eddie and buck standing in the kitchen after eddie comes back—eddie's kitchen which was buck's kitchen and is now for this dreamlike moment of time buck-and-eddie's kitchen—and it's late. they've been unpacking all day and chris is asleep in his room, everyone finally where they belong, and eddie's like. hey, what're you thinking abt, bc buck can't seem to look at him and also can't seem to look away. and buck's like. oh. um. its. hah. really stupid. just. we kind of forgot to hug? but it's not—it's whatever. and eddie who has been thinking abt the exact same thing since buck gave chris a big teary bear-hug on the doorstep and then—didn't touch eddie, is like oh. well. we could do it now. you know, like a belated hello. if you want. and buck stares at him for a moment. and says, hey eddie. and eddie says, hey. and they step in close. and it's just a hug but it feels tentative. important. when buck wraps his arms around him and tucks his face into his neck, eddie can feel both their hearts racing, way too fast for what's happening. and neither of them has anywhere else to be, maybe ever again, so they hold each other tightly in the kitchen for a very very very long time.
