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Buck walks up to the front door of Athena and Bobby's house, moving the different sized boxes he's holding to rest on his side as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a key.
He unlocks the front door quietly, the house still silent inside, its still 5 am and its their day off after all, as he sets the boxes down inside by the door before quickly moving to get more out of his car. Quietly giggling to himself as he moves the last couple of boxes into the house.
He takes off his shoes as to not make noise as he makes his way down the small staircase, into the living room, and then the kitchen setting the boxes quietly onto the table.
He pulls a box forward that's currently filled to the brim with different colored decorations. He pulls out a plastic package that contains streamers grinning to himself. He gets to work quickly knowing the couple would both be waking up in an hour or two.
He's tied down the last balloon just as he hears an alarm going off from where the bedrooms are located. He, still quietly, gets stuff out of the box still left behind. The last box being filled with different ingredients he planned to use to make breakfast. He moves to start a pot of coffee and get out some stuff he needed from the fridge, he gets everything set out on the counter as the smell of brewing coffee fills the room and clearly the rest of the house as he hears Bobby call out.
"Did you start a pot of coffee while I was brushing my teeth Athena?"
"Not that I remember, no. I was putting my robe on."
He hears the door to their room click open and the couples footsteps come out into the hallway. He grins as he moves quietly to the entrance to the kitchen still hiding himself as they get into the living room.
He sees the older man's eyebrows furrow as he takes in the sight, the kitchen covered in balloons, streamers, a banner and tiny little firefighter helmets around the table.
"What is-"
He jumps out as the man starts speaking, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!" He yells with a wide grin at the shock in the man's face and the way he jumped when Buck yelled out.
Athena has a grin on her face as well, laughing a little at the way her husband had now dramatically covered his heart with his hand.
"Well that just about gave me a heart attack....again that is" He jokes a smile appearing on his own face at the way Athena lightly slaps his shoulder.
"You're just about to give our boy one of his own with those jokes." She shakes her head as she looks at a now worried Buck.
"Sorry guys, didn't think of that...my bad."
Bobby shakes his head, putting the hand that was resting on his chest to rest on the younger man's shoulder. "You're all good Buck, just joking around. I'm as fit as a fiddle now." He takes a look at the decorations again, his smile widening again before looking back at the other.
"Thanks, kid. I appreciate the time that took you to do this." He pulls Buck into a hug, the younger resting his chin on his shoulder looking at Athena smiling at the two of them before coming up to fix the stray strands of Bucks hair affectionately.
"It was no problem really, I just wanted to do something for you, yunno. Plus it was really fun acting like a spy coming into the house." That gets a laugh out of the man as he shakes his head.
"Oh and I started brewing some coffee so that should be done really soon!" Athena is seated at the table now, still waking up from her sleep. "Thank you, Buckaroo. I need some coffee in me soon."
Bobby moves over to his wife, kissing her on her forehead before walking into he kitchen and seeing all the ingredients laid out on the kitchen counters before looking at Buck.
"Oh yeah, I was about to start making you guys some breakfast, you guys woke up a bit earlier than I had initially thought though." He walks over and stands next to Bobby.
"Well how about I help you out so we can get to eating soon, hm?" He smiles as Buck nods towards him and they begin moving in sync in the kitchen. Both working quickly to prepare breakfast.
Athena stays smiling at the two men, pulling out her phone to take a photo of the duo. After a couple of minutes, Buck moves to the now done pot of coffee and pours some into a mug, fixing it how the woman likes it and walks over to where Athena is sat, settling it down in front of her with a little smile on his lips.
"Thank you, baby." She brings a hand to rub his arm softly before he moves back to the kitchen and she picks up the mug, taking a sip and sighing out at the delicious flavors coating her mouth.
"You're welcome 'Thena. " Buck says with a smile.
He's making his way back to the kitchen when he speaks up again, "Oh, I almost forgot, May said she'll be here around 2 'o clock or so and Harry will be here around 3 when his plane lands."
"I see you've got everything sorted out huh?" Athena chuckles.
"I hope you guys don't mind, I didn't really ask you guys if you had anything planned between yourselves." He looks between the two with a nervous look on his face.
"Oh no no, we were just going to stay in really. Maybe order in for dinner."
"Yeah, no need to worry kid. Happy to have you here and it's going to be nice to see Harry and May after a bit of then both being away." The older man rubs a hand on Bucks upper back and sends a smile
Eventually breakfast is done and the three are sat at the table, eating and chatting with one another. Buck gets up a few times inbetween to refill one of their mugs with coffee.
They spend the rest of the morning relaxing in the living room, browning through the channels until they settled on Spider-man. Bobby hadn't seen the newer installments with Tom Holland, as soon as Buck heard that he gasped dramatically before quickly picking up the remote and putting it on.
They laugh through it, Buck squished between the two comfortably. He never did anything like this with his parents, only Maddie. The two older Buckley's too busy or just plainly not wanting to bother with him as a child, unless he was injured or sick. That led to a still existing problem within Buck, but he's worked on it. But still, sometimes...
He shakes his head, knocking those thoughts out of his head, today was a good day, it was Bobby's day.
They're on part two when the doorbell rings, Buck pausing the movie quickly before jumping off the couch before either Bobby or Athena could.
"I got it!" He quickly makes his way to to the front door, opening it and seeing May standing in the doorway.
"Hey-oof!" He's engulfed in a tight hug, recovering quickly and wrapping his arms back around the shorter woman. He ans may had grown closer over the phone, her taking a liking to tell her all the stuff going on at school, but hadn't seen each other in person for about 6 months.
She pulls back after a while with a smile, "Hey, Buck!". "Hey, May. It's nice to see you after sooo long. We'll catch up more later since you're staying for the weekend, right now though," He looks off to the side where Bobby and Athena are standing with smiles on both of their faces. "Right now I think your mom and Bobby would be really happy to talk to you a bit too."
She nods smiling at him before turning to look at her parents and moving down the small staircase, barely making it within arm distance of her mom before being pulled into a tight hug.
"Oh my baby, I missed you." She squeezes May, placing a kiss on her temple. Her and Bobby share a hug too, May wishing him a happy birthday.
"Thank you, May. I'm happy to have you here today." He looks behind her, a confused look on his face. "Where's your bags?"
"Oh they're at the door," She turns to look at Buck with an overly sweet smile on her face. "Can you bring them in and take them to my room for me, pretty pretty pleaseeee~" She bats her eyes for extra measure making him groan and roll his eyes dramatically.
"Oh but of course, whatever the princess desires!" He hears the laughs behind him as he brings in her two bags before closing the door behind him and making his way to her room.
When he comes back the three are sat on the couch together chatting, he pulls out his phone, "Hey guys, look over here." They all turn to look at him, and he clicks a picture. He smiles at it, sending it to Athena when she asks before putting his phone back in his pocket.
He sits back down on the couch, himself and May squished between Bobby and Athena this time.
"You've got them watching Spider-man?" May asks with a laugh.
"Bobby said he hadn't seen the newer ones sooo.."
"Well press play, I wanna watch it too. I'll unpack my stuff tomorrow."
"Ay-aye captain!" He reaches for the remote, pressing play before settling back against the cushions.
They watch the last one, Bobby getting frustrated with the ending and learning that there's not another one currently.
Eventually Harry had arrived, also taking in the chance to have Buck carry his bags to his room. Buck making a joke about taking tips when he returns. They spend the next few hours catching up, playing some board games that Athena had stashed away in one of the closets from when Harry and May were younger.
The time reads 7pm when everyone but the kids are at the table. The 3 of them getting the cake ready.
"Now you guys don't need to put the actual amount of candles alright" Bobby says, trying to peek over the counter to see what they're doing. Athena laughing from where she's sat next to her husband.
May quickly sets up her phone on a stand on the counter, facing the table.
The three of the slowly start making their way to the table, the cake sitting in Bucks hands and Harry and May walking besides him, the candles glowing brightly and lighting up the three of their faces. The cake is placed in front of Bobby, the man's lips turned up in a wide smile. One of his and Athena's hands intertwined.
"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Bobby. Happy birthday to you!"
"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Dad. Happy birthday to you!" Buck sings, freezing as everyone looks at him and he realizes what he said.
May, Harry and Athena are smiling at him warmly. But Bobby has a look of pure shock on his face, his eyes slightly tearing up after a while.
"I'm sorry! It just slipped out and I didn't mean- I mean- Bobby-" He stops babbling when he feels a larger hand come up to cover his that's resting on the table.
"It's okay Buck. I," Bobby sniffles, Athena bringing up her free hand to wipe away the wetness from under his eyes. "I never though I'd celebrate another birthday, another birthday where I hear someone call me dad. I never thought I'd experience that again, but you..you kid changed that. Over the past couple of years we've known and we've worked together I've come to think of you as my kid. I don't expect you-"
"I always looked up to you as a father figure, Bobby. I've never had someone care for me as much as you have, besides Maddie of course, but she's my sister and you...you're the dad I never had growing up and I appreciate you so much for never giving up on me no matter the stupid shit-"
"Language Evan Buckley." Athena chimes in shortly.
"My bad. No matter the stupid stuff I did on and off the job. I'm grateful for you everyday. I don't know what I'd ever do if I were to lose you. Or you Athena. Or Harry and May. You're all people that have grown close to my heart and are my family." Everyone is in tears at the end, May and Harry coming up to hug Buck tightly,
"We've thought of you as our big brother for years now Buck." May says, Harry agreeing with her. The three of them separate after a bit and Buck turns back to look at the couple, both of them with tears in their eyes. They smile at him before he's rushing over to hug them. Their arms wrapping around him tightly.
"I love you, Buckaroo" Athena whispers into his ear.
It's silent for a few moments before Bobby's slowly pulls away slightly and speaking.
"I love you, kid" He smiles at Buck.
"I love y-" Bucks words get cut off.
He blinks and suddenly he's in some sort of lab, Bobby on the other side of some glass wall and dark circles are surrounding his eyes, a drip of blood coming out of the man's nose.
"Bobby?? Bobby what's going on??" He starts banging on the wall, his head turning quickly taking in his surroundings only to see he's all alone on his side.
Bobby smiles at him, tears rolling down his face as he shakes his head, "You're gonna be okay, Buck." Buck starts shaking his head quickly. "No- Bobby!" , "Remember that. They're gonna need you."
He starts stepping back from the wall and deeper into the room hes stuck himself in. Bucks sobbing now, banging his fists harder against the wall
"Bobby!! Don't- Please!!!"
"I love you, kid."
Buck shoots up in bed, his body soaked in sweat and his body slightly shaking. He starts sobbing, his body starting to harshly shake as the sobs rack through his body. His breaths coming out short and rough,
It's been a month since Bobby's funeral. A month of having the same recurring dream turned nightmare. The thought stuck in his head of how he never got to tell Bobby, how much he loved him too.
"D-Dad, make it stop. Please" His voice cracks through the sobs.
He's sat up in bed sobbing for an hour before his body finally seems to tire itself out and he falls back to sleep.