Christopher was engrossed in his cartoons, leaning back into the couch. His dad and Buck had gone upstairs to talk almost twenty minutes ago. He hadn't been able to tell exactly what they were talking about, their voices too low compared to the volume of the television. Christopher didn't worry too much as he finished his dinner and put the plate on the coffee table in front of him, before settling back into the couch.

He was still mad at his dad for trying to keep something from him; he was still scared that he was going to lose more people in his life. Not to death, like his mother, but to the pandemic. It has been so long since he has seen anybody outside of his dad, Buck, Mrs. Karen, Mrs. Hen, Denny and Nia, in person. He missed everyone; his great grandmother, his great aunt, his school friends, his teachers, Carla. He didn't want to miss them anymore, he wanted to see them again and not through a computer screen.

Christopher looked up just as Buck and his dad came back downstairs and sat on either side of him. He looked between them as they seemed to silently speak to one another over the top of his head, and then his dad finally looked down at him and smiled.

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

Christopher looked between them again before nodding slowly, "Okay."

"Good," Eddie nodded back as he rested his arm across the back of the couch behind Christopher. "I want to talk about the person I'm dating."

Christopher frowned and leaned his body away from his dad, pressing more into Buck's side. Both Eddie and Buck noticed as they frowned. Buck shifted so that he could face Christopher on the couch and brought his own arm to rest on the back of the couch, fingers just touching Eddie's between them.

"Chris," Eddie sighed and turned his attention back to his son.

"Why can't you date Buck?"

Buck's eyes widened and his head snapped up to Eddie's own widened eyes. Instantly, Buck began laughing as he leaned forward, elbows on knees as he shifted, and pressed the palms of his hands into his eyes, his body shaking with laughter. Eddie chuckled too as he sat up straighter and moved his hand on the back of the couch to lightly scratch through his son's hair.

"Mijo," Eddie cleared his throat. "Christopher, Buck is who I'm dating."

Christopher's nose scrunched up in confusion as he looked at his dad, then to Buck, and back at his dad when it looked like Buck wasn't done laughing yet.

"What?"

"Yeah," Buck sobered up but the smile was still brightly on his face as he dropped his hands into his lap and turned his head to look at the boy. "Yeah, kid. I'm the one your dad's been seeing."

Both men stayed silent as Christopher seemed to be thinking about something. Christopher looked at the tv for a few seconds before turning his attention back to his dad.

"Why?"

"Why, what?" Eddie asked, "Why Buck?"

Christopher shook his head, "No, why didn't you tell me?"

Eddie sighed, scratching at the bridge of his nose as he eyed Buck for a second. "Well, to be honest, we didn't want to tell you just in case it didn't work out."

"Yeah, yeah," Buck tapped his finger against Christopher's knee to get the boy's attention. "We didn't want to upset you if your dad and I realized we were better as just friends."

Christopher frowned, "How long?"

"It's been about a month." Eddie replied.

"So you know you're better as more than friends?" Christopher asked, his nose scrunching up slightly in thought.

"I'd say so, yeah." Eddie smiled at Buck over Christopher's head, Buck smiled right back. "But I also didn't want to keep this from you anymore."

Christopher nodded, "I'm sorry I got mad."

"It's okay," Eddie cupped the back of his son's head and leaned forward to kiss the boy's forehead before straightening up. "What I'm more worried about is the fact that you stole my phone, ordered an Uber, and basically ran away." Eddie moved his hands to rest on Christopher's shoulders, making sure his son was looking at him. "I need you to promise me that no matter what we fight about, no matter how we feel, that you're never going to do that again, Christopher. I was scared that something had happened to you. Anything could have happened to you."

"I know," Christopher's eyes began to water. "I'm sorry, Dad."

"How about, next time." Buck spoke up, causing both Eddie and Christopher to turn and look at him. Buck made sure to be looking at Eddie as he spoke. "If there is a next time. If you're feeling upset, or need someone to talk to about whatever it is between your dad and you, ask your dad to call me." He finally looked back down at Christopher. "You know I'll drop everything to help."

"I think that's a great idea," Eddie nodded.

"Okay," Christopher nodded in agreement, then turned to his dad. "I'm still in trouble, right?"

"Oh, yeah," Eddie nodded again and gave a little chuckle. "But seeing as these last couple of months have been rough on all of us, you most of all being stuck in the house and away from pretty much everyone," Eddie ran his hand through his son's hair. "I don't feel right about grounding you, but I am going to say no video games for at least a week."

Christopher groaned and leaned back into Buck, "Back to Scrabble then."

That got another laugh from both men. It was a few minutes before they were able to settle down. Buck had wrapped his arm around Christopher's shoulders and gave him a quick squeeze while Eddie had ruffled the kid's curls.

"So," Eddie cleared his throat as they finally stopped laughing. "You're okay with me dating Buck, then?"

Christopher nodded his head quickly and smiled brightly up at both of them, "Oh yeah!"

Buck bent down and whispered in Christopher's ear, "Told you I wasn't going anywhere."

Christopher twisted his upper body and wrapped his arms around Buck's neck. Buck wrapped his own arms around the young boy to hug him back.

"Alright, so why don't we stay here with Buck tonight," Eddie announced as he stood up. "Find us a movie while I grab some of those leftovers because I am starving."

Buck watched as Eddie headed for the kitchen before giving Christopher one more squeeze, then handing over the remote for the tv and standing to follow his boyfriend. He leaned against the island as he watched Eddie pull a plate from the cupboard and turn back towards him. Buck smiled at Eddie as the older man made his way to the table to pick through what was left of the takeout from his hangout with Taylor earlier. The night hadn't turned out like it would have, he was pretty sure he was going to hang out with Taylor for a few hours before she would leave and he would go to bed and see Eddie in the late morning at work. He never would have thought his boyfriend's son would show up after running away, or that tonight would be the night they would end up telling Christopher about them. But he did know that no matter how bad or wrong the night had started, it was ending on a wonderful note.