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with friends like ours (anywhere is home)

Summary:

“I didn’t realize mine and Hen’s anniversary is in a week and this year is my year to woo her.”

 

“So you need my brilliant, romantic ideas to woo your wife? I’m down.”

or


Eddie teaches Karen how to play the ukulele to woo Hen.

Notes:

i NEED more eddie & karen i need it now

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

It starts at a one-eighteen gathering at the Grant-Nash household. Eddie and Karen have had a few drinks extra between each other, both desperately trying to let loose after a week from Hell where both Christopher and Denny seemed to be sharing a sour mood. 

Karen gasps. “Why didn’t anyone tell me it’s the eighteenth?” 

Eddie snorts, spitting out half of his beer as he does so. “I don’t think it’s anyone’s job to tell you the date, you should know it.”

“You thought yesterday was a Friday when it was Tuesday so I don’t want to hear judgement, Diaz.” 

Eddie gasps and puts a hand to his chest. “I thought you said you’d never bring it up again.”

“No. You said, don’t tell anyone I’m dumb. ” Karen grins. “Which you are but you’re also a hopeless romantic and I just realized I need your help.”

“Hit me, tell me what you need, Kar.” 

“I need you to stop calling me Kar.” She rolls her eyes. “I didn’t realize mine and Hen’s anniversary is in a week and this year is my year to woo her.”

“So you need my brilliant, romantic ideas to woo your wife? I’m down.” Eddie drunkenly spins and takes a bow. “At your service, m’lady.” 

After hours of brainstorming and ignoring their significant others, Eddie finally came up with an idea for Karen. They only had a week to make it work, which was really cutting it, but Eddie had faith he could pull it off for Karen. 

When he gets home from the gathering, he pulls out the instrument from his closet and his old one from the attic. He prayed the ukulele from Texas still played well, it had been years since he’d used that one after Shannon had got him the new one for Christmas one year. 

When Christopher was a baby, Eddie read up on ways to soothe a baby’s anxiety and agitation and found out music really helped. Christopher was often anxious and cried more than a normal baby had so Eddie learned the easiest instrument he could think of; the ukulele. Not only had the playing helped Christopher, it helped him a lot with his PTSD as well, especially after he came home the second time. 

He’d never taught anyone else before, only ever learned from the internet, so he was understandably nervous about teaching his friend, especially with only a week’s notice, but he’d do anything for Karen and Hen. 

“Are you ready to get started?” Eddie asks as Karen waltzes into his apartment. “I relearned the song you asked me to teach you, it shouldn’t be that hard.”

“Thanks for doing this, by the way. She’ll definitely be wooed by the new skill.” She grins. “Let’s get to work, Diaz-Buckley.” She adds a wink. 

Eddie gasps. “Hen told you I’m proposing?” 

“You really thought she’d keep that a secret from me?” 

“Touche.” He snorts. “Alright, alright, let’s go learn this, you’ve only got a week.” 

 

The night of Karen and Hen’s anniversary, Eddie gets a text.

Karen: Guess who loved the song? My new Uke skills are being used elsewhere, but thanks again for everything.

Eddie: TMI TMI TMI TMI… have fun lol you are welcome :) maybe you can repay me by helping me ring shop

Karen: Time and place, you tell me, I’ll be there! 

Notes:

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