Eddie put the last of the things he needed for his lunch date with Buck into his truck. He hadn't been able to stop smiling all morning as Abuela helped him with the preparations, which she had been teasing him relentlessly about.
"No te duelen las mejillas ahora, niño?" Abuela chuckled as she watched from the porch with Christopher by her side. (Doesn't your cheeks hurt by now, kid?)
"Yeah, daddy, you haven't stopped smiling since yesterday." Christopher laughed brightly.
"I'm just… happy and excited I guess." Eddie smiled as he walked towards them, kneeling in front of Christopher. "Are you sure you are okay with this?"
"You have been happier since meeting Buck." Christopher smiled and placed a hand on Eddie's cheek. "And I really like Buck, she's so nice and kind to me, and she never gets annoyed at me when I talk or when I can't move as fast as others."
"If you ever change your mind, you promise to tell me, okay?" Eddie asked softly, wondering who had made Christopher feel like they were annoyed with him for those things.
"I promise, but I don't think I will." Christopher nodded with a determined look in his eyes. "She fits into our family, like a missing puzzle piece that completes the picture and she is My Bucky."
"Eddito, you need to go if you want to pick up the hermosa dama on time." Abuela hummed with a smile. (Beautiful lady.)
"You go, daddy, and win my Bucky's heart." Christopher beamed. "I know you can do it."
"I love your confidence in me, mijo." Eddie laughed and made his way to his truck.
"Edmundo," Abuela called after him as he climbed into the truck. "Remember the flower."
"It's on the passenger seat, Abuela." Eddie called back with a smiled.
The whole drive to Buck's apartment Eddie felt giddy with happiness, like he was floating and had ants crawling around inside his veins all at the same time. He still had a hard time accepting that Buck actually said yes to a date with him.
He had been on dates before but never had they felt so easy. This was the first time Eddie had never felt the need to impress his date. He knew he could be himself completely and Buck wouldn't judge him for it. He could say inappropriate jokes, laugh at dark humor, cry over sad stories and Buck would be right there with him.
When he finally pulled up to Buck's place, she was standing outside waiting for him and he felt like time stopped as soon as he looked at her. Her hair was out, flowing in gentle waves down over her shoulders and she was wearing a white, knee length, summer dress and flat sandals with flowers. She looked… beautiful.
"Hi Eddie." Buck beamed as she jumped into the passenger seat and Eddie was glad that he remembered moving the flower.
"Hey Buck." Eddie smiled back and held out the flower towards her, a single red rose. "You look stunning."
"Thank you." Buck looked down with a blush before accepting the rose and kissing him on the cheek. "So… where are we going?"
"That's a surprise." Eddie smiled and drove them towards their destination.
"Did you talk to Chris about if he wanted to go to the Zoo or the Aquarium the next time we do a day trip?" Buck asked and Eddie felt his heart give a flutter, he loved that she cared so much for Christopher and seemed to place him first.
"He wanted to think about it for a while." Eddie told her. "But from the looks of it we're going to the Aquarium."
"Well in that case we might need to plan a little more." Buck murmured and… was she blushing?
"Buck, what are you muttering about?" Eddie asked kindly.
"I have actually not told anyone this, not even my sister, so please keep it to yourself, okay?" Buck looked at him with pleading eyes.
"Whatever it is I promise not to tell anyone without your permission." Eddie agreed.
"I volunteer as a mermaid at the Aquarium when I have the time." Buck rushed out. "Sometimes they call me when they get a children's birthday party and I really try to be there for those."
Eddie looked over at her, seeing her look embarrassed and couldn't help but smile again. "You're amazing, you know that?"
"What?" Buck faltered with confusion.
"You are amazing." Eddie repeated. "And I would love to bring Christopher to the Aquarium to see you as a mermaid sometime. I think he would think that was really cool."
"I'm working there in two weeks, on the Saturday after our 48-hour shift, if you want to do it then." Buck shrugged with a small shy smile.
"I'll book that day then." Eddie told her and pulled into the parking space by the park. "Come on, we're here."
"The park?" Buck hesitantly asked as they climbed out of the truck.
"Yeah." Eddie pulled the basket and blanket from the back seat, feeling his face heating up a little. "I thought we could have a picnic."
Buck just looked at him with wide eyes, that were filling with tears and Eddie was scared that he had done something wrong.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you." Buck almost tackled him in a hug.
"You're welcome?" Eddie said uncertainly as he hugged her back.
"It's just…" Buck pulled back. "You listen when I off handedly mentioned that I don't like fancy and then you put the effort in to make us a picnic. It makes me feel… special and appreciated."
"You are special and appreciated." Eddie told her, then he grabbed her hand and interlaced their fingers so they could find a spot to have their picnic.
An hour later they were sitting cuddled close together on the blanket as they talked about movies and TV-series.
"No, I'm serious." Buck chuckled. "I absolutely loved Stargate SG-1 when I was younger, and later Stargate Atlantis. Still do to be honest."
"I think I watched SG-1 but not all the time and not religiously." Eddie hummed and kissed the side of Buck's head. "I watched Friends and Buffy."
"Ohh, I like Buffy!" Buck agreed. "And I adored… adore Charmed. Those shows were all about girl power."
"We should write a list of TV-shows we like and then watch them together." Eddie offered slowly.
"That's a great idea." Buck laughed happily.
"Hey Buck?" Eddie pulled back a little so he could look at her.
"Yeah?" Buck smiled softly.
"Can I kiss you?" Eddie asked as he looked her deep in the eyes.
"Yeah." Buck breathed out on a sigh.
Eddie leaned forward slowly so Buck would have the chance to pull away if she changed her mind. When their lips met in a soft, tender, kiss Eddie felt sparks go off under his skin. It was nothing more than a gentle press of lips against lips, but at the same time it was the most intimate thing Eddie had ever experienced.