"Yeah, it's just so difficult. I want to be the nice guy, but at the same time I still need to set boundaries and show them that 'no' means no and rules are in place for a reason."

Buck nodded along at what Hen was saying in commiseration. He knew just how difficult it was to try and be the fun one but at the same time still make sure that you wouldn't be a pushover.

"I feel you. God only knows how difficult it is with Chris. I want to have fun, but the melt-down he had when I said we couldn't get ice-cream for breakfast…"

She laughed a little. "What did you end up doing? Caving?"

"Nah," he replied, leaning back in his chair. "I told him that we can't have ice-cream for breakfast as it isn't healthy and only for very, very special occasions. Certainly not Monday mornings."

Hen quirked an eyebrow at him. "And that worked?" The dubious tone of her voice saying everything.

Buck laughed heartily. "Of course not! He screamed at me and told me that it was a stupid reason."

Hen laughed along with him. "What did you end up doing? Have ice-cream?"

"Nope! Let him scream it all out for as long as he wanted. Then when he was finally done, we had a conversation about what was appropriate behaviour, and then, he had some cereal, went to school, and when he came home, he stayed off his xbox for the night."

Hen just gazed at him with large eyes from where she was lying across from him on the sofa.

"I don't know how you do it, Buck. You're so good with him even as the fun uncle, and I'm just over here trying to keep everything from falling apart." A self-deprecating tone crept into her voice.

Buck sat up at that, a steely look coming over his face. "No. Hen. You listen to me. You are a wonderful mother. Anybody only needs to take just one look at you to see how much of an amazing person you are to have raised Denny and Naia so beautifully. Sure, you had a few hitch-ups, but that's normal for anybody. You and Karen are wonderful and you deserve everything."

He could see the tears gathering in her eyes. "Buck…"

He hauled himself up off the chair he was on and all but fell beside her, drawing her up into his arms and giving her his trademarked Buckley hug. "You are so amazing, Hen. And those kids are lucky to have you."

They sat like that for a while, the soft murmur of the TV providing a soothing background noise, only broken by the buzz of Buck's phone.

He carefully unwrapped himself from around Hen. "That's Eddie outside to pick me up. It was nice visiting. I'll see you in a few days at the station."

She nodded, tiredly. "I'll see you then. And I really did mean it, Buck. You are a wonderful parent."

Buck snorted quietly. "I should think so, too. It was the first time Chris ever called me Dad in hopes of getting away with it."

Hen nodded along before realising what had been said and he eyes widening. "He called you what?"

Buck just nodded along, nonchalant as he was gathering his things and headed towards the door. "Yeah, me and Eddie had obviously been worried if he was okay with everything since we got married even though he said everything was okay. And Eddie has obviously spoken to Chris alone and we're all really happy, and this was the first time that he called me Dad. Sure, he was trying to get out of trouble, but it really meant something to me, you know? Anyway, I'm rambling and Eddie's outside, so I'll see you next shift!"

With that final statement, Buck had collected the last of his things and was out the door with a final wave goodbye.

Hen remained seated on the sofa, still trying to sort through the load of information that Buck had just dumped onto her.

Chris called him Dad? Okay, that wasn't so out of the blue. Buck was married? To Eddie? When did that happen? Did anyone else know?

Distantly, she turned off the TV and lights and made her way down the corridor to her bedroom where Karen was in bed reading a book.

"You okay, Hen? You look a bit odd," Karen questioned.

"Buck's married."

"What? When? Who?"

"I think to Eddie. I don't know when it happened. Chris called him Dad and he was excited about it."

Karen nodded, putting her book down as if everything made sense in the world. "That is a very exciting moment." She smiled. "I know I was just as excited when Denny and Naia both called me Mum. Now come to bed, and tomorrow morning, we will find a nice gift for them to make up for the wedding we missed."

Hen nodded. Karen really was perfect.