BUT DADDY I LOVE HIM, ᵉᵛᵃⁿ ᵇᵘᶜᵏˡᵉʸ

023

Season 3, Episode 10
'Christmas Spirit'

"Oh, great, you're here!" Rylin said once she opened the door for Buck.

"Yeah, what exactly did you need me for—" Buck started, but became speechless once he saw the absurd amount of christmas decorations he saw lying around in Rylin's apartment.

"Too much?" Rylin asked.

"Just a little." Buck laughed nervously.

"Okay, whatever." Rylin said before handing Buck a box of tinsel with a big smile on her face. "Wrap this around the staircase."

"I didn't know you love christmas this much." Buck said, beginning to wrap the tinsel around the staircase.

"Well, now you do." Rylin laughed.

Buck walked over to Rylin once he was finished with the tinsel. She had began hanging ornaments on the christmas tree.

Buck smiled as he watched Rylin hang each ornament. Seeing how joyful she was made him happy.

"Hey, is this you?" Buck asked as he picked up an ornament from a box.

Buck didn't notice at first, but Rylin's smile dropped. She hesitated for a moment, but cleared her throat. "No. That's Lilah."

"I'm sorry." Buck said, noticing her entire demeanor changed.

"Don't be. You didn't know." Rylin laughed as she contiued to hang ornaments. "Hey, could you pass me the star?" she asked, quickly changing the subject.

Christmas was her and Lilah's favorite holiday. They did every tradition you could think of. Once she passed, Rylin continued to carry on with the many traditions. Despite it hurting every year knowing Lilah isn't there to celebrate their favorite holiday, Rylin didn't want that to be a reason for it to be her least favorite.

Buck nodded, understanding she didn't want Lilah to become a topic of conversation and grabbed the star from a different box as Rylin got on a step ladder so she could reach the top of the tree.

"That ladder does not look sturdy at all." Buck laughed as he watched Rylin reach her arms out, attempting to get the star on top of the tree.

"Just a little rusty, that's all." Rylin said as she stuck her tongue out, trying to focus. Buck laughed again as she continued to struggle. He offered to help, but she refused.

It only took a few minutes for the ladder to start wobbling beneath Rylin. She realized it was going to fall, and started to pull away from the tree to get down. As she did so, the ladder fell from beneath her. She was ready to go to the ER, assuming she was about to hit her head or sprain an ankle, but thankfully, Buck caught her.

Rylin looked up and was sort of stunned by how close they were to each other. Her breath hitched once Buck's hands moved to her hips. She could've sworn he looked at her lips.

Buck cleared his throat. "Told you it wasn't sturdy." Buck said with a stupid grin on his face.

"I thought I could reach it." Rylin said, trying to make sure he doesn't know her ego is slightly bruised and that it felt like a million butterflies were flying around in her stomach.