#and heres all the reasons why they would never work with buck or eddie. half of these reasons are completely made up

[nymika-arts]

See this is why I am so confused at all the Tommy stans. It was obvious from the start that his and Buck’s relationship was doomed lol. I saw so many of them excited that he was coming back like it meant something but omg the way he did??? It further proved how completely doomed their relationship was lol. I got into 911 late in the game but it’s been interesting to see some people call people who think buddie is going to happen delusional yet turn back around and say Tommy is endgame??? Endgame where lol

honestly I've been saying in actual canon (outside of everything fanon has cooked up for him) tommy is really only about as developed as ana was. he's in a few episodes, they have some fun moments together, but overall not a relationship written to last and ultimately unsurprising when it ends. especially when everything in the relationship has been overshadowed by eddie in some way (JUST like we used to point out with every other love interest these two have had). like. buck spent the ENTIRE episode talking about eddie, including every scene tommy was in lmao. tommy saw eddie as competition and is now crawling back when he thinks the competition is over. buck was sleeping w him as a distraction bc he's so lonely without eddie. I've been watching since before s4 and I've seen a lot of love interests come and go this is like. textbook for this show atp lol

[jewishgirlrevolt]

8x09 Thoughts. I'm done with Eddie Diaz

I tried to write about this episode previously.. and I am going to send a second note to ABC about some of what I will outline here.

So let's talk about the good first. As utterly predictable as the serial killer plot was, it was a WILD ride. JLH is an amazing talent and I am SO looking forward to her and Abigail Spencer playing more off one another next week.

Buck with the dog was so cute. Also excellent choice in dog. Props to K9 casting.

Now let's get to everything else. Sorry this got really long. Under the cut.

TLDR: Eddie Diaz is a jerk. I don't have any desire to root for him anymore, and I don't care what happens to him. Buck has his flaws, but I want to root for him and for BuckTommy to get back together.

Buck helping Eddie find a subletter was not Buck being bad or bratty. I think he was genuinely trying to help Eddie find someone suitable. But he was also dealing with a lot. He's still not over Tommy, and now he's dealing with his best friend leaving. So it's Buck not thinking through and brain to mouth connection short circuited.

Eddie, meanwhile, didn't even tell Buck he had found a serious option until after he had made a down payment. How is Buck not supposed to feel abandoned? If I were moving away, I would let my best friend know the situation long before this.

Ok, so Buck is told to leave, and he notices he doesn't have his keys, or phone, and overhears Eddie saying to a potential tenant that "He doesn't have any ties here." Which is Bullshit for 2 reasons. 1. It shows Eddie doesn't consider the 118 as anything more than coworkers (if they were friends he would have told them his plan earlier on so they could work out and help him while finding a replacement). And 2. TIA PEPA and his cousins LIVE IN LA! Continuity error or not, I don't know. I don't care. This post is already horrifically long.

Now during the fight, Eddie is super mad at Buck and honestly...had he had ONE normal conversation with Buck this all could have been avoided. Buck comes back to apologize after revealing the situation to the team, something Eddie should have done weeks ago. What Eddie does is shit on Buck. And it wasn't necessary. Now! I've had fights with friends, I've been frustrated on occasion with my best friend. But I would never in a million years even THINK to use their insecurities in a fight against them. That's cruel and while Buck didn't handle the situation in the best way, Eddie was way too hard on him. Cause again, Eddie could have resolved this with one conversation. And we know Buck would never be upset with Eddie for choosing Christopher. But I think Eddie knows deep down that he's making another impulsive and stupid decision. Wow Eddie really has one brain cell. And he's clearly projecting that insecurity on Buck. But it's not Buck's job to validate Eddie's half-assed ideas. I think it was @nephilimeq's amazing post that really hammered in the emotional maturity and avoidance Eddie so

What we see is Buck's biggest fear shown, the idea that people tolerate him/care about him as long as he is useful.

Because Buck has done so much for Eddie. He took care of Christopher and was there for both of them at the drop of a hat. And Eddie by comparison.. and I know friendships aren't always 50/50. But it feels like this friendship is like 95% Buck and 5% Eddie.

I think it was @nephilimeq's amazing post that really hammered in my problems with Eddie. It's that he hasn't matured emotionally and faced his emotions and actions. And that's why I am so done with Eddie. And why I fully support Buck getting back together with Tommy.

Now Buck has his flaws, there's stuff he could have handled better this episode and the narrative needs to have him grow, and of course get back together with Tommy, who sees him and loves him, flaws and all. And it is clear that Buck isn't just dealing with Eddie leaving, he's still not over the breakup. And pile both of these things together... he needs a hug. But Eddie was in fact a complete jerk about the whole thing. This episode for me also shows why not only is B*ddie not going canon, even if it did, it would not be a good relationship because I don't think Eddie knows how to have one.

I don't really care if Eddie comes back or not because Eddie's not a character I want to root for anymore. I hope he's able to repair his relationship with his son for Christopher's sake though.

[rocknroll7575]

X men au

*Marvel rivals*

Magneto: AH Jaune good to fight with one of my most loyal brothers

Jaune: I would rather fight Galactus alone than join you* 10 9 8* and the only reason I even Interact with my version of you is cause you deserve to know your grandchildren

Galacta: GO

Magneto: MY WHAT

Ok... now You've made me do Jaune Marvel Rival interactions:

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Magneto: What are my grandkids like, Jaune?

Jaune: Heh, there a handful, but Wanda's able to handle them

Magneto: Are you not able to take care of them in your world?

Jaune: No, its just that with their mutations, I'm lucky to still be alive, haha! Taking care of Mutants children is way harder than Mutant teens!

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Jaune: Logan? That really you!?

Logan: Yeah, it's me kid, why you lookin so suprised?

Jaune: Oh! Its uh... you just look a lot smaller then I remember...

Logan: What does that mean, huh?

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Emma: Do you think that Scott...?

Jaune: Don't think it Emma, he's gotta be ok, he's faced worse odds then fighting vampires

Emma: I know, I just... I worry

Jaune: I know you do, Emma...

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Jaune: Heh, never thought I'd see the day you'd be working with Peter, Eddie

Venom: We have embaraced our role as a protector yet the spider seems to still distrust us...

Jaune: Can you blame him? You did try to kill him... mutiple times I might add

Venom: Tried is the key word

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Peni: Wow! Your powers are amazing Jaune!

Jaune: Thanks Peni, your Mech is pretty cool too, way more advanced than anything my world has!

Peni: I'd love to see what kinda tech you have in your world, I would love to see what it's like

Jaune: Heh, maybe one day Peni, hopefully, Reed'll be able to take me home someday

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Groot: I am Groot

Jaune: Names Jaune Arc, nice to meet you big guy

Groot: I am Groot

Jaune: ...uh, you already said that

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Jaune: Never thought I'd see you here Ben!

Thing: Heh, me too kid, though I gotta ask... you ain't a vampire, are ya?

Jaune: Ben, do I look like a vampire to you?

Thing: Don't know... I'm half expecting you to sparkle in broad daylight

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Johnny: Hey Jaune! Didn't expect to see you here man!

Jaune: Good to see you Johnny, how are you dealing with... all this?

Johnny: Eh, seems like just another problem for Reed to solve, Hey! Met any hot babes lately?

Jaune: I'm happily married, Johnny...

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Wanda: I'm worried Jaune... with both of us here, who's looking after the children?

Jaune: I don't know Wanda, but hopefully it's Scott or Rogue, at least they can be responsible

Wanda: What about Lorna?

Jaune: Honey, no offense, but the last time your sister babysat, she got them and her trapped in the danger room.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Susan: Jaune, I see you brought Emma with you

Jaune: Don't worry Sue, I'll keep Emma in line,

Susan: Good, you're one of the only people she'll listen too, how do you do it?

Jaune: seven sister's remember?

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Black Widow: Arc? That you kid?

Jaune: Hey Natt, why'd you look so surprised to see me?

Black Widow: Just... it's good to see a familiar face after so long

Jaune: It's good to see you too Natt, I hope the future's treating you well

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Jaune: Hey, we're cool, right big guy?

Hulk: Hulk has no problem with Arc, but Hulk still remembers prank you and Parker pulled

Jaune: Aw, come on, can't we live and let live?

Hulk: Yes, but Hulk will get you back

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Hawkeye: Heh, a knight and an archer, aren't we a pair?

Jaune: You said it, Clint! Let's just hope that aim of yours is still as good as I remember it

Hawkeye: Haha! Unlike your aim, mine's always perfect

Jaune: Hey, I've gotten better!

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Jaune: How are you hanging Buck?

Bucky: I've been taking your advice kid, trying to keep moving forward

Jaune: It's hard, but it's what we gotta do, just to keep fighting the good fight

Bucky: Funny, you almost sounded like Steve there for a second

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Jaune: Hey there little guy... Haven't seen Gwen for a while, everything alright?

Jeff: *sadly purring*

Jaune: Well, hopefully we can find her in all this mess bud, we all miss her

Jeff: *hopeful growling*

[iphyslitterator]

I'm in a 911 group chat that includes a Buddie fan, and she was passionately defending Tommy's right to bring up his anxieties over Eddie in 8x11 (yay), and then she asked me to elaborate when I commented, "If we're not Buddie-shipping + *don't* think this was a central insecurity, Tommy is actually way more in the wrong/dumber/more excruciatingly self-sabotaging." Two weeks later, I have typed up my working theory for her and am cross-posting it here for posterity:

Let's start from the premise that "I think Evan's in love with Eddie" was not a central reason behind the breakup, which is defensible because a) the text gave no indication of it previously, at least not one that would be legible to the general audience, and b) the only piece of "evidence" Tommy offers is that Buck is living in Eddie's house.

(I'm sure the thought had crossed Tommy's mind: they're close, Eddie's hot, he went to Buck's apartment in the first place on the assumption that Buck was jealous over Eddie. I actually used to headcanon that they'd talked about it casually, but I was overestimating their communication skills 🙄)

Here are some things we learn or can plausibly infer from the 8x11 bar scene (I can elaborate upon request): he misses Buck and wants to get back together with him (urge to call him; driving by his place); he's lonely; the 118 stopped speaking to him; he has no reason to believe Buck missed him too (Buck didn't tell him! he doesn't know about the baking!).

And he has all this time to think in the morning, while he's buying champagne and cooking half a paycheck's worth of eggs, about how wow, it's weird being in Eddie's house. Like, this was a pretty intense and devoted thing for Evan to do. But, well, Evan's pretty intensely devoted to his family, and vice versa. It's a great family. He's kind of jealous. And, okay, he didn't reach out to them after the breakup either, but he'd maybe hoped.... Anyway, whatever, it's clearly not happening. They don't miss him, they do miss Eddie. Evan misses Eddie, Evan probably just missed sex with Tommy. Still, though, maybe Tommy can ask Evan to take him back. Maybe they can still try again.

(Throw in the headcanon that it was unhinged of Buck to ask Tommy to move out of a house into an apartment with no doors (we know Tommy has a car lift and a Muay Thai setup), and you also get "Evan wouldn't move out for me, but he did for Eddie.")

So my primary contention about "now that the competition's out of the way" is that Tommy feels acutely that the competition is NOT out of the way.

Part of that is an abrupt rise in paranoia that Evan is pining for Eddie -- he's living in the guy's house! And then Buck doesn't technically deny it, he just says Eddie's straight, which, come on, Tommy knows all about crushes on straight guys.

But it's not just about that. It's about Tommy once again being on the outside of the firefam's close bond. It's not just Eddie haunting the narrative. Tommy has expressed his longing to be part of that family onscreen three times: 7x04 ("I was super jealous....I wanted to be a part of that"), 7x10 ("a little jealous" of Buck's bond with Bobby), 8x05 ("It's a wonderful thing, having a crew like that behind you, even when things go wrong"). The competition's not even close (he thinks); Tommy was never Evan's priority, he won't be if they get back together right now, and maybe he never will be.

But this all comes out as "I think you have feelings for your best friend." Which, in this scenario where that's (mostly) not true or important, is uncool for at least three reasons:

a) IT'S SO DUMB, baby, shut uppppp, why are you so committed to expressing your anxieties in a way that is totally incomprehensible to your beloved and indeed to most people who aren't studying you like a bug on tumblr dot com 💀

b) He is once again hinting at his desire for a family without articulating it, and he NEEDS to stop that.

c) As in the breakup, he's constructing a narrative about Buck's feelings, without Buck's input, that fits his own pessimistic worldview. In neither case does it go quite as far as Buck denying + Tommy disbelieving, but it's trending that direction, and it's patronizing (and arguably biphobic). If Buck needs to understand Tommy more, i.e. look past the cool exterior, Tommy needs to "understand" Buck less, i.e. let go of his preconceived notions and let Evan be the authority on his own feelings.

So my thesis as a Bucktommy fan and writer is that it's part of Tommy's consistent I-want-a-family theme (and secondarily, I think the non-Buddie GA's takeaway was essentially supposed be Ryan Guzman's "lol Tommy's insecure"). Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

[doeeyeseddie]

Piaaaaaa "brushing their arm against the other's, hoping the other would finally catch their arm and hold it close" please, we already know they constantly brush arms anyway!

fridaaaa this took me, once again, many months to get to and i sort of only vaguely filled the actual prompt, but i hope you still enjoy it <3

5+1 things, rated t, wc: 4k

[read on ao3]

I.

Eddie’s first day as a probationary firefighter is…interesting. Captain Nash welcomes him with the same warm smile he gave him the first time they talked, then leads him inside and shows him around the app bay.

“We’ll give you the full tour later,” he promises, “after you’ve met the rest of the team. You’re the first one here, if you want, you can change into your uniform now.”

He points towards the locker room – which has glass walls for some reason – and Eddie nods.

He’s just finished buttoning up his shirt when Captain Nash ushers a group of firefighters inside. Eddie runs a hand through his hair to make sure it’s tidy and smiles as Hen and Chimney introduce themselves to him with warm smiles and handshakes, welcoming him to the team.

There’s a third person with them, hovering in the background and glowering at Eddie. He’s young, probably around Eddie’s age, tall and very built, and despite his hostile expression, he doesn’t give Eddie the impression of being an asshole. It’s like the expression doesn’t fit on his face, like he’s not used to wearing it.

Chim grabs him by the arm and pushes him forward, giving Eddie a commiserating smile.

“And this guy is Buck,” he says. “He was our probie before you.”

“Nice to meet you,” Eddie says politely, stretching a hand out to offer a handshake. “You’ll have to show me how things work around here, then.”

Buck glowers down at his hand, and when he finally grabs it, he squeezes it too tightly, like he’s trying to prove something. Eddie squeezes back, amused by the pretense this guy is clearly putting on.

Behind Buck’s back, Hen rolls her eyes, but she’s also wearing a fond look, which only confirms Eddie’s assumption that Buck isn’t half as bad as he’s pretending to be.

From Captain Nash, he knows that they’re supposed to work together a lot of the time, so that’s gonna be interesting. He doesn’t know why Buck is acting like this, but he’s gonna find out, and then he’s gonna figure out a way to work with Buck anyway.

He didn’t come here to make friends, but he’ll be spending 50 hours a week with these people, and he has to trust them with his life for a lot of that time, so they at the very least need to bury whatever hatchet Buck is carrying right now.

Eddie lets go of his hand with a nod and a polite smile, and gives himself a week to figure Buck out.

II.

The days between the accident and the funeral are kind of a blur.

There’s too much to do and think about, too many decisions to make, too many people to call, too much to organize. He has help – Abuela, Pepa, the entire 118, but it still feels too much.

Shannon was 27, she didn’t have a will, they never talked about any of this. How is Eddie supposed to know how she would like to be buried, or if she’d rather be cremated? What kind of music she would want them to play at her funeral? This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not for a very, very long time.

But it did happen, and now Eddie is somehow supposed to know all this about her, his wife, the woman he’s only just let back into his and Christopher’s lives, the woman who asked him for a divorce and completely pulled the rug from under his feet just a day before she died.

Sometimes, he feels like he didn’t know her at all.

His parents are here “to help”, which should be a relief but really isn’t. They never liked Shannon and aren’t making a secret of it, even now that– now that she’s gone. So Eddie can’t involve them in the funeral planning, and he can’t even leave Christopher with them because he’s scared that they’re gonna take the opportunity to grab him and run, and someone needs to make sure that Shannon’s memory is honored, but she didn’t have any family except him and Christopher, and Chris is seven, so Eddie has to be the one to make this funeral beautiful, something she’d deserve, but he doesn’t know– there’s so much–

“Eddie,” someone says next to him, snapping him out of his spiral. “Come on, breathe with me.”

Eddie stares at Buck’s chest as it rises and falls with exaggerated breaths, trying to match him. When did Buck get here? He doesn’t remember letting him in, doesn’t really remember what he was doing before he started hyperventilating on his couch.

“Chris,” he gasps when he realizes that also means he’s not sure where his kid is. And of course he’s the kind of father who would do that only days after his kid lost his mom, maybe his parents are–

“Is with Hen and Karen,” Buck says firmly, grabbing his forearm. “He’s gonna spend the day with them and Denny, probably getting spoiled rotten. I borrowed Pepa’s key when we went over there so they could pick him up, she told me you might not open – sorry for barging in here, but I’m glad I did. I know you– I wanted to– Bobby and Athena are running interference with your parents. And I’m here to help you with all that.” He gestures towards the couch table that’s covered in forms, leaflets from funeral homes, and cards from grief counselors. “After Abby’s mom– I helped plan her funeral. So I’ve got some experience.”

Eddie just stares at him, biting the inside of his cheek hard to stop himself from crying. He trusts Buck, but he still doesn’t want to cry in front of him, doesn’t want to cry in front of anyone. But he does think that maybe he should give Buck his own copy of a key, so he won’t have to borrow Pepa’s next time.

Buck squeezes his forearm and gives him a small, sad smile. “We’re all here for you, Eddie. I got your back, remember?”

Eddie blinks against the tears in his eyes and swallows around the lump in his throat that’s keeping him from saying anything.

Instead, he twists his arm from Buck’s grip and grabs his hand instead, squeezing it in a silent thank you.

Buck squeezes back and keeps holding on.

III.

Buck gets to go home earlier than anyone expected, but Eddie has been to his new apartment, so he isn’t surprised when Buck texts him a picture of his couch with a sad face. It’s not ideal, but at least he has a bathroom downstairs and a girlfriend who can help if he struggles with anything.

Until he doesn’t have that girlfriend anymore.

Eddie doesn’t find out until after his shield ceremony, days after, actually, once his parents have finally gone home to Texas.

Buck says he’s fine, obviously, but Eddie starts going over every day he doesn’t have a shift anyway, because he knows Buck and can see how much he’s struggling with the whole situation, with the uncertainty of when and how he can return to work.

He brings Christopher most of the time. They’re not having the best summer either, Eddie still worries that he’s not doing enough to help Christopher deal with his grief, when he can barely keep his own head above the water of grief, guilt and fear.

Carla is doing what she can, watching Christopher whenever Eddie’s working, she found him a grief counselor and is even looking into more permanent therapists.

None of it changes the fact that they’re grieving. 

But when Christopher gets to hang out with Buck, he lights up every time, and so does Buck, which makes this a two birds with one stone kind of situation. Hanging out with Buck helps them both, too, makes their grief not the first thing on their minds for a little while.

Buck can’t move much, so they play board games and try to find one they all enjoy equally – it’s not easy, since Eddie likes luck-based games (he plays poker with his abuela and tía whenever he can), Buck prefers trivia and games relying on knowledge, while Christopher likes strategic games most.

But everyone gets to pick sometimes, and when they don’t want to play board games, they switch to video games instead.

Eddie knew that Buck and Chris get along well, they have ever since the first time they met, when Buck drove Eddie to Chris’ school after the earthquake during Eddie’s second week at the 118. But with how much time the three of them are spending together now, he can see them growing closer every day – and he loves it.

Buck is his best friend, and he genuinely cares about Christopher in a way that feels completely independent from Eddie.

One evening, while they’re playing a few rounds of Christopher’s current favorite video game after dinner, the kid falls asleep between them on the couch.

Buck smiles down at him and lowers the volume of the TV, which means he loses even more clearly to Eddie, but he had the win in the bag anyway, he’s sure.

Buck rolls his eyes at him when Eddie celebrates his victory with big, silent gestures, but he’s smiling, too.

Eddie grins at him, resting his arm on the back of the couch behind Chris, and Buck twists a little to face him. His leg, resting outstretched on the couch table in front of them, moves with him, and Eddie slides Christopher’s glass of water out of the way in a practiced move.

“I know you’re here to keep an eye on me,” Buck says, “and I should probably be annoyed. I– I was kind of annoyed, at first. But it’s hard to stay annoyed when he’s here, right?” He nods down at Christopher. “And I guess you’re okay, too.”

“Wow, thanks,” Eddie says, but he knows his glare isn’t convincing. “To be clear, we’re all keeping an eye on each other.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Buck reaches for Eddie’s hand, still on the backrest between them, and squeezes it – just for a moment, like he’s trying to get Eddie’s attention, like he doesn’t already have it anyway. “Thanks.”

IV.

Everything sucks.

It’s the uncertainty that gets to Eddie most, the not knowing how to help, how to stay safe, how to keep his loved ones safe. How long this is gonna last.

Every day, they have to see people die from a virus they know nothing about, and can’t do anything against.

And afterwards, they can’t even go home.

Christopher is part of a high risk group, and Eddie risks exposure at work every day, so obviously, he can’t endanger him by living with him. Chimney feels the same way about Maddie, and Hen also wants to keep her family safe, which is how the three of them ended up at Buck’s apartment, where they’ve been camped out for the past three weeks.

It’s generous of Buck to let them all stay with him, but the loft is not made for four people to live there, and they’re all feeling it.

Eddie loves his friends, but spending every minute of every day with them is starting to wear on him. They all try to give each other space, using the balcony as an extra room or going for runs outside, but there’s only so much they can do. 

He hates being separated from Chris, it makes him feel like he’s breaking his promise to never leave him behind again. Christopher says he understands, but Eddie worries anyway. He trusts Pepa, who’s working fully remote and offered to stay with Chris, and they talk every day, but it’s not the same as being there.

Whenever he talks to Chris on the phone, he feels better in the moment, but worse the second they hang up. While they’re talking, he can almost pretend that things are normal, but it all comes crashing down afterwards.

He hasn’t hugged his son in weeks, and he has no idea when he’s even gonna see him in person again.

Buck joins their calls most of the time, at least for a few minutes, and he sits next to Eddie on the bed now, shoulders slumped where they’re touching Eddie’s. In a world where he has to keep his distance from almost everyone, except the patients he’s treating and the people he’s living with, touching and being touched by Buck is a real comfort.

“This won’t be forever, Eddie,” he says, almost desperately. 

“But for how long?” Eddie asks, and it comes out sounding a little wobbly.

He’s not embarrassed by it anymore – Buck’s seen him in all kinds of situations, and they’re currently sharing a bed, so he’s seen him cry anyway.

“I–I wish I knew,” Buck says. “I wish I could– fix this.”

Eddie wipes at his eye and laughs a little. “The whole pandemic?”

“If I could, yeah.” Buck shrugs.

Eddie presses even closer to him for a moment, a gentle pressure of their shoulders, arms and thighs against each other. “I wish you could, too. But even if you can’t – I’m glad you’re here.”

“Of course.” Buck smiles at him and places his hand on Eddie’s thigh, palm up.

Eddie smiles back and grabs his hand, squeezing tightly.

“Okay,” he says, taking a deep breath. “I think it’s our turn to make dinner tonight – you ready?”

“Ready when you are,” Buck says, but he doesn’t let go until Eddie does.

V.

After Chris has gone to sleep, after Eddie has finally stopped crying, after Buck has wrapped his knuckles and cleaned up the worst of the mess in Eddie’s bedroom – the shards, the pieces of drywall, the fallen furniture, he makes up the couch for Eddie to sleep on. Eddie wants to help him, to tell him that he’ll just sleep in his room, but he can’t seem to move from his seat at the dining table.

Everything feels like too much, his hands hurt and his head worse, and he can’t stand the thought of Buck leaving. He’s exhausted, but he knows he won’t sleep if Buck goes home now.

But he can’t ask him to stay, not after Buck already dropped everything because Eddie couldn’t keep it together. He probably had plans, and Eddie ruined those too.

He can already feel the hot burn of tears behind his eyes again and drops his forehead onto his arms, folded on the table in front of him.

Buck’s hand lands on his back, warm, then travels up to squeeze the back of his neck gently.

“You ready to sleep?” he murmurs, and Eddie makes a noncommittal sound. “Come on, you must be exhausted.”

Eddie shrugs and Buck’s thumb brushes along his hairline.

“You don’t have to go in there, I can get you anything you need,” Buck says quietly. “And I’ll be right next to you in case you have a nightmare.”

“You’re staying?” Eddie asks, lifting his head. Buck’s hand stays where it is.

“Of course, Eddie,” Buck says, like it’s that easy.

And maybe it is that easy, Eddie thinks when they settle in next to each other in the living room, Eddie on the couch and Buck on a makeshift bed next to it. He’s pushed the couch table to the side to make room for it and it looks like he’s dragged Eddie’s mattress here, so at least Eddie doesn’t need to worry about him sleeping on the floor.

They’ve been by each other’s side through so much shit, maybe it’s not such a surprise that Buck wants to be here now too. He’s just not sure he deserves it.

“I’m sorry,” he says, staring up at the ceiling instead of looking at Buck. “You had plans– I’m sure you didn’t want to–”

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Buck says firmly. “Of course I’ll come whenever Christopher calls. O–or if you need me. I’m here, okay?”

“I keep thinking about her,” Eddie mumbles, pressing the heels of his hands to his burning eyes. “Mills. Last August– I should’ve– if I’d picked up the phone earlier–”

“This isn’t on you.” There’s rustling and then Buck is gripping Eddie’s forearms, trying to gently pull his hands away from his face. “I d-don’t know what Mills was going through, but I know that you couldn’t have known how bad it was. It’s sad, and it’s unfair, but it’s not your fault. And I know you’re feeling all these things now, but Eddie– I’m so happy you’re still here. I need you to– know that. Okay?”

Eddie finally lowers his arms, but instead of letting go fully, Buck just grabs his right hand and holds on. His eyes are wide and scared, and Eddie has scared too many people he loves tonight.

“Okay,” he says, even though– well. What makes him special? Why should he be the only one to get out? He’s not a better person than any of them, he doesn’t have a right to happiness or whatever he’s been deluding himself into believing he could have. 

But he knows that he can’t tell Buck that now (or ever), knows that it’s a dark road to go down.

Maybe for tonight, with Buck by his side, he can keep the thoughts at bay for a little bit longer. After that– he has no idea. But Buck is still holding his hand, and Eddie may not deserve him, but he trusts him.

He thinks it may just give him enough hope to get through this night.

+ I

“This was nice,” Buck says, holding the door for Eddie as they leave the restaurant. “You, uh, you really didn’t have to pay, though.”

“I wanted to,” Eddie says with a smile, glancing right towards their cars and then left to where the beach is only a short walk away, and finally back to Buck’s face, finding him already looking back. “How do you feel about taking a walk?”

Buck grins, turning left. “Let’s go.”

They’re not on a date, or at least they haven’t called it that, but Eddie has been thinking that it feels like one all night. Technically, they’re two friends trying out a new restaurant together. They drove here separately, no one pulled anyone’s chair out, they talked the same way they always do.

But Eddie spent half an hour picking something to wear tonight, Buck is wearing a shirt that looks new and gorgeous and fit for a date, and every time their eyes caught across the table, Eddie thought that maybe, Buck wouldn’t pull away if he reached out and took his hand.

It’s not the first time Eddie has thought that. Ever since Buck and Tommy broke up, it’s felt like maybe they’re heading towards something, familiar touches lingering and turning into something new, gazes catching and then holding instead of looking away.

Buck was upset for a little while afterwards, but he admitted to Eddie that it was more about another failed relationship – and his first one with a man, after he thought he’d finally figured out what was missing, than about Tommy as a person.

He went on a couple of dates, with men and women, but nothing ever stuck.

Eddie was going through his own stuff at the time – he eventually came out to Buck a week before Chris finally came home, and Buck hasn’t been on a date since.

Sometimes, Eddie wonders (hopes), if the two things are related.

Still, neither of them has called tonight a date – yet.

Eddie glances at Buck’s profile while they’re walking, and wonders what he’s waiting for.

Yes, it’s scary because Buck is the most important person in his life right after Christopher, but it’s also not, because this is Buck. Who has been by Eddie’s side through the worst, most painful, most humiliating times of his life, and is still here. Buck, who Eddie trusts with his life, and his son, and his heart.

Buck smiles at him and Eddie smiles back, heartbeat picking up. He’s doing this, he’s gonna tell Buck how he feels. Any minute now, he’s gonna be brave enough.

“Hey,” Buck says, “it’s just me.”

“I know,” Eddie says, and his heart thumps against his ribs. He lets his fingers brush against Buck’s on their next swing and watches as Buck bites his lip, smiling down at the ground. Hushed, like a confession, he adds, “Are you nervous, too?”

Buck looks back up at him then, eyes glittering in the dark. “Y-yeah. I am.”

They’ve reached the edge of the beach by now and bend down to take off their shoes without having to talk about it.

When they start walking again, they’re even closer than before, the backs of their hands, their elbows and shoulders all brushing with every step.

Eddie keeps stealing glances at Buck, and almost every time, Buck is already looking back.

There aren’t many people at the beach at this time of day, so they don’t come close to anyone else, and all they hear is the sand beneath their feet and the waves crashing a few feet away. The moon is big enough to be reflected on the sea, a beautiful sight, but Eddie still can’t look away from Buck for long.

“So, this is, uh, kind of romantic,” Buck blurts out after a few quiet minutes. “Right? I–I’m not misreading that?”

“No,” Eddie says. “I mean– you’re not misreading it.”

“But you’re nervous.”

When their knuckles brush again, Eddie stretches out his fingers and catches Buck’s, holding on. Buck’s own fingers tighten immediately, and it gives Eddie the last bit of courage he needs.

“Well, yeah. Buck–” He stops walking, and Buck follows, turning so he’s facing Eddie. He’s close enough that Eddie can see his expression despite the dark, and he looks terrified, hopeful, nervous and excited at the same time, all of which Eddie feels, too. Eddie takes a deep breath. “I’m nervous because– nothing…no one’s ever been this important.”

A smile spreads out across Buck’s face, slowly deepening the crinkles around his eyes. “So this was a date?”

“Did it feel like one to you, too?”

Buck’s smile widens. “Yeah, i–it did. And I’m–I’m nervous too, of course. Eddie, if we do this, there’s no going back for me. I can’t– lose you. You and Christopher, you’re too important.”

He pulls on Eddie’s hand a little, and Eddie takes another step closer, drops his shoes in the sand and places his free hand on Buck’s shoulder, thumb resting against his collarbone.

“It’s the same for me,” he says quietly. He shivers when Buck grabs his waist, the warmth of his hand seeping through Eddie’s shirt. “I– We don’t know what’s gonna happen. But, Buck– I love you. I love you so much, I have for…way longer than I was aware of it, and I just don’t see that going away. And I don’t think it’s fair to us to deny ourselves when I really think we could make each other– so happy. I know I can make you happy, and I want to prove it to you every day of my life, Buck.”

Buck is just staring at him with a dazed expression, his lips slightly parted, and Eddie suddenly can’t stand not kissing him for a second longer.

He slides his hand from Buck’s shoulder to the back of his neck, watches Buck’s eyes flutter shut and feels his fingers tighten on his waist, and then he’s finally, finally closing the distance between them.

Buck makes a soft sound against his mouth, like he’s still somehow surprised this is happening, but he gets on board very quickly, and Eddie stops thinking entirely.

When they pull back breathlessly, Eddie’s hair is a mess – he can feel the loose strands on his forehead – his lips are still tingling, and Buck’s got both arms wrapped around him tightly.

“In case that wasn’t clear,” Buck gasps, and lifts a hand to cup Eddie’s cheek. His thumb brushes over Eddie’s chin and caresses his lower lip, and Eddie presses a kiss to the pad of it. “I love you, too.”

[lemotmo]

Obsessed with the fact that we're all so confused 🤔

Q. It is show day and we can't even say for sure who wrote the freaking episode! No screeners went out! No one knows for sure if Eddie is even in the episode at this point. What are you doing Tim?!??

A. I was in a meeting and therefore wasn't able to check on the screener situation. I knew as of last night no one had received one, but now I guess they legitimately didn't send one out for this episode. The last time that happened was for episode 7x4. I refuse to attach that level of importance to this episode being as blind as we all are at this point, but that does tend to indicate there is something in this episode they didn't want spoiled or leaked. The mess on the production side of things is entirely Tim's fault and was entirely avoidable. I had hoped after the debacle that was the back half of season 7, especially the shit show that was the finale, that ABC would have insisted he stick to his production schedule and storylines as planned. That clearly didn't happen and it's now biting them all in the ass. It is a problem that ABC must absolutely address. A show in its 8th season should never have this level of production issues. It's inexcusable.

I do think Eddie will be in the episode, I just don't think he will have that many scenes. One maybe two, but he doesn't need a lot of scenes if the one or two he does have are big/meaningful. I know some people think the scenes he filmed for this episode were moved to Invisible but I don't see that. Karla would have absolutely had to have been given a co-directing credit for Invisible if they had used that much of her work. I don't think that's what happened here. We now have confirmation that the Sick Day episode was originally supposed to be episode 13, but they decided to add the Invisible episode between episode 12 and Sick Day. We just don't know why. But we can make a fairly educated guess. Hen's plot in Invisible was absolutely filler. It was good but it moved no story thread whatsoever. It was there simply to fill episode time. The point of the episode was Eddie and Chris. For whatever reason they decided they needed the Eddie and Chris situation somewhat 'resolved' for the audience prior to Sick Day. There is literally no other explanation for adding that episode. I have said all along that they couldn't fully devote Eddie to the Buddie plot, or even have much movement in the Buddie plot, until they resolved the Christopher situation and that's what Invisible did. It freed Eddie up for movement in his other storyline. It would not have been a good idea/look to have Eddie start exploring the Buck stuff while the Christopher stuff was still unresolved so they added an episode to wrap that thread up before fully moving onto the other storyline (while also making sure to add two more FaceTime calls to the Buddie plot, meaning they made a point of working the Buck stuff into the episode as well). I think Eddie is back in L.A by episode 16 and Christopher will follow by the finale. And I think they wanted Eddie free from the Christopher distraction to allow movement in the Buck and Eddie storyline. They want to give them scenes together that can be about THEM and not the Eddie and Chris situation. The Invisible episode allows them to do that now. Do I have proof this is why they did it? No. But it is literally the only reason that remotely makes sense.

Thank you Nonny!

Yeah, all of this makes so much sense. I agree with Ali. 😎

EDIT: Ali's mention that the journalists didn't get a screener for 7x04 isn't correct. They did get it a few days in advance. Neither of us clocked it! 🤣 For a bit more information on this, go here.

But again, we all know that this show doesn't always do 'sensible' storylines. So let's just sit down and watch the episode to finally find out what's going on. The waiting is almost over. 😋

Heads up! For anyone who is giving me the shifty eyes for reposting Ali's updates instead of reblogging. Read this.

Remember, no hate in comments, reblogs or inboxes. Let's keep it civil and respectful. Thank you.

If you are interested in more of Ali’s posts, you can find all of her posts so far under the tag: anonymous blog I love.

[periru3]

I feel like some Buddie shippers are out here feeling really good after that episode, and I do understand why, I get that we're living our best Abby-parallels, hurt-comforty lives and there's gonna be even more fic about Buck being profoundly emotionally unwell while living in Eddie's house and it isn't that I'm not here for that..... but also I am mostly out here feeling DEEPLY annoyed with Eddie's stupid life choices and bitchiness in a way I certainly wouldn't be if it weren't clear that the show thinks all his bad choices are good choices and Buck's the one being unreasonable.

Like, I think the show wants us to empathize with Buck. But also he's the one who ends up having to sort of just get over his issues and go be there for Eddie without Eddie ever apologizing or acknowledging that it's reasonable for Buck to feel hurt about this. Eddie only gives him the most half assed "you think I like this anymore than you do?" and "don't ask me to chose between you and my son cause you'll lose every time" when Buck has never asked him to do that and also Eddie has not done anything to show Buck that he will legitimately miss him. Cause he's allergic to displays of emotional intimacy with Buck in any form other than sharing his son with him. Like, truly it was hard for me to derive any shippy satisfaction from this episode when Eddie was just legitimately being a dick to Buck. I do deep down have to believe that Eddie is going to miss Buck a LOT, whether for gay reasons or just cause Buck is the second most important person in his life whether or not he admits it, but what was actually in this episode just felt, for once, like watching an emotionally unavailable straight guy (a thing I truly never think of Eddie as) revealing that he actually does just give less of a shit about Buck than Buck does about him and that he kind of takes Buck for granted and thinks he's being too much about how much he cares about Eddie - like, "I trust and care enough about you to write you into my will as my son's guardian if I die, but actually you're being weird by having an emotional reaction to me leaving you and not even acting sad about it." And I found that profoundly un-fun to watch.

Anyway, I think this plotline would be annoying me a hell of a lot less if the show wasn't clearly on Eddie's side. Like if he was acting this way and making these choices but people were questioning it at all like "hey are you sure you want to leave your extensive support system and life you like in LA? Are you positive that's completely necessary? Have you talked to Chris about this, and if not have you considered that that might be repeating some of the tendencies that got you in this mess? Have you considered taking some time off work and getting an Airbnb in Texas? Have you considered that Chris is 14 and giving him space is great and totally reasonable but letting him chose to fully move to Texas is maybe a bit much and not actually normal?" I might be fine with all this cause it would be forcing Eddie to confront his issues! But instead the show seems extremely determined for us to believe this IS what he has to do and what is best for himself and his family, but if they want me to believe that they really really need to show me just one single scene of Eddie actually talking to Chris about coming home and Chris telling him point blank he won't. But they haven't, so it just feels completely insane that everyone is acting like Eddie is making the obviously right call and they're all thrilled for him. What even was the point of the priest if he's gonna continue to be this way oh my god???

Anyway that episode has me so stressed and irritated with Eddie and generally with the writing of this whole plot line. Thrilled we're back, but god I am ready for this shit to be resolved, ideally in a way that involves Chris and Eddie back from Texas and actually addressing Eddie's damn issues.

[andavs]

Dooming a little here but honestly feel its way more likely we will get Buck & Chris talking all this through to show Buck stepping up and being part of the Diaz unit at a later date. Which would be great if they had given us anything on the Eddie & Chris side in these past 15 eps.

They would never have done an episode like this - all about the firefam - if Buck wasn't there for it. And of all the characters that actually needs to be shown working within that family its Eddie who has been woefully isolated before even going to Texas because none of the plot for the past 15 eps works for Eddie if anyone acted as his actual friend but whatever. The optimist in me is hoping that there's an actual good reason why the character who in canon is glaringly best set up to be part of the emergency in the last ep is quite literally the only main to (so far) not be apart of it. His absence was loud. But I'm not holding out much hope beyond him being stuck in Texas.

It sucks because I love Buddie but not at the expense of 1 of the 2 characters in it.

As much as I would hate to only get a Chris and Buck conversation about it, if it gave us any insight whatsoever into anything Chris has been feeling this entire time, I’d take it. I would absolutely hate it wasn’t with Eddie, but at least it would be something. Chris has been so inconsistently written since 7.10 that I need something to at least try to make it feel coherent.

There’s still time to get a good Eddie and Chris talk about moving back to cap things off, and hopefully address why Chris left and wouldn’t come back, but I’m not expecting much more than that after two episodes of peril and Bobby dying. I wouldn't be surprised if they just left it with the "you'll be my dad again" and called it a day. (which, fuck you, Tim)

As for Eddie missing from this arc… I’ve seen so many people say his absence is the point, but they also said that about him not being in Buck’s coma dream, so I’m not holding my breath. It could be! But it could also just be Tim’s procrastination and slapdash writing and magpie attention span fucking things up to the point where he couldn’t get Eddie back in time, despite already having thirteen episodes to wrap this shit up.

I’m still holding out hope that Eddie will find out and jump on a plane immediately, but even then, I don’t think he’d actually make it to them before it's over. I’m expecting that if he does come back before the funeral, it’ll be him running up to everyone once they’re already out and realizing Bobby’s missing from the group. Maybe he’ll hug Buck.

But I'm also half expecting Eddie to just show up at the funeral and they completely gloss over him finding out and coming back. Because that wouldn't be important, right? Bobby's just a boss to him, not a foundational pillar of his life or anything.

[fandomofisolation]

I'm not ready to believe that Buck and Tommy are done for good.

I'm just spitballing here, but I think I have some good reasons for that.

Here's why:

1.

Tommy agreed to go to Maddie's wedding with Buck and showed up still in his turnouts and covered in soot after a grueling 24 (?) hours of fire-fighting because he did not want to go back on that promise. And he kissed Buck in the middle of the hospital and allowed Buck to go into Chimney's hospital room with soot all over his face and met all Buck's family and friends.

Tommy was always talking about the 118 as a family and how he wanted to be a part of that.

Tommy took care of Buck when he dislocated his shoulder and slept over at Buck's place.

Tommy gave Buck a present for their six-month anniversary.

It's not giving "someone who doesn't think this is going to last". It's not giving "someone who is just here for a good time". What it IS giving is "someone who takes this relationship seriously". "Someone who just might be falling in love."

Here's what I'm thinking.

Tommy had just found out that his Buck is the half-her-age himbo that his ex-fiancée Abby dated after he broke off their engagement and "went a little crazy". Now, what we know about Tommy right now is that he has done a lot of work on himself, that he has grown a lot, and that he is a good person. I think it's safe to assume that he feels badly about breaking Abby's heart.

We've seen him talk about his past before, like on their first date or in Buck's loft when he made the "God I hope so" comment but he never really goes in depth. I think he's trying to shield Buck from his trauma. So yeah, when he talked about Abby, he's not gonna give Buck all the ugly details about his own journey. And of course the scene with Josh supports that with the comment about scars.

So Tommy is confronted with a visceral reminder of the woman he hurt. And he probably cared about her. And he probably feels bad. But that happened at a time when he was figuring himself out. He had just left the 118. He was dealing with some shit. He was doing the best he could. What's important here is that he was just embarking on the journey of embracing his sexuality. And for all we know, he might have been right around the age that Buck is right now.

So Tommy sees Buck as his former self. And all that guit comes back and turns into pure panic. Because if Buck is past-Tommy, then Tommy is past-Abby. And Tommy is not gonna let Buck do to him what he himself did to Abby.

But it's not about Buck. Tommy is projecting. This is Tommy's own regret and insecurity.

2.

There are some very important parallels in this episode that I would like to draw your attention to.

7.05: Buck and Tommy have their first date at a restaurant, which ends with Tommy leaving Buck standing in front of the restaurant alone because he doesn't think Buck is ready

8.06: Buck and Tommy have their six-month anniversary date at a restaurant and have a conversation that begins a chain of events which ultimately leads to Tommy breaking up with Buck because he thinks that Buck will break his heart

7.05: Eddie asked Marisol to move in with him, then freaked out and thought that he was going to have to break up with her but ultimately was persuaded that that was not the best course of action. (The fact that everything got fucked up when Kim came into the picture is later and has nothing to do with this. Marisol and Eddie were doing well after he asked her to move back out.)

8.06: Buck asked Tommy to move in with him and Tommy freaked out and "broke up" with Buck.......

7:05: Eddie is dealing with rediscovering a faith that he didn't think was still important to him, because the girl he is dating used to be a nun-in-training

8.06: Eddie is dipping his toe back into the pool of practising his faith and runs into the priest he confessed to at a juice bar, where said priest arguably may have been flirting with him

7.05: Eddie shows up to Buck's apartment because he doesn't know what to do about Marisol. Buck tells Eddie that he and Tommy were on a date but Tommy "dumped" him. Eddie convinces Buck not to give up and tells him to call Tommy. Buck convinces Eddie not to break up with Marisol.

8.06: Buck shows up to Eddie's house because Tommy just "broke up" with him............

3.

This show has a an established pattern of couples + second chances. Maddie even does a whole speech about it at one point.

Let's review:

- Buck thinks that Abby's complicated life is too much for him and tells Bobby that he thinks he's going to break up with her. Bobby convinces him not to and that relationship becomes the best and most transformative relationship of Buck's life...until now.

- Bobby and Athena start dating then have a fight about how Athena is ashamed of him and Bobby doesn't want to be a secret but Michael (Athena's GAY ex-husband..ahem..) convinces her not to give up on it.

- When Athena asked Bobby to move in with her (ahem), Bobby freaks out (AHEM) and we think he's going to break it off but he actually ends up proposing.

- in a flashback, we see that Hen and Karen broke up earlier in their relationship but Chimney once again got involved and got them back together by convincing Karen to try again.

- Hen full on CHEATED on Karen with her crazy ex (I know, we don't like to talk about it) and Karen moved out. But Hen fought for her and she came back. Now they're better than ever.

- Eddie and Shannon were separated for a long time, but they eventually got back together

- Maddie and Chimney were really good friends and falling in love but Maddie wasn't ready. And Chimney was sad but he understood. (2.08) Then Maddie decides to divorce Doug and asks Chimney out. (2.11)

- After Doug almost kills both Chimney and Maddie, they try to pick up where they left off but whatever they were about to have is gone and they're not getting it back. (2.14) But Maddie still won't give up and suggests that they try to have something else. (2.18)

- Buck and Taylor hooked up but fought about Taylor's journalistic ethics. However, they eventually reconnected and end up dating.

- Buck kissed Lucy and freaked out and asked Taylor to move in with him. When he told Taylor that's what happened, she was PISSED but they worked it out and she stayed.

- After Maddie went to Boston, Maddie and Chimney broke up because they grew apart, or grew while they were apart. BUT they continue coparenting amicably, have a one-night stand and buy a house together. And of course, get engaged and eventually married!

- Natalia learned about Lucy, Taylor and Kameron all in one night and decided that Buck's life was too full and too complicated for her. But she came back after realizing that Buck was worth it and the fullness and complexity was a good thing.

- We've already talked about Eddie and Marisol and Buck and Tommy the first time.

---

IN CONCLUSION, DO YOU SEE THE VISION??

I think that Eddie, once again, is going to help Buck gain some perspective and convince him not to give up on Tommy. I think Buck is going to fight for Tommy and Tommy is going to work through some stuff and realize that he was acting out of fear. And I think they're going to get back together!!

---

Note: This could work for bucktommy OR buddie end game.

Of the couples I mentioned in my list of second chances, the three main couples all stayed together, eventually getting married. But Eddie and Buck have each had 2-3 instances (Shannon and Marisol, and Abby, Taylor and Natalia, respectively) where their relationships seemed like they were going to end (or did end) but they worked through it, AND THEN LATER actually did end anyway for a completely different reason.

So what I'm saying is that Buck and Tommy could end up like Bathena, Madney or Henren, or they could go the route of Buck's and Eddie's previous relationships and eventually end, which would be very sad but okay as long as it were for a good reason.

[buddiebeginz]

If they are keeping Lou around for any part of season 8 the show has to put an end to the cameo nonsense. Some of the Buck/Oliver takes that are starting to make the rounds are next level insane. I saw one scolding Oliver for making Lou do all the promoting of the ship. Another post said the writers needed to up Buck's game because he's not at the level of commitment yet that Tommy is being written (wtf when were these episodes). And yet another post scolding Oliver for promoting Buddie and Buck for continuing to spend time with Eddie.

They are taking these PAID (you paid him to say this shit) videos and making them canon. No part of anything he's saying is canon. Firstly, he wouldn't be allowed to tell them any actual canon facts and secondly Oliver/Buck is the character/actor the show gives a shit about. He's encouraging this nonsense and it's gross. Him promoting himself is fine, it's low-key cringe given the fact the other half of the ship is silent but you do you, babe. Oliver's silence is what's pissing his fans off. Seriously tell me you're new to Captain Starks ways without telling me you're new. He promotes no ship but the Buddie ship, canon or not. These people are here for Lou. When he goes, happy for him to take them with him.

I'm not sure why they keep letting him do those cameos especially after he pissed people off when he said T*mmy being homophobic and racist to Hen and Chim was just teasing. He also talked about people recognizing him in Thailand in the AH interview and did this fake stereotypical asian accent. 🤦‍♀️He really needs a better agent and some media training because they'd for sure tell him to knock that shit off.

I could see the cameos being fun to do a few times when he first came back to the show even to garner excitement about B/T and T*mmy but the fact that he's done so many now and has even raised the price just makes him look desperate for attention. And like you said he gives all these headcanons about T*mmy in his videos that his obsessive fans have taken for absolute fact. We would never hear the end of it if Buddie fandom was paying Ryan for videos like that.

I agree with you that a majority of B/T stans are here first and foremost for T*mmy and Lou not Buck and Oliver. I still can't believe that a lot of them used to be Buddie shippers. I think everyone should be able to ship what they want including multishipping but I don't get how some of them dropped a ship they were seemingly invested in for years for the nothing that is B/T.

That part of fandom also loves to call us delusional and say we're seeing only what we want to see but a lot of times we're just pointing out what's actually happening. Like in the recent episode T*mmy was being a downer to Buck's enthusiasm (which has basically become the norm for them). The camera also paned to Eddie after Buck got his award not T*mmy. Buck chose to run off to Eddie's after work not to T*mmy's. These are things the show is literally showing us not just stuff we're imagining.

It's similar with Oliver. They can come up with all the reasons in the world why he's never promoted B/T through this entire season but it doesn't matter because he still hasn't and likely won't. I've seen them say Oliver doesn't post anything about B/T or Lou to avoid dealing with the hate or to not upset Buddie fans or to protect Lou. The thing is though Oliver has left social media before when he's had issues and could again if he wanted to. He's also been dealing with homophobic comments since Buck came out but he's never shied away from talking about Buck coming out and has even addressed the hate on his insta.

Oliver liked a couple of B/T pieces of art when the story first happened but I think that was more to support the bi Buck storyline and the artists than anything else. Multiple times during this season he's liked Buddie art (including a tattoo which he commented on three times) he's also posted Buddie related and Ryan stuff on his stories. If he wanted to show support to Lou or B/T he could easily post on his stories where people can't comment. B/T stans can think what they want but it's clear Oliver doesn't promote any of that because he's rooting for Buddie harder than anyone. I think he knows B/T isn't going to be around forever and he's trying not to lead people on about it as he's said in the past he hates to do that.

I really hope we can get rid of T*mmy at the end of s7 although knowing Tim he'll probably keep him for added drama until s8. Unfortunately even when B/T ends I expect those fans to do a lot of complaining because they've concocted this whole idea in their head that T*mmy is Buck's endgame soulmate. They even want T*mmy to be added on as main character and get a begins episode. So I fully expect some of them to riot when he inevitably gets the ax. The rest will probably run back to Buddie the minute it becomes canon and try to pretend they never left. Jokes on them though because a lot of Buddie shippers have blocked them for how awful they've been this season especially towards Eddie.

[cal-daisies-and-briars]

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞

93 for ❄️:

---

Eddie exhales. “Okay. I, uh… I trust you.”

And he does. For whatever reason. He does. 

ix.

A few days later, Eddie books the weekend of the Cardinals game off from work no issue. Bobby is practically giddy to send him off.

“This will be good for you, Eddie,” he says. “I’m really happy to hear you’re meeting, well, literally half way.”

“Thank you, Bobby,” Eddie says, cheeks a little warm. There’s something about encouragement from Bobby that goes further for him than most people. He sees why Buck is sort of hooked on it. It’s easier to believe in yourself, when Bobby believes in you.

For a second, Eddie has the strange urge to tell Bobby everything. To come out to him. To tell him all about therapy and Charlie and that he really is doing better. He’s being better. He thinks Bobby would be proud of him. 

But he doesn’t say anything. 

His mouth simply doesn’t open when his brain tries to convey the thought. 

▪️▪️▪️

Buck is, of course, ecstatic for him. 

They chat about it while restocking the engine that afternoon. He’s tried texting Charlie about it, too. But he must already be traveling to see his brother, because he hasn’t replied yet. 

“Man, this is great,” Buck grins at him when Eddie explains the situation. “This is going to change things. I can feel it.”

“You can feel it, huh?” Eddie raises an eyebrow.

“Yep,” Buck insists. “He’s going to be surly at first, but then he’ll realizes how much he misses you, and he’ll go back to El Paso, and your mom will annoy him-”

“Wait, what?” Eddie asks. 

“You think you’re the only person on earth who finds her annoying?” Buck asks.

“Should you be insulting my mom?” Eddie asks, genuinely unsure.

“Yes,” Buck replies. “After what I witnessed in May? Yes.”

“Fair enough,” Eddie mutters.

“Anyway, your mom’ll get on his nerves, and he’ll be less angry, and he’ll remember, hey, Dad is never this uptight, and boom, you’ll be booking flights to go get him,” Buck says. 

Eddie smiles softly. “I think it’s a bit more complicated than that. But I appreciate your optimism.”

Buck shrugs. 

“Name one time in my life I’ve ever been wrong about…” Buck trails off, looking at a point beyond Eddie. His expression changes. “Uh, hello? Can we help you?”

Eddie looks over his shoulder to see a tall, familiar looking man walk into the station. He’s dressed in street clothing, bouncing car keys back and forth between his hands. It takes Eddie maybe three seconds to recognize him in person, rather than over Zoom. 

Charlie.

Charlie… 

Why is Charlie here?

“Charlie?” Eddie asks. 

Charlie stops short. “Eddie?” 

Buck looks between them. “You guys know each other?”

“Wh-why are you here?” Eddie asks. “I didn’t… I didn’t tell you where I worked.”

“You work… You work here.” Charlie’s face is pale. “This is… Oh, Jesus.”

“You’re not here for me,” Eddie realizes aloud. “You’re here for…”

His brother.

All at once, the dots connect in Eddie’s brain. Like tiny, individual puncture wounds. The brother who’s an addict. Dead sister-in-law. Dead niece and nephew. Both of them left their home state… Now, all Eddie can see is the identical hazel of their eyes. Oh fuck. 

“Eddie?” Buck asks.

“I’m sorry,” Charlie blurts. “I had no idea. Eddie, I had no idea.”

A fourth voice enters the conversation, a few paces away from Buck and Eddie. 

“Guys, what’s going… Charlie?” 

Bobby. 

---

I can't quite give you 99 for 🪞, because of reasons. Gonna wrap up the first chapter after this snippet. So here's something:

---

Another shrug.

Fair enough. How does a kid know how to screen a potential parent? Again. She’s just six.

“Well, how about this,” he suggests. “I’ll tell you a bit about me, and you can stop me and ask whatever you want? Or tell me anything about you?”

“Okay,” she says, then takes a sip of juice. 

“Alright, so,” Buck says, then trails off a little. This is harder than he thought. “Well, you know I’m a firefighter. And that’s kind of my favorite thing. But… Uh, I also like to cook. And be active.”

Why is he saying this like it’s a dating profile? 

“Uh, okay, and… I have an older sister. Maddie. I have a niece. My best friend, Eddie, he’s also one of the firefighters you met… He lives around the corner. He’s super fun.”

Dove looks a little overwhelmed with all the information. None of this means anything to her. At least not yet. 

Buck takes a deep breath and recalibrates. 

“Have you been to the zoo before, Dove?”

She shakes her head. 

“Well, I really like to go to the zoo. Maybe you and I can go together sometime?”

Dove considers this. 

“Okay,” she nods. “To see reptiles?”

Buck smiles. She really likes those reptiles, huh? 

“Absolutely,” he promises. “There’s a whole big building full of them.”

“Cool,” she says, a coy little smile on her face. Like she’s nervous about finally getting something she wants. 

“What’s your favorite reptile?” Buck asks. “Crocodiles?”

“And turtles,” she says. “And tortoises.”

“Oh, yeah. They’re super cool, too.”

“They take their houses with them,” she announces. 

“They do,” Buck nods. “That’s pretty neat.”

[alchemistc]

hi catie how are you! i'm here to ask for 1 2 and 3!

HI HELLO I AM BAD BUT LIFE'S LIKE THAT SOMETIMES AND I APPRECIATE YOU ASKING!

outsider pov alt meeting bucktommy (eddie's version)

Tommy's cool. Again, not someone he would have clocked on his own, and Tommy seems to prefer it that way, but he's cool, all the same. Charms Chris just as much as Buck does, has an easy way about him that Eddie can make a few guesses at the origin of. He screams daddy issues, and Eddie gels with that. The breakup (one of many, as Eddie's come to find out) lasts a week and a half and then Tommy shows up at the station for lunch to greet them all like nothing's been amiss for eight days

2. destiel post-canon fix-it

(yarrow jsyk the only reason i posted that ask is bc i wanted to share something about this fic and since i never once interacted in any fandom spaces while the show was airing i needed the excuse, so thank you)

Jack is doing renovations, he says, and he needs a place to relocate (store, he says originally, and Dean grumbles and corrects him and gives God a noogie) a few souls while he works out the kinks. Sam blinks. Dean nods. "Okay, bud," Dean says, while Sam is trying to wrap his mind around the pocket dimension Jack had explained to them, that apparently didn't do a great job of containing souls In The Know. ("They keep tearing holes in the fabric of reality," Jack said like e was talking about a nervous Malinois that kept freeing itself from it's crate. "It's not their fault. I should have known it wouldn't work anyway, that's the reason I have to renovate.") There's something going on with Dean.

3. tommy moves into the loft after losing his house (pt 2)

"Tommy, I'm not --." He pauses. Shifts his weight, and stares at Tommy like he's trying to solve a puzzle. It's times like these he wishes he had the ability to suck himself into a black hole, disappear. "I'm not dating," he finishes, and frowns. Tommy munches. Swallows. Wishes he had the energy to get up and pour himself a glass of water. "Why not?" If he sounds a little annoyed, he hopes Evan doesn't notice it. Relieved would be worse, but annoyed is bad enough as it is. Evan should be dating. He'd walked out the door behind him months ago hoping at least one of them would make it out of this relationship with a hope of moving on. Tommy'd fucked a Grindr hookup two weeks after and then deleted the app. Painted his living room and took a sledgehammer to the wall that he'd been thinking about removing for at least six months. Retiled his kitchen backsplash and spent a week reorganizing his toolboxes. Fuck, the toolboxes. He'd had at least ten grand dropped into those. He can't remember the last time he inventoried it -- another fight with his insurance he's not looking forward to.

[cosmicclownboy]

Look there was always going to be ONE show that did the canonizing of a heavily popular m/m pairing first. If we're being honest a lot of fans wanted their show to be first.

The reality is a lot of the reasons it doesn't go there is because 1.the network they are on and 2. the viewership numbers and demographics they choose to target. What people don't get is half the time the actors and the show WANT to go there. Supernatural the NDA's may of been ironclad but the actors disappointment is forever visible.

Now when it comes to 9-1-1 imo I think why they went fuck it lets do it is multiple factors.

This was always a queer show since day 1. People can fight it deny it try and jump through hoops but since day 1 it has centered queer characters regularly. In real life queer people are drawn together whether they have figured it out or not so Buck and Eddie and Hen all actively working on the same rig makes sense to me. Just like Tommy being gay and originally being on the rig makes sense to me. It's always unintentional but it happens. And probably part of the safety for being there is knowing they will always be actively accepted regardless even if they don't know who they are.

The network change. Now being on Fox they clearly had marked the demographics they cared about the most and threw an odd crumb here and there to the younger fans. And I think that's changed. I think with the transition of networks they just want viewership numbers to be high. Which means looking at what all fans want in general. People were never clambering the seats for Buddie because they were two hot men or whatever. It was about how they both had queer coding and that their relationship moments would often parallel the romantic pairings in the show. Further giving more queer coding. When one of the men is having a panic attack and admitting that they are performing when being with women my thought isn't damn he'll meet the right one eventually. It's um buddy are you sure you like women? And with Buck- Eddie's introduction is centered on his pov so the mighty good man song the slow mo that's all Buck's seeing. There was actively nothing about Buck that was straight he's always been open and nurturing.

THEY HAD A CHANCE TO DO THE FUNNIEST THING AND THEY DID. Between the memeability of Buck being canonized Bi in 4 episodes with a different network. The sheer amount of fandoms who went through the M/M queer coded long running shows - they had an audience they could target with good results. People are already starting the show because Buck got to be himself .And they have actively marketed to Buddie fans.. The interviews with the actors. Buck's bi walkthrough being a positive experience with a guest star. Everything about this story is treated with respect because it was never just the fans who wanted this. Poor Oliver wanted Buck to be kissing men for years. AND ALL THE QUEER CHARACTERS DOING FAMILY FUEDS DURING PRIDE MONTH!!!! Iconic marketing actually. We love to see it.

And lastly out of every m/m pairing Buck/Eddie is the easiest imo to sway general audiences. Think about it. Buck and Eddie are basically raising a child together. Eddie wrote a will that said if he dies Buck raises his son. Eddie forces himself to be with women who he doesn't like out of duty. Buck seeks out unattainable women or relationships he know won't work. WHY IS THAT? The story gives a reason to both characters behavior. Why they keep repeating the same patterns over and over. You won't stop the closeminded people and the ones who are biphobic or ignorant but it opens the door for fans who are none of those things. And changes the game of television.

[saveahorserideaneddie]

Can I ask you to list a couple things you do like about the show? Or the actors? Or the characters? Or heck anything 911 related? Because it seems like you and your other anons don’t like anything to do with any aspect of it at all from the writers down to the smallest of storyline details 😅

which at that point is probably a good time to step back and stop engaging with it either temporarily or permanently since all it’s gonna do is continue to feed into the negativity your having over it since nothing seems to be bringing you joy about it.

can yall not read? like seriously can yall not read the words when i say “i am not goign to watch season 8 until something good happens”

i feel like a goddamn parrot on here when people like you keep coming into my inbox with this same fucking “maybe you should step back” thing like yeah that’s what i have been fucking saying????

im not going to stop interacting with my friends on here- that’s out of the question. i still love being involved in the fanfic community and i still love the first 5 seasons of the show, but im not going to lie and say that i have been pleased with the most recent installments. if you actually took the time to read my blog and what i talk about you would see that i adore eddie and his queer subtext. i adore buddie as a ship, probably to a crazy degree. i love henren, and bathena, and madney. josh russo is literally one if my favorite canonically queer characters on tv.

i adore this cast with the exception of the talentless nepo baby half the fandom wanna suck the dick of (god knows why other than he’s a fugly white man who kissed their favorite white boy) i love seeing them interact with each other outside of the show.

can i ask you what the writers have given us to actually enjoy the past two seasons? other than the madney wedding? nothing else has been decently written, or taken the story in a positive direction. yeah, we got bi buck but he’s in a relationship with a literal misogynistic racist man who has had repeatedly treated buck horribly with no acknowledgement whatsoever. so no, i don’t like the writers or tim minear at the moment because they have had every opportunity to usher in something positive for eddie, but no bc tim “this show is a drama” minear would rather give the happy plots to his white characters while running his poc characters through more unnecessary trauma and pain (with the exception of chimney, although his happy plotline only happened after he was near-fatally sick an entire episode and bobby whose plotline was centered around a black man’s trauma being dug up and thrown in his face)

the earlier season of this show were such a joy to watch live when it felt like there was actually care going into it from the showrunners and writing team, but lately it’s just them throwing darts at whatever wack-ass drama plot they can think of.

this cast works too fucking hard for the vapid shit they get given to act out each week.

which is why i (once again, in case you were about to gloss over this) I AM NOT WATCHING SEASON EIGHT UNTIL SOMETHING IS DONE TO FIX THE MESS THEY MADE

perhaps writing it in bold, italicized caps will make it easier for you to get it through your head.

and as far as “my anons” if you actually had enough confidence in your message, then why are you hiding behind anon, hm?

i have said multiple times i love interracting with my friends and fandom content that doesn’t have to do with spec. i have said multiple times im holding off on season 8. i have never said i hate the cast or i hate every single plotline the show has ever had, but you know what i did hate? how s6 and s7 turned the show into a fucking ooc mess. it is within my rights as a fan to dislike a season of a show for valid reasons.

what’s not okay is you coming into my inbox repeatedly saying “take a break” when i’ve said multiple fucking times that i plan to rather than just blocking me if youre so offended by people agreeing with me that the show is at a make it or break it point.

please kindly take yourself out of my space if you’re not going to actually take the time to read the words i post and just immediately send me anonymous hate because you didn’t like my posts

[bucks-little-hop]

bones are good (the rest don't matter) 2.5k

For Buddie Week Day 2: Protective Eddie - Co-Parenting - "I can tell you're not fine"

Read on ao3 here

Bake sale days at Christopher’s school were Buck’s favourite, but they never seemed to go off without a hitch Yes, Buck had been banned from having a clipboard. No, he did not want to talk about how he lost it. He may or may not have yelled at Chimney for incorrectly folding in the ingredients for an angel food cake, but that was besides the point. He was not allowed to do his large scale cooking projects at the station anymore. Instead, he had packed Eddie up with a box of the few that didn’t look the best but would still taste amazing. The 118 may have made fun of Buck for his ability to unhinge his jaw and swallow his food whole but he saw how they acted for his triple fudge brownies. He knew that they would be begging for more when they saw him. He already knew Eddie would bring it up when he joined them after his shift. Buck hated not being on the same shift, but sacrifices had to be made so Christopher could continue to brag that his baked goods sold out the fastest.  He may not have helped as much with the baking, but he did quality check the taste so he got some credit.

The actual bake sale itself was mundane. Lots of parents and kids flitting around the room, following whichever sweet treat called to them. As predicted, Buck was out of brownies within the second hour. Who knew 100 brownies wouldn’t enough? Buck did, he may not have had a clipboard, but he still had a notes app on his phone he could check things off. He had done all the math based on previous bake sales, and knew approximately how fast they would sell out. That was why he had a box of cannolis sitting in a cooler in his car. He could not be bested by Jessica, who claimed she could raise the most money. She was a newer parent in the district, only joining at the start of the school year three months before. She, and her daughter Rachel, seemed to cause problems at every turn. Buck had listened to Eddie express his distain for her after one particularly awful PTA meeting. The only positive of it was Jessica always brought out Eddie’s disgusted face, which Buck found quite adorable. Buck couldn’t wait for the two of them to debrief on the couch tonight. 

Buck let Christopher know he was running out to the car. He resisted the urge to press a kiss into Christopher’s curls. They were firmly in that pre-teen stage where either of his dads were more often than not embarrassing. It did warm Buck’s heart. He got to embarrass Christopher the same way his dad did. He still had his doubts about his place in the Diazes’ lives sometimes. With moments like this, it eased some of his general nerves. He knew he wouldn’t just be put into Eddie’s will for no reason. He also knew the hidden adoption paperwork on Eddie’s side of the room didn’t exist for no reason. It was the same reason Buck had a ring hidden in his sock drawer. Neither were hidden well, but just waiting for the right moment to be addressed. Things were good between Buck and Eddie. Maybe even a little too good. There hadn’t been any major injuries at work in a few months. They hadn’t had any sort of major fight in at least half a year. Knowing who they both were as people, it was clear they were both just waiting for the other shoe to drop. It was something Buck made a note of in his phone to address at their next therapy session together. He took the moment to also send Eddie a text, letting him know the bake sale was all to plans. Buck really should have known better than give the universe the potential to jinx him. 

Buck got side tracked on his way back to the gym. He couldn’t pass up an opportunity to hear the science teacher talk about the upcoming field trip, and how they were so excited that Buck had volunteered to chaperone. It did mean that overall it took about 10 minutes longer than expected. Eddie had mentioned one late night that neither he or Shannon were as extroverted as Christopher, and he got that trait all from Buck. It was one of those jokes they had that always left Buck with a slight skip in his step. Of course it crumbled down as soon as he got back into the gym.

Across from the entrance Buck could see Jessica and Rachel talking with a clearly upset Christopher. Buck couldn’t make out their words, but based on the smug look on Rachel’s face, he could make some guesses. He hurried over to the trio.

“Thanks for holding the fort down while I was gone. I’ve got everything I need from the car, so you’re free to go roam again Christopher.” Buck did his best to keep his tone light. He slid back behind the table and started to set out the new treats. He wanted there to be an way for Christopher to escape if he wanted. The younger boy, strangely enough, did decide to leave and go wander around. It was an indication he was upset about what had been said, but more clearly that it was something said about Buck. 

“Jessica, Rachel. So lovely to see the two of you.” He plastered on his fakest of nice smiles on. It was the one he used on calls when whoever they were rescuing could not take the hint that he was taken and had no interest. “I thought you would be completely swamped with your cupcakes.” Buck could not wait for Eddie to arrive. He knew that the other man would have so many bitchy opinions on the lavender earl grey cupcakes Jessica had made. ‘Really Buck, what kid likes earl grey? Just make a vanilla or something and put colourful frosting on it.’

“Hello there Buck. We had just been talking about how Christopher’s father made the brownies today but I don’t see Eddie anywhere.” Jessica seemingly pretended to look around the room before making eye contact with Buck again. “I had thought it was that parents providing the treats, not family friends.” She always had that fake tone quality to her voice. The one where a person could sound just so sweet and innocent, but knew that they were picking words specifically to cut deep. 

“As we have covered before, both Eddie and I are Christopher’s parents. So yes, these are made by a parent. Even still, I didn’t see anyone complaining about Stephen’s clearly store bought cookies.” It wasn’t that Buck had forgotten Jessica was homophobic, it was more of one of those cases where she had so many bad qualities it didn’t make sense how they all fit inside a person. If Buck was a betting man anywhere outside the station he would certainly have bet that Jessica or Rachel had made a comment that Christopher should be sitting down instead of standing up before he came over. They really would need to talk with the Principal if this continued.

“The instructions just said the parents had to bring something, not that it was homemade.” Jessica threw her hair over her shoulder. “As much fun as this is, I should go and talk to some of the actual parents.” She gave Buck no room to respond before walking off.

Buck wouldn’t have responded anyways. There was nothing that was nice and true that he could have said to Jessica. He was also trying to be the bigger person and keep their children out of whatever petty fights the parents decided to have. He filled his time with idle chat with any of the other parents, teachers, or children who made their way around. He would need to let Eddie know to suggest next time that perhaps 4 hours was far too long of a time for these to go on. Who even suggested it? Probably Jessica, making up some annoying story about how it would be most effective if it was longer so everyone could show up to buy something. 

Eddie finally showed up with about a half an hour to go. He looked almost dead on his feet. Buck hadn’t gotten any texts about any particularly bad calls. Then again, he hadn’t heard much from the team today. Seemed like it was probably just a day of minor non-stop calls. The shift had been operating as a mostly medical team that day, so probably many visits to the few nursing homes in their radius for calls that didn’t really need to be emergency calls. Buck’s suspicious were confirmed when his greeting kiss to Eddie lasted a little longer than the older man would normally allow. Eddie still wasn’t the biggest on PDA. In private, he had no problems showing Buck with affection, but years of repressing your sexuality didn’t just go away overnight. Buck didn’t mind, he knew Eddie just showed his love different in public. Almost as if Eddie knew Buck’s train of thinking, he stole one of the last cannolis from the box.

“Oh I see how it is. You thought you could distract me while you stole from your son’s school.” Buck teased, bumping his shoulder into Eddie. He jostled Eddie slightly, leading to some of the filling to end up on his nose. Eddie’s eyes crossed as he looked at it causing Buck to let out a soft chuckle. 

“You know me, nothing I love more than stealing from children.” Eddie responded while wiping his nose off. He wrapped an arm around Buck’s waist and leant slight on the taller man. “Did I miss anything exciting?”

“Nothing interesting today. I did hear a rumour that Iris is cheating on her husband with Kyle.” It was not quite a legal obligation to fill Eddie in on all the gossip he heard, but it may as well have been.  “It did come from Mariah however, so I’ll need a second source on that one.” 

“I thought Kyle had been cheating on his wife with Anne.” Eddie spoke softly while waving over at Christopher with his free hand. He’d say hi to him on their way out. Whatever game the kids had invented was far more exciting than the boring parent discussion going on.

Buck was getting ready to respond that yes, Kyle was still seeing Anne and Iris was just going to add to that drama. He didn’t get the chance, as Jessica had made it her mission to come back over.

“Ah Eddie! It is so nice to see that we finally have another parent here.” Jessica was always a little nicer to Eddie than she was Buck. Buck assumed it had to do with the fact that Eddie was Christopher’s biological father, so he had to have been with a woman at some point. 

“I don’t think another parent being here really makes a difference. But if you’re so concerned with the amount of parents here your husband could finally show up. It’s interesting that we haven’t met him yet.” Eddie shot back. 

“Well he is in Hong Kong for business this week, so unfortunately he couldn’t make it.” Jessica’s face morphed into the frown she always got about her husband. It was a weird mixture of pretend sad and a ‘I’m better than you because my husband is important’ face. Buck had many doubts on whether or not the husband actually existed, or wasn’t just always out of the house from how unpleasant his wife was. He was sure it would come up when he and Eddie talked later. 

“Rachel at least has me here, so she’s got a parent represented. Christopher just had your friend here the whole time.” 

Buck felt Eddie’s grip tighten on his waist. Maybe Eddie should have just gone home, it wasn’t with him getting into a fight because he was tired. If he was only slightly bitchy Buck would allow it.

“Buck was here the whole time. Just because you don’t recognize my fiancé as a parent doesn’t make it true. You have a lot of opinions that aren’t accurate, like the fact you thought that those shoes were a good choice for that outfit.” Jessica tried to open her mouth to respond, but Eddie cut her off before she got the chance. “I really don’t think you want to cause a scene in public like this, but if you don’t leave in the next 10 seconds I will start yelling.” 

If there was one thing Jessica hated above all else, it was a public scene. You couldn’t right fight in those, they just made everyone look bad. She couldn’t have her social image disturbed because Eddie didn’t want to hold back. She left with a huff.

Buck’s brain had frozen on the word fiancé, and was processing a reboot the rest of that conversation. He must have had some sort of look on his face, because Eddie was suddenly in front of him, hand resting on Buck’s collarbone in a oh so familiar spot. Eddie had the decency to look a little sheepish.

“I know we hadn’t really talked about it, but you didn’t hid it all that well. I’ve been calling you that for weeks in my head, waiting for it to be true.” Eddie’s voice had a bit of nervous quality to it. “I know Jessica doesn’t really matter, but I hate that anyone can look at you and not know how important you are to me. I know you're not fine when other's act like Christopher isn't yours.” 

Buck gave Eddie a quick kiss on the forehead before pulling him into a hug. If they were not standing in a middle school gymnasium he would certainly have given Eddie a much different kind of kiss. “I really don’t know if that counts as a proposal, but thanks for stealing my thunder. I can’t wait to tell everyone how we got engaged. We can discuss it more when we get home, but you know there is nothing I want more than to be able to call you my husband and to sign those documents to make Christopher legally mine.” 

Buck already had plans to hide the ring in Eddie’s coffee the next morning. He could get his cheesy moment where he got to tell Eddie how much he loved the other man and how much joy he and Christopher brought to Buck’s life. He would also get to watch a barely awake Eddie not notice anything was up until he finished his entire first cup and was going to fill it up again. Eddie was going to hate a morning proposal, but Buck already knew he would compromise on an afternoon wedding so it would all work out.

[karenandhenwilson]

Thoughts about Eddie's season 7 arc

We've all talked a lot about the scene were Buck comes out to Eddie. With good reason. It was an important scene for Buck and it was a great scene for any queer person watching how it can be to come out to a good friend and be just accepted.

But I think that we might have missed something important about Eddie because our focus was understandably on the second half of that conversation.

And that we missed something about his storyline in the second half of the season. Eddie says to Buck "You and Tommy have the right idea. Stay single!" (And yes, I know, the Eddie gay truthers have talked about the line, but I think they missed the point because they only have the goal to find proof for their headcanon in the analysis of any given scene. For the record, I'm firmly in the camp of headcanoning(!) Eddie on the demi end of the aro/ace spectrum.) He also mentions he would need to break up with Marisol a couple of sentences earlier.

I think aside from the whole Catholic aspect, it says a lot about Eddie's mindset regarding his relationship. Because it shows that he doesn't think much about how to work through his discomfort, how to reconcile with Marisol and truly start anew with their relationship, despite us seeing them say those words.

I think what we see in this scene of Eddie's thoughts is already an indication of what will happen later in the season. Despite just having asked Marisol to move in with him, he doesn't really hold tightly to the relationship. I think we see here, that part of Eddie is already out of that relationship even if he doesn't recognize that. Or maybe he does recognize it and that's the reason why he suddenly asked Marisol to move in with him. Because there was no indication of that before this episode--Marisol moving in with Eddie and Chris came completely out of the blue.

So, it's probably no wonder that Eddie didn't even hesitate when he told Kim that it was just him and Chris. I have already shared some thoughts about Eddie's quest to look for a woman in his life to fill a role that nearly everyone tells him he needs to fill here. I'm convinced that is the only reason he still held onto the relationship with Marisol at this point.

Overall, I think it's a brilliant piece of storytelling of how Eddie's storyline in the second half of the season was foreshadowed in the first half. There is not just this insight in his thoughts about his relationship with Marisol aside from his reaction to her being a nun in episode 5.

The whole foreshadowing started right in episode 1, when Chris struggles with Shannon's abandonment. (And I think the letter is bullshit. And it's especially bullshit to pretend that it just solved all of Chris' complicated feelings surrounding his mother.) For one, of course, there is Shannon's ghost showing up when Chris reads the letter which is in retrospect a big sign that there was more to come. But there is also Eddie's very raw desperation we see in those scenes.

It is really very clearly written over the whole first half of the season that something would come up about Shannon and Eddie would once more be caught up in his grief--that I believe he never truly worked through.

I shared my thoughts about this in a little post a couple of weeks ago, too, but I think it's worth repeating it: Grief isn't linear. It comes back to haunt you in unexpected ways even years after losing someone.

What we see of Eddie's grief this season isn't anything of what we have seen previously. Because it's brought back by his son growing up and reaching a time in his life where he starts questioning his childhood memories, and where he starts processing those memories differently. If Chris has to deal with everything he feels and thinks about his mother again, of course Eddie is confronted with all of it, too. Chris questioning his mother's actions means that Eddie has to face these exact same questions and that might give him another perspective, too.

So, as much as I hate the whole Kim part of this storyline, the more I think about it, the more I believe it's overall a very good story. One we'll see continued in season 8 (at least I'd be very surprised and disappointed if it's just forgotten as other storylines were in the past).