"What if I don't ever want to forgive them?" Eddie asks the elder blond in front of him. Cindy Herrmann smiles gently at the omega. She likes this omega as he tries to keep Chris's schedule the same, but with different sports Chris might like. Eddie has also scared his parents off. She never did like them.
"Then don't forgive them. They had a chance, and they missed it. You are a sinewy, independent omega who has gone through hell. Buck is supporting you, but he might not understand. He hasn't talked to his parents since he left his house. That is your choice if you don't want them in your life. What about the children?" Cindy asks, making Eddie bite his lip.
"Honestly, I don't want them in their life either. How can I cut them off without hurting the children?" Eddie asks, and the woman opens her arms. Eddie crawls in.
"You can't. It's going to hurt, but at what lengths do you want to protect your children from being hurt, like they hurt you?" Cindy holds the hurting omega. It's silent as the mother of five comforts the young omega.
"Thank you, Cindy," Eddie says as he pulls away. There is a knock on the door, and both parents see their partners standing there. Herrmann smiles at the two, and Buck takes a nervous stance. Eddie leans into Cindy a little.
"Hi," Eddie says, and Buck smiles a little. The Herrmann's have adopted Matt and Eddie into their family, and Eddie still doesn't know what to do with them. Cindy has forced Eddie and Matt over for family dinner. The two bond over time.
"Hi. Are you ready to pick the children from Matt and Via?" Buck says. Compared to the rest of the team, Matt, Sylvia, Stella, and Kelly have been the most protective of Eddie. Matt and Sylvia adopted him as their brother. Matt is his older brother, and Sylvia is his younger sister.
"I want my children," Eddie tells him, making Buck smile. Eddie hugs Cindy with all his might. Chris hugs him, and Eddie smiles shyly with him. Buck leads him to the car. Eddie studies Buck.
"What's wrong?" Eddie asks him, making Buck sigh.
"You have every right to feel and think like you do. I won't pressure you into doing anything that will make you hate me more than you do. You don't trust me, and that's on me. Your family is pushing to see the children. Helena wants to see you and the children," Buck says, tensing. Eddie hums.
"They're your children too. What do you want to do?" Eddie questions his mate.
"I want to talk to the children about them," Buck answers honestly. Eddie smiles.
"What would you do if I didn't ever want them in my life?" Eddie asks. Buck is silent for a while. Every day is a big talk for them—talks that they need to have and are having. Some are easier than others but are trying to work things out.
"We can go back to LA to get away. I'm sure that you miss the 118," Buck says. Eddie looks at him.
"What about Chicago? Station 51? They're your family and a better family than the former 118. Didn't you tell me that Bobby and Hen are back in LA? Why go back when you can be free here? " Eddie questions him. Buck stays silent, and Eddie looks out the window. They've gotten better at understanding their need to digest words and actions.
"What do you want to do?" Buck asks his mate. Eddie thinks about it. The downside of Chicago is his family, but the upside is that Eddie gained friends without any help. Buck and the children help, but Eddie actively tries to go out to make friends. The LAFD does care, but they're getting a new chief that Eddie hates. Eddie doesn't have to work if he doesn't want to. Buck makes enough for both of them.
"Financially, how are we?" Eddie asks, and Buck puts his hand on Eddie's knee.
"Do you want to stay home?" Buck asks. Eddie smiles slightly.
"I was thinking of either working at a different job or taking the time to heal. I still haven't worked out what I went through in LA by myself. I think I need time to work out my issue," Eddie says truthfully. Buck squeezes his knee.
"It won't be an issue. I want to help you with your issues. What can I do to make up for hurting you?" Buck tells Eddie. Eddie hums. Buck pulls into a driveway. They see a rental on the street, and they are confused. They get out of the car and go to the house.
"DADDY!" "PAPA!" Twin voices and little footsteps come toward them. Both men bend down to grab the girls and spin them around. Both giggle.
"Daddy!" Their third daughter comes running towards them. Eddie loves his kids and broke down when he lost Travis to cancer. Buck graved for the little boy that he never got to meet.
"Evan? Eddie?" Maddie's voice comes through the house. Eddie sees how healthy she is and tenses. He didn't want to give Alana back. He sees Chimney grinning at them. Buck gives the girls to Eddie and leads them to the kitchen. Matt and Sylvia are cooking, minding their business.
"Maddie, what are you doing here? How did you find us?" Buck asks. The woman smiles at him. Chimney was popping his gum.
"Hen said that you would be here. We're here to grab Jee-Yun and Daniel. We want our children back," Chimney says and sees Jee in Eddie's arms. Buck blocks him. Maddie looks for her little boy. Buck is disgusted by the names. They're named after a dead brother and mother. That's creepy for Buck.
"Where's Daniel?" Maddie asks, making Eddie look down and start to sniffle. Sylvia goes to her hurting brother. Maddie's eyes go misty.
"What happened?" She asks.
"Juvenile Leukemia," Eddie whispers. Maddie starts to cry. Buck's confused.
"I thought you were in jail, Han?" Buck asks the man who is comforting his sister.
"I was. However, I was good, and they let me out," He says. Maddie sniffles but calms down.
"I'm sorry," She says, and people are silent. She watches Jee and Eddie. The little girl is making sure that the man raising her is okay. Maddie knows what she needs to do. She goes to Eddie. Buck blocks Han. Eddie shields the little girl.
"Thank you for taking care of her, Eddie. Can I visit her?" Maddie asks him, making the other omega look at her. He smiles sadly at her.
"You are her mother, and she knows this. We can share her if you want," Eddie offers. Maddie smiles with love, but she knows it's not that simple.
"However," Maddie says, letting Eddie know she understands she isn't in charge of their daughter.
"What are you and Han doing?" Eddie questions. Maddie feels where this is going but wants to make sure.
"I want to have my babies, well, baby with me. However, I can have her," Maddie tells them. She knew that Eddie wouldn't give this child up easily. She also knows that if she is going to be a mother again, she will have to prove to Eddie that she won't leave again. She is in therapy and dealing with her trauma.
"Do you love Han?" Buck asks her. Matt is next to Buck. The two are shielding the two vulnerable parents. Chimney is in shock to see the two teaming up on him. Maddie is quiet.
"I do, but I don't want to have conflict. When I left, I wanted Howie to care for Jee-Yun and not drive her cross country to look for me. He should've listened to me and taken care of Jee. I'm pissed that he didn't and that you were forced to take my children when I couldn't take care of them. I didn't get the chance to raise my son or say goodbye. I'm thankful to you, Eddie, for loving my children. I want to be in my daughter's life however you see fit. Howie needs to figure out what he needs to do next, as we broke up," Maddie tells them. Han is heartbroken at hearing this.
"We'll keep you updated about Alana," Eddie tells her. She smiles slightly at him, and they walk away.
"Is she going to come back?" Eddie questions his mate.
"I don't think so," Buck says. Eddie holds Alana tighter.
"I want to go home," Eddie tells him. Buck kisses his forehead.
"Let's go home," Buck says. Once home, Eddie sees his parents are waiting for them. Eddie takes the children inside. Helena and Ramon try to respect Eddie's wishes but want to see their grandbabies.
"What do you want?" Eddie says steadily.
"When can we see our grandbabies?" Helena asks, and Eddie's shoulders drop and stiffen.
"Never," Eddie says, and Buck stands between mother and son. Helena backs away.
"Please, Eddie. When are you going to stop punishing us? We were trying to make Chris have the proper parent. Buck is the only one who can raise Christopher. We're here to help him," Helena asks. Eddie growls at her.
"Children need love and affection! They don't need to be forced to do or be things just because their parents want them to do or be those things! I'm a great dad. This is going to be your punishment. You can watch from afar, knowing you could have had a chance, but you blew it. If you choose to fight, then believe me, I will give you a fight," Eddie promises them.
"Get off our property," Buck says. Helena and Ramon walk away.
"They might fight for the children," Buck says gently to Eddie as he leads the omega in the house.
"I have everything documented if they do," Eddie says. Buck nods.
"I know that you're trying to support me. I've heard Chris ask about meeting them. Thank you for supporting me in this fight, but I can't forgive any of them. Kidnapping Christopher is my last straw," Eddie says, leaning into Buck. The alpha holds him close.
"I'll always support you, Eds," Buck tells him. When the children are asleep at night, Eddie looks to his alpha. He surprises the taller man by straddling on his lap. Buck lifts him up and takes them to the bedroom, and Eddie shows Buck how much trust and forgiveness Eddie has for him.
A few months later, Helena tries to fight for her grandchildren but loses. No one would back her, and even though Eddie is shocked and grateful for the support, he won't let them in. All understood this and had to respect this. The Diaz family went their separate ways, leaving the family in peace. Maddie comes and goes, and Eddie allows this. She isn't trying to fight for custody, and she's staying in Chicago. Han moved back to LA.
Eddie discovers he is pregnant again, but Buck is by his side this time. The alpha spoils his omega every chance he can get. Station 51 is a true family for Buck and Eddie. Eddie's happy in Chicago and wants to stay there.