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Buck loved the first day back after a 72 off. Sure time off was always nice but he loved being a firefighter. It was who he was. He loved his team too. The 118 had easily taken over his life when he first started and all these years later their team was closer than ever.
He was happy.
Mostly.
He has his moments though when he aches for more.
Something just for him.
A love.
A family of his own to share with the family their ever growing family.
“E-excuse me?” A little voice calls out from below the loft. Buck shuffles down the stairs quickly by himself since most of the team were on a medical call.
Buck finds a little girl with wide brown eyes looking up at him when he rounds the engine.
“Hello,” Buck says sweetly as he smiles down at her.
“H-hi,” the little girl shuffles her feet nervously, not really looking at him.
The little girl has got to be around six, maybe seven years old. She is probably one of the cutest kids Buck has ever laid eyes on too and it makes his heart clench for some reason.
“Do you need help?” Buck asks gently as he crouches in front of the girl. She gasps as her eyes land on his birthmark.
“A-are you a fireman?” The little girl’s lower lip wobbles.
“I am. Are you lost?” She ignores his question.
“You’re a fireman and you have a pink birthmark on your face.” The little girl says absentmindedly as she reaches out towards his birthmark but stops herself before she makes contact with his skin.
“Sweetheart, do you have an adult I can call for you?” Buck feels suddenly anxious.
“I live with my Abuela,” she tells him.
“Okay let's call her then.”
“No!” The girl shouts nervously. “No I-I came to talk to you.”
“To me?” Buck tilts his head.
“You’re the fireman with the pink birthmark on his face.”
“Okayy..that doesn’t-” Buck is cut off by the sound of the team about to roll in. “Let’s go upstairs, okay?”
The little girl follows Buck as he walks up the stairs. She stays close to him as they go but he doesn’t really think anything of it.
“Are you married?” The little girl asks as they get to the top of the stairs. Buck looks down at her.
“Uhh..no. I’m not. Can you tell me your name, Sweetheart?” Buck asks, immediately taking out his phone to text Athena.
“My name is Evie Jane Martinez but Abuela calls me Janie.”
“What would you like me to call you?” Buck shuffles the two of them over towards the couch.
“I like Evie.”
“Okay Evie,” Buck smiles as he sits next to her. “What do you need to talk to me about?”
“Well-” Evie fidgets with her hands. “-my mom died last year.” Buck’s heart sinks for this little girl in front of him.
“I’m so sorry Evie, that’s awful.”
“I was already living with Abuela but I’m still sad. Mom didn’t see me very much but I still always loved her a lot.”
“Of course you loved her. I’m sure she loved you very much.” Buck reassures the girl.
“Abuela gave me lots of her stuff.” The little girl pulls something out of her pocket and unfolds it to hand it to Buck. “That’s how I found you.”
Buck looks down at a picture of him and Hen up against the 118 engine that’s obviously been cut out of a newspaper and folded and unfolded several times. Buck looks back at Evie.
“Why did you want to find me, Evie?” Buck can feel himself begin to sweat.
“Aw who’s this?” Eddie says sweetly as he gets to the top of the stairs and sees the two of them. He moves towards them. Buck glances at Eddie with wide eyes before he looks back at the girl in front of him. Evie hasn’t taken her eyes off of him for even a second.
“You’re my dad.” Evie announces, her voice a little shaky. Eddie freezes, his eyes going wide as he looks at the girl. Buck keeps his eyes steady on Evie.
“You’re sure?” He asks her nervously. She nods her head.
“Mom told me about the birthmark and that you’re a firefighter. I couldn’t tell in the picture if you had the birthmark but it had the number of the firehouse so I just thought I would start here.” Buck can barely even register her words let alone how smart she must be to have found him all on her own.
“Oh my god.” Buck says softly before he looks up to find Eddie still rooted to the floor.
“What’s going on?” Hen asks as she, Chim, and Ravi step up into the loft to see the three of them.
Buck looks back at his daughter.
His daughter.
His daughter whose eyes are swimming with tears.
“Oh baby,” Buck’s eyes well up with tears and Evie throws herself at him as soon as the words leave his lips, and cries. Buck holds her tight as his eyes close. He can feel his tears running down his face as Evie’s soak his shirt.
He knows this is his daughter. He can feel it in his very being.
“Please don’t make me go back to Abuela,” Evie’s little body trembles as she sobs. “Please just be my dad. Please don't make me go back to her.” Buck’s eyes snap open and he immediately finds Eddie, who moves closer to them.
“Call Athena,” Buck says firmly. “Now.”
Buck stands up, keeping Evie in his arms as she clings to him. He doesn’t even think about putting her down, he just rubs her back as he paces around the loft avoiding everyone's worried glances.
Evie falls asleep as soon as her cries die down and even when she's fast asleep Buck still holds her close. Her head is tucked into his neck and he can feel where her tears are drying on his shirt. His mind races a million miles an hour but the only thing his brain keeps coming back is how he has no idea what he will do if this little girl isn’t his.
“Buck,” Eddie says softly, rooting Buck to the floor for a moment before he turns to face Eddie. He has no idea how long he’s been pacing but judging on the worry on Eddie’s face it’s been a while. “Thena is here.”
“C-can you just bring her up here?” Buck tightens his hold on Evie. “Please.”
Eddie shuffles away quickly and Buck takes a moment to breathe before he sits back on the couch. He adjusts Evie into his lap so he doesn't squish her legs when he leans back. She curls into him and grips his shirt in her little hand as her eyes flutter open a bit. He feels her stiffen a bit so he rubs her back gently.
“It’s just me.” Buck tells her softly. “I’ve got you.”
“Are you going to be my dad now?” Evie’s voice comes out rough.
“I’m going to do everything I can to be.” Buck tells her, because he knows he will do that. He will do everything he possibly can. He just hopes with all his might that she’s really his so this won’t be so impossible.
When Athena comes up to the loft Eddie sits next to Buck, intertwinging their hands unconsciously as Athena sits on the table in front of the couch. She smiles at Evie.
“Hi honey.” Athena says warmly. “How are you?” Evie just shrugs and leans more into Buck.
“Evie, this is Athena.” Buck tells Evie. “She’s a police officer but she’s also-”
“-I’m also basically his Mama.” Athena finishes for him as she gives the girl a grin.
“She’s your Mom?” Evie looks at Buck, suspiciously.
“She loves me like a Mom, and I love her like a son.” Buck tells her. “I have biological parents but we don’t really talk too much.”
“So she will be my grandma?” Evie asks. Buck looks at Athena with wide eyes.
“Evie, sweetie, we have to make sure that Buck is allowed to keep you so he doesn’t..get into trouble. People could think he took you.” Athena keeps her tone soft.
“But I found him!” Evie defends. “He’s my dad!”
“I just want to make sure he’s your dad, baby. That way no one can take you from him when he gets to have you.”
“How long will that all take, Thena?”
“Eddie filled me in enough that I made some calls,” Athena explains. “Since your sister and Chim have a fostering license still I worked it so that she can stay with them while we straighten things out..”
“Why do I feel like there’s more?”
“We have to prove the grandmother unfit first.”
Buck looks at Evie who instantly looks up at him. He gives her a sad smile.
“Evie, baby.” Buck says softly. “You have to tell us why you don’t want to be with your Abuela.”
Evie's whole body tenses and she instantly looks down at her hands. Buck and Athena share a worried look before looking back at the girl.
“I’m not supposed to tell.” Evie says softly.
“You can tell me anything, Evie.” Buck tells her.
Evie looks up at the ceiling as her eyes water then she looks at her Dad.
“O-okay.”
When Evie is done talking to Athena, Buck feels like he’s going to blow a gasket while also feeling like he’s going to be sick. Evie’s Abuela sounds like a woman whose life has turned her cold.
The little girl explained that at first her Abuela was nice and it was nice to be somewhere where she had her own room. She never had her own room with her Mom and she thought it was going to be so much better to be there. Then her Abuela got mean and started to lock her in her room all of the time. After that Evie didn’t really want to be there anymore but then her mom died and everything got worse.
With her mother no longer checking in and stopping by randomly, Evie’s Abuela started locking her up all the time and sometimes she didn’t even feed her for days.
Hearing his daughter talking about being so hungry it hurts is what makes Buck want to be sick all over himself. He tries to hide his wet eyes from her but she sees them a few times. She keeps herself tucked into his side during the whole process and Buck isn’t sure how he will ever let her out of his sight ever again.
Maddie shows up to the firehouse as soon as she gets off shift. Buck isn’t sure who called her but he’s even more grateful for his family during the whole ordeal. Especially when they have to relocate to the hospital to draw blood and Eddie is still on shift so he has to stay put.
Evie sits nervously at Buck’s side in the waiting room with Maddie as Athena makes a ton of calls.
“Evie sweetie do you want a snack or something?” Maddie asks. Evie shakes her head and pushes more into Buck.
“I just want to stay with my Dad.” Evie’s eyes fill with tears again.
“You’re gonna be able to do that.” Athena states as she steps back up to them. “I just got off the phone and my friends spoke with your Abuela.”
“I don’t have to go back?” Evie asks Athena, her eyes going wide.
“Nope. You can stay here with your dad.” Athena assures. Buck looks at her nervously.
“Really?”
“You’re on her birth certificate.” Athena tells him. “Her Abuela handed it over without fuss.”
“She did?”
“Mhm. Didn’t believe the girl actually found you.”
Buck can tell there’s more to be said but he doesn’t push. He really doesn’t even care why he gets to keep his daughter, he's just glad he does.
“I can take her home?” Buck looks up at Athena nervously.
“You don’t even have to do the blood test.” Athena tells him.
“Can they take her from me without it? Or if it's not what we want?”
“She’s yours, Buck.” Athena assures him. “I promise I worked it all out and everything is fine. She’s yours. No fuss.”
Evie throws her arms over Buck’s shoulders and bursts into tears. He pulls her completely into his lap and holds her tight.
“Let’s go home.” Buck tells her softly.
“Or-” Maddie chimes in. “We go shopping first and then we go home.” Buck sends Maddie a sheepish grin.
“Right.” Buck huffs out a laugh. “We’re gonna need some things.”
“You also need to call Eddie cause he’s driving me crazy.” Maddie rolls her eyes fondly.
“Eddie?” Buck questions.
“He’s texted me like every 15 minutes since we left the firehouse.” Maddie snickers, “Pretty sure Chim is going to call two people in for shift coverage just to get rid of him.”
“Oh.”
“Is Eddie the pretty man who was sitting with us?” Evie asks her Dad. Maddie snorts and shoots Athena a look.
“Uhh..yes that was Eddie.” Buck tells her nervously.
“Is he your boyfriend?” Evie smiles mischievously, looking very much like her father. Maddie slaps a hand over her mouth as Athen turns her smirking face in the other direction.
“We’re just best friends.” Buck tells her confidently.
“I’ve never seen grown ups hold hands with their friends.” Evie gives Buck an unimpressed look. Buck’s eyes go wide before he glances over at his sister quickly.
“H-he was just being supportive. Today was very..unpredictable." Buck explains unconvincingly. “Besides, Eddie only dates women.”
“But you date boys too?” Evie questions.
“I do.” Buck tells her honestly.
“That’s cool.” Evie looks suddenly kinda nervous as she looks at her dad. “Do I call you Dad now?” Buck’s heart skips.
“You can call me whatever you feel comfortable with, Sweetheart. If you want to call me Buck for a while that would be fine but I’d be honored if you called me Dad.”
“I want to call you Dad. I’ve wanted it my whole life.” Evie confesses, her lower lip trembling a bit.
“Okay baby.” Buck sniffles as she smiles down at his daughter. “How about Dad takes you shopping huh?”
“And Auntie Maddie!” Maddie chimes in. The little girl beams at her before her eyes find Athena.
“Nana Thena will have to stop by after work is over.” Athena tells her happily. “You can show me all the stuff you get.”
“Thank you for helping me be able to stay with my dad.” Evie says before getting up to wrap her arms around Athena’s waist.
“You’re welcome baby. The family is so happy to have you.” Evie squeezes Athena tighter before letting go to turn to her dad.
“Can we get lunch first? I’m hungry.” Evie looks sort of nervous to ask. Buck internally swears his daughter will never go hungry for one single moment for the rest of her life. He stands and swoops her into his arms, pulling a giggle out of her as he plops her on his hip.
“We can get whatever you want, Angel.” Buck leans over to kiss Athena on the cheek before he turns back to see if Maddie is ready to go as well. The four of them walk out of the hospital together and Athena tells them she will see them later that night before she heads to her patrol vehicle.
Hours later Buck feels like he just finished a full 48 when the three of them are done shopping. His house already has a guest room that has basic stuff so they mostly bought clothes and necessities along with a few decorations to make the room to Evie’s taste.
“After you see your new room you can tell me what you’d like to do with it.” Buck assures her.
“Dad, do you think my Abuela would let me have some of the stuff from my room at her house?” Evie asks nervously. “Or just my moms things?” Buck shoots Maddie a nervous look.
“I’ll see what I can do, honey but it will be up to her.”
“Okay.” Evie sighs.
When Maddie pulls up to Buck’s, he is surprised to find his truck in his driveway. He hadn’t even thought about having left it at the firehouse until he laid eyes on it.
“Eddie, must have brought my truck home.” Buck says absentmindedly before he gets out of Maddie's car.
“Eddie, who's just your friend.” Evie snickers before rolling her eyes. Maddie shoots Buck an amused look.
“I love her already.” Maddie chuckles.
“Don’t start,” Buck sighs. “Let’s just grab-”
“Buck!” Eddie calls out from Buck’s front door before shuffling quickly towards them. He smiles big when he sees Evie and the sight makes Buck’s stomach flip.
“I’ve got a surprise.” Eddie says out loud but he’s mostly focused on Evie.
“For me?” Evie asks him.
“Yep, come on.” Eddie turns and Evie follows him without hesitation. Buck shoots Maddie a nervous look before they both quickly follow along as well.
When they all step into the house Buck is a little confused but Evie gasps excitedly. There’s four giant clear totes filled with stuff stacked by the door.
“My stuff!” Evie yells happily before she turns to Eddie. “You got my stuff?”
“I did,” Eddie smiles down at her. “Come see your room.”
Buck is speechless so he just shoots his sister another look before following his best friend and daughter further into the house. He feels a little breathless already as his mind races.
Eddie had taken it upon himself to somehow get his daughter's things from her Abuela and not only bring them here but also set up the room that was going to be hers.
“This is mine!?” Evie’s voice carries from inside the room before Buck even lays eyes on what’s inside.
When Buck steps through the door he freezes. His basic neutral guest room has been turned into the cutest purple and yellow bedroom. He looks over at Eddie to find him watching Evie.
“Do you like it?” Eddie asks her. “I put up some of the things that you had in your other room and found a few more things that went with everything. I also got the bed set you had there for this bed since it’s bigger and the ones you had wouldn’t have fit.” Evie throws her arms around Eddie’s waist.
“Thank you so much. I love it.” When she lets go of Eddie she turns around to face her dad and leans in closer to him. “Are you sure he’s not your boyfriend?” Evie asks quietly but still absolutely audible enough for everyone in the room.
“Evie, why don’t we go grab the stuff out of Auntie Maddie’s car? You can show Eddie what we got for you.” Maddie redirects the girl as the tension in the room thickens.
“Are you staying for dinner?” Evie looks at Eddie. “Nana Thena is going to come over.” Eddie looks over at Buck who nods quickly even though his brain is still slowly rebooting.
“I’ll have to have my aunt drop off my son if I stay. Would you be okay meeting him today? I’m sure this has all been a lot today.”
“I always wanted a big family.” Evie smiles up at him before looking at Buck and Maddie.
“Come on sweetie.” Maddie tells Evie she shuffles them out of the room, leaving Buck and Eddie alone.
“Eddie,” Buck says breathlessly.
“I swear I didn’t want to overstep or anything I just-” Eddie sighs. “I was talking with Athena and listening to the scanner so I heard Evie’s Abuela’s name. I had heard it before I was sure of it so I called Pepa. Pepa and that woman play dominos together with a group of other women from church.” Eddie’s tone hardens then. “No one even knew she had a fucking granddaughter, Buck. Let alone that the little girl was living with her.”
“What did you do?” Buck asks, his heart thumping in his chest.
“I went to her house.” Eddie shrugs. “Chim let me loose and I went there after all the police had already left and banged on her door.”
“Eddie.”
“I told her I would be happy to tell all the ladies from church what she did. Who she really was.” Eddie’s voice sends a shiver down Buck’s spine. “She was happy to cooperate after that.”
“You threatened my daughter’s Abuela so that my daughter could have all of her things for her room at my house?” Buck questions. “After knowing about her for an hour and not even talking to her.”
“She’s your daughter, Buck.” Eddie says flatly as if that’s all the explanation he needs.
“Dad!” Evie calls out from the living room. “We need you for heavy stuff!” Buck and Eddie both let out a chuckle.
“Thank you.” Buck tells him earnestly.
“I’ve got your back.” Eddie smiles sweetly before shuffling out of the room. Buck takes a second to steady himself before he follows after him.
“Okay so Chim is going to pick up the kids from the Lee’s and bring them here when his shift is over and Athena texted to say that she will be here around 6:30.” Maddie announces when they’re all in the same room again.
“Pepa will drop Chris off soon too.” Eddie tells them.
“How old is your son?” Evie asks.
“He’s 14.”
“Is he nice?” Evie looks a little nervous again.
“Oh absolutely.” Buck assures her. “He’s been my little buddy since he was about your age.”
“So he’ll like me?”
“Of course he will, Sweetheart.” Buck assures her.
When Chris and Pepa show up Buck feels a little more nervous than he’s like to admit. Chris has always been one of the most important kids in Buck’s life. He really wanted Evie and him to get along.
“Evancito!” Pepa says happily when he opens the door for her and Chris.
“Hi Pepa,” Buck chuckles before leaning down to peck her cheek. “Hey bud.” Buck smiles at Chris.
“Okay where’s my new little sister?” Chris asks as he shuffles through the door. Buck’s eyes go wide and he turns to look at Eddie. Eddie smirks at him for a moment before looking away.
“Are you going to be my brother?” Evie asks as she watches Chris from the couch. Chris moves to plop down beside her.
“Yep. We will probably spend all of our time together, unless I’m at school or with my friends. Our dads are like super codependent so I figured brother and sister will work best for us.” Chris sends his dad a smirk before looking at Buck. “I still have my bedroom right?”
“Of course.” Buck assures him. “The guest room has been turned into Evie’s.”
“That’s what I figured but I wouldn’t have been upset. I would have just taken over the guest room.” Chris chuckles before looking back at Evie.
“Do you want to play videogames in my room until dinner?” Chris asks her.
“You have games in your room?” Evie asks, excitedly.
“Oh yeah. Buck can barely ever tell me no. I’ll teach you all the best pouty faces that work the most.” Chris snickers as he pulls himself up from the couch with his crutch. “Come on.”
Everyone watches silently as the kids shuffle away. Buck’s eyes find his sister immediately as he feels the panic rise in his chest.
“I-I’m gonna see what I have for dinner here and if I need to order some groceries.” Buck announces nervously before quickly escaping to his kitchen to catch his breath.
He opens his fridge and stares absentmindedly until the chime sounds to tell him the door has been open too long. He moves to the pantry then with zero recollection of what he saw in his fridge and looks inside there as well. He’s still staring at a can of crushed tomatoes when his sister places a hand on his arm.
“Oh hey.” Buck says as he looks down at Maddie.
“You okay?” Maddie asks, using that tone she always uses when she thinks Buck is fragile.
“I’m great,” Buck assures her. “I woke up today as just a firefighter with a house of his own and now I’m a dad who gets to make this a home for his daughter.”
“I think this place is already home for a few people, actually.” Maddie presses.
“Mads.”
“It wouldn’t be so crazy.” Maddie echoes the words she said all those months ago when Buck was spiraling.
“I feel crazy,” Buck huffs.
“You should talk to Eddie,” Maddie squeezes his arm before she goes to the fridge. “Also I want spaghetti and caesar salad and I know you have all the stuff for that so go away while I take over your kitchen.”
When Buck shuffles out of the kitchen his living room is empty so he moves down the hall to check on the kids. He pops his head into Christopher’s room to find both of them sitting on his bed as they play mario cart.
“You guys doing okay in here?” Buck asks. Evie’s head turns quickly and she beams up at him.
“Daddy! Christopher showed me how to play this! It’s so fun!” She turns back to the screen and Buck’s heart warms in your chest.
“Does spaghetti and salad sound good for dinner?”
“Can we have garlic bread too?” Chris chimes in.
“I think I can manage that.” Buck chuckles.
“Do I have to eat salad?” Evie turns back to him.
“Have you tried caesar salad before?” Buck questions, watching as Evie makes a little thinking face that sort of reminds Buck of Eddie.
“I don’t think so.” She tells him after thinking for a second.
“Well then I’d like you to at least try it, deal?” Buck smiles as Evie nods her head.
“Deal.”
Eddie is walking back through the front door when Buck makes it down the hall this time. He smiles at Buck sheepishly before turning to shut the door behind him.
“Pepa says she will be back for breakfast, if that’s okay?” Eddie tells him as he steps closer to Buck. Buck smiles happily.
“Of course. I have a feeling we’re gonna have a full house for a bit.”
“We?” Eddie smirks at him.
“Oh um m-me and Evie I mean..b-because we-” Buck stammers. Eddie pouts at Buck’s words and cuts him off before he can finish his thought.
“You mean Chris and I have to go home?” He sets his big brown eyes on Buck.
“W-well there’s uh no g-guest room now.” Buck can feel himself blushing. “My couch isn’t really big enough for you to like y-ya know sleep on and I don’t think Chris is willing t-to share.”
“And what about you, Buckley?” Eddie steps closer to Buck. “Are you not willing to share?”
“M-me?” Buck squeaks out before clearing his throat. “You- you’d want to-”
“It’s a pretty big bed, Evan. I’m sure we can fit just fine.” Eddie smiles softly at Buck as his eyes trail all over the man’s face.
“S-sure.” Buck nods absentmindedly. “We can share.”
“Perfect.” Eddie leans up and pecks Buck’s cheek quickly before turning around to head back to the door. “I’m gonna run and grab me and Chris some more clothes because I don’t think the pajamas and lounge wear we have here will be enough for at least the next few days, right?” Eddie turns to look at Buck, waiting patiently for Buck to answer as he recovers from feeling Eddie’s lips on his cheek.
“R-right!” Buck says a little loudly when he realizes how long he’s taken to answer. “W-whatever you think is best, Eds.”
“Be back soon.” Eddie shoots him a smile before he slips out the door and Buck stands there rooted to the ground.
“And they’re not boyfriends?” Evie’s voice fills the room suddenly and Buck whirls around to find her and Chris watching him with mischievous looks on their faces.
“Kids!” Buck says loudly. “What’s up?”
“We wanted something to drink and I told Evie you almost always have chocolate milk.” Chris tells him before looking down at Evie before looking back at Buck. “Didn’t expect to see my Dad kissing you and running away though.”
“He didn’t-” Buck cuts himself off. “It was-” Buck lets out a sigh as he looks at the ceiling. “Let's just get you guys some chocolate milk.” Chris and Evie both snicker at him as they follow him into the kitchen.
“What’s so funny?” Maddie asks the kids when they’re all in the kitchen.
“Evie experienced her first awkward moment with our dads.” Chris chuckles before looking at Evie. “Trust me, you’ll get used to it.” Buck notes that Chris again calls them “Our dads” instead of saying his dad and Buck.
“He literally kissed Daddy’s cheek Auntie Maddie.” Evie rolls her eyes. “Sounds like boyfriends to me.” Chris snorts beside her as Maddie sets her wide eyes on Buck.
“Oh he did, did he?” Maddie stares Buck down as he squirms.
“Chris wants garlic bread with dinner by the way so I’m gonna peel some garlic.” Buck says, completely ignoring everything else to head to the pantry. He pretends he doesn’t hear them all giggling behind him.
“What about my chocolate milk?” Evie asked.
“There’s little single serve bottles in the fridge, baby. Just grab one for you and one for your brother.” The words leave Buck’s mouth so easily he pauses for a second.
There’s silence in the room so Buck turns to find Maddie and Chris watching Evie. Evie who’s frozen nervously in place.
Buck moves close to her and kneels down in front of her.
“What’s wrong baby?” Buck asks her softly.
“I’m not allowed to go in the fridge.” Evie whispers nervously. “I get in trouble.” Buck’s heart sinks as her bottom lip wobbles.
“Hey, hey.” Buck says softly as he pulls Evie into a hug. “It’s not like that at Dad’s, okay? You can have snacks and drinks whenever you want! We can even have midnight snacks when you can’t sleep. That always helps me.” Evie sniffles as she tucks her head into Buck’s neck.
“I just want to be good.” Evie tells him. “I can be good, I promise.” Buck feels like he might actually crack in half at his daughter's broken words. He can feel her skin heating up as she starts to cry.
“Baby you’re perfect,” Buck tells her as he rubs her back. “I’m so happy you found me Evie. I promise, even if you do something bad I’ll never hurt you or do anything like your Abuela did,” Buck pulls back so he can look at his daughter. “We will talk about it, okay? You’re safe here.” Evie tucks back into Buck’s chest as she lets out little sobs. Buck looks up to find Chris and Maddie watching them, both with misty eyes.
“He’s right Evie.” Chris chimes in moving close to them, his voice coming out a little rough. He clears his throat. “I’ve messed up loads of times and no one ever does anything bad to me. They just explain to me why what I did was wrong. Our dads will talk to us. Or maybe take away our video games or something but that’s it.” Evie turns her head to look up at Chris.
“You promise?” She asks as she swipes at her face. Chris holds out his pinky for her to take. She takes it with hers quickly and Buck’s eyes immediately find his sister.
“I promise.” Chris vows confidently. Maddie’s bottom lip trembles as her eyes move from the kids to find Buck already looking at her. Buck stands with Evie in his arms and pulls Chris into them.
After Buck gets Chris and Evie their chocolate milk the kids decide to watch TV before dinner and shuffle out of the kitchen. Maddie immediately pulls her brother in for a hug and the two of them spend a moment holding each other tight.
“I’m so happy for you.” Maddie sniffles.
“I never thought-” Buck sighs deeply. “I was beginning to think I wasn’t going to have this.” Maddie pulls away to smile at him.
“I think you’ve had it longer than you think little brother.” Maddie cups his face gently. “And you deserve every moment.”
When Eddie gets back to the house he plops a bag on Christopher’s bed before he shuffles into Buck’s room with his bag without hesitation. Maddie gives Buck a pointed look which he ignores while being saved by the doorbell.
Athena of course shows up with a bag full of stuff for Evie and immediately is shuffled into the little girls room with Maddie following behind them. Christopher narrows his eyes at Buck and Eddie before he sighs deeply.
“You guys are being weird, I’m out.” Chris grumbles as he shuffles away to his room. Eddie chuckles nervously as he scratches the back of his head.
“You’re the one being weird by the way.” Buck tells Eddie once they’re alone.
“I know.” Eddie admits, honestly as he looks up at Buck. “I’m just bad at this.”
“At what?”
“Talking.”
Buck studies Eddie for a moment before he pulls the man into a hug. Eddie melts into him easily as he wraps his arms around Buck’s waist.
“You don't have to say anything about anything.” Buck tells him. “Not until you’re ready.” Eddie pulls away to look up at Buck.
“I think we’ve spent enough time not talking about it, Buck.” Eddie’s eyes shine as he stares up at his best friend.
“O-okay.” Buck feels himself deflate a little when they separate.
Eddie shuffles out to the back patio and takes a seat at the table, Buck follows behind him wordlessly and sits across from him.
“What’s going on Eddie?” Buck asks. “You’re making me nervous.”
“I want to talk about Texas.” Eddie announces.
“Texas?” Buck’s face pinches. “Why would we-”
“Buck-” Eddie sighs. “Do you think any of the ways we acted during that was..normal?”
“What do you mean?” Buck pouts, making Eddie huff.
“Buck, you sabotaged all my showings.” Eddie snorts. “And then you tried to make me jealous with a fucking dog! AND IT WORKED!” Buck fights a smirk.
“Yeah it did,” he snickers. Eddie watches him fondly as he shakes his head.
“You know-” Eddie clears his throat. “-drviving away in that truck it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done I think.” Buck looks away, his eyes welling up a bit. “And I’ve been to war.”
“Standing there wasn’t the easiest thing either.” Buck chuckles, wetly. Eddie’s shoulders slump a little but he moves forward to take Buck’s hands in his.
“I know and I’m sorry. I wish I could have had my shit together enough to save us both from all that heartache.”
“Chris and you are back home. That’s what matters.” Buck assures him.
“While I was gone I spent a lot of time thinking about you.. and us.” Eddie swipes his thumb over Buck’s hand. “Then we lost Bobby and things with me and Chris were still sort of rough but I just- I couldn't possibly leave you here.”
“Eds-” Buck breathes out.
“Let me finish.” Eddie tells him. “Even before Chim insisted none of us leave, you weren’t going to be left behind. My plan was to go home and talk with Chris about moving you to El Paso with us when the lease on the house ended.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Buck pouts.
“It was hard!” Eddie groans. “First cause you were staying with us and I just didn’t want to risk you getting upset with me and then-”
“Abigail” Buck finishes for him.
“Yeah,” Eddie sighs. “That definitely did a number on me for a bit and once I was ready to finally say something in Nashville, Dixie showed up and I chickened out.”
“We only had like two more drinks before I called it a night and went back to my room, alone.” Buck assures Eddie.
“I know I waited for you and listened to make sure you came back by yourself.” Buck snickers at Eddie’s admission, making Eddie pout. “Don’t make fun of me, I was going crazy.”
“Sorry.” Buck huffs out fondly.
Silence settles between them for a moment.
“When I woke up without you in that hospital-” Eddie’s voice cracks. “-I thought I had lost you without ever getting a chance to tell you how I felt but you had just been abducted and it didn’t seem right to dump it all on you.”
“Then I started avoiding you because of the pills.” Buck finishes for him and Eddie looks at him sympathetically before he nods.
“I just wanted you to be okay before I-” Eddie groans as he looks up, trying to gather himself.
“Eddie.”
“I love you.” Eddie says suddenly. “I love you more than I ever thought I was capable of loving someone romantically but it terrifies me. I’ve never been good at this kind of thing and the last thing I want is to mess this up and lose you.”
“Not that I’m not extremely pleased with all of this because I am also embarrassingly in love with you too but, why now?” Buck watches as Eddie’s face softens.
“Chim.”
“Chim?” Buck’s face pinches.
“As you guys were leaving, he chuckled when he caught me watching you walk away. Asked me what more the world needs to do to make me open my eyes.”
“What does that mean?”
“What are the odds that my son would look basically just like you and the daughter you didn’t know you had would show up looking just like me?” Eddie smiles happily at Buck. “I swear I could barely take my eyes off of her while the rest of our lives played in my head like a movie.”
“She gave me this look earlier.” Buck smiles softly. “It immediately made me think of you.” Eddie moves his chair over so they're closer together and takes Buck’s hands in his again as he looks up at him.
“I called the owner of our house today to tell him we might not sign another lease.” Eddie admits with a nervous laugh slipping out. “I hadn’t even talked to you yet and there I was planning the next step of our life.”
“I mean Chris already has a room here.” Buck shrugs with a smirk on his face. “I could maybe be persuaded to keep sharing.”
“Hmm maybe huh?” Eddie’s eyes light up as Buck leans in closer.
“I’ve been known to be a good negotiator.” Buck says smoothly, making Eddie roll his eyes before he pulls Buck in to connect their lips. Buck melts into him instantly, sighing against his lips. Eddie smiles into their kiss before pulling back to look at Buck.
“Okay this definitely means they’re boyfriends.” Evie’s voice pulls their attention to the back door where they find their family watching them. Maddie and Athena have smiles on their faces as Chim shakes his head with a chuckle.