Buddie: Partners in Fire

Chapter 89

Scene: At The Restaurant

The cozy, sunlit booth at their favorite breakfast spot was filled with the warm scent of pancakes and syrup. Buck, Eddie, and Christopher sat together, a plate of pancakes piled high in front of each of them, complete with whipped cream, berries, and a small drizzle of chocolate syrup that Christopher had eagerly requested.

Christopher sat on the opposite side of the booth, his little legs swinging happily under the table as he grinned between mouthfuls of his pancake masterpiece. He was practically glowing with excitement, and each bite seemed to fuel his enthusiasm as he launched into a story about his time with Maddie, Chimney, and Jee-Yun.

Christopher (grinning, his eyes wide as he poked at the whipped cream): "Aunt Maddie let me help make waffles yesterday! And Chim played all my favorite songs on his guitar. Oh! And Jee-Yun made a tower with her blocks, but then she knocked it down and started laughing so hard! It was so funny!"

As Christopher talked, Buck cut into his own pancakes, smiling warmly as he listened. The boy’s excitement was infectious, and Buck couldn’t help but hang on every word. Eddie sat beside him, cutting up Christopher’s pancakes into smaller pieces, though it seemed unnecessary since Christopher was already making quick work of them.

Buck leaned over, playfully swiping a bit of whipped cream from the corner of Christopher's mouth with a napkin, earning a giggle from the boy. Eddie glanced at Buck with a soft look, his heart swelling at the sight of them. It had been so long since he had seen his son this carefree, his face lit up with happiness.

Eddie (with a warm smile): "Sounds like you had a pretty awesome time, huh, buddy?"

Christopher (nodding, his eyes wide as he chewed another big bite): "The best! Maddie even let me flip some of the pancakes we made on my own!"

Buck chuckled, shaking his head fondly as he took another bite of his breakfast.

Buck (teasing): "Flipping pancakes, huh? Maybe you’ll have to show us your skills next time."

Christopher (grinning through a mouthful of syrupy pancake): "Yeah! I can make them super big like Maddie did!"

Eddie watched the exchange, his chest feeling lighter than it had in days. He glanced over at Buck, who was clearly absorbed in Christopher’s stories, a proud smile tugging at his lips. Eddie’s own smile deepened as he took in the sight—the man he loved and his son, together, effortlessly, like they were meant to be. It was in these small moments that Eddie allowed himself to feel that everything was falling into place.

Buck, noticing the way Eddie’s face had softened, reached under the table and gently placed his hand on Eddie’s thigh, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Eddie looked over at him, and this time his smile was wider, full of gratitude and warmth. Buck returned the look, his own heart swelling with love and contentment. This—this peaceful, easy morning with Christopher beaming across the table—was everything.

Christopher, oblivious to the silent exchange between the two men, eagerly dove back into his pancakes, but not before scooping up an extra-large dollop of whipped cream onto his fork.

Christopher (grinning mischievously): "Look, Dad, I made a whipped cream mountain!"

Eddie chuckled, shaking his head in amusement.

Eddie (mock stern): "Better eat that mountain before it melts all over the table, mijo."

Christopher giggled, quickly shoving the whipped cream into his mouth, and both Buck and Eddie laughed along with him. The playful energy at the table was contagious, and it felt like they could have stayed in that moment forever, just the three of them, eating pancakes and laughing like nothing else in the world mattered.