Two weeks.

Two weeks since, she was released from the hospital, and it had not been easy.

The nights seemed longer and her dreams felt like like never ending loops of terror.

The constant loop of helplessness that clawed at her in those moments were so palpable, it felt like a giant snake, constricting around her lungs and and crushing her when she woke, gasping for breath.

Her only solace was Eddie was with her every step of the way. He had held her every night when she lunged awake, searching for the animal to strike. Always a solid and unending source of comfort and protection.

She glanced up as she saw Eddie enter the living room, " Hey Carino. You sure you're up for the teams this afternoon? If not we can postpone."

"It's fine Eds. It's just the teams. I think we have held off long enough. I trust them. You know I do. Besides, there is a certain paramedic that i need to have a talk with." Buck muttered as she thought of Chim and his skittishness in the hospital two weeks ago, and his constant avoidance of her the last few weeks.

"Maybe I should talk to him first, amor, see what's going on with him. See where his head's at?" Eddie asked as his eyes lit up in flinty irritation.

"No, amando. That won't be helpful. You will just scare the man. And we don't need that right now. You going full GI on the man will petrify him and not solve the problem. He is traumatised, love. He was there too and I am sure he was just as terrified of dying as anyone else would be." Buck told he husband as she took in his stoney expression.

"He might be traumatised, and I can sympathise just fine. But you were there too, dammit. Doesn't he think you have shit you are trying to deal with too?" Eddie huffed as he sat with Buck, his arm over her shoulder and his hand protectively resting on her belly.

"Baby everyone deals with stress and trauma differently. You know this. Give him a chance, por favor? For me, if nothing else?"

"Fine. For you. But I am watching him. He might be your sister's husband and my brother-in-law, but you are my wife and my first priority. That won't change. My family, you and the kids comes first. Comprende?"

"Loud and clear. I love you, you know that right?"

"Si. I know and, i love you too. More than you will ever know."

Before she could repsond to him there was a knock on the front door, heralding the arrival of their first guests.

It was about four hour into the teams, both Splinter and the 118, being there chatting and enjoying the company and food when Eddie whistled to gain their attention.

Once silence fell over the group and they were all paying attention to Buck and Eddie he spoke, " First, thanks for being here all of you. Ya'll know I don't do speeches, so I'll keep it quick. First off, to Buck's team, thank you for the help and for stopping that maniac from killing one of the people who mean the world to me. To the 118, thank you aswell, your support has meant a great deal to me and Buck. We also have some unexpected news we received when Buck was in the hospital but it happens to be good news. I'm happy to announce that we are expecting out third child. Buck is officially 7 weeks pregnant."

Eddie had barely finished his sentence when the backyard was filled with whoops, hollers and sounds of utter joy and exhilaration as the happy couple was hugged and congrgulated.

After a few moments, a silent figure disappeared into the house as quietly as he could.

Buck, however, caught sight of the retreating back and shared a glance with Eddie.

She moved away from the group and headed into the house, where she found Chim in the lounge, gazing at the photos on the mantle. She settled next to the man as they took in the photos that shows all the joyous moments of their life.

Without even a glance at her Chim spoke, " I used to be envious of Eddie. Did you know that? Him and you to be honest. I'd look at him and later you and it felt like you two had this fairytale love story, Eddie eventually told us some of the backstory. How you two fought for every ounce of the happiness and joy you have. The compromises you both had to make. Now, all I can feel is anger at myself that I ever envied you two. Buck what you had to experience in life, both in the system and as a SEAL? I'd never be able to fully comprehend what you had to go through. In either instances, and you built such a happy life, a good one, and when you needed help? I couldn't do a damn thing to help you. I watched as they…" Chim broke off as tears poured down his face.

"Raped me? You can say it Chim. it happened. Would I have rather not had it happen? Hell yes. But it did and I am glad you couldn't do anything. The only outcome would have been death. You have Maddie and Jee to think of bud. I wish I could have spared you living through even a moment of what you had to. But Chim? You cannot let the anger, guilt and fear eat you up. It wasn't your fault. That rests fully on Adama. And guess what? That bastard is dead as a doornail." Buck took a deep breath as she looked at the life she had built.

"Chim, I knew it could happen. I am trained to read body behaviour. I knew Adama was going to head in that direction when I looked in his eyes. I could also see the interest in the animal who raped me first. I took advantage of Adama's rage over what happened and his lack of rational thought, however cold this seems Chim, gave me the opportunity to get us out of there. It gave us a fighting chance. Please Chim let it go. There is no blame to place on your shoulders. If anyone should bare any blame, it should be me, for bringing this to your door in the first place."

"NO! Buck this is not your fault. You were doing your job. Nothing more, nothing less." Chim pleaded as he swung towards Buck and gripped her arm in a steel grip. Trying to make her see she was never to blame for what happened to him or the other men who lost their lives.

"Alright Chim. We both let the guilt go and agree to move on. The therapy bill is gonna be a bitch, by the way. But we as a family will be just fine." Buck joked.

With a laugh Chim gave Buck a hug. As he pulled back he glanced at her still flat belly and said, " So…you ready for another little tornado to grace these floors?" He asked with a smirk.

"More than ready Chim. Eds and I always wanted more than one baby don't get me wrong, I love Chris and Izzy to the moon and back, but i miss the newborn phase, the crazy midnight feeding hours, the diapers, I loved it all with Izzy and i missed it when she started being more independent don't get me wrong. I love it that both my kids are so strong and independent, and I cant wait to see what those two will do when they grow up, that's for sure. But this little one is already so loved."

"That's good. I am glad for you both." Chim said with a smile as he and Buck headed out to join the rest of the teams.

Eddie looked at his wife, eyebrow raised in question and was met with a smile and a small nod from his wife as she came to sit on his lap and took a sip of his juice.

That afternoon they all enjoyed laughing and getting to know each other. To Buck, it felt like the wounds were finally healing, small though it maybe, it was a step in the right direction.

Epilogue

2 years later.

It had been two years since that dreadful day in the loft when her past came back to bite with sharp claws and Buck had thought the horror of it all would never leave, but 2 years later she knew she had been wrong.

She gazed at her team, no her family all gathered in the backyard. The 118 had brought their families and all the kids were frolicking about little Belle, now 5, and loving playing with all the extended uncles and the other kids squealed in laughter as Red chased them with a water pistol. Buck laughed softly as she watched Chris squirt Red with water in the face as he rounded the corner, " Smooth move Red! I thought you were a SEAL!" Buck joked as Red sputtered and wiped the water from his face, he turned and gave her a fake glare, "what do you expect? It's your kid. I thought you would keep the combat training to at least when the kids where older Viper?" he joked back as the others laughed at him too.

"You guys laugh now. Wait until you're being chased by these little terrors." he smirked as the splinter team all sobered up. Yup they all knew that any kid of Viper and Doc would give them a run for their money. They wouldn't have it any other way though.

Buck took a seat next to Eddie as she watched Mateo toddle between his uncle Steve and grandpa Bobby stealing snackes from their plates, both men pretending not to see.

And than Buck looked at Aimee-and hadn't that been a surprise. Not once during her pregnancy had there been any hint that she was pregnate with twins but, lo and behold, twins was born, as the little girl so like her father in temperament, reserved and quiet, sat with her aunt Maddie and nana 'Thena as the girl sipped at her sippy cup.

Mateo Tomas Stevan Diaz, while looking like his father, with his dark hair and beautiful, chocolate and whikey eyes, was all her in personality and Athena Gabriela Aimee Diaz, was her own copy in looks but her father through and through and she adored them both so much. And so did her family.

Overall, she had fought and won battle she had thought might be the one that would take her out.

She had many a nightmare in the beginning and lots of therapy and have made peace with so much of her past and what had happened and she knew that she was stronger for it then ever and she had her husband, kids, and family with her every step of the way, should she ever falter. She will always remember the way they rallied around her when they finally found out about what happened that night, and the assault on her that Chim was witness to. Once the shock wore off they were her own personal cheerleading squad.

With that though, she snuggled into Eddie's side and nuzzled his neck when he drew her close and whispered softly " Te amo".