Buddie Brainrot ❤️

Buck swings the door open before Eddie can put the key in the lock. Eddie takes a nervous step back, eyes flittering around Buck's smiling face, then the space behind him. "Why are your lights off?"

"No reason," Buck answers, absolutely not selling it.

Eddie frowns and very suspiciously takes a small step into his house. "Okay, you're acting weird, too. What-"

"Congratulations!" Everyone behind Buck yells, rushing out of the kitchen.

It takes a few moments for Buck to figure out what exactly is wrong with that exclamation. But he's mainly caught up on why everyone is crying.

He gets pushed aside as people rush to Eddie, pulling him into tight hugs with choked-up, "I'm so proud of you"s and "I was wondering when you'd figure it out." Most interesting of all is Ravi's pat on Eddie's shoulder and his statement, "I knew there was a reason you were so bad at pulling girls."

Eddie's confused face falls on Buck, who throws both his hands up. Eddie's eyes look around at the balloons, streamers, and the confetti covering the floor, his face going slightly pink as he takes it all in.

Hen seems to notice the hesitation in Eddie and slowly says, "Let's give him a moment," as she rushes everyone away to where the food is waiting. She shoots Buck a very clear what were you thinking look as she walks away, leaving the pair alone.

"Happy Birthday?" Buck asks more than says. He wraps his arms around himself awkwardly and rambles, "So, I may have forgotten to let everyone know that I was throwing a surprise birthday party for you. And Chris was onto something when he said it would be too early to celebrate, but I know you would get suspicious the closer we got. So, I'm not sure what that was about, but-"

"Hey, Buck!" Christopher calls from the kitchen.

Buck and Eddie immediately take off in his direction, pausing in the doorway when they see he's fine, just holding up the lid of the cake box.

"So, I think I found the source of confusion. Unless it wasn't, and, if so, just know I'll always love you, Dad. And I'm proud of you even though I'm pretty sure you haven't gotten there yet."

Eddie slowly gives Buck a look of absolute befuddlement and sighs, "Buck, I don't know what you..." he trails off as he rounds the corner and lays eyes on the cake.

Buck's not sure he's ever seen him stand so still, and he's pretty sure he might be one movement away from a panic attack. But Buck needs to see what's on that cake so he can somehow fix this. And really, it can't be that bad.

That is, until Buck finally sees the cake and knows there's no fixing this.

It's a round cake with white frosting, as he asked for, but instead of the text "Happy Birthday, Old Man!" there's "Congratulations!" with a big rainbow over it.

Buck risks a look at Eddie, noting his shaky breathing and the color that has drained from his face. Fuck.

"Eddie," Buck croaks out.

Eddie shakes his head, expression carefully blank as he slowly makes his way to Buck's bedroom and closes the door behind him.

Buck stares at it, his heart beating out of his chest, not knowing what to do.

A hand lands on his arm, and he glances down at Chris, who looks so much older than Buck remembers him being. "He'll be okay, and you'll be okay."

Buck nods, not sure what else to do, but he forces himself to stumble out of the kitchen and outside to where his guests are waiting. "It's the wrong cake," he announces abruptly.

Everyone stops talking and looks at him in varying states of horror. "I-I picked up the wrong cake," Buck says again before turning on his heels. On his way to his bedroom, he takes note of the multicolored balloons, streamers, and damn confetti he bought. All because Eddie tries to insist that having a favorite color is dumb, even though Buck knows it's blue, but Eddie would never just admit it.

He's outside his door before he knows it, feeling weird because he's never had to knock on it. But here he is. Knocking gently. "I'm not going to break down the door, but I'm here if you need me." He hesitates and adds, "There's a baseball bat under the bed if you want to use it on my stuff." He groans, "N-not that I'm saying that you're having a breakdown. I mean, if you want to take it out on me, you have free rein of my things. I'm also here if you want to take it out on me."

The bedroom door opens, and Buck is pulled inside. He closes his eyes tightly and prepares for the punch.

"Buck, do you really think I'm going to hit you?"

Buck squints an eye open. "I wouldn't blame you. Chimney did."

Eddie sighs, running a hand through his already mussed hair. "Jesus, Buck." His eyes look a little wild, but they land on Buck as he puts a hand on his shoulder. "I would never do that.. I just needed some quiet."

"Got it," Buck says, miming zipping his lips shut and tossing away the key.

Eddie stares at him for a few seconds and shakes his head as he turns away, pacing back and forth in front of Buck's bed. He stops every few seconds, opening his mouth before closing it. At least a minute goes by before Eddie finally asks, "What did he mean by 'I'm pretty sure you haven't gotten there yet'?"

"Who?"

Eddie stops his pace to look at Buck. "Chris."

Before Buck can formulate an answer, Eddie continues on, "And Hen, Karen, May, and Ravi." His lip wobbles as he takes a step closer to Buck. "How many people thought they knew this big thing about me, that I never..." His brows pinch together as he whispers, "Even my abuela told me I was looking in the wrong places, and Father Brian with his damn juice metaphor saw right through me." He shakes his head and sits on the bed abruptly, burying his head in his hands.

Buck kneels on the floor next to him and whispers, "Eddie."

He glances up at Buck, his lips pinching together as he tries his best not to cry.

"I don't know exactly what you're talking about, but other people can't decide your sexuality for you."

Eddie scoffs, "I'm pretty sure my parents did that for me."

Buck's heart stutters in his chest. "W-What do you mean?"

Eddie takes a deep breath in and out, a few tears slipping from his eyes. "When I was a ballroom dancer, I loved it. I loved dancing, performing, dressing up, and... this dancer named Lucas." He inhales sharply and sobs lightly. "And I could tell my parents knew, you know? They would give me this look, and they would push me to confession anytime I had a competition, and my eyes lingered for too long." He shakes his head and glances off into space.

"When that didn't work, my dad pulled me aside, and he told me that it's okay to admire someone for their craft. But that admiration was weakness, and I had to remember that it was a competition. From there on it was all about competing and winning for them - no distractions. Which is when I quit." He wipes sharply at his face. "I never saw Lucas again, and suddenly my parents were pushing for me to take Shannon out, and you know how that turned out. Two tours, a kid, and enough distractions to pretend like Lucas never existed, maybe except as friendly competition."

Buck presses his hands between his knees to hide the shaking. "Eddie," he breathes out, not sure what else to say. Not sure if he's even hearing all this correctly.

Eddie dissolves, burying his head in his hands, his shoulders shaking. Buck doesn't think twice before joining him on the bed and pulling him into his side. Eddie goes willingly, muttering, "I'm sorry. I think everything I've ever repressed is coming out now."

"It's okay, Eddie. I've got your back."

His sobs get a little louder, and his hold around Buck gets tighter. Buck runs a soothing hand over his back, whispering Chris's words over and over again. You'll be okay.

A few minutes later, Eddie pulls away, and Buck hands him the box of tissues from his nightstand. As he blows his nose, Buck suddenly says, "I'm sorry."

Eddie raises an eyebrow, his attitude already back, which is more than a good sign.

"For not checking the cake," Buck explains. "And outing your old feelings."

Eddie's swollen eyes squint at Buck. "My old feelings?"

He may have read this horribly wrong. "For Lucas?"

"Buck," Eddie sighs, looking down at the crumbled-up tissue in his hand. "They're not just old feelings." He takes another deep breath and looks Buck in the eye. "I'm gay."

Oh.

Buck's entire world is suddenly flipped upside down, and he gets the sudden gut-wrenching realization, "And I just outted you? To everyone?" He stands up suddenly, getting out of Eddie's space, needing to move around to get the itchy feeling out from under his skin. "Fuck, Eddie. Fucking, Eddie. I'm so fucking sorry. I-"

"Buck," Eddie croaks out, not managing to interrupt Buck's panic until he says, "Evan."

He freezes in place.

"You didn't mean to. And it's okay. I mean, you just accidentally showed me that everyone I love will be beyond supportive. And that they all apparently knew."

"I didn't," Buck mumbles. He risks a glance at Eddie. "I kind of went around telling everyone who would listen that you're straight."

Eddie frowns. "Before you got in here?"

Buck shifts uncomfortably on his feet. "Um, no." He scratches the back of his neck awkwardly as Eddie stares at him, willing him to go on. "I may have hooked up with Tommy when you went to Texas, and he may have said something about you being the competition, and when I said you were straight, he may have scoffed."

"Even Tommy?" he groans. "I never liked him, by the way."

Buck gapes at him. "You were literally best friends with him!"

"No one could replace your spot in my life. And I didn't like him for you," Eddie elaborates. His face scrunches up. "Wait, you hooked up with him... in my house??"

Buck holds up both of his hands. "You're technically just a renter if you really think about it."

"Wait," Eddie pauses, pointing at Buck. "Who else did you tell I was straight then?"

Alarms go off in Buck's head. He walks back slowly, hand feeling out for the doorknob behind him. "It doesn't really matter, does it?"

Eddie is in front of him, hand on his shoulder, holding him in place more than comforting him. "Buck..."

"Eddie," Buck breathes out. "I can't tell you."

"You accidentally outed me; you have to tell me."

"That's not fair."

"Maybe you should've thought of that before you didn't look at the cake."

Buck looks at him, wondering if now is the moment to really ruin everything. No return. But he knows Eddie won't let go of this. And if Eddie can bring up everything he's been repressing, so can Buck. "Okay," he starts, "I went to Maddie first because Tommy was so... irritating. The whole conversation got into my head, and I-I was afraid that maybe Tommy saw right through me."

Eddie patiently waits as Buck breathes, trying to push through. "And it was implied that I may... have feelings... for you." Buck risks a glance at Eddie, trying to note any discomfort there, but his usual mask is up, not betraying any emotion. "So, I told Maddie that I can't be in love with you because you're straight. And when I brought it up to Hen, and Ravi... and Bobby, they already knew what I had been refusing to admit." Buck gestures to the door behind him. "I'm pretty sure everyone out there knows I'm in love with you."

Eddie's mask slips, his eyes softening immediately. "I didn't know," he whispers.

"Looks like we're the only two left in the dark here."

"Not anymore."

Buck shakes his head. "Not anymore."

Eddie continues to stare at him, and Buck feels like it might be one of the first times Eddie's really looked at him. It's... entirely unnerving and exhilarating.

Suddenly, Eddie's head drops, and his shoulders start shaking again. Buck's about to ask what's wrong when he realizes Eddie is laughing.

"Okay, what's so funny?"

Eddie only laughs harder, throwing his head back and showing off his canines.

Buck can't help but smile. "Okay, really, I've just confessed my love for you that I've been repressing for years, and you're laughing at me."

Eddie wipes at the new tears streaming down his face, his laughter dying down. "I'm not laughing at you, Buck. I'm laughing at myself because it's no wonder everyone saw right through me. I could never hide how in love with you I am. And I've been so focused on pushing everything down that I've somehow missed what was right in front of me."

Buck blinks. "Me?"

"Yes, you, Buck. It's always been you."

This time, Buck's the one crying. "It's always been you, Eds," he manages to choke out.

"Come here," Eddie says, pulling him into a hug of all things.

Buck buries his face in his neck. "I'm really proud of you."

"I'm proud of you, too."

Buck pulls back and wipes the tears off his face. "Can I-?"

He doesn't get to finish the question because Eddie's on the same page as him, pulling him into a kiss. Their lips barely touch, both of them smiling too hard to really make anything of it.

It's absolutely perfect.

Buck manages to get himself together enough to pull Eddie into a bruising kiss that immediately kills their laughter. As soon as they deepen the kiss and get a step closer to the bed, there's a quiet knock on the door.

"Dad? Buck? Are you okay?"

They both pull away, foreheads resting together as they breathe.

"We're okay, Chris," Eddie says, taking a step away from Buck and smoothing down his hair and his shirt. "Could you come in for a second?"

The door opens, and Chris cautiously peeks around the corner. His eyes shoot between the two of them, and Buck's pretty sure he clocks them immediately. "So, I take it you got there?" Chris asks.

Eddie nods in response.

Christopher immediately walks to him and pulls him into a hug. "I love you, Dad."

"I love you, son," Eddie says back, planting a kiss on the top of his head, blinking away new tears. "And if you're okay with it, I'm planning on asking Buck on a date."

"Finally," Christopher sighs.

Buck gapes at him. "Chris-"

"I call everyone Aunt Hen, Uncle Chimney, Aunt Maddie... Never have I called you Uncle Buck. Plus, you guys are bad at pretending you're not in love with each other. No normal friends act the way you two do."

Buck exchanges a look with Eddie along the lines of When did we raise him to have such an attitude? Oh, right, he's our kid.

Christopher moves over to Buck to hug him, lingering longer than his typical teenager self allows. Then, he pulls away and says, "Everyone is still waiting in the backyard, and it's getting really awkward. I can tell everyone to leave if you want me to."

Eddie scoffs and shakes his head. "It's okay, mijo. Let them know we'll be right out."

He nods and leaves the room.

Buck immediately invades Eddie's space. "Right out?"

Eddie rolls his eyes and gives him a quick peck. "We have to clean up your mess."

"Our mess," Buck says with a teasing smile, stealing a kiss. He searches Eddie's eyes. "You're sure you're ready for this?"

"More ready than I was the first time," Eddie says. Buck nudges him. Eddie takes his hand and intertwines their fingers. "Time to tell them the wrong cake was kind of right."

They walk hand in hand to the backyard, and everyone freezes as they take in the sight. When it's confirmed, more tears are shed, more hugs are had, and laughter breaks out when Buck returns with the wrong right cake.

When things start to unwind later, Buck joins Eddie on his outdoor loveseat, throwing an arm around the back of it. He hands him a beer and says, "I'm thinking for your birthday we'll do something small, just the three of us with absolutely no cake."

"Maybe a homemade one," Eddie comments with a small smile. "With blue frosting."

Buck turns to him suddenly. "I knew that was your favorite color, Mr. Having a Favorite Color is Only for Children."

"You know why it's my favorite color?" Eddie asks, taking a casual sip of his beer.

"Why?"

He turns to Buck and brushes a curl off his forehead. "Because it's the color of your eyes."

Buck spills some of his beer on himself, and Eddie fondly rolls his eyes and hands him a spare napkin. "I love you."

"I love you, too," Buck says, cheeks turning pink. He finishes wiping up the spill and comments, "For the record, my favorite color is brown."

"Sure it is, bud."

Maddie sighs and pauses the episode. “Apartment hunting went that well?”

Chimney glances toward Buck, obviously conflicted about confronting them when they’re not exactly doing anything too suspicious. Buck glances down at the covers they’re under, wondering if they’re just fast changers and good actors. Or maybe this is Maddie’s way of comforting Eddie after rejecting his booty call.

Either way, he needs to be strong for Chimney. He gets right to the point. “We know about your affair.”

Maddie looks blankly at Buck, then gives Chimney a look of complete disbelief. Eddie rolls his eyes and puts his glass on the side table. “Buck-”

“No!” Buck says, holding his hand up. “Stop with the lies, Eddie. I know. I know about the brunch dates, the secret pictures, the birthday wish, the love confession after your wine night and in the mirror, and the fact you’ve been trying to hide this from me!” He takes a quick glance to his left, Leo coming to mind as he stutters out, “A-And Chimney.”

“The what?” Maddie asks, sounding genuinely baffled.

Buck groans, looking toward Chim for support, only to find him eyeing Buck suspiciously, as if he’s made this all up! Buck widens his eyes at him, trying to get his support, but Chimney crosses his arms and takes a step back, taking in the scene before him as if he’s just a spectator in this whole thing.

Buck takes a deep breath and looks back at the pair staring at him, looking more confused than confronted. But a quick glance at the picture of Jee on the nightstand reminds him why this all matters. “Think of the kids, guys. Jee, my unborn nephew, and Chris–”

“Okay, no one is having an affair,” Maddie says, gesturing to her stomach as if that is an automatic excuse.

Buck shakes his head, staring at his sister, trying to get through to her as he gestures to Eddie. “You’re saying that you’re really not in love with Eddie?” The question sounds a bit more surprised than accusatory.

“Yes, Buck,” Maddie states firmly. “I’m not in love with Eddie because I happen to be in love with Chimney, you know, my husband.”

Chimney’s chest puffs out a little bit at the statement, but Buck ignores him to look at Eddie.

“And you–”

Eddie shakes his head, taking the covers off his sweatpants-clad legs. “We’re not doing this here.”

“Yes, we are,” Buck says through his teeth.

“No, we’re going home. Right now.”

The way he says it sends a jolt of electricity down Buck’s spine that he tries to ignore. “See, you’re avoiding it because you are.”

“I’m not!” Eddie practically yells, arms wide.

Buck points at him angrily. “We have a no lying rule, Edmundo.”

Eddie straightens up, arms crossing as his tone and volume drop, taking a step forward. “We do. And you know why that is? Because I fucked up. I fucked up my kid so bad that he had to flee the state and run eight hundred miles away from me and let my parents play their fucked up version of house that literally made him sick. All because I lied to him.” He points an accusatory finger at him. “I just got him back, and you think I would do something that would risk destroying everything we have now?”

He makes a good point, but Buck knows what he’s seen. “Maybe for Maddie, you would.”

Eddie’s finger curls back into a fist as he takes in a deep breath. He lets his fingers open as he exhales. “Why are you doing this, Buck?”

“Because I’m trying to fix this before it can ruin what we’ve created – what you’ve created – with Chris.” Before Eddie can argue, Buck explains, “I saw the text messages, Eddie. How you’re thankful I don’t know about this, that I was onto you, and how you hate sharing the bed with me.”

Eddie’s eyebrows shoot up. “You went through my messages?”

“You were passed out.”

“And that’s supposed to make it better?”

Buck folds in on himself.

“Dios, Buck,” Eddie breathes out, shaking his head. “You got it all wrong.”

“How?” Buck asks, exasperated. “How can this be anything other than you being in love with Maddie?”

“Because I’m gay,” Eddie chokes out.

Buck’s heart stops.

It takes longer than three minutes and seventeen seconds for it to start again as the whole world comes to a halt.

“Oh my god,” Chimney whispers as if realizing something, reminding Buck that they aren’t the only two in the room.

Buck blinks once, then twice. He shakes his head.

“No, you’re in love with Maddie.”

Eddie stares at him, his brown eyes beyond hurt, but he doesn’t say a word. He just shakes his head and scoffs, a humorless, silent laugh, before he grabs his keys and wallet from the side table, walking past Buck and out of the room.

Buck glances up at Maddie who looks angry on behalf of her friend but disappointed as Buck’s sister. We don’t hurt our friends, Buck can practically hear her say.

“I’m sorry,” he breathes out as he turns around, following Eddie, catching up to him quickly as he puts his shoes on by the door.

“Eddie…”

Eddie holds up a finger to him – surprisingly, his pointer finger and not the middle one.

Buck takes the hint and shuts his mouth.

When Eddie is done tying his shoes, he looks right at him. “I’ll see you at the house.”

Buck tries not to focus on the way he says the house instead of our house. “Eddie, you’ve been drinking, let me drive you back.”

“I’ll get an Uber.”

Buck’s jaw tenses, but he takes the hint. He nods once. “Venmo request me the amount.”

Eddie just stares at him.

Buck tests his luck and asks, “Can I wait until it gets here?”

Based on the way Eddie’s eyes try to burn a hole through his head, Buck’s going to take that as a no. He clears his throat. “I’ll, uh, see you at home.” He doesn’t waste time leaving, afraid that it’s Eddie’s turn to maim him, not that he wouldn’t deserve it.

He drives home in silence, not even beginning to process what has happened.

When he gets to the house, he checks Eddie’s location to see if the Uber has picked him up yet, but he finds that he’s already been dropped off somewhere. Bobby’s house.

He wonders if Maddie drove him there.

Buck heads straight to the kitchen and starts baking just about anything that he has the ingredients for when he finally lets himself think of everything that went down with Eddie.

Eddie, who is not straight.

Unless that was just a lie to cover the affair.

Buck shakes his head, and, for the first time since he’s been made aware of this friendship, he takes Eddie at his word.

He goes back to Maddie’s birthday, thinking about the thing Eddie wasn’t ready to tell him that Maddie was pushing him to say. And Maddie, being Buck’s sister, would know how hard Buck would take it if Eddie came out to her first instead of him. She was just delaying the inevitable crash out Buck would have, especially since Eddie had apparently drunkenly come out to her months ago.

He thinks about their messages and how Eddie needed to tell Chris first. How he didn’t want to tell his parents about what Buck thought was an affair when really…

He sighs and puts his head in his flour covered hands. He has to be the worst friend in the entire world to have forced Eddie to come out when he wasn’t ready.

Oh fuck, so that’s what Eddie wanted to talk to him about tonight. So, maybe he was ready, but… that’s no excuse for how it happened. Especially compared to how Buck had come out to him and was met with a hug and reassurance that it would change nothing between them

And now Buck has to live with the fact that when Eddie came out, he told him he wasn’t gay because he was actually in love with his sister.

It’s all a mess.

He glances in the direction of their bedroom, wondering if he really needs to go apartment hunting now. God, he’s going to miss waking up in Eddie’s arms every morning.

Wait. Eddie had panicked about sharing the bed with Buck. He also had to lock himself in the bathroom to get away from massaging Buck. Plus, Maddie had told Eddie not to tell Buck he’s gay, after seeing right through Buck’s poor excuses as to why he couldn’t be in love with Eddie.

It all makes sense now.

Eddie’s gay, but he doesn’t have feelings for him.

It explains why he’s been waiting to tell him. Clearly, it would be hard to continue living in their cozy, domestic world that has teetered on the not-so-platonic side after Eddie came out. They live in each other’s bubble more often than not, and although Buck being bi didn’t change anything… Eddie being gay does.

How hard would it have been for Eddie to explain to Buck that he doesn’t want him to misinterpret his actions, that even though they could be seen as romantic, it would never work out, not because he’s straight, but because he just doesn’t feel that way about Buck?

It all adds another layer to the complexity surrounding Eddie coming out, which, once again, Buck is reminded that he’s added to even more.

He digs around his spice cabinet, trying to find his natural food dyes.

Buck shakes his head and closes it. He’s pretty sure a six-layer rainbow cake would result in a justifiable punch in the face or eviction notice. So, he grabs the bag of flour and stares at it, wondering if he has enough to make a batch of those scones Eddie liked.

It’s going to take more than baked goods to fix this, but Buck has to start somewhere.

At some point mid baking spiral, the front door opens and closes. Buck jumps.

In a few hours, he only managed to get two different trays of muffins, a pan of brownies, and the scones in the oven, and he’s certain that it isn’t enough.

Maybe he should’ve started making bread instead.

Jesus, what he should’ve done is think about what he’s going to say to Eddie.

“I hope you don’t expect me to help clean this up.”

Buck startles again, turning away from the flour covered counter to look at Eddie. He leans against the doorway, arms crossed, face carefully neutral.

Buck wipes his hands against his apron anxiously. “You’re back.”

“Had to make a stop.”

“At Bobby’s,” Buck fills in.

Eddie’s brow furrows, lips pursing as he stares at him. “You’ve been watching my location.” It’s a statement more than a question, so Buck doesn’t try to deny it. Eddie sighs and shakes his head. “Jesus, Buck. My messages and now my location.”

“I thought I was doing the right thing,” Buck retorts. He may have gone about it wrong, but his heart was in the right place.

“I know,” Eddie replies, surprisingly calm. He takes a few steps into the kitchen, pausing at the table and glancing down at the various bowls. He takes a swipe at the leftover brownie batter and lifts a finger to his mouth, tongue darting out to taste it.

“There’s also muffins and scones in the oven,” Buck says dumbly, mesmerized by the sight.

Eddie glances up at him. “Well, it’s a start.”

Buck frowns. “A start?”

“To your apology.”

“Eddie–”

He holds a hand up to Buck. “I know, Buck. You were trying to do the right thing, you already said that.”

Buck takes a tentative step forward, ducking his head down so it’s level with Eddie. “I’m sorry,” he says sincerely.

Eddie glances away.

Buck feels desperate to get through to him. “I should’ve believed you. I should’ve known better than to assume you would do something to hurt Chris, especially after all the work you’ve done in therapy and with him; I completely undermined all of that. I just saw you and Maddie together, and I panicked. I thought you were replacing me, but I went to the extreme thinking that you were putting Maddie in a role that’s even more important than mine in your life. I- I thought you were going to leave me again, and I couldn’t handle it.”

He takes a step closer, and Eddie looks up at him. “But I never should’ve reacted like that to you coming out. And I can’t believe I have to say this, but I know you wouldn’t lie to me about that. I’m sorry that I wasn’t a safe person for you to come out to, and I proved why.”  He looks away and rubs his hands on his apron again. “And I’m sorry I’m making this about me again, but this doesn’t have to change a thing between us.”

Buck’s not sure what he expects, but it’s not for Eddie to grab one of the dirty bowls, bring it to the sink, and start rinsing it out. He opens the dishwasher and starts loading it with the bowl in his hand and other dishes in the sink. When he runs out, he reaches behind him, hand open toward Buck.

“You don’t have to–”

“Dishes, Buck.”

Buck’s stomach twists, and he immediately begins handing things over. Dishes are never something Eddie does on his own voluntarily unless he needs to think.

Buck would love to know what he’s thinking about, or else he’s going to spiral.

Hell, he’s already spiraled. He might end up spontaneously combusting.

Luckily, there’s two firefighters in the house, right?

Buck gives him five minutes – he keeps track on the oven timer – but right when Buck is about to say something, Eddie stares out the window and asks, “What if I want things to change between us?”

The words make Buck’s blood run cold. He remains frozen until Eddie turns around to gauge his reaction. His nostrils flare involuntarily, and it takes everything in him to make sure the corners of his lips aren’t entirely downturned. He nods. “Yeah, man, of course. I get it. I’ll start looking for apartments.”

To make this easier for Eddie, he makes a beeline for the living room where Eddie left the iPad on the coffee table in front of the couch. He’s about to grab it when Eddie calls out, “Wait, what?”

Buck turns to Eddie standing in the kitchen doorway, eyes wide and frantic. “I’ll get out of your hair. It’s been a long time coming, and I don’t want to make you uncomfortable anymore.”

“Uncomfortable?”

Buck nods, resisting the urge to take a step closer to him. “We’ve been closer than ever recently. And now that you’re out, it’s harder to keep doing what we’ve been doing without it coming across as… romantic.” He raises his hands and frantically shakes them, heart racing. “And I’m not saying that just because you’re gay that means that you would have feelings for me, in fact, I know it’s the opposite. But it would be hard to explain that to other people or me, so I’m okay to take a step back. Go back to the way we were before. I wouldn’t want us to confuse Chris or anything.”

During Buck’s whole rant, Eddie grows increasingly more and more serious. By the time Buck is finished, Eddie’s face is carefully blank except for the way his mouth is slightly agape. He takes a deep breath and says, “Evan Buckley, I will never understand the way your brain works. First, Maddie and I, now this?”

Buck feels like he should be a little offended. “I don’t understand.”

Eddie ducks his head and mutters, “Dios.” He glances up at Buck slowly and takes a few steps past the doorway into the dining area. “Bobby said that he wasn’t surprised that you had jumped to such extreme conclusions about me and Maddie. Talked about your fear of abandonment, general impulsivity, and need to fix things. That all combined with the fact that your heart is infuriatingly big and the driving factor behind your decisions leads to things like this happening. And Athena…”

“What did she say?” Buck jumps to ask.

“Buck’s gonna Buck,” Eddie breathes out with a laugh.

Buck feels a shift, but he tries not to let himself think too hard.

It doesn’t work because he immediately goes to a state of slight panic, thinking about the people he loves talking about him behind his back. Except, it’s not entirely a bad thing necessarily since Eddie’s telling him exactly what they said, and it doesn’t sound bad, but–

Before he knows it, Eddie’s right in front of him, hand resting on his shoulder, thumb right above his collarbone.

Buck’s vision comes back into focus, and he takes in the concern in Eddie’s brown eyes. “Buck, I need you to listen very carefully. I wouldn’t hold hands with my other friends when I’m falling asleep, I wouldn’t do something like wake up spooning Hen and beg her to stay a few more minutes, and I wouldn’t prepare a candlelit dinner for Chimney.”

Buck snorts. “Yeah, because they’re not your best friend.”

“Oh my fucking god,” Eddie says, cupping Buck’s head with both hands. “Buck, I can’t believe I’m going to have to spell it out to you.”

The phrasing hits Buck very suddenly, envisioning the open crack of the bathroom door, he’s reminded of the reason he’s here now.

I can’t believe I’m in love with a Buckley.

And if it’s not Maddie, and Eddie’s gay, then… Well, he can’t imagine Phillip Buckley would be all that appealing. Which can only mean…

Buck takes a sudden step back and stares at Eddie, eyes wide and searching.

Eddie’s cheeks are pink.

The way they are around Maddie.

The way they are around Maddie because Eddie’s been talking about him. Just like the server told him.

 “I need to sit down,” he announces before flopping down on the couch.

Eddie, his best friend, is gay. And in love with him.

He tries to go back over everything he’s managed to overlook, and, yeah, maybe the whole bed sharing and cuddling in the morning should’ve been the first sign. And then the almost kiss. And… “Eddie, were you trying to seduce me when you were washing my car?”

Buck doesn’t think it’s possible, but Eddie manages to turn a little redder. “I-I mean. I wouldn’t say that.”

“You totally did,” Buck says, smile growing on his face. His best friend, the one who was flirting with him when he was drunk, and Buck managed to overlook the whole thing with the damn condoms and Eddie wanting to help him undress after promising to be quiet. Buck’s cheeks turn a similar shade of red.

He frowns suddenly and holds out his hand. “Phone.”

Eddie rolls his eyes but gets it out of his pocket, handing it over.

Buck easily unlocks it and opens his and Maddie’s messages, scrolling past the big apology Maddie sent on behalf of Buck for his behavior today, and goes all the way up to the message from Maddie thanking Eddie for telling her something.

He scrolls up only two messages sooner and sees it. Maddie had sent a photo of Buck in the midst of his rant about how he’s not in love with his straight best friend who is a renter, and Eddie had gotten back to her a few hours later.

m so in lovwith him it hruts

???

call me!!!

He turns off the phone and puts it on the coffee table.

A single scroll up, and Buck would’ve known.

Actually, it’s entirely possible he would’ve come up with some excuse to convince himself that message was in no way about him.

“Not the best way for me to have come out for the first time, especially since we’d only talked a few times, but…” Eddie shrugs. When Buck looks at him inquisitively, Eddie explains, “Like we said, we talked a bit when I moved to Texas. She helped with some renovations and answered questions about how you were doing. The deepest talk we had was about my PTSD and her own trauma surrounding the kidnapping.” He gestures toward his phone. “But that was what really got us talking, which was why I didn’t know how to tell you we were close. What was I supposed to say? I drunkenly confessed my love for you to your sister and cried about it to her for hours, and even when I’m sober, I can’t shut up about you, and she was the only person I felt like I could go to?”

It's… a lot. And Buck’s not entirely sure he’s not dreaming or in yet another weird coma dream. So, he asks, “Can you hold my hand?”

Eddie nods and nearly closes the distance between them as he sits next to him on the couch, offering his hand, palm up to Buck in the space between them. Buck takes it quickly, noticing the tremor in his best friend’s hand. He looks up at him, seeing Eddie’s own panic taking over him. But Buck has to be absolutely sure, “You’re in love with me?”

Eddie squeezes his hand, running a thumb over the back of his hand. “Yes, Evan, I’m…” he trails off and scrunches his nose up. “God, is it weird to call you that after…” he makes a vague gesture, spinning his pointer finger around.

“Tommy?” Buck guesses.

Eddie groans, “Please, don’t bring up the ex who you slept with in my house.”

Buck laughs, getting a little cocky as he asks, “Are you jealous?”

“Yes, I’m jealous because I’m in love with you.”

Buck already knew this. He did. He just found out with enough evidence that it’s honestly nearly impossible to dispute.

But hearing the words out of Eddie’s mouth is the final piece of confirmation that he needs.

Eddie’s in love with him.

He sits with it for another moment, but his mind is stuck on one thing. Buck can’t help but ask, “Is that why you threw my mattress out?”

“Yes,” Eddie answers immediately. “You’re lucky I didn’t burn the whole house down.”

Buck laughs, relaxing for the first time that day when Eddie laughs as well, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he drops his head on the back of the couch, his canines on full display, so beautiful.

“I love you,” Buck says suddenly.

Eddie’s laughter dies, but the joy on his face grows. “Yeah?”

Buck nods.

“I had a feeling.”

Buck laughs and knocks his shoulder against him. “Shut up.”

“You shut up.”

“Make me,” Buck says, voice low. He takes a pointer from his Buck 1.0 days and licks his lips to draw Eddie’s eyes to them.

He’s fully expecting Eddie to laugh at the cheesy line, but he seems transfixed by him, eyes lingering on his lips before darting to his eyes, looking over his face as if seeing him for the first time. “Okay,” he whispers, as he lets go of Buck’s hand to drape it over the couch behind Buck, shifting closer. His other hand comes up to cup Buck’s face gently, thumb tracing over the stubble there, and Buck mirrors him only for Eddie’s hand to slowly trace down his neck and cling to his shoulder.

His thumb slots into the spot reserved on Buck just for him, and he finally pulls him in.

Their lips brush together gently before slotting together in a chaste first kiss.

When Buck secretly pictured this moment – before scolding himself for letting himself think that way about his straight best friend – he always imagined it would be something wildly intense and devouring. They had never really done anything in the right order before, so he hadn’t expected their first kiss to feel like a first kiss.

Except, this kiss feels less like a question of what’s to come but instead a confirmation that this is it – each other’s last.

Buck pulls away from the soft kiss first, letting Eddie take the time he needs to fully process this very-

And he’s kissing him again.

Buck’s positively overwhelmed with the fact that Eddie Diaz knows how to kiss, and Buck’s not sure if he’s ever had someone make his toes literally curl from a kiss and steal his breath. He manages a breath when he opens his mouth, which Eddie takes as an invitation to deepen the kiss, and Buck thinks this has to be a coma dream or he’s died and gone to heaven.

He groans when Eddie shifts on the couch and straddles him. Only breaking away for a second to grunt, “Fuck, I’m so gay,” before kissing Buck again.

When Buck has to come up for air, Eddie presses their foreheads together and whispers, “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Buck whispers, out of breath.

Eddie pulls back suddenly and reaches behind him, patting at the coffee table, and nearly losing his balance, making Buck steady him as he finally gets what he was looking for. He holds his phone up triumphantly. “I’ve got to tell Maddie about this.”

Buck groans and throws his head back against the couch. “If this is what you two being friends is going to be like, I’m still not going to like it.”

“You don’t want me to be close to my future sister-in-law?”

The question makes Buck's heart hammer in his chest. “You proposing to me, Diaz?”

Eddie glares at the last name but turns an interesting shade of pink.

Buck sits up a little straighter, bringing them closer together.

“Chris has the ring in his room, and I may have gotten Bobby’s blessing today.”

“Yes,” Buck says immediately.

Eddie throws his head back with a laugh. “Buck, I haven’t even asked. Plus, Hen, Karen, and Maddie wanted to help plan something big that was going to be perfect with everyone-”

“I don’t care,” Buck insists. “So, unless you want me to ask first, you have to ask right now.”

Eddie raises his eyebrows and crosses his arms, which looks a little funny considering he’s still on top of him. “You want me to explain to Chris that he missed our proposal because you were impatient?”

Buck pouts, especially when Eddie climbs off him.

But then Eddie drops to a knee in front of the couch, and Buck’s heart skips a beat. He takes Buck’s hands and tries and fails not to let his amusement bleed into his exasperation. “Evan Buckley, will you please wait to say yes to my proposal?”

Buck laughs and cradles his head in his hands. “Yes, but only for Chris.” He joins Eddie on his knees to kiss him, but Eddie ends up complaining about them being too old to be kneeling on the hardwood floor.

They stay there for a little while longer anyway.

-:-:-:-:-:-

“So, Buck thought you were having an affair with his sister, but, really, you were just sneaking around with her to talk about how much you were in love with Buck. Then, after he found out that wasn’t what was happening and you came out, he thought you didn’t want to be with him, although you two were sharing a bed and doing everything married couples do. But as soon as he realized you had feelings for him, you two kissed, and then Buck begged you to propose immediately?”

“Yeah, that sounds right,” Eddie replies with a big smile, watching as Buck chats with a slightly ill looking Maddie.

Ravi shakes his head. “So, why did you two break up in the first place?”

Eddie frowns and finally looks at him. “What?”

“Oh, sorry, is that a touchy subject?”

Eddie shakes his head. “No, we never broke up.”

Ravi tilts his head. “So, Buck thought you were cheating on him and suddenly fell out of love with him? Wait, I thought he dated that Tommy guy. Oh, are you in an open relationship?”

“No, Buck and I only started dating recently, monogamously.”

Ravi stares at him like he’s grown a second head. He walks away muttering something about, “I will never understand the whole Buck and Eddie thing…”

Eddie doesn’t blame him, honestly, because sometimes he barely gets it either. He wouldn’t change it for the world, though.

He makes eye contact with Maddie and winks at her. She winces slightly but winks back at him.

Now’s the time.

He looks around Bobby and Athena’s backyard, making sure everyone is there as he pats the inside pocket of his jacket where the small box is sitting. He waits for Maddie to stand up and lead Buck to the middle of the yard, where everyone can see them.

As soon as she stands and carefully guides Buck toward him, Eddie’s heart hammers in his chest. He glances Chris’s way and sees him trying to hide his huge, suspicious grin, but he gives up to give his dad a thumbs up.

There’s a loud gasp behind him and the sound of water hitting the ground, and Eddie’s head whips around, watching as a puddle collects under Maddie’s feet.

Eddie completely throws away his plans as he races over and grabs her hand. “You were having contractions this whole time?”

“I didn’t want to ruin the moment,” Maddie whispers back.

“Whatever moment that is, it can wait until after we get you to the hospital,” Buck says, oblivious as ever.

“No!” Maddie practically yells, getting everyone’s attention in quite a different way than was planned. “Edmundo Diaz, you better get on one knee right now.”

Eddie does just that, digging into his pocket as gracelessly as possible, but Buck doesn’t care based on the way his eyes are already wet.

“Evan Buckley, the first day I met you was… a lot. You immediately hated me, but I knew I would do just about anything to change that. And I did.” He gets a laugh from Buck and a slight groan from Maddie. “We promised that we would always have each other’s backs, and, somehow, through everything, we’ve kept that promise.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Eddie can see Chimney’s about ready to throw Maddie over his shoulder and run her out of there.

“This also means having our family’s backs, which means speeding this up so we can get Maddie to the hospital. But, Buck, I love you, and I will make up for all of this in our vows.” He takes a deep breath and smiles. “But first, I have to ask, will you marry me?”

Buck nods, a few tears streaming down his face, beautiful as ever. “Yes.”

Their family cheers around them as Buck kisses him quickly, slides on the ring, and pulls Eddie to his feet. He turns to his family and announces, “Let’s get Maddie to the hospital! Chris, you’re with us!”

On the way out, Maddie asks Buck and Chimney if they’re okay with Eddie driving her. They both share a look, and Maddie teases, “You two can have a fun Bro Day moment with Chris.”

Buck looks like he would rather get struck by lightning, but Chimney nods and turns to Eddie. “You better take care of my wife,” Chimney says tensely before kissing Maddie. “I’ll see you at the hospital, where I will immediately be stealing you back.”

Buck tosses Eddie the keys to the Jeep and winks. “I’ll see you later, fiancé.”

A very red Eddie quickly gets Maddie in the car and drives carefully to the hospital.

She reaches over and squeezes his knee. “I’m so proud of you.”

The words tug at his heart, and Eddie sniffs a bit as tears sting his eyes again. “Again, thank you for sending me that picture and being there to listen to me pine after your brother. I’m sure it was painful to witness.”

“A little,” Maddie jokes with a giggle. “But it was worth it. Even the part when Buck thought we were in love.”

Eddie laughs loudly and squeezes her hand. “I do love you, entirely platonically though.”

“I love you entirely platonically, too.”

A comfortable silence settles between them until Maddie’s next contraction, which Eddie tries to distract her from by asking, “So, why exactly were magnets banned in your house growing up?”

“Maybe we should save that for our next brunch when I’m not about to have a baby in your car.”

“Right,” Eddie says, luckily approaching the hospital, spotting where Chimney is pacing back and forth around the front entrance with Buck and Chris, who are trying their best to calm him down.

When Maddie gets out of the car, she calls out, “I love you!”

 “I love you, too!” Eddie yells back.

Buck turns back to him, jaw dropped as he gestures to where she’s walking off.

Eddie rolls his eyes. “I’m going to find parking.”

“Uh, I’ll go with you,” Buck says.

Chris smiles. “I’ll be in the waiting room, Dads.”

Eddie watches Buck try not to vibrate out of his skin at the comment as he kisses Chris on the head. “We’ll see you soon.”

Buck climbs into the passenger seat, and as soon as Eddie has pulled away, he jokes, “Should I be concerned that you’re confessing your love for my sister right before she has her baby?”

“Is this going to be a thing every time we interact?”

Buck leans across the center console and drops his voice. “I mean, there’s definitely a way to prove me wrong, and part of the solution is right under my seat.”

“Buck!”

“What? It can take a while to have a baby.”

Eddie parks and turns to him. “We are not going to miss the birth of our nephew because you wanted to get it on in the parking lot.”

Buck frowns. “Not even a little makeout session… with my fiancé?”

The words almost have Eddie convinced until Bobby and Athena pull up next to them.

“Sorry, future husband, maybe next time.”

Buck perks up. “Future husband…” he trails off, getting all teary-eyed.

“Future husband,” Eddie says again, leaning across to kiss him one time.

There’s a loud knock on their window, and they look up to find Hen looking at them, unimpressed. “Your sister is having a baby, let’s go.”

They both get out of the car, making their way to the waiting room, hand in hand.

Buck leans in, “What about the supply closet?”

“I swear to god, Buck…”

“It’s actually ‘Future Husband’ to you.”

Eddie glances at him, thumb tracing over the ring as he smiles at his fiancé. “It sure is.”

The two of them settle into the uncomfortable seats, Eddie pulling out his phone to pass the time. He grabs Buck's hand when he sees his knee bouncing.

He can feel Buck watching him out of the corner of his eye, so he pulls up his contact, staring at the contact picture that brought them here before editing the name to “Buck (Future Husband).”

Buck squeezes his hand.

Eddie goes to Maddie’s contact and changes the name to “Maddie (Secret Lover).”

Buck shoves him lightly, rolling his eyes and moving to pull their hands away.

Eddie only holds on tighter, bringing their hands to his mouth to kiss the back of Buck’s.

His phone buzzes, and they both glance at the message from Maddie.

(M) brunch tuesday at my place with your fiancé? 😉

“Isn’t she supposed to be having a baby?” Buck asks.

Eddie laughs.

(E) Can’t wait!

(E) Buck will bake whatever you want.

“I’ll do what now?”

Eddie nudges him and stands up. “Come on, we’ve got to get something Maddie left in the car.”

Hen gives them another put-out look, but Karen winks at him and mouths I’ll watch the kids.

For once, Buck knows exactly what’s happening.

As soon as they’re out the front door, he nearly starts skipping. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Eddie says with a laugh.

(E) He thinks we’re having an affair.

(M) eddie!!!

(M) this is why you have to tell him!!!

They are having an affair. Eddie lied to him.

(E) I can’t, Maddie. It’ll ruin everything.

(M) he’ll understand. trust me

(M) i practically raised him

(E) So, that’s what’s wrong with him.

(M) 🙄

So, they’re talking about him as well. That’s why they got so flustered when he brought it up.

He can’t believe Maddie thinks he would understand this.

He scrolls through messages confirming brunch plans and pictures of Jee that Maddie had sent to Buck as well. It all feels like a knife in the back.

His eyes land on a message that makes his stomach turn.

(E) I think he’s onto me.

(M) well, you’re not exactly subtle

(M) especially with those big cow eyes 👁 ️👁️

(M) everyone can see the yearning a million miles away

(M) everyone except my baby brother apparently

(M) and chimney thank god

(E) …Cow eyes?

So, Maddie does know. Eddie must have confessed his feelings sometime before her birthday. But when?

He scrolls in frustration, trying to piece together the rest of the pieces when he finds something else.

(E) Fuck. Chris told us to share the bed

(M) LMAO 🤣🤣🤣

(E) This isn’t funny, Maddie. I can’t do this.

(M) …it’s a little funny

(M) but you CAN do this

(M) unless you have something against snoring

(E) It’s not the snoring.

(M) trust me. i know.

(E) Oh god. I did something stupid.

(M) FINALLY????

(E) I gave him a massage.

(E) And now I’m stuck in the bathroom.

(E) This is torture.

(E) Do you think he’d notice if I took a cold shower?

(M) 🤢

(M) remember i’m also technically a buckley

(E) Sorry.

(E) Wait. Would I have to be a Buckley-Diaz?

(E) And share a last name with Margaret Buckley??

(M) join the curse eds

(M) it will be worth it 😉

I can’t believe I’m in love with a Buckley replays in Buck, a constant haunting echo. This must've been the moment that sparked the confession.

God, they were already flirting back then?

And this whole time, Buck thought Eddie enjoyed sharing a bed with him. But apparently, it’s been torture, just like the damn massage.

No wonder he fled the room so fast.

Despite the very big possibility that he’ll actually be sick, Buck keeps scrolling.

(M) you should tell him

(E) I have to tell Chris first.

(E) Which means telling my family.

(E) Which isn’t an option.

(M) one step at a time

(M) chris will understand

Buck’s eyes bug out at the message. At this point, Eddie was still in Texas. How in the world did Maddie think Chris would understand their affair after everything with Kim?

(E) I don’t know. He’s probably going to be confused.

(E) And I’m not sure if I’m ready to explain the whole Shannon thing.

(M) no one is pressuring you if you’re not ready

(E) Says the person who five minutes ago said, “you should tell him.”

(M) ha ha. 😒

Not even Maddie pressured him when he wasn’t ready.

Which definitely is not the point of this. But maybe Buck should be a better friend… Except, how can he after this?

Is he supposed to pretend to be happy for them? Sit back and watch as they live out their happily ever after with Chris, Jee, and the new baby.

What about Chimney?

Hen won’t stand for that.

Buck’s heart leaps when he catches another message.

(M) thank you for telling me ❤ ️ even if you were several shots deep

(M) drink lots of water

(M) AND DON’T TEXT OR CALL HIM YET

So, this has to be when it happened. A drunken phone call from Eddie spewing to Maddie that he’s in love with her. And Maddie had the decency to tell Eddie not to tell Buck while he was still drunk.

Buck checks the date and freezes.

It can’t be.

It is.

It’s the day Maddie asked Buck if he was in love with Eddie.

Fuck, she must’ve asked so she could get the all clear! And Buck had to insist that he couldn’t be in love with his straight best friend.

Because he couldn’t be. He still can’t be.

He’s not allowed to be because that isn’t fair to him or Eddie. They need each other. They’ve needed each other since before they even knew it. Far before they met, they were destined to find one another.

Or maybe Eddie was destined to find him so he could find Maddie. Which means he doesn’t need Buck anymore.

Eddie groans in his sleep and turns over. Buck panics and turns off the phone, tossing it on the side table. He cringes when it loudly thuds.

Eddie doesn’t open his eyes, but he reaches out to him, hand patting the space between them, searching for something.

Buck tries to remain out of reach, but when Eddie frowns and breathes out a panicky, “Buck?” He can’t help but grab his hand, running a soothing thumb over his smooth skin.

“I’m here,” Buck whispers back shakily. He’s here, but for how long?

They’re supposed to have each other’s backs. That’s the promise they made to each other.

But Eddie seeing Buck’s married, pregnant sister behind his back? That doesn’t exactly feel like having his back.

Not only that, but they have a no lying rule in their house that Eddie has violated several times now. This isn’t something that just affects Buck. This is something that could be detrimental to Chris.

Buck glances over at his best friend, who looks beautiful as ever snoring away into his pillow with the smallest smile on his face.

He promised himself he wouldn’t intervene.

But as Eddie’s best friend and Maddie’s brother, he has to. This is about saving Eddie’s relationship with Chris, who always comes first. And this is about preventing Maddie from destroying the greatest family she’s ever had.

Without any hesitation, Buck grabs his own phone and sends a quick text off to Chimney.

(B) lunch tomorrow? my treat!

He nearly asked about brunch, but he made a promise to Chris that he would make pancakes in the morning. And he’s going to honor every promise he makes to this family, spoken or unspoken.

-:-:-:-:-:-

For the first time since sharing the bed, Buck wakes up on his side alone.

He squints and looks around, patting the nightstand for his phone so he can check the time.

He picks it up and finds a text from Chimney.

(C) Ur paying??? What did you do?

(C) I’ll let Maddie know

Everything from the night before comes flooding back, and Buck can’t help but send a panicked response.

(B) NOT WITH MADDIE

He cringes at the alarm bells that will go off in Chim’s head from that response and tries to fix it.

(B) i was thinking it’s been a while since we hung out just the two of us!

(C) Awwwww

(C) What did u do.

(B) nothing!!!

(B) can’t a guy take his brother in law out without an ulterior motive??

(C) 2 words buckaroo

(C) Basketball. Beard.

It’s a fair point. But Buck needs this to happen.

(B) please 🥺

(C) I would never turn down free food

(C) Let me know when and where

Buck answers with a time around noon and the location of Eddie and Maddie’s brunch spot as he gets out of bed. He needs to get the pancakes started before Chris gets up, and he probably needs to find Eddie.

Luckily for him, the solution to both those things is in the kitchen.

Buck can feel the fondness creeping up his chest as he stares at a hungover Eddie cradling a cup of coffee, leaning back against the counter. His eyes are closed, head tilted back against the cabinet. With the slow, even rise and fall of his chest, Buck wonders if he’s managed to fall asleep.

As he takes another step forward, the floorboard creaks, and Eddie squints a single eye open.

“Morning,” Buck says as gently as he can, but Eddie still winces.

He’s slightly grateful that Eddie will be out of it today, so he won’t notice if Buck is acting weird.

“You’re acting weird.”

Scratch that.

Buck frowns. “I’m not acting weird. You’re acting weird.”

“Says the guy who is looking at me like I killed your pet gerbil.”

“Pet gerbil?”

“Not the point,” Eddie groans, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“I’m just…” trying not to freak out about the fact you’re having an affair with my sister, “weirded out by the fact you’re up before me.” Good save.

The response seems to appease Eddie. He closes his eyes again and tilts his head toward the coffee maker. “I made you a cup.”

Next to the Hildy Buck’s shocked Eddie used, there’s a pale blue mug with a yellow bee on it that Eddie had gifted Buck after the whole beenado thing. He had insisted that the store was selling bee themed items for half off, so he just happened to grab it. But when Buck went to check, he found nothing on sale.

Damnit. The bee mug was probably for Maddie. Or did Eddie’s crush only start after moving to Texas?

“It’s not like I poisoned it,” Eddie comments, eyes still closed.

Buck jumps a little and takes the mug, eyeing it because maybe Eddie knows that he knows about the affair. Maybe that’s why he got up so early and made this for him.

Then again, killing Maddie’s brother probably wouldn’t be the best way to keep her affection.

Buck hesitantly sips at the hot liquid, sighing when he tastes the coffee made just the way he likes it.

“No poison?” Eddie teases.

“No poison,” Buck confirms, turning away to grab milk and eggs out of the fridge. “Hey, I’m about to make pancakes, so you might want to head back to the room or something. I’ll probably be loud.” He's not sure if there's ever been a time when he's made pancake making a loud task, but he can make it so.

Eddie doesn’t say anything, and Buck’s too focused on pretending everything is fine to notice what’s going on with him.

“Oh,” Eddie says, sounding a little hurt. “Yeah, I’ll get out of your way.”

And yeah, when he sadly walks out of the room, Buck definitely feels a little guilty. But he’s not sure what else to do!

Ultimately, he ends up fixing a plate of very greasy bacon with eggs and brings it to their room, where Eddie is typing away at his phone. Buck nearly drops the plate at the sight, but he manages to put it on the side table before he can ruin the small meal. “I hope this helps more than pancakes. Feel better,” Buck says awkwardly before fleeing the room.

He’s not sure if he made things better or worse.

When Chris gets up, Buck is grateful to have the buffer and instantly tries to engage him in a lively conversation the half-asleep teen is not having while he’s trying to get ready.

But by the time Eddie joins them at the table, Chris is settled in, feasting on a small stack of pancakes, and Buck is able to appropriately divert his attention away from Eddie.

At some point, Eddie’s hand settles over Buck’s knee, which he didn’t realize was bouncing up and down incessantly.

Buck can feel the way Eddie’s concerned gaze is burning into the side of his face, but he continues to listen intently to Chris complain about his history teacher. Or maybe it’s his math teacher. Maybe it’s about a student. He can’t exactly think with the hand on his knee, but it’s still not enough to entirely drown out his thoughts.

They ride to school soon after, and Buck tries as hard as he can to keep things entirely normal in front of Chris. But as soon as they drop him off, Eddie asks, “What’s going on?”

“I’m going out to lunch with Chimney,” Buck blurts out, hoping it counts as a somewhat truthful answer.

Eddie raises an eyebrow at him. “And you’re feeling guilty about it or something?”

“Yeah,” Buck answers. Or something. He settles into his seat a little more, hoping Eddie will drop it.

“Is this about last night? Because I’ll be completely honest, Buck, I have bits and pieces and I know I was…” he takes a deep breath and considers his words carefully, “touchy.”

Buck shakes his head. “No, you were fine.” Other than telling my sister that you love her, even though that’s apparently normal for her.

“Good,” Eddie says with a nod, ending the conversation.

Buck nearly sighs in relief.

When they get back to the house, he takes as long as he can getting ready for lunch. By the end, he’s shaved, put on cologne, filed his nails, and kicked Eddie out of the room to try on at least five different outfits.

There’s nothing else he can really do, so he just stands and stares at himself in his full-length mirror.

Eddie interrupts his staring by softly knocking on the door. “You dressed?”

No lying in the Buckley-Diaz house. “Uh, yeah.”

The door opens, and Buck watches in the reflection as Eddie comes up behind him, smoothing his collar in the back before running his hands over his shoulders and down his arms. Eddie makes eye contact with him in the mirror and smiles. “You look nice. All of this is for Chimney?”

“I can’t get dressed up for my brother-in-law?”

Eddie squints at him, and his smile drops. He takes a small step back and asks, “Are you… going on a date?”

Buck turns around with wide eyes. “With Chimney?”

“No,” Eddie scoffs, “With someone who isn’t Chimney.”

Honestly, it’s been a while since he’s gone on a date or even thought about it. “Why would I be going on a date?”

Eddie gestures up and down at him. “You’re all shaven and you smell… is that my cologne?”

Buck ducks his head down to sniff at the collar of his shirt. “Shit, I thought this was my date cologne.”

“So, you are going on a date.”

And he sounds so… jealous. Buck can’t really find another word for it. But it makes sense. Buck is allowed to go in public with whoever he wants to date and parade them around. But Eddie and Maddie…

“You didn’t have to lie about the Chimney part,” Eddie says, tension back in his shoulders. “You’re… allowed to date.” It sounds like Buck's anything but allowed to date, with the way it sounds like Eddie would rather be shot than give Buck this weird sort of permission.

Buck reaches out and grabs Eddie’s hands, not sure why he’s trying so hard to reassure him. “I’m not going on a date. I’m meeting Chimney at noon for lunch. I just… felt like taking extra time getting ready today.”

The tension melts off Eddie, and he smiles again. “Well, you look good, Buck. Very… datable.”

The tips of Buck’s ears start burning as he ducks his head shyly.

“Oh, I should see if Maddie is free. We can do lunch instead of brunch this week. There’s this place she’s been dying to try with these huge salads.” By the end of his little gushing session about Maddie, he’s already managed to get his phone out and start typing to her.

It’s a very rude awakening for Buck.

He steps around Eddie and heads to the front door, grabbing his keys and wallet on the way.

“Buck?” Eddie calls out.

“I’m… going to the store.”

“Do you have time before your lunch?” Eddie asks as he peeks his head out of the room, phone still in hand.

Buck opens the door and says, “I’ll make sure not to get anything cold. See you in a bit!” He closes the door before Eddie can even make it to the door.

There goes their no lying rule.

He texts Chimney asking if they can move lunch up an hour or two.

As long as ur still paying

He’ll pay for the entire restaurant if that means he can have this conversation sooner rather than later. He needs this whole thing to end… fast.

-:-:-:-:-:-

“Buck!” Chimney calls out when he sees him outside the restaurant, waiting at the hostess stand. He claps him on the arm. “You smell nice. Hey, isn’t this Eddie and Maddie’s brunch spot?”

“Do you think Maddie’s having an affair?”

To be fair, Buck didn’t mean to blurt it out like that, but it’s been the only thing on his mind all morning.

To his surprise, Chimney just laughs, “Do I think my wonderful, very pregnant wife is having an affair?”

With the worst timing in the world, a waiter appears.

The same waiter from before.

“Table for two, please,” Chimney says for Buck, who can’t do anything other than stare at his friend morbidly.

“Right this way,” the waiter, Leo, according to the nametag, leads them to a spot outside.

The exact same spot where Buck crashed Eddie and Maddie’s brunch date.

This is like one big cosmic joke.

They take a seat, and the waiter leaves them with two menus.

Buck doesn't waste any time getting back into it. “Chim- no, Howard. I saw the texts.”

Chimney laughs and unfolds his menu. “What texts?”

“The texts between Maddie and Eddie.”

The menu drops as fast as Chimney’s smile.

He takes a few deep breaths as the truth washes over him. “So, those weren’t platonic brunch dates. I should’ve seen this coming!” Chimney runs a hand through his hair and sighs, “I mean, who can compete with Eddie?”

Buck perks up and points at him. “That’s what Tommy said!”

“What?”

Buck shakes his head. “Nothing. But, you’re right, we should’ve seen this coming.”

The waiter comes back to take their drink order, lingering for longer than Buck would like as he eyes the two of them unsubtly.

As soon as he’s gone, Chimney puts his head in his hands. “Hot people should not meet other hot people.” He leans back in his chair and stares off. “I can’t tell if I’m angry or jealous. I think I’m both. God, I’m losing it.”

“Tell me about it,” Buck replies, not fully hearing him. Once it sinks in, he leans across the table. “Wait, what do you mean by jealous?”

“Have you seen Eddie? I don’t even blame Maddie.” He pauses before shaking his head. “Wait, what am I saying? She and I have a kid together. Two of them! And we’re happy. At least, I thought we were.” He picks at the tablecloth and quietly says, “But maybe I’ve been treating her like she’s one step away from breaking. Especially after the whole… kidnapping thing. God, and Eddie was really there for her then, and maybe I wasn’t enough. Maybe I'm still not. Shit, maybe she deserves him.”

“Wait, you think Eddie is hot?”

Chimney looks up at him in disbelief. “Aren’t you supposed to be telling me that Maddie loves me, and my marriage isn’t actually falling apart?”

“I don’t know. That sounds like a Hen conversation.”

Chimney sits up suddenly. “We should ask Hen! She has experience with this stuff.” Buck nearly agrees, but Chimney deflates quickly. “But she and Karen are in a really great place right now, and they don’t need us to bring up that point in their lives.”

Buck leans forward and drops his voice. “Do you think we could get Athena to tail them?”

Chimney shakes his head. “Not after defying the government and FBI. Hen said they’ve been keeping a close eye on her recently. Plus, I don’t want Bobby to give me those sad, pitying looks.”

With truly horrible timing, as always, the waiter manages to appear out of thin air and ask, “Are you two ready to order?”

They both shake their heads, and Leo disappears quickly, probably sensing that his tip might be decreasing the more he sticks his nose in their business. Buck would feel kind of bad, though. It’s not his fault that he’s witnessing the downfall of Buck’s life.

“So, what should we do?” Chimney asks.

Buck taps his fingers on the table. “Order food and see what we come up with. Maybe an intervention?”

“Or we can storm in on them right now and confront them.” The manic glint in Chimney’s eyes makes Buck consider calling Athena as don’t be stupid backup. The glint quickly dies. “No, I can’t when Jee’s with them.”

It’s a great point. No need to get the kids involved. In fact, it would be best if they never knew this happened. “So, we do both. Storm in and confront them with an intervention. But we somehow get Chris and Jee out of the equation.”

“Maybe Hen and Karen will take them for a day,” Chimney says, glancing down at the menu.

Buck scans over the options, trying not to think about what Eddie would get.

The waiter comes back soon after they decide on what they want, and they resume their conversation, making a four-step plan they call “Bro Day” for the upcoming Saturday. It’s five days away, but the only time they’re all off shift. In the meantime, they will do anything they can to prevent Eddie and Maddie from somehow seeing each other.

After they finalize their plans and Buck pays for their lunch, Leo stops them on the way out. He looks at Buck and asks, “Sorry, but are you Buck?”

Buck nods with a frown.

“You’re the one they’re always talking about.”

Chimney wraps an arm around Buck as he deflates. “Yeah, that’s me.” As they walk out, Buck can’t help but say, “See? They’ve been trying so hard to keep this away from me.”

“At least you’ve been mentioned.”

Buck’s heart goes out to Chimney. It really could be worse.

As they go their separate ways, Buck calls out, “We can keep a secret, right? It’s only five days.”

“Yeah! Piece of cake.”

-:-:-:-:-:-

I think Maddie is onto me

Buck stares at the candlelit dinner Eddie has prepared for him and texts Chimney back.

eddie is definitely onto me

Eddie is turning an interesting shade of pink as Buck gapes at him. “I, uh, thought it might be nice to have a night just the two of us. Chris is working on that history final he’s been complaining about with his partner and staying the night.”

It only takes a few minutes before it clicks. This was a dinner meant for Maddie, but he’s Eddie’s second-best option for a Buckley.

Unfortunately, Buck will take whatever he can from him. Especially when Eddie reveals that it’s spaghetti and breadsticks specially made by Bobby.

Eddie goes all out for this dinner. Going as far as pulling out a bottle of wine, leaning over Buck as he pours it, smelling of his good cologne.

God, Maddie would love this date.

They’re three glasses of wine deep when they make it to the couch for a movie. Buck tries not to feel guilty about using Eddie’s obvious projection as a means to temporarily fulfill what he’s always wanted deep down.

Eddie doesn’t hesitate to cuddle up to him on the couch, and Buck lets him.

They get halfway through the movie before they both doze off. Buck ends up waking up enough to pause the movie before going back to sleep.

Eddie nudges him awake later, helping drag him to the bathroom where they brush their teeth side by side. It all feels so beautifully domestic that Buck wishes he could live in this moment forever.

The only thing that could make it better is if Chris were there to groan at the two of them.

When they go to bed, Eddie ends up collapsing nearly on top of him, whispering, “Goodnight, Buck,” into the crook of his neck.

Buck blames the wine.

But after that night, the strangely romantic gestures keep coming.

There are flowers that Eddie gives Buck before their long shift. Hand holding under the table, in the car, and sometimes just because Buck is close by. After their 48-hour shift, Eddie pulls Buck into their bed and drapes himself over him again while they nap. Buck wakes up to a soft kiss being pressed against his cheek before he’s handed coffee perfectly made.

Eddie must miss Maddie.

Or Eddie knows that Buck knows, and he’s trying to distract him.

My god, it’s kind of working.

He notices a text from Chimney.

(C) Two more days

Entirely selfishly and confusingly, Buck wishes they had planned this confrontation for weeks or months from now. He could live in Eddie’s guilt forever if this is how he repaid him.

God, it’s an awful thought to have.

He’s pulled out of it when he hears Eddie snort at the message. “You two are really excited about this ‘Bro Day,’ yet you still haven’t told me what you are doing.”

Buck swallows. “We told you, we’re doing more brother stuff while giving you and Maddie a day to rest and relax away from us.”

Eddie climbs back into bed and nudges Buck’s shoulder. “What if I don’t want you away from me?”

The words successfully tug Buck’s heartstrings. He wonders if he sweet-talks Maddie like this. He ignores the thought and lets himself have this moment. “And what if the feeling is mutual?”

Eddie stares at him for a moment, suddenly looking conflicted. He looks away and lets out a deep breath. “Buck, I need to talk to you.”

The mug nearly slips out of Buck’s hands.

“Uh, when?” Buck tries to subtly ask.

Eddie looks at his watch. They need to pick up Chris soon. “Tomorrow?”

“We work tomorrow.”

“After Chris goes to bed.”

“I’ll need to get some sleep. Bro Day is a big day.”

Eddie smiles fondly at him and shakes his head. “Bro Day is a big day,” he says under his breath, but there’s no animosity in his tone.

“Can it wait until Saturday night?” Buck asks hopefully. He needs Chimney’s support for this particular conversation.

Eddie nods. “Yeah, Buck. It can wait for Saturday.”

Buck tries not to look too relieved. He grabs Eddie’s hand and squeezes it to show his thanks.

If only this perfect bubble between them wasn’t crafted from something so awful.

He doesn't want it to end, but he needs it to.

-:-:-:-:-:-

Bro Day comes faster than Buck would like. And by the time it does, Chris also starts acting weird.

It happened after Eddie had a hushed conversation in Chris’s room with him when he thought Buck was asleep on the couch.

Eddie had emerged concerningly teary-eyed, and ever since, Chris has been giving his dad encouraging looks.

Buck doesn’t really know what that's about because there’s absolutely no way Eddie told Chris.

Then again, Chris does like Maddie, so maybe…

No. Absolutely no way.

But none of that matters. Because today is Bro Day. And Buck needs to be completely in his right mind for this.

Karen and Hen stop by to pick up Chris when Buck is getting ready, and he hears Eddie having some type of hushed conversation with them as well.

It’s like Buck’s living in some alternate universe where Eddie might be telling everyone about his affair, and they’re all just… okay with it?

Since when were Buck and Chimney the only normal people in the 118?

As Buck finishes up tucking his shirt into his pants, Eddie slips into their room, coming up behind Buck and wrapping his arms around him, tucking his head over his shoulder. “So, are you finally going to tell me what you two are doing today that’s made you both act so weird?”

Buck leans back into Eddie, wondering if this is the last time he’ll ever be able to bask in this thing they’ve settled into. “We haven’t been acting weird.”

“Yes, you have.”

Buck checks his phone and curses. He’s running late.

He tries to step out of Eddie’s arms, but Eddie clings harder. “Do you have to go?”

If the plan is to be executed smoothly, he does. So, as a last-ditch attempt to rush away, Buck uses the excuse he and Chimney had come up with. “We have to get to this apartment showing now, so yes.”

When Eddie freezes up, Buck is able to rush away, typing away at Chimney that he’s running out the door.

“I’ll see you later!”

Traffic isn’t too bad, and Buck meets Chimney in a random apartment building parking lot. Just in case Maddie and Eddie are checking their location.

Chimney climbs into the Jeep, a small box of donuts in his hand, which he juggles as he pulls up his phone. “And you’re sure they’re going to meet up today.”

Buck scoffs, “You, me, and the kids out of the house? Of course, they’re going to meet up. I give it thirty minutes tops.”

“Whose house do you think they’ll meet at?”

The question is answered for them when they see Eddie’s location move out of his house.

“Well, that was fast,” Chimney sighs.

“Onto part three of Bro Day: Waiting.”

Chimney frowns. “I thought that was part two.”

“We added donuts later as part one.”

“Right.”

They sit in silence as they watch Eddie’s location slowly approach Maddie’s.

Chimney runs a hand through his hair. “Hear me out. We skip parts one through three and skip to part four.”

Ambush.

“That works for me,” Buck says, already starting his car.

Chimney nods, angrily stuffing a donut into his mouth.

He gets to the house in a matter of minutes, probably violating quite a few traffic laws.

Buck parks his car down the street. “Okay, so no sneaking around like we said. We’ll pretend we forgot something and give them plenty of time to realize we’re there.”

At first, they had planned to sneak in, going as far as creeping in through the back door to catch them off guard.

But considering the recent kidnapping, the fact that Maddie is pregnant, and Eddie is prone to panic attacks… well, it didn’t feel like the greatest move.

“Gentle ambush, here we come,” Chimney announces. He’s the first one out of the car, donuts in hand, but Buck is quick to follow.

They go through the plan of unlocking the door, dropping the keys twice during the process, then pushing the door open slowly, letting the hinges squeak for way too long.

They both pop their heads in, expecting to find the pair on the couch or in the kitchen.

But they’re nowhere to be found.

Buck checks their location. They’re still here. Which means…

He and Chimney exchange fearful looks before they stomp their way into the house. All the way outside the one door that is shut.

The bedroom door.

There’s something muffled playing inside, and Buck almost wonders if they’ve heard them at all.

Chimney takes a deep breath and puts his hand on the doorknob. “You ready, Buckley?”

Buck nods.

Chimney pushes the door open.

It carries over into work a bit. Eddie falters around Buck, tripping over his feet, although he’s one of the least clumsy people Buck’s ever met, and dropping random things ranging from a carrot Buck hands him while prepping dinner to the jaws of life on a scene. Luckily, Buck has his back, so he’s able to scoop the equipment out of his hands before it can hit the ground.

Bobby gives the two of them a concerned look, and on the next scene, he assigns Eddie with Hen.

Buck tries not to act like a kicked puppy, but it’s hard when he doesn't have his partner with him.

“I will never understand how you two never get tired of each other,” Chimney comments as they move to a red car with the left doors crushed in.

Buck frowns. Is that what’s happening? Is Eddie getting tired of him? Without thinking, Buck asks, “Would you get tired of having Maddie around all the time?”

“No,” Chimney replies with a huge grin and no hesitation. “But I think she might lose her mind after a while.”

Buck smiles and glances Eddie’s way. He’s not sure if he could ever get tired of being around Eddie, but maybe he doesn’t feel the same way. He does tend to get under Eddie’s skin in a way not many people can do. But then Buck thinks of the whispered I missed you and his heart flutters.

He frowns when he comes back to reality, taking in the way Eddie is ranting to Hen, too far away to hear a word he’s saying, but by the tension in his shoulders and the furrow in his brow... it looks serious. 

“Buck,” Chimney says.

Right. He’s at work. Not the time for Buck to stare at Eddie.

By the time they triage the patient and get him on a backboard, Buck nearly forgets about all the strangeness surrounding him and Eddie.

That is, until the patient being wheeled into the ambulance by Hen and Eddie points directly at Buck and asks, “Is that him?”

Eddie panics and shoves an oxygen mask in her face, giving Buck a nervous, tight smile before climbing into the back of the ambulance, nearly closing the doors on Hen in his rush.

Buck gives Chimney a look and is partially relieved when Chimney’s mirrored, confused look confirms his suspicions.

That was weird.

Surprisingly, the rest of the shift goes by quickly, and soon enough, they’re back in the locker room getting ready to go home.

Buck is trying not to stare at Eddie, who has yet to look at him. But maybe they don't usually make eye contact when they're changing.

Hen pats Eddie's shoulder on her way out, and Eddie is apparently fine to look at her as she asks, "I'll see you tomorrow night?"

Wait what?

Buck's full body turns to Eddie now that he has an excuse to stare. Eddie's spine straightens.

He looks at Buck out of the corner of his eye tentatively before smiling and nodding at Hen. “Yeah, I’ll see you then.”

Chimney leaves alongside Hen, leaving just Buck and Eddie in the silent room.

Buck waits for an explanation, but Eddie doesn’t give him one. Instead, he finishes lacing up his shoes and asks, “Ready?” leaving before Buck can give him an answer, and still not looking at him.

Buck scrambles to button his pants and hurries off after him. He waits until they get into the Jeep to ask, “So, what was that about?”

“What was what about?”

Buck makes sure Eddie’s buckled in before he drives off. “Your plans with Hen for tomorrow night.”

Eddie sighs, head lolling on the seat as he finally glances toward Buck. “She invited me to her and Karen’s wine night with the other wives. Athena can't make it, so I guess I'm taking her place,” he adds on the last part with a wince as if bracing for backlash from Buck.

And yeah, why wasn’t he also invited? Everyone knows they’re basically a package deal. They’re BuckandEddie.

But Buck is trying to be more supportive and less possessive of Eddie’s time. Secretly, he’s a bit relieved that it isn’t a solo Maddie and Eddie hangout, but he definitely doesn’t say that. Instead, alarm bells ring in his head, and he asks, “Wait, Maddie still does wine night?”

Eddie chuckles, “I asked the same thing.” Of course he did. “She drinks that sparkling grape juice stuff we give to Christopher on New Year’s Eve.”

“Oh.” That makes sense.

Buck can feel Eddie watching him as if he’s a ticking time bomb. But all Buck asks is, “So, do you want me to stay with Christopher while you’re out?”

He knows Eddie is surprised by the way his brown eyes widen as he says, “That… would be great.” His phone dings, and he looks away for a moment. “Actually, if you wanted to, you could bring him to Maddie and Chimney’s, where the rest of the kids will be staying for the night. Maddie says he’ll appreciate the help.”

Buck desperately wants to glance over at Eddie’s phone and read exactly what Maddie said to him when she found out he was going to be there. If she told him she was excited to hear from Hen that he was coming, or if Eddie texted her first, and she replied with a bunch of excited emojis.

He painstakingly keeps his eyes on the road ahead of him, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. “Yeah, that will be nice. Maybe I can ask them to help me bake something.”

Okay, maybe he shouldn’t have brought up his urge to bake because he can see Eddie’s sharp look out of the corner of his eye. “Buck–”

Buck waves a single hand at him. “It’s fine. I’m fine.” To emphasize how fine he is, he turns on the radio, ending the conversation.

It only takes two minutes for Eddie to reach out and turn the volume down. “I was going to get a ride from Maddie, but I was hoping you’d maybe drop me off?”

Buck risks a glance at Eddie when the car comes to a stop. He can see that Eddie’s trying to placate him with the offer.

And it’s unfortunately working.

Buck can never resist those pleading brown eyes.

A car honks behind him, and Buck focuses on the task of driving again, reluctantly drawing his eyes away from Eddie’s. He makes two turns before he answers, “That would be nice.”

Eddie leans forward and turns the music back up. But on the way back, his hand settles on the center console, palm up.

Buck glances at him, finding Eddie giving him a small smile. And what is he supposed to do other than take Eddie’s hand and hold it for the rest of the drive home?

He’s such a good best friend.

-:-:-:-:-:-

Whatever weirdness from the day before disappears on their day off, and Buck’s able to enjoy the mundaneness of a day of running errands with Eddie – not that he can truly call it “mundane” when he’s with Eddie, but that’s beside the point.

“We’re not going somewhere to get your oil changed,” Eddie says as they load the groceries into the back of Buck’s Jeep.

“You’re the one who volunteered to join me on my errands day, which happens to include an oil change and car wash.”

Eddie scoffs, “You’re really telling me you waste your money on those things?”

“You’ve never gotten an oil change?” Buck asks, fully turning to face Eddie.

Eddie rolls his eyes as he tosses the last bag in the back. He crosses his arms as he faces Buck. “Nope.”

“That’s literally not possible.”

“Yes, it is,” Eddie argues, nudging Buck back before he closes the door of the trunk.

“So, you kill all your cars?”

Eddie laughs and makes his way back to the passenger seat. Buck scrambles to get into the driver’s seat to continue the conversation, only to find Eddie digging through his glove box. He doesn’t even give Buck a guilty look when he catches him; if anything, he looks annoyed by the amount of stuff Buck has thrown in there.

“Uh,” Buck manages to get out when Eddie raises an eyebrow and pulls out a handful of ketchup packets. “Did you know someone survived on ketchup packets after getting trapped in their car?”

“I think you told me about that,” Eddie replies, still digging through, biceps flexing in a way that makes Buck feel a little light-headed. He needs to ban him from wearing those in public, they're entirely indecent.

Buck reluctantly pulls his eyes away from Eddie's arms to ask, “So, what are you looking for?”

“Your car manual.”

“Oh, it’s under your seat.”

Eddie gives him a look before reaching down and patting around a bit before he pulls it into his lap. He flips it open, and only then does Buck remember why he knows exactly where it is.

A full strip of condoms falls into Eddie’s lap.

Eddie raises an eyebrow at him, and Buck shrugs. “It’s always good to be prepared.”

“That's why you knew where it was,” Eddie says more so than asks with a sigh as he continues flipping through the manual.

Buck refuses to confirm that and instead asks, “What do you need in there?”

“Not a condom,” Eddie replies snarkily. Buck can feel his face heat up. “Here,” Eddie says, turning the little book toward him, pointing at something in the middle of the page.

It’s the section about oil changes, but specifically what oil he needs for his car.

Eddie starts typing something on his phone and puts it away after finding what he needs. He grabs the manual from Buck, slipping the condoms back in before stashing it beneath the front seat and climbing out of the car.

“Uh, w-where are you going?” Buck asks, opening his own door.

“They’ve got the oil you need in the store.”

The pinch between Buck’s brows deepens.

Eddie waits for him to get whatever it is, and when he doesn’t, he finally explains, “I’m changing your oil.”

Buck can feel his entire body light up as he gets it. “That’s why you’ve never gotten your oil changed.”

Eddie shakes his head and chuckles as he closes his door.

“Wait,” Buck says as he meets Eddie outside the car. “What about the car wash?”

Eddie claps his back and casually says, “I can wash it for you, too.”

And as he walks away, Buck's eyes flicker down to take in the way Eddie's jeans fit him just right. Buck swallows heavily, wondering if this is going to be a huge mistake.

-:-:-:-:-:-

Here’s the thing…

Buck knows Eddie is attractive.

Anyone who has ever laid eyes on him knows that.

But Eddie wearing a different sleeveless shirt worn with time and various grease and oil stains, sweat clinging to that single strand of hair on his forehead as he suds up Buck’s beloved Jeep after changing the oil with practiced ease… It’s sinful.

And Buck doesn’t know if he’s going to survive.

He’s gone inside three times already with various excuses. Bathroom, lemonade, bathroom again. He’s running out of excuses fast. And every time he comes back outside, Eddie manages to look more and more tantalizingly unkempt, and Buck wonders at what point he can excuse himself to take a cold shower.

“You’re sure I can’t help you?” Buck asks as he leans against the side of the house, watching.

“Yeah, man. Can’t risk us both needing to shower and being late to pick up Chris. Your company is great.”

Except Buck’s company isn’t great. They have barely said a word to each other since Eddie finished explaining step by step the oil change process, and it was truly in one ear and out the other for Buck because Eddie had also decided to wear shorts, which is something he never does. So, of course, Buck is going to take the opportunity to memorize every muscle. That's just what best friends do.

Buck risks a glance at his phone to check the time when it sinks in that they need to leave soon. “Hey–” he completely stops breathing when he sees Eddie, turned away from him, bent over to rewet his rag.

When he straightens up, he looks over his shoulder with a small smile. “Did you say something?”

Did he? Was there something he wanted to say to him?

His phone alarm goes off. Shit. “Uh, yeah! We need to pick up Chris. Well… I can pick him up if you don’t mind me taking your car.”

Eddie smiles at him, those sharp canines that drive Buck a little crazy fully on display. “Of course, Buck. What’s mine is yours. I’ll finish up here and jump in the shower.”

Buck nods and heads inside, trying not to get stuck on what’s mine is yours.

He grabs Eddie’s keys quickly and gives him a brief goodbye, trying not to look at him directly, or he’s going to end up staying until he’s done. And not only does he not want to deal with the sarcastic comments from a moody teenage Chris, but he also really doesn’t want to spend any more time thirsting after his straight best friend.

The traffic isn’t bad, and other than something spoken under Chris’s breath after Buck explains why his dad isn’t there, the ride back is lovely. He hasn’t spent too much alone time with Chris since he’s gotten back, and really, although he’s experiencing a bit of fomo about wine night, he’s glad he’s hanging out with Chris and the other kids tonight.

“Hey, Chris, how do you feel about ordering that weird pineapple pizza along with the cheese and pepperoni for tonight?”

“You mean the one my dad hates?”

Buck nods.

“Hell yeah.”

“Language,” Buck tries to say somewhat sternly, but his big smile doesn’t help anything.

“Okay, Dad,” Chris mumbles under his breath again.

Buck tries not to think about why it sounds so right the entire ride home.

-:-:-:-:-:-

It’s not long until Chris and Buck are back in the car, dropping a freshly showered Eddie off.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t!” Buck calls out.

“That’s not exactly a long list, Buck,” Eddie replies, getting a laugh out of Chris. He gets out of the car and turns back to say, “You take care of him, okay?”

“I will,” Chris and Buck both reply at the same time.

Eddie gives Buck a wink and a wave goodbye. Buck watches until he gets into the house, getting a big hug from Karen before he’s pulled inside. Even after, he waits a few moments, already missing him.

“Pizza?” Chris asks.

Buck reaches back to give him a fist bump. “Pizza.”

The rest of the night goes by faster than Buck wants it to. They have a heated discussion about pineapple on pizza, choosing either “Eddie’s right” or “Buck’s right.” But only Chimney chooses “Chimney’s right” about pineapple only pairing well with anchovies. Which then dissolves into a discussion about the history of anchovies, and the next time they can all go to the aquarium.

Buck gets some help with his chocolate chip cookies in between rounds of Super Smash Bros, but the kids are mainly distracted by how comedically bad Chimney is at the game.

When the cookies are done, they all vote on watching Finding Nemo after their lively fish discussion – and at the insistence of Jee, who no one can truly argue with. By the time the movie is done, Buck and Chimney very regrettably have to inform the kids that it’s still a school night, which means bedtime and time for Buck and Chris to head home.

After many hugs and with a small container of baked goods in hand, Buck heads out the door, checking his phone for the hundredth time for a text from Eddie, but… apparently, they take their wine night seriously.

When they get back home, Buck nearly gets bribed into watching the first episode of some show Chris started in Texas, but Buck talks him out of it when he thinks of the look of betrayal from Eddie when he finds out they started without him.

So, with the promise of pancakes in the morning, Buck wishes Chris goodnight and stares at his phone.

An hour later, it pings with a text from Eddie.

readyyyyyy ❤️❤️❤️

Buck raises his eyebrows. That’s… interesting. He sends a quick response that he’s on his way before rushing to the car.

The drive over is boring and uneventful on his own, but as soon as he parks in front of the house, he can sense that's about to change.

The Wilson house door swings open when Buck is halfway down the yard.

“Buck!” Eddie calls out. He takes a few unsteady steps forward until Maddie appears behind him and wraps an arm around his waist to steady him.

Buck picks up his pace until he’s right in front of Eddie smiling at him like he’s the greatest thing he’s ever seen. “Hi.”

“Hi,” Eddie says back with a damn giggle before he stumbles into Buck’s arms.

Maddie gives him a knowing look when Buck tucks his head over Eddie’s shoulder. Buck furrows his brows at her and glances toward the closed door behind her. “Where are Hen and Karen?”

Before she can answer, Eddie cuts in, “Hen put Karen to bed before bad things could happen out here.”

“Okay,” Maddie says with a pat to Eddie’s back, eyes wide, “Let’s get you home.”

Eddie holds onto Buck a little tighter. “Wanna stay here.”

Buck’s heart melts a little.

“I’m sure Buck will let you hug him for as long as you want when you two get home,” Maddie says.

Buck gives her a look.

Maddie gives him one back.

“Maddie,” Eddie says, pulling away from Buck, “Have I ever told you how much I love you?”

Buck freezes while Maddie laughs. It’s like time slows down as Buck watches Eddie turn to Maddie, eyes lighting up before he takes a swaying step forward, bending down to plant a firm kiss against Maddie’s temple.

And then there’s the way that Maddie laughs, carefree, so full of joy that her smile is nearly blinding.

“I love you, too, Eddie,” Maddie says so sincerely that Buck feels like she’s plunged a knife straight through his heart. “Now let’s get you to the car.”

Buck takes Eddie’s right side, and Maddie takes the left as they make their way to the Jeep.

When they get Eddie inside, Maddie gives Buck a brief hug, laughing as Eddie pouts at them through the window. “We should do that dinner with you two soon? Double date?”

“Very funny,” Buck manages to get out, trying to sound appropriately put off, but it comes out all strangled and wrong.

Maddie stares at him. “What’s wrong?”

Buck shakes his head. “Uh, nothing. Just didn’t sleep much last night.”

He knows that she sees right through the lie, but she doesn’t push. “Okay, but… You know you can always talk to me, right?”

“Yeah,” he lies again. “Oh, Jee helped me make some cookies. There should be some left for you.”

Maddie squeezes his arm, eyes soft as she says, “I love you, too.”

Despite everything, Buck can’t help but smile at his sister. “Goodnight, Maddie.”

“Goodnight, Evan. Good luck with him.”

Buck glances back at the window where Eddie is drawing a heart in the condensation on the glass. How much wine did he drink?

When Buck gets into the car, Eddie asks, “Have I ever told you how amazing your sister is?”

This is going to be a long drive home.

“Uh, yeah. I may have overheard a thing or two,” Buck confesses.

Eddie drunkenly hums, head lolling to the side when he looks at Buck. “Have I ever told you how amazing you are?”

Buck laughs as he drives off. “No, I don’t think you have.”

“Couldn’t shut up about you tonight. Karen made a rule that anytime I brought you up, we would take a drink,” Eddie laughs and leans over the console, whispering, “We had to open another bottle.”

So, two glasses of water on the nightstand tonight and a pain killer type of drunk. “All good things?” Buck hopes aloud.

“Always a good thing talking about you.” Eddie pauses. “Unless you’re Maddie because she did not want to hear some of the things I had to say.”

Buck’s heart stutters. Is Maddie jealous of his and Eddie’s relationship? Does she want to be the one spending all of their time with Eddie instead?

“I was told not to talk,” Eddie says suddenly, pantomiming zipping his lips closed and tossing the key.

Wait, do Hen and Karen know? “Uh, why’s that?”

When they get to another stop, Eddie pretends to unlock his mouth. “Because I need to not confess anything to you when drunk.”

There it is. The truth about what he and Maddie really are to each other. Buck can read between the lines. He's not an idiot.

“There’s something we can do that doesn’t involve talking,” Eddie says in a low tone Buck has only heard a handful of times. Before he knows it, Eddie is reaching under his seat for the second time this day.

“Eddie-”

Eddie’s loud laugh cuts him off as he pulls the condoms out of the manual with a flourish. “Can’t believe you have these under this seat. How many times have I sat here without knowing about these?”

“God, you are drunk," Buck says, not entirely focusing on what he's saying for his own sanity.

“Are these an extra-large?”

Buck turns red as he snatches the strip and tosses it under his seat, hoping to end this mortifying one-sided conversation.

A few moments pass before Eddie fucking giggles, “Firehose.”

Buck groans and puts his hand over Eddie’s mouth. He’s expecting him to do something dumb like lick his hand, but Eddie just grabs his hand and lays it palm up in his hand. He studies it as if it’s the most important thing in the world, fingers tracing over calluses and sensitive skin.

It seems to keep him occupied for most of the drive home. On the last street, Eddie quietly tangles their fingers together, pressing his cheek against Buck’s hand as he stares at him.

Buck doesn’t dare look over.

He lets go of Eddie’s hand with the promise of letting Eddie hold it when he gets him out of the car. And Eddie does just that.

When they get inside the front door, Buck whispers, “Remember to be quiet while Christopher is sleeping.”

“Yeah?” Eddie whispers loudly, leaning back against the front door. “We can be quiet.”

He says it so suggestively that Buck has to take a step away in hopes that Eddie will remember it’s him. Not one of the girls he’s dated. Or worse… Maddie. “Let’s get ready to go to bed.”

Eddie winks at him, finger coming up to his lips, silently gushing him.

Buck turns away, trying not to let the sight affect him as he pulls Eddie down the hall. Maybe he should sleep on the couch tonight.

Luckily, they make it to the bathroom with minimal stumbling or talking. When Buck suggests Eddie take his turn in the bathroom, Eddie insists he just needs to brush his teeth, which they can do together.

Eddie’s arm nudges against Buck's the entire time. He apologizes with a squint of his eyes as he smiles at Buck in the mirror.

When they’re done, Buck leads them back to their room with no issues. But when the door closes, Eddie’s hand drops from Buck’s in favor of stripping his shirt off, but he gets stuck midway through. Buck tries not to laugh. “Need a hand?”

Eddie sighs dramatically, “No.”

Buck helps him anyway and tosses the shirt into their laundry basket.

“Do you need help with yours?” Eddie asks with a slight quiver in his voice.

Buck shakes his head. “I’m okay. Let’s focus on you right now.”

Eddie smiles at Buck, hands cupping his face, thumbs running gently over his stubble as he says, “My Buckley.”

Buck’s heart plummets to the ground. Eddie thinks he’s Maddie.

He grabs Eddie’s hands and pulls them away from his face slowly, using them to guide Eddie to the dresser where he keeps his sweatpants. When Eddie refuses to let go of his hand, Buck manages to use their joined hands to not only open the drawer for the grey sweats but also pull out a pair before going to Eddie’s side of the bed.

“You’re going to have to let go to get these on, Eds.”

With much hesitation, Eddie slides his hands away from Buck’s.

Buck makes the mistake of taking a step back, and Eddie immediately latches back on.

“Hey, hey,” Buck says gently, ducking his head to get eye level with him, “I’m just getting your water, okay?”

Eddie nods and squeezes his hands. “You’re the best. I love you.”

Buck swallows hard.

That’s something best friends say to each other. All the time. It’s normal.

Except for Buck and Eddie, who just… haven’t said those words to each other. They’ve always shown their love in other ways, and there was never a need to say it outright. For some reason, it just never felt right.

Eddie must not sense Buck’s panic because he starts tugging at the button on his pants, and Buck takes it as his sign to excuse himself.

He makes his way to the kitchen and fills up two glasses, wondering if the words were meant for Maddie again. He knows Eddie said they weren’t having an affair, and they have a no lying rule in the house, but… he confessed it in the car, right?

He sighs and shakes his head, grabbing the bottle of pain meds on the way back to the room. He wonders if he should ask Eddie about everything while he’s drunk, but that would be too deceptive.

When he opens the door, he’s met with the sight of Eddie only in his boxers, the sweatpants knocked off the bed, snoring away into his pillow.

Buck grabs a spare blanket from the closet and drapes it over him, not wanting to disturb his sleep too much.

As he grabs the pants off the floor, Eddie’s phone lights up in the dark room.

A text from Maddie.

Buck looks at Eddie. He shouldn’t. He really shouldn’t.

Buck puts away the sweatpants and makes it to his side of the bed. But he doesn’t get in it.

Instead, he makes his way over to Eddie’s side, grabbing Eddie’s phone off the nightstand.

Buck climbs into his side of the bed, glancing at Eddie facing the opposite wall. He really shouldn't do this.

He turns on the phone, typing in Eddie’s six-digit password he’s had for years – Chris’s birthday.

He opens his messages, taking a deep breath before opening the ones from Maddie.