Chapter 4: The Strands

New York City, Owen Strand Apartment

Owen Strand stood up from the couch of his apartment where his son, TK, was sleeping with his head on his lap and a weighted blanket covering him when the doorbell rang. He was greeted by his frantic-looking daughter who looked like a wreck from her flight when he answered the door. "Hey, hey, sweetheart." he pulled her into a hug after closing the door, "He's okay. He's alive."

Alisa hugged him back and sighed in relief in her father's arms, "I tried to get here as quickly as I could. Where is he?" she asked, dropping her bags on the floor.

"On the couch." He replied.

"But how are you feeling, dad?" she asked.

"Scared but so grateful you called me ahead." He sighed, "If I didn't answer my phone during my meeting… well, I might have found your brother later." he guided her into the den, "3000 miles and you still managed to save him."

Alisa sat near TK's head on the ground, "You always said our twin senses are crazy." she replied.

"Who needs Spidey senses when you've got twin senses with your brother." he stroked her hair to ground her, "How are you feeling?"

"Scared, anxious, but grateful." she parroted his answer, "It was a family effort." she kissed TK's forehead.

"Hnnn…" TK moaned and moved a little, "Hnnn…" he slowly opened his eyes.

"Hey, TK." she tearfully smiled at him, "I'm so glad you're awake."

"Ali?" TK automatically threw his arms around her, "I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!"

"Shhhh…" she wrapped her arms around him and stroked his back, "It's gonna be okay… just tell us what happened." the twins were crying in relief.

"I'm so sorry… you had to take a flight o–"

"Sh! None of that!" she hugged him tighter, "Christopher wanted to send his love to his favorite uncle and wanted to tell him that he's going to be okay."

Sometime later, the family of 3 were cuddled on Owen's king-sized bed after freshening up and calming down. Owen retold Alisa about what happened and couldn't process the emotions she was feeling properly, TK looked so ashamed of what happened because he did it over a boy. "I'm sorry that it didn't work out with him..." Alisa said.

"I know..." TK sighed, "The both of you warned me about him… it's for the best, I guess…"

"TK, just because I didn't like him from the beginning didn't mean I was going to stop you from having relationships with whoever." she explained, "I respect and support your decisions but when someone hurts you, that's a different story."

"Tough love." Owen shrugged, "He's going to go to therapy again."

"I think that's fair as long as TK gets help." the younger twin nodded.

"Yeah. Dad and I talked about it and mom recommended that I check into rehab again." the older twin said.

"As long as you're going to get help and you are willing to do so, go for it." she started, "Why not come down to LA for a couple of days? Eddie and Christopher haven't seen you in a while and it's a change in scenery."

"But I'm not up for a vacation, sis." TK groaned.

"It's only for a few days." Alisa huffed, "Are you denying Christopher your presence?"

"Alright, you two. It's been a long day. We should sleep." Owen hugged them close, "I don't care if you both are 28, we're sleeping like this."

"Not complaining." they said in unison.

"Oh no! I forgot to let Eddie know I landed!" Alisa sat up and went to get her phone, "Ah! Dad, no!" she pouted when Owen grabbed her phone and placed it under the pillow.

"Tomorrow. He knows you're probably occupied." Owen said, pulling her back down, "Now, go to bed!" TK snickered when she pouted some more.

Los Angeles Airport

A couple of days later, the Strands exited LAX with their bags on a trolley TK was pushing as Alisa surveyed the arrival area for her husband. When she spotted him a little ways from the exit, she immediately ran towards where he stood and he caught her in his arms. "Welcome home, mi amor." he kissed her.

"Good to be home." she kissed back, "Where's Christopher?"

"Carla's watching him at home, don't worry." Eddie replied, "She also helped prepare the guest room."

"She is a godsend… we're keeping her, right?" she asked.

"Definitely." he nodded then looked up at his in-laws, "Hi, Owen, TK."

"Hey, Eddie." they greeted back.

"Let me get those for you." he approached TK and began loading their bags in the trunk.

"Thanks, Eddie." TK gave him a quick hug, "Thanks for having us, too."

"It's our pleasure. Mi casa su casa, familia." Eddie smiled, "Also, Christopher misses the both of you."

"How is the little guy?" Owen asked, getting in the back first.

"Exactly like his mother… a troublemaker." Eddie teased and laughed when Alisa swatted his arm as he helped her get in the truck.

"Oh, you have your hands full then. I was and still am an angel compared to her." TK grinned, getting in the truck.

"No, you weren't! You're the dumbass of the 2 of us!" Alisa protested, "I was the behaved one."

"No, you're the dumbass! I got us out of trouble."

"No, you got us out of the trouble you caused."

"Children, stop." Owen pinched the bridge of his nose while Eddie chuckled as he drove off to their home.

"He/she started it!" the twins pouted.

Diaz Residence

Eddie pulled into their garage as Owen admired the architecture. He recalled Alisa showing the blueprint and sketch that she made of the Diaz's modern residence in Los Angeles. Once the truck was parked and the engine turned off, the men got out of the truck and got the bags from the trunk while Alisa made a beeline for the front door. She was about to insert her key when the front door opened and a blonde blur hugged her tight. "Bienvenido, mommy!" Christopher greeted her.

"Good to be home, mijo." she hugged him tight before showering him with kisses, "I missed you so much! Have you been good for your dad and Carla?"

"Oh, he is an angel, Alisa." Carla Price said from behind Christopher, "Good to see you in person, Alisa."

"Oh, Carla!" Alisa smiled at the older woman, "Thank you so much. You're a godsend!" she pulled the older woman in a hug.

"We gotta thank Buckaroo for that and it's a pleasure working with your family." she smiled back, "Someone's gotta feed them and your husband can't cook to save his life." Carla chuckled.

"Hey!" Eddie looked offended when he neared the door.

"Grandpa! Uncle TK!" Christopher hobbled towards, "You're here!"

"Christopher, my man!" TK engulfed him in a hug, "You're so big already!"

"How's my favorite grandson doing?" Owen patted his head.

Before they got distracted, Carla ushered them into the house and settled them in the den while Alisa and Eddie brought the bags into the guestroom. The Diaz couple went to their bedroom for a little bit of privacy as TK, Owen, and Christopher were in the den while Carla served them snacks and tea. "Everything okay?" Eddie asked when Alisa wrapped her arms around him.

"Yeah, thankfully everything is going to be okay." she replied and nuzzled his chest as he wrapped his arms around her, "Everything alright while I was away?"

"Well… as good as it can be. You just really missed Buck's sister's ride-along with Athena and some guy who refused care from the 118 because he was racist even if his colostomy bag was full." he massaged her back.

"Oh that's good. I should meet Maddie one of these days… maybe after dad and TK leave." she nuzzled his chest some more, "Also, what an idiot that man was." she sighed, "It's good to be home, Eddie. I missed you and Christopher very much… even if it was just a couple of days."

"We missed you too, mi amor." he nuzzled her neck.

"Not as much as I missed the both of you. I haven't been away from the both of you like that since we married." Alisa cupped his face.

"Well, it's a good thing you're back then." he leaned down while pulling her closer, "And since Christopher and Carla are entertaining your family… we can have a little time."

"You're incorrigible." she giggles and meets him with a kiss.

Meanwhile, Owen, TK, Christopher, and Carla were seated in the den enjoying tea and cookies. Christopher was animatedly telling them about his friends at school and his new best friend Buck. Owen looked like he was going to have an aneurysm because from what he could understand, he was very similar to TK. Carla reassures him that Buck was pretty harmless and Eddie tries to keep him in line at work. "I think you've met your match, son." Owen chuckles, taking a sip of the jasmine tea, "Oh, remind me to ask your sister to buy me these tea leaves before we head back to New York."

"Dad, he sounds like a…" TK looks at Christopher, "... Buck."

"Buck is Buck!" Christopher grins, "He's been all over the place too! He told me he tried a lot of things before he became a firefighter!"

"Oh, yeah?" TK tilted his head.

"He trained with the SEALs but didn't like it." Christopher replied thoughtfully, "Oh! He also bartended in Peru so he speaks a little Spanish. I speak better though. Mommy and dad like teasing him in Spanish when they get the chance."

"Well, mijo," Alisa entered the den, freshened up from her flight with Eddie in tow, "Buck did say he was rusty."

"He butchers it." Eddie chuckles, "Speaking of Buck, he might drop by after shift since he found out you were arriving today."

"Dad, just so you know…" Alisa mischievously warned, "if TK and Buck meet, you're going to have a lot of grey hair."

"What!?" Owen looked frightened.

"Hey, I'm not that bad. Ask Christopher, I'm an absolute angel!" TK pulled the younger Diaz in his arms, "Christopher, I'm very good right?"

"Uhh…" Christopher mischievously looked at him.

"Oh no, I think he really is another Buck." Carla teased causing everyone to laugh except for TK and Owen, "Well, it's lovely meeting with the Strands but I gotta skedaddle.'' She stood up.

"Aw, you're leaving already, Carla?" Christopher pouted.

"Don't worry, I'll be seeing you next week, superman." Carla cuddled him to her person, "And I'll be seeing your parents too!"

"Thanks, Carla! You're a godsend in our lives!" Alisa hugged her, "I'll see you next week!"

"Thanks, Carla. Are you sure you don't wanna wait for Buck?" Eddie pulled her into a hug as well.

"It's okay. He knows I think of him." she grinned then turned to their guests, "Be seeing you!.. Maaaan, do perfect bone structures run in this family?"

Diaz Residence

"BUCK!"

"CHRISTOPHER!"

The smallest Diaz ran as fast as he could to meet his best friend at the entryway causing the blonde firefighter to laugh. Buck gave him a bear hug and Christopher reciprocated it as much as he could, the Diaz's could attest that both of them gave the best hugs as advertised. Also, Buck was just like a kid himself, a big kid, it was a running joke that he was the Diaz's other son. "Buck's here!" Christopher announced as he entered the kitchen with Buck.

"Hey, guys!" Buck waved.

"Hey, man. How was the shift?" Eddie gave him a quick hug.

"Hello, Buck! Hope you're hungry because I have something new for you to try." Alisa greeted and gave him a hug as well, "Oh, and my dad and brother are excited to meet you. They're just napping so they should be up in a bit."

"I hope I'm not intruding or anything." Buck nervously laughed.

"Nonsense. You're part of the family already." she grinned, "You can't leave either, I made your favorite."

"No!" Buck gasped.

"She did!" Christopher and Eddie grinned.

Sometime later, Owen and TK woke up from their nap and found the small family playing Uno in the den. Alisa looked diabolical while looking at her husband who had a single card next to her. "Förlåt, Edmundo." she placed down the card, "Jag älsker dig! Wild +4!"

Eddie's face said it all while Christopher and Buck broke down in giggles, "I thought I was going to finally win this time," he drew 4 cards from the pile, "And I can't even do anything since you're talking in Swedish."

"It's not like you could do anything with her talking to you in ANY language." TK teased.

"Trust me, 28 years, my daughter still pouts her way and does those Bambi eyes at me." Owen said, exasperated, "Her mom and grandparents have a field day when she talks in another language. The twins combined though… diabolical."

"From the day we met, I didn't think it was possible." Eddie kissed her cheek, "She knows it."

"I do know it." she giggles, "Why do you think TK and I get away with a lot of things? Well, almost."

"Hi Uncle TK, grandpa! Did you guys have a good nap?" Christopher asked, placing down the same card Alisa did, "Hehe Bucky, you're bad at this!"

"Oh man, how is this possible…" Buck pouted, "You're definitely your mother's son." he got a few cards from the pile.

"Well, Buck," Eddie gestured, "meet Owen and TK Strand, my father-in-law and brother-in-law."

"..." Buck looked up from his cards and his jaw dropped, "Y-y-y–"

"Uh, is he okay?" TK asked, concerned.

"Is he having a moment?" Owen tilted his head.

"Bucky?" Christopher poked him, "They're my uncle and grandpa." Everyone blinked when Buck passed out.