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Buck had never thought she’d get married, it didn’t seem like the kind of thing people like her got, and yet here she was, signing a marriage license and adoption papers! She was officially married to Eddie and Chris was legally her son and she couldn’t be happier.
But she couldn’t help but feel a little bit sad, it was probably just her crashing after an extremely full on day, but a part of her felt like something was missing. She knew exactly what it was, of course she did, this same feeling had followed her since she was 12. It was a reminder of the big sister she didn’t know anymore.
Maddie had been the one kind person to her in her childhood, the one person from her past she’d want to spend today with, but she wasn’t here.
Buck didn’t know where she was, she’d spent hundreds of sleepless nights thinking about it, having to use all of her self control to stop herself from going onto social media and looking her up, reaching out to a woman she used to know. Because she didn’t know Maddie anymore, the version of her she had in her head was an 18 year old girl who’d moved to Boston with a man Buck didn’t like. But that didn’t mean a part of her didn’t wish to know her big sister.
“Hey? Are you alright?” Eddie asked, pulling Buck from her thoughts.
“Huh?”
“Is everything okay?”
“Oh, uh, yeah, yeah, I’m fine.” She lied, trying to brush off his worries.
Obviously Eddie could tell she was lying, he knew her too well, “Come on, talk to me baby.”
“I’m just overthinking, I’m sorry for worrying you.”
Eddie took her hand and gently led her through to her childhood bedroom, “Come on, talk to me.” He gently encouraged once they were sat side by side on Buck’s bed.
Buck took a second to gather her thoughts, looking around her room. She’d stayed there the night before, Eddie staying at their house, so her make-up was on the vanity and a suitcase sat on the floor with clothes falling out of it, but other than that the room was a time capsule of her teen years.
The carpet had once been plush, but had been compressed over the years, the walls still a very pale pink, almost white. Posters covered the walls, a Philly Fliers flag hung in place of curtains, an Erika doll sat on the dresser (May having the matching Princess Annalise in her own room), and fairy lights wrapped around fake plants. It was so different from the rooms she’d had when she lived with the Buckley’s, which were all bland colours with no personal touches, devoid of life. There was such a clear contrast between the two and this was the room she preferred (obviously), the life she preferred, but there was still that tiny bit of her that missed Maddie, or the idea of Maddie she supposed.
“I keep thinking about Maddie.” She eventually admitted, her voice small.
Eddie reached out and took her hand, stroking his thumb along her knuckles, “That’s understandable.” Buck looked up at him, confused by that, she thought she was being ridiculous being upset about this on her wedding day, “Even if you haven’t seen her since you were 12, she’s still your sister, and she’s still someone you love.”
“No, I love the idea of her.” Buck corrected, “I don’t know anything about her now, I love the person I knew back then.”
Eddie nodded, “You still love a version of her, so it’s understandable you’d want her here.”
“Sorry I’m ruining today.” She huffed.
Eddie gave her a soft, kind smile, “You’re not ruining today, it’s a big day and you’ve got big emotions missey.” He joked, getting a small chuckle out of Buck.
“I really am happy.” She said after a moment of silence.
“I know, you’re just having a moment, and that’s okay.”
“What did I do to deserve someone as good as you, huh?”
Eddie placed a kiss on her cheek, “You were your wonderful self.”
Buck rested her head on Eddie’s shoulder, the pair falling into a comfortable silence.
After a few minutes Buck spoke up again, “I wonder if she’s happy.”
Eddie knew she was talking about Maddie, and he began to debate whether he should reveal that he’d looked into her. But Buck deserved the truth, so he opted to tell her, “She is. She’s married and has a daughter, she’s fifteen and her name is Georgia.”
Buck’s head snapped up, “How do you know that?”
Eddie sighed, "When you were in the hospital I looked into your parents, I got curious and I couldn’t help myself, but I eventually ended up on Maddie’s instagram and then Georgia’s.” He admitted.
Eddie hadn’t been sure what Buck’s reaction would’ve been but thankfully she smiled at him, “Thank you, I’m glad she’s happy.” There was a beat before she spoke again, “What are Phillip and Margaret like?”
Eddie’s face fell, unable to keep the anger he felt towards them off of his face, “They’re still teachers, Phillip is even the principal of the school they’re at.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that would be allowed.”
Eddie huffed, “It shouldn’t be, fuck knows how it happened. But today isn’t about them, and they’re not here, let’s focus on us and our real family. The Buckley’s don’t get to ruin our special day.”
Buck took a deep breath, pushing away all thoughts of the Buckley family, because Eddie was right, this wasn’t about them, they didn’t get to impact a day that was all about how much she loved her husband (holy shit, he was her husband now!)
“Yeah, yeah, you’re right. Fuck the Buckley’s, we’ve got more important things to worry about.”
“Exactly, like how my parents are going to kick up a fuss about the surname as soon as they find out what we’ve decided on.”
Buck groaned loudly at that, “Why did you have to remind me, your Mom is going to be so annoying about that.”
“She’s also going to hate our first dance.”
“Well, worst comes to worst, we’ll just set my Mom on her.” Buck joked, Eddie laughing along as they stood and headed back out into the garden.
“There you are, we were all beginning to wonder where you’d disappeared off to.” Athena said as soon as she saw her daughter and son-in-law.
“Sorry Mom, we just needed to take a minute.” Buck apologised.
Athena cupped her cheek with a gentle hand, “Are you doing alright?”
Buck nodded, leaning into the contact, “Yeah, all good, I just had a Maddie wobble.”
Athena pulled her into a hug, “Oh baby, how are you doing now?”
“Better.”
Athena released her daughter, “Good, because as soon as you’re ready we’re going to do speeches.”
Even though they’d opted for a small wedding the turnout was still fairly large, the whole of A-shift were there, all of Buck and Eddie’s immediate family and close childhood friends. So it was only the really important people who were there, but that was still quite a few people. Thankfully the Grant-Nash garden was big enough to fit everyone.
It was a child-free wedding to an extent, namely that instead of it being no under-18s at all it was no under-18s with some heavily vetted exceptions. Of course Chris and Denny were there, they were the whole reason they’d made exceptions in the first place, as well as two of Eddie’s cousins who were 16 and 17 years old so could be trusted.
Everyone was scattered around the garden chatting when Bobby got on the mic.
“Hi everyone, thank you so much for coming.” He said, the whole garden quietening down, he then turned to Buck, “Evie, we’re getting into speeches and you know how I can go on, probably best you sit down because this is ten pages too long for your leg.”
That got a laugh out of the 118 and the guests from Buck’s side of the family, Eddie’s lot either not knowing about Buck’s chronic pain or the extent of it. Buck grinned brightly at her Dad before she and Eddie settled on one of the benches, pressed up against each other's sides.
“So, I know a lot of you know me, but for the Diaz’s here that don’t know anything about me, I’m not just the officiant and fire captain, I’m also Evie’s Dad. And let me tell you, she is one of the best people I have ever met. I know, I know, I’m biased because she’s my daughter, but it’s true, and I couldn’t be more honoured to call her mine.
“Now, I know a fair few of you are aware because you’ve been there, but for those of you who don’t Evie is the kind of person who won’t stop getting herself into trouble. Over the course of six months she got crushed by a ladder truck, had a pulmonary embolism and then got caught in a tsunami, and that’s to name just one of her disasters. I’ve honestly stopped counting at this point because even when she’s not being reckless she’s still landing herself in trouble. And nowadays that’s usually with Eddie by her side.
“Somehow these two managed to get kidnapped whilst leaving a prison and they’re always running head first into danger, but if they’re together I’m never worried, because I know they have each other's backs. Actually, that’s a lie, I’m more worried when they’re together because they’re terrible enablers, but at least they’re together.
“Now, I don’t want to take all the credit, but when I hired Eddie I knew he’d be good for Evie. Not romantically, I wasn’t playing matchmaker, but I knew they’d be a force to be reckoned with in the field. But I didn’t expect them to be such a perfect match that they operate as one person, nor did I expect them to get married, but life surprises you in happy ways.
“Eddie, I want to say thank you for doing such a good job at looking out for my baby girl, I couldn’t think of a better person to call my son-in-law. When you first came to Athena and I to ask for Buck’s hand in marriage we were over the moon, knowing such a wonderful man wanted to spend the rest of his life with our daughter, a man who we know cherishes her with all his heart and treats her right, just like she deserves, wanted to marry her, what parent could wish for more? You’re a good man Eddie, and we are so grateful to you for how much you’ve done for our Evie.
“Evie, watching you grow has been an honour, to be able to call you my daughter will never not feel like a blessing. I know you’re not religious, but me and your mother see you as a gift from God, and in every prayer I say I make sure to thank Him for bringing you to us. You and May are the lights of your mother and I’s lives, and I will never get over how lucky we are to have had the pleasure of raising you, even if you do keep trying to turn my hair grey. The last year alone?” He let out an impressed whistle, “If you weren’t a firefighter I’d say you should be a hair stylist. But you are so resilient and strong, I can’t think of a single person who could have handled practically having to learn to talk again all whilst contending with severe chronic pain so bad you could hardly walk more than three steps at a time, chronic fatigue syndrome and seizures, but here you are, stronger than ever with the brightest smile I have ever seen. You’re a fighter sweetpea, and you are loved so very much.
“I am so happy for both of you, and I can’t think of a better pair of people to spend eternity together. But, if you could hold off on almost dying and getting any life threatening injuries for a year I’d really appreciate it because we really don’t need to invoke the ‘in life and in death’ part of your vows you both improvised.”
Buck was laughing but had to wipe a few tears from her eyes, her Dad’s speech having hit her hard. She stood and walked over to him, pulling him into a hug, getting a kiss on the cheek before they separated and Buck went to sit back down.
Bobby then passed the mic over to Ramon, “I’m not sure how I’m supposed to follow that.” He chuckled awkwardly, “I’m not a man of many words, not like Captain Nash, uh, Bobby, but we are so happy for you two. Evelyn, it is an honour to welcome you to the family, we see how happy you make Edmundo and we are so thankful. Welcome to the family, we are so happy that we get to call you a Diaz now.”
Buck and Eddie shared a look, they’d yet to inform his parents that they were double barreling their surname, they’d have to eventually but they knew that his parents would kick up a fuss and they didn’t want to deal with that on their wedding day.
But Ramon’s speech had been nice, short, but it was like he said, he wasn’t a man of many words, but he always meant what he said, so he genuinely was happy to welcome Buck to the family. When she and Eddie had first started dating she’d been worried his parents wouldn’t approve of her, because even though she’d been raised by Christians (one of whom was a Catholic) she knew she wasn’t the kind of person strict Catholics would necessarily agree with. It had taken them a while to warm up to her but Ramon liked her and Helena was nice for Chris and Eddie’s sake, and they lived far enough away that Buck could happily deal with that.
Buck rested her head on Eddie’s shoulder, as he took her hand, linking their fingers together. There were some more speeches, one from Eddie’s childhood best friend, that was full of embarrassing anecdotes that had Eddie turning bright red as Buck laughed at him even though she’d heard most of the stories before. Only for the tables to turn when May did the exact same thing to Buck, only Buck was very hard to embarrass so she was just sat there, owning all of the stupid and embarrassing shit she’d done as a teenager.
The song for their first dance wasn’t anything crazy, it was I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing by Aerosmith, so a pretty standard choice but a good one at that, but Eddie’s parents had been set on them choosing something a bit more… traditional? Delicate? The kind of thing Eddie would’ve danced to when he did ballroom. But those words weren’t Buck and they weren’t Eddie, not anymore. Besides, his parents' obsession with him winning had made him hate ballroom, so why would he pick a song that took him back to that place on the happiest day of his life?
Just like they hadn’t told Eddie’s parents about their surname decision just yet they also hadn’t told them about the song choice. Because this way they couldn’t kick up a stink about it or spend months trying to guilt them into changing it, just having to grin and bear it once the song kicked in and they knew what it was.
The song was extremely fitting, not only was it a gorgeous rock ballad but the night they’d first kissed they’d been watching Armageddon, so how could they not use it?
As soon as the music began to play they got lost in each other, everyone else fading away as Buck and Eddie swayed back and forth, with the occasional twirl. Obviously they’d put effort into it, Eddie was an ex-ballroom dancer and Buck had done quite a bit of dance in her teen years, but it wasn’t anything too insane for Buck’s sake. Although Buck was doing much better, nine months on from the lightning strike, and she was beginning to train for her recertification test, she still had a limit and on such a big day they didn’t want to push it. No one had wanted to run the risk of Buck fully crashing on her wedding day, it was being treated like a marathon, not a sprint. And even as they danced, the sun having already set, Buck still wasn’t struggling.
As soon as the song ended, people began to applaud. Eddie pressed a kiss to Buck’s lips before looking over her shoulder, “Someone’s eager.” He chuckled, causing Buck to turn around.
“If you don’t mind, I think I’m owed the next dance.” Bobby joked.
Buck and Eddie both smiled at their father/father-in-law, “Of course.” Eddie handed Buck over to Bobby after another quick kiss.
“Hey.” Buck greeted, wrapping her arms around her Dad’s neck.
“Hey.” He replied.
Obviously the Daddy-Daughter dance was to a Bruce Springsteen song, he’d been the first artist Bobby had introduced Buck to and had been their thing ever since. So it hadn’t been hard to settle on If I Should Fall Behind, as it was their go to ballad.
“I’m so happy for you.” Bobby told her, a massive smile on his face. Buck couldn’t help but blush, even with all the compliments and congratulations she’d been getting, her Dad’s words still made her feel a bit shy, “You look gorgeous.”
“Thank you.”
“I don’t say it enough, but I am so, so proud of you.”
“You say it plenty.” Buck chuckled.
“I really don’t, Evie. You are the strongest person I know, I can’t believe everything you’ve had to battle and overcome, and you are still such a sweet, loving, kind and fearless young woman, even if you do keep doing stupid things that drive me mad.”
“Just keeping you on your toes, Pops.”
“That’s one way to phrase it.”
Once Buck and Bobby’s dance was done Eddie guided his Mom up for the mother-son dance. Buck sat with Chris, her son curled up into her side as they watched. For his Mom’s sake Eddie had agreed to go for something a bit more traditional, something that better reflected his ballroom days.
Buck had to school her expression so she didn’t give away how funny she found how stiff Eddie looked, because she knew Eddie wouldn’t care, but his parents definitely would.
“Evelyn.” Helena greeted, walking over to her daughter-in-law with Ramon by her side, “Congratulations, you look lovely.”
She smiled at her in-laws, trying to be as polite as possible, even though she was beginning to flag, “Thank you.”
Helena perched on the edge of the plush bench, taking the younger woman’s hands, “I know we haven’t seen eye to eye over the years, but I see how happy you make our son and grandson, so I’m sure we can put that behind us.”
Buck gave her a soft smile, “Of course.”
“Besides, Evelyn Diaz has a lovely ring to it, don’t you think?” Buck’s smile faltered at Helena’s comment which neither Diaz missed, prompting Helena to release her daughter-in-law's hands, “You are changing your surname, aren’t you?”
“Uh, w-well, yes, yes I am.” She tried to locate Eddie but he was talking to Hen and Karen, his back to Buck. Thankfully her Mom appeared, returning with the drinks she’d briefly nipped off to get.
“Helena, Ramon.” She greeted, taking a seat on Buck’s other side, handing over the glass of champagne.
“Athena,” Clearly Helena thought she’d found an ally, “Evelyn should be changing her surname to Diaz, don’t you think?”
Obviously Athena already knew about Buck and Eddie’s surname choices, but she also knew that Eddie’s parents didn’t, “It is a lovely surname.”
“And Evelyn should take it, that’s tradition.” She then turned to her husband, “Can you get Eddie, I’m sure he’ll be able to talk some sense into her.” It only took a few seconds for Ramon to grab his son, his Mom immediately trying to get back up, “Have you heard? Evelyn doesn’t want to take your surname.”
“Mom, that’s not what’s happening.” He tried to reassure her, not wanting to cause a scene.
“Then tell me why she doesn’t look happy to be Evelyn Diaz.”
Buck and Eddie shared a look, confirmation that it was time the latter told his parents the truth, “We’ve decided to double barrel our surnames, so she’ll be Evelyn Grant-Nash Diaz, and I’ll be Edmundo Grant-Nash Diaz.”
Just as expected neither of his parents looked best pleased with that, “And I suppose Christopher will also have to become ‘Grant-Nash Diaz’?” Eddie went to reply but his Mom kept talking, “It’s far too long, it’s ridiculous. It should just be Diaz.”
“We’re double barreling it Mom, and that’s that.”
Helena then turned her attention to Buck, “What’s so great about Grant-Nash that you won’t drop it like you should?”
Buck sighed as Athena took her hand, offering support, “I’m adopted Helena, my surname represents the second chance at life I was given by my Mom and Pops, it’s important because it signifies the second chance that they gave me.”
Helena huffed, “And what about that chance Eddie has given you? We know all about what you’ve put him through over the last year.”
Athena’s grip on Buck’s hand tightened protectively, but it was Eddie who spoke, “Mom, you can’t talk to my wife like that, it’s not her fault she was struck by lightning. And yes, this hasn’t been an easy year for us but I’d do it one hundred times over because she’s worth it. She’s my person Mom, and I don’t care how hard things get, I’m always going to be there for her. The surname doesn’t matter, what matters is that we love each other and will do anything to protect each other.” Eddie sighed, “Besides, combining our surname reflects our equal partnership. Look, Mom, it’s our wedding day, can we please leave this argument for later.”
“Fine,” Helena huffed, “But we’re not done here.” And then she and Ramon stood and went to socialise with the other Diaz’s that were in attendance.
Eddie took the spot his Mom had just vacated, pulling Buck into a hug as Athena rubbed her back, “Are you okay?” He asked.
“Yeah, thank you for that.”
“Hey, she had no right to talk to you like that.” He placed a gentle kiss on Buck's birthmark, “I promise you, I don’t give a shit what she has to say, I’m always going to side with you and protect you from her.”
“God, you’re too good to me, you know.” Buck sighed.
“No I’m not.” He replied, “You deserve protecting, and you don’t deserve people being dicks to you.”
Buck and Eddie pulled back so they could share a tender kiss, disappearing into their own little world, so Athena stood and slipped off, leaving them to it.
When they parted Buck glanced over at Eddie’s parents, “Do you think they know about my sordid history yet?” She joked.
“Which part?” Eddie chuckled, “The sex, drugs or satanism?”
Buck lightly slapped his arm, laughing brightly, “I was Wiccan not a Satanist thank you very much. Besides, Satanism is a very loving and accepting religion.”
Eddie sent her a jokey glare, “My parents are devout Catholics, I don’t think they see a difference, you’re a heathen either way.”
“And do you think I’m a heathen?”
“Only when it benefits me.”
“Oh, so only when it’s sexy then.”
Eddie nodded, a shit eating grin on his face, “Obviously.”
“You’re terrible.”
“I know I am.” He leant in and stole another kiss. His face then softened, “How are you doing? My Mom didn’t shake you too much, did she?”
“No, thanks to my knight in shining armour she wasn’t able to get to me.”
“Good. And how’s that Maddie wobble?”
“All gone.”
Suddenly Chris appeared in front of them, “Mom, may I have this dance?” He did his best to bow, his crutches getting in the way of the movement a little bit.
Buck chuckled, eyes glittering, “Of course.” She stood as Chris handed his crutches over to his Dad, he then took her hand and guided her over to the dance floor, “Such a gentleman.”
It was a slow song so the pair swayed slowly together, “I love you Mom.”
“Love you too Big Man. Have I ever told you how grateful I am to call you my son? Because I really am, I’m so lucky to have you.”
“Thank you for being my Mom.” Chris replied.
“You don’t find it weird? Having me as a Mom as well as Shannon?”
Chris shook his head, “No, why would I?”
Buck sighed, “I just don’t want you to feel like I’m replacing her.”
“I was the one who called you Mom to your face first, remember?” Chris said, giving her a look that translated to ‘duh’.
“True.” And then the wording hit her, “What do you mean ‘to my face first’?”
“Oh, just before I called you Mom, Dad called you that whilst talking to one of the teachers at school.”
Buck gasped, a shit eating grin on her face, “He never told me that!”
Chris nodded, “Apparently he used to almost do it all the time, but he wasn’t able to stop himself that time.”
“God, that Dad of yours, huh?”
When the song finally ended May came over, “Do you mind if I slide in?”
Mother and Son stepped apart, both of them expecting May to dance with Buck only for her to take off with Chris, “Wow, way to make me feel unwanted.” Buck huffed, but all light hearted offence disappeared when Eddie appeared, taking Buck’s hands, so he could swing her around the dance floor, making her laugh.
After a while Buck had to tap out so she went and sat with Hen, Karen and Chimney.
“You know this looks even better here than in the shop.” Karen complimented, indicating Buck’s dress.
Buck couldn’t help but blush, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, “Thank you.”
“I’d almost forgotten how gorgeous it is.” Hen added, “A non-traditional dress was definitely the right choice, not that I ever doubted it.”
“So, how does it feel to be married?” Chim asked.
Buck couldn’t stop the grin that broke out on her face, “Amazing.” She glanced over at Eddie who was talking to his sisters, “Like, I know this doesn’t change anything between us, we’re still the same old BuckandEddie, but knowing I’ve married that man? God, does it feel good.”
“We were the same.” Karen said, taking Hen’s hand and looking over at her wife.
Hen leaned in to kiss Karen on the lips.
Chimney groaned, the noise jokey and over the top, “Way to make a man jealous.”
“Don’t worry Uncle Howie, it’ll happen eventually, but you can’t force it.”
“Easy for you to say, miss ‘I found my soul mate’.”
Buck chuckled with a shrug, “Not my fault the universe finally decided to do me a solid.”
It didn’t take much longer for things to wind down, both Chris and Denny having fallen asleep from a massive sugar crash thanks to the excessive amount of cake they’d eaten, whilst a lot of the adults were quite drunk, leaving before they embarrassed themselves.
Buck and Eddie were going to spend the night at their own home whilst Chris stayed with his grandparents, so Bobby drove them back.
As soon as they arrived Eddie helped Buck out of the car and then swept her up into a bridal carry. Bobby went and unlocked the door for them, Eddie carrying his wife over the threshold as they both giggled manically.
Bobby put Buck’s bags just inside the doorway and then slipped out, leaving the couple to enjoy their first night together as husband and wife.