9-1-1 ᴅᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀ ᴏɴᴇ sʜᴏᴛs

Beach day - Eddie Diaz and Evan Buckley

Evelyn Diaz - Buckley - 10
(Chris is 12)

The sun was already high in the sky when Eddie Diaz and Evan "Buck" Buckley started packing the car for a day at the pier and beach with their kids, Evelyn and Christopher. The air was filled with excitement as the kids ran back and forth, making sure they had everything they needed for the day.

"Don't forget the sunscreen!" Eddie called out as he threw a beach ball into the trunk.

"Got it, Dad!" Evelyn shouted back, waving the bottle in the air before tossing it into the car.

Buck was busy packing a cooler with snacks and drinks. "Hey Chris, can you grab the beach towels from the laundry room?"

Christopher nodded and disappeared into the house, returning moments later with an armful of brightly colored towels. "All set!"

With everything packed, the family piled into the car. Evelyn and Christopher chatted excitedly in the backseat, already planning what rides they wanted to go on at the pier and how they were going to build the biggest sandcastle ever.

Eddie glanced at Buck as they drove. "This is exactly what we all needed. A day to just relax and have fun."

Buck smiled and reached over to squeeze Eddie's hand. "Definitely. It's going to be a great day."

---

The pier was bustling with activity when they arrived. The smell of saltwater mixed with the scent of fried food and cotton candy. The sound of waves crashing against the shore was almost drowned out by the laughter and chatter of people enjoying the sunny day.

Evelyn's eyes lit up as she spotted the Ferris wheel. "Can we go on that first? Please?"

Christopher nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that looks awesome!"

Eddie and Buck shared a look and laughed. "Alright, Ferris wheel first," Buck agreed. "Let's get our tickets."

The family made their way to the ticket booth and then to the Ferris wheel. Eddie helped Christopher into one of the seats while Buck assisted Evelyn. Once they were all seated, the ride began its slow ascent.

As they reached the top, they could see the entire beach spread out before them. Evelyn pointed excitedly. "Look at all the people! And the water looks so blue!"

Christopher leaned over to get a better view. "It's beautiful. I can't wait to get down there and build our sandcastle."

Buck put an arm around both kids. "It's going to be the best sandcastle ever."

After the Ferris wheel, they explored the pier, playing games and winning prizes. Eddie managed to win a giant stuffed dolphin for Evelyn, which she hugged tightly. Christopher was thrilled with his collection of small toys and trinkets from the various game booths.

They stopped for lunch at a seaside café, enjoying fish and chips and ice-cold lemonade. The kids talked animatedly about their favorite parts of the day so far, and Eddie and Buck couldn't help but smile at their enthusiasm.

"Ready for the beach?" Eddie asked once they finished eating.

"Yeah!" Evelyn and Christopher shouted in unison.

---

The beach was just as lively as the pier. Families were scattered across the sand, children were playing in the surf, and the occasional seagull swooped down to investigate any unattended snacks.

Eddie and Buck set up their spot, laying out towels and setting up an umbrella for some shade. Buck pulled out the sunscreen and began applying it to the kids.

"Make sure you cover every inch," he reminded them. "We don't want anyone getting sunburned."

Evelyn giggled as Buck carefully applied sunscreen to her face. "I know, Papa Buck. You say that every time."

"Just making sure," Buck said with a wink.

With sunscreen applied and beach gear ready, the kids ran towards the water. Eddie and Buck followed, laughing as they watched Christopher and Evelyn splash around in the shallow waves.

Eddie leaned down to help Christopher with a boogie board they'd brought along. "Here, let's see if we can catch a wave."

Buck stayed close to Evelyn, holding her hand as they waded into the water. "Remember, just let the waves lift you. It's like riding a bike; you just need to find your balance."

Evelyn nodded, her eyes wide with concentration as she tried to mimic Buck's movements. "I think I'm getting it!"

"You're doing great, kiddo," Buck encouraged. "Just keep practicing."

After a while, they decided to take a break from the water and build their sandcastle. Eddie and Buck helped the kids dig a large moat and build tall towers decorated with seashells they found along the shore.

"This is the best sandcastle ever!" Evelyn declared, adding the finishing touch—a flag made from a stick and a piece of seaweed.

Christopher nodded in agreement. "We should take a picture of it."

Buck pulled out his phone and snapped a few photos. "Got it. We'll have to show everyone when we get home."

As the afternoon wore on, they took turns playing beach volleyball and searching for more seashells. At one point, Evelyn found a particularly beautiful shell and ran over to show Eddie and Buck.

"Look what I found! Isn't it pretty?" she asked, holding up the shell.

Eddie examined it with a smile. "It's beautiful, Evelyn. You've got a good eye."

Buck nodded. "Definitely. We should add it to our sandcastle."

They added the shell to their creation, and then decided to take another dip in the water to cool off. This time, Buck stayed with Christopher to help him perfect his boogie boarding skills, while Eddie played in the waves with Evelyn.

---

As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the beach, they packed up their things and headed back to the pier for one last ride on the Ferris wheel. The view from the top was even more stunning with the sky painted in hues of orange and pink.

"Today was perfect," Evelyn said softly, leaning her head against Eddie's shoulder.

Eddie kissed the top of her head. "I'm glad you had fun. We'll have to do this again soon."

Buck nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. Family beach day needs to become a regular thing."

Back at home, they showered off the sand and saltwater, and then settled down in the living room for a movie night. Eddie made popcorn while Buck set up the movie.

Evelyn and Christopher cuddled up on the couch between their dads, their eyes heavy with the fatigue of a fun-filled day. As the movie played, Eddie glanced at Buck, who smiled back.

"Today really was perfect," Eddie whispered.

Buck nodded, his eyes filled with love and contentment. "Yeah, it was."

Evelyn fell asleep halfway through the movie, her head resting on Eddie's lap. Christopher lasted a bit longer but eventually dozed off as well. Eddie and Buck shared a look, both feeling a deep sense of gratitude for the family they had built together.

Carefully, they carried the kids to their beds, tucking them in and kissing their foreheads. As they stood in the doorway of the kids' room, watching them sleep, Eddie wrapped an arm around Buck's waist.

"We're lucky," Eddie said softly. "To have each other, and to have them."

Buck leaned his head against Eddie's. "Yeah, we are. And I wouldn't trade it for anything."

They headed to their own room, the memories of the day filling their hearts with warmth. As they lay down, Buck reached for Eddie's hand, intertwining their fingers.

"Here's to many more perfect days," Buck said.

Eddie smiled, squeezing Buck's hand gently. "To many more."

With that, they drifted off to sleep, their dreams filled with the laughter and love of their family.