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It was Saturday morning, and Buck and Eddie had barely been off their 48-hour shift for a few hours. After Carla clocked out, they'd barely made it to bed before sleep hit them like a freight train. No time to talk, no time to even kick off the socks still clinging to their ankles—just face-first into the pillows, out cold.
But rest never lasted long in their house.
The baby monitor crackled to life.
Buck groaned.
A stream of half-Spanish, half-gibberish babble spilled into the quiet room, followed by a thud. Then another. Then silence. Then another thunk.
"She's back at it," Buck mumbled, voice rough, face still buried in Eddie's chest. "That was Bluey hitting the floor. Again."
Eddie didn't move much, just slid a lazy arm over Buck's back and pressed a kiss to the crown of his head. "Sounds like a you problem."
"I think you'll find it's your turn."
"You said you'd take all of this morning," Eddie muttered without opening his eyes. "I did it last time so you could go to the gym, remember?"
Buck sighed. Not because Eddie was wrong—but because Eddie was right.
Another dull blonk echoed from the monitor.
"She's got a good arm," Buck muttered, throwing off the covers. "We should sign her up for softball."
"Start with not throwing stuffed animals at dawn," Eddie said into the pillow.
Buck leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to Eddie's lips. "I'll be back. Or I won't. Tell Chris I loved him."
Eddie gave him a tired middle finger.
Barefoot and half-asleep, Buck shuffled out into the hallway, rubbing the grit from his eyes. Nova's voice was getting louder now, more excited than upset, but still—he winced. Not because she was screaming. She rarely cried these days, just yelled at full volume like she was the only one awake in the universe.
The real risk was Chris.
Their teenage son had finally learned how to sleep in on weekends. Waking him up with a rogue toddler tantrum? That was a death wish. Buck paused outside Chris's room, holding his breath like he was checking for a bear in hibernation.
Nothing. Silence.
Thank God.
One crisis averted.
He crept the rest of the way to the nursery and pushed the door open to find Nova standing proudly in her crib like she owned the place.
Which, to be fair, she did.
Her hair was a mess—one ponytail lopsided, the other already lost to sleep and gravity. Her pyjamas were halfway unzipped like she'd tried to escape them in the night. On the floor in front of the crib, Bluey lay face down in defeat. Again.
Nova pointed dramatically, as if presenting evidence in court.
"Dada!" Her grin lit up her whole face.
"Hi, monster," Buck said softly, stepping into the room and bending down to retrieve the stuffed toy. "You threw her again, huh?"
Nova pointed dramatically at Bluey. "¡Caída!" she declared, like it had somehow leapt from her hands without warning.
"Fall, huh?" Buck echoed, handing the toy back to her. He blew a raspberry into the side of her neck, making her squeal. Her face scrunched like she was deeply offended by the accusation.
"You want to come into bed with Papa and Daddy?" Buck asked, grinning as he scooped her up into his arms.
Nova didn't answer, just wrapped both arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder, Bluey squashed between them like an honoured guest.
Buck swayed with her for a second, rubbing her back, her curls brushing his jaw. She smelled like baby shampoo and whatever she'd smuggled into bed the night before.
"Yeah, that's what I thought," he whispered.
He carried her back down the hallway, careful again as he passed Chris's room, still silent. Nova lifted her head just long enough to whisper, "Shh," and put a finger to her lips.
Buck almost laughed.
"Exactly," he murmured.
When he pushed the bedroom door open, Eddie was still sprawled across the bed, eyes closed, blanket half kicked off, hair a mess.
"Make room," Buck said, nudging him with a knee as he climbed back in.
Eddie cracked one eye open. "She brought Bluey?"
"Of course, she brought Bluey."
Nova wriggled down between them, flopping dramatically onto Eddie's chest like it was her rightful throne.
Eddie grunted as she kneed him in the ribs. "Morning to you, too."
Nova giggled and curled into his side like a barnacle. Buck slid in on her other side, arm reaching across to tangle with Eddie's.
The three of them lay there, tangled and half-asleep, Bluey staring blankly at the ceiling like she'd seen things.
Buck sighed, content. "We're never getting her back to sleep, are we?"
Eddie didn't answer. He was already snoring.
Nova didn't stay still for long.
Five, maybe six minutes of snuggled silence—then she popped upright like a meerkat on espresso. Bluey in one hand, her other arm shot across Buck's face as she climbed him like a jungle gym.
"Toast now," she announced.
Eddie groaned. "Babe, your daughter is stepping on my spleen."
Buck blinked up at Nova, who was now kneeling triumphantly on his stomach. "You couldn't have just... chilled for like twenty more minutes?"
"Toast," she said again, this time drawing it out into two dramatic syllables: "Toooaaast."
"Alright, alright." Buck sat up, catching her before she launched herself off the bed entirely. "You win, kid."
Eddie rolled over, stealing most of the sheets in the process. "Good luck," he mumbled into the pillow.
"Thanks. Come on, Bubba. Let's let Papa get some sleep," Buck said, scooping Nova up like a sack of giggling potatoes. He dipped dramatically toward the bed just enough for her to plant a sloppy kiss on Eddie's cheek.
"Bye, baby girl," Eddie groaned, barely cracking an eye open. "Enjoy your tostada."
"Tostada!" Nova repeated, delighted by the new word. She giggled as Buck lifted her back up like a rocket.
"Sleep well, babe," Buck said, and with a salute and a grin, he zoomed out of the room, Nova's arms out like wings, Nova squealing with laughter in his arms.
"Rocket ship!" she shouted as they cruised down the hall.
"You are a rocket," Buck declared. "Destination: Kitchen. Mission: toast and minimal destruction."
Behind them, Eddie groaned and pulled the pillow over his head. But he was smiling.
By the time Buck reached the kitchen, he had placed Nova on her step stool and passed her a few slices of bread. She grinned and happily popped them into the toaster, like it was her most important job of the day.
Buck grabbed her sippy cup from the sanitiser. "OJ, water, or milk, princesa?" he asked, opening the fridge.
Nova tapped a finger to her lips, pretending to think it over like he'd asked her to solve world peace. "OJ," she finally declared, bouncing slightly on her stool.
Buck raised an eyebrow.
"Please," she added quickly, giving him her best innocent smile.
He smirked, grabbing the orange juice and everything else they'd need for breakfast. "Thought so."
She accepted the cup with both hands and took a heroic gulp just as the toast popped. Buck snagged it, buttered it while it was still warm, and cut it into quarters.
"No crusts," Nova announced as she climbed down from her stool, already heading to her little table in the corner like a boss reporting for duty.
"Okay, okay, relax, Gordon Ramsay," Buck muttered, cutting off the crusts and tossing them in the compost before setting her plate down in front of her.
"Gracias, Dada," she said sweetly, already chewing.
Buck gave her a tired but genuine smile. "De nada, jefa."
With her settled, he headed back to the kitchen to start on the real breakfast—scrambled eggs and fruit salad for him, Eddie, and Chris. He cracked the eggs one-handed like a pro, flipping on the stove and tossing some berries into a bowl while the pan heated up.
Behind Buck, the shuffle of feet and a low groan echoed from the hallway—textbook signs of one very grumpy teenager.
Chris slumped into a chair at the table, hoodie pulled up like a shield against the world—or at least against the sound of his baby sister happily babbling through breakfast.
But the second Nova spotted him, she lit up like it was Christmas morning.
"Chrissssy!" she squealed, throwing her arms in the air. "Look! I got juice!"
She launched her sippy cup skyward in celebration. Buck turned just in time to catch it mid-air before it could smack Chris in the face.
"Nice, Novie," Chris mumbled, eyes still half-shut as he dropped his head onto the table. "Why is she always yelling so early?"
"She missed you," Buck said with a grin, setting a plate of eggs on toast in front of him. He leaned down and kissed Chris on the side of the head. "Good morning, by the way."
Chris didn't lift his head, just let out a muffled, "She fell asleep in my lap last night."
"Yeah, but you're her brother," Buck said, moving back to the stove. "She loves you."
He didn't say it out loud, but sometimes it still hit him—this was his life. A toddler launching sippy cups. A teenager grumbling into his eggs. A kitchen full of noise and warmth and his family.
"You're her favourite person at the moment," he added.
Chris perked up slightly, lifting his head just enough to flash a smug grin. "I am pretty cool, huh?"
Buck didn't miss a beat. "Just eat your eggs, rock star."
Just then, Eddie walked into the room fully dressed and ready for the day.
Buck took one look and nearly short-circuited.
Eddie was wearing one of his hoodies—oversized and soft—and a pair of his jeans too, the ones that always fit Eddie just a little too well. And yeah, Buck wasn't gonna lie: seeing his boyfriend in his clothes did something to him.
So he strode right over and kissed him. Not a quick peck either—something slow and solid, like a claim and a thank-you rolled into one.
Chris groaned loudly, reaching across the table to slap a hand over Nova's eyes. "Don't look, Novie. Save yourself."
Buck pulled back, grinning. Eddie smirked and leaned in to kiss him again just to be annoying.
"If your biggest problem in life is that your parents love each other too much," Eddie said, ruffling Chris's hair, "I think you're doing pretty well, kid."
Chris tried to duck away, but Eddie stole a bite of his toast in the distraction.
"Hey!" Chris swatted at him. "That's my breakfast!"
"You didn't say thank you to the chef," Eddie said around the bite, sitting down at the table like he hadn't just committed a breakfast felony.
Nova just giggled, still focused on her toast, her cheeks stuffed full like a chipmunk. "Papa stealin'!"
Buck stood at the stove, watching them with a look he didn't quite realise was on his face—somewhere between awe and contentment.
It was so disgustingly domestic. The kind of morning most people took for granted. The kind of morning Buck used to daydream about as a teenager, lying awake in a cold, quiet house, wondering if anyone even noticed he was there.
Now here he was—kitchen full of noise and crumbs, with a kid babbling, a teen swatting at his toast thief of a father, and the love of his life wearing his clothes and stealing his heart all over again.
Eddie made himself a plate and joined Chris and Buck at the table. Breakfast unfolded in its usual slow rhythm—Nova at her little table, happily smashing strawberries into her toast like it was a high-stakes experiment.
Chris eventually finished his food and drifted to the couch, curling up under the throw blanket. He flipped on one of the family-approved shows from the pre-approved list he and Buck had carefully built—safe viewing for all ages, even if the teenager pretended he didn't care.
The house wasn't quiet exactly, but it was... peaceful.
They ate the rest of their breakfast without talking, letting the background fill in the silence—the low hum of the TV, the occasional shuffle of Chris adjusting under the blanket, and Nova's steady stream of babbling as she narrated her breakfast like a cooking show only she could follow.
Eventually, Buck got up, wiping his hands on a dish towel as he collected his and Chris's plates. He dropped them in the sink, catching the slight glare Eddie shot his way—the kind that clearly said, Chris should be putting his dishes away.
Buck just smiled sweetly and leaned in to give him a quick peck on the lips. "Wanna head over to the nook?" he asked, nodding toward the little reading space tucked into the corner of the living room.
It was what had sold Buck on the house in the first place—a cozy pocket of privacy where you could still see and hear the kids without being in the thick of it.
Eddie didn't need convincing. A quiet moment with his husband, without a two-year-old climbing them like playground equipment, was as rare as gold. So they slipped away, unnoticed.
Buck all but collapsed onto the big bean bag with a dramatic groan. Eddie followed, settling into his lap without hesitation.
Eddie tilted his head back to look up at him, a small smile tugging at his lips. For a long moment, neither of them said anything. Then Buck's hand slid into Eddie's hair, gently.
"You know this is the dream, right?" Buck said.
"Yeah," Eddie murmured, softening instantly. "Doesn't get much better than this."
Buck nodded, swallowing around the lump in his throat. His voice was low when he spoke again. "I still can't believe this is my life."
"Hey." Eddie leaned up, pressing a kiss to Buck's jaw. "This is yours. You built it. You nurture it."
Buck's smile turned quiet, full, and warm as his eyes met Eddie's. Then it shifted into a smirk. "And you... I'm wearing my jeans."
Eddie huffed a laugh and kissed him softly. "Yeah, and you're not getting them back."
"I wouldn't dare," Buck said, leaning in and squeezing him carefully. "Not when your ass looks that good."
Before Eddie could fire back, a little voice piped up from the living room.
"Daddy? Where are you going?"
Both men froze for a moment before dropping their heads and laughing—of course, they'd get busted right when things were getting good.
"Think she's looking for you," Eddie whispered.
"Just because she knows you're gonna make her clean up," Buck shot back, but he was already pushing himself up and offering a hand for Eddie to take.
They left the nook to find Nova standing in the middle of the room, Bluey dangling from one hand, her curls just slightly sticky from jam.
She spotted them instantly, hopping down from her little perch and breaking into a sprint as fast as her short legs could carry her.
"There you are!" she declared, barreling straight into Buck's legs. "I'm looking for you! You're gone."
Buck crouched down and scooped her up, settling her on his hip. "I'm right here, princesa. I just had to talk to Papa."
Nova's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Kissin' Papa?"
"Of course not." Buck raised his brows at her. "What makes you think that?"
"You smiley," she said cheekily, pressing her tiny hand against his cheek. "You always smile after kissing."
Eddie smirked from where he stood behind them. "I think it's cute."
"Ah!" Buck turned, giving him a mock glare. "You're supposed to be on my side. You're not helping my case."
Nova twisted in Buck's arms to look at Eddie, tilting her head in all her two-year-old adorableness. "You kiss Dada?"
Eddie nodded solemnly. "All the time."
Nova gasped like it was shocking, brand-new information. "Again!" she demanded, clapping her hands.
"Oh my god," Chris groaned from the couch, not even looking up from his phone. "Do not encourage them."
Buck shrugged, raising an eyebrow at Eddie. "Well, she did ask nicely."
Eddie just chuckled, leaning in to press a quick kiss to Buck's lips. Nova squealed in delight and clapped even louder.
"Alright, Mono descarado", Eddie said, reaching over to take her from Buck "Time to get you ready, we've got to go to your Mama's party."
"Party!" Nova echoes, grinning, wrapping her arms around his neck as she bounced excitedly in his arms
"Yeah? Party," Eddie confirmed, bouncing her lightly as he secured her onto his hip.
"Cake?" she asked immediately, eyes wide with hope.
"Maybe. We'll have to ask your mamá," Eddie said as they headed down the hallway toward the nursery.
Once Eddie pushed the door open, he set her down on the soft rug in the middle of the room. Nova immediately stumbled toward her dresser, planting herself in front of it like she was waiting for a vault to be unlocked.
Eddie opened the drawer, and she dove in without hesitation, digging through like a treasure hunter on a mission.
"You're picking your outfit, huh?" Eddie asked, one brow arched.
"I pick," she declared, tossing shirts and leggings over her shoulder with reckless abandon. "Better than Papa," she added with a cheeky grin.
Eddie huffed a laugh. "Is that so?"
Finally, she pulled out a yellow sundress patterned with tiny strawberries and held it up proudly. "This one."
Eddie's eyebrow went higher.
"Please," she hummed, batting her lashes like she was sealing the deal.
"Of course," Eddie said, taking the dress from her. "But should we grab some tights too? It's still not exactly summer yet."
Nova wrinkled her nose at the suggestion but handed him the dress anyway. Then she dropped to her knees, sifting through the growing pile of clothes now scattered across the floor.
"Tights, tights, tights," she muttered with intense focus, tossing aside a sweater, then a pair of shorts, until she finally pulled out a pair that met her approval.
"Found 'em," she announced triumphantly, holding them up like she'd just won a prize.
Eddie chuckled. "Alright, princesa. Let's get you dressed."
Eddie scooped her up, swinging her once before settling her on the changing table. With practised ease, he swapped her nappy, dodging a few enthusiastic kicks, and pulled her leggings up into place.
"Aren't you just the cutest little girl ever?" he said, grabbing her ankles and pressing her feet to his cheeks.
Nova squealed, kicking her legs out wildly. "Papa! Tickles!"
"Good," Eddie laughed, pretending to nuzzle her toes. "I love listening to your giggles."
She flopped back on the table, still laughing, while he grinned down at her. "Alright, arms up," he said once she'd caught her breath.
Surprisingly, she obeyed, lifting her little arms without protest. Eddie slipped the sundress over her head, smoothing the soft fabric down over her tummy.
"There," he said with satisfaction, stepping back to admire his handiwork.
From the doorway, Buck leaned against the frame, hair still damp from his shower, a towel slung low on his hips. "She's going to be so wound up for the entire day."
"Worth it," Eddie grinned. "Besides, we don't have to deal with the crash," he teased, giving Nova's tummy another quick tickle before following Buck toward the ensuite.
"Alright, let's let Daddy get ready while we do your hair," Eddie said, setting her down. Nova immediately took off at a sprint toward the bathroom, Bluey still tucked securely under her arm.
Buck watched her go, smiling softly. "She's so adorable. Can't believe she's ours."
Eddie just nodded, leaning in to press a kiss to Buck's forehead. "We hit the jackpot. Now go get yourself and Chris ready. By the time I finish Nova's hair—"
"Sir, yes, sir," Buck cut in with a mock salute, smirking as he disappeared into the bathroom.
"How would you like your hair today, Miss?" Eddie asked, smiling as Nova climbed up into her little stool in front of the mirror.
"Braids!" she shouted without hesitation. "Two, like Elsa!" Then, catching his eye in the reflection, she added sweetly, "Please, Papa?"
Eddie nodded, handing her the spray bottle so she could mist her hair while he dug out the brush and a couple of elastics.
"Braids it is," he said, gently sectioning off her hair. "But you have to sit very still, okay?"
Nova nodded solemnly, though her little legs still bounced against the stool. Almost immediately, she launched into a story about the last time she went to a party.
"'Member, Papa? There was cake—pink cake! An' I had two pieces, but Mama said only one, but Tía gave me more. And there was a dog! A big dog, like—like this big!" She held her arms out wide, nearly knocking the brush out of Eddie's hand.
"Whoa, careful," Eddie chuckled, guiding her arms back down. "If you keep moving like that, you're gonna end up with one braid on the side of your head."
Nova gasped, eyes wide in the mirror. "Nooo, two braids! Like Elsa!"
"Then you'd better sit still, princesa," Eddie teased, smoothing out a section of her hair.
Eddie finished the first braid, tying it off with a pink elastic. "One down, princess."
Nova beamed at her reflection. "Elsa time!"
"Almost," Eddie said, starting on the second braid. "Then we're ready to wow the whole party." A few quick, practised twists later, he tied off the second braid and gave both a gentle tug to make sure they were secure.
"There we go," he said, turning her toward the mirror. "Double Elsa."
Nova gasped, patting her braids like they were priceless treasures. "I'm so pretty!"
"You're always pretty," Eddie said, scooping her up and planting a kiss on her cheek.
She giggled, arms wrapping tight around his neck, then pointed toward the bedroom. "Go show Daddy!"
Eddie chuckled. "Oh, you want to show off?"
"Yes!" Nova said without hesitation. "He's gonna say, 'Wow!'"
Eddie set her down, and Nova took off at full speed, tiny feet pattering against the floor until she skidded into the bedroom. Buck was halfway through buttoning his shirt when he looked up, and his whole face softened.
"Oh wow... look at you, Princesa."
Nova straightened instantly, puffing her chest out with pride. "Like Elsa," she informed him.
Buck stepped closer, reaching out to brush his fingers gently over one braid. "I see that. Papa did a good job, huh?"
"I know. He's the best at my hair," she said with complete certainty, giving a little twirl that made her dress fan out.
Buck laughed, nodding along before leaning over to give Eddie a quick peck as he stepped into the room.
"She's not wrong," Buck murmured against his lips.
"I can get Adriana to teach you," Eddie grunted, giving Buck one last kiss.
"I think we'll just leave that as a Papa job," Buck said with a grin. "Alright, I'll go put her shoes on if you want to get Chris?"
"Deal." Eddie gave Nova's braids one last proud pat before heading for the hallway.
Buck crouched down in front of Nova, holding out her little white sneakers. "Okay, princesa, let's get these on so we can go eat all that cake you're planning on."
Nova plopped down cross-legged, immediately offering him one foot. "Two cakes," she corrected seriously.
Buck chuckled. "We'll see what Mama says."
"Chris? You ready?" Eddie called, knocking on his door as he walked past. "We're leaving."
"Yep, one second," came the grumble from the other side.
A moment later, Chris emerged, hoodie half-zipped, hair still a little messy. By the time he made it to the front door, Nova was already there—one sneaker on, the other clutched in her hand.
"Help," she announced, thrusting the shoe toward Buck like it was an emergency.
Buck crouched without missing a beat, taking it from her and sliding it onto her foot. He tightened the Velcro and gave her toes a playful wiggle. "There. Now you're unstoppable."
Nova grinned. "Zoom!" she declared, taking off down the hallway.
"Alrighty, McSpeedy, let's get in the car," Eddie said, grabbing her little jacket from the hook and sliding it onto her arms.
Buck took her hand, and together they skipped down the driveway. Once buckled into her car seat, Nova twisted around immediately, her eyes lighting up at the sight of her brother—especially since he was now basically trapped beside her.
"Chrissy! We're going to a party!" she announced proudly.
"Yeah, I heard," Chris said with a small smile. For all his teenage bravado, he had a massive soft spot for his baby sister.
Nova leaned toward Chris as far as her car seat straps would allow. "Cake. Two cakes," she whispered like it was top-secret intel.
Chris's mouth twitched. "Two cakes? You planning to share any?"
Nova shook her head, deadly serious. "Mine."
From the driver's seat, Eddie glanced at Buck and snorted. "Sounds like someone takes after you."
Buck grinned. "Hey, I share. Sometimes. If it's worth it."
Nova giggled at that, swinging her legs against the seat. "Papa gets cake too," she decided magnanimously.
"Wow, thanks, kiddo," Eddie said dryly, reaching back to pat Nova's knee. "Sit tight, princesa. Not much longer."
About twenty minutes later, they pulled into Taylor's driveway, already lined with cars. Music drifted from the garden, the faint smell of barbecue in the air.
The second Buck unbuckled Nova's seat, and she wriggled free like she'd been held captive for hours.
"Wait for us!" Buck called, jogging after her. He could've easily caught up, but there was no real need—she was safe, and she knew exactly where she was going.
Eddie just shook his head, locking the car. "She's got a one-track mind."
Buck smirked. "Wonder where she gets that from."
Before Eddie could fire back, the front door swung open. Taylor's face lit up instantly when she saw Nova.
"Hey, princesa!" she said, crouching down with open arms. Nova practically launched herself forward.
"Mama! We go party?!" she giggled, her excitement bubbling over.
Taylor smiled, pressing a kiss to her daughter's cheek before looking up at Buck, Eddie, and Chris. "Hey, you three. Survive the morning?"
"Barely," Buck admitted with a grin, rubbing the back of his neck. "She's been counting down to seeing you all day."
"Thanks again for bringing her. I know it's not my week." Taylor's smile softened as she set Nova down.
Nova immediately bolted toward the backyard, chasing after Talia, Taylor's best friend's daughter.
"Of course," Eddie said, handing Taylor a small gift bag they'd brought. "We wouldn't miss it. Besides, she's already riding a sugar rush—so now she's your problem."
Taylor laughed. "That sounds about right." She glanced in the direction Nova had disappeared. "Come on in, everyone."
The moment they stepped through the sliding doors into the backyard, the noise hit them — music drifting from a speaker propped on the patio, laughter echoing across the grass, and the smell of grilled food wrapping around everything. Taylor's garden looked like something out of a summer postcard: bright flowers spilling from planters, tables lined with food, and kids darting past in a blur of colour.
Amber, Taylor's girlfriend, stood near the grill, tongs in hand, chatting with a couple of guests.
The second Nova's sneakers touched the grass, she was gone — bolting as fast as her tiny legs would carry her toward a group of kids clustered near the flowerbeds. Her giggles carried over the noise as Talia spotted her and immediately dragged her into the game of chase.
Buck headed toward Amber with a grin, leaning in for a quick hello, while Eddie peeled off toward a knot of Taylor's extended family. He'd first met most of them when Nova was born, and while they weren't exactly close, they'd settled into a polite rhythm over the years. They weren't hostile, just curious — the kind of curious that led to the same questions about how their family worked, what co-parenting looked like, and, sometimes, about being queer. Eddie had learned to take it in stride, answering when it felt worth it, and just smiling and nodding when it didn't.
Chris lingered near the patio for a moment, clearly debating who to follow, before making his way to a shady spot under a jacaranda tree where a couple of Taylor's slightly older nieces sat. He dropped into a chair, pulling out his phone and thumbing open a game, but his eyes still flicked up now and then to keep tabs on Nova darting around a few feet away.
Taylor wove her way through the crowd a little later, pausing to greet a cousin before heading straight for the grill where Amber and Buck were still chatting. Sliding her sunglasses onto her head, she slipped an arm around Amber’s waist and smiled, her gaze drifting toward the backyard. The kids were tearing around in circles, laughter bubbling everywhere. Nova’s braid had already come loose, little wisps flying wild as she tried to keep up with Talia.
“Hey,” Taylor said softly, eyes still on the chaos. “I just wanted to thank you again—for bringing her, for… everything.” Finally, she looked at Buck, a wry smile tugging at her mouth. “I’m really glad it was you I had a whoopsie baby with.”
Buck’s throat tightened, but he managed a smile and a small nod. “Of course. She’s the best parts of both of us.” His eyes flicked across the yard, catching Eddie’s amused glance—Eddie was paying more attention to Buck than the conversation he was pretending to have. “I know it hasn’t always been smooth sailing, but… we’ve come a long way.”
Taylor nodded, expression softening. “Nova deserves us at our best. I’m glad we’re here now.”
For a moment, the three of them stood together, watching Nova squeal as she dodged being tagged. The quiet between them wasn’t heavy anymore—it was settled, easy. Just mutual respect.
Of course, chaos was never far away.
Buck’s gaze narrowed as he spotted Nova and Talia huddled at the dessert table, whispering like little conspirators. His stomach sank when Nova scrambled onto a chair, stretching tiny fingers toward the stand of cupcakes.
“Uh-oh,” Buck muttered, already striding over. By the time he reached them, both girls were giggling uncontrollably, seconds away from disaster. “Whoa, whoa, whoa—hang on there, princesa.” He slid an arm around Nova’s waist and lifted her down before she could topple forward into the table. “Those are for after lunch, baby. You know the rules.”
“But, Daddy…” Nova whined, lip jutting out dramatically.
Buck crouched down, brushing sticky bubble solution off her dress with a sigh. “Nope. I know that face. Doesn’t work on me.”
Behind him, Taylor and Amber appeared, laughter already on their faces.
“She’s yours,” Amber teased. “Those puppy-dog eyes are identical.”
Buck blinked, then let out a laugh, warmth flooding through him. “Yeah,” he admitted, tucking a stray strand of hair behind Nova’s ear.
“Mummy, cake?” Nova twisted, wriggling toward Taylor, clearly hoping for a different answer.
Taylor scooped her up, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “No, sweetheart. You have to listen to Daddy.”
Nova sighed dramatically, wrapping her arms around Taylor’s neck in defeat. She knew she wasn’t winning this one.
From across the yard, Eddie watched the exchange, arms folded loosely across his chest. Buck was completely wrapped around their daughter’s little finger, and the sight hit Eddie square in the chest every single time. He shook his head with a quiet, proud smile as Buck passed Nova into Taylor’s arms and made his way over.
“Hey,” Buck greeted, leaning in to kiss Eddie’s cheek before pulling back just enough to search his face. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” Eddie said, the smile lingering as he brushed a quick kiss against Buck’s lips. “Just looking for Chris.”
Buck nodded toward the corner of the yard. “He’s over there. Been camped out a while.”
“Thanks.” Eddie caught Buck’s hand and tugged him along until they reached the shade where Chris sat, half-distracted by his phone. Eddie held out a paper plate. “Why are you hiding over here?”
Chris glanced up, eyebrows lifting. “Not hiding. Just… less noisy over here.” He took the plate anyway, setting his phone aside.
Buck chuckled as he dropped down onto the grass beside him. “You say that like you’re eighty years old already.”
Chris smirked. “Have you heard Nova when she’s excited? It’s like a car alarm.”
Eddie bit back a laugh, shaking his head. “Don’t let her catch you saying that. She’ll make it her life’s mission to prove you right.”
“She already does,” Chris muttered, though the corner of his mouth curled into a smile.
Buck leaned back on his hands, bumping his shoulder lightly against Chris’s. “That’s the price of being a big brother. She’s supposed to drive you a little crazy.”
“Yeah, well,” Chris said, stabbing his fork into the food Eddie had brought him, “good thing I’m used to it. I had you first.”
Buck clutched his chest in mock offence. “Wow. Brutal.”
Eddie grinned, glancing between them, his chest tightening again with that familiar warmth. “Brutal, but not wrong,” he said.
Chris huffed a small laugh, glancing across the yard where Nova was back in the thick of the kid chaos, chasing bubbles like nothing had ever gone wrong. “She never runs out of energy.”
“Tell me about it,” Eddie said. “She’s like a little tornado. Cute tornado, but still.”
For a moment, they just sat there, watching her squeal and spin in the sun. Then Chris shifted, voice casual but not careless. “I don’t mind, you know. Helping with her. Even when she’s loud.”
Eddie turned his head, soft surprise flickering in his eyes. “Yeah?”
Chris shrugged, fiddling with the hem of his hoodie. “She thinks I’m cool. And… I don’t know. I like that she looks for me.”
Eddie felt his chest tighten in the best way, pride and love welling up. He reached out, squeezing Chris’s shoulder. “You’re a great big brother, mijo. She’s lucky to have you. I’m lucky to have you.”
Chris ducked his head, but Eddie caught the faint smile tugging at his lips. For all his teenage grumbling, he needed to hear it.
They sat there a moment longer in comfortable silence, father and son watching Nova tear across the lawn like she owned the world.
When the cake came out, Nova’s eyes went wide like it was the greatest treasure she’d ever seen.
“Cake!” she squealed, practically bouncing in place until a generous slice was set in front of her—nearly as big as her head.
“Careful, princesa,” Buck warned with a grin as she dug in, frosting already smeared across her cheeks.
For the next twenty minutes, Nova was everywhere. She zipped between Eddie and Buck, words tumbling out faster than either of them could catch. She told Eddie all about how the cake was “magic cake,” then immediately turned to Buck to explain that the balloons were “dancing.” At one point, she dragged both of them over to show off a bubble she swore looked like Bluey.
“She’s running on pure sugar,” Eddie muttered, though the fond smile tugging at his mouth gave him away.
“Yeah, but it’s kind of my favourite version of her,” Buck admitted, crouching to wipe chocolate off her chin before she darted away again.
It didn’t last long. Twenty minutes later, Buck felt a small weight crawl into his lap. Nova curled against him, frosting still on her fingers, babbling softly as her eyes drooped.
“Uh oh,” Buck chuckled, shifting her so her head rested on his chest. “Sugar crash.”
Eddie pulled his phone from his pocket, snapping a quick picture. “Perfect. Another one for the ‘Nova falling asleep in ridiculous places’ album.”
Buck looked down at their daughter, her little mouth parted as she finally gave up the fight and drifted off. His hand instinctively smoothed over her curls. “Pretty sure this one’s my favourite.”
Eddie only smiled—because Buck said that every time.
As the afternoon wound down, Buck glanced at his watch and gave Eddie a small nod. Time to go. Nova was still curled against him, but the promise of a car ride was enough to coax her awake.
Taylor walked them to the front, gratitude threaded through every word. “Thank you again—for bringing her, for… everything. I’ll send you pictures of the rest of the day so she doesn’t feel like she missed out.”
“Of course,” Eddie said warmly, shifting the diaper bag higher on his shoulder. “She had a blast.”
Nova, still rubbing sleep from her eyes, wriggled in Buck’s arms. “One more hug!” she declared. Buck set her down, watching as she tottered over to Taylor, who crouched to wrap her up tight.
“And Talia,” Nova added firmly. Talia came running, the two little girls squeezing each other before dissolving into giggles.
“Alright, princesa, time to go,” Buck said softly, lifting her once more. She nodded this time, too tired to fight.
By the time they reached the car and Buck buckled her in, Nova was already drooping. Within minutes of pulling out of the driveway, she was sound asleep, Bluey clutched tight in her arms, her tiny snores filling the quiet.
Eddie reached across the console, brushing his hand against Buck’s. Buck turned to meet his gaze, the corners of his mouth softening into a smile.
It was that quiet kind of joy, the kind that didn’t need words—just the comfort of knowing their family, however it had been built, was whole.
By the time they pulled into the driveway, Nova was still completely out, her cheek pressed against Bluey, lips parted in soft little snores. Buck carefully unbuckled her, gathering her into his arms without so much as a stir. Eddie held the door open, and together they carried her inside.
Chris trailed behind them, yawning as he kicked off his sneakers. “See you at dinner,” he mumbled before disappearing down the hall toward his room.
Buck and Eddie moved quietly into Nova’s room, easing her down onto the mattress. She curled instinctively onto her side, clutching Bluey closer. Eddie pulled the blanket up over her, tucking it snugly around her tiny shoulders.
For a moment, they just stood in the doorway, watching her chest rise and fall, before Buck gently closed the door.
Back in the living room, Buck let out a long breath and dropped onto the couch. Eddie followed, leaning against him, head finding its usual place on Buck’s shoulder.
“So,” Eddie murmured, voice low and teasing, “you still think this is the dream?”
Buck turned to look at him, a smile tugging at his lips. He wrapped an arm around Eddie, pulling him closer until they were pressed together.
“More than ever,” he said softly.
And in the quiet of their own home, with their kids safe and the day behind them, it was impossible to disagree.