Chapter Text
“Hey Papa, can we have Denny and Harry and Nia over for a sleepover, I met them at Harry’s house and I think it’d be fun?” Chris asked one morning on the way to school.
“Who’s those people? I don't think we have anybody with those names in our class.” Eva asked.
Eddie turned slowly to Buck who had a bright red blush and a guilty expression.
“You know Harry, baby. May and Harry? Nana’s kids?” Buck said.
“Oh. But who’s Denny and Nia?”
“They’re Hen’s kids.” Eddie said, getting a blank stare in response. “You do know Hen, right Guppy?”
“No.” Eva said. “Papa said that I can’t meet his work friends cuz they’re not very nice. But Pop is okay. And you, Shark! You’re his best friend cuz you love each other but the rest don’t love Papa the way you or Pop love him and he doesn't want people who don’t love him to meet me just in case they don’t like me and hurt my feelings.”
Eddie nodded, letting the subject drop as they pulled into the school parking lot and the kids rushed out of the car to greet their friends. But as they pulled out he turned to Buck.
“That's-” Buck sighed. “Yeah. yeah, that's kinda true. I was gonna set up a playdate between Hen’s kids and Eva when I first started my probie year but Chim was saying inappropriate stuff about me and kids and I just- didn't want that kind of energy around Eva so I kinda just. Let them think I didn't have a kid at all? You Bobby and Thena are the only people who know Eva exists and has contact with the rest of the 118.”
“Oh, carino.” Eddie sighed. “Okay. I understand. If Chim had said anything negative about my parenting I dont think I’d let him meet Chris either.”
The first couple hours were slow, but they were soon called to a fire down by Durand.
“I hope the school’s okay. The address sounds really similar to Durand’s so it’s probably on the same block.” Eddie said.
“Wait, what’s the address?” Buck asked, looking at Bobby. And when the captain recited their kids’ elementary school, he began to properly freak out. They pulled into the parking lot of the school, where they were able to see all the kids out on the blacktop away from the one burning building. The fire was put out quickly, and all the kids were accounted for and Buck and Eddie quickly broke away from the rest of the group towards the line of second graders.
“Chris? Eva?” Buck called as he approached, his husband hot on his heels.
“Here we are Papa!” Eva said, raising her hand, signifying their place in line.
As Buck and Eddie rushed to their kids, they saw Hen and Chimney standing nearby, Hen with her arms crossed and a slight smile, while Chimney looked completely lost.
“Hey I didn’t know Chris went to this school,” Hen commented as the duo knelt down to hug Chris and Eva tightly. Hen’s brows shot up when she saw the two kids instead of just the one known one.”Wait a minute. Are you…?”
Eva, excited to finally be meeting her dad’s team, looked up at Hen and Chimney with her big blue eyes. “Papa’s friend! Hi, I’m Eva!” She grinned, extending a hand, which Hen took, clearly charmed by the little girl’s excitement. She was just a little carbon copy of Buck.
“And this is Christopher, right? Denny’s talked a lot about you.” Hen said, looking at Eddie, who nodded.
Chimney, still putting the pieces together, chuckled. “I’ve gotta say, I’m a little thrown. All this time, I thought ‘Babygirl’ was a girlfriend, not.. Well, not this tiny Buck copy child here.”
Eddie laughed, shaking his head. “Yeah, that misunderstanding got a little out of hand. Eva’s been a huge part of Buck’s life since she was born.”
“Hen crouched down to Chris and Eva’s level. “Well, it’s a pleasure to meet both of you officially. You’ve got some kick-butt dads, ya know that?”
“Yeah, we know!” Chris replied confidently.
Chimney, still grinning, looked at Buck. “I can’t believe you kept this from us all this time, Buckaroo. What else are you hiding?”
Buck rubbed the back of his neck, sheepish but happy to finally let his family meet his other family. “I just didn’t know how to bring it up. You guys mean a lot to me, but Eva... she’s my world. I wanted to keep her safe from... well, from things that might not understand how much I love her."
Hen placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Buck, we understand. And we’re honored to be in her life now, too. Anything you need—we’re here."
The group stayed with the kids a bit longer, laughing and talking, the kids quickly adopting Hen and Chimney as “Auntie Hen” and “Uncle Chim.” By the end of the day, it was clear that Eva and Chris now had an even bigger family, filled with people who loved them deeply. And as they all piled into the Jeep to head home, Buck and Eddie exchanged a look, knowing their family was exactly where it was meant to be: right here, together.