Black And Blue-E.Buckley (9-1-1)

ThirtyFour

I know I can treat you better than he can

And any girl like you deserves a gentleman

"What is all this?" Buck smiled from ear to ear as he walked down the stairs and into the kitchen where Eleanor stood. Her apron was peppered with flour. A plate of pancakes, a bowl of fruit, a plate of bacon, and orange juice all sat on the table.

"Breakfast, it's a big day." Buck walked around the counter. She turned to face him. 

"You didn't have to do all this," he wiped some flour off her cheek before leaning down to kiss her.

"I know, I wanted to. Also, it's not all for you. Maddie'd coming over to hang out for a little."

"Ah, okay." Buck leaned down again, reconnecting their lips as he wrapped his arms around her waist. As if on cue there was a knock at the door. "Is it just me or do we get interrupted a lot here lately?" Eleanor laughed and swatted his arm playfully before going to answer the door. 

"Good morning!" Eleanor admired how cheery Maddie always was in the morning.

"Good morning," Buck and Eleanor spoke in unison.

Maddie and Eleanor sat at the table on either side of Buck. "How excited are you?" Maddie asked as they all began making their plates.

"Super, I'm so ready to be back to work."

"He's definitely going stir crazy in the house."

"I believe it, he was like that as a kid too. Some things never change. He's never been good at staying inside and relaxing and I doubt it'll ever change."

The three made small talk while they ate. When they finished Buck offered to help clean up but Eleanor shooed him upstairs to get ready for work. Eleanor washed dishes as Maddie put away any leftovers. After she finished putting everything away she joined Eleanor at the sink. 

"Okay, I'm off." Buck quickly kissed Eleanor's cheek and hugged Maddie before rushing out the door.

"Have a good day!" Both girls yelled as the door closed.

Maddie grabbed a rag and started drying dishes. "So.. have you guys made any decisions about the wedding yet?"

"Not really. Honestly, we haven't really looked at anything."

"What are you waiting for? Do you want me to help? I'll help."

"Well, you'll have to help." A look of confusion covered Maddie's face. "Because I was hoping that you'd say yes to being my maid of honor.."

"Oh my god! Yes! Of course," Maddie jumped up and down in excitement before hugging Eleanor. "I was so hoping you'd ask. I wouldn't have been mad if you didn't of course."

"Maddie, there is nobody I'd rather have at my side. And besides you're kind of my only friend." The pair laughed. 

"That's okay, you only need me." Maddie flashed her pearly whites as she smiled wide.

"I mean, we could go through some magazines today and then I could just run it by Buck later."

"He will give you whatever you ask for. You could ask for an elephant entrance and he'd say yes."

"You think so?"

"I know so. He is wrapped right around that finger." Eleanor's cheeks turned a deep shade of red. "He really loves you. I've never seen him this happy."

Eleanor went upstairs to grab the magazines. She plopped them down on the table with a thud and smiled at Maddie.

"Someone's excited. How many do you have here?"

"Only about forty.." Maddie's eyes bulged slightly. "I never thought I'd be able to experience this so I may have gotten a little excited and went a tad overboard."

"I get it, I got to plan mine but it wasn't really mine."

Eleanor and Maddie each grabbed a stack of magazines and some sticky tabs and started flipping through. There was a couple, "Ooh look at this.", "What about this one?", and "I really like that one." That was about the extent of their conversation. 

"If I ever get married again I am so getting this," Maddie held up the magazine for Eleanor to see.

"That's cute. Would you get married again?"

"Yeah, I think so. I don't want if Chim wants to get married though."

"You haven't talked about it?" Maddie shook her head. "I can't really talk. Buck and I have not talked about like anything. I didn't know he wanted to get married until he asked. We haven't talked about kids. We probably should sit and talk."

"Yeah probably," Maddie and Eleanor both laughed. "Me and Chim too."

"There's just so much that I never thought I'd be able to do so I never really bothered to think about it."

"I get that too. Doug didn't want kids but if he did I would've found a way not to because I wouldn't have brought innocent children into that environment."

"Understandable. Michael did but he wanted to be married first. I'm glad it didn't get that far."

"It's harder to cut ties then." Eleanor grabbed Maddie's hand and squeezed. She was glad to have a friend like Maddie, someone who understood her so well. 

Maddie and Eleanor spent the next couple of hours looking through countless wedding magazines. From flower arrangements to dresses and table decor. Cakes and more dresses. By the time Maddie left they had set up an appointment for cake tasting and a dress appointment. 

****

"Hello dear," Eleanor answered cheerfully.

"You sound really happy. What did you and Maddie do? Should I be worried?"

"No, not at all. We just looked through some wedding stuff. Anyway, how's your day going?"

"Let's just say I'm glad one of us is having a good day," Buck sighed.

"That bad?"

"Not exactly what I was expecting. I mean I didn't expect a party and cake but I at least expected people to talk to me."

"I'm sorry. They'll come around eventually, they just don't understand."

"I hope so. Also, I got benched."

"For what? I thought you were back on active duty?"

"Well, today I'm on candy duty at the station. No out in the field for me."

"I'm sorry Buck."

"Yeah.. Well, I just wanted to check-in. I'll call you later. I love you."

"I love you, I hope your day gets better."

"Me too.." And with that Buck ended the call. Eleanor sighed, she knew it wasn't going to be easy for him to go back. She just wished there was something she could do to help.

****

Eleanor was pacing impatiently in the kitchen, watching the time tick by. Buck had called to tell her that he'd be home early. That was over an hour ago and he still wasn't home. She tried calling Eddie but he didn't answer. Buck wasn't answering either.

Finally, her phone rang putting a stop to her pacing. Her heart dropped when she looked at the screen because it wasn't Buck but another number she knew all too well.

"Hello," she hesitantly answered.

"Ms. Blair?" a nurse on the other end asked.