life as we know it

The elevator doors chimed open for Sasha to enter the floor where she and Buck lived in the apartment complex. She examined the tiny particles of dry paint smeared on her hands that remained stubborn during the wash. She needed a shower since she figured paint got in her hair mostly the front strands while fully immersed in the painting earlier. Her feet stopped at the door and pulled out the keys to unlock the door.

Within the second she entered the living room Buck slammed the laptop shut in a swift motion. He glanced up and sported a light grin on his mouth at the arrival of his girlfriend.

"Hey, what are you two up to?"

Buck turned his head towards the television screen. "Uh Bluey." Monet diverted her attention to the animated talking dogs to her mother. The elated expression that spreads on her face whenever she sees her parents always swells their hearts.

"Mama! Mama!" Monet charged across the room to Sasha, raising her arms to be embraced.

A small laugh slipped from Sasha's lips, "Hi, my little bean." She cooed, pressing a kiss on Monet's temple as she nestled into her. "Have fun with daddy today?"

"Of course, she did." Buck strolled up to them. He lifted Sasha's chin with his finger for a kiss. "I started dinner already. Eddie said he, Ana, and Christopher will pop in like two hours." The couple scheduled a little gathering to get to know the new woman in their friend's life and spend time with the young boy who always appeared happy coming around to see them.

"Good because I need to wash off the paint on me." Sasha frowned. She placed the squirming toddler on the floor.

Buck cocked his brow, intrigued. "Do you need help with that?" He grazed her hand flirtatiously.

"Unfortunately, I doubt you can with your hands full between dinner and our energetic toddler."

The chances were slim for Sasha and Buck to dislike Ana when meeting her for the first time. Dinner went smooth sailing as both couples dived into conversation with ease. Christopher was elated to see Sasha, Buck, and Monet.

After dinner, Sasha, Ana, and the kids moved into the living room. It was clear Monet grew attached to Ana when she kept showing off her toys with the help of Christopher. Meanwhile, Buck and Eddie relocated out in the terrace sharing a beer together.

Buck could hear the distinct chatter from the kitchen before he traveled to the terrace with two beers in his hands. Eddie leaned against the wall staring out at the city's starry night. He collected the beer from his best friend who settled in a seat.

"Thanks for dinner tonight, appreciate it."

Buck shrugged his shoulders, "No problem. Think it was nice to do this especially getting to know Ana." He took a swig of his beer. "She's great. Sasha and I are happy for you, man."

"I'm happy too." Eddie enveloped a tiny grin. "So, did you get it?" He asked vaguely of a kept secret between them.

The sliding door had been closed shut but Buck peeked to double check. Once there was no one near earshot or in sight, he dug into his pocket to showcase a small black box in his grasp. He passed it over to Eddie who immediately snatched it into his hand and opened a diamond ring inside.

"It's real alright." Eddie was baffled, analyzing the ring in front of him. "When did it come in the mail?"

"Today." Buck exhaled. "I was talking to Grandma Bea and Samuel earlier. Luckily our conversation ended by the time Sasha got home. Could've got caught." He shared the anxiety ridden moment when he heard the door unlocking.

Between Buck and Grandma Bea and Samuel, Sasha has no knowledge they've been secretly in contact with each other over the course of the last few months. He started the train in asking permission to propose to Sasha with them. As a firefighter who runs into fires, facing the most intimidating woman that is Grandma Bea was believably worst. The fear of rejection soon diminished and twisted into a bit of shock when the woman approved. She confessed that she and her husband were waiting for the proposal. And the engagement ring Buck received belonged to Beatrice, she recalled the times Sasha being enamored with the ring. She promised her first granddaughter the ring when the time came along with hooking their pinkies to secure the assurance for the child.

"When are you going to propose?"

"Still figuring that out." Buck huffed in frustration at the thought. "I-I want this to be perfect for her. She deserves it after everything." If he could give Sasha the world, he would do that. His feelings to propose grew in increments from several significant moments he remembered.

Eddie a chuckled from this new side Buck displayed. "I'm certain she'll love anything you planned. It's always the thought that counts. Who knows about this anyways." He brought the beer to his mouth for a sip.

"Both of her grandparents, Athena, and Michael."

"I'm surprised Bobby isn't in the known." Eddie teased.

Buck bit a grin, "I asked them permission. I'm going to tell Bobby this week. Maybe give me some advice."

"If you need anything. I'm your guy."

Eddie meant it in his response. Buck trusted his words without hesitation. Working together in the last few years and establishing a strong friendship guaranteed they could lean on each other. Neither could imagine life without one another specifically for significant moments like this. 

Sasha beamed down at the swaddled baby cradled in her arms. She swayed in the middle of the Chimney and Maddie's apartment, humming to a lullaby to bring Jee to sleep. Learning about Jee experiencing colic and the sleep deprivation spread on Maddie's face, Sasha thought to lend an extra hand at the apartment bringing Monet along. It would give the new mother time to herself and Sasha and Monet to spend time with the newest addition of the family.

She couldn't have arrived at the perfect time due to hearing the muffled wails behind the door when knocking on the door. As Maddie attempted to put on a brave face, Sasha insisted the brunette to shower and have a well-rested nap while she relieved the screaming baby in her arms. Silently reluctant, Maddie let Sasha scoop Jee into her arms.

While calming Jee, Monet was situated on the floor with her toys that were packed in the diaper bag. Although, the toddler was curious of the small baby crying in her mother's arms. The cries turned into whimpers feeling soothed by the swaying. Jee met Sasha's stare as the mother reminisced about the time her daughter had been this size. 

Sasha let Monet interact with her little cousin before laying Jee down in the playpen. 

An hour or so passed when Maddie emerged from the bedroom to find it quiet. She noticed the kitchen tidied where Sasha finished washing the bottles in the sink. Sasha offered to produce tea for the both of them while Maddie hovered over the playpen where Jee slept, and Monet fell asleep on the couch.

"Thank you...not just for the tea but everything. Thank you." Maddie shakily breathed out with a tearful smile.

Sasha reached for her free hand to grasp. "It's no problem. I love you and Jee. And I can relate how overwhelming it can be being a new mother. You don't have to save face. You can ask for help." She said in a soft tone.

Maddie averted from her gaze, pursing her lips together. "Asking for help makes me feel less as Jee's mother than I already feel when I can't understand her cries."

"You are her mother regardless of what you think. You brought her into the world. Took care of her through those nine months she grew in your body." Sasha reminded her friend. The sight of a new mother experiencing postpartum wasn't cloudy for her after stories told by other mothers she talked to. "Babies can only communicate their needs through crying. I can assure you that you're not alone in this struggle. It took myself and other moms from my mommy and me group to understand. Nothing is wrong with asking for help despite what you think. I've been there."

Blowing through her lips, Maddie held onto Sasha's grasp. The gesture was a response to feeling at ease upon hearing those words. However, didn't diminish the negative thoughts in this vulnerable state.

"We haven't had a day like this together in a longtime." Sasha sat on the blanket with a coffee cup in her hand. Her gaze directed at the ocean where crashing waves reeling to the shore were heard.

Besides her, Yasmin breathed in. "Life happens, that's why." She brought her cup to her lips. "We're not the young teenagers who had little to no responsibility in comparison to now."

Yasmin spoke the truth. There weren't a lot of things that weighed on a teenager's plate other than school creating a path to their future between their family and social life. At that time, you felt entitled to make your own decisions despite the opinions of your parents. All you wished for then was adventure.

"Remember when we used to come here after school on most days? After grabbing a bite to eat or drinks from the nearest Starbucks or the mall?"

"Then we would head to your mom's studio." Yasmin added.

They continued to refresh each other's memories of the days with just the two of them.

Sasha smiled at the picture shared by Buck. It showed him, Monet, Carla, and Christopher. Both children had ice cream covering their mouths.

"Already imagining the sugar rush." Yasmin commented when Sasha showed her phone.

"That's Evan's job to take care of."

"Christopher must be happy that Carla is back."

Sasha nodded shortly, "He is. Was talking about it at dinner the other night when he, Eddie, and Ana came over."

"You met Ana?" Yasmin asked.

"Mhm...she's so nice and pettier in person. It's clear Christopher adores her and Monet now." Sasha giggled. "Evan and I are happy Eddie found someone."

Yasmin raised a brow, "Shocked that he actually went for it."

Another ping from Sasha's phone alerted the duo.

"Buckaroo sent you another cute little picture?"

Shaking her head, Sasha began typing a response on her phone. "It's Matthew. He's asking if I'm coming to the studio later." She summarized before diverting from the screen to meeting a smirk curving Yasmin's lip.

"That sexy artist of yours that you've spend a lot of time with?"

"He's not that to me or mine. Stop making it weird." Sasha's face scrunched up as she had no attraction towards him. "We do nothing other than paint for the commissions we've received."

Yasmin surrendered jokingly, "If you didn't give me the cutest goddaughter and practically married to that hot firefighter of yours, I would encourage you."

"Since you don't have either of those, why don't you make the move and ask him out? Unless you want me to set it up."

"Not all your friends need to date each other, Sasha."

"Says the person who called him sexy a few seconds ago." Sasha deadpanned.

"He is sexy. I just don't think we'd be that compatible." Yasmin confessed, going for another sip of her drink. "However, your type, yes."

Sasha rolled her eyes at the remark. "Like you said, I have a hot firefighter back at home." 

Buck contorted a concentrated look at the opened laptop in front of him. His finger scrolled down on the mousepad to browse further on the tab of many others that were clicked. His eyes skimmed thoroughly while deep in thought. He hummed with uncertainty as he continued reading the site.

Meanwhile, noises erupted next to him at the table belonging to Monet who was situated in her highchair snatching up and thrusting the pieces of her breakfast into her mouth that Buck made for her that morning.

"What'd you think Monet? Should I propose to mommy here?" Buck swiveled the laptop to showcase the page to his daughter. "Looks promising and romantic, right?" He acted as if consulting Monet would earn a useful response.

Monet's hand clutched onto the scrambled eggs she picked off on her plate. She shifted her gaze at her father. Her smeared avocado and strawberry smeared mouth lifted into a smile. "Mama! Mama! Mama!" She cheered.

Buck stifled a laugh, eliciting a smile. "Let's see if I can give them a call and hope for an opening on the date we agreed on." He spun the laptop back to him to locate the contact information.

Finally, Buck pinned down the date to propose to Sasha. He's been working on the list he created since then to get ahead of schedule.

"Ah, there's my favorite members of the breakfast club."

Sasha's voice echoed inside when she appeared in the kitchen. She made long strides to pour herself a cup of coffee.

Buck deleted everything in the history tabs then closed the tabs before shutting the laptop. He observed Sasha approaching the table. She bent down to greet Monet with a light kiss on the top of her head before paving her way towards him.

"Good morning."

"Morning," Sasha sat on his lap, holding her mug. She placed a soft kiss on his lips. "You let me sleep in."

His arms snaked around her waist once she leaned into him. "Thought you could sleep a little more."

Placing her mug on the table, Sasha cupped the side of his face. "How generous of you."

"The most."

The couple cast their eyes over at their daughter basking in a messy breakfast. They laughed at how Sasha would have to deal with cleaning her up afterwards when Buck leaves for his shift at the firehouse.

What a start to a peaceful morning for the family of three.

Buck propped himself at the back of his Jeep parked in the lot of the 118 Fireouse. He listened in to the voice on the other line. Nodding along, his mouth grew into a large grin.

"That's perfect! Thank you, appreciate it."

Coming out of his car with his duffel bag, Chimney sent Buck a perplexed look. "What's got you all smiley, Buckaroo?"

"Life, life has been great." 

-A light chapter before everything that happens next! I already seen a few pondering what will unfold for our couple in this storyline...won't say and let your predictions float. Hope you like it! Tell me what you think! Don't forget to vote and comment! Stay tuned!-

WRITTEN: 10/9/23

PUBLISHED: 10/9/23