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Buck didn't know why Karen wanted to celebrate her birthday early but he wasn't about to complain about it. Especially since she wanted everyone to dress up. Their best outfits, the ones that they loved the most but had no where to wear them.
And the mere idea of finally getting the wear an outfit that he didn't have anywhere else to wear it made him feel giddy with excitement.
Buck felt like he knew the exact outfit he wanted to wear, a suit he'd bought on a whim and it fit him so nicely.
He just never had anything to go to that would justify wearing it. Buck and Eddie didn't really go on dates that fancy, and he had other outfits if they did go somewhere nice for dinner.
This suit was different. It fit him in all of the right places and it was a fun. White pants and a black silk shirt. He never got to wear the silk shirt and it was a shame because the shirt felt wonderful on his skin and made him feel like he wasn't going sweat out of his outfit.
Buck pulled his phone out once everything was situated. Once his hair was free and curly still because Eddie liked it and Chris liked it, and Buck was getting there.
But it was nice to not have to style it in a bunch of gel. And it looked cute in the picture he took to send to Maddie to make sure he looked okay for the party and laughed to himself when Maddie's contact popped up on the phone instead of her replying.
"Mads do I look okay?" Buck asks, still staring into the mirror and he doesn't even know why he's nervous to go to the party, because it's at Bobby and Athena's. All of his favorite people will be there.
"Evan I didnt even know you still had that shirt, it looks great on you." Maddie's voice filters in and he smiles to himself, "Obviously, you look like me." She teases and Buck huffs a laugh.
"Sure." He says with a smile and finally steps away from the bedroom as she talks, telling him about the decorations and how she's excited for Karen to see it when it's done and, "You can go ahead and come on over, everything's all set up."
Buck pulls his phone away from his ear until the screen lights up, seeing the time and, "I thought it didn't start until 2?" Confusion gracing his features even if she can't actually see him.
He can almost see her hand wave him off, "It's not a surprise party, and aren't you supposed to bring cookies?" Her voice is teasing and playful and thats right, he is supposed to bring cookies.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm going." Buck says with a smile, he wishes that he had time to make some. But Karen insisted that she wanted some of the cookies from the pastry place she's been going too with Denny, so Buck isn't one to argue.
And it doesn't even take long to get the cookies, LA traffic seems to be on his side today as he drives to the place and gets them, apparently Hen had ordered them ahead of him.
Even better really. Less waiting he has to do and now he doesn't even need to panic that they're missing the flavors Karen likes the most. And Buck doesn't even check the box they're in, he doesn't want to break the taped seal they've put on it.
Though they smell so damn good, the aroma of them fills the jeep quickly and it's a nice reminder that he's bringing these for her. And his entire family for them all to actually get to spend the day together.
Even if Eddie is on shift, it's sad but he understands. It would've been fun to see what Eddie would've worn to this type of themed party. But certainly it has to happen again, even if Buck has to organize one of his own. Whuch would be fun now that he thinks about it, turning into Chris's school to pick him up early.
Buck shakes his head with a smile after he parks. Today of all days is the day that Eddie had to switch shifts with Ravi.
Now to go lie and tell the front office that Chris has a dentist appointment so he can go to the party and not miss a second of it. Just how Hen did with Denny. He should be home by now. So now Chris can have someone to play with. Even if they're 'hanging out'. The line to say playing is apparently ten.
Eleven means they 'hang out.'
Buck doesn't really get it but he's not going to argue. He's getting cookies today so Chris and Denny can 'hang out' all they want.
Getting Chris is easy and the boy yells his name when he sees him and Buck can't help but smile. Luckily he's apparently not old enough to be embarrassed to yell out how excited he is to see him.
It makes him feel all sorts of ways.
But they pile in the jeep and Chris is talking, "I didn't know I had a dentist appointment today." And Buck huffs a laugh, glancing at the boy through the rearview mirror before he pulls out onto the road towards Athena and Bobbys.
"You don't actually have one bud, we're going to Karen's birthday party." And almost misses the way the excitement forms on Chris's face.
"Oh yeah!" He exclaims and Buck raises a brow but knows it must be exciting for him too. "Did you get the cookies?"
Buck huffs a laugh, "I did."
"You didn't look did you?" Chris leans forward and before Buck can even correct him he leans back again where he's supposed to be.
Buck shakes his head, "I didn't, and they sealed the box, I couldn't look if I wanted too."
"Good." Chris nods and Buck sends him a confused look before Chris is stealing his phone from the center console, too quick for someone that Eddie says moves quite slow.
But then music is coming out of his speakers so the curiosity leaves him in favor of them both singing Taylor Swift as they drive down the road.
Walking up to Bobby and Athena's is a bit less easy in the most confusing way. Chris is purposely moving slow, and Buck knows he is and it's odd. It's also odd that Athena is standing on her front porch when they pull in. A small smile on her face as she watches them.
"Chris, are you alright?" Buck can't help but ask as the boy continues to slowly get out of the jeep. It's as if he's trying to see how slow he can do it.
"I'm fine!" He chirps out and Buck can't help but let a little laugh escape his mouth. It's not upsetting, Bucks just a little confused.
It takes him a few minutes to get out of the jeep and Buck watches as he continues to move slow and he can hear Athena huff a laugh from the porch and Buck is still confused.
He has no idea what's going on.
But they do eventually make it to the porch and Athena wraps her arms around him the moment he comes to stand next to her.
"Hey baby." She murmurs and Buck smiles against her.
"Hey Thena," he murmurs right back and then the cookies are taken out of his hand. Held in her grasp as they part and he watches as she breaks the seal on the cookies and her gazes softens.
Then he sees what the cookies say,
They're…
Bucks eyes widen — the words written out in front of him.
Congrats
Love
The Diaz's
Evan
Eddie
Engaged
There's some shaped like champagne bottles, some as ties. It's—
"What?" Buck exhales and his gaze snaps up to Athena as she keeps looking at him softly, even as she laughs a little, and he can only imagine what his face looks like.
"Eddie wanted you to see these before you went inside, and he wanted me to show you."
"And me!" Chris exclaims and Buck sniffles, he can tell his eyes are starting to water as Chris flings the door open without preamble.
Petals lay across what he can see of the floor and the rest of his family is standing in a line into Bobby and Athena's house. Right at the corner of the room he can just see Bobby.
But he doesn't see Eddie anywhere.
Buck swallows and Athena settles her hand on his upper arm and he brings his gaze back to her.
"Well?" She asks, her brow raised and a smile forms on his face, tears are already meeting his lips and he exhales a laugh, or what might be one if he could talk.
Buck nods and steps into the house.
It's decorated beautifully. Strings of lights hang from their ceiling and flowers drape in between them. Matching the ones trailing the floor, and he wishes he could just stand in bask in it more. And maybe he would've, feeling almost frozen with it.
But Karen hugs him the moment his feet step into the house and she presses a kiss to his cheek and hands him a flower, "Surprise." She says, whispering it against his cheek as he grips the stem in his hand.
"It was never a birthday party was it?" Buck whispers back and her smirk is all he needs to confirm it.
As if the rest of it wasn't extremely obvious.
They let go and he receives a flower from every single member of his family. Maddie is after Karen, then Hen, then Chimney. Denny is next and Jee in the same breath. And he hugs them both tight before moving on. Jee giggling as he picks her up. Making their family laugh as he presses kisses to her face.
Smiling wildly when she does the same.
But he puts her down and then Michael hands him a rose, and Harry is next to him. David is there and he receives a rose from the man. The first one in the collection and Buck can't stop smiling at the fact that none of the flowers match.
They're all different and it's random and crazy to do this. To not just pick one flower to do this with but Buck doesn't care, not when it's perfect and he loves it. Loves all flowers and Eddie knowing that and giving into the chaos makes his chest squeeze.
Because as Bobby hugs him and Buck brings the smell of the man in, hearing the words, "Congratulations son." Low enough just for them, Buck knows his face must be splotchy. He must be as pink as the peony Bobby hands him when they let go of one another.
Bobby pats his shoulder and Buck goes to say something, but then Bobby steps out of the way and there's Eddie.
That's when Christopher goes around Buck and the boy is laughing as he goes to stand by Eddie, who's smiling at Buck, his gaze watery and his eyes staring at Buck as if he's the only one in the room.
But he thinks that's he's looking at Eddie the same way.
Because there's a heart behind him made of all of the flowers in Bucks hands. It's big enough that's Eddie is in the heart, and the flowers are easily seen behind him and the man steps to the side and Buck thinks he's going to sob.
Will You Marry Me?
Is written in lights, bright in the room even if it's the middle of the days and Buck feels his lip wobble. And the sound exits his throat as Eddies smile seems to grow even more as Buck walks over to him.
And Eddie looks so handsome that it makes Buck want to sob even more. His suit is blue and perfect against him. Black underneath and if it was silk, he and Buck would match. But it's just different enough to be Eddies own.
But the moment their hands connect as Buck reaches out for him it's as if the rest of the room really faded away. Even as their family comes into the same room as them and Eddie kisses him softly. lips connecting for a brief moment before Buck watches as the man drops to one knee below him.
Then a hush falls over the space and Buck can't look away. Can't look away as Eddie grips his hand softly; his thumb rubbing over his knuckles as he begins to speak.
" Evan," Eddie begins and pauses briefly as he sniffles, "There was a time where I didn't believe I deserved to be with you, a time where I couldn't ever let myself hope we'd even get to this point." Bucks eyes shine, "you standing here, with me and our son." And Chris leans against Eddie and Buck can't help but to ruffle the boys head, even if he's sniffling himself, "I want to start by thanking you for loving us and for being in our lives to give me the gift of loving you."
Buck can't look away from him, can't even think about anything else. Letting Eddie take his time as his head drops for a moment and lets the man wipes at his eyes before continuing.
"I can't picture living this life without you, and I don't want too. You've made me into the person I am today, a person I can look into the mirror and be proud of. You brought me back to life and I want to be with you forever, until the end."
Eddie swallows and takes his free hand and Chris hands Eddie a box and Buck feels the tears on his face as he realizes that Chris must've had it the entire time. All day and never said a word.
Then the box is opening and it's beautiful, it's perfect, and Eddie finally says, "Buck, will you marry me?"
Buck sobs out the word, "Yes," and he moves and yanks Eddie up off of the ground to bring them together, "A million times yes." Whispering it out as Eddies arms come to wrap around him as well and Chris is there, he can feel the boys arms trying their best to wrap around the both of them.
And their family is cheering, and Buck can see them all. As he wipes the tears from his face, as Eddie grabs his jaw and presses their lips together in front of them.
Then he's picking Chris up and bringing him properly into the hug as all of their family celebrates them.
It's the perfect day, it's everything.
And now he's Eddies fiancé.