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

ThirtyNine

'Cause the day I thought I'd never get through

I got over you

"Wait, what? Someone maced Santa?" Eleanor asked as she grabbed dishes out of the cabinet.

"Yeah, they were fighting over this toy that everyone wanted. And then I kind of told the kids that  Santa wasn't real."

"Why?" Eleanor set the table, placing the dishes in their normal spots on the table.

"They were worried that he wouldn't be okay." Buck checked the food in the oven. 

Eleanor stopped and looked at Buck in shock. "You can't tell kids that Santa isn't real."

"I didn't mean to. It just came out." Buck defended himself. He grabbed the oven mitts and pulled the pan out of the oven. 

"Oh my.. you are so not allowed to talk to our children about stuff like this." Eleanor absent-mindedly spoke as she finished setting the table.

"What..?" Buck stopped everything he was doing. Eleanor also stopped, realizing what just came out of her mouth, and looked at him.

"Sorry, it just kinda slipped."

"I, uh, I was kind of thinking about it actually. I think I'd really like to have a mini version of us running around." Buck spoke nervously as he moved closer to where Eleanor was standing.

"Well.." Eleanor took a deep breath. "I'm glad you think that because I have something to tell you.."

Buck's eyes widened as he stared at Eleanor. "Are you..? Am I..? Are we..?" Eleanor nodded nervously. "Really?" She nodded again. Buck rushed over to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her up, and spinning her. Eleanor wrapped her arms around his neck. "When?"

"I don't know exactly. I haven't been feeling good so I took a test yesterday. This is not how I planned to tell you and.." Eleanor rambled. Buck grabbed her face and pressed his lips to hers to stop her rambling.

"I guess we have two things to plan for now," both Buck and Eleanor's smiles grew.

****

"After I said I had to work on Christmas he went to his room and wouldn't speak to me for the rest of the night," Eddie told Eleanor and Hen as he walked back into the dining room.

"It's just new. He'll get over it." Hen assured Eddie.

"I still get like that with Buck," Eleanor added, hoping to earn at least a smile from Eddie which she did, Hen as well.

"Abuelas bringing him to my aunt's. I know he's gonna have a great time. He just.." Eddie paused with a sad expression. "Last Christmas was special. This one's harder."

"Is that why you invited us all here? Trying to cram in as much Christmas cheer between now and then?" Hen asked before sipping her drink.

"Well, thought it'd be nice to bring the boys together for a play date."

"All three of them?" Hen looked at the boys in the living room and then back at Eleanor and Eddie.

"What can I say? At least I know he's great with kids." Eleanor smiled at Buck who was wedged between Christopher and Denny, playing right along with them.

"I promise you, he'll forget he was even mad by New Year," Hen added one more comment to their last conversation.

"Is it just me or does Christmas suck this year?" Buck asked as he finally joined the adults.

"Definitely not just you." They all agreed on this.

"It's been a rough year for everyone. So I'm happy to immerse myself in the magic of Christmas and I just look forward to putting this year behind me. I wouldn't be surprised if there's one more smack in the face." Hen shook her head.

****

A couple of hours later Hen and Denny for dinner with Karen. Buck and Eleanor had taken Eddie's offer to stay. Now Buck was in the living room with Christopher playing video games and Eleanor was in the kitchen with Eddie. 

"Ya know, as much as I love cooking, it is kind of nice to just sit here." Eleanor and Eddie both laughed. "I mean, don't get me wrong, Buck is definitely getting better." Eddie opened the fridge and grabbed out the bottle of wine and two beers. "Oh, none for me tonight." Eleanor stopped him before he could grab a glass.

Eddie looked at her curiously. "You never turn down wine. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" Eleanor nodded. Eddie didn't fully believe her but didn't press her on the topic. He grabbed one of the beers and brought it to Buck. When he returned to the kitchen he opened the fridge, grabbed a bottle of water, and handed it to Eleanor. She offered him a small smile. "So.. how's the wedding planning going?"

"Really good. I think we're almost done."

"What do you have left?"

"Um.. seating charts and decor. Maddie's gonna help me, we're gonna go DIY instead of buying. And I think that's about it. Oh and dress alteration."

"You picked a dress? That was Shannon's last task," Eddie smiled softly.

"Wanna see if?" Eddie nodded. Eleanor got up and stood beside him at the stove, leaning against his shoulder slightly. She pulled up the picture Maddie had taken for her and showed him. 

"Wow, that's nice. You're gonna look so beautiful in that," Eddie smiled at her.

"What's beautiful?" Buck asked as he entered the kitchen. Eleanor quickly hid her phone, holding it tightly against her chest as she leaned into Eddie more. "What are you two talking about?"

"Wedding stuff. I asked how it was going," Eddie spoke first.

"What's on the phone?"

"My dress." "Her dress." They spoke in unison. Buck looked back and forth between the pair before nodding. 

"Dinner's almost done," Eddie informed, breaking the semi-awkward silence in the room.