, tears threatening to fall. “Really?” He asked hope in his eyes and voice.
“Of course,” Ice said. “We’ll take care of you kiddo. You don’t have to live on the streets or go couch surfing, you can have a home right here with us.” He stood as he spoke, a hand landing in the teens shoulder as the hit started to shake.
“Thank you,” the omega cried fpeaning into the touch and eventually tear fell as he fell face first into his uncles chest as he threw his arms around the man’s neck in a tight hug. The man returned the hug. Resting his chin on the blonde hair beneath it and rubbing soothing circles into his nephews back as he cried.
“Nowbow? Don’t cry yourself to sleep yet, we’ve still gotta get you back to you be house, meet your cousin.”
“Thag one was singular! What’s thag mean?”
“Bradley also joined the navy and is in his first deployment since graduating flight school, he won’t be home for a while. You cousin Bob will be home in 2ish hours and uncle Mav will be there in about 3 weeks.”
“Oh okay, that’s alright. Are you sure I can stay with you? I don’t want to intrude on anything.”
“Of course I’m sure. Your my nephew for gods sake. It would be cruel to leave you out on your ass in the streets.”
“Thank you.” The 16 year old cried once more. Hugging just a bit tighter before pulling away to wipe his tears. “Alright. Okay, I’m okay! Let’s go!” He smiled happily and the pair walked to the lot together. Climbing into separate cars before Evan followed his uncle home.
/ - - \
Which is how 3 weeks later Mav got home to a house full of laughter and 3 distinct voices. He didn’t recognize one but assumed it had to be Evan after the few phone calls he’d had with his Mare in the 3 weeks the teen had been here.
“Bobby stop! Oh my god that tickles stop!” Evan yelled as Bob harrassed his cousin while Ice cooked.
“Kids, take it out back! Stop making a mess of the kitchen.” Ice scolded lightly. “Jesus you got flour everywhere.” He sighed after both kids apologized and hurried out the kitchen door to the yard. Where the continued their roughhousing.
“Looks like he’s settling in well huh?” Mav asked as he shucked off his shoes and walked towards the windows to watch the kids.
“Mav! Your home,” his mate smiled. “Hi baby,”
“Hi ice! How have things been?” Mav smiled turned as he felt a hand come to his side.
“Good, great even. Better with you home and will be the best when Bradley gets back.”
“I’m glad,” Mav pressed a chaste kiss to Ices lips. “I’ve missed you boys.”
“We’ve missed you too,” Ice smiled pressing his forehead against Mav’s. They stood like that for a few minutes before Ice went back to the stove top to finish cooking and Mav went upstairs to put away his deployment bag and take a quick shower.
He could hear teenaged laughter once more as he got out of the shower and put on comfy clothes. Which happened to be a pair of loose sweats and one of Ice’s old shirts. Then he went downstairs and finally met this nephew he’d heard all about.
“Mom!” Bob exclaimed when he saw the man coming downstairs. The 15 year old jumped off the couch where he lounged with Evan and bounced on his toes waiting to hug his mom again after he was gone for a few months.
“Mom?” Evan asked, slowly standing to follow Bob over towards the stairs.
Both kids were engulfed in a hug as Mav reached them. “Hi Bobby, Evan, it’s nice to finally meet you.” Mav smiled and whispered between the boys ears before drawing back to get a good luck and both kids.
“Wow, you look just like your uncle Ice.” he laughed after a moment. “This is different” he gestured to the birthmark and the mop of curls the kid had.
“The only buckley thing this kids has in him, those curls.” Ice agreed ruffling his nephews hair as he passed the trio on his way to grab something. “The tables set whenever we’re ready” he threw over his shoulder.
“Thanks Ice!” Mav called out to him, “shall we?” he asked the teens.
“Sure,” Bob smiled excitedly, running off towards the table.
“So Evan, you’re settling in here alright? They’re not too chaotic for you are they?”
“No, I love it here. Feels more like home than my parents home did. So you're Maverick?”
“Yes I am and I’m glad you like it here,” Mav smiled almost dawdling as he walked with Evan towards the kitchen.
“Me too. It’s nice to officially meet you too by the way,” Evan hummed softly, before continuing. “ Thanks for letting me stay.” He smiled.
Mav stopped him, putting a hand gently on the teens elbow, he made eye contact making sure the kid listened to him, “Listen kid, it really isn’t a problem. I would’ve let you stay no matter how much you needed it. Even if you hadn’t run away you would still have a home here.” he said. “Okay? There's no thanking me for letting you stay. I’m happy to have you here for as long as you need a home. I hope this does become your home soon.”
“Oh,” Evan’s voice cracked. “Thank you,” he smiled softly, looking away as he nodded and processed everything the man had just said. “Sorry, i don’t wanna cry on another uncle minutes after meeting him,” the teen laughed despite the wetness in his voice.
“Oh kid, it’s okay. Cry as much as you need.” Mav moved his hand from the kids elbow to his back, rubbing soothing circles into his back. “Come on kiddo let’s grt you fed then we can have a comfy movie night on the couch all four of us yeah?”
“Yeah, that sounds great.” Evan agreed, carefully drying his tears and joining his uncle and cousin at the table.
They spent that night eating and talking. A few movies on in the background as they laughed and cried at different stories they were telling each other. Only stopping their night when Bob had long gone to bed and Evan was nodding off where he was half laying in both of his uncles laps. Ice carried him up to the room that’s slowly been turning into Evans and Mav stood at the door, watching the scene with a soft smile on his face. Both men treating the teen like he was their own as they tucked him in and pressed soft kisses to his forehead before walking out of the room. Popping next door to Bob's room and repeating the whole process before they went to their own room.
Chapter 4: the holiday special
Summary:
Idk... baking cookies, doing last minute decorating, strange family dynamics but they're all happy
Chapter Text
December 22nd 2008
It was 7am and the whole house was silent, we’ll mostly. There were still sounds like that of most of the family sleeping. Ice and Mav sound asleep upstairs, their snores heard from the kitchen. Down the hall from them was the sound of Bob tumbling out of bed. Heading to the bathroom before returning to bed not long after. On; 3 people were even downstairs at this time on the first day of winter break, only two of which were awake. Bradley crashed on the couch, tossing and turning, not used to his bed not swaying in the ocean after being deployed for most of the last year. But yet he remained fast asleep.
In the kitchen there was some slight noise,like the scrap of the highchair as an exhausted Evan dragged it over to the table with his foot. Both hands supporting his kid as the baby squirmed around in his hold. The 8th month old babbling incoherently. Evan set him down gently, and started his bottle, grabbing some soft foods for Chris to eat while his bottle warmed.
“You happy buddy?” Evan asked his son, ready to head back to bed. “You had to keep your schedule huh? Couldn't let momma sleep in?” He hummed with a slight, self-depricating, laugh.
Chris made a noise that honestly sounded smug. He knew exactly what he was doing waking up at 6:30 am despite it now being winter break and they were all jist ready to enjoy their time off.
He made himself some breakfast while he was up getting started on coffee for the adults and sneaking a mug for himself and settling at the kitchen table with the boy. Both enjoying their peaceful early morning.
A while later he was reading to Chris, saying “Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” and pointing out the different things on the page. A contradiction to their own house slowly coming to life as Ice came down stairs getting himself a mug full of coffee. While Mav whined about how early his husband always got up even when they didn’t work. But then Mav was up and moving too, the water turning on with the distinctive sound of a shower starting.
“Morning, your both up early” ice smiled ruffled Evan’s hair and pressing a kiss to his grandson’s.
“Mornin’ Dad!” Evan smiled. “My boy’s got a routine don’t you buddy?”
Chris just kept up his incoherent happy chirping and laughter as he pointed at the book. Which Ice plucked out of Evan’s hands, sending him back to bed for a while.
“Alright alright, Thank Deda for reading and letting Momma sleep some more,” he smiled at Chris knowing fully well that there was no way chris processed any of that nor would he be able to say it not yet.
/ - - \
About an hour later Evan was waking back up to the sounds of laughter echoing throughout the house and music on every speaker they could play it on, just a tad quieter than his family was.
He could hear Bradley laughing and saying nonsense as he played with Chris. Evan crawled out of bed careful not to make a sound, trying to go unnoticed as he restarted his morning, heading to the bathroom but pausing by the stairs to listen in on the conversation. Ice and Bob talking back and forth, Mav interjecting here and there as he puttered around the kitchen making breakfast. Bradley only interjected to say something once, otherwise he was in his own separate world. One with just the baby as they played in the living room.
He hummed happily, still wanting to go back to bed, but less so than this morning when it was just him and Chris at the table. In the mirror he took a deep breath, collecting all he thoughts before heading back downstairs and joining his family in their day,
Eating breakfast in their pj’s and giving chris another bottle that he was unlikely to ebay but took slowly.
It was calm and collected, a perfect start to their morning. That was honestly quite quickly turned into chaos as they each got assigned different roles. Evan would take it easy, mostly be going around the house checking in on all the other things happening as the did their last minute preparations. AKA he would watch christmas movies with Chris and every 20 minutes be yelled at to lend a hand in whatever was needed. Bob would be wrapping gifts, for everyone but himself as Mav wrapped Bob's gifts separately a few nights ago. Bradley would help Ice set up any decorations they’d missed and lug around all the different decoration boxes all day. Mac would be in the kitchen baking his mothers, and Carole’s cookies. Doing whatever meal prep he could in between mixing, and batches going in and out of the oven.
So he picked a Rankin/Bass classic to start with. Bouncing his baby up and down, and laughing at Bradley as he’d wanted the do nothing job.
When that was over he put on White Christmas with Bing Crosby on and it felt like his childhood once more. He was happy to show this to Chris. He wondered distantly what was happening across the country with Eddie and his family today, knowing they were going to make plans to get together for their babies first christmas but he pushed that out of his head as quickly as it came.
They continued like that until about 11 when Chris fell asleep and Evan started his first official rotation. Getting roped into baking with Mav on his first stop through the house, but he found he quite enjoyed it.
“How’s it going?” Mav asked once they were settled into the dou baking thing.
“Pretty good. Hey, how many of these are we making?”
Mav’s laughter was all he needed in response" A lot,” The man said anyway.
“Enough to feed a small army?”
“Enough to feed the flyboys, and their families, oh and yours.”
“Mine?”
“Well yeah, you and Eddie were gonna get together to celebrate Chris’s first Christmas together yeah?”
“Maybe? Nothing ever got set in stone.” he rubbed his neck awkwardly, leaving a smear of batter itching for a while after.
Mav shrugged, wiping the batter off with a towel for the boy and smiling smugly. “Don’t be so sure about that.”
“Wjat did you do?”
“Not me,” he nodded in the direction of his mate voice.
“Oh” was all Evan said in response. Staring at his uncle as went back to mixing dough together and forming it into little balls for Mav to put on the trays and bake.
In the living room Chris was sleeping soundly in his little playpen, while Ice and Bradley argued over the small Christmas village set up, they’d gotten from Ice's mother and always set up in a different fashion. Both men agreed it should be high up, out of Chris’s reach, but couldn’t agree on where, or how it should look. Trying to keep quiet as they kept fighting over it, their family snickering over the stupidity of it all. Eventually they also succumbed to laughter and had to move on leaving the village in their boxes on the table. Setting out the rest of the stuff they’d inherited, and collected, over the years.
Bob wasn't heard from for most of the day. He came down once to get lynch and a few times to refill his water or get a juice from the fridge. But he was working on the gifts and was perfectly content to do it by himself and when he wasn’t he bright Chirs upstairs with him. Letting to baby play with the cardboard tubes, and the excess paper that was too small to wrap anything else in but to bug for the baby to choke on. They listened to music all day and were happy laying on the floor together when Bob took breaks from his wrapping to play with Chris.
Despite being sure he told at least Ice he was taking the baby with him nobody’d known he was just upstairs when it came time for Evan to get him another bottle and try some more food for lunch. Which meant he got it all ready and set up the dining room table with the babies stuff and went to grab him from the playpen and the kid was missing. Which sent him into panic mode, not being able to find his kid and no one seeming to know where he’d gone got his rattled brain to think of all the worst case scenarios. His instincts went crazy, the internal war drawing him towards sitting on the stairs to calm himself before he let himself fall to the PPD sayings of having failed.
While sitting on the stairs he heard Bob talking to himself. But there was a following baby babble and laughter from both parts and he had to force his mind to shut up as he slowly and shakily stood.taking the steps 2 at a time to get to the doorway where he saw Bob laying on the floor and Chris sitting beside him Both holding wrapping paper and a separate tube. Bob was blowing into his tube to make funny noises at the baby while Chris just hit Bib with the tube and crinkled the paper around to make noise on his own.
“Oh my god” he exhaled relived, and the following laughter was half at the sight and half at himself for falling into that state.
Bob apolgized knowing how his brother often was, especially when it came to the baby and went with Evan to feed Chris. Who just kept on babbling happily. No care in the world, he also kept trying to steal cookies from Mav anytime they would cross paths. Either when MAv would bag up a cooled batch of cookies, or when he would drop a new batch onto the tables. Or they'd walk intot he kitchen to get some more puree’s and Chris would make grabby hands at his Oma and give the biggest puppy dog eyes at the man before the omega would just tsk and scoop his grandson out of his mothers arms. Dancing hima round the kitchen before returning him to his mom for the rest of his lunch.
Dancing around the kitchen became the norm. Anytime anyone would be in the kitchen Evan and Mav would be moving around in a complicated dance, to get the different cookie doughs made and ready to go. Washing various silverwares as they went and all the while both omegas constantly coming over to check on Chirs in his little bouncer seat. Set up so he could be out of the way yet still see both men, and the little TV they kept tucked away in a corner playing Christmas movies and old cartoon reruns. So when Bob would come in he’d get wrapped up int he dance, Ice wouldn’t come in and would just stand at the door watching the trio until one of them noticed him. Usually his mate or Chris, Evan so in the zone he really only notices his own kid. Once noticed he’d come in or just ask for whatever he wanted and that would be that. Bradley however would get stuck. He’d walk in with out a problem get distracted watching TV or playing with Chris. Then he’d finally turn to leave and standing there would be Mav or Evan, a fresh pan of cookies in their hands as the walked them to the dinning room table with a bag underarm to collect the cooled ones. And if it wasn’t that way, one of them would be taking as he was walking out but he couldn't just leave in the middle of a sentence if they needed or asked anything.
/ - - \
Finally it was 4pm, the presents were all wrapped which meant Bob had taken over the couch, Chris using him like a jungle jim not that Bob minded. A Christmas movie on as Bradley came back to the living room from the kitchen 3 waters with him. Handing one to his brother who thanked him and once to Ice who smiled as he cracked it open. THen Bradley collapsed on the couch beside his brother. The alphas admired their hard work to finish setting up. Surprised by how long it took to do so despite their knowledge of previous years taking about the same time.
The whole house smelled of sugar and vanilla, a random hints pf cinnamon as the last batch of cookie were put in t he oven, while the second to last bath was put ou to cool. Each baggie was labeled with the type of cookie and how many. Half being dshovedf int the fridge, some being put out, while some were hddem away so they could sewend them home with their fa,ilys on christmas after their annual flybpy pack christmas party. Mav went to join the rest of their family on the couch. Crawling up into the armrest and leaning into Ice. Letting the man pull him into his lap and their grandson slowly crawling over both of his uncles to get their atteron.
Leaving Evan stuck in the dinning room labeling the last of the bags and hiding them away, or putting them in the fridge. Eating one of the cookies right then before he zipped up the bag and put it in a cupboard to find after christmas was over. Which also meant he was the onl one still on his feet when the doorbell rang. So despite being the farthest away he answered the door and boy was he glad he had.
“Hey Ev,” Eddie smiled as the door opened on him.
“Hi,” Evan practically whispered he was so shocked. Then suddenly, “Come in, did you bring Pepa?”
“Yeah she’s getting her bag of goodies form the car.” he smiled.
Evan smiled back, “Here you remember my uncles, Mav and Ice? Then theres Bob, and I don’t think you’ve mmet Bradley before. He just got back form depolymeny of wednesday.”
“Oh, yes it’s nice to see you all again. aNd meet you Bradley.” Eddie waved and watched his tia carry a bag into the house.
“Evancito! She cheered when she could. “ hi mijo. Where’s the boy of yours?”
“Right here tia,” Evan grabbed Chris from Mav’s lap, the way he’d been plucked out of his own arms multiple times that day. Exchanging him to the woman for a small second as she held him and pressed a soft kiss to the side of his head. Handign him back after a moments.
“These, are for your family. Thanks for letting us be here.” She said showing them the huge bag a sweets.
“They’re buñuelos,” Eddie explained. “She spent most of Thursday making them.”
“Your house smells good,” she hummed absentmindedly.
“Yeah, those two.” bob gestured at Mav and Evan” spent most of today baking cookies.”
Which reminded Evan to double check the batch currently in the oven.
“Be right back, gotta check on that last batch!” he exclaimed as he hurried to the kitchen. His son coming with him, and being given the smallest tiny taste of the leftover dough they’d yet to clean out of the bowls from their baking. Chris made a happy sound, liking the food and Evan laughed softly as he peered at the oven timer and through the oven window to see how they were doing.
“Can you believe this? Evan Buckley, a family man.” Eddie laughed from the kitchen doorway. “When we first met you wanted nothing to do with family anymore. Just a warm place to crash each night.”
Evan turned, showing the baby on his hip off a bit. “Now look at us.” He smiled despite himself laughing as Eddie walked into the kitchen and wrapped an arm around both Chirs and Evan.
“Us last year would be shocked, us two years ago? No way they’d believe it.’
“You got that bit right.” Evan smiled along. Knowing himself 2 years ago didn;t know he was a savoir baby yet, was still being reckless to get his parents attuned. Had his big sister there even if she was engaged to a douchebag she hadn’t left yet. Then last year he felt utterly alone despite being taken in by the best family ever. He didn't have his parents, or his sister,didn't have the man he had a fling with and got pregnant by with him. Wasn’t even sure if he and Eddie were still friends with their lack of communication that wasn’t just a hey and a random question up till Chris was born, in may.
In the here and now, Tia Pepa was sitting in the living room, laughing with the people who’d been better parents in a year than the Buckleys had been his whole life, the brothers he always wanted but never had. He was just missing his sister. But they held out hope she’d be there soon. Eddie was in the kitchen with him humming softly as they talked and waited for the cookies to be done. Chris making grabby hands for his dad and getting both parents to laugh softly. Soon they were walking back out to the living room, a tray of cookies in Evan’s hands and Chris squirming around in Eddie’s.
Hours passed like that; the whole family in the living room. The TV playing various Christmas movies, their pile of dvd boxes growing with every new movie they put in. Dinnertime came and went, none of them eating on time except for Chris, who kept his schedule. Everyone else ate whenever they got hungry. Their whole night went pretty well for the first day of break.
Eventually Chris had fallen asleep in Eddie’s lap and the teen looked to Evan helplessly not sure what to do. Evan just smiled at him as the adults behind them laughed softly. Remembering but not missing the days where they were that clueless to babies and all the things that come with them. Hoping the boy’s taking care of their nephew would help them down the line if they ever have kids. Evan took pity and led Eddie upstairs to put Chris to bed. Returning a while later to the rest of the family laughing and talking about their Christmas plans. The rest of the pack coming over on Monday, and finally get to meet their great-nephew's dad. They talked until they all started to crash and went to bed. Eddie followed Evan up to his room, crashing in there, Tia Pepa taking the guest room and Bradley actually going to his own room, for the night. Everyone going to bed happy, and excited for the rest of their breaks.