Chosen Family (Buddie)

Chapter 3

2 weeks later.

"What happened between you and Marisol?" Bobby asks Eddie during shift, the first shift back after the bridge collapse. His honeymoon with Athena went amazing and he loved spending time alone with her, but he's glad to be back home in Los Angeles, no matter how gorgeous the Bahamas were.

"Chris finally came out and admitted that he didn't want us together," Eddie replies. "He didn't tell me the real reason, he only claimed he didn't like her. He did like her. At least, better than the others." He looks around the table. Everyone is here, even Chim - who's on lint duty. "Where's Buck?"

"I'm guessing the reason Chris didn't want you with Marisol is because you stopped talking to Buck," Chim says. "He told Maddie you stopped calling and answering his calls after you got with Marisol."

"Conor and Kameron changed their minds," Bobby says when he sees the guilt and worry fill Eddie's eyes. "Buck's taking paternity leave because he kept the baby."

Eddie's eyes widen. "What?"

"He's been  home alone with him for two weeks because Natalia broke up with him the day he brought the little man home," Chim says. "She couldn't handle him being a father. Maddie helps him where she can, but she's been so busy with wedding plans. Buck doesn't trust his parents not to whisk him away to Pennsylvania under his nose. He's tried calling you, Eddie, because he trusts you more than anyone - besides Bobby, Athena, and Maddie - with the baby."

"And now I feel like a crap friend," Eddie says.

"You're not," Hen Wilson says gently. "You just got... happy, I guess. Buck would understand. He was happy with Natalia, and now he's a single father. Buck still adores you, Eddie, and Christopher. You should go see him after shift."

"I'm going to," Eddie says. He grabs his phone and he calls Carla.

"Hey, Eddie," Carla Pierce, a fierce home health aide Buck introduced him to for Christopher, greets.

"Can you watch Christopher for a while tomorrow?" Eddie asks. "I gotta check in on Buck. I've been a bad friend lately."

"You better," Carla gushes. "It's been too long. I got the boy. When's your aunt Josefina coming back to Los Angeles? He keeps asking about his Tia Pepa."

"She'll be back in a couple weeks, she's visiting abuela in El Paso right now," Eddie says. "Thanks, Carla."

"You tell me how Buckaroo's doing now," Carla instructs and hangs up.
******

Eddie drives straight to Buck's apartment building and parks in his usual spot - right Buck's Jeep. He sees the car seat in the back and he smiles a little. Buck's got a baby. He knows Chris will be excited. He wanted Eddie and Shannon to have a baby before Shannon died. Chris wants to be a big brother. He's sure Buck won't mind Christopher taking a 'big brother' role with the baby.

Eddie runs up the stairs and goes to Buck's apartment and he knocks, hearing cries. Loud cries. Buck opens the door, baby in hand, and he looks like a mess. His eyes are bloodshot, dark around them. He's pale. Eddie watches as relief floods Buck as soon as he sees him.

"Um... he won't stop crying," Buck says and Eddie enters the loft, it's messy, but Eddie reminds himself that Buck has been on his own when Maddie isn't over. "He's been fed, burned, changed. No matter what I do, he won't... stop... crying."

"That sounds like colic," Eddie says. "Let me try."

Buck's arms are shaking by the time Eddie takes the baby.

"Go take a shower, Buck," Eddie says over the cries. "Please. You stink."

Buck rolls his eyes.

"And sleep after you eat and drink two glasses of water," Eddie adds. "Carla's watching Christopher. I've been a bad friend, I'm making up for that. I'll watch..."

"Quinton," Buck rasps. "Quinton Davian Buckley."

"I'll watch Quinton," Eddie says. "Now shoo." He watches as Buck goes upstairs. He calls Athena as soon as the shower water turns on.

"What do you need, Eddie?" Athena asks. Bobby told her about Eddie going to Buck's today. No one but Maddie's seen him in two weeks.

"Do you still like cleaning?" Eddie asks.

"Buck's?" Athena asks.

"Yeah," Eddie replies. "Come in about two hours. He's about to shower. I'm making him eat and hydrate before I ship him off to bed. I'm not doing that bad friend stuff again. Not again."

"You weren't a bad friend, Eddie, you're human," Athena says. "Just... how did he react when he saw you at his door?"

"He was relieved," Eddie replies.

"Then remember that," Athena says. "Buckaroo missed you really badly. You always knew when he needed you the most. You always show back up. You did the same with Ana, too, if you remember."

"I know." Eddie looks down at Quinton, who has finally stopped crying. "He has colic, the baby does."

"Poor thing," Athena coos. "I'll be over there in two hours."

Eddie hangs up as the shower continues to run.
*******

Buck comes downstairs after sleeping hours later, he finds Eddie trying to cook but he's frowning at the stove. He's so happy that Eddie's here and not because Quinton stopped crying in his arms. He's missed him.

"What are you attempting to cook?" Buck asks.

"I don't even know at this point," Eddie says.

Buck walks over and he looks at it. "Yeah... I'll make something."

"Buck..."

"Eddie, you can't cook," Buck says bluntly and Eddie scoffs, pretending to be offended.

"I can cook!" Eddie gasps,

"Microwave foods don't count," Buck scolds.

"Eres un idiota, hombre," Eddie says bitterly and Buck grins. Eddie can't help but smile, too. "Fine." He then goes upstairs and Buck looks at his clean loft.

"Thank Athena for me," Buck says once Eddie comes down with Quinton. "I know her cleaning supply aromas from anywhere and you don't clean."

"Dude, you're just full of jabs after sleeping for a few hours, aren't you?" Eddie asks him accusingly while Buck staffs making some seasoned burgers with the ground beef he's had thawing all day, which was a planned dinner anyway.

While the burgers are cooking, Buck throws out Eddie's... whatever it was he tried to make.

"I thought Linda gave you recipes," Buck says after a while of silence.

"Just because I have them, doesn't mean I can make them," Eddie says. "Not good, anyway. Ask Christopher."

"Oh, I do, every Friday night on Warfare on PC," Buck replies.

"You two are evil," Eddie says. "I'm staying here tonight, then tomorrow, I'm taking you two home with me so Chris can meet Quinton and you have help while he's colicky."

Buck sighs and he nods, knowing better than to argue. Eddie lays Quinton down in the bassinet that Margaret sent over.

"I'm actually going to Maddie's tomorrow so that my parents can meet their grandson," Buck says. "I'll come to yours after."

Eddie nods. "You're being the bigger person, Buck," he says. "That's what I..." he pauses. "That's what makes you, you."

Buck smiles at him and he finishes cooking.