I'm on a roll with these 9-1-1 stories! This one is pure domestic Buddie, in which Buck reflects on Eddie and Christopher. Elvie Shane's My Boy is used in this, and obviously doesn't belong to me. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: not mine
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Evan Buckley had always wanted a family of his own.
Even when he was fresh out of high school, chasing girls and having the time of his life, deep down he wanted to meet that right person and start a family of his own. He thought about Saturday morning cartoons, coaching Little League, and just...being happy.
When he met and fell in love with Abby Clark, he was certain she was the one. She was complicated but everything he thought he wanted in a partner. Then she left him high and dry, and he nearly went straight back to his old ways of chasing women and wondering when he would have a family of his own.
Then he met Eddie Diaz.
Of course he didn't like Eddie right off; he was too concerned that the other man was there to outshine him. He often thought back on those days and laughed at how stupid he had been. It wasn't fear or jealousy, it was something he had been unwilling to admit even to himself.
He had been attracted to Eddie.
That was two years and a tsunami ago, and last month he made the monumental decision to move in with Eddie and Christopher. Both men had worried how Chris would handle all of the changes, but when they sat down and told him, he just gave them a sly smile and proclaimed that he knew it a long time ago. Eddie and Buck were left dumbfounded as Chris turned and went back to playing his video game.
Buck smiled to himself as he tended to the pancakes on the stove. It was a lazy Sunday morning; a rare day off for both men, though they knew a call could come at any time and change that.
Christopher was sitting at the kitchen table, crayons and pieces of paper everywhere as he colored. Eddie came out of the shower and walked over to the table, kissing Christopher's head.
"What are you drawing, Chris?"
The boy turned his head up and smiled at his dad. "It's me, you, and Dad," he proclaimed proudly, pointing to the picture.
Buck inhaled sharply, nearly dropping the spatula in his hand.
Not missing a beat, Eddie took the picture and looked at it. "That's… you did a great job, kiddo." He moved over to Buck, and the younger man turned to meet his eyes.
Speaking as softly as he could, Eddie murmured, "I...I understand if it's too soon-"
Buck shook his head, taking the picture from Eddie and looking at it with wet eyes. "Great job, Chris," he said proudly. Then he turned and stuck the picture on the fridge with two magnets.
It hit me like a train
The first time he called me dad
In a three stick figure crayon picture
With all of us holding hands
His daddy said, "I understand if it's too soon for this"
I didn't let him finish
I took it to the kitchen
And I stuck it on the fridge, yeah
When he turned to face Eddie again, he found himself with an armful of his boyfriend. Buck let out a soft sigh and hugged Eddie tight, kissing his temple.
"Thank you," Eddie breathed against his neck. Buck just smiled and ran his fingers through Eddie's hair.
"You two are stuck with me. Better get used to it." Stealing a soft kiss, Buck let Eddie go and walked over to Christopher, who had started working on another picture. Smiling, he ruffled Christopher's head. "Daddy, huh?"
"Yeah," the boy confirmed absently as he chose another crayon.
The simple word nearly brought Buck to his knees. Sniffling quietly, he bent down and hugged Christopher tight, making the boy laugh.
It didn't happen exactly the way he planned, but his family was greater than he ever could have hoped for.
He ain't my blood, ain't got my name
But if he did, I'd feel the same
I wasn't there for his first steps
But I ain't missed a ball game yet
And that ain't ever gonna change
I could never walk away
Yeah, he's my son and that's my choice
He ain't my blood but he's my, he's my boy
The End