#exasperated Helena Diaz

[watchyourbuck]

17 please

Every step Eddie took, Buck followed suit. His eyebrows were contorted in worry, and he kept fidgeting.

“Are- are you sure this is gonna work?”

Eddie inhaled deeply, moving around the kitchen in the limited space he had, picking bowl after bowl of snacks. He turned to his boyfriend with a stern look. “Buck,” he said, his tone bordering on exasperated, “please stop worrying. It’s gonna be okay. Here,” he added, handing him the dishes forcefully, “take these to the table.”

Buck pursed his lips, pulling the bowls close to his body. “Eddie, I’m just- I don’t wanna fight ‘em.”

“No one’s fighting anyone.”

The promise sounded wobbly, like it could break at any moment. But, then again, Eddie had earned his trust. At least he wasn’t facing them on his own.

“Okay,” Buck whispered, defeated. “I’m- I’ll give you space.”

His boyfriend was very obviously tired, and he wasn’t being precisely useful.

“Park it,” Eddie ordered, sighing. He put his hand up, stopping Buck before he could make it through the threshold. “Come here.”

Buck obeyed, blinking away a few tears. Eddie grabbed his arm, pulling him in.

“It’s going to be okay,” he reassured him, placing his hands on Buck’s neck before leaning up to kiss him.

It was long, and soft and enough to make Buck’s shoulders relax.

Then the bell rang.

They were here.

Almost immediately, Buck’s look of panic returned to his face. Eddie breathed out, pulling away from him, then gave him a kiss on the cheek before walking to the door. “C’mon baby.”

Buck stayed behind. Frozen in the middle of the kitchen, with half a pound of mini toasts and salty chips.

Admittedly, it was kind of selfish, but he couldn’t let them in himself —besides, Eddie hadn’t waited for him, either.

Soon, though, the voices of Ramon and Helena Diaz, and Phillip and Margaret Buckley filled his ears to the brim. They were asking for him.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“Buck!”

“Coming!”

The bitter taste of the word ‘baby’ got stuck in his throat. Not yet, not yet.

Who told them this was a good idea?

Irrupting through the kitchen door was enough to make their guests stare. Eddie glanced between them, forcing a smile Buck knew fake a little too well. He copied it. “Hi- hi mom, d-dad,” he said, his voice quiet.

Eddie walked towards him, taking back the bowls into his own. “Go,” he whispered, tilting his head to the side in repetitive little motions.

“Oh, uh- yeah, h-hi!” Buck muttered, moving as fast as he could through their crowd. “Mr. Díaz, Mrs- Mrs. Díaz.”

Both men patted him on the back, reminding him how strong they actually were. He gulped. He was okay, he was safe.

Margaret kissed his cheek, leaving an imprint of her lips. Buck wiped it with the back of his hand, smiling down politely at her so as to not offend her. Helena barely acknowledged him; she simply glanced at her own son with suspicion.

Right, he guessed this was a very particular invitation after all.

As soon as he was done, he stepped back, returning to Eddie’s side. He had finally settled the bowls down on the table, where they belonged.

The six of them stared at each other.

“Mijo, what’s going on?” Helena blurted, crossing her left leg over her right one. “Don’t- don’t get me wrong,” she added, looking over at Buck’s parents, “I- I’m thrilled to see you all, but-,”

“Nothing, ma,” interrupted Eddie rashly, “Buck and I have- we have busy schedules, that’s all. You’re always on my case about seeing me more… we thought it’d be a nice-,”

“Buck’s not all that busy,” exclaimed Margaret, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “This… firefighting thing is more like a hobby.”

Buck felt his neck and cheeks color. Always good to know what your mother thought of your job.

“I disagree, Mrs. Buckley,” Eddie said after a second. “Being a firefighter is a highly demanding job, and some may think it resembles a hobby, but both Buck and I, and our entire team, actually…, we put all our efforts into taking care of you.”

The last word made Buck lower his head, his ears perking up. He knew Eddie better than anyone else in that room, and that was a direct shot.

“Edmundo,” called Ramon, his voice stern and his eyebrows furrowed. “Be respectful to your friend’s mother.”

Not that it should have, but he felt as though ‘friend’ had stabbed him in the throat.

Eddie fell silent. So much so that Buck raised his head and looked at him, his eyes wide and expectant. It took him a second, but he eventually returned the stare. “Okay,” he said, finally. “I thought we’d have more time of small talk, but- it is what it is.”

“Eddie.”

“Buck-,” he muttered, putting his hands up and closing his eyes. “It’s time”.

“I don’t understand,” interrupted Helena. She sounded upset already, as if she could sniff their confession from a mile away.

“I’m afraid neither do I,” followed Margaret, looking among the guests, but eventually blinking up at her husband.

He took her hand. “Care to tell us what’s going on, Evan?”

“It’s- Buck, dad,” he tried. “Whatever.”

“Okay,” repeated Eddie. “Everybody shut up.”

“Mijo!”

“Edmundo!”

“No, mom, dad. It’s time you listen to what we have to say.”

Buck gulped, blinking. He could hear his own heart in his ears, and it was making him dizzy. He looked at Eddie, who straightened up where he stood.

“You were right. We do have something to tell you,” he started. “This could have been a text, but out of respect for you, and for Buck, I’ve decided to do it this way.”

“Did you get a girl pregnant?” Ramon asked, short of standing up. Buck took a step back. Jesus Christ.

“No.”

“Then what’s so important you had to fly us out from Texas?”

Eddie licked his lips. He closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. “Mom, dad, Mr., Mrs. Buckley… Buck and I are together.”

The way Phillip’s face changed in real time made Buck realize Eddie had grabbed his hand in the process. He was holding it, and squeezing it. He felt like he was going to pass out, but he managed to squeeze back.

“What is this?” Phillip said, a disgusted look plastered on his face.

“Together, together?” Margaret said, her smile faltering.

In a hurry, Ramon stood up, and Buck couldn’t help his reaction. He took two steps back, hiding behind Eddie. “What are you telling me, Edmundo? That you’re a fa-?”

“Ramon!” Helena interrupted, mimicking her husband. She put herself in front of him, trying to push him back.

Eddie took a step forward, and their hands slid away from each other. “Yes,” he said, his features hard, and unnerved. “Yes, I am. You got a problem with that?”

“Evan,” said Phillip. “Come here right this second.”

Buck was breathing heavily. This is exactly what he didn’t want. Oh, god, oh, god. He put his foot up, but Eddie extended his arm, crossing his body. “No,” he said, “he’s done taking orders from you.”

“So, he’s taking them from you now?” Margaret said, putting her hands up in desperation. “Evan- what have you turned into?”

“Mom,” he tried, his voice weak. “I’m not- I didn’t turn into anything, I’ve always-,”

“This city has turned my boy into a homosexual,” she cried, covering her face with her hands.

Eddie scoffed. “Buck’s bisexual, Maggie. I’m gay.”

“You are no such thing!” Ramon exclaimed, stomping his foot on the wooden floorboards. “You are sick, and I will punch this sickness out of you if I have to.”

“Ramon!”

“Oh, yeah?” Eddie muttered, smiling. He ignored Buck’s tug on his shirt, taking another step forward. “I’d like to see you try.”

“Please, Eddie-,”

“Evan Buckley,” called Phillip. “We’re leaving. Go to the car.”

Buck frowned. “What? No.”

Phillip launched forward, keen on grabbing Buck by the shirt, but Eddie was faster. He put himself between them, staring up at his boyfriend’s father. “You’ll have to go through me first.”

“You’re not very tall.”

“But I was in the army, and I’ve seen torture that’d make you wet your pants like a little boy.”

“Edmundo!” Helena yelled, pushing past her husband to get to him. She grabbed him by the arm, pulling him away. “This is not who we raised you to be. What’s- what’s happened to you?”

“He takes it in the ass now,” scoffed Phillip, clicking his tongue mockingly.

Buck gasped, his eyes wide. Oh, hell no. “Actually, that’s me, dad.”

Silence. Eddie slowly turned to his boyfriend, the echo of fear resonating through his features.

“I’m the one that takes it the ass, dad, and boy do I love it.”

Like a maniac, Phillip reached for Buck. He grabbed him by the shirt, and pulled him to himself. A few cushions were scattered on the floor, and it made them stumble. That was window enough for Eddie, who took the man’s wrist and turned it.

Everyone started yelling.

Buck fell to his knees, hitting his elbow on the glass table behind him. He winced, and Eddie ducked, dodging Phillip’s fist.

They both stood up in unison, finding their way back to each other. Eddie was the first to scream back. “All of you. Out. Now!”

“Eddie,” Helena whispered.

“Get out of my house. All of you.”

They all stared, but an ounce of common sense collectively reached their brains. One by one, they exited the perimeters, leaving Eddie to wrap his arm around his Buck protectively.

“I got you, baby, I got you.”

Buck broke into a sob.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Please take this as a very late Seven Sentence Sunday!

Tagged (yesterday) by @hippolotamus @jamespearce9-1-1 @daffi-990 @jeeyuns @callmenewbie @fortheloveofbuddie @steadfastsaturnsrings & @lover-of-mine thank you so much! Go check their works if you haven’t yet💗

Tagging some friends and peeps who I believe may be interested in the ficlet! Let me know if you wish to be removed!! @your-catfish-friend @mattsire @butraura @bucksbirthmark @wildlife4life @loserdiaz @hoodie-buck @giddyupbuck @buckleyobsessed @eddiebabygirldiaz @eddie---diaz @spagheddiediaz @malewifediaz @eowon @smilingbuckley @firemedicdiaz @princessfbi ✨

[wildlife4life]

WIP Wednesday

Tagged by @forthewolves, @bekkachaos, @giddyupbuck, @lover-of-mine, @fortheloveofbuddie, @disasterbuckdiaz, and @devirnis, Thank you! And I'm sorry for the angst that I'm about to bring upon you all. (I'm actually not...)

NFL Buck... Need I say more? Yes. Angsty NFL Buck from the Eddie Begin's arc. I'm drowning that man, not only with flood waters but with the angsty feels as well. Mwhahaha. Enjoy!

The only sign of Maddie’s irritation for this ordeal was the narrowing of her dark eyes, looking at Eddie over Christopher’s shaking form. “Evan already texted me. Didn’t give me a chance to fight him on this and I can’t exactly stand up to your mother, she barely knows or likes me.” He tries swallowing down another lump of personal loathing, “Maddie I’m-.” The sharp pierce of the station bell puts an end to the beginning of his pleading for forgiveness. Christopher’s sobs become louder, and, in the background, Eddie can’t barely make out the worried shouts of Helena.  Maddie glances back, features tightening further in exasperation, “Damnit.” She hisses softly and gives her attention back to Eddie, “You have to go Eddie…I’ve things under control here and I’ll…” She blows out a harsh breath, “I’ll talk to Evan, but I’m not fixing this for you.” “DIAZ LETS GO!” His captain shouts across the firehouse. “COMING!” Eddie yells back before returning to the glitching iPad screen with his crying son, his over concerned mother’s hollers and Buck’s irate sister, “I’m sorry. I love you mijo. So much.” He tries to catch Maddie’s eye, “I’ll fix this I promise. Tell Buck I love him please.” She purses her lips, but nods, “Stay safe Eddie.” The screen glitches once more before going blank. Eddie gives himself five seconds to feel the utter torment of upsetting not only his boyfriend, but his son as well. Then another five to be completely pissed at himself and his mother. After those ten seconds, he shoves the mess of his life and the emotions that go along with it, into a box and locks it away for another time. That lock is ripped off and pushed away with the flood waters that drag Eddie under less than an hour later.  

I suggest listening to Carry You by Ruelle for what it is to come, to prolong to angst. Hope you enjoyed!

If you want to see more NFL Buck just go here.

Tagging (no pressure): @prosperdemeter2 @alyxmastershipper @thekristen999 @911onabc @911-on-abc @bvckandeddie @brokenribsdiaz @ladydorian05 @glorious-spoon @spaceprincessem @elvensorceress @housewifebuck @transbuck @jeeyuns @monsterrae1 @eowon @bigfootsmom @theotherluciferr @jesuisici33 @rogerzsteven @try-set-me-on-fire @buddierights @cowboydiazes @cowboy-buddie @cowboy-buck @watchyourbuck @diazblunt @eddiediaztho @starlingbite @shortsighted-owl @gayhoediaz @gayedmundodiaz @athenagranted @rainbow-nerdss @thewolvesof1998 @hippolotamus @honestlydarkprincess @exhuastedpigeon @spotsandsocks @wikiangela @loserdiaz And anyone I forgot. Also anyone who wants to participate! Tag me! I love to read all the snippets! (Sorry for any double tags. Tumblr has been weird with my tagging for some reason)

[because-i-am-barely-even-human]

Slightly drunk Ramon Diaz at one of the close family gatherings

Ramon: You know I don't believe in signs from the universe and whatnot...

Buck: Sounds familiar.

Ramon: ... but I think Eddie was always destined to be a firefighter.

Eddie: Thanks, dad. That's- that's really nice of you *touched*

Helena: Oh, no. No, no, no, please stop talking.

Eddie: What mom? This again? You think I'm not good enough for my job?

Helena: Honey, that is NOT what I mean-

Eddie: I thought we were past this!

Helena: We are, Eddie, of course we are! It's not what you think.

Eddie: Then what?

Helena: Sweety, trust me, you really don't want to know what's this about.

Eddie: I'm confused.

Buck: I'm kinda curious now.

Ramon: ... AS I WAS SAYING, the firefighting is in your blood, mijo. Did you know I was a firefighter in EPFD for, like, two years?

Eddie: Wow. No, you never told me or girls that. Why did you stop?

Ramon: I got fired. It was worth it.

Helena: Älskling, I'm begging you to stop talking.

Buck: I bet there's a story there.

Ramon: You goddamn right there is!

Eddie: What happened?

Ramon: It was your fault!

Eddie: Excuse me?!

Ramon: I got fired 'cuz our Edmundo was conceived in a fire TRUCK!

So, Eddie, mijo. You too, Evan! If my next grandkid is gonna be conceived in a firehouse, make sure you don't get caught, don't repeat my mistakes.

Eddie:

Buck:

Eddie: Mom?! *traumatized*

Helena:

[ellayuki]

05052022 - 9-1-1

go and come back (i'll wait in this space between us)

Spoilers for 5x16 & 5x17

~

“Hey, so, I have a favour to ask,” Eddie says as soon as Buck answers the phone. 

Buck blinks. Looks around the loft, making sure nobody’s around, and gets comfortable on one of the couches. “Something happened?”

Eddie sighs, long-suffering and annoyed, and so, so tired. Buck doesn’t even have to see him to tell. “I have to go back to El Paso for a couple of days next week.” Ah.

“Ah,” Buck says. He scratches his cheek, and bites back the words that bubble up his throat. “Everything okay there?” he asks instead.

“Yeah,” Eddie says, drawing out the last vowel. “It’s just something I have to attend, nothing major.”

‘Nothing major’ by Eddie’s standards could be anything from a birthday party to an actual funeral, so Buck’s not exactly convinced. “Okay, if you say so. So what’s the favour? Need me to go with? Because I will if you do. I’ll call Bobby, tell him I’ll need a shift change.” Because he would. He’d go, and he’d stand right by Eddie’s side, and he’d stare Helena and Ramon Diaz in their judgemental eyes and dare them to comment on his presence there.

“No, no,” Eddie says, though, and there’s something in his voice, Buck can’t tell if he’s amused or exasperated or what. “But thank you for offering. I just need you to look after Christopher while I’m gone.”

Oh. Buck is- He hadn’t- “You’re not taking him with you?” 

Eddie snorts. “I’m leaving Monday morning, and Chris still has school, so no.” Which, yes, true, now that Buck thinks about it. 

“I bet your parents are going to love that,” slips out, too snarky by half, before Buck can swallow it back down. Dammit. “I mean-”

“Yeah, well, they’re just going to have to deal with it,” Eddie cuts him off, and Buck couldn’t be more grateful. “I’m not pulling my kid out of school just because they feel like it.”

Buck nods, then remembers Eddie can’t actually see him. “Good. Good. And anyway, Chris has that presentation on Tuesday. He can’t miss that. He’s actually looking forward to it.”

There’s a moment’s pause, during which something crashes somewhere downstairs. Buck gets up from where he’s starfished himself over the couch while talking to Eddie. When he reaches the railing, he sees Ravi picking up the bucket and broom he’d apparently tripped over. He almost calls out to him when Eddie’s voice pulls his attention back to his phone. “I forgot about that.” He sounds rueful, guilty.

Buck rubs a hand over his face, and heads towards the kitchen. He needs a beer, if he’s quite honest, but he’ll settle for a coffee. “All the firefighting from the other day got you distracted?” he attempts at teasing. “Because no one would blame you.” He’s still not over that himself, the way they’d perfectly stepped back into their partnership, like not a single day had passed. 

Eddie huffs a laugh, though it’s weak. “I know what you’re doing.”

Buck shakes himself out of his memories. Grins. “Is it working?”

“Maybe.”

“I’ll take it.”

“So?” Eddie says, and it makes Buck blink into his coffee in confusion.

“So… what?”

He can actually hear Eddie rolling his eyes. “Can you stay with Chris? It should only be until Wednesday morning, and like, I get it if you can’t, if… if you’re busy, or if-”

“Eddie, Eddie,” Buck says, and he rolls his eyes now. “What the hell, man, you know the answer to that is always a very emphatic yes.” As if he’d ever turn down time with Chris. As if Buck would ever deny himself any time spent with either of the Diaz boys. Hell, he’s probably spent more time at Eddie’s house since… well, since that night, than he has been at his own apartment (much to Taylor’s annoyance, but Buck pushes that thought away. Some things are more important).

He can hear the shuddering breath Eddie lets out. “What would I do without you?”

What would I do without you? is on the tip of Buck's tongue. “You’ll never find out, if I can help it,” he says, and closes his eyes. Too much. That’s too much, right?

Eddie doesn’t seem to think so, though. “Okay, so. I’ll see you…”

“Sunday morning,” Buck decides in the heartbeat’s length of Eddie’s hesitation. And, to combat any protest he knows is about to arise with the choked off noise coming from the other side of the line, he adds, “I expect a fancy breakfast.”

Eddie laughs at that, just a tiny thing, but it makes something come loose in Buck’s chest. “Alright. Alright, fancy breakfast it is, then.” He sounds lighter. After what feels like forever, he sounds so much lighter. Buck wants to cry, and to laugh, and to just go over to Eddie’s right now and just- “Thanks, Buck. Really.”

And Buck packs away the longing in his chest, like he always does when it rears its unwanted head. “Don’t mention it, Eds.”

~

“How’s he taking it?” he asks as he lets himself through the door Sunday morning.

Eddie rolls his eyes so hard, Buck’s afraid they might pop out of his head. “You ask as if you don’t know that kid adores every moment he spends with you.”

Buck ducks his head. He doesn’t think he can hide how happy hearing that makes him feel. “Yeah well, feeling’s mutual, so.”

When he looks back up, Eddie’s smile is so fucking soft. “It is, isn’t it?” There’s something like contentment in his voice, something like… Buck swallows the sudden knot in his throat. Nods. 

For a few moments, seconds that stretch into small infinities, Buck and Eddie just look at each other in the entryway of Eddie’s home. Buck wonders, fleetingly, what it would be like, to just reach out, and thread his fingers lightly through Eddie’s. 

He takes a breath. 

“I was promised a fancy breakfast.”

Eddie snorts, and the moment fades away like smoke on wind. “You and your bottomless pit for a stomach,” he says, but it sounds fond more than anything else. “I’ll set the table. You go see if Chris is awake.” And with that, he heads into the kitchen, whistling to himself.

Buck breathes in deep, and goes to get Christopher. 

[hmslusitania]

for the list 2 and 51 would sound interesting, Royalty Accidental Marriage LOL!

2. Royal AU + 51. Accidentally Married

Anon, the sheer chaos this invokes. Actually! You know what it calls up? It calls up a The Prince & Me AU because sometimes you’ve gotta just grab the nearest Julia Stiles movie and take off running.

SO it’s like this:

Eddie’s mom -- a Swedish princess. Eddie -- a prince.

I mean, the guy looks enough like a Disney prince anyway, may as well roll with it

Anyway, Prince Edmundo “From hereon out you may address me as Eddie” Diaz, chafing at living in the same palace/city/country as his parents, is banished to America after certain...incidents...involving a *gasp* commoner and an illegitimate child,

who is, obviously, the light of literally everyone’s life, but

Eddie takes Chris, they move to LA to try and figure out what a “normal” life looks like without Eddie’s parents breathing down his neck

And they make friends!

Granted, they do it by accident because Eddie does not know how to cook and nearly burns their house down the first time he tries and the exasperated but very helpful firefighters of the 118 show up to help him extinguish the stove and they all get to talking. Well, Eddie gets to talking with the captain and the two paramedics, but not the very hot younger guy on their shift

because Christopher has imprinted on Buck like a baby duckling and so Buck is distracted because he is fervently debating the best ice cream flavours and pancake additives with Eddie’s four-year-old.

Bobby invites Eddie to come by the station sometime and he’ll give him some quick and easy recipes that he should be able to make without accidentally immolating himself or his home, and Eddie takes him up on it.

Buck, who had not seen Eddie when they went on the call to his house because he was distracted by Christopher: who is that?!

Chimney: That is a beautiful man, Buck.

Hen: Where’s the lie? And I like girls.

Buck: I KNOW HE’S BEAUTIFUL, I mean why is he here?

Eddie: ...I’m beautiful?

Buck:

Anyway, the firefam adopts Eddie and Chris, because how could they not, but Eddie does not really...tell them that he’s royalty. Like, it’s not something you lead with, and then once enough time has gone by, it’s not really something you can just drop into conversation?

The problem arises when they take Chimney to Vegas for his bachelor party.

Because someone comes out of that married, and it ain’t Madney.

And something about the chapel filing the marriage license flags something in someone’s search feature somewhere and suddenly, the fact that the already scandalous Prince Eddie has just gotten gay married in Las Vegas on a bender makes national headlines.

Cue Helena attempting to drag Eddie back to Stockholm by his ear, Buck completely baffled because maybe the marriage was an accident, but he’s definitely in love with Eddie

who’s a prince?! WHAT?!

and finally, an ultimatum from Eddie to his parents: either accept the fact that I love Evan Buckley and intend to remain married to him, or disown me and you will never see us again.

And I like to think that faced with the prospect of losing their son forever, Helena and Ramon would pull their heads out of their asses and grudgingly allow this to stand.

Eddie, Buck, and Christopher definitely stay in LA most of the time, though.

There are Other Mashups

[babybuckleydiaz]

prompt: the firefam are throwing a fam bbq and bucks parents and eddie’s parents are there too. bucks parents keep making mean and cruel comments about buck but he’s desperate to keep the peace and not “ruin” the party. bucks parents make a comment about buck and eddie and chris and that’s when shit hits the fan. eddie’s parents surprisingly get super protective of buck (maybe pre-relationship buddie or secret buddie??)

okay so, this doesn’t fit the prompt perfectly, but i got carried away. i am so sorry if this isn’t want you were looking for. Buddie isn’t really secret,, the only people who didn’t know were the Buckley parents. also also, did i make Maddie bisexual right at the end of the story because i thought that would be pretty neat? yes i did. I also apologise for any spelling mistakes and grammar errors, there are probably going to be a lot, I struggle to read back what I’ve written so I briefly read over it, if that makes sense. Thank you all so much for reading and thank you to the prompter :)

warnings: homophobia and swearing. the buckleys suck

  “Explain why I let you talk me into this.” There is a tone in Athena’s voice that Bobby can’t quiet decipher when Bobby moves to stand beside his wife, her eyes glued to the Buckley parents with so much dislike. Sighing, Bobby wraps an arm around the woman’s waist and presses a kiss to her cheek because he himself follows her gaze, to where Phillip and Margaret were conversing with Maddie and Chimney. “Because at least here Buck and Maddie are surrounded by their loved ones if anything goes wrong.” Was the response that Athena had been given, and that was honestly the only answer that she had needed as he moves her eyes to find Buck in the ground of people gathered in her backyard. She finds him, of course with Eddie glued to his side, as the young man speaks to Ramon and Helena with an easy smile on his face. Christopher is standing in between his father and Buck, both of the Diaz’s have refused to leave Buck alone the moment that his parents had arrived.

  “Evan, join us.” That had been Phillip’s voice that had called out above the mindless chatter that had taken over the atmosphere and no one misses how Buck seems to talk a calming breath before nodding his head. “Sorry, excuse me.” He politely said to Helena and Ramon, who just smiled at him in an understanding manner before they watch Buck walk away from them; taking the moment to take in the Buckley parents.

  “Why didn’t you tell us you were seeing someone?” Margaret questions, the tone in her voice making it clear that she was annoyed that she had to find out from someone who wasn’t Buck. Frowning, Buck looks over at Maddie who looks so apologetic that the young firefighter can’t find himself being mad at her, he understands when things just slip out. So he shakes his head at his older sister and smiles, to let her know wordlessly that she hadn’t done anything that she needs to be apologetic for.

  “Because honestly it was none of your business.” Simply says Buck, and Eddie has to pretend to cough when the snort that he lets out was a little louder than intended. With a fond yet exasperated look in her eyes, Helena reaches over and gently slaps Eddie on the back of the head while shaking her head good naturally. Buck also seems to have heard the sound, because he gives Eddie a look before rolling his eyes and turning back to his parents who stand before him unhappily. “Neither of you are really in my life, so I didn’t feel the need to share anything.” And it really was as simple as that, he doesn’t have that much to do with his own parents so he never thought to tell them that he had found himself in a relationship with his best friend.

  “Evan Buckley, we are your parents and deserve to know what goes on in your life.” Phillip is obviously angry, and he says it loud enough that everyone seems to fall silent as they turn their attention to the Buckley family with concern in their eyes. It was like they were all waiting for the moment when everything would go south side and hit the fan; ready to jump in if Buck and Maddie need them to jump to their defence. But instead Buck snorts as he shakes his head, because he’s in a good mood and doesn’t want anything; even his parents, to ruin his day nor make a scene in front of his friends and family. “Yeah sure, okay.” Buck responds as he moves away from his parents, obviously done with this conversation already, as he makes his way back to Eddie and Christopher’s side so he can just take a calming breath.

  “You okay, Evan?” That was Helena who had spoken when Buck joins them once again, and she watches as the firefighter shoots her a beaming smile and nod his head. “Yeah, I’m good.” Was all that Buck has to say, briefly looking over to see his parents looking at him with barely hidden annoyance at how they had been spoken to by their son. Buck shares that same beaming smile down at Christopher and kneels in front of him when the young boy tugs on his shirt to get his attention. “What’s up, kiddo.” He patiently asks, Christopher doesn’t say anything and instead moves forward so that he is in Buck’s arms receiving a huge hug from one of his favourite people. “Nothing, just wanted a hug.” Buck can’t help but laugh loudly as he shakes his head, a fond expression on his face as he looks down at the kid he loves as his own. “All you had to do was ask, bud.”

  “He’s going to be a great dad one day.” Karen, who had been watching the scene, whispers to her wife with a fond smile gracing her face and Hen chuckles lowly before she responds. “Oh he already is a dad, babe.” Was what she had responded with and Karen is confused for a split second before she realises that Hen is talking about Christopher and, yeah, he really is that kids second parent. While speaking, Nia begins to struggle in Hen’s arms, obviously wanting to be let go and Hen does what is asked of her and watches as her daughter marches her way over to Buck. “Hey, Buckaroo? Someone wants your hugs too!”

  Buck looks up just in time to see Nia crash heavily into his side, and he laughs as he is knocked onto his butt and then found himself with a lapful, Nia happily giggling as she buries herself against the older man’s chest. “Hi, baby!” Buck happily says, leaning down and kissing the little girl on the top of her head; running a hand up and down her back for a moment. The adults watching them go unnoticed as Buck blows a raspberry at Nia, who squeals a laughter and does one right back; Buck unable to help the beyond happy laugh that escapes his lips.

  “So this is what you do, delude yourself by playing house?”

  For a blissful moment, Buck had completely forgot that his parents were here and was only reminded when he heard the sound of his father’s voice demanding attention. Sighing, Buck takes a deep breath as he pushes himself to his feet with Nia still in his arms as the toddler leans against his chest; unaware of the tension shifting around her. “Can we please not do this here?” Because Buck really doesn’t want to be the reason that the carefree and happy environment turns sour and harsh; nor does he want to have an argument in front of the kids. Phillip stands strong and silent as he looks at his son, then at each of the other people looking between the both of them; and for now he relents.

  And Buck will take that as a win for now.

  Bobby moves over and claps Buck on the shoulder as he passes the younger man, wondering into the house to do something that no one was really bothered about. Buck smiles at his Captain as he disappears into the house. “Hey Bucky?” That was Christopher once against demanding for the attention of the older man, and who was Buck to deny the child that he loved something so simple? “Yeah, kiddo?” Once more, Buck finds himself moving towards the floor and he kneels in front of Christopher; knowing that the kid like to be eye level with the adults that he talks to.

  “When we get home, can we have a movie night?” The request was so damn simple, and Buck can’t help but think about the number of times his own parents shot him down when he asked for anything just as simple. “Hm, did you do your homework from Friday?” The adult questions, but it doesn’t matter because he knows that he will cave and say yes to anything that the kid will ask of him; those damn puppy dog eyes of his. “Yep!” Was the excited announcement that he had got back in return and for a moment Buck can’t help but chuckle as he looks at Christopher with nothing but love and fondness clear in his eyes. “Well then, of course we can buddy.”

  Ramon and Helena exchanged a look that held nothing but acceptance, Eddie catching onto it and unable to help smiling to himself. His parents adore Buck, have since they met back over a year ago. “Yay, you should also totally make us cupcakes.” Christopher adds on, almost as if it was nothing more than an afterthought. “Not today, bud. Maybe another day though.” Buck promises, ruffling Christopher’s hair before he pushes himself up to his feet and brushes the dust or dirt on his knees. That whole time, Buck still has Nia against his hip as if the extra weight didn’t affect him at all; holding onto her so naturally and Eddie can’t help how much his heart swells.

  Parenthood suits Buck.

  “You know, Evan.” Once again any light feelings and happiness feels as though it’s been drained completely out of him when Buck hears his mother’s voice sound up again. “Mum, don’t.” Maddie hisses, but all she gets is a blank look from her mother before her attention is shifted to Buck, who stands and faces her with a small frown. “Oh great, here we go.” Buck mumbles under his breath, Nia looking up at the sound of his voice and blinking at him before she lays her head once more on his chest.

  “If I had a partner who was playing house with another man, and his son I would be upset.”

  “Oh my f-“ Buck was going to swear when he remembered that he had a child in his arms and another standing right beside him who didn’t hesitate in repeating anything that he said. “We’re really going to do this here.” He scoffed, Eddie feeling so bad for Buck because every time he’s having a good time something always seems to go wrong and not in his favour. “Hey May, can you take the kids inside, please?” Buck knows that they were not going to avoid this discussion and argument, so the most that Buck can do is make sure that the kids don’t have to do this.

  “Course, I can.” May says, not hesitating in taking Nia from Buck’s arms and resting the toddler on her hips and then grabbing Christopher’s hand for a moment in support. “Come on, bud. Let’s make those cupcakes.” Buck smiles tightly at her, making a mental note to return the favour for May whenever she needs one next. “You are a saint.” He whispers to her when she passes him, and she throws a wink over her shoulder before she goes inside the house at the same time that Bobby walks out, having no idea what had happened while he was gone.

  “Ed?” Buck questions quickly, because what he is about to say will have to decide on what Eddie’s answer will be to his one word question. “Go for it, I’m good.” Is the response that Buck was hoping he would get, and he nods his head as he turns his back to his partner and faces his parents.

  “I am seeing someone, I’m in a relationship with Eddie. I’m not playing house with another man.” Buck said, everything was out in the open with his parents and he can’t help but wish that he never opened his mouth. He had no idea what his parents were going to say, but it was too late to take them back now that they had been said.

  And the mere seconds that pass feel like hours, everything silent that a pin drop would have been as loud as an explosion in Buck’s ears. He sees his mother look at him with wide eyes, looking at her son as if it were the first time that she had ever seen him. And his father just looks angrier then he had before, something that Buck hadn’t really thought was possible until this moment. “I thought you were over this little rebellion of yours, Evan.” Margaret had said with a sigh as she had lowered her head and pinched the bridge of her nose. Clenching his jaw, Buck remains silent after what his mother had said while anger fills his body quicker than he ever thought would have been possible for him. But he’s pissed off, and this was something that he hated.

  Buck wasn’t someone that liked to feel anger, because once the anger was gone it left him drained to the bone like no other emotion could do.

  “You ruined one family, Evan. You really want to do that to another?”

  Now that is something that Buck had not expected to hear, and he couldn’t help but step back from the words as if they were a physical threat to him. His grown grows deeper as he feels that anger drain from him just as quickly as it had built up. He feels Eddie move to his side, an arm being placed around his waist in support and Buck looks at his boyfriend; who hasn’t hesitated in moving to his side the moment that Buck had stumbled back.

  “Excuse me?!” Both Eddie and Buck’s head whipped around at the sound of Helena’s voice calling out, demanding for all the attention as she steps away from her husband’s side and on the other side of Buck. Both her son and probably-future-son-in-law, both looked confused. It was known to both of them that Ramon and Helena preferred to stay out of other’s businesses, so neither of them had been expecting either of Eddie’s parents to jump into Buck’s defence. “N-No, Helena. It’s okay, it’s fine.” Buck quickly says, pushing down any emotions that he’s feeling as he looks at the older woman with a pleading expression, he really doesn’t want to be the reason that this day ends in an argument.

  “It’s not fine, Evan. They have no right to speak to you the way that they had.” It was Ramon who spoke up this time, but not moving from where he stood just behind the group; and Buck turns slightly to look at him with an expression that he can’t put into words. “Buck never ruined anything, mum! How dare you say that to him?” Maddie butts in, looking well beyond pissed off as she looked at her parents, the anger that she was feeling so clearly visible on her face for all to see. Philip is quick to shut down his daughter, holding his hand up in front of his face, and Buck doesn’t miss how Chimney looked more than tempted to slap that hand away from his partner. “Do not butt in, Maddie. This does not concern you.” Philip says harshly, and Buck had opened his mouth to jump to his sister’s defence, because no one can talk down to his sister in such a way and think that it’s okay.

  “Don’t you dare fucking do that to me.” But Maddie hadn’t given him the chance when she slapped her own father’s hand away, and Buck doesn’t deny that there was so much pride that swells up inside of him when his sister speaks. “I’m grabbing your coats, and both of you are leaving. Neither of you are wanted here.” Chimney is quick to follow Maddie as she waddles off into the house, no doubt trying to calm her down as they leave. “Oh look what you’ve done, Evan.” Phillip hisses, once again unable to take the blame that is solely his and Margaret’s, and placing it on Buck who hasn’t done a single thing wrong. Buck scoffs as he rolls his eyes, having no fight left within him as he ignores as best as he can what his father had just said to him. He really doesn’t want to deal with this anymore.

  “It’s so amazing to me that you’re son ended up as wonderful as he is when you both raised him.”

  It seemed like Helena wasn’t done though as he speaks up once more, the protectiveness and anger written so clearly on her face that not even a blind man would have been able to miss it. She’s angry and she doesn’t want these people to leave before she can give them a peace of her mind. “It’s astounding, actually. You’re children are wonderful despite how cold and cruel the two of you are.” The woman adds on, and Buck can feel how his eyes widen at how easily and quickly Helena has come to his defence over something that she didn’t need to put herself into. “Who the hell do you think you are?” Phillip is left stunned for a moment before he finds his words, confused as to who the hell this woman thought she was to butt into something that didn’t concern her at all.

  “Well hopefully, Evan’s mother-in-law one day.” She responds over her shoulder, giving Eddie a pointed look who rolls his eyes in response. “You’re seriously okay with your son dating another man? Are you not worried about your grandson?”

  “Wow, we love good old homophobia.” Buck mumbles as he rolls his eyes for the hundredth time that day at what had been said by his parents; Eddie lighting tapping his shoulder as if to tell him off for what he said. “At first? No, I wasn’t okay with it. In fact I watched them to break up.” Helena isn’t ashamed to admit what she had originally thought of the relationship when they had been told, because she learnt from everything that happened.

  “But as a parent all I want is my son to be happy, and Edmundo has never been happier than with Evan.” She adds on, hoping that maybe anything that she said today could help the Buckley parents to understand that who their son dates should never be their concern. “And for Christopher? Evan loves that kid like his own, would protect him even at the cost of his own life.” Helena thinks back to the tsunami when she says that, knowing that Buck had done everything that he had in him to try and find Christopher after they got separated.

  “I wouldn’t exactly class Buck as the parenting type.” Margaret obviously thought that she was being quiet, but with the silence that was surrounding them everyone heard what she had to say. And saying that none of them were impressed with what they heard would have been so much more than an understatement.

  “It isn’t like Buck has a reference for what good parenting actually is.” Eddie angrily hisses, he really just can’t stand here and allow anyone to talk about Buck when they didn’t know him what so ever. “But Buck is a fucking amazing father, I’ll have you know.” The dark haired firefighter continues, because he’s seen time and time again how amazing Buck is when it comes to looking after Christopher. “So Buck never ruined my family, because he adds so much to it instead.” Buck can see how annoyed and angry Eddie was getting, he hates it when people diss his family and think that they can get away from it.

  “We’re gonna be back in a moment, I think someone needs at Christopher hug.” Buck excuses himself and Eddie, wanting to give his boyfriend the moment he needed to regain his thoughts and talk to his son. Nothing will ever sooth more than having a huge hug from his adorable son.

  By the time that they’re gone, Maddie is back and throws the coats at Margaret and Phillip, there are tears burning in her eyes but she looks much calmer than before.  “I’ll show you out.” Maddie’s voice is clipped and rough when she speaks, and she doesn’t give either of her parents any time to respond before she tells them to hurry up; urging them to the door. She throws the door open angrily and holds it, watching with eyes so cold as ice until her parents are out of the door.

  “Oh by the way!” Maddie calls out, a small and barely noticeable smirk on her face when her parents turn around to face their daughter. Maddie is leaning against the doorframe, a hand on her belly when she speaks again. “Now is a great time to let you know that I’m bisexual.” She admits, something that she had dreaded for so long in doing seeming easy, because no matter what they think she has a family who will support and love her no matter what. A brother and a partner who love her unconditionally, people who will always watch her back. And when her father opens his mouth, that angered look back on his face does Maddie slam the door with a smile.

  She turns around with that same smile on her face, only to jump back in freight and slap a hand over her chest when she sees Buck standing there with arms crossed over his chest and a smile on his face. “I thought you wanted to wait to tell them?” He questions, and Maddie can only find herself shrugging her shoulders with a sigh as he moves and pulls her brother into a tight hug that he easily returns. “I did, but then I thought fuck it. Might as well.” It was simple to Maddie really, because as long as she had her brother and Chimney by her side she wasn’t scared of what her parents would do or say anymore.