"We were probably not the right people to take the girls for Maddie and Howard." Evan groaned as he slowly stretched his arms above his head. His gray t-shirt riding up to reveal black and blue splotches along his back and sides, running higher under his shirt, and below the waistline of his sweats.

Eddie sighed and nodded as he gingerly leaned over the pullout couch in Evan's living room, tucking the blanket around the shoulders of Olivia and Christopher. The eight and five year old had fallen asleep halfway through the Disney movie now currently paused on the t.v. His own bruises showing on his arms, one half hidden by the starch white bandage wrapped around his left forearm.

"Yeah we probably should have allowed Karen and Hen to take them when they offered," Eddie stood back up and stifled a groan from the twitch it caused in his back. "But they were already taking Johnson's triplets. That's a lot of kids already to handle."

Evan frowned as he watched Eddie try to discreetly hold his arm across his chest. "Yeah but we're not fairing to well either. I know we were the lucky ones this morning, but honestly right now it doesn't feel like it."

"Oh, don't I know." Eddie stepped closer to Evan and wrapped his arms around the younger man's waist, making sure not to put any pressure around his middle. Evan laid his hands on Eddie's waist and sighed as they rested their foreheads together.

The 118 had been lucky that morning. They had been called to an apartment building fire in the early morning of their shift. All tenants had been evacuated and the fire had been contained but they were still in the building, making sure a secondary fire wouldn't start when there had been a minor earthquake to the area. Usually not the worse but in a building that was now structurally unsound after a blazing fire? The whole of the 118 sans Bobby and Hen were inside the building when it all came crumbling down around them.

When Evan had came too he had found himself protected in a pocket of rubble, Eddie right at his side. Eddie had still been unconscious himself, his left arm under some rubble and bleeding. Evan had worked fast to remove the rubble, and tearing a piece of his shirt off to tie around the bleeding wound before using his radio to call for Bobby. As he was getting the rundown of the collapse and that Henley and Peters had made it out relatively unharmed (bruises, cuts and a single cracked rib for Henley); Johnson, Wade and Han were still unresponsive.

The 136 had arrived as backup to help dig the 118 out of the collapse. It had taken twenty minutes - in which Eddie had finally woken up - before they had been pulled from the rubble. By the time they were back in the sunshine and fresh air a multitude of news vans and police cars had congregated in the streets around the fire trucks. Peters and Henley had already been whisked away to the hospital but Evan refused to leave until Howard was also found. He knew that it wouldn't be long for Maddie to learn what had happened, she was an ER nurse. Once Henley and Peters showed up she would know.

Evan had used Athena's cell phone to call his sister, letting her knew that he and Eddie were relatively okay - Hen had announced they both had slight concussions and Eddie's arm would need stitches, and Evan was pretty sure he had heard something about a broken rib or two but for which one of them had them, he couldn't remember at that point. It had taken another thirty minutes for the 136 to find Johnson and Howard - both unconscious but alive - both suffering from puncture wounds in their sides from metal piping. They were both instantly ushered off to the hospital. Eight minutes later - having to wait for another ambulance to take Eddie and Evan - firefighter Wade's body was recovered.

A silence had fallen over everyone, including the news crews, as his body was carried away from the wreckage of the building. Another half hour later found Evan, now bandaged sitting with Maddie waiting on news of his brother-in-law and Johnson. Evan's injuries consisted of a few stitches as his hairline, another few just under his chin, and a bandage tucked into his right side from where concrete had scrapped him up in the fall; the rest of his body different shades of black and blue.

Eddie had been taken for x-rays of his ribs - two broken - and fought to not be admitted. He found Evan and Maddie in the waiting room an hour later, his ribs wrapped and arm stitched; he also had a few more stitches at his collarbone and Evan was sure his body was just as black and blue. Henley and Peters joined them soon enough. Bobby and Hen returned from dealing with the aftermath and informing firefighter Wade's husband and mother. Bobby had told them that their crew were on medical leave for the next two weeks - others longer depending on their injuries.

It had been a really bad call, only one casualty but it was one too many for the 118. Wade had been a part of the team only as long as Evan, they had both been through the training together, had been placed at the 118 together. They had even been the same age, Evan just a few weeks younger. They had celebrated the other man's birthday at the station two weeks prior, had already been talking about a party for Evan's birthday just that morning - his birthday coming in just a few days.

It was getting well into the evening when they got news that Johnson and Howard were going to make full recoveries. Maddie had finally broke and cried into Evan's shoulder as he held her. It was then that Hen, and Karen who had shown up with food for the lot of them, had offered to take Johnson's triplet boys until the other man was out of hospital. Johnson was a single father, having lost his wife when the triplets - now twelve - where only seven. They had even offered to take the girls for Maddie but Evan had piped up saying that he and Eddie were well enough to take the girls, they would already have Christopher and Lily anyway. Eddie had agreed instantly.

Now though just a few hours later and both felt like that had been a bad decision with how their bodies were now aching.

"At least we have the next couple of hours while they sleep." Evan whispered, his breath ghosting over Eddie's face as the blond pulled away and looked at him. "Beth and Lily are already sound asleep in Lily's room. Now it's our turn."

Eddie nodded and gave him a quick kiss before pulling away, taking Evan's hand and squeezing. "You go check on the girls in the room and get ready. I'll turn off the movie and lock up."

"Yeah, okay." Evan gave a squeeze to their hands himself before turning and heading down the hallway, turning into the nursery first to double check on the girls - Lily sound asleep in her crib and Beth tucked into Christopher's bed. Once he was sure both girls were still asleep he headed for the master bedroom, turning down the duvet and flipping on the bedside lamp. He was grateful he and Eddie had been smart enough to change into sweats and t-shirts when they had been brought home by Bobby. Carla was there with Christopher and Lily already - Olivia and Elizabeth were picked up by them on the way home.

"Hey,"

Evan jumped when the hand touched his lower back and then groaned as it pulled at the bruise around his back.

"Sorry," Eddie stepped up to the side of his, his hand roaming around his side to settle at his stomach, just a feather light touch. "Didn't mean to scare you."

"You didn't," Evan smiled at him. "Startled me, yes. But didn't scare me."

Eddie nodded and held out a pill bottle and a bottle of water that was already open and half drank. Evan sighed and took the water, taking a sip as Eddie shook out two pain pills and handing them over. Evan gratefully swallowed them down and finished the rest of the water. Once done he placed the empty bottle on the bedside table before sitting on the edge of the bed. Eddie had already walked to the other side and slowly slid under the covers. Evan soon followed and both being careful, curled together in the middle of the bed and fell asleep.

The following morning Eddie woke alone, his hand moving across the empty side of the bed, feeling the cold sheets. With a sigh he opened his eyes and looking at the alarm clock on the bedside table, seeing it was just after eight in the morning. Another, deeper, sigh had Eddie moving to get out of bed. It was a struggle having been laying in one position for too long, his ribs were screaming at him. As he got himself sitting on the edge of the bed he finally noticed on his own bedside table, the bottle of water and pain pills, along with a still steaming cup of coffee. With a smile he quickly down the pills with half the water before taking a small sip of the coffee. Once he was sure he could stand without a problem he did so and headed into the bathroom to relieve himself and wash his hands and brush his teeth.

Once returned to the bedroom he grabbed his coffee and sipped on it as he made his way down the hall and into the dining room where he found the four kids giggling away and eating pancakes with sausage and bacon.

"Morning Dad!" Christopher saw him first, smiling up at him with a piece of bacon in hand.

A chorus of morning was mumbled from the girls, Lily's more of just a babble to be included.

"Morning, Mijo." Eddie kissed the top of his son's head. "Morning, girls. Where's Buck?"

"Porch," Christopher mumbled around a bite of his bacon.

Eddie turned to look out the living room and sure enough the sliding glass door that took up for whole outside wall of the living room was open and he could see Evan sitting in a chair on the tiny porch. He made his way to the door, sliding the screen door open and smiled as Evan looked over his shoulder at him.

"Morning," Evan smiled back at him before turning back to the coffee in his hand. "Kids still eating?"

Eddie hummed, sitting down in the second chair next to Evan. "They're fine. Who woke up first?"

Evan took a gulp of his coffee, "Lily and while I was fixing her a bottle her crying woke up Beth, whose crying woke up Lulu and Chris."

"Chain reaction." Eddie laughed, taking a sip of his own coffee.

"Yeah, you were the only one who seemed unaffected." Evan laughed, turning to look at the older man. "Dead to the world still..." Evan cringed at his wording.

"Yeah, maybe don't say that so soon." Eddie pressed his hand to his ribs as he leaned back in his chair, looking out at the parking lot, across the street to the second building where a woman was walking her dog.

"Yeah..." Evan frowned. "Sorry."

"Did you eat too?" Eddie finally asked after a moment of silence.

Evan shook his head. "Not hungry."

"Ev, you need to eat too."

"I know. I know." Evan finished his coffee and carefully leaned forward to set the mug on the floor at his feet. "Oh uh, Bobby called. He went back to check on Aaron and Howard. Says both are doing good. I told him to let Maddie know not to worry about the girls, we'll keep them until she's ready to leave Howie's side."

"Good yeah, that's good."

"I know we said it probably wasn't the best idea last night with how we were feeling, and I'm sure we're both worse off this morning but..."

"They're your nieces." Eddie finished for him, standing up as he heard Christopher yelling for them. "Let's go get them cleaned up and watching a movie. Then we are getting food because constantly taking pain meds on an empty stomach is just going to make things worse for both of us."

Evan grabbed his mug back up and stood as well, following Eddie back into the apartment. He closed the screen door and locked it but left the glass door open to allow the fresh air into the apartment. It wasn't long before all the dishes were cleared and in the dishwasher and the kids were all lounging on the pullout bed watching another Disney movie. Evan whipped up some breakfast for himself and Eddie while the older man went and showered and changed. Once they were done eating it was Evan's turn to shower and change while Eddie cleaned up the kitchen.

They soon settled in the living room to watch movies with the kids, taking turns with calls from everyone checking on them and giving them news from the hospital. They ordered lunch in - thank you, DoorDash! By the time dinner had rolled around, three of the four kids and Evan were sound asleep. Eddie was awake with Lily, the little girl babbling through a conversation in Eddie's arms as he carefully bounced her on his knee in the cool air on the porch, watching the sun set behind the trees across the street. The headlights of a car pulling into the open space next to Evan's jeep had Eddie shielding his and Lily's eyes before the lights were turned off.

Eddie blinked a few times to adjust his eyes again before he smiled as he watched Bobby and Athena climb out of the car, May and Harry right behind them. Eddie held Lily as he slowly stood back up as they trudged up the sidewalk to the side of the porch where there were a few stepping stones so they didn't have to walk through the grass and dirt to get onto the porch. May was the first one next to Eddie and without a word she plucked Lily from his arms and cuddled the baby to her chest, heading inside the apartment.

"They're all asleep." Eddie whispered as she crossed over the threshold and turned to Bobby and Athena as they stopped in front of him. "All the Disney movies finally knocked 'em all out."

"Even Buckaroo?" Athena asked

"He was the first one down." Eddie chuckled as he looked at Harry, the kid heading inside as well.

"How are you both feeling?" Bobby asked as his eyes lingered on the bandage on Eddie's arm.

Unconsciously, Eddie wrapped his hand around the bandage and shrugged one shoulder. "Everything hurts, just thinking hurts right now."

"Understandable," Athena placed her hand over his. "You all went through something very traumatic. We all know it's the job but until something like this happens, you never really think it actually will."

"Yeah," Eddie sighed. "Well come on in. I was just thinking about getting us some dinner going... or you know, waking Evan up to cook so I don't burn down the building."

Bobby chuckled and held up a bag Eddie hadn't noticed was in the older man's hand. "We brought you guys dinner as a ploy to check on you in person."

Eddie smiled again. "Well thank you."

It had taken a moment to wake Evan up, the kids already awake from May and Harry when they had entered the apartment. Bobby and Athena dished up the food for all of them and they squeezed around the dining room table to enjoy the meal Bobby had made for them, keeping the conversation light due to young ears. Neither Eddie or Evan were surprised by the end that there were plenty of leftover stashed into the fridge for the little family for tomorrow. It was just after eight when the Grant-Nash family said their goodbyes - after May had helped put the kids to bed for Eddie and Evan. It wasn't long before Eddie and Evan were curled back up in bed in Evan's bedroom for the night.

They spent another day locked away in the apartment caring for themselves and looking after the four kids. Then it was Monday and both Christopher and Olivia had to return to school - then it was just Elizabeth and Lily with the pair. It was on Tuesday after school that Maddie asked them to bring the girls to see Howard at the hospital. It was Thursday when Maddie finally took the girls home with her. It was Friday when Howard was released from the hospital. It was Saturday when they learned Karen and Hen had set up their guest bedroom for Aaron Johnson, continuing to help look after the other firefighter and his boys.

The following Monday without a word to Evan, Eddie saw his lawyer to draw up a new will stating that in case something happened to him that Evan would get full guardianship of Christopher - and God forbid something happened to Evan at the same time, Christopher would go to Howard and Maddie. Unknown to Eddie, Evan was doing the same thing for Lily - full guardianship to Eddie, then to Howard and Maddie.

Tuesday was the funeral of Joshua Wade.

Wednesday was Evan's 26th birthday. Rick and Lesley Tilsley had flown in, finally getting to see Evan and their granddaughter for the first time in almost a year. They met and instantly loved Eddie, loved seeing the older man care for and love the young man they looked to as a son.

The group had a small get together at Bobby and Athena's for his birthday that included Johnson and his boys as well. He was getting pretty close with the main crew - having worked with them a couple of years already he knew them pretty well but had always kept his distance until now. His boys - Bryce, Cayden and Dylan - got along great with Harry, Denny and Christopher even though they were five years older then the boys. They almost seemed protective of the three younger boys, which all the adults thought was amazing.

All in all it was a great day after such a long and horrible week for the firefighters of the 118 and their families. It wasn't until the family returned home that everything changed. When they walked into Evan's apartment it was to find the place had been tossed - and a bouquet of flowers sat on the dining room table. Evan's blood ran cold because it was the exact same flowers Doug would bring him after a serious beating.

Eddie ushered Evan to the neighbor across the hall - they had really gotten to know Tina and her young daughter Susie and she welcomed the family in when Eddie told her what they found in the apartment - they had learned early that Tina had ran from the same sort of relationship as Evan; before calling Athena and Maddie.