Who the Hell is Evan?

by Duckkey

Summary:

His dad wanted to make sure he was always loved, always taken care of. Chris knew with his entire being that if his dad couldn't be the one loving and taking care of him then there was no one who would do a better job of it than Buck.

But apparently, this 'Evan' guy was written in his dad's will as the person to take care of Chris.

But that's stupid, that's the stupidest thing Chris ever heard. Chris needed to know that if he couldn't be taken care of by his dad then he'd be taken care of by Buck.

There was only one way Chris could make sure Buck would be the one taking care of him. He needed Buck to adopt him, as his stepfather.

It was a great idea, really. Chris didn't know why he's never thought of it before.

It was a win-win-win scenario. Chris got to be taken care of by his dad and Buck, his dad and Buck each got to marry their best friend, and this Evan guy could never take Chris away from Buck if his dad got hurt.

So, obviously, his dad had to marry Buck. All they had to do was fall in love. Chris didn't think that would be too hard for them.

//OR//

After Eddie gets shot, Chris overhears a conversation about the will.

Notes:

AU where the boys aren't dating Taylor and Anna when the sniper happens because I don't wanna write break up scenes. Peace and love :)

It's been a long few days.

 

Chris's dad was shot. By a bad guy. 

 

Christopher is eleven, he's not a little kid anymore, he knows his dad has been shot before. But that was when his dad was in the army and Chris's dad isn't in the army anymore. So Buck coming home, halfway in tears, then fully crying by the time he's saying that Chris's dad got shot by a bad guy? That wasn't supposed to happen. He wasn't supposed to get shot anymore. Chris was never supposed to see him in the hospital for a gunshot wound. Buck was never supposed to have to cry like that.

 

Chris is eleven, he's not a little kid anymore. Chris understands that a hospital trip doesn't ever really end at the hospital. There's still all the healing afterward.

 

Chris is eleven, he's not a little kid anymore. Chris understands the stress that Buck and his dad and his abuelos and everyone else are feeling since his dad got shot.

 

Chris is eleven, he's not a little kid anymore. He knows his dad would rather him not hear all the fighting that's been happening. He knows his dad would rather him not know when he's yelling at abuela through the phone. But Chris isn't a little kid, so he doesn't feel all that guilty as he pauses his video game, takes off his headphones, and opens his bedroom door a crack. He's old enough to be allowed to hear what the fights are, especially since he's worried too. 

 

Chris's dad is the worst at being hurt. He doesn't like to sit back and rest. He doesn't like to heal. And Chris wants to make sure that his dad isn't arguing about not needing to take it easy, because his dad really needs to take it easy right now.

 

As he listens to his dad in the other room he can tell immediately that the person on the other side of the phone call is Chris's abuela.

 

"Because it is not up for discussion!" His dad whisper-yells in a tone that only ever comes out when he's fighting with abuela. They try and keep Chris out of it, Chris is old enough to realize that, but he's also old enough to want to be a part of it. He wants to understand where these fights come from. He wants to make sure he never does anything that ends up making these fights worse.

 

"You didn't even show up. You're not even planning on showing up," Chris's dad spoke. Chris didn't realize that his dad wanted his abuelos to visit. It makes sense, though. His dad got hurt, and it always makes Chris feel better when his dad checks on him after he gets hurt.

 

"I'm not saying you don't care, mom," Chris's dad's voice turns a little more gentle, "I'm just saying you're not here. You're not here and Chris's life is here."

 

Chris found himself perking up at the mention of his name. What did he have to do with any of this?

 

Chris's dad sounded resigned when he spoke again, "I'm not changing my will, mom."

 

His will? Like if he dies? But he's not dying. He's not gonna die. So why would his will even matter? Was he gonna die?

 

Suddenly, Chris's dad's voice turned angry again, "Well I don't plan on dying anytime soon so I fail to see how any of this even matters!"

 

That's what Chris was saying! It doesn't matter! Chris felt a wave of relief but still listened for his dad's response.

 

"Yes! Obviously I'm thinking of Chris! He's the reason I have the damn will in the first place. I know that he needs to be safe and I know that he needs to be loved which is why I'd leave him to Evan. I will fight tooth and nail every day, every day, to get home to my son. But if one day I lose that fight? There's no one else I'd trust more to take care of Chris. Not you, not Pepa, not Shannon's family. It's him, it's always gonna be him. It's never not gonna be him and it's not up for discussion."

 

Chris nearly lost his balance on his crutches. Evan.

 

"Goodbye, mom," Chris's dad said, clearly cutting off whatever his abuela was saying and electing to hang up on her instead. Chris barely heard this part. He was still caught up on Evan.

 

Who the hell is Evan?

 

There's no one else his dad trusts to take care of him, but what about Buck? In what world would his dad trust someone more than Buck? Someone Chris has never even met! Never even heard of! Why hasn't Chris ever heard of him? Chris isn't a little kid, he deserves to know the guy his dad would trust to raise him. Tears were flowing from his eyes now and he moved shakily on his crutches, desperate to get back to bed. The movement was loud, stumbly, clutzy, and his crutches clattered loudly to the floor when he threw himself on top of the covers and let the sobs fully take over.

 

"Chris?" Chris's dad was pushing the door fully open with a sense of urgency that only increased when he caught sight of Chris sobbing on his bed, "Mijo, what's going on?"

 

His dad moved quickly to the bed, pulling Chris into a tight hug, and Chris felt the sobs increase in force.

 

"Shh, I got you," His dad rocked him, "Talk to me, Chris. It's okay, it's okay I just need to know what's going on."

 

"I don't want you to die," Chris let out through shaky, stuttering breaths.

 

"Oh, Chris," His dad tried to comfort, "I'm not gonna. I'm not gonna die."

"You got shot!" Chris yelled, pushing away from his dad. He could see his dad's eyes widen, he could see his words processing in his dad's head.

 

"I did," His dad confirmed eventually, reaching to pull Chris in again.

 

Chris deflected the embrace, "You got shot! You could have died!"

 

"But I didn't, mijo. I didn't die. Buck pulled me out. He's got my back, he got me help. My team -Buck, especially- they're always gonna get me home, Chris," His dad looked him in the eye and spoke with a soft and certain voice.

 

Chris wasn't a little kid, he knew these words were a comfort, not a promise. He knew his dad's job was dangerous, and as much as he trusted Buck and the others things still go wrong. He still got shot. But even knowing all of this Chris threw himself back into his dad's hug. He let himself cry, let himself be held, until the burning question in his mind couldn't be held back any longer.

 

"But what if one day they can't?" Chris could hear how quiet and broken his voice sounded. He could feel his dad tense underneath the hug.

 

"Chris, listen to me," His dad pulled back just enough to look Chris in the eye again, still moving his hands up and down Chris's arms in comfort, "If one day, somehow, I don't make it home -and I will always be fighting with everything I got to make it home to you, and my team is always going to be fighting with everything they got to help me come home to you, but- if someday I can't make it home? You're gonna be taken care of, okay? My team is gonna keep taking care of you. But I need you to trust me, I need you to know: You are always gonna be loved and there is no one who loves you more than me. So I'm gonna come home."

 

Chris fell back into his dad's arms and let the tears fall silently.

 

He'd be taken care of.

 

He'd be loved.

 

But no one loves him more than his dad, and the only person who could maybe love him just as much as his dad was Buck.

 

Who the hell was Evan to raise Chris if his dad and Buck didn't get to?

 

He cried himself to sleep there, clinging to his dad's chest and letting himself be rocked in a way that made him feel like a little kid again. 

 

---

 

Chris had a plan.

 

His dad wanted to make sure he was always loved, always taken care of. Chris knew, he knew with his entire being, that if his dad couldn't be the one loving and taking care of him then there was no one who would do a better job of it than Buck.

 

But apparently, this 'Evan' guy was not up for discussion.

 

But that's stupid, that's the stupidest thing Chris ever heard. Chris needed to know that if he couldn't be taken care of by his dad then he'd be taken care of by Buck.

 

There was only one way Chris could make sure Buck would be the one taking care of him. He needed Buck to adopt him, as his stepfather.

 

It was a great idea, really. Chris didn't know why he's never thought of it before. 

 

Denny had two moms, why couldn't Chris have two dads? And Buck makes his dad so happy, so much happier than he's ever been. And his dad makes Buck happy too.

 

It was a win-win-win scenario. Chris got to be taken care of by his dad and Buck, his dad and Buck each got to marry their best friend, and this Evan guy could never take Chris away from Buck if his dad got hurt.

 

So, obviously, his dad had to marry Buck. All they had to do was fall in love. Chris didn't think that would be too hard for them.

 

---

 

"You won't even let me make the salad?" Eddie leveled Buck with a glare. His eyes were flat, his tone was flat, life in general right now? Pretty fucking flat. So he was shot, the important part was he lived. He didn't want the pestering concern from his crew. He didn't want the arguments with his parents. He didn't want Chris to worry and cry himself to sleep over the fact the kid doesn't want his dad to die. On that night Eddie felt more like he was dying than he ever did in the hospital. Chris didn't need to worry, so everyone else had to stop worrying and show Chris no one needed to fret over Eddie right now. Besides, it's not like he's never been shot before. He may not be cleared for firefighting yet but he's certainly capable of making a salad.

 

”Chris is in charge of the salad,” Buck said with a simple shrug, “You can set the plates.”

 

Eddie threw Buck a look as if to say seriously? But at least Buck was giving him a task. 

 

Buck rolled his eyes at Eddie’s expression. He took the dish towel he had resting over his shoulder and snapped it teasingly at Eddie with a small smirk while he spoke, “Now, before the pasta gets cold and the salad gets warm.”

 

Eddie snatched the dish towel out of Buck’s hand just to throw it back in Buck’s face as Eddie turned to grab the plates stacked on the counter. He wanted to complain, to argue that if his job was supposed to be setting the table then Buck should’ve trusted him to have the physical capacity to reach into the cabinets himself. But Buck and Chris were snickering and giggling about the dish towel fight and Eddie much preferred the sound of his two favorite people laughing over the sound of his own bitching. 

 

It felt like muscle memory. Eddie set the plates. He collected the utensils and napkins and a trivet and placed them all accordingly. When Chris finished with the salad he snatched a cherry tomato from the bowl before carrying it over as well, receiving an eye roll and an exasperated "dad" from his son which he returned with a wink and a smile, pointing to where Buck's back was turned then making a "shh" gesture over his lips. The three sat at the table and when Buck placed down the pot he smacked Eddie's hand away from the serving spoon and took it upon himself to portion out the meal on all three plates. They sat and they ate and they joked and they talked and despite the soreness still persisting in his shoulder this moment was the closest Eddie has felt to normalcy since his hospital discharge.

 

Then, unprompted, Chris took it upon himself to change the subject.

 

"How do you know if you're in love?"

 

Eddie coughed around a forkful of noodles and sauce. Buck paused his movements, waterglass hovering just before his lips. His eyes were locked on Eddie, eyebrows raised in amusement and clearly trying to fight back laughter at Eddie's reaction to the abrupt question. Eddie tried to signal the message of 'help' through his own wide eyes but Buck only smirked and nudged his head at Chris in a clear communication of 'he's your son, you gotta take the lead on this one' before finally taking a sip of his water.

 

"Where's, uh, where's that coming from, Chris?" Eddie said as he placed his fork down and turned his attention to his son.

 

His son, who seemed completely casual and barely finished chewing his bite of salad before shrugging and answering, "I was just wondering."

 

Eddie flashed his 'help' eyes at Buck one more time and, thankfully, this time Buck jumped into the conversation. He had the decency to blush slightly when he turned to Chris and asked, "Is there, uh, someone at school who's making you wonder about this, bud?"

 

"No, I'm just curious," Chris answers and shovels another bite of pasta into his mouth. Eddie feels slightly relieved, but can admit he would've preferred if Chris's response was 'Gross, Buck! Dating is weird and girls have cooties and nothing will ever change my mind!' but that was probably an unrealistic hope anyway.

 

Chris swallowed his bite then asked, "So?"

 

"So...?" Eddie slowly prompted.

 

"So, what's it like to be in love?" 

 

Eddie looked at Buck for help again but Buck just picked up his glass again and raised it towards Eddie as if to say 'all you' before taking another sip.

 

"Well, uh," Eddie started rubbing the back of his neck as he stumbled over his words, "It feels a bit like friendship, but, like, way bigger. Feels, like, warm? I guess? Like you're with the right person."

 

Chris nodded, "And what type of person is the right person for you?"

 

Buck snorted. Eddie could tell he tried not to, but he still snorted and his voice had the shakiness of barely-withheld laughter as he asked, "Chris, are you asking your dad what his type is?"

 

Chris seemed to be considering this for just a moment before he answered with a sureness, "Yeah, Dad, what's your type?"

 

"Chris, where is this coming from?" Eddie tried to ask the question again.

 

"I told you, I'm curious. What type of person?"

 

Eddie let out a sigh. He dragged his hands down his face and pointedly avoided looking at where he was sure Buck was close to bursting at the seams trying not to laugh at the conversation. Eddie was a grown man. If he could handle getting shot then there's no reason he can't handle talking about feelings with his son.

 

"Well, uh, you know... Someone who's nice. Kind. Uh, funny. That sort of thing."

 

"Well, duh. That's what everyone says. I'm asking you," Chris countered.

 

"I, uh, I don't actually think there's more to it than that. I said being in love feels like a friendship and then more. Like, your mom was my best friend and then she was more. I don't, uh, I don't think there's a certain type of person who helps me feel more. Just... Funny, nice, kind, cares about me, cares about you, cares about my job and what my team means to me. That's the type of person I could fall in love with."

 

Chris was nodding, thinking.

 

Eddie was blushing, wanting the conversation to move on and the topic of falling in love to never be brought up again until Chris was at least 25.

 

Buck was looking at Eddie. He wasn't fighting his laughter anymore. There was an emotion on his face, it was clear in his eyes and small smile, but Eddie couldn't figure out what it looked like exactly.

 

Eddie also couldn't figure out why he could feel his blush grow some more.

 

"Okay," Chris said to break the silence.

 

"Okay?" Eddie asked. Was that really all there was to this conversation?

 

"Yeah," Chris answered, then turned his gaze to Buck, "Your turn."

 

Buck's unnamed expression was quickly replaced with wide-eyed shock. He stuttered out, "M-my turn?"

 

Chris nodded, as if it was obvious, and said, "Yeah, what's your type?"

 

Buck shot Eddie the 'help me' look and Eddie felt the shit-eating grin pull across his lips. He tipped his head in an upward nod and let the comfort of teasing his best friend wash away the anxiety he was fighting two second ago, "Yeah, Buck. Your turn. What's your type."

 

"W-well, uh..."

 

"Uh..." Chris mimicked. Damn, this kid was growing sassier with each day.

 

"I-I mean. It's sorta what your dad said, isn't it? A friend who's also more. Someone who makes me smile, makes me laugh, a-and cares about the people I care about."

 

As Buck spoke, Eddie's blush was returning. Why was he blushing over Buck's description of a hypothetical love interest.

 

"That's just Dad's answer, you need to choose your own," Chris pointed out.

 

Maybe that was why Eddie was blushing, something about his best friend defining love to his son in the same way Eddie had just a minute before.

 

Buck let out a breath. He was focusing. Clearly he wanted to give meaning to whatever words he was choosing to say. The words he ended up saying were, "Well, your dad is right. But for me, it's also, like, s-somebody who makes me want to be a better version of myself. A-and someone who likes the version of myself that I already am? Does that make sense?"

Chris's eyebrows were pinched in thought.

 

Buck, seeing the kid's confusion, added a clarifying statement, "Someone who has my back. Someone I can trust to love me as much as I love them. Does that make more sense?"

 

Chris was nodding.

 

Buck was blushing, looking solely at Chris.

 

Eddie was looking at Buck, trying with all his willpower to ignore his own blush, and feeling a deep pulling desire in his gut for Buck to look at him.

 

Something about that phrasing, 'someone who has my back,' made Eddie really want to look Buck in his eyes right now. But it was easier not to think about, so he cleared his throat and spoke instead.

 

"You sure you don't have a crush on someone, Chris?"

 

The tension broke.

 

"Ugh, Dad, gross," Chris rolled his eyes. Eddie couldn't fight back his grin. Sure, maybe Chris was calling his dad gross for asking about crushes, but maybe he was calling crushes gross and maybe he believed in cooties and maybe his little boy would stay little for just a bit longer. Eddie chose to believe the latter.

 

---

 

Buck has been spending a lot of his spare time at Eddie's house. 

 

Hen and Chim teased him, joking that he's been trying to make up for all the time he's not spending with Eddie on shifts. It's almost nice that they can start joking about it. 'It' being the fact Eddie's not on shift. Because he's recovering. Because he got shot. And maybe Buck is still a little too caught up on the memory of tasting Eddie's blood to initiate those jokes, but it's still nice that Hen and Chim can recognize it's time to start moving forward. Not moving on, moving forward.

 

And, yeah, Buck can admit he's been spending an arguably excessive amount of time at Eddie's house. It's not really just for the sake of seeing Eddie, though. Buck is spending a lot of time at Eddie's house where Eddie lives with Chris. 

 

Eddie almost died and that was terrifying, it was horrifying, it was the most dreadful feeling Buck has felt since he watched Chris fall off the firetruck into the receding waters of a tsunami. But Chris survived, he was found, he got home to Eddie. And Eddie survived, his bleeding stopped, and he went home to Chris.

 

Only, if Eddie didn't get to come home? If the universe was a crueler mistress and Buck lost Eddie that day? Apparently, if that was the case, Buck would've been the one going home to Chris. Buck would've been the one responsible for taking care of Chris, raising Chris. And apparently Buck was awarded that responsibility a year ago, after the well collapse. Learning Eddie trusted Buck enough to raise his son in the circumstance that Eddie himself couldn't? It was a lot to process. The best way Buck was able to process it was to spend time with Chris. So, Buck would go to Eddie and Chris's house and Buck would enjoy his time with two of his favorite people and Buck would process.

 

And it was all going just fine.

 

Until Chris decided he wanted Buck to suffer. Not like, physically suffer. Just, like, well...

 

It started a week ago with the whole "What is love?" conversation over dinner. And one instance could be brushed aside as childhood curiosity. But then, a few days later Chris was asking Buck why he only ever dated girls. Since it's okay for girls to date girls and boys to date boys, why didn't Buck ever date a boy? Would Buck date a boy? Because he never said at dinner that the person he could fall in love with needed to be a girl.

 

The questions were rapid fire, a conversation that Chris clearly didn't want Eddie to be a part of, seeing how Eddie was in the shower when Chris began his interrogation. Buck's head was swarming as he tried to keep up:

 

Buck dated girls because he's attracted to girls.

 

Obviously boys can like boys, there's nothing wrong with that. It's just that Buck likes girls.

 

Well, Buck maybe can't say he never would date a boy. He's never really thought about it.

 

Buck never described a person he could fall in love with as a girl because he wasn't describing a physical person, we was describing an idea of a person.

 

And then Chris asked if the type of person Buck wanted to fall in love with mattered more than what they looked like. And Buck's answer was a quick of course. Because yeah, obviously Buck wanted to feel attracted to his partner, but Buck couldn't imagine sustaining a long term attraction to anyone who wasn't a good, kind, and caring person.

 

And then Chris asked if even mattered, in that case, if the type of person fitting who Buck described ended up being a boy. And Buck's answer, after hesitating only a beat, was an admission of "I guess not, buddy. I guess I would date a guy if they were that type of person I described."

 

Because, if he thinks about it, Buck honestly could feel the type of attraction he's felt towards girls while looking at a guy. He's certainly checked out the occasional man's ass. And maybe the occasional abs, maybe even the occasional eight-pack. And maybe, if he thinks about it, the way he's admired some men's arms was a little less "I want my arms to look like that" and a little more "I want to be held down by arms like that." Of course, while this realization is floating around in his brain he's not voicing any of this to Chris. Chris has just turned back to his video game, satisfied with Buck's answer. They just sit quietly, Buck so lost in thought he never heard the water to the shower turn off, nor did he hear Eddie enter the room.

 

"Alright, Chris, that's enough of the game," Eddie's voice admittedly made Buck jump a little.

 

"Five more minutes," Chris began to protest, but Eddie was already moving to take the controller.

 

"Nope, nah-uh. It's a school night, you can kick Buck's butt another day," And as Eddie turned to take Buck's non-existent controller too he paused, "Wait, you're not playing?"

 

Buck blinked himself back to attention, "Uh, no. Chris, uh, had to train up for our next rematch."

 

"Nah-uh," Chris smirked, "You just zoned out and I didn't wanna wait anymore."

 

"I did not zone out-"

 

"You totally did-"

 

"Alright, alright," Eddie cut in, a hint of concern behind his eyes when he looked at Buck, "Whatever happened, Chris you gotta go brush your teeth."

 

Chris rolled his eyes with a smile and a dragged out, "Fine."

 

As Chris stood from the couch, Eddie sat in his place. Buck flashed a tight smile and quickly averted his eyes to where Chris was walking out of the room.

 

Once the sound of Chris's crutches grew quieter from down the hall Eddie broke the silence, "So, uh... What'd I miss?"

 

Buck allowed himself to look at Eddie, but seeing the worry so obvious in his eyes Buck decided to stare at the table instead.

 

"Buck?" Eddie asked again, faux casualness barely even carrying in his voice anymore.

 

"I, uh... I think I just came out to your son," Buck said and peaked a glance at Eddie's reaction.

 

Eddie's eyebrows shot up, "Came out, as in..."

 

"As in I told him I would date a guy," Buck clarified.

 

"Oh. How, uh..." Eddie said, adverting his own gaze to the coffee table. Then, after a moment, "Would you?"

 

Suddenly a hot defensiveness tightened in Buck's chest, "Are you asking me if I lied to your son?"

 

"No! No, I just... Would you? Date a guy?" Eddie was looking at Buck again.

 

"I mean, I never really thought about it. But then Chris was asking about... I mean, it's just..." Buck paused to take a breath, "Yeah, yeah I think I would. I-is that weird?"

 

"Is it- What? Buck, no! Of course that's okay," Eddie rushed to answer.

 

"Okay," Buck sighed as he sank back into the couch. He felt a hand fall onto his arm.

 

"Hey," Eddie prompted. He waited for Buck to look over at him before speaking again, "This doesn't change a thing between us, okay?"

 

"Good," Buck found his voice to answer, "That's a, uh, relief."

 

Eddie nodded, took his hand back when Buck looked away, and the two sat in quiet for another minute.

 

"You want a beer?" Eddie offered eventually.

 

Buck let out the exhale of a laugh. He shook his head, pushing himself up off the couch with his hands on his thighs, and answered, "I think I should head back to my place. Gotta... gotta process a few things."

 

"Yeah, yeah of course," Eddie nodded.

 

"I'll, uh, I'll see you Thursday?"

 

"Yeah, uh... You'll have 48 off, right?" Eddie asked.

 

Buck nodded.

 

"Bring some clothes and stuff, then. Stay overnight. Make Chris pancakes for Friday breakfast?" 

 

Buck almost laughed at the way Eddie's orders turned into a question by the end. He answered, "Yeah, uh. Sounds good."

 

"Cool," Eddie said with a nod.

 

"Cool," Buck echoed a bit quieter.

 

They waited together in the quiet for another moment. Buck stood just before the hallway. Eddie sat in the same spot on the couch.

 

Then Eddie threw his head back with a sigh, "Oh, just," He stood and started moving towards Buck, "Come here, come here."

 

Then they were hugging, softly laughing, and Buck felt all the tension and uncertainty drain out of his body.

 

"You good to drive back?" Eddie asked as he pulled away.

 

"Yeah, yeah I'm good," Buck answered with a smile, finding that he really meant it.

 

Eddie clapped him on the shoulder and Buck felt a little lighter as he headed back to the loft.

 

When Thursday came, Buck still felt light. Pulling up to the Diaz house he felt a little more like himself than when he felt the other night. He left his duffle on the floor by the couch when he got there and Chris wasted no time before demanding the three of them bake a batch of cookies.

 

"All three of us?" Buck asked to clarify, nodding his head at Eddie in a teasing way.

 

"You gotta teach dad to be better," Chris shrugged.

 

"Hey, I'm getting better at cooking," Eddie defended.

 

"This is baking, Dad," Chris rolled his eyes.

 

So the three of them worked together. Buck measured the flour and sugar, set out some butter to soften. Eddie cracked some eggs into a bowl, picking out the stray shell fragments with his fingers, before giving Chris the okay to pour the eggs into the bowl of dry ingredients. Only, Chris picked up the small bowl with a little too much force, splashing the raw eggs straight onto Eddie.

 

"Oops!" Chris exclaimed with a smile that didn't appear even a little bit remorseful, "Sorry Dad!"

 

Eddie's mouth hung open in shock. His moved from where the egg was seeping into his shirt to look at Buck and point, "Stop laughing."

 

"I'm not laughing!" Buck said, shoulder shaking with the humor of it all.

 

Eddie reached his fingers into the bowl to pinch a bit of flour and sugar mixture and flick it at where Buck was standing across the counter. A breath of amusement entwined with his voice as he said, "I said stop laughing."

 

"I'll get you a clean shirt!" Chris spoke with excitement, pushing himself onto his crutches.

 

"Buddy, you don't need to-"

 

"Dad, I can get you a shirt. You need to crack new eggs, okay?" Chris cut Eddie off.

 

"It's-"

 

"Finish the dough, I'll be right back!" Chris was already halfway out the room as he gave no room for argument.

 

Buck chuckled with amusement as he watched Eddie blink after his son, "You see, this is why-"

 

"I swear to god if you tell me I need an apron-"

 

"You need an apron, Eddie!"

 

"I do not need-"

 

"I'm just saying! That shirt would still be clean if you were wearing one."

 

"Just pass me the damn eggs," Eddie rolled his eyes.

 

He cracked two new eggs, dropping a little less shell flakes than the last time. By the time the eggs and butter were added to the dry ingredients Chris was coming back into the room, a dark blue shirt thrown over his shoulder.

 

"Here, Dad," Chris handed over the shirt.

 

"Thank you," Eddie accepted. He reached down to the hem of the shirt he was wearing but Buck cut off the action. 

 

"You should head to the bathroom," Buck said. Then when Eddie threw him a confused look he continued, "Wash that egg off your neck."

 

And Eddie should head to the bathroom to change because he was quite covered in raw egg. Not because Buck has yet to prepare himself to see a shirtless Eddie Diaz after realizing he definitely had a very real attraction to both girls and boys. Buck's attraction to guys had nothing to do with Eddie. Yeah, hypothetically Eddie could change his shirt in front of Buck, in fact it was bound to happen eventually once Eddie got back to work, but he didn't need to do that right now. He needed to go change in the bathroom. It was just more sanitary this way.

 

Eddie touched his hand to his neck, just above the collar of his stained shirt, and made a face at the wetness when he pulled his fingers away.

 

"Oops," Chris made a sheepish face that communicated the face he was very much entertained and not very sorry at all.

 

"Yeah, yeah," Eddie rolled his eyes and left the room to wash up and change.

 

Chris was snickering as he watched his dad walk away.

 

"Did you do that on purpose?" Buck couldn't help but ask.

 

"Why would I do that?" Chris smiled innocently.

 

"You're laughing," Buck pointed out.

 

Chris snorted, "Well, it's funny."

 

Buck felt his smile grow, "Yeah, it is, isn't it?"

 

The two chuckled at Eddie's expense while they kept working on the cookie dough. Buck had gotten the dough to the right texture and was letting Chris pour in the chocolate chips by the time Eddie came back. He entered the room wearing the shirt Chris had grabbed for him from before: a dark blue LAFD t-shirt. The same type of shirt Buck had in his duffle to sleep in tonight, and he felt a little warm thinking about how Chris had inadvertently set them up to be matching. It hung a bit loosely off Eddie, as if he had maybe ordered a size too big, and Buck felt even warmer the longer he looked.

 

"All set for the oven?" Eddie asked.

 

Buck cleared his throat, "Just about, can you grab a cookie sheet?"

Eddie gave a nod and turned around. Buck froze in his efforts to mix in the chocolate chips. Because on the back of Eddie's (slightly oversized) t-shirt, where the name 'Diaz" was meant to be printed in big, blocky, white letters, the name "Buckley" could be read instead. Buck was blushing, he had to be blushing, because Eddie was moving around his kitchen helping Buck and Chris make an impromptu batch of chocolate chip cookies while wearing Buck's shirt. A shirt he didn't quite fill out but still wore better than Buck ever had. A shirt that was so clearly Buck's it had his last name branded across the back. And suddenly Buck felt like he was back in high school, letting a pretty girl wear his letterman on the night of a football game. Suddenly, Buck felt a possessive warmth flood over him at the sight of Eddie wearing Buck's name.

 

Shit.

 

Maybe Buck's attraction to guys did have something to do with Eddie. Just a little.

 

"You good?" Eddie asked, setting the cookie sheet down on the counter next to Buck.

 

"That's my shirt," Buck answered.

 

Eddie glanced at the LAFD logo on his chest and looked at Buck like he was an idiot, "We all have shirts like this."

 

Buck pinched his own expression, using his face to call Eddie an idiot right back, "Yeah? And do they all have 'Buckley' written across the back?"

 

Eddie's face pulled to be confused, "Wait, what?"

 

He turned his head over his shoulder, as if he's be able to read what was written on his own back.

 

Chris snorted at the sight.

 

"Chris, where'd you get this?" Eddie turned to his son.

 

Chris just shrugged and answered with a smile, "Buck's bag."

 

"Why would you get a shirt from Buck's bag?"

 

"It was closer than your dresser," Chris explained as if it was obvious.

 

"Then what is Buck supposed to wear?" Eddie prompted his son.

 

"He can have one of your shirts."

 

"Why would-" Eddie began.

 

"Did we ever preheat the oven?" Buck cut into the conversation. He kinda sorta really wanted to wear one of Eddie's shirts tonight, and he kinda sorta really definitely wanted Eddie to keep wearing his. And he really, really, extra for sure did not want to read too much into the way Chris was smiling at the two of them. 

 

Eddie blinked at Buck, clearly caught off guard by the question.

 

"The oven," Buck said prompted again with a slightly teasing smile he was hoping undercut the blush that hasn't fully faded, "Did you turn it on yet."

 

"You never told me to turn it on," Eddie answered.

 

"Pretty sure I did," Buck said.

 

"Yeah, he definitely did," Chris agreed, only Buck actually never told Eddie to preheat the oven so Buck wasn't sure why Chris was jumping in right now.

 

Eddie rolled his eyes, "What do I set it for, like 425?"

 

"350!" Buck exclaimed, "Are you trying to burn the place down?"

 

"How was I supposed to know that?" Eddie yelled back.

 

"When do we ever bake cookies at 425 degrees?" Buck laughs.

 

"Well, normally I'm barely allowed in the kitchen while you two bake these," Eddie points out.

 

"I'm starting to remember why," Buck teases.

 

And that's that. The topic changed, the conversation moved on. Eddie spends the rest of the evening wearing Buck's shirt. Buck spends the rest of the evening watching Eddie wear his shirt.

 

And maybe Buck's heart is beating just a little bit faster than normal. 

 

And maybe Buck is a little convinced that Christopher is plotting a creative way to give Buck a heart attack. But if that means at the end of the night Eddie throws a dark blue LAFD shirt with 'Diaz' printed across the back at Buck and Buck gets to sleep in Eddie's shirt that hugs him a little too tightly to ever let him forget it's there, maybe it's all worth it.

 

---

 

Things have been changing. A lot of them are good changes, like the fact that Eddie's able to understand he's truly healing.

 

Then there are changes that aren't good or bad, they just are. Like the fact that Buck is... ga-bi-que-? The fact that Buck would date a guy, whatever that might mean for him in labeling his identity. It's a neutral change. Eddie's happy for Buck. Buck seems happy for himself. It all feels a little lighter now. Maybe, in the back of Eddie's mind, there's a paranoia about how Buck should be out exploring this realization instead of wasting his days nursing Eddie back to health, but it's so easy to spend time with Buck and smile and laugh and just exist as best friends that all worries about relationships and love fade into the background easily enough. That is, until Chris brings up questions about love and dating and all those worries come rushing straight back.

 

And that's been another change. Chris insists there's no crush, he's not questioning his own identity, no one's making him wonder about all of these topics. He's just curious. Allegedly. Eddie's still not fully convinced. He's mentally preparing himself to need to have "the talk" with Chris in the near future, but that's likely gonna also require Eddie having Buck on stand bye with a six pack for the aftermath. Chris is growing up. He's asking about love. He's changing from a little boy to being a little pre-teen. He's also... getting clumsier?

 

First, there was the egg spill while baking cookies two weeks back. Then, a few days later, he had dropped his solar system model for science homework and all but insisted Buck come over and help him fix it. Barely three days after that he had flicked pasta off his fork and all over Buck. Buck took it in stride, simply ruffling Chris's hair and asking Eddie if he was good to borrow one of Eddie's shirts again. He was welcome to, of course. Only Eddie's shirts tended to squeeze a little tightly around Buck's arms. They tended to hike up a bit if Buck lifted his shoulders even slightly, revealing a thin sliver of skin above the waistband of Buck's pants. It may not be the most comfortable option for Buck. And yet, when Buck walked away to change Eddie didn't mention that he had Buck's LAFD t-shirt still, washed by now. And when Buck came back in wearing a green army t-shirt that Eddie knew for a fact was behind Buck's LAFD t-shirt in his drawer, neither of them mentioned it. They just ate the rest of their meal together, this time with Chris managing to maintain more control of his fork.

 

Now tonight, the three of them sat on the couch together. Chris insisted on being able to stay up past his bedtime so that the three of them could watch a movie together, and Eddie gave in to the puppy dog eyes. Things were changing anyway, a later bedtime on one Friday night wouldn't be the end of the world. So Chris picked out some animated Disney movie about arcade video game characters and sat happily between both Eddie and Buck. Until about 45 minutes in, when he began dozing against Eddie's side.

 

"Should we move him to bed?" Buck asked softly. Eddie turned his head to find Buck looking at him and Chris with a warm fondness in his eyes.

 

They probably should pause the movie, jostle Chris awake and move him to his bed. But Chris was nestled so sweetly into Eddie's arms and no matter how fast he's growing up right now he looks like such a little kid, snuggling his dad after falling asleep despite his insistence he would be able to stay up later tonight. Eddie was comfortable, his son was curled into his side, the fuzziness of the beers he and Buck were drinking was slowly fading away, and Buck was looking at him and Chris in a way Eddie could almost convince himself was adoration. Eddie didn't want this moment to end.

 

"Nah," He whispered at Buck, "I wanna see what happens."

 

Buck snorted, but indulged him. The three of them sat, the movie playing in the background. Eddie was paying more attention to the comfort he felt in this moment than the plot, but considering the fact Chris fell asleep halfway through he was sure that he'd be rewatching the movie relatively soon anyway. For now, he was comfortable just to let time tick slowly forward.

 

A snore nearly made Eddie jump out of his skin. He looked over to where Buck sat, head thrown backwards and mouth slightly open. It seemed the comfort of the moment got to him, too. Eddie should wake Buck up, should try and kick him around Chris or whisper-yell for his attention. The position would surely leave a kink in Buck's neck and the way Buck's mouth hung slack all but ensured continued snores. But, Eddie was comfortable. This moment was comfortable. The movie only had about twenty more minutes until the credits rolled anyway. Eddie didn't want this moment to end.

 

And if Eddie waited until after the credits finished before he moved to sit up and shake his boys awake? No one should blame him for savoring those extra few minutes.

 

Slowly but surely Buck and Chris were able to blink the sleep out of their eyes as Eddie turned off the TV. He stood up to stretch. As comfortably as he had been, holding the position halfway between sitting and lying down for so long was starting to have his back aching a bit.

 

Chris seemed disoriented at first. He blinked as he scanned around the room, then his gaze looked quickly from Eddie to Buck and his eyes widened for half a second. Maybe he was putting together his surroundings after waking up on the couch.

 

He reached for the cup of orange soda he left on the coffee table at the start of the movie and took a slow sip. It was definitely too late to be drinking soda, especially after just waking up off a couch nap, but it was a weekend treat and his son was thirsty so Eddie turned a blind eye to the act. Then, while Eddie's back was still turned, he heard Chris sneeze loudly. 

 

Looking back to his son, he saw Chris blinking sheepishly at the now empty cup in his hand and the now drenched couch cushion Eddie had been sitting on just moments ago.

 

"Bless you," Buck chuckled, blinking at Chris next to him. Then he pushed himself to his feet, "I'll get some water and vinegar, get the stain right out."

 

As Buck leaves the room Eddie turns to Chris and asks, "Are you feeling okay?"

 

Chris shrugged, "I think so."

 

Eddie moved to check Chris for a fever anyway, to which Chris responded by slapping his hand away and insisting, "Dad, I'm fine."

 

He's done being cuddly and back to being a preteen. It was nice while it lasted.

 

Buck returns with a bowl and a rag, using the cloth to scrub the mixture over the stain. Eddie and Chris both wrinkle their noses and turn slightly away. 

 

Buck chuckles at the sight of them, "Yeah, it's gonna reek in here for a bit. Couch'll be clean though."

 

Eddie glared at the vinegar-drenched stain on the cushion, "I'm beginning to doubt if it's worth it."

 

Buck rolled his eyes and finished scrubbing. He stood up and yawned before speaking, "Let it air out, it'll be good."

 

"Gonna need to air out the whole room," Eddie muttered. Buck gave him a soft smack to the shoulder.

 

Then Chris let out a yawn and Eddie turned to his son, "Alright, kid. Time for bed."

 

Chris didn't even try to protest. He just turned to Buck and asked, "Are you staying over?'

 

Buck was yawning behind his hand again when he tried to answer, "Don't think so, Bud."

 

Eddie flattened him a look, "Buck, you're exhausted."

 

"And as much as I love my nights on your couch I'm not sure how much I'd love sleeping on it while it's soaked and stinks of vinegar."

 

Before Eddie could even think of a response Chris spoke up, "Just sleep with Dad, then."

 

A moment of silence passed.

 

"...What?" Chris blinked at Eddie and Buck, who were blinking a little owlishly themselves.

 

Buck broke out of his stupor first, "I-it's fine, really-"

 

And before Eddie even processed the fact Buck was rejecting the offer Chris made he heard himself speaking, "No, Chris is right. You're tired, it's late. Crash with me."

 

Now, Buck was blinking at Eddie, "What?"

 

"What? You think I smell bad or something? Come on, man."

 

Buck rolled his eyes with the exhale of a laugh.

 

"Wash that vinegar off your hands," Eddie tacked on, and Chris chuckled as the two of them started towards the hall.

 

"What, so now I smell?" Buck called after them.

 

Eddie threw a smirk and an "eh" gesture over his shoulder before saying goodnight to Chris, kissing the top of his head before Chris had the chance to fully pull away, and heading to brush his teeth. When Eddie was finished and left the bathroom, Buck was just walking through the door to the bedroom.

 

"You don't have to-"

 

"Go brush your teeth," Eddie cut off.

 

They moved comfortably around each other, Buck heading to the bathroom and Eddie heading to his dresser. He was already dressed pretty comfortably, but after a minute decided to change his shirt anyway. Pulling it off, he heard the bathroom door open and shut. He pulled a new t-shirt out, tossed his dirty one towards the hamper in the corner, then turned to face Buck. 

 

Buck's eyes snapped to meet Eddie's quickly, a faint blush on his cheeks still visible in the room's dim light.

 

Oh. That's right. Buck is... attracted to guys, now. Or, well, not now as in only now but now as in he's aware of it now and... Was Buck looking at Eddie's back while he changed? Was he watching Eddie's arms flex as he pulled the old shirt off and tossed it away? Did Eddie want Buck to have been looking? No, that was dumb. He and Buck have been friends forever. Best friends in a way Eddie's never really had with anyone else before. Eddie was not one of those guys who was gonna get all weird just because his friend -his best friend- came out. He was not gonna be one of those guys who assumed just because someone was interested in guys they would be interested in him. Buck would date a guy, but that didn't change anything. Buck still didn't want to date Eddie. 

 

Eddie shouldn't care that Buck didn't want to date him.

 

Buck cleared his throat, "You, uh, you good?"

 

His eyes flicked quickly down to Eddie's chest, then over to the shirt Eddie was just holding dumbly in his hand.

 

Eddie began pulling the shirt on, moving to the bed, "Yeah, all good."

 

"If this is weird-" Buck starts, still hovering in the bathroom doorway.

 

"It's not weird. Why would it be weird?" Eddie says while he pulls back the blankets and sits down.

 

"I dunno. I just-" This time, when Buck is cut off it's by his own yawn.

 

Eddie throws him an amused expression and flips up the blanket on the other side of the bed, "Buck, come on."

 

Buck threw a smile back at Eddie and moved to lie next to him. They shuffled a bit, getting comfortable lying next to each other. Well, Eddie got comfortable. Buck was laying flat on his back, stiff as a board. It was funny, almost, the way he seemed less comfortable lying down in a bed than he did while snoring in that awkward position on the couch earlier. Eddie decided to try and break the tension with a joke.

 

"See," He nudged his hand softly against Buck's arm under the blanket, "I told you I didn't have cooties."

 

Buck scuffed, "I thought you said you didn't smell bad."

 

"That too," Eddie teased.

 

Buck rolled his eyes and reached to turnoff the light on the bedside table, "Just go to sleep."

 

"Try not to snore too loud," Eddie couldn't help but keep joking.

 

"I do not snore," Buck's voice carried his pout as he finally laid comfortably in bed and Eddie couldn't help but laugh.

 

"Good night, Buck."

 

"Night, Eds."

 

Comfort washed over Eddie, laying there next to Buck. Sleep came to him easily.

 

Sleep was deep.

 

Sleep was perfect.

 

When Eddie felt himself finally being pulled from the depth of his rest, the soft sounds of birds outside able to be heard in the morning light, Eddie felt in encompassing warmth he was wrapped in. The warmth buzzed internally, beneath the haze of drowsiness, but pressed against him externally too. He squeezed his eyes in his half-awake state, pushing his legs to flex in a stretch only to be met with resistance beside him.

 

Eddie heard a strong inhale and felt another body begin to flex and stretch next to him.  Blinking his eyes open, he found himself slowly processing where he was and what was going on. Through his comfort, he remembered Buck had slept in his bed with him last night. Through his comfort, he realized the warmth he was feeling pressing against him was Eddie himself laying curled against Buck's chest. They were both on their sides, leaning in towards each other. Buck was pulling back an arm which was draped over Eddie's shoulder to begin rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. Eddie tried not to shiver as the warmth left him.

 

"Morning," Buck's voice was rough from sleep and he looked down at Eddie. His lips were pulled into a soft smile. Everything about Buck, big and strong Buck, right now in this moment was so very soft. The volume he spoke. The muscles in his arm that Eddie had practically been using as a pillow. The drowsy look he was trying to rub out of his eyes. That smile, most of all. His lips looked so soft right now. If it weren't for his morning breath Eddie would be leaning up a bit right now and...

 

Oh.

 

Oh.

 

Buck and Eddie had spent last night sleeping together in the most literal sense, nothing more than sharing a bed together. And even though they fell asleep without a single point of contact between them they ended up turning towards each other and pressing close throughout the night. It wasn't a conscious choice, it was a decision made deep in sleep without actual input from either Buck or Eddie. So it wasn't weird. Only, Buck likes guys. Buck would date a guy, would probably be willing to wake up every day for the rest of his life cuddled up like this with a guy. But that didn't make it weird either. Because nothing had changed between Buck and Eddie. They were still best friends. Buck would date a guy but Buck still wouldn't date Eddie. Eddie didn't have the delusional notion that just because Buck would date a boy he would all of a sudden develop feelings for Eddie. It wasn't weird. Nothing about Buck and Eddie's relationship had changed at all. It wasn't weird to wake up curled together like this. Only...

 

Eddie kinda wanted to kiss Buck right then.

 

"Morning," Eddie cleared his throat, quickly pushing himself to sit up.

 

"Man, I was having such a weird dream," Buck said, sleep still clinging to the edge of his voice.

 

"Oh yeah?" Eddie's question came out tight and a little higher than he would've liked.

 

"Yeah, there was... uh..." Buck let out a laugh. It sounded like it was the same color as the morning sunshine leaking through the windows, "I don't even remember, actually. It was definitely weird though."

 

Eddie let out a laugh of his own, albeit a little humorless, saying "Sure sounds like it."

 

"Man, shut up," Buck swatted Eddie's shoulder. He turned to stand and began walking to the bathroom.

 

Eddie exhaled as he walked away.

 

He kinda wanted to kiss Buck.

 

He kinda wanted to wake up to the sound of Buck's laughter all the time.

 

He kinda wanted to always have Buck's embrace whenever he was asleep.

 

He kinda definitely wanted to kiss Buck.

 

Shit.

 

---

 

The plan was going great.

 

Chris had thought at first that the hardest part would be getting his dad and Buck to fall in love. Turns out, he really just needed to focus his efforts on getting them to realize that they already are in love. Once they realize that, everything else is gonna fall in line. They'll date, they'll get married, and Chris will have two dads to take car of him and will never even need to meet this 'Evan' guy.

 

Chris was brainstorming his next move when his dad knocked on the door.

 

"Hey, bud. Can we talk?"

 

His dad wanted to talk! It's been a week since his dad and Buck slept together in his dad's room. His dad spent that whole morning blushing like crazy. He spent the whole last few days blushing more often whenever Buck was over. Was this finally it? Have they finally stated dating?

 

"What's up?" Chris's voice was sparked with excitement.

 

His dad entered the room fully, moving to the bed with a serious expression, "What're you up to?"

 

"Dad, what's up?" Chris directed the attention back to his dad. He has been waiting so long for this conversation. He didn't wanna stall any more.

 

"Well, I, uh... You've been, uh, curious lately, huh?"

 

"Um..." Chris faltered a bit, "What?"

 

"Just, you've been asking a lot about... falling in love," His dad said. So this was a conversation about love. This was real. It's really happening. Chris's dad was finally gonna tell Chris that he was in love with Buck!

 

Chris nodded, encouraging.

 

"Well, there's, uh... There's something we should probably talk about."

 

"What?" Chris needed his dad to just get on with it.

 

"Well, Chris... You're at a certain age-"

 

Uh oh.

 

"-when your body-"

 

Oh no.

 

"-is starting to go through changes."

 

The plan was not going great. The plan was going terribly, actually.

 

"Dad!" Chris exclaimed.

 

"It's completely normal-" His dad started to continue.

 

"Dad, please stop," Chris tried.

 

"It's totally natural to start thinking about love. O-or liking girls. Or liking boys, or liking girls and boys," His dad continued anyway.

 

Chris groaned.

 

His dad kept talking, "And now that you're having these thoughts, you might notice some, uh, physical symptoms."

 

"My school has a health class," Chris was pleading with the universe for this conversation to end.

 

"Hey, it's not embarrassing-" His dad started.

 

"You're embarrassed!" Chris pointed out, gesturing towards the blush on his dad's cheeks.

 

"I'm not embarrassed," His dad lied, "There's just some things you should know."

 

"Please let me just learn them in health," Chris was now begging his dad directly for this conversation to end.

 

His dad laughed a bit, "Okay. Okay... I just want you to know-"

 

"Dad."

 

"Hey, seriously," His dad waited for Chris to look him in the eyes, "I want you to know if you have any questions, about anything, you can come to me. Okay?"

 

"Yeah, Dad," Chris rolled his eyes.

 

"Okay, good," His dad sat there a moment before prompting, "So...?"

 

Chris groaned again.

 

"No questions, got it," His dad said raising his hands in surrender as he stood up, "I love you, you know that?"

 

"Yeah, I know," Chris replied. He was a little bitter, he could admit that. This was not at all how he wanted this chat to go. Still, he looked at his dad and added on, "I love you, too. Just please don't bring up this conversation again."

 

---

 

"Hey!"

 

Buck woke up with a sharp inhale, sitting up abruptly. Beside him, he felt another body do the same. As the room came into focus he let his gaze linger on Eddie, sleepily scrubbing at his face in an attempt to wake up, before turning to the voice.

 

"Good morning," Chris said with a snort.

 

Buck stretched his neck, rolling it in circles, and asked, "Chris, what? What time is it?"

 

He didn't ask gracefully, he was still trying to figure out why he was being woken up right now.

 

"It's 6:17," Chris looked at the phone in his hand, smirk on his face.

 

"Is that my phone?" Eddie asked, voice still rough from sleep, face still scrunched from taking in the bright light of the room. Buck needed to remind himself he shouldn't be thinking that his best friend is cute.

 

Chris flipped the phone so that the screen faced Buck and Eddie on the couch. A video of the two of them showed Buck slumped backwards, head kinked upwards and mouth hanging slightly open. Eddie was... almost... curled into Buck's side. Eddie was leaning into Buck, head practically on his shoulder, equally fast asleep. Buck was so focused on trying not to blush at the video he didn't even pay attention to the audio from it until Chris spoke up, fighting back laughter, "I told you, you snore, Buck."

 

"That's totally your dad, bud," Buck countered, though his voice was a bit tight as he turned to try and see Eddie's reaction to the video.

 

Eddie, who was standing up from the couch to snatch his phone out of Chris's hand. He was... blushing? Maybe? Chris just laughed while Eddie grumbled out a "Gimmie that."

 

Between giggles, Chris asked, "Why did you guys sleep on the couch last night?"

 

"We must've fallen asleep watching TV," Eddie answered. He was rolling his shoulder and Buck felt a slight wave of guilt wash over him about letting Eddie fall asleep contorted on the couch. These were not prime healing conditions.

 

Chris blinked and turned his gaze to the remote on the coffee table, "If you both fell asleep, who turned the TV off?"

 

Chris looked like he was fighting off a grin.

 

Buck had about one whole second to think huh, weird. Did I turn the TV off? Did Ed- before Eddie was sighing out a groan saying, "Chris, we just woke up, can you cool it on the Jeopardy?"

 

But as Eddie spoke Buck could see the rosiness on his cheeks despite the fact Eddie was moving the TV remote from the coffee table to behind the TV stand, facing away from Buck. He seemed... embarrassed? Was Eddie embarrassed about waking up on the couch with Buck? Was Eddie embarrassed he chose to sleep on the couch with Buck?

 

"Areeeee you gonna make french toast?" Chris asked, smiling in Buck's face, oblivious or uncaring about how weird Buck and Eddie are acting.

 

"Uh, sure, bud. I can-" Buck started.

 

"Wait it's 6:20, Buck," Eddie cut in.

 

"Yeah, Chris doesn't leave for school 'til 7, I thought. I can whip it up quick," Buck's threw a confused look at Eddie, who sounded wide awake by now so that "we just woke up" mindset was clearly bullshit.

 

Eddie made a confused look right back, "What time do you go in today?"

 

"In?" Buck asked.

 

"For work," Eddie clarified, using the same "obviously" tone he took when he told Chris to finish homework before playing videogames.

 

"Oh," Buck smiled, "I don't go in 'til tomorrow."

 

Eddie scrunched his eyebrows even tighter, "It's Tuesday."

 

"Eddie, it's Monday."

 

"Buck, three-day weekend. It's Tuesday," Eddie seemed a cross between exasperated and amused.

 

Chris snorted, "It's definitely, Tuesday."

 

And suddenly, Buck was on his feet with a groan of anxiety asking, "Time check?"

 

Eddie smiled sheepishly when he looked bac at his phone and answered, "6:22?"

 

"Shi-oot," Buck grumbled, sparing a glance at Chris.

 

Buck started to move out the room towards the bathroom.

 

Eddie called out, "I still have your t-shirt. Not the uniform, but -uh- something?"

 

Buck turned around and Eddie was definitely blushing again. Buck raised an eyebrow, "You still have that?"

 

And, yeah, logically Buck knew Eddie still had one of his LAFD t-shirt. He's even seen the shirt, folded in one of Eddie's drawer. He just didn't know Eddie still remembered that he had the shirt. Because if Eddie remembered he had the shirt, he would've tried to give it back by now, right? Then again Buck never made the move to ask for it back, or take it back, but...

 

"Uh, yeah. Pretty sure it's in the second drawer of my dresser," Eddie said a little awkwardly.

 

Buck smiled, "All good, I have a clean uniform in my locker. Just gotta brush my teeth and rush out and stuff."

 

Eddie nodded and while Buck turned to keep moving and actually get ready -because, really, with morning traffic? He should be out the door in no less than five minutes if he want's to make it to work on time- Buck could hear Chris grumbling about cereal and Eddie chuckling in response. He couldn't help thinking that this morning was worth it. The ache in his neck, the soreness in his leg, the potential of Bobby reprimanding him for being late, it was all worth it.

 

But Bobby's reprimand was still potentially avoidable so Buck put a little more pep in his step. He brushed his teeth, splashed some water on his face, then came rushing out the bathroom to see Eddie waiting in the hallway by the front door.

 

"Carla's coming by today, right?" Buck asked, already reaching for his keys.

 

"Yeah, she's gonna pick up Chris from school and check in," Eddie confirmed.

 

"And until-"

 

"Until then I'll be fine," Eddie rolled his eyes and thrust a phone and a granola bar into Buck's hand, "Charge your phone on your drive, you didn't plug it in last night."

 

"Thank you," Buck nodded as he patted his pockets. Phone, keys? Check. He even got a granola bar as an extra surprise, but he really had to get going now. Still he paused and called to towards the kitchen, "Be good in school, Chris."

 

"I will!" Chris's voice called back from the other room, muffled from speaking with food in his mouth. Buck chuckled at the sound.

 

"And you take care of yourself," Buck turned to Eddie.

 

Eddie rolled his eyes, "You're getting late, cowboy."

 

Eddie picked up Buck's wallet -wallet! Duh!- and thrust it into Buck's hand.

 

Buck flashed a grateful smile and with saying a soft "Thanks," and giving a quick peck to Eddie's lips, he was out the door calling, "Text if you need me later," over his shoulder.

 

He didn't hear Eddie's response but still waved to Eddie from his Jeep as he pulled out of the driveway.

 

The radio was playing some pop music and while normally Buck would change the station until he found some music with a little stronger guitar, he found himself nodding along happily this morning. It was a good morning. The traffic wasn't light but he was hitting almost every green light and moving at a steady pace. He felt a little giddy, waking up next to Eddie. It wasn't as comfortable as when they woke up lying down together in a proper bed, but it was still nice despite the physical discomfort. And Buck knew he really should be working on pulling back his feelings for Eddie, but since the realization that "hey, I would date a man" crossed his mind he hasn't bee able to escape the thought of "hey, I already know one man, one kind and funny and caring and beautiful man, who always has my back and who I really want to date." And mornings like this, while enjoyable, didn't exactly help Buck keep his feelings for Eddie in-check. It all just felt so domestic: Waking up with Eddie next to him, being teased by Chris first thing in the morning, being asked to make breakfast, rushing out the door after Eddie made sure Buck had all his belongings, giving a quick kiss to Eddie on his way out-

 

Buck started choking on the granola bar.

 

He... Buck kissed Eddie. Buck kissed Eddie on his way out the door and he didn't even realize it.

 

"Shit," He spoke aloud to no one but himself.

 

Buck was three minutes late clocking in.

 

---

 

Throughout his recovery, Eddie was grateful for moments alone. Between everyone fussing, trying to show strength for his son, and dealing with the whole "I'm a little more than a little bit in love with Buck" realization, it's been exhausting. So the quiet moments when Chris is at school and Eddie had the house to himself felt a bit like a blessing.

 

Normally. Today, in particular it felt a bit more like a curse. Because Buck kissed Eddie -Buck kissed Eddie- like it was as easy as breathing while he was heading out the door, running late for work.

 

Eddie did end up sending a text: Tell the team I say hi

 

Buck had liked the message. Twenty minutes later he received Buck's response: They all say hi back :)

 

And that was that. Everything was normal. Buck would sporadically message Eddie about the calls they went on, Eddie would reply with sarcastic teasing, it was all so incredibly normal. Except for the fact that this morning after they had woken up together on the couch, Buck had kissed Eddie.

 

Chris came home from school and Carla stayed a bit to "help Chris with homework." She was staying to check in on Eddie, they both knew it, but it went unmentioned. Everything was normal.

 

Carla left and Eddie made him and Chris some chicken and rice for dinner. Chris pretended to be shocked Eddie didn't burn the kitchen down and only slightly burned the rice, and Eddie retorted about how he's said he's been practicing his cooking. Everything was normal.

 

When Eddie sent Buck a text a 9:36pm reading: Can you come over after your shift?

 

Buck responded: Be there by 8, Get some sleep in your bed tonight ;)

 

Eddie shot back: Enjoy the bunk room

 

Then Buck reacted to the message with a "haha" bubble. It was all normal.

 

But Eddie barely slept that night because things were not normal. Buck had kissed Eddie and it wasn't even half of what Eddie wanted. A rushed, chaste peck that was so easily ignored, so easily moved past, it wasn't normal and it wasn't enough and as much as Eddie did not want to talk with Buck about this he really needed to talk with Buck about this.

 

So, Eddie waited. He woke up with Chris the next morning and poured them each a bowl of cereal. He dropped Chris off at school and half expected Buck's jeep in his driveway when he got back to his house. In truth, it wasn't until 8:15 that Buck knocked on his front door and let himself in with his key. It was all still so normal that it was driving Eddie a little insane.

 

"Hey," Buck said as he came into the kitchen. His curls were damp from a shower and his shoulders were slumped with the weight of exhaustion.

 

"Not a lot of sleep last night?" Eddie slid a mug of coffee with a splash of oat milk over to where Buck sat himself down.

 

"You would've thought someone said the q-word, man. Sometime after 10 we started getting calls nonstop," Buck happily accepted the drink.

 

Eddie scuffed, "You know you can at least say 'quiet' when we're not in the firehouse."

 

Buck grimaced, "I don't wanna tempt fate."

 

Eddie laughed and Buck flashed a smile before turning back to look down at his mug.

 

"I, uh," Buck spoke again, "I should probably head out in a bit and try and catch some REMs."

 

"Oh," Eddie blinked. Buck had been here for all of five minutes and was already planning his leaving. He was avoiding eye contact, he was filling silences. He certainly remembered the kiss and was choosing not to talk about it. Eddie kinda wanted to hit him.

 

"Y-yeah. Just, um... Everything okay?"

 

Eddie shrugged, turning to refill his own mug of coffee, and letting a slight tone of annoyance seep into his voice as he said, "Course. Why wouldn't it be?"

 

"You, uh, you asked me to come over."

 

Suddenly, Eddie felt defensive, "Does something need to be wrong for me to invite you over, now?"

 

"Well, no. But-" Buck was staring very pointedly at his coffee.

 

"See, then. It's fine. Everything's fine," Eddie said. He took a seat next to Buck at the counter, a little more space than normal between the two.

 

"Right," Buck nodded, "It's fine."

 

Buck didn't sound like he believed Eddie. Eddie didn't feel like he believed himself.

 

Eddie took a sip of coffee.

 

Buck took a sip of coffee.

 

They sat there silently, awkwardly.

 

Eddie let out a groan. He placed his mug down with a little too much force as he turned himself to fully face Buck and ask, "Are we not gonna talk about it?"

 

Buck coughed, eyes wide, and stared down at his mug when he responded, "Talk about what?"

 

Eddie rolled his eyes again, "You know what."

 

"So something did happen?" Buck asked with a sheepish voice. Eddie definitely wanted to hit him.

 

"Buck, we both know what happened."

 

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Buck gave one last desperate attempt at denial.

 

Eddie didn't give him the chance anymore, "You kissed me."

 

Buck, apparently, had more denial left in him. His voice was the high-pitched tight lone of lying, "What? When did I-? Why would I-?"

 

"Buck," Eddie put his hand on Buck's shoulder and waited for Buck to meet his eyes before he continued, "You kissed me."

 

"Yeah, I kissed you," Buck let out a shaky exhale, speaking in a soft voice. Then he dropped his eyes again and whispered, "I'm sorry."

 

Eddie felt dread beginning to coil in his gut. If he thought he wanted to hit Buck for kissing him and then ignoring it, now he kinda wanted to kill Buck for kissing him and then regretting it. But there was no anger in his tone, only emptiness as Eddie started to pull his hand back and asked for clarity, "You're sorry?"

 

"Yeah, Eddie, I'm- I know you're not... I mean we..." Buck let out a sigh, "I wasn't really thinking, you know? I was in a rush and the whole morning had just felt so domestic and I was just moving on instinct and I shouldn't have done it."

 

Did Buck... Was Buck saying it was instinct to kiss Eddie? But that he also didn't...

 

"So you didn't want to kiss me?" Eddie heard his voice before he realized he was talking.

 

Buck, finally, made eye contact with Eddie again. He seemed guarded, "Eddie, what are you asking me here? Just because I like guys..."

 

Buck trailed off. Eddie swallowed. Right, it wasn't Buck's instinct to kiss Eddie, just his instinct to kiss whoever was there helping him through a domestic morning. So Eddie nodded, "Right, no. I know. I told you, nothing's changed between us."

 

Buck nodded back and confirmed, "Nothing's changed."

 

That should've been it. That should've been enough to let Buck leave and give them both a bit of space. But apparently Eddie was a bit of a masochist because he couldn't help himself from asking, "And you don't... You don't want anything to change?"

 

"Eddie..." Buck said with a sigh. He turned his head away, but Eddie could still see there was a bit of hurt in Buck's eyes. There was a bit of blush on Buck's cheeks. 

 

Oh. Maybe it's a good thing Eddie asked that question because the way Buck looked right now? He looked like he did want things to change but just didn't think they ever could. Eddie felt a flood of warmth pool in his core and the corner of his mouth tip up into a slight smile.

 

"Buck," Eddie moved closer again, placing his hand against Buck's jaw and guiding his friend to look back at him.

 

"I'm sorry," Buck whispered. He was facing Eddie but his eyes were still diverted. Eddie felt a twinge of frustration at the way Buck was apologizing for wanting more than just friendship between them. So this time, he let his own instincts take over.

 

Eddie moved forward, capturing Buck's lips with his own. Buck made a noise of surprise and Eddie held them there together, trying to press as much warmth and affection as he could into the kiss, until eventually Buck began to kiss back. It felt a bit like Buck was melting against him, bringing up his own hands to hold the back of Eddie's neck while their lips moved together. It was soft but full, so full, and Eddie couldn't remember the last time a kiss has felt so right.

 

Eddie pulled back a bit, resting his forehead against Buck's, and whispered, "You should go. Get some rest."

 

Buck darted backwards, "You want me to leave?"

 

He sounded so offended Eddie couldn't help but laugh as he leaned forward and pulled Buck back into another soft kiss. Pulling away, finding the self control to have a shorter kiss this time, Eddie clarified, "I want you to go crash on my bed. Then, when you wake up and you're not exhausted, we're gonna go out for lunch."

 

Buck blinked at Eddie, seemingly dazed from such a soft and gentle kiss between them, and asked, "You want me to stay?"

 

Eddie smiled, "I want you to stay."

 

Buck let himself begin to smile back, "And you want to go out for lunch?"

 

Eddie's smile shifted to be more of a smirk, "Well, I to take you out for lunch."

 

"Take me out, like a... date?"

 

"Well, uh," Eddie could see the absolute hope in Buck's eyes and grinned wider, "Yeah, Buck. On a date. You choose where, I'll foot the bill?"

 

Buck was the one who moved forward this time. He pulled Eddie close and pressed their lips together with a little more passion than their previous kisses. This kiss had the added heat of the slip of tongue between them and Eddie never wanted it to end. 

 

Still, he pushed Buck backward and said, "You need to get some sleep."

 

"Sleep is the last thing I want right now," Buck spoke a little breathlessly.

 

Eddie raised his eyebrows with a smile and Buck seemed to play back his statement mentally.

 

"Not like that," Buck was quick to clarify, "I mean not yet, obviously. Not that we're gonna! Not, not that I don't want to, I mean eventually-"

 

Eddie cut him off with a laugh and another quick kiss. He still was chuckling a bit as he pulled away and said, "Go rest, Buck. You've a big date this afternoon."

 

Buck's answering grin was blinding.

 

"Okay, yeah," Buck moved forward again to press another warm kiss against Eddie's mouth, "Yeah. I'll, uh, I'll try to rest."

 

---

 

Buck had his first date with Eddie a week and a half ago. A lot of things were the same: The two hung out together, they made each other laugh, they made each other smile. They were best friends. But there was more now to it, too. Now, Buck could kiss Eddie in the quiet, private moments they shared in an empty room. Now, Eddie would kiss Buck, leaving them both smiling even brighter. Now, Buck could watch Eddie openly without fear of being caught staring. Now, there were moments when Buck caught Eddie staring back.

 

They didn't talk about it, not really. Not about what this meant for them. Not about when or if or what they would be telling Chris. Not about if or what or how they would be telling the 118. Buck was being very patient about it, this was all still new to them. He and Eddie had time to figure it all out, so Buck could be patient. He hasn't even told Maddie yet. He could be patient.

 

Things felt right. Things felt normal as Eddie, Buck, and Chris walked around the LA zoo on a sunny Saturday. Chris had raised his eyebrows when Eddie decided he would be tagging along with the two of them on this zoo trip, but seemed excited about it nonetheless. The three walked, Eddie listening to Buck and Chris share fun facts and argue about that animals would win in a fight against each other. Buck felt happy, the happiest he's felt in a long while.

 

When Chris turned to them both, asking if they could grab some french fries, Buck practiced self control by -instead of agreeing immediately like he tended to do on his and Chris's zoo outings- turning to Eddie and letting Chris's dad make the call. Of course, Eddie gave in straight away. He ruffled Chris's hair with a quick, "Sure, buddy. Hop in line."

 

Chris was moving with a smile immediately. When Buck moved to follow him with Eddie, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see a slightly older woman greeting him with a smile.

 

"Sorry to intrude," The woman spoke, "I just wanted to say that you two have an adorable son."

 

Buck flashed a polite smile, "Thank you."

 

He turned to keep walking, not really caring to fall into a lengthy conversation with the stranger, but three steps in he noticed Eddie was still frozen in place. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "You coming?"

 

Eddie stepped forward to meet Buck, but they didn't move to where Chris stood in the concessions line just yet. His expression was pinched and a little unreadable as he asked Buck, "What was that?"

 

Buck looked to where the lady from before was walking away then turned back to Eddie, "She was just saying Chris was cute."

 

Eddie shook his head minutely, "She thought he was our son."

 

"Oh," Buck was starting to realize what was going on. How could he be so dumb? Obviously he was overstepping. Things were still so new with him and Eddie. They had barely even talked about what's currently changing between them.

 

"You didn't correct her," Eddie added on. He glanced at Chris, monitoring where his son was standing in line.

 

"No, I know, I just... I'm sorry. I'm just so used to people assuming, it's always been easiest to just go along with it and part ways," Buck explained.

 

Eddie blinked and shot a new, more confused look at Buck, "Wait, this happens a lot?"

 

Buck felt himself flush. He now looked at Chris to watch him since Eddie had his face turned away. He explained, a little embarrassed, "I mean, yeah. Every now and again when the three of us go out together. It's always just been easier to take the compliments about out 'adorable family' than explain I'm just hanging out with my best friend and his son. I didn't mean to overstep. I didn't even think how it might be different now that we're... Th-that we, uh..."

 

Buck spared a glance towards Eddie who was looking at him seemingly almost... fond?

 

"Now that we're dating?" Eddie offered.

 

"Yeah, uh. Now that we're dating," Buck confirmed awkwardly.

 

Eddie smiled, gently grabbing Buck's hand, and said, "You didn't overstep."

 

Buck let out an exhale of relief and asked to clarify, "I didn't?"

 

"Course not," Eddie blushed and turned to watch where Chris was standing, "You're right, anyway. It's quicker to just take a compliment than to need to start explaining you're out with your boyfriend and his kid."

 

"Boyfriend?" Buck squeezed Eddie's hand a little tighter, blush rushing up to his cheeks.

 

"Boyfriend," Eddie squeezed Buck's hand back, then nodded to where Chris was waving them over. The kid was grinning wildly at them.

 

The let their hands fall apart as they walked to where Chris stood in line, but Buck was certain they were both grinning a little wider than before.

 

"What were you talking about?" Chris asked as they approached, excitedly looking between the two.

 

"Just how lucky we are to hang out with you," Eddie leaned down to press a kiss to the top of Chris's curls, only to be batted away.

 

Chris seemed to deflate a bit at the answer, but that could've been because he was a preteen in public being given affection from his father. 

 

Buck laughed. He smiled. This is inarguably the happiest he's been in a long time.

 

---

 

Chris was going to go insane. There's still been no talk about Evan. He's even debating bringing it up himself. His dad is starting to work out more again, preparing to recertify as a firefighter eventually after he continues his recovery. Evan was a firefighter, right? Chris is pretty confident about that based on context clues. Maybe he could name drop him the next time Buck and his dad talk about work and see how they react. But Chris was also going a little nutty because his dad and Buck are hanging out all the time. Even more than usual! And he's even caught them holding hands, smiling together, laughing even harder at even dumber jokes these past three weeks. They were so close!

 

Case in point: As Carla unlocked the door to Chris's house, she didn't even get the chance to call out that they were home before the sound of Eddie and Buck's laughter echoed out from the living room.

 

Chris turned to look at Carla, who was already meeting Chris's gaze with a knowing smirk. They walked into the house, following the voices.

 

Between laughs, Chris heard Buck saying, "But I'm right!"

 

They turned the corner and Chris could see his dad leaning backwards on the couch while holding a phone over his head behind him. Buck was reaching after it, halfway in Chris's dad's lap as he tried to grab it, and thy were both still laughing.

 

"Evan Buckley, you know I love you. But there is no way-" His dad was saying.

 

Carla cleared her throat to announce her and Chris's presence.

 

Chris heard ringing in his ears.

 

Buck and his dad shot apart, launching to opposite ends of the couch. His dad spoke first, flushed and in a tight voice, "Oh, hey guys."

 

Buck nodded along, sounding just as tense when he joined in and said, "We didn't hear you guys come in."

 

Carla snorted, raised her eyebrows, and said, "Clearly."

 

"What did you just say?" Chris asked his dad. He looked straight at him, voice unwavering, ignoring the tension that riddled his own body.

 

His dad seemed to take a second to think back on the scene Chris and Carla walked in on, then suddenly his eyes went wide. He looked over at Buck, who wore an equally surprised expression and had a bit of blush on his cheeks.

 

"I-I, uh..." His dad started.

 

Chris cut him off, "Evan Buckley?"

 

Chris's dad still sat a little frozen, a little pale, but his eyebrows drew together as if he didn't anticipate about Chris asking about the name.

 

Buck, blinking, shaking his head, processing something but Chris didn't know what, recovered first. He confirmed, "Yeah, uh. My full name is Evan Buckley. You didn't know that?"

 

There's no way. There's no way! Chris spoke again, "Your name is Evan?"

 

Buck nodded, "Uh, says so on my birth certificate."

 

Chris didn't bat an eye at the attempt to joke. He turned back to look at his dad and ask, "Evan like in your will?"

 

This seemed to snap his dad out of whatever trance he was in. He turned fully to Chris, "H-how do you know about that?"

 

"I heard you on the phone with abuela," Chris couldn't help but roll his eyes. That was so not the point right now, "Buck is the Evan who would take care of me if you get hurt?"

 

His dad's face softened from fear into... into fatherly love or something like that when he answered, "Mijo, I told you I'm aways gonna fight to make it back to you. But... But if I can't one day-"

 

"Then Buck would," Chris couldn't help the way he started to smile, just a bit. Buck was Evan. Buck was Evan!

 

"Yeah, buddy. Are-"

 

Whatever Chris's dad was about to ask, Chris's question was more important. So Chris cut him off and asked first, "And you love him?"

 

The fear was suddenly back in his dad's eyes. Buck cleared his throat and began to speak with a sheepish smile, "W-well. I mean, we are best fri-"

 

Chris's dad reached across the couch to grab Buck's hand, cutting off whatever Buck was about to ramble out by saying, "Yeah, bud. I do. I love Buck. I-is that okay?"

 

Buck was looking at his dad with a mix between softness and surprise. For a second, Chris couldn't tell who was asking if it was okay. Chris's smile was growing but he was quick to school it down and state plainly, leaving no room for argument, "You're not allowed to screw this up."

 

His dad smiled at Chris, then turned his smile to Buck, and said, "I don't plan on it."

 

Chris turned to Buck, "You're not allowed to screw this up, either."

 

Buck laughed in the way he only ever did when Chris said something he found amusing, but then he spoke with such a seriousness it almost caught Chris off guard, "I won't. We won't."

 

Chris nodded, then asked just to be sure, "You love him too?"

 

Buck's grin grew wider, he squeezed Chris's dad's hand and said, "Yeah. Yeah, I love him too."

 

His dad seemed to visibly relax being told that.

 

"Come on, Chris," Carla spoke with a broad smile and a voice full of love, "Let's grab you a snack. You boys join us in the kitchen in a minute?"

 

"Be right there," His dad nodded at her.

 

As Chris and Carla started walking to the kitchen, giggles started pouring out from the couch. Chris could hear the whispered, giggly conversation:

 

"I cannot believe you told me you loved me the first time on accident in front of Chris!"

 

"I didn't know he was there!" Corresponded with the sound of a light smack.

 

More giggles poured out, "You said it on accident!"

 

"You kissed me on accident!"

 

Carla snorted at that comment, not bothering to pretend she wasn't listening alongside Chris. And that's a little gross, they didn't need to talk about kissing in front of Chris. But, to be fair, Chris didn't think they knew he and Carla were still listening. And, to be more fair, if his dad and Buck had to do gross things like kissing at least they were finally kissing each other.

 

"Well, it all worked out, didn't it?" Buck could be heard asking between laughs.

 

"Yeah, yeah it really did."

 

"So we're telling people now?"

 

Now? Now! How long has Chris been going crazy trying to get them to see that they're in love but they've already known?

 

"You better tell Maddie before Chris tells everyone he knows."

 

Hey! Chris was trustworthy! He's kept his plan a secret for so long after all.

 

"She's on shift, I'll drop by her's later."

 

"Stay for dinner?" He could hear his dad asking.

 

"Always," Buck answered.

 

And Chris? Chris believed it. Buck was gonna stay.

 

Always.

Notes:

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