Chapter Text
Buck was at Eddie’s house eating dinner, like he did every Friday night they didn’t work. The only difference is that Ana is joining them this time. She’s sitting next to Eddie, Buck next to Chris.
“Hey Buck, I’ve been meaning to ask you.” The blond looks up from his food curiously. “Can you watch Christopher tomorrow?” Buck’s about to answer when another voice stops him.
“He can’t.” Chris says from Buck’s left. Eddie looks at Chris then Buck with a raised eyebrow. “Buck’s got a date.” Chris continues eating his food while Buck blushes.
“Does he now?” Eddie’s voice is edged with teasing.
“Traitor.” Buck says, mocking offence. Chris looks up worried.
“Did I make you mad?” Buck sighs and rolls his eyes lightheartedly.
“I could never stay mad at you.” Chris giggles and smiles before turning back to his food. Buck smiles at the kid.
“What’s her name?” Eddie asks. Buck looks up, glancing at Ana before settling his eyes on Eddie. He pushes his food around his plate a little with his fork.
“Actually, uh, it’s a guy from my gym.” Eddie raises his eyebrows a little. “His name’s Casey.” Buck hears Ana huff a little, but it’s so soft he convinces himself he made it up.
“I didn’t know you liked guys, Buck.” Buck shifts nervously in his chair. “That’s not a problem, of course.” Eddie quickly recovers, sensing the questions racing through Buck’s mind. Buck relaxes immediately and smiles.
“Yeah, I haven’t dated a guy since highschool. But, uh, Casey asked me out the other day and I said yes.” Eddie smiles, happy that Buck is comfortable talking to him about this.
“So,” Eddie starts, stabbing a piece of chicken with his fork, “what’s he like?”
“Do we have to talk about this now?” Ana’s words aren’t said harshly, but Buck feels them stab him.
“Well, if Buck was going out with a girl I’d be asking him this stuff too. It’s no different.” Ana stands down and Buck relaxes slightly. Eddie looks at his friend expectantly.
“Uh, he’s a trainer at the gym.” Buck goes on to talk about Casey to everyone. Chris chimes in with occasional questions, which Buck answers happily. Eddie even sometimes throws in a joke or makes a comment. Ana, however, stays quiet. She smiles at a joke when Eddie glances at her, but when he’s not she’s either glaring at Buck or looking at her plate.
***
The next night, Buck arrives at Eddie’s after his date. It hadn’t gone the way he wanted it to. Casey was rude and wouldn’t talk about anything but his work out schedule and himself. Buck had texted Eddie vaguely saying his date didn’t go well and he needed some time with his favorite boys. To which Eddie had told him they’d hang out after he got back and talk about what happened.
Buck walks into the Diaz household and sees Carla sitting on the couch. She looks up when the door opens. Her face breaks into a smile as he eyes meet Bucks. He returns it and closes the door behind himself.
“Buck!” Chris shouts as he gets up from the floor. He makes his way to the blond with Buck meeting him in the middle to scoop him into a hug. The firefighter feels his sadness from his bad date slip away as he feels Chris’s smile against his neck.
“Hey superman!” Chris hugs back immediately. Carla stands up from the couch while Buck holds Chris propped up on his hip.
“Are you okay staying with him until Eddie gets back?” Carla asks him.
“Yeah, go ahead. We’ll have so much fun, right superman?” Chris nods excitedly. Carla laughs and shakes her head.
“Alright. I’ll see you two later.” The boys nod in unison earning another laugh. She says goodbye and heads out.
Thirty minutes later, the front door opens. Buck looks up expecting Eddie, but instead being greeted with Ana’s surprised face.
“Hey Ana.” Buck says with a smile. One that does not get returned. Her eyes, instead, move to Christopher.
“Christopher,” He looks up, “go to your room.” Buck furrows his eyebrows and looks at Christopher, who’s looking at Buck as if asking if he should.
“Chris, go head to your room. I’ll be in there in a minute.” Chris nods and gets up, walking to his room. Buck looks at Ana expectantly when he hears the door shut. “What’s going on? Where’s Eddie?”
“He had to run to the store. Something about needing snacks for movie night.” Buck stands up from the floor and steps closer to her. He opens his mouth to ask why she sent Chris to his room, but she stops him. “I don’t want you hanging out with Christopher anymore.” Buck’s eyebrows shoot up and his mouth opens a little.
“What? Why?”
“I think you’re a bad influence.” She says plainly.
“How am I a bad influence?”
“You just go around talking about your dates like it’s normal.”
“Because it is normal. You and Eddie talk about your dates all the time in front of Chris.”
“That’s different.”
“How?” Buck asks incredulously, careful to keep his voice down so Chris doesn’t get worried.
“It’s different because I’m a woman.” Buck freezes. His blood runs cold and his heart drops.
“I’m a bad influence because I went on a date with a man?”
“Not only that. You talked about it in front of Christopher. He’s young and is still developing. He doesn't need the kind of confusion that lets him think being like... that , is okay.”
“You’re worried I’m going to turn Chris gay because I talked about my first date with a guy in ten years?”
“I just don’t think you being around him is a good idea.”
“That’s not your call to make. Eddie’s his father. If he doesn’t want me around because I’m bi, then I’ll go. But you’re not his mother. Or even his step-mother. You’re Eddie’s girlfriend and you’ve only been dating for two months.”
“I’m not comfortable with Christopher being around someone like you.” The words hurt Buck more than he thought words ever could. She’s treating him as if he’s not even human. Just like his parents had. Buck feels tears sting the backs of his eyes and he knows he needs to get out of the house before he has a full-blown panic attack.
“I’ll uh, I’ll say goodnight to Chris and then I’ll head out.” She gives him a firm nod. Buck turns, walks to Chris’ room, kisses him on the head, and says goodnight. He’s just walking back to the living room when the front door opens again. Eddie walks through, smiling when he sees Buck and dropping it when his eyes land on Ana.
“Ana, I thought you were leaving from here.”
“Oh, is that why you dropped me off? I must’ve forgotten.” Buck takes the time to slip his shoes on.
“Buck,”
“It’s fine, Eddie. I was just leaving.” He tries to smile at his friend, but he’s sure it comes out as a grimace. He walks past Ana and Eddie and through the door. “G’night.” He shuts the door and gets in his car. He opens his contacts and dials a number before turning on his car and driving off.
“Hello?” Maddie says through the car.
“Hey, Mads. Uh,” His voice breaks slightly on the tears still trying to come through, “can I come over?”
“Of course. Is everything alright?” She sounds concerned.
“I’ll tell you when I get there.”
“Okay, be careful Evan.”
“I will. Love you.”
“I love you too.” He hangs up and continues driving, blinking back tears as they come forward.
***
Chimney returns home from Albert and Buck’s apartment to find the youngest Buckley laying on his couch. Maddie’s running her fingers through his hair as Buck’s niece sleeps on his chest, cuddled close. She turns and answers Chimney’s furrowed eyebrows with a whisper.
“He’s had a rough day.” Chim nods and sets his things on the counter. Suddenly, Buck’s phone starts vibrating on the coffee table. It lights up with a picture of Eddie and the name Diaz across the top. Chim goes to pick it up but Maddie stops him with her hand out. She simply shakes her head and he backs away from the table. The phone continues ringing for a minute before it shuts off and the room goes silent again. It’s only ten minutes later when Buck starts stirring. He wakes up slowly and is careful about moving, as to not wake his niece. Now that his eyes are open, Chimney can see they’re bloodshot from crying. Buck’s eyes land on Chim and he goes to sit up carefully. Buck holds his niece against his chest as he rises and looks at Maddie.
“Thanks for letting me come over.”
“It’s no problem, Buck. You’re welcome here anytime.” Buck can see Chimney nod from his spot by the kitchen island. He smiles at them.
“I really appreciate it Mads. But, I should probably be heading home. Let you guys have some time together.”
“Are you sure? You’re okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good now. Thank you Maddie.” She nods. He carefully passes his niece off to her mother and stands up, grabbing his phone from the table. He gives Maddie and her daughter a kiss on the head, then Buck starts heading towards the door. He looks at Chim as he passes. “You want one too?” Chim smiles and laughs.
“I’ll settle for a hug.” Buck nods and lets himself be pulled into a hug that’s much stronger than their normal ones. Buck leaves their apartment feeling much better than he was when he arrived.