Chapter 3
“Buck!” Christopher exclaims with a grin as he makes his way into the kitchen. “Taylor Kelly!” He adds when he spots her perched against the counter. Eddie’s surprised by the matching levels of enthusiasm his son greets them with. Buck’s is normal, called for. Taylor’s is new.
“Reporting live from slumber city,” She responds with a grin. Eddie’s pleased to see her look up from her phone. “How are things this morning?” She questions with a sip of her coffee. It’s a mug with a mustache Buck and Christopher bought sometime last year. They giggle every time Eddie uses it with a straight face.
“Did you have a slumber party with Dad?” Christopher questions, looking back and forth between Buck and Taylor, Eddie flushes at the implications going over his son's head. It's now just occurring to him he’s still shirtless. Buck’s donned an old pair of plaid pajama pants Adri got him for Christmas years ago and an LAFD sweatshirt that reads Diaz. Eddie’s chest tightens at the choices. He went full comfort. It’s gonna be a long day.
“You called it,” Taylor answers easily, “Your Buck was missin’ his favorite guys and I couldn’t be left all alone now could I?” She adds playfully. She’s not above the cheap shot. She knows Christopher and Eddie really are Buck’s favorite guys, and she knows Christopher's little grin every time he hears it means he takes it at face value. He’s an eight-year-old, loving and missing someone is a perfectly acceptable reason to appear without warning. Not that she thinks he’d ever question Buck’s appearance though, to be honest.
“You like to be left alone.” Christopher’s eyebrows furrow as he takes the seat closest to Buck, bumping his boney little elbows into the taller man as he goes. Buck smiles at the touch, looking down at the boy at his side. Something in him settles having Christopher close. It’s always better when he’s close.
“Sometimes,” She nods. “Like when I have homework for work. But not last night. And not today.” She explains simply. Eddie’s brain is kind of fried with how easily she talks to his son. How he nods along in agreement and little brow unfurrows at the explanation.
“Will you stay then? For breakfast? Buck can cook it!” He questions excitedly, the existence of Taylor in the kitchen had briefly distracted him from the fact that morning Buck means pancakes. Eddie’s eyes shift from his grinning son to the weak smile and glassy eyes of his best friend. He’s trying, for Christoper. Doesn’t seem like there’s a lot in there to give. He’s almost, well, grateful, for Taylor’s distracting presence in this moment. Christopher is too observant and insightful with the people he loves. He’d have clocked Buck’s tear-destroyed face and shaky hands by now for sure without her to draw his attention.
“You know what?” Taylor has this tone, where it sounds like she’s letting you in on a secret. Christopher eats that shit up. “I ordered breakfast. I got bagels, cinnamon buns, and really big coffees.”
“Cinnamon buns! They’re my favorite! I don’t drink coffee though,” Christopher explains seriously. “Daddy does,” He adds brightly. “And Buck. And you do probably. Is that coffee in Daddy’s mug?”
“It is coffee. Is this Daddy’s mug?” Eddie's eyes pop to her at the question. Her eyes are on Christopher, but he can tell by her grin she knows it was wildly unnecessary to say daddy like that. It’s too early for this shit without coffee. He should get that now.
“Ms. Taylor was very nice to get you a special treat bud,” Eddie cuts in as he gets his own mug. White. Nothing comment-able. “You gotta brush your teeth real good when you’re done though okay? I packed your bag, and you’re buying lunch today. Are we missing anything else?”
“I did my stretches and I picked good clothes for rain.” Christopher lists, thinking through the parts of the morning. Taylor pushes off the counter as Eddie takes the first sip of his coffee.
“Put it down Diaz, breakfast is here. Bagels and cinnamon bugs all around.”
“Both?” Eddie questions, ignoring Taylor's instruction and taking a gulp of the hot coffee, scorching his throat on the way down.
“Carbs for the soul. For the soul.” Taylor says seriously, making more eye contact than Eddie likes. He looks back to his coffee and takes another sip.
“The soul?” Christopher repeats from the table. Eddie and Taylor both look to him.
“The soul, kid.” She says with finality. Eddie watches her go.
“Will carbs for the soul make you feel better, Buck?” Christopher asks gently. He’s wide-eyed and earnest behind his glasses. Buck finally meets his eyes.
“Yeah buddy, yeah I think they will.” He says softly, voice raw and rough still. Christopher smiles at him and Buck kind of wants to cry at how much he loves the boy.
“Good. You look really sad this morning. Cinnamon is good though.” Christopher says confidently. Buck’s throat burns. He wraps his arms around Chris and pulls him close. Eyes squeezed tight. Opened hard. Eddie’s watching them. Unmoving. Mouth tight.
“Christopher I think cinnamon buns were exactly the right choice. You’re a genius.” Taylor announces as she floats back into the tense room. Buck releases Christopher with a sniff. Scrubs a hand over his face while Christopher’s turned away. Eddie still watching him when he looks up. Taylor moves between them, unpacking coffees and white-wrapped treats. Eddie's eyes are still on him and he can’t for the life of him figure out what that look means. Maybe after a nap.