#everyone gets the bobby & athena news

[firewasabeast]

prompt: the rest of the 118 see tommy and buck be affectionate together for the first time. not just the aftermath, like with the wedding kiss, but they actually witness it. cuteness overload!

It took a few weeks for everything to calm down enough for everyone to get together.

The 118 was adjusting to working under Captain Gerrard.

Bobby and Athena were adjusting to moving into an apartment half the size of their house.

Hen and Karen were adjusting to visits with Mara every chance they could get.

Chimney and Maddie were adjusting to having two young girls running around the house.

Eddie was adjusting to being alone.

And Buck was less adjusting and more enjoying his new romance with Tommy.

He didn't mention Tommy much at work. He got sick of Gerrard's one-off comments pretty quickly. Usually, he would have been egging him on every chance he got, but it turns out he was more protective of Tommy than he originally realized, and anytime his name came out of Gerrard's mouth it made him want to punch the man.

It was easier to not bring him up.

When Bobby and Athena had finally settled into their new place, which very conveniently had a grilling and picnic area on the roof, they invited everyone over.

Bobby made sure to include Tommy in his invitation. His and Buck's relationship may have been new, but he was an old friend to the majority of the 118, and a new friend to those he hadn't known all that long.

He did not include the fact that Athena was insistent on seeing their dynamic because, “One of them is gonna give the other a run for their money and I can't figure out which one's which yet.”

In fact, the majority of the group was interested in seeing Tommy and Buck together. Everyone except Eddie, who accidentally witnessed far too much of their dynamic a couple weeks ago when he decided to head into Buck's place without knocking first.

It would be the last time he ever made that mistake.

The others couldn't help their curiosity. It was the first time Buck had ever seemed so settled in a relationship. The first time he wasn't asking for near-constant advice. The first time he wasn't endlessly concerned he was doing something wrong or about to screw things up.

Something was different. Something had shifted. They wanted to know what it was.

And while Hen and Chimney had known Tommy for a long time, they hadn't exactly stayed in touch after he left. Up until the cruise rescue, Hen hadn't really spoken to him at all, and Chimney would send him a text or two each year just to ask how he was keeping up. The Tommy they knew was closeted, scared, defensive under Gerrard's leadership, cocky, and seemingly always searching for something... more.

“I'm kinda bummed,” Buck said as they headed up to the roof.

“What?” Tommy glanced at him curiously. “Why?”

“Because everyone already knows you,” he explained. “I can't introduce you as my boyfriend.”

Tommy smiled, eyes crinkling up in the cute way Buck loved. He switched the wine bottle he was holding to his other hand took Buck's hand in his, giving it a squeeze. “You can still do that, if you want. I mean, they might look at you funny, but who cares, right?”

Buck squeezed his hand back. After a moment, he gasped, eyes widening as he did a little jump. “I can introduce you to all the kids!” he exclaimed.

Tommy couldn't help but laugh at Buck's excitement. “That sounds perfect, Evan.”

*****

Bobby wasn't sure how they'd gotten to this point only five minutes into Buck arriving, but here they were. Before Tommy had even handed off the wine, Buck was going into a story on Gerrard mentioning the 1933 Griffith Park Fire, but he had been wrong about some information.

“And I was trying to tell him how twenty-nine people died, not twenty-seven, but he was insistent that I was wrong. I knew I wasn't. I had just spent a couple hours the other night reading over articles about it. When was it, Tommy?” he asked, turning to his boyfriend, “Two nights ago?”

“Uh, three. Three nights ago.”

“Right, three nights ago. See, two people died later at the hospital, so they weren't included in the initial death toll. So, obviously, I had to get online and show him...”

As Buck continued, Bobby nodded along, trying to take in at least some of what he was saying. Sometimes, when Buck got on tangents like these, it was hard to keep up.

As the discussion got more heated, Bobby noticed Tommy's hand drifted to Buck's back, resting at the base. Buck continued without missing a beat, but his voice calmed and his posture relaxed.

“Did he ever admit defeat?” Tommy asked. To Bobby's surprise, Tommy had kept his eyes on Buck the entire time. He seemed genuinely interested in every word that was coming out of Buck's mouth.

Buck shook his head. “No, he'd never do that. But he was quiet for the rest of the day, so I took it as a win.”

“Oh, that's definitely a win,” Tommy agreed.

Not that he ever doubted, but it was then that Bobby knew his initial analysis was correct. Tommy was good people, and he was good for Buck.

*****

Hen's eyes drifted over the rooftop, settling between Tommy and Buck. She had noticed earlier how they always seemed to gravitate toward each other. Now was no different. Even though they were on opposite sides of the roof, Buck talking to Maddie, and Tommy having a very expressive conversation with Jee, they would steal glances at each other. A smile here, a wink there. Buck even gave Tommy a little wave, like they hadn't been sitting side by side only five minutes ago.

“I don't think it's just the honeymoon phase for those two,” Athena said, scooting a chair closer to Hen before sitting down.

Hen rolled her eyes affectionately at yet another tiny wave from Buck before turning to Athena. “I think I agree. I've never seen Buck so smitten before, and I don't use that word often.”

“Mhm,” Athena hummed with a nod. “Tommy seems just as smitten as Buck. I don't ever remember him looking so peaceful before. I haven't worked with him much since he transferred to Harbor, but I remember what he was like before.”

Hen huffed out a laugh. “Arrogant?”

“And stiff.”

“Yeah. He changed a lot, especially after Gerrard left, but this is different.”

They kept watching as Jee got distracted by Mara and they ran off to play. Tommy walked over to Buck, who held out his hand for Tommy to take before Tommy was even close.

As soon as he could, Tommy took his hand and sat down beside him on the little couch. Buck leaned in close, whispering something in his ear, then they laughed deep and loud.

“If I watch anymore of this I'm gonna throw up,” Hen said, standing up. “I'm gonna go rescue Karen from whatever game Denny is showing her on his phone.”

Athena laughed, squeezed Hen's hand as she went by, but kept her attention on the boys.

She couldn't seem to look away.

*****

Maddie tapped Chimney's thigh, nodding toward where Buck and Tommy were standing in a corner of the rooftop, watching the sunset. They had their arms wrapped around one another, occasionally stealing a chaste kiss. “They look so happy,” she said, a warm smile on her face.

“Yeah, they do,” Chimney agreed. “I'm happy for both of them. They're good together.”

“Yeah, they are. Did you know Buck hasn't even been to his loft in a week? When he's not working he's at Tommy's place.”

“And they're not sick of each other yet?” Chimney laughed. “Oh, they're in deep.”

Before Maddie could respond, Eddie was coming up to them, kneeling down beside Chimney. “We gotta hide the clipboards.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I'm serious, man, we're gonna be in deep trouble if we don't.”

Maddie leaned forward. “Why do you need to hide the clipboards, Eddie?”

Eddie motioned to Buck and Tommy. Tommy had an arm around Buck's shoulder now, both of Buck's still wrapped around Tommy's waist. He had his head resting against Tommy's shoulder, and Tommy pressed a kissed to the top of his head. “Have you seen the two of them? I'm not even gonna go into what I witnessed a couple weeks ago-”

“Thank God.”

“-but they've got it bad for each other. I give it six months before they're engaged. You know what happens after that?”

Chimney thought for a second, sucking in a breath when the realization hit him. “Wedding planning.”

“Wedding planning,” Eddie repeated.

Maddie shook her head. “You guys are crazy.”

“What? You don't think they'll be ready to walk down the aisle in six months time?” Chimney asked.

“Oh, no, they definitely will. You're just crazy if you think not being able to find a clipboard will stop him. I don't know if you guys know this, but Notes app Buck is far worse than clipboard Buck.”

[unrealisticlea]

they should keep Tommy even just for the procedural part of the show because the potential for calls is insane:

Tommy chopper going down in a big forest fire -> multi episodes big emergency

tommy chopper doesn’t go down but they get stuck on top of a mountain and the 118 has to save them

someone tampering with LAFD helicopters -> Athena investigation

Eddie and Tommy uncovering a human trafficking ring connected to the fights they love to watch (please please give me EddieTommy shenanigans I’m begging)

This bullet point has nothing to do with the post but i cannot stress enough how much I want EddieTommy scenes. They could be the new Micheal&Bobby but bitchier.

hello???? Pride Parade emergency with HenRen??? (no hate crime, too-many-people-in-one-place emergency)

Captain Gerard gets brutally murdered and everyone who hates him is a suspect.

Chimney and Tommy are taken hostages in a jewelry store and the Buckley siblings have to save them

low hanging fruit but Bucktommy having to deal with an emergency (Madney style) while they are on a date #powercouple

[ivegotyourbackbuddie]

I want Buck and Eddie to realize they’re in love with each other during the same episode. But I want it to be absolute chaos for everyone else around them.

Eddie realizes while he’s talking Karen.

Buck realizes while he’s talking Maddie.

Naturally, Karen tells Hen but makes her promise not to tell Chimney or he’ll end up telling Buck. And Maddie tells Chimney but makes him promise not to tell Hen or else she’ll tell Athena and then Bobby then everyone will know.

So, Hen tells Athena that Eddie is in love with Buck but makes her promise not to tell Bobby because Buck is basically his kid and he’ll definitely have something to say to the both of them about it. But Chimney ends up telling Bobby that Buck is in love with Eddie, and makes him promise not to say anything to either of them or Athena or else Hen will find out and find out that Chimney didn’t tell her first and… pure chaos.

So Hen and Chimney are both acting weird around each other, but they don’t even realize it because they’re both focused on not being weird around the other. Meanwhile Athena and Bobby keep eyeing each other because they both know that they know something but they’re not sure what.

In the end, Chimney and Hen end up blowing up because they hate keeping secrets from each other, and they promise to keep it between them no matter what.

Meanwhile, Athena thinks Bobby knows that Eddie is in love in Buck, while Bobby thinks Athena knows that Buck is in love with Eddie. So, when they both say it at the same time, they take a moment to go, “Wait… Buck/Eddie is in love with Eddie/Buck?” And then they both laugh because it’s been so clear and of course they realized at the same time.

But none of them know that as soon as Buck and Eddie realized, they went to each other and confessed their feelings because they knew word would spread fast, and they wanted to tell each other before someone else could. And when they see everyone acting awkward around each other, they agree to keep their new relationship a secret to see who’s going to tell them about their feelings first.

They just don’t expect everyone to gang up and try to get them to so obviously confess their feelings for each other. But Buck and Eddie aren’t going to complain when they’re locked in a closet together or when everyone bails on them so they have dinner on their own. And it drives everyone crazy.

[peppermintquartz]

Tommy must have been staring at his phone for far too long, because Donato pounces on him (metaphorically) in the dining area.

"I go on leave for a week and you flew a chopper into a hurricane?" Donato exclaims, punching him in the bicep.

"Ow," Tommy says out of habit. "The hurricane was mostly over by then, actually."

Donato huffs. "The things you get up to without my calming influence, Kinard."

Putting down his phone, Tommy levels a stare at his friend. "Last I remember, you're the one who scaled a cliff sans harness to get to a scared kid."

"And got chewed up for it after," Donato says brightly, holding up a finger. Her voice drops. "Seriously though. What's the brass gonna do about you guys?"

"Hopefully? Nothing. There's enough positive publicity that's got Simpson off our asses, so I'm hoping it'll blow over."

"Melton says you might be grounded for some time."

"I wouldn't be surprised." Tommy sighs and leans back in his chair. "As long as I'm not fired, I'm ok with the consequences." His lips twitch into a smile. "You'd have liked it though. I got to land the bird on an upside down cruise ship, in a storm."

"Oh fuck you, Kinard, you lucky bastard." Donato grins, her blonde bob bouncing as she jumps to her feet. "You're buying me lunch, by the way."

"Why?"

"Because you love me," she says, laughing as she jogs off to bother someone else. "Mentaiko bowl, you know the one!"

Tommy shakes his head fondly. He didn't know what about him had attracted Lucy Donato's friendship, but her effervescent energy always brightens up his day.

Which still doesn't help with Tommy's dilemma, which is one leggy firefighter named Evan Buckley. His sunny demeanor and inexplicably funny chatter in the middle of a helicopter heist and dangerous rescue had helped Tommy stay focused on the task. Afterwards, on the return journey, Tommy, Howie, Hen, Athena and Bobby caught up with one another, and both Eddie and Evan had been there, joining in the conversation whenever they can.

Tommy hopes no one actually saw him staring at Evan most of the time. It helped that they had sat opposite each other, and Evan's eyes had been so, so blue, the color of a clear summer sky, and his smile radiant. Of course it was easy to get numbers from everyone then - Tommy needed to update the ones for Athena and Bobby, and he added Eddie Diaz and Evan Buckley into his contacts.

Eddie texted him the very next day asking if Tommy's up for a quick visit to the Diaz household, because his son Christopher wanted to meet the pilot who helped save Captain Nash, and Tommy decided that, heck it, he could do with some new friends, and went.

And for the next hour or so, he listened to Christopher wax rhapsodic about "my friend Buck", how brave and funny and clever Buck is, how selfless, how he rescued Chris during the tsunami, how good a friend he was, how he loved taking Chris to the zoo and built him a structure so that Chris could skateboard, how the lightning strike gave him insane math powers, how good a cook he is...

And the photos Chris shared about Evan all show Evan grinning happily, as if there's nothing else he'd rather be doing than be with Christopher and Eddie.

For a moment Tommy had thought that Eddie and Evan were an item, until Marisol showed up at the house and kissed Eddie in the kitchen. The relief Tommy felt is disproportionate to how much he knew Evan. Which is ridiculous - Evan might have a partner already, or might not be into men, and Evan hasn't ever texted Tommy yet. Eddie's already sending dozens of messages about the upcoming reunification fight.

The phone in Tommy's hands suddenly rings and he almost drops it in shock. Cursing, he quickly swipes up to answer. "Hello, this is Kinard."

"Oh, uh, hi Tommy. It's Evan. Buckley. E-Evan Buckley."

Tommy swallows his surprise even as a huge smile blossoms on his face. "Hey. I wasn't, um, expecting you to call."

Evan chuckles. Is that nervousness in his voice? "Listen. Um, I was, uh, I was wondering if you gave, like, tours? Of the station?"

Tommy's heart skips a beat. Does this mean Evan wants to transfer to Harbor? Then he realizes it's been too long since the question so he hastily says, "Yeah, yes. I could show you around, if you want."

It's a good thing he's not hooked up to anything measuring his pulse. Tommy thinks his heart may jump out of his chest.

On the other end of the line, Evan says, "Great! Uh, you-you have my number so. Text me possible dates and times to go over?"

"Sure," Tommy replies, his mouth dry. He thinks about fawn-colored hair, blue eyes, red lips. He swallows again. "See you soon, Evan."

"See you soon, Tommy."

[bekolxeram]

I'm usually very block happy, but sometimes a couple of hot takes from the opposite side of the fandom manage to slip through. I'm no saint, I admit I do get quite worked up at first, but after some time, I realize they give me new perspectives to scenes I've watched countless times and discover things I didn't pick up before. So this one is for all of you, staunch Tommy haters, thank you for enriching my viewing experience.

In 7x04, when Tommy goes to Buck's loft to talk things out, this line gives some people the ick, because it echoes what Taylor said in 5x05. In that episode, Buck thought his team was off because they blamed him for Chimney leaving. He talked to Taylor about it, she shared her own experience with her boss being sulky around her, and it turned out her boss was just in a lot of physical pain, she ended the conversation with "maybe not everything is about you". While what she said was absolutely right, and she made an effort to make Buck feel appreciated at the end of the episode, but I can also see Buck not feeling supported emotionally at the time the conversation occurred. In a fashion true to her profession, Taylor delivered it in a very blunt, direct and advisory way. Her being right did not cancel out Buck feeling insecure about everyone acting weird around him and him not knowing why.

What Tommy says here though, is in a a completely different context.

Before all of this, Tommy has already reassured Buck that he's not trying to replace him, that his place in Eddie and Christopher's life is irreplaceable.

Look at Buck's smile, he's apparently in a better mood than before. It's like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders.

So going in this next part, Buck is more receptive to what he frankly needs to hear: Eddie isn't hanging out with Tommy because Buck did something wrong, he just enjoys Tommy's company.

We've witnessed Buck's growth over 7 seasons, now he can recognize that getting jealous easily is one of his character flaws, he tends to overthink and make other's action personal when he's feeling insecure in a relationship. He's telling Tommy this probably to signal that he understands he messed up and he understands what he did wrong. He never expected Tommy to validate his feelings.

But Tommy does empathize with his predicament.

Buck doesn't understand what Tommy, the cool, confident (and hot) pilot would be jealous over. And he almost can't believe Tommy gets what he's been feeling.

Tommy tells Buck that he's envious of the ride-or-die familial bonds within the 118 nowadays, as if he didn't also put his career and life in danger just to save Athena and Bobby (probably Hen's career as well), after one phone call from Chimney.

Now it's Buck's turn to reassure Tommy.

Another hot take I've seen from the other side goes like "if Tommy was nicer to Hen and Chimney back in the days, he wouldn't have to be jealous over what the 118 has now". You know what? Judging by Tommy's face here, he probably would agree. This is not the face of a man who is proud of what he did. This is the face of a man who is burdened by guilt and regret, this is a man haunted by his past, this is a man who doesn't think he deserves the praise.

Buck even cites fake mouth static as an example of Tommy's effort in aiding the 118's clandestine rescue mission, and they naturally fall into a flirty dynamic. I have no explanation for that, except, your honor, this is exhibit A against the "no chemistry" allegation.

Buck then spells it all out for Tommy that he also put everything on the line just for the 118, without hesitation. Tommy looks like he still has a hard time accepting it as an act worthy of redemption for his past behavior.

We've all made mistakes, and we all know we can't go back to the past and change what we did, so the best way forward is to change ourselves and be better. Judging by Tommy's "and [Gerrard] didn't make me a better person" line in 7x10, he quite possibly reflected on this a lot. Yet, sometimes you still can't help but doubt yourself over if you've learned enough from your past, if you're a good enough person now. I can't imagine how good it feels hearing Buck say out loud that he actually likes the person Tommy is now.

Apparently Buck likes Tommy so much that he came up with excuses just to hang out with him and get to know him.

Tommy is pleasantly surprised, because he did tell Buck to call him when he wants to go up. In fact, Buck can call him for whatever reason, Tommy accepted the Harbor tour request, there's nothing indicating that he would feel weird just hanging out with Buck. Tommy just doesn't know how much of a overthinker and bi disaster Buck truly is yet, but that's the story for another time.

Buck and Tommy really don't know much, if anything, about each other at this stage, as you can see in 7x05, but they're already validating each other's feelings. We've seen Buck get his feelings ignored, hurt, dismissed and kind of fetishized for 6 seasons, now this is something he's been looking for the whole time, for someone to understand what he's going through. At the same time, this interaction must also be quite freeing for Tommy, who's been haunted by demons from his own past.

[megalony]

Now You're In Trouble

This is a new Eddie Diaz fic I've finally gotten round to finishing. I'm very happy with this imagine and I hope you will all like it.

Please let me know what you think and if I should do a follow up to this or not.

Taglist: @justagirlthatlovedtoread @musicistheway @avada-kedavra-bitch-187 @luula @missdreamofendless @bradleybeachbabe @woderfulkawaii @amberpanda99 @daggersquadphantom @marvel-and-chicago-fan @angryknightstatesmantrash @minjix @lyjen @kmc1989 @itsmytimetoodream @noonenuts @hiireadstuff @ashie-babie @classyunknownlover @jayyeahthatsme @sp1ritssz @dumb-fawkin-bitch @oliverstarksbae @gimatida @heart-35 @supernaturalstilinski @stefansalvatoresgf @kyky9103 @wutheringhearts2275 @gay4hotmilfs @itshamleth @chaoticnosleepinfluencer @gs29 @wh0reforsmutstuff @mel-vaz @natashamea18 @chrisevansdaughter @alexandra8484 @deena-beena-weena @targaryenluvs @shelbygeek @kpoplover-19 @marvelmenarebeautiful @gillybear17

@zoeybennett @mrspeacem1nusone @zephyrmonkey @estella-novella @eleventhdoctorsangel @kniselle @senjoritanana

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@jupiter1700 @ashdoctor @an-aliens-ghost @lunaroserites @houseoftwistedspirits @itshamleth @callsignwidow @winterreader-nowwriter @reneinii

Eddie Diaz Masterlist

Summary: While the team are on a night out, a situation unravels when (Y/n)'s ex tries to approach them and sends (Y/n) into a panicked state.

(Mentions of past abuse)

Enjoy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tilting her head to the side, (Y/n) laid her cheek on Eddie's shoulder and curled her arms around his bicep. She tucked herself into his side, coiling his arm into her chest as they headed towards the restaurant.

Her fingers brushed up and down his arm and she smiled when she felt his lips pressing against the top of her head.

As soon as they walked inside, their eyes set on Buck who was leaning against the bar. He had his back arched out and his fingers drumming against the counter, but it was as if he had a radar that immediately sensed the couple. His head turned and a wide grin spread across his features the moment he locked eyes on them walking his way.

"You made it."

(Y/n) couldn't help but roll her eyes as she and Eddie approached her big brother. They told him they were coming, why did he not believe them and act so surprised like this?

She approached the bar, loosening her arms around Eddie's arm which led him to immediately curve both hands around her hips. His chest glued up into her back and they walked in tandem towards the bar. (Y/n) flopped her arms onto the counter, imitating the way her brother was slouched while Eddie curved around her like a second skin and attached his lips to the side of her neck.

"Why do you sound so surprised?" She nudged her elbow into his and flagged down the barman.

"Because you've barely left the house." Buck gave them both a pointed look before he turned and took the glass of beer that was placed in front of him. "So who's watching the kids?"

"Carla."

(Y/n) knew Buck wasn't being rude, he was only jesting. She and Eddie had just had twins last month and while Eddie had been on leave, (Y/n) had barely gone out. She didn't want to, she just wanted to take some time to be with their little family and get into a routine with Chris and the girls.

But all the team had been round almost every day on their days off to see them all and make sure they were okay. This was the first time they had been out together without the kids. The last time the couple went out alone was when (Y/n)'s parents had come down to town and they all had a family meal with Maddie, Chimney and Buck.

At least this time, it was a meal with the whole team. Bobby, Hen, Karen, Chimney, Maddie, Buck and (Y/n) and Eddie. The only person who couldn't make it was Athena as she was on shift tonight. But they had found cover at the station so they could all hang out together.

"Is everyone else here?" Eddie took a glance around to try and find whereabout they would be sitting and see if they were the last ones here or not.

His hands moved up and down (Y/n)'s dress and he grinned when she shimmied back against him and flopped her head back on his shoulder. He wormed his arms around (Y/n)'s waist and gave her a squeeze, kissing her cheek until his eyes locked with Buck who was staring at him with that same look as always.

It didn't matter how long Eddie and (Y/n) had been together, Buck always gave him that look whenever he showed PDA. It was mainly so Buck could tease them, although in the beginning it had been hard to get his head around the fact that his best friend was dating his twin sister.

"They are now, fashionably late as always Hen." Buck waved Hen and Karen over just as (Y/n) grabbed her and Eddie's drinks.

"The taxi was late, it wasn't us and we're technically just on time."

(Y/n) patted Buck's shoulder and whispered "We're gonna sit down," as she cast a smile towards Hen before they moved so they weren't blocking the entrance.

They made their way towards the back where their team stood out in any crowd. (Y/n) could see her sister's bright smile immediately and watched Maddie wave her hand out towards her, beckoning her over as if (Y/n) and Eddie were about to go and sit somewhere else.

Bobby was seated on the right end of the table, with Chimney on his left and Maddie next to him. There was a seat on Maddie's side which (Y/n) guessed was where Buck had perched himself, so she sat opposite Maddie, and Eddie sat on her left so he would be opposite Buck.

When they sat down, (Y/n) placed Eddie's glass in front of him and shimmied a bit closer until she was tucked into his side. She liked the way he curved an arm around the back of her chair and dragged his fingers up and down her arm and shoulder. And she felt the way he sucked in a deep breath when her hand slid down over his thigh.

"How are you, and how are the girls?"

"They're doing great, Lottie's much better now too." (Y/n) took a sip of her drink before she leaned herself into Eddie's side. Lottie had been the smaller twin and she had a few breathing problems for the first two weeks, but she had recovered very quickly and she was putting on weight and was almost as healthy as Mavis.

"I bet you don't wanna come back next week, huh?" Bobby leaned his elbows on the table and clasped his hands together with a smile.

Eddie had booked his time off in advance; he knew with (Y/n) having twins she was very unlikely to reach or go past her due date. He went on annual leave exactly two days before (Y/n) went into labour at thirty seven weeks and now Eddie wasn't sure he wanted to go back.

It had been strange but so lovely to be at home and not have to worry about his sleep pattern or getting up early for work or taking a late shift. He got a regular eating pattern back and had meals with (Y/n) and Chris and he had two daughters to fuss between.

Going back to work meant leaving his family and Eddie didn't want to do that. He wanted to stay home with them and look after them all. He had been in the routine of walking Chris to school and then going on a walk or a little jog with the girls so he didn't have to go to the gym. He had been walking miles each week and it was a routine he loved.

A groan tumbled past Eddie's lips as he muttered a quiet "No," into (Y/n)'s neck where he buried his face at the thought of leaving. His teeth grazed her neck as he made a trail up her neck to her jaw, nudging his nose against her cheek which caused (Y/n) to grin.

"You can't work next Wednesday though, remember? Our parents are coming down and we'll need back up." Maddie tapped her hand on the table as if to make her point a bit clearer while Buck took his seat next to her. And Hen and Karen sat down next to (Y/n).

"You are not leaving us alone with them- either of you." (Y/n) gave a pointed look between her twin and her husband.

Neither of them were allowed to work next Wednesday when their parents were coming down Tuesday night and staying until the weekend. They were having a meal round at (Y/n) and Eddie's house because this would be their parent's first time seeing the girls.

"We won't leave you," Eddie whispered against the shell of her ear before he leaned over and picked up his glass.

"If you have Eddie home, you don't technically need me-"

"Excuse me, if Chimney's working then I need you there." Maddie smacked her hand against Buck's chest until he dropped his head forward and nodded with a roll of his eyes. He couldn't exactly leave Maddie there with no one to converse with and no one in her corner if (Y/n) had Eddie. They all weren't lucky enough to get the night off together, someone had to work and Chimney had offered. Buck knew with Chimney working that night, he wouldn't be able to get out of dinner.

They were all going to have to suffer through another family meal and it was going to be worse for (Y/n) and Eddie because it was happening at their place. They didn't have an escape plan if they wanted to leave; they were going to have to entertain her parents until the night was over.

At least they would have the kids as an excuse to leave the room if they got too overwhelmed or annoyed. And if either Chris or the girls weren't well or got agitated, they would have a reason for cutting the dinner short.

"They're your parents too." Eddie mumbled across to Buck with an arched brow and a bright grin.

"Speaking of parents, how are you coping with twins? You both handling the sleepless nights?" Karen wriggled her brows and leaned around Hen to look at the couple sitting next to her.

"I think we're getting the hang of it."

(Y/n) leaned her cheek on Eddie's shoulder and tucked herself a little more under his arm while her fingers skimmed up and down his thigh.

It had been a bit of a shock at first when they found out they would be having twins, but it seemed to run in the family. Even though (Y/n) and Buck were technically donor babies and their parents hadn't been expecting twins either. Their mum had told (Y/n) a few stories from when she and Buck were little, saying how fussy Buck had been as a baby whereas (Y/n) hadn't been too much trouble, in her mother's words.

Neither Lottie nor Mavis seemed to be fussy babies. Lottie needed a bit more attention, but both of them seemed to settle rather quickly and all they wanted was to be held and fussed and cuddled. They stopped crying immediately once someone was holding them, and they didn't care who was caring for them.

(Y/n) had seen one of her friends when she had her second boy and he had been such a fussy baby. If anyone but his mum held him he would scream his little lungs out. (Y/n) was relieved neither of her girls were like that.

The conversation floating around the table was light and (Y/n) smiled and sat up straighter in her seat when everyone gave their orders.

She felt Eddie's hand begin to trace patterns and designs over her right shoulder and up and down her arm. And every now and then a shiver ran down her spine and she leaned into him, smiling at the touch.

"You okay?" Eddie murmured against her temple. When he noticed her free hand dragging up and down her neck, he gently lowered her hand and replaced it with his lips. His nose tickled beneath her jaw and he pressed a few wet kisses against her skin.

She knew what he was doing. Every time (Y/n) absentmindedly scratched, rubbed or prodded at her neck where her scar was, Eddie would replace her touch with his. He would feather his fingers along her neck or serve kisses up and down her skin.

He was associating a gentle, loving touch with the mark she was trying hard to ignore and get over.

The mark her ex left on her skin when he brandished a kitchen knife during an argument.

"Yeah, I'm good." Her nose nudged against his, pushing his head back enough to steal a kiss from his lips.

Most of the conversation switched to work stories and of course, they had to be funny or lighthearted. No sad or broken stories around the table, not when this was meant to be a joyous night and a time to let loose and have fun with friends.

And (Y/n) was happy to listen to the stories floating around. With her cheek nuzzled into Eddie's shoulder and his fingers messing with the strap of her dress, she smiled against his shoulder.

It felt good to be out with friends they considered their family. It was good to be out the house where both of them had hidden away for the last month. Although, before they had the twins, (Y/n) wasn't always one for going out. She felt safer staying at home and having friends round with them. At home, doors could be locked and the environment was safe, somewhere she was familiar with.

It took Eddie, Buck and Maddie a lot to get (Y/n) to feel safe leaving the house and coming out somewhere with them. Going out alone wasn't someting (Y/n) felt able to do, but being with family was easier to go through with.

By the time everyone was on their third or fourth drinks, the food had arrived and the atmosphere was better than ever.

(Y/n) grinned softly when her brother slid the extra bowl of fries he ordered in between them both since he was sat opposite her and Eddie. He knew the lasagne (Y/n) ordered came with garlic bread rather than fries and he knew she and Eddie both had a thing for stealing the fries from his plate. So Buck had the initiative to order extras.

Rolling her lips together, (Y/n) did her best to supress a yawn and leaned forward to start eating.

She wasn't sure what made her look up. Maybe it was Hen saying she was going to get another handful of drinks for them all while the bar was empty. Or perhaps it was a sixth sense that prickled goosebumps on her skin and sent claws dragging down the back of her neck.

Whatever it was, (Y/n) lifted her head, briefly glancing at her big sister who was in the middle of explaining one of the more funny yet embarrassing calls she had answered over at dispatch. Her eyes then drifted to Hen who was already down the steps and towards the bar on the left.

But when her eyes looked ahead of their table, all the blood in (Y/n)'s body ran down to her feet.

An overwhelming feeling of dread pooled in the pit of her stomach and made her dinner crawl back up her throat. Every part of (Y/n) began to tremble and caused her fork to tap and jitter against the rim of her plate before she dropped the utensils with numb fingers.

This couldn't be happening.

This wasn't fair.

He was here.

Her ex was here in the same restaurant as (Y/n) and her family; and he had seen her. Those pale grey eyes seemed to light up with glimmering sparkles when they locked onto (Y/n)'s frame as if he had just come across a pot of gold that he couldn't resist.

"Hey, you okay?" Buck's smile started to fade and his eyes creased when he looked ahead of him at his twin. She looked like she was having some kind of awful revelation, as if she remembered leaving the cooker on or that she'd forgotten to give the twins their last feed.

He nudged his foot against hers beneath the table but when she didn't answer, Buck gently tapped the end of his fork against the back of her hand. He didn't like the way (Y/n) didn't react. He was never sure how his twin would react to certain touches or noises.

Sometimes she would jerk back from his touch if he caught her unaware, she expected a fist to be thrown or a raised voice to be shouting at her. She would shudder and cower and pull away and loud noises always sent her reeling. But he wasn't used to seeing her give no reaction like this. It was as if she couldn't see or hear him, she was too intently focused on something else.

"Baby? You feeling okay, hm?" Eddie set down his knife and fork on the edge of his plate and twisted to the right to look at (Y/n).

He moved slowly so he wouldn't surprise or scare her and rested his hand on her arm, smoothing his thumb up and down her skin to try and gain her attention. When she didn't respond, he leaned in close to look at her before he glanced around the restaurant. He wasn't sure what or who she was looking at to make her look so shell-shocked.

Eddie's brows furrowed. He didn't like the way (Y/n) started to shake or the shallow breaths she was barely managing to take in.

She couldn't look away. No matter how desperate she was to look anywhere else but at the source of her nightmares, (Y/n) couldn't do it. Her body was frozen in place. Her hands were trembling against the table and her body was locked tight in place. She couldn't lean into Eddie no matter how desperately she wanted to hide behind him and seek his love and protection.

She couldn't find her voice to tell her brother that there was a threat here, no matter how badly she wanted to scream.

"Baby what's the matter?" Eddie let go of her arm in favour of looping his arm around the back of her chair like he had done earlier. He leaned into her side but his attention snapped to look behind Buck when an unfamiliar voice flooded the air.

"Long time no see, ey?"

Eddie shifted his arm from the chair to rest on (Y/n)'s shoulders while he leaned forward in his chair. His left elbow propped up on the table and he rose a brow at the stranger stood rather close to Buck and Maddie. Both of whom had their complexions fading to a rather horrid shade of grey like all the colour was fading them to black and white.

The beer Buck started to drink came back up with a violent cough as he slammed his glass down on the table and jerked to spin round in his seat.

Oh God no.

No, not him. He couldn't be back again to cause more havoc and chaos for Buck's twin and their family. That wasn't fair.

Just as Buck twisted harshly in his seat, about to grab the violent man behind him, Aiden moved before Buck had the chance.

Everyone at the table stopped eating and the chatter died down to nothing but small murmurs and confused whisperings. Unsure who the stranger was who seemed to be trying to make a scene at their table.

He walked around the back of the chairs, clearly avoiding both Buck and Maddie in case either of them reached out to stop him from getting to his intended target. (Y/n).

The closer he got, the less (Y/n) could breathe.

His eyes, two grey marbles staring her down, assessing for weak spots and anything he can use to hurt her. His sharp teeth punctured through his smile that sent her stomach reeling. That was the way he would smile at her before an argument ensued and fists would be used.

The shaking increased until (Y/n) was vibrating back and forth in her chair. Her throat was closing up, gulping and gasping for air she couldn't find. Her eyes were watering, leaking a few stray tears down her heated cheeks and every inch of skin was overcome in cold sweat and goosebumps.

A scream was building up in her chest but she couldn't fathom how to make any noise.

Her frozen state finally thawed when Aiden stepped past Bobby and came almost within reach of her. He hadn't been those close to her in years. (Y/n) had finally started to forget what his grin looked like up close. She forgot the little scars painted on his knuckles from the amount of times he'd split them open. She had gotten that smell of his horrid cologne out of her mind, but now it was flooding her senses and making her feel faint.

"Hi-"

"No!"

Eddie jumped back in his seat, both hands planting down on the table when (Y/n) lunged. He had no idea what she was doing, and neither did anyone else round the table. He felt for a moment like she was trying to throw herself in front of him like a shield of protection, but after a second ticked by, he realised that wasn't what she was trying to do.

Her body slammed into his chest, an elbow flung into his abdomen causing him to grunt and lean forward. He tried to find his hands on her hips but (Y/n)'s movements were too fast and hazardous.

His eyes widened when, with a sharp breath that verged on a cry, (Y/n) grabbed the steak knife from his plate.

"Get back!" (Y/n) stumbled onto unsteady feet with knees that threatened to cave in beneath her and topple her to the floor. She wielded the knife badly, she knew it, but it was a good enough threat to protect her family at the table.

The grooved edge of the knife imbedded into the palm of her hand and she couldn't stop the knife from shaking when her arm wouldn't hold still. But it was still a threat. Aiden knew her well enough to know she would slash him with it if he got too close. If he tried to hurt any of them.

Her chair scraped back against the floor and if (Y/n) could get her thoughts in order, she would have realised brandishing a knife in the middle of a restaurant wasn't the best idea. But she couldn't think. There was nothing going round in her mind except for one thing.

We're not safe.

This was her family. Her siblings, her husband, their friends. None of them were safe if Aiden was stood here leering at them, waiting to find out who to strike first.

He had hurt (Y/n) far too many times. He had slashed her with a knife and hospitalised her. He had fought with Buck and broken two of his ribs, for which Buck had dislocated Aiden's wrist and broken his nose. He had threatened Maddie and tried to hurt her when she refused to let him into her apartment to see (Y/n).

All he ever did was hurt them and (Y/n) couldn't let him do it again. She didn't want to feel his knuckles smashing into her body or feel a knife cutting through her skin making her wonder if she was about to die bleeding out on the floor. She didn't want to be hurt anymore. Eddie promised no one would ever hurt her again and (Y/n) needed that to be true. If threatening Aiden was the only way to be safe then that was what (Y/n) would do.

"(Y/n)-" Buck rolled his lips together and coiled his hands back to his chest when he reached across the table for his twin only to see her jerk away from him. She wouldn't even look at him. She wouldn't turn her head away from Aiden. Looking away from him for one moment might cause him to lunge.

"Who is he?" Both Chimney's hands fell to Maddie's shoulders while his eyes scanned around the table.

Hen was back with them, stood beside Karen. Bobby was now up from his seat but he didn't want to move and make (Y/n) anxious any further. Buck had his trembling hands near his sister, desperate to reach out for her but he couldn't risk scaring her and letting her get hurt again.

"That's Aiden. Call the police."

Eddie guessed who it was. (Y/n)'s reaction was a dead giveaway that this had to be a bad person she had bad history with. If this wasn't her ex then Eddie would hate to see her reaction to him. Hearing his name sent Eddie's blood boiling. He'd heard the stories. He'd witnessed the scars. He had seen (Y/n) waking up from the nightmare Aiden induced.

As much as Eddie wanted to push in front of (Y/n) and wipe that horrid, vulgar smile from Aiden's face, he couldn't. He had to help his wife.

"Get the fuck away from her! Or did you forget we've got a restraining order against you?" Venom seeped into Buck's voice as his thighs bashed into the table when he tried to move closer.

They had a restraining order ever since Aiden got arrested after slashing (Y/n) with a knife. He wasn't allowed within two hundred feet of her. He couldn't approach her or her family, he couldn't speak to her or try and touch her and he couldn't follow her anymore.

This was a little different, they understood they couldn't always refrain from bumping into each other like this. But he was violating his order by intentionally getting as close as he could to (Y/n) and he was frightening her and intimidating her. That wasn't allowed.

Eddie's jaw locked tight and his hands started to shake when he took a step closer to his wife. His hands steadily found her hips and he took his time, holding her tenderly and slowly as not to shock her or make her hurt herself by mistake.

With one hand on her hip, Eddie curved his right hand around and tried to reach up for the knife. His fingers curled around the back of her hand but he could feel her iron grip. Her hand was frozen, her fingers were deadlocked, her arm was as straight as a board.

She was in shock, acting out of instinct and she wasn't going to give up the knife when it was the only weapon of defence she had.

It didn't matter that Aiden was starting to laugh in mockery or that people on the nearby tables had evacuated towards the bar to be out of the danger zone.

Eddie tried to tug her arm back, to bend her elbow and lower her arm so he could get the knife, but she wouldn't let him. Her head started to shake as tears drenched her cheeks and quiet gasps slipped past her dry lips with each shallow breath she managed to take. She locked herself in place, trembling back against Eddie as he glued his chest up against her back and hovered his lips over her ear.

"Baby put it down- please, (Y/n) please put it down." The words tickled the shell of her ear as he kept his voice low enough so that no one else could hear him.

He had never pleaded with her like this before.

He had never had to bargain or beg for her to calm down in a situation like this. Any time (Y/n) worried about her ex turning up, Eddie always made the same promise. He would keep her safe. He would look after her. He would get her ex away from her and make sure everything was okay.

But (Y/n) had acted before he had chance and as much as Eddie knew this was her self defence mechanism, she didn't need to do this. He was here. Buck was here. The whole team were here to witness Austin and keep her safe from him. They didn't need the police turning up and seeing (Y/n) with a knife, it wouldn't do them any favours.

No one in the restaurant would say anything if they found out (Y/n) was an abuse survivor and this was her ex trying to torment her.

"Baby, give me the knife please."

It almost worked. Eddie could feel her resistance wavering in her arm and her trembling fingers were almost about to unlock and give in.

"She's gone mad,"

Aiden's laugh echoed around the walls and riled up every person at their table who was now up on their feet, ready to lunge at him if he took one step closer to (Y/n). How could he be laughing? How could he think this situation was even the slightest bit amusing? Did he not realise that doing this, riling (Y/n)'s panic and being this close was going to get him arrested again and give him another jail sentence?

"Get away from my wife before it's me holding the weapon." Eddie would have no problem holding that knife at an angle that showed he'd had precision training and he knew how to wield it correctly.

He would take pleasure in making Aiden cower and restraining him if he dared stay this close to (Y/n). Because Eddie couldn't back up yet, he couldn't try and move (Y/n) when she was going into shock and she was barely responding to him as it was. And it wasn't (Y/n)'s responsibility to move when Aiden was the one threatening her and violating his order. He needed to move.

Bobby took a quick glance around. People were evacuating the dining area. Others in the back of the restaurant were now sitting quietly like this was a dinner show to accompany their meals. A few odd couples were trying to carry on as if nothing was happening. And there was a crowd at the bar.

While the rest of them tried to move closer to Aiden to get him to either move or be moved. And Chimney stood at the other end of the table, one hand on Maddie's shoulder and the other holding his phone as he talked to the police.

All the team knew about what Aiden had done and they knew how he terrorised (Y/n). They knew he had hurt her beyond reason, how he had threatened and almost hurt Maddie and that he had been in countless fights with Buck over the years when he wouldn't leave (Y/n) alone.

The only person he had yet to fight with was Eddie because for some reason, fate never let them meet. He had heard all about him, but had never bumped into the man he would quite happily place in the ground without guilt.

"Alright you need to leave or you'll be arrested for violating your restraining order." Bobby placed a rough hand on Aiden's shoulder and gave him a tug backwards to get the point across.

He was going to get arrested if he stayed here any longer. The best thing was for him to leave the restaurant and not look back before the night took a drastic turn.

"Oh I don't think so. She's threatening me, in a public place-"

"Because you're a sick fucker who's intimidating and threatening her so get back."

The smile that previously adorned Aiden's face started to fade. This wasn't the kind of fun he was used to. People weren't listening to him. They weren't backing down. They weren't believing him or letting him relish in the power and control he usually exuded in these kind of situations.

"She pulled that out unprovoked. Remember what it feels like?" Aiden's voice lowered to a sinister whisper but his sneering expression and sickening smile had tears streaming down her face.

He dared to take one step closer before he rose a brow and his grin broadened when (Y/n) lashed the knife in his direction with a broken cry.

"No- no don't! Baby, don't do that." Eddie tightened his hold on her hand and pinned his elbow into the crease of (Y/n)'s elbow until her arm relented and bent down, lowering the knife.

He pushed his chest over her back, pushing her down while he twisted them both to the side to add some space between them and Aiden. He couldn't let (Y/n) hurt Aiden, not in front of a crowd because then Aiden would undoubtedly twist the situation and try to get (Y/n) arrested for this. Eddie wouldn't allow that.

"Move." Buck's voice was dangerously low as he darted in front of his twin, standing between her and her abuser. His hands found Aiden's chest and he gave a rough shove, forcing him back three paces.

His large frame blocked his twin from view, letting (Y/n) and Eddie hide behind him so Aiden didn't get the satisfaction of seeing the distress he was causing.

"Baby, give me that, please."

Eddie tried again, his words lathering against (Y/n)'s ear like honey while he moved his arms. His left arm curved around her frame until his arm was pressing into her waist, pinning her back against his heaving chest with his lips kissing the tip of her jaw. And his right hand slithered up her hand until his fingertips curved around to her palm and got hold of the knife handle.

Relief pooled in his stomach the moment (Y/n)'s trembling hand released the knife. He jerked his arm behind him and waved his hand until Hen reached out and took it from him. They didn't need it nearby for someone to grab as a weapon and now (Y/n) was somewhat disarmed, they could try and calm her down.

The moment it was out of her hands, (Y/n) coiled her arms to her chest. Her fingers started to scratch along the scar on the left side of her neck that went right down the side of her jugular and stopped less than a centimetre away from her collar bone. A slash mark that would have gone straight across her throat and could of killed her if she hadn't of moved in time.

Her other hand deadlocked around Eddie's wrist on the arm that was bound around her waist like an iron bar. She couldn't do anything but give in to the shaking and lean back against Eddie when her knees felt like they were going to cave in. She creased forward, trying her best to fold in on herself as she gasped for air, turning her face to try and burrow into Eddie as best she could.

"We're leaving." Eddie's hand moved down to hold onto (Y/n)'s hip, squeezing her side lovingly to show that she was safe. And he spoke loud enough for Buck to be able to hear them.

They couldn't stay here anymore. It wasn't right that they should be the ones to leave when Aiden was the one causing the problems, but they couldn't stay either. Not when (Y/n) was this distressed. Not when she was going into shock. Staying here wasn't going to help, Eddie needed to get her home and try to calm her down.

Eddie took a deep breath, his left arm bound around (Y/n)'s waist while he reached his right hand up to hold her wrist to stop her from scratching her neck. He replaced her touch with his lips, kissing the scar that was going to be inflamed if she scratched at it like that any longer.

He tried to get her to walk with him, but it was harder than he thought when (Y/n) stumbled over her feet and seemed like she wanted to go down on the floor.

Chimney was already guiding Maddie away and Hen and Karen were following suit. They were all ready to leave and get (Y/n) out of this situation.

Both Bobby's hands moved to Buck's shoulders to try and get him to move away from Aiden. Whatever he whispered in his ear seemed to work as the pair of them moved away from him and went closer to Eddie and (Y/n). They twisted to the left and tried to round the side of the table, but (Y/n)'s head snapped back to the right when she heard Aiden's sickening voice.

"A knife, real original (Y/n). Now you're in trouble."

Everything started to spin.

Her hands slammed down into Eddie's arms, scratching up and down his exposed forearms as a desperate cry bubbled past her lips.

Not those words. Those four little words in a quiet whisper acted like a starting pistol. They pushed (Y/n)'s body into fight or flight mode, they made her adrenaline overwork and gave her the energy to run. Those were the words she heard before items started to get thrown and hands started clawing at her. That was what she heard before a knife was wielded in front of her face and her skin was splitting apart.

Tears distorted her vision, but not enough to stop her from seeing the way Aiden's fingers danced across the table. The moment his fingers skimmed across the steak knife from Bobby's plate, (Y/n)'s lungs ceased to work.

She could feel her energy dwindling away and she didn't have the effort to lift her arms any higher than her head. She wanted to lash out. She wanted to lunge for another knife and stop Aiden before he hurt her or her family. Eddie was behind her. She had to protect him. Buck and Maddie were here, she couldn't let them get hurt on her behalf, not again.

But all she could do was flop her arms over her head with her forearms pressed against her throat to keep it safe from another attack.

She could hear Buck yelling at him to put it down. She could feel Eddie's chest rumbling behind her while his voice changed to the darkest tone she had ever heard. But she couldn't see anything. Her vision turned black and her knees gave way as all the air got trapped in her lungs which weren't working at all.

Her head flopped forward with her chin tucking down into her chest and when her knees caved, she felt Eddie tighten his arms around her. He went down on his knees with (Y/n) slumped against his chest, barely breathing, barely conscious as she blacked out with only her hearing working properly.

"Okay, okay it's alright baby. Let's get you out of here."

By the time (Y/n)'s vision changed from magenta to flickering, sparkling dots trying to form a picture, she realised they weren't in the restaurant anymore.

She could feel Eddie's arm beneath her knees, his fingers puncturing into her thigh with his other hand pressing into the side of her chest. She hadn't realised she had lowered her arms from around her head until she felt an odd material beneath her nails and noticed she was clinging to Eddie's shirt.

Her cheek was pressing down on Eddie's shoulder while his lips merged with her temple.

The cold night air hit them both like a speeding car and it shocked (Y/n)'s lungs into gasping, drinking in large gulps of air to regulate her system again. She could feel Eddie's chest tensing and puffing out beneath her touch as he slowly went down on his knees on the pavement.

The rest of the team were now outside, minus Bobby and Chimney who were inside, preventing Aiden from taking a knife as a weapon.

(Y/n) tilted her head back enough so that she could look up at Eddie through spotted vision that was distorted even more by the tears streaming down her face. Her trembling hand unlatched from his shirt to cup the side of his face, her thumb gliding across his cheekbone to ground herself with him.

"He was- he was… he would of hurt me! He might hurt y-you or Buck… I had to-"

She didn't mean to. She didn't mean to cause a scene or create havoc for everyone else to clear up after her. But she didn't know what else to do. How else was she supposed to protect her family from that monster?

She had found something to defend herself with. (Y/n) couldn't let Aiden hurt Buck again. He had already suffered broken ribs and superficial wounds when he'd stepped in to defend his twin from her abusive partner. She couldn't allow that to happen again, she had to defend herself and her family. And she could never let Aiden get his hands on Eddie. Maddie had suffered enough with her own marriage. She didn't need to be traumatised by (Y/n)'s ex, he was her problem, not Maddie's.

And she certainly couldn't allow him to hurt the person who had pieced her back to together and loved her to the end of the Earth as if she deserved nothing less.

"Shh, shh baby it's okay. We wouldn't let him hurt you, he won't hurt any of us, it's okay."

"He did-"

"Not today, not this time. Everyone's okay, you're alright. I'm here, Buck and Maddie are here and they're okay. I've got you, I won't let him hurt you, baby, I swear."

His arms tightened around her frame, pulling her into his chest, wishing he could break his ribcage and stuff (Y/n) inside to keep her safe. To keep her closer to his heart. He would do anything for her. He wished he had seen Aiden coming first. He wished he had moved before (Y/n), that he had stood up and put himself in between them to prove to her that she was safe and that he would keep her out of harm.

She wouldn't have needed to reach for the knife and get defensive if Eddie had acted faster and got in the way first. If only.

But it was okay now. Eddie had (Y/n) in his arms, she was safe and she wasn't hurt, at least not physically.

He was going to take her home and look after her. That was a promise.

[munsonsmixtapes]

Soon You'll Get Better

Evan "Buck" Buckley x fem!reader

summary: you and Buck decide to keep your pregnancy a secret until the time is right, but an accident makes it all come out and everyone comes together to comfort the two of you

word count: 4k

cw: graphic description of a car accident and injuries, hurt/comfort, Buck has panic attack

part one part two part three part five part six

Things with you and Buck had been perfect since you had made amends in your apartment. Your pregnancy was a little secret between the two-well, the two of you and Athena and Scarlett-and you had planned on keeping it that way until you were far along enough to where a miscarriage wouldn’t be an issue. You felt horrible for keeping such big news from your uncle, but you were just trying to take the proper precautions. 

You had been staying at Buck’s more often than Scarlett’s so the two could be in your own little world with your baby. You’d make meals together as you danced around the kitchen to whatever playlist Buck had on and he’d spin you around, pulling you into kiss after kiss, telling you how grateful he had been for you and for the baby. It seemed like he talked to your stomach more than he would to you and that was more than okay with you.

He’d insist on laying on your stomach while the two of you watched tv after a long day of work for the both of you and he’d tell the baby about his day and you’d scratch his head as he did so, always feeling like you were going to cry as you watched him. If he was like that with your unborn child, you knew that he was going to be the best dad once the baby finally came.

Athena had told you that you had to be the one to tell Bobby about your pregnancy, so he was very much still in the dark as far as the topic was concerned. You weren’t showing yet, but every time you were around him, you were paranoid that he somehow knew your secret. So, you resorted to wearing big cardigans or holding a pillow in front of your stomach when you sat down on their couch or one of the chairs. 

After you got settled in, Bobby and Athena insisted on having weekly dinners with you and it was becoming even harder to hide your growing stomach. But you tried your best, knowing that you just had to hold on a bit longer before you could find out the sex of the baby and then you and Buck were going to make an announcement to the rest of the 118. 

It was the night of the week when you went over to Bobby’s for dinner and he had you pick up a dessert on your way there, but you had decided to show up early so you could talk to Athena before Bobby got home for work. 

As soon as you got in the car, you noticed that Buck was calling you that, signaling that he had just gotten to work. It seemed like he was always calling you when they were just sitting at the firehouse and you hardly minded. His coworkers did, though. Always rolling their eyes at him and even going as far as making bets to see how many times he’d call you during one shift. So far, the record was twenty-seven. 

“Hey,” you picked up and Buck let out a sigh of relief. He didn’t know why he was always so worried that something was going to happen to you or the baby. Maybe that was why he always called so much. To give himself a peace of mind. 

“Hi,” Buck replied, a bright smile appearing on his face. “I miss you.” 

“I miss you too, but you’ll be at Bobby and Athena’s for dinner, right?” Just as you pulled out of the parking garage, you noticed that it was raining hard which was something that you hated to drive in. It was always unpredictable and accidents seemed inevitable so you tried to avoid driving in it as much as possible. 

“I wouldn’t miss it,” he replied, then let out a sigh, moving over to the kitchen so everyone couldn’t hear him. “When are we going to tell them? Bobby keeps looking at me like he knows something and I’m honestly becoming afraid of him.” He eyed the man who was sipping on his coffee while talking to the other members of the 118 as they all sat at the table. Bobby was getting suspicious and Buck could see it.

“Bobby wouldn’t hurt a fly, you know that,” you told him as you turned into traffic, finding yourself at a red light. The rain was coming down harder and it was getting more difficult to see which was worrying you. “And we will tell them when we find out the sex.”

“Sleeping with you was one thing, but if he knows that I got you pregnant, he’ll have my head.” Buck wasn’t scared that Bobby would hurt him, but more to give him a lengthy lecture and Buck would rather clean the bathrooms of the fire house every single day of his life than get yet another lecture from Bobby. Especially when that lecture centered around his sex life.

“Baby, I think you’re being a bit dramatic,” you let out a chuckle as the light turned green and you pressed on the gas, maybe going a little too fast as you tried to get to Athena’s as quickly as possible to get out of the rain. 

“You realize he’s going to want to talk to the both of us, right? That’s why he invited me over for dinner too.” 

“I don’t know why you’re so scared, Evan. It’s just Bobby. And Athena will be there to back us up. You know that. Just take some deep breaths, okay?” You asked as you got to another light, but quickly passed it as it turned red, not wanting to sit in traffic any longer, especially since LA traffic was a nightmare and rain made it even worse. 

You were going a little faster than you should have and soon enough, you were starting to hydroplane, your car spinning out of control as you tried to take your control back. But the car had a mind of its own as it spun around to face traffic for a split second until it turned off the road and slid down the grass that was to the left of it. 

You were screaming into the phone, telling Buck what was happening, but everything you were saying was unintelligible on the other line. Buck wasn’t sure what was going on, but it definitely wasn’t good and he was becoming scared for you. The last thing he heard was you screaming his name before he heard a loud crash. 

Your car slammed into a tree, crunching the front bumper. The force in which your car hit the tree knocked you unconscious as your head hit the steering wheel hard before the airbags deployed. You laid there as Buck yelled into the phone, trying to get your attention, but it was no use. You were out cold. 

Hearing Buck’s urgency, the other members of the 118 turned to him, wondering what was going on. He hung up the phone and pocketed it before rushing over to Bobby to tell him that he needed to go find you. 

“What’s going on, Buck,” Hen asked  as Buck approached the table. He looked like he had just seen a ghost. 

“It’s y/n,” Buck replied. “I was just on the phone with her and all I heard was screaming and then a loud crash. And she wouldn’t respond when I called her name. I have to see her, Cap.” 

“I’m sure she’s fine, Buck,” Chimney gave Buck’s shoulder a pat. 

“Yeah, you probably just thought you heard something,” Hen agreed. Why was everyone brushing him off? He knew what he heard and clearly it was an emergency. If he didn’t get to you quick, you could have been dead. And Buck would have been damned if he let that happen to you.

“Bobby, you don’t understand. You have to bench me today.” He knew he wouldn’t be able to do his job if he was worrying about you the whole day and being a firefighter, he couldn’t afford to be distracted. He just wanted to make sure that you were doing okay and then he’d come back in time to respond to the next call. 

“No can do today, Buck,” Bobby shook his head as he stood up from the table to take his empty coffee mug to the sink. “I let you leave here a couple of weeks ago because of her and I can’t let you again today. You’ll see her at dinner.” As soon as the words left his mouth, the siren went off and he begrudgingly followed Bobby to the engine, worrying about nothing but you the entire way there. What he had heard wasn’t good and your screams along the loud crash replayed in his head on a torturous loop the entire ride to the scene.

It looked like a pretty bad car accident from what he could see. Rain was still pouring down on the city and Buck assumed that was the cause of the accident. There was a huge pile up and police had blocked off the intersection where the big part must have happened. The crew went up and down the line to check on every vehicle that was affected in the accident and thankfully, none of them had been life threatening. 

As Buck helped Eddie remove a man from his car that had been completely crushed in the pile up, he couldn’t help but worry that you were in the accident, but Eddie assured him that you weren’t. That he was just paranoid and he wasn’t making him think rationally. They got the man on a board and carried him to an available gurney where he was rolled to the ambulance. 

While that was happening, Hen and Chimney got to the intersection and noticed that the guard rail had been driven through and looked down in the grass to see a vehicle had hit the tree that was down the hill. They made a beeline for it and Hen was the first to notice you in the driver’s seat. You were still unconscious with your head against the steering wheel and blood was pouring from the large gash on your forehead that was caused by a piece of glass that had swiped across it. 

Hen let out a gasp as she realized who you were and really hoped that Buck wasn’t around to see you. She ripped open the door that was a little bent from the accident and reached up to check your pulse, letting out a sigh of relief when she could feel your heartbeat. 

“I got a pulse!” She told Chimney then turned back to you, shaking your shoulder. 

“Y/n,” she called out to you “Y/n, can you hear me?” When there was no answer, she radioed that they needed a board and a collar and immediately. One of the firefighters from the other department rushed down with one and together, they got you onto the board and the two of them carried the board up the hill  where two paramedics were waiting with a gurney. 

They got you on it just in time for Buck to see you and he raced towards you, falling over his feet as he did so. Eddie was quick to help him up and he blocked Buck from getting to you, knowing that it would have been for his own good. He knew he wasn’t crazy. He knew it. And if he had left when he had wanted to, he would have been able to get to you in time before you had been knocked out. Okay, maybe that wasn’t true, but he was going to tell himself that it was. 

“Eddie, move, I have to get to her,” Buck yelled, trying to push Eddie out of the way as he watched Hen and Chimney push the gurney towards the ambulance. He pushed Eddie out of the way and moved to walk beside you, watching you lay there unconscious. He could feel tears welling up in his eyes and Eddie held him back so they could put you in the back of the ambulance. 

“Eddie, let me go,” he tried to wriggle out of his grasp. “I have to go with her.” He could feel sobs trying to escape his throat and was making an attempt to choke them down. He’d wait to do that at the hospital, not wanting to let his emotions fully take over when he was on the job.

“You’re too hysterical right now, Buck,” Hen told him. “Take some deep breaths and you can go with Bobby to the hospital.” Both her and Chimney got into the ambulance and the door closed behind them. It took off down the road and Buck broke down right there, collapsing onto his hands and knees and Eddie was quick to comfort him, resting his hand on his back as Bobby approached the two of them once he was sure that everyone was accounted for. 

All he could see was Buck on his knees and in all of the chaos, it seemed that everyone neglected to tell him what exactly had happened to his niece. All he knew was that something was wrong. Very wrong. He raced over to the pair and placed a hand on Eddie’s back. The man turned to face him and his face went white as he realized that it was his captain. 

“What’s going on here? Is Buck okay?” Buck had been affected by losing people before, hell, they all had, but something was off. He had never cried like that over a stranger, even when he felt like it was his fault. 

“Cap…it’s y/n…her car hit a tree. She’s stable but unconscious. They’re taking her to Presbyterian.” Without a single word, Bobby pulled Buck to his feet and both he and Eddie took him to the engine where they all piled in, heading straight for the hospital.

 Eddie sat next to Buck, comforting him as well as he could, but all he could think about was what happened to Shannon. He was in Buck’s exact position, just responding to a call when he saw her in the middle of the road. But it wasn’t about him this time. It was about Buck and Bobby and he needed to be there for them in their time of need. He continued to rub Buck’s back and as he let him cry, knowing that anything he said wouldn’t get into his friend’s head, so he kept quiet. 

All Buck felt on the way to the hospital was guilt. If he hadn’t called you then you wouldn’t have gotten into the accident. All of your focus would have been on the road and then you wouldn’t have swerved or whatever happened. It didn’t matter if it wasn’t his fault, he was going to tell himself that it was. He was going to beat himself up about it for the rest of his life. 

As soon as the engine pulled up to the hospital, the three rushed inside just as your gurney was rolled inside. Both Bobby and Buck made a beeline for you, tears welling up in their eyes as they watched your lifeless looking, blood-stained face. They both went to follow you, but a nurse blocked their path, telling them that they weren’t allowed to see you just yet as you needed surgery to have the glass removed from the slice on your forehead. 

So, hours passed as the three men sat in the waiting room, wordlessly waiting to be able to see you and or hear about your condition. It didn’t seem like you had been hurt that badly so what was the hold up? Every second that passed, Buck had been thinking the worst. Were you okay? Was the baby? Oh god, nobody knew about the baby and you weren’t far enough along yet to be showing very much so it wouldn’t have been obvious. 

“Mr. Buckley?” A voice asked and all three men whipped around, quick to stand to their feet as the nurse approached them. 

“It looks like has a slightly sprained neck and received some stitches for the deep cut on her forehead. There is a small break in her left leg from where it slipped from the gas pedal, but it should heal in a few weeks. Y/n and the baby are going to be just fine, Mr. Buckley. You should be able to go and see her in just a few minutes.”

You were okay. You were okay. And so was the baby. Sure, you had some injuries, but they were going to heal and you’d be good as new in no time. At that point, Buck was never going to let you out of his sight again just so nothing like that ever happened again. He didn’t know what he would have done if he lost you. If Bobby lost you. 

“Thanks,” Buck replied as tried to process all of the information and the nurse turned to leave the waiting room as Bobby and Eddie turned to stand in front of him. Oh, he was definitely in for an earful. 

“Baby?” They asked in unison. Of course, they knew that you and Buck had slept together, but your pregnancy was definitely not something that had been mentioned to either of them.

“Yes,” Buck replied, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. He had been carrying that secret for far too long for his liking and now that it was finally out in the open, he felt like he could finally breathe.

“So my niece is having a baby and neither of you thought I should know?” Bobby didn’t look angry, but disappointed and Buck actually thought that was worse. He did feel bad for keeping something like that for him, but ultimately wanted to leave that up to you since you were the one carrying the baby.

“I’m sorry. I just-we didn’t want to tell anyone too soon. We were going to wait until we found out the sex next week.” He was getting choked up. Even though everything was going to be okay, he still couldn’t help but be worried. That just seemed to be what he was feeling no matter what was going on. 

“Hey, hey, it’s alright,” Bobby gave Buck’s shoulder a squeeze before pulling him into a hug. Buck held onto him tight and let out the sobs that he had been holding while Bobby felt his own eyes getting misty. 

Eddie just stood there, watching two people that he really cared about share a moment and feeling relief that you were okay even though he didn’t know you very well. He really didn’t know how he would’ve been if something worse had happened to you. To see both Bobby and Buck in shambles would have absolutely broken him and he wasn’t sure he could’ve seen them like that. Just watching Buck break down as the ambulance drove off was enough to break Eddie’s own heart. 

Just as the men pulled away from each other, Hen and Chimney entered the waiting room with Maddie in tow. Buck made a beeline for her and was quick to pull her into a hug, so grateful that his sister could be there for him during this hard time. She said nothing but encouraging words to him as she squeezed him, assuring him that he was going to be okay. 

“How is she?” She asked once she pulled away, grabbing hold of Buck’s hands. 

“She’s stable. Her neck is sprained and she has a broken leg, but other than that she's going to be fine.” He began to pick at the skin around his nails as the anxiety ate at him, all of the horrible possibilities playing in his mind still. He could feel his chest getting tight like he was on the verge of a panic attack, but he couldn’t have everyone worrying about him too. You were the priority at the moment. He sat down in the nearest chair in a way that wouldn’t cause suspicion and Maddie sat next to him.

“Oh, thank god,” Maddie let out a sigh of relief. She knew just how much you had begun to mean to Buck in the short time that you had known each other and knowing that you were going to be okay made her feel so much relief. 

“And the baby’s okay too,” Buck added, watching his sister’s eyebrows shoot up, her hands flying to her mouth. She had her assumptions with the way you had been behaving, but hearing that she was actually right was shocking. 

“A baby!” She exclaimed. “Buck, that’s amazing!” She pulled him into another hug, knowing that he was going to be the best dad. Seeing the way he had been with both Christopher and Jee-Yun, she was sure of it. Once she pulled away, she could see that he was still uneasy and reached over to give his back a rub. 

Not long after, the nurse told Buck that he could go back and see you and despite wanting Bobby to come with him, he knew he had to do it alone. He didn’t know why he was so nervous. You were asleep so it wasn’t like he was going to have to say anything to you. That was the part he was most anxious about. When you woke up, what was he going to say to you? For the most part, the man never knew when to shut up, but now he was rendered absolutely speechless. 

Buck stood in front of the door and let his hand hover, watching it shake as he lowered it to the handle. He slowly pushed the door open and hesitantly entered the room, sticking his shaking hands into his pocket as you came into view. He took everything in a little bit at a time. First, he looked at you, taking in your injuries: the giant scar along your forehead and your bruised cheek, the brace around your neck, and the cast that was on your left leg. Even though you were all banged up, Buck still thought you were the most beautiful he had ever seen. 

His eyes moved to your stomach and it somehow seemed bigger than when he had seen you that morning. You were starting to show a little, but not enough that it was obvious that you were carrying a baby. He was still in shock that you were both okay considering how bad the crash seemed to be, especially the baby. He had taken care of multiple women who hadn’t been as lucky, but you were. So much so that he felt lucky too. 

Buck sat in the chair that was next to your bed and scooted it so that it was almost right up against the bed. He then took your hand that was nearest to him in both of his and pressed a kiss to his before bringing it back down to rest on the bed. He gave it a squeeze then let his gaze fall back on your face. He could feel tears well up in his eyes and he wasn’t going to hold them back. He was allowed to cry and had to remind himself of that. 

“Hey, baby,” he said, reaching up and letting his hands graze over the bandage on your forehead. “It’s me,” he sniffed. “I’m here. I’m always here. And I just want you to know that I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to be right here until you wake up and I’m going to be right here when it’s time for us to go home. You’re so strong and you’re going to get through this. You’re going to be just fine.” One of his tears trickled down onto your gown and he decided that it was time for him to sit back so he just settled for holding your hand, perfectly content with just sitting there and watching you sleep.

He could feel himself drifting from all of the emotions and a long shift and eventually he closed his eyes right in the chair, your steady beat of heart on the monitor being the thing that lulled him to sleep. For once, he was able to sleep soundly and wasn’t having any nightmares about you or the baby. It all just a lot of nothing going on in his head and that was exactly the way he liked it.

Just when Buck was deep in sleep, he was awoken to a loud, consistent beeping from your heart monitor. He sat up and could see that you were flatlining and just when he was about to get someone, nurses and doctors rushed inside and ushered him out of the room. The door was slammed closed in his face before he could process what was happening and he quickly moved to the little window to see them starting compressions, but you still laid there, lifeless. They tried and tried again before pulling out the defibrillator. 

It was as if everything was moving in slow motion as the machine shocked you, but you still weren’t waking up. They all turned in Buck’s direction as they shook their heads and he just backed up from the window, falling to the floor as he lost his footing. A sob raked through his body as he sat there, crying that he had lost the one woman he thought he could keep along with the baby he loved more than anything in the world. You both were gone and this time, there was nothing he could do to save you.

[dadvans]

i want season 8 to open similar to the season of Community where it shows everyone starting their day in all of their new configurations: buck and tommy untangling from each other still clearly in their honeymoon phase, bobby and athena folding up the hide-a-bed couch they’ve been sharing at a friend’s house since the fire, hen and karen already up and on their second pot of coffee clearly in the throes of bureaucracy hell to get mara back/ortiz fired/gerrard murdered, chimney and maddie rushing around each other while making sure both mara and jee are ready for daycare and school, eddie standing in christopher’s bedroom doorway, knocking on the doorframe twice with a soft fist as he turns away from the empty, still-made bed

[andavs]

One last unhinged theory before the finale kicks off, inspired by @captain-hen’s genius anon: witness protection

Councilwoman Olivia Ortiz is back for reasons, maybe she’s running for mayor or something

She’s buried the details around her son’s death while running a tough on crime platform or maybe getting drugs out of the city, but she’s actually corrupt and has some shady criminal connections

There’s a warehouse fire that’s related to something she’s connected to, 118 responds and they find evidence that wasn’t fully destroyed—not about Ortiz specifically, but something shady happening there

A Bad Guy sees the names Wilson, Han, and Diaz on their turnouts as they're talking to the cops and handing over the evidence they found—maybe Buck and Bobby were in a different section of the building at the time

Ortiz realizes that’s also the team that responded to her son’s accident and they can bring down her entire career if they figure out she’s involved

Her shady connections realize that if she goes down, their pull with the local government also goes down, so they take matters into their own hands to protect their interests

The shady contacts organize a way to take out Hen, Chimney, and Eddie, but Ortiz goes to Athena to warn them because she doesn’t want three innocent people to die

To keep the bad guys from continuing to pursue them or going after anyone else, they fake that the murder plot worked and announce that Hen, Chimney, and Eddie all died in the line of duty

They get one last goodbye at the station before they get hustled into nondescript vans and taken into protection while Athena builds a case with Ortiz to bring down her criminal connections

Their families know they’re actually alive but have to keep up the facade of grieving, and also they’re apart and can’t communicate with each other, except maybe sending rare messages/photos through Athena that they don’t get to keep. 

It’s a storyline that gives everyone something to do:

Hen, Chimney, and Eddie are suddenly isolated somewhere new and living under new names

Chimney finally married the love of his life and now they can’t even be together until the case is finished, and now he’s the one watching Jee grow up from afar

Maddie’s completely on her own with Jee for the first time since her PPD, but now she’s totally got this mom thing down—she just has to juggle that with work so maybe we get more of the Lees!

Hen and Karen have Mara who’s only just getting comfortable with them, only for Hen to be taken away and for Karen to suddenly have to handle all of it by herself

Who is Hen when she’s not a firefighter, paramedic, or mother? 

Eddie’s finally over Shannon and ready to move forward and then he’s yanked out of his life and completely isolated, probably working as a mechanic or something

Buck has to move into Eddie’s house with Chris and actually take on the role of full time parent, even though they both know Eddie will be back in a few months

(Maybe Buck and Eddie had a Moment but all of this happened before they got to talk about it and now they can’t talk about but they both know something shifted but will it still be shifted when all of this is finally over?)

Athena’s working on a seriously high profile case and all the dangers that come with it

Bobby’s holding the remains of his team together while knowing it’s temporary, and also probably still recovering from whatever the fuck is about to happen to him, if not physically then mentally

[stagefoureddiediaz]

Costume Meta 7x04

How we all doing?? have we managed to find some semblance of equilibrium in this new world where we have canon bi buck?? I’m not sure I’ll ever know how to exist in this world but that’s fine with me! I’m still here writing my silly costume metas and having a blast in this bright new world!

No Hen this week as we never see her out of uniform!

The rest is below the cut because you would all hate me if i clogged your feeds with this beast (shes 7k)- you have been warned!!

Actually going to start this week with a uniform out of work section!

Because three times in this episode, we had one of the firefam wearing an element of their uniform out of work and its actually pretty key!

We have Bobby in his LAFD polo when he informs Athena that Harry is wanted for assault and he fled the state.

Then we have Chim at the basketball game in his LAFD hoodie

And finally Buck at the airfield on his tour with Tommy.

All three are playing into the idea of protecting ones self by being in an official capacity in some way. Firefighters (like all first responders) are of course there to 'protect and serve' the community.

Bobby delivers the news to Athena about Harry - he's in uniform because he can inhabit a small aspect of his captain mentality - makes it easier to deliver the news and also gives him the distance to play the 'don't shoot the messenger' card if necessary.

Chimney has to step into paramedic mode at the end of the scene. The LAFD hoodie separates him from everyone else at the court and foreshadows that he will have to 'go to work' its also about chimney being there as the colleague not the almost brother in-law of Buck. An important distinction - it protects Chim from being seen to favour anyone (specifically from Buck. (Buck is angry and not being rational so Chimney has protection from Bucks potential anger for helping Eddie - Buck is already feeling awful by that point so the protection isn't needed but it provides cover if it were) and allows him to go into first responder mode. (this is so badly worded but I'm sure you get what I mean!!)

Buck is at the airfield under the guise of wanting to find out more about becoming an air support firefighter - its the cover under which he is operating to try and befriend Tommy. The jacket also provides him protection from Eddie when he shows up and finds out Buck is not coming to Vegas with him and Tommy.

Bobby

Just the one costume for Bobby this week - a maroon tee that her's wearing to sleep in. we see him in this colour a lot - its a bit of a staple colour for him and I've spoken a lot about maroon tees and shirts representing parental roles in relation to the various children of the 118. Its no different here -we can see from Bobbys face he isn't buying what Harry is saying and the parental concern we see evidenced here plays out with him calling Michael and finding out what is really going on.

Athena

Athena wears a lot of black this week, which is fairly typical from her, although we are in a much more overall muted palette than usual and its missing the jewel tones we're used to seeing her increasingly wear. its a bit of a signal of returning to normality now they're back from the cruise disaster.

She starts off in black and pink pyjamas but I'm going to talk about those at the end in the pink section so we're skipping ahead to this ruffle smocked cream blouse and her gorgons head necklace is back. the ruffling is an nod to her feathers being ruffled when Bobby tells her about Harry and his arrest warrant, and the white with the black trousers is about things being black and white - for Athena as a cop things do tend to be black and white when it comes to the law - of course Athena has always been one to work within the law to bend the rules but in this moment things are black and white.

Then we have her all in black with a red longline cardigan which has a open weave that give the appearance of mesh or a cage. The show has been using Red since day one which makes sense as it is a first responder show and you literally cannot escape it when the fire trucks are red! But they have always been pretty careful about when they use bright red in the costuming meaning its appearance with such regularity this season so far is pretty telling. Its an advance warning of incoming danger/trouble/strife, but it is rarely worn by the one who is directly in danger - they will be involved, but not the centre of it. The best example of this is Bucks bright red broadcloth shirt when Christopher calls him because Eddie is smashing up his bedroom.

Here we have it on Athena in the scene when things are about to properly kick into action with Harrys story. Athena is literally a red net about to ensnare Harry. its the one time in this episode we see Athena in a bold bright colour - something that generally is attached to her being happy or having fun, but not here.

The denim sleeveless shirt/jacket when Athena goes to the hospital to visit the lady who shot her son (does she have a name - I cant remember!) and later to talk to Harry about the reality of his altercation, is quite bulky and blocky. It's far less fitted, structured or flowy that we are used to seeing on Athena. To me this is about playing into her struggles to tread the line between mother and cop - that neither role fits right. That denim is also a fabric associated with labour, it suggests Athena is working hard to figure it out.

Then we get this all black outfit when she takes Harry to the station - it is such a simple yet effective bit of costuming, especially with the silver zips and buckles- it blends her in with the police officers in the station so she can hover the line between mom and cop - and makes it look like an arresting officer bringing in a suspect.

Harry

New Harry comes with a new style!!

I actually can't wait to see how they dress him over the rest of the season because there was a definite colour theme at play here this week with all the beiges, greens and redish browns which is very not how younger Harry dressed (he was much more bright colours).

Not going to lie - my hatred for the copaganda and the fact I've been in Bi Buck land since the episode aired has made it hard to focus on Harrys outfits in greater detail, but I do have a few thoughts!

This first shirt is a map print, maps denote journey's andHarry is on a literal and metophorical journey - the literal being the one he made form Florida to LA. The metaphorical one is all about his journey to become a man, and learning to take responsibility for his actions, so this shirt is essentially setting out his arc for the season - Makes me feel like the storylines with harry we're going to see are going to be about the community service he has to undertake and him figuring things out and growing up a bit in relation to that.

Then next up we have this cream hoodie with an brownish beige pocket. the thing I found interesting about this choice was the fact that Harry played himself off as innocent. lawyers usually instruct their clients to wear white shirts to court, and to avoid loud patterns. The white is because i suggests purity or innocence, and the loud patterns should be avoided because it suggests you're trying to employ subterfuge (that you're lying). So Harry wearing a block of cream is a play on this idea. We see him in the map shirt before - when he is employing subterfuge about his reasons for visiting, and now this cream is him trying to suggest his innocence to his mother - the use of cream rather than white is telling us that he isn't as innocent as he is making out!

Finally we have check theory (my most beloved) in play. harry returns to wearing patterns - this one check and in greens and browns. there is an element of military to the green shades, its a coloour we've seen used on Eddie to show his military background, but it is also a colour frequently worn by Athena - usually when she is fighting for her family in some way. Here it feels like a refelction of that, with the added aspect of green being a colour of growth. Harry shows contrition and is willing to take his punishement, showing his growth, but also showing his understanding of fighting for his family - and Athenas willingness to do the same. its showing us tht he is his mothers son. And of course the check is the pointer towards the fact he is in trouble - that his earlier protestations of innocence were false!

Then we move on the he Buckley-Hans

Chimney

Only the one for Chimney this week, it's a very short scene where he is completely oblivious to the tone of the conversation. He's dressed completely in greys and is by all accounts neutrally costumed. this is intentional - he's not the focus of this scene and when we think that so much of this episode is shown from Bucks pov, the use of neutral grey makes sense - Buck is projecting on to chimney in this scene. Buck himself is speaking his jealousy and fear, while what Chimney says is actually the little voice inside his head that isn't in fact jealous of Tommy, but is impressed by him

Maddie

Again only two costumes for Maddie this week and one of them is her dispatch outfit, but I'm including it because of its place with a mini colour theme for this episode, which both of her outfits play into.

I spoke about the use of red in Athenas section and its representing danger, and it is in play for both of Maddie's outfits, the wearer changes though. In the first scene, Maddie is in blue - dark blue. a tee with 'The Great School' and bobcat logo on the front. I love this, the bobcat is a symbol of inner strength and resilience in the face of adversity, while Maddie is a great source of learning for Buck - he essentially raised him and has been a sounding board for him since she returned to his life. Maddie is the next level wise older sister, her point of view is important to Buck and is grounding for him. She had got him to back down from his spiral over Eddie and Chris, until Chimney came in (and like I said above, that was Bucks inner voice, not really Chimney)

Then we have her dispatch uniform and its red. This is a clever play actually, it allows the costume team to put Maddie into red, a colour we don't really see on her outside of work (a deliberate choice as it helps distinguish work from non work to the audience). Just like Buck was the angry one in the other Buckley siblings scene, her Maddie is the one who is angry (with good reason) and we again get Buck recieving education at he hands of Maddie - in her place of work where she is a lifeline to people and where she holds authority. Buck needed her in a lifeline capacity in this moment and he got it, despite her anger. She gave him the advice and help he needed.

Eddie

Eddie my man looking suave and confident - this Eddie is Bucks version of Eddie so of course he looks cool, well dressed and in a green and black combo. In nearly every scene where Eddie nad Buck have a deep meaningful conversation - one that gets through to Buck on a higher level - that works on Bucks abandonment complex, Eddie is dressed in a black shirt and khaki green trousers (the only exception is the will reveal when he's in navy blue but that is to play in the yellow blue colour theming and its a close to black as they could have a blue!), this outfit is an inverse though, which is actually really clever. Eddie (Bucks version) here is playing into Bucks fear of abandonment - Bucks version of Eddie has spent so long building him up and chipping away at that fear that to invert that colour theme and have green on top and black trousers is a fun way of inverting that chipping away at Bucks fear - this is putting another brick in that abandonment wall

The black tank top!! Its back and everybody cheered! Ok so I wrote this meta about when the show puts Eddie into a black tank top and how it means he's in an emotionally vulnerable place and once more, the theory plays out. Obviously Eddie gets physically injured, but his face when he looks at Buck after he's gone down shows him emotionally vulnerable. Yes there is a little bit of anger and a lot of pain in the look he gives him, but there is also understanding and a little guilt too.

It's the moment Eddie realises that he has unintentionally sidelined his best friend, and the effect that has had on Buck and his abandonment issues. This is Eddie showing his truly deep understanding of Buck and how Buck ticks (and because this is also from Bucks pov, its also showing us Buck understanding that Eddie understands how Buck ticks) we get all of this proven when Tommy comes over to Bucks later and clearly states that Eddie is feeling bad about the whole situation.

It is also worth noting that When Buck has seen Eddie at the gym or being sporty in some way Eddie has either been in uniform or in a black singlet and that he always looks super competent (even if he is working through things when he is in the black singlet). From my perspective, this is an interesting choice to play into because it suggests Buck recognises Eddies emotional maturity over him, even when he's not in a great place (we can discount fight club Eddie becasue Buck didn't actually see him there), its clearly something Buck admires and places as central to how he sees Eddie.

Tommy

Tommys costuming is chefs kiss perfection to me. The wardrobe department have literally dressed him as Eddie and I am living for it.

Its a way to emphasise that Tommy and Eddie are super similar. this serves two purposes - it builds a visual connection for the audience - we don't need to be shown Tommy in the army or fighting/ training in Muay Thai etc, we can mentally make a connection to the ones we've seen of Eddies in the past and accept the information as fact. obviously not all people who join the army or undertake MMA are going to dress the same, but this is television where visual information is valuable real estate, so playing into tropes and stereotypes is a key piece of arsenal.

The other thing about it is the specific Eddies its calling back to - fight club Eddie and to a lesser extent, post breakdown Eddie when he's back in therapy and unrepressing himself.

Tommys basketball outfit is really about making him stand out from everyone else - it makes him seem to appear more because the blue shorts and the light coloured top will catch your eye, even if he's not the focus of the camera at that moment. This is all about the fact that this is Bucks perspective on things - he is seeing Tommy everywhere and feeling like he's taking over/ taking away Eddie and so we the audience feel that same thing in a visual way. The thing the blue shorts do is visually connect Tommy to buck in the next scene we see Buck in - when he is talking to Maddie at dispatch - the blues are similar enough for us to subconsciously connect back to that scene and link Buck and Tommy together rather than Buck to Eddie - who Buck is dressed more similarly too in the basketball scene.

It doesn't hurt that the blue shorts also play into yellow blue theory - especially against the sunsets yellow hues in a scene that is playing homage to a famously queer coded scene from Top gun.

Then there is this outfit from Bucks loft. again is very similar to an Eddie outfit - its the same style of shirt we often see Eddie wearing especially in seasons 4 and 5.

Tommys jeans have always been reminiscent of Eddies Jeans (I mean I know they are jeans, but I promise the significance will become clear when I get to Buck!)

Even Tommys watch is similar to Eddies Christopher watch (every other watch in the show worn by the men is all black - black strap black face and mount only the Christopher watch is different) in that it has a different coloured strap to the watch face and its mount.

The other thing I want to mention quick, is the progression of Tommys costumes in relation to them being similar to Eddies. By this I mean the first non uniform costume we see Tommy in is very stage 2 Eddie, while the one below is very much more stage 3 Eddie.

I also really like the use of a purple/red/black shot tee for this scene as well. If you watch the scene through, the way its lit changes its colour as different sections of the scene unfold. The red tones are there early on, during the apology and conversation around Eddie being allowed to have more than one friend and Christophers adoration of Buck. it gives it that air of danger lurking, because Tommy isn't sure how things are going to play out. and plays into the red/blue theme we saw with Buck and Maddie in this episode - just on a much lower level.

Then it turns this purplish shade as we move into the initial stages of flirting - from the moment Buck moves around the counter to put himself in the same space as Tommy. It gives things an air of mystery, but purple can also be a colour of enlightenment - both elements are in play here and I love they were able to do this with this shirt.

The shirt turns black at the moment Tommy says 'my attention' - the moment he essentially hold all the cards on making a move - he is the one with the power here (as the already queer person in the room) and black is a power colour, so its the perfect choice for the moment he makes his move.

Buck

Buck my beloved bi disaster. His costumes were doing some pretty impressive storytelling this episode!

We start off at the air field - I spoke at the start about this LAFD jacket and the theme of protection, but I also have other things to say about it and the rest of the costume. We don't generally see Buck out of work wearing uniform (we actually don't see many of the firefam in uniform out of work tbh) so when we do its going to have meaning. T

he thing with the bomber jacket being the choice (they could've made it a hoodie which we've seen him wear out of work more!) is that on one level plays into its name and the fact that its being worn at an airfield, while on another level it low key plays into the Buck cheating arc. which is actually fun - the idea that he's 'cheating' on the 118 by claiming he's thinking about his career options and also cheating on Eddie by trying to befriend Tommy (because at this point that is all it is its only once Eddie appears that things change).

The trousers are also important. I know I've said before about how trousers are less important than tops because they are less likely to get screen time. We not here - here they are really important, but only with the context of the rest of the episode.

These are the short in the leg dark trousers we've come to know and love on Buck - he's been solidly wearing them since season 2 and what we have seen him wearing so far in season 7 so no surprises to see them here. But this is the last time we see them and its super important and telling.

We also have Bucks white trainers - the ones that he wears when he moves forward on his journey - we see him in them the entire time this episode.

Buck and Maddie this episode have a red v blue thing going on in their scenes together. In this one Buck is in red and Maddie in blue. I spoke about the red for danger theme they seem to be using this season for the red clothes above in Athenas section and it applies here - Buck in red is foreshadowing the danger/strife that the basketball game presents as that is what he is talking about and what he is most upset about over Tommy and Eddies friendship.

It's a slightly burnt out red in comparison to Bobbys red shirt from the cruise, Athenas red cardigan, or even the red he wore when Eddie had his breakdown. Its not a full high alert colour, its a more muted and restrained colour - suggesting the danger is going to be less of a big thing, that it's just a part of it rather than the main big thing

We can also see that Buck is now wearing more traditional stonewash jeans - this is the first time we're seeing them on him since Eddies arrival at the fire house. I'll explain them in more detail in Bucks last outfit of the episode, but I needed to point their presence out here.

Basketball Buck in his white shirt and dark blue marl cut off tee - its very Buck posturing at the firehouse gym and its meant to be. Its a direct reference to the last time Buck showed any jealousy towards Eddie. The shorts are different this time in that they're white/light grey rather than black, but I think this is done for two reasons - it creates a pairing with Eddie - they are dressed similarly with dark tops and lighter grey shorts, but on opposite teams/sides.

It also makes him stand out from everyone else at the game - excepting Tommy (and a random guy in a red top with white shorts that I'm living for. When Red = foreshadowing as I've talked about above, this guys actions on the court are precursors of what is about to happen - we see him bump into Tommy - a couple of moments later and Buck does the same thing, then just before Eddie gets taken out by Buck, he gets breezed past by Eddie stumbles and starts limping. Its fun and clever and not something many people will pick up on - its a bit like the role of the bullet in Hamilton!)

Bucks bright blue chunky corduroy shirt with white tee underneath. I already spoke about the visual connection between Tommy from the basketball game and this shirt. It also fits into the red and blue theme I spoke about above - this time Buck is the one in blue and with the combination of Buck in his danger incoming white shirt and Maddie being in red it signals exactly what this scene is going to be about.

The danger, in my opinion, is Maddies wrath at Buck getting physical with Eddie. Its a perfectly valid and important response from her and plays into the growth we get from Buck in this episode that is not connected to his bi awakening - the recognition and acceptance of his bad behaviour in a far more mature way than we saw from s3 Buck.

The chunky corduroy give the shirt vertical stripes and we all know how I feel about Buck and vertical stripes at this point - I wrote about them a lot in my seasons 5 and 6 metas and the blue and white nature of bucks outfit plays into the theming that was at play in early season 6 - where Buck was free from Taylor and resisting buying a couch because he was looking for the right couch etc. (and playing house husband to Eddie nad feeding them!!!)

Here in this episode we kind of have Buck going through a similar process - free from the shackles of death and trying to figure things out - who he is and what he wants, he's still on that hamster wheel in many ways at this point in the episode but he is about to jump off it.

This is the key to happiness and Lev's advice and the year of yes scene 2.0 - the same shade of blue are at play here. Lev figuring it out ('I get it now') just as he's dying and Buck then trying to figure out what Lev had figured out and essentially failing before he died only to now get it and free himself is a blue thread we've been following through season 6 up to bucks death, then the use of this shade of blue in Bucks costumes tailed off - we saw it reappear a couple of times after the lightening strike - specifically around Natalia and his continues flirtation with death - almost like his hovering around death was him trying to grasp what Lev had figured out.

Then the blue had been gone again only for it to reappear here in this episode in a scene that precedes Bucks bi awakening and his comments about being free and 'yeah that works' with their double meanings that play in the same way as lev's 'I think i get it now' just without death coming immediately after. It's a scene when he starts to get an inkling on what his jealousy is actually about. (The fact we know he's going to be back in this bright blue in the next episode in a scene with Eddie - that is very likely a coming out scene also plays into this idea.)

And the stone wash jeans are once more there for all to see!

Then we get this dark navy blue shirt with silvery white dots and yet again those stone wash jeans.

Ok lets talk about the jeans! The fact that we haven't seen Buck wearing stone wash jeans, which if you watch the opening couple of seconds of the dispatch scene, you will see are proper normal length on him and not ankle swingers like we've got used to seeing him in for the last few seasons!

The thing with him suddenly wearing these stonewash jeans is all about imitation - imitation of Tommy (and by extension, imitation of Eddie even though we don't see Eddie in stonewash denim in this episode) because you know that old adage of dressing like the person you want to be , or the idea that you subconsciously start dressing like the person you have a crush one?? Well yeah - Buck has all these new feelings that he doesn't know what to do with, but Tommy is cool and Tommy dresses like Eddie and Eddie seems to like Tommy better than Buck now so maybe if Buck starts dressing a bit like Tommy he'lI get Eddies attention back. So he's pulled out the stone wash jeans so that he's dressed a bit more like Tommy, but he's also dressing a bit like his crush that he doesn't yet realise is a crush.

The other small thing that I think is a nice nod - So Like I said earlier, the last time we see the jeans is in 2x01 - Eddies introduction to the firehouse. This is the moment (on screen at least for us as viewers) that Buck ceases to be the probie - that baton is passed to Eddie, so its almost like a symbol of him graduating and maturing in some way. then we get the jeans back for Bucks bi awakening - we see them the entire time he's navigating all these new feelings he has - he's never been with a man, so he's like a probie again.

The thing is, that the jeans appear to be gone for his date with Tommy (makes sense - he's on a date so he's got to look good for his man!) , and from what I can tell from the (super dark even when brightened) stills from the Buck Eddie loft scene, it would appear they are gone for that scene too. We've had bts of Oliver in the jeans again, so I don't think they're gone completely, but that makes sense, he's still a baby queer after all, still navigating his way through things.

On to the shirt! I wrote a whole meta about this shirt (and the jeans actually!) when we first got this still - you can read it here and I'm still a little awestruck at how close to the mark I got!

What I want to add to what I said, now I have context is that the two previous times we've seen blue shirts with dots are played upon in this scene - the lawsuit is the obvious one and the parallel is showing Bucks growth - he got jealous and worried about being replaced and ended up lashing out and suing everyone, now he got jealous and thought he was being replaced, but as soon as he lashes out, he realises he is in the wrong and verbally acknowledges it.

The diner with Maddie scene is a bit more tricky to parse out, but for me, it ties to Doug - Maddie is quick to call Buck out when he confesses to Eddies injury not being an accident, because of her experiences at the hands of Doug. In the diner scene she is determined to go back to her apartment and her life in the aftermath of killing him - she wants life to go back to normal. In the loft scene Buck is trying to achieve that end too - he's in a new world where Tommy exists as part of his life now (as Eddies friend initially) and he wants to clear the air and move forward - so he's still a part of Eddies life.

I also want to talk about the contrast between this scene and the one where Taylor turns up at his door after the shooting and the difference between being chased and doing the chasing. Its spots v stripes!

Buck is in a similar shirt - short sleeved button up in a dark shade (black) - this one with vertical stripes for the Taylor scene and he thinks he's being chased for the first (ish) time (Abby sort of chased him but he is the one who pushed for it to be a relationship when I think she just wanted a bit of fun and a hook up! so I'm not sure if it actually counts or not). Thing is Taylor only chases him after they've already kissed and when he's then made it clear thats what needs to happen. (as an aside - Natalia does pursue Buck - not romantically, but because he has died - and she is the one wearing vertical stripes

While in this scene he doesn't have to say anything, yes he flirts, but he isn't explicit about what hewants - Tommy is the one who makes the decision to go for it, and so when he genuinely gets pursued, he is wearing dots

Chased verse's doing the chasing - dots v stripes

Then we have the Pink.

Pink is back in full force in 7x04 with it popping up regularly throughout the episode.

I didn't include Athenas pink dressing gown or Bucks pink shorts in their sections because I actually wanted to talk about them here. The context the scenes they were in gave me the information I needed to figure out what I think the purpose of all the pink we've been seeing is.

Lets start with a quick recap of all the pink from the 3 previous episodes then we'll look at the pink from this episode as well as the fact I've already spotted some for 7x05 from the trailer

7x01

Athena's pale pink top in therapy with Frank

Sue at dispatch in a pink cardigan

Christophers pencil is pink when he's sat at his desk - when he reads the letter from Shannon

Marisol in her bright pink strappy top

Lola's Manzanillo outfit is bright pink and white

Norman has pink flowers on his Hawaiian shirt and he later wears a bright pink polo shirt when he's pretending Lola is still with him.

7x02

the woman who is teaching her daughter to drive

the pink roses on Hen's jacket (which I know I said play into the theme of family bonds etc but the pink has a second meaning)

7x03

The cruise ship family nearly all wear pink at various points (grandma and mom are the exceptions)

and now 7x04

We have Ashley C in hot pink at the Bachelor mansion

Athena in her dusty pink ddressing gown (and pyjama pants

The woman who shot her son is in pink

And then there are Bucks pink shorts!

All of these scenes with the pink are scenes about either naivety and or innocence

The pink on Athena is about her being naive about her relationship with Bobby - not recognising that she is nothing to fear about them spending time together.

Sues pink cardigan. Sue's line is about the civilians at risk from the fighter jet - she is representing their innocence

Christophers pink pencil - in that scene his behaviour might be naive (he's a child so of course it is) but it comes from a place of complicated feelings as he does begin to mature - he was the innocent party in the loss of Shannon and he is the one left to suffer.

Lola is naive on the ship about having an affair and thinking she could get away with it and that it wouldn't hurt Norman. She’s also innocent in the plot regarding the bitcoin (or whatever it was)

Norman is also both naive and innocent - not recognising the fact his wife is cheating, for selling up their entire life and he is innocent in the bitcoin plot.

The mother and daughter were innocent in the car crash.

the pink flowers on Hens jacket hint at her being innocent of any wrong doing (from a departmental perspective) at the car accident.

The cruise family are innocent - just in the wrong place at rhetorical wrong time and they are a representation of all the innocent people on the boat who end up in danger on that ship.

I think the Marisol top is an interesting one - it plays into Chris being naïve thinking he can date multiple girls without them finding out. But I also think it’s foreshadowing her naivety in general - I think we might either see her immaturity in some way (perhaps on a date with Eddie) which will prove terminal for her relationship with Eddie. Now we know about this date scene coming up this is possible but it could also end up being about the fact that she is likely going to be an innocent party caught in the crossfire of Eddie unrepressing himself (much in the same way Ana was back in s4/5.

Ashely C's pink dress is a representation of the innocence of trying to find love.

Athena's pink dressing gown is about her innocently and blindly/ naively being excited about Harrys return home to her.

The lady who shot her son is innocent in that her actions were brought about by something out of her control and so she can't truly be held responsible for them.

Then Bucks pink shorts are about his queer innocence and naivety about his feelings the fact that we see them in a scene where Tommy isn’t present, a scene that is meant to inform the audience that his behaviours is all about Eddie and not Tommy - that he’s naively not grasping that part of this internal confusion that he's experiencing.

To add to all of this, we have Marisol carrying a pink bag in the teaser for next week, to me if pink theory is correct then this is playing into the idea that Marisol is naively dating Eddie and that she's going to be an innocent caught up in whatever goes down in that scene (part of this arc) the use of lighter pink here specifically on a handbag is giving me babyish vibes as well (its screaming little girl playing at dress up!). As a quick aside - I am very amused that shes been dressed in a basic black top - she looks like wait staff!

And of course there is Eddies pink ensemble that is connected to either Chims bachelor party or the Madney Wedding. I have no idea what is going to happen in this scene(s) but whatever does go down - place your bets on Eddie being innocent (and or naive!) in whatever goes on - itll be fun to see if I'm right! 🤓

Right 7k later and that is me done for this meta!!! I am handing out the tea, coffee, cake and biscuits (all dietary requirements catered for!)🫖☕️🧁🍩🍪- you've earnt them if you've made it to the end of this monster! Hope you enjoyed reading. i'm off to revel in Bi Buck some more - I can't believe its happened I'm overcome!!! 🩷💜💙

Tagged peeps as always are below!

@theladyyavilee @mistmarauder @xxfiction-is-my-realityxx @bewilderedbuckley @spotsandsocks @bewitchedbewilderedbisexual @rogerzsteven @wanderingwomanwondering @oneawkwardcookie @leothill @copyninjabuckley @shammers86 @crazyfangirlallert @missmagooglie @katyobsesses @radiation-run @gayandbifiremenofmine @bi-moonlight @crazyaboutotps @princesschez75 @alliaskisthepossibilityoflove @sherlocking-out-loud @tommykinarddd @satashiiwrites @lover-of-mine

(if the tags don't work its because people have changed their url (very valid of you!) and I didn't know, so let me know if you want tagging in future in the comments so I can catch the new urls!

[firewasabeast]

if the theory that tommy rappels from a helicopter to a plane and lands the damn thing is true then can you imagine how feral everyone is going to go over the guy? buck's never gonna get a moment alone with him. people will be asking for autographs. he'll be getting interview requests. eddie will be shoving him to every basketball game and introducing him to the newbies as "one of my best friends, that pilot you saw on the news." chimney will get shirts made with his face on them and force everyone to wear them when they go out. karen will demand she and hen schedule a double date asap to get every detail. bobby will be cooking endless food and dropping it off at all hours of the day. athena will be slightly concerned because she hoped tommy could talk buck down from some crazy schemes, but it seems buck might be the more sane of the two. buck of course loves that his boyfriend is getting all this recognition (much deserved, if you ask him) but he'd also like to fuck his brains out about it and it proves difficult when there are constant interruptions.

[of-a-chaotic-mind]

I Can't Say Part 3 (Finale)

Summary: Everyone is waiting for Reader to wake up after surgery. Eddie finds out what has been causing her behavior and as soon as she wakes up he apologizes for doubting her. She knows she'll never lose him again after what he does next.

TW/CW: Eddie Diaz x Reader, Make Up, Injured Reader, Hospital Setting

Requested?: No   

Word Count: 3,194

A/N: Our grand total of words for this trilogy is 11,325… I’m ngl was kinda stuck on how I’d get from break up to make up but then I was rewatching season 2 the other night and well… Earthquake it is. Anyways, hope you enjoy the read! Love to all! Requests are Open!

Part 1

Part 2

--- Third Person POV --- 

Hours later, the team has been given the go ahead to go home but every one of them is heading to the hospital in hopes of seeing (Y/N). Hen cleared it with Bobby first but decided it was best if she stayed with Eddie who has been pacing the waiting room the entire time since they sent (Y/N) back. She had sent messages to everyone she could think of, letting them know which hospital they’re at and keeping them updated. Unfortunately, the phones have only just now been able to start working again. Her phone begins exploding with notifications. Carla is bringing Chris as well as a change of clothes for Eddie. Athena says she and the kids are on the way but stopping for coffee and snacks. Karen confirms she’s getting Denny and Mara in the car now with a change of clothes for Hen. Maddie and Jee are on their way too. Every single person that Hen texted, responds except for the 118 members, Talia, and Tommy who all changed out of their gear as soon as they got to the station and piled into Bobby’s truck and Buck’s Jeep. 

Those who responded all trickle in with Athena, May, and Harry bringing up the rear as they drop several bags of snacks and a couple gallons of cold brew on the coffee table that everyone has gathered around. Carla and Chris have convinced Eddie, who is now nursing a cup of cold brew, to sit down and are posted on either side of him, Carla rubbing his back and Chris holding his hand tightly. Karen and Hen are playing patty cake with Jee while Maddie begs the nursing staff for an update. Harry, Denny, and Mara are quietly discussing some video game while they snack. Athena and May share a look before they make their way over to Maddie and gently tug her back to the group. It seems everyone lets out a breath they had been holding when the group of firefighters step through the glass doors. The waiting room is brought to life as everyone greets each other. Eddie on the other hand is rooted to his seat and staring at the floor. 

Just as Bobby is about to place his hand on Eddie’s shoulder, the doctor enters the waiting room. Everyone waits with bated breath as he approaches them, Talia and Eddie both rushing to meet him. He looks around at the rather large group before chuckling, “You’re all here for (Y/N) (Y/L/N)?” Several in the group nod so he continues, “Good. She’s out of surgery. It was a little touch and go but she’s stable. The anesthesia will wear off soon but, due to the amount of blood she lost, it may take her some time to wake up. Once we get her settled into a room, I’ll let you all know.” Everyone nods in understanding and releases the breath they were holding. A few of them thank the doctor as he walks away. Eddie drops back into a chair, laying his head back against the wall, and grabs hold of Christopher’s hand again. Talia is pulls Tommy away from the group to ask him what’s going on between (Y/N) and Eddie, soon finding herself in tears upon hearing the news. Tommy pulls her into a tight hug, hating that he had to break it to her. The others strike up conversations to pass the time. 

A short while later, the doctor returns to the group, “She’s in a room. Anesthesia should be worn off but as I explained earlier, she’s not awake yet. That being said, you can see her now but you’ll have to take turns. I don’t want more than two or three in there at a time. You can find her in room A204.” As he departs, Eddie kisses the top of Christopher’s head and heads to her room.  

Everyone else has their eyes on Talia who hasn’t moved a muscle. Tommy places his hand on her shoulder, “Go.” She looks up at him and around the group with uncertainty but with a nod from Bobby she’s off toward the room as well. 

When Talia enters the room, Eddie is sitting in a chair on the opposite side of the bed from the door. He is holding (Y/N)’s hand tightly, tears streaming down his face, and mumbling under his breath, “(Y/N) please, you gotta wake up for me.” She takes a seat on the other side of the bed and the room falls silent aside from the steady beep of the heart monitor. 

A few moments pass before he clears his throat, “If it weren’t for you, she- she wouldn’t be alive right now.” 

Fresh tears paint her cheeks as she looks down at her lap, “If it weren’t for me, she wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place.” 

He looks at her, head titled, “What do you mean?” 

“If it weren’t for me, the love of her life wouldn’t have broken up with her, she wouldn’t have been in that therapy office, and she wouldn’t have been run through with rebar,” she admits, struggling to get the words out through her tears. He is immensely confused at first but she clarifies before he can ask, “A few weeks ago I called her because I needed someone to keep me from hurting myself. She came no questions asked. She’s been stopping by to check on me a lot. She always answers the phone when I need her. Selfishly, I made her promise not to tell anyone because I didn’t want my team finding out.” Eddie’s heart breaks as he realizes but she continues, “If it weren’t for me, she wouldn’t be in this mess.” 

He reaches his hand across the bed for Talia’s who hesitantly takes it. He looks her dead in the eyes, “You cannot blame yourself for any of this. You did the best thing you could which was ask for help when you needed it. You don’t know where she would’ve been if not in that office with you. It could- it could’ve been much worse.” He pauses for a moment, looking back at (Y/N), “I wish I would’ve just believed and trusted her when she said she had a good reason.” 

Talia wipes her tears away; she still feels terrible about everything but knows (Y/N) would’ve told her the same exact thing that Eddie did. She squeezes his hand gently, “I know I’m not around you and the rest of her new family that much but I’ve heard a lot about everyone.” He looks up at her and she continues, “I’ve heard more about you and Chris than anyone else. She always has a blindingly bright smile on her face when she tells me about you two and I know without a shadow of a doubt that she loves you more than life itself.” Eddie nods as Talia squeezes his hand once more before dropping it and standing up to leave. Before she opens the door, she stops and looks back at him, “She still does. She wouldn’t hesitate for a second to take you back. Hell, I don’t even think she even let you go.”  

Eddie kisses (Y/N) knuckles as Talia leaves, “I don’t deserve it but I hope to god you can forgive me for being so stupid...” 

It’s not long before the door opens again, this time by Buck and Tommy. Eddie does his best to slap on a smile when he sees Chris right behind them. He watches his son take the seat Talia had been in previously and grab hold of (Y/N)’s hand, “Is she gonna be okay?” he asks hopefully looking up at his father.  

Eddie nods reassuringly, “Yeah, she’s just sleeping so her body can recover.” 

Chris nods and looks down at where his hand meets hers, “Where’s her bracelet?” 

“They had to take it off so it wouldn’t get messed up during the surgery and recovery,” Eddie responds. In his peripheral, he sees Buck and Tommy patiently waiting their turn. 

Chris seems deep in thought for a few seconds before stating, “She’s gonna kick their asses when she finds out. I gotta fix it.” With this, he gets up and exits the room on a mission. Buck goes after him, motioning for Eddie to stay put. 

It’s quiet again as Eddie and Tommy listen to the steady beep of her heart. Finally, Tommy takes a seat. Eddie makes eye contact with him, “I’m sorry. Talia told me everything. I know I fucked up and I know she means the world to you.” 

Tommy looks over at (Y/N) face and reaches up to brush her hair out of her eyes as he thinks. Taking a deep breath, he responds, “Just promise me that the next time you think about doing something stupid, we hit the mat first so I can knock some sense into you.” 

Eddie chuckles, nodding, “I will.” It’s quiet again while Eddie debates with himself before finally pulling something out of his pocket and handing it to Tommy, “Does this count as something stupid?” 

Tommy looks down at the ring box in his hand as his smile grows. After opening it, he answers, “Never in a million years.” He closes the box and hands it back to Eddie, “But you should know that Buck was looking forward to helping you pick it out. He’s gonna be heart broken.” 

Eddie puts the box back in his pocket, “Technically, he did help me pick it out. Whether he remembers that or not is a different story.” 

Tommy knits his brows together in confusion, “What?” 

Eddie smiles, “I went with him when he bought you that bracelet a while back. He was looking through the cases while we waited on them to bag it up. I was zoned out thinking about (Y/N) when he slapped me on the shoulder and very excitedly pointed at a specific ring saying, ‘(Y/N) would love this one!’” 

Tommy shakes his head chuckling, “So, you bought it?” 

Eddie shrugs, “Not right then but after a few days of constantly thinking about it, I had to.” Tommy laughs but Eddie’s face drops. At the tilt of Tommy’s head, Eddie adds, “I held onto it, trying to find the right time to ask her but then she started acting weird and...” 

Tommy sighs, “You still have it though. You didn’t let her go.” 

Eddie shakes his head, “I couldn’t. I broke up with her because I was scared of getting hurt but it hurt so much more to do so. I thought maybe if I just distanced myself from her for a while that it would stop but if anything, it got worse.” He takes a deep breath, “I just hope she’ll forgive me because I don’t know how much longer I can take this ring burning a hole in my pocket.” 

Tommy nods, “She will. She’ll do it in a heartbeat but then you gotta nut up and give her that ring.” 

Eddie smiles, “Would it be too much to ask her to forgive me and marry me in the same conversation?” 

Tommy shakes his head violently, “Absolutely not.” 

Eddie laughs, “Good.” 

Over the next few hours, people come and go. Everyone gets their own turn of checking on her and reassuring Eddie that she’ll be okay. Finally, with only Eddie in the room, she stirs. She squints up at the ceiling as she tries to process where she is. The sound of her moving her head to look around alerts Eddie who jerks up from where he lays on her arm, “Hey, you’re okay. You’re in the hospital.” 

She nods, trying to speak but her mouth is dry. Eddie hands her the bottle of water, Carla had brought him earlier, from the side table that and helps her take a few sips. When she pulls away, he sets the bottle back down on the table and brushes her hair from her face, “How are you feeling?” 

She stares at him for a few seconds before whispering, “I’m just glad you’re here.” 

He kisses her knuckles, “Of course I am, baby. I love you so much and I’m so sorry I doubted you.” The confusion on her face prompts him to add, “Talia told me what happened. I can’t believe I ever thought you’d do something like that. I should’ve known you had a good reason.” She smiles softly but he still feels the need to ask, “Will you forgive me?”  

She nods immediately, “Of course.” Out of habit she reaches to fidget with her bracelet but finds it missing, “I’m gonna kick someone’s ass.” 

Eddie laughs heartily, “Chris said you would.”  

She reaches up to cup his cheek, “I love you.” 

He leans into her touch, “I love you too.” 

The moment is interrupted when the door opens again but both are immediately delighted to see Carla opening the door for Chris who is overjoyed to see (Y/N) awake. He takes a seat as Carla waves with a smile before closing the door to give the small family a moment. With one hand, Chris reaches over and takes (Y/N)’s left wrist and wraps her bracelet back where it belongs with the other. She smiles brightly but Eddie is suspicious, “Chris, did you pester the nursing staff for that.” 

He grins proudly, “Yup, I told them my step mom would kick their butts if they didn’t give it to me.” 

Eddie and (Y/N) share an amused look before she ruffles Christopher’s hair, “Thanks, buddy.” He grins and reaches up to take her hand in his. 

Eddie’s eyes flick between the two before he stands and joins Chris on the other side of the bed.  (Y/N) is slightly confused when he places his hands on Christopher’s shoulder and whispers something in his ear. Chris listens intently before nodding incessantly, “Yes! Do it. Do it now.” 

Eddie grins and ruffles his son’s hair, “Alright, alright calm down. I will.” He places himself between Chris and (Y/N). She is utterly bumfuzzled but Chris is dancing in his seat excitedly. Eddie removes something from his pocket and drops to one knee causing her to slap her hand over her mouth. The man smiles up at her, “I know this isn’t at all the ideal time or place to ask you this but,” he looks around the room and then back at her, “I was very recently reminded that we aren’t promised tomorrow, especially in our line of work.” He opens the ring box and holds it up to her, “(Y/N), will you marry me?” 

Chris cheers happily upon hearing her answer, “Yes!” Tears of joy fill both Eddie and (Y/N)’s eyes as he slips the ring on her finger, stands, and kisses her with every ounce of love that he can. 

The couple parts when the door opens again as Buck and Tommy poke their heads in. Tommy grins, immediately noticing the ring on her finger. Slightly confused having missed the small but important detail, Buck stutters, “Sorry, Carla told us she’s awake. Are-are we interrupting something? We can come back later.” 

Tommy pushes past his boyfriend and makes his way to (Y/N)’s right side, making eye contact with Eddie, “I told you she would. Does your leg feel better without that hole burning in your pocket?” 

Eddie nods, laughing as identical looks of confusion settle on (Y/N) and Buck’s faces as Buck paces over to Tommy’s side. Eddie looks down at her, “I showed it to him earlier.”  

Understanding replaces her confusion but Buck is still lost, “What hole? Showed who what? I’m so confused.” (Y/N) holds her hand up to Buck showing off her ring. He gasps for words as excitement floods his entire body and he takes her hand in his to inspect it. None of them notice as the doctor stops in the open doorway, observes what is happening, and then immediately makes his way to the waiting room. After a minute or so, Buck’s face drops to disappointment as he looks up at Eddie and Tommy, letting go of her hand, “I kinda wanted to help pick it out...” Tommy pats his head before wrapping his arm around his waist.  

Eddie shakes his head chuckling, “Do you not recognize it? You were so damn sure she’d like it that you bruised my arm to get my attention.”  

It takes a few seconds but realization finally smacks across his face as he gasps, “This is that ring?”  

Eddie nods as (Y/N) who is admiring the ring confirms, “He wasn’t wrong. I love it.” Everyone smiles as Eddie kisses the top of her head. Before anyone can say anything else, the door opens and their friends and family flood in. Everyone gushes over the ring, offers the couple their congratulations, and states how glad they are that (Y/N) is okay.

Talia takes a seat on the edge of the bed to (Y/N)’s right, “The doctor had to step out of the way of the stampede after he told us you had a ring on that you weren’t admitted with.” (Y/N) laughs, barely able to spot the doctor in the doorway through the crowd of friends and family. She gives him a thumbs up and he nods with a smile as he returns to his rounds.  

She looks to Talia and takes her hand in her own but before she can say it, Talia assures, “I know what you’re gonna say. Eddie already did.” (Y/N) looks to Eddie who is locked in a tight hug from Bobby with a smile on his face that is bigger than she’s ever seen. Talia leans over to whisper in her ear, “You weren’t kidding when you said Tommy is wrapped around Buck’s finger.” As (Y/N) turns back to look at Talia, she spots Tommy who is wrapped around Buck from behind. Both are smiling brightly as Buck and Maddie are already discussing bachelor party plans.  

“They’re next, I’m calling it now,” (Y/N) tells Talia who laughs loudly. Their hands stay locked together as (Y/N) looks back to Eddie who now has an arm around Christopher’s shoulders as they chat excitedly with Carla. Carla notices her looking and nods in her direction as she shoves the two toward her. Eddie takes the hand she offers him and Chris climbs up to sit beside her. An hour or so passes before a nurse squeezes through the crowded hospital room. She smiles at (Y/N) before proceeding to check her vitals and give her fresh bandages. Only when (Y/N) is nodding off and very obviously struggling to stay awake does everyone wish her well, promise they’ll visit again later, and head home. Soon, the only ones left are her boys. She kisses the top of Christopher’s head as she notices he has fallen asleep carefully tucked into her side. She pats the right side of the bed for Eddie to join her. The three of them have to scoot in real close to fit on the hospital bed but after the week she’s had, she wouldn’t have it any other way. 

More 911

Main Masterlist

[burnthatbridge]

far from my care and keeping

buddie (side buck/tommy, mentioned eddie/marisol) | T | 3k | angst, pining, one-sided feelings realization Buck's in hospital, but that's nothing new. What is new is the extra person in the waiting room. That, and Eddie's understanding of his own heart.

Another day, another visit to the hospital.

They should be used to this by now: sitting in the sterile space off the main hallway, waiting, waiting, waiting. It should feel routine, ordinary, typical with how often they find themselves in the situation. But Eddie doesn’t think it’s ever going to feel that way when it’s one of them behind the doors fighting for their life, the rest sitting anxious on the other side. He wishes the universe would stop adding instances, would cease trying to make it, force it to be, normal.

It’s the usual crew; they’re practically all there: Eddie, Bobby, Hen, Ravi, Maddie, Athena. Chim had taken Jee-Yun from Maddie and left with her about an hour after Maddie arrived — it’s getting late, past Jee’s bedtime. And Karen is at home with the baby and Denny. Eddie is lucky Marisol was supposed to be coming over for dinner anyway, that she offered to get Chris and stay with him till Eddie could leave. Athena showed up at the end of her shift with coffee and donuts for everyone, caffeine and sugar to keep them going.

Eddie’s cup is sitting cold on the table, his donut already split between Chim and Ravi when he shook his head in a refusal of it. He’d struggle to eat or drink anything in his condition, plus the knot in his stomach is too large for anything else to fit. It’d come back up, and he’s afraid of what else might spill from him with it.

It’s the usual crew. Plus–

“Hey,” Tommy’s voice sounds. Eddie looks up to him crossing the floor towards them, not at a run, but not far off. “What happened? How’s he doing?” he asks, directed at Eddie, as his eyes sweep over him, take in the state of him.

“He’s– It was–” Eddie tries, but his mouth is dry and the lump in his stomach extends to his throat too, blocking it, making him choke on the words.

Hen, sitting in the chair next to him, takes over. “He’s in surgery.”

read more on ao3

[epicbuddieficrecs]

Weekly Recap | September 15th-22nd 2024

AAAAAHHHHHHHHH it's season 8 premiere week baby!!!!!!!!

Complete

I Don't Like Your Boyfriend (I Think You Need a New One) by eightpackdiaz (Post-S7, BuckTommy Break-Up, Getting Together | 2K | Teen): Wine night at Hen and Karen's results in an adorably drunk Eddie demanding Buck come over and cuddle him in the middle of the night

So tell me if I run away, how long will I bleed? by Dark_Rosaleen (TW: Mention of rape/non-con Re: Dr. Wells | 3K | Mature): “Can we… can we back up a sec?” Eddie says, heart hammering because he can’t have heard that right. “Uh, yeah.” Buck says with a bemused expression. “You had sex with your therapist?” Buck frowns. Shifts in his seat a little. “Yeah.” “Buck, that’s—” Eddie stops. Breathes. “Buck, that’s not right.”

the cat's meow by 42hrb/ @exhuastedpigeon (Post-S7 | 4K | Explicit): Buck walked into Eddie's house and froze. “Is that a cat?” “Well it’s not a dog,” Eddie laughed, shifting so he was sitting up. Pinto made a dissatisfied little cooing sound as he moved, but settled in his lap once he was upright. “When the hell did you get a cat?” - Eddie adopts a cat and let's himself have good things.

Love & Other Surprises by JJK/ @trenchcoatsandtimetravel (Post-S7 | Getting Together | 4K | Teen): After going to collect Christopher from Texas, Buck and Eddie turn up to the firehouse wearing wedding rings. Everyone is understandably confused.

I Think I Want To Marry You by MajorKoalaTea (Wedding Proposal | 5K | Teen): Eddie Diaz wants to propose to Buck so he decides to ask Bobby and Athena for their blessing. The universe doesn't make it easy for him. A 5+1 fic where Eddie tries to get Bobby and Athena's blessing to propose and fails. Plus the one time he succeeds.

Reaching For You by Inell/ @inell (Soulmates AU, S4E14: Survicors | 5K | Teen): While getting Eddie to safety after a sniper attack, Buck realizes that they might be soulmates and has to make a difficult choice.

Sweet Talk by Daisies_and_Briars/ @cal-daisies-and-briars (Post-S7 | 6K | Teen): Eddie asks to crash at the loft while Christopher is gone, struggling to be on his own. Only problem? There's only one bed, and no couch.

🔥 by any other name by coldbam/ @coldbam (Post-S7, Jealous Buck | 7K | Explicit): “Eddie, this guy—he gave me my name.” Eddie’s eyebrows crease together. “Buck here is forgetting the full introduction.” Bailey steps forward and extends his hand to Eddie. “Evan Bailey, 178. I go by Evan now.” He winks, and he’s still got Eddie’s hand grasped in his, the handshake going on a lot longer than necessary. But Bailey always liked to make an impression, especially with— Well, especially with guys he thought were hot. * Eddie meets one of those other Evans from Buck's academy class. Buck is totally normal about it.

Friendly Advice by Inell/ @inell (Post-S7, Getting Together | 7K | Teen): When Ravi asks Buck and Eddie to have dinner with him, they don’t expect him to ask them for advice on how they remained friends after breaking up. The issue? They’ve never been a couple.

I’ll Take You All The Way, Boy Just Come Along by fruitsdoesnotknow/ @tayf-ghost (Different First Meeting AU | 8K | Teen): The Diaz boys are having a rough day. Lucky for them, they meet a firefighter at the 118 who's determined to do anything he can to make them smile. It works, it really, really works.

🔥 you ruined my life by not being mine by coldbam/ @coldbam (Post-S7, Eddie Coming Out | 8K | Explicit): Buck stands up so quickly he nearly knocks over his drink. “That guy just grabbed his ass.” Hen tugs him back down to his seat. “Yeah, and Eddie does not look mad about it. Chill out.” * Or, Eddie spends the summer finding himself while Buck is forced to watch.

all you're giving me is friction by hammersmiths/ @henswilsons (Canon Divergent, S2 | 8K | Teen): “Now that is a handsome man.” The first thing Hen notices about New Recruit Eddie Diaz is that he is in possession of a remarkable set of abdominal muscles. The next thing she notices is the wedding ring. And Buck is staring at him like a piece of meat. “Oh, nuh-uh,” she says immediately. “Don’t even think about it, Buckley.” or, Eddie is new, and married, and Buck won’t stop flirting. 5+1.

🔥I didn't know (that it could be good) by rainbow_nerds/ @rainbow-nerdss (Post-S7, FWB | 27K | Explicit): They're friends, that's all there is to it. Until Eddie lets himself into Buck's apartment unannounced, and finds him in a compromising position. That should be nothing, just something to laugh about down the line, except afterwards, it's like a switch has flipped, and neither of them can get it out of their minds. The solution? They need to get it out of their systems. Just one time, and things will go back to normal. But one time turns to two, which turns to more nights spent together than apart, and still, they haven't actually spoken about what any of this means for them. They're still just friends, right?

WIP

Gentle On My Mind by Daisies_and_Briars/ @cal-daisies-and-briars (Canon Divergent, Shannon Lives, Buck/Eddie/Shannon | 4/? | 26K | Explicit): In which Shannon lives, tells a lie, and sends hers, Eddie's, and Buck's lives down a very different path.

🔥 Any Other Way by Daisies_and_Briars/ @cal-daisies-and-briars (Canon Divergent, S2 | 19/21 | 96K | Mature): In a switcheroo alternate universe, Buck spends young adulthood in the military, while Eddie, who has no idea Christopher exists, spends his twenties messing around, finally enjoying freedom away from his family’s expectations. When they both end up in Los Angeles, at the 118, some things are different, and others will be the same in any universe.

🔥 go and kill, go and die by Daisies_and_Briars/ @cal-daisies-and-briars (Zombie Apocalypse AU | 7/14 | 32K | Mature): The 118 are a group of survivors in a small California town in the wake of a zombie apocalypse. For months they've been isolated and safe. But the arrival of some new players, the search for some missing loved ones, will shake everything up and put their little team in jeopardy.

Podfic

This Mortal Coil (Shuffle) by knuckledusters/ @danhalen // fic eirabach/ @eirabach (S6E11: In Another Life | 2-2.5h | Mature): Maddie was never supposed to be Buck’s mother. Eddie was never allowed to be his anything. But three minutes and seventeen seconds later, here they are. [Or, Maddie and Eddie wait, bond, and remember.]

Re-read

🔥 like a bird stealing bread out from under your nose by Daisies_and_Briars/ @cal-daisies-and-briars (Post-S7, Fix-It | 21K | Mature): If you’d asked Eddie back in May what rock bottom looked like, it was his son leaving him. That felt like it; everything ruined so entirely that there was no way to ruin it further. There’s always more to lose.

🔥 situations, circumstances, miscommunications ( i just may like some explanations ) by heartbeatdiaz / @lonelychicago (Didn't Know They Were Dating | 4K | Teen): "You didn't know?" Eddie asks, calmer but not less confused. He frowns. "How could you not know?" "You never said anything?" Buck tilts his head to the side. "We were dating?” “I guess not,” Eddie sighs. His heart is beating a little faster, an unpleasant buzz beneath his skin as he all but chokes on a feeling he can’t quite name— it could be hurt or disappointment or maybe a mix of both. In that moment, he knows three things very clearly. 1. Buck is going to be the death of him. 2. He is in love with the most dense, most oblivious man on planet Earth. 3. He is too gay and, honestly, too old for this shit.

How Come You Didn't Tell Me We Were Dating? I Didn't Know Either! by Sonayesul (Didn't Know They Were Dating | 6K | General): “Omigod, I’m in love with Buck,” Eddie said, burying his face in his hands. “I didn’t mean to cause a crisis,” Frank said. “I’m in love with Buck.” Eddie repeated. “I should not have assumed your relationship with him,” Frank continued on. “I’m in love with Buck.” He’s like a broken record. “Maybe we should end early today.” Frank suggested and Eddie weakly nodded. ~ In which case, Buck and Eddie have been dating for six months. Except neither of them got the memo.

[flavored-soda]

One of the reasons I love BuckTommy/Tevan/Kinley is the new dynamic that we get to see in Buck's life. Sure, we've seen him have a-many relationships, but not one like this.

Everyone around him as someone or something else to care for that usually takes, for lack of a better word, priority over Buck in some way. Think about it: Maddie has Chimney and Jee-yun, Bobby has Athena, Hen has Karen and Denny (and now Mara), and Eddie has Christopher. His own parents even treated him as a second to Daniel. He's been told that he doesn't really have anyone outside the 118 and besides from Maddie that rings true. And the relationships outside the 118 (at least the romantic ones) never seem to end well. But then again, the partners that we did see a lot of had other priorities as well. Abby had her mother and Taylor had her career.

If go off of the little backstory that Lou has created for Tommy, it seems that Tommy doesn't have anyone or anything outside of his job that would take priority over a romantic partner. Buck has never been someone's priority, but he's already becoming Tommy's. Which is evident through Tommy showing up to that bachelor party despite being on call and showing up at the hospital directly after his shift. Buck has the chance to be treated right and I think that is so so so important.

[cosyvelvetorchid]

prompt word for you: brother

fluffy if you please

A smidge more Tommy than Bucktommy but I hope you like it. Thank you 🩶

*****

Tommy was sitting on the bench at the edge of the patio just watching everybody. It was Athena and Bobbys housewarming party at their new house. It had taken 8 months for them to find a new house and everybody they loved had been invited.

Still, Tommy felt a little out of place. Evan loved him deeply—something he the still had to pinch himself about— and there hadn’t been anything anybody else had done, or said, to make him feel like he wasn’t part of the family. But he still felt like he didn’t deserve his place within it.

Things were great between him and both Hen and Chimney—they’d forgiven him a long time ago for his past behaviours. And Bobby had made it clear to him how much he approved of Tommy. Even Eddie had told him how happy he was that Buck had found someone like him.

But if he truly thought about it, he was scared. He’d experienced some semblance of the family atmosphere when Bobby first joined the 118 and he’d felt happier than he had been under Gerrard. But he’d left for the 217 before it turned into what it was today.

The irony is he yearned for the type of family in front of him—the family that were eagerly trying to welcome him with open arms. But it had happened so quickly that he’d barely had a chance to gain his footing.

He’d spent so long in his life hoping for what was in front of him, but never actually believing he’d get it, but that he was worthy of getting it. He was terrified of belonging. If he belonged and it went wrong, he’d be alone again.

He’d only just started to believe that he had a future with Evan. Adding in other people in the mix for him to care about meant more potential for hurt.

“You okay there Tommy?” Chim sat down beside him.

“Uh, yeah.” He said.

“Really? People who are okay don’t hide away on the sidelines.” Chimney told him.

Tommy scoffed. Chimney was right. Asshole.

“I don’t know, it’s just.. all this?” He gestured to everyone, “I guess im having a hard time fitting in.”

Chimney furrowed his brows. “What do you mean?”

“I mean.. you guys are a family. I feel like I’m not worthy of that, ya know.”

“Tommy.” Chimney said in a slightly admonishing tone. “First of all Buck loves you, okay? And given that he’s literally my family now, means you’re my family too.”

“Secondly?”

“Secondly, the 118 will always be a family. Whether you’re past, present or future. You can take the man out of the 118, but you can’t take the 118 out of the man. I know we had our issues back when I first joined, but all that is way in the past. We’re brothers, Tommy. Always will be.”

Tommy’s throat felt thick with emotion. Evan had told him as such many times, and though he believed that Evan believed it to be true, something about hearing it from Chimney directly made him really believe it.

“Thanks, Howie.”

“Anytime.” Chim replied. “So how is it going with our Buckeroo?”

Tommy smiled fondly as he watching Buck play with Jee-Yun; a giant grin plastered all over his boyfriend’s face. “Well, if it carries on going the way it currently is, it won’t be long before we’re brothers in law