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When Eddie met Evan one of the most terrifying feelings in his life was happening. The other man was a welcome distraction. He didn’t bring up Eddies time overseas the entire time, after thanking him for his service and for that Eddie was grateful. It was the last thing he wanted to be thinking about while his son was being born. He was going to have a son. And there was a man sitting next to him with the prettiest eyes he's ever seen and the brightest smile.
They spent hours talking to one another about nothing and everything. Evan was travelling, headed to Texas to get some new scenery. Something about needing to get away, to see it all. He wondered what the kind of things he went through, if the sadness behind those blue eyes meant anything. Eddie almost wished he could ask.
But they were strangers, and they were strangers when he got off his final flight and they parted ways.
Eddie didn’t think he’d ever see him again but that didn’t mean he didn’t stop thinking about him. The differences in their lives, cradling his son close. And he wonders what would’ve happened if they’d exchanged numbers. The man had been so happy for Eddie, for growing his family.
He’d always wanted a family.
Told Eddie that as if he’d be able to forget it. But here as his son is wrapped in a blanket and his wife is barely speaking to him, he wishes that he would’ve found out more about him. So he could share it with someone who seemed so good.
He thought about Evan on occasion after that, once he was back in Afghanistan. Since he didn’t have much else to do, and it wasn’t honestly just Evan, it was most people who lived all these different lives and Eddie had chosen this. The military, and yeah the people around him felt like family, but he wondered what it would be like to just do whatever he wanted. To go anywhere.
That feeling quickly faded when he called his wife, who only really ever argues with him on these calls and he usually ends up just talking to a baby that isn’t even awake. Christopher is still perfect in every way, even with his diagnosis.
But it’s not Shannon’s face that greets him. It’s a face he never thought he’d see again and emotions roll through him at the idea that there’s something incredibly wrong. Especially when he starts crying and anger flows through Eddie's veins.
At least he’s not sleeping with his wife. Well, ex-wife now he thinks later that night. Anxiety making his hands shake. She’d left them all, and Buck, he calls himself now for a reason Eddie doesn’t know, had taken his son in. Is just as lost as he feels right now but he’s doing it. Because he cares so much. Even though Eddie had said he barely recognized him.
And it’s so obvious, because Eddie is a pretty damn good judge of character. He’d known on that plane that Evan, Buck, he needs to be better about that. That Buck was a good person. Just good overall, but he never felt that he’d find out how much. But Eddie doesn’t believe there’s a bad bone in his body, he wears his entire heart on his sleeve and continues to prove that fact to Eddie.
Even thousands of miles apart. Buck had gone through his savings for Christopher. Was struggling but trying his best until Eddie gave him access to his account. The fact that he even forgot makes him visit the base's sad excuse for a gym to punch it out. He’s terrible at this, but he’s fixing it, and it helps that Buck doesn’t bring money up again, lowers his anxiety.
That is until Eddie calls and he doesn’t even say hello before Buck is talking, looking more exhausted and defeated than Eddie has ever seen him in these past couple of months.
Chris had a seizure, Buck met his parents.
Worry rolls through his body, and he feels his own happy expression fall rapidly and he looks at the baby, and Chris looks fine. He has to reassure himself that he does and it’s obvious that Chris is okay and so he comforts Buck. Because he looks like he feels like a failure and Eddie knows that feeling too well.
But it’s anger that replaces the worry when his parents are brought up again. He barely thinks about them, and the fact that they were rude and awful enough to Buck for him to feel like he’s not good enough for a baby they’ve seen less than Eddie makes him seethe. They bring out the worst in Eddie and he knows that, but he can’t help it.
Not when Buck looks like he’d cry if he had the energy to do so. He looks so defeated but he still pushes Eddie's reaction off and that only makes it worse. He's heard it before and he's never felt anger like this. Because who has told him whatever his parents had before?
Eddie wants to ask, wants to pry the information out of him so he can share the pain. So he can try and fix it so Eddie doesn’t fuck up. He never wants to see that look on his face again. His fists are clenched and Buck acts like it’s fine. When he’s not even fine. He’s clearly far from fine. Eddie may be terrible at expressing his own emotions but he’s not blind and he’s not stupid.
So he tells him to move. To do it and thrive because if anything will work, it’s Shannon’s words. Words he’ll never forget and Eddie doesn’t understand how anyone who does what Buck is currently doing could be treated any less than amazing.
He wants him and his son as far away from his parents as possible.
Eddie makes it happen.
He gets on the phone with the realtor of the house that Buck liked and was in a price range that they could afford on Eddie's income only. He puts Buck on the lease and makes it half his.
If his parents try anything, they’ll have to go through Eddie's lawyers. He meant it when he said he’d go to jail if he saw them, even if Buck looked shocked which makes him even more angry really, that anyone would do that for him. But he doesn’t want Chris around them and doesn’t want Buck to think he has to deal with it.
So he secures it all in the best way he knows how and puts Buck's name on everything he can think of. The house, his paperwork in case anything ever happens to Eddie. He puts that man in his will to make for certain that he gets Chris.
Because ever since the two of them have been in LA, they look like they’re thriving. Bucks going to be a damn good firefighter, and he looks like he’s glowing as they talk on the phone. Everytime helps him forget the hell that is being here, being so far away.
It pushes away the early mornings and late nights. The missions that means he might not sleep at all, leaving him with an ache in his bones that feels like it’ll never go away. He forgets about the sand and the death the moment he sees them. And well, seeing how much better Buck looks through the camera makes it all worth it.
“Oh my god.” Buck gasps and the daydream ends and his worry returns until Buck moves the camera and Chris is crawling.
He’s crawling all on his own and fights against the emotion welling up his throat but the words come out anyways. “Mijo.” And almost does lose it when Chris acknowledges him. Eddie remembers Buck being honest about every appointment, how he may progress slower than other children but that they’re working on it.
Eddie is so proud of him. Even if he never did it, he’s doing it right now.
But what really gets him, makes his heart race is when Buck comes into view to catch him before he even has the chance to fall and picks the baby up. Nuzzling him and making Chris giggle, “Look at you go sweet boy, my little Superman is getting so strong”
My little Superman.
Oh.
Eddie doesn’t ever want to let him go. The choice comes to him as easy as breathing and it’s no wonder that he looks forward to their talks every single time he’s able too. It’s the highlight of his week getting to see the both of them. To know they’re okay and to get to hear Buck laugh. To see the proof that he was the perfect choice to take care of his son.
Of their son.
Because if Chris is anyone’s, he’s Bucks baby. That Eddie knows for a fact.
But he wants them both to be his. And he’s never been particularly good at sharing. Eddies heart is racing against his chest when Buck comes back to the screen, excited and happy and he smiles back at him just as easy,
“He’s getting so big, I can’t believe I got to see that.”
“Must’ve been fate!” Buck continues to grin and the expression only grows when Eddie rolls his eyes, a fondness he can’t shake from the revelation he just had.
“Sure bello.” Eddie states, internally disappointed that Buck doesn’t react to it but he looks so happy, so beautiful that Eddie can let it go.
He wants to marry this man.
And the next time he talks to his abuela he asks her to take pictures of rings so that he can choose one for Buck and have it ready when he comes home.
So really it’s his fault that everyone thinks they’re married. Because he wants Buck to be his husband and maybe if his Abuela says it enough, Buck will say yes. Eddie doesn’t think he’s wrong about Buck feeling the same way.
Either way he’s going to propose and it’s almost scarier than meeting him in person. He thinks about it for the rest of his deployment. It’s in the forefront of his mind while he's on the plane. Eddies headed home and he’s going to see his son and he’s going to propose to someone he’s come to care about so much.
All of his basemen are rooting for Eddie. Cheering him on, he can still hear it in his head while he walks through the doors of the airport.
And they’re right there, coming at him fast. So he sidesteps the rest of the people and braces. Chris is giggling as they run and Buck looks like he’s going to cry and it makes him feel more confident in the more impulsive decision he’s ever made in his life. Especially as they collide and warmth enters his entire being.
Bucks right there and he thinks that if Abuela didn’t have the ring he’d propose right now. And really he’s thankful he doesn’t have that, Buck might have a heart attack. But he deserves something just for him so he looks at Chris, taking him in and reads his shirt, clearly custom made.
Welcome Home Papi
It reads in an army font and Chris looks adorable and bigger than he thought he’d be and now Eddie doesn’t want anything more than to go home with the two of them. And hopefully, keep them all there for as long as he can.
Home is exactly how it looked from the pictures and the living room is the most familiar place. Bucks laptop still sits on the side table as he wanders around. Taking it all in. The place is lived in, comfortable. There’s toys all over the rug in front of the couch in the living room.
There’s a playpen by the window to the backyard. And there’s photos on the wall. Some Eddie remembers from his old house, but some are new. Mostly of Chris, he’s in most of them in some shape or form. But Abuela and Pepa are in others with or without Buck.
Chris’s bedroom is the most put together room so far. His clothes all either hung up or folded. There’s little shoes that are wide for his feet. Braces attached to them and Eddies chest swells, they’re for when he does start walking, Bucks believed in him from the beginning.
His crib is simple, the only thing in there is a swaddle type looking blanket and nothing else. Well except for the single sock stuffed in the side of the crib, he doesn’t even want to know where the other one could be.
The spare room is mostly empty. There’s random things in there and the main bathroom looks barely used. Bath toys in a basket with the small tub that’s clearly for Chris in there.
The other bedroom is obviously where Buck has been sleeping. It’s less clean but still organized. He recognizes the bed and the dresser from when Buck lived in El Paso, it’s the one from his apartment. The dresser is the same way. It has a basket full of unfolded laundry on it, a mix of Buck and Chris’s clothes he’d imagine.
There’s another crib in here, next to the bathroom door and a swing in the corner.
Eddie puts his bag on the bed without thinking about it and gets his clothes out. Sweats and a t-shirt that is clean. But when he gets to the bathroom he sees that he doesn’t need them. There’s clothes sitting there already, and they’re Eddie's clothes, not Bucks.
Did Buck bring his things here? And he goes back out of the bathroom to really make sure he needs to check. And when he opens the closest it’s all right there. His clothes are on one side while Bucks are on the other and his cheeks heat at the empty hangers on his side.
Has Buck been wearing his clothes?
He wants to know, but first he needs to shower. And it’s a quick process because he can hear Chris in the living room. Not crying, but he hears him and Eddie wants to see him. Wants to be near him, even though the warm water feels nice on his skin, soothing his aching muscles. Chris is more important than a longer shower.
When he comes back out, he stops for a moment at the sight of Buck sitting on the couch, feeding Chris. It looks like he just started and the ceremony for Bucks graduation is in a few days, he only has to wait that long before asking him.
So he feeds Chris and relishes in the reaction to the teasing he gives Buck. But the reaction to the fact that Chris is their son is everything. Buck flushes and he wants him so bad. Wants to kiss the flush on his cheeks.
Plus, he knows now that Buck never corrected Abuela and the confidence is back.
He’s going to do it.
And he does, after they’re home and Abuela had slipped the ring box in his pocket at the ceremony. Where Buck was shining all of the way up until they got home. Home because they’ve been sleeping in the same bed together and Bucks mere presence has been helping with his nightmares.
They’re intense and they feel real but Bucks body is solid and present every time he wakes up. Breath caught in his throat and sucking in to stay quiet. He never wakes Buck up, but holding him eventually brings him back under and he wants it forever. Wants to do it where they’re both on the same page
So he gets on one knee and the rest is history.
—
They’re here now though. Standing in a courthouse while Abuela and Pepa stand with them. Chris in Pepas arms, wearing a little suit that the woman had picked out for him a couple of weeks before.
In fact, it’s only been a few weeks since they’ve been engaged. Buck hasn’t even officially started with the 118 yet, but he wanted to start there as a Diaz and well, Eddie obviously wouldn’t say no to that.
It seems as though Buck is just as impulsive as he is. Yeah he proposed, but Buck was the one that made it move so quickly. They had to promise Abuela that they’d have a reception, and invite people that they actually know to come.
But this was private. Just for them and the people they love the most and Eddie isn’t one to waste any time either and he only sees a future that is full of happiness when he looks at Buck, ring on his finger as he smiles at Eddie.
The man’s a bit bigger now from all the exercise. But he’s perfect no matter what. And he looks damn good in a suit. And he’s looking at Eddie in a way he doesn’t even know if he deserves but he’ll take it, feeling greedy from it.
“Ready to marry me?” Buck asks in front of them all, they’re standing in front of the judge and the toy that Chris is playing with makes a tune around them.
What more could Eddie say than yes?
His “I do” flows off his tongue easier than anything ever has before.
It’s simple and perfect and for them.
Eddie is happy.
And he kisses Buck in the hope that he’ll feel it in his passion. Sealing them together forever and smiles against his mouth when Buck kisses him the same way. Almost biting with it as Eddie's family cheers, not caring who hears them.
Because when you know you know and Eddie doesn’t have a single fear in his heart. This is the right choice.
Their wedding night is the first night Buck has ever been away from Chris and he knows that. But it’s good practice for when the man starts working 24 hour shifts. And though Eddie is worried about him, Pepa will keep him safe and so he distracts them both by pulling him back into a kiss when they get the front door closed behind them.
Eddie can’t help it, not now that he’s been getting to kiss him and Buck is his now. Legally will bare his name and it sends a possessive feeling down his spine. But he’s always been that way and he should’ve known it would happen with Buck.
Wants to keep him close and safe while he’s home. Even if he’s a little taller than Eddie it doesn’t matter. Eddie feels like Evan is the other half of his soul and he’d do anything to make sure he’s cared for.
“Eddie.” Buck gasps into his mouth and Eddie hums, mouthing at Bucks neck, he’s only human and he wants to taste. “I love you.”
Eddie smiles against him, “Te amo.” Saying it without hesitation. Not like his proposal, where he couldn’t get himself to get it out, here though, he says it because he really means it. With his entire being and wants Buck to know. That he’s with him, for as long as he’ll keep Eddie.
With the way he’s gripping the back of Eddies head, he hopes that means it’ll be a very long time before he lets him go.
They sure don’t let go for the rest of the night. And it’s all so backwards but right. To do more than sleep now that they know that the other isn’t going to disappear. Eddie feels it, Buck is his end.
And though he’s not great at telling him. He can show it.
Buck is a gift, he’s convinced of that. The universe used to feel punishing, he didn’t feel good enough to even be alive sometimes. But here and now, with his hands on Bucks waist, holding him close. The fabric of his suit digging into Eddies palms, not that Buck is going anywhere. That much is clear.
If anything, Buck seems to want to be closer, letting Eddie mark up his neck even though he has to be at the station in a feed and his new uniform won’t cover them. It only spurs Eddie on. Taking him away from the door and Buck gasps as he’s moved.
“Jesus.” Buck exhales when he’s picked up, and Eddie fights a smirk. Seems like someone likes to be manhandled, and he’ll have to do that more often if it gets a shutter like that everytime.
Eddie drops Buck on the bed, where the man sits and looks at him, before Buck is smiling, “Are we really doing this?” He sounds almost teasing.
“It is our wedding night.” Eddie quips with a grin and Buck laughs.
“No dinner at all, you really know how to wine and dine a guy.” He does tease then and Eddie grips his chin between his fingers.
“I’ll take you to breakfast in the morning, Corazón.” And thumbs over Bucks mouth, the digit slightly pulling around the smile framing his husband's face.
“You better,” Buck grabs Eddie's tie and Eddie still feels bigger here. Above him and with the way Bucks eyes flutter, he likes it.
So he pushes the man down softly, letting the grip on his tie bring him down too and slots one of his legs in between Bucks. Dropping some of the weight there to rest against Bucks dick but not pushing. He watches Buck swallow thickly, throat moving from the action.
“We don’t have too, only if you want.” Eddie murmurs, mere distance between their mouths.
“Yeah, I want it Ed’s, I want you.” Buck replies instantly, moving his head up enough for their lips to brush and Eddie devours his mouth once more. The teasing is over as he pushes Buck into the mattress. Swallowing a whine that leaves Bucks mouth and tasting it in his own.
He moans at the taste of Buck's mouth. And when Bucks hips roll into his leg, he finally pushes down, Bucks gasp breaking their kiss as he searches for some type of friction. Eddie wanders how easy it would be to make him cry from pleasure instead of how much he cries when he’s sad.
It’s an intrusive thought, and he knows from the times they talked, learned more about one another that Buck was quite adventurous. Not as much as he could’ve been without Chris, but still. And Eddie wants him, to keep what all of those other people didn’t see for himself. And he knows he has him, Bucks so open with his emotions he’s certain strangers on the street can see it.
But this is for Eddie. All of this.
“Eddie cmon.” Buck's voice is for him, the way he sounds already. He already sounds wrecked and their clothes aren’t even off. Which he plans to change very quickly and moves to untuck his shirt pulling it up.
“Then take the suit off, even if you look gorgeous in it.” Eddie purrs, and Buck does with a wheezed huff of a breath. Immediately stopping his grinding. Eddie watches as more skin is revealed, the shirt's buttons pop, the suit jacket is on the floor, thudding onto the ground.
Then he’s on Eddie faster than he can unbutton his own shirt, sending them everywhere. They’ll have to pick them up when they’re done but it’s the last thing he’s worried about right now. Eddie almost mourns it, but then Bucks warm hands are on his chest and that thought flies out of the window.
“Off, you too-“ Buck whines and Eddie does as he’s told, he’s thought it once. Whatever Buck wants, he’s gone for him. Then they’re both shirtless and he moves again. Sliding Bucks pants down and saving the moan he gets for it in the back of his mind, letting it settle there for him to never forget.
Eddie is on him the moment the pants are all of the way off and forgotten on the floor. Kissing him breathless because Buck doesn’t have anything on underneath of them, “Oh Cariño, how bold.” And he feels Bucks grin against his mouth.
“You have no idea how bold I can be.” He says as if his pupils aren’t blown out and he’s breathing heavily into Eddie's mouth. So Eddie goes back to his neck, licking at the bruised skin he left there earlier, feeling Bucks heart fluttering against his skin, feeling satisfied as he bites down, making Buck shutter and his hips rise against him.
Eddie wants to see how bold Buck can be but it’s hard to not touch and so he does because nothing is stopping him. He palms his dick, hand curling around him and Buck makes a punched out sound. Neck angling back farther and Eddie bites again. Sucking when he’s done and leaving a blooming mark behind.
He strokes, his own straining through his pants. His head is screaming at him to take. Explore Buck and make him tremble. But he already is, shaking against the bed and Eddie remembers suddenly how long it’s been for either of them.
So his hand leaves Bucks dick and he chuckles at the whine he gets for it. But the whine changes, changes to a gasp as Eddie's fingers tease him.
But he’s not met with dryness and the moment Buck notices is obvious, he lets out a little laugh as Eddie chokes on his surprise when his finger slides right in, “Told you.” Buck exhales, the smile heard in his voice.
“Bold is an understatement.” Eddie breathes out, “Asking me if I’m sure, but you wanted this just as much as me.” He states, moving his finger until he can put in another.
“Ob—“ Buck moans when Eddie angles his fingers, “obviously, have you seen yourself?”
“Mmm, I’m going to make you feel so good.” Eddie declares. And things speed up, he’s aching for it, to feel him, to be as close as they can be. “Gonna make you mine.”
Buck moans Eddie's name, he makes the most beautiful noises, he keeps them, he’s going to keep keeping him. “Can’t take what’s already yours Eds.” And Eddie growls, and Bucks back arches so pretty, he’s so fucking pretty. Taking his fingers like he was made for it, and Buck might have a point sometimes about the universe and fate and whatever the hell else, because as he slicks himself up and eases himself in, he feels like Buck was meant to be with Eddie.
Buck takes deep whining breaths, just taking it and it’s the best thing Eddies ever seen. The way Buck looks spread out underneath him. He’s like a painting and there’s tattoos he’s never seen before. Tattoos he’s going to memorize.
“Eddie, move, cmon please… give it to me.” Buck pleads and Eddie is the one that moans now, bending close because Buck is rocking his hips and he pushes him down again, the bed making a noise at the action as Eddie holds his hip in place with one hand.
“Then take it.” Eddie clenches tight, hands surely leaving marks and starts moving. The grip he has helps, thrusting in and out, hard enough that Bucks voice raises an octave, little but loud ah, ah, ahs, falling from his mouth like a symphony. Buck takes it all, as Eddie just gives it to him.
And he never wants to stop, but he shifts his angle, keeping the hold he has on Bucks hip and grabs with the other, a handful of his ass, angling his body the way he wants it. Eddies hips slap the bottom of Bucks thighs, redness behind he’ll make feel all better later. But it doesn’t matter now as he rolls his hips in again and Bucks moan echoes off of their bedroom walls, Eddie can’t help but smirk.
“You like the way your husband fucks you bello?” Eddie grounds out, pleasure zapping up his spine but the smirk doesn’t fall.
“yes!” Buck moans out, “fuck! Please—- please,” Bucks pecks move with Eddies thrusts and he can barely take his eyes away from the movement. Only dragging them away because he hears it, the start of a sob in his voice.
“You gonna cry sweetheart? Gonna come on my cock?” Eddie simpers and Buck does sob with it that time, he squeezes his eyes shut, and Eddie feels like he’s going to fall apart.
A broken moan follows the sob, “close—“ and Eddie almost blacks out when Buck squeezes around him and his grip on Bucks hips turns soft, he doesn’t want Buck to think Eddie is only rough, he wants him to know he’s cared for and loved. “Eddie-“
Eddie kisses him, deep and sensual but doesn’t stop his pace, Bucks return to the kiss is messy and uncoordinated, so he sits his forehead on Bucks own and breathes, grunting over him, “Cum for me precioso.” Whispering it as he moans.
Then the tears come and Eddie licks them away as they fall down his face. Taking them from him, tasting the pleasure on his tongue as Buck tenses and it’s the most silent he’s been yet. His eyes open wide, mouth inhaling the shared breath between them as he pulses.
“There you go.” Eddie murmurs, pressing their lips together as the fluttering of Buck sends him right over too. A claim, and a promise all in once.
They lay there after, sweaty and holding each other close. Sharing kisses in their little bubble, enjoying the first official day of the rest of their lives. Wipes clean and under the covers, they need to shower and sleep. Need to do a lot of things and a lot of things will surely be coming their way.
But right now it’s just them. No nervousness of Buck starting his new job and Eddie eventually leaving again. It’s them, it’s the love that’s grown.
“Can we go pick up Chris?” Buck breaks him out of his musings, hand pausing where he was running it through Bucks curls.
Eddie can’t help but laugh, “Yeah, let’s go get our son.”