Eddie leaned against the counter with a sigh and looked down at the broken salad bowl and torn lettuce leaves that still littered the kitchen floor. Christopher's bedroom door had slammed shut just a minute ago and Eddie had no idea what he was going to do. He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that he was trying to tell his son that he was dating; but before he could even really get the words out; tell Christopher that it was Buck he was dating; the kid had gotten angry and stormed off. That wasn't a normal thing for Christopher. Sure the boy whined about things he didn't like; voiced his discomfort or frustration about something but he never actually got angry; never stormed off before talking things out.

He didn't know what he was suppose to do. Let the nine year old cool off? Go and try to talk to him again? Eddie had no idea what was going to happen but he knew he was going to need to talk with Christopher again. He knew he should have waited but he hated lying to his son. He and Buck had only been on three dates in the last month but Eddie knew it's what he wanted. He wanted to be with Buck; wanted Buck to be with him; him and Christopher. Watching Buck and Christopher together always made Eddie fall more in love with the other man. It was one of the reasons when the pandemic had started and everyone went into lockdown Eddie had made sure to keep Buck close; keep the blond in their bubble so Christopher didn't lose him (and so Buck wasn't quarantined away from everyone and alone).

With another sigh Eddie scratched at the side of face as he pushed away from the counter and headed into the laundry room to grab the broom. He would give Christopher some time to cool off and then he would try and talk with him again; maybe start with the fact that it was Buck he was dating. He wasn't bringing someone new into their lives; if anything he was securing a more permanent and strong spot for Buck in their little bubble and in their family. Eddie knew that Christopher would be excited and love the idea of more Buck time. Maybe he should have had Buck there with them but the younger man had stated having Taylor Kelly ("Just as a friend, Eds!") over for a movie. Why, Eddie had no idea but he trusted Buck (it was Taylor Kelly he didn't trust but he refused to make that their first official fight as a couple so he wisely kept his mouth shut).

He was just getting everything swept into a pile when he heard a ding from his laptop that was still sitting on the kitchen table from Christopher's earlier homework. He knew the ding meant someone was trying to video chat with him. He hoped it was Buck (maybe Taylor had flaked on him and the younger man was bored); but he had a feeling more then anything that it was his parents (they had been trying to video chat with him all week and he was steadily ignoring them after their last phone call had yet again more or less demanded he send Christopher to them in Texas (something they've been trying since the start of the pandemic and lockdown in March) and Eddie has refused every time; he was just tired of it at this point).

Setting the broom against the counter he rounded the table and glanced down, a smile spreading across his face as he sat down and snatched up his earphones; stuffing them into his ears as he hit the accept. "Carla, hey!"

"Hello, Eddie!" Carla's smiling face appeared on his screen.

"How are you doing? How's your dad?"

Eddie really missed Carla. He knew that Christopher and even Buck missed the black woman as well but Eddie has felt just how much Carla did for not only Christopher but also for Eddie before the whole lockdown and they had to say goodbye to Carla for what they had hoped would only been a few weeks. When everything had started Eddie and Carla had talked and realised with all her other patients that it wouldn't be safe for her to be around Christopher too; and that had been when Karen had offered to take Christopher as she would be home alone with Denny and Nia as Hen was moving out for the time being. After two months of Eddie, Hen and Chimney taking up residence in Buck's apartment with the said man; by the time Eddie had decided enough was enough because he missed Christopher; he had returned both himself and his son home (and kept Buck, Hen, Karen, Denny and Nia in their bubble); and then Carla had to return home to Sacramento to care for her elderly father because she refused to send him to a nursing home during a pandemic.

"We're both doing good." Carla answered. "How's everyone there? I know it's close to dinner for you guys, where's Christopher?"

At the mention of his son Eddie sighed and frowned. He instantly regretted his actions when Carla seemed to become serious; sitting up straighter in her chair and leaning slightly forward.

"Eddie did something happen with Christopher? Is he sick? Why didn't you call me?"

"No, no!" Eddie frantically shook his head. "No, I'm sorry. Christopher is fine, really. I promise."

"Oh thank god," Carla breathed out and leaned back. "Don't give a woman a heart attack, boy."

Eddie smiled sheepishly and mumbled, "Sorry."

Carla shook her head. "If he's fine then what's really wrong?"

Eddie crossed his arms over the table and leaned forward a bit. "He's mad at me."

"That child doesn't have a mad bone in his body."

"I know," Eddie chuckled. "But I tried to talk to him a little bit ago about something important and he yelled and stormed off to his room. Slammed the door too."

Carla's brows raised in surprise. "What was so important that he got mad? Did something else happen to someone else? Your Abuela? Pepa?" Carla's eyes widened some. "Buck?"

"No everyone is still healthy and happy." Eddie scratched at the back of his neck. "I'm uh..." Why was he so nervous telling Carla? "I'm seeing someone... romantically."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

Carla cleared her throat. "Eddie, I don't want to seem like I'm not happy you're finally moving on but is that really wise during a pandemic?"

"It's the best thing I could have done, Carla." Eddie gave her a genuine smile. "I should have asked him out ages ago."

"Him?" Carla questioned.

Eddie nodded and gave a little chuckle. "It's Buck, Carla. I'm dating Buck."

"Oh. Oh." Carla's eyes lit up and she smiled. "It's about damn time!" And then she was laughing.

Eddie laughed with her; and then she asked how long it's been once they had settled down.

"Only a month. We've been on three dates but I didn't want to lie to Chris. He was already questioning things." Eddie shrugged and then sighed again and pressed the palms of his hands into his closed eyes and groaned. "But he stormed away before I could tell him it was Buck. He knows I'm dating but not that it's Buck and I know he'll be ecstatic and excited for all of us but now he's angry and I don't really know what to do."

He moved his hands away and dropped them back onto the table in front of him as he opened his eyes and stared at a frowning Carla through the laptop.

"You just need to sit him down and talk to him again, sweetie." Carla smiled. "Maybe start with the fact that it's Buck this time though. Get that out there before anything else."

Eddie nodded. "Yeah, yeah."

They talked for a good twenty minutes (Carla wanted details of their dates). They parted with Carla saying she would call in a few days for an update and the words, "I'm happy for you boys." Eddie closed the laptop with a deep sigh and leaned back in his chair as he took the earbuds out. After a moment of quiet he looked back down at the mess still on the floor. With another sigh he stood and began cleaning it up; he couldn't afford to suddenly get ants. Once everything was cleaned up he headed through the house for Christopher's room. Even if they didn't sit at talk again tonight Eddie still needed to feed his kid before bed.

"Christopher?" He knocked on the closed door and waited for an answer, knocking again when he didn't receive one. After another moment he knocked once and opened the door, expecting to find his kid asleep. "Chris?" He frowned when he noticed the room was empty. "Christopher?" He called as he made his way down towards the bathroom. The door was open and the room was clearly empty. He quickly spun on his heels and rushed into his own bedroom. "Chris?" He noticed the charge cord for his phone on the floor and his frown deepened; he remembered plugging his phone in when he had gotten home. "Christopher!" He rushed back into his kids room and pulled the closet door open just as he heard ringing.

His phone.

Spinning on his heels again he searched Christopher's bed as the phone continued to ring; finally finding it under the comforter. Seeing Buck's smiling face and name highlighting his screen and quickly his accept and brought the phone to his ear. "Buck! You gotta help me. Christopher..."

"Is here. He used your phone to order an Uber."

Eddie sighed in relief as he closed his eyes. Then his breath hitched as Buck's words sank in. His nine year old son called for an Uber and whoever picked him up actually took him without a parent's consent or presence? He was going to fucking sue! Anything could have happened to his son. What if the driver didn't take him to Buck's? What if they had gotten in an accident on the way there? What if...

Eddie took another deep breath. "Alright, I'll be over there in a second."

He hung up after Buck gave him an affirmative. Dropped his hand to his side he looked around and took a few deep breaths. Once he was sure he was calm enough to drive he was running out of his house; grabbing keys and wallets and shoving his feet into shoes as fast as possible. The drive to Buck's apartment from his condo was usually a thirty minute drive... Eddie made it in a little under twenty. He parked in Buck's visitor spot and raced into the building, taking the stairs to the fourth floor instead of waiting for the elevator. Using his own key he entered the apartment.

"Buck? Chris?" He stepped around the stairs and looking into the living room and drew out a deep breath.

Buck looked up at him and smiled. Christopher was tucked into his side, a plate of food on his lap as he ate and watched cartoons.

"Mijo," Eddie sighed and stepped forward, sitting on the coffee table in front of his son and boyfriend. "Christopher, what were you thinking?"

"I'm sorry." Christopher mumbled, staring down at his plate.

Eddie opened his mouth to speak again before Buck's hand reached forward and rested on his knee, silencing him. He looked towards Buck who was watching him with a semi-unreadable expression. Buck gave him a tiny smile before shifting and turning towards Christopher.

"Hey, buddy, you finish eating and watch your cartoon. Your dad and I need to talk real fast about grownup things."

"Okay." Christopher was still so quiet, it unnerved Eddie to his core.

Eddie was also confused, why would he and Buck need to talk. But when Buck stood and motioned for Eddie to follow; Eddie stood and did so until they were upstairs in the loft. Eddie stopped at the top of the stairs as he watched Buck's shoulders slump as the blond sat down on the edge of his bed, his hands digging into the mattress at his sides. Eddie took a few steps closer; a frown permanent on his face.

"Buck?"

Buck looked up at him; that semi-unreadable look again. "You told him you were dating." It wasn't a question.

Eddie groaned and dropped his chin to his chest as he placed his hands on his hips.

"Right, okay." Buck sighed. "Eddie, what happened? He thinks you're dating some woman."

"What?" Eddie's head snapped up. "How? Why?"

Buck shrugged. "I guess as he was sneaking out to catch the Uber he overheard to talking to her on your laptop."

It took a minute before Eddie's brain made the connection and then he couldn't stop the snort that escaped as his arms dropped to his sides and he shuffled over to the bed and dropped down next to Buck; pressing into Buck's side. "I was talking to Carla. She called by video chat. He heard me talking to Carla but clearly didn't hear what we would talking about."

"What were you talking about?"

Eddie smiled and tilted his head to look at Buck; the younger man still staring straight ahead. "You. And me. Us." Eddie watched as a smile broke out on the blond's face and he leaned more into him. "Look Buck, yeah I tried to tell Christopher about us. I didn't plan it, it just seemed right to tell him. I know I said we'd do it together..."

"I'm not mad that I wasn't there..." Buck winced. "Okay, maybe a little."

They both chuckled as Buck finally turned to look at him.

"But why does he think you're dating a woman, and question that I'm dating Taylor?"

Eddie frowned as he ducked his head and ran his hand through his head. "Because he didn't give me a chance to tell him it's you. All I got out was that I'm seeing someone. He got angry and stormed off..." He looked back up and stared out over the railing into the kitchen. "And apparently stole my phone to order an Uber. Oh my god my child ran away and anything could have happened!"

"Eddie relax and breath." Buck's arm wrapped over his shoulders. "Christopher is thankfully safe and sound and we don't need to think about the what ifs." Eddie saw out of the corner of his eye as Buck smirked. "And at least now I know I don't have any competition for your heart."

Eddie snorted. "Never."

"Now, the reason why he ran away." Buck frowned as Eddie looked at him. "He feels like everyone is leaving him and he's tired. He misses Carla and his grandmother and Pepa. His school friends." Buck shook his head. "He thought he was losing you to whoever you're dating and then when he thought I was on a date with Taylor cause she was still here when he showed up, he thought he was losing me too."

Eddie groaned again and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees; resting his head in his hands.

Buck chuckled. "We both know that's not happening. Now we just need to go and tell your kid."

"Yeah." Eddie nodded and sat up straight; dislodging Buck's arm around his shoulders. "Yeah, you're right." He turned to Buck and lunged forward to kiss the blond. Buck quickly started kissing back. They had only kissed once before, after their third date a few days ago. Eddie had kissed Buck goodnight after dropping him off at home. When air was finally needed Eddie was the first to pull away and smile at the other man. "Let's go tell our kid he has nothing to worry about, he's not losing either of us. If anything he'll be seeing more of his favorite person."

Buck smiled back as he offered his hand. Eddie instantly took it; entwining their fingers and squeezed. They both stood from bed and made their way back downstairs to Christopher. Only separating holding hands when they reached the boy to both take a seat on either side of Christopher. They looked at each other over the kid's head and with a nod from Buck, Eddie looked down at his son.

"Mijo, we need to talk and I need to you listen this time and then you can tell me your opinion, okay?"