Love On The Front Line - BUDDIE

Chapter Four

Word count: 1139

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"What do you mean... Us? Have I done something wrong." Eddie panicked as Buck closed the bedroom door, making sure Chris wouldn't be able to come in while they were talking.

"Relax, it's nothing bad. I was just going to say, what are we going to say to everyone who sees either of our next - they won't believe we have fallen over at work" Buck laughed, as he hugged Eddie, feeling how tense he was.

"Don't do that to me! And I hadn't really thought of that... We have our night shift tomorrow as well - who is going to believe us that we fell over. They are going to know."

"They're not going to know... I'm sure we can find some concealer or whatever girls call it."

"We could do that, but it would come off with how much we sweat - that's how they are going to know... Maybe we just keep it secret and that we don't mention each other. I mean we're not really a thing..."

"Oh yeah, we're not a thing so it's fine" Buck rolled his eyes, huffing in annoyance - attempting to turn away from Eddie, only to be stopped by Eddie's hand gripping his arm, he attempted to brush him off but he wasn't budging.

"What are you huffing at? Please don't do this - when you get all annoyed I can't read you, like what are you annoyed at! Was it me saying we aren't a thing? It's that isn't it" Eddie snapped, grabbing Buck's arm turning him towards him again.

"Nothing! It's fine, stop putting words into my mouth, can you let go of my arm - your hurting me"

"Buck! I'm hardly touching you, stop being stupid and listen to me! You wouldn't be acting like this if something wasn't going on" Eddie snapped back, looking into Buck's eyes as he tried to read his emotion which was hard.

"If I said everything's fine I am telling the truth, so just give it up - we need to see Chris anyways, let's just spend the day like nothing happened." Buck rolled his eyes, snatching back his arm.

"Fine, but we can't act like this whole conversation didn't exist - just please don't push me away." Eddie begged, walking closer to Buck.

"Fine... only this once though okay." Buck gave a half hearted smile before walking back into the kitchen to see Chris finishing off his last pancake.

"Did you enjoy them bud? I mean you finished off the whole plate, so I'm thinking you were pretty hungry." Buck hugged Chris before grabbing his plate, putting it straight into the wash.

"Yes! I could live off of them for the whole day! Can we have them for lunch too! Pleaseee Buck!" Chris begged, hugging Buck from the side.

"I was thinking maybe we could go to the beach and spend the day all together as we haven't really had a day to all spend together - my treat is we're going to the beach for the day." Buck smirked at Eddie who still looked defeated from the disagreement. "That's okay with you boss?" Buck raised an eyebrow, waiting for Eddie to object but he didn't he simply just smiled before thanking Buck for this.

Eddie watched Buck for a few minutes before taking Chris to get ready for their trip... He waited until he got into Chris's room knowing he was far away enough for Buck not being able to hear their conversation.  "Hey Chris... How would you feel if Buck was my boyfriend?"

"I would love it... Does that mean he can come live with us so I can have more of Bucks Pancakes?" Chris cheered.

"Hey little man, keep your voice down - I haven't asked him yet, and I guess we can ask him to move in if you want him too - this isn't all about me... do you think we should do it at the beach?" Eddie questioned his son, happy he didn't have a problem with his dad going out with another man.

"Yes! You should! You need to put nice clothes on dad! Let me help you find something out." Chris cheered, as he walked over to his dad's closet. "I think this would look amazing, it's fancy but it's nice to go to the beach!" Eddie raised an eyebrow as he watched his son go through his clothes.

"When did my son have more fashion sense than me?" Eddie chuckled, his attention soon reverting to the door, when a knock interrupted their train of thought.

"Hey, you two ready? I need to go past mine to get some clothes to change into."

"Hey, just use some of mine, Chris has apparently got more fashion sense then me, so he must have more then you - so let him choose something out for you... Chris do your thing" Eddie winked at his son before grabbing his clothes, going into the bathroom to get changed and to get his hair ready.

Eddie couldn't help but wonder How was he even going to ask Buck to be his boyfriend. He wanted to call Hen but then that would mean telling her everything, everything from the fire up until now.

Eddie grabbed his phone from off of the side dialling the only number he knew would be able to give him answers.

"Carla? Hey... No, everythings fine, I need to ask you something important... I-I wanted to ask Buck to be my boyfriend - but how the hell do I do that... Oh, okay... I was planning on doing it at the beach... A ring?!... Oh, I understand... You sure that's not overdoing it... Of course...  Okay, thank you - I will call you to tell you how it goes... bye Carla." Eddie huffed placing his phone back down, as he stared at himself in the bathroom mirror... here goes nothing.

Buck on the other hand was becoming more suspicious with both Chris's behaviour and Eddie's; it was as if from when they went to talk in the bedroom that they talked about something that Buck couldn't know about - but he brushed it off, focusing on the drive to the beach.

"You excited bud" Buck called out looking in the mirror seeing Chris looking in amazement at the views of the beach.

"Yes! I haven't been to the beach in forever! Dad has always been busy with work so we never got time to come! But you've made it possible! Thank you Buck" Chris smiled in excitement looking over and his dad and Buck who were now both smiling, yet Eddie couldn't help but feel guilty for not having the time to take him to the beach.

"Here goes nothing kiddo" Eddie whispered to Chris as he helped him out of the car, looking over at Buck who was looking out at the sea.