Reading Time: 85 Minutes

Title: Ghosts of the Past
Series: Second Chance Home
Series Order: 4
Author: Duochanfan
Fandom: 9-1-1
Genre: Angst, Drama, Established Relationship, Family, Hurt/Comfort, Romance
Relationship(s): Evan Buckley/Eddie Diaz, background pairings
Content Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Hate Speech, Violence-Canon Level, Violence-Graphic, Homophobia, Bigotry, Discussion-Child Abuse, Discussion-Domestic Abuse, Attempted Murder, Stalking, Character Bashing.
Author Note: Zachary ‘Zac’ Greenaway and Nicholas ‘Nic’ Bryant are borrowed with permission from ScarsLikeVelvet.
Beta: FaerlyGraceful – Thank you so much for all the work you have done in beta reading this series. You are amazing!
Alpha: FaerlyGraceful
Word Count: 44,235
Summary: Eddie and Evan are happy to be working together at the 118. With Eddie moved into Second Chance Home and the two of them making a family with Christopher and Leyna. They are planning their next steps when some Ghosts from their pasts start to make noises. Eddie and Evan are just hoping that none of these Ghosts ruin the plans they are making for their life together as a family.
Artist: Nightsong21133

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Chapter Ten

The next month sped by in preparation for Xiaoli and Josh’s wedding. Xiaoli’s grandparents had arrived at the beginning of February, and Aunt Amelia was happy to house them as they went back and forth to the venue to make sure everything was set up and perfect.

Xiaoli was nervous as he slipped on the long changshan wedding jacket that his grandparents had made for him for the day. “I think this might be a little over the top,” he said as he brushed his hands down the arms, the golden embroidery of a dragon standing out on the bright red of the jacket.

“I think it looks great,” Evan said as he stepped up and began to help him get it settled before doing it up. The jacket went down to the knees, entirely red, with detailed red embroidery on the sleeves just a shade darker than the silk below, Then on the chest were the golden dragons.

“Yeah,” Xaoli smiled after a few moments, “Yeah, it does,” he laughed a little, sounding nervous. “I’m scared Evan,” he told him honestly.

“Do you love Josh?”

“With all that I am. I was so afraid that my grandparents wouldn’t like it, but they don’t care that I’ve been westernized,” he snorted, “That’s their words. I am free to love who I wish and enjoy my life. They are just happy that I am. I’m going to miss them so much when they return to China,” he stated, “I wish they would be open to moving over here, but they are happy with their life over there.”

“Then be happy, you are living your life, and Josh has been part of it for a good few years now. He’s become a foster parent for you and enjoys it. He himself said that he never thought of doing anything like that before you. That he never thought he would be the dad type. Yet here he is, happy as can be getting into the thick of things with the kids. Having fun with them and even doing a few days out with each of them,” he reminded him.

Xiaoli smiled fondly as he thought about Josh, “Yeah, he’s… one of the best things that happened to me. Meeting you is another, and starting Second Chance is the other,” he said, nodding to himself, “Let’s do this.”

“Yes,” he grinned, as they got ready and then left the room. Evan walked down the side aisle with Xiaoli to the halfway mark, where the two paths from the side rooms met. There he stepped back as Josh took over the rest of the walk to the officiant. Evan walked beside Sue from Dispatch, who had stepped in as Best Woman for Josh. The two stepped beside their friends as the officiant began. Josh looked stunning in a matching changshan, Xiaoli when he had seen it, he didn’t know that his grandparents had commissioned two changshan to be made for each of them.

The officiant began and Evan stepped to the side, only bringing out the ring when he was told to hand it over. Sue doing the same moments later.

“You may now kiss your husband,” the officiant ended the ceremony with.

Xiaoli and Josh grinned widely as they moved closer and kissed. Everyone clapped as they heard quiet crying coming from Sue and Xiaoli’s grandmothers. The two older women got up and went over to their grandson, hugging him as they stepped off the dais. His grandfathers followed and did the same.

Sue stepped up beside Evan, “That was beautiful,” she said, “Been a while since I was at a wedding,” she added.

“I’ve got another coming up this year,” Evan said, thinking about Athena and Bobby.

“I’ll be there as well,” Sue smiled at him.

The two nodded as they got off the dais and followed the grooms as they headed to the party part of the venue. Where the dancing and drinks would flow and a dinner in the other hall would be soon readied for them. Seeing a few faces from the past, like Luke had been good. Jolene was happy to be there as well as she danced with both boys.

XxXxX

Xiaoli hugged Evan tightly, “I don’t want to go but I also do,” he said, “I’ll be back in a month, keep me updated on all the children, who comes and who goes. I know we’re going to be losing two at least while I’m away, but…” he trailed off.

“I know,” Evan said, shaking his head, “But you’re going to have to go, this is your honeymoon, Xiaoli,” he told him, shaking his head, “Go and enjoy some time with just you and Josh. Before you come back to the madness that is Second Chance,” he reminded him.

“I’m going to miss it all as well. We’ve not really gone away for long, just a couple of days here and there. Both of us are feeling a little nervous,” Josh said as he walked over, hugging Evan just as tightly as Xiaoli did.

“Well, enjoy the time you have, and I’ll keep you updated, but only every four days,” he warned them, “Don’t go asking for more than that. I’m only doing that because I know you’ll both whine at me,” he snorted as he let Josh go.

“I can’t believe we’re away for four weeks. I would love to know how you managed that,” Josh said as he looked at Xiaoli.

“Working overtime, and making sure I had enough PTO that I could do it. I’m missing basically ten, eleven shifts,” he said, “I’ve made sure that they are all covered.” he smiled, “So there isn’t much to worry about, they have a floater for the next three weeks,” he stated.

“Yeah, we’re trying to talk Bobby into taking some time off when it comes to his own honeymoon with Athena,” Evan grinned.

“We have to go,” Josh said as he looked at the time, “We need to get to the airport, and your grandparents are waiting,” he reminded his new husband.

“Yeah,” Xiaoli nodded, hugging Evan one last time before they headed to the cab that was going to be taking them all to the airport. “I’ll see you soon, and call you when we land!” he called out as he closed the door to the cab behind him.

Evan shook his head as he waved at them, laughing lightly before he headed back up the steps, the gates opening and closing behind the cab as Josh and Xaoli headed off on their honeymoon. “Now, for me to try and get my happy ever after,” he muttered as he thought of the ring box that he had hidden in Clive’s room with the man’s permission. Though Cid, during one of his few sleepovers, had found it and asked about it. Learning of what Evan wanted to do.

Evan just had to think of how he was going to do it, and when.

XxXxX

Eddie looked at the letter, shaking his head, “This is fucked up,” he muttered as he walked into the office that Evan had. The man was going over the paperwork when it came to the businesses he owned and partially ran with help from the managers and his Aunt and Uncle. “Are you free for a moment?” he asked his partner.

“Sure,” Evan said, putting aside the report that he had been reading through, “What’s wrong?” he asked, seeing the annoyed look on his boyfriend’s face as the man sat down across from him.

Eddie didn’t answer, just handed over the court letter he had been given. Evan took it and started reading it. He nodded a few times. “Not sure what I can do,” Eddie said.

“Not much, but you have everything already sorted with her giving up her rights when she divorced you. What I don’t understand is why is she coming at this now. Why does she want her rights to Christopher back?”

“She did mention something like that before. She was going to petition the court when she learned that he was in care. But it was denied straight away. She had no reasons why she wanted custody and since there was already something going on, it was decided that my own custody was in question first,” he sighed, rubbing his face a few times, “I just wish I knew what was going on in her head. I told her, when we signed the divorce papers, that if she gave up her rights I would never help her in getting them back.”

“She broke Christopher’s heart. She had seen him at least once when we were out. Christmas that year he was here,” Evan shook his head, “He still doesn’t want anything to do with her, even with therapy, he is done with her. The only thing he wants to know is if she thinks he is a burden because of his CP.”

“I know, she called me once, maybe twice that I can remember, just to have a go at me. She hates my parents, and I don’t blame her because I hate them as well. Not something you want to say about your own damn family,” he muttered, slumping in his seat as he looked over at Evan, “They made life difficult for her, and she left, she left because of that. And because her mother was dying. I didn’t know that until I called her after she had left in the middle of the damn night,” he told him.

“She left in the middle of the night? She didn’t even tell Christopher goodbye?” he asked, frowning at his partner, he hadn’t heard how Shannon had left her son’s and husband’s lives. Just that she had signed the divorce papers and her rights over when Eddie had been in California.

“Yeah, she did. Left me a damn note saying she needed time too,” he rolled his eyes. “I had only been back for about two months, still healing up from being shot three times. I worked three jobs, trying to finish healing and wondering what the hell to do. My parents were trying to get hold of Christopher and I just had enough and left. Moved to LA, and stayed with Abuela for a little while before I found a home for us. Found Shannon, and I knew when I saw her that I wouldn’t be able to be with her again. I mentioned divorce and she jumped on it. I don’t think I could even try and be with her after that. Things were shit and I was a shit husband at the time, I admit that. She wanted something I couldn’t give her. But she ghosted Christopher, she left him and never once got in contact with him. Not once. Not even when I found her, she wanted anything to do with him, and told me that she didn’t. So divorce and she added the fact she wanted no responsibility for Christopher and signed her rights away.”

Evan listened as Eddie ranted a little about his ex-wife and how she had left them. “So, what are you thinking at the moment?”

“I don’t know, I just want to know why she wants him now?” he sighed, “I’m not going to get an answer. But we’ll have to wait for the hearing. We’re just going to have a judge and we’re both going to be pleading our case of why she should or shouldn’t be given her rights back.”

“Well, we have that in March,” he said, “Oh, by the way, Valentine’s Day, I organized a night out. Clive and Cid are happy to watch over Leyna and Christopher and take charge of the Home. Sylvia and Janaia are having a stay-at-home night as well. In the adult living room, they can be on call if needed. Alicia is quite happy to remain at Home as well, and we have three that are working that night. So the kids are covered before you can say anything.”

“Okay,” he smiled, the thoughts of Shannon leaving his mind at the prospect of a date night. They hadn’t had one since the disaster that was the one before Christmas. They smiled as they talked about a few other things, like where Xiaoli and Josh were on their honeymoon.

XxXxX

Evan was determined that this time, he would be proposing and damn anyone that would try and stop him. Their meal was good, enjoying the Italian food that was available. Evan messed around with the ring box a few times in his pocket. But stopped himself from proposing in the restaurant. He didn’t want to make such a public proposal. He wanted to do this in the park, one of the places where they had met often during their early dating days. A place where he could relax with Eddie and the kids after work. Take time from the home, and sometimes take some of the kids from the Home there as well.

The meal was over and Evan paid before Eddie could do anything. “Come on, the park is nearby,” he stated, “I wanted to walk around a bit,” he added, grabbing Eddie’s hand as they left the restaurant.

Eddie smiled and nodded, “Sounds like a good plan to me,” he stated, his other hand in his pocket as they walked toward the park. Walking into it, they were mostly alone, with only a few people wandering around. “It’s a wonderful night,” he stated, it wasn’t that cold, more cool than anything. He looked over at his boyfriend as they both stopped walking near the playground.

“Yeah, it is,” Evan said as they turned to face each other. Both of them reached into their pocket and pulled out a box, too nervous to look at each other as they held out the boxes they both had and opened them.

“Will you marry me?” they asked at the same time.

Eddie and Evan looked at each other and the rings that were set in the boxes, they were similar to each other, a small band with a little band of stones.

“Well,” Evan laughed, “Will you marry me?” he asked again.

“Yes, if you will marry me?” Eddie grinned.

“Yes, I will,” he said as they exchanged rings, with Evan going first to put his ring on Eddie’s finger.

“Well, great minds and all that,” Eddie said as he put the ring he had gotten on Evan’s finger. He pulled him close and kissed him, “I love you, Evan Buckley.”

“I love you too, Eddie Diaz, and I can’t imagine my life without you and Christopher in it. We might not have met in the most conventional of ways, but I’m glad that I gave you that chance. It is one of the best decisions that I have ever made.”

“I think we would have still found our way to each other even without that meeting. I don’t really believe in fate and that, but with you, with us, I can make an exception,” Eddie said as he pulled him close for another kiss before they slowly broke apart and made their way slowly through the park to the parking lot.

Chapter Eleven

Xiaoli and Josh came back with another celebration going on for Eddie and Evan’s engagement since they had missed the first one. March started with Maddie and Evan taking time out to head to Hershey so they could attend the trial of Doug Kendall. Maddie had to testify against her soon-to-be ex-husband.

Maddie had finished her testimony and joined Evan in the gallery to watch the rest of the trial. Seeing her former boss had been hard on Maddie, knowing that she was still having a few problems after the beating that she had taken. Evan had watched the tearful reunion between the two before the court had started that first day of the trial. Now they were entering the second week and Evan would soon have to return to LA for work. He hadn’t been able to get too long off work.

“Time for closing statements,” the Judge said as he looked at the defense, “Mr Liden, you may go first,” he stated.

“My client, Dr. Doug Kendall, a renowned surgeon here in Hershey. He has helped many people in this city,” he added, “And we owe him the many lives that he has saved. He made a mistake, in his desperation to find out where his missing wife had gone. The lies that have been told about him have brought everything that he has stood for into disrepute. He is a Doctor, one dedicated to saving lives. It is a mistake, a mistake that has cost him dearly. We should not punish him for that mistake when he has dedicated so much to helping others. His judgment for one moment was clouded when he thought his wife had disappeared, been kidnapped by her estranged brother, who had left the family some time ago,” Liden said, as he walked around, gesturing to his client, he made a few other remarks about his efforts to the community to help those that needed it and more, which had Maddie almost scoffing beside Evan.

“Mrs Patel,” the judge said as soon as Liden finished, “You may,” he gestured for her to take the podium.

“Thank you, Your Honor,” she said as she stood up, “Members of the Jury, you have heard how Dr Kendall made a mistake. You have heard how much he gives to the community. But then you have to wonder just what that hides. He hides his anger, and his inability to stop himself from causing harm to others, well. The one he harmed was his wife. Maddie Kendall, in fear of her very life. She ran, the only one to know was her friend and boss, whom Dr Kendall attacked and almost murdered. She ran to the one person she knew she could count on, to help her and keep her safe from a husband that wanted her as a possession, as a punching bag. We have seen the evidence taken from Maddie Kendell each time she had to go to the hospital to get her injuries checked and treated. Telling a lie and then another. Even when the police went to her door, she still lied, too scared of her husband, until the day that she said, “No more.” With help from her boss, she was able to escape. Today, we are figuring out if Doug Kendall is guilty of attempted murder, stalking, domestic abuse, and more. No one is above the law, just because you help the community. Doug Kendall is guilty of all his charges, we’ve seen that there is no question of that. It’s up to you, to voice it as everyone else does.”

The judge made a short statement before sending the jury members out. They would only be out for three hours before the Court was called back into session and the verdict was read. Guilty on all counts. Doug seethed where he stood, looking back at Maddie a few times, his eyes promising her that she would pay.

“Mr Kendall,” the judge said, getting the man’s attention. “You have been found guilty of all changes and it is now my will that will be given on your sentence. For the charge of Attempted Murder, you will serve a minimum of 25 to life years, for the assault and battery charges, you will serve a minimum of 8 years. For the charge of stalking a minimum of 2 years. For the domestic abuse charges, you will serve a minimum term of three years. You will have these sentences run consecutively to each other. You went into that office with the intent to kill a colleague because they decided to help your ex-wife escape your abusive clutches. Leaving them dying on the floor of their office. It is only luck that they were found after what you had done to them.”

“This isn’t right,” Doug growled as he looked back at Maddie, “You belong to me,” he spat at her, looking like he was about a second from rushing towards her.

“Order in this court. Mr Kendall, I would remain silent if I was you. Bailiff, you can take him down now.” the judge demanded as he looked at the man who was threatening his soon-to-be ex-wife.

Doug was taken down and Maddie slumped against her brother. “It really is over, he’s not going to get out for a long time,” she said, with an almost hysterical breathy laugh.

“Yeah, it’s over,” Evan said as he held her, “It’s over and you can live your life how you want. Go where you want,” he said, heart in his throat, he was starting to get used to having his sister around again and they were really talking about the things from when they were younger. The hurt that lies and more had caused them both. “If you want, you’re free to go and talk with Donna for a while. I know you wanted to talk to her,” he told her.

“I think I will, what are you going to do?” she asked.

“I think… I think I’m going to go and pay my respects to Daniel. I know that he’s buried in a cemetery over in Harrisburg,” he said, “So I’m going to do that and say hi at least.”

“I think he would like that,” she smiled, “I may do the same on my own. I have a few things to tell him and apologize to him for. He… I don’t think Danny would have been happy with how I handled anything,” she added, shaking her head.

“Right,” he nodded, she had told him a few things about what Daniel had made her promise to do when he was gone, and all the things that he wanted to teach Evan.

“You go, I’m going over to Donna, take the car, I know the cab system pretty well around here if I need to go back to the hotel,” she said, hugging him tightly before she walked over to her former boss.

Evan watched her, and made sure she was okay as he left the courthouse and went to the rented car that he had gotten out to be able to get around. He had seen his parents in the courtroom, and both he and Maddie had ignored them and didn’t bother talking to them at all. He tapped in the location into google maps and followed the directions to the cemetery where he knew Daniel was buried. He wondered if anyone had gone there at all since he had died. Getting out, he walked through the cemetery, coming up to the gravesite where Daniel was. He had searched online as to where he was located.

“Hey,” he said as he reached the grave and looked at the name. Daniel Phillip Buckley. “I’m sorry I didn’t come here before,” he said, “I’ve had a hard time getting my head around the fact that I had a brother, an older brother that I never got a chance to know,” he added as he knelt beside the grave. “You were so young, just a little older than Christopher. I can’t imagine Christopher being ill, it’s bad enough to know that in a couple of years, he’s going to need another operation to keep his mobility. When Leyna almost died, my heart felt like it was being ripped in two. I can understand why Maddie found things hard to let go after losing you. She was scared,” he sighed.

“Hmm,” came a voice from behind, “You seem to have more of a backbone than that wishy-washy daughter of mine,” came a stern and strong voice.

Evan jumped up and spun around. The woman before him was bulky and looked like she worked out some, even though her hair was gray, she looked like she could still pick him up with one hand and then Maddie with the other. “Ma’am,” he said, frowning at her.

“Hmm,” she nodded, looking him up and down, “Well, you seem strong at least. Must take after my side of the family more than your fathers or my husbands,” she stated as she stepped forward looking down at the grave. “My grandson was taken too soon from this world, but my daughter and the weasel she married banished all mention of him from their lives. A mistake in my opinion. No one should be forgotten in such a manner. Daniel deserved better than the two of them. My husband, God Rest His Soul, was most disappointed in the two. Which ended up with us being cut from their lives, much as Elizabeth was. A more gentle woman, but with a good head on her shoulders and stuck up for what is right,” she added.

“Grandma Lizzie disinherited Margaret and Phillip,” he stated.

“Good, Elizabeth was a good sort. Margaret, a disappointment, has been for a long time, and not just before Daniel and Madeleine were born. Before she even married Phillip, the little weasel was just the one who would follow her wherever she wanted. A man led by the balls if ever I saw one. Delicate little things, and not the brass ones that were needed to deal with that entitled wretch I birthed,” she nodded, “Now what type are you? Tell me about yourself Evan, and yes I do know your name. I keep an eye on my spawn after all. Couldn’t get Madeleine to see sense for the longest of time. I sent cops to her house as much as I could when I learned what was happening, but she didn’t take it for the longest time. Then she ran to you,” she stated, “I’m glad that you were able to get through to her.”

“How come I’ve never heard of you?” he asked.

“Ah, the easy question. Margaret and Phillip started cutting me from their life not long after Daniel started to become Ill. I doubt Madeleine even remembers me. I wasn’t… always kind,” she snorted, “I know my faults and I have many. I care, but I’m distant with it.”

“But you care at least,” he stated.

“I do,” she nodded firmly.

Evan looked at her, observing her, she looked to be a stern woman, fierce and the type to fight if needed. “I’m a firefighter, but I also run three businesses with a lot of help from my Aunt and Uncle and the managers. I also run a children’s home that is funded in part from those businesses,” he told her. “I am also engaged,” he finished quietly, “To Eddie, he’s a firefighter. We both have a child and we’re planning on adopting each other’s child.”

She smiled, which changed her whole face, “Congratulations, Evan, he would be happy to know that,” she said, “He was a joyful child, from what little I was able to see. Madeleine the same,” she smiled slightly, “I never got the chance to meet you. But I heard about you the last time I saw Margaret, I learned what she was doing.”

“Didn’t like it either?” he asked.

“I was against the reason why they had you, but not that they had you. How could I be angry at another grandchild? I was only ever able to have Margaret and would have loved more children, it wasn’t meant to be,” she sighed, “I’m proud of the man you’ve become, no doubt against what my daughter and the weasel wanted.”

“I haven’t really talked to them since I was around eighteen, almost nineteen,” he answered, “I don’t really want to talk to them, they are a nonentity in my life and I want nothing to do with them.”

“Best answer for them,” she nodded.

“I… don’t even know your name,” he frowned as he looked at her.

She chuckled, “No, I didn’t properly introduce myself. Agatha Davenport,” she told him, “Your Maternal grandmother.”

“Evan Buckley, but hoping to turn that into Buckley-Diaz,” he said.

“Good strong name, for a strong young man,” she said with a firm nod. “My number, in case you wish to talk again. I do not expect it, since I have been a nonentity in your life, but I would welcome it,” she finished, “He would be proud of you, no doubt. And I know that I am, and my late husband would be very happy to know that you followed him as a firefighter.”

“He was a firefighter?” Evan blinked.

“Yes,” she nodded, “Was until he had no choice but to retire. He would be happy to know his legacy carries on in his grandson and future grandson-in-law.”

Evan couldn’t help but smile as he took the card from her, seeing her name and mobile number on it. “You knew I was here?”

“No, I knew that you were in Hershey, I was hoping to get a chance to meet you and Madeleine, next time, bring her with you. But do hand my number over to her, I will be… happy to know she is safe at last,” she said. Agatha smiled at him and nodded as she then placed a small bouquet of lilies and lavender. “I shall leave you to talk with your brother,” she told him.

“Bye, grandmother,” he said.

“My grandson, I love you,” she smiled back at him and left him alone.

Evan looked at the grave and sighed, he looked again at the number he had been given. “Another relative out of the woodwork,” he said, as he glanced to where he could see Agatha walking away. “I wonder who else Margaret and Phlilip cut out of our lives,” he wondered as he turned to the grave once more and knelt, intent on telling Daniel about everything he could think about, while silently wondering if he would be talking to his grandmother Agatha again. She wasn’t expecting it but would like it.

“You know Danny,” he said, “We have a family we never really knew about because our parents are assholes,” he sighed, shaking his head, “I’ll talk with Maddie and see what she thinks of it all. She might remember her, but she might not.”

Evan remained there for a while longer before he headed off to return to the hotel, Maddie already messaged him to say that she was back in their joint rooms.

Chapter Twelve

The day before they left Hershey, they met with Agatha, talking and getting to know a grandmother who had been cut out of their lives. When they returned to their hotel later that night, Margaret and Phillip Buckley were waiting for the two of them. The two siblings looked at each other and sighed, their parents had been trying to corner them since the trial had started. Neither of them knew or even cared about what the two wanted.

“What do you want?” Maddie asked them, stepping in front of her brother. She had done the same thing for years and it was a hard habit to break at times. She wanted to protect him like she felt she had failed at doing when they were younger.

“Madeleine,” Margaret stated as she walked over to them, her lips in a tight line as she glanced around. Not liking the public area they were in.

“What do you want?” Evan was the one to ask this time, looking at the two people he hadn’t seen in almost eight years. He could easily go another eight years without seeing them again.

“To talk to you both,” Phillip said, “Come, we want to talk somewhere private,” he stated.

“No, I’d rather not be alone with two people that were basically abusive assholes to me when I was growing up.”

“How dare you!” Margaret hissed at him.

“Well, what else do you call it when you leave a child home alone as much as you can? I think the longest that you left me in that house on my own was what… five weeks when you went on that cruise. It was only luck that nothing happened that I needed one of you for. I was twelve years old… twelve. I would never leave a child alone like that, never.”

“And what would you know about being a parent!” Phillip stated.

“A lot more than you,” Evan snorted, “Considering I am a father,” he stated, shaking his head, “I’ve got two kids. One is just a year old and the other is seven now,” he stated.

“You… children!” Margaret yelled out, “How… how could you have children!”

“Easily,” he said without elaborating. He knew better than to tell them that his daughter was adopted and that he would be adopting his fiance’s son as his as soon as they could start arranging it after the issue with Shannon was taken care of.

“You can’t have children, you can’t, it’s not allowed. I won’t allow it,” Margaret said, shaking her head, “You don’t deserve them.”

“You’ve got no say in what I do with my life. You haven’t had a say in it in a very long time. As for deserving, it’s you who didn’t deserve any of your children, not a single one of them. Not Me, Maddie, or even Daniel.”

Margaret’s eyes went wide as she stepped back, “Don’t you dare mention him.”

“I will mention my brother, I’m not going to hide his existence like you and Phillip have,” he stated, shaking his head, “I love my children with everything I am.”

“You don’t know what it’s like to lose a child.”

“I don’t, but I know what it was like when I didn’t know if my daughter would live to see another day. She was born early, leaving her with some health problems. So much so that she still isn’t walking, and isn’t hitting the milestones that most other one-year-olds have already hit. But I don’t care about that, she’s smiling, laughing, and alive. I almost lost her twice, once when she became so ill she had to be hospitalized to help her breathing. The second was when someone attacked me and her, and caused a brain bleed. We almost lost her, and she still has some problems from the injuries she received. So don’t think I don’t know what it’s like waiting for that guillotine to fall on you, for it to take away the one you love. The thing is, you look happy in the pictures I saw of you as a family. But there was a distance in your eyes that showed me that you were just posing. It was a look I saw and was able to identify when I was young,” Evan said, shaking his head, “So don’t tell me I don’t know what things are like. I love Leyna with all my heart, and her death would have destroyed me. But I would have carried on loving my son just as much, and I wouldn’t have abandoned him at all. Never would I do something like that.”

“Then again,” Maddie said, “You give your heart to all the children at the Home,” she smiled proudly at her brother, “You love them each and when something happens you are just as sad. They might not be yours by blood but for the time they are there, they are yours. And they carry on being so even after they have left. I know that you’re still in touch with the one child that was at the wedding, Justin, I think his name is.”

“Yeah, still in touch, he’s doing well under his father’s care. Really well,” Evan smiled thinking of the young teenager.

“Home, that stupid thing that Mother was going on about in her will?!” Phillip exclaimed, looking at them in disgust.

“Something that Grandma Lizzie was happy to help me start. To give me what I needed to help children out there that didn’t have homes, or family to love them. Even when it was only going to be temporary homes until they found their families. It was something that I talked to Grandma Lizzie about a lot, and she loved the idea. It’s a better legacy than what you want. Money, imagine, but what happens when you’re gone…” Evan trailed off, waving a hand, “No one is going to remember you for long. With the Home, Grandma Lizzie is everywhere around us. In the additions she made to the Manor, to the portrait that I kept of her. I thank her each day for giving me the chance I have with Second Chance Home. That’s what it is, a Second Chance at having a home since the first ones weren’t good ones.”

“You are all…” Margaret said, shaking her head.

“Oh, and Grandmother Agatha, still calls you a wishy-washy daughter and the Weasel she married. I never really knew how apt that was. You flow with what you believe your image should be, and he is led around by you and does whatever you say instead of standing up for the right thing. She said that your father died with shame because of your actions. Though she was very happy to know that I carry on his legacy as a firefighter,” he grinned at that, still feeling a little warm and fuzzy from knowing that he had someone of a grandparent that he never knew of.

“My mother and father are none of your concern,” Margaret snapped, “Phillip we’re leaving, I will not have this little bastard tell me what I should be doing,” she said as she began to walk away.

“Finally, I think you are getting it that I don’t want you in my life, I never want you in my life,” Evan told her, “From this point on, the two of you are dead to me. Then again, you have been since I left your home all those years ago.”

“Please consider the same for me,” Maddie said, “I stood up for you once upon a time. More fool me for thinking that you actually cared about Evan. I shouldn’t have been so blinded by the promises I made to Danny, I should have stood up, had that backbone that Grandmother Agatha said I had, and done what was right all those years ago. Evan would have been better off with Grandma Lizzie,” she said looking at her parents. “I loved you both for the longest time. But I have to realize that you are both so damn toxic that I shouldn’t have either of you in my life.”

“We were hoping to help you, after Doug,” Margaret said, “We have an image to uphold and you went and ruined it with that trial, and now we’re being questioned on how we didn’t know that you were being abused when you lived so close.”

“You should tell them the truth,” Maddie said, standing tall, no longer the scared little girl she had been when she had lived under her parent’s thumb, or the woman so frightened to make a wrong move when she lived with Doug. She was her own person now, stronger and better. She wanted that backbone that Grandmother Agatha talked about all the time. “You don’t have any children anymore. One died and the other two washed their hands of you. You should tell them that you didn’t care enough about your children to even notice what they were going through, because you are too wrapped up in yourselves. I would never ask you for help, never. I have a family that does care and does want to help me because they just want to help. I have a family that loves and cares about me, unlike the two of you,” she finished, taking a deep breath and it felt freeing to finally say what was on her mind.

“I second that,” Evan said, “I don’t want toxic people in my life. I don’t need it, and neither do my children.”

“Come on Evan, we shouldn’t talk to those… type of people,” Maddie said with a perfect imitation of their grandmother Agatha, “We’ve got better things to do with our time.”

Evan snorted and followed her as they walked away, leaving their parents behind. They were no longer a shadow looming in the distance because as far as the two siblings were concerned, they meant nothing to them.

XxXxX

Two weeks after returning from Hershey, Agatha had called and talked to both Maddie and Evan several times. Even took some time to go on Facetime enough that she had met Leyna and Christopher. When talking the one time, she had been able to spend a few minutes talking with Eddie as well, the older man impressing her for being able to stand up to her forceful nature and do it with politeness and sarcasm. As far as Agatha Feris was concerned, her grandson had done well in choosing a partner. She promised that she would come for a visit one day.

Now, Evan was looking at Christopher as he danced with Harry and Denny on the dance floor of the hall that was being rented out for Athena and Bobby’s wedding. The two had pulled a surprise wedding on them, only telling everyone three days before the date. It had been a rush to get everything set, but Bobby had said it was either that, or they would elope, and no one was going to let them do the latter. Beatrice and Samuel Carter had come to LA for the wedding, Beatrice still not happy with the man that her daughter was going to marry. Samuel had just been happy to see a smile on his daughter’s face as he walked her down the aisle a second time.

“Well,” Eddie said as he put an arm around Evan’s waist. “It’s a good day so far, no drama at least.”

“I don’t think Athena gave her mother a chance to try and cause any,” Evan snorted. “Learned that she had only called her father to tell him about the wedding and to not tell Beatrice at all until she arrived at the venue.”

“Seriously?” Eddie blinked.

“Seriously,” Evan nodded, “Why do you think she’s in a huff over there,” he gestured subtly at the woman who was being bombarded with chatter from her granddaughter and Brooke. May had grinned at the task of keeping Beatrice occupied so as to not ruin her mom’s special day.

“Does explain the sour lemon look on her face,” Eddie nodded, “What are you thinking about for us?” he asked as he looked around the venue.

“I have a few ideas,” he said, “But… Well, I’ve been talking to people and I would really like it to happen at the Home. I know it might be hard to do, since it’s a secured building and that for children,” he murmured.

“No doubt one day isn’t going to do any harm. Since the children would all be at the wedding anyway. I think marrying there would be nice. It’s large, got enough room to fit a lot of people.”

“It’s where Aunt Amelia got married, she showed me some photos and it looked amazing,” he said, “You should ask her about it.”

“I will, it might give us more ideas for our own wedding,” he agreed easily.

“Yeah,” he nodded, leaning against his fiance, “Do you know where our daughter is this time?” he asked.

“She’s with Samuel and Maddie. Have to say you both sound a lot surer of yourselves since you got back from Hershey. There is now a joy in Maddie from what I can see.”

“I think knowing that Doug is gone for good, for a long time, he was put away for attempted murder after all. She also confronted our bio’s about what they were like. That is freeing in a way that only those of us with toxic parents can understand,” he said quietly.

“Yeah, I can see that,” he nodded thinking about his won and the way that he had been able to get rid of them. It was like a weight had been taken from him and he could finally fly.

“Heard anything more from Shannon?” Evan then asked.

“A few things, the hearing is next week, as soon as that is done I’m hoping that we can… maybe start looking about planning the wedding more,” he suggested.

“Sounds like a plan, and now let’s leave the depressing talk and enjoy this wedding. I want a spin,” he stated.

“Well, husband to be,” Eddie said, twirling to stand in front of him, bowed with a raised hand, “It would be my pleasure and honor if you would dance with me this night?” he said with a dramatic flair.

Evan laughed but took the hand as he was then led to the dance floor. Eddie and Evan danced a few times around the dance floor before breaking, going over to Athena and Bobby.

“Hey,” Evan greeted the two, “Congratulations again,” he said, grinning happily at the newlywed couple.

“This year better be the year of weddings,” Athena said as she looked at the two of them.

Evan snorted, “Yes, we’re planning to marry at some point this year. We’re talking dates at the moment, give us a breather, we’ve only been engaged for less than two months,” he reminded her.

“I’ve known couples that get married after knowing each other for less than a week, time has no meaning if you know it’s the right step for you,” Athena told them both with a smile.

“Yeah,” Eddie said, looking at Evan, “We know we are each other’s last relationship, that there will never be anyone after this. But we’re going to wait until a few things are set in place before we take that step. We want to do it when things are right.”

“Okay,” Athena nodded.

“If you want the binders, I’ll bring them to you after our honeymoon,” Bobby said, as he took Athena’s hand, “We’re heading to Hawaii for two weeks,” he added looking at his new wife.

“Michael has the kids, including Brooke and Robbie for those two weeks. Though Andy was making noise about wanting to spend time with his nieces and nephews. So no doubt Andy and his family will stick around for a few more days to do so. Michael and Andy have plans,” Athena snorted as she finished her drink, “Another dance husband?” she asked him.

“I would be happy to have another dance with the beautiful woman that I can happily call my wife,” Bobby charmed as he took her, spinning her a little as they headed to the dance floor again. Evan and Eddie laughed, but also took the chance to dance again, as they enjoyed the rest of the reception.

Chapter Thirteen

Eddie walked into the Hearing room, the judge who was going over the case was already in the room. Shannon was there with her lawyer. She looked angry as she glanced at him, glaring and sneering as he walked over with Evan and their lawyer. “This is only for you and me, Edmundo,” she snapped at him.

“Evan is my fiance and will be adopting Christopher after we marry,” Eddie stated.

“Over my dead body,” she sneered as she sat up straight as the judge looked at her in warning.

“Now,” the judge said, “I’m Judge Aaron Commons, I will be going over the case. I’ve looked at the evidence that was given to me about everything that has been going on,” he stated, “Now I want to hear from you, Ms Whitt on why you left your son and signed over your rights?” he asked her.

“I… left because I needed to look after my mother, she was dying and I needed to be there to take care of her,” she answered, “As for signing over my rights. I wasn’t in the right frame of mind,” she finished, shaking her head.

“And did you have therapy at all during this time?” the judge asked her.

“No, I didn’t need therapy, I just needed time for myself,” she replied, not looking happy at the thought of therapy.

“I see,” he said, making a note. “I have the therapy records from Chrisotpher’s doctor,” he stated, “This states that it would be a bad idea for you to be reintroduced to your son. That he barely had memories of you as his mother. Now, I can see why you left when he was four years old. How many times before you signed away your rights, did you talk to him? See him? Write to him? Anything that showed him that you still thought of him?” he asked, looking up from the notes.

“I was busy, I was concentrating on looking after my mother,” she said.

“And when did your mother pass away?” he asked, not letting up, “How long after you left your son and former husband did your mother pass away?”

“Five months,” she answered, looking down.

“So after five months, you no longer needed to concentrate on your mother’s health. Did you contact them after that?” he asked her, getting no answer, “Ms Whitt, I need all the information if I am going to make an informed decision on whether you should regain your rights.”

“No, I didn’t,” she finally answered.

“I see, Mr Diaz, how often and for how long did you try and contact Ms Whitt about Christopher or even about yourself?” he asked.

“I have records here showing that I called her number for around nine months before it was disconnected,” Eddie said as his lawyer handed over the documents that showed the calls he had made, sometimes twice a day nearly every day for nine months.

“Did she ever answer?” he asked, as he looked over the calls and the times for them all, seeing that it looked like they had all been answered.

“No, I was sent to voicemail more often than not. She answered only once, two days before the number was disconnected, telling me she wanted nothing to do with me or Christopher at that time,” Eddie stated.

“I needed time Eddie, I had lost my mother and I didn’t know if I wanted to be a damn mother!” she yelled out.

“Ms Whitt, I reminded you that this might not be the normal court, but I expect calm and rational speaking in this room,” Judge Commons warned her.

“Mr Diaz, may I ask how Christopher currently feels about his mother?”

“He… hates her. I’ve been sending him to a therapist for the last three years to try and negate that. But he hates the fact that she left and never said goodbye to him. To Chris, at the moment, she hurt him and has never contacted him to even say sorry.”

“He’s a child, what would he know,” Shannon continued, frowning, “Why are you letting a child dictate what should happen? I am his mother.”

“You have a funny way of showing it,” Evan couldn’t help but mutter under his breath.

“And what would you know, you kept him from me that day,”

“I was his guardian at the time, you had no rights and I would not let a child in my care go with someone that they were screaming at to leave them alone,” Evan told her, looking at her.

“Mr Buckley, may I ask how long you have known Christopher?” The judge then turned his attention to Evan, though he was giving him a disapproving look for his muttered comment.

“Sorry, your honor,” he stated, “I’ve known Christopher for almost three years. Christopher will be eight this summer, I knew him around this time three years ago. He came into my care after false allegations of abuse were made against his father. I am the co-owner and one of the foster parents at Second Chance Home, which is where he was sent after proof was given of the harassment and threats that Mr Diaz’s parents had made against him to try and get custody of Christopher.”

He nodded, “I have the report of that. You tried to get your rights reinstated back then,” he said, “You were denied without a hearing being given, it had also only been six months since you had signed them over. The main reason why you were denied was your lack of interest in Christopher during the time you were gone, which was almost a year and a half at the time you petition for reinstatement. You then didn’t try again until now. Is there a reason why you are doing so again? After doing nothing for almost three years?”

“I…” she paused, trying to find the words she needed to convince the judge to give her back her rights.

“Ms Whitt,” Judge Commons pushed, “Why now?”

“I just do,” she said, not able to think of a reason that would be acceptable. “I miss my son, your honor. I do. I raised him for four years as a single mother because my husband couldn’t do the right thing in staying at home. I needed him there and I was exhausted. Then he came home injured and I was not going to be looking after the two of them, I couldn’t take any more and left to spend what time I could with my mother before she passed. I didn’t want to go back for the longest time. I don’t want to be a carer, I want a family. And Eddie and Christopher are what I have.”

Eddie shook his head, “There is no chance that I will ever be anything to you other than a co-parent. I can’t even see myself being friends with you. You broke our son’s heart. You could have talked to him at least once or twice. But instead, you answered the call and yelled at me. Christopher was right next to me as you spat that vile rant at how he was a burden and you didn’t want anything to do with him or me. Why do you think he hates you, he remembers that, and it is the only thing he remembers. Nothing else, nothing about the mother you had been to him before that. Good memories fade faster than bad ones. And the only ones he really remembers of you are that damn call and you leaving without saying goodbye.”

“I… he…” her eyes went wide at that, “He heard that?”

“Yes, and this is the first time I’ve been able to get you to listen to everything that has been going on because you are too up in your own business to learn about anyone else’s. Christopher doesn’t want to be around someone who thinks he is a burden. He hated my parents, and I’m with him on that. They caused him to be taken from the one parent he had left who still cared about him. As for my sisters, he hates them as well. There are five people in this world he hates. My parents, my sisters and you. Because you each believe that he is a burden,” he said in a rush, finally able to say what he had been wanting to say to her for the last couple of years.

Shannon sat there, looking down, “I just wanted some time and I felt like you weren’t going to give me that. I signed them papers just for that reason. Hoping that one day I would be in the right frame of mind to be a wife to you and a mother to him.”

“You lost that chance the moment you signed those papers. You didn’t even take my offer to speak with Christopher when I saw you that one time. You just told me not to contact you ever again and walked away,” Eddie said, shaking his head.

“Ms Whitt,” Judge Commons said, taking back control of the situation, “I have gone over everything that you have submitted as to why you wish for your rights to be reinstated. I can not, in good conscience, do so. Young Christopher Diaz has nothing but negative memories of you at this time. As he grows that might change as he works through what happened with his therapist. But that may never happen, after three years he still has the view that you hate him and his disability. Being a mother is being there for your child, through everything that is going on. It can be a heavy burden, but instead of asking for help, you abandoned your son. Leaving him and refusing to talk to him. That is a burden you shall have to bear for the rest of your life. I will not be reinstating your rights as Christopher Diaz’s mother.”

“Oh come on, why not? I can do this! I can be his mother and I won’t end up with my son in care like his father did,” she protested, looking at her former husband with anger. “He drove me away, he decided that the Army was more important than his damned son.”

“Ms Whitt, outside factors were the cause of Mr Diaz losing temporary custody of his son. It was reinstated after the investigation was over,” he stated, “And being in the Army is not cause for a father to lose his rights.”

“Judge Commons,” Shannon’s Lawyer said, both lawyers had been quiet during the hearing, both understanding that the judge wanted to hear from the people involved. “You will have to forgive my client, she is distraught, she came here in the hopes of being reunited with her son.”

“It has been almost four years since she left her son behind for a different life. She has shown no true remorse for leaving, repeating that she wanted time. Well, she now has all the time she wants,” he stated, showing no hesitation in calling out Shannon’s behaviors.

“This isn’t over, I will petition again,” she snapped, glaring at Eddie and Evan.

“I am going to stop you there, Ms Whitt. I am putting on file that any petition you make will be immediately rejected until a report goes across a judge’s desk from Christopher Diaz himself that he would like to have you in his life,” he stated, putting that in his final notes to be filed.

“And how will I know that he would do that?” Shannon asked, “They could lie to him and tell him nothing like that. I will never get the chance to see my son again because of them.”

“Mr Diaz and Mr Buckley will have no choice as the edict will come through from CPS and the Court itself. He will be told of this option when he reaches the age of ten,” he stated.

“If Chris wants to see you, I wouldn’t stop him, you were his life and his mother for the first four years of his life. But he has now lived almost as long without you in it,” Eddie told her, shaking his head, “Considering where I currently live, it wouldn’t be hard for the Court or CPS to find me when it’s time.”

The hearing was over as the last notes were made. Shannon seethed as she sat there, but knew that there was nothing that she could do to change the judge’s mind at all.

Eddie and Evan got up, leaving her behind, not wishing to talk to her. At the moment everything was settled and Evan would be able to adopt Christopher. Who knew if Christopher would ever wish to speak to his mother again, but that was up to Christopher on what he wanted to do.

XxXxX

Evan kissed Eddie on the lips a few days after the hearing, “I’m going for a jog, I need to clear my head. Just going through the park nearby. Like I always do, sure you don’t want to join me?” he asked, as he finished getting himself ready.

“Not today, I want to laze in bed for another hour,” Eddie murmured, pulling Evan closer, “Sure I can’t get you to rejoin me,” he said.

Evan laughed, “Maybe later, we have the day off,” he reminded him, “Carla is taking Christopher to school and Maddie is coming over in about two hours for some Auntie Niece time with Leyna. I was going to take her with me, but the sun is shining a little too brightly for her. She should be awake in about an hour for breakfast,” he added, kissing him again before leaving him. He headed out, waving to some of the children as they were having breakfast.

“Going out?” Sylvia asked.

“Just for a jog at the park, should be around an hour and a half,” he answered her, “Eddie is sleepy, Leyna is still asleep.”

“And Chris is already up and enjoying breakfast with Joshua and the kids,” Janaia said as she walked up beside her wife, put an arm around her, and kissed her cheek.

“Xiaoli should be home in around two to three hours,” Evan added as he headed for the entrance of the manor.

“Stay safe!” Sylvia called out as she and Janaia went back to the children.

Evan smiled as he headed to his truck and got in. Arriving at the park it was mostly empty, as it was most mornings that he went for a jog. He started on his normal route. Music playing on his headphones as he ran to the beat. He didn’t pay attention to anything around him as he ran. Not even when someone started to run up behind him as he began on one of the trial paths that he enjoyed when alone. Pain exploded in his head as something hit him. He fell to the ground. Blurred visions tried to focus on who it was that had attacked him, the man was standing over him, grinning ferally down at him as he said something that Evan couldn’t hear as his vision failed him and he lost consciousness.

Chapter Fourteen

Eddie was pacing. Evan was missing, he had gone to the park. He found no track of Evan, not even his truck. He had looked around just in case, going over a couple of the trails but finding nothing. He had gone back to the home and called Athena. He was waiting for her to arrive so he could try and say that something was going on. Evan wasn’t answering his phone and he never turned it off in case something happened to one of the children, Leyna or Christopher.

“Athena’s just arrived, a man is with her,” Sylvia said as she walked into the room. “Janaia is bringing them here. Keep us informed on things. Clive and Alicia should be back from the school run soon. Leyna is with Maddie, but she doesn’t know that Evan is missing.”

“Thanks,” Eddie said, as he sat down.

The door opened again and Janaia led Athena and Lou Ransone into the room. “We’ll leave you to it,” she said as she took Sylvia’s hand and left the room.

“Athena,” Eddie said, “What…” he trailed off, his throat closing before he could say anything more.

“An hour ago a John Doe was found dumped on the side of the road. He was taken to Cedars and went straight into surgery for a brain injury. We were given pictures, and I… I almost didn’t recognize him, Eddie,” Athena said, the pain evident in her voice as she spoke. “As soon as I knew who it was, you called.”

“I’m the detective in charge of the case. I want to know if there is anyone that you can think would want to do this to Evan?” he asked.

“There are a few parents of the children here that have made threats, but they are emotional about losing custody of their children. it happens a lot, and nearly all the time, that’s how it will remain,” Eddie said, “I’ll get a list to you as soon as I can get Xiaoli to access it, he should be back soon.”

“Anyone else that would do it?” he asked, making a few notes in his little notebook.

“Not that I can think of, Evan is well liked by people. The ones that didn’t like him are out of his life now,” he frowned, trying to think.

“I see, well, I’m going to look into things for this and try and get a timeline. Do you know where he was going when he left?” Lou then asked.

“He was heading to the park near here, he jogs there and goes over the trails. I didn’t find his truck there either. It’s missing. He never deviates when he says he’s going to be somewhere. As he might be needed or something,” he tells them, “It’s not his habit at all to lie about his location. Was his phone and that found with him? It would have a GPS tracker on it since he was going for a jog. It would be active, he likes to record that stuff.”

“We’ll keep an eye out for it and ask for a ping,” Athena said, “Come on, you’re coming with me to the hospital.”

“I’m going to head to the park and look around, going to ask a few officers to join me to do a small canvas,” Lou added.

Eddie was quick to give them the three trails that Evan liked to take with him, and then the four that he found Evan sometimes did when he was alone.

“Thank you for the information, Eddie,” Lou said, “We’ll be doing what we can to find him,” he said as he walked with them out of the building. Eddie stopped for a moment to talk with Sylvia and Janaia to tell them the basics of what was going on. Promising to inform them of more when he found out anything more.

Eddie remained quiet on the journey to the hospital. Athena was able to get him through and to the waiting room to wait for news on Evan. Letting the surgeons know that he was waiting, since Eddie was his medical proxy.

“You… you don’t have to wait here,” he said as he looked at her, she had only been back from her honeymoon for two days and it was her first shift back at work.

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else. Bobby is also heading in to be with you as well. I wish I could remain here, but I have to head back on patrol soon,” she told him, holding his hand. It was almost forty minutes later when Bobby entered the room, going over to his wife and kissed her cheek before sitting on Eddie’s other side.

“Thank you, for coming,” Eddie said, nodding at his captain and friend.

“Xiaoli is at the Home now, he had a bad shift otherwise I think he would be here as well. But I got him to go get some sleep and set Sylvia and Alicia on him as well as Josh if he doesn’t. Maddie knows something is going on, but not what. I’ve told her to remain with Leyna and that Carla will attend to Christopher when he gets out of school, should we still be here. Everything is taken care of, all we need to do is concentrate on Evan,” he stated, worried for the young man who had become his family.

Eddie took a shuddering breath and nodded, “Thanks,” he murmured.

Athena soon had to leave, but she made sure to remind them to keep her informed on what was going on. The two sat in silence as they waited. It was almost dinner time when someone finally went to them to tell them what was going on.

“Mr Diaz, and Mr Nash?” the man asked as he looked at the two.

“Yes, that’s us, I’m Eddie Diaz, Evan’s fiance,” Eddie said, “And this is Bobby Nash, he’s like a surrogate father to Evan,” he added.

“Right,” he said, “I’m Leon Dalles, I worked on Evan Buckley. He has a brain injury, the bleed wasn’t as bad as we feared, and the fracture to his skull isn’t causing any harm at the moment. We’ve put him in an induced coma for now, to help with healing his injuries to a point that his moving around won’t cause any harm to him. I expect a full recovery, though it is going to take a couple of months for that. He has severe bruising consistent with a beating. We’ve also found that he was strangled, his voice may be a little rough and it was to such a point that he is very lucky to have survived the bruising around his throat that we found. We’ve informed the police of such, and they will be able to do a forensic examination of him, to see if there is any evidence left after the operation. it will only be done with your permission.”

“I give it,” Eddie said, “Anything to catch the bastard that did this to him,” he stated, getting angry at the thought of someone hurting Evan. He was a kind man, and generous with his time and patience to those around him.

“Then I will have them do that, as soon as it is done, I will have someone come and take you to see him,” Dr Dalles told him, “He’s strong and doing well, we should be able to let him come around in a week or two.”

Eddie nodded as the two of them had to wait a little longer before they were taken back to see Evan. The man was pale on the bed, a bandage around his head and a cannula tucked against his nose. It was a good sign that he wasn’t on a respirator, he was breathing on his own without any help.

Bobby put a hand on Eddie’s shoulder and guided him to the chair beside the bed, “You sit there and stay with him, I’m going to call everyone up and give them an update on what we know.”

Eddie just nodded as he reached over and took Evan’s hand, holding it gently in his, “Hey, Carino, I’m right here. We’ll find the bastard that did this to you. And you will be fine, the kids are going to be so upset, but I know that you’ll be coming back to so many handmade cards by them all,” he said, talking about all the things he could think of, wishing that Evan would respond but knowing that at the moment that would be impossible.

XxXxX

Hen walked into the hospital room, it had been a week since she had learned of Evan being attacked. They hadn’t found anything forensically on him and his truck was still missing. “How’s he doing?” she asked as Eddie sat there. He hadn’t been at work, but would be required to go back soon. He didn’t want to, as he knew that others would be happy to sit with him while he was. Christopher had wanted to see him only to be upset when he had been told he couldn’t see Evan at the moment because of where he was.

Eddie glanced over, “He’s stable enough that they are starting to wean him off the sedatives. So he will be slowly waking over the next few days.”

“That’s good news,” she smiled, squeezing his shoulder, “Any word on who’s done this?” she asked taking a seat on the other chair in the room.

Eddie shook his head, “No, not so far. They have a few leads, they are waiting on a few things before they do more.” He didn’t want to give her any of the details that he was learning, since he didn’t think it was a good idea, even if he knew Hen wouldn’t have anything to do with the attack. He didn’t want to compromise the investigation that was going on.

Hen sighed, “Let’s hope they find something soon, I don’t like the thought of someone out there just attacking random people.”

“So far, Evan’s the only one,” he replied quietly, “The only one.”

Hen nodded, silently observing her co-worker and friend. She had been trying to figure out who would want to hurt Evan, he was a kind young man. Wore his heart on his sleeve, and he had his bad moments, but then again, didn’t everyone. But he always tried to do things to help as many as he could.

She stayed for a little while longer until others wanted to stop by and see Evan and make sure that Eddie had something to eat. She smiled and hugged Eddie before leaving, letting Bobby and Athena take over as they fussed over Eddie just as much as they were Evan. Hen smiled at the two and said a quick goodbye before leaving.

“Athena, no word from Lou?” he asked, as soon as Hen was gone. He looked over at her as she sat down.

“The truck has been found, they were found earlier today. I told Lou I would tell you in person. It’s with forensics at the moment, but they are hoping to get something from it since it looks like it hasn’t been cleaned at all,” she told him, taking hold of a hand, “We’re getting closer, Lou had managed to narrow a few suspects down at the moment. No one that you would know,” she added.

“Oh, who?” he asked, frowning, he knew most of the same people that Evan knew, except for former children at the home and their parents. But he had learned that all of them had already been eliminated.

“I can’t say at the moment, as we’re only working on assumptions and things that we’ve heard from informants,” she said, “But we’re working the case, and you know Lou, he’s not one to give up. So he’s doing everything he can to find the one behind all this.”

Eddie nodded and turned his attention back to Evan. “I’ll be at the Home tonight, Chris is upset that he can’t see Evan.”

“Of course, he is, for the last three years that boy has been Evan’s son in some way, and since the two of you got together, it’s official to him.”

“Yeah, he wants to call Evan, “Papa” but is a little afraid of doing so. It helps that his friend, Joshua, has been talking to him about it. Since he started doing that recently to Clive. Biologically, Clive is his brother, but because Clive had to step into the parental role for him, well, Joshua thinks of him as more a parent than anything else,” he sighed, “So he’s been helping Chris, and he’s been talking to me. We agreed that when we get married we’ll be adopting each other’s child.”

Bobby nodded, “I remember him saying it.”

Eddie nodded once more before taking the tray of food that Bobby handed over and began to eat. The three talked a little more before visiting time was over. All of them heading home. Eddie walked into the home to Christopher waiting there for him, wanting to know if his papa was okay.

XxXxX

It was almost five days after they started to wean Evan off the sedative that he finally was awake for more than a couple of minutes. As soon as his doctor had learned it, Detective Lou Ransone had come in to interview Evan. The man hadn’t been able to remember much. Just that he had been hit, he had been warned that he might have some memory problems with what had happened, but he could also remember more as time went on.

“Thank you,” Lou said, “I’m glad to see you awake,” he added, standing up as he finished his interview.

“Yeah,” Evan smiled slightly, feeling tired and worn out. Lou nodded and headed out.

“You had a lot of people worried. Though Chris is going to be happy that he will finally be able to stop by and see you,” Eddie said as soon as they were alone.

“I’m sorry,” he breathed, eyes closing.

“Hey, nothing to be sorry for, you didn’t ask for this,” he told him, “You didn’t,” he reminded him.

Eddie talked for a little bit until his phone started ringing. He frowned as he saw Athena’s name flash on the screen. “Hey Athena,” he answered, “Is everything okay?” he asked.

“Bobby was attacked while he was out with the kids. The kids saw someone running away, he was already awake, but he was hit from behind. The kids…” she said, taking a breath, “The kids are going to be interviewed, and we think it’s the same person that attacked Evan. Evan’s phone was found,” she added.

“Is Bobby okay though?” he asked, seeing Evan looking at him.

“He’s going to be fine, just a bump on the head, the kids are scared, of course. They were out looking for a birthday present for me,” she answered him, “I gotta go, Lou is heading this way with some of the sketch artists to try and get a description from the kids.”

“Alright, I’ll talk to you later, and keep me informed,” he asked, getting an affirmative answer before hanging up.

“Everything okay?” Evan asked. Eddie shook his head, telling him what was going on and soothing his fiance so he would rest and go to sleep for a bit, while Eddie waited for news on what was found.

Chapter Fifteen

Bobby walked into Evan’s room. They were meeting in the room after he had been discharged from the hospital after his attack. It had only been a few hours. But it was more than enough time for the four kids to be able to talk and work with the sketch artist and for the sketch to ring a bell with both Bobby and Athena. They hadn’t believed it when they had seen the sketch, but it looked too similar to the man they had thought would have changed his life around.

“Hey, Bobby,” Evan said, sitting up more in the bed and feeling a lot more awake than when he had first heard that Bobby had been attacked. “Any news yet?”

“Let’s wait for Athena and Lou, they are meeting us at the entrance and heading here,” he said as Eddie got him a seat to sit on.

“Where are the kids?” Eddie asked.

“Michael has taken them home so they can just relax a little there. Brooke and Robbie are taking it hard. Going to have to get in touch with their therapist and schedule an appointment for them. Think Athena and Michael are going to do the same for May and Harry as well,” he answered, giving him more than what he asked, but Bobby was worried and frustrated over what he had found out.

They went silent as they waited for Lou and Athena to arrive. When the two walked into the room, they were met with three people looking straight at them.

“Right,” Athena said as she walked over to Bobby and squeezed his shoulder, “They’ve arrested Howard Han for the attack on Bobby and on your Evan,” she told them without hesitation.

“Chimney?!” Evan frowned, “But he… he’s just got out of prison?” he tried to make sense of why he would attack them.

“I’ve been talking with Hen the last few weeks. She’s talked about Han a few times. Mostly telling me that he doesn’t seem to want to do anything now that he’s out. He’s going through the motions. She finally admitted that he had been talking to her, or rather ranting to her about how the two of you ruined his life when you came to the 118.”

“How the hell did we do that?” Evan exclaimed, wincing as his head gave a warning throb. Bobby’s own doing the same with the noise.

“From what Hen was able to get from him, he blamed the two of you, since as far as he was concerned, you are the ones that made him mad the night of the chase,” Athena said shaking her head, “It’s no damn excuse,” she spat.

“So, he attacked me and Bobby?” Evan asked, frowning at her.

Lou nodded, “We have forensics linking him to you and to Bobby,” he said as he looked between the two of them. “The truck has traces of his DNA, we were able to run it against the profile we have of Mr Han on file from the chase.”

“So positive link,” Eddie said with a heavy sigh, “What’s the charge going to be?” he asked.

“We’re going with Attempted Murder in the first degree for Evan,” Lou stated, “We’re doing this because he was ranting about having killed you when we arrested him.”

“And Bobby?” Athena asked, looking at her friend and colleague.

“He will be charged with the same. He intended to try and kill Bobby in that parking lot, Athena,” Lou told her, “He’s ranting and raving.”

“He does that sometimes,” Bobby said quietly, “When he thinks he’s in the right, he will make sure you know he is, telling everything. He never could keep a secret,” he sighed.

“We’ve done everything by the book so far,” Lou told them, “We’re going to continue processing him and find out all we can about the attacks and how he planned for them to go. We believe when he was attacking Bobby, he didn’t take into account the children. When they were screaming, he ran before he could do more than hit Bobby over the head.”

“Thank you,” Bobby said, “For telling us and keeping us informed.”

“I’ll do what I can without compromising the investigation,” Lou said as he nodded at the four of them, “I’ll leave you alone now.”

The four were left somewhat in shock by what they had learned about Howard Han.

“You should call Hen, she’s going to be upset when she finds out what he’s done,” Bobby said as he looked at his wife.

“I don’t even know what I should tell her, she knew that he was having problems. I doubt she was even able to tell if he was going to do something or not,” Athena sighed, knowing that Hen would feel responsible for things if she heard about it from someone else.

“Then go to her, and talk to her,” Bobby pressed, “Let her hear it from a friend instead of through the rumor mill, you know that it won’t be long until she finds out.”

“Go, I’ll keep an eye on Bobby, no doubt that I’ll be here until visiting hours are over,” Eddie told her, “Let her know from a friend. That’s not something you want to leave to chance. Tell her the facts that you know.”

Athena sighed and nodded, “I’ll come back for Bobby, don’t let him leave on his own, no matter what he says, and he’s to keep away from his phone as well,” she said, giving her husband a warning look.

“I’ll keep him here,” Eddie smiled at her as the woman stood up, kissed her husband, and left the room.

XxXxX

Athena sat in her car outside of Hen and Karen’s home. She had already called Karen and told her that she was to keep Hen away from the news and to make sure that she stayed inside, that she wanted to talk to Hen. Pursing her lips she got out of her car and headed for the door. Knocking on it she didn’t have to wait long for Karen to answer the door and let her inside.

“‘Thena,” Hen said, confused as to what was going on. “What’s going on? Is Bobby okay?” she asked, getting up from where she was sitting on the couch.

“Honestly, he’s doing alright at the moment. What’s more shocking is more on who attacked him, and the same person is the one that attacked Evan as well,” she told her, “Please, sit down.”

Hen stared at her, her heart sinking, “Chimney,” she said, already able to guess what was going on.

Athena nodded, “It is, we’ve got DNA evidence for both attacks. Evan’s phone was dropped at the scene of Bobby’s attack. The kids gave a description of the attack to the sketch artists and I looked at that and my heart sank, Hen,” she told her.

“He… he’s been talking about them a few times. Angry at them still. I thought that the therapy that he was getting inside was helping him. He was just playing the system, I’ve been trying to get through to him, Thena,” she said, looking close to tears. “I should… I should have done more.”

“There was nothing you could have done,” she told her, sure of that.

“Feels like I should have been able to see it. I can spot so many damn things, but seeing the danger my… my friend posed to people…” she trailed off, closing her eyes and leaning her head back.

“Hen, I came to tell you because I know what the rumor mills are like. Or rather Eddie and Bobby told me to come here, I have to say I wasn’t going to leave Bobby at all. But they made a good point to me, you are his friend,” she said, “You’re going to blame yourself and we all know it. But there was nothing you could have done differently. yeah, you could have mentioned it to us, but you didn’t think he was violent like this.”

“Athena,” Hen stopped her, shaking her head, “I know what he’s like. He does have a temper, I’ve seen it a few times. But no I didn’t think he would actually harm them, he’s a yelly type, in my eyes. More words than fists. But that doesn’t stop him from being violent. Anyone can be at any time for any reason. You know this as much as what I do,” she reminded her, sighing, “I should have spoken up, especially after Evan was attacked, I should’ve told you all what I knew about Chimney and his behavior and rantings.”

“Maybe, but, Hen, stop it. It’s on him not on you,” she told her.

Hen nodded as Karen sat beside her, taking a hand and holding it tightly, letting her wife know she was there for her. “You should head back to Bobby,” Hen finally said, “Thank you, for coming to tell me personally,” she said, just wanting to be alone with her wife so she could come to terms with what her friend had done.

XxXxX

Eighteen days after Evan had been attacked he was finally released from the hospital to head home. He had started to remember more of the attack and had talked to Lou a few more times. Now, he was almost home, looking forward to sleeping in his bed and having Eddie beside him. Christopher had clung to him the first time he had been able to see him. Leyna had squealed and made a few noises as she clung to him. Like she was telling him off for not being around. Evan missed the other kids as well, as they had all visited at some point, along with many of their friends and family.

Jolene had even come by, though that was also to update him on what had happened with Dana Pierce since her trial had been while he was in his medically induced Coma. She had been put away for a minimum of 25 years to life for what she had done to the other victims. Her parents had tried to cause trouble, but in the end, they had been slapped with some jail time as well, for aiding their daughter in her plans to attack and kill those who had, in their eyes, ruined their daughter’s life.

“Looking forward to being home?” Eddie asked as the large gates at the Home opened up and he drove up the drive to the manor.

“Yeah I am, I can’t wait to see everyone,” he said, smiling over to him. The bandage was now gone and the shaved area was starting to come up in a light fuzz of hair already.

“They are looking forward to having you home. The doctor said that you have another month before you can go back to work. Though no doubt that you’ll be doing a few things around the Home, you are to take it easy,” Eddie warned him as he parked the truck in its usual spot. Christopher and Xiaoli were waiting for them at the top of the stairs and ramp up to the entrance.

Evan smiled as he saw them, wondering briefly where Leyna was. He knew that Maddie had stopped by the home a few times to take the kids out a little, to spend time with them as Eddie visited with Evan. She had also taken the time to visit her brother when she could. She had started looking for her own place in LA and work. Though she had admitted that she didn’t know if she could be a nurse again after what happened with Doug, she was thinking about trying for a while as she got her certificates for California sorted out.

Evan got out as Christopher was waving madly at him, grinning from ear to ear about having Evan back home.

“Papa!” Christopher yelled out as soon as Evan started up the stairs, Eddie beside him.

Eddie had to catch Evan as he stumbled a little. “He called me… Papa,” he said, shocked.

“He’s been working up to it for a while,” Eddie said, “Now come on, your son is waiting for you,” he said, as he steadied him and walked up the stairs, Evan keeping hold of him.

“Hey, Papa,” Christopher said as he hugged Evan tightly before letting him go and taking the crutches back from Xiaoli.

“Welcome home,” Xiaoli said as they followed Christopher inside.

Entering the main living room, a yell of surprise was called out. Evan jumped, leaning into Eddie as the man wrapped his arms around his waist to keep him upright. Evan grinned at everyone, “Hey,” he greeted, leaning against Eddie.

“Welcome home,” Eddie murmured into his ear, causing the younger man to shiver.

“Eddie,” he murmured in a low tone, the man knew just what he was doing and there was a hint of promises for later as Eddie kissed him lightly on the cheek as he went to face him.

“Go and enjoy the party, I’m right here,” Eddie told him as he gestured to the others and where Maddie was standing with Leyna who was reaching out for her papa.

Evan nodded and turned his head to give Eddie a proper kiss. “You better keep that promise,” he muttered.

“I made no such thing,” Eddie smirked at him.

Evan gave him a look, causing his fiance to laugh as Evan went over to his sister and took Leyna from her. “Hey princess,” he murmured. Leyna giggled and cuddled against her papa, “Love you, sweetheart,” he murmured. One by one the other kids of the home went over to him, hugging him. There were two new kids among them, and one had left since he had been at the hospital for the last two weeks. “Hey,” he said to them all, “I’m okay,” he added seeing some of them look fearful, “I really am and the man that did this is now behind bars,” he finished.

Evan was soon guided toward one of the couches, he sat down and Christopher joined him, and curled against him as Leyna waved and reached for her brother. Evans smiled at the two of them as his fiance slowly walked over with something to drink for the two and a sippy cup for Leyna, she was slowly learning how to use it, though often using it as a throw toy when she wanted to play.

“My family together again,” Eddie said, as he settled beside him as people came to and from where they were sat to talk to Evan when they could, welcoming him home. As predicted, many of the younger children ran up to him with cards they had made or just drawings they had done to welcome him home. Evan took each and every single one to them with a large smile on his face. Eddie could tell that his fiance would be keeping them somewhere safe like he had done with any artwork that he was given by the children of Second Chance Home.

Chapter Sixteen

The day after Bobby returned to the 118 after a week off, he and the others on A-Shift were under suspicion for pulling off a bank heist. They had found a large amount of money hidden on the ladder truck when they had returned from a call. No one had a clue as to how it got there, but it didn’t matter to the detectives who had taken them into custody to interrogate them. Even Evan and Athena had been pulled in, called to come in for questioning. Both had no choice but to go, but Evan wasn’t going to do anything without his lawyer present.

Evan sat there, his lawyer next to him. The two looked at the two detectives across from them. They had been sitting there waiting for almost an hour. He knew that they were working through the team, all of A-Shift was on the carpet at the moment.

“Mr Buckley,” one of the Detectives said. “I’m Detective Mercer,” she said, “I’m one of two detectives in charge of this case. If you don’t mind, we will be recording this interview,” she said.

“That is fine,” Evan nodded, sitting there calmly as she went through the beginnings introducing herself and those in the room.

“Mr Buckley, your fiance is Edmundo Diaz, current?”

“Yes,” he answered, knowing what his Lawyer was allowing him to say and what he would want him to shut up about.

“Is he in any financial difficulties? We know that he has a restraining order out, that is about to lapse against several members of his family, and that his son, a child that was in your care, was taken from him for a while,” she added, going over a few facts in Eddie’s life that they knew.

“Not only that,” the younger man beside her began, “We have Robert Nash, now married to an officer of the law. The ex-husband of who helped them get into the bank to so-called rescue Henretta Willson and the Bank Manager,” he said,

“And this is relevant for what reason?” Evan asked them, “You are pointing out things that everyone who knows us knows,” he said, “Including your own captain and most of the members of the LAPD and LAFD,” he stated.

“Mr Buckley, please do not be hostile,” Detective Mercer began.

“My client is not being hostile at all, he is asking why is that relevant to what is going on,” his lawyer said, “So are you going to ask anything relevant?”

“I am asking if he knows of any reasons why his fiance or Robert Nash would need the money. Robert Nash is a former addict, and Edmundo Diaz is having to care for a disabled son, which can be costly,” she said.

“Neither would need money for such things. Robert Nash has been clean for four years. He is very careful about his addiction and the temptations that come with it. He has four children that he is a father to, two of whom are his own from his late wife. As for Eddie Diaz, he is a good father who fell on hard times when his family tried to take his son from him. My fiance does not need money and I certainly don’t, and neither does my sister. I don’t think any of those who are on A-Shift have any need for any amount of money to bail them out of things. You’re looking at the wrong people, start looking at those that have access to things as well.”

“It was your fiance that mentioned nerve agent,” the younger one said, frowning at Evan.

“My fiance is also a former army medic,” Evan pointed out, “he would have been trained to recognize and look at symptoms of such like that. He may have mentioned it, but I doubt he gave that as the full cause of what was going on. But with two down and then Hen as well, it would be a logical conclusion to have with how people were reacting.”

“A man that also put that in the heads of everyone there. Someone died today, Mr Buckley,” Detective Mercer said.

“I understand that, but you also need to understand that we are trained in such a way that we can put that aside so we can go to the next job. If we took every single death on a scene or that we learn of later to heart, then we would be burnt out and unable to continue in our work. Of course, we are disheartened, we empathize with the victims we come across, each and every single one. Some of them really call to us and other times we are dealing with the worst that society has to offer,” he explained.

Detective Mercer stared at him, “Mr Buckley we are just trying to get to the bottom of things.”

“Detective Mercer, I am still waiting for relevant questions for my client, he has cooperated and came down here when he has other things to do and to also recover from a TBI as well as a skull fracture,” his lawyer stated, “So, are you going to ask something at all, or are you just going to see what can be done to try and wear my client down when he is in recovery.”

“We would like to search your premises Mr Buckley, to make sure that you are hiding nothing.”

“You will not be able to search a majority of the home, as that is considered the property and area of the others that live there. That, along with the children that live there, I will not allow their privacy to be violated. So you will be restricted,”

“We require full access, Mr Buckley, we will get a search warrant,” Detective Mercer threatened.

“Then I suggest that you get one Detective Mercer, I have several adults that live in the property full time and their rooms and any adjoining ones are theirs as well. The rooms that the children sleep in are their private rooms. I will not allow their privacy to be violated in such a way,” Evan repeated, “I think we are done here,” he said as he looked at his lawyer.

“We are, my colleague is with Mr Diaz,” he added, “So, his rights are being protected.”

“Good to hear, I am wondering if I should wait here since I know they don’t have any of their vehicles at all,” Evan said.

“Do so, should you be approached by someone trying to talk to you, say nothing,” he said as they got up, ending the interview with the protesting detective trying to stop him. “You have nothing else to ask my client and I’m not going to allow you to keep bombarding him with things that he has no answer for because you are on a fishing expedition,” he stated, “My Client will be waiting for his fiance to finish with his interview.”

With that they walked out of the interview room and went to the waiting area, they could see a couple of the others waiting out there for either their turn or to be able to head home after being picked up. Evan went over and nodded at them, not speaking as he waited for Eddie to be done.

XxXxX

Eddie had enough of the lines of questions that the detective was taking with him. Trying to imply that he had said that it was a nerve agent to try and throw people off. “I think we are done,” he stated, “I have three jobs in my life. Firefighter, Father, and Foster Father to the children at the Home. I don’t have time to plan anything to do with a damn heist. Look elsewhere,” he finished.

“I agree, you are repeating the same questions over and over again, trying to get a different answer and it isn’t going to happen. He has told you what happened tonight, and he has told you all the details that he can remember. I suggest that you find another avenue to get through,” his lawyer said.

“Mr Diaz, we are not finished, we will be getting a warrant for your home address,” the detective stated.

“Then do so, and I shall see you when you get there,” Eddie nodded, “I’m not going to keep going around in circles.”

The detective reluctantly ended the interview and Eddei was finally able to leave. He followed his lawyer out of the room.

“Mr Diaz, Mr Buckley is here as well, he is with my colleague,” he stated, “he was brought in for questioning, or rather forcefully asked to come in. He didn’t want the children to be scared at the Home so he agreed to come, Mr Huang-Russo dropped him off here, and one of my colleagues brought the truck to the station visitors parking lot so you will be able to get home.

“They brought him here, he’s supposed to be resting,” Eddie said, giving the cops a few glares as he stormed out of the interview room, as soon as he saw Evan, he rushed over, “Hey, you okay?” he asked him, looking him over.

“I’m fine,” he smiled up at him, “Let’s go home,” he added.

“The keys to your truck,” Evan’s lawyer said as he handed them over to Eddie.

“Thanks,” Evan said to him, as the two left.

“Let’s get home,” Eddie told him, nodding to a few of the others that were around.

“Yeah,” he nodded as they left, they started to tell each other what was going on in each other’s interview.

XxXxX

By the time Evan was able to go back to work the case had been solved and the maintenance man who worked with the 118 at times, was the one behind it all. Hen and Athena had been able to figure it all out after they had gone back to the bank to have another poke around the vault.

“Glad to be back at work, Buck?” Hen asked him, smiling at the man. She was still hurt over what Chimney had done. The attack on her friends and her colleagues had torn the last of their friendship apart. She had talked to him one last time. telling the man a few hard truths that he never wanted to hear. How he was blaming everyone else, for what he had done himself. He was the one who decided to speed off instead of pulling over, he was the one who had decided to attack and try and kill Bobby and Evan. No one else was at fault but him.

“I am, I loved spending more time with Leyna and Christopher as well as the other children, we even had a day out at the beach,” Evan grinned

“Yeah, while I was working,” Eddie grumbled, still pouting about that.

“Can’t help it if they had a day off from school and we all thought it was a good idea for a day out. We had a great time until I came back and Eddie was pouting in our room,” Evan laughed as Eddie did the most childish of things and stuck his tongue out at him, causing his fiance to laugh even harder.

They looked at the news as another report came in, another bombing had happened the day before. Each of them turned somber as Bobby, Hen, and Eddie had already caught one before Evan’s return to work. That made it three so far, and they knew that they were all waiting for a fourth to be found. The names of the victims were ringing bells for both Bobby and Athena. Everyone was being careful of any packages that were arriving at people’s homes. The Bomb Squad had been busy dealing with the number of calls that had been made. They had done a tuna sandwich at school two days ago, on the shift before Evan got back.

Bobby jumped as his phone started to ring, he answered it, “Athena?” he questioned. He nodded a few times, “Okay, I’ll head home no-” he began only to stop. “Alright, keep me informed, an-. Here?!” he exclaimed, “Send them this way. I’ll see you later, I love you,” he said, giving a small smile. He looked at everyone, “Everyone out of the station, now,” he stated.

“What’s going on?” Evan asked as they and the others began to evacuate the station.

“Bomb squad is on the way to look over the station and the vehicles. A bomb was just found on the doorstep of my home. Michael was dropping the kids off after spending the day with the four of them. Harry and Robbie were about to pick up a package. Michael was able to stop them in time, everyone is fine and it was a package. They exploded it on the scene in a contained way.”

“So why here?” Eddie asked as they left the station and went across the road as everything was secured, to make sure no one got in.

“Because I’m a target as well. They found the name of the one doing it, but they can’t find the young man at the moment,” he stated, shaking his head, “So we are thinking he may have had something delivered here. If so, we’re going to find it, the place is going to be searched from top to bottom.”

“Right, Cap,” Eddie nodded as they waited for the Bomb Squad to arrive. They arrived and started their search, with the 118 waiting at the sidelines. He went to the wall and leaned against it, sighing as he watched. Evan was standing near Bobby as the two were nearer to the curb waiting for news. The rest of the 118 was spread out. No one noticed as someone walked over to Bobby.

“You should have just stayed with the truck. I was going to follow you, Nash,” the young man spat.

Bobby turned around, Evan looking at the young man as well, as everyone else went silent. Eddie walked up behind and stopped when he saw the telltale signs of a suicide bomber vest.

“Freddie,” Bobby said, with no emotion in his face, “You need to hand that over and get that off you,” he stated.

“Not a fucking chance, you killed my dad, you killed him, you ruined his life, and my life and my mother’s life. We had nothing because of you.”

“You had nothing because your father decided to set fire to his restaurant and was caught,” Bobby answered him, “I’m sorry he’s dead, but he was punished for doing something wrong. And what you are doing is just making things a lot worse.”

“No, this is going to make it better, you’re finally going to pay for what you did to my dad,” he said, “Just like all the others.”

“You missed Athena, she’s fine, so’s my family,” Bobby smirked at him.

“I’ll say he missed,” Evan snorted, “He missed so hard he had to be in orbit when he tried. Like, seriously, I wonder what his mom thinks of all this. I know mine wouldn’t give a damn, but his… then again, she’s lost her husband, it might just be fine if she loses her son too,” he added.

“What the hel-” Costas began only to find arms around him, holding his arms down as Bobby grabbed for the deadman’s switch and pulled it away.

“You messed with the wrong family,” Evan told him, “We have each other’s back, and now you’ll end up in jail, like your dear old dad. Your mom will now be alone, having to face the people who will hate her because of her son’s actions.”

Hen rushed over the road waving at one of the cops who was on the scene to call them over to arrest Costas. The Bomb Squad had found a device on the ladder truck that hadn’t been detonated and was slowly being removed.

“Well, that was over quick,” Hen said, as she looked at Freddie Costas being taken away, his vest now tucked in a box and being dealt with by the Bomb Squad.

“Wish it had been quicker,” Bobby nodded as they waited to be released from the scene and were able to head home since the 118 A-Shift was being sent home early as the station was cordoned off and trying to find out how Costas had got the bomb on to the truck.

Chapter Seventeen

Evan stood in a room, he was currently on his own. The others were giving him a few minutes to himself as he waited for everything to get ready for him to walk out into the garden of Second Chance Home. The last time he would walk out of it as an unmarried man. Because within the next hour, he would be marrying the love of his life. He stood up from the couch he was sitting on, went over to the window to look over the pavilion, and set up what had been done for him and Eddie to get married. People were already getting ready to sit down, some talking, some smiling and his sister Maddie already tearing up as she dabbed at her eyes.

Evan laughed and shook his head, knowing that at that moment, she couldn’t hear his laughter to scold him for it. He thought back over the last couple of months, getting back to work, Chimney’s trial and sentencing. Leyna watched as she started to pull herself up. Christopher’s growing confidence in calling him “Papa”, and the closer relationship he had been developing with his sister. Things still were all there yet, but they were working on it, and building something new from all the bad things that had happened between their childhoods and now.

The door opened and he turned around, smiling as he saw Xiaoli entering the room. “Hey,” he said, walking over, time yet?” he asked, as he had to give all the electronics over so he wouldn’t keep checking the time and seeing if there are any messages from Eddie.

“Not yet,” Xiaoli told him. “Everyone has arrived and are starting to sit down now. Bobby is going to stop by in a second, and then I’m going to go and check on Eddie. He and Chris are getting ready together. I’m happy for you, Evan,” he told him.

Evan smiled, “Thanks to you and the others. My life… I don’t know where I would be now without you all. Each of you had a role to play in getting me to this point in my life, and I will forever be grateful for it.”

“You did a lot of the work yourself, don’t forget that you’re the one that went to therapy, you’re the one that agreed and worked hard in getting this place set up. I may work here, but this is more than I dreamed of.”

“Maybe, but this is our dream,” Evan smiled, hugging him tightly, “Thank you, for being my best friend. I don’t think I could have done without you at times.”

“Wouldn’t be anywhere else,” he said, hugging Evan back as someone knocked on the door. He let his friend go, “You can come in Bobby,” he called out, “Right, Evan, I’ll see you down there, I’m going to make sure Eddie and Chris are ready. Bobby is going to walk you down, while Chris does so far Eddie. I’ll meet you at the pavilion,” he smiled, nodding at Bobby as he clapped the man on the shoulder and headed to see Eddie.

“Congratulations, Kid,” Bobby said as he walked over and straightened out his suit a little, making sure he was done up right.

“Thanks, Bobby,” Evan smiled at him, “Never thought I would have this,” he stated, shaking his head. “A family of my own. I’m going to be someone’s husband, I just…” he trailed off, shaking his head.

“Evan, when I first met you, you were a confident young man, but I could see there were shadows of something in your eyes. You helped me be a better man. just like you help the children around you be better versions of themselves. You give them the love and support that all children need. You’re a good man, and one of the best I’ve met,” he smiled at him, “You deserve to be happy just as much as you make others. Eddie makes you so damn happy, Evan,” he smiled at him, “Now, are you ready for this?”

“Yeah, yeah I am,” he grinned.

“I don’t doubt that your grandmother Elizabeth would be so proud of you and so happy for you today,” Bobby said, he had only met the woman a few times, but he could tell that she was immensely proud of her grandson. He couldn’t imagine her being anything but proud of the man he was today, or the one he was going to be marrying.

“Yeah,” he nodded, looking at the window, “I think so as well, she was so happy that I was planning on making LA my permanent home, and that she was to look for properties. To know that she was dying and planning for this place to be a Home, I…” he trailed off, feeling choked up as he thought of his grandma Lizzie. His grandmother Agatha had been able to make it and had visited a month ago to spend time getting to know her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren.

“I have family and friends here and it’s… it’s a lot at times. To know that I went from nothing to so many guests being invited. I have so many guests out there, Uncle Terry’s wife, Aunt Francesca took over the food preparation,” he smiled, “She has a catering business that she runs. She said part of her gifts is doing all the food,” he added. “I know that they all got together to plan the honeymoon and that,” he finished quietly.

“Evan, they love you, they are your family and they want to see you fly just like anyone should do. They are so happy for you, and it shows in everything they do. They are proud of you and are there if you need them for the business, and even for the home. I know that your aunts and uncles have become foster parents, so if need be they can step in and help out,” he shook his head, “You, and Xiaoli inspired a lot of people. Hen and Karen have three kids, a wonderful son, and two beautiful little daughters. They have them because you helped them realize their dream to have more children.”

Evan nodded, “Yeah, yeah, I’m just glad to help.”

“I know, no–” he began, only for his phone to start buzzing, he pulled it out and smiled, “Let’s get you married, it’s time.”

Evan grinned as the two headed out. Going to the doors that they were told to, a screen blocked the room in half as it looked out onto the garden. Music started up, and Evan smiled as the strains of BTS’ Love Yourself started to ring out. The children had been the ones in charge of the music to walk down the aisle. It showed their tastes well since most of them enjoyed K-Pop. Evan couldn’t help but glance over at his husband-to-be. Walking alongside his son as Evan himself was walking beside Bobby. At the pavilion Xiaoli waited, having gone through what he needed to be able to officiate their wedding.

They met at the pavilion and Bobby and Christopher stepped aside and let the couple take the last few steps together. Xiaoli smiled at them both, a microphone attached to his lapel as he said for all to hear, “Family, Friends, and the bringers of chaos, we are all gathered here today to watch the two very in-love men pledge the rest of their lives to each other. Both have written vows that they would like to speak before I do the rest of my little part in this epic love story, so I’ll hand this over to Eddie.”

Eddie snorted, his own small microphone attached to his suit. “The day I first met you, I was seeing my son after he had been taken from my care. I didn’t know if I liked you that day, you were the one between me and my son, even if I knew it wasn’t your fault. I just didn’t expect the man to make it possible for me to see my son on his birthday, or even bring him to me that Christmas because of his upset. You looked after him as I would have and it pulled me in. I wanted to get to know the kind man who had opened his heart and home to so many. I just didn’t realize that I was starting to fall for you. Then, I took a chance and asked you out on a date, after spending time getting to know you,” he paused, “It was the best thing I ever did, asking you out. I never want to find out what life is like without you, I love you Evan Buckley, with all that I am, you have my heart and my son’s in your hands and you have done since the moment we met.”

“Evan,” Xiaoli prompted, seeing his friend radiate happiness.

“Meeting Christopher first, all I could see was a child that wanted to hate me for not being his dad, and I can agree that his dad is a pretty great man. I listened to his stories of what the two of you were doing, and how life was for the both of you. His longing to go back home. I ached for him, and the little bits of time I could carve out for you both were worth the paperwork headaches I got later on. Because I started to get to know a man who loved his child but loved many who came near him, even if he didn’t always show it at first. The first time you came to the home after Christopher had left, you dived right in with playing with the children as your son played with his friends. You were there when I took them places and helped. I started to fall for a man who let me see him, who let me know the kind man under his slightly hard exterior. A protector, who was keeping my heart safe. When Leyna came to me and she became ill that first time, you didn’t hesitate to be there for me, when she was hurt, you were there again. When I was hurt, you were there. You were there each time I looked. I had found my forever, I found the one that I knew I wanted to be with. The man that I would work so hard to make it work with because you are worth it and more. I love you Eddie Diaz, and I love and adore you as well Christopher. Because I didn’t just meet the love of my life, I met this amazing kid as well. They both hold my heart in their hands and do what they can to protect it, as I will always protect theirs,” Evan said, as he stared at Eddie for a long time, before briefly glancing at Christopher.

“Now the best bit,” Xiaoli said, as he could hear a few people crying, “Do you Eddie, take Evan to be your lawfully wedded Husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and not so good times, for richer or poorer, to honor your husband until the end of your days?”

“I do,” Eddie grinned widely.

“Do you Evan take Eddie, to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and not so good times, for richer or poorer, to honor your husband until the end of your days?” Xiaoli said, this time directed at Evan.

“I do,” he smiled, looking at Eddie.

“Eddie and Evan have chosen to exchange rings, a symbol of their ever-lasting love. Bobby, Christopher, can you hand over the rings.,” he said, smiling at the two as they stepped up and handed them over.

“Eddie, you first, repeat after me, ‘This ring is the symbol of my everlasting love to you, my pledge to love you each and every single day of our lives, and beyond them’,” he said, saying the vow that the two had come up with.

Eddie repeated them as he slipped the ring on Evan’s finger, soon it was the other way around. Everyone smiling.

“Now for the bit the children asked to be warned about,” Xiaoli grinned, “Kids look away the parents are going to be kissing,” he said, to the laughter of the crowd and the groans of said children. “You may now seal your vow with a kiss,” he stated.

Eddie and Evan moved closer and kissed, holding each other tightly as the crowd around them clapped and cheered. Dinner was to be served and speeches were given. Then a judge walked into the hall as dinner was finished. Xiaoli stood up, “There is one last thing before we go to the party, dancing and wedding cake cutting,” he stated, “Today, Evan and Eddie have pledge themselves to each other, but there are two more than need to be added to that,” he smiled as Maddie brought over Leyna and Christopher made his way to his dad and papa.

“I am here for a very special reason,” the judge said, “I am Judge Derek Mallious,” he stated, “I’m a judge that most come to when a very special thing happens. Adoption. The joining of Evan and Eddie is now going to be finished with their children joining the family fully, by adopting each other’s children.”

“Yes!” Christopher yelled out, fist-pumping into the air and almost wiggling where he stood. “LeyLey, Dada and Papa are going to always be our dada and papa,” he said to Leyna as she was being held in Evan’s arms.

“Papa,” Leyna squealed out, “Dada!” she carried on with a giggle, repeating the two words over and over again.

“You… you said, Papa, and Dada,” Evan said, voice trembling in joy.

“Papa! Dada!” she clapped her hands.

“She did, such a clever girl!” Eddie gushed as they showered Leyna with praise.

“Me and Joshua were working with her for ages,” Christopher said, “We’ve been trying to get her to say it a lot, but she kept just making noises instead.”

“Thank you,” the two adults said to their son, “You did good work, both of you,” Evan added, looking at Joshua where he was sitting with his brother.

“Let’s get these papers signed so that the adoption is finalized and I can get this submitted,” Judge Mallious stated as the two men were quick to join him and sign the last of the paperwork. With is signed the judge said a few more things to the newlywed couple before leaving. Christopher headed back to where he was sitting and Maddie took Leyna again since she was on watch duty for some of the day. Agatha had asked to watch her for a little bit as well when she retired for the night.

The wedding reception started, and Eddie and Evan took a few moments to look at the video of Leyna saying her first words that Xiaoli had taken before walking in.

“Welcome to the wedding reception of Eddie and Evan Buckley-Diaz. Let’s get the happy couple on the dancefloor for their first dance,” the DJ said as she stood at the far end of the room.

Eddie looked at Evan and said, “Well, Mr Buckley-Diaz, shall we?”

“Certainly, Mr Buckley-Diaz, the first of many I hope,” Evan grinned taking the offered hand as the two made their way onto the dance floor as Savage Garden’s I Knew I Loved You started to play. The song was apt for them in many ways.

They just about heard Maddie say, “I love this song, so fitting.”

Evan grinned widely, “It is,” he stated, “I love you, Eddie.”

“Like in your eyes, I see my future in an instant,” Eddie sang along, “I did, when I saw you, I thought you were someone I wanted to know, wanted to be with.”

“Yeah,” he said as they danced through the song and another started to play afterward. “This was my other choice,” he murmured, as he leaned against Eddie, swaying with the music. Once more Savage Garden played, this time Truly Madly Deeply. Part way through, Evan raised his head, eyes looking onto Eddies as he sang along, “I’ll be your dream, I’ll be your wish, I’ll be your fantasy. I’ll be your hope, I’ll be your love, be everything that you need. I’ll love you more with every breath, truly, madly, deeply do,” he finished, leaning in for a kiss.

Their journeys alone are now at an end, but their journey together as a family has only just started, all because they dreamed of a Second Chance at wanting a Home.

 

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