#then look at eddie having so much fun for the first time since chris left and just put his phone on silent

[chronicowboy]

buck and eddie are ❌NOT❌ golfers, they're the least golfy men i have ever laid eyes upon - this is an issue i am incredibly passionate about and have been since 6x17 love is in the air, do not try to change my mind, it won't work. however, there is a way they could fix both of these issues in one fell swoop. so. buck goes golfing with gerard as part of the 118's meticulously hatched plan to get him not only out of their station but the lafd for good. buck is the obvious candidate, he's a cis white man who, in gerard's head, is half straight and that's all they've really got to work with. the problem? buck is truly and terrifically terrible at golf. clearly he'll need some tutoring in order for their plan to work. and buck's like "hey, eddie, you golf right?" so cut to the driving range, a cheesy sports film montage of eddie demonstrating how to swing and buck failing miserably, he looks a little flushed and maybe a bit distracted - wonder what that's about. anyway, sun begins to fade, we're going real campy humour, we break out of the montage and eddie goes to get another basketful of balls for buck to hit. he watches buck practice his swing and shakes his head. "alright, cowboy, this clearly isn't working". no shit. "maybe you should just go instead, show up with your half swedish side". eddie's not giving up though. he gets a little flushed and awkward and shuffles up to buck, scratching at the back of his neck. "it, uh, might be, um, easier? if i could... could i, you know, put my arms around you?" buck's mouth drops open in a little o, he doesn't say anything as he turns pink as the sunset behind them. "sorry, i made it weird, didn't i? forget-" "NO!" buck winces a little at his outburst. "i mean, uh, no, y-you didn't make it weird, that might actually work" so with the face of a man about to be sent off to war, eddie positions himself behind buck and wraps his arms around him, adjusts his grip on the club and leads buck through the motions of a good swing. everything's suddenly very tense and taut. they hit the ball, it's worse than any of buck's previous hits. it lands in the netting and only just rolls over the edge. there's an "ow - what the hell" from below. they freeze, buck begins to shake with silent laughter, eddie cracks slowly, then they're both giggling, trying and failing to muffle it, eddie buries his face in buck's shoulder and laughs, buck suddenly goes quiet, but he's still smiling. "if i knew all i had to do to make you laugh was be piss poor at golf, i'd have tried this the day after chris-" "hey, at least you haven't broken my ankle yet" "it was just a sprain" buck mumbles, eddie grins. "let's try again" they swing together once more, the ball goes soaring. buck whoops and does a dorky little victory dance and eddie looks at him, bathed in the light of the sunset, and oh, he's the most beautiful thing eddie's ever seen. buck runs back over "eddie, we've gotta go again, c'mon, c'mon" eddie breaks out of his trance "yeah, gotta learn to do it by yourself. i don't think gerard would appreciate you showing up with me on your back like a koala" and scene.

[megalony]

Poorly Baby

This is a Evan x reader x Eddie holiday imagine, based on a lovely anon request. I hope you all like it, please let me know what you think and keep sending in the holiday ideas.

Taglist: @justagirlthatlovedtoread @musicistheway @avada-kedavra-bitch-187 @luula @missdreamofendless @bradleybeachbabe @woderfulkawaii @amberpanda99 @daggersquadphantom @marvel-and-chicago-fan @angryknightstatesmantrash @minjix @lyjen @kmc1989 @itsmytimetoodream @noonenuts @hiireadstuff @ashie-babie @classyunknownlover @jayyeahthatsme @sp1ritssz @dumb-fawkin-bitch @oliverstarksbae @gimatida @heart-35 @supernaturalstilinski @stefansalvatoresgf @kyky9103 @wutheringhearts2275 @gay4hotmilfs @itshamleth @chaoticnosleepinfluencer @gs29 @wh0reforsmutstuff @mel-vaz @natashamea18 @chrisevansdaughter @alexandra8484 @deena-beena-weena @targaryenluvs @shelbygeek @kpoplover-19 @marvelmenarebeautiful @gillybear17 @zoeybennett @mrspeacem1nusone

Eddie Diaz Masterlist

Evan Buckley Masterlist

Summary: It's the couple's first holiday with their toddler, but things don't exactly go to plan when their daughter becomes ill. And they run into a few rude people at the airport.

Enjoy.

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A sigh burned past (Y/n)'s lips and she closed her eyes, tilting her head back as if looking towards the sky to give her strength.

Her right hand moved to cradle the back of Evie's head while she tilted her chest back so the toddler was leaning into her. She bent her knees and started swaying her little girl from left to right, moving her up and down to calm her down and try to cease her cries.

It didn't work.

The toddler sniffed before she let out another wail into (Y/n)'s neck. Her hands batted up and down against (Y/n)'s chest and shoulder and she started swaying her legs as she howled. Bubbling, sniffling cries wailed past Evie's lips as tears drenched her face and her skin started to burn from how overworked she was making herself.

"Baby, shh come on it's okay-"

"I want daddy!" Her little voice turned into a screech and she sniffed at least five times to draw in a deep enough breath so that she could let out another cry.

"I know, I know baby and he won't be long, the boys are coming." (Y/n) leaned her cheek on top of Evie's head and continued to sway, trying to shush her.

She had moved to stand near the drinks bar to be hidden in the shade and be out the way of the other people. The last thing everyone nearby needed was to listen to Evie screaming her little head off.

The two year old wasn't feeling well today.

This was her first time abroad. They were used to taking Chris away on holiday at least once a year but the last two years hadn't gone to plan. (Y/n) had been pregnant on their last holiday and she hadn't felt very well. And they skipped going abroad last year because Evie was only a baby and it would have been too much for them all.

Now she was two, they thought she would enjoy going abroad. She hadn't liked the airport, at all. And the plane ride had been long and tiring for her, but she had done well. But their two week holiday had been a right mixture since Evie had gotten sick.

The temperature change didn't sit well with her, the newfound heat had made her sick for the first few days. Then when they thought she was getting better, they went out for a walk round and the heat made her pass out. To top it off, for the last two days Evie had been sick and when she was sick, she wanted to be held, cuddled and carried by either one of her dads.

It was their last day today because tomorrow dinnertime they would be heading back to the airport to head home. But their holiday had been fun and exciting despite Evie not feeling her best, and it had been great for them to spend two full weeks together as a family.

"Shh, baby, okay." (Y/n) murmured into the top of her head as she continued to sway from side to side.

With it being their last day and a small amusement park being over the road, Eddie and Evan had taken Chris to go on the rides. It wasn't (Y/n)'s sort of thing and Evie wasn't well enough to go on the baby rides or to watch the boys like she normally would. She would of been fine wandering round with some sweets and a drink, but not today when she was feeling unwell.

So they decided the boys would go on the amusements and (Y/n) had taken Evie in the soft play area in their hotel and then to the toy shop.

"Here they are, look. Who's that?"

Evie lifted her head from (Y/n)'s shoulder, still sniffing and whimpering while she looked around for her dads and her brother.

The boys had got back from the amusements twenty minutes ago and they had gone to get changed into their swim gear since they all wanted one more dip in the hotel pool. The pool was massive. And the cold water would do Evie the world of good, it had made her feel better every other day they spent in here.

"Found them!" Chris pulled on Evan's hand and pointed ahead to where (Y/n) was stood cradling Evie, leaning back against the bar.

Chris was wearing his aqua blue swim trunks with sharks dotted all over them and he had already taken his glasses off and put them in the bag Eddie was carrying, full of their change of clothes and towels. He practically dragged Evan over until they got towards (Y/n).

A tender smile flooded (Y/n)'s face as she looked over her boys. Chris was jumping up and down, desperate to get in the pool already. It had been hard to get the kids out the pool these past two weeks whenever they came down here.

The outdoor pool was spaceous. There was a shallow end with fountains and a little lookout tower for little kids. There was a deeper end for adults, at the far back there were a few slides. Two hot tubs were at the back and all around the pool was a rapid river with currents for people to cruise along in with floats and rubber rings.

(Y/n) dragged her eyes across Evan and Eddie who looked like the sun and the moon. Evan was wearing white and blue striped swim trunks, showing off all the tattoos glittered around his arms and his torso. Including (Y/n)'s favourite which was Evangeline in large italics beneath his collar bone with Evie's footprints stamped beneath her name in purple ink from when she was born.

And she noticed Evan was wearing his knee brace. The amount of walking, swimming and running they had done on this holiday was enough to aggravate his scarred leg so he had brought his brace along. It was waterproof and the tight tension stopped him from limping.

Then there was Eddie. Grey cargo-like trunks with large baggy pockets and blinding white draw strings through the middle. His hair was spiked up, his black sunglasses were perched on his nose and (Y/n)'s eyes found her favourite tattoo on Eddie's skin.

He had Chris and Evie's date of births in a scroll on the lower left side of his abs.

"Looking good," Evan murmured while he let his eyes wander all over (Y/n)'s frame.

It didn't matter how many times he and Eddie had seen her in her swimsuit this week. It was their new favourite. A low cut, strapless strawberry red suit with little white hearts dotted all over.

(Y/n) tilted her head back so she could peck Evan's lips before she took a step closer to Eddie with her arms outstretched. "Thank God. She won't settle for me, she's been screaming for you."

"For me? Aw, baby girl."

They reached out and did a swap. (Y/n) took the bag from Eddie's shoulder while he carefully scooped Evie up from her and turned her around so she was facing him. He saw the light sparkle in her little eyes when she realised who it was that now had hold of her. He was a little surprised she was crying out for him when Evan had been the one who had slept with her on his chest last night instead of leaving her coughing and sulking in the crib.

As soon as she was bundled up against his bare chest, Evie stopped crying. She turned to little gasps and sniffs and deadlocked her arms around Eddie's neck. Her nose brushed up against his neck and made him shiver while she curled up against him.

She looked a little cutie, despite the snot and tears drenching her face and the heat radiating off of her. Evie's hair was gathered up in a scrunchie and she was wearing her navy blue Fireman Sam swim costume because she thought it was both her dad's in cartoon form.

"How's she been?" Evan curved his free arm around (Y/n)'s waist and let Chris lead them towards the pool.

"Well, she's not been sick and she found a new firetruck in the toy shop which will be in the cot with her tonight, I'll bet."

It had been no secret at the station that Evan held it over Eddie's head that Evie preferred the fire truck to the ambulance. They got her a few toys of each because she was always at the station to see the team and her family. But she loved the fire truck. It didn't matter when Eddie told her about the ambulance or that he drove the ambulance whereas Evan rarely drove the truck.

And when they went to the toy store and she saw a fire truck that was just the right size for Evie to hold and cuddle like it was a teddy, the toddler wouldn't let it go.

(Y/n) had a gut feeling that when they got back to the room, Evie wouldn't let the truck out of her sight. She would fall asleep with it.

"That's our girl."

"You're burning, baby girl." Eddie spoke quietly against the top of her head while he smoothed his hand up and down her back. "Let's get you in that pool, hm?"

"Hot," Evie murmured while she drooled on Eddie's chest. She was a lot calmer now she was in his arms and she was panting from how badly she had been crying.

"I know, poorly baby." Eddie cooed with his lips against her temple and he shivered when he stepped into the pool. The contrast of freezing cold water lapping at his heels and the burning hot toddler on his chest sent his heart into a frenzy and made him shiver.

He followed after his partners, grinning when Chris flopped down onto his stomach and started crawling and shimmying further into the water.

When the water rose to his knees, Eddie slowly lowered himself down until he was sat down in the shallow end. He stretched his legs out into the water and gently lowered Evie down until she was sat on his lap with the water up to her tummy. A smile pulled at Eddie's lips when Evie shivered and gasped but the cold water seemed to make her feel better instantly.

She splashed her hands out at her sides and hit the water around Eddie's knees.

"Happy now, baby?" He whispered softly when Evie slouched down against him so her chest was submerged in the water. Her head pressed back into his abdomen and she grinned a toothy smile up at him as she began to kick her legs out and swatted him in the thighs.

After a few minutes, Eddie gently moved his hands beneath Evie's back and her head so she was laid floating up in the water. He weaved her through the water as she squealed, kicking her legs and flapping her arms while Eddie started to move more towards the middle of the pool towards his partners.

"Hey, pretty baby." Evan kissed the top of Evie's head before he leaned over to steal a kiss from Eddie.

He had his arms wrapped around (Y/n) and moved his chin back to perch on (Y/n)'s shoulder while Chris began swimming at their side. He swayed them from side to side before he leaned back in the water and pulled (Y/n) so she was laid between his thighs in the water.

(Y/n) let her head flop back onto Evan's shoulder and she attached her lips to the side of his neck, feeling his chest vibrate with a growl. Both their heads turned to the right when they heard Chris.

"Pops! Pops, floats." He was already swimming off to the side, trying to point and swim at the same time towards the large donut ring floats he could see that no one had grabbed yet. There weren't many of them around and they usually had to wait a while to find one around the pool.

"She stays with you two if we get those." (Y/n) gave a warning look between the boys and shook her head when she saw them grin.

When they came in the pool the other day and finally got four floats for them all, (Y/n) had sat Evie on her lap in one. It had been a mistake when Evie thought she was about to fall off and scrambled to hold onto (Y/n), whose swimsuit was strapless. She almost dragged (Y/n)'s suit down her chest if Evan hadn't reached out in time to swoop Evie up.

"Yeah, no flashing." Evan murmured in her ear and tightened his arms around (Y/n)'s waist while his hands travelled up to her chest. He gave her a squeeze and pressed a kiss to the side of her head before he detangled himself from her and swam over to Chris to help him.

"Are we gonna go on the rapids, baby?"

Eddie gently lifted Evie up from the water and settled her down on his chest. He felt her hands splash down on his shoulders and she nuzzled her face into his chest. He was relieved to see she was starting to cool down but he didn't want to think of the tantrum she was going to have when they eventually had to get out the pool.

"There's only three, who's bunking up?" Evan had one float hooked over each shoulder while Chris was slumped over the third one. Kicking his legs out at Evan to get towards the sectioned off water where there were currents and buckets that tipped water across them.

"Me and mum." Chris answered before any of them had the chance to say anything.

He grinned when (Y/n) ruffled his damp curls and kissed his temple before she held onto the float and steered it in the right direction so Chris didn't have to.

"Alright, in you go."

Evan held the float steady while (Y/n) dipped under the water and climbed up into the float. She secured her legs over either side and smiled brightly when Chris scrambled up too. He sat on the opposite end with his legs strewn over (Y/n)'s lap and his hands reached out to hold hers while Evan gave them a nudge into the water.

(Y/n) slouched down a little move and splashed her feet in the water over the side of the float while Chris used the wall to push them further ahead into the current. She could see Eddie following just behind them, sat like a royal with Evie curled up on his chest. She had her head tucked just beneath his chin, her hands patting his chest and her legs coiled up on his stomach.

He leaned his head back, soaking up the sun while his hand smoothed up and down Evie's back.

"Alright back there, loner?" Eddie tilted his head a bit further back, making sure he didn't tip the float over, so he could look behind him at Evan. He saw the way Evan pretended to laugh and stuck a middle finger up at him.

Eddie used his foot to kick the wall on the right and it spun the float round so he and Evie were facing backwards. Not that Evie cared right now, she was so settled he wondered if she was going to go to sleep.

"Oh no," He muttered and leaned forward, pressing his lips to the top of Evie's head as his arms curved around her tighter when he noticed the water buckets up ahead. (Y/n) and Chris sailed through them, but Eddie could see they were about to tip and pour water onto him. If Evie got splashed in the face she would scream. The chlorine stung her eyes and she couldn't handle water in her ears.

A groan spluttered past his lips when the water crashed down on the back of his neck and soaked through his hair and all across his shoulders.

"Daddy!" Evie wriggled against him, managing a little smile when she realised Eddie was soaked but she had remained mostly dry, at least her head did. He smiled down at her and shook his head whilst trying to keep his glasses perched on his nose.

When he heard the others laughing, Eddie took a calculated look around to see who was closest to them. It happened to be Evan who was only a foot away.

With a little strain, Eddie stretched his leg out towards Evan's float and gave it a swift kick. But his jaw dropped and a quiet 'ooh shit' passed Eddie's lips when he kicked the float a little too harshly.

Evan toppled out.

"Eddie!" (Y/n) pressed a hand to her mouth and tried not to laugh, but she could already see Chris tossing his head back with a cackle. Poor Evan flipped backwards and dunked under the water. "Go, go." She whispered to Chris, helping him reach for the wall and propell their float further down the river stream towards the people ahead of them. They needed to get away before Evan tried to retaliate and get his own back.

Eddie had to admit Evan looked rather fetching when he broke through the water. His curls stuck to his forehead, water cascaded off the end of his nose and dripped down his lips that were a very dark shade of red. He was panting for breath and his shoulders were hunched up, tensing and morphing the tattoos across his body.

"You little-"

"No, no! Hey, I've got the baby- I've got the baby don't you dare!" He curled his hands around Evie and shuffled her a little higher up his chest so her chin was perched on his shoulder. Although his lips morphed into an open-mouthed grin as he tried to move their float to get away.

Evan couldn't tip him over or splash him or pull him from the float because he had Evie in his arms. If she went under the water she would scream and flap about and cause a scene. He would have to wait until Eddie didn't have Evie in his arms if he wanted payback.

"I'm sorry babe."

***

Leaning forward, (Y/n) pressed her temple into Evan's back and closed her eyes for a few seconds. She could feel herself smiling when he reached behind to hold her hip and give her a gentle squeeze.

She reached her right hand out and smoothed her hand up and down Evan's waist while her left hand juggled Evie and moved the toddler a bit higher up onto her chest. She could feel Evie drooling into her shoulder and the little pants she let out told (Y/n) she was barely awake. That's what they wanted. They wanted Evie tired and subdued so they could get through customs and get on the plane without a fuss.

The temperature change from the boiling heat outside to the chilled aircon in the airport had made Evie cry and feel ill. And it wasn't doing (Y/n) any favours either.

"Are we nearly there?" (Y/n) didn't bother lifting her head from Evan's back. It was a comfort to feel his tense back in front of her and to breathe into his shirt and inhale his scent.

It felt like they had been queuing in this line for hours. They were going to miss their flight if they waited much longer. All it was was a bag check and a scanner to make sure they weren't bringing anything back or taking a bomb onto the plane. They hardly had to queue back home when they were at the start of their holiday. Now it was the end, things were dragging out.

"Yep, just about."

Evan gave her hip another squeeze while he leaned forward and perched his chin on Eddie's shoulder to look at the queue. They were just about at the scanner. Finally.

When Eddie started to get plastic tubs for him and Chris to put their things into, Evan leaned forward and grabbed one for himself and one for (Y/n). He dumped his bag into the box and took out the electronics, smiling to himself that (Y/n) was still cosied up against his back. And he could feel Evie snuggled between them too.

He felt (Y/n) press a kiss between his shoulder blades before she reluctantly pulled away, but she still stood close to him.

She struggled to keep Evie in one arm and take off her bag and sling it into the tray Evan had placed down for her. They had another few feet to go before they would be in the scanner, so (Y/n) wasn't in a hurry to take off her shoes or unpack the electronics from her bag.

Her breath hitched in her throat and she tensed up when she felt a shoulder nudge into her back.

Great. She had a pushy couple behind her.

Moving her hand to cradle the back of Evie's head, (Y/n) cuddled her daughter closer and took a step closer to Evan until she was practically meshed up against his back. She didn't want to be stood close to strangers, it was why they had walked around the airport with (Y/n) in between the boys while she carried Evie. So no one else would get close.

A gasp tumbled from her lips and she pushed up against Evan when the man behind her leaned over her.

She could feel his chest press into her back when he roughly leaned over her shoulder to grab a tray for his own items. He wasn't even next to the bag scanner yet and he was trying to get ready. It wouldn't make the queue speed up or make (Y/n) move any faster, she could only go as fast as everyone else.

She shivered and tilted her head up when Evan turned. He glanced over his shoulder and looked down at (Y/n) first, but she saw something burn in his eyes when he realised why she had stumbled into him.

"It's okay." (Y/n) muttered quietly and reached out to give Evan's bicep a light squeeze.

The man behind her had grabbed a tray but he was back to waiting in line behind them now. (Y/n) didn't want Evan to start a fight, not so close to the security guards in case they caused a scene or got delayed. They couldn't miss this flight when their luggage was already boarding the plane and they all wanted to get home.

She watched Evan huff and lock his jaw tight and his gaze burned into the couple behind them before he turned back round. He busied himself snapping his belt from his trousers and dumping it in the tray along with his shoes.

And he stayed tense and straight while (Y/n) held his arm and leaned into his back so she could slip off her shoes and put them in the tray.

(Y/n) took to humming while she rested her lips against Evie's temple and gently rocked her from side to side. She stayed close to Evan and shuffled forward with him while he took her tray and placed it on the conveyer belt on their right.

"Oh!"

(Y/n)'s arms tightened around Evie and she snapped her eyes closed when the man behind her pushed her once again. Only this time, with a little more force and (Y/n) was sure he'd done that on purpose to make her move.

Her elbow clattered against the conveyer belt and her head bashed into the back of Evan's arm. But it was Evie's cry that made her wince. Poor Evie slammed into Evan's back too and got squished between both parents. The abrupt motion woke her up immediately and she began to whimper, wondering what was going on.

"Do you mind?" Evan's voice snapped through the air like the jaws of a crocodile.

His hands were desperate to curl into fists but he refrained and moved both hands to hold (Y/n)'s arms when he turned round. He kept her and Evie tucked into his chest while his eyes bore down into the short but stocky man stood behind his girls.

He didn't react when he felt Eddie's hand on his waist, trying to see around him to find out what was wrong.

"What?"

"You've just pushed my partner and she's clearly got a child in her arms. Why don't you try being careful?" He looked down and moved his hand to indicate to Evie who was whimpering in (Y/n)'s arms.

When he didn't get an answer or even an apologetic look, Evan sighed. He moved his hands down from (Y/n)'s arms to hold her hips and turned them round so she was in front of him. Keeping both his girls wedged between him and Eddie so they were safe from another stumble.

He could see Eddie giving him a certain look, telling him to leave it at that, but Evan couldn't help himself. He turned to look over his shoulder and stared down at the stranger who was glaring daggers through him.

"Push me, pal. See what happens."

It was a dare more than a threat, but it did the trick because when Evan turned around, he could feel two feet of space between him and the stranger. He didn't want to take the risk and find out.

***

"Shh, good girl, there we go." Eddie pressed his lips to the top of Evie's head and rubbed his hand slowly up and down her back.

He could feel her snotting and whimpering into his neck while her hands fisted in his shirt and pulled it to her chest. She hadn't been best pleased when Eddie told her he couldn't take it off on the plane. Throughout their holiday she had been used to cuddling up to Eddie and Evan without their shirts on. She liked the skin contact.

If he could of snuggled Evie under his shirt, he would have.

He sat up straighter in his chair and gently swayed Evie up and down on his chest as she continued to whimper quietly. She didn't feel well, and the turbulence frightened her. Eddie was surprised she hadn't been sick yet, but then again, she threw up just before they got on the plane.

"Wanna go sit with mum and papa for a while?" He spoke against her temple before he glanced over at Chris who was sat on his right and was finally happy playing a game.

Chris hadn't been happy that they weren't all sitting together. On their first flight at the start of the holiday, the four of them all had seats together at the very back of the plane. Chris had sat next to Evan and only a small aisle separated them from (Y/n) and Eddie while they passed Evie between them throughout the flight.

This time, Chris and Eddie were in the middle row while Evan and (Y/n) were a row in front on the left row. So Chris couldn't lean over and see them properly whereas Eddie had to lean over the aisle and strain his neck to get Evan's attention.

It wasn't ideal, but at least they were paired up.

When Evie murmured into his neck, Eddie slowly stood up in the cramped space and shifted onto the aisle on his left. He took three steps forward and leaned his hips against Evan's seat.

He could see (Y/n) was half awake with her head slumped on Evan's shoulder and an arm bound around her waist. She didn't feel well. Whereas Evan was slouched down with his legs stretched out in the aisle. He and Eddie didn't exactly fit in the seats properly which was why they both sat on the aisle seats so they could stretch out.

"You sitting with us, baby?" Evan reached his arms up and eased Evie down onto his lap. He smiled when Eddie gave his shoulder a squeeze and pecked his temple, whispering a quiet 'thank you' before he headed back over to Chris.

(Y/n) smiled tiredly, keeping her right hand curled around Evan's bicep while she moved her left hand to rub up and down Evie's back.

She closed her eyes and shuffled down in her seat, curling more into Evan until she was almost sitting on his lap along with Evie. (Y/n) didn't like sitting next to strangers. It was a Godsend that the arm rests folded up so (Y/n) could shuffle closer to Evan. She had nothing against the elder man sat next to her, but (Y/n) would rather cuddle up into one of her partners than be close to a stranger.

And it wasn't as if Evan could comfortably sit- or even fit- in the middle seat which was why he and Eddie were on the end seats.

"Wanna watch a movie?" Evan looked down at Evie with a smile, but she shook her head and whimpered. She didn't have the attention span for a movie, she didn't feel well and she didn't know what to do with herself.

She stayed perched on his lap with her eyes fixated on Evan's arm. He had his right arm around her waist to keep her settled on his lap while his left arm stayed between him and (Y/n). Right where Evie could see and start to glide her fingertips across his tattoos to keep herself occupied.

Evan started to jitter his leg up and down which made Evie smile, if only for a few seconds. Her chin tilted down into her chest and she messed around with his arm which made Evan grin, he loved the sensation when either Chris or Evie started to draw patterns on his skin or trace his tattoos. He watched her contently for a few minutes while (Y/n) closed her eyes and tried to ward off the sickness she felt.

But (Y/n)'s eyes snapped open and Evan's smile faded when the seat in front of him moved.

Whoever was sitting in front tried twice to recline his chair, but it wouldn't go back any further. The way he bashed his frame into the chair caused it to jolt into Evie's back. It wasn't enough to hurt her, but it was enough to scare her into crying out and her big doe eyes looked up at Evan in fright.

"Papa…"

"S'alright, come here, look."

Evan moved his hands to Evie's sides and gently lifted her up from his lap so he could lean her on his chest instead. She rested her cheek on his shoulder and looped her arms around his neck, bending her knees into his stomach. He looped one arm around the back of her legs and ran his other hand up and down her back in slow circles.

They could just have a cuddle for a while until Evie fell asleep or settled enough to watch a movie or listen to some music.

(Y/n) dug both hands into Evan's bicep and meshed her face into his shoulder, holding her breath when the plane shuddered. She could feel the turbulence rocketing through to her heart and her throat tightened when it felt like the plane was going to drop down out of the sky.

A shudder ran through Evan's neck and he winced when Evie screamed. She wasn't as frightened as Evan thought she would be since this was their first time taking her on holiday and on a plane. But they all knew any turbulence was going to frighten her. She didn't understand what was happening.

Her nails scratched Evan's neck and she scrambled to press further into him as if she thought she could mesh herself into his chest, somehow.

A loud wail left her lips and she began to cry, breaking off every few seconds to scream when the plane gave another jolt to the left or rickoted up and down.

"Shh, baby shh it's okay, you're okay." Evan smothered his lips against Evie's cheek and moved his hand up and down her back while he rocked her back and forth. He could feel her little body trembling against him and it made him want to cry. But he was glad she was sat with him. Eddie was a good flyer, but he didn't like turbulence either. Eddie would be sat stiff in his seat right now, praying for a smooth flight.

When the plane finally levelled out, Evan glanced down at (Y/n). She had stopped shaking too but she didn't lift her head from his shoulder. He didn't mind.

His lips stayed meshed with Evie's cheek and he continued to hum and shush her while leaning from left to right to see if it would help. But his eyes locked with the man sitting in the window seat beside (Y/n). He thought for a moment that the man was going to tut or roll his eyes, but instead, he just smiled.

"You good?" Evan looked down at (Y/n) when she lifted her face from his shoulder so she could rest her cheek on his arm instead. She nodded, but he could see she was uneasy and she still looked sick.

The plane shook again, but it was only a little tremor this time.

"Alright, you're okay baby." He murmured again into Evie's cheek as she continued to whimper into his neck.

But Evan's attention diverted to the chair in front when the man slammed back in his seat again. It was as if he thought bashing around in his chair would somehow make it recline further but if that happened he would be laying on Evan's lap. He gave it another shove with a loud grumble that made (Y/n) open her eyes to see what was going on.

"Oh for fuck's sake."

The stranger's loud remark made (Y/n)'s stomach churn and she darted her eyes up to look at Evan.

Another round of expletives left his lips in a mixture of 'fucking plane' and 'bloody stupid' amongst other things. When he either hit his chair or slammed his elbow back into it, both (Y/n) and Evie quivered.

What was he doing? Was he desperate for a power nap so early into the evening like this?

When he swore again, Evie lifted her head from Evan's neck and looked up at him. She knew those were bad words but she didn't know who was saying them or who was getting angry. The panic was written across her face as her eyes creased and a cry tumbled past her lips as she looked at Evan in fear.

Evan coiled his left arm around Evie to keep her stood up on his thighs with her body slumped against his chest. He smoothed his hand up and down her hip as she wrapped her arms back around his neck and began crying into his shoulder. Even with (Y/n) leaning into her and cuddling her, Evie continued to shake.

"Stop." Reaching forward, Evan planted his right palm flat against the chair in front and gave it enough of a shove that the man jolted forward.

"What are you doing?"

The man leaned around the side of his chair so he could look behind him at Evan. The disgusted look on his face made Evan arch a brow and curl his lips in anger. He didn't look much older than Evan, late thirties, early forties at a push. But the anger and frown lines on his face could have aged him ten years.

"Your swearing and mouthing off is upsetting my daughter. Give it a rest please." Evan sighed through his words while he leaned his chin on his right hand and stared blankly at the man in front of him.

He wouldn't sit here and continue to let this stranger mouth off and frighten Evie when she wasn't well and she was already petrified of being on a plane.

And surely this man's disruptive behaviour was irritating or upsetting a few other people on the plane, not just them.

Eddie leaned to the left with his elbow on the arm rest and his head tilted up so he could look down the aisle. He knew Evan's voice, he could recognise his boyfriend's voice a mile away and he knew that tone. Evan was both losing his patience and getting worried at the same time and that was never good. Eddie could feel his stomach flooding with adrenaline as he watched the man in front of Evan leer at him and look him up and down with scrutinising eyes.

"I thought that was his kid?" The moment those words passed through the stranger's lips and he pointed towards the back of the plane in Eddie's direction, that was it.

"Stay here." Eddie whispered firmly to Chris as he got up and thundered down the aisle. He barely stood beside Evan before the stranger started again.

"And she's not exactly quiet, is she? Screaming her fucking head off since we took off."

(Y/n) took a deep breath and kept both arms coiled tightly around Evan's arm when he looked like he was about to get up. He couldn't retaliate when Evie was whimpering in his arms. The toddler could sense an argument was about to break out and it was frightening her.

But when (Y/n) looked up and realised Eddie was already hovering beside them like a dark omen, she bit her lip.

Her heart thundered in her chest when Eddie roughly grabbed the back of the man's seat and gave it a harsh shove to get his attention. His fingers were almost ripping through the material as Eddie leaned on the chair and leaned down until he was level with the man in front of him.

"I don't know who you think you are, but if you talk about our daughter like that again, you'll be flying home with the air rescue."

Eddie didn't care one bit who this man was or who he thought he was. He had no right to talk to any of them like that or speak about Evie as if she was some silly teenager playing up on purpose. She was a toddler, she was only two years old. How could this man sit there and honestly expect her to be quiet or calm or happy when she was petrified?

"Listen mate, I-"

"No, you're gonna listen to me now. She's a sick little child who's frightened, you're just a prick with an attitude. Show some respect or prepare to be taught a lesson."

Eddie's callous voice and his intensifying gaze had the man stunned to silence. It was very clear what Eddie was saying. If he didn't stop being so disrespectful, Eddie would punch him. He would start and end a fight right here on this plane and he didn't care if they had to make an emergency landing in order to do that.

He wouldn't have someone talking to his family like that and upsetting his daughter.

Eddie took such a deep breath he felt like he was going to pass out. He straightened up until his head was almost touching the roof and he watched as the stranger sank down in his chair and turned to look at the screen in front of him. He wasn't giving Eddie the satisfaction of seeing his embarrassed, frightened expression.

A tender smile pulled at (Y/n)'s lips as she looked between her boys. "Maybe you two should switch seats… keep the kids out the way?"

It seemed a safer option for Evie to be back with Chris two rows behind so she wasn't near that man. She was now petrified. The toddler was trembling against Evan and whimpering quietly into his neck. Sitting here so close to the man that shouted at them was only going to frighten her even more. And she was still attached to Evan at the moment.

It would be better if Evan sat with Chris and made sure the kids were okay. And that meant Eddie could sit directly behind the person he had just threatened and keep an eye on him.

"Come on baby girl," Evan kept Evie close to his chest and pecked (Y/n)'s temple before he got up.

He smiled when he felt Eddie's hand on his lower back and a soft kiss against the side of his neck while they weaved around each other to switch places. Evan made a slow walk over to Eddie's seat where Chris was leaning to get a look at the action, grinning around his thumb that he was biting down on.

And Eddie swung round and flopped into Evan's vacant seat, slouching down so his knees pressed into the chair in front. His left hand instinctively curled around (Y/n)'s upper thigh while he scrunched his right hand into a fist and rested his chin on his hand.

He turned his head to the left and looked at (Y/n) with an arched brow and quirked lips. He watched her lean over until her chest was pressed up against his bicep and her hand fell on his chest that was rising and falling rapidly like he had just run a marathon.

Her lips pressed a kiss to the soft spot behind his ear that had him shivering and gripping her thigh harder.

"Well done, babe."

[confessionsofatvjunkie]

2.5k

~~~

Eddie isn’t stupid. He knows he’s an attractive man, he notices the looks he gets when he goes out in public. Putting on the uniform only makes it worse. He can’t count how many times he’s been hit on while actively trying to save someone’s life. It’s flattering, it really is, but there’s a time and a place for that, and asking for someone's number while they’re trying to splint your broken leg isn’t it! 

Ever since he managed to screw things up with Marisol so spectacularly, everyone at the firehouse has been asking when he’s going to get back out there, and since he doesn't have an answer for them, he just jokes it off and changes the subject. It’s not like he wants to be alone forever, especially with Chris being in Texas and the ample free time that’s left him with. Of course he’d like a partner. He just doesn’t want it to be so much work. 

Which is probably how he let Buck talk him into going out tonight. He came up to him after their shift, throwing his giant body down in a huff on the bench next to where Eddie is packing his duffle to start a glorious 48 off of work. 

“So what are your plans tonight?” He asks, there’s something in his voice, it’s his I’ve got something up my sleeve voice, but Eddie is too tired to indulge him right now. 

“Uhh, gonna catch up on laundry, then probably order in, watch the game.” 

Buck is quiet, eyeing him suspiciously, Eddie knows what’s coming so he braces for impact, a small smile pulls at the corner of full lips, “Ehh! Wrong answer!” Buck imitates a buzzer noise as he scoops up Eddie’s duffle and heads to the employee parking lot. Eddie follows behind like a lost duckling. 

“How are my own plans a wrong answer,” Eddie asks, snatching back his duffle and tossing it in the truck. 

“Because you're going out with me tonight!” 

“No. I’m not.” 

“Yes, you are,” Buck repeats, “We have the next 24 hours free, and you’re not going to spend the weekend before Halloween doing laundry. Especially when we have to work actual Halloween and you know what a shit show that usually is. We have to celebrate when we can.” 

“But I need to do laundry, and I hate Halloween,” Eddie protests.

“Since when?” Buck asks, a baffled expression on his face. 

Eddie sighs, reaching up to push back the swoop of hair that’s fallen onto his forehead, “since my son, my sole reason for celebrating the Holiday in the first place, is almost a thousand miles away.” 

A look of pained understanding crosses Buck's face, followed by the mischievous grin Eddie has always had a hard time saying no to, “that’s exactly why you’re coming out with me tonight Eddie, it’ll keep you from sitting at home, moping over Christopher. Besides, when was the last time we were both single at the same time? We can be each other's wingmen.” 

“Buck, you’ve been single for 4 days,” Eddie points out. He’s not sure what happened with Tommy, Buck hasn’t told him yet. He would, in time, Eddie knows that, but even for Buck 1.0 a 4 day rebound period seems a bit much. 

“I’m not looking to get married here Eddie, just looking to have a fun night out with my best friend,” Buck replies, a slight edge to his voice. 

Eddie knows they can go back and forth like this for hours, but in the end he’ll give in, he always does where Buck is concerned, “Fine! God, you’re a menace, but I’m not dressing up,” he states with finality, slamming the truck door and starting the engine. 

Buck slaps the hood as he heads to the Jeep, he turns back to Eddie, “that’s easy, just wear your Uni shirt. Boom, instant costume.” 

Eddie groans and starts to pull out of his parking spot, how bad could it be, he thinks as he heads home to shower and get ready. 

***

Yep, putting the uniform on always makes it worse. 

Eddie feels several pairs of eyes on him and Buck the second they enter the dark nightclub. He capitulated, and wore his Uni shirt, but even that he did with protest. Buck is wearing a vest, no shirt, and cowboy hat. He said he ordered chaps to go over his jeans, but they didn’t get delivered in time. 

He looks good, and Eddie thinks it okay to acknowledge that. After all, aesthetics are aesthetics. Buck has really been focusing on the gym lately and all that hard work is starting to show. So Eddie is pretty sure it’s no big deal when Buck picks him up that his breath catches a little in his chest at the sight of copious amounts of smooth, even skin. That it’s fine if his eyes linger on the column of flesh laid bare between either side of the vest that draws an arrow of skin down to thick hips clad in very tight denim. It’s okay, because he’s just admiring his friends' hard work. 

This is going to be a disaster, he thinks, the music in the stuffy room already too loud. A pretty brunette in a vintage Cigarette Girl costume stops in front of them, her tray loaded down with little plastic cups filled with some black and orange substance… Eddie bends to take a closer look… jello. They’re serving jello shots, he hasn’t done jello shots since basic. 

He looks over at Buck who has already scooped one up and downed it. The muscles in his throat work around the jello as he swallows. He thanks the girl as he stuffs a couple singles in her tip cup and passes one to Eddie, “Bottoms up my friend.” 

Eddie rolls his eyes but accepts the little cup and runs his finger around the edge to loosen it, he looks up and sees Buck transfixed by the movement, they make eye contact and there’s something he can’t name in his friend's expression. But Buck, being Buck,  just smiles bigger and raises his eyebrows in an expectant manner. Eddie downs the shot, and the night goes a little blurry from there. 

***

It’s a few hours later and Eddie’s pretty much done. He’s having fun, but he’s not as young as he used to be and has definitely hit his wall. They’ve spent the night alternating between jello shots and cheap IPA’s, making the rounds to socialize with the crowd, he’s even danced a bit… and at every turn Eddie has had people asking about his “costume,” asking where he got it, then watching their eyes fill with interest when he says it’s his actual uniform, yes really, yes he’s an actual firefighter. 

He’s also had his biceps, waist, hips, and even his ass, grabbed by more strangers than he can count. So yeah, he’s done. Which he’d love to tell Buck about, but he’s still on the dance floor pressed between Lola Bunny and Maverick from Top Gun, and Eddie is stuck at the bar being interrogated by a Sanderson sister. 

“So you’re really a real firefighter?” She asks for the 5th time. 

“Yep, I’m really a real firefighter,” he answers. 

“That’s so awesome, I love firefighters, is it scary running into all those burning buildings?” 

She’s asked that already too, and Eddie is starting to suspect she’s drunker than he first thought. He really wants to go, but he’s waiting for Buck and everytime he tries to get away from her, she starts asking the same series of questions, her body way closer than he’d like. He’s trying to not be a dick because she’s not done anything wrong, a place like this is made for overindulging, close dancing, and lots of flirty, Eddie’s just not feeling it. 

He’s about to try and excuse himself for the third time when he feels a set of strong arms encircling him from behind. With as much as he’s been groped tonight you’d think he’d be on the defensive, but something about these particular arms are very familiar. Buck has pressed up behind him, arms coming around his waist in a tight embrace, Eddie barely has time to catalog  what he’s feeling when Buck nuzzles into Eddie’s neck, lips pressed against his overheated skin, and lets out a hot breath as he says, “Sorry to keep you waiting babe, the line to the bathroom was crazy long. Who’s your friend?” 

Eddie, who has yet to exhale since Buck touched him, sees confusion, then understanding spread across the young woman’s face. It takes her realization for Eddie to make his own, Buck’s helping him out of a jam. Pretending to be his date to get out of an annoying conversation. It’s absolutely something Buck would do. So why does Eddie suddenly feel disappointed?

Still unable to move, or speak, Eddie listens as the girl introduces herself and apologizes for flirting with Buck’s man. Buck chuckles good naturedly, and says he doesn’t blame her, who wouldn’t flirt with someone so hot? They share a laugh, but Eddie is still mute. Buck has released him and positioned him so that Eddie’s back is against the bar. Buck has one arm propped behind his back, caging him against the left side of his, oh so large from this angle, body. The heat that is pouring off him is making it impossible for Eddie to catch his breath.

He listens to the conversation for a few more seconds, watching as this Sanderson sister starts to look over Buck’s tall frame and nearly naked chest. The lust filled haze Eddie has been dodging for the last 15 minutes settles over her again, and Eddie knows exactly where her mind is, and he’s absolutely not here for it. Finally moved to action he raises his left hand and brings it to settle on the soft spot where Buck’s neck meets his shoulder, thumb resting right by the hollow between his collar bones, and Eddie swears he can feel Buck’s pulse pick up. 

Buck turns into Eddie’s touch, making eye contact right as the woman, now all but forgotten, not so subtly suggests the three of them go somewhere more private. Eddie hears himself reply, “Sorry honey, I don’t share,” as he wraps his fingers around the back of Buck’s neck and pulls him into a breathtaking, soul shattering, explosive kiss.  

The second his lips meet Buck’s everything makes sense. Everything. Every embarrassing flutter he felt in the locker room after baseball practice. How his love for Shannon grew out of their friendship and not any physical connection, and why being on deployment for so long was never as difficult for him as it was for his friends. Why it never could have worked with Ana or Marisol. 

He doesn’t expect to have some huge revelation about his sexuality in a dark nightclub while his best friend's tongue is halfway down his throat, but here he is, and he doesn’t want it to end, and if the hard length currently pressing into his hip is an indication, neither does Buck. 

Eddie breaks the kiss and already misses it. He rests his forehead against Buck’s, they’re quiet for a moment, just looking into each other's eyes, but those full lips of Buck’s, now swollen and kiss stung, break into a full smile, and then they’re giggling. Buck ducks his head back down and captures Eddie’s lips again in another brief kiss, capturing Eddie’s lower lip in his teeth. The sensation causes a sound Eddie is sure he’s never made to escape him, it's somewhere between a moan and a whine and it makes Buck giggle again. Buck leans into Eddie’s ear and whispers, “Take me home.” 

Buck’s loft is closer to the club than Eddie’s place, so that’s where they head. They kiss in the Uber the whole way there, lips crushed together, hands exploring everyplace that is semi proper to explore when you’re in a car with a complete stranger. Eddie know’s a part of him should be embarrassed by his behavior, he’s never done anything so bold in public before. But then again he’d never made out with Buck before, so suddenly he can’t make himself care enough to stop. 

On the elevator, while Eddie’s head is thrown back to make room for Buck to feather kisses down his throat, Eddie cards the fingers of his right hand through soft, bouncy curls and tugs gently, eliciting a soft moan from Buck, “Hey,” he tugs again to get his attentions, “hey, look at me,” he whispers. 

Buck stands to his full height and brings his arms up on either side of Eddie, holding him in place against the wall of the elevator, Eddie looks into brilliant blue eyes, pupils blown wide with lust, “Hi,” he whispers. 

Eddie smiles, “Hi,” he replies, and takes a deep breath, knowing his next question might break the spell, “should we talk about this?” 

Buck’s face is unreadable, “Absolutely.” 

Eddie nods, “Okay, so - -” 

Buck cuts him off, “Tomorrow.” 

“Tomorrow?” 

“Yeah, Eddie, tomorrow. I’m sorry, if it's selfish, but I’ve waited a lot longer than I can even admit to myself for you to meet me here, and all I want to do tonight is enjoy this.”

An emotion Eddie’s pretty sure has always been there blooms in his chest and catches Buck’s face in his hands as he asks, “You have?” 

Buck turns into one of Eddie’s hand and presses a hot kiss to his palm, “Yeah baby, I have, and I know we have a lot to discuss, and figure out, but all I want to do right now is take you inside and then take you apart,” he kisses Eddie’s palm again, then the inside of his wrist, “over and over again,” Eddie shudders as the door of the elevator opens and Buck leads them into the hall. 

“Tomorrow's good,” Eddie sighs as Buck brings his lips back up to Eddie’s neck, he nips lightly and the playfulness of the moment only further ignites Eddie. They’re kissing again as they finally reach the door, Eddie has Buck pressed against the wall, taking his turn at peppering kisses over the impossibly smooth skin of his chest. Buck has one hand at the back of Eddie’s head, guiding his movement, the other fumbling in the pocket of his jeans looking for his key. 

When Buck begrudgingly breaks contact to turn and unlock the door he spots a blue and white envelope on his door mat, he leans down to pick it up, then huffs, “of course they’d come after the party is over,” he’s turning to pull Eddie into the dark loft behind him, when he see him eyeing the package in his hand curiously.

Eddie looks up at Buck, a cat that got the cream glint in his eye, “that’s the last part of your costume?” 

Buck nods, and a look he likes very much crosses Eddie's face, “Buck,” we say, voice low. 

“Yeah?” 

“Put them on.” 

Buck laughs, as Eddie pushes him into the darkness, shutting and locking the door behind them, and from that night on, Halloween becomes Eddie’s favorite holiday of the year. 

[embersflame]

Part 2

It’s been a month after you first started working with the 118 and you couldn’t have been happier you’ve bonded so much with the team you basically found a second family also you got a small apartment not you best place to call home but it would do as long as you didn’t move back in with your parents in south California where they retired you want a place for yourself without parents or a jerk of an ex you want to have fun and enjoy life after all the calls you’ve been on have been draining both mentally and physically you were looking forward to going out to karaoke with the team tonight until you got a call from Eddie that said he wasn’t going to make it his son Christopher wasn’t feeling well and Eddie decided to bail out in order to stay home with him since you’ve gotten so well with Eddie both bonding being Hispanic you enjoyed talking Spanish with him which drove Buck crazy but you would gang up on him and buck didn’t enjoy both his friends having inside jokes he didn’t even begin to understand but the teasing went both ways you and buck having matching golden retriever energy and extreme recklessness Eddie just had to kept both of you in line joking they you two together was like a tornado you’ll never seen it coming and left destruction you decided on bailing too and headed to Eddie’s with some homemade soup in hopes of lifting their spirits as Eddie would get anxious about Chris’s well being just as you were about to knock someone hugged you from behind you jumped up frightened only to hear the familiar laugh of a Buckley “you almost made me drop my soup you asshole” you swatted him while he continued to laugh “I’m sorry but it was a perfect opportunity I just couldn’t resist” you scoffed while knowing you would have done the same “guess we both had the same idea to come over to a help out” “ yeah when Chris is feeling icky it not usually not a fun time for Eddie thought I’d come by a lighten the load” you both knock until I tried Eddie appeared at the door a sign of relief escapees his lip as he let y’all in you look around and see Chris at the couch slumped over watching cartoons food in the coffee table untouched “thank goodness you guys came im so tired he don’t want anything to eat and I’m worried” “I brought some soup that might make him feel better” you reply somehow buck manages to convince Chris to eat the soup if all of us join him and soon after he’s tired and eddie goes to put him to bed we all sit on the couch drinking beers and chatting until we fall asleep eventually taking turn to check on Chris through the night to make sure he keeps his food down and doesn’t run a fever next morning you are Laying on the floor hugging pillow while buck hogs the couch and Eddie has since gone to bed you wake up confused as hell and with a hangover you sit up and start poking buck in the face “buck buck wake up” he stirred but kept on snoring you decided to make breakfast hopefully Eddie doesn’t mind your snooping around trying to figure out what to cook you settled on some pancakes when Eddie strolls in wearing just gray sweats clearly hungover too and with bed head you couldn’t help but stare hoping he’s too tired to notice your blushing buck now smelling the wonderful breakfast comes to and makes his way to your side leaning over and trying to steal a pancake from the pan you smile and elbow him “don’t buck why don’t you set the table instead” he pouts but follows orders soon Chris wakes up and joins feeling better he happily devours his food

[mumucow]

4. “I don’t want you to go.” - “Then I won’t.”

Alright I have this one finished as well, I kind of had fun with it and as per usual got bigger than I had expected.

Here is the list and the ao3 link:

Buck had agreed to it. It was his own fault to be in a crowded bar lost in how many drinks he had already.

It had been a while since the 118 had gone out together to have fun. They had found a babysitter for the kids. (Paid May and her boyfriend to watch them)

Athena had joined and so did Maddie and Karen.

It almost felt like a couples’ night now. Except, Buck, Eddie, and Ravi were the only single people in their group.

It never bothered Buck before. He could easily find company for the night if he wanted, but he was no longer that reckless kid searching for a bit of love in a one-night stand.

No, he had learned to be happy by himself. To love himself. The thing was, he loved more than himself. It took him a while to admit but he was in love with his best friend who now sat at his side in a small booth, their sides pressed together from knee to hip and shoulder.

Every time Eddie moved, Buck could feel it.

He wasn’t sure if it was keeping him calm or driving him crazier.

Buck sipped on the straw of his cocktail - he didn’t even remember what was supposed to be in it - as another woman came by their table. He rolled his eyes at it. He knew exactly what was about to go down.

She was definitely a gorgeous woman even under the bad lightning. Her brown hair was perfectly styled stopping about her shoulders, revealing a big cleavage that didn’t have much to hide.

“Hi, handsome.” Her voice was seductive as she placed her hand on Eddie’s arm.

Buck felt his best friend tense against his side, and the rest of their friends stopped talking to pay attention to what was happening. It wasn’t the first time that night that someone stopped by their table to hit on Eddie.

He was sitting at the edge of the booth leaving him more exposed to it.

Eddie had just recently come out to Buck as not being straight, by then Eddie didn’t really seem to know how to label himself and Buck made sure that he didn’t have to. No one else knew about it yet.

Buck did anything that a best friend does, and something that he had promised Eddie he would always do. To have his back and this felt like a moment where he should save Eddie.

So, he stretched his left arm over the back of the booth, almost as if he was showing off that Eddie was his. His best friend seemed to relax a bit into his side.

“Are we still going to the movies next weekend? Chris has been asking if we could take him and a few friends to see that new action movie.” Buck was feeling bold, maybe it was the alcohol or maybe it was the way that Eddie leaned into him as he spoke.

There was a smirk on his lips when he moved his gaze from Eddie to the woman that had just come by.

She actually looked apologetic and Buck was feeling a bit bad now about the move he had just pulled. She quickly apologized and walked away.

Eddie was quiet for a bit as the woman left, he didn’t dare to look at their friends so instead, he looked at Buck, like nothing had happened. Like it was totally normal.

“You mean, take them to the movies, pay for the popcorn, and wait while they go alone? Because they are teens now and are way too cool for us?”

“I promise to entertain you while we wait for them.” It sounded a bit more flirty than Buck had intended but Eddie didn’t seem opposed to it, not by how his cheeks were flushed.

Buck was probably the only one that could tell since he was the one closer to Eddie.

When they looked back at their friends they had all gone back to their own talks. Buck quickly joined in the conversation when they found out that Ravi had a crush on a new firefighter that had just joined the station. Buck kept his arm over the back of the booth, from time to time his fingers would rest on Eddie’s shoulders. Tapping along the song playing in the background.

It didn’t take long for Buck to feel his eyes closing against his will, hand closed in a fist to support his chin as he tried to pay attention to what everyone was saying. 

Suddenly there was no longer a body pressed against him, the heat of it gone making Buck snap his eyes open so fast that he had to blink a few times to focus.

Even though Eddie was no longer at his side, the man was standing outside of the booth staring at him with a smile.

“Come on, let me take you home.” There was an amused tone in Eddie’s voice.

And Buck gave in like he usually did when his best friend asked him something. They quickly said goodbye to everyone, at one point Eddie had to wrap his arm around Buck’s waist to steady him.

Eddie had to even help him get the seatbelt on.

Buck groaned pressing his forehead against the glass of the window as the truck started to move.

“How much did you drink?” Eddie seemed amused by the state Buck was in.

“How many times did you get hit on?” Buck turned to look at Eddie, just enough to see him grimace before getting back to his more casual expression.

“You did a good job cockblocking them all. Especially with facts about serial killers.” Eddie didn’t really seem upset by it.

“I’m sorry, I just went into protective mode. At least I thought I was protecting you, you didn’t seem comfortable with any of them.” Buck sat straighter in his seat, taking advantage to admire Eddie’s profile. He seemed lost in thoughts, trying to figure out what to say.

“Thank you for that. I really wasn’t.”

“Good.” Buck relaxed, letting his eyes close. “They weren’t good enough for you anyways.”

“How do you know that?” This time Eddie did laugh. Looking quickly at him before looking back towards the road.

“I have had enough hookups at bars to know that it doesn’t lead anywhere.” Buck should definitely stop drinking alcohol after this. “Besides, you deserve an epic love story. A cute meet or I don’t know. Just something awesome. You deserve that, Eddie.”

“Buck…” 

Maybe it was the way Eddie said his name or maybe it was the alcohol just starting to disappear from his body, but Buck felt like he was sobering up and with that, he noticed the awe on Eddie’s face.

“I’m serious. You deserve all the good romcom cliches in your life.”

“Life isn’t a movie. And maybe I don’t want that. Maybe I want something familiar and comfortable.”

Before Buck could even straighten his thoughts about what Eddie had just confessed, they were stopping outside of his block of apartments.

“Eddie…”

“Come on, I will make sure you get there safe and sound.”

Eddie was already opening his door and Buck couldn’t anything but to follow. The ride in the elevator was quiet. Buck kept staring at their reflection on the metal doors and only now did he notice how well-dressed Eddie was.

His best friend always looked great but it seemed more of an outfit for a date than a night out with just friends. Maybe Buck did cockblock him.

Buck fiddled with the keys once they got to the door of his loft, feeling calloused hands wrapping around his own to take the keys away. In a gentle I got you.

Buck knew he was staring but he couldn’t look away, he watched Eddie’s every move as they moved inside the loft. How familiarized he was with the place just as much as Buck was with the Diaz’ house.

He let himself be pushed towards upstairs. Let Eddie make him sit on the bed, then kneel in front of Buck to help him with his shoelaces, and at that, all of Buck’s innocent thoughts went away.

“I’m not that drunk.” Buck knew how deep and low his voice had come out, it was enough to make Eddie get up, keeping their faces leveled and both of his hands just above Buck’s knees using it for support.

“You are.” There was no judgment or anything else but fondness in Eddie’s face and eyes.

Buck wasn’t really thinking when he wrapped his hand around the back of Eddie’s neck to pull him down into a kiss, crashing their mouths into each other. It was like he needed it like he needs air to breathe and all of his air was gone when he felt Eddie kiss back.

It was thrilling and hopeful. That was until Eddie pulled away.

“Buck…” Eddie looked apologetic and all of Buck’s world came crashing down. He had just fucked everything up.

“I…” Before Buck could freak out even more, Eddie wrapped his hand around Buck’s wrist to keep him from moving away. 

Eddie pressed their foreheads together, giving them time to breathe.

“I want it. Badly. I just don’t want to do it while you are drunk and probably won’t remember a thing.”

They both kept their eyes closed just letting sink in all that had just happened and had been said.

Slowly, hope started to bloom in Buck’s chest giving him more bravery than alcohol could ever give him.

“I don’t want you to go.” Buck whispered into the dark, the only light coming through the big window in the loft.

“Then I won’t.” Eddie pulled away.

Buck kept his eyes on his best friend as he got out of his clothes and got more comfortable ones from Buck’s dresser. With a smile, Eddie helped him out of his clothes as well before they both got under the sheets.

“I promise to remember this in the morning.” Buck curled into Eddie’s side, resting his face on the other man’s chest. It felt like coming home.

“You better do.” Eddie’s lips brushed feather-light against Buck’s forehead as he spoke, then he pressed them more like it was a kiss. 

Strong, calloused hands intertwined into the already messy dark blond curls of Buck’s head slowly dragging him to sleep.

Buck just hoped that this had been more than just a dream.

[thewolvesof1998]

Alright, Cowboy, Go Get 'Em

Okay the first Chapter is posted!! (1/3 Chapter, 5.6K, E) 

Eddie isn’t mopping. He’s having a drink at his local bar, by himself that’s all. He’s not thinking about the divorce papers sitting in his bedside drawer where Christopher won’t find them. He sighs, downing the last of his whiskey. He’s waving down the bartender, signally for another when a hand comes down on his shoulder.

A familiar voice says, “Eddie Diaz is that you?”

Eddie turns to take in Josh, one of his best friends from high school whom he hasn’t seen since before he deployed the first time. He looked good, he’d lost most of his youth softness, and a full beard where he’d only been able to grow whiskers before.

“Josh? Man, it’s been so long” Eddie says, pulling him into a one-handed hug, something he wouldn’t have done if wasn’t already on his third drink of the night.

Josh laughs, “Yeah, didn’t know you were back in El Paso”

Eddie grimaces, guilt sitting heavy in his stomach, he hadn’t reached out to any of his friends from high school after returning, he hadn’t wanted them to see how much his life had fallen apart. The bartender places his drink down in front of him and he takes a drag for courage.

“I’ve been back about six months now, I’d meant to reach out but…”

“It’s okay man, life gets in the way,” Josh shrugs, “How’s Shannon? You guys have a kid right?” Josh sits down on the stool next to him and Eddie tries not to hate Josh for bringing up exactly what he’d been trying to forget.

“Yeah Christopher, he’s five now, but uh me and Shannon aren’t-she left” Eddie tries for nonchalance but from the pitying look on Josh’s face he doesn’t succeed.

“I’m sorry man”

“Nah it's fine, it’s been-ah six months, I’m over it,” Eddie says, Josh rises an eyebrow. He wasn’t really lying, he had been over it, been understanding, she’d gone to look after her dying mum and he was the one who’d left first, that was until the papers had shown up on Monday and there was nothing about dual custody in them. Shannon hadn’t just left him, she’d left Christopher.

“Sure, and it has nothing to do with you drinking alone at two pm on a Thursday?”

“I just needed a break,” Eddie admits, it was probably a bit too honest for a conversation with a guy he hasn’t seen in almost six years but Josh just nods.

“What you need is to have a little bit of fun”

Eddie snorts, “I have three jobs and a kid, I don’t have time for fun”

“What are you doing Saturday?”

“I have Chris” When he’s not working, which is not often, he spends as much time with Chris as possible.

“Me and the boys are going to the rodeo, come with us, Chris is five right? My Misses has a kid about that age, bring him over for a play date she’ll look after him for a few hours.”

“I don’t know”

“Look, I know we haven’t talked in years so I might be crossing over the line but if you run yourself into the ground you're not going to be any good for your kid okay? You need to have some fun and let off some steam, or you’ll end up here every day like Bill over there” Josh nods over to the town drunk who’s barely staying upright on his stool at the other end of the bar.

Eddie sighs and nods, “Yeah, yeah your right, okay, Saturday I’ll be there.”

Josh claps his hand on Eddie’s shoulder again, “You won’t regret it.”

Eddie highly doubts that but he also knows that the spiralling he’s been doing isn’t healthy and talking to Josh has been the highlight of his week so he’d give it a go.

Continue Reading on A03

Let me know if you want me to tag you in any updates to do with this fic!

@wildlife4life​ you asked for the cowboy smut...

[okmissgirl]

Absolutely Normal Nonsense

HEHE I'm still alive and this some real nonsense y'all 💀

Also happens to fulfill the Future catagory for HellCheer Aniversary Week day 4.

<- Last Nonsense

——————————————————————————————————

🥜 Sweet Nothings (and sour somethings) 🥒

To you I can admit

That I’m just too soft for all of it

“You gotta try it with peanut butter.” 

“I — what?” 

“Take your spoon, scoop some of it up—”

“Is this—?”

“Nuh-uh, you have to get a lot more. Like a heaping scoop. Here, let me—”

“Sweetheart, I know the logistics of it, I can… okay that’s — Chrissy that’s just straight up peanut butter.”

“But it tastes good! Especially when you spread a bunch on top of the pickle and the juice is still there, ugh, the contrast is phenomenal… I feel like I’ve ascended or something.” 

“Ascended? Peanut butter and pickles is a religious experience for you?” 

“Yes and I am a staunch believer and no sacrilege will be permitted in my house, so here comes the um, starfighter airplane jet thing… and…” 

“Wha— don’t just! Baby, I am agnostic at best—” 

“And you will see the light and be compelled if you would only open wide—”

“Ok princess, first, before I poison myself, how did you go from oreo and peanut butter cookies to this?”

“...put it in your mouth first.”

“Wh— I am not—”

“Please? Pretty please? For me?” 

“Oh baby doll, you’re so sweet. No.” 

“But—”

“No ma’am.”

“Ed-die!” 

“Chris-sy!”

“Give it a chance, the flavors, the textures — look at me baby, would I ever steer you wrong?”

“...”

“Eddie!” 

“Sorry, but I am very sure you would, case in point, I can’t even see the beaten path right now—” 

“Oh boo, where’s your sense of adventure? Where’s the man I fell madly in love with who used to do those disgusting beer kegs in college and use the same towel every week for months?” 

“Jesus Christ, woman — that dumbass is dead. Hallelujah.”

“But I want him back! Just for tonight? C’mon sweetie, one lick.” 

“Oh my god.” 

“I’ll eat the rest?” 

“And you’ll tell me who put you up to this? I brought that jar yesterday — there are only three pickles left mamacita — I know you’ve been going to town on these all day. That acid reflux is gonna be righteous tonight.”

“I promise it’s 8/10 worth the heartburn — that’s how good they are! … And I was bored, so…” 

“Bored?”

“Eh okay well, not completely, but that’s besides the point! Try it? Please?” 

“Ughhh, fine, fine…”

“Really?! Aw, Eddie—!”

“Hmm, since you asked so nicely… bottoms up, I guess…” 

“Hehe, enjoy…”

“...”

“...and?”

“Uh, cool your jets — I gotta analyze the flavor, the texture and all that shit…” 

“Oh… well, hurry up!” 

“My word, where is your patience, Christine? Hmm, I guess… it’s um… huh.” 

“Huh?”

“...s’not bad.” 

“Not bad? So that means… you like it?”

“I do not hate it.” 

“You love it!”

“It’s palatable, princess.” 

“See!! Oh my gosh, I told you! I told you, it’s the fucking contrast — like peanut butter and jelly!” 

“Uh, strong comparison, but I get what you’re saying. Now, who rummaged through our cupboards and got pickle juice all up in the peanut butter jar? ‘Cause I know it wasn’t you — that’s something you’d get mad at me for.”

“Well… Robin came over…” 

“Of course. Of course — you know, I walked into that one. Like in the back of my mind I thought “Eddie, what if it’s Bucklely who’s eating all your shit?” and at the time I didn’t wanna believe it but, tsk… should’ve known.”

“What! How could you say that? Robin’s so much fun!” 

“Yeah, until she starts packing our food in tupperware boxes and taking it to her place.” 

“She does not do that.”

“I’ve seen it with my own two eyes, Missus Munson.” 

“Edward Munson! You know how boring it is, staying at home 24/7?! All I ever do is fold, wash, and dry all the clothes we brought and then dig out some more for tomorrow to fold again and then I eat and watch reruns of Seinfeld. I try to cook but then my feet hurt. I try to drive to the grocery store but no, I can’t get behind the freaking wheel! I want to practice the stretches we learned in class so I put on exercise videos but I can’t even follow along with them! I sit there like a beached whale! There’s no one to call and everyone’s at work except me! There’s nothing to do, I’m slowly going out of my mind and, and… you know what, give me that—”

“What are you — hey! I was gonna—”

“NO! You don’t deserve a peanut butter pickle! Shame on you, making fun of me like that when Robin was so kind to come over and watch a movie with me, help make cookies, and introduce both of us to this delicious delicacy. You should be thankful!”

“Aw Chris, I am thankful; just didn’t know you had it so rough baby—”

“Ey! Get away, you! Don’t try to kiss me! I’ll stick this glob of peanut butter in your hair—”

“No you won’t.”

“I will.” 

“Uh, okay… I’ll just eat it off, but sure. “

“Eddie!” 

“Okay, okay pretty girl — I’m thankful that Buckley broke into our house so you could have some adventure for the day—”

“— I mean, you told her where the house key is buried, so that’s kinda on you—

“However, I’m at your beck and call whenever you need me.” 

“... I guess.” 

“You guess?” 

“I dunno, Munson. The way you look at those campaign sheets sometimes… kinda has me worried, is all…” 

“Perish the thought, fair maiden! For I find you tantalizing, bewitching — the object of many a man’s desire but alas, you are mine, Christine, and I’ll fall upon my own sword if there ever is a day I find myself blind to such godlike beauty…” 

“... hmm…” 

“Hmm? Too much?”

“No… I never said that… “

“Then pray tell… hmm, what? Is it a secret? Would you whisper in my ear? Don’t be afraid, you can tell me…” 

“No, no secrets here.”

“Oh…? “ 

“I do have a question though.” 

“And I await with bated breath to hear it.” 

“.... you fancy me a goddess, good sir?”

“Of course I... yes.”

“Am I to believe I am just a simple spirit you found looking into the glade?” 

“N-no, never you are not just any goddess. You are more brilliant than Aphrodite herself.” 

“You swear?” 

“On my life…” 

“...”

“... Chris—”

“Alright, help me get down from here.” 

“Oh! Uh, sure, but why do you—”

“Honestly, my ass is getting numb and I didn’t really think this through once I actually got up here so…” 

“Well, can’t have a sore ass on my watch, sweetheart — just lift your—”

“I’m heavier than before okay, so be careful with you back and don’t—”

“Pfft, babycakes you weigh 30 pounds soaking wet as we speak… there we go. Hmm.. I kinda like it, actually.” 

“Like what?”

“You know…” 

“I don’t, actually.” 

“Well… I’ve been meaning to ask… is my queen gonna claim her throne tonight?”

“... Eddie—”

“I’ve been waiting. Thirsting. Praying fervently that I could show my fealty to you once more. So… please…I—” 

“What… what if I’m… I’m not… too…”

“Never, never… ah… never, Christine…”

“Shi… I… okay.”

“Okay?”

“Please.” 

Oftentimes, Eddie is struck by the fact that he gets to come home to Chrissy Munson née Cunningham everyday. To find his wife sitting on the kitchen counter, scooping peanut butter onto a pickle stick, so far removed from the hustle and bustle of his chaotic workday. But he guesses that’s natural. 

He hopes the feeling lasts a lifetime. 

*BONUS*

“fifty-eight one-thousand, fifty-nine one-thousand… and… okay… okay, that’s…”

“...Chrissy? Chris, what are you doing in the shower? Is everything okay…? Cause uh, I woke up and your side of the bed was like wet with… something. I didn’t smell it or anything but uhh… you can wake me up when stuff like that happens. I know it’s normal and I can help—”

“Eddie! You thought I wet the bed? I’m no child!”

“Well yeah, I know that… but you’re also—”

“I’m in labor. Well, I’m pretty sure I am, at least. My water broke in bed.” 

“...what.” 

“Yeah, I woke up and it was like, everywhere, and it kept dripping down my legs… kinda gross. I wanted to take a shower.”

“Wha… holy fuck, can you rewind to, uh, Jesus… um, are you really, seriously—”

“Yup, I think so. Can you help me get out of here please?”

“Uh, uh, okay, yeah, no problem I can — I can do that.”

“Great!”

“Shit… maybe we shouldn't have done so much last night?” 

“No. We do a lot most nights. I don’t think that made a difference here.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Honestly? I think it was the pickles.”

[wikiangela]

alive shannon 👀👀👀👀👀👀👀 (but much more enthusiastically)

yaaay I love talking about this fic haha

so, the alive shannon fic is my most precious baby, and I love her sooo much (both the fic and shannon haha)

the idea started bc I was tired of the discourse and hate on Shannon bc she doesn't deserve it, and since I first watched the show I always just felt so bad for her - but that's a whole rant sitting in my drafts so that's all I'm gonna say on that atm hahaha

the fic is going to be basically a rewrite of canon where Shannon survives the accident and she and Eddie get divorced, and she stays in Christopher's life - so she sticks around and she and Eddie become friends/co-parents, and she's gonna get to know Buck too (I think they're on their way to become besties tbh lol) - and most of all she and Chris will get to have a relationship

so that, and all the events from canon that are still gonna happen and how it might differ with her around - and in the middle of it all Buck and Eddie will slowly fall in love, and she's gonna be so 👀 about Eddie and Buck's relationship and eventually she's gonna be like: these oblivious idiots are never gonna get it istg haha (she might meddle a bit too, and I kinda want to get it up to the end of s4 with Ana just to see Shannon be like: it should be Buck, wtf is eddie even doing lol)

and I'm just excited to explore these dynamics, and Eddie moving on and letting himself fall for someone else (Buck), and him and Shannon getting the closure they were robbed of in the show haha

it's gonna be switching pov with each chapter so we'll get all three perspectives and it's sooo much fun to write and I have sooo many ideas (as of now there's almost 20k words, and I'm still only on chapter 3, didn't even get to the truck bombing yet, so it's gonna be fucking long lmao)

there are already way too many snippets posted here, you can find them under the alive shannon fic tag (this post is tagged as this too lol) but here's one more that I'm not sure I shared haha - it's from chapter 1, from Eddie's pov, and it's him and Buck waiting for news about Shannon's condition at the hospital, and not knowing if she survives or not

He thinks back to his and Shannon's latest interactions, to her coming back, to the chaos of their relationship, that Eddie knows isn’t good, he knows that, he just can’t help wanting to fix it – she’s his wife, how can he just give up? Maybe it was good, once upon a time, before they were thrust into parenthood and marriage way too young, before they were pressured and divided by Eddie’s family, their suggestions sounding more like orders, now that Eddie thinks back on it, orders that he followed, being just a dumb kid. Maybe if he hadn’t left, if he stayed and supported her, if they did it all together, like the partners they were supposed to be… But there’s no point thinking about what ifs. It’s all over, whether she survives or not, and he just has to make his peace with it. He thinks back to their last conversation, and he hates to admit that she was right. “She wants a divorce.” he hears himself blur out, voice hoarse and breaking, unused in hours. He’s not sure why this is what he’s focusing on right now, why this is what he wants to tell Buck, but at least he’s not breaking down. He’ll allow himself a moment for that after he talks to his son, after he knows- “Shannon.” he croaks out, as if there was a need to specify. He feels Buck’s gaze on his face, but he can’t look up, can’t look into those worried blue eyes, or he’ll drown in them, willingly and completely, not ever wanting to swim back to the surface and face this cruel world. “She asked me for a divorce.” “Eddie, I’m so sorry-” Buck starts, but Eddie interrupts him with a bitter chuckle that sounds almost like he’s choking. He might as well be, he thinks the only reason he’s still breathing is holding his hand right now. Only other reason is back home, not realizing what’s happening, just doing his homework or watching cartoons. Eddie really doesn’t want to bring him bad news, he’s too young for this. “She’s right. I couldn’t- I didn’t want to see it. But she’s right.” he sighs, readjusting his grip on Buck’s hand, but not letting go. He doesn’t want to ever let go. If he did, he thinks he’d just crumble into a million little pieces right now, left for Buck to pick up. And he has no doubt Buck would, every smallest piece, and put him back together again. Really, what would he do without him? How did he do it without him until now?

ask me about my wips

[hmslusitania]

Sharing different heartbeats in one night

5x18 spec! Spoilers for the things we know or can guess accurately about 5x17 and 5x18

"Penny for your thoughts?" Eddie asks, handing Buck the beer he'd gotten from the bartender. Buck is leaning against one of the trees in the park, staring into the middle distance, and he doesn't look particularly anything. Not happy, not sad, not...

"A whole entire penny?" Buck asks, taking the bottle while the corner of his mouth twitches.

"Eh, I was rounding up," Eddie says and Buck knocks his shoulder into Eddie's in reprimand. "But seriously, you look very out of it."

"Oh, yeah, just thinking," Buck says. Eddie opens his mouth and Buck cuts him off with a quick, "I know, I know, always dangerous."

Eddie snorts and sips his beer, scanning the party. Hen and Karen are absolutely absorbed in each other on the dance floor, and near them, Maddie and Chim are having a tentative slow dance that doesn't quite match the tempo of the song, but it looks hopeful anyway. Near death experiences will do that, Eddie supposes. Bring people back together.

"Where's Taylor?" Eddie asks, forcing himself to sound neutral. Neutral is the best he's ever been able to get.

"We broke up," Buck says.

Eddie has to remind himself a few times that "congratulations" is not the appropriate response to someone ending their longest ever relationship.

**

The party continues late into the night. Hen and Karen leave for their second wedding night sometime around sunset, but the rest of their group stays to dance the night away. At some point, Eddie loses Chris to Toni and Clive's offer to take all three boys -- Denny, Chris, and Harry -- for a slumber party, and Eddie gets to stay and have fun. He dances with Maddie for a minute, and takes a turn with Athena while Bobby laughs, and with some of Karen's friends, and the entire time it weighs on him.

Buck is single now.

Buck is single. And Eddie is single. And Eddie's in love with him.

Not only is he in love with him, but he's doing well enough now that he can admit that to himself, he can hold that thought in his mind -- in his heart -- and it doesn't feel like a live wire anymore. It feels hot to the touch still, sure, but more like cupping a warm mug of coffee in his palms than something deadly.

And Buck is single.

And Eddie could tell him.

"Come dance," he says instead when he finds Buck sitting by himself at one of the tables. It's a relatively safe request, since it's a fast song, and Eddie's been dancing with a group of people that includes Chim, Ravi, May, and someone who might be in charge of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

"Yeah, alright," Buck says, and allows himself to be dragged to the dance floor.

There's a pervasive sense of joy that seeps through the whole reception. A happiness and acceptance and general wellness that settles in Eddie's bones. And yeah, he's still got some shit to work through, but he's doing so, so much better.

He could tell him.

They share an Uber home -- Taylor's keeping the apartment and Buck's been sleeping on her couch, so it makes good sense for him to just come home with Eddie -- and they're about to turn onto Eddie's street when he finally works up the courage.

"Buck--"

"I've been thinking--"

They both fall silent and do a shuffle of you go, no you go first that results in Buck going first.

"I've been thinking I need to try being single," Buck says and Eddie's stomach falls out through his ass while his heart jumps to his throat. "I -- I think the only time I've really been single, it wasn't my choice, right, because Abby left and then Ali broke up with me, and it definitely wasn't like it was something I chose and so I didn't want it and I didn't try to use it. But now, now it's like, I broke up with her, so I should try to embrace it, right, and I should, like, figure out how I can just be me. With-without trying to be a certain version of myself just to try and make someone else happy. I have to figure out how to be happy with myself. You know?"

"Yeah," Eddie says softly. Because it makes sense, it definitely makes sense, even if it takes that nascent shred of joy and courage that had been bubbling in Eddie's chest and smashes it like a bug on a windshield. "Yeah, that sounds like a healthy and mature decision to make."

Buck smiles, ducking his head in that bashful way he does.

The Uber stops at the foot of Eddie's driveway.

"What were you gonna say?" Buck asks while they slide out of the backseat and simultaneously fish for keys. Buck finds his first and lets them in to Eddie's house.

"Nah, nothing much," Eddie says. He swallows the lump in his throat and warms his hands on the cup of coffee in his head. It'll still be there, when Buck's ready. "Just that you can stay with us as long as you want."

[imtheiliad]

I'M NOT A KID NOW SO I CAN READ IT ALL {1.7k | getting together | first kiss | feelings placement | crushes} [ao3]

a/n: title from sunday crossword by j.maya

“...and dad in a couple weeks is our first middle school dance. It’s sparkly winter themed, whatever that means…” 

He heard about the dance for three days straight. and then it stopped. 

It was a rare day when he was able to pick Chris up from school, letting him climb into the back while he stayed in his seat with a watchful eye. and Chris is quiet. Eddie lets the quiet fill the space for a while. 

“Any updates on the dance buddy? Figure out what you are gonna wear, do we need to go shopping?” he bites his lip remembering the last time they tried to buy formal clothes. 

Chris grumbles, “I don't want to talk about it.” and continues to look out the window, a sad look in his eye. 

“Okay.” he shifts his grip on the wheel and after pondering for a moment changes his course and drives toward the beach. 

He puts the car in park and opens Chris's door who looks at him defiantly. 

“C’mon kid, here we go.” Chris rolls his eyes a little as he gets out of the car. He knows the drill, they've done this a few times since Christmas, each time they gain a little more healing. When they reach the sand Eddie hoists him up, crutches under his arm. 

They settle down on the sand. 

“So, what’s going on, what happened?” 

“I don't want to go anymore.”

“Why?” 

“Lindsay laughed at me.” 

Eddie doesn’t know who Lindsay is, but he might have a few choice words if he couldn’t guess that she’s also twelve years old. 

“I asked her to go with me, and she laughed. and I thought I had a crush on her but maybe I don't, because I don't know what that actually means. So I guess, how do I know if it is?” 

Eddie pauses, processing all that information that came so fast, it felt like Chris aged a few years in the span of less than thirty seconds. 

“Well, it’s different for every person, you know?” he starts, “Some people get butterflies when the other person is around, or you want to be around them all the time, or they make you laugh. Maybe you think they’re just that much prettier or handsome than your other friends or peers.” 

He swallows and pushes something out of the way for later. It’s about Chris right now. 

Chris contemplates his words for a moment, twisting his mouth around, starting a word and then stopping. 

“How’d you know with mom?” 

Eddie is a bit startled by the question, it’s not that he never thought Christopher would ask, he just wasn’t really prepared for it to happen now. But it makes sense. He lets sand slip through his fingers for a moment while he thinks. 

He smiles at the fond memories of their early days of friendship, the first time he heard her laugh and saw how it sparkled in her eyes. How it had been a group trip to the beach when they first kissed, the only two single people, each of their friends poking fun at them about their obvious crushes on the other. It had been torture. But then she kissed him and it was better than Lana at the 8th grade dance, or Silvia in 10th. 

It was supposed to be an end of senior year fling, that maybe held over into the summer before Shannon went to school. And it was. And she did. They kept it alive during breaks and if Eddie had the chance he would visit her. And then she came back to El Paso pregnant after Junior year.  

And they got married by the end of May. Shannon’s dress just covering her 5 month bump. Eddie wasn’t sure why they tried, everyone would know anyway. 

He enlisted two weeks later. Didn’t tell her for three days. Then left. 

And it had been the beginning of the end. 

But he turns Christopher's question over in his brain, “She was my best friend. Her laugh was the first thing that made me love her that much differently.”

Christopher bites his lip and digs a hand deep into the sand. 

“Hey, what’s up bud?”

“I don’t remember her laugh anymore, Dad,” Christopher replies so quietly as if he is afraid to admit it. 

And Eddie’s heart breaks, tears prick his eyes, he hates that Christopher carries this pain with him, “That doesn’t mean you’re forgetting her Chris. We must have it somewhere if you would like to hear it though.” He pulls his son into his lap, even if he is too big and just a few moments ago they were talking about his first crush and his first school dance. But he can’t help it, and Christopher doesn’t refuse. 

He nods into his dad’s shoulder, and then sits back. 

“You know I was doing the math the other day, and I- I realized that the amount of time that we had together is shorter than the time I’ve had without her.” 

All he can do is run his fingers through Chris's curls and pull him tighter to his chest. 

“I know, kid. I’m so sorry.” he swallows past the lump that’s formed in his throat because his son is supposed to use his new algebra skills to figure that out. It’s for, well he’s not entirely sure cause math was never his subject unless it was practical like figuring out how many units to administer in the field. Under pressure. So he does what he can and holds his son while the sun sets over the horizon. 

Chris relaxes after a while. 

“What happens to me if you die too?” he asks after a moment, his bottom lip caught between his teeth. 

And how many times can his kid break his heart in one evening. He's surprised this hasn’t come up before in everything they have been through over the past year. 

“Oh, kid.” and Chris just stares at him, waiting, “Buck will take care of you. It's on paper, a very special legal paper. You’ll stay right here, with him, and Bobby and Athena, Chimney and Maddie, and Hen and Karen. They’ll take care of you, just like they do now. And you won’t have to move. I can't promise,” Chris nods in understanding, “but I will never leave you without fighting tooth and nail to get back to you. okay?” 

“Okay.” Chris replies softly, before resting his head back down. “And Buck knows, and wants to do that if-”

Eddie swallows, “Yeah he does, he loves you so much.” he runs his hand through Chris’s hair again and sighs. and they breathe together for a moment. 

“Do you still not want to go?” Eddie asks as the last rays of sun disappear. Chris just nods his head. 

“You know what? I think we should have our own party at home, invite Denny, maybe Harry will be in town? I am sure Buck would be thrilled to help out. We can decorate, whatever you want. How does that sound?” 

Christopher ponders it for a moment and a small smile creeps up his lips and he nods slowly. “Can we get pizza on our way home?” his eyes turn big and tilts his head with a small smile. 

“I'm gonna have to talk to Buck about teaching you that look,” Eddie responds and Chris laughs. 

“And you’ll talk to him about your crush on him too?” 

And Eddie is speechless, his mouth forming a small oh in shock. 

“C'mon Daad, you totally want to be around him all the time. and you just invited him over to help kind of arbitrarily and you know he’ll say yes. And he wants to too. You really thought i wouldn’t notice that?” 

“What am I gonna do with you?” he asks rhetorically, and then turns slightly more serious “you think so?” Chris just nods, “I'll think about it. Okay, kid, let’s go get that pizza.” 

It's a few weeks later and Eddie's living room is covered in shimmery streamers, star garland draped across the mantle and twinkle lights. The dining room table is covered in snacks and drinks. Chris and his friends scattered about the couch and chairs, four of them racing in Mario Kart and the others cheering them on. 

Buck and Eddie are tucked away in the kitchen preparing for their pizza order to come to feed the 7 almost teenagers in the living room. 

“So in the planning, I never heard why we are facilitating this boycott of a middle school dance,” Buck says, leaning against the counter. 

“He asked someone to go with him, and she laughed.” 

“If I didn’t know she is probably twelve-“ 

“I had the same reaction. but that prompted the question about what crushes feel like and he decided he’d rather do something at home than have to go to the “stupid dance” that he was very excited about until then I’ll have you know.” Buck laughs, and smiles ducking his head- no doubt remembering his own 12 year old self. 

And it hits Eddie right in the chest. right there in the kitchen. It’s like a breath of fresh air in his lungs after holding his breath. Maybe it was weird that what he fell for all the time was the laughter, that the same thing that clued him in on his feelings. But to Eddie it just made sense. And this wasn’t shocking news to him, that he loved buck, he’d been waiting for it to hit him like this though. 

“There was actually one other thing that I wanted to talk to you about.” 

And Buck looks up at him, tilting his head in curiosity, which shouldn’t be so endearing. 

And now Eddie has no idea what the fuck to actually say cause everything feels too big and too important. 

So he crosses the kitchen with determination until he’s in Buck’s space, holding his jaw so gently and he can’t breathe. 

“i- is this okay?” he asks just about a whisper. Buck blinks and then nods. Circling his hand around Eddie’s waist, breathing him in like he can’t live without this any more. And if Eddie had known kissing Buck is this good he would have done it a long time ago.

[crossovereddie]

Once again projecting onto this traumatized little man but there’s something about growing up Mexican in Texas of all places and it being the norm for women to be cooking meals in the kitchen pretty much daily and men to stand around the grill outside on occasion only to barbecue and Eddie was probably never taught to make a proper meal because he always had his mom or his sisters or his abuela and he went from that to Shannon who probably felt obligated to cook since she was home and I’m sure Helena was overbearing and judgmental and always tried to intervene then he was left all alone and had to provide for his son and he was probably so upset and frustrated with himself over his lack of cooking skills and yes Chris and buck and everyone roast him and he laughs but there’s probably apart of him that aches everytime they do because he tries but he was just never taught and then he just never had the time to learn and he just can’t get anything right even though he really tries

Then he’s with the 118 and Bobby the father figure of the team takes care of them. He cooks their favorite meals and not because he has to but because he wants to and he enjoys taking care of the people he loves this way and Eddie probably looks up to him and wishes he could cook meals like this for Christopher all the time

I’m thinking about how the first time Chris was at the fire station Bobby made him a simple but obviously delicious grilled cheese sandwich then seasons later Eddie makes Charlie a yummy grilled cheese and I’ve talked about it before but when eddie got home after stuck he probably asked Chris if he had fun and what his favorite part of the day was and Chris might’ve mentioned how good his sandwich was so Eddie goes to Bobby next shift and asks him to show him how to make it. It’s probably the first time anyone has taken the time to teach Eddie how to make anything. I can see Bobby picking up on Eddie not knowing how to cook and eventually sending home leftovers with him or calling up Eddie and telling him he made too much for dinner if he wants to swing by to pick up leftovers he’s more than welcome or preparing meals that you just need to pop in the oven for him especially after Shannon passed because cooking is how Bobby takes care of the people he loves.

And now Eddie is feeling isolated from the team and I’m sure Bobby was still offering him meals but ofc Eddie sees himself as a burden now and not part of the team so would decline. I’m sure Linda picked up on Eddie’s inability or he mentioned wanting to learn now that he had time(and didn’t have Bobby) in passing so she offered and he’s finally learning how to not have to rely on others for something he should be able to do himself which is both a blessing and a curse for this man who thinks it’s not okay to ask for help when you’re struggling

[pupandangelscoffee]

Three makes a family

Eddie Diaz x Evan "Buck" Buckley x Female reader

Genre: mostly fluff, slight angst in the middle

TW: mentions of alcohol, arguing

Word count: slightly over 3K

Taglist: @enterprise-medical

Buck really loved Carla and he knew that Eddie did too, especially since Chris always seemed to happy around her. That is why he did not understand why Eddie chose to hire a babysitter for Chris, clearly Carla could do the babysitting. Eddie tried explaining that he wanted Carla to be able to have some days off, too. After all, it can be exhausting to babysit a very energetic kid all day.

Even if Buck does not understand Eddie’s motivations, he is now sitting in the older male’s living room and waiting for the doorbell to ring, already painting a picture of the babysitter in his head. She probably looks like an evil witch with gray hair and lots of wrinkles on her face, making her seem friendly despite her secretly scaring children by telling them she would eat them. Though as soon as the doorbell rings, Chris starts racing his dad to the door, leaving a very confused Buck behind. “Why did his little buddy seem so excited to see the new babysitter? Why was his little buddy more excited to see his babysitter than he was when Buck came over earlier?? This just feels unfair!” Buck concludes in his head, getting up and walking to the kitchen to grab himself a drink. From his place he can hear the excited yells from Chris, a small smile immediately creeping on his face though dropping almost instantly when he remembers that he wasn’t the one making Chris that happy.

After taking another deep breath, he makes his way over to the living room very steadily, ready to assess you. However, as soon as he lays eyes on you, he chokes up and trips over his own feet, crashing into the small table on the side and dropping his glass. Startled by the sound, Chris, Eddie and you turn around to face him, you immediately jumping up and helping the young firefighter with the broken glass. “You didn’t tell me that I have to babysit two kids, Eds” you state, earning laughter from Chris and Eddie and an embarrassed look from Buck. “You must be Buck, right? Chris has told me a lot about you” you tell the embarrassed man, who is still in shock from seeing your beauty up close. Chuckling softly, you grab the shards of broken glass from his hands before heading to the kitchen to get a towel and throw the shards away.

“So, what do you think?” Eddie asks Buck softly while you are out of the room, however, he does not get a response as Buck simply continues staring at the spot you were sitting a moment ago. Chris slowly gets up and hugs Buck, thinking that the firefighter got hurt when he tripped, though Eddie quickly understood what was going on and shakes his head. Seems like Buck 1.0 still existed somewhere in his younger friend, despite everyone telling him that Buck was no longer like that. Perhaps he should talk to Maddie about this, needing someone’s opinion, that actually knew Buck as well as he did. Though before he has the chance to excuse himself, you are back in the living room and making your way over to Chris. “Ready for a fun day, Chris?” you ask him with a smile playing on your lips to which Chris eagerly nods and allows you to pick him up. “I will bring him home at 8 tonight, alright Eds?” you state, turning to look at the older male. “Yeah, 8 sounds perfect. I will see you tonight.” He replies, smiling at you and walking over to press a kiss goodbye onto Chris’s forehead.

As soon as you and Chris are gone, he gets another cup of water and pours it over Buck’s head, successfully pulling him out of his trance. “Do not even think about sleeping with Y/N, Evan.” He states lowly, giving the younger firefighter a glare while Buck just looks up at him sheepishly. “In my defense, you forgot to mention that the new babysitter was smoking hot. A warning would have been nice.” He grumbles as he shakes his head, sending water droplets flying everywhere before getting up and dropping on to the couch with a small groan. The response left Eddie frowning, sure, he was aware that you were attractive and he would be lying if he said that he wasn’t attracted to you, especially after seeing how much Chris adores you. However, that did not lessen the blow of Buck’s blunt response. Perhaps that was why he was fearing that Buck 1.0 was back, he didn’t want you to be scared off purely because his best friend was incapable of keeping his dick in his pants. “Just try not to fuck her immediately when you get her alone, please. Chris really likes her.” Eddie nearly begs, deciding it was better that he doesn’t add that he likes you too. Buck sighs and nods, pouting a bit. Though for his little buddy, he would definitely try not to get into her pants. After all, he didn’t want Chris to hate him, especially if it was because he couldn’t control himself around you. However, this wasn’t going to stop him from teasing Eddie by flirting with you, because despite the older man trying to hide it, he could tell that Eddie had a thing for you as well.

8 comes quicker than the two males expect and they are slightly startled from their cuddled position when they hear the door opening. Glancing out into the hallway, they spot you carrying a sleeping Chris into his room, unknowingly causing both of the males to smile. Soon enough, you walk into the living room and whisper “he is asleep now and probably won’t be waking up any time soon. We had a lot of fun” before grabbing your bag that you placed on the table in the hallway on your way in. It was clear that you were about to leave, so Buck jumps up and grabs your hand, putting on his best kicked puppy expression. “Why don’t you stay for a bit longer? We have some wine in the fridge and I will drop you off at your place later, I wouldn’t feel right letting a pretty lady like yourself be outside all by yourself.” He states softly, pouting a bit in hopes that it would convince you to stay. You glance between him and his friend, who was eagerly nodding, before sighing and setting down your bag. “Fine, I’ll stay for a bit. But only if you have anything to eat that isn’t almost pure sugar.” You agree, your request causing the older male to jump into motion and quickly rushing into the kitchen to put a pizza in the oven for you. Meanwhile, Buck leads you back to the couch, not letting go of your hand until you pull it away.

Somehow you end up being squished between the two men, a glass of wine in your hand and the pizza on the table. After some small arguing, they decided to just let you choose the movie, so now they had to suffer through one of your favorite horror movies. While you sit there not even flinching, Buck is absolutely terrified and unsure whether he should feel impressed by the fact that you do not mind horror movies or scared that you clearly do not cringe at the big amounts of blood spattering all over the screen. On the other side, Eddie has managed to wrap his arm around your shoulder, with the excuse that he feels safer if he knows that you and Buck are safe and within his reach. He is definitely impressed by your ability to keep a straight face at the movie, though definitely not as surprised as Buck, especially because he knew about your background.

Soon enough the first movie is finished, then a second one, then a third and the next thing you know, you wake up to the smell of bacon in a bed that was most certainly not yours. Looking down at yourself, you realize that the shirt you are wearing is also not yours, leaving you confused for a moment because you do not recall getting changed the previous night. Sighing, you quickly come to the conclusion that one of the two men must have changed you. Rubbing the sleep out of your eyes, you make your way into the kitchen, where you are greeted by the sight of a small family breakfast with Buck, Eddie and Chris. Deep inside your heart, you wish to wake up to that small family every morning, though that wish quickly gets locked up and hidden from the world as you make your way to the coffee machine to get a cup. Chris is the first of the three to react to your presence, calling out your nickname before grinning brightly at you. “Good morning, little one. Did you help make breakfast?” You ask, sitting down on the counter to smile at the nodding boy. “Yeah!! Daddy gave me instructions!” He explains with an excited tone before glancing at the clock and frowning. “Can you convince dad to let me stay at home today?” He asks you with a hushed tone, causing you to giggle and shake your head, whispering back “sorry, but I am sure that the captain would not enjoy you missing your big day in school. Or how else is your group supposed to present the fantastic poem you wrote?”. Chris tilts his head before thinking for a moment. “Fair after school?” he tries to negotiate, causing you to giggle again before nodding. “Sure thing, buddy. Now go brush your teeth and I will drive you to school, okay?” “Okay, mommy!” Chris replies before rushing off to brush his teeth, leaving an uncomfortable silence behind as his words sink into all of you.

Eddie and Buck are watching your interaction with Chris, the sound of your giggles making the smile without realizing it. Surely, you must have noticed that they changed you into something more comfortable last night after you had fallen asleep on Eddie’s chest. However, it just felt natural to the two males to take care of you and make you breakfast, Chris being a bit help. Though when Chris calls you mommy, they freeze and Buck even chokes on his piece of the pancake. They certainly did not expect that Chris was that fond of you, though Eddie is slightly less surprised than Buck, thinking about the countless times that Chris had asked for you to come over. Still, the sudden name caused his movement to halt as well, his brain going haywire, trying to figure out if Chris had somehow found out about his attraction for you and that is why he felt so comfortable with calling you mommy. Or perhaps it was simply because the men had decided to pull one of Eddie’s shirt on you yesterday and that is what made it seem like you two were dating. Or was it the couple of times he had invited you out with Chris and him for dinner? His train of thought is quickly broken though, when Chris appears in the kitchen and says goodbye to the two men, calling Buck dad and Eddie daddy before rushing off to your car. Once again you three are left alone in the kitchen, the silence deafening. “Drive safely, okay?” Buck manages to mutter out, making you nod. Glancing between the two men, you decide to peck their cheeks before rushing out after Chris, grabbing your bag in the process to drive him to the school.

When you return to Eddie’s house, you can already hear the yelling from the outside. Slowly making your way into the house, you can finally understand what the two were arguing about. You. From what you gathered, Eddie was upset with Buck for flirting with you while Buck was countering that obviously Eddie was too chicken to do something about his feelings for you. Avoiding nearly being hit by a vase that comes flying your way, you clear your throat causing the fight to die down and both men to turn to you. “I- uh…” Eddie starts, though you raise your hand to silence him before grabbing the stuff you had left on the couch. “Once you two grow up and handle this like actual adults, then you can call me.” You state before walking out of the house and slamming the door shut behind you, leaving the two men dumbfounded and broken.

Two months. It takes two months of Chris sulking, Bobby scolding them and roughly 5 meetings with Maddie before they can finally face each other again. Yet whenever they stare at your number, they chicken out, too afraid to call you. You had been right, they were acting like two children throwing tantrums, build on the unspoken feelings between them. But now that they were dating steadily and currently curled up together on the couch, they finally decide to call you up. However, much to their distaste, a man answers your phone and for a moment they believe they lost any chance with you, if there even was one to begin with. “Hello? Are you still there?” The man on the phone asks, causing Eddie to nod and reply with a small “yeah”. A hum is heard from the other side of the line before they hear “what do you want from my sister?”. Never in their life did the duo think that hearing such a question would be such a relief. Buck reacts quicker than Eddie and explains the situation, what has happened and why they were calling now. Another hum is audible before some commotion can be heard and then they hear your voice, a sense of happiness washing over them. For whatever reason, you actually agree to meet with them after your work, giving them the address of your workplace.

Your shift ends in 10 minutes when Buck and Eddie walk into the club where you were working, quickly spotting you behind the bar, deciding that your outfit was definitely too short for their liking. Holding on to Eddie’s hand tightly, Buck weasels his way through the crowd and stops right before you at the bar, smiling softly as you smile back. Though he can’t help but look you over once more, the small shirt definitely compliments your chest yet does not leave a lot to the imagination and your shorts are barely allowed to be titled shorts by how short they are. Eddie notices what the younger firefighter is doing and quickly elbows his ribs, earning a grunt and a displeased look from the other before smiling at you. “Three of your favorites, nena.” Eddie yells over the music to you and watches as you get to work, mixing three shot glasses filled with some purpelish looking liquor before sliding them over to him. “What would you like, Evan?” You ask softly before adding “a blowjob?” with a smirk, causing the young male to choke on his own spit, believing he did not hear you correctly. “I am talking about the drink, dumbass.” You explain with a small laugh, preparing one before setting it down before Buck, who still looks like a puppy which just got caught destroying your favorite pair of shoes. “T-Thanks,” he finally mutters out, grabbing the drink and mentally kicking himself for sounding like a schoolgirl that was talking to her first crush. You three fall into an easy conversation, barely paying attention to the time, not noticing that your shift was over until your coworker walks up behind you and tells you to start leaving. You nod and lead the two firefighters to the back room that usually only employees are allowed to enter before grabbing a shirt from your bag and pulling it on before looking at the two men. “Before you ask, yes, it is your shirt, Eds. It is just very comfy.” You state, grabbing the rest of your belongings before smiling at the boys and leading them out of the back door.

A warm ball of cuddles and limbs, that is how you would describe the three of you on Eddie’s bed right now. After you left your workplace, the boys started bombarding you with questions and you answered them all honestly, about how you chose this job in hopes that you would forget the two men that made your days so much brighter, about how you missed Chris and a bunch of other things that they wanted to know. On the way back to Eddie’s place, they stopped at some restaurant that was still open and grabbed the food. Once you were all at his place, you ate and then proceeded to talk about the three of you, about the feelings the duo had for each other and for you and how they wished for you to be a part of the small family they had created. First you jokingly denied them, teasing them that you did not have any feelings for them, but after seeing the hurt flash on their faces, you quickly explained how you returned their feelings and that you missed them a lot within the past two months, even if Carla had kept you up to date with their wellbeing. So now you were all cuddling and just enjoying the presence, because even if tomorrow was not given, if tomorrow everything could fall apart, right now you three were a happy family and you would not change that for anything in this world.

Chris’s reaction the next morning when he walks into the kitchen and sees you sitting on the counter, sipping your coffee while Buck is standing between your legs is priceless. You did not know that the kid could even hit such a high note, but he manages to do so when he screams your name and scrambles over to you, pouting at Buck standing in his way. That was most definitely not what he had in his mind when his dad told him that there was a surprise waiting for him in the kitchen. Though you quickly push Buck to the side, earning a whine from the male about how mean you are, before jumping off the counter and hugging Chris tightly, excited to spend the rest of your mornings with those three.

[beyourownanchor6]

i know, i know…i said i was done posting fics for the year, and that i wasn’t going to get suckered into a new years fic…but a last minute pinch hitter was needed and i couldn’t resist 🙈

i hope you enjoy @nottheblogurlooking4 !! 💙🎆

Missing Piece

-summary-

Chris has big plans for New Year's, ones Eddie would like to avoid, kind of like his feelings for his best friend. 

rated: g

read on ao3

Eddie waited for the other end to connect, pacing around his kitchen as he did so.

There wasn’t much time before he needed to leave to pick up Chris from his sleepover, and he’d already been putting this conversation on hold for too long.

As the all too familiar voicemail message rang out through his ears, Eddie sighed, though the ridiculous message made him smile every time.

This is Buck! If you’re hearing this, that means I’m busy being a badass firefighter or a badass uncle…or uh, hanging out with my favorite little buddy. 

It was the last part that always got to Eddie, Buck not knowing how to refer to Christopher, even though they’d practically been co-parenting him for the last few years, Eddie officially making Buck Christopher’s legal guardian if anything ever happened to him; for all intents and purposes, they were a family—just not quite in the way Eddie yearned for. 

Eddie clicked the end button before he could leave any words he might later regret, pocketing his phone and grabbing for his keys. 

He kept his eyes focused on the road, though he continuously looked out of his peripherals, hoping the adorable picture of Buck and Chris eating pancakes would appear over his screen, signaling his best friend was calling; it didn’t.

Chris was all smiles as he greeted his dad, the two hugging each other tightly, Eddie thanking his classmates’ parents once more.

“Hey bud, you have fun?”

“Can we go tonight, please?”

 Of course, the first thing out of his son’s mouth would be the thing that Eddie had been trying to avoid, especially since he hadn’t been able to get ahold of Buck.

“Um, let’s talk about it when we get home mijo.”

Chris sighed, though he got into his seat, Eddie making sure he was buckled before moving to the driver’s side and taking off. 

He never wanted to disappointment his son, hated the way it made him feel, but Eddie wasn’t sure he was ready for this, not Christopher, but Eddie himself. 

Looking in the rearview mirror, Eddie could see Chris’ arms were crossed, the boy looking out the window, clearly trying to avoid his dad’s gaze. Eddie sighed to himself, gearing to come up with some lame excuse when that all too familiar picture popped up on his screen, Chris instantly recognizing the ringtone. 

As he clicked accept, Chris excitedly cheered aloud.

“Buck!”

Buck’s laughter filled the air, his voice warming Eddie wholly.

“Hey buddy, how was your sleepover?”

For the next several minutes, it was as if Eddie wasn’t even there, Buck and Chris talking all around the other; Eddie didn’t mind.

Focusing on the road and their cheery voices, Eddie almost forgot why he’d called Buck to begin with, almost.

“Uh Eds, you um, you called?”

He could’ve easily lied, said that it was a butt dial or something…. technology was always out to get him. 

“Yea, I uh—”

Why was this so hard?

Oh right, because Eddie had left the 118 and they’d barely talked since, not to mention Eddie may or may not be repressing some old fears—he did not panic, ok?

“I just um….”

Before he could muster up the courage to get the rest of the words out, Christopher took over.

“Bucky! You should come with us tonight!”

Thankfully they were at a red light, because Eddie then whipped his head around, glaring at his son, his voice a harsh whisper.

“Chris! I said we would discuss that at home.”

Chris only shrugged, Eddie having no idea where to go from there; he only turned back around when he remembered they weren’t quite alone, Buck’s voice echoing throughout the truck.

“Uh, come with you where?”

If the light hadn’t turned green, Eddie would’ve slumped his head against the steering wheel, maybe even banged into it a few times for good measure. 

“Chris, he um, he wants to go to that New Year’s Eve show, but uh, you probably already have plans and—”

“I’m free.”

Great.

Christopher squealed with delight, the sound making Eddie feel slightly less guilty.

“What time should I come over?”

Chris began to recite the times, much like any kid who committed their favorite commercials to memory; Eddie was only grateful he didn’t have to do much of the talking. 

“Ok, I’ll see you about seven then.”

Chris and Buck said their goodbyes as Eddie pulled into the driveway, grateful to be home.

“Eds?

“…yea?”

There was a pause, Buck hesitating, though in the end he seemed to change his mind.

“See you soon.”

“Yea, see you when you get here.”

~

When they got inside, Chris beelined for his new Lego set, the one Buck had gotten him for Christmas, no doubt eager to show his Buck all the progress he’d made since the last time he’d shown him. 

Eddie was once again left alone with his thoughts, wandering around the house aimlessly, cleaning things that didn’t need cleaning as he went. 

The new year always brought a lot of thoughts, but especially this year; Eddie wasn’t sure if he could handle anymore change. 

As the clock clicked closer to seven, Eddie busied himself with helping Chris get ready, moving to do the same for himself after.

Promptly at seven, there was a knock on the door, Eddie’s gut wrenching just a little; when had Buck stopped using his key? 

Eddie rubbed his palms against his jeans before pulling the door open, Buck’s smile bright as ever, dimming slightly on the edges as their eyes met; yea, what could go wrong tonight?

They stood there awkwardly for a moment, neither of them knowing how to greet each other, Chris thankfully popping up behind Eddie to take over. 

Buck offered to drive, but Eddie waved him off, insisting this was their treat, when in reality he needed the distraction, something to keep him focused. 

And so, the three of them piled into the truck, Eddie trying not to think about the somewhat lengthy drive they had ahead of them, Buck sitting all too close, Christopher beaming brightly in the backseat. 

Eddie turned up the radio, hoping to drown out some of the silence, grateful when Buck and Christopher quietly bean to hum along. He hadn’t realized how much his leg was bouncing up and down until Buck’s hand came to rest over it, Eddie stilling immediately; these rolls were usually reversed. 

As their eyes met, Buck looked him over curiously, removing his hand shortly after; Eddie felt anxious all over again, though for a completely different reason this time.

When they finally pulled into the parking lot, Eddie couldn’t tell if he was ready to get out of his truck to avoid the tension inside, or stay in his truck to avoid his fears of what was to come. In the end, he got out, following closely behind his boys as they went, letting them guide the way. 

There were vendors and people all around, music blasting through the air as they went. Everyone had on headbands or necklaces, all lined with 2022 or the words Happy New Year. It didn’t take long before Chris was begging for a set of his own, the three of them waiting in the long line to get their own 2022 attire. 

After they were all decked out, they stopped to get some food, the three of them sharing a plate of nachos, followed by churros for all of them; at least there was one good thing about the night.

They wandered around after, eventually running into Hen and Karen, plus Denny and Nia; they really made such an adorable family. 

“Hey boys, why don’t you join us?”

Hen smiled to them brightly, Karen patting the blanket they were currently spread out on.

Chris was quick to join them, Eddie lingering awkwardly, watching as Buck quickly got distracted with the kids, the four of them making funny faces; he was so in love with this man that it physically pained him sometimes. 

Eddie finally settled after a bit—meaning he uncrossed his arms and plastered a smile over his face—the others playing some board games Hen and Karen had brought along.

With midnight fast approaching now, the kids were tuckering out, Eddie becoming all the more anxious.

Hen looked over to Eddie, then to Buck who was watching him intently; she needed to put them both out of their misery.

“Why don’t you guys go watch the show? Christopher can hang out with us.”

Chris seemed content to do just so, already comfortably sprawled on the blanket.

Eddie had no idea how to answer, wanting to flee the event altogether. It took Buck nudging him with his elbow to bring Eddie back to the present, Eddie offering him a half smile in turn. They both thanked Hen and Karen, each of them ruffling Chris’ curls before wandering off.

They walked side by side, shoulders and hands bumping every so often with their close proximity; it was Buck who finally broke the silence.

“So, are you going to tell me why you really invited me, because I know things have been uh, weird since you left, but this feels—different.”

Yes, it is different, because I announced I was leaving and we haven’t talked about it since.

“Technically Chris invited you.”

“Eddie.”

Eddie sighed, coming to a stop, Buck following suit.

“I just—I didn’t want to come here tonight, but I didn’t know how to tell Chris no, so I uh, I invited you.”

Buck furrowed his brows, not quite believing Eddie’s story.

“Why uh-why didn’t you want to come here tonight?”

There it was, the question Eddie had been avoiding all night, and pretty much since the moment Chris had asked him.

He shrugged his shoulders lamely, not looking up to meet those piercing blues. 

A soft touch was pressed under his chin as Buck used his hand to lift Eddie’s head, their eyes meeting automatically. 

“Eds talk to me. You know, you know you can tell me anything…right?”

Eddie read the unsaid words there—like about you leaving the team, me.

“I just—I thought I could handle it.”

“Handle what?”

Handle not having your back every day, handle shit on my own, handle the fact that you’ll never love me the way I love you.

“Eds, I’m sorry that we haven’t—talked, that I, that I haven’t really been around, but—”

Eddie put his hand out between them, motioning for Buck to stop. 

“Buck it’s not—”

He couldn’t lie, because that was part of his problem, just not the current one.”

As the announcer came over the loudspeaker, announcing the show was just minutes away, Eddie’s heart began to race, the words he’d been holding onto finally spilling from his mouth.

“I’m afraid of the fireworks, ok?!” 

Buck didn’t laugh, didn’t tell Eddie he was being irrational, just simply pulled Eddie into his arms, hugging him tightly.

“Eddie I—I wish you would’ve told me sooner.”

Yea, me too Buck, me too.

“We can leave now if you want. Just let me grab Chris and—”

Eddie shook his head, pulling away from Buck slightly.

“No, no I don’t—I just didn’t want to be here alone” without you.

Buck gave him a soft smile, reaching out to squeeze his forearm.

“Then you won’t be. I’ve got your back, remember?”

Eddie could only nod, not wanting to let his emotions overtake him.

They made their way toward where the fireworks show would be happening, neither of them needing to be too close with their height; sometimes it had its advantages. 

While they stood and waited, Eddie couldn’t help but to shift closer to Buck, the man not seeming to mind in the slightest.

“I’m usually good about—”

“About hiding your feelings? Yea, I know.”

Alright, that was fair.

“Yea, I uh—after everything this year I just didn’t think I could handle fireworks, as lame as that sounds.”

Buck turned to fully meet him then, his voice sincere.

“Eddie, there’s nothing lame about your fears, especially with everything you’ve been through.”

Eddie pulled in his bottom lip, biting at it, nodding his head in agreement, even if he wasn’t quite on the same page as Buck yet. 

“What can I do to help?”

After thinking about it for a minute, Eddie didn’t say anything, simply reached his hand out to link it with Bucks’. Buck didn’t say anything in turn, though he squeezed their fingers, instantly calming Eddie; you he thought, you’re all I need.

They stood hand in hand, Eddie trying not to wince as the announcer declared it was time. Midnight was only ten minutes away now, Eddie anxiously squeezing Buck’s hand. 

When Buck tugged him closer, Eddie couldn’t help but to look over at his best friend, not taking his eyes off the man he loved, not even when the first boom erupted into the air. 

Buck was looking straight ahead, all the beautiful colors reflected in his eyes, Eddie unable to look away, which is why Bucks’ voice startled him, Eddie smiling sheepishly.

“You know, I dunno why you invited me to watch the fireworks with you, when all you’re going to watch is me.”

“Nothing shines brighter than you.”

Buck snorted, though he ducked his head in a shy smile, Eddie letting his head fall against Bucks’ shoulder; God this man made him such a sap. 

As Eddie lifted his head, Buck was staring right back, those blues glistening in the night light. The crowd around them began to count down from ten, neither of them looking away, blue holding brown. 

With every number their heads drifted closer, their lips brushing together just as midnight rang out. It wasn’t like the fireworks erupting in the sky, or the loud cheers around them, but something more, almost as if the world around them ceased to exist. 

Their kisses started slow, soft even, Bucks hands eventually moving to cup Eddie’s cheeks while Eddie moved his own to Bucks’ hips, pulling the man impossibly closer. When they finally pulled apart, they were still close enough to breathe each other’s air, Eddie already dizzy with want.

“Happy New Year Eds.”

“Happy New Year Ev.”

They came together for another searing kiss, the two of them smiling into it. Eddie reached his thumb up to brush over Buck’s lips, leaning to rest their heads together.

“C’mon, let’s take our son home.”

With their hands linked once more, they made their way through the crowd, oblivious to anyone around them. Hen and Karen only gave them warm smiles, the two giving their thanks before wrapping Chris in their arms, carrying the sleepy boy back to the truck.

Their hands met again as they took their seats, Eddie’s body calming once more. There was much to be discussed, but for now, they had each other, and that was enough. With Buck by his side, nothing could bring him down; they would always be there to lift each other up or bring them back down. 

The new year always brought change, ones Eddie usually feared, though not this time; sometimes change was good. After all, change is what brought them together to begin with, Eddie never trusting anyone more to have his back; it was a new year indeed, one Eddie intended to make the most of. 

[toosicktoocare]

emergency contact

pt 1 of 2 and also found on ao3!

(i promise i’m not ignoring my prompts- this idea just kinda popped into my head)

“Hi, may I speak with Mr. Evan Buckley?”

Frowning, Buck pulls the phone away from his ear. He doesn’t know the number; however, the area code is local, so he can probably rule out a scam call. At least, he thinks, the woman on the other line sounds very much real and not a robotic recording about to lead in with a cruise ship he didn’t sign up for.

“Uh, yeah. This is Buck—I mean Evan. This is Evan Buckley.” He clears his throat. He can hear a lot of background noise—a lot of muffled speaking, intercoms crackling. He’s heard it before, but he’s struggling to equate the noise to a particular memory, only having a small rock of dread burrowing low in his stomach to go by.

“Hi, Mr. Buckley. I’m Nurse Johns at LA General. I have you listed as the second emergency contact for Christopher Diaz.”

Buck’s stomach bottoms out, leaving him nauseous, weightless, and far too cold despite the LA sun beating in through his window and warming his bed. He shivers and forces himself upright in bed, muscles rigid, jaw a tense, jutted line.

“His father,” Buck starts into the phone, shaky, “Eddie—Edmundo Diaz—”

“—didn’t answer. You’re next on the list. Sir, if this is incorrect, I’ll need to move on to the next person—”

“—no!” Buck jerks to his feet, nudging abandoned clothes around with his foot until he finds a pair of gym shorts. “I’m… His father’s on a shift with the LAFD. Is Chris okay? What’s going on?” Composure, he thinks, is out the window. Then again, he’s never been capable of the whole ‘cool, calm, and collected’ thing when it comes to Chris. He snags the same shirt he tossed to the floor when he climbed into bed this morning after his 24-hour, a short-sleeved, blue shirt, and slips it over of his head, careful of his phone.

“Sir, I can’t disclose that over the phone.”

“Right,” Buck mutters, nodding more to himself. “I’m on my way now. Tell Chris—tell him Bucky’s on the way, okay?” He ends the call, taking the steps down from his loft two at a time. He’s only faintly aware that he’s shaking, and the rock of dread’s grown triple in size and sits heavily against his gut. He fumbles with his keys, pockets his wallet, and just remembers to slip on a pair of sandals. If he weren’t moving against a rush of fear, he’d take the time to give a mental ‘look who’s laughing now’ to everyone who’s made fun of the sandals in the last two months since he purchased them, but, the fear is a cold hand that’s pulling on him, disrupting his thoughts, chiseling against his composure.

He doesn’t dwell. He races out of his apartment, and in seconds, he’s in his jeep and whipping out of his parking spot. He knows LA well, knows the traffic patterns, and he’s unfortunately hitting lunch rush, which, he thinks, is probably similar to some twisted second layer of hell. He wishes, more than anything in this second, that he had an engine, that he could dominate the road with the power of a siren, but his jeep will have to suffice. Still, his grip on his steering wheel is tight, his knuckles fading white, when he hits the first of many red lights.

He uses hands-free to call Eddie, not surprised to get his voicemail after only two rings.

“Eddie! Chris is in the hospital—They didn’t give me any details, and I’m on my way now. They called you first. I’m next on the list?” Buck pauses briefly on that, gets lost in that fact, but then he shakes his head. “Look, he’s at LA General—just get there when you can, okay?”

He ends the calls, somehow feeling even worse, and then he tries Bobby. Logically, he knows that if Eddie’s not answering, Bobby probably won’t either. Still, when he’s teetering on the edge of panic, Bobby can talk him down, can ease him safely back to the present.  

“Buck?”

Buck’s foot slips a little too hard on the gas, and he sucks in a sharp breath. “Bobby? Bobby! Where’s Eddie?”

“Currently? He’s probably making his way back to a second story window, hopefully with one of the victims of an expansive house fire.” A pause. “What’s going on, Buck?”

Buck peers around, swallows back a groan at the cars on every side of him. “Look, can you get Eddie to LA General ASAP?”

“You’re at LA General? Are you hurt?”

“No! I mean, I will be, but it’s not me—it’s Christopher. Bobby, I don’t…” Buck sighs, drags a free hand down his face. He can feel his lungs constricting. The pressure of panic’s a bitch.

“They didn’t say anything over the phone. They tried Eddie first, and then they called me. I’m—”

“—Buck, take a breath. I’ll get Eddie there as soon as possible. You be careful driving there, okay? Keep us updated.”

Buck comes back down to earth with a low breath that’s been trapped in his lungs. “Thanks, Bobby,” he says, and he means it, pushing his gratitude hard into the two words. The call ends, and Buck forces his focus onto the road, onto making it to the hospital in one piece because Christopher needs him.

***

Concussion.

It’s the only word Buck keeps coming back to. He’s being led down hallways that are too bright, too loud, and annoyingly familiar, and the nurse is explaining that Christopher took a tumble at school and is currently being monitored for a possible concussion. Buck nods when appropriate, offers a few non-verbal affirmatives, and then he’s stopping before two large, glass windows, and behind them, Chris is sitting in bed chatting with another nurse. His hand finds the glass, fingers spread out, anxiety spread even to his palms.

“You’re welcome to go in. We’ve told him you’re coming.”

Buck nods absently. He’s going to go in—of course, he’s going to go in. He just needs to take a single second to fully capture the image of Christopher alive and breathing in his mind, an image that can break through the muddle, clear his head, bring breath back to his lungs.

“Mr. Buckley?”

“Sorry,” Buck mutters, nodding. He turns when the nurse opens the door for him, and he wills away any and all fear etched deep in his face the second he crosses over into the room.

“Bucky!”

“Chris!” Buck’s no stranger to concussions, so though animated, he keeps his voice soft, and he walks toward the end of the bed, glancing at the clipboard. “How’re you feeling, bud?” He asks, satisfied to see that the doctor’s notes are promising.

“My head hurts.”

“I bet it does,” Buck mutters, sympathetic, and he drops onto the edge of the bed, one hand resting atop Christopher’s covered knee. “What happened?”

“Me and Caleb were playing firefighter, and I fell down a step.”

Buck sucks in a sharp breath, holds it in his lungs to brace for the familiar wave of guilt that’s soon to tangle in his breath, jab past his rib cage to his lungs. “Is that so?” He settles for, breathless, and Christopher’s face falls, his eyes dropping to his lap.

“Don’t tell dad. He’ll get mad.”

“Chris—”

“—Mr. Buckley, I presume?”

Buck’s never been more thankful for a doctor to walk in for he wasn’t sure how to unpackage Christopher’s quiet plea in a way that wouldn’t be considered as overstepping Eddie’s parental authority but also in a way that wouldn’t have Christopher demanding he leave.

“Uh, yeah—It’s Buck.”

“Okay, Buck. Want the good news?”

“Will it be followed by bad news?” Buck asks, one brow arched, stomach twisting. “Because his father—”

“—no bad news today,” the doctor interrupts, and Buck huffs out a quiet sigh of relief and gives Christopher’s knee a squeeze. He gives a nod, and the doctor plucks the clipboard up.

“Christopher’s been cleared of a concussion. He’s got a few scrapes and bruises, and his head will probably hurt for a few more hours, but otherwise, he’s fine. I’ll leave a note at the front desk to begin the discharge papers. He should be out within the hour.”

“Thanks, Doc,” Buck mutters, and he nods when the doctor and nurses exit, giving him space to breathe; though, he’s not sure how much he can actually breath encompassed in four, blinding walls that bring back a pressing dark cloud of memories.

“Buck?”

Buck blinks slowly, peels his gaze from the door to see Christopher smiling softly at him, poking at his side.

“Can you lay with me?”

Buck eyes the small bed, mentally works round the best way to squeeze in, to maximize Christopher’s comfort, and he slips his sandals off and climbs onto the bed, impossibly gentle when he adjusts Chris. When he’s got Christopher against his chest, he sighs, and Christopher sighs with him, content, safe.

***

“That’s the last of them, Cap,” Eddie coughs lightly, tugs his helmet off. His lungs burn faintly from smoke inhalation. It’s not bad by any means, but he’s dabbling with the idea of having Hen look him over anyway.  

“Should I help with fire…” Eddie’s words trail off when the 122 pulls up onto the scene, their members already hopping out of the engine and working the hose. “Was backup necessary?” He glances back over his shoulder. Sure, the fire’s large, but he doesn’t think it’s classified as a level high enough to warrant local support.

“Are you okay?”

Eddie whips back around, squints at Bobby. “Yeah, why?”

“Let me clarify: are you okay to leave the scene right this second, or do you need to a look-over now?”

Eddie’s still struggling to read Bobby’s tone for it’s always frighteningly composed, even in the face of emergency. “I’m okay now.” He nods slowly, and then Bobby’s turning on his heel and wordlessly gesturing him toward the engine.

He slips into the back, pausing to see Bobby sitting in the back with him, stationed across from him.

“Cap, what—”

“—have a seat.”

Eddie sits slowly, slips his headphones on, and then the engine’s roaring to life beneath him and pulling away from the scene. He’s alone with Bobby because Hen and Chimney left earlier with a patient, and he can’t shake the feeling that he’s in trouble for something. He replays his actions at the house fire, yet he can’t find an error that would warrant a private conversation with Bobby.

“Buck called,” Bobby finally says, and Eddie drags his gaze from the cars moving onto the road shoulders, now finally tuning in to the fact that the sirens are wailing overhead still, the engine demanding the street with the shrill sounds and flashing lights. The sirens shouldn’t be on unless…

“Is he okay?”

“Buck’s fine. The hospital called him because Christopher was brought in. They tried you, and he was next on the emergency contact list.”

There’s dread, Eddie thinks. Dread when he rides up to a call and gathers the first, initial assessment of the situation. And then there’s bone-deep, crippling fear—fear that twists in his gut, pools into his lungs, walls around his heart. It drains the blood from his face, freezes his muscles, steals his breath, and buries his mind in a series of what if scenarios that range from grim to downright terrifying.

“Eddie, breathe.”

He does, but only because his mind is trained to respond on command to Bobby’s voice. The breath he sucks in his short and cold, and he finally reaches in his pocket for his phone. He’s got four missed calls, three voicemails, and a series of texts from Buck, all fairly close in time to the other.

He goes through the texts—he won’t be able to hear the voicemails right now, and he really doesn’t think he’ll be able to stomach Buck’s panicked, broken voice.

[From: Buck] Chris is okay. He fell at school and hit his head

[From: Buck] no concussion. Doc said he can be discharged within the hour

[From: Buck] I’ve checked him over. There’s a bruise on his side I want to keep an eye on but otherwise he’s okay

[From: Buck] we should talk about why he fell

[From: Buck] but not until later! Sorry that last text sounded weird…

[From: Buck] discharge in 20 minutes. I’ll bring him back to yours if you aren’t able to come yet. I still have the spare key you gave me

He’s blinks around the tears pooling in his eyes, swallows thickly. “Buck said he’s okay. He fell at school.” He’s aware his voice is shaking, and then Bobby claps him on the knee.

“That’s a good thing.”

It is, Eddie thinks, swiping the back of his hand over his eyes. He works on his breathing, controlling it, counting breaths, but when they pull up to the hospital, the fear comes back, muted now, but still there, always there.

He hops out of the engine, Bobby not far behind, and in just seconds, a nurse is guiding them back. When he reaches the door and looks beyond the glass to see Christopher curled up against Buck’s chest, he breathes, deeply and fully, for the first time since he pulled himself up into the engine. Relief, he thinks, is the singular image of the two most important people in his life safe and together.

***

“Christopher!”

Buck whips his gaze from his phone where he’s got a story pulled up to read to Christopher, and he slowly turns Chris over just as Eddie rounds the bed and pulls Chris to his chest tightly. He notes, to himself, that Eddie’s in full turnout gear, that he’s got soot smudges on his face, that his jaw is a set, unwavering line jutting against his skin.

“Daddy!”

“¿Estás bien, hijo?”

“Sí.”

Buck wordlessly slips from the bed, toes his feet into his sandals. He crosses his arms and backs away from the scene, feeling all too overwhelmed, suddenly suffocated despite the brush of relief before him, and then Eddie’s looking toward him, frowning, eyes unreadable, and Buck offers a small smile.

“The discharge papers,” he motions toward a stack of papers on the end of the hospital bed. “I’ll bring my jeep around.”

“Wait, Buck—”

Buck slips out of the room, eyes cast to the ground, and he bumps right into someone, his hand coming up to fist around the turnout jacket and his head dropping against a shoulder.

“You okay, Buck?”

There are so many ways Buck wants to say no, but the one that’s most alarming, one that’s been a nagging twinge in his lungs, is the one he opts for. “I don’t think I can breathe.” His voice is breathless, and then Bobby’s guiding him with a hand to his back toward the nearest exit. The second he bursts through the double doors, he sucks in a sharp gasp that breaks way to a few coughs, and he’s being gently eased onto the edge of the sidewalk.

“Easy, Buck. Breathe with me, okay?”

Buck meets Bobby’s eyes, nods, and drags his gaze down to Bobby’s chest, watching the steady rise and fall, mimicking it, until the fog clouding his brain breaks, leaving him far too tired. His shoulders slump, and Bobby claps a hand to his shoulder.

“What’s going on?”

“I didn’t know…” Buck sighs, dropping his face into his palms. He can hear his therapist’s voice reminding him that he’ll feel better if he’s more open with others. “I’m really overwhelmed right now.” He can feel Bobby’s hand tighten around his shoulder, a wordless sign to continue. “Just… Getting that call that Chris is in the hospital really freaked me out. I know he’s fine, but just… He’s the last person I ever want to see in a hospital bed.”

“Now you know how I feel every time I get a call that you’re in the hospital.”

“Bobby,” Buck groans, lifting his head to match Bobby’s smile.

“You look tired—I don’t imagine you got much sleep before the call?”

“A few hours,” Buck admits, rubbing at the back of his neck. “Not sure I’ll get back to sleep anytime soon. I’m exhausted, but it’s definitely going to take some time for the adrenaline to die down.”

“Do you need me to take Eddie and Chris back?”

“Nah,” Buck drags himself up to his feet, yawning. “I’m going to need to physically see Christopher safe in bed before I can even think about unwinding.” He can see one of the engines not far off in the parking lot, and he laughs quietly. “Though, I bet Chris would love to be back in the truck.” He frowns at Bobby’s turnover gear. “Did you leave right after a call?”

“I requested the 122 to come in for backup.”

Nodding absently, Buck looks back toward the doors they came from, and he crosses his arms, fingers digging into the skin. He knows that he’s taken all necessary steps when faced with an abrupt situation, yet he can’t shake the underlining burn in his stomach that he overstepped, that he didn’t get here fast enough, that he should have added a step, or even removed one, when getting here.

“You did good today, Buck.”

His shoulders slump, tension falling with them, and he huffs out a low sigh.

“Thanks, Bobby.”

***

“You keep looking at him like he’s going to disappear.”

Buck jumps; he didn’t hear the shower cut off, nor did he hear Eddie slip into Christopher’s room behind him.

“I keep thinking he might,” Buck whispers, and Eddie tugs at his arm, urging him up from the chair he’s got pulled up to Christopher’s bed. He lets Eddie guide him from the room, but when Eddie tries to ease him onto the couch, he digs his heels into the floor, and Eddie turns to him, brows furrowed.

“Buck—”

“—when were you planning on telling me I’m second on Christopher’s list of emergency contacts?”

Buck doesn’t miss the deep, calculated sigh Eddie breathes, and he opts to remain standing when Eddie sinks down onto the couch, only watching wordlessly as Eddie runs fingers through his damp hair.

“It was Chris’s idea.”

Buck blinks slowly. “What?”

“After the tsunami. When we were leaving the hospital, he mentioned how you saved him. He said he wanted you to be the person who comes to save him again.” Eddie pauses, rubs smally at the shirt fabric just above his chest. “I resisted at first—I told Christopher we couldn’t ask something that big of you, but I’ve seen countless times since then how far you’ll go for him, so I called and had you added second on the list.”

Eddie takes in a low breath, and Buck’s mutely envious because he can’t do the same.

“If I can’t get to him, it needs to be you.”

Buck’s struggling to pick something to focus on. His heart wants to chase the heat of Eddie’s words, yet the guilt, as it always is, is an overpowering force that leaves him shaking his head, backing up until the back of his leg hits the coffee table.

“It can’t be me.” He watches Eddie’s face fall, but Eddie still nods, understanding even now.

“I get it. I should have asked first. I know it’s a big responsibility—”

“—what?” Buck shakes his head again, crosses his arms. “It’s not the responsibility. You know I would do absolutely anything for that kid. It’s the fact that it’s my fault he ended up in the hospital today.”

Eddie cocks his head to the side, lips in a firm line, and Buck knows this look well—it’s Eddie’s way of signaling for Buck to continue, knowing well that Buck will finish on his own, that he doesn’t need verbal prompts to guide him toward his point.

“He was playing firefighter with one of his friends at school, and he fell down a step.”

The silence that follows feels thick enough to clog Buck’s lungs. He wants to sit—his legs are shaking, but if he sits, he can’t flee as fast, and he just knows Eddie’s going to ask him to leave, to not come back. And, Buck thinks, Eddie should. Eddie should yell at him for filling Christopher’s mind with stories from work, for encouraging this imaginative behavior that dropped him onto a hospital bed.

“Is that it?” Eddie says instead, calm, and Buck frowns, jaw opening and closing, struggling for words.

“I mean, I’m waiting for the part where you tell me how this is your fault,” Eddie clarifies, and Buck sinks onto the coffee table at this, not trusting his legs to hold him upright.

“Eddie, I’m constantly telling him stories from work, glorifying the job, painting all of these verbal, detailed images that fill his mind and plant ideas.”

“And you think I don’t?”

“Eddie—”

“—Buck, we have the same job. If Chris asks me what I did at work, I tell him. I spare him the calls that don’t go in our favor, but otherwise, I tell him.”

Buck blinks slowly, mind operating around 30% capacity, and Eddie leans forward, cupping a hand to Buck’s knee.

“No one’s at fault. Kid’s got one hell of an imagination.”

“Wait, hold on. You’re not mad?” Buck expected yelling. He expected to get kicked out of Eddie’s house, and yet, Eddie’s calm before him, relaxed, a little tired around the edges, but he’s showing no signs that he’s seconds from blowing up.

“There’s nothing to be mad about.”

Buck can only blink at Eddie. He’s faintly aware that his eyes are watering, and then Eddie’s pulling him back up by the arm.

“Okay, we all know by now that you get sappy when you’re tired.”

Buck stops in the doorway when Eddie steps into the bedroom, watching as Eddie pulls back the covers and motions toward the bed. He shakes his head, one hand gripping tightly at the doorframe.

“Eddie, I’m not taking your bed. You should be with Chris. I’ll go—”

“—Chris will want you here when he wakes up. Plus, it doesn’t take but basic math to realize you’re working on only four hours of sleep after a 24, so you’d be doing everyone a favor by shutting up and getting in the damn bed.”

“Eddie.”

“Buck.”

Buck holds Eddie’s gaze, breaking it after a few, heavy moments with a weighted sigh. He shuffles toward the bed, kicking off his sandals and climbing in on the side farthest from the door, knowing that the side closest to the door is reserved for Eddie, to accommodate Eddie’s needs to be the first to act if something happens.

The bed is heaven against his sore body, and the second his head hits the pillow, he’s struggling to keep his eyes open. The adrenaline is fully fleeing now, leaving him exhausted to the core in more ways than one. He blinks slowly, watching as Eddie climbs into the other side of the bed, sighing loudly, and he rolls toward Eddie, studying the way Eddie gingerly rubs at his chest for the second time.

“You give your oxygen mask to someone during the house fire?” Buck asks around a yawn, and Eddie nods.

“It wasn’t for long.”

“You didn’t get checked over.” It’s not a question; Buck knows, based on the sight of Eddie arriving at the hospital looking rough for wear and donned in full gear, but Eddie still responds.

“No, but I’m fine.”

Buck forces himself up on one elbow, frown deep, brows furrowed. “You should get checked out now. I can call Hen—”

“—did you forget I was a field medic?” Eddie arches a brow, and Buck sinks back against the pillow.

“No, you always find a time to remind me. You can’t check yourself over, though.”

“And how many times have you ignored a fractured rib because you ‘checked yourself over?’” Eddie fires back, and Buck groans, draping an arm over his eyes.

They fall silent, and Buck’s body is urging him to give in to the fatigue draping over him. Still, he can’t fully settle. The adrenaline of the last hour and a half is a flame that’s almost completely burned out. Still, it flickers smally, and he rolls onto his side, watching Eddie.

“The bruise on Christopher’s side. We should—”

“—I looked, and we iced it until he fell asleep. Now, please shut up and sleep.”

[midnightstar-90]

Hidden~ Eddie Diaz x Nash! Reader

A/N: I wanted to add some action, so I moved up when Shannon decided to divorce Eddie. Eddie is too good to make him into a cheater. I'm not really good at describing intimate-type stuff either.

Lose Some, Win Some

Y/N's POV

I am finally home. I'm home with my son, and the school gave me a couple of days to rest. I sat on my couch, watching the news. "Today, police suspect LAFD's 118 for robbing $300,000 worth of cash from a local bank. Police say that the LAFD was there to help the bank manager and a delivery man with a seizure or a possible nerve agent. Police also say that they found the cash inside one of their firetrucks. More information coming up, soon."

After hearing that, I remember the number on one of the firetrucks at the crash. The 118 saved me, and if they saved me, that means that Eddie and my dad are being questioned for a robbery. I haven't known Eddie long, but I know that Eddie, nor my father, would rob a bank.

Zachary walks into the room. "Mommy, I'm ready for bed," my little man says. I turn to him and say, "Ok, I'll be in there in a bit." He runs back to his room.

I hear a knock at the door. It is almost 9:30 pm. Who could be at my door? I go to the door and look through the peephole. Eddie and Christopher stand at the door with a to-go bag.

I open the door, and I say, "Eddie? Chris? what are you doing here?" "I bet you have heard about what is going on. The police have ransacked our house, and I was wondering if you could watch Chris until this blows over?" Eddie asked me desperately.

I smile at the two boys. "Sure. Chris, Zach is in his room getting ready for bed. You can go hang out with him until I get you a bed ready. His room is down the hall, the First door on the left," I tell the little boy, and then turn to Eddie.

He hands me Chris' night bag, and I joke and say, "There better not be any evidence in here." He chuckles, saying, "Nope, no evidence, just clothes, and a toothbrush."

I invite him into my apartment. He walks in and says, "Nice apartment. Is that a skylight?" He points up, at the skylight, in my living room.

(Y/N's Living room /w a skylight)

"Yeah, when Levi died, I would tell Zach that his father was watching him from the stars. So, I decided that anytime we missed Levi, we would watch the stars," I said, trying not to tear up.

Eddie reaches in his pocket and pulls out a picture. "I'm guessing this is Levi?" Eddie asks, handing me the picture. I look at the picture and lose my cool. Eddie sits me on the couch and just hugs me.

This is the closest I've ever been to a man since Levi. It felt good. I felt protected. I don't need protection because I was in the navy, but this man made me feel loved.

We sat on the couch, with me crying into his shirt. "Mommy, aren't you gonna put me to bed?" "Yeah." I get up, heading into my child's room.

Eddie follows me into the room, and what he sees shocks him.

(Zachary's bed)

Christopher is sitting on the bottom bunk of a firehouse bed. The whole room was dedicated to firefighters. When we got in that crash, and he met his grandfather, Zach decided that when he gets older, he would become a firefighter.

Christopher looks at his dad and says, "Dad, Zach said he wants to be like you and uncle Buck when he gets older."

Eddie continues to look around. He walks towards the cubby. Inside the cubby is some of Zach's favorite toys, some pictures of Levi and I, and some pictures of Zach and I. What really caught Eddie's eye, was the picture of Zach on my shoulders, at the El Paso Zoo.

I am tucking the boys in, when I hear, "You were in El Paso?" I look back and say, "Yeah, that was Zach's 2nd birthday. Levi was born in Austin, but he grew up in El Paso." Eddie just nods and goes back to looking around.

As I'm tucking Christopher in he says, "Dad and I are from El Paso. It would have been cool if we met before LA." I smile at the boy, before walking out and turning off the lights.

"We have a lot in common, you know?" Eddie tells me. I look at him and he looks back. "Oh, really?" I ask. Eddie and I move closer to each other. I continue to look at the man and I ask, "Like what?" "Well, for starters, we were both fought for our country." Imagining this man in a military uniform made the moment even hotter. I moved closer. "Ok, and?" "And, we both had a son at a young age."

At this point, he was towering over me. I quickly pulled the man into a kiss. He kisses back. I move my hands from my side to his chest, and he grabs my hips. He deepens the kiss as I move my hands from his chest to his neck. I feel strong hands go under my shirt.

We keep making out for a couple of minutes until I pull back. "I'm so sorry. I forgot you married," I say frantically. "She told me she wasn't ready. She filed for divorce. I also didn't feel like our relationship was working. She left us when Chris was little. I kinda like this hot teacher, who was in the Navy and has a son. Also, she knows about being a firefighter." Eddie tells me, holding my hands.

I kiss Eddie again. Eddie and I head to my room, without breaking the kiss. That night was the best night in forever. Everyone got a sleepover.

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The robbery thing has been put behind us, but a new problem has arrived. My father didn't tell the LAFD everything about why he transferred, therefore leaving him suspended. He hasn't told me either, but I think it is best to let him come to me about it.

I started work again today, except I feel like I'm looking after 3 kids. My dad insisted that we hang out, you know since he wasn't there for most of my life.

I wake up at 5 am to a large banging noise. I look to see who it is, and surprise surprise, it is my father with tons of groceries. "Dad, what are you doing here. Zach is still asleep, and I don't have to be up till 7 am." I tell my dad, letting him in.

He heads to my kitchen and sits down the food. "I was thinking that I could make you and Zach breakfast, and then I could take you to work."

I gave my father a loving look. I feel bad that his past came back to haunt him, but maybe something good will come out of it. Besides, I missed the father/daughter bonding we had. Eddie told me his food is at grade A chef level, so why not let him cook for me.

"Well I love what you're doing, but I'm missing sleep. If it's fine with you, could I go back to sleep?" I ask, and receive a nod back. I walk to my room, but I turn back to check upon him. I know he's sad, but at this moment he looks happy.

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I woke up at 7 am to a heavenly smell. I walk into the kitchen, after remembering my dad was making breakfast. As leave the hallway to see my son and father talking about firefighting. I smile, and my dad turns to face me.

"Ah, you're awake! I woke up Zach and got him dressed for you." my dad says taking a bite of the french toast. I go into the kitchen and make myself some food. I see french toast, fresh fruit, bacon, eggs, and freshly squeezed orange juice. I look amazed as I take some of everything.

My dad works up the courage to ask me a question, "I was wondering if you wanted to stop by the firehouse, like old times. I have some people I would like you to meet." With my mouth full, I say, "Yeah, I missed those days" "Oh man, mommy is breaking a rule. She is talking with her mouth full," Zach says to the man next to him.

Dad laughs. "Well I ate, but I have to get dressed." I head to my room to get dressed.

(Y/N's outfit to work)

I walk back into the living room and we get ready to head out. We make it to the school, and I say goodbye to my father. I take Zach to class. I get to the office and I see Eddie and Chris. "Hey, I was just hanging with your fire captain." "Well, can you tell him we want him back because his replacement is terrible?" I laugh.

"So, are you coming to the firehouse?" Eddie asked me like he knew my dad would ask me. I give the firefighter a suspicious look and then say, "Yeah, my dad asked me this morning. Would you like me to bring Chris?" He gives me a "yeah, sure", and then we say goodbye.

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Christopher and I had so much fun. We were in math, and I helped teach him fractions with mini Kit-Kats. Then, in English, we acted out storytime with his class. The day ended in science, where we build and erupted our own volcanos.

It is the end of the day, some and of the boys waited outside for my father. When he arrived, we got in and started heading towards the fire station, which was only a 5-minute drive.

We walk into the 118's fire station, and Zach went off. A scream could be heard throughout the whole building. All the firefighters and paramedics stopped to see what was going on. My dad walked up to me and said, "Just like his mother."

Eddie and another man walked down the stairs to see what was happening. I smile at the majestic man walking towards me. We go into a hug before I hear a cough.

"Eddie, aren't you gonna introduce me to the pretty lady," the man asked Eddie. I smile at the man, but Eddie and my dad roll their eyes. My dad jumps into the conversation, "Buck, this is my daughter, Y/N, and her son, Zach. Y/N, this is Buck."

Buck and I shake hands. "My name is actually Evan Buckley, but everyone calls me Buck. You are somewhat of what Eddie has told me. Your pretty, but I expected a younger Bobby, with boobs." Eddie smacks Buck's chest.

I'm laughing and I head upstairs with the others. "Mommy! Mommy! Can I go down the fire pole," Zach asks, tugging on my pant leg? I nod my head yes.

Another man and woman walk over and sit with us in the lounge. "Why is there a little boy running around? Did someone drop him off, because I think your only supposed to do that with babies, not children," the man said, sitting right next to me. "That's my son. I'm Y/N." I hold out my hand waiting for the man to shake it. "I'm Howie, but everyone calls me Chimney. This is Hen," The man says, and the woman waves.

We continue to talk until the emergency bell rings. Everyone heads downstairs, but I pull Eddie back. I give him a long kiss, with my arms around his neck and his around my waist.

I pull back and say, "I had fun the other night. Maybe, I could see if my dad could watch the boys, and you and I could maybe have dinner at my house." Eddie groans and says, "Oh, how I would love that. We could also watch a movie."

This man will be the death of me. "Yeah, but you need to go." Eddie runs off to an emergency, I head to the store with my dad, Christopher, and Zachary.

"You know, you don't have to hide Eddie from me," He tells me. I look at him shocked. "I see the way you guys look at each other, and I saw you guys kiss today," he says calmly.

"Well, since you know could you help me make a meal for him and I tonight, and can you watch the boys?" I practically beg. He nods, and then he moves towards the isles, picking out ingredients.

"I don't want to intrude, so I will give you a recipe card. But yes, I will take the boys, just use protection. I don't want to see another grandchild for a while," he says, earning a smack on the chest from me. "There are children around," I whisper.

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My dad gave me a recipe for Ravioli, served with garlic bread and bacon-wrapped asparagus. I am almost finished cooking when I hear a knock.

(Y/N's Date Outfit)

I open the door to see a devastated Eddie. I go in to hug him, and Eddie says, "She's dead. Shannon died in the emergency room. That call we left for, that was for her. What am I gonna tell Christopher."

I welcome the man in, and I sit him on the couch. "Do you want to eat?" I ask, hoping that I could get him to relax and eat. "No" is all I hear, before he shoves his face into my shoulder, and lets it all out. I rub his back and say, "Everything will be fine."

We sit there, on the couch, just cuddling. I smell something burning. My eyes widen and I yell, "My bread!"

Eddie's mind comes back to earth and he heads towards the kitchen. Not only is the bread burnt, but there was also a slight fire. Eddie quickly grabbed the fire extinguisher and put out the fire.

I was so scared. Eddie saved me from a fire. At the moment, I forgot all about the food, Eddie's emotions, and everything else. I kissed Eddie out of thankfulness. We kissed for about a minute before he pulled away.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have done that, with everything going on. I was scared. I could've just stood there and let the fire grow, but no, you saved me. You are m-" Eddie cut me off with a kiss.

Eddie picked me up and took me to my room. He laid me on my bed, and next thing you know, our clothes are off.

Taglist: @notanordinaryprincess95 @jjpogueprincess @wiypt-writes

[outrunningthedark]

hi love ! can i just say, my favorite thing about the "this is eddie's house, i'm not really a guest" scene is that !!!!! this is only the first time we see buck at eddie's place !!!!!!! literally never saw him there before, and he causally drops the bomb that he feels at home there. so it proves that there's so much we don't know, a thousand moments we haven't seen of them. And as upsetting as it is that we didn't get to see them, it's also amazing to know they're even DEEPER than we already know. However close we think they are, they're even closer.

like, in s2 we see them being good buddies, laughing and having fun a bit. buck introducing carla, eddie comforting him when maddie goes missing, and that's about it. most wouldn't see more than a nice frienship unless they're looking for more.

but fast forward to s3, and we have buck calling eddie his best friend, eddie saying chris has "his Buck", "there's nobody in this world i trust with my son more than you", chris missing buck a Lot during the lawsuit even though it lasted only a few weeks (so, how often did Buck hang out with Chris for him to feel such difference?), so it begs the question: What changed from Buck's leg injury to the tsunami? Did he spend a lot of time with the Diaz boys, even stayed at their place often enough to not be a guest anymore? when did they go from being family due to the 118, to being their own separate family unit?

Most importantly, how much closer did they grow from s3 to s4? And from s4 to s5? my brain is just melting from the possibilities

I've been thinking about this message all day, and it suddenly occurred to me what must have triggered the change in the Buckley-Diaz family dynamic between season 2 and 3: Shannon's death being immediately followed by Buck getting his leg crushed under the firetruck. We didn't see any evidence of this, but I have no doubt that off-screen Buck was a constant source of support for the Diaz boys after they had to bury their mother and wife. He probably came up with any and every excuse to call, text, or invite them over for some quality time. ("You guys want to go out for lunch? My treat." // "Chris, you still owe me a rematch from the last time we played *insert video game title here*." "I'm going to the grocery store, you need anything?" and on, and on, and on.) Then, Buck's life is in jeopardy when a firetruck explodes and lands directly on one of his legs. Unlike Shannon’s accident where Eddie arrives on scene after she’s been hurt and cannot do anything to save her, Eddie is present for the entirety of Buck’s injury and is an active participant in the rescue efforts. This man JUST lost his (estranged) wife, the mother of his son, and he was quickly thrust into another life-threatening situation involving his best friend. In my opinion, Eddie would have taken both of these events as a sign (oh, the irony) that tomorrow is never promised, and thus made a conscious effort to spend more time with Buck outside of work. Also remember that Buck’s leg injury was the catalyst for his breakup with Ali, and since Eddie knows how tough it was for him to move on from Abby, (in my head) he would have wanted to be there for Buck to prevent him from wallowing in self-pity. More time spent with Eddie and Christopher, two people who always know how to make Buck smile, means less time for him to dwell on “what went wrong”.  "Uh, this is Eddie’s house. I’m not really a guest.” is a statement worth remembering once you realize Buck and Eddie had to quarantine inside Buck’s apartment and AWAY FROM CHRISTOPHER for an unspecified period of time. At that point, Christopher had grown accustomed to having Buck around almost as often as his father (even if we didn’t witness it on screen). Mr. “I’m not going anywhere” would have replaced in-person visits with FaceTime calls just so the younger Diaz could rest assured Buck hadn’t actually left him. Once Eddie got word that it was safe to return home, he didn’t go alone. He brought Buck. Christopher’s Buck.