Reading Time: 103 Minutes

Title: Some Things Are Meant To Be
Author: Duochanfan
Fandom: 9-1-1
Genre: Drama, Family, Hurt/Comfort, Romance, Slash
Relationship(s): Evan ‘Buck’ Buckley/Eddie Diaz, Minor/Background Pairings
Content Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Hate Crimes, Homophobia, Domestic Abuse, Bigotry, Character Bashing, Dark Themes, Permanent Injury, Violence – Canon Level, Stalking, Discussion – Child Abuse, Discussion – Domestic Abuse, Discussion – Rape
Author Note: Thank you to HarleyJQuin, ScarslikeVelvet for all the help you have given. And to those that helped turn a small one-shot scene into a massive monster. Rape discussion is related to Dr. Wells.
Beta: ScarslikeVelvet, HarleyJQuin
Alpha: ScarslikeVelvet, HarleyJQuin
Word Count: 180217
Summary: After it comes to light what the Diaz Parents had done to make sure a mother couldn’t talk or contact her son, Shannon and Eddie finally meet after two years and decide that while they cared about each other, the love they had is gone. Instead they decide to Co-Parent Christopher and Shannon does nothing but tease her Ex-Husband to be on the crush he has on his new co-worker, Evan ‘Buck’ Buckley. But will it all be plain sailing as relationships change and grow?
Artist: Halestrom

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Chapter Sixty-One

Maddie was nervous, she was going to do something that she never really thought she would get a chance to do again. She smiled as the car pulled up and Chimney stepped out. “Howie,” she smiled, kissing him lightly on the lips as he escorted her to his car and opened the door. Maddie giggled a little at how he was treating her. Sometimes it was nice when Chimney acted like that. It made her feel wanted and happy that someone still thought and believed that she was worth treating as such.

“Right, I have us a table at that revolving restaurant that you mentioned,” he told her, glancing over and smiling as he buckled up.

“I heard a good few reviews about it,” she told him, smiling.

“I know,” he laughed lightly as he drove, “Just a little date for me and you to carry on getting to know one another,” he said, his tone happy.

Maddie looked at him, she was still undecided on how she wanted to tell him. She had been talking to her therapist and her brother a lot about things. Especially with how the relationship was continuing to grow with Chimney. They had both been trying to move forward, with couples counseling helping them as well to find a stable give-and-take in the relationship. Maddie knew that Buck had been right to suggest trying it. She had to wonder if that’s what he and Eddie had done to get their relationship as loving and in sync, with each other, as they did.

Arriving, they were seated away from the revolving windows. The place was nice, the seating comfortable and as they ordered dinner, they couldn’t help but notice the couple that was near them. “I think a proposal might be happening,” Maddie said softly, as they ate.

“Maybe,” Chimney agreed, glancing over, “Awkward to do it in front of people.”

“Yeah, all that pressure,” she added, glancing over as well before turning to her boyfriend.

Chimney nodded in agreement, “It’s not a pleasant pressure,” he said, “And it looks like it might be a no,” he added.

“Yeah,” Maddie said as they went back to eating their meal and tried to ignore it as it turned out the box had earrings instead. They were drawn back when they heard a scream.

Chimney jumped up as he yelled, “Shut the motor off!”

Maddie grabbed her phone and began to call 9-1-1 before she rushed over to help. They worked quickly and in sync as they were able to get her out and laid down. Ending with a proposal and a yes. Maddie shook her head, the adrenaline that had gone through her as she was helping, now easing, but it was a reminder of the things she had once done as a nurse, a calling she had left behind when she left Doug.

“Well,” Chimney said as he walked over to her, “That… wasn’t the best date,” he said.

“I don’t know, working together, saving someone’s life,” she said, “You’re really good. I’ve never actually seen you in action before.”

“It was nice to see you like that as well,” Chimney smiled as he looked at him, “I liked seeing you all badass like that,” he added moving closer.

“Howie,” she said softly as she took his hand.

“Thank you both so much for what you have done,” the manager said as she walked over to them, “I really, can’t thank you enough, if there is anything that the hotel or restaurant can do, please, just ask.”

Chimney looked at Maddie and Maddie gave a small smile. He looked at the manager, “Would… would we be able to have a room for the night?” he asked.

“Of course, I’ll set you both up in the best suite we have available,” she smiled and headed off to see to it. Not five minutes later they were given a key and shown to a room.

Chimney opened it and let Maddie walk in first. Maddie glanced around as Chimney did the same, “Wow,” he said, glancing around before coming to a stop before Maddie.

“They really did mean the best suite they had available,” Maddie nodded, staring at him. “Howie,” she began again, hoping that this time there would be no interruptions.

“Maddie,” he smiled back. He took hold of her hands and waited for her to talk.

“I didn’t know what to make when you told me that you love me,” she told him, divided, to be honest with what she was feeling. “It’s scared me, Doug had said that a lot when we were together, mostly after a beating. It took a while and talking with my therapist over the last few months to realize that he only said it to make me stay with him, not because he felt something for me. It was a way to trap me,” she finished quietly.

“I know, which is why I’m not ever going to expect you to say it back to me. I may say I love you, but that’s because I do,” he told him, bringing up her hands and kissing them, “You are an amazingly strong woman, and totally badass as well,” he added, smiling, “You may never be able to tell me, but I know that the actions you take, the things you do, show me how much you love me, how much we love each other. I can wait, even if I never hear it, I don’t mind.”

“I know you don’t,” Maddie smiled, “I’ve known that from the first moment that you told me you loved me.” She was hesitant, that last step before a fall that she knew was coming. A fear that she had held so close for so long. She closed her eyes and took a breath, before opening them again to face her boyfriend. “I love you, Howie,” she said, feeling like a weight had been lifted off her at the fact that she had finally been able to say it to him. To feel that it rang true, their sessions together helped more than anything else could in getting them both on the same page in their relationship.

Chimney stood there for a moment, frozen before he said, “I love you, Maddie,” he smiled, pulling her closer, but giving her the opportunity to move away if she needed to. He kissed her sweetly on the lips, “I love you and I’m so happy to hear that you love me as well,” he said, “I would have waited a lifetime to hear it.”

“I know, but I didn’t want you to. Therapy is helping and I know that if we keep going, maybe we’ll always be on that same page with each other,” she said, hoping that would be fine.

Chimney smiled, “Yeah, we’ll still be going when we’re old, gray, and need someone else to take us there,” he joked, “I’m good with going forever if you need it. To help us keep going when things are tough when something gets in the way of us being on the same page. When one of us fucks something up and the other doesn’t know how to tell them that they have. Couples therapy will be the place where we will air everything, with no fear of what might be said by the other.”

Maddie nodded, “Yeah, communication, that is what is needed,” she agreed, “Open communication,” she repeated.

Chimney smiled, “Well, how about we have a toast, to our love, maybe get a snack and relax and enjoy our evening?” he suggested.

“That sounds like a wonderful plan,” she agreed.

XxXxX

Karen sat on the sofa and huffed, she wanted to get up, but each time she tried, it felt like she was being pulled back.

“Hey,” Hen said as she walked over, “you okay?” she frowned, seeing the beginnings of upset on her wife’s face.

“I can’t get up,” she said, “I wanted to get myself a snack, feeling a little hungry,” she muttered, “And before you ask, no I don’t know what I want, I’ll know when I see it,” she added, holding out a hand and waiting for Hen to help her to her feet.

Hen smiled, “Okay,” she said, as she reached out and helped her wife to her feet, keeping hold of her hand for a moment she smiled, “You’re so damn beautiful, you know.”

Karen glared at her, “I know I’m not at the moment, so don’t you dare try and sweet talk me,” she said as she began to head to the kitchen.

“I mean it, Karen,” Hen said, following her, “You are, you have been since the first moment I met you. Each day I love you even more, I’ve made mistakes, and I know I will never be making them again. I love you, and our family. You, Denny, Paisley, and the babies, I can’t wait until they are here,” she said as she walked up behind her wife and wrapped her arms around her as she looked in the fridge.

Karen turned around and wrapped her arms around her. “I love you as well, we’ve had our ups and downs, and we got through them. We worked through them, and we… We have a family, three children that will be relying on us to be there, to love them and help them grow. Just as Denny is growing up, he’s an amazing kid, and I love him with all my heart. I wonder some days, just how we could have raised him as we have.”

“I know, he’s just… amazing, and he is so like you. So kind and loving. He’s smart too, smarter than I am, I know that,” Hen smiled as she leaned a little closer, “But, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything without you by my side, you are the love of my life Karen Wilson, and that will never change. Ever,” she promised as she kissed her.

Karen pressed into it, before breaking in to smile, “I need food, these babies want it now or I’m going to get cranky,” she said, causing Hen to laugh.

“Okay, food, want me to cook something?” she asked her.

“Sure, something spicy,” Karen added, smiling as she went and sat at the counter as Hen looked around their fridge and began to put things together for a late-night spicy stir fry.

XxXxX

Bobby looked at Michael, the campsite was quiet and the man had been upset after he had found out that Bobby had taken Harry to find a place to plant a tree without him. “You okay?” he asked him.

“I’m sorry, Bobby,” Michael said, shaking his head as he glanced over at him.

“You don’t have to be sorry, I should have insisted that we wait for you to wake up,” he said as he handed over a soda, it was the only thing they had to drink. Since Bobby didn’t drink alcohol and Michael didn’t drink much at the moment either, it was easier just to have a load of sodas with them.

“I do, I do have to be,” he sighed, “Look, I know why you went with him, that he was asking you to go so it wouldn’t take too much out of me when we went to plant a tree,” he said, “This is just… this was something that I did with my own Dad for a long time until he passed away, the first time I took Harry here, he was three years old, and my father was still alive. The next year he was gone, but Harry wanted to go plant another tree. It’s become… a tradition for us. To keep this going. Something that’s just for us,” he said looking towards the trees. “My Dad and I have done it for years, and now me and Harry do so,” he said, shaking his head.

“It’s a nice tradition to have,” Bobby said, wishing he had done something like that with Robert Jr and Brooke, there were so many things he could have done, but he never thought of doing so. He only had a couple of pictures that his brother had been able to save, and even then there weren’t many of his children. Marcy had been the one to always take pictures of everything the children did, even when they were little and Bobby was happy and sober.

Michael looked at him, “I’m asking that you carry this on when I’m gone. Make sure he carries on doing this, don’t let him stop. Tell him that I want him to, that each time he plants a new tree, that I’m right there with him,” he begged him.

Bobby nodded, “You know I will, he’ll carry on, even if I have to drag him kicking and screaming. It’ll take a while for him to realize that he’s doing this for you and for him. I’m just there to make sure your wish is carried out.”

Michael snorted, “It’ll be something he does with his own kids, make sure he knows that he should. It’s a tradition to pass down. Wish I could have gotten May to do something similar with me, but she was always more like Athena.”

Bobby laughed and shook his head, “She is very much like her, so headstrong and she’s beginning to really come into her own.”

“She is,” he repeated, “I love them both so much, I’m going to miss seeing them grow up.”

“They’ll be missing you, you know that,” Bobby said as he glanced over at him.

Michael nodded, “I know, they know now, that I’m not going to have the surgery and they aren’t sure why I’m not. I’ve tried to explain it to them, but they… they don’t understand that there is a high chance that I’ll die anyway, or I won’t even know them,” he sighed, leaning back and sipping the soda, “Someday’s I could do with a good beer,” he muttered.

Bobby gave him a smile, “Mmm.”

“Sorry, Bobby,” he said, shaking his head, “I don’t mean to be rude.”

“It’s fine,” he told him, “I know the feeling, a little too well.”

“Yeah,” he said, awkwardly, “So,” he began, trying to find something else to talk about.

Bobby smiled, “Well,” he said, floundering himself.

Michael and Bobby looked at each other and began to laugh, “Okay.”

“How about we think of taking an early night?” Bobby suggested, “I wouldn’t mind some sleep.”

“Yeah, sleep does sound good,” he laughed, getting up. Bobby got up as well and put out the campfire, making sure it was fully out before he helped Michael pack a few things away to make it easier in the morning when it was time to leave.

“Night, Michael,” Bobby said as he walked into the tent, changing and getting ready in the sleeping bag.

“Night, Bobby,” he replied, yawning loudly as he snuggled down in his sleeping bag.

It didn’t take them long to fall asleep, for the sounds of the forest around them to soothe away any nightmares.

Chapter Sixty-Two

Sue looked up as her computer beeped in front of her. She was quick to get to her feet as Security informed her what was going on and what they were currently doing. She walked out onto the floor and stood there, noting that two were missing, but they had been let on their breaks. “Everyone, I need your attention. As soon as you finish the call you are on, all our calls are being transferred to another call center,” she advised them, “When you finished your call, come here to me and sign out manually. You’ll be escorted out of the building.”

“What’s going on?” Linda asked as she got up, having finished her call.

“We have people that have entered the building,” Sue answered, “They are armed and being taken to a room to be isolated, which is why we need to evacuate the building. Melissa,” she called to another woman, someone that she had worked with for a while, “I need you to go and see to Amina and Rosa, they were having their breaks. Bring them here, so I can manually sign them out and get them out of here.”

“Sure,” she said, darting to the breakroom to get the two.

Maddie didn’t freeze as she carried on with her call, making sure that they were safe before she was able to end it. She was shaking a little moments later as she, Sue, and two others were the only ones left in the room. Maddie got up, grabbing her phone as it began to ring.

“Maddie,” Sue said as she wrote down her name for Maddie to sign next to it.

“Another call was coming in, something about a Museum, art place,” she said, “I saw it before I left. It’s in our district,” she added.

“We had a feeling that they would be keeping control of us to make sure that something was overlooked and not responded to,” Sue said quietly, “Now, get out of here, and answer your phone,” she added.

“Okay,” she smiled as she headed out, escorted by one of the security guards.

Maddie walked out of the building, heading towards the others that were now waiting outside the building. SWAT was pulling up and her phone was still ringing. She finally answered it.

“Maddie,” Chimney’s voice sounded worried, “Is everything okay?” he asked her.

“I’m… I’m fine, really,” she reassured him, “We had someone try and get into dispatch, SWAT is here and about to take them down,” she murmured as she walked a little further away so she could talk privately without being overheard.

“Fuck,” Chimney said, voice shaking, “You’re really okay though?” he asked her, needing to know.

“I am, we were evacuated from the building. Sue and a few others are still inside, but as soon as a person’s call ended we were escorted out safely. It… worked, we’re out,” she said, looking towards the building as she saw Sue walk out with the last of the dispatchers. She closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them as SWAT moved in now that the building was fully clear.

“Maddie,” Sue said as she walked over, “Everyone is safe,” she said, as she looked at the others that were gathering.

“I’m going to come and pick you up, alright Maddie?” Chimney said in her ear.

“Yeah, you’ll be able to meet me, I don’t know if we’re going to be released from work yet though,” Maddie said.

“You are,” Sue smiled, shaking her head, “As soon as the building is clear, we’re bringing in the next shift change early, so everyone here can go home and process what has happened.”

Maddie nodded as she relayed that to Chimney, “I’ll see you when you get here, Howie, I love you,” she added at the end, feeling a little thrill go through her at being able to say it without feeling like her world was about to end.

“I love you as well,” Chimney replied, his voice going soft as he then hung up.

Maddie put her phone away and looked at Sue, “So, how did they get in?” she asked.

“Josh’s credentials, since he’s still on Sick Leave for another two days. So when his ID tried to sign in, we knew,” she began to explain, “When he was attacked, his work ID was taken as well,” she reminded her, “They were used to get them in. Thankfully, you made Josh report the loss and we were prepared for something to happen,” she added, “It’s a system that is in place because this isn’t the first time a dispatch center was be targeted by assholes,” she cursed.

Maddie tried to refrain from laughing, but couldn’t help the small burst. “Yeah,” she said, as Sue rolled her eyes, “Do you know what they were after?”

“No,” Sue shook her head, “Chances are we’ll not find out,” she snorted. There was a commotion near the doors and SWAT was coming out with some others that had wanted to take over dispatch. “Well, there they are,” she muttered.

“Good riddance to bad rubbish,” Maddie snorted, shaking her head.

Sue laughed, “Right, as soon as they’ve made sure that the building is clear, we’ll be allowed back in,” she said as she addressed everyone around her. “You can gather your things, at the moment another call center is taking out calls until the next shift arrives, so don’t worry too much,” she added, seeing the concerned look on some of the dispatcher’s faces.

“At least it’s over,” Maddie said as she looked at the people being taken into custody. “Will the Cops need to talk to Josh?” she asked.

Sue nodded, “Yes, they will, he may have been targeted because he worked here,” she told her.

Maddie sighed, “Could be,” she murmured, “or they saw it and decided to take an opportunity they thought was there?” she suggested.

“Whatever it might be, they will be investigating it, Josh will be informed of what is going on and show mugshots of those involved as well,” Sue said, “Now, go and get your things and fully sign out. That man of yours will be here soon enough,” she smiled.

Maddie smiled back and nodded, “Yes, he will,” she laughed lightly as she went inside the building now that it was cleared to gather her things and meet Chimney.

XxXxX

Buck finished his call from his sister and sighed in relief.

“You okay?” Eddie asked as he walked over, they had been about to go out to the park with Christopher when Buck got a call from Maddie.

“Someone tried to take over dispatch, they got in using Josh’s ID, but because he reported it stolen, they were able to contain them and keep them out the way,” Buck said, “She called to tell me what happened and that she’s fine. Chimney has already picked her up and they are on the way home.”

“That’s good,” Eddie smiled softly, “Come on, let’s go and take our son to the park for a couple of hours and then have dinner out,” he suggested.

“That sounds like a great idea,” Buck smiled, leaning over and kissing him before the two moved to make sure Christopher was ready to go as well.

“Of course I’m ready,” Christopher rolled his eyes at the two of them, “I’m not old and slow,” he told them, huffing as they stared at him. “I’m just telling it like it is,” he grinned.

“Cheeky brat,” Eddie huffed, “You get that entirely from your Mother.”

“And damn proud of it too!” Christopher yelled.

“Hey, language,” Eddie reminded him.

“Sorry, Dad,” he grinned, totally unrepentant.

“Way too much like Shannon,” Eddie muttered under his breath as the two men finished getting ready, making sure to pack a few snacks for their afternoon out.

“That he is,” Buck agreed, laughing as Christopher headed to the front door. He didn’t open it but he was sighing and huffing as though he had been waiting for ages, instead of a few minutes.

“Okay, Okay,” Eddie said as he opened the door and Christopher hurried to the truck.

“Dad, we don’t have long, and Netty should be at the park today as well, and I want to play with her for a bit before she has to go home,” Christopher told him, climbing into the truck and waiting for Eddie to make sure he was doing up the straps correctly.

“All good,” he said, tucking Chrisopther crutches into the truck as well, “And Netty?” he asked.

“One of his friends from school,” Buck answered him, “They are very good friends as well. I had to put extra in his lunchbox last time as he wanted to share with her,” he added with a little smirk.

“Hey!” Christopher yelled out before the door of the truck before it could be closed, “Don’t sell me out like that, Papa!”

Eddie looked at Buck, “A Crush?” he asked.

“I think so,” he murmured as the door closed on a protesting Christopher.

“Well,” Eddie sighed, “I don’t know what to make of that,” he shook his head.

“Neither do I,” Buck added, “He’s growing up way too fast and he needs to stop. He’s only nine. He’s a baby still,” he pouted a little as he went around the truck and got in the passenger side.

Eddie got in and nodded, “Yes, still little, too little for crushes,” he agreed.

“No I’m not, I’m not a baby,” Christopher huffed from the back seat.

“No, not a baby,” Buck agreed, “But you’re still very young in our eyes, Christopher, and we don’t want you to grow up too fast,” he added.

“I have to grow up at some point, may as well be now,” Christopher told them both, “Get used to it, because maybe next week I’ll have a boyfriend or girlfriend.”

“Boyfriend or girlfriend?” Eddie frowned, glancing at the mirror so he could see his son without turning around.

“Yes,” Christopher nodded, “I’m keeping my options open,” he added.

“That’s you,” Eddie said, glancing over at Buck.

“Well, it paid off well for me,” Buck winked at him.

Eddie rolled his eyes before starting up the truck and heading to the park. It didn’t take long for them to get there. Christopher was out of the truck and heading over to a young girl that looked around the same age as him.

“That would be Netty?” Eddie asked, glancing at Buck as he got out of the truck and grabbed the bag of snacks.

“Yes,” Buck answered, looking at the two kids as they were already headed to the play area. “She’s nice and rather sweet, the two get along well and are in the same class,” he told him, “It’s nice,” he shrugged, shouldering the bag and then taking Eddie’s hand after the man had locked up the truck.

“Okay, it is,” Eddie said, “But it does feel like he’s growing up too fast, he’s nine, Buck,” he pointed out.

“And at nine a kid can have a crush or three,” he said, “Didn’t you have any crushes at that age?” he asked him, giving him a pointed look.

“Fine, I did,” he huffed and rolled his eyes, “But that doesn’t mean I want him to do the same,” he told him.

Buck laughed, “Part of you will always see him as a baby, the first time you held him when you realized that you’d do anything for him.”

Eddie stopped, causing Buck to jolt a little. “Yeah, I do, and you do as well?”

“Of course I do. I may not have been there during his early years, but I’ve been there since I met him that first time. I adore that kid so damn much, I would do anything to protect him,” he added.

“I know, I know you would and have,” he said, thinking of the tsunami and how Buck had managed to get Chrsipther high enough on the Ferris Wheel to keep him safe but hadn’t secured himself enough to stop him from being swept away.

Buck was quiet, knowing what Eddie was thinking, he couldn’t help but think about it as well. It had been one of the scariest days of his life, and that included being pinned below the ladder truck. He had been scared then, but nothing, nothing could compare to the moment the water took him away from Christopher, leaving him unsure if Christopher would be okay or not.

“Come on!” Christopher yelled out, “Really, you would think I would be slower than the both of you but you two take the mickey!” he carried on.

“We’re being sassed by a nine-year-old,” Buck huffed.

“I’ve been sassed by him from the moment he was born,” Eddie said, “Nothing new, he gets all that from Shannon. She’s the damn same,” he muttered, “It’s no wonder my parents didn’t like her, she was exactly the opposite of what my mother wanted for me. I loved Shannon,” he said softly, thinking about his ex.

“I can see why, she’s a damn firecracker,” Buck laughed as they started walking again, being led towards the play area and veering off to go to one of the picnic tables instead. He glanced around and saw Netty’s dad sitting nearby, watching the two, a book in his hand that he occasionally glanced down at, but he mostly paid attention to his daughter and what she was doing.

“Yeah, she was… even more so when we met,” Eddie told him as they settled down at the table, his eyes towards the play area where Christopher was going up the slide ladder, his crutches remaining near the bottom. “He’s so brave, I don’t think I would be half as good as him if I was in his shoes,” he commented, smiling softly.

“I think you would, you’d make the world work for you, you and Shannon are teaching him that as well,” he pointed out, “He takes after you a lot too, you know.”

“I never see it,” he said, looking at Buck for a moment before going back to watching Christopher.

“He has your smile, your laugh,” Buck said, beginning to list the things that he found similar between father and son.

Eddie shook his head, “You’re my boyfriend, you have to say that,” he pointed out to him.

“No I don’t, but that’s what I see, Eds,” Buck shrugged, “I see him and you and I know you’re father and son, the attitude that you point towards Shannon is just like yours as well,” he reminded him, “You’re both stubborn as hell,” he smirked.

“Have to be with some of the people in our lives,” Eddie rolled his eyes.

“Yeah,” Buck snorted.

The two watched Christopher for a few more hours, talking with Netty’s dad when he got the courage to go over and talk with them. Inviting him and Netty to join them for dinner, since Netty’s mother was away on business for the week. Christopher was very happy to spend the extra time with his friend and, maybe not so secret crush, considering at the end when Netty and her dad had to leave, she kissed him on the cheek. Buck and Eddie couldn’t help but laugh quietly at the look of shock and surprise on Christopher’s face as they headed to the truck.

Chapter Sixty-Three

Carla smiled as she brought Christopher into the firehouse. “Sorry to interrupt boys,” she said, knowing that she would have normally taken Christopher straight to school. “He insisted on coming and speaking with you first. Someone got into something he shouldn’t have,” she added as she glanced at Christopher.

Eddie glanced at the small box that he had thought he had hidden away from prying eyes. “How did you find this?” he asked Christopher.

“I was looking for the hoodie you like using, I wanted to wear it, and I found that,” Christopher answered him, “Dad,” he began, “would you tell the story to my class?” he asked.

Buck walked over, seeing the Silver Star, and sighed as he looked at Christopher. He knew that Eddie didn’t like to talk about his time in the service. Moreover the fact of how he had been made to leave. He had thought it would be his career, what he would be doing until he retired. He didn’t want to be injured out at all. The Silver Star was a reminder of those he saved, but also in a way lost. The friends he was no longer able to watch their six, the friends that might have died since he had last seen them in the sandbox. Eddie had talked to him about it once.

“Christopher,” Buck began, glancing at Eddie and taking it from him, and closing it up.

“Chris,” Eddie said, giving Buck a grateful smile as he instead addressed their son, “I don’t know if it’s a story that I could tell you and your school friends.”

“Please, Dad,” Christopher begged, “You’re a hero, not only then but now as well.”

“We’ll see, and when is this?” Eddie asked, taking the case back from Buck.

Buck reached out and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

“It’s this Friday,” Christopher answered.

“Four days,” Buck said, nodding when Christopher looked at him.

“Right, we’ll see,” Eddie said once more, “I can’t make a promise about this,” he reminded him, “But I’ll do what I can.”

“Thank you, Dad,” Christopher grinned as he hugged him tightly and then did the same to Buck as he then followed Carla out of the station again.

“Is that even a story that you could tell his class?” Buck asked, frowning, not sure that it was. He’s only heard little snippets as Eddie didn’t like to talk about it.

“I’m not really sure,” Eddie sighed, shaking his head.

“Well, you’ll have to think of something, that kid isn’t going to take no for an answer,” Buck told him, snorting as he knew exactly how stubborn Christopher could be.

“Yeah,” Eddie nodded, “W-” the bell rang.

“Well, let’s get going,” Buck said, clapping him on the back as they headed out quickly.

XxXxX

They got to the out-of-the-way farm and looked around, Eddie watched as Athena talked with Bobby about what was going on. His heart went out to the family as he heard that the young son was missing.

Bobby walked out of the house moments later, “Right, we have a missing child, there is a well on the property as well, we don’t know where that would be. Spread out and start searching, check where you can, and call out for him!” he ordered.

The crew was quick to start as they headed out and began to look for the child. Eddie was cautious as he walked and began to look around, finding a toy tank on the ground and then some tracks. His eyes went wide as he pulled away some board and saw a small hole. “Cap! Over here!” Eddie called out as he lay down and began to shout into the hole, “Hayden!”

It wasn’t long before they got a probe going down and caught sight of the terrified child. “We need to get down there, oxygen is going to be a problem at that depth and with the way he is pinned,” Chimney said, shaking his head.

“Right, we’re going to need some things,” Bobby said as he grabbed his radio and began to call in. The night was quick to descend as a digger was brought in.

They started to dig and a storm started to brew in the distance. Athena had to leave and promised to leave some people behind as the camera crews from the local news stations had now started to arrive. The Drilling rig was set up and started to make its way slowly down. They rigged it so that the mother could talk to her son at least. The channels went quiet.

“Hayden, it’s Mommy,” she said, her voice trembling. There was no reaction.

“Buck, raise it a little,” Bobby ordered. Buck nodded and did so.

“Hayden, please, Hayden!” she cried out. Hayden reacted and his mother said a few words before she stopped. Unable to continue.

“Hey, Hayden,” Eddie said as he took over from her, “My name’s Eddie and I’m a firefighter, we have so many people here to help get you out. It might be a little noisy and it might be scary as well but don’t you worry, we’re coming to get you,” he promised.

Eddie ended the call and looked at the mother and added, “I’ll do my all to bring him home.”

“Thank… thank you,” she said, crying as Hen kept hold of her, making sure she didn’t collapse into the mud.

What seemed like hours later, the hole was as deep as they could make it.

“The storm is one hour away, we need to keep moving,” Bobby said, “As soon as we hit depth, I want the winch-”

“I’m going in, I was talking to him on the radio,” Eddie said, “I’ll go, suit me up and I’ll go down,” he added, seeing Buck look at him and then nod.

“I’ll be on the winch,” Buck told him, grabbing hold of his shoulder and squeezing it. Eddie had talked to Hayden a few more times since that first one.

“Okay,” Bobby said, “Let’s keep going. It’s been ten hours and as Hen said he’s going to be hypothermic, be prepared for that.”

Bobby walked over and told Eddie how things were going to be. “Right, that’s close enough,” he said as the lightning hit too close for them. “30 mins,” he warned Eddie once more as they began to lower him down.

Buck was at the winch, lowering him down with as much speed as he could without it being a problem. At 35 feet they lost contact with him. Buck gritted his teeth as he rolled out the needed depth on the rope, “He should be at depth.”

“He can’t hear us now,” he said.

Chimney yelled a while later, “Cap, we’ve lost visual. I’ll have to run another line.”

“We don’t have time,” he said.

“We’re going to have to start pulling him up,” Bobby said as his watch began to beep.

“Cap, we need to give him more time,” Buck protested.

“He could be injured or suffocating down there,” Hen told him.

“I’d know,” Buck said, “He’s fine, we need to give him more time.”

“Buck, pull up now,” Bobby ordered.

Buck closed his eyes and began to wind the winch back up. Moments later the line went slack, “I’ve lost the weight!” he called out.

“What, what happened?” Hen asked, eyes going wide.

“He cut the line,” Chimney said as saw the line come up.

“Damn,” Bobby said. “Chim, I want you to gear up and go down!”

“Sure, Cap!”

“I should be the one to do it,” Buck said, going forward.

“We’d end up with two cut lines,” Hen told him, giving him a look. She wasn’t wrong, if he needed to he would have done the same.

Chimney went down, and he came back up. Buck reached over and grabbed Hayden, handing him over to Hen. “How’s Eddie,” he asked.

“He’s fine, just needs a ride,” Chimney answered him.

“Okay, we’ll send down a line,” Bobby said as he glanced overhead as lightning crashed on the drilling rig.

Buck crashed into Bobby, knocking him out of the way as things went to shit around them. “Eddie,” he murmured, looking back to the now-broken winch and the filled-in hole. “Eddie!” he yelled, darting over and trying to dig, tears forming in his eyes as he tried to reach his boyfriend. “I can’t… Eddie!” he yelled as Bobby grabbed him and began to pull him away.

“Buck, Buck,” Bobby tried his best to get through to him. Buck was struggling in his arms, as he cried out for Eddie.

Hen rushed over after making sure that Buck didn’t harm himself. Between the two of them, they were able to get Buck away from the site and the cameras that were pointed toward them.

“Bobby, I have to,” Buck said, getting up from where they had just calmed him down.

“Buck, we don’t know where he is,” Bobby told him, “We can’t dig, it’s too muddy, and we can’t get anything up here to help.”

“Then… then what are you?” he asked, biting his lip, “I can’t go home and tell Chris that I lost his Dad.”

“And you won’t,” Bobby told him, “I’m not giving up Buck, none of us are,” he reassured him, “We’re unsure on how to go about it, but we’re going to find him, Buck.”

Buck nodded as plans were made. As they all stood out in the rain as they were told what they were planning on doing. Buck felt someone walking up behind him. He turned as Eddie said, “That’s going to be hard, Cap, I’m pretty cold.”

“Eddie,” Buck breathed, tears already starting to fall as Eddie collapsed into his arms, “Fuck, Eddie, I didn’t know if I would be able to find you this time.”

“You… you would have,” he said, shivering as Hen rushed over with a rescue blanket and wrapped it around Eddie.

“Right, let’s get him inside so I can check him over,” Hen said, knowing that the roads were blocked and they were going to have to wait a little while before they could get down them again.

Buck looked at Bobby as he went over and the two of them were able to get Eddie to his feet and into the house. The mother held Hayden in her arms, he was cold as well, suffering from hypothermia.

Hen walked over to Bobby, “Bobby, we’re going to have to get an airlift in,” she told them, “Hayden and Eddie need more than what we have here.” She was worried about the temperatures dropping even more. Hayden had been stuck in that well for well over ten hours, and while Eddie had been underground for about three hours, he had also been in the water, and it was cold.

“Right, I’ll see what we can get,” Bobby said heading out of the building.

Buck remained by Eddie’s side, trying to help him warm up as Chimney focused on Hayden and Hen wandered between the two. It was a little while later that Eddie and Hayden, along with his mother were airlifted out. The storm was still raging, but the roads were beginning to clear.

XxXxX

“Buck,” Eddie said as he opened his tired eyes. He was being kept overnight, to make sure that he was recovering well.

“Hey,” Buck said as he went over, taking the hand that was reaching out to him and moving as close to the bed as he could. Kissing Eddie, Buck rested his forehead on his boyfriend’s. “You scared the fuck out of me, Eddie,” he told him, eyes closed. He was relieved that Eddie was going okay, and that the doctor wasn’t too worried

“Sorry, I had to,” he told him.

“I know, I know,” Buck said a couple more times, “Still doesn’t stop me from being scared as hell. Now I have to go back home, and tell our son that his Dad was a hero and that he’s a little cold but okay,” he told him.

“The thought of you and Chris, they are what kept me going. The fact that we’ll have two more kids soon as well. All of it, it gave me the strength to fight, to keep going,” he told him.

“Yeah,” Buck murmured, “Just… make sure I’m right there so I can help next time.”

“Of course,” Eddie snorted, yawning, “Sorry.”

“No need to be sorry, I know you’re tired,” he told him, “You get some sleep, you’re being released in the morning. Oh and Hayden is doing well, they think he’ll be allowed home soon as well,” he added before Eddie could even ask.

“That’s… that’s good,” he smiled softly.

“Yeah,” Buck said, kissing him one last time, “Get some sleep and I’ll see you in the morning. Christopher isn’t going to want you out of his sight when he gets home from school,” he added.

Eddie nodded, eyes already fluttering closed.

Buck smiled as he could hear the little snuffling that Eddie did when he slept. Buck stood there for a moment more, making sure he was covered up properly before dimming the lights and leaving the room. The drive home was quiet and Buck was contemplating what he was going to tell Christopher. He’d already gotten a message from Shannon, that she was with him now. Carla had gone home.

Pulling up outside of his home, he could see the lights on in the living room. He sighed and got out heading up the path, he didn’t even get a chance to open the front door when it was opened and Shannon was there, in her wheelchair. She had taken to using it when things were hard for her to walk with the crutches being pregnant, and with only a couple of weeks left to go, she was ready to pop at any moment.

“Buck,” she said, the concern lacing her voice was what did him in. The tears fell as he fell to the ground and let her hug him tightly, “He’s okay?”

“Yeah, cold, but damn, Shan,” Buck told her, “I thought I was going to lose him, we didn’t know how to get to him. But he saved himself, he saved himself and I wasn’t there to help.”

“That’s what he does, he fights to come home to us, and he will always do that. I made him promise to do that when Christopher was born,” she said, trying her best to soothe Buck.

It took a few more moments before Buck got up, gave her a watery smile and they headed inside. Christopher was still up, waiting for him. Explaining to him, in the end, the three of them shared a bed, and none of them wanted to be alone, as they realized just how close they had come to losing Eddie. Sleep didn’t come easily to the three of them, and Buck knew that it was going to be hard to get Christopher to school in the morning as well. The kid would want to see his dad after all he had been through, and Eddie would want to see Christopher as well.

Chapter Sixty-Four

Shannon watched Buck and Eddie and sighed again as the two of them remained quiet, one of them would go to speak and then stop. She didn’t know what had caused it, but Eddie had been his usual stubborn self when he had gotten home from the hospital. Never one to admit that he needed help, or wanted help or comfort. Buck wanted nothing more than to be there for his partner. She shook her head again as she finished doing what she needed to. “Done,” she said, as she wheeled herself into the living room again. She had remained for the last day at the home, even though she was now on maternity leave, she was going to go home, but these two idiots needed her.

“Hey,” Buck said as he saw her, “You okay? You need anything?” he asked, getting up.

“No, it’s fine,” she said, “It’s more what I can do for the two of you.”

Eddie raised an eyebrow, “And what would that be?” he asked.

“Simple, Christopher is staying here with me and Carla, and I know you said you would do his show and tell, so don’t worry about that, but you’ll be leaving right afterward,” she told the two of them.

“Leaving?” Buck frowned, “Why would we be leaving?”

“Because I’ve booked you a weekend getaway in Vegas,” she told the two of them, “I know you have a little you can use for a bit of fun down there. Just, let loose, and I know there are a couple of shows that the two of you would be interested in as well,” she said, “I’ve got a full itinerary for you both, and it’s all paid for.”

“You really didn’t have to do that, we’re fine,” Eddie said, shaking his head.

“Yeah,” Buck agreed with him.

“You’re not,” she said, “You both want to say something, but you’re both hesitating, and I don’t know why. So you’re going to go and have some fun and then come back and be redressed and over the issues. Hell, even Christopher is noticing and you know he’s going to take you both over the coals if you don’t do something about it. So you have two days before you head out. Get packing,” she ordered.

“Shannon, really, you-”

“You’re both going, you’re going to enjoy yourself and come back new and improved, because if you don’t I’m sicking Abuela on you both and she’ll straighten you two out,” Shannon said, glaring at the two of them

Buck and Eddie shared a look, there would be no arguing with her at all. “Fine,” Buck said, getting a nod of agreement from Eddie. Shannon had a smug look on her face for the rest of the day.

XxXxX

Christopher stood at the front of his class as his Dad finished telling his story. “My lucky charm is him, and the one at the back,” he said, smiling as he saw Buck smiling and then blushing as others turned to see him.

“My Dad is my Hero, not only because of what he has done, but because he always does his best to come home, and to help everyone he can,” Christopher said, “That’s why he got his medal because he helped those with him come home.”

“That’s very nice, Christopher,” Mr Clarks said as he walked over, “And thank you, Mr Diaz, for telling us your story. I know it wasn’t… easy,” he said, giving the man a smile and a nod.

“Maybe not,” Eddie said as the children all began to talk again. There were other parents there for Show and Tell. Though Eddie didn’t know if he would call it to show and tell at all since it was more to do with the families that the children had. He’d heard a few other parents talk about things as well.

Buck walked over, taking his hand, “Hey,” he said, nudging him. Buck really wanted to just kiss him, but as there were children and parents around, he didn’t think it would be a good idea. Never know how someone would react to such a thing happening in front of them or their children.

“Hey,” Eddie said, leaning against him, “Thanks for coming with me,” he told him.

“You know I wouldn’t be anywhere else,” Buck smiled as he felt small arms go around him, “Hey, Chris.”

“Papa, I’m happy you came as well,” Christopher said, holding him tightly.

“Like I would be anywhere else,” he said, ruffling his hair.

“Hey, leave the hair,” Christopher exclaimed as he reached up to straighten it out.

“Sorry,” Buck rolled his eyes, laughing lightly.

“Thank you again for coming, Mr Diaz, my brother served, and I know he… doesn’t really want to talk about what happened over there or even have the stories for a bunch of 4th graders, for you to be able to make it so, was nice to hear. I also know that it was hard for you to do,” he added, “So thank you not only for your time now but for your service.”

“I… thank you,” Eddie said, not sure what he could say.

“Mr Diaz,” one of the parents said, a flirtatious smile on her face, “What you have done is so brave. I don’t think I’ve met a man that would be brave like that. To save lives in a war zone,” she added.

“I was doing my duty,” he said, leaning a little more against Buck, who now wrapped his arm around him, keeping him from disappearing on him.

“You’re leaning against your friend a lot,” she pointed out.

“We had a hard rescue a few days ago. We almost lost Eddie,” Buck answered her.

“And I’m leaning against my boyfriend,” Eddie told her, looking at Buck, and smiling.

Buck smiled back and nodded, “Yeah, let’s go and say bye to Chris, we should head home. Shannon and Niamh are going to be picking us up to take us to the airport.”

“Yeah,” Eddie nodded, moving away from him, but grabbing Buck’s hand before he could fully let go and the two headed over to where Christopher was talking to Netty and her Mom.

“Chris,” Eddie said as he smiled at his son.

“Dad, this is Netty’s Mom, Mrs Patel,” he said.

“Mrs Patel, nice to meet you,” Eddie and BUck greeted her.

“Are you going now?” Christopher asked the two of them.

“Yeah, we have a plane to catch, we’ll be back Sunday evening, just before you go to bed,” Eddie said, smiling as he got a hug from his son.

“See you when you both get back, Dad, Papa,” he said, then hugging Buck just as much as he did his Dad.

“We will, and we’ll try and find something awesome to bring back for you,” Buck told him.

“Okay,” he grinned, letting them go. He would see them in a few days. He would be spending the weekend with his Mom and Auntie Niamh.

XxXxX

“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” Eddie huffed.

“Maybe she is right, we needed the break,” Buck said, “We’ve had a lot happen over the last year,” he pointed out. “Shannon’s accident, the truck bombing, the tsunami, the well,” he said, gulping a little on the last one, “Eds, I could have lost you a few days ago, and it still scares the fuck out of me that I could have,” he told him, being honest with what was going on in his head.

“I know, and I felt the same each time I saw something happen to you. You’re right, we need this,” he said, smiling as he took his boyfriend’s hand and they headed to their flight.

The flight was a stress-free one. Their hotel was nice. Their first night was relaxing and the show that Shannon had picked out for them to attend was the right way to begin things off. It was on their last day that they decided to wander around.

“There are so many things we can do,” Buck told him, looking around at the building and the places. They had checked out of their hotel, the luggage waiting for them in the storage place so that they could grab it and head to the airport in a couple of hours.

“Hey, Buck,” Eddie said as he stopped outside one of the many chapels, “I did something when Shannon told us that we were coming here. I was going to ask instead, but I don’t want to wait for the next disaster to try and tear us apart,” he said as Buck turned to look at him.

“Eds?” he frowned as he saw something being pulled out of the small bag that Eddie had been carrying with him.

“I got this just after the tsunami, was going to ask you then,” he said, as he opened the small box, a pair of rings settled inside of it. “I also got this sorted, it’s a marriage license, and we can use it here,” he added, “And I do mean right here, as in I booked us a slot.”

“You mean to get married now? Today?” Buck asked, eyes going wide.

“Buck, I would be honored as hell to call you my husband. It’s one of the things I’ve been trying to say since I got home from the hospital. I just… didn’t know how to say it,” Eddie told him quietly.

Buck snorted, as he pulled something out of his pocket. “I was going to ask you when we got to the fountains,” he said, pulling out the little box and showing him the rings he had chosen, which were very close to what Eddie had chosen.

Eddie laughed brightly, “Well, great minds,” he said, “Want to get married now then?” he asked him again.

“I would love nothing more,” Buck agreed, taking Eddie’s hand as they headed into the chapel.

“I have an appointment in twenty minutes for Diaz,” Eddie said as he went over to one of the counters.

“Yeah, one of the rare pre-bookings that we have,” she smiled at him, “You asked for something more traditional than Elvis,” she grinned, “We have the place set up, and witnesses are available as well. It’s all ready for you,” she said, as she led the way, “Just need to show the license,” she added, checking it over and making sure it was legit. “All in good order.”

Buck and Eddie were shown into a room, it was tastefully decorated, not overly pink like Eddie had been expecting, but more soft pastels of greens, blues, and purples.

“Hello, Mr Diaz, and this must be the husband-to-be,” the official said. He was dressed in a dark blue suit and stood there smiling at the two. “Well, are you ready for this?” he asked.

Buck and Eddie nodded, “Yeah, we are,” Buck was the one to speak, ginning over at Eddie, “I can’t believe we’re doing this.”

“I know my Abuela is going to kill me, but meh, you only live once,” he grinned.

“No dying, Eds, had enough of that last week,” Buck muttered.

Eddie nodded as the two gave over their names. The officiate had the recording started and started to speak.

“We’re gathered here today, to witness the marriage between Evan Buckley and Edmundo Diaz. While they are marrying without family here, they are marrying because they are deeply in love and both brought rings to celebrate as such,” he said, having seen the two ring boxes with a set in each. Buck and Eddie shared a grin as the man continued. “Edmundo Diaz, do you have anything you would like to say?” he asked.

“Yes,” Eddie nodded, “Buck, from the moment I saw you I knew you would be someone special in my life. I didn’t know how at the time, but it didn’t take me long to figure it out, even with Shannon telling me to go for it at every single step,” he smiled, “Buck, I love you, and I have for a while. I can’t imagine spending my life without you in it, because you complete our family. You stepped into the storm that was my life and helped it to quiet down, giving me a safe harbor in which to anchor. I will never love someone as much as I do you. Evan Buckley, I make my vow to stand by you through thick and thin, for better and worse to the moment my bones are nothing but ash. And even then, beyond that,” he smiled.

Buck nodded and wiped at his tears, “Sap,” he muttered, though Eddie laughed and grinned. “You are a sap, but I love you. When I saw you doing that reverse strip tease in the locker room, I knew I was gone. I fought it though, I fought it and I really should have just said fuck it and begged for a date. Because that was the best thing that had ever happened to me, was the day we went out for the first time. You are my home, my family, and the love of my life, and I never really thought I would have this. A family. But I have you, our son, and two more on the way, and even the Ex-Wife that has been pushing us together since she saw the two of us together that first time.”

“Well she did say I should tap that ass,” Eddie grinned, “If I didn’t, I know Shannon would have tried her luck.”

Buck blinked a moment and then laughed, “Well, I’m happily taken and about to be married to her ex-husband,” he grinned, “And I do love you, so much.”

“Love you too, Buck,” Eddie said, leaning forward only for the clearing of a throat to stop them.

“Not time for the kissy-kissy, yet boys,” the officiant said, a smirk on his face, “Time for the exchanging of rings,” he told the two of them.

“Which set?” Buck asked, looking at them.

“Well,” Eddie said, “W-

“We’ll use yours,” Buck said before Eddie could say they would use Buck’s.

“Okay,” the official said, looking at Eddie and the two ring boxes. Eddie picked up his and took out the Ring for Buck. “This ring symbolizes eternity, a never-ending circle, Evan Buckley, do you take Edmundo Diaz as your lawful husband, for that eternity?” he asked.

“I do,” Buck answered, grinning as Eddie slipped the ring onto his finger.

“Now the reverse,” the officiant said as he watched Buck pick up the other right. “Edmundo Diaz, do you want Evan Buckley to be your lawful husband for that eternity?” he asked Eddie.

“I do,” Eddie grinned widely as Buck put the ring onto his finger.

“Now you may kiss your husband,” he said, rolling his eyes as he gave a little mutter, “Why is it that no couple can wait until the right part to kiss each other.”

Buck and Eddie ignored the comment as they kissed, moving closer as confetti rained down on them. When their kiss ended, they had some paperwork to sign and things to collect. They were going to be returning home, married, and very happy with that fact, even if the wrath of the rest of the family now waited for them.

Chapter Sixty-Five

Buck and Eddie got out of the Uber and walked up the path. Unlocking the front door, the two grinned at each other, and before Eddie could move he was picked up and carried over the threshold.

“Well, you two seem in good spirits,” Shannon smiled as she watched them, shaking her head at the two.

“We are,” Buck grinned as he put Eddie down.

“Really, Buck,” he muttered, glaring at him, “I was going to do that.”

“Well I could always step outside and you can do it to me this time?” he suggested, grinning at him, unrepentant that he had done it first.

“Ass,” Eddie muttered.

“Dad, Papa!” came a yell as Christopher rushed from the living room. “I-” he stopped, freezing for a moment before his eyes went wide as he spotted something and yelled, “YOU RUINED IT!”

Buck and Eddie stood there, not sure what the hell they had just ruined, but they were sorry for it. “Mijo,” Eddie said as he went over, trying to hug his son, who just glared at him and stepped away.

“Superman?” Buck frowned, trying to do the same.

“Oh,” Shannon said as she caught sight of the rings, “I see,” she nodded, “Yes, sweetie, they did ruin it, but maybe not completely,” she soothed her son. He had been the one to make all the calls and go out to places with her and Niamh over the last few months.

“What have we ruined?” Buck asked, looking as though he was going to cry at any moment.

“You got married,” Crispther huffed, walking over to his mom, still glaring at the two of them.

“We… we thought you would be happy,” Buck said, sounding upset that Christopher wasn’t.

“I…” Christopher said as he looked at Buck, “Papa, I am happy, but I made plans damn it,” he huffed again, “I talked to loads of people, and Mom and Auntie Niamh helped me as well in making sure that everything would be perfect. Now it’s ruined.”

“Christopher, I need you to explain, what plans?” Eddie asked again as he wrapped an arm around Buck,

Christopher looked at Shannon and she nodded. “Okay, I’ll tell you” he sighed, “I planned a wedding for you both. I talked to people and made sure that we can use a venue, and I talked to the cooking people and flowers, and everything. I did it all, with Mom and Auntie Niamh’s help. We had it all planned. All I had to do was figure out the date, but I had to give at least four months’ notice beforehand, to make sure that they were all free,” he added.

“Oh, Chris,” Buck said as he began to cry, “That’s the sweetest thing ever,” he said, rushing over and hugging him tightly. “If we had known you were planning something we would have waited.”

“We didn’t wait though, because we didn’t want to take a chance of something else happening,” Eddie said, going over and running a hand over his son’s head.

“It’s… not really okay, but it will be. But why does Mom say that it’s not fully ruined?” he was confused over that.

Shannon smiled, “Well, on the first anniversary, how about we have them get married again, a renewal of their vows,” she told him, “That way we can really make sure that everyone can come. And we’ll have a date as well,” she added.

Christopher thought for a moment and then nodded, “Okay, we’ll do that, but you two better promise not to run it this time,” he said, glaring at his dad and Papa.

“We promise!” the two of them said, giving a stern and serious nod.

“Good,” he said, “I’m going to have to make so many calls,” he sighed and trotted off.

Eddie and Buck looked at Shannon, “He made the calls?” Eddie asked.

“He did, he insisted on being the one to do everything. He was planning this just before the tsunami, and it made him even more determined to make sure it would be the best day ever for the both of you. He loves you both a lot, and he can’t imagine not having you together at the moment,” she told them as they headed into the living room.

“I can’t believe he planned all that,” Buck said, a little shocked that Christopher had done so.

“I know, when he came to me with the idea, I thought I would be the one organizing things, but he just said he needed me to start off, as no one wants to take a little kid seriously. So I started off the call and he took over, he was a wiz at getting what he wanted,” she smiled, changing over to the armchair, she didn’t like remaining in the wheelchair for long, but she was having difficulty walking at the moment and it was easier to get around the house in that, that trying to keep herself upright.

“How could anyone say no to him,” Eddie pointed out, shaking his head, but smiling as he wondered what exactly Christopher had planned. He and Buck sat down on the couch opposite Shannon.

“Exactly, and meeting some of them in person, most were gone and charmed by him. That he gets from you,” Shannon laughed, “He’s going to be asking for help in getting in touch with people.”

Buck leaned against Eddie, “Well, we’re sorry we ruined the surprise,” Buck said softly, as Eddie wrapped himself around him as they settled on the couch.

“Better be,” Christopher grumbled as he came back into the room. A backpack now with him. Setting his crutches aside, he pulled out the papers and files he had been working on. A lot of it was covered in his neatest handwriting and some were just blobs of messy colors and doodles, obviously from times when he was waiting on something. “Here,” he told them, pointing at it all, “It’s a bit messy, I was going through it yesterday, I need to put it back in order.” He was huffing but had started to pull pages together and put them into an order that only made sense to him.

When Buck and Eddie were given the file, they were smiling as they went through it, so much thought and time had gone into everything there, and there was nothing, not a single thing that the two of them would change. “Mijo,” Eddie began, “This is amazing and I wish we had known, but we’re going to use everything here for our renewal, next year. We’ll help with calls and everything you need us to,” he smiled, reaching out and pulling his son to settle between the two men.

Christopher grinned, “Good,” he nodded, “I liked planning it all, Dad, it was fun, but I don’t think I want to plan anyone else’s. It’s a lot of work, so I don’t think I want to be a wedding planner in my future,” he said, sure of himself.

Buck grinned, “Well, you’ve made me and your Dad happy with what you’ve planned, so thank you,” he told him, hugging him tightly for a moment.

“I make a lot of people happy,” Christopher smirked, “Enough that I might be able to stay up a little later tonight so we can watch a movie?”

Eddie looked at his son as he said, “Fine, just tonight, since we did miss movie night on Friday.”

“You did, but I did have a movie night with Mom and Auntie Niamh,” he told the two of them, “So it was still a good night, just… not the same,” he sighed, snuggled back and enjoying being surrounded by his two dads.

“Did miss our movie night,” Buck added, leaning a little closer to Eddie and yawning.

“Why don’t you go and have a nap, look like you’re both dead on your feet,” Shannon snorted.

“Naps are good,” Eddie mumbled.

Christopher giggled between them, “They are old, Mom, very old,” he said.

“Not old, we just had a very busy weekend, though it was a lot of fun,” Buck said, as he glanced over at Shannon and said, “Thank you for that, we really did need it.”

“Yeah,” Eddie agreed, “And as for a nap, might not be a good idea. We’ll be going to bed soon and we have work tomorrow as well,” he pointed out, “Going for a nap is going to throw us right off,” he sighed.

“Then we need to do something fun, the park?” Christopher asked as he looked at them, “I know that soon, we won’t have as much time to do so, the babies are going to need so much attention, and I need to get in my fun now so that when they are here, I’m good to help,” he grinned, getting up and going for his crutches with slow and careful movements.

Buck and Eddie shared a look and then nodded, “Why not, want to come as well, Shannon?” Eddie asked.

“Sure,” she smiled and slipped back into her wheelchair.

The four of them got ready and headed to the park for a little while. Letting Christopher have some fun as Buck and Eddie ended up running around even more than the kid.

XxXxX

Walking into work, hand in hand and the silicone rings that Eddie had chosen were easy for everyone to see.

“Well,” Chimney said, shaking his head as he saw them. “Maddie told me you have gone to Vegas, didn’t know that eloping and getting married drunk was on the cards. Should have made the bet though.”

“For your information, Chim,” Buck smirked, “Neither of us was drunk, and we have the video to prove it,” he said as he turned to Bobby, “I guess we have some more forms to fill out now?” he asked him.

“You do,” Bobby said, shaking his head, “You really couldn’t let us help you plan a wedding?” he asked the two of them as he led the way over to his office.

“Christopher has already made those plans and we’ll be doing a renewal of our vows with his plans, next year on our anniversary,” Eddie said before the man could even think of suggestions that they pull something together.

Bobby hummed as he let the two into his office, “That doesn’t stop us all from having a party together,” he pointed out, “So, BBQ on our next four days off?” he suggested, “I’ll clear it all with Christopher first,” he added.

Buck laughed, “As long as you clear it with our wedding planner, then it should be fine,” he nodded, “Chris was… upset when he realized that we had gotten married.”

“Told us we had ruined everything. We didn’t know he had planned everything, talked to vendors a lot with only a little help from Shannon,” Eddie sighed, as they sat down.

Bobby pulled out the paperwork they had to fill in and nodded, “I can imagine. I remember the folder I had for my wedding to Athena, it was a lot of work that had gone into it. Didn’t use anything in the end, but I think eloping was what was best for Athena and me.”

“We… didn’t want to take the chance that something else could happen. We’ve got a few things to finish sorting out with the change in status, but it does mean we have more rights concerning each other than we had before,” Eddie said as he glanced at some of the paperwork and split it in half, the two men started to write down what was needed.

“I can understand getting those sorted,” Bobby nodded, “And congratulations to you both. I’ll let you fill that in, and I’ll go and get breakfast started. It should be ready soon.”

“Thanks, Cap,” Eddie nodded, as Buck did the same.

It didn’t take long for the two of them to finish the forms and sign them both. Leaving them on Bobby’s desk to file, they got up and headed out. Smelling pancakes and bacon, they headed up to the loft. Laughing as they spied a cake, “Well, who the hell got that?” they asked.

“I did,” Maddie said as she moved from being Chimney, “Good thing we knew and I was prepared,” she smiled, “Congratulations, little brother,” she said as she went over to Buck and hugged him tightly, “I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks, I am too, though Chris is… upset but happy,” Buck told her, hugging her just as tightly.

“You’re going to have to explain that,” Maddie said as she then let him go and went and hugged Eddie. “Thank you, Eddie, for making him happy. When I noticed the two of you together the first time when you were helping me to move. I knew, right then, that you and my brother would end up together. He had such a crush, talked about you all the time, about you and Christopher. So thank you, for making him happy and I hope he makes you just as happy,” she added, smiling as she let him go.

“He does, and has done since the moment we started getting along,” he grinned.

“Well,” Hen said as she held out a knife, “Time to cut the cake,” she said.

Buck and Eddie looked at each other and nodded, Eddie took the knife and the two of them went over to the cake. Buck’s hand joined Eddie, as they cut the cake. “We’ll be doing this again in a year,” Eddie murmured in Buck’s ear.

“Yeah, we will, with everyone around us,” Buck replied, a soft smile on his face.

Eddie nodded, as they began to hand out cake to everyone.

“Speech!” someone yelled out.

“Yeah, come on Eddie, Buck!” Chimney grinned as he took a bite of his cake, “Maddie you chose good here,” he said, turning to his girlfriend and smiling.

“Of course I did,” she smirked, reaching forward and wiping away some icing that had been left behind on the side of his mouth.

“Right,” Eddie said, “I don’t even know what we should say,” he shrugged as he looked at Buck.

“Sorry you weren’t there, but next year you can be?” Buck replied.

“Sounds good,” Eddie nodded as everyone else rolled their eyes.

“Come on, guys,” Chimney said, “I know you have better than that!”

“Fine, we’re married, and we love the fact that I’m now a Diaz, and not a Buckley,” Buck said, “We have a family that is going to be growing even more in a couple of weeks.”

“We are happy, and get in touch with Christopher Diaz if you want to know about the vow renewal that will happen next year. He’s the one that’s planned it all. He did plan a wedding, but we errr… ruined that surprise,” Eddie said.

Others laughed, but it didn’t take long to get the full story of Wedding Planner Christopher Diaz out of the two men. As the last of breakfast was eaten, the alarm rang and off they went.

Chapter Sixty-Six

Buck was rushing through the corridors of the hospital. He had gotten the room number from Bobby and was now heading there. Eddie was following him but at a slightly slower pace. He stopped as he reached the door to the room. He stood there for a moment, just staring at it, scared of what he would find on the other side of it.

“Buck,” Bobby said as he opened the door, shaking his head and getting the man to walk inside. “She’s okay,” he told him.

“Really, because that… that didn’t sound like she would be,” Buck said, his voice shaking as he looked at the woman that was dozing on the bed. She was bruised, with cuts on her face. Arm in a sling and a cast already. There was no telling what the blanket that covered her was covering.

“Athena is going to be fine, Buck,” Bobby said again to reassure him, “I know it doesn’t seem like it, but she will.”

Buck nodded, taking a deeper breath and letting it go slowly, “I thought, when we heard,” he shook his head, “I can’t believe that we could have lost her,” he said.

“I know,” Bobby nodded, looking at his wife, worry and love shining in his eyes as he watched her rest. “I was scared out of my mind when I heard. To know that she was alone with that guy, that she could have been killed.”

“Hush up, I’m fine,” came the croaky voice from the woman on the bed.

“Thena?” Buck said as he and Bobby went to either side of her bed.

“I’m fine,” she told the both of them as Bobby took her good hand.

“Really?” Buck asked as he looked her over, “You-”

“Buck, baby,” she said, shaking her head a little, “I will be fine. I know I need to heal up a little, but I’ll be just fine in the end. I’m not the type to let this get me down,” she reassured the two of them, squeezing Bobby’s hand.

Buck almost slumped in relief, “I was so scared. I know we… I know we never really talk about it. You both have helped me, and guided me more in the last couple of years than my own parents have in all the time I’ve been alive.”

“We know,” Athena said softly, letting go of Bobby and reaching out for him.

“I-”

“You’re ours,” Athena told him, “And never let anyone tell you differently,” she said a little more firmly.

Buck nodded, “Thanks, Mom, Dad,” he murmured.

“Welcome, son,” Bobby smiled as he looked over at the young man that had helped to bring him back from a very dark place. Buck and Hen had taken those first steps in helping him after the plane crash, when he asked for help, the two of them had been quick to do so. Buck helped even more with his constant checking up on him, making sure he got out and even to AA meetings, where his sponsor had carried on their work

There was a knock at the door and after being called inside, Eddie stepped in.

“Took you a while to join me,” Buck said, feeling a little over-emotional.

“I knew you needed to talk to them,” Eddie said, “So I waited a bit.”

“It isn’t really over,” Athena said, “But it’s a start at least. And yes, Buck, I’ve considered you one of mine for at least a year by now,” she told him, “I was just waiting for you to take that first step.”

“Now,” Bobby said, “Know that Athena is going to be fine, and tomorrow they’ve already said that she’ll be able to go home. I’ve got a week off, but I’ll be back after two shifts. Chimney is going to be in charge.”

“At least he started to calm down from last time,” Buck snorted, “He was a bit of a tyrant at first.”

“He was, but he did calm down,” Eddie agreed, “Thankfully, I might have made his life a misery otherwise,” he snorted.

“Putting chili in the food isn’t going to work, he likes it spicy,” Buck glanced over at him.

“Who said it was just going to be chili, Buck, there are so many others that could be used,” he grinned, unrepentant when Bobby looked at him.

“Really, Eddie?” Bobby asked him, shaking his head, “It’s like trying to herd children at times.”

“Well, you wanted a house full of misfits and strays,” Athena joked lightly, “Go home, boys, I’m going to get some more rest, and then you can decide if you want to come over tomorrow and see me while you’re off shift. And bring Christopher, I need to talk to him about what he’s planning for your wedding.”

“Hope you’re ready to be called Nana,” Buck teased her lightly and then looked at Bobby, “And you will be Grandpa. To Chris and to the two newest Diaz’s,” he told him and then looked at Athena.

“Well I don’t mind being Nana,” she smiled.

“Same,” Bobby said, feeling a little choked up.

Buck went around the bed and hugged the man tightly, “You’ve been a Dad to me more than Phillip ever has. You taught me how to tie a tie,” he smiled, letting him go.

“I know,” Bobby said, “It’s nice to have family,” he smiled a little, “Now, go home and do what Athena said, and stop by the house tomorrow, you don’t have a shift.”

“Yeah, we will,” Buck nodded as he turned to Athena, “And rest easy, okay, Mom,” he told her, grinning at calling her Mom, he had wanted to several times over the last few weeks, but today, hearing her fight he didn’t think of her as Athena the cop, but Athena who had been a mother to him, that welcomed him, smiling and chided him. That gave him advice at times. Someone who had been there for him.

“I will, baby, go home,” she ordered once more, “I’ll see you both tomorrow.”

Buck leaned down and kissed her cheek before leaving the room, Eddie nodding his head to the two of them she left as well. Eddie slipped his hand into Buck’s knowing that the younger man would still be feeling uneasy after hearing the attack that Athena had gone through.

“Let’s go home, cuddle the kid and then order in for dinner tonight,” Eddie suggested.

“Yeah, sounds like a good plan,” he nodded in agreement, leaning against him for a moment before they headed out of the hospital.

XxXxX

It was during their second shift without Bobby that Eddie’s phone began to ring and vibrate over the table as they sat around talking and waiting for that alarm to blast out.

Eddie frowned, grabbed it, and said, “It’s Shannon.”

“Oh?” Buck asked, moving closer. “Put her on speaker.”

Eddie nodded, “Sure,” he said, answering it and putting it straight on speaker.

“Fucking asshole better answer the damn phone or I’m going to be ripping them a new one!” came the yelling voice of Shannon, “Fuck, why did I think this was a good idea to do this again,” she carried on.

“Shannon?!” Eddie and Buck called out, frowning at each other.

“Good, you answered, little fuckers,” she cursed, “I’m in labor, en route to the fucking hospital. Get your asses there now or I’m going to break you both.”

“Yes, Shannon,” the two men replied dutifully, looking at Chimney.

“I ain’t getting in the way, go, I’ll tell the chief what’s going on and request some floaters to come in,” Chimney said, “Now get moving,” he ordered.

“Thank you!” Shannon called out before breaking out into a scream, “Fucking hell,” she cursed again as the paramedic in the background called out which hospital she was being taken to.

“Thanks, Chim,” Buck said as he and Eddie got up and headed out, not even bothering to change out of their uniform. Eddie kept Shannon on the line for a little while longer, before she hung up herself.

“She’s pissed,” Eddie said, snorting, “She was… the same when Christopher was born,” he said with a little grin, “It’s nice to see that she hasn’t really changed.”

“You know better than to even think that she had changed at all. We need to tell Carla that she might need to bring Christopher to the hospital. He’ll want to be there as soon as school lets out and he learns what’s going on,” he reminded him.

“Yeah, I’ll do so,” Eddie nodded as they got into the truck. Buck drove them to the hospital. A few pings told him that the extended 118 family had been informed of what was going on.

Arriving at the hospital they were sent to be with Shannon as she had asked that the two of them be in the room with her as she gave birth. Eddie knew it was a special thing to watch, the birth seemed to be going easier than it had with Christopher, though there were a few complications during the pregnancy for her at that time. They still had no clue as to what they were having, just that there were two babies.

“Fuck,” Shannon grunted, “Glad the two of you decided to show your bloody faces,” she muttered as they were allowed in the room.

“Hey, Shannon,” Buck said as he walked over, all suited up and ready, “I don’t know how you did it once with Chris and doing it again, but damn, you are amazing,” he said.

Shannon just glared at him, causing the man to meep and look at Eddie for advice, who just shrugged. There wasn’t much that you could say to a pregnant lady and not get yelled at or glared at.

“Okay, Miss McKinley, you’re going to need to start pushing,” the doctor said as he nodded at the two men joining Shannon at the head of the bed. “You’re fully dilated, these babies want out and they want out now,” he told her.

“Good, I am done being a beached fucking whale,” Shannon said as a contraction hit and she began to push, grabbing Eddie and Buck’s hands as they offered her support.

“More like a big bear,” Buck said, surprised at the strength in Shannon’s grip as she squeezed his hand tightly.

“Yep,” Eddie nodded, grimacing in pain, but knowing it was nothing compared to what Shannon was going through bringing their children into the world. “Broke a bone last time,” he snorted.

Buck looked shocked at that, “Something we might have needed to know beforehand,” he muttered.

“It isn’t if you don’t let me have your hand I’ll grab something else more valuable,” Shannon said, panting a few times as the contraction ended.

Buck meeped once more as he went quiet. A buzz from Eddie’s phone meant that Carla would be bringing Christopher, as school was now over.

“Okay,” the doctor said a little while later, “One more good push, and the first one should be out,” he told her.

Shannon grunted as she did just that as the contraction hit. She pushed with everything she had and soon enough a cry was heard as the doctor said. “Congratulations, it’s a boy.”

“Wow,” Buck murmured, not even feeling the pain in his hand anymore as he was able to cut the umbilical cord, “That’s… amazing.”

Shannon snorted a laugh, “You should try doing this bit,” she said as the contractions started up again as the second baby was ready to come, “Fuck, couldn’t even wait a minute.”

“Looks like they can’t,” the doctor laughed as he passed the baby over to a nurse to check over. Eight minutes later another cry went out, “And another baby boy,” he said, “Congratulations Mama, and Daddies,” he smiled.

“Thank you,” Shannon said, knowing that there was one last thing for her to do before she could get cleaned up.

The nurses checked the second one as the first baby was handed over to Buck. Who brought him straight over to Shannon and placed him on her chest, “Here,” he said, “You’re second child,” he grinned, “I can’t believe that they are here,” he murmured as Shannon was slightly distracted by the afterbirth.

“Yeah,” Eddie said as he brought the second baby over and placed him next to his brother, so Shannon could hold them a little before all three would be cleaned up. The nurse took a couple of photos of the family. Two very proud fathers with a very happy mother.

XxXxX

Shannon was sitting up in a bed, the youngest of the twins in her arms while the oldest was being held by Buck. Eddie had gone to go and get Christopher, Athena, and Bobby, who had been the only ones able to get there since everyone else was still working. Pictures had been demanded by everyone from the 118 and Karen and Maddie. All of them cooing and congratulating the three of them.

“So, we’re going with those names?” Buck asked, getting a nod from Shannon, “Okay,” he smiled as the door opened and Christopher walked inside.

“Papa, Mom!” he grinned as he then stopped, “They really are here,” he whispered as he walked closer, setting his crutches aside as he leaned on the bed, “Hello, I’m your big brother, Christopher, I know you won’t be able to say my name yet, but don’t worry, it’ll take some time,” he said, putting a hand on his youngest brothers little tummy. Buck walked over so he could see his other brother. Christopher easily repeated the same thing, smiling at his parents as he then asked, “Names?”

“This one,” Buck said, looking at the eldest of the two, “Is Cedric Manuel Diaz,” he said, introducing him, “he weighs 6lb 4oz,” he grinned.

“And this little one, Cyrus Clayton Diaz,” Shannon smiled, “6lb 3oz.”

“They were born, eight minutes apart,” Eddie told them all, smiling.

“They are beautiful,” Athena said as she walked a little closer and then laughed lightly, “Well, no mistaking who the father is,” she said.

“I know,” Shannon grinned happily, “A little birthmark, just above their eyes, just like their Papa,” she smiled, using a finger to trace the mark on Cyrus.

“It’s so cool,” Christopher nodded, “Can I hold them?” he then asked.

“One at a time, and on the chair,” Eddie said, gesturing to it. “Big brother gets to hold them first before grandparents,” he added.

Bobby and Athena smiled as they got ready to take some pictures of Christopher with his brothers.

Soon enough Christopher was on the chair and Cedric was laid in his arms by Buck. He grinned down at him, before looking up proudly, “This is awesome,” he grinned, giggling a little as he then looked back, touching one of Cedric’s hands, the fingers grasped out and grabbed hold of Christopher’s finger. Giggling, Christopher said, “I love you, little brother.”

After several pictures were taken, and he was soon holding Cyrus in his arms, Bobby holding Cedric, knowing that he wouldn’t be holding him for long as Athena was prowling for a cuddle, even with her cast on her arm, she was not going to be denied holding her first grandchildren. The twins were passed around, pictures taken, and shared with the larger group. Buck and Eddie settled to one side, leaning against each other as they watched their family. Christopher was now tucked against his mother as the grandparents got some cuddles in before they had to go home, taking Christopher with them for a sleepover.

“I’m so happy,” Buck said, snuffling quietly.

“Same,” Eddie said, looking down at him as he sat on the arm of the chair Byck was sitting in. He leaned down and kissed him, before going back to watching their family.

Chapter Sixty-Seven

“I can’t believe we were roped into one last shift,” Eddie grumbled, they were to go on paternity leave, but they had no one to cover the last shift since Cedric and Cyrus had come early.

“Yeah, well,” Buck sighed, “At least we can go home and not come back for eight weeks,” he mumbled, still a little off after seeing Abby again. The train crash had been hard to do. Risking himself a little more to make sure that Abby got her fiance back. He wanted her to be happy like he had gotten his happily ever after.

“I’m still pissed at you,” Eddie told him, giving him a slight glare, “You could have been killed, Buck, you have three kids that would grow up without you,” he reminded him.

“I just…” Buck sighed, it had been hard to convince Bobby and Eddie to let him do what he had done. “I just wanted her to be happy, like I am. She had it tough, Eddie.”

“She may have had it tough when she was here, but when she left, she ghosted you, Buck. That’s why I can’t stand her, she hurt you and didn’t talk to you at all. Suddenly she is here and throwing that she is engaged in your face, she never e-”

“Eddie,” Buck said as he walked over, kissing him to silence him, “You forget, I’m happily married and I couldn’t care less that she is engaged or in a relationship,” he rolled his eyes, “I just want her to be happy, she does deserve that,” he told him. “Yes, she hurt me, back then it really fucking hurt. But I got you, I have you, Chris, Cedric, Cyrus, and Shannon. I have so much more now than I did when I was with her. So I can forgive her, I’ll never forget what she has done, but I’ve come to terms with it all.”

Eddie shook his head, “You forgive too easily, sometimes,” he told him.

“I forgive the right amount, I think,” Buck snorted, “I know what my therapist has said about Abby and what happened, and I’ve worked on that. Do I want to talk to her, see if I can find out why she ghosted me… yes I do want to know. Do I need to know, not really, I’m good without knowing, and knowing isn’t going to change anything for me,” he told him.

Eddie sighed, “Fine, I’ll drop it, but if I see her, I am not going to be nice,” he muttered.

“Thank you,” Buck said, kissing him again, “Let’s shower and change. Shift is over and we have eight weeks,” he grinned.

“Yeah,” Eddie smiled, “Shannon is going to be happy with us taking over,” he shook his head, “She’s going to be at ours for the next four weeks, before moving back home. She’ll express and bring them over at the start of the day, so we have enough for them both, though we’re going to sup with formula as well,” he said, reminding Buck of their plan.

“That’s good,” Buck nodded, agreeing easily, it was something that they had discussed not long after they had found out it was twins.

The two showered and changed, “Hey,” Buck said as they passed Hen and Chimney who were getting ready to leave.

“See you two in eight weeks,” Chimney snorted, “You’re going to be driven up the wall in one, I say,” he said, laughing lightly.

“I don’t know, Buck’s pretty besotted with the twins,” Eddie grinned as he looked at his husband.

Hen smiled, “I know, I think he’ll be wanting more time,” she said, as she hugged the two, “Enjoy the time off and with your babies,” she said, “I’ll be enjoying my own time off soon,” she laughed.

“Damn only me and Cap are going to be here out of our lot,” Chimney said, as he looked at them both, “This is not fair,” he muttered.

“You know what to do to- ” Eddie began as Buck slapped a hand over his mouth.

“NO, I don’t want to think about what Chim and my sister get up to, ugh I need the brain bleach,” Buck muttered, rolling his eyes and then glaring at Eddie as the man licked his hand, “Seriously, what are you, two?”

“Then don’t do it,” Eddie said as the hand dropped, he was grinning as Buck mumbled under his breath about toddler antics.

“See you,” Hen laughed as she and Chimney left. Buck and Eddie soon followed. Bobby was still in his office finishing the last of the paperwork for the shift.

XxXxX

Buck wasn’t sure he should be doing this. Eddie had said he should, but he still wasn’t sure. Since Eddie had decided to take Christopher out for a bit, he was left with taking the twins with him as he went to see Abby.

“Oh, hey, Buck,” she smiled, then frowned a little when spotting the stroller.

“Hey,” he said, “So, you wanted to talk?” he asked, having a feeling he knew why Eddie had taken Christopher but left him with the twins. They were almost two weeks old, and Buck hadn’t wanted to take them out, but as he didn’t want to let Abby near their home, he had decided to meet in the park where Eddie had taken Christopher.

“Yeah, I wanted to see how you were doing,” she smiled at him, sitting down.

“I’m doing well,” Buck answered her, smiling happily. “I’m married, I have three kids, these two and one that I’ve adopted,” he told her.

“Oh, that’s… nice,” she said, feeling a little nervous now.

“So, how’s Sam? Wasn’t it?” he asked.

“He’s going to make a full recovery,” she answered him.

“That’s good, he seemed like a good man,” Buck nodded as Cedric started to fuss. Cyrus was still sleeping. He unbuckled the seat and picked him up, “Hey, little man, you want some cuddles. I changed and fed you before we left,” he said, settling him in his arms, Cedric quickly calmed as soon as he was settled against him.

“He’s yours?” Abby asked.

“Yeah, can’t you tell,” he grinned, as he let her see the birthmark.

“Ah,” she laughed, “He’s cute,” she told him, “So, how have things really been?” she asked again.

“I really am happy, I married a great guy, I even work with him. You met him that night, he’s a firefighter with me. It was our last shift before paternity leave kicked in,” he told her, smiling as he rocked Cedric in his arms.

“Paternity leave, oh, what about their mother?” Abby asked.

“Shannon is their mother, Eddie’s Ex-Wife. We’re all good friends. She and Eddie had Christopher while they were married. They fell out of love, but they are still really good friends,” Buck answered her easily, “We’re a weird family, I think, but it works for us.”

“So Shannon is…” Abby frowned, “That is confusing, doesn’t it confuse your oldest?” she asked him, shaking her head.

Buck looked at her, “No, it isn’t. Shannon is their Mother, and Eddie is Dad, I’m Papa, not confusing at all. Just like divorced parents who’ve moved on to another partner,” he shrugged.

“Right,” she said, “I’m… glad that you’re doing well.”

“As am I, I could at least put behind me what you did,” Buck said, “Though I would like to know why you ghosted me, instead of actually telling me that you weren’t going to come back. Even now, you still didn’t contact me, you have a fiance. I know from your brother that you took almost a year after I said I was leaving your apartment to get the message,” he sighed, shaking his head. “A year of bills that you paid when I tried to tell you that I had moved out, but you just ignored me.”

“I couldn’t,” she said slowly, “I couldn’t talk. I didn’t want to lose myself again to the past. To let it all back in.”

“I get that, but a simple, ‘I’m not coming back’, was all you had to send me, that was it,” Buck told her, “I would have understood, you know. I know what it’s like to get lost in the past, and not want to go back to how you were. Did you think that I would have dragged you back just for telling me that? No, I wouldn’t. I’m not that type of person. A simple message was all that you had to send me,” he shook his head, glancing over at her for a second before looking down at his son. “I have a happy life now. Eddie is amazing, and I met him at work. I… wouldn’t change meeting and falling in love with him for anything.”

Abby nodded, looking down, a little frown on her face, “I see.”

“At least I know why you decided to ghost me, not that it’s much of an excuse. Four simple words and things would have been a lot better, and you would have saved a shit ton of money too,” he added, getting up and putting Cedric back into the stroller and buckling him up.

“I didn’t know what I was losing or gaining by not saying something, Buck. I was just trying to make sure I was going to keep myself going. I lost my mother, and I felt… adrift and alone in a way that didn’t make sense. Traveling helped me settle myself. Calling would have ruined that.”

“No, it would have ruined the fantasy that you were building for yourself. That you were free, single, and able to do anything,” Buck said, “I know what it’s like. You forget that I did my own traveling, which is why I didn’t begrudge you for doing that. I know that freedom after feeling like you had the world on your shoulders. In a way you did have it on them, taking care of someone that you love is one of the hardest jobs out there, and you don’t earn a damn cent doing it most of the time,” he snorted, “But you do it because you love them, I get it more than you think,” he said, as he smiled. He could see two people beginning to head toward him.

“Exactly, I needed to know who I was without that,” she told him, “I’m sorry I didn’t call, I really am,” she said, shaking her head.

“It doesn’t matter now, I came to terms with you not calling. An apology is nice to hear, I might forgive you, but I think this is where we will part permanently,” Buck told her, tucking Cedric in and checking on Cyrus since he hadn’t woken up at all.

“Papa!” Christopher called out as he walked closer, the click-clack of his crutches.

“Hey,” Buck grinned, as he waited where he was to greet the two of them. Kissing Eddie as soon as the man got closer and then hugging Christopher. “Did you have fun?” he asked.

“I did, Dad fell over,” he grinned, “he didn’t look where he was going.”

Buck laughed lightly as he looked over at Eddie, “You okay?”

“Just a bruised ego,” Eddie shrugged as he looked down at the sleeping twins, “They’ve been asleep the whole time?” he asked, looking at Buck again.

“Yeah, Cedric fussed a little but quickly calmed in my arms. I’ve just put him back down,” he answered him, keeping an arm around Christopher.

“Who is this, Papa?” Christopher asked as he looked at the woman.

“This is an old friend of mine,” Buck said, “Her name is Abby,” he said.

“Hello,” Abby smiled at him, though there was a guarded look on her face. She looked at Buck, her lips going into a thin line.

“Hello, Miss Abby,” Christopher greeted and then looked at Buck, “Papa, are we going to have lunch out?”

“Let me guess, your Dad doesn’t want to cook?” Buck smirked.

“Maybe on that one,” Eddie snorted, “But I thought a treat out, and we have their food as well if they wake and are hungry,” he added, “So, if we go now, it’s only been an hour since they’ve eaten, so we might just be able to sneak and get something before they get too wound up,” he finished, looking at Buck as he stepped closer, checking on the twins for a second.

“Sounds like a plan,” Buck agreed, “So, Chris, do you know where you want to go?”

“The food court, please, they have the taco stand and I want tacos,” Christopher answered him.

Buck and Eddie shared a look, “Okay, Tacos it is,” Eddie snorted, “Though we make better ones at home.”

“Yeah,” Christopher agreed, “But I want them now, not next week.”

Eddie rolled his eyes at the exaggeration, “Brat,” he muttered.

“I get that from you,” Christopher laughed as he and Eddie began to move, Eddie pushing the stroller.

“That… is your husband?” Abby asked when they were a little further away.

“Yep, Eddie, and our oldest, Christopher, I adopted him recently, three ways. Myself, his Dad, and Mom, of course,” he grinned, “They… mean the world to me, I wouldn’t trade them for anything,” he added, “I’ve… gone through a lot since I last saw you. And I do mean I’ve almost died since I last saw you.”

“I saw the truck bombing,” Abby said, “I was going to reach out then when I noticed that it was you that… that was under it,” she hesitated as she spoke.

“I wasn’t up for much of anything for a good few days after that. Eddie and I had moved in together by that time. We’d also been helping Shannon, she’d had an accident not long before that left her temporarily paralyzed for a little while. So I don’t think anyone would have been up for someone else to come in and try and be well-meaning and helpful,” Buck shrugged, he wasn’t sure what to say to that. He wouldn’t have been happy to see or even hear from her at that point. He was still bitter about what she did, and for her to waltz in when he had been injured, no, it wouldn’t have gone well.

“I see,” she smiled again.

“Well, I need to get going, lunch waits for no one, and Chris can get really hungry after playing,” he told her, “And so can Eddie,” he laughed as he saw Christopher now pushing the double stroller. He smiled as he watched them, “It was… good to see you and I’m happy that you’ve met someone.”

“Yeah,” she said, nodding a few times. “I’m sorry.”

Buck stopped, “I know you are, but it doesn’t change much in the end. You still hurt me, but as I said. I forgive you, I just won’t be able to forget what you did. I don’t see us as friends really. I… don’t need or want you in my life. The only reason I came today was that I wanted to know why you ghosted me,” he shrugged. “It was… good meeting you again, and knowing that you’re doing well. I just don’t think we can be friends, take care of yourself Abby, and I hope you and Sam have a long and happy life together.” With that Buck walked away, not looking back at her, she was his past, and his future was the four people right in front of him, as he jogged a little to catch up.

Chapter Sixty-Eight

Eddie walked back into the room, Cedric happily sleeping in his arms, now that he was clean and dry. He had already had his bottle. Cyrus was sleeping in Buck’s arms, the youngest of the two having been burped and changed already. “Well,” Buck said as he watched Eddie walk over and settle on the couch next to him, “Looks like they are finally asleep.”

“Yeah,” Eddie smiled, “Thought they never would go to sleep after all that, a blowout, then food, and then a second blowout,” he shook his head as he settled on his chest, the baby loved to sleep with his head tucked into someone’s neck.

“Shannon messaged, she and Niamh are very much enjoying their spa day. Shannon plans to try and go back for a day or two at work to say goodbye to her class,” Buck told him, motioning to his phone, “She has months after-” he began, only for someone to start banging on their front door. “Who the hell,” he grumbled as he began to move Cyrus.

“No, I’ll go,” Eddie said, as he instead put Cedric into his bassinet. “I’ll turn them away, we want a nice quiet day after all.”

Buck nodded and resettled Cyrus on his chest as Eddie got up fully and headed to the front door.

He opened it already saying, “Stop the fucking banging, I have sleeping twins inside,” he said, then stopped saying anything more when he saw his parents standing there. “I thought I told you two that I don’t ever want to speak to or see you again.”

“I know you weren’t being serious about that,” Helena said as she tried to push forward to enter his home.

Eddie stood firm, rebuffing her. “You’re not going to enter my home, I will call the damn police before I let you inside at all,” he glared at her, “As far as I’m concerned, I have no parents. Because there is no way any parent would do what you have done to me.”

“We’re just trying to do what is best for you. Christopher would be better at a facility, and you can concentrate on our other grandchild instead of being forced to take care of Christopher. We love him, of course, we all do, but he is going to need more care,” Helena tried again to get past him.

“Buck, call the cops,” Eddie said, all the while staring at his mother, “Not going to happen, Helena,” he told her.

“Doing so,” Buck called out, this time he was standing just beyond Eddie, in case he needed some backup.

“Why are you doing this?” Ramon asked him, “We’ve only got your best interest at heart.”

“No, you just want things done your way, you want Christopher shut away because you don’t think he can amount to anything just because he has CP. It’s never going to happen, and he is a great big brother to his siblings. Not that you’ll ever know, as you’ll never be able to be around them,” Eddie answered him, glaring at his father for a moment, “You both mean nothing to me and my family. My husband and I are raising three wonderful children and if there is a chance for more, you’ll never be there.”

“We wish to see our grandchildren and you can’t deny us that,” Helena said as this time she tried to forcefully push her way past her son.

Eddie moved and grabbed her arm, pushing her towards Ramon, “Keep her away from me, if she tries that again, I’m going to have her arrested for trespassing,” he warned his father, “I want nothing to do with either of you. I have a life and I will not be giving any part of it up, not Christopher, not Buck, not Shannon and not the babies either,” he added, “Take her and leave and never ever fucking darken my door again. I want nothing to do with you, why the fuck can’t you see that. I thought the last few months of silence would have gotten that through to you,” he seethed, taking a breath to try and calm himself down.

“You needed time to cool down, you were angry when you didn’t need to be, now step aside, Edmundo, I want to see my new grandchildren and you won’t keep them from me!” she yelled out, almost screaming loud enough to wake the two sleeping babies.

“Not going to happen,” Eddie said again as they heard the whoop of a siren as a cop car pulled up. He wished that Athena was working, but she was still recovering from her attack, though no doubt that she would have been there without even being on duty if she had heard what was going on.

“What seems to be the trouble?” one of the cops asked as he walked over, his partners walking beside him.

“I’m being denied the right to see my grandchildren,” Helena answered quickly before anyone else could say anything.

“Ma’am, do you have a court order telling you that you are allowed to see your grandchildren?” the other cop asked as she took a step towards her.

“Well, no,” Helena said, “But that doesn’t mean that I should be kept away from my grandchildren, my son is being horrible and has tried to say that we’re not able to see any of our grandchildren, we have three, and we’ve never even been able to see the two new additions to our family,” she said, bringing on the waterworks.

“What Helena isn’t saying is that she and her husband tried to sue for custody of our eldest child some months ago. When it was revealed that they wanted to send him to a living facility for children that need round-the-clock care, she was denied custody. She has made it her mission to try and get my eldest to agree to live with her before then. I have cut contact with them, reminding them that I will not be giving up any of my children to her. She now thinks that because I haven’t had contact with her for several months, it was more because I needed to calm down and realize that they were trying to help. They now want access to my home, after I told them I want nothing more to do with them. I’m planning to get a restraining order if they try anything more. Helena has also tried to force her way into my home twice so far. I believe she was going to try again if you hadn’t turned up now,” Eddie said.

“And I have video footage of the confrontation almost from the start,” Buck added from the background, “I’ll send it on to our lawyer to start the process of the restraining order,” he added, moving up and now standing next to Eddie.

“You, you corrupted my son and grandchildren,” Ramon hissed at the man.

“Those children are mine biologically, you have no rights to them whatsoever,” Buck told them, “So, you have no leg to stand on in this case.”

Eddie gave a little smirk, “Correct on that,” he nodded, wrapping an arm around Buck’s waist and pulling him closer, “Now, officers, I’m asking that you escort Helena and Ramon Diaz off my property, I want nothing to do with them, and I am not going to even entertain the thought of them entering my home.”

“We’ll see to it,” the first officer said as he got between Ramon and Helena and the door of Buck and Eddie’s home. “Sir, Ma’am, you have no rights here at this time. You may try going through the courts, though if you have been denied once already, chances are you are never going to get the so-called grandparents’ rights. Especially if the children are not biologically your son’s.”

“Now see here!” Ramon yelled, “We are well within our rights. Those two are married, no doubt my son has adopted them, that means we are grandparents again,” he said.

“The adoption hasn’t gone through yet,” Eddie said, though they were working on it, to make sure that all three of them were able to be full parents to the twins. They had been busy getting a rhythm going with the twins for it to take a high priority at that moment.

The officers nodded, “If you two will step into your home, we’ll escort them off and then come back for your statement,” she said.

“Alright,” Eddie nodded, both of them stepping into the home and closing the door. They could hear Ramon and Helena protesting as they were slowly escorted off the property and warned not to return. Eddie’s phone buzzed as they waited for the cops to return for their statement. A message from Hen telling them that Karen had gone into labor a little early, but not early enough to cause worry. She had reminded them that they had twins at home and not to come until later on when they were free to do so.

“Well,” Buck said as he listened to what Eddie had told him, “We’ll go down later on if they are up for visitors. I know that Shannon wasn’t too up for that.”

“Yeah,” Eddie nodded in agreement as he checked on Cedric and Cyrus, both were still sleeping, “Glad they slept through that, do not want them upset like Christopher is,” he murmured, running a finger along a tiny hand, Cedric opened and grasped at the finger, causing Eddie to smile.

“All they do at the moment is eat, sleep and poop everywhere,” he said, “And wake you up in the early hours of the morning,” he added, yawning, they hadn’t slept well, but that was too be expected at the moment. They were still waking up two or three times during the night for a feed and a change. Why do you think Shannon isn’t going to stay here for long when she’s already planning on going back home as soon as she can? I know she hated the middle of the night feeds with Christopher, she finds it difficult to sleep, and waking up means she’ll be awake constantly after that first time,” Eddie said, shaking his head, he had listened to her complaints a lot over the first few months of Christopher’s life.

The cops knocked on the door a few moments later and Buck and Eddie gave their statements and took a copy of the video footage of Helena trying to enter the home and what was said. Buck had also sent it to their lawyer, the two of them were serious about getting a restraining order against them both. Eddie wanted nothing to do with them, he knew that Isabel and Josephina had also told the two that they wanted nothing to do with them after what they had done.

Eddie left to get Christopher as Buck watched the twins, who were now both awake and were happy to stretch and move around a little on the pack-n-play that had been set out with a few toys that they could see and interact with. They were only three weeks old at the moment, and they were still finding their muscles. Though Cedric had already taken to sucking on his thumb instead of the pacifier. Cyrus didn’t like anything and would spit the pacifier out as soon as he was given it.

“Well,” Buck said as he looked down at the two, “You are both going to be heartbreakers,” he said, tracking the birthmark that the two of them had, “I can’t believe you got that as well. You know, kids can be cruel at times. But Maddie, she always told me that it was there because an Angel kissed me when I was born,” he told them, “I want to believe that a lot, that we have someone up there looking out for us,” he said, sitting in front of the pack-n-play and just watching them as they moved around testing out their muscles and making a few noises as they found their vocal cords could do more than scream and cry.

XxXxX

Christopher was grumpy as he was told it was bedtime, “But, Dad, Papa, can’t we go and see Auntie Hen and Auntie Karen first?” he asked, begging again to see them.

“No, visiting time is over and Karen is really tired, just like your Mom was after the twins were born,” Eddie said, guiding his son toward his bedroom. “I know you want to see the new babies, but they need some sleep too.”

Christopher huffed, “Fine, but tell me their names at least, I plan to make a welcome to the 118 family card for them. Like I made for Cyrus and Cedric,” he added, grinning as Eddie nodded.

“The oldest of the two is called Alicia Wilson, and the youngest is Brianna Wilson,” he told him, “Now, bed, and you can make the card in the morning.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Christopher grumbled again but got into his bed and let his dad read him a story, falling to sleep after a full day at school along with PT before he had been able to come home for dinner.

Eddie sighed as soon as he was snoring quietly. “Damn,” he muttered as he walked into the living room, the twins still sleeping, though they would wake soon for another feed, and would be awake for a while before they would drift off to sleep again.

“Everything okay?” Buck asked as he looked up from his phone.

“Yeah, he really wanted to see Alicia and Brianna, but was able to talk him out of making too much fuss about it,” he snorted, sitting beside Buck and leaning on him, “An hour before their next feed,” he said.

“Yep, Hen messaged, she told me to bring Christopher tomorrow morning, they will have some time before he needs to head to school. Denny will be there as well before he goes. So she and Karen are fine with one of us taking Christopher to see the new additions,” Buck told him, smiling softly, “Pictures have been included of the two and Hen said Karen is amazing, which we all know that she is,” he added as he showed Eddie the phone and the pictures that Hen had sent him and the others in the chat.

“They are adorable,” Eddie smiled softly, “Well, I’ll let you go and take Christopher, and I’ll stay home, and then we can swap later on if they are up for a small visit from me,” he suggested, “Might have to see about getting Christopher up a little easier, he wants to do a card for them.”

“Sure,” Buck said, wrapping an arm around Eddie as he flicked the TV over to a movie and they settled in to watch for a bit until the twins woke for their late-night feed before they were taken to the bedroom to sleep there.

Chapter Sixty-Nine

Athena walked over to Shannon and gave her the bottle that she had warmed up for Cedric and then handed one over to Eddie, who was holding Cyrus. The two baby Diaz’s were crying for their food and they would not be denied, at almost eight weeks, this was the last few days that Eddie and Buck would be able to spend with them without having to go back to work.

“I can’t believe how time has flown by,” Eddie said as he thanked Athena for the bottle and began to feed his youngest son.

“I know,” Shannon smiled, “I’m going to be home alone with them since you two will be back at work and since it’s summer, I’m free,” she added.

“Well, I still have a few more weeks to myself,” Athena said, “So don’t worry, I don’t mind being with my grandbabies for some quality grandma and grandsons time,” she told the two of them.

Shannon smiled, “I don’t mind you coming by at all, I have Christopher too, and he could do with being able to go out and have fun. I know that Carla is still going to be coming by with her usual hours, but sometimes on days that she is working with someone else, he might want to head out,” she said, looking at where her eldest was playing with Denny and Harry. May watched over them as she talked on the phone with someone. She had graduated and was working on doing something that she wasn’t telling anyone else about.

Micheal was off to one side, he had invited someone to the gathering they were having and Athena could see he was happy, looking more happier than he had a few weeks ago. Things had changed for him as he had told Athena about the tumor finally starting to shrink and that the odds for the surgery he needed were now lowered enough that he might just go through with it. Athena was rooting for him, and since the new man had entered her ex-husband’s life, she believed that he would in the end go through with it.

“Mom,” Buck said as he walked over and hugged her gently, “How are you?” he asked, looking her over.

“I’m fine,” she smiled at him, “PT sucks, but you know how that can be,” she said, gesturing to her now free from the cast arm. She had lost a little strength in it, but she was working to get it all back.

“I know,” he grinned, “But I’m happy to see you looking better.”

“I am, how are you enjoying being a father of three now?” she asked.

Buck grinned even more as he answered, “Well, what can I say, I love it. Chris, Cedric, and Cyrus. They are all so amazing, and they are making these little cooing noises now, they love skin-to-skin time and tummy time. Cedric still sucks his thumb a little, and Cyrus hates anything in his mouth unless it’s food time and then he’ll put up with it, but he’ll spit out his bottle as soon as he’s done,” he laughed lightly as he thought about the little quirks that were being shown by the twins. They were still very young, newborns, but their personalities were starting to come through already.

“How’s Christopher taking it all?” she then asked, “I remember May, she wasn’t happy with a little brother at all when Harry was born.”

“He loves it, he sometimes gets woken during the night and he’ll come out and want to help feed the twins. He reads to them already, just little baby books and he tells them about his day. He’s made a list of places to take them when they get older, and things to tell them as well,” Buck said as he looked at Christopher.

“He’s a good kid,” Athena agreed.

“Yeah,” Buck nodded before Athena moved on and he went over to Karen who was holding Brianna as Alicia slept in her bassinet that had been set up for her. Another beside it for her sister. “Hey, Karen,” he said as he sat down, “So adorable, and look at all that hair,” he said, still amazed that Brianna had so much more hair compared to her sister.

“I know,” Karen laughed lightly, “Does explain all the heartburn,” she added, rocking the baby as she soothed her to sleep. “Five weeks old, you know I was scared that I would not have this,” she told him, “We still had some embryos left, that we were going to use after these two were older. Something happened and they were destroyed. I was heartbroken, but to know that I made the right decision in trying to have a baby earlier. Just the thought of losing them all, and not having this chance. I don’t think I could go through what I did to get here again.” she added, shaking her head.

“I know Shannon said something similar that it wasn’t pleasant,” Buck nodded, “I don’t know what she plans, she’s happy with the three children we have,” he said softly, waving at Brianna, her wide eyes staring at him. “Hey, baby girl,” he murmured, “you ruling the house yet?” he asked, wiggling his fingers and gently tapping on her hand. She made a grab for him and on the second time, she caught a finger and waved it around.

“Amazing how we start off like this and become adults sometimes,” Karen said, shaking her head and glancing up as she looked at her wife and smiled.

Hen waved back as she went back to talking to Albert and Josh, “So, next time we get a chance, we’ll go out,” she told the two, “The place Karen and I like going to is really good about keeping an eye on people,” she added, “Most Gay bars and clubs out there are great, it’s when you go to one of the others that sometimes you’ll get the bigoted and homophobic idiots around. Though, I have to admit it isn’t as bad as it was.”

“Maybe not,” Josh said, “but you still be careful,” he said, thinking about the one who had attacked him, though they had grabbed him more because of where he worked than the fact that he was gay.

“Yeah,” Albert said, looking between the two of them, “I don’t even know what I should do. I’ve got to a few places with Howards… Chimney, but it’s been difficult, as he’s straight and spends all the night singing with Maddie,” he added, laughing lightly, “I think my brother may need a few extra lessons at times though.”

“Yeah, but they are enjoying themselves,” Hen snorted, “He needs to take you to something other than a damn karaoke bar, we all know he loves that, but damn, no one else wants to get up and sing half the time.”

“He is obsessed about it,” Albert nodded, “So when you and Karen are able to find someone to watch the kids, you’ll be able to help show me a few good places?” he asked again.

“Yeah,” she nodded, “We’d be happy to help you learn a little more about things,” she grinned.

“Thank you,” Albert said gratefully, “Both of you,” he added as he looked at Josh. Maddie had introduced the two of them during one of her poker nights that she had taken to running occasionally. He had been asked to join instead of Buck as he remained home with his kids instead of joining, not that Albert could blame him.

“Welcome,” Josh smiled, “I know quite a few places around LA,” he added, “And I’ll show you some of the secret places that very few even know exist,” he smirked as he glanced over at Hen, “You’ll like this place, no karaoke,” he laughed.

“Good,” Hen nodded, “Now, do you know what is going on with Maddie and Chim?” she asked Albert.

“No idea, I know they’ve been very secretive with each other, which is odd as I know that my brother can’t really keep a secret for long. It drives him crazy,” he answered, shaking his head.

“I know something is going on, Maddie has been acting like she is on cloud nine, more than normal as well. She’s happy, and she’s changed a few things as well, that makes me suspicious,” Josh added.

“Right,” Hen nodded, “I have a feeling I know what’s going on, but I’m going to let them come to us this time,” she sighed, looking over at Maddie and Chimney, who were standing in a corner, eating a little of the food that had been made for the gathering.

They saw May getting up, a little smile on her face as she walked over to them, “So,” she said, “Josh.”

“I’ve talked with Sue as well, and yes, we’re ready for you to start soon, do talk with your Mother,” he warned her.

“I’m thinking about talking to her tomorrow. I just want to take a year out and be at dispatch,” she said, biting her lip for a moment before turning and looking at where her mother was now talking with Eddie. The man had put his son down and had been helping Bobby at the grill for a bit, but was now talking with Athena alone.

“Make sure you do, she cares and I know that this job can be a hard one,” Josh told her, smiling gently, “I’ll be one of the ones that will help to train you up, and so will Maddie.”

“Yeah,” May smiled, “Thanks,” she said again as she left them be and headed back to watching the kids for a bit before taking part in the game they were playing.

Athena watched the kids before turning back to Eddie, “So how have things been with the restraining order in place?” she asked him.

“Things have been better, I know that they are still pissed, but I’m done listening to them now. They had a chance to do better, and they never listened. My sisters have reminded them that it’s all on them that they are now facing consequences for what they have done,” he snorted, “Adriana has told them that they should be lucky they only have the one restraining order, she and Sophia would be very happy to slap them with two more if they carry on,” he laughed, shaking his head, “Sophia moved to Dallas a few years ago, and they harassed her and her partner for a long time until they thought they could get a claw into me. Adriana is the only one still in El Paso, but if they carry on, she’s going to move her whole family and business elsewhere to get away from them.”

Athena shook her head, “Well, they have it coming, just glad that you don’t have to deal with them anymore.”

“Nope, and I’m looking at making the restraining order permanent since it’s only going to last a year,” Eddie said, “I feel like I can finally breathe now.”

“I bet,” she snorted, “I’m happy to see you and Buck so relaxed now. You looking forward to going back to work?” she asked him.

“Nervous to leave Cedric and Cyrus behind. I know Shannon and Carla are going to be there, I just… I missed so much with Christopher, I don’t plan on doing the same with them,” he sighed, looking to where Shannon was sitting, the bassinets with the twins close to her.

“Well, you won’t this time,” she smiled, “Enjoy things, you’re home this time, not a world away from your family. You, Buck, and Shannon, have something special with that little family of yours. Never would have thought such a thing to work. But then again, the world is made up of so many different families.”

“It is,” Eddie snorted, “We have one here, don’t forget,” he reminded her, “Especially as Buck considers you his Mother and Bobby his Dad.”

“I know, I’m rather proud of that,” she smirked, “I also know that Bobby is over the moon with it, each time Buck goes up and calls him Pops.”

“Just a reminder,” Eddie said before he went to find Buck, “Adult adoption is a thing, maybe look into it. I know Buck would be really happy with that.”

Athena stood there for a moment and then laughed before she went to talk to Bobby about what Eddie had just said.

“Hey,” Buck said, leaving Karen alone now that the twins were asleep again. “Things are going well,” he said, glancing around. Though Maddie and Chimney were now starting to wander into the group again. Both of them looked nervous about something.

“Just mentioned something to Athena, she and Bobby may be springing something on you soon,” Eddie told him.

Buck frowned and nodded, “Okay,” he said, “Now, I’m going to grab Maddie and Chim and see what is going on there, you coming?” he asked.

“Of course,” Eddie smiled, taking his husband’s hand and the two of them heading over to the other couple.

“Hey,” Maddie smiled brightly, she rushed towards her brother and hugged him tightly, “This last year has been a hard one,” she told him.

“I know, but we got through it, I’m married, have three kids,” Buck said, “I think it’s been a hard but good one.”

“Yeah,” Maddie smiled, letting him go.

“So, what’s going on?” Eddie asked, looking at a now nervous Chimney and Maddie.

“Well,” Chimney began, looking at his girlfriend.

Maddie smiled, “I found out I’m pregnant,” she told him, “It’s a shock, but I’m happy.”

“Congratulations,” Buck grinned, hugging his sister again, “This is amazing news!”

Maddie laughed as she broke away from he brother, “Yeah, we’re happy about it as well,” she said looking at Chimney, “We’ve kept quiet a little and we did have a couple of sessions with our therapists as we want to make sure we’re on the right page together,” she told him.

“We are, and we’re going to keep working on things,” Chimney smiled, taking Maddie’s hand, “We’re thinking about announcing it here if no one minds?” he asked the two.

“It’s just a gathering, so, I’ll say go for it, grab Bobby and Athena, talk with them, and get them to get everyone’s attention,” Buck told the two of them, still smiling as he watched them go.

Moments later Athena had gotten everyone’s attention. Maddie and Chimney looked at each other as they then announced their pregnancy. Buck watched as his sister was congratulated and hugged tightly, Chimney remaining by her side, smiling just as happily as Maddie was.

“You good?” Eddie asked him.

“Yeah, I am,” Buck grinned at his husband as they shared a kiss. They broke apart and went to join everyone as they congratulated Maddie and Chimney again, Albert was grinding and boasting that he was going to be the best Uncle, while Buck countered him and started playfully bickering with him.

Chapter Seventy

Maddie walked towards the room where her brother was getting ready, her daughter, So-Young in her arms, happily sleeping like a month-old baby did after a feed, changing, and burping. She knocked on the door and waited to be called in. She smiled over at Bobby who was helping her brother with his tie. “You never did really learn how to do them,” she said, shaking her head as she walked over.

“How are you and my little mango doing?” he asked, looking at his sister and niece.

“We’re doing a lot better than I was,” she answered him, “PPD,” she added, “Chimney is making sure I do what I need and getting help for it all. He’s keeping himself going as well, therapy is helping the both of us stop this from becoming… toxic between us. I know this could have easily destroyed us both,” she said softly, “He’s missing work, but so am I.”

“Yeah,” Buck nodded, “When we had our eight weeks, it felt like too much time, but not enough time either,” he said, as Bobby finished. “Well,” he said, “did you find out why he didn’t want to call her Jee-Yun?” he asked softly. He knew that his sister had been planning to name their child after Chimney’s mother, but Chimney and the Lees had been the ones to shoot it down. Maddie hadn’t understood and had been hurt that her suggestion had been tabled so quickly and without explanation at first.

“I did,” Maddie sighed, “In Korean culture, naming someone after someone, isn’t done. To Lee’s and Chimney, now that he’s accepted that part of himself again, it seems more like trying to have the child take on the memories of the person that has gone before. I’m not explaining it right,” she laughed, “But I know that it’s just not done. Naming someone isn’t the done thing in their culture, like it is in ours.”

“Ah,” Buck nodded, “I know you were pretty happy with the suggestion you were going to put forward, and then to find out you had gone with So-Young, it threw me,” he told her.

“It did me, but I talked to them and after explaining I can understand,” she smiled, looking at her daughter for a moment.

“That’s good,” he nodded, “Well, Dad,” he said as he looked at Bobby, “How do I look?” he asked him, and Maddie.

“You look handsome,” Maddie smiled, a hand running over the lapel of his suit.

“Looking good, kid,” Bobby smiled, they had gone through with the adult adoption, making it official that Evan Diaz was their son.

Maddie hugged him one-armed and stepped back, “Well, let’s get this all started, I know Eddie is ready,” she told him, having sent Chimney to check up on the other man, “Howie messaged, he’s just as excited,” she told him, as Buck gave her a questioning look.

“Well,” he said, grinning, “I can’t wait either.”

“I know,” she snorted, “Though at least this time, I’m going to be able to see you get married, kind of,” she rolled her eyes and shook her head, “Now, I’m going to go back there, and Buck, I’m so happy for you,” she told him, kissing his cheek one last time, though he had to lean down for it before she left with her daughter.

“Well, son,” Bobby said, “Ready to meet your husband again?” he asked, offering his arm. Bobby was going to be walking him down, on the other side, Christopher was going to be doing the same for his dad.

“Always,” Buck laughed brightly. Taking his dad’s arm, the two of them walked out, the music changed and instead of the wedding march something else was played, the beginning of Can’t Help Falling In Love With You, by Elvis Presley began to play. Buck grinned and glanced over to the door that Eddie had stepped through, the two laughed, knowing that not only was it a fitting song, but it was also a little nod to them getting married in Vegas.

The two walked down the aisle, reaching each other at the end of it, Christopher and Bobby left the two and stood to the side as the officiant stepped towards them. The strains of Elvis Presley faded into the background as she began to speak.

“Today, we are gathered to see the renewal of the vow between Edmundo and Evan Diaz. On this day, one year ago, they married, without family and friends with them, but still happy to start their journey in life together as Husbands. This time, with help from their eldest son, they will celebrate with all of you,” she began.

It didn’t take long for Maddie to start crying as she leaned against Chimney. The man had an arm around her, and the other around So-Young. Athena was beaming brightly at the two of them, Shannon sitting beside her as they both held one of the twins. Cedric was with Athena and Cyrus happily sitting on his mother’s lap, making little noises as he watched his two dads get married. His big brother handed over the rings that Buck had brought a year earlier.

“I now pronounce you, husbands, once again, you may no-” the officiant began, only to roll her eyes, “Some people really do like to jump the gun on that bit,” she said, getting a laugh from the gathered family and friends.

“Really, Dad, Papa,” Christopher huffed when they didn’t part for a while, “Oi!” he finally yelled out when the clapping had stopped, “We still have a party yet, save it for the honeymoon!”

Eddie and Buck parted as Eddie yelled, “Shannon! What have you been teaching our son!”

“The damn truth!” she yelled back, getting up as the two stepped down from the dias and giving Christopher a hand to lean on as he got down, he didn’t have his crutches with him at the moment. Chimney went over and handed them to him.

“Thanks,” Christopher smiled at him before looking at his Dad’s, “Dad, Papa, I’m not a little kid, I know some things. I don’t know everything, but I know you need to save some things for the honeymoon,” he rolled his eyes.

“Congratulations, little brother,” Adriana said as she walked over, her husband with her. Soon enough the wave of family and friends that went towards them to congratulate them overwhelmed them both. Athena was the one to get everyone’s attention to get them to the other side of the building where the reception was to happen.

XxXxX

Buck took Eddie’s hand as the same Elvis Presley song began to play for their first dance. “I think Chris has fallen for this song,” Eddie said, shaking his head as he and Buck moved around the dancefloor. Both of them were graceful, though that was more because Eddie had lessons as a child, and had taken to teaching Buck in time for their second wedding.

“Yeah,” Buck laughed as he was spun out and then pulled back towards Eddie.

“I’m glad that we were able to do this,” Eddie told him, as other couples began to join them on the dance floor. Shannon took the hand of Albert, the man wanted to dance and hadn’t been able to find a date at all. Though Josh had been trying to help him in finding someone in that respect. They were each other’s wingmen when they went out for the night. The twins, Cedric and Cyrus were being watched over by May and Josh, those two had struck up a good and deep friendship after she started as a 9-1-1 dispatcher.

“Yeah,” Buck agreed, “Maddie’s happy, a little blip, but Chimney has stepped up and made sure that everyone knows what’s going on and not keeping it secret. So-Young is just beautiful, Chim and Mads are just besotted with her,” he laughed brightly as he was spun again, this time a little faster before he was once more secured in Eddie’s arms, “Show off.”

“Why not?” Eddie smirked, dipping him, much to the laughter of others around them.

“Eddie,” Buck grumbled, but there was a smile on his face as he was brought back up and then kissed.

“Better?” he asked, breaking the kiss.

“Ass,” he snorted, shaking his head but moving in for another kiss.

“You would think you had enough of that at the end of the ceremony,” Shannon said as she twirled past them, Albert doing his best to keep up with her.

“I can never have enough of Eddie,” Buck grinned at her, “You know how it is?” he added, wiggling his eyebrows at her.

“True,” she grinned, “I’m not long for the dance floor,” she said, already beginning to ache a little as she wasn’t using her crutch to help her move around. She had built up a bit more strength in the last year, but she will never really be free from using a crutch or even a wheelchair at times.

“Then, let’s have a spin for old time’s sake,” Eddie said as he and Buck stopped and Eddie took Shannon out on the dancefloor.

“Are you really okay with them like that?” Albert asked, curiously.

Buck grinned, “I am, Shannon and Eddie, do love each other, but it’s not the romantic love that they once had, they are better as friends, they both know that. She’s a damn good friend,” he told him as someone tapped him on the shoulder, “Hey, Mom,” he grinned as Athena stood there, “Dance?” he asked.

“Like you need to ask,” she smiled as the two headed out on the dance floor as well.

“How are you feeling now that May is about to move out?” Buck asked her, taking her around the dance floor a few times.

“I’m happy for her, she’s a strong young woman, I’m so proud of how she is,” she smiled, “I wish she hadn’t become a dispatcher, but… I suppose it was inevitable.”

“She takes after her badass Mom,” Buck grinned at her, dipping her and then carrying on when he got a slap on his arm for the audacity of it. He couldn’t help but laugh, “Things are going well at the moment.”

“Knock on wood,” she said, tapping him lightly on the head with her knuckles.

“Charming,” he laughed, “I get your meaning though,” he said softly. “Michael is really looking better now,” he stated, seeing the man and David Hale, the doctor that he had begun to date.

“I know, the surgery went well, he and David are moving in together. Bobby and I almost have an empty nest at times. It feels like the world is moving on and I’m not ready for it,” she sighed softly.

“I don’t think we are ever going to be ready for it. Chris is growing up, the twins are going to be one soon as well. I’m not ready for any of that,” Buck told her, “I don’t want to think in a few years that Chris will be off to college and that. It terrified me. I’ve already had to talk Eddie down a few times when it comes up,” he snorted.

“I have no doubt of that,” she laughed, “I know I was the same when May started to look into things. Now, she’s moving out, my baby has grown up.”

“We all do that,” he told her, spinning her around as he brought her to where Bobby was standing on the edge of the dancefloor. “Dad,” he grinned, letting Athena go.

“Congrats, Kid,” he told him.

“Oh, Buck!” Maddie said as she rushed over, “You looked amazing up there, and honestly, I am so damn happy,” she said, tearing up again and crying.

Chimney shook his head, and placed So-Young into her uncle’s arms as he then pulled Maddie into his arms and held her, “It’s all okay, Maddie. Buck’s happy, very happy and he’s going away for a couple of days and he’ll bring you back something nice,” he added, giving a look to his friend and future brother-in-law if Maddie ever wished to marry him.

“I know,” she said, as she glanced at Buck, “You always look so good with a baby in your arms,” she told him.

“And so do you, sis,” Buck smiled, “Here,” he said, as the couple broke apart and he handed his niece to his sister.

“Hey, So-Young,” she smiled down at her daughter, “You need a change, let’s get your Dad to have that honor,” she grinned, handing her back to Chimney.

“So nice of you all,” Chimney said, snorting before smiling as he left with his daughter, picking up the diaper bag that was at their table.

“Buck,” Maddie said, “I’m happy for you, so happy,” she told him.

Buck hugged her, “I know, now go and have some fun,” he told her, getting her to head off to where Josh was.

Eddie finally made his way back to Buck, after dancing with each of his sisters and his Abuela and Aunt. The rest of the night was fun, dancing, food, and drink flowed as did the easy banter between family and friends as they all celebrated.

Christopher walked up to his Dad and Papa and said, “Right, time for the honeymoon.”

Buck and Eddie looked at him, “Are you that eager to get rid of us?” the two asked him.

“Yep, I can do without you two making out on the couch all the time when I get home from school,” he grinned at the two of them as he began to herd them out of the reception room and towards the hall that led outside.

Guests began to follow as they wondered what was going on now.

“Where are we going?” Buck asked curiously, a little smile on his face.

“Somewhere nice and secluded enough that no one will wake up to your snores,” Christopher sassed, laughing as Buck pouted down at him, “And where no one will have to see you making out,” he added.

“Cheeky brat,” Eddie snorted, knowing that was all Shannon’s influence.

“Takes one to know one,” he laughed again as they were finally outside. “Have fun, Dad, Papa,” he said, hugging them both tightly, “I know I will miss you and so will Rick and Russ,” he told them both.

“And we’ll miss all of you,” Eddie said, with Buck echoing the statement.

The two turned to see the limo that had parked there, decorated with tin cans and ribbons. The two men shared a look as they were hugged by everyone. Spending a little moment hugging their two youngest sons as they had been told they would be gone for a week. The two entered the limo and sat down. Looking at each other they smiled.

“Well,” Eddie said, “Never thought we would be here when I first met you.”

“In the words of a song that has been played a couple of times today,” Buck said, “Some things are meant to be,” he said, leaning in for a kiss as the limo that was taking them to their honeymoon destination started up. In the background, they could hear their friends and family cheering for them. Breaking apart the two of them looked out of the back window and waved, smiling as they hoped for many more years together.

 

 

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