Title: Family Barbeque
Rating: T
Pairings/Characters: Buck/Eddie, Christopher, Bobby, Athena
Warning: none
Word Count: 3,324

Notes: Part of my Doctor Buck universe.

Buddie Bingo: Free Space

Family Barbeque

Eddie's phone began ringing, the tune of "Somebody Get me a Doctor" by Van Halen. He smiled as he grabbed the phone from his dresser and answered it. "Hey, Buck. I'm just getting ready to leave the house to come to get you."

"Hold that thought," Buck said.

Eddie's smile dropped. "You can't make it, can you?"

"I can make it, but I'll have to be a little late. I'll meet you. No big deal."

Eddie took a deep breath. He looked up at the ceiling as he quietly counted to ten. "No big deal. This is a barbeque at Bobby and Athena's house. Yes, they're casual parties, but you haven't met Bobby yet, and I really want you two to get along. He's someone I really admire, and I want him to meet and like my boyfriend."

"I'm so sorry, Eddie."

"Why are you going to be late?"

"A patient's mom called me. It sounds like pneumonia from the symptoms she described. I'm just going to stop at their house and prescribe some medication after confirming it."

As far as excuses go, that was probably the best excuse that Buck could have for being late. Still, it didn't stop him from being a little angry at the situation. Making Buck feel bad about doing a house call wouldn't resolve anything, though. And it wasn't like Eddie didn't take advantage of Buck's house calls before they got together. He would be a little hypocritical if he got angry about it now, especially since he had free access to Buck's expert medical advice when Christopher wasn't feeling well. "Fine, I'll text you the address. Just come when you're done."

"I shouldn't be too late," Buck promised.

"Of course. See you soon." He disconnected without giving Buck the chance to respond, feeling slightly bad about it. What was done was done, though. He quickly texted the address before leaving his bedroom to find Christopher waiting in the living room.

"Ready to go to the barbeque?"

"After we get Buck, right?"

"Change of plans. Buck needs to make a house call, so he's meeting us there."

Christopher pouted. "Why couldn't Buck say 'no' for once?"

That was kind of how Eddie felt, but he had to have Buck's back about this. "Well, he never said 'no' when we needed the house call."

"But we were special."

"Buck cares about all of the kids he sees. And he could never say 'no' to a sick kid. It's just not who he is," Eddie said.

Christopher sighed. "I know. I just wish Buck wasn't so busy all the time."

'You and me both kid,' Eddie thought. But out loud, he said, "Let's go, Buddy."

When they arrived at the house, a lot of people were already there. As soon as they were inside, Christopher left Eddie's side to find Harry and Denny.

Bobby smiled at him from the grill in the backyard, and Eddie walked through the house, going outside to stand with him. "Hey, looking good."

"Thanks. So, where's the mysterious boyfriend that everyone on the team, but me, has met. Not to mention Athena. You know she wants to give him the third degree, right?"

Eddie half-smiled at that. "He had a work thing. He's meeting us here. I just hope he gets here before the food's done."

Bobby gave him a look after flipping the burgers. "Everything okay?"

Eddie shrugged. "I don't know."

Bobby arched an eyebrow and silently waited. He knew that if he bided his time, Eddie would begin talking.

Eddie rolled his eyes, but he was unable to take the silence. "Okay, I knew what I was getting into. I knew how Buck handled his practice. I knew about the house calls he made and how he never said no to any of his patients after hours. I benefited from that myself before we got together. I knew all of that before we began dating. But…"

"But knowing it and living it is two completely different things," Bobby knowingly finished.

"Right. I really like Buck. He's the first person I've liked since Shannon. And it doesn't hurt that he's great with Chris. They became fast friends, despite the fact that if Christopher ever needs a shot, Buck will be the one giving it to him. Christopher still likes Buck, even with that knowledge. High praise from my 10-year-old."

Bobby nodded. "It's okay to have second thoughts about a relationship. You need to think about your own happiness. Not just Christopher's."

Eddie thought about how Buck made him feel when they were together. The world just disappeared when it was just the two of them. They could talk for hours and never run out of anything to say. And when they kissed, it felt as if his heart would beat out of his chest, and he wanted more of it. He was addicted to Buck's lips.

And when they were together, Eddie never thought Buck's mind was somewhere else. When they were together, he and Christopher were the only things Buck saw and everything else faded to the background.

"No, I like him. I want to be with him. I just have to get used to having a boyfriend that has a crazy schedule."

"Well, I'm sure he'll have to get used to having a boyfriend who's a first responder, who can be called away at a moment's notice if there's an emergency."

Eddie nodded, knowing Bobby was right.

"It's a new relationship, Eddie. It will take time to find the right rhythm. But if you like him, the hard work will be worth it."

The way his insides turned to mush whenever he thought about Buck told him it would be worth the hard work in the end. He cared for Buck. He wanted this with Buck. They just had to learn how to work together.

Bobby clapped Eddie on the back as went back to focusing on the burgers.

Eddie wandered off and got pulled into a conversation with Hen and Karen as he passed them by.

Before long, nearly an hour had passed, and there was still no text message from Buck. Eddie furrowed his eyebrow, beginning to worry a little bit. Usually, when Buck made a house call, it didn't take long. He should have been at the Grant-Nash house by now, unless he got a call from another patient. But if that was the case, he would have told Eddie.

Buck knew how Eddie worried. He went to check on Christopher, who was playing video games with Harry and Denny.

Then he walked outside to the front of the house to make a phone call. He was just about to click on Buck's name in his contact list as he stopped outside, but he stopped when he saw Buck's familiar truck.

Eddie pocketed his phone and jogged over to the truck. Buck was staring down at his lap and hadn't noticed Eddie's approach. Worried, he lightly tapped on the window.

Buck looked up, startled, and quickly opened the door when he saw Eddie.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah," Buck said with a smile, but there was something off about it.

"Is the kid okay? Was it more serious than pneumonia?" Because that could be the only explanation for the look on Buck's face and why he hadn't come inside.

"No, it was pneumonia. I was right."

Or there could be another explanation about why Buck was acting this way. "Okay, so what's going on? I was coming outside to call you since you hadn't shown up yet."

"Didn't mean to worry you."

Eddie just stared at him.

Buck stared back.

Unlike Eddie, Buck wouldn't begin spewing his guts just because someone was silent. Buck was different. He needed to be badgered to talk.

"Buck, something's wrong. That much is obvious. We can play Twenty Questions if you want, but we both know you'll eventually tell me. So, let's skip the pretense."

"Nothing is wrong. I was just gathering my thoughts before I came inside."

"Really? You were gathering your thoughts? How long does it take for you to gather your thoughts? For curiosity's sake."

Buck smirked. "I'm not fooling you, am I?"

"Nope. I have a fully honed bullshit meter. So, what's really going on?"

Buck sighed and slid out of the car. "Fine. I know I haven't met your actual parents yet, but the way you talk about your captain, I can tell he's like a second father to you. It's the whole meeting the family thing. I'm worried that I won't make a good first impression. Or that he might think I'm not good enough for you. I'm late because of needing to go to Lizzie's house, so I do know that his first impression of me probably isn't that great already. My nerves about today went up a few notches."

Eddie took his head. "You didn't tell me you were so nervous about this. You already met the team. The only one you hadn't met was Bobby. We didn't have to do this yet if you didn't feel ready. I didn't mean to push you into it."

Buck was shaking his head. "You're misunderstanding me. I want to meet him. I want to meet the man that you admire so much. I'm just so scared that he'll tell you that you can do better and you'll agree."

Eddie cupped Buck's cheek. "First of all, you're right, I do admire him. I admire him because he's brave, loyal, and caring. He always does his best to save everyone, even if that's not realistic with our job. He'll give it a 150%. And the team knows he always has our best interests at heart. Family is important to him, so if anything comes up with Christopher, he's understanding when I have to leave early or come in late, and he never gives me grief about it."

"He sounds amazing," Buck whispered, his blue eyes staring deeply into Eddie's eyes.

"He is. He's also one of the least judgmental people I know. And he gives everyone a chance and doesn't jump to conclusions without getting to know them."

Buck bit his bottom lip. "Still scary to meet someone that is like family to you."

"I know. I got off easy because I already knew your sister. But I know I'll be just as nervous when it comes to meeting your parents." He noticed Buck's look of discomfort but didn't ask about it. That was something to tackle another day. "I have no doubt he'll love you, though. With your heart of gold, how could he not?" He leaned down and pressed his lips against Buck's.

Buck moaned and wound his arms around Eddie's neck.

Eddie backed Buck up so he was pressed against the truck and ground his lower body against Buck's as their kiss heated up.

Eddie broke his kiss when air because a necessity. "We should get inside before I do something that no one should be allowed to see."

"Right," Buck breathed, panting lightly. 'How flushed am I?"

Eddie grinned as he wiped his thumb across Buck's rosy cheeks. "Let's just say they'll know that we were doing something out here. Your cheeks are a dead giveaway."

Buck groaned. "Wonderful," he muttered.

Eddie stepped away. "If you can keep your hands off of me for a few minutes, we'll be able to get inside."

"My hands off of you? Who kissed who, Edmundo?" Buck teased.

Eddie grabbed Buck's hand after he shut the truck and they made their way inside the house. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Buck relaxed when he recognized many of the faces. He waved to Hen and Karen and nodded with a smile at Chimney. Maddie would actually be coming by when her shift at the dispatch center finished.

He wanted to pat himself on the back. He had been right. The meeting was a lot less pressure in a non-formal group setting than it would have been if Buck met Bobby and Athena in a small dinner.

Athena came into the house from the backyard. "Burgers and hot dogs are done."

As everyone started walking towards the backyard to get their food, Eddie pulled Buck to meet Athena. "Hey Athena, this is Buck. Buck, this is Athena. Bobby's wife."

Buck and Athena shook hands. "Nice to meet you," Buck shyly greeted.

Athena arched an eyebrow. "Nice to meet you too. From everything Eddie has said, you didn't sound like the shy type."

"I'm usually not." He didn't explain that he was nervous about meeting them, but Athena was a sergeant. She was good at deductive reasoning and probably figured it out without being told.

Athena's smile was kind "Well, it's wonderful to finally meet the man that has our Eddie so smitten. He talks about you all of the time."

"Athena," Eddie gasped, his cheeks red with embarrassment.

Buck grinned and waggled his eyebrows at Eddie teasingly. "He talks about me?"

"Non-stop. The only person he talks about more is Christopher."

"Good to know I'm with good company."

Eddie tugged Buck's hand, pulling him away from a chuckling Athena. "Let's get something to eat. And hopefully, Bobby will be cooler than Athena."

"I don't know. I think she's pretty cool."

"Only because she embarrassed me, and you live to see my embarrassment. It's sickening how much you love to see me uncomfortable."

"It's usually me that's uncomfortable, so I love it when it's someone else."

When they got outside, there were still some people in line at the grill, waiting for their food.

Bobby waved over at them with the hand that was holding the spatula.

They waited in line and when they got to Bobby, Eddie introduced them. He quickly added, "Your wife has already embarrassed me, so please be nice."

Bobby grinned. "I'll try. So, Buck, it's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too, Bobby."

"Eddie told me a little bit about how you met. I've also heard stories from Maddie when that connection was realized. She actually mentioned she always thought you'd be a first responder because you were an adrenaline junkie as a kid. So I'm curious about your choice to become a doctor instead. Probably one of the safest jobs there is."

Buck flinched.

Eddie jumped in. "Buck doesn't really like to talk about his reasoning for that. So can we not?"

"It's okay, Eddie," Buck murmured, his hand on Eddie's forearm. "Mainly, I wanted to help people. It really could have gone either way. A doctor or first responder. I just wanted to make a difference, even if it was in a small way."

Bobby smiled. "Who knows? If you had become a first responder, you might have met Eddie sooner."

"Maybe. But if that had happened, we might not have gotten together, so I think everything worked out the way it should have. I can't complain."

"Either can I." He put his arm around Buck's shoulders, holding him closer, Buck's weigh a solid presence that always provided him comfort. "I didn't notice Christopher come by. Has he come to get anything to eat?"

"Actually, none of the boys have. Probably too invested in their video game. I was going to go get them after all of the adults got their food."

"I'll go," Eddie said.

He moved away from Buck's side, but before he got too far away…

"Buck!" Christopher screeched. He moved as fast as he could on his crutches and fell into Buck's waiting arms.

"You're late," Christopher pouted.

"Chris," Eddie admonished. He didn't want his son making Buck feel bad, not when he knew how worried Buck had been about this meeting.

"No, it's okay, Eds. I'm sorry I'm late, Christopher. But I'm here now." He smoothed a hand of Christopher's unruly hair, pushing the bangs out of big brown eyes. "Your dad was actually coming to get you for lunch. What do you want? Burger or hot dog?"

"I want a hotdog and a burger."

Buck arched an eyebrow. "That's a big appetite you have. We should check to make sure your dad's okay with that."

Both heads swiveled around to look at Eddie. It was uncanny how much they looked alike at the moment. "Let's start with one first. And if you're still hungry afterward, you can have the other."

"Okay, Dad." He looked at Bobby. "I would like a hotdog, Mr. Bobby."

Bobby smiled. "Coming right up, Christopher."

Buck stood up and noticed the other boys that had followed Christopher. "Hey, Denny," he greeted with a smile.

Denny's smile was wide as he gazed up at Buck with similar hero-worship that Christopher wore when Buck was around. "Hi, Buck. It's so cool that you're dating Chris' dad."

Buck and Eddie looked at each other, their expressions soft.

"I think it's pretty cool, too," Buck said.

He smiled at the third boy. "Hi. From what Christopher has told me, your name is Harry, right?"

Harry nodded. "Nice to meet you, Buck."

"Nice to meet you, too."

Bobby came back with a hotdog on a plate for Christopher and a hamburger on a plate for Eddie."

Buck arched an eyebrow at Bobby's knowledge.

Eddie shrugged. "My hatred of hotdogs is no secret."

Buck grinned. "If it's okay, I'd like a hotdog as well."

Bobby nodded.

When Christopher left his side to go sit down, and the other two boys crowded around the grill to wait for their plate, Eddie pulled Buck slightly away. "If you plan to kiss me after eating that, you will be brushing your teeth first."

"I bet I can get you to make an exception."

Bobby handed him the plate. "Thanks."

When Bobby went back to the grill, Eddie and Buck went to sit on a couch. Christopher was at the table, but Eddie was trying to give him some space so he could have a little bit of independence.

Eddie nudged Buck. "So, meeting Bobby and Athena wasn't that bad, was it?"

"No, but it was short conversations. Who knows what they'll think of me after they actually get to know me?"

"They'll love you? What's not to love?"

A shadow passed over Buck's face. The same sadness that seemed to haunt him whenever Eddie mentioned how loving Buck was so easy. There was so much pain in that expression.

And once again, Eddie wondered about that. He wondered what had happened to make Buck doubt himself so much when it came to deserving love.

He hoped one day Buck would trust him with the information, but he knew better than to push for it until Buck was ready.

He would just work to show Buck that Eddie wasn't going anywhere. The Buck's heart was safe with the Diaz family.

Eddie placed the plate with his hamburger on the couch next to him.

Buck took a bite of his hotdog and before he could think about it, just as Buck swallowed, Eddie dipped his head and pressed his lips against Buck's, ignoring the loud 'Awwws' heard around the room.

He pulled back.

"What happened to not kissing me until after I brushed my teeth?"

Eddie shrugged. He slung his arm around Buck's shoulders and pulled him close. "What can I say? You're that irresistible, and I couldn't help myself."

Buck rested his head on Eddie's chest.

Eddie picked up his hamburger, took a bite, and then placed it back on the plate. He ignored Bobby's knowing gaze when his captain came in from the backyard with his own hamburger.

It wasn't like he was hiding how he felt from himself. He was in love. It was only a matter of time before he felt ready to tell Buck the depth of his feelings. He'd wait for the perfect moment, but eventually, Buck would know that he was loved completely, and there wouldn't be any more doubt in those pretty blue eyes.