Buddie: Partners in Fire

Chapter 132

Scene: The Ceremony Venue – Late Afternoon

The laughter and whispers gradually subsided, and the crowd settled back into their seats as Bobby cleared his throat, stepping forward to begin. He took a deep breath, looking out at the familiar faces gathered around, then focused on Buck and Eddie, standing shoulder to shoulder in front of him.

Bobby (smiling warmly, glancing at Buck and Eddie): “Well, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little emotional today. And I’m sure everyone here feels the same. This isn’t just a wedding—it’s a testament to two lives that came together, two lives that, somehow, found a way to intertwine in the most remarkable of ways.”

He paused, letting his words sink in as he looked around at the guests, then back at the two men standing before him, both looking at him with open, grateful expressions.

Bobby (with a nostalgic chuckle): "Now, I think it's only fair that I take a little trip down memory lane—back to the first version of Buck who walked through the doors of the 118."

He paused, sharing a knowing smile with the crowd, many of whom chuckled, clearly remembering the stories they'd heard or the Buck they had met all those years ago.

Bobby: “We all know him now as this devoted, loyal, and brave man. But Buck 1.0, as we call him… well, let’s just say he was a little rough around the edges. He came into the 118 with this wild energy—he was eager, full of life, and maybe just a little too enthusiastic about… well, just about everything.”

Buck let out a laugh, rubbing the back of his neck as he looked down, his face going slightly red. Eddie nudged him gently, a smirk on his face, clearly amused.

Bobby: "Back then, Buck was a bit of a flirty guy, as they say. Let’s be honest—his mind wasn’t always on the job, or on anything remotely close to responsibility. No, Buck 1.0 was on a bit of a mission: a mission to meet every woman in Los Angeles.”

Laughter rippled through the crowd, and Buck laughed along with them, shaking his head in amusement. Maddie even clapped her hand to her mouth, trying not to laugh too hard as she gave Buck a playful side-eye.

Bobby (smiling): “He was always full of stories about his latest dates or his wild nights out. It became a bit of a running joke at the station: ‘What’s Buck up to this weekend? Who’s he going out with next?’ We’d tease him about his endless attempts to impress—he’d walk in on Monday mornings with stories that you’d swear belonged in some kind of romantic comedy.”

Buck (calling out, grinning): “I was just keeping things interesting, Cap!”

Bobby (laughing): “Yeah, you certainly did, Buck. And then, of course, there were the ‘classic Buck moments.’ Like that one time he thought he could climb up the outside of a burning building to reach a balcony. No backup, no safety rope… just Buck being Buck, thinking he could do anything.”

The guests laughed, and Buck rolled his eyes, looking playfully exasperated as he muttered, “One time…”

Bobby (smiling): “But for all his wild ideas and crazy stunts, Buck also had this unbelievable drive. I could see right away that there was something special about him. He was willing to do whatever it took to prove himself, to be part of the team. Because apart from being this flirty boy, he was this young, brave, sometimes reckless kid, with a heart bigger than the entire station. He showed up every day ready to do whatever it took to save lives, to be part of something bigger than himself. And in doing that, he became part of us. And over time, we saw him grow into this man we’re all so proud of today.”

The laughter softened, and a more reflective hush settled over the crowd.

Bobby: “And then, about a year later, Eddie joined us. This calm, steady presence—always a little reserved, always focused, and always there for his son. Christopher, you’ve got one heck of a dad.” (he gestures to Christopher, who beams with pride)