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degrassi-fanatic · 4 years ago

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Happy Father’s Day

Yet-to-be-inflated balloons are strewn across the dining room table, only two or three streamers are hung up so far, and a banner that reads Happy Father’s Day is still inside the plastic packaging he bought it in. All the decorations have been readily ignored and abandoned in favor of a lovingly worn and torn photo album with a cracked spine; the result of being open and closed for many years.

Sitting at the head of the table, Bobby touches the cover of the album, gently tracing the words: The Nash Family.

Although it might seem a tad bit morbid and sad to be alone on Father’s Day looking at photographs of his late family, it’s become some sort of a tradition of his ever since they’ve died.

It used to be far worse, though. He would call in sick for work if he was scheduled that day and drink his body weight in alcohol as he flipped through the pages of the photo album with white knuckles, refusing to let himself forget what he lost.

Now, it's different. He turns the pages in the photo album with only a deep ache to replace what used to be a sharp sting in his chest. Memories used to only equate to suffering for him but now Bobby looks at all the pictures with a renewed sense of love.

Overtime, Bobby has learned that memory can be a beautiful thing sometimes.

Bobby was alone in the house today as earlier in the day, Michael had taken May and Denny back to his own apartment for their own private Father’s Day celebration before the joint party that was supposed to take place here in the evening. Michael had asked if he wanted to join but Bobby had only politely declined, only half-lying about having to decorate.

In all honesty, even after all of these years, Father’s Day was still a sensitive subject for him.

Suddenly, at the sound of a doorbell chiming throughout the house, all of his melancholy thoughts are put on pause.

Setting aside the photo album on the dining table, Bobby pushes himself out of the chair and walks over to the door. He pulls open the door to find Buck standing on the other side with his hands stuff awkwardly in his front pockets.

“Hey Buck.” he greets pleasantly surprised, “What are you doing here?”

“Bobby.” he says as he darts his eyes to the ground, “I was—um, I was wondering if I could spend the day with you.”

“You do realize what day it is, right?” Bobby asks as he wouldn’t put it past Buck to forget.

He watches as Buck avoids meeting his eyes, only scruffing the toe of his shoe against the ground.

“My—my dad’s in town and I really don’t want to be around him.” he begins to explain and suddenly Buck’s surprise appearance makes much more sense, “Everyone else is busy; my sister’s with Chimney and Joy, Eddie’s with Christopher, Karen and Hen are using today as a second Mother’s Day, and Michael has Denny and May at his until Athena comes back from her shift.

“So I was hoping I could spend the day with you?” Buck asks, scratching the back of his neck.

“With me?”

The small smile that was tugging on the corner of Buck’s lips disappears with his words, in its wake is a resigned look. Nodding his head, Buck lowers his gaze to Bobby’s shoulder.

“Y’know what, it’s fine.” Buck says, “I’ll just go to the mall or something. Sorry to bother you.”

He feels something sink deep inside of him as he watches Buck turn away, heading down towards where his Jeep is parked near the sidewalk.

Desperate to right whatever wrong thing he must’ve said or did just now, Bobby blurts out, “I could use an extra hand with setting up for the party today.”

In the middle of the concrete pathway, Buck stills. As he turns around to face him, Bobby pushes open the door fully and motions with his head for Buck to make his way inside. Practically skipping, he does so immediately.

Once he’s inside, he gestures for him to make his way down to the kitchen as Bobby closes and locks up the front door.

“Thanks for letting me do this.” Buck says as he picks up a string of reflective blue streamers.

“Helping me decorate?” he teases as he begins to tear open the plastic packaging of the banner.

“You know what I mean.” Buck responds with an eye roll.

As he does, he catches sight of the tattered photo album near the edge of the table. Suppressing the urge to hide it away where no one could find it, Bobby lets Buck pick it up and search through it. He decides to concentrate on rolling out the Party City banner in his hands.

“What’s this?” Buck asks.

“It’s just a photo album from my first marriage.”

Right away, Buck closes it before setting it back right where he got it from.

“Sorry,” he says with guilt laced in his voice, “You probably don’t want to talk about that.”

“It’s okay. I’ll always miss them but, it doesn’t hurt to remember them.” he explains.

At Buck’s hesitant, almost wary look, Bobby decides that maybe it’s time this old photo album finally gets some new attention. Picking it up, Bobby searches through the pages until he finally settles on one.

“Here, this is my son Junior and this is my daughter Brook.”

The picture was the two of them awkwardly linking their arms around each other's shoulders. It was taken at Junior’s middle school graduation ceremony. With a smile, Bobby remembers how much Brook whined when her parents forced her to take a picture with her brother, complaining that Junior didn’t shower enough and smelled like he just came back from hockey practice.

From his peripheral, he sees Buck shift around until he’s looking at the photograph from over Bobby’s shoulder.

“What were they like?” Buck asks.

“Brook loved reading. Her whole bedroom was lined up with bookshelves. Y’know she won this personal essay contest once...” Bobby says, still bragging about his daughter even after how many years have passed since she’s been gone

Old habits are hard to break, huh?

“Yeah, she won five hundred dollars for it.” he explains, “She was always doing stuff like that.”

“And Junior?”

A chuckle bubbles out of Bobby.

“Oh God, Junior, he was always getting himself into trouble. But, he was a good kid, he had a good heart.” he remembers.

Kind of like someone else I know.

Pulling his gaze away from where he was looking at Junior’s face, Bobby shifts his attention to Buck. For a second, he takes in just how light his irises are and how blond his hair looks in the light.

He likes to imagine that this is what Junior would have grown up to look like.

“Junior would’ve been a lot like you.” he mumbles, more to himself than Buck.

It takes a few seconds of gears grinding and cogs turning around in his brain before Buck fully processes the depth of his words but when he does, he tilts his head to face Bobby and gives him a shy smile before taking a step backwards.

“High praise.”

“Yeah well not that high.” Bobby jokes as he closes the photo album, “The kid got himself stuck in a tree that was only four feet above the ground once. And I was the one who was dispatched to get him out of there.”

At the story, Buck starts to double over laughing, clutching at his abdomen as he forces himself to take a breath between every wheeze and snort. Soon, Bobby is following suit; Buck’s laughter is infectious even on a bittersweet day like today.

For a brief moment as he studies the way Buck throws his head back chuckling, he cannot remember if Buck always sounded like Junior while he was laughing, or if Bobby’s still-grief-ridden mind is having some sort of auditory hallucination.

“Seriously?” Buck asks as the laughter begins to wane.

“I never let him live it down.” he answers as he wipes a tear from the corner of his eye.

Placing the photo album back on the table, Bobby decides that they’ve spent enough time on the subject and judging by the clock, they should really get back to decorating if they don’t want Athena to come back home to a complete mess.

“He must’ve been a lucky kid.” Buck says, as Bobby searches through the mess to find a roll of tape or some thumbtacks.

“Hmm?”

“To have you as a dad.” he explains as he hands Bobby a cello tape dispenser, “Junior, I mean.”

If Junior was lucky, he would’ve been alive right now.

“When I wasn’t drunk and or high out of my mind, I did alright.” Bobby responds with a hint of self deprecation.

“Yeah, well, I think you’re doing a great job right now.”

Before Bobby can open his mouth and ask Buck what exactly he’s referring to, he’s cut off by the blaring sound of Buck’s cellphone ringing in his pocket. He pulls it out with a huff and practically glares at the screen lighting up in front of his face.

He waits for Buck to pick up the call but all he does is mute his cellphone and shove it back into his back pocket.

At the way he clenches his jaw, Bobby can deduce who it is with little difficulty.

“Your dad again?” he asks.

His only response is a short nod as he begins to busy himself with preparing some pieces of tape for holding up the banner; harshly ripping them off from the dispenser before attaching them to the edge of the table.

Suppressing a sigh, Bobby knows he needs to push Buck into doing the right thing, even if it isn’t what either of them want to do.

As much as Bobby wants Buck around today, not only to ward off all the bad memories associated with today’s holiday but also simply because he enjoys the man’s company, he knows he shouldn’t monopolize his time.

Buck deserves a father. Though Bobby may downright despise Phillip Buckley, the man had the honour of holding the aforementioned title and that was something he could not compete with.

Buck already has a father. He may not be a good one, but he was trying.

Even if he is 29 years too late.

“Maybe you should go meet him?” Bobby suggests, “I mean, if I got a second chance to become a father, you deserve a second chance to have one.”

Buck stops ripping off pieces of tape. His hands travel down to the edge of the table and he grips so hard at the wood that Bobby’s afraid there’ll be claw indents once he’s finished.

Within a second, however, he pushes himself off of the table and he goes to reach into his pocket.

Bobby barely has enough to take a look at what Buck’s pulled out before it’s already shoved into his hands. Tilting his head down, he sees a semi-wrinkled piece of printer paper that has been folded in half to make a card. On the front, in big and bold handwriting that he recognizes to be Buck’s, he sees the words Happy Father’s Day and a couple of messy drawings of two firefighters scattered across the page.

“I already do.” he answers, “Do you—um, do you like it?”

“I love it.” Bobby whispers.

He opens up the card to find a long and what he presumes to be a heartfelt message on the inside. At the top, it says, To the best father and at the bottom, Love, Buck.

“Also, um, some of those random hearts and flames are courtesy of Christopher, who helped me make this, by the way.”

#9-1-1 #evan buckley #bobby nash #~fic~

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myemergence · 5 years ago

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Snowflake

A/N: Thanks to Nicole for the beta on this story! I hope you enjoy the Christmas-themed day 7 of First Kiss Week.

@buddiefirstkissweek

Read my other fics on AO3

If anyone were to ask Eddie Diaz what he hates the most this time of the year, he wouldn’t even need to pause and think it over.

It was hands down, no questions asked, the fucking elf.

An elf that is supposed to watch over kids and report their good and bad behavior back to Santa himself. When did Santa Clause stop being enough for kids that they needed an added incentive to behave? When he was a kid, all it took was one threat of being on the naughty list and Eddie would snap back into shape. He’d spend days trying to get back into Santa’s good graces and make it back onto the nice list. Luckily for Eddie, Chris is a great kid and he doesn’t need an Elf on the Shelf to encourage him to be on his best behavior. Most of the time, Eddie’s kid has better behavior than his dad. Still, he’d asked for an Elf on the Shelf this year.

Eddie already told him that he couldn’t have one, and to say that Christopher was disappointed was an understatement. Eddie tries to give Chris everything that he wants, especially this time of the year.

But even Eddie has limits.

___________________________________

It’s early December and the hustle and bustle of the season are already in full swing. There are red kettles in front of most of the stores with bell ringers, Christmas lights on display in every storefront, and even the firehouse is oozing holiday cheer from every crack and crevice.

Eddie takes a sip of his coffee at the start of the shift, the rest of the crew settling into their seats around the table.

“So, what is it that all of your kids are asking for this year that they’re not going to get?” Hen asks with a chuckle.

“A switch,” Bobby says with a small shrug, plating some eggs as he glances over at Hen.

“Denny wants a laptop,” Hen laughs before everyone’s eyes shift over to Eddie. “What about Chris?”

“An Elf on the Shelf,” Eddie answers before the other two parents on their team quiet, looking at him quizzically.

“A what?” Buck asks as he grabs a strip of bacon from his plate and bites into it.

“An Elf on the Shelf,” Eddie repeats before he takes a bite of scrambled eggs. “It’s this stupid elf doll that comes with a storybook. The elf is supposed to watch the kid and then go back to the North Pole and report to Santa if they’ve been naughty or nice.”

“Okay and Chris isn’t getting this why?” Buck asks, squinting at Eddie, as though the squint is going to suddenly make things more clear.

“Because it’s just one more thing, Buck. It’s the holiday party at school, going to see Santa, picking out a Christmas tree, decorating, baking cookies, breakfast with Santa, shopping, wrapping the presents, and… ” Eddie glances around and realizes that everyone is staring at him and sighs. “I just… I don’t need one more thing to remember.”

“It’s fun.” Bobby finally says. “After Harry goes to bed at night we get to be creative and move the elf. He loves checking first thing in the morning to see what trouble he’s gotten into overnight.”

“It’s fun until someone forgets to move the elf,” Hen says dryly.

“So then you agree with me, Hen?”

Hen sighs. “I know it’s annoying, but it just makes the season more magical for them. And all of the other kids in their classes have one. Do you really want him to be left out?”

Eddie’s head drops into his hands and groans. “The difference is you have Karen to help you with it. And Bobby? You have Athena. I barely get through the holiday season without some catastrophe or forgetting something important . I understand that it’s not a major thing… but who do I have to help me?”

___________________________________

“Buck,” Eddie says in surprise when he shows up at the house unannounced. “Is everything alright?” he asks, opening the door wider to let him in.

“Yeah, everything’s fine. I was just in the neighborhood and wanted to stop by. Is Chris around?”

“In the living room.” There are very few people in their life that go out of their way to see Christopher. Aside from their family, there are only two: Buck and Carla. Eddie’s grateful that Buck wants to spend so much of his time with them, especially this time of the year. He knows that everyone is caught up in the season and all that they have to get done, but it’s nice that Buck never forgets Christopher.

As he trails Buck into the living room where Christopher is watching television, Eddie notices for the first time that Buck is carrying a shopping bag from Target. “What’ve you got there?”

“Oh, just a little something I picked up for Christopher when I stopped at the store.”

“Like an early Christmas present?” Chris asks, beaming.

“Yeah, kinda like that.” Buck sits next to Chris on the couch, and Eddie tries to peer into the bag as he passes by.

Christopher pulls a box out of the bag and nearly squeals. “AN ELF ON THE SHELF!”

“Buck,” Eddie manages, his voice tight. “Christopher, you can’t-” Buck has done some questionable things in the past. He’s done some things that have pissed Eddie off, but this? This takes the cake. He sat across the table and listened to Eddie go on and on about how he barely holds it together during the holidays and this is what Buck does?

Eddie’s eye is twitching. He can actually feel the muscles spasming.

Buck shrinks under Eddie’s gaze, then says, “Eddie, there’s something I wanted to talk to you about for a second, in the other room.”

Now he wants to talk.

“We’ll be right back, buddy.” Eddie sighs and follows Buck to the kitchen. If looks could kill, Buck would be laid out on the floor right now because Eddie is seething. Since looks can’t actually kill, Eddie might have to take things into his own hands. He spins around on Buck once they’re out of earshot. “What the fuck, man?”

“Look, Eddie, don’t be mad-”

“Don’t be mad? Did you even hear anything that came out of my mouth when we were at the station yesterday?” Eddie asks, scrubbing a hand down over his face in frustration.

“Of course I did. I heard everything that you said.”

“Did you?”

Buck sighs. “You said that you couldn’t handle one more thing this holiday season.”

“Right,” Eddie says hotly, gesturing towards the living room. “Yet here you are bringing in one more thing, and if I take it away, I’m the bad guy.”

“It’s okay, Eddie.” Buck sets a hand on his shoulder and Eddie tenses instantly. “You asked who you had to help you out. With the Elf on the Shelf, with everything. I— you have me, Eddie. You always have me.” The anger drains out of Eddie at his words. Buck’s right, he’s always there with them as the third unofficial part of their little family.

“I appreciate the thought, really I do. I know that you want Christopher to be able to do all of these things that everyone else is doing. You don’t want him to feel left out, and I want that for him, too. But this isn’t a one-time thing. It’s every single night until Christmas. That’s seventeen nights that I have to do this now.”

“You don’t have to do anything, Eddie. Just leave it to me.” With that Buck bounces out of the kitchen and back towards the living room to learn all about the Elf on the Shelf tradition.

___________________________________

When Buck told Eddie that he’d take care of everything, he really did mean everything. It’s been over a week now and Buck has stopped by their house every night. Even on the days that they have a long shift, he makes sure that he’s able to stop by and help. Some nights, he comes early enough to have dinner with them and once Christopher is tucked into bed, Buck springs into action with Christopher’s elf who he’s affectionately named Snowflake. Eddie still hates the thing as much as he did when Buck first gave it to Chris.

But somehow, Buck makes it tolerable and Eddie looks forward to his visit each day.

At first, Buck starts off small. Snowflake leaves a little note for Christopher while sitting on the counter. Snowflake reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and delivering a holiday treat. Then, Buck discovers Pinterest and he becomes unleashed. Snowflake is on the counter surrounded with marshmallows and a sign that reads ‘do you want to build a snowman?’, down to the minute detail of the tiny face being drawn on it’s little marshmallow face. The elf sitting in the cupboard, feeding Christopher’s dinosaurs that surrounded the counter below. And last night? He’d ended up inside of a sealed jar so that Christopher was able to tote him around the house. To say that he’s overjoyed is an understatement.

Even though he hates the elf, Eddie does love the smile that it brings to Christopher’s face each morning.

___________________________________

It’s only one week until Christmas, and Christopher’s been begging to make cut-out cookies for days. It’s something that Shannon did with him when he was younger. And though Eddie somehow manages to pull it off and fit it into the schedule every year, the cookies have yet to come out of the oven edible.

When Buck arrives at the house, he’s carrying an armload of groceries. “What’ve you got there?” Eddie asks as he follows him into the kitchen.

“Stuff for cookies,” Buck says as he begins to unload the bags.

“And when did you plan on making these cookies?” Eddie asks dumbly.

“Now?” Eddie opens his mouth to argue before he clamps it shut. Maybe with Buck here to help they won’t come out of the oven smoking and charred. Chris will be able to experience a new tradition of actually eating the Christmas cookies that they bake together.

“Yeah, that’s perfect, Carla will be dropping him off in about twenty minutes from school.”

“Is there a recipe that you usually use?”

“Uh…” Eddie walks into the kitchen and begins rummaging around in a drawer before he pulls out the recipe, which is a cut out from the back of a prepackaged box mix. He holds it out to Buck.

“Where did you get this?” Buck laughs, his brow raised in disbelief. “Eddie, seriously, what the hell is this?”

Eddie groans and crosses his arms over his chest defensively. “It’s the recipe.”

“It calls for prepackaged mix, Eddie. Do you mean to tell me you’ve never made Christmas cookies from scratch?”

“In case you haven’t realized this yet, cooking isn’t my strength.”

“This isn’t cooking, it’s baking.” Eddie rolls his eyes as Buck lays out all of the ingredients on the table, and then pulls out a recipe card. “I brought the cut-out cookie recipe that Maddie and I used to make with my grandma when we were kids.” He sets out a couple of rolling pins and Christmas cookie cutters on the table.

“If you want my help, you’re gonna have to tell me what I need to do,” Eddie says, glancing at the clock to see exactly how long he’s obligated to be Buck’s helper before Christopher arrives home from school.

Buck starts making the dough and then splits it up into three sections. He asks Eddie to help him flour the table, which is perplexing to Eddie because he’s never quite known how to keep the dough from sticking. They get to work and knead the dough before rolling it out, just in time for Christopher to come crutching into the house.

“Bucky!” Christopher exclaims as soon as Carla drops him off. “I have to show you what Snowflake did.” Before Buck has the chance to say anything, Christopher’s crutches continue to click against the floor. He comes back out carrying the jar that holds the elf.

“Man, it’s pretty clever of your elf to climb into a jar so you can carry him around and not ruin his magic. Do you think he’d want to sit with us at the table while we make cookies?” Buck asks with a chuckle.

“Snowflake loves cookies!”

So Buck helps Christopher and Eddie make edible Christmas cookies for the first time ever. And when Christopher discovers Snowflake the next morning amidst a plate of half-eaten cookies, he howls with laughter.

___________________________________

Each day closer to Christmas they get, Eddie realizes that’s one less day of Snowflake being the talk of the house. And another day closer to things going back to normal, limiting Buck’s visits to a few times per week, an acceptable number of times for a friend.

Eddie’s not prepared for the wave of sadness that overwhelms him, thinking about Buck’s nightly visits to their home ending. That may be part of why he doesn’t mention to Buck that on Christmas Eve there’s no job to be done; Snowflake will be heading back to the North Pole until next year.

Eddie spends the majority of the day with Pepa, Abuela, and Chris. Christopher is anxiously waiting for the rest of the evening to wind down, waiting for Santa, and he’s already in his pajamas when Buck arrives.

“Hey buddy, are you ready for the big guy to come tonight?” He asks with a grin.

“Yeah! I can’t wait, Buck.” Christopher settles further into Eddie’s side, patting the couch next to him, a silent request for Buck to sit beside him. “I hope he brings me everything I wanted this year. Do you think he’ll bring you everything you want?”

Buck’s gaze lingers on Eddie before his eyes shift back to Christopher. He nods and sits next to the boy on the couch. “Yeah, yeah I think I’ll get everything I asked for this year. What are you guys watching?”

“Elf,” Eddie answers with a laugh, grabbing the bowl of popcorn and holding it out to Buck. “Our little Christmas Eve tradition.”

“I love Elf,” Buck says before he begins rambling endlessly about his favorite parts of the movie, how he loves when Buddy decorates the entire store and makes the New York City skyline out of Legos. It isn’t much later that the credits are rolling and Christopher muffles a yawn behind.

“I think it’s about time for ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas, and then we’d better get you tucked in, huh?” Eddie glances at the clock and realizes it’s past his usual bedtime, aware that it’s going to be a long night for Eddie. He reads the story and once Christopher’s teeth are brushed, they set out milk and cookies for Santa. They tuck Christopher into bed and Eddie hopes that it won’t be long until he’s fast asleep.

“Can I get you anything?” Eddie asks Buck once they’re downstairs. “A beer? Or if you’re hungry Abuela sent us home with enough food to feed an army today.”

“Normally I’d be all over that, but I just got finished with dinner at Maddie’s. I’ll take a beer, though.”

They settle on the couch next to each other with beers in hand. Eddie’s never really understood how silence can be anything but awkward, however at this moment with Buck, it’s anything but. It’s quiet, calm, and comforting. He wishes that he could freeze this moment in time, relish in the peacefulness that surrounds them.

“So, I guess it’s time to get Snowflake situated, huh?”

Eddie cringes slightly. “It completely slipped my mind when we talked earlier, but Snowflake is off to the North Pole tonight. He doesn’t need to be moved.”

“Oh, I’m sorry man. I disturbed your Christmas Eve for nothing.”

“You didn’t disturb anything, Buck. You’re always welcome here.” Eddie pauses, looking at Buck closely. He still appears to be hesitating, like he’s thinking about leaving because he intruded on family time. Truthfully, when Eddie thinks of family time more often than not, he thinks of Buck. So Eddie says, “We want you here. I want you here.”

“You do?” Buck sets down his empty beer bottle, resting his hand on the couch in the space between them. Eddie doesn’t miss the way that Buck turns towards him just a bit, eyes lingering on the space between them, finally looking up.

Eddie’s hand covers Buck’s, gently rubbing his thumb against the skin there. “I do.” He swallows hard, “I was wondering if you might want to stay over? Have some milk and cookies, put some presents out… be here when Chris wakes up tomorrow.”

“You’re sure I’m not going to be-”

Eddie shakes his head. “You won’t. I-” he stops for a moment, searching for the words. Expressing how he feels to people has never been his strength, and with Buck they’ve been friends for so long, he doesn’t really know how to tell him that what he wants now is more than friendship.

“When we were at the station before you got Chris the Elf on the Shelf… I said that I wasn’t going to do it because I didn’t have anyone. That I’m in all of this alone. Hen has Karen, and Bobby has Athena. And— I was wrong, Ev. Because… I have you. And I’m not sure how I was blind to that before. This Christmas has been special and memorable because you’ve shared it with us. You went to breakfast with Santa, you baked cookies — edible cookies. You planned out this entire Elf on the Shelf thing…I’m just sorry that I never told you that you’re what’s made this Christmas perfect until now.”

“Eddie, I… thank you,” Buck says before a nervous laugh rattles out of his chest.

Eddie takes a steadying breath, turning Buck’s hand between his and slotting their fingers together. “If this isn’t okay-” Eddie rushes to say, unsure eyes settling on Buck’s.

Buck’s lips turn upward slightly and the smile reaches his eyes. Eddie feels hopefulness settle in him. “It’s more than okay.”

“Okay,” Eddie rasps out a breath, his other hand moving to cradle the curve of Buck’s jaw. Buck meets him halfway, tilting his head slightly. Eddie’s lips gently brush against Buck’s, as if checking that he’s really okay with this. He feels Buck’s fingers on the back of his neck, drawing him closer. He releases Buck’s fingers, both hands cradling Buck’s face now as Eddie deepens the kiss. The kiss is slow and tender… and, life-changing.

Eddie pulls back slightly, pressing his forehead to Buck’s. When he does, Buck’s eyes are bright as they glisten in the soft white glow from the Christmas tree lights.

Buck leans forward and places a quick peck against Eddie’s lips. “Merry Christmas, Eddie.”

“Merry Christmas, Buck.” Eddie says as he stands, holding a hand out to Buck. “The night is young, we still have a lot of work ahead of us.” Eddie walks to Christopher’s room, checking that he’s asleep and closes the door behind him before he turns back to Buck.

“Good thing we have cookies,” Buck grins, taking a bite out of one of the cookies on the plate they’d left out earlier.

“Yeah, edible cookies,” Eddie laughs and places a final tender kiss against Buck’s lips. “And new traditions.”

Who would have thought that he’d have Snowflake the elf to thank for bringing his and Buck’s feelings to the light? For the first time in more years than he’d like to admit, he has someone to share Christmas Eve with long after Christopher’s been tucked into bed.

#firstkiss #firstkissweek2020 #buddiefirstkiss #evan buckley #eddie diaz #christmas feels #fanfic #my writing #buddie

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crazybagelbitch · 4 years ago

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Harriet - it’s moving day!! And Chim is feeling a little emotional in a good way, especially when Henren bring over a moving in gift for them!

He’s not going to cry, he’s not going to cry, he’s not going to cry, god damn it.

There’s no shame in crying, of course, that’s something he tells Harriet all the time, but moving day is chaotic enough for his daughter with Maddie bringing all her stuff in and he knows she’ll automatically interpret daddy crying as something being wrong.

And nothing is wrong, the opposite, in fact. Maddie is moving in, he’s fallen in love after he swore he never would again, and he’s lucky enough to have his daughter and girlfriend be crazy about each other.

It’s hard not to think back to when the three of them all first met, and he’s not really a big believer in everything happening for a reason but it does seem like a stroke of fate that he couldn’t get a babysitter that day. Because part of what let him let go and let himself fall in love again was watching Maddie fall in love with Harriet, and vise versa.

He’ll always miss Beth, and he’ll always wish that she survived to marry him and watch their daughter grow up like had been planned, but he’s slowly starting to accept that just because the best case scenario had been cruelly stolen from him, it didn’t mean that he couldn’t enjoy his life after the fact.

And Maddie could never be a second choice, never. It’s just... he loved Beth then, and he loves Maddie, and maybe he’ll always be in love with Beth a little but Maddie understands and embraces that, because she died; it’s not like they broke up.

(And he knows, he knows now that Maddie is moving in he’ll have anxiety and probably even some nightmares about finding her dead the way he found Beth, but he’s choosing to not worry about that at the moment and to just let himself be happy.)

“We come with a gift!” Hen announces, and he’s surprised to hear her voice because she hadn’t mentioned that she was going to stop by, nor that Karen or Denny were going to be here they all.

“Present?”

“Sorry, Hare-Bear, more for your dad and Maddie than you, but you know that I always love to spoil you so you can expect a gift from your Auntie Hen soon.”

“Yay, Hen! The present auntie!”

“Hey,” Karen murmurs, nudging Chimney’s arm with her elbow while she holds a giftbag, “come in the other room with me for a second?”

“Yeah, sure,” he says nervously, afraid that it’s finally coming, that Karen is finally going to yell at him for moving on from Beth and bringing another woman into his home...

“Open it,” she prompts him, thrusting the bag in his arms, “Hen has the more actual housewarming gift for you and Maddie, but I thought you might want to have this.”

Well, the second he digs through the tissue paper he gives up on his quest not to cry. It’s a baby blanket. Beth’s baby blanket that her mother used with her, and her mother’s mother used with her, and that he and Beth used with Harriet... and then Beth passed away and it became too painful for Chimney to have so he had given it to Karen.

“Karen...” he trails off, wiping at his eyes as he scrambles to try and find the words.

“I know you didn’t want it when Harriet was a baby, and I get that but... it should stay in the family, you know?”

“You are her family, too.”

“I know I am, but... Hen and I are going to look into foster care but we’re not having more babies, and Harriet should have it when she’s older should she ever want one, and should you and Maddie decide to give Harriet a sibling...”

“Karen,” he says again, now openly weeping as he throws his arms around him because he’s needed her blessing this whole time but had no idea how to ask for it.

“You knew Beth as well as I did, probably even better, actually, and you know she was a firm believer that love never runs out... the more the merrier, that loving someone doesn’t take away from your love for someone else. And if you DID choose to give Harriet a sibling... she’d still want the baby to have it even though he or she wouldn’t be biologically hers. Because that’s who she was. So I just needed you to have the blanket in case the next baby from the family line was yours and not Harriet’s.”

“Thank you,” he sobs, putting his head down on her shoulder, “thank you, Karen.”

“I know I wasn’t as present with you and Harriet as I should’ve been when she was younger, I know, it was just too hard but... I’m here now, okay? And I’m happy for you and Maddie and Beth would be, too. So how about we both stop crying and get your girlfriend all moved in?”

“Yeah, yeah. Just give me like two more minutes to finish crying first. You got me good, Karen.”

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inawickedlittletown · 5 years ago

Text

I’m With You (16/?)

Summary:

Having a crush was nothing to be ashamed of…lying to the family and friends of said crush about being the guy’s boyfriend, that was a whole other problem. When Buck saves the life of Andrew Diaz and accidentally makes a nurse think that he’s Andrew’s boyfriend, Buck soon finds himself lying to Andrew’s firefighter friends/coworkers as well as Andrew’s family including Andrew’s very suspicious and attractive brother, Eddie.

Based on the 1995 movie While You Were Sleeping.

Words: 3,243

Notes: Finally getting this chapter up. And this is one of my favorite chapters. Enjoy.

Read on Ao3

Masterpost

Previous Chapter

–

So maybe, he hadn’t planned on kissing Buck. But then, Buck had been standing there and everyone had been looking at them and Andrew didn’t do things by halves. He hadn’t planned to lay it on thick, but the more bemused that Buck looked, the more he wanted to push. Especially since whatever was going on with Eddie’s temper seemed a little related. Or maybe it wasn’t. Maybe it was more about Andrew than Buck, Eddie had always been quick to get angry at him, after all.

Kissing a man was not unlike kissing a woman other than that Andrew felt absolutely nothing when he kissed Buck other than sheer amusement at Buck’s shock and how stiff he went. If Andrew hadn’t known before that they were nothing, this would have surely given it away.

He moved away from Buck swiftly, hugging and shaking hands with his friends from work and still eyeing up the dog that was supposed to be his. Legolas was gorgeous, even Andrew could admit that, but he elicited nothing from Andrew. And not just that, Legolas didn’t seem that interested in him either. Legolas did like Buck, however. He might have been his dog rather than Andrew’s.

As he walked around saying hello to everyone there, Andrew took some time to look around his house. He remembered it, but he could also tell there were things missing. Broken in the earthquake, he figured. But someone had gone through the trouble of cleaning everything up and setting up the party. He figured Hen was the one to blame for that and he wasn’t angry about it. He spotted Buck going to sit with his abuela and everything that Chim had said about Buck hit him, the way that Buck was so hungry to close up whatever loneliness surrounded him. He tore his eyes away from him, but not before he noticed the way that Pepa smiled at him because of course she’d been watching.

Bobby threw an arm around him when he came upon him in the kitchen.

“It’s good to see you out of the hospital,” Bobby said.

“Yeah. I was getting tired of that room.”

Bobby smiled. “Well, I have to get back to the grill, but Hen set up a bunch of chairs and stuff outside.”

“So you guys let her go wild,” Andrew said.

Bobby chuckled.

Although he’d wanted to go up to take a look at his room, Andrew let them lead him outside. It was so much nicer to get to talk to anyone outside of the hospital, to catch up with his friends and find out everything he’d missed both at work and in their lives. At some point Legolas came out with the kids and it was sweet watching how much the kids seemed to enjoy the dog.

“Still don’t remember the dog,” Chimney said, watching him.

Andrew shook his head and then he looked at the kids and the dog again. “Doesn’t seem like he remembers me either.”

---

Andrew was still making the rounds and hugging and greeting everyone that he hadn’t gotten to so Buck did at least have a moment to try to compose himself because he had no idea what to do. He did feel someone’s eyes on him, though, and when he turned all he saw was Eddie, but Eddie was facing away from him.

“Buck, come sit by me,” Isabel said in the middle of all of it. “Keep an old lady some company.”

Buck walked over and sat down without protest and he was surprised when Legolas jumped up to lay partially on his lap.

“That dog really likes you,” Isabel said as she reached over to pet him.

Buck smiled down at Legolas. Buck scratched Legolas’ head and ears. “He’s a good dog,” Buck said.

“I suppose Andrew keeps him because of you, then,” Isabel said. “Says a lot about how Andrew feels about you. And I know it’s hard because he doesn’t remember things, but he will eventually and things will go back to normal. They’re already doing so now.”

Normal would be Buck having nothing more than his job as a barista, Ali, and if he was lucky Josh and Chim would still talk to him. Normal would be Andrew walking into Coffee Time to pick up a mobile order and Buck not being able to meet his eyes or say anything to him. Normal would be not having anyone at all and being lonely all the time. Except that the more that Buck thought about it, the more he wanted something different. Even if he lost everyone he’d gotten to know over the last few weeks and he never got to see them again, that didn’t mean that they hadn’t made some difference in his life. He was stagnant and had been for too long, and Buck needed to do something for himself...he needed to figure out what came next.

“Yeah,” Buck said. “I guess it will.”

She pat his hand and smiled at him so warmly that it made Buck once again wish that things were different and that he could keep them all. Legolas nuzzled into his hand and Buck kept petting him.

“Isabel,” Buck said, “what if there was—”

She cut him off. “You worry too much. Everything will be okay. He’ll remember you and if he doesn’t then you just have to make him fall for you again. Shouldn’t be that hard for you...seems to me he likes you a lot already.”

Buck nodded and smiled even if his smile was shaky.

Christopher appeared then with Denny in tow.

“Buck, can we play with Legolas?” Christopher asked.

“Of course but be careful with your wrist. It’s still healing,” Buck said and he nudged Legolas to get off his lap.

Christopher caught Legolas’ attention at once and Buck watched as the boys walked away with the dog.

“You know, he’s very good with Christopher,” Isabel said thoughtfully.

Buck had often thought the same thing. Legolas was just really well trained and he figured that as a breed golden retrievers were kid friendly dogs but sometimes looking at the way that Legolas was with Christopher, he couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to it.

He sat with Isabel for a little while. She told him all about her stay at the hospital and before Buck could even try to apologise or explain about what happened with Christopher, Isabel brought it up herself and she was the first person to make him feel better about it.

“Kids fall and they get scrapes and they break their bones and they grow stronger from it. They learn. My grandson has had his share of that...but it was an accident and it was an earthquake and from what he said, you made him feel safe.”

Buck hadn’t know how to respond to that. But Isabel had touched his cheek lightly and smiled in a way that twisted his insides because of the guilt.

“You’re good for them,” she said.

Buck didn’t get to ask what she meant, because Josh called his name and Isabel just pushed him to go. Josh had him follow him through the kitchen. For the most part everyone had gone outside because it was a nice day and that’s where Hen had set up most of the party. Not to mention that there was just more room out there.

“So,” Josh said. “What was that?”

“What?”

Josh fixed him with a look. “You know what. The kiss, dummy.”

“I don’t know,” Buck said. “It was a thing that happened. And I really really have to come clean about everything.’’

��Or you don’t,” Josh said.

Buck rolled his eyes. “Don’t you feel even a little bit bad about this. Andrew is your friend, after all.”

Josh just shrugged.

They went outside where Andrew was sitting with Chimney, Eddie, Athena, and a couple of other firefighters that Buck didn’t know too well. They seemed like they were enjoying themselves, going off of the way they were laughing. Josh steered Buck over to them.

Karen, Bobby, and Hen were over by the grill and Buck shot them a smile and wave when he and Josh passed them. He spotted Harry, Denny, and Christopher sitting on the ground with Legolas and a bunch of Legolas’ toys.

“Buck, there you are,” Andrew said warmly.

It made Buck feel strange as Andrew motioned for him to sit next to him and Josh nudged him until he moved. He was surprised when Andrew took his hand and even laced their fingers once Buck had sat down. Andrew’s hand were callused and rough and Buck felt weird holding it.

“Does this mean you remember him?” Athena asked with a smile, eyeing up their hands.

“Not yet,” Andrew said and he shot Buck a smile. “But I’ve been getting to know him. I kind of get why I’ve been dating him.”

Buck couldn’t be sure, but he knew that Andrew couldn’t possibly be serious. The thing about Andrew was that it just wasn’t easy to tell if he was being completely truthful or if he already knew the truth. In the middle of everyone, Buck couldn’t exactly ask.

Athena was smiling at them and Josh looked like he was trying to hold in laughter. Buck caught Chim’s eye next and Chim gave him a slight shrug of his shoulders. Eddie sitting next to Chimney looked like he had just eaten something that didn’t taste right and he didn’t look directly at either him or Andrew after the split second where Buck’s eyes met his. Instead, Eddie’s gaze was directed at his son.

“But, okay,” Chimney said, “since he’s here and all, we’ve all been wondering about your good friend Josh. Since, the rest of us never knew anything about him until he showed up.”

“And weirdly enough no one has thought to ask me,” Josh said complete with a pout that made Buck grin at him. Andrew laughed.

“Well?” Chim said.

“He’s a 9-1-1 dispatcher,” Andrew said. “Talked to him during a call and then we happened to be at the same bar and we got to talking and he’s a cool guy. I have friends outside of the 118, you know. Simple as that. I don’t have to tell all of you everything.”

“Right,” Eddie said and his voice was a bit low and hard. “Like about your boyfriend and your dog.”

Andrew let go of Buck’s hand but only so he could throw both hands up in the air. “Eddie, come on, don’t—”

Eddie shook his head. “I’m just saying that keeping secrets hasn’t exactly worked for you here, alright. You don’t know what it was like finding out that you’ve been keeping this huge thing secret. It sucked. None of us knew about him...or about you, apparently. Or your dog.”

“Eddie—”

Eddie shook his head, he stood up, and walked away without looking back, headed inside the house.

“This can’t be bothering him that much,’’ Andrew said to the others, looking thoughtful. “What does he have against me having a dog.”

Chim and Josh laughed and Athena let out a chuckle, but Buck couldn’t. It wasn’t Legolas that had Eddie so upset. It was Buck. And since Buck shouldn’t have even been there...well, Eddie had no real reason to be upset at his brother. A part of Buck wanted to go after Eddie. He wanted to check on him so he could be sure that Eddie was okay and not somewhere angrily sulking. It did feel like a bit of an overreaction, but from the start Eddie had been annoyed about not knowing about Buck.

“Go check on him,” Andrew said, nudging him, as if he could tell that it was what Buck wanted. “He’s been acting off all day and you’ve become friends, right?”

“I — sure,” Buck said.

Andrew nudged him with his leg.

Eddie had gone back into the house, but he wasn’t in the kitchen and Pepa and Isabel were still in the living room. It was a bit tempting to stop there and just tell them everything. He’d been filled with guilt earlier when he was talking to Isabel. Maybe the best way would be to tell everyone in smaller groups so he could really explain it all.

“Buck, everything okay?” Pepa asked.

“Yeah...have you seen Eddie?”

“Went out to the front,” Pepa said. “Said he was getting something from his car.”

Buck nodded. “Thanks. I’ll go...I’ll go—” he motioned towards the door, not being able to find an explanation for why he wanted to go after Eddie.

The door stuck to the doorframe a bit still, something left over from the earthquake that Andrew would need to get fixed. Buck had no idea if Andrew owned the place or was renting, but either way it was bound to get annoying. He forced the door closed and turned to look out at the front yard but he couldn’t see Eddie. His truck was still there though, and Buck let out a sigh. He hadn’t left. When he turned slightly to the left, he found Eddie.

Eddie was leaning against the house just a few feet from the door, but he was watching Buck and when Buck met his gaze he didn’t look away immediately, instead he kept looking at Buck as if to make up for all the times that he’d looked away or avoided his gaze since he’d arrived at Andrew’s house.

“Hey,” Buck said. “You okay? Andrew sent me to check on you. He says you’ve been acting weird all day.”

Eddie didn’t say anything and he was completely still, but his gaze never faltered from Buck. Buck stepped closer, moving to stand in front of Eddie who looked like he was trying to decide something.

“It’s nothing,” Eddie said.

“Clearly it’s something,” Buck said.

Maybe he could tell Eddie. Maybe he could start with him since he had him alone again. It was like that day outside the hospital right before Chimney showed up to tell them that Andrew was awake and Buck had been so close to spilling everything. He knew Eddie would be hardest one though. Not Andrew. Not even Isabel or Pepa or even Athena. No, Eddie was the one that would be the hardest to tell and Buck didn’t really want to admit to himself why it was going to hurt to lose him the most. That’s what was going to happen, after all, when the truth finally came out. He would lose all of them. Maybe not Chim or Josh, but Buck knew very well that none of the rest of them would want anything to do with him.

“What if it is something, then,” Eddie said with a sigh and he closed his eyes.

The thing about Eddie was that he was that kind of effortlessly handsome. At the moment his jaw was covered in scruff, and his hair was swept back. He looked quite at peace, almost like one of those statues made of marble that were so easy to admire. Looking at him made Buck want to touch him, to run his fingers through his hair or to find out if his scruff was rough and prickly or softer.

Eddie’s eyes opened and his deep brown eyes were on Buck for a long moment before he ducked his head. “It is something,” he said.

“Okay,” Buck said, hoping that was enough prompt for Eddie to keep talking.

“I mean isn’t it better to just keep quiet? To let things go and let them happen and not make things worse?” Eddie asked and his forehead crinkled into a frown.

Buck’s heart was beating fast. Did he know? Did Eddie somehow know that Buck was this huge liar and...

“Because it’s eating at me and I’ve tried to bury it and push past it and I can’t. I can’t, Buck. But it makes me...I hate—”

“Eddie, what are you talking about?”

Eddie dropped Buck’s gaze and he leaned his head back on the house with a small thump before he straightened up and pushed off of the house. Buck followed his movements, as he stepped sideways and started to pace on the porch.

“That’s the thing,” Eddie said in a loud hiss. “It doesn’t matter. It can’t matter because he’s my freaking brother and I can’t be this person that…” he trailed off and his hands were in his hair.

He stood several feet away from Buck, seemingly frozen with his fingers in his hair and his eyes blazing with something that didn’t quite make sense to Buck.

“Eddie, I don’t—”

In a few long strides, Eddie was suddenly there in Buck’s space, standing so close that Buck could make out the color of his eyes perfectly, the way that they were a dark chocolate brown deep and beautiful. Buck didn’t know how much time passed while he stared into Eddie’s eyes trying his hardest to catalogue the color, but the next thing he knew was Eddie’s hand on his hip, not quite gripping but hot and there.

Buck was confused. He had no idea what to do or what to think. It was as if Eddie’s very proximity had taken away his ability to think about anything but Eddie right there inches from him and moving closer.

Buck somehow managed to try and speak, his lips parting with a question ready at the tip of his tongue, but it all disappeared the moment that Eddie surged forward and kissed him.

It was possessive and hard, Eddie dragging Buck’s body so that the few inches left between them were gone and the hand not on his hip found its way to Buck’s neck, helping to tilt Buck’s face for the kiss. The kiss was hot and deep and left Buck breathless with how intense it was. When it ended and they were standing pressed together, he was breathing hard for the few seconds that Eddie allowed before they were kissing again and Eddie’s thumb was caressing Buck’s jaw leaving a trail of heat.

Buck couldn’t think. He could only feel...and he wanted Eddie. He wanted Eddie more than anything. More than he’d ever wanted anyone before. The world faded away and with it all the guilt and all the things that had been hanging over him. All that mattered was the way that Eddie’s heart was beating and that Buck could feel it, and the way that Eddie tasted and felt and smelled...things that Buck wanted to file away in his mind forever.

But the world had a way of rearing its head, reality bringing everything back with loud laughter and barking from inside Andrew’s house.

One second Buck was still pressed up against Eddie and the next Eddie pushed him away hard. Buck stumbled back in surprise, bumping into the banister. When Buck looked at Eddie again, he was panting and staring at him and looking worse than how Buck had found him. Wrecked.

Eddie ran his hands through his hair in a less agitated manner than before and he wouldn’t meet Buck’s eyes and then without saying a thing he walked back into the house leaving Buck outside feeling the weight of everything that happened falling on him.

“What the fuck,” Buck said just as his phone started ringing. This time it wasn’t an unknown number.

–

Next Chapter

Notes: Sooo what did everyone think? Can you tell why this is one of my favorites?

Not sure when the next chapter will be up because editing is still happening and I also took a detour and wrote a small ficlet featuring a mediator Buck which you can check out both on my tumblr and ao3.

Thank you to everyone reading. And if anyone wants to be tagged, let me know

Tagging: @tranquility-or-chaos @diazbuckleysworld @stilesgivesmefeels

#911 fox #911 fic #buddie #buddie fic #buck x eddie #911 fox fic #fic #my fic #I'm With You

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justsmilestuffhappens · 5 years ago

Text

7 Free day [Songs]

F!ve Christmasses

<*buckle up*>

A Christmas that never was

A - Another Christmas, Another empty house, Another reason,There is no Santa Claus, May all your Christmasses be white,Though mine are blue, It's just another Christmas without you

Buck took another swig from his glass that matched his eyes. Not that he could notice that with how watery they were now.

Who was he to ask them to stay though?

The music station he'd landed on was ironically perfect for how he felt but horrible at the same time.

What was he supposed to have told them even if he did? 'Take me with you'?

Buck looked at a picture of Christopher and Eddie from when they went to the zoo together a while back.

A ding interrupted the song as he saw Eddie had sent a message to everyone. It was a picture of Christopher smiling on his back holding a snowball. How cute?

A drop of water fell upon his screen and for a second Buck thought it was his A.C. until he realized no it was him.

Where did the empty hole in his chest come from?

It was just another couple of days then things would go back to normal. Right?

Maddie and Chimney were on their honeymoon. Hen and Karen had their new child who was warming to them and Denny. Bobby and Athena had May back with them and Harry and were celebrating Michael's recovery.

When would he finally be able to do something about his feeling?

Buck took the bottle and before he could have a second thought downed the half that was left, straight into the sink. He wouldn't put Bobby through seeing him like this, had to stop it now before. Just before.

He grabbed some water and began his trek up the stairs letting the darkness claim the lower floor.

Sip after slow sip Buck got his eye's clearer. He sent a "hope you're having fun, give my little bud a hug for me please" before silencing his phone.

Feeling emotional drained even when he'd done was nothing but sit around and cry for a bit Buck settled into bed. His comforter welcomed him not like a warm hug but as a hollow one.

12:01 am. The clock read. "Merry Christmas." He whispered to no one.

In the morning he'd be fine. He'd shower get to work and go to the party he'd been invited to later. Alone.

But for now he just needed to sleep. To forget about how miserable he felt for a couple of hours.

It wasn't anyone's fault.

Why did they have to leave?

He missed them so much. Did they miss him too? He wished they'd come back as his thoughts drifted into sleep.

A Christmas that was meant to be

β - Feeling Christmas all around, And I'm trying to play it cool, but it's hard to focus when I see you walking around the room, let it snow, it's blasting now, but I won't get in the mood, I'm avoiding every mistletoe until in know, it's true love that he thinks of, so next Christmas, I'm not all alone, boy

"Where did all the mistletoe go?" Chimney asked Hen as they walked upstairs.

Buck was sitting with Eddie. This two day Christmas was looking to be a dull one.

No very close or exciting calls but they weren't complaining on this Christmas eve. They'd be home for a bit tomorrow but back in later on in the day.

"Yeah. I noticed that too. Did Bobby tell you anything about it?" Eddie asked looking back at Buck.

"Huh? No. Maybe we lost a few last year or they were getting old and falling apart." Buck shrugged while sipping some hot chocolate Bobby made earlier.

They wouldn't find where Buck had stashed them. Well not till after Boxing day and it'd be too late by then. No kiss grenades this holiday season.

Eddie got up to get himself a cup as Buck's eyes never left him. Hen and Chim may have seen him but they didn't say anything though however painful it was to watch.

"So buck, you coming with Maddie and me for Christmas or ya got other plans?" Chim asked from hiding his hand of cards from Hen.

"Yeah. Probably party hop. Think Eddie's gonna have his abuela over and said I was welcome to swing by. How 'bout y'all Hen?"

"We're going to Athena's to drop off some gifts and visit for a bit then it's a movie marathon while watching Denny play with the new stuff he gets this year."

Eddie came back to sit by Buck taking a good warm gulp.

"Mhm. It's no Abuela hot chocolate but Bobby made it pretty good." He hummed sitting closer as they watched a rerun on t.v..

The alarm blared as Bobby came out of his office.

"Snow machine buried a guy who was drunk on the job. We're closest, let's go."

Buck didn't plan for the others finding the mistletoe hidden under spare heat blankets in the storeroom when they got back.

"Weren't you the last one on cleanup duty?" Hen said looking at him from over the box.

"Oh! That's where they were. I must have came to get something and forgot. Good thing too with all the cold and flu going around really." Buck looked anywhere but at the team as Bobby took the box and placed it in his arms.

"Well it's a good thing we found them before Christmas was over huh? Why don't you go finishing hanging them like I told you to before and I'll get started on dinner." His words left no room for protest even if buck never would anyways.

When he was done putting up the box Eddie laughed at him. "What's so funny?" Buck had to ask.

"This your way of telling people to kiss your ass?" Eddie asked pointing behind Buck.

He felt the mistletoe he'd forgotten in his back pocket. "No. I'm just distracted I guess" buck shook his head.

"You feeling okay?" Eddie asked coming over to feel his forehead.

"Don't dad me. I won't hear the end of it from Bobby." He joked.

"Can't wait to be off so we can relax with mi Abuela and Christopher tomorrow man."

"Well we've only got a couple hours. With any luck we'll be out before the next big call."

As fate would have it buck jinxed them with a house fire from someone deep frying their turkey in the middle of their dinner at the firehouse."I'm sorry." Buck said as they were on their way.

"Not your fault the universe likes picking the worst time Buck." With the fire out they were able to go home.

Buck went to his and picked up some clothes before going to spend the night at Eddie's to Chris's surprise. It was a good Christmas.

"Mistletoe Buck" Christopher shouted as he came back with popcorn before they opened a gift at midnight.

Buck froze as Eddie kissed his cheek then continued into the living room.

He winked at buck but before he could ask they were fully into opening all their gifts except the ones that Abuela would be bringing over. Buck had to ask him later if that was a one time thing.

A Christmas that almost wasn't

− · − · / I'll find my way back home, And light up every tree, We will hang our stockings for you and one for me, 'Cause Santa called me to make sure I'm prepared, He said "Pack your bags and tell them You'll be there",

Buck could put up with anything for them, he would put up with everything for them. Once he was done he'd be coming home.

His dad's passing right now was like one final act of spite against them. Buck didn't care about their inheritance, or the house, or the cars. But responsibility fell on him with mom gone and Maddie in her current state.

At least one of them had to come and with Maddie pregnant he'd bit the bullet. He always would.

Their dad wasn't some monster, more so a ghost before he was even dead. Buck barely remembered much of the time they spent together.

He'd been here since the beginning of December. One week became two and a half and he was getting desperate. With the funeral already long passed and only the house left he was glad they'd been understanding of Maddie skyping for the reading the will.

It was lucky someone already wanted the house and the cars weren't something he'd wanted buck to have anyways.

Now all he had to do was get to the airport for the first flight from Hershey to Los Angeles.

A snowstorm chose two days before Christmas to stop Buck's in his tracks. He stayed at the airport praying that he'd make it home but doubtful with what the news said.

He eyed one of the cleaning staff messing with a Christmas tree as he was throwing away his water.

"Come on. Please. Why do you do this every year?" The young guy had muttered as he tried turning it on again.

"Need some help?" Buck asked coming over.

"No. Sorry sir. The tree's just being finicky." He checked the plugs but it wasn't working.

"Have you seen if any of the bulbs are loose?" Buck asked whilst looking at it.

"What?!"

"If people touch it while walking by they could have messed up a bulb. All it takes is one sometimes to mess up a whole string of lights."

Buck helped him look as within a minute bits were back alight. "Holy shit. Sorry I didn't mean to say that. You know your stuff mister."

Buck laughed. He couldn't be more than a couple years older than this guy.

"Yeah. We used to have people decorate our house a lot. You pick up on things even if it's just watching people work." With that Buck moved back to his seat.

He looked at his phone to see a new message. It was a picture of Christopher standing next to a hanging shelf on the wall where their stockings were. His was on the other side of Chris's opposite Eddie.

"We miss you. Can't wait for you to get back. Christopher says to make sure to tell you we love you." Buck reads as he holds his phone closer to his chest as if it's the last source of warmth in a frozen land.

"Just my luck. Snowstorm. I'll tell you as soon as we're about to leave. I'm coming back, one way or another."

Buck fell asleep somehow in those chairs after securing his bag and phone.

He woke to a person dressed as Santa shaking his shoulder. "What?" He said groggy.

"Shh." They covered their lips and beckoned Buck to follow. Buck's body was on autopilot as he followed.

Santa silently pointing at a single present under the tree. Buck hesitated to pick it up and read his name.

As Santa urged him to open it with a wave of his hand, Buck did so.

It was a little ceramic firefighter figurine that looked like him. The kind you put in a little village on a table.

Buck looked up from his hand but Santa was gone. The next thing he noticed was waking up to people talking.

"Flight 811 now boarding." Buck jumped up too quickly as he moved to get in line. With the snowstorm subsiding even for a while he hoped they'd make it out.

He felt around for the figurine but it wasn't anywhere as he looked to where he was seated.

After texting Eddie that he'd had the weirdest dream but he had to turn off his phone soon for the flight the plane took off.

Buck made it home for Christmas eve with a few hours left to spare.

He got to the house just before 11 to Eddie already opening the door pulling him inside for a kiss.

"God I missed you."

"I missed you too. Both of you."

"Christopher's asleep. Take a shower and let's sleep. He's gonna love seeing you in the morning Buck." Eddie brought his bag over to their room as Buck hopped in the shower.

Buck was already asleep in the bed once he'd dried off in only his towel.

Eddie shook his head getting boxer briefs on him so Christopher wouldn't be seeing him naked in the morning. In their rush he couldn't ask Buck about his dream but it didn't sound bad so it could wait.

Christopher was shaking buck awake shouting you're finally back it's Christmas it's Christmas buck! It was the best way to wake up.

"Presents!" Christopher said only for Eddie to correct him.

"Breakfast first?" He said.

"Breakfast can wait. I want to see Christopher open my gift. How about only one then a breakfast break. I'll start it while you and your dad pick one each." Buck suggested kissing both of them as he got up to start.

Christopher opened a new video game as Eddie picked a dress shirt wrapped around a new thermos. Buck was given a present as he placed the food on the table. Inside was a new wallet with a gift card for one of their favorite restaurants in it.

After they quickly finished their eggs Buck went to check his stocking and froze when he looked down at the same figurine from his dream.

"Hmm. That's cute. Hey look Christopher we got our own too." Eddie said beside buck pulling their stockings to spill them out.

"I had a dream about this?"

"Your psychic?" Eddie joked.

"I dreamed Santa gave me this at the airport but I lost it." Buck said still staring at it with wonder.

"Santa brought you back just like I asked him Buck."Christopher said hugging him.

"Aww. You know I'd come back Christopher. Even if it was late I'd come back for you two." Buck said looking up at Eddie.

A knock at the door had Eddie moving to let their guests in.

A Christmas that could be

Д - singing to the deer in the sky, singing as they jingle, jingle, jingle tonight, singing to the moon, set it free, you're the angel on the top of my tree, singing to the spirit above, sing your heart out with all of your love, Santa's coming for us,

Eddie watched as the Christmas lights danced on Buck's face while they wheeled into the park set up.

"So a Santa Claus went dark side and now we've got a Krampus slasher on the loose?" Buck asked Cap while they drew closer to the crowd.

"No. The police have a very naughty Santa. We've got a stabbing victim and some decorations that have become a hazard so we need to clear them as much we can to prevent more injuries." Bobby said coming to a stop with the mess in view. Chimney and Hen pulled up beside them as they hopped out.

Eddie saw why there was a problem with finding the Santa it was like a mini convention. It unsettled him that whoever it was could possibly get away with it.

Hen was treating the stabbing victim while Chimney looked to see if any other bystanders were hurt.

"Buck, Eddie, we're getting this metal reindeer off her. Ma'am stay still until its completely off and we have you looked at. It doesn't seem you were cut too bad but you should still let us treat you. 1. 2. 3." Bobby ordered as they lifted the heavy lawn ornament.

"I'm fine that fucking reindeer isn't gonna kill me."

"I'm glad to hear you're still in high spirits miss but please let us have a look at you."

Chimney came over to check her after putting a neck brace.

"So these things were stacked?" Eddie asked as he and Buck moved the deer away from it being in the way or people touching it.

"Has to be some funky welding sculpture. Must have broken off when they bumped it too hard while evil Santa ran for it." Buck surmised.

"Alright! Santa's who have given statements and shown I.D. you are free to go. If you have any information on the assailant please call the department." Athena shouted before she came over.

"Hi Athena. Did they give a disruption." Bobby asked as she hugged him before pulling away.

"Caucasian male, thirty to forty but he'd got a forearm tattoo of a rabbit and a birthmark on his neck so that's something." Athena gestured.

"Hopefully y'all find him before he hurts someone else." Buck said.

"You know it. Strangest thing is no one in the crowd saw where he ran to. They were too shocked trying to help the victim which while making it harder is worth it since one of them was pre-med and helped as much as they could."

Buck moved with Eddie to try getting more of the heavy decorations further from the walking path that they'd been shoved into.

After they pushed the original reindeer sculpture and some other large decorations Buck heard Eddie before he felt himself being punched in the back of his head. "Ow! What the fuck?"

In the next few seconds things moved too fast. Buck whirled around to defend himself.

Eddie ran back closer from where he'd been going to regroup waiting for buck to catch up.

The anti Santa was suddenly there and pissed off. Buck got a good right hook in before there was suddenly blood.

Everyone froze or at least buck did as he took in what he saw. Eddie was finally over and checking buck before turning to the bad Santa.

A metal angel tree topper had fallen and lodged into his arm with its trumpet?

"Don't pull it out! You need to get to a hospital then you're under arrest." Eddie told him while his anger seemed to deflate.

Buck looked past Eddie's shielding him with his body while rubbing his head.

"You're under arrest. We're gonna get you treated and booked sir." Athena said coming over as the Santa gave up.

With him in cuffs and his arm wrapped until he'd gets to the hospital in a second ambulance things were finally calm again.

"Buck keep the ice. Chimney says you don't have a concussion but you feel the slightest bit bad I expect to be told." Bobby said while they packed up what little gear they used.

"Hey Eddie. Santa Claus is coming to Ow!" Buck said inside the truck earning a shake of Eddie's head while Bobby radioed that was a strike for Buck having a concussion earning a groan of I can't make bad jokes?

Eddie wanted to hit him for joking but that would contradict his desire of wanting to see buck hurt. "He was in the box. Guy must be a contortionist." Eddie told buck which only earned a shocked gasp from buck and a quiet no way.

Once they were back in the station he was watching Buck like a hawk along with Bobby as they waited for Hen and Chim.

"You know the last time someone looked at me that hard we had sex" buck joked trying to lighten the mood.

"Like you could handle me, especially right now." Eddie scoffed.

"I don't have a concussion! And I can handle a lot of things, you'd be surprised. Haven't gotten any complaints yet." Buck puffed his chest and wiggled an eyebrow.

"I'm not looking for a one night stand though buck." Eddie regretted how that sounded.

"Who said it's gotta be one. I may not be buck 1.0 but I've got his experience. Just don't go for random hookups anymore." Buck came over.

"Are you just asking me out because you got hit in the head?" Eddie turned to look buck in the eye.

"Maybe that punch was the kick in my ass i needed to finally ask you what I've been too scared to."

"Ask me later, after you're all good. If you still feel like it."

"I will. I'll ask you a million times if I have to. I'm serious. I've been thinking about us for a while I just didn't want to risk anything"

"Good. I look forward to you asking me out at the Christmas party Bobby's hosting with Athena."

With that they went back to sitting around waiting for the next call. Hen and chimney joined as Bobby finished their late lunch.

Buck wasn't lying. He'd ask Eddie again tomorrow and have Hen say he didn't have a concussion too.

But for now he was content to sit here together. At least it was out in the open now and there was hope.

How Christmas should be

5 - I found, what I was looking for, a love that's meant for me, a heart that's mine completely, knocked me right off my feet, and this year I will fall, with no worries at all, 'Cause you are near and everything's clear, you're all I need, underneath the tree

Buck felt electrified like a living Christmas light. Today was the day he'd finally put it out there. He thought Eddie felt something too and it felt right.

Once they were off he'd confess that he'd slowly been falling deeper and deeper in love with his best friend. He had to find out if they could be more.

Their shift had been long with only one major call of kids breaking a fire hydrant and causing havoc with multiple injuries but not too bad that anyone would need to be hospitalized.

As buck was getting ready for the shift to end and to tell Eddie about them the alarm blared.

The shift in temperature had caused the ground to unsettle and a couple to slide off a cliff.

They'd gotten the first woman up but her girlfriend was further down.

Buck repelled lower to get her as Eddie was set to descend with the other girl safe above now.

Buck got a harness on her and they began pulling her up along side him when a large rock fell towards them.

Before buck could think of anything else he moved to shield her and took a hit to his helmet.

Eddie screamed his name as they continued to pull her up.

Buck looked to be okay as he followed behind her being taken into Eddie's guidance.

Once they were topside Eddie was asking if buck was okay while Bobby and hen took the other girl.

"I'm fine dude. My helmet took the most of-"

Before buck could finish he was tumbling. He didn't know if it was his adrenaline leaving him or his injury finally feeling so painful but he felt as Eddie got him before he could full hit the ground.

With his helmet off they could see the lump forming.

"Damn it. Thank God you're off the blood thinners finally." He couldn't tell who said it but guessed it was Eddie.

"We'll take him in ourselves. Hen, the girls are good right?" Bobby said as they moved him over to the ambo.

"They only had a few minor scrapes. Chim and I got him. You two can follow." They were at the hospital in a blur. So much for today being the day. His plan was ruined.

"It's just a mild concussion. You'll be fine. Stay with us Buck" chimney said besides him on the way.

"It's ruined."

"What's ruined?"

"I was gonna tell Eddie"

"Tell him what? You've still got time, "

"That I-"

"Buck. BUCK open your eyes! buck buddy no, stay awake man."

He woke to Maddie sitting next to him on her phone as the tv was quiet.

"Good. You're awake." She said looking over. "You gave us a little scare."

"What time is it?"

"It's 10 thirty. You've been in here for a good two hours. Doctor says you'll be fine but don't want you pushing yourself too soon."

"I'm ruining Christmas"

"No. Christmas is fine. You might be out if your next results are good. Even if you did have to stay here, it's not a problem for us to visit you here or wait a couple days for you to get out." Maddie put a comforting hand on him.

"Is Eddie okay?"

"Why wouldn't he be? He's safe at home with Christopher. Its a little late to visit but if we're still here he said he'd stop by tomorrow. You aren't in pain and you're talking fine. Hopefully those are good enough signs towards you getting out."

The doctor explained more. Buck could leave now but they would suggest he stay. However if he's careful and being watched by others she felt he would be fine.

With Buck signed out Maddie and him got to her place where Chimney was waiting with a late dinner. "Dude I'm starving." Buck said smelling the food.

"You're always hungry Buck. Figures with how big you are your body needs the extra energy" chimney said as buck looked over to see his bag and gifts from his place in the living room.

"I got your stuff from work then wrung by yours after. You'll get to do what you said tomorrow after you rest." Chimney said knowing smirk on his face.

"What did buck say earlier?"

"Nothing mads."

"That he-"

"I had a concussion! Wasn't I a patient? Isn't this a breach of trust or something?"

"He might have said he needed to tell Eddie something." Chimney said earning an exaggerated face.

"Is that why you asked if he was okay at the hospital?"

"There's no breach of trust if you brought it up to her buck. And from what we've seen, concussion or not you two are obvious to everyone but yourselves."

"You really do have a boy crush."

"Stop calling it that. Sure Eddie's attractive, and. I may like him more than a friend should." Buck quieted at the end.

"Don't tell him this but I've caught him checking you out before." Chimney said.

"What?"

"Maybe it's not so one sided Buck. Just talk to him." Maddie looked at him with understand.

After that awkward but supportive dinner and some good sleep they were up and ready for the get together with the others.

Everyone promised to open their gifts together before some of them had duty later in the day.

Buck took a gulp of eggnog as he waited for a chance to talk to Eddie face to face.

He came in with Christopher and they helped get the gifts from Eddie's truck.

Once the kids were gleefully playing with their newest toys buck took the chance.

"Can I talk to you outside for a second?"

"Sure buck. Let me get my jacket."

So they took to the front as the kids were in the back and in Harry's room.

"Yesterday I was planning to tell you something important."

"Hen might have told me."

"What?"

"She just said we needed to talk. You said so in the ambulance before we had to leave you to finish our shift then it was too late to take Christopher for only a half hour before he needed to be in bed."

"Yeah. That's okay. It would have been nice but I still got to see him and give him my gift today." Buck said. "But about that. I know we're friends. I know I might come off as straight but I-."

"You're not the only one."

Buck continued on needed to get this out before realizing what Eddie said.

"I've been into guys before, I just haven't been into many, not as quickly as I was into you. I want that for us. I know that it might be hard but I feel like we could have something."

"I think. No. I know I'm in love with you. I'm willing to try this but I don't want to lose you." Eddie said pulling buck closer.

"You won't. I'll always be here. Its where I want to be with you. I love you two, both of you."

"We need to talk about other things. I have to tell you stuff you deserve to know and the truth."

"I'm here. Whenever you're ready. Now or tomorrow but soon if it's important. As long as we're in this together we've got as much time as you need."

Buck finally did something he'd been thinking about doing for a while. He kissed Eddie the way he wanted. The way he deserved to be kissed. They stayed there with their foreheads connected breathing as the cold air blew.

"I can't believe they knew about us wanting this." Buck admitted still holding Eddie thinking about going back in.

"I can. We see the others every day and if I look back it's been like this for a while. I felt like this."

"Let's go inside. The kids are probably already back in. I want to play with Chris's new jeep. He said he loved it because it looks like mine."

Eddie grabbed Buck's hand and led him in. They were joined at the hip like usual the rest of the afternoon. Christopher was as happy as could be and they were too.

Buck felt like this was what he'd been looking for for so long. They'd work together to make this relationship last. He was in it and he knew Eddie was too. "You feeling good Buck?" Athena asked sitting next to him.

"Better than I've ever been." Buck told her with a smile and he meant it. "Merry Christmas Athena"

"Merry Christmas Buck." She hugged him as Christopher came over with his new drone.

"Cool bud. But you know your not supposed to play with it in doors right?"

"I know buck. Thank you for the jeep."

"Sure thing superman." Buck scooted over for Christopher to sit between Eddie and him. He felt warmth fill him as Eddie and him listened to what Harry and Denny showed Christopher and played with him earlier.

#buddie #solo mio #my writing #buddiemas #12daysofbuddie #12daysofbuddiemas #long #ficlet #fic #Christmas #Buck Buckley #Eddie Diaz #Christopher Diaz #this is a monster and i need to upload it to ao3 soon because wow #tags #pushing the limit of my text posts

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loveistherootofhappiness · 5 years ago

Text

Written for Bathena Week Day 1

Word Count: 2100

Summary: L.A.’s been said to be a weird place, but no truly one knows just how weird it is. No one truly knows what type of people lurk beneath the surface of the city’s famed glamour.

Also read here & here

xxxxx

A loud scream echoed through the small shop, followed by “stop it, Jalen.” The few patrons turned towards the source to see two small children running around. A boy, who is assumed to be Jalen, was chasing the little girl with vampire fangs in his mouth and fake blood on his face.

“But I want to suck your blood, Sophie,” Jalen said with an attempted accent as her chased the little girl, Sophie around the shop.

Jalen, Sophie!” A young woman called out to them, causing the children to stop in their tracks. “I told you guys to stop kidding around. Now get over here.” Sophie and Jalen ran to where the woman was standing. “I’m so sorry about them,” she put the items she wanted to purchase on the counter, “I don’t what’s getting into them, must be the full moon.”

“Oh they’re fine. One of mine gets real rowdy during the full moon,” Athena told her as she rung up the woman’s items. Out of her peripheral vision she could see Robert smiling in amusement. After telling her the total, she paid, “have a great one.”

The woman took the bag from her, “thanks, you too,” she and her kids left.

The few customers that were in the shop payed for the items they had and left. Soon it was empty and there was no one but Robert and Athena in the store.

Robert took advantage of the moment alone. While she was distracted by the books she was writing in, he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, “Have I told how much I love this little shop you’ve got here?” he breathed into her neck. He had to resist the urge to attach his lips to her pulse point.

“Robert, stop, someone could come in at any second.”

“That’s why you should close up shop for a while and come take a walk with me.”

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.” Athena silently moved out of his hold and moved towards the door. “Well, come on before I change my mind.” Athena made sure to lock up behind them when they left.

They weren’t even outside for two second before they heard a woman scream, “my purse!” Bobby and Athena looked back to see a man dressed and all black clothing running with the purse and two other men chasing after him.

Robert looked over at Athena. Her eyes took on their familiar yellow glow. He returned his focus to the guy, who seemed to suddenly trip over his own feet and fall, unceremoniously, to the concrete. The two guys running after were able to retrieve the purse and, deservingly, rough him up a bit.

He smirked as he looked back over at Athena. Her eyes had returned to their natural brown. She turned around and kept walking like nothing happened, “not a word Robert.”

“I wasn’t going to say anything.”

“Mm hmm.”

“I just find it cute that you always love to help the mortals.” As long as he’d known her and it had been a very long time, over 300 years, she’d always used her magic to help others. It was one of the things he loved most about her.

Athena glared at him and raised a hand. “Your magic doesn’t work on me, treasure. You know that.” He grabbed the hand and kissed the inside of her wrist.

“I don’t need magic to kill you, dearest.” She snatched her arm back. “I know your weaknesses.”

“It funny,” Robert said as he placed his hands behind his back. “You’ve been saying that, practically, since the day we met. Hasn’t happened yet.”

“That’s the amazing thing about immortality, there’s nothing but opportunity.”

“I’m hurt, treasure. Is this the thanks I get for saving you from that burning?”

“Must you always bring that up. And you saved me from nothing. It was laughable that piece of shit priest thought he could kill me.”

“You were tied to a pole, over a fire pit, surrounded by chanting idiots.”

“Semantics.” Athena waved it off as they kept walking, “though, I guess It was fun to see the fear in their eyes and you didn’t leave too much destruction in our wake. Didn’t even kill anyone.”

“Luckily for them I didn’t have to take it that far. They knew not to fuck with you ever again, hell that whole village did, and I knew I couldn’t violate the Wiccan Rede. You’d have been pissed.”

“I’d like to think I would have made an exception for those bastards.”

“After all the restraint I had to muster to completely mutilate them, now she tells me.” She ignored him as they kept walking. They walked in comfortable silence until they reached the Clubhouse a couple of blocks over.

“I should have known we were coming here.”

“Yes, you should have.” Robert saw the look he was giving her, “don’t look at me like that, you know you love it here. Plus, I thought I could use a drink.” His voice dropped an octave.

“You don’t drink alcohol.” Athena said cheekily, pretending she didn’t know what he was talking about.

“Not what I meant, treasure.” He smiled slyly as his pupils dilated and fangs descended.

As they walked into the club, Elaine gave them a wave as they passed the bar on the main floor and headed for his office in the back. As soon the door closed, he picked her up, placed her on the desk, and attached his lips to hers. He kissed along her jawline and moved down to the column of her neck.

“Don’t take too much, have me out here looking ashy like you did last time,” she grumbled.

He chuckled and said, “no promises, your fault you have the sweetest blood I’ve ever tasted,” before his fangs sunk in it the flesh of her neck. She moaned as her blood rushed into his mouth and down her throat. Hers was a taste unlike any other and he’d never tire of it.

His hands moved up her thighs, completely hating she was wearing pants today. Both of them were completely out of it, lost in what he was doing to her when, “oh fuck, sorry.”

Robert, reluctantly, retracted his fangs and lifted his head from Athena’s neck, at the sound of Buck’s voice. He was surprised that he’d been so distracted that he didn’t hear him coming. Athena swiped two fingers along her next and the holes he’d made there had healed. “Yes, Buck, what is it?”

“Oh, um, Lainey said you were back here. I was just coming to see if you needed anything from me, but you’re busy. I’ll come back-“

“It’s fine Buck,” Bobby smelled the strong sent of watermelon as backed up a bit from Athena “Buck did you go raiding watermelon patches again?

“Yeah, but it’s not my fault. There was some really good looking watermelons and I was hungry.”

“Did you let anyone catch you?” Athena asked him.

“No! Of course not. I’m smarter than that most... some of.... well, I was smarter than that today.” Athena raises as an eyebrow at him skeptically, but didn’t say anything further.

“I hope so,” Bobby said remembering what he and Athena had to do last time Buck had been caught shifting into wolf form. Granted he’s done many things he wasn’t proud of in his 350+ years of life, but even he had to hold back a shudder at that. “In any case, go shower and I’ll need your help with bartending when we get busy later.”

“Got it, Pops,” Buck said affectionately, using his term he’s called since they took him and his sister into their little group.

As he was going to close the door, Athena yelled out “and don’t go sniffing that new human bartender, Eddie, when he gets here.”

“No promises,” Buck answered back, never being one to resist the urge to be a little shit. He closed the door leaving Bobby and Athena alone again.

“He’s going to get himself killed.” Athena said with a little worry.

“He’ll be alright. He’s got us.”

“And I love him , but I’m not cleaning up another one of his messes.” She hopped down off the desk, smoothed out her clothing and using the tie on her wrist to pull her braids back.

Robert chuckled as he looked in the mirror. He whipped the traces of blood from his mouth and righted his clothing. “The others are here.”

“Yes, I feel their energy too. I think you’ve had your fill of me. Let’s go out there with them.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, treasure.” He strolled back over to where she was standing and gave her a peck on the lips “I could never have my fill of you.”

“I love you, too, Robert,” she said simply.

“Woah, you said that without sass or snark. I might need to be scared.”

“And I immediately regret it.” Robert went to respond but she stopped him, “let’s just go.”

Athena rolled her eyes at the laughter she behind her as she walked ahead of him. The walked out of the office and through the people scattered around to head to the section upstairs. Sitting in one of the booths at the end they found Hen, Chim, Maddie, and Buck already in the middle of a discussion. Robert and Athena slid into the booth beside them.

“With the full moon this week, Karen and I thought it’d be a good time to take Denny on his first hunt, but I don’t know if around Halloween is the best time to take him. He’s been begging us and he’s mastered shifting, but there are so many crazies in this town this time of year.” Hen said.

Maddie removed her arm from around Chimney to touch Hen’s shoulder. “Yeah, it can be scary, I remember when I took Buck on his first hunt. I was so worried his inexperience was going to draw unwanted attention. Unfortunately, it’s crazies out every day of the year. But he’s gotta learn how to hold his own.”

“This is L.A. of course this town is full of crazies trying to catch a glimpse of the supernatural and paranormal. One person out out a video of a possible sighting and now this place is chock full of amateur hunters trying to get cannon fodder for their bullshit YouTube channels. Speak of the devil, excuse me for a sec,” Chimney disappeared in a flash and reappeared just as quickly, “sorry about that some kids were playing around with a Ouija board trying to conjure a demon. So I gave them one. Scared the shit outta all of them.”

Everyone else, not phased and used to what just happened continued on as normal. “I remember the days when speaking of the possibility of stuff like this got people tossed in asylums.” Bobby commented.

“Right?” Athena agreed. “Might need to return to that, shits getting out of hand.”

“Well, I think it’s cool that humans are so cool with the idea of the supernatural and paranormal. Certainly makes it easier to exist and coexist with them,” Buck leaned across the table to steal some of Maddie’s food.

“You only say that because you want that bartender that just started working here.” Chimney deadpanned.

“No. Well, I do want him, but that’s not the only reason I said that.”

“Well whatever, I’m just glad we have a place like this where us supers can just be free and not have to worry about walking on eggshells around humans.”

“And we have Bobby to thank for it.” Hen held up her glass in salute.

“Thank Athena, she came up with the concept of this place. I just brought it to life.” Robert kissed Athena on the temple and brought her closer to him, “also when I do hire humans I make sure they are okay with everything that could take place here.” He looked directly at Buck.

Buck eyed them both. “he’s here, he’s at the bar now.” Athena told him. Buck was up and out of the booth and practically sprinted down the stairs like the over eager pup that he was.

Athena and Robert turned around to see Buck down at the bar, leaning over the counter, talking to Eddie.

“I hope this goes well,” Athena commented as they watched them. She thought about listening in on the conversation, but she ultimately decided against it.

“Of course it will, treasure, you’ve never been wrong before. He’ll be the one that keeps him out of trouble.”

A little supernatural au for your morning. I left it open just in case I wanted to go back and do more. Were you able to guess what everyone was (hopefully I made it obvious enough).

#bathena week #bathena #athena grant #bobby nash #evan buckley #chimney han #hen wilson #maddie buckley #eddie diaz #911 #911 on fox #supernatural au #hope you enjoy #fanfic writing hell

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inawickedlittletown · 5 years ago

Text

Fated (Buddie Soulmate AU)

Summary: Soulmate AU. Fate and Soulmates had been a thing for as long as people had been alive. Some people were devout believers of Fate but not Buck. Buck thought there was nothing to thinking a Soulmate and Fate would make you happy. Then, he met his Soulmate.

Ship: Buck/Eddie

Words: 7,224

Notes: I love the Soulmate trope a lot so I couldn't help but write this for this pairing. Enjoy.

Read on Ao3

-----------------------

What everyone discovered pretty early on was that Fate was a thing. A real thing that loved to play games and that acted in unexplained ways. They also discovered that things were never ever straight forward or had happy endings. Some did, but not all. Fate just was...everyone was Fated somehow. Even when they didn’t want to be. Most importantly, everyone had Soulmates.

Scholars liked to say that when life was simpler and the world was less populated that things worked out easier or faster or maybe without all the complications. They thought that it was human invention and human progress that made Fate’s work a little harder.

Most people thought that it was all bullshit anyway.

It was the devout believers in Fate that made it their mission to talk about the importance of allowing Fate to lead the way. They thought that any action or inaction had to feel right and that some sort of intrinsic thing would give insight into right or wrong decisions. They didn’t marry anyone that wasn’t their Soulmate or worse have sex with anyone that wasn’t their Soulmate. They thought that bad things happened to those people that thought to tempt Fate that way — to laugh at what was Fated To Be.

Evan “Buck” Buckley landed strictly on the camp that thought the whole thing was idiotic. The Soulmate thing even more so. He thought it was kind of like those stories that people liked to tell little kids to scare them into not doing something. A way to control how people acted and what they did. Deep down he sort of thought that there was something to it, but it was stupid to put so much stock into something so unexplained and uncontrollable.

His mother was one of those people that believed. She believed it so much that she didn’t care that her Soulmate was an alcoholic with anger problems. His father was the verbally abusive kind because how you looked to other people mattered enough that he would never lift a hand against his wife or his kids. Instead, he yelled or belittled or bullied and then he drank and drank and drank.

With him and his sister, their father was just avoidant. He didn’t care enough to bother with them. That was his wife’s job and she was so broken from her marriage that it didn’t make her much of a mother. That they were Soulmates did nothing to make the marriage work but they put on a good show for their friends and all the rest of the society people that they threw lavish parties for. Buck wondered if his father even believed in the whole Soulmate thing or if he used it as a status thing to be able to claim that he was one of the Mated ones — one of the lucky enough to find their other half.

So it was pretty early on that Buck decided he wasn’t going to look for his Soulmate. Not if it meant that someone other than himself had decided who he was going to love and who he was going to spend his life with. His sister Maddie actually seemed to agree with him and when she met Doug — a man that shared their views — Buck wasn’t surprised when Maddie insisted that she was in love and that she and Doug would make it despite not being Soulmates. Buck ignored the weird not-right feeling he got when he first met Doug. He figured it was because Maddie and Doug weren’t Soulmates.

“We don’t care about that, Buck. He loves me and I love him,” she insisted.

Buck wanted her to be happy. He didn’t know if Doug would make her happy, but his sister was stubborn and since she insisted, he figured she had to know her own feelings. It wasn’t exactly uncommon for non-Soulmates to marry. The world was too big for everyone to find their Soulmates and there wasn’t even a true guarantee that the Soulmate you met was meant to be romantic. It was no surprise to either Buckley sibling that Eileen Buckley didn’t approve of the relationship and so when Maddie took off with Doug, leaving Buck behind, Buck didn’t even blame her.

Buck didn’t realize how much he’d relied on his sister until she was gone and when she wasn’t answering his texts or returning his calls for days. He got to hear about her wedding through social media, wasn’t even invited. But then, Buck knew why. It was because of their parents and because as their mother put it, “Madeline was running away from Fate.” Their mother was also sure it would catch up to her one day.

It was Eileen’s belief that Maddie’s decision would lead her to her Soulmate that made it so Eileen didn’t insist on trying to find her daughter even though she had the resources. She had to be aware that Buck was still in contact even if minimal and yet Eileen let Maddie and Doug be.

“But you won’t do that, will you, Evan? You’ll look for your Soulmate,” she would say and look at him with such care that Buck would forget for a moment that she’d never been much of a mother.

Buck never tried to talk to her about any of it because he knew where she stood and it wasn’t worth arguing. On a night when Richard Buckley got particularly angry and drunk, Buck even tried to shield his mother from it but she pushed him aside and tried to go help her husband because that’s what she needed and wanted to do. He even struck her that night, a slap on the face that left bruises for her to cover up for the next few weeks and yet none of it seemed to matter to Eileen as much as sticking by his side. After that night, Buck swore to leave as soon as he possibly could even if he had to leave his mother behind.

A few years spent as a vagabond and then an attempt at becoming a Navy Seal and Evan found himself in California with no idea what came next.

He was considering going to school and getting a degree in something or other when he found himself at a booth with recruitment for the fire academy. Evan didn’t want to say that it was Fate...that he’d been in the right place at the right time but the choice felt right.

When he finally became a firefighter and he joined the 118, that was the first time that Buck felt like he was where he belonged and with the people that he belonged with. He didn’t want to call it Fate even though he knew that’s what it was. What didn’t help was that everyone at the 118 seemed to be a believer. Well, a believer to a certain degree.

The Captain, Bobby Nash, was a bit jaded about the whole Fate and Soulmate thing even if no one knew quite why. He never seemed to talk about it. It would be months before Buck found out his backstory. His lost Soulmate — his lost family. Anyone would be jaded about Soulmates after the tragedy he’d gone through.

Hen had never believed until she met her Soulmate Karen. But she claimed that it was when she met her son Denny that it sealed it for her. Denny was adopted and both Hen and Karen had known that he was their son from the moment they laid their eyes on him. He was Fated to be theirs.

Chimney was a bit more relaxed with the idea. He wasn’t actively looking for his Soulmate but he wasn’t not looking either. He believed, even if it was casual belief that didn’t judge anyone who didn’t.

Buck mostly just wanted to get off with someone, if he were honest. He wanted the physical connection. He didn’t think he wanted to meet anyone that might be his Soulmate and he was glad that no one he met for thrysts ever felt like they could be more than just a bit of fun. That’s what he preferred anyway. It was only sometimes, when he returned to his rented room all alone that he wondered if maybe he did want something more — someone that meant more.

Bobby, Hen, and Chim were the closest that Buck had ever come to feeling what everyone seemed to describe as belonging. He belonged with them and it seemed that the feeling went both ways. They were as close to finding platonic Soulmates as he had come.

Buck would never claim that Abby had ever felt entirely right, but that wasn’t why he was with her. Abby was different than most people that Buck met and that may very well have had something to do with her age, but he did like spending time with her. He liked that she saw things his way especially since the whole Soulmate thing had burned her too. Abby never fully explained it but he got the gist that her last boyfriend was her Soulmate and that he left her the moment things with her mom got hard. Soulmates really weren’t all they were cracked up to be.

When Abby left, Buck understood. The death of her mother was a blow and she felt like she needed to go find herself or something. What hurt was when she told him that leaving felt right and worse when he could see it with every picture she sent or even just the ones that she didn’t send but that she posted on her Instagram.

“It’s not like she was your Soulmate, Buckaroo,” Hen said. “And I know you don’t believe in this stuff but there is absolutely something to it. I think you were meant to meet her and be with her but it just means that you’re ready for something else now.”

The worst thing about it was knowing that Hen had a point. Before Abby, Buck hadn’t wanted the whole relationship thing. He hadn’t been interested in the domesticity of it all but meeting Abby had meant that he wanted to try the whole relationship thing. He’d enjoyed being there for Abby and having someone that he could call and that he relax with when work and everything that came with it was just a little too much. It didn’t mean he wanted a Soulmate, though.

“Maybe she helped make you into the person you need to be when you meet your Soulmate,” Hen said.

Buck didn’t even try to argue because he knew there wasn’t winning that one.

Then, Eddie Diaz joined the 118. The first time Buck saw him, he knew.

The thing about Soulmates was that it wasn’t as simple as two people seeing each other. There was really nothing to outwardly declare that a Soulmate had been found. It was all more internal — you were supposed to just know. Fate would let you know. Sometimes for some people it happened right away but other times it took a bit longer. Weeks or months or even years could go by before two people realized that they were Soulmates and people always said that it was all down to what Fate intended. Platonic Soulmates were always a possibility when someone noticed a Soulmate right away but that wasn’t what hit him when he saw Eddie Diaz for the first time.

No, what he felt was attraction and a pull towards him that was like nothing else. Buck wanted to know him. He wanted to talk to him. He wanted Eddie in his life. And he absolutely hated it — he hated the way that he could barely tear his gaze away from where Eddie was putting on a shirt — and of course he was shirtless the first time he saw him, as if Buck needed to know about his perfect abs so soon after seeing him. Buck didn’t need a Soulmate. He didn’t need anyone — he had Abby and Abby would be coming back eventually. So, Buck didn’t go meet the new guy with Hen and Chim and if Bobby gave him a disapproving look over it, he didn’t care.

When he finally did meet Eddie, it was after he had already decided to not like him so if he was a little antagonistic then no one could blame him. It didn’t help that everyone else seemed taken by Eddie and that Eddie didn’t have that new guy feel — he was confident in what he was doing and he wasn’t afraid to jump in even when he had to know that the rest of them were more seasoned at the job. It sort of rubbed Buck the wrong way but only because he let it. He wanted to dislike him. Needed to dislike him.

The only good thing was that Eddie didn’t show any recognition for Buck being his Soulmate. It made it easier.

Hen and Chim had already proclaimed that Eddie was a beautiful man and Buck couldn’t ignore that. He had eyes and Eddie was perfect. His fluffy hair and his dark eyes and a body that was nothing to scoff at. Buck hated how perfect he was. He was supposed to be perfect for Buck...at least that’s what Fate intended and Buck hated admitting even to just himself how Eddie seemed to be exactly the type of guy that he would go for.

“What’s up with you?” Hen asked.

“Nothing. I’m fine,” he grunted.

“He feels right here, you know. I could tell the moment I met him. He’s meant to be here.”

Buck grunted again.

“I don’t get why you’re so against the Fate thing, Buck. Explain it to me?”

“I think it can majorly screw up your life,” Buck said. “People do stupid things because they think it will get them their Soulmates or closer to meeting them. They rely on it like it’s the thing that will make them happy. It’s all bullshit. Soulmates. Fate. It’s not what makes anyone happy.”

Hen didn’t reply to that right away. “People are stupid no matter what. And Fate isn’t this predetermined thing. It’s possibilities. It’s outcomes to your choices and the people that might fit into those choices. I don’t think anyone has one single Soulmate but our choices lead us to one of them.”

Buck shrugged at her.

Buck was determined to hate Eddie right up until they were in the ambulance with a bomb and they were working together to get the bomb out of an actual person. But after they had made it off the rig and the patient was being rolled away, Buck couldn’t keep up the dislike not when Eddie impressed him and when Eddie seemed to be trying his hardest to get on Buck’s good side. Definitely not when there was nothing that Buck could hold against him other than the fact that he was his Soulmate and that was one thing that Buck wasn’t ready to admit. He didn’t think he’d ever be ready to admit to that.

It was a few days later that Buck knew he was truly screwed. Eddie showed him a picture of his son and even though it was a picture, Buck could feel a pull. He wanted to know that little boy. Eddie’s little boy.

Watching Eddie hug Christopher later in the day — after such a long day — made Buck feel like maybe he was wrong and maybe he did need Eddie and Christopher in his life. Everything felt like it was changing and when Christopher was finally in front of him, Buck felt that feeling of rightness. Eddie seemed none the wiser but Christopher tilted his head a little when he looked at Buck and Buck had to wonder how much the boy felt — if he knew or cared about Fate. Kids mostly followed the lead of their parents but there was instinct involved too and from the way that Christopher didn’t shy away from Buck, Buck had to assume that Christopher felt some of it.

Still, Buck wasn’t entirely sold on it. The more time he spent with Eddie, the clearer it became that he was definitely Buck’s Soulmate. Buck even felt itchy sometimes right on his chest over his heart — the secondary sign of a Romantic Soulmate. No mark appeared, but it would if the whole thing was ever acknowledged and reciprocated. But that was the problem...Eddie didn’t feel it or he was just better at ignoring it than Buck was. Buck didn’t know what it was that Eddie felt and some days it drove him crazy to think that he was the only one dealing with it especially since that seemed likelier.

“I’m glad you warmed up to him,” Bobby told him a few weeks after Eddie had joined the team. “I knew he’d be good for you.”

“Well, who knew you and Athena would end up together,” Buck said.

Bobby laughed. The whole thing was still a bit confusing to Buck because Bobby had had a Soulmate and then she died and Fate led Bobby to California and to the 118 — at least, that’s how Bobby saw it. Athena’s husband was her Soulmate but apparently it wasn’t a romantic bond. Neither Athena or Bobby had ever felt any pull towards a Soulmate bond in the years they’d known each other but they both admitted freely that they’d always felt right around each other. The Soulmate thing had sneaked up on them one day. They had looked at each other and they had both known in that moment that they were Soulmates.

“Fate did, Buck,” Bobby said. “We weren’t ready for each other until we were.”

“Right,” Buck said and his talk with Bobby almost convinced him that things would be alright and that all his worries and conflicting thoughts about Eddie were nothing to worry over.

Then, Eddie’s wife showed up. It was right before Christmas and Buck got hit by a wave of wrong the first time he saw her walk up to Eddie in the middle of a toy collection drive. She sauntered up and Eddie seemed to tense up when he saw her.

It was a few days later that Eddie filled him in while they waited for Christopher to go see Santa at the mall.

“She wasn’t my Soulmate,” Eddie said. “We met and I liked her. It didn’t feel wrong not like everyone says that a non Soulmate does. Maybe Fate knew she would get me Christopher. But we got married anyway when we found out she was pregnant. It felt like the right thing to do. I have to tell you,Buck, I never thought much about it. This whole Fate and Soulmates thing.”

“Me either,” Buck said.

Eddie nodded. “Yeah...Hen said that. My Abuela always said that everything we go through is supposed to lead us to where we need to be and who we are meant to be with.”

Buck shrugged. “It comes with a lot of suffering if it does. So, what are you going to do?”

Buck didn’t want to be invested. He didn’t want to think that it mattered or admit that one of the reasons he’d finally moved out of Abby’s place was Eddie and his friendship. He was Buck’s Soulmate even if he didn’t know it and Buck had had enough time with it to have it let be a thing that he didn’t think about all the time.

“I don’t know,” Eddie said. “She’s his mom. But she left us and I can’t trust that she won’t hurt him like that again. What if she finds her Soulmate? What then? I think she’ll run again and Christopher doesn’t deserve that.”

“And what if you find yours?” Buck asked before he could stop himself.

Eddie shook his head and laughed. “Not going to happen. I’m not exactly looking or care if I find them. Christopher is all I need.”

It didn’t hurt. Well, it did, sort of. But it shouldn’t have because Buck didn’t want a Soulmate. He was happy with Eddie as a coworker and friend and that’s all that they would ever need to be. And either way, Buck had started dating again because he still didn’t believe that Fate or Soulmates mattered. Ali was great. She travelled for work a lot so Buck didn’t see her often but he felt good when he was with her. She was good and even though they’d never talked about the Soulmate thing, Buck figured that she probably didn’t put any stock in it since she was the one that had reached out to him in the first place.

In the midst of all that, the last thing that Buck expected was for Eddie and Shannon to get back together. He knew that Eddie decided to let her back into Christopher’s life, but Eddie had been so torn about letting Shannon back into his life that Buck hadn’t realized the two things were mutually exclusive. And the bond...the Soulmate thing that Buck didn’t want to believe in made it all the worse. It hurt.

It physically hurt and at first Buck thought it was something else — that something was wrong with him. It started like a weird pang that turned into heartburn and it all started when Eddie told him that he and Shannon were going to try being together again. It took Buck a few days to realize that it got worse the closer to Eddie he was.

Buck didn’t know what it meant and his online research into it gave him nothing. Buck even tried to look at books devoted to the subject of Soulmates but he had nothing. So, Buck tried to stay away. It was hard when they worked together almost every day and when he wanted to be near Eddie all the time. It was two desperate needs fighting against each other and it was exhausting. He felt more tired than ever.

“You okay, Buck?” Chim asked him one afternoon after Buck had made himself scarce the entire day.

“Fine,” Buck said. “Didn’t get much sleep last night.”

Chimney nodded. Buck felt a bit weird around Chim, if he were honest. He was Maddie’s Soulmate apparently. The two of them hadn’t known immediately but over Christmas day — a day they’d spent together — they had both realized that the pull they had to each other was due to them being Soulmates and not just some other weird Fate thing. More importantly, Maddie was thrilled. Buck figured that it was to due to how everything with Doug had ended. It was still strange for him to think about Maddie happy to have found her Soulmate when she’d always been so against the idea. Maddie had always been more against it than Buck and at no point since returning into Buck’s life had she even expressed any interest in finding her Soulmate. Some people liked to say that you had to be open to the idea of finding your Soulmate for it to happen. Buck had no idea how true that was, but if it was then, he was surprised that Maddie had been ready for hers. But then, it was Chim and Buck liked Chim. His sister deserved someone as decent and good as Chim.

“Is it to do with Eddie?” Chimney asked.

Buck sighed. He really didn’t want to talk about it. “No.”

“Well, Hen and I noticed that you’re kind of not spending every minute of your shift with him. So, did something happen? You guys have a fight?”

“No,” Buck said.

Later, when they were having dinner, he made a point of sitting next to Eddie and asking about Christopher no matter how much it made his stomach churn or his chest ache. When Eddie touched his arm to get him to pass him the bowl of salad, his touch burned and Buck tried to not react to it.

“It’s really great having Shannon around,” Eddie was saying to Hen. “Makes it so much easier with Christopher and he loves having her back. I didn’t realize he’d missed her so much.”

“She is his mom,” Buck said.

Buck didn’t know if anyone noticed how little he ate before a call came and they were all rushing to go.

Over the next few weeks, Buck got used to feeling a bit odd around Eddie but he tried to act like things were normal. Granted, his job was never quite normal. And then, he was crushed by a ladder truck. And that...if that was what was Fated to happen then Buck wouldn’t have been surprised because so far things hadn’t exactly gone his way so why wouldn’t he also be crushed by a ladder truck.

When he woke up, he felt different. He’d felt different when he was being loaded up into the ambulance, sure, but that had also been masked by pain and by all the confusion and shock of what had just happened to him. But when he woke up, he knew something was different. Something felt right and for the moment during which he was looking at his leg a little far gone on the meds, Buck even considered that somehow Fate thought his leg being crushed by a fire truck was something that needed to happen.

But as the minutes ticked by, Buck realized that it wasn’t to do with his leg at all. It was the empty feeling inside his chest...it was gone. Despite his injury he felt better than he’d ever felt and that couldn’t have changed not unless…

Buck glanced around the room. An empty chair sat at his right side so someone had been sitting with him but they weren’t anymore and Buck could only imagine that it had been Maddie or maybe Bobby. Maybe someone had called Ali.

When the door opened, he didn’t expect Eddie to step in holding coffee and looking more frazzled than Buck had ever seen him before. He looked like he had the day Shannon died — shocked and a little lost.

Buck would never forget that day. He’d felt like he was going to be sick. Like at any moment, he was going to have to rush into a bathroom and sick up. He’d been fatigued and pained and he was lucky that after the call where they found Shannon that they remained at the hospital waiting for Eddie because Buck had no idea if he would have been able to be far away and much less actually work. He had no idea how no one had noticed or asked why he was so pale or why he looked nauseous.

The thing about it was that Buck had never hated Shannon. She was Christopher’s mother and Buck loved that kid. He understood why Eddie was sticking by her. She was the mother of his child and maybe that meant more than any Soulmate business could. Still, when he saw her on the asphalt and once it became clear that she wasn’t going to make it, Buck had expected to feel some relief...not because of his feelings for Eddie but just due to the Soulmate bond. It was the opposite of that.

It wasn’t until much later when he was home and researching that he knew it was Eddie’s pain that he felt. His emotions were so big that even though their bond was one sided, Buck still felt them transfer over. In the days and weeks that followed her death the pain died down but none of the other stuff went away and Buck felt empty and at some level of pain always. It didn’t change until after waking up from being crushed by the firetruck.

At first he thought it was the meds, but his mind caught up to him and let him know it couldn’t be which meant that something else happened and there were only a few things that could have happened.

“You’re awake,” Eddie said. “I guess I should have stuck around but they told us you wouldn’t wake up for a few more hours. Always got to be stubborn, don’t you, Buck?”

Buck didn’t even know what to say. Instead he watched Eddie.

Eddie never ceased to be beautiful and as distraught as he’d seemed to Buck at first, he seemed fine. He sat down in the chair next to Buck’s hospital bed.

“You should have told me,” Eddie said.

“Told you?”

Eddie fixed him with a look. He knew. Eddie knew.

“Neither of us believes in that stuff,” Buck said and then gulped and looked away from Eddie to his leg. “What did the doctors say?”

“You’ll walk again,” Eddie said. “The surgery went well.”

“But what about—”

Eddie rolled his eyes. “One thing at a time, Buck. They don’t know what your recovery will be like. But they’re hopeful especially since you have a Soulmate.”

“We’re not—”

“We are,” Eddie said and he grabbed Buck’s hand as if to reassure him. “And if we complete the bond, it will help you heal.”

So, that’s what it was all about. Eddie had figured it out somehow — something to do with the accident — and because he was Eddie he wanted to help even if it meant tying himself to Buck forever when Buck knew that the last thing that Eddie wanted or needed was a Soulmate.

Buck shook his head. “No, you don’t—”

At that moment Maddie and Carla walked in followed closely by Ali. Eddie let go of his hand as if he had been burned and Buck couldn’t be sure that none of the women had seen or not but none of them reacted. It meant that Eddie hadn’t told anyone. Maybe the doctors had been able to tell, but no one else knew.

Ali walked around to the other side of the bed and she bent down to hug him. Carla just pat his good foot and Maddie wiped a tear.

“God damn it, Buck,” Maddie said.

“Hey, it’s not like I planned this,” he said but Maddie just shook her head.

He didn’t get a moment alone with Eddie again until he was out of the hospital. Between Maddie, Ali, Carla, Hen, Chim, Bobby, and Athena there was just no moment when he wasn’t with someone other than Eddie. And then the one time that the others weren’t there, Eddie had brought Christopher with him.

Seeing Christopher made everything better. That kid was a bright ray of sunshine and even though Buck hadn’t gotten to spend too much time with him, he knew he loved that kid already.

When Buck was finally discharged, Ali was the one to pick him up from the hospital and the whole thing felt odd. Not necessarily bad or good...just odd. Ali must have felt it too because it was she that ended it. She didn’t like that he was in danger all the time and that Buck had no plans to change careers. Then of course it was the feeling of wrong that hung over them. They were at an end.

The first time he saw Eddie again when he was home and recuperating was on a Tuesday. It was actually gloomy out for LA which made Buck feel just a little better about being stuck inside for what was likely to be weeks. It was a hassle to bother with leaving the house unless he actually needed to because of the hassle of the cast on his foot.

Hobbling over to open the door when Eddie knocked was kind of a pain, but he felt so much better when he laid eyes on him.

“Hi,” Buck said.

“Where are your crutches?”

Buck rolled his eyes. “I’m home. I can move around without them.”

Eddie stepped forward and wrapped an arm around his waist. With the other hand he closed the door.

And Buck...in that moment he lost all sense of self. He could smell Eddie and feel his warmth. His hand was right over his ribs and it felt so right. Everywhere they were touching it was like there was a spark and when he leaned even closer into Eddie, Eddie’s arm tightened.

“Come on, couch or table?”

“Huh?”

Eddie chuckled. “Well, have you eaten?”

Buck shook his head.

“Okay. Then I’m making you food. Glad I went shopping before coming here.”

Buck hadn’t even noticed the bags that Eddie had left by the door. Eddie went to fetch them after he’d helped Buck sit and Buck missed him at his side the moment that he left him. The whole Soulmate thing was weird and yet Buck was sure that that it wouldn’t have mattered between them because it was more than that. It was their friendship and who the two of them were. Buck would have been drawn to Eddie no matter what.

“Can you even cook, Eddie?”

“I’m not as hopeless as you,” Eddie said. “I have an eight year old.”

“Hey, Bobby’s been teaching me plenty,” Buck said.

Eddie rolled his eyes. “When you’re better, I’ll be the judge of that.”

Eddie moved around his kitchen with ease, asking only a few times where he could find something but for the most part seemingly to already know where it might be.

Eddie made a ravioli lasagna. He prepared it in fifteen minutes and had it in Buck’s oven a few moments later. Then, he made a salad and once that was ready, Eddie started cleaning up the kitchen including Buck’s dirty dishes from earlier in the day and nothing Buck said could stop him.

By the time the kitchen was clean and everything Eddie had bought had been put away while Buck could only sit and watch, the oven timer went off. It smelled good. Delicious even.

“Fine, so you can cook,” Buck said once he’d actually tried a bite of it.

Eddie smiled at him, but it was the bashful kind of smile where he couldn’t meet Buck’s eyes and he focused more on eating. They were going to have to talk about it. That was the ultimate problem. Buck had never shied away from hard conversations, but this was different. It was Fate and Soulmates — something that Buck had never truly believed in — and it was a conversation that Buck had never wanted to have or maybe had never expected to have.

Eddie nudged his shoulder. “Eat,” he said.

Buck tucked in. It was nice to have a home cooked meal for a change. The last few days had been a lot of take out. Even when Maddie came over, she’d picked up Thai. He ate everything on his plate and when Eddie put more, he ate that too.

“Let me clean up and then we can...well, we can talk,” Eddie said.

Buck nodded and tried not to worry too much about it. It was just that he had no idea how it was going to go and that aspect of it...the not knowing was scary. It was the worst part about it — worse than even his injury if that were possible. He tried to focus on Eddie and how Eddie made him feel. Whole. It was a cliche and Buck hated it, but that’s what it was. He made Buck complete. This was Fate...the thing that had never once made sense to Buck and that felt like the one thing taking away his autonomy and yet if it was Eddie that it led to then it was possible that there was something to it.

“You’re thinking an awful lot there, Buck,” Eddie said and his fingers touched Buck’s forehead, as if to get rid of the frown lines. Eddie’s touch was electric.

“Lot’s to consider,” Buck said as Eddie’s hand lowered from his face.

“Come on, you’ve been sitting there too long. Probably can’t be that comfortable.”

“Uh, I’ll have you know that I picked very comfortable chairs,” Buck said.

“Yes, but you’re injured, Buck,” Eddie said. “You need to prop up that leg. You know that. Come on. Lean on me.”

Eddie helped Buck off the chair and wrapped an arm around his back and together they made it to the sofa where Buck was going to be spending a lot of his time for the foreseeable future. Eddie helped him sit and then helped him prop his leg up on the coffee table. Had Buck wanted to run or get away from this conversation, Eddie was making it impossible and that maybe gave Buck some insight into how he was feeling which made him feel a little bit better. Only just.

Eddie busied himself fluffing up Buck’s pillows and propping them up on his back.

“Comfortable?” Eddie asked. “Do you need another pillow? Oh...have you taken your meds? Are you—”

Buck reached over and grabbed Eddie’s wrist. “You know, I’m beginning to wonder how Christopher has gotten you to stop doing everything for him. I’m okay, Eddie. Now, there’s something we’ve been putting off. For a while on my part, I’ll admit.” He tried to smile a shaky smile and he heard Eddie inhale.

“Buck,” he said and he sounded so raw and when their eyes met it felt odd. Not odd strange, but unconfitting perhaps because they both seemed to be thinking the same thing. They both wanted this. And Buck...he was going to have to be the brave one.

Buck took a deep breath. “Eddie, I love you.”

Eddie didn’t seem to know what to say. He just stared at Buck.

“That’s the truth,” Buck said. “I think I’ve loved you for longer than I know. That I knew you were my Soulmate the moment I saw you for the first time and that for months I’ve been sure that friendship would be the most I’d get. It was going to be enough even if I never felt whole again.”

Eddie stared at him. Buck could tell just looking at him that he was mildly upset.

“Eddie—”

“You could have said something,” Eddie said, it was just louder than a whisper. “God, Buck, I’ve been feeling off for a while but I thought it was Shannon and all that whole mess. But, you...all this time.” Eddie laughed and he rubbed a hand against his chest.

The next thing Buck knew, Eddie had moved ever closer and he was just looking at Buck, taking him in.

“I told you I don’t believe in this stuff, Buck,” Eddie said. “Probably why I ended up with Shannon or why I didn’t even notice this.” Eddie motioned between them.

“Eddie, if you—”

“No, Buck, you don’t get it. I’ve been struggling with my feelings for you for so long and Chim kept telling me about the things you used to do...and Abby and then Ali but I had my own things too. Shannon. Christopher. I thought it wasn’t an option...that it could never be an option. And then you were hurt and I knew why I was drawn to you and why most days I was happier when I got to see you. Buck, you’re my best friend and apparently my Soulmate.” He looked a little lost, eyes blown wide and like he couldn’t believe that he’d said so much. Then, Eddie took a deep breath and he seemed to steel himself. “I love you, too. Have for a while, I think.”

He could feel it. He could feel the love and the truth in everything Eddie said.

Emotions weren’t shared between Soulmates, not unless they were really big or they were a part of bonding...and that wasn’t what Buck was experiencing. It was more to do with instinct and how absolutely right it all felt. He loved Eddie. Eddie loved him. And Eddie was right in front of him, close enough to touch and Buck didn’t know why he hadn’t touched him yet. So, he leaned forward and took his face in his hands.

Eddie inhaled and his lips twitched into a smile.

Buck moved first, surging forward, but Eddie met him in the middle and when their lips connected, it was magic. It felt like the most important thing to ever happen and Buck couldn’t really think. All he could do is feel. He felt the heat of Eddie’s hand on his arm and the soft sweeping of Eddie’s lips on his, how strong Eddie’s jaw felt under his fingers. When they needed air and Eddie pulled back, it was only just so far away that their breaths mingled, but Eddie pressed their foreheads together and Buck brushed a finger over Eddie’s lips. He loved this man.

“Buck,” Eddie whispered.

“Yeah?”

“I’m so glad it’s you.”

“Me too,” Buck said and it was true.

Buck didn’t think he would ever fully believe in Fate, but he and Eddie belonged together. When Eddie kissed him again, Buck melted into it. He pulled Eddie ever closer. The rest of the night was intersped with kissing and the two of them pressed close together on Buck’s couch. Time passed but neither noticed until Eddie’s phone was ringing and it was Carla wondering where Eddie was.

“I...I have to go.”

“Go,” Buck said. “I’ll be here.”

Eddie kissed him once more, a chaste kiss cut too short. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”

The next day brought Eddie and Christopher and because Eddie didn’t want him hobbling around the apartment more than was necessary, Eddie had even made a point of taking Buck’s keys.

Christopher was the first to reach Buck on the couch.

“Ah, I see I get a special visitor today,” Buck said.

“It’s just me,” Christopher said as he sat down next to Buck.

“I know,” Buck said. “How about you pick what we watch.” He handed the remote over.

Christopher took it without hesitating, but he didn’t use it at once. Intead, he stared at Buck for a long moment. “My daddy says that you’re his Soulmate,” Christopher said at last.

“I am,” Buck said. “Is that okay?”

Christopher nodded. “I guess so.”

“You guess so?”

“It’s okay. You’re not going to take my daddy away, are you?” That Christopher whispered, his words rushed out together some but Buck understood him perfectly.

“Wanna know a secret, kiddo?” Buck asked.

“What?”

“I’m pretty sure you and your dad are a package deal. I would never take him away from you. Me and you, we can share him.”

Christopher nodded eagerly and Buck ruffled his hair. He thought back to the first time he was even aware of Christopher and how much he’d wanted to know the little boy.

“You two getting along alright?” Eddie asked. He carried a couple of pizza boxes.

“Of course we are,” Buck said.

“I like your Soulmate, daddy,” Christopher said.

“You know what, kid, I think I like him too,” Eddie said.

It wasn’t ever going to be simple or easy but they were in it together. They belonged together. He and Eddie and Christopher too. It didn’t matter that it was Fate, for once Buck didn’t care that what he wanted aligned perfectly with that.

--------------

Notes: Couple of notes:

Because Chim and Maddie are Soulmates - Chim gets a bad feeling when he meets Doug enough so that they don't become friends and that along with them being together since Christmas makes it so that Doug doesn't take Maddie but maybe he does confront her in some other way.

Due to the Soulmate thing, Buck does end up healing faster and he returns to work without any issues. He might even return before the tsunami happens.

Hope everyone liked it. Let me know what you think. Thanks for reading.

#911 fox #buddie #buddie fic #buck x eddie #911 #911 fic #fic #my fic #911 fox fic #soulmate au #fated

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