After dinner and love making, Evan, his hand shaking, texts Maddie to come over, in which she responds back that she'll be there in a half an hour.
"You okay?" Kelly asks, noticing the man he loves more than life just staring off blankly out the window.
"Mhmm… yea, I'm okay. I'm gonna miss Maddie, but this is the right call." Evan tells Kelly, crossing the space between them and wrapping his arms around the shorter man. "I love you, you know? And I want us to be home in Chicago. Yes, I'm gonna miss the people here, but we can visit and so can they. I still want them all to come to our wedding if they want to." Evan says before kissing Kelly's lips, tenderly.
When the kiss is broken, Kelly breaths against Evan's lips, "I know, I love you too, baby. And yes, we can visit. I'm sure they all will want to come to our wedding. Speaking of our wedding, do you want to start planning it?" The smile on his face is blinding.
"Yes, I do," Evan sheepishly answers. "I know it's right around the corner, but I was thinking June 18th. It's a Saturday and I did the math too." His cheeks are red as if he's embarrassed of his eagerness. "We would be off shift. So, I was also thinking we could have the ceremony at a park, then have the reception at Molly's?" Evan asks, hopeful that his fiancé will like his ideas.
"I love that idea, and I'm happy that you've already put so much thought into our wedding. I think it's a plan. Sure, it's a month away, but we got this. We can get everything planned and ready for that time." Kelly says happily.
"I'm glad you like my ideas. I'm sure we can get everything ready. Who's going to be your best man?" Evan asks, though he is sure he can guess.
"Casey." Kelly simply declares. Evan nods as Kelly asks, "what about you?"
"Eddie, if he's willing… If not, then probably Mills." Evan says, making Kelly nod.
Mills, unable to stay away, came back to 51 a year ago, which Kelly told Evan this one night while they were talking about 51. Evan and Mills were always good friends, teasing and pranking each other. Right now, Mills is waiting for a spot on the squad, hounding to get back, but for now, he's on truck 81.
"I'm sure Eddie will want to be your best man." Kelly says reassuringly, running lightly his thumb over Evan's jawline, as they are still in an embrace. It's so easy with them, feeling so natural. They can just stay in each other's arms forever.
Evan leads them to the sofa after a moment and says "I hope you're right. Are you going to have any groomsmen?" He asks, not wanting to linger on Eddie's possible rejection.
"Yea, Cruz, Tony, and Capp. What about you?" Kelly shots back.
"Mills, if Eddie will be my best man, Chim and Otis." Evan tells the other man.
"Sounds good to me." Kelly says kissing evan. The kiss starts to heat up just as there's a knock on the door.
Both men groan, and Kelly grumbles, "your sister has impeccable timing."
Laughing, Evan gives one last peak on the lips before tapping Kelly on the shoulder and stating, "that she does, always has." Stopping himself from going in for another kiss, he gets up and heads to get the door. With a deep breath, he opens the door to reveal his sister. "Hey Mads." He says, seconds before getting pulled into a hug.
"Hey, Buck, is everything ok?" She asks hesitantly, as she pulls back from the hug to get a good look at her baby brother.
"Yea, why don't you come so we can talk." Evan suggests, gesturing for her to come in and follow him after he shuts the door. They step into the living area, where Kelly's seated on the sofa. Evan sits beside him while Maddie takes a chair beside the sofa.
"Hey, Kelly." Maddie greets her soon to be brother-in-law.
"Hi, Maddie. How are you?" Kelly asks, giving her the biggest smile.
"I'm good. What about you guys?" She asks, her heart beating/
"We're good." Kelly says, as he shoots Buck a look.
With a deep exhale, Evan clears his throat and leans forward on the sofa, resting his elbows on his knees. He pauses for a second as he finds the will to look Maddie in the eyes and says "Mads, we've decided to go back to Chicago."
Maddie sighs but nods saying, "I figured you eventually would. I was hoping you'd be here for a little longer, but I understand. " She leans forward and pats Evan on the knee.
"Thanks, Mads. I still want you and Chim to come to our wedding." Evan says with a smile. He can't imagine getting married without her there.
"I wouldn't miss it. Have you set a date yet?" Maddie asks, looking between Evan and Kelly.
Kelly's the one to speak, "Yes, June 18th. Weather permitting, we're going to have it at a park in Chicago and then the reception at this bar that is owned by one of the 51 Lieutenants."
"I wouldn't miss it for the world." Maddie smiles brightly. "I'll make sure that I get the time off… Who is going to be your guy's best men?" She asks, hoping Evan will say who she wants him to.
"I'm gonna ask Eddie, but if he declines, I have a good friend from 51 who would accept." Evan says sadly.
"I'm sure he will, babe. I'm asking my good friend Matt Casey." Kelly says
"Okay, I'm glad you're asking Eddie evan. I'm sure he will accept." With a smile, Maddie then adds "I'm excited to meet everyone you're close with in Chicago."
Evan smiles brightly at his sister, then says "I can't wait for you to meet everyone either!"
For the next few hours, they talk about Chicago, about the wedding. Maddie helps in any way she can, even if it is just to look at pictures of possible wedding spots. They decided that they'll get married in Millennium Park, but they still need to ask Herman if he's willing to shut the bar down for the night. Maddie leaves around 10pm, with the promise of seeing her brother again before they leave for Chicago.
Kelly and Evan go to bed, and as if they are making up for lost times, they make love again—basking in each other's sweat— before falling asleep in each other's embrace.
—--
The next morning, they allow themselves to be lazy and don't get up until 9 am. With the day off, they are going to spend it packing and preparing Evan's things for the move. Finally finding the urge, they exchange kisses, get up and shower together before getting dressed. That is a process as they keep sneaking looks at each other. When they finally start breakfast, there's a knock on their door.
"Are you expecting anyone?" Kelly asks with raised eyebrows.
Evan shakes his head 'no' and responds, "no I wasn't." Confused, he crosses to the door and opens it to reveal the Diaz family. While things are up in the air with Eddie, he's always delighted to see the little man. "Hey Eddie. Hey Superman, how are you?" Evan asks, wasting no time in scoping the kid up into his arms and spinning around.
The encounter makes Kelly's heart all warm and his head fuzzy. He always knew that Evan would make a great dad, and he hopes that they'll get to have a family of their own one day, sooner rather than later. He has been meaning to bring the topic of kids up to Evan but it just never felt right. However, now that they are going back to Chicago, he's definitely going to talk to the other man soon.
"Hey, Buck, I'm good." Chris says giggling in his Buck's arms.
"Well, this is a nice surprise." Evan says, setting Chris down and petting him on the head.
"Yea, we thought we'd come see if you guys wanted to go to the zoo with us?" Eddie asks. He pauses, when he notices the boxes in the corner. Expression unreadable, he raises an eyebrow at buck, who sighs and says to Chris, "Hey, kiddo, why don't you go with my super cool friend Kelly here to the living room and he'll put on cartoons for you, ok?" Buck asks the younger boy.
"Sure." Chris says with a big goofy smile on his face.
Kelly and Evan share a look, Kelly making sure that Evan's going to be ok. When Evan nods to his lover, letting him know he's fine, Kelly takes Chris into the living area.
Once Chris is out of ear shot, Evan runs a hand through his short hair, then says, "we're moving back to Chicago. We're working one last shift tomorrow and then leaving Saturday to be ready to go to work on Monday." Evan pauses for a second then continues his rambles, his heart in his throat, "I still want us to be friends, and we will visit, and I'll call every chance I get. I'll still facetime Chris. I'm still hoping you and Chris will come to my and Kelly's wedding next month in Chicago, and that you'd be my best man." Evan exhales finally finishing his rambles.
"Buck, of course, we can still be friends. Yes, Chris and I will miss you, but we will call, text, facetime and visit. Of course, we'll come to your guy's wedding, and yes I'll be your best man." Eddie says smiling at Evan, as he brings a gentle hand down on his shoulder. Sure, it's killing him but he's not going to lose Buck all together. Even though he's been with Anna for a little over a year now, he still wishes he would've got his head out of his ass when it came to Buck. But it is what it is, he has to completely shut those feelings for his best friend down and ignore them. Hopefully, they will dissipate with time.
In the meantime, he's going to give his all to Anna and make that work and be the friend Buck needs nothing else. Cause Buck got that with Kelly, and Eddie could have it with Anna.
"Thanks Eddie, I appreciate that. I'm glad you're not mad." Buck simply says.
"I'm not mad, Buck. Never mad. Sad, yes but everything will be ok." Eddie says, not sure who he is trying to reassure, himself or Buck.
"Thanks, Eddie, I appreciate that." Buck says then adds, "can I tell Chris everything myself?" He holds Eddie's stare, not wanting the boy that means so much to him to hear that he's leaving from anyone but himself.
"Sure." Eddie gestures for Buck to lead the way to the living room.
They make their way to the living room, Evan's hand flexing at his side. Hurting that boy is the last thing Evan ever wants to do, loving him like his own. Kelly and Chris are watching TV together, making Evan's heart warm at the sight, which confirms what he already knows. He wants a family with Kelly.
"Hey, Superman, can I talk to you for a sec?" Buck asks, getting down to the little Man's level.
"Sure." Chris says.
Kelly turns off the tv set and goes to get up, saying "I'll wait in the kitchen."
But before Kelly's ass leaves the sofa, Evan shakes his head and says, "stay, please." He silently begs him with his eyes, and Kelly nods and sits back down. Buck settles in the seat by the coffee table facing Chris.
"Chris, Kiddo. Kelly's more than my friend. He's my fiancé and we're getting married next month." Evan explains to the younger child. He knows the boy like the back of his own hand, but he can't help the nerves.
"Cool! Can I come to the wedding?" Chris asks excitedly.
"Of course. But Superman, Kelly and I are moving back to where we first met, Chicago. We're leaving Saturday morning…" Evan says as tears threaten to fall, seeing Chris's happy go lucky smile turn into a sad frown with tears spilling over his cheeks.
"You're leaving?" Chris asks sadly, biting down on his lip.
"Yea, Bud, I am, but I'm still always a phone call away, and we will visit you guys, and you guys can come visit us, okay?" Evan says, reaching forward and wiping Chris's tears.
"Okay, I love you, Bucky." Chris tells the man that's become his best friend, a second father to him.
"I love you too, Chris, and I want you to know I'm always here for you." Evan says hugging the boy.
–
Kelly watches the interaction with Evan and Chris, and it breaks his heart to see both of them upset, but Kelly knows everything will be ok, as they will still be a part of each other's life.
Chris and Eddie stay for a few more minutes, Evan asks Eddie, "So, how is it going with Anna?" while Chris is using the bathroom.
"Good, actually, we had our one-year anniversary last month… I'm gonna ask her to move in with us. She's great with Chris, and she's over all the time anyways." Eddie tells his best friend.
"That's great, Eddie. I'm truly happy for you." Buck tells Eddie. He truly is happy that his friend is moving on.
"Thanks buck." Eddie simply says before he and Christopher head out.
—--
After Eddie and Chris leave, Kelly and Evan go back to packing everything up, as the moving truck will be there to move everything to Kelly's loft Friday after they get off shift. They decide to rent a hotel for their last night in L.A., while Maddie handles selling the apartment and Evan's jeep, which Evan is forever grateful for. By the time they are done packing, they are exhausted and head to bed early, as they have to shift the next morning. Evan's last shift at the 118.
He's happy. Yes, he's going to miss everyone, but he's happy, truly happy.