Buck blew out a breath, trying to calm himself down and work up the courage to come out to his parents. He was glad Tommy was waiting out in the backyard with Chimney and Jee-Yun - he wanted to get this all out of the way at once so he didn't have to worry about the outcome anymore. "I got this!"
"I have your back," Maddie assured him. Then she smirked at him. "As long as you don't call yourself an ally again, I think we're good."
He shot her a glare. "I panicked, and Bobby found it endearing!"
Maddie laughed. "Sure, he did." She patted his shoulder before he panicked again, stopped dead in his tracks, then turned and bolted back outside to play with his niece to calm himself down. On a mission, Maddie marched into the living room to talk to Margaret and Phillip. "Buck has something he wants to tell you. I can't tell you what it is but if you dare react badly, I will kick your asses all the way back to Pennsylvania myself. I don't care that my wedding's in a few days. Behave!" she hissed. She narrowed her eyes. "Promise me."
"We promise," Phillip assured her, wondering why their daughter was behaving this way.
Their eyes widened but they nodded. "Surely it can't be that bad?" Margaret whispered to her husband.
He shrugged. Before Phillip could even respond, their conversation was interrupted when Buck came strolling back in, head held high and relaxed. "I have something to tell you."
"We're listening." Margaret crossed her arms somewhat defensively, staring at her son.
Buck tapped his foot before plowing ahead - he could do this, and had done so several times already. "I recently discovered that I'm bisexual - I have a boyfriend and he's my date to the wedding. His name is Tommy Kinard, and he's a firefighter too. He's waiting outside with Chimney so you guys can meet each other."
Phillip and Margaret blinked for a second as they processed the revelation. "Bring the young man in. We need to meet him," Phillip told him.
Buck eyed them warily but he basked in the positive reaction, hoping this next part wouldn't turn into a fiasco. He texted Tommy to come in, and the man bounded inside about a minute or so later. "Tommy, these are my parents, Phillip and Margaret Buckley. Mom and Dad, meet Tommy."
Tommy shook both their hands. "It's so nice to meet you both. It's been a real pleasure getting to know your son. Evan's the sweetest. He must get that from you, Mrs. Buckley."
Margaret flashed him a grin. "I like you, Tommy. My son says you're also a firefighter?"
Tommy nodded. "I work for air support, which is actually how Evan and I met. The 118 requested my support when their captain and his wife went missing during a cruise. I actually used to work for the 118 before transferring out myself several years ago. Coincidentally, Evan took my spot but we didn't cross paths until recently." He knew about the Buckley parents to realize they weren't the best and Buck wasn't close with them but they were trying to forge a better relationship.
"So, what do you like to do for fun?" asked a curious Phillip, wanting a chance to get to know his son's boyfriend.
"Muay Thai is one of my favorite activities, which I've offered to teach Evan."
The three of them went off to talk, Buck balking at them. "They've never liked any of my girlfriends before," he whispered in shock.
"Your high school girlfriends," Maddie corrected with a grin and a chuckle. "They never actually met any of your recent girlfriends." He scowled at her but she laughed and shrugged before texting Chimney to come in with Jee-Yun, confident they had averted a disaster.
Buck sat down on the couch next to his boyfriend, beaming at Tommy. They made conversation until the pizza they ordered finally showed up. "Are you going to Howie's bachelor party?" Phillip asked Tommy.
"I still can't believe he put it off until the day before the wedding. They're cutting it close," Margaret complained.
"I've been working so much in the lead-up to the wedding that we couldn't find time before. Everything will go off without a hitch," Chimney vowed.
"Famous last words," Buck sing-songed, completely unaware that he also just jinxed them.
Tommy shook his head. "Unfortunately, I can't make it but Evan promised to call me with updates throughout the night. I'm looking forward to it."
Phillip glanced around the table, wondering why it felt like a missing piece had just completed the Buckley family puzzle. "That sounds reasonable. I'm sure the boys will have fun."
Unfortunately, Tommy couldn't stay much longer because he had to head out for a shift shortly afterwards. Buck sighed dramatically before standing up and kissing his boyfriend goodbye. "I'm going to miss you."
"I'll miss you too."
"Saps!" Chimney coughed as he walked past them to throw away garbage.
"Looking forward to getting to know you better at the wedding!" Phillip called after him as Tommy tried to get out the door.
"You too, Mr. Buckley!" Tommy gave him a thumbs up, kissed Buck again, and then winked at his boyfriend.
Buck blushed. "You're swooning again!" Maddie teased as Tommy finally forced himself to his car.
"It's cute, kiddo. We're all glad you're happy." Chimney gave him a half hug and then started chasing after a giggling Jee-Yun.
"He is such a nice man. I like him for you," Margaret admitted to her son.
Buck gaped at her, stunned speechless. "Really?"
"Yes," she confirmed. "Thank you for being honest and introducing us to that wonderful boy instead of springing him on everyone at the wedding." Margaret genuinely wouldn't put it past him to pull a move like that.
He laughed. "I did consider it."
"Of course you did." Phillip laughed, shaking his head.
With this weight now off his shoulders, Buck got back to planning Chimney's epic bachelor party.
Chaos ensued, the team's horrendous luck swinging in like a wrecking ball, but Tommy - who was called in on a last minute shift, which meant he could only attend the reception - managed to rescue a hurt Chimney and deliver him safely back to his family. He required a trip to the emergency room, which necessitated a last minute elopement in his hospital room, but he and Maddie ended the day husband and wife. "Sorry we didn't get that dance," Buck mourned, still thankful his brother-in-law was safe and out of the woods.
"We'll get to dance soon," Tommy vowed.
"You promise?"
Tommy gazed at him in adoration. "I promise, Evan. We will get that dance one way or another."
Buck gestured down towards his ruined suit. "Still attracted to me when I look like a fucking mess?"
"Absolutely."
Adrenaline spurring him forward, Buck rushed forward to kiss his boyfriend, falling into Tommy's arms. It had been one hell of a day but hopefully shit would settle down soon. And with Tommy by his side, Buck knew he could do anything.