Buddie: Partners in Fire

Chapter 144

[Author Note:
Hi everyone, happy new year 🥳 I hope 2025 is going to be a good year for all of you.
I'm sorry I haven't been able to post sooner. I had a lot of things to do between Christmas, New Year's Eve and my exams]

Scene: The Diaz-Buckley Home – Late Afternoon 

The golden afternoon light filtered through the windows as they stepped inside their home, the air carrying a new sense of completeness. Everything felt brighter, warmer, as if the house itself recognized the monumental shift in their lives. 

Christopher darted ahead, his boundless energy carrying him straight to the living room. 

Christopher (calling over his shoulder): "Dad! Buck! Hurry up! I’m setting up a game—and I’m gonna win this time!"

Buck dropped the keys onto the kitchen counter, grinning as he kicked off his shoes. Eddie, standing close, reached for Buck’s hand, pulling him into a gentle embrace. 

Eddie (softly, his voice full of emotion):  "You did it, Buck. You’re officially his dad."

Buck (smiling back, his hand sliding to Eddie’s waist): "No, Eddie. We did it. I couldn't have done it without you. We’re a team, always."

Eddie leaned forward, brushing a soft kiss against Buck’s lips. 

Eddie (murmuring against his mouth): "Always." 

A loud clatter came from the living room as Christopher struggled to set up the game pieces, followed by his exaggerated sigh. 

Christopher (mock dramatic): "Are you guys coming, or are you gonna be mushy all day?"

Buck laughed, pulling away from Eddie but keeping their fingers loosely entwined as they headed toward the living room. Christopher was already cross-legged on the rug, furrowing his brow as he tried to organize the board game pieces. 

Buck (teasing): "Mushy? Us? Never."

Eddie (smirking as he sat down beside Christopher): "You’re the one always calling us 'the best dads ever'. Don’t pretend you don’t like it."

Christopher (grinning): "Yeah, but not when you’re being slow! I wanna play!" 

Buck dropped onto the rug beside them, reaching over to help Christopher with the game pieces. 

Buck (pretending to inspect the setup): "Hmm… are you sure this isn’t already rigged? I mean, you always seem to win, Chris."

Christopher (laughing): "It’s not rigged! I’m just better than you, Dad!"

Eddie (grinning, leaning back on his palms): "He’s got a point. He does win a lot."

They settled into the game, laughter filling the room as Buck exaggerated his reactions to every move Christopher made. 

Buck (mock horrified): "No! Not my piece! You’re ruthless, Christopher!"

Christopher (giggling): "Told you I’d win!" 

As the afternoon stretched on, they played more games—Monopoly, then Uno, and eventually an impromptu game of charades that had Christopher rolling on the floor with laughter when Buck tried to act out a giraffe. 

Christopher (clutching his stomach, gasping through giggles): "A giraffe doesn’t look like that! What are you doing? A turtle?"

Buck (pouting dramatically): "Hey, I’m doing my best here! Eddie, back me up!"