the spectacular family reunion

"You invited mom and dad to visit?"

Buck inquired of his older sister with an incredulous look spreading on his face after she revealed the news to him. They sat in his apartment alone that morning. When Maddie texted him about coming over to talk, he least expected the discussion revolving their parents.

"Yes." Maddie grimaced.

Gradually registering the news like he did when Sasha informed him about the pregnancy with Monet, Buck responded slowly. "And you're just telling me now?"

"Well, you know, you were in Texas, and... I wasn't completely sure they were coming." She trailed off, attempting to justify her actions. She groaned internally at Sasha for refusing to be the one bringing the news instead of her.

"You're just telling me now that they have crossed the California state line, and it's too late for me to talk you out of it. Though...I'm still not sure who talked you into it."

"No one." Maddie clarified before letting out a sigh. "I guess I just...want my little girl to have a normal family. You know, uncles, aunts, cousins, and grandparents that she might actually know." She confessed from watching Monet be surrounded by the immense love from Sasha's family. Watching Buck and Sasha's relationship evolve to becoming parents made her heart swell though a bit envious in having a village of their own.

"Well, then maybe you shoulda gotten knocked up by a guy who has one of those."

Maddie frowned, "Well, that is not funny." She paused, enlightening the idea of their parents' visitation. "Maybe...maybe this'll be a good thing, you know? You could talk to mom and dad, tell them how you've been feeling. Could be good for your therapy, right?"

"Or cause me to need more of it." Buck retorted.

"I think I'm willing to try. And... maybe mom and dad are too." Maddie said quietly. "Wouldn't it be nice to see Monet bond with them? They haven't seen her since she was born. She and Sasha are a part of this family now."

Buck couldn't argue against his sister with that. Their parents remained at arm's length ever since Monet was born. Perhaps, it might change when they see each other in person. Because people had given him chances, he should try with his parents.

"Fine. But we're a team, okay? A united front. You are not allowed to leave me alone with them." He shot Maddie with a stern look.

Maddie nodded, "I won't, I promise. And don't worry, Chimney's gonna be there too. And Albert." She tilted her in confusion at mentioning the younger Han sibling.

"Albert's coming?"

The Buckley's siblings were interrupted by the eruption of the front door along with a pair of incoming steps to the room. Opening the baby gate, Sasha set down the energetic toddler whose little feet pattered on the floor towards her father. Buck caught his daughter nearly ramming into his legs. He greeted her with a pepper of kisses causing her to shriek.

"Someone is having a sugar rush. Decided to treat her with a little piece of a cake pop but might regret it soon." Sasha suppressed a giggle at the sight of Monet. She arrived from breakfast with May to assure her state of mind after experiencing a dispatch call that ended with the civilian shot to death on the line. The last thing she wanted for her younger cousin was to blame herself.

Buck adjusted Monet in his arms to face Maddie, "Look who came to visit, princess." He pointed out.

"Mad! Mad!" The toddler uttered her aunt's name which was exceptional. She squirmed out of her father's arms and thrusted into Maddie's who gladly accepted her.

Sasha took the opportunity to saunter to her boyfriend and sit on his lap. Her arms slung around his neck and then shared a peck on the lips. Buck drew in a sharp inhale, glancing up at his girlfriend. "Uh, Maddie just told me that our parents are visiting this week."

"Oh, she already knows." Maddie casually mentioned.

Buck shot a look of disbelief at Sasha. "Wait, you knew? And you didn't think to tell me?" Feeling betrayed not only by his older sister but his girlfriend too.

Unfazed, Sasha arched her eyebrow at him. "Hey, do not give me that look. Yes, I knew, and I told your sister I wouldn't be the one telling you knowing how you'd react. She begged me by doing the puppy eyes to do it."

"She's hard to crack." Maddie pouted while holding Monet up on her lap.

Buck's face contorted into a perplexed expression; his mouth parted when his eyes zoomed back to his girlfriend. "...Is that why you were seducing me this morning? To help my sister butter me up for her to drop the news?"

"There are babies in the room!" Maddie protested to hear any unwarranted detail of the couple's sex life. "God, I'm feeling nauseous hearing this."

Sasha pursed her lips, "Guilty as charged."

Monet's pair of curious eyes scanned the new environment and muttered some words in rotation while Sasha strapped the last sticky tab to the front of the new clean diaper. They were in Chimney and Maddie's bedroom where Sasha and Buck had been grateful for the offer to set up a playpen for their daughter during their visit. This specific event involved the anticipated arrival of Buck and Maddie's parents.

Both siblings were on their toes upon the time nearing for it.

Chimney was more concerned about blurting out the Buckley family secret itching his skin by the minute rather than ridden with nerves in meeting his girlfriend's parents for the first time.

Sasha opted to save face of her uncertainty towards the older couple for the sake of forming a solid relationship and for her daughter.

Meanwhile, Albert started to become quite annoyed with Buck's demands such as forcing him to change out of his jeans when leaving the apartment.

"Look at you in a fresh diaper and a pretty dress, my little bean." Sasha cooed, pulling Monet's lilac dress to cover her diaper. Monet shared a toothy grin where drool fell upon the stuffed bunny in her possession.

"Mama! Mama! Mama!"

Observing at the side of the room, Maddie stifled a laugh at the high-pitched shrieking from her niece when attacked by her mother's kisses.

"You're such a good mom, Sasha."

Sasha averted her gaze to the brunette, "Thanks. It's flattering to hear that I'm doing something right in this parenting thing." She mused, settling Monet onto her lap.

"Oh stop, I've seen within the past year how devoted you are to Monet. Makes me hope that I'll be a good mom to my little girl." Maddie absentmindedly rubbed her growing bump.

"There will be some good and bad days, ones where you have a breakdown overthinking if you're enough for your baby. Which I've experienced days like that." Sasha admitted her past year experience of motherhood. "Even the first year down, I'm still learning."

The two women shared a laugh.

"Believe me when I say that you're going to be a wonderful mom, Maddie. I know that because how much you love my little girl and that you practically raised Evan."

Maddie pouted, tears prickling in her eyes. "You're going to make me cry." She swiped a tear away before changing the subject. "Are you ready to meet my parents again?"

"Ready as I can be. Speaking of your parents we should head out there since they'll be here in a few minutes."

Without a doubt, Sasha and Maddie emerged into the room where Buck continued to order around the Han brothers. His worries rattled him as time grew closer upon seeing his parents again. The emergency therapy session with Dr. Copeland only simmered it for a moment. It would be so easy to avoid this family reunion, but he could never leave his sister to deal with their parents alone. More importantly, he had to think about Sasha and Monet, his family.

Sasha opened her world to him more than he had and as much as Monet is loved by many, she should have a relationship with her grandparents.

Even if their relationship hasn't drastically changed in a new light since Monet's birth. He clung onto an ounce of hope that seeing him with his family would change his parents' views on him after all these years.

That he wasn't the young 12-year-old reckless boy who appeared to serve no purpose yet disappointment.

Sasha traveled towards her boyfriend noticing the anxiety practically radiating off him. "Take a deep breath for me, babe. You're going to be fine. She rubbed down his arm with her free hand that wasn't holding their squirming toddler.

Buck complied, whisking Monet out of her arms. "Just my parents can be..."

"I know." Sasha spoke with understanding. "We can manage the next few days. If you can push through a visit with Grandma Bea who has grown to like you. You can endure a visit with your parents." She poked his chest.

"Okay, okay. You might be right, Carter." Buck refrained a small chuckle, kissing her temple merely grateful to lean on for support.

A ripple of knocks startled the room indicating the presence of their guests.

"And I think we're ready." Chimney proclaimed as everyone situated themselves in position.

Buck spun to stand next to Sasha, wrapping his arm around her. He took another deep breath watching Maddie walking to answer the door. She took a deep breath as well before swinging the door open.

"Dad!"

"Maddie."

"Mom! You guys did not have to bring presents."

Both Phillip and Margaret carried baby gifts in their hands.

"We're grandparents now. Spoiling comes with the job especially with two granddaughters now." Phillip humored his eldest as he furthered inside the apartment.

Chimney stepped forward to introduce himself to the older couple. "Mr. and Mrs. Buckley, hi, I'm Howard Han. It's nice to finally meet you both."

"Hi, Howard." Margaret greeted in a cheerful tone.

"Please, let me get these for you." He volunteered to take the nicely wrapped gift basket from her possession.

Buck returned his daughter back into her mother's arms to brace himself and greet his parents. Sasha had trailed behind him, finding herself standing beside Maddie.

"Hey."

Margaret glanced up at her son. "Evan."

"You look good." Phillip patted his son's arm.

"Ah, so do you."

Sasha took her cue to welcome the couple gracing a warm smile. "Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Buckley. It's good to see you again."

"Oh, Sasha. Lovely to see you too, so beautiful. Look at you, got rid of all that baby weight as if you hadn't been pregnant in the first place. Good for you." Margaret observed, causing Sasha to form a tight smile while the others grimaced. Her eyes loomed over Monet in her arms. "Do I spy with my little eye, my adorable granddaughter? She's grown so much!"

Phillip nodded in agreement, "She sure has."

"Monet, say hi to your grandparents." Sasha cooed, encouraging her daughter. Instead, Monet buried her head into the crook of her mother's neck. "She's a little shy."

"I'm sure she'll warm up to you later on." Buck assured his parents.

Breaking the awkward tension, Chimney clamped his hand upon his brother's shoulder. "Uh, this is my brother Albert." He announced to the older couple.

"And Buck and Sasha's roommate. It's a pleasure to meet you both." Albert added.

Margaret darted a bewildering look at her son. "Buck? You're still letting people call you that?"

"It's just a nickname, Mom."

Chimney furrowed, "Oh, you guys don't like nicknames? But Maddie—"

"Is the name on my birth certificate." Maddie interjected, forcing out a smile.

Albert steered the conversation, "Would anyone like a drink? We have many options. I believe I'll start with tequila."

Everyone began to file into the next room leaving the Buckley siblings behind in the kitchen.

"We got this."

"United front."

The two linked their pinkies together.

"I'm glad you guys had a nice drive."

Maddie said to her parents as they got comfortable on the couch and finished their meals. Chimney joined his girlfriend sitting on the armchair after assisting Albert in handing out refills of drinks. Sasha and Buck shared a seat together sipping their glasses of wine.

"We saw a lot of the country." Phillip mentioned.

Margaret chimed in on their travels, "The first few days, there was nothing but rain, then we got here, blue skies and sunshine." She described as she shifted Monet on her lap. The toddler was too immersed with one of the toys she received from her grandparents.

"Yeah, we had a lotta rain earlier in the year, but, uh, lately, it's been dry." Buck commented.

"Hmmm...." Margaret's uninterested expression caused Buck's face to falter.

Sasha decided to enlighten the conversation, "So, you traveled across the country in an RV." She rested a hand upon Buck's thigh.

"That sounds exciting!" Albert exclaimed.

"Statistically speaking, it seemed the safest way to travel right now." Phillip explained their decision.

"Yeah. We didn't wanna take any chances, endangering the little one and given Maddie's condition and it being a high-risk pregnancy." Margaret gestured from her granddaughter to her daughter across the room.

Sasha pressed her lips together, flickering her eyes to Maddie's confusion at the comment.

Chimney came to his girlfriend's defense, "Well, no, it's not really high-risk—"

Margaret waved him off, "Oh, she's over 35. That puts her at a higher risk, so we all need to be extra careful."

"The baby's fine, mom." Maddie restrained herself with her boyfriend holding her down.

"But you don't wanna take any chances. Not when you've waited this long."

With the continuous digs, Buck attempted to bury it. "Uh, she was waiting for the right time. The right guy." He elicited a hearty grin, slapping a hand on Chimney's leg.

"God knows it wasn't Doug." Phillip loosely said causing discomfort in the room.

"Okay. Let's not talk about him."

"Of course, I'm sorry. I'm just...I'm so happy to see you happy." Phillip told his daughter in a genuine tone. His gaze moved onto Buck. "Now, Evan, Maddie tells us that you've been seeing a therapist?" His remark caught Buck and Sasha by surprise.

"She did?"

Buck felt Sasha squeezing his thigh to comfort him.

"I'm gonna get some water." Chimney excused himself in a desperate manner.

"Anything we should be worried about there? Problems between you and Sasha?"

Sasha blinked at the question, "No, everything is good between us."

"No. Ha ha, no. Of course not. It's—that's the job, you know? It can be stressful. It's-it's good to try and get ahead of it." Buck waved him off.

Somehow Monet's sudden restlessness saved Sasha from this dreadful conversation. She rose to her feet quickly seeing Margaret struggling to soothe her wailing granddaughter.

"She gets like this when she's tired. Don't worry." Sasha scooped Monet into her arms. "Let's put you down for bed, my little bean." She rubbed her daughter's back as they disappeared into the hallway.

The moment Sasha laid Monet in the play pen; a sigh of relief blew out. It had more to do with sitting through the last few hours with Phillip and Margaret than tending to Monet. She sat on the bed basking the peace until the door creaked open.

Her head whipped at Buck sliding inside. She brought a finger to her lips then motioned to their sleeping daughter. Buck nodded and closed the door carefully behind him.

A long sigh escaped from his mouth once he sat beside his girlfriend. They hovered the play pen watching Monet's chest rising and going down slowly.

"Did I miss anything out there?"

"My parents went to therapy to talk about how Maddie's problems such as Doug affected them." Buck breathed out, falling back on the bed.

Sasha glanced back, arching a brow. "You're kidding."

"Nope, shouldn't be surprised though." Buck let out a dry chuckle as his girlfriend landed next to him. "They like to make us out as the problem."

"After the brief time I've spent with them, I can see it."

"At least they like you and Monet seems fond of them. The only thing that matters the most." He intertwined their hands.

She hummed, "Aside the bits of awkwardness and unnecessary comments, it's going well."

"You want to leave, huh?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"Just say the word and we can leave. I mean, we have the perfect excuse." He brought the back of her hand to his lips.

"Tempting as it sounds, I feel bad leaving your sister with them. We should go back out there." Sasha dragged her boyfriend to his feet much to his dismay.

Given the reassurance and in-depth perspective from her dad, Sasha, Josh, and Bobby. A weight lifted off her shoulders with a confidence boost whereas May felt more capable as a 911 dispatcher. She entered the main floor at the call center since the shooting call where Josh made an appearance.

"Big day. You ready?"

May knitted her eyebrows in confusion, "Uh, yeah, I guess. Why is it a big day?" She pondered, pivoting to her assigned training desk.

"Oh no." Josh swerved her into a different direction. "Here. This is you." He directed the young dispatcher towards a new desk on the other side of the room.

Her lips parted in shock at the vacant desk where Sasha stood with a smirk. "That's not the training desk."

"Congratulations graduate. Today you fly solo." Sasha cheered, showcasing the chair like game-show hostess of Wheel of Fortune, Vanna White.

May swiveled her head back at Josh, "But...the shooting call—"

"You did everything right. So, trust your instincts. Trust yourself." Josh voiced then left to his station with Sasha following along. Her older cousin sent an encouraging smile before the teenage girl seated herself at the desk.

Using the wise words from her mentor, May managed to breeze through the phone calls. She seemed to have found her footing like anyone training for this moment. However, one phone call from a man who confessed planting a bomb out of revenge struck her.

She was sitting in the conference room alone scrolling through her phone when Sasha and Josh burst into the room.

"They found the guy's house. No sign of him. They went to his job, and it turns out he was fired last month." Sasha told May the second she walked into the room.

"Did they find the bomb?"

Josh shook his head, moving into the chair next to Sasha. "No. The place was clear. I guess maybe it was just some kind of revenge prank."

"Didn't sound like a prank to me. I think maybe we have the wrong job." May argued before sliding her phone across the table to the duo. "I was looking at his social media."

Sasha shot her a look, "May."

"You should not be doing that." Josh said.

Ignoring them, May proceeded to explain the findings in her research. "This isn't the first time he's lost a job. Probably half a dozen of them in the last two years."

"What was the first job he lost?"

"I'm just glad everybody's okay." Margaret expressed in a sincere tone at the table after listening to how the 118 saved lives from a bomb occurrence.

Sasha and Buck were invited to Chimney and Maddie's apartment once again to have dinner with them along with Phillip and Margaret.

"You all seem to have very dangerous jobs." Phillip gathered by the end of the story.

Maddie hummed in disagreement, "Not really, I mean most of the time it's pretty run of the mill."

"Still very risky. I mean from what I hear Evan has spent quite a lot of time in hospitals." He darted at his son who had been stirring his food around with his fork.

Buck's head perked, "From what you hear?" He repeated in an incredulous tone. "'Cause you could've come—seen for yourself."

His mother intervened, "Evan, I told you—"

"You uh you're not good with hospitals. I got it." He averted to his plate again. Sasha exhaled a deep sigh as she squeezed his thigh comforting him with her touch which kept him sane during this dinner.

"I'm not good seeing my children in them. You don't know—"

Maddie went to mediate the conversation. "Mom, mom." She called.

The older woman composed herself, "I'm fine. Ready for dessert."

Phillip casted his eyes upon Chimney, "Oh, Howard where did you put that box we brought."

"Dad, more gifts?" Maddie stared at her father in awe.

"Not exactly."

"It's over by the couch let me grab it." Chimney stood up to grab the mentioned box in the other room.

Margaret leaned in, "I like him, Maddie." She beamed in delight.

"Me too." Her daughter smiled.

"You picked a good one this time."

Buck snapped at her. "Mom."

"What? It was a compliment, Evan." Margaret defended.

"Was it?"

Fortunately, they were interrupted when Chimney returned to the table. He carried in a small wooden box with a beautiful engraving of Maddie's name on it. Decorated with pink and white flowers that appeared sentimental.

"Your baby box," Margaret happily told her daughter merely baffled. She watched her open it slowly feeling prideful of this endearing moment. "I thought you might want to pass on some of these things to your little girl someday."

"This is so sweet." Sasha couldn't help but gush at the small white booties Maddie showed off. She recalled going through her own baby clothes with Athena. "Trust me when I say it's going to be surreal seeing your baby in those."

Buck was fascinated and astounded by his parents. "This is cool. I didn't know you made these for us. When do I get mine?" He looked between Phillip and Margaret whose faces answered Buck's question which caused him to falter.

Both Sasha and Chimney caught on. Chimney interjected to lighten any tension by diverting the blond. "Hey, they're probably still adding to it until you and Sasha pop out a boy. Maybe that'll motivate you two." He teased.

"Again, not happening anytime soon." Sasha quipped, sending Chimney a glare.

However, the remarks didn't faze Buck as his tolerance spread thin at the dinner table. It didn't go unnoticed to Sasha beginning to feel more of his anger radiating off him.

"I can't believe you kept all this." Maddie truthfully said, continuing to graze through her belongings.

Phillip scoffed, "You thought we'd throw it away?"

"We may not have agreed with all the choices you made, Maddie. But we never gave up hope that you'd come to your senses, and you did." Margaret spoke in what she thought was genuine instead of leaving her daughter swallowing the shards of glass of her past.

"You never gave up hope." Buck muttered under his breath.

Maddie sighed, looking at her younger brother desperately. "Evan, let's not do this."

"United front, remember?" He reminded his older sister before maneuvering his eyes onto their parents. "You guys didn't even go to her wedding."

Margaret let out a light scoff, "She was making a terrible mistake. We told her that."

"Yeah, people make mistakes, doesn't mean you give up on them. But you did. She married Doug and you cut her off." He spat at his mother.

"At the time, we thought it was for the best." Phillip defended, lowering his eyes on the table as he couldn't bring himself to reach either of his children's gazes.

Tears filled Maddie's eyes as she sat there quietly with Chimney's comforting hand on her back.

"We didn't know what was going on. I swear, Maddie, we didn't know he was hurting you." Margaret emphasized their defense.

Buck wasn't convinced, rather becoming infuriated by their past behavior. "Well, you should have. You have known. You should have known you were right there in the same town. How could you not know? Actually, you know what? Maybe it does track because you barely knew what was going on with your own kids when we were under the same roof." He shouted. "Maybe you never gave up hope. You sure as hell gave up on her. You gave up on both of us." His stare switched between his mother and father, forcing them to feel guilty of their actions.

He left his chair abruptly to exit. Before taking at least five steps, he spun around. "Oh, and uh you want to know why I'm really in therapy. It is because I have spent my entire life feeling like a constant disappointment. You want to talk about our jobs? You think my job is dangerous? I have walked through fire every single day of my life because of you. That is why I am therapy because nothing I ever did was good enough." The infuriation in his voice terrified everyone at the table.

"We tried but you always—"

Margaret cut off her husband as emotions ran high. "You never made it easy on us either one of you."

Stunned, Maddie stared between her parents. "We were supposed to? We were kids."

"Evan, I don't know what you expected us to do!" Their mother exclaimed.

A shudder breath escaped his mouth, "Love me, anyway." He pleaded.

The sound of his footsteps stormed to the door throwing it open and slamming on his way out.

"I wished you knew the person your son has grown to be." Sasha's quiet voice tore the silence brewing amongst them. "Aside the flaws like any other person, he's a wonderful boyfriend and father. He cares deeply for the people he saves on a daily basis and the family he comes home to. So, it breaks my heart to see him like this. And after what I witnessed; I don't think I would want my daughter to be surrounded by this." She found herself admitting aloud.

Margaret let out an audible gasped at the statement, "You can't do that! Monet is our granddaughter!"

"A granddaughter that you've barely acknowledged since she's been born!" Sasha yelled out. "I wanted to try and hope to establish a better relationship but if Evan must force you to acknowledge and love him. Then I refuse to have Monet endure that. She already has a lot of people that love her, but it would've been nice with her grandparents since my own parents aren't here."

Sasha pushed herself up from her chair, "Maddie, Chimney, I'm sorry." She frowned at the couple then followed out to the exit of the apartment.

Sasha deflected from the pondering thoughts about what transpired back at the apartment. She'll likely call Maddie tomorrow and hoped to be forgiven for the sudden outburst. Like Buck, her tolerance for Phillip and Margaret spread thin. As she knew not to hold any high expectations of them and been a part of the family circle for the least amount of time, she wasn't going to spare herself like Maddie and Buck were prompted to.

Buck was spotted against his Jeep within the second she strutted out in the parking lot. His head hung low, and hands were stuffed into his pockets. When she approached him, he lifted his gaze off the ground to meet her sympathetic gaze. His eyes lingered onto hers for a minute until he fished out for the car keys in his pocket to unlock the doors.

Suddenly, a hand grasped his arm before he could open the driver's door.

"You are sitting in the passenger seat. I'm driving us home." She declared, holding a stern look at him. "Your mind is too clouded to focus on driving right now. I'm not taking no for an answer." She propped her hand out waiting for him to pass her the keys.

Buck stared at her and then sighed in defeat giving her his keys. He rounded the Jeep to the passenger's side while she hopped in the driver's seat.

The car ride was silent the entire drive.

Sasha stole glances during the drive, yet Buck's eyes remained intact to the window. Perhaps, silence was the most at peace for him at the moment.

Albert and Veronica were watching a movie upon the couple's return to the apartment. Their heads raised at Buck bursting the front door open. Before either could greet him, he already pivoted down the hallway into his and Sasha's shared bedroom.

"I suspect dinner didn't go well tonight?" Albert asked Sasha once she appeared and the door to the bedroom had been heard shut.

Sasha blew through her lips, "Like a bomb that exploded."

Veronica tugged a slight frown, "Sorry about that. Anyways, Monet was good as always and is asleep."

"Thank you for watching her. The both of you." Sasha expressed her gratitude to the duo.

"I love that little girl with all my heart. I'll do anything for her." Veronica replied, snatching her bag and phone. "I should get going. Goodnight you guys." She bid her goodbyes to them and walked out of the apartment.

Once Veronica had left, both Sasha and Albert dispersed to their bedrooms for the rest of the night. Sasha discovered Buck sitting on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands. She closed the door behind her quietly and made long strides up to him. Crouching down in front of him, her hands laid lightly upon his knees.

"Shouldn't have done that back there." Buck murmured, washing his hand over his face.

Sasha frowned, "You wanted to defend your sister. That's what siblings do. You can't help it."

His arms dropped on his lap as he averted his gaze to the wall. A humorless chuckle escaped from his mouth, "Two dinners...two dinners for it to take for me to feel like I'm 12 years old again. Feeling myself pushed up against the wall by my parents and sister." He paused, "There was an ounce of belief that opening about these feelings and seeing me in this new light of my life would change. But as expected, I cause destruction."

"There's a possibility that it could've been handled better, yes. The most important part is confronting the uncomfortable topics that seemed to be bottling you up for so long." Sasha brushed her thumb across his knuckles before rising to sit next to him. "Two things that I know is that family can never be easy and that you don't need to force them to see you in this new light when everyone else has seen it already."

Intrusive thoughts caused Buck to neglect any sleep as his eyes had been burning holes in the ceiling of the bedroom in the dark. Sasha, on the other hand, slept peacefully on his chest with his arm securing her waist. He didn't know how long he'd been awake yet figured an hour or two. The dinner with his parents and Maddie caused him to reflect on the past. The heavy weight on his shoulders for as long as he could remember.

He slipped out of bed without waking Sasha and tiptoed out of the bedroom.

Pushing the door opening, Buck shuffled inside the nursery. A starry night light illuminated the room for the toddler not ready to sleep in the dark. He heard her soft snores from the crib where she had the stuffed bunny clutched in one hand.

Buck paved his way towards the crib and hovered to set his eyes on his daughter. His thumb caressed lightly against her cheek. For a minute more he stood until seating himself in the rocking chair while keeping his eyes intact on Monet.

He needed to remind himself that his parents no longer dictate his life, however, the grip for their validation was difficult to detach. After tonight's dinner, the fear and doubt in being enough for his daughter resurfaced. Even promising not to be neglectful like his parents, the past crept up on him.

This fantasy he's been living in soon felt like it would crumble. He wondered if Sasha would finally shake out of it and move on to someone better than him.

He is assured that Sasha loves him, but the possibility plagued him. More to the fact, everyone in his life has the tendency to leave at some point.

Albert blew a low whistle, "Now that definitely sounded like a bomb explosion waiting to happen." He remarked after Sasha shared about the disastrous dinner last night. They were standing in the kitchen cooking breakfast that morning.

"Yeah," Sasha sighed deeply, twisting the knob to shut off the stove. "You don't think I went too far? Not letting them to see Monet..." She bit down her bottom lip as guilt hit in the pit of the stomach from the words she said to Margaret and Phillip.

The young Han man was quiet for a moment. "Like you've said family isn't easy, I agree with you. I knew my dad wasn't going to be thrilled with me leaving Korea to move here but it's not for him to decide what is best for me. I can say that I'm happy with my choice." He said with a warm grin. "What you did last night might've been hard but best. Just because they have the label of grandparents doesn't mean they should be entitled to override your decisions for Monet. You're her mother who didn't want history to repeat itself especially when they haven't really been invested in their first granddaughter."

"You're a good mom, Sasha."

She smiled at him. "Thanks." They shifted their attention to preparing their plates and Monet's to eat as Buck and Monet's voices echoed in the hallway.

Buck breached the room with the toddler resting on his hip. "Morning, say good morning to mama and uncle Albert, princess." He grinned down at Monet, switching his gaze between her and his girlfriend and Albert.

Sasha strolled up to the duo, "Good morning, my little bean looks so pretty today. Daddy dressed you up, huh?" She grabbed her daughter after seeing her reaching out. "Mommy has your food ready for you."

Monet was placed in the highchair at the table and given a loving kiss on the temple from her mother.

"Hey, I'm going to head out for work." Buck spoke.

Sasha nodded shortly, "I'll walk you out." She followed him out of the room.

Buck picked up his backpack and car keys while Sasha leaned on the doorway. "I would ask how you are but know it's a stupid question." She cringed.

"It's never a stupid question even if it's coming from you." His hand grasped onto her hand, casting his eyes down at them momentarily. He met her gaze, "I'll be fine. I promise. This isn't the first time I've been in the ringer with my parents."

He tugged a small grin before pecking her lips to bid a goodbye and leave the apartment for his shift at the firehouse.

Sasha remained standing at the door still worrying about him until the sound of Monet's voice bringing her out of the trance. She shut the door and retreated to the kitchen to have breakfast with Albert and Monet.

-Did not mean to take a month break but writer's block and burnout got me. Hope this hefty chapter makes it up to you! Hope you like it! Tell me what you think! Don't forget to vote and comment! Stay tuned!-

WRITTEN: 5/8/23

PUBLISHED: 5/8/23