The Family We Choose

Chapter 65

The thing with Ana "moving in", besides the fact that Emelia strongly disliked her, was she was such a pushy person without her dad around.

While Emelia tried to remain grateful for her stepping up to be with Christopher while we went to work (choreographing her littles dance was a lot easier without Ana barging in every 2 seconds) she was the most infuriating houseguest.

She was messy, nothing Emelia did was good enough. She treated Chris like a baby half to time. Emelia could honestly go on forever.

To say the least, Emelia was done after the first sleep and she's going on day 4 now.

"Good morning." Her cheerful voice rang in her ears before she could leave the coziness of her bedroom.

With Bucks sweater hanging off her shoulders, Emelia manages a wave before heading to the bathroom. She FaceTimes May while she's getting ready, needing something to keep her from loosing it all.

May smiling face pops up on her screen and Emelia feels the tension release in her shoulders.

"Morning," May says, Emelia can see the busy call centre around her and tilts her head in confusion. "You're at work already?"

Emelia pouts wholeheartedly. May giggles as she pours herself a cup of coffee.

"Josh called me in last night and covered an Uber."

"Bummer, I was looking forward to seeing you." Emelia places May onto the bathroom sink, deciding that she was only washing her face and brushing her teeth as there was no reason to do her hair now.

"I know but I promise you can still pick me up and with the power out I can come up with at least a million reasons why I'm late." May winks and it brings Emelias mood back up.

"Fine, but you owe me."

"Oh trust me baby, I'll make it up to you."

Baby? That was new but Emelia definitely didn't hate it.

"I'm holding you to that."

"How's your back?" Emelia nods her head. After the adrenaline worn off and the paramedics were picking the glass from her skin, she had to admit. It hurt like a bitch.

Now, 4 days later, the scars itch and she can't wait to get rid of the stupid bandages.

"They're healing that's for sure." She resists the urge to scratch as she speaks.

"I'll help change the bandages tonight okay?"

Emelia smiles before she hears a knock on the door. She rolls her eyes and waits for Ana to call out to her. Asking if she wants breakfast.

May give her a sympathetic look. "I love you."

"Love you to traitor."

Emelia hangs up the phone and meets Ana in the hallway.

"I'm good thanks." Emelia offers a smile but can practically feel the frown on Ana face as she walks away.

She promise her dad she would be civil, she said nothing about liking the woman.

"Hey, we were going to bring lunch to the station. Did you want to come?"

Dumb question. Of course she wanted to go. The only communication she had with her dad and Buck was through texting.

Emelia of course doesn't say that and simply nods her head.

—

The smile that erupts on Emelia face when she sees her dad then Buck is one that Ana hasn't seen since Eddie came home from the hospital.

Chris runs into Buck arms as Emelia falls into her dads.

"Looks like the new chief is here." Buck beams right back at them.

Eddie places a kiss to the top of her head and only releases her when Buck places Chris back on the ground. Emelia takes his open invitation and stays tucked into Bucks side.

She leans in further when he attempt to let go and Buck immediately pulls her back in, keeping his heavy arm over her shoulder.

An unfamiliar face is standing next to Buck. She looks at him with a smile which he return awkwardly.

"Oh Ravi, this is my son Christopher and my daughter Emelia." Emelia waves but Christopher smiles happily at Ravi. Loving the idea of a new friend.

"You're a firefight?"

"I'm what they call a probationary firefighter."

"Did you do something wrong?" Chris asks and Emelia smiles at the way Buck immediately cuts him off.

"Constantly."

Feeling left out, Ana pipes in with her own introduction. "I'm Ana."

"You must be Eddie's wife." Ravi says and she freezes. Buck can feel tension in her shoulder that reaches all the way to her toes. His hand automatically runs up and down her arm in a calming motion.

"Not yet." Chris sings but it causes Emelia to drop her head. She misses the panic reach her dads face. The fear causing his eye brows to furrow and his eyes to grow distant.

The only thing that gets Emelia out of this conversation is May calling her. She reaches into her back pocket and Buck grins at her. Nodding to the locker room where she could have some privacy.

"Hey thanks for the save."

Buck corners her when she's off the phone with May. May had just wanted to check in on the ball of nerves she calls the love of her life.

"Hey, did you want to talk about anything?" He sits on the bench in front of her. Wordlessly telling the girl to take a seat. She does. At first unsure if she will even say anything but as soon as Buck gives her his puppy eyes, she's done for.

"Ana is driving me nuts. Like bouncing off the walls, pulling my hair out insane." It was a drastic over exaggeration but Buck still did his best not to laugh.

"What?"

"She is so bossy. Like I can't even cook supper without her looking over my shoulder and treating Chris like a baby. Which yeah sometimes I do but that different. I'm supposed to take care of him. He's my little brother but she. She takes it too far." Emelia says all in one breath. Her hands moving wildly.

Buck just looks at her, working her thoughts into his brain to try and figure out what she needs.

"Have you talked to your dad?"

Emelia give him a look. Telling him obviously not.

"And why not?"

"Cause he seems happy. He seems to really like her. Who am I to ruin that? I just wish..." the young girl trails off. Her brain suddenly pounding into her ears. "I just wish she would leave me alone sometimes."

"What if I talked to your dad?"

"Buck you can't do that." She shakes her head but Buck places a hang on her shoulder, calming her nerves.

"Yes I can. He's my best friend. I can come from it as the concerned friend." Buck wraps his arm around her again. Pulling her into a side hug.

"Concerned friend huh? Not jealous work husband?" She teases, earning a series of pokes to her sides that has he squirming out of his grip.