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It starts when he almost beats up a guy in the bar.
The guy had been making fun of Buck’s rescue that night being broadcasted on the news, calling him reckless, saying that Buck had just been trying to get some fame and that the city would be safer if firefighters paid more attention to doing their jobs instead of rappelling down high rises.
He’s clearly not aware of the man in question sitting a few seats away at the bar, and Eddie can see Buck shrinking further into himself with every word.
So Eddie says something. And instead of backing down, the guy gets in his face.
Eddie lands a few punches before Buck and Hen pull him away, scolding him as they rush out of the bar before someone decides to call the police.
Hen drops them both off at Buck’s apartment with a quiet talk to him said to Buck before she leaves.
“What were you thinking?” He asks as soon as the door closes behind Hen.
Eddie shrugs. “He was being a jackass,” he says as if that justifies it.
Buck sighs deeply. “You can’t just go around throwing punches, Eddie. I thought you were past that.”
And yeah, ok, that’s fair. “I am past that. He was insulting you and using my words didn’t work.”
Buck rolls his eyes. “I can defend myself. You don’t have to do it for me, especially when you could be arrested for it.”
Eddie holds back an eye roll of his own. Yeah, well, I’m in love with you so I’m never going to stop defending you, idiot.
But he doesn’t say that, because he’s not stupid . Instead, he says, “I know I don’t have to, but you’re my best friend so I’m always going to have your back, no matter what. Besides, what he was saying was clearly bothering you and it didn’t look like you were gonna say anything.”
“Because I didn’t want to start a scene , Eddie. I can handle a random guy that doesn’t know me saying some bullshit at a bar. Sure, it sucks, but I’m a professional and in the end, it doesn’t matter what he thinks,” Buck says, shooting a pointed look in Eddie’s direction.
And suddenly Eddie isn’t feeling so great about jumping to Buck’s rescue. “He should learn to keep his mouth shut. You’re a hero , Buck. No one can discredit that. So I put him in his place. I’m sorry if it seemed like I was stepping on your toes or something, but he deserved it.”
Buck is quiet for a long time, longer than Eddie is comfortable with, and Eddie starts to worry that maybe he actually fucked up.
Slowly, Buck closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “I don’t want to be the reason you start hitting people again.”
It’s so quiet that Eddie almost misses it. But he doesn’t, and it feels like a punch in the face. Ironic , he thinks as his heart cracks. Carefully, he walks towards Buck, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Hey, look at me,” he whispers. Buck’s eyes snap open and he meets Eddie’s gaze. “You’re not . I never should have hit that guy. I’m so sorry, Buck.”
Buck swallows and nods before a tiny smirk graces his features. “Just don’t do it again.”
Eddie smiles. “I won’t.”
Everything seemingly goes back to normal after that, but Eddie thinks, as he climbs into bed later that night, maybe saying sorry wasn’t enough.
When he wakes up the next morning, he comes up with a plan. He gets Chris dressed and off to school and then puts his plan into action.
The thing about Buck is that he loves plants. Like, a stupid amount. And while Eddie will never understand it because he can’t keep a plant alive to save his life, he knows Buck is great at it. Like weirdly amazing at it.
Getting Buck flowers feels a little too obvious to Eddie, considering how he feels about his best friend, so he decides to try and be more subtle. And besides, Buck hates regular bouquets of flowers because they always die. Buck had been talking about getting more houseplants since Albert moved out, but he hasn’t actually gotten any yet. So Eddie heads to the nursery near Christopher’s school after dropping him off.
His plan is going great up until he walks through the front door and immediately feels overwhelmed. There are aisles and aisles of hundreds of different plants in the greenhouse and Eddie has no earthly idea where to begin.
Luckily, a young girl wearing an apron notices him standing awkwardly in the middle of an aisle and takes pity on him.
“Can I help you find anything?” she asks sweetly, wiping her dirt-covered hands on her apron.
Eddie sighs defeatedly. “Honestly, I have no idea where to even start. I was hoping to get a plant as an apology gift because Buck hates traditional flowers and loves these, but I don’t know anything about them. I kinda have a black thumb.”
The girl laughs. “Ah, an ‘I’m sorry’ gift for the boyfriend. Not to worry, I’m here to help.”
And Eddie is going to correct her, he really is, but then she’s asking him how often Buck is home to water the plants and whether there’s a lot of natural light in the apartment and Eddie decides to let it go.
Twenty minutes later, Eddie leaves with a plant that the girl had called a peace lily, laughing at how it was perfect for ‘making peace’. It was in a black ceramic pot that Eddie figured Buck would like. He hoped this would be a good apology.
It’s Saturday and also their day off, so Eddie double-checks that Buck is home by sending him a quick text before driving over to his apartment, the plant sitting in his passenger seat.
He has a key to Buck’s apartment, but given that this is kind of a gesture of sorts, Eddie feels like he should knock.
Buck opens his door with a confused smile on his face. “Why did I give you a key if you’re not going to use it?”
“I’m sorry,” Eddie blurts out, holding out the plant awkwardly.
Buck looks at the plant, then back up at Eddie before bursting into laughter. “You’re such an idiot, you got me a plant to say you’re sorry? You really didn’t have to do that.” He takes the plant from Eddie and heads into the kitchen, an almost giddy look on his face.
“Well, you don’t like regular flowers, and I know you’ve been talking about getting more houseplants, and the girl at the store said this is a peace lily which I thought would be perfect for, you know, making peace after last night--”
Buck cuts him off with a grin. “Eddie, you’re rambling.”
“Sorry,” Eddie says, a smile spreading over his face as well.
“Stop saying that, we’re good. Really good.” He looks back at the plant, his smile growing even wider, if possible. “I can’t believe you got me a plant.”
Eddie shuffles his feet. “If you don’t like it--”
Buck cuts him off again, this time with a crushing hug. “Shut up, I love it.
So that’s how it starts, and once he’s started, he can’t stop.
It’s been almost a year since Eddie first gave Buck a houseplant as an apology gift, and now his apartment looks like the goddamn garden of eden.
Eddie doesn’t just give Buck houseplants when he fucks up bad, like the barfight. He does it for small things too: when he gets way too drunk and Buck takes care of him, after he snaps at Buck when he’s really tired, when Eddie cancels plans last minute because Chris is sick or Abuela needs him to do something. It’s just a thing now, and he can’t stop. And unfortunately, Buck really is good at keeping houseplants alive, so every time Eddie goes over, it’s like his mistakes have been immortalized in a beautiful array of green. He really should just stop. The plants are technically just reminders of all the times he’s fucked up, big or small. But every time Eddie brings Buck another plant, he lights up like the damn sun. He loves those stupid plants. So Eddie is stuck.
What’s worse is that everyone else refuses to let it go. Hen had come over to Buck’s apartment one night after the number of plants had started to get slightly excessive and when she’d asked, Buck had happily told her that they were from Eddie.
It hadn’t taken her long to call Eddie because what the fuck, Diaz? And he’d caved and told her everything. How he’s hopelessly in love with his best friend--who he is essentially raising a kid with, by the way--and how he’d meant for the whole plant thing to be a one-time deal but then Buck just got so happy and now Eddie can’t stop getting them even though every time he sees the ever-growing collection it’s just a sad reminder of every time he’s fucked up.
What do I do? He’d asked a little desperately.
And Hen, who really could have been more helpful, laughed and told him to go buy a damn rosebush and tell him you love him.
In the months since, everyone else at the station had found out about the plant thing and Eddie’s feelings and they’re all very entertained.
Hen and Chim keep calling them his Fuck-up Flowers and Eddie is pretty sure he’s going to die of embarrassment eventually.
Buck doesn’t seem at all bothered by the teasing though, always responding with they’re houseplants, not flowers and leaving it at that.
Eddie has resigned himself to a life of unrequited love and houseplants.
Then, Buck nearly dies. Again.
It’s not even during a shift when it happens. Being a firefighter is supposed to be the dangerous part of Buck’s life, not driving to the store late at night because he’s craving goldfish.
Eddie has just finished putting Chris to bed when his phone starts ringing. He checks the number but doesn’t recognize it. Slightly concerned, he answers.
“Is this Eddie Diaz?” a woman whose voice he doesn’t recognize asks.
“Yes,” he says, he frowns. “Who is this?”
“I’m calling from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Evan Buckley has been brought in and you’re listed as his emergency contact.”
Eddie doesn’t hear much after that. He’s already waking up Christopher and telling him what’s going on and he’s hung up by the time they get to the truck. Maddie , he thinks, he needs to call Maddie . And Bobby .
He tries not to speed as he drives to the hospital, his heart racing, though he’s sure he doesn’t do a very good job. He calls Maddie from the car, explaining that Buck is in the hospital and that all he knows is there was an accident. Understandably, Maddie freaks out, only calming down enough to tell Chim what’s going on. Eddie hears Chim tell her to go , that he’ll stay home with baby Hope and to please keep him updated. Maddie hangs up as she rushes out the door, so Eddie calls Bobby next and repeats the process all over again.
He pulls into a parking spot twenty minutes later, and with Chris in his arms, rushes into the hospital.
“Hi,” he runs a hand through his hair, frazzled and anxious. “I’m looking for a patient. Name is Evan Buckley, he was in a car accident, brought in about half an hour ago?” He’s talking fast, but he can’t be calm, not now.
The nurse at the receptionist’s station types a few things into her computer and looks back up at him. “He’s in surgery right now. Go to the waiting room through those doors, and to the left. The doctor will be out to see you as soon as the surgery is over, but it’s going to take a while.
Surgery . That terrifies Eddie even more. “Why is the surgery going to take so long? What’s wrong?”
The nurse gives him a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry, I don’t have details. You’re just going to have to wait.”
Eddie gulps and nods, turning away from her and heading to the waiting room.
He sets Chris down, collapses into a chair and drops his head into his hands. All the stupid, reckless shit Buck pulls at work and he’s in a car accident ? It’s too much.
Maddie rushes into the waiting room five minutes later with Bobby and Athena trailing behind her. Her eyes scan the room frantically before they land on Eddie, hunched in his seat, tears pricking his eyes.
“Eddie!” She rushes over and he stands up instinctively, pulling her into a hug. “What happened? The nurse didn’t have any information and all you said was that there was an accident. Is Buck okay?”
Eddie chokes back a sob, taking a second to compose himself before he looks up at Maddie. “I don’t know, no one’s told me anything either. He’s in surgery right now.”
Maddie nods wordlessly and sits down next to Eddie, gripping his hand like a lifeline. Chris, who hasn’t said anything since they arrived, slowly stands and moves around Eddie, clambering into the chair next to her. He throws his arms around her neck and whispers, “It’ll be ok.”
Maddie burst into tears, wrapping her arms around Chris and holding him tight. “Oh, Christopher.”
The angle is awkward for them both but neither one lets go and Eddie feels tears track down his cheeks.
“I called Hen,” Athena says, doing the best job out of all of them at putting on a brave face. “She’s on her way.”
Eddie nods but doesn’t say anything, his mind conjuring up all the worst possible scenarios.
They sit in silence for about half an hour before a doctor comes into the waiting room holding a clipboard. “I’m looking for the family of Evan Buckley?”
They all stand quickly, Maddie still holding Christopher’s hand and clutching Eddie’s arm in her other. “That’s us,” Bobby says.
The doctor nods, walking over. “He’s still in surgery, and it will probably be another few hours. He was hit by a drunk driver in an intersection on his driver’s side.” Maddie sucks in a sharp breath as the doctor continues. “His right lung collapsed on the way in; he has several broken ribs and a lot of internal bleeding. The impact caused a brain bleed, but that seems to have stabilized.”
“Is he going to survive?” Maddie asks, her voice small and scared.
The doctor sighs. “Honestly, it’s too soon to tell. We’re always hopeful, but I can’t give you a definitive answer here.”
They all thank him and settle back into their chairs.
“He’s going to be okay,” Eddie whispers, almost to himself.
“Eddie,” Bobby starts but Eddie cuts him off.
“No, he’s going to be fine ! He has to be. I can’t lose him.”
“You heard the doctor, they’re not sure--”
“They weren’t sure if he’d ever walk again after his leg injury but look at him now! He’s going to be fine!” Eddie’s voice is shaking. “He has to be fine. He can’t do this, he can’t leave me, I love him, and he can’t die, not like this!”
Eddie’s whole body is shaking and he can’t breathe. Buck can’t die, he just can’t.
He loses track of how long they all sit there in silence. Hen shows up at some point and Athena quietly fills her in before she joins their silent vigil. Chris falls asleep against Maddie’s shoulder at some point and Athena begins to pace.
The doctor comes into the waiting room once more, this time making a bee line for them. “Mr. Buckley is out of surgery and stable, but there were some complications and he’s been put into a medically induced coma.”
“And, uh, how soon will he wake up?” Bobby asks.
The doctor gives him a sad look. “It could be a few days, maybe longer. But, you all should prepare yourselves for the possibility of him not waking up.”
“When can we see him?” Maddie asks quietly, Chris still asleep next to her.
“He’s in the ICU, so only immediate family can go in and only two people at a time. I can take you back now.”
“Okay,” Maddie nods and carefully extracts herself from Christopher’s grip. “I’m his sister, this is his husband, Eddie.”
Eddie does his best not to look shocked at that as the doctor nods. He can’t believe Maddie was able to lie so smoothly just so he can see Buck.
Athena promises to sit with Christopher so Eddie follows the doctor through the double doors, holding onto Maddie’s hand so tight he fears he might be hurting her.
The doctor leads them through a closed curtain and Eddie’s knees nearly give out.
Buck looks… broken.
He’s hooked up to half a dozen machines with cuts and bruises all over his face and arms. Maddie chokes out a strangled sob as she collapses in the chair to Buck’s right.
Eddie slowly walks over to his best friend, his heart in his throat as he reaches a shaking hand out to grab Buck’s. He grips it tight, the feeling of Buck’s hand in his the only thing grounding him.
“Please,” he chokes out. Maddie looks up at him, eyes wide and shining with tears. “Please come back to me, Buck.”
He collapses into the chair opposite Maddie, feeling every bit of energy flee his body. He’s exhausted. He clutches Buck’s hand in his own as tears start to fall once more.
Wordlessly, Maddie reaches her hand across Buck’s unconscious form and grabs Eddie’s free hand. And that’s how they stay until Eddie drifts off to sleep.
The next week is difficult. Buck doesn’t wake up after a few days. His body is healing, the bruises less angry, the cuts starting to heal, but he doesn’t wake up.
Christopher keeps asking to see him, begging to see him, but Eddie refuses. He doesn’t want his son to see Buck looking the way he does. He looks dead, and if Eddie hadn’t been told repeatedly that he’s not, he’d probably believe it. Carla agrees to work a ridiculous amount of overtime, taking Chris to school, to the hospital, and staying the nights where Eddie can’t bring himself to leave Buck’s side.
The chief gives the team as much time as they need while Buck is injured, so everyone is mostly at the hospital all the time. Everyone keeps giving Eddie these pitiful looks that make him want to punch a wall, but no one says much.
Buck was moved out of the ICU a few days after the surgery. He has his own room now and is allowed visitors that aren’t immediate family, so they’ve got a sort of cycle going. Bobby sits with him and reads out loud, Maddie sits with him and tells him stories about Hope, Chim makes halfhearted jokes, and Hen simply talks to him. Athena tells him to be strong and come home.
Eddie is silent. He rotates less than the others do, usually staying long enough for three people to come through before he leaves, sometimes just to go home and hug his son, other times to run errands and check in on Buck’s apartment.
The first time he notices that one of the plants is wilting slightly, Eddie breaks down. Right in the middle of Buck’s kitchen, he starts to cry.
Another week goes by and Buck still hasn’t woken up. Eddie is exhausted. He’s barely sleeping, he’s not eating; it feels like he’s the one dying, not Buck.
But for the first time since his world crashed around him, he’s feeling one small spark of hope. Buck’s doctor had told them that his brain scans were showing increased activity, that they think he’ll wake up.
They’re just not sure when.
It’s a Thursday when it happens, about three weeks after the accident. Eddie finally agrees to let Chris see Buck, so Carla brings him to the hospital after school. Buck’s bruises are faded, visible, but less scary, and the stitches have come out of his cuts.
Chris walks in slowly, clearly not knowing what to expect despite both Eddie and Maddie doing they’re best to prepare him for the sight of Buck.
Eddie hears his son inhale sharply before he throws himself at Buck. “Buck? Bucky? I’m here, it’s Chris!” Chris maneuvers himself onto the bed beside Buck with Eddie’s help, being careful not to hurt him. “Dad says that you’re asleep, but it’s not like regular sleep, so I can’t wake you up. But he says you might be able to hear us. Please wake up, I miss you a lot and—“
Chris gasps, turning wide eyes on his father. “Daddy, he moved!”
Eddie sighs. “Chris, I know this is hard, but—“
Then he sees it: Buck’s pointer and middle finger curling ever so slowly around Christopher’s small hand. Eddie chokes out a sob, rushing forward and grabbing Buck’s other hand. “Buck? I’m here, we’re here. Wake up, please.”
One of the machines at Buck’s bedside starts beeping fast and seconds later a nurse rushes into the room, shooing Eddie and Chris out of the way.
Eddie all but runs to the waiting room where Bobby, Maddie, and Hen are sitting. “Something— Buck— I think—“
He can’t form a sentence, has no idea what just happened. Bobby rushes forward, grabbing his shoulders and guiding him into a chair. “Eddie, breathe. What happened?”
Eddie opens his mouth to respond, tears running down his cheeks, but doesn’t get the chance.
“He’s waking up,” Buck’s doctor says from the doorway.
Then, everyone starts moving.
Buck wakes up slowly; it’s another hour before he’s fully conscious, and then the doctors have to run a thousand tests before anyone is allowed back.
When he finally, finally , steps out into the hallway, he smiles. “Mr. Buckley is awake and talking. There doesn’t seem to be any memory issues and all his tests are looking good. He wants to see you.”
Everyone rushes in, and there he is, sitting up and smiling. “You know, for someone who just slept for three weeks, I’m exhausted.”
Maddie makes a sound somewhere in between a laugh and a sob and rushes forward, throwing her arms around her brother's neck. “You’re okay,” she whispers, a mixture of awe and relief.
Buck nods, clearly a little choked up himself. “I’m okay.”
Eddie doesn’t say much while everyone catches Buck up on the last three weeks, just sits next to him holding his hand, afraid that if he lets go that Buck will leave him again. Eventually, Chim shows up with baby Hope and Athena arrives with dinner for everyone.
Not long after that, Buck’s doctor tells everyone that they need to leave, that Buck needs some rest. Everyone nods and stands up, hugging Buck, kissing his cheek, and patting his shoulder. Eddie is the last to stand and as he reaches the doorway, he hears Buck’s scratchy voice ask, “Can you stay?”
Eddie turns to the doctor for confirmation. He nods, “But only for a few minutes, you really do need to rest.”
Buck nods, so the doctor leaves, closing the door behind him. Eddie slowly returns to his place at Buck’s side. His hands folded in his lap this time. “Everything ok?” he asks quietly, for some reason unable to meet Buck’s eyes.
“Why did the doctor call you my husband?” Buck asks and Eddie’s head snaps up. Buck is smiling softly, if a little confused.
“It was Maddie,” Eddie starts, not completely sure how to explain it. “You were in the ICU for a few days and only immediate family was allowed in, so Maddie told them that I was your husband and I… I needed to see you, so I guess I just didn’t argue.”
Buck sobers, reaching out and grabbing Eddie’s hand. “So you saw me, right after surgery?”
Eddie nods, his voice caught in his throat. “You were— it was bad, Buck. We thought you were going to die.”
“I didn’t,” Buck whispers, “I’m alive, and I’m right here. You’re gonna have to try harder than that to get rid of me.” His voice is joking but Eddie just glares at him.
“I don’t ever want to get rid of you,” he whispers back.
The doctor comes back in then, putting his foot down about Buck resting, so Eddie leaves and joins the rest of them in the waiting room.
Eddie doesn’t go back to the hospital over the next few days. It feels like something has shifted in his friendship with Buck and he's… well, he’s terrified.
Maddie texts him to say that Buck is finally home on Monday, with strict orders not to overexert himself. She says he’s walking and in good spirits, though his ribs still need some time to heal.
Eddie thanks her for letting him know but leaves it at that. He has no idea what he’s doing. His best friend, the man he is in love with, just got out of the hospital and he’s hiding in his room like a coward.
Over the next week, Chris begs Eddie to take him to Buck’s apartment so he can give him and hug and see for himself that he’s alright, and eventually Eddie gives in. Sort of.
Eddie texts Buck to ask if it’s ok if Chris comes by after school, ignoring the dozen or so texts Buck had sent since getting out of the hospital. He responds immediately, saying that of course Chris can come over, he misses him too.
Eddie simply thanks him and then texts Carla to let her know the change of plans before going back to his own private pity party.
Chris comes home that night rambling about how happy he is that Buck is okay and how much he missed him. Eddie doesn’t say a lot, forcing a fake smile and telling Chris he’s glad.
“He misses you too, Dad,” Chris says when Eddie puts him to bed and Eddie’s heart cracks. He doesn’t say anything, just kisses Christopher’s forehead and leaves the room. What the hell is he doing?
The team has their first shift since the accident the next day and everyone is subdued without Buck there.
“Why are you avoiding him?” Hen asks, taking a seat on the couch next to Eddie halfway through the shift.
Eddie sighs. “I told him I love him.”
Hen looks at him like he’s the most ridiculous person she’s ever seen. “Yeah, while he was in a coma , Eddie. He doesn’t know.”
“Then why does it feel like everything is different now?”
She gives him a calculating look. “You told him while he was unconscious;, maybe it’s time you tell him in the light of day.”
Eddie protests slightly and then the bell rings and any words he had get lost in the rush of the job.
Maybe she’s right , he thinks as he drives home the next morning. He’s too exhausted to think on it further, however. So he passes out, deciding to deal with everything when he wakes up.
Eddie’s asleep for a few hours, the clock on his bedside table blinking 1:27 at him when he finally opens his eyes.
And for some reason, he feels determined.
Before he can talk himself out of it, Eddie jumps in his car and heads to the nursery.
Over the past year or so, Elyssa has gotten to know Eddie well. She’d helped him the very first time he bought Buck a plant and has become a little invested in their relationship, so when he walks in she grins.
“Eddie, it’s been a while, how have you been?”
Eddie smiles and looks at the ground. “I’ve been better,” he admits.
“Everything ok?” she asks, rounding the counter and walking next to him into the greenhouse.
Eddie nods and can’t help the hope that blooms in his chest. “It will be.”
Elyssa smiles, not pressing the issue. “So what are you looking for today, more apology plants?”
“Actually, uh,” Eddie pauses, looking around the familiar greenhouse and rubbing the back of his neck. “I was hoping you could find me something that says ‘I love you’.”
Elyssa doesn’t shriek but from the squeak she lets out Eddie is pretty sure it was close. “You’re joking! Finally, oh my god!”
She begins rushing around the aisles, clearly looking for something specific. Eddie rolls his eyes fondly and tries not to fidget. A minute later Elyssa rushes back over to him holding a small plant with bright green leaves and small white flowers.
“This is orange jasmine,” she says excitedly, almost giddy. “It symbolizes everlasting love and also good luck. It’s not super easy to take care of but I think Buck could handle it.”
Eddie nods, not quite sure what to say. Elyssa drags him over to the far wall to find a pot for it. Eventually they settle on a deep blue one and Elyssa hurries through ringing him up.
“I’ll give you the friends and family discount,” she says conspiratorially, a grin on her face. Eddie tried to protest but she pins him with a do not argue with me glare and he simply thanks her. “Good luck!” Elyssa calls after him as he leaves the store.
Eddie drums his fingers on the steering wheel anxiously as he drives to Buck’s apartment building. He’s not actually sure how Buck is going to respond, but he knows he can’t wait.
Eddie knocks, something he hasn’t done since the first time he gave Buck a plant as an apology.
It takes Buck longer than normal to get to the door, probably due to his busted up ribs, but when he spots Eddie, a hopeful smile appears on his features.
“Hey, I—“
“I’m in love with you,” Eddie says, interrupting whatever Buck was going to say.
Buck opens and closes his mouth once, twice, three times before tenderly taking the orange jasmine plant from Eddie. Wordlessly, he turns and sets it on the counter. Eddie closes the apartment door, the determination he’d had early slowly starting to leech away.
“Buck, I know—“
He doesn’t get to finish his thought, however, because the next second Buck is crashing his lips against Eddie’s and the rest of the world stops. It only takes a second for Eddie’s brain to catch up and then he’s kissing Buck back, his hands gripping Buck’s arms.
Buck is cradling his face in both his hands like Eddie is the most precious thing in the universe, a stark contrast to the intensity with which he’s pressing his lips against Eddie’s. Eddie can’t feel anything else around him, just Buck, Buck, Buck on repeat in his head as Buck’s lips anchor him.
Then, as quickly as it’s started, it ends. Buck pulls away, but he doesn’t go far. His hands don’t leave Eddie’s face and he’s grinning for ear to ear. “I love you too,” he says, the happiest Eddie thinks he’s ever seen Buck. Eddie laughs, high and loud, leaning forward to kiss Buck again just because he can.
Later, when they’re tangled up on the couch, Buck’s head on Eddie’s chest while Eddie runs his fingers through Buck’s hair, Buck starts laughing.
“You got me a houseplant to tell me you love me.” His voice sounds awed, like he can’t believe this is happening. To be fair, Eddie can’t quite believe it either.
“It’s orange jasmine,” he murmurs, leaning down and kissing the top of Buck’s head. “It symbolizes everlasting love.”
Buck props himself up on Eddie’s chest, and stares at him. There’s so much emotion in his eyes that Eddie starts to get a little choked up as well.
“You know,” Buck starts, his eyes twinkling mischievously, “I’m gonna have to start a whole knee collection. Eddie Loves Me Lilies.”
Eddie grins. “They’re not lilies, they’re jasmines.”
Buck grins right back. “You’re right.” He leans down and presses a tender kiss to Eddie’s lips. “You know you’re never getting rid of me now, right?”
Eddie kisses him again, slow and sweet, pushing all the love he can into the kiss. “Good, cause I don’t want you going anywhere.”
And he really doesn’t. Eddie wants Buck right by his side for the rest of time. Everlasting , he thinks, that sounds good to me.