Title: In Our Time
Fandom: 9-1-1
Genre: Contemporary, Challenge Response, Drama, Inexplicable Babies, Soulmates
Pairing: Evan Buckley/Eddie Diaz
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: No beta
Author Note: Thank you to Polaris for making the art for this story.
Timeline: Takes place early season four after the Buck Begins arc. Canon knowledge not necessary.
Challenge: Q1-2023 Big Moxie—Inexplicable Babies
Word Count: ~6,540
Summary: There are profound magical consequences to telling your soulmate “I love you.”

In Our Time

Eddie rubbed his hands over his face, fighting off the exhaustion from spending the last fourteen hours at this callout.

They’d barely been in the station for the start of shift, having a conversation with Ravi Panikkar, a probie from B-shift, when the rest of this team got really bent about Ravi’s use of the word quiet. Then the alarm had sounded, and Eddie had started falling down the weird rabbit hole of firefighter superstition, to which he had somehow managed to avoid being exposed before now.

They’d been en route to what seemed like a trivial call, when they’d be re-tasked to a fire reported in their zone at a construction site—a nearly finished, large scale condo block built over a shopping center. The shopping portion had been open for a few months but the condos were unfinished. Fortunately, it was before opening hours for most of the stores, so there were few people to evacuate from the fire itself, and they were all on the ground floor. Evacuating the surrounding neighborhood and businesses, however, was a logistical mess, which had fortunately been mostly the LAPD’s problem.

The 118 had been the first station to respond, making Bobby the incident commander, but the fire had grown quickly beyond the ability of their light force. Within a couple of hours, the blaze was five-alarm, evacuations were underway, and twelve other stations had responded.

It had been an all-day battle to keep the blaze from spreading beyond the construction site into an older, densely populated, residential neighborhood. Every firefighter on scene had been directly motivated and driven to keep going to protect homes and businesses.

But now that it was over and they’d fought back the blaze, now that the battalion chiefs had called in other teams to do the final walk through checking for remaining hotspots, the 118 could finally stop and get some rest.

Eddie wanted nothing more than to haul himself up into the truck and let his exhausted body rest, but his eyes were on his partner, waiting to see what would happen next. He wondered if Buck would be back on the truck with him or if Buck would have a different detour.

While it wasn’t unusual for Buck to carry a heavy physical load on any call, his burden in the last hour could more accurately be called Herculean. One of the other responding companies had shored up the supports to one of their main access points to the interior of the blaze as the unfinished parts of the structure burned quickly and started to collapse.

Eddie hadn’t seen how things had started, but he’d seen the end. The 133 had been inside when the evacuation order had been called due to the failing structural integrity and risk of collapse. Eddie had been flabbergasted when Buck had suddenly abandoned his hose and sprinted for the door, calling something frantically over his radio that Eddie couldn’t make out.

Then Buck had literally taken the weight of the collapsing door frame on his own shoulders as the supports started to buckle, giving the 133 the few extra seconds they needed to clear the scene. Eddie had been the one running after Buck, and Eddie had been the one to help pull Buck away from the dire situation he’d put himself in where he almost couldn’t get out from under the weight pressing down on him. With Captain Mehta’s help, they’d pulled Buck free of the collapsing building, barely getting themselves all clear before everything came crashing down.

There was no way such a physical feat came without cost, and the it remained to be seen how much of a price Buck would pay. Hen, Bobby, and Captain Mehta were hovering around Buck, which was why Eddie was hanging back, though he desperately wanted to be by Buck’s side.

Finally the three from the 118 headed for the truck as Mehta went toward his own company. Buck was moving a little slower than usual and had a faint limp, and Bobby and Hen were matching his pace.

Bobby peeled off and went around to his side of the truck, and Eddie gave Buck a questioning look as he got closer.

Buck smiled faintly. “Feels like I pulled some muscles in my back.”

Eddie’s gaze flicked to Buck’s leg, indicating the limp.

“When I take a step, I’m feeling the pull all up in my back,” Buck answered, interpreting Eddie correctly as always.

“I’m going to check him out back at the station,” Hen said, sounding as tired as Eddie felt. “He managed to talk Bobby and Mehta out of a trip to the ER provided I get to have my way with him and clear him once we’re back the house.”

“You make that sound so dirty,” Buck said with a grin.

Hen rolled her eyes. “I’m too tired to deal with you.” She hopped in the truck.

Buck tried to pulled himself up and immediately hissed in discomfort.

Lips pressed into a thin line, because Eddie desperately wanted to check Buck over himself, he said nothing. Rather, he climbed into the truck, offering Buck his hand and using more of his own strength than usual to pull Buck into the cab.

Buck collapsed into the seat. “Thanks, Eds.” He offered a tired smile.

“I got your back.”

“Yeah,” Buck said tiredly, closing his eyes and leaning his head back. “You always do.”

“You okay back there, Buck?” Bobby’s voice came over the headset.

“Mm-hm.” Buck’s eyes flicked open and he met Bobby’s gaze over Eddie’s shoulder. “I told them the minute they put those supports in place that they weren’t sufficient for that load, Bobby.”

“I know, Buck. I promise to raise it up the chain, okay? You shouldn’t have to put yourself more in harm’s way because people won’t listen.”

Eddie couldn’t help but wonder why someone wouldn’t listen. Was it Buck’s demeanor? Was it his weird and somewhat unfortunate reputation with the department due to the lawsuit two years ago? Something else? Whatever the reason, they needed to figure this out.

He knocked his knee against Buck’s, meeting Buck’s gaze steadily when Buck’s eyes flicked open again. He tried to convey how amazing he thought Buck had done today, how tireless he was out there.

After a few seconds, Buck’s lips quirked up and he nodded.

Yeah, Buck always got him just fine.

~*~

Showering after a big event like a five-alarm fire was a mixed bag—both blessing and curse. It tended to make him feel more mentally alert, so it revived him to a degree, but it also made him feel more relaxed. Considering his exhaustion level, more relaxed wasn’t helpful at all. He wanted nothing more than to head to the bunks and sleep for a week, but he desperately needed to refuel and also reconnect with the team for status updates.

Buck was still in the shower, one of the last, and Eddie was tempted to linger to make sure he was okay, but Hen was lurking, prepared for whatever she had planned to assess Buck’s health and well-being. Eddie knew he’d be better off getting some calories in his system so he could help Buck later if need be.

He downed a bunch of Advil and Tylenol from the stash in his locker, feeling the soreness in his own arms and shoulders from too many hours on the fire hose, then headed upstairs, following the scents of Indian food. They were all running on a serious calorie deficit, and Bobby was way too tired to cook, so he’d ordered a mountain of takeout from multiple restaurants while they were driving back to the station.

Bobby had set the takeout containers out at the counter for everyone to serve themselves. Generally, Bobby hated takeout, but some days, it was the only option or they’d have to resort to protein bars. Still, whenever they had to resort to takeout, Bobby refused to have takeout containers littering the table, turning it into a giant trash heap, as he called it. As a result, they always served takeout from the island counter.

Eddie dragged himself over to wait for his turn to grab some food, downing a piece of fruit from the bowl in a few bites to take the edge off his hunger. He just wanted to sleep, but refueling was just as important. However, no matter how tired he was, he knew that Buck was probably more tired and more sore, so he dished up two plates, making sure to hit the protein extra heavy on Buck’s plate.

“One plate of food isn’t enough for you?” Chim asked as he slotted into place behind Eddie.

Eddie raised a brow, feeling like the answer should be obvious. “The other one is for Buck.”

Chim rolled his eyes. “You two are so co-dependent.”

Eddie glared, setting the plates down with a thunk, not in the mood for snippy comments about how he babied Buck. “Listen—”

Bobby braced his hands on the counter from opposite them in the kitchen. “Today, Buck carried a heavier physical burden than any human being should ever have to endure. If Eddie hadn’t made him a plate, I would have. In fact, if he wants to eat in the bunk room and have me feed him like a toddler, I’ll damn well do it.”

Chim made a surrender gesture. “I was just teasing Eddie, Cap. No harm meant.”

“You were in the triage tent and dealing with evacuations, which is where you were needed, but that means you missed a lot of the physical strain many of the firefighters were put under today. So, maybe it’s not a good time.” Bobby rarely got so openly terse with any of the old timers, especially Chim or Hen, but even Bobby was at his limit with everything today.

“Got it. Seriously, no harm meant.”

Hen crested the top of the stairs and made eye contact with Bobby. “If we get called out again, he’ll need to be man behind.”

Bobby stood up straight, poised like he was ready to run downstairs, but Hen waved him off.

“He’s okay, but he’s strained all the muscles in his back and shoulders. He’s taken the max dose of ibuprofen and he’ll need muscle relaxers after shift. He’s changing and will be up in a minute or two. I’ll check him again at the end of shift. Bruising is deep in some areas, but it doesn’t seem worrisome so far.”

Bobby scrubbed his hand over his face. “Okay. If we get another big call, I’ll have to try to get a floater.” While Buck did his turn as man behind like all of them did as far as routine calls, when it came to big fires or heavy rescue situations, Buck, Eddie, and two of the guys who rode on the triple—Jones and Logan—never got to sit it out.

“There won’t be another call,” a vaguely familiar voice said from the stairs behind Hen.

She gave a start of surprise and moved out of the way, revealing Battalion Chief Samual Adamson—the man’s name always made Buck laugh and makes jokes about beer. Behind Adamson was LAFD Chief Adán Alonzo.

“My apologies, Firefighter Wilson. I didn’t mean to startle you,” Chief Adamson said with a smile. The man looked tired himself.

“It’s fine, sir.” She quickly made her way to stand near Eddie.

Bobby greeted the two chiefs, his expression concerned.

“There’s nothing wrong, Bobby,” Adamson offered immediately. “We’ve ordered all companies and task forces that responded for longer than six hours to be taken offline for at least four so that everyone can eat and rest. The 118 was on site longer than anyone else and you had command. I believe you were on site for over fourteen hours straight…?”

“Yes, sir.”

“You all did good work, and the 118 is offline until start of next shift. Unless an absolute catastrophe happens, you can all get some well-deserved rest.”

Bobby relaxed fractionally. “The break would be welcome. Did you want to join us for dinner?”

“I’d be delighted, actually.” He gestured to the head chief of the whole LAFD. “Adán is making the rounds of some of the stations that spent the longest on site, so he’ll be headed out to the next stop on his list soon. Do you have time for dinner?”

“I don’t see why not.”

And there went a relaxing dinner. It was hard to unwind with two chiefs eating curry across the table from you.

Chim and Hen peeled away from the line, ostensibly to talk, but giving up their spots to the chiefs and Bobby. Eddie hurried to finish getting through the main dishes to get out of the way of the brass invading their dinner hour.

“Is Firefighter Buckley injured?” Adamson asked, tone neutral as he glanced around.

“He’s got some strained muscles,” Bobby said vaguely. “He’s moving a little slowly, but he should be up shortly.”

“I imagine he does. I’m not sure if he’s incredibly skilled or incredibly lucky. The way he held up that collapsing doorframe so the 133 could finish evacuating was… Well, I’ve never seen anything quite like it.” Adamson had been on scene for the last several hours along with several other battalion chiefs. He’d even dug in and worked alongside his men, which Eddie could respect in a chief.

“Buck’s education is in civil engineering,” Eddie found himself offering, drawing their attention. “He knows his own strength and he probably knew exactly where shoring up would be required. He also knew the supports it’d been braced with were going to be insufficient and saw them buckling before anyone else.” Eddie frowned, not sure the point he was even trying to make because he was so damn tired. He just knew that people tended to write Buck off as reckless, but Buck often knew exactly what he was doing in terms of the situation—his recklessness tended to be with his own safety.

“I can’t discount that luck is on his side, but I think writing off his skill and training as nothing but chance is doing him a disservice.” Eddie’s frown turned into a scowl, which he directed at the plates in his hand. “I just wish he’d stop applying his skills with his whole damn body.

“You and me both,” Bobby said on a sigh.

“Well, it was one of the most impressive things I’ve seen on scene in my years in the department. He gave those people the extra few seconds they needed to get out.”

Eddie had to agree, but he just wished Buck would be a little more cautious with himself. Eddie’s heart had stopped when he’d seen Buck throw himself under that collapsing support, as if he were literally fucking Atlas.

As if summoned by Eddie’s tumultuous thoughts, Buck finally appeared, cresting the top of the stairs, looking like he was barely functional.

Buck didn’t even notice anyone else, he just collapsed in his usual seat and let his head thunk down on the table. “Someone wake me when it’s time to go home.”

Eddie snorted with fond amusement, his worry muted at Buck’s usual theatrics, and crossed the few steps to the table. He nudged Buck’s arm with his knee. “You have to eat first. Sit up or I’ll put this plate on the back of your head and see how good my ability to balance on a bizarrely shaped object is.”

Buck was quiet for a second. “Are you seriously dissing the shape of my head?” he muttered into the wood of the tabletop.

“Sit up, Buckley, before DeKay gets your dinner.”

With a sigh that seemed to come from his whole body, Buck sat upright, and Eddie set the plate piled high with Buck favorites—extra, extra protein—in front of him. “Start on that and I’ll grab you a soda.”

Buck gave a happy sigh. “You’re my favorite person ever.”

“You liar.”

“We all know Christopher is your favorite,” Alyssa Calley said from the next table

The two chiefs took their seat across and slightly down from Buck and Eddie, right next to Bobby.

Looking like lifting the fork was going to be too much work, Buck nodded. “This is true. Chris is a complete cupcake, and no one could ever take his place as first in my heart. That said…”

Eddie smiled and set Buck’s favorite soda by his plate. Buck’s love for Christopher was Eddie’s absolute favorite thing about Buck—not that there wasn’t plenty good about Buck otherwise, but his absolutely prioritization of Christopher was what Eddie needed from another human being in this world.

Buck gave a happy sigh and grabbed at the soda like sugar was the solution to all the world’s ills. “God, I love you right now.”

Laughing Eddie ruffled Buck’s still-damp hair, appreciating how Buck left it ungelled when he had to shower mid-shift. “Love you too,” he said with a cheeky grin.

Almost immediately, there was a sound. A deep reverb that felt like it was coming from inside him, making his whole being vibrate. The sound was actually soft and deep, barely audible. It was kind of like a gong, reminding him of this video Buck and Christopher watched about traditional gong making in Thailand, and the deep reverb of the instruments that were hand pounded out of sheets of metal and cost thousands of dollars.

No one reacted except for Buck, who sat up straighter, head cocked to the side. “What was that? Did you hear it?”

“What’s wrong?” Bobby pushed to his feet, stopping mid sentence in whatever he was saying to Alonzo.

Buck held up a hand, obviously still listening, but Eddie didn’t need to try to hear, he heard the sound just fine. It wasn’t diminishing like a normal gong sound would. Rather, it was growing in size, seeming to spread out and take physical form.

It got louder and louder until it had a physical presence in the room. All conversation stopped and several people got to their feet as they, too, began to feel the reverberations.

Alyssa appeared behind Eddie, hand softly touching his shoulder, the other hand settling on Buck’s. “Relax, you must want this or it wouldn’t be happening…”

“Want what?” Buck asked weakly.

As the deep gong sound continued to get louder and more present, Eddie felt a little dizzy and his vision got wonky.

The sound continued to grow, feeling like it was emanating from his very being. Buck was obviously struggling with the same or he wouldn’t have his hands pressed to his stomach.

When the sound felt like it was almost more than he could physically bear, the air began to shimmer even as everything went very still. In the same instant, the sound completely ceased as a flash of light appeared right in front of them, revealing a basket.

Eddie realized his hand was pressed to his mouth even as he’d blindly reached out to grab onto Buck, his fingers digging into Buck’s solid shoulder, trying to find something to ground himself with.

He’d heard about this sort of thing, but he’d certainly never seen it. So many thoughts were crashing through his mind, not the least of which was that he and Buck were soulmates. It’s wasn’t as surprising a thought as it should have been. They’d always been almost eerily in sync with one another.

What was surprising was that they both seemed to want to have a family together, even though they’d never spoken a word of it to one another.

He leaned forward, still gripping Buck like a lifeline, and found the basket had two sleeping babies. There’s was a scroll tied in pale green ribbons resting across their little bodies.

“Ay Dios,” Eddie managed to get out. With a shaking hand, he took the scroll and unrolled it, keenly aware of Buck pressing close to read over his shoulder.

——
With the renewal of your vows of mutual love and devotion, and with the desire to have a family clear in your hearts, the first two of your children, both daughters, are entrusted to the care of Evan Nathaniel Buckley and Edmundo Alejandro Diaz on this most special and blessed day.

Four additional children’s souls are awaiting your future decision to expand your family. When you are prepared, hold the scroll and and reaffirm your dedication to one another. The new child’s body will be created to house their soul, and they will be delivered to your care shortly thereafter. These six souls have petitioned to be yours in whichever life they may join your family, along with the son you already guide and protect.

As proven diligent, loving parents, additional children may be bestowed upon you at the discretion of the Great Lady should should more than seven children be wished for. Blessings of the Goddess to your growing family.
——

“Oh my god,” Buck whispered. “Eds…” He leaned forward, peering into the basket. “We have two babies.”

The reality of it hit him like a freight train. They had so much to talk about, and the todo list was growing in his brain at an exponential rate. But then he looked at Buck’s awed expression and all the worry faded away.

“Yeah, Evan, we have two daughters. You and me,” he whispered.

Buck suddenly gave him a panicked look. “But we were just joking.”

“We were teasing, but it’s never been a joke.” He blew out a breath. “We’ll talk more later, but, Buck, this kind of magic… You know as well as I do exactly what it means. So, sit down—before you fall down—and let me hand you one of our children.”

Buck’s eyes were glassy with tears, but his smile was blinding as he nodded and sat down.

Eddie’s attention was only on his family as he reached into the basket and gently lifted one of the babies. Her little nose wrinkled up and her mouth turned down into a pout, but she remained asleep as he settled her into Buck’s arms. She looked even smaller dwarfed as she was by Buck’s big frame.

He then lifted the other little girl from the basket and sat close to Buck, cuddling their daughter close. Both seemed to have more Eddie’s coloring with tufts of dark hair and skin with a bit of a tan hue, though eye color was unknown. Light seemed to glint off their skin the way of these sorts of children, and it was an effect he knew would last for a few weeks as the magic of creation slowly ebbed.

“God, they’re beautiful.” Buck sounded awed.

“They’re perfect,” Eddie said softly, pressed close to Buck.

Buck turned to look at him. “Eds… What are we going to do with seven kids?”

“Seven?” Chim blurted out, reminding him sharply of their audience. “Your scroll promised you seven kids?”

Eddie glanced around and naturally found every eye on them. Bobby looked near tears and both chiefs seemed weirdly in nearly the same state.

Eddie cleared his throat. “It seemed to count Chris and said four more were waiting for us. Then there’s the possibility of more if we wished…?”

“That’s more children than I’ve ever heard of in a soulbond scroll,” Chief Adamson said softly, his expression more relaxed than Eddie had ever seen it. “You two must have a long past life history together of raising happy, healthy children.”

“Oh,” Buck exclaimed, cheeks turning red as he continued focusing on their daughter. Eddie forced his tired, overwhelmed, adrenaline fueled brain to recall what he’d learned about soulmate scrolls. Most people weren’t assured of any future children. They simply received the one child if they were soulmates, admitted their love, and wished to raise a family together. To be given the gift of more than one child meant a proven history—a track record as good parents. The idea was kind of overwhelming since Eddie felt like he fought all the time to be a good father.

It suddenly sank in to his worn out brain that this whole thing had happened in front of their chiefs and the entire shift. “This is so awkward; I apologize for, uh, us getting our act together in such a—”

Alonzo was the one who waved him off. “Son, I’ve never seen this outside of the delivery of my own children. A boy and a girl four years apart. It’s a lovely thing, and speaks to your character. If anything, this feels like an intrusion on our part, but I can’t say I regret seeing something so beautiful and precious after a day like today. In fact, Sam and I are going to make the store run to get your baby formula and necessities because I doubt any of you have the energy.

“Eat your dinner, spend time with your soulmate, and enjoy your daughters, Firefighter Diaz. We’ll also get started on your paternity leave; everything will be fine.”

From the fond looks the chiefs were sending the two of them, Eddie couldn’t help but think this was perhaps a good thing—the public nature of the delivery. The lawsuit had dogged Buck’s steps in the department in a subtle way, no matter how good he was at the job, and maybe his upper management needed to see him in a different light. Adamson seeing him being a badass during the fire was a good start, and both chiefs seeing the Buck was a badass parent in every life was the clincher.

Buck suddenly gave him an alarmed look. “Oh my god, Eddie, we don’t even live together.”

Eddie gave an exasperated sigh, relishing the warm weight of his daughter sleeping in his arms and the press of his soulmate by his side, not to mention the soft chuckles of his teammates. “Well, Evan, I think we do now.”

Buck frowned but then smiled bashfully. “Yeah, okay.”

Several people now outright laughed at them both, but Buck didn’t even seem to notice or care as he divided his attention avidly between the two girls.

~*~

Eddie sat pressed close to Buck on on the sofa, holding Ruth and Naomi both because the soreness in Buck’s arms had eventually gotten the best of him and Eddie had taken the girls while they talked about baby names. Holding both of his daughters was no burden as they were so damn tiny. Had Christopher ever been this small?

After dropping off baby formula, diapers, and the gift of two car seats, Chief Adamson had given his card and asked that they call at the end of their eight weeks of paternity leave. He wanted to discuss adding a USAR squad truck to the 118. Bobby had been in talks with Adamson about it for a while and, if it happened, Buck and Eddie would be given the opportunity to move to rescue squad rather than ride with the truck company. It was an appealing thought since Eddie actually enjoyed rescues more than he liked putting out fires, especially after a day like today.

Still, that whole thing was a conversation for future them because, right now, they more than had their hands full—literally.

The shift was winding down to get some sleep, though both of them had been dismissed for the remainder since they had newborns to contend with. Eddie had called his aunt to come get them as neither of them felt safe to drive, especially with the babies. He hadn’t told her why he needed a ride, just that he needed her to bring her SUV and pick him and Buck up at the station ASAP.

Settling on names had been surprisingly easy. They’d each thrown out a first name that the other had easily agreed to, then Buck had expressed a strong preference for middle names that had made Eddie a little choked up.

Hen appeared with a bottle of water and some pills. “I just realized that even though you’re still here, that you’re officially off duty due to paternity leave so you can take muscle relaxers now rather than having to wait.” She passed over the pills to Buck. “Stay on top of the anti inflammatories and muscle relaxers and you’ll start to feel a little more tolerable in about twenty-four hours. I think you’ll be completely back to normal in seventy-two. You’re gonna feel like absolute garbage in the morning, though.”

“Yeah, I’m already getting stiff,” Buck said, sounding mournful.

“Keep trying to move as much as possible in a slow and easy way. Muscle relaxers will probably take the edge off enough that it won’t be painful to hold the babies.” Hen smiled at him. “Just take it easy and let others help, okay? You’ve got a whole lifetime to be active with these darlings, so just letting them lie around on that big old chest of yours for a few days is gonna be fine.” She patted Buck’s cheek. “And congratulations. You deserve this, sweetie.” She winked at Eddie. “I guess you do too.”

He rolled his eyes but he was too happy to even pretend to take offense.

Despite the excitement of the babies’ arrival, everyone had succumbed to their exhaustion and gone to bed except for Hen and Bobby.

Bobby sat on the coffee table, giving them both a gentle smile. “Your aunt just pulled up. Alyssa went out to let her know you’d be right out then she was headed to the bunks. With everyone asleep, we figured that’d be for the best. Want some help getting them downstairs?”

All the supplies and car seats were already stacked up downstairs, so it was just the and the babies. “Yeah. Here, take Naomi. Hen, you want to take Ruth? I’ll grab their basket and make sure their Papa makes it down without falling.”

Buck gave him a bright smile at the word “Papa.”

Both Hen and Bobby looked quietly thrilled and a little awed as they were handed the babies.

Eddie help Buck to his feet, noting how stiff and slow Buck was moving. “Come on, Hercules. Let’s go home.”

Buck flashed him a look that was soft and intense. “Yeah. Let’s go home.”

~*~

Eddie hadn’t been prepared for his tía to have brought his abuela along. He’d specifically asked for Pepa’s SUV because it had three rows of seats. With Abuela along and Buck so stiff, it looked like Eddie and Abuela would be climbing in the back. Isabel was supposed to be with Christopher tonight, but he figured Hector—Pepa’s oldest—was keeping an eye on Chris, which wasn’t an unusual compromise as they shuffled childcare around in the Diaz family until things were back to normal from the pandemic and Carla could resume work.

Both were standing by Pepa’s SUV, giving him a thorough once-over, looking concerned. “Are you hurt, Eddito?” Her gaze flicked to Buck. “Oh, Evan, what happened?”

“I hurt my back, but it’s fine.” Buck waved away the injury and smiled. “Would it surprise you two to learn that Eddie and I are soulmates?”

Pepa frowned. “Not in the slightest. Mamá and I have suspected since we first met you.”

Abuela gasped, both hands covering her mouth as Bobby and Hen stepped into view.

“We had kind of a rough fire today,” Eddie offered, “so since Buck is a little sore, we might need some help with our two daughters, if you’re game.”

“Oh, Eddie.” Abuela had tears in her eyes.

“Come meet your great-great granddaughters. Ruth Isabel,” he gestured toward where Hen was standing, “and Naomi Josephina,” he pointed to they baby Bobby was holding.

Now Pepa was in tears. She came close and kissed both his cheeks and then both of Buck’s, murmuring softly to both of them in Spanish before she accepted Ruth from Hen, her attention totally focused on the baby.

Bobby handed Naomi to Abuela, talking to her in a low murmur for a few seconds before he promised to bring out the car seats and supplies. He also promised to get help tomorrow from the team delivering their vehicles to Eddie’s place.

Eddie looked at his growing family and felt such a well of love. There was only one critical person missing.

~*~

It was nearly two in the morning when they arrived back home. Hector was indeed the one who’d agreed to come stay at Eddie’s for a few hours when Pepa and Isabel had run off to find out what had caused Eddie to call for aid in the middle of the night. Hector offered congratulations and helped them get everything in the house before heading back home with a reluctant Isabel in tow.

Pepa was the one who was going to stay overnight to give them a hand tomorrow, and Isabel would be over in the afternoon. There wasn’t enough room for both of the Diaz women to stay, and Isabel had offered that Pepa was the better choice to help them overnight.

Eddie helped Buck get situated in bed while Pepa began the process of feeding the babies who had woken up as they were being transferred inside. Buck was moving slowly and he was obviously hurting when he tried to do anything that relied on back strength, but he seemed okay otherwise.

“Shirt off,” Eddie said absently.

Buck flushed. “You don’t think we should talk first?”

Eddie blinked. “Oh. I mean, I was thinking about what Hen said. The babies can do with some skin-to-skin time tonight which will allow you told them without strain.” Eddie sat on the edge of the bed. “But you’re right. It’s been a whirlwind, and this is the first moment to ourselves. Possibly the last for a while.”

Buck gave a faint smile, looking uncertain.

Eddie took both of Buck’s hands. “We can take the progression of our relationship as slow or fast as you want. This is about us, and no one else gets a vote. For myself, I don’t have any concern about you or about our relationship, Buck. The moment when I felt that sound deep inside, it was like coming home—everything slotted into place. I love you—I have for a long time. I just never looked at that feeling too closely.” He blew out a breath. “I know you have insecurities about being left behind, but honestly?” He hesitated for a few seconds. “So do I.”

“Eds,” Buck said on a soft exhalation of air. “Come here.” Then Eddie found himself being hugged by trembling arms, and part of him wanted to protest, but he knew they both needed this contact. “I love you too,” Buck whispered against his ear.

They stayed locked together, feeling that deep resonance between them that rang more clearly now that they’d said the words. But it had been there since they met, soft and quiet, waiting for them to pay attention.

Finally, Eddie pulled back, and Buck let his arms drop. He noted the lines of exhaustion, and the dark smudges around Buck’s eyes, and yet Buck was perfect. He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to Buck’s full, lush mouth, feeling the shiver of anticipation race up his spine. That was for later.

Making himself pull back, he smiled and brushed his thumb over Buck’s cheek, then lightly grazed his birthmark. “I’m going to go retrieve our daughters and help get Pepa set up for the night.”

“Our daughters,” Buck repeated, sounding awed. His expression was soft and vulnerable in a way Eddie had never seen before.

Pepa was done feeding the girls. Naomi was already asleep again and Ruth was trying to sleep even while being winded.

Eddie watched as Pepa smiled and gently stroked the little tuft of dark hair after Ruth gave a delicate little burp.

“They’re so tiny,” Eddie murmured, feeling like he was in a dream state.

“Enjoy this time with your family, Edmundo. You deserve this happiness.” Pepa got to her feet and brought him Ruth then grabbed the basket with Naomi. “Let’s get the darlings to bed.” She waved off his offers to make up the couch. “I know where the linens are, young man. Shoo.”

Pepa helped him bring both babies in, and with Buck now lying flat with his arms propped up, both babies fit easily on his big, broad chest. Buck had a hand on both of their little backs, looking like he was about a second from crying from happiness.

Pepa tossed a soft blanket over the girls then bid them all goodnight.

Eddie climbed up on the bed next to Buck, with a timer set on his watch so he could transfer the babies to their basket before he and Buck completely fell asleep.

Buck looked over at him. “This is real, right? Not a dream?”

“Not a dream, Buck.” He covered Buck’s hand, entangling their fingers over Naomi’s back.

“You think Christopher is going to be happy?”

“I think Christopher is going to lose his mind. He gets you and sisters, plus he loves babies, so…what’s not to like?”

Buck’s expression turned apprehensive. “I just don’t want him to ever feel any doubt about how much we love him.”

“I don’t ever see that happening. Your love for him—honestly, it’s one of the best things about you.”

“Yeah?” Buck chuckled. “Apparently we’ve been parents together a lot. I guess we must be pretty good at this gig by now, huh?”

“I think we’re doing okay.”

Buck looked down at the girls, his smile becoming even softer. “Our family…” Buck bit his lip. “Can you go get Chris? He’ll sleep through you moving him, right?”

Eddie smiled and nodded. “Yeah, he will.” The girls would need to sleep in their basket, but Chris slept with Eddie or Buck on occasion. And Buck was right that having Chris here was what they needed.

Chris made a few murmurs, waking slightly when Eddie transferred him to the master bedroom. Eddie just softly reassured him that everything was fine, they just wanted him close after a rough day. Chris accepted that without waking further and cuddled up to Buck, going back into a deep sleep. Diazes just naturally liked to cuddle with Evan Buckley, it seemed.

Buck smiled fondly at Christopher, the love practically shining from him.

Eddie slid back onto the bed, carding his fingers through Buck’s hair.

“Took us a while to get here, huh?” Buck said softly, looking from one child to another.

“It happens when it happens, Buck.” He pressed another kiss to Buck’s mouth. “This is finally our time, and I think it’s pretty damn perfect.”

The End