Angst motherfcker

Now, remember angel crowley?

Of course, it’s basketball. Buck hates basketball, but if Theo wants to try it then he’ll do whatever that kid wants. When he goes to sign Theo up for the sport, they say they’ll have to add him to a waiting list. The reason? They don’t currently have enough parent volunteers to coach another 4-5 basketball team.

Buck knows nothing about basketball. Literally nothing - not that this seriously matters because it’s 4-5 year olds - but he can’t just let them not have a team that Theo and can play on. So what does he do? He tells the rec he’s got a perfect volunteer to coach and signs Eddie up.

After doing so, Buck is a little worried that Eddie is going to be mad that he signed him up for this without asking so he makes a big dinner, gets his truck washed, buys his favorite beer at the store, and goes across down for Eddie’s favorite desert. But it turns out he didn’t need to do all that because Eddie’s not even remotely mad. He’s thrilled, telling Buck, “Theo wants to play basketball? Are you kidding? This is perfect! Finally there’s a Buckley that wants to play basketball with me!”

He shows up to their next shift with a pair of basketball court shoes and a tiny LA Lakers jersey for Theo. As well as a dry-erase clipboard with the basketball court outlined on it and markers because he’s planning on making practice plans during their down time. The rest of the 118 are so confused as to why Eddie is the one coaching this team and not Buck, and keep sharing so many funny looks. But Buck can’t stop smiling because Eddie is just so excited.

When the first practice rolls around Eddie picks up Theo to take him to the gym while Buck goes to pick up Chris from some after school thing and bring the post-practice snacks for the kids because Eddie might be the coach, but Buck is the official snack dad. When Chris and Buck show up at the gym they stake seat on the bleachers with the other parents waiting for practice to end and watch. It’s a little chaotic because they’re 4 year old boys, but Eddie is so good with kids that they’re latching on to every word he says. Are the kids any good? Not in the slightest, but they’re trying their best and Eddie is beaming the whole time.

One of the mom’s comes and sits next to them, introduces herself and asks, “Which one is yours?” When he points out Theo, she says, “Oh, Theo? That means you must be Coach Eddie’s husband. God, you really know how to pick him. That man’s a miracle worker. You’re so lucky.” Buck nearly chokes, but before he can correct her, Chris pipes up beside him with a smirk replying loud enough for her to hear, “Yeah, Buck. We’re so lucky you’ve got a husband like dad.” Buck glares at him because now all the team parents are going to think he and Eddie are actually married, but Chris just gives him a shit-earring grin before going back to scrolling on his phone.

When they take turns practicing shooting at the end the only one to make a basket is Theo and everyone is so excited. The other kids cheer for him, but the first thing he does is go rushing over to Eddie who scoops him up in a big hug as Theo giggles with excitement over his basket, talking a mile a minute by giving him a replay of the shot as if Eddie hadn’t just witnessed it. Eddie just listens intently, nodding along grinning widely as he reacts to Theo’s retelling. Buck physically can’t stop the way his chest cracks in half at seeing the two of them together. Beside him Chris sighs and says, “Those heart eyes you’re wearing right now? That’s why people think you’re married.”

Buck scoffs, “I do not look at your dad with heart eyes.”

“Buck, you’ve looked at my dad with heart eyes every single day since I was seven. I know what it looks like. It’s seared into my brain.”

Buck doesn’t have time to think about Chris’s comment because Eddie calls for practice to end. After a quick chat and a team chant, Eddie directs the kids over to Buck and Chris to get snacks. In the chaos of Buck and Chris handing out snacks he doesn’t realize at first that Theo hasn’t joined them. Not until he’s got two extra snack baggie and juice boxes (one labeled with Spider-Man and the other Coach Eddie). When he looks up he sees Theo still running around on the court giggling wildly, carrying the basketball as Eddie chases him around. Eventually Eddie scoops up the 4-year-old and lifts him up to basket and lets Theo dunk. With a cheer, Theo kicks his legs for Eddie to let him down to he can get the ball and they can do it again.

That feeling comes back as he watches them this time, only for Chris to elbow him and tease, “You’re doing it again.”

The three just stare at each other for a moment before Trinity just says "Well, hello." And immediately walks up to Dennis room.

Dennis’s laying in bed like a lazy cat in a too big shirt and shorts, half-awake, he grumbles about the light from the hallway being too harsh as Trin opens the door. He takes a minute to reopen his eyes and realizes that it’s Trin but when he does he only mumbles "Hey Trin, how was your night ?"

Trinity ignores his words completely, leaning in the doorway, "Huckleberry, I thought we agreed that 'The Bear, the Twunk and the Twink' was a porn filmed OUTSIDE of my apartment !"

Dennis throws her a pillow and bury his face in his own "I had to hear the 'toxic Lesbians' audio porn for months in this apartment, you’ll survive."

- trinity let dennis drive to work once and never again ("you act like you're afraid of the other cars" "i am!" "oh my god.")

- they watch a lot of dumb reality tv -- dennis is partial to home renovation shows and trinity loves survivor. they are certified dating show haters, which is why they've seen every season of love is blind

- dennis isn't even making avocado toast. he steals them to put in salads. trinity thinks this should be a felony

- he trims her hair for her. she returns the favor by insisting he go to a real barbershop, because his mom shaved his head at home until he left, then he kept cutting it himself until she made him stop

- every time they get sunday off they make cinnamon rolls from scratch (once they wake up at noon)

- they are MASTERS of the "we'll talk later" stare. princess & perlah get in a fight in tagalog? robby makes a weird remark to mckay? patient comments about javadi checking out a new nurse? they have locked eyes. doesn't matter if they're three rooms away from each other. they are communicating telepathically

- their place has like. two tiny windows. it's a dark little cave and dennis tries to grow herbs on the windowsills anyway. trinity thinks it's stupid until he starts making homemade pasta sauce with his tiny basil harvests. she keeps telling him it's dumb but sometimes comes home with new planters. she likes how gently he handles the roots when he pulls them up to repot.

I don't know which of them would do it first, there are multiple scenarios in my head

It's been hours of Theo running around and causing chaos around Buck's house. By the time Eddie and Chris arrive for their visit, the house looks like a series of natural disasters took place.

"Sorry guys. I completely lost track of time," he sighs when he opens the door.

Both Chris and Eddie's eyes widen at the state of Buck's house. Toys scattered on the floor, marker scribbles over the walls, building blocks lying all over, and Theo still zooming about.

"It's alright," Eddie says sympathetically. "Maybe you should go get Theo cleaned up and Chris and I can order pizza or something."

"I've tried everything, he won't budge," Buck murmurs. "I tried giving him a bath earlier but after less than 5 minutes, there was more water on the floor than in the bath."

Eddie's eyes trail over Buck's exhausted state, "Okay new plan. How about you go and get pizza to clear your mind a bit while Chris and I watch after Theo?"

"No, no, it's fine. I'm fine," Buck shakes his head.

"Well you look horrible," Chris comments.

"Thanks, bud," Buck murmurs. "Okay, fine. I'll go get dinner. But if there's anything - just call me and I'll come back."

"Don't worry, we've got this," Eddie reassures.

Buck takes about half an hour to get back home after grabbing dinner for everyone.

When he places the key in the lock, the house sounds suspiciously quiet. Part of him wonders whether Theo managed to lore Eddie and Chris into a plan to jump out and scare him when he steps inside. Who could say no to that cute face?

However when he opens the door, he's met with the last thing he expected.

All the toys are packed away, the walls are free of scribbled drawings, and Theo is sat in his pjs next to Chris watching a cartoon Buck doesn't recognize.

Eddie emerges from the kitchen with a sippy cup filled with what looks like juice.

"How did you-" Buck frowns, gesturing to Theo.

"C'mon, Buck. I've had years of practice," Eddie shrugs.

"Chris never acts like this though," Buck says in confusion.

"Who said I was referring to Chris?" he raises a brow. "I'm talking about you."

Buck narrows his eyes in slight offense.

The Buckley family is hosting a family reunion for the first time in like 30 years, Buck and Maddie are invited. Buck doesn't wanna go alone, so he tells Eddie and Chris about it and asks if Eddie will go with him but they can make it a game about who can get people to believe the most outrageous stories.

When they get there, Chris announces to everyone that his two dads are celebrating their 10 year anniversary soon, and he's so glad both of his dads are so happy. Cue the chaos from there. Theo is just there for the food.

He is pretty sure that he can be a decent dad. He is a great, awesome dad, but chances are he’ll never fully believe that. Especially after the whole Chris-in-Texas parenthesis. However, he knows he can successfully babysit a toddler and survive, making sure that they both make it through the day and he can return said toddler safe to his parent (which is a thought he’d probably associate with a postal package but… he’s stressed). That’s what he keeps reminding himself while he follows Theo around the house.

He never told Buck, but there’s no mistaking this kid for anyone other than Buck’s son. And Eddie kind of loves it. Part of Eddie, after hearing all about Buck’s childhood, wishes he could teleport back in time and hold baby Buck, protecting him from all harm, but that’s probably just his paternal instincts taking over him from time to time. Taking care of Theo gives him the impression that he’s doing something good for Buck, and for baby Buck.

However, whenever he’s with the kid, especially when they are alone, he doesn’t have much room to sit down and think. And he loves it. Really. He doesn’t mind at all that Theo is such an energetic and intelligent kid. If anything, he loves him for it.

The problem is that his brain-to-mouth filter is completely gone most of the time.

And that’s something that Eddie definitely does not like. Especially since realizing how in love he is with his best friend.

Buck is the most important person in his life after Christopher, and he cannot and won’t jeopardize that.

Except that Theo probably has other plans for him. Because it’s not Eddie’s fault that the kid has begged him for ice cream and not his fault that he can’t resist him, so now they’re trying not to get chocolate ice cream all over his couch and Theo is completely covered in it.

It’s not Eddie’s fault, really. Theo keeps giggling and Eddie is a little bit tired. “Look at you, Theo!” He says, and the kid just keeps giggling like Eddie is the funniest man alive. “What are we telling your dad?”

It just… slips out.

And Theo doesn’t flinch, not like Eddie does. Instantaneously and violently. Fuck. He really shouldn’t have said that, but Theo doesn’t seem to notice, so he won’t bring it up.

Theo just smiles, a bit mischievously and says “call Buck!”

Eddie sighs. He fucking loves this kid. It’s honestly unfair. “We can’t call Buck, buddy, he’s at work, remember?” He gently reminds him.

Theo seems to think about it, then nods, and then throws himself at Eddie, who is crouched down by the couch, so in two seconds flat, they are both covered in ice cream.

And Eddie is wearing a white tee, but he won’t budge. Not a time for a mental breakdown. He was a soldier. He can survive a mini Buck.

“Theo…”

“Eddie!” Theo delightfully wraps his arms around Eddie’s neck and squeezes and Eddie wants to drop on the floor, precisely lying down, and sob until he’s dying from dehydration.

“Eddie’s got you!” Then he whispers in Eddie’s neck, because Buck is always telling him that, and Eddie’s heart becomes dust in his chest. There’s no way it has not exploded.

“Yeah,” he breathes out, all chocked up and emotional. “I always got you.” And then, when Theo wiggles free, he adds, “now we gotta get you in a bath, bud.”

By the time Buck comes home, Christopher is sound asleep in his room, but Theo seems determined to win his battle against sleep and waits for Buck with only one eye open.

“Hey, Theo, you can sleep, buddy, I’m here,” Buck reassures him, kneeling down next to the little bed.

Theo smiles. Somehow, his smile manages to always carry a spark of something playful and smart, and Buck loves him for that. “Hello,” he sleepily murmurs. Then he turns to Eddie, to look at him for a moment, before succumbing to sleep. “Don’t tell dad, Eddie.”

Eddie remains frozen on the spot, looking at Buck, while Buck looks at Theo like he’s a ticking bomb.