Chapter Text
It had become a tradition that every time one of the 118 ended up in the hospital, the moment they managed to get out they would be received with a cake and a welcome banner.
Eddie was finally released from the hospital after being shot in the shoulder and the adrenaline wouldn't stop coursing through his body, he needed to get back to work. Don't get him wrong, Eddie loves some free time, binge-watching the telenovelas Tia Pepa recommended to him with Chris and Carla —or even with Buck, who wouldn't give it a second thought to crashing at his couch with the vague excuse of keeping an eye on him—, but he couldn't stand it anymore.
Carla had already left with Christopher when Buck knocked on his door, waiting for him with his characteristic sunshine smile. In their years of weird co-parenting friendship Eddie still hasn’t been able to wrap his head around the fact that, no matter how early he had to wake up, Buck would always look like an Angel sent from the Gods Above.
All platonic, obviously.
"You excited?"
"You have no fucking idea." Eddie laughed while closing the door behind him before giving Buck a little pat on his back. Buck smiled back as they walked to the Jeep, as always Buck in the driver’s seat. It turned into a routine at this point, no matter how many times Eddie would tell him that he could drive himself around, Buck would just brush him off.
The car started with the radio music playing.
🎱
"Just wait one second… Now open your eyes!" Buck removed his hands from Eddie’s face before jumping in front of him with the rest of the 118 (Including Carla and Christopher, he would talk about it later with Buck) in an unison "Welcome back!"
"Oh God!" He laughed while covering his face with his right hand. Everyone took turns to say hi with a tight hug included before Buck and Christopher started approaching with a frosted white cake with a "Welcome back, Diaz!" written in red. Eddie crossed his arms over his chest and raised an eyebrow in his boys’ direction, making Christopher laugh while Buck gave him that cheeky little smile he always had in his face when he did something with Chris without his approval.
Although he is not proud to admit this, Eddie has caught himself thinking about erasing that ‘I’m a little shit’ smile from his face with a kiss way too many times to consider it platonic.
"Care to explain this for me?" He tried to keep his face as serious as he could but Christopher smiling so sweet made it an impossible task to complete.
"I wanted to surprise you, dad." Eddie lowered himself a little before taking Chris into his arms, lifting him while messing his curls a little, making the younger boy laugh.
"And what an amazing surprise. Thank you, buddy."
"Well, I’m gonna go cut this cake before we get jinxed by probie again."
"Buck, we’ll talk about allowing Chris to skip school later." Eddie reprehended with a raised eyebrow, only gaining as a response another damn cheeky smile, Eddie can swear that one day that man is gonna be the death of him.
He guessed he got too caught up in his thoughts because he didn’t realize when Carla appeared besides him, arms crossed, little smirk and a notorious side eye. Eddie knows there’s no way of escaping Carla’s accusatory stare. "When is it that you’re gonna stop this little “platonic co-parents” game and ask the guy on a date?"
"U-uh, hey Chris, why don’t you go with Buck and help with the cake?" Eddie chuckled nervously, lowering himself and helping Christopher stable himself.
“OK…” Christopher started to walk in Buck’s direction with a smile. “Hey, Buck, do you need help…?”
“Now that the kid can’t hear us, could you answer the question?”
“I-I really don’t know what you want me to say, Carla. It’s not that easy. It’s not like I can just go to him and say “Hey, Buck, y’know how we act like a married couple and you’re basically my son’s second dad but in a totally platonic way? Well I don’t feel like it’s that platonic after all”” he said with frustration all over his face.
“Don’t see why not. That man loves you and Chris with his whole heart, and it’s not like Chris would have a problem with having Buck as his second dad, I mean, isn’t he already?”
Eddie couldn’t help his eyes from looking at Buck and Chris with a smile lingering on his face. It was just so domestic, so natural, he couldn’t even remember how life was when he didn’t have Buck by his side.
“I don’t know, Carla. I just… need time. I’ll help over there.” He gave her a tired smile before heading to the table. “Hey, guys, you need any hel-?”
“Dad! I’m missing a slice!”
Dad?
As in father?
Christopher just called Buck…
Dad?
His whole body stiffened a few steps behind them, being able to see how Buck mirrored his own actions, his muscles tense through the grey shirt, ears red and Eddie could imagine his cheeks a same color.
“D-dad…? Y-yeah, buddy, uhm I’ll give you one right now!” His heart was rapidly racing against his chest, not knowing how to approach them now.
Should I say something? No, absolutely no. At least not now with everyone still recovering from the shooting.
He’ll have time to process and talk this through with Buck. It’s all fine.
Under the nervousness and sudden anxiety that hit him like a wall, his chest felt warm at the thought of Christopher feeling this way about someone, something he had longed to achieve with all his ex girlfriends, to find Christopher another role model, another parent.
All this longing when Christopher already found his other parent in Buck.
Oh wow.