Dot's first 2 weeks in L.A. were busy. Once she was trained at work, she took every shift she could. Covered for everyone, worked doubles whenever asked, and was already able to pay back the money she had spent her first day in the city. She was a pretty damn good waitress, and couldn't deny that having big boobs helped. And because of all that, she was completely exhausted. So when her Uncle and Athena told her she couldn't take any extra shifts on her upcoming Friday off, Dot was happy for the excuse.

"So what's happening tonight?" Dot asked as she helped Bobby carry groceries into the kitchen.

"Family Dinner," Bobby stated as if Dot would already know what all that exactly entailed, while beginning to put the food away.

"Right. And that is what exactly?"

"Everyone comes over and we eat and play games and stuff!" Harry explained excitedly, joining the two in the kitchen. Athena and May followed behind him carrying the last of the grocery bags.

"I'm assuming everyone means the team, and like spouses and such."

"Mm-hmm," Bobby hummed in agreement.

"And how often does this happen?"

"Once a month or so," Athena answered the question. Dot was feeling quite excited. She didn't have too many friends back in Vegas, and she wasn't able to see any of the firefighters after her first day in the city. So she was excited to actually get to know the people that were so close to those she is slowly being able to call her family.

Dot clicked with May and Harry quite quickly once they got back from their Dad's. The kids loved having someone younger in the house. Dot connected with May through their love of shopping, not that either of them could really afford doing much of it, and reading. Harry liked Dot because she would play video games with him. Both the kids already felt like Dot was a part of their family, and they were glad that she appeared. They didn't know the whole story of why she was there, but they were happy she was around.

"Okay so, let me see if I remember. Buck is the only one flying totally solo. Eddie has a kid named Christopher." Dot began, trying to remember everything she's heard about her Uncle's team. "Hen is married to Karen, and they have Denny and... Nia?" Bobby nodded in response. "And Chimney is having a baby with Maddie, who is also Buck's sister?"

"You got it!" Bobby laughed at the obvious concentration on Dot's face.

"Where did all the nicknames come from?" Dot asked from her spot at the edge of the counter, looking at the adults in the kitchen. "Hen is Henrietta. I get that. Is Eddie a nickname?"

"Yes. Its Edmundo." Bobby answered, while finishing putting the groceries away.

"Alrighty. Maddie is Madeline or Madison I assume."

"Madeline."

"I have the feeling that I won't be finding out about Chimney's name without some prying. But his real name is Howie."

"It's actually Howard."

"A nicknamed nickname. Alright. There's a story there that I will get to the bottom of. Eventually. That leaves Buck."

"His name is Evan." Athena supplied, taking a sip of wine beside her husband.

"So where the hell did Buck come from? Is he a hunter or something?"

"His and Maddie's last name is Buckley." Bobby supplied.

"Buck Buckley? Wow. That's uh... a choice."

"Okay, Dorothy 'Dot' Larson." Bobby mocked.

"Yeah! Nicknames are usually based on the first name, Robert 'Bobby' Nash!" Dot rebutted.

Dot could tell why, even though they all spent so much time together, everyone got together outside of work. They all got along so well, and obviously enjoyed each other's company. Dot took a look around and watched everyone in the yard from the doorway. Her Uncle was barbequing burgers and talking with Eddie. Christopher, Denny and Harry were in the living room playing a board game. Everyone else was scattered around the kitchen and backyard chatting, laughing, just generally enjoying their evening and the company.

"Here," Dot heard from behind her. Looking to her right she saw Maddie approaching her with a glass of wine in her hand. "Athena said you like white."

"I was never really a huge fan of wine. Though that's probably because what I used to drink, I would drink because it was cheap." Dot joked, accepting the glass. "But Athena definitely has great taste in wine. Thank you." Taking a sip, Dot and Maddie stood in comfortable silence for a moment.

"So how are you liking L.A.?" Maddie broke the silence.

"I like it. It's a lot like Vegas. Busy all the time, big, bright. It's nice."

"Do you miss Vegas?"

"I do. I miss my little apartment. It was just a little studio, nothing big or anything. It was kind of crappy, but it was mine. But I'm settling in here." Dot babbled, "I want to eventually find my own place, obviously, once I save up enough money for a few months of rent. But for now I'm good. My Uncle and Athena have made me feel so welcome here. The kids are great, and all of you are so sweet. I can see why you're all a big family. They all spend so much time together at work then spend their free time together. It's sweet. And the fact that you are all accepting me into your family is amazing."

"Yeah. They are pretty great." Maddie paused for a moment, preparing herself. "I don't know if anyone told you about me, but I ran away from my abusive husband," she acknowledged. "Came here to find Buck and everyone accepted me with open arms. That's just the kind of people they are. We got lucky with them."

Dot looked at Maddie in shock.

"I know, it's a lot to just spill to someone, but I've gone through a lot of therapy to be able to say all that, that easily." Maddie shrugged, comfortable. "I just wanted you to know that you are not alone. Obviously we didn't go through the same thing, but we both left and found family. Different circumstances, same outcome. So if you need to talk or need help finding a place or anything at all, let me know."

"Thanks. Seriously, thank you." Dot accepted gratefully. She took a sip of her wine before changing the subject, "So, a baby! Are you excited?"

Maddie chuckled in response, nodding dreamily.

"How far along are you?"

"A few months."

"Aaah! So exciting! Are you going to find out the sex? Or do you know it already? I know nothing about pregnancy." Dot laughed.

"You can find out around month 4 or 5, but we're not going to. The baby was a surprise, so we thought we'd keep that a surprise too. We're going to do the whole grey and yellow theme, I love those colours."

"So an ex nurse and current 9-1-1 operator, and a paramedic are having a baby. You guys are either going to be so chill, or beyond paranoid about absolutely everything." Dot teased, nudging Maddie's arm with her elbow.

"I'm hoping we'll be calm, but I'm expecting we'll be paranoid. I like to think of it as being cautious."

"Of course you do."

After laughing together for a moment, Maddie noticed that Dot was watching something. Looking in the same direction, she saw Chimney and Buck playing cornhole further in the yard. She smiled, knowing Dot wasn't watching her boyfriend.

"He's cute hey?" Maddie alluded.

"Yeah, totally. You two are gonna make an adorable kid."

"No! Well, yes. Thank you!" Maddie laughed, "But I was talking about Buck."

"W-what? No! I mean yeah, but I-"

"Hey, it's okay!" Maddie giggled, interrupting Dot's sputtering. "My brother's a good looking guy. He's a sweetheart too. Hen calls him a golden retriever, and she's not wrong. He's got a heart of gold." She paused. "You should go talk to him."

"I'm sure your brother is great and all, but dating isn't exactly a focus in my life right now. Plus guys like your brother, don't go for girls like me." Dot scoffed, gesturing to her general self, and pretending she couldn't feel her cheeks getting warm.

"Who said anything about dating? You just need to make some new friends." Maddie countered conspiratorially. Dot was about to argue when she got interrupted.

"Dorothy!" Bobby called from the BBQ pointing a spatula at her. "Cheese or no cheese?"

"Cheese please!" Dot called back.

"Maddie?"

"Extra cheese please!"

"That's an option?" Dot asked her excitedly.

"It is for someone experiencing 'pregnancy cravings'" Maddie replied with air quotes and a wink.

"Ooooo. Sneaky."

The sun had begun to set, the boys were in the house watching a movie, Nia was sleeping in her playpen in Bobby and Athena's room. May had gone to a friend's house not too long before so it was just the adults around. Dot snuck passed everyone to go to the front of the house to sit on the steps and watch the sunset. She heard the door open and turned to see Buck walking out. He stopped and took a breath before sitting beside her.

"Hey." Dot greeted.

"Hey. I uh, I noticed you had been gone for a bit so I thought I'd come find you."

"Aw, that's so sweet. Thank you." Dot smiled to him. They sat quietly for a few minutes, both lost in their own thoughts.

"You doin' okay?" Buck asked.

"Yeah, just needed to take a few minutes. Everyone is so nice, and welcoming and everything. I'm just not used to being around so many people, especially so many people that are so caring and worried about me. It's touching but also a little overwhelming." Dot paused for a moment. "Everyone is asking me how I'm doing, how everything's going, how am I liking L.A.? And I don't mean to sound ungrateful-"

"But it's a lot." Buck finished for her. "I get it. I've gone through some of my own shit. And it's great knowing everyone is there for you, but sometimes you feel like a burden."

"I got a job my first day here, and I've been working as much as I possibly can. I know that they are alright with me staying for as long as I need, but I also don't want to feel like I'm mooching off them. You know?" Dot continued without waiting for a response, "I mean I AM mooching off them, but I'm trying not to for too long."

"I don't think you're mooching off them or that you're a burden, and I'm pretty sure they don't either." Buck countered.

"I know that, I really do. But that doesn't change how I feel about it. I'm that person that no matter how much someone reassures me, I'll just always have that anxiety."

"Are you going to therapy?"

"Athena and I have talked about it. I have to figure out health insurance and such first. But it'll happen, eventually. Her and Uncle Bobby offered to pay for it, but they are already doing so much. I can't ask that of them."

"I know them, they wouldn't offer something like that if they didn't mean it." Buck reassured.

"I know."

Buck and Dot stayed sitting on the steps for a few minutes after the sun finished setting. Dot thought about what Buck had said, and about how all of the people inside had made sure to connect with her. Every one of them had given her their number and taken hers. Christopher loved her, and begged Eddie to let her take him to a movie. Maddie said she could join in some baby shopping. Chimney gratefully accepted her offer of helping paint the baby's room when the time comes. And Hen and Karen were very excited at the prospect of having another baby sitter on their contact list. Dot knew everyone would be there for her if she needed them to be, but that didn't make her feel any less of a burden. They were all basically forced to accept her in their lives.

"There you two are," Athena interrupted her thoughts from the door, "Come on, we're about to start Monopoly." She waved at them and turned back in the house.

"Monopoly?" Dot laughed, "Are they trying to ruin their relationships?"

Buck shook his head and laughed along.

"Come on." He said getting up and putting his hand out to help her up. He pulled her up and put his arm around her shoulder, walking her into the house. Dot walked in with a small smile gracing her face.