Buck awakes to an empty bed, as he rolls over on to his back, he can hear sounds from inside the house. He was not alone. He slowly sits up and takes in the view of Eddie's bedroom which was still covered in Christmas decorations. He smiled to himself as he looked at his phone, it was nine AM and he had slept right through the night with no nightmares. He knew it was because he was with Eddie and he wished he could stay forever just so he did not have face a nightmare again. He noticed he had a text and looked at it.
Maddie: 'Chim and I will pop round with all the presents later.'
Buck: 'Thank you, Eddie's hidden in my bedside drawer. He was looking through the presents the other day, so I hid it there.'
He placed his phone down and slowly got out the bed and made his way out the door. Slowly walking down the hall, taking it easy on his ankle. As he got closer to the kitchen, the smell of food filled the air and through Buck. He wondered why the smell was pleasant and inviting where normally when Eddie cooked, it usually was a burning smell. When he was about a corner away, he heard a woman's voice. When he turned around the corner he was greeted by the sight of Chris who was sitting at the table his back to Buck. Eddie and Abuela was standing on the opposite side of Chris, which was the kitchen side of the room. Buck smiled at Eddie who walked over and handed him a cup of coffee and gestured to sit.
"Morning, Bucky." Chris says smiling as he takes a bite of the pile of pancakes in front of him.
"Morning, Superman. Are you excited?" Buck asked.
"I am, Santa is coming." Chris said with a chuckle, Buck looks over to Abuela who is smiling as he starts flipping more pancakes.
"You should have woken me, I would have helped cook breakfast." Buck says.
"Nonsense, you were asleep and if he had woken you up, he knows I would beat him." Abuela chuckles, raising her spatula in mock threat towards Eddie who pretends to duck away.
"And she would, Dad is scared of her." Christopher adds.
"That I am and so should you, kiddo." Eddie says as he puts a plate of pancakes down in front of Buck.
"Okay, I won't argue with that. Maddie is coming round later to drop some stuff off. Is that okay?" Buck says to Eddie with a wink and he nods back smiling, catching on Buck's meaning.
"Yeah, I'm sure he can show Abuela his new books in his room when she comes around." Eddie says. looking at Abuela and Buck chuckles as Abuela realises what they are on about.
"I would love to see what new books Christopher has now." She says smiling.
She finishes up plating the last of breakfast for her and Eddie and they join Buck and Christopher at the table. They sit, eating, talking about what plans they had for later. Abuela said she would go home and come back later with some food and Eddie's aunt Pepa and relax at Eddie's to save them from moving round too much. Once they were done eating, Christopher went to watch TV while Eddie started washing the dishes.
"So, what do you have planned for tomorrow Buck?" Abuela asks curiously.
"I am going to Athena's and Bobby's. Well, it was more ordered to turn up, and Maddie is going as well, and I think Chim will turn up too. What about you?" Buck asks.
"Well, I will be round here cooking for the family, so I will make sure there is leftovers." She says.
"Leftovers for what?" Buck asks confusedly.
"Well, you know how Edmundo can't cook and I doubt that there would be many takeout places will be open during the holidays. So I am making sure Christopher has something to eat." She says smiling and Buck sees Eddie mock glaring.
"Yeah, Edmundo. Everyone knows you rely on takeout's way too much." Buck chuckles.
"Well Evan, what can I say? I just never had the time learn, plus Abuela's food is divine." Eddie says smirking.
"That is a fair point. You will have to start making your food taste horrible and force him to learn." Buck joked, grinning.
"You two are a pain. Anyway, what time is your sister coming, Buck?" She asks.
"I'll give her a message, but I'm hoping it would be soon so we can get them hidden and ready to put out later." Buck says smiling.
"You all deserve a good Christmas, so make the most of it." She says as she gets up and heads into the living room.
"How are you feeling? I noticed you didn't have a nightmare last night." Eddie asks as he sits down.
"Yeah, I feel refreshed. It's actually the first night in a while that I slept all the way through, it must be you. I just wish it was every night, but I will get through it. I have people supporting me, that, I can see..." Buck says.
"You do. If it gets too much, you better tell someone." Eddie says.
"I will I promise. Oh, I better text Maddie and see what time she will come." Buck says as he gets his phone out his pocket.
"Okay, do you want another coffee?" Eddie asks.
Buck nods without looking up from his phone as he sends a text.
Buck: 'What time are you coming, Abulea has agreed to distract Christopher when we get the presents in.'
Maddie: 'We'll leave in 30 minutes. Is that okay?'
Buck: 'Yeah that's fine.'
"She's leaving in 30 minutes, so we got time to make sure Christopher is locked in his room." Buck says.
"Good. Poor Abuela won't be leaving the room for a long time once she gets in there." Eddie chuckles.
"True. Are we just putting them all in your room till later, or shall we put them in the guest room?" Buck asks.
"My room. That way we can sort them out, as I will let him open a few with us in the morning and the rest when the rest of the family arrive." Eddie explains.
"That's fine. I am going to get some clothes on. I don't to want look like a slob, Maddie will beat me up." Buck chuckles and heads down the hall.
As he gets back in Eddie's room, he picks up his clothes and heads into the bathroom, he freshens up. Luckily, he kept a supply of his toiletries at Eddie's and once he is done, he changes in to the clean set of clothes and heads back to the kitchen where Eddie is standing. He hands him a fresh cup as he wanders past Buck and down the hall.
Buck stands there, taking in how easy everything is now, after everything he has gone through, he can finally feel happy about where his life is going.
'I'm always here, no one will love you like I do, they only care as you're injured.'
Buck freezes in place as he places the cup down and quietly falls to the floor, head in his hands as he cries. He knows it is just in his head but at the same time, it was true. No one else cared for him and always left him. He sat there, tears falling down his cheeks onto the kitchen floor. His vision suddenly growing dark as the memories come rushing back.
'They're just helping out because they pity you. You are nothing to them afterwards. Just an inconvenience to their time.'
The voice kept on growing louder and louder. He kept quiet, hoping not to alert Christopher or Abuela to his state. The last thing he wants is more pity.
"Buck?" Eddies voice cuts through the thoughts in Bucks head "It's okay I'm here." Eddie says, and Buck feels a presence wrap round his back and gently tug at him to lean forward.
As Buck glances up, he sees that Eddie is positioned on the floor, his legs spread out across the floor and his other arm grasping at Buck to come in for a hug. Buck's vision gradually lighting up, Buck spots the opening in Eddie's neck and buries his head straight into it, wrapping his arms round Eddie. He feels Eddie pull him in tighter, Buck could tell that he was positioned funny as his legs hurt, but he did not care he just wanted stay where he was.
"I'm sorry." Buck sobs out barely containing it.
"What do you have to be sorry for? You have done nothing wrong." Eddie says firmly.
"It's just my thoughts messing with me again and making me think…" Buck starts but does not want to finish he will sound silly.
"Go on, tell me." Eddie says realising that Buck was hesitant, and he feels relaxed as Eddie runs his hand through Bucks hair.
"It's a silly thing, don't worry about it okay." Buck says enjoying the feeling of the hug. He didn't want to trouble Eddie any more than he already had.
"Buck, you know what the therapist said, you have to speak up. I promise nothing you say will be silly. I'm here to listen, always and never to judge." Eddie says.
Buck knew he would not be able to hold off opening up to Eddie. He sighed and sat up, he wanted to look at Eddie as he explained. It was mainly to see if he would look at him like a stupid idiot or if he was really listening, so he wiped his tears away and looked in to Eddies big brown eyes.
"It's just my thoughts keep re-playing stuff you know… He said to me." Buck says looking at Eddie who hadn't changed his expression, just kept looking at Buck, so he continued "It was stuff like saying he will always be with me," And Buck points to the bandage where the burn is," and that no one will love me like he did and that everyone only cares because I'm injured… And that I'm just a pathetic loser." Buck says knowing he has tears forming again as one falls. Each word he had just said stung him deeply, with each description flashbacks happen in his mind.
He feel's Eddie gently running his thumb across Buck's cheek, taking the tears and fears away.
"Buck, you are loved by so many. Everyone does care, they would not have done everything they have done if they did not. And this…" Eddie places his hand gently over the bandage and continues, "Means nothing and in time it will heal, and we can look at options to help you through deciding what to do." Eddie says as he lifts his hand to cup Buck's cheek "But I promise you, I will never leave you again, you're stuck with me." Eddie says.
That is all it takes and Buck breaks again. He falls into Eddie's arms crying and Eddie holds him and rubs his hand up and down Buck's back. As they sit there, he hears a knock at the door and he moves and pulls Eddie close, he does not want to move, he just wants to stay.
"Can someone get the door please?" Eddie shouts as his hold gets tighter round Buck.
Buck, with his head into Eddie's chest can hear footsteps and feels Eddie nod gently and the footsteps disappear and then the door been opened, and the sound of Maddie's voice could be heard.
"If you want, we can go to my room and get out the way for a bit." Eddie says still rubbing Buck's back.
"No, I'm fine. Just give me a minute." Buck says his voice sounded tired.
"Ok, we are fine to stay here." Eddie says.
As they continue to sit there, he hears people moving round and then the sound of crutches walking past.
"Is Bucky okay, Dad?" Christopher asks.
"Yeah, he is just a bit sad, you go to your room and show Abuela your new books." Eddie says his hand constantly rubbing Buck's back.
"Okay." Chris says and Buck listens as they head down the hall once the door is closed, he hears the rustle of bags.
"Where would you like us put these?" Maddie's voice could be heard; he could tell it was a worried tone without seeing her.
"Just drop them in my room and we will sort them out later." Eddie says.
"Always finding a way out of helping, eh?" Chimney said with a chuckle, but the sound of a slap came through the air and Eddie chuckled.
"What was that for?" Chimney asks in a mock injured tone.
"You know what for, Howie. Now, come on." Maddie said sounding annoyed.
He hears them wander down the hall, the bags making more noise than they should be making. He feels Eddie starting to move, so he looks up.
"Hey, what do you say to us getting off the floor and actually helping a tiny bit?" Eddie says smiling.
"Okay, and I'm-" Buck starts but Eddie places a finger on Buck's lips cutting him off.
"There is no need to be sorry for how you are feeling, now our contribution to helping is making hot chocolate and what do you say we put some chilli in Chim's as a prank?" Eddie says with a cheeky grin.
"Yes." Buck said smiling.
They slowly got off the floor and Buck rubbed his leg as it was stiff, and Eddie helped him up the rest of the way up and they moved over to the stove. Eddie moved round getting what was needed as Buck stood there at the stove emptying the ingredients in to the saucepan and started stirring. Eddie got six mugs out and some marshmallows, as Buck stirred the mixture in the saucepan, he heard sounds behind him. He turned his neck and saw Maddie and Chimney standing there.
"Hey." Buck said before quickly turning back to keep stirring. He couldn't look at his sister for some reason.
"Hey, they're all in the room." Maddie explains.
"Thank you for bringing them over." Eddie says.
"Our pleasure, and thanks for having Buck tonight." Maddie says
"Well, I think Chris is happier than anyone." Eddie chuckles as he places some marshmallows in each cup.
"At least I don't have to sit there watching you two swoon over each other all night." Buck chuckles still looking at the saucepan making sure the chocolaty mixture was not burning.
"It's okay, we made a deal to do it here just so you get a daily dose." Chimney chuckles.
"Sorry, no swooning in this house." Eddie says as he takes the pan from Buck.
Buck watches as Eddie pours the mixture in to each cup.
"Oh yeah, forgot it was only… Ow, what was that for?" Chimney said and Buck looks over where Maddie is grinning.
"You okay, Chim?" Buck asks.
"Yeah, you Buckley's are all the same, no sense of fun." Chimney says pouting.
"We know how to have fun, don't we Maddie?" Buck says smiling.
"That we do." She replies.
"Go and sit down, I'll bring them to you." Eddie says.
Buck watches as Maddie and Chimney disappear into the living room and hears the door to Christopher's room open.
"Buck, Abuela likes the book you got me about space." Christopher says
"That's good." He says kneeling down.
"Are you feeling better now?" Christopher asks.
"I am, thank you, why don't you go sit with Maddie and Chim, your Dad made hot chocolate." Buck says smiling.
Christopher nods and hugs Buck and wanders into the same room where Maddie and Chimney were in, Abuela pats him on the shoulder before she follows Christopher. Buck walks back to where Eddie was and sees the chilli pot on the side of one mug and Eddie smiling evilly as he stirs the chosen mug that was meant for Chimney.
"You are so naughty." Buck says teasingly, bumping Eddie shoulder.
"Hang on, you agreed to it as well." Eddie says.
"I did, but put extra in, let's not forget its Christmas the time for giving and been generous" Buck smirks
"Now who's naughty?" Eddie chuckles as he adds more.
Once the mugs were all done, they headed into the living room making sure Chimney got the right cup and Buck watched as Eddie went to sit on the floor and he signalled for Buck to sit next to him. Everyone else had taken up the sofas and they started watching a movie on TV.
"I can ask them to move if you're not comfortable on the floor." Eddie whispers to Buck.
"I'm okay, if I need something soft to lean on, I got you. Plus, we have a perfect view of Chim." Buck quietly chuckled.
"Very true, why is he taking so long to try it?" Eddie asks curiously.
Buck watched as time went passed and Chimney just kept blowing on the drink but never drinking any, finally after what felt like ages he took a drink and then another and his face started to scrunch up and he looked straight over at Buck and Eddie who both burst out laughing.
"What's funny?" Chris asked
"Howie, are you okay?" Maddie asks as Chimney starts coughing.
"Yeah. Real funny boys." Chimney says as he put the drink down.
"Well, if you can't stand the heat, Chim…" Buck says, and more laughter comes from them.
"What did you do?" Maddie asks curiously while patting Chim's back.
"Well, in my defence I did nothing, but there may be a slight spicy factor to Chim's hot chocolate, I personally heard chilli and Chocolate was nice." Buck laughs trying hard not to spill his own cup.
"The pair of you are like mischievous monkeys." Abuela says shaking her head but she looked dubiously on her own cup.
"Can't help if the chilli jumps in the mug, can we?" Eddie says trying keep a straight face.
"Children, the both of you." Maddie says, "Well, I will take that as our cue to leave." She says.
Chim and Maddie get up and Buck does too and follows them to the kitchen when he gets there he sees Maddie rummaging in her bag.
"Here," She whispers and passes Buck a box wrapped in Christmas paper. He recognised it as Eddie's Christmas present.
"Thank you." He says smiling.
"If you need anything, give me a call okay?" She says as she gives him a hug.
"Or don't but have a good time and we will see you tomorrow." Chim says still red from the chili.
They head out and Buck waves them off and as he turns and heads down the hall he was going hide the present in the guest room. As he approached it, Eddie comes out the room.
"Where are you going?" Eddie asks and Buck hides the present behind him.
"Just want to put something in there." Buck says.
"Well, you can't go in there sorry. Out of bounds." Eddie says while crossing his arms.
"Since when is the guest room out of bounds?" Buck questions raising his eyebrows.
"Since I said so. Whatever it is, you will have to put it somewhere else." Eddie says smirking.
"Ughh. Christopher, you got a second?" Buck shouts.
"He won't tell you anything." Eddie smiles.
"Yeah, Buck. What is up Bucky?" Christopher asks.
"What's going on in there?" Buck asks.
Christopher looks between Eddie and Buck and then Christopher shrugs his shoulders earning a laugh from Eddie.
"Fine, can I put something in your room, Christopher?" Buck asks.
"Okay." Christopher say's and leads the way, Buck turns and sticks his tongue out at Eddie.
"What did you want to hide?" Christopher asks as Buck closes the door.
"It's a special present for your Dad and you know how he gets." Buck says.
"True, hide it in there." Chris says pointing to his toy chest.
Buck opens it and places the box inside and closes it and moves some of the toys round so he would know if Eddie had been in. They leave the room laughing. Eddie is sitting with Abuela and watching the TV, so they join them and watch movies. Eventually Abuela leaves and the three of the cuddle on the sofa, watching movies and they order pizza in as it was Christmas Eve and Eddie had said, no one cooks Christmas Eve. They chowed down on the pizza and Eddie said he needed the loo and disappeared. Buck quietly creeped into Christopher's room and sat on the bed and waited and sure enough the door opened.
"Busted." Buck says laughing.
"I just… erm wanted to get…" Eddie started.
"Get what? He has everything he needs, go on, back to the living room you go." Buck says pushing Eddie out the room.
They sit and watch more movies eventually it's time for Chris to head to bed. Eddie carries him, and Buck follows. Buck offers to read the story, mainly so Eddie can't be nosy and that he could carry all the presents out as Buck reads, as he reads he can hear Eddie walking back and to some huffs are also heard and Buck laughs to himself. Eventually after twenty minutes of reading Christopher is out cold. Buck heads back into the living room where Eddie has paused a movie, but he cannot see which one it is, as it was a black screen at the moment. He does notice all the gifts that are sitting on the side and chuckles. It looked like a mountain.
"I think he may have been spoiled this year." Eddie says as he noticed Buck's look as he passes a cup of coffee to him who takes a seat.
"Yeah, just a tiny bit. But he deserves it." Buck says.
"He does. So, where is mine?" Eddie asks and jokingly glared at Buck.
"Well, its hidden and you will get it tomorrow night okay?" Buck explains raising his arms is if to stop him.
"Tomorrow night? That is a bit harsh, but does that mean you're coming back after Athena's and Bobby's?" Eddie asks
"I'll get Maddie stop by, so will be a flying visit but it will have to do." Buck says.
"That's fine. I can give you your present at the same time." Eddie explains
"Guessing I'm on the couch, considering the guest room out of bounds." Buck chuckled.
"No, you can sleep with me again." Eddie says and Buck looked at him, "If you're ok with that" Eddie says quickly.
"I am, but maybe not all the time. I don't want confuse Chris and I want to make sure that I'm - you know." Buck starts.
"I do and I told you I would wait, but come here and watch the movie and we will head then bed after it finishes." Eddie says.
Buck nuzzles closer to Eddie as he starts the movie and Buck smiles when he sees what comes on.
"How did you know I liked Lilo and Stitch?" Buck asks.
"Well, I saw the robe at Maddie's, and I asked her, and she explained how much you love Stitch." Eddie says smiling
"Thank you." Buck says, smiling back.
They sit there watching the movie and once it finished, they turned the TV off and head to Eddie's room and slowly drift off to sleep.
As morning arrives, Buck and Eddie are awoken by a hyperactive and overexcited Christopher.
"Daaad! Buucck! Wake up! It's Christmas!"
"We'll get up in a bit. Let us have another hour's sleep" Eddie still groggy.
"I can't! I'm so excited!" Christopher says shaking the bed.
"Superman hop in have a snooze with us and then we will get up. Promise." Buck says
"Ugh okay. Are you and Daddy boyfriends?" Christopher quizzes.
This made Eddie's grogginess vanish as panic takes over.
"What? No, why would you say that?" Eddie asks and Buck notices Christopher's sad look.
"It's just… he stays in your bed like couples do." Chris says, pointing it out.
"No, buddy. It is like not like that. You know when you have nightmares?" Buck says.
"Yeah?" Chris replies.
"Your Dad brings you to his bed to sleep and you sleep better right?" Buck says.
"Yeah, I would sleep better because I know Daddy is there." Chris says, and he smiles at Buck as he understands. "Does he help your nightmares go away too?" He asks.
"Yeah, that is why I stay here with him, your Dad is the nightmare's worse enemy. He makes them go away." Buck says as Chris hugs him and Eddie mouths thank you.
Christopher settles down and they do get another hour's sleep. Eventually they get up and while Buck makes pancakes, Christopher explains which ones he is going to open first right after they eat. Once they finish, Christopher makes a beeline for the Christmas tree. Buck laughs as Christopher attacks the first present, thanking him for what Santa had got him and Buck loved every second. Eventually, it was time to go. He had gotten changed and was now in the car on the way to the Grant-Nash house. As they entered, they were greeted by smiley faces and it was a feast, with so much food and drink. They had really gone all out, Buck avoided the wine and just enjoyed all the chocolate he could eat. The sight of his adopted family playing games and taking in what he could have missed out on, as the night winded down it was time to head back home dropping by at Eddie's.
The car journey felt like it was taking ages. He was worried Eddie might not like the present he had gotten him, or it would ruin everything that he had built up recently.
"Buck are you ok? You look distant." Maddie asks gently.
"Yeah, I just have a lot on my mind." He says smiling at her.
"It will be all okay, trust me." She says smiling.
As the car pulled up outside Eddie's the nerves hit him. He slowly walked to the door and before he could knock on the door, Abuela opened the door.
"There you are! I hope you have room for more food." She says and waves her hand towards Chimney and Maddie.
"You're all staying a while, it's Christmas." She jokes as she guides Buck to the kitchen where Eddie was with Christopher.
"Buck, you came back." Christopher say's and makes his way to him.
"Of course, I did." He says kneeling down to hug him.
"It's been so fun, and I've got so much stuff, don't worry I kept Dad out my room. I told Abuela if she sees him go near my room to smack him." Christopher chuckles.
"Yes, and he has had a fair few smack." Abuela laughs.
Buck stands up and looks at Eddie who pulls him in for a hug and Buck sinks into it.
"Put him down!" Chimney shouts.
"Maddie, come meet some of the family you too Chimney and Christopher." Abuela says.
Buck turns as everyone disappears and it's just him and Eddie, he turns back to Eddie who is smiling.
"So, do I get the present now." Eddie asks.
"I suppose." Buck says, and they head to Christopher's room.
As they enter the room Eddie closes the door and takes a seat as Buck digs through the chest to get the box and then sits down looking at Eddie.
"If you don't like it, I can sort something different out…." Buck explains but he was cut off by Eddie.
"Shh! I'm sure it will be perfect." Eddie says smiling at him.
Buck hands over the box and watches as Eddie studies it closely and then slowly opens the wrapping paper, so it was just the box lying in the paper. He slowly opens it and Buck watches as Eddie stares at what is inside, and then Eddie looks up and he has tears in his eyes and Buck is concerned. Were they happy or sad tears?
"It's beautiful Buck. You didn't have to." Eddie says.
"I did because your last watch got damaged from when you saved me. So I got a new one to replace it. It's the upgraded model to the one you had before." Buck says and he sees Eddie take it out the box and study it and then Eddie pulls his face in surprise as his finger runs along the back.
"Did you get it engraved?" Eddie asks and Buck nods.
"I will always have your back, love Evan." Eddie reads aloud.
"If it's too much I can get it the engraving changed…" Buck says not knowing if he crossed the line when Buck feels himself been pulled into a hug.
"It's perfect. Thank you, Evan. I love it." Eddie says and Buck hugs tighter.
They spend a while holding each other and then Eddie breaks the hug and his hand disappears under Christopher's pillow and pulls out a bag, and hands it to Buck as he places his new watch on.
"This one is for you, go on." Eddie says smiling.
Buck slowly digs in the bag moving the tissue paper and pulling out a small box he looks at Eddie confused. He slowly opens it up and there is a key and Buck is totally confused he already had a key to Eddie's.
"Follow me." Eddie says holding his hand out as he got up.
Buck held his hand out and let Eddie lead him they end up at the guest room and Buck noticed that there was a lock on it which was never there before, and Eddie turns to him.
"Use the key." Eddie explains.
Buck slowly inserted the key into the lock and opened the door as it opens he is greeted to a room that was defiantly not the same. He looked round and he saw things that were his and the room was set up as he walked in he saw a piece of paper on the bed and he picks it up.
"Evan, I could give you all the different gifts in the world I could think of, but in the end I settled on this. This room is yours and your own space, I know you lost your place and I know you worry you will be alone but now you will not. You will always have me and Christopher around, so I'm asking you to move in I just hope you say yes."
Buck turned round and he could feel the tears falling and he pulled Eddie into a hug and held him tight.
"Yes." Buck says with emotion.
"Good. I don't know what I would have done if you said no." Eddie chuckled.
"It's brilliant. I get to be close to Christopher, and you and I won't be alone." Buck smiles.
"Plus, if you have a nightmare, I'm close by." Eddie says.
"Thank you, but how did you pull this off?" Buck asks curiously.
"Maddie helped and Athena as well, when I said I wanted to offer you the room, they both agreed it would be the best thing for you and your recovery." Eddie explains and Buck hugs him tighter.
After a while, they break the hug and head out. He hugs Maddie when he sees her.
"Guess that means you like it?" Maddie chuckles as she holds her brother close.
"Yeah, it is going help so much." He says.
"Well, you are always welcome back at mine, okay?" Maddie says.
"I know and thank you." Buck says.
They spend the next few hours enjoying the last bit of Christmas, laughing, and joking and once everyone was gone and Christopher was in bed. Buck settled down on his new bed and looked at the door as Eddie stood there.
"Night, Buck." Eddie says.
"Night, Eddie." Buck says, and Eddie disappears from the doorway.
Buck settles down. Everything was falling into place and he couldn't wait till the New Year. He had one more surprise for Eddie.