Buck has been in love with Eddie Diaz for seven years. And, look, he hasn’t been counting the time because that would be ridiculous and stupid. And despite what some people might think, Buck is neither of these things. But he knows how long Eddie has been in his life for, and he knows that he fell in love with the man after they diffused a bomb in the back of an ambulance together.
For a long time, Buck doesn’t let it bother him. He chalks it up to a “friend crush” and moves on with his life. But his feelings don’t go away. They simmer, simmer, simmer; the lid on the pot is balancing precariously, trying to keep the contents inside.
This all becomes especially evident after Buck all but moves in with Eddie after he gets shot by the sniper. Buck stays at Eddie’s for around two months. He helps with Chris, cooks, takes Eddie to his doctor appointments, and changes Eddie’s bandages.
Originally, Eddie insists that Buck sleep in the bed with him, not wanting to kick his best friend to the couch for weeks on end. Buck refuses because he doesn’t want to accidentally hurt Eddie while they’re sleeping. Eventually, Eddie gives in. Once the stitches have started to fade, he rekindles the argument. Buck doesn’t win that time.
And after two months of having Buck as a constant in the Diaz home, neither Chris nor Eddie want to see him go. So, Buck moves in officially. He ends his lease on his loft, packs his things, and moves to South Bedford Street.
His feelings never disappear and moving in with the love of his life doesn’t make anything easier, but Buck has gotten good at hiding.
So, when he wakes up with Eddie curled around him, he knows it’s platonic. When Eddie massages Buck’s leg on bad days, he knows it’s in a friendship kind of way. When Buck lays with his head in Eddie’s lap while they watch TV, it’s nothing a best friend wouldn’t do.
-
Eddie falls in love with his best friend after he protects his only son in the midst of a natural disaster.
He didn’t even realize he was gay before Buck, but he thought long and hard about what he was feeling. And deciding he was gay felt right. He never thought he would be big on labels, but Eddie loved being able to put a name to something. He loved being able to explain himself. So, Eddie Diaz is a gay man, and he is in love with Evan Buckley.
Buck, who never prioritizes himself. Who always does first and asks questions later. Who is the best damn firefighter Eddie has ever seen. Buck, his best friend.
It’s not easy being in love with your best friend, Eddie decides. Especially when he watches how good Buck is with Chris, and it stirs something primal in him. It’s even harder after Buck moves in with him.
Eddie wakes up with his nose buried in Buck’s neck, arm wrapped around his chest, and legs conformed to his best friend’s body. He goes to sleep with Buck’s wet curls splayed across his pillows. He opens his eyes to pancakes being made and Chris already prepared for the school day.
Having a Buck makes life so much easier.
-
“Have Buck and Eddie been acting weirder than usual or is it just me?” Hen asks, watching the two men snuggled on the couch.
“What do you mean ‘weird?’” Bobby shoots back, eyes cutting to the men as well.
“I mean more codependent than usual. Like, look at them right now.”
Chim and Bobby obediently look at Buck and Eddie. Buck was laying down with his head in Eddie’s lap, Eddie carding a hand through his curls.
“Yeah, they’ve been touchier,” Chim decides.
“See! He gets it,” Hen expresses. “Do you think- do you think they finally figured it out?”
“The betting pool?” Bobby raises an eyebrow. “You think they figured out they’re in love?”
“No way,” Chim laughs. “They’re so oblivious it hurts. Plus, don’t you think Buck would’ve told Maddie?”
Hen shrugs.
“I can ask Athena if she knows anything,” Bobby suggests.
“Why would Athena know anything?” Chim inquires, snapping his gum.
“Because Buck tells his mom everything.” Hen rolls her eyes. “If Maddie doesn't know anything, it’s worth a shot.”
“Let me text her.” Bobby pulls out his phone.
It doesn’t take long before Bobby’s phone chirps with a notification.
“What’d she say?” Hen asks eagerly.
“Give me a second to read it,” Bobby responds, exasperated. “She says- she says they’ve moved in together.”
“What?” Chim screeches.
Hen hushes him.
“What?” She screeches quieter.
“Yeah, Athena said that Buck is still as oblivious as the day he was born, but he’s moved in with Eddie.”
“I have to investigate this.” Chim steps forward like he’s going to talk to Eddie and Buck.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Hen hisses. “They’re gonna ask how we know that.”
“So?” Chim raises an eyebrow. “Athena told us.”
“Yeah, and then they’re gonna know we were talking about them, dipshit.”
“Ohh. I see your point.”
“Uh huh.”
“Oh, Athena also says she’s coming over for lunch. I guess I better start cooking,” Bobby tells them.
“Ugh, but the gossip session just started,” Chim complains.
“Go gossip with Hen.” Bobby waves his hand at the man, amused. “I need my kitchen.”
Chim groans dramatically, but he goes downstairs with Hen to gossip in peace.
-
“Where’s my baby?” Athena demands, arriving at the top of the stairs to the loft.
“In the kitchen!” Bobby calls.
“Not you,” Athena dismisses. “Where's my Buckaroo?”
“Wow, I see how it is.” Bobby shakes his head.
Athena rolls her eyes fondly, strutting over to give her husband a kiss. “Did you lose our son, Bobby?”
“No! He’s on the couch with Eddie.”
“And he’s sleeping. Are you working him too hard?”
“Athena.” Bobby grips his wife by the shoulders. “I promise you, he is fine. But, it is time for lunch, so why don’t you wake him up?”
Athena huffs, walking over to the couch. Eddie looks up from his phone when she arrives, smiling softly.
“Hey, Athena.”
“Eddie.” Athena nods.
The police Sergeant sits on the edge of the coffee table and cups Buck’s face.
“Buckaroo,” she coos. “Time to wake up.”
“‘Thena?” Buck murmurs tiredly, eyes blinking open.
“That’s right, baby. It’s time for lunch. Are you hungry?”
Buck nods, sitting up and rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Eddie watches his best friend fondly, noting the sleep-induced flush on his face.
Once Buck has woken himself up, he kisses Athena on the cheek, smiling at her. “I didn’t know you were stopping by.”
“Well, someone hasn’t come to see me in a minute, so I figured I would make the effort.”
“Sorry.” Buck rubs the back of his neck sheepishly.
“That’s okay, baby. Now, come eat.”
In the time that Athena woke up Buck, Hen and Chim made their way upstairs. The two were bringing dishes to the table with Bobby. Buck, Eddie, and Athena help with what little is left, and then they all sit down to eat. During a quiet spell, Athena speaks.
“So, Buck, Eddie, how’s living together?”
Silently, Chim and Hen cheer, excited that the topic was brought up.
“It’s good,” Eddie smiles. “Really good.”
“Oh, yeah?” Athena raises an eyebrow.
Buck nods happily, shoving a forkful of salad in his mouth.
“And when exactly were we going to find out you two moved in together?” Hen interrogates.
“I thought I told you,” Buck frowns in confusion.
“You told me, sweetheart,” Athena reminds him.
“Oh. Well, we moved in together,” Buck shrugs.
“Eddie’s house only has two bedrooms,” Chim points out.
“I have a queen sized mattress,” Eddie informs him.
“So, you're sharing a bed?” Hen confirms.
“Yeah. Why? Do you have a problem with that, Hen?” Buck asks playfully, arching his eyebrow.
“I know you didn’t just say that to me.” Hen shoots back.
“Alright, people,” Bobby mediates jokingly, hands held out. “Let’s calm down.”
“Okay, so you work together, and you live together,” Chim recaps. “Don’t you think you’ll get tired of each other?”
“No,” Buck and Eddie say in unison.
Hen shakes her head fondly. “Only you two.”
-
Buck and Eddie have gotten so used to sleeping together that it's impossible to sleep apart. Even in the bunk room, only feet away from one another, they toss and turn. Buck can’t sleep, and neither can Eddie. And Eddie is grumpy when he’s tired. Buck took a nap earlier, so he’s not completely upset about not being able to fall asleep, but as he listens to his best friend sigh beside him, his heart aches. Buck rolls out of his bunk and goes over to Eddie’s, whose cot is pressed against the wall.
“Scoot over,” he whispers.
Obediently, Eddie scoots toward the wall. Buck lifts the covers and slides into bed next to him, spooning the man so that they both fit.
“I wanna hug you, though,” Eddie murmurs.
Buck turns over, letting Eddie wrap his arms around him and tangle their legs. Eddie sighs contentedly. It only takes a few minutes before Buck hears his breathing even out. Knowing that his best friend is sound asleep, Buck nods off too.
-
“I’m not crazy. I’m not.” Hen bursts out of the bunk room.
Bobby and Chim look up from their coffee cups, eyebrows raised.
“Okay?” Chim shakes his head, motioning for Hen to elaborate.
“Eddie and Buck are cuddling.”
“Well, that’s not exactly new,” Bobby tells her, sipping from his mug.
“Yeah, when they’re on the couch. They’re fully sharing a twin sized bed right now. Those are two grown, muscular men. How are they fitting?”
“You’re freaking out because they’re spooning, huh?” Bobby laughs.
“Why are you so calm about this?” Chim explodes.
“They’re in love,” Bobby shrugs. “They might not know that much, but they know that they at least love each other.”
“So?” Hen snorts. “I love Chim, and you don’t see me spooning him.”
“Excuse you, I would be the big spoon,” Chim interrupts.
“No. No, you would not,” Hen says.
Chim mutters under his breath.
“They live together. They probably sleep like that every night,” Bobby adds, and it only riles Hen up more.
“Yeah, and that’s all I can think about now!”
“Oh my God, I need them to get married already!” Chim groans. “I can’t do this anymore.”
“Imagine how tired we are,” Bobby says, referring to him and Athena. “Athena has had a shovel talk prepared for years, and I’ve been waiting for Eddie to ask my permission.”
“Maddie has a shovel talk prepared too. Athena and Maddie together? That’s a powerful force.” Chim blows out a breath of air.
“Yeah, well, they need to get it together.” Hen walks over to the coffee pot. “I’m tired of watching them pine.”
“Aren’t we all?” Bobby lifts his eyes to the ceiling, praying that things get better.
-
Hen nudges Chim, gesturing subtly to Eddie and Buck. Not that she needed to be subtle because the two were busy staring into each other's eyes. Chim shakes his head in confusion, and Hen gestures again, a bit aggressively.
Chim looks at Buck and Eddie and notices what Hen was pointing out. Even in the firetruck, the two men were pressed together from hip to thigh, and Eddie had his hand on Buck’s knee.
Chim’s mouth drops open. He points dramatically, mouthing at Hen. She mouths back.
Buck and Eddie were literally idiots. How could they not see that they were hopelessly in love? Hen was starting to think they needed her glasses more than she did.
-
After a long 48 hour shift, Buck and Eddie go home to a quiet house. Chris is at school, so they decide to use the alone time to take a nap. They already showered and changed at the station, so they just shuck off their shoes and climb into bed. Eddie flops on his stomach, burying his head in the pillow.
“I’m never leaving this bed,” He moans, voice muffled by the pillow.
Buck laughs. “You’re leaving this bed in two hours to get your son. Unless you just want me to go.”
“No, I’m going with you,” Eddie immediately establishes.
“Okay, then. I’ll set an alarm.”
“Mm.”
Eddie’s eyes are already shut.
-
“Mr. Diaz! Mr. Buckley! It’s good to see you,” the vice principal of Chris’s school, Mrs. Hanna, calls.
Eddie studies the doors to the school, while Buck converses with the woman.
“You too! How have you been?”
“Oh, I’ve been good. Thank you for asking. Yourself?”
“We’ve been great,” Buck smiles. “Just excited to pick Chris up.”
“Mrs. Price is wonderful, but it’s always a treat to see the two of you here.” Mrs. Hanna smiles.
“It’s a treat to be here. We love picking Chris up from school.”
Just then, Chris walks out of the doors and over to the group of adults. “Hi, Mrs. Hanna!”
“Hello, Christopher,” the woman greets warmly.
“It was good to see you, but we better get going,” Eddie says, grabbing Chris’s backpack.
“Of course. Have an excellent weekend.”
“You too!” Buck grins.
-
“So, buddy, you have a good day?” Buck asks once they’re in the car.
“Yeah, but I have a lot of homework,” Chris answers.
“I’ll help you with it if you need it,” Buck tells him.
“Thanks, Buck! How was work?”
“It was good,” Eddie responds. “One of the calmer shifts we’ve had.”
“And you have the weekend off, right?” Chris questions.
“Right,” Eddie confirms.
“Yes! I wanted to go to the aquarium. They have two new penguins.”
“We can go,” Buck joins in. “Sounds fun.”
“Yay!”
-
The two new penguins are gay, the female zookeeper explains happily. One of the penguins, Pedro, proposed to the other penguin, Happy Feet, with a rock, and they’ve been by each other’s sides ever since.
Chris watches, enraptured, as the zookeeper speaks and feeds the penguins. Buck bumps Eddie, smiling. Eddie bumps him back.
“They kinda reminded me of y’all,” Chris says when the penguin show is over.
“Who did?” Eddie asks.
“Pedro and Happy Feet,” Chris answers, like it’s obvious.
“Why?” Buck crinkles his eyebrows.
Chris just shrugs and moves on to the next fish tank.
-
“So, our son thinks we’re gay penguins,” Eddie brings up when they’re in bed that night.
Buck laughs. But then he stops, staring. His heart jumps erratically in his chest. Did Eddie just say that?
“Our?”
Eddie softens. “Yeah, Buck. Our son. You can’t tell me that after seven years of co-parenting that he’s not yours too.”
Buck bites his lips, nose stinging with an influx of on-coming tears. “You mean that?”
“Of course, I do.”
“I love him like he’s mine. I- I always have. But I never wanted to overstep. You’re his dad.”
“You’re his dad too. You’re so good with him. It’s one of the things that made me fall in love with you.”
All of a sudden, the world comes to a crashing halt. Buck’s heart freezes in his rib cage.
“You- you love me?”
Eddie licks his lips, looking hesitant and shy. “If that’s okay?”
“That’s more than okay. I love you too, Eds.”
Immediately, Eddie springs forward and wraps his arms around Buck. Buck hugs him back, tight. It’s natural. It’s the most them thing in the world. They just confessed their love to each other, and they’re hugging.
Eddie pulls back first, cupping Buck’s face. “I want to marry you.”
Buck laughs wetly. “We haven’t even started dating yet.”
“We’ve been dating for years,” Eddie dismisses. “We have a son. We share a home. I want you, Buck. Forever.”
A tear trickles down Buck’s face. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
This time Buck springs forward and connects their lips. It’s the best damn kiss of his entire life. It’s the one thing he’s wanted for years.
“I wanna marry you too.”
Eddie smiles at him, too much teeth and a little unhinged. “Let’s do it. Let’s tell everyone we’re getting married, and plan a wedding.”
“We should probably tell Chris first.”
“We’ll tell him first thing tomorrow. Díos, I love you.”
“I love you too.”
-
They get married in Bobby and Athena’s backyard two months later. Athena and Maddie gave Eddie the shovel talk, and Eddie asked Bobby for permission to marry his son.
Chris was so overjoyed that his passing comment about two gay penguins pushed them to get together that the 118 team decided that he honorarily won the betting pool, which Athena officially won.
Karen and Maddie both cried during the wedding. They ambushed Buck and Eddie after the ceremony and smothered them in tear-filled hugs and kisses.
Buck takes Eddie’s last name. Evan “Buck” Diaz. It has a nice ring to it.