after season seven

Chapter 32: Buck

I've always loved my job, but getting to work alongside my boyfriend while doing it is even better. We're still the same Buck and Eddie, except we kiss and do a few other things together now.

It's been about a week since we told the 118 and life could not be better.

Eddie and I are currently over at his house getting ready for Maddie and Chim's gender reveal party. Eddie is finally shaving off his mustache while I wash his face. "So, do you think it's gonna be a boy or a girl?" He asks me.

"I know they both want it to be a boy so they can have one of each, but I can just feel that it's going to be a girl. They're just meant to be girl parents, you know?"

"Nah, it's definitely going to be a boy."

"What! We can't show up in different colors, though!"

"Why not?"

"Why not? You're supposed to be on my side!"

He laughs. "It's not about being on sides, Buck. It's about trying to correctly guess the gender of the baby. And I think it's gonna be a boy."

"You're ridiculous. I'm going to check on Chris."

Eddie shakes his head as I exit his bathroom and put on a pink shirt I kept in my dresser. Yup, Eddie got me a whole dresser to keep my stuff in at his house. I definitely didn't cry when I saw it or anything like that.

After pulling on my shirt, I walk down the hall towards Christopher's room and knock on his door.

"You ready?"

"One second!" He calls out and I hear shuffling for a couple of minutes before he pulls the door open. Wearing a blue shirt.

"Uh... what are you wearing?"

He looks down at his shirt and back up at me. "Blue because I think it's going to be a boy!"

As much as I want to argue, I love Chris too much to get mad at him so I just shake my head and usher him towards my car so we can leave.

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"Buck!" Maddie calls out as she rushes across her house to hug me as soon as I'm through the door. "I can't believe I had to find out you and Eddie are dating through Chimney." She whispers in my ear.

Everyone at the party knows to keep our relationship on the down low today because Eddie and I still haven't found the right time to tell Chris.

"I'm sorry! But I called you the next day."

She side eyes me before she goes to greet Eddie and Chris. My heart twinges as I watch the three of them interact. Even though Eddie and Chris have been a huge part of my life for years now, they don't see Maddie very often which, now that I think about it, doesn't make much sense at all. I should plan a lunch where we can all just talk.

"You guys didn't have to bring gifts!" She says as she pulls away from Eddie and swiftly takes the gifts from our hands and places them on a table with all the other gifts. "Everyone is in the living room." She says as she makes an inviting gesture with her hands.

We follow her into the room and are surprised to see practically everyone here. Chimney, Jee, Mara, Albert, Bobby, Athena, Hen, Karen, Denny, Josh, Sue, and our parents.

They all welcome us excitedly before we gather around as Chim and Maddie prepare to pop the black balloon that holds the gender of their future baby.

We start to countdown from 3 when the doorbell rings.

"Oh, is someone else coming?" Maddie asks as she puts the pin down and jogs over to the door.

"I don't think so." Chim replies as he scratches his head in thought.

We hear the sounds of Maddie greeting a man at the door before they walk in together. "Ravi is here!"

"Hey! I thought you couldn't make it?" Chim asks as he moves to hug him.

"Last minute change of plans." Ravi says before sitting down beside me on the couch.

"Okay, now everyone's here." Maddie announces before picking up the pin and getting ready to pop the balloon again.

"Three..."

"Two..."

"One!" We all shout in unison.

I watch in anticipation as Maddie brings the pin up to the balloon and pops it. Pink dust flies all over the tarp they set up in their living room.

Everyone cheers and congratulates the couple. After a few seconds of celebration I turn towards Eddie. "I told you so."

He looks at me and smirks as he shakes his head.

"So it's a girl?" Chris asks from the other side of Eddie.

"Yup. You and I were both wrong." He answers.

Chris laughs and leans his head on Eddie's arm. I smile at the two of them before I stand to give Maddie a hug.

A few minutes later after the excitement has settled, we all dig into the assortment of desserts. Maddie and Chim's house isn't very big so we all cram into the dining room and living room. The entire 118 as well as Chris are in the living room while Maddie is in the dining room with everyone else.

"So, how have things been with you two?" He asks directed towards me and Eddie, trying to make conversation.

"Uh... what do you mean?" Eddie asks while attempting to convey with his eyes to shut the fuck up.

Ravi being oblivious continues. "How have things been since you and Buck started dating?"

Silence falls over the room and everyone outside of Ravi turns towards Christopher.

"Dad, What is he talking about?" Chris asks.

Ravi quickly understands what he did and shock falls over him as well all wait for Eddie's response.

"I was going to tell you-"

"No!" Chris leaves out the front door as fast as he can and silence falls over everyone.

"I'll go talk to him." I say as I begin to stand up from the couch but Eddie grasps my shoulder firmly and pushes me back towards the couch.

"No. I'm his father. I'm the one who should talk to him." And with that he storms out of the room and follows Christopher's footsteps.

Logically, I know that it makes much more sense for Eddie to go talk to him but it also hurts to know that Eddie doesn't want me there with him. I feel like Chris is my son as much as his own but he clearly doesn't feel the same way.

"I'm sorry, Buck. I didn't know." Ravi apologizes from beside me.

"It's okay. It's not your fault, I just... I just need a minute." I stand up from the couch and instead of following Eddie and Chris, I respect Eddie's wishes and head to the bathroom to take a second to calm down.