Chosen Family (Buddie)

Chapter 8

It's now time for the Buckley/Han wedding. Buck is struggling with his tie when Eddie enters the room in his dressy pants and no shirt. Buck doesn't blush because he's seen Eddie shirtless many times. Eddie chuckles at Buck's struggle and he walks over.

"You smell good," Buck says as Eddie starts to fix his tie. "Is that new?"

"Yeah," Eddie replies. "After seeing the Johnny Depp commercial, I got it."

"I'm glad he won that trial," Buck admits. "Men can be amused by women. It's not just women being abused by men. Women can be abused by women, men by men."

"Yeah," Eddie agrees. "I'd have been happy for JD either way, whether he won or not. He went out and he spoke, he was heard."

"It's hard to speak out, but it's good when you do," Buck says. "Look at Maddie."

"Her abusive husband is dead and now she's marrying someone better," Eddie says.

Buck looks in the mirror when Eddie finishes and goes to finish getting ready. Buck goes to check on Christopher and then he goes to get Quinton after he got Chris's shoes on for him when Chris asked for help. He gets the baby ready.
********

"The bride and groom have written their own vows," the minister says. "Howie."

"I want to start off with, I love you, Maddie," Chim says.

"I love you, too," Maddie replies back with such a passionate tone.

"You..." Chim clears his throat. "You are my rock. I didn't think I'd ever meet someone like you but then you moved to LA and stayed with Buck. I knew you were special when we first met at your own place. I just knew. I knew you were it for me, Maddie. And you are. You're it for me. I love you."

Maddie wipes her face.

"Maddie?"

"Oh, Howie." Maddie sighs. "I was scared when we first met. I was still running from my last, as you know. Running and hiding. I knew you were it for me when both of our lives were in danger and my focus was on you. We have a daughter together, and we're expecting another baby in seven months." She sees Chim's eyes widen. "I love you, too, Howie."

"The rings?"

Little Jee walks up with a pillow carrying the rings. The couple exchange rings.

"You are now pronounced husband and wife," the minister says. "You May now kiss your bride."

Buck wipes his eyes when they kiss and Eddie glances at him.
******

Buck is standing by Eddie, but he's watching as Athena laughs with Bobby and holds Quinton. He's not watching out of nerves, but love. He loves Athena like she's his mother, and he loves Bobby like a father. Eddie looks at Chris, who is talking to Maddie and Chim. He knows the butterfly kiss plan, Chim told him when he confronted him on the phone after Chris's talk in the cemetery.

Eddie looks over at Buck and sees him texting now. He watches as the butterflies get released. As soon as Buck looks up, Eddie nuts up and he kisses Buck suddenly.  Buck squeaks in surprise and Eddie pulls away. He shoots Buck a cheeky smirk and he goes to check in on Chris.

"Are you okay?" Bobby asks Buck when he approaches the stunned man.

"Did that just happen?" Buck asks him in shock.

"Yeah, it did," Bobby replies. "Again, are you okay?"

"I... don't know." Buck grabs his phone and he calls someone.

"Buck?" TK's voice fills his ear as Buck enters the Grant/Nash house where the wedding was hosted. "Aren't you at your sister's wedding?"

"Eddie kissed me," Buck blurts out.

TK goes somewhere else in his and Carlos's place. "What!?" he hisses. "When? What in the hell!!"

"He kissed me when they released the butterflies," Buck replies. "So I saw butterflies, and felt them. I don't know how to feel."

"Well, we know you love him..."

"Obviously, I do," Buck replies. He watches Eddie with Christopher. "I just didn't know he'd like me, too, man."

"You're an idiot," TK says bluntly.

Buck pulls his phone away and stares at it, offended.

"Even I saw the way Eddie looked at you in Texas," TK is saying when Buck puts his phone back to his ear. "You're either an idiot or you're blind not to see it, Buck."

"Hey, babe," Carlos's voice comes in through the phone. "Who's that?"

"Buck," TK replies. "Eddie kissed him and I learned that Buck's an idiot..."

"Dude!"

"He didn't know Eddie liked him back," TK says.

"Buck," Carlos says into the phone after stealing it away from his fiancée. "Tell me... did you even know Eddie liked guys?"

"I knew he was bi, yeah," Buck replies. "I was the first person he came out to. Before I realized I was thanks to you and TK." He sees Maddie walk in. "Hey, Mrs. Han!"

Maddie laughs. "Hey, Evan," she greets. She gives him a hug.

"You look beautiful," Buck says. "I hope I get a nephew this time."

"Me too," Maddie says. "I want a boy."

"Buck."

"Sorry, Carlos, my sister came inside," Buck says as Maddie goes back out to love on her husband and daughter.

"That's fine," Carlos replies. "You love Eddie, he clearly is into you, too. Make it happen. Or I'll sic TK on you when you're in Austin next month."

"Thanks, Carlos," Buck says. "Hey, I'm sorry about your dad."

Carlis sniffs and he hums. "Thanks, Buck. Owen talked some sense into my revenge-blinded self and now, the wedding is back on track."

"Good, because I'm looking forward to it," Buck replies and Carlos smiles a little. He sees Eddie coming. "I gotta go." He hangs up as Eddie comes inside. "Athena still have Quinton?"

"Your mom has him now," Eddie says. "She wanted to see him before she and your dad head back to Hershey tomorrow."

Buck nods. He remembers Carlos's words and he moves forward and kisses Eddie. Eddie's shocked but he quickly snaps out of his shock and he kisses Buck back, pulling him flush against him as they kiss. Eddie pulls away first, staring at Buck.

"I was given advice by some friends to make this happen," Buck says sheepishly.

"Thank TK and Carlos for me," Eddie muses and Buck blushes. He touches Buck's face softly and he sighs. "We'll talk tonight. Let's go enjoy the rest of the wedding."

Buck nods and they head back outside.