Emelia had been there, sitting in the front row next to everyone at the 118, cheering May on as she accepted her diploma. She was also the first to greet the girl. May having run into her arms after the ceremony and stealing her to take photos with Pilar and their other friends.
The only thing that caused a problem that morning of said grad party was May having lost her honors cord in Eddie's truck when they snuck away after the ceremony. Emelia only wanted to congratulate her and maybe that involved a little more kissing that wasn't PG but the bottom line was when Emelia had thrown her gown into the back, her cord went with it and under the seat. May was too busy fixing her hair and blushing to dig far enough to find it.
It wasn't a big problem, the Diaz clan just arrived an hour before the rest of the guests. Athena opened the door with a frazzled look on her face. Arm still in a brace but bruises healing nicely.
"Please tell me you have it." She begs, letting them in before she had her answer. Emelia held it up with a big smile.
"That girl can't keep track of anything." she shook her head fondly.
"That's what I'm here for." Emelia said before making her way down the hall to May's room. She knocks gently before coming in, holding the cord in her hands.
"Missing something." Emelia teasingly smirks at the other teen.
"It's your fault," May said, feigning offense. She had no complaints.
"I didn't hear any objections." Emelia said, wrapping the cord around her neck to pull her in. May giggles, letting Emelia pull her closer before their lips touch. May brings her hands up to cup her cheeks, thumbs running across her soft skin.
Emelia is overly aware of everything, the way her lips dance across hers. The smell of her perfume mixing perfectly with the delicate scent of her shampoo. The soft fabric of her dress as her knees grow weaker by the second.
"Unless you want to lose this again," she says in between kisses, tugging the cord once again to grab her attention. "We might want to hit pause."
May nods, leaving one last peck to her lips before pulling away with a smile.
==
"Oh we are so proud of you baby," Athena starts, smiles dancing around the room.
"My little girl, ready to start a new chapter." May smiles but grips Emelia's hand a little tighter. "You have your whole life ahead of you."
"So do you dad." She says, causing laughter to erupt through the room. And for what feels like the first time that night, May lets go of her to hug her dad.
"Alright, alright. To the graduates of 2020!" Everyone raises their classes to toast to May and her friends that managed to make it. They tapped their glasses together before May leaned in for another kiss.
Harry and Chris pretend to gag and it only makes the girls do it once more before the cake is being cut and the music is turned up all the way. It truly was a party.
Now she knew this would probably put her in the dog house but she couldn't pass up on the chance to mess around with May. Her and Harry had barely thrown the plan together before Emelia started to distract May. Handing her a piece of cake before Harry winked over her shoulder. She got May to turn her attention towards her little brother before gently grabbing her arms and pinning them at her side until Harry could smash some cake in her face.
"You little brat." She gasps, completely ignoring her girlfriend to chase after her brother. Emelia laughed alongside everyone who saw their little prank unfold. She gets him back and Harry should be grateful he made it out with both his eyebrows, merely a bit of vanilla icing smeared across his face.
Emelia is still giggling when May makes her way back to her, "You got a little something there."
She says pointing to her whole face.
"Really? Do I?" May asks, slowly creeping towards her until she could grab her cheeks and pull her in for a kiss. Smearing cake all over Emelias cheeks and nose in the process.
"You got a little something there." May says in a mocking tone but there is no heat behind her words. Chris is laughing his head off and Eddie snaps a few pictures and sends them to Buck. Athena quickly shoos them to the bathroom so they don't get anymore icing on the floor.
They help each other clean up, Emelia is gentle as she wipes the icing from her face.
"I think I'm going to talk to Maddie about becoming a dispatcher." May blurts out, Emelia doesn't even flinch. After their conversation and the dance and the many that followed she knew something was coming.
"Really? That's awesome May." She says, getting the rest of the icing off just in time for May to smile. "Like I said before, I support whatever you want to do. And I love you."
May does the same for Emelia but she has no big news to share before they're heading back into the main room to take photos in the photo booth with the rest of their family.
She manages to sneak away to write a small message on her board. 'Love you always.' Is all she writes because there isn't enough space for her to get out everything she needs to say.
"Short and sweet, I like it." Buck comments before snatching the marker from her hands. Winking at her as she goes to find her girlfriend again. She finds her leaving the backyard with Maddie, a special smile on her face.
"How'd it go?" She smiled, handing her a drink.
"She said she could help get me an interview and start my training next month if it goes well." She nearly jumps with joy, grabbing on to her arms to keep herself from bouncing away.
"That's amazing." She wraps her up in a hug, swaying back and forth for a moment.
"Mom doesn't know yet but I think this is something I can be really good at." She seems unsure of herself but Emelia doesn't want her to think that way for even a second.
"I'm so proud of you May. So proud. You are going to be the best dispatcher LA has ever seen"
"You are so cheesy."
"But you're going to dance with me to celebrate anyway." she grins cheekily, spinning her a few times before they started to jump along to the music.
==
Emelia watches as Chris' bus pulls away from the sidewalk and he waved goodbye to them both. Eddie looks away just long enough to look at the card he left them and Emelia doesn't know when the tears started.
"Why would you just let him go?" She chokes out, punching him in the shoulder.
"What?" Eddie laughs at her reaction, noting the tears and lopsided smile.
"I mean what kind of father just lets their kid go off with a bunch of strangers for two weeks." She gapes at him, but there is no heat behind her words.
"Weren't you the one who said I need to be more relaxed? Let him live his life?" He asks, wrapping an arm around her to guide her back to the car. He remembers the conversation clear as day. Emelia has been the final push in allowing Chris to go. Her assurances of him needing to be with kids his own age and make experiences for himself.
"I'm 17 years old, I'm just a child. Why would you listen to me?" There are still tears streaming down her cheeks and Eddie stops for a second to wipe them away.
"He's going to be fine, he's a big boy and he can handle himself." Eddie smiles softly as he throws the same words she said to him not 2 days before right back in her face.
"I know that," she groaned, using the palms of her hands to wipe away the rest of the tears. "I can't believe you. Letting a 10 year old..." Emelia goes on as she walks around the truck. Mumbling to herself as she does. Eddie chuckles again, knowing as soon as they get to Bucks it's going to be 2 against 1. And not in his favour.
YOU ARE READING
The Family We Choose
FanfictionHoping to give his daughter a fresh start, Eddie moves to LA. With Texas in their rearview mirrors, their journey with the 118 shows them what family is all about.
