Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

It had taken a few years, but Buck felt like he finally had his routine for work-life balance down. Being his own boss was far more stressful than he realized. He was hard-headed, over-eager, and an absolute nightmare when it came to keeping focus when he had no strict deadlines in place. Maddie, his sister, was the one to encourage him to use his pent-up energy for creative writing while he was on bed rest after The Incident.

Buck knew it was stupid to hold out hope, but the whole time after his accident on duty, he really, really thought there was a chance he would be able to return to firefighting. He fought so hard to be there; it just wasn't fair. The first omega in the Los Angeles Fire Department, and he barely lasted two years. Now he'd spent more time off the job than on it. If he thought about it too hard, it sent him into a fit of nausea. Therapy could only do so much.

It wasn't his fault that a ladder truck exploded the one time he sat in a different spot. His therapist, Dr. Copeland, helped him work through that. He also never blamed Bobby for it, even if the older Alpha wouldn't accept that at first. The risk of going back was simply too much, according to his physical therapists, the department's union head, and his regular doctor. It wasn't biology holding him back, just plain-old bad luck. That was difficult for him to shake.

Even now, Buck still woke up in a sweat with phantom leg pain from nightmares of being pinned underneath the heavy piece of machinery, screaming for help as it seemed like nobody was listening. The smell of smoke would sit in his nostrils, and the ringing would take hours to leave his ears. He got to keep the leg, but between the blood thinners, the rods and screws holding his leg together, and the mental trauma, going back to work wasn't an option.. So to cope, he started reading trashy romance novels that Maddie kept "accidentally" leaving at his loft. They were fun to read, but it was so rare to find one with a male omega protagonist. Buck could only read about the omega's pussy being pounded and bred so many times, bisexuality aside. Maddie, fed up with his complaints about her reading material, was the one to tell him to "pick up the pen and just write it himself." Never one to back down from a challenge, that's precisely what Buck did.

First, he started with short stories that he published on a blog after his ex, Ali, left him when it was clear that he wasn't fun to be around anymore. He was pining alone in the loft, and hookup apps were awkward when he always had to host, and they would need to be willing to work around his cumbersome cast. He hated having strangers in his home. So Buck stuck with his right hand and writing, and gained a decent amount of following online by just writing out his basic fantasies. Eventually, those did run out, and after an online creative writing seminar, it was time to try his hand at something a little more fulfilling.

He kept it completely anonymous, writing under a pseudonym and only sharing it with his pack. Sometimes he would write from the point of view of a strong-willed, fierce female alpha with her dainty omega, or a bratty omega with his large, hulking alpha. He was nervous to reveal his identity, since he didn't exactly fit the mold of a typical omega. He was tall, still muscular despite leaving the job, and unlike a female omega, couldn't get pregnant. He was also brash and unafraid to speak his mind, even if he'd paid for it a few times. No one would ever guess he was an omega without scenting him, and even then, people usually assumed any omega pheromones were from a partner. Besides, he didn't want people to actually talk to him about his writing.

Once he got the official news about his future as a firefighter, he buckled down with his writing and put all that rage into a new book. Claimed By The Cowboy was a smash hit on the bestseller's list. Indie publishing was harder than he thought, but Maddie was just so happy that he finally found something to be happy about again that she was more than willing to take over that part for him, even if she did only skim the book and have an editor actually read through it. Some things you just didn't need to know about your sibling.

Wrapped in His Lasso was the sequel that gave him enough financial security that he could do something besides just writing. He didn't have due dates to meet when he was his own boss, and writer's block could be a bitch sometimes. Chimney was the one to help him come up with his next idea: a matchmaking service.

Sure, there were companies out there that promised to set alphas up with the omega homemaker of their dreams. Or ones that promised "satisfying" lives for betas in a world so focused on alphas and omegas that betas often felt forgotten. But no one focused on helping people find their partners without the dynamic coming first. That's where Buck found his niche.

Buck was never one to care too much about his partner's designation. On the road, it was easier to hook up with other omegas or even betas, since alphas tended to have a weird attitude when a new omega came into town. They never seemed to handle a hookup well, so Buck tended to steer clear. Until he'd come to LA, he'd never had more than a two-month fling. Then he met Abby.

Abby was unlike anyone else he'd been with. For one, she was an alpha, and Buck hadn't been with an alpha since his time on the ranch in Montana. It wasn't necessarily better than being with another omega or a beta. They were all different, and it was new and exciting. He cleaned up his act. No more ill-fated hookups, no more cooking from a box, and he was even considering setting up a permanent nest in her apartment, something he'd never been able to do as an adult with his shared-living situations. Before that, he just had some soft blankets and an old t-shirt from Maddie that she'd left in the jeep she gave him as a teenager.

Buck was also the first omega hired with the Los Angeles Fire Department when they finally allowed omegas to join the academy. That was an accomplishment he couldn't just mess around with, because he didn't want to mess it up for other omegas if he ended up getting fired for hooking up at work.

But Abby had left, just like everyone else. Buck moped around in her apartment for three months before Maddie found him, and finally helped him get through his thick skull that she wasn't coming back. She didn't even have the decency to say "goodbye." It was a good thing he'd procrastinated building that nest, because the scent of an omega in distress would've made the place impossible to sell.

Somewhere deep down, Buck knew it wasn't going to work out. Nothing ever did for him. It wasn't him being dramatic; it just seemed to be a fact. The universe proved that when two years later, a bomb planted under the ladder truck took everything else from him. It was 'bad luck,' everyone said. No. It had to be karma for some divine mistake Buck must've made as a child that got him punished so much. Still, he was glad it was him, and not someone else on the team.

At least the 118 never gave up on him. Even when he was trying to ignore their calls and phase himself out of their lives, that way it wouldn't hurt as much when they gave up; they refused to let him. Bobby brought him meals when he couldn't cook for himself, keeping the freezer stacked full. Chimney set him up with a fantastic entertainment center so he could force Buck to watch every movie on his "I'll totally watch that later when I have time" list, because he was sick of having to explain every pop culture reference just so Buck would get the joke.

Hen would bring Denny over, and Buck would help him with school projects while she relaxed with a glass of wine in the living room. She knew kids were his weakness, and it gave her some free babysitting. Karen started inviting him out to trivia with her rocket scientist coworkers when he was fit to drive, and slowly, gained a routine again. He was happy with his life. Sure, sometimes it felt like something was missing. It was almost like there was a secret key for a happy life that everyone was hiding from him. But for now, he was doing just fine.

It was on a bright, sunny Saturday when Buck met Eddie Diaz for the first time. He tried to stop by the firehouse when he was feeling up to it, even if he still gave the engine a wide berth as he made his way up to the loft. Today, the bay was half empty, the team out on a call. Perfect.

Bobby left instructions for reheating the lasagna in the oven, so he set that up first. He also got his garlic bread ready to toast. He felt like he'd finally perfected the recipe, and there was no better place to test it out than here. Bobby's cooking gave them a pickier taste palate, so the team was always the final test.

Buck also brought dessert, classic brown butter chocolate chip cookies, as requested by Chimney. He made sure to pack away a bag for him to bring home to Maddie and Jee-Yun. Otherwise, he'd never hear the end of it. Chimney was too much of a blabbermouth to hide it from his wife, and his sister wasn't above withholding niece time from him.

The engine pulled back in just as the oven dinged. By the time the team was trooping up the loft, he had everything set out on the table, ready to go. It felt good, being useful for his pack. Buck could rely on that dopamine high for days to keep himself going.

"Buck!" Hen cried, greeting him with a wide grin. "Bobby didn't tell us you were stopping by."

"Working for yourself is boring. I needed to get out of the apartment." Buck gave her a big hug, soaking in her soothing eucalyptus scent. Hen was one of the most levelheaded alphas he's met, and they're long overdue for a hangout session.

Everyone settled down around the table, and Buck found himself sitting in front of an unfamiliar face. An absolutely gorgeous, unfamiliar face, wow. This guy definitely should've been a male model, not a firefighter. Buck bet that if they had met when he was still on the team, he would've felt threatened by him.

Chimney talked a lot about his new coworker, but he never bothered to mention how hot he was. Buck was going to have to have words with him about this later.

Eddie Diaz was probably one of the prettiest men Buck had ever met. Dark, tousled brown hair with caramel eyes that Buck could see himself getting lost in, and a neatly groomed mustache to match. Buck had never kissed a guy with a mustache before, but now that was all he could think about. Everything about him screamed "competent alpha", and Buck knew he was in danger.

Eddie introduced himself with a brisk handshake across the table and immediately began complimenting the spread on the table.

"I'm starting to get spoiled here. They did not tell me table-side service came with this station."

Buck blushed, trying to look occupied as he scooped a serving of pasta out to busy his hands. "I love to come up here when I have free time. Bobby starts to nag if I don't visit."

"We miss having you around, sue me." Bobby shrugged as he dug in, not wasting any time. Buck didn't miss having to practically shovel food down in case the alarm went off in the middle of their meal. Now he could actually enjoy his meals.

"No, you just miss having someone else skilled in the kitchen with you," Chimney mumbled, and laughter spread throughout the table. "Maybe if you just trusted some of us, you wouldn't have to do it alone."

"Maybe if people knew how to work as a team in the kitchen, I'd let one of you help." Bobby pointed out, a smile tugging at his lips. "Usually, it's just one of you getting in my way and making it take longer."

"What about the new guy? Eddie, you're not hiding any secret culinary skills from us, are you?" Buck asked, wanting any information he could get.

Eddie snorts. "Not according to my kid. He's brutally honest. I have a few staples on rotation, but everything else comes from my abuela or my Tiá. I'm great with the grill, though."

Fuck. Kids were totally one of Buck's weaknesses. It wasn't fair. "You have a kid? I love kids."

Eddie's eyes lit up, his crow's eyes adorable. "Yeah? Well, I love this kid. Here." He pulls out his phone, flipping it around to show Buck his background. Buck almost chokes on his drink when he's met with an image of Eddie shirtless on the beach, drops of water visible on his eight-pack. It should be illegal to look that good. It takes Buck a second to notice the kid, much to his own embarrassment. Thankfully, Eddie doesn't notice.

"Oh, he's adorable!" Buck coos, instantly enamored. Once he can tear his eyes away from the gleaming muscles on display, he can see the resemblance immediately. They're wearing matching swim shorts, and both have the same crooked grin, making something he can't name tug at Buck's heartstrings. He ducks his head down so Eddie can't see him looking foolish. "How old is he?"

"Ten. His mom moved away a few years ago, so it's just the two of us now." Eddie sets his phone down, and Buck internally sighs in relief that he won't be subjected to any more shirtless pictures. He couldn't figure out if he just wanted to lick the man's abs or ask for his workout routine. Maybe his heat was coming up, or Buck was getting sick. That was the only logical explanation for why he felt so dumbstruck.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."

Eddie waved him off. "We had a pretty mutual divorce before, and she shows up when we need her to. That's what matters most."

"That reminds me, we have to set up a play date with Denny. He's been a little too glued to his PlayStation this summer, and I need to find a way to get him outside more." Hen tossed her napkin in her lap, already finished with her plate, and reached for the cookie platter in the middle of the table.

Chimney reached forward, smacking her hand out of the way. "Hey! Wait for the rest of us to finish."

"Stop taking so long to eat! I'm gonna be pissed if we get a call before I get to have one." She grabbed one anyway, shoving it into her mouth in one bite. Buck preened at them fighting over his simple dessert.

"Stop whining." Bobby's "captain" voice still made Buck perk up in his seat, the old habit still ingrained in his brain. "The cookies aren't going to disappear if we have to leave."

"Depends on who the man behind is. I don't trust them anymore after the last time Buck came by." Hen grumbled, and she had a point. Now, Buck wasn't allowed to drop off treats without handing them directly to someone on the A-shift.

"So Eddie, any luck in the dating department?" Chimney teased, and Buck concentrated on not looking too eager. Sure, he wasn't going to date the man, but that didn't mean he couldn't be nosy. Besides, maybe this could be a business transaction.

Eddie groaned. "Don't even start. My tiá has been trying to set me up since we moved. I regret telling her that I was even thinking about dating. She just talks about me like I'm not even there! She doesn't know anything I want."

"I can see why she does, though." Buck tilted his head, giving him a curious look. "You'd be a hit with my business."

"Business?" Eddie's plate was already clear, much to Buck's delight.

"Buck here is a regular old-fashioned matchmaker. Up and coming in the Los Angeles dating scene." Chimney was already on his second cookie and still trying to keep Hen away from the rest of them.

"Matchmaker, huh? Didn't know there was still a market for that with all this online dating nowadays."

"You'd be surprised. Too many people are over the apps now. Even though they're paying me to set them up, it still feels more 'organic' to them." Buck explained, hoping he wouldn't have to defend his profession.

"I get it," Eddie shrugged, and Buck tried not to audibly sigh in relief. He did not want to deal with that today. "Maybe-"

The alarm interrupted the rest of their meal, and the whole crew groaned collectively.

"At least we got to finish the pasta," Chimney mourned as they all hustled downstairs.

"Here, catch!" Buck grabbed the bag of cookies and tossed them down to Hen, who snatched them out of the air with one hand. "I'll clean up."

"Thanks, Buck!" Bobby called up, already climbing into the passenger seat in the engine as Eddie took the wheel. Buck swallowed around the lump in his throat as he stared down at the vehicle. It wasn't the same one from the accident, but Buck hadn't been in one since. He couldn't bring himself to do it yet.

It was mindless work to pack up the leftovers to put in the fridge and get the dishwasher loaded up, and Buck's mind wandered back to Eddie. The last time he felt such an instant connection to someone, he'd ended up pining alone in an apartment that no one was coming home to. That wasn't going to happen again.

But Eddie could be a great new friend. It was clear that most of the pack took a liking to him, so Buck would be seeing him around. He could fight off his attraction, right?

No. Buck could not fight off his attraction. In fact, it only got worse.

The next time Buck met Eddie, it was while he was at a first meeting with a client at a local coffee shop, and Eddie seemed to be on a date with an absolutely gorgeous omega woman. Petite build, beautiful brown wavy hair, and a stunning smile that would have any alpha on their knees. Yet, he couldn't help but notice Eddie looked bored. Sure, Buck barely knew the guy, but he knew body language; it was part of what made him so good at his job.

His posture was slumped, the coffee in front of him looked untouched, and if Buck squinted, he could tell from across the cafe that his leg was bouncing up and down. It was nothing like the eager man he'd met a few weeks ago. Interesting.

"Anyways, it's been five years since my husband passed, and the thought of putting myself out there online is exhausting. There's only so many 'knot' pictures a girl can take." The older woman finished explaining, wringing her hands nervously over the table.

Buck shook himself out of his stupor. Be professional. "Yeah, of course. Now remember, we pair on personality, and what you're looking for in a partner. You won't find out the designation of your match until after the first month trial period is over. That's what makes it unique." He flashes her a charming grin, hoping she didn't notice quite how distracted he was.

"Works for me, I'm not picky at all! There's only one thing…" She trailed off, and Buck braced himself for impact. Of course. "I just don't want any male omegas."

"Is there a particular reason for this?" Buck always tries to give them the benefit of the doubt. "Was your husband an omega? I would understand that it could be a little tricky to try again-"

"Oh, god no," She waved off his concern, laughing. "No, he was a beta. If I'm going to be with a man, I want to be with a real man, you know?"

"And a man can't be an omega?" Buck couldn't help the way his tone pitched higher, but wow, this woman was a bitch. He was never taking a referral from Josh again.

"It's just not what I'm interested in." She shrugged, unbothered by his reaction. Buck was glad he always wore his suppressant spray, because otherwise the cafe would've been filled with the putrid scent of anger.

"You know what's funny about that?" Buck leaned forward, fluttering his eyelashes just a bit in a way that he knew was completely irresistible. She matched the distance, her eyes focusing on his lips. He almost felt bad that he was about to completely ruin her day. Almost.

"You've been making eyes at me this whole time, and I'm an omega." He leans back in his chair, not sure how this reaction is going to go.

She jolted back, shocked and offended. "There's no way."

"I'm not taking off my scent patch to prove it, but yes. Do you find it that hard to believe?" Wow, people really still haven't moved past the most basic stereotypes, have they? How embarrassing.

"Well, yeah!" She gestured at his body, her eyes laser-focused on his broad shoulders. "Look at you. You're such a…. man. Omega's don't have muscles like you do. Plus, didn't Josh tell me you used to be a firefighter? There's no way the department would allow an omega on the frontline."

"And I'm an omega. Somehow, I just don't think this is going to work out."

She stood up, knocking her almost-full coffee over his lap. Shit. It was iced, at least, but he was wearing the nice slate gray slacks that he'd just bought while out with Maddie. That stain was going to be a bitch to get out later. Of course, she didn't apologize. She looked gleeful at the inconvenience she'd just caused him. What a great end to his week.

"Hey!" A familiar voice said firmly behind him, "What's going on here?"

"Nothing." She scoffed, gathering her purse and bustling to the exit. "Take me off your call list, Mr. Buckley!"

"Don't worry, I will." He retorted, his response unheard as she rushed out the door. She'd probably forget about this in a week, but Buck would be thinking about this for weeks to come.

"You okay?" Eddie hands him a wad of napkins, his date nowhere in sight.

"Yeah, just my dignity that's hurt." He takes the napkins gratefully, dabbing at the wet fabric, but the stain is already setting. "Great. And I had more meetings today."

"Hopefully none of them are like her."

"Yeah, she was a reference from a friend I helped out, but I won't be listening to him again." Buck snorted, giving up on the stain. Maybe he would get lucky, and no one would notice. The coffee smell would blend into the environment, right?

Eddie cleared his throat, his tone slightly hesitant. "I keep a go-bag in my car. I probably have a pair of sweats you can borrow, if you don't mind looking a little goofy. They'll at least be comfier than those pants when they dry."

"That would actually be great." How the hell was this guy still single?

"Go ahead and go to the bathroom. I'll go grab them and bring them by. I'll also get a mop from the barista."

"Are you sure?" Buck asked, standing up fully, and yeah, he'd rather look a little unprofessional in a pair of sweatpants than with what almost looked like a large cum-stain on his pants.

"I'm sure. I'll be back in a few minutes with them. Get cleaned up." Eddie guides him to the gender neutral bathroom off to the side, and Buck tries not to tense up when Eddie puts a warm hand on his lower back. It's been months since Buck last felt the touch of another person in an intimate way, and he kept assuring himself that Eddie was just being a nice guy. It didn't mean anything.

In the bathroom, he took his pants off, just happy that they were a thick enough material that barely any of the drink got on his underwear. He was already pushing it with the sweatpants; he didn't need to freeball the rest of the afternoon as well. He scrubbed at the stain with some anti-bacterial soap, and maybe there was a chance that Maddie could save the pants for him. She fixed everything for him.

There was a knock at the door. "Buck? You ready?"

He cracked open the door, just enough that Eddie could pass the pants through and Buck could keep his modesty. "You're a lifesaver, really."

"Don't worry about it."

The sweatpants are soft and worn, black with the LAFD logo on the hip. Buck actually had the same pair at home, but these feel better. He brings the pants up to his nose and inhales the scent from the fabric. Underneath the smell of fresh laundry detergent, there was a hint of bourbon and spice, and Buck took a deeper whiff, trying to get as much of the scent as he could. It was hypnotizing.

Both times he'd met Eddie, there was no scent, meaning he probably also used some sort of scent suppressant, too. That was rare for an alpha. Most preferred to peacock their emotions, leaving no doubts about their moods or intentions.

He pushed any thoughts of Eddie out of his head and pulled the pants on. They were just as soft on his body as they felt in his hand, and actually fit a little loose, so they didn't look quite as obscene as he thought they might. He should be safe if he mostly stayed seated, and he only had two clients to go. Then maybe they also wouldn't notice how high up on his legs the pants went. It wasn't his fault he was all legs, even though Eddie was barely shorter than him.

He opened the cabinet under the sink, finding an extra roll of trash bags. He ripped open and stuffed his pants inside. He'll tip the baristas after, but somehow he feels like they wouldn't mind. When he left the bathroom, he saw Eddie mopping up the rest of the mess, and beelined back over to his old table. He joined him, taking the remaining towels and drying down where Eddie mopped.

"Seriously, man, thank you so much. I'll wash them as soon as I get home and give them to Bobby to bring to work for you."

Eddie waved him off, squeezing the mop in the bucket. "No hurry on them, I have plenty of other backups. I'm an army guy, so I basically have an unlimited supply of sweats."

Buck laughed, sliding back into his seat and pulling out his phone to check the time while Eddie brought the cleaning supplies back over to the workers.

"I'm gonna head out, I have a shift starting soon, so I'll see you around, okay?" Eddie told him, handing him a fresh iced latte. "The barista sent that over as an apology."

"They're so nice here. Also, I'm sorry your date left."

"Oh, that was just Shannon, my ex-wife. We were finishing a new custody discussion. Our son just got into private school, so our schedules shifted." Eddie explained, and Buck tried to squash down the excitement. So Eddie wasn't actually dating around, or at least if he was, he was probably still single. Score. "So, actually, thank you for getting me out of the end of that awkward conversation."

"Anytime, I've got your back."

There was a moment where Buck thought Eddie was reaching towards him to clap him on the shoulder, and he tensed in anticipation, but the guy just went back to his table, disposing of the rest of his trash and wiping it down. Was there anything hotter than someone who actually cared about customer service workers? Or were Buck's standards just really low? That was definitely something to unpack with Dr. Copeland later.

"Good luck." Eddie had a genuine smile on his face, and Buck returned it, hoping he wasn't just grinning like a lunatic. He used to have game, what happened to that? Maybe he was really forgetting his Buck 1.0 ways.

His phone pinged, and he glanced down to check it. Great, his next client was almost here. Natalia, a gorgeous Death Douala alpha, who the Buck of 3 years ago would have been tripping all over himself to impress. Now, he was hoping to hear good things about the last date he'd set her up on. This was her third match, the time when most people started to get impatient or frustrated and questioned why they were paying for a service when dating apps were free.

When he looked up, Eddie was gone, not even a lingering scent in the air. If it wasn't for the pants Buck was wearing, he would've thought he made up the whole encounter. Fuck. He should've asked for Eddie's number.

Buck loved the monthly Grant-Nash barbecue, another part of working with the 118 that he didn't have to leave behind. Of course, he was the first one there. Athena always told him he didn't need to help set up, but the insecure voice in his head that always told him he needed to earn his spot in people's lives wouldn't let him forget it. If he could prepare the whole feast so no one else had to lift a finger, he would. But there was no way Bobby would let him, so he just had

He pulled out the folding chairs from the backyard shed, Harry by his side. At one point, when he was healing from his injury, Bobby and Athena had kidnapped him for a few weeks when Maddie couldn't convince him to go outside. It was during summer vacation, and May was busy seeing as many friends as she could before they left for college, so Bobby wanted Harry to do something besides just playing video games all summer.

Buck was tasked with keeping him entertained, which proved to be a lot more difficult than he remembered. Middle schoolers were scary, and he knew that if he messed up at all, Athena would have his head. But once he got Harry away from the screen, it ended up being a lot easier than he thought. He helped Harry develop a love for hiking, and in turn, it helped strengthen his leg from the injury. He'd still never be able to go back, but if he'd just kept lying on the couch, he would definitely have more bad days than good days.

"Just gotta plug in the lights, and we're all done out here!"

"Great!" Buck finished setting up the table by the grill, making sure nothing flammable was near the equipment. The air was cool and just slightly breezy, and everything Bobby wanted to grill was all set up for him, thanks to Buck.

"This looks fantastic!" Bobby's praise filled Buck with warmth, something he never got growing up. It took a while to get used to it, but he's learned now just to accept the compliments. "You didn't have to get the grill all set up; I was about to do it."

"Harry was having fun doing all the chairs by himself. I think by the next one, he'll be making place cards and assigning seats."

"Maybe then you'll actually sit down for once, instead of running around the whole time." Bobby gave him a pointed look, and Buck did his best to fix a look of innocence on his face.

"Maybe I just like being active."

"Or maybe you're convinced that if you're not useful, someone's going to tell you to leave." Bobby gave him a pointed look, and Buck swore that he could read minds. Not fair.

"I already pay Dr. Copeland to tell me those things; you can keep the free therapy session to yourself," Buck joked, and Bobby tipped his head back with a deep laugh, one that always put everyone at ease. Buck was glad they pushed him to stay in contact and never let him really leave the 118. He didn't know where he would be without them. "Does Athena need any more help?"

"Well, we're both going to tell you no, and you're going to ignore us anyway. She's in the kitchen, still. She got some mocktail stuff she wanted to try out, so I think she's setting up the drink mixing station."

He made his way inside, giving Hen and Karen a massive hug when he saw them hanging in the kitchen, Karen putting the finishing touches on an absolutely gorgeous charcuterie board.

"Is that Buck I hear?!" Hen never failed to cheer him up with her enthusiasm, holding Buck at arm's length and giving him an appraising look. "Damn, leave some muscles for the rest of us! What are you training for?"

"You're welcome to join me at the gym anytime," Buck reminded her, and she grimaced.

"You are literally your own boss, and yet, you choose to wake up at 4 a.m. to go to the gym. Are you still seeing your therapist?" Hen was one of the few people who could get away with teasing him like this. Big sister privileges, after all. "Sleeping in won't kill you."

"Don't worry, he just spends all his time calling me instead," Ravi whined, dropping off a bowl of fruit salad on the counter. "He's one wake-up call away from getting blocked."

"Hey! You had fun last time we went together," Buck protested. Ravi was the only person who occasionally answered his early gym calls, and Buck needed to make sure he remembered the good times.

"Fun? He was limping for days." Albert wrapped a protective arm around his omega's waist, giving him a loud kiss on the cheek and leaving a wet mark that Ravi wiped off fondly. "When are you gonna start dating again? You should be putting all that energy somewhere else." Albert waggled an eyebrow suggestively at him, and Buck just rolled his eyes.

"I'm busy, you know that," Buck waved off his suggestion. "Maddie wants another book, and I've been getting a ton of referrals for the business."

"You've been focusing on 'the business’ for a year," Ravi pointed out. "Seriously, have you been with anyone since I helped with your heat last year?"

"Okay, why are we talking about Buck's sex life in the kitchen?" Chimney interrupted, and Maddie made a fake gagging noise behind him.

"I thought we banned s-e-x talk from these," Maddie's hands were pressed over Jee-Yun's ears, shielding her innocence. They'd already gotten a lecture at daycare about their toddler's "inappropriate language", and Maddie refused to let it happen again.

"I didn't even bring it up!" Buck threw his hands dramatically, almost dropping the serving tongs he was holding on the floor. Oops. "Your husband's coworkers are the ones bullying me! I would never talk about that here."

"Oh, so now we're Chimney's coworkers? Not your family?" Hen faux-pouted at him, and before Buck could respond, the last of their guests walked into the already crowded kitchen. "And we all remember the Buck 1.0 days, where you spared no details."

Their entrance saved Buck from further lecturing, much to his relief. Eddie hadn't come alone, and his pup was adorable. Blonde messy curls and a pair of thick glasses, wide eyes taking it all in.

Bobby had told him earlier that this was the first of their events that Eddie was attending, so he hung back while everyone descended on Chris and introduced themselves. Chris was a charmer, and Buck took the chance to slip out the back door to where Bobby was expertly flipping over some well-seasoned chicken breasts on the grill. Buck couldn't wait to have his own house, with a big yard and space to entertain. He could afford to buy now, if he really wanted to, but he held onto the idea that he and his future partner would find a place together, if he ever decided to get back out on the playing field.

"Too many people?" Bobby asked, gesturing for Buck to pass over a serving tray to rest the meat on.

"Not too many. But Chris was already looking a little overwhelmed meeting everyone, and I didn't want to get in the way." Buck busied himself next by assembling the buns for the burgers Bobby would be grilling next. He'd made them fresh that morning, the pounding of the dough therapeutic after a restless night. Nightmares really were a bitch.

"Eddie told me he ran into you a few weeks ago at the coffee shop. Some woman was giving you trouble?"

Shit. Bobby hadn't brought it up at any of their weekly dinners, so Buck thought he was in the clear. Sometimes Bobby could be a little too protective, and if Bobby knew, that meant the rest of the pack did, too.

"Nothing I couldn't handle. She won't be needing my services, and Josh isn't allowed to give out my card anymore."

"Good," Bobby hummed, taking the buttered buns from Buck to throw on the grill. "The business is still keeping you busy, then?"

"Yeah! Maddie wants me to work on my next book, but I'm not sure what to do after that." Buck was grateful for the change in conversation. Maybe Bobby would just forget about the incident.

"Maybe a little inspiration will strike soon."

Buck narrows his eyes in suspicion at Bobby's whimsical tone. "Do you know something I don't?"

"Me? No."

Before Buck could interrogate Bobby more, they were interrupted by the sound of laughter as the back door was pushed open, and everyone else spilled outside to join them.

"So that's where you are!" It was embarrassing how quickly Buck recognized Eddie's voice this time, and he whipped around so fast Eddie had to grab his arm to steady him. "Whoa, didn't realize you were so jumpy."

"Really? Buck's not jumpy." Bobby mentioned, always ready to embarrass him.

"What kind of name is Buck?" A cute voice piped up, and oh yeah, Buck was a goner. This kid was adorable. "That's weird."

"Chris, you can't just ask that." Eddie scolded. "Sorry, we're working on our manners still."

"I don't mind." Buck laughed, leading the Diaz's over to one of the tables he'd set up earlier to get out of Bobby's hair. "Buck isn't even my actual first name; Evan is. Back when I was in the Fire Academy, there were three other Evans, and it got confusing really fast. So, I decided to go by 'Buck' instead, and it just suits me better."

"Whoa! So you work with my dad then?"

"Let's calm down with the interrogation, Bud." Eddie tried to change the subject.

"No, no, it's okay," Buck gave him a reassuring smile. Sure, he didn't love to talk about it, but who was he to shut down a curious kid? No one ever talked to him like an actual person when he was a kid, so he tried to listen to them as much as possible. "I got hurt a few years ago and wasn't able to go back. But, I used to work with everyone here, and if I were still there, I'd probably even be paired up with your dad."

"That sucks," Chris looked a little sad for him, and Buck panicked for a moment. He noticed Chris's astronaut shirt and began raking through the "fun facts to impress kids" corner of his brain.

"What's your favorite planet?"

Chris looked confused at the change of subject, but excited. "Saturn! The rings are so fun. And it has so many moons."

"Did you know that one year on Saturn is equal to 29 Earth years?"

"That's a really long time." Chris looked delighted at the tidbit of information, one of the reasons why Buck enjoyed memorizing so many random things. The kids always enjoyed it.

"I know. I think I'll stay here on earth."

"Hey, Chris! Come play with us!" Denny called from where he and Mara were kicking a ball back and forth, and Chris gave his father pleading eyes.

"Yeah, yeah, go have fun!" Eddie waved him off, and Chris was off like a rocket. "Five minutes with me and he's already over it."

"At least it'll tire him out, right?"

"That kid never runs out of energy, but who knows, maybe I'll get lucky sometime." Eddie chuckled. "Do you want a beer? I picked up some non-alcoholic IPA's on the way, wasn't sure what the vibe was. I'm glad I did, I saw Bobby at the grill, and I know there's no way he's sharing that space."

"Oh yeah, the grill is off limits. He doesn't even let me near the grill, and I helped prep most of the stuff he's cooking."

They settled down in the chairs, Buck finally allowing himself to relax for the first time since entering the house. Everyone else was busy with the kids or catching up, so he finally got to talk with just Eddie, no one else around to distract them.

The conversation flowed so easily, it seemed like they'd known each other for years. Eddie opened up more, telling stories of his life before he came to Los Angeles. Buck learned he had two younger sisters, both still in Texas, and a strained relationship with his parents, who disagreed with him being a single parent. Buck told him about traveling around the country and living out of his jeep, his decision to join the LAFD, and that Maddie was the only family member that Buck had in his life now. Eddie talked about the struggle he first had moving with Chris and how difficult the school programs were to navigate, and Buck hung onto his every word. Was it crazy that Eddie being a good dad was part of what made him so attractive?

"Dinner's ready!" Bobby called, and Buck startled in his seat. Shit, he'd meant to get up and help Bobby finish, but it looks like everything else had been set up outside while he and Eddie were busy talking. He scrambled up, meeting Bobby back by the grill.

"Sorry, Bobby! I was going to help, I promise."

Bobby waved him off with a smile, using tongs to remove the last of the burgers from the sizzling burners. "You were busy. I like seeing you talk to someone new. You've been… quieter lately. It's not like you. You know I'm here to talk, right?"

"I promise I would tell you if there was something to worry about. The business is picking up, and Maddie wants another book out of me." Buck assured him.

"Don't worry, Eddie's a pretty understanding guy." Bobby winked at him, and Buck blushed at what he was implying.

"You don't need you to set me up, I promise. And isn't he straight?"

Bobby shrugged. "I don't know, I haven't asked the guy. You never know. You're always setting people up. Why don't you let us help you for a change?"

"I'm fine," Buck emphasized, trying not to let the irritation he was feeling seep into his tone. He knew they meant well, but he didn't want to process this right now. "Besides, you know I don't really date alphas anymore."

"Maybe you should follow your own advice and stop worrying about that. What if it's holding you back from something real?" Bobby holds his hands up in mock surrender when Buck glares at him. "I get it, I'll drop it. But just think about it?"

"I'll think about it," Buck busied himself making up a plate as the others began to join them. The spread was plentiful, everything from veggie burgers to regular burgers, potato salad to the amazing charcuterie board Athena made, and dessert would be served at the end.

Jee-Yun ran up to him as he finished with his plate, insistently dragging him over to the table Maddie and Chimney had commandeered. Buck couldn't complain; he loved his niece. She always had a knack for taking the attention away from him.

"Finally able to take some time away from your boy crush to hang out with us?" Maddie teased, patting the empty seat beside her.

"Are you just gonna make fun of me if I sit here? Because I can go sit by myself, you know."

Maddie rolled her eyes, tugging at his wrist until he plopped down, sighing dramatically as he did. "I don't have a boy crush. Stop talking to Bobby, I don't like you ganging up on me."

"I didn't even talk to him about it!" Maddie sputtered indignantly. "You're making heart eyes at the guy, whom I haven't even met yet. I'm just curious about who's caught my 'I'm not looking to date right now' brother's eye."

"He's just a new friend, okay? I met him last month when I went to the fire station to cook dinner one night, then a few weeks ago I saw him again at the coffee shop where I always do my client interviews."

Realization dawned on Maddie's face. "Wait, was he the one who lent you those pants after that bitch spilled her drink on you?"

"She wasn't a bitch," Buck protested weakly, but Maddie waved him off.

"You're too nice. Have you thanked him yet?" She raised an eyebrow suggestively, and now it was his turn to roll his eyes.

"Who are we talking about?" Chimney joined them, three plates balanced delicately on his arms. Buck helped him hand them out, letting the beta get settled next to his sister. It was sweet how much Chimney doted on Maddie. She absolutely deserved it after Doug, her garbage "alpha" ex-husband. He'd lived up to every bad stereotype someone could make about an alpha, and while Buck hated what Maddie went through, he was just glad the guy was dead, and they never had to worry about him again.

"No one-"

"Eddie."

Traitor!

"Oh, really?" A sly smile made its way over Chimney's face, and Buck sighed dramatically.

"It's nothing," Buck mumbled, draining the last of his beer.

"But you never tell me anything," Chimney whined as he got Jee-Yun settled down in her seat, making sure everything on her plate was perfectly bite-sized. Out of the two of them, Chimney was far more of a helicopter parent than his sister, and it was actually cute.

"There's nothing to tell," Buck shoved half a veggie burger in his mouth, chewing pointedly. "This is only, like, our third time talking."

"You know, he told me he was ready to get more serious about dating. Even asked if I had any apps I could recommend from my dating days." Chimney mentioned, shooting Buck a shit-eating grin when he scowled at him.

"A guy like that should not be on an app; they'd eat him alive,"

"Are you offering to set him up?" Chimney looked far too mischievous for Buck's liking, and an uneasy feeling formed in his stomach. Suddenly, the plate he made was now completely unappetizing.

"Well…"

"If you don't have feelings for the guy, the least you could do is try to help him find someone," Maddie suggests. "Weren't you just complaining about wanting to get more 'alpha bachelors' for your clients?"

"Hey, Eddie!" Chimney calls out, ignoring Buck's frantic hand waving to cut it out. Great, so Chimney actually hated him. He knew it.

"Hey, Chim! Maddie, good to see you again. Have you met Chris yet?"

"Oh, he was charming me over at the dessert table, trying to get me to sneak him a cookie." She moved her chair over, gesturing for Buck to do the same. "Join us."

"We were just talking about you, actually," Chimney said, completely ignoring Buck's attempts to shut him up.

"Oh, really?" Eddie takes the seat across from Buck, making sure that Chris is settled before he begins picking at his own plate. "That sounds mildly alarming, actually."

"Well, I was just telling Buck about how you wanted to start dating again. Buck is just the guy to help you."

"He is?"

"Yeah," Buck swallowed tightly, taking a large sip of water to delay answering. "Chimney tells me you were thinking about getting back on the apps, and between you and me, I think it's going to be a waste of your time."

"I'm open to any other suggestions that aren't being set up by my nosey family members, honestly." Eddie huffed, passing Buck a beer he hadn't noticed the other man was carrying. How thoughtful.

"Here, give me your contact info." It was easy for Buck to slide into business mode. He gave Chimney a dirty look as Eddie put his number in his phone, and Chimney just smiled cheekily at him. That's okay, next time Uncle Buck was watching Jee-Yun, he'd make sure to send her home with an extra-large dose of sugar. "Put your email in with it. I'll send you all the intake forms. They're pretty thorough, but don't overthink them. At the end of the day, I want you to have fun with this."

"How much do you charge for this?"

"Too much," Buck flashed him a grin. "But I don't charge friends."

"Are we friends?" A small smile tugged at Eddie's lips as he passed Buck his phone back, and Buck made sure the contact was saved correctly. That was precious information, and he didn't want to lose it.

"I think we are," Buck's cheeks flushed under the attention, and he went back to eating, trying to entertain Jee-Yun as a distraction. She was fascinated by Chris, who was telling her all about the animal she used to see in Texas, so Buck just took the time to observe while everyone else talked around him. Even just being around his pack soothed the restless omega inside of him, and he was grateful for every moment with them.

It wasn't long before the night was wrapping up, with half of them stuck with an early shift the next day. Bobby sent everyone home with leftovers, and Buck was grateful he wouldn't have to cook for the next couple of meals. He promised to text the group chat when he got home, and the late hour meant he was home with minimal traffic.

He sighed as he climbed into his bed in just his boxers, kicking the covers off and fluffing the pillows so he could prop himself up comfortably. The loft always felt lifeless when he came back from time with his pack. At the end of the day, everyone there had someone to go home to. Buck had no one waiting for him to return, someone to kiss him on the forehead and curl up with after a long day. Maybe Bobby was right, and it was time to start thinking about dating again.

He rummaged under his bed, finding the pants Eddie lent him that he'd stashed away after their interaction. Sure, eventually he would wash them and have to give them back, but for now, he was enjoying the scent that still lingered in the soft fabric.

His cock began to stir in his shorts as he inhaled deeply, dropping his mouth open and getting every scent molecule that he could. He moved a hand up to play with one of his pierced nipples and groaned at the pleasure it brought him. One of the things he'd finally done for himself after accepting he wouldn't be going back to firefighting was get his nipples pierced on a whim. It was on a dare, after far too much drinking with Hen. She'd called the Uber to her friend's shop after they sobered up a bit, and 30 minutes later, Buck had shiny jewelry adorning his chest. Hen left with a new ear piercing, lamenting about how jealous she was.

Buck's always had sensitive nipples, but damn, the piercings really did enhance the sensation. He pinched them, letting out a soft moan as he twisted the silver bars with each move. The feeling shot straight to his dick, and he could already feel himself slicking up. The suppressants he was on sometimes limited his reactions, but not tonight.

He'd been on edge the whole night, something he hadn't felt in months. Eddie was just… so sweet. His dry humor had Buck stifling giggles, and he was such a good dad that it added more green flags for Buck. All he could think about all night was what it would be like to kiss those plush lips and feel the slight prickle of Eddie's mustache over Buck's smooth skin. But that wasn't an option. Even if he was dating, he definitely couldn't date someone with the 118. That felt like it was asking for trouble. But it didn't hurt to fantasize.

Eddie seemed like an alpha who would be selfless in bed. He had a way of making Buck feel like he was the only one in the room, and Buck felt himself slick up even more just thinking about having that attention on him in the bedroom. Usually, he was the giver in his relationships, always aiming to please, but with Eddie, he liked to think he wouldn't have to worry about that.

He reached down and tugged down the waistband of his boxers, fully hard now. He stroked up and down slowly as he shut his eyes, jerking a hand up to spit in his palm. The spit, combined with the precum leaking from his dick, made him nice and wet, making the glide of his fist smooth. He pictured Eddie sitting behind him, murmuring instructions in his ear about how he should jerk himself off. Would Eddie be strict and firm, or soft and teasing? Would he use those strong biceps to pin Buck down, giving him no choice but to lie down and take his knot? Or would he use them to edge Buck over and over again, getting him close to the tipping point but never letting him over?

That was what hurled Buck over the edge, his orgasm hitting like a freight train. With a twist of his nipple and a stroke of his cock, he was spilling over his stomach immediately, letting out a load moan that echoed around the loft. It took him a few minutes to catch his breath, and as he was wiping himself off, the post-nut clarity began to sink in. Fuck. Eddie was going to be a client now. He wasn't paying Buck, but Buck needed to make that separation in his mind. He could be professional if he really tried. Now that it was out of his system, it wouldn't happen again.

He shoved the clothing back under his bed and rolled over out of the wet spot, deciding that would be tomorrow's problem, when he would also have to email Eddie the paperwork and get back all the information to help him find his perfect partner. Someone who wasn't Buck. Great.

It was only a few weeks before he saw Eddie again. He was still waiting for the paperwork to come back, but secretly didn't mind that it was taking longer. The longer it took, the less he'd have to think about Eddie with someone else.

Maddie was the one who tricked him into coming out with the group. He had the perfect night planned at home. A new bottle of wine, the perfect playlist picked out, and a spark to actually sit down and write for once. The knock on the door was completely unexpected, and so was Maddie in a sequined jumpsuit and sleek hairstyle.

"Okay, we definitely didn't have plans."

"You didn't have plans." Maddie shoved past him, throwing her purse on the kitchen island. "I had plans. And now you're coming with me, because I haven't seen your location move from this apartment all week."

"You're spying on me?" Buck shouldn't be surprised, but he thought once Maddie had Jee-Yun, she wouldn't pay as much attention to their location-sharing app. He still left for his early morning gym workouts, but she was right. Other than that, he had really stayed holed up in his apartment for almost the whole week. Whoops.

"Not spying on you. But every time I was checking where Howie was, you never moved." She pointed out, rummaging through some cabinets, muttering under her breath about how much she hated his organizational system.

"Well, I had a really nice night planned at home, and you seem dressed to go out."

"And now it's your turn to get dressed to go out." She brandished a bottle of tequila she'd found, two shot glasses now on the counter.

"Maddie," He whined, disgruntled. Maddie knew how hard it was for her to say no to him, and she also had a point. But couldn't a guy lock himself up in his own home and pine in peace? That didn't seem unreasonable.

"I already told them you were coming! You don't want me to tell Hen you aren't coming to her early birthday drinks, do you?"

Buck sighed, the fight leaving him. Of course it was for Hen's birthday. He had a gift picked out that he was going to drop by the station later this week, but if Maddie had already told them he was coming, he couldn't cancel without being a jerk. "You're evil, you know that, right?" He griped, making his way back up the stairs of the loft to get changed. At least he'd showered earlier, and making his hair presentable shouldn't take too long.

"Who's going to be there?" He called down as he rummaged through his closet, pulling out a light blue Henley and a pair of dark jeans that someone would say teetered on public indecency with how tight they clung to his thighs. If he looked good, maybe he'd feel good.

"Hen, Karen, Chim, Ravi, so definitely Albert, Bobby, and Athena," she listed off as he traded his sweatpants for the jeans, mourning the soft material. They hadn't even left yet, and all he could think about was getting back into them later. "Oh, and Eddie, if he found a babysitter."

Buck cursed as he tripped over his pants, banging his knee into the wooden bed frame. Oh, that was gonna bruise. Great.

"How hard is it to get dressed? We don't have time for an emergency room visit before we go."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming!" Buck took a few moments in the bathroom, applying a new scent patch and spritzing on his good cologne. Even though it was becoming more acceptable not to wear them, Buck still put them on anytime he was leaving the house. His scent always betrayed his emotions, and it made him uncomfortable not being able to control what his pheromones put out.

He was just grateful they weren't going out to a club. Two tequila shots were taken in quick succession, then Maddie called a car to take them. Damn. Now, Buck couldn't use the excuse of driving home late to leave early.

The place was packed, but their group had commandeered a table in the back that Maddie guided him in the direction of. They made a quick stop at the bar, Maddie getting a cosmopolitan while he just stuck with whatever local light beer they had on draft. If he kept drinking liquor, he'd get sloppy far too fast, and public humiliation was not part of the agenda for tonight.

It seemed like they were the last ones to arrive out of their core group. A half-empty pitcher of beer was already on the table, along with some picked at appetizers. Bobby and Athena looked relieved when they showed up, definitely hoping that they could slink away unnoticed soon. Buck didn't blame them. Hen and Chimney tended to get wild when they didn't have somewhere to be.

"How's your Shirley Temple?" Buck asked as he plopped down next to Bobby in the booth.

Bobby wrinkled his nose as he took another sip. "Disappointing, I think the Sprite's flat tonight." He pushed a basket of fries over his way, and Buck dug in, Maddie having whisked him away before he could eat dinner. "I'm glad Maddie dragged you out tonight. How's work going?"

"Good!" Buck was relieved to have something easy to talk about. "The book outline's done, so the next step is to actually start writing. I'm working on finding a better balance with my other work, and it's going well so far."

"I'm glad. You've seemed a little stressed out lately," Athena remarked, sipping at her cocktail.

"We've missed you around the station, baby Buckley!" Hen crowed, sliding in next to him and throwing her arm over his shoulder, the smell of tequila practically pouring out of her pores. Definitely a good night for her.

"Happy birthday, Hen." He made sure to tell her, clinking their glasses together. The pitcher of beer on the table was hers, as she declared it every time anyone's hands wandered close. "And I'm not a baby, cut it out."

"Do you have any gossip for me?" She grinned, leaning into his side. "The station is so boring right now. I'm withering away without any."

"Boy, do I! Let me tell you about this guy-" And he was off, telling Hen all about the annoying beta that Connor had sent to him, who just had absolutely no redeeming qualities. There was only so much Buck could do with a man who was actually convinced that their government was run by reptile overlords, and that the 5g towers were messing with his scent, and that's why no one wanted him.

Before he knew it, he was on his third beer and pleasantly buzzed. He missed going out. Buck had always been a social guy. He knew things were getting rough when he turned into more of a recluse, and it was hard to drag himself out of that funk. Being around his pack just reminded him how much he actually needed them, and he made a mental note to try getting out more.

Bobby and Athena excused themselves, giving everyone hugs and breezing out the door before anyone could convince them to stay. Ravi and Albert were busy playing pool, and Buck had run out of good gossip for the table. Now he was stuck fiddling with his hands as Hen and Karen started making eyes at each other, and Maddie and Chimney were debating if they should go to a karaoke bar after this or just go straight home and take advantage of an empty house. Ew.

"Room for one more?" Buck would recognize that deep, silky voice anywhere. Eddie.

"Eddie! You made it!" Hen jumped up, giving Eddie a drunken hug that almost knocked the guy over. She probably had maybe an hour left in her, and Eddie was smart to arrive near the end.

"Abuela wanted to take Chris for the rest of the night, so I'm free as a bird."

"Has she stopped trying to set you up?" Chimney laughed, gesturing at Eddie to sit down with them. And the only seat next was…. right next to Buck. Great.

"Nah, I got her off my back when I told her I had a professional helping out," He nudged Buck's shoulder with his, the warmth from his bare skin seeping through Buck's thin shirt and giving him goosebumps. Buck wasn't that touch-starved, was he?

"You got him any dates yet?" Chimney prodded, ever the nosey one.

"Still waiting for someone to send in his paperwork." Buck managed to choke out without his voice giving away just how affected he was being so close to Eddie. Damn, he really needed to get out more.

"I sent it over right before I came. Check your email."

"I believe you," Buck chuckled, unable to stay nervous any longer. Eddie was charming, that was for sure, and Buck just felt at home in his presence. It was unusual for him, but this would at least make things easier for him. "I'll go over it this week and get you a first match."

"So just how many people here have you set up?" Eddie asked, sipping from the beer Hen poured him. "Everyone?"

"Ravi and Albert are the only ones I 'officially' helped," Buck made air quotes around the word "officially." "I encouraged Bobby to put himself out there, and when he met Athena on a scene, I made it very obvious that he was single and a good match. Maddie and Chimney got together on their own, but never would've met if Maddie hadn't come out here to find me. So I take some credit for that."

"You like doing this?"

"I love it. I love love. It's out there for everyone; some people just need a little extra push." Buck sighed wistfully. "It's so rewarding to be part of their stories."

"And what about you?" Eddie murmured, the rest of the group falling out of focus.

"Me?" Buck stuttered, taking a nervous sip.

"Well, surely you've found it, right? That's why you want to take care of others now?"

"Actually," Buck shifted uncomfortably in his seat, realizing the rest of their friends were scattered around the bar now. "I'm not dating right now."

"Really?" Eddie raised an eyebrow, leaning closer. "That's a shame." Even with the scent patch Buck could see peaking out from under the alpha's collar, he felt his body reacting to Eddie's proximity, and his eyes darted down to the plush lips in front of him. Eddie leaned close, Buck helpless not to meet him, and then-

"Shots!" Hen shouted, slamming a tray down in front of them, some of the liquid sloshing out. Buck took advantage of the distraction, excusing himself to the bathroom.

The cold water he splashed on his face helped cool him down, bringing him back to earth. This whole situation was far too messy already, and Buck needed to reel it back. He could do that.

When he left the bathroom, he joined Albert and Ravi over by the pool table, watching the two of them flirt back and forth over the game that Albert was losing by a landslide.

"There's no way you aren't cheating," Albert pouted, and Ravi laughed at him.

"No, I swear! I'm just really good at it, ask Buck."

"Yeah, he's good because I taught him." Back in Ravi's probie days, Bobby asked Buck to take him out and share his experiences as an omega firefighter. They became regulars at this exact bar, and since Buck could never sit still, they always ended up at the pool table. "Maybe you should ask Chimney to help you.

"I knew you hated me." Albert grouched. "He's even worse than I am."

"This is why I don't want to do game nights with you, Albert. You're such a sore loser." Buck leaned against the other pool table, watching them go back and forth.

"I am not a sore loser!" Albert cried, very much sounding like a sore loser, as Ravi knocked his last solid ball into the corner, leaving just the black one between him and winning.

"Are you trying to play next, Buck?" Ravi asked as he lined up the last shot. "I could use some real competition."

"I hate you guys," Albert muttered when Buck cheered in delight at Ravi's win. "I'm never talking to you again."

Ravi rolled his eyes, giving Albert a big smack on the lips that made Buck yearn just a bit to have that same connection. He could find sex wherever he wanted, but just the casual intimacy for anyone to see? Buck never had that. "No, you love us. And now you're going to watch me kick Buck's ass."

"Yeah, I could use the distraction," Buck said, forgetting just how meddlesome the two of them could be.

Albert immediately changed his mood, realizing he now had something to tease Buck about. "What, you're not having a good time flirting with the hot new alpha?"

"Oh my god, I'm not flirting with him. I'm just being friendly!"

"Sure, Buck." Ravi gave him a pat on the shoulder as he finished racking up the game. "Whatever makes you feel better."

"If it helps, he's definitely flirting back." Albert took a seat at the table next to them, pouring the rest from their beer pitcher into his cup.

"You don't need to lie to me, it's fine," Buck muttered, gesturing for Ravi to make the first move. "I'll get over it."

"No, that was definitely flirting. An alpha wouldn't just 'accidentally' be all up in your face like that if he didn't want something more."

"We weren't even sitting that close!" Buck protested, groaning when his first hit didn't even sink a ball, his mind frazzled now. "Stop trying to distract me, you literally just lost to Ravi."

"And now I want my boyfriend to win and beat you. Nothing wrong with that, right?"

The three of them exchanged barbs as the game continued, Albert leaving just one to grab their drink refills. The whole time he was gone, Ravi never even took a turn, just staring longingly at the bar until his man came back. The honeymoon phase had to end eventually, right?

They were neck and neck by the end, both with just one ball left. It was Buck's turn, and he had just lined up the perfect shot with a hand brushed against his waist, startling him and causing him to take the shot early, completely missing the ball.

"Fuck," he groaned, whipping around to see who'd distracted him. Eddie held his hands up in a mock surrender, looking guilty.

"Sorry! I thought you heard me coming up."

Albert cackled with glee as Buck immediately straightened up, Ravi taking the chance to chug the rest of his beer before he made his last move.

"Oh, it's fine. I overreacted." Stay calm, Buckley. It was one touch. He noticed Eddie no longer had a drink in his hand, and a worn leather jacket now covered his broad shoulders, depriving Buck of the beautiful view. "Heading out?"

"Yeah, turns out I still have an early bedtime even without Chris at home." Eddie chuckled, tucking his hands into his front pockets. "I just wanted to say bye before I left. I'm glad Maddie convinced you to come."

"Me too."

There was a cheer behind him, and Buck didn't need to turn around to know that Ravi had just won, beating him for the first time. He was never going to hear the end of that.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you lose."

"Nah, the padawan is just overcoming the master, or whatever they say." Maybe Buck shouldn't repeat phrases he learned only heard from Chimney, because Eddie looked at him like he had just started speaking in another language. "Sorry, I don't actually know what that means."

"Have you never seen Star Wars?" Eddie asked, giving him an amused look.

"No." Buck shrugged, waving him off. "I'm sure Albert's watched that movie enough that I don't need to."

"Why am I catching strays?"

Buck ignored Albert's complaining, knowing that it was nothing compared to the teasing he was going to get later. "I'll take a look at that email you sent me. We're still on for next week, right? If you're ready."

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it." Eddie looked like he was going to reach out and touch him again, but held back. Buck shrugged off the disappointment. If everything went well, next week he'd be supervising Eddie on his first date.

"What's next week?" Ravi piped up, ever the annoying devil on Buck's shoulder.

"None of your business, probie," Buck sassed, and Ravi just shot him a withering look.

"Yeah, what he said." Eddie's grin made his eyes crinkle, and Buck couldn't help but get lost in the molten pools of chocolate. He was hypnotizing.

"You two are perfect for each other," Ravi muttered under his breath, and Buck just hoped Eddie didn't hear him. Unlikely, with the man's perfect alpha senses, but Buck could hope.

"How are you getting home?" Eddie asked. "Do you need a ride?"

"Oh, I'll just make Maddie take me home. She's the one who dragged me here."

"I think she's a little occupied."

Buck glanced over at the table in the corner Eddie was pointing at, squinting in the dim lighting. Sure enough, his sister was making out with her boyfriend like they were teenagers out on the town for the first time. He scowled. "Of course, I should've known better."

"Why don't I take you home?" Eddie offered, pulling his keys out of his pocket. "I didn't want to shell out for an Uber, so I'm good to drive."

"You don't even know where I live, I'm not gonna make you go out of the way. I can order a ride or wait for Maddie to finish."

Eddie raised an eyebrow. "I don't think they're gonna finish things here anytime soon."

"Gross!" Buck did not need that mental image, thank you very much.

"I'd rather you not catch a ride home with a stranger. C'mon." Eddie patted him on the back. "Besides, I already told your sister I'd get you home. You don't want her to think I'm a liar, right?"

"Yeah, Buck, you better make sure you go home with him," Albert jeered, and Buck flipped him the middle finger.

"Let's go before I actually murder one of them." He waved in the general direction of Maddie so she couldn't claim he just disappeared, like he tended to do on a night out.

Eddie's car seemed to fit him perfectly. A sleek, clean pickup truck filled with just the smallest amount of children's clutter. Eddie even held the door open for him, just like an old-fashioned suitor might. He made sure Buck was secured in before getting in the driver's seat himself.

As soon as he turned on the radio, Disney tunes came blaring out of the speakers. Eddie quickly turned the volume down to something more reasonable, but it was too late.

'I have an excuse, Chris won't listen to anything else." Eddie's ears were bright pink at the top, visible in the overhead lighting, and Buck chuckled.

"Don't worry, your secrets are safe with me."

"You try arguing with him about what music to play. It's just not worth it." He put his hand on the back of Buck's headrest as he reversed out of his parking spot, and Buck just barely managed to stop himself from almost swooning. Sure, he did the same thing when he had to back up his car, but there was no way he looked as good as Eddie did doing it. If a competency kink existed, Buck definitely had one.

Eddie asked for his address, and when he recited it back, Eddie reassured him that he was actually mostly on his way home. That made Buck feel better about it, and Eddie was right; he didn't want to sit in a stranger's car on the way home.

His eyes began to droop, the alcohol catching up to him, and before he knew it, a soothing voice was peacefully pulling him out of his slumber.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep." He wiped discreetly at his chin, grateful that at least he didn't drool all over himself.

"It's okay. Your snoring helped drown out the Disney music."

"Ha-ha, very funny." Buck deadpanned, patting his pockets to make sure he still had everything. Before he could get out of the car, Eddie was already opening the door for him, a smug look on his face. Once he was out, he stretched his arms up and let out a satisfied noise when he felt the muscles shift beneath his skin. Eddie's eyes zeroed in on the narrow stretch of skin that was now exposed, and if Buck weren't so drained, he'd make a flirty remark about it.

"Let me know when you get home, okay?" Buck's keys jingled in his hand as he picked the right one to get into his building. "Thanks again."

"I will."

Eddie got back in the car, not leaving until Buck was securely inside the building and waving goodbye. Buck couldn't stop smiling to himself on the elevator ride up. For once, his apartment felt welcoming, the mess Maddie had made still scattered over his kitchen island. That was a problem for future Buck, though. For now, the only thing on his mind was a hot shower, followed by at least eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. But he didn't regret going out. He'd never tell her, but Maddie was right. It was a good night out.

Ana was the first date Buck picked for Eddie. A gorgeous omega school teacher who was happy to date a partner who already had a kid. She was also a newer client of Buck's, and someone he had a feeling wouldn't be with him for long.

Buck always sat in on first dates, never wanting to risk anything despite his vetting process, and it was clear they got along great. She cooed over the photos of Christopher, admired Eddie's large biceps, and batted her eyelashes in all the right ways. But Eddie seemed utterly interested in her. He kept trying to draw Buck into the conversation, asking him the same questions he'd asked Ana, and Buck couldn't figure out why.

"So, did you like her?" He asked once she left, her reassuring scent of cardamom and cloves lingering at the table between them.

"She seemed sweet," Eddie replied, perusing the dessert menu. "You wanna split something?"

"Oh, sure," Buck was surprised. Normally, he'd just fuck off after the meeting and wait for them to reach out to him. But Eddie wanted him to stick around? He tried not to read too much into it, but it was sweet of him.

"We'll have the cheesecake," Eddie told the server, passing the menu back to him. "Is that good with you?"

"I love cheesecake, so yes," Buck assured him, and pulled his notepad back out. "Are you interested in seeing Ana again?"

Eddie shrugged, his face unreadable. "She seemed nice. But I didn't really feel a…" he trailed off.

"Spark? That happens! It's only the first date. If you went on another, it would be just the two of you. It'll have to be somewhere public. I trust your judgment, but you won't have a chaperone. Maybe it'll be different without me there."

"I'm sure it would be," Eddie leaned back in his chair, eyeing Buck. Buck felt goosebumps forming under his cardigan, and he was glad they wouldn't be noticeable. It was intense having all of Eddie's attention on him. How was he supposed to get over his crush if Eddie kept acting like this?

"I usually suggest a picnic, either at the beach or the park. You could bring Chris if you wanted. I'm not sure how early you like to introduce him to someone."

"Can I get a day to think about it?" Eddie asked, thanking the server as they put a plate of beautifully decorated cheesecake on the table. It looked like they made their whipped cream in-house, and fresh strawberries were sliced up on the plate.

"Of course." Buck put his notebook back in his bag, picking up on the hint that Eddie wasn't interested in talking about it anymore. "Oh! They only brought one spoon."

"That's okay," Eddie picked up the spoon, using it to get a full scoop of some of the cake, whipped cream, and a strawberry slice. He held it up in front of Buck, and Buck gave him a confused look. "We can still share. Here, you get the first bite."

The spoon was steady in his hand, no tremble at all. Buck waited just a moment to make sure he wasn't misreading the situation, then leaned forward, closing his mouth around the metal. He couldn't help the small moan that left his throat as the sweet flavor hit his tongue, and Eddie's eyes darkened as he took the utensil back.

"Good?" He asked, having his own bite next. Buck's gaze was fixated on the spoon, watching as Eddie's lips touched the same spot where his mouth just was. Where was this smooth alpha when Ana was here? A dollop of cream sat on the corner of his mouth, and Buck watched as his tongue darted out to clean it off. Fuck.

They finished the dessert in the same way, each bite Buck had fed to him from Eddie. He almost wanted to ask what they were doing, but didn't want to pop the bubble. He savored each moment, not sure of when this would happen again.

The server came back with their bill, and before Buck could pick it up, Eddie was already pulling bills out of his wallet, handing it back with a smile.

"I usually pay for the first date," Buck pouted as his inner omega preened at the alpha taking care of them. Calm down.

"You're not charging me for your services; it's the least I can do." Eddie got out of his chair first, and Buck made sure everything was safely tucked away in his leather messenger bag. When he looked back up, Eddie was waiting by his seat with his hand extended.

"Thanks," Buck let go of his hand as soon as he was up, and Eddie frowned slightly before his expression smoothed over. They exited the restaurant, Buck trying to remember where he'd park with the limited street parking. "Let me know tomorrow about the next date?"

"I'll text you," Eddie waved at him before walking further down the street, and Buck couldn't help but get hypnotized by the sway of his hips. He needed to get a grip.

The first thing he did when he got home was to video call Maddie, and he was greeted by the screeching noise of his adorable niece, who proceeded to run around with the phone as Maddie chased her down, finally scooping up the unruly toddler and regaining control of the phone.

"She's finally learning how the touch screen works," Maddie huffed, redirecting Jee-Yun's attention to her playroom instead. "What's up?"

"Is Chimney home?" He didn't want to risk Chimney sticking his nose into the situation, and he was awful at keeping secrets. If he heard their conversation, the whole fire station would know by the end of their next 24-hour shift.

"No, he's out grocery shopping. Something you don't want him to hear?" She waggled her eyebrows suggestively, and Buck groaned.

"Maddie, I can't keep helping Eddie. It's impossible to be around him?"

Her expression changed in an instant. "What did he do? Does Chimney need to talk to him?"

"No, no, it's nothing he did," Buck scrambled to clarify, not thinking about how it would sound to his very protective older sister. "He's probably one of the nicest guys I've hung out with in a while." He described the whole date with Ana to her, leaving out the part where Eddie was spoon-feeding him cheesecake. That would stay between them for now.

"Oooh, does someone have a crush?" Maddie joked when he finished, and Buck could see how red his face got in the corner of the screen.

"Yes, and that's the problem!" He slumped back on the couch, stretching his long legs out onto the coffee table.

"What's wrong with that? I saw how he was acting with you at the bar. I don't think your feelings are unreciprocated."

"It doesn't matter even if they are. I can't be what he's looking for," Buck sighed, staring wistfully,

"We've really gotta work on your self-esteem." Maddie shook her head, concerned. "What's really stopping you, Buck?"

"He's my client-" he protested weakly.

"Yeah, but he's not paying you." She pointed out, always looking on the bright side. "Nothing unethical about that."

"I can't do another failed relationship," Buck confesses, worrying his bottom lip between his teeth. "Not right now. I'm too busy."

"You have got to stop using work as an excuse." She scolded him, fondness in her tone. "Chimney and I make it work, even when we're on opposite schedules."

"Yeah, but you're basically soulmates."

"I can see I'm not going to convince you to change your mind. So what are you going to do if he does want another date with Ana?"

"Then I'll help him pick somewhere romantic and get it set up." Buck doesn't even want to think about it. Selfishly, he hopes Eddie turns it down, but that just means he'd have to pick out someone new and sit in on another first date. Both options were terrible.

"Uncle Buck has a crush!" Jee-yun shouted as she jumped out from behind the armchair Maddie was sitting in, scaring both of them.

"Please don't let her say that around Chimney," Buck whined.

"She'll forget about it by the time he gets home, I'm sure." Maddie waved off his concern, and Buck just sighed again. Sometimes he got great advice from his sister, other times he got things he never wanted to hear. "If you're not focusing on your boy crush, does that mean you're working on your writing?"

"I am," Buck assured her, actually not lying this time. "It's fully fleshed out, and I've started the first couple of chapters."

"Good. There's no rush on it, but I know you get stuck in your head sometimes. I just don't want you to lose focus."

"Don't worry, I won't. It'll be the perfect distraction."

"You always write best when you have a muse, after all." Buck could feel Maddie's smirk through the phone, and he just glared back. Somehow, he didn't think that would make things better.

She greeted someone off camera, and suddenly Chimney was filling the screen instead. "What's up, little bro?"

"Nothing," Buck stammered, ready to get off the phone now. Chimney was far too good at reading his emotions, and Buck was terrible at hiding them. "I'm gonna go if you're home. Give Jee-yun a kiss from me, okay?"

"Text me, and we'll get dinner this week," Maddie said, and he nodded in agreement before hanging up the phone. Ugh. Maddie was supposed to tell him that it wasn't worth it. That dating someone who worked with her husband and his father figure could only end badly. She wasn't supposed to tell Buck to go for it and make a move. She was a terrible sister.

A chime came from his phone, and he checked his notifications. There was a new email from Eddie in the work inbox with the subject line 'next date'. His heart was pounding as he opened up the email.

Hey, Buck

It was good seeing you today. I enjoyed dessert with you, and wouldn't mind doing it again. You'll have to show me the best cheesecake spot in town.

Ana was nice, but too passive a partner for me. I want someone who's not afraid to challenge me, not someone who's just going along with what they think I want. Sorry to waste your time. I'm open to hearing if you have anyone else.

-Eddie Diaz

Well, at least he wouldn't have to see Ana batting her eyelashes at Eddie anymore. There'd be plenty of other alphas for Ana, anyway. She'd be just fine. He put his phone down on the charger, deciding he wasn't going to reply tonight. He needed to shut his brain off. No more screen time that night.

He changed into comfortable clothes and grabbed a borrowed library book off his nightstand. He burrowed under the covers, opening the book up to where he'd left off last. Unsurprisingly, he enjoyed reading bodice-rippers as much as he liked writing them. He let the corny dialogue lull him to sleep, and if Buck dreamed of a certain dark-haired alpha going on adventures and rescuing omegas in distress, that was no one's business but his own.

It was rare to have a full week of rain in Los Angeles, but winter was truly starting, and Buck was in a terrible mood. The rain always made his old leg injury act up, and fucked with his seasonal depression at the same time, which made for a nasty combo. So Buck spent most of this week curled up in his small nest, occasionally bringing his laptop in to do some work, but otherwise he spent it reading and responding to emails. When he woke up to a sunny day, his mood lifted instantly. He'd done just enough work for the week that he could take the day off.

He did some PT exercises for his leg to adjust after some disuse, and immediately began packing a bag for the day. He needed to be out in the sun, and it was the perfect time to use his zoo membership that was burning a hole in his pocket.

It was a Saturday, but the zoo surprisingly wasn't crowded for the day. Most people were probably at the beach, soaking in the rays of sunshine. He was in front of the crocodile exhibit, taking a minute to rest on the bench and see the newest residents, when a familiar voice called his name.

"Buck! Buck!" A pair of crutches bumped against his side as he was wrapped in a hug, but he didn't care. His favorite pup was here!

"Chris! What are you doing here, buddy?"

"Trying to put me in an early grave, it seems like," Eddie looked just slightly out of breath as he caught up to them, and Buck laughed. "Chris, what did I tell you about running off? It's dangerous."

"But I saw Buck! He's not dangerous." Chris settled on the bench with Buck, handing the crutches to Eddie, who took them with a fond smile. "What are you doing at the zoo?"

"Gotta get the use out of my pass. They just added new animals to this area. Have you seen them yet?"

"This is our first time here," Eddie explained, taking the other spot next to Chris. "His grandparents gifted us tickets to all the big tourist places so we could check them out before getting passes."

"Where else have you guys gone?"

"The aquarium and the science museum," and Chris was off, telling Buck all about their adventures and making Eddie show him all the pictures they'd taken of the different animals.

When he paused for a breather, Eddie gave Buck an apologetic look, but Buck waved it off. Chris was adorable, and Buck could feel his funky mood from the last few days finally wearing off. "You're a good dad, taking him to all these places."

"Where did your parents take you?" Chris asked innocently, not realizing what can of worms he had just opened.

"They were busy a lot of the time. But you remember my sister Maddie, right?"

Chris nodded, hanging onto his every word.

"Maddie took me everywhere. We're from Pennsylvania, so it was a little different from what we have here, but she always made sure I had the best time."

"That's sweet. I took my sisters to some, until they were 'too cool' to hang out with their older brother anymore."

Buck laughed. "We never got to that point. She moved out when I was in middle school."

"Who took you places after she moved?"

"Well, I took myself! I had a bike and a job delivering newspapers, so I could just take myself."

"When I'm in middle school, I'm still gonna want Dad to go with me for fun things. Is that okay?" It was cute how worried Chris looked at the thought of Buck judging him.

"You should hang out with your Dad as long as you want to," Buck told him, and Chris nodded seriously. "That is, unless he suddenly gets lame. You don't want him dragging you down."

"Hey!" Eddie protested, and Chris giggled. "Why don't you go listen to the animal talk right now? I can keep an eye on you from here."

Chris nodded eagerly, and once his crutches were securely attached, he was off, leaving Buck and Eddie to lounge back and watch the zookeeper tell the kids all about the rare crocodiles behind her.

"Thanks for being so nice to him. I know you only met once, but he wouldn't stop talking about you after the barbecue."

"Really?" Buck was delighted to hear that. Not that it mattered if Eddie's kid liked him, but it made him feel warm and fuzzy inside.

"Is that so crazy? You're a pretty likable guy."

Now Buck was blushing. It was embarrassing how flustered he got from just one compliment from the alpha. He waved off the compliment. "Kids like me, it's adults that are usually the problem."

"They're missing out."

"You barely know me." Buck pointed out.

"I want to get to know you. Is that a crime?"

Buck changed the subject, not wanting to talk about it anymore. "Let's get you back out there. I was thinking about what you didn't like about Ana, and I think I found a good option for you."

"Let's hear about them." Eddie didn't question the subject change, which Buck was grateful for.

"Her name's Marisol. The past two guys I've set her up with have complained that she's 'too assertive,' so you won't have to worry about that. She works in marketing, loves kids, is very family-oriented, and absolutely gorgeous. Honestly, both of you are far too attractive to be using my services."

Eddie smirked. "So you think I'm attractive?"

"Yeah, yeah," Buck waved him off, blush returning. It was like his entire verbal filter disappeared to moment he saw the other man.

"I'll give it another try, why not?"

"Great! I'll let her know, and we'll get a first date in the calendar."

They were interrupted when Chris came rushing back over. "These crocodiles are so cool, Dad!"

"Really, mijo? What'd you learn?" Eddie made room for Chris on his lap and listened with rapt attention.

"She said they're some of the biggest in the world! They can get up to twenty feet!" He frowned to himself. "She also said they were endangered, which is sad."

Buck jumped in to try to cheer him up. "But they brought them here to help them. If they can breed them, they can release babies back into the wild and help with the population. The zoo does a lot of that."

"Oh, that's cool!" Chris did cheer up, a smile lighting up his face again. "She also said they came all the way from India! How did they get them here?"

"Probably by plane. That way, they're not stuck in transport as long. It's pretty stressful, but worth it."

"Do they ride on the plane with people?"

"Why, are you scared there's gonna be a crocodile on your next Texas trip, hiding under the plane?" Eddie teased.

"Why would they go on a plane with people? That's crazy," Chris giggled, and Buck laughed with him.

"You don't want to share the armrest with a crocodile?"

"No!"

"Hm, too bad, I think it'd be fun," Buck mused, and Chris shook his head.

"You're crazy."

"If you're not nice to Buck, he might not want to get ice cream with you now," Eddie warned him, and Chris's face lit up.

"Oh, you have to get ice cream with us! Dad always gets the boring flavors, but I bet you pick fun ones!"

"I do not pick boring flavors," Eddie scoffed. "I pick normal flavors."

"Now I have to know what boring flavors you're picking out," Buck was convinced. "C'mon, I'll take you to the spot. Maybe Chris and I can help you find something good."

Buck ended up spending the rest of the day with them. After their ice cream break, Chris asked him to show them his favorite exhibits, so he ended up circling back again. By the end, his knee was screaming at him for a break, but Buck had pushed himself further for less. It was worth it for the smile that was permanently etched into Chris's face, and he even got a hug from Eddie when they walked him to his car.

Yeah, Buck could absolutely handle Eddie dating someone else. No problem.

Unfortunately, Buck was really good at his job. Eddie was getting along with Marisol far more than he did with Ana, and it was killing Buck having to watch them flirt in front of him.

Marisol was a beta, level-headed, and had a sarcastic streak that matched Eddie's perfectly. She had cooed over photos of Chris, but didn't poke and prod as much as Ana did about any limitations he might have.

There was never a lull in the conversation, and Buck stayed silent as he sipped at his coffee at the table next to them. He knew that if he didn't put some distance between them, he'd let the alpha do something crazy again, like feeding him cheesecake. Eddie had never brought up the moment again, but lately it was all Buck could think about.

They'd hung out a few more times after their run-in with the zoo, Chris insisting that Buck needed to show them around the city. They went to Santa Monica Pier, the Chinese Theater, and Buck even found himself visiting the tourist traps on the Walk of Fame just because Chris thought they were cool. He'd been living in Los Angeles for years, and there were so many places he'd never thought about going.

Buck was careful to make sure they didn't spend any time alone, only seeing him around Chris or with the 118. It seemed like Chimney and Hen were determined to keep Buck from overworking himself, and he found himself at some group activity at least once a week. Trivia, wine nights, they were even trying to talk him into starting a run club, even though Buck was pretty sure he'd never seen either of them run more than a 5k. Soon, Eddie, Ravi, and Bobby were looped in on some, and Buck was helpless to say no.

It wasn't fair that Eddie looked really good today. A tight white t-shirt, a leather jacket to ward off the chill, and dark jeans that made his ass look amazing. He was allowed to admire his friend's ass, okay? Nothing was wrong with that.

And Marisol just didn't seem like someone who would appreciate that asset. In fact, Buck was wondering why he even bothered to set them up. Maybe he should just tell Eddie that all the other options weren't interested. That wouldn't be a horrible thing to do, right?

But that wasn't believable; someone would have to be stupid not to want Eddie.

When Marisol left, Eddie stood to hug her, and Buck was grateful for the extra layer of scent-covering spray he used this morning. Otherwise, the whole cafe would reek of jealous omega. They'd gotten closer, but Buck had never quite gotten a full hug from Eddie.

He plastered a smile on his face as Eddie sat down across from him. "Seems like you liked her a lot more," he remarked, staring intently at his notepad.

"She was fun," Eddie settled back in, a small grin on his lips.

"So will I be setting up another date for you?" He asked, mentally preparing himself.

"No," Eddie chuckled, and Buck looked up, surprised. "Did she tell you she used to be a nun?"

"No way."

"Seriously. As a reformed catholic, I can't see myself getting past that imagery." A shudder ran through him, and Buck snorted. That was a new rejection line he'd never heard before.

"Damn, I really thought I found you a good one." At least if Eddie had gone on another date with Marisol, Buck wouldn't be stuck right next to them watching.

"I have an idea," Eddie plucked Buck's pen out of his hand, forcing him to make eye contact. "Why don't I just try going on a date with you?"

Buck snapped his notebook shut, his heart pounding in his chest. There was no way he heard that right. Eddie wanted to go on a date… with him? "Like, as a way to practice or something? You're doing great, it's not your fault they're not working out."

"No, not to practice." It was cute how Eddie's nose would crinkle when he laughed. "We've been hanging out, getting to know each other. Chris absolutely adores you. And forgive me if I'm reading things wrong, but-"

"You're not reading anything wrong," Buck blurted. "You just took me by surprise."

Eddie furrowed his brows, looking confused. "Have I not been pretty obviously flirting with you the whole time? Everyone at the station was making fun of me for it. Chimney certainly hasn't shut up about it."

"I just thought that was how you normally acted with your friends!" Buck's voice cracked on the last note, and he winced internally. He couldn't remember the last time he was this flustered.

"Do you think I just platonically feed my friends dessert off my fork?" Amusement twinkled in his eyes, but Buck didn't feel like he was being made fun of.

Buck's cheeks flushed at the memory. "I haven't seen you interact with anyone outside of the 118, so for all I knew, that was normal."

Eddie sighed, still smiling. "Ravi told me I'd probably have to spell it out for you."

"That's why he was being such a dick at the bar!" Of course, Ravi wanted to make him miserable. That tracked. "He's not usually that mean to me."

"Yeah, we told him to lay off, but he was excited to finally know something you didn't."

"I'll have to think of revenge."

"But you didn't answer my question." The alpha leaned closer, looking at Buck intently, like he could see right through him. "You can say no, of course. No hard feelings, it won't make things awkward."

"I haven't dated in a while, Eddie. I've only been in one long-term relationship, and I don't want to let you down."

"And I haven't been with anyone since Shannon left. Sounds like we might be on equal footing."

That was a great point, actually. "If something happens, I don't want to make you uncomfortable at work. You work with half my family."

Eddie shrugged, surprisingly nonchalant about it. "I think, unless something particularly nasty happens, if it doesn't work out, we're both adults. We can be mature about the situation." He sat back in his chair. "What if we just go on one date? You and me, somewhere quiet with good food, and no distractions?"

One date. Buck could absolutely handle that. "That sounds nice."

"Great!" Eddie's whole face lit up, and all Buck could do was think about how he was the reason for that absolutely gorgeous smile. "I have Friday night off, actually. Would that work for you?"

"That's like two days away!"

"So do you have any plans?"

"No, I'm free." Even if he wasn't, Buck would've cancelled his plans. As nervous as he was, he was equally excited. He hadn't been on a proper date in months.

"I'll pick you up at six." Eddie got up, leaving Buck flustered in his seat. "And you can close my profile, by the way. Hopefully, I won't be needing it anymore." With that, he was gone, and Buck was stuck replaying the situation over and over again in his head, just trying to make sure that wasn't all a dream.

Shit. What was he going to wear?