Chapter Text
Buck woke to a kiss to his cheek and a hand running through his hair. He hummed and leaned into the touch, looking at James with sleep filled eyes.
“Hi” James said softly.
“Hi” Buck replied groggily. “What time is it?”
“About seven in the evening.” James said softly.
Buck groaned and lowered his head back down to the pillow he had been relocated too. “I’m still so tired.” He said
“I know. I have gotten up a few times and you slept through it all. Chris was even playing a bit loudly downstairs with Cinder and still you slept through it.” James said still softly running his hands though Bucks hair.
“Why did you wake me up then?” Buck grumbled half heartedly.
James leaned down to kiss Buck head softly. “You need to eat. Then once that’s done you can go back to sleep. Also I think there is a kid that wants to see you.”
Buck huffed out a breath and looked up with a soft smile. “Alway taking care of me.”
“Of course. Need my fiancé in top condition to go be a badass lieutenant” James said.
Bucks eyes widen, looking down at the ring before looking back up to James.
“I got the best fiancé ever.” He said before pulling James down to kiss him.
“That’s my line.” James said. “So you still want to marry me?” He asked quietly, pulling away to hover over Buck.
Buck rolled his eyes “still want to marry you” he said dismissively before shoving James off of him and flipping them around so Buck was now on top. “Of course I do. Yes yes yes, that’s not going to change if I have anything to say about it.” Buck replied before kissing James deeply cradling his fiancé’s face.
James wrapped his arms around Buck holding him close as they kissed for a bit. He only let him loose when they were both out of breath and smiling to wide to easily kiss. They looked at each other getting lost when Bucks stomach rumbled causing them to break off into laughter.
“Come on fiancé mine. Let’s get some food in you.” James said.
Buck gave a side grin and a little wiggle showing how he was still trapped in James arms.
“That will only work if you let me go.” Buck teased.
“Never” James said but opened up his arms so Buck could get up.
Buck moved to get up but was suddenly pulled back into James arms causing him to laugh. “Never letting you go” James said softly.
Buck kissed James deeply “never letting you go either. Your stuck with me, mister Ryder.”
“And your stuck with me mister soon to be Ryder.” James answered.
Buck smiled at the name before looking down at his pendent. “Did you talk to your dad about this?” He asked softly.
James smiled and nodded “of course or rather he told me that if I don’t put a ring on you soon I’m going to regret it. I think he was more excited about having you as another son. He adores you blue eyes.”
Bucks eyes watered and he ducked his head down onto James chest. “He’s a great father. Your so lucky to have him.”
“You get to have him too now. I am more then fine sharing all of my family with you.” James said softly running his hand through Bucks hair. “More so my brothers so they can stop teasing me.” He said trying to get Buck to laugh.
It worked and Buck looked up at James with a smile on his face. “Did any of them know you were planning on proposing?
“I think they had a bit of an idea. I may have asked Steve if we could go out to the campsite for a bit of a romantic getaway. Stephen was on the same call and asked if I was thinking of popping the question then. Judd though, was the only one I showed a picture of the ring too.” James said softly.
Buck smiled “well I won’t say no to a romantic getaway still.”
James smiled “I was hoping you would say that. But now it’s time to get up and get some food.”
Buck nodded and pressed a kiss to James lips before wiggling out of James arms and getting up. He grabbed some lounge wear to relax in around the house for the evening and Buck had no qualms about it all being James stuff. The look James had on his face when the man realized what Buck was wearing, was an added bonus.
They made their way downstairs and found Eddie dozing on the couch while Chris was sitting on the floor with Cinder drawing a picture of the pup.
“Buck your awake!” Chris cheered jolting Eddie out of his dozing.
Even Cinder was excited as he got up and ran to Buck and James wanting cuddles.
Buck patted the dog before coming over to Chris and sit down on floor beside him and pulling him into a hug. Cinder crawling onto his lap. “Yah I’m awake Superman but I think your dad still needs some sleep” Buck teased.
“Well not all of us can sleep almost 12 some hours in a row” Eddie replied with some snark.
“And I would have slept more if Jamie didn’t wake me up.” Buck replied with a grin.
“Are you not feeling good?” Chris asked looking at Buck concerned. “I sleep a lot when I’m not feeling good.”
Buck smiled and ruffled Chris’s hair. “I’m okay, I was just really tired. It’s been a long two weeks.”
Chris looked at Buck closely before seeing his arm and the fresh bandage wrapped around it. “You got hurt though?”
Buck looked down at it “it’s just a scratch. Your dad made sure I was safe out there and patched me up.” Buck reassured the young boy.
“Good you get hurt to much.” Chris said with a nod before looking a bit shyly at Buck. “Dad said he’s going to be working with you? Does that mean we get to live here with you?”
Buck looked up to Eddie and James not sure how to answer that. Thankfully James stepped in sitting on Chris’s other side.
“You and your dad can stay as long as you need here so you both can get a great house that will be prefect for you.” James said giving Chris a smile before giving a reassuring nod to Eddie.
Eddie opened and closed his mouth before looking down. “I uh are you sure that’s okay?” He asked softly.
James nodded “of course. Your family to Blue eyes.”
Bucks heart soared and he was sure the heart eyes he had for James could be seen from space.
Eddie blinked before nodding. “Okay but we can help out and it won’t be for too long. We can find a place for us hey mijo?”
“But I want to stay here with Buck. I finally got him back.” Chris said softly moving to cling to Buck.
“Aw Superman I know it’s been really stressful and confusing and even if you get your own place with your dad you can alway come visiting us. Both of you will away have a place here.” Buck replied hugging Chris close.
“Can we live next door? Then I can alway see you and James and Cinder.” Chris asked.
Buck smiled “well that would be great now wouldn’t it?” Buck replied. “But right now you and your dad are welcome to stay here and that means we need to figure out food. So what are you hungry for?”
“Your pancakes?” Chris asked.
“With fruit?” Buck asked with a knowing look.
“Yah!” Chris said with a bounce.
Buck laughed “okay okay. Why don’t you go wash up and then you and I can get cooking.” He said.
Chris nodded and made his way to the washroom with Cinder scrambling up and following dutifully behind him.
“I’ll go get everything ready blue eyes” James replied getting himself up and giving a kiss to Bucks cheek before leaving the room.
“So are we going to ignore a certain elephant in the room?” Eddie asked softly with a small smile.
“What?” Buck asked a bit confused.
“Your hand” Eddie replied looking at the one with a ring on it.
Buck opened and closed his mouth and looked down. “Oh you mean this. Yah James proposed to me after we parted from you and Chris this morning.” He said with a pleased little grin.
“Congrats. I’m so happy for you. James really is amazing and he loves you so much.” Eddie said softly.
“He is amazing and I love him so much also. It still feels a bit like a dream really. That he chose me.” Buck confided.
Eddie tilted his head. “Why wouldn’t he chose you? Your amazing also, and he knows it.”
Buck smiled and looked down. “Sometimes that’s hard to believe but I’m starting to get it.”
“I’m glad. And if you and him ever need a day to have the house to yourself let me know and I’ll find something for Chris and I to do.” Eddie said.
“I will.” Buck said softly. “But for now it’s all good. If we ever get a little too lovey dovey for you and Chris let us know.”
Eddie nodded “I will but to be honest it’s really sweet so far. How your always reaching out to each other even without realizing it. Checking in on one another. I don’t think I have ever seen you so relaxed in a relationship before. Definitely not with that Ali chick.”
Buck smiled “yah I probably never was before but James gets me, you know? I can be myself around him. Not alway worrying if I’m enough.”
“You were alway enough Buck. It was the rest of us that didn’t see that before.” Eddie said softly.
Buck nodded. “I know that now but thank you. That means a lot.”
Eddie nodded back. “So what’s the plan, for your wedding?”
Buck chuckled “no clue yet. Never really thought that far. Still need to tell the rest of our team and James family.”
“Well if anyone can figure it out it’s you” Eddie said before getting up. “So we should get up and check on your fiancé and my son.”
Buck nodded getting up himself, but before they left the room Buck looked at Eddie. “Are you really okay with this? You don’t think this is all to fast?”
Eddie looked at Buck and sighed. “I’m okay with this really Buck. You and James really fit with one another. When you first told me that you were dating him and moving in with him I admit I was worried but I see now that he really cares for you and he would do nothing to hurt you.”
Buck smiled and looked to the kitchen where James was now helping Chris gather and sort out the ingredients.
“We will find someone for you too Eddie. For you and Chris.” Buck promised.
Eddie shrugged but he had a small hopeful look on his face. “It will be what it will be. Let’s focus on you and your amazing new chapter with James yah?” He said softly before leaving the room with Buck right beside him.
—-
Supper was a fun little affair with Chris leading the way. The kid had a natural talent of putting people to ease. He had everyone chatting and having fun. Jokes were being shared and stories were being told. When Chris found out about Buck and James getting engaged he asked softly to see the ring. After looking at it closely, he hugged Buck really tight. Then looking at James he told him that he better never hurt his Buck or they were going to have words.
Buck was grinning ear to ear at Chris’s protectiveness while James very seriously replied that he would do everything in his power to love and respect Buck and that if he was ever out of line Chris was free to do whatever he wanted to James.
That appeased the young boy before looking at his dad and asking if he was going to be Bucks best man at the wedding and if Chris gets to be in the wedding party with Cinder. Which then led into a talk on color schemes and food and the cake.
Bucks heart melted hearing the kid talk about his wedding so enthusiastically. He could just imagine Chris all dressed up walking down the aisle with Cinder and the wedding rings. Eddie at his side as his best man and James in front of him with that love struck smile ready to marry him. Stuart and James brothers would be there as well as the team. Suddenly his brain had latched onto the idea and he wanted to grab his computer and plan it all out. Right down to the smallest detail because this is real now.
“You okay blue eyes?” James asked.
Buck blinked and looked at him before nodding. “Yah, thinking about our wedding. And of course Eddie will be my best man and Chris will be in the wedding party with Cinder. Your going to have to decide who is your best man and, and the crew will be there and your family.” He said with a bit of a blush.
James chuckled and nodded. “We will have a lot of planning to do but it will be fun.”
Buck nodded.
“Why do you call Buck, Blue eyes?” Chris asked looking a bit confused at James.
James grinned “it’s because they were the first things I noticed about him. I didn’t know his name when we first met so I called him blue eyes in my head and then when he wasn’t upset by the nickname I kept it up.”
“Oh so it’s a term of endearment?” Chris asked. “Like how dad calls me mijo and how Buck calls me Superman, or when mom use to called me her sunshine?”
James nodded “yep just like those.”
“What does he call you then?” Chris asked tilting his head to the side.
“He calls me Jamie a lot, and Love.” James said smiling over to Buck.
Chris hummed before looking at his dad. “They are cavity inducing right dad?” He asked.
Eddie laughed and nodded. “They are but it’s okay because they love each other a lot.”
“Did you love mom like that?” Chris asked.
Eddie nodded “yah I did.”
“But you left each other?” Chris asked softly.
Eddie sighed. “Grown up love is not alway the easiest. Sometimes we make mistakes that hurt each other and sometimes those mistakes also hurt others like you and I’m sorry for that.”
Chris looked down at the table. “I miss her” he said softly.
“Me too mijo” Eddie replied softly.
“Do you think she would be happy with us if we lived here?” Chris asked.
“I think she would be happy as long as we are happy.” Eddie replied.
“Are you happy dad?” Chris asked. “You haven’t been happy for a long time.”
Eddie winced but nodded. “I think so or I will be in time. Never forget you make me happy mijo.”
“I know dad and you make me happy. But you need grown up happiness too. Maybe Buck and James can help you find someone that makes you happy like they are?” Chris asked. “Someone fun and smart and cares for me?”
Eddie swallowed and nodded. “I would only ever date someone that could love you as much as I do.”
Chris nodded before looking to Buck. “You can find someone like that for dad right Buck? You found James and he’s pretty cool.”
Buck smiled “he is and I will do my best.” He said looking to Eddie.
Chris seemed happy with that answer and moved on to talking about a new 3D project.
—
Somehow Chris wrangled James into showing him around his office after the meal and to see how things are made. Chris carefully made his way of the stairs under all their watchful eyes. Cinder kept pace with him too which Buck could not help but take a photo of. Since meeting the two were pretty much inseparable. Cinder loved Chris just like Buck knew the dog would and Chris loved Cinder.
Once in the office James had Chris sit in his chair and had his computer booted up and was showing the program to the excited boy. Chris was listening intently and asking all sorts of questions as James led him to a program where Chris could play with making shapes.
Buck and Eddie were leaning on the door frame listening. Buck grinning having heard all of this before and still learning something new from his fiancé.
For Eddie, he was relieved to see how James was with Chris. The man was kind and patient and happy to answer all the questions his son had. He explained things in a way that made sense. He knew Buck was incredibly lucky to find someone like James who just fit.
Soon though Buck and Eddie were throughly lost on whatever the two were geeking out about. Some sort of a brace that they clearly have been talking about last.
Deciding to let the two have their time Buck gave Eddie a bit of a tour of the upstairs.
They were in Bucks little escape office as he had taken to calling it and Eddie was looking around in awe.
“I think this is the first room that I have seen that actually screams you.” Eddie said softly looking at the little plants Buck had around the window before looking at the rest of the room.
Buck frowned “what do you mean?” He asked.
“It’s just…. back in LA, that loft you had it never was you. It was who you pretended to be I think. It was sleek and cool but impersonal. It lacked the warmth that your naturally give off. Nothing in it really screamed you lived there you know?” Eddie said looking to Buck. “And you kinda hung out a lot at my place but even then it was only fleeting. The only place you stayed at regularly was the station but even that wasn’t you. But here? I see you all through the house and in this room? This is you in room form.”
Buck was still looking rather confuse about it causing Eddie to try to articulate what he meant better. “This room shows you. Your desire for knowledge and fun in all the different books in these half filled shelves. You have a couch that screams comfortable where I can see you spending the day reading lounged out on it. And don’t think I didn’t notice that it is the prefect size for you to cuddle with James in here.”
Buck blushed and nodded having spent some hours doing just that.
“It’s also incredibly cozy in here, a fluffy rug, pillows and cozy blankets. I alway knew you would like those things and I can remember how you would eye those things the few times we all went shopping but you never got them and I didn’t know why.” Eddie said.
“I didn’t feel like I deserved them then.” Buck said softly.
“But you did and you do and I’m so happy to see them now. You have plants along the window, a little desk area perfect for your research binges tucked to the side. It’s just you. This room is you and it looks good. Like your finally settled in a place and happy.” Eddie said.
Buck smiled and nodded. “I am.” He said softly before chuckling. “Can you believe I almost thought that this room was because James didn’t want me around?”
Eddie opened his mouth in shock. “I’m sorry what now?”
Buck grinned and sat down on the couch. “It was after I moved in with James and during all that beginning panic with Covid. Between a rough shift and self doubt over a few things, James tells me that I should have a room here. I could not understand why and thought he meant he didn’t want to see my stuff all around. I was spiralling pretty bad.”
“So what happened?” Eddie asked.
Buck rubbed the back of his neck. “I had an appointment with my therapist thankfully, I talked to him and we worked through a lot of my concerns. Then I talked to James. And he reassured me that this room was not to hide my stuff away but to give me a place to relax and be fully mine. I finally got it that he was one hundred precent committed to me being here. And it helped a lot.”
Eddie smiled. “I’m glad, you deserve to have all these good things. You deserve to be have a healthy, loving, and committed relationship.”
Buck nodded looking at Eddie. “You do to, you know that right?”
Eddie shrugged and looked away. “I guess.”
“Dad! You got to see this!” Chris yelled from James office.
Eddie quickly slipped out before Buck could say anything “coming” he replied.
Buck frowned looking at Eddie’s quickly retreating back. He was definitely going to need to talk to the man where he can’t run away. Between the chat earlier and now something was clearly off with his friend.
—-
After seeing the 3D printer in action and Chris the proud owner of a little dog figurine that looked a lot like Cinder, They decided to call it a night as it was pushing ten.
Buck and James bid the two Diaz’s goodnight before going back up to their room.
Buck this time, had James cuddle up against him playing with their hands up in the air.
“Tomorrow I want to go out and get you a ring to.” Buck said softly.
James nodded “we can hit up the store where I had gotten this one tomorrow if you want.” James asked rubbing his thumb over Bucks ring.
“I want us to tell your dad next too. Tomorrow. Then after your brothers and then the rest of the team.” Buck said.
“Before or after we get the ring?” James asked linking their hands together.
Buck hummed looking at their linked hands, “before, I want my world to know your mine now. While a ring makes it obvious to the rest of the world, for our friends and families they already know how much I love you.”
James looked up from where he was laying on Bucks shoulder. “Sounds wonderful we can take a morning walk and see dad. Want Eddie and Chris there?”
Buck hummed and kissed James softly on his lips. “If they want to be. Eddie might want to hide out here. He’s… he’s going through something.”
James nodded “yah he is. You really wanting to play matchmaker through?”
Buck gave a soft smile “I can but I want him to be healthy and happy first. I’m going to see if he would be willing to see a therapist.”
James nodded “that would be a good idea. Are you going to be reaching out to yours?” He asked.
Buck nodded “a lot happened out there. With the fire and the chiefs and the 118. It would be good to talk a bit of that out.”
James nodded tracing his hand over Bucks.
“I was terrified out there. The first fire we were at wasn’t too bad. Granted it wouldn’t surprise me if I was in shock for most of it. Then the second happened and I was trying to figure out what I was doing. By the time the chiefs were asking us to go to the third all I wanted to do was come home. Everyday I had to give orders to people more experienced then me. Had to explain my actions over and over fearing that it was the wrong choice.” Buck confided softly.
“You did it though. And no one got hurt.” James replied just as softly.
“I had nightmares when I slept longer then a few hours at a time.” Buck whispered. “It’s probably part of the reason I am so tired. Kept dreaming that I was making all these horrible mistakes and that I was going to get my team killed and you were going to hate me. Or that it was you somewhere in the wildfire and I don’t save you in time. Or Stuart or Cinder.”
James gave a soft hum and kissed Buck. “We are all safe. You pulled the crew all through and your back in our bed safe and sound.”
Buck nodded before pulling to hug James tighter and so that he was more on top of Buck. “Love you” he said into the quiet room.
“Love you too.” James replied. “Forever and ever.”
—-
The next morning Buck woke feeling a bit more rested. He only woke once or twice throughout the night. This was due to some unpleasant dreams, but James comfortable weight against him was enough to help settle him back to sleep.
Looking at the clock he read that it was 8 in the morning and so he carefully slipped out of bed. Grabbing some clean clothes he got changed before heading down to make breakfast and to let Cinder out. He met Cinder at the bottom of the stairs and took the dog for a bathroom break and sat outside enjoying the morning air that was finally not smoke laden.
James followed not that long later and sat behind Buck holding him to his chest as they sat outside. Listening to the world wake up around them. This peace more then anything was what Buck craved and he was so lucky to have it with James.
Buck looked around the yard to the garden and snorted. “See our flowers took over every thing.” He said softly
James chuckled and nodded. “Yah they did.”
After a bit they heard Eddie and Chris wake so they went back in to start breakfast and to tell them the plans. Chris was super excited to go for a walk around the neighbourhood and to meet James dad. Eddie though was not and asked that if it was okay that he stay in the house for the walk.
If anything he looked nervous and anxious. Buck saw the dark circles around Eddie’s eyes and it didn’t look like he got much sleep.
Buck assured Eddie it was fine and hoped that the man could get some rest while they were all gone.
After breakfast the three got ready and went on the short walk.
Cinder of course, led them to Stuarts place and Buck was more then thrilled to see the older man.
Stuart demanded hugs from his ‘sons’ and Buck was quick to comply once he was fully masked up wanting the comfort of the older man too. It also did not take to long for the older to notice the ring on Bucks hand.
“Excuse me but did either of you forget to tell me something?” Stuart asked looking down to the ring and then back up.
Buck blushed and looked down to the ring while James wrapped an arm around him.
“I asked him yesterday morning and he said yes.” James said.
“So not so much forgetting as more your the next on the list after getting some sleep?” Buck said bashfully.
Stuart smiled and moved closer to Buck before pulling him into another hug
“I’m so happy for you my son.” Stuart said into Bucks shoulder.
Buck smiled and hugged the man tighter. “Thanks Dad” he replied back feeling a bit teary.
They introduce Stuart to Chris and the two easily hit it off like Buck knew they would. He was a little worried for Eddie though. It would not surprise Buck if Stuart had a few things to say to him. And with Eddie acting how he was it worried Buck that it could break the man.
After about an hour of talking and Chris playing with Cinder on the front yard they headed back to the house to see Eddie and call James brothers.
Eddie still did not look like he got a lot of sleep but he did look more awake as he sipped his coffee. Buck made a plan to talk to Eddie if he doesn’t look much better by tomorrow.
The call went great and both Steve and Stephen were excited for Buck and James. They waited on calling Judd so that he could be told with the team.
Then Buck decided that instead of calling the rest of the team he would just snap a photo of his ring and send it to the group chat with a simple caption of ‘Guess what?’
Not even thirty seconds later he was being called by Tim and then by everyone else. The group chat was going nuts as everyone was asking about it. A plan came about that in a few hours everyone would meet up at the station so they could see the ring. Tim was even going to be there as Nancy had collected him from the hospital and was having him stay at her place for now.
Buck was grinning from ear to ear reading the congratulations and excitement from his team. James at the same time had messaged Carlos and his friends at the hospital so they both were fending off messages and calls.
This time Eddie and Chris came with them to the station as Buck said it was a good time for them to see it also. Arriving at the station Buck was immediately pulled into hugs by everyone. James, Chris and Eddie stayed back not as big into group hugs at the moment. Carlos did pat James on the back and told him congratulations though. Judd was the most enthusiastic one of the group crowing that he got a new baby brother.
Chris of course got along with the crew members he had not met yet and it was clear to see that the crew all loved him.
Even Eddie was pulled into conversations and Buck could see that he was looking a bit more relaxed as each team member treated him with respect. Hopefully it helps somehow and Eddie can get a better sleep tonight.
Buck could not help the smile on his face as he looked at his team and his fiancé. He was a lieutenant now and soon he will be running a team. James and him were going to get married. Buck really could not wait to take on this new chapter in life.