Lou’s Lips Sink Ships

"Together Always"

Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Eddie Diaz/Tommy Kinard

Summary: Buck isn't feeling well and, especially after his bout with cancer, he struggles with worries surrounding being sick. Eddie & Tommy care for him.

A fic in universe of @judymarch15's "Better Together" in the "My Best Friend and a Pilot" universe.

"Peace After Pain"

Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard; Eddie Diaz & Evan "Buck" Buckley

Summary: Eddie finds Tommy and Buck after the Han's hasty hospital wedding, eating cake in the dim light of the hall. He joins Buck while Tommy dozes and they share a moment of quiet friendship.

"Something Blue"

Pairings: May Grant/Ravi Panikkar; Harry Grant & 118 Firehouse Crew; Harry Grant & May Grant

Summary: When Ravi proposes to May, Harry's determined to give May a gift that will be meaningful, so he reaches out to someone at the 118 that has a skill he needs to borrow.

"Stone Over Water"

Pairings: Eddie Diaz & Evan "Buck" Buckley

Summary: Buck has a tough day with Theo and work, and when his cravings to use hit their peak, someone shows up and gives him exactly what he needs.

"Like a Phantom"

Pairings: Eddie Diaz & Jack Abott (The Pitt); Eddie Diaz & 118 Firehouse Crew

Summary: The day starts like any other, but when the 118 is called to the scene of an accident and Eddie is tasked with life-saving treatment, it pulls up memories of the Army. Luckily, a familiar face is on scene, helping him - and the patient - pull through.

"Laugh Lines"

Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard

Summary: Tommy wakes in the hospital after an on-the-job incident to Buck at his bedside, soothing him.

"Fine Print"

Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard; Sal Deluca/Eddie Diaz

Summary: After a scene with Eddie, Sal closes off and leaves a little unsteady - when Eddie follows, his heart stops when he finds Sal the victim of a car crash.

A fic of a "maybe missing scene" from @nine-one-wanton's "Terms & Conditions" - Chapter 17/18.

"Like Old Times"

Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard; Tommy Kinard & Howard "Chimney" Han

Summary: The 217 is the first station on scene of Chim's rebar accident and Tommy is shocked by what he sees. He meets the probie that took his place at the 118 and shares a moment of quiet support with him while he waits for news.

Canon compliant up to Chim's accident.

"Crashing Waves"

Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Eddie Diaz/Tommy Kinard

Summary: Christopher has a field trip on the Marine Science Floating Lab off the LA Coast - and Buck and Eddie are chaperoning. It doesn't go according to plan, and when they need assistance, the 217, with Tommy, are called in for support. buddietommy exchange 2026.

"A Slice Every Time"

Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley & Sal Deluca

Summary: Buck attends a recovery meeting and feels a little unmoored, but meets Sal Deluca and shares a small celebration with him as they develop a friendship. sal deluca week day 7: free choice.

"When I'm Gone"

Pairings: Past Sal Deluca/Tommy Kinard; Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard

Summary: Sal Deluca is diagnosed with cancer and, in a yearly charity event dedicated in his honor, probie firefighter Buck collides with his past partner, Tommy. Sal Deluca Week, Day 2 Prompt: Traditions; Takes place somewhere in season 1; no abby.

"Bet On It"

Pairings: Sal Deluca/Tommy Kinard; Sal Deluca & 118 Firehouse

Summary: Sal's easy with his affection and the 118 makes a bet on it. When Tommy doesn't get the same reaction from Sal, he confronts him on why he's left out, surprised by the answer he finds. sal deluca week, day 1: firehouse shenanigans & prank wars.

"Safer At Night"

Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard

Summary: Buck spirals after the events of "D.I.Y." (Season 9, Episode 14) and it's a slow build towards a crash landing. Tommy's there to pick up the pieces.

"Dreams in the Desert"

Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard; Tommy Kinard & Eddie Diaz; Evan "Buck" Buckley & Eddie Diaz

Summary: On the last leg of their road trip, Buck struggles with a nightmare and panic. Eddie calls in reinforcements to help him through. Post season 9, episode 13; alternate universe-buck/tommy never broke up.

"Hey Jealousy"

Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard; Tommy Kinard & Eddie Diaz; Evan "Buck" Buckley & Eddie Diaz

Summary: Eddie's been Buck's best friend for some time and, because of that, knows exactly how to get under his skin. Buck's jealousy can only take so much.

or

Five times Eddie is a little shit to Buck and one time Tommy is.

"Broken Little Bird"

Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard

Summary: Struggling through pain, Tommy wades in memories of childhood love and abuse, guided by his mother’s voice and grounded by Buck as he fights to survive. Posted initially on tumblr, cross-posted on AO3.

"The Last Stop"

Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard

Summary: After the 118 responds to a school bus accident, Buck learns a tiny hero has a hero dad, too. AU-Different First Meeting.

"Fresh Hell"

Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard

Summary: Tommy is diagnosed with Lung Cancer and struggles with how this impacts his relationships and his life. When Buck finds out, they find their way back to one another one piece at a time. Posted initially on tumblr, cross-posted on AO3.

"Carry-On Chem"

Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard

Summary: When Buck picks up the wrong luggage at baggage claim - with the wrong passport zipped inside - he goes on the hunt to find the owner, and finds love along the way.

"Guarded" [Bodyguard AU for FTH, 2025]

Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard, Tommy Kinard & Chimney Han, Evan "Buck" Buckley & Firehouse 118 Crew

Summary: After a horrific crash with the 217, Tommy Kinard decides it’s time to leave mid-air rescues behind and find work that keeps him on solid ground. Through a friend of a friend, he’s connected to a private security firm and takes on a new role as a bodyguard, one he quickly finds unexpected purpose in.

Meanwhile, Evan Buckley is thriving with the 118 until a call gone wrong sparks fears of a stalker. Reluctantly, he’s forced to hire private protection - and ends up with Tommy assigned to his case.

Through danger, violence, and fear, the two men form a bond that soon grows into something far deeper than professional duty.

"Thirty Days"

Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard

Summary: After the loss of Bobby and meeting his attic-dweller, Buck decides to bake for Dwayne's AA meeting and winds up running into someone unexpected.

"Behind the Blue Line" [mild crossover with Heated Rivalry]

Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard, Shane Hollander/Ilya Rosanov

Summary: An accident leaves a known reality and alternate life with a man in love in both. Stuck between them briefly, what’s real and matters most is revealed.

"Minestrone Soup" [Missing Scene/Inspired by "Nonno Tom's" by @judymarch15]

Pairings: Eddie Diaz/Sal Deluca

Summary: Eddie calls in sick to work and Sal is worried about him, so he makes him minestrone soup and brings it by.

"Busted (Inked Up)" [Collab w/@judymarch15]

Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard, Eddie Diaz/Dr. Val Salazar, Evan "Buck" Buckley & Eddie Diaz

Summary: When Edie, Buck & Tommy's daughter, isn't feeling well, Buck asks Eddie to check her over and they find out the girls went behind their backs to go to a tattoo parlor. Eddie and Evie, his and Val's daughter, share a special moment in the wake of Edie's confession.

"Trigger"

Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard

He was wrapped Tommy’s hoodie, one that smelled like his deodorant and motor oil and coffee, and Eddie was pressed against his side, fingertips dancing through his curls.

He didn’t even notice his eyelids drooping, didn’t feel himself start to drift. It wasn’t until Tommy brushed his hand down Buck’s cheek and pressed a kiss to his temple that he realized he’d missed the whole movie.

Music blared from the speaker and the screen rolled through visual effects artists and the soundtrack, and Buck wasn’t even sure he’d heard an actor utter a single line.

“C’mon,” Tommy murmured, running his hands down Buck’s shoulders to wake him up. “Bed’s waiting.”

“S’rry,” Buck muttered, scrubbing his eyes and aimlessly following Tommy down the dark hall. Eddie was already under the quilt, scrolling through his phone when they got to the bedroom.

He threw back the covers and let Buck crawl in, pulling the blanket back over Buck’s shoulders as soon as he’d collapsed beside Eddie.

Eddie pressed a kiss to his cheek and Buck could feel his fingertips trace over his temple, the soft press of his fingertips brushing under Buck’s jaw.

“You feeling okay?” Eddie had asked, voice gentle in the dim light of the bedroom lamp. Buck could hear the shower running along with the low hum of Tommy’s baritone, a broken melody of some late 90’s rock song Buck didn’t know the name of.

Buck blinked one eye open, squinting up at Eddie. “Mm, just tired.”

“I’m covering tomorrow, remember,” Eddie said regretfully, fingers still tracing over Buck’s cheek. “Tommy will be here, though.”

Buck huffed, dismissing the worry easily. They’d just worked a double and ended on a call that landed them in an office building with eight flights of stairs. Their equipment wasn’t getting any lighter and, if the shimmering flecks of gray in Eddie’s hair were any indication, they certainly weren’t getting any younger.

Buck yawned, shuffling closer to Eddie as he let his eyes close again.

“I’ll be fine,” he said, already feeling the pull of sleep. “You worry too much.”

He wasn’t even awake long enough to hear Eddie’s reply.

Now, he’s up for the third time in as many hours, nausea slowly churning in his gut, skull tight with tension. He’s been trying to fall back to sleep, to will his mind to slow; for the worry that comes with the lingering feeling of sickness to recede and bring the headache with it.

He’s pressed against the tub, feet bare and cold against the tile, but for just a moment – a flash of a second – he’s back at the beach the night of his diagnosis. Toes in the sand, shivering on the edge of the ocean, mind as distant as the sun setting along the horizon.

So lost in his own thoughts, he doesn’t hear the door creak open, the sound of soft footsteps against the floor, the quiet whisper of his name. It’s not until he feels those fingertips again that he realizes he’s still in the bathroom.

“Baby,” Eddie murmurs. “Come on, let’s get back in bed. I can help.”

Buck blinks and suddenly he’s sitting there – on the edge of the bed, a shiver rolling through him. Eddie crouches and meets his gaze, brows furrowed, eyes shining with worry.

“You feel warm, did you take anything in there?” Eddie says, straightening the hoodie on Buck’s shoulders, fingertips finding Buck’s pulse just inside his wrist. Buck hums against the warmth.

“No,” he says. “Felt like I might be sick…ca-can’t sleep.”

Another shiver runs through him and Eddie’s gone, then back again, tugging socks on his feet.

“Wanna lay on the couch?” Eddie asks, handing Buck a glass of water and pills he didn’t even notice Eddie grabbed. “Anything else bothering you?”

Buck hears a soft grumble behind him and the blanket is tugged backward, Tommy shifting before his breath evens back out in a quiet snore.

Buck smiles faintly, assessing each part of his body. There’s an ache deep in his muscles, the nausea still sitting heavy, a headache – symptoms he compares to ones he had…before. He tries to bring up memories of the way his muscles had been tight back then, how exhausted he’d been to the point of frustration.

It’s a playbook he’s memorized by now, one he wishes he could forget.

“I’m sure it’s just something from work – a bug,” Eddie says, as though he can read Buck’s thoughts. “Want me to call Dr. Graham’s office?”

“N-No,” Buck rushes to say, shoving the memories down and focusing on Eddie, warm at his side. “Couch is good.”

Buck shuffles to the living room with Eddie at his back. They split when Eddie makes another pit-stop at the kitchen where he refills Buck’s water and gets a fresh ice pack.

The couch is still soft where Buck was nestled in during the movie, pillows shoved together to snuggle into. When Eddie joins him, he lifts Bucks head and settles him onto his lap before returning his fingers to Buck’s curls.

“Hmm, feels nice,” Buck murmurs, feeling the tension at the base of his neck and into his spine seep into something softer. The nausea that was threatening to overwhelm him settles and his eyelids grow heavy.

He tugs them open and looks up at Eddie when he makes a realization, “You have to work tomorrow.”

“Hey, it’s okay. Don’t worry, I can sleep later,” Eddie says, smoothing his thumb over Buck’s birthmark. The phantom weight of the touch drags Buck’s eyelids closed again, sleep finally greeting him with hesitant arms. “Get some sleep, baby.”

The next time Buck blinks his eyes open, Eddie’s gone, warm lap replaced by another one, just as familiar and strong.

“Hey,” Buck mumbles, voice rough with sleep. There’s still a drumbeat behind his eyes and he feels a shiver course through him, a thin sheen of cold sweat lacing his temple.

Tommy moves his book and his adorable, glasses-wearing face smirks down at Buck and just that moment – that look of adoration, fills him with warmth he’s been missing. The soft flutter of care smothers the now ever-present nausea, at least for the moment.

“Sunshine,” Tommy says softly. “How’re you feeling?”

“Like I’m being cooked on the inside and frozen on the outside,” Buck says, shoving off the cushions and sitting up. He’s barely straightened out before he’s tipping against a wave of dizziness. Tommy reaches out and steadies him.

“Easy,” Tommy says as he shuffles and grabs something off the table. When Buck pulls an eye open, he reaches out, hand trembling, for the icy glass of water.

It feels like heaven, the rush of cool liquid sliding down his throat. Buck can still feel Tommy’s hands on him; knows he wasn’t the only one that feels the memories of his cancer like they’re branded into his skin.

They’d had to spend a week apart, separated by a door and distance that felt like miles even when it was down the hallway. Buck had done radioactive therapy, had to keep a certain distance in a time when his emotions threatened to crush him at every turn.

Now, if he has a headache, feels a tickle in his throat, feels a chill in the air – Eddie and Tommy are at his side before he can blink. Connected to him until they’re assured that he feels better. Know he doesn’t need them at his side anymore.

“Eddie?” Buck murmurs, tendrils of confusion running through him. He can’t be sure how much time has passed, the room is dim, but the curtains are pulled, the soft light of the lamp at Tommy’s side the only warm haze in the room.

“He’s at work,” Tommy says, bracing his palm against Buck’s neck, grounding him. “It’s still early, not even eight o’clock yet.”

Buck feels the distinct rush of illness – one that leaves him restless but exhausted, sticky with sweat but shivering with fever, wishing he could settle back into sleep easily, but knowing it’s out of reach.

“I feel gross,” Buck says, slumping against the couch.

“Want a bath?” Tommy asks, slowly freeing Buck’s legs from the tangled blanket wrapped around them. “Or I could get a damp washcloth – we could move back into bed if you want.”

Frustrated and worn thin, Buck can feel a tear threaten to fall. He blinks it back, swallowing down the knot in his throat. It’s just a bug, he’s sure, but the rush of emotion unseated from the back of his mind washes over him again in an instant.

Tommy brushes a hand over Buck’s cheek and Buck feels the damp trail of a tear that’s fallen.

“Come on,” Tommy says softly, pulling Buck to his feet. “I think a bath would be nice.”

It’s better than nice. It’s perfect, the warmth of the water and the cool press of Tommy’s hand against his forehead settle him again. Damp skin washes traces of sweat and the stickiness of the couch feels like a distant memory.

Tommy stays with him, leans against the side of the tub while Buck relaxes into a fitful doze. He brushes over Buck’s arms when his skin prickles with goosebumps. He runs a cool washcloth over Buck’s neck when the fever starts to spike again.

The rest of the day moves carefully, quiet and gentle with nowhere to be. Tommy doesn’t leave his side, save for brief trips to the kitchen for oatmeal and applesauce, Gatorade and water. For more pain reliever and ice packs and fresh t-shirts and new socks that are warm from the dryer.

When the fever finally breaks the next morning, Buck feels like a week’s passed, the anxiety of illness skimming through his nervous system along with the last dregs of sickness.

He’s wrapped around Tommy’s middle, eyes still closed while he gathers the courage to open them, when he hears the soft click of the bedroom door.

“Hey hon,” Eddie hums, and Buck can feel him hover over the bed, hear him lean in for kiss with Tommy. “How’s he doing?”

“Fever broke,” Tommy says, the steady rhythm of his fingertips a familiar melody over the last day. “I called Dr. Graham’s office. They said to call back if he’s not feeling better in the next couple days.”

“When he’s up, I’ll give him a once-over,” Eddie says, and the soft care and quiet support mean more than either he or Tommy could possibly realize.

It’s that that lures Buck to finally open his eyes, grateful that the world doesn’t spin when he blinks up at the men he loves.

“Morning,” Tommy says, leaning over to kiss the top of Buck’s curls.

“Hi, baby,” Eddie says, sitting at Buck’s hip on the edge of the bed and leaning in for his own kiss. “Feeling better?”

“Mm,” Buck hums, curling closer to Tommy. “A little.”

“I’m gonna shower, and we can get some more sleep, yeah?”

Buck nods and Tommy adds, “I can make some breakfast. Maybe we can try toast today?”

When they both look at Buck, he sees it all. The years spent working towards something together, the love and affection tucked into every wrinkle, every laugh line deeper because of one another, every moment reflected on back at him.

“Yeah,” Buck says easily. “T-Thank you both.”

“No thanks needed,” Eddie says with a soft smile, then stands, heading to the bathroom. Surprised at his depleted energy, Buck can already feel his eyes getting heavy again.

“Get some more sleep,” Tommy tells him. “When Eddie comes back, I’ll get up.”

“Hm, love you,” Buck mutters as he drifts off once more.

And even if he doesn’t hear the words, he knows them to be true.

General FAQs

What is Kinktober?

Kinktober is a multifandom prompt challenge that takes place during October. Check out the Fanlore page for more information.

How does this Kinktober work?

In our prompt list, three prompts are given for each day in October. The idea is to use one or more of these prompts to create something which you can post on that day (or before, or after). This could be artwork, a one-shot, a chapter of a longer fic, etc. You can use one, two or all three prompts, or none at all. You can aim for just completing one day, or, if you're ambitious, all 31! No matter what you accomplish, you're a participant in Kinktober.

Do I have to do all 31 days?

No. You can if you want to, but you can do as many or as few as you'd like.

Do I have to do all three prompts in a day?

No. We've written three prompts for variety, so hopefully there will be something for everyone on every day. (But if not, you can always swap in a bonus prompt.) Of course, if you'd like to, you can include all three prompts in your work - we've tried to combine prompts in ways that would get you thinking.

Do I need to wait to start creating in October or can I start early?

You can start whenever you like!

Is there a minimum word count?

Nope! You can write as little or as much as you like.

What mediums do you accept?

Any. You can submit fanart, fanfic, [insert other medium here] - anything you can think of.

Posting

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You can post your fics before, during, or after October. Our AO3 collection will remain open indefinitely. Early and late submissions are welcome.

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You can post on AO3 if you have an account there (if you're reading this ahead of time and you think you'd like to do that, we suggest signing up for an invite now so it'll be ready by October!). If you do, you have the option of adding it to our collection - see the next bullet point for more details. You can also post on other platforms, like Tumblr or Squidge.

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You'll need to post your work to the collection called Kinktober2026. AO3 has detailed instructions for adding a work to a collection.

I plan to make several unconnected one-shots. How should I post them?

The general fandom etiquette is to post your one-shots in a series, rather than one single chaptered work. This allows people to filter for content they want to see more easily. See AO3's guide on adding works to a series for more detail. It isn't possible to add a series directly to a collection - you'll need to add each individual work to the collection separately.

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Prompt lists

If I use your prompt list, should I credit you?

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I've found another prompt list that I like the look of. Can I use that instead of/as well as your prompt list? Can I still include my works in your AO3 collection?

Yes and yes. We provide a prompt list in case you need one, but you could also use one you've found elsewhere, one from a previous year, one you've made up… the possibilities are endless!

Content

Are there content restrictions?

No. Our AO3 collection is unmoderated. Anything that is allowed on AO3, or wherever you're posting your fanwork, is allowed in Kinktober.

Are original works/crossovers/x-readers/works in other languages allowed?

Yes, absolutely! You can create anything you like. Everything is welcome in the collection.

Does my work have to be kinky or sexual?

Not at all. We welcome non-sexual kink works and vanilla smut. Or, if one of the prompts really speaks to you in a nonsexual, non-kinky way, that's also fine! You can absolutely submit your G-rated fluff or angst fic to our collection.

Prompts

Do prompts have to be taken literally? I have an idea for a prompt but I don't think it's really what you meant by it.

Go for it! The prompt list is just to give you ideas. You can remix the prompts, interpret them figuratively, or just create something that the prompt vaguely made you think of.

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We've included a range of prompts to appeal to a wide variety of people. If you don't like any of the three daily prompts provided, consider swapping in a bonus prompt (from the list at the bottom), or switching for one of the options on another day.

I don't know what one of the prompts means. How can I find out?

You might find it helpful to look at the BDSM Wiki, which doesn't contain explicit images, or to look up tags relating to the prompt on AO3.

Can I ask you a question about Kinktober?

Eddie Diaz smiled down at her affectionately. “Good morning,” he said, before he bent down and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.

“Good morning,” she said. Her hand found his forearm and rested there for a moment. His forearms were hard and strong, like Bobby’s always had been.

She let the thought happen, no pushing it aside or feeling guilty about it. They didn’t do that.

Grief had brought them together and they didn’t shy away from it. Losing a spouse wasn’t an easy thing to understand. 

The people in her life had done their best to support her, hold her up during the first year without Bobby. She couldn’t have made it through without them. But there was a deep ache she couldn’t describe.

Eddie understood. 

It had started when they were helping Buck through his withdrawal. She’d woken up early one morning and taken her coffee outside, watching the sky change from dawn to day. Eddie had come outside a few minutes later, having had the same idea. They sat side by side in silence.

”I wish I could tell you it gets better,” Eddie said, unprompted.

She didn’t have to be told. He wasn’t talking about Buck.

“I still miss her every day,” Eddie said before he took a drink of coffee – black with one Sweet n Low she’d come to learn. 

“If you’re trying to be comforting, you missed the mark,” Athena said dryly.

“I’m not,” Eddie said simply. “Just…wanted you to know that I get it.

And that was it. No well intentioned words of wisdom or advice. Just companionship and quiet understanding.

He’d come up to see her when they were both in the hospital several weeks later, then again after he’d been discharged. They didn’t talk about anything in particular. He’d show up with food from the deli down the street and some fresh magazines, or he’d drop a deck of cards onto her tray table and they’d play Gin Rummy. 

His presence was soothing, a refreshing break from everything else. She didn’t have to pretend or put on a front. He brought with him a sense of safety that she needed. 

They both needed it. 

When she was at home, he still came to visit. They talked about everything and nothing. She realized she’d missed getting all the updates on goings on at the 118. The gossip was always good.

One afternoon, her smoke detector had started to beep, indicating a low battery. She realized she didn’t own a ladder, so she called Eddie to see if she could borrow his. By the time he arrived, she was in tears. Changing the smoke alarm batteries was something Bobby would have handled like clockwork. Without him there to take care of it, the batteries had been left to drain. It had hit her hard, like a punch to the chest.

Eddie listened while she talked about Bobby and everything she missed about him. There were so many big things, but it was all the little things that really broke her. He held her close and let her cry on his shoulder. He talked her into taking a bath while he changed all of the smoke alarm batteries in the house.

It tumbled into something physical a week later. They were all getting together at the Wilsons’ house for a barbecue. Athena used the excuse to wear the sundress she’d bought on a whim while she and May were out shopping. She’d caught Eddie looking in her direction a few times, admiring her. It made her blood stir and heat in a way that had gone cold since Bobby died. 

When it was time to leave, he’d offered to walk her to her car. They shared a kiss that had quickly shifted into making out like teenagers. They’d both laughed about it, then Athena slipped in an open invitation to her place. He’d shown up later that night and didn’t leave until morning. 

It wasn’t defined, this thing between them. Neither of them seemed to need or want to. It was sex and friendship. It was grief that they didn’t have to hide from each other. It was understanding.

Athena looked up at Eddie at that moment, sitting on the edge of her bed in his underwear and socks. He was relaxed and happy. She felt the same.

“You hungry? I made eggs, toast, and coffee,” he offered.

Athena nodded, shifting around to sit up. “Smells good,” she said as Eddie pulled out the legs of the tray and set it over her lap. “You have time to join me?”

“I don’t have to pick up Chris for a couple hours,” he said, giving her a wink before he got up.

Oh there was plenty they could do to fill a couple hours, she thought, watching the way his body moved as he walked across the room. He glanced back at her with a knowing smile before disappearing. 

Athena picked up her coffee first and took a sip. It was warm, with just the right amount of milk and sugar. It was really something to have someone know exactly how you liked your coffee. 

She was about to take another sip when she heard the front door open. Odd, but maybe Eddie was picking something up off the front steps. Then there was a loud clang as silverware fell to the floor.

“EDDIE?!” she heard her son shout.

Oh shit…

Athena set the tray aside, grabbed her robe, and rushed out toward the kitchen. Eddie stood in there, still in nothing but his underwear and socks, hands cupped in front of his crotch. He looked over at Athena, desperate for rescue. Harry was staring at him in shock. May looked a little more amused about it, arms folded across her chest.

“Why does this keep happening to me?” Harry whined, stomping his foot like a child.

May giggled, looking Eddie over before she turned to her mom. ”Nice,” she mouthed, giving a thumbs up.

“Oh honestly,” Athena rolled her eyes, walking toward them. She shared a little private smile with May.

“Mom, what the hell?” Harry said.

“Watch your language,” Athena said sternly, pointing her finger at him. “And what do you expect? Dropping in unannounced...”

“To be fair, we did text you to say we were gonna stop by and take you out to brunch,” May said.

Athena waved it away, then went to stand next to Eddie, hoping to put him somewhat at ease. 

Harry groaned. “Why does it always have to be someone I work with?”

“This has nothing to do with you,” Athena said sharply. “Believe it or not, Harry Grant, you are not the center of the universe.”

May snorted and Athena shot her a look. 

“So are you guys, like….dating?” Harry asked, looking between them.

Eddie cringed a little and looked at Athena.

“That’s none of your business,” Athena said, tilting her chin up. “We’re adults and we can do what we please.”

Harry let out a humorless laugh and shook his head, then his eyes narrowed on Eddie. “Do <i>you</i> have anything to say for yourself?”

“I don’t,” Eddie looked over at Athena with a smile. “Like your mom said, we’re adults.”

Athena smiled back, relieved Eddie didn’t seem to be freaking out about this. 

“So, how long has this-” May gestured back and forth between Eddie and Athena, “been going on?”

“We’re not playing twenty questions,” Athena said, shooing them away. “My breakfast is getting cold, so why don’t you two go get your brunch and commiserate. I will talk with you later.”

“C’mon,” May said, tugging Harry’s arm. 

Harry stared down Eddie for a few more seconds before he went with May. 

“Love you, kids,” Athena called after them.

“Love you mom,” they chorused back.

“I am not calling him ‘Dad’,” Harry grumbled before he pulled the door shut. 

Athena turned and looked at Eddie, then playfully smacked his arm. “Stop covering your junk, you look ridiculous.”

Eddie let his hands drop, barely containing his smile. “Well, that was…something.”

Athena shook her head. “You know, they move out but they never really leave.”

“Can’t wait.” Eddie bent down and picked up the silverware he’d dropped, then set it in the sink. “So, people are gonna know about us,” he said carefully. “What do we even say?”

“Why don’t we worry about that later,” Athena said, looking him up and down. “We’ve got a few hours to kill first.”

She turned and walked back toward the bedroom, Eddie hot on her heels.