Turning Point

Summary: Buddie fic. Caught off guard by a sudden self-revelation, Eddie is faced with a crossroads that could lead to the point of no return for his relationship with Buck. Meanwhile, Buck is trying to figure out why his best friend is suddenly pushing him away, determined to get answers and fix whatever has broken.

Disclaimer: I do not own 9-1-1 or anything associated with the show.

Author Notes: Thank you for reading! I've been enjoying writing this so much!

Set after season 6.

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Chapter 5

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"So, because I missed dinner, Maddie is now insisting that I come over for brunch tomorrow…" Buck groaned and closed the oven door before turning to look at Eddie. "I mean, what even is brunch?"

Eddie snorted and raised an eyebrow, amused. He sat at the counter, watching over Buck as he cooked Cap's infamous meatballs with spaghetti. He had arrived with the ingredients shortly after Eddie had gotten home with Chris, and now the two of them talked in his kitchen whilst Chris played video games in the living room.

"She's your sister, Buck. I'm sure she just wants to check up on you."

"But brunch?" Buck placed his hands against the counter and leaned forward. "And this is Maddie… So, I can't turn up emptyhanded. She has this whole thing about forcing me to have manners."

"Manners are important," Eddie teased, before pushing up from his seat and heading to a nearby cupboard. He opened it up and clicked his tongue as he searched inside. Buried at the back was a bottle of sparkling wine. He pulled it out and passed it to Buck. "My Abuela and Ta Pepa used to have brunch dates all the time, and it didn't matter what time it was, they would always have some form of sangria or mimosa. If you really wanna go for it, there's a fancy jug you can use above the fridge. It was a gift from Ta Pepa. She thought it would impress guests."

He couldn't help the way his eyes were drawn to Buck's back as he turned away and reached for the jug, watching as his shirt rode up just enough to reveal a sliver of skin. Edging forward, Eddie placed his hands on Buck's waist and leaned in. He closed his eyes as he breathed Buck in, smiling at the light chuckle Buck let go of. Buck eased himself round until he was facing Eddie, the smirk on his face lighting up his eyes as he looked down at Eddie.

"I don't think it's the jug that impresses guests," Buck breathed out, his thumb tracing Eddie's jawline, coming to rest lightly at his chin.

He leaned down and pressed his lips to Eddie's. Eddie returned the kiss with fervour, enjoying the moment and the peace that came with it. Since his confession, Eddie had felt like he had stepped forward from the shadows and out into the sun, warmth spreading throughout him every time Buck looked to him. It had been almost a week. A week of brushing up against each other at work. A week of stolen kisses and glances when no one else was around. A week of waking up extra early as Buck rushed off home for a shower and change of clothes, sneaking out before Chris woke so as not to make him suspicious.

Eddie didn't know what they were, and if he was honest with himself, he was almost too scared to ask. He wasn't sure he would be able to take the answer. So, for now, he would bask in the light that was Buck and take every moment he could get.

His hands worked upwards, underneath Buck's shirt and moving around to his back, his body pushing closer.

"Da-ad!" Chris called from the other room.

Eddie stilled and let go of a sigh of disappointment and reluctantly pulled himself away from Buck.

"You did promise you would play with him," Buck reminded.

"Just so you know," Eddie complained as he forced himself away and moved backwards toward the door, pointing at Buck as he went, "I blame you."

But Buck merely smiled and Eddie felt himself melt under that gaze. The warmth stayed with him as he took his place on the couch next to Chris and picked up the spare controller. He nudged Chris gently, then looked toward the screen, scrolling through the menu to pick his character for the game Chris had chosen.

"Dad?" Christopher said, his words soft and quiet.

"Hmm?"

"I like when Buck is here."

"Me too, m'hijo." Eddie smiled, looking in the direction of the kitchen once more. "Me too."

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It was almost ten by the time Buck parked up outside of Maddie's. She answered the door with her usual level of cheer, smile wide and bright as she beckoned him in before amusement and questioning settled in her eyes as he handed her the jug he had prepared in a hurry that morning.

"What's this?" She held the jug up, looking it over.

"That right there is the finest sangria you will ever taste in your entire life," Buck answered, offering up his own smile.

"You made sangria?" Chimney questioned, looking to Buck from the kitchen where he busied himself with a pan. "You…"

"Oh, Buck didn't tell you about that time he took up bartending during his journey of self-discovery?" Maddie chuckled and headed toward the kitchen.

"I will have you know I was an excellent bartender. You should have seen my tip jar."

"Oh, I don't think it was the drinks they were tipping you for, Buckaroo." Chimney snorted, looking Buck up and down before turning to Jee-Yun and placing pancakes on the plate in front of her.

Buck's brow furrowed in thought at that but he shook it off in favour of swooping down to wrap his arms around the back of Jee-Yun, giving her a squeeze. "And how is my favourite niece in the entire world?"

"Good!" She beamed at him and happily munched on her pancakes.

Maddie nudged Buck, light and playful, and bobbed her head towards the dishes on the counter that sat waiting. "Help me carry these outside, will you?"

"Sure thing."

It was another half hour before they were settled and halfway through eating and enjoying the sangria, both Maddie and Chimney offering up looks of approval at the taste. The conversation was light and full of teasing, before Maddie became slightly quiet, pushing around her food on her plate, her gaze moving between Chimney and Buck. When she finally spoke, the words were innocent enough, but Buck couldn't help but feel a level of suspicion.

"So, Joanie from work…" Maddie started. "Her sister is in town for a few weeks."

"Is this the model or the lawyer?" Chimney asked.

"The model." Maddie grinned as she bobbed her head, then turned her attention to Buck. "You remember her, right, Buck? You met her once a few months back."

Buck frowned, attempting to think back. "Yeah… the one that did the swimsuit shoot, right?"

"Yes! And well, Joanie is working sooo much and last time her sister was here, she missed out on so many of the sights because she was working. So, I was thinking that maybe you might want to give her a tour."

Letting go of a light chuckle, Buck shook his head. "You trying to set me up, Maddie?"

She let go of a breath and sunk in her seat. "I just thought it would do you some good to get out there and have a little fun. You haven't even looked at anyone else since you broke up with Natalia, and I worry…"

"Well, you don't need to," Buck answered, feeling heat rising up his back and cheeks as he squirmed. "As a matter of fact, I'm actually seeing someone."

"What?" Maddie straightened up, her eyes widening, excitement skittering through her body.

"Since when?" Chimney asked, narrowing his eyes on Buck and tilting his head to the side as if he was trying to figure out when Buck had had the time to start seeing anyone.

But Buck never got the chance to answer, Maddie leaning forward across the table to bombard him with questions.

"Tell me about them! Where did you meet? When? When do I get to meet them?"

Buck picked up his glass and answered quietly as he went to take a drink. "You kind of already have."

Maddie patted Chimney on the arm repeatedly at that, and Buck swore he heard her squeal slightly.

"Are you hearing this?"

Chimney nodded, smiling in amusement. "Yes, yes I am."

"Oh! I know." Maddie grinned, holding up her hand. "We should go for dinner."

Buck choked on his drink a little at that, looking between Maddie and Chimney. "I'm sorry, what?"

But Maddie was, apparently, already too busy planning a dinner to hear Buck. She turned to look at Chimney. "Mrs Lee is having Jee on Thursday, right?"

"Thursday?" Chimney questioned. "As in our date night, Thursday?"

Maddie tilted her head at him, a mixed look of disapproval and pleading settling in her eyes.

"Okay," Chimney relented. "Thursday, yes. Fine."

"We can go to that place with the fish."

"Oh, and the little shrimp cocktail platters?"

"You know, I think they do that special on Thursdays… what's it called?"

"Sole meuniere?"

"Yes, that's the one."

"Wait," Buck questioned, looking between the two of them as he tried to speak, "don't I get a say in this?"

Apparently though, the answer to that was no.

.-.-.-.-.

Eddie leaned against the side of the fire engine, his arms crossed as he watched Buck working through his checklist for the umpteenth time. The hoses had been unrolled and rolled up at least three times now, the compartment packed and repacked and counted and recounted a half dozen more, and Buck showed no signs of stopping.

"What's up with Buck?" Hen asked, coming to stand by Eddie.

"Maddie wants to meet the new person he's seeing," Eddie explained, sparing her a glance before going back to watching a flustered Buck trying to keep himself busy and occupied.

Hen pushed her hands into her pockets. "I mean, that's a good thing, right?"

Eddie let go of an amused snort, his lip hitching at the corner into a light smile.

"What?" Hen questioned. "What's wrong with that?"

As if on cue, Chimney appeared from around the corner and clapped Buck on the back, the latter freezing under the touch. "Hey, Buckaroo! You told your new lady friend about the double date this Thursday yet?"

"Oh." Hen's lips thinned and she nodded in understanding.

Buck didn't respond to Chimney, didn't even look at him, instead doubling down on his checklist and recounting the tools he had out in front of him. Chimney let go of a light laugh and left him to it, hitching a thumb over his shoulder as he joined Eddie and Hen.

"You know, I'm beginning to think he doesn't actually have a secret girlfriend." Chimney looked between the two of them, amusement settling on his face. "I mean, have you ever seen him this nervous over a date?"

"Maybe it's your big mouth he's worried about?" Hen raised an eyebrow.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, it's possible that he's not ready for the whole of the 118 to know just yet," Eddie answered.

"Hey, I can keep a secret."

Both Eddie and Hen offered him an incredulous look at that.

"What? I can."

"Suure…" Hen rolled her eyes.

Chimney opened his arms out. "You guys telling me you're not the least bit curious?" Then his face fell as his eyes narrowed and he pointed to them. "Unless, that is… you already know something?"

Hen held her hands up, lips thinning as she shook her head.

Eddie took the opportunity to change the subject and distract Chimney before he could question them any further. "You know, I think I heard Cap say something about how he didn't feel like cooking anything for breakfast today…"

"What?" Chimney's face fell, eyes widening.

"Yeah, something about not feeling appreciated."

Chimney straightened up and pointed at Eddie then Hen. "I told you we should be complimenting him more! Where is he? This is… I need to fix this. How does he expect us to save the day on an empty stomach?"

Eddie hitched a thumb over his shoulder. "Last time I saw him, he was upstairs with a coffee."

Chimney moved off with purpose, climbing two steps at a time, and Eddie smirked before returning his attention to Buck once more.

"I don't remember hearing Bobby say that." Hen raised her eyebrow at him.

"Yeah, but Chim doesn't know that."

Hen snorted and took another moment before she spoke again, concern lining her tone. "But in all seriousness, how do you feel about it?"

"Huh?"

"Meeting Maddie…"

Eddie furrowed his brow, a small amused and confused smile playing on his lips. "This isn't exactly my first time meeting Buck's sister."

"No, but it is the first time since you started dating."

That caught him off guard for a moment, just that one single word. Dating. Neither of them had explicitly spoken about what their thing was. It went beyond simply hooking up, that much he knew. But fear niggled at him, tightening his chest as he wondered if Buck felt the same way.

"So?" Hen nudged him.

"I er… I guess I haven't really thought about it."

"I just want to make sure you're ready," Hen said. "Both of you."

"I love him, Hen."

She smiled softly. "That's not what I'm asking."

Eddie knew exactly what she was asking, he just didn't know how to answer her. He had spent so much time convincing himself that he and Buck could only ever be just friends, that to want anything more than that would put everything at risk, that now it was happening, it felt like a beautiful but fragile dream. A scene frozen in time within a snow globe… Precious and magical, but when shook too hard, it risked falling from his grasp, to crash down to the ground with a shatter.

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A/N: Thank you for reading!